Chapter Sixteen
The Desert Saga
Skoon sat with his back resting on his headboard and his legs crossed at the ankle
pondering the wording of the first message he would send to Michele. That day there
had been a review of the information provided by their FIT (fiancé in training*) class
that was very much a requirement for these unbounded males. He thought it was
imperative that he inform her of some of the things that had been discussed. What
he had not as yet determined was what he should mention first.
One of the lessons that Spock had made special reference to was that these were
uncharted waters for them. Yes indeed, this task is indeed foreign to these Vulcans
for in their previous lives there was no courtship because they were bonded at
seven. During the intervening years perhaps that bond was strengthened, but even
if that were not the case, at some, unknown date and unspecific time the marriage
would take place. Of course Spock did not need to explain that only during the first
stages of Pon Farr such marriages took place. He had been informed that the
females would be given lessons on Vulcan male physiology, Vulcan diet, touch
telepathy, and finally Pon Farr, with a transcription composed by Ka'nu, The
Herbalist, informing all of his efforts to if not silence, extensively quiet that beast.
The Terran Way leading to marriage required time to learn about one another, a
further step was the touching of your partner, holding one another's hand or waist
and even performing the Terran ritual of lip to lip kissing which was quite outside the
perimeter of Vulcan view of decency. After all, even bonded Vulcan couples were
only permitted one kind of public exhibition of affection, the skin to skin contact of the
ozh'esta (the finger embrac).
Spock had informed the class that while his first experience in that Terran ritual of
kissing was indeed awkward he now found experiencing that mutual expression of
affection to be most satisfying in actuality, it was 'fascinating'.
Skoon's first message to Michele read thusly:
'Michele, Skoon here. I am desirous to know that you are in optimum health and that
your work this day is proving to be satisfying. Today I aided Ke'el, our stone mason
in erecting a sign at our front gate to identify our settlement. The name engraved on
stone was Ah'rak kya, in Standard which means 'Vulcan Lives'.
Another one of the things that we learned was the need to tell our partners
that they are aesthetically pleasing in appearance, and so I repeat, your face and
form are most agreeable to me.
Michele, there is a possibility that I might be able to visit you in San Francisco.
Spock and Nyota have invited Ke'el and myself to visit them in their home. If that is
so, I would be very much pleased to see you then.
Please be assured of my constancy in my regard for you.
Skoon'
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
His fellow Survivor who was likewise very much impressed with the visit of his
Terran fellow musician composed his correspondence…
Hilda:
It is I, Ke'el, although we have been apart just thirty-eight hours, forty-five minutes
and ten seconds, which in fact is not such a very long time, in this instance,
my heart overrules my mind in this matter of counting time, for it appears much too
long since we have been in each other's company.
Thank you for leaving a sample of your music with me. As I play it, I visualize you, and I
am very pleased.
Spock has invited Skoon and myself to visit his family in San Francisco. Once our
schedule has been approved and finalized, I will inform you of the time of our arrival.
I do wish that you will be able to share time with me. If a time for rehearsal is
scheduled, perhaps I might be able to be present as you do so. Our time together is
forever in my mind and when I close my eyes I see your pleasing form and face
before me. I will close now for the time for third meal has come. I await your
presence beside me.
Ke'el
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
When Bettie returned to the broadcast building again they were swamped with
correspondence. These were immediately sorted for suitability and Bettie would
have them delivered to the Embassy. It had been agreed that the wives would meet
that evening. It appeared that the latest group of correspondences might be an 'over
kill'. Most of the males had already read biographies that apparently appealed to
them. These latest revelations would probably be stored for a short period of time as
back-up.
As Bettie got ready to pack the hard copies of these messages one fell out. As Bettie
got ready to pack it she noticed an image was also part of that message. Her eyes
were immediately drawn to the female's eyes, the most unusual she had ever
seen, and then to the words in this short message…
"I have never known love, I was abandoned when born, raised in an orphanage, but I believe I have risen above those
negative beginnings through hard work. Presently I am working on my second PhD. While it is so that these Survivors have
lost love, I could never make that statement since I have never experienced it, but am most willing to try,'
By the tone of the letter Bettie attempted to discern if the author of the message was perhaps emotionally
scared due to her life's experiences. As Bettie read her background information and she discovered that indeed she had met
her life's challeges and come off the winner. It was also discovered she was indeed a genius in her chosen skill, she
admitted to have studied the Vulcan language and while not expert, was fluent in its simplest form.
The letter was placed on the table, while Bettie finished packing the other copies for delivery and
sat down to review the information in the letter again. She would suggest to their group that this lady be interviewed.