Kira did not fully understand why she must stay in her room, but the thought of going home made it palatable. She did as Doctor Florida asked and headed back to her cell.
“The rest of you follow me. I can use the help,” quipped Cody as he turned and headed for the medical center. On the way, he explained what he had learned.
“It is a virus. I was correct in that deduction, but unlike any virus I have ever seen. The multiplication rates are extremely high, and most humans have no immunity to it. It also appears that the natives have a natural resistance.”
He stopped speaking long enough to cycle through the airlock, and then continued, “Tiro has provided us with samples we can use to produce a vaccine. Also, he supplied us with a new kind of antibiotic that will treat the people that are already sick.”
Cody stopped and turned to his friends, the sparkle in his eyes showed how he felt; excited and relieved. “I need Tammy and Al to assist the staff in the administration of the medicine, and if you would be so kind Elizabeth, you can help me start making more of the vaccine.”
With a plan in play, they split up to begin the work of healing the village.
****
Within two weeks, the sick had been treated, and most of the colonists vaccinated against the virus. The results were very promising, and life in Camelot was starting to get back to normal.
The broken watcher was repaired and put back into service and progress had been made producing the power cells they needed for the shuttles. Edward told him it shouldn’t be much longer before they could begin assembly of the power pack he needed so badly.
In his spare time, Chris built a buggy. The design of which he got from the shipboard network. In its previous existence, it was called a dune buggy but the popular design had been modified many times into all-terrain vehicles for many purposes.
Al and the captain thought it was a great idea. The project would familiarize Chris with the fabrication process at the caretaker facility, and would allow them all to learn more about the new technology. They also needed something to patrol the perimeter.
Al had twelve men permanently assigned to his force, with a few more that could help in a pinch, but it was not enough. The village had grown over the years, building by building, and they expanded the perimeter accordingly. It now took a walking man thirty minutes to make one complete circuit. With the assistance of a motorized vehicle, that same man could do a better job in ten.
Chris had turned out to be quite the scrounger and was able to repurpose many of the parts from broken machines and spare parts, with the rest produced by the alien fabricators in Overlook Mountain.
The buggy was electric and only required two of the smaller energy cells to give it plenty of power, and a range up to one hundred miles per charge. The tires were a soft, durable rubber that did not need inflating, and the entire thing was waterproof. Because of the open cab design, the passengers were not.
Assembly of the vehicle had taken place in Chris’ small workshop, next to his house, and Al was there to help make the final connections and tighten the last nuts and bolts. The buggy was ready.
“Wanna give it a test run?” Chris asked with a huge grin.
“You don’t have to ask me twice,” answered Al.
“That’s what I thought you would say.”
It was a small buggy with room for only two passengers and a little storage in the back, which made it little more than a frame, four wheels, two seats, and a motor. Both Chris and Al thought it was perfect. Al opened the shop door, and they climbed in. Chris turned on the ignition and silence greeted their ears. Electric vehicles have no exhaust and the sound produced is minimal, which makes them perfect for surveillance.
When the young man pressed on the accelerator with a little more exuberance than he should have, the rear tires spun, and they shot out into the main path.
“This thing is fast!” exclaimed Chris.
“I can see that. You might want to slow down some,” suggested Al.
Chris tapped the brakes, and the buggy jerked forward. He laughed and said, “Brakes work.”
“Ha ha—wise guy.”
Because of the most recent attack, a hundred-foot safe zone was established outside the fence perimeter, the trees and large rocks were removed, leaving them a clear view of the tree line. Inside the fence, a single six-foot path followed the sonic posts around the village.
It was late in the day, and the sun was going down as they made their first round. The feeling of freedom and the wind in their hair made them decide to keep going.
“This is nice. Your buggy works great,” said Al.
“Did you notice how quiet it is, as long as we stay in the grass, you can’t even hear the tires.”
“I can hear the insects in the forest Chris.”
“I think this will make patrolling a lot easier.”
“And more enjoyable,” added Al.
The light was failing, and the automatic village lighting was starting to pop on when Al thought he saw something. A twinkle of eyes at the tree line. His curiosity aroused, Al said, “Hold up. There is something out there.”
Chris stopped the vehicle and followed Al’s gaze.
In-between two trees, standing in front of the darkening forest stood the largest Riktor they had ever seen. The beast was surprised and appeared unhappy about his being discovered; the anger apparent in its look and stance. Both men reached down to grab their always ready rifles, and when they looked back—it was gone, the nearby trees showing no sign of his exit.
The security chief got on the radio and asked to have one of the watchers dispatched to the area. When he finished reporting the sighting, Chris asked, “What should we do?”
Al had already made a decision, knowing the beasts preferred hunting at night. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not going traipsing around in the forest, in the dark, looking for man-eating monsters.”
“I see your point. So…what can we do?”
“I think I’ll post a couple of men here, and step up the patrols. We need to get to the security office and hand your buggy over to the guys walking the perimeter. It looks like we are going to put this thing to use right away, and I believe you are going to make some friends with your little vehicle. You might even have to build another one.”
“I wouldn’t mind that if I can find the parts.”
They posted the guards and made good use of the two watchers. Al had a warning sent to the Sansi tribe, and they settled down to a long, restless night. But nothing happened and in the morning, they found only a few twisted branches and some footprints. They thought the creature was alone, but it was impossible to tell. He made it past the lookout sentries and the watchers to within a hundred feet of their fence, leaving almost no trace. The question it left behind was, what was he doing?
****
Kira came home to a hero’s welcome. The party held for her lasted all day and most of the night and was held outside the caves they called home. As dusk fell, the party continued, thanks to the ever vigilant Kuthra and their protection from the nightmares of their past. For the Sansi, the night had become something to relish—not to fear.
The shuttle had deposited her on her doorstep, just outside the cave’s main entrance. Most of her family and friends were there cheering. A young pilot helped her down from the spacecraft and watched as she went to meet her people.
As was customary, the leader of the tribe greeted her first. “How are you, daughter?”
“I am well father, and getting better every day.”
He looked from her face to her chair, and a frown appeared. “Can you get around all right, with this machine the Kuthra have given you?”
Kira, well known for her high spirits and positive attitude hesitated for just one second, and a flicker of worry crossed her eyes. Then it was gone.
With a big grin, she replied, “I believe I can still beat most of the men in a race to the water hole and back!”
Father and mo
ther exchanged a glance and a smile. They hugged their not-so-little girl, and the party began. Kira turned to wave goodbye to the man on the shuttle, but the craft had already left.
Her childhood sweetheart was there. The man she was to marry. When her parents moved on to a better place, they were destined to become the leaders of the tribe.
Their meeting was awkward at first, Toji being unsure what to say. He had not seen her since before the accident, and only sporadically before that.
“How are you Kira…really?”
She hugged him and asked, “How do I look?”
“You look fantastic!” answered Toji.
They talked for a while and then joined the rest of the tribe. He had missed her a lot, and Toji was glad to see her. During the party, she was happy and talkative, telling the story of her adventure at the Kuthra camp more than once.
But, as the evening wore on he could tell there was something different about her. She did not laugh as quick, and an occasional flash of frustration would cloud her smile. Yes, Kira was different. She was not the same person she was when she left, and this made Toji wonder if this was the fault of the Kuthra. He would not speak ill of the star people, but he could privately think that if not for the Kuthra, she would have both legs, and still be the Kira that he loved.
Chapter Nine
The captain was playing test pilot with the first shuttle equipped with the new power cells. He started with a slow liftoff, watching the instruments indicating performance. To him, the ship felt light and eager to go, and he liked his spacecraft happy.
Power indications were above normal, and the captain smiled, thinking about the improvements made by the Caretaker technology. The captain took a few slow turns around the outskirts of the village and was pleased with the readings. Now for the real test.
Sitting in the co-pilot seat, and knowing the captain as he did, Al had a good idea what was coming next. “You’re going up, aren’t you?”
He looked at Al with a grin and a twinkle in his eye, reflecting his love of flying. He replied, “Yes Mr. Clark, we are going up.”
Five seconds later, with a rush of wind and pressure, they were hovering at five hundred feet, with a panoramic view of the valley below.
“I think these new power cells will work great Al, that escape maneuver didn’t move the power gauge at all.”
“That’s great Tobias, but it’s a good thing I don’t have a real stomach—because we would have left it behind.”
The captain chuckled, “Don’t worry Al, we’ll take it a little easier for a while.”
They made a couple of quick trips around a two-mile circle, and when the captain seemed satisfied, he turned to Al and said, “I saw something on one of my mineral excursions I wanted to check out, but I have been putting it off until we replaced the power cells. What do you say we take a quick trip out there?”
It was still early in the morning, and Al did not have much on his plate, so he said, “Sure, so long as it doesn’t take too long. I need to be back around noon.”
“Not a problem…I think you’re going to like this,” answered the captain.
His friend was good at his word. The place he took Al was a hidden paradise.
Al was pleasantly surprised when a thirty-foot waterfall cascading into a crystal clear pool came into view. An oasis surrounded by a sandy beach with a dense forest enveloping it. Due to prior experience, they had learned the hard way that you don’t go anywhere unarmed on Avalon, so they equipped each shuttle with three laser rifles. They each grabbed a weapon and got out to have a look around.
“Looks like a nice swimming hole,” suggested the captain.
“Not for us I don’t think. Notice the tracks?”
The captain looked down and realized there were multiple shallow depressions in the sand, spoiling the pristine look of the beach.
“Looks a little like the beach back in Kira’s cave.”
Al shook his head and replied, “No, these are footprints of the local wildlife. Notice the bigger ones? Those are Riktor prints. Judging by the number of tracks around here, I have to believe this is a popular watering hole.”
The captain scanned the area, looking for possible threats and said, “It seems safe enough right now.”
“Seems that way doesn’t it? Let’s keep our guard up regardless.”
The beauty of the place, and the peaceful quality it radiated made them decide to walk over to the falls and find a place to sit down. For a while, they just wanted to sit and enjoy it.
One of the good things about being Al Clark was the ability to hear better than most; even in human mode. Over the rush of the water falling onto the rocks below, Al heard an intake of breath behind him providing a warning just before a devil dog exploded from the brush and rushed towards Al.
Al pushed the captain to his right, away from him, and rolled to his left. The snarling dog jumped through the space where Al had been, hit the sand, and stopped. With a startled cry, it turned around and faced him. Then it did something unexpected. It sat down and stared, not moving a muscle. Behind him, Al heard the grunt of a second dog as it sprang from the trees.
His rifle had fallen when he rolled, but Al could be fast if required. While on his back, he drew his pistol and put a tiny hole in the head of the dog as it sailed towards him. Before the other dog could think to rise and attack, he turned and shot it. They fell to the ground at the same time.
“Why am I always surprised how fast you are,” asked the captain.
“I am as surprised as you are Tobias. What do you think—time to go?”
“Yeah, I think I’ve had enough of this place. The captain was silent for a few seconds and then asked, “Did you notice that both dogs went straight for you?”
“Now that you mention it, they did seem to be concentrating on me.”
Why they acted as they did was a puzzle for later. The victors picked up their guns and walked back to the shuttle. Leaving the dead dogs to the scavengers, they left the unlikely paradise and headed home.
****
Terror liked to go down to the waterhole in the late afternoons. It was calm and peaceful, and it helped him to think. When he found the two dead members of his newly formed pack, lying lifeless on the beach, he was furious. The beast roared his displeasure and then threw the carcasses into the trees. It would not do to spoil the water.
His mate arrived and voiced her objections to the defiling of the water hole, along with the two remaining dogs of the pack also angered by the lifeless bodies of their kind. They were, however, not angry enough to let good meat go to waste—so they fed. Hunger changes the rules concerning right and wrong in the wild. When they had finished, there were other animals to take their place.
The biggest and meanest Riktor in the valley hated these vile little savages that stomped around his valley, spoiling their hunting ground. They killed or chased the game away, leaving them to go hungry.
These creatures that had the audacity to harm their precious water source, and kill their fellow hunters were arrogant and ruthless. When he dealt with them, the murderers would see what Terror can unleash upon them. He would have his revenge, regain his valley, and send them all to the land beyond.
****
Al and the captain picked Kira up outside the tunnel entrance on the Camelot side. They had asked if she wanted to meet outside the caves, but she claimed the trip to Camelot would be good exercise.
Toji had volunteered to accompany her to the first fitting for her new legs, and she had declined; while averting her eyes.
He asked, “Why do you not want me to go?”
“I need to do this myself. I will not be a burden to anyone.”
Toji was confused. They had known each other since childhood, and he felt a part of her. For her to brush him aside, and exclude him from her life, hurt more than he could say. Toji was afraid he was losing her.
“We have done everything together! I was there when you ran your first hunt. I was at yo
ur coming-of-age party, and also when we met the Kuthra for the first time. Why are you treating me like I don’t matter?”
“It is not you Toji. It is me. So much has happened to me that I have changed. I am not the person I was.”
“It’s the Kuthra…is it not?”
“They are a part of it. They have many fine qualities that I admire. Now I just need to understand how our people can benefit from their wisdom.” She hesitated, unsure how to continue, “It is also the loss of my legs. Something like that gives a person new ways to see things.”
“But I want to help.”
“You are helping Toji, just by being here for me.”
It was an awkward goodbye, with volumes left unsaid when she turned and entered the tunnel, briefly waving and closing the door. When she arrived at the Kuthra entrance and entered the shuttle, her eyes were still red from crying.
Al saw the tears and inquired, “Are you all right Kira?”
She gathered herself together and attempted a smile.
She said, “Yes Mr. Clark, I am fine. I am just happy the time has finally come to begin the making of my new legs. I am very ready.”
Whatever was bothering her, she did not wish to discuss it, so Al changed the subject. “Wait until you see what Doctor Florida has for you. I think you are going to be extremely happy.”
Kira smiled a sad smile—but said nothing more.
The shuttlecraft they flew in was newly equipped with the energy cells created in the Visto shop, and their flight time was cut down by at least twenty minutes. The captain was impressed and delighted. By the time they docked inside the Excalibur, his passengers had been shown the full capabilities of the little spaceship and were ready to get out.
****
Edward was waiting for the shuttle when they arrived on-board the Excalibur and escorted them to the back of the ship where the roboticist had his shop. The music rose in volume as they approached the door to the shop and Kira exclaimed, “I know that song. It is called Lucy in the sky with diamonds. I do not understand what the song is about, but it puts pictures in my mind that make me happy.”
AL CLARK - Avalon -: (Book Two) Page 11
