Zarah sat alone in Mira's tent. A big mess conquered the floor. Pieces of scrap metal were everywhere, and forehead sweating she twisted something with a hard screwdriver. The insensible XR was a gloomy sight. From a brave -yet ludicrous and more than often annoying- space ranger, he had turned just to cold, dead metal. Team Lightyear was not intact without him, and that could be smelled already. Maybe Buzz would have not been caught in such stress, if the squad's comic relief had been present. But the android's sarcastic jokes would not be heard in a long time, still…

The tools, with which Choi had started the repairs, were completely erroneous. The hull parts could be molten together somehow, but the circuits, the circuits… A culture that was lacking even the wheel could not provide means for this kind of problem. Possibly the hardware defections would need computer-based correction simulations, not to mention that nanotubes could not be battered with a hammer. Wiping her brow, she felt so frustrated. It was like going back in time… who would need an expert of digital design in the Iron Age? Or a computer programmer in the Stone Age? As futile were her skills here. Used to work with half-automatic implements and microscope goggles… and now with anvil and furnace? She was horrified thinking that everyone would rely on her that the robot would be fixed fast. Most possibly Zarah would let them down.

The tent's flap turned aside, and some light fluttered in. Nova's figure swung in, and G'Deneb turned her head away. Would she show her distress openly, or just hide it inside her as she used to? A repressing character was her flaw, had always been. What would that princess ask her, if nothing? In a group, she was open and could chat almost jovially with her. Nevertheless, in private circumstances, there was lump in her throat, with whomever she then would be communicating. There was merely one person in this galaxy, with which Zarah was the most sincere. Warp.

"How's the work going? I think you'd need some sunlight", Mira commented.

"Hmm…"

"Oh, by the way, Buzz asked to hurry up with it."

Last drop. Asked her to do what? Hurry up? Did someone think she'd survive this complex task overnight? Zarah felt her eyes stinging. Most hating to be a disappointment to someone, she suppressed.

"What's wrong?" That forced mien did not cheat the Tangean. She sat at the work floor, looking down at the shorter woman.

Shriveling Choi slammed the greasy screwdriver-like metal hunk onto the floor. A little, teary tantrum fought inside her, but there was self-control enough left to hinder it partly. "I… I can't do this! I can't do this so fast. Now look, with what they put me working! I don't want to fail anyone, but I just can't fix XR today, or tomorrow, or even this week! I don't even know where to start yet!"

Mira sighed. Hopingly Buzz' arrogant annoyance had not infected Mrs. Darkmatter, too. But this seemed to be the opposite, though. His overestimating wishes caused dilemma. An quasi-perfectionist wanted everyone else to be as perfect around him? "I know, I know. Never mind what I just said. If you can't, then you can't. Buzz can't urge you to do anything you can't. But… I still think you'd need a promenade." She rose up, smiling, "the air is so bright out there, and the village is beautiful. You'll get mummified inside four… uh, one round wall."

"I guess so…" Zarah melancholically put the arm of XR down from her hands. "In here, I'm just with my beginning depression. I don't know if you can understand, but… well… never mind." She gulped her words back. Why would anyone listen to her self-pitying rhapsody about Warp and Ay'noh? No one else missed them but her. No one would understand in any case, she thought. "Maybe, maybe so… Alright, I guess a walk does good. Let's go."

Outside, in the sunlight, another world expanded towards the zenith. The playing children came screaming and running towards them, to see Sininen and her peculiar companion. Some of them with wide smiles measured themselves with Zarah. Kalvakka (so Choi was called in Kaleva) was shorter than some of them. The women walked past Louhi's teepee. In front of it, on the yard, Booster alike played with kids. They used his back as a slide; he carried them in piggyback, and played catch with him. Seemingly the Jo-Adian enjoyed with his whole heart being here, among these earth-near people. He came from an agricultural planet, so there was possibly not that much difference. The soil was bound in the deepest inners, and its touch hovered in the air here stronger than anywhere.

"These people live here so peacefully, without knowing to care about intergalactic political fights or outer foes… it's strange that this kind of bird's nest still exists in the middle off all the galactic integration…" Mira wondered. The females had slowly advanced towards the blissful river bend. The bulrushes stood as brown sticks ahead, the icy water embracing them with its white foam-crested waves. Russet leaves fell down from the trees, drifting away along the stream as fragile tiny boats. Some maidens that yet had not accustomed to the well, filled their buckets at a pool.

Bird's nest… like Xaneda. It was an oddity in the Alliance, too. Yet, Zarah did try to set aside the gloomy illusions that again rose up from her broken heart. Mira noticed her broody expression, and stood quiet for a while.

"Mira? Mrs. Darkmatter?" a man's voice came in the rear. Buzz trotted forth from the bulrush jungle, hands in pockets. From his face could be seen that he did not share the best mood under the sun. True, he had been ventilating his head after the hunting trip. Yet, the animosity did not seem to leave him alone.

"Shouldn't you be fixing XR, Mrs. Darkmatter?" he quite impolitely snapped. And she felt guilt, bowing her head, tiptoeing away. Nova was to shout something after her, but faced Buzz' iron stare.

"I thought she had repaired the robot already? If her work is undone, why is she here? Our goal is to get away from this place, not to idle here!"

She put her hands on hips. Zarah was depressed, why to push her around like that? Earnestly she met his cold eyes, "Buzz, she said she can't do it."

"What do you mean she can't? If she can't, why didn't she say it herself?"

"You don't seem to understand. Buzz, please try to be less arrogant. This is not the first time I'm making notice about your stressed-up behavior during this trip. Zarah is not well, I can see that from her appearance clearly. She's down in the mouth, and said to me she can't fix XR that fast as you require. Try to be a bit more kindly with her."

"What?" he nearly shouted, "Blast, I am kindly, patient! But XR may be our last hope to get off here! I…"

"I know, I know, you have a galaxy to defend! Don't you think I would like to get home? Or Zarah, or Booster? But if we just can't, then we can't. What's the idea to worry so much? The situation won't go better even if you'd rip your suit!"

"Fine, fine." Lightyear shrugged upset, and left the beach. Too many setbacks for one day. He needed sleep.

----

The next day opened after the varying sleep hours. For some, the slumber had been a benediction, and for some… insomnia, longing, or grouching. Outside the huts, the Kalevans bustled perkily as little ants. Today was a diurnal for the grand celebration. The cauldrons steamed, the ovens toasted, delicious scents fluttered everywhere. Feast foods had been prepared already several days. The meat was let hung; the blood was well sapped out of it. Already at the weakest dawn, the large common square was teeming with slender figures. Giant gridirons were set up, decorations were hung up here and there. The best suits and jewels were unfolded from the pelt packages, and put on. Women in wavy dresses, heavy kerchiefs skimming the ground, brought their baked goods onto the loaded tables. They were set in the very middle of the open place. The viisaat had observed the clouds, the orange afterglow last night, and made a weather report. No rain or billow would fight together with the sun today. Neither would when the yellow star would set its rays below the horizon. The stellars would twinkle as cold diamonds against the blue velvet, as the night would descend. A glorious day for jubilee, to finally welcome the strangers to Kaleva.

Buzz was the center of attention already during the breakfast. A few of suuremo Vellamo's descendants came to wake him up, bringing him a bountiful repast. That and the festive atmosphere made his bitterness ebb gradually. Later he was collected for his preparations, as well as Mira, Zarah, and Booster. Suits were made for all of them, from the finest textiles and the softest leather. The blacksmith Ilmarinen with his sons had put his skills on trial to smith for the Visitors colorful metal belts, headdresses and other tinsel. Kaleva had received gifts already from Team Lightyear, now it was its turn to laud in turn.

Before the gloaming, Buzz and his companion were dressed up to their ceremonial attires. Lightyear felt as strange as before the hunting trip, as young women set him large ornaments on. Wide shining-blue bracelets, armlets, a complex necklace with pendants… over his brows he received a crown-like tiara with blue plumes and pictographic engravings in it. An eagle flew together with a crescent moon, and jauhajokottajas grazed on the field. This inscription did not much please him, but maybe it was this people's one common subject of art. As he was there standing luxuriously like some jewel store window, he did feel his pride growing. Although he was lost, he was respected even in the worlds he did not know. Although… did everyone respect him, or just wanted to make him look like a fool? Like that chief's daughter… a nasty taste came up to his mouth as a remembrance from yesterday. Jauhajokottajas and Yoka-hanen. Hopingly he would not need to see those two in a while. And glad he was that she had not been as his 'mocker' today.

With his soft leather shirt, fringed west, wide belt gathered up from glowing stones and glossy metal, dye-patterned suede trousers, and with all the other trinkets, he felt like a prince. Well, a real prince he had once already been, but this was even more splendid. This was not gaining dark glory as a Zurgean lord, but being esteemed because of his virtuous deeds. Or so he had the impression. Maybe this evening would be the most fantastic summit of his life, who knew.

As his preparations were completed, he was escorted by a large, elating crowd to the village's open square. There were the rest of the Visitors, too, dressed as curiously as he. Mira seemed to adore already the embellished linen gowns, whereas Zarah had no problems to deal with hefty frocks at all. If in Xaneda she was put to wear metal corsets, thick velvet and long veils, there was no nagging about heckled flax. Booster looked truly odd in tow trousers, plumes and black napa. The Kalevans could not really decide what he was, a pet or basilic, so they had tossed over him whatever was wallowing in the stocks and corners. A rioting gathering surrounded Lightyear and the others, directing them to their sitting places at a private table. The audience surrounded the ornated stage, which was set up for the noble and mighty. A massive bonfire, crackling, flaming against the tarnishing sky, fulminated astern of everything. The fete could commence, as even the council had finally arrived among the humble.

Hours went by with eating, and enjoying the musical performances. Some time before the deepest midnight, the wizened chief limped to the estrade. The audience bowed their heads, and quieted down like gags were suddenly put over everyone's mouths. Vainamoinen approvingly looked down at his people, preparing to keep a speech. Sivakka slid mildly into the foreigners' ears via Mira's communicator.

His presentation wove the events of the last days into a vivid drapery. How the skyfallen had come to bless his village, help them with their extraordinary knowledge and so on. The Kalevans cheered, and the young maidens tuned up a coloratura song cycle. The zithers and cymbals chinked and tinkled, blending to accompany the head's epical tale of ancient Kalevans.  Fields and mainlands migrated in everyone's visions, forming to a picture of a lush river valley. In the mountainside was caved a glorious, splendid metropolis. Suur-Kaleva sparkled in its silvery glory, with rich, prosperous citizens. O the joy of canto that was resounded in the highnesses! O the loaded tables, full of season's ripe goods! O the luster of complex art and science! In the air the Suur-Kalevans flew like eagles, challenging the winds, challenging the clouds. Stars and moons were their friends; with the sky they shared the wisdom.

But the furious mountain woke up. It blazed with its fiery revenge, belching out its destructive emesis. The grandeur was buried under the lurid, red streams. The mountain's green robes burned, the blue-shiny necklace fumed. Blindly the men and women ran, most of them falling in the arms of Manala, never returning. And those, who escaped the fire's hatred, carried their children away, in the far-away lands. There was no return to Suur-Kaleva. It died down, and as the cycles of moons and stars went forwards, it fell in the sleep of oblivion. No one wandered in the dormant valley any more. The great river Lirilirilori, the sister of Plutinaklutina-Noro, shed its tears alone, now. Only the dippers soared above it, wailing wistfully…

Spellbound Team Lightyear listened to the virtuoso lyric poetry. Vainamoinen's raspy voice rumbled deep from his chest, and it felt that it could melt even the ranges of mountains. A young boy brought him a Kalevan zither, and his sophisticated playing made tears pearling in everyone's eyes. He caressed the instrument with his long fingers, continuing an aria.

The sons and daughters of the forests and grasslands became the Suur-Kalevans. The wisdom died, but a fragment of it stayed, in the memories and traditions of viisaat. The trout, the bear, the eagle, they lived together with the scions of mountains. The fallen became great hunters, new great heroes were born. Kaleva was found, and from there, roamed away the new generations towards more exuberant lands, to lands where milk and honey poured. But Kaleva stayed, Kaleva stood. As the last reminiscent of the ancient glory, it sat at the fork of Plutinaklutina-Noro and Lirilirilori.

The stars twinkled above the giant balefire, and Vainamoinen's song gradually faded to a hushed hum. The magic yet endured, as the choir of viisaat pealed with baritone to narrate the last part of the Kalevans' ostentatious epos, Kalavale. But at this moment, the guests discussed timidly with each other, understanding better the history of these Indianlike-humans.

"It seems that a volcano eruption destroyed their bygone civilization, if I got the legend right…" Mira fingered her ribbon's pendants.

"They call it 'Purkaus', that much I've heard about it, already", Zarah added. "The destruction, I mean."

"Stars and moons were their friends, with the sky they shared the wisdom… the Tangean droned. "Maybe they really were in contact with other planets and civilizations, like we in the Galactic Alliance. Who knows, who knows. That would really explain the way they treat us."

But Buzz was not quite much keen on the whole party any more. He kept yawning deep, forcibly keeping himself awake. The feast food, the hard day had made him drowsy. And Vainamoinen's melody was like a lullaby, making his eyelids heavy. "Uhh… whatever. I'd like to go to sleep."

"Hmph… that's for respecting the arts, eh?" Nova sneered.

"Buzz, don't go! This is like a fairy tale!" even Booster objected. "I… I haven't ever heard anything more beautiful than…that, that song!"

"Ummh… excuse me, but I at least have to go to drink something. The food was so spiced that it still burns my throat", Lightyear squinted, and vanished.

"By the way… just came in my mind… anyone seen Vainamoinen's daughter here?" the Princess glanced around.

"No, I haven't seen her", Munchapper shook his head.

"Just wondering… shouldn't she be present in a ceremonial like this?"

Buzz barely had the seconds to slip back to his place. Vainamoinen on the arena called for him to step forth. He had something important to announce. Malcontent the Captain tiptoed in front of the audience. "Why won't this stuff already end? Of course it's nice to be the center of attention, but I'm tired. Craters… a good sleep would refresh…" he muttered in his mind, but tapped beside the chief. Vainamoinen took his hand, and raised it high up towards the shining Milky Way.

"Today will be written a new epos, the legend of Proud Crescent. On the day when the moons Sammiokuu, Lapanen, Pipokuu, Rasa and Ilmatar were all five crescent, he arrived. And so may he step today to Kaleva, as a Kalevan, as our brother! Proud Crescent is he, who with the chariots of fire came down from the sky!"

The audience hurrahed. Lightyear felt smug, but the weariness was to put him sleep while standing. Proud Crescent…? Was that supposed to be his name? It sounded strange.

"And so I will grant him with a gift", Vainamoinen rasped on, "the most valuable gift I, as the village chief could give him."

More cheer.

"Young man", he warmly smiled at him, "You are waited in suuremo Louhi's family tent. You can go to achieve my pledge any time tonight. And you shall be content."

Vainamoinen let Buzz to return to his place. Booster came to hug his hero, Lightyear had looked so marvelous under the praises of the hoary leader. However… the celebrated man was everything but perky. He lazily dragged himself forwards, yawning so that birds could have gained a hold in his mouth.

"Uh… guys, I really need to go to bed. You can keep on banqueting if you want."

"But what about your… gift? Aren't you going to go and bring it to your tent?" Booster wondered.

"Nah… not any more today. I don't think the chief will be mad at me if I go tomorrow or some other time to check it out." Tottering he disappeared towards the waterside's birkwood, and soon was lain dormant, blissfully unconscious of everything.

In the shades of Louhi's teepee, in a side chamber, a slender figure sat and waited… and waited… and waited.