Dark Matters_ Shadow of Heaven (Book 3) - Christie Golden [86]
"No one wants you here," spat Yurula. "You don't belong. You've lied to us all along. We had privacy, but now we learn that you were telling everything we did to people who represent everything we hate. We had a way of life we loved, and you ruined it We had gods, gods who walked among us and cherished our imperfect children, and now you've taken it all away from us!"
"Yurula," began Soliss, trying to placate his mate.
"And you!" Yurula whirled on him, her body tense with her anger. "You worked alongside the Alilann! The Alilann who burned our homes, stole our children!"
"These Alilann didn't bum your homes," said Chakotay, coming up behind Yurula. Ezbai walked beside him, the head injury inflicted by Yurula's hurled rock completely healed. "These Alilann helped save your lives. They are willing to work with you, to rebuild your village."
"Yes," said Ezbai. "We want to help."
Yurula spat on his face. Ezbai's eyes went wide, but he said nothing as he calmly wiped the spittle off his cheek.
"Oh, yes. We will rebuild our homes, but not with Alilann help. Not with your help, Trima, or yours, Soliss. You are no longer welcome here. No one who sympathizes with the Alilann is welcome here!"
Soliss stared at Yurula. "You are angry, and wounded, and exhausted," he began. "You do not mean-"
"Yes she does," said Resul the potter, stepping beside Yurula. "We will purge you from our memories, try to forget your lies."
Trima wiped at her wet face. "I never wanted to hurt you," she whispered.
'Trima, you can come back with us," said Ezbai gently. "I've seen a lot here tonight that has horrified me, and a lot that's touched me as well. There's got to be some middle ground, someplace where Culilann and Alilann can work together. I don't want to go back to that sterile place any more than you do."
"I cannot live in an Alilann dome," said Soliss. "But I cannot live here again, either. I want to learn your healing technology, but I don't want to give up my herbs. I know they heal, too."
Tom thought fast. "Maybe you can start a third way of living," he said. "I remember at the ceremony when the traders came, they gave the village a statue of a Way-Walker. You said the Way-Walkers were positive. Maybe you can be sort of Way-Walkers yourselves. Straddling two cultures, taking the best of both."
"Yes," said Chakotay. "Somewhere in between. A place for advanced healing technology and a cup of homemade soup as well. It has worked for us. Maybe it will work for you."
"We'll come with you." It was Winnif, carrying her baby and holding the hand of her three-year-old. Her eldest walked close to her side. "Paris saved our lives last night. There is no hatred in him for our people. I know that. I had thought I was doing right, to leave my baby... I am so glad that he is all right. Do you think I could see him again? Do you think they would give him back?" She looked frightened and hopeful at the same time.
Ezbai smiled. "Perhaps." He turned to Chakotay. "There's still a lot of fear here, Chakotay. I don't know how the Implementer's going to react. But there may be more of us than he thinks."
"I believe you'll find your sister shares your views, Ezbai. On Voyager, she'll have been exposed to exactly that culture that you want to create here, one that takes the best of both worlds and makes a third culture," Chakotay said.
Ezbai sobered. "I hope she's all right. How will we get her back?"
"I don't know. But we have to hope-"
Ezbai suddenly looked fuzzy to Tom. For that matter, so did Chakotay, and Soliss, and Trima. He realized that he was being transported somehow, but it was nothing like Voyager's transporter. He looked over at Trima, wanting to say something to her, to let her know that she was worthy, that she