Part 3 (1/2)
”I'm sorry,” Rachael said. ”I'm afraid I don't know Terran geography very well. I've lived there only for a few years, while I've been in school.”
”No matter. Merced means 'river' in the language of my other ancestors, who conquered my princ.i.p.al ones.”
” 's.h.i.+ning river.' Very pretty.”
”What about yours? Does it mean anything?”
”d.a.m.ned if I know.” A hand reached back, touched Cora. ”Hey, Mother, what does 'Xamantina' mean?”
”I don't know, Rachael.” She looked again at the earnest little man behind them. ”It's an Amerind name, also derived from South America. A different
region, though, I think.”
Merced looked intrigued. ”Perhaps our ancestors
were neighbors, then.”
”Possibly.” Cora spoke softly. ”No doubt they fought and killed one another with great vigor.” She turned away, looked back out the port.
”Mother,” Rachael whispered at her angrily, ”you have a talent for displaying the most exquisite rude- ness.”
”Calm down, dear. We'll be landing soon. You wouldn't want your toy scattered all over the cabin,
would you?”
Rachael huffily snuggled down into her seat, though
Cora could still feel her daughter's eyes on the back of her neck as she stared out the port. She chuckled to herself, thankful that Merced had given her the chance to let him know how she felt without her having to in- trude on the conversation.
”Four minutes to touchdown,” the speaker voice
said. ”Refasten harnessing, please.”
Cora did so mechanically. Mou'anui should be straight ahead of them. She should be able to see at least part of it immediately prior to touchdown. They would approach the oval lagoon from one end. It was
17.
sixty kilometers long in places, and surely they-yes, there!
A brilliant flash stung her eyes through the port, from where direct sunlight impacted on the hexalate sands. She stared at the kaleidoscope of color until her eyes filled with tears.
A dull thunk sounded as the long, solid pontoons were lowered. Seconds before contact, the light had become so strong Cora had to turn from the port. The brief impression she had had of Mou'anui would never leave her, however. It was as if they were touching down inside a diamond.
Another, louder thump was heard as they touched water. The rear engines roared. Cora struggled to clear her vision, but occasional lances of reflected light shot through the port, blinding her. She was aware of a dif- ferent motion, one that was at once familiar and yet strange.
They were floating now, adrift on an alien sea.
19.
II