The Amelioration Expedition
Chapter 25
Marlin woke at dawn and dressed. They all ate their morning meal and, as soon as Marlin had Gezant ready and Rianne packed some food, they all took off in the shuttles for the colonial dock. Donte had already left with Famke, Joep and Saar, but since Dr. Oriana wasn't going to be working in the field that day, Myrick joined them.
They had a surprise awaiting them when they got to the building site. There were tracks everywhere and a few of the stones had been moved. The Opus Natives had paid them a visit while they were gone. Paden said it looked like there were only four of them but they had spent a while inspecting the place. Their tracks were about the size of Marlin's feet, but they were wider. The big toe was further down the foot, but it wasn't like an ape track.
Marlin called Dr. Oriana and Myrick took one of the shuttles back to get Chandler. He didn't want anyone to disturb the tracks before he got there, so they all started to work felling trees, sawing them the lengths Joep had indicated and removing the bark.
Chandler arrived, took pictures and made molds of the tracks. He decided to spend the day with them, hoping to get a glimpse of what he referred to as primates. He was impressed with their project and spent some time photographing the men working before he joined them in "the fun."
They never saw the primates, but they did get a lot of work done. The men built a fire and heated a rod with a bend in it to burn numbers into the logs. Paden documented the numbers and sizes of the logs.
Chandler watched the process and looked at Paden. "Do you think the primates can count?"
Paden didn't crack a smile when he replied. "I expect to see those logs in the right place when we come back tomorrow."
Chandler frowned. "Do you think they will move them?"
Paden gave him a wry smile. "I meant in the right place on the building. It would save us a lot of work."
Chandler shook his head and chuckled. "That, I would like to see."
Marlin laughed. She had guessed that the logs were numbered for the purpose of assembly. Did Chandler originally think that they were numbering the logs so if one was moved, Paden would know? She liked Paden's sense of humor. It amazed her how some people could keep a straight face while they were cracking a joke.
That evening they were all invited to eat with the troops. The food was good and so was the company. Marlin had always wished she could have family gatherings like other families did. They were all becoming family to her and the evening was immensely enjoyable.
Rianne and Donte even joked a little with each other in a way that was entertaining for everyone. Marlin no longer had any doubt that they would get back together. Would that have happened without the accident?
If they hadn't been eating outside, they probably wouldn't have heard the drums. When they did, every eye in the camp turned to Donte, as if he would know what was happening out there.
***
Donte had had a successful day at the cavern. With the help of Famke, Joep and Saar, they had completed the sturdy ladder and anchored it in the cavern. They had built a wooden arm that hung over the crevice and swung back to the side. They built a basket that would hold two water containers and attached a rope to it. The final touch was a crank. They placed food in the basket and lowered it into the cavern.
They had returned that evening feeling good about what they had accomplished. Saar suggested they could all eat the evening meal together to celebrate.
The meal started out well, with everyone sharing their accomplishments and discoveries. Saar told Paden about the feline and Donte's claim that he wanted to check the contents of its stomach.
Chandler glanced at Donte. "Is this what you do in your spare time – swap stories?"
His expression indicated that he thought he would enjoy their simple lives. That was when the drums started. Everyone looked at Donte, as if wondering if he had done something to stir up the natives. In fact, he might very well have. His intent had been to make a peace offering, but it might not have been appreciated.
Donte stood and listened, trying to determine how far away the primates were. He couldn't sense them. Was it the primates, or was there other life on Opus?
Donte motioned to Quade. "Let's investigate."
Saar stood and Donte shook his head. "Not this time. We can see in the dark."
Paden stood. "I could take you up in the shuttle and maybe we could see something. I could set you down wherever you wanted to go."
Quade lifted a brow at Donte. "That sounds like a good idea."
Chandler looked at Donte. "I'd like to go. I'll stay in the shuttle, out of your way."
When Donte looked at Dr. Oriana, she nodded consent.
"All right," Donte said to Chandler. He turned his attention to Saar. "You're in command while I'm gone. I think it would be best if you all were inside a solid shelter."
Marlin frowned. "We don't even know if they are armed."
Donte looked at her. "If there are enough of them, and you're out in the open, it doesn't matter if they are armed with rocks."
Dr. Oriana stood and gave Marlin a level look. "Donte and his troops have more experience with this kind of thing. You do what you want, but I'm going to follow his suggestion."
Once they were in the shuttle, Paden turned it in the direction of the drums. Donte took a seat next to the window on one side and Quade did the same on the other side. They traveled for a while, landed the shuttle and opened the door to listen. The drums sounded closer, so they were going in the right direction.
Paden kept the shuttle close to the tree tops as they worked closer. When they spotted a fire in the distance, Donte had Paden set the shuttle down on an elevated area. The shuttle engine made no sound, but the cushion of air made a sound loud enough to attract attention if they got too close.
Chandler lifted his camera and looked through the telescopic lens. He lowered the camera and exclaimed something Donte didn't understand, followed by: "I can see figures dancing around a fire."
Donte looked at Quade and he shrugged. Donte turned to Chandler. "You can come with us, but stay between us. Obey whatever we tell you to do without hesitation or question."
"You bet," Chandler replied.
Donte led the way, stopping now and then to listen. They didn't know what to expect from these people…primates…and he wasn't leaving anything to chance. Following the sound of the drums, they made their way closer until they could see the figures through the trees.
Donte stopped and held up a hand. Putting a finger to his lips in a request for silence, he turned to find Chandler lifting his camera. Donte had heard the whirring sound when Chandler took pictures and he didn't want it to give away their presence. He pushed the camera down and Quade put a hand over Chandler's mouth. Chandler didn't move. Donte pointed to a tree where he sensed the presence of an outpost. After a few minutes of searching, he spotted the primate in the tree. Had they seen or heard the shuttle? Did they sense the presence of the three men, or did they always post a guard?
Donte signed to Quade for the two men to wait in silence. He turned away from the guard and made his way in a circle around the camp until he found an opening in the trees where the camp was visible. The noise of the drums would cover the sound of the camera, so Donte went back to the two men and led them to the spot.
Chandler's camera whirred nonstop for a while. Finally, he stopped taking pictures and leaned toward Donte.
"You're right. They aren't apes," he whispered.
The drums suddenly stopped. Donte squatted beside Chandler and watched as the group at the fire lifted something into the air. It was the basket of food. They carefully lowered it to the fire and placed it on the coals.
Donte watched in disappointed silence as the basket with the food in it burned. They needed to get out of there. The primates apparently didn't consider the food a peace offering. Maybe they felt insulted.
Donte stood and placed a finger to his lips. Slowly and carefully, he led Quade and Chandler away from the primates. He circled around and approached the shuttle from the opposite side. When they climbed into the shuttle and shut the door, Paden looked at them expectantly.
"Let's go," Donte said. He waited until they were in the air moving away before speaking. "I don't know what we just saw, but I'm afraid it means trouble."
No one said anything more until they got back to camp.
***
Marlin listened with the rest of their group as Donte, Chandler and Quade each related what they had observed.
Chandler directed his comment to Dr. Oriana. "They aren't apes."
Dr. Oriana nodded. "It doesn't sound like it. But the bigger question is; are we in any danger?" She looked at Donte. "You can sense moods. What do you think?"
Donte shook his head. "I don't know. Like any crowd of people, there were different emotions. I didn't specifically sense malevolence. I think it was a ritual of some sort. It's anyone's guess as to the purpose."
"Apparently they didn't need food." Marlin mused.
"If they even knew it was food," Quade said.
That was possible. Maybe they thought it was poisoned, or even some kind of curse.
Quade leaned his back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. He looked at Donte. "This may be a little far out there, but what if Fontalo did create them and they think we have come back to reclaim them."
Donte glanced at Marlin and returned his attention to Quade. "We haven't threatened them in any way."
Doctor Oriana looked from Donte to Quade. "Maybe we should hold off on building anything until we know their intent."
Things were getting out of hand. They didn't even know if the natives were hostile. Marlin looked at Donte. "We have a job to do and precious little time to get it done. Whether we do it or Fontalo sends someone to take our place, this planet is going to be colonized. I think the idea that Fontalo created the natives is irrelevant."
He smiled. "What if people from another planet came to Oriel and started claiming land as theirs?"
"I've thought about that, and it bothers me, but what do you suggest we do; council with them?"
Donte grimaced. "I wish we could."
"So do I," Marlin said. "But we can't. We have the potential to improve their lives. As I said, if we don't do this, we will be replaced with someone who will. Our replacements might decide the answer is to annihilate the natives. In a way, if we left, we could be abandoning or betraying them, don't you think?"
Donte nodded. "It could get dangerous."
Marlin smiled at him. "More dangerous than falling into a river and ending up nearly starving in a cavern; or were you thinking dangerous like facing a lion?"
Donte shrugged. "Or worse."
Marlin stood. "No one is being forced to stay here. Anyone who wants to leave may do so, but we need all of you and I hope you'll stay."
Everyone looked at Donte. Marlin could talk all night, but if Donte left, so would all her help.
Donte smiled at Marlin. "For me, the answer is a definite yes, I'm staying. I only want everyone to make an informed decision."
Quade looked at Akira and she nodded. He turned his attention to Marlin. "We're in."
There was no point in asking the troops. Where Donte went, they would go. Marlin lifted her brows at Rianne.
Her response was no surprise. "I understand the danger and I want to stay."
Paden dropped a hand to Donte's shoulder and squeezed it. "I think we'll all go to our tents. It's rather crowded in here."
Donte nodded. "I'll be out after a while."
After the troops left, Marlin looked at the others. "We had planned to go to the building site tomorrow."
Donte looked at Dr. Oriana. "If you would like, I'll leave some troops with you."
Dr. Oriana smiled. "Thank you, Donte, but I think it would be a good thing if we all went. It sounds like Marlin could use some help. She's been tossing enough of it our way."
Dr. Oriana's team looked surprised for a moment, but Marlin was certain they liked the idea. Everyone would benefit from a day together.
"In fact," Dr. Oriana continued. "It wouldn't be a bad idea if we brought some equipment with us and did some real field work.
That night they loaded the shuttles with equipment and food. The next morning, they took all the shuttles and people to Marlin's Castle early in the morning. It turned out to be a perfect day – sunny with occasional light clouds and the temperature mild. Dr. Oriana set up a table in the shade of a tree and put their equipment on it.
Donte's troops cut and built solid structures to hold the logs they would be notching. The structures were the shape of an x and reinforced at the seams. They didn't use nails for anything. Instead, they drilled holes with a mechanical device and drove wooden pegs into them with broad tipped hammers.
Joep and Famke measured and marked the logs where they wanted the notches. Paden and Myrick carried the logs to the supports, where Donte and Rianne began working on them. Some of the others were sent to find and fell more trees. Before long they were placing logs over the rocks they had laid the day before. The first logs had lots of notches in them and Marlin soon discovered those were for the joists that would hold the hardwood floors.
Hatchets, axes and all sorts of implements were used to shape the logs so that they lay flat against each other. It was hard and tedious work, but everyone was participating in some way. Gradually the building began to take shape. When Paden stopped to talk to her, she told him they needed a saw mill and told him about the idea of harnessing water for power.
He nodded. "We use hydro, solar and wind power on Purlieu - whatever is available."
Marlin looked at him in surprise. "You have electricity on Purlieu?"
He grinned. "You must think we live in caves."
Warmth crawled up Marlin's neck. They hadn't even thought about stopping on Purlieu to see how things were done there. "I guess I didn't give it much thought. How do you keep everything so pristine?"
He sobered. "We don't have personal vehicles. We have trams that run on solar power and we use equines and buggies where the trams don't go…or walk. Donte was the one who got the shuttle service started on Purlieu, and they run on solar power. I've been talking to Chandler and can't even imagine all the telephones and televisions everyone has."
Marlin frowned. "Is that supposed to be a bad thing?"
Paden shook his head. "I didn't say that. But it is different. I think I would like this much better." He waved a hand around."
"You mean all the manual labor?"
He shrugged. "I mean everything." His gaze rested on Donte and Rianne, who had stopped working and were talking to each other with serious expressions.
Marlin watched them for a few minutes. "I hope they are getting things worked out between them."
Paden looked down at her and smiled. "I'd better get back to work."
As Paden walked away, Marlin glanced around and noticed David was watching Donte and Rianne. He pulled a pair of gloves from his pocket and put them on as he walked over to join them. He spoke to them for a few minutes and Donte walked away. David took over the sawing – and the talking to Rianne.
Marlin sighed and turned to check on Gezant in the shuttle. There was nothing she could do about Donte and Rianne.
Soft Science Fiction
