"I must go, excuse me."said Alondra.
She walked towards the President's house. As she was about to walk straight in, she changed her mind. She would discuss this over dinner. At dinner time, all the people who ate first, went in. She simply went in with them. Everyone was amazed. After all, she wasn't an elder, a First, Second, or Third.
"Mr.London!"she exclaimed as soon as she saw him. "I would like to know, exactly why when I speak to some of the people here, people whom you govern, why they are so, may I say, ignorant? Why don't they believe that they came from Earth?"she asked ferociously.
Everyone in the dining hall stared. Some laughed. It was obvious why they did not believe they came from Earth. It was simply a story that made no sense whatsoever.
"Why?"she demanded. "Why?"
Some of the elders, and even the Council looked disturbed.
"And just exactly what is this, I have been hearing so much about? World's End? The Place within the Wall? The mountains being taboo? And especially That Old Woman? Perhaps you could explain to me more clearly."
One of the Seconds spoke up.
"World's End is what lies beyond the mountains of this valley."
"There is no end to the world."said the strange woman. "What lies beyond this valley is…"
"SILENCE!"exclaimed the President.
"My, my, but such bad manners for a President. I don't believe it is good manners to interrupt someone while they are speaking!"
"What have you come here for?"
"You know very well what I came for. Though I must say, I never did imagine to come across something like this. Why has this happened? Why don't you remember your history? Why are you all so superstitious, and such? What has happened? Why all these taboos? I know every culture has its own quirks, its own taboos, but, really, this is ridiculous! To be governed by taboos!"she scoffed, shaking her head.
"The Guardian made the taboos."someone told her.
"Well, perhaps I should speak to this Guardian of yours. I think he is just as famous here, as That Old Woman."
Everyone shivered at what she said.
"No one can speak to the Guardian."said the President.
"You said he placed the taboos. Where is he? Surely he must have communicated with you sometime, if he placed the taboos."
"The Guardian doesn't speak to us anymore."someone said.
"Very well, that's just fine. The Guardian doesn't interest me much, though. But That Old Woman, now I should say that has gotten my attention. Has the Old Woman spoken to you, too."
"We see her work every day."
"People dying, you mean?"
"Yes."
"Enough!"exclaimed the President. "You have only come to stir trouble. What do you want from us?"
"You know very well what I want, Mr.London."
"You will address me as President London."
"I will address you however I please."
The woman and the President stared at each other, as though each wished the other nothing but ill.
"Right now, what I want is that you explain to me exactly what has happened here. Why all these taboos, and superstitions, and such?"
The President got up and left. The woman left with him. He could see that he would not be able to override her, but perhaps he might be able to come to a sort of agreement with her.
"Where may I find the Keeper of the Light?"she asked. "Or no, I've already noticed that you will not give me that information just yet. Right now, tell me why the people are so superstitious. Ah, and something else, I'd like to know more details about That Old Woman. And the Guardian. Where did all that come from?"
"It came from nowhere."
"Just soemeone's imagination?"
"It was not imagination."said the President.
Alondra could see that he shivered. Or rather she thought he did.
"Then, if it was not imagination, where? You will tell me, Mr.London, otherwise, I shall have to find another way of gaining that information."
"You want to find the Keeper of the Light, very well…"
"Right now, what I want is to find where That Old Woman and the Guardian came from?"
"They came from Isis."
"There is intelligent life native to Isis?"she asked.
"NO!"
"Then?"
"They were here when we landed."
"Let me get this straight. That Old Woman's place was with the Light, as I have been told. The old woman and the Light, and she was here when you landed. The old woman wouldn't by any chance be who I'm thinking she is, would she?"
"She may very well be."
"Who has done this? Why? Why are the mountains taboo?"
"The high ultra violet and…"
"I know that! I mean why are they taboo? From what I know you had the necessary supportive equipment to climb them when you arrived."
"They have been destroyed."
"Why? By whom?"
"I would suggest you left Isis."
"I will not leave, Mr.London. Not until I have found out exactly what has happened here, and spoken to Miss Pendennis. I think I should also have to set these people on the right course. They seem to be very misled."
"You will do nothing of the sort. I wish my people to develop without outside interference."
"Well, it appears you want the wrong thing."
"The taboos are there to protect us."
"I'm not so sure. They seem to be doing the exact opposite. Listen, Mr.London I think I shall stay here a few more days. If the Old Woman is indeed whom I think she is, I've been told she now dwells in the north. You'll think me odd, however, I've always thought legends, superstitions, and even taboos have a basis in fact. I shall go north in a few days, I'll see what I find there. Perhaps just whom I'm looking for. However, I warn you, Mr.London, I'm giving you, let's say, a week, seven days to get me out of this error, if indeed, it is, and give me any helpful information I may need on finding Miss Pendennis. I want to stay and see a little more about these taboos. They interest me quite a bit. I'll try to be a little helpful to the people."
"How could you possibly be helpful?"
Alondra smiled.
"You are indeed a most unusual person, Mr.London. Why am I under the impression that it was you who started all these superstitions and such? Why, I shall never know, perhaps, but I will do my best to find out. You are indeed very strange. I shall invite you in my ship, and share a cup of tea with me? I must say, I've never tasted any other herbs that aren't Earth's , but it should be interesting to try one from another planet. I daresay you miss Earth?"
"No."
"Hmmm. It was some time ago, I daresay. Perhaps you just didn't want to be reminded? Just like all these people, you're nothing more than a coward, hmm?"
She turned her back on him, and ran back to her ship. The next day, she did not feel like climbing the mountains. She got her hammock out, hung it in the orchard, and put her music on. The people were all very shocked, when they heard the noise. They didn't know the source. Furious, the President commanded her to get rid of that devilish thing.
"Not to worry, Mr.London. I would never pollute your planet. It is solar powered, you see. Every thing I use is solar powered. I don't believe in polluting."
No one knew what she was talking about.
"It's nothing, you see. Only a simple CD player. Would you like another CD? I've got plenty. I love to listen to music, so you see, I have plenty."
"They are tools of the devil!"yelled the President.
"Devil? Nonsense. They are simply devices, you see? Machines. I'm not exactly sure how they work. All I know is how to make them work. Like, to play this disc, I put it here, and press this button, and the music comes out of the speakers, see? Or the phones, whichever are attached to it."
"They are tools of the devil!"the President repeated.
"Stupid."said the woman. "You will leave me alone, if they are from the devil. Now, you don't want me to report you, do you, Mr.London?"
Everyone saw the President turn pale, and then he left. It seemed that his strange woman intimidated him. Several people were curious about her. She didn't dress the way ordinary people dress. She had come from the sky. She spoke differently, sometimes in ways no one could understand, which she claimed were called languages. She loved the animals she brought with her, instead of killing them for dinner. She petted them, hugged them, kissed them, and played with them. And she climbed the mountains, and spoke of the taboos with no fear at all.