III - Power

Arnot was a planet not unlike many of those able to sustain life in the firmament. One planet, in a universe containing billions of galaxies, seemingly insignificant by such a measure.

Six other celestial bodies of planetary status joined Arnot in orbiting its sun, Arnot being the fourth in distance from its solar system's center. In completing one revolution around its sun, the planet consumed five hundred twenty days, thus making Arnot years of considerable length.

By far the most influential and largest independent nation-state on the planet of Arnot was Marmot, comprising an entire continent. Its government was a curious mix of democracy and theocracy.

On one side was a democratically-elected state Council. Each of the forty-three provinces in the state was represented by a Council member. Each citizen, age thirteen and older, as measured in Arnot years, was eligible to vote in her province. Each Councilwoman's term in office was five years, longer if the whims of the voters favored her.

In this decidedly female-dominated culture, it was only in recent years that the males of Marmot had been granted the right of suffrage.

The Delphi headed the other half of the co-equal branch of government. The priestesses, from among themselves, elected the Delphi to her position. Once appointed, the Delphi could serve for life. Men were not eligible to become priestesses and thus neither could they aspire to become the head of the faith.

Among the duties of the Delphi were to approve all bills passed by the Council. With her assent they became the law of the land. However, any legislation which passed the Council by a three-fourths majority did not require her signature, becoming law automatically.

But the Delphi was also the supreme head of the Fraus religion, the state faith of Marmot. As such, she spoke with almost ultimate authority at times. Her word was nearly law, indeed, perhaps more important than the written code, for the supreme being Nome spoke through her....according to the teachings of the Fraus religion.

Adherence to the Fraus faith was not limited to Marmot. The residents of other states on the planet also recognized the Delphi as the supreme head of the church. However, they were not inclined to grant the Delphi power in governmental matters. Consequently, she held such power only in Marmot.

Geographically, Marmot was a continent as big and wide as any other on the planet. The ocean which surrounded it on all sides formed the boundaries of this world power. Its climate zones were varied -- tropical in the south, some semi-arid areas, temperate agricultural land mainly comprising the interior, and a cool, mountainous region in the north. The seasons did not change. Arnot was not tilted on its axis while orbiting its sun as it spun through space and time.

The population of Marmot was concentrated in the provinces bordering the oceans to the east, south, and west. Heavy industry and corporations devoted to technology were the primary sources of employment. The residents of the inner provinces were less crowded, the fertile land mainly devoted to agricultural production. The few provinces to the north had remained thinly settled. The northernmost province, Sparrow Hawk, was the largest of all the provinces. However, it was also the most sparsely populated.

The climate in Sparrow Hawk was cooler than the rest of the state, but it rarely snowed in the lowlands and foothills. However, the mountain peaks of Sparrow Hawk were another matter. The Tysom mountain range had many peaks that had been encased in ice and snow for centuries and were likely to remain so for aeons to come.

It seemed likely that this northernmost province would retain its wilderness status for centuries into the future. The rugged terrain in Sparrow Hawk was not well suited for agricultural production with the

exception of the timber industry. And since the more temperate climates were preferred by the people of Marmot, Sparrow Hawk's population had not changed to any degree for many decades.

Kamon's parents had acquired their land when they were a young couple, two orphans who shared a kinship as well as love. They explored the remote foothills of the Tysom mountains, found the stand of Minot trees, though careful to tell no one, then purchased the land from the government for a nominal fee. The land had always been inexpensive; it was difficult to reach and no one had ever shown an interest in it.

Eventually their find was revealed. Marmot immediately halted the sale of any more government land in the Tysom mountains. Explorers were sent in to search for any more Minot trees. None were found. Interest in the area quickly waned....but the land owned by wife and husband, Pack Po and Kakon, was not forgotten.

The couple recognized the value of the land. The trees ensured their financial security for the rest of their lives. But the beauty of the area captured their hearts. They altered it but little, building only a cabin home and living a simple life.

The couple had a child -- Kamon. Pack Po would have no more.

Pack Po noticed Kamon exhibiting a high intellectual capacity at a very early age. She recognized that few, if any, children could match him.

She was an idealist. Pack Po was determined that Kamon's native intelligence and talent not be lost in a society that woefully underdeveloped males.

Kakon, on the other hand, was a realist. He felt Kamon's opportunities were limited and that there was nothing they could do about it. It was simply the way of the world.

"Kamon will be whatever he wishes to be, Kakon," she fondly but firmly scolded her mate. "We will see to that."

The next morning, Kamon's mother did not awaken. The coroner could not explain why. Her heart had simply stopped beating.

Kamon was four years old.

Kakon took his son aside. "Your mother has left us," he explained somberly. "She will not be coming back." That was all. Still in a state of shock, Kakon shed no tears.

The grief-stricken man buried his wife near their cabin home beneath the spreading branches of a huge Minot tree she had adored. Then Kakon went into their cabin and sat down in a chair at the end of the kitchen table, from where he could gaze out the window in the direction of the grave.

Kakon sat there for three days, arising only to feed his son. At night, his head would occasionally droop while he dozed, but most of the time he was awake -- always staring out the window -- never speaking.

Near the end of the third day, as the flaming sun was settling behind the mountains outside the cabin, Kamon's tiny hand came to rest on Kakon's broad shoulders. "Dad? Are you going to leave me, too?"

Kakon looked down into the troubled face. Innocent olive eyes stared back at him, questioning, apprehensive, awaiting an answer. Kakon gathered the young boy into his arms and held him close for a very long time. Tears finally came; they streamed down his cheeks freely. "No, son," he sobbed. "I'm not going to leave you."

The next day, Kakon arose well before dawn to take Kamon on the long journey into the city of Vexen. He arrived at the local school for academicians before the doors opened. He waited in silence until the office staff arrived. He then proceeded to enroll his son in the school.

He was mistaken, they pointed out. Surely, he wanted the school for laborers across the street.

No, he responded. He was at the right school.

But the school for academicians was no place for a male, they persisted. He must learn a skill.

"No! He will attend the school for academicians," Kakon firmly insisted. "Kamon will be whatever he wishes to be!"

The school's administrators made every attempt to dissuade Kakon but to no avail. For some reason they could not fathom, he insisted that his son be allowed to engage in intellectual pursuits. It was most odd, in gross defiance of countless centuries of cultural mores. But, since there was no legal reason why Kamon could not attend the school, they finally relented. Besides, they reasoned, Kakon would soon come to his senses and transfer his son to a more fitting environment.

Thus, Kamon of the province of Sparrow Hawk became the first male child ever to be enrolled in a school for academicians in the great state of Marmot.

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In his mountain cabin, Kamon showered and dressed himself in his khaki hiking clothes. He ate a hasty breakfast, only then realizing how hungry he had been. He had not eaten since early yesterday afternoon.

He was eager to be gone. Unable to solve the mysteries from the previous night, his attention focused on an immediate problem. The logging could begin again if he did not put a stop to it; indeed, it almost certainly would. The trees which had been removed from the hill were worth a sizable fortune. But those who had money usually wanted more. They never had enough.

This time it would stop. Here. Now. He would see to that. He did not doubt his ability to do it. It was only a matter of procedure, a matter of deciding how it would be accomplished.

Someone knew who had cut the Minot trees -- and precisely why they thought they could get away with it. Now he must locate that person. And he knew where he must start. Xenon. It was the largest lumber mill in the area. Only they had the capability to cut this many trees and remove them from the remote area in such a relatively short period of time.

Kamon was ready; he hurried toward the door. He stopped. Better to call first. Let her know that he was coming. She might not be in. No sense in chasing her all over the city.

He turned and raced up the stairs, two steps at a time. He placed the call.

"Xenon Lumber Company," a husky male voice answered.

"Yes, this is Councilman Kamon. I'd like to know if Pomade is in today."

"Uh, why yes, Councilman," came the nervous reply. An important governmental figure had suddenly interrupted the man's day at Xenon. Who could ever be totally prepared for such a thing? Although the receptionist had seen the Councilman on television many times, he had never actually met him. And now Councilman Kamon was on the phone! The man managed to find his voice. "She's here today, but she is in a meeting right now, and I'm not sure when it will be over. May I take a message?"

"Yes," Kamon snapped. "Tell her I am coming to see her today. I should be there in about two hours."

"Well, I'm not sure Pomade will still be here then, Councilman. She is scheduled to be leaving early today on other business outside the plant. If you'd like, I could try to set up a meeting for you to-- --"

"You tell Pomade that Councilman Kamon is on the way," Kamon interrupted sternly, his voice rising in anger, "and we're going to have a talk as soon as I arrive! In two hours! You tell her!"

"Yes, sir," the intimidated receptionist replied. "I'll tell her."

"Good!"

Kamon scowled as he abruptly hung up the phone. He regretted venting his frustration on the innocent receptionist, but he was upset.

Neither did he enjoy flaunting his position. 'Councilman' Kamon. He disdained titles. He had no wish to become comfortable with the trappings of power. He knew many women who had. He did not wish to be like them....ever.

Kamon hurried to the top of the stairs then paused, one broad hand resting on the top of the staircase banister. The other unsolved mystery tugged at his soul. With a deeply furrowed brow, he moved suddenly into the bathroom.

The white bath towel lay undisturbed on the counter next to the sink. The single dark brown hair continued to rest peacefully on the clean fabric. One human fiber. Innocent -- yet mysterious.

Kamon's clenched fist began to pound ever so lightly on the counter, almost as if the hand was offering aid to its distracted master. But the mind knew that no physical action would solve this riddle. Only intellect could. The soft pounding continued.

Why was he so bothered by this small piece of nature? It was nothing but one human hair. So he could not explain it; what difference did it make? It was irrelevant, of no consequence.

Kamon's fingers uncurled as he ceased the gentle pounding. "Forget it," he said out loud as he waved his hand in front of him, a futile attempt to dismiss the entire matter.

He turned off the bathroom light, quietly easing the door shut behind him as he left, not even chancing that a rush of air would disturb it.

Kamon slipped down the stairs and out the door. Behind the cabin, he lifted a canoe and paddle from a storage rack. Toting the canoe on his back, he set off down the road at a fast trot.

The road was muddy and slippery from the many days of rain. Nonetheless he maintained a brisk lope, winding his way down the hill.

Upon reaching the still swollen stream, he set the canoe in the rushing water and jumped in, pushing off from the bank as he did so. The rapid current carried him downstream, but smooth, powerful strokes swiftly propelled him to the opposite bank. Nimbly alighting from the canoe, he pulled it ashore and secured it to a nearby tree. He hurried back upstream and climbed into his rover. The engine roared to life and he spun off in the direction of Vexen.

END OF CHAPTER