CROSS-CULTURAL EFFECTS / CH. 6:REDEMPTION
KARELLA'S OFFICE, ATLANTIS, 11AM, THURSDAY 20TH DECEMBER
“Hello, your Excellency, Yelena, Anastasia.” Karella greeted them, “thank you for coming. Do have a seat.”
“Your majesty,” Mikhail greeted her, “I do admit some confusion about why you've invited us all.”
“Oh, that's easy. I want to talk to your guests and didn't want you worried.”
“Thank you, your majesty,”
“From the transcript of your trials, ladies, it seems to me that your friend Yuri might be the sort of person who'd be concerned about you, especially when he hears that four people were charged in connection with the flag. Does that sound likely?”
“Sorry, your majesty,” Anastasia said, shaking her head, “You're worried that the leader of a group of anarchists who tried to start a civil war among your people might loose some sleep because two of them aren't accounted for? I don't understand.”
“I'm thinking that a man Yelena described as like her big brother might be worried for her, and I'm wondering if our ambassador walking up to your front door with a small Christmas gift for his children and reassurances of your continued good health might be appropriate or whether he might take that as a very threatening act.”
“Don't think I'm going to tell you that information,” Yelena said.
“You don't need to. At the moment Yuri is in a meeting in this office here,” Karella said, turning the screen so Yelena could see the map she was looking at. “His youngest boy is practising for a school play in the building next door. The adults in the room are trying very hard not to laugh at some of the mistakes that are being made, and Natasha is among them. She's just starting to guess she's pregnant again, and I'd strongly recommend it be her last pregnancy. I have the gift of knowing things, Yelena. What's harder to do is judge how people I don't know will react.”
“You could just be saying those things.”
“Why would I bother? Last night, Yuri and Natasha were in another building, which I won't show Mikhail. Thank you, Mikhail, well, since he's turned away it was there, their room was in this corner. We've zoomed out again so you can look back, Mikhail. In the L-shaped next door room there were two little boys. In the room beside that, the one with the big fireplace, was another boy. I'll leave it vague about other children, but I could of course give you their names. However, I'm not sure Mikhail knows them or their number or should know them. Your parents live not very far away, I can show your which room of the building they were in if you want me to, Yelena. I also know where your mother is right now and I'm fairly certain Mikhail shouldn't know that either though I'm sure you can guess.” Yelena nodded weakly. Her mother would be directing the school play.
“So,” Karella continued, “I can do that sort of thing, I reach out and the knowledge is there. I can direct my ambassador to intercept Yuri and Natasha in the street, or anywhere else for that matter, and give them a message. But I don't want to terrify, I want to reassure. From your reaction, I think terror is the more likely reaction.”
“From Natasha, certainly,” Anastasia agreed.
“Yuri will worry also. His children are precious to him,” Yelena said.
“Whose are not?” Karella asked. “So, option two, do nothing. Option three, after she's finished what she's doing at the moment, you call your mother, and tell her you've become a Christian, run into your old friend Mikhail here and you and a friend are staying with him at the moment.”
“I have taken a vow not to contact anyone.”
“Nor to leave the Embassy. Well done for adding that exception. You are not seeking to send a message, I am. By the way, Yelena, Mikhail probably does not want you to leave Atlantis, even for a day, because then he'd not see you for another three years. Blame idiotic soldiers on Mars for that one.”
“I hadn't thought of that,” Mikhail said, “Thank you, Karella.”
“I don't understand any of this.” Yelena said.
“Which bits?” Karella asked, “My concern for Mikhail's loneliness, my concern for those who care for you, or my concern for a new sister in Christ? Number two comes from points one and three. I don't need to look into the future or invade Mikhail's thought processes to see he's got plans to get to know you much much better, my dear. I don't see you objecting too much either. Anastasia, if it gets too much, feel free to ask for alternative accommodation. The council will be talking to you soon anyway. I presume you're not covered by the travel ban, are you?”
“You mean leaving the embassy?” Anastasia asked.
“No, I mean the one that says no Russian military officers come to Atlantis.” Karella answered.
“Oh. Why would that affect me?”
“Because it does. You're a senior lieutenant, if I remember right,” Yelena said.
“That's just some rubbish in a database, isn't it? Though I think I got a promotion to captain a few months back.”
“That's the great thing about Yuri's organisation. Flexible promotion opportunities. I bet it happened soon after you told him about grassing up someone significant.”
“You mean...”
“Believe me, Anastasia,” Karella said, “if your Tsar thinks its a real rank, it's as real a rank as it gets. Sadly it means you're stuck here for three years or you don't come back if you go.”
“You've got a beautiful city, your majesty. And I believe the rather impressive captain of the embassy guard might be a Christian, am I right, Mr Ambassador?”
“You are right,” Mikhail said, “and yes, he's single and yes he's feeling stuck here.”
“Oh, well, what a choice. Boredom or cultivating the company of a military gentleman with a distinguished career. If I'm a legitimate officer...”
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“I did take the liberty of finding Yuri's formal rank.” Karella said.
“It's quite high isn't it?” Yelena said, silently begging Karella not to reveal it.
“Yes. I think we can be assured that your Tsar knows his name and what he's been doing.”
“Subverting subversive elements,” Yelena said with sudden insight, “tapping destructive forces and channelling them towards productive ends. Which is what made this operation such a disaster in every respect.”
“Oh, I don't know.” Karella said, “You were put into a position where you were pushed past your personal resources and learned to understand your need for God. Yuri and his wife will be quite pleased, I'm sure.”
“His wife? They're married?” Yelena asked.
“Oh, yes. Now, Yelena, you've got a phone call to make.”
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A SCHOOL IN ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, THURSDAY 20TH DECEMBER
“Hello, Mother. Her Majesty Karella Farspeaker, Empress of the Deeps and Shallows, Queen of all Mer, sends you greetings from Atlantis. She wanted me to let you know I'm all right, and I became a Christian, and do you remember Mikhail Aleksandrovich from school? He's the ambassador here and is firmly intending to do a better job of wooing me than he did at school.”
“Yelena, where are you really? I hardly know when you're being serious.”
“I'm standing in Queen Karella's office in Atlantis, mother, and his Excellency Mikhail Aleksandrovich is just hovering beside me, probably wondering if he should say something formal, crack a joke, or whether he'd get slapped if he tries kissing me.”
“You sound happy dear.”
“Of course I'm happy, mum, I'm a Christian, my friend Anastasia who's normally called Antonina's a Christian, and Mikhail's been a Christian since university. But I'm not sure when I'm coming home though. If I leave then I can't come back to see Mikhail for almost three years, because of what that soldier tried on Mars. You do remember Mikhail, don't you mother?”
“The spotty lad you couldn't stand?”
“The one who wrote me that poem I had framed, yes, mother.”
“I thought you couldn't stand him.”
“So did I, back then. But why did I frame his poem and memorise it then?”
“I never could work that out.”
“Because I liked his mind, mother, but was too vain to admit I could be attracted to someone with so many spots. He's not spotty now though, so we're working out if there's more than old memories and wistful thinking between us.”
“Your friend Natasha is here.”
“Can you put her on?”
After some fumbling at the other end, Yelena heard Natasha's voice. “Yelena?”
“Natasha, can my mother hear?”
“Not now.”
“It all went wrong. Sven pushed ahead with his mad scheme and was executed as an instigator of civil war. The late additions are being deported, I'm not allowed to say where to. But the court was merciful on Antonina and me, and it's turned to good. We are now Christians and are guests of my school-time suitor Mikhail Aleksandrovich, who is much improved without acne. Technically it's house arrest. Her Majesty has asked me to make this call, so no one would worry, but otherwise we're incommunicado.”
“You are treated well?”
“Very well. Misha might even manage to refrain from proposing until the new year if I don't tease him or flutter my eyelids at him too much. I only say that because it used to be almost a weekly event.”
“Eyelid-fluttering or him proposing?” Natasha asked, bemused at the change of topic as well as the thought of Yelena fluttering her eyelids at anyone.
“Oh, the latter. I don't think I ever fluttered my eyelids at you did I?”
“No, Lena, you were studiously trying to resist my charms, not encourage them.”
On the spur of the moment, Yelena added “Natasha, know this, also. I am convinced I have fallen among good people. If the Mer ever surprise you, then assume their motivation is good.”
“Thank you for saying that, Yelena,” Karella said, “And please pass on this message from me, as one mother to another.”
Yelena translated that, and Karella said “By my gift, I have seen the name predestined for the unborn daughter you carry, Natasha.” Yelena happily translated that. Karella then continued “But I pray for you. For by my gift I have also just seen disturbing news: that you and she will need both prayers and medical help, and soon. You think of your blood pressure, but that is not the only problem. Take your husband with you to your doctor soon, in the next few days, but do not give in to despair, for I do see hope for both you and your little one. It should not be a choice of one life or the other.”
“Cancer?” Natasha asked, full of fear.
“No,” Karella replied, “It is not cancer. I can seek answers to yes and no questions like that, and I asked the Lord that one. I also just asked if it were a problem the surgeons here could help with. The answer was yes. I do not know if that is because it is a simple operation, or because although our facilities are behind yours in many ways, perhaps our techniques are better suited to this problem. So, I issue to you an invitation: if you feel you will receive better care here, you may come: you, accompanied by your husband and your children. I will alert our ambassador there, just in case.”
“Why? Why do you do this?”
“Because life is precious, because Yelena is my friend Mikhail's friend, and you are hers. But mostly because God led me to see your need, and he does not normally lead me to pry so deeply into another woman's secrets. Your husband's meeting is just finishing. Now would be a good time to call him, I think.”
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KARELLA AND CHRISTOPH'S HOME. THURSDAY 20TH DECEMBER, 2PM
[Zelda, I have a quick question for you.]
[Yes, Karella?]
[Your guillemot, any news on it?]
[You mean, the one we ordered yesterday morning? I don't think so.]
[I'm being far too optimistic to think it might be ready for a medical evacuation in a couple of hours, aren't I? Bother.]
[Has Boris even finished the designs?]
[Yes, I think so. If it is ready, would you be willing?]
[You need a guillemot?]
[A flying fish might work, an Albatross would probably be better though. I think a guillemot would save some time, and time might be of the essence.]
[What's the medical emergency?]
[Something going wrong with a pregnancy. Both in danger. It's entirely possible that they can do it in St Petersburg, but God showed me the woman needed help for some reason.]
[St Petersburg?]
[I know. Just the place to evacuate someone from. The sea's three quarters frozen across the whole gulf of Finland, Russia is still smarting from our warning, and we're offering to medically evacuate the wife of one of their top generals in the secret service.]
[But I'm only bringing the wife?]
[I've invited her husband and four boys too.]
[What does that do to the ban on Russian military?]
[Saving innocent lives takes priority.]
[OK, I'm not complaining.]
[But you'll probably be taking a friend of theirs, new Christian by the name of Yelena, who used to be an almost-anarchist. She's the one who didn't consent to the flag getting flown. She's actually a deep cover secret service agent, with a rank of colonel.]
[I count that as eight people on board.]
[I'm sure you'll survive, It's not a long journey, after all.]
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ST PETERSBURG HOSPITAL, 11AM, FRIDAY 21ST DECEMBER
“I am sorry, general, you were misinformed. There is no hope for the foetus. We can save your wife's life, though it is good you came quickly, another couple of weeks and it would not be so sure.”
“My wife was informed that there would be risks, but that both could survive.”
“It is not possible. Whoever told her this is just medically ignorant and should be struck off the medical lists. The foetus is implanted in the wrong place.”
“The person who told her this was Queen Karella of Atlantis, who did not know what was wrong exactly, but stated that God had assured her the child could survive.”
“Well that's another count against that myth then, if you ask me, sir. It is just not possible,” the doctor said. “We will of course operate quickly, and your wife will be home for the new year.”
“You will not operate,” Yuri said, holding Natasha's hand, as she smiled up at him. “We will accept her majesty's invitation to Atlantis. What you will do is supply all relevant medical records to the Atlantis Embassy within half an hour.”
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