M
y first introduction to one of Zeena's closest friends was to one who went by the name of Mahirishi (if I have this right, although it did seem to be pronounced "Mareeshi"). Initially I was of the opinion that apart from some variation in height they all looked fairly much the same. (Now where have you heard that before?) But having gotten to know Zeena a lot better, I could notice the slight differences between them.Mahirishi, also female, was slightly shorter than Zeena, as they all seemed to be, but only by an inch or so. She had slightly larger eyes, if that was possible, and less prominent ears. Her body shape was similar, which was okay by me, but somehow Zeena looked more attractive in my eyes.
Mahirishi worked for the recently formed hydroponics laboratory (as close as I can describe it) which was created as a contingency plan in case solid food became necessary for some of their experimental offspring in the various breeding programs underway.
I couldn't help but think they should perhaps pursue this avenue a little more diligently as far as the strength factor went, but then thought the better of saying anything amongst this talented a line-up. However, it was interesting to hear what Mahirishi felt about Zeena's volunteering for the above program and what her mother described as unnecessary risks.
"I am sure Zeena has calculated everything out very carefully. She always does," was Mahirishi's reply. "I only wish I had the same courage," she added. "I should really be on it, too. I probably will, once we see how Zeena gets on."
Her second friend was male, although, once again, shorter than Zeena. He was of more help as he worked on a portion of the breeding program.
(I'm sorry for continuing to use this terminology, but that's the way they describe it. It makes you think they're producing cows, doesn't it!) When Zeena was otherwise engaged, I spent every spare moment pumping him for information on the project. Even though he was hesitant at first, when I explained I could possibly be introduced into some part of the experiment he did give me some reassurance: my part would involve no risk at all. He also seemed to feel that Zeena had only a very small chance of actually coming to any harm. He did admit, though, that they were running out of ideas to speed up the development of a stronger race.
He (it's "he" because I can't remember his name) seemed a nervous enough sort, anyhow, always twiddling his long fingers or playing with his liquid dispenser. He kept looking around the room as if trying to find someone. His long neck rather reminded me of a giraffe trying to look over a high fence at the zoo. His head seemed a little bigger in proportion than most, anyway, and I wondered to myself if he had problems holding it up! I had to be very careful that none of these thoughts slipped out as I conversed with him. (Yes, I really had learnt a few tricks about holding back my thoughts over the last few mind-boggling days—a vital improvement, if only for reasons of diplomacy!)
I was amazed at how nonchalant the crowded entertainment area was about having an alien, namely me, in their midst. I caught the odd glance come my way occasionally, but not enough to make me feel self- conscious. Their contact with the likes of Millie must have made me old news.
During this get-together I even had some unintroduced conversations with the natives, some very curious to know, of all things, how we managed to tolerate such short day/night periods on Earth. And with our having to sleep a third of it away as well, they seemed to be of the opinion we wouldn't have time to get anything done! I had to admit that sometimes it was a bit of a squeeze.
Others could not comprehend the enormous population growth on our planet. I explained that the country that I came from on Earth was sparsely populated by world standards. This seemed to make them even more confused. I had to confess I had no answers. I'm sure I could visibly see their estimation of Earthlings fall by the minute, and who could blame them?
I pumped Mahirishi as much as I could for information about Zeena— her likes, dislikes, wants, etc. I thought she would know more than
anyone else, at least anyone who would talk to me, as Mahirishi and Zeena had been friends since school days.
Their biggest immediate concern was that no one was sure how long the new breed, like Mahirishi and Zeena, would live. They were amongst the first of their kind, the oldest being only forty Earth-years. There was concern that any quickening of development, such as in the direction they were presently going, could severely reduce their life expectancy, not to mention their mental powers. (I have already commented on the difference noticed in communication between the Elders and Zeena.) This is what was holding back development at this point. Only now did they realise that any more delay could spell the extinction of their kind.
Zeena had always been near the top of her classes.
"You should have seen her," said Mahirishi, "arguing with her tutors, never accepting anything unless they could prove it right in front of her. Then she would spend the rest of her spare time trying to come up with another better way to do something, just to annoy them.”
Sounds familiar, I thought to myself.
As Zeena progressed through her schooling and continued to outstrip the other students around her, she was carving an inevitable path toward her involvement in the Earth relocation plans. Even though all major decisions were, and still are, made by the Elders, it was obvious they themselves would never be able to settle on Earth and would have to make way for the new generations that existed, or would exist in the near future.
Zeena's first and only other trip to Earth had occurred approximately one year before this adventure of mine. This second trip had been to test her abilities aboard ship; at exactly what, I was not told.
News of her forthcoming experimental program was now common knowledge, and the fact that I was also to be involved almost made us celebrities in some eyes. Wherever we went, questions came flying in from all directions.
We decided to get away the next morning and travel around the coast as previously planned, mostly to be alone for the last few hours we would be together. But even after we'd returned home, Zeena's friends were dropping by to say hello, or verva, as it were, and wish her luck. There was no doubt she was well-liked and highly thought of by their community. In a funny sort of way I took pride in the knowledge that I, too, had singled her out as special, and she, me.
Eventually her friends left, and we were alone with Jarze and Theurus. A rather enjoyable chat ensued—the first time I had been with them without something else going on, if you could call a mind-link transference a chat. For all their imposing appearance and intelligence, they were easy to get on with, asking me details of my life on Earth and events leading up to my appearance in the transporter—details that up until then I had not even discussed with Zeena. They appeared sympathetic toward my problems and wished me well for my new start on return to Earth.
Whether they were aware of my feelings towards Zeena, I don't know. I find it hard to believe that they weren't. Even though we both said nothing in front of them, their ability to read the situation for the feelings we were giving off would have made it easy for them, I'm sure. Even so, they said nothing. They were indeed a gentle and understanding race. I couldn't help but feel that the Earth would be a better place for having them, even without the wealth of technical information they would bring. Every moment I spent with these people was weakening my desire to return home. What a shame that most of those early colonists had died or been transmuted out of our lives. How much better would we have been had they been able to stick around a bit longer?
We talked on through the night. Zeena and I were planning to leave on our coastal trip at first light so as not to waste any of our last half-day together. When dawn did come, we both went down to the water's edge to watch the sunrise from over the sea's far-off horizon. It was very still outside, and the sun quickly warmed the chill air.
Zeena and I decided to push off in her boat, and sit and contemplate our fate as the sun slowly rose above the lazy-looking Haven sea. It appeared as a huge, red ball on first rising. It was a sight that planet would be seeing a lot more of on a permanent basis, not too many years into their future, as it pulsated itself out of existence. It would first expand to a size big enough to engulf Haven itself, then would shrink and die as thousands of stars have done in the past, and as our own Earth's Sun will also do eventually. I only hoped that by the time Haven's sun finally did its thing, Zeena's people, perhaps just the next generation of them, would be far away on Earth or some other planet they might yet find.
In spite of these thoughts, it was pleasant sitting out on the water, listening to the gentle clink of the wavelets on the side of the boat as a
soft, warm breeze started to ruffle the water around us. We were only a hundred metres or so from the shoreline but it may as well have been a nautical mile as we both sat back with our own thoughts. The city was silent as it always was, and a few small clouds came up over the horizon. As we sat there, drifting slowly towards the shore, a gentle onshore breeze came up as the sun warmed the land.
"Better get started," Zeena said, breaking the silence, "if we are going to get any distance down the coast this morning."
I would have been quite happy to stay out there all day. But we knew her friends would start to drop by a little later in the day. The best way to avoid them was not to be there, so we headed for the shore.