Return to Eden
more Elem broke in.
"Matter of urgency, necessity to speak first. The uruketo hungers. I must take it into the ocean for some days so that it may feed."
"Do it today, when you leave here," Enge said.
"Matters of equal urgency," Far< said, "to be discussed before departure of uruketo."
"No," Elem said with great firmness. "The safety and health of the creature comes first, priority ahead of any discussions."
"Perfectly phrased, content of wisdom," Ambalasei said as she walked slowly across the ambesed towards them. "I have noted often before that the predilection here for talking far outweighed the physical realities of life."
She passed by and settled down comfortably in the eistaa's place against the warm wood. If she was aware of the murmur of consternation that swept the Daughters she ignored it. She knew of the current superstition, therefore enjoyed sitting metaphorically in the invisible Ugunenapsa's lap.
"It was of this unbeliever that I wished to speak," Far< said with modifiers of distaste.
Shocked silence followed these bold words and Ambalasei's crest stirred and flared with color. But before she could reply Enge broke in quickly, hoping to forestall another battle of wills.
"Ambalasei grew this city and it is named for her. You have no cause to speak of her in this insulting manner."
"Cause enough," Far< said, still speaking in the rudest possible way. "I have given this very much thought so you must all understand that I do not speak out impetuously. As we do not enjoy yesterday's sun during this day's rain, so do we not praise yesterday's victories in the face of tomorrow's failures."
"If there is a point of any intelligence behind these ambiguities—make it," Ambalasei said with modifiers of even greater insult. "Though I doubt it greatly."
"You speak truth when you speak of your doubt," Far< said, her large eyes glowing with the intensity of her feelings. "For you are the great doubter. You sit now in Ugunenapsa's place and would have us think that you are superior to her. You are not. You block her will. You have removed the Sorogetso from this place and they were our future which is her future."
"The Sorogetso, Daughter of Dissension, are no part of your sisterhood nor will they ever be."
"Not now—but they were our hope. From their future efenburu of elininyil would have come the daughters of our future. You have interfered…"
"The first true statement you have made!"
"This shall not be. They must be returned. I have spoken with the crewmembers of the uruketo and none know the place where the Sorogetso were abandoned. You must tell us."
"Never!"
"Then you condemn us to death."
Shocked silence followed this cry of pain and only Ambalasei was unmoved by the strength of her feelings, feeling only distaste, then shaping her body so this would be clear to them all.
"I think we have had enough of your insolence and insults, Ninperedapsa. Leave us."
"No, for you cannot command me. You shall not evade the results of your evil actions that easily. I said death and I meant it. All here will die one day as all creatures must die. But when the last of us dies this city will also die—and with it Ugunenapsa's words and her memory. You destroy us all. You take away our future."
"Strong words from one so frail." Ambalasei's anger had faded. She was beginning to enjoy this contest of wills; life had been too peaceful of late. "It was Ugunenapsa who insured the end of the Daughters of Life by not supplying them with any Brothers of Life as well. I am not to blame for the frailties of your philosophy. Show me which of the Eight Principles describes breeding Sorogetso for your own purposes and I will be pleased to acknowledge that I am in the wrong."
Even as Far< was starting her retort Enge stepped forward and stood between them.
"I will speak. Although I feel great pain at Far<'s manner of address I thank her for reminding us of this great problem. I thank great Ambalasei as well for reminding us that the solution must lie in Ugunenapsa's words—for it is as she has said. If the answer does not lie there, then the problem is indeed insoluble. I do not believe that this can be so. The wisdom and insight that shaped the Eight Principles must also have considered the future of these principles. If we search we will find the answer."
"I have sought and I have found," Far< said. "I asked Ambalasei for aid only to save lives. But Ambalasei is the harbinger of death and aids us not. Therefore
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