SImp

There was no way that I could match their skill, but maybe there was another way. I rapidly made my way closer to the trunk where there were fewer branches. Next, I plotted a safe passage and gathered up my strength. I coiled up like a spring and exploded upwards—my tremendous strength propelling me up against what felt like about point-seven-five Gee. Using some convenient vines, I extended my leap and cleared the branch that they were standing on, looking at me in awe, and continued up several major branches higher. They swarmed up, now no longer worried about my keeping up.

Shortly we came to what appeared to be almost a road in the middle of the tree. Branches had been forced to grow in such a manner that one could walk easily from one tree to another. Once we reached this level, we stayed on it. We made rapid time soon approaching a village in the trees. These people had made excellent use of their natural habitat and had made the trees provide them with living houses. Thin stone slabs lying across the branches provided them with a place to build fires. I saw a variety of small animals roasting above the flames. Some homes only had a bed of dirt in a hollowed out log for their cooking fires. The rich and the poor I guessed when I noticed the difference, also the homes with rock generally cooked with pottery or ceramic bowls while the poor used skins of leather and woven grass baskets in which they placed small hot stones that they had heated in the fire. They were a clean people with no signs of trash littering the village.

We were well into the village before I was noticed. A cry went up starting with one individual, but ending with the entire town echoing it, an eerie piercing sound not at all melodious like their language. We were surrounded in seconds by men, as large or larger than Giant, armed with spears and bone knives. I noticed several used Standard Marine issue knives, which explained how Beauty could speak some Imperium, these people had contact with the base. Judging from the reception that I was receiving it was not a very friendly contact.

The air was filled with the song that was their language, only now it seemed to have hostile overtones. I could tell that I was the center of the verbal battle in that I was continually being pointed to. Eventually, the discussion was settled by the simple expedient of Giant, Beauty and I being incarcerated, at spear point, in an abandoned hut. They had tied us up, by wrapping a small vine many times around our wrists. Beauty was obviously heartbroken when they took Youth away from her, and she snuggled onto Giants' chest seeking solace.

The night was long but not cold. As the sun peeked shyly through the trees more as reflected light that any direct beams. We were awakened by armed guards escorting several young and gorgeous women carrying small baskets of food. Our hands were released, and it was made plain to me that they would not need much of an excuse to test their knives and spears on my flesh. The food was crude but surprisingly tasty. A coarse grain had been steamed or boiled into a mash and seasoned with some sweet green minty tasting leaf.

We were ignored for the rest of the day. I could have escaped with ease, but pure raw curiosity kept me here. I used the time trying to make sense of their language. Eventually, with Imps help to interpret, I got to the point that I could understand what they said; I just could not make the sounds. On the other hand Beauty, (which was not her name, but after she found out what it meant insisted that I continue to call her that. Besides how do you write down the trill of a songbird which was her real name?) could understand Imperium; she just couldn't make the sounds either. So we each chattered away in our own language. This process took a few days to complete and was not as easy as it sounds, but we did eventually establish enough of the vocabulary that we could talk about a wide range of subjects. The entire time we were kept inside this hut, guards posted night and day.

I was glad that I had stayed as I found out that if I had left they would have been killed instantly. These people lived off the land, but they had also adapted nature to their use. Just, for example, the process by which waste was disposed of. A species of plant had developed a voracious appetite for bodily waste. Its roots filled a small cavity carved out of a log which one straddled when in use. The main plant was on the roof of the hut where it could find the light that it needed to grow. The leaves were highly prized because of their sweet taste and minty flavor. I believe that they must also be highly addicting given the way in which they were almost worshiped. The natives kept its size in check by harvesting the old leaves, which allowed light to reach the new growth, which encouraged the plant to consume more waste. The roots also exuded a strong minty scent which was much more pleasant an odor than what one would expect considering the plant's purpose. Giant and Beauty had no problem using this method, but I waited until I couldn't stand the hydraulic pressure anymore.

Another useful plant was one that used a bioluminescence flower to attract the flying insects that populated the dark world that existed at the ground level. Many plants had two levels of existence. Roots or some method of gathering nourishment, like the bioluminescent flowers (which were shaped like small vases in which trapped insects were ingested) and a leafy part that was up in the higher reaches where it could get the light that it needed. They used the luminous flowers on the inside of the home with the leaves on the outside, on the roof. This way the houses were illuminated all day and night and the insect population was kept in check.

Beauty had an inquiring mind; she probably would have been a great scientist if she had been born on a civilized planet. For hours at a time, we honestly and bluntly discussed a wide variety of subjects. Some of them you will just have to imagine. It should be sufficient to note that my ears burned for hours as well as ringing to Imp's laughter. Imp was having the time of his life. He was in "hog heaven" for a jokester like him, and I refuse to even attempt to repeat his comments.