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“Yes, but first could I stop by my aunt’s house on Earth?” Abbey asked. “I want to let her know where I’m going. But I’d also like to bring a bouquet of some of our best smelling roses with me,” she added thoughtfully. “I’m guessing if that many people in their society can’t see, other senses are going to be very important.”
“That’s an excellent thought,” Rarev said, sounding thoughtful. “By all means, please do bring some roses.”
“We can put them in a stasis chamber to preserve them until the right moment,” Solon said. “We can also bring some of the more fragrant blossoms from the Monstrum Mother Ship.”
“It sounds like the two of you are already thinking and working like a team,” Commander Rarev said approvingly. “Truly the Goddess was wise to put you together.”
“I thank her for leading me to Abbey every day,” Solon agreed. “We’ll get everything ready and leave as soon as we come back from visiting Abbey’s kin.”
“Excellent! And thank you for agreeing to undertake this mission during your Claiming Period,” Rarev said. “The Tengulans are a peaceful people and I’m sure they’ll welcome you warmly.”
He rose and so did Solon. There was a motion in Abbey’s field of vision and she realized the two Monstrum must be shaking hands.
“May the Goddess go with you on your mission and grant you success,” Rarev said.
“Thank you for entrusting Abbey and myself with this mission,” Solon responded.
There were a few more pleasantries but Abbey hardly heard them. Her heart was leaping with excitement when she considered the adventure she was about to embark on. A whole planet where everything was constructed with blind people in mind—what would it be like?
She couldn’t wait to find out.
26
SOLON
“Welcome to Tengula Five, I am Chancellor Maprist. We are so pleased to have you here.”
The Tengulan who had come to meet them was tall and slender. He was also male—at least, Solon thought he was. He had a bald head and his skin was a mottled greenish gray color. A long, dark green beard hung from his chin and his eyes were hidden behind golden glasses which flashed in the weak light of Tengula Five’s red giant sun.
The glasses which hid the Tengulan’s eyes appeared to have opaque blue lenses and Solon wondered if he was among the blind part of the population. He wore long gray-blue robes—the sleeves nearly covered his hands, which appeared to have seven fingers and two thumbs apiece.
“I am Commander Solon of the Monstrum Mother Ship and this is Abbey Lennox of Earth, my prospective bride. We are pleased to be here,” Solon replied. He kept an arm around Abbey, who was holding the two bouquets of flowers in their stasis tubes, but extended his other arm for a warrior’s clasp. “I would clasp arms with you if you wish, or perform any kind of greeting which is normal here on your planet,” he added.
“Ah, here on Tengula Five, we prefer to sniff each other. In this way, we may identify each other’s personal scents. Is that acceptable to you?” Chancellor Maprist asked.
“I don’t have a problem with it? Abbey?” Solon turned to her.
She shook her head.
“No—no problem at all.”
“Ah, good—then we are all agreeable.” Chancellor Maprist stepped towards them.
For the first time, Solon noticed a tiny creature was sitting on the older male’s shoulder. It was round and fluffy and gray—about the size of a tennis ball from Earth. It had short arms and legs and many wide eyes on stalks that rose from the top of its body as the Chancellor drew near to them. The many eyes were of various colors—green, blue, gray, purple—and they were all pointed at him and Abbey. It appeared to be whispering into the Tengulan’s ear, though what it was saying, Solon couldn’t tell.
“Yes, yes, Chirrux—I hear you, I hear you!” Maprist muttered and Solon could tell the words weren’t directed at them. He leaned forward and sniffed loudly at Solon’s neck. Then he drew back for a moment as though to consider. “Hmm…Most unusual! Not bad by any means, but quite unique. It would be easy to pick you out of a crowd, Commander Solon.”
Solon had also been inhaling as the other male sniffed through his long, thin nose. He thought that Chancellor Maprist smelled like dusty books stacked in a dry room which hadn’t been opened in years. It was not an especially pleasant smell, but neither was it unpleasant.
“Your scent is also acceptable to me,” he said, hoping it was the correct response.
“Thank you. And now I will sniff your bride—with her permission, of course?” The Tengulan made it into a question.
“Abbey?” Solon asked.
“Oh—of course.” Abbey nodded, her long brown hair swirling around her shoulders. She was wearing an attractive green dress which wrapped across her full breasts and brought out the color of her eyes. Solon thought proudly that she was utterly beautiful—and he knew her sweet, slightly floral scent to be devastatingly feminine too. Even if the Tengulan couldn’t see her, he was sure to find her attractive.
Chancellor Maprist leaned forward, his long, thin nose twitching in anticipation. But as he was inhaling rather noisily right by Abbey’s ear, the little fur ball of a creature which had been perched on his shoulder suddenly jumped across to hers.
