STORIES
NINETEEN
In the end, Crade had to let her go. No amount of cajoling, arguing, insisting or pleading worked. She was unstoppable.
Wil sat with Crade while her attending physician reviewed her injuries and made final recommendations for future care. The Orolo doctor was recommending the same things an Earth physician would suggest, advising her to rest, to eat regularly, to drink lots of hydrating fluids and then, well… to rest again. Followed by a little light exercise, some stretching and what else but more rest.
"The bones will mend; the wounds will heal," the physician said. "But be careful of your head. Avoid any further trauma to your brain."
She nodded seriously at his advice but then smiled at him, "I don't plan on getting another concussion any time real soon."
"And if your memories return," the doctor cautioned, "I want you to promise me that you will talk to someone about them. Will you do that for me? Do not keep such terrible stories to yourself."
"Yes, I promise," she nodded solemnly.
He smiled, stood and walked out of Wil's ship, leaving Crade alone with her. "You are always welcome here," the Orolo leader said, finally acknowledging and accepting that despite his best efforts to delay her departure, the time had come for the inevitable farewell. "I hope you will return some day."
"I would like to promise you that I will come back, but I can't. Right now all I want is to go far, far away."
She saw his face turn sad and realized she'd been unintentionally cruel. "Oh! I'm sorry! Please, don't misunderstand me. Orolo and its people will always hold a special place in my heart. You have been nothing but kind to me and I will be forever thankful that you rescued me from a horrific fate. You and your people are heroes. You saved my life and I will always be grateful for your loving attention and care. But, Crade, I have never had anything like this happen to me before and it has shaken me to my core. I need to retreat to a place of comfort, and I need time to think and heal. What happened has frightened me in so many ways…"
To her chagrin Wil realized she was weeping but there was nothing for it.
Crade leaned forward and gently took her hand in his, "My friend, don't be hard on yourself. Such an event in a person's life can do nothing but have a tremendous impact. You're right that you must give yourself time. I'm glad to hear you say it and I hope you are able to find it. I am sorry that this world cannot be your refuge, cannot provide the peace you so deserve. But I understand. Orolo holds bad memories for you. Some day perhaps you will come back to us, but for now it is clear to me that you belong elsewhere."
Wil nodded and he withdrew his hand and stood. "Is there any last thing I can do for you?" he asked.
She remained seated. This was the new her, resting as ordered. At least until the man left her ship. "Yes, Crade, there is one thing. I want to know, can you tell me, what happened to Ganelial and the other Gnel?"
There was a long pause as he contemplated her and considered what to say. His decision made, he looked her in the eyes. "We have very specific laws covering the abduction and torture of children and others who are innocent," he said as he carefully watched her reaction. "They were put to death. It was done quickly. They were not abused."
She gasped softly, a dim vision of the Gnel woman Jezry playing in her mind.
"I realize you may not approve. That is why I have not already told you of this. It was obvious to me that you did not wish to seek justice or retribution for yourself. I can appreciate your sentiments. And I hope you appreciate that this is our way. We sought justice on your behalf. We will not, we cannot allow such behavior to go unpunished… It is our way."
"Innocent," she whispered, almost inaudibly.
"I'm sorry?" Crade asked.
"Nothing," she said more loudly. "It was nothing. Thank you for being truthful with me."
"You deserve nothing less, my friend," he said, "I wish you peace and happiness." Then he bowed, turned and walked out the door, closing it behind him.
Wil sat back in her chair and breathed deeply.
"Teacher?"
"Yes, Grasshopper?"
"You are disturbed." It was not a question. It was a statement.
"Yes I am, Grasshopper."
"You do not believe that you are innocent?"
"No, I don't."
"Do you want to explain this to me?"
Wil sighed and closed her eyes wearily. "No… not really. Not at this time. Just let me quote from a famous twentieth century Earth novelist: The innocent are so few that two of them seldom meet - when they do meet, their victims lie strewn all round."
"Ah, Teacher. You are feeling a bit overwhelmed by an alien and hostile world?"
Wil smiled inwardly at her student who in so many ways matched if not exceeded her own intellectual capabilities. "More like an alien and hostile universe, if you ask me."
"Yes, Teacher. It does appear that way at the moment. But not all of it is hostile."
"Indeed you're right, Grasshopper. Take me home to John."
There was a quiet swooshing sound as the ship's engines came alive. The central column pulsed gently and for a few moments she closed her eyes and breathed a silent prayer of homecoming and thanksgiving.
"Wil?"
Her eyes flashed open. As far as she knew the ship had never called her by her name before.
"What is it?"
"Something is wrong."
Wil shakily stood up, "Show me."
Several of the large flat screen monitors came to life. Wil glanced at one, rubbed her unbelieving eyes with trembling fingers, and looked again. The planet… the world… Erasmus… had been set afire and was nothing but a charred cinder.
After a minute of staring unblinkingly at the display she realized Grasshopper was talking to her, although she'd not been paying attention. "…landmasses covered with molten rock and ash. Surface temperatures as high as twelve hundred degrees Celsius detected. Atmosphere consists primarily of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen chloride…"
Feeling horribly sick, she fell back against her chair.
"Teacher… Teacher… Teacher…" she tried to block it out but failed. The word kept repeating.
Finally she could take it no more, "What?!"
"We need help."
"What do you want me to do?" she cried.
"Press the blue button, Teacher."
And without further thought, she did.