“But you stood at the center of all of those things, Juna. You helped make them happen,” Quang Nguyen replied. “You have met my wife, Abeo. She possesses strength like yours. She is both the rock, and the river raging around it. That is why I cherish her as I do. That is why I proposed that we court you. A woman of your strength and vision would be an asset to our family, even without your ties to the Tendu.”
“Still, this is a marriage for gain,” Juna said with a shrug. “I’m not entirely comfortable with that.”
Quang laid a gentle hand on her arm. “Juna, every marriage is for gain, else, why would we do it?”
“But I want to gain a family,” Juna explained.
“And you will be,” he said. “Tonight we will have a reception in your honor. Most of the rest of this branch of the family will be there, including all our unpaired men. Hopefully one of them will strike a spark in your heart. Please, give our family a chance, Juna. We would be honored to have you join us.”
“All right,” Juna said. Perhaps she would be drawn to someone at the reception. Belonging to a family like this certainly would have advantages— for the Tendu, for the child beneath her heart, and for herself. It would not be wise to turn away just yet.
He glanced at his watch. “I’m afraid that I must leave you to attend to some other duties. Please, feel free to wander wherever you like.”
“Thank you, Quang Nguyen.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you tonight.” He turned and walked off across the compound.
Juna headed for the forest. She wandered through the woods on the neatly groomed, cleared path. It was good to be in the forest, alone. Up overhead, a bird called, a loud, sonorous call. Farther away, another bird replied. There were faint rustlings here and there in the foliage, as unseen animals fed or fought, or courted. She looked longingly up at the treetops, aching to be up in the hidden world of the canopy. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She stripped down to her bra and underwear, wrapping her clothes in a couple of broad green heliconia leaves, pinned together with twigs. She tied the package around her waist with several strands of vine and started climbing.
Juna climbed steadily until she reached the treetops. She found a sturdy branch and sat for a few minutes, admiring the glorious view. The trees stretched away to the edges of the dome, and beyond that was the sterile grey surface of the Moon. Beyond the dome overhead the crescent Earth hovered in the sky, against a background of brilliant, un-twinkling stars. This would, indeed be a wonderful place for her and the Tendu to live.
On Tiangi, she would never have been able to sit in such a vulnerable spot. The sky belonged to the enormous raptors that patrolled the canopy, looking for any animal unwary enough to stick its head above the treetops. She had been attacked and nearly killed by one of the huge, soaring creatures as she sat in an exposed treetop.
After spending a long pleasant interval admiring the view, Juna climbed back down into the canopy, and called to the Tendu. She heard a pair of answering calls, and headed toward them.
Moki came swinging up to her, his skin rippling blue and pink with excitement. “It’s wonderful! It’s like home, only different. Everything is from Earth, like you!” he exclaimed.
“Yes, Moki, everything is from Earth, like me,” Juna said, amused by his excitement.
Ukatonen leaped onto the branch, his skin azure with joy.
“It’s good to be here,” he said. “Moki’s right, it is a great deal like home. Thank you for bringing us here.”
“You’re welcome,” Juna said. “Have you looked above the trees yet?”
They shook their heads.
“There are no koirah here,” she said. “It’s safe. And the view is incredible.”
She led them up into the clear, bright sunlight. “Look,” she said. “Isn’t it amazing?”
Slowly, tentatively, the Tendu looked around at the dark sky, the crescent Earth, the myriad pinpoint stars, the harsh sunlight.
“It’s very strange,” Ukatonen said. “It looks like night, but the sun— ” He shook his head.
Moki’s ears were spread wide as he looked around. “Is that Earth?” he said, pointing.
Juna nodded.
“Where’s the rest of it?”
Juna was explaining about how part of the Earth was in shadow so that you couldn’t see it, when a shuttle passed overhead. The two Tendu vanished into the canopy. Juna sighed sadly. Even here, in this safe place, their instinct to avoid high, exposed places was too strong.
Juna climbed down after them.
“It’s all right,” she said, when she found them several layers down, looking anxiously upward. “It’s just a shuttle. Nothing to worry about.”
“I understand,” Ukatonen said, “but this is how the Tendu have managed to survive for so long. I have been avoiding the treetops for a thousand years or more. I cannot stop doing it now.”
“I’m sorry,” Juna said. “I shouldn’t have asked this of you.”
“It is a wonderful view, siti,” Moki offered. “I’m sorry that we can’t enjoy it as you do.”
“It’s all right, bai, you were very brave to go up there at all. So, why don’t you show me the forest?” she suggested.
And so they spent the next several hours exploring the jungle. Juna was amazed at how quickly they adapted to this jungle, even though everything in it, including the gravity, was alien to them. Juna’s watch chimed, reminding her that it was time to get ready for the evening’s reception.
Ukatonen led her to a pool with a waterfall. She stripped naked and plunged in, washing away the dirt from her climb. Moki brought her clothes, and she sat on a warm rock, letting the sun dry her off while the other two splashed in the pool.
They’re so happy here, Juna thought. It’s going to be hard for them to return to Snyder Station after this. She sighed and got up and began putting on her clothes.
“Come on,” she said. “There’s a party we have to go to.”
The Tendu followed her back to their rooms reluctantly. They watched as she hurriedly washed and dried her hair, combing it out into a tight Afro that clung to her head, emphasizing the planes of her face. She slipped into the purple-and-red evening dress that she’d bought for the trip and regarded herself in the mirror. The dress was all right, she decided. It harmonized with her rich brown skin, and maximized her bustline, which had filled out remarkably with her pregnancy. The gown’s full skirt hid the slight potbelly of her pregnancy. It made her look smooth, elegant, and surprisingly young. She painted a little kohl around her eyes, dabbed on a little blusher and lipstick, and decided that she was ready.
There was a knock on the door. It was Yang. He gave her a beautiful spray of white tuberoses, which she pinned into her hair.
“You look lovely, Juna,” he told her. “I’m honored to be seen with you. All the other men will be jealous.”
Juna blushed. “Thank you, Yang,” she said. “You’re very kind.”
He held out his arm, and she slipped her hand through it. They walked out together, the Tendu following behind them. The dome filters had been polarized, and the compound was dark. Night-blooming flowers poured their fragrance into the warm air. Cicadas chirred away, filling the air with a curtain of shimmering sound.
“It’s a beautiful night,” Juna said.
“Thank you,” Yang responded. “We’ve done our best to make it so.”
Juna gave him a sidelong glance. He seemed to see nothing unusual in his remark, but it reminded her of the enormous power that this family took for granted.
“Yes, I suppose you have,” she said, her face carefully neutral.