Unification - Jeri Taylor [53]
That was the sum total of the message; D’Tan had been told nothing more. But in his heart he felt that the realization of their dream was near. Spock would be giving them the news they were all waiting to hear: that they would be joining with their Vulcan cousins once w~ore.
For D’Tan and his family, and for many of their friends, it was a dream that had been carefully preserved for generations. D’Tan had been raised, as his parents had been raised, and their parents before them and back and back for many generations, with the belief that someday the Vulcan and the Romulan races would be reunited. That a day of harmony and peace would arrive in which all of them would mingle together, without barriers and without prejudice.
The first songs D’Tan had heard as an infant were Vulcan songs; the first stories his mother told him were stories of Vulcan. He had been steeped in Vulcan lore and Vulcan history. The desire to see this legendary planet and to live in meditative serenity with his brothers was a burning passion, and the thought that it might happen in his lifetime was exhilarating.
It was Spock who made the difference. Spock! The name rang on his tongue like a chime, and D’Tan found himself singing one of the unification songs, inserting Spock’s name for that of an ancient hero. Singing made the time pass more quickly, and he wanted the hours until the meeting tonight to flash by as quickly as possible.
That night, in the caves, D’Tan’s heart was pounding and his face was flushed with excitement. He could hardly believe what he was hearing, and he knew everyone in the cavernous meeting place felt the same. They were hushed; no one stirred, not even the small children, who seemed to understand that this was an important occasion. Spock’s calm voice ech-oed through the chamber, describing in detail his meeting that very day with Neral, making it clear that the proconsul was receptive to him and apparently to his ideas.
Somewhere in the crowd a baby began to cry; soft sucking sounds told D’Tan that it was quickly silenced at its mother’s breast. And then Spock made the most incredible statement of all: the proconsul endorsed unification and was willing to make a public statement urging talks between Romulan and Vulcan leaders!
A huge cry of joy rang out in the caves; neighbor embraced neighbor and people babbled excitedly over the unexpected news. D’Tan’s father held him tightly in an embrace and his mother held both his hands in hers. His friend Janicka, who sat nearby, was crying with joy. D’Tan thought he had never been so happy in his life. “A public statement…” “We will live with our cousins…” “No more hiding in caves…”
The people were overjoyed. A young woman named Shalote, unable to contain her elation, jumped to her feet and took Spock’s hand, pressing it in gratitude. “It’s everything we could have hoped for,” she cried, and the crowd clamored its agreement.
Why, then, that frown on Spock’s face? Why did he turn to survey the euphoric crowd with such a glowering look? Suddenly D’Tan was frightened.
Spock’s voice rang out over the rejoicing. “It is more than we could have hoped for,” he announced.
And a startled hush fell over the group. D’Tan saw Pardek register the same confusion as the crowd.
“But if Neral is ready to publicly endorse reunification …” began the good senator, then left the sentence unfinished, staring at Spock in bewilder-ment.
Only one man seemed even to understand what Spock was saying, and that was the captain from the Federation, Picard. D’Tan swallowed, not sure he wanted to hear what was coming next. “I can’t imagine that one rises to the position of Senate proconsul without the support of the Romulan traditionalists,” began Picard, directing the statement to Pardek.
“That’s true,” replied the senator.
The Federation man seemed to bore into Pardek. “Then how can he turn his back on them so easily? How can he endorse