Where the Ships Die Read Free Page A

carried a glow rod that lit the area around them but was no more than a pinprick against the night. However, when combined with all the rest, the glow rods made a river of light visible from orbit.
    The processional was an important symbol, made all the more so by the fact that each of the more than 2,500,000 individuals below were part of a three-person triad that included a priest, a warrior, and a commercial being. La-Ma was looking at roughly one-third of the Traa race, in her opinion the most important part, since the Philosopher Sept had responsibility for science, education, healing, as well as the spiritual and moral health of the Traa people. This fact both amazed and frightened her due to the responsibility involved.
    Unlike the amazingly fecund humans, or the equally fertile Du'zaath, the Traa had an extremely low birth rate. Two or three offspring per triad were typical, though there were enough larger families to keep the population stable. This was a situation that theoretically made the race vulnerable to attack and caused the Warrior and Commercial septs no end of worry. Which explained why they advocated commercial domination, or failing that, all-out war—a war that the Philosopher Sept opposed lest it destroy the Traa rather than protecting them. Not to mention the suffering it would bring to millions of sentient beings and the harm it would do to their various planets. No, such a course was unthinkable, which accounted for the fact that La-Ma and her peers had resolved to hold the gathering over the objections of their own scientists.
    Yes, they understood the mountain was stirring for the first time in eight hundred years; yes, they knew an eruption could be catastrophic, but the alternative was just as risky. It would take months, perhaps as much as a year to select another location, overcome objections from the traditionalist faction, and stage another gathering. More than enough time for the other septs to complete their plans and put them in motion. There were other ways to communicate, of course, but the Traa made decisions by consensus, and preferred face-to-face speech where matters of substance were concerned.
    La-Ma thought of her own lovers, the warrior Ka-Di, and the commercial being Sa-Lo, and felt affection mixed with consternation. How could they be so blind? To believe that force rather than love would secure the future of the race? But they were as true to their septs as she was to hers.
    Gravel crunched on the path behind her, and La-Ma turned. Like all of his kind, La-To had a short snout, omnivorous dentition, and horizontal nostrils. He wore the white robe of a priest, which, when combined with the short brown fur that covered his body, was sufficient for a warm summer's evening. He lifted a hand in greeting. It had three fingers and one thumb. "Peace unto you, La-Ma... La-Si told me you'd be here."
    La-Ma pressed her hand against La-To's. "Peace unto you, La-To. La-Si spoke truthfully." She gestured toward the processional below. "Look, our brothers and sisters are beautiful, are they not?"
    La-To looked and was about to answer when another mild earthquake shook the ground beneath his feet. He held his breath against the possibility that a worse tremor would follow. Nothing happened. "Yes, but we must hurry. The seismologists are concerned. The quakes are coming more and more frequently now. A steam vent opened to the east, and the sulfur dioxide emissions have increased. La-Si recommends we open and close the meeting as quickly as possible."
    The temblors frightened La-Ma more than she cared to admit. She was quick to agree. "Yes, and let's evacuate the moment the ceremonies are over."
    La-To considered her suggestion. It wouldn't be easy to move 2,500,000 individuals, especially when many had their hearts set on sleeping in one of the altar rooms, or within sacred hollows on the mountain's slopes, but it had to be done. Especially since the scientists agreed that even a