The Desert Saga Continues
Chapter Twenty-one
When James looked in on S'nass he was kneeling on the floor testing the stability of Laura's desk, the positioning of the file cabinets, and the wheels on her chair. James stuck his head in and asked,
"What do you need?"
"I require tools and gloves."
James contacted his pressman and handed S'nass the com unit and listened as the request was made. S'nass rose and immediately went in the direction of the press room and met his man with the required tools at the door, then returned to his self- proclaimed work site. When James next checked, the desk was completely reconfigured with the file cabinet attached to the desk and the entire unit quite mobile so that changing its position in the room would be quite easily accomplished.
S'nass knew that would feed Laura's creative instincts, allowing her to change her vista at will. James looked at S'nass' creation and asked,
"Would you take a look at my office and see what you can do?"
There was no verbal answer, just a return to his feet and a nod of his head and then he followed James out of the they entered, James picked up his current project from his desk top and said,
"It is all yours."
S'nass nodded and positioned himself on the floor to do 'his thing.'
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
Meanwhile, on the ride to Laura's apartment she was bombarded with questions;
"Are you sure?"
"How did you two meet?"
"Is he really that intelligent and strong?"
"What is he really like?"
Laura looked at her friend and simply said,
"He totally completes me."
Zane smiled and nodded.
"Not many can say that in earnest, but in your case I believe it is true."
In her apartment after they had unloaded the car, Laura told their story. Zane's eyes were tear rimmed,
"It is like an old hologram movie, like Jane Eyre or something. You went to a place, planned on doing a good job and ended up falling in love."
Laura corrected her,
"Vulcans do not love…"
The look on Zane's face was priceless and Laura explained that was probably the same look she had when S'nass made that statement. Laura then explained that the Standard word 'love' does not in any way even skim the surface of the Vulcan's attachment to his wife or bondmate. The word closest in Vulcan is cherish and it use is totally possessive. When S'nass showed it to me I had never felt anything that intense. It is total, overwhelming. A Vulcan male will protect his wife and children at the sacrifice of his own life. As a species, the males are totally loyal and as a side point—all equally handsome. The Vulcan Settlement is called, Ah'rak kya, which means Vulcan Lives. Everything they do honors their home planet and attempts to preserve their way of life, The Vulcan Way. Everything they do makes so much sense, is so creative, is in actuality, so beautiful… Zane, I attended a birth. It was one of the most awe inspiring experiences in my life The baby's father was prepared to take the mother's pain into his own body. The Vulcan requires that he be the first to touch the child, to receive it to his bared chest and give the child its first bath. At the settlement, a birth is a community event, witnessed by all that wish to do so. Each birth is a victory against Va Pak, The Immeasurable Lost, the destruction of Vulcan. A Vulcan male doesn't have to say to his bondmate, 'I love you,' because every action, attitude, and look shouts that sentiment.
Zane whispered,
"Laura, I am so happy for you."
Then there is this announcement,
"There is to be a marriage or what Vulcans call bonding the end of this coming week. S'nass will accompany me. The groom-to-be has already built the house they will share with his own hands, that is the prerequisite to the bonding. Everything is so orderly, logical and fulfilling. The females who have married Vulcans already are the most contented women I have ever seen, the children are brilliant and beautiful. S'nass and I will have to discuss living arrangements, you know, how much time here and how much time at the settlement, but we have already picked the site for our house. Zane both of us have issues we have to deal with. You know about mine. He us the most receptive, compassionate, selfless person I have ever met and since the standard explanation for happiness to a Vulcan is being satisfied, I hope I can make him satisfied and content."
Zane looked at her friend and then hugged her,
"You have no idea how happy I am for you…and him. What was his greeting?"
"Live long and prosper and then Peace and long life."
"Yeah, both of them to the both of you."
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
James had stacked Laura's PADDs so he could read them in sequential order. Her writing was brilliant. The descriptions and narratives given drew him in and kept his interest. When he got to the final entry which described S'nass piloting them to San Francisco and told of her excitement to return to the city even though she was anxious to return to Ah'rak kya.
Her writing took you to the settlement, allowed you to stand in their central plaza and spun you around to take in the sights. It was genuis. He could see this series continuing for a long, long time. It would take her quite a while to tell each individuals' story.
He read carefully the description of the dining procedures and would attempt to mirror Vulcan dining protocol during the shared diner experience this evening. He was definitely a steak and potato guy, but no problem, the experience would be worth the sacrifice.
Once he had finished the reading project he went back to his office to observe S'nass standing in the center of the room, examining his finished project. When approached S'nass said,
"You now have twenty-three percent more open space in this room. Your furnishing can easily be moved to a more desired configuration.
James stood next to S'nass and said,
"S'nass, what other surprises do you have up your sleeve."
Our boy looked down at his sleeve and touched it's hem. His head tilted with curious eye, looked at James who said,
"Excuse me S'nass, that is an expression that means what other things can you do that would surprise me."
Just then S'nass looked off into the distance tilted his head to the right and said,
"Laura and your wife have returned."
Within a few seconds James saw Zane's vehicle turn in from the street into the company's parking lot.
"How did you do that?"
"Specify."
James was saved from doing just that by the appearance of the two women who were still laughing and touching. S'nass decided that what he observed was normal behavior between Terran females when they are not under the observation of the eyes of individuals at the Vulcan settlement. It would not take much effort to accept that as a Terran norm.