The Balance of Life
Part One - Discovery
Chapter 3 - Part 7--- Aftermath
Author's Note:
Two readers have commented on the high energy particle radiation I mentioned in the previous sections. This is something straight out of 'An Activist Survival Guide' on pages 7 and 8. If you recall, particle accelerators, or atom smashers, here on Earth are composed of huge super conductive electro-magnetic fields that control the course and speed of atomic and subatomic particles. The basic explanation of vastly fluctuating magnetic fields causing funnels is plausible if you accept the notion of unobtanium as a superconductor that is in great abundance on Pandora. In addition the survival guide goes on to describe magnetic and electrical interactions between Pandora and Polyphemus that can have 'disastrous consequences' for any life caught in them.
As to the open pit mine causing so much havoc, study the properties of crystalline substances. Even diamonds split when just the right force is applied at the proper place. Glass is another good example of solid objects fracturing once the surface structure is compromised.
I only mention these facts so that you will know the source of my assumptions. I am trying to keep well within the laws of physics of our universe and as modified for the world of Avatar. I welcome any questions or challenges if you think I have strayed beyond the bounds of the parameters set forth by James Cameron. My intent is to lean heavily in the direction of hard-science and away from magic (a word that can also mean: any sufficiently advanced technology that we cannot understand. Arthur C. Clark). Anytime something doesn't ring true, please let me know in a review.
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As soon as they entered the gathering area, Neytiri with Jake and Norm at her sides, spotted her mother sitting with a group of older clan members. The smell of cooked meat and fish floated heavily in the air. Normally it would have been a pleasing scent. In her current frame of mind it left her feeling slightly nauseous. Even before they reached the group her mother was talking with, Neytiri could feel and see the tension reverberating between them. He mother sat with her back arrow straight, shoulders squared and head held high. She could not remember the last time she had seen her mother this tense. All eyes except Mo'at's turned to look up when the three of them reached the group, stopping a short distance behind her. Those eyes were cold and unfriendly. More than a few were openly hostile.
After several seconds of total silence, Solundo—an old but still formidable warrior—spoke up, his voice hard and sharp.
"Dream walkers do not belong here." At first his words were for Norm, but he continued after shifting his focus to Jake. "Your bodies are not Na'vi. They were created by the Sky People. They bring nothing but death and sorrow to the Omatikaya. You should leave this place and never come back."
At first Neytiri was stunned by the vicious outburst filled with obvious hate and loathing. She sensed Jake and Norm stiffen when the words struck them like arrows in the heart. Before she could reply, Mauhi, another of the elders jumped to her feet and began screaming at them, shaking her fist in rage.
"Eywa should never have let you live. She should have killed all that you were. You are like poison, killing everything that you touch. Hundreds of our people are dead because of you. You betrayed us. You lead the Sky People to our home so that they could destroy it for the rock under the ground."
As Mauhi screamed her accusations at Jake, the others in the group got quickly to their feet. She sensed other clan members closing in behind them. Neytiri could feel the solid wall of fury radiating for those in front of them. Fire did not burn as hot.
"Tell us this is not truth," ZaeZae, life-mate of a fallen warrior, demanded as she sneered back and forth between Jake and Norm. "Tell us you knew nothing of what the Sky People planned to do at Hometree."
Jake knew with a sinking feeling in his gut that no matter what he said or how he answered the question it was going to be twisted against him. Surrounded on all sides he tired make these angry brother and sisters understand.
"I knew what the Sky People wanted. I tried to…
"You see!" ZaeZae interrupted, glancing around at the other Na'vi. "He admits to bringing death and destruction on the Omatikaya. He and his kind have no respect for life in any form. They take what they want just because they want it. I say kill them both and be rid of these evil demons once and for all."
"Hey!" Neytiri yelped, but was cut off by Mauhi before she could say anything more.
"You are no better. You gave yourself to this monster, killer of innocent children. He will kill you too. Shun him before he puts his demon seed of death into you. Cast him out. Save yourself."
"That's not going to happen!" Jake shouted loudly enough to get everyone's attention. "I'm not putting demon seeds into anyone. I did everything I could to stop the Sky People from destroying Hometree."
"Then it appears that you did very little," Solundo added before Jake could continue.
"Jake saved the Mother Tree and Well of Souls," Neytiri shot back. "He led us to defeat the Sky People and send them back to their own world."
"Eywa defeated the Sky People!" ZaeZae screamed, her face contorted with vile hatred.
"All of us defeated the Sky People, Eywa included," Neytiri pleaded, trying to lower the hostility being hurled at them. She knew that this confrontation could turn into physical violence at the slightest provocation. "Jake, as Toruk Macto, was our leader. He rallied the clans. He asked Eywa for help. He destroyed the giant airships that would have destroyed the Well of Souls. This is truth. Something that cannot be forgotten or made to seem unimportant."
"Yes, what you say is true," Katoke, one of the oldest living members of the clan proclaimed. "But his part in the destruction of Hometree is not balance by what he did after. Some debts cannot be paid."
"Jake, and Grace, would have been killed by the Sky People if they had not escaped their bindings. They were more Na'vi than human when the Sky People attacked. They tried to warn us."
"They would have died, as they should, if you had not freed them of their bonds," ZaeZae screamed in Mo'at's face. "You are weak, no longer fit to be Tsahik. Ey'tu'kan would be shamed by your weakness, your pathetic need to ask these demons for help. You are no better than your ftue'kxetse daughter..."
Mo'at's hand cracked across ZaeZae's face, abruptly ending her rant. For one brief second everyone stood frozen in place. Neytiri was so shocked at having seen her mother strike ZaeZae that it didn't register when she saw ZaeZae pull her knife and lunge at Mo'at.
Norm had seen something snap inside ZaeZae's eyes when Mo'at struck her. Without thinking consciously, Norm shoved Mo'at out of the way as he stepped forward to block ZaeZae's blow. When the blade sank deep into his chest, just below his right shoulder, he didn't even feel the pain. His body was running on pure adrenaline which had pumped into his system the moment ZaeZae had drawn her knife.
Within two heartbeats the pain registered in his brain. A searing pain so bright it all but blinded him as he sank to his knees. 'Not again' was the only thought that managed to penetrate the pain. Out of eyes that could barely focus he saw Neytiri pin ZaeZae to the ground, a knife at her throat.
Norm knew that everyone was shouting around him. None of the words made any sense. It seemed as if time was standing still. As his vision blurred and he felt himself begin to pitch forward, a pair of strong hands grabbed him and gently lowered is ravaged body to the ground.
"Norm! Norm, stay with me buddy." Jake's voice managed to penetrate the curtain of pain surrounding Norm's mind. Jake's words 'that this was going to hurt' floated across his consciousness. An instant later a second blinding pain ripped through him.
"Somebody get me something to stop this bleeding," Jake shouted as he pressed his hand firmly over the wound just under Norm's shoulder. "Stay with me Norm. Don't you go and pass out on me."
As Jake felt the blood begin to ooze between his fingers, he heard Mo'at tell Neytiri not to kill ZaeZae. Since he didn't hear her ask again he figured ZaeZae was already dead or Neytiri was going to do as her mother asked.
"Damn it! Somebody get me something, now!" Jake shouted, trying to make himself heard above the riot of voices shouting all around him.
Before he could snarl out another command, Ralu was kneeling down beside Norm. She had several large leaves; one was smeared with a thick greenish paste.
"This will stop the bleeding. It is made from torukspxam and rumut. It must be rubbed into the wound. Then we will cover the wound so that it will heal more quickly. Blocking the air makes the healing paste work faster."
"Ralu, how do you know this?" Jake asked, totally astonished by how she seemed to know just what to do and how to work the paste into the wound. Her fingers seemed small and competent next to his.
"Where did you find this?"
"Some of the older children gathered the plants after the ground shook. It was being used to treat open wounds caused by the falling stone. My cousin Ansita showed me how it is used to stop bleeding. More was gathered than was needed."
"There, that should do it," Ralu added after she finished packing the wound and had placed the inside of a thick leaf that had be peeled in two on top of the opening.
"You're a regular Florence Nightingale, aren't you?" Jake told Ralu as he gave her shoulder a quick squeeze.
"Norm, can you hear me?" Jake had been watching Norm's eye's while Ralu applied the herbal medicine. He had fully expected to see him pass out; either from the pain or from breaking the psionic link.
"Stay with me. Look at me." Jake didn't want Norm to break the link just yet. If it was going to be necessary for Norm's avatar to return to Hell's Gate he wanted Norm to take that message back with him.
"I'm going to move him to a safer location." Jake told Ralu as he picked up Norm's body and looked for someplace safe for his friend to rest. "I want you to watch over him. Call me if anything changes."
Jake found a quiet spot beside a large fragment of toppled stone that was close enough for him to keep an eye on. Laying Norm on the ground he turned to Ralu…
"Just what do you plan on doing with that?" Jake demanded when he saw Ralu holding ZaeZae's knife.
The answer he got was a snarling hiss as Ralu crouched down in a protective stance over Norm's body.
"And if that doesn't work?"
"Then I'll cry or scream," Ralu answered as she sat down and cradled Norm's head in her lap.
"If his eyes aren't open, don't give him anything to drink," Jake added when he saw the bladder beside her. "If his spirit leaves this body then he won't be able to swallow."
"When he can swallow I will give him just a little. The drink will help to ease his pain."
"Just don't give him too much."
Jake turned when he heard someone come up behind him, his hand reaching for his knife.
'Ell'a'u, would you stay with Ralu and Norm?" Jake was more than a little relieved to see her. He knew Ralu would watch over Norm, but he was worried someone might take advantage of his condition and do him further harm. As Ralu had seemingly appointed herself as Norm's guardian, she would be in danger as well.
"Yes, Jake. I will help Ralu watch over Norm. Go, Neytiri is in need of you."
Knowing Norm was in capable hands Jake headed back to where this nightmare had started. Before he reached Neytiri's side he sensed someone directly behind him once again. Whirling around Jake came face to face with a startled Tey'bar.
"Are you guarding me?" Jake asked. The question had obviously hit the mark as Tey'bar looked more than a little guilty.
"Good! Keep on doing it," Jake snapped out as Tey'bar opened his mouth to speak.
No longer having to worry about who was behind him, Jake turned to where Neytiri was crouched down beside her mother.
"Are you both ok?"
"Yes, just a bit shaken up."
"Where is ZaeZae?" Jake asked looking around at the few remaining clan members in the immediate vicinity.
"Solundo took her away," Neytiri answered. "How bad is Norm's wound?"
"Bad enough, but I think he will live. Ralu puts some green paste on the wound and covered it with the inside of a leaf."
"If ZaeZae's knife did not pierce anything vital, he should heal in four or five days."
Sensing that Mo'at was more than shaken up, he crouched down in front of her. He waited for her to look at him before he spoke.
"None of this is your fault. Our people have a right to their opinions. Not everyone is willing to forgive me for what happened at Hometree. I understand their anger. I am angry with myself for not being able to stop it somehow."
"I knew several in the clan were troubled, but I had no idea there was so much outright hatred," Mo'at answered, looking directly into Jake's face.
"I will deal with that…"
"No, we will deal with it," Neytiri interrupted, the anger in her voice as shape as her knife.
"For now we should let those who are angry with you be," Mo'at said to both Jake and Neytiri. "Time may help."
"Jake, Ell'a'u is trying to get your attention," Tey'bar interrupted.
"Come mother. We should go and see how Norm is doing."
Without giving Mo'at any choice Neytiri pulled her mother to her feet. With Jake opposite her Neytiri led Mo'at over to where Norm lay stretched out.
"If you're going to go around playing hero you need to learn how to block an attack," Jake told Norm when he kneeled down beside him. Jake was relieved to see Norm's eyes open, but there was a lot of pain in them.
"I'll think I'll sleep for a while…"
Jake saw the spirit, but not the life, fade out of Norm's body as it relaxed and became still.
"This will be easier for him," Jake said to the small group gathered around Norm's avatar.
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Author's Note:
Short post. Weekdays are pretty busy. I just wanted to get something out there. More over the weekend.