"You may end your cowering. The Sorgina is no more."
"Are you sure?"
"I saw these two do it with my own eyes."
"But how?"
"With a kiss," Tattie said quietly.
"A kiss? I don't—"
"Listen," Cris stopped him, "the point is, she's dead. No doubt, you've noticed your bewitched people are back to normal? That is the proof of our claim. The next problem is Caval Du Mal—he's on his way here right now…and he's pissed."
"He's what?"
"He is a very angry dictator. We can stop him, but I must speak to the Great Mind."
"Oh, my—that will be difficult. You see, we are separated from the oracle by two different tribes of Naturans."
"Are they hostile?"
"Some are—some are not. I would not call the best of them friendly."
"I have to get to the oracle, regardless. How will I know which Naturans I'm dealing with?"
"You must know the name of the one who leads them. Those not looking to kill you are led by Chana Nayu, those supporting Caval Du Mal are led by Daksano Nuya."
"How do I find Chana?”
"You don't. You just go up there and they find you—one side or the other."
Chapter 24
Nuya and Nayu
On Natu the news of the Sorgina's demise was received with somewhat less jubilation than it had been down on Nazer, perhaps because these people had always felt more vulnerable and alone up here among an indigenous population that had never really embraced them. Regardless, Cris, Tattie, and Tarnus received what aid they needed. They were provided a map that showed the location of the oracle, they were provided protective suits and oxygen, and even a sort of dune buggy as transportation.
Because of his size, Tarnus's suit was enormous, but still, he barely fit into it.
Cris took the wheel of the dune buggy and they rolled out of the underground shelter and into the light of day. Despite the sun's brightness, the thin atmosphere rendered the sky a dark bluish color, like late twilight, allowing the brighter stars to remain visible. The surface of Natu was not too different from that of Earth's Moon, cratered and rocky. The difference was that there was some weathering to these craters and there was plant life—highly unusual plant life.
Tarnus knew quite a bit about Natu, having been assigned here for two years as a young subaltern. The roots of most of the plants lay atop the ground and had long, open cups or funnels growing out of them to catch the rare rainfall. Along the sides, the stalks were perforated with long rows of holes through which they breathe. The larger plants had three to four large leaves, open to catch the light and rain.
These larger varieties were purple and green in color, there were smaller versions and lichen, similar to that found on Nazer, but much thinner. The plants of Natu are quite aggressive, and will kill other plants that threaten to encroach on their ability to gather nourishment. There were stories that, during particularly dry times, the plants would kill animals, even full-grown Geldneth men, and sap them of their bodily fluids. "Stories only, mind you," Tarnus would say.
The native Naturans were well aware that by damaging the environment suits of the aliens, its wearer would eventually die given prolonged exposure to the radiation, and the thin atmosphere would eventually result in hypoxia.
They had not gone very far at all when Cris got that old feeling of being watched. "You know," he said, "I think we're—"
"Yes," Tattie said, "there are eyes upon us."
They passed through a shallow, narrow, serpentine rift between craters when Tarnus looked behind them. "Our exit has been blocked by a group of Naturans," he reported.
Cris slowed the buggy. "And our path ahead is blocked, too."
Cris brought the buggy to a standstill, and they all did as Tarnus had advised before they departed. "When they stop us—and they will—slowly hold your arms out to your sides to show them you are unarmed."
A short, stocky Natu carrying a sort of hand-held dart gun approached them, and in a high-pitched voice, asked, "Here you want what?"
"Safe passage to the Oracle," Cris said.
"You come, you come."
"Vemde again, eh?"
The Natu indicated they should dismount their vehicle and walk with them.
"So," Cris inquired as they walked, "who is your leader, Chana Nayu, or Daksano Nuya?"
The Natu did not even look up, but kept on walking.
They were approaching the high walls of a large crater. A narrow aperture had been cut through the wall and defensive towers built at its base and its top.
A large stone had been placed in, and suspended above, the opening so that it could be quickly sealed. Beyond this, they entered the crater itself. It was, perhaps two kilometers in diameter, and contained a small city. It was obvious that construction had begun many years ago along the inside walls of the crater, then, in a sort of spiral, it expanded outward and upward.
The city looked like a cross between an urban ghetto and a cliff dwelling. In the center, a tall tower had been constructed from local stone, and was approximately thirty meters tall, with a cylindrical room at its peak having windows all the way around. These people did not know glass, so all windows in the city were nothing more than holes in the wall.
All around this tower, in fact, throughout the city, scaffolding of a sort was erected and maintenance work was ongoing. In the area not built on, they had planted what must have been a food crop that looked like tall, thin, purple cauliflower.
Cris, Tattie, and Tarnus were escorted into the base of the tower, then up steps that wound around the inside wall to the room at the top. Sitting on the floor with several other Natu was the fellow who was, no doubt, the leader. He was dressed in flowing robes, and sported gold wrist bands. He spoke to the other Natu, who rose and dispersed to other parts of the room. He then beckoned Cris, Tattie, and Tarnus to join him on the floor.
"Sit, come, sit. Food I would offer to you, but to eating you cannot." He indicated their helmets.
"Yes, I'm sorry, I'm sure it is very good," Tattie responded.
"Yeah," Cris agreed with Tattie, "thanks, but I'm not at all hungry."
"What is it I can for you accomplish?" the Natu leader asked, smiling.
"All we want is passage across your lands to the oracle," Cris said.
"So I am seeing. And why might the oracle you be seeking, I am wondering?"
"I don't mean to be rude," Cris said, "but may I ask your name?"
"All know me on Natu. This is telling me you are new here. I am Daksano Nuya, leader of the Sandlust. Again, I ask, why might the oracle you be seeking?"
"We wish to speak to the Great Mind."
"Of course, to speak to Gerunaku is the purpose of the oracle. But why?"
"You know Bruckna the Sorgina is dead, do you not?" Tarnus asked.
"Such are the rumors," Daksano Nuya said, shifting his weight onto another set of pillows so that he was now almost reclining.
"They are not rumors, Daksano Nuya," Tattie said. "Cris and I killed her as the sun rose over Kurat Vara this morning."
"You two are Shamanra?" Daksano Nuya asked, his eyes widening.
"Yes, they are," Tarnus said.
"To see I must."
Tarnus looked at Cris. "Kiss her."
"What about the helmets?"
"You won't be exposed very long, and you can both hold your breaths," Tarnus explained while grinning at Daksano Nuya. "If you wish to live, you'll both remove your helmets and kiss."
Cris and Tattie stood. They each took a breath, and Tattie removed Cris's helmet, and he, hers. He took her in his arms and kissed her. The longer they held their kiss, the warmer they became, and the light began to develop at the familiar place where their bodies met. Soon, all in the room were shielding their eyes. From outside, the tower looked like a light house.
"Nya, nya, nya!" Daksano Nuya pleaded, and Tattie and Cris parted. Tattie looked at Cris as if she had just discovered him. Quickl
y, she kissed him again and they replaced one another's helmets, vented their suits, then both returned to their seats. Cris's chest heaved as he caught his breath. His gaze was still glued to Tattie's when Daksano Nuya spoke, breaking their trance. "Truly—you two are sharing the love of Shamanra."
Tattie turned and bluntly asked, "Why do you support a murderer who wants to enslave your people?"
"I will not lie to a Shamanraness, we are with him to forestall that which must come in his wake. This, I believe, will prolong my people and find favor from him when he rules all."
"He will make Ahs Dormis of everyone."
"Perhaps."
"We can stop him, forever," Cris assured.
"Since you are a Shamanra, I must your words believe, but only that you believe your own words. To dream even of the attempt is madness."
"Listen to me," Cris leaned in, "all we need is a few minutes to talk to the Great Mind. No one knows we have met and talked to you, and no one will ever know. Let us talk to the Mind. If we fail, we'll be dead, and you are no worse off—but when we succeed, which I know we will, you and your people will be free of Caval Du Mal—forever."
"Perhaps, again. But if you I turn over to the Mal, I will please him greatly and he will shower my people with his favor."
"And how long will that last? When we destroy him, you need seek his favor no more."
"And there is this, Daksano Nuya," Tattie added. "After we defeat Caval Du Mal, you will be seen as extremely wise and be a hero to your people—all your people."
Daksano Nuya leaned back against a large, lavish pillow and considered Tattie's remarks.
He slowly took a drink of what looked like old bath water, then he looked up at the guard who had escorted them. "Hulani hulvor tuig," he said, and then sat up and looked at each of their faces. He spoke to Tattie. "Were you here, I would wish you high fortune, but sadly, I am not seeing you."
"Thank you, Daksano Nuya. Of course, after we are victorious, I will tell of how you assisted us in our quest."
Daksano Nuya smiled and nodded.
As they were escorted back to their buggy, Cris asked Tarnus about the other Naturans. "This clan calls themselves the Sandlust," Tarnus said, "the others, led by Chana Nayu, are known as the Ridgkers."
"Will they unite after Caval Du Mal is defeated?"
"Not likely."
"Why not?"
"What I am about to tell you, you will find hard to believe. First, you should know that we believe that the brains of these people are affected during their youth when their brain development is most important. The atmosphere is too thin, the ozone almost nonexistent, the moon's magnetic field insufficient to stop all the harmful elements of stellar light. Thus, are the Naturans backward, with no desire to develop, or increase their knowledge.
"Another effect of their stellar madness is what we refer to as Kalderic. You see, the Sandlust are possessed of brown fur and the Ridgkers are tan with brown spots. For that reason, they have hated one another since Natu spun off from Nazer."
○O○
The oracle was found close to where the map indicated, in a city called Furth. Furth was, what on Earth would be called, an open city for two reasons: first, it was one of only three reliable water sources on Natu; and, second, was that the Velka Mislay insisted it be so. None dared to challenge the Great Mind on this point.
Being an open city did not make it a safe place. Here were members of both clans, as well as fortune seekers, thieves, and fugitives from the law. In Furth, one could hire a murderer, or obtain anything one's heart might desire—anything, all that was needed was the Nazerian equivalent of money, or anything of value.
The city, not much larger than the Sandlust city they had just left, was quite crowded. Most everyone was wearing some sort of protective suit except the native Natu. Cris noted people he'd not seen on Nazer. Tattie explained that these were from the moons of the demi-star Zuluth. There were some quite tall, yellow people with pointed ears and tails, there were people who, by the shape of their suits, must have had canine hind legs.
Cris stopped when, some distance before him, he spotted three Lautmen. Cris had already started his attack when, in a flash of speed, Tattie was standing in front of him, stopping him. "Tattie, those are—"
"I know, Cris, I know…but not here, not in Furth."
Cris felt a massive hand on his shoulder. Tarnus said, "She is right boy, the only reason there is not wanton killing in the streets here is an understanding among all that Furth is an open city. If you cause violence here, the enforcers will descend upon you. Their judgment is final and instantaneous. You must control yourself."
Among the dingy, dirty shops, and the filth and squalor of the streets, they came upon a single clean, white building. The street before it was immaculate and looked new. The door stood open, but none ventured inside. Cris watched as the denizens of Furth crossed the street rather than walk in front of this building.
"Ah, we have arrived," Tarnus noted.
The three entered the building and found themselves in a small, dark room. The door slammed shut behind them and a hissing began, slowly dying out. A pleasant female voice said, "Welcome travelers, you may now remove your helmets."
Tattie and Tarnus did so immediately. "Hey," Cris shouted. "How do you know you can trust that?"
"Faith, Cris," said Tattie. "We are with the Velka Mislay now."
As Cris removed his helmet, he noted that neither Tarnus nor Tattie seemed negatively affected by the air. He turned to Tattie and said softly, "Next time you do something that could kill you, could we talk about it first?"
"What?"
"I just found you—I can't lose you now."
She smiled, placed a hand on the back of his neck and touched her forehead to his. "You must trust me, Cris."
Suddenly, Cris heard a familiar voice. "Captain Salazar, report."
Cris spun around to see Major Selina standing nearby. From above, a beam of light illuminated her. Cris snapped to attention and saluted before he realized what it was he was seeing.
"Cris," Tattie asked slowly, "who is this woman?"
"That is an image of Major Selina, my commander on Earth's Moon." Cris took a step forward. "Hello, Great Mind. I take it you remember us?"
The image became that of Cris's mother again. "Yes, dear, of course we remember."
"Listen, we managed to kill—"
"Yes, Cristóbal, you and Tattie discovered your ability, with the help of Tarnus, here, just in time. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks, but you see, we have a problem. There's no sign of Caval Du Mal and his fleet. We're worried we are going to miss him."
The image changed to that of Master Sergeant Chuck Alistair. "Cris, your bogy is here." A three-dimensional representation of the Nazerian system appeared near Chuck, who used a laser light to point. "He was on an unscheduled inspection of the system when you took out target number one. He has redirected his flight path now and plotted an interception of Nazer opposite the moon you are currently on, he'll be coming out of the sun with a fleet of exceptional size and power. Intel indicates his ships maintain strong defenses forward, but little to nothing to his flanks or stern. He's over-confident, Cris, always a weakness. Where there is weakness, there is opportunity."
"Is there still time to be into a good position, to get behind his fleet?"
"Yes, but events are moving swiftly now—waste no time."
"Can you tell me how I get inside the flagship?"
"That data has been uploaded into your videkanica."
"What about—"
"That's all the time I have, Cris. I wish I could have your six on this one. Good luck."
The image of Chuck faded away, and was replaced with that of Cris's mother once again. "Cristóbal, dear, you won't need that horrible bomb—not for this, anyway."
"You told me to destroy the flagship. How do I do that without the bomb?"
"You don't have to know, Cris…and you wouldn't understand, any
way."
"Try me."
"Son, time is essential to all of us now. We think you should go, and take some faith with you.”
Cris had faith; faith a nuclear blast would disable the flagship—and he had no intention of leaving the bomb behind.
The image began to waver and fade. The three began to replace their helmets when Cris dropped his. It rolled a couple of meters away. Before he could reach for it, another set of hands picked it up and offered it to him. Standing in front of him now was Danny Rastemberger, smiling. This was not a dream, this image was as real as— Again, Cris forgot with whom he was dealing.
"Danny?" Cris's eyes began to fill.
"Cris, damn buddy, but you sure managed to hook up with one hot looking indig."
"Hey, Danny, I love this woman, this is for real!"
"Whoa, buddy, sorry—yeah, I can see it in your eyes, you're really gone, ain't ya?"
Cris looked down a moment then, glancing back at Danny, replied, "Yeah, Danny—I'm gone."
"Good, then you can let me go, right?"
"Let you go? Yeah—sure Danny—not that I'll ever forget you."
"You know what they say—if you remember someone, they aren't really gone. Just let that space where you kept me all these years fill up with little Miss Green Eyes over there, okay?"
"Yeah—you know it."
"I gotta go pal, and so do you. One last thing—let me hear you say it—"
"Goodbye, Danny."
Danny tossed Cris a sort of salute, turned, and walked away.
Before Cris turned around, he wiped his tears away with his hand. Tattie missed none of this. When Cris turned, his eyes were reddened. She threw her arms around him and whispered into his ear. He looked up and smiled, then they shared a brief kiss, and then both put on their helmets.
An hour later, they were closing in on the entrance to the underground facility when Tattie and Tarnus noticed almost simultaneously that Naturans were barring their path…quite a lot of them, perhaps two hundred. They were armed with spears, swords and a crossbow-looking device. The buggy was only twenty meters from the entrance of the habitat when Cris stopped.
Across a Sea of Stars Page 33
