Chapter 9

Despite some tense moments on the shuttle as the anti-gravity thrusters got dangerously close to redlining, the crew landed safely at the designated landing site. They were met by a surprised group of aliens. Captain Cook, as the senior officer, went down the ramp first to greet them after making sure his translator was hooked to his collar. Andren had sent language files that had been programmed into the translator, so communication wouldn't be a problem.

As he walked down the ramp a small cluster of people had gathered around. Some were curious, while others were nervous, but they all waited patiently for him to speak. They were dressed in trousers and skirts. Most were without tops. Captain Cook was careful not to stare at the green breasts of the females. He didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable. Nor did he wish to be. When he got to the bottom of the ramp he stepped off onto the planet's soil saying, "Greetings. We mean you no harm. My name is Cook. We're looking for a lost shipmate and were given these co-ordinates to land in by an Andren. Is he here?"

The people looked at each other and talked quietly amongst themselves. Then one nervously stepped forward and spoke.

"I-I am Thren. Y-you would be from the Nutmeg, yes? You seek Samantha?"

Captain Cook smiled. "Yes we are. Do you know where she is?"

The young man nodded. "We will take you to her."

"That would be excellent! Thank you. Would it be alright for the rest of the crew to come with me?"

The young man nodded. "I will send for vehicles. How many come with you?"

"Eight."

The young man nodded and turned to give instructions. Several ran off towards some buildings at the edge of the field.

By this time the rest of the crew had come down the ramp and introductions were made. After the introductions Captain Cook asked Thren, "Would it also be possible to meet with your leaders while we are here?"

Thren nodded distractedly, his eyes on Angie. "We have already informed them. They will meet you at Samantha's."

"How is the lass?" MacGregor asked him anxiously.

Thren cocked his head to one side. "Lass?"

"It means young woman. He's referring to Samantha." Captain Cook explained.

"Ah. She is well. I believe her rooting time is near."

The crew looked at each other mystified but decided not to ask about that.

"How about Andren?" Captain Cook asked.

Thren looked uncomfortable as if searching for an answer. "We will take you to Samantha," he said finally.

That gave Captain Cook a bad feeling, even though everything seemed to be going smoothly, he was thankful he and his crew were armed with hold out pistols. Still, he didn't think he had anything to worry about. Thren only looked uncomfortable at the mention of Andren. Captain Cook briefly wondered if something had happened to the man who'd welcomed them on the screen but he was distracted by the arrival of three vehicles.

The vehicles bore a strong resemblance to early twentieth century automobiles. Only these hovered, their "fenders" horizontal to the ground rather than vertical like those on most ground vehicles. There was one touring car and two trucks.

Thren seemed to flush as the humans looked at their vehicles. "They are no doubt primitive compared to what you are used to, but they do function well."

Captain Cook shook his head. "Their styling may be considered old fashioned back on our home planet but I can see that your anti-gravity technology is as good as, if not better than, ours."

Thren seemed pleased. "I am not," he paused searching for the word, "enginchanic. Melths can tell you about more about their workings than I."

"That would be very nice. I'm sure he and my chief engineer would love to talk."

"Engineer?" Thren repeated. Then looking at Captain Cook. "I have misspoke, yes?"

"I think you combined engineer and mechanic but I understood what you were saying."

"Ah I understand. That is good." He looked at the vehicles. "Come we take you to Samantha and village leaders now."

Captain Cook nodded and followed him to the car. Captain Cook, Angie, and Martha joined Thren in the back two seats of the car. MacGregor rode up front with the driver. The rest of the crew split up and rode in the trucks.

Once they were all settled, the vehicles started up and quietly made their way back towards the buildings, and then onto a dirt road.

"How long will it take to get to your village?" Angie asked.

"It will be a couple hours before we reach the outer edge and then about another hour to get through town. Samantha lives on the far side of the village."

"I see." Angie said.

Thren looked embarrassed. "Our apologies. Our vehicles are not built for speed but for function. We also must also be far away to keep the nerfs from the seedlings."

"No apologies are necessary Thren. The scenery is beautiful here." Angie said tucking and errant strand of hair behind her ear."

Thren blushed a deep green at her use of his name.

"Can you tell us about Samantha's condition?" Martha asked.

Thren's blush deepened. "She is good. I believe her rooting time is near."

The crew looked at each other and Martha asked. "Could you tell us what that means?"

Thren looked surprised. "It is the time when the mother goes to nourish her seedlings."

"Can you tell us how that is done?"

"Uh, it, it is, uh um," Thren tried to answer.

"It's a woman's thing." Angie supplied.

Thren looked relieved. "Yes."

"Could you tell us Nen?" Martha asked the driver.

Nen blushed as she answered, "I am unmated Miss."

"I see." Martha replied, although she didn't.

They changed the subject. They learned that Thren helped shepherd nerfs which from his description resembled a cross between sheep and cattle. Nen drove some of the farm equipment and made deliveries.

MacGregor watched her at the controls, which resembled a cross between an aircraft and an automobile. Nen smoothly changed gears and MacGregor said, "Ye handle this beastie well lass."

Nen blushed at his praise even though she didn't understand all of it and gave him a shy grin. He grinned back.

After a pleasant drive filled with conversation about their respective societies, they arrived in town. Farms became smaller giving way to clusters of small houses and single larger sprawling houses. The larger houses looked more like they'd been continually added on to rather than built large. Eventually they drove through town which did indeed resemble a small rural town. People stared curiously at them and they stared back. They couldn't help notice there were more nude people here. They also saw a few couples closely embraced as they walked. Some of the males even seemed to be carrying the women around as they did their shopping. Despite Andren's warning, the nudity was still a bit of a surprise. What really surprised them however was how many of the women seemed pregnant. By their estimation at least half if not more of the women they saw were showing.

As they reached the outskirts of town they turned into a long drive. They came to a stop Thren got out and said, "This is Samantha's home."

The children playing in the front yard stopped and looked at the strangers curiously. The crew also looked back. They couldn't help noticing that their skin was a more pale green than the other people they'd met and seen. They wondered if these were Samantha's children.

Thren led them up to the door and it opened. A young woman stepped out to greet them. Several eyes widened as they noticed that she was nude, appeared to be several months pregnant, and had an artificial arm.

She asked, "Can I help you?" and then gasped as she took note of the strangers. "A-are you from the Nutmeg?"

They nodded. "Yes Miss, I'm Captain Cook." Captain Cook said introducing himself. "And you must be Sarah. Is Samantha or your father at home?"

"Oh my. Oh my." Sarah said excitedly her hands fluttering. "Please come in. No she's gone for her rooting. If I hurry I may be able to catch her." She turned and called, "Chase! Chase!"

A teenage boy came out of a back room grumbling, "What is it?" and froze seeing the strangers.

"These are some of mother's friends. I have to go and catch her before she gets to the nursery. Please see to the comfort of our guests."

Chase nodded numbly.

Sarah turned to one of the younger children who'd been playing in the front yard. "Beth run as fast as you can and stop mother. Tell her I'll be along to explain."

The girl nodded and took off and a couple others chased after her.

"These are Samantha's children?" Martha asked.

Sarah's face flushed. "Yes, my brothers and sisters. Please forgive my manners but we really must stop mother before she gets to the nursery or she won't be able to see you."

The crew looked at each other warily. Sarah missed their look as she was thinking of something else.

"Max, run to the elders and tell them what's happened and that we need the village mother to come." The boy, older than Beth but younger than Chase, nodded and headed for the door.

"I'll drive you." Nen said and they hurried to the car.

By this time the room had filled with children, their ages ranging from about three to early teens, all of whom were staring curiously at the strangers in their home. The crew in amazement counted twenty of them, not including Sarah and the two she'd sent off. They looked at each other in amazement. Twenty was a lot of children to give birth to. They didn't know about the four infants and toddlers in the nursery who were down for their nap.

"Who are they?" one of the girls asked.

"They're mother's friends from space." Sarah answered gently. "They've traveled a long way. Why don't you and Nora get them some refreshments?"