The Color of Distance (54 page)
“As for allu-a,” Juna continued, “I don’t believe that it is harmful to the negotiations. In fact, it could be a considerable help, since it will reinforce the truth of what I am saying. Lying is impossible in allu-a.”
“I’m not sure that is entirely an advantage, Dr. Saari,” Wu told her.
“Dr. Wu,” Juna said, “we must negotiate with the Tendu in good faith. We can’t build a lasting agreement with the Tendu unless they trust us.”
“Even so, there are times when even truth is conditional. Do you intend to share your private knowledge of the details of an agreement with the Tendu?”
“Allu-a isn’t a psychic link,” Juna explained. “It appears to be an exquisitely detailed reading of the participants’ physiological state, imparting to each one a deep, empathic understanding of the other’s emotions. I won’t be giving away any state secrets, Dr. Wu. The Tendu can’t get any hard information from allu-a. However, they will be able to tell how I feel about an agreement. They will know if I have any doubts about it.”
“I see,” Wu said, looking down at the table. Juna could tell he wasn’t convinced.
“Dr. Wu,” she said, rising. “I want to create an agreement that will bring our two people into harmony. To do that, both sides need to trust each other. That trust has to start somewhere. I will need to link with the Tendu in order to maintain their trust. I need to spend time with Moki, to help him get used to Ukatonen as his sitik. You will have to trust my judgment in these matters. I can’t negotiate for you if you don’t trust me.” She paused and looked around the table at the faces watching her. “Currently I can’t get out of quarantine unless someone lets me out. I am effectively a prisoner. I need access to both the Tendu and to the researchers and negotiators on board ship. I understand the need to maintain quarantine, but I can’t do my job unless I have more freedom of movement.”
Captain Edison stood. “Dr. Saari, would you be willing to accept a security escort when you are wandering around the ship? You would, of course, have to wear an e-suit to maintain quarantine, but you could meet with whomever you needed to.”
“How long would I need a security escort, Captain?”
“Dr. Agelou will be doing a complete psych profile on you, Dr. Saari. If he feels that you aren’t a security risk, I would be willing to suspend the escort.” The captain turned to Dr. Agelou. “How long will it take you to complete your profile, Doctor?”
Dr. Agelou shrugged. “Perhaps as soon as a week, depending on our schedules. Maybe somewhat longer.”
“Well?” the captain asked.
“Thank you, Captain Edison, I think that’s a very reasonable solution,” Juna responded, relieved to have solved at least one of her problems.
“I will allow you to continue linking with the Tendu, pending further developments,” Wu said. “However, if there are any indications that it is interfering with the negotiations, or causing cultural damage to the Tendu, then you will have to stop.”
“Thank you, Dr. Wu.” Relief washed over Juna in a wave, turning her skin pale lavender. “Thank you.”
Glancing up, she noticed several of the staff members staring, and realized that they could see her color changes through the helmet of the e-suit. She flushed leaf-brown with embarrassment, which only made matters worse.
Dr. Bremen rose. “I think it’s time we moved on.”
“My staff is eager to get some hands-on experience with the Tendu, as are all the other researchers on board ship. How soon can you get us permission to go ashore?” Wu asked.
“That may take some time,” Juna said. “The Tendu are waiting to see how we handle the problem of reparations to Lyanan. We may have to deal with that first. Then we can work out the conditions under which we can conduct research in the Tendu’s forests.”
“Is there any way to negotiate some limited research while we work out the reparation agreement?” Bremen asked.
“I don’t know, Dr. Bremen. I’ll see what I can do. You must remember all of you, that the Tendu have a very different approach to time than we do. This may take a while. Until we resolve this, I’ll be happy to conduct seminars on what I have learned, whenever I can.” She held up her hands in a gesture of helplessness. “I know it’s not much, but it’s all we can do.”
“Do you have any recommendations on negotiation strategy, Dr. Saari?”
“We should definitely take a gift,” Juna said. “Something that doesn’t violate the protocols. A good sturdy coil of hemp rope would be ideal.”
“Do we have some rope?” Bremen asked Captain Edison.
“I believe so. We included a fairly wide stock of possible trade goods, based on what we knew about the culture from the information Dr. Saan downloaded to the
Kotani
Maru.”
Kotani
Maru.”
“Good,” Juna said. “The hard part will be explaining the Contact Protocols to Lalito, the chief elder of Lyali. She would be insulted to find out that we’re coddling her. Does anyone have any suggestions?”
The meeting bogged down in a long and complicated wrangle over negotiating strategies. Nothing was decided, and at last Wu called a halt.
“One more thing, before we wind up the meeting, Dr. Saari,” Wu said. “Your time is going to be in very high demand. I’d like to assign Dr. Tanguay to you as your assistant. She is more fluent in Tendu than anyone else on board ship, besides yourself, and she’s eager to learn as much as she can.”
Juna looked at the small, dark woman. Wu was right. She needed an assistant. “Thank you, Dr. Wu,” she said gratefully. “I’m sure Dr. Tanguay will be a great help.”
The meeting broke up, and Dr. Tanguay came over to talk Juna.
“I’m honored to be working with you, Dr. Saari,” she said. “How soon can you start teaching me more skin speech?”
Juna smiled at the woman’s eagerness. “Perhaps tonight, after dinner. Say 2100 hours? I’m afraid that you’ll have to come to my quarters. You can’t see my skin in this suit.”
“That would be fine. I’ll bring my computer. You can tell me whether you think the visual interface we’re using will work.”
“Good. I’ll see you then,” Juna said.
“Dr. Saari?” Captain Edison said, as they left the room. “I wanted to take this opportunity to personally welcome you back to the Survey.” She shook Juna’s hand admiringly. “It must have been an incredible four years,” she added with a wistful note in her voice.
“It was, Captain, it was.”
“I hope you can tell me more about it, sometime.”
A tall, rangy red-haired woman in an ensign’s uniform came up and saluted the captain.
“Dr. Saari, this is Ensign Laurie Kipp. She’ll be your security escort.”
Juna shook Ensign Kipp’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Ensign.”
“Sano Laurie vaan”
Ensign Kipp said, in Finnish.
Ensign Kipp said, in Finnish.
“Sa puhut suomea?”
Juna replied in Finnish.
Juna replied in Finnish.
Laurie nodded. “My mother grew up in Tampere. I think that was why Captain Edison assigned me to you.”
“My father was from Mikkeli.” She smiled. “But that was a long time ago. It was very kind of Captain Edison to assign you to me.”
“She’s a good captain.”
They chatted pleasantly in Finnish while Ensign Kipp showed Juna around the ship. They stopped often to shake hands and talk with the crew, who were eager to meet her. All this attention made her feel awkward and self-conscious, like some kind of Tri-V star. Fortunately, Laurie realized when she was getting overwhelmed, and gently ushered her on to the next lab, diplomatically shooing the crowd away.
Juna had never served on a research ship before. Because they were large and difficult to transport, the research ships were used only in very specialized circumstances. It was a shame that they weren’t used more often, Juna thought as she toured the spacious, well-equipped labs, and shook hands with dozens of lab techs.
But that was one of the drawbacks of being first. The Survey sent out a lot of advance teams, but could only afford the bare minimum in terms of collection and bioanalysis tools. Other, more specialized teams were sent in their wake if the advance teams found anything useful or interesting to report. The advance teams were usually made up of bright young researchers looking for their first big break, with a few seasoned scientists along to oversee their efforts. It was never hard to staff the advance teams; the romance of being the first human to set foot on a planet was a big draw, though the reality could be very disillusioning.
Juna smiled, remembering how hard her first trip had been. Half the first-timers had resigned after that trip out, but not Juna. Despite the cramped conditions, minimal equipment, and often petty regulations, she loved her work.
“You know, I wouldn’t trade being on an advance team for all the lab space on this ship,” she remarked to Ensign Kipp as they settled themselves into the crew lounge just forward of the dining room.
“Why?”
Juna shrugged. “Less politics, more adventure, I guess.”
Laurie rolled her eyes. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“Oh?”
“Too many presidents, not enough staff. Most of these people were running their own departments back home. They’re not used to taking orders.”
“I see.”
“Everyone seems to think their own department comes first. Captain Edison has her hands full just settling interdepartmental disputes.”
“Isn’t that Bremen’s job?” Juna asked.
Laurie rolled her eyes again. “Near as I can figure, his job is to look good in front of the cameras for the people back home. He wasn’t supposed to go ashore alone like that, but he pulled rank in order to set up a good scene. The crew nearly split a gut laughing when you introduced yourself. You made a lot of friends with that.”
“Coffee?” a familiar voice inquired.
Juna looked up. It was Alison.
“Alison! Thank you for the wine!” Juna stood and hugged her friend.
“Most people would have thanked me for that excellent meal!” Alison teased her fondly. “It must run in the family.”
Juna held her friend out at arm’s length. She looked good, a few pounds heavier, some lines a little deeper, but healthy and relaxed.
“So how did you get on board?” Juna asked. “I thought you had tc retire.”
“The retirement age for cooks is seventy-five. I’m only seventy, and unlike most Survey chefs, I
can
cook. I couldn’t miss this trip! So I pulled a few strings and here I am.”
can
cook. I couldn’t miss this trip! So I pulled a few strings and here I am.”
“How did you get the wine?”
“As soon as I got the job, I went and visited your father. He gave it tc me then,” Alison told her. “1 kept it under lock and key in my cabin so it wouldn’t get requisitioned by one of the officers. Even Bremen didn’t know about it until after he met you. I had the communications officer tell him.”
“My father, how is he?”
“He’s well, but getting on, like all of us,” Alison said.
“And my brother?”
Alison’s face clouded over. She took a letter out of her apron pocket. “You need to read this. It’s from your father.”
Juna opened the letter, blinking back tears at the
fannrMiltmr
a^fnii rf inor father’s bold, sprawling handwriting.
Dear Juna,I am well and the farm is prospering. We put up several fine vintages while you were gone.’ I’ll be sending them along with the private stock that Alison is taking. I hope and pray daily that you will be found safe and healthy. There has been too much other sadness here. Someone may already have told you about Toivo. I hope not. I would rather you hear about family from family.Toivo was playing spinball and fell against a support strut that broke away, carrying him and it into gravity. It was a miracle he wasn’t killed. He fell directly on another strut, crushing several vertebrae in his lower back. The spinal cord was crushed beyond repair. The doctors say that he will need a wheelchair the rest of his life, but he’s determined to learn to use an exoskeleton in low gravity.
Juna put the letter down. Alison sat beside her, and put an arm around her shoulder. Juna swallowed her tears and picked up the letter again.
Toivo is doing well, all things considered, but I’m concerned with his obsession to learn to use an exoskeleton and take up life in zero-gee. I hope it will pass, but you know how stubborn he is. Aunt Anetta has come to help out, and Toivo’s spouses have taken turns caring for him, as have the children. He married into a good family, dear, and I’m very glad for it. The children are taking it hard, though. I try to spend a lot of time with Danan and the little ones, when the farm isn’t keeping me busy. It’s hard managing without Toivo. Danan is trying to help, but he’s only eleven, and not yet strong enough to do the heavy work. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to keep the vineyard going. I’m not as tough as I once was; a full day’s work takes a heavy toll at my age. Come home soon, dear. Your presence would help us all.I love you,Dad
There was a picture included with the letter. Toivo was sitting on the porch in his wheelchair; her father and Toivo’s son, Danan, stood on either side of him. In the distance, the family’s vineyards stretched up and away.
She put the letter down, and let the tears flow. Alison held her, patting her shoulder with that odd awkwardness that comes in the face of profound grief. When the first flood of anguish subsided, Juna held her arms out, spurs up.
“The Tendu could heal him,” she said, her voice hoarse from crying. “They could heal him.”
“Juna,” her old friend said gently, “the doctors tried everything. Too much of the cord was crushed for neural repair. ”
Juna shook her head.-"The Tendu could grow his spine back again. They could make it just like new. I can’t, not yet, but maybe if I studied hard with one of the enkar, I could learn how.”
There was a clatter of pots and pans in the galley. Alison glanced nervously over her shoulder.
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