Chapter 154

"Well, he certainly will represent the harvest men with a more open mind, I guess," Kamalin responded. "What about the remaining two seat we want to allot to the members of the former Harvest Council. The other three members all have voted against the old habit of forced marriage. We have to decide which two will take those vacant seats, until our whole community will bring out their votes for all the rotating seats, but that will be organized once we all have returned to Ribana."

"I suggest that we talk to both of them, after which we can nominate two of them for, let's say half a standard year. If that period has ended, the one who hadn't been nominated now, will take his seat, together with a harvest man who has been a former member of the Harvest Council hearing we have had on Tyr."

"Inojon Domarr, Honyan Pohinn, and Fartell Tagann," Kamalin summarized. "also for six months, as will the last two."

"Yes, for I assume that after more than a year we all will be back in Ribana and let the residents to vote for all the rotating seats." Manall suggested.

Kamalin nodded and looked approvingly at the harvest leader.

"You have worked out a good plan, Manall, we can be satisfied with the outcome. also the governors are pleased, for they had similar changes in mind, after they had returned from Palomintar Six. Your explication about the origin of those forced marriages among the harvest men were thoroughly investigated. I don't think that master Bernall and master Fenall won't argue that those forced marriage have been a long-standing tradition. Even I didn't know when it really had become a habit, especially in the last two generations."

"I could have been more specific, Jocferin, because in the generation my son Cornell belongs to, there was no such thing as forced marriages; that generation of 'harvest boys and girls' consisted of peers who socialized and formed friendships within the group. Marriages within that group were never publicly announced. Some harvest families did agree in advance that their children would marry one another. Yet both partners still had a say in the matter. That strange habit of forced marriages actually only emerged after my son’s age group had found partners. More boys than girls were born into those marriages. Studying the figures made me feel uneasy. There were consecutive years when only boys were born, and no girls at all. In many cases, this resulted in an age gap between the partners. An age gap need not always be a problem, but many parents decided that a fifteen year old girl could become the wife of a adult harvest man.

Often, those immature girls were unaware of the obligations that marriage requires. That's very sad and has brought a lot of disappointment, dissatisfaction and frustration.

I hope that some of those marriage, explicitly those where both partners aren't getting along well, will issue a request to annulment. That will give both partners a chance for a better future." Manall commented.

"You mentioned that you hope that those girls' parents will allow their daughters to return to their family. What should the Council decide if those parents aren't cooperating?" Kamalin came up with.

"We must listen to their objections, Jocferin, and if they still do not want their daughter back, we must find a Quelan family willing to take such a girl in. That is what happened with Sumall Pohinn, too; the Usavons welcomed her with open arms. It is also possible that the girl does not want to return to her parents. The Council must help these girls to build a new life. We will have to examine each case and find a solution that feels right for both parties. We must carefully investigate every request for annulment. That will take time, but we need to avoid a situation where a partner feels disadvantaged.

"That might be difficult for the members who have always been part of the Council of the Elders." Kamalin said.

"That's right, Jocferin, therefore I have nominated Kuriann Allrann. He will be my personal assistant in these matters together with at least you and one of the members of the original Council of the Elders. I will leave that choice to you. A committee of four members of the Council of the Elders certainly has the knowledge to make the right decision. " Manall said.

Kamalin looked at Manall with kindness.

"I'm looking forward to work together with you, Manall. We've had different opinions some times, but it feels good when two Force-users will work together to benefit our community. When we've settled in Ribana again I would like to share an office together."

"Brilliant idea, Jocferin, but that's an issue for the future." Manall stood up and Kamalin brought him to exit of the administration building.

Lorann gave his drawing pad to Kamalin.

"While you were telling us what the Councils had decided I have made a drawing of you and of all the other members of the Councils, master Kamalin. It was important what you said, so I felt I had to make a drawing of it. We should never forget that we are one community and that the harvest families are part of it."

Kamalin looked at the drawing, showing his interest in what the young Quelan boy had seen. What he saw was incredible. All the Quelans in front of the administration building could be identified, as not a single detail of the garments failed. Kamalin recognized the individual members of the Council of the Elders among them his friend and vice-chair Woldrin. Kamalin also recognized the three members of the now disbanded Harvest Council, master Bernall, master Fenall, and master Allrann.

For a moment his thoughts went back to what Manall had told him about master Allran's marriage and what the harvest man himself had told about it in public.

Kamalin looked at Lorann.

"Excellent work, Lorann. Your skills are improving. Can you make a copy on a foil sheet? I want this drawing framed to give it a prominent place here in the administration building. Wait, Lorann, make two copies on foil sheets. The second framed one will get a place in the government building in Ribana, together with the text of this special announcement. It marks the beginning of a new beginning of our community." He said.

"I will give you those copies later this day, master Kamalin, for I want to add some color to the drawing." Lorann said and took the drawing pad back.

Kamalin put his hand on the young Quelan's shoulder.

"I sense that you are feel relieved, aren't you?"

"Yes, master Kamalin, for now I'm sure that won't have to marry Kalinn one day and Kalinn can also make her own friends. I'm also very glad for my brother Filann, for he was very unhappy with Sumall, master Kamalin. He never told me what was going on, but I often felt how sad he was."

"You have also made two beautiful drawings of the moments your brother met the leader of the Urams. We also should have framed copies of those drawings, Lorann, for they will remind is that it is important to live in peace with other species. You have told me that you and Filann have given copies of those two drawings to the Urams, haven't you?"

"Yes, master Skywalker and miss Kenobi took us to the clearing deep in the nut forest. We met Oltomyran and his brother and his sister, master Kamalin. They took the copies with them to a big tree at the end of the clearing. I think that that tree is something similar to our administration building, don't you think so."

Kamalin smiled.

"You're a dreamer, Lorann, but your drawings make dreams come true." He said. "Are you looking forward to your travels in the Astræga?"

"Yes, master Kamalin, and master Skywalker has told me that after each travel we will first come back to Palomintar Four, so I can add more details and enhance the sketches I have made. Master Skywalker wants to go to the planet where he grew up: Tatooine. It will take one and a half standard day to get there, so I also have to sleep on board while the ship is flying through hyperspace, but I will ask if I may make a drawing of it. But we first go to Ribana with the third group. That's great too, for I can compare my drawings of the houses with what they really look. Most of the Quelans of the first group say that my colored drawings are exactly as they left it when they returned to Cantamaga."

Lorann looked at his schoolmaster.

"Master Kamalin, if master Kenobi hadn't come to Tyr for a long time, do you think that master Skywalker would have known I like to make drawings."

"Master Skywalker certainly has sensed your special skills, Lorann, like he always immediately recognized your friend Chati as a Force-user after he and his friends came to Tyr with our governors. A Jedi Knight like him will always sense the influence of the Force in every being he encounters, but that doesn't mean that every Force-user can become a Jedi Knight." Kamalin said.

"That's true, master Kamalin, for my grandfather is a Force-user, and he had two Jedi friends, but he hasn't become a Jedi Knight." Lorann commented.

Kamalin looked at him.

Your grandfather is more than a Force-user, Lorann. Like I am. The governors and the members of the Council of the Elders know I am a Force-users. I have never told any one, but your grandfather's Jedi friends were also my friends, and they came here because they have sensed that on this planet there lived two Force-users who were strongly influenced by the Force. Your grandfather and I have had long talks with them. They told us that we could be trained to become Jedi Knights. We were two young Quelan men, Lorann, and we wanted to follow their suggestion and become their padawans, Jedi apprentices."

Lorann looked at his schoolmaster with wide eyes.

"Are you a Jedi Knight, master Kamalin, and is my grandfather also a Jedi Knight. Why did you keep that secret?" He said elated.

Kamalin smiled.

"No, Lorann, we aren't Jedi Knights. We always remained what we were, Force-users, for our Jedi friends had discovered our Force potential at the wrong moment. They couldn't stay on Palomintar Four to teach us everything we need to know."

"But they have taught you some for use, haven't they? Just like master Kenobi has taught me a bit."

Kamalin nodded.

"They have taught us some basic Force use."

"Like what, master Kamalin?"

"Moving objects with the Force, Jedi telekinesis, and sensing other one's thoughts and emotions. That's Force use I often make use of in class, for then I can give my students better help."

"You could, ask master Skywalker, nor one of the other Jedi Knights to become your Jedi master, then you still could be a Jedi Knight, master Kamalin. Wouldn't that be great!"

Kamalin laughed.

"Once our Jedi friends never visited Palomintar Four again, your grandfather and I decided that we should dedicate our Force use to this community, Lorann, and that's a decision I've never regretted. I think that the Force intended to leave us here so all the Quelans would benefit from what we knew."

"That must have been a difficult decision, master Kamalin. Weren't you disappointed that master Kenobi's father and master Skywalker's father had forgotten you and grandfather."

"They hadn't forgotten us, Lorann, for years later they have send their children to this planet, so you and Chati can fulfill what you're dreaming off. You both will become Jedi Knights, and that will be the fulfillment of our dreams too. What has happened is the will of the Force and Force-users know they should surrender to the Force's will."

Lorann looked at Kamalin with a broad smile.

"That's why you have written on the school building: Where there's a will, there is no way! It means that we should listen to the Force and carry out what she demands."

"Yes, Lorann, and for those who aren't Force-users it means that desperately trying to reach an impossible goal will not guarantee that such an impossible dream will be fulfilled. And now I want you to make those two copies of our special announcement for that's a goal your grandfather and me have reached with help of the Force."

The plains where the two freighter space ship and the Astræga had landed were crowded with all the Quelans of the third group. Some of them looked at bit scared, but there were Quelans of the first and second group to tell them that they would arrive in Ribana after a short flight.

Luke had gone over to Anddra's house to assists her transporting the crate with the nut trees. He smiled at the young Quelan woman who showed him the tiny seedlings that stood above the earth.

"They had already grown since I saw them for the first time some five days ago," Filann said who also had gone over to help Anddra as she want to take with her to the farm a few small items and her clothes.

Luke raised his hand as Filann wanted to give him some help with the crate which in front of Anddra's surprised face started to hover. She began to laugh when Luke directed the hovering crate around the house and fixed it securely at the back seat of the speeder.

"Wow, Luke, knowing how to use the Force certainly is an advantage," Anddra said as she locked the door. She wanted to take her bags, but Filann had already put them in a second speeder.

"Is that your grandfather's speeder, Filann," She asked.

"Yes, I'm going to pick him up now. I already have packed my bags. I'll bring him to the Millennium Falcon where Cemall will help preparing the flight to Myr. I will bring all our bags to the Astræga. You can go now with Luke he will bring you to the Astræga and put the crate in the cargo hold. I'll see you on board Luke's ship, Anddra."

"Oh, I want to see again how Luke will put the crate inside his ship. If I see Shaayla-Car I have to show her the growth of those nuts. I will ask her what she has done. Do you think, Luke, see will tell me? Filann says that those nuts have started growing so fast because she held her hands above the earth layer. He told me about the tree stumps with green leaves, because sleeping buts have been awakened. I don't know what to imagine with those special powers the Jedi can use, but I love what can be done with it."

"I'm going, Anddra," Filann said and wanted to jumped on the driver's seat of the speeder, but Anddra ran over to him and put her arms around his neck.

"You shouldn't leave without a kiss, Filann," She said and pulled his head to her. Embarrassed Filann didn't know how to respond, but when he felt Anddra's lips on his, he gently responded to her kiss, before he could start the speeder and drove off.

Anddra walked back to Luke and took the passenger's seat. She looked at Luke who smiled at her.

"He is such a nice man, Luke. I couldn't find a better friend among the Quelans." She said as she got a reddish glow in her face.

Luke nodded.

"He certainly is, Anddra. You've really figured him out in a short, and you’ve become good friends." Luke said as he started the speeder.

"Yes, we have. I'm really happy that he will help me again with the farm house and with the pruning of the berry bushes. He told me that he will not go again to Tyr to harvest fallen nuts, for he never wants to enter the nut wood again. He wants to help me with the farm, but he has been reared as a harvest man. I wonder if he will ever miss his former occupation, and regret the promise he made me."

"You shouldn't worry, Anddra. Filann has made up his mind after what he has seen the magic and wonder of the nut wood. He wants to distance himself from the harvest men as a group, because his experiences in the nut forest have changed him." Luke said as he stopped the speeder in front of the cargo ramp.

Dumbfounded Anddra looked up at the Astræga. Luke wanted to bring her inside, but Anddra began to walk around the pylons of the ship. As she returned at the ramp her eyes shone brightly.

"You must have a large crew to fly this ship, don't you?" She asked.

"Most of the time there are two crew members: Shaayla-Car and myself, but we also can fly the ship alone. Do you want to see again how I bring the crate on board.?"

"Oh, yes, it was so amazing to see it hover, while you walked around my house." She said enthusiastically

Luke lifted the crate and brought it up the cargo ramp. Anddra followed him and looked how he carefully placed that crate in one of the cargo racks. He fastened the grate and took her arm.

"Let's see if Shaayla-Car has already prepared us a drink, Anddra. I think we deserve a nice hot choc."

They left the cargo hold and walked over to the control room where Liane just came out the passageway of the cockpit.

"Hey, Anddra," She said, "You're alright?"

"I'm fine, Shaayla-Car, you guess what; those five nuts have already becoming tiny seedlings. Filann says, that they have grown because you have held your hands above the crate and told us that those nuts had to waken up. And Filann says, that you have also done that to the tree stumps in the nut forest. He has seen that those stumps now have a garland of small green leaves like a kind of crown. It's so amazing what you Jedi can do, for Luke let the crate hover so he could bring it around my house to the speeder and now the crate is safely in the cargo hold." Anddra rattled.

Liane looked at Luke.

"You have to postpone the drink you want, Luke, for Cornell and his family are already heading to the Astræga, I will take care of Anddra. You have to oversee the loading of the cargo Cornell wants to take to Myr," She said, as she took Anddra's hand, "Come, Anddra, we go to my private quarter, for I sense that you want to talk about what's more on your mind."

At that moment Filann entered the Astræga and Anddra turned to him.

"Luke has brought the crate safely on board, Filann. It's stored and fixed behind a grate." She said looking at him with a caring smile.

Filann nodded, but turned to Luke.

"I met my father outside, Luke. He has a lot of furniture put near the cargo ramp, which he wants to be transported to Myr, for my mother and my sisters are joining him on Myr. He told me that he will make a choice from five houses, but he probably will leave it to my mother to make a choice." He said and shrugged his shoulders, "Just to avoid another quarrel between them. Shall I give you a hand with the furniture?" He asked.

"That's fine, Filann, for Shaayla-Car will have a chat with Anddra in her quarter."

Luke and Filann left and Liane took Anddra to her private quarter. Anddra looked around in wonder.

"This is wonderful, Shaayla-Car. Is this your sleeping quarter?" Anddra asked as she pointed to the bed bunk.

"Not anymore. Luke and I now share a quarter in the aft of the ship." Liane said and she saw how Anddra got a red glow on her cheeks, but she didn't comment on Liane's words. Anddra only looked up at her. Liane smiled and pointed to the bed bunk.

"Let's sit down, Anddra, and tell me what's on your mind, for you're worrying about something, aren't you?"

Anddra smiled with a radiant face.

"It's not really worrying me, Shaayla-Car, but what I feel for Filann makes me wonder. I have never have felt this way before. I had no time to make friends and now there is young man who is only slightly older than I am who I have begun to like very much."

"Allow yourself these feelings, Anddra. Accept them, for they will give you new energy. He really means a lot to you, doesn't he? " Liane said.

"Absolutely, Shaayla-Car. Filann wants to help me to get the whole farm of my family back in its former state. He wants to learn and tend the berry bushes, so we ... eh I can sell the berries on the market in Ribina, like my father always did. Over and over he tells me how the farm can be shaped to its former use. He cares about it and wants to tend it. All he says gives me such warm feelings for him," Anddra said while a red glow spread over her cheeks.

Liane had noticed Anddra's slip of the tongue. She gently put her hand on Anddra's arm.

"Anddra, you just told me about those nuts which have woken up and are now tiny seedlings. Why not look at what you feel for Filann, like what is happening with those nuts. What Filann has done for you, has woken up great feelings in you. Let those feelings grow into tiny 'seedlings' of care and friendship for Filann who, I think, feels the same for you. You're two young Quelans adults who have become friends. That's wonderful." Liane said gently.

Anddra looked pensively.

"I showed him how the nuts had grown, Shaayla-Car, and then I saw how he very emotional again, for I saw how he blinked to hold back his tears. I have seen how he cried near Iljon's grave, after he had put the small bag with nut on the stone that marks the spot where she rests. I wanted to console him and put my arms around his neck and then suddenly he pulled me to him and kissed me so passionately. It felt wonderful when he held me so tight to him, for I felt really safe in his arms. He is a strong man, but he also can be very tender for his next kiss was so sweet and kind. Have you ever felt that way before?"

Liane smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I have, Anddra, but being the friend of a Jedi Knight isn't the same as the bond that is growing between you and Filann."

"Why? You're also just two people who love each other."

"Sure, we are. But in the beginning I didn't know how to cope with what I felt for Luke and I tried to hide those feelings for him. That's impossible, because from the moment we've met, Luke has always known what's on my mind. So trying to hide what I felt for him was no use."

"Has he also kissed you unexpectedly, like Filann did?"

"No he hasn't. Anddra, I think there's a difference between your relationship with Filann and how Luke and I have become close friends. In my relationship with Luke, he has always been the one who guided me, and for long time I followed his lead. After I became a Jedi Knight we became equals, for he knows what bothers me sometimes, and I know his deeper worries.

The relationship of you and Filann is different. Filann is more unsure than you are, Anddra. Yes, you've lost your whole family in a very short period, but you're a survivor, a decision maker. You have set yourself a goal on Myr: get the farm of your family put and running again, right?"

"Yes, that's what I want to do. That's what I have also been thinking of, while I had to take care of my mother in Cantamaga. I hoped to go back to Ribana one day, to take care of the farm house and berry garden around it."

"You had set yourself a goal, despite it must have often looked no more than a impossible dream, right?"

Anddra nodded with a bright smile.

"Now, let's look at Filann. He arrived on Tyr as a sixteen year old young harvest boy with a dream to become a harvest man, like his father and his grandfather, but his dream shattered when the Council of the Elders declared the nut forest forbidden territory, after the Urams had attacked a group of young Quelan women and girls. In the year that followed he passed the time on Tyr, building house for the exiled Quelans. For five long years that task has been his main occupation. That's not a real promising future for a young boy who dreams of fighting with the Urams. There wasn't any hopeful prospect. It became even worse when his forced marriage was announced in public. He committed himself to build his wife a house, made the furniture and bought everything she might need to run her new house hold, but his future as a married man didn't gave him any hope for a more rewarding way of living, as Sumall Pohinn refused to see herself as his wife. Anddra, All these events made him view his life as a humiliation, a worthless time: he never became a harvest man, he had followed what his father demanded, and last but nut least his marriage was a failure. The only period he seemed to have been reasonable content has been when he worked on the mountain ridge at his grandfather's water project.

Anddra, you have learned to cope with what came on your path, Filann, hasn't. He is hoping to find a more stable and satisfying future for himself and to cope with the frustrations he still feels. In your relationship, Anddra, Filann is the follower, like I was the follower in my relationship with Luke Skywalker. Filann feels your strength and the commitment to the task you have set for yourself and he needs you to give him the same feeling. The feeling that his life isn't worthless and that he can mean a lot to all he knows: his grandfather, his brothers Cemall and Lorann, and you, especially you, for in you he sees what he wants for his future. In your relationship with him you first shall be the guide and he will follow you, but he will grow and after some time he will be your equal, like Luke and I have become equals.

Anddra looked at Liane very thoughtfully.

"You have just put in words what I must have felt, Shaayla-Car. Filann has told me what he has done so far, and I always feel that he isn't a happy man as he is talking his life on Tyr and his marriage. He has told me that he don't want to work as a harvest man and harvest nuts on Tyr again. He wants to tend the berry bushes on the farm and help me what has to be done to the farm house. He also said that he doesn't want me to feel lonely, because I have lost my family, instead he wants me to be happy and laugh together. Those words sounded silly, but I know he means them very seriously, that's why I like him so much, Shaayla-Car."

"Anddra, it's up to you to take the lead in your relationship with Filann, but it's the way you are seeing in front you already, don't you?"

Anddra's face now became red hot and she nodded shyly.

"Yes, Shaayla-Car. I know what I want, and that will mark my future. A future with a husband I love." She said wit a red glow on her cheeks. "It feels so good to have spoken with you, Shaayla-Car, about all this. To be honest the way Filann kissed me so unexpectedly made me worry. It's good to have a friend like you, for you're a Jedi and I understand you can see through people."

"I'm also a Jedi healer, Anddra, and that means that I not only see through people, but I also feel their worries and sufferings. It's my obligations as a Jedi healer to help them to relief what's makes them suffer."

"And you knew that I was doubting about what's happening and going on between Filann and me?" Anddra asked with bright smile.

Liane nodded.

"You have a lot of work ahead of you on the farm, Anddra, and you want to do that first, but your relationship with Filann was disturbing your thoughts and that was bothering you, but now I sense that you're still committed to your goal again and include your relationship with Filann with it. Let's see if our other passengers also have arrived. Oh, you probably don't know, but master Cornell, his wife and three daughters are also coming with you and Filann to Myr."

They went back to the control room where three young Quelan girls were quarreling about which seat to use. They immediately stopped when Liane entered with Anddra. Anddra walked over to the eldest of the girls.

"I have just heard that your Filann's sister. What's your name?"

Amused Liane looked at the way Anddra addressed the quarreling girl, but the eldest girl looked hostile at her. A woman in her forties entered and nodded. Liane walked over to her.

You are master Cornell's wife Tronama, ma'am. I'm Shaayla-Car Kenobi, Luke Skywalker's fiancée. I welcome you on board the Astræga. Please take a seat on the couch and strap yourself in." Liane said and looked at the three girls "You too should strap yourself in, girls."

Tronama looked at Liane and turned to the girls.

"Do as that Jedi told you, and stop behaving as a bunch of quarrelsome kids." She snapped and pulled the eldest next to her, but immediately the girl wanted to jump up again. Liane looked at the girl and made a slight gesture and the girl sat down, looking at her mother in wonder. Liane turned to Anddra who also wanted to take a seat next to the youngest of the three.

"Anddra, go through that doorway and take one of the passenger's seat in the cockpit. Filann will join you there."

Tronama raised her eyebrows and looked at Anddra

"Oh, so you are the rich heiress of a large farm my son has started a relationship with. His harvest wife is beneath him," She said grumpy, but at that moment Filann entered and had heard his mother's comments. He put his arm around Anddra and looked at his mother.

"You seemed well informed, mother. She is the heiress of her family farm, but she's not rich and I don't have a relationship with her the way you're insinuating. I have promised to help her to do repairs on the farm and the farm house as any other harvest man should have done. Come, Anddra, Luke told me that we will join him and Shaayla-Car in the cockpit"

He turned to his mother.

"Have a nice flight, mother, and keep my sisters from ruining this place. You are guests in this ship, girls, you should behave likewise." Filann said and pulled Anddra with him to the cockpit. Liane slowly followed, but she kept her attention to the group in the control room. Some moments later Luke entered the cockpit and sat himself in the pilot chair. He looked at Liane.

"Cornell has joined this family. We're ready to go."

For a moment he looked back at Anddra and Filann.

"You're OK? Once we're on Myr your parents and your sisters will leave the Astræga, Filann. I will bring Anddra and you to the farm. There is a reasonable flat spot on those eastern hills, not far from the farm and it will prevent unwanted explanations."

Filann nodded and grinned, but Anddra stretch out her hand over the aisle and touched his arm. She smiled at him and saw how the strain about the confrontation with his family ebbed away.

Luke used the PA system to inquire is all passengers had been strapped in and looked on the holo display to get the confirmation. He started the engine and slowly the Astræga began to hover above the plains near Cantamaga. Liane looked at him.

"I thought Lorann would join us, Luke." She said.

"Manall and Kamalin take care of Lorann, as is Cemall. Manall will take Lorann with him to his new house at the main plaza," Luke answered.

Filann grinned

"Good solution, Luke, better split the family to avoid a confrontation with my authoritative, I'd better say dictatorial, father." He said.

Anddra looked at him and Filann laughed somewhat uncomfortable.

"I'm from a family with many problems, Anddra. I've tried to get used to it, but they are always surprising me, it can be worse." He said, as Anddra looked inquisitively.

Meanwhile the Astræga had vanished into the cloud layer. Anddra looked in amazement at the strange turbulence that whirled around the ship.

"Where do these clouds originate from?" She asked looking at Filann.

"From the nut trees. It's said they are poisonous, but my grandfather says there is nothing wrong with these clouds. I only know that these clouds prevent that any space ship can land on Tyr. There are particles in these clouds that interfere with the instruments on space ships. That's a serious threat for space ship which made an attempt to find the plains behind the mountain ridge."

Anddra's eyes immediately caught the whirling information on several displays in front of Luke, but as she looked at his calm face she relaxed. Liane turned for a moment and winked at her with a smile.

"We're almost through, then you should look straight ahead and you will see the other continent looming at the other side of the ocean waters between Tyr and Myr."

The Astræga shot out of the cloud layer and set course to Myr. Tense Anddra looked through the wind shield and saw the water below them. Then Luke pointed at the distance and she saw a coast line with a dense forest coming nearby.

"Oh," She suddenly said and pointed at the peninsula, "From there we went to Tyr in the hover boats after we had walked through the forest for weeks."

"Not weeks, Anddra, three months." Filann whispered.

In her mind Liane saw the path through the wild lands she, Yarmod and the Granns had followed for four days, but her memories vanished as in her mind the struggling group of numerous Quelans, young, old, kids, adult, boys and girls were desperately trying to find their way, took shape. She saw them stumble and fall and how others helped their fallen fellows up again. This had been a nightmare and she felt that the two Quelan passengers still had many vivid memories about what has happened.

Lorann was busy making a drawing. Manall looked at his grandson.

"What keeps you busy now, Lorann?" He asked.

"Nothing special, grandpa. I'm making a drawing of you and master Kamalin, for you are the representatives of the different group of Quelans."

"There are only Quelans, Lorann. I'm sure you have listened will to that there is any difference among the Quelans." Manall said.

"Yes, grandpa, but you are still the leader of those harvest men that have to go to Tyr to harvest the nuts the other Quelans need, and you also have nominated five members of the former Harvest Council to take a seat in the extended Council of the Elders. Master Kamalin is the chair of that Council, but you are appointed second vice-chair of that Council. So I thought you two are representing both groups for the time being." Lorann explained.

"You're right, Lorann, and many former harvest families will still feel the same, but your grandfather and I hope that one day there won't be any distinction anymore between a Quelan who goes to Tyr to harvest fallen nuts, and a Quelan who has his occupation in Ribana." Kamalin said.

"Look, master Kamalin. The man to the right and my grandfather stands to the left. That's how I saw you standing in front of the crowd of Quelans."

"Did you also have time to listen to the second group of Quelans, Lorann," Manall asked.

"Yes, grandpa, but I need time to enhance the sketches. Do you want to see these first impression I made?"

"Sure, I will, Lorann."

Lorann opened a file on his drawing pad and handed the device at his grandfather. He showed him how to scroll to the different drawings. Manall looked interested at his grandson's work and nodded approvingly. He handed the device back, but Lorann opened another file.

"These are all the drawings I made after the first group returned. Most of these drawings I have copied to foil sheets and master Kamalin has put them on display in the hall of the administration building. I have been there many times and there were many Quelans of the first group who recognized their house and what they have been doing. There's also a drawing of Chati's house, the vineyard building, for the mother and her aunt told me many details about it, and she nearly started crying when I showed it to her. It was her home when she was young."

Cemall entered the control room and looked at the drawing Lorann had made of the vineyard building.

"Good work, kid," He said and wanted to ruffle Lorann's hair, but Lorann ducked.

"Don't do that, Cemall. I'm not a kid any more I'm almost fourteen."

Cemall laughed.

"You always be my kid-brother, Lorann, and I never forget how much trouble you've caused while we're on our way to the western harbor. You were five or so, but you always managed you hide yourself, while we wanted to walk on. You made Chati and the other girl who was Filann's favorite desperate, for we don't know where to look for you."

Lorann looked at Cemall, but saw the warning look in his grandfather's eyes. He shrugged

"I was bored, Cemall. Walking day in day out among those tree. Every day looked the same. Grandpa, did we made progress?" Lorann asked his grandfather.

"We did, but slowly, very slowly, for there were a lot of elderly Quelans among us. They needed much support and encouragement. We've lost several of them, because they gave up and didn't believe in our goal. Yes, it was very difficult for all of us, for you as a young boy, for Chati and her girl friend Iljon Jecolin, for your brothers, and also for your father and mother, Lorann, and for all the Quelan families who had given up all their possessions and didn't know what to expect on Tyr. It's good we're all going back now, one group at the time, but we must never forget the lives that have been lost."

"Will you tell me more about it, grandpa. Maybe if you tell me I will see what you have seen and I can make drawings of the journey through the wildlands, for it's part of our community's past. You always have told me that we have to record in our archives what has happened when those armed forces drove us away. With my drawings I can help future residents of Ribana to get knowledge about what has happened. "

Cemall looked at his brother understandingly.

"That's a great idea, Lorann. Don't you think, grandfather? You also have gained much knowledge for the old archives when you making a plan to get the river back on the western plains."

Manall looked at his grandsons.

"It's a good idea, but first Lorann has to experience that Palomintar Four isn't the only planet where live thrive and many species find a way of life. Keep your eyes and mind wide open, Lorann, for your stories will help our community to understand that our planet is part of a very large community of systems. I have never seen them, so it's up to you to tell our community what's going on on other planets and what they look like."

Brion Grann entered.

"Everyone should strap yourself in. We're going to land in three minutes." He announced.

Quickly Lorann put his drawing pad in his bag and jumped on one of the seats. Manall had already grabbed the safety strap and fixed it. The other also took a seat and reached for the straps. Talking quietly they listened to the ship's engines which sounds changes as Yarnick decreased the power. With a springy thud the freighter landed and from several mouths a cry of relief sounded.