Chapter One
Suzanne
Dorus and Castilan stood leaning on their staffs watching the gold haired child dancing in the sun.
“Look at her.” Castilan was the older of the two Mages, his hair and beard were long and white, and he wore a golden robe embroidered with suns. “Your fears were unfounded. The child is perfectly happy. She is in excellent health.”
“What fears did I have?” Dorus was young but very wise. His gray robe was unadorned and the hood was pulled up over his raven black hair.
“You feared the child would be harmed.” The older man said, “When the Council examined her.”
“You’re telling me she was not harmed?” Dorus raised his voice suspiciously,
“Look at her.” Castilan repeated, “Look at her.”
Dorus looked as he was told. The child stood on the hillside, ankle deep in the golden grasses. She had ceased to dance and stood silently with her eyes closed and her hands reaching out to the sun. The light flashed on her white dress and set her golden locks on fire, lighting her face with an angelic beauty dazzling to behold. Dorus felt like he should be worshipping and looked away.
“It isn’t right.” He said, still mumbling his excuses, “She’s too young, too innocent…”
“Too powerful to be left on her own.” Castilan interrupted. “She has power! Look at her! You can feel it, even from here. That’s why I wanted the council to examine her. They agreed with me.”
“She’s a child.” Dorus said forcefully,
“You ought to understand.” Castilan said accusingly, “There is human blood in you too.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You should.”
“I don’t understand!” He shouted angrily, “Why should you drag her out here, away from her family and everything she loved? She was happier on Terra!”
“Hush! She will hear you.” Castilan remonstrated.
But the child paid them no mind. She had begun to sing a plaintive song in a language they did not know.
“What is that?” Castilan asked abruptly,
“A song her mother used to sing her.” Dorus said softly.
“But she doesn’t remember her mother.” Castilan said, agitated, “She doesn’t remember anything.”
“Doesn’t she?” Dorus asked ominously, “How can you take it from her? A child’s memory is who she is. You cannot take that.”
Castilan ignored him, calling the child by her human name.
“Suzanne,” he called, “Suzanne, will you come here for a moment child?”
She came skipping over happily with a question on her lips.
“Why doesn’t the sun ever set anymore?” she asked innocently; chock registered on Castilan’s face. After an awkward pause Dorus answered her.
“It has never set dear.” He said gently,
“Yes, it does.” She said firmly, nodding her head for emphasis, “And the sky is all red and pink.”
“Well, that was somewhere else. Not here.” Castilan said, recovering, “Someday I will take you to where the sun sets.”
“Good.” She clapped her hands happily.
“She can’t forget.” Dorus said, “Not a child like that.”
“The Council saw to it themselves.” Castilan hissed,
“What’s the matter?” Suzanne was hopping from one foot to the other wondering why she had been called. “You’re upset.” She added, looking up at Dorus, “Is something wrong?”
“Um, Suzanne,” Castilan said, clearing his throat, “I think you’re a very talented special young lady. Did you know that?”
She giggled and nodded, flattered by his attentions.
“But my friend disagrees.”
Dorus flushed. “That’s not what I said.”
“Oh? What did you say?”
“I said that she’d be happier on Terra.”
“Ah.” Castilan said smugly, “Then you admit that she has powers superior to your own?”
“I’ll admit to nothing.”
“All right then, watch.” He crouched down before Suzanne. “What do you wish you had right now?” he asked, “Anything thing at all, that you don’t have already?”
“A doll.” She said immediately, “A little doll with dark hair and a pink dress and –“
“All right, all right.” Castilan interrupted, laughing, “Hold out your hands.”
She did so and he laid three long strips of the gold coloured grasses that grew on the hillside across her open palms. “Now close your eyes.” He instructed, “And wish for the doll.”
“Dolls like that are only made on Terra.” Dorus said fiercely,
“We could have them here,” Castilan answered mildly, “If we had use for them.”
He showed Dorus that his hands were clear of Suzanne as the doll appeared in the place of the grass.
“You can open your eyes now.” He said. “She did so and gasped in delight at the sight of the desired toy, not realizing she herself had created it.
“I can do that.” Dorus said bitterly.
“You’re very upset.” Suzanne said, observing him seriously, “Are you sure nothing is wrong?”
Castilan gave Dorus a knowing look.
“I can do that too.” Dorus sighed.
“Suzanne.” Castilan commanded. “Show us how you dance with the sunbeams.”
Happy to comply Suzanne left her doll and began to dance. She waved her arms above her head and suddenly she was surrounded by light so bright Dorus didn’t adare look. The sun itself seemed to have descended on the hillside, flickering and dancing with the strange girl.
“She can hold burning coals in her hand.” Castilan said gloating, “She can play with fire and not be hurt.”
“She calls fire…” Dorus repeated in amazement,
“Can you do that, Dorus half-blood?” Castilan asked maliciously,
When the child tired of the dance she sent the sunlight away, blithely inquiring if they had enjoyed it.
“Y-yes.” Dorus stammered, daring to look again. “Suzanne, you went before the Council. Remember?”
“Yes.” She giggled. “Such a lot of funny old men, asking me questions.”
Dorus knelt to be on her level and put his hands on her shoulders, searching her mind.
“Why, you’re afraid!” She cried suddenly, his touch giving her the connection she needed. “That’s what’s wrong! I knew there was something. Why, you’re afraid of me!” she cried in amazement as Dorus stood and stumbled away from her, “But what are you afraid of me for? I won’t hurt you!”
“And can you do that, Dorus the Wise?” Castilan asked mockingly,
Dorus scarcely heard him, his gaze riveted on Suzanne. She gazed up at him so earnestly, repeating, “I won’t hurt you, I promise! Why are you afraid of me?”
“You promise you won’t hurt me?” Dorus asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead, “Not ever? For any reason?”
“Not ever.” She declared.
“Promise me.” Dorus came closer. “My name is Dorus, here take my hands, and promise me you won’t ever hurt me for any reason. I am afraid of you child.”
“Dorus!” Castilan protested, “She’s only a child!”
“Promise me.” Dorus insisted,
She took his hands seriously. “I will not hurt you, Dorus you funny man, for any reason, as long as I live.” She promised. “There, now are you not afraid of me?”
“Now I am not afraid of you.” He smiled. “Now tell me about the Council. Tell me about,” he hesitated, “The funny old men and what they said to you.”
When the child had told all she knew she ran back to play with her doll in the light of the sun that hovered near the horizon but never set.
“She should go back to Terra.” Dorus insisted.
“No.” Castilan tried to explain, “She is better off here! They don’t know what to do with her there. Here, we can channel that energy; teach her.”
“She should be told who she is.”
“Dorus, Dorus, she’s only child!” Castilan exclaimed, exasperated, “When she is old enough she will know all.”
“When she is old enough it will no longer be a choice.” Dorus said forcefully, “Castilan, this is not her earth.”
“We will need power like hers.” Castilan said, “The time is not far off when the battle must be fought.”
“When that time comes I will not be a part of it.” Dorus said bitterly, “And neither will any child while I live!”
“When that time comes she will not be a child anymore.” Castilan said calmly, “And maybe, at your insistence, we’ll giver her a choice.”
Chapter Two
Dorus
Time went on. Years passed. Suzanne grew and learned and increased in power and skill. She chose to use the name Daea, her Talekai name. Then the day came when the battle was declared, when the treaty ended, and Dorus made his preparations to leave. Before he went he found his friend Castilan and asked about Daea.
“If she wants to return to Terra,” He said, “I’ll take her.”
“Still hold to your old purposes, eh?” Castilan asked jokingly,
“It’s been my plan for years.” Dorus said steadily, “I’ve never wavered in my purpose.”
It was true. He has stood against the Mages and the Masses, arguing for peace and being laughed at. Terra would be involved, undoubtedly, but it would not be as bad as staying on Talek.
Castilan’s words surprised him. “Daea will be staying here.” He said firmly.
“She was to be given a choice!” Dorus cried angrily,
“Not so loud my friend, not so loud!” Castilan raised his hands to his ears, “My but you shout a lot. May the Humans enjoy your loud voice. She was given a choice Dorus, she chose to stay.”
“Stay and kill?”
Castilan shrugged. “Not all see it that way.”
“I want to talk to her.” Dorus demanded,
“She will not change her mind.”
“I want to talk to her.”
Castilan held out his arms in a gesture of peace. “All right, all right, you can talk to her!”
Dorus found the girl sitting on the hillside, her knees pulled up to her chest, weeping bitterly. The doll she had created so many years ago lay on the grass beside her. She was only fourteen.
Dorus stood silent, unsure of how to begin. “Daea?” he questioned, then his voice softened and he called, “Suzanne.”
She looked up at the sound of her childhood name and then burst into a storm of tears.
“Oh, if only I still were Suzanne.” She sobbed, “Sitting with my mother on the porch watching the sunset, or playing in the golden grass on this hillside. Now I am Daea, and they want me to lead this battle. Oh Dorus, you’re a funny man, you were afraid of me, but you’re the only friend I have!”
Dorus crouched down uneasily. “They promised me you would have a choice.” He said slowly, “You have a choice. Say no.”
“I-I can’t.” she wept, “There is no choice.”
“Suzanne,”
“I can’t!” She cried hysterically, “they – I can’t!”
“What happens?” Dorus asked uneasily, “If you refuse.”
“I don’t know.” She said sullenly,
“Suzanne,”
“I can’t tell you!” she interrupted wildly, “I could show you but I can’t do that because it would hurt you, and I promised… a very- long- time ago…” She trailed off.
“Show me.” Dorus said, “Just this once you can hurt me. I can take it.”
She shook her head. “No. You’re not strong enough.”
“Yes I am. If the council gave it to you, I can take it. Please Daea, I need to know. I want to help you.”
“All right.” She sniffed, “Come here.” She put her hands on his head and pulled his forehead down to touch hers.
What he saw then was a blurred series of images: a simple white house on a wide open plain he knew must be her home on Terra. And fire. Fire burning the house, burning the grass. And the Council. The council speaking from the midst of the flames but he could not hear what they were saying. All he heard was the roar of the fire around him. Then darkness he knew must be space, and ships he knew were from Terra, and then rockets and crying and death…
The roaring in his ears grew louder. He felt himself slipping into another’s grasp and slowly he reached up and pulled Suzanne’s hands down.
“That’s enough.” He said mechanically.
She drew back and sat demurely, with her hands folded in her lap. She watched him as he struggled to understand what he had seen and put it away where it could be found again, and regain control of his consciousness. Finally he looked up and took a deep breath.
“Thank you.” He said, “That was—very useful.”
“It didn’t hurt you?” she asked curiously,
“Not- very much.” He said hesitantly, “You see, because I am Talekai I don’t always feel pain—the way you do.”
“Aren’t we the same?” she asked quizzically, and Dorus saw again the innocent little girl looking up at Castilan and asking why the sun didn’t set anymore.
“Not exactly.” He said hesitantly, “They told you didn’t they? About Terra?”
Suzanne frowned. “Sort of. They said I was born on Terra but really I belonged to Talek. Did they lie to me?” she asked suddenly, her eyes flashing, “Did they lie to me the way they lied to you about giving me a choice?”
“You were born on Terra.” Dorus answered carefully, “But as to which earth you belong on is not a question easily determined.”
“Tell me.” Suzanne demanded, “Tell me about Terra and Talek.”
“We are not very different, you and I.” He explained awkwardly, “We breath air, and see light, we have the same number of fingers, the same eyes, you see?”
She nodded.
“But out mind are very, very different. That is, we use them differently. On Terra they are very good with their hands and they- make things. They have carts that carry them from one place to another. They have great big factories that produce their food and clothing. They have little marks that they put on paper that says their words for them. They have long wires that let them talk to people far away. They even have little boxes that take water and air and turn into things, little things.
“Here on Talek, we have little use for such things. We use our minds differently. We know that something can come into existence and it appears under our fingertips. No tools, no machines. It comes into being by the force of our minds. We do not read and write. We can communicate great distances through thought alone. We never forget. We take every thought, every word, every minute of every day and file it away where we can access it later. The Council can look into our minds and access this memory to determine the truth. Well, any Talekai can, but only the Council has the authority. You understand?”
Suzanne nodded.
“The Talekai never took much notice of the heavens.” Dorus continued, “But the humans did. They built ships that could fly through the air and in the course of time they found us. The two earths communicated for some time but not much came of it. They were friendly enough but, well, they just didn’t have much in common, you know? Several of the Talekai did go to Terra though, and a few chose to stay. They stayed, and, well, they married. Married humans. And then of course, well, children were born. Children who were half Talekai, half human. Children who belonged to both worlds and yet to neither. For they had the ability on Terra to know who is guilty, and the ability on Talek to know what guilt is. They are both honoured and feared, welcomed and shunned. They have no name and no home. Though most stayed on Terra and few returned to Talek.”
Suzanne listened wide-eyed. “And I- “ she said breathlessly, “Am I one of these children?”
“No.” Dorus shook his head. “No. You are human. But I—I am one of these children.
Chapter Three
Escape
“You!” Suzanne exclaimed startled, “That is why you are banned from the Council! That is why you think I am innocent! That is why you alone I can trust.”
“Yes.” Dorus said, “I chose to live on Talek because I felt more comfortable here. I was born a Mage, with more power than the Masses. But now my time here is finished. I alone of the Talekai refuse to take part in the battle. I am going to Terra. It will be involved in this battle, but it will be easier for me there.”
“What is Terra like?” Suzanne asked,
“Don’t you remember?” Dorus countered,
She shook her head sadly. “They took it from me.”
“No. They can’t. Remember Suzanne? Remember the house and the plains and the porch with the rocking chair? Remember the sunsets and the dolls? Remember your mother Suzanne, and the songs she sang?”
Suzanne closed her eyes and relaxed, lulled by Dorus’ words. She remembered, she heard the song again, and tears filled her eyes. She looked up at Dorus imploringly and held out her hands.
“Take me with you.” She pleaded, “Take me home, to Terra. Please.”
“That’s why I came.” Dorus said, taking her hands and pulling her to her feet. “I did not believe you wanted to stay and I would not leave without you.”
“Oh but I can’t go!” she wailed, wrenching her hands away, “I can’t! It’s too horrible! You saw, go Dorus, save yourself, and leave Daea to her miserable fate.”
“No.” Dorus said, reaching out and catching her arm and she turned to flee. “We can escape the Council. Listen; here is my plan. We will go to Terra first. We will get one of their big flying machines and food for a long journey. Then we will go, leaving both Terra and Talek behind in search of another earth. Maybe we will find it and then we will be at peace for the Talekai know nothing of the heavens the human’s will not bother us. Maybe we will not find it and then we will die, but at least there will be no blood on our hands. You see? Suzanne, we have to try.”
“All right.” She sniffed, “But we’d better hurry. The Council is watching us. How will we get to Terra?”
“You don’t know?” Dorus exclaimed in horror and amazement, “You can’t move space?”
She shook her head, wide-eyed in bewilderment.
“They never taught you to travel? Why Daea, you know so much I thought you could do that!”
She shook her head, still speechless.
“But of course, of course,” he muttered, “They wouldn’t want you to travel. They wouldn’t want you to leave. I don’t know what we’ll do then.” But even as he said it he knew the answer.
“There is a spaceship here!” he cried, “The humans left one here for us, not realizing we didn’t need it. It’s a horrible risk but we’ll have to take it and there’s no time to loose!”
He seized Suzanne’s hand and they ran down the golden hillside into the city. Past the Council’s building with it’s gilded splendour, past the glory of the public court, past the grim fortress where the demented were kept, and through the gates that led to the wilderness beyond. Out here were a few simple houses were the human’s had stayed, a queer empty tower with a flashing light on the top, and a long smooth roadway, at the end of which was a curious machine. There was a clatter at the gates behind them and they ran faster.
“They know.” Suzanne whispered, “They will stop us.”
As they reached the flying machine they saw the Guardians with their strange blue wands issue from the city. Suzanne and Dorus scrambled into the ship and pulled the hatch shut behind them.
“Do you know how to fly this thing?” Suzanne asked,
Dorus shook his head. “No. But humans built it, so humans should be able to fly it, right?” he grinned encouragingly at Suzanne. “Besides, with your powers, you should be able to control it with your mind.”
They made their way to the front of the ship and strapped themselves into the seats before the controls. Suzanne stared in amazement at the vast array of lights, buttons, switches and dials. Some of them had strange marks under them that she did not understand. Dorus studied them closely and then started moving them, one after another; swiftly as though afraid the knowledge would slip away.
Suzanne shuddered as the will of the Council hemmed in her mind. “They’re coming for us Dorus.” She murmured, “They’re coming for us.”
Suddenly there was a tremendous roar and a shudder shook the great ship. Dorus continued to fiddle with the controls reaching across to the panel in front of Suzanne. Then with a great lurch they started moving. Suzanne was now more afraid of the movement then of the council and she regarded Dorus doubtfully.
“We will crash.” She said simply, “And die without leaving Talek.”
“At least we will die without blood on our hands.” Dorus answered, not taking his eyes from the controls. “There now, that’s all I know if that’s not enough—“
He was interrupted by the ships sudden acceleration. Suzanne shrieked and Dorus closed his eyes as the ship lifted off the ground and rushed away from the earth and inestimable speeds. From the ground the Guardians watched amazed as the ship disappeared beyond their reach and the reach of the Council. Suzanne and Dorus passed out.
Chapter Four
Terra
Suzanne was the first one to come to. She couldn’t tell they were moving and there were no windows to see. She looked at Dorus, unconscious in his seat and wondered where they were. How long had it been since they had left Talek?
“TMV19. Come in.” suddenly a raspy voice broke into the silence, startling Suzanne from her thoughts.
“TMV19, we have you in our sights. Identify.”
Dorus stirred and opened his eyes, moaning.
“TMV19. This is base station two twenty-nine. Identify.”
“Who is that?” Dorus mumbled, “Where are we?”
“I don’t know.” Suzanne whispered,
“This is a warning. TMV19, identify.”
“Oh, it’s a radio.” Dorus mumbled, remembering. He shook his head trying to fully wake up.
“This is base station two twenty-nine. Identify yourself or we shoot. Come in TMV19.”
Dorus was suddenly wide-awake. “That’s us!” he exclaimed,
“How do you know?” Suzanne asked,
“TMV stands for Terra mission vehicle. This is number nineteen.”
“How do you know?” Suzanne asked again, bewildered,
“I saw it on the outside of the ship.” Dorus said, “I never forget things, remember?”
He hit another button causing Suzanne to wince in anticipation of further mayhem on board the ship but nothing seemed to happen. Dorus spoke out clearly, but he was not addressing her.
“Base station two twenty-nine. This is Dorus, Mage from Talek. Request permission for emergency landing.”
There was a long pause. Then:
“Mages from Talek don’t fly human space ships.” The voice said crisply, “Nice try but, try again.”
“I have a human girl with me.” Dorus said desperately, “And we don’t know how to fly this thing. Request permission for emergency landing.”
Another long pause.
“Put up your video. We want to see you.”
“Video?” Suzanne whispered,
“More human technology.” Dorus mumbled, but this time he hit the wrong button.
“Dorus!” Suzanne shrieked,
“What are you doing?” the voice over the radio demanded,
The ship careened crazily and Dorus fought with the controls trying to recover it as gravity swiftly gained control.
“Suzanne!” he cried, “I wasn’t joking when I said you could hold this ship with your mind! Do it!”
“Well, let go!” Suzanne cried, her fear making her angry. Dorus took his hands off the controls and the ship suddenly stabilized. Suzanne leaned back, her eyes closed, her mind entirely occupied with keep them airborne. The wall before them crackled and dissolved into a screen and two uniformed humans peered at them.
“Well?” one asked the other,
“Clear the grounds.” The human in charge said, “We’ll let them land.” To Dorus he said, “Do you know what you’re doing?”
“I’m—not sure.” Dorus said hesitantly.
“Can you land this thing without blowing up?”
“I—think so.”
“All right. You’re cleared for landing. I’ll sign out. But let me warn you, when you land, make no attempt to disembark. Our men will escort you. Understand?”
“Yes. Sir.”
The video abruptly cut out and switched to a view of the grounds below. There wasn’t much to see yet, just clouds and a confused jumble of scenery. Yet from the speed they were moving Dorus knew they had to start slowing down now.
“Suzanne.” He said, she had her eyes closed, oblivious to the world around her. “Suzanne,” he said louder, “Can you land this thing?”
She opened her eyes then and looked at him in fear. “No. No, I have no idea…”
Dorus sighed. “Then let me have control.”
Suzanne hesitated. “You will crash,” she declared, “And we will die without ever seeing Terra.”
“At least we will die without blood on our hands.” He repeated, and started messing with the endless rows of buttons and dials. The roaring sound returned along with the sickening sensation of falling. The view on the screen in from on them veered from side to side and grew bigger.
“The tower.” Suzanne pointed, “Like the one outside the city. That must be the landing ground.”
Dorus concurred and tried to compensate. As the ground came up it didn’t seem they were slowing down enough. Dorus bit his lip and try to figure out what he didn’t know.
“Well,” he said tersely, “I can try to guess, or divine what to do, or I can give up and let the ship fly itself, or I can give command back over to you and maybe your instinct will kick in…” he shook his head despondently. “I don’t know how this thing works. I dropped out of school when I decided to go live on Talek, I only understand a little bit about gravity and physics…”
He trailed off, searching his memory for those long distant years. Suzanne watched anxiously. The ship raced on ahead. Then Dorus sprang to life with the one word, “Rockets.”
The rockets kicked in the, the ground rushed up. Suzanne whimpered. Dorus bit his lip so hard it bled. They hit the runway going way too fast. A button flashed red. Lights came on. Dorus tried one last time and there was a tremendous crash. The ship came to a halt and everything went dark.
Voices. Lights. Uniformed men like the ones they had seen on the screen burst into the ship, weapons in their hands. They seized Dorus and Suzanne and pulled them from their seats. They blinked at the daylight and had only a vague impression of the hard grey ground beneath them before they were hustled into a grey stone building that was strangely cool after the heat on the pavement.
Grim men watched them suspiciously as they were led down the endless corridors, all of grey stone. They wore uniforms of dark blue; shirts that buttoned and long pants with shiny black boots. The robes from Talek were bright and strange by contrast.
At last they were ushered into a room and the door closed behind them. The room was empty and bare as a prison cell, except for a wide table behind which sat three stern men. On the wall behind them hung a flag with a strange device. The men were old with graying hair but it was cut short and they were clean-shaven. The one in the middle was the one who had given them clearance for landing.
“That was a rough landing you made.” He said grimly, “We were wondering if you would make it at all.”
“I’ve never flown such a contraption before.” Dorus said.
“I cannot easily believe that.” The man snapped, “Such a machine cannot be flown without previous experience.”
“I have had some training,” Dorus tried to explain,
“On Talek?” the man interrupted with a sneer,
“No. I was born on Terra.”
Silence. Then from the man on the right:
“Your human name?”
“David.”
“Talek-Terra half-blood?” the man on the left asked, Dorus nodded his assent.
More silence.
“The girl?”
“Born on Terra. Sent to Talek for reasons known only to her parents and the Council.”
“And you are here because?” the middle man snapped,
“The day has come when the battle must be fought. Neither of us wish to be caught in the bloodshed.”
There was a whispered conference between the three men.
“What battle?”
“This is all a question of Talekai politics.” Dorus said impatiently, “If you wish to know about it, ask the council.”
“You had better watch yourself.” The man on the left said gravely, “Talekai or not, you are facing grave charges.”
“Look.” Dorus tried to keep himself under control. “Our lives were in danger. We’re not planning on staying long.”
“Oh?” the man on the right raised just one eyebrow, “where are you planning on going?”
“We wanted to get a ship and learn to fly it.” Dorus admitted helplessly, “And find another earth.”
The men burst out laughing but were cut short by a cry from Suzanne.
“They’re coming!” she wept, her eyes closed against the pain, “The Council Dorus!”
“How?” he demanded,
She spread her hands helplessly. “I can’t—“
He put his arms around her, their heads together as before. “Show me.” He whispered.
The Council. The Guardians. The ship taking off. Castilan weeping, protesting, confessing, betraying… Terra in flames. Talek in flames. The ship in flames. Suzanne crying out, before the Council, in flames…
Dorus wrenched away from the visions, stumbling away from Suzanne. The three men watched speechless at this strange demonstration of Talekai powers.
“But fire can’t hurt you!” Dorus cried wildly, “Castilan said! And I saw you! You called the sunbeams to dance!”
Suzanne stared at him wide-eyed. “I don’t remember.”
“How can you not remember?” he cried, “you’re…”
“Human.” She said as he trailed off. “I can forget.”
“The Council’s reach is great.” Dorus said tensely, “But it does not stretch across the universe. They are here.”
“What can we do?” Suzanne said pleadingly, “You said we could escape!”
“I couldn’t carry you across the heavens,” Dorus said, “But I can carry you to the other side of Terra.”
Before the grim men at the table had moved he put his arms around the girl and vanished.
Chapter Five
Memory
They were on the sidewalk in the heart of a human city, thronged with people who stared at them curiously as they passed. Suzanne caught her breath as Dorus set her down, bewildered by their sudden flight.
“Why can’t I do that?” she demanded,
Dorus shrugged. “I can teach you, but not now. Now we have to find some other clothes.”
Suzanne was puzzled. “What is wrong with our clothes?” She asked,
Dorus laughed out loud. A security officer stepped out of the shadows and tapped him on the shoulder.
“This is not the place for loitering.” He said gruffly, “Move on please.”
Dorus took Suzanne’s arm and started down the street. The Security officer watched them leave, speaking into his communication device as he did.
“The problem with clothes,” Dorus explained, “Is that one usually needs money to buy them with.”
“Money?” Suzanne inquired,
“Another human invention.” He said simply, “The funny thing is that it cannot be created by humans of Talekai. It has to be earned. But no one will give us work without decent clothes.”
Suzanne sighed, “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t worry about it child. I…” he trailed off. The street and been swiftly and efficiently cleared and was lined on all sides by men with weapons, the weapons trained on him.
“Excuse me sir.” An officer approached him, “I need your name and ID number.”
“My name is David Helton.” He answered evenly, “My ID is 27342612-42136.”
The man frowned. “Slower please.”
Dorus sighed and repeated it.
“Do you have a card? A license?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Why not?” the officer asked suspiciously,
“I’ve been living on Talek for the past twenty years. I don’t have anything left.”
The officer started to laugh derisively but stopped abruptly when he saw Dorus remained serious.
“Well,” he said, “we’re going to have to ask you to get off the street. Suspicious behavior, you know? And those outlandish outfits…” he laughed again to recover his superiority and sauntered back to the men they withdrew but stayed at a close distance, watching for Dorus to obey and go. Dorus looked around perplexed.
“Do something.” Suzanne whispered.
Dorus closed his eyes. It had been so long. Where on Terra was there a safe place for them? Suddenly he knew.
“We’ll go to my parents,” he said, a broad smile on his face, turning to take Suzanne in his arms again.
“Your parents?” she asked confusedly,
“My mother is human. My father is Talekai. I have three brothers. I had a sister but she died when she was ten. She was the only one besides me to be born a mage. They said the strain was too much of her. I disagreed. I have a grandfather, a scientist. He can help us, I know.”
Then before the wondering eyes of the security men and the spectators beyond he vanished again.
Suzanne opened her eyes and looked at the little white house on the green lawn. All around were other white houses on other green lawns. “On Talek,” she said pointedly, “Everything was gold. The grass was gold. The sun was gold; the sky was gold. The river we lived on was deep, deep blue. The stone we built with was white, white; white. Here, but here, is there no end to colour? The sky is light blue! The city was gray! The clothes of the men are yet a different blue! And here, what they build with is white, but what is this?” she pointed to the green, “What Dorus?”
“Grass. Green grass. But you should know Suzanne, “he said gently, “You know pink and red and purple, Terra’s colours.”
They went up the walkway and knocked on the door. It was answered by a middle-aged lady, her brown hair streaked with grey. She had a mild, kindly face, but it was creased now with lines of worry and she looked at h Dorus with fear.
“What do you want?” she cried, “We’ve done nothing to you! My husband died four years ago!”
“Mama.” Dorus said softly, “Don’t you know me?”
She frowned, and suddenly her eyes lit up in recognition. “David!” she cried, “David! Is it really you?”
“Yes, it’s really me.” He smiled.
“Papa.” She called into the house, “It’s David!”
“Not possible.” And old man’s voice came drifting from inside, “it’s been twenty years.”
“Come in.” Mrs. Helton said, standing back and holding wide the door, “Come in David I am so glad to see you…”
Dorus took Suzanne’s hand and led her into the house.
“Who is this?” his mother asked, closing the door, Dorus presented her.
“This is Suzanne.”
“Your wife?” she questioned,
Dorus shook his head. “No. She needed my help. That’s why we’re here.”
“Well, you look just like your father did when I met him.” She said proudly, “Gray robe and all.”
“Where is father?” Dorus asked; his mother’s eyes clouded over.
“He died David, four years ago. He said he hoped you were happy with your choice.”
“Well, well, well.” An elderly gentleman came into the room, leaning heavily on his cane. He walked with a pronounced limp, but his gray eyes were bright and piercing. He looked Dorus over from head to toe.
“What’s 7X7?”
“49 sir.”
“And the date that Human’s first set foot on Talek?”
“August 15, 2310.”
“And what does a TMV ship use to repel gravity in landing?” he asked, with a twinkle in his eyes,
Dorus grinned. “Rockets, sir.
“You never forget do you.” He shook his head.
“Not easily.”
“But you still don’t know how to fly a spaceship. That was a close landing you made.”
“I don’t recall pilots training being something I pursued.”
The old man waved a paper at him. “Strange visitors from Talek! Crash landing in interstellar landing base! Teenagers with invisibility cloaks? Or Mages from Talek? Your adventures are published in papers from here to Asia! This is no mere homecoming David, what on earth is going on?”
Dorus suddenly felt very tired, the strain of the journey beginning to tell on him.
“The day has come,” he murmured, “When the battle must be fought.”
Mrs. Helton gasped. Her papa waited for him to go on.
“They, that is the Council, wanted Suzanne to lead the battle. I helped her to escape. We do not wish to be caught in the shedding of blood. She is human mama; take care of her please. It’s been a hard journey.”
“Come now Dorus.” The old man said gently, using his Talekai name, “You’re tired. We can talk in the morning.”
“Morning?” Suzanne asked, watching frightened as her friend was led away, the only one she knew in this strange land, “What is morning?”
“You will see dear.” Mrs. Helton said gently, “You will see.”
“I have it now.” Dorus said the next morning, “I was tired and could not think properly. Mage or not I still have my mother’s blood in me.” He smiled adoringly at his mother who was preparing them breakfast, another strange aspect of life on Terra. Suzanne was entranced by the idea of sitting at a table, only the council had one on Talek. When the food was set in front of her she sniffed at it suspiciously.
“Eat it.” Dorus commanded, “There is no Water here.”
“We have water,” his mother said perplexed,
“That’s not what I mean.” Dorus tried to explain,
“Oh I see, you mean your special River.”
“What is it that you finally realized?” papa asked, adjusting his spectacles,
“Wee need to find Suzanne’s parents.” Dorus said,
“Parents?” Suzanne was barely picking at her plate and she looked up suddenly, “Why?”
“”They might be able to tell us who you are.”
“But I thought you said I was human?” she exclaimed,
“Suzanne, Suzanne,” she said slowly, “You have power stronger than mine. How? And why did the council want you? Only your parents can tell us. Maybe.”
“But Dorus…”
“I know, I know, you don’t remember. But Suzanne,” he set down his fork and gazed at her earnestly, “You have been believing a lie. They cannot take your childhood memories. They can hide them from you, but they cannot take them. All you have to do is find them again.”
“But Dorus…”
“Suzanne, I cannot do this for you.”
She hid her face in her hands. “Then send me back.” She said in a muffled voice,
“No.”
“They’ll kill me!” she cried wildly, “They’ll kill you too!”
“I am not afraid to die.”
“They’ll harm your family! No one will escape! All of Terra will suffer!”
“Suzanne, Daea!” Dorus stood, pleading with her, “Their powers of illusion are strong. What they say they cannot always bring to pass.”
Suzanne put her arms on the table and hid her face in them, weeping. Dorus stood by awkwardly but Mrs. Helton came over and put her hands on the girl’s shoulders.
“It’s all right,” she crooned, “Everything will be all right. Can’t you try to do as David asks? You remember a little. Remember when you saw the sunset last night? You said you’d wanted to see that since you were taken away as a child. You said it felt like home. What did you mean by that?”
Suzanne sniffed. “We used to sit on the porch and watch the sunset. My mother would sit in the rocking chair and sing to me. Every evening, every evening…” she looked up at Dorus suddenly, “UT was not my first language.” She said abruptly, “I don’t think I knew it when I came to Talek. Before that I spoke Hispaniol. My mother said she grew up in a little vineyard near Castile. She said…” then the eagerness faded from her voice. “I’m sorry Dorus. That’s all I know. It’s like staring into a deep black hole that will swallow me…”
“It’s all right.” Dorus smiled encouragingly, “It’s not much, but it might be enough.”
In the middle of that second night Suzanne woke up screaming. She ran down the hall to the room where Dorus slept.
“They’re coming again! Dorus! They’re coming!”
Dorus sat up wide-awake in fright and caught the trembling girl in his arms. Outside neighbors locked their doors and reached for their phones, thinking a murderer must be afoot.
“What is it?” Dorus asked, “What is it?”
“They’re here!” she cried, “So close, so close- I have to go! I have to go to them! There is no choice! There is no escape!”
She struggled to escape him and fly out the door, but with only a second’s hesitation Dorus whisked her away to the other side of the planet. When Mrs. Helton burst into the room and police sirens were heard outside the door, Dorus and Daea were gone.
