Of a Note in a Cosmic Song; Part Five Read online

  It would be interesting to see what the evolution here on Kun DJar brought forth, but he wouldn’t see it. None of them would in their lifetime, which made it even more vital to teach the new generation; to teach by example.

  Benjamar felt the urge to find his old writing pack and record these thoughts, but he resisted it. That was exactly what they’d been discussing. Shared knowledge wouldn’t be forgotten.

  TIME TO VOTE

  4/4/5/8/1

  In the distance, from beyond the Society hearth, a figure came walking into the clearing; a silhouette against the light of Kun, which rose behind him. From his seat on the bench, Benjamar lost sight of him – or her – a moment later as he disappeared behind some of the homes.

  “You don’t even care!”

  “I’m listening,” Benjamar answered.

  “No, you’re hearing. ‘Listening’ implies paying attention.”

  “I’m sorry, Jema. I got distracted.”

  She raised her hands as if desperate for his ignorance. “I was saying that it doesn’t matter how large the choir is if they all sing out of tune. Can’t you just give the Kunjari people a chance? For the future? For Daili?”

  Benjamar took a deep breath to stifle his annoyance. She’d been pestering him every few days for more than a kor now. He could swear he’d seen the red of her skirt fade. “I’m letting the people decide what the new tune should be,” he said.

  “As if people have a say in that. Kun DJar is the composer. You’re needed to be the conductor. Just like it was Aryan who flew SJilai and not a mas of people all together.”

  “Which is why we have to elect a conductor for this orchestra.”

  “No, you don’t! He has to have musical skills. Damn it, Benjamar, leaders are not elected, they’re born.”

  “That sounds like arocracy. I need a viable alternative, Jema.”

  “Kun DJar is the viable alternative. Why can’t you believe in her? Everybody has seen what she can do. Why are people so damned bigheaded that they close their eyes to the obvious? Just like we can discuss treatment against fleas or parasites, so planets could discuss it. Just like we learned to prevent diseases, so Kun DJar has found a way to keep us from harming her. We are no more than the local flora and fauna in her digestive system. We destroyed DJar by using up her resources, so Kun DJar has delivered us a free resource to keep us from harming her vital systems. Maybe she learned it from DJar–”

  “For the last time, Jema, Kun DJar is a planet. Stop talking as if it has some higher purpose.”

  “No, I won’t stop until you listen! There’s no proof that planets can’t be sentient and more advanced than people, just like we may be more advanced than fleas. What is so impossible about that idea? Who did you think we were – omniscient and omnipotent scientific deities? The fleas could be having the same discussion about us right now.”

  “That’s ridiculous!”

  “So convince me. Come up with something I can believe in. Prove me wrong! It would be easier,” she added, frowning. “If this was a scientific question you would make changes until you got it right.”

  “This is different, Jema.”

  “No, it isn’t. Please, Benjamar. I know I’m right. You can’t just leave it at this.”

  “I can’t, can I? It’s all I can do if you keep talking all the time.” He tried to smile at her stubborn insistence, pleading almost, be it forcefully. The man in the distance had reached the south latrines. “I wonder who it is, this early.” It might be Remag, judging by the shape, but he’d be with Kunag and he’d have come from the west.

  “I don’t know,” she answered without looking.

  “Marya’s making flatcakes,” Laytji announced, jumping out of the Hearth.

  Flatcakes were Laytji’s name for the round flour bread Marya baked on the stone slab. Apart from a table, it had proven to be a great frying pan.

  “So are you two– …Hey, isn’t that Aryan?”

  Benjamar squinted into the light. Laytji was right. It was indeed the pilot coming closer. “I wonder…”

  “He should have news from town,” Laytji said.

  “In which case we may as well offer him breakfast. You girls go on ahead. I’ll walk up to meet him.”

  Aryan’s face was all grin when they shook hands. “Benjamar. Looks like a great place you’ve built here.”

  “It’s not bad, Aryan. We weren’t expecting visitors.”

  Aryan explained that people were clearing a road. They had gotten just past the mountains. From there Aryan had come alone with news and a request.

  “How about some breakfast first and a sit-down? You must be tired.”

  He didn’t have to offer twice and showed Aryan into the Hearth. Aryan’s eyes found Maike right away, but he wasn’t given the time to stop. He told them that all was well in town; people were healthy and food was okay. “They were preparing for general elections when I left.”

  “How come?”

  Aryan answered that Roilan had withdrawn from the running of things. Frantag was back for now. There had been a series of technological disasters, most of them due to the fog, and people were getting tired of voting on every issue only to find that things had to be changed anyway. “Too idealistic, you know, that other idea. I’ve been told they need a judge as well.”

  Maike stood up and left the shelter without a word. Aryan observed her all the way.

  “They’ll have to find someone else to be judge, Aryan. As you said earlier, this is a fine place to live. I have no intention of moving back to town.”

  Marya asked for messages, but Aryan only carried a few letters from those who’d worked with him on the road, and one for Nini from the medical staff. All other people were well. The cattle farmers had moved over the hills, even some who had no cattle left. Aryan planned to stay until the road was finished. “Then there will be a memorial ceremony in town to which you’re all invited.”

  After breakfast, Yako took Aryan to find him a place to stay.

  Benjamar leaned back, drinking the last of his prut. So they’d given up their ultimate fair-is-fair system and were back to doing it the simple way, with equal representation.

  “Are you convinced now?” Jema asked from the other side of the cooking slab.

  “I am satisfied that their system didn’t work. That’s all.”

  “Can’t we at least wait and see? Go to that memorial first?”

  “I’ll think about it, Jema. Just give it up for now, will you?”

  “I can’t. It’s wrong.”

  “Nobody else seems to think so.”

  “Nobody else thinks at all,” she scoffed. “At least look at Nini’s chart!”

  “I will,” he promised, “but first I’m going to get myself washed up, if you don’t mind, or the whole lot of you will have a vote against my coming to breakfast.”

  She smiled half-heartedly and started to pick up the dirty cups.

  At home, Benjamar collected his jug, cloth and soap buds to go to the south bath. Today was the men’s turn to use it. Aryan had looked well; it appeared he was trying to master that challenge. The long walk must have done him good. It was certainly admirable to have come alone.

  Benjamar took off his cloak and sandals and walked into the steamy room. He greeted the two men already there and sat down. Just then he felt as if a cord had been fastened around his head. He gasped. For a fraction all went black around him. He had just enough time to think that this was it, it was over, when his vision cleared. He sat as straight up as he could, holding on to the ledge to breathe. The dizziness slowly dissipated.

  One of the men handed him a scoop with cold water to wash his face with. “Are you okay? I guess we made it too hot in here.”

  Benjamar had to assure them three times that he would manage before they let him go. He walked back home carefully, though his head had cleared completely the moment he left the room. He sat on his mat for a long time, unwilling rather than unable to go out and be talked to. This would ha
ve to be it. He didn’t have forever. Time to get this village sorted out; it wasn’t right to postpone the elections any longer.

  “Benjamar, are you in?”

  “Come in, Nini.”

  She frowned. “You’re sitting alone in the dark. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “I’m going to see Styna. I was wondering if you need me to take anything uphill.”

  He hesitated only for a moment. Now was as good a time as any. “Yes. Just let them know I’m planning an announcement at Kundown. How’s Styna?”

  Nini rubbed her foot over the floor. “She’s fine. I just don’t think she’ll be much longer. I check every day.”

  “It’s early, isn’t it? Too early?”

  “According to Styna, only six-and-a-half stations – SJilai. And what if this land, the food or something else has altered it? What if it can’t live here?”

  Benjamar stood up, slowly still, and put his arm around her when walking out. “Stop worrying, okay? Whatever happens in the future, I want your promise to trust that you’ve done the best you could.”

  It was useless; she wouldn’t stop until the baby was born. Her commitment to people’s health was a burden, not because she couldn’t do it, but because she was afraid she couldn’t, as opposed to Roilan, who’d believed he could when he wasn’t ready. It was good to know that Frantag was back where he belonged.

  The announcement tonight would be welcomed by many, as would the news from town. Besides, it would raise the awareness of how not to do things. Benjamar, for one, would be glad to be done with speeches and solving trivial problems between people who should be able to do that themselves, to no longer have to listen to alternative ideals which were as bound for failure as Roilan’s had been.

  Yako came out and sat down on the bench next to him. “No walk today?”

  “Maybe later. I’m planning a speech. Where did you park Aryan?”

  “In Remag’s home for now, for Maike’s sake. If that’s a problem he can share with the boys. So what’s the speech about?”

  Benjamar told him what he was planning.

  “Are they ready? To vote, I mean.”

  Benjamar didn’t know. He’d give it a try. Who knew how many people would come back with them from that memorial? At least with representation they had the opportunity to compromise.

  Yako started laughing. “I just can’t see Tigor or Frimon making concessions, especially not to each other.”

  Yes, that would be a feat in itself. Benjamar tried once more, and in vain, to get Yako to put his name down as a candidate. “Anyhow, I could use your input in this.”

  By the time people started coming down to the centre of the clearing behind Benjamar’s home, he knew what he would tell them. Having the village announcements at Kundown had the advantage of giving people the chance to go home and discuss it around their Hearth. It had become custom for him to stand on the outside ledge at the back of his home to make himself heard. Yako met him there with a handful of pebbles.

  “Plenty of them around the stream for everybody. I’ll take some people to collect them in the morning. Harmon will organize the vessels,” he said.

  It wasn’t hard to explain the process to the crowd; two elections in one: An initial say for all people on the most important issues, those that had been brought forward these last kor, and for which different options would be available rather than just “yes” or “no”. Simultaneously, they would vote for representatives for a village council, consisting of eight members who would sit for a Kun DJar year. The vessels would be clearly labelled with dye. All the voters had to do was put their pebbles into the right one. Along with the ten pebbles, each person would get a mark on their hand made with dye, so nobody could vote twice. The dye was Harmon’s idea, but the pebbles were Yako’s: one of the little white ones for each of the seven issues. Every one of these issues had at least three clay pots to choose from. The other three darker rocks were to go into the vessels that each carried the name of a candidate. The amount of pebbles would be decisive. There were a total of fifteen people who’d informed Benjamar they’d be willing to have their name put forward. The eight with the most votes would make up the council. Harmon, not Benjamar, would be in charge of logistics and his directions should be followed. “And then, people, I shall retire,” Benjamar ended his speech.

  Before giving the word to Aryan he made a quick reminder for everybody to refill the water jugs in the latrines after use. “Next time it could be you who gets caught without water,” he warned.

  Aryan was busy answering questions about town when Benjamar entered his home. It was hard to predict who would win the most votes, but it was clear that the race would be between Frimon and Tigor. Nevertheless, with six others there they’d have no choice but to compromise and all people had a direct say in the main concerns. Even Jema wouldn’t be able to deny that it was fair. The right to decide was now with the people, where it ought to be. After tomorrow, no more changes could be made.

  ELECTION DAY

  5/4/5/8/1

  Aryan had joined Remag for breakfast at what they called ‘the Hearth’ and then gone to the north latrines with him, where the bath was open for men. They had done a great job here: The bath was like a spa, heated from below. Though not really warm, the chill was off the water and it was better than anything they’d had since SJilai, much better than DJar.

  Walking back via the path along the stream with his towel around his neck, Aryan noticed Maike near the other washrooms, in the company of that damned boy. She had barely said hello when he’d arrived yesterday, and had snorted and left when he’d mentioned the destruction in town. “Can I speak to you?”

  She turned, stunning as ever. Her hair was tied back and her eyes were darker, but still as attractive.

  “In private.”

  “I’m leaving,” the kid said, but didn’t actually do so until he had given first Maike and then Aryan a huge grin.

  “Can we at least have a normal conversation?”

  “I’m listening.”

  Aryan told her he’d walked here for her. He had stopped drinking. If she didn’t want him then fine, but could they not at least talk, be friends? “Please Maike, I miss you. How much more do you want from me?”

  “I want you to say sorry and actually mean every word of it.” She didn’t sound angry.

  “It’s a long time ago. So much has happened. Can’t we just leave it and start over?” He hated begging like this, but he couldn’t wait any longer.

  “Did you come all the way from town to ask me to just leave it?”

  “You know I didn’t.”

  She stood with her arms folded, pouting her full pink lips. She was challenging him. She wanted him on his knees, for no other reason than to seal her own victory, to come out on top for all the planet to see and she knew he couldn’t do that.

  “I’m sober, Maike.”

  “I can see that, but that isn’t enough, Aryan.” She turned and started walking. He had grabbed her arm before thinking about it. “Whatever I said to you about those users, I’m sorry.”

  She slowly turned all the way around. “You mean to tell me you don’t even remember what you said? I pity you, Aryan. You sure know how to lose a good thing when you have it.”

  He pulled her closer, increasing the pressure of his fingers around her arm, though he was aware he should cool the rushing blood flow, not heat it up. “I don’t need your pity.”

  “So, what will you do, force me? Is that how you get your women, Aryan? Is that all you’ve left?”

  The question stunned him. How much had they discussed around here? The air in the gap between them vibrated with the alertness of her body. He was so close now that their faces could touch. If he could only kiss her all would be fine. It took all his effort to stop himself, because this was Maike, not Gabi. How had they ended up in such a power struggle? What had he done to her in town that he couldn’t remember?

  The moment he saw her
hand move it was too late; it hit him in the face and as he let go of her arm she pushed him off balance. “Ouch!” He’d stepped on his wrong leg too hard.

  “Maybe you can spend the rest of your life remembering what you said about me.”

  “They were only words, Maike,” he called after her, but she ignored him.

  Was she really that hurt over something he’d said? Had she not realized they were just words? He needed to get past the taunting and the pity. He needed to know how he had hurt her in his drunken state. Remag had been at that expedition, but to ask an outsider…

  “Aryan, have you got a few minutes?” Benjamar asked, approaching on the central path. He must have seen something. “I have some questions about that memorial,” he said.

  “Sure.” Aryan had time enough, too much time. He followed Benjamar to his shelter and was handed a drink almost instantly. “No thanks.”

  “It’s only water,” Benjamar said.

  Aryan accepted it with a look at the old man’s eyes. That had been a little test, no doubt.

  Benjamar nodded. “When exactly will this memorial service be?” he asked.

  “As soon as the road is finished and those who want to attend are in town.”

  “When will the road be finished?”

  “In the next two moons, maybe earlier if we start from this end as well.”

  Benjamar assured him there were enough people with time on their hands who would be grateful for a job. Aryan was likely to find many helpers if he was willing to ask around.

  “No problem.”

  “And Frantag asked me to do a speech?”

  “Yes, he said you were the best person for it.”

  “The best because I’m the oldest. What kind of memorial?”

  “Do you remember that big boulder that sits in the crater? Well, they’re intending to put the names on there of all those who came on SJilai but didn’t make it through the first year. Jitsi’s name will be there too, with your permission. According to Frantag it should be a memory and a new beginning, and your speech should reflect that.”