Dear Guest Reviewer:
Thank you for reminding me of the last sentence in Chapter Eleven. As I remember it, I
added that information just before posting and it did not stick with me. I appreciate
the heads-up. It has been removed.
Botsey
Chapter Fourteen
The Desert Saga
Ka'nu had already decided that he would test the effectiveness of this herb on
himself first. He had not harvested many leaves due to the warning of his now 'blood
brother' about its tenuous effectiveness if kept for a long period of time.. He decided
that this find would not remain secret, he would advise Sarek, Su'auk and then Sirin and
Lo'vaak. Besides information about the herbs effectiveness, he would also have to
determine the optimum time to start administering treatment on each candidate for
treatment. With the different life cycles that this planet employed, how would that
have a bearing on each male.
For his own use, written documentation was unnecessary, but his wish to share with the communities' healers
made it imperative that he document each, time of day, amount gathered, how the tea was prepared, size of each
harvest. how much tea each recipient imbibed and the numbers that were revealed in his testing. This was indeed
a project requiring dedication because in fact it was a life or death matter.
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
The day of the broadcast was of course, bright and sunny. All of The Survivors were dressed in their brightly
colored tunics and black trousers. Although they would be visiting work sites, none would cross the perimeters
that would necessitate the donnng of special safety attire.
After their silent Vulcan first meal it was as if an explosion of conversation in the room. Bettie went to
the front and asked were there any questions?
At first again there was silence and then one of the males raised their hands and asked,
"May some of us read parts of the letters that had been sent to us from Terran females and invite such ones to
visit us here at our home? Bettie thought for a moment and figured that would cause the broadcast station's
terminal to light up with calls that could not be managed and so said,
"I do not think our communication staff could handle the outpouring that would be caused by such a revelation. I
think all should address that person through electronic communication or written form, once contact information
is supplied."
There was a general nodding of heads, then silence. Su'auk then began to provide
general instruction,
"Brothers, we will be introduced to Terra in a completely different way today. They will be able to view our
creativity, industriousness, focus, and determination that we shall continue alive as the living Ka'tras for our
people. He then introduced a slogan that would be heard almost as a man on the lips of each person that day,
Ah'rakkya kya (Vulcan lives/exists). Immediately the stone mason decided that he
would engrave that message on stones around the settlement as visual reminders of the strength of that
statement and the Vulcan resolve. Of course, the reminders were for outsiders, not the residents, for that
message had now been indelibly imprinted on their consciousness and their hearts.
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
The night before 'The Saviors,' had all been given outlines of the topics that would be covered by the broadcast.
Need we mention that it was memorized instantly.
The next morning, the directors voice was finally heard,
"All quiet on the set please."
The camera panned in to see Bettie Flippin, dressed in protective clothing. Her first words were,
"Greetings planets of the Federation, I am broadcasting from an unspecified place where miracles do come true.
Allow me to introduce my fellow moderator for this broadcast, Ambassador Sarek of Vulcan, who you will
remember from our last broadcast on this subject, Uncharacteristically, Sarek too was dressed in protective
clothing. The surrounding audience had offered applause which Sarek quieted with upraised hands.
"Good day to you who have joined us, Ah'rakkya Ah'rak. The literal translation of those Vulcan words are, Vulcan
lives or exits. You will see the truthfulness of those words during your visit with us.
If you remember the first time our 'Survivors' were seen they were neatly dressed waiting for entrance to a show
in San Francisco at the Fisherman's Wharf. Today they will show you another side of The Vulcan Way and I will
leave it at your discretion to identify what it is. May I introduce to you this project's general director, whose given
name is Su'auk. The Amanda's Project's general director started,
"Good day to all. Allow me to present to you my wife, Eleanor. She has been invaluable as a never-ending source
of information for our settlements use. Never displaying a hit of emotion, she nodded and then said,
"I send my greetings to my homeland, United States of Africa and to my family."
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
The program director signaled remote camera one, housed at the ten Vulcan style buildings that had been
erected. Ka'fir, the builder was standing in a relaxed stance in front of his twenty building crew members. He
introduced each one of his workers and explained what each one's specialty was. Then he went on to explain how
each Vulcan home was in itself its own energy supplier, water source, waste disposal and recycling unit, heating
and cooling manufacturer. The Vulcan home needed no outside source for anything that would contribute to the
comfort and security of its occupants. The entire community of houses had been built after an ongoing study of
prevailing winds.
These winds were used to turn turbines, gears, pumps, wheels and any other moving mechanism connected to
the house. There was always an open foyer that served to capture these winds and catch their power in the
baffles that were situated on either side of the entrance. The homes were always build where they was adequate
water so on Vulcan there had been no reservoirs, just underground water sources. The number of houses allowed
to feed from these water supplies was also a matter of study. The rise and fall of such water sources were a
matter of detailed study over a number of months because once these homes were constructed it was expected
that it would last through a family many generations.
Ke'el, the stone mason and, the community's brick makers were also interviewed at this site. An additional
camera housed at the brick works area showed the painstaking way bricks of varied colors were manufactured,
not on a factory assembly line, but each one efficiently by hand.
The stone mason showed his contribution which was the creation of stone slabs
emblazoned with the family name that was always shown above the door of each
home. Then there was a fade out.
"Camera two, action," was the director's next command. Sus'na was standing outside
of his workshop. Standing at his side was Hilda. His simple introduction of her was that
she was a fellow musician studying Vulcan music. The levitating camera followed him
into his work area. He explained that it took a year to complete the primary Vulcan
instrument, the Ka'athyra, their harp.
Walking along a table that spanned the entire length of the building Sus'na explained,
certain indigenous trees they had thought forever lost will be revived by securing of
seeds from the Federation's seed program. Once seeds were received these would be
planted. It was estimated that it will take at least fifty years before the survivable forest
could begin limited harvesting. In particular demands was the sha-forI tree that was
used for the backboard of the Ka'athyra. The samples of wood on display were being
tested for their suitability in construction of that musical instrument.
He then turned a nob and the entire room was filled with the music of the Vulcan harp.
To those not familiar with his haunting quality, it sent chills up their spine.
Camera Three, Roll 'Em.
At a large building the next camera crew reached the clothing
manufacturing arm of the settlement. S'nor, the shoemaker, St'gon, the tailor, _the
embroidery and _the weaver all stood aside to welcome the visitors. St'gon
started by explaining to the audience that Vulcan clothing were identification markers.
The family name, clan and lineal history was all place on the formal garment. The family
was shown on one lapel of the robe and the clan's identity was shown on the other. The
lineal history was spelled out around the hem of these robes. It had become the custom
on Vulcan for the females to have shoes made to match each formal robe they owned.
At times, the males wore trousers with their robes and all were familiar with their more
casual tunics that also at times were decorated with names or clans. On the walls were
samples of each garment described by the spokesmen.
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
The final visit would be to explore the agricultural efforts of The Settlement. At the
entrance to a field, whose bounderies would not be seen, stood Su'nuk, the heavy
equipment operator and his large body of workers. Typical of The Vulcan way, all the
members were introduced to show that whatever was accomplished was a group effort
not to be credited to one individual.
After the introduction Su'nuk stated,
"For all who were unaware, Vulcans are vegetarians. In greenhouses were have experimented with seeds from
our home word to see which ones would adapt to ournew home. Ninety-five percent of our efforts were successful
to before you are crops not only for our consumption but for export to New Vulcan where they have only been
marginally successful in their efforts to grow food from our home world. The settlers have successfully adapted to
many of the indigenous plant life on New Vulcan. As could be expected, there is still a desire to remember our
now lost home through familiar foods. These are what we are supplying to that new home planet.
Su'nuk now silently requested the group to follow him into a large garage where the heavy equipment was stored
and repaired. He explained that he was presently teaching several of The Survivors in the maintenance of this
machinery, His final stop was beside a huge piece of equipment that he explained was under construction based
on his designed. It appeared, that with the completion of this one machine, all the others would prove to be
obsolete. It required only a two man crew. There was no evidence of pride or desired for praise mirrored in either
the speaker's words or posture for the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few…there was no room
for pride.
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
Unbeknown to this sheltered group, many big corporations viewing this broadcast broke out into cold sweats with
the revelation of the advanced thinking and actions of this small isolated group. They could see their profit
margins dropping, and their end of year bonuses evaporating into thin air.