The Abulon Dance

* ONE *
The twin moons of Merculian cast double shadows on the grass as the air car skimmed over the ground. Cham leaned forward in the passenger seat.

"Look! I told you there's an artificial lake!" He pointed to the flash of silver as the car swooped lower.

"You sure you got enough credits to cover the fare?" the driver said.

Cham swallowed. "Don't worry, chai. I'm sure." He forced himself to settle back and let the seat reform to embrace his diminutive frame.

The instrument lights threw a pale image of his young face on the curving window. He was small, even for a Merculian, being well under the normal five feet. His long, silver-blond curls framed an angelic face, the round eyes a clear grey, outlined in black and flecked with gold. He studied his reflection a moment, then lifted a nervous hand to his hair.

"This place belongs to that famous dancer, don't it?" the driver said. "What's his name again? Jani? Tani?"

"Triani. It's his country place. He's my lover, did I tell you?"

"You don't say!" The driver looked at him more closely, his round, Merculian eyes bright with curiosity. "But you're just a kid!"

Cham grinned impishly. "I'm precocious," he said, tossing back his hair.

The driver laughed. "You a dancer, too?"

"I will be. One of these days, when you go the theatre, it'll me up there on stage. Chamion Adino Esseris. Maybe I should write the name down for you."

"It's okay, kid. I'll remember."

Below them, the brightly lit house nestled behind its protective walls and shrubbery, covered by its tinted blue domes. The air car hovered over the tree tops for a moment, then the engines cut back to a faint hum as they landed on the crowded parking strip. Cham looked eagerly towards the ornate door hanging in the wall, that lead to the courtyard. As he handed the driver his card, he hoped Triani had remembered to put some credits in his name lately. Once before he had forgotten. It had been very embarrassing. This time, however, there was no acid comment from the electronic voice, just a purringly smooth ‘thank-you' from the instrument panel.

"Looks like a real big do," the driver remarked, handing back his card.

Cham nodded. "It's a farewell party. The Company's going to Abulon next week."

"Abulon? Never heard of it."

"You will!" Cham waved as he stepped off the small dismount platform and started towards the door.

"Good luck!" the driver called after him and the car hummed away.

Cham hesitated for a moment. Beside him, the blue shrubbery sighed and whistled with tiny night birds, their soft music soothing on the air. Luck. He shivered. Why was he so afraid his was about to run out? Taking a big breath, he reached out and held his hand under the beam of violet light in front of the shimmering gate. It dissolved to let him through.

Triani's parties were famous. There was always at least one hologram band, tables piled high with rare delicacies, Crushed Emeralds served in silver goblets and sparkling Merculian wine flowing freely from a fountain in the courtyard. But it was more than the expectation of a good party that made Cham's stomach churn with nervous excitement. This was a celebration for him. Last night, Triani had told him he was coming to Abulon, too, news that flooded his heart with joy, and sent his active imagination spinning off in panic. Cham longed to visit mysterious new worlds, but now that he had what he wanted, he was apprehensive. Abulon had been in self-imposed isolation for centuries. All that was known about the place was gleaned from the reports brought back by the Primary Contact Team and most of that hadn't been made public. Anything could happen in such a place. The frightening possibility occurred to him that they might never get home again. Still, unlike the others, he had never been away from Merculian. It was a dream come true, and he was determined to enjoy himself.

Cham slid quickly through the brightly dressed crowd, following the music. The large, central space pulsated with sound, glittered with colour and movement. The noise beat against the twinkling lights on the domed ceiling. Most of the guests were dancers from the Merculian National Dance Company and it showed in their lithe bodies, their acrobatic abandon. They filled the dance floor, graceful, androgynous, bathed in the insistent beat of the music. Their round eyes were bright with wine and their own inner fire. Their muscular bodies vibrated. Some had taken off their velvet or satin tunics and tossed them casually to the side. Their smooth torsos, glistening with sweat, rippled under the many-coloured, winking lights. Some wore long, beautiful robes whose iridescent hues slid together as they moved. A few wore more tightfitting garb, proud to show the small breasts and softer curves that came with childbirth and the nursing period. Each one was alone in his intensity, yet linked to his partner by an almost mystical union. Tactile telepaths, they had only to touch to sense each other's feelings.

It didn't take long to spot Triani. He was tall for a Merculian, and dark, with snapping black eyes. He wore tight-fitting black velvet pants hung low on his narrow hips. His white satin blouse was tied high in front, exposing his midriff. A heavy gold chain glinted at his waist.

Cham heard the magic name ‘Abulon' as he slipped an arm around Triani and lifted his face to be kissed.

"Hi, sweetie. You're two hours late." Triani's lips brushed his.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. You wouldn't believe what an awful time I had getting out of the city. There was--"

"I don't want to hear about it. Have you met Orosin At'hali Benvolini?" Triani turned to the smiling Merculian at his side and Cham looked up into sherry brown eyes. He liked what he saw there and kissed the proffered hand respectfully.

"Orosin, how the hell did you get mixed up in the Diplomatic Corps anyway," Triani went on, giving Cham an absent-minded squeeze. "You, an Ambassador? You're a musician! What has politics to do with music? Are you going to make them dance to your piping on Abulon?"

Orosin grimaced. "I don't think that's what the Inter-Planetary Alliance has in mind. I'm supposed to show them what the other members are like by giving them samples of the different cultures while the Abulonians are making up their minds about joining." He helped himself to more wine. "It's Cultural Ambassador, Triani, with the emphasis on culture."

"I hear they're quite primitive. Let's hope they know the meaning of the word 'culture'."

"I'm counting on you to set things straight if I fail to get the idea across," Orosin replied, laughing.

"Oh, look!" Cham exclaimed. "Who's that giant pale blue person who just came in? Is he a Serpian?"

The tall male stood at the entrance, pursing his lips disapprovingly as he looked around at the dancers.

"Yes, and I don't think he likes Merculians very much." The Ambassador smiled and shook his head. "He's on my staff, too, worse luck. He actually told me the other day how much it annoys him that the translators have selected `he' for our third person pronoun."

"What would he prefer? 'It'?" snapped Triani.

"Who knows? I tried to explain it's not that unusual in cross species/cultural translation, but it didn't make any difference. His name's Talassa-ran something and I've never seen him smile, though I suppose there must be something he enjoys."

Triani grinned and set down his glass of Crushed Emeralds. "I'm going to find out right now," he said. He let go of Cham and started towards the Serpian.

Cham sighed. "Is that man going to Abulon with us?" he asked plaintively.

"You don't have to worry about him, Cham. He's only here because he considers it his duty as a member of my advance delegation. Besides, as a Serpian, he's taken the off-planet vow of celibacy."

"Oh." Cham twisted a blond curl through his fingers absently. "You don't suppose it will be dangerous on Abulon, do you?" he asked at last, looking at the Ambassador anxiously. "I mean, just how primitive are they?"

"Chamion, the I.P.A. contact team has already been there. Triani was referring to the technology, not the people. There's nothing to worry about, I assure you."

Cham blushed, embarrassed by his childish question. No one else was worrying. Why should he?