SIBLING
By Leslie Waltham
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Thrilling Wonder Stories August 1953.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Andro, First Liaison Officer of the Third Planet, floated homewardwith his wife's "present" beside him. His boat, pulled by an underwatersunburst of luminous fish, befitted a man of importance, a man ofprestige and position. He glided past the milk-glass city where theold ones rocked and crooned before memory pools, where sticky huddlesof children listened to the lyre-flowers, and where the glances ofsilver-eyed men and women examined, and met—and held fast. He driftedto his home on the ledge of a mountain, where he was met by his wifewith her plain, good face. And she looked at the "present," who stoodbehind him, and shivered....
Mya, the Earth One, rose as her companion prepared to go. She glancedat the valley below. Fingers of twilight inquired into its sands forthe first, soft dying of day.
"It's simply too glorious, isn't it?" Her guest's voice clawed atirritation.
"I suppose so," she shrugged. The sleepy perfumes of the lagoon offeredher its feather boats—curling, amber-crusted reminders of lost autumnleaves at home. The mountain, ripped from a vortex of sky, was kindlingits transparent crags with an inner glow. Like cracked ice in a coolglass, she thought, and her fingertips reached for the forgotten chill.
Why did she hate it so? This washed, blue world that had mothered Maun,and perhaps others made of the same substance?
"Goodness, my dear! How can you look at that marvelous scenery and beso luke-warmish?"
"I don't know." Her face turned skyward. "It's up there I think. We'vebeen here six Earth-months and haven't had one glimpse of the sun." Thechurning clouds sucked upon themselves in answer.
"And you never will," her comrade chirped. "That's Venus for you. Butyou knew that, darling, when you came."
"Only the words. The words, I knew. But the feeling waits for yououtside the words."
The other woman laughed, plucking daintily for her wrap. "Youare in a fret today, Mya."
"Those clouds must go from here to the day after eternity. I sometimeswonder if the sun is still out there."
"Well really, dear girl! To hear you talk, a person would think thiswas a very trying place, instead of a perfectly exquisite planet. Inspite of a ten-day rotation period—"
"That too," sighed Mya. "That too. I remember when I was a little girland my nurse made me nap in the daytime. I thought she was alwaysthere, watching me from some place I didn't know about. I feel that wayduring the sleep periods here."
Somewhere a wind-clock breathed its warning of the time.
"Gracious!" the guest started. "I didn't realize how long I've beenhere."
"Yes."
"And your poor baby! I'd forgotten about Dikki! He must be ravenous."
"I'll feed him right away."
"How is the little angel?"
"Eats like a horse, sleeps like a rock."
"How healthy of him!" She fluttered again over her misplaced wrap."Which is more than I can say for you, pet. Has Andro been taking careof you?"
"Just marvelous care."
"Dear Andro."
Mya would not look at her. "Yes, dear Andro."
"Well, I must be toddling. Now where did I put my stole?"
As she