Spacehart

All at once smoke and flames shoot out from the stacks. Some crazy canid woman has set fire to the irreplaceable scrolls and manuscripts. The white canids are clearly frightened, and confused, terrified of fire and the consequences of their aimless rebellion. They run into the street, shout Fire! Fire! In the chaos, Charuff’s dog runs after them, barking. She releases her grip on me leaps away through the rubble and smoke, out of the building with the others. Araruff grabs my hand: “Follow me.” We break and run back through the stacks, out a side door and down the edge of the Docu-Hub toward the bridge. “We should stay and douse the fire,” I shout. There’s no point in running away. Go back and grab the Zambezi, I think. There’s still time. But we run, duck through a growing and amazed crowd of men, women, children and dogs and race up over the bridge toward the causeway. Behind us, Charuff and her women gather and follow. They’ll catch us; there’ll be a reckoning, some punishment for the stolen Zambezi, the fire, the fighting, and for Charuff’s attack on Araruff and me, my attack on her.............. At our morning meal today, Charuff glared at me menacingly, leaned around behind Laruff and tapped on my shoulder to get my attention. Her big loopy earrings were swinging; her lips curled back, her big teeth gleamed; her nostrils flared and her eyes were full of accusation and menace. “We are the most advanced planet in the universe,” she boasted in her hard, bright manner. “I have more knowledge of SimooL than anyone. I am the most-wise-canid here.” I am the most powerful person here, she means, and you’d better be wary. “Well good-for-you.” I stared back, refused to look away; let her know she wasn’t getting away with intimidating me, that her challenge was accepted. Javnor raised his eyebrows, rolled his eyes and suppressed a giggle. At least he notices. The rest of them watch and listen, but they must be blind if they can’t see her hostility and the threat seething underneath. Why are they so naïve, so unconcerned ? She craves to run this entire place; wants everything to reflect her glory, her eminence – wants complete control, wants to get rid of me. Some canidbeings are more like human beings than they wish to admit. “I’m afraid for Rah,” I spoke privately to Velvet as we left the table. “He’s not safe in her hands. He’s weak and withdrawn. Yesterday he regressed to all fours and he’s stopped talking and clamped-up with everyone except me. Dr. Woonor still refuses to meet with me. We must do something.” Velvet said he would speak to Dr. Woonor -- there did seem to be some irregularities. We would discuss it later as he had a meeting in his laboratories. ...... “Thief!” She spits. “Alien witch! Give me the weapon.” I look into her black eyes and laugh. “You’re the thief -- the witch.”Her fur is straight up, her face is bruised, her red velvet suit is torn. I know I’m in equal disarray. “Alien! Evil befall you!” she cries. “Go back to your Earth.” “Alien yourself.” I laugh out loud at how absurd we are, both of us spiteful, behaving like idiots. I know who she is; see her clearly. Three breasts or not, it’s clear that we’re the same -- if she’s a witch, I’m one too. Who am I to judge her? She must have reason to rebel. Of course she hates me, coming here, sharing her man, her space, disrupting her life. “This is ridiculous,” I say. “I’m not your enemy.” “Give it,” she demands. “There’s nothing to give.” They force me down and I wilt, my anger and resistance gone. I don’t hate her at all, but in submitting feel something like admiration for her feistiness, her determination and strength – feel affection even. I want to laugh. Has the morning circle, the weeping and orgasmic sharing brought me to this ? Is this what Velvet means by All are One ? Viragoes that we both are, I feel a kind of tenderness toward her, want to touch her bruised face, embrace her, be her friend.