As the group neared the queen’s home—not a palace, but a modest home, partially dug into the hillside—Lina noticed an uptick in activity. The people here, while still friendly with a nod or wave, were less interested in Lina than they were in making preparations for something nearby.
A short distance off to the right stood a tall, concave cliff face. On the ground in front of it, diploids in coveralls were arranging clay vases in concentric, semi-circular arcs, radiating outward. Lina studied the vases, their size and their arrangement, waiting for the sudden flash of knowledge that seemed to come with whatever she looked at since her transformation. Nothing came but the sound of humming.
Lina lost the thought when Arabel said, “Almost there.” And then, almost absentmindedly, “Oh and that’s the colony’s amphitheater.”
Lina took one final look and turned her attention back to the queen’s home dug into the craggy hillside. Standing by the front door was a massive diploid woman. Even from this distance, Lina judged her to be easily one and a half times her own height. She was wearing an interlocking chain of small, golden medallions around her waist, and to that was attached a long, partially sheer skirt of flowing purple that Lina saw was made entirely of flowers tied together. Other than the heavy necklace constructed of golden triangles linked side by side, the queen wore nothing else.
The party came to a halt. Lina stepped forward and bowed deeply. She had seen herself doing this just a moment before in her mind’s eye, but didn’t really connect it until she had already started the motions.
“Your Majesty.”
“Lina,” the queen said, holding her arms out wide, inviting Lina into her embrace. “I was told you were awake, that your transformation was complete. I’m also told you have questions, and I apologize for not coming to see you, but…”
The queen released Lina and gestured to the bustling workers in their coveralls.
“What is it, Your Majesty? I’m not familiar—”
“Why, it’s a party, dear. The whole colony is preparing a celebration. For you.”
“Thank you, your majesty, but—”
The queen held out a finger, stopping Lina mid-sentence. “It’s not every day we have visiting dignitaries, and it’s been a bit since the last big party…And well, it’s just time, don’t you think?”
Lina thought about this. She thought back to the rave that she and Arabel had attended what seemed like forever ago. She thought about the casual love and warmth of that party, and how different it was than the Queen’s Gala that followed.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Lina couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“Please, call me by my given name. I am An Ming, and I am at your service, Queen Lina.”
An Ming bowed deeply.
Chapter 9: Rave On
But there will always be the voice in the crowd who stands up to label the outsider as a threat, a scourge to be guarded against. If these voices are legion, the queens of these colonies will order walls to be built, and any sailors of clouds who arrive shall be turned away. And as the colony turns inward upon itself to wither in ignorance and fear, realize your folly, Wise Queen, and repent. Return again to walk the path of righteousness under the guidance of the Great Tree.
—Selected passages from The Book of the Origin by Bella Aurelius Nobilis, Modern Language Translation
* * * *
“How did she come to you?” Queen An Ming asked, as she and Lina paused their stroll to stand, still hand in hand, beside the thick trunk of the colony’s Great Tree. Lina was wearing a long white robe, a gift from An Ming, that was tied loosely about her waist.
“In my vision?” said Lina.
An Ming nodded.
“An old woman. A young woman. People I have known in my life.”
“Did she have…scent glands?”
“The old woman? No,” said Lina, “Neither did the young woman. Disturbing wasn’t it?”
“Yes. I’ve thought about this many times since my transformation. I think the woman was the Wise Queen of the East from the book.”
Lina nodded. “Did she give you soup?”
“Soup? No. It was water from a deep well for me.” An Ming turned to study the trunk of the Great Tree, running her finger along the length of the bark, letting its dips and valleys guide her path. “I think it is the same. Collective knowledge. Passed down to us from our sisters throughout the ages.”
“I see things.” Lina laid her hand upon An Ming’s—tracing the same path, letting An Ming be her guide. “I see things and I know them.”
“Like this tree?”
“Yes. I feel the sap flowing inside, its lifeblood, coursing through it, carrying nutrients from the leaves to the roots and back. I understand how it connects the land to the sun and the air, and how all of us are connected to the land and air, and therefore to the Great Tree.”
“Your Arabel understands it too.” An Ming turned to face Lina. “For someone who has not made the transformation to queen, she is wise beyond her years.”
“Yes,” Lina said. “I see Arabel in visions sometimes, and I see her doing great things. Sometimes she is beside me, and sometimes she is surrounded by others.”
“You are seeing future possibilities, forks on the path. These were given to you along with your…soup.” An Ming grinned.
“Sometimes I see too many.”
“It is then that you must rely on your wisdom to guide you.” An Ming touched her finger to the center of Lina’s forehead. “What’s in here?” She moved her finger to the center of Lina’s chest. “And what’s in here.”
“But what if I’m wrong?”
“You’ll be fine. You have already learned the most important lesson of all.” An Ming raised her finger and tapped Lina’s forehead. “That you are not infallible.
“Now come, dear Lina. While we have been strolling, many hands have been busy preparing a celebration for you. And it would be rude not to show up, don’t you think?”
Lina felt a smile crossing
