“Take me to the promontory,” said Tella as Jim tried a door again.
“Oh...sure. Up this way.”
It seemed to take Jim longer to reach the platform than before, even though the path was easier to follow than he remembered. The humidity, however, was no better.
Jim found the platform unchanged. He watched Tella circling with a frown of concentration on its pale brow, apparently fascinated by the markings carved into the rock.
“Jim!”
“What is it?”
“We must photograph this place from the flier. This is amazing. Quite amazing!”
“Sure, we can do that. Do you think you can decipher it?”
“Perhaps. I wonder if the Regdenir can.”
“Well, I would guess they can. They built it.”
Tella shook its head. “This is very ancient, perhaps older than the Barottin Regdenir. They may not know. I will ask, if we have the opportunity.”
Jim stood, as he had before, on the westernmost end of the circular platform. He tried to recapture the wonder he had felt watching the planet rise. Beauty seemed pale and diminished in its half-dark phase, filtered through the sunlit air.
“It’s strange,” he said. “During their ceremony it all seemed so real and powerful. But now...It’s like being in a theater the morning after a play. All the magic has gone.”
Tella came to his side. “Do not underestimate the truth that can be conveyed in that way. The actors may have gone, but the insights you gained live with you. I do not doubt that you saw something beautiful, and that, if you had not been here with Sopha Luca, you would not have realized its importance.”
Jim smiled and hung his head slightly. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s a funny business.”
Tella wandered away from him. Jim watched as the Neraffan squatted down beside some delicate carvings held in the sweep of a thicker line as it looped out from the center of the platform. Taking off a long glove, Tella pressed its forearm against the stone.
The lines and curves of the carving were echoed in the Neraffan’s skin. Tella slowly moved its arm from side to side and watched the markings change. Jim could not see if the pattern was mimicked exactly or if it was only an echo of the original, but the look of intense concentration on Tella’s face shone clearly.
“This is a wonderful place, Jim. These”—Tella swept its left arm out to encompass the whole platform—”are a treasure of enormous worth.”
“If things go well here, perhaps they’ll let you come back and study it.”
“Ah, that would be an unlooked-for blessing.”
Tella got up and nodded vigorously and replaced its glove. “Come, Jim. Let’s see if our party has started without us!”
They made their way back to the retreat house as TMV began to set behind the mountains. Already the rivers were running less deep. The noises of birds and animals were again louder than the hissing and gurgling of the water.
There was still no sign of anyone at the retreat house. They boarded the flier, and Tella took it up to hover over the promontory, keeping one camera trained on the main building’s doors. While Tella was absorbed in taking images of the carvings, Jim remembered they should check for messages.
#
g101VnectVlatsinVux
Greetings, Jim Able.
To emphasize my worries about your safety, I must tell you there was an incident here today. I am all right, thanks to the good discipline and courage of my students. However, I am, more than ever, concerned that your presence here will upset our political stability. No one has enough respect for our government to allow it to deal with you alone. There are many interested parties at work who are normally apolitical. In this case the boundaries overlap. You are a prize for the large corporations. You could become a board member of the finest companies on our world if you wished to. I would not recommend it, however.
I hope your meeting there will be without trouble. How do I contact your world if I do not hear back from you?
madharVnectVlatsinVux
#
madharVnectVlatsinVux
I am truly sorry that our being here is causing such problems. I had no idea things were so fragile. Perhaps we could meet alone with only the most senior politicians? I think it might be best to keep this in some way personal. What do you think?
Attached are instructions in case our mission fails. Thank you again, good friend.
g101VnectVlatsinVux
#
“Nothing from the Regdenir?” asked Tella.
“No,” said Jim. “Maybe they’re not coming?”
“I would be very surprised. It was settled that someone would come.”
“Hmm. I guess you can take your time. We’ll land again when you’re done.”
When the rivers were dry and both the planet and the sun had set, Jim and Tella walked out along the landing strip to look at the stars. Several of TMV’s sister planets could be seen, fiercely bright against the background of the twinkling stars. Pointing to a fast-moving point of light crossing the sky over their heads, Tella wondered, “Is that a satellite or Sopha on patrol?”
“If you see the beginnings of a red glow, it’s probably already too late,” Jim deadpanned.
Tella laughed. “Ah, human humor. I love it.”
Jim’s eyes twinkled in the dark.
As they turned to walk back to the flier, the lights came on in the retreat house. In silence they walked up the landing strip and through the open doors.
There was no one in the fountain room, though the fountain had started to flow. Jim squatted down beside the water and let some wash over his hand. It was warm.
“They’ve only just arrived, I think,” he said to Tella, who nodded silently.
They waited for several minutes before they heard noises coming from below them.
“There are rooms underground?” asked Tella.
“Apparently so. I had no idea.”
Through the kitchen and the classroom, they heard footsteps approaching. Three blue-cloaked figures entered the fountain room and stood
