Chapter Thirty
The Desert Saga
Ke'el had completed the carving that would mark the entrance of the settlement, 'Ah'rak Tox'oi (Vulcan Lives) A stone of such weight could not be suspended so it was placed at the entrance with tall cacti in back and colorful flowers on either side. The actual deciding on the design and its'creation had given him much satisfaction. It had allowed him the opportunity to allow his mind a cautionary drift back to the past and hear his father's instructions.
"The rihk-raul (chisel) should be held at this particular angle for this rock is soft. You must strike the top from a forward position so the blade becomes more deeply embedded in this medium."
He mentally viewed the times his grandfather's worn hands were encasing his small ones so he could hold on to the tools. His grandfather had been responsible for the selection of his bondmate and was present at his kooin-ul (bonding at seven years of age) His future wife had been lost during Va Pak.
Bettie Flippin's broadcast would allow viewers to observe that great progress made by The Survivors'. Their final thought after that previous visit was , Ka'diath, what is, is, which was an acceptance of any reality, no matter how unpleasant. Also included in this group of visitors was a selection of artists who were interested in speaking with the artists who dwelt at the settlement.
Ke'eel had already determined it was not necessary for him to be present during the activities scheduled for the visitors. He would use the time to plan his next project, a stone showing the location of specific building within the settlement. It would be placed at Su'uark's office building. Spock, Sirin, Lo'vaak, and Sarek would also be with this group of visitors. Also these visitors would include artist, musicians, scultors, textile designers, and ecology experts. All of these were interested in the progress of The Survivors.
Ke'eel had just hoisted the large marble slab to the top of his work table. He would convert the marble into a guide to the settlement locations. There was a soft rap at the door.
"Du lau sri-tor" (You may enter). The head of Ve'as, the sculptor was seen and then he asked,
"Brother, would you be opposed to answering some questions about your work?"
Ke'el nodded in the affirmative and Ve'as entered and behind him stood a Terran female, with close cropped curly hair, her skin was the same color as Spock's aduna. She smiled and stated in slightly accented Standard,
"I wanted very much to meet you to make an inquiry. Could you show me exactly how your hand is positioned on your tool when you make the internal carvings for the Vulcan script that is on the display at the entrance?"
As she finished she fished out of her bag a well-used tool which she grasped in a position that indicated she was familiar with the tool's use. She then commented,
"I realize that it is not permissible to touch you so if it is agreeable with you, I will lay down the tool on this table and then you can pick it up and demonstrate."
Ke'el again nodded, picked up the tool and brought it up to eye level to demonstrate the proper positioning of one's hands to create those internal swirls. He instructed,
"The internal curves are created first, then, the outer perimeter of all script."
Again the visitor inquired,
"I understand that Ve'as is a sculptor and you are a stone mason, have you ever attempted to replicate a humanoid form in stone?"
"No, I have left that pursuit to Ve'as."
Ve'as then spoke,
"If it is permissible, I will bring your co-worker here to this location."
The visitor smiled and said,
"I think she would like to meet Mr. Ke'el also. She might have a question or two."
It appeared to Ke'el that her statement was totally illogical, how would Ms Williams be able to know about the number of questions another non-telepathic being would ask.
Ve'as left and then the visitor was in her giant bag again and said,
"At the present time my co-worker and I are working on a piece to commemorate your people and your home world. Out of her monstrous bag she produced a holo-pic album and started its' display. She continued speaking, all the while describing this work; its height, what was being depicted, the material being used, her hopes forit finding a place for its' exhibition. It was not a sponsored work, it was an expression of the heart. It depicted an elderly Vulcan matron's face, the body was not as yet complete. In actuality, she had not one idea of how the matron should be clothed. Next to her was a young Vulcan child, the matron's hand was on the child's head. All of a sudden the visitor remember her manners,
"Excuse me, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Sharon Williams. My co-workers name is Ingrid, Ingrid Handelson.
Characteristically, Ke'el nodded.
The door opened and Ve'as and a tall Terran female with hair the color of straw entered behind him. She nodded at Ke'el and said,
"My name is Ingrid. Thank you for allowing us to invade your inner sanctum."
Ke'el did instant research and was satisfied that her descriptive phrase was correct.
He nodded.
Sharon told her friend that she had been sharing pictures of their joint work with Ke'el and then a light bulb went off in her head,
"We two have no idea of how these two individuals in stone should be dressed, what trees, flowers or scenery, indigenous to Vulcan, should be shown in the background. It would honor us greatly if you would act as our consultants and co-artist on this project. By finding matching stone the piece would become so much larger if some scenery could be included. We could communicate often on-line and possibly you could visit us in San Francisco." So it was, there were frequent visits between these two Terran females and two Vulcans males.
Ingrid mentioned that their work was tentatively entitled, HOPE. She then inquired whether that concept was part of Vulcan thought.
Ke'el settled himself and said,
"Our people plan for the future with very solid, well thought out activities with the thought that the more detailed these plans are should guarantee fruition. Perhaps that is not exactly the Terran concept, but perhaps in that way a Vulcan does hope. Our way appears to guarantee that it is a very rare occasion that our plans do not reach the "goal" outlined in the initial concept.
So it was that these two couples started a unique artistic collaboration that would end up something very different. While they worked on this creation together Sharon instructed him on the replication of the humanoid form in stone. Finally, one day she posed for him, fully clothed of course. His unfailing memory was, of course, the greatest asset for his continued advancement. Needless to say, his study of Sharon Williams' form made an indelible impression on him and something stirred that had been smothered.
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On one of the instances that the four of them had worked all day, Ingrid and Ve'as had left the studio to secure food. Sharon was on the upper rung of a ladder polishing the matron's face when Ke'el cleared his throat.
She carefully seated herself at the top she looked down and said,
"When we started on this project we had no idea that any Vulcan sculptors or stone masons had survived the end of your planet. In our hearts we felt the need to memorialize that great loss. When we heard about your settlement and its' inhabitants we had to come and inquire about what artists were housed at the settlement.
He stood at the bottom of the ladder and looked up at her dust covered form and waited patiently for her to finish polishing the matron's face. As she finished she wiped her brow and looked down at him and smiled.
"How can I be of assistance Ke'el?"
"I must speak to you. Could you please descend your elevation assisting device?"
"Oh, you mean the ladder."
He stood before her looking her straight in the eye as he started his proposal.
"Sharon Williams of Terra, I desire thee. I stand before you beseeching your acceptance of me as your bondmate, your husband. I will care for your every need and we will complete one another."
Smiling she answered,
"Ke'el of Vulcan and Ah'rak tix'oi, the Vulcan settlement, I accept your proposal."
He took her dust covered hands in his and lifted them to his lips. Before their embrace Sharon took the end of her smock and wiped his lips and asked,
"Ke'el, do Vulcans kiss?"
He placed his index and miccle finger on hers she gasped. She then said,
"Now, let us try the Terran way."
Placing her covered hands around her neck she lifted her lips to his and he willingly lowered his lips to hers.
They were still in their embrace when Ingrid and Ve'as came throught the door. She was laughing and he said to his companion,
"Perhaps there will have to be a double bonding ceremony again."
Ingrid went over to her companion and said,
"You did not have time to figure out what was taking us so long."
Ke'el said,
"No, we were intensely occupied in discussion."
Ve'as said,
"As were we."
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So it was that with the completion of their joint effort the work was accepted by The Federation as the centerpiece for the Memorial for Vulcan. The sculptors requested that each Federation member that had lost citizens in The Battle of Vulcan please send an indigenous piece of rock to be included in the memorial. In a circle surrounding the stature these rock samples would be placed. The name of each planet would be engraved on each rock same, also on the front of it would be carved the names of their citizens that had been lost. The two couples became world famous but remained modest, spending part of their time at the settlement and the other at San Francisco. Each had three children who grew up together and eventually even married one another-two were artist, one a sculptor, another a stone mason and last two joined Star Fleet.