Chapter 36
by Starsinger
Grandpa comes to meet T'Nara and Sarek, and brings Tesla's favorite pooch. Don't own them.
Jim stared at his PADD. "There has to be some sort of link between Science and Religion that I can use as an example," he muttered.
T'Nara looked over, "Wasn't there some sort of myth that was discovered to have some truth? Something about a wooden horse?"
Jim stared at her for a moment, "Of course! Heinrich Schliemann! Why didn't I think of that?"
"Who?" T'Nara asked.
"In the late 19th early 20th centuries a man by the name of Heinrich Schliemann went looking for the ancient city of Troy. In the Ancient Greek Religion a war was fought there for ten years over the 'abduction' of Helen. She was reported to be the most beautiful woman in the world and she was stolen, or went willingly depending on who you asked, from her husband, a powerful king, to return her home. It took ten years and a wooden horse, the Trojan Horse if you will, to bring her back. The King and his Greek allies abandoned their siege leaving the horse on the beach with their men inside. The Trojans thought this was a sign from the Gods that they had won and brought the horse inside their walls and celebrated. After everyone went to bed, the men in the horse slipped out, killed the men, enslaved the boys and women, and took Helen home. Centuries later, Heinrich Schliemann set out and found the ruins of Troy in Turkey."
"That's quite a tale," T'Nara said.
"Oh, that's nothing, the saga of the Siege of Troy can be found in Homer's epic 'The Iliad'. He didn't actually write it, it's said he was blind. But he did recite it, and someone wrote it and 'The Odyssey' down for generations to come. The other Epic was written about another king's journey to return home to his wife, Penelope. Also a very interesting read."
T'Nara nodded her head as Sarek entered the study where they sat, "Jim, there is someone here to see you. He says he is your Grandfather and he has brought a very large dog named Dan."
Jim grinned and gestured for them to follow, "Come on, T'Nara, I want you to meet Tiberius and Dan. Tesla will be excited." And Tesla was. She and Dan were jumping all around each other scampering around the lawn. Tiberius watched their antics with a grin on his face as Jim came out to give him a hug. "Grandpa!"
"Geez, Jim, it's not like we didn't see each other last month!" he replied with a chuckle. "You must be T'Nara, Jim told me about you." T'Nara watched as Dan ran up to her and nudged her hand. She reached out and scratched his ears. He licked her hand and leaned against her before Tesla went running by. He took off after her. Jim made sure the Embassy gates were closed before calling them to the back of the Embassy. A fenced in area was found back there and both animals obediently entered their new playground. Charles stood nearby with another ball, this one green. Tiberius grinned, "Tesla's got your throwing the ball, too, huh?"
Charles grinned, "Yeah, she's a funny animal. I never quite pictured her when I thought of Sehlats."
"I don't think anyone did," Jim replied, "but she definitely has personality."
Sarek nodded at that as they walked back into the house leaving Charles, Tesla, Dan, and a ball behind. "So, what are you two up to?" Tiberius asked.
"Projects for the Academy," T'Nara replied. "I am doing one on Astrophysics, and Jim is doing one on Anthropology."
"Anthropology? The study of us?" Tiberius asked.
"Yep," Jim replied. "T'Nara gave me a great way to tie Science and Religion together, Troy."
Tiberius nodded, "It proved that some of those old tales weren't grand epic fictions made up by ancient writers. Why do they have you doing this?"
T'Nara answered, "They have us do a series of seminars during our second year to see where our strengths are. In our third year we'll be assisting teachers in various schools around Vulcan in those subjects where we excelled to help our children understand them better. In our fourth year, we'll actually be conducting an entire year of classes on that subject. I doubt that my next seminar will be on Astrophysics. Jim, however, you may be asked to expand on Anthropology, one subject if you will, in each of your next seminars."
Jim nodded, "How many seminars will we be conducting?"
"At least four," T'Nara replied, "That is all standard."
"T'Nara, next year I'd love to have you and Jim come visit the farm together. I'm pretty sure Tesla would agree," Tiberius told her. Dan, outside, started barking as if in agreement.
T'Nara nodded, "I would be honored, Tiberius."
"Good, that's settled. What's for dinner?" he asked plaintively. Jim laughed, some things never changed.