“We do not travel that far,” Artsh said.
“I believe that is the objective,” Unhkte of the Thinkers said, speaking for the first time since her introduction. “Unlike the chattel we’ve made of our farmer friends, when this proposed arrangement is concluded, we’re not to be seen again.” She turned to Fetz. “I suggest accepting the offer and dismissing the council. This is all I have to say on the matter.”
Tom worried about the leader of the Thinkers. Though otherwise quiet, Tom got the impression that she wanted him and Angela gone. What was going on in that head?
“What else can they give us?” Someone asked.
“I say we agree to terms,” another suggested.
“They could also help improve sanitation systems,” Fact said. “Let us weigh what is most important to the city.”
“How are we to know they can deliver anything offered?” Massoss Kwossh, from the Farming group. “We have attempted countless remedies for vine rot and graying disease.”
“Let us not doubt wherewithal, nor presume the option to negotiate terms other than that offer which was surely long-devised, and from people clearly our mental superiors,” Amoss said. “They make machines which rise from the ground and fly as rocks are thrown. Their garb speaks our language with perfect tenor. Tom, setting aside some of my colleagues’ fast-accumulating aspirations, can you satisfy doubts about your remedies? Further explanation, perhaps, if you believe it within our capacity.”
ANGELA: Wheel.
TOM: Shush.
ANGELA: Just saying. Don’t bogart it like you invented the thing.
“I’d be happy to explain,” Tom replied. “As you are all very wise, I have no uncertainty as to your capacity to understand.” Almost in perfect sync, the council members’ eyes dropped and rose.
Comments and body language interpretations scrolled by as Tom composed.
LIVETRANS: Please proceed.
LIVETRANS: I want this.
LIVETRANS: Yes.
LIVETRANS: Proceed now.
“Many generations before my birth, some of the smartest Syons People of our land made this shocking discovery. Like you, we’d always been plagued by illness, both in our people and in our foods. Cities as big as yours were often stricken by invisible killers. The very smartest of them could not discern the source. But one day, one man discovered that these killers were not invisible, but extremely small—so small that they could not be seen by Syons People’s eyes.”
Threck eyes hid.
Tom hurried to write the rest of the story.
LIVETRANS: Continue.
LIVETRANS: More.
LIVETRANS: Interesting.
“Another smart person, years later, connected these tiny lifeforms to molds that grew on food and to the passage of disease from one animal or plant to another. And finally, yet another researcher discovered that there were ways to kill these things which no one could see, using other little things invisible to the eye. Remedies were created, tested, and sent all over. This series of discoveries improved all Syons People’s lives. Now, we need only study your foods and ill, and we can create remedies for the Threck people.”
The council was silent, staring.
ANGELA: Well done. Waaaaay more longwinded than necessary, but I think they get it.
Amoss stepped slowly forward as the other council members shared glances. “Tom, where are Syons People from?”
Asked and answered, Tom thought. Well, answered with a lie, but how would they know?
“As I said, we are from distant northern land, as far away as one can imagine.”
“But this is not true,” Amoss said. “Threck have travelled to all lands, and unless Syons People live in Hynka Country, there is no place for these Syons cities. So I ask… where?”
Tom had no clue how to answer. There was no protocol for this other than to stick to the guns, resting assured that technically it was partially the truth. They were from an unimaginably distant land.
ANGELA: Crap! Are you going to tell them?
TOM: I can’t!
“Tom,” Amoss began again, slowly rocking side to side. “How much time have Syons People spent with farmers?”
This he could answer. “Not long. We arrived just before your harvesting group.”
“And how much time have Syons People spent with the sea people? Those who call themselves Seekapock?”
“None, no time.”
Amoss stopped moving, dark eyes fixed on Tom’s. “And how much time have Syons People spent with Threck?”
“As long as we’ve been here. Since meeting you.”
“Yes. So how do Syons People speak Threck language with such delightful precision?”
“We learn from listening. Our garb is able to keep words. Then we say them.”
ANGELA: Wow. That was terrible.
He ignored her. He was burying himself and “Syons People” deeper and deeper.
“Enough, Amoss.” Unhkte stepped forward. She moved right up to Angela, her droopy eyes shifting up, down, and around, and then turning to Tom for the same once-over. At this distance, Tom observed several faint scars on Unhkte’s head, like an old shark that had once tried to eat a ship’s propeller. “You know much about Threck, do you not?”
“We know some,” Tom replied. “From observation. Probably not as much as you think, though.”
Unhkte faced the wall, eyes roaming the ceiling. “Do you know how Threck are born?”
Tom struggled with his response, deleting and rewriting before reluctantly settling. “There is a cycle in fertile individuals. During fertilization, they experience increasing stiffness, leading to full paralysis while eggs—”
“Enough. Stop.” Unhkte waved an arm. Tom paused the Livetrans playback. Unhkte turned to the council. “You see?”
“This is reproduction,” Fetz said to Tom. “Answer Unhkte’s question. How are Threck born?”
“Apologies,” Tom said. “I thought you wished to test our knowledge of your physiology. Birth occurs submerged in saturated soil after roughly eighty days’ gestation when the egg is—”
“No more,” Unhkte stopped him again. “They know nothing of Threck. Let it be, and let us adjourn.”
“No,” Amoss said, and then shouted, “Setkee!” Young Threck appeared from the stairway that led to the uppermost floors. “Restrain the Syons People and take them to holding room.”
“What’s going on?” Tom demanded as tentacles constricted around his arms, holding them tight to his body. He could no longer gesture to plead with the council. “Need explain. Tell what want know. Will explain anything.”
“Get it off me, Tom!” Angela cried.
A small Threck’s body lay flat against Angela’s back and its arms and legs wrapped two or three times around her. The same was true of the one on Tom’s back. Other Setkee pushed them along toward the stairwell as the council members huddled close to each other.
Livetrans only picked up a few snippets.
LIVETRANS: Cannot trust.
LIVETRANS: Find others.
LIVETRANS: Execute.
In the “holding” room, Angela gazed upward, fascinated by the door.
An hour earlier, upon arriving at the end of a long subterranean hall, they perceived a sloped stone wall that, if climbed up, would lead only to smacking one’s head on the jagged rock ceiling. It wasn’t a wall, though, but a rectangular slab of granite, anchored at its middle to the bedrock on both sides. Scaling the 45 surface—bound by tentacles, and with a few other escorts—the top end of the slab had gradually dropped while the end behind them rose, like a trapdoor for a giant snail. Revealed below, a small, bowl-shaped cave with a shallow puddle at its bottom. Their captors released them and scurried out before the massive gate sealed Tom and Angela in the dark.