* 11 *

              "Asenti, you have returned. Did you get out? Can we get out?" asked N'isella. Her arm
was in a crude sling made from the top of someone's uniform as she stood shakily on her feet by
her former station.
             He smiled, trying project a confidence he did not feel. "Yes, the way is clear," Ky'tulendu
answered, his voice steady, while his sad eyes made a careful appraisal of his remaining crew.
             "And the ship? How bad is the damage?" Vokolin asked him point blank, looking up from
where she squatted bandaging one of the crew member's arms.
             He looked away for a moment trying to find the words, but there were no words to
minimize the destruction he had seen, nor should he. His people needed facts for they would see
the results of their landing soon enough.
             "The ship is in pieces. Engineering and the engines are gone. The only sections that look
intact are those near the bridge. The middle sections are in pieces. I don't have any hopes for
many survivors. From looking around, I estimate that we have been unconscious for a day, maybe
more."
             He let the words sink in to his crew, but shock was written on everyone's face. A few even
began crying as the enormity of the situation sank in. He let them cry for a few minutes to get it
out of their systems. When they were calmed, he brought them back to reality.
             "We need to force the bridge doors open and get the supplies from trans-station one.
There are weapons in the outside storage compartments near the bridge doors. I want all portable
instruments, recorders, and computers taken with us. We will be leaving nothing behind, even if it
means making several trips to accomplish this. Our main order of business is survival. Salvage all
recorder memory chips, including the new library files I had installed before departure. We are
going to need all the help we can get," he told the shock ridden survivors.
             Tanz W'rett, Srt G'nur went to do as the Asenti had commanded, trying to force the
Bridge doors open. Tanz T'hrissn also lent his strength, and between the strength of the three
males the doors were forced open enough to admit a person though.
             Tanz W'rett went first. Cautiously he slid his thin form through the narrow opening and
just looked around in stunned silence. The smells from the fouled air drifted through the opening
making it difficult to stand by the doorway to peer into the dimly lit corridor.
             "How bad is it, W'rett?" Ky'tulendu asked trying to see past him.
             "There are bodies, sir . . . everywhere," the young officer said quietly, still in wide-eyed
shock.
             "All dead?" the Asenti asked, wanting conformation.
             "Can't tell, sir," he replied truthfully, taking in the blood splattered walls and the unnatural
positions of his former crew mates. He didn't want to recognize them. He didn't want to see them
this way. His mind was beginning to shut down and Ky'tulendu sensed that.
             "Do you need a light?" the Asenti asked, trying to draw him out.
             "No, sir," he said slowly, "the emergency lights are still on."
             "Then proceed to trans-station one. That's an order, Tanz." he told him trying to get him
moving before he froze and refused to function.
             "Yes, sir," he replied, not happy about having to go away from the safety of the open door
and the bridge beyond. He didn't like the idea of having to walk through and over his dead
comrades. But the young Atanzi gritted his teeth and made himself walk forward to his destination
beyond the bend of the corridor.
             They were not all dead, he noticed as he passed. He could see shallow breathing from a
few of the persons he passed, but he didn't want to stop. He was not sure what to do for them and
he was afraid. He concentrated on what he had been sent for.
             He reached the transporter room after what seemed to him to be an eternity. The door
stood open to the silent room which was even more dark than the corridor, no lights blinked or
glowed from the consoles. For all the damage to the superstructure of the ship, this room was
relatively undamaged. A few of the lockers had sprung open on their own from the impact of the
crash, their contents thrown across the floor, but most of them remained closed.
             He went from one to locker to another loading up his arms with as many back packs and
containers that he could comfortably carry. Then staggering under his load he walked back to the
waiting survivors on the bridge. He could hear low moans among the dead as he passed. He
hurried, his fear spurring him forward.
             "This is all I could carry. There is more in the storage cabinets along the walls," he said
handing the suits through the narrow doorway into the waiting hands. "Sir, there may be survivors.
I saw a few breathing and heard a couple of moans," he added after his arms were emptied.
             Ky'tulendu looked pleased and relieved, "Good," he said with relief. "We need to see to
their injuries and get them out of there. Do you think medical can be reached?" he asked.
             "I couldn't say, sir. Probably have to take one of the maintenance access tubes to reach
those levels--if they still exist. Medical was in the middle of the ship, near sciences and
engineering, so the chances. . . ."
             "I know, aren't too good," Ky'tulendu finished for him. "From what I saw up top, we buried
ourselves pretty deep. If there are people alive down there we have to get them out," Ky'tulendu
told them all.
             He made a decision, "N'isella, Vokolin, help W'rett to check for survivors in these
sections, then move them in here if they can be moved. Bring all the survival packs and weapons
to the bridge. We'll all leave from there unless we can find another way out," he told the waiting
personnel on both sides of the door.
             "G'nur, you come with me," he ordered the middle aged tech. It was a tight fit as
Ky'tulendu squeezed his greater size and grit sideways through the narrow opening and past
W'rett waiting on the other side. He could feel his silky tunic tear across the back as it snagged
on some metal, but it couldn't be helped.
             He hoped they could retrieve some clothing from the crews' quarters, none of them wore
intact outfits he noted. Judging from the vegetation outside, the climate on this planet was more
variable than the homeworld's. These thin outfits they wore on ship would not last long outside.
             Before they had crashed he remembered that there had been a fire in stores. He had a
sinking feeling that had lost most if not all the survival gear he had so carefully picked out for such
an emergency as this.
             Ky'tulendu and G'nur left their crewmates to go down one of the side corridors to where
the access hatch for engineering was located on this level. The door sprang open at their touch.
             Inside the lighting was dimmer than in the corridor outside. Ky'tulendu mentally calculated
that the emergency lights would not last more a couple of days before they failed completely.
             The diameter of the access tube was not large. The two Atanzi's had difficulty getting in,
but they managed and began the climb downward to medical. It seemed as though they climbed
downward for hours when in reality it was only fifteen units until they reached the medical levels.
             Deck thirty's door was jammed, so they continued down, trying each level's door in
return. By level thirty-six they were almost losing hope that they could get access to these levels,
but they kept trying and with their combined strength they kicked the door open to that level.
             That the air was very foul on that level was the first thing they noticed as they stepped
through. The lights were barely on, flickering off and on, making seeing difficult. The corridor was
deserted and silent. They stood still listening for any sounds of movement and heard none. This
level was mainly labs and offices, the infirmary was two levels above as was B'tunku's office. There
was another engineering access tube further down the corridor, Ky'tulendu decided to try it.
             As they rounded the bend in corridor, Ky'tulendu pulled up sharply. The rest of the
corridor was gone replaced by a wall of dirt and rock blocking out every thing beyond. It extended
upwards and downward caving in that side of the ship.
             "Come on G'nur, we've got to go back the way we came. We can't get through here. Let's
try the other hatch again and see if we can get to levels thirty-four and thirty-three. That's where
we'll find survivors," Ky'tulendu commented grimly, looking at the dark wall in front of them.
             "Yes, sir. I'm hoping some of them did make it, but looking at that--we hit pretty hard.
             "Come on, let's get going. The air's getting bad and I want to find as many survivors as we
can before it gets impossible to search," the Asenti said heading back to the open hatch they had
left.
             They climbed up and again tried the doors. The door on thirty-five would not budge.
Number thirty-four they finally kicked open, and the smell was worse than on the lower level. G'nur
found his stomach rebelling soon after they stepped out.
             "Sorry Asenti," he apologized after he had relieved himself in a corner. "The smell just got
to me."
             "It's getting to me too, but we have to go on. You take the right corridor, and I'll take the
left," Ky'tulendu ordered. "Yell if you find anything," he added as they moved away from one
another.
             The infirmary should be a short distance up the corridor, Ky'tulendu thought to himself.
The quiet bothered him. It was beginning to look as if he and his bridge crew were the main
survivors. He was hoping that B'tunku had made it. He really liked her and her skills as a doctor
were going to be desperately needed.
             He'd know soon enough as he forced open the door to the infirmary. He stepped back two
or three paces at the death stench that wafted through the opening. There were bodies. Most of
them were on the examination tables strapped in. From their burns and injuries, they had been
survivors from engineering, but without the benefits from the medical lifesupport systems they had
died anyway.
             The med techs he saw sprawled on the floor had died when the ship crashed, he could tell
by the way their limbs hung unnaturally. He didn't see B'tunku among them. Her office, he
wondered?
             He tried the door, jammed too. He found a long strip of metal to use as a crowbar and
began to work on it. He was about to give up when he heard answering noises from within. She
was alive or at least someone was! He redoubled his efforts and he was dripping with sweat when
the door latch broke and he could slide it open on its track.
             B'tunku burst through before he had a chance to open it fully and tackled him in a tight
hug. "Ky'tulendu, I knew it was you. I knew you survived. Thank you for finding me. I had almost
given up hope because I couldn't get out," she told him in a rush through her happy tears as she
held on to him.
             He stood there like a rock as he looked down at her unemotionally, and then looked
around and past her into her office. "I'm glad to see you too. Are you the only one alive down
here?" he asked, feeling her calm down.
             Sensing his distance she looked up at him and relaxed her grip on his body moving away
from him to put on her professional face. "No, there are five others with me. I have them knocked
out with tranquilizers to save on the air and supplies I managed to get until we could get out.
When I heard we were going to try to land I turned my office into a crash chamber with all the
padding and supplies we could get our hands on," she explained all business now.
             "What about those techs that didn't make it?" he asked motioning towards the four on the
floor.
             "They were coming when the door slid shut in their faces. We couldn't get it open from
our side and it jammed on theirs. There wasn't any way we could help them after that," she said
with regret stepping back from him further.
             "Did you have any other 'crash chambers' made in this section, so that we can be looking
for survivors?"
             "If my orders were followed there should be two more. One on this level and one on the
level above. I tried, Ky'tulendu to get everyone that I could prepared for the crash. I'm just grateful
that the Daggerships didn't blow us up. How bad is it, or do you know?"
             "We crashed pretty hard on land, where I'm sure yet. I got the emergency hatches open
and have been outside. It's like Astar III, so we can survive here, those of us that are left. The ship
is in pieces all over the landscape. The engines and engineering sections are gone, vanished.
When we came down we buried ourselves, though I'm not sure how deep so far. Two levels below
this G'nur and I ran into a wall of dirt half way down the corridor."
             "How many survivors above?" she asked, calmly try to assess the extent of the total
damage from his statements.
             "Unknown, we're still looking. Most of my bridge crew made it. I've got them gathering
supplies and looking for survivors. We're not going to be able to stay on the ship. I want to move
everyone that can be moved away from the ship before the Rumnulska return and decide to finish
the job."
             "Yes, and they will come back to see if there are survivors. How long do you think we
have?" she asked.
             "Not long enough to get all that we need from the ship. B'tunku get your people awake and
they can help us search for any others. I also want you to get anything we may need out here.
Basically, whatever you and your people can carry with you now. We may not get a second
chance," he said calmly, but she understood his worry.
             "Yes, Asenti," she said, "I'll get them on their feet. The other group is in the med lab
office down the corridor," she told him starting to go back into her office.
             "G'nur is over there in that area. In the lab, you said is where they might be, and how
many?" he asked.
             "There should have been fifteen or twenty. They were mostly my lab staff, but there were
a few from sciences up here before the crash running some experiments. I hope they made it.
The other crash chamber is on deck thirty-three in the animal behavior lab. Those were the only
areas I could get through to before communications went down," she explained.
             "You did your best," he said. "I'll see if G'nur has found them yet. When you get your
group organized tell them to go up the main engineering access hatch. That's the only way out of
here for now. And B'tunku, I am glad you made it," he told her, relieved on many levels that she
had made it.
             "So am I," she replied, giving him a wan smile. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us. You
go on, I can handle it from here."
             He nodded and turned, heading out the door. She watched his broad back disappear
before she re-entered her office and started waking up her people. There was too much to do and
too little time she felt before their enemies returned. With luck they could get out of the ship and
to safety before the Daggerships returned, but she wasn't going to hold her breath.

 * 12 *

           In The Forest looked up when some one excitedly pointed out that one of the stars was
falling. The villagers had watched in terror as the star had quickly grown larger and larger in the
night sky coming towards them all fiery red and glowing. It seemed as though its tail was on fire
as it came roaring over their heads like terrible thunder leaving sparks and streamers of fire in its
wake. They had been afraid that it was going to destroy their village so close did it come, but it fell
into the woods some distance away before it could harm them.
        When the star crashed into the earth a huge column of fire shot upwards and ugly black
clouds billowed up around it towards the heavens turning the night into day. The impact of the
star knocked everyone off their feet and before they could recover a series of terrible
earthquakes shook the ground repeatedly knocking over many of their lodges. Great trees were
uprooted and bounced as were rocks and boulders. While the creek boiled and overflowed,
spreading into their crop lands. In the depths of the forest they could hear the screams of the
birds and animals as they fled for their lives in terror.
        Many of the people though it was the end of the world and began praying to the gods and
spirits to save them. Among the people there was much weeping and wailing from everyone from
the littlest child to even the staunchest of braves. The chief and the council tried to get everyone
to calm down so a scouting party could be sent out to investigate but all the men were too afraid
to go even after the quakes had stopped and the fires had calmed down. None of the warriors
wanted anything to do with the strange object from the sky.
        In The Forest was afraid too, but someone had to see what it was and why it was here, so
he had volunteered. He was eighteen summers old and warrior, but it was more than that. When
the star came down he had felt a strange pull, a calling. He had to see the star. He had to go. It
was very important, for himself, for his people. Though there was a part of him that hoped that
this was not a mistake as he gathered his weapons and left the village.
        The tall, copper skinned young warrior walked on through the night until he stopped to
make camp on a hilltop a safe distance from the still burning star. There was bravery and there
was stupidity. This was as close as he could get to the star. Terrible fires and smoke continued
to pour from it for many long hours during the night. He watched the fire and wondered about the
strange colored lights that sparkled and exploded with jagged lightening in the smoke. In The
Forest had never seen such a display before and he wondered if the gods had been fighting and
they had fallen to earth to finish their battle, so intense was the lights and the noise.
        From the south he heard thunder and turned and saw that a great storm was coming. He
knew the people's prayers to Kittanittowet had been answered, the Great Spirit was sending the
thunder and rain to put out the star's fire. He decided to move his camp and seek shelter in the
caves above the small valley's creek. He fell asleep and did not hear the storm as it let loose its
own fury. In the morning he left the cave and saw that the fire was gone. He gathered his gear
and went cautiously forward to find the fallen star on the other side of the great forest.
        It was not until he was deep inside the forest did he see the damage the fire had done.
The closer he got to the star the more severe the damage. He could tell that a great fireball had
shot out from it on all sides by the damage. The intense fire had scorched the bark on the trees
even a quarter mile from the center. The closer he got he saw how the fire had destroyed the
massive trees near it, scorching and setting fire to the tender wood underneath as well as
incinerating most of the surrounding underbrush and leaves. Here and there trees still smoldered,
but the fire itself was out and huge puddles of water dotted the forest floor.
        If it had not been raining heavily, most of the forest would have been destroyed. He was
grateful that the fire had not spread and the heavy rains had put it out. It had been a very strong
and powerful storm to leave so much standing water.
        It was not until he got much closer that he saw the burnt animal carcasses. They had
been caught by the intensity of the star's fire and not from the fire in the forest. The fire had
killed and maimed many of the animals that had been unlucky enough to be in the area when the
thing came down from the sky. The closer he approached the more burnt carcasses he saw of
rabbits, squirrels, birds, and other small creatures as well as several deer and a bear.
        He walked cautiously across the blackened, burnt ground and deep ashes. He had never
seen such destruction before even with a forest fire. Ahead of him he saw bight flashes of light
and a huge cleared space. He headed for that. Stopping for a moment to rest, he leaned his hand
against a tall thick tree and it crumbled completely at his touch. He jumped back afraid. He had
never seen a tree do that from fire. He hurried on. As he walked his feet sank into the thick ash
to his moccasin tops. This was not the way things should be.
        His heart was beating fast and his breathing sounded loud in his ears as he walked across
the silent landscape. No birds, no squirrels, there no sounds of any kind except the occasional
crack or thud of a tree branch or tree falling to the ground. Even the wind was afraid to make a
sound.
        Finally he was in sight of his goal as he reached the end of the blackened trees and saw
the enormous clearing surrounded by tall mounds of churned up earth and a huge deep hole in
the ground. He climbed to the top of one mound to see better and felt his feet slide out from
under him. He landed hard on his rear. He was more shocked than scared as he felt the slick
surface underneath his hands. It was like hard ice but it was too hot for ice. It was more like the
clear rocks they found on the ground sometimes and used for decorations and shamans used for
their work. He looked more closely and saw that the dirt had been melted together like some
rocks he had seen. But never had he seen a pile of dirt be one large rock. Where he had landed
had cracked the surface and underneath was just dirt, though it was still hot and warm to the
touch. That should not be. He shot up quickly to get away from the strange dirt. He was careful
now to keep his balance
        He found a place where he could stand without falling and looked out across the pit to
stare in awe at the strange fallen star. His dark brown, almost black eyes stared with wide eyed
astonishment at the huge shiny object. There was nothing in In The Forest's experience he could
even compare the strange object to except the way still water looked when the sun shone on it.
Though water or ice never formed itself into such strange shapes, or was covered by such odd
designs in such brightly colored paint on some of its parts.
             The size of it amazed the young hunter. He had never seen its like. Whatever it was was
almost three times the size of his village in both directions, and taller than the tallest tree, even
though he could see that much of it was buried deeply into the earth.
              He cautiously approached, circling the rim of the deep pit hunting for a safe way down,
trying to take in the size and scope of it. He kept to the edges trying not to slip and fall on the
slick, glassy ground. He found a thin black stick to help him keep his balance as he walked. He
halted when he saw the wide path the thing had made when it had come down.
        For as far as his eyes could see was a long deep trench in the earth. He was sure it went
as far as the distant ocean beyond the forest. The trench was littered many shiny pieces of the
star that had fallen off. And bodies. That brought him up short.
        A star that carried people like in the old legends of his people! The creation myths had
told them of how the gods had brought the people and animals here from the heavens. He had
laughed at the stories because he couldn't see how anyone could fly through the heavens. But the
stories must be true, he thought, here was the truth of it before his eyes. Suddenly he was both
excited and afraid. He stood there frozen and just stared at the wreckage, unsure what to do
now.
        The day was becoming hot and sweat began to pour down his chiseled face. The local
insects, unfortunately, had not been killed off by the fire and were attacking everything full force,
drawn by the bodies in the pit. The huge blue colored flies were annoying, biting at his bare
bronzed skin and buzzing around his head but he was too much in shock to notice. Finally, one
bit him hard on his arm and he yelped in pain coming out of his shock.
             He had seen no movements except those of small furry scavengers drawn to the scent of
death, and blood investigating the scattered remains. Even from where he stood high above the
pit his nose could smell that metallic, and cloying sweet odor hanging in the hot summer's air.
             In The Forest finally saw a way down. Carefully he climbed and slid down the slick, glassy
dirt to the bottom. He looked up and the top of the pit was many lodge heights above his head.
He was surprised that the pit was so deep. His heart was racing now wondering if he hadn't
trapped himself. If he had it was too late now.
        Cautiously, he walked forward brandishing his hard, black stick before him. He jumped at
every sound as he looked wildly around for hidden dangers. His mind was trying to comprehend
what he was seeing but he did not have words. What he had believed had been a star was more
like those huge birds of legend that carried people in their bellies, or some great sky canoe. Those
were the closest concepts he could come to. For he could see that the strange object had carried
people--but people unlike any that had ever been seen before.
             He would have thought them to be animals if they had not been man-shaped and wearing
strange dark clothes. They looked vaguely cat-lion-like, but with little fur except on their heads and
no tails that he could see from his perspective. There were even odder looking beings mixed
among them that he could not begin to classify, some of which wore the strange clothes of the
cat-people while others did not. Though there were some he couldn't see how any clothes could
be fitted on their misshapen, multi-limbed forms at all.
             He squatted down on his heels and stared at them for many long minutes, watching for
any movement, listening for sounds. Though he could see no stirrings from any of them, he could
hear an occasional low moaning sound along with other odd sounds from the settling of the shiny
thing as well as the return of normal bird and animal noises in the far distance.
             In The Forest felt there was no danger but he was still undecided whether or not he should
investigate closer. He wanted a sign, any sign, that would indicate what he should do. Before he
had embarked on this journey he had asked for guidance from the spirits and they had guided
him here. Now he wished for their guidance again to know if he should go or stay.
             His right hand gripped his leather totem bag decorated with strange mystical patterns
worked in colored seed beads, bits of bone, feathers and fur. Feeling its comforting weight from
the sacred objects inside, he asked the spirits to surround him with their protections and to give
him the courage and wisdom he felt he needed for this task. He hoped the ancient ones who
protected the great forest would protect him from any harm by these strange creatures and from
whatever spirits guarded them.
             As he made his silent prayers to the Creator his thoughts were interrupted by a shrill cry
from a hawk overhead. He looked up to see a red-tailed hunting hawk dive down and swoop across
the vast expanse of the pit only to land on the highest point of the shiny thing. They stared across
the distance between at one another, then the bird nodded to him, and it took off as suddenly as it
had appeared seeming to vanish as it disappeared into the deep blueness of the midmorning sky.
It was an omen as true as any he had ever had. His path was clear. He must go closer to the
strange ones.
            The bodies seemed to have been thrown out of the star canoe. There were many large
dark openings at ground level and on the sides above. The closer he got to the strangers he could
see that they were just men like himself with five fingers on their hands as he had. It was only the
strong cat-like cast to their features marked them as alien beings and not of his world or of any of
the spirit worlds known to his people.
             He moved closer, drawn to stop and to study one of the cat-people who was partly hidden
under an overhanging piece of metal torn from the hull of the ship. The stranger was definitely
female, he thought, as looked over her small, but well curved form. She lay in the shadows,
sprawled out on her back. He could not tell if she had been flung there or had made it to this
shelter on her own.
             She was very beautiful in an odd, exotic way. The tip of the narrow upturned nose and the
split upper-lip was different from his, but the oval face shape with its high cheek bones was similar
to his own. Though she was mud-splattered he was intrigued by her strange pale skin coloring and
her softly curling hair that was the golden color of high summer's grass. Her slightly slanted,
deepset eyes under high golden arched brows were closed.
             There was a dusting of light colored fur on her nose though there was none elsewhere on
her face. He could see through the many ripped places on her clothes that she had little hair on
other parts of her definitely feminine body.
             There was something about her that stirred something in him. Something that no woman
of his village ever had. There was a pull there, strong and powerful in his body and his heart. He
didn't understand how but he knew her, knew that she was somehow linked to him. Belonged to
him and he to her, always.
             Then it hit him--the dreams. The dreams he had tried to dismiss because they were so
fantastic, so unbelievable because of the girl with the cat face who had haunted those rather
erotic dreams--was the girl that lay on the ground before him. His eyes grew wide in shock
because he could not believe she was real, seeing her still form he knew it was so. He could only
pray that she was sleeping not dead. She couldn't be dead--not now.
             Some impulse prompted him to touch her face. It was warm! Warm beneath his touch
and not from the sun. He put a finger under her nose he could feel warm air brush against it. She
was alive, he realized with relief. Not dead, just unconscious. Cautiously, he put a hand where he
thought her heart, if she had one, would be. There was a heartbeat, odd, but unmistakable as was
her breathing. He sat back on his heels to think what to do next.
             He wondered how many of the bodies scattered around were actually alive, unconscious
like her? Should he check them all, or just let them alone to wake up by themselves, or not wake
up on their own?
             The other females didn't seem threatening, but somehow the massively built males did.
Both sexes had claws instead of fingernails and teeth like a wildcat's, but most of their teeth were
like his. It was just their long pointed fangs that were different. His uncle had teeth like that, so
they did not appear so strange to him.
             They were not animals--that much he was sure about. Animals didn't use and make tools,
nor wear clothes. This had been their flying bird, their traveling village through the skies, he
decided, to have held so many of them inside. One part of him felt that he should leave them
alone, but the other side, the stronger side told him to help them despite his fears.
     He had brought no water with him, but he had noticed some deep pools of fresh rainwater
nearby. He found some bits of loose cloth in the wreckage and wet them in one of the pools. He
had barely put the cool rag on the female's face when her bright green eyes popped open and she
saw him and screamed. A very loud human scream to his ears at least.
             He jumped back several paces and she jumped back too, warily regarding him, but not
screaming. Her fangs were barred, and she growled low in her throat. He was confused now--was
she or wasn't she an animal?
             Then she spoke, or at least he thought it was speech. Her voice was lilting, musical with a
slight lisp. "What are you? Human? Who are you? Where am I? Where are the others?" she
asked him repeatedly in Atanzi, and several other galactic languages to get only puzzled looks
from the human male warily regarding her.
             She had seen pictures of humans before in the library files but never up close. She was
frightened, scared, and unnerved by not only her surroundings but by him as well. He had a very
unsettling effect on her that she could not name or define, like somehow she knew him, but that
was impossible. She had never seen a human, let alone met one before.
             He shook his head at her words, pointed to his ears, and replied in his tongue, "tak-ta'nee,
ka-kuh-ka-ta'tum?" <I don't understand, what do you want?>
             The exchange was frustrating to both of them. He tried again, pointing to himself,
"Day'kay-ning, Day'kay-ning," which translated would mean, 'In The Forest'. She stared at him
dumbly for several minutes while he repeated his pantomime. Then comprehension dawned on
her.
             "It's your name! Day'kay-ning is your name!" she exclaimed, smiling happily. She pointed
to herself, "O'vettun, O'vettun," she said repeating it over and over.
             "O-vett-un," he said finally struggling with the unfamiliar syllables and looked at her for
confirmation that he had said it right. She nodded. They had at least begun to communicate.
             She studied him as he looked her over in return. He was young, close to her age she
guessed. Tall as an Atanzi male, but hairless all over except for his long almost waist length blue-
black mane of hair that he wore braided with leather cords in front and that flowed loose in back.
His hair was then held in place by a red, black, and yellow beaded leather headband across his
high forehead.
             His face was handsome with high chiseled cheekbones, a long straight nose, and a set of
full sensuous lips and a square-cut hairless chin. His warm dark brown slightly slanted eyes were
sparkling with intelligence and curiosity under heavy arched black brows.
             The human's reddish-bronze skin was flawless. He was very masculine in a way that took
her breath away and caused responses in her she hadn't known were possible. Her eyes couldn't
help but roam admiringly over his powerful arms, legs, and broad chest that were well muscled
and sharply defined. She hadn't known that human males could be this attractive or interesting.
Nor had she been aware until now how closely they resembled Atanzi males. She somehow liked
the lack of hair on his beautiful body.
             In The Forest's only clothing was a narrow strip of plain, soft, light brown leather between
his legs held up by a thick leather cord that overhung to make a long apron of sorts front and
back. She also noticed the hand-made stone knife he wore in its sheath attached to his waist
thong that he kept within his easy grasp. On his feet he wore decorated low boots and around his
neck hung a small leather bag decorated with beads, clear stones and feathers.
             He may not have been Atanzi, but he was definitely male. Normally other beings didn't
interest her, but this one did. There was a smoldering sensuality to him that was bothering her
more than she wanted to admit upon a first meeting. Judging by the way he was staring at her he
was similarly affected by her.
             O'vettun roused herself out of her thoughts and began taking stock of her surroundings.
She looked around and saw the bodies. She couldn't tell whether they were alive or dead. Many of
them she didn't know personally. She had worked in environmental engineering and had been sent
to get some equipment from stores when the ship had been hit. She still wasn't sure how she had
survived, but she had.
             She turned back to the waiting human who was watching her intently. "How long ago did
we crash?" she asked and pointed to the sky and the ship and made sounds like an explosion.
             He understood after a while what she was asking or at least he hoped he did. He held up
his hands and pointed to the sun and made his arms arc in a circle from east to west.
             She nodded, comprehending. A day then. The ship had been crashed for at least a day.
She wondered if she was the first to wake, looking around and seeing only herself and the human
as she looked over the area she could see from the shadow of her shelter, she supposed she must
be.
              Her empty stomach was telling her that it had been a while since she had eaten and her
mouth felt very dry. Food and water were going to be a problem for awhile. She couldn't tell from
the wreckage what part of the ship she was outside and where the ship's mess had been,
providing there was any food that could be salvaged from there.
             These were seemingly simple problems she and her fellows had never really had to cope
with. Thousands of years of protected, pampered civilization had not given her people the skills to
deal with what she knew lay before them. This was something that might happen to a ship, but
only in theory, not actuality--wasn't it?
             She sat in the dirt, just looking around blindly. Her arms wrapped around her knees trying
to figure out what she should do next. Should she try seeing who was alive and waking them, or
try finding food and water, or try exploring the ship for other survivors? In her state of shock she
wasn't sure which alternative was what she should do first. There were too many possibilities, too
many choices--it was just too damn overwhelming! She couldn't help it when the tears began to
fall hotly down her cheeks.
             She looked up startled when she felt the gentle hand upon her shoulder. It was the human.
His eyes held compassion for her, like he really understood what the problem was.
             "Thank you, I'll be all right," she told him. She could see he didn't understand her words,
but he did understand the meaning.
             He stepped back and pointed to the Atanzi's still lying on the ground. He made gestures
that seem to be asking if they should be wakened. He stared at her expectantly waiting to see
what she wanted to do. She nodded, and wiped the tears off on her sleeve then got up and began
the task of going from body to body searching for signs of life while the human walked among the
bodies nearby searching too to help her.

                                                                 
                                                        
* 13 *

             In The Forest watched the strange woman as she moved among her own kind going from
one to another after checking for signs of life. The majority of those in the pit were dead as they
soon discovered. It was a frustrating and heartbreaking job made more so by the rising heat of
the day and the swarming insects that had descended on them.
             The strange creatures he saw among the bodies of the cat-people he did not attempt to
awaken or get near. A few were so unhealthy looking, and alien to his eyes in color, shape, and
oddity of limbs that he did not want to see such creatures walking around, regardless of how
intelligent they might have been. Luckily, to his relief none of the really bizarre ones had survived
the crash, although he felt guilty for feeling that way knowing that the Great Spirit would not be
happy with such thoughts. All life was sacred no matter what its outward form.
             O'vettun noticed his hesitation in touching the more alien creatures. She understood. It
took great nerve or her do so herself even though she knew the non-Atanzi members of the crew
had been harmless and she had worked closely with several of the species she saw dead upon the
ground. She took over checking the former scientists and specialists they found relatively intact.
             When In The Forest found a cat-person that showed signs of life he would call O'vettun
over and have her awaken them. Already he had found three to her one. Only a few were able to
sit up and move around immediately. Though a few had revived on their own when they heard her
scream. From the other side of the ship four of them had attempted to come to her rescue as
soon as they were able.
             They had arrived angry, upset, and disoriented, looking at In The Forest dangerously.
O'vettun had planted herself in front of the native when the three burly males tried to approach
him. It took repeated assurances from her to stop them from harming him, but finally she got
through to them and they relaxed. They were still suspicious but they allowed him to stay and help
with the search for survivors.
             Many of the survivors were like a young male they found, who looked around frantically at
first when he saw where he was, and then talked rapid fire in the cat-person's language, gesturing,
while the woman tried to calm him with both words and touch.
             When he saw In the Forest, the male's golden eyes grew wide, and he seemed to repeat
a word over and over, "Rumnulska, Rumnulska!" while the woman shook her head negatively, and
talked persistently and firmly to him until the wildness left his eyes.
              Finally, the young male calmed, accepting his situation and the presence of the human.
Although he watched In The Forest with wary, suspicious eyes until he saw that the human was
going to keep his distance.
             When he had recovered enough, he too got up to help the woman search through the
dead for survivors as well. It was long, hot, painful work for all of them going from body to body for
there were so many of them. It was like a battlefield after a battle, In The Forest thought looking
over the carnage.
             Stopping for a moment to wipe the sweat off his face he looked over near the front of the
ship and noticed that several of the people were digging a deep hole in the softened earth using
large curved pieces of the star canoe. Other persons had fashioned litters and were moving the
dead to a spot near the edge of the hole. Those were actions he could understand. It confirmed
his belief in their humanity. Though he did note that they had made separate holes for the very
strange ones to be buried in rather than burying all the dead together.
             He wondered what had happened to bring them to this place and what the strange words
that the young male had said meant and why he was so afraid. Until he could understanding their
words the answers to those questions would have to wait. The more the cat people talked in their
language more he felt very shut out and alone.
             In the Forest looked up and saw that the sun was sinking lower and lower in the sky. They
would not have long to look and there were still many bodies to be checked as well as moved. It
was going to take longer than they had light because the bodies were scattered. Too many though
were so mangled and torn apart that it was difficult for many of the searchers not to get sick.
Reluctantly, they all kept working despite the sun and the rising stench to separate the living from
the dead and to move the dead away.
             He wondered how long it had been since they had eaten and what they did eat. He had
seen no evidence of hunting weapons, or even of knives on any of the bodies or in the wreckage.
It was an odd thought that hit him watching them, did they even know how to hunt, or take care of
themselves in the woods? If he did not understand the things he saw with them. Did they
understand his world and the creatures in it? He didn't think they did by their amazed looks at the
trees, the sky, and the birds flying overhead. They jumped at every sound they heard whether it
was bird, animal, or insect. Even the wind rustling in the trees gave them pause.
             They had not seen anything like this place before, that much he was sure of by their
reactions. Being out in the open seemed to frighten them. As soon as the strangers were able to
they moved to places where pieces of the shiny walls overhung the ground and huddled in the
shadows looking fearfully at everything beyond their pitiful shelters.
             He had felt their eyes upon him watching him, covertly of course, when he wasn't looking.
He understood he must appear as strange to them as they were to him. He had seen only a few
peoples similar to him in the rubble although their skins were bluish and they had snow colored
hair. They were all dead.
             He wondered where O'vettun was and finally he saw her far across the pit on the other
side of a large shiny box that had thick colored strings and clear stiff things coming out of it. He
followed her and saw her pause by a group of bodies by the burial pit. She must have known
some of them by her pained expressions and her tears.
             There was a note of tenderness and familiarity in her voice as she spoke in a low voice as
she stopped and squatted down by one of the dead males, a large one with reddish hair. She lifted
the large furred hands and placed them across the male's chest. Her final act was to kiss the
cheek of the dead cat-man, then she hurriedly got up and walked away with tears streaming from
her eyes. Her mate most likely, or almost mate, In The Forest thought after she walked on going
over to talk to three of the females standing in the shadows of the sky canoe.
             Then it struck him what else was odd about these people--He had seen no little ones, no
children, only adults. There were a few young adults, but nowhere were there any real children
considering the number and types of strange peoples he had seen, nor had he seen any obviously
pregnant females.
             Most of the people were warmed blooded like him, and shaped like him, so they must
mate similarly too, he thought. This was indeed a strangeness he could not comprehend because
these strangers surely mated, but where were their offspring? Maybe they left them at home like
those that went on the war parties or long journeys did? Where their children was one of a
growing number of questions he was beginning to have that he wanted answered when he could
talk with these peoples.
             The blonde cat-woman, O'vettun, continued to walk through the rubble, looking, touching,
crying. Occasionally she would call across the distances between her and the others in tones that
suggested she wanted them to do things. He would see some of them move and do as she had
asked. It was becoming evident that she was only one in charge, none of the others seemed to be
willing to assume that responsibility.
             O'vettun ordered two males to go into one of the large gaping dark holes in the shiny
thing. They did not return for a long time. When they finally returned empty handed, shaking their
heads she then ordered them to try the other openings. Evidently there was something in there
she wanted, but by their reactions when they returned they could not get in.
             He noticed several of the more able bodies cat-persons beginning to search the wreckage
more closely, lifting objects to get at things beneath. He looked up from checking a body when
one of them yelled excitedly and held something up for the others to see. They were excited too.
The male who had it smiled, then pointed it at one of the trees on the edge of the pit and a narrow
beam of light sprang out and caught the bark of the tree on fire.
             The power of the small object frightened In the Forest, and he sank down quickly to the
ground in awe-stricken fear looking at the burning spot on the tree. They were Gods! They had to
be! Only the Gods could call the lighting up from nowhere and destroy things like that, not men.
He was now very confused because Gods didn't bleed red blood into the dirt, couldn't be hurt or
be mangled, didn't die, and didn't feel pain from their injuries and their losses. Were these people
Gods or were they only mortal like himself? He wished he knew.
             He heard O'vettun's furious sounding raised voice. She was storming over to the male the
anger plain on her face, and took the fire stick right out of the surprised male's hand. He looked at
her dumbly, and asked her something. Apparently, she did not like his response. She lit into him
so much in such venomous tones that he cringed away from her scolding. The other cat people
tried to look away and he caught what he thought what must be laughter from them.
             O'vettun made those who were able to get around to get up from where they sat and keep
searching. One of the search parties that had gone into the shiny thing came out carrying several
large bundles wrapped in dark shiny fabric of some kind. The waiting group stopped their activities
and rushed to meet them.
             O'vettun then went over and supervised the distribution of the packets. The cat people
tore into them eagerly, manners and restraint forgotten as they gulped down the food and water
rations inside the field packs they had found in one of the transporter chambers along with extra
suits and weapons.
             The human watched from a distance not wanting to disturb their meal. Their eating
reminded him of his own needs. He would have to leave to go hunting and make camp for the
night. Somehow, he was strangely reluctant to do so, the cat-people were too interesting to leave.
He decided to make camp on the rim of the pit, close enough to watch, and far enough away for
safety. He didn't fear these people, but he didn't like taking chances either.
             For taking care of his own food needs he had noticed a nest of squirrels in one of the
trees back towards his village, or he could snare a rabbit. He had left his bow and arrows hidden in
a tree up on the rim. Deciding that they would be occupied for a while he started to leave. He was
walking away when he heard running footsteps behind him. He turned and he saw O'vettun trying
to catch up to him.
             "Day'kay-ning, Day'kay-ning?" she called, running up to him, puzzlement on her faintly
feline face. She reached out and grabbed his arm, being careful not to scratch or hurt him with
her claws.
             She was stronger than she looked, he realized for such a small thing even though he
towered over her by a head and a half. She was shaking her head no, and pulling him back
towards her people. She wanted him to stay. Her eyes were soft and pleading, he found himself
wanting to lose himself in those green depths but he knew he couldn't allow himself to, not yet.
             He pointed to the trees making hunting and eating motions. She seemed to understand all
but the hunting part. He then empathized the eating part. Her eyes lit up and she smiled. "Food,
you want to go get food! Wait we have some," she told him, hooking an arm around his and
dragging him back with her.
             He gave in and let her lead him to the watching group of cat-people. She let go of him,
then went to where the packs were piled. Getting one of them from the small pile she put it in his
hands. In the Forest looked at it dumbly, not sure what to do with it or even how to open it. There
were no visible ties or bindings as he turned it over and over looking for an opening. He handed it
back. She looked hurt.
             One of the women said something and her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. She
must have been told that he didn't know how to open it. She showed him. It was easy once he saw
her do it. Inside there were long round hard gray things, small square shiny stiff packages, and
other strange colored and shaped objects as well as what he recognized as one of the fire sticks
which she quickly took away. He pretended not to notice, understanding her caution.
             There was a suit like she wore on the bottom of the package. He touched it. It was soft
like the finest skin and thin and very light weight as if it were made of feathers or spun cobwebs. If
it was woven, it was finer than anything his people could do or imagine. He drew it out of the
heavier strange sack, marveling at its compactness and the silky feel of it against his bare skin.
There were two pieces--a top and a bottom, leggings--pants of some kind, he realized. It was too
warm for clothes, so he set them aside. He studied the other objects, but he didn't understand
them or the strange small symbols on them.
             O'vettun took the round containers and the square ones from the pack and began opening
them by twisting on one end of them. He recognized food smells. He couldn't identify any of the
foods by smell or sight, but they smelled interesting. He dipped a finger in each one, testing them.
The foods were hot as if they had been cooked over a fire. They were a bit spicy and salty, but
edible, he decided as he sank to the ground to sit cross-legged to eat.
             He ate sparingly at first, checking for reactions. There were none. It was some type of
vegetable substance he decided, not meat, and it was filling and good. A thick yellow liquid in
another container didn't smell right so he passed on it. There was some sort of long sweet roll, he
ate that too, feeling more full than he had in a while.
             The cat-people were trying to feign indifference, but he knew they were watching him as
he ate, noting his reactions. In The Forest decided they were not being impolite only curious.
They wanted to see if he could eat their food and if he could, then maybe they could eat his. He
smiled to himself, if I were in their moccasins I'd do the same.
             It would be getting dark soon, he noticed, the sun was setting quickly. None of them had
made a move to prepare for the coming night, maybe they didn't know how to. He could see and
feel the small group's nervousness as they watched the darkening evening sky with some fear.
Beyond the pit could be heard the calls and rustlings of the night animals as they began to stir
and the sounds of the day ones as they prepared to settle down to sleep. They knew there was
danger, but not how to cope with it.
             There were thirty-five of the people, twenty-three males and twelve females including
O'vettun. They huddled around and just inside one of the large gaping holes that opened into the
interior of the ship. They had gathered cushions and heavy woven coverings from the debris,
making a camp of sorts. But none of them had thought to gather wood to make a fire.
             For some reason they were looking to him and to O'vettun to see what to do next. He
could tell she wasn't sure how to protect her people from the night or even what to expect. No,
they were not used to being outside like this. The more he observed the more sure he was of that.
This all too new and strange for them. For all the amazing things they had made and could use,
the simple things of living were beyond them. They were as helpless in this world as a young child.
They would need his help if they were to make it through the night. Before it got too dark to see
they would have to gather wood for a fire.
             Getting up he gestured to two of the males to help him, "Kata'tee, ka-ta'tee," he asked,
indicating that he wanted them to follow him and help.
             They looked at him puzzled, and looked to O'vettun to see if she understood. "I think he
wants you to follow him and help him with something," she explained to them. "He's been very
helpful to us so far and seems to know what we need better than we do. I think he wants you to go
with him to get something, I would."
             "You think that's it?" the one called, L'lplon asked suspiciously. He was a big male with a
brownish mane and gold eyes, who had worked in security.
             "Yes, this is his world, he knows how to survive in it--we don't. I think we should follow his
suggestions," she replied, looking around at the blues, pinks, purples and golds in the sky.
             "If I understand what he wants, I think he wants to help us build a fire. I don't know how
cold the nights get, but the temperature is dropping and the predators are being drawn by our
dead. A fire will keep them away and us warm," O'vettun suggested.
             "Okay, O'vettun, we'll go with the human and help him, so far he acts all right." T'quttdun,
a younger blondish male from technical data agreed, getting up from the ground. The two Atanzi
males were larger in girth than the human, though height-wise they were similar. Their uniforms
were damaged in many places so that their greater hairiness was apparent.
             The two Atanzi males walked over to where the human waited, and gestured for him to
lead on. He led them up the sides of the pit to the forest where the wood was more plentiful. They
soon caught on to what he wanted and gathered large armfuls of fallen tree branches and sticks
as well as dried grass.
             The human could tell that the forest unnerved them. The Atanzis jumped at every little
sound and noise. Their eyes tracked the dark depths of the underbrush constantly and their
hands would move quickly in reflex to their waists where In The Forest suspected they carried
their fire sticks. Luckily, it did not take long to gather what they needed. Their arms were
overflowing when they went back to the waiting people.
             In The Forest directed them to put the wood down in a pile. He selected several pieces
and some dry tinder then sat down cross-legged on the ground. He put a long thin stick on top of
a fat flat one he began to twirl the long stick between his hands making up and down motions very
quickly. The friction from the sticks was causing the larger piece of wood to smolder and catch
fire. As soon as he got a spark going, he quickly added the tinder and had a small fire going
before the Atanzi's amazed eyes.
             There were a few in the crowd that wondered why someone hadn't started the fire with
one of their stunners, but O'vettun silenced them with a hard look and they quickly shut up.
             "Tay'pee!" In The Forest announced proudly with a flourish at his handwork. His generous
mouth was lit with a wide smile. Then he sat back on his heels and waited to see what they would
do.
             O'vettun squatted down next to him asking, "Tay'pee?" as she pointed to the fire. In The
Forest nodded approvingly, and repeated the word.
             "Tay'pee, must be his word for fire," O'vettun told the others, trying to understand his
words so they could talk. "Fire," she told the human, "Tay'pee--fire. Both are the same."
             So far they had not been able to find any translating devices in the wreckage. The
stranger would either have to learn their language or they would have to learn his. So far he was
being the teacher, not them.
             "Fire?" he repeated understanding that the strange word was their word for fire. "Fire--
tay'pee kweh!" he replied.
             "O'vettun?" he asked pointed to the other Atanzi's sitting nearby, "O'vettun-wuk?"
             That took her a minute, "I am O'vettun," she said pointing to herself. "They-we are Atanzi,
A-tan-zi," she pointed to her fellows sweeping wide to encompass everyone.
             He nodded, "Atanzi. Lay'nee Lay-na'pay," he replied pointing to himself and then beyond
the fire to where his village lay.
             O'vettun caught on and so did some of the others. He was not alone. There were others
out there of his kind. It really hadn't hit them until then that he might not be alone. Where there
was one human there would be others.
             None of the survivors around the fire knew the background of this planet, how primitive, or
how developed its peoples were. But judging from this human they were more to the primitive
side. However, they were intelligent enough to understand what had been discovered over the
millennia to be universal concepts and some advanced ideas as well.
             The native been smart enough to understand how much the Atanzis were out of their
natural environment, and how helpless they were in his. Curiously enough he was also treating
them as equals, not like they were some gods or super beings like they might have expected. He
was perceptive enough to see that they were people just a little different from himself.
             His people could prove useful. O'vettun knew they couldn't stay here in the wreckage of
the ship. They needed more permanent shelter. They would be sitting ducks if the Rumnulska
returned to finish them off. That was always a possibility. She needed to convince Day'kay-ning to
take them back to his people or at least take them to a place where they could survive on their
own.
             She began by asking him how far it was to his people

   * 14 *

             "That's the last of them, sir," Tanz W'rett reported as he helped the last person through
the engineering access tube and he turned to face his Asenti.
             "That's all?" Ky'tulendu questioned, as he counted the survivors gathered in the corridor
outside of the bridge. The ratio of living to dead appalled and depressed him.
             "Yes, Asenti, that's all. If there are any more we can't find or get to them right now,"
W'rett replied with deep regret as helped the injured crewman to a place to sit.
             Ky'tulendu just shook his head and looked over the remains of his crew. Out of crew of
over four hundred, only a hundred and fifty-three Atanzi had been found alive along with seven
Tranrils, and five Soaetts. Luckily, there were few that were going to die because of injuries.
B'tunku's medical crew had immediately gone to work on the worst of the injured and had the
situation under control.
             What Ky'tulendu feared most that there were more alive in the bowels of the ship that
they couldn't reach. They were finding too many corridors dead ended because of collapsed
superstructures and cave ins, or discovering access ways welded shut either by the heat of
reentry into the atmosphere or by landing stresses. Then in the deeper levels the many of the
corridors had been filled by dirt, rocks, and water.
             He didn't want to think of those dying in some dark, airless hole within the ship and
possibly within reach if only someone had had the time and equipment to get them out in time. He
was thankful for every crew person he did find alive, and he mourned each one he had lost or was
going to lose. He wondered too how many of the bodies he had seen outside were alive or dead.
As soon as they could get the living out then they would begin burying the dead outside. He
wanted the ship cleaned out so he could send in salvage crews to strip it of all usable wiring and
components.
             He had people hunting for usable equipment and supplies and they had turned up a wealth
of it from the science and medical labs. He had also ordered that all personal cabins be stripped
for clothing and bedding. With stores gone they were going to need every salvageable item they
could lay their hands on.
             No matter where they had landed on this planet, they were going to have to rely on
themselves and live in primitive conditions. He feared that few among his crew were up to that.
Even with Command survival training, he feared that most of them were too civilized and
pampered to adapt to this uncivilized world and primitive world.
             He had the computer techs download every file they could access before the backup
power went off and the main computers went down completely. He had them put the downloaded
files on data cartridges for later retrieval with the small record/scan units. What they needed
immediately he had ordered hard copies made of on flexible synthetic sheets and bound into
portable compact notebooks.
             In particular he had the file pulled on this planet and maps made so they could locate
where they had come down. Remembering what he had read about the varying levels of
development of the differing humanoid civilizations spread across the planet he sincerely hoped
they had landed in one of the less civilized areas. If the civilized people were as intolerant as he
thought they were his people were in real danger once they stepped outside. He made sure
everyone was armed with a stunner and carried a communicator. He wished he could have them
all carry
translators but there weren't enough to go around.
             He also had his crew retrieve and find every power cell they could get. He didn't think
they could make replacement cells or devise alternate sources of power for their equipment.
Without the ship and its systems intact they weren't going to have the comforts they were used
to, or their high levels of technology after the machines died from lack of power or their
components wore out.
             He had no hopes of rescue by Command or the Alliance. They were alone, stranded on a
primitive planet in far within enemy territory with a war starting that would block off all access to
this sector. If his messages had gotten through before they had entered Rumnulskan territory
then someone would know what had happened to his ship and the T'swaquill. If they hadn't gotten
through then Command wouldn't know to look for them here.
             These thoughts he kept to himself. He would let his people think that help was coming and
it was only a matter of time while in reality they would be setting up a permanent long-time
outpost on this planet. Probe reports had not indicated that the Rumnulska were using this planet,
or its inhabitants. He just hoped it stayed that way so they could avoid detection.
             Idly, he did wonder where they had come down. The planet was not as large as the
homeworld, but it was closer to the sun. It had a wide range of climates and environments, more
so than he was used to. His brief view outside showed a forest, not a jungle. The air had been
almost hot, but the report he had seen showed that the temperature could vary from very hot to
very cold according to the season and where one was on the planet.
             Their two main problems once they left the shelter of the ship were going to be food and
water, and some sort of dry, warm shelters. Many of his crew had argued already that they could
live in the ship, but he had to forcefully remind them that the Rumnulska could melt this ship to
molten slag with them in it at any time. That killed any further protests that might have been
made.
             "Sir, we're ready." W'rett said coming up to him. The younger dark haired male had
changed to a heavier uniform with jacket, field back pack, weapons, and hand tools dangling from
his belt. He had made all of the crew that could change from the their lightweight ship's uniform to
landing party gear on the Asenti's orders.
             "All right, let's move out." Ky'tulendu ordered his people.
             "Go in single file. Security personnel out first, followed by tech and computer services,
then sciences, then all others. We'll assemble outside the ship. Stay together and don't wander off
on your own. If you find survivors outside help them. Do not use your weapons for any reason.
The dominant intelligent life forms are humans do not attempt contact--leave them alone. Does
everyone understand?" he asked.
             There were nods and a few yeses heard over the sounds of people moving themselves
and equipment. They moved out, going up the two access hatch ladders. Ky'tulendu wished there
was an easier way out, but so far none had been found as they explored the accessible levels
within the ship.
             Their hardest tasks were going to be getting the injured and all the equipment out. After
the personnel were out then they could burn openings through the hull. He didn't dare risk it with
his people still inside. Making holes in the hull was going to be the only way to get the heavier
vehicles and machinery out with the doors to the hanger bays frozen shut.
             They had found seven skimmers, four all terrain vehicles, and six long distance scout
fliers so far that had survived the crash in one of the bays. The other bay could not be accessed.
Judging from where they had encountered the wall of dirt in their explorations he suspected both
bays were partially buried. Ky'tulendu had ordered what portable diggers that had been found to
be taken outside after they were evacuated so that work could begun immediately to free the
ships and transports.
             He had ordered that all translators be found and distributed among the crew, especially
those with security, command, and some of the science and medical departments. He wanted to
keep possible misunderstandings in language and customs down to a minimum. He remembered
from the reports how touchy the natives were about perceived differences. Their appearance
alone could get them killed in many parts of this new world.
             "W'rett, Vokolin, do you think you can handle getting the crew out from here?" he asked
wanting to be among the first out to check on the local conditions and to organize the crew when
they got out.
             "No problem, sir." Vokolin replied, the communicators are working. I'll call if we have
problems here."
             "Good, one of us needs to get things organized outside. It's going to be a long couple of
days for everyone. Make sure everyone has a weapon, a communicator, and a survival pack with
extra rations. Food and water are going to be the main problems after shelter," Ky'tulendu
reminded her, checking his own gear, including an added knife and a climbing rope.
             He entered the narrow access tube and began climbing, moving past the two security
guards waiting by the entrance to the outer hatch. They moved back against the sides to allow
him to pass.
             He could feel the cool early morning air as he neared the opening. After the stuffy
humidity of the ship it was refreshing. The sky was a dark blue sprinkled with tiny points of light,
stars he realized as he got closer to the top. It had been early day when he had gone above
before, now it was night.
             Had that much time elapsed since he had gone back below? More, he thought, because
the sky was beginning to lighten in the east with streaks of pink and pale blue shades. He didn't
want to think how long it had been since they had landed, but he guessed they were entering their
second or third day.
             The sounds of the night birds and other unknown creatures reached his ears. It was a
magical moment for him, more so than when he had briefly seen what had happened to his ship.
He stood in the hatchway for a moment just taking in the impressions he was receiving of the new
world. He should feel scared, afraid, instead he felt excited, anxious, and like he was already home
in some strange way.
             It was an odd feeling, one he had never had on any world before. It reinforced the feelings
he had felt when he was given this assignment. That he was fulfilling some sort of destiny, or plan-
-that he was here for a reason yet unknown. Odd, very odd, he thought to himself as he hoisted
himself out of the hatch opening.
             Ky'tulendu's hard-soled shoes rang loudly against the metal surface as he walked across
the hull going towards the edge of the bridge section to see the damage to the rest of his ship
more closely and to find a way down. It was almost too dark to see much of anything even with his
eyes.
             He could hear security coming out behind him and across the wide brim of the hull the
other group was beginning to emerge from the other hatch. Security joined him as he walked
along the edge. There were several possibilities, but most required that someone do a number of
jumps down and then find suitable materials to build ramps for the other, less able personnel to
walk on. There was enough loose material out there to do the job, if they could get at it.
             A strange arid smell whiffed past his nose, it took him a moment to recognize it--smoke--
wood smoke, he decided. Someone had built a fire nearby! It wasn't a forest fire. That danger
seemed be over. The trees that he had observed burning earlier evidently had burnt themselves
out, he noticed in relief.
             His hopes rose with the smell of that smoke. There were two choices, survivors, he hoped,
or what he didn't want to see, a delegation from the local population. He wasn't ready for that. If
they could, he wanted to avoid the local humans.
             "HELLO, IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE?" Ky'tulendu called out, suddenly, his rich
voice echoing loudly across the open glade and bouncing off the tall trees that ringed the crash
pit.
             His sudden action shocked the security guards who looked at their Asenti like he had lost
his mind. They were supposed to be keeping a low profile, weren't they? At least that's what the
regulations had said on planetary landings in unknown territory. But their landing hadn't been
regulation either. . . and he was the Asenti.
             Ky'tulendu stood there outlined in the pale blue light and just grinned at them, "It's the
start of a new world. Thought I'd wake it up." Then more seriously he said, "If there are survivors
out there I want them to know that we're here. We need to find out who started that fire and
where it's at."
             "Want me to check, sir?" One of them asked.
             "Yes, and find a way down. We can't stay up here," he said, turning to take the time to
watch the colors of this new world's sunrise through the trees. There was much he could get to
like about this world, he thought contentedly to himself.

* 15 *

             Huddled in a shelter made from pieces of metal placed around one of the gaping holes in
the ship's side, O'vettun's group was still sleeping. The sky was just beginning to lighten in the east
with the promise of clear weather. The night birds and the early risers were beginning their
contests of song in the cool air. The fire had burned down but was still going, having been fed
occasionally by the two sentries that O'vettun had put on watch, but they too were asleep from
exhaustion.
             In The Forest woke up, his wilderness bred senses suddenly on alert. He had heard
noises coming from on top of the shiny thing--footsteps--someone waking on its surface. More
than one somebody with heavy moccasins like the strangers wore. He reached over and woke
O'vettun.
             "What?" she said, coming out of her deep sleep, not realizing who was shaking her.
             "Leave me alone, I want to sleep!" she protested trying to roll back over and bury herself
into her nest of warm blankets.
             But In The Forest would not let her. "I said. . . !" then she stopped, seeing who it was.
             The human was gesturing upwards towards the ship, and put his finger to his lips, and
cupped his ear in the direction of the ship indicating that she should do likewise. She did sitting
very still. In the early morning quietness she could hear what he heard, many footsteps ringing
loudly on the hull of the ship far above them.
             She jumped when she heard Ky'tulendu's shout, asking if anyone was out there. The two
camp guards jumped too, waking up suddenly, looking around frantically, and drawing their
weapons on reflex.
             "Don't! Put them away!" she told them both and they did, shame faced at their reactions.
             "Answer him somebody. Let them know we're down here!" she quickly ordered them. "Get
out where they can see you, fools!"
             "Yes, sir!" one of them replied anxiously, running towards the edge of the pit where he
could be seen by those on top.
             "We're here! WE'RE HERE!" he shouted, waving his arms and jumping up and down to
draw their attention. One of the guards on top spotted him, and waved back.
             "O'vettun, they've seen me, now what?" he asked her, looking to her for directions. He
was young and inexperienced at handling situations like this.
             She walked to where he stood, her blonde hair very sleep rumpled, and feeling very
groggy. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders for the chill. In The Forest was similarly
clad as he followed her to see the newcomers.
             "Atanzi?" he asked in her language, pointing up.
             "Atanzi? Yes, I hope so," she replied, nodding hopefully to him as she tried to see who
and how many people there were.
             "WHO IS UP THERE?" she asked, shouting. Hoping her voice was loud enough to carry
the distance. It echoed just like the Asenti's had across the hollow.
             "ASENTI KY'TULENDU AND SURVIVORS FROM THE SHIP!" the Asenti shouted back.
"AND WHO ARE YOU?"
             "ENGINEERING SPECIALIST O'VETTUN, AND THIRTY-FIVE SURVIVORS PLUS
ONE HUMAN NATIVE WITH US, SIR," she yelled in reply, feeling his shock. Although she didn't
understand whether it was because of the small number of people with her or because of the
native, or both.
             "THIRTY-FIVE? IS THAT ALL THAT MADE IT OUT HERE?" Ky'tulendu asked, finally
after a long pause.
             "THAT'S ALL WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND SO FAR, SIR."
             "YOU HAVE A NATIVE WITH YOU? WHERE DID IT COME FROM?" he asked, not liking
them having made contact so soon.
             "UNKNOWN, HE FOUND US AND HE HAS BEEN HELPING US TAKE CARE OF THE
SURVIVORS AND GET US THROUGH THE NIGHT. HE DOESN'T WANT TO LEAVE US FOR
SOME REASON."
             "I'LL ACCEPT THAT. WE'LL DISCUSS THE HUMAN LATER, SPECIALIST
O'VETTUN. IS THERE A WAY DOWN FROM HERE?" he asked.
             "NOT FROM THAT ANGLE, TRY GOING ABOUT THIRTY LSSNS TO YOUR LEFT.
THERE'S SOME METAL BUCKLED UP THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE AS A RAMP TO
GET DOWN," O'vettun suggested watching the small figures on the curved bridge hull move about
searching for a way down.
             Meanwhile, In The Forest had been watching and listening to the exchange. He saw what
they needed and went to find materials to make a ladder. He founds some long and short lengths
of heavy pipes, material to make bindings from and began to start roping the makeshift ladder
pieces together. One of the Atanzis saw what he was doing and joined him. When the ladder was
completed the two carried it to the side of the ship and held it up so that the people on top could
grab it and pull it up to them.
             "You were objecting about the human, Asenti?" O'vettun commented sardonically with a
raised eyebrow and a cross armed stance as he came down the ladder.
             Ky'tulendu carefully looked from her to the red skinned human and back. She was
evidently the official leader of this group, with the native her second in command. The man
seemed to understand their needs better than they did. That ladder was evidence of quick,
original thinking.
             He would have to be cautious in dealing with this situation. This was not anything he had
anticipated. "So he found you, you said. Unconscious?" Ky'tulendu asked trying to get a picture
of what had happened.
             "Yes, we all were. Day'kay-ning told me that we were out for at least a day," she replied
relaxing her stiff pose a little but she drew her blanket closer around her to ward off the morning's
chill.
             "He--Day'kay-ning, told you? You have a translator?" the Asenti asked, looking the native
over carefully and noting his almost naked appearance and his clothes made of animal skins.
Ky'tulendu noted he was being accessed just as carefully, and he seemed to have been approved
as acceptable by the native.
             "No, Asenti, we haven't been able to find one. He talks in his own language and with
gestures. We've been making each other understand. Did you find any translators?" she asked
hopefully.
             "We did. But you know Command regulations about interfering or showing ourselves to
less developed species," Ky'tulendu reminded her.
             She laughed, "Sir, his whole village heard and saw us crash. I sincerely doubt if we could
keep our existence secret after that, nor are we likely to just blend in. We are rather different in
physical appearance," O'vettun argued logically. "I'm frankly glad that the natives are friendly and
helpful, or at least this one is," she defended.
             "Specialist, I am your superior officer," he said, not liking her attitude. He needed to
maintain discipline.
             "I don't think that's going to count for very much here, sir, after we get settled, and we
are going to be settlers. We won't be getting rescued, because no one knows we're here, right
sir?" she asked, watching his expression change fractionally.
             "Yes, but I'd rather you keep that to yourself. Some of the crew is not handling the
situation too well, but you on the other hand seem to have adapted quickly," he said harshly.
             She smiled again ignoring his anger. "I'm from one of the out-colonies. My family were
farmers, our farm was surrounded by woods and lots of game animals. I grew up learning the old
skills, hunting, fishing, and farm crafts. This is more primitive than I'm used to, though some skills
are adaptable," she told him.
             He was pleased but surprised, because she didn't look like the outdoors type. "You're an
engineer. How did you manage to survive when your department got destroyed along with the
rest of the ship and the engines?"
             She looked down embarrassed, "My superior had sent me on an errand when the
Rumnulska attacked us coming out of the clouds. I was up near sciences when the final attack
happened so I buried myself in a closet to ride out the crash. I'm surprised as you are that I'm
alive, sir," she reported truthfully looking up at him with grass green eyes that had a wisdom and a
strength beyond her apparent years.
             Her size made her appear younger than she was. Everyone towered over her or so it
seemed, but she was not a frail female. There was an aura of authority about her that made
people follow and obey her. She had made sure that her group was organized and taken care of
with food and shelter as well as safety.
             As to her native friend, Ky'tulendu had been watching him out of the corner of his eye as
he had talked to O'vettun. He had adopted them, and her in particular. He doubted if they could
get rid of him unless the native wanted to leave on his own. We are too interesting to leave. The
more he knows of us--the more he can tell his people, the Asenti thought.
             "O'vettun, your friend can stay. I'll have both of you issued translators and see what we
can learn about him and this area. Do you think he'll be willing to teach us?"
             She nodded, and looked to Day'kay-ning watching the rising sun light up his chiseled
features. "More than willing, sir. Unless we do something to make him want to leave us he will be
hard to get rid of. He did say through gestures that he is not alone and that his people are not far
away."
             "I thought so. Must be their forward scout, or he might have been the only one brave
enough to see what made the big noise?" Ky'tulendu speculated out loud, the sunlight haloing his
wind rippled hair with gold.
             "I think so, if you had not come, I was going to go visit his people and see if they would
take us in."
             Ky'tulendu nodded, agreeing with her thinking. "We may visit them, but later. First we
need to set up a permanent camp of our own away from the ship as soon as possible. With your
thirty-five we now number one hundred and eighty-eight Atanzi, seven Tranquils, and five Soaetts
out of the total ship's company," he told her seeing her shocked reaction to the news.
             "That...few?" she said finally, reeling in shock, remembering how large the ship's
company had been.
             "There may be more, but we haven't been able to get into that many parts of the ship.
There's just too much damage and debris in the lower sections of the ship. That we have any
medical personnel is only because of MS B'tunku's quick thinking," Ky'tulendu said as he noticed
B'tunku coming their way, turning over the supervision of moving the injured to one of her
assistants.
             In The Forest looked up at the doctor's approach, studying her as she was studying him.
Her heart almost caught in her throat until she got closer and she realized he was not the one
from her dreams, but he was very similar in appearance. She composed herself quickly before
she hoped anyone had noticed.
             In a casual, but official tone to told Ky'tulendu, "Asenti, the wounded are being brought
down now. So far the evacuation is proceeding without problems," she reported, coming up to
them wearing heavy field clothes and carrying scanner equipment.
             "Good, we'll make camp here today. I'll send scouting parties out to check for new
campsites further from the ship. So what do you think of the planet so far?" he asked, noting that
her eyes were trying to take in everything and pay attention to the group too.
              "Spectacular, sir. The reports did not do this planet justice," she said her voice tinged
with awe. Then she focused on the native. "This is one of the natives of the area?" she asked,
casually.
             "He calls himself, 'Day'kay-ning' or translated it means 'In The Forest'. He seems to like
us, Doctor," O'vettun replied protectively, looking over with an encouraging smile to the tall,
muscular, almost naked human male hovering near her.
             O'vettun had bristled when the doctor approached. That bothered her so she was trying to
understand what was sending off warning bells in her about the tall silver maned female who
walked with such self assurance and an air of command. O'vettun had noted that unlike the rest of
the meds MS B'tunku wore weapons on her belt. Was she even a doctor? She wasn't like any
doctor she had ever met before in any situation.
             B'tunku had never seen O'vettun before, but she knew that the petite female was checking
her over as she was doing the same. It was clear that the engineer had been born to command
and lead. How she had landed in engineering instead of on one of the command tracks would be
interesting to know. Already, she was gaining followers, like the native.
             O'vettun's comment had struck her as funny for the female could not interpret the looks
she was getting from the human. The human rarely took his eyes off the small blonde Atanzi. It
was more like he likes you, O'vettun, than Atanzi's in general, B'tunku thought to herself.
             "Does he understand us?" B'tunku asked. It was obvious that the human was getting
frustrated at being left out.
             "No, we were going to see about getting some translators for him and O'vettun,"
Ky'tulendu interjected.
             "Do you have one?"
             "Yes."
             "Then give it to the human, so he can understand us," Ky'tulendu ordered as he handed
O'vettun his own.
             "As you wish, Asenti," she answered, reluctantly giving over her translator to the native
who took it looking over the small black ovaloid device in the palm of his large hand carefully
turning it this way and that as he examined the slick feeling, shiny, rock-box that tingled against
his skin.
             O'vettun reached over with a clawed finger and turned it on for him showing him how to
make it work. "You can now talk to us, In The Forest," she told him, aiming the tiny device at
herself, so it could pick up her words as she turned on her own.
             His face lit up with delighted surprise at hearing and understanding her words instantly. "I
can hear your speech? We do not have to struggle to find words--signs to make ourselves
understood? What magic is this?" he asked bewilderedly looking at her then the device and then
back again with wide dark eyes.
             O'vettun smiled, "Not magic--science. Atanzi science so we can talk to strangers and
they can understand us. The little box makes it easy for us to talk now. Do you like?"
             He smiled broadly showing many white even teeth. "Yes, this is much easier. I have many
questions to ask, O'vettun. Many questions, indeed," he told her in his deep rich voice, his dark
eyes lighting up in anticipation

 * 16 *

             In The Forest was trying to sort out which questions he wanted to ask first. There were so
many. He started with the one that was at the top of his mind. "What are you? Men or Gods?" he
asked O'vettun finally after he had gotten over the wonder of the translating device.
             O'vettun started to laugh, but then thought better of it, because he had asked the question
so seriously. "People, flesh and blood people, just different looking from you. We come from very
far away--from one of those points of light."
             "Star people--yes!" he agreed, pleased that his assumptions had been correct. "I thought
you might be. Why so far from home?" he asked.
             "We were exploring the skies, seeing new worlds and peoples when our enemies found us.
They chased us here, and our flying ship was damaged and we fell and crashed." O'vettun
explained simply not wanted to go into to much detail unless In The Forest demanded more, but
he seemed satisfied.
             "So what will your people do? Go home, or stay here in this land and make new homes?"
he asked her, hoping that they would be staying.
             "We can't go home, our ship is beyond fixing. We will have to live here in your land--
somewhere. Will your people let us?" she asked, and everyone listened for his answer.
             "I don't know, O'vettun. We will have to meet with the Council and the Chief. They will
decide if you can stay. If they don't want your people to stay then you will have to go elsewhere or
they will send warriors to drive you away."
             "You have no say?" she asked taking him over to the where the Asenti and the doctor sat
talking on one of the smaller chunks of the hull.
             "Almost none. I am merely a hunter, not a warrior of great honors and deeds. Nor do I
have my own household or lodge. In my tribe I have no status," he told her not being altogether
truthful though she didn't know that.
             O'vettun understood his problem, there were similar social customs among her people.
"The tall red-haired male is the Asenti--the leader of our people here, his name is Ky'tulendu. The
female with him is the chief medical officer her name is B'tunku. They are our Elders. I am like
you--I have very little status."
             He disagreed that she had little status but accepted it. Watching Ky'tulendu and B'tunku
he had to ask. "Are they mates?"
             "No--There are very few mated coupled in our company."
             "I saw you cry over a male that you found dead. Was he your mate?" In The Forest
asked, hoping he was not being too curious.
             "No, he was not. He was only a close friend. I have never had a mate. My job didn't leave
time for me to have a family, nor was there any one I was interested in," she said quietly, trying to
end the conversation.
             She sensed that he knew she wanted to change the subject. She suspected that he, if not
his people as well were very empathic. He attracted her in strange ways and he was not
unpleasant to look at. If he were only Atanzi, she wistful thought to herself, but he's not. Then she
heard him speaking to her.
             "Why are there no little ones among your people. No children?" he asked.
             His question took her by surprise, but she answered him. "Children are not allowed on
exploration ships. It's not safe. Those that do have children leave them at home and have wives or
their families look after them."
             "Like our war parties or the persons who go scouting?" he suggested wanting
conformation that he comprehended.
             "Similar, but our people don't like to fight. We like to live in peace with other peoples
everywhere. Killing or hurting others makes us very sad," she tried to explain. "Unfortunately,
there are other beings out there that look different from us who like to kill and hurt people. We
tried to stop them, so they became our enemies. They might even try to hurt your people
because of us," she warned him.
             "Will they come soon--from the sky?" he asked suddenly afraid, not knowing why her
words chilled but only that they did.
             "I don't know when or if they will come. Your world is in their territory and it would be
unlike them to leave us alone," she explained. "You are no more than an animal to them as are
we."
             For that concept In The Forest had to sit down and think on the ramifications of what that
meant. When he had sat alone in the woods watching the night sky, thoughts like that had passed
through his head. That he was just a dust speck in the larger cosmos outside his little world, and
that there were other beings out there ones that could be dangerous to his kind.
             "I heard one of your people say the word, 'Rumnulska' several times and he seemed
frightened. Is that the name of your enemies?" he asked wanting verification.
             "Yes. They are lizard-looking men with greenish colored scaled skins. They are
barbarians, savages, whose empire now takes over many star systems and they make all the
people they conqueror their slaves if they don't kill them first. They are very dangerous to
everyone. My people are trying to stop them, but I fear we might not be able to," she said sadly
looking away from him.
             "Why?"
             "They like to fight and my people and our allies don't know how. I fear many of our
peoples will be slaughtered in the battles yet to come. We've been at peace too long and won't
willing hurt another being no matter what they do to us."
             "But your people carry weapons? I saw what the light did to the tree."
             "That's a stunner. It was not designed to hurt only to knock a being out without harming it.
On the higher setting it can kill, or burn something up, but only at the highest setting. Our ship
carried weapons like the stunner but bigger but they were only for defense not for offense--to
attack others. It's very difficult to explain."
             He nodded, but he had understood every word of her explanation. He wondered vaguely if
it came to a fight between his people and hers who would win, even if they weren't fighters their
stunners and their natural weapons would make them very formidable opponents. He had looked
over the males in their camp and decided he wouldn't last very long against any of them if it came
to a real fight. No, it was much better being these star-beings friend than their enemy, he
decided.
             "I have a question for you, In The Forest," she said, feeling his dark eyes focus back on
her, "Why did you decide to help us?"
             He blushed under his bronze skin, and brushed some hair back from his face, "I was
curious at first at what the great shiny thing was, and then I saw the bodies of your people and
that made me more curious. I saw you first. You did not look dead, only asleep, so I stopped to
wake you. When I saw how helpless your people were. I could not go off and leave you."
             She smiled and nodded. "Yes, we are that--helpless. We live. . . lived. . . in very safe,
sheltered villages where we didn't have to worry about food, or clothes or anything. Most of these
people have never been outdoors in their entire lives. All this open sky and dirt is frightening to
them," she tried to explain and his look was one of astonishment and incomprehension.
             "No sky? No dirt? No trees? How can that be? Do you live in caves--what?" he asked,
shaking his head puzzled.
             "Big lodges, bigger than any of these trees, so that one never has to go outside. It's a
long story, that I will tell you more about later. Right now I think the Asenti wants to see us," she
told him motioning towards Ky'tulendu who was coming their way.
             The sky was bright now, the two had talked for longer than they realized. She had never
gotten that absorbed in a conversation before with anyone. Nor had he by the looks he was giving
to the sun's position in the blue--blue sky.
             It was hard not to be attracted to the human. He was intelligent, practical, resourceful,
very caring, and very good looking by any species standards. Except--why did he have to be
human? She sighed, deeply. The first male I'm even vaguely attracted to and he has to be non-
Atanzi.
             His male scent was as strong and as alluring as any of her fellows. That didn't fit with what
she knew of humans. . . she shouldn't be attracted to him on any physical level, mental maybe,
but not physical. As far as she could remember reading they were physically compatible, but not
biologically. Viable offspring were not possible. So why was she feeling sexual urges around this
human? No, those weren't logical, rational thoughts she was beginning to have about him. That
was bothering her.
             In The Forest was having similar thought about O'vettun, but from his perspective she was
just a very exotic looking female. Genetics and differing biologies weren't even entering into his
thoughts.
             The mating urge was rising up in him as well, and he wasn't understanding why it was any
more than she was. When she spoke or looked at him his heart leaped and he grew warm inside.
Fires burned in him where there had never been fires before. He knew they were different but it
didn't matter--to him. All he knew was that he wanted and needed her to make his life complete.
             Then there had been the dreams he had discounted. Too much of this was too familiar to
him, and shouldn't be, O'vettun most of all. She matched the images in his head of the dream girl
with golden hair that he could just barely see and hear. He was torn between wanting to believe,
and not believing. Though everything that had happened, so far told him it was real and he had
seen glimpses of the future.
             But now was not the time to pursue the question of whether the dreams were real, or not,
but later after they were settled in he would come courting. He decided that after watching how
her hips moved when she walked ahead of him. He could only hope that she was as interested in
him as he was in her. Her shy glances at him when she thought he wasn't looking were
encouraging.
             "Oh, O'vettun, how you make my blood boil," he said to himself as her unconscious
movements stirred places in him, and he found he needed to excuse himself from the group
temporarily.
             "I need to go check something in the woods," he told her and walked quickly away before
she could stop him.
             He ran up the sides of the pit into the woods like a shot. She stared after him puzzled,
shaking her head. When he was out of sight she joined the Asenti and the Doctor who had also
noted the native's retreat.
             "I'm not sure what that was all about," O'vettun commented very puzzled over the native's
behavior as she sat down by them, glancing occasionally towards the area that In The Forest had
vanished into with a worried expression.
             B'tunku smiled. "I think I have an idea. Your friend likes you. He likes you a lot and your
presence was getting to him. He'll be back when he's cooled down," she told the younger woman.
             O'vettun looked surprised, then embarrassed. "That's what I was afraid of. What do I do?
He's human and I'm Atanzi, we shouldn't be having this problem!" O'vettun protested, her hands
restless in her lap.
             The two Atanzi officers agreed. Interspecies problems like this rarely occurred because
the attraction wasn't there. But B'tunku had felt the draw from the human and had been
discussing this problem with Ky'tulendu.
             "No, we shouldn't. We shouldn't be attracted and he shouldn't be attracted to us. When
we can get a lab set up. I'm going to run some tests. My scanners are showing that there are
some differences between us in blood chemistry and some physical structures, but they are very
minor."
             "You're saying matings between us and them are possible?" the engineer asked
surprised.
             "Physically I can detect no incompatibility problems. As to the results from any mating
that is unknown until I can run lab tests. Even our bacteria and micro-organisms are identical in
structure. We won't contract anything fatal from contact with them or vice-versa, though I would
suggest we keep up with the immunization programs until we have adapted fully to this planets
biosystems," B'tunku suggested.
             "So we should keep to limited contact until all the tests are in?" Ky'tulendu asked wanting
to know the risks of physical contact with the native population.
             "It would be wise. Casual touch should be okay. Normal interactions, but no physical
intimacy until we can determine it is safe for both us and them," B'tunku said, but it was an order
nevertheless.
             "My med techs are checking over your group now, O'vettun, and checking the bodies for
any survivors you may have missed. You didn't find any medical equipment out here. Your people
just field dressed the wounds with available materials?" B'tunku asked O'vettun.
             "Yes, that's all we could do. We found some med supplies later after we got the injured
moved. Then we redressed the wounds with the new supplies, but initially we just cleaned them up
with rainwater. I felt we didn't have a choice at the time," O'vettun explained, hoping she hadn't
done anything wrong.
             B'tunku didn't know whether to be worried or not. "I will need you to point out which of
your people were field dressed. We'll keep an eye on them for the next couple of days to see if
they develop any infections or fevers outside the normal range. So much of what we do, and how
we survive here is going to be a matter of trial and error."
             Ky'tulendu agreed, "When In The Forest returns I want to see if he will show us around
the area so we can find a place for a permanent camp. I want us away from this wreck as soon as
we can manage it. I don't want to be a sitting duck for the Rumnulska Daggerships."
             "How long do you think we have?" O'vettun asked him.
             "No way to tell. Though I'm surprised we haven't seen any of them before now. Maybe we
got lucky and they recalled them because of the war."
             "War? What WAR?" O'vettun asked, her green eyes widening in shock.
             "It may or may not have officially started, but there's a very high probability that we have
gone to war with the Empire over the acts they have committed against Alliance citizens and
ships. If Command received my last report then the Council should have declared war by now,"
Ky'tulendu said sadly, regret was heavy in his voice because it had been his hand that had tipped
the galactic balance.
             "War--how scary. If it comes to that I hope it'll be short, but long enough to keep the
Daggerships from coming back and destroying us. Do you want me to pick some people to go
with us to scout out sites?" she asked getting back to business.
             "Do that. Let's keep it small. Have them carry hand stunners, field packs, and translators.
We may be gone over night so sleeping gear as well," Ky'tulendu told her.
             "Ah, your friend is returning. I'll ask him while you get the squad organized," he added
watching the human return looking a lot more self-contained and carrying what Ky'tulendu
recognized as a bow and a quiver of arrows on his back.
             The human had the look of a person who had been doing a lot of thinking and who had
come to some hard decisions. Some which he wasn't too happy about, but he had decided to live
with. Ky'tulendu had suspicions that the human's thinking revolved around O'vettun, but he didn't
know the human well enough to inquire what was on his mind.
             Ky'tulendu got up as B'tunku went to check on her meds and O'vettun went to get a squad
together. The tall Asenti walked up to the human who was following O'vettun with his eyes like he
couldn't get enough of her. The human had it bad.
             "In The Forest, I need your help," Ky'tulendu said coming up. The leonine appearing male
was a very imposing figure in his black field uniform, he could tell he unnerved the human so he
toned his natural air of command down.
             "My help?" the human asked surprised.
             "Yes. I want to try and find a better place for my people to stay. Can you show us
around, help us find a place that would be also be acceptable to your people? One where our
presence would not bother them? " he asked, seeing understanding in the dark eyes.
             "Yes, I could do that. I can understand your not wanting to stay here. How soon do you
want to do this, Ky'tulendu?"
             "As soon as O'vettun has put together a squad. Or would you rather O'vettun stay here?"
he asked, wondering if the female should be included.
             "She should come. She understands what needs to be done. So few of your people do,"
he commented, with a slight upturn of his mouth, and saw the Asenti smile and nod in agreement.
             "We have lost the ways of our ancestors and admittedly we are helpless in this world of
yours. Though O'vettun does seem more capable than most to cope with what is happening. But
it's not just her wood skills and abilities you find interesting?"
              The human smiled and blushed under his tanned skin, "You have noticed then. Does my
interest in her cause problems?" he asked honestly.
             "Not for me personally. I do not know her all that well. You must be aware we are different
and it may not work between our peoples. Mating, if that is what you want with her, may not work
and children may not be possible. Do you understand?"
             "Yes, I have thought that too, but it is worth the risk, if she is willing. I have never felt this
way about anyone before can you understand that?" In The Forest told him. "I have just met this
strange female but I feel as though I have always known her. . . and that we belong together--
rightly or wrongly."
             "I do, but I would suggest caution. We do not know your people, or this place, and you do
not know us. There may be hidden dangers and problems beyond the obvious ones," Ky'tulendu
suggested gently.
             "True. I will not rush into things for the sake of both our peoples," In The Forest replied
carefully regaining his composure.
             "Good. Do you have any places you think might be suitable for us to make a camp?"
Ky'tulendu asked again.
             "There are a few that come to mind that have good game and water as well as materials
to build lodges from. It will be far enough away that my people will not have cause to complain
about your presence," he said thoughtfully. "These places are nearby, so it will not be difficult to
move your injured. Though as soon as possible we need to meet with the Council of Elders so that
there will be no trouble with you staying on these lands."
             "Yes, I agree that we need to meet with your Council as soon as possible but time is of
the essence. It is not safe for our people to stay here and they need shelter from the elements if
we are to survive here. I hope we can make the elders understand this," Ky'tulendu told him,
worried about possible complications. Moving his people and their equipment was a large worry on
his mind. He didn't think that anyone was up to a long trek through the wilderness he could see
beyond the pit.
             "Asenti Ky'tulendu, I will see your people settled first before I talk with my people, it might
be easier that way. They know that something large hit the ground here, but I was the only one
willing to see what it was. Since I have not returned, there will be others coming to see what
happened here, if they are not here already watching us. If they are watching and see that your
people mean me no harm then they will lose their suspicions and accept your presence here."
             "That is a good idea. I will inform my people to be on watch for yours and not to make
any hostile moves no matter what happens. I am going with you to check out possible camp sites
while my people prepare for the move. O'vettun is returning, are you ready to go?" Ky'tulendu
asking seeing the petite Atanzi leading a group of five huge security guards.
             The native nodded abstractly, already mesmerized by the sight of the young female
coming towards him.
             There was a smile on her face when she saw In The Forest, and the human was pleased
that she was glad to see him. Ky'tulendu groaned a little inside. This was going to be an
interesting trip. He could only hope that caution and logic would prevail between these two.
             While they were gone he was leaving B'tunku and Vokolin in charge. He had told his
second in command privately about B'tunku's identity. He hoped the two could work together and
organize the camp for moving while he was gone. He didn't envy them because they had the
harder job of dealing with the survivors and making a list of who had made it.
        The many injured had been moved to a temporary shelter from the sun that had been
constructed out of some large metal sheets with bed being constructed out of more pieces of
sheeting and wood gathered from the forest. Most of his people were in heavy shock from both
their injuries and the effects of the crash. The survivors of his normally efficient crew were so
traumatized and confused by what had happened and where they were that they were either
sitting or walking around in a daze. Though some of his people seemed to be coping okay but
they were in the minority and they were trying to help their less stable shipmates. Not all his crew
had been Command personnel. Many had been civilian scientists and lacked the training his
people had received as part of their basics to cope with emergencies. Though he knew this
situation was beyond any of his people's basic training. He suspected it would take a long time for
all of them to get over this disaster and there would still be a few that would never be able to. The
psychological scars were going to be too deep for all of them.
        Vokolin was not letting them sit idle unless they were too far gone emotionally to work.
Work and purpose would get them through this and time was critical for all of them. She already
had the able bodied working on making other shelters and organizing salvaged supplies. He saw
crews still carrying out supplies and equipment from the exit hatches, while others were entering
the ship from the huge gaps in the hull close to the ground. Already he had seen work crews using
the portable diggers along the sides of the buried ship to get the heavy equipment out of the
hangers. He also security doing perimeter scans on top of the pit and checking for more
survivors in the surrounding woods. Yes, she already had things in hand. He could go without
feeling guilty.
             With his squad assembled he told them, "Move out. In The Forest take the lead." The
seven Atanzi's and the human moved out heading for the green and lush forest beyond the pit.

 * 17 *

             The knee high mists of the morning fog clung to their feet and legs as they walked through the high golden grass of the clearing only to leave ghostly streamers trailing in their wake. It seemed as though they walked on clouds, so dense was the fog close to the ground as they moved across the small open space before entering the deeper shadows of the forest again. It made exploring their new world a magical experience for the seven Atanzi explorers.
             On all sides of them was an ancient climax forest where new growth struggled to thrust itself through the thick underbrush to reach the sun. In places where the shadows weren't heavy, shafts of sunlight speared down upon the carpeted floor like miniature spotlights in the greenish tinged gloom. Giant oak and elm trees, so large that it would take seven to ten large burley males holding hands to surround the girths of the ancient trees, imposed their massive presence on every side like silent guardians of this virgin forest.
             They walked under a canopy of leafy thick tangled greenery that almost blocked out the blue of the sky. Everywhere they looked the landscape was a riot of countless shades of color with mottled greens, browns, and golds arranged in odd, yet somehow familiar shapes
to their eyes.
             Flowers both large and small bloomed and budded, in impossibly bright, but sometimes subtle colors that contrasted against, yet sometimes blended into the denser green foliage. Their strange floral aromas assaulted their already heightened senses with sweet alluring fragrances which forcibly brought home to their minds the alieniness of this new planet.
             In The Forest told them to stay in his footsteps as they walked behind him. Beautiful as it was the woods were not as harmless as they appeared. He kept his ears open to all sounds as they followed the ancient path, listening for warnings of danger from the squirrels and the birds. The same sounds that made him comfortable made his charges jumpy and nervous because they had never heard such sounds or seen creatures quite like the ones that inhabited this area.
             The native had a sheltered valley in mind for the Atanzi's new home. It had a large clear steam, a variety of trees suitable for the timber needed for making lodges, and there was plentiful game in the area. Its sheltered position would keep the worse snow from burying them in winter. It also had caves that were good for storing food and supplies. A short walk would also take them to the ocean where they could get fish and other seafood from its rocky shore. The site would be near his people, but far enough away to keep problems down.
             By the time they arrived at his chosen spot, the mists had cleared. Through a small gap in the trees they could look down upon the small valley in all its bright promise. The Atanzis were pleased.
             A wide, deep creek ran through the center and if one followed it long enough one would end up at the sea or in the opposite direction in the camp of In The Forest's people. Tall birch trees and willows lined it on both sides. Maples, oaks, hickorys, and elms along with evergreens and pines vied for growing room. There were blackberry bushes and grapes as hidden bonuses as well as other fruit and nut bearing trees. The caves were on the other side of the creek and set into the hillside and hidden from their present view.
             "Do you like, Asenti Ky'tulendu?" In The Forest asked, showing them the valley with a theatrical sweep of his hands.
             "Yes---," he said open mouthed at its beauty. He just stared for many long moments trying to take in the size and scope of it before he could speak again. "This place is for us?" Ky'tulendu asked, still not believing the human's generosity. "All of this?"
             In The Forest smiled understanding his wonder. "Yes, all of this valley. Do you think this will be enough room for your people?" he asked with a laugh knowing how immense this place must seem after the confines of their small craft.
             "Definitely. This doesn't belong to anyone? Your people won't mind us being here?"
             "No. They live a ways upstream in that direction," he told him pointing south. "There are only my people on this island and of them we have only three villages."
             "Island? We are on an island?" Ky'tulendu asked, very curious now as to where they had actually landed. "How big of an island?"
             "A very large one. It takes several suns crossing to walk across it. That way is the mainland where others of our tribe live as well as other peoples that we trade with," he replied pointing westward.
             Ky'tulendu was getting an idea of where they were in relation to the surveys that had been done of the planet. The human's distinctive coloring and primitive appearance had already marked him as a native of the two large connecting land masses. There were several chains of islands along the coast of the northern continent, including one very large one near a bay. It just depended on how this human defined the term "large" as to which island they were really on.
             In many ways it was a relief to know that they had landed among the more primitive peoples. The more civilized light skinned humans as well as the brown and yellow colored ones that lived on the other continents across the oceans, those were the ones that seemed to have no tolerance for strangers and were always at war with one another. The reddish colored peoples were still warlike but they were also more peaceful than their counterparts and tolerant of differences, or so Ky'tulendu hoped.
             "If this is to be our land In The Forest what do you suggest we do first to start making it ready for my people?" Ky'tulendu asked seriously not wanting to make any mistakes or break any local customs.
             The Asenti's question took In The Forest by surprise. He almost laughed at it but then realized that the Asenti was serious--he really didn't know what he should do next.
             "If it were me, I would pick my camp site and then begin clearing the area so I could build my lodges," the native replied, looking over the area for suitable places.
             "Since I don't know the terrain and the local conditions would it offend you if I ask you to help us pick a good place. I haven't been outdoors like this before and wouldn't know a good spot from a bad," Ky'tulendu admitted, looking over the beautiful valley before him.
             "Do you think O'vettun might have some input?" Ky'tulendu suggested, remembering that she had been raised on a farm and might be able to access their needs too.
             "Possibly, she has said she has spent time outdoors. Call her," In The Forest replied, pleased that the Asenti had brought up the idea.
             O'vettun had been in the rear of the party doing survey work as they walked. That amounted to scanning the woods around them, picking up life signs and cataloging the life forms and their habits. She was also doing surveys of the plant life as well to determine what could be used for building materials and which were edible or usable in other ways. This preliminary data would then be cross-checked in their files, then when possible they would check with the natives to see how they used the local materials.
             O'vettun looked up from her scanner when she heard her name called by Ky'tulendu. She told one of the security guards who was doing similar work to continue while she went ahead to see what the Asenti wanted.
             "You wished to see me Asenti?" she asked coming up.
             In The Forest stood a little ways off looking down into the sun-lit valley watching a small herd of deer walk across an open glade far below. He tried not take too much notice of her.
             "Yes, I want you to accompany In The Forest to look for a camp site. He thinks this valley will be perfect for our people. Since you have experience in this type of terrain and know what is needed I will let you two pick the site. I will remain here and check back with Vokolin to see how things are progressing at the ship. Especially with getting out the heavy equipment."
             "Yes, Asenti," she replied, a little doubtful, but she did have to admit she was more qualified.
             She left the Asenti and walked the short distance to where In The Forest stood waiting. His attention was now focused on her. "Are you ready?" she asked.
             He nodded, and led the way along the edge of the hill looking for a safe way down. The rocks were loose and treacherous just below the brim. He directed her where to put her feet so she would not fall and slip.
             "Yes, come this way. The path does not seem as steep," he said finally finding her an easy way down the slick leaves and loose small rocks covered hillside.
             "Have you been here before?" she asked taking in the tall trees and large rocks they encountered along their path, noting that the rest of the group was already out of sight.
             "Many times, it is a good place to hunt for deer and other game. There are few bears or wolves to bother you," he said casually as they walked.
             She looked at him wanting to question him about the strange words he used but she didn't want to interrupt his talking. There was much to be learned by just listening.
             "The creek is good for fishing, and the water is fresh and sweet. On the other side of the creek there are caves that go down very far into the earth, so deep no one has dared go. My people do not like this spot--they say it is too lonely, but I have always felt comfortable here."
             "It does feel lonely, but it also feels good too. Like it has been waiting for something-- or someone to come," she said letting her senses stretch outward and draw in impressions.
             He looked at her surprised, "You can feel that? Feel the earth songs and the spirits?"
             "In a way, I guess. My people can sense and feel things. Under the right conditions we can connect ourselves with other people so we are almost one with them. Sometimes we can see what is going to happen or know when there is danger."
             "Like my uncle, the shaman, he can do that as well as some others in our village. I, too, have the gift. I had not told you before, but I saw your ship come in my dreams and . . . also. . . you. Other persons saw your people too. That is why I was not afraid. I knew you before I saw you," he told her and watched the play of emotions across her face as shock and surprise at his words hit her.
             She didn't know what to think or how to respond to his revelation that his people had psychic abilities or had seen them in dreams. "That is. . . amazing," was all she could manage to stammer in small choked voice.
             "The Gods and spirits sent you here--sent you to this place--to me--O'vettun. You must accept this truth. Just as they showed me the picture of this valley in my mind when your Asenti asked me where your people could live. They have also showed me pictures of your people and mine living together as one people in time. You will be my wife, and I, your husband, they have decreed it to be so," he said firmly, his certainty of the situation evident. He did not look at her to see her reaction when he stopped to study an expanse of flat ground ahead of them.
             "Excuse me--don't I get a say in this?" she asked angrily, a little taken aback at all this talk about the Gods decreeing their future life together. She had stopped too, feeling the rage building up in her because of his presumptuousness regarding her.
             "No!" he said flatly, not moving, his back still towards her.
             "NO?" she questioned. "I may like you--but you are a human and I am an Atanzi. That is a big no! We are too different and we cannot--should not mate!" she stormed, backing away from him.
             "The Gods and my visions say differently," he disagreed turning around to face her, his eyes ablaze with desire.
             His feelings were plain and they frightened her. Roughly she defended. "Maybe they do, but I don't. I am not ready to try and find out. Take me back to the others!" she demanded, growing more and more afraid of tall primitive human steadily advancing on her even though she knew in her heart that he meant her no harm--she still feared getting close to him.
             "No. Not yet. We have not finished our talk, nor have we found your new home as your Asenti ordered you," he reminded her coming closer all the while as she backed away. "O'vettun, I mean you no harm, nor do I mean to scare you," he told her, stopping. Her intense fear of him finally registering in his mind and chilling his inner soul. He did not want her to be afraid of him.
             "You are doing a good job of it," she said raggedly as she backed up against a tree, her green eyes wide with fear, and she felt as her heart was pounding so loud that he even could hear it ten paces away.
             "I frighten you that much?" he asked sadly, frightened himself by her reactions so much that he was unnerved as well.
             "You do--did," she said breathlessly hoping that he would stay where he was and not come closer.
             She felt the roughness of the bark pressing sharply into her back as she tried to flatten herself against the tree. In her ears she could hear the hum of some flying insects close by. Their presence did not comfort her. Though what made her more uncomfortable was the drenched feeling she had from perspiring because of her nerves and the heat of the hot sunlight beating against her black uniform. She hoped her fear would make him back off and just leave her alone for awhile--she just wasn't ready for this yet.
             It was like hearing him through a barrel as he tried to explain. "I never meant to frighten you. I want you, but I want you to come to me of your own free will, not afraid, but loving me as I love you. You misunderstood my words and my intent. We will be together, but only when we both are ready for that to be, and not by force," he tried to explain to her how he felt being very careful, not knowing how his words would be accepted.
             Foremost though, he wanted her to be comfortable around him. Her fears cut him through his heart like a sharp knife and it pained him to see her wanting to run away from him. It gratified him to note that his words did calm her down, and she relaxed finally still leaning against the tree.
             She flushed with embarrassment, and lowered her eyes. "I am sorry In The Forest for misunderstanding you, but these feelings--this pull we have should not be. Then when you tell me that the Gods have decreed that we should mate. It was a little hard to handle on top of the last couple of days."
             "I understand that now. I push when I should not, O'vettun. I keep forgetting how new you are to my home. How strange all of this is for you. Are we still friends?" he asked seriously, wanting her forgiveness and her trust. His dark eyes were sad with worry and regret for making her so frightened and uncomfortable.
             "Yes, we are that," she told him and he relaxed.
             "I think I have found a place to build your lodges," he told her changing the subject to a less dangerous one.
             "Show me," she asked, trusting him enough now to move from the tree to come see what he wanted to show her.
             He did show her, pointing out the almost level area to the left of them. It was far enough from the creek that the camp would not to be in danger from the spring floods. The heavily forested area looked like it would be easy to clear with the proper tools and the tall, straight trees would make excellent logs for building. The trees weren't as massive as the ones that had passed to get to this small valley. They could salvage parts of the ship for roofs as well as use the native materials.
             The open glade beyond the trees where they stood would work for what crops they could grow. She wondered if any of their botany samples had survived and could any of the edible ones be adapted here? She would have to ask him to see samples of the native domesticated plants. If they had survived, it was even possible that they might be able to crossbred some of their domesticated food animals now in embryonic storage with native ones if there was enough compatibility between species. Her mind was awhirl with plans and ideas now.
             "You look happy," he said noticing her smile and her eyes bright with excitement.
             "I am, I guess. Yes, it is going work. I can see it all in my mind. Thank you, In The Forest for showing me this place. My people will be happy here," she said, walking then running across the landscape laughing with the happiness she felt as she took in all the wonders of this new world.

 * 18 *

             Her senses were overwhelmed. It was all so beautiful! The deep blue sky with just traces of white fluffy clouds. The green canopy of leaves and thick intertwined branches above her head. The tall waving plumes of bright green and gold grasses lining either side of the natural pathway while under her feet on the tan colored ground were small pebbles and stones of rainbow hues.
             Then there were the scents. . . the smell of moist leaves and sweet flowers warmed by the sun. . . even the very air itself. It felt so good especially the feel of the hot summer's sun on her flesh beating on down upon her clothes. There were too many things to experience all at once.
             She watched the bright light tinted green as it filtered through the trees, sparkling as it danced across the ripples created by the stones half submerged in the stream. Everywhere she could hear sounds of strange animals and birds calling across the open spaces, filling the seemingly empty place full of their hidden life and natural music. All of this made her feel so alive.
             "Are you all right?" In The Forest asked watching her dance across the glade, so childlike and innocent in her enjoyment.
             "Yes--very all right. I have not felt like this since I was a child when I used to go out with my father and brothers to hunt for ceeps and flassons," she said laughing, sitting down in the middle of tall stand of wild grass to stare up through a gap in the trees at the blue sky and the wisps of white fluffy clouds floating by.
             "Ceeps and flassons?" he asked confused and puzzled, his translator not helping him with those words, as he sat down nearby.
             "Ahh. . . , they are small animals like those. . . ," she said pointing to some rabbits and then some deer across the glade, "but a little different."
             He accepted that and did not question further. "Are you hungry?" he asked, the rabbits reminding him that it had been awhile since he ate.
             "A little," she admitted, taking off her backpack and looking through it for her field rations. She drew two tins out and handed him one. He took it reluctantly and opened it, then began to eat. It was not bad, but he wished it was rabbit instead.
             "Tonight we have rabbit," he told her making himself finish the meat dish. "Your food is good, but I wish you to know my food. The food you will have to eat if you wish to live on this world," he commented truthfully. "Do your people have much of this food with them?" he asked, holding up the now empty metallic container.
             She thought about it for a moment and shook her head. "I don't know how much is left. When we are flying we don't eat these. We have machines that make us whatever food we want. These are only for times we are away from the ship," she tried to explain and she could tell he didn't understand it all. He just looked at her blankly, and shook his head, mumbling about 'magic' again.
             "Machines? I do not understand that word. Things that make food? Your people do not hunt or grow their food? Or send others to find it?" he asked trying to understand their ways.
             "Machines, . . .those will take some explaining, . . . it will probably be better to show you what the food machines can do when we get back. But we have many kinds of machines some are like this thing I carry, but it doesn't make food-- it sees things at a distance and tells me what they are, or what they are like," she told him and saw his skeptical look. "Just believe that is so. We can make our food from raw materials like this grass or that tree, make it anything we want it to be."
             "Magic!" he exclaimed determinedly. It was his only rational explanation for those things that were beyond his knowledge and comprehension.
             She shook her head. "No--not magic--science again. To you it would be magic, but it's just simple rearranging of different elements--things, to make something useful."
             "Still magic," he argued stubbornly still not convinced because the idea of changing things so they could be something else was a magic concept. There was no science or concepts to explain such changes among his people.
             "No, it's really not. When you have been around my people longer then you will begin to understand. You can do things my people can't do and we do things yours can't. We will teach each other and learn from one another. The key is not to be afraid of the unknown and let yourself learn."
             "That I can understand. I want to learn your ways so I can tell my people to not be afraid of your strangeness. Like this translator--it is a good thing to help us talk. It is easier than our trying to learn each others words like we did yesterday. So much was not getting said. Today we can talk--this is much better," he said, still marveling over the small box that made their words so easy between them.
             "Yes, it is better, but there may come a day when the translators no longer work. We will still have to learn each other languages," she told him, trying to face the realities that would be confronting her people all too soon.
             "They won't work forever?" he asked.
             "No," she said shaking her head. "Eventually it will run out of power --the magic that makes it work. Let me show you." she said taking it from him and opening a small panel on the back. Inside he could see strange small colored things. "That is a power cell. It makes the translator work. When it loses its power then it won't work," she tried to explain as she handed it back.
             "Too many strange words, ideas, O'vettun. I will just accept that what you say is true. Will ask you later about power cells and your machines," he said shaking his head over all these new concepts and ideas that he had no references for.
             "My world is. . . was simple. We are born, and we live as the creator and the gods have decreed, then when it is our time, we die and go join our ancestors in the spirit world. To live we must hunt, or grow what we need, no more no less. When the seasons change you make yourself ready for the changes, and the animals do the same. Our world changes very little, we live as our ancestors did. Your people bring changes. It will be difficult for both peoples, and many on both sides will resist these changes," he commented truthfully,
             He pulled upon a plantain plant, idly stripping it of its leaves and green seed head as he thought about the changes her people were going to be forced to make. Then he used it as a toothpick to clean his white teeth.
             He heard her speaking to him, "Yes, I know. All peoples want to cling to the safety of what they know and what has been. It will be difficult for everyone until a balance is reached if it ever can be," she said looking forward into the future.
             "Nature, . . . the world creates. . . makes all of us live in balance, so that harmony is maintained for all the creatures of this world. My people are the preservers of that balance that the creator made. I hope the creator will look kindly upon your people and welcome them," In The Forest said, hoping his words were true. He did not want to think of the consequences if the creator or his people did not look kindly upon them.
             She did not see the unease that passed across his face and blithely went on to tell him. "You are a surprisingly deep thinker, In The Forest," she commented suddenly, admiring the mind she was finding behind the intelligent brown eyes. His people may have been primitive compared to hers, but in many ways they were more complex and more in tune with themselves and their environment.
             He looked embarrassed, a blushed under his bronze skin. "Sometimes too much. But these thoughts I have shared with you must be voiced just as I told you what the Gods had decreed."
             "I appreciate your honesty. I am the one having the trouble with the concept of Gods telling you what will be. But in the legends of my people such things did happen. We, too, once had Gods to guide us, showed us what to do before the Change."
             "The Change?" he asked.
             "Not now, later after we have helped my people settle then I will explain the Change and what it meant to my people," she said not sure whether she could explain this to him at this point in their understanding of one another.
             "As you wish, O'vettun," he said giving in, not wishing to say anything that would mar these moments with her. He was enjoying her company more and more.
             The sunlight on her golden hair was a marvel to him as was her slightly feline profile. She was so beautiful, even though she tried to hide her beauty under those shapeless clothes she wore, her femaleness was apparent. He noticed she was sweating, the sun was very hot on his skin and he wore only his loincloth so he knew she must be miserable under her heavy clothes.
             "Are you hot?" he asked.
             "A little," she admitted.
             "We could cool off in the creek?" he suggested.
             "Swim? I don't know how," she confessed, it was not a sport she had cared to learn, nor had she had any need to.
             "I could show you," he volunteered, not thinking any the less of her for her lack of skill.
             "I should be calling the Asenti, telling him about this place and that we can begin to start moving our people," she told him feeling guilty for enjoying this freedom from her usual duties.
             "Why haven't you?" he asked, knowing why she hadn't.
             "I . . . I don't know," she said, puzzled then she confessed truthfully. "Maybe, I was enjoying myself too much. There's all this open space to see and enjoy. I guess I didn't want to share it yet."
             He smiled and nodded. "It's been long time since you have played under an open sky like this?" he suggested with a smile, his eyes bright with humor.
             He had caught her. Yes, that was it. She was playing like she had when she had been a child. No responsibilities, no duties, just playing and enjoying the moment. When she checked in with the Asenti he would call the ship and they would start coming here. Then this place would be changed, transformed from what she saw now. She wanted to enjoy it in all its wild beauty before the others came and she knew it. She knew it was terribly selfish, but she wasn't ready to share this yet.
             In a small voice she answered him. "Yes, it has been. I want to do my duty--but I don't want to let this end either."
             "Then play for awhile, let yourself be free. Then you can go back to your duties," he suggested, feeling selfish too in not wanting her to go back to her duties and her people, wanting her beside him for these few private moments.
             "Come, swim with me. . . just for a little while before you have to call the others," he asked her, his deep voice begging her to let them have this time alone. He stood up and motioned for her to follow him to a sheltered place he saw by the wide creek.
             "I shouldn't. But it's been days since I took a bath or felt clean. Remember, I can't swim, so take me where it is shallow," she told him getting up and following him.
             He took her hand and lead her down the grassy slope to the creek. It felt strange yet right to do this they both thought not really understanding what was happening to them. Where they touched their skin tingled and shot pleasant feelings throughout. When he let loose her hand there was an empty hollowness that he quickly dismissed to get caught up with the thrill of the adventure.
             The creek was lined by willows trailing their long leafy branches to meet the ground and water. White birches with peeling strips of bark, and tall elm and oak trees, crowded close to the babbling stream as well. He chose a sun dabbled spot that had many large flat rocks to walk across and to sit on. Below this spot large tumbled rocks made miniature waterfalls and created large pools as the water raced down stream.
             Drawing closer she spotted strange thin animals swimming in some of the deeper pools, fish she realized. On the surface skimmed long legged insects with wings and colorful winged creatures flew by dancing with other strange winged creatures. There were so many new and different forms of life here. It would take the specialists many long years to even begin to figure them out.
             The water scent was alluring as she drew nearer and the air temperature seemed to drop a couple of degrees. She started to go in and then realized she still had her field pack and uniform on. She let go of his hand and he stood there waiting with a crooked eyebrow wondering what she was going to do.
             "Are you going to wear your clothes in?" he asked walking over to a large rock by one of the large pools in the creek, and he sat down to wait for her.
             "No, . . . I guess not," she replied, somewhat afraid and embarrassed as she realized she didn't have anything, but her clothes, or her skin to swim in. "You go in then I'll join you," she said, trying to maintain her cool and to find a safe, dry place to put her clothes.
             "I won't watch," he said causally, feeling her need for privacy. He removed his weapons and carefully placed the translator next to them. Then he turned his back and removed his soft leather loin cloth, folding it into a pile to set it on the rock before he entered the water to wait for her. He had no false modesty to preserve, but he sensed she did like many of the young women of his village, so he respected her needs.
             Finding a high dry spot on another rock, she set her backpack on the boulder and then sat down next to it as she removed her boots and socks. Standing she undid the simple fastenings of her uniform and slid the pieces off.
             How many days had she been in these clothes, or rather what was left of them. The ankle length black pants came off first then the black tunic top. She left on her underwear while she resisted the urge to scratch all over. It did feel good getting out of those dirty clothes. She'd change into a clean uniform once she had finished. She almost forgot her head band, but she remembered to place it, her translator, and her communicator safely on her backpack before she strolled now almost naked to the water.
             Supposedly, In The Forest had not been watching her, but she knew he had been watching her undress, nevertheless. He was as curious about her as she was about him. She was not used to wandering around without clothes. The idea that he might have been watching made her blush and flush crimson.
             She knew she was blushing, but with great dignity she strolled to the water and waded in letting the cool water surround her and cover her hot flesh to her shoulder blades. She splashed experimentally enjoying the feel of the cool wetness on her skin. Closing her eyes she dunked her head under and got her hair wet, letting the water work the tangles out. She was beginning to feel clean again as scrubbed her hair and sweaty skin with her hands.
             In The Forest started to say something then realized that the translator was where he had left it with his weapons. They would have to go back to talking with their respective languages again--a frustrating experience for both of them.
             "O'vettun, hey," he told her hello as he came up to her, admiring how the sunlight made her body appear golden all over.
             With her hair slicked back from her high forehead she looked more cat-like with the slanted deepset green eyes, the arched eyebrows, and her slight muzzle with the split upper lip. The limbs he saw revealed in the clear greenish-blue depths of the pool were very human looking and decidedly female. If he had been expecting a tail or pointed ears there were none, nor were there extra breasts as a true cat or she-wolf would have had.
             It was the type of perfect body that would have attracted any male's attention, no matter what his species. The water revealed and concealed her parts in such a tantalizing way. He could not help, but want her despite his good intentions not to make any more attempts at seducing her.
             On her side, she was having a hard time trying to maintain her objectiveness. His body was lean, but well muscled in all the right places, arms, legs, and thighs along with his broad chest that she yearned to, but dared not touch.
             She had seen almost every part of his body because he wore so little. His body was so like an Atanzi male's except for the lack of hair she was having a hard time not thinking of him as an Atanzi. His sheer masculinity took her breath away every time she got near. It was getting harder and harder to keep her distance and maintain an air of non-interest.
             "Ka-yah'-kweh! Shee'kee-hkway! In The Forest told her his eyes lighting up as he looked at her, trying to tell her how happy he was, and that she was a fine, pretty woman.
             She shook her head not understanding. "We need the translators."
             "No, . . . no translator, nee'-hkway," he said, smiling down at her from his greater height possessively while he called her his woman.
             O'vettun saw his look but she wasn't sure she was interpreting it correctly. His range of emotions was similar to an Atanzi male's but she wasn't going to take anything at face value. If the look meant what she thought it did then she was going to have to call this swimming adventure off quickly before he got too many ideas in his head.
             Modesty or prohibition against sex didn't seem to be one of his people's particular problems. Maybe that came from living so close to nature and their lives always on the cutting edge of danger. His look told her he wanted her or was going to try to claim her just as an Atanzi male would have. She hoped she was wrong, but she didn't think so.
             "What is nee'-hkway?" she asked curiously, trying it his way without a translator.
  

* 19 *

             He smiled liking this game. He pointed to her. "Hkway. K'nay-Hkway." Then he pointed to himself saying, "Nee'. Nee'." and indicating that the word meant that it was not himself as a person, but he was indicating it meant a possession of his. . . namely her.
             Comprehension dawned on her followed shortly by outraged shock and anger after he repeated his words and signs. "Woman--your woman? You think I am your woman? You don't give up, do you?" she said angrily at his presumption, then she started to turn away and get out of the pool.
             He looked at her trying to understand the last part of what she had said. Her words eluded him, but her anger he did understand along with her wanting to leave. He quickly crossed the short distance between them to grab her arm, holding her so she could not run and flee from him. This time the were going discuss this!
             "Ma'ta, ku-les'ta! Ma'ta at'ta-ay-kay-saa'! he told her seriously, begging her not go and to stay.
             "Let me go!" she said indignantly, looking down at his hand on her arm and at him with dagger eyes. "I want to go back."
             "Ma'ta! K'pet'ching-weh-hih, nee'hkway!" he said drawing her closer to him, not wanting to listen to her protests, thankful for the language barrier that made him appear ignorant of her words.
             "In The Forest, I am not your female!" she protested, trying to get loose from his iron grip that was drawing her in closer to him. They were almost chest to chest.
             "Kway--Yes, kay'hay-la--you are!" he said as he smiled down at her, her shouted protest falling on deaf ears as he bent his head down bringing his full soft lips down close to hers to kiss her.
             She started to bring her free hand up to slap him--but he was faster. He grabbed the hand before she could do a thing and used it to draw her closer to him as he held her arm firmly down close to her side. She was frightened, but excited at the same time as she felt his hot breath and lips touch her unique mouth gently, but with ever increasing, insistent pressure.
             She didn't want to respond, but her body had a mind of its own. As he deepened his kiss she yielded to it and kissed him back as she felt the fires in her begin to stir.
             She found her small lithe body molding itself to his. There was no mistaking his interest. He released her hands and she felt his gentle touch upon her flesh, exploring her carefully as he held her close. His gentle hands glided across her petting her, calming her down--yet exciting her too with his touch.
             He found herself drawn to do the same with him wanting to touch and be touched by him as he continued to kiss her lips, her cat-like nose and the sharp planes of her angled face. She offered no resistance as she found him exploring her long white neck, rounded ears, and throat with his lips and tongue as well as with gentle nipping from his human teeth.
             No Atanzi had ever made her feel this way. She felt weak kneed and helpless before him. He nuzzled her ears and neck, trailing burning kisses down her throat while sparks of fire shot through her passion aroused body.
             The water surrounded them only intensifying every sensation they both felt. She almost swooned with pleasure at the what she was experiencing.
             She rained kisses and small nips upon his body with her long canine teeth while her hands roamed the hard muscles of his massive body. Not being able to control himself any longer, he swept her up in his muscled arms. Her weight was nothing to him as he carried her to shore and then to a thick patch of fresh summer grass for them to lie on while he continued to rain kisses on every exposed part of her.
             She was still frightened, but passion and the longing for him override her fear. This would be her first time with a male of any species. How would she make him understand this? Was it the same for his people as for hers? She tried to get his attention.
             "Day'kay-ning, Day'kay-ning, ma'ta! Ku-les'ta!" she said hoping she was saying "In The Forest, No! Listen to me!"
             "O'ho? he asked stopping and looking down at her wondering what she wanted.
             "Hkway--first time--you--me," she tried to explain with gestures to him and to herself. She held up one finger then two putting gestures of him and her together as one, then repeating it until realization dawned in his eyes.
             His mouth became a round circle of surprise, and he cooled his passionate assault. Keeping his weight off her with his arms. His soft brown eyes regarded her with compassion and understanding. She was a virgin and had never been with anyone before that was something he really had not expected. He would have to be gentle and show her the ways of love.
             "At'ta hkway, a-kee'!" He said gently, letting her know he did understand and that it was up to her to do or not do this act of love. "Ka-kuh-ka-ta'tum?" he asked her, the love and the concern he felt shining in his eyes, overriding his passion.
             She did want him as much as he wanted her, but the fear of the unknown was strong. Her body still tingled with such heightened senses that her insides as well as her outsides felt on fire that she couldn't ignore it--it had to be quenched some way--soon. She felt his fire like hers, too, close to a bursting point.
             She made her decision. She brought his head down to her lips and kissed him--hard, and wantonly--drinking his essence in, letting him know in no uncertain terms how much she wanted him while she moved suggestively underneath him as well.
             "Kay'hay-la," she told him, hoping she had the right word for yes, or agreement, and letting her willing body tell him the rest as her hands wandered and explored portions of him that she had never dared dream to touch.
             He had half expected her not to go ahead with it.
             "Kay'yah'-kweh!" he murmured happily in her ear. Then he renewed his gentle assault against her lips, then rained his passion laden kisses upon her body once again stroking their mutual fires even hotter. The underwear vanished.
             She surrendered completely letting him enter her gently, carefully. Her pain lasted only for a brief flash as her desire for him took over. They fit as if they had been made for one another. There were no differences between them. They were one as if this moment had always been meant to be.
             She never wanted these feelings flooding her to stop. With some delighted surprise, she could feel him too, beside her, with her in her mind. In the way that only an Atanzi male would have been able to be with her. That should not be. They were bonding, a thing unheard of between supposedly different species such as them. Did this happen between his people? By his surprise she thought not-- but he didn't fight it, he welcomed this new intimacy as she did.
             He flowed with it as she did rising higher as their bodies sought and found new and more intense sensations. Then it was over in one intense soul-binding flash of incandescence light. Then they began spiraling slowly down through layers of their feelings until they were earth-centered again.
             "Kweh! Nee'-hkway-ju!" In The Forest murmured in her ear when he was able to talk again as he lay limply across her spent body, trying to bring his mind, body, and soul back to the real world. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before.
             She looked up at him, "Yes, I am yours now. Is this what was supposed to happen or was this just us?" she asked, realizing that she could understand his words and thoughts more than prior to their joining. Her mind went click.
             "In The Forest can you understand me?" she asked.
             "Kay'hah'--yes--more than I did," he said slowly, realizing he was talking and thinking in both their languages without a translator. "What? Is this magic or your science?" he asked somewhat fearfully raising himself up to look at her with wonder.
             "Neither I think--Atanzi biology--our mating--we bonded."
             He looked at her strangely and nodded with wonder and growing understanding. "Yes, we did that. Came together somehow in our minds and souls so that we can understand one another better?" he asked, puzzling over this. "Never heard of making love being this powerful--this deep. It is as we had become one, O'vettun. How can this be?" he asked, wanting, needing answers to calm his fears.
             "It happens among my people with--or without mating, but mating makes it stronger. It is said one can feel another across the fabric of space if the bond is deep enough," she told him full of wonder in her eyes for him.
             He understood that, and looked down at her with tenderness, calmness replacing his fears. "Nee'hkway, I did not hurt you?"
             "No, there was no pain only joy when we joined. But what do we do now? I do not think my people or yours will accept our mating quite yet," she told him, and he was very thoughtful as well.
             "Yes, we will have to keep this between us until we can get your people settled," he said seriously, touching her face, marveling at her unique beauty.
             "Do you think we can. . . after this?" she smiled, still glowing.
             " . . . it might be difficult, but I think it is possible. We will find ways to be alone. . . and together, I promise," he said, smiling as he moved off her. "I think we need to swim again, we seem to have gotten more dirty than before we went in."
             She laughed, feeling the twigs and leaves in her semi-wet hair. "Yes, I noticed. Now you can teach me to swim."
             They raced back together to the pool no longer shy with one another, jumping in and feeling the cool water against their still hot skins.
             It was wonderful and refreshing as she dived through the water, quickly getting the hang of this swimming. Playing tag through the rocks and watching how the sun dappled both their skins in golden spots of light and dark. Time and the worries from without their private world ceased to exist for both of them as they just simply enjoyed their new found love and life.
             Neither O'vettun nor In The Forest wanted these magic moments to end, but reality and their mission here intruded suddenly with the persistent beep-beep of her communicator lying on her backpack.
             "What is that?" In The Forest asked, jumping up from where they lay together in the tall sun-warmed grass unnerved by the tinny beeping sound he did not recognize.
             She tried not to laugh at his reaction to the noise, but a small smile crept across her features as she patiently explained. "That's my communicator. It's a device that I can use to talk across long distances to another person with. Someone is calling me. Most likely it is the Asenti wondering why I haven't reported in before this," she said, feeling her duties beginning to hang heavy on her once again.
             "How do you make it stop chirping like a bird and talk to you?" he asked still puzzled over the concept of being able to talk to another far away. More magic.
             "I will show you if you will go get it for me, I feel too good to move from this spot," she said smiling.
             "Do you have to answer?" he asked going over to her pack to pick up the still beeping device and bring it back to her.
             She loved watching the way his muscles rippled as he walked, she tried not too be too distracted as she answered. "Yes, I have to. I really don't want them coming here and finding us like this. It would be difficult to explain," she said sitting up now and taking the small triangular device from him.
             "It might, but it would also be obvious what had happened too," he said with a shy smile, sitting down next to her.
             "Oh? How so is it obvious?" she asked wondering if somehow she had been magically transformed or changed by their lovemaking.
             "You glow, O'vettun. I have heard of such things, but never believed it. But you do. You wear your happiness like the sun," he said proudly. He cupped his hand under her chin and made her look at him and see the happiness he felt reflected in her eyes.
             "So do you," she said taking his hand and kissing it. "But if we are to have any happiness, my love, we will have to keep it secret from both of our peoples for a time. I don't know how your people will feel about me, but let us say . . . my people have a long history of staying within their own kind. Mixing with others, especially those of a different tribe or kind, is not a good thing in their minds. They will not understand our love or accept the rightness of it, . . . yet," she said carefully.
             He nodded. "I do understand, O'vettun. There are similar fears and angers when two from different tribes get together. Yes, it might be more so, since in outward ways we are so different in appearance. You may look like a cat but you are all woman--as female and more so than any that I know."
             "Oh, you have known other females before me?" she teased, kissing his chest.
             He smiled down at her, and shook his head. "No, there has been no other before you--like this. Your body is like those of the women of my village that I have only seen bathing. You are my first and only one, O'vettun, and my mate for now and for forever until we are no more."
             "And I am yours now and for forever, Day'kay-ning, my mate," she said kissing him with the passion of their bond singing in their souls.
             He released her after a long moment and smiled tenderly down into her upturned kitten face. "I know what we share will not be understood by either of our peoples so, I will promise you to be cautious until it is safe to declare our love openly," he vowed to her. He then pulled her towards him to kiss her once last time before he released her.
             She gave into the kiss and felt their bond strengthening. They knew that no matter what happened in the days to come they would be together even if they were not physically together and they could endure whatever might happen.

* 20 *

  
             The communicator still stubbornly beeped at her so it was with great reluctance that she said seriously, "In The Forest, I do need to answer that or they will come straight here."
             He sighed and let his wandering hands fall away disappointed, as she flicked the receive button on. "O'vettun here," she said reporting in, becoming a Command officer once again.
             "Specialist, where have you been? We have been signaling you for a number of units. I was just about to send F'rgett and S'pptun to your position to see what had happened," Ky'tulendu replied angrily, his voice betraying his displeasure.
             "Away from my pack, sir. It got too hot to carry it," she replied almost truthfully. "But we have found a suitable site for the camp with plenty of water, timber and open areas for farming. We can begin moving people as soon as you like, sir," cutting him off from any further questioning of her behavior.
             "Very well," he grumbled, mentally telling himself he would get an explanation from her--soon. "Relay your coordinates and I will signal for the set-up teams to start moving in your direction. You will be remaining there to direct them in?" he asked.
             "Yes, sir. I will stay here. The coordinates are coming up on your screen now. Anything further, sir?" she asked before terminating the conversation.
             "You can start a sample collection for the science techs coming in the first wave. They will do a site analysis and make recommendations as to any changes we need to make to the environment in case we have to adapt it to our needs."
             "Sir?" she said becoming alarmed.
             "What is it, O'vettun?"
             "You plan to change the environment? Not change us or make us adapt to it?" she asked.
             "If need be, Specialist. Why?" he asked puzzled.
             "In view of our circumstances, don't you think we should be the ones to adapt to this planet. We don't have the resources to make it fit us. Besides this place is so beautiful--it would be a shame to shift the balance that already exists here," she said probably more forcibly than she meant to.
             "I will take that under advisement," Ky'tulendu told her after a long pause where he seemed to be thinking her statements over. "That will be something that will have to be decided after the science techs do their surveys and the reports are studied," he replied. In his mind he still planned on following the procedures handed down by the Alliance Planetary Development Division that had been used for colonizing virgin planets for many generations.
             "But sir," she protested. "Alliance procedures were not meant for emergency situations such as we have. They do not cover crash landing on a planet with a viable existing culture who may object very strenuously to too many environmental changes being made within its territorial perimeters. Especially when the native population outnumbers us and we do not have the backup forces to enforce our claims," she warned.
             There was a long silence on the other end of the communicator before the Asenti spoke again. "I see your point, Specialist. However, we still need to do surveys and studies to determine what is safe and unsafe in this environment. Do you understand?"
             "Yes, sir, I do. I also think that we should get input from In The Forest on what his people use and eat and then do cross checks for compatibly with our peoples," she suggested.
             "Agreed. I am waiting for the skimmers to arrive to pick me up and bring me to the site. In the meantime prepare to receive two tech teams in twenty units or less. I will let you direct them in their studies and coordinate their efforts. Is that agreeable with you?" he asked.
             "Yes, sir, that is. You mentioned skimmers? They got some of the heavy machinery dug out? Were there any more survivors?" she asked hopefully, becoming excited with the news from the ship.
             "Twenty-five more near the hanger decks, but they are not in good shape at present. Check with B'tunku for their status. Is that all, Specialist?"
             "All I can think of."
             "Good, Asenti Ky'tulendu out," he said and then went off line.
             In The Forest came up to her, he had been listening to her conversation with her commander. He wasn't sure he liked the sound of change the environment to suit their needs anymore than she did. The thinking of his people was that you made as few changes to the land as you could. You gave back more than you took and left more than enough for future generations to enjoy and preserve as well.
             "Your people will be coming here soon?" he asked putting his hand on her shoulder.
             "Too soon, I'm afraid. I need to be dressed and properly clothed by the time they arrive. Did you hear? They found more people and they got the heavy equipment out," she said bending over and reaching into her pack.
             "Nee'Hkway, don't do that. It makes my blood boil and tempts me into . . . ," he started to say, and noticed a large bird--the likes of which he had never seen circling over the clearing looking for a landing spot. "What is that?" he exclaimed in wonder, pointing up.
             She followed his gaze and his pointing finger. She squinted against the sun and then recognized what it must be.
             "It's one of the Soaetts!" she cried, having forgotten that some had survived the crash. The Asenti must have sent the flier to check over the proposed site from the air.
             "Soaetts?" he asked, still not comprehending.
             "Winged people. They have huge bird wings and can fly. They are scouts. I wasn't sure any survived. I'm glad to see they did. They are a bit arrogant and opinionated, but they mean well. Damn, I better get clothes on in a hurry. If they are here then the skimmers won't be far behind."
             "Skimmers--fly too?" he asked, wondering when her people would run out of marvels to show him.
             "Yes, but a skimmer is a flying machine not a person. Five to six people can ride in them. They can skim the ground and fly as high as the treetops or higher. They are no good for long range flying or for flying in bad weather conditions," she tried to explain as she found her clean tunic and pants and threw them on.
             "Shouldn't you be dressing too, my mate?" she asked looking down to certain uncovered portions of his anatomy.
             He smiled, and slipped his loin cloth on. He then strapped on his knife along with his bow and quiver of arrows. "Now do I look presentable?" he asked.
             "Quite!" she said smiling, admiring his body gleaming in the sunlight.
             "The bird-person is landing, O'vettun," he said pointing out into the field.
             "We should go greet him. Hopefully he will have news to tell us," she said, strapping on her other gear as she walked quickly through the grass to where the bird-person waited.
             The Soaette's feathers gleamed brightly in the sun in a shade of white almost too intense for this world's color spectrum. His large liquid lavender eyes regarded the approaching
Atanzi female indifferently, but those same eyes sparked as he intensely scrutinized the tall nearly-naked human male that walked a few steps behind the Atanzi.
             The bird-man noted with interest that the human showed no fear only curiosity as he looked over the taller winged being. The Soaette was a foot taller than the human and the huge blue tinged wings rose up behind him a foot higher than that.
             The head of the being was a mixture of both bird and human elements. He had feathers instead of hair all over his body, with high stiff crest of long deep blue tipped feathers running from his high forehead to the back of his neck. He had a short flexible, yet sharp edged beak where a human's nose and upper mouth would be, but the being also had teeth, unlike the birds In The Forest was used to seeing.
             The Soaette wore a short back less black tunic with Command insignia, leaving the rest of his body bare except for his shiny black form fitting knee boots which had open toes that revealed three long talons jutting from the front and one from the back. Around his narrow waist was a red equipment belt on which hung a stunner, a recorder and a communicator unit.
             He waited patiently with arms crossed across his chest for the two to come up to him, then he spoke first. "You are Specialist O'vettun?" he inquired in his oddly accented high pitched voice.
             "Yes, and this is In The Forest, a native of this area and my guide," O'vettun replied introducing In The Forest. The bird-man inclined his head slightly in greeting. "The Asenti did not say you were coming so your appearance here is somewhat of a surprise. And you are?" she asked.
             "Tanz Commd Govenn h'zz. The Asenti did not send me, Senz Commd Volkon did. I was to meet up with the Asenti and offer my services, but I picked up your transmission and homed in on it. This is the site that has been picked for the new camp?" he asked looking around approvingly.
             "Yes. In The Forest has assured me that our living here will cause no problems with his people, and it has sufficient resources for all of our needs," she replied, wondering what his true business here was since the Asenti did not send him.
             The Soaettes feathered eyebrows rose a little at the mention of other humans. "His people are nearby? How many? What tech level?" he asked briskly, almost demanding an immediate answer.
             That made O'vettun bristle. Even In The Forest looked uncomfortable at the probing questions and looked to her for guidance. She gave the bird-man a nasty look. "I don't know. I haven't asked. But by the reactions I've been getting to our technology they are not beyond the hunting and gathering stages. We're magic users to him," she said in a low tone to the scout, and added with meaningful looks to In The Forest. "We'll discuss this later, Govenn h'zz."
             The scout nodded in quick understanding also noting the translator in the native's hand and the intent way he was watching them. The human might be primitive maybe, but he was not stupid and understood more of what was happening than his appearance would lead one to believe he could, the Soaette thought to himself.
             "Now that you've seen the site are you going to go see the Asenti, Govenn h'zz, or stay here?" O'vettun asked, wondering what the scout's plans were.
             The scout looked thoughtful for a moment before he answered, "I will join with the Asenti and report that the site seems suitable. How far are our neighbors, by the way? He will be interested in knowing that," he asked carefully.
             O'vettun did not like his interest in In The Forest's people, but it was a fair question that would have been asked anyway. "Ask In The Forest, he can tell you better than me where his people are from here," she said, indicating that he should ask the native directly instead of ignoring him.
             The bird man looked embarrassed, but quickly regained his dignity and approached the man who had been standing there watching and listening to the exchange with amusement. The man did not shrink back in fear, but held his position boldly as the bird being walked over and towered over him.
             "You wish to know of my people?" In The Forest asked, not waiting for the Soaette to question him.
             "Yes. I want to know how many your people number and where they are from here, so I may tell the Asenti and the others. It is good to know who and where your neighbors are," he said carefully, hoping he was phrasing his words in a non-threatening manner.
             "Yes, we have a similar thought among my peoples. My people are peaceful, just simple hunters and guardians of the Creator's land. I hope that the Atanzi, and your people, and the other strange ones that survived will feel the same way about this land we give you to use as we do. Your peoples are very powerful, with strange devices, wondrous knowledge, and abilities that I can barely comprehend, I see how easily these things could crush my people without a fight and it frightens me. But if I do not help, and make peace with your kind, then the only alternative would be war and my people would not win, I know this for a fact. I am no fool," the native stated eloquently.
             No, you're not, the Soaette thought to himself, there are great depths here of philosophy and thought. If he is a typical example of the population around here, then we will have to be very cautious in our dealings with these peoples.
             "I meant no offense, In The Forest, meeting new people is always difficult. Our peoples wish peace with your people. We are here because our enemies wanted war instead of peace. Peace is all our peoples have ever known until now. We also value the land and wish to make few changes if any to it so it can last beyond our lifetimes for the ones to follow. Once we have settled we would be glad to share our knowledge and skills with your people if they wish to know it," Govenn h'zz relayed.
             "I will take your offer up with the council when I see them. Only they can decide whether our people should know your ways. That is the proper thing to do. As to your questions, my village numbers fifty lodges, possibly we number a hundred and sixty-two people altogether. There are two more villages on this island, both of which are many times larger than mine," In The Forest stated carefully watching the bird-man's reactions. There were none.
             "I see," the Soaette replied, absorbing all the information. "And where are they located so my people can avoid them for the time being?"
             "My village lies a half-day's walk from here in that direction," he said pointing in a northeasterly direction. "The other two are in that and that directions," he finished, pointing due north and then due west. "Both of them are many days travel away."
             "By foot or riding?"
             "Riding? We have no things to ride upon and no animals would carry us even if such a thing were possible," The native replied, surprised at the question. "If we wish to go somewhere we walk, or the strong ones among my people carry those who cannot walk."
             "Do you have pets? Animals that you have tamed and call as friends?" O'vettun asked, wondering if they had any domesticated animals or if that skill was lacking in his culture, since they seemed not to have tamed any animals to ride or carry things.
             "Yes, some. Mainly dogs that guard the camp and help carry small packs. Some of the hunters have trained birds to help with their hunts. We do not interfere with the wild ones unless they cannot help themselves and wish our help. Why do you ask?"
             "To understand your people, so that we can understand how much they know and don't know. Some things are common among all intelligent peoples, but if some skill or some knowledge has not been developed because it was not needed due to environmental or cultural omissions, then we need to know that too," O'vettun tried to explain, but she could see she was confusing him more.
             "You understand the concept of riding something but you've never ridden anything because you do not have animals big enough to carry a man, right?" she asked.
             "Yes, and no. There are some big enough to ride, but I would not want to, too dangerous," he commented, trying to understand their questions and why they were asking. "It would be interesting to ride to places but my people do not miss what they have never known."
             "There is not much I can say to that, In The Forest," Govenn h'zz replied. "We will try to be careful in what do here in this new land, but we might make mistakes, and there might be misunderstandings until we get to know each other better. Will your people be understanding of this?"
             "I will try to get them to understand that and that you are new to the ways of this world. I know you will want to use your machines, and your magic things to help you, and because you are familiar and at ease with them. But I must ask you to try my peoples ways of doing things. O'vettun has told me that one day your magic things will quit working and you will not be able to make them work. When that day comes you will be as I am without your magic. But my people can show you how to live without the magic so that when the time comes you will not be helpless in this world," In The Forest suggested, hoping they understood what he was offering.
             The bird-man laughed, his arrogance overriding his good sense. He had decided that the native was ignorant and beneath him because he was at such a low technical level. He also could not foresee a time when the survivors would not have their machines and technologies right at hand. He expected for life in this new world to go on as it had aboard ship with few changes.
He did not see the need for the survivors to adapt to the environment, rather he saw the environment changed to fit their needs. He was a fool who could not see the larger, long range picture and realize that there was no escape from this world.
             In The Forest was puzzled by the Soaette's laughter. He had said nothing to laugh about. He looked to O'vettun to see what she thought, and he saw her getting angry.
             In very cold tones she asked. "I think you need to report to the Asenti, Govenn H'zz. You have seen the site, so your mission here is completed. Do you understand?"
             He looked at her with surprise, his laughter quickly burning away, "You're dismissing me?"
             "Yes. I am in charge here. I think you need to do some rethinking before you create problems."
             "What?"
             "You heard me. This is not a colony operation. WE crashed here. We have no back up, no one is going to come to our aid, rescue us, let alone find us. We are alone in the middle of now enemy territory on an unknown planet with an unknown native population and you want it to adapt to us? How long do you think our machines and weapons are going to last without replacements and parts, let alone power? Not very long. And we do not have the means to make those replacements," she told him coolly, forcing the Soaette to see the reality that they had to face.
             "But. . . but. . . surely someone will look for us," he protested.
             "Yes, the Rumnulska. That's why we are evacuating the ship. When they do return, and they will, the ship will be vaporized into nothing. If we are lucky we might get all that we need off the ship before they come back, but it will be a long time until we are capable of making replacements for many of the things we take for granted. To survive here we will have to live off the land and learn the native technologies because our own will be useless. Do you comprehend?" she asked him sharply, almost getting right in his face.
             He gulped, embarrassed. "I do, now," he replied in a small voice.
             "Good, now you may go, and it wouldn't hurt for you to relay the nature of our problem to any others that you see that may think that we are going create the homeworld here. This is not the homeworld and never will be. We are visitors here--guests. As guests we will go by the existing rules and adapt ourselves to them," she told him empathizing her words carefully. "So go, leave my sight," she yelled at him waving her hands at him, indicating that he should fly off away from her.
             Gathering his wounded dignity as best he could, the Soaette made a running leap and took off into the sky, his great wings creating a back draft in his wake, but the two on the ground took scant notice of it.
             O'vettun was still shaking from the confrontation. She was not prone to anger such as she had just displayed, but the bird man had hit a sensitive nerve in her with his attitudes and his belief that they were going to turn this unspoiled place into another colony planet. Not if she could help it.
             Colony planets were shaped and warped into whatever the colonists wanted them to be regardless of the existing natural resources, and they had no native intelligent populations to object to changes made. Colony planets also depended on the Alliance for supplies and technical assistance. None of these conditions existed in this situation. They were all alone here. Which meant that they would have to adapt to survive or die.
             She saw In The Forest looking at her. He had understood the confrontation or at least most of it, and he worried for her, for her people, and for his own. He hoped that there were not many among her people who felt as the bird man had. That all they had to do was recreate the world they came from and they would be all right regardless of the impact their technology and reshaping of the environment would have on the land, the animals and the peoples close by, even though those technologies would cease to function after a time. If this was the attitude of most of her people then there would be problems for all concerned. Even war if her people pushed their ways upon his and the land. All this they would have to wait and see and hope for the best.
             For the moment, In The Forest gathered her slight form to him and just held her as she cried over all that had gone on, and to wipe the anger and frustration from her soul. And when she had cried herself out he made her lie against him under the shade of a tree and rest while he waited for the rest of her people to arrive, and pondered what he was going to say to them.

End Part 2/10