• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 597 0

it.” “I see. What I do not understand is how what you are doing is so very different from what the Ne’elatians ‘do.!’ “What?” There was no measuring Lelys’s shocked indignation. She stopped stock still, staring openmouthed at the android. “You dare compare me to them? To those—those soul-drinkers?” “They pretend to follow the Ashkaarians’ faith because they cannot spare the time to explor9 their own spirits, and they deceive them when it suits their ends. You are going to pray at this shrine as if you share the Ashkaarians’ faith as well, and you will also deceive them because it suits your purposes.” ‘7 will save their lives. The Ne’elatians do not care whether these people live or die.” “There does appear to be a difference in your motivations,”. Data admitted. “I hope I have not offended you. I only wished to have it made clear to me.” “Honored vistors?” Avren stood on the threshold of Ma’adrys’s hut, gazing earnestly back at his charges. “Will you come?” “Coming!” Lelys called to him. “There was a pebble in my shoe.” As they hastened up the path and into the hut, she whispered to Data, “You I can forgive; the Ne’elatians, never.” She east a wary glance at Avren, but the shepherd seemed to be indifferent to the conference presently taking place between the two visitors. As soon as they had entered the hut, he sat himself down with his back to the doorjamb and began playing with his toy sheep once more.

“The daughterworlds of S’ka’rys are banding together to form a confederacy,” Lelys went on in a low, intense voice. “Each newly rediscovered world is admitted on the word of the envoys sent to establish contact. I swear by all I hold holy, Ne’elat will never be admitted to the confederacy. Let them twist in the dark for what they have done here.” “What if Legate Valdor and Hara’el overrule your decision?” Data whispered.

“It will not matter. My people only acknowledge three voices together as binding, or voices grouped in threes. One vote over or under the chosen number can bar any action. And I say to you, my voice will bar Ne’elat forever.” “But suppose that Captain Picard and Hara’elm” “—find n’vashal on Ne’elat? I will still refuse them entry. I will not contaminate our newly reunited sisters with their evil. And if they refuse to give us n’vashal unless we admit them, then I will recommend to my superiors that we come here and take—” “This is for you, pretty guest.” Avren was suddenly standing between them, smiling his vacant smile, offering one of his toys to Lelys. “If you can’t think of how you want to pray, watch this sheep until you can.

That’s how I help myself remember the things I want to pray for: I watch my sheep until it all comes back into my mind.” “Thank you, Avren, but”—Lelys exchanged a look with Data—”I already have a pet too.” “Ohhhh. Well, I’ll go sit over there, then, and you pray. Ma’adrys will listen. I’m here. She likes me. She went up to Evramur from my meadow,” he finished proudly, and went back to his place in the doorway.

“He is very quiet when he wants to be,” Mr. Data observed, eying the shepherd. “I did not hear him approach. Perhaps we would do better not to discuss your hostilities toward Ne’elat until we are back at the inn.” “No harm was done,” Lelys declared. “Look at the poor thing. He would never guess what we are talking about. Now go to him and stand ready.” She turned to the corner where Ma’adrys’s abandoned basket stood and knelt before it.

“Congratulations, Ambassador Lelys,” Commander Riker said. “Your plan was an unqualified success.” He leaned back against the closed door of the women’s room, pleased to be the bearer of good news.

“The fever’s broken in every case where the herbwife and the oberyin used the medicines you planted.” “Please, Commander Riker, I can’t take credit for a miracle.” The Orakisan ambassador returned his smile. She stretched her arms over her head and yawned. “Though I suppose we can all take credit for lending these people a hand in their time of need.

When I return to Orakisa, I will commend you and the rest of the Away Team to my superiors