The Trees Of Life

Finally, the Dentrebi have arrived from every corner of the galaxy! I have had to wait at least one Solyr for this to happen. The ProConsuls let go of their Readers reluctantly, self-evident by the Dentrebi's conspicuous delay. Still, this is a pleasant enough planet and well guarded. The Telenahi place a high value on the lives of the Dentrebi and with good reason. ProConsul Tyll-Ah has provided me with every possible comfort and I can have no reason for complaint. When I feel hungry or thirsty, sustenance is always delivered before I need ask; evidence of the Dentrebi's latent powers of telepathy. However, I have not seen any of their renowned telekinetic powers. It is against their law to demonstrate them publicly. It is only in their private chambers and in the competition rooms that they demonstrate them so ably. At the moment, I know this by reputation only. It is unnerving to be in the presence of a creature which can read minds at will even though I have training in mind masking. Still, they have assured me that they do not read minds as they so desire.

To read another mind, Tyll-Ah explained, a Dentrebi must Reach out from their mind's eye in the same way that I must use my hands when I wish to take hold of something. To take or monitor thoughts from another creature's mind without its prior permission is analogous to rape, though they are capable of sensing base needs such as hunger and thirst thus placating them, by offering food, as I have witnessed. They clearly differentiate between basic emotions and the very reason behind those thoughts. For example, they can sense anger or happiness but to Reach for the reasons behind such feelings is a gross invasion of privacy, and a heinous crime in their society. Adults place great emphasis on the difference between the Public face and the Private face. I have noted that the Dentrebi are intensely private creatures. Little wonder, when they live in a society where their very thoughts and emotions are capable of being read! Much of the Private face is contained within the Dentrebi's own thought crystals which they guard jealously, usually secreted somewhere on their person or in their quarters. Within this intricate lattice is stored their inner-most thoughts and feelings; some of which are no doubt none too complimentary, I suspect. As yet, I have not been allowed to even see a thought crystal. The crystal archives contains the Dentrebi legacy and learning of previous generations. Hundreds of thousands of thought crystals are stored there and I cannot even see one! The crystals forms part of their genetic consciousness of the Dentrebi and I have heard that the Elders refer to them for wisdom during times of trouble or strife. I will get my hands on a thought crystal, somehow!

My work and my thoughts
Are dedicated to You oh great Taberna.
I am of One Mind and One purpose,
In all that I do.
I am Yours,
In body and Mind.
I ask that You accept my humble offerings.
Praise to You.
All praise to Your creation:
To Life, Unity And Harmony
		            Dentrebi Prayer

"Sit! Sit!" urged Mahler. The couple did so tentatively. They were surprised by the fact that he had not asked them to wear the blinker in his presence, being of a higher class. Mahler sat forward on the table, placing his two elbows on it, and used his hands to support his large, inquiring head. Panamya was taken aback by Mahler's informal style.
What is this class? wondered Panamya, not recognising it.
Quiet! replied Halasar instantly.
"I'll tell you a little about myself. My name is Mahler Dewahles and I'm am a Methmor palaeontologist; human class two. We're from the same branch." He smiled reassuringly and Panamya noted his small pointed teeth and deep purple gums which reminded her of an animal. "I have no hidden agenda. All I'm here to do is observe for the Telenahi Overlords and record the Sharing as well as the consequent de-selection process." Panamya shuddered at the thought and clenched Halasar's hand tight, finding such studies morbid. "You may Reach if you wish to verify this. I have nothing to hide."
So, we are to be your guinea pigs, thought Halasar privately.
Halasar felt Panamya Reach and he blocked her.
Do not! It may be part of a test! he advised and she withdrew, trusting his judgement.
"You are too kind!" replied Halasar politely, smiling back, "but we take you on your word. We are an honourable people and respect your venerable class." Halasar bowed his head respectfully.
"Excellent!" answered Mahler. We have a bright one here, he thought and discontinued the mind mask. "Now to the first question, Panamya. Why did you choose Halasar for the Sharing?"
"I chose many. The Telenahi chose Halasar for me," she replied.
"Yes, yes. But why did you include Halasar in your list of Chosen?"
She glanced at Halasar, smiling nervously at him and then addressed Mahler. "Because he has always competed well and is a Dentrebi of true virtue. I also feel strongly that he will not breed regress," answered Panamya, slightly embarrassed by having to show so much of her Private face to the palaeontologist.
"Regress meaning animal in this case?" queried Mahler and Panamya nodded nervously. "I have a note here which says that you want to carry Rayna animal style. Is this not a contradiction?"
"It was our choice," interrupted Halasar, feeling that Panamya was about to break down in front of Mahler.
Halasar raised his narrow eyebrows and brought them together, forming a furrowed brow, intrigued by their unusual method of Sharing. "Why?"
"Because it is our choice, just so," answered Halasar, showing reticence.
Such illogical reasoning! thought Mahler. "But the incidence of animal regress is higher when carrying animal style!" he responded, referring to his notes, seeking a clarification.
"So too are the chances of a more talented Dentrebi. Take for example, Elcass, he was carried animal style," retorted Panamya.
"Aaah!" grunted Mahler, satisfied. He licked his wide lips with his leathery tongue. There is method behind their madness. "So you are willing to take the chance." He paused and concentrated his yellow-eyed stare on Panamya. "You would risk the child."
"It is our choice," reiterated Halasar, masking his anger at such a gross invasion of their privacy.
"Interesting! I will talk to you later. You have been most helpful!" Mahler shut off the conversation monitor and the couple left the room. Once outside, Panamya reached up to Halasar and kissed him.
Thank you, she said, appreciating his support. She took his hand but he pulled it away.
Are you angry with me? she asked. I thought...
"I must train," interrupted Halasar. "Sitting and talking has always bored me," he replied, masking his charged emotions.

We speak with one voice
A community who is watched over by Taberna
*
Take this offering
As a token of our veneration
Take our thoughts
Let them give praise to You
Protect us in this time and place
Accept our lives as a sacrifice to Your goodness and kindness
Chorus: Praise be Taberna
*
(Dentrebi congregation touches mind's eye)
*
Let our Tree and our Class
Show Your divine purpose
The Trees of Life are Your vision
Our existence; testament to Your truth
Chorus: Praise be Taberna
*
(Dentrebi congregation kneels and bows)
		Extract from Dentrebi High Mass

The small church was empty when Panamya entered it. As she closed the door behind her, she grew aware of the circumambient humidity generated by the dense foliage which was cluttered with insects, birds and small reptiles. Lying heavy on her Mind was the imminent Sharing. Mahler's words spun around her thoughts, undermining her confidence in her decision to bear Panamya animal style. The pool of glistening water at the heart of the small arboretum stirred gently and she knelt down on one of the flagstones peppered about its verdant bank. She placed the thought crystal against her Mind's eye and it remained in place. A lobster scuttled away, at the bottom of the clear pool, as she cupped her hands together and scooped up some of the water.
"I drink the water of life," she said, tipping the liquid into her mouth. She closed her eyes as she drank. Some of the fluid dribbled down the side of her mouth as she swallowed. She raised her arms above her head. "I praise Taberna for all that I have received and all that I will receive." She opened her eyes and touched the crystal with her wet index finger, blessing herself, then closed her eyes again.
Oh great Taberna, hear my humble prayer. Though I am nothing more than a simple creature, I beseech you. Bless Rayna, my unborn. Give her the Dentrebi gift of sight. Aid her conception so that it may please the Telenahi. I ask this not only for myself but for Halasar. If Rayna fails us, he may fail me too. He is a good Dentrebi, leave him no cause for concern. I humbly ask for your intercession and blessing for our Sharing.
"Praise be Taberna, through whom all good things may come," said Panamya completing her prayer, head hung low. She dipped her index finger in the water and touched her forehead finally with it. The thought crystal dropped into her hand. A single tear rolled down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away.

"To compete is to survive"
		Dentrebi saying.

Mahler was sitting high in the rafters of the games room, observing the competing Dentrebi below. He wiped his brow and looked at the games of combat which they participated in, taking copious notes on his autofocuser. It had been long and arduous climb along the scaffolding but it offered him a splendid, although distant view of the training Dentrebi. He felt pleased with himself, having outsmarted the Dentrebi guards at the entrance. However, his adulation was short-lived. Suddenly, a grim faced Halasar floated in front of the Methmor. Mahler jumped with fright, letting out a keen short-lived yelp.
"Come down at once!" said Halasar, angrily. He floated mid-air in front of Mahler and took the Methmor by the arm, lifting him out of the rafters. Mahler's eyes grew wide with fear and he let out another short, shrill scream. He attempted to grab hold of the rail to stop himself from being brought away from the secure railing. However, Mahler found himself unable to clasp his hand shut about the railing as if some invisible force was keeping it open.
"Stop struggling! I have you," said Halasar irritably. He brought Mahler onto the games floor. In the distance, the gaming Dentrebi looked on curiously, exchanging voiceless messages to one another.
"Why do you deliberately disobey our customs?" demanded Halasar.
"I was curious," replied Mahler, unconcerned.
"You are higher class. I expect more of you. We are an honourable people. We answered your questions honestly. Now, leave us have some privacy," said Halasar firmly.
"Why?" asked Mahler, smoothing his sparse, ruffled hair.
Halasar looked perplexed. "Do you ever stop questioning?"
"Why should I? I am naturally curious. What harm have I done? All I was doing was..."
"Observing," finished Halasar. "Your thoughts are distracting."
"You've read my thoughts!" replied Mahler indignantly.
"No! But to compete efficiently, we need our complete attention on the space about us. Your unsated curiosity is distracting. We were aware of your unique Sign."
Mahler's eyebrows raised curiously. "This Sign, is it the same as..."
"Go! Now!!" interrupted Halasar, pointing to the exit door.
"All right! All right!! No need to be like that. But first, I just want you to answer..." However, Mahler felt his feet leave the ground and he was turned about automatically. Much to his annoyance, he floated out of the games room. "I can walk by myself!" he exclaimed, kicking the air with his feet, but the door slid shut behind him, cutting his voice short. Halasar shook his head and released his mental hold on Mahler. "Methmor. All think and talk. Record. Record. Record!!" Telenahi stooge! he thought.
Panamya walked over to Halasar. "More questions?" she murmured, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Yes but I would not answer him. Here we do and think what we want. This is Dentrebi territory. None may encroach. Not even the Telenahi Overlords. Let us resume. Time grows short!" he said brusquely and took four x-shaped Thracklar blades from his jump-suit and tossed them aggressively into the air, causing them to spin like discs.

'To Share,
One must merge the Public and the Private face.
To be aware of All,
One must bare one's soul to the other.'
For a Dentrebi, Sharing is an act of great courage, yet one of noble savagery.
	                                             Dentrebi Saying

The Al-Arath dome was filled with couples ready to Share. Panamya was nervous and Halasar smoothed her hair after finishing his elixir. Above them, Elcass addressed the congregation telepathically. Each couple lay beneath a small, private dome covered with diaphanous materials. They listened intently to Elcass' Mind-spoken words.
Dentrebi. Our time of Sharing has arrived and soon will come the testing of your children. Let us not forget that we are more than just Telenahi servants; more so, we are part of LUAH; that which has maintained peace between competing life forms for centuries. Without it, we would be in perpetual chaos and anarchy. Cherish the fact that each of you has a place within the Trees of Life and Taberna's Creation. Paradise is our safe haven and stable home. We are but one people amongst a million others. Share with each other and teach the next generation to love LUAH as we have. Praise be Taberna.
"Praise be Taberna," murmured a hundred voices in reply. Halasar and Panamya took off their gowns, naked to one another. She lay back on the silk bed and gave him her hand. He took it, leaned forward and kissed her on the lips then worked his way down the side of her neck. He Reached to Panamya's thoughts. Slowly, she revealed her Private face which told of her visit to the church, imploring for a child who would be fit to be called Dentrebi. She Reached to Halasar and he showed her his private face in return. She saw his fears and doubts about The Trees of Life, his distrust of the Telenahi Overlords and most important to Panamya, his fears that they would breed animal regress.
Fear not, my love. Rayna will be more capable than out wildest dreams, she thought, consoling him.
Halasar nodded, finding her words soothing and he lay on top of her, finding his desire growing. As they made love, Halasar felt a complex emotional bond growing between them. Love, realised Panamya. Love me, Halasar. She let out a moan of sexual ecstasy as Halasar climaxed warmly inside her. After their love making, he drew her close within his strong arms. The two are now one, she thought, her body ashine with sweat. Panamya opened her lustrous eyes and her mouth met his, culminating in a frenzied kiss that seemed to have no end to its passion.

"My happy childhood was Paradise's most enduring gift.
Panamya's love for me, my greatest treasure.
LUAH dominated the rest of my life.
Once on Elrodon, I looked in a mirror,
and saw a Telenahi Reader staring coldly back.
There was no need to Reach,
For I already knew the truth.
I loathed what I had become."
		        Halasar, Thought crystal

After the ceremony, Halasar and Panamya left the Al-Arath dome and took a raft by themselves, guiding it into the middle of the nearby, salty lagoon. Drawing the raft to a halt, Halasar lay down beside Panamya. Above them, the vast moonless sky was speckled with dust-like stars. The wooden raft bobbed up and down gently on the watery surface. A gentle breeze slipped over the humid lagoon, cooling the air which was normally thick with heat. Relaxed, Halasar placed his hands under his head and Panamya rested her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat. She looked up and saw that he was smiling.
"What?" she asked.
Tonight, I truly feel young again, he replied. "This raft reminds me of my youth. I spent many happy days here." Do you remember the games we used to play? he asked and she nodded nostalgically. Do you remember the time we stole Redloc's crystal? he wondered.
"And we were all brought in front of the Elders!" she recalled. I was the only one who managed to read all of it, smiled Halasar. "At the time, I was shocked that Redloc could have such animalistic thoughts about women. Now, I think I begin to understand," he replied and kissed Panamya. I am glad that we made love, he said, looking deeply into her eyes. The physical act is more than an animal behaviour. You were right to want it. He caressed her face softly with his fingers.
Panamya sank her head into his broad shoulder. He could feel her wet tears against his dark skin. What is it? he asked, worried that he had said something to upset her.
"I'm just happy, that's all. I know a Dentrebi shouldn't cry so easily. I should be stronger," sniffled Panamya, feeling vulnerable. I was worried that you really hated me. I thought you didn't want to Share with me and have Rayna. I'm just so happy that you do want her.
"Of course I do," he replied and scooped up a handful of water from the lagoon then tossed it gently on her leg. It sparkled as if magically. "Look. The water still glows," he said. Remember what we all promised one another during the Grading?
Panamya nodded. She recalled their childhood promise to always stay friends with each other so long as the water in the lagoon continued to glow. They had always known that the luminescent property of the lagoon was to do with the phosphorescent algae but as children, the inlet had been a special, almost magical place to them during their times of trial.
Halasar touched his finger against her teary eye and took a teardrop on his finger-tip then flicked it on the ground.
"See. No glow," he said. Let's give you a happy tear. He dipped his finger in the lagoon and replaced the tear with a drop of the lagoon water. It glowed gently as it slipped down her cheek. Panamya smiled and hugged Halasar. He lay back again, looking up at the night sky and sighed deeply. My anger and frustration is not with you, Panamya. It's just that I have seen many terrible things since I became a Reader; brutal actions perpetrated in the name of LUAH. It saddens me greatly. The passing years have hardened me to it all. Sometimes, I feel as if I have lost the ability to care. I feel that LUAH is destroying me, turning me into someone I don't want to be. Taberna's words were worthy ideals but they just don't seem to work out in practice. Races are suffering; life-forms from across the length and breath of the galaxy are being oppressed. The whole purpose of LUAH was designed to produce unity and harmony but all the Telenahi seems to have accomplished is sown the seeds of hatred by brutally repressing anyone who opposes it!
Quiet, urged Panamya, worried by his politically incorrect words.
"No," replied Halasar, sitting up, "I have been silent for too long, standing by the sidelines and watching as the Telenahi instil fear into the underclasses; into us! It is not right, there is an alternative. I have heard some speak of it privately. Many call it JUNCTION. You and I could..."
Panamya's face seemed to pale. She quickly placed her hand over Halasar's mouth in an attempt to quell his strong words. The fact that he had spoken some of them seemed to make them all the more ominous. "Swim with me," she urged, seeking a distraction. "Swim with me the way we did when we were children." Halasar smiled again, distracted by her offer but he was saddened by the fact that he could not finish his heart-felt sentence. Panamya took his hand and they stood up together, then dived into the waters which glowed ephemerally about their bodies. The scared fish in the water darted away, leaving in their wake myriad trails of fading light.

"Halasar was a Dentrebi of high ideals,
He questioned everything,
Whereas I accepted everything,
I knew I could never make him happy"
		                Panamya, Thought crystal

In the dim night light, they dried themselves off on the beach, casting shells at the small crabs which had crawled onto the shoreline. Hand in hand, they walked back to their room, taking the long winding route beneath the rows of trees, laden with tropical fruits.
The Elrodonians are a strong people, said Halasar, and resourceful. They have never accepted LUAH and will never accept it. I respect them a great deal. They told me the truth about Taberna.
"Why do you always talk of such things?" asked Panamya.
"Because it is the truth!" replied Halasar, clenching her hand. "Would you rather live a lie all your life?"
Rayna shook her head. Your words scare me. I do not hate LUAH. We are treated well here.
No! replied Halasar. We are the Telenahi's slaves. Look how they treat our children, threatening them with deselection. Remember how they treated us! "I will never forget the Grading!" he shouted. They had no right to deselect our friends who failed the tests. Panamya put her arms around Halasar, holding him tight, feeling his grief. He hugged her back as they Shared the distant childhood memories. "I miss them so much," he said as the words choaked his throat, "even now." There was a time when our people were free, Panamya, a time before the Telenahi colonised our home worlds. Then, we could have been whoever we wanted. Our kind were rare in those places. Many never realised that they had the gift to read thoughts or move objects. But the Telenahi sought them out. From them, they bred us, labelling us Dentrebi. It is all because of Taberna. On Elrodon, I found out His truth. It was where he studied as a young man. I must tell you what I know. There may never be another time.
They stopped and sat in the sand beneath a palm tree. He composed himself, recalling the story. "Taberna was a lonely child; the product of a matching between two life-forms which are now extinct. He was a cross-breed. He never had a proper home, moving between the three planets which are now called the Telenahi home worlds. Then, there had been three different life-forms, each having a homeworld. They sporadically warred with each other. Alliances were formed and then broken. Often, peace was used merely to re-arm and re-equip for the next battles. As a youth during these turbulent times, Taberna suffered beatings and was never accepted by any group, treated as a social outcast. But he was intelligent and was curious about all life and tried not to despise those who hated him. However, his experience as a youth had taught him the terrible consequence of being considered different and he left the warring homeworld to study exobiology on Elrodon. After qualifying as an exobioolgist, he decided to dedicate his life to studying and classifing all known life forms into The Trees Of Life. He placed our home world in The Water Tree. He saw all life as being equal. That was his message at its simplest."
"But we are not all equal, the Telenahi have told us so. We are a different class," replied Panamya.
Exactly! replied Halasar. "Taberna's intentions were honourable. He wanted to unify all life, to find the common link between us all so that we could all learn to live in harmony. When the Trees were nearly complete, he was poor and old but he had not managed to find The Tree Of Unity; the one true Tree which would connect all known life, providing us all with a common heritage. He knew his own life was nearly over and he returned home with his research to ask for funds so that he could complete the final part of his work. He was ignored by the authorities but was listened to by a radical technological sect called The Telenahi who were genetically re-engineering themselves into a new race."
Stop, said Panamya, fearing what Halasar was about to say.
"They took his life's work and modified it, placing themselves within The Tree Of Unity. When he found out what they had done, he vowed to publicly denounce the Telenahi's interpretation of the Trees and was murdered."
"Stop! Please!!" implored Panamya.
Halasar continued relentlessly. "Using the Trees of Life, they took Taberna's message of LUAH and forged it into what they wanted it to be. They turned his work into an ideology which denigrated all other life except their own. Their numbers swelled as they proclaimed themselves the Unifying Species and genetically engineered their followers. Tyll is not one creature, he is three, grown genetically together. Have you ever looked through the gas bubble?"
Panamya nodded, knowing the sight of a Telenahi to be hideous.
"They waged war with the three homeworlds by developing viruses which only The Telenahi had immunity to. The only way to survive was to be re-engineered into their form, further swelling their numbers. Now, they rule vast swathes of the galaxy and imagine themselves to be Gods. They have successfully waged war against other lifeforms and changed their evolutionary course. They see us as their progeny. We are their genetically engineered minions but I say, they are not my master," finished Halasar.
"All you want to do is hate!" shouted Panamya. She stood up and ran away. "You are no different to them! You care nothing for our child!!"