The Ashes of Worlds

That first night, while he and Lydia relaxed in their new bedchamber, he patted her hand. “Sorry it’s not quite a paradise.”

She leaned over to give him a peck on the cheek. “You need a shave again.”

“I know.”

“We have running water, a heated home, and a pantry of food. I have all my family here with me. And we’re safe.” Lydia looked out the window at the dark sky and the dazzling blazers that illuminated the colony town. “It’s not paradise, but it’ll do.”

168

Nira

Nira did not look forward to seeing the familiar yet painful landscape of Dobro. As theVoracious Curiosity came in to land, the dry brown hills reminded her of horrific fires. She scanned the main colony settlement and shuddered to think of the breeding barracks, the fences, and the many times she had been abused and impregnated as part of the Dobro Designate’s experiments.

But Nira had a purpose in coming here. She had brought treelings to plant, to help the world heal from all the harm that had been done. Osira’h, Rod’h, Gale’nh, Tamo’l, and Muree’n had accompanied their mother on the pilgrimage, supporting her with their love. Together they would make a change.

“It’ll be fine,” Rlinda said, seeing her uncertain expression. “I promise.”

“I’m the only one who can make it right. Coming here, facing the past, seeing these people. I need to do that before I can move on.”

TheBlind Faith flew beside theCuriosity, also carrying a load of supplies for the Dobro colonists. Rlinda said, “BeBob and I won’t be staying long, so you and the kids better finish your business quick, unless you want us to sail off into the stars and leave you all behind.”

“No, we won’t be staying behind.” Nira looked into the back section of the ship, where the children were occupying themselves with some Hansa entertainment vidloops Rlinda had loaded aboard. “We’ve all spent quite enough time here already.”

Once landed, theCuriosity and theBlind Faith opened their cargo hatches like vendors displaying their wares, and excited colonists came to help them unload the new material. Rlinda supervised the workers, watching the stacks of supply crates diminish until the cargo hold was empty.

Holding a treeling, Nira hesitated at the bottom of the ramp until Osira’h took her hand and said, “Come, Mother. Do you need us to show you the way?” The girl carried another of the small potted worldtree fronds, as did each of the other children. Six new worldtrees for Dobro.

“I know it too well.” Cradling the treeling in one arm, she smiled, and together the six of them stepped out onto the ground.

Nira walked with them away from the landing field and passed through the reconstructed colony town in a small procession. While the half-breed children expressed surprise at all the changes they saw, unshed tears welled up in Nira’s eyes. The fences were gone, the breeding barracks burned down, the Dobro Designate’s dwelling torn apart. She barely recognized the place. So many of its shadows and stains were mercifully washed away.

The once-segregated Ildiran settlement and human prison camp had now merged, the structures intermingled. Nira recognized most of the colonists, and she could see a genuinely changed attitude on their faces. The Ildirans really were helping them. She knew there were many scars to remove, both on the landscape and in the peoples’ hearts, but they seemed to be doing it.

Perhaps this would work after all. Dobro could be beautiful.

The children seemed happy and excited, bounding along toward the nearest hills, drawn to a particular place. After the springtime rains, the weeds and grass had grown in lush, thick masses.

She was not surprised to find that her own grave was still there. Muree’n found it first and called the others over to the spot.

Looking at it now, Nira felt disoriented to see the polished geometrical stone that marked where Designate Udru’h had supposedly buried her. The holographic image of her face — much younger and more innocent — still shimmered there. Her children seemed captivated by the projection.

“You look beautiful there,” Rod’h said.

Nira knelt in the rough grass and stared for a long moment, recalling all her years in the breeding camp. She knew that Jora’h, too, had come to grieve by this marker, believing the false story of her death.

It was time to remove the lie. Nira detached the data crystal and its power pack and took the holographic memorial with her. Although the gesture was symbolic, she felt lighter somehow.

The people on Dobro would be all right, and so would she.

“Why did you do that, Mother?” Osira’h asked.

Nira set her pot down on the ground. “Because we are here to make a new memorial, a much more important one.” She began to scoop out a hole in the dirt so that she could plant her treeling. The children helped, and soon the small worldtree had been patted down in its new home. Nira stepped back to admire what they had done.

“And where shall we plant the others?” Gale’nh asked.

Nira marked off spots, separated widely enough to give the growing trees room, but close enough for them to share their strength, where their roots could find each other and interconnect underground. “Someday there will be a fine grove here,” she said.

Bringing the worldforest mind to this place was her way of forgiving Dobro. The trees would grow tall and strong.

When they were done, they walked back to the landing field where the two cargo ships waited. Happy and relieved, Nira was ready to put her bad memories of this place behind her. Feeling a strong wash of love, she reached out to gather all five of her children in a fierce embrace.

Thiswas the only memory she needed of Dobro.

169

Orli Covitz

Though she doubted DD could interpret subtle expressions despite his many years with humans, Orli did her best to keep the impish excitement from her face. She could barely hold back a grin as she used special cloths to scrub and polish the Friendly compy’s exterior.

“I have always done my best to maintain a clean appearance, Orli Covitz. However, I appreciate your attention to detail. My recent difficulties have left me somewhat worn and discolored.”

“I have a surprise for you, and I want you to look your best.”

“What is the surprise?”

“Now, DD, if I tell you, it’s not a surprise anymore.”

The little compy digested that. “By definition, you are correct.”

She glanced at the clock and quickly finished with a last wipe across the compy’s shoulders and the back of his head. “Time to go. Mr. Steinman has arranged transport for us.”