6. A Woman's First Day in a Convent

Location: Gastromycen homeworld

Aliens: Gastromycen

Mara’s footsteps echoed about in the empty halls of the temple. “I don’t know about this,” she said to Gail, who rested on her shoulder, its head hanging low. It looked up at her with its eyestalks. “Oh, cheer up,” she said. Mara knew Gail was pouting, having not received a meal during Mara’s fast. The hunger gnawed at her nerves as well, she knew, but she tried to put on a brave face. Mara felt Gail’s attention turn to look behind them.

“Mara Weelum?” a Mother said, nearly startling her out of her skin. The Mother's face was obscured with a veil, black with black embroidery that revealed its pattern in the light that seeped in through the temple’s open walls. Mara marveled at the Mother’s symbiote, which draped around either side of her neck, fat and dozing contently. Mara had heard the rumors kids tell each other while they do their chores. That Mothers were so in tune with their symbiote that they no longer used their own senses, relying entirely on those of their partners. Mara wondered if the Mother could “see” her through her slug’s eyes. “I’ve asked you a question, girl,” the Mother said, her voice a creaky growl.

“Yes!” Mara shouted, her voice rippling out through the room. “Erm. Yes, Mother. My name is Mara Weelum,” she said sheepishly. Without a word, the Mother walked closer. Mara tensed, unsure of what would happen. But the Mother kept walking, the long sleeves and hem of her gown trailing along on the ground. The Mother stopped only once, barely turning her head to look back. Mara jolted and hurried to catch up to her.

They walked together in an uneasy silence, entering a large room with a single, incredibly long table. Two others roughly her age were seated near the middle. Across from them were other Mothers, one pink and one orange. “Please sit,” the Pink Mother said, gesturing to a chair beside the others. Mara felt slightly more at ease, the Pink Mother’s tone was soft and caring. “I am Mother Nura,” she said. She gestured to the Mother in black, who was coming around the table to join her sisters as she said, “this is Mother Harm.” She then introduced the Mother in orange as Mother Preena.

“I’m Mara,” Mara said, and the other two shot her a look. She looked back at them confused. Their symbiotes seemed agitated as well, curling up to gaze at her.

“Not for long,” Mother Harm said.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-” Mara began.

“You are not familiar with our ways,” Mother Preena piped up, her voice sounding as if she had just woken from a nap. “There is nothing to apologize for.” This didn’t make Mara feel much better. She instinctively brought a hand up to her shoulder and Gail crawled onto it, wrapping around her fingers.

“You are about to break your fast,” Mother Nura said. Her symbiote, a bright yellow slug, perked up. As she said this, doors opened at the far end of the room and three Novices came, each with a plate. They each wore white, a single band of gauzy linen over their eyes. “We invite you to be aware as you eat,” Nura said sweetly, “that every bite you take nourishes your own body and that of your symbiote. And in turn, feel how the symbiote thanks you.” Mara found it hard to concentrate on the Mother’s words as the plate was sat in front of her. She thought this had been the longest she had ever gone without a meal. On their plates were bread, vegetables, and a single Lar mushroom. Mara had learned in school that the Lar mushroom was what began her people’s relationship with the slugs of their world.

“Eat. We haven’t got all day,” Mother Harm said, looking away. Mara didn’t have to be told twice. She devoured the food, but she did try to be mindful, like Mother Nura had said. It was fascinating, she found. Since food was always so abundant, going without let her feel with clarity how her body reacted, how Gail’s reacted in kind. The best was when she ate the Lar mushroom, taking a large bite out of its iridescent green cap. Gail practically purred, inching its way up Mara’s arm to return to its roost. A glistening bead of a dew-like substance formed on Gail’s head.

“Now,” Mother Preena said. “Take your symbiote’s offering,” she said. Mara looked to the others, who gingerly removed the spheres of liquid from their slugs. Mara did the same. She watched as the dew settled into the grooves of her finger and was soaked into her skin. A small rush of happiness overwhelmed her and she almost burst out laughing. “This gift,” Mother Preena said with an apparent smile, “is what you will share with the stars.”

“It will not be easy,” Mother Nura said. “Over the coming months and years, you will learn about Squamus and Jorn, the first symbiote and Gastromycen pair. Their teachings will fortify your body and soul. You will learn to heal the sick and nurture the wounded, wherever they are placed in your path. You will shed your old lives, your relationships, even your name. Your symbiote and your siblings within the Squamus Order will be all you have.”

“If we’re finished here,” Mother Harm said, beginning to stand.

“Harm,” Mother Nura said sharply. Mara was taken aback, sure up until that moment that Nura didn’t have an ounce of ill will in her body. “You may freely ask us questions now. During your training, you will likely not see the three of us in this manner. Our time is spent with the novitiates, priests, and priestesses, preparing them for their pilgrimage. But we always begin with the highest of our order sitting down with the lowest.”

“Don’t your robes get dirty?” Mara asked, still nibbling on the stalk of the Lar mushroom, wishing she had more.

“Oh, yes,” Mother Preena answered. “But that is their function. We are shielded from the world’s influence, relying on our symbiotes to guide us. But we are not above the ground we walk along. Like the slugs, we clear our path. It is our humility to collect the dirt and wash it from our clothing.” Mara liked the symbolism, but dreaded having to do that much laundry. She figured there was a good chance she’d never make it to ground-sweeping sleeves, however.

“Those that we heal,” one of the others said, staring into his plate. “We only heal the good ones, right? We don’t have to heal any Hegemony scum?” He was angry. Mara could feel the rage rolling off of him. “I read about what they’ve been doing,” he said quietly. His slug pulled itself up and laid against his neck, trying to comfort him.

Mother Nura began to speak but Mother Harm cut her off. “It is not our place to choose,” she barked. “We are healers, menders of bone and flesh. You do not get to judge the bodies that need your help.” Harm was standing now, and although she was surely old and frail beneath her many layers, she seemed to loom over them all. Her shadow stretched and lay over the boy. “If you are unable to put your opinions aside, you will not have a place in the temple Squamos and Jorn have built.”

The boy stood, pushing his chair back. “I can’t just let them keep doing these things. Let alone help heal their sick. I’d rather watch them die.” He was shouting back at Mother Harm.

“Then I suggest you run off and join the Confederation,” Mother Harm said with a scoff. “Die with a beam rifle held to your chest. When you take what might be your last breaths on the hot sand, Hegemony bodies at your feet, you will feel no more whole than you do now.” Mara wanted to crawl beneath the table. One of those childish rumors came to mind. Supposedly, the deprivation of their senses allowed Mothers and those like them to see the future and the past as plain as looking out a window. Mara wondered if Harm had seen this boy’s death.

“You may leave,” Mother Nura said softly. So softly everyone had to strain to hear. “We invite you to stay. Forgive Mother Harm her rudeness,” she said and placed a sleeved hand on Harm’s arm, urging her to sit back down. “However, she is right in her conviction. We hope to teach you acceptance and the way of caring for others without expecting anything in return.”

“Can any of us go home?” the final young one asked. She picked at the edges of her fingers, her slug looking about at everyone defensively.

“Of course,” Mother Preena said. She stood and the others followed suit. “We would like you to stay at least this night with us, to let us show you our gratitude for your journey. You can meet the novitiates and get familiar with the temple. If by morning you still want to go, we will arrange for you to get home safely. "

Mara tailed behind the Mothers as they left the room. The other two seemed to be considering what to do. But Mara had made it this far. She wasn’t going home just yet.