The Empathy Gene: A Sci-Fi Thriller

by Boyd Brent

  David smiled. “It feels better than good.”

  “You can open your eyes and gaze into the sun. The nano webbing will protect them. And absorbing the sun's rays through your optical nerves will prove beneficial.” David opened his eyes, and it felt as though he were looking at the sun through a soft filter, one that turned it into a fuzzy bulb. “How have you done this, Gull?”

  “The sun was going to kill you. As one of your forebears pointed out, necessity is the mother of invention. I suggest you take Peter's clothes.”

  “Why do I need clothes?”

  “They will be useful when interacting with people.”

  “What people? We're in the middle of nowhere.”

  “I detect thirteen heat signatures three hundred metres due west of our position.”

  “West?”

  “Behind you, David.”

  David looked towards the rock face. “The caves?”

  “Are occupied.”

  “All of them?”

  “All except the one two thirds of the way up. It is inaccessible to most, but appears ideally suited to our purposes.”

  As David knelt to remove Peter's robe, the last remnants of the injection dissipated and aches and pains wracked his body. He had gone from feeling invincible to feeling ninety-years-old in seconds. He struggled to untie the belt that secured Peter's robe with hands that felt riddled with arthritis. He opened and closed his fingers. At least the wounds left by the nails had grown thick scabs.

  Peter's black silk robe and sandals were a good fit. David found a money pouch sewn inside the robe. It contained a number of silver coins. He picked up the dagger and slid it into a scabbard also sewn on the inside. He grabbed Peter's feet with the intention of pulling him towards the grave, but could only manage a wince before he dropped them. He stood as straight as he could and rubbed his back. “I could use a quick boost, Gull.” He sounded like an addict in need of another fix.

  “It is too soon. Leave the bodies. The environment’s natural predators will dispose of them.” David picked up a water bottle, removed the cork and drank. “As long as they don't choke on them …” He climbed up onto the front of the wagon and directed the beasts towards the rock face.

  David brought the cart to a halt outside the largest of the caves. Its entrance was three metres above the ground and only accessible by climbing a steep gradient of rocks. Thorn bushes had been grown in the cave's entrance to deter animals. David squinted into the darkness beyond the entrance.

  “The cave has a single occupant,” said Gull. Stones came loose from a pediment ten metres above the cave. David glanced up at a face that retreated from view – an old face, inquisitive and fearful. “He has been observing us for some time.”

  David climbed down from the cart, leaned against it, and clutched at his side. “My chest and lungs feel crammed with pointed sticks.”

  “You have seven broken ribs, David, four of which have punctured your lungs. But nano technology of my own design is assisting the healing process. We require only time.” David looked up at the cave entrance three hundred metres above him. “And just how am I supposed to climb up there?”

  “In twenty-four hours your body will be ready for another injection.”

  The darkness within the cave was disturbed and someone set about parting the foliage. With no little authority a man said, “Remain where you are … I will assist you. I see you have been injured. Remain where you are.” The merchant emerged from the cave into the dawn light. He was a big man, swathed in a green robe of the finest silk. He held a wooden staff with a cobra carved into the handle. He placed his hands on the snake's head and inspected David as an emperor inspects a subject. David watched him back. He'd met enough sons of bitches in his time to know that another stood before him now. David could almost read his mind: the robes I'm wearing are of a fine quality silk … but not as fine as his own, obviously. He suspects that fully fit I can probably handle myself. But not at this time. Far from it.

  The man raised a hand against the sun, and observed the bodies lying in the scrub. “Bandits?” he murmured, as though part of his calculations. He looked down at David, who read the following in his expression: It's a good thing they injured me before I killed them. Doubtless I got lucky. And if they went to so much trouble, and risked their lives, it's reasonable to assume I have something worth stealing. The man looked out towards the two prone figures again. David glanced over his shoulder into the rising sun. Two buzzards circled against it. He can't tell that one of those men is missing a head.

  The merchant gestured towards the scrub land with his chin. Impressed by his own powers of deduction he said, “They attacked you.”

  “That's right. They came out of nowhere.” The merchant trod carefully down the rock face with the aid of his staff. He stood over David and assessed his condition at close quarters. Absently he said, “The area is famed for vicious bandits.”

  “Like I said, they came out of nowhere.”

  “Yes. Out of the sun. Always they come out of the sun.” He supported David under one arm. “My name is Ahaz. You can rest a while in my cave. I have dates and water. Come now. It's lucky for you that I choose this time to cleanse my soul. The others here … useless. They will be up soon enough – up to break their fasts on my store of dates. My family owns this land. These caves. The well, such as it is. Come,” said Ahaz, his impatience growing at David's apparent weakness. David looked back over his shoulder. “Do not concern yourself with the bandits. If they are dead I know just the men to bury them. And if they are not, they will know better than to attack caves belonging to my family.”

  When they reached the cave's entrance, Ahaz shouted, “John!” As though released from a cage, a small bird-like man fluttered from an entrance further down. The man was dressed in a saggy loin cloth that looked like a nappy in need of changing. He hurried over and reached for David's other arm. Ahaz said, “No, imbecile. Go rouse Simon and Mark. And then go and check on the men … out there. If they're dead, bury them.”

  “They're dead alright,” said David.

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “One of them no longer has a face. And the other is missing his head.”

  “No head? How did he lose it?”

  “To a shovel. It's still out there.”

  “The head?”

  “And the shovel.” David looked down at the bird-like man at his side. “It's a good shovel. You'll need it to dig the second grave. It will need to be a big one.”

  “You heard the man,” said Ahaz. “Bury their bodies. The sun is already upon them. They will breed disease and attract leopards. Go!” The bird-like man scurried off.

  Thirty

  Once inside the cave, David was assisted around a bend on the left-hand side, and along a short passage where Ahaz was forced to stoop. The passage led into a spacious cave where torches burned on the walls. A store of dates and water canteens had been heaped against the far wall. In the cave's centre, a hammock had been suspended by ropes tied to metal hooks in the rock. David was asked to sit just inside on the right-hand side of the entrance. Ahaz stood over him. “As you can see, I have much food and water. It is a barren land. There is only the single well. I think I mentioned it belongs to my family?”

  “You mentioned it.”

  “Good people. But not to be crossed.”

  “Alright.”

  “You have silver? To pay for such luxury?”

  “I have silver.”

  “Good. Good. You can rest here for a time, and later I will evict one of the others. That's if you are able to pay more.”

  David was struggling to keep his eyes open. “You'd do that for me?”

  “You will find Ahaz a most agreeable landlord. Most agreeable. Now, show me your silver …” David grabbed at the purse sewn inside his tunic. “It's … it's right here … my silver.”

  “Yes. Yes, a wise precaution. I can see you are very tired. Sleep now.”

  David awoke to
find Ahaz crouching next to him. David's robes had been pulled open to expose his chest. Ahaz's lips were moist, his eyes half closed, and his expression wanton. David asked flatly, “How long have I been asleep?”

  “Twelve hours. You slept like a babe. Your injuries have made you very tired.”

  Ahaz licked his lips. “Your skin … it is very pale. You have come from the northern provinces?”

  “His pupils are dilated,” said Gull. “He is sexually aroused.”

  “It had occurred to me.”

  Ahaz swallowed a mouthful of spittle. “What has occurred to you?”

  David glanced over at the water skins. “That I'm thirsty. I'm very thirsty. I can pay well.”

  Ahaz stood up and went over to the skins. He picked one up, pulled out the stopper and drank from it. “Maybe you would like to do something for me? To thank me for the kindness I have shown. Where would you be without Ahaz?” Ahaz replaced the stopper and tossed the water skin onto a pile of others that needed re-filling. He walked towards David and untied the sash that secured his robe. His belly was covered in thick dark hair, and it fell about his erect penis like a pair of rabbit's ears. He licked his lips and said, “I will give you water. But first you will do something for me.”

  “Gull. I believe this is a genuine emergency.”

  “Yes, David. I'm making an assessment.”

  “Make it faster.”

  Ahaz smiled and spread his arms wide. “Who are you talking to? There is no one around to hear you. Be nice to Ahaz and Ahaz will be nice to you. The alternative? I beat you. Maybe to death. I'll tell the others you attacked me.” He stood over David and fondled himself. “When you slept … you did so with your lips parted. You were tempting me. And now you will satisfy me.”

  “I can provide you with six seconds, David.”

  “I'll take it.”

  Ahaz smiled. “Yes. Of course you will take it. All of it … and I trust it will not disappoint.” He knelt and placed a hand on David's heart. “It beats so fast.”

  David sighed in a way that could have been mistaken for arousal, but his expression remained grim as he wrapped his fingers around Ahaz's hand. Ahaz's fingers began to crack and splinter like twigs. His mouth fell open, but before he could scream David's head shot forward like a battering ram and knocked him unconscious. He fell onto his side, his stomach pooling onto the ground. David sat back against the wall and watched him.

  “It will be several hours before your body has repaired sufficiently to withstand an injection of even a few seconds,” said Gull. “I would advise terminating him.”

  “I'm not sure he deserves to die. It's not as though he was about to kill me.”

  “Your vital signs suggested that what he was about to do may have been worse than death.”

  “How long before I'm ready to make the climb to the cave?”

  “I would estimate twenty-five hours.” David's eyelids grew heavy. He closed them and said, “I'll … I'll tie him up. I saw some rope.” David half opened his eyes and looked towards a coil of rope at the rear of the cave.

  “We are not alone, David. I have detected a heat signature midway between our location and the cave's entrance.”

  “Someone's in the tunnel?”

  “Yes.” David tried to stand but fell back and clutched at his side.

  “I do not believe we are in immediate danger. The man's posture suggests he is the hermit we saw when we arrived.” David rested his head against the wall. “What's the old man doing?”

  “He is crouched in the shadows. Doubtless he is listening to you talk to yourself.”

  “I hope I'm not talking to myself.” David raised his voice. “Please. Come in. I'm not going to harm you. I couldn't … if I wanted to. Which I don't. The man who brought me in here … he's unconscious.” David listened for a reply. Nothing. “What's he doing, Gull?”

  “He is inching forwards.”

  “The men I attacked … they were going to bury me alive. You saw them. Very bad people.” A bony hand clutched at the wall, and the hermit's face peered around it. “My name is David. I mean you no harm. I just need to rest. Time to heal. What's your name?”

  The hermit looked at Ahaz and moved slowly into the room. He crouched, pursed his lips and slapped them with his fingers.

  “I believe he wants to convey the vow of silence he's taken,” said Gull.

  “You can't speak?”

  The hermit nodded. David grimaced and sat up straighter. “When this man wakes up he will kill me. Or worse. Over there are some ropes. Please. Can you fetch them? Help me tie him up?” The hermit lowered his head to the ground, close to Ahaz's open mouth. “He's out cold. I hit him hard … maybe hard enough to kill him.” The hermit shook his head and shrugged his shoulders as if to say 'more's the pity you didn't'. He retrieved the ropes and set about tying up Ahaz.

  “The knots he uses are more than adequate, David,” said Gull. “I suspect this man has spent time on board a ship.”

  “You used to be a seaman?” The hermit paused and looked at him as though he suspected him of some dark art. “The knots. Your knowledge of tying knots …” The hermit smiled, then flapped a palm over his shoulder in a way that denoted the past. By the time he'd finished, Ahaz's legs, wrists and arms were securely bound.

  David slept for twenty-four hours. When he awoke, only the torch on the wall above him still burned. In its light David could see that Ahaz's throat had been slit wide open. A semicircle of dried blood spanned half a metre, like it had been vomited up. David rubbed his eyes. “The hermit did this?”

  “No, David. It was another of the cave dwellers. He discovered him in the night and wasted no time in terminating him.”

  “Why didn't you wake me?”

  “You needed rest. And I did not believe the assassin was a threat. From a tactical viewpoint, Ahaz's death is to our advantage.”

  “Where's the hermit now?”

  “He returned shortly before dawn and mouthed a silent prayer over the dead man. Then he performed a happy jig and admonished himself with a slap to his forehead.”

  “Conflicted. I know the feeling. You're seeing a lot. You care to explain that?”

  “I have made reparations to the radar, increasing its field of vision. At present only I have access to it. Our resources are finite, but you may rely on me to keep you informed.” David braced himself for crippling pain and stood up, but felt only a dull ache down his left side. “Your accelerated healing is well underway,” said Gull. “Your health has reached 51 per cent of optimum. The sun rose fifty-seven minutes ago. I suggest you locate a place to absorb its rays.”

  David stepped from the cave entrance into the dawn light. The sun was just above the horizon and bathed the scrub land in gold and red. David closed his eyes and lowered his head in the manner of a man at prayer – a lone figure swathed in black against the rock face.

  Three hours later he heard footsteps approaching. “It is the man who terminated Ahaz, David.” The footsteps stopped. “He is observing you.”

  David drew a deep breath and without opening his eyes he said, “I mean you no harm. I seek only a place to rest and heal.”

  “Nor I you. I killed Ahaz. He violated me. It was my right.” David opened his eyes and looked at the man. He had dark curly hair, almost an afro, and light-brown freckled skin. His eyes were large and green, and his lashes long and dark. “I believe you.”

  The man nudged his head toward the scrub land. “You killed those men? The men I helped to bury yesterday?”

  “I did. They violated me … in a manner of speaking.”

  The man nodded and brushed some dust from his knee as though casting away such men. “We come to the wilderness to seek solace and enlightenment … and discover perverts and death.” David stepped away from the rock face and turned and looked up towards the isolated cave. “It has not been reached,” continued the man. “Not in a great many years. Besides, you can have Ahaz's cave now.”

  “It's no
t isolated enough. There are people looking for me – dangerous people. If they find me, I'll need an edge tactically. A place I can defend.”

  “You can't be thinking of attempting such a climb while injured? Even a man fully fit … a skilled climber would struggle.”

  “I heal quickly. My advice would be to pack up and leave now. Tell the others.”

  “I have Ahaz's dagger, and maybe I feel emboldened by the life I have taken.”

  “If people come here looking for me, then your dagger will be of little use against them.”

  “Who are these people? Friends of the two you killed?”

  David shook his head.

  “What have you done to offend so many dangerous men?”

  “I keep drawing breath.”

  “Ah, the crime of breathing.” The man offered David his hand to shake. “I commit the same crime every day. Despite what you say, I intend to remain here until the end of my quarantine, but I will communicate your fears to the others. The two dead men we buried will ensure they take the warning seriously. I will bury the pig Ahaz at sundown, after I have broken my fast.”

  David glanced up the rock face towards the empty cave. “Make sure the others understand.” As the man backed away he said, “My name is Mark Alona, and I am at your service. And you are?”

  “David. And I'm at yours.”

  Mark turned and walked away. David looked beyond the hermit's cave for a good place to climb, but there didn't appear to be one – not for a man of normal strength. “I suggest we take a supply of water,” said Gull.

  David turned and looked for Peter's cart. He'd seen several water skins on its back, and they would be easier to carry than Ahaz's canteens. “Where's the cart we rode in on, Gull?”