Patrice called the meeting to order. “Georges has asked us to meet today to reconsider our priorities, in light of yesterday’s events. Georges has told me that he did inform Franz Klein of Marianne’s observations on the vulnerability of the Spectres to plasma rifle fire, which Eleanor has confirmed. So what should the colony do?”

  “That was an intelligent, coordinated attack yesterday, with an understanding of our weaponry,” Antoine observed. “Do we think they planned that themselves, or is Renee orchestrating them.”

  “I think we have to assume that Renee has provided them with tactical information, at the very least,” Patrice said. “Marianne has always insisted that the creatures are smart, so I don’t think we can know who planned it. Maybe it was collaborative. I will say, we would’ve been in much worse shape without the warning system. I don’t think Renee was aware we’d finished that. And she certainly didn’t know about the Spectres, which saved the day.”

  “Let’s ask Danielle if there is any way to upgrade the alarm to give us more notice,” Marianne said. “They seem to be more vulnerable when they are pulling themselves onto the plateau. A single plasma rifle might be able to hold them at bay until the cannon can arrive. And ask her if the German machines could make more plasma weapons. I’m not sure I want to hear a yes, but we should know if that’s a possibility. Both for fighting the creatures and if a war does come.”

  Henri said, “I think we should try to figure out how to take the fight to the creatures. Make sure they can never attack us again. We’ll need help from the Germans, but with their support, maybe we can wipe them all out.”

  Patrice, Eleanor and Marianne all frowned at that idea. Patrice said, “It might be a possibility, but I’m not sure we have any chance in the jungle. That’s their territory. And we cannot take the cannon in there. If we do not kill them all, there is a real possibility any survivors would come in an all out attack. I don’t like our odds in that.”

  “Mar, I know you’re not going to like this suggestion,” Eleanor said, “But we know they’re intelligent. Renee can communicate with them. Maybe we can negotiate a co-existence pact. We have no idea why they’re attacking us. Renee said it was their land, which I can understand. We’re not giving up our colony, but maybe there is a path to co-existence. I don’t think any of us want to live in constant fear of another attack.”

  “As I expect you all understand, I hate those creatures with a passion,” Marianne said. “But I actually agree with your idea. War is always hell, and we’re approaching all out war with them. Besides, I’m trying to find ways around my old hatred.”

  “Okay, I’m hearing three new things to take to Georges. Does anyone have any other comments on these ideas?”

  He looked around the table, where everyone is nodding their head in agreement. “Jean, I know your role here is to take news to the council, but some of this is urgent enough that I’m going to go speak to Georges immediately. You’re welcome to come if you want.”

  “No, I’m fine. I’ll talk about this at the council meeting this afternoon. I have some work on my real job I should do before getting dragged into another meeting.”

  “Marianne, do you have a second?” Patrice said.

  “What’s up Patrice?” she asked in return.

  When everyone else had left the room, he said, “I just wanted to say congratulations.”

  “How do you know?”

  “The seamstress is my next door neighbor. And here in the village, I think we see our neighbors more than you do way out at the point. She was excited by making your dress and knew we knew each other, so she told me. He seems like a good man.”

  “He’s a very good man. The best I’ve ever known.”

  “Given where you are coming from, I’d say you’ve done a lot to get around your old hatred. I’m happy for you both.”

  “Thank you Patrice. You’re another good man.”

  ++++++

  “How are you doing, Renee?” Georges asked as the sergeant-at-arms brought her into his office.

  “Like you care,” she said with a voice dripping in spite.

  “I’d like to know what’s happening with the creatures,” Georges said.

  “I asked this before. Why should I help you?”

  “Because it might help the creatures. The defense committee was just discussing a plan to work towards eradicating them. Starting with clearing all the trees for a half kilometer gap along the base of the cliff. And mounting new plasma guns along the rim of the cliff that will automatically shoot anything that enters the gap. We would start by using the Spectres to drop large bombs on all the major trees near the cliff. I suspect the carnage will be significant.”

  “Why did the Germans help? Did you know they had those jets?”

  “All because of your two favorite people. Marianne and Aziz were part of the group I took to Neu Ruhr Valley last week. She recognized parts from the Spectres. Aziz talked Franz into seeing himself as Doradan first, German second. Turns out they are the two saviors of the colony, and you tried to kill them.” Georges shook his head and chuckled softly.

  Renee just scowled.

  “Maybe that’s enough to interest you in helping. Maybe I can sweeten the deal a bit. I’m trying to decide what to do with you. I think you have to realize that I can’t just let you live freely in the colony. With all the deaths yesterday, there are a lot of people here who would gladly kill you. But we don’t have a death penalty. The Foundation didn’t send a guillotine in the cargo. I’m willing to listen to ideas from you if you’re willing to help with the defense committee’s other suggestion, negotiating a peace deal with the creatures. We really have two choices, try to kill them all or try to co-exist with them. We have no mechanism to communicate with them other than you. So it’s really up to you. Do you want your friends to live or die? I would personally much rather co-exist, but I cannot let the creatures continually come onto the plateau to kill and destroy.”

  Renee took a deep breath, paused, then said, “I’ll try to help.”

  “Thank you, Renee. Do you still have contact with them?”

  She nodded her head.

  “Then, please let them know that we want to broker a peace deal with them. Do you think they’ll understand what that means.”

  She nodded again.

  “We have a closed door council meeting in a few hours. I’ll have the sergeant-at-arms bring you into the chambers. I'll try to negotiate with them through you, in front of the council. Do you think that can work?”

  She nodded a third time.

  “If we can reach a deal, I’ll meet with you in a few days to discuss how you’d like to spend the rest of your life, given the constraints I mentioned earlier.”

  “Thank you, Georges.”

  “I think you noticed at the trial, but I want to remind you. Aziz is now a member of the council. Probably the most effective councilor we’ve had. It’s why I took him to the valley last week. You underestimated him immensely.”

  “Dirty raton!”

  “Sergeant-at-arms?”

  The door to his office opened. “Yes, President Clements?”

  “It’s time for her to return to her cell for the time being. I will ask you to bring her to the council chambers during the meeting this afternoon.”

  “I understand.” He took hold of Renee’s arm and escorted her out of sight.

  ++++++

  Georges called the council meeting to order. “I’m moving this meeting into a private session. Minutes of this meeting will be recorded but not publicly accessible until released by a vote of the council. Does anyone have any objections?”

  Everyone nodded their heads. “Let the record show that the council moved into private session without objection. I’d like to start by having Jean give a report of this morning’s defense committee meeting.”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Jean faithfully described the discussions this morning and the three points finally agreed to by the committee.

  Georges said, “I talked to Danielle about the two points for her. She’s already considering their possibility. She’ll report back to the council with her best understanding at an upcoming meeting.”

  Georges took a deep breath. “But the real matter for tonight’s meeting is the third point, a possible peace negotiation with the creatures. I had a discussion with Renee this afternoon and she agreed to help us negotiate with the creatures. I admit to the council and for the permanent record, that I exaggerated and misrepresented some of the defense committee discussions and decisions this morning, implying that a path of near destruction of the creatures was the preferred path. I felt this deception was necessary to encourage her cooperation. But I fear if these negotiations fail, that is the only eventuality remaining. I ask the council’s indulgence in not revealing the full truth to her at this point.”

  He watched the councilor’s reactions to his statement. They were all surprised, but no one seemed to have any concerns with his choice.

  “Sergeant-at-arms, please bring Renee into the chambers.”

  The officer leaves to fetch Renee.

  “While she is here, I alone will speak for the colony. If you have real concerns, ask for a recess and we can discuss it once Renee is escorted back out. It’s essential that we present a unified front to her, because that is what the creatures will know of us.”

  Renee was escorted in, seated in the typical witness chair. She glared at Aziz who stared back at her. Georges interrupted the reunion, saying, “Let the record note that Renee Desjardins has been brought in as a witness.”

  Georges closed his eyes to compose himself fully before continuing. “Renee, are you here cooperating voluntarily?”

  “Yes, I am. With a promise by you of some consideration in my sentencing.”

  “Have you been able to communicate with the creatures since our discussion this afternoon?”

  Yes I have. And the creatures have a name for themselves. The word forms in my head as Benifois, so that is what I call them.”

  “Do the Benifois understand the concept of a peace treaty?”

  “Yes, although they are non-technological, they have very sophisticated minds. Much more than ours in many ways.”

  “We are willing to leave them alone if they leave us alone. Do they want something else?”

  “Yes, they need access to what they call Envelou.”

  “Can you explain what Envelou are and why they want them?”

  “Envelou were the pale monkey-like creatures that lived on the plateau before we arrived. I’m sure the original settlers remember seeing them around. It’s an annual rite for the leader to climb the cliff and catch an Envelou for some sort of ritual.”

  “So we created this crisis by getting rid of all the Envelou?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Did they capture Andre Laurent in lieu of an envelou almost two years ago?”

  “Yes, they did.”

  “I have to ask you, were you aware of their intentions before they took Andre?”

  “No, at that point, all my contact had been during dreams and I thought I was just having very vivid dreams. I saw Andre be taken through the eyes of Iguedaux in a vision the morning he was taken. I came to realize I was seeing it happen when Marianne came to tell us of his disappearance. That’s when I realized my visions were real and started to learn to actually communicate telepathically with them.”

  “Who or what is Iguedaux?”

  “That is the name of the leader. I became very emotionally attached to him. I would dare to say we were in love. He died when Marianne shot him and he fell from the cliff. He was going to take Aziz for the ceremony.”

  “I thought you said that was an annual ritual, but that was almost a year and a half later.”

  “You still think in Terran years, Georges. It was exactly one year here on Dorado.”

  “Of course, I should’ve realized that. Why have they been attacking recently? It’s not time for another ritual.”

  “Their social structure is near collapse because of the failed ritual. Some of the Benifois want to kill all of us, both to bring the Envelou back, but also as revenge for Iguedaux’s death. He was very beloved by his people. The attack on Marianne’s house was an attempt at vengeance against who they blamed. I probably contributed to that sense. I did not expect the next attack and it was not sanctioned by their new leader. I had some expectation of the attack yesterday, but I didn’t know when or how it was coming. I do feel sorrow for those who died in it, on both sides. But I was not involved in planning or instigating it.”

  “Do the Benifois know of any other Envelou populations?”

  “The belief is that they live on other similar plateaus at the edge of the jungle. They have occasional telepathic exchanges with other tribes of Benifois.”

  “Is the problem that the distances are too great for them to travel?”

  “Exactly.”

  If we brought a captured small population and kept them in an unpopulated part of the plateau, say one or two farms that still remain undeveloped, would that satisfy the Benifois?”

  “Not completely. At this point, I think there is enough vengeance in the blood that they need the ceremony now with a human sacrifice.”

  “There is no way I’m going to sacrifice a settler to them. There must be another way.”

  “I think they are insisting on a human sacrifice.”

  Georges is becoming irate. “Under no circumstances will we give them a settler to kill.”

  “If you can calm down, Georges, I have a proposal that I think both sides will accept. I will volunteer to be this year’s sacrifice. It solves the problem of what to do with me and it brings peace to both sides.”

  “I hate some of what you’ve done, Renee, but I cannot ask you to do this.”

  “I’m not asking you to ask me. I’m telling you I want to do this. I owe this to both the colony and the Benifois. And I want to know what it feels like.”

  “Do you know what happens to the sacrifice in their ritual?”

  “I think I have an idea. The Benifois believe that the Envelou enjoy the experience. The Benifois psychically probe the sacrifice. My sense is the sensation is very pleasurable, even sexual. I know Iguedaux could give me powerful orgasms psychically. You promised me consideration in my sentencing. This is how I choose to die. Once I’m dead, the entire tribe will eat my body.”

  “Are you in communication with the Benifois now?”

  “Yes, they have been aware of this entire conversation.”

  “We will guarantee a population of Envelou are available to them in time for next year’s ritual. They will accept you as a sacrifice for this year. As long as we guarantee the availability of Envelou, they will never attack the colony again. Are they willing to abide by that agreement?”

  Georges suddenly stopped, looking astonished. “Let the record note that I heard an acceptance from the Benifois in my head. It appears that they will now communicate with me if there are issues before beginning an attack. They want us to understand that they thought they had Renee’s permission to take Andre and Aziz. I indicated that I look forward to co-existing peacefully with them. And hope that each species can learn from the other.”

  The remainder of the council looked stunned at the turn of events.

  “Sergeant-at-arms, please escort Renee back to her cell. It appears she will be taken tomorrow morning. Make sure she has whatever she wants for dinner and breakfast. She has my respect for her sacrifice for all of us.”

  Once Renee had been escorted out of the room, Georges turned to the council. “I think I need a formal vote to approve the treaty that I just agreed to. Is there any discussion?”

  Everyone sat there in silence. Finally, Aziz said, “I think this is clearly in the interest of the colony. And I, for one, believe I just witnessed history being made. I believe that was the first agreement between humans and another sentient species.”

  “I believe you are correct, Aziz. I wonder how history will end up viewing Renee. Is there any other discussion?”

  Georges waited for a full minute before saying, “Then would each of you vote accordingly on your screens. The vote appears to be 5-0 to accept the treaty. I will send out an announcement to the entire colony as well as informing Franz. Aziz, it is probably a good idea for several reasons to warn Marianne about what is happening on her farm in the morning. I will entrust that job to you. And do you think it’s okay for me to tell the council your news?”

  Aziz nodded.

  Georges said, “Thank you. In two weeks, I will be overseeing the first marriage ceremony in the history of the colony. Or the planet, I believe. Aziz and Marianne Laurent are the happy couple. I learned of their plans when Marianne asked me if I would perform the ceremony for them. They are looking for their privacy and it will be a very small ceremony, not a state affair, despite the historical importance of both of them to this colony. I share this news to you in your official duty as a councilor and ask you to respect their wishes for privacy and keep this news confidential. I will make an announcement to the citizens after the ceremony is over, due to the historic nature of the ceremony.”

  Michelle asked Aziz, “When is the ceremony?”

  “Two weeks, Saturday. Assuming nothing from yesterday or today ends up delaying it for some reason.”

  “I have to say, Aziz,” Jean said, “I cannot imagine a pair on this planet who more deserve to find happiness. Congratulations!”

  “Of course,” Georges said, “We probably need to have discussions about your allotments and quotas once you’re married.”

  ++++++

  Aziz and Georges solemnly watched Renee climb over the fence towards the edge of the cliff. The sergeant-at-arms, who had walked beside Renee out to the fence, walked back to stand beside Georges.

  Georges turned to Aziz to ask, “Marianne chose not to watch?”

  “Not up here at least. She cannot watch anyone, even Renee, be taken by them. But she does not trust them. She is standing back at her barn, weapon drawn.”

  “I don’t trust them either,” Georges said, nodding his head back behind him. Patrice and Antoine are standing with plasma rifles drawn. A hundred meters further back, Denis is at the plasma cannon.

  “He's coming,” Georges said.

  A moment later they watched a huge tentacle curl around Renee and pull her over the edge of the cliff. She appeared emotionless as she allowed one of her Benifois to carry her to her death.

  A moment later, Georges said, “He says thank you.”

  ++++++

  “I, Aziz Gharbi, take you as my wife,

  and I give myself to you,

  to love you faithfully,

  in joy and in hardship,

  in sickness and in health,

  to love and to respect you,

  all the days of my life.”

  “I, Marianne Laurent, take you as my husband,

  and I give myself to you,

  to love you faithfully,

  in joy and in hardship,

  in sickness and in health,

  to love and to respect you,

  all the days of my life.”

  “Do the witnesses accept these vows.”

  “I do,” Patrice said.

  Eleanor looked at Marianne with a devilish grin on her face. Before Marianne’s smile is completely gone, Eleanor said, “I do”.

  Georges said, “By my authority as the President of the Nouveau Gateau Plateau Council, I declare you legally wed.”

  Aziz and Marianne turned to each other to kiss, as the handful of attendees clapped. Except Genevieve, who said “Pick up Zeez, pick up.”

  Marianne and Aziz pulled apart as he picked up Genevieve. Marianne picked up Pierre, complaining, “You are getting too big young man.”

  Pierre said, “Do I get a brother now?”

  Everyone laughed. Marianne glared at Eleanor, “You don’t get to say anything, El. Ever again. You almost gave me a heart attack.”

  “Oh, I know your heart is too full of love right now to fail,” Eleanor said, laughing.

  ++++++

  Pierre and Genevieve were sitting with Eleanor when Aziz walked in.

  “Momma is ready to see you now if you want to come in to see them,” Aziz said.

  “Do I have a brother?” Pierre asked.

  “Yes and a new sister. You’re going to be five soon. Momma and I will need you to help take care of both of them as well as Genevieve.”

  “What are their names?” Eleanor asked.

  “Andre and Rania.”