Taming a Planet (Trapped in Time Book 2)

by Saxon Andrew

  Derek looked at her and was impressed with the woman’s beauty, “What do you mean?”

  “Are you attached to a female?”

  Derek shrugged, “Not really.”

  “Then what about you and I getting to know each other. Is it possible that you could teach me how to use that flying device?”

  Derek smiled, “I could do that without you having to attach yourself to me.”

  “You just gave me all the reason I need to want you by what you just said. We have some time before we arrive at your home. All I ask is that you take some time to talk with me.”

  “Will you teach me how to sail this ship?”

  The woman smiled and said, “Come over here.” Derek walked over and she took his hands and put them on the steering wheel. She stood behind him with her hands on top of his and said, “Can you feel the way she pulls strongly and smoothly as she rides the wind?”

  “Yes, I can.”

  The woman moved the wheel slightly and said, “Did you feel the power get weaker?” Derek nodded.

  She moved the wheel slightly again and Derek said, “It’s back.”

  “That is the feeling you seek when you’re steering the ship. We’ll work on this, you and I.”

  Derek said, “My name is Derek.”

  “I’m Annelise.”

  John listened to the two converse and shook his head. This woman was something special and he knew Derek could see it as well. He looked to the south and worried about Dottie. What Mark was asking was not impossible but pretty close to it.

  • • •

  Andy sat on the ground and held Harmony in his arms. He couldn’t force himself to let her go. Mark sat next to him in silence. He had said all he could to change Andy’s mind and now his only hope was for Dottie to arrive. He heard a commotion and saw Gerrod walking up escorting a Destroyer Warrior. The gathered Archers began murmuring among themselves, Mark said, “What have you brought me, Gerrod?”

  “A Destroyer scum and a coward as well.” Mark’s eyes narrowed and Gerrod said, “He was crawling away into the forest; he hasn’t even fired his weapon.”

  Mark looked at the Destroyer and said in English, “So you left your friends behind to die?”

  The warrior looked at Mark and said, “They are not and have never been my friends.” Andy took his eyes off Harmony and looked up at the Destroyer.

  Mark sneered, “You wear their uniform, you carry their weapons, you live with them; how can they not be your friends?”

  “They killed my family when I was seven years old. I’ve never forgiven them for that act.” The Destroyer looked at Andy holding Harmony and his expression changed, “She looks just like the woman they are bringing to torture on the beach.”

  Andy’s eyes narrowed and he jumped up and grabbed the warrior by the front of his shirt, “WHAT DO YOU MEAN, TORTURE!?”

  “I heard my Commander talking with the Admiral that is bringing the follow up fleet. He’s been ordered by the Commandant to bring a blonde woman to where her sister escaped with his brother and yell ultimatums that if she doesn’t turn herself in, her sister will be slowly killed. I saw the woman tied up and taken aboard the Admiral’s ship.” The Destroyer hesitated, “That’s her sister, isn’t it?” Andy stared into the warriors eyes and saw his sympathy. Andy nodded and the warrior said, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  Andy released the warrior’s shirt and looked at Mark, “He’s not one of them. Give him something to eat and see what you can learn from him.”

  “But Andy!”

  “He’s just like Harmony was Mark! The slaves have been forced to join them. Take him and talk with him about what he knows.” Andy sat down and took Harmony in his arms again and closed his eyes.

  Mark shook his head and said, “Come with me.” The two walked off and the archers moved away to give Andy his privacy.

  • • •

  Mark gave the Destroyer a food pouch and watched him gobble the contents. “Hey, Hey, slow down. Don’t they feed you?”

  The warrior looked at Mark and said, “I’ve been sharing my meals with a slave on the ship. I’ve been living on half rations.”

  Mark nodded slowly and said, “What’s your name?”

  “Paul.”

  Ten other archers strolled up and sat down. Mark looked at them and saw they wanted to hear what the Destroyer had to say. He looked at Paul, “What can you tell me about the follow up fleet?”

  “There are fifty six ships and each of them carry two hundred warriors. They’ll be setting sale in about four weeks to follow the ship I came on. They should arrive in about eight weeks. By the way, you should do something about that ship before it goes to warn the fleet.” Mark shrugged and Paul said, “You’ve already taken the ship.” Mark smiled and Paul shook his head, “I’ve got to imagine that was not an easy task to accomplish.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “The only way to get at the ship is in boats and the ship has cannons that could blow them out of the water.”

  “What if we flew in on it?”

  “Say what?”

  “What if we flew in on the ship?”

  “You can fly?”

  “In a manner of speaking.”

  “How would you land on it?”

  “How would you land on it?”

  Paul thought for a moment and said, “The widest place for a landing is at the stern of the ship where there aren’t a lot of ropes.”

  “Isn’t that where the guards usually gather?”

  Paul smiled, “I can see you’ve done some homework. I’ve seen what those red beams of yours can do. The only ones on the deck at night are the Deck Guards. If you can fly, you could just fly over the ship and sweep the decks with your beams. You could then land at your leisure on the wide stern deck next to the steering wheel. How big are your flying devices?”

  “You think we need a device to fly?”

  “I don’t see wings sprouting on your back.”

  Mark smiled and, though he didn’t want to, he began to like him. “ We’re able to fold it up just before we land.”

  “I’d like to see that.”

  Suddenly, Mark shook his head. One of the archers said, “What’s wrong?”

  Mark looked at the Archer still shaking his head, “How are we going to get him out of here?”

  The Archers looked at each other and Paul said, “Your devices will only carry one person?” Mark nodded. Paul sighed and said, “You can’t blame yourself for what happens to me. This is not your fault.”

  Mark looked at Paul and knew what Andy was feeling. He did not want to leave the Destroyer behind to die. “We’ll work on it.” The Archers looked at Mark and they knew there wasn’t much hope for the likeable Destroyer Warrior.

  An archer came running up, “Dottie is flying in.” Mark looked at Paul and said, “Come with me.” Mark ran toward the east edge of the clearing and saw the glider circling as it struggled to come down. The heat from the trees made it difficult to spill the air from the wings and land. After thirty minutes, Dottie landed and folded the wings of her glider. Paul watched her and knew there was no way his new friends would be able to take him out.

  • • •

  Dottie sat by Andy and Mark said, “I think the only way to get Harmony back to the Community is for you to fly her back.”

  Dottie and Andy looked at Mark and Dottie said, “And just how do you see me getting airborne?”

  “I’m working on it.”

  Dottie shook her head, “I’m going to assume that you are going to tie her to me.”

  “Well, yes.”

  “And I’m going to run with a hundred and ten pounds and get airborne?”

  “The heat from the fire should give enough lift.”

  “Get out of here, Mark. The only way we could launch was to run down the trunk of the tree with our gliders expanded and leap off the trunk. If I just leap off the trunk I’ll hit the ground faster than a rock. There is no way I can run wi
th that much weight and that large a bundle.”

  Mark looked at Andy, “Will you please allow us to bury her here and go back with us?”

  Andy shook his head, “I will not leave her.” Mark threw his hands up in the air and said, “We won’t go without you, Andy.”

  Gerrod looked at the three and said, “I have an idea.” Mark, Andy, and Dottie looked at him. Gerrod pointed to the northern end of the clearing, “How tall is that tree?”

  Everyone turned and looked and Mark said, “That giant is at least a hundred to a hundred and thirty feet tall.”

  Gerrod nodded and looked around, “Ropey, did you bring your ropes?”

  “Sure did.”

  “Do you have a two hundred footer?”

  “No, but I have two one hundred footers and another fifty footer tied off to my glider.”

  Mark looked at Gerrod, “What are you thinking?”

  “One of us goes up that tree trimming every branch off it with a cutter. Once he gets to the top he throws a rope over the highest branch. We’ll tie the ropes together so it should reach the ground. Dottie will put her foot in a loop and we’ll pull her up to the top of the tree. Once she’s there, she’ll jump out and release her glider.”

  The laughter was loud but Gerrod yelled, “It could work!”

  Mark raised his arms and the Archers grew quiet. Dottie looked at Gerrod, “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have to do it.”

  “Yes I do.”

  Dottie’s mouth fell open and Mark said, “Are you going insane?”

  Gerrod looked at Paul and said, “We’re not going to depend on the height alone to get us airborne. We’re going to set fire to the far side of the clearing and we’re going to make it hotter than ten hells. The heat will suck the air in around the fire and generate an incredible lift.”

  Andy said, “What will prevent you from being sucked in with the wind?”

  Gerrod shook his head, “Come on, Andy. It will be just like circling a thunderhead.”

  Dottie looked at Gerrod, “Tell me why you are going to do it?”

  Gerrod looked at Paul and said, “I brought this Destroyer in and I really think I should get him out.”

  Mark shook his head, “You or Dottie can’t fly all the way to the Community. You’ll have to land and then you’re stuck again.”

  Gerrod shook his head, “Not really.” Gerrod looked at Dottie, “How high would you have to go to reach the cliffs?”

  “What?”

  “How high would you have to go to fly to the cliffs? There is always a wind blowing up the cliff walls and you wouldn’t have to run to get airborne; you just drop off.”

  Dottie looked at Mark and he said, “Answer the question.”

  Dottie’s eyes glazed over and she thought for a minute. She regained her focus and said, “About five thousand feet. Higher, if possible. The flight would have to be started during the hottest part of the day where the updrafts would help. Even then, it would be close with that much weight.”

  Gerrod said, “What if you had larger wings?”

  “Excuse me!”

  Gerrod looked around and yelled, “Tubby, how much do you weigh?”

  A deep voice from the back of the gathering said, “That’s none of your business.”

  Mark yelled, “Answer the question, Tubby!”

  “Two hundred and forty pounds.”

  Gerrod looked at Dottie, “You will use his glider.”

  “What about me?”

  Gerrrod smiled, “Her glider’s wings are only two feet shorter. With a good up draft, you can fly it to the cliffs and then it’s a moot point. Plus, you can still run to get launched. Dottie and Harmony together don’t weight a hundred and forty pounds.”

  Dottie looked at Gerrod and shook her head, “What glider are you going to use?” Gerrod shrugged. Dottie yelled, “Fats, how much do you weigh?”

  “I was afraid you were going to ask. Two hundred and fifty five.”

  Tubby yelled, “You weight more than I do?”

  “Hey, I’m big boned.”

  The archers burst out laughing and Dottie said, “You’ll take Fat’s glider.”

  Andy looked at Dottie, “I can’t allow you to do this.”

  Dottie looked at Andy and said, “I have no choice. We will not leave without you.” Dottie paused, “Will you come with us?”

  Andy’s misery was clear and he lowered his head and nodded, “Harmony would never forgive me if something happened to you.”

  Dottie stared at Andy and said, “But you will never be the same if you leave her behind?” Andy nodded without raising his head. Dottie looked at Mark, “I’m going to do this.” Andy looked up at her and Dottie said, “You’d do it for me.”

  Andy stared at her and said, “I will follow you all the way back home.”

  Gerrod looked at the archers around him and said, “It’s too late in the day to launch. However, we can prepare the trees to start burning in the morning and we can skin that giant at the end of the clearing. Let’s get started.” Gerrod looked at Dottie, “How far is that ship from here?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “If they’re sailing close to the cliffs, I’m going to fly to the ship and land. I have a lot more weight than you do.”

  Dottie nodded, “They’re about fifty miles north of here following the shore line. They should be close to the cliffs tomorrow.”

  Paul walked over and said, “Are you telling me we’re going to be hoisted to the top of that tree and you’re going to jump out?”

  Gerrod stared Paul in the eyes, “Yep.”

  Paul’s face turned white and he said, “Ok, just asking.”

  Gerrod started laughing and the other archers joined in.

  Chapter Eleven

  Dottie held on to the rope as the archers on the ground began pulling her up. Harmony’s body was tied to her she could feel the weight. She fought the tears that wanted to come; she remembered how beautiful Harmony was and her brilliant smile. She felt the heat from the fires burning in the clearing and the smoke was rising at an incredible speed. The glider was out of the pack with its wings folded and she could feel the hot wind blowing against it. The rope she was hanging on began to blow back and forth but she didn’t feel any fear. She was high enough now that even if she fell she could extend the glider’s wings and start gliding upward. She looked out over the prehistoric forest and could see the large long necked herbivores in the distance next to a lake. This world was so beautiful…but so dangerous.

  She finally arrived just below the top branch; she looked down at the archers below. She looked up and saw Andy was high overhead circling the fire waiting for her to launch. She shook her head; Andy loved Harmony so much. It was an injustice that she had been shot. She gripped the rope and pulled herself up slightly to remove her foot from the loop it is was in. She felt her foot come out and she took one hand and gripped the release chord as she let go with the other hand.

  She started falling and pulled the chord and the wings snapped out into place and caught the hot rising air. She fought the wind for a moment and then began rising quickly. She turned the glider away from the fire and began a circle around the clearing. She was jerked upward hard as she came around the far edge of the clearing and was a thousand feet in the air by the time she had completed one circle. She saw Andy high overhead and she made another circle around the fires and was getting close to his glider. He used a hand to make a circular motion and she shrugged and made another circle around the clearing. By the time she came around to the northern side she was more than a mile high. She glanced at the ground and saw the archers pulling Gerrod up the tree. She smiled knowing that his passenger was probably scared out of his wits. It was a good thing that Gerrod didn’t weigh more than a hundred and forty pounds. His passenger was smaller than him. She felt reasonably certain Gerrod would be able to fly to the cliff. Flying out to the ship was probably a good idea. Landing on the cliff with close to three hundred pounds on
the glider was not a good idea. She looked up at Andy and he motioned her to follow him.

  Dottie fell in behind Andy and after thirty minutes was amazed at his flying skills. She knew she was good but she was nowhere close to what he was demonstrating. He led them to every thermal and around clouds that allowed them to maintain their altitude. She had been worried that the additional weight would be an issue and that making the cliffs was going to be a real problem. She worried for nothing. She stayed tucked in behind Andy and not only did they make the cliffs in record time but the wind blowing up from the ocean increased their speed. She knew it had taken two weeks to fly from the community but the speed they were traveling was incredible. The wind at six thousand feet was howling north. She looked at the ground below and saw it passing at a rate she had never experienced. And Andy still found the thermals to increase their altitude. She wondered when Andy was going to land and was surprised when he continued flying after sunset. The moon was full and the glow off the ocean next to the cliffs was incredibly beautiful. The wind continued to howl out of the south at her altitude as they flew north and Dottie wondered how this wind had appeared. She saw clouds over the ocean a long way out and knew there was something blowing from them that must be causing it. However, she stayed behind Andy and they flew north at more than sixty miles an hour. She was thankful she had managed to get some sleep the night before. Andy gave no indication he was going down anytime soon.

  • • •

  Four days after his arrival, Derek held the steering wheel and felt the ship as it was pushed by the winds. He liked steering the giant vessel and felt like it was flying on water. He saw Annelise walk up the stairs to the stern and smile at him, “You’re doing pretty good.”

  “Thanks, I’ve got a good teacher.” Annelise walked over and Derek saw a young woman standing on the steps staring at them.

  Derek’s eyes narrowed and Annelise said, “You told me earlier that you were at the battle with the Destroyer Warriors that went on shore?” Derek nodded. “Did any of the Destroyers survive?”

  Derek looked at the young woman watching them and he looked back to Annelise, “No, we killed them all.” Annelise’s eyes narrowed and she sighed. She turned around, looked at the young woman who had a tense expression, and shook her head. The woman’s tears were instant and she put her hands over her face and ran down the steps. “What’s going on?”