To Storm Heaven - Esther Friesner [50]
“The Ne’elatians lost none of the old knowledge that had accompanied them here from Skerris IV,” Troi said. “By their own admission, after they subdued the harsher environmental conditions of their new world, they were free to make as much technological progress as their own abilities allowed.” “In other words, no need to lose time reinventing the wheel,” Riker put in. “The Ne’elatians remembered as much Skerrian technology as their parents and grandparents had brought with them, they just didn’t have the means to reproduce it all right away.” “But there was another memory their ancestors brought along that the Ne’elatians did not want to reproduce,” Troi said. “They were not aware of it immediately. They spent many generations simply trying to establish themselves on their new homeworld, but in time, as their civilization made more and more rapid progress, someone must have remembered it.” “Remembered it in an accursed hour,” Lelys said through gritted teeth. “It was their own fault that they had turned from the gods! You heard what Isata Kish said as well as I. The Ne’elatians worshipped only what they could see, touch, compel to make their lives more comfortable. And once they had their comfort, they wondered why their lives were barren.” Bitterness twisted her mouth. “An evil hour, when they remembered how things had been on S’ka’rys and realized that they had remade their new world on the same cold model as the old.” “It would have been worse if they had not recognized their error,” Troi said, seeking to ease Lelys’s mind. “Otherwise Ne’elat might have come to the same violent end as Skerris IV.” “Better if they had,” the Orakisan spat. Suddenly all her rage dissolved and she buried her face in her hands. “No, that is untrue. Oh, listen to how I speak, wishing destruction on them! They have sinned horribly against their Ashkaarian kindred, and I sin against them by my words. To desire the death of a whole world!” Troi put one arm around the sobbing Orakisan.
“The Ashkaarians worship the Lady of the Balances.
It can be a very difficult thing for any people to balance the things of science against the things of the spirit, but it is necessary. The Ne’elatians realized this in time. Too many other peoples never do. It is only unfortunate that they reached this realization at the same time that they rediscovered their surviving kindred on Ashkaar. They had two choices: to remake their spiritual life by seeking it within themselves— not a thing quickly or easily donemor to take what was already there on Ashkaar. You spoke against them so fiercely just now because they chose the easier way, and because you fear that their choice reflects badly on you, their distant kin.” Ambassador Lelys first shook her head no, then paused and sighed. “I wish it were not so. I wish I had the power to change it.” “According to what you are saying, the Ne’elatians adopted the Ashkaarian’s religious practices,” Data said. “Why do you regard this as improper?” “Because they did not adopt, they stole,” Lelys exclaimed. “They came here in secret and took the trappings of this people’s faith without the substance.” “The Ne’elatians go through the motions of Ashkaarian rites, but they don’t really know much about the underlying beliefs,” Riker added. “They’ve been playacting at something that’s sacred to another people.” “This is offensive?” Data asked.
“This is vile,” Lelys said.
“Ah.” The android did not seem to be convinced.
“Why do you doubt her, Mr. Data?” Troi asked him.
“The Ashkaarians are ignorant of the existence of the Ne’elatians. They are certainly ignorant of the fact that the Ne’elatians have appropriated their religious practices, whether frivolously or sincerely. If they do not know of the offense, how can they be offended?
And if they are not offended, what actual harm have the Ne’elatians done to them?” “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Riker nodded toward the silvery device still cradled in the android’s palm. “Isata Kish wasn’t sent here just to observe the Ashkaarians and borrow