On Earth, there are three Triads intending to integrate
not only the three peoples and stop the war that threatens to break loose and
slaughter Humans and devastate their world; but to stop the war that consumes
Kiiote economy and Yown’Hoo moral fiber. All three intelligences hover on the
edge of extinction. The merger of Human-Kiiote-Yown’Hoo into a van der Walls Society
might not only save all three – but become something not even they could
predict. Something entirely new...
The young experimental Triads are made up of the smallest
primate tribe of Humans – Oscar and Xiomara; the smallest canine pack of Kiiote
– six, pack leaders Qap and Xurf; and the smallest camelid herd of Yown’Hoo – a
prime eleven, Dao-hi the Herd mother. On nursery farms and ranches away from
the TC cities, Humans have tended young Yown’Hoo and Kiiote in secret for decades,
allowing the two, warring people to reproduce and grow far from their home worlds.
Choral Reading
Yown’Hoo: “The literal decay of the fiber of Yown’Hoo
morality accelerated when we refused peace with Kiiote.”
Kiiote: “Interbreeding, internecine war, and ritual
cannibalism devoured us in resisting harmony with Yown’Hoo.”
Human: “Material gain from both Yown’Hoo and Kiiote fed
our greed, so concord held no profit.”
Chorus: “We might do something none of us alone can do,
we might braid an unbreakable cord of unity.” (3/6/2019)
The primitive Kiiote Pack leader, Kang, who had given over
leadership to Qap and Qilf leaped to blaze trail through the snow as if she was
a puppy freed from a trap.
The Triad Pack leaders stared. Qilf said, “We will watch her.”
“And tear her throat out at the first scent of treachery,”
said Qap.
“My mate,” they said in unison, sealing the promise as the small
Human female called Cynthia approached them.
She said, “May I keep my spear? It will no longer be in
service to Kang, but to you.”
Qilf nodded her head in the Human style, “We accept your
offer, Human Cynthia.” She offered her
back and the child mounted easily, keeping the spear well clear of the Kiiote
Lead female.
The smaller Human approached Qap and bowed, “I am Kobey. My
spear will no longer be in service to Kang but to you, great male Leader.” Qap
nodded and the boy scrambled up on Qap – with considerably less grace than the
girl. Qap flinched when the spearhead came within centimeters of poking his eye
out. He growled faintly. Kobey said, “My apologies, great Qap. Please…”
“Don’t worry about it. We should get going.” Towt fell in at
Qilf’s haunch. The boy clung to Qap’s back fur and with a howl from Qilf, the
Pack, like a living shadow, set off as night fell.
They easily caught up to Kang, who set a swift pace.
Shifting to Growl-Snap, Qap said, “How far is this place?”
“Not a whole night’s run, Pack Leader. Perhaps a half night.”
“Winter nights are long,” Qilf said.
“As I said.” She put on a burst of speed. Qilf added a snort
of pleasure. The young Kiiote female was not entirely intimidated by the older
female. In fact, Qilf rather enjoyed the challenge the youngster was offering.
She had a sense of real wildness. Qilf’s grin faded, reminding herself that the
pup was also a total stranger, possibly more savage than civilized. Kiiote without
a true Pack were prone to ferality despite two thousand Earth years of technological
civilization. She farted derisively – even Humans were barely out of their Stone
Age. They were discovering fire as the Kiiote were colonizing their star
system. Yet they did not appear to behave like their great apes when they lived
alone. In fact, some Humans she had read about relished the solitude, they were
called “hermits”.
She was digesting that morsel, when Qap pulled up alongside her
and said, “What is it that Retired has us searching for?”
“Some sort of aircraft.”
“I didn’t think the Humans had developed everyday
applications for gravity modification,” Towt interjected. The little neuter was
a cheeky creature and while it never interfered with the business of running
the Pack, it felt perfectly comfortable questioning anything and everything
else.
They were used to it, but Qap offered a jaw snap to
emphasize that he and his mate were having a private conversation that might
lead to Pack policy decisions. The neuter dropped back to a respectful
distance. After a league, Qap slowed and answered, “They didn’t precisely,
Neuter. They used heavier-than-air-craft that employed forcing air over an
aerodynamically shaped wing.”
Qilf had a horrible thought. She said, “You don’t think this
idiot creature is leading us to some sort of decrepit Human aircraft, do you?”
Qap farted derision, adding a double jaw snap of certainty.
She said in Growl-Snap, “It knows something; and Retired would not have sent us
here for no reason, so he must know something about this flying vehicle.”
“Can we possibly fly such a thing?”
The Pack ran in silence before Qap finally ventured, “The
basics shouldn’t be difficult. But the practice seems particularly daunting. I
do not think our passengers would be able to operate a flying machine built for
adult Humans.”
Qilf said, “In our bipedal form we might, but it would still
be difficult. Humans have incredibly slender digits.”
They kept running until Kang dropped back a bit, and said, “We
need to take an extended break. The young Humans will be cold despite their
coverings, and I need to both catch my breath and find the best path.”
Qilf threw Qap a look to say, “Keep an eye on her.” She
slowed to Kang’s pace, which slowed further until the Pack stood panting beneath
the branches of an enormous pine. She drew a deep breath and said, “This plant
is among my most favorite on Earth.”
There was movement above…
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