(Part 4)
by Kevin Pellew

A seasoned space farer, Dr John Taylor always found himself surprised at the achievements of those who had set out to colonise alien worlds.

The Taurons did not appear the worse for wear for all their years of exile and had created quite a stable community on Trimea. He had talked to many of the Settlements' inhabitants and learned that there were many other Settlements scattered over Trimea although for the most part they remained isolated from each other. Five hundred kilometres to the south lay the Settlement's nearest neighbour. To the north somewhere past an area that they referred to as Valla there was rumoured to be another settlement. When the Tauron Government exiled this section of their race they thought it best not to have them congregate in the one area, reasoning that distance was the best defence against possible uprisings. They had deliberately set about settling the exiles in remote places. Trimea was a very large planet. The Settlements nearest neighbour may only be five hundred kilometres away but getting there was by no means easy. Limited trade existed between the two settlements because of the distance and rugged terrain.

The Taurons for the most part relied upon their maser systems to transport themselves about the Settlement but this was limited essentially to within the Settlement itself. Attempts at creating masers relay stations outside the immediate area of the Settlement had met with failure and disaster. The relay at Valla was based on Earth technology and handled only communications. West had warned Conway and his crew to be wary of the maser saying that while it had no effect upon the Taurons it could leave an earthling feeling unsettled. Oddly only Will had ever travelled via maser with no side effects.

Still Taylor was a stubborn man and insisted upon trying the machine. After experiencing the maser, though, Dr. Taylor opted to use a tried and true method of transportation, one that he knew and could trust, his feet.

Transportation vehicles were not unknown in Tauron society. There were small, four person vehicles that hovered just above the ground, others that were purpose built for heavy work as well as those for carrying large groups of people. A personal craft had been set aside for the Crew of the Orion to use but on this day Dr. Taylor thought that a walk would be good for his body and soul. The Orion was still in it's controlled power down and so far all attempts to stop it had failed. Added to this problem was the desire by the crew to set foot upon soil. The command crew had debated about proceeding with shore leave and the possibility of the saboteur escaping only to be reminded by Hannibal that the saboteur had no where to run or hide. Hannibal had then added that his assessment was that the saboteur had simply wanted to strand the Orion here at Trimea, temporarily, for reasons unknown. Speculation of a reason eventually came down to one thing, the Robinsons and Dr. Smith.

Conway, much to West's anger, had assigned security staff to the Robinsons and had attempted to assign them to Dr. Smith only to be rebuked by Will. Smith had the best defence available - the Robot. The presence of military staff had not been overlooked by the Taurons, either. Tish arrived at the Jupiter with words of caution from the Council over the Security Staff presence adding that they should be scaled down if not removed all together. Conway withdrew all bar one stationed at the Jupiter.

So with these worrying thoughts behind him and a warm bright spring day ahead of him, John Taylor followed his Tauron guide to the home and work place of Penny Robinson. He had examined Miss Robinson a few days early and had expressed interest in her work as Veterinary surgeon and had received an open invitation to visit as soon as his schedule allowed. During his brief time with her he felt a rapport that he had not felt with the others and had convinced himself that there was electricity between them.

Yes he had been quite taken with Penny Robinson and admitted privately to Conway that as a youth he had entertained a certain fancy for her. For a young teenage boy she was the ideal young lass - she had a father who owned a space ship!! He had been 12 years old when the Robinsons had left Earth and so had she. He had to force these childish thoughts to the back of his mind as the Tauron pushed open the door to the surgery and motioned for him to enter. The scene was one of turmoil as a blood soaked Penny Robinson carried a small equally bloodied but screaming critter across the room.

"Ah Dr. Taylor," she called above the wailing noise of the critter, "Come in. Gown up," she laughed, "You can help with this delivery!" Taylor scooped up a cotton gown and slid it about his body then took up position beside Penny. "This is Trimea's answer to a horse. The Tauron's call them Brones," Penny said as she wiped the critter down, "The mother was brought in a few days ago," she paused as the critter raised its head and looked around. The beast had brilliant blue eyes. "It was a painful birth. Lasted two days. I don't expect the mother to live," there was a distinct touch of sadness in her voice, then, in an off handed distant tone added, "No birth on Trimea is easy."

He noted the words and the tone with the intention of asking her to elaborate later.

There was a long wound running down the critter's back and Penny set about stitching it, explaining, "During delivery the mother kicked out at me. Probably thought that I was stealing it's child. Knocked me over but also hit the baby." As she stitched Taylor held the beast down as gently as he could. The procedure was over within minutes and Penny turned to the Tauron and Penny handed the critter to the him. Immediately he disappeared out of the room. "Let's check on the mother," Penny said softly.

The mother lay on the floor of another part of the surgery. Taylor did not need to study the creature to see that it was without hope. He looked at Penny and saw that a tear had fallen from her eye.

She asked, "Have you done all that you can do?"

At first Taylor had no idea of who she had been talking to. From out of the shadows stepped a small Asian looking Tauron woman. The woman's face was strained and red. It's as if she is feeling the beasts pain, thought Taylor.

The woman glanced at Taylor, "I do feel it's pain, Doctor," she said curtly, "I am a doctor. Like you. Do you not feel it's pain?" She did not allow Taylor time to answer, "Penny I have done all that I can," she reached down to the beast and stroked it's forehead, "It wishes only to know that it's child is safe so that she can move on," she paused and stood, "Yours though is the final word."

"Oh shit," Penny cried, "I hate this part." Tears now streamed down her face. "It never gets any easier," she added. She turned away and said, almost whispering, "Do what you can, Manya," then raced from the room.

The woman, Manya, nodded and turned away from them

Silently Taylor watched the woman stroke the beasts forehead. He noted that the beasts' breathing, which had been heavy and laboured was now easing and become regular. It did this till finally it breathed no more. Taylor turned away and went in search of Penny.

He found Penny in a small bathroom leaning over a tub of water and washing away both blood and tears. "I am so sorry Doctor," she said angrily, "I hate to see a Brone die." She stood and tied back her hair, "They are very noble creatures," she said.

"What was the Tauron doing?" he asked.

"She empathic," Penny replied, "The Taurons have all these little specialities that peg them for specific duties in life. Empathic Taurons usually end up in the medical fields." She quickly slid out of her bloodied clothes and into a woollen gown. "I'll just clean up a bit more then I'll show you around," she said as she pointed towards a small room off to his right, "There's a shower in there. You should clean up as well," she strode away adding saying, "The blood leaves a distinctive odour that can take days to go away."

He did as he was instructed and immersed himself in warm free flowing water. Ah, he thought, the one luxury that all ships need - hot running water. He indulged in this ship denied luxury for longer than intended and when he finally returned to the front of the surgery he found Penny there waiting. She had gone from wearing plain white overalls and gown to wearing a pair of trousers and an oversized woollen jumper. She also wore knee length leather riding boots.

"You know how to ride a horse don't you?" She asked Taylor. He shook his head nervously in the negative and Penny replied, "Don't worry. The Brone can be very receptive." As they walked from the surgery to the stables Penny continued, "Manya's good with them. They can smell fear and uncertainty and love to scare a new rider," she paused and took his hand, patting it motherly, "Don't worry though Doctor, Manya will tell your Brone to behave."

Taylor asked, "How exactly does she tell it to do that?"

"Well not with words," Penny answered, "She will make contact with the creature's mind and remind it of a time when it was young and scared. Once this feeling has been introduced she will then introduce you, or atleast the concept of you, to the beast. When it sees you it will consider you a child and go easy on you."

Taylor smiled, "Well that's alright then,"

"At least that's the theory," Penny laughed as she pushed open the doors of the stable to reveal two large red - brown Brone. Manya stood beside the male of the pair.

"This is your mount," Manya said to the Doctor, "I have shown the creature that you are a novice," she ran her hand down the beasts snout, "This is a proud Brone," she said, "It would shame him to throw you or frighten you. If you are unsure at anytime the Beast will guide you." She then turned to Penny and said, "I had the kitchen staff prepare a basket for lunch."

Penny replied, "Thank you Manya," she climbed aboard her Brone, "We'll be back late. I am taking the Doctor up to the farm lands then onto The Outlook."

Manya asked solemnly, "Will you be going to Robinson Ridge?"

Penny replied flatly, "No. Not today."

The two women studied each other silently before Manya bowed slightly and said, "Then I will see you when you return."

Penny climbed aboard her Brone, "We will be late so don't be too worried."

Manya merely nodded.

Taylor slowly mounted his Brone and immediately it fell in behind Penny's. She led them out through the Settlement past various industrial houses and out towards a series of low gently rolling hills. Taylor's senses were bombarded with a multitude of sights and sounds. Somewhere near by was a bakery, while two streets away was the sounds of a Smithy hammering away at some exotic metal. They rode past a man turning a long steel shaft on a lathe. In all it was a mixture of future science and ancient crafts. The road on which the travelled was made of gravel. Most of the Settlements roads were. Some were paved in terra cotta tile. Yet the popular form of transport was maser followed by hover car. The Settlement was a living paradox.

The farm lands ran from the outskirts of the Settlement out to the base of a heavily wooded range of mountains. The land had been cleared of trees and the border between cultivated and wilderness was clearly defined. The dwellings that they passed differed from the Settlements dwellings in that here in the farm lands they were constructed of natural materials such as stone and wood. All the dwellings were low squat single story structures and were all painted white.

Once they reached the wooded base of the mountains Penny dismounted and stretched her legs. Taylor also dismounted and groaned as his feet touched earth. His muscles ached and burned. He looked at Penny and sighed, "I was not built for riding horses."

Penny laughed, "But Doctor," she said, "We're only half way there." With that she pointed up to the top of the mountain range, "We're heading up there," she said as she climbed back onto her mount, "The view is worth the aches and pains."

The road turned into a wide track that wound its way lazily past cliff and ravine. At one stage the track ran head long into a dark narrow valley. Taylor could hear the sound of rushing water. They continued on till they came to a sandstone bridge. Again Penny dismounted. "This Bridge was here when the Taurons arrived," she said as she led Taylor over to inspect the carved structure, "They don't know who built it or where the sandstone came from." They walked to the centre of the bridge and peered over the side. Far below was a fast rushing stream that billowed wild frothing foam. "The stream is one of several that feeds the river at the Settlement," she said, then, pointing further up the mountain, "There is a spectacular waterfall up there but we'll save that for another day."

Again they were on their way.

Around midday they reached the Outlook.

The Outlook was a field of short grass that had been cleared away to allow a panoramic view of the land below and out to the distant ocean. In the middle of this field stood the remains of a small fortress. The design and style revealed that it was as old as the bridge. Penny led Taylor around the structure showing him how the Taurons had adapted the ruins for their own purpose. they had deduced that the Fortress had once been an observation post of sorts, now they had turned it into a viewing platform. Directly below them was the Settlement. The Taurons had planned the Settlement out in a circular fashion. The centre of the Settlement was the Council chambers and houses of Commerce. Next were a series of buildings that Penny explained away as hospitals and schools. Then there was a large circle of private dwellings. Towards the outer edge were the factories and warehouses. Penny pointed out her surgery. To the far side of the Settlement was a familiar silver shaped object. The Jupiter was but a small speck on the landscape compared to the slow growing encampment beside it.

This was the paradox of the Taurons. While they were not thrilled at the prospect of the human arrivals the Taurons were actively constructing the accommodation. Supplies and labour was freely given as was planning suggestions.

And then in the distance she pointed out the homes of Will and Dr. Smith.

"Will lives out there because he like to be nature," she said happily, "He was always into that sought of thing anyway though now he has a touch of the environmentalist about him." She sat down on the edge of the parapet. Taylor sat down also and together they studied the view. She continued saying, "Will and Lenore like the solitude."

Taylor asked, "What do you think of his wife?"

She replied, "She's okay. They've been very lucky though with Matthew."

"How so?" Taylor continued.

Penny crossed her arms against her chest as if she were suddenly cold. "Trimea is a hard place," she said softly as she turned away. "Over there is Robinson Ridge," she said, "While over there is what the Taurons call Carala" she looked out at these places as if all her memories were kept in them, "Both these places serve the same purpose. They're cemeteries. Robinson Ridge is where my father is buried," she paused and looked down at her feet. A cool breeze caught her hair and tossed it aimlessly about, "My husband and child are buried at Carala."

Lamely Taylor replied ,"I'm sorry." Somehow it had not occurred to him that after all this time Penny may have been married and have had children. He cursed himself silently at his foolish thoughts. Penny Robinson was a woman and he had been still entertaining the fantasies of a teenager.

Penny smiled weakly, "It was such a long time ago," she said, "Births here on Trimea are not easy, you saw that with the Brone this morning. My child died during birth. My Husband was killed in a maser accident some years later." There was a distant glazed look in her eyes.

Still reeling from his stupidity he thought to change the subject. "Why does Dr. Smith live out there," he asked, "From everything I ever read about him I thought that a life of solitude would be the last thing that he would want."

Penny laughed. "Dr. Smith is crazy!" she said incredulously. She was not laughing at Smith's condition but at the puzzled look on Taylor's face and then after realising that he did not comprehend her simple words she explained, "I thought that you knew about him! Dr. Smith is suffering from a form of Dementia. It was brought on just after we left Earth. Something to do with experiencing the lift off without proper protection. We never used those engines again because of it. He became worse as the years went by. Then there were occasions when he was invaded by various alien entities," she paused and shook her head in disbelief, "Poor Dr. Smith," she sighed, "It was if some perverse alien power was constantly targeting him for special attention!"

Taylor frowned, "I have not examined him yet," he said.

"You probably wont," she said, "Will and his family are the only ones who see him," she paused and looked out at Smith's home, "The Taurons put him out there because his condition affects them. Inside Dr. Smith's mind are several personalities. Each one is screaming and yelling trying to gain control. To the Taurons it's like having loud static played all the time. Even from there his rages occasionally reach them. The normal Taurons allow him to stay there for moral reasons." she looked at Taylor seriously, "You will never understand the Taurons," she said, "They could have banished him but they put up with him. He is placed close enough to the Settlement so that he can survive but not close enough to have physical contact with anyone. Our Robot stays there and comes into town for supplies."

Taylor thought for a moment then asked, "If it affects them how does Lenore deal with him?"

"You can filter it out," she replied, "Or so I am told but the process leaves you drained. It doesn't affect Matthew though but we think that's because he is half human."

So many questions raced through his head that he did not know where to start. Smith was the one who had condemned her family to a life lost and yet there was sympathy in her voice. What to ask? How to ask it? His dilemma was ended by Penny. She returned to discussing the Settlement and then onto the adventures that had befallen them before arriving on Trimea. She spoke in a magical whimsical fashion that made him believe every word. The rise and fall of her voice carried him far away from this planet and far away to strange worlds where one eyed giants roamed and even carrots talked.

Over lunch she talked and he listened.

* * *

It was very late when they returned to Penny's surgery.

Tired and hungry they took the Brone to the stables and left them there in the safe keeping of a young male stable hand. Penny directed Taylor to the washroom so that he could clean away the dirt of the day. Again he lingered far too long under the hot water before finally stepping wringing wet from the receptacle. This time he found that his clothes had been removed and replaced by a long woollen garment that resembled a poncho. It had been dyed in the deepest of blues. He slid into it, found it incredibly warm and comfortable, then searched for Penny. He found her issuing instructions to the stable hand. He noted that she was now dressed in a similar garment on hers was coloured the lightest of blues. The garment fell gently about her body and she moved with all the grace of an angel.

A strange thought crossed Taylor's mind, His and Hers Bath Robes?

"I'm sorry Doctor," she said as she dismissed the Stable hand, "But your clothes were taken to be laundered," she winked slyly, "Curiously clean people, the Taurons." The left the stables and walked back to the residence. The abode was all in darkness save for one dim light. This was in the Dinning area and here they found that Manya had left a light meal for them. She had also left a short hand written note, in English and Tauron, explaining that she had contacted the Orion encampment concerning Dr. Taylor's where abouts. She read aloud the English component but kept the Tauron to herself. The only thing that she did was smile warmly as she read it. "Manya is too good to me," she said as she spread out the meal before them, "Well, Doctor you are about to experience Tauron cuisine. It can be quite spicy."

"Oh joy," was the Doctor's reply. *

The squawking of some exotic bird woke Taylor from his sleep. For a moment he stared at the ceiling trying to place where he was. It was not aboard the Orion, nor was it the quarters at the Orion encampment. It was somewhere else. Somewhere warm and loving. Slowly his ears filled with the sounds of a town coming to life after a serene night. All manner of sounds and odours greeted his senses. He felt all warm and fuzzy, contented, even. Feelings that he had not experienced for such a long, long time washed over his naked form. Softly he murmured the name responsible for these feelings.

Penny.

Abruptly he sat up and looked around. Stupid, he condemned himself. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. He leapt from the bed, gathered up his robe and slid it on. You're a grown man, he scolded himself, and an officer. Not a teenager. Stupid childish fantasies had somehow been given life manifesting themselves into a night of passion. He raced to the door of the room, his mind a blur with questions and recriminations over the night. How had all happened? How could he have let it happen? The rules that made him an officer were quite definite on matters like this. He pulled open the door to be confronted by the stern features of Manya.

The old women held his clothes and presented them to him. She eyed him up and down and grimaced. She exuded distaste. She muttered something in Tauron then said, "Penny was called away this morning to the farm lands. She said to offer you her apologies and left you this," she handed him a sealed envelope.

Taylor took the note but left it sealed. I'm not going to read this in front of a servant, he thought.

Manya laughed out loud. "A servant?" she questioned angrily, "Is that what you think of me? A mere servant?" Taylor stood there dumbfounded. "Did she not take you to the Outlook? Did she not point out Robinson Ridge and Carala?"

He replied, "She told me that he husband and child were buried at Carala." His tone was confused, and he felt that he should have known why this was important to Manya. The old woman's attitude and actions were reminiscent of a family member and not a servant. And like the side of a house falling on him, the obvious cracked over him like an egg. A sly sarcastic smile broke over Manya's face. Manya was no servant.

"She is like my daughter," Manya said harshly, "As she was when her husband, my son, was alive." She turned away without saying a word. Taylor watched her back stomp away and felt as guilty as he had felt in his life. She did not say anything but she thought it.

Treat her well, Doctor.

* * *