McCann’s stubble was starting to itch. It was a little game he liked to play with himself whenever he left the island. Rather than take a shaving kit with him, he would endure the minor discomfort until a mission was complete and he was back in his two-room habitat module on Helice. It was both an incentive and a way of rewarding himself for a job well done. At the rate things were going, though, it didn’t look as if he would be enjoying the luxury of a smooth chin any time soon.
At first, it had seemed as if everything was proceeding according to plan. Not long after reaching the Aronak coast, he had spotted the ship from the air and determined that the fugitives from Drann had somehow traversed the Barrier and made landfall. How they had managed such a feat was a puzzle, but it was not one that McCann was charged with solving. His instructions were simple–track down and eliminate.
He set down on the landward side of the dunes and walked up the beach, wind blowing through his salt and pepper hair. The sailing ship looked as if it had grown out of the sands that encompassed it. McCann knelt and drew a globe from his side pack–copper in colour and set with a vision sphere at its centre, so that it looked not unlike a large metal eye. He set the program for a full reconnaissance of the structure up ahead and released it.
The ball flew off toward the beached vessel and began a systematic search, guided by its own artificial intelligence. McCann held the receiving sphere in his hand, watching the images as they were relayed. Nothing. The ship was deserted. He inputted the return command, retrieved the “watcher” and returned to his avionic, lifting off once more so as to adopt a standard search pattern. Soon after, he caught sight of three tiny shapes moving slowly across the bleak open landscape. Perfect. He fired the forward mounted gamma ray laser. One of them was hit, he was certain of it, but when he returned for another pass, they were gone. McCann cursed, scanning with infrared, but they had somehow vanished like smoke.
He was not used to reporting failure. Wang was not going to be pleased. It was one thing for their Kelanni servants and spies to prove a letdown–that was almost expected. But for a human, it was unforgivable.
He glanced up as another avionic passed overhead on a leisurely course toward the town below. Sighing, he raised the back of his right hand to his mouth and spoke into his Ring.
“McCann.”
“Hello, Mac, how’s it going?” The female voice was edged with the Ring’s usual distortion.
“They made it through to this side, and I managed to track them down.”
“That’s good.”
“Then…I lost them again.”
“That’s not so good.”
“Can you find Wang and put him on?”
“Sorry, Mac, Wang isn’t here right now. He’s over in Drann playing Prophet for the benefit of the locals there.”
McCann harrumphed. “I think he enjoys that too much. Pretty soon he’s going to start believing in his own hype. To tell the truth, Susan, I don’t even know why these Kelanni he has me chasing down are so important. It seems to me that we have bigger problems back at the island.”
“Wang says they are dangerous. They’re trying to disrupt the supply of lodestone. They could destabilize the whole Accumulator Project.”
“Really? Right now I would say that Lafontaine is already doing an effective job of that. Before I left, I heard that he had persuaded several of the engineering team to cease work on the Accumulator and go back to working on the QDE drive. He says Wang is off his head, trying to take over an entire world.”
“And what do you think?”
“I took an oath to serve the Captain. Although…”
“Mac?”
“Sorry, Susan. It’s just that after nearly sixteen standard earth years stuck on this rock, the thought of going home is tempting.”
“I guess you must miss Emilie and Monica?”
“No…I’m long past that. Emilie’s probably re-married by now. And Monica–well, she was only two years old when I lifted off from Eridani Station. She probably doesn’t even remember me. Heck, she could have children of her own by now.”
“Hey, you could be a granddad, Mac.”
“Don’t start with me, Susan. I’m not in the mood.”
“Sorry…hey, I’d like to go home too. And our only chance of that is to get the QDE working.”
Quintessence. Every school kid back home knew the story. It was a kind of dark energy–the kind that was responsible for the expansion of the universe itself. Its discovery two centuries ago had finally explained black hole physics, proved Einstein wrong and spawned the Quintessence Dark Energy Drive, which had catapulted humans from the backyard of their solar system into deep space.
However, quintessence was difficult to control. So when their ships had entered this system and detected negative matter, unknown anywhere else, it was a cause for major celebration. Ships powered by lodestone would not need quintessence, or any other kind of fuel for that matter. QDE could become obsolete overnight, and they would all be rich beyond the dreams of avarice. But the indigenous population of Kelanni–a nascent industrial society–had proven a major obstacle.
Wang had insisted, then demanded, then threatened; and in the brief conflict that followed, all three of their ships had been severely damaged. It was only now, after all this time, that Lafontaine had cobbled together enough parts so as to maybe get one of their ships operational. At first he had wanted to use lodestone, but Wang insisted that all their available ore be used to construct and test the Accumulator Device, which would wipe out the native population and secure the supply of lodestone. It was no different than with the Incas of South America, the Red Indians of North America or the Aborigines of Australia, Wang said. The history of humanity proved that primitive races had to be swept aside for the advancement of those who were superior. Besides, he was not about to walk away from untold wealth.
It was ironic, then, that the Kelanni here in Skell had discovered the principles behind lodestone for themselves and had already begun construction of their own diametric drive.
“Would you be happy to return penniless after all this time?” she asked.
“I don’t know–sixteen years’ back pay ought to add up to a tidy sum, don’t you think.”
“Perhaps. But the payoff from our little discovery would make that seem like pocket change.”
“Yes, but maybe Wang’s price is a little too high.”
“You wouldn’t allow a colony of ants to take over your home,” she pointed out.
McCann pulled the Kelanni furs tight against the cold and started back down the hill toward his avionic. “No, but these people aren’t ants. And this isn’t our home.”
<><><><><>
Chapter 12
Keris and Alondo walked side by side in silence through the snow-covered fields as they approached the town the locals called Kieroth. Sunlight glinted cheerily off the angled white roofs. Alondo was in a less than talkative mood, but for once it was not she that was responsible–it was Lyall.
Lyall’s recovery was almost complete. He was walking about the house, talking and eating more than she had ever seen him eat, all of which she took to be positive signs. That morning they had breakfasted together for the first time. She and Alondo had returned from their second trip to Kieroth late the previous evening.
“Progress is rather slow, I’m afraid,” she was explaining. “Aside from the obvious language difficulties, we have had to proceed with caution–asking questions, but in a manner so as not to give too much away. What’s more, their artisans’ quarter is quite large, and some shops and artefacts even Alondo can’t identify. I am forever trying to drag him out of one establishment or another.”
Alondo made a face. “Yes, well, don’t blame me if the very thing we need to fix Annata’s machine is found to be sitting in one of those shops you dragged me out of.”
Keris leaned back against the wall. “As I recall, the last contraption you insisted on examining in detail turned out to be a device for ma
king hot beverages.”
“Yes,” Alondo said. “What’s your point?”
Lyall held up his hands. “All right, all right. Let’s call a truce, shall we? We knew this wasn’t going to be easy. I should be able to join you soon–I imagine another pair of eyes wouldn’t hurt.”
“It’s a pretty long walk. Longer since our friend here,” she jerked her head in Alondo’s direction, “can’t use a flying cloak.”
“Couldn’t you ask to use their flying machine?” Lyall asked.
Keris shook her head. “Even leaving aside that it’s their only form of transport, there’s only room for two people, and neither me nor Alondo knows how to pilot it. Besides–”
“Besides,” Alondo finished, “I already told her there’s no way I’m going up in one of those.”
Keris spread her arms wide in resignation. Lyall put an arm around the musician’s shoulders and smiled. “You are a true pioneer, my friend.”
“Thank you,” Alondo said, his grin turning to a frown as the irony hit home.
Lyall released Alondo and his tone became serious. “There’s something else I wanted to discuss, something that may make us all feel a little better. We have all missed Shann and Boxx since we lost them during the crossing. I think it’s time we said hariath-sharana for them.”
“You realise we would have to say the ritual farewell for Saccath too,” Keris pointed out. “That is, if you’re going to keep with Kelanni tradition.”
“I’m aware of that,” Lyall said quietly. “I don’t know whether these peoples’ rituals are anything like ours, but I would like to–”
“What are you saying?” Lyall and Keris both turned to Alondo. “You don’t know that they’re gone. They’re alive somewhere. I know it. They’re alive.”
Alondo stormed off, and she had not seen him again until it was time for them to leave. Keris was content to leave him to come to terms with his grief in his own time and in his own way. However, as they reached the point where the open countryside ended and the road that led into town began, she decided to broach a subject that had been bothering her since their first visit here. “I think you should lose the hat.”
Alondo seemed to take a moment to return from the cold lonely place where his thoughts had been residing. “What?”
“The hat,” she repeated. “We’re supposed to be keeping a low profile. That hat of yours–well, it draws stares. We borrowed these furs from the locals so that we would blend in. No-one here wears a hat like that. It marks us as outsiders.”
“We are outsiders,” Alondo said.
Keris sighed. “Yes, but we don’t want to advertise the fact.”
“Forget it.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I said, forget it. Unless you’re going to try and take it off me.”
Keris shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then the hat stays.”
Keris felt troubled. She had never seen him like this. Clearly now was not the time to force the issue. She decided to try and change the subject. “How was Oliah when you last spoke to her?”
“She’s being forced to live underground as an outlaw in a city that’s under martial law. How do you think she is?” He winced as if someone had slapped him in the face. “Sorry…I’m sorry.”
Keris shook her head. “Forget it. We’re all trying to do the best we can. Including Lyall.”
“I realise that. When we get back, I’ll apologise to him. It’s just that…”
“I know,” she murmured. “I know.
~
The streets of Kieroth’s market district were thronged with fur-clad shoppers; ambling along, chatting excitedly or merely staring into ornate bay windows set with leaded lights. It was all very different from Chalimar, or any of the other towns back on their side of the Barrier. Gone were the open stalls and the raucous cries of the street vendors; the loud haggling between stall owners and customers; the snorting of graylesh and the aroma of cooked spiced moba. Here, everything was so much more discreet. Civilised. Shopkeepers displayed their wares behind barriers of glass. And it was cold–so much colder than her home. Snow melting into slush. Keris pulled the furs tighter around her.
After their previous two trips here, she was well familiar with the town’s layout. At the end of this road, take a right turn and that would lead them straight to the artisans’ district. There were many establishments they had yet to check out. Keris tended to allow Alondo to conduct the actual enquiries, as he had a much better grasp of the local dialect–and besides, he knew far more about machines than she did. Her role was to make sure he was safe, and to keep him focussed on the task at hand, as he had a tendency to be distracted by every new invention he came across.
Today, however, that might prove to be a good thing. The musician needed something to take his mind off the fate of Shann and Boxx. Although she had not mentioned the fact to Lyall, another thing that was slowing them down was the fact that he wanted to inquire about them of everyone he met. Keris was not unsympathetic. They had all been affected by the loss, herself included. But they had a job to do. Their companions had sacrificed their lives for the cause on which she and Lyall and Alondo were embarked. Lyall believed that hariath-sharana, the ritual farewell, was the best way to come to terms with what had happened. But to her way of thinking, the best way to do that was for them to successfully complete their mission. That way, their deaths would have meaning.
His inquiries had been met with shrugs and shaken heads. A few mentioned that a while ago, a girl–a stranger–had caused a disturbance and been taken into custody, but no-one knew where she was now. Keris did her best to downplay the account, cautioning him that he shouldn’t get his hopes up, but he carried on doggedly asking the same questions. In the end, she had left him to it.
However, from the moment that Lyall had suggested the ritual farewell, it was as if the faint hope that the musician had been clinging to was suddenly wrenched from his grasp. She had no idea what he would do. The truth was that when it came right down to it, even those who cared about you could only be spectators of the pain you were going through. Grief was a path you had to travel alone.
One of the strange floating carriages was moving down the street toward them, making a subtle humming sound. As it passed by, she heard Alondo’s shout just behind her. “Shann…It’s Shann.”
She whirled around. Alondo was standing wide-eyed and rooted to the spot. “What? Where?” she called.
“There.” He pointed at the coach as it receded into the distance. “In that carriage thing.”
“Impossible,” she declared.
“It was her. I’m sure of it.”
Bang. Before Keris could respond, the air was shaken with a loud impact, followed by a horrible grating sound. The carriage up ahead had crashed onto the cobbles and was sending up sparks and shards of metal. She watched in horror as it lurched and spun around, before finally grinding to a halt. The street erupted in panic. Onlookers who had been cowering in terror now began running toward the crash. Keris saw one of the blue-coated watchmen moving in, his odd-looking staff weapon held at the ready. Alondo started moving toward the scene of devastation. We can’t get caught up in this; it’s too dangerous.
Unceremoniously, she grabbed the round-faced musician by the scruff of the neck and dragged him away down the nearest alley.
~
As McCann had anticipated, Wang had been furious at his former engineer.
“What do you expect me to do?” McCann had responded angrily. “They could be anywhere. One man can’t search half a planet.”
The Captain ran a hand through his short black hair and yelled at him. “We have at least some Kelanni contacts in Skell, don’t we?”
“Not many,” McCann countered.
“Well, get back there and kick them up their green-tailed backsides. I want those who crossed over into Skell eradicated before they can do any more damage, do you hear me?”
This
is all Lafontaine’s fault. The elderly scientist was refusing to co-operate on the Accumulator Project again. Wang was livid, but he was forced to rein himself in because he needed the old man. That meant taking out his frustration on his subordinates–and McCann was right in the firing line. The engineer would have liked nothing better than to sink his knuckles into Wang’s plump oriental face. But McCann had taken an oath when he signed on. Wang was the Captain and that was that.
McCann threaded his way through Kieroth’s main commercial thoroughfare. He had learned long ago to rely on the anonymity of crowds. A single man would always stand out, but the closer people were packed together, the more distant they became. He kept the Kelanni furs wrapped tight around his face as if to protect against the cold. He was a little taller than most Kelanni but if you ignored that, and the fact that there was no tail peeking out from the hem of his coat, then he was nigh indistinguishable from the rest of the populace.
He had been at it for days–conducting the search by day, going back to the island at night and then returning early the next morning. Nothing. No-one had seen the three fugitives since he had lost track of them out on the moor. It was slow, tedious work. It was also dangerous. Wang had made clear many times that if he were recognized as a human, then he would be on his own–disavowed by Helice and treated as a renegade. The Captain was not prepared to risk open conflict with the Kelanni population until the Accumulator Device was ready. In simple terms, McCann was expendable. And the longer this inquiry took, the more chance there was of his being caught. Soon he was going to have to search farther afield, but with so many possibilities–well, he was going to need a miracle.
The Lodestone Trilogy (Limited Edition) (The Lodestone Series) Page 45
