Return Of The Fontalo
by Linda Rigsbee
Chapter 11
Donte didn’t have much time to miss everyone. As it turned out, he got them all to the shelter at an opportune time. Adriaan was the one who notified him that another alien spacecraft had landed on Purlieu. Apparently, the homing device had led them to the abandoned ship, miles from the island where the others were.
“Have you detected any communication?” Donte asked.
“We’re picking up something, but we can’t understand what they are saying. The reception isn’t that good, but no one up here understands the language well enough to converse with them.”
“Can you patch it through to me?”
“I’ll try as soon as we hear it again.”
“Any sign of the spaceship yet?”
“Not yet,” Adriaan said with a sigh. I’m beginning to wonder if they are blocking our signal.”
“It’s possible, but I think it simply hasn’t arrived yet. Has the newest spacecraft started moving yet?”
Adriaan was silent for a few minutes; probably asking for information. When he spoke, his voice sounded excited. “Both spacecrafts are moving in the direction of the island.”
“They obviously have a means of communicating with each other and presumably the spaceship. Let me know if you hear anything more.”
Donte sent messages to all the leaders, including Chait, informing them that a second spacecraft had arrived. He instructed them to continue avoiding the island and let them make the first move. He added at the end of his message.
“They are speaking another language, but that doesn’t mean they can’t speak any of ours.”
They heard no more communication from the island or the spacecraft. Either they were using a different type of communication or they were not communicating. Both spacecrafts were at the island at that point, so they probably had no need to communicate by air. By Donte’s calculations, which could be totally inaccurate, he guessed the spaceship would arrive in two more days.
It troubled him that they might have a different communication method. He wanted to talk to them and establish their intent. It was strange that he felt the malevolence from the first craft, but not the second. Of course, he had been inside the Groot Thuis when the second craft arrived. One had arrived by night and the other by day. Was there a reason for that? Had the spaceship arrived undetected?
In the past, he had not been able to sense things beyond a specific distance, but the spacecraft had been beyond that point. There were other indications that his superpowers were getting stronger. He had always been able to sense the mood of animals and humans around him, but on the mission when Celyn had been captured, he had been able to anticipate when a man would pull the trigger on a musket. Now he often knew when people were preparing to do something. It wasn’t as if he could read their mind. That would be helpful too, but it wasn’t the case. It was more like an extension of sensing their mood or intent – on to sensing the exact moment at which they would take action on their emotion. Sometimes he could sense that they weren’t going to take action on their emotion. It was helpful at times like his encounter in the station with Barclay. He knew the man intended him no harm. Other times it could be embarrassing; like Celyn’s desire for Kenyon. Donte was trying to channel the new skill, but he hadn’t reached that point yet.
***
Celyn was beginning to understand how Rianne felt. She and Kenyon had exchanged vows only a few days before he left her at the palace to go on a mission. To be fair, he had asked her if she wanted to go with him, but she had declined. The only time she wanted to be surrounded by water was when she was bathing. It wasn’t a dangerous mission and he had returned in a few days.
Kenyon didn’t simply look a lot like Donte. When it came to being an attentive mate, she couldn’t have asked for a better man. She had never known the contentment that she experienced now when she was with Kenyon. She had been right about one thing. There was nothing quite as romantic as having a man in her comfortable bed. Kenyon was both romantic and exciting. Nothing she had ever imagined with Donte came close to the emotions Kenyon could ignite in her.
As far as she knew, Kenyon wasn’t afraid of anything. Before he came to her that night, she would have said he was afraid of commitment. Obviously, that wasn’t the case. She had asked him why he suddenly decided to settle down. She could still see the surprised look on his face as he responded.
“You said you belonged to Donte. What was I to do?”
“But what made you come to me and ask me to exchange vows with you?”
He gave her one of his sardonic smiles. “It finally sunk through my thick skull that neither of you wanted that relationship. In fact, I think the idea of it was causing problems between Donte and Rianne.”
“Oh, so you asked me for Donte’s sake?”
He looked confused for a moment. “I did it for my sake. I knew how I felt about you and I was pretty sure you felt the same way about me. I figured Donte was probably right and you misinterpreted the vision – which we now know you did. Think about it. We were meant for each other and we felt it, but we were so stuck on your interpretation of that vision that no one was happy. You can’t build your life around a predetermined expectation. You have to take life as it comes and adjust accordingly.”
He was right. If he hadn’t disregarded the vision and asked her, she would have been willing to have a relationship with Kenyon, not exchanging vows with him because she thought she was supposed to exchange vows with Donte. Kenyon was a lot like Donte in many ways, but in some ways he was better. Kenyon wasn’t guided by the morals of others. He did what he believed was right. Unfortunately, one of those things was standing by his word and it had cost him thirty years as a captive in Lochfowk. He had no love of the Lochfowk colony, but he didn’t carry a grudge, either. It was in the past and he left it there.
The only thing that troubled her about their relationship was The Prophesy. The presence of the alien spacecraft verified that The Fontalo had returned. The Prophesy had begun. She and Donte were supposed to work together. How much of The Prophesy were they misinterpreting? Would the colonists actually rise up against the Mascots? It was difficult for her to imagine that. In recent years, Mascots and colonists had begun exchanging vows. If Nieke would agree to it, she was certain her father would exchange vows with Nieke. Had he asked her? But Nieke still loved Donte. It was in her eyes every time she looked at him. In a way, her father’s relationship with Nieke was like Kenyon’s relationship had been with Celyn. Maybe Nieke would eventually look at Neirin the way she looked at Donte. She obviously liked and respected Neirin.
Kenyon was right. A person should accept life as it was handed to them and embrace it.
Celyn and Kenyon were with Neirin when Donte sent a message informing them about the arrival of the second spacecraft. It had landed in the sea by the abandoned spacecraft, no doubt lured in by the homing device. Two days later the location of the spaceship was discovered – precisely where Donte had projected it would appear and right on schedule.
Kenyon looked at Neirin and shook his head in amazement. “I don’t know how he does it.”
Neirin smiled. “He’s good; there’s no denying that.” His gaze touched Celyn before going back to Kenyon. “When do you plan on joining him?”
Kenyon looked at Celyn and lifted his brows. “What do you think?”
“Now,” she said. “I don’t want to wait until he needs me and then try to get there as fast as possible.”
“Us…I’m going with you.”
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
He studied her face a moment. “Are you afraid?”
She nodded. “Terrified, but I’m ready to get this over with.” She leaned toward him. “You don’t have to do this. You’re not in The Prophesy.”
His smile was wry. “No? The fact that The Prophesy didn’t include me by name doesn’t mean I’m not in it. Surely you didn’t think you two would be the only ones fighting. You are the leaders. That’s all it says. There will be a lot of things that contribute to the gain of freedom that haven’t been named in The Prophesy.”
Neirin nodded. “Exactly…like the saving of Donte’s life, and Donte saving Celyn’s life.”
Celyn smiled at Kenyon. “And my exchanging vows with you.”
He took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. He looked at Neirin. “If you have no objections, I’ll take her to Bergen tomorrow.”
Neirin sighed. “I’m like Celyn. I’m terrified and I want to get it over with. I have no objections.”
***
Two days after the second spacecraft arrived, Adriaan contacted Donte, barely able to contain his excitement.
“We have located the spaceship – exactly where you thought it would arrive. I'm having trouble understanding them so I’m going to transfer the communication to you.”
It had been difficult learning a language that he had never actually heard anyone speak. When Adriaan transferred the communication to him, Donte had to speak slowly at first, his sentences brief.”
A male voice sounded irritated. “Who am I speaking to now?”
“I am Donte.”
There was a long silence. “You are not on my list.”
Donte had a sense of foreboding. “What list is that?”
“The leaders of Purlieu and the spaceships.”
“Who is on your list?”
Another long silence. “You are a leader?”
“I am the new ruler of Bergen.”
“Pieter is no longer the ruler?”
Donte hesitated. If he was the new ruler of Bergen, then obviously Pieter was no longer the ruler. Maybe the man was having trouble understanding the way he pronounced words. He spoke slowly, trying to make the words clear and precise. “Pieter died about four years ago.”
“Oh. Then I should take him off my list.” He was silent a moment. “Who are all the leaders now?”
Donte had a strong sense of hostility. He didn’t know why, but he was certain that the list contained people to be eliminated. Hopefully he was wrong.
The man’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Are you still there?”
“Who is asking?”
The man’s tone gave importance to the name and title. “I am Captain Ryker Tate Pacilio of the Columba.”
“What is your purpose?” Donte asked.
The man’s chuckle was not reassuring. “You have no reason to fear me.”
Donte didn’t respond. He had no intention of playing games with the man. He had asked a simple and reasonable question and he wanted a respectful response.
The man sighed. “It is the business of Fontalo, not yours.”
“I am the representative for all the leaders,” Donte said.
The man’s laugh mocked Donte. “That is a strange position to have, since the colonies were directed not to mingle.”
“That was over forty years ago. We are now united.” That wasn’t entirely true. Lochfowk would probably consider themselves independent of the other colonies now. Still, no one was going to leave them out in event of a struggle.
“And quite advanced,” the captain said. “Assuming my reports are accurate.”
“I know nothing of your reports. We have not made contact with those on the two shuttles you sent.”
The man laughed again – the same humorless laugh as before. “I like a man who comes straight to the point.”
If he did, he must not like himself. This conversation was going nowhere. It was difficult to have a conversation with the man when he couldn’t see his eyes or sense his emotions. The only emotions he could sense were obvious in the way the man addressed him. He considered himself above everyone on Purlieu and had no desire to talk to them – unless they answered his questions without questioning his intent.
“What is your purpose?” Donte asked again.
“Perhaps if you could come to us – you and your leaders – we could talk about this.”
Donte had no intention of going to their spaceship and he would strongly object to any other Mascot going. Maybe these weren't the same people who had attempted to kill his father and grandfather after inviting them to their spaceship, but Captain Pacilio worked for the same company and his attitude appeared to be the same.
“We will stay here, but you are welcome to visit me.”
“Donte – that was your name, wasn’t it?” His tone was demeaning and he didn’t wait for a response. “You are being difficult. I am trying to work with you. We created the Mascots and we have every right to…retrieve them. Send them to me and I will overlook your insolence.”
Donte sat up straight in his chair, choking down the response he would like to make. “The Fontalo abandoned the Purlieu Experiment over forty years ago. In your absence, the colonies have learned to live without your direction. We are now a free people. I will not surrender anyone to you – Mascot or colonist.”
The man was silent so long that Donte thought he might have disconnected, but he finally spoke in an icy voice.
“You speak mutiny. We funded the experiment and the Mascots are our property. I will not tolerate your insubordination…”
“Come talk to me about it,” Donte said. “Perhaps we can work something out.” He tapped his medallion, terminating the communication.
That should get some action, one way or another. It was obvious that there would be no negotiation with these people. They not only considered themselves superior, but thought they owned the occupants of Purlieu and the space ships as well. He turned and sent a wire message to all the leaders.
“I have made contact with the spaceship. They want all the leaders. They will not say why but I was told they own all the Mascots and want to retrieve them. I suspect they want to terminate them. They do not recognize us as free colonies. I have invited their leader to come talk to me. I am waiting to hear their response. Be prepared for hostile action.”
When he completed the message, he tapped his medallion and requested to conference with Adriaan, Cadha and Vidal. When he had them all, he explained the conversation.
Cadha gasped. “Donte, you can’t simply terminate a conversation with a…whatever they are. What if they refuse to talk to us now?”
Her logic irritated him. Like Adriaan, she was ready to give in at the first sign of resistance. “Commander Cadha, you are welcome to negotiate your life with him if you wish, but I think you will discover the same thing I did.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry, Monomi. It’s just that we don’t actually know that they want to terminate us. After all, it has been over forty years. These probably aren’t the same people.”
“Probably not, but he speaks with the same kind of arrogance, and he refuses to state his purpose. I have no intention of getting on his spaceship.”
Vidal spoke. “I agree with you, Donte. Regardless of their intent with the Mascot leaders, they obviously regard us as their property. We cannot negotiate on that level if we expect to remain free. We cannot turn anyone over to them. It would be sending the wrong signal.”
Hearing Commander Vidal’s stand was reassuring, mostly because he was a colonist. Of the three commanders, he was beginning to wonder if Vidal was the only one he could count on to back him. Adriaan’s silence was disturbing. Perhaps the colonists would turn on the Mascots for good reason.
Adriaan finally spoke. “Does he know you are a Mascot?”
“Probably not, but it doesn’t matter whether I’m a Mascot or not.”
“It might to them.”
Donte wasn’t going to be drawn into an uninformed argument. “Do you want to be included in any future discussions with him?”
“We don’t speak his language well enough to negotiate,” Cadha said.
Donte sighed. “Of course, you know I’m interested in your input, but you asked me to take the position of high command. Do you wish to change that now?”
Instantly they all insisted that they wanted him in that position.
“I realize that you’re not always going to agree with me. I respect your right to disagree. Still, would any of you allow your subordinates to question your orders? I want you to think about this while you still have the opportunity to back out.”
For a moment the three commanders were silent. He felt uncomfortable about reminding them that he was their commander, but he had to establish his position. He couldn’t wait until they were in the middle of a crisis to address it. If they weren’t willing to follow his orders, then they needed to reconsider giving him the position.
Commander Cadha was the first to speak. “No, Donte. We wouldn’t allow a subordinate to question our orders, and we won’t question yours. We do reserve the right to conference with you. I’m sure that’s not a problem for you. You have always been an approachable commander.”
Donte felt relieved. “All we can do at this point is wait and see what they do. I’ll keep you informed.”
After he turned his medallion off, he rubbed his face with his hands. At the moment, he would like to be a subordinate. He wished Rianne was there to discuss the problem with him. She would say he wasn’t alone in this, but he felt like he was. Maybe he shouldn’t have disconnected the communication, but he did and that was what they had to deal with now.
He stood and walked around his desk. What he needed was some fresh air. He walked down the hall and took the stairs to the lobby below. His boots echoed off the walls of the empty lobby, adding to the feeling of being alone. Once outside, he walked down the road to the pond. It was dark outside, and clouds hung low. It was going to snow. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against a tree. The pond was covered with a thin layer of ice.
He felt the presence before he heard the boots crunching on pebbles behind him. It was a comfortable awareness – Beier. He welcomed a conversation with him.
Beier stopped beside him. “Something is troubling you, Monomi.”
Donte nodded and spoke without looking at him. “I was feeling overwhelmed by the task ahead. I was thinking I was alone now, but that wasn’t fair to all the people who have stood beside me for so long.”
Beier didn’t respond. There wasn’t anything to say. Beier had always been there. Kenyon, Celyn, Neirin and Quade had supported him faithfully. If he was alone it was because he was shutting them out.
“I talked to the captain on the spaceship a while ago.”
Beier remained silent. He was listening.
Donte explained the conversation, its termination and his discussion with Adriaan, Cadha and Vidal. Donte finally looked at Beier.
Beier shrugged. “Of course, you were right about the three commanders either following your orders or dissolving your responsibility. You know that. I think what bothers you most is that you don’t know if you did the right thing in terminating the conversation with the captain.”
Donte didn’t say anything. Beier was right.
Beier sighed. “It probably antagonized the captain, but it sounds like the two of you had come to an impasse anyway – and he was being disrespectful. When a man loses respect in a discussion, it is futile to continue.” He shrugged. “Perhaps even folly.”
In his usual way, Beier had pointed out Donte’s problem without actually managing to say it. The disrespect the captain aimed at him had made Donte feel inferior. It had been easier to end the conversation than respond. Ultimately, he had responded with disrespect, though. What bothered him about the conversation was that he had sunk to the level the captain was using. He couldn’t undo what he had done, but he could prevent it from happening again.
Donte dropped his arms to his sides and turned to Beier. “I think a game of words in the commons over a hot drink might help me relax. Would you like to join me?”
Beier smiled. “If getting defeated in a game will relax you, how can I refuse?”
Donte laughed and slapped him on the back. “Let’s see who gets defeated.”
Soft Science Fiction
