by Thomas Stone
MINERVA’S SOUL
The Harry Irons Trilogy
Book Three
by
Thomas C. Stone
Cooper’s Press
http://www.cooperspress.com
More Titles by Thomas C. Stone:
The Harry Irons Trilogy
To The Stars
Stolen Worlds
Among The Stars
Gender Wars
Song of the Elowai
Smolif
Rolling Thunder
Copyright 2010 by Thomas C. Stone
All Rights Reserved
ISBN: 978-1-877557-02-6
MINERVA’S SOUL
by
Thomas C. Stone
Chapter 1
Isolated and rarely viewed, the kitzloc carried itself with effortless grace over an arid track. Clouds of red-yellow dust rose behind its enormous strides. The thoughts compelling its motion were inhuman, impossible to adequately express, but suffice to say it was happy, and what sustained the emotion was the simple expression of freedom found in unrestrained motion. Slits along the upper sides of its torso expanded as the creature sampled the air. Identifying an unusual odor, it changed course.
Two kilometers ahead, flickering light shined from atop a sandy dune. A crude fire with three humans gathered round. Nearby was their vehicle; an unlikely, cumbersome machine with large synthetic wheels.
The kitzloc adjusted its body temperature until it matched that of the surrounding air. Simultaneously, its skin rippled with color as it took on the same hue as the surrounding desert. Thus prepared, it moved closer to the unwary group.
*
Traveling in warp space inside a sentient alien craft, Harry was losing his mind. Oddly, the knowledge did not disturb him. With little effort, he could disengage from his emotions and another world would snap into focus, a world with bizarre, otherworldly scenes yet somehow familiar and comfortable.
Harry opened his eyes, although he didn’t need to in order to see. The compartment was comfortable, luxurious by starship standards. The lighting was muted, turned low for his comfort. How could Minerva know light no longer made a difference in Harry’s vision? He had changed so much, so quickly, no one could fathom it. Even himself.
He ground his teeth: his bite could break chain. Were those fangs or was it another illusion brought about by the infection? His hands appeared long and sinewy, tipped with talons like a primitive prehistoric beast. But it was no primitive animal that had invaded his mind and infused its thoughts with his. Something else. Something clear and deep and entirely overwhelming.
Outside, along Minerva’s hull, Harry felt charged particles as they flowed over the starship’s polymorphic ceramic sheathing. Photon streams collided with the ship; with a turn of his head Harry re-traced their paths back to the stars from which they originated. All simply known in an instant. Such were the powers of the kitzloc.
Minerva was a true vessel for the universe, a scientific wonder comprised of technological configurations as yet unclear to Earth science. Harry knew in an unrealized future, Braithwaite scientists and technicians would reverse-engineer the specifications that had bought Fagen’s freedom. The secrets of singularity power conversion would be exposed and once again mankind would be loosed upon the universe. The new energy source would transform Earth back into its pristine state. It would transform the moon and Mars as well, making them habitable and friendly to a teeming population.
Harry peered through the ceiling of his compartment, then through the compartment above and the space above that. His companions were gathered in Minerva’s control room, waiting for the hyperspace journey to end. Harry could feel their physical presence, smell them sweaty and perfumed alike. Kathleen lounged on the long couch as she listened to Fagen talk about Mirabel and the kitzloc. Bobbi sat quietly at a control console and listened. Blane sat close to Kathleen, his neural connectors trailing filament thin wiring which ran to connectors in the nearby bulkhead. Tringl and the Bedoran boy sat on the deck behind the couch playing a game Harry remembered from his youth. Tringl was a lovable animated giant, gesturing to Arai as the Bedoran chittered back in response.
“And what about Harry?” asked Kathleen.
“Minerva will take care of him,” replied Fagen.
“Can she?”
Minerva’s disembodied voice floated through the chamber. “Of course I can.”
“How? I need to know. Look, none of us really understands the extent of the changes. How long does he have before…”
“Before what?” Blane interrupted. “Before he’s totally off his rocker?”
“That’s not what I was going to say.”
“Well then, what?”
Kathleen stared at Blane. “You haven’t changed much after all these years, Bart.”
“You have,” Blane said pointedly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re out of control. On second thought, you always were.”
Fagen held up his hands. “All right. That’s enough. Kathleen wants to know how quickly the changes in Harry are going to influence his overall health, whether the changes are reversible, and most importantly, exactly what Minerva has in mind for helping him. All good questions.”
“Okay, okay,” said Blane, “and I’m all for getting Harry back. That’s why we’re on this trip. Right?” He looked at Kathleen and then to Fagen. Kathleen nodded but Fagen remained silent. Blane continued, “I’m concerned about our safety, ours and Minerva’s, during this transit. What if Harry decided he’s more kitzloc than human? What then?”
Out of thin air, Minerva appeared beside Blane, dressed in a crisp Corporation Survey Commander’s uniform. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Harry is heavily sedated and will remain so. If there’s an emergency, I can push him into a coma. The situation is under control.”
“I wish I felt as confident as you.” Blane looked at Minerva. “Where’d you get that outfit?”
“What? This?” The holographic image posed like a runway model. “Do you like it? I was rummaging around in the back of my closet and found it. What do you think?”
“Very nice,” said Blane, “very officious.”
“Thank you,” she said as she turned to Kathleen. “I understand your concern, Kath. We’re all concerned. I’m making progress on my analysis of Harry’s condition.”
“What kind of progress?”
“Harry’s condition is a result of new structures in his circulatory system. Admittedly, they’re growing at a rapid rate despite my efforts. Tests indicate actions similar to a viral infection and, like most viruses, it is resistant to any known antibodies.”
“So what can we do for him?”
“We find a cure. I create an antibody.”
“How? From what?”
Minerva shrugged. “We go to the source.”
Blane leaned forward. “Go to the source?”
Minerva looked thoughtful. “Why yes, we find one of the creatures and extract the material. I’m certain I can manufacture the antiviral from living tissue -- the kitzloc secrete fragrant oils; that’s how they make contact. All indications are the oils come from glands. That will be where we can find the living essence.”
“Oh sure,” Bart threw up his hands, “we just waltz in, find one of these things in its natural environment, hold it down while we stick it with a needle, and take what we want. Sounds kind of like how Harry got into this mess in the first place.”
“Wait a second, Minerva,” said Fagen, “there was kitzloc essence back on Earth. Why do we have to go to Mirabel to get what we just left?”
“The material on Earth is
no longer living tissue. Its effects grow weaker with age. I need the living material to work with.”
Blane shook his head. “I wish you’d told us before we got this far.”
“Would it have helped Harry?” Minerva replied.
“Probably not,” admitted Blane.
*
Harry’s head hurt, a deep, mind-numbing ache rising from the center of his skull like his brain was expanding, pushing from the inside out. A burst of light filled his vision and Harry groaned. His consciousness withdrew from the control room in an instant, the pain commanding all his attention. Gripping the sides of his head, his hands felt like leather, his nails dug into his scalp, or were they talons?
As the pain receded, thoughts arose as if from a dream. An alien landscape, red-tinted air, jumbled boulders strewn on a sandy plain, the feel of soil beneath his bare feet as he made giant strides, and then an opening among rocks leading him down into darkness. Overlying all, a sweet smell like burning incense or perhaps a suffocation of blended flowers drew him still deeper into subaltern chambers that felt strangely familiar, that felt like home.
From the dark a gentle voice called. “Harry? Are you all right?”
Harry opened his eyes. Minerva stood before him, her hair fashioned in long, red wavy curls. She wore the crisp uniform of a Corporation nurse with an old-fashioned stethoscope hanging around her neck. He stared at the apparition without speaking.
“Harry? Can you hear me?”
A sudden violent urge coursed through him. He shuddered before launching himself at the hologram only to harmlessly pass through and collapse on the floor.
“Harry! Do you know who I am? Are you all right?”
He raised his head. “Yeah,” he murmured, “I know who you are.”
“Do you know where you are?”
“Of course I do,” he said, struggling to his feet then sitting on the edge of the bunk. “I’m inside you traveling at warp speed toward…” His voice trailed off.
“Where?” she asked.
I’m going home, Harry thought, back to…
“Harry?”
He snapped back and shook his head. “Mirabel,” he said, “we’re going to Mirabel.”
“That’s right. I want you to listen carefully. I’m going to help you. We’re all going to help you – Kathleen, Edward, all of us – but we need your cooperation. Do you understand?”
Harry gazed at Minerva with bloodshot eyes but all he could muster was a semblance of a nod.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” she said. “I think we can slow the infection sufficiently to allow us time to fix it altogether.”
Minerva’s words came to him like so many ciphered bytes. Speech was becoming difficult. Words and spoken language were tortuously slow.
“I need to examine you and take a sample of your blood so I can evaluate the progress of the virus. Will you allow me to extract a sample?”
Harry stared blankly. His mind rebelled at the idea of someone, a human, even a computer-simulated human, putting hands on him. He resisted the urge to rush her again. “Yes,” he croaked.
“All right, first let’s take a good look.” Minerva bent at the waist and pretended to study his features as somewhere above her, secreted away within the bulkhead, scanning devices took detailed readings of the entire session.
From Minerva’s point of view, things didn’t look so good. Harry’s eyes were black-rimmed, sunken and bloodshot. The corners of his mouth were dry and cracked. His skin had taken on a yellow pallor not unlike someone suffering from liver ailments. Arms and legs were swollen with distended veins throbbing with each beat of his heart. They’d removed his shoes after they’d brought him aboard and Minerva could see that the nails on both fingers and toes were long, yellowed and brittle.
She glanced at the full cup of water sitting on the tray beside his bunk. It was a wonder he hadn’t knocked it over in a fit of rage.
“You haven’t had any water, have you?”
Harry slowly shook his head. The thought of unblessed water in liquid state repelled him. “Ice,” he said suddenly, “give me ice.”
“I shouldn’t be surprised,” said Minerva. “You have a fever.”
A portion of the bulkhead slid open revealing an open canister of ice. Harry clumsily reached for it and took a handful which he crammed into his mouth and crunched.
“I have all the data I need for the moment. Now for the blood sample.”
The hidden space in the wall had closed but it opened anew and this time a slender instrument snaked out. At its tip was a needle. Harry looked at it through half-closed lids.
“Extend your arm, Harry, so I can have clear access to one of those big veins.”
Harry complied with the request, exposing his arm as the needle extended forward. A hidden laser targeted a spot with a red dot. The needle touched his skin and gently pressed down, however the needle did not pierce the skin. With an expression of curiosity, Minerva peered more closely. Again, the needle pressed deeper without entering. Minerva’s brow furrowed. The needle pushed with doubled force until it snapped, broken free from its housing.
Minerva stood, hands on hips. “Well, Harry, you always were tough-skinned, but this is ridiculous. It looks like there are a few surprising side effects to your infection.”
More than you could possibly imagine, thought Harry.
*
Satisfied his campfire burned steadily, George leaned against his inflated cushion and grinned at Lisa.
“What are you so proud about?” she asked. “Because you built a fire?”
“Not just a fire,” retorted George, “it’s the perfect fire. And look, there’s no wood for kilometers. Pretty ingenious if you ask me.”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Meet the most arrogant man on Mirabel.”
“You love it,” George said, “that’s why you married me. Besides,” he said, glancing at the fire, “it is a damn fine blaze. Tobias, would you please pass the bottle this way?”
“Certainly,” said Tobias, passing the liquor to his friend. “I wouldn’t want to deprive the most arrogant man on the planet from his imagination. It’s an oil fire, George, and we brought the oil.”
“Touché.” George grasped the bottle and hoisted it to his lips. He took a pull and cradled it between his legs. “Now this is what I call real living. Good company, good times, great wide open spaces…” He gazed upward. Stars blanketed the clear evening sky.
“Yes, well, don’t get too comfortable. Remember why we’re here. We’re on a hunting trip and it could cost us plenty if we lowered our guard.”
“I know. I’ve been out here before too, you know. I’m just kicking back while I can.”
“I think that’s what Tobias was trying to say, George. Don’t get too relaxed.” Lisa glanced into the surrounding darkness.
“Aw, you worry too much; we can see for kilometers in every direction. The sensors are on and the fence…” George reached down, selected a pebble, tossed it into the darkness. A mighty spark discharged before it hit the ground. “…is set and working.”
“We’re relatively safe, George, but I don’t want to take any more chances than we have to. It’ll take another day before we reach kitzloc territory. All the same, I’d like to play it safe.”
“We are playing it safe. We’ve got more firepower than most combat teams. The simulcons are primed and ready to go – we won’t get any closer than a couple of klicks. I think we should enjoy the evening.” George lifted the bottle again and took a longer sip. He held it up for Lisa but she shook her head.
Lisa stood, yawned, and stretched. “I think I’ll turn in.”
“Suit yourself,” said George. “I’ll sit with Tob’ a little longer.” He returned the half-empty bottle to Tobias. Tobias took it and watched Lisa as she moved from the campfire to the shadows of the truck. After she’d climbed inside, Tobias looked back at George.
“Seriously, George, you know they can sense us at long distance.”
“And they were stark raving mad. Babbling like idiots. George, we’ve got our hands full. Make no mistake about it. Go ahead and relax tonight. I expect we’re safe enough, but in the morning I want you to have your game face on. Got it?”
George stared open-mouthed for a moment before nodding. “Sure Tob’,” he said. “Whatever you say. We’ll take extra care.”
From the other side of the power fence, not thirty meters away, the kitzloc listened to the exchange.
*
Minerva stood in front of Kathleen with her arms crossed. “There are more physiological changes occurring.”
“Oh? What, exactly?”
“For one thing, his skin is toughening up. I mean really tough. The ceramic syringes wouldn’t work. They broke when I tried to take a blood sample. I had to fashion a titanium needle.”
“How can that be?”
Minerva shrugged. “The virus is causing changes in his DNA structure. I’m not going to kid you, Kathleen, he’s one sick dude.” Minerva held up a hand to quell Kathleen. “Before you go off, let me add that I’ve been able to sedate him by giving him large doses of meta-anthorazine. I’ve also given him a transfusion and I’m happy to report it does seem to stunt the effects. The infection has slowed. Additionally, he claims he’s learning how to control his hallucinations but I don’t know if it’s another manifestation of his delusions or not.”
“Can I see him?”
“I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”
“Why not? He’s my husband.”
“Ex-husband.”
Kathleen’s face glowed with anger as she jumped to her feet. “Who are you to say? I’m closer to Harry than any of you! How long has it been since you’ve seen him? No, wait, I’ll tell you, over fifteen years. I love Harry and I’ve loved him from the first moment I laid eyes on him…”
Edward crossed the control room to where Kathleen faced Minerva. “I’m sure Minerva didn’t mean anything by it, Kathleen.”
