The Desert Saga Continues
Chapter Ten
S'nass and Su'auk had left the house and started walking with no particular
destination in mind—not a Vulcan mindset at all. Su'auk sensed that S'nass needed
to speak to him—his body language was very revealing of his inward thoughts.
Su'auk had observed his unconscious use of the consort style in walking, seating the
visitor and tension in his movements. This all spoke volumes to the older, bonded
Vulcan. .Su'auk knew S'nass' history, that he had spent decades in the isolation of a
ship in space. The messages bombarding his brain and body were foreign to him
and he needed assistance to interpret exactly what was occurring. Su'auk broke the
silence,
"Brother S'nass I am open to questioning."
S'nass mouth was set in a straight line,
"I have an unfulfilled desire that is getting stronger."
Su'auk simply nodded.
"You know then of what I speak?"
"Your body language gives you away."
"I have no idea of what is expected of me. She is my K'diwa, it is she who drew me
here to Terra. Today there was an unavoidable skin to skin contact and what I
sensed was a deep, sense of grief and betrayal.
"Then you must heal her."
How?
"With kindness and patience.
I speak from experience. My Ellie had been betrayed and injured emotionally and physically by her immediate family. She was shy beyond anything I had experienced when dealing with Terrans. She was so small and fragile and was required to move heavy objects and lift vast weights and I eventually made myself available for her use. She was so serious. Contrary to my other contacts with Terrans, there was no joy in her eyes. I found myself drawn to her for she needed protection. You have already observed that she is an aesthetically pleasing female and I look forward to her bearing my sons. I am presently looking forward to a lull in our work schedule so we can devote ourselves singularly to that purpose. "
S'nass started his narrative.
"At fourteen my father gave me to his cousin to continue my training in The Vulcan Way aboard a science vessel. Every seven years my uncle would return to Vulcan to seek the services of 'The Comforters'**. My first experience with 'the fires' was at thirty-five Terran years. All subsequent experiences I have dealt with through meditation but I know this will not be the case with my next encounter. This is especially so since I have had contact with the one with which I wish to be joined I am grateful that I am here where through research we are able to survive 'our time' through treatment. So this is no longera life threatening experience."
Su'auk nodded and added,
"This information will allow you to take your time in the pursuit of your K'diwa. We can return to the house, the females are probably attempting to find out where we have journeyed."
`0`0`0`0`0`0`
After the acceptable statements of departure S'nass and Laura left for the short walk between the two residences. They walked in silence. Reaching her door she turned to face him and said,
"S'nass thank you for your kindness."
She attempted a smile and turned to enter when he said,
"You can repay my kindness by an expression of your own."
She looked puzzled.
"Sit with me and the stars for a short time."
She nodded, sat and smoothed down her dress. There was silence. He did not anticipate what happened next. Her head lolled a bit and landed softly on his shoulder and he did not start, panic or jump up in shock. No, he felt contentment rush into his deepest being as her rhythmic breathing filled his consciousness. His loneliness dissipated and he turned his head slightly to catch the scent of her hair as she shifted a bit to make herself more comfortable and indeed S'nass was satisfied.
An hour passed and she stirred and jumped up from her seat.
"Oh, I am so sorry S'nass."
"There is no offense when none is taken."
With head lowered she made her comment,
"You always know how to sooth my uneasiness. Again, accept a Terran 'thank you.'
She rose and yawned,
"S'nass may your rest be productive."
"May yours be likewise."
As he turned toward his residence he thought to himself…
'Patience and kindness, I am capable of that.'
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
When he arrived 'home' all but one of his roommates were asleep. He was deeply engaged in an ongoing communication with another individual using his PADD. S'nass was certain it was his intended bondmate. He was scheduled to be bondedbefore the end of this lunar cycle or as the Terrans called it, a month.
S'nass lay in his bed and wondered what was the source of her deep pain and feeling of betrayal. It was not something that could be presumed based on information he had on hand. Perhaps Ellie might be of some assistance.
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
In her bed Laura head was on her pillow when her tears started again and she was eventually reduced to shuddering sobs. At last there was the self-fulfilled prophecy—she was indeed an unworthy female. She would attempt to wrap up this story as soon as possible so she could leave.
At 4 am she was startled by a knock on her door and she heard Ellie's voice.
"If you want to report on a Vulcan birth, hurry up."
"I am coming" was her answer. She had not undressed and checked in the mirror to see if she was presentable. She washed her face, used mouth wash, ran a comb through her hair and with her PADD in hand met Ellie at the door.
Ellie explained,
"Every birth here is a celebration, a victory over Va Pak and thus is a community affair, come."
Ellie grabbed her arm and hurriedly walk toward the birthing center. When they entered, Laura saw a large room with seating, already occupied with females. At the front was a large window that looked in on the birthing room. There was no table or bed, just an unusual stool. A male Vulcan was walking with his bondmate who was indeed heavy with child. Ellie led her to a chair and sat down next to her,
"The young woman giving birth is quite young. In Terran years, she is but twenty years old. For Terrans this a prime time for conception and birth. She is bonded to our shoemaker.
Originally, on Vulcan, births were not attended by the husband or adun. That is not the case here. All births are witnessed by the community and the father must be the first to touch the child in order to reinforce the bond that had been established from conception.
The birth I attended in San Francisco was attended by the grandparents who were also in the delivery room. The father cut the cord and after placing the newborn on his bared chest he presented it first to the maternal and fraternal grandfathers, then the grandmothers and finally gave the child to the mother and assisted the child to suckle.
Laura observed that as the couple walked he was holding both of his aduna's hands in his own. When questioned, Ellie explained they were silently communicating and he was easing her pain. The aduna's mouth was positioned so as to breathe using short puffs of air.
Ellie mentioned that the baby is a male and the father had requested that his aduna allow him to be named after his paternal grandfather who was lost on Vulcan. That was agreed upon. The mother-to-be was led by her adun to the birthing chair. He knew exactly where the baby was in the birthing process through his bond with his son.
He lowered her gently onto the stool and touched her abdomen and held up his hand for silence. The young male stood in the front of his aduna with his hands on her shoulders as she bore down. The father-to-be eyes closed and head went back. His aduna smiled and said,
"Father of all my sons, receive your first born."
The child did not cry, but came into the world looking all about him. The father took his son, cut the cord and placed his son on his now bared chest, the child's first skin to skin contact. The child reached up to grab his father's finger and the father took a small pitcher off a low table and poured warm water over his son.
Ellie explained that Vulcan had been a desert planet and water was considered its most precious resource. The first bath, with Vulcan water symbolized the joining of two things regarded most important by a Vulcan, offspring and life's water.
In the room where the witnesses of the birth stood gazing at the beautiful picture they applauded and the aduna smile was blinding. The joy in the room was so thick and real it felt like you could reach out and touch it.
Laura thought to herself,
'No wonder these women are so happy.'
She then wondered what sort of celebratory act the Vulcan males engaged in after a birth, it certainly did not include handing out cigars.
**The Comforters were a group of Vulcan females trained and sequestered who were called upon when an unbonded male experienced pon farr. (Not cannon)