Olan Thorensen - Cast Under an Alien Sun

The opportunity to get Filtin alone came after being shown his crew’s latest distillation column, a multi-jointed one some eight feet tall with a maze of connecting piping. After the inspection and progress report, the other workers left for a mid-morning kava break, leaving Yozef and Filtin alone.

“Somehow, Yozef, I don’t believe the distillation equipment is what you needed to talk with me about.”

“No. It’s not about business. I need the advice of a friend.”

Filtin’s cheerful manner took on a more serious tone. “What is it, Yozef? How can I help?”

“It’s Bronwyn.”

“Ah. I’ve wondered how that’s going. You two aren’t starting to argue, are you?”

“No, no. Not that. I’m just worrying about what she expects of this and if I’m in trouble with Caedellium customs and laws in such matters. I’m wondering whether what we’ve been doing is taken to mean the intention for something long term.”

“Has she spoken of this?”

“No, not a word.”

“How long have you two been bedding? And how often?”

“Over a month, and four nights a sixday.”

Filtin grunted. “Four nights? I thought you seemed a little more tired some days than before, and everyone has talked about how you’re seldom around the shops.” Filtin thought for a moment, then asked bluntly, “What are your intentions? It sounds like you’re thinking about when it’ll end.”

“There’s nothing long term, as far as I’m concerned. I respect Bronwyn. She’s doing an admirable job running her farm, and she’s honest as could be. But our paths are just too different. It has to end sometime, although I don’t have any idea when. I’m also concerned about what if a child comes from this? If that happens, what commitment would that put on me?”

“The child part is easy,” said Filtin. “Everyone knows the two of you are bedding, so if a child comes, you’ll be acknowledged as the father by everyone and the law. What that means is that you’ll be expected to assist raising of the child. If you don’t marry her, which I hear you’d not want to do, then she’d raise the child, and you’d provide support both for the child and her lost time in working the farm. The provision could be in coin, providing a worker for the farm, or some other arrangement that either the two of you’d agree on or would be determined by a magistrate, if you couldn’t agree. From knowing you and from what I know of Bronwyn, I wouldn’t anticipate it going to the magistrate.”

“So there’d be no requirement for me to marry her?”

“Why would there be? She’s a grown woman. A widow who owns her own farm. You’re a grown man with businesses of your own. What the two of you do in bed is your own concern, as long as any child is cared for.” After a moment, Filtin added, “Something you might consider is that it might not entirely be your overwhelming charm and sexual appeal she’s interested in. A child might have been part of her intention.”

Yozef stirred, startled. He’d considered the possibility of a child, but not that it might be Bronwyn’s deliberate plan.

“Why hasn’t she said anything? I just said a moment ago how honest she is, but if she’s planned this from the beginning, that’s deceitful.”

Filtin shook his head. “Not necessarily. She knows you’re not from Caedellium, but she might assume you understand the customs better than you do. I take it she was forthright inviting you to her bed.”

Yozef nodded.

“I suggest you simply ask her. Remember, she’s unmarried, and the farm has been in her family for generations. If she doesn’t have children, there’ll be no one to pass it on to and no one to care for her in her old age. Then there’s the need most women have for children.”

“If she has such a need, why not find another husband? I would expect she’s a prime candidate for marriage.”

“She would be, if there were more unmarried men.”

Then it came back to Yozef, what Cadwulf told him after the trial of the Camrin man for abusing his family, and the poor prospects for the wife to remarry once the court dissolved the marriage.

Yozef ran a hand through his hair, as he considered his situation.

“I’m not sure how I think about any of this. Back home, before I came to Caedellium, my wife was with child. I lost both of them, and now there’s the possibility of a child here that I wouldn’t raise.”

Okay, so Julie and I weren’t married yet, but we were going to be, and there was the child I don’t even know if exists.

Filtin’s expression was sympathetic. “I’m sorry about your family, Yozef. You’ve never said anything about them, and I guess I’d assumed you weren’t married.”

“It’s just that I’ve been adjusting to the reality of never seeing them, and now there could be a child here.”

“Maybe it would be God’s gift to you to replace the child you lost. It’s up to you to decide what you want to do, Yozef, just as it is Bronwyn’s decision to do whatever she wants. Again, I’d advise talking to her about all this. Openness is always best.”

The suggested conversation took place the next evening when Yozef made his sixday trip to the farm. A stew was simmering, according to Bronwyn needing another half hour to finish. He thought they should have the conversation before eating and heading to the bedroom. Yozef took a deep breath and leaped.

“Bronwyn, can we sit and talk?”

She turned from cleaning a dish and looked at him with a raised eyebrow at his serious tone. Wiping her hands on an apron, she sat opposite him at the table.

“Bronwyn, you know I come from a different land than Caedellium.”

She nodded.

“The customs in my homeland aren’t the same as they are here. That means sometimes there can be misunderstandings between me and people here on the island. I try to understand the customs here, but often I’m not sure whether my understanding is correct.”

She sat back a little in her chair, as if thinking she knew where Yozef was heading.

“My people would say that two such as ourselves should both understand what is happening between them. I’d like to be sure that’s true for us.”

Bronwyn tilted her head to one side with a puzzled look. “What’s happening between us? We’re bedding, and I hope to get with child. What’s not to understand?”

Well, shit. That answers that.

“I just wanted to be sure there was no misunderstanding. In my land, having a child places a strong responsibility on both parents to care for the child.”

“As it does here,” said the still puzzled woman. “I’ll admit, I first thought you might be a possible husband, but we’re too different. This farm is my life, and I won’t leave it. For you, your shops and experiments and all the other things you do are your place. If a child comes, you’re an honorable man and of means, so I’ve no doubt you’ll be generous in providing for it.”

So, I guess I’m the rich sperm donor. It wasn’t a score for his ego, but he could see the rationale from this culture’s point of view.

Bronwyn crossed her arms. “Although we share beds for now, I assume it will end. Is that what you’re telling me, that you wish the bedding to end?”

“No.” Maybe . “I was just concerned about you and the possibility of a child.”

“It seems this is the only way I’ll have a child, since marriage isn’t likely.”

“Haven’t there been men interested in you, and you in them?”

“Very few. Those who wanted to marry me either I wouldn’t have or they were mainly interested in getting control of the farm.”

“How did you first meet your husband?”