Sarai, стр. 37
ThePresident looked deeply troubled. “The thought of giving over somany of our rights is disturbing. Surrendered rights are neverreturned. That desk behind me,” she gestured over her shoulders,“was built from the timbers of warship called theResolute.It is a symbol of the resolve we all must have to honour freedomand defend it with our last breath. If I accept help at the costdemanded of Earth by PanGal’s diplomats, the men and women who havesat at that desk in the past will condemn me from beyond the grave—”
“No, I don’tthink they will, ma’am,” Jamie interposed earnestly. “I thinkthey’d know that you’re facing — the world is facing — the end ofdays. If we can survive the Zill - if we accept PanGal’s help tosave the Earth from them— we will live on as a species, withcourage and with the hope of a better future.”
“At the costof consigning thousands of humans to slavery. No-one will acceptthat. I would not see my child carted off to an unknown future.”The President’s voice broke slightly. “Better we die together thanto see that happen.”
“Withrespect, ma’am, it doesn’t have to be like that. When I was taken -was rescued - by Alekyn, for ages I thought I was only going to bea slave but I didn’t understand. It’s not just the words we used,it was the context that confused me — oh hell, it’s too hard toexplain.
“Look, theNaferi and, god forbid, the Keinyn are hopeless as diplomats, butthe Naferi would take only true mates, sarai - it’s a spiritualbonding; a marriage decreed by the fates. Alekyn would die for me athousand times over; he will never mistreat me, never hurt me inany way. He’s a bit weird about some things but he listens — atleast he listens eventually. I matter more to him than anythingelse. He’ll give me whatever I need, whatever he can give me. I’meven studying to be a healer, which is what I always wanted…one dayI hope to return to Earth to practise medicine. I’m still workingon that one with Alekyn and his pard. My children will know theirhuman relatives - ma’am, this is a way forward to a future, maybenot a better future, but a future in which we still exist. Maybethat future is not the one we expected, and there may be problemsand rough times ahead, but I truly believe allying ourselves withPanGal will serve a greater good than letting people die screamingsilently in a Zill feeder chamber, with a queen’s proboscis suckingall their insides out while they’re still alive. You owe the peopleof Earth more than your own misbeliefs - you owe your own childmore than that.”
ThePresident paled and looked sick, but rallied. “I can’t simply takeyour word for it that would happen. Can you prove what you’ve justsaid?”
Jamie shookhis head. “I could show you vids - videos - and holograms ofvictims, but you’d probably say they were faked. But ask yourselfthis: the Zill have already destroyed hundreds of thousands oflives — people are now fighting in the ruins of our cities,fighting and dying with no hope of victory, what would they reallywant their leaders to do? Hold fast to an ideal that will see theultimate extinction of the human race? I don’t think so, MadamPresident. Right at this moment, parents all around the world areseeing their children snatched away to deaths so horrible we can’timagine anything worse. I think,” he rubbed his belly, soothing thechild within, “I would give anything, do anything, to see my childsurvive, because whatever the cost, survival means living, andliving means hope for a better tomorrow. You can’t take that optionaway from people.”
“The road tohell is paved with good intentions,” the President retorted. “Iwill not sell my people into an uncertain future.”
“Better anuncertain future than no future at all,” Alekyn interposed quietly.“Ma’am, my sarai and my leader both have some suggestions that mayhelp alleviate the worst of your suspicions. Will you listen tohim?”
For a momentJamie waited, breath caught in his lungs.This was the tipping point — the time after which there was nogoing back. Would the President listen? Would she accept hisarguments? The pause seemed to go on forever, and then thePresident, her eyes still shadowed, nodded.
“Listeningwon’t hurt. Tell me what you know, Jamie Munroe.”
Jamieexhaled. Thank you,God, he thought.
“Yes,” hehesitated. “Ma’am, the Adan, the hereditary leader of the Naferi,has given me permission to speak on his behalf, and I reckon hewill ratify anything we agree to personally, so that if necessarywe can put a joint position to the United Nations and the people ofEarth.”
“I see,” thePresident looked around the Office. “I presume this meeting isbeing surveilled?”
“No, ma’am,”said Alekyn. “Not without your permission.”
“Well, inthat case we’d better arrange it.” She rose and returned to herdesk, pressed a button discreetly hidden on a console, and thensmiled. “Everything said by everyone needs to be open andtransparent.”
“No secretdeals,” agreed Jamie. “Ma’am, the Adan’s on one of the starcruisers orbiting the moon, just waiting for the call to talk toyou.”
“Call himthen, young man. We have much to discuss, starting with how wehandle sarai taking.”
EPILOGUE
JAMIE EYED HIS REFLECTIONnervously. He thought he looked okay. Persuading the Naferi thatthe traditional sarai costume might be a bit confronting for humanshad taken a lot of argument, but he thought the compromise of thewell-cut trousers and fitted jacket was the right touch.
Yeah, his hair was a bit long,but the manbun was pretty hipster so he figured it would be okay.The faint sparkle of gems threaded through his hair probably wouldraise eyebrows. It did look a bit princessy but he liked it, whilehis silver and pale green wrist bands played enticing peekaboo withthe rich brown material of his jacket. He flicked a cuff back