<\/p>\n
When Star Shining in the Vastness of the Universe\u00a0 tried to convince him, he literally lost his temper. There was no question of telling me the truth nor of asking for my memory to be kept. This was impossible. The law was the law. \u201cBelieve me, her departure will be easier as long as everybody sticks to this version,\u201d he even added.<\/p>\n
I was so hurt that this morning I pretended to be unwell so I wouldn\u2019t have to go to the training session.<\/p>\n
Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain comes upstairs to see me. I am trying to refrain a groan in my throat.
\n– You\u2019re crying\u2026
\n– No. Well, yes I\u2019m\u2026 sad. Is this the way people cry here?
\n– Yes, it is. You\u2019re crying. What\u2019s happening to you?
\n– I don\u2019t want my memory to be wiped out. Do you know they want to wipe out my memory?
\n– Star Shining in the Vastness of the Universe will address the Great Council today to plead your cause.
\n– He\u2019s going to address the Great Council?
\n– He will. He told me last night. He trusts you. And I agree with him.
\n– Why can\u2019t the Major be like him?
\n– The Major may think he is protecting the planet. Not ours. Yours.
\n– From what, from who? I\u2019m not a threat to Earth.
\n– There is a precedent in our history. This precedent is behind this law. But everything is different this time. You have been showing interest in us. You\u2019re not a technology thief.
\n– Obviously not!
\n– But the consequences were disastrous last time. Those people were not ready. They may have thought that a few drawings would help them take a great leap forward. And they pulverized their own planet. Five billion people wiped out in a split second. Through our fault.
\n– Theirs.
\n– We weren\u2019t vigilant enough. We are empathists ; we felt their envy, their covetousness. But we didn\u2019t measure the extent, nor the consequences.
\n– That is an awful story, and I can understand your caution today. But don\u2019t you think your reaction is a bit radical? I mean erasing my memory\u2026I\u2019m not one of them.
\n– The death of five billion people is a radical consequence. It\u2019s a national day of mourning here. The day of the Big Shame.
\n– Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain, please don\u2019t get angry. If I have to forget anything, I won\u2019t cause any scene. I am not supposed to be aware of it, anyway.
\n– I\u2019m sorry if I\u2019ve given you the impression that I was upset. I don\u2019t agree with the fate you\u2019re supposed to face. But you must be aware that my husband\u2019s request has a great chance of being rejected.
\n– I understand. Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain, I\u2019d like to stay alone for a moment. I have drawings to finish.
\n– Come downstairs in three hundredths. The Great Council won\u2019t be over, but Star Shining in the Vastness of the Universe will be done with his hearing. He\u2019ll come back here straight after.<\/p>\n
A hundredth is a time unit on Dalygaran. It is a hundredth of a day, so one day is a hundred hundredths. I was given a Dalygaran watch so that I can know the time. I nod to Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain and wait as she goes downstairs. As I will remain here for a few moments, I decide to go for a swim once again. I don\u2019t need a horse anymore. I just have to think where I want to go, and that\u2019s it. So I think of the pond and I see myself diving. I have just enough time to flip over before I enter the water, head first.\u00a0 I have completely forgotten I have a watch, but it seems to work fine underwater.
\nI don\u2019t grow tired of watching all those strange fish.\u00a0 I finally find a group of moonfish. I really love to tickle them. I have the sensation they push and shove to be under my hand. The time is going by so fast. When the three hundredths are over, I think of my bedroom, and I suddenly face Star Shining in the Vastness of the Universe who is watching me, arms crossed, looking annoyed.
\n– You\u2019re really impossible, he says through his teeth.
\n– Does she know about this? I whisper.
\n– No, she doesn\u2019t, he answers speaking very quietly.
\n– What are you two doing up there? calls Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain. Come downstairs!
\nEven though my clothes are drying fast, a little puddle has time to spread on the floor.
\n– I\u2019ve gone to swim, I say softly.
\n– I can see that, he answers pointing to the puddle with his chin.
\n– I needed to relax.
\n– I know.
\n– Have you been here for a long time?
\n– I\u2019ve just arrived. Let\u2019s go downstairs, but wipe your face first, he says still quietly as he hands\u00a0 me a hand towel, then out loud: \u201cSweetheart, we\u2019re coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain welcomes us with a smile.
\n– Have you already spoken of the Great Council? she asks.
\nMe: \u201cEr\u2026\u201d
\n– Yes, I\u2019ve just told Beth that I\u2019ve presented my request at the Great Council. They listened to me with attention. But they\u2019ve recalled to me the law. And even though I know they can suspend it, I\u2019m afraid they won\u2019t.
\n– I told Beth the reason for this law.
\n– You were right to. It\u2019s the Major\u2019s turn now to give his recommendations. Thereafter, the Great Council will deliberate. As the manager of the space travel center, I will oversee your departure, and I\u2019ll be informed of the details. As soon as I know something, I will call you. And you: you stay here, he says to me raising his voice and pointing at me with his index finger, jabbing it into each word.
\nFragrant Flower from Isadora Plain seems to be surprised by her husband\u2019s tone. He nearly slams the door as he goes out.
\n– What happened to him? she asks me.
\n– I really don\u2019t know, I answer with the most self-assured tone I can muster. Maybe pressure?<\/p>\n
We both stay there, chatting about one thing and another. I like to chat with Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain. The time goes by softly, until someone knocks at the door. Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain stands up to open it.
\n– Major! she says.
\n– I\u2019ve come to see how Beth is doing. She was sick this morning. May I speak with her?
\nMy heart is about to stop. I wave a \u201cno\u201d at Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain, but no chance she could see it with her back turned.
\n– She\u2019s here.
\nThe Major goes inside and I am in his field of vision now.
\n– Beth, how are you?
\n– Good. Well, better. I was just homesick you know.
\n– I can\u2026 understand. I came to tell you good news.
\nAt this point, a silly hope goes through my mind; not only my mind I have to say, but actually through my whole body.
\n– You will go home early tomorrow morning. Everything is ok now. We\u2019ve got unexpected help.
\n– Whose help?
\n– I don\u2019t know exactly. But all is ready for your return. The timing will be very tight. You\u2019ll have to be on time.
\n– I\u2019m always.
\n– That\u2019s right. Except this morning. Your blood sample is already here.
\n– Already?
\n– Yes, the transporter was ready, and so was the volunteer. We were just waiting for the Great Council\u2019s green light. Tonight we\u2019ll make your extraction capsule and a pill to avoid your being sick by the time re-synchronization. Beth, is everything ok? I feel you in such\u00a0 distress.
\n– Star Shining in the Vastness of the Universe told me when I arrived\u2026
\n– Beth! exclaims my hostess.
\n– \u2026that the time differential could cause me some memory loss. In fact, he didn\u2019t really say it. I guessed. This time stuff, it\u2019s never good, is it?
\n– And you want to remember? says the Major softly.
\nI explode in anger.
\n– How? How do you think I feel about it, eh? All that I went through here, all the things you taught me, the moonfish, Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain\u2019s cooking, Star Shining in the Vastness of the Universe\u2019s botany lessons\u2026 How dare you think I would like to forget all of these?
\nThe Major remains voiceless while I disappear in my bedroom.
\n– She has\u2026 She has\u2026 he babbles.
\nI hear my hostess saying softly to the Major:
\n– She has a bad day. She needs to get over all these things. She\u2019s going to calm down, but you\u2019d better leave her alone.
\n– I\u2026
\n– Good night Major.
\n– Er, yes, good night. I\u2019m so sorry.<\/p>\n
I can hear the door opening and closing from up here. I lie down on my bed brooding all this over. A capsule and a pill. Then I smile. At the same time, I can hear my hostess calling me:
\n– Star Shining in the Vastness of the Universe is on the line. Come down. He\u2019s got something to tell you.
\nI run downstairs and stand in front of the communicator screen smiling frankly.
\nStar Shining in the Vastness of the Universe is smiling too.
\n– Beth, I know how we\u2019ll be able to keep your memory safe.
\n– So do I, I answer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When Star Shining in the Vastness of the Universe\u00a0 tried to convince him, he literally lost his temper. There was no question of telling me the truth nor of asking for my memory to be kept. This was impossible. The… Continuer la lecture