Sentience, page 9
part #1 of Farm Land Series
“It will be harder on the way back,” she said, “when the cart is full. That’s why you and I share the load now, and on the way home Skye will pull. We’ll help him on the hills.”
“What will we fill it with?” I asked as the cart trundled behind us on the tiny dirt track leading from the circle of round houses.
“Beans,” she said and cast a smile at Skye. His face was watchful as we walked from the safety of the village. He carried a long spear with a point of grey stone at the end. Although these people did not believe in killing to eat, they did believe in self-defence.
“Where do beans come from?” I asked. I had seen great green beans, as wide as a person and half as tall, brought into the village on a cart like this.
“Bean pods,” said Leaf, then broke into a laugh at my confused expression.
“Don’t tease the girl,” Skye said quietly.
“I’m sorry, child,” she said, still laughing. “I often annoy dear, droll Skye, but I like to be merry and smile.”
“I don’t mind,” I said. I didn’t. It was clear she wasn’t really laughing at me, and even if she was, it wasn’t mean or spiteful.
“You see, Skye?” Leaf said, beaming triumphantly. “The girl has a sense of humour… unlike you.”
“It would be better if we all had a sense of quiet,” he said.
“Where are we going?” I asked again, wincing as the cart hit a rock and jumped against my waist strap.
“We’re off to meet the neighbours,” said Leaf.
“Neighbours?”
“We share our freedom with others,” said Leaf. “They live in the valley below.”
“Who are they?” I asked. “They are like us?”
Leaf shook her head. “Not like us, but All Life is Sacred.”
“Who are they?” I asked again.
“They are the Farmers,” said Skye. “And all other questions can wait until we reach them.”
Leaf shut her mouth and gave me a naughty look that suggested she wanted to say more. I smothered a smile, born of real humour. A strange feeling swelled inside me, comforting and exciting my body as our feet trod over bright green grass and white stone, taking us down into the dark valley below.
The feeling, I realised, was the warmth of friendship.
*
The cart trundled along behind us, seeking to catch our heels as we walked farther and farther into the dim, dappled shade of the valley.
Skye was quiet and watchful, and since even Leaf had ceased to prattle and tease her stoic companion, I became aware there was something they were listening for.
As we walked silently, hearing only the sharp trills of insects and the soft sound of leaves moving above us, I realized that the canopy above had changed. Bright green stems reared from the earth where trees had been, thicker and wider than two or even three people. Their bodies were long and supple, and they reached up into the skies with confidence. On these plants were, at the most, five leaves on each plant; enormous, shiny, green-silver leaves offering shade from the scorching sun.
Here and there on the plants were bulbous growths; pale green, soft with downy hair. Each one was about the size of a child curled up. As I saw more and more, I realised that inside each one were the enormous beans that were pressed for oil, dried in the sun and made into all manner of foods.
These, many laughed at the village, were magic beans.
There was an old story some of them told. One day, a boy had found one of these beans, so he planted it in the ground. In the morning, he found a breakfast of griddled cakes laced with nutty oil waiting for him, which he ate, thinking it good. That afternoon, he found a plate of rich soup, with thick bread to follow. In the evening, when he came home from gathering in the forest, there were thick wedges of chewy bean roasted in its own sweet sap waiting on his table. From just one plant, he could eat all the meals of every day, never repeating a dish once.
I don’t think we had quite mastered the trick of never repeating a meal, but it was amazing to see the variety of goods the village could get from one bean.
There was the fine, savoury oil that they used to cook with and to make medicines. The outer casing became water flasks, thread, rope, and was used to strengthen clothing. The pressed bean, when dried, was added to grain flour for bread. Beans could be diced and fried, grilled, baked or roasted and tasted of whatever herbs the cooks added. The oil could be combined with vinegar, made from rotting fruits, and shaken to make a thick, sweet drink used for children and invalids. Bean steaks were good to eat, and salted, fried slices were crisp accompaniments to all stews and broths. The bean could be roasted whole, stuffed with herbs and its own oil, to make one vast, succulent feast for the village on special occasions.
We didn’t eat beans at every meal, but if they were included, you would feel fuller for longer. That was important. I had not known hunger since coming to the village, but no food was gathered without toil and danger.
So this is where the precious beans come from, I thought, looking up at the plants. They were getting larger and larger as we walked into the valley.
We came to the top of a hillock, and Skye motioned to Leaf to put down the cart. “We should show her from here,” he said. “They can be a bit of a shock.”
We untied ourselves from the cart. Putting the straps to one side, I followed Leaf and Skye to the top of the incline, and lay beside them at the edge.
“There.” Skye pointed. His blue eyes flashed momentarily into mine, and I felt a faint edge of panic ruffle the otherwise calm feeling the day had brought. He looked away quickly, sensing my discomfort.
I followed the line of his finger and looked down.
The valley was gigantic. Lush, green bean plants seemed to stretch across the world; plant after plant after plant, all growing, vying for space under the blistering light of the sun. I gasped and felt my heart race. I had no idea that a space so large could exist! For the first years of my life, I had lived in a tiny room, only ever knowing four walls and a floor. The village had been enough of a shock, but this, vast, limitless expanse was dizzying. I was suddenly glad I was lying down. If not, I’m sure I would have fainted.
As my eyes were dazzled by the rich forest of beans, I saw here and there a glistening, dark shape moving with grace through the plants. Huge bodies of black gleamed in the sunlight. They plodded, circling and climbing the plants with six powerful legs. Each one was easily a head taller than me, and even their heads were the size of a person curled up. On their armoured faces were great pincers which made me cringe, thinking of the spider, but these beings moved so differently; their hard bodies slowly and deliberately wandering around the bean plants, busy at a task that occupied them completely.
I realized they were not hunters. The spider had anticipated my movements, shadowed me with feet always faster than mine. These creatures were not made like that; they were created for time and task.
Long antennae poked from their heads and whirled around, feeling and stroking the plants, the air, and others like them in their path. Although each of the beasts moved slowly, the feelers on their heads swivelled and investigated at great speed.
I watched one climb up a bean plant. Strong, stiff feet grasped the stem and pulled its giant body up. I edged closer to stare at it. Skye reached out, but did not seek to touch me. I flinched, shocked out of my amazement at the creatures. “Careful,” he said gently. “They are friends, but startling them isn’t a good idea.”
I looked at him warily and he dropped his hand. After a moment, my eyes were drawn back to the shining creatures below. The one that climbed the plant had reached a smaller creature, bright green, like the plant it sat on. The smaller creature didn’t move as the giant walked towards it. Slowly, and with delicate care, the giant stroked the emerald creature with its feelers.
“What are they doing?” I asked, not turning my head.
“Cleaning them,” said Leaf. “They keep them clean, defend them from hunters, keep them warm at night, and guard the bean plants which make their food. They are their protectors.”
“Why?” I asked.
“See there?” Leaf said, pointing. I followed her finger. A dark giant was carrying a small pod. It looked like a huge drop of water, clear, reflecting the world in its shell.
“What is it?”
“Sweetness,” said Leaf, grinning. “They eat it. They look after the aphids, and the aphids make sweetness for them. The aphids have no use for the sweetness, but the Farmers do. They made a pact a long time ago, that the Farmers would take care of the aphids, as long as they could make use of the sweetness. Together, they make the bean fields grow. The aphids have food, and beings greater than they to protect them, and the Farmers take their sweetness in return. It’s a cooperative relationship.”
“This is where we take beans from?” I whispered, wondering how the villagers would dare do such a thing.
“We have an arrangement with them,” Skye said. “They don’t mind, as long as we don’t take many.”
“They want the beans to fall to the floor and grow, making more plants for the aphids to eat,” said Leaf. “But they let us take some. The amounts we take are small, so they hardly notice our hauls. We share information with them on predators and other things as well.”
“They talk?” I asked, looking at the expansive mouth-parts on the beasts.
“Of a fashion,” said Skye. “Not as we do, but some members of the village have managed to communicate with them. Not a common skill, but a valuable one.”
“Are they dangerous?” I asked, eyeing the big, hard bodies with nervousness.
“Very,” said Leaf with her wide, mischievous grin. “But you’ll be fine. We bring each new member here to meet them.”
“How do you know I’ll be fine?”
“You have Acceptance,” she said.
Chapter Fourteen
Reacher
We stood at the bottom of the incline, waiting quietly until the creatures noticed our presence. My heart was thumping. Close up, they were enormous.
Leaf pressed a hand on my shoulder. “Easy,” she said. At the noise, two of the dark giants moved their heads, their antenna whirling in our direction. They lumbered towards us, vast feet shaking the ground as they came.
My courage quaked like a frightened child in my chest, yet I could not help but admire the shining blackness of their bodies, the glimmering, glistening light that flowed over them, the strength of their limbs and their massive jaws. The spider I had fled from was a tiny speck to these great beasts. They could have squashed it with one flick of their feet.
“You have the scent of their colony on you,” said Leaf gently. “They will smell it and accept you. But they will want to touch you so they can recognize you again. Be still. Don’t fidget.”
I stood frozen to the floor as the Farmers came close and pointed their feelers at my face. I couldn’t breathe. I closed my eyes and steeled myself to endure my fear. Leaf and Skye are here, I thought. They would keep me safe.
The Farmers brushed my face with their antenna. I stood, keeping still, waiting for them to finish. Then, suddenly, although my eyes were shut, I could see. I gasped as I saw my own form, shaking, eyes screwed shut. I was no longer in my own body.
I was inside the mind of the Farmer.
My eyes flew open and once more I was inside my own form. I stared at the antennae which buzzed before me. The two Farmers were stroking feelers with each other and seemed animated.
Leaf and Skye were staring at me with amazement.
“What?” I said, looking at their open mouths.
“You’re… You’re a Reacher,” said Leaf, her mouth hanging open.
“A what?” I asked, but then my head was deliberately turned about by a scratchy sensor. Gently, but insistently, the Farmer moved my face to its.
I closed my eyes again, feeling what it wanted me to do. The world disappeared, and I was in the mind of the Farmer, watching my own face as an expression of wonder and awe spread over it.
I had never seen myself apart from in reflections in water. Although I looked pale compared to Leaf, my skin seemed healthy and strong. My face was framed by short, dark hair that curled slightly, and my face was pleasing; high, sharp cheekbones and large eyes rimmed with dark, long lashes.
As I watched my own face, I shifted in my insubstantial form. Suddenly, I leapt, from the mind of the creature before me, to another, and then to another and another. I was free as the wind. I could fly from the mind of one Farmer to another, flitting across their eyes, seeing every part of the field. I could feel every sensation of their bodies and limbs. I could hear their thoughts, look out from behind their eyes.
As I fluttered through the colony, I felt the delicate green skin of aphids as Farmers stroked them, felt the rasping texture of plant stems as we, joined as one, climbed them. I felt the burning heat of the sun, and lifted my mouth with theirs to taste the sweetness that came from the aphids.
Darting backwards and forwards from one wonderful sensation to another, I began to hear a hum. Without any need for explanation, I knew it was the thoughts of the colony, rushing through me, running over me as though I were a stone in the river and they the water. I rode their thoughts, a buzzing, shared mind and purpose, linking them all together.
And then, it was as though I were thrown by a great pair of arms from the minds of the creatures in the field, into a place of darkness, warmth and infinite safety.
Welcome.
The sound echoed in my head, and yet I couldn’t see any human. All about me was darkness and warmth. It smelt of earth and peat, and it was safe, although how I knew that, I didn’t know.
Thank you, I said, my voice was not speaking aloud, yet I could hear it all the same. Where am I?
Home.
I realized I was not within the realm of the minds of many anymore, but in one; one vast, strong mind that touched all the others, yet remained distinct.
Who are you? I asked.
Mother. I link all of us together, it said.
Like Bracken, I said, and heard a sound, almost like a laugh.
We have much in common, it said. But Bracken is Mother in name, I am Mother of all. All those you have met are my daughters, my children.
What am I doing here?
I wanted to meet you. It has been a long time since a Reacher of such abilities came to us from your colony.
What is a Reacher?
One who can reach the thoughts of others with theirs. It is a rare gift, amongst humans. Not all of your kind has the ability.
I thought for a while. It doesn’t seem hard.
That is because it comes to you naturally, said the voice, still amused. All things that occur naturally seem easy.
Where am I?
Home, repeated the voice. In our home, I stay. I make children to make our colony strong, and to protect the aphids. I am the force that binds us to each other.
Like our village.
We have much in common.
It would seem so.
I could feel the other presence shifting through my thoughts. It was like the touch of a hand on my face, but within my mind. You grew under the ground, like us.
I shivered. Not like you, I said. Not safe, not together. Kept and bound, grown to be food.
I know.
How do you know?
Your thoughts see our thoughts, and ours see yours.
Oh…Although I had moved freely through their minds, I didn’t know how I felt about them seeing my thoughts.
We are used to sharing all thoughts as one thought, it said. There is no need to feel uncertain about your gift. Since the first days when men came to these forests and we found we could Reach the minds of some of them, we prized the ability. We talk to the aphids in the same way, and this was how we made our pact. There are many things that can be accomplished, if beings are willing to work together… many valuable things we may learn, when we open our minds.
All Life is Sacred, I said.
All Life is Sacred, it repeated.
I think I like you, I said.
We like you too, it said. Come again, and we will show you more. For now, your friends are starting to worry they have lost you in our minds. You should return. Your village will be excited.
You said there were not many Reachers, I said. Who else is there?
Only two in your village: Bracken and Skye.
