Lovers in the Woods (21 page)

“Maybe they train these people as
interpreters.”

She raised her brows. “Well, then they
haven’t been successful yet. The villagers accept the Horlyns as
higher beings, but they don’t get an iota of what these creatures
truly want.”

“Who knows?” He took the towel she handed
him. “Thanks. The greater problem might be to leave the village if
the Horlyns don’t want us to go.”

Rayenne exhaled, biting her lower lip. She
turned to pack their belongings into the saddlebags.

“They did not lead us to this village. We
stumbled over it.”

“Who knows if they hadn’t planned this the
whole time? After all, we got watched more than once.”

Rayenne stopped in mid-motion. “You mean
they let us pass through the woods because they wanted us to come
to this village? This is weird, even for my taste.”

“
But it explains why they did not hamper
our progress. And when the time was ripe, they took me and knew
you’d follow.” Mindlessly, his fingers traced the scar below his
ribcage. “In that light, they were lucky that I got
shot.”

“Clever.” Rayenne’s face turned pale. “But it
means that we can’t just slip away at night and hope the villagers
won’t see us. It’s the Horlyns we have to fear.” She took a deep
breath, trying to cheer up. “All right, I still have a job to do
and I plan to do it right.” And before he could launch another
question, she put a finger on his lips. “Yes, you are by far more
than a job now, but please, don’t mention it to anyone.”

He kissed her finger.

“I’ll keep my lips sealed.”

Sajitar watched the joyous dancing from
afar, avoiding a fight that would draw too much attention to him.
He was not missed, he knew. Grenkyl was the star of the evening.
His hunting success caused the villagers to cheer and sing and the
longer the evening lasted, the more wine was handed to him. Sajitar
bet that he would not stay standing another ten minutes. With
Nassaly in his arms, he danced to the wild music of the flute and
the many clapping hands when suddenly and unceremoniously, he sat
on his butt, much to the fun of the other dancers. Grenkyl raised
his hands, laughing out loud and ordering the men around to help
him up again.

Smiling, Sajitar turned, threw the saddlebags
over his shoulders and went to the paddock where the B-horses were
kept.

The only light shone from two
lanterns filled with glowing stones placed close to the adjacent,
empty huts. Every settler enjoyed the harmony and music at the
village center, some already drunk, most of them absorbed in the
peaceful gathering. He glanced over his shoulder, flinching. He
wanted to stay
—or at least that part of him that preferred easy going
over obligation wanted to stay. The other part told him that sooner
or later he would lose Rayenne if they stayed. His painful face
told him that he could not defend her against the male population,
and the mere idea of sharing her took his breath away. He wanted to
remain the only one loving her, even if it meant crossing the woods
and facing the judge in Belson Park.

Tessla recognized him and softly snorted
against his chest. He put down the saddlebags and searched for the
bridles, trying to remember how long he and Rayenne had stayed in
the village. How many days? Weeks? It was hard to tell. He did not
miss civilization.

“Are you looking for these?” a soft voice
asked.

Startled, Sajitar jumped backward, ready for
defense. Tessla turned away and bumped against Bunty, shaking her
head. Both B-horses trotted back, their eyes wary.

“What are you doing here?”

Thannis emerged from the shadow behind the
paddock to greet Sajitar by slightly inclining his head. His smile
bore sadness as he handed Sajitar the bridles.

“I expected you. And I suppose, Ray will not
be far away.”

Sajitar stood upright, heart beating fast
against his ribs. He prepared to silence the villager if he was
about to call for aid. Carefully, he hung the bridles on one of the
paddock’s posts.

“What do you want?”

Thannis got closer, glancing toward the
dancers.

“
I hoped you would stay, both of you.
Living here is a gift, don’t you know? There are many people who go
astray, not only through the woods. They don’t have any meaning in
life. They live from day to day, gaining nothing, giving nothing.”
He focused on Sajitar. “In this village, every day has a meaning.
We all live for the purpose of doing life better. We enjoy the
days. We help each other. We care for each other.”

“Grenkyl cares much for himself, yes.”

“
I see.” For a moment, Thannis lowered his
head and Sajitar was not sure if he wanted to hide his growing
smile. “But there is more to this life, and especially to your
life.”

Sajitar frowned. “I hope so.”

Thannis sighed, putting his fingers together
in a gesture of prayer.

“I had hoped you would be the one to follow
my footsteps. The one to enhance the contact between the
Color-changers and the settlers in a new and unique way. They are
children who need leadership. The Color-changers want to be their
gentle leaders, but they have a hard time delivering their help and
guidance without an interpreter.” His gaze became intense. “I
receive their images of improvement, their knowledge shown in
pictures of great wisdom. They have so much to tell that sometimes
I have a headache from all the information they deliver like a
bouquet of flowers. I can hardly carry it.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Thannis’ smile widened.

“
You not only receive images, but you can
tell them what you want. I have…felt it. Or somehow I knew it the
moment I met you. You have much more power than I do.”

“You are mistaken.”

“
No, I am not. I had to ask many questions,
but finally Grenkyl and Dorin told me that when he hit you, a
Color-changer appeared, though there had been none before. And he
did nothing but watch you three. I wonder what he would have done
if Grenkyl had left you behind, as he had truly
planned.”

“The beast came and went,” Sajitar replied
grudgingly. He did not like the subject of conversation. It was
much too close to the truth.

“It was your doing that he came at all.
Sajitar, don’t you see? It is your destiny to lead these villagers.
I will grow old and die, and if these people don’t understand what
is happening around them, this village will crumble.”

“They say the Color-changers show them what
to do and exchange herbs and what more,” Sajitar replied
defensively. “I don’t see the need for someone receiving or sending
images.”

“There is no need to deny your gift. You were
sent here to improve our living. I cannot say how much I regret
that you want to leave.”

“Grenkyl doesn’t.”

“
Oh, him!” Thannis laughed. “I will deal
with Grenkyl, if that is your only worry. He is but a man with too
large an ego. But you are a man of rare abilities. We need
you.”

“
We won’t stay, Thannis. I’m sorry to say,
but I have no ambition to become these people’s leader or their
mentor. I can hardly take care of myself, and whatever I’ve touched
so far hasn’t turned out so well.”

“You would change that by living among us.
Think about it.” His brown eyes held a fire Sajitar could hardly
stand. He grabbed Sajitar at the shoulders. “The Color-changers
want us here. They take care of us. There is no better place to
live but under the great cloak of these intelligent creatures.
Think of what you could learn! Think of how wonderful it is to
communicate with them.”

Sajitar thought of the moment after the
Tusk-turner had been killed. Being part of the beast’s glee had
profoundly changed his mind about the nature of the Horlyns.

“I understand that you like living here, but
Ray and I have to go. By the way, were you the first man taken here
to found this village?”

Thannis let out his breath, clearly
disappointed. Dropping his hands, he looked around as if the
village might already wither due to Sajitar’s rejection.

“You are not willing to see the beauty and
the uniqueness of this gift. We were brought here to learn from
them, to live side by side. There is a greater meaning to this
foundation, not just a place where by chance some people met and
decided to stay.”

“Please, don’t try to tell me this is God’s
great way of leading people to salvation. I don’t buy that.”
Sajitar took the bridles and went into the paddock to fetch Tessla.
“I admit that life here is beautiful, simple but beautiful. I
admire what you have built. But Ray and I will not be a part of
this village any longer.”

“I see.” Thannis lifted his chin and looked
at Ray, who approached carefully as if she were an intruder.
“Welcome, Ray. Are you, too, determined to leave us tonight?”

She straightened, exchanging a quizzical
glance with Sajitar, who but shrugged and went on bridling the
B-horses.

“We will leave, yes. And I hope you won’t try
and hinder us.”

Thannis lifted both hands, showing he carried
no weapon.

“
I try to convince with words, not with
arms. I am desperate to keep you both here. Your talents are needed
and the village shall grow. Your departure will be
mourned.”

“Please, understand that we have obligations
to fulfill, which cannot be delayed any further.” She filled the
saddlebags with packed goods and full waterskins.

Sajitar admired her way of describing
their departure as a necessary evil.

“
Obligations?
” Thannis asked with an all-inclusive gesture. “What kind
of obligations could be so powerful to drag you away from the
wonders of these woods?”

“
It suffices to say that I consider them
important.” She helped Sajitar saddle Bunty and added the
saddlebags before checking that everything was knotted in the right
places. At last, she led her B-horse out of the paddock. “We thank
you for your hospitality and sharing your wisdom. We will cherish
the memory.”

Thannis nodded sadly.

“
Let me accompany you for a short while. I
promise not to try and convince you to stay again.”

“You could not.”

Sajitar heard regret and, mindlessly,
smiled.

Thannis adopted Ray’s pace aside
the B-horse to look in her face.
“Does it not intrigue you to learn more
about Emerald Green in a way no one else will ever know? I have
lived here for years and there are still things I don’t understand
that I want to learn about.”

“You were a scientist before you came
here?”

“
I had no real life before I got here.”
Thannis hesitated before he went on. “Belthraine appeared to be the
dream planet for everyone to start anew, but this was deceptive.
Freedom and free decisions are only possible if all members of a
society accept those of others. My attempts at stopping the
destructive exploitation of the woods were brought to an end too
soon.”

Suddenly he looked old and
depressed. His liveliness was gone, shrouded in the mist of memory.
He took a deep breath. “I had already angered my father and my
brother with my mission. My brother had left for Belson Park
because he was
after a different life.” He shrugged, but Sajitar did not
buy his listlessness. “He loved the trees and the animals, but he
could no longer stand my complaints, I think. So I was alone. I
carried on for more than a two moon phases. I contacted ministers
and leaders of other worlds, but no one took action against the
large corporations. They only saw their profits.

Imagine how happy I was learning
that no machines worked! I imagined
2Harvest
would throw in the towel and leave, but I
was mistaken. The profits were still there
—they only imported more lumberjacks
to do the work by hand.” He shook his head. “I prayed and traveled,
I talked to all who would listen, but in the end I
lost.”

“That was when you decided to walk the forest
to never return?” Ray asked quietly.

“I had been in the woods more often than I
can recall. I spent weeks here and tried to figure out what those
pictures in my head meant. The more time I spent, the more I waited
for the images to flow into my mind until I finally understood the
combination of the Color-changers and me. I was chosen.” He lifted
his head, a forced smile on his face. “Imagine how surprised I was
to learn of a higher being than mankind on this planet! Again, I
traveled back to bring the news to every politician I could find.
My conviction was heard but ignored. Everyone wanted a piece of the
cake of profits. They yearned for success and power. A species of
higher intelligence would have ruined them. Finally, I got an
answer from Rhyhis Tafni. He had just taken office and was ready to
listen. But while I stayed at a village with a transmission line to
talk with him again, assassins tried to kill me, so I left secretly
to never return.”

Sajitar was glad his face was hidden in the
darkness. His stories about the Horlyns had been brushed off, but
he had never understood that the acceptance of another higher life
form would have meant the end of all lumbering. Then the
Environment Senator Rhyhis Tafni had been assassinated at the
spaceport. The similarity was too clear to be denied. Even in
retrospect his heartbeat sped up.

Thannis sighed.

“I left my home to wander Emerald Green. I
had decided it was better to get lost in the vastness than return
to a useless fight. I was right. I found my happiness here in the
center of the woods. And you could do that, too.”