Part 31 (1/2)
But she picked the wrong target for such a statement.
”You know better than that, Anne,' Randall replied, rising to the defense of both Reeves.
”Yes, indeed,' and Vic Solinari joined McKee, facing down the woman's gossip. ”There'll be a b.l.o.o.d.y d.a.m.ned good explanation for their disappearance, just you wait and see.”
”I'll wait but I don't think I'll see,' she replied tauntingly. ”Those Reeves never could run things right.”
”Confound it, Anne Boncyk,' and now Ben Adjei confronted the small woman, ”if you mean how they run the Snake Hunt, I've told you three times for every pig you own, Anne, if you'd have chosen a different homestead than the one you did, the snakes wouldn't come anywhere near your spread.”
”They're supposed to make sure all livestock is safe all along the way,' Anne retorted, getting angrier.
”Those reptiles have been sliding up and back between the dunes and the marshes along that stretch since before your acres had even surfaced out of the sea. I showed you a dozen better sites when you came here. You'd be better off if you moved.”
”I might not have a choice, thanks to those Perfect Twins you all think so much of.” Anne sniffed, turning away from the burly veterinarian and looking around to make sure Hrriss was not within earshot. ”What I've heard is, if they're judged guilty, then the Treaty won't be renewed.
All along, you thought they were such saints, and look what they're doing to us!”
”Todd and Hrriss are innocent,' Vic Solinari said.
”Most of the charges against them have been proved bogus. You know that as well as anyone else here, Anne Boncyk, so stop acting the maggot.” ”If they're so innocent, why isn't Todd here to stand beside Hrriss and prove it? Because if they don't, we're off Doona! The Hrrubans will confiscate our homes, our stock, everything we've worked for.”
”Hrrubans do not intend to confiscate Hayuman homes,' said Hrrula, stepping through the crowd around them. ”I, Hrrula, know that Zodd Rrev is innocent.”
”Well, we're not sure of that,' a Human woman cried out.
”Yet your system of justice, like ours, clearly states that one is innocent until proved guilty. If, after knowing how hard both Todd and Hrriss have worked to make this colony succeed, you think they are guilty, then this great Experiment is already over.” There was a moment's stunned silence as Hrrula's words condemned many for their lack of faith.
Hrriss, standing well back in the crowd, lowered his head in shame. He had endured much calumny and heard his dearest friend slandered. Nothing he had said, or proved with the precious doc.u.ments they had worked so hard to gather, would change the minds of many of these distressed folk, Hrruban and Hayuman, when they realized that all their hard work could be swept away at any moment by the dissolution of the Treaty and the DoonaiRrala Experiment.
”No, the Experiment has not failed,' cried Hu s.h.i.+h, struggling to the dais. ”Not if we, Hayuman and Hrruban alike, present a unified front. We must be of one mind now, more than ever, putting aside petty questions of innocence or guilt. The Colonial Department and the Speakers will have to realize that we, Hayumans and Hrrubans, are sincere and dedicated to the principles of the Decision at Doona and the Cohabitation Treaty.”
”Well said, well said!” Clapping his hands above his head in Hayuman fas.h.i.+on, Hrrestan jumped to the dais to stand beside the slender little Hu s.h.i.+h.
”This colony is a state of mind as well as a place for both species to live and prosper. It was founded on hope. Let us keep that hope alive. Now! Let us hope that our faith in those young men is vindicated as I know it will be!” And to the surprise of everyone listening, Hrrestan threw his head back and uttered an ancient Hrruban challenge.
It had barely died away when others repeated the challenge, Hrrubans with their uncanny howl and Hayumans with wild ululating cheers.
”Okay, folks,' and Vic Solinari leaped to the dais.
”No one's called off the ceremonies so let's make sure they start on time. Senior dignitaries from Earth and Hrruba are due in shortly.
Let's show them as united a front as we did twenty-five years ago.
They didn't believe us then, and we made them as united a front as we did twenty-five years ago. They didn't believe us then, and we made them. Let's revive that spirit and show ”em now, today! We're here to stay, Hrrubans and Hayuhands for silence. ”We got a lot of work to do now, everybody, so let's hop to it. First Village has sent rails of brrnas for roasting, Wayne Boncyk's given us four of his boars to roast. Norris has donated a hundredweight of those special sausages he makes, Phyllis here has ssliss eggs by the cartload, and I dunno how many women have been baking. Let's get organized, folks!” He sprang down from the dais, genially pus.h.i.+ng one group one way, another toward the doors, gesturing at the fire pits that were already glowing.
”We have the crop of our berry harvest to offer,' called out Hrrmova of the Third Hrruban Village.
”A bounty of blackberries and drroilanas.”
”The Launch Bar will donate beer, mlada, and wine,' the owner called. ”If any s.p.a.cers come wanting a drink, they'll have to find me here. I don't want to miss a minute of the celebration.”
”That's the spirit,' Vic Solinari cheered him.
”Hrrestan, where should I put my two hundred kilos of good aged urfa cheese?”
”We shall find a place, my friend,' the Hrruban said, ”for I know that many Hrrubans are particularly fond of that commodity.”
”And the hunters of First Village,' Hu s.h.i.+h said, ”have made a record catch of the hatchlings. Snake stew must be on the menu.”
”We're doing all this for nothing!” Martinson of the Launch Center shouted, pus.h.i.+ng through a crowd which had recovered its hope.
”We'll all be off this planet before that food can be cooked, much less served.” But this warning elicited more jeers than agreement.
”You may leave now, if that is how you feel, Martinson,' Hrrestan replied, letting his eyes slit as he looked at the portmaster. He didn't show the irritation he felt at this attempt to puncture the delicate mood of optimism that was beginning to build. ”Go if you do not share our hopes. We will not miss you.” And resolutely he turned away.
Martinson stared after him, looked around the room, but others had turned away, too. He stamped out of the Hall, cursing fools and fatheads and men who wouldn't face reality.
Soon even the most pessimistic caught the growing spirit of hope and resolve. There was a lot to be done, however the events of the next day turned out. After all, twenty-tive years ago, there had been less hope for those who remembered that fateful day. Was it wrong to expect a second miracle?
Hrrestan hoped that he sounded more convinced than he felt. If some worked only because it was something to do, that was better than doing nothing. And so the preparations for the feasi began, Hrrubans and Hayumans working side by side.
The next day dawned, for better or for worse.
Pat forced herself out of bed and set aboui kneading bread dough which had risen during the night. She put the loaf pans on the sun porch to rise again. Deftly she put fancy touches on each, spread glazes on some and sprinkled seed on others. Foi someone who had never baked a loaf of bread before she came to Doona, over time Pat had mastered the skill until she had pride in it. If she worked, she didn't think about how frightened she was. Once again she was alone on Doona withoul Ken: she hadn't liked it the first time it had happened twenty-five years ago and she didn't like it now. He should be here with her. Where was he Where was Todd? And where were Kelly and Nrrna? Safe, they said, but where was safe these days? Kelly had given her so much support evel since Todd had woken up to what everyone else had seen-that he and Kelly were so well suited tc each other. The bread made, she had only to wail until it was ready to bake. Only to wait? That wa the hardest part of all. Wait for what?
The handle of the front door rattled, and Pat fie to answer it.
On the doorstep was her daughter Ilsa.
and her two small daughters.
”Oh, sweetheart,' Pat gasped. ”I'd almost forgot.
ten you were coming.” lIsa put down her bags and threw her arm of tea and think what to do.” around her mother.
”Happy Treaty Renewal Day, Mom, she said happily, embracing Pat, and then stood back at her expression. ”If it is. What's wrong?” Pat bent to cuddle her two small granddaughters, four and seven they were now.
”How would you two like to help me make bread?” she asked, diverting them as well as herself.
”Wash your hands now,' and when they had, she showed them how to shape spare sc.r.a.ps of dough into little loaves and left them to it.
With them happily occupied, she explained to lisa what had been happening since their last contact.
lIsa listened quietly and thoughtfully to the most recent troubles. Knowing her brother's sense of honor, lisa had expected Todd to have cleared up all that nonsense about smuggling and stealing and things. She kept to herself her anxiety when she learned of the disappearance of both her father and brother.
”Why didn't you comp-line me, Mother? If Dad and Todd are on Earth, we could have gone to Poldep to instigate a search for them.”
”I didn't want to worry you, dear,' Pat replied, knowing that she hadn't considered her gentle daughter could be much help in such circ.u.mstances.
”Every minute I expect them back, to walk in that door and explain where they've been. And there's no time left now. Nothing they could do even if they do make it back today.”