They had taken the Fundamental Law of the Global Union as a framework basis. For hours and hours, they sat in the room on the oval table, discussing, debating and nailing the complicated constitution down to the most necessary and simplest meaning. Shalamorn was acquainted with Earth Writing, but her knowledge didn't suffice. Neri couldn't read at all, – a fact, that was better hidden. So it was down to Diane and Jason to read the laws out loud for them. When Jason looked out the window for the first time that day, the sun had gone and it was snowing out of thick, dark clouds. Shalamorn had tried to write down the laws, translated and handwritten in the writing of the Ocean People, but had given up quickly. Instead, she now tipped in the strange symbols for everyone to see in a holographic device, much likely to the communicator, Jason already knew. Many senators had watched this with great interest and curiosity.
"I can understand, you don't use such a thing as paper and ink on a planet mostly consisting of water," Senator Sokolow of Russia said. "But I would have expected a finer writing system from a civilisation as highly developed as yours."
"Well," Shalamorn responded smilingly and finished a sentence on the device. "As you know, water is patient and strong. Even symbols carved in stone are erased over time. The most important events in history have been burnt into metal. But only a few flammable materials on our planet can reach the sufficient temperature. This way of carrying information further to the next generation is expensive and elaborate."
"So," Umbajali assumed, "you stored all your knowledge, your stories, your wisdom in the only thing, which would last forever: the memory of your people."
Shalamorn nodded. "The the most part, yes," she answered. "A basic writing system has been created. But our civilisation has developed on the basis of respect for all living creatures and the laws of the ancient ones. The technology, you can see here," she pointed to the device, "allowed us to extend our writing system to an alphabet, which can be compared to those of your old Egyptian symbolism."
"There are conspiracy theories," Sokolow said, smiling mischievously, "that the pyramids in Egypt have in fact been built by aliens. Do you have anything to say to that?"
This was actually the first time, this room was filled with laughter and chuckling. Jason suddenly realised, how serious and focused everybody had been. The amusement had a relieving effect, and Jason felt himself relaxing slightly.
Shalamorn laughed, too. "Well, I can not say, we are totally innocent."
Suddenly, the atmosphere was in a tension.
"Are you serious?" Sokolow asked stunned, and Jason remembered, he had been a history professor at some Russian university. But he couldn't tell his exact subject. He should definitely do more homework on these politicians.
"We came here some thousand years ago," Shalamorn explained. "My people were still young and we just had begun to travel the galaxy. They built pyramids on different planets to serve as a shelter. Too late, my ancestors realised, Earth was inhabited by an intelligent species. To that time, the pyramids were still underwater. So they left them and returned home. They thought the pyramids wouldn't be detected until Earth People would be ready for them. Most certainly, they didn't expect them to use them as a model to design sepulchral monuments for their kings."
"Yeah, the Berbers, we met in Egypt," Jason thought out loud and turned to face Neri. "They told us about the Pyramid of Mystery. They never found a way to get in. I guess, people back then just assumed it to be some sort of tomb."
"So, the pyramids were built by our men," Solokow concluded. "This will surely disappoint a lot of people."
Jason grinned. "Especially, the fans of the Star Gate series."
"I loved the movie," Xiung beamed. "And SG-1. But I never had time to watch Atlantis or Universe."
"You should watch it," Jason insisted. "Universe is my favourite!"
"Na," Rugeaux objected. "Universe took a whole season to get interesting. Atlantis has a more thrilling plot."
She found herself stared at.
"What?" Madame President asked, widely grinning. "Didn't expect me to be a geek, did you?"
"It's great, you find some common ground here," De Souza said, and the general smirking froze. "But if you intend to deepen your conversation about Science Fiction, you should better take this to dinner. We are not finished yet."
"Of course," Rugeaux responded. Xiung and Jason exchanged a secret grin.
"I don't think, we will finish today anyway," Umbajali objected. "For my part, I'm much more interested in the fact, that there's a civilisation out there, working perfectly without the amount of bureaucracy."
"Well, if you look at it the other way round," Shalamorn answered, "it is very odd, to create a society, where every decision, every contract, and every process is depending on a mountain of paperwork. It does slow down and limits your freedom to act, doesn't it?"
"It takes time," Ferrière admitted. "Sometimes years to get the permission to built a house!"
"It's a matter of fairness," De Souza explained. "To make sure, everyone is treated the same."
"But people are not all the same," Neri said, and although, she had said it quietly, everyone directed their attention to her. This was actually the first time, she took the floor by herself.
"Some good, some bad. Sometimes, it say it's right, sometimes it's wrong."
De Souza blinked. "Are you saying, you make decisions based on gut feeling? Seal contracts, if it feels right?"
Shalamorn frowned by her almost sneering tone. "Of course, we also have laws, but yes: we evaluate each situation in particular, and the outcome is also partly the result of the trust in our instinct."
"In women's instinct, of course."
Shalamorn had no smile left. "I have been patient," she said dangerously quiet. Jason shivered. He only knew Shalamorn as a warm and dedicated person, but the cold authority she was radiating right now, was frightening.
"I really try to understand your faith in your bureaucracy, in your sheets and sheets of paper with rules for every breath, a creature takes on this planet. I comprehend, your social structures today go back to a civilisation, built on a religion, which declared humans, especially men, as the summit of creation. You must have been shocked, even shattered, when you found out about us: an intelligent species, higher developed than you, able of space travelling, and yet still rather trusting in … gut feeling, than in written laws." Shalamorn took a breath. "It must be that shock," she continued softly, "that makes you constantly attacking me, for I have been nothing but friendly and sincere with you."
"Really?" De Souza didn't even try to conceal her doubt. "Why are still here then? What is the true reason, you want to stay? Your presence on Earth will make things worse, and you are well aware of that! This encounter does not just include some diplomacy issues. You brought your intern conflicts into this, as well. Tell me, you don't want us to fight a war for you!"
"I don't," Shalamorn objected immediately. "I have absolutely no intention to get you involved in any conflict between my own people." She searched for eye contact with De Souza. "Senator, I told you the truth. What I want, is to pay my dues. I want to help the people of the Opal Planet, to repair the damage, one of my own has done to you."
De Souza opened her mouth again, but Rugeaux cut in. "This is clearly enough for one day." She gave De Souza a warning look. "I suggest, we all retreat and get some rest. We will continue this by tomorrow. If you're still interested in a joint dinner with peaceful conversations, come back around 8."