33: No More Secrets

The next day after the midday communal meal, Eve, leaning heavily on Evan and accompanied by Veioray, Malvoreckt Lahan, Dr. Matos, Ben, Everant and two of the Malvoreckt's companions, leads them behind the waterfall into the cave.

With everyone inside, Eve says, "[Lights on]," and the cave comes to life. Lights along the cave walls and hanging from the ceiling come on as well as a computer work station and a large enclosed chamber. The cover to the chamber is clear glass, and there appear to be two individuals sleeping within the chamber.

Eve lets go of Evan and limps to the chamber, "[Her name was Vezdan. His was Uloni. They were life-mates. They look as if they are only sleeping. Yet they have been dead for over two millennia. Uloni made this chamber to keep their bodies perfectly preserved and to last an eternity.]"

Eve takes Veioray's hand, "[It is not just a legend. These two people are Mali. One of the two races you are descended from.]"

"Dad, Doc," Eve limping over to the work station, "I know your Malyon's not up to speed. But follow along as best you can."

Evan hesitates at the chamber, "[They are excessively hairy.]"

"[And you thought I was hairy," Eve smiling as she sits at the workstation. "[The problem I have been having is the language you speak now is a combination of two different languages. Their language, Mali and their language]," Eve calling up a picture to the view screen, "[Ond.]"

The image is of two tall slender, completely hairless humanoids. And even though both are completely naked, there is no way to tell which is male or female. They appear to be sexless, even though they're not.

"[Most of what I have been able to call up was initially accidental]," Eve explains, "[because even though I have discovered that both languages are stored here, and it responds to vocalizations. It only responds to pure Mali, which has not been spoken for at least two thousand years.]"

"[Which is male and which female?]" Malvoreckt Lahan asking what everyone present is wondering, except Eve.

"[Neither]," answers Eve, "[or rather both. What I have been able to determine from what I am able to read, what I have been able to translate so far and can infer is they are hermaphrodites. I have not been able to call up all medical data yet. Mastering Mali will be half the battle. There is an incredible amount of data to sort and study.]"

"[Then we have much work to do]," Veioray sitting next to Eve to study the computer panel. Evan leans over Eve curiously to watch and assist if possible. Dr. Matos takes a similar position behind Veioray.

"[Did the Mali manipulate their DNA as legend says?]" inquires the female companion.

"[Yes]," answers Eve, "[I was able to confirm that. I have yet to discover why they first began their DNA manipulations. I speculate it began as medical research to combat genetic defects, hereditary disorders, etc. Yet, I did learn it evolved into a quest for perfection.]"

"Perfect," Ben questioning, "They were trying to make themselves perfect?"

"[Ahda]," Eve confirms.

"Why," Evan curious.

"[I do not know yet]," Eve shrugging, "[But it was an obsession for a long time.]"

"Oh my," Dr. Matos with his eyebrows raised. His exclamation causing everyone to gather around to see what was accidentally pulled onto the view screen.

"[This confirms the Ond were hermaphrodites]," Eve's own eyebrows raised as she stares at the Ond reproductive system on the view screen. There are five different views: a front internal view, a cut in half internal side view, a rear internal view, and two external views with the flaps opened. One of the external views has the penis, which usually remains retracted except when being used for mating, protracted outside the body.

The discussion becomes very technical with a lot of medical jargon. Ben finds it difficult to understand medical jargon when it's being spoken in English. He's unable to follow along with it at all in Malyon. He explores the cave and looks over the preserved bodies more closely. But after about half an hour, decides to head back to the clearing where he gets bombarded with questions. Most of which he can't answers.

About an hour and a half later, Eve and Evan return. Eve's breasts have told her it's time to feed Ashton. She answers all the questions she's asked as best she can. The rest of the group doesn't return until it's nearly dusk. Eve is back on the sofa. Her foot propped back up on the coffee table with a pillow. She has strict orders from Evan to stay off it. The little walking she did earlier to share her anthropological find caused her ankle to swell and throb painfully. Eve didn't complain about the pain, but Evan knew anyway. Ashton sits on her lap with a full tummy gurgling happily. She smiles at Evan as he folds clean clothes on the dining table. He's still upset with her and she can feel it.

Veioray and Dr. Matos enter the dwelling all abuzz with talk about the Mali and Ond. About what features the Malyon inherited from the Mali and the Ond.

"Enjoying ourselves, I see," Eve smiling.

"Yes," Veioray confirms, "very much."

"I'm glad," Eve responds, "I certainly don't have the time to throw myself into it. Besides, more will be accomplished working together."

"Agreed," Dr. Matos smiling excitedly.

"I need to figure out how to download data from that old system into my PC," Eve anxious for the work, "Then I can study the data here."

"Good idea," Evan likes the idea of Eve not wandering off.

"[May we enter]," Malvoreckt Lahan from the doorway with the same two companions that went to the cave.

"[Yes, enter, please]," Eve welcoming them.

"[I will depart tomorrow morning]," Lahan informs them, "[I do not wish a possible search party coming here. I do not wish to disturb your quiet little community further. Yet my companions, life-mates Gird and Dinya, would like permission to stay.]"

The female, Gird, steps forward, "[This is a unique opportunity having Mali remains to study and data to study as well. The historical aspect alone makes it a great discovery. We wish to remain to assist with interpreting and translating to learn more about our own heritage.]"

Eve looks at Evan and he gives a little nod.

"[Permission granted]," Eve responds, "[We welcome you. Stay as long as you like. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.]"

"[Thank you]," the male, Dinya, pleased.

Gird and Dinya are a young couple by Malyon standards. They've only been bonded for not quite thirty years. But they look to be about the same age as Eve and Evan. Despite rapid growth and development through childhood, upon completion of puberty, Malyons age slower than humans. Rarely does a Malyon not make it to two hundred years and a small percentage make it to two hundred twenty-five. The current human life span is currently about one hundred thirty years with a small percentage making it to one hundred fifty. Eve is afraid Evan has shortened his life by bonding to her. But Evan prefers his life be short and happy rather than long and miserable.

"[I hope you will forgive us for all the trouble we caused]," Malvoreckt Lahan interrupting Eve's thoughts.

"[You were not the cause]," Eve sincere. "[There is nothing to forgive.]"

"[I hope I am welcome to visit in the future]," Malvoreckt Lahan asking.

"[Of course]," Eve smiling, "[Malvoreckt Lahan shall always be welcome here.]"

"[My first name is Andon]," the Malvoreckt tells Eve, "There is no need for a friend to be so formal with me.]"

"[We look forward to your return Andon]," Eve puts out her hand and Andon takes it.

"Veioray," Andon turning to him, "[I am truly sorry you will not be present by the time I return. You are a good man and do not deserve such a fate.]"

"[Thank you]," Veioray appreciative, "[Yet do not concern yourself with my fate. I am at peace with it. Besides, I am a blessed man, I get to spend the rest of my life devoted to a wonderful historic find.]"

Andon nods her understanding and exits the dwelling. Gird and Dinya exit behind her.

"Fascinating woman," Dr. Matos referring to Malvoreckt Lahan, Andon.

"She is a little young to be a Malvoreckt," Veioray notes, "But she has handled the responsibility well."

"How old is she?" Dr. Matos curious.

"I'm not sure how to say this number in your language," Veioray thinking, "but the digits are one, one, five."

"One hundred fifteen," Evan assist.

"No," Dr. Matos in disbelief, "I wouldn't think she was any older than myself."

"How old are you," Veioray ask.

"Fifty-two," Dr. Matos answers.

Veioray chuckles at how young Dr. Matos is; even though, by Malyon standards Veioray himself isn't near old age. He's just approaching middle age.

"How old are you," Dr. Matos curious.

"Eight, three," answers Veioray.

"Eighty-three," Dr. Matos looks at Eve and she nods confirmation.

"The Malyon life span is seventy to ninety-five years longer than the human life span," Eve explains.

Dr. Matos sits back to let the new information soak in. "How old are you," he asks Evan.

"Twenty-three," Evan smiles amused.

Dr. Matos is relieved by Evan's answer for some reason, "I have so much to learn."

"We all have much to learn," Veioray smiles. He pats Eve's head as he stands to leave, "We should work on your clinic while we still have daylight.

Dr. Matos nods and follows Veioray out of the dwelling. Evan sits next to Eve with his hands in his lap.

"[Angry with me still you are]," Eve actually getting mixed emotions from Evan and desiring clarification.

"[A little]," Evan confesses.

"[I apologize]," Eve not looking up at Evan, just down at Ashton, "[It was not fair of me to make you stand there and watch me fight Zezna.]"

"It's not just that," Evan shares, "Some of what I love most about you also frustrates me the most: your inquisitiveness, independence and tenaciousness are also the things that cause you to endanger yourself and keep secrets from me…It's the secrets that bother me most. For example, why is Fluffy starting to look like a scavenger?"

At the sound of her name, Fluffy pulls her head out from the ball of fur that is she to look at Evan from under the coffee table.

"She's a scavenger," Eve confesses.

Fluffy senses the tension and decides to go outside even though it means facing the children.

"[Where did you find her]," Evan asks taking a yawning Ashton from Eve's lap.

"She was on the other side of the river," Eve answers as Evan gets up and walks out with Ashton. Eve doesn't know what to think.

"Mr. Chan," Evan's face hard, "would you watch Ashton for me?"

"Of course," Mr. Chan taking Ashton, "Is something wrong?"

"I think I'm going to yell at my life-mate," Evan answers and turns back toward the dwelling.

"Got a lot of woman in that little package," Mr. Chan smiling.

"Over flowing," Evan responds walking back to the dwelling.

"I've never seen him so serious," comments Vor stunned.

"Just a little trouble in paradise," responds John amused.

Evan pauses and takes a deep breath before re-entering the dwelling. Then he shuts the door behind himself.

"[The cave is a wonderful anthropological as well as historic find]," Evan sitting on the coffee table next to Eve's foot, "[How did you find it?]"

Eve finds herself talking fast, "I was showering on the shelf. I noticed the shelf went across behind the waterfall. I was sure there was a cave, but I didn't go. Until I saw Fluffy on the other side. Then I went and I knew the cave was there. But I didn't start exploring it until after Ashton was born."

Evan takes Eve's face in his hands, "[I know you are capable of taking care of yourself. I saw Vor after your fight. And I know you held back during your fight with Zezna… I know you are not fearless. Yet your ability to ignore your fear frightens me as much as it fascinates me. It is also one of the things I admire about you. I know you do not need me to survive, yet I need you and Ashton needs you. There is more than your own life to be concerned for now.]"

"[I know]," Eve's face tear streaked, "[I shall be more careful.]"

"[No]," Evan shakes his head, "[you misunderstand. Do not change. Just no more secrets. Do not shut me out. I know you need time to yourself sometimes. It is not the problem. Yet give me an idea where you will be. In case something goes wrong, I will have an idea where to start looking for you.]"

"[I did not intend to keep secrets nor shut you out]," Eve sincere but not entirely honest.

Evan gives her a hard stare.

"[Maybe a little secret]," Eve admits, "[only because I know my wandering worries you and I do not wish you worry, not to shut you out.]"

"[That cave could have dropped off to the center of the planet]," Evan making a point, "[It could of collapsed on you.]"

"[I scanned for stability]," Eve's big brown eyes soft.

Evan puts his forehead to Eve's. He feels she missed the point he was trying to make.

"[No more secrets,]" Eve got his point, "[I intended to share the cave. I only wanted it to myself for a short time. I was only looking for a close by alone time space.]"

"[And Fluffy]," asks Evan.

"[Keeping a secret I was]," Eve confesses, "Sorry I am.]"

Evan kisses and hugs Eve relieved she has gotten his message.