Historical Letter from the First Awakened to the First Human-born Male. Located in the Ruins of Lo on May 3, 2957:
“My dearest Akin,
I wanted to write to you in case I do not survive long enough for us to fully know each other. Life has been difficult as we attempt to reclaim Earth. There is much hatred from the resister Humans towards the Oankali and, more often than I’d like to admit, towards me. As you get older, you will hear my name “Lilith” repeated with anger, betrayal and disdain. Please know that I have never meant harm to my fellow human beings, despite the harsh words which they use to describe me. Most of my decisions were taken out of my hands after the Great War. It was a mixed blessing that the Oankali arrived to help my race to survive. On one hand, we would all have died on our toxic planet without their intervention. However, my people hate losing any freedom and continue to stubbornly fight against the Oankali even to this day. Despite my human nature, I resigned myself to make the best life possible with my limited options.
Your ooan has informed me that you are a boy, which makes your birth an extraordinary occasion. The settlement is buzzing with the news of your unique creation. I have many daughters, but you will be my first son since Awakening. Due to the aggressive nature of most men, the Oankali decided to control the reproduction cycle, so that males are only born to the Oankali. That is why you will be so treasured by me. You are a gift and, for the first time in a while, I have no idea what to expect when you arrive. I hope that you’ll grow to love me, despite whatever physical differences exist between us. I never expected to have another man in my life, after the death of your father, Joseph. I look forward to welcoming you into this strange world.
Akin, I sincerely hope that you do not have to experience the loss that I have felt throughout my years. I need you to know and understand your history, so that your identity is strong and your human ties remain. I fear that the genetic trading will eventually eliminate all traces of humanity, so I ask you to remember me and pass my tale onto the next generation. My only other son, your half-brother, was born many years ago and died before the Great War. My first husband and our boy were killed in an automobile accident, which was painful for me at the time. Their deaths seem like a distant memory now, since they occurred over 250 years ago.
I also want you to know about your human father, Joseph Li-Chin Shing. He was an intelligent man who I could always depend on. At first, I only considered him an important ally during the challenging years after the Prime Awakening. Surprisingly, I grew to love him and value him as my mate. The connection and trust we shared was vital during those first months and his death created a void that still remains. His murder was completely unnecessary and the irrational act by a deluded man. The violence that the Oankali fear in human males was on full display when your father was brutally attacked with a machete. However, I plead with you to not feed on the anger of Joseph’s killing. Instead, please promise me that you’ll make every effort to enlighten people – both Earthling and Oankali – so that future ignorant acts like this will not occur.
Your birth brings such promise to my life and the future of this Oankali-Human world. Neither of us chose our important positions in history, but may we both try our best to make our descendants proud of our untested efforts for peace.
My love for you always,
Mother”
Document to be displayed in the Lilith Iyago Museum of Human Studies in New Phoenix City
