I, Klado: Recognized
A wounded Thackau Ru rushed to Lierne Er following Klado’s arrest. He came back as an advocate, but died in Klado’s arms instead. And we all know what happens when a Traveler dies.
If you haven’t had a chance to read If I Ruled the World, start here.
As if she knew we were coming, Livinea Toah, the Grand Traveler and Premier of Hermine Er, was waiting at the landing platform when we emerged. My head was still spinning when her lavender-robed entourage charged in and snatched Thackau Ru out of my feeble embrace. They arranged his body with utmost care on a floating transport, then whisked him away under the dark purple sky. Once they were gone, Livinea Toah fell to her knees. She wrapped her arms around me and drew me in as a mother to her child.
“I am so sorry, Klado.”
She told me she was sorry that the great Thackau Ru died in my arms. Had she been aware of his situation on Relat Er, she would not have summoned him to collect me. She mourned the extended time I spent laboring in Lierne City; it was not the best use of my abilities, she said. She felt remorse over my rejection on Gat Er. Me, a person of high moral standing and a hero in her eyes.
Right then and there, she offered to train me as a Traveler. I accepted.
The training took four years, each one a tedious 583 days’ journey around a dim star that barely warmed the planet’s surface. Most of that time went towards studying the history of each Er in the Theda galaxy. Many in my cohort thought it boring. I did not.
Hermine Er is the furthest from the center, making it the oldest and most advanced. Gifted with star system technologies, the planet’s inhabitants became advocates for justice. From the tip of the spiral to the black hole at its center, Seekers keep watch and Travelers rectify inequities. However, not every Er accepts their moral interference.
At first, Fex Er took in refugees, but too many of them developed PTSD, making them ineligible for subsequent relocation, and putting stress on their already burdened asylums.
Gujetta Er cooperated at first, but the economy suffered when thousands of citizens chose relocation. They could not keep bleeding all that talent, so they banned the Travelers to keep their citizens at home.
Relat Er’s caste system prohibited participation. Refugees were not welcome and no one could leave. While Travelers rescued many in secret, further attempts ceased with Thackau Ru’s death.
Indiola Er refused to take part. They believed their own methods for maintaining balance were best, even though their ghettos bulged with wasted talent.
Only Lierne Er, Excella Er, and Salek Er permit Travelers. I visited them many times while learning how to use the transponder.
I also found out what happened to Lierne Er. As Gat’s closest neighbor, Lierne was also a dense tropical forest and home to a transparent skinned people. Their treaty with Hermine changed all that, though. After providing extensive territory to house the galaxy’s displaced, the refugees, most from Relat, deforested the land to build Lierne City. With over two hundred years of steady expansion, the tea-green skies brightened until the thick atmosphere that had protected the indigenous was gone. Not one of them survived.
I asked Livinea Toah if the Travelers regretted their actions there. She said yes. That was why they refused to interfere with Gat, the youngest and most ancient of the Er.
Until me, of course. She said I was special.
I felt special on convocation day, as I sat at the podium waiting for my name to be called. It reminded me of the Emergent program graduation. We all lined up to receive our assignments, along with our volunteer recruits. My father gave me a compound at the edge of the fertile Alluvial valley close to a stream of fresh running water. It was an excellent piece of property, so I should not have been surprising to see how many people volunteered. Twenty-five young, strong, and virile men and women stood up to be included, even some who tormented me in my youth.
I looked over at my mother. She was beaming. Beside her, standing tall in his green and blue regalia, was my father. I will never forget the look on his face, for it was the only time I ever saw him smile.
I smiled too when, later that day, Livinea Toah approached me with a scroll. It was my very first Traveler assignment.
My heart pounded as I broke the seal, unrolled it, and read the words written only for me. A young girl from Gujetta Er, Mille Sarten, was facing a lifetime sentence of poverty. To avoid it, she needed to pass an academic exam, and they chose me to help her.
I sighed. It was such a simple task. Sure, Gujetta Er was a restricted planet with proud, arrogant pink-skinned people. It would be difficult to assimilate into their culture, but how hard could it be to coerce a child to pass a test?
Livinea Toah did not have to read my mind. My furrowed brow and pursed lips gave me away. “Don’t forget how easy it is to be fooled by first impressions.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. The courageous youth on Gat, the extraordinary Emergent women in my cohort, the forward-thinking City of Lierne, and the thoughtful and selfless Thackau Ru. How quick I was to jump to conclusions, to form premature judgements, even now, after learning so much.
I, Klado, placed my hand over my heart. “I will save her. I promise.”
Mille was Klado's first assignment! And they kept their promise! 😭 Thank you so much for this Klado story. I'm going to miss them!