| | FICTION: JUVENILEWORKS |
BAROON — Part 3 BY J. ROBINSON WHEELER | Introduction | Part 4 |
And so, by the 3rd anniversaryof the landing, the world population had diffused itself evenly, and everyonewas working together to understand what had taken place, and they seemedto be getting along just swell with each other. "Things couldn't bebetter," many said. Needless to say, they wereall dumped on their respective ends when the Dialans stopped by for a returnvisit, and with enough luggage to make it clear that they intended to stayfor a while. Their visit was cut extremely short, however, when they realizedthat the Baroonians could barely communicate between each other, let alonewith people whose language formed on an entirely different basis. A week and a day later, giveor take a few hours, the Dialans returned to their home on the moon. Theytook a few souvenirs, of course. Using some of the most exagerrated signlanguage seen at any point in history, they managed to acquire a large numberof books, ranging from children's readers to much more complex works, totake with them. The Baroonians, for once,caught on to the obvious motives for doing this, but the Dialans only hadone example of writing to offer in return. One had brought along a novelwith him to read, but in the interests of diplomacy it was left behind inthe hands of a leading language and cipher expert, who promptly disappearedin order to work on translating it in private. After five years of intensivesweat and study for very long hours each day, and much to his own personalsatisfaction, he produced a perfect translation of the book. Rushing outof seclusion to show off his achievement in translation and fluent understandingof Dialan language, he was mortified to find out that they had returnedto Baroon 4 years and 9 months earlier and started an extensive languageeducation system since then, so that everyone knew how to read it anyway.His lifetime's achievement was reduced to a small mention in the "oddities"section of a local (now bilingual) paper. Meanwhile, those 4 yearsand 9 months earlier, the Dialans announced their arrival in spectacularfashion by broadcasting a radiowave message down to the planet from orbit,in the local language, if not the local accent. Unfor- tunately, thoughradio technology was there, it was not one of the areas of science significantlybroadened by the first visit, and only 2 people owned radios within listeningrange. Luckily, one of them did happen to be the editor of the largest newspaperchain on the eastern hemisphere, and he gave the Dialan visitors a hugefront-page write up and welcome. When they landed two days later, therewas a large reception — say, 1/4 of the world population there togreet them. All in one 2-mile area. There were 4 visitors and 3 translators— language experts who had done their best to learn the language insuch a short time. By word of the newspaper,everyone had memorized the names of this famed landing party, and then eatenthe paper it was printed on. They were, in no particular order, Laupo, Ohnja,Groni, Blanto, Gregeo, Ezro, and Mintz. These names were quite unusual soundingand not easy to convert to the Baroonian alphabet. Many of those gatheredto see them arrive carried makeshift signs which read "we love youlaupo" and "wow but you're neat, ohnja". Before being ushered offto stay at a discreet hotel somewhere, (though all of the hotels in theworld, except a few built in the last three years, of course, were all locatedon the same major landmass) Ezro walked up to a particularly noisy female,clutching tightly to her boyfriend's arm, and said something to the effectof "This guy boring you? I'm from another planetoid!" before cartingher into the transport car.
Needless to say, no one wasvery surprised about this. A bit later, she was returnedto her family and friends, being the talk of the world yet all steadfastlyclaiming that all she had done was take part in an important biologicaland cultural study between the two races. There was an eerie smile thatlingered on her face for a bit longer than anyone could ignore. Laupo and Blanto went onfrequent visits to local cultural centers, grocery stores, and, occasionally,a science lab or two. Ohnja and Gregeo mainly kept to themselves, but all7 were constantly asked to relieve themselves for the sake of technologicalprogress. Another medical science was in the works — urology. Meanwhile,in the midst of their frollicking activities and enjoyment of the planetthey had been staring up at for years, their serious side showed through,candid photos of the group writing reports, making studies and drawings,and dictating notes found their way to the major periodicals, and the waveof popularity they were riding continued to rise. They needed frequent restat first, as the gravity was harsher than that to which they were accustomed.Gradually, they built up their endurance, and Groni, the most athletic ofthe group, took part in some local sporting events. Unfortunately, they did haveto remember that they were only the first landing party of many, and thatthey would have to leave. They were not to stay forever. With great sadnessthey reported to the newspapers that they were due to leave within a month,but not before choosing 5 lucky Baroonian citizens to come with them.
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