The Yatzi’s features contorted and its eyes closed to little more than slits as it concentrated. <> It roared again, beat its chest, and pointed its arms skyward. My God, he’s talking about the gun. He wants the gun! The noise of the Smith and Wesson going off had terrified the whole pack the last time they’d met. He wants it for himself. It would give him incredible power over the rest of the tribe. But even if she still had it and it was loaded with bullets, it would be useless to him, she knew. His fingers were too big to work the firing mechanism.
Silver was becoming more agitated. He gesticulated and roared, projecting the words <> at her time and again. He’s trying to communicate, but he’s not sure he’s getting through to me. The youngster I rescued must have told him how we communicated.
Silver shouted at her once more, then grabbed her by the hair and dragged her along the ground. Hickory screamed and clutched at his arms, but he shrugged her off. Her legs scrabbled crablike to lessen the pain of being pulled backward. Stop! She screamed, trying to reach the mind of her attacker. The beast hesitated, then she felt herself lifted and thrown with force to the ground. She landed on a pile of dead ferns and groaned. Her head throbbed, and she felt waves of nausea engulf her. She fought to stop from losing consciousness and focused on her surroundings. They’d arrived at the center of a circular clearing about a hundred yards across, and she was surrounded by hundreds of the Yatzi tribe. A dozen or so crude huts were scattered here and there, built from fern fronds and bits of debris. These are primitive people, not animals, she transmitted to the others. Maybe we can reason with them.
Primitive is the operative word, Hickory. I don’t think they’re looking for a conversation! If we don’t do something, we’ll be on the menu tonight. The thought came from Gareth. She located him and Jess not far away. Their arms and legs had been tied to a long pole. The reason for Gareth’s angst became obvious when four Yatzi lifted first Gareth and then Jess onto support poles, suspending them over a trench filled with kindling and piled high with dried-out tree ferns.
She swiveled her head right and left, looking for Sikona. She spied the Bikashi standing, tied to a pole. Yatzi children and women were taunting him by poking him with sticks. Singled out for special treatment, she thought. They recognize him as belonging to the tribe who hunt them.
She wondered why they hadn’t bound her, like the others, then she saw Silver in heated communication with a second adult Yatzi. Both had their foreheads thrust towards the face of the other and were snarling. Silver took a step backward and beat his chest, then gesticulated toward Hickory. It was apparent he was claiming her as his own personal captive. The second adult looked younger but just as muscular. He stepped forward and clouted Silver about the head, and the older Yatzi went on the attack. Both animals rolled on the ground, biting and scratching in a cloud of dust. The remaining Yatzis gathered around to watch, screeching and chattering.
Hickory took advantage of the commotion and scrambled over to Jess, cutting her free with her knife. “Go get Sikona. Head for the trail opposite the one we came in,” she whispered. She sawed at the ropes holding Gareth and caught him before he fell.
“Thanks, Cap. Didn’t fancy being barbecued.” Gareth grinned at her.
Hickory hesitated. Where’s the young one we rescued? She hadn’t seen her since they’d arrived. She searched nearby with her empathic sense and discovered her radiating fear and shame in a nearby compound.
“Gareth, go join the others and hightail it out of here. I’ll join you as soon as I can.”
Gareth knitted his eyebrows together. “Where are you going?”
“To find the young one. She might be able to help get us out of here.”
“God, we don’t have time for that. The fight will be over soon, and if we’re caught, we’re toast.”
“Aren’t you listening, Gareth? I said I don’t need your help. Go and join the others.”
Gareth moved closer to Hickory and nodded. “I’m coming with you.”
Hickory’s eyes flashed, and she tutted. “You are bloody impossible sometimes. Okay. Stay close and keep quiet.”
#
Hickory kept low and headed to the edge of the compound, then crept to the path leading to the clearing where their quarry was located. Behind her, the crowd of onlookers was still howling. Must be giving Silver a run for his money. She found herself hoping the younger Yatzi would be the winner. Be real, she chastised herself, they’re both acting according to their instinct. Still, she felt Silver would be a more implacable enemy if they were ever to meet up again.
“Keep watch,” she told Gareth as they entered the clearing. It’s best if I go alone.”
This time Gareth didn’t argue.
Hickory searched around and finally found her in one of the huts.
The youngster was bound hand and foot and staked to the ground. Hickory gasped and ran over to her side. Yatzi, are you all right? Hickory messaged, searching her body for signs of damage.
<
Who did this to you? Was it the old one with the silver streak? Hickory felt the blood pound in her temple. Why did he do this to you?
<>
Hickory hoped a beating was all she’d suffered.
Anyar’s eyes bulged. She seemed horrified, and Hickory realized she’d unwittingly transmitted her thoughts. <
Hickory cut the ropes from Anyar and massaged her wrists and ankles. You will be safe here for a while, but Silver is fighting with a younger Yatzi and he may return and do you further harm when he realizes I have fled.
<
Hickory smiled. You are a princess, then?
<>
Only if Ogrid survives the encounter with Silver, thought Hickory. She felt a strong bond developing with Anyar, but she couldn’t let their burgeoning friendship interfere with her mission. Anyar’s problems were none of her concern. As soon as the thought surfaced, she felt a premonition of disaster. Silver could win, Ogrid could die, and what of Anyar? She would never achieve her destiny as leader of the tribe.
You must come with me. When your father finds out my friends and I have escaped, there’s no telling what he might do to you.
Anyar nodded. <>
#
Anyar was less than happy to find the others waiting for her, narrowing her eyes, and baring her teeth. <
These are my friends, Anyar, and so they are also your friends. They will help us escape.
Jess and Gareth looked at her doubtfully, and Sikona blinked furiously. “Captain, what are you doing? Why bring this one with us? She will only bring trouble. We must get to Kaffur quickly. Leave her here and let us be on our way.”
Hickory’s eyes flashed. “She’s coming with us. Anyar knows this forest and will help us evade capture from the tribe. We will take her to the next Yatzi village and leave her where she will be safe.”
Anyar inspected each in turn. <>
The Bikashi blinked again. He could not hear Anyar’s words, but there was no doubt he got the message.
It took precious minutes for Hickory to convince Anyar that Sikona would do her no harm and was of a different tribe to those who hunted and killed her people. Even so
, she glowered at him and watched him closely as she led them along a new track.
The irony wasn’t lost on Hickory. Here I am trying to convince someone of the opposite of what, until a few days ago, I believed. I’m still not sure I’ve got it right.
CHAPTER 11
Ambush
<
Anyar’s warning came at the same moment Hickory recognized the imminent threat. Bikashi!
A bolt from an energy gun nicked Anyar’s shoulder, and she screeched, then leaped, caught a branch of a tree, and swung herself onto it. The Yatzi scrambled higher until she was hidden from the forest floor. Whimpering at the pain in her arm, she looked on, terrified, as half a dozen armed strangers poured into the clearing and surrounded Hickory and the others.
“Backs to backs,” said Hickory, her blade stretched out in front of her. The four formed a square, facing the intruders.
One attacker, armed with a rifle and wearing armor, pushed his way to the front and sneered. “What have we here?” Hickory’s SIM translated the Bikashi language. He regarded the humans and his forehead creased. “Earthling spies on Auriga? This is a mystery and no mistake.” He glanced at his followers, a glint in his eyes. “But perhaps a profitable one.” His snout quivered. He spotted Sikona, half concealed behind Hickory. “You! Come forward. What is this, what is this, an Aurigan citizen in the company of foreign infiltrators?” The leader aimed his rifle at Sikona’s chest. “Who are you and what are you doing in this remote area?” He heard rustling above him, jerked his head, and fired his weapon into the treetops. Anyar fell to the ground, bounced once, then lay still, her blood staining the ground.
Gareth’s eyes widened in disbelief. His face twisted and he took a step towards the leader. “You rotten mongrel!”
Jess glared at the Bikashi, but pulled Gareth away by the arm. “Why shoot her? She was a child—no threat to you.”
“A pity. It looks like I killed your pet. Alive, she would have been worth a week’s wages as a slave in the market.” His eyes blinked. “Even shot through with holes, her skin will fetch a tidy sum.” He raised his rifle and pointed it toward them again. “Listen to me, all of you. I will tell you once. Drop your weapons and do it now.”
Sikona squeezed between Gareth and Jess and faced the leader. “Tell me your name, friend. Whose orders do you carry?”
“A low-caste like you has no place demanding answers from me, Shrelek!” The commander indicated the scar on Sikona’s forehead and sneered pejoratively. “You will tell me what you are doing in the company of these humans.”
Hickory intervened. “This one is our prisoner. We were taking him to the Galactic Alliance when our ship suffered a malfunction, and we were forced to land on Auriga.”
The leader snorted, glancing towards his cohorts, who seemed amused. “Your prisoner? And who are you, human, to imprison a son of Auriga, even a lowlife such as this one?”
Sikona spoke first. “This is Hickory Lace, a Captain in Earth’s Alien Corps. Perhaps you have heard of her?”
The Bikashi took half a pace back. He looked Hickory up and down. “The Hickory Lace, supposed conqueror of the great commander Vogel? The one of whom it is said she can command evil creatures to do her bidding?” He gripped his rifle more firmly. A gleam of avarice entered the Bikashi’s eye. “Where is your ship? Take me to it.”
Hickory spread her arms wide. “I’m afraid I can’t. It’s more than my life is worth.”
The Bikashi raised the butt of his rifle to strike her in the stomach, but she evaded the blow, and knocked the weapon to the ground.
The soldiers advanced as one, cocking their rifles and pointing them at the faces of the others.
“You.” The leader picked up his rifle and poked at Sikona’s shoulder with the barrel. “What is your name?”
Sikona did not blink. “I asked you first, soldier.”
A hint of anger burned in the Bikashi’s round eyes. He licked the edges of his mouth with a thick tongue. “I am squad leader Corban, in charge of these troops, and I serve Jolphyr, the Science Directorate. Now, you. Tell me your name, Shrelek.” He pointed his rifle at Sikona.
“I would ask what a Bikashi battle squad is doing in the land of the Scarg, but I fear the answer is obvious. He glanced at the bulging packs of white pelts on the shoulders of the troops, then stood straight, looking the squad leader in the eyes. My name is Sikona, son of Ravitik. I am a special operative working undercover for Directorate Jolphyr. I was leading these Earthlings to him in Kaffur when my ship crash-landed on the permanent ice cap. Check in with him now.”
Corban’s mouth opened, but no words came out. He glanced at Hickory, who was still holding her sword. “Enough of this mummery. You are under arrest, all of you. We will discover the truth after you spend some time inside a Kaffur prison.” He motioned to his guards. “Bind them.”
Hickory saw Anyar struggle to her knees, blood spilling from her head. The Yatzi threw her massive arms around Corban’s torso and sank her teeth into his neck. Bright red blood spurted from the squad leader’s severed artery. As they fell to the ground, he pressed his gun into the female’s torso and shot her.
Anyar slumped on top of the Bikashi.
Hickory, Jess, and Gareth closed with three of the guards, swords, and knives flashing. The Bikashi were shocked by Anyar’s ferocious onslaught on their officer and by the speed of attack by the strangers. It took them a few moments to recover and by then it was too late to flee.
Hickory’s opponent swung his rifle like a club at Hickory, but she slashed at him with her long blade and separated his hand from his arm. He gaped then screamed, clutching the amputated limb to his chest.
Gareth and Jess swept into the attack. Gareth leaped high and plunged his twin daggers into the throat of his adversary.
Jess swung her broadsword over her head and rushed at her opponent. He staggered back, desperate to get out of her way then pulled the trigger of his blaster. Jess leaped, twisting in the air, and the searing white blast passed harmlessly by. She landed, surefooted as a cat, and her sword lashed out. The Bikashi dropped to his knees, clutching his stomach.
Two guards remained, their guns trained uncertainly on Sikona.
He glanced towards Hickory, and his voice reached her clearly, “Do not forget, for the Bikashi, honor is all, and family honor is most of all.” His body straightened, and he flung himself at the two guards. They shot him through the shoulder, but his momentum bowled them over.
Jess and Gareth ran toward them, soaked in the blood of their enemy. The two guards threw down their weapons and fell to the ground, burying their heads in their hands.
Sikona stood over them until Gareth found some rope and bound them together.
Jess examined Sikona. “A clean wound. You’re very fortunate, Bikashi.”
Hickory knelt beside Anyar and cradled her head in her arms. The Yatzi’s eyes glittered with tears. <
Jess rushed over, and together they examined the Yatzi’s wounds.
Jess gently lifted Anyar’s arm. “The shoulder is only grazed, but she cracked her head when she fell. That’s where most of the blood’s come from. What have you got?”
Hickory pursed her lips. “The energy bolts have seared the flesh on her abdomen. In a human, the kidneys would be fried, but her vital organs could be arranged differently. I can’t tell how serious it is. There’s minimal blood, so maybe nothing major’s been damaged. Sikona do you know anything about Yatzi physiology?”
The Bikashi cocked his head and sucked air through his teeth.
Jess frowned. “What does that mean, yes or no? She could die.”
“Perhaps. If the Yatzi physiology is similar to the Bikashi, then there is nothing vital in that area,” he said.
#
They did what they could to treat Anyar’s wounds, wrapped her in a blanket, then went to attend t
o the dead and the prisoners. Sikona declared his injury was minor, but Jess cleaned it, smothered it in antiseptic, and bandaged it anyway. The Bikashi flexed his arm and thanked her.
Jess glared at him. “What was all that rubbish about us being your prisoners?”
“As you say, rubbish, to deflect the squad leader from our purpose.”
Jess started to respond, then closed her mouth when Hickory came through on her SIM. Leave it until later, Jess. Let’s get ourselves organized first.
Squad leader Corban was dead, and the trooper who’d lost a hand didn’t look as though he would live long. He sat ashen-faced with his back against the trunk of a tree-fern. They placed the three dead soldiers side by side in a shallow grave and heaped small rocks and foliage over the top. Hickory doubted this would deter predators from finding them, but they’d done the best they could in the circumstances, she thought. Sikona stood by their grave silent for a few minutes. “They died honorably. May they find peace in Septor.”
Hickory caught his eyes. We have a lot to discuss, you and I. She could not explain why Sikona had offered another reason to Corban for their presence here, but she would find out. If Anyar hadn’t attacked when she did, we would be prisoners now.
The two remaining guards presented another problem. Gareth was all for killing them outright. “They would have killed us,” he said, “and we can’t let them raise the alarm. These guys didn’t get here by magic. Someone will be looking for them.”
Sikona agreed. “These two showed no courage. In the Bikashi culture, the best they could expect would be banishment. Better for them if they are never found.”
Hickory worried about it. If it had been possible for Corban to call up his command, he would have done so, just to check out Sikona’s story. Was it pure coincidence the squad leader also worked for the Science Directorate? Should she expect a much larger force to be sent against them? She boosted the range of her SIM as far as she could using her empathic sense and picked up no signs of pursuit. She could at least be sure they weren’t on the island as yet. Abruptly, she whimpered and clutched at her head. Her legs gave way and she slumped to her knees.
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