Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar or Pandora and I don't make any profit by writing this.
Early in the morning Max and Norm met in the hangar for their flight to the Tree of Souls. Their pilot carried a sport bag with him, which piqued their curiosity.
"What's in the bag?" asked Norm.
"Oh, just rubber balls. I thought the poor kids could use a bit of distraction. So I induced the stereolithiographic plant to produce some bouncy balls. Just'n hour's work. No big deal, but I think, they will have fun with them.", the technician said.
Despite Anderson beeing so exited to meet the Na'vi and finally to get to see their most sacred ground, he fully concentrated on piloting the Samson. After all, it wasn't really an easy route. Three hours later they prepared to land savely beside the shack which was originally part of site 26. They announced their arrival and to their surprise it was Jake who answered the call.
"Ok, what's your ETA?"
Anderson answered obligingly " ETA in about 12 minutes Corporal Sully, Sir!"
Max could hear a very short chuckle at the other end but then Jake answered." There's no longer a Corporal Sully. He died a few days before. I'm Jakesully, Olo'eyctan of the Omaticaya. But you can just call me Jake."
"I read you, C...Jake! We will land beside the shack, sir!"
"Got it; roger. Over and out!" answered Jake.
After a smooth landing Max, Norm and Anderson exited the Samson.
"Well, I don't know if the Na'vi would approve to your attendance. I think, it would be the best if you stay in the shack until I've spoken with Mo'at.", said Max, facing Anderson, "But if she agrees, I'll send someone to fetch you. How good is your Na'vi?"
"Enough for small talk and maybe a bit more; I wasn't just lazy all the time I've been living here on Pandora," the elder activist grinned.
"Ok then. If she agrees then someone will come to fetch you. If she doesn't, than you should stay in the shack. At least you won't need an exopack there." Max turned to Norm, who had hardly say anything during the whole flight:" Ok then, let's go!"
While they were walking the path to the Omatikaya's current camp Max asked Norm," You've got the datastick containing the message for Jake with you?"
"Yeah, and a notebook as well," Norm nodded.
"Good. The first thing will be to talk with Mo'at. I'm afraid she won't be very pleased when she learns about the way Gliese got the genetic material for Jake's avatar body." Max sighed when they arrived at the outskirts of the Omatikaya camp.
"You bet," sighed Norm,"The returning of the umbilica to Eywa is one of their most sacred taboos."
"Norm, could you do the greeting then? I know some Na'vi, but I won't dare to try any diplomatic negotiations, not to mention to report on broken taboos."
Norm grinned:" I know that your Na'vi isn't much better than Anderson's. Let me do the talking, for god's sake!"
"No argument here." said Max, smiling at the Na'vi who where watching them curiously.
And there was the Tsahik of the Omatikaya, striding toward them after exiting her tent.
Norm greeted her politely (and thinking of what they were going to tell her):" I see you, Mo'at, Tsahik of the Omatikaya. May the Allmother smile on our encounter."
Mo'at smiled:" I see you, Normspellman and Maxpatel. I feel sorry that I cannot provide proper air or proper food for you. But please, let us retire to a place where we can talk undisturbed. Follow me."
After the preliminarys were done, Max explained - with Norm's help - how Jake's body was made and that there was maybe a kind-of-brother among the Tipani. First, though, Norm had to explain the meaning of the word "umbilica". Then Max told her what happened at this fateful twentieth of December in 2125.
Mo'ats reaction was bad, much worse than they had anticipated.
"This man stole the umbilica, the holy bond between mother and child which has to be returned to Eywa after the birth?"
Max and Norm were afraid, facing an outraged Mo'at towering over them vibrating with anger.
Finally Max managed to say:" No, Tsahik. The umilica was given back. Gliese did just draw some blood of it. I know, it's a crime. The parents of the child didn't had any chance to notice the theft - but neither the other members of Gliese's team. And, please remember - this was Jakesully's origin, your adopted son."
Mo'at calmed herself and sighed. " And the names of the parents and the child?"
"The names of the parents were Sílron'zem and Amiryat of the Tipani. They named their son Tsanten," Max answered obliginly.
" The Tipani and the Omaticaya are trading weaving and pottery now for a very long time now." Mo'at said, "I think, I will be able to talk to them about this. But it will have to wait until the Omatikaya are settled down in a new home. Maxpatel, I would like to talk now with Normspellman alone. You may visit my son and my daughter in the meantime."
Max nodded."I will do so, Tsahik. But I have another question." He hesitated slightly, " Norm wasn't able to fly today. So another man - Anderson - steered our gunship. He would very much like to meet the Na'vi and he even brought some toys for the children with him. He's waiting in the shack right now."
"The shaack? The metalbox you call site 26?" asked Mo'at.
"Yes, yes," Max confirmed, " You allow him to visit?"
The Tsahik nodded." I will send Meuia to him. He is very good in speaking the sky people language."
Max nodded, smiling. " Yes, indeed. I spoke to him over the radio." He turned to his colleague. " Would you please give me the datastick and the notebook? While you are talking to Mo'at I could speak with Jake about the message he recieved from this Ray Sully."
Norm nodded and handed Max out the items. "See you later then!"
Max rose and walked in the direction of the place where Jake and Neytiri were living in their "open air apartment" for now. "Until later then!" he said and headed toward the grove.
Near the entry of the grove he saw a handful children playing. After he said a friendly "Hello" to them, one of the girls asked him if he came to see the Olo'eyctan. He nodded, smiling.
The girl giggled and said. "You should wait for some time. You know, the Olo'eyctan and his mate are playing."
He was just about to ask what they were playing, when a hearty groan (obviously Jake!) answered his question. Max blushed and his mouth went slack. Damn! Oh, the children! He herded them hastily back to the main camp, where Anderson should be arrived by now.
"I want to introduce you to a nice man. Uncle Anderson brought toys for you all." he stammered, still feeling totally mortified.
Thank god, there was Anderson, smiling and waving. Ok, the problem was solved, for now, but...How could Jake and Neytiri do...that... out in the open like that? They must heave heard the playing children!
At first the kids hesitated to approach the alien man. But he laughed and said "Hello" to them in his accented Na'vi and soon they lost their shyness. In no time they were chatting in a mix of Na'vi and interspersed English words.
Then Anderson opened the sport bag and presented the bouncing balls .
He demonstrated how to play with them and the children were shrieking with fun when they run after the wildly cavorting balls.
Max sighed contentedly and stood there, feeling unsure about what to do now, when he saw Neytiri coming out of the grove. She noticed him and beckoned, smiling.
Max greeted her and she said: "Jake will be happy to see you. We thought your talk with my mother would have lasted longer. Is Normspellman speaking with her now?"
Max nodded and went with her into the grove.
Jake sat there, no, he was squatting on his heels in the typical Na'vi manner. He was adapting to his new lifestyle quickly.
" Hello there," he grinned," Your journey was ok?"
"Yes. Though Norm wasn't feeling well so Anderson flew the Samson." Max answered.
" What's going on with Norm? Since yesterday Mo'at seems to be somehow concerned about him. But she didn't tell me what she's concerned about."
" He's talking right now with Mo'at. After they're finished he will join us. Don't you want to see to see this mysterious email he found on your account first?" the scientist queried.
"If you say so," muttered Jake, " Ok then, go ahead!"
Max booted up the laptop and inserted the datastick which contained the file in question. Then he handed it over to Jake. The newly made Na'vi laughed, looking at his hands:" No, no. Either my hands are to big or this keyboard is too small! Better you operate it."
Max chuckled and nodded: "Yes, you're probably right." He opened the file and presented the email to his friend.
"Ray Sully! That's impossible!", Jake exclaimed.
"Who is he?" Max asked tentatively.
" He was my uncle," said Jake, " but he died more than ten years, no sixteen years ago". He always forgot to count the time on board of the Venture Star.
Max looked at the date of receipt: " It came in just the day after Grace took you all to site 26..."
Jake sighed:" Ok, open it!"
The message consisted only of a few words and an attached file. The words were kind of random:
Hello nephiew,
hope, you had a good journey. From time to time you might look at my photo, so you won't forget your uncle. Don't worry. The wart has since removed.
"What the fuck...", muttered Jake,"Open the attached file!"
He saw the picture of Ray Sully. Jake was sure that it was exactly the same photo his father showed to him and Tommy just before his parents flew to Chicago for their uncle's funeral. It was all the same: the same gray hair, the same dull face, the same rugged beard.
Exept for one thing:
On Ray Sully's noose was a fat black wart.