Bringing Maturity to a planet was long, hard work. But there were always ones, no matter how isolated, primitive, or tradition-bound a community was, who had Curiosity. They looked at the Sky and the Stars, or the Sea, or the Forest, and wished to know Why, and what it all Meant. It was to such people that the Mature called, infiltrating their undermind and promising Answers.
And so they who were Called answered, slipping away to a seemingly innocent village now Mature, or a cave, or mountain top, or deep in the woods ... and returned. THEIR children would be brought up to become Adults. And they could work simple wonders using the Channelling Power, and offered to Teach others. And the Mature remained nearby, protecting them from the fears and other less than noble desires of the Immature, even though the Subverted Ones of the tribe/community/other of many divisons the Immature split themselves up into, tried to change only truly cruel traditions (such as female genital mutilation) and otherwise tried to blend in and pose no threat to their people’s way of life.
For the Mature were wise, and the Temptations of Maturity were sufficient to lure a steadily larger percentage of the Immature into accepting it, until finally the population of Earth was 90 % Mature, and the reach of Maturity had spread even unto the remotest corners of the Planet. Bennu and Mira had helped, even until this day, for some needed more convincing than others, and the powers of the minds of the Two, trained since youth for this task and specially chosen from the population of their entire planet, far surpassed those newly-minted Adult minds from ours.
But now at long last it was Time. The Mature called a meeting of their representatives, for it was time to change their World. Why it fell to the day on the 25th anniversary of the forcible unsealing of Bennu’s sleep chamber was, presumably, a coincidence, but gathered together were people from the far corners - physically and socially - of Earth. Aside from the Two, of course, the presence of others special to the bringing about of this Day was also requested, such as Smokesinger, Windsinger, and Justin Preminger (who had accepted Maturity shortly after helping save the Two from Yago), and above all else, Diego de Varga.
The leader of the group spoke: “Today is the Day we have all worked so long and hard to see, for it is now that the Mature assume governance of the planet Earth. The old system of government is abolished and countries, which only divide, now cease to exist. I declare the Planetary Council now in effect, and in honor of it this Day and every anniversary of it shall be Proclamation Day. Those who wish to remain Immature shall become wards of the Mature and shall fall under the protection of those who can and will protect them from themselves and each other. And this will be the last generation of them. (It took but little Healing Power to control the reproduction of others, for of all deeds the Immature were capable of, deliberately raising children from birth into the ignorance and unhealth of Immaturity was the greatest Evil they were capable of.)
"Let those who believe in an Interventionist Diety thank Him for the arrival of this day, and let all thank the Citizens of Eldebran for sending Bennu and Mira to us to bring us Maturity.”
Mira: “And let us all thank the Capezzi, for if not for their habit of meddling in the affairs of the Immature, we would never have been sent. Now our work here is finished.”
Those invited were introduced to the Council, and some of their tales told, but otherwise, there was no need for other ceremony and much work remained to be done. Immatures had done the usual damage to the planet’s ecology, and there would be generations’ worth of effort needed to repair it ... and this is not a Tale of Mature Earth.
Soon it would be time for the Two to return to hibernation, to await the alignment of the Planes of Hyperspace and their return home. But first there was another ceremony to be held, one thankfully unique to Earth. The Council and the Two travelled to Peru, bringing a basalt obelisk with them. They made their way to the ground zero where Yago’s Cave had been. UGH!
For the place was still barren and blasted. The radiation count had fallen to a low enough level, yet no plants grew in a wide area about the spot, despite it being in an area of rain forest. Immature natives called the place cursed and wisely shunned it.
Bennu: “The Unlight that was released by the detonation has poisoned the land. Long indeed shall it be until the weak Sun of this planet neutralizes the Evil of Yago.”
With that they erected the obelisk, the Pillar of Sorrow, its top splintered and melted in rememberance of the horrors of that day. Affixed to it was a simple plaque which proclaimed: “From Good has come Evil, and from Evil, Good.”
Bennu: “It shall stand here as long as the Evil of Yago remains. Soon enough thereafter the plants that return will weather it into oblivion and you will know that this place is Healed. Now let us leave, for Yago’s Foulness makes us all ill.”
And it was as Mira had spoken at the Council, and time for the Two to return to hibernation. The Capezzi were not due for another 125 Earthly years, and the Eldebrani return ship for yet another 175, and though they were still young - not yet 60, if you properly discounted their Sleep - they wished to spend as much of their remaining lives as possible on their home planet.
And then Preminger made an unusual request. “I would love to meet aliens” - “you HAVE,” Bennu interrupted - “that LOOK alien. Could I be put into a Sleep until they arrive?” Bennu and Mira helped the Mature construct a simple Stasis Chamber, easy enough to manage since it could be monitored and protected by Adult Intelligences instead of a mere machine.
Each of the mounds of the Two had a more than ample supply of extra hibernation fluid, for it was obvious that even had the Two been Awakened at their proper Time, they would have to return to Sleep if they wished to return to Eldebran some 175 years later. Bennu went first, resetting the computers and counters in his chamber, but leaving both the computer and the mound itself unlocked. It was most unlikely that anything would go wrong, but still, a planet full of the Mature had a hugely better chance of helping fix something than the machines of Eldebran alone.
There were many hugs, kisses, and handshakes - and many tears, for he was much beloved by the people of Earth, who would truly miss him - before Bennu climbed into his Sleep Chamber and the lid swung shut.
de Varga had the last word: “His mind is now quiet. We will not see him again, not in the Land of the Living, anyway. I almost wish I had been right and he were a god. Goodbye, Bennu.”
The scene was much the same a day later as Mira returned to sleep. And then a newly Mature World turned its attention to Healing itself of all of the harms millennia of Immaturity had inflicted upon it.
And so the years passed, and Preminger was Awakened.
Preminger: “So soon? Has something gone wrong?”
“There are no dreams in Stasis. They are due within a few years. This planet has Healed much in the 125 years that you have slept, and all are now Mature.”
And so it was that one day the observatories strewn throughout the solar system detected a number of objects appearing from nowhere and approaching. It took a few years for them to actually arrive and take up orbit around Earth, for the Alignment had left the Capezzi some distance away and travel IN the Normal Planes was limited to the speed of light.
The Capezzi made their preliminary observations and were not amused. “The radiation emission from their planet is much reduced from the expected and there is far more green on it than could be had their population grown unchecked. The Meddlers have beaten us to this planet, I fear. Oh, well. Let us say hello, anyway. There is always something to learn, and things to trade.”
And all of the planet looked on in wonder, for they had never seen a truly alien form before. Actually, at a distance it might be thought of as “cute”, for the Capezzi were heavily pelted and, as most carbon-based spacefaring races were, humanoid. Of course, once you got close, the differences were quite apparent, Indeed, the hyperplanar senses unique to the Capezzi required various extra facial organs, and they also had a set of eyes in the back of their heads. But head, singular, it was, with sense organs for hearing and sight, swivelling on a bilaterally symmetric torso - two arms (6 fingered hands with double thumbs) and two legs, and voices audible in the normal range. Preminger, who in his Immature days had so scoffed at the possibility of non-Earth Intelligences, had his Mature wish come true and got to meet them. He cherished those memories all the remaining days of his life.
The Capezzi stayed for some 18 months, until it was time to board their ships and travel back to the Hyperplanar portal they needed to return. During that time they traded spices with their hosts, swapped genetic and metabolitic samples, and heard the Tale of the Two.
That excited them, for they had not yet seen a still-active sleep chamber of the Local Group; always before the Meddlers were either still Awake or had already left, and they happily took solidos of both mounds and chambers. And they also visited the Pillar of Sorrow, for they could FINALLY safely study the Unlight, though they, lacking the proper senses, would surely learn little. Still, a Scientist, no matter what body he wore, was above all else curious. They even took samples of the contaminated soil.
And then they were gone, and the people of Earth waited for the passing of the years and the return of the Eldebranis.
With the computers on the Sleep Chambers unlocked, the countdowns were visible on their faces. It certainly didn’t take Maturity to learn which symbol was the Eldan zero, for as time passed a series of them marched across the face of the computer screen. Members of the Planetary Council gathered at the two mounds when the Day of Awakening arrived, and the images were also transmitted throughout the world.
The timers reached zero and sent their signals to the computers in the Sleep Chambers. They awoke from nearly three more centuries of sleep, checked things out, and, finding nothing amiss, began the process of Awakening. They also signalled their brothers in the Hibernation Mounds that the occupants would be needing the utilities. That woke them up, and, after switching the mound powers supplies to “active”, they began to turn things on. First the whisper of the air circulation system could faintly be heard, then the internal lighting came on. Other lights began to glow, some as indicators, gauges, and the like. Others, more subtly colored, filled the inside with a myriad of soft colors, for beauty was a hallmark of the Mature. And more practical functions, such as cooking equipment, bed, and the equipment found in a pre-Mature bathroom also were made ready for their resident.
Bennu regained consciousness, his memories intact, alarms quiet, and his job done. He ordered the lid of his Sleep Chamber to open and stood up. Hmm. That was quite a crowd awaiting his emergence from hibernation, and he was, of course, wearing nothing but the remnants of hibernation fluid and his Medallion. He climbed out of the chamber, strode across the floor to the shower and rinsed himself off. He stepped onto the drying plate next to it and let the warm air remove the water from his body. Then it was off to the clothes closet.
Soon Bennu, clad in his typical denims, was ready to face the world. (Not that he hadn’t already, for the whole thing had been shown to the world, but the Mature did not have the hangups of the Immature. Both the world and Bennu understood the desire for the viewing of his reawakening, and so the display of his nude body was proper. Not that there was no concept of privacy, for the toilet facilities were behind a neck-high “wall”, for instance, and the bed could be concealed behind a sliding partition.)
Mira, too, found herself, as expected, on public view, with an equal lack of inhibitions. Being ashamed of one’s body was Immature, just like flaunting it was. On one’s own time clothing, except for Races with pelts or scales, was, though optional, usually customary. Usually. Swimming, for instance, was almost always in the nude.
The Two toured the remade world. In the 300 years they had slept much progress had been made in repairing the ecological damage, and the population had come close to the desired density. Soon it would be possible for two children to become the norm.
And soon Bennu and Mira would be leaving this planet and heading home. Home! How they missed their planet! It had been some 1,300 Earth years - all right, less than 30 of them conscious - but still, decades cut off from from your own Race is a long time, even if you did live to be 200 to 250 SunCycles old.
And then the observatories reported another fleet of intelligent-made objects approaching Earth. It was time for a special visit, and not a nice one, for it was to the Pillar of Sorrow. It still stood, tall and alone, in the center of a barren waste, but the borders of the desolation had shrunk considerably. Earth was slowly reclaiming that which Yago had stolen.
The ships fell gracefully out of the sky on their gravity repulsor units. The doors on one swung open and a number of people, all golden blond and tall, climbed down the ladder. Bennu and Mira raced over to greet them.
Both: //Fellow Citizens, how long we have waited for this moment. We have succeeded in our Mission, though the complications will make a most fascinating - and terrifying - report to the Council.//
//Terrifying? We are confused. You are trained Missionary Healers. What could terrify you?//
The Planetary Council greeted the new arrivals warmly and offered them the hospitality of the planet, an offer gratefully accepted. But one of the Eldebranis spoke: “We are indeed glad that those our ancestors sent have been successful, but something strange has happened here, and we must understand it. We must first follow Bennu.”
Bennu led them to the Pillar of Sorrow.
//The Unlight! How could it appear on a planet of Channelling?//
Bennu: //Yago made it.//
//Made it? HERE? Are you saying he Awoke himself?//
Bennu: //He had Earthly help, as we did. There are many things I don’t understand, but the Council erred when they Exiled him here under the supervision of Mira, for none of us were aware that he had trafficked with the Shadow Lords. I don’t understand how he could be active on this planet even while his body lay under Sleep, but once Awake, he brought great Evil to the natives, who had more than enough of their own problems.
//He tried to kill me several times, making my task - and, for a while, it was mine alone - much more difficult. The report I will write will be most instructive for others, but, even now, painful to prepare. I could not defeat him, either, and it was only when the natives used a star-weapon that his body was destroyed. It must have briefly warped the very fabric of the Universe, for the Unlight he had condensed was freed.
//I must leave now. The pain of the Unlight is too great for me to bear for long.//
//A star-weapon. We were to take his Sleep Chamber back with us, though we do not know what the Wise had decided to do with him. But they have had 1,300 years to think about it.//
They gazed at the shattered remnants of the cave Yago had moved the chamber to. Perhaps some half-melted remnants had survived, but nobody was going to stay in the Unlight-poisoned area long enough to look. Indeed, all were beginning to show the first effects of its toxicity.
Bennu had made his preparations soon after his reawakening. He had had a change of plans, though, and, rather than becoming a veterinarian upon his return to Eldebran, he had decided to become a breeder of Earthly riding animals, for he had developed a great love of horses. Yes, after 300 years, there still was a “Big John’s Horse Farm”. Indeed, it had become one of the larger suppliers of riding animals, a matter of considerable importance to the Mature, who used muscle power - theirs or animal - for most of their journies. When Bennu had visited it to make his purchases, he was warmly greeted by the owners, for the story of his rescue of their ancestors from death was still told. Indeed, a small autographed picture of him was hanging in the business office.
Mira, too, had made her plans. And when they climbed the ladder and waved to the people of Earth for the last time, their eyes became wet, for the Mature Society of Earth was as noble and worthy of respect as that of any other Society, and they were still newborn in their Maturity. And then they stepped inside the hull of the ship that would take them back to Eldebran, and the tears flowed freely, for only those few Matures who voluntarily leave their planet can truly appreciate what it is like to return to it.
The crewmember whose job might be described as property clerk (PC) asked Bennu: //What are you bringing back from your planet of Assignment?//
Bennu: //The horses you know about. It would be nice if I could visit them before they are placed in Stasis. Seeds, of course. A variety of Earthly spices, naturally, and some of an attractive red fruit, though those are mostly for the horses, who love them.//
There were also a pair of musical instruments, both piano and harpsichord, but that was almost as standard as spice seeds. MANY Eldebranis played keyboard instruments, and those who travelled to previously uncontacted planets usually brought new versions back. None were identical and all made beautiful music in the hands of those who chose to learn to use them.
PC: //And what of that strange board?//
Bennu: //A hobby I acquired while on Assignment. Once I am well set-up on a grazing land by the Sea, you may watch, if you like.//
The property clerk shrugged. Missionary Healers had many admirable qualities, but they had their peculiarities. Of course, an invitation from a retired Missionary was a pleasure to accept, and he had no doubt Bennu would surprise him with that curious object.
Mira had her seed jars, of course, but otherwise brought only a cloth-wrapped object - the Sacred Flute of her People - back with her. Of course, there were her animals, now safely in Stasis. She’d picked them up - hardly literally, even considering Eldebrani strength - on a trip to a large subcontinental mass formerly known as India. They, too, were rideable, but that might not be the reason she’d chosen them. Most likely, it was those curious prehensile noses. Yes, elephants. A breeding pair, of course.
A few months later the ships reached the Hyperplane they needed and entered it. By chance, it actually brought them into the solar system Eldebran was a part of, and so it was but days when they landed. Bennu and Mira were Home.
Returning Missionary Healers had their choice of various lands that were reserved for them, and Bennu selected a spot with good grazing land and a sometimes boisterous Sea. Neighboring ranches were scattered about, and a small town would supply both companionship and various necessities.
Both he and Mira were requested to make an appearance before the Council of the Wise, one of the few functions that caused it to meet in person. They submitted their reports, much to the disturbance of Mirana, High Counsellor of Healing, as it was clear that the Council’s decisions concerning Yago some 1,300 SunCycles ago had been based on inadequate information. One of her predecessors had somehow missed the full lapse into Evil of Yago, and that was more disturbing than his conduct on Eldebran had been.
His actions on Earth had caused her to shudder. What a terrible thing to inflict upon a helpless planet! There would be much to be entered into the Archives of the Healers, and Yago’s Examination after his capture needed a serious reviewing.
That sober note aside, the successful return of Missionary Healers was cause for a planet-wide celebration, for another Race had been saved from both itself and the Capezzi.
Bennu planned his and his horses’ housing and those who chose to be Constructors set up the utilities and a rough framework. Bennu would undoubtedly wish to complete his residence himself, decorating it as he saw fit.
He took up residence in his house, planted the various seeds - he used SunPower to greatly speed up the growth of the apple trees, for he did not wish to unnecessarily deprive his horses of their apples - but otherwise let Nature take its course.
As for his Healer’s Symbol, he hung it in a display case in a place of honor. He had retired and no longer felt the need to wear it, and no longer needed a solar concentrator on Eldebran, whose Sun provided an ample suppliy of Z-rays. Indeed, that explained how he could reconcile his desire not to stink with having to clean the stables on a daily basis. While he often had the help of a couple of Adolescent volunteers from neighbing families, he did not have to ration the SunPower on his home planet, and so could afford to set up a low-level repulsor field as needed.
Speaking of Medallions, it was because of them that SunChildren, when serving as Missionary Healers on planets that required them as solar concentrators, were invariably given the title of “Phoenix”. They themselves never used the term.
(And when would they openly visit a planet of Immature SunChildren? The Capezzi had learned the hard way that panicking a world where SunPower could be used in weapons was highly risky to intruders.)
One day some months later he considered his primary work done. The barns were solidly constructed and his horses removed from Stasis, his plants were doing nicely, and he had replaced the bare framework of his house with wood and tile. He had earned a treat. It was a bright sunny day and the waves looked promising. He picked up his surfboard, stripped, and took a ride. And a fall. It took him a full two hours to get used to Eldebran’s waves, but soon he was cavorting about in private, fully relaxing for the first time since before he’d left his home. He issued the invitation to the Property Clerk, who, once he saw what Bennu was DOING with that board, asked to try it himself. It being a lot trickier than it looked, the man shook his head, congratulated Bennu on a most enjoyable hobby he wasn’t about to try to learn, and wished him well.
A total of nine years passed in Peace and Harmony, and “Long John Silver’s Horse Breeding Ranch” - he had developed a somewhat unMature enjoyment of puns - was keeping him pleasantly busy.
And then he received a polite note from the Trainers of Missionaries. One of the Teachers would like to retire in 5 years, and would he like to replace her? Neither his Training nor the job would be time-consuming. Indeed, classes were only held once every ten years or longer, since there were few on Eldebran with enough Adventurousness to wish to leave the solar system, and most of those were driven by Curiosity and so were Scientists. For that matter, only a few Missionary Healers were needed from the average Society, and most of those accompanied the Missionary Scientists.
Bennu politely declined the request. Had he had a “normal” experience - if there could be said to BE such a thing - perhaps he might have accepted, but between his Awakening alone and deprived of much of his memories AND Yago, he did not wish to relive some of his experiences, even once every decade or so.
He mentioned it to Mira, for they had remained best friends. Whether Commitment to each other would ever happen was a matter for the future to decide, but at present, Bennu still wanted no more responsibility than that for a group of animals. Mira, for that matter, wasn’t ready to become a parent yet, either. She was not averse to becoming a Teacher, and, having been then asked, would probably take the position at the end of the five years.
He went back to tending his beloved horses ...
Copyright Jan 9, 2005 Richard Kaplan