The ranch, for the most part, was a large unpainted barn. Its doors stood open. There were, to the left and right of it, smaller buildings to house the hands and to accommodate cooking and bathing. Behind the ranch could be found the preparatory. It was the office and slaughter where the information node was housed. Its back door opened onto the lift that led down to our GUF. Blood and unused parts were transported through the long tunnel below. The preparatory was a white synthetic building that seemed out of place among so many wooden constructs. Yet, It served the needs of moleculars throughout the entire fleet. It was a large low building near the coops and in our up-cycles could house as many as seventy workers.

I had stopped before the open ranch building. I could hear the bulls and stallions stalled within. I was surprised to see the entire shift of forty workers lined up and standing at military attention on each side of the path. There were twenty on the right and twenty on the left. Ava stood at proud attention in the open doorway. All of them were dressed in clean linen trousers and short-sleeved work shirts. I recall being puzzled for such formality just was not the Kee way. What was I to make of it? Before I could form a clear thought on the matter, Ava marched down between the two rows of Kee workers to stop smartly just two steps before me.

Her small face was lovely with the happiness she felt. It could not be missed and just as I was forming a response to her joy, her eyes focused on my pendant. It seemed that my return to the Kee had developed an unforeseen hiccup. Ava's face went slack at the sight of my pendant. She uttered two brisk guttural noises then turned to the workers with clicks and instructions in her original tongue. When she turned back to me, she spread her arms wide. The workers spread their arms and, together, they sank to their knees. I was dumbfounded. All I could do was watch as they closed their eyes and, with faces upturned, chanted quietly.

Father's voice came to my mind, saying, “Ava has formed a small cult among her immediates.”

“A cult,” I asked, perplexed?

“Of course, you remember saving the children,” he said.

I returned, “I really didn't do that much.”

“It's that thing with the outstretched arms,” he said.

I suddenly made the connection. “Hold on,” I said. “Did you make the pendant a cross on purpose?”

“Yes, I did,” answered father.

“But . . . why,” my thoughts stammered back? “Do you want them to do this?”

“I think it will help you,” was his calm reply.

I was put off by the whole affair and I complained, “Well, I find this highly disturbing. It makes me feel uncomfortable.”

“Run with it, son,” he said and, on that, I felt the link close.

I was left to stare, open-mouthed, as the Kee knelt and raised their arms to me. I didn't like it one bit. What I might do about it was another matter. Father had ended our communication with authority. He had ordered me to – run with it. Now, most of us had, as I understood it, experienced worlds where the people worshiped gods. It had been a standard procedure on seeded worlds to initiate the concept among the primitive races. Why? I never troubled myself to ask. The only seeded world I had ever known was the one I was taken from. What did I know of that world? I was a child cowering in the arms of another child.

I cleared my throat for attention and Ava looked up. I motioned for her to stand. As she rose to her feet, she called for the ranch hands to do the same. That much was done but, admittedly, I was at a loss. My mind raced to find something appropriate to say. Ava waited patiently, a pleasant smile on her small face. I could not understand the concept of people worshiping people but I had to run with it. It was all beyond me. I felt the moment was uncomfortably long and that I needed to say something. No one moved. Even the animals seemed reverently hushed.

I managed, at last, to say, “Shall we proceed?”

So, the inspection went well. Ava was at my elbow the entire time. All the data was up to date. The feed mixtures were correct. Recycled waste was stored and used properly. Storage had been maximized and preparations for up-cycle culling were in place. I was satisfied. We stood by the breeding corral watching the hands lead a stallion out to the mares. It was warm under the lights. The animal noises lulled the senses. I felt my visit to the ranch was the first positive note in a positive rotation. I was about to compliment all of their hard work and I placed a hand on Ava's shoulder. She suddenly diverted her eyes. I could feel her shiver beneath my touch and I felt something was amiss. I withdrew my hand.

“Is this something more than worship,” I asked father?

“Possibly love or infatuation,” he answered.

Discomfited, I cleared my throat and said to Ava, “I am really proud of the work you've done. I will commend you to Thusa when I see him.”

She looked up with a smile. “Father father father,” she said.

Momentarily taken aback, I inquired, “Oh? Are you related to Odum?”

“Far family,” she replied with a nod.

“Well,” I said, “I'm off to see Thusa. Make sure the data gets sent. And again, thanks so much for your hard work.”

I turned to leave and she turned with me, took a step, and paused awkwardly. It was as if she had intended to walk with me but stopped herself. She grinned apologetically and I chose to nod rather than return her smile. There was enough misunderstanding as it was. Fortunately, I found relief in the sudden commotion from the breeding corral behind us. We turned in surprise to find the workers fleeing from the stallion. He had become testy, aggressive. I walked to the railing as the stud stamped the ground and challenged anyone who dared to venture too close. He charged my position at the railing and Ava jumped back in alarm. I was not as nimble. The stallion was upon me, snorting rage. I held my hand inside the railing and hoped for the best. I had experienced spooked horses before. A strong, calm demeanor sometimes calms them. He reared, danced away, then returned to sniff my out-held palm. He calmed, then, and to the amazement of Ava, allowed my hand upon his head.

As I walked through the trees to the encampment, I recalled how Ava gaped at me. I heard laughter in the back of my mind and was embarrassed by father's unaccustomed gibe, “I think you two make a sweet-looking couple.”

Walking through the encampment is no easy task. One may not choose a straight line. Every Kee came to me. The young were underfoot. The old hailed me from their seats. Of course, I had to make time for each of them. The young had questions. I did not always have an answer for them but I smiled and assured them there was, indeed, an answer somewhere. The old had tales, the old had memories to share. All of it cheered me. Jisse had no tales but news.

“Thusa bad,” she said.

I found Thusa bundled in his bedding and propped up on several pillows. One of his many daughters attended him. A fire burned in the central hearth to warm him. I was greeted gravely by his daughter. Obviously, she was concerned. So was I. I seated myself on the edge of his bed and took his hand in mine. He slowly opened his eyes and mustered a weary smile.

“Old friend,” I asked, “what has you down?”

“Sais,” he whispered. “I walk the road home.”

I couldn't believe my ears. Father was dying and now Thusa, too? I couldn't bear the thought. “Don't say that,” I countered defensively. “I will get you all the help you need. You'll be better in no time.”

“I am not dying now,” he said with a rye hoary grin. “Maybe soon.”

I was relieved to hear it but I was still worried for my friend. I said, “Even so, I will summon a med-tech.”

“No,” he replied. “We have healers. I just need rest.”

Thinking to cheer him, I said, “Father has allowed me to take our case to the court of inquiry. I have his support.”

“Good. Good,” said Thusa. “Many abuses to be redressed. How soon?”

“Soon,” I answered, giving his hand a squeeze. “I have friends looking into my next move.”

Thusa smiled and closed his eyes. He seemed so frail and tired. I truly hoped that Thusa might live long enough to see the Kee issue resolved – to see his people on an equal footing with the other races of the fleet. I wanted – but my desire choked up – I could not even express it, I just wanted. I sat and watched my friend's old face as he slept. When his daughter asked that I leave, I was startled. She was right. He needed to rest. I looked around his bed at the many potion bottles and plates of half-eaten food. I smelled the herbal candles spent and sputtering. I noticed the gifts of flowers set about the room. I trusted him to the care of his own with a pensive sigh and departed.