THE ALTIAN PLAGUE Read online

  “Yes. You're right -- it can get out of hand -- especially if the parties haven't agreed who should sleep first.”

  “Finally, she closed her eyes for an instant. I began stroking her eyelids -- very gently.”

  “Suki -- that's so sweet.”

  “I could feel her relax and fall asleep against me. I was very moved by the whole experience. Nykkyo -- I realize Florans have a sophisticated touch language. Was there some meaning to what I did?”

  “You gave her the gift of sleep. A Floran would interpret it as giving her permission to sleep -- telling her that you knew even if she was sleeping she was with you.”

  Suki nodded. “Something else. Senta told me she'd give me anything I wanted so long as it was in her power to grant it. Whatever I wanted -- all I had to do was name it.”

  “She was granting you a boon.”

  “A boon?”

  “Yes -- a reward for an act beyond the call of duty. What you did yesterday was a powerful gesture to a Floran.”

  “But Nykkyo -- I would've have done what I did for anyone. It's the number-one rule for a swimmer -- if someone's in trouble, and if you can help without endangering your own life -- you are obligated to do so.”

  “Florans aren't swimmers. Boons are often granted by the government or an agency to a worker who has performed beyond expectations. My father was granted this house as a boon. Do you know what most request?”

  “No... What?”

  “An ax'amfin companion.”

  “Someone like Andra... That's a part of your culture I'll never fully appreciate.”

  “So -- what did you ask for?”

  She looked at him. “I asked that you and she be on speaking terms. I know you want to be friends with her. Nykkyo -- I didn't ask that you two be on lovemaking terms -- just speaking to each other. She said she would do that for me. I thought it would be a start. Who knows? Some day we may want to invite her to join our love-family.”

  “Stranger things have happened,” he replied. “What's on the calendar for today?”

  “Nothing,” she replied. “The day -- and the night is ours to do with as we please.”

  “What would please you?” he asked.

  Suki smiled and glanced up the staircase toward the bedrooms.

  3 -- The New Agent

  A land breeze wafted through Nyk's walless childhood bedroom and he could hear the surf beating against the bluff. Suki snuggled against him and he stroked her arm. “Mmm...” she said.

  “Mmm?”

  She drew in a deep breath. “Mmmmmm....”

  “Did we make up for lost time?”

  “Mmmmmm.... I always feel like this after with you ... so relaxed ... my body feels like it's melting. Mmm...”

  He gazed into her eyes in the dim light and she gazed back. “This isn't a stare-down, is it?”

  “Oh, no -- I can barely keep them open.” She stroked his shin with the top of her foot. “Mmm... I still think you have the prettiest legs I've ever seen on a man. Since everyone here wears the tunic, I've seen lots of nice-looking legs.” She stroked his shin again. “I've always been a leg girl. What type of a guy are you?”

  “I'm an all-over everything guy. I think your hair is as sexy as your legs... Your back is as alluring as your hips...” He kissed her hair. “That vein in your elbow turns me on as much as a glimpse of one of your...”

  She kissed his lips. “You are nuts... But, in a nice way.”

  “I do love you,” he said.

  “I know ... I know you do. I've never doubted. I love you, too.”

  “And, I've missed you so much. Our vidphone conversations can't make up for this.”

  “I've missed you, too... And Mom, and Nicky.”

  “Your mom tells me she misses hearing us make love in the bedroom above hers.”

  “Really? I always thought it annoyed her.”

  “No.” He brushed aside a tear. “She said she knew you were happy.” Suki kissed his cheek. “She had an attitude toward it that was almost Floran. I could see a Floran mom enjoying hearing her son or daughter. We have a word for it -- nok'muzika...”

  “Night music -- I know. I've heard it.”

  “Nearly everyone on this world has.”

  “I meant the expression.” She pulled herself against him and caressed his arm. “What are your plans for tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow... I take the train to Floran City and give Dyppa Hawryt her preliminary briefing. Then, I ride with her to Earth and get her established in the Wisconsin lab.”

  “Dyppa. The name's familiar.”

  “She's the Floran girl Seymor and I discovered in Zander's trailer.”

  “Oh, yes. I remember I had one of my eruptions when you told me you had her in bed with you.”

  “It was totally innocent, Suki -- honest. She had a bad dream...”

  Suki kissed his cheek. “I know it was. You like her, don't you. It's okay -- you can be honest about it.”

  “I am fond of her,” he replied. “Something about her connected with me right away. She and I have been corresponding during her rehabilitation and her Agency training. We've become friends.”

  “Friendly enough to sleep with her?” Nyk looked into her face. “It's all right, Nykkyo. I've come to appreciate the Floran way.”

  “That hasn't taken you long.”

  “I see it in practice here every day. I feel the love among your people -- I feel it directed toward me. It's wonderful.” She kissed his cheek again. “If you feel like sleeping with Dyppa -- don't say no on my account. It's not fair that I have Andra here and you have no one there.”

  “That's a Floran sentiment if I ever heard one. Suki -- I have no intention of sleeping with Dyppa.”

  “I'd feel good knowing you have someone on Earth ... especially if she's a nice Floran girl.”

  “Actually, Dyppa's an Altian.” He shook his head. “It won't work. She'll be in Wisconsin and I'll be in New York.”

  “Station her in New York, then.”

  “She needs to be in Wisconsin for her assignment. And -- I need to be in New York for mine.”

  “Think about it. If she's a nice enough girl for you to regard her highly, then I'm sure I'd like her, too.”

  “I'm sure you would.”

  “You do have good taste in women.” She caressed his face. “Why are you smiling?”

  “I was thinking... Can you imagine us having that sort of discussion on Earth?”

  “I recall we had a different sort of discussion about Dyppa,” she replied, “one of my jealous rages. I left those emotions on Earth.”

  “I know. I came here and found a different Suki.”

  “A happier one, for sure. A better one, I hope. Nykkyo -- after you diverted me from the World Trade Center, I spent my first few days here in deep soul-searching. You gave me a wonderful gift. I don't mean just saving my life. You gave me the opportunity to make a new one, on a new world; to start over. I asked myself what I had done to deserve your gift. Nothing, I concluded.”

  “But, Suki...”

  “No, Nykkyo. There must've been hundreds -- thousands who perished that day who were more deserving of life than I.”

  “I couldn't bear the thought of losing you. It was my selfishness...”

  “You were an agent of Destiny, Nykkyo. I must've been sent here for a reason. I vowed to make myself worthy -- to give as much of myself, as much love as I can to the people of this world who have opened their arms and hearts to me.”

  “You were sent for a reason -- to teach the youth of my world about yours.”

  “It must be more than that. I've already learned more than I could teach in a lifetime. I've learned how important a part of happiness your attitude is. If you determine to be happy, you WILL be happy. I realize how much of my time and energy I wasted with petty jealousies; with obsessing on whether or not I received what I thought I was due. I've learned the truth to your ways, Nykkyo. It's giving and trust. If I give one hundred percent of mys
elf to others, and trust them to do the same -- the result is greater for all.”

  “Isn't there an Earth saying that it's the converts who are the most devout?”

  “I'm definitely converted. It's marvelous.”

  “What you described is our ideal. We're only human, and humans have faults.

  “Are all the colonies like Floran?”

  He snorted. “Hardly. Each one has its own culture ... it's own personality.”

  “I stopped worrying about who you love more -- Andra or me. It's not a relavent concern. Instead I give one hundred percent of myself to both of you and I receive two hundred percent in return. Florans have learned sharing and cooperation is superior to possession and competition.”

  “I don't know about that, Suki. I think competition is what makes Earth such a vibrant and interesting place. Competition is what drives evolution -- of both species and societies. Without it we stagnate. Floran entered its so-called Golden Age about fifteen hundred Earth years after Planetfall. We're still in it. Our society hasn't progressed in thirty-five hundred years. Today's lifestyle is indistinguishable from a hundred generations ago.”

  “I think peace, friendship and harmony here is more than a fair swap for aggression on Earth.”

  “Historically, it's been the societies that became complacent and stagnant that were vulnerable to both internal decay and external aggression. And, consider this: Where might Floran be today if we HADN'T stagnated ... hadn't become complacent? How much further might we have come?”

  “Floran might be gone. You might have evolved yourselves out of existence. Might-haves don't count.” She kissed his cheek. “Someone I love very dearly told me that once.”

  She pulled herself tighter against him and he caressed her forearm. “Hmmm...” she mused. “I'll need to contemplate all this more. Maybe I can work our conversation into one of my lectures. You're right about one thing -- Floran does agree with me.” Suki closed her eyes and nestled her face against his shoulder. He touched a pad to switch off the ambient lighting. She let out a contented sigh. Bon'noka, Nykkyo.”

  * * *

  Nyk stuffed a travel case into the luggage compartment of the groundcar. He turned to see the three women standing near the drive.

  Suki embraced and kissed him. “Give Mom and Nicky a hug and a kiss from me, okay?” He nodded. “Goodbye... Don't be a stranger.”

  “I'll visit as often as I can,” he replied. He held Andra. “My friend- for-life. Keep taking care of my korlyta.”

  “I certainly will.”

  “Senta... It was good seeing you again.”

  She proffered a faint smile “Have a safe trip to Earth, Nykkyo.”

  “I intend to.” He climbed into the groundcar, pulled shut the cowl and scanned his wrist. “Car ... train station. Confirmed, car go.”

  * * *

  The train slowed to a stop at the Floran City central station. Nyk grasped his case and walked to the lift. He rode to the tubecar platform and scanned his wrist at the kiosk. “Destination?” a synthesized voice inquired.

  “Government Center.”

  “You are third in line. Have a good day.”

  He shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he waited. A couple with a small child were first in line and behind them was an officious looking older man, identified by insignia on his xarpa as a Central Admin nawab.

  A bullet-shaped car slid onto the platform and its cowl slid back. “Government Center,” came a voice from the dashboard.

  Nyk climbed in. “Car, go.”

  The vehicle accelerated into its transparent roadway. It merged into a multi-lane tube running through the center of the city. Nyk watched the closer buildings blur as the car achieved its top speed. Between them he could make out the mile-high quad towers of Government Center, still fifty kilometres distant. He locked his fingers behind his head and leaned back.

  Floran's mid-day orange sunlight flooded into the car. Overhead in the indigo sky were some brighter stars, visible in broad daylight. He looked down at the city square. Adjacent was the Floran Museum, built around the hull of the Floran herself.

  The tubecar whizzed by Nyk's old neighborhood. He glimpsed the tower where he had shared Senta's apartment during the years of their marriage. A short distance away was the Arcade, a shopping mall serving the area. Beyond that was the park with its artificial lake and plantings of native vegetation. Nyk looked down on streets congested with groundcars and foot traffic.

  He was approaching Government Center. Its towers were beginning to loom, now. He could see a swarm of skimmers circling over the low building housing the High Legislature assembly hall, awaiting their turns to land on the roof. The HL sat in the middle of the complex, with a tower arising from each corner.

  Nyk was headed for the northeast tower, where the ExoAgency had its headquarters. The car veered into a tube leading to the complex and stopped at the platform. He stepped out and grabbed his case. A woman nursing an infant sat in the car and it headed back into traffic.

  He walked the distance to Tower Three and rode the lift to headquarters. The door slid open in response to his wristscan. A receptionist looked up from a desk. “I'm Nykkyo Kyhana -- I'm to meet Dyppa Hawryt here.”

  The receptionist gestured toward a waiting area. Nyk turned and saw a young woman sitting. She had short, medium-blond hair and brilliant blue eyes. “Dyppa!” Dyppa stood. Nyk held her and kissed her forehead. “Let's see if there's a meeting room we can use.”

  The receptionist motioned him to an empty room overlooking the HL. He sat at the conference table and popped open his case. “Are you ready?”

  “As ready as I'll ever be. Were you this nervous before you made your first transit to Earth?”

  “No, not at all. I was worse -- I had nightmares about it for days before. At least, you've already seen Earth.”

  “Not much of it.”

  “I suppose I should start your briefing,” he said. “You will be stationed near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You'll remember the house -- we stayed there overnight.” Dyppa nodded. “This is one of two principal exobotany stations. The other is in Scottsdale, Arizona. We rent lab space from a university there. Your assignment is to procure specimens requested by the plant breeders, culture them and send the cultures to the homeworld. Do you understand?”

  “Of course.”

  “My first assignment on Earth was in the same house and lab. I have some fond memories of the place...” He removed a polymer envelope and handed it to her. “These are your identity documents.” Dyppa dumped the contents onto the table. “Your Earth identity is Karen Wilson. You must be on your guard to respond to that name. It's difficult at first, trust me. With time it becomes natural.”

  Dyppa removed a card with a photograph. “What's this?”

  “It's a driver's license.”

  “For driving what?”

  “An automobile.”

  “Will I have one of those?”

  “No -- you'll have a shuttlecar, but we discourage using it on the streets more than absolutely necessary.”

  “Then -- why do I need this?”

  “We procured that to simplify identifying yourself.” Dyppa nodded and looked through the items. “Social Security?”

  “A necessary evil on Earth.”

  “And this?”

  “A passport.” Nyk withdrew another object. “This is a debit card. Do you recall your training on Earth economics?” She nodded. “You can use this to pay for necessaries. We will maintain an adequate balance in your draw account.” Dyppa returned the items to the envelope, opened her own travel case and dropped it in. “Do you have any questions?”

  “No ... none right now. I'm sure I'll have many once we get there.” She handed him a polymer sack she had been carrying. “Do I give these to you now, or later?”

  Nyk dipped his hand into the sack and retrieved a handful of clear crystals -- raw diamonds. “I'll take them now.”

  “I can't believe our fusion
byproducts have such value on Earth,” she replied.

  He held up the sack. “This is how we fund our operations there.” He dropped it into his case. “Seymor wanted me to say one thing before we leave. Stay away from Earth drugs, Dyppa. Since your Earth identity is an eighteen year old girl, that includes alcohol. He wanted me to remind you that one hint of trouble in that regard and he'll send you home.”

  “He probably thinks I'll be tempted as a recovered addict.”

  “Psychological addiction stays with you for life, Dyppa.”

  “No one needs to tell me that.”

  Nyk nodded. “I'm sure. I'm sorry -- I was just discharging a commission Seymor gave me. He refuses to sponsor anyone with an addictive profile. He had trouble with an Agent once, years ago.”

  She looked down at the table. “Then -- why was I accepted?”

  “Seymor isn't sponsoring you. I am.”

  “I won't let you down.”

  “I know you won't.” Nyk touched a vidisplay on the conference table. “It's time to go, then. We'll take a tubecar to the shuttleport. It's a short packet ride to Earth.

  * * *

  Nyk escorted Dyppa through the docking tunnel and into the relay station. “I'll show you around... Over here is decontamination.”

  “Shall we?” she asked.

  “No need on the ride down -- there are no Floran microbes that can survive in the Earth biosphere. You'll need to use it on the trip up.” He gestured. “This is the wardroom. You should look for some appropriate clothing and change. There's a selection in the closet over there.”

  Dyppa began looking in the closet. Nyk removed his Earth clothing from his personal effects locker and began dressing. “Is this appropriate?” Dyppa asked holding a lightweight blouse and shorts.

  “No. It's January ... cold. You'll need to find something warmer. We'll go shopping for an Earth wardrobe once we're there.”

  She returned from the wardroom in jeans and a turtle-neck pullover. “Shall we make transit?”

  Nyk checked his watch. “It's too early. I like to time it so we're landing around two in the morning.”