–Humans have been studying life on other planets for a thousand years, and we have not found a single technological species. Neither satellites nor power stations, nor an intentional or chemical sign of technology in other planets. We know that there is water, plants, animals. But no one who lives with machines. At least powerful enough to be able to measure their presence. I have spent my entire life studying life on other planets. Perhaps the time lapse in which detectable machines exist is not long enough fur us to exist at the same time. Perhaps other species have destroyed the machines. Or maybe examples of coexistence like ours are a phenomenon so rare as to exist only once in each galaxy. Do you know that we have studied almost half of the stars of the Milky Way? Perhaps our systems are less efficient the further we search, but what is clear is that technological life is not a normal phenomenon, at least at the galactic level. Perhaps each galaxy is a nest for one or two technological civilizations, or a few more if we take into account all their time of existence. Maybe, maybe... But it is practically impossible for us to build detection or communication systems towards other galaxies, not because we cannot design them, but because that would mean a waste of resources that would destroy the planet and human culture. Our own nature isolates us. So we are faced with this paradox: an excess of knowledge would be our end...Go to the party, Xurde. There is no knowledge superior to another.

 

The truth is that Xurde was dying to go to the party to meet Erendi. But they already knew what those parties were like. The people became very crazy, and from afar they crossed the thresholds of what was bearable for Xurde.

 

–Look, there Jupiter starts being visible, above Venus, do you see it?

 

The vault of the sky fell spherical cobalt blue, the horizon became clear and it was almost

possible to distinguish Jupiter’s moons. The planet was so small…

 

Feles and Xurde went down to dinner with Ceres and Fofe in the kitchen. Surely this would be the last dinner at home, since the next day the kitchen would be needed to collect everything from the party, and the next day the dismantling work inside would begin. Xurde couldn’t think of another strategy but to drink as much wine as the rest at dinner, and with the consciousness a little cloudier and a clearer desire, after midnight they went down to the esplanade.

 

A session of strong rhythms was beginning that was expected to last until well into the night. Many people in the region greeted Xurde with enthusiasm. «Xurde, you at the party!», «Xurde, you have to go to Rueda to see those long and beautiful black braids!», «Xurde, how you have grown!», «Xurde, have some of this!», «Xurde, We'll wait for you at home whenever you want!» With everything they had tried to hide in recent years, it seemed that the entire region was waiting for they apparition. Fortunately, there were also many people from other parts of the region and of the planet that did not know them.

 

For Xurde, this way of dancing following a marked rhythm was somewhat tiring, so they crossed the large group and saw that there were many people in the river. It had dawned, and although the moon was already waning, the light was clear and bluish the bodies of those who bathed and talked. Xurde sat squatting on one of the stones in the middle of the riverbed to observe the sky and listen to the sound of the water. There was a small waterfall a few dozen meters up the river, with a pool where almost all the people were. A little further down, where Xurde was, the river had no depth, and the sound of water was sharp and close. They heard behind, from afar, the voices of the people who laughed and sang in the river pool, diving, splashing each other, or chatting calmly, while hearing the boom–bum–bum of the rhythms of the party in the background, with frequencies so low that they felt like internal vibrations. They recognized the hues of the prism at the edges of the moon, and observed its mountains and their valleys with exquisite clarity, as if they could perch right there on less than two minutes. Some small clouds began to come between the moon and their eyes, and it now seemed like a spotlight in the wings. The clouds formed several translucent layers of different colors, which resembled last night's dance. Xurde started feeling extraordinarily at peace. When breathing deeply they could clearly feel each of the tissues in their body. The sound of the river water was becoming clearer, the voices sounded more distant, the rhythm of the party was settling inside their pelvis. They turned around and realized that almost everyone was gone. They followed them and returned to the party.

 

Xurde joined the large group and jumped and danced with the rest. It must have been the first time in their life that they felt part of a group. Everyone exchanged smiles, glasses and kisses, and they chanted repetitive phrases, or shouted things in each other's ears. After all, dance was something Xurde knew how to do. It really seemed that those who knew them were glad that they were there, and those who did not, also watched them with great interest. The rhythm began to get faster and it started to drizzle. Screams and chants were heard in a loop, all the people was jumping and raising their arms, and so was Xurde, and then they saw something a few meters ahead that could be Erendi's back, although it was difficult to distinguish it among so many people jumping. Xurde slid between the bodies to get closer and saw that they were kissing lovingly with someone. It was obvious that they knew each other well. The other person was taller than Erendi, with skin so dark that melted in the night. But when they opened their eyes Xurde immediately realized that it was the person who had caught their attention so much at the regional assembly. Xurde was paralyzed and wondered whether they should approach to greet them, run away, or forget everything and continue dancing. Then Erendi saw them and came jumping to where they were.

 

 

– What a joy, what a joy that you have come!

 

– What!? I can't hear you!

 

– What!? I don't understand you!

 

– That I am also very glad to... see you!

 

– What!? I don't speak the language of Quilcué, sorry! –Yesterday they had talked in the common language, as is often done between people who do not know each other. But now, with all the din of the party, Xurde had spontaneously spoken in their native language.

 

– Oh! Nothing, I say that I am happy too!!

 

– Come, come with us. Erendi grabbed them by the hand and led them straight to Raku.

 

– It's Xurde, right? You are just as they described you. My name is Raku.

 

– Raku, like the ceramic technique?

 

– Yes, exactly. How curious that you know, it is a very old name.

 

– We love old things here! – Erendi continued holding their hand firmly and it was obvious that they were very happy to see them. Xurde was overexcited, but they tried to hide it, although it was difficult with so many stimuli.

 

The rain got worse. The ground began to get muddy. Erendi rushed to kiss Xurde; Raku too. Their clothes got wet, the music got even louder and powerful. Everybody screamed. Xurde felt that they started to leave their body and see the scene from above. Their consciousness was about a meter away above the mass of hundreds of bodies, they saw themselves there, kissing passionately with Raku and Erendi, while everyone screamed and, suddenly, a huge lightning strike a few kilometers away turned the night into day for two seconds, leaving a huge trail of bright crackling stars, and a deafening thunder broke out. Everyone shouted like crazy, Raku and Erendi too, and at that moment Xurde ran away, pushing all the bodies that stood between theirs and the field. They ran, ran and ran at full speed straight into the forest.