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 Xiaomara; 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
at great profit to Humanity. Then the war spilled over on to the Human homeworld
and all three are threatened with extinction…
Choral Reading
STAGE DIRECTION: (Spotlight falls on each as they speak
then shuts off, illuminating the next; then all three spotlights fall on them as
they chorus together.)
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.”
All: “We might do something none of us alone can do, we
might braid an unbreakable cord of unity.” (4/6/2019)
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.”
Qap threw Qilf a look to say,
“Keep an eye on her.” She slowed to Kang’s pace, which slowed further until the
Pack – Qap, female Pack lead and Qilf, male Pack second after Xurf, stood
panting beneath the branches of an enormous pine. Two very young Humans, the
older a female called Cynthia; the younger a male called Kobey. Kang appeared
to be a semi-barbarian Kiiote, possibly even born on Earth, growing among
Humans, or worse, alone. This presented major problems as Retired had taught
the Triad that there were only a limited number of Earth-born Pack on Earth at any
given time, and their whereabouts and skills known and tested.
Neither issue was one she could
deal with at the moment, and even thought Qilf was Pack Second, Qap had no
desire to make any decisions without discussion with Xurf. Human-Kiiote interactions
were his specialty. Hers was and continued to be Human technology. It was why
Retired had sent her on this mission. She drew a deep breath and said, “This
plant is among my most favorite on Earth.”
There was movement above…Qap came
to full bipedal mode in an instant as it was clear anything coming from a tree
had to be Human, whose descent from arboreal primates was both well-known and
disgusting. She snatched Kobey’s spear and said to Cynthia, “Protect
yourselves!”
Qap scurried backward and a moment
later, Qilf was beside her.
Instead of assassins or warriors
dropping from the branches though, two Humans, size-equivalent of Oscar and Xiomara,
slid to the ground with their arms extended down, palms up, the Human
equivalent of a Kiiote gesture of submission. Qap barked surprise and said in
English, “How is it you know such communication?”
The female Human said, “We have spent
many years curled as disciples at the feet of Zir, She Who Caused Peace With
Humans.”
Qap fought to hold her bipedal shape
and only barely succeeded. Qilf did not, instead collapsing his frame to press
belly-first to the frozen, needle strewn ground. He even whimpered. Qap
swallowed hard, her tongue accidentally protruding to pant, then regained
control and said, “How do you know the Great Pack Leader?”
The male said, “We suckled at the
teat of her wisdom as we grew.”
Qap shuddered, fighting to keep
her bipedal shape. Beside her, Qilf whimpered. Qap said, “Who are you?”
The female stepped forward. She
was dressed in heavy, insulating gear, Qap sniffed, made from deer hide.
Impressive. ‘Car and Xio would have no idea how to perform such efforts to
create clothing. These two seemed comfortable in the animal skins. “I am
Selene. My friend is Marama. We were warned that you were coming…”
“How could you have known that?”
Qap snarled.
Neither Human showed fear in scent
or facial expression. The male, Marama, said, “We were warned of your arrival.”
Qap snapped her jaw, sending a
growl and fart to Qilf demanding he gather his wits. She said, “Retired warned
you?”
Selene laughed, “Hardly. Our operatives in the Cities sent
word that the Triad was under attack. The Great Pack Mother had long-laid plans
for this. It was, in fact expected. She trained our small group for its
contingency. We know you have need to rendezvous north with the rest of the
Triad. And we know that we will be joining you and the other Triad Corps to
head for Grendl, Manitoba.”
Qap barked in stunned surprise. The place in Manitoba was a
tightly held secret. Retired, more properly, Lieutenant Commander Patrick Bakhsh,
had repeatedly emphasized the secrecy surrounding the place. None of the Triad
from the Cities knew what it was precisely, except a place. “What is it?” she
asked.
The Humans glanced at each other then they shrugged in unison,
a peculiar, species specific movement Qap had struggled to recognize but now
knew it was indicative of deep mystery for Humans. They rarely shrugged. Almost
never in unison. Marama said, “Great Pack Mother only left directions for us to
follow to reach the dune forest – whatever that is – and to take you there.”
Selene added, “We thought the direction was nonsense.” She
shook her head slowly, “We see now that we are sadly mistaken.” She sighed, “And
we see that we’re going to have to take you there. Right after we blow up our
home.”
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