This post is one of those times.
However, I'm not going to say what the mistake was. Chances are, you won't see it if I don't make the mistake of pointing it out. Then I'll just fix it later, and no one will ever know.
For those of you who do, congrats on the eagle eyes.
Now you're all going to be looking for it - heehee! :-)
***
For the Love of Gulbfish and a Lie - Part One
By Dianna Zaragoza
A side story from the novel 'Sanctuary', Book One of the Gilesian Trilogy
The teacher Jong’Gin talked on and on about the history of
the colony, the geography of what was known up to the Line of Darkness, while
his bride and third looked on with admiration shining in their eyes, and
glances that indicated intimate jokes.
Mageid Araba of section Nevahi didn’t know how much longer
he could stay awake, listening to the drone of his youngling’s new first, but
it pleased him that the triad ceremony progressed so much better than he’d
hoped.
The cavern chosen for the festivities had been newly
hollowed out and oxygenated, although the other younglings, the very young,
required only the sun’s rays, and many holes in the ceiling provided easy
access to the sun and the warmth of the cavern floor. Holograms of attractive second-stage
Gilesians moved around the rooms with grace and with focus, wrapped in cloths
that lit the room in bright yellows, providing light to each room. Lots of
singing, the hums of the festival singers performing the latest ode to Cidvec
and his memories.
Mageid listened to the tones as they rose and fell, at once
in unison, and then in beautiful harmony. He appreciated those who still wished
to bring a spiritual feeling to such events, even though he himself was not
what he would call religious. The songs still evoked memories of his childhood
back on the home world – such a poignant time.
Sitting next to each other on some polished green rocks, the
head of the one of the tallos mines in Section Yendon, a reviewer of Earth
language, and a human conservationist were gesturing quickly in contact
language. Their occasional spoken use of language indicated a vigorous debate,
concerning those banished to Earth who were accused of coitus mortem – deadly
sex with humans – and their various opinions on the practice.
Some agreed with
the thoughts of the Quorum, that such activity was the heighth of
irresponsibility. Others wondered aloud what the Upper Triad would do, which
caused a greater debate on the role of spirituality in society, and whether or
not it should be applied to such practical matters.
It was nothing he hadn’t heard before in public gatherings,
and it comforted him that such debates continued to be spoken of openly. It was
when such talk went away that the pressure grew, that feelings rose like a
slumbering volcano waiting to erupt. The airing of controversy was what kept
life calm and orderly, as he liked it.
Another small group spoke of Cidvec and his prophecies, but
only in contact language. Such talk was truly controversial, and especially so
when the human girl was mentioned. Mageid grazed their arms, pretending to have
come by only as jostled by others. In that one moment, he heard part of the
conversation –
‘…Do you think the humans should be culled if their numbers
grow too great?...’
‘…or perhaps just the girl herself…’
‘…the humans will kill her themselves, there will be no need
of our interference…
‘…perhaps Baldassin thinks…’
Mageid broke the connection as one turned to throw a sharp
look at him for invading their privacy without contribution. He nodded in
apology, and walked towards the food cavern with a heavy heart that there were
those among his people that would even consider human death as a solution to
any challenge.
Still, he reminded himself, thought didn’t move into the
realm of crime or shame until it turned the robes red, and their robes never
even approached that color. Nothing to fear. Alarming topics, but still spoken
in an agreeable fashion.
The younglings and their third guardians outside the cavern
hopped up and down, playing a game of trying to see inside as he first smelled
the aroma.
“Oh, make me a pleasant altar – is it time?”
The cavern was filled top to bottom with delicacies, all set
about in a charming disorder – sun-warmed roast almatar in a green jelly sauce,
fragrant valfern with vegetables and zumey grains in a tureen, flowered greens
steaming hot…
“Not time yet, sir. A few tics more.” Jacubinia, a beautiful
hologram glowing bright yellow with swirls of green, moved her way around the
kitchen.
“Ah but please…I must see the gulb icefish with the sun
glaze. They promised me it would be served tonight…”
Jacubinia smiled. “You must wait. The eggs hatch
momentarily…”
Before she could continue, a yellow light in the center of
the ceiling glowed softly, capturing both their attention...
***
Click back tomorrow for Part Two...
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