The Chronotrace Sequence- The Complete Box Set

by D J Edwardson

  Now that he could finally see the children up close, he could tell that they were indeed just as small as they had seemed from afar. The smallest one came up to less than half his height. Her fine features reminded him of the handler at the Institute and he guessed that she was female.

  Their long, unkempt hair was sprinkled with dusky gray powder and other fine particles. Their clothes, which had seemed tattered and threadbare from a distance, looked even more worn up close. The outfits were a patchwork of dozens of different pieces of fabric. The only adornments they wore were cloth belts and small metal tubes hanging from cords around their necks.

  But to Adan, it didn’t matter how they looked, for he liked them from the start. From their lively expressions and movements, he could see that these were happy, exuberant people. He had never seen so many smiles and expressions of affection. He found himself caught up in the joy of the moment despite not understanding a word of what was being said. The looks on their faces told him everything.

  Then, in the midst of all the excitement, he felt his knees begin to buckle. Perhaps all the tension and anxiety of the cart ride had been too much, or perhaps the exhaustion and fatigue had finally caught up to him. Whatever it was, he sank to the ground, letting out a small, pathetic cry as he crashed onto the platform.

  Will rushed back to him as he continued to speak, but this time, he was using words that Adan could understand.

  “Ishtos, you need to use the old cant. My friend does not understand kindred.” They nodded, their wide eyes fixed on Adan. Will gestured towards him. “This is Adan. And he isn’t well. Finish drawing up your water and let’s see about getting him something to drink.”

  “Right. He needs water,” answered the tallest of the three. He reached forward, smiling, and squeezed Adan on the shoulder. “Welcome to the Viscera. My name is Jarem.”

  Will motioned towards the other two. “And this is Halel and little Lila.”

  They walked up and gave Adan the same welcoming squeeze, but then darted shyly back to Will’s side.

  Adan wished he could think of something appropriate to say in reply, but he was too feeble to do much more than tremble on the platform, overwhelmed by exhaustion and thirst. His mind fixed itself on Jarem’s phrase ‘he needs water’.

  Jarem pulled on the rope several more times, working more quickly than before. Soon, a coarse stone bucket sloshing with water appeared at the edge of the platform. No sooner had they dragged it over and set it down in front of him than Adan thrust his face into it, lapping it up as fast as he could—as if it might disappear at any moment. Nothing had ever tasted sweeter or better than this cool, crisp, clear water. He must have drained a quarter of the bucket before he even took a real breath.

  At last he managed a weak smile towards the people gathered around him and, between gulps, murmured fervently over and over again, “Thank you…thank you…thank you…”

  Eleven

  The Novelty of Children

  Adan drank more than half the bucket before he finally came to his senses and remembered that Will must be just as thirsty as he was, if not more so, though he didn’t show it.

  “I’m sorry,” Adan said. “I drank too much.”

  Will brushed it aside. “I don’t need as much as you. I’m used to going on less.”

  Adan moved aside and let Will take his fill. While he finished the rest, Jarem went back to pulling on the rope. Another bucket eventually emerged. The children took it and poured it into two clay jars sitting off to the side. The jars had round, bulbous bases with narrow necks, but the children didn’t spill a drop.

  Jarem and Halel took off their cloth belts, rolling them into circular pads which they placed on top of their heads. Lila helped them heft the jars onto these makeshift cushions where they sat, perfectly balanced and ready for transport.

  Lila darted her eyes at Adan. Her face flushed when she saw he had been watching her.

  “We’re ready,” Jarem said, looking at Will. “You’re coming back to Aldea, right?”

  “Yes, I need to use some of Mendigo’s tools.”

  Jarem and the others’ faces lit up with the news.

  “That’s wonderful,” Jarem said.

  “Mother will be so happy,” Halel added.

  “You did say Mendigo wasn’t there, right?” Will asked.

  “Yes,” Jarem answered. “He’s been doing all kinds of that—what do you call it? Research. His machines are always running low on power. He went to the surface for some of those yellow rocks. He won’t be back until tonight.”

  “You’re sure Senya will let me into the shop?” Will asked.

  “Of course,” Jarem said, his voice rising above the low tones they had been using. He caught himself and went on more softly, “You’re still part of the knit to us.”

  “Thank you, Jarem. I wish I could stay, believe me. This is not the way I planned on returning.”

  “Why did you have to go?” Lila spoke up, earning a frown from Halel and causing Jarem to make a soft “tst, tst” noise at her. Lila shrank back a step, scowling at the other two. But there was something vaguely comical in her expression that made it hard to take her anger too seriously.

  “Sometimes we have to do things that we don’t want to, Lila,” Will said. “Hard things, things that break our hearts. When you’re older, you’ll understand.”

  Lila nodded, staring at him with her wide, beautiful brown eyes.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll be safe,” Jarem assured him.

  “All right, then. Let’s go,” Will said.

  They turned and made their way through an opening at the back of the platform, emerging into a wide passageway sloping gently downward. Adan marveled at the children’s ability to walk so steadily carrying the heavy jars on their heads.

  As they entered the tunnel, the children grasped the small tubes hanging from their necks and gave them a quick twist, pulling them open to reveal dull, translucent stones inside. A moment later the stones began to radiate with a pale, blue light. The combined effect of the three glowing rocks cast shadowy, aquatic forms along the walls and upon the bodies of Will and the children.

  Adan and Will took off their lentes to conserve power. Adan stared in awe at the gently rippling lights. They gave a soothing, bluish tint to the children’s skin, making them seem even more exotic and mysterious than they already were. It was like something from a dream. But if it was a dream, it was one Adan hoped would not end any time soon.

  Jarem and Will took the lead with Adan and the other two children following behind.

  “Nacio, you look different,” Jarem said. “We almost didn’t recognize you at first. You’ve cut your hair like the Waymen and your face looks thin. How are you making it up there?”

  “I’m fine, Jarem. We just ran out of water, that’s all.”

  “The Basin never runs dry. Why don’t you come back?”

  “I can’t—not yet.”

  “Are you really running with the Waymen like they say?”

  “I won’t lie to you, Jarem. Yes, I’ve had dealings with them. I can’t explain it to you in a way that will make sense right now, but it’s something I have to do.”

  Adan couldn’t see Jarem’s face, but he could hear the growing concern in his voice.

  “But they’re so cruel. We’ve lost many to their raids since you left. Why would you run with them?”

  “I told you, it’s not something you would understand. But whatever you hear about me, you have to know that everything I do is for the good of the Welkin. That’s my only purpose—to help and protect you. Now let’s talk about something else—like how we’re going to get us past the keepers.”

  Will and Jarem went on talking, but Adan didn’t hear much of the rest. They began speaking even more quietly and Adan was lagging behind. The water had refreshed him a little, but he was still too weak to keep a decent pace. Halel had drifted ahead as well, but Lila stayed back, walking beside him. She stared at him more openly now and didn
’t divert her eyes as quickly when Adan glanced her way.

  Her eyes were brimming with light and life in a way he had never seen in the eyes of anyone else. In their own way they were as striking as Will’s, but for different reasons; it was not their color or intensity, but an inner radiance that gave them their charm.

  After a time, Lila blurted out in her little voice, “What knit are you from, Hayden?”

  “Excuse me? Oh—knit…I don’t know. I wish I did,” he said.

  “Did you get lost?” Lila asked, scrunching one eye half shut so that she looked both funny and serious all at once. “Or did the Waymen take you?”

  “No, I think some…other people took me.”

  “Oh, you’re like Nacio, then. He didn’t remember anything about his knit either. But he’s part of our knit now. Maybe you could be too.” She smiled at him and gave him a mischievous wink that he didn’t quite know what to make of.

  “I’d like that,” he said, smiling at this curious little person. “But who’s Nacio?”

  Lila pointed at Will. Then she looked at Adan, shocked, and put her hands on her hips. “Didn’t he tell you his Welkin name?”

  “No…His Welkin name?”

  “Everybody in the knit takes a new name if they weren’t born here,” she explained, as if it were something entirely obvious. “Hey, if you join our knit can I pick your name? Please, oh, please?” she begged.

  He gave her a quick nod and her face broke out into the most exuberant smile yet.

  “Oh, I can’t wait to tell Mama. I’ve never gotten to name anyone before. Don’t worry, I’ll pick a good one for you,” she rambled on, then paused and became dreadfully serious for a moment before bursting out into giggles. “Rigo? No, how about Bram?…or maybe Pao—”

  “Shh!” Halel spun around, putting a finger to his lips. “Everyone in the Viscera can hear you, Lil. We’re trying to keep quiet because of the old ones. They’re not supposed to know Nacio is here.”

  Lila clamped her jaw shut. An exaggerated frown wrinkled her face. It was all Adan could do not to laugh out loud at the sight of her. She clearly didn’t like being reprimanded, but the glint of mischief in her eyes made it seem like she was enjoying it at the same time. She did keep quiet, though, after that.

  Soon, they crossed an intersection with another tunnel. Adan could hear whispering coming from down its length, but all he could see was the distant glow of bluish lights coming their way. Will and Jarem doubled back and hurried the others along past the opening before anyone emerged. Will cautioned everyone to speak as quietly as possible from then on. As he gave the warning, Jarem and Halel stared fixedly at Lila, but she just pursed her lips and looked at the ceiling, pretending not to notice.

  Things were silent for the most part after that. Lila occupied herself by playing a little game with Adan, shooting mischievous glances his way. Whenever he looked back at her, she would turn and pretend she hadn’t been caught. He was amazed at the effortless way she could communicate with only smiles and her big, expressive eyes and the peculiar faces she made. She clearly relished the attention, not giving a single thought to the serious matters which weighed so heavily on Will and the others.

  The passage eventually turned and they saw more light coming from up around the corner. They stopped while Jarem and Halel set down the clay jars and went on ahead. The others stood in silence, awaiting their return. Adan took advantage of the break to lean against the wall and take some much needed rest.

  The two children returned a short while later with pleased looks on their faces.

  “Great news—Dreas is on duty,” Jarem whispered, excitedly. “We don’t have to wait until the next shift. He sent the other keepers away so we won’t be seen.”

  Will smiled. “Excellent. So he isn’t going to tell the old ones, then?”

  “Well, he said he couldn’t promise that. He said he would have to tell them eventually—but not until his watch is over.”

  “What?” Will asked, letting his frustration out with a huff.

  “He doesn’t want to go against the maneusis. They might banish him, too, if they ever found out. Either way, he’s going to catch it for letting you go.”

  Will shook his head. “How long do we have then? Fixing the shifter won’t be quick.”

  “It’ll be okay, Nacio. You look so different that no one will recognize you. We should be able to get you into Aldea without much trouble. Even if the old ones come for you, Mother can…what’s the word? Keep them away, while you go out the back. No one except Mendigo uses that tunnel and it’s the fastest way to the surface.”

  “Adan’s in no condition to run if we have to flee.” Will stopped to think for a moment. “I can’t believe this. I thought Dreas was on my side…Well, at least he’s letting us through. Let’s go, and I’ll talk to him myself and see if I can’t put some sense into him.”

  The children picked up their jars and ventured around the corner towards the light. The passage opened rapidly into a wider expanse, a chamber three times the width of the tunnel they had just come from. The ceiling was also higher. On the opposite side of the chamber, the passage continued on, but in front of the exit, a collection of old barrels and rusted metal crates formed a makeshift entryway only wide enough for one person to pass at a time. Standing behind this barrier was a man wearing a dour expression. The makeshift barricade came up to just below his shoulders. He wore his long hair pulled back behind his head and glanced nervously from side to side as they approached.

  The chamber itself was lit by rocks like those the children wore, but much larger and brighter. They hung from cords fixed to the ceiling, dangling just above Adan’s head.

  The man behind the barricade stepped out to meet them. He was dressed in the same fashion as the children, except that his tunic was sleeveless and in better condition. He also wore a black cord on each of his arms and had a smooth, metal rod, about as long as his forearm, hanging from the cord at his waist. He nodded to Will curtly as he approached, but avoided meeting his gaze.

  Then the two of them began to talk. The man spoke slowly at first, in measured fashion. Though they spoke in a language Adan could not understand, it seemed as though the longer the conversation went on, the more emotional and passionate the stranger became. Tense lines deepened on his face. Will, on the other hand, had started out in a friendly, casual tone, which grew cooler as the conversation went on.

  The conversation broke off abruptly. “Come on, let’s go,” Will said, turning away. “We’re wasting our time here.”

  The man said something else to which Will did not reply. Will hurried Adan and the children through the opening and never gave the man a second look. Soon, they had left him and the chamber behind.

  No one spoke for a while after that, but Adan could not hold back his curiosity and eventually broke the silence.

  “What were you and that man talking about back there?”

  Will grew tense and for a moment Adan thought he wouldn’t answer, but then he said, “Oh, just nonsense about needing to respect the old ones and the maneusis.”

  “Who are they?”

  “The old ones are just the elders, the oldest and presumably the wisest of the Welkin people. They’re the leaders of the knit. Maybe I can see Dreas’ point there. But it sounds like he’s fallen under the sway of the maneusis as well. The Welkin consider him a holy man—their spiritual leader. He has far more say in things than the old ones. Most of them won’t defy his decisions in important matters. The maneusis did nothing to stand up for me when the leader of the old ones made the decision to banish me from the Viscera.”

  Adan could tell Will didn’t like talking about the subject, but surprisingly he went on.

  “Dreas, the guard I was speaking with, took my side when I left and I thought he would help us. He had been the one I confided in more than anyone else and for him to turn his back on me like this…” Will gritted his teeth for a moment, but quickly shook off his anger. “At least he
gave us a small window of time before he alerts the old ones. Let’s just hope it’s enough to fix the shifter.”

  Will strode on ahead of the others. Jarem and Halel, who had been listening intently to the conversation, stared at the ground with hollow looks on their faces. Even Lila’s mood was subdued.

  Adan could only imagine what it would be like to have a friend betray him. Breathing heavily, he pushed on and did his best not to fall behind.

  Twelve

  Hogar

  Not long after passing through the barricade, they came to the mouth of a spacious cavern. Two children, even smaller than Lila, squatted near the entrance, playing with shiny rocks on the ground. They rose when they saw the group approach.

  Jarem raised his hand in greeting and the little ones returned the gesture. They chattered among themselves, pointing and smiling at Adan and Will as they passed by. They started to follow until Lila made a harsh “tst, tst” noise that sent them scurrying off, giggling, back towards the entrance.

  “Ishtos…” Lila muttered, shaking her head.

  “What does that mean?” Adan asked.

  “Hmm…I don’t know the word for it in the old cant,” Lila answered.

  “I think it means ‘kid’,” Halel said. “But sometimes we use it for when kids are being mischievous, too. Lila gets called that a lot,” he added, grinning.

  “Well, you’re the biggest ishto of all,” she shot back.

  “All right, that’s enough, you two,” Will said over his shoulder.

  Glimmering neophosphorous streaks embedded in the walls bathed the cavern in an eerie blue splendor. Crowded together along the floor in a ragtag arrangement sat dozens of rounded structures made from a canvas-like material. These patchwork domes were of motley colors: umber, tarnished beige, and faded, gray hues. Many of them were connected.

  Walking or sitting along the pathways between the domes were dozens of people, many of them children. Will kept his head down as the group filed briskly through the settlement. At first, the people they passed were so busy with their own activities they didn’t seem to notice their passing, but the further in they got, a sort of low, background murmur spread through the cavern. One of the onlookers, a man stirring a steaming metal pot set on top of incandescent white stones, called out to them as they passed, but Jarem only mumbled something quick in reply and hurried on.