<\/p>\n
Since my arrival on Dalygaran, my time has been very full. The mornings have been dedicated to physical activities, supervised by the Major. My body, I was told, is a brand-new model whose capacities have yet to be tested. I feel like it is more me they are testing.
\nThe first morning, I had to run, do push-ups, chin-ups, go up and down stairs very quickly, climb a rope, jump over obstacles. So strong was my feeling of being a lab rat that I wondered if I would have to run in a wheel.<\/p>\n
I was given a wrist recorder, and all my vital data were monitored during the exercises. The Major was holding a supervision tablet, and he looked like he was pleased by what he saw.
\nIn this new body, I was able to do whatever I was asked to, without much effort. And I was pleased with that, even if it was a bit weird doing exercises that usually I would have avoided. Push-ups and chin-ups are really not my cup of tea.<\/p>\n
The second morning, the tests were about nimbleness. It was simple at the beginning: I had to run as fast as possible by putting my feet on coloured spots facing each other\u2014one on the right, one on the left, and then both feet in the middle. On Earth, I was good at it. It was with a rope ladder lying on the ground: foot right outside, then foot left outside and both feet in the middle between two rungs. But it was just a beginning.
\nI was then led to a room called the Pendula Room. It is in this type of place that the servicemen(women) of Dalygaran train to improve their reflexes. The object of the exercise is to cross the room as fast as possible, avoiding each swing of a pendulum along your way. Oscillations adapt to the abilities shown by your path.\u00a0 According to the Major, there is a collision avoidance system. If a mistake occurred, an alarm would ring and the pendula would all get in high position to clear the path. \u201cDon\u2019t run during your first return, he said to me. Just feel how it works.\u201d
\nSo I did my first return quite slowly. I succeeded easily. Gradually, I was able to feel each pendulum. I could see each movement and was able to anticipate the next. It was exhilarating.
\nI noticed the Major shouting something, but I was so concentrated on the movements that I didn\u2019t hear him. I did three or four returns, I don\u2019t remember, and the pendula swung faster and faster. Then all of them got in high position.
\n– I didn\u2019t hear any alarm.
\n– There wasn\u2019t any. I pushed the emergency stop.
\n– Why?
\n– You\u2019ve reached the 10th level. Nobody ever gets to the 10th level. Those who succeed in the 8th are rare, he answered with something in the voice I thought was irritation.
\n– I\u2026 I… don\u2019t know what to say\u2026
\n– You\u2019re\u2026 you\u2019re\u2026
\n– Impossible?
\n– Exceptional. I\u2019ve never seen that before.
\nIt wasn\u2019t irritation then.
\n– Why did you stop the machine? I could maybe have done more returns\u2026
\n– 10 is the maximum level. You can\u2019t go further. And this level can\u2019t run for a long time. There\u2019s a danger of the system overheating.
\n– Oh! Sorry.
\n– Don\u2019t be.
\nAnd then he told me I could go home; well, to my hosts\u2019.<\/p>\n
What can I say about my afternoons? The day after my arrival here, after the physical sessions that morning, I went back to my hosts\u2019.
\nThere was only Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain there. On Dalygaran, there is maternity leave too. Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain is a teacher. She stopped working recently, because the last two moons of a pregnancy, which lasts for11 moons, are dedicated to preparation for birth and rest. She and I are getting along well, and we even went to town together. Means of transport: horse-drawn cart, still with the same type of horses, because Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain can\u2019t ride a horse in her state.
\nOn Dalygaran, apparently, barter is used for trades. We have bought food in several shops, and each time she gave bags of dried plants.
\n– My mother taught me how to identify plants and use them to make nice drinks. Here, I am the queen of brews. It was while I was searching for my herbs in the forest that I met Star Shining in the Vastness of the Universe. He was perched on a tree. Wildlife observation, he said to me. I jumped with fright the first time he talked to me. I hadn\u2019t seen him. He came down his tree and apologized. He questioned me about the plants in my basket. We talked while we were walking. I didn\u2019t collect anything else for the rest of the day. He said he was a scientist from the travel center. But he really loved nature. He would be very pleased to learn to know the plants as I did. And that\u2019s how we began to see each other regularly. It didn\u2019t take many occasions for me to realize that he knew at least as much as I did. He had a knack for finding the most well-hidden plants. That over there, isn\u2019t that…? he would ask\u00a0 me, and he would show me an herb very well camouflaged among the others, that nobody else but him would be able to see.
\nHe admitted later he had seen me many times collecting my plants and he had heard me singing. I never noticed I sang while picking plants. Then we fell in love.
\nI told Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain that it was a nice story. My personal love story on Earth was somewhat complicated. I wasn\u2019t so sure I\u2019d found the right guy. I explained to her that we argue a lot, especially about space travels. And I can\u2019t stand his speech against Snoop\u2026 travellers. Even if I knew he was just mad with worry for me. And when I said: \u201cI should have suspected it\u2014my mother likes him,\u201d she looked at me wonderingly, with big eyes.
\nObviously, on Dalygaran, mothers-in-law haven\u2019t the same reputation they might have on Earth.
\nAs we were in town, I asked her if it would be possible to get something to draw with. I thought about electronic pencils since they had tablets. And then, I thought I was about to faint\u2014she found a set of real canvas and sorts of soft pencils for me.
\n-You will have to give one of your drawings to the shopkeeper, she said to me. And you will be allowed to come back as many times as you wish. You owe this favor to the rarity of Earthling productions on Dalygaran, she added with a smile.
\n– He knows where I come from?
\n– Everybody knows where you are from.
\n– Wow, was the whole planet there yesterday when I made my speech ?
\n– I don\u2019t know, I wasn\u2019t there. But my husband is known around here, and you\u2019re not my husband. You\u2019re wearing a uniform but you\u2019re not a serviceman.
\n– How could they know I am not a serviceman?
\n– They never go shopping while wearing their uniforms.
\nShe laughed.
\n– And, generally speaking, you\u2019re in the news.
\nAnd she showed me a screen on the shop window, with my picture.
\n– Do they know I\u2019m a girl?
\n– You\u2019re here only since yesterday. I think only a few know it\u2026 You\u2019re apparently a splendid young man.
\n– And there is no gossip?
\n– How so?
\n– You, a married woman with another man?
\n– You\u2019re not even from here! And you\u2019re incomplete.
\n– Does anybody know this?
\n– I don\u2019t think so. How about getting back home now?<\/p>\n
And then we went back home. I spent the rest of the afternoon drawing. I did two canvasses: the park I used to go to with my friends\u2013that I will give to the shopkeeper\u2013and a try at a selfie; not that bad by the way.
\n– Is this you?
\n– Yes!
\n– You are\u2026 pale. You\u2019ve got \u2026 pinkish skin.
\n– Yes, I said with a laugh.
\n– Your hair\u2026
\n– Yes, Madame. On Earth girls can have plaits too. But here, it\u2019s just for the drawing. My hair is not long enough today to make this sort of plait. My hair\u2019s length is like yours, but it can be plaited, you know. Do you want me to show you?
\n– Sorry?
\n– Your medium-length hair, I can do it in a plait, or two, on either side of your head. I did it to my cousin when I was a little girl.
\n– Do you think it\u2019ll suit me?
\n– Let\u2019s try. If you don\u2019t like it, we\u2019ll just undo it straight away. Please, sit down.
\nAnd I plaited her hair while we went on talking.
\n– I had a weird dream last night, I said. I was completely drunk and I had a bottle of champagne in my hand.
\nMy interlocutor looked back inquiringly.
\n– No, no, don\u2019t move your head. Just talk looking straight in front of you.
\nShe obeyed and asked:
\n– Are you sure?
\n– Yes. What did I say that surprised you so much?
\n– Drunk and champagne. I don\u2019t know these words.
\n– Don\u2019t you have any alcohol here?
\n– Alcohol is a disinfectant. Do you really drink it on Earth?
\n– Not in that form.
\n– So there are other forms. Champagne?
\n– Yes, it is a sparkling one. With bubbles I mean.
\n– Oh, like soda water. We have soda springs here.
\n– Alcohol has side effects on humans when they drink it to excess. We are slower, we can have defective speech, we stagger. Don\u2019t look back. We can feel very bad.
\n– Why? Why do humans drink in excess then?
\n– Because humans are sometimes over the top.
\n– Oh.
\n– So I was completely drunk\u2026
\n– Has this ever happened to you before?
\n– What? Being drunk?
\n– Yes.
\n– Sometimes. But I prefer a nice glass of wine to too many drinks that\u2019ll make me sick.
\n– Is it good?
\n– What? Alcohol?\u00a0 It depends. It\u2019s like with food: some you like, some you don\u2019t.
\n– So you were drunk with a bottle of champagne in the hand.
\n– And you know what?
\n– No. Obviously not.
\n– The bottle was the one I\u2019d hidden for my boyfriend\u2019s birthday. Exactly the same. Not even cooled. Champagne has to be put in the fridge before you drink it. Anyway, dreams are always nonsense. And suddenly, I saw these two guys, the supervisors of my travels. We talked to each other. I can\u2019t remember what about, and pop, the dream ended. I was awake for a few moments, then I fell asleep again until this morning. I am far away in the universe and I dream of getting plastered, being drunk I mean. And about these two guys. Ridiculous, isn\u2019t it?
\n– It\u2019s just a dream.
\n– And it\u2019s done. The plaits I mean. Let\u2019s go in front of the mirror.
\nShe rushed in front of the nearest one.
\n– Oh, that\u2019s\u2026
\n– You don\u2019t like it?
\n– \u2026surprising.
\n– Just say to yourself it\u2019s something Earthling. Do you want me to undo them?
\n– No, I would like to see the back of my head. Wait a minute; I am going to get a little mirror.
\nThen she returns.
\n– It\u2019s fascinating. I don\u2019t know if this suits me, but those plaits are so amazing. I\u2019ll keep them both. We\u2019ll see the face of Star Shining in the Vastness of the Universe when he comes back tonight. Beth?
\n– Yes\u2026
\n– May I ask you a favor? I\u2019m a teacher you know.
\n– Yes. You told me.
\n– The school called me while you were at your physical session. I don\u2019t know how the director learned we were putting you up. She would like you to come to talk with the children\u2026 Tomorrow\u2026 Or after tomorrow, or whenever you want\u2026
\n– Do you think I should?
\n– I think you may arouse their interest about other worlds. With your drawing talents, you\u2019re going to cause a sensation.
\n– My afternoons are free anyway.
\n– Is this a yes?
\n– Let\u2019s try tomorrow afternoon.
\nFragrant Flower from Isadora Plain hastened to call them.
\nThe rest of the afternoon passed softly by talking about this and that. Until the return of Star Shining in the Vastness of the Universe.
\nWhen he got closer to Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain, they began to purr, like they did the day before.
\n– It\u2019s Earthling, she said.
\n– You look lovely.
\n– Really? I asked. They just purred louder.
\nThe evening ended with a meal, an excellent one, and then everybody went to bed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Since my arrival on Dalygaran, my time has been very full. The mornings have been dedicated to physical activities, supervised by the Major. My body, I was told, is a brand-new model whose capacities have yet to be tested. I… Continuer la lecture