Neighbors:
John and Maureen, once again greeted Jarrock and Lana, warmly, as they entered the campsite. The couple introduced the rest of their party. The younger woman, Selana, turned out to be Jarrock and Lana's oldest daughter. As tall as her mother, she had the same ash blonde hair and appeared to be about Judy's age. The man with her was her husband, Teral, who was as tall as John. His jet black hair topped a powerfully built frame.
The younger man with them was Jarrock and Lana's son, T'lan. He appeared to be maybe a year or two older than Penny and he had a slender but still muscular build. His sandy blonde hair reached the middle of his back. Maureen watched with interest as his warm smile reduced her younger daughter to a puddle.
The small girl, Brina, was their youngest, a year or two behind Will. Her hair was a very light blonde, lighter than Judy's, and her eyes were an intense hue of blue. She carried a flute which she was quite talented with. She and Will soon became involved in their own conversation.
After the introductions were made, the adults sat down at the table, while T'lan showed Penny one of the horse-like animals they had ridden on.
"Mom, can I go riding with him?"
"Well, I don't know, John?" she asked, looking to her husband.
Robinson turned to Jarrock, his expression asking an unspoken question.
"She will not be in any danger, Professor Robinson, I give you my word."
"I think it will be all right," said John, squeezing his wife's hand in assurance.
"T'lan," called Jarrock."
"Yes Father."
"Professor Robinson, is trusting you with the care of his daughter. You will see that no harm comes to her. Stay within the boundaries of the field."
"I understand. Fear not, Professor Robinson, I will watch over her and keep her safe."
"I'm sure that you will. You two have a good time."
John and Maureen watched the two of them ride off. When they faced each other, they exchanged an unreadable look.
"How did you find us," asked the Professor, turning his attention back to Jarrock and Lana.
"Several nights ago, we saw a fire light in the sky," Jarrock was saying. "Two days ago, our scouting party climbed the ridge that overlooks this valley. We expected to find a sky stone, but instead, we found your ship. We surmised that you fell from the void between the stars."
"For a culture that has no technology, you seem to have a good understanding of the concept of space flight. During our joining of minds, I sensed that you have a keen knowledge of the sciences."
"Indeed, Professor Robinson, tens of thousands of cycles ago, our ancestors sailed through the dark void of the heavens. Their world had been destroyed by their own doing, war, pestilence, desecration of the air and water. Over the millennium, the sky clouded, the water turned dark, and all life all perished. The wisest, of our ancestors, knew that our civilization was doomed, so they built an ark and left our dying world. For generations, the ark sailed through the heavens. Two thousand cycles ago, they found this world."
"We were in orbit of this planet before we ran into trouble," said Don, involuntarily casting a sidelong glance at Smith. "We didn't see any remains of your vessel. What happened to your technology?"
"As our people prepared to come down, something went wrong and none of us are certain exactly what. The great ship was torn to the winds, and those who were saved fell from the sky in small containers."
"Escape pods," said Judy. "The ship must have broke-up in orbit."
"Perhaps," Lana said. "It was so long ago. But the one thing we do know is out of fifty thousand souls, only two thousand remained to settle this world."
"That's so sad," Maureen said. "How did you survive?"
Selana spoke next, "Those who survived the fire ride, soon found each other wandering the plains. The containers had very little food, water, or clothing so the survivors banded together to try to tame this world. Technology failed and was soon abandoned, in favor of a simpler life. It was then that the Clans were formed. Each one was about one hundred strong. They separated and began to repopulate of people in the hope at least some of us would survive. Today, the clans are spread over most of this continent. The largest is over one thousand people. Our Clan is about three hundred strong."
"It seems as if your people are thriving, once again," said the Professor.
"It was not always this way, Professor Robinson," said Jarrock. "The first few years, many of our people fell prey to the Macktu. It prowls the forests in the early morning as well as the late afternoon. Its venom will kill a grown man in a very few heartbeats. There are other predators on this world, but none are more feared than the Macktu. Only a poison laced arrow will kill it. If you become ensnared in its web, you have very little hope of escape."
"Judy was caught in a web yesterday," said John. "She had cut through that grove of trees to sit by the stream. Fortunately, Doctor Smith and the Robot found her before the spider, a, Macktu could attack."
"You are a very fortunate woman, Miss Robinson," said Lana. "With the exception of the attack on our village last year, only one person in the history of our Clan has ever lived to tell of a Macktu attack."
Judy shuddered at the thought of the spider coming toward her. She snuggled closer to Don.
...
With Penny sitting in front of him, T'lan spurred the animal into a full run. They circled the Jupiter 2 camp several times and finally came to a stop in the middle of the field.
"I had forgotten how much fun it was to ride," said Penny.
"I'm pleased that you found it enjoyable. Would you like to sit down?"
"No, that's okay, I think I'm fine right here," she replied, patting his arm.
T'lan was content to stay on the back of the animal with his arms around the young woman.
"May I ask how many cycles you have seen since the day of your birth," he asked.
"The day of my…oh, you mean how old I am. It's not polite to ask a lady her age," Penny responded, coyly.
"Forgive me…I meant no offense…"
"It's okay, T'lan, I was teasing you. I turned fifteen in August. How about you?"
"With the season of the high sun, I will be eighteen cycles."
Penny did a quick mental calculation, two and a half years, Mom and Dad can't complain about that.
T'lan urged the horse like animal into motion, guiding it to the cliffs behind the ship.
"Do you have a girlfriend, T'lan?"
"Girlfriend? I do not understand."
"You know, a young woman, who is about your age, someone to spend time with, talk to, do things together."
"Ah, in our culture, a male of my age has usually found the young woman that he will join with. When they both reach the age of enlightenment, the Clan allows them to perform the bonding of their hearts and minds."
"I see," said Penny, as her heart sank. "You have someone."
"No, she, who I would have joined with, was killed when a nest of Macktu invaded our camp."
"I'm sorry T'lan, I didn't mean to pry."
"I am not offended, Penny. I was just as curious about you. I assumed that you also have no one to share with."
"No," she sighed. "When we got to Alpha Centauri, other families were supposed to follow us, but with our ship damaged, we can't leave for quite some time. We are considering settling here, but I don't think Dad has decided yet."
"It is the desire of my heart to see you stay, Penny Robinson."
She sighed again, thinking the same thing. The idea of getting to know this young man both excited and terrified her. Is this what happens when you fall in love, she thought.
"I think we should head back to camp, T'lan. I don't want Mom and Dad to worry."
"Of course," he said, only a slight indication of disappointment was evident in his voice.
"Will you come visit again?"
"If that is your desire," he said, brightened by the notion.
"I think I'd like that."
...
The village of the Lamotia Clan was located several miles west of the Robinson campsite. Before they left, Jarrock and his wife invited the Robinsons to the village for a feast of friendship. Not wanting to offend their new neighbors, they agreed, even though there was still much work to do. When told of Don and Judy's upcoming nuptials, Jarrock and Lana offered to help with the arrangements as well as offering to host the event.
"Well, Don, Judy? What do you think," asked John, at the evening meal.
"Judy and I are okay with it, that is, as long as all of you are there."
"Just try to keep any of us away," said Maureen. "We will all be there, Don."
"We still want you to perform the ceremony, Dad," said Judy.
Smith threw his napkin down in disgust.
"Bah! If I were you, Miss Judy, I would want a nice private ceremony, without the likes of these savages."
"Come on, Smith," chided West. "Just once, can't you say something nice?"
"Don's right, Smith," added the Professor. "For the first time since leaving Earth, we found a group of people that seem to share our core values and beliefs."
"Really, Doctor Smith, I can't possibly see what you could have against these people," said Maureen.
Even in the minority, Smith stubbornly refused to relent.
"Professor Robinson, I don't trust them. How do you know that they didn't bend your minds in some cruel and savage way?"
"That is always a possibility, I suppose, but, until they do something that I find suspicious, I have no reason not to trust them."
"You may trust them, I do not. Tomorrow evening, I will stay here with the ship where it's safe and sound. Now, if you will all excuse me, I'm ready to turn in. After a day of hard labor, my delicate back will never be the same. Good night."
"Don't forget to set your alarm," quipped Major West. "You're coming with John and I tomorrow morning to set up the weather and relay stations."
"Zachary Smith, reduced to being a beast of burden, oh, the pain."
Smith turned on his heel and stalked into the ship.
"Don shook his head in disgust, "Just what in the world is his problem…"
"Now, Don," interjected Judy, "Don't let him ruin our day, please."
"You're right, I'm sorry." He drew close to her and kissed her.
"Speaking of turning in," said John. "Maureen and I are doing the same. Good night, everyone."
Judy watched her parents walk up the ramp into the ship. Her father had his arm around her waist and they were looking starry-eyed at each other. She leaned back into the arms of her fiancé.
"Ah…I think love is in the air," she said.
"Yeah, I think you're right," said Don, before he changed the subject. "Will, Penny, it looks like the two of you found some friends as well."
"Brina is pretty cool," said Will. "She has a great ear for music. Tomorrow night, I'm bringing my guitar and we are going to work on some songs together."
Penny seemed to be day dreaming, she didn't hear the Major's question right away.
"…about you…Penny?"
"Oh…I'm sorry, Don. What did you ask?"
"How did you and T'lan get along?"
"Oh, just fine, he's a good rider. We had fun together."
Judy watched her sister carefully. Her body language was telling a much more detailed story than her words. She wondered if Don had picked up on it. I'll have to ask him later, she thought.