All during that day, Rrr’tana the station host stayed near the Goblin Fountain to listen and give encouragement. Those essays, he knew, were the most important thing happening at Siminia Three Planet Station that day . . .
at least, during the daylight hours of that day.
No less than six, sometimes eight, assistant hosts were kept very busy sorting out the ships who arrived in a constant stream and needed landing instructions. Whenever a ship didn’t need them, they hurried to squeeze extra beds into the hostels, hand out maps, or stock nutrition cabinets. By noon, they were fitting ships into unmarked spaces in the old Similand service areas.
By the time Ashley read her essay that evening, the only available landing areas were outside the animal-proof fence.
Rrr’tana had complete confidence in all his well-trained assistant hosts.
As evening light faded from the sky and Ashley neared the end of her essay, the assistant hosts directed the landing of the last ship, then closed the airspace over the planet station. One little ship didn’t arrive in time, and was forced to divert to the parking lot of the old train station near downtown Westron. Fanators swooped northward at treetop level to fetch them.
“. . . so it is my conclusion that monkey mammals, and maybe all people, only keep growing until about age twelve, unless they have real problems to solve and dangerous challenges to face. If the problems and challenges are made-up, the young people know, and it doesn’t work. With only made-up
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challenges — or none at all — they turn into what my planet calls marshmallows — soft, sweet, gooey things with no strength, no wisdom, and no personal power.”
Ashley lowered her knowledge pad and breathed a huge sigh of relief as all her listeners smiled, clapped, shook their scales, or otherwise indicated that they had found her essay well worth hearing.
Just as the cheering died down, and Ashley realized she was parched and needed a carton of pinkfruit juice, maybe two or three, an explosion high above Fairy Castle turned all eyes toward the sky, where sparkles of many colors radiated and danced in the air before finally winking out.
Rrr’tana looked up and cooed.
Since accepting Ilika’s offer of a ride to Satamia Star Station, Ashley had seen many different artistic lighting effects in the star and planet stations, and at the local universe capital itself. Some of them, she now knew, were made of light and other forms of energy, manipulated by the artist. Others were actually living beings, sometimes mortal, more often spiritual.
But as she gazed up at the darkening sky, felt the brush of T’sss’lisss’ coils on one side, and Kolarrr’ka’s feathers on the other, she knew she was seeing something different.
Just then an explosion, high above Machineland, sent sparkles of green, blue, and violet in all directions.
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Ashley suddenly realized that these were real sparks, and she could even smell sulfur. If she remembered her universe history lessons, only monkey mammals ever used fire to make such lighting effects.
“Fireworks,” she whispered.
T’sss’lisss looked at her, head cocked.
“These are real, old-fashioned, monkey-mammal fireworks!” Ashley explained.
Kolarrr’ka joined the conversation. “I don’t think the crew of the Manessa Kwi had anything to do with it, and I know that you’ve had your beak in a knowledge pad for days.”
Ashley laughed as red and yellow sparks danced over Olde Towne.
“Jimox and Teina . . . the planetary prince and princess . . .” T’sss’lisss proposed.
“Of course!” Ashley agreed.
Kolarrr’ka fluffed up his feathers. “They must have recalled a fond memory from childhood, and given the specs to Nebador technicians to create
. . . what did you call them? Fireworks? . . . for this occasion.”
Ashley hugged the bird tightly for a moment, then turned to the snake and did the same. “What a wonderful gift, right after reading my essay! It’s almost as if they were watching me, and timed it perfectly!”
“Do you have any doubt?” T’sss’lisss asked, peering at Ashley with reptilian eyes that reflected the fireworks in the sky.
While the crew, trainees, and a few others watched the fireworks from the Goblin Fountain, musicians were setting up in the Castleland Plaza, and dancers began to gather.
Kibi quickly noticed, and her ears told her that more musicians, in other parts of the planet station, were already playing.
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A moment later, the doors to the Castle Kitchen were flung open wide.
Reptiles and ursines carried tables outside, and countless trays of food and drink followed.
More lights came on all across Castleland to dispel the evening darkness, and soon Nebador citizens began to prowl every path on bicycles, wagons, tricycles, skate boards, and occasionally their own feet or hooves.
One empty wagon, pulled by a large, furry ape, came to a stop near the Goblin Fountain. “Personal taxi for Rini!” the ape announced.
He grinned at Mati, and she grinned back and gave him a shove toward the wagon.
A strong equine, wearing a saddle, clopped up to the fountain. “Personal transport for Brora!”
The bear’s eyes sparkled with delight as she climbed onto the horse’s back.
A fanator landed. “Personal flight service for T’sss’lisss!”
She nodded to her two friends, then slithered into the riding harness.
“We have to stay below forty meters because of the fireworks,” the fanator explained as it took off.
More wagons, equines, and bicycle-driven carriages arrived, and it wasn’t long before Rrr’tana stood alone at the Goblin Fountain. Several visitors had volunteered to give him rides, but he had stood his ground, declaring that someone had to keep an eye on the planet station.
However, after checking on the assistant host on duty in the control room, he was thinking that he just might wander over to the dance in Olde Towne where some very talented ursines were playing.
Sata’s taxi was a small open carriage with a reptilian cyclist behind. He was forced to pedal very slowly because the planet station was filled with people dancing, eating, or just gazing up at the fireworks. Sata laughed aloud, realizing she could easily walk faster.
Five outdoor dance areas throbbed with music, and Sata wanted to try them all. Her cyclist joined in each dance, but was ready and willing when Sata wanted to move on. Sometimes she spotted Kibi twirling up a storm, or Ashley using some of her gymnastics prowess. At other dance areas, she
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didn’t know anyone personally, but felt comfortable jumping into any group dance, or grabbing a partner of any species or gender.
For a moment, she remembered when musicians would play in the marketplace of the capital city of her old kingdom, and how quickly she would have landed in slavery if she had ever been so bold.
Kolarrr’ka felt guilty as soon as he climbed into the red wagon.
The golden-haired ursine had only pulled him about a hundred meters when the bird declared that he could only allow this to continue if they could trade off.
The bear’s eyes took on a glint of humor, and she gestured for Kolarrr’ka to take the handle of the wagon.
Bird stepped out and bear climbed in.
Kolarrr’ka slipped his neck through the handle, then pulled with all his might, but could not budge the little wagon with its ursine cargo, sitting up with arms crossed and a smug look, waiting for her ride.
Eventually the bird gave up, caught his breath, and sighed. “I . . . bok . . .
failed to take into account the great difference in weight.”
The bear smiled. “Also, your largest muscles are for your wings, which don’t help in this situation.”
The bird nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“No apology needed. You’re in the Education Service, one of the hardest jobs in the universe. All I have to do is analyze planetary geology and predict future tectonic activity — child’s play really. And by the way, I can barely tell the difference between the empty wagon and the wagon with one medium-size bird in it. Now will you let me pull you?”
Kolarrr’ka ducked his head. “Bok.”
In Machineland, the bird and bear found music that inspired them to stop.
Kolarrr’ka glimpsed Ashley dancing and T’sss’lisss on her fanator overhead, but mostly the avian was in a thoughtful mood, content to watch the celebration and sample the many kinds of food and drink.
He pondered his essay, and wondered if he would ever know for sure what qualities and circumstances could make a planetary prince and princess. He
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remembered the ancient reptile in the little mossy cabin deep in a forgotten corner of the planet station, and wanted to visit him once more before leaving.
And as much as he was enjoying the company of his new ursine friend, Kolarrr’ka felt amazement — and happiness — about the deep bond he was forming with his fellow trainees T’sss’lisss and Ashley.
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Chapter 45: Planetary Prince and Princess Jimox and Teina noticed that the musicians in Forestland were playing in a different key from those in Machineland, and the tempo of the music under the World Tree completely clashed with the band in the Olde Towne Plaza.
But they thought nothing of it, since none of their guests, except maybe T’sss’lisss on fanator-back, could hear more than one group of musicians at a time.
From the couple’s new perspective, high above Castleland, above even the fireworks, they looked down at the thousands of Nebador people having fun.
Seeing their friends dancing and playing made them as happy as they could ever remember being, and they twirled around each other to whatever melody or rhythm caught their fancy from one moment to the next.
A purple glow appeared nearby.
“Welcome, Arantiloria!” Teina said with her new strong voice that did not require lungs.
“Greetings, Planetary Sovereigns! Everyone is enjoying the fireworks, with the possible exception of the fanators.”
Jimox chuckled. “Please give them our apologies, and tell them we promise not to do it very often.”
“I already did.”
“Kerloran said we get an advisor,” Teina said. “Will that be you?”
“No, I have my hands full with the monkey mammals of the Manessa Kwi, and they have some hard missions coming up. Your advisor will be far more
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experienced than I, and you’ll meet her at Kerusemia once you start taking classes.”
“Oh yeah, those,” Jimox said with humor in his voice. “I guess we can’t expect to be planetary prince and princess without knowing a thing or two.”
Arantiloria laughed. “You would have done a better job than most mortals even in your youth when you first met!”
“Wow,” Teina breathed. “I was seven years old. Now I’m two hundred and twenty three!”
Arantiloria embraced them both for a moment. “I’m going to check on my charges. Sata is in danger of wearing herself out before the party’s half-over.
If you’ve shot off enough fireworks, there are some folks here who would love to join the celebration.” She gestured to the northern edge of the planet station.
A few hundred small, faint, shimmering shapes danced in the air just outside the old animal-proof fence. Most were blue or bright green, and some almost pure white. Only a few had tinges of yellow.
Teina glowed with happiness. “The ghosts!”
“I didn’t know there were that many left on the whole planet!” Jimox declared as they both instantly swooped to the edge of the station and welcomed the little spirits in.
The ghosts all had voices that Jimox and Teina could hear clearly now, and several started chattering at once. Jimox listened as he moved with them back toward the middle of the planet station, but Teina hesitated, noticing something near the ground.
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A single dull-green ghost moved about shyly, muttering to itself, not daring to come near the fence. Teina watched, unsure what to do. She noticed the dull green color occasionally separate into the brighter green of life and the yellow of confused emotion, then return to the sickly dull green again.
Jimox joined her and looked down. “What do you think?”
“I’m wondering if maybe one of a planetary princess’s jobs might be to . . .
you know . . . reach out to pathetic little beings like that when . . . um . . .
they’re ready.”
Jimox thought about it. “It is hovering near the fence, implying it would like to come in. It’s alone. It appears to be trying to separate out the feelings that are keeping it stuck.”
Teina watched a while longer.
“And,” Jimox added, “I think the whole point of being a planetary princess is that you have to decide what the job is all about. Nebador has a million classes they want us to take, and we get an advisor, but they never said they’d tell us what to do. Remember how Arantiloria greeted us? Planetary Sovereigns.”
Teina thought a little longer, then suddenly turned toward the planet station and called in her strong voice, “I need a ghost volunteer!”
Three hundred and forty-six ghosts instantly lined up before her.
“I need someone who has learned patience and compassion . . .”
Most of the little spirits changed colors and backed up a few meters, leaving five.
“. . . someone willing to be a companion to this guilty one who is trying to make some progress.”
The five looked down. Four shrank away, leaving one.
With hundreds of ghosts now glowing or sparkling all around the planet station, Jimox and Teina decided to save the rest of the fireworks for another occasion.
The fanators were relieved.
The hours passed, midnight came and went, and the crowds of Nebador citizens dancing and playing thinned out as they began yawning, parting with
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friends, and wandering toward beds in ships or hostels.
Looking down, the planetary sovereigns could easily see Ilika and Kibi snuggling on a bench in Olde Towne, Mati and Rini sharing a slow couples’
dance in Forestland, and Sata placing a piece of candy on Boro’s tongue at a serving table in Machineland. Teina spotted Kolarrr’ka, T’sss’lisss, and Ashley in the Crow’s Nest of the World Tree, gazing around them at the well-lit sights and sounds of Siminia Three Planet Station, and the darkness beyond, once a sprawling city, now completely reclaimed by Nature, save for an occasional ruin.
A small white glow suddenly appeared nearby.
“Kasssor-k’m!” Jimox recognized easily. “We were planning to visit you at your little shack once the party was over!”
Teina embraced their first assistant host. “No more reptile body?”
“It wasn’t much good anymore,” he admitted. “It couldn’t see past the porch railing, and scales kept falling off. I decided this was a good time to let go of it.”
“You are more than welcome here, old friend!” Jimox declared. “We’re going to need all the help we can get figuring out what to do with this planet of ours!”
“I’d be happy to help, but I only get a short visit right now, then I have to head to Kerusemia for classes and whatever else they decide I need to do. But my guide says it’s always a pleasure to take up a Nebador citizen who doesn’t have to start with the very basics.”
Teina lowered her voice. “There’s a guilty ghost here right now, and we paired it with an advanced one who appears to be following Giona’s path.
Arantiloria is helping us keep an eye on them.”
“That’ll be good experience for the advanced one, at least,” Kasssor-k’m speculated. “I miss Giona, and will look her up as soon as I have some free time.”
“That avian Education Service trainee found you, I believe?” Jimox inquired.
The smaller spirit glowed brighter. “He’s nice, and has good insights into some of the less-common universe workings. Oops, my guide is calling, have to go see if there’s anything I didn’t learn being an assistant host for a
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hundred and three years!”
They all embraced.
“See you soon, old friend!”
“Be
well!”
Of course neither Jimox and Teina, nor the ghosts, became tired or bored as the hours passed, but as dawn light crept into the eastern sky, few mortals remained awake in the planet station below.
Teina sighed, seeing that only one band, under the World Tree, continued to softly play. Most serving tables were nearly empty, and only a handful of wagons and tricycles still roamed the plazas and walkways.
Jimox smiled when he spotted Sata dancing with two avians. Boro was asleep on a bench nearby.
The three Education Service trainees, snake, bird, and human, could be seen leaning on each other as they slowly crossed the Forestland Plaza toward a hostel.
“Party’s about over,” Jimox said with a hint of sadness.
“Yeah,
but
I don’t feel sleepy,” Teina teased.
“You’re not mortal anymore!”
Teina
laughed.
Suddenly, they both became aware that Melorania urgently needed somewhere to put a thousand barely-sapient equines.
They looked at each other.
“I bet an island would be best, lots of grass, and without any other horses or donkeys,” Teina speculated.
Jimox searched his memory, which now seemed to include details about every corner of Siminia Three. “I can think of several possibilities.”
“Let’s go look at them, then pick one!”
Without anyone on the ground being aware of it, Teina and Jimox left their beloved planet station for the first time, as planetary prince and princess, to respond to the needs of the universe.
Melorania instantly sent a flight objective to the transport ship in orbit around a planet that had just become unlivable for land animals. The steward and his staff of cooks and servers, not currently prepared to feed a thousand
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wild horses, were quite relieved.
Ashley could feel T’sss’lisss, draped over her shoulders, alternately lift her head, then relax and give in to sleep. At Ashley’s side, Kolarrr’ka seemed to be already asleep, but somehow his legs kept moving. Ashley knew, however, that those legs had no idea where they were going, so she kept a gentle arm around him.
The bird on duty at the entrance to the hostel startled awake. “Bok. It was full, but someone’s mission collar chimed a little while ago . . . yes here it is, the last bed. None of you are very big . . . will you share?”
Kolarrr’ka shook himself awake, then looked at T’sss’lisss and Ashley.
Ashley nodded. “We’ll get more sleep on a bed than in the passenger seats on the Manessa Kwi.”
T’sss’lisss looked too sleepy to care.
Kolarrr’ka thought for a moment, then climbed onto the bed, near the middle, and turned his head to rest it on his own back.
Ashley curled around him, then blew a puff of air to removed a feather from her face.
T’sss’lisss coiled completely around the other two, relaxed, and was instantly asleep.
“That’s one full bed,” the host muttered as he returned to the door and his own dreams.
