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(Jenny looked at the tear-stained page of the journal through her own tears as she came away from the movie that Lizzie had created in her mind. It had been so vivid, as if she herself had been experiencing it.
The beautiful crescendo of the love story that Lizzie had never told anyone still resonated in Jenny’s mind, overlain by the horrific catastrophe that destroyed so many whom Lizzie had loved and served with a happy heart. She couldn’t begin to imagine the pain that Lizzie must have felt, and yet no one who had ever told her tales of her aunt had ever hinted at such a tragedy in her life.
Now she knew why Lizzie had never married, or at least that no one had ever known of the marriage vows she had made with Reloi. Lizzie had remained true to those vows, not even caring that technically she was a widow and could have found romantic love again at some point. For her, there had only ever been one, and that was enough for her.
Jenny thought about Burt; and as usual when she thought about him, her heart swelled, and she felt warm all over. She hurt for Lizzie that she had never had the opportunity to be with her dear Reloi as Jenny was with Burt.
Even though they didn’t see each other as often as she would have liked, it wasn’t much different from when her dad had been in the military and had been sent on assignment, leaving her mom with her and her siblings until he returned. Her mom would never even acknowledge the possibility that her dad would not return, but Jenny had known once she was older that her mom was always so relieved when he did come home.
She finally understood what that must have meant to her mother back then, especially now, with this multidimensional war looming over them all. Even when Jenny was back in action, she and Burt wouldn’t see much of one another other than their nightly mental date at the little pool by the Merced River. But she also knew that in wars, things happen that were unpleasant and unexpected.
There weren’t many pages remaining in this journal, and the next one waited in the box in her MDP. She would finish the journal today, and tomorrow she would pick up the third journal, focusing all of her attention on finishing before her release from her medical leave and her return to her duties as the Gatekeeper for the Dimensional Alliance.
She wiped her eyes, took a deep breath, and turned the page, Lizzie’s words once again creating a vivid motion picture on the screen of her imagination.)
Lizzie placidly watched the linklings playing quietly in and out of the trees of the grove behind Tarafau’s house. She couldn’t raise any enthusiasm for the frolics of the furry little green creatures. She felt numb, distant, beyond any emotion.
How had she entangled herself in romance, in loving anyone this much? And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to regret loving Reloi. Kind, gentle, funny, strong and intelligent, he had captured first her interest and her intellect and then her heart. This was a person worthy of her love and respect and beyond. She knew without reservation that he loved her in the same way.
After the last family had come through the now-demolished Grildite gate, she had almost mechanically done everything she could to help the relief efforts of the Alliance, visiting the refugee camps, speaking with the Grildites, who were often people she knew and had worked with during her first official assignment as an agent of the Alliance.
And she was still an agent. That hadn’t changed. Instead of going back to Earth, as she had been told she could while she awaited reassignment, she chose to return to Tarafau’s home with him. Amenia had welcomed her, assuring the healers at the Alliance that she would use her own skills as a talented caregiver of the distressed and depressed to help Lizzie heal from the shock of the disaster on Grild.
She had known that going back to Earth would only make her feel more disconnected than ever before. She couldn’t seek comfort from her family. There was no way they could understand what she had gone through, especially since she couldn’t even tell them why she was feeling as if she had been cut adrift from life.
The trees in the grove had been immensely comforting as she tried to process all of these deep feelings. One old tree in particular, who styled himself as “StarSinger,” had often made an effort to speak to her; not about the disaster, but about common things like birds and sunlight and the beautiful sky rings that showed clearly even in the daylight on this planet. He was a joyful soul and always had something encouraging to say.
This gift, Reloi had given to her. He was the one who had opened her mind to the voices of growing things around her. One more reason she missed him. Now, every time she interacted with a growing thing, she would remember him with a grateful heart.
Tarafau and Amenia came out with little Elizabeth, who had grown so much during the months Lizzie had been away on assignment. She was a sweet baby, already pulling herself up on any available piece of furniture in preparation for taking her first steps. Her crown of curly black burnished with brown hair and her cheerful nature were comforting to Lizzie, but even as she held the baby or played with her, she found herself wondering what her own babies with Reloi might have been like.
She had never pictured herself as a mother, motherhood being so very far from anything she had been focusing on. But now she found herself sometimes envisioning herself holding a little one on her lap, telling them stories or tucking them into their bed at night with a kiss and a hug.
Elizabeth held out her chubby little arms to Lizzie as they approached, and Lizzie responded by reaching out to her. Amenia placed her into Lizzie’s arms with a smile. She cooed and snuggled onto Lizzie’s chest with a happy sigh.
As soon as Tarafau could make eye contact with Lizzie, he said, “We got a communication from the Alliance today. Liliath wants you to report tomorrow to her office. They have an assignment for us. She recognizes that you may not feel up to it but thinks it will be in your best interest to get back to work.”
Lizzie just nodded, running her fingers through Elizabeth’s curls. She had known it was coming. She had been at Tarafau’s home for a couple of weeks.
Ynni had hopped up onto the chaise as soon as Amenia had handed Elizabeth to Lizzie. Ynni loved the little girl and couldn’t resist coming near to croon to her, laughing when the little one reached out to her. “We are leaving? Soon?”
“You could stay here for a while if you prefer,” Lizzie sent, sensitive to the joy Ynni always expressed when she could be with her family. “I could always come back and get you later.”
“Ynni goes with Lizzie. Always.”
“I thought you would say that,” Lizzie replied with a wan smile. “I just wanted to give you the chance to stay if you wanted to.”
“Tribe is happy. Little ones are happy. Ynni will go with Lizzie.”
“Well, that’s settled then,” Tarafau sent with a smile. “I didn’t think there was much chance you would persuade Ynni to stay, not when we are off to do some good in the multiverse. Let’s take a day at the Apex to do any last-minute shopping, and then we’ll roast some bud crawlers and have a last little concert before we settle down to sleep. We’ll leave first thing in the morning, so be sure to pack your MDP tonight before you go to bed.”
Amenia reached for Elizabeth, who shook her little head and started to pout when Amenia was insistent. “Lizzie needs to get ready, Elizabeth. You can play with her more in a minute,” she said, grinning at her daughter and shaking her head. “You’re going to miss your Lizzie, aren’t you?”
It was as good a distraction as any, Lizzie decided. A day at the Apex was always a treat; and even with the shadow that seemed to follow her around every day since the Grild tragedy, it was pleasant not to have to focus on what came next.
True to his word, after a day of shopping and entertainment at the Apex, greeting many beings Lizzie had become familiar with during her initial internship on the planet, Tarafau purchased some fresh bud crawlers, and they had a fine barbecue out in the grove with the linklings frolicking for the delighted entertainment of Elizabeth. After that, Lizzie took out her mbira, and she and the linklings gave a fine concert, the trees and flowering bushes that surrounded them adding a beautiful descant that only she and the linklings could hear.
She remembered how surprised Ynni had been when she had discovered that before Reloi’s instruction Lizzie had not been able to “hear” the rooted life around her. Evidently this was a common trait among the linklings, one of the reasons they made their homes in the branches of trees. The trees were not only a home, but companions.
The stars had come out and the rings were vibrant in a dark sky by the time they finally said goodnight to the linklings and went to their beds.
Lizzie dreamed; and instead of the nightmares she had been experiencing nearly every night since the disaster, she dreamed of walking down a flower-lined path toward a country cottage, similar to the house Reloi’s family had lived in. Reloi’s arm was around her waist, and he no longer hovered in his chair beside her, but strode next to her with strong legs. He was slightly taller than her, and a sideways glance told her he was content.
“This will be our home, when you are ready to come to me,” he said, turning to her to clasp both of her hands in his to look directly into her face. “Hang on, my darling wife. I am in a good place. You will yet do much good. I will be waiting for you until your work is done.”
As he kissed her fervently, the dream faded, and she was in her bed in Tarafau’s house, and the sun was peeking from behind the curtains at the window.
As she sat up, she mentally shook herself to full wakefulness, almost wistfully looking back at her pillow. But she felt somehow strengthened by that brief contact, even if it was only a dream. She would make Reloi proud. She would move forward. She dressed and went out to face her future.
After breakfast and warm goodbyes, she, Ynni, and Tarafau looked one last time at Amenia with Elizabeth on her hip, and he put his hand on her shoulder.
They hurried from the basement of the admin building. Lizzie didn’t want to spend more time near the gateroom than necessary. Her recent memories of that place were still much too tender.
Liliath was waiting for them in her office and looked up from the tablet in her huge, clawed hands. When she wasn’t agitated, she was shaded from blue to green down her long, scaled body, her large green reptilian eyes usually calm with large black pupils. Lizzie knew from experience that when she was angry or agitated, the colors shifted from the green and blue to deep crimson and purple, and the dark pupils narrowed to slits.
She rose and came forward to greet them. Even as long as Lizzie had known Liliath, this was still a bit intimidating. However, she had met few beings in her experiences in the Alliance who were kinder or more encouraging to everyone she interacted with. Liliath had been an incredible mentor to Lizzie throughout her experiences, as she trained for her current full agent status.
There was something amazing about dragon hugs, Lizzie thought as Liliath enfolded her in her huge arms, gently pulling Lizzie close to her very warm body. When she released her, she lowered her head on her long neck to Lizzie’s eye level and sent, “Your path so far has been rougher than any agent in recent memory, Lizzie, but you are strong, and your strength is needed. Will you continue to serve?”
“I will, Liliath. I won’t lie to you, I can’t say I feel as confident in my abilities as you seem to, but I will serve as I promised. That much I can do.”
Liliath drew back, returning to her chaise, and gestured to them to sit. Lizzie realized that the dragon hug had included Ynni, still perched on her shoulder, and wondered how that experience had affected the little linkling. She would definitely want to talk to her later about that.
Lizzie and Tarafau sat in chairs facing Liliath, and she wasted no time. “We have a unique assignment for you that requires your specific talents. The planet, Fanilia, a long-time member of the Alliance, has a rare condition we do not often find on inhabited member planets. Their populace has a particular and perhaps peculiar view of what we call ‘science.’
“They also have a very different relationship with their plant life, as they communicate directly, much as you do, with the ability to mentally interact with all growing things. The agent that has been serving them for several years has served well and faithfully but does not have your particular ability. We will be transferring him to another position.
“They are expecting you and will be ready to greet you when you come through their gate today. This particular culture is very advanced, but not in a way that is obvious at first impression, for reasons you will understand as you interact with them.
“Lizzie, I know your inquisitive mind and that you will take delight in discovering these things for yourself, so I will not spoil it for you, except to say that your tablet has been loaded with as much background information as we have on record, which you can read at your leisure. Your initial relationship with them need not be obscured by all of that, however.
“I urge you to allow this to unfold naturally, as any new friendship must. You can study later. You will have time. I hesitate to ask, knowing you as I do, but do you have any questions?” This last was sent in a wry tone and Lizzie noticed that Liliath’s mouth was twisted in a toothy grin.
Despite herself, Lizzie grinned back.
“No, Liliath, I actually don’t. I’m beginning to learn that not all questions have answers and that I can be patient while I work things out for myself.”
“Ah, our Lizzie is maturing quickly among us. Then, if there is nothing else, I will let you and Tarafau take your leave. I hope and expect that the time you spend among the Fanilians will be enlightening and that you will be a true asset to the Alliance there.”
“Thank you, Liliath. I’ll try to make you proud.”
“Lizzie, you always do.” Liliath responded warmly.
At that, they took their leave and headed back down to the basement. The Gate Guardian nodded as they came through the door to the gateroom and gestured towards the long corridor full of doors. Quite a way down the seemingly endless hall, he stopped, indicated a door, and waved them through.
Lizzie wasn’t sure what she expected, especially since Liliath had emphasized that this was an advanced society, but the gate opened out to what she could only call a jungle. Dense foliage allowed sparkles of sunshine to create intricate patterns on the ground before them. The security field was simple, similar to the one in front of the gate on the hill above headquarters. It was a thin, transparent, silvery sheet they passed through without any unusual sensation.
Waiting in front of them was a delegation of humanoids who could have been from Earth, with the exception that their skin was green, dark enough to almost be black. All of them had long, plaited, black hair. They were tall, nearly a head and a half taller than Lizzie, and very slender, what her mother would have called “willowy.”
Their eyes seemed to be uniformly a bright blue with large pupils, Lizzie assumed because of the shaded light of the surrounding vegetation. They were dressed in brightly colored clothes wrapped about them like an Indian sari or a Polynesian sarong, their legs bare below the knees. They were barefooted, but this did not detract from the dignity of the way they held themselves, erect and yet somehow graceful.
Per instruction by Tarafau, Lizzie held her quarterstaff, evidently because this was a formal statement of her office as a qualified agent of the Alliance. She felt a little sheepish about it but had complied.
The foremost of the gathered Fanilians smiled and held out a hand in welcome. “We greet you, Lizzie Japhet of Earth, agent of the Dimensional Alliance, and your fellows,” he sent formally. A dim echo from all around her said, “We welcome you, welcome, welcome....”
“Thank you. I am happy to be here.” And with a slight shock, Lizzie realized she really was happy to be there, something she had not expected.
“I am Galauph, speaker for the overtribe and wielder of the power. My companions are Dangi, Ninka, and Jou. Each is a tribe leader, and they assist me in all things. The plantlings who surround us greet you as well. Over the coming years, you and your companions will meet and spend time with many of them. Your predecessor did not have the gift of hearing or sending to our plantling citizens, so we look forward to growing, learning, and joining with you in the magic.”
Lizzie had no idea what the whole “magic” thing was about, but it came to her mind something Gaston had said once, quoting one of the scientists of the Alliance, “Magic is only science we don’t understand yet.” Perhaps the word magic was their word for science?
She nodded her agreement and sent, “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Follow us, and we will escort you to the lodge where we will establish you in your dwelling and begin to introduce you to those with whom you will labor amongst us,” Galauph sent, and motioned for them to follow.
They walked down a worn footpath that wound through the trees. The path didn’t appear to have been made by clearing the trees out of the way, but more like it had just been worn over long years to its present state.
As they walked, Galauph continued the mental conversation. “The little one who perches on your shoulder. Who is this honored one, and does it have the gift?”
Lizzie almost blushed. She had been so taken aback by her new surroundings that she had neglected to introduce her companions. “This is Ynni, a linkling from far away. She does have the gift of speaking with plantlings, as well as all other beings.” Lizzie deliberately left out the other gift of the linklings, of being able to read the minds of those around them.
“And this,” she sent, pointing to Tarafau, striding along beside her, “Is Tarafau Bane, a Daringi. He is my guide, as is traditional for the first year of an agent’s service in the Alliance. He does not have the gift of speaking with plantlings, but he is adept at mental communication and is a helpful and wise companion.”
She hoped her belated effort at introducing her companions was adequate. Tarafau just grinned at her and nodded approval and Ynni was gently patting her cheek, something she often did when trying to calm Lizzie.
“Welcome, Ynni and Tarafau,” was all Galauph said in reply. “We are always gratified to meet new and interesting beings. Our relationship with the Alliance is an old one, going back to nearly the beginning of the discovery of the gateways.”
The path suddenly opened out onto a clearing surrounded by many buildings of several stories. These weren’t exactly skyscrapers, but they were well constructed with many windows glistening in the bright sunlight. The sky, now that they could see it, was a brilliant amethyst blue. Lizzie had gotten used to the idea that not all dimensions she had visited had the same blue sky and green trees as her home planet, but in this instance, she could almost feel at home.
It took a moment for Lizzie’s eyes to adjust from the abrupt transition from semi-dark jungle to the brightly sunlit square before her, but she looked around her in delight. Gathered in the square was a large group of Fanilians, looking like a flock of colorful birds. There was a wide white smile on every face as they turned towards the group emerging from the jungle path onto the sward.
Lizzie noticed that more than one carried long staves in their hands, long as they were tall. To her surprise, most of those who carried a staff were apparently female.
Galauph raised his hands, palms towards the crowd, returning their smiles. “My people, come and meet our new agent and her companions, Lizzie Japhet, a linkling by the name of Ynni, and Tarafau Bane, a Daringi from far away. You will get to know them over the coming months, as many of you will be working closely with them on several ongoing projects.
“You should know that Lizzie has the gift of relating to plantlings, as we do. One of the benefits I wish to extend to her is to increase her magic through instruction with our greatest wizards. For now, I will lead her and her company to their dwelling amongst us in the main lodge and then we will feast and celebrate. Are we agreed?”
A shout went up and a mental call, “We are agreed! Preparations are made.”
Galauph nodded happily and, leaving the assembly, led Lizzie and Tarafau to the largest building centered at the top of the square. It was four stories tall and appeared to be sheathed in a dark stucco. They went through a single wide door that slid aside as they approached.
Inside, they were greeted by what could only have been a robot. “Greetings new agent.” And Lizzie’s jaw dropped. A mechanical construct with mindspeech? She had only seen this before at the Alliance outfitters at the training center.
“Hello,” she sent in response, still confused.
“Allow me to introduce you to Glim, one of our robotic assistants,” Galaugh said. “Not all of our mechanical friends have his ability to communicate mind to mind, but we have given some of them this talent. His magic is limited but useful, as you will see.”
Lizzie found herself somewhat uncomfortable with the continued reference to magic but remembered Liliath’s counsel and kept the questions now blooming in her head for later.
Galauph gestured ahead to a caged lift similar to some Lizzie had seen on earth, the elevator completely open to the room it faced. They entered, and Galauph pushed a button with a character on it Lizzie assumed indicated the floor they were going to. Lizzie memorized it and mentally requested Ynni and Tarafau to do the same.
The lift stopped on the third floor and opened out into a long hallway that felt familiar, like any large hotel she had ever visited. Spaced about thirty feet apart were doors on either side of the long hallway that ended on both sides with a large picture window that looked out on the square on one side and some more buildings on the other.
Galauph stopped in front of two facing doors. “This,” he said, indicating the one on his right, “is Lizzie’s apartment. And this,” he said, gesturing to the one on his left, “is for Tarafau. You will find all you need within. Please place your hand in the center of the door in front of you.”
They complied, and he said, “Now the door recognizes you. Now each of you place your hand on the opposite door.” They did so. “Now each of you may have access to the other apartment for emergency purposes. These were the apartments of the past agent and his guide, who was kind enough to remain with him during his entire service with us.”
Lizzie turned the ornate doorknob and entered the apartment where she would be spending perhaps many years on this planet and nearly gasped.
The room was dominated by a large sliding glass door that led out onto a wide balcony that gave a breath-taking view of the jungle canopy. Its gauzy curtains undulated slightly, since the door stood partially open. The furnishings were as rich as any in a deluxe hotel suite, upholstered in fabric similar to velveteen in lush dark maroon. The carpeting was plush.
The room was divided into a small kitchen and dining area and a posh sitting room. There were shelves lining the walls to accommodate any books she might have brought with her. It was obvious she would be able to make the space her own, something she had not often done since joining the Alliance.
On the wall were tapestries depicting scenic vistas and natural panoramas of wildlife and plant life. Galauph gestured to a door on one side of the sitting room. This led to a bedroom suite, complete with a room for bathing and personal hygiene. The bed seemed enormous after her time as a trainee, about the size of a queen-sized bed on Earth, with bedposts and curtains to draw around the bed at need.
There was a walk-in closet that led to the bathing room, and on one side of the closet were more than ample shelves for her folding clothes and anything else she wished to store there. Stacked on one of the shelves were linens and blankets, as well as toweling and cloths for her bath.
“It is amazing!” she exclaimed once she had caught her breath. “I had not expected anything half so grand. Thank you.”
Galauph smiled in appreciation, mirth obvious in his large blue eyes. “You are very welcome. If there is anything you need, you can simply come here,” he sent, leading them back through to the sitting room and indicating a small, rounded metal disk similar to the call bell on the registration desk of a hotel. He touched the top of the disk, and it didn’t appear to do anything.
“Anytime the bell is pushed, someone in the service cadre will answer soon after.”
Lizzie wondered if it had been temporarily disconnected or if he might even be pulling her leg; but before she could ask him about it, a light knock came at the door.
“Come,” sent Galauph, and a tall man in more subdued clothing came in and nodded to them. “This is Sneel, one of the servers in the lodge. Most of the time, when you call, he will be the one to answer.”
Sneel nodded again. “Sneel, this is Lizzie Japhet and her companions, Tarafau and Ynni. She is our new agent from the Alliance, and these will be her living quarters as long as we are blessed with her presence. Tarafau will be taking the quarters across the hall.”
“Nice to meet you, Sneel,” Lizzie sent. “Thank you for your help.”
“Happy to serve, agent Lizzie,” he sent in return, then nodded at Ynni and Tarafau. “And Ynni and Tarafau. Welcome to your new home.”
“Thank you,” Tarafau sent at Sneel’s nod in his direction.
“You may go now, Sneel. Thank you for your prompt attention,” said Galauph in polite dismissal, and Sneel left with a smile and a nod. “At this time, if you wish, you can take some time to settle into your quarters before the greeting festival.” There was a question in his mental voice, but Lizzie looked at Tarafau and shook her head.
“No, thank you, Galauph. I think we would like to get to work. We have not been tired by our short journey from Alliance headquarters, and I would prefer to stay busy, if that is all right with you. Perhaps you can show us where we will be working and introduce us to some of those we will be serving with?”
Galauph nodded, only slightly raising his dark eyebrows in surprise. “As you wish. And you, Tarafau?”
“We are eager to learn more about your people and the community we will be working to serve, Galauph. I agree. None of us need time out to rest right now. There will be plenty of time to settle in later.”
They left down the hall to the lift, descended, and went through the automatic door to the square, which was being transformed. In the short time they had been inside the lodge, around the perimeter booths had sprung up that were festooned with streamers and banners, evidently indicating their purpose or perhaps their origin. The various people bustling about seemed cheerful, and the air was filled with many conversations in their verbal language which had a similar rhythm and tone to the Polynesian languages on Earth.
Next to the lodge was another large building of only three floors. Once again they entered through automatic doors that led into a small lobby with long hallways radiating out in three directions. Galauph led them down a hall to the right of the lobby, to one end and through an open door into what was like every reception area Lizzie had ever seen. There were chairs ranged around two sides of the room for people waiting for appointments and a desk with a male Fanilian seated behind it, with a welcoming smile for them as he looked up from a stack of tablets he had been perusing, similar to those used by the Alliance.
“Greetings, Mil,” Galauph said with an answering smile. “Are the others available for a short meeting before the greeting festival?” he asked.
“Indeed, I think they were hoping you might bring them beforehand. Please enter.”
They went on through a door to the right of the desk into what might easily have been a boardroom in an executive office on Earth. Around the large table made of something shiny that did not seem like wood, sat eight Fanilians, all dressed in the typical Fanilian wardrobe.
Introductions were made around the table. Dangi, Ninka, and Jou were there, as well as five others, each person, male and female, nodding respectfully as their names were given to Lizzie, Ynni, and Tarafau. Lizzie knew she probably would need to be reminded of them when next they met, but Ynni had a nearly photographic memory, so she knew she would be able to count on a mental nudge if she forgot by then.
Lizzie was impressed that in every instance, Ynni was accorded as much respect as either she or Tarafau had been. Evidently these people didn’t judge a being by their size or appearance. She knew that many she met had treated Ynni more like a cute and interesting pet than an intelligent being, someone Lizzie depended upon for her wisdom and her many abilities.
“I was hoping to get an idea of what I might be doing in your service,” Lizzie asked, when she was invited to ask questions of the group.
She was informed that the Alliance council had told them about her work with the Grildites, and they were particularly interested in the work she had done for their educational system. They also hinted that once they had introduced her to the plantlings on their planet, she would be using her skills for a special project that they would introduce her to at that time, but that there was so much to it, there was no time to discuss it here and now.
Galauph explained to her that he was the Speaker and these were the “elders” of the tribes. and their function was to advise and consult with the Speaker for the overtribe, their term for the combined tribes all over the planet.
Galauph then looked up at what appeared to be a clock on one wall with unknown symbols on it. “It is time. Let us go and celebrate!”
They streamed out of the boardroom, beckoning to Mil to follow, and out they went.
The square was once again thronged with people in colorful costumes, and rhythmic cheerful music came from a group at one end of the square on a dais. Many were dancing boisterously, hips swaying with hands raised above their heads, waving back and forth to the time of the music.
Someone grabbed one of Lizzie’s hands and another grabbed Tarafau’s, pulling them into the dance. It took Lizzie a moment to get over the shock of being made part of the dance, but the music was compelling and to her delight, she watched as Tarafau with a grin on his face joined in enthusiastically. Ynni jumped from her shoulder and, for a moment, Lizzie was concerned she might get trampled by the revelers. But then she saw that Ynni had paired up with a small girl in brilliant reds and yellows and was dancing delightedly with the little one, holding tight to her hand.
There was no ceremony to it. One moment they were dancing, the next they were escorted to low tables that had been set up at the far end of the square. They were invited to sit on the ground at the table, where they were served an excellent meal of vegetables and fruit, as well as what she thought might be some kind of fish in a creamy sauce.
She had been assured by the gate guardian before they had gone through that there was nothing for her to worry about as far as the food the Fanilians eat, so she hadn’t been sent to logistics to pack anything special. Lizzie also knew that while she had been on Earth for her leave before her first assignment, she had stored away some of her favorite foods, just in case; most of it was still stored away, as she had eaten well on Grild and had not had any problems with any of the native food there.
Table conversation had revolved around different ones introducing themselves and what they did, and asking her questions about her life as an agent.
After the meal, there were many entertainments, as well as strolling around the perimeter looking at the wares displayed at the various booths. Before they began, both Lizzie and Tarafau were given net bags with handles and told that they could take anything that interested them, and the overtribe would reimburse the vendor.
Lizzie soon realized that each vendor would have been offended if she had not taken at least one of the trinkets, bits of clothing, including some of the beautiful sarongs or foodstuffs offered, so she tried to keep her “purchases” small. Tarafau picked out some things he thought Amenia might enjoy, and soon both of their net bags were bulging, each time leaving behind an exultant vendor.
By the end of the evening, Tarafau and Lizzie both were ready to retire to their apartments. After many goodbyes and thank-yous, they headed to their beds ready to get a good night’s sleep before the coming day, which Lizzie suspected might be as jam-packed as any day at the Alliance training complex.
She was right. In the coming week, by the end of each day she was ready to fall into the comfortable bed in her apartment, Ynni collapsing equally tired on the pillow next to hers.
There was evidently a lot more to this agent thing than she had supposed. She remembered all she had learned during her months on Grild, and now it was like learning all over again. She began to understand why her insatiable appetite for learning qualified her for her position as an agent for the Alliance. Each new assignment would require her to learn a completely new set of rules of etiquette, customs, cultural norms, and history.
And despite the fact that she relied mostly on mindspeech, she began to realize that she was picking up words and phrases in the Fanilian language. All in all, she was kept so busy that, although she still missed Reloi fervently and still mourned for the Grildite people, those feelings were softening; and, more and more, she was able to remember all of the good times she had there.
She began to hope that she would become as engaged and at home in Fanilia as she had been in Grild. In a way she also feared it, as she didn’t want to ever feel the loss she had felt for Grild again. Nevertheless, she set her mind to what she called “hope mode” and threw herself into serving the Fanilians as heartily as she had the Grildites.
