Flidoring The Early Wars by Roger W. Hayes Page B

diameter that makes large webs in the rock walls around the lakes. They feed on the many insects that breed in the water and although they are intimidating to look at, they are quite harmless and make good pets.
    Finally able to breathe again, Lyemad whispered, “Someone pinch me, I must be dead. This is the most beautiful place in the galaxy.”
    “Thank you,” replied Peckenson, “for generations my people have lived in this cavern and hundreds similar to it. We take great pride in our history and culture. We like a simple way of living, which we try to immortalize in our surroundings,” speaking with an obvious swelling of emotion. “Come; follow me down to meet the council of elders.”
    The path leading down to the cavern floor had thousands of hand-carved steps in the rock. It was very narrow but relatively safe, because the Platonians recessed the entire path about three feet into the rock, forming a thin wall about waist high between the steps and the shear drop to the cavern floor. While everyone else was in awe at the magnificent sight, Huglam became increasingly agitated, because he had to jump up to see over the wall.
    “Is everyone in the galaxy a giant?” he said with an obvious disgust. “I would like to greet at least one other race of normal size.”
    With that, Tessslan, trying to prove his enlightenment by the Flidoring, wrapped his tail around Huglam and lifted him onto his back: “Allow me the honor of asssisssting you, my friend.”
    “Thank you—I think,” replied Huglam as the embarrassment he felt quickly changed to an appreciation for the beauty in his newfound view. “Remarkable! It is breath-taking.”
    “I am so glad that you like it,” said Peckenson. “I hope you find my people just as remarkable.”
    Once on the vibrant green grass of the cave floor, Peckenson guided the landing party to a large fire-ring surrounded by hand carved stone benches and he asked them to sit-down. Right beside them was a small lake with clear blue water that glistened as the Tamsek light reflected off some of the ripples made by fish. Lyemad was admiring the brightly colored fish when one of the large Lake Spiders startled him as it rubbed up against his leg looking for some affection. “Oh! Friendly creature isn’t he?” he said with a little quiver in his voice.
    “They are quite harmless I assure you,” said Peckenson with a little smile, “the children give them a lot of affection and they have come to expect it. They particularly like to have their bellies rubbed.”
    “I am sure they do,” Lyemad replied as he reluctantly reached under the spider’s large, round body.
    After Peckenson introduced the elders, servers brought trays full of fruits and vegetables to them and over the next few hours, they exchanged stories of their home worlds and cultures. Lyemad was thinking that this was a true paradise. He had never before felt so at peace with his surroundings. It was a paradox for him to ponder. On one side, there was the inhospitable rage going on outside the caves, and on the other, there was incredible beauty and peacefulness inside. He had even entertained the idea of staying for a while and learning more about the Platonian culture while the Volkran finished its mission to the other planets. Even Bellmus noticed that Lyemad’s demeanor was more genuine then his usual diplomatic front that he puts on to win the trust of others.
    “If I may,” Lyemad started as he stood up and held out his glass of fresh lake water, “I would like to offer a toast to our newfound friendship with the Platonians; may this be just the beginning of a long and meaningful alliance between our worlds.”
    Lyemad was thinking that this was as close to a perfect moment as he could imagine when—all of a sudden—Tessslan stood up and yelled out, “My fellow adventurersss and newfound friendsss, thisss isss truly a beautiful world and we have the beginningsss of a real peaccceful union between our