Aether observed a wave of mixed reactions circulate through the audience, though most appeared promising: curiosity, surprise, anticipation, impatience, “More.”
Unhkte appeared to absorb and interpret the consensus, then addressed Aether. “You may announce these urgent subjects.”
Aether inhaled deep as she pulled up the precomposed list, dropping it into her Livetrans queue.
“Gratitude,” Aether signed. “The first subject is that of the atrocities two nights ago. We wish to explain our experience and the events following.” Mindful of the earlier guards’ apparent lack of familiarity, she added, “If we may.”
The Thinkers bore no such puzzlement. The majority looked on without outward reaction, while a scant few beckoned her to continue. Their conspicuous lack of reaction exuded an unprecedented intensity. Unhkte motioned for Aether to proceed.
Aether unpaused the recounting. “Two nights ago, barbaric atrocities took place during your sacred keepock ritual…” concluding with “… As evidenced by the wrongdoer’s execution, Eeahso condemns this act and seeks peace, vowing to permanently end all raids on the city.”
A handful of solitary Threck bodies rose from the assembly and waited.
Unhkte pointed to one. “Proceed.”
“Where is Eeahso now?”
Half of the standers sunk back into the ranks of heads and eyes, leaving only three standing.
“Eeahso is in hiding,” Aether replied.
Unhkte pointed to another. “Hiding somewhere you know?”
Aether had expected this line of questioning, but hadn’t formulated a definitive response. She had figured she’d wing it.
She’d said her piece and decided to move on. They could return to it after, if still insistent. “The second subject is that of stranded Syons People. Across the sea, in the place you call Hynka Country, three of our people got lost, ending up in this dangerous place. Our flying machines can travel far, but not so far as the sea. We wish not to endanger Threck lives in addition to our own, so we’re not asking for any of your people to come ashore. Your afvrik would stop as soon as land is in sight. We would require three to six days to find and return with our people, and then be transported back across the sea.”
The Thinkers chatted quietly amongst themselves, motioning to Unhkte that this subject “Is not ours.”
Unhkte addressed Aether. “This request is not for Thinkers group. Afvrik are tool of Fishing group. Your third subject?”
“The third was previously introduced by Tom, but never answered—”
“Request to build city in Threck Country,” Unhkte interrupted. “This was delegated by the Council to the Thinkers for consideration and advisement. This is why all await continuation of questioning. We must have all information prior to submitting our advice.”
Aether glanced at Tom, irritation creeping from the back of her head to her temples. She turned back to Unhkte. “The Thinkers must know what garb we wear in our homes? This is how you will come to your decision on whether to allow my people to survive or to turn us away?”
Unhkte seemed to stammer. “This is not only… This is one of many… It was well-thought question…” She leaned close to Aether, normally droopy eyes wide with intensity.
“Allow,” Unhkte muttered.
The sound had been inaudible to Aether, but Livetrans picked it up. Aether didn’t know what it was supposed to mean.
“If one of your people…” Aether began again, “… happened upon Syons People land, became lost, and lay in the sun, drying out, dying, would you find it reasonable for us to ask one hundred questions and deliberate before deciding whether to apply shade and water?”
“Syons People are not dying,” Unhkte countered for all to hear, and gestured for Aether to let her continue.
“Yes we are!” Tom blared from his PA. Aether raised a hand to protest, but paused. “Angela, the one with me at the Council, was killed by Skinny just two nights ago. In Hynka Country, there are three more of us who could suffer the same fate from creatures your people know well. They are, right now, lying in the sun without water or shade, waiting for this group to decide if they live or die.”
The assembly’s movements revealed an even mix of confusion, alarm, pity, and thirst. All this talk of dry and hot…
Unhkte was silent.
Aether elected to resume. “In exchange for Threck help with these matters, Syons People will use our knowledge of small life to resurrect your lost kee, make new kee, and establish new fshkee where we can ensure the kee thrives. This we offer because we are in Threck Country, and while Syons People may live here temporarily—if permitted—it is Threck who must live on, flourish, and grow your city.”
Unhkte peered around the room, observing the group’s feedback as she slid around the circular pool.
TOM: Well-thought, well-said.
A rare eye hide from Unhkte as she completed her lap and stood to face Aether and Tom. Another whispered address, intended only for them. “You should have allowed me to help.” She backed away and resumed full volume for the entire room. “The Thinkers consider the logic of things. All pieces. You wish not to provide these pieces. If I am dying—unshaded and dry beneath your symbol sun—I do not attempt to set conditions of my rescue. As you stand nearby with shade and water, I do whatever is required of me—all that I am still able to accomplish—to satisfy your requirements for help.”
“Of course—” Aether attempted, cut off with a wave from Unhkte.
“You wish to trade life for life,” Unhkte went on. “You offer kee—substantial trade if the very foundation of our people were destroyed—but the risk of single fshkee was recognized long ago. There are many fshkee, all full of ample kee. Our people are in no danger of vanishing. Thus, it would seem to the Thinkers that Syons People need many things from Threck, but Threck need nothing from Syons People.”
3.0
Minnie’s paired skimmers hovered over the Hynka bone shrine, drifting right while rotating counterclockwise. Beyond the tiered rock wall, the rumble of stampeding Hynka grew louder, their shrieks and hissy, throaty calls echoing over the snaps and crashes of innocent vegetation. Minnie yanked her eyes from the mesmerizing, unfathomable sight of Ish, up to the unpromising view of a thrashing jungle canopy. Reaching Ish before the first of the horde arrived would be impossible. Her gaze returned to Ish and she began recording, zooming in to capture the details before taking her leave.
The Hynka had been meticulous. From the near-perfect circle Ish’s body formed, like a serial killer’s Christmas wreath, Minnie guessed that every one of her former colleague’s bones had been pulverized—crushed to tiny bits and powder. All but her head. Aside from a few bruises and lacerations, and missing clumps of hair torn from her scalp, Ish’s head was intact, set right-side-up at the grisly circle’s six o’clock, her blackened neck stretched and twisted and folded like a deflated tire. She’d been stripped nude, her suit shredded into the thin bands used to truss her devastated body and to bind her wrists to her ankles, forming the circle. And finally, the display: raised and suspended there by three bundles of multicolored wire at 10, 12, and 2 o’clock. The wire had to be from the missing EV.