I opened the door to the ship\u2019s studio and waved frantically for Gracie to stop playing the omniboard. She lifted her fingers and the beautiful music echoed into silence. Her glare scorched me. I wasn\u2019t supposed to interrupt her when she was composing, but this was too important.<\/p>\n
\u201cGracie,\u201d I said, leaning down to give her a kiss. \u201cI\u2019ve got news. We have to cancel all your shows for the next month. Something better has come up.\u201d<\/p>\n
She narrowed her eyes. Her latest song, Stars Are Wild, was number one on six of the fifty worlds, and we were in the middle of a multi-world tour to promote it. The entire year was booked solid, and she was playing at the best venues known. What could possibly be better than that?<\/p>\n
I sat down and activated the HV, enjoying Gracie\u2019s confusion. \u201cJust watch,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
A woman newscaster began talking. She stood before a large grove of trees, each one covered with striking violet-colored leaves. In the distance, an ethereal yet familiar tune played. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is this?\u201d Gracie asked, looking at me, then back to the holo.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatch,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
The newscaster spoke: \u201cSomething amazing is happening on the little known planet, Autumn. The Music Trees have woken up. This is how they used to sound.\u201d<\/p>\n
A low, hollow fluting sound filled the cabin. It was an eerie, haunting echo that froze my blood. I had heard variations of it many times. Gracie\u2019s song, Stars Are Wild, had been inspired by those same tones, but she had heard them in her dreams.<\/p>\n
\u201cCorris,\u201d she squeaked. \u201cMy song.\u201d<\/p>\n
I grinned from ear to ear. \u201cI know. Just shut up and keep watching.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd this is how they sound now,\u201d the newscaster said.<\/p>\n
I watched Gracie. The music that poured forth paralyzed her: a thunderous multi-tonal orchestra with delicious melodic curls and waves of harmonics. Tears poured from her eyes as the music carried her away.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s calling to me,\u201d she whispered, gazing at me. \u201cShe wants to me to visit her and sing to her.\u201d <\/p>\n
I stifled my own tears. \u201cKeep watching. There\u2019s more.\u201d<\/p>\n
The newscaster began to speak. \u201cTo this date no one has been able to decipher any meaning behind the tree-songs. And until just a few days ago, nobody has been able to make them change their tune. Millions of tourists visit here each year and sing to the Music Trees. They have never reacted like this. The secret apparently lies with the new hit song, \u2018Stars Are Wild,\u2019 by the phenomenally successful young musician, Gracie Megan Sparks. A visitor was playing her song when the trees began to sing back. He turned it off and they became silent. Mind you, the trees have never been silent before. He turned it back on, and they began singing again. Even now, the trees will not sing unless Sparks\u2019 song is playing. So far, no word from Sparks\u2019 camp. But she should know that her song is not only popular among humans. The Music Trees like it too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe it,\u201d she said. \u201cAll this time, that\u2019s what I\u2019ve been hearing.\u201d She trembled as she leaned against me.<\/p>\n
I wrapped my arms around her. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. I mean, why me? Why my song?\u201d She looked at me dolefully. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, honey,\u201d I said. \u201cBut I guess we\u2019ll find out. We\u2019ve already got an invitation from Autumn to go visit. I was waiting for you before I answered.\u201d I hoped she said yes. I was tired of touring. We could use a rest–if I had my way, a nice long rest.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer name is Oora, Corris,\u201d she blurted. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t know that, but I do. How is it I can hear her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re a musical genius, love,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019m not the least bit surprised. Now, stop worrying. Let\u2019s go to bed and sleep on it. I\u2019ll tell Carlos to navigate a new course to Autumn and we\u2019ll figure out what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded, looking again at the image of the purple trees on the holo. They were incredibly beautiful. What, I wondered, had we gotten ourselves into? Gracie writes one hit song, and now suddenly she\u2019s communicating with a mysterious tree-like creature on the other side of the galaxy. The question was: Why?
\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d I asked with concern. I knew my wife, and Gracie was clearly more than nervous; something else was bothering her. \u201cWe don\u2019t have to do this. We can go home right now.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she said, gently freeing herself from my embrace. \u201cI\u2019m fine. I can do this. I need to.\u201d <\/p>\n
We stood before the grove of trees, now utterly silent. In front of Gracie rested her omniboard, charged and ready. The speakers were set up. Most of the crew surrounded us, everyone except Carlos who remained in the ship, parked only a few miles away in our private berth at the starport. <\/p>\n
Next to us stood the caretakers, a group of ten men and ten women who lived on Autumn, each of them dressed in the mauve robes that marked them as the guardians of the Music Trees. None of them looked happy. Why should they, I thought. Because of Gracie, their trees were silent for the first time in history. What if they never sang again? <\/p>\n
Further behind us (and floating above us) the media hovered with their recorders posed to transmit this momentous event to every corner of the galaxy. Beyond them thousands of spectators had gathered. Billions of people were watching us at this moment. All fifty worlds, they told us, which meant Gracie\u2019s fame and popularity would probably skyrocket, and I would never get the time with my wife that I craved. <\/p>\n
The small grove was just a few yards away–Oora, as Gracie had called her. Smooth tan trunks rose up to long lithe branches, each exploding with wild bunches of fluted, purple leaves–or what looked like leaves. Only on closer examination was it clear that the Music Trees were not trees at all.<\/p>\n
I had studied all I could before we arrived, but there was little to learn. The Music Trees were unique to Autumn. Attempts to re-grow them elsewhere had failed. They had been there for as long as recorded history. Their biology was a mishmash of plant and animal–not particularly unusual, other than it was the only known specimen of a unique species. Some believed it was sentient, though there was no real evidence other than the songs themselves. It made the songs by pumping air up hollow stems and through cylindrical-shaped leaves. The song itself was a variation of seemingly random tones that combined in a way to create the complex haunting sounds that made the trees so famous.<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t help but feel uneasy. Who was Oora? What did this creature want with my wife?<\/p>\n
Gracie flashed me a smile and composing herself.<\/p>\n
A hush fell over the crowd as she placed her fingers over the omniboard. She took a few deep breaths and drifted slowly into a trance. Instantly, her fingers began to dance and the music rolled forth, the notes tripping over one another in their haste to be released.<\/p>\n
Calm down, girl, I thought. Relax and flow. <\/p>\n
I studied my beautiful wife as she played her song. She quickly lost herself in the music. Eyes closed, lips slightly parted, head tilted forward, Gracie played as though possessed. Her body swayed rhythmically as the music poured from her mind and heart, down her arms, through her fingers and out to the worlds. <\/p>\n
No sooner had she begun when Oora joined her with a crescendo of intertwining melodies and harmonies. The audience behind us gasped as the new tree-song swept over them. <\/p>\n
The two melodies joined, combining and dancing around each other like lovers. Gracie played a series of chords. Oora responded with spears of sounds that seemed to predict Gracie\u2019s next tones. They were having a conversation, I realized.<\/p>\n
The music increased in volume, now with discordant tones. I looked over at the trees. The leaves were trembling and the trunks swayed back and forth. It seemed more creature than plant.<\/p>\n
I looked back at Gracie and nearly rushed forward. She was crying and appeared almost angry. She pounded the keys of her omniboard, responding to another volley of notes from the trees. Were they arguing?<\/p>\n
The music continued, until suddenly Gracie released a series of descending notes, then abruptly lifted her fingers from the omniboard. At the same moment, Oora stopped singing, and the air echoed into silence.<\/p>\n
Gracie pulled out of her trance and opened her eyes.<\/p>\n
Without warning the Music Trees erupted into flames, wailing and shrieking.<\/p>\n
Gracie dashed around her omniboard and sprinted toward Oora. I dropped everything and dashed after her. Chaos erupted around us as everyone reacted.<\/p>\n
Gracie disappeared into the flames. As I followed her in, I realized that they weren\u2019t flames at all; it was light. The leaves glowed with a fiery orange-red brilliance, each one emitting a shrill sound, then slowly curling and withering to fine dust. A sweet burnt odor choked my breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cGracie!\u201d I shouted. She was climbing between the trunks now. The grove was larger than it appeared, and Gracie quickly disappeared inside it. I turned and saw that the caretakers rushing forward with expressions of confusion, fear and anger.<\/p>\n
A pinkish mist or ash filled the air, making it very difficult to see. Chaos reigned as everyone ran back and forth. Above it all, the shrieking continued.<\/p>\n
Finally I found Gracie creeping sneakily from behind the grove, which was quickly shrinking and burning away.<\/p>\n
I gasped when I saw her expression of utter urgency.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet me to the ship,\u201d she said. \u201cNow!\u201d <\/p>\n
The light from the trees began to dim. Almost all the leaves were gone and the trunks were beginning to fall.<\/p>\n
I held Gracie by the shoulders as we dodged back and forth through the crowd. We found the crew quickly packing up the gear.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave it!\u201d I said. \u201cTo the ship!\u201d<\/p>\n
I led Gracie through the mob of people, dodging the media, caretakers and security personnel. Soon we climbed out of the vale that held the Music Trees and onto the roadways. I saw one of the caretakers watching us. He began shouting frantically, running toward us, his purple robe flapping. We dived into a floater and took off to the starport. Heath drove while Gracie and I sat in the backseat. Two of our crew were missing. Hopefully, they would find their own way.<\/p>\n
I looked behind us, no sign of being followed yet, but it was only a matter of time.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you okay?\u201d I asked Gracie. \u201cWhat happened back there?\u201d I had never seen her so upset. Tears poured down her face. She looked up at me and buried her face in my chest. I held her tightly. When she was ready to speak, she\u2019d let me know.<\/p>\n
We pulled up to the airport and scrambled towards our ship. Carlos, to his credit, saw us coming and was already opening the hatchway and lowering down the elevator. No sooner had we climbed inside and it started to rise when I heard sirens.<\/p>\n
In a few seconds, we were onboard. Gracie turned to Carlos. \u201cIf you can, get us out of here,\u201d she said. \u201cIf not, other than Tony or Melika, don\u2019t let anyone else on this ship. I need twenty minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust give me twenty minutes!\u201d she snapped, and disappeared down the corridor.<\/p>\n
Twenty minutes? What was she up to? I didn\u2019t have time to question. I followed Carlos to the engine room and prepared to take off. We could have Tony and Melika picked up later. <\/p>\n
When I arrived in the control room, Carlos was already seated and ready to go. Bright flashing lights on the dash indicated that the engine was primed. \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
Carlos shook his head and pointed to the view screen. It showed the outside of our ship, which was now surrounded by security vehicles. \u201cToo late. We\u2019re being hailed,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are forbidding us to take off. Do you want to answer?\u201d<\/p>\n
I hadn\u2019t expected anything less. \u201cPut them through,\u201d I said. Time to do some stalling. If Gracie wanted twenty minutes, I\u2019d give her thirty.<\/p>\n
Jansen Ortis, the head of the security team that had overseen the concert came online. \u201cYour ship is surrounded,\u201d he said. \u201cYou are forbidden to depart. Any attempts to leave Autumn will be considered a hostile act and will be responded to accordingly. Open the doors immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d I said. \u201cWe have done nothing wrong. You have no right to keep us here. We will be taking off shortly. If you open fire on us, you should know that our ship is not without its defenses.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cOpen the doors immediately, or we will board your ship by force.\u201d He motioned to his crew, which moved toward our ship with their cutting tools ready. I couldn\u2019t believe it. Did they have any idea who my wife was, or the value of this ship? <\/p>\n
\u201cTouch my ship,\u201d I said, \u201cand I will have lawyers from all fifty planets here to sue you for everything you\u2019ve got.\u201d <\/p>\n
They ignored me, moved forward and situated themselves around the door. This was not the first time people had tried to force themselves onboard one of the ships. This latest model was built to prevent any unwanted visitors. It wouldn\u2019t be easy for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019m coming down. Give me a second.\u201d<\/p>\n
I went to the bottom level and the elevator. Gracie had asked for twenty minutes. Only about five or ten had passed since we boarded. I couldn\u2019t give her much more than that. Where was she? What was she doing? <\/p>\n
I flicked on the in-ship comm. \u201cCarlos, tell them I\u2019m here. Tell them I\u2019m opening the door now. But that I\u2019m going to ask for a condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Boss!\u201d he said. I heard him repeat my message. The truth was, I had no conditions. It was just another stalling tactic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re asking for the condition,\u201d said Carlos.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell them that I need all of them to put down their weapons. Only then will I open the door.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re ignoring your condition, Boss. They\u2019re starting to cut into the ship.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stepped into the elevator and lowered it down. <\/p>\n
A group of security personnel moved forward to get on board. I blocked their entrance.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy what right are you boarding my ship!\u201d I shouted.<\/p>\n
Ortis stepped forward until we were face to face. \u201cYou destroyed the music trees. Your wife, where is she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d I said, \u201cSomewhere on the ship.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell her to exit immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell her yourself.\u201d <\/p>\n
They held the guns up and I stepped aside. My stomach dropped as the armed guards marched onboard. There, I gave her almost fifteen minutes. Hopefully it was enough.<\/p>\n
I followed them. The main guy was directing the other guards to search everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you looking for?\u201d I asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever you used to destroy the trees.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is she? Why did she flee so quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll have to ask her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell you better get her now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m right here,\u201d said Gracie. \u201cWhat seems to be the problem?\u201d<\/p>\n
I gasped. She looked stunning. She had changed her outfit to a beautiful mauve-colored dress with purple trim. A beautiful necklace with large pink stones draped around her neck. Strange, I had never seen that before, but I could see why she chose them. She was dressed up in all the colors of the Music Trees, the same colors as the robes of the Caretakers. I swelled with pride; I knew exactly what she was up to. My wife was a clever lady.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re under arrest,\u201d said Ortis, and he lunged at Gracie.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo way!\u201d I shouted barring his path.<\/p>\n
The security forces pointed their stunners at me and ordered me to step aside. When I refused, they fired. <\/p>\n
As I fell, I saw my entire crew rush to protect Gracie. Then darkness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not answering any questions until I get to see my wife,\u201d I told the investigator for the hundredth time. \u201cWe haven\u2019t done anything wrong. You have no right to take us from our ship and keep us here.\u201d I had already told them everything, how Megan had heard the tree-song in her dreams, how it had inspired her latest song. I didn\u2019t share the Music Tree\u2019s name was Oora. Gracie could tell them if she wanted.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing wrong?\u201d he said. \u201cMr. Sparks, are you aware that there are no other known Music Trees on any of the fifty planets? This is the only one. Your wife has destroyed a galactic treasure. There are a lot of people who are very angry at her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe didn\u2019t do anything!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did she run into the trees?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I know her, she was probably trying to save them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did she flee so quickly?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know? Ask her. Maybe she was scared. Maybe she knew that you\u2019d all react this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did she kill the trees?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe didn\u2019t,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust tell us why she did it,\u201d said the investigator.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not listening!\u201d I roared. \u201cShe didn\u2019t do anything. She didn\u2019t destroy your precious trees. You must have seen what happened. They just combusted by themselves. She didn\u2019t hurt anybody. Let me see me wife!\u201d<\/p>\n
Back and forth it went, first one investigator and then another. Thankfully, with Gracie\u2019s recent success, we were not without resources. Nor was this the first time we\u2019ve had trouble with authorities. I had already contacted our legal team, who arrived immediately. Normally we would have been freed by now, so it looked like we were in real trouble. I knew that the Music Trees were dead, but there was no way they could blame Gracie. After all, the Music Trees had called her. She had been invited here.<\/p>\n
I was just about ready to snap when the door opened and I was ushered out.<\/p>\n
I was taken to another room. Inside was Gracie. Next to her was Silas, our main lawyer.<\/p>\n
\u201cCorris,\u201d he said, standing up. \u201cI\u2019m sorry it took so long.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust tell me what\u2019s going on.\u201d I hooked my arm around Gracie\u2019s waist. A strange light danced in her eyes. I knew that look; she was up to something, and I was not going to like it.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood news. You can leave Autumn.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go then.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silas winced. \u201cThere are a few conditions. You can leave, but Gracie must stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo way! Absolutely not!\u201d<\/p>\n
Silas and Gracie shared a knowing glance. I instantly realized what was happening. They had expected this reaction and were gearing to tag-team me. I braced myself.<\/p>\n
Silas began. \u201cI advise leaving,\u201d he said. \u201cGracie will follow you. But right now, we need you to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned to Gracie. Her plea was short and simple. \u201cPlease, Corris,\u201d she said. \u201cFor me. I need you to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head. There was no way I would leave her to these people. \u201cThey can\u2019t keep you here. They have no right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can and they do,\u201d said Silas. \u201cBesides murdering the trees, they believe Gracie may have stolen something and hidden it on the ship.\u201d<\/p>\n
This was new to me. \u201cDid you?\u201d I asked, remembering the way she had rushed toward the flames and sneaked around in the haze.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course not,\u201d she said. \u201cLet them search the ship. They won\u2019t find a thing, because there\u2019s nothing to find.\u201d<\/p>\n
I knew when my wife was lying, and she wasn\u2019t, but she was hiding something. When she was ready, she would tell me. Still, it infuriated me that she was keeping something secret from me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s going to be an arbitration hearing,\u201d Silas explained. \u201cYour wife has been accused of murder. We\u2019ve managed to negotiate your release. But Megan has to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not leaving,\u201d I said. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing you can say that would convince me she\u2019s guilty of murder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe already confessed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked, looking at Gracie.<\/p>\n
She stared at me levelly. \u201cIt\u2019s true. I know you\u2019re angry, but this was the only way to guarantee your freedom. They wanted to arrest all of us. Don\u2019t worry about me. I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine? You\u2019re pleading guilty to murder.\u201d<\/p>\n
She grabbed my hand and covered it with hers. \u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have to trust me. I know what I\u2019m doing.\u201d I knew it! She had a plan. I groaned. Once Gracie had her mind set on something, nothing would sway her.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow you see,\u201d said Silas. \u201cIt\u2019s best you leave. The hearing will be in a few days. I\u2019ll make sure you\u2019re there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if it goes bad? What\u2019s the punishment?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a nutshell, if we don\u2019t agree to the results of the arbitration, they will press official murder charges. As far as what they\u2019re looking for, we\u2019ll have to wait and see. I\u2019m guessing they want compensation for loss of future income, which should make them open to a financial settlement. However, they might ask for more, it\u2019s hard to say.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMore?\u201d I asked. I was beginning to doubt my dear lawyer\u2019s ability. He had failed to do the one thing I paid him for: protect my wife. \u201cWhat more?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silas shrugged. \u201cPublic service, maybe a period of confinement. The rules are different on each planet. Our team is learning everything we can about how things work around here, and we\u2019re going by the book. I\u2019m sorry, Corris, but you have to go now. Everything has already been decided.\u201d<\/p>\n
The guards at the door motioned for us to end the meeting.<\/p>\n
I turned to Silas. I regretted my words even as I said them. \u201cGet Gracie out of here, Silas, or we\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned to Gracie, gave her a long kiss.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t be angry, Corris,\u201d she said. \u201cJust trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I have a choice?\u201d<\/p>\n
She laughed. She knew that my love for her left me with no option. I never could say no to her. \u201cI\u2019ll see you soon,\u201d she said. She looked amazing in her purple-hues. I hoped the outfit would have the desired effect.<\/p>\n
I smiled at Gracie, glared daggers at Silas and stormed from the room. Armed guards led me out of the confinement center. I was put in the back of a floater and driven directly to the starport and my ship. <\/p>\n
Back onboard, I quickly became even more angry. Not only had I been forcibly separated from my wife, but now it looked like the entire ship had been ransacked.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, Boss,\u201d said Carlos. \u201cThey kicked us all off and searched every inch of the ship. We\u2019ve been cleaning up as best as we could before you arrived.\u201d He looked at me with the hint of a grimace. \u201cWhere\u2019s Gracie?\u201d<\/p>\n
I told him what happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t sound so bad,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll just pay them and get out of here. The recording of what happened is already number one on most music charts. Gracie is more famous now than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut pay them for what?\u201d I said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t do anything wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, you have to admit, something happened. The trees are gone. And not everybody is singing Gracie\u2019s praises.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know as well as I, Gracie wouldn\u2019t hurt anybody ever. Not on purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carlos nodded. \u201cWhat\u2019s going to happen to her?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cShe has a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, no,\u201d Carlos said. We all knew what that meant. <\/p>\n
I just wished I knew what she was up to. I had to retire to our bedroom to calm down. Gracie and I hadn\u2019t spent more than one night apart in the six years since we\u2019d been married. Even so, I got to spend precious little time with her. With her success, everybody wanted a piece of Gracie Megan Sparks. Too often, there was little left for me. How I loved her! Being apart was physically painful. If the authorities decided to confine her here, I wasn\u2019t sure what I would do. But I knew one thing: it wouldn\u2019t be pretty.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you,\u201d said Silas. \u201cEach planet is different. This is how disputes are settled here. Just sit down and be quiet. I was barely able to convince them that you belonged here. Don\u2019t give them a reason otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this is a joke,\u201d I said, gesturing to the table where Gracie sat with our lawyers facing a group of three angry-looking Caretakers. At the head of the table was the lead Caretaker and, as it turned out, the only arbiter. The room itself was tiny. Other than the table and chairs, there was a computer screen on one wall and recorders on either side. I sat in the rear section with about thirty other people, most of them caretakers. A row of five security personnel divided the audience from the arbitration section. \u201cHow can a caretaker be the person who decides her fate? How is that fair?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to lecture you on the laws of Autumn. Just keep quiet for once, will you? I\u2019m having enough trouble with Gracie. Between the two of you–never mind. Just don\u2019t make a scene, okay? Promise me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry about me,\u201d I said. \u201cJust get Gracie out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m doing my best,\u201d he said. \u201cJust keep quiet.\u201d He walked over and took his place next to Gracie.<\/p>\n
The arbiter spoke, introducing himself as Brother Garrin Tolo, then introduced each other caretaker at the table and then Gracie, Silas and Thornton, another one of our lawyers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho will be speaking for the Music Trees?\u201d asked Tolo.<\/p>\n
One of the caretakers stood. \u201cI, Nevik Reeva will speak for the Music Trees.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd who will speak for Gracie Megan Sparks?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silas stood and was about to speak when Gracie jumped up and said: \u201cI, Gracie Megan Sparks, will speak for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silas looked at her in shock, then sunk to his seat and put his face in his hands. I chuckled to myself. We both knew Gracie. Now the Caretakers were about to get a taste of her.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst,\u201d said the arbiter, \u201cwe will review the recording of the incident. Then each party will be allowed to give a statement and a rebuttal. I shall then make my decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room darkened, and the scene that had been played hundreds of times on all fifty worlds for the past three days–the scene that played endlessly in my mind–appeared once again in full color on the screen. There stood Gracie, looking tiny but captivating as she perched before her instrument and gazed upward at the trees. She began to play and the trees responded. The music echoed through the room and once again, I was struck by the feeling that some sort of conversation was taking place between my wife and Oora.<\/p>\n
I looked over at Gracie sitting at the table. I wasn\u2019t surprised to see that her eyes were closed. Even though I knew what happened next, I watched the screen as the grove erupted into apparent flames. I saw Gracie dash immediately for the grove, followed by myself. I felt no guilt as I watched myself lead Gracie surreptitiously away from the chaos and out of view.<\/p>\n
The screen darkened and the room came to light. The arbiter turned to Gracie. \u201cGracie Megan Sparks, you have been accused of taking actions which led directly to the demise of the Music Trees. Normally, this would have led to a trial. As you have agreed that you are guilty, the purpose of this arbitration is to decide how you should be punished. First, we would like you to explain what happened, and why you killed the Music Trees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking almost mystical in her violet colors, Gracie stood and spoke. \u201cHer name is Oora,\u201d said Gracie. \u201cShe called to me. She is the one who brought me to your planet. She is the one who asked me to come. I speak for Oora.\u201d<\/p>\n
All three caretakers on the other side of the table rose to their feet and opened their mouths beginning to protest. To his credit, the arbiter motioned them to remain seated. He turned to Gracie. \u201cPlease, continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy name is Gracie Megan Sparks. Only a few years ago, I was a semi-successful musician on Cora. Then, around February 503 New, I began to have dreams in which I heard strange and beautiful melodies. Powerful and clear, I knew that these melodies had meaning, and that were calling out to me. Yet I didn\u2019t understand what they were saying. I felt certain that the tones were coming from somewhere outside of myself, but I couldn\u2019t imagine where. My song, Stars Are Wild, was inspired by the songs I heard in my dreams. I never dreamed it would become so popular, or that it would cause the Music Trees to stop singing. Where I lived on Cora, the Music Trees were virtually unknown and way out of reach for somebody like me. Stars Are Wild opened doors for me, and I began a multi-world tour to perform the song.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen my husband showed me the Music Trees, I was shocked. The music from my dreams had a source, and finally I had found it. Then I learned that the trees had stopped singing because of my song, and that\u2019s when I knew that she had heard me. My song had spoken to her just as hers had spoken to me. We became connected. And that\u2019s when she told me her name.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe came to Autumn at your gracious invitation, for which I thank you. Meeting Oora will always be one of the highlights of my life. The song I played was my greeting to her. I told her what an honor it was to meet her and asked her why she had called to me from so far away. She told me I was the only person who she had been able to reach, and that I reminded her of the original caretakers.\u201d<\/p>\n
At that last statement, several of the caretakers looked extremely nervous.<\/p>\n
Gracie continued: \u201cOora told me that when she heard my song, she knew the time had come for her to leave this planet. She had lived out her lifespan and was ready to die. I, of course, became upset and argued with her. I tried to get her to change her mind. She refused, and insisted that I play her Death Song with her. I asked her why she felt her time was done, and she gave me the answer, but only on the condition that I would never reveal it to anyone. I reluctantly agreed, and she began her Death Song. And I joined her. It was the least I could do for her after all the songs she had sung to me in my dreams.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite my protests, Oora chose to end her own life. When I saw she was dying, I instinctively rushed over to help her. Seeing how upset I was, my husband, Corris, rushed me to the safety of our ship.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I came to Autumn, I had no idea this would happen. I never hurt Oora, nor did I have any intention to do so. I was here by your invitation, and more importantly hers. I did only what Oora asked. That is Oora\u2019s message.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gracie sat down, and a low grumbling swept through the crowd. I had to force myself not to jump up and clap. Gracie had practically knocked the caretakers off their feet. They shook visibly with anger and struggled to remain calm. Now I saw her plan. She was setting herself up as one of them. Not only did she wear the purple uniform of the caretakers, she claimed to speak for Oora. The kicker was, she actually did, which meant the Caretakers had been replaced, and now that Oora was gone, they were no longer needed. No wonder they were angry. I almost looked forward to their response.<\/p>\n
One thing concerned me. I knew Gracie well enough to see when she was lying. As she spoke, several times I could see that she wasn\u2019t telling the entire truth. She was keeping more than a few things secret. But what?<\/p>\n
The arbiter motioned at the Caretakers.<\/p>\n
One of them rose. \u201cMy name is Nevik Reeva, and I am an ordained Caretaker for the Music Trees. The Caretakers have guarded the Loroola Grove for nearly seven hundred years, since they were first discovered. Never in the entire record of their existence, have they ever stopped playing their sacred songs. And then, without warning, they stop singing. Why? Apparently because of the song from an unknown musician light years away: Gracie Megan Sparks. I\u2019d like to repeat this point. The trees have been singing for as long as we\u2019ve known them. Sparks\u2019 song silenced them. I think we can all agree on this unfortunate turn of events.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow Gracie arrives. Yes, we had invited her in the hopes that she could make the trees sing again. Instead, no sooner does Sparks produce her music when the Music Trees erupt into flames and perish. This time Sparks\u2019 song didn\u2019t only harm the trees, it killed them. She killed them. Now they shall never play again. Sparks has admitted her own role in the entire affair. I see no reason to listen to her nonsense that she speaks for the trees. We have no proof of such a thing. How dare she say the Music Trees wished for death? And then she has the audacity to keep the reason a secret? The truth is, she killed the Music Trees, and now she profanes the order of Caretakers by dressing like one of us and mocking our uniforms. Lies, I say. She is only trying to protect herself. Her songs first harmed the Music Trees, then killed them. She destroyed a unique and intelligent species. I see no reason for leniency simply because she admits her guilt. She has no choice. She tried to run away and we caught her. This is genocide of an entire species and should be punished accordingly. That\u2019s my statement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes Sparks have any response?\u201d asked the arbiter.<\/p>\n
Gracie stood. \u201cI have nothing to add. I will abide by the arbiter\u2019s decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silas began to protest, but she patted his hand and forced him to remain silent. The caretakers looked shocked. They had clearly expected a fight from Gracie, and were now disarmed. I couldn\u2019t believe it; had Gracie given up? What was going on?<\/p>\n
Reeva stood and said, \u201cWe will abide by the arbiter\u2019s decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
The arbiter was silent for a moment. He looked at the Caretakers, then over at Gracie and our lawyers, and finally at the audience.<\/p>\n
Finally he spoke: \u201cI have reached a decision. I find Sparks\u2019 claims to speak for the Music Trees to be unconvincing. She claims to have received a message from the trees and then refuses to reveal it. She claims to understand the tree-songs, and yet, as Reevas has shown–and as the recordings have proved–Sparks was directly involved in the death of the Music Trees. Furthermore, her actions have caused considerable financial damage to Autumn and the Order of Caretakers.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth parties have agreed to abide by the punishment given by myself, the arbiter of this case. I hereby declare that Sparks shall be required to reimburse the income that would have been received by the Order of Caretakers had the Music Trees lived. In addition, Sparks shall be confined on Autumn for a period of no less than five years, during which time she will be required to perform community service. That is all. Meeting adjourned.\u201d<\/p>\n
I jumped up and made a dash toward Gracie who was whispering in Silas\u2019 ear. He did not look happy. Not surprisingly, the security guards blocked me. \u201cGracie!\u201d I screamed.<\/p>\n
She looked up and blew me a kiss. \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d she mouthed, and she was escorted from the room.<\/p>\n
Silas approached me. I had to restrain myself from tackling him. \u201cHow could you let her speak for herself? Five years? There\u2019s no way. And we\u2019re not paying these crooks anything! This is a disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCalm down,\u201d said Silas, grabbing my elbow and leading me from the room. \u201cThis is neither the time nor the place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s exactly the time and place. They\u2019re taking away my wife at this very moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGive me a chance to explain,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t think she was going to speak for herself. But you know your wife, she does what she wants.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she tell you just now?\u201d I asked. \u201cShe was whispering to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silas got a pained expression. \u201cShe said she had a plan. She assured me that she has everything under control, and she\u2019ll be back with you in three days. She also said she has a little surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n
I threw my hands up. \u201cThat woman is going to drive me crazy!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d said Silas. \u201cShe does seem to have that effect on people.\u201d<\/p>\n
I seethed, but allowed myself to be led away. Once back on the ship, however, I refused to leave. Three days wasn\u2019t very long. I had no idea what Gracie was up to, but I wasn\u2019t about to wait five years. I managed to convince the Starport that our ship needed repairs. After three days, I would be forced leave Gracie behind.<\/p>\n
I should never have shown her that damn vid. I should never have brought her to this cursed planet. Now she might be stuck here forever, and it was entirely my fault.<\/p>\n
Four days had elapsed and still no word from Gracie or Silas. The authorities were demanding that I leave Autumn and I refused. I was now being given one last choice. Leave Autumn or face fines and imprisonment. There was no choice. I wasn\u2019t leaving my wife.<\/p>\n
I made no effort to resist as authorities boarded our ship and took me into custody. I told Carlos to take care of the ship and I prepared to go battle the authorities and fight to see my wife.<\/p>\n
Silas arrived at the police station to find me cuffed and in confinement. He didn\u2019t look the least bit surprised. \u201cReally, Corris?\u201d he said. \u201cDo you think this is what Gracie wants?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said three days. I waited. I had to do something. I\u2019m not going to leave her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t have to. She\u2019s just been released. The Caretakers have agreed to drop all charges. You\u2019re both free to go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked, disbelieving. \u201cIs this true? Where is she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s true,\u201d said Silas. \u201cI\u2019ll let her tell you. She\u2019s waiting at the Starport, and so is Carlos. She was almost on her way when you pulled this silly stunt of yours. If you had only waited a few hours longer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said three days,\u201d I grumbled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour wife said that,\u201d Silas said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. Let\u2019s get you of here before you do something else stupid. Between the two of you, I have no idea how I\u2019ve managed to remain sane. Just follow me and please, just keep quiet until you\u2019re away from Autumn. Then you can do whatever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d I said. I was too excited to argue. I was about to see Gracie again. I could hardly wait.<\/p>\n
I looked through the view screen and felt a surge of delight as Autumn shrank into the distance. Only minutes earlier, Gracie–still looking beautiful in her purple dress–had breezily entered the ship with no sign of the ordeal she had just endured. She gave me a quick peck. I began to bombard her with questions.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, luv, but I need to record a quick session in the ship\u2019s studio. You understand.\u201d She winked at me and strode quickly down the corridor. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I won\u2019t be long.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be in our cabin,\u201d I shouted after her.<\/p>\n
Two hours later, Gracie entered our cabin. She fell into my arms and gave me a prolonged hug. \u201cAm I glad to see you!\u201d she said, perching on her toes to kiss me.<\/p>\n
I refused. \u201cNot so fast,\u201d I said. \u201cFirst tell me what happened. How did you get free? What\u2019s going on? And would you please get out of that dress?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gracie laughed and I nearly gave up on all my demands. Thankfully she removed her dress. \u201cHold these would you?\u201d she handed me the necklace with the large purple stones.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did you get this?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
She raised her eyebrows. \u201cYou really don\u2019t know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKnow what? Come on, Gracie, what\u2019s going on? How did you get free?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really very simple. I decided to break Oora\u2019s promise and tell them everything she said.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought they didn\u2019t believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, after I told them what Oora said, they had no choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally? What did she say? What did you tell them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I promised never to repeat it to anyone,\u201d she said. \u201cThat was the condition of my release. But seeing that it\u2019s you, I guess I can say.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou guess?\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCalm down, Corris. I\u2019ll tell you. Oora told me everything. She told me that the Order of Caretakers was a corrupt organization, that they had lost the ability to communicate her with her years ago, and were only interested in the money that she brought in. She knew everything they had done. She talked about all the times the Caretakers had tried to steal branches from her, trying to reproduce her. She was an incredibly intelligent being, and she had little love for her so-called Caretakers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that doesn\u2019t explain why they set you free. Why not just label you as a liar and keep you on Autumn forever?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou forget,\u201d she said, \u201cmy music is very popular right now. I told them about a little song I was planning to write, a song that would reveal the truth about Oora, who she was and how the Caretakers had abused her and treated her like a commodity. She said that she\u2019d rather end her life than continue to live under the Caretaker\u2019s guardianship. That\u2019s all it took. As long as I don\u2019t write that song, they agreed to forgive me of all charges.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEven the money?\u201d I asked, incredulous.<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially the money. You see, Oora was extremely telepathic. While the Caretakers couldn\u2019t read her mind, she could read theirs, and the minds of anyone she focused on. She knew every ugly thing the Caretakers had done, and she shared it all with me. It\u2019s a vile corrupt organization, and she knew all of its machinations. She told me never to reveal any of it, until the last moment. The power of her mind is way beyond ours. She told me quite a bit about how you feel about me, how much you love me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do,\u201d I said. \u201cMore than ever. So, you basically blackmailed them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gracie shrugged. \u201cIt was Oora\u2019s idea. She orchestrated the entire event from beginning to end.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all?\u201d I asked. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing else you\u2019re not telling me?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWell, there is one thing,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s about that necklace you\u2019re holding.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis?\u201d I said, gazing at the strange dull stones. And suddenly I knew why she had run into the grove as it burned down. I knew why she had fled to the ship and asked for twenty minutes. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d she said, seeing my widening eyes. \u201cThey\u2019re seeds.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe it! This is what you took from the grove. This is what they were looking for, and they were in plain view the entire time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t take them,\u201d said Gracie, snatching the necklace back. \u201cOora gave them to me. That\u2019s not stealing. That\u2019s a gift.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her with astonishment and a growing respect.<\/p>\n
\u201cClose your mouth,\u201d said Gracie. \u201cI told you I had a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t doubt you for a second.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course you did,\u201d she said, smiling as she curled her body against mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine, I did. But I don\u2019t now. And you\u2019ll be happy to know, your song sales have sky-rocketed. We\u2019ve got enough gigs lined up to keep you busy for the rest of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCancel them all,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m taking a break from music. At least for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d I asked, not daring to believe.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Corris, really. I know you\u2019ve wanted this. Well, now it\u2019s time. Besides, we have to take care of these.\u201d She dangled the necklace.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you saying? I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cOora asked me to plant them,\u201d she said. \u201cShe even told me where.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll see,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve already told Carlos. We\u2019ll be there in a couple of days. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll love it. It\u2019s very private.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure I will,\u201d I said, and I scooped Gracie up and carried her giggling into our bed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I opened the door to the ship\u2019s studio and waved frantically for Gracie to stop playing the omniboard. She lifted her fingers and the beautiful music echoed into silence. Her glare scorched me. I wasn\u2019t supposed to interrupt her when she was composing, but this was too important. \u201cGracie,\u201d I said, leaning down to give …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2561,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,1449],"tags":[1450],"class_list":["post-51153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiction","category-tcl-19-spring-2016","tag-the-colored-lens-19-spring-2016","entry entry-center"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2561"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=51153"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51153\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139531,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51153\/revisions\/139531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=51153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=51153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thecoloredlens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=51153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}