Midday and the sun beat down on the glass of the pyramids and the tinted interior shutters.  Artificial snow fell slowly in A Den as Astoric and Theodoric led Xian to the rock at the icy lake edge.  It was a shallow lake and almost always frozen, not connected to the bodies of water in any of the other dens.  Now Mara stood there with her daughter Sadian, Trepidation and Blath, all having put warmer coats over their other clothing. 

      Astoric and Theodoric came to the rock that stood above the snow line beside the lake, dropped Xian down before them.  In Trepidation's hand a long knife glinted in the dim sunlight.  With a nod to Sadian they both approached the rock. 

      It was hollowed slightly at the top, and etched in such a way that snow, rain or blood falling on the rock ran down one side and from the rock as if from a spout.  Mara came behind, lay a kettle in front of the rock, met Xian's eyes.  He said nothing, met all of this like a soldier.  Sadian put weight on Xian's back so that he could not get up. 

      Trepidation touched the hairs of Xian's neck with the blade, lifted it high and then in one swift blow took Xian's head from its body with a small splatter of warm red blood and the cracking of a spine.  Mara said a blessing as she lifted Xian's head into a sack so that the kettle filled with blood unobstructed.

      When Mara stood she spoke so the others could hear.  "This man was our enemy and so his death to preserve all our lives was a good death, and he met this with a soldiers courage.  Michael is angel who governs this planet and general of Heaven's army.  May he weigh justly the heart of this dead soldier.  May Zerachiel who preserves us and Gabriel who protects us show their own mercy to the soul we send to them and send him swiftly to what afterlife he is judged worthy.  May all the Angels, Saints and Lady in Heaven give us the strength and wisdom to deal justly with all who make themselves our enemies."

      "Dust to dust and ash to ash," Astoric said.

      "But first we drink the blood of our enemy, to show we take responsibility for his death, to bring to ourselves his life," Trepidation said.  He stooped to the kettle, dipped cupped hands in and brought them out slicked with blood.  As he stood he lapped the blood from his hands. 

      Sadian drank the blood next.  Then Astoric.  Theodoric went to the kettle.  And then Blath drank.  Mara did not drink, the others thought this proper.  Mara was not one of them, she was not a sister or daughter, only a mother, and humans could be mothers to them, or fathers.  They cleansed their hands and faces in the snow, washed the knife and the kettle in the snow, and suffered the cold.

      The pack of wolves were slinking toward the lake.  Blath howled to them and they halted their approach.  Jesu and Yera had been Thierry Jewel's children as well as Mara's and had been partly Wolfbreed as well as witch and angel, and had been true Faerie, not only adopted by the Sidhe as all this species was beginning with Trepidation and Sadian.  Blath, Aedan, Tathai and Minerva had equal amounts of Wolfbreed in them, of all Thierry's traits; the others had so little in them it did not show much.  But it did seem to please Blath that her daughter had chosen the sons of Minerva and Aedan as her mates.

      Together they carried the two parts of Xian to higher ground where a pyre had been prepared.   Both parts were placed on the pyre then doused with oil and melted wax.  As the pyre was being lit from below fragrant leaves and flowers were thrown over the body.

      They kept watch in turns all through the day, for it took this long for a body to burn through.  The fire had to be kept up, accelerants had to be added from time to time.  Some would leave to go about other chores.  They would return later to watch.  Through the day, others who had not witnessed the death came, knowing, to look at the remains of their enemy.

      The next morning the same group gathered to take up the ash and tiny fragments of un-incinerated  bone.  They took this into the thin woods at the edge of A Den and scattered them well, mixed them into the ground with sticks fallen from the trees. 

      Xian had been taken care of, but Claudia had yet to report what his allies had sent in reply to his final transmission. 

                      ?                ?                ?

      Rachael came outside where the others were all at work on the construction projects.  The greenhouse project would take over a month to assemble, but now there was plenty of work to be done supervising and programming the bugs during excavation and marking out the grounds for future construction.  Etan was sitting atop an idle worm, cables drawn out from a panel.  Rachael wanted to speak to him. 

      He didn't notice her approach, even in denser atmosphere she was stealthy.  It wasn't till he heard his name called, not from tiny speakers in his helmet, it was inside his head.  "Vas?"  Rachael was crouched behind him looking over his shoulder.  "Rachael, you surprised me."

      "I got a message from NS1.   They will keep Xian's status classified for now.  They want us to proceed with the mission objectives."

      "Ja, so?"

      "I need to get away for a little while."

      Etan twisted about to see Rachael's face through her visor.  "Sure. I said I'd cover for you."

      "Tell the others you can all meet me there before a week is up.  It takes two days to get there so if you leave when this stage is done—"

      "Don't worry about it.  I'll tell them about the message, explain that you've gone to scout things out."

      "Thank you, Etan.  I'll be awaiting you in Sinai.  I should be there before morning."

      "How—"

      Rachael forced a smile.  "I'm old enough that I can fly."

                      ?                ?                ?

      Rachael was weak, tired and hungry, and the air was yet so very thin, but the trick worked just the same.  One only had to will themselves into the air, to visualize themselves repulsed from the ground as if from an opposing magnetic pole.  Once in the air the wind might do the rest, slight gestures could steer a body toward one current or another. 

      It was very cold, but it helped to picture warm things.  Miami.  Miami had once been Rachael's home.  Colorful South Beach buildings and people.  Her beautiful little girl, Lola.  Creepy Ken who liked to call himself Daerick.  Angel.  Gorgeous Angel.  Hot Miami nights spent with Angel, her pale flawless naked skin tangled in red satin bed sheets, wide brilliant blue eyes, platinum blonde hair spread across a pillow.  Angel's tinkling laugh.  Angel's pretty mouth, pale pink lips and clever tongue stained red with Rachael's menstrual blood.

      Warm thoughts. 

      Angel was a bit mad now, still living in New Orleans.  And Rachael had spent so many years serving her country with the gift of eternity Angel had given her.  And now Mars.  It had not seemed bad, being so far from the sun.  But now being also so far from Earth was painful.  Too few warm things.  No warm sandy beaches still hot from a day in the sun but welcomely so as the sun had set.

      Sinai was below, To the left the Sun began to peek over the horizon.  Rachael descended.  She could sense the many inner voices behind the protective camouflaged shutters and glass.  Rachael walked over the ground , searched for an entrance.  Near one of the large pyramids there were a number of vehicle tracks yet undisturbed from their exposure.  Rachael soon found the panel that was meant to be opened by remote control and hot-wired her way inside. A pair of doors swung up to reveal a sloped road, and so Rachael jumped down to the path below. 

      She was in a short tunnel, a garage of sorts visible on one side, and a curved passage opposite.  Rachael followed this passage into another dimly lit tunnel, this one stretched out away from the den for undeterminable distance but in the other direction shortly ended at a large metal door.  Rachael only had to will the door open and the numerical code lock opened the door.  She was then within an obvious air lock.  The door behind closed and Rachael sensed the change in the air.  A green light blinked on and off beside the next large door, and then the door opened. 

      Rachael removed her helmet quickly as she entered what was obviously A Den.  It was quiet now, a very light snow could be seen falling against the cool white light of large lamps.  There was a road of metal grating suspended just above to the left and below as the road spiraled down snowy slopes and tall evergreens.  There was a tall castle footed about halfway down the opposite wall of the den, a small cabin with smoking chimney beneath Rachael amid some old dark trees.  It was cold, yet Rachael could hear and smell the bodies about her.  Birds, insects, rabbits, mice, foxes, wolves, deer, goats, mountain cats, and people.  Rachael could sense five bodies in the castle.  Four were in the smaller cabin. 

      So far Rachael had come unnoticed.  Perhaps they still slept, or could not get through the simple block she instinctively threw up before her mind.  She jumped to the road.  Through another airlock that took the form of windy tunnel passage with inconspicuous metal doors marked in German as service areas.  Rachael beheld B Den. 

      It was deliciously warm here, though dry.  Like some part of Africa or small part of America before civilization had come.  Large mammals of many types roamed about below, the shutters were just opening above and birds and screeching monkeys announced the dawn.  The small bamboo huts below were quaint, built just beyond the jumping height of a large cat.  Ten bodies.

      Rachael moved on, more curious to see each den now.  Etan had seen three with his own eyes.  Rachael came to C Den, felt the coolness of the miniature sea.  The spouting of water from the blowhole of a pod of dolphins made her weak.  And the small Villa, gorgeous.  Rachael stooped down and splashed her face with water from a tide pool.  Sadian was here.  Just four bodies here, Sadian and Astoric snuggled together in sleep among them. Rachael wanted to glimpse them, but moved on.  Where was Trip?

      As Rachael entered D Den she knew there were waking people here.  She willed herself part of the nearest tree.  She watched as small monkeys and lizards scurried out of the way as a man walked from treehouse to surrounding outdoor platform.  He stood relieving himself, arc of acrid urine falling to the leaves and moist ground below.  Rachael smiled, touched her fingers to her lips and felt her smile. 

      She slunk then through the dense growth to the opposite door, there was no metal road here only high ground and low ground.  Five bodies perhaps.  And then E Den

      This was beautiful.  Green grass and meadow, sparkling blue river, trees of all kinds.  Neat orchard and vineyard lain out behind a lovely red stone house.  As Rachael walked down the dizzying road that was more a path worn by hooves, feet and bicycle wheels she saw there was a tiny cottage in the wooded area, but it was empty now.  There was a tent, and a nearby flock of white and black sheep.  Two bodies there.  And in the larger stone house guarded by gargoyles at each corner of the roof there were five bodies, Trip and Mara among them. 

      A seemingly wild drove of horses ran past  at a gallop as Rachael came to the low land.  Rachael followed the path to the river.  There was a footbridge over it, but the water was too inviting.  Rachael dropped her helmet there and removed her suit. 

      The river was somewhat shallow, chest deep at its lowest point.  Still Rachael dunked her head into the water.  It was cool, gorgeous.  She could see the fish swimming about her.  In a moment Rachael surfaced, flung her hair from her face and stood.  It might be nice to lay on the grass.  Later, she told herself.  She wanted very much to find Trip and Mara. 

      There was a line of laundry hanging beside the house.  Rachael clothed herself in a sheet and went to the back of the house.  There was a flower garden there and a small cement patio.  A stone path led through careful landscaping and into the orchard.  Rachael flew to the window. 

      For a short while Rachael sat in the open window looking through the gauze onto the bed.  They looked so much like she remembered them.  Of course she had known Trip when he was a baby.  And then when Sadian had been born in a Paris hotel room Rachael had actually delivered her then cared for Mara afterward.  These two who had been such innocent young parents now had a family of at least 35.  Trip looked mostly the same, oh, the dreads were new, but the hair was still freaky and slightly slick with oil and stuck up above his head.  Mara had aged only slightly, was a beautiful mature woman, her thick braids seeming to swim across her pillow. 

      How could Xian have known of them and not Rachael?  How could anyone wish to hurt them? 

      Rachael went to the bed.  In an instant Trip grabbed her and threw her across the bed, but it was reflex only, her presence had triggered a defense mechanism inherent in many vampires.  Only then did the boyish creature straddling her body look down and recognize her.  At that moment Mara woke, sat and cried out, "Rachael!"

      Trip bowed his head and kissed her hard.  Rachael was stunned.  Both the younger ones were drawing her toward them happily. 

      "Oh, Rachael, Rachael," Mara said, "We hoped you would come see us."

      "She looks just the same, amazing that they would send you.  You must let us do anything we can to make you feel at home, you who helped our family so much when we were on Earth."

      Rachael smiled, felt the tears come into her eyes.  She understood the hold these people had on Etan.  It felt so wonderful to see these faces and to hear such friendly greetings after a nine-month sleep in a spacecraft and so many days within a suit and helmet staring at red rocks.

      "You're starving," Trip said.  he had a small scar on his jaw.  Silently Rachael touched it.  "It's old, nothing," he said, "here," Trip said, offered Rachael his wrist.

      "I couldn't," Rachael whispered.

      "Please," Mara said, "he doesn't mind, neither do I.  I've seen malnurishment.  Take it."

      Hesitantly Rachael held Trips wrist in both her hands.  She bowed her head then, felt for a pulsing with her tongue then bit.  Their arms gathered her closer, held her as if they were feeding a child.  Rachael didn't care.  She had a body willing to share its blood with her and a warm bed, diffused sunshine and gentle breeze. 

      Rachael stopped.  She sat slowly wiped at her mouth.  "You killed him?"

      "Yes," Trip whispered.

      "Left no trace?"

      "We found his hovercar and droid at Hellas Station," Trip said.  "Do you know the code he was using?"

      "Possibly, what do you mean?"

      "Can't we talk of something else?" Mara asked.

      "Forgive me," said Trip quietly.  He was weak from giving blood. 

      "I hate it, but I suppose it is important, go on," Mara said.

      "I've been wanting to talk to you, there's so much we don't understand.  Etan and Martin could only provide so much information.  We caught Xian in another of our bases, he had stolen from us and broken into two of our settlements, completely blew out an airlock to slow our pursuit.  He sent a message, we know the general content of it from a scan of his consciousness.  But we don't know the exact message and haven't decoded the reply yet."

      "You have a coded message from Earth meant for Xian?"

      "Yes, Claudia hasn't decrypted it yet, though I am sure she will."

      "The AI you mean."

      "Of course."  Trip broke into laughter.  "It's so amazing you are here.  Etan was entertaining, what I saw of him, but to have a person we knew on Earth come here, it's...a miracle."

      "In time we will have to figure out what caused all this, compare notes, but not right now."

      "Breakfast, showers, feed the baby," Mara said.

      "You have another child?"

      "No, I've raised my four, and Mara her five.  Elise is Easterwine's daughter.  We're looking after her right now, she's very young and the weird sisters are still suspicious of your group."

      "Then there are other settlements?"

      Trip smiled.  "I probably would have trouble stopping you if you wanted to take the information from my mind.  The weird sisters are up in Hempshire with their mates, it's not very far from your base, in the Chryse area.  It's mainly a hemp plantation, they ship raw fiber here to be into textiles and construction materials but they process the other parts of the plant into fuel or plastic up there."

      "Smoking the stuff?" Rachael laughed.

      "Trip is," Mara said.

      "If Claudia notices a decline in my applied intelligence she lets me know.  I'd go mad without a few vices."

      "It's not so bad, he's so much of a hermit now the kids don't see his actions as example either way."

      "A hermit?" Rachael asked.

      "I'm retired.  I've built things, solved problems, raised my own children.  I still keep all the computer systems functioning, but Claudia could do fine on her own.  Otherwise I'm retired, I don't go about daily chores with the children anymore."

      "Yet I who am not definitely immortal am still the best doctor we have and can't retire," Mara said, "A woman's work is never done."

      Rachael sighed.  "Well, as I'm sure Xian is dead it matters little if you did it or it was a storm, and our mission hasn't changed—the mission director at NS1 says it's all still a go—I think it's a good idea we have some talks.  Not immediately, but I did ask Etan to have the others meet me here within a weeks time.  I think it's the best course of action seeing as how both groups are now here without ever meaning to disturb the other."

      "Fair," Trip agreed, "So long as Xian was acting alone.  I wouldn't mind coming to some kind of agreement, some plan for the future.  It does get lonely in a way."

      Rachael nodded.  "I'd like to stay until they do arrive, take part in what goes on."

      "Please," Trip said, "though I may have Sadian and Astoric speak on our behalf."

      "How are they?"

      Trip smiled, "Past sins forgiven my children are happy as each other's lovers.  They've had five children with each other.  Astoric has another daughter besides.  Sadian has two other sons by Jesu, he was Mara and Thierry's son."

      Rachael turned to study Mara. "You aren't joking?  Thierry didn't—?"

      Mara shook her head, spoke softly, "I allowed him to engineer the pregnancy.  Perhaps there is a family curse, but I saw the logic in carrying his children with me to Mars.  He was too in love with Monique to do it any other way, I'm not sure she ever knew."

      "They are still together, I saw Tris in DC shortly before leaving.  He was well, still young in appearance though Rozz and Valerie are so old.  They have retired to Switzerland, it's more peaceful there now, secured by Goth.  Tris still has family in DC.  He told me Thierry and Monique were in Paris again.  Claudia lives there also, Rozz's sister.  Thierry's daughter Étain is grown, travels a lot.  I heard that she has been seen in various cities with Aje Morté."

      "Figures," Trip laughed.  "Do you know anything of my parents?"

      "I have not seen them myself in a while.  But gossip goes around, after a while all the immortal people know each other.  I think they remained in Zakopane at their castle for some time after you must have left.  They do still travel together and keep house with each other.  I think they spent some time in New York.  Word is Shade spent a number of years living with Steven there.  At one time they were houseguests in LA at the palace, Bathsheba is still hanging around with Athen there.  They must have been in Karachi when I left Earth.  I understand Orchid has a fondness for your father and that David and your mother are still friendly."

      "We still had direct communications with NS1 the first fifteen or twenty years we were here, and regular shipments of various supplies.  At that time Thierry and My parents sent messages to me.  and I was certain Athen and Shade had some influence with those on the station.  It's after that that things broke down.  I think there must have been a change of command."

      "I'll try to remember details," Rachael said.

      "Sure, we can talk later.  You found your way in, feel free to explore.  Perhaps we were a bit defensive with the others but we don't really have any terrible secrets.  Of course we don't want all our business known, just because some things are our business."

                      ?                ?                ?

      Their initial work on the factory had been completed, Rachael had been gone four days and now in two rovers the remaining team of five reached the Cydonia tunnel entrance.  It had taken several hours to cross from MB1 in Eden to the tunnel where it ran beneath Chryse on its way to Cydonia or Sinai. 

      They stopped once within the tunnel.  They still required air tanks and suits here but the greater part of the outer environment was kept above, it was warmer here, lit fixtures on the walls, framed in magnesium supports.  Etan, Brittany and Kei had been in the lead rover, Martin and Carlo close behind.  And now they walked from their vehicles to stretch their legs. 

      Shortly a door opened along a shadowy section of tunnel wall and a small cybernetic creation appeared.  "Not one of our bugs," Kei said.  It stood only several feet tall, rolled on hidden wheels, resembled a trashcan with single appendage at the top.  It seemed to be gesturing for them to follow.

      Etan stepped forward.  "You sure it's safe?" Kei asked.

      "I want to find out." 

      The group moved through the door, it closed just as Martin came in at the rear of the group.  That they were in an air lock became apparent as their suit gauges showed a change in outside pressure and another door opened before them, like those at the tunnel entrances in Sinai large enough for a vehicle to pass through.

      There was music playing.  The lights that lit the chamber they stood in shifted slowly from one color to another, they could not see what lay beyond this room for all the draperies, curtains of many fabrics in layers veiled everything, and strings of glass beads.   A figure materialized in front of the shiny black curtain and layers of black net before them.  It seemed a woman, very tall, taller still for the stack of black and red teased hair and the platform boots.  The clothing was as the draperies of the room, many layers of luxurious fabrics and decorative beads, here fitted tightly at the bodice and loose where it fell in long asymmetrical skirt.  "Who R U?" she pronounced slowly and exhaled smoke; she had a long slender filter of some sort fitted with rolled lit cigarette.

      "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," Kei said as he removed his helmet. 

      The woman moved toward Kei in strangely graceful long strides, reached gloved fingers to touch his face.  "Japanese?" she asked.

      "Yes," Kei answered.

      She took several steps back as the others were removing their helmets and gear they carried.  It seemed the platform boots were weighted and served the purpose of simulating resistance greater than the small resistance of Mars' gravitational pull.  "Hello, strangers!  I am Athracht! Welcome to Hempshire."

      Two other women appeared in similar dress each side of Athracht and the curtains parted.  The room beyond seemed a disco.

      "Most strange," Carlo said.

      They followed the three strange women into the room of whirling patterns of colored light and loud alien music.  Athracht seemed to be taking the role of Mistress of Ceremonies, to be putting on a show for them.  "Give a warm Chryse welcome to my sisters, Easterwine and Blaith!" Athracht shouted. 

      Kei looked to the others with him, started clapping, and so they all clapped. 

      The strange women were bringing out various objects to show their guests.  Each described their object before fetching another.  "A book!  Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass!"  Athracht dropped this small book with Kei and went to get another object.

      "A lunchbox!" Easterwine said, she was the one with smooth straight red hair and powder over lips and eyes of the same color.  She dropped this with Brittany.  It was metal, hinged, and rectangular.  It was newly manufactured but seemed to be an antique lunchbox.  This one had the words Star Wars painted on it and a gold colored robot, beside another that looked like a rolling trash can.

      "Corsetry!" called Blaith and threw a shower of lingerie at the group then pulled open the front layers of her dress to show a corset she wore.

      "Music video!" Athracht shouted.  A screen descended before them with video projected from behind.  It seemed to be these three women, though they were playing guitar or keyboard and singing.  It was their own music playing throughout the room. 

      They went on and on, making a mess of the room.  It soon became clear that these three sisters took pride in recreating objects that could be found on Earth, even walked about in boots that simulated their Earthen weight.  Yet it was somewhat clear as well that they had never been to Earth, sometimes the backside of an object seemed somehow wrong, as if their models had been two-dimensional. 

      Shortly they brought three men out, nearly as strangely dressed.  One of them was wearing clothing very close in color to the pale green suits the team was equipped with and a glass bowl over his head.  The group seemed to act out a scene in which ominous military officers from Earth sent an astronaut to Mars who then tried to harm the natives in dramatic stabbing gesture.  Then the natives kicked the astronaut with their big boots till he begged their forgiveness. 

      In what seemed yet another skit the Martians dressed up as they thought Earthlings looked like and went to earth where Earthlings fell in love with them all.  When the Martians had babies, all the Earthlings were shocked by their appearance and ran away while the Martian girls laughed.

      "I think I've seen this before," Etan said with hint of sarcasm, "Martians pretending to be Earthlings pretending to be Martians."

      Athracht made gesture with hands and face, the lilt of an eyebrow, the extension of a single index finger and the shape of the mouth all suggesting she had suddenly gotten an idea from what Etan had said.  Their theater seemed to be without words, just costumes, gesture and a few props.

      The strange group of thespians ran about in quick change of costume, Athracht, obvious leader of the group, rose from stooped position as if from a trap door cloaked in bright red fabric and then all about her in shimmering black the others crawled on hands and knees.  Just a gesture of a hand and they picked up Brittany from the floor and carried her into their skit.  "I am sure I've seen this before," Etan said, "perhaps in an old movie late at night."  The strange figures mimed the removal of clothing from Brittany as Athracht made powerful and seductive gestures.  Brittany turned toward her friends, silent plea for help.  But it was too late, the group clothed in black had lay Brittany across their hands and lowered her to the floor where they were then in the midst of devouring her. 

      "Interview With The Vampire!" Etan called out.

      Athracht clapped her hands, nodded so that everyone else followed her lead.

      "May I try?" Kei asked.

      With sweep of her arm toward the area that was their stage Athracht invited Kei to play.  He stood and spent a few moments preparing his costume, a piece of gold fabric and braided cord wound about his head and piece of green fabric worn as a sari.  He walked to a wall where there was a mirror and with mimed brushing made them understand the gold fabric was long blonde hair.  And his walk, it was a woman's walk. Now he pretended to talk and laugh at his reflection.  The strange women whispered amongst themselves, guessing what role Kei had taken. 

      But then Kei left the mirror and took Etan from his seat.  Etan was confused, but Kei pointed out objects to him, snuggled close to his arm, held his hand.  And then he let the cord fall slightly from the gold fabric so that they understood he wore a braid.  Brittany and Martin both broke into laughter as Kei batted eyelashes and twirled his fingers about Etan's lovelocks.

      "Oh, Oh, it is our Auntie Caith!" Athracht called out, "One of our strange travelers wearing a braid for Caith!  But he has two!"

      Etan mimed a kiss to Brittany and she mimed catching it.

      Athracht started her group clapping again.  When they stopped she spoke: "We see that you are gentle spirits, be on your way, but be welcome whenever you return."  She made a dramatic and low bow to Kei as he was returning his costume.  "You especially Dear Thespian from Nihon!"

      "Arigato," Kei laughed.

      "And Sayonara to you!" the sisters said as one.  Their curtain closed and they were gone.  Only the rolling rust bucket was there to show them out.

                      ?                ?                ?

      On a small flat ledge that marked the crossing of the high road, sloping road and tunnels Astoric had built a fire of scraps of pressed hemp fiberboard, corn husks and stalks, fallen twigs and other assorted plant refuse.  Both tunnels came to Sinai at A Den and he expected either the visitors from Eden or Mara, Sadian and Rachael who had gone to Hellas Station to assist in a birth.  Theodoric was there, before the fire, laying back into the arms of Blath who sat on a small stool often used in the area to keep one's seat warm.  Caith was with them, sketching in her herbalist's journal by the firelight and false moonlight, wrapped in borrowed fur. 

      Trip was not interested in meeting the visitors himself, especially not with Mara and Rachael away.  He had told Astoric to play liaison, he'd already tried to befriend the first two and had already known Rachael somewhat.  Etan was no problem, Martin had seemed easy going enough, and Astoric didn't think Brittany would be trouble at all.  He was anxious to meet their Captain Kei Yamashiro and their terraformer Carlo Dumont-Cabral so that he might form an opinion of them. 

      Blath and Theodoric would offer them rooms at the castle, but before leaving Sadian and Mara had assured Astoric that the visitors were to be treated with all warmth and welcome due invited houseguests and that they might stay anywhere they liked, so long as there was room. 

      Caith looked up from her work, "Blath, what's the difference between bittersweet nightshade and deadly nightshade?"

      "Bittersweet is taller, had scarlet red berries and purple flowers.  Deadly nightshade grows only a couple feet high has purple-black berries and white or pale purple flowers.  Bittersweet nightshade makes a good poultice for minor wounds.  Deadly nightshade taken in small amounts is a purgative, also kills pain and reduces fever.  But neither plant should be taken in large amounts, especially the raw berries, you can be poisoned."

      "They both have alternating leaves?"

      "Yes.  I've got the plants I will use often memorized, but it's always best to keep a careful notebook and refer to that for anything else."

      "Have they taught you about the morning glory seeds or the peyote buttons yet?" Theodoric asked, playfully.

      "What are they for?" Caith asked.

      "Hallucinations dear," Blath explained, "You aren't to mess with those until you know the healing herbs and the older witches at the coven think you are ready.  They are only used for religious purposes, vision questing.  They are not to have fun with."

      "Is Ergot a hallucinatory?"

      "Hallucinogen, and it depends how it is prepared."

      "Well how does Dori know?" Caith asked.

      Astoric scowled at his brother.  "Dori was only teasing.  He knows that they are not for fun.  Men and Women are naturally different, and the differences also apply to witchcraft.  The talents a woman inherits from her mother or father may be very different from her brother's.  So Dori learned from Jesu and Edil and the other older men who are witches."

      Caith nodded, looked to Blath for support.  "Sadi said something like that at our coven meetings.  Women very often can control internal things, disease and monthly cycles and the growing of things.  Men are much better at changing things externally, sending invisible attack or caress, causing objects to move, that sort of thing."

      "Exactly," Theodoric said, "I was only kidding, Caith.  I've never even used Peyote."

      "Does my grandfather?" Caith asked.

      Astoric grit his teeth.  "My father and I are not witches, our powers are the Shi Vampire powers only.  He learned tricks and also vices from vampires that he knew.  And the Sidhe, the Faeries have their own ceremonies.  Sadian might know of them, Thierry knows."

      "Sidhe gatherings are not very different from our coven meetings," Blath said knowingly, "But after business is done then they mostly get drunk and dance."

      Caith shrugged and went back to her journal.  "We get drunk and dance whenever there's a large number of us together."

      Astoric smiled, "because some of us remember when we had not so many bodies in the family and no time to play music, so when we see so many people we love nearby we celebrate."

      "If all goes well with the visitors maybe we'll celebrate, I'm sure Astoric wouldn't mind you drinking some wine, Caith."

      "Mother says it's not good for witches, she says even Thierry thought so."

      "Thierry wasn't very GAF!" Theodoric laughed.

      Astoric buried his face in his hands.  Theodoric's children were all older than Caith and Eleria, he had no patience for them.  "Caith, my love, the truth is nothing is good in excess but on occasion it is not so bad to indulge so long as it's not habitual, or hurtful."

      "If I stayed in bed with Dori all day I'd never get any work done, most of us wouldn't have clothes, or fabric to make clothes, a number of sheep would not be sheered, my family might go without meals, or be short-handed and spoil a meal in preparing it."

      "Water is lovely, swimming, but if I did it all day I'd look like a raisin."

      "Only paler," Theodoric teased.  "If Etan is here and you have him stolen away with you all the time when is he going to have time to play with me?"

      Caith blushed.

      "Verdammt, Dori!" Astoric cursed.

      "I was serious," Theodoric said plainly, "I didn't really mean to upset you, Cai, we know he likes you, that's kewl.  But lets just suppose—"

      Blath silenced Theodoric.  She looked desperately at Astoric for advice.  "This is insane really.  Our first visitors from Earth, we barely know them and already we are fighting over them as if they are sure to find us equally as fascinating."

      "I know I'm younger, but I'm not a child anymore, I understand how things are.  A person can have more than one lover.  We have rooms in our hearts for many lovers all through our life and for our elders and our children.  I don't even know the others, but I spent time with Etan, I know he likes Brittany a lot.  I know he used to have boyfriends also.  I just have these feelings, you know, that I like him—"  Caith drew in a deep breath then spoke again, eyes staring into the fire, "I just want to know that no one is hurting him or using him, Etan can decide what he wants just like any of us, even if it's not me, or if it is me, or if it's three different people."

      "Caith," Theodoric whispered sweetly.  He crawled to her and lifted her chin.  "If I promise not to gobble him up or steal him away all for myself will you introduce me to him yourself?"

      Caith laughed, hiding her urge to cry.

      "Huh, Caith, we're all going to be curious, and you already know Etan, who is from Goth, and one of the Jewels, couldn't you just introduce me?  Do you need any metal jewelry, or small things?  Any chain mail?  Leather collar?  Saddle?  Fur coat?"

      "I'm sorry I got upset," Caith said, wiping an eye, "you must all be curious about him just like I was.  Probably Etan and all his friends feel the same way about us."

      "I'm sure they do," Blath said.

      "If Etan comes and talks to me, if Father and Grandfather don't need to have meetings with him and his teammates then I'll show them where you work.  Then you could give him something.  I'm sure I've been acting silly."

      "No, Sweetie, Dori was acting silly," Blath said.

      "I was acting silly," Theodoric admitted.

      "When I was your age I wondered if I would be like Sadian, Valor and Yera, if I would have children with someone.  Only Tathai and Theodoric were my age, Aedan and the others were younger.  I even thought I was in love with Alix, and he doesn't really like women.  Dori was hopeless then, trying to solder small electronic parts together or shoe a horse.  And he was shy."

      "Dori was shy?" Caith laughed.

      "He was.  But I soon decided I liked him best, he had potential, and I fell for his whole mysterious quiet persona.  But he wouldn't say a word to me.  My mother Yera didn't have much advice.  I asked your mother Sadian what I should do, she had gotten my father to love her. She tried to give me advice and it was all very round about.  Anyway this bit about Thierry and Monique stood out.  Sadian said Thierry loved Monique because she could make him do what he had wanted to do all along but hadn't been able to make himself do.  So I made Dori tell me that he wanted me."

      "You're going to give her the wrong idea," Astoric complained.

      Blath wouldn't be stopped, she smiled as she finished the story.  "I grabbed his shirt collar and held him in front of me and said, 'say it, Dori!' and he stammered a while.  So I said straight to his face, 'You want me and you know it, tell me you want me and if you sound believable maybe you can have me!'"

      Caith laughed.  Dori was rolling his eyes but as he did Blath put one finger through the ring on his collar and yanked him toward her.  "Tell her what you said, Dori."

      "I said, 'Ablah blah blubber,' and fell to the ground laughing.  But then Blath snaked her hands about my neck and wove her fingers through the hair at the back of my neck and pulled hard so that I had to stare her in the eyes and was only a centimeter from her face.  She smelled like mint.  She said, 'Tell me you want me.'  I did, I wanted to kiss her very much.  Somehow, all of a sudden I could say it.  I said, 'I want you from the very pit of my soul, Blath, hurt me if you have to, but let me be with you.'  And Blath said, 'Kiss me, NOW!'  And I did."

      "I wish something like that could happen to me," Caith said, "I know sometimes we need to have arranged unions, our elders try very hard to make things work out for the best, but I wish someone could fall in love with me."

      Astoric was watching the mouth.  "Caith, dear," he said almost absently, "it's a fine wish, just don't depend on something as uncertain as a future.  Wait and see."

      "I will, Father.  Is something there?"

      "Wait and see."

                      ?                ?                ?

      The large doors opened and shut once again as the team of explorers from Earth entered A Den together.  The false moonlight was shut off, the nearby fire was low and the exterior shutters had not yet lowered to allow the first dim rays of morning light their surroundings.  All that could be seen was a general whiteness with tall dark shapes against it and faces glowing near the firelight.

      Astoric greeted them, introduced himself to them all.  "You must be exhausted from your drive here, Rachael has told us you would come, she had to leave the compound for a while.  If you let me offer you rooms to rest a while and clean up I'll send her to you as soon as she gets in.  there will be a lot to talk about.  We are also curious to hear about you.  But there is plenty of time, we should rest a short while first."

      The group was talking amongst themselves.  Martin was saying that he did recognize Astoric and that he thought rest was a good idea, his last visit had not been so bad once he realized just where he was.  Carlo was asking if this was the boreal biome, he could see the snow.  Etan pointed out Blath and Caith at the fire, he had met both before. 

      "Where will we stay?" Brittany asked. 

      "The castle is not far, the shutters will open soon and you will be able to see.  If you come with me, we'll light our way with torches once we've put out the fire."

      On cue, Blath and Theodoric lit branches soaked in waxy rags then stood and went about spreading the fire and covering it in snow.  "Just watch your step, the path can get a bit icy at this time of day," Astoric said.

      "I don't know if I'll be able to sleep," Carlo said, stooped and touched the snow.

      Kei walked past Etan to address Astoric, asked if that was his name, or the pronunciation of it.  "On the way here we met some others, they were in a place they called Hempshire."

      Astoric laughed.  "then you've met the Weird Sisters," he said, "great-granddaughters of Blath here, My grand-daughters I think, or great-great granddaughters.  They recently settled that area.  They'll go back up to Cydonia when it's Northern Winter and the water ice cap had grown."

      "I admit I found them strange, but why do you call them The Weird Sisters?" Kei asked.

      "I may be mistaken, but I think the phrase comes from a Shakespeare play.  They are witches, and three, and sisters, and they are weird, even to us.  They are well liked, but do have the odd notion that they could conquer Earth...they are no real threat, I assure you, just girls who have seen to many old movies broadcast from Earth.  They haven't the ability to build or pilot a ship between them, and the boots don't really prepare one for the transition to Earth."

      "It's their gimmick?" Kei asked.

      Astoric smiled, advised them to watch out for the fallen rock, and kicked it aside.  "Yes, I suppose if they ever did manage a ride to Earth they'd be best known as a strange musical group pretending to be invaders from Mars."

      "Invaders from Mars pretending to be a music group pretending to be invaders from Mars," Etan said.

      Astoric laughed, "My father says it's been done already by David Bowie."

      "Who's that?" Etan asked.

      "I don't really know either but my father had some truly ancient friends when he still lived on Earth."

      They came to the castle, the large metal gate raised above and the inner doors unlocked.  Blath took the torches and doused them in a barrel just outside the door.  The interior was lit with electric lights that had the shape of candles.  "This is my household, you are invited in," Blath said, "I will give each of you a room, I have two that are on this floor, the other three will have to be upstairs, you'll see the stairs on the way."

      "That's a Vampire thing?  Inviting people into one's house?" Carlo whispered.

      "To accept my invitation is to enter as a guest and not as a prowler, I don't bite my guests unless they ask nicely," Blath called back.

      "She reads minds," Martin warned.

      "My hearing is very keen too," Blath called again.  She stopped in a hallway just beyond a flight of stairs.  There were two opposing doors open here.  Perhaps Carlo would care for this one, it will have a superb view of the den, maybe Martin the other, he does look tired and he's seen this den before."

      There was no argument.  They retraced their steps to the nearby staircase and climbed to the next floor.  The first room they came to had been reserved for Astoric but afterward Kei was given a room, then Brittany.  Etan was the last to be given a room, though Caith was still following and Blath and Theodoric had not left him yet. 

      "This is fine, will you need help when it is time to prepare breakfast?"

      "Not today, but if you wish to stay we would appreciate any help with the household chores, though it's not necessary," Blath answered.

      "Then I will see you later," Etan said, made a nod to Blath.  She smiled and stepped away.  Caith was there.  "Hi," Etan said.

      "Hi," Caith smiled.

      "Did you need me to keep you warm?" Etan asked.

      "Oh, no, thank you for asking, but I have to go sleep with Astoric, my mother's away."

      "I'll keep you warm if you like," Theodoric said, loitering yet in the hall.

      Etan turned his head so that he could see him better, his eyes fell to the leather and metal collar Theodoric wore around his neck.  "Really?" Etan asked.

      "This is Dori," Caith said.

      Etan nodded.  "Thank you for checking on me, Caith," he said.  He stepped into the hall so to reach her and kissed her lips gently.  "I hope I'll be seeing more of you."  Caith smiled as Etan turned about and looked again at Theodoric.  And then she watched as Etan grabbed Theodoric by the collar and pulled him against him.  "Your offer is very much appreciated but I will be quite warm tonight," Etan whispered then flicked his tongue across Theodoric's lips.  In an instant he was gone, behind the bedroom door.

      "Did that just happen?" Theodoric asked in whisper.

      Caith was silent.

      "Caith, did you see?"

      "Dori, am I supposed to feel very excited when I see that?"

      Theodoric laughed.  "Ask your father.  Come on, let's go to bed."

      "Ja," Caith whispered.

      "Does Etan smell very good to you?"

      "Yeah," Caith said cautiously.

      "He's not all human is he?"

      "One eighth angel," Caith said.

      "I wonder if he gives off some kind of angelic pheromones."

      Caith and Theodoric were gone.  Etan slipped from his room and walked down the hall to Brittany's room.  He knocked once and heard no answer.  Etan opened the door, it wasn't locked. 

      Brittany did not seem to be in her room, the small canopy bed was untouched.  But then Etan heard water running, followed it into an adjacent wash room.  She was in the shower, Etan had seen one of the castle bathrooms before, small pedestal sink, flush toilet with tank well above the bowl, circular basin with showerhead above, canvas curtain. 

      "Can I take a shower with ya Britt?"

      She screamed.  And then, hand held over heart, left breast hidden by her arm Brittany peered slowly from behind the curtain.  "Etan, you scared the Hell out of me!"

      "You didn't lock the door."

      She frowned.  "Get in the shower if you want, just don't sneak up on me like that, especially not in a strange place!"

      Etan began to peel off his suit.  "I didn't mean to scare you, really."

      Brittany was shaking her head.  "Why aren't you sleeping with Caith anyway?"

      "She didn't want to," Etan said and climbed into the shower. 

      Brittany looked over her shoulder at him.  Seemed to laugh, "You asked her?"

      "I don't think it's what you are thinking of.  They all have this deep rooted fear of being cold and alone, they all sleep with other people in their beds, but it's not the same as their keeping lovers."

      "The girl wants you, Etan, I saw the way she looks at you."  Brittany's brow wrinkled.  Etan wasn't actually washing, he wasn't looking at Brittany either, just standing in the water thinking. 

      "I know, I definitely get the feeling she'd like to keep me warm when I sleep and make love to me.  but the odd thing was that this guy Dori who I think is Blath's mate—they don't have spouses, just mates apparently—offered to keep me warm, but when he said it I very definitely got the feeling he did not only mean he'd keep me warm."

      "So what, you've had your boyfriends."

      "I know, but the odd thing was that Caith was there and when he said this it was like she expected it or was amused.  And she just stood there and introduced him."

      "Well, what did you do?"

      "I thanked them for the offers and kissed them both then came here."

      "I'm flattered," Brittany said sarcastically.

      "Come on, Britt, I'll keep you nice and warm."  Etan stepped from the shower.  "It really is cold out here," he called. 

      Brittany shut off the water and wrung out her hair.  It was cold, but she was not in the mood to play games, she walked slowly into the bedroom.  It seemed Etan had quickly made a mess of the bed, was on his knees, all the blankets gathered behind him. 

      "Seriously, lay down," Etan said.

      Brittany shrugged.  She went to the bed and slid down so that her feet were covered.  She laughed when she saw Etan swoop down over her, so many pretty blankets like the cliché cape of horror movie vampires.  But after a moment of cold Brittany was warm, a thick pile of blankets over her and Etan laying against her side.  He was familiar to her, had claimed he did not care to sleep alone ever since he'd visited Sinai the first time. 

      "Bri, did you ever imagine we'd fly in space craft on nine month long journey to Mars and end up spending the night together in a castle?"

      "There's a lot of things I never imagined," Brittany whispered sleepily.  Etan was laying a neat line of kisses across her shoulder.  "That feels really good could you please cut it out and do it again some time when I'm not trying to sleep?"

      "Promise?"

      Brittany propped herself up on one elbow with a huff.  "Etan, my mind is racing but I will crash if I don't force myself to sleep now."

      "Brittany."

      "What?"  But then she felt it, Etan's hand sliding down her belly and squeezing between her thighs.  One gentle stroke of his finger inside her and Brittany's mind was clear, she was absolutely calm.  "Etan."

      "Sei still," Etan whispered in German then switched back, "It's the only sort of witchcraft I ever learned, honestly."  He closed his eyes as he felt Brittany sink against the bed again.  "Don't speak, don't think, just listen to me.  You feel very good.  There is no pain."

      "No pain," Brittany murmured only slightly.

      "No worry.  No feeling but this one intense pleasure.  Just the rhythmic sensation within you, warm, glowing.  The beats will slowly grow faster, slowly.  The moment between becomes smaller.  When you can no longer feel the moment between you will orgasm .  You will glow with pleasure."

      "You can feel the gentle rhythm growing faster now.  When you reach orgasm you will glow with pleasure and relax completely as it fades gradually. And then you will sleep," Etan whispered as clearly as he could at Brittany's ear.  She was not speaking, had surrendered to his suggestion.

      "When you wake you will feel very good.  You will be relaxed and calm."  Etan stopped talking, put all his effort into the careful movement of his hand.  He knew this worked, he'd done it before.  His mother and Grandfather had not shown him with this particular example but in soothing Etan or others with similar technique.  Grandfather had told Etan one of the most special uses of this magic was bringing pleasure to lovers, though the magic might as easily ease the death of a dying soldier or rid a child of fear.

      Etan felt Brittany fall asleep.  He was tired, fell more heavily into the pillows beneath him.  The moment he brought his finger into his mouth he was asleep.

                      ?                ?                ?

      Trip himself was at the mouth awaiting Mara, Sadian and Rachael, they had made the short journey to Hellas by mini and came from the tunnel in their indoor clothing.  They had convinced Rachael to forego the military uniform while among them, she looked very lovely in a dress of Blath's design: a long skirted jumper with lace up back. 

      It was well into morning, Trip had fed Elise her breakfast and left her with Tathai and Rozz at the Redstone and made his way here to A Den.  "I saw the scans you sent," he said as Mara came to his side and took his hand.

      "Another daughter, they've pretty much settled on Helen," Sadian said.

      "I'd forgotten how wonderful it is to see a birth," Rachael said softly, "Begh had no problem at all.  And Irais was glowing with pride.  The others have arrived?"

      "Only several hours ago, they're at the castle.  Blath and the others were up waiting for them, I think they are mostly still asleep."

      "Shall we go see them?" Sadian asked.

                      ?                ?                ?

      Martin had walked across the hall into Carlo's room.  Both had not slept, only tried to remain as calm as they could in anticipation for the next day's events.  Martin was now pointing out the cabin where several figures stood outside.  "It looks like those others have come back, with Rachael," Carlo said.

      "Let's go see if the others are up and about," Martin said.  Carlo agreed with a nod, took up his bag that carried his more important notes.  They found the staircase easily and went upstairs. 

      The hall, which they had not seen before, was long and decorated with occasional chairs and wall tapestries.  Several doors were open, suggesting those within would receive company or that the rooms might be vacant.  Carlo was just ahead of Martin and saw Astoric and Caith within their room.  They were awake, dressed in clean clothes and speaking to each other.  Carlo tapped on the painted door.

      "Guten Morgen," Caith said when she saw them. 

      "Buenos Dias," Astoric said, "Is that right?"

      "In Spanish. We speak Portuguese in Brazil, but many in our Union speak Spanish. I comprehend both."

      Astoric nodded.

      "Rachael should be here soon, I just saw them from my window," Caith offered.

      "Have you seen our others?" Martin asked.

      "We saw Etan pass by, I think he's gone to borrow clothing from Dori," Caith said.  "I can get you clothing if you like, or show you to the kitchen.  Breakfast will be fairly informal today.  Lade, Adrian and Airy are already out working."

      "We brought this indoor clothing with us," Martin said.

      "If you need coats or lighter clothing let us know, the dens all have very different climates."

      "I'd like to see the others," Carlo said.

      "You will, later," Astoric said, "Go see if your Captain and Brittany are awake then Caith can show you the kitchen."

      "Please, follow me," Caith said flipping her hair behind her shoulders and scooting past the two men into the hallway.  She knocked on the next door.  "Captain Kei, are you awake?"

      He had been near the door, opened it with Caith still standing in the doorway.  "Kei is fine, or Captain if you want."  He was washed and dressed in his country's less formal uniform. 

      "Come with us to the kitchen, Rachael is on her way here now," Martin suggested.  With a nod Kei stepped into the hall with them. 

      They came to Brittany's room.  Caith knocked.  "Brittany, are you awake?"

      "Who is there?"

      "It's Caith."

      There was a moment of silence.  "I'm afraid I'm still in bed, you can come in...what time is it?"

      "She doesn't want us in there," Martin said.

      Caith nodded and slipped into Brittany's room.  She was alone.  She was lying in bed, not dressed.  Just reclining on her side regarding Caith as she came toward the bed.  It was a mess of sheets, just one of them covered her.  "You look like," Caith began.  There was something this looked like, besides a really pretty painting of ancient queen or odalisque.  "like someone who just made love to Etan!"

      "Honey," Brittany said, moved to reach for Caith but realized the sheet was not cooperating.  "Come here."

      Caith went to the bed.  Brittany reached out and pulled her onto it.  "We did make love," Brittany confessed, "I'm sorry you found out this way, it looks like it effects you more than you want it to."

      "I'm fine," Caith said.

      Brittany smiled, picked up the end of Caith's lovelock.  "I don't know how things are here, but where we come from unless a man and woman are married and mean to have children they are still free to share themselves with others.  I can't say I want to spend the rest of my life with him, I only wanted to spend last night with him."

      "Casual?"

      "Yes, Caith, if you want Etan to make love to you, I'm pretty sure he would.  Just ask him.  But if you think you want him to spend the rest of his life with you, you're going to have to spend a long time working that out, because I don't think Etan is the sort of man who is ready to do that with anyone right now."

      Caith sighed.  "I'm getting advice from everyone, I suppose you should dress.  Your other friends are waiting."

      "Really?"

      "Do you have clothes?"

      "Some."

      "I'll run and get you some clothing, the weather here is a bit strange to outsiders."

      "Thank you, Caith, I'll just be in the shower."

      Caith nodded and ran to the door.  The three Earthmen were looking at her expectantly.  "She's dressing, I'll just be a minute, excuse me."

      Caith ran for the stairs at the end of the hall that led to the next floor up.  Blath and Theodoric had their bedroom here.  Caith came to it shortly, stood in the open doorway, saw the usual heavily draped bed, the looms and sewing machine, a piece of chain mail and another of leather stretched on frames.  And Etan and Dori telling each other how good they looked. 

      "Brittany needs some clothes," Caith said, fell to staring at Etan. 

      Blath came from behind the drapes of the bed.  She was dressed.  "I'll take some to her," she said, left Caith with Dori and Etan.

      "Guten Morgen," Etan said.

      "Hi."

      Etan crossed the room in several long strides, lifted Caith by her ribcage and kissed her.  She went flush, knew she did, felt hot.  Etan loosed her and Caith took a breath.  "You made love with Brittany this morning."

      "I know!" Etan said, almost shrieked.  "It felt so amazing, I don't believe I kept from doing it with anybody for so long, that trip from Earth is Hell.  But when I talked to you last time I was here you made me think I shouldn't be holding back if I had the opportunity.  You're gorgeous, Caith, thank you!"

      "Really?" Caith asked.

      "I'm just afraid you'll all soon be sick of me, it's so addictive really."

      Caith caught Dori gazing at her.  "All things in moderation," he said. 

      "I'd love to try it with you, Etan, but you do know nothing is good in excess."

      He laughed.  "Be careful what you ask for, I'm in just the sort of mood to say yes...I'd forgotten how good I am at it."

      Dori laughed.

      "You didn't!" Caith said.

      "No, not really," Dori said, "I just know what he's talking about."

      "Dori, all you do is follow Blath's orders."

      "And when Blath tells me to do something I do it to her satisfaction," Dori said.

      "And she's a perfectionist," Caith finished for him, "Can we go get through breakfast without spilling our sexuality across the table?  We've got other things to do today."

      Theodoric kissed Caith's hair as he passed her.  "We only tease because we're excited to have you join us.  Astoric and Sadian did it to me and I hated it, but then I understood the things they spoke about and I forgave them."

                      ?                ?                ?

      Astoric and Sadian had led the group of six visitors now rejoined with Rachael from the castle, through B Den and now in time for a late afternoon meal into C Den which was their home.  The previous two dens had impressed all the visitors and now they were amazed by the body of water before them.  They had questions, but Astoric had promised that more would be discussed over their meal and just afterward.

      Now they progressed into Sadian's house and she welcomed them to her household.  "I do not wish to bring the subject into conversation but I do wish to assure you Maudlin won't be preparing your meal, she's been sent from the household temporarily."

      "Who has prepared the meal?" Martin asked.

      "Caith, Eleria, Ethe and Deric," Sadian said. 

      Shortly the group was gathered in Sadian's dining room and took seats.  Sadian and Astoric sat at each end of the table, Sadian with a small computer terminal just beside her, so that she could communicate with her father on behalf of their guests.  Already Rachael had explained to her team that Trepidation was a person she trusted very much but a reclusive sort of man.  They might meet him eventually, and should not feel offended if they didn't, some of his own family went without seeing him for long periods of time.

      The four assigned to prepare and serve the meal lay out courses of light but nutritious foods, vegetable soups, sandwiches with meat or with vegetables and various spreads.  There was cool pasta and cooked grain salads and a few hot baked dishes.  They did not drink straight water but brought out pitchers of water and straight fruit juice, which were meant to be mixed within each person's glass.  There were also infusions of tea and other plants. 

      "You've been asking questions, so please fee free to eat while I try to answer some of them.  You know that Rachael has been with us a number of days, we have learned many of your concerns already from her and she has heard ours.  Also my family has reported to me questions you have asked.  I think the most important thing for me to say, and I speak on behalf of my father as well, is that we truly are interested in working out some arrangement for peaceful exchange.  I mean, for information, for trade of goods, for mutual protection against the local climate, and the like.  One thing that has bothered my people is that we know you are only a very small representation of your planet's people and that we just do not believe that you could possibly answer for all of them, or maybe even care to answer for all of them.  So, though we are willing to call you friends and allies, we cannot promise we will treat everyone this way.  It's our opinion that this is fair and reasonable."

      Rachael spoke for the group, not having much in her mouth and knowing their opinions.  "All we can ask is that you deal with us independently of all of Earth.  Both our two groups know there has been some manipulation committed by people there.  We are told that our findings will dictate what becomes of this planet in the future.  We would like to be able to invite others here.  But I think it's obvious now that the future of this planet should not depend on decisions made on Earth or it's satellites, regardless of what our group has to say.  Our problem is that they may not, probably will not agree with this."

      "It is a problem.  So, our opening offer is this: for the duration of your individual stay here we will treat you as we would have liked to have been treated on Earth.  We are open to trade, information on our other settlements will be disclosed to you from now on, and you may come and go freely from our settlements, all this under condition that you do the same."

      Rachael paused before answering.  "We can accept that offer."

      "What will happen a year from now, it just cannot be decided today.  My father and I have our computer running simulations, to see what various degrees of Earthling settlement would mean."

      Rachael nodded.

      "Rachael has told us of Xian.  We did find some gear that Rachael confirms came from your base, if he or his body is here, we can't find it.  Rachael and I do agree he came with ulterior motive. I sincerely hope we all can be more honest."

      Carlo and Kei both assured Sadian that they were being honest. 

      Sadian smiled, "Now, for a few particular subjects: Carlo, you have asked about terreforming.  We also have an interest in this.  I won't go into detail now but I can say that I think if you talk to Minerva and Aedan who have done the most work for us in the field you will be able to work out tactics that can benefit us all.  I think you are familiar with the more fringe theories.  We are not for this: smashing ice meteors into the planet, building heat rays in orbit, and so on.  But building up an atmosphere by machine or by introduction of plant life we want to work on."

      "I am of similar opinion," Carlo said, "How can I contact these people you mention?"

      "After the meal we will be going to the area where they live, I will introduce you then."

      "I've heard parts of stories, but can you tell us how you did come to be here, maybe theorize why we did not know...if the subject is not difficult for you," Kei asked.

      "Yes.  The first of us was my father.  He was born to the first Leader and Lady of Goth shortly after the birth of that nation, during the Last War.  Though she, I mean Lady Claudia, my grandmother, did not make it public, she was beloved of a certain Vampire.  Because she took his blood, and became herself a Vampyre while carrying my father in her womb he was born something different.

      "About sixteen years later Thierry Jewel, working from his ranch in Tanzania impregnated a girl, Mara, with embryo that would be biologically hers and my father's child.  This was me, born in Paris some six months later.  When I was still quite young Thierry Jewel, who had already been arrested for other horrible crimes and escaped punishment, for political and personal reasons I won't get into, impregnated another girl, Salome, daughter of the Leader of Goth and his wife Elowey.  This child was to be my half-brother Astoric.

      "Then there was already great public controversy over Thierry Jewel and his work which included cloning of humans among other experimental genetic research and projects.  Fourteen years later it came known that Astoric was my brother and that Thierry had all along been responsible for the two pregnancies, Salome's sadly ending in her death during childbirth.

      "My family was targeted by many and various hate groups so that we had to always move from house to house.  I wanted there to be more of us.  I convinced Astoric of this, and when Valor was born to us and it became known all our lives became endangered, and also the lives of people who supported us.  Many of our loved ones and long time friends were targeted by terrorists in order to hurt us.  Some people died. 

      "My father decided he could not bear any more people being hurt because of him.  He went to those people who supported us, the tribe of the Sidhe, The Jewel Family, and the brood of Vampires my grandmother then belonged to.  Together they devised a plan to send us to live on a space station.  At the time NS1 was fairly new and had space available for a price.

      After one attack on us there it was finally decided we would go to Mars.  We were given training.  And we were sent, Mara coming with us and then carrying Thierry's children, Jesu and Yera.  We landed in Sinai and began construction of our habitats.  For the first twenty years we received regular shipments of supplies and direct messages.  Then it all stopped.  Now we have five settlements of various sizes, a number of scattered emergency stopping places buried across the planet and very much at stake.  We refuse to be forced to move again."

      "I think that for their own safety, I mean of Sadian's family, their supporters on Earth devised a cover story about them dying in an attack on NS1 so that they would not be pursued, and also so that the truth about Mars being settled but only by this group would remain unknown. I can only guess that over fifty years commands change, and chain of command, information is passed along, and those who don't know of the existing Mars settlement dream of being the first," Rachael said.

      Astoric spoke, "My father and I think that it may not be such a bad thing to announce our presence here seeing as how our enemies seem to know already.  At least then all our supporters would also know."

      "It occurs to me that some people will make the issue of ownership of Mars a legal battle, those who funded your trip perhaps," Kei said.

      "Those who funded our voyage here had money to spare and are not interested in this planet being taken from us," Sadian said, "And when I say that I do not mean that Mars belongs to us, but that we are here and will not have that changed against our will.  We desperately want to be left in peace, but if it means fighting a war of colonial independence we'll do it, seems silly though, knowing the pointlessness of war from studying Earth's history."

      "You would fight a war?" Brittany asked.

      "Of course we don't want to, but right now, with survival as much hard work as it is on this planet, and having young children among us, and no where else to go after running from one planet to another, we are willing to fight."

      "And we are very good at it," Astoric said.

      Sadian looked at her computer, her father, Trip, was speaking to her.  "My father was raised on  battlefields, nearly shot to death on multiple occasions before he'd even reached twenty, he can't stand war, but if anyone comes here armed, intending to use force against us, he would kill them."

      "It's not a matter of two tribes fighting over a land both claiming that their ancestors lived on it thousands of years ago, or one people believing themselves purer than another, or even a matter of political ideology, it simply is true that there was no intelligent life existing when we arrived, no sentient life, no animal life, not even any existing plant life.  If anyone has a right to be here, it's us," Astoric said.

      "Of course we welcome you to stay," Sadian said, "even after you are scheduled to leave this planet, if you choose.  And any people proving themselves as trustworthy desiring to come to this planet to further education and knowledge of Earth's people may stay, at least for a while, with our blessings.  All we're asking, and maybe in too many words, is that no one be intentionally hurt."

      "When you say education and knowledge does this mean you do not wish commercial exploitation?" Carlo asked, "Because in my country, there are places that were exploited for commercialism or industry, that can never be restored.  It is so important that people have food on their tables but when they have no choice but to destroy the environment around them, a beneficial and healthy ecosystem all around them, it is a tragedy.  I think that to see this table and so many of your people here means that you have found a way to live other than capitalism or through industry."

      "Our droids, as we call them provided heavy labor and gave us opportunity to complete large construction projects with small number of people and then to use our best efforts in completing daily chores, to raise plants and animals for food and for our other needs.  We took the best of primitive and modern technology from Earth and combined it here to create sanctuary for our people."

      "It is a great accomplishment, people should know of your work," Carlo said.

      "So long as their eagerness to see the outcome of the work does not spoil the work," Brittany said.

      "You don't want to turn this into an amusement park," Etan said.

      Sadian laughed, "Actually in designing and building the dens here in Sinai we used some techniques that were successful in theme parks and zoos on Earth.  We knew we wanted to have a number of enclosed habitats varied enough in temperature, humidity, and air pressure that we could grow plants and animals we had brought with us from Earth in environments as close as possible to the ones they naturally grow in.  All the mountains in A Den are constructed of concrete with metal structure beneath.  A few of the mountains are hollow and house the systems that maintain the climates of the habitats, often this was used in theme parks.  C Den right here owes its construction to the many mainland marine centers and parks on Earth.  You will see D Den soon, remember when you see it that all our water is recycled.  Drinking water, wash water, sea water, river water, it all is cycled through the system over and over."

      "If I may ask a question."

      "Certainly, Brittany," Sadian said.

      "My field is astronomy.  I heard that you have, or are putting together an array of dishes at Hellas Station, would it be possible for me to get time there, or is it perhaps already used for radio astronomy?"

      "I understand that only part of the number of planned dishes have been constructed, but that the array is working.  It can be used for all manner of communications and receiving.  If you speak to Io who is with us in B Den she can refer you to her daughter Iolanthe who has pretty much put together the array there."

      "Have you made any progress with locating underground water sources?" Martin asked.

      "We were able to pump water from the ground in some locations where we had heating elements buried as part of the pumping system.  Water also comes from the air compressors and processors.  Also we have trucked water ice here from Cydonia.  When it becomes Northern Winter the Weird sisters will move back up there and man their ice mining operations."

      Sadian glanced down at her terminal again.  "A few minor points, Astoric and I will guide you again through the next three dens and we will share supper later tonight in E Den at my father's household.  You've seen that in keeping a viable food chain in the dens we do have some fairly large wild animals, and we do have some steep landscaping, I suggest for your first several days or several visits that you ask for guides when you are outside.  It won't be trouble to find guides for you, we're all curious to meet Earthlings.  Also, though I really am not demanding it I ask that any of you who wish to stay on for a number of days volunteer yourselves for daily chores as you are able.  Soon we should like to visit you and would be happy to help in your chores.  I understand you have a large greenhouse planned.  We have experience in that very sort of construction, if you need extra hands or the loan of some droids."     

      "Actually, some assistance with our greenhouse project would be appreciated," Kei said, "most of all because once it's complete we can begin to support our number better with food grown there and get onto other projects.  Part of our mission is to experiment with different building forms.  Seeing the various methods you have used has been very helpful."

      "If you can tolerate the Weird Sisters they are familiar with the methods we used in putting up the pyramids and also put up some elaborate greenhouses in Cydonia.  I understand that Hempshire is their experiment in growing crops in artificial light, but they have a few structures in it's vicinity you may want to ask them about."

      Kei nodded.  "We know where to find them."

      Sadian announced they would all have some free time and were welcome to swim or to walk about her house.  She excused herself and Astoric then told her guests to ask Caith should they need anything before her return.