“What is it, Dox?” Getting on her stomach, she slowly crawled to the edge and peered over the side of the rim. She had to blink to make sure she wasn’t imagining things. “Hey, guys? Guys?” Backing away, she turned her head to find Kyber staring at her with apprehension. She tried to smile, and nervously laughed instead. “There’s water down there! I think I see a waterfall down there!”
Chapter 10
Decision
With a speed and agility that surprised everyone, Dox assembled a small telescope out of bits and pieces he’d confiscated from the ship. Dayall and Kyber took turns using it to examine the side of the mountain, or cliff face, or whatever it was. After a few minutes of deliberation, Dayall turned and motioned for everyone to gather close. Kelen made sure to place Kyber in her line of sight as she listened to what the commander had to say.
“It does appear that this temple extends several hundred meters below ground level. What’s down there, we have no way of knowing. But one thing is certain. There’s nothing up on the surface for us in the way of food or water.” The commander gave a nod in Kelen’s direction. “We think there could be a water supply. We can’t be sure.”
“So what are you proposing? That we go down into the bowels of this deserted structure?” Fullgrath commented.
“It’s either that, or we stay up here and let the eye worms get us,” Sandow answered.
“Those eye worms could be down there, too,” Cooter snapped back. “They probably hole up down there until nightfall.”
The physician agreed. “You may be right. I still say we take the chance. But remember, everyone, if you do see any water, let me test it first to make sure it’s potable. I hate to think what kind of microscopic creatures could be lurking in it.”
“Speaking of creatures,” Mellori spoke up. “It’s possible this place isn’t as deserted as we think it is. Sure, it looks like an alien version of a haunted house. But what if there are other inhabitants on this planet? What if they didn’t all die when their sun blew up? Creatures that, like Cooter suggests, are subterranean dwellers? What if they sought refuge below, and they’re down there right now, waiting to see if we stay or go?”
“We have no other choice but to descend further down,” Kelen noted. “If we stay here, it’s a sure thing we’re all going to die sooner or later after the rations run out. If there really is water down there, then there’s the chance there could be vegetation. Edible vegetation. Commander, I agree we should at least try. We have nothing to lose.”
“Well, I disagree!” the Seneecian named Isup argued.
“Make a valid point and I’ll consider it,” Kyber calmly told him. “Why are you adamant against a little exploration?”
“You said we sent out a distress beacon right before our ship disintegrated and we landed here. If we go underground, how will the rescue vessel find us?”
A film of uncertainty crossed Kyber’s face. Kelen saw his worry mirrored in the furrow creasing his brow, and she realized this alien was as human as she was. For all their differences, they had more in common than most otherworldly species she’d encountered.
“They’ll discover our life pods, Isup. Chances are, if there isn’t any wind on this rock, they’ll also find our tracks leading to here. You make an arresting argument, but it doesn’t change my decision. We find a route that leads downward, and we take our chances. If we find nothing, we’ll be no better off than we are now. But I also sense there’s water below. I can’t smell it, or hear it, but my gut tells me we’ll find some. And, as the Lieutenant suggested, there could be vegetation that may provide a source of food for us.”
Isup curled his lips back, revealing sharp teeth. “Is this what you’ve become, Por D’har? One who takes orders from a skint, instead of taking control?”
“And how would you suggest I take control?” Kyber challenged with a growl.
“Stop them from eating our rations! Let them go below to search for water! We should remain here to await our rescue!”
“And when the eye worms return tonight, how will you defend yourself?” Kelen questioned.
Isup’s eyes widened, and he turned to glare at her. “I was not speaking to you, female!”
“I disagree, Isup. You were speaking to all of us,” Kyber corrected. “Furthermore, what you suggest will endanger the lives of all the men.” His eyes raked over the other three. “But I will grant you permission if that is your decision. You may remain topside and wait for a rescue ship. Or you may descend with me and the Terrans.”
“Go ahead and go with the skints, Kyber Nau. When the ship arrives, I’ll tell them you disappeared into the depths of this place, and was never heard from again.”
Mentally, Kelen flinched at the man’s blatant refusal to no longer acknowledge Kyber as his commander. Oddly enough, Kyber didn’t appear to be concerned about it.
“Then it’s settled. I will accompany the Terrans below. You may stay up top, if that’s your decision. You also reminded me of something I should have done once we landed here. Gaveer, Tojun, Massapa, as of this moment, I am no longer your Por D’har. That is a title that came with the ship. With the Ist Umberu gone, and given the circumstances facing us, I feel you have the right to decide how you wish to spend the rest of your lives on this planet. Because here’s what I believe. I believe a rescue ship will not find us. I believe we will never see our home world again. I believe we will live out the rest of our lives on this rock. And, most importantly, I believe that as long as we and the Terrans work together, we have a greater chance of survival than we would if we continued to act as enemies.”
Tojun took a step forward. “As do I. I’m coming with you.”
“So am I,” Massapa said.
Gaveer nodded. “Count me in with the rest.”
Kyber looked at Isup, but the man remained resolute. “Then it’s decided,” Kyber announced.
Dayall stuffed the telescope into a pocket. “All right. Let’s move it, everyone. Dox, grab your gear. We need to find a way down. Spread out, but keep within shouting distance. If you find a hole, or opening, or stairs, or anything leading south, call out.” He strode back inside the temple. Behind him, Fullgrath followed with a hand firmly gripping Cooter’s tied arms.
Kelen glanced at Kyber. The Seneecian took one more look over the lip of the rock, then glanced at her.
“Do you really believe we’ll find water down there?” she asked, aware that the other Seneecians were closely watching them.
He gave her a weary smile. “I believe we’ll find something. If the four gods will it, there will be water and perhaps vegetation as you surmised.”
“And if there isn’t?”
He didn’t answer her question. Instead, he walked to the open doorway, where he paused and looked back at her, as if silently asking if she was coming or not. Sighing, she trailed him into the temple to begin the search for a passageway into the unknown depths.
Chapter 11
Seeking
The side of the temple where they had taken refuge yielded no clues or possible outlets. Leaving them to move to the opposite end of the building where the walls rose five meters above their heads, and the vaulted ceiling disappeared into murkiness. She couldn’t explain why, but Kelen felt safer tailing Kyber than being with her own crewmembers. Yes, he was weak and injured, but he radiated a strength that drew her to him with magnetic intensity. She could no longer deny the fact that she was curious to know more about him and his kind.
Taking her cue from his actions, she pushed on the walls to see if there might be a hidden door or panel. Every corner was examined. On occasion she would hear someone stomp on the floor. After more than an hour, she stopped and glanced around. Other than Kyber, there was no one else in sight, although she could hear the murmur of voices nearby. They sounded like the commander and Fullgrath. It also meant Cooter would be with them, as Dayall wouldn’t let the man out of his sight after what he’d done.
Kelen paused to remember Bertriol. On a
ship the size of the Manta, with the small compliment of crewmembers it took to run her, everyone quickly became either friends or friendly enemies. Kelen felt specially blessed that everyone on the ship genuinely got along. There was even a semi-serious rivalry between Captain Arvey and Fullgrath, as Arvey had started his career in weapons. On many occasions, the two men could be found arguing about the merits of pulse rockets, past and present.
But of all her fellow shipmates, Nave Bertriol was looked upon as the pseudo father figure. With his non-regulation beard and hearty laugh, he was the ship’s confidant and confessor. Losing the captain was a tough enough blow. Losing Bertriol, especially the way it happened, was heart-wrenching.
She leaned against a wall as hot tears blurred her vision. Vainly, she tried to wipe them away before Kyber noticed, but they fell faster than she could manage. A sob hitched in her chest. Moments later, an imposing figure stood beside her.
“Are you ill?”
His voice was husky. Deep and slightly hoarse. It gave her the impression of a rock being dragged over velvet. She nodded and tried to answer. “I w−was thinking.” Damn her, but the confession only made the tears roll faster down her cheeks.
A furred hand gingerly touched her shoulder. “You’re having a delayed reaction to the man’s death.”
Angrily, she shrugged it off. “His name was Nave Bertriol, and he was a good, good friend. He was e−everyone’s friend.” Clearing her throat, she stomped her feet several times, hoping to jar herself back into some semblance of calm. “I’ll be okay. Give me a minute.”
Rather than leave her, Kyber leaned against the wall. By his body posture, she remembered his blood loss, and realized the man was close to total exhaustion. “Why don’t you sit down a spell before you drop again?”
He graced her with a gentle smile and slid to the floor. “I guess it’s time I stopped trying to keep a brave face for the men.” His comment held a breath of humor, and she sniffed.
“Let me guess. One of those Seneecian protocols says you’re never to show weakness?”
“You know about Seneecian protocols?”
“I’ve read about them. About how you can’t let anyone know stuff like being uncertain, or admitting you don’t know something. Or that you’re lost.” She managed a watery grin. “Answer a question for me?”
“What is it you wish to know?”
“Why do you call us skints?”
Kyber averted his green gaze in embarrassment. “It refers to the fact that you’re hairless.”
“Ah. Like we’ve been skinned? Is that it?”
He looked at her. “Exactly.”
She sniffed again and wished she could wipe her nose. Unfortunately, the transparent suit prevented her from reaching her shirt sleeve. As she puzzled over this dilemma, Kyber held up the water packet.
“Splash a little on your face, then dry off on the outside of the bag.”
Without commenting, she did as he instructed. The container’s outer material quickly soaked up the moisture. It wasn’t a handkerchief, but it fulfilled the purpose.
“Thanks.” She handed it back to him and watched as he attached it to the wide belt around his waist. Up until that point, she hadn’t really studied his uniform. Now that they had a little time, she didn’t care if he caught her staring.
“You know, in our ancient history, there were these people called Romans who wore something very similar to what you have on.” She waved at the wide straps over his broad shoulders. The skirt was made of similar straps that nearly went down to his knees. The open sandals were tied around his feet and calves. Her eyes widened at the sight of his feet. He had four toes, each one the same size, and all of them bearing the same deadly looking talons like those on his hands. “I take it there’s a reason why your uniform is that reddish color, and not the same color as your men’s. Is it representational of your rank?”
“My uniform is this color because I like this color. My rank is the emblem on my arm.” He smiled gently.
Her gaze went to where he pointed to the marks on his bicep. They appeared to be burned into his skin. A coldness went through her, and Kelen lifted her eyes to find him scrutinizing her. “Is that permanent?”
“Yes. Once you enter our military, it is for life.”
“What did they do? Brand you?”
“It’s stitched onto my body. That way, when I’m off-duty, people will still recognize me by my rank.”
She frowned in puzzlement. “But why? I mean, what happens when you advance in rank? Do they stitch you a new symbol, or what?”
“No. A new mark is added.” He placed a claw on the nearly two-inch scar. “This center horizontal line is Kun. Bottom ranking. When I made Kith, they added this hook under it. The upward hook on the other end is when I reached Por Veenosh. Making Veenosh gave me the slanting line in the center. This little curve above the line is my current assignment. Por D’har.”
“Let me guess. If you’d made D’har, there would be another little curve under the line.”
“That is correct.”
“But what if you decided you no longer wanted to be in the military? Or if you got kicked out?”
Kyber gave her a patient look. “There is no leaving the military, either voluntarily or otherwise. It is for life.” Getting to his feet, he straightened. “We need to continue looking for a way down.”
“Mind if I keep asking you questions?”
“I do not mind.” He turned his back on her and resumed examining the walls and floor.
Kelen gave an exasperated sigh. “We’ve been at this for hours, and we don’t even know what we’re looking for. I mean, yes, we’re searching for a portal or opening, but how will we know if we find one?”
“I think one of us will recognize it.”
“This is an alien culture. Their idea of doorway may not be anything like we expect to see.”
He glanced at her. “Are you sensing anything?”
“Only more frustration.” She ran her hand over a set of symbols carved into the rock. “What I wouldn’t give to be able to read this. This whole place reminds me of a maze. Its layout doesn’t make sense. So, Kyber, what made you decide to go into space duty?”
He cocked his head in her direction. “Say that again?”
“What made you—”
“No. Before that.”
“You mean when I was bitching about this place being a maze?”
His expression brightened. Lifting his face, he called out, “Dayall? Dayall, are you nearby?”
“I hear you, but I have no idea if I’m anywhere close to where you are,” Dayall replied. He sounded near, but muffled.
“Look above you. What do you notice about the walls?”
A pause. “Other than they’re covered with some sort of alien writing?”
“They don’t go all the way to the ceiling,” Kyber told him.
“The ceiling is way the hell up there,” Fullgrath added.
“Perhaps so, but the walls are all the same height,” Kyber informed them. He gave Kelen a warm smile. “What if this temple is a maze? What if it was built that way to deter unwanted visitors? What if we have to thread our way to a specific location to find what we seek?”
A soft Damn could be heard. “Dox, where are you?”
Further away, the little man answered. “Here.”
“Who’s with you?”
“Jules, commander,” the navigator replied.
“Jules, can you boost Dox on top of the wall?”
There was a shuffling noise, then Dox called out. “Here!”
“Dox, what do you see? Do you see the tops of all the walls?” Dayall asked.
“Yes.” Before the commander could question him again, the little man added, “It’s a puzzle.”
“Like a maze? A labyrinth?”
“Yes.”
Kelen silently patted herself on the back. She hadn’t meant her remark to be taken literally. It was funny how serendipity could occur.
“I see Doc and Mellori. And three Seneecians. Hello!”
Dayall continued. “Dox, can you see where the maze ends? Where it leads to?”
“Let me check.”
Kelen stood staring upward as she strained her ears to detect which direction Dox was taking. Beside her, Kyber also listened.
“Here!” Dox finally announced, farther away than where he’d started.
“What do you see, Dox?”
“There is an opening.”
“Is there a doorway?”
“No door. Just a way. Want me to go see inside?”
“No! Wait! Can you direct us toward the doorway? Help us through this maze,” the commander requested.
While Dox guided the commander toward him, Kyber softly commented, “Your frustration was correct.”
She smiled at him. “I was lucky.”
“Perhaps. But I have always believed that females of any species are more capable of making intuitive decisions. Thank you, Kelen.” He reached out and gently clasped her arm. As she had felt when he’d held her hand, his grip was warm, and in no way did she feel repelled by his touch. In fact, for the briefest moment, she wished she could have hugged him in return. As he continued to stare at her, she started to reply to his remark when a voice overhead interrupted.
“Hello!”
Dox’s sudden appearance startled her. Glancing up at him, she softly laughed. “Hello, Dox.”
He pointed in the direction where they had been heading. “Go that way.”
Kyber chuckled and gestured for her to precede him. “Indeed. We shall go that way.”
As she followed Dox’s instructions, Kelen remained acutely aware of the strong figure following her. When all her training and experience warned her she should not be making friends with the enemy, something about the Seneecian made her want to please him. The quixotic jumble of feelings bothered her. If she dwelled on them long enough, she knew it would start to rankle. She had to sort out these conflicting emotions, and soon. Maybe it was due to her womanly intuition, as Kyber suggested, but for some reason she knew she inevitably would have to choose sides.
Neverwylde (The Rim of the World Book 1) Page 6
