Orphans - Kevin Killiany [39]
“No, that causes underweight and unhealthy infants,” Soloman said. “And birth defects of the sort they think I am. I’m referring to what may be a near total infant mortality rate.”
“How can you see what their own doctors have missed?”
“Their doctors are unaware of radioactive metals and their effect on living tissue.”
There was a rustle of stiff paper.
Stevens opened his eyes and was gratified to clearly see Soloman awkwardly holding up a heavily diagramed parchment with one hand. Of course, it was too far away for him to see what the diagrams depicted, but that didn’t bother him as much as the taste in his mouth. He wished the water were safe to drink.
“I cannot judge by human or Tellarite standards,” Soloman said, pointing to something on the parchment. “But from a Bynar standpoint, the native birth practices are both unusual and dangerous.”
Tev grunted.
“Two uteri, each with two chambers,” he said. “Quadruplets are the norm, then?”
“Apparently either identical twins or fraternal sets of identical twins,” Soloman agreed. “But that’s not the key. See here? It’s how they are delivered.”
“Is the mother underwater?” Abramowitz asked.
“It coincides with Tev’s observation that they are semi-aquatic,” Soloman said. “And is the very un-Bynar portion of the process. External fluids are very dangerous to us.”
“Humans, too.”
Tev said nothing.
“The natives apparently rely on external water to, well, irrigate their system,” Soloman said. “And support the infants through the delivery process.”
Stevens heard something heavy—a book?—being shifted and perhaps the flipping of pages.
“If I understand these diagrams correctly,” Soloman went on, “childbirth on land is possible, but extremely traumatic and potentially lethal for both mother and infants. They much prefer underwater delivery.”
“Unusual,” Tev said. “And dangerous for most species. But how can what is obviously normal for them suddenly be lethal?”
“Follow the illustrations.” Soloman rustled more papers Stevens could not see. “Their culture relies on the use of a traditional birthing pool, with various medicinal herbs planted about and a sheltered cave for the mother and infants to recover.”
“Many cultures have stylized and traditional—” Tev broke off mid-sentence.
“What?” Abramowitz asked a half second before Stevens.
“There’s no way for the water to leave the pool.”
Stevens groaned.
“Fabian,” Abramowitz was at his side. “You’re awake. Are you all right?”
He nodded, tears stinging his eyes.
“The babies,” he said.
“What?”
“The pools are fed by slow springs,” Soloman said. “Hardly more than seepage from the water table. But the only way water leaves is through evaporation.”
“I don’t follow.” Abramowitz sounded doubtful.
“The water evaporates,” Tev explained, “But the heavy metals remain. After centuries of buildup, the concentrations…” The Tellarite’s expression was strangely fierce as he faced the others. “At the moment of birth,” he said quietly, “they are killing their infants with toxic shock.”
“Oh.” Abramowitz sat on the edge of Stevens’s bed. “My God.”
CHAPTER
21
There was a birthing pool ahead.
Naiar reigned Striver in, standing in the stirrups to peer ahead. Yes, there was the grove of dissel and the shielding rock and a truly saddening number of memorial stones grouped along the gentler slope of the ravine. He let his eyes travel up the hillside, looking for the traditional fall of myyr vines that should screen the—
He froze, though there was no chance he had not been seen. Crouching on the trail to the nursing cave was something. Not a man, he was sure; not People, but…
Could it be a gnome?
He glanced back and down at his companion. The magical beast was too close to the ground to know what lay ahead. In a moment he would know whether the creature and the gnomes were friends or enemies.
Making a show of slipping the retaining strap from his sword hilt, he loosened the weapon in its scabbard. His companion asked a question in its bell-like voice, but he gave no sign he heard. Instead, he nudged Striver