Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Here on Tengula Five, a child with the Inner Sight is paired with an Eye-pet pup almost from birth,” Chancellor Maprist explained. “They grow up with the child and, because of the intimate connection the two of them form, they do not die until their person does.”
“How fascinating,” Abbey said, looking really interested. “And I noticed they can speak—do they direct you everywhere you go?”
“Yes, everywhere. I’ve had my little Chirrux since before I can remember walking or talking,” the Chancellor told her. “He and I are both now sixty-nine summers old and he will live as long as I do.”
“Do you ever allow outsiders to own one of these Eye-Pets?” Solon asked, thinking that it might be the perfect thing for Abbey.
But Chancellor Maprist shook his head.
“I’m so sorry,” he said regretfully. “But an Eye-pet must be paired with its person at a very young age. I don’t know if you would be able to form the necessary neural connection at your current age. Also, Eye-pets are reserved exclusively for Tengulans. The Empress herself would have to make an allowance for you to even try pairing with one.”
“That’s all right,” Abbey said lightly, though Solon could read the disappointment on her face and feel it coming through her hand on his arm. “I’ll probably apply for a new seeing eye dog once I get back to Earth.”
They climbed into the vehicle, Solon taking extra care so that Abbey didn’t bump her head, and got settled in its luxurious seats. He and Abbey sat in the rear and Chancellor Maprist sat across from them, in the front of the vehicle. When they were all settled, the Chancellor spoke in a firm voice.
“Autodriver, take us to the Palace—the East entrance please.”
The vehicle hummed to life.
“As you wish,” it said in a soft, musical voice. “Shall I take the regular route? There is some traffic congestion which may be avoided by taking an alternate way.”
“Take the alternate route then,” the Chancellor instructed.
“As you wish,” the vehicle said again. Its engine started with a quiet whirr and it moved forward and then slid smoothly into traffic.
Solon was a bit nervous about being driven through the streets of an alien city by a self-driving vehicle, but the autodriver was excellent at navigating through traffic. After a time he relaxed and simply described the views of the city which he saw outside the windows to Abbey.
One thing he noticed was that all the streets were laid out in the same grid pattern and all the shopping districts they passed seemed to be very similarly laid out in the same kind of spoke pattern. When he mentioned this to Chancellor Maprist, the older male nodded.
“Ah yes—uniformity is very important on a world with so many Inner Seers,” he explained. “We keep the layout of streets and stores and other public places the same.
“For instance, every food store has the exact same layout, though they may sell different foods. You know that if you walk into a store that sells food, you can walk to the right and immediately find the produce section. Then, if you take a left and move further into the store, you’ll find fresh meats. Beside that is the area where dry goods are stored and sold. And so forth and so on.”
“How interesting!” Abbey exclaimed. “It sounds so much less confusing than the way things are laid out on my home planet of Earth. But we don’t have nearly as many blind people, er, Inner Seers, as your planet,” she added.
“Yes, many centuries ago when nearly half our population began to lose their sight, we made changes so that they would still be able to get around and function as part of our society,” the Chancellor told her. “And we learned that as they lost their Outward sight, they gained an Inner Wisdom—a discernment and perception that those with Outward sight lack.”
“Do the Inner Seers of your world enjoy a special place in your society then?” Solon asked.
“Oh yes.” Chancellor Maprist bobbed his bald head agreeably. “For instance, all of the judges in our judicial system are Inner Seers. They are not swayed by outer appearances and so can make a more equitable judgment. Also, many of our professional entertainers—our musicians and voice actors—are Inner Seers. And of course our Perfumers, which are so very important to our society, are all Inner Seers as well. Their sense of smell is much more acute than that of an Outward Seer.”
“Why are Perfumers so important?” Solon asked. “Is it because your people often identify each other through scent?”
“Through scent and through our Eye-Pets.” The Chancellor nodded again. “When each Inward Seer becomes an adult in our society, they go to the Perfumer who will make a personal scent just for them. This scent is one of a kind and may only be sold to and used by that one person. It identifies them in the way an Outward Seer’s visual appearance does for those who can see it.”