Part 29 (1/2)
The atmosphere is peaceful and it seems to be as if the two groups are talking. Then the visitors, for that is the impression I get of them, turn and go back the way they came to what looks like a vessel of some kind.' 'What kind?' 'I can't discern that, Isthia. I just identify it as a vehicle. An opening appears and the visitors go in it.
Then everything starts all over again. Now, tell me that other people are having this same dream?' 'I am,' Afra said, having entered the kitchen quietly.
'Afra says he is.' 'That doesn't surprise me, Damia. What does surprise me is that you two would be among those contacted.' 'Those?
How widespread is this?' Damia wasn't certain whether she was relieved or annoyed.
Isthia chuckled. 'This time it's not just the females who're getting it.' 'WHAT?' Damia beckoned urgently for Afra to come closer so he could hear what Isthia was saying.
'Well, your Uncle Ian as well as Rakella and Besseva have been having much the same nightly visitations. Yours are the clearest.' 'You said ”contact” a minute ago?' 'I did, and that's what I think it is now that you've amplified what the others only guessed.' 'I'm not sure I like this,' Damia said, noticing that her hand was beginning to tremble. Afra put his arm about her waist, and the other hand on her shoulder, steadying her.
She leaned back against him. 'What does Jeran think?' 'Ah, that's it. Jeran isn't included in the chosen,' Isthia said. 'Of course, he spends most of his free time with a blonde he's courting.' 'He's serious?' 'I suspect so. When Jeran makes up his mind, he's unswervable.' 'Have you asked him to try?' 'To dream requires sleep,' Isthia said pointedly.
Afra smothered his laugh in Damia's loose hair, pressing his face against her neck which he then nibbled. She jerked her shoulder, giving him a hiss to behave. He was totally unrepentant.
'So what do we do? Have you told my parents?' 'Hmmm, no, not yet.
It's been too nebulous.' 'I can also hear what the Rowan and Jeff would say, Afra remarked, projecting his voice so Isthia heard him, 'about a third Denebian Penetration.' 'It's not penetration,' both Damia and Isthia said together.
'Really?' Afra regarded his lover with quickened interest.
'An interesting reaction.
'Plainly dream-generated,' Isthia added. 'Look, since you've been having these visitations, and clearer ones than anyone else, I think I'll join you there, if you don't mind.
'If you wouldn't be bored sis the jibe.
'My dear, boredom has a certain appeal for one who has never known what it was. Now, go get me some fresh fish for lunch.' She broke the contact.
'I'm not sure I like this,' Damia said, replacing the handset.
'Why?' And Afra turned her around in his arms, to hold her comfortingly against him. 'I had no impression Damia could not recognise danger or menace or jeopardy. As you did, I had the feeling of visitation, a peaceful one.' Cus.h.i.+oned against her lover's body, Damia sagged against him, unconsciously seeking rea.s.surance which he willingly gave.
'I'm not sure I'm up to another visitor,' she said glumly.
She gave a second convulsive shudder. 'The last one cost us too much.' 'What? My brave Damia sidestepping a challenge?' 'Your cautious Damia not rus.h.i.+ng in, blind,' and her tone was sardonic.
'Let's see what Isthia says. Meanwhile, I could use some coffee, and maybe even some breakfast before we go fish for her lunch?' 'You're trying to make light of this whole thing,' Damia accused, pus.h.i.+ng away from him.
He disclaimed that immediately. 'Far from it. The prudent would examine the whole imposed dream sequence with an open mind 'If we're allowed. --' Almost absently, Damia began to prepare the coffee and other elements of a breakfast.
'We must be, if we've had the clearest dreams 'But they began the night we found that Beetle artifact 'They did at that,' and Afra frowned over the coincidence as he took the skillet from her hand and started cooking the eggs. 'We'd best weed that front bed, too, or Isthia will have words about negligence.' It afforded Damia some relief to yank out weeds and fork up the soil to be sure she'd got the root systems as well. And, although Damia enjoyed fis.h.i.+ng, today it was only a way to pa.s.s time until Isthia came. As is sometimes the case when one doesn't care, the fish bit well and they landed ten good-sized white-bellies before they realized they had more than enough. When Isthia arrived with both Ian and Rakella, they had just enough.
Afra hadn't seen Ian for quite a few years and he was surprised at how much the young man resembled his older brother. Though he had not quite the same forceful personality, he had sufficient of the inimitable Raven charm.
'Niece, you've improved past all recognition,' he said, dropping the flat black carrying case to warmly embrace Damia. After giving her a rib-cracking hug, he held out a hand to Afra. His eyes were somewhat paler a blue than Jeff's but as full of vitality, good humour and delight in their company.
'I second that,' Rakella said, kissing Damia's cheek.
'You were in a woeful state when you got here. I helped nurse you, or did Isthia ever bother to mention that?' She did not bear much resemblance to her older sister, Isthia, but the family stamp was in the set of her eyes and her generous mouth.
'For that, my deep grat.i.tude,' Damia said, 'for I've no recollection of much beyond the most thundering headache imaginable.' Isthia clapped her hands sharply together four or five times - claps which Damia heard echoing in her skull and proceeded to order them to gather at the dining table.
Damia noticed that she was also doing a quick check of her premises as she shooed them into the dining-room.
'White gloves, Grannie?' 'I wouldn't need them,' Isthia replied blithely. 'Look, Ian has some sketches to show you. See if you recognize anything from them.
'They're pretty vague,' Ian said, obediently opening the portfolio he had brought with him. He slid pencilled drawings out, across the sleek surface of the table, so that some faced Afra and others Damia.
'I don't always sketch what I dream but, by the fourth or fifth repet.i.tion, I felt I had to.' Damia held up one, showing the long road and the two blurs of figures. 'That's exactly what I see, only, there are at least twenty figures advancing and only six receiving, as it were.' 'Six?' Isthia looked pleased. 'That's us, counting in Besseva who couldn't come today.' 'And we're all high Talents, aren't we?' Damia said, glancing at her grandmother for rea.s.surance. Isthia gave a wave of her hand, dismissing Damia's self-doubt.
'Why isn't Jeran affected?' Ian asked and, when Isthia smothered a laugh, he added. 'Oh, I suppose that would affect his judgement, if not his receptivity' 'So what exactly is this?' Damia asked almost petulantly.
'Has it anything to do with that nibbling on the DEW net off Procyon?' Afra asked, startling Damia.
'What nibbling?' Afra regarded her steadily for a moment. 'Larak mentioned it. The Fleet had been sent to investigate and found nothing.' 'From Procyon to Deneb is a long distance, Ian said thoughtfully. Damia caught her breath.
'True, but longer distances have been covered recently,' Afra replied and Isthia nodded.
'And with devastating effect,' Damia said, feeling a tense anger and denial building in her.
'Is it wrong to suppose that all... ah... visitors have to be unfriendly?' Afra asked calmly, reaching under the table to put a steadying hand on Damia's leg.
'We've had more of the one than the other,' Isthia replied mildly.
'I'd certainly prefer that Deneb wasn't always the target.' 'It wasn't,' Damia said in a flat hard voice.
'Two out of three are not good odds,' Rakella said drily, 'but are we sure what these dreams mean? That there's some other species out there, asking to visit?' Isthia gave her sister a sharp look. 'Is that how you'd put it?' 'I think I would,' Rakella said after considering her reply. 'The dreams have not been threatening. They have been quizzical. Yes, that's the word I want, quizzical. Like neighbours who do not wish to intrude but would like to make friends.
'I find myself in agreement with that,' Afra said.
'And I,' said Ian.
Damia stared at the sketch, at the clump of figures struggling up the hill towards those waiting at the summit.
She waved at the drawing. 'I don't know if I want to understand that. I don't know if I'm afraid of what we will discover.' 'That, at least, is honest,' Isthia said but there was approval in her expression.
'Only a fool doesn't learn by mistakes,' Damia said in a bitter tone and felt Afra's fingers tighten, this time warningly, on her thigh. 'Well, we should profit by my mistake in this. They seem to be offering something, too.
'On the contrary, Damia, Sodan offered nothing. And he took subtly and brutally - all your energy, your strength, and your perception,' Afra said, his tone very gentle, his eyes entreating her forgiveness for his candid words.
She stiffened, catching her breath until she could not deny the love, encouragement and understanding which flowed into her mind from all those around the table.
Afra's fingers dug into her thigh, rousing her from her bleakness.
'And my brother,' she added. 'Why should we believe this - this intruder is any different?' 'Well, for one thing, whoever they are have had the courtesy to request admission into this system,' Isthia said.
'That's my interpretation of the dream sequences.
'Who - what - are they?' Damia asked bluntly.