“Yes, it could be a form of symbiosis, at that,” Whittaker Fiske said, nodding as he absently stroked a marmalade cat. “A most remarkable one. Definitely unique. However, I would still very much like to have more details: Was your grandfather aware of the planet’s sentience and reactions? Did he establish whether or not its sentience occurred during, or after the terraforming process? How did you become aware of its sentience, and most of all, what protocol is now involved? I don’t believe that Intergal has ever encountered such a phenomenon in any system it has explored to date. I do, at least I think I do, understand now why our totally unprepared and scientifically oriented teams could not psychologically cope with their-shall I call it … psychic initiation to Petaybee’s sentience? Poor Francisco Metaxos is a good scientist, but he has always been extremely didactic.”
“He’s better, by the way, Whit,” Clodagh told the man. “Better all the time and now, I think, he’s more accepting.”
A curious, affectionate sympathy had grown up between Clodagh and Whittaker since the event in the cave. Dr. Fiske had held Clodagh’s hand all the way back to the copter. The pair had sat together, staring out the copter window, now and then exchanging long searching looks. Yana would have liked to exchange similar searching looks with Scan-but not with a crowd of people around.
“Aisling will bring Frank over,” Clodagh went on, “soon’s they’ve finished feeding and grooming the curly-coats. Any chance of bringing Colonel Giancarlo to Kilcoole, too, when he’s stable? Being contrary the way he is, he’d never have survived the cave in his weak condition, but strengthen him up a bit and introduce him to Petaybee gradual like, he might even come to understand a bit.”
Whittaker nodded, though Yana thought Clodagh was being uncharacteristically and unrealistically charitable toward Giancarlo and far too hopeful about his adaptability. The man was as rigid as the company rulebook.
“I’ll tell you what I can, Dr. Fiske,” Scan said, leaning forward to plant his elbows on his knees. “And what I’ve learned about Petaybee. First, we’ve never tried to keep anyone deliberately in the dark about this, but as you can imagine, it’s a little hard to explain and make anyone believe us. All we know is this: when your great-grandfather’s terraforming process had been completed and the planet ready for occupation, a proper ecological mix was determined by the Intergal specialists.”
Sean had washed off the last of the ash and was wearing pants and a gray cable-knit sweater borrowed from Sinead. With his silver eyes and silvery hair, he reminded Yana of the way she had seen him on the shores of the little stream when she had mistaken him for a seal. She ran her hand softly down his arm from elbow to wrist, and he captured the hand in his own and squeezed, as he continued speaking. “My grandfather, as the Intergal biogeneticist, was asked to make what biological changes were necessary to adapt animals who could function in this planet’s harsh climate and be useful to inhabitants where machinery and technology would prove inadequate. He did so, supplying us with an ecological chain that includes plants, trees, grain, food beasts, and those that could be used in a variety of tasks, such as the sled dogs, curly-coats, moose, deer, the other small food and fur animals, birds, insects: all viable on this cold, snowbound planet. All of us here, the vegetation and we more movable creatures, were influenced by his work.”
“But he went much further than he should have,” Torkel said, less belligerently; more in dismay.
“Not deliberately. He was, like yourselves, a scientist, and he didn’t reckon on the planet being a part of his equation. Once awakened, it had its own agenda and entered into the spirit of the changes-taking the ones Grandda made and improving on them now and then, when it felt these alterations were necessary. Those of us who have lived out our lives on Petaybee, like Lavelle, are more affected by those changes than the young people who volunteer for service offplanet. I have never left Petaybee. I know I never can.” He smiled with great charm. “I don’t wish to leave Petaybee. It has made me part of it, the way it is part of me.”