The Purlieu Experiment
Chapter 28
Copyright 2015 & 2021
It was snowing when Donte and Rianne left Bergen on the tram. Rianne had helped convince Pieter that guards would not be necessary on this trip because Anialwch was a friendly colony. He did insist that they both carry laser weapons, though, and that they be in uniform. His reasoning was that they were both acting in official capacity. Donte didn’t mind the uniform and he actually found the idea of carrying a weapon comforting. The incident with the Feline had convinced him that traveling in unfamiliar territory could have unexpected perils. Traveling with Rianne, he needed to have some way to protect her.
Rianne sat in the opposite seat, facing him. She looked both official and stunning in a light green tunic and a gray riding skirt. She told him that their uniforms clashed with each other. He couldn’t see that. They talked all the way to Libertad. He had never been around anyone who could make him feel as human as Rianne did.
Rianne was beautiful and stylish. When she spoke to him, she looked him in the eye. She wasn’t one bit shy, and yet he sometimes felt she was avoiding topics that might become personal. To her, their relationship was strictly professional. That was the way it should be…and not exactly how he wanted it to be.
They stopped in Libertad long enough to pick up the two Anialwch men, Fane and Vale. From there they took the tram to Playa, a town with a dock on the beach in southeastern Libertad. They slept at a lodge near the beach and started out the next morning on the equines they had brought with them.
Rianne spoke a little Anialwch, but had no skill with Lochfowk. Both Fane and Vale were fluent in Lochfowk and Anialwch, but neither spoke Bergen. Their conversations were generally a confusing mixture of all. Donte spent a lot of time translating. It would have been easier without Rianne, but he was glad she was there.
They camped the first night on the beach near the sea. It was a pleasant night, with a warm breeze pushing one gentle wave after another across the sandy beach. The moon was so bright against the white sand that the small campfire gave them all the light they needed to cook and eat the evening meal.
They slept in the open, under a glorious display of stars. Donte lay on his back, his hands behind his head, wondering if any of those pinpoints of light might be the spaceships.
A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. "Do you ever wonder if they will come back?"
Donte looked at Rianne. She was sitting on her blankets, staring up at the stars.
"All the time," he said.
She lay down and turned on her side, watching him. "I wonder what they would say about the way we live now."
He rolled over on his side and rested his head on his arm. "I suppose some of it they would like and some of it they wouldn't."
"The uniting of the colonies?"
"Probably not, or the mixing. I’d probably be a big disappointment to them."
"I doubt that. I know they didn’t want us to mix, but…" She smiled. "Look at you."
He grinned. "I can’t."
Her laugh was soft. "You won't. That’s all right. There are enough of us willing to do it for you."
It was nice to be thought of as attractive and desirable; especially the way Rianne did it. It not only sounded sincere, but matter of fact as well. He rolled on his back again.
"I wonder what they would have thought of the captive situation in Lochfowk."
"There are so many things that don't make sense to me. I mean, if we were an experiment to see how people would develop under specific circumstances, then why wouldn't they want us to develop naturally. Why all the restrictions that would prohibit that? Why tamper with some of us and not others?"
Donte turned his head and looked at her. It sounded like she had read the information on the Moeder. "We were supposed to protect and guide them."
"I know, but why? If they wanted to observe how we developed, why would they interfere that way? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the experiment?"
She made a good point. He leaned forward and rested on one elbow as he spoke to her. "If they were concerned about keeping everything pristine and natural, then why would they modify humans the way they did? Why not simply have an armed member of the colony provide protection?"
"I wonder which of us could come up with the most questions." She smiled at him. "I could talk to you all day and all night, but I think we'd regret it tomorrow when we couldn't stay awake on our equines."
He rolled over on his back. "I hope some day we’ll have trams going to all the colonies, but I think I would miss times like this."
"It is nice. I’m enjoying it immensely. I have been trying to get the information about all the colonies into books that all the colonies could read. If we all spoke one language – like the original language.…"
"I like that idea. Maybe we could work together on it – travel to different colonies and get information…."
"Donte?"
He looked at her; waiting for her to continue.
She pulled her blanket around her shoulders. "Never mind. Good night."
"Good night." He rolled away from her and closed his eyes. They had plenty of time to talk about these things before they returned to Bergen.
The next morning, they followed the beach eastward until they reached the border of Libertad and Lochfowk. There, they continued to follow the beach all day. They reached the border of Anialwch that night. They made camp on the beach again for the last time. In the morning they would move inland through the desert to the palace at Anialwch.
Donte had expected to find a dock somewhere along the coast in Lochfowk, but their short stretch of beachfront was void of any inhabitants. Lochfowk did all their trading with inland colonies, apparently ignoring the possibilities of trade on the seas. That ruled out the chance of Nyumbani trading ship building skills for food from Lochfowk. According to Fane, Anialwch had a dock where they brought in fish from the sea. Their dock was located on the beach where it turned south. At that point they would be leaving the beach, heading inland to the desert.
On the last day, as they moved inland, Donte allowed Vale to lead the way. Both Anialwch men were visibly excited about returning to their homes. Fane rubbed his freshly trimmed gray beard and grinned at Donte.
"He is the man now."
Donte looked at Vale. He was only 10 years younger than Fane, but being a Mascot, he looked a good 35 years younger.
Donte nodded. "I can't imagine being a captive for 30 years." He glanced at Vale. "Or even 17."
"But you can imagine six." Rianne said. "I wonder if it matters the number of years or if the damage is done after a certain point."
Donte looked at Rianne. "Damage?"
"Emotional scars," she said.
He wasn't sure what emotional scars she was referring to that he had – and he didn't want to get into that area either. There were some things that a person never got over – whether or not they were ever captives. The people of Nyumbani had certainly endured more than he had and they were never captives. In any case, emotional scars gave a person character.
Vale pulled his equine to a halt and pointed to a plume of dust in the distance. Donte rode up beside him, squinting into the sun.
"What do you think it is?"
"It looks like a patrol." Vale’s voice held a note of excitement.
As they watched, the figures grew larger. Even distorted by heat waves, the camelus were identifiable. They plodded at a steady pace toward the equines.
Fane grinned. "It looks like we’re about to have an escort."
Donte imagined how it would have felt to cross the border into Libertad after six years and be met by a patrol of Libertad militia. He didn't think he would have been as excited as these two men. How did it feel to Kenyon when they crossed that border after 30 years? He wanted to feel their excitement, but he felt nothing. What was wrong with him?
The camelus finally joined them and stopped. Donte dismounted as Clud lowered his camelus and slid to the ground. He welcomed Donte with a big smile and a palm. Donte gripped his forearm and gave it a shake.
"It is nice to see you again, Clud."
"Donte." Clud responded. "What brings you to Anialwch?" His gaze went past Donte and settled in turn on Rianne and the men.
Donte turned as the two men dismounted. "Clud, this is Vale and Fane. Vale has been a captive of the Lochfowk for 30 years and Fane 17. They have come home."
Clud looked at Donte in dismay. "Captives?"
Donte nodded. "I would like to talk to King Neirin about it."
Clud turned to one of his men and instructed him to ride ahead to the palace and tell King Neirin that Donte would be there with some guests. The man turned his camelus, but Vale stopped him.
"This equine will get you there faster. Would you like to trade?"
The man looked at Clud, who shrugged. "As you wish."
The two men exchanged mounts and the messenger took off at a canter. Vale climbed on board the camelus and turned to Clud with a big grin.
"I thought I would never ride one of these again."
It didn’t take much to please a person who had possessed nothing for thirty years. Vale was like a little boy, delighted by small things.
Donte and Clud returned to their mounts and the caravan continued toward the palace.
***
As King Neirin crossed the palace yard, one of his men rode in on an equine. He stopped and turned to the man.
"Where did you get that equine?"
The man dismounted. "Donte is coming, Monomi. He has brought guests."
Neirin frowned. "Guests?"
The man nodded. "A woman and two Anialwch men – captives of Lochfowk, he said. He wants to talk to you, Monomi."
"The woman was a captive?"
"No. She is like Donte with the eyes, but her hair is golden."
"Bosvrouwen." Neirin said. "Take that equine into the stable and rub it down. Give it some water."
As the man turned away, Neirin asked him another question. "How was Donte dressed?"
The man stopped. "He was wearing a dark blue uniform with a gold emblem on the shoulder."
"And the other two men, what were they wearing?"
"White trousers and shirt."
"There were no men in light blue uniforms?"
He shook his head. "No Monomi – only the girl."
Neirin nodded. "Take care of the equine…and be prepared for the other animals."
He walked across the yard, and entered the palace, spotting Celyn immediately. He motioned to her and she came running to him.
She looked up at him with anticipation. "Donte is here?"
He shook his head. "No, but he will be soon. Tell Glyn that we need to prepare for four guests."
Celyn ran and hopped back to the kitchen, chanting "Donte is here!"
He turned back to the yard, heaving a long sigh. Her obsession with Donte was disturbing. If the man wasn't so vital to their communications, he’d ask him not to return.
Neirin waited in the palace yard until the first equines came through the gate. In the lead was a man from Anialwch. He dismounted and surrendered his equine to the keepers. Donte entered next, riding the prettiest paint equine Neirin had ever seen. Donte dismounted and handed the guide lines to a keeper, turning as the woman entered the gate. He helped her down and surrendered the equine before guiding her toward Neirin with a hand on her elbow.
When they stopped in front of Neirin, Donte introduced the woman.
"This is Rianne, Bosvrouwen's representative. Rianne, this is King Neirin."
Neirin couldn't take his eyes off the woman. She was tall, almost as tall as he was, and slim. She was, bar none, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her golden hair was drawn to the top of her head in a bright blue ribbon that matched her eyes. From there it cascaded down her shoulders and back in soft shiny curls. Her full lips curved into an amused smile as he continued to gape at her.
No telling how long he would have continued his rude behavior if he had not become aware of the way Donte was watching him. His neck felt hot as he held out a hand to her.
"I am…honored to…make your acquaintance, Nomi." He stammered.
She tilted her head in a slight bow. "It is I who am honored." She said, placing her hand in his. She spoke with a thick accent, but he had no trouble understanding her.
Donte watched Rianne as she spoke. Perhaps he had taught her the greeting.
Neirin turned to Donte. "I welcome you again, Donte." He eyed the uniform and gold insignia. "Excuse me. I’m not certain of your title now."
Donte glanced at the insignia and shrugged. "I am still Donte. I have accepted the invitation to supersede Pieter, ruler of Bergen, but I am not yet a ruler."
For a moment Neirin, stood in stunned silence. Donte offered the information as though it were of no great importance. Pieter was probably the most powerful ruler on Purlieu. Donte had been confirmed, or he wouldn't be wearing that uniform. Perhaps he was trying to downplay his importance to keep the introductions moving.
At that moment Celyn streaked by him, making a target of Donte.
"Donte!" She squealed, leaping at him.
Donte reached out and grabbed her, tossing her into the air before bringing her down to his chest. She hugged him around the neck and kissed his cheek. "I knew you would come back."
He hugged her a moment and pulled his head back, smiling as he looked at her face. He held her by the waist against his chest. "Of course I did. Didn't I say I would?"
Donte's familiar reaction to Celyn troubled him. Celyn was too young to know any better, but Donte should.
Celyn pouted. "But you weren't here for my birthday."
He shook his head. "No. That didn't work out. I was busy somewhere else at the time. You understand, don't you?"
She frowned. "Of course I do. I'm not a child." She glanced down, realizing he was holding her like a child.
He lifted a brow and she squirmed. "You should put me down now."
He chuckled and set her on the ground. Taking her hand, he turned to Rianne. "I'd like you to meet someone, Celyn. This is Rianne. She's Bosvrouwen's representative. Rianne, this is Princess Celyn."
Rianne held out her hand. "I'm delighted to meet you, Princess Celyn. I have heard much about you."
Celyn placed her forearm in Rianne's palm and gripped her arm in the Mascot handshake. "It is nice to meet you, Nomi."
Donte turned and introduced the two men with him. "This is Vale and Fane. I would like to explain their presence in private if you wouldn’t mind."
Neirin shook hands with Fane and accepted Vale's offered palm. "I am pleased to meet you." His head was clear enough by then that he understood Donte was telling him not to ask questions until later. He offered an arm to Rianne.
"I believe they have refreshments ready. Would you join me?"
Rianne took his arm and gave Donte an amused smile as she passed him. Celyn took Donte's hand and followed them. Neirin missed none of it. He glanced back to make sure Fane and Vale were following. Reassured, he turned his full attention on Rianne.
"This must have been a difficult trip for you. I wish I had known you were coming. I would have sent a carriage to meet you at the dock."
She smiled at him. "I apologize for not letting you know. We should remedy our communications limitations, don’t you think?"
Neirin gave her a wry smile. "I have been working on that, but there are some who think it a dastardly thing to do."
She frowned. "Why?"
He shrugged. "They think radio waves would harm them."
For a moment Rianne was silent. "We don't use radio waves. We use wires. They are inside the tram rail."
"Tram?"
She smiled. "Monomi, you need to get out more. We would love to entertain you."
He glanced back at Donte as he spoke to both of them. "Is this an invitation?"
Rianne glanced over her shoulder at Donte and the way they looked at each other was not as a one colony representative to another. While Neirin was disappointed in one way, it pleased him in another. If Donte exchanged vows with Rianne, Celyn would have to give up on him.
"He or a representative would be most welcome to Bergen or Libertad." Donte said.
Neirin lifted a brow. "Then you represent Libertad as well?"
Donte’s face turned red. "I know Dad would welcome you."
"Oh yes," Neirin said. "I keep forgetting that President Quade is your father."
After refreshments, Neirin invited the guests to his office for a conference. Once they were all seated and the door was closed securely, Neirin turned to Donte.
"I assume it is you that I must address."
Donte glanced at Rianne. He must have read something in her eyes, because he turned to Neirin. "I think this discussion concerns everyone in this room…and more."
Neirin leaned back in his chair, his fingers laced and the two index fingers under his chin. "Proceed."
"When I left here," Donte began, "I took Akira to Lochfowk. There I found my brother, Kenyon. We thought he had died 30 years ago, but instead, he had been a captive."
Neirin dropped his hands and leaned forward. "He was a captive of the Lochfowk for thirty years? Why?"
"Good question." Donte said. "When the plague started, Lochfowk shut their borders down. Of course, we all did, but since they already had a no-contact policy, they were spared the plague. They made a law that said anyone who entered their territory must not leave. After the plague, they continued the law. I would like to add that there have been no captives since President Sima was elected, and they worked with us to release all the captives."
Neirin remained silent for a few moments, trying to assimilate all the information – given and implied. Finally, he gave Donte a level look. "Skip the defense tactics. Just shoot me the facts."
Rianne looked startled and glanced at Donte, but Donte held his gaze for a moment. It only took that moment for Neirin to realize he had stepped over an invisible line. He was speaking to Donte as if he were one of his men. Rianne was right. He needed more contact with other leaders. He straightened in his chair and cleared his throat of an inexplicable lump. Donte didn't outrank him…at least not yet.
"Forgive me Monomi. I forgot for a moment who I was speaking to. Please continue."
Donte continued as if there had been no interruption, but he kept to the pertinent facts. Neirin listened through the entire story without making a comment until Donte said that Vale had been captured before the plague and never caught it. It took Neirin a moment to assimilate the implication of his words. When he did, he swung around and looked at Vale, who was smiling.
"Vale speaks fluent Lochfowk," Donte added. "As does Fane."
Neirin didn't need to have things spelled out for him, but he wasn't about to challenge Donte a second time. Young Donte might be stating the obvious, but his purpose was to leave no possibility unexplored. He wanted peace between all the colonists. It was a goal he shared with Neirin and others. While his purpose was clear and straightforward, there was an undercurrent. He was making it clear that Bergen, Libertad and Bosvrouwen all were considering the return of the captives an end to this situation. In fact, he saw no point in pursuing it either. Fear of the plague caused people to do things they would never have considered doing under other circumstances. Lochfowk was no different.
Neirin looked at Donte. "I consider the incident of Lochfowk closed with the return of captives."
Donte looked relieved. "There is another subject I would like to discuss with you."
Neirin nodded. "Nyumbani?"
Donte looked surprised. "Yes. We received a message from Kafil asking to council with a representative. I assume they are starving without the raids."
Neirin nodded again. "You would know better than anyone, I think. What is it you would like from us?"
"I'm not sure yet." Donte said. "Right now, I only want to know if you are willing to help."
Neirin stood. "We will help in any way we can. When you know more, send a messenger. We will accept boats from Libertad at our docks, but I'm sure you understand that we cannot yet permit them from Nyumbani."
"If I may speak," Vale said.
Neirin turned to him. "You are most welcome to speak."
"I have worked with Kwasi many times. We taught each other Nyumbani and Anialwch so we could speak without the Lochfowk knowing what we were saying."
Neirin frowned. "This Kwasi, he was also a captive? How did he know Nyumbani?"
Vale glanced at Donte and back at Neirin. "He is a Nyumbani Mascot who was captured a week before I was."
Neirin couldn't have stopped the grin from splitting his face if he had wanted to. He looked at Donte. "He has been returned to Nyumbani?"
Donte smiled. "I don’t know if that has happened yet. I left him in Libertad when we brought Vale and Fane here. I think Dad…President Quade…sent a message to Nyumbani. I have not been in contact since I left the dock in Libertad."
Neirin held out a hand to Donte. "Monomi, when Celyn had the vision of you in the desert, I knew you would be instrumental in bringing our colonies together. I must admit, I had no idea to what extent. It has been an honor working with you."
Donte took his hand. "And with you, Monomi."
***
Celyn didn’t know which she liked less, the way her father looked at Rianne or the way Donte looked at her. At the moment it was Donte. They were talking together and Rianne was looking up at him as though he were the only person in the Palace. He wasn't. She ran to Donte. "Would you take me for a ride on your equine?"
He smiled down at her as if she were a child. "How would your father feel about that?"
She turned to Rianne. "Would you ask him?"
Rianne looked surprised. "Why would you want me to ask him?"
"Because he would not say no to you."
Donte looked at Rianne and lifted a brow. "You can’t argue with logic like that."
A voice called to them from across the lobby. "There you are." Neirin joined them. "I was hoping to take you for a walk and show you our gardens, Rianne."
Rianne looked at Donte and lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug. "I didn't want to leave Donte unattended, but Celyn has asked him to take her for a ride on Schilderen."
Neirin looked uncertain for a moment. "You may go if he wants to take you, but don't be gone too long. The evening meal will be ready soon."
Donte looked at Rianne as if she had betrayed him. Celyn looked up at him.
"You don’t have to take me if you don’t want to."
Donte looked down at her and smiled. "I would be glad to take you for a ride." He watched her father take Rianne's arm and lead her toward the back of the palace. He looked disappointed. He reached down and took Celyn’s hand. "Her name is Schilderen, which means paint."
After one last glance back at Rianne, he led Celyn to the stables. Once they were out of the building, she had his full attention. He explained what he was doing as he placed a colorful blanket on the equine and then a saddle. Finally, he led the equine out of the stable into the yard and mounted. He reached a hand down and helped her sit behind him.
"Hold on to me," he said.
She gripped his waist under his jacket and held on as the equine started to walk. No one challenged him at the gate. They simply opened it and let them ride into the desert.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
She wasn't sure what she was ready for, but she was ready. "Yes."
His hand clamped over both her arms, holding them against his muscular stomach while he used his heels to kick the equine. The hind legs of the equine bunched up and it lurched forward. The next thing she knew, they were running across the desert. It was like her visions, only better. The equine slowed and they crossed a dry ravine and then began a slower run. She turned her head and looked back at the palace. She had never been this far away. It was a white cluster of buildings in a red desert.
Donte rode the equine up a steep slope and turned, climbing higher on a trail. They came to a flat area and he stopped.
"Let's let her rest for a few minutes before we ride back," he said.
He held her hand as she slid off the equine and then he dismounted. He looked so graceful the way he got off the equine. He dropped the lead lines and explained that Schilderen would not walk away. He took Celyn's hand and led her to the edge of the bluff. There they watched the palace for a while. It was exciting being up there where the wind could lift her hair. She looked up at Donte. He was watching two figures in the garden behind the palace.
"You like her a lot," she said.
He nodded, but said nothing.
"Do you like her more than me?"
Donte looked at her. "I like her in a different way, Nomi."
"She is your friend?"
He glanced down at the figures. "Yes. She is my best friend."
His voice sounded as if the thought had not occurred to him before. It reminded her of what he had told her the last time he was in Anialwch. She took his hand and looked up at him. "You have suddenly discovered that your best friend would make a good mate?"
He looked down at her, as if seeing her for the first time since they rode away from the palace. He squeezed her hand and smiled sweetly. He squatted and looked at her on the level, as he had that first time.
"I didn’t think you would understand, but I think you do."
She wanted to remind him that he was supposed to exchange vows with her when she was nineteen, but she had promised she wouldn't. She didn't want to say anything that would cause him to stay away – even if he had exchanged vows with Rianne. At the moment, she was a little relieved that he would be taking Rianne away from her father. If her father was going to exchange vows with someone, she would rather it was Glyn. Anyway, it would be a long time until she was nineteen and Donte might be tired of Rianne by then. Donte had told her that if it was to be, it would happen.
She put her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I love you."
"I love you too," he said as he hugged her.
She pulled away from him. "I saw you in a vision again."
He smiled. "Where did you see me this time?"
He didn't believe her, but that didn’t matter now. "You were near a camp with Schul…Schild…"
"Schilderen," he assisted.
"Yes, and there was a feline, but lightning scared it away. You were wearing this uniform." She touched his sleeve and ran her fingers across the gold insignia. "There were two men in light blue uniforms."
She looked at his face and found him watching her in a strange way. She continued. "I was flying and you pointed at me. I never told Papa, but every time I see you, I’m flying."
Donte looked startled. "Flying…how?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. But you looked at me. You saw me."
Donte stood and looked across the desert. Finally, he looked down at her.
"We'd better get back. We don't want to be late for the evening meal."
This time, he lifted her into the saddle and climbed up behind her. He put his arms around her as they rode down the hill. After they crossed the ravine, he made the equine run fast. It was more fun riding in the safety of his arms.
At the stable he dismounted and lifted her out of the saddle. As her feet touched the ground, she looked up at him.
"Will you come back again?"
He smiled as he removed the saddle from his equine. "Probably. I have a feeling that our paths are destined to cross."
She wasn't sure what he meant by that and he didn't explain, but she liked the idea that she would see him again. Maybe he was beginning to believe her.
Soft Science Fiction
