Fear and Aggression (13 page)

“
Yes, he’s in his room.
Several of the boys are getting together tonight. I’m okay with him
going.” Aspiria listen and nodded mechanically. “I’ve been thinking
about you this afternoon. I’m looking forward to spending the
evening with you. If you are feeling up to it, I would like to go
on a walk with you.”

“
In a little while,
perhaps when Caryell goes out.”

“
It’s quite a walk from
here, but I was hoping to go to the hill by the farm where you grew
up.”

“
You really are feeling
romantic tonight.”

“
Ah, yes. I am madly in
love with you!”

“
And I with you, Roloff.”
They sat together in silence for a quarter of an hour. “I am going
to see Caryell for a little while before he goes out.”

As Aspiria left the room, Roloff followed
her with his eyes. She walked down the hall and entered Caryell’s
room.

“
Hi, Caryell.”

“
Hi, Mother,” Caryell
beamed, clearly excited to see her.

“
I hear you are going out
tonight.”

“
Yes, we are all going to
Sten Field. There should be enough boys to play some sports.”
Caryell was reasonably athletic, and loved sports. “What are you
and Father doing tonight?”

“
We are going on a long
walk. I’m sure that we will not be home until after dark. Will you
be alright if you get home before us?”

“
Yes,” he said with a
smile. “We are going to stay out late, and play in the forest after
dark. I might not beat you home. Is that okay?”

“
You are quite grown up
now, aren’t you?” Caryell smiled. He felt grown up when he was with
his father. When he was with his mother, he still felt like a
little boy. He loved his mother deeply. She made him feel secure
and at peace. “I want to share a scripture with you.”

Caryell pulled his copy of the scriptures
from a book shelf above his bed. He loved it when his mother did
that, and she did it frequently. He loved the spirit that he felt
when his mother shared a scripture and spoke to him about her
feelings. His father also talked about the scriptures with him, and
taught him much, but it was from these times with his mother that
he felt this feeling inside. Caryell was very comfortable with his
spiritual sensibilities.

After talking for several minutes, Aspiria
kissed her son on the forehead. He was growing into the young man
that she hoped that he would be. She left the room, and began to
prepare dinner for the family.

***

“
May I go now to Sten
Field?”

“
Enjoy your evening, my
son; remember that we will be out late this evening, too,” Aspiria
cautioned.

“
Okay. Love
you.”

“
We love you too,
Caryell,”answered Roloff. Caryell ran out the door, and Roloff got
up to take care of the table and dishes. “Go get yourself ready, my
dear.” Aspiria left, and returned just as Roloff finished the
kitchen cleanup.

She was wearing a beautiful blue dress, and
smiled and curtsied as she presented herself. “You are feeling
romantic tonight too, I see,” Roloff said with a mild chuckle.

“
It’s been a while since
we have visited our spot. I was thinking, the city will look
beautiful all lit up. I don’t think we have been to the hill since
it has been electrified,” Aspiria said with some
excitement.

“
Yes, and it should be a
clear night. I want to look at the stars with you.” The couple held
hands and began their journey. The evening was comfortable. “It has
been a wonderful week with Caryell. But it has been a difficult
week being the Mayor. Do you still think that I should run for
re-election?”

“
You are a very good
Mayor. I don’t think that anyone wants to take your
place.”

“
Perhaps not, but do you
want me to continue those responsibilities? It interrupted our
special dinner with Caryell. We have had many family activities
postponed or interrupted over the years. Sometimes, like today, you
have to help with the smoothing over of problems. I love to help
our town. I love to do good things for our neighbors. But I feel
like it affects you and Caryell greatly. I don’t want to do this if
you don’t want me to.”

“
Do you feel like I am not
as supportive of you, or am bothered by your duties?” asked Aspiria
with some concern.

“
No, my dear, I could not
ask for more support than you willingly give. You and Caryell are
as supportive as can be. It has just been some time since we have
talked about it. I want to know your thoughts. We have enjoyed an
amazing life so far. I want the rest of our life together to be
just as wonderful.”

Aspiria placed her left arm around his right
arm, and pressed up against his shoulder. She felt so secure when
she was next to Roloff. Aspiria enjoyed Roloff as the Mayor of the
town. She could not imagine a better town leader. Roloff was a
natural, and she sensed that the town was as secure in his
presiding presence as she was. Occasional interruptions and
inconveniences did crop up, but they were of no real consequence to
her.

“
I think that you are the
best and most wonderful Mayor. You have my vote. I will support you
for as long as you have any desire to serve the town in this
capacity.”

“…
and Caryell? Does he
mind the interruptions? I want to be there for him. I have enjoyed
this time I have spent with him, these past few days. He will want
to spend more time with his friends, but I want to share with him
as much time as I can.”

“
Caryell is very proud of
you, my dear. I think he considers interruptions a part of our
family’s civic duties. This family is together in this.” The two
strode in silence for a while and enjoyed watching two large birds
glide effortlessly high in the sky. They seemed to be enjoying the
beautiful day as much as the Paladors were. The sun was somewhat
low in the sky, but behind them. The day still seemed bright, but
if they had looked down, they would have perceived the shadows
growing longer. “Do you think that Caryell will stay in town, or go
to the city?”

“
I don’t think that
Caryell has considered such things much at all. He enjoys visiting
his family in the city. There is much to do for a young man, and
there are many good educational opportunities. Still, he seems very
happy in our town. I think that he enjoys the outdoors as much as
we do,” Roloff mused.

“
I was sad when my
brothers each left for the city. They each seemed very happy,
though. It was hard on my parents, but they tried not to show
it—even to me. I felt their concern as I was getting older. I would
not have considered leaving them. If it had not been for you, I
don’t know what I would have done. I would have stayed, but I could
not have managed it. There should be no burden on Caryell. It would
be no trouble to us if he went to the city. I should love to have
him always near us in town. Yet, if he found his happiness in the
city, I would be very content also. We may want to make more
trips.”

“
We could live in the
city, if that is where Caryell chose to go.”

“
I suppose…no, he won’t
need us following him. I don’t want to live anywhere but in our
home. I should want to spend the rest of my days there.” Aspiria
spoke with assertion, and it was pleasing to Roloff. He, too,
preferred to spend the rest of his days in the town and in his own
home. But he was fully open to the city, should Aspiria feel
differently in the future. The hill was in view, and the sun was
starting to set. Roloff unconsciously quickened the pace from
conversational to a let’s-get-there speed.

As they reached the top of the hill, dusk
was in full bloom. Aspiria looked out towards the city, and some
lights were in view. “The city will be beautiful tonight,” she said
with a touch of excitement.

“
I was hoping to have this
dance with you.”

She looked at him with a quizzical
expression, “But, we don’t have any music.”

Roloff began to sing one of her favorite
songs. Roloff had a beautiful, deep singing voice. He could sing
effortlessly, beautifully, and sweetly. Aspiria smiled, and
curtsied again. They took each other’s hands and began to dance. It
had been many years since they had danced much, but they quickly
found their feet. He sang alone, the first song, while she looked
in his eyes, smiling widely, and at other times more gently. As the
song came to a close, Roloff began another tune. This one was a
duet. Aspiria had a lovely voice also, and she was game. They sang
and danced their duet. Their voices never harmonized well, but only
they were listening. To them, it was blissful and fun. They did not
feel their age, nor any fatigue. Quite the contrary, they both felt
bursts of energy flowing through them. Their feet moved
effortlessly and in unison. The dancing took them over a wider
range of the hill-top. Aspiria enjoyed watching the city light up,
as the sky darkened. Roloff was more interested in the growing
field of stars.

As they hit their final notes, they both
started breathing just a bit deeply, but smiling widely and looking
at each other with love and tenderness. “Would you mind singing our
song?” Roloff asked apologetically. Aspiria would have been
uncomfortable if he had asked her to start off the evening in this
way. But she was warmed up and loving the moment.

She began to sing a very soft and very slow
ballad. Roloff held her differently this time—much closer and
tighter. He had to consciously give her enough space to sing. She
sounded like an angel. They moved slightly back and forth, but
mostly just embraced. His view was of the city, and they were not
really rotating. As he listened, he thought on how beautiful and
magical this city was, shining like the stars above. Aspiria had
mentioned coming here to see the view before. The thought had not
impressed him enough before to make it happen. Life was busy, and
time evaporates invisibly. Now that he was beholding the view, he
felt sorry that this night had not come sooner. This light sorrow,
though, was easily soothed with her soft voice, and her loving
embrace. As her song ended, their embrace grew closer. Their love
was tightly sealed and they were one in each other’s arms.

It was pitch dark now, and
Roloff was anxious to give Aspiria the view that he was enjoying.
Aspiria gasped slightly as she turned and beheld the city. Joy
crept up in her, as she gazed. She had imagined the splendor, but
was overwhelmed by the reality of it. “Oh, it
is
beautiful. This has been the
loveliest of evenings.” The couple stood side-by-side,
hand-in-hand, and looked over the view. In time his gaze moved to
the stars. He never wearied of gazing at the clear night sky. It
was his way of reaching into a more spiritual mood. It moved him to
ponder the creations of his Maker and though this was not on his
mind tonight, it had always brought him a sense of
wonderment.

“
I love you with all my
heart,” Aspiria said as she turned to him. They kissed and embraced
with their eyes closed. Breaking the silence, Aspiria gasped, and
Roloff’s eyes opened quickly. “A shooting star!” she cried. Roloff
turned and looked.

“
What are the odds of
that?” he said with a smile and a laugh. He had not seen a shooting
star since the night of their engagement. This shooting star’s
illumination seemed to linger longer than he had remembered them
lasting before.

“
Tammy, we are in 3D orbit
around the planet,” Danny stated as he walked into the
lab.

“
Has James confirmed his
readings?”

“
Yes, he’s getting his
readings, and we have a visual.”

“
A visual? Of what?” Tammy
asked, excited.

“
A civilization,” Danny
stated somberly. His manner was very serious, but Tammy could
perceive a little anticipation on his face. Tammy was generally not
expected to be on the deck, being a civilian. But she was expected
to have the lab in order for whatever would be discovered. She,
however, wanted desperately to be a part of the current excitement
on the deck.

“
I’m calling to see if I
can join in on deck,” she stated assertively. Just then Kenny
called on the intercom.

“
Staff meeting on deck
now. Mike, Danny, and Tammy please report on deck immediately.”
Tammy didn’t respond; she was out of the lab door before Danny
could even turn around.

***

“
We’ve found what we are
looking for. We are currently orbiting an inhabited planet. There
are intelligent beings on this planet. We have a visual on a
civilization, and they have technology. The seven individuals in
this room are currently the only ones with this knowledge. We have
completed our initial report and will be contacting Central Command
as soon as this briefing is over.” Steve delivered his report with
command and confidence. He seemed to understand his place in this
historic event, and appeared to be relishing the moment.

Bob had a look of pure and utter relief all
over his face. He knew that the reports would show that he had made
a serious and potentially fatal error in navigation. But without
this error, the complete success of the mission may not have
occurred. Errors that ultimately lead to great success are easily
forgiven, forgotten, and overlooked. Steve would have some
explaining to do at the outset, but once the news of their
discovery had been received, it was doubtful that the mistakes in
the details would be the focus of attention. Additionally, these
seven individuals were very likely to come home to a hero’s
welcome. The last thing that the Space Force would want is to
report that they discovered life in the universe, outside of the
planet earth—but it was all due to a navigation mistake by Bob. No,
they’d want to show that the space command had set out to
accomplish this goal, and achieve it they did. A public hero’s
welcome and a private slap on the wrist was Bob’s future—he was
relieved as could be.