CHAPTER 15
Dur Untash
Hickory surveyed the land below while the others waited on the blind side of the crest.
“What do you see?” called Gareth.
Hickory sucked in a long breath, turned onto her back and slid down toward them. “A village on the shore of the lake. Lots of people.” The blood hammered in her temples. She hadn’t really believed Sikona’s story of humankind on Auriga, thinking he’d made it up to encourage the GA to take on the mission. When they discovered the signs of early man on the island, she’d assumed the Mesopotamian ruins indicated an Earth colony, long-since extinct.
“Lakedwellers?” Gareth and Jess spoke in unison.
“I guess so. A couple of hundred men, women, and children, as human as you and me. There’s no sign of the Bikashi. They seem an undernourished lot and their clothes are pretty scruffy. Fishermen, I think. There are a half dozen wooden boats anchored by the lake.” She glanced at Sikona. “Looks like I owe you an apology.”
“It is no matter; however, I believe the time is now opportune for us to part ways.”
Hickory eyed the sword he still bore from the snake attack. “Why decide to go now? You have proved your worth after a poor beginning. We agreed you’d take us to the gates of the city.”
“I have learned much over the last ten days, Captain. I do not want to be responsible for placing you in Jolphyr’s hands, and my presence would not go unnoticed in the village.” His eyes formed perfect circles and his nose quivered with mirth. “No, better for all if I make my way to Kaffur alone. You will have no difficulty finding the city from here. Perhaps I will see you there.” He handed the blade to Hickory and strode away. Halfway down the hill, he half-turned and raised an arm in farewell.
Watching him go, Hickory felt both relief and regret. Sikona wasn’t a friend, he might never be, she thought, but he’d been true to his word. How would the people of Earth respond to this assessment of the trustworthiness of the Bikashi nature? It went against all she’d ever been taught. She’d likely be arrested for treason for merely voicing it.
Gareth glanced at her. “Are you sure he’s not going straight to Jolphyr?”
“Sure? I’m not certain of anything in this world, but I have to trust him.” She inspected her team’s clothing. Like her own, they’d been chosen based on Sikona’s descriptions of Lakedweller attire. After weeks on the planet, they were looking shabby. Probably won’t stand out too much. “Boots and socks off.”
<
#
The children playing in the street spotted them sliding down the scree and fled, screaming with excitement. People appeared at the doors of their dwellings, curious to see what had caused the commotion. Others went racing off to spread the word.
“So much for blending in,” muttered Gareth.
Hickory noticed the tendons on Anyar’s neck stiffen and her eyes narrow as the humans scattered in front of them. “Switch to SIM,” she said. Anyar, stay close to me.
From further down the street, a dozen or so men ran towards them. They came within twenty yards of the strangers, stopped and gaped. One took a step forward, his hands gripping a long spear. Beardless with a slim, athletic build, he wore a cloak decorated with triangles, squares, pentagons, and images of the sun. He stood with legs astride barring the way.
Hickory guessed he was in his early forties. Young to be the leader, Hickory transmitted via her SIM.
Actually, everyone here looks young, said Jess. Can’t see anyone who looks over fifty.
Gareth said, Maybe they’re hiding.
Hickory didn’t think so. There are lots of kids here. Why wouldn’t they take the kids with them if they were afraid? In any case, this guy doesn’t look intimidated.
The leader planted his spear in the ground and spoke in a confident voice.
Hickory’s SIM translated the Lakedweller’s speech and transmitted it in English to the audio center of her brain. Not only the words but also the tone and emotional cadence of the speaker. The process was so fast, it was as though he’d spoken in English. The reverse was similar—she thought in English, and the words were translated into the Lakedweller language by her SIM. The SIM then sent the appropriate phonetic vibrations to her vocal cords, and the words emerged from her larynx. Hearing herself speak a different language, one she understood without having to think about, took a bit of getting used to, but all three had employed it to good effect over the years.
“Scarg are not welcome here.”
Hickory was startled. These people knew the Yatzi, which seemed to confirm her theory that the abducted Yatzi were being taken to Bikashi territory. Clearly, there was animosity between the Lakedwellers and Anyar’s kind. Why?
She held her hands wide, palms open in the universal sign of peace. “This is Anyar. She is my friend and has come with me from the land beyond the dead sea. She does not know you, but she means you no harm.”
She felt Anyar niggle at her for attention. <> Hickory ignored her.
The Lakedweller leader conferred with those around him. There was apparent disagreement, but finally the leader spoke. “We have never encountered any like us who did not come from the city or this place.” He indicated his village. “You say you come from the dead sea. We do not understand what you mean. There is naught outside the village but grass and desert until the end of the world.”
Hickory realized he was talking about the mirrored surface of the force-field. These people know nothing of what lies on the other side. “We did not think to find others like ourselves when we journeyed to this land. Many years ago, the Bikashi built a wall around this place to keep Lakedwellers inside and protect the Bikashi from any outsider who would seek to harm them. Have none attempted to travel beyond the desert? There are many wonders to explore. The sea is like your lake except it is many times bigger. There are fish close to the land, but further out nothing but weed lives in the water.”
The Lakedwellers conferred again, this time with less open dissent. “There are stories passed down to us by our fathers of such a place, but none alive today have been there. If you wish to remain, you must put aside your weapons. They will be safe until you leave.”
Hickory nodded and signaled to the others to do as they were bid. Each unbuckled their swords and placed their other weapons on the ground in front of them.
The headman pointed his spear at Anyar. “The Scarg is given unto your care. The responsibility for its behavior will be yours. It must never walk alone in the village. If it does, death will be the reward for you all. Do you accept this burden?”
Hickory nodded. “I accept.”
The leader’s shoulders relaxed, and he smiled. “Then welcome to Dur Untash.” He swept his hand to indicate the village. “I am Ishnu-Dagon of the Mitanni people. What is mine is yours. There are fish and bread to eat and shelter from the sun. I would be pleased if you were to share a meal with us tonight. Perhaps you will tell us the story of your journey and why you came here.”
Hickory introduced Jess and Gareth, then motioned for Anyar to come forward. “This is my great friend, Anyar. She is brave and gentle, and we share a bond. I will vouch for her, and I believe you would be friends if you get to know her.”
“Perhaps,” said Ishnu.
<
Hickory rolled her eyes. Anyar, please behave. These are a gentle people. They mean no harm. You need to give them the benefit of the doubt. Try harder.
Anyar bowed her head, then nodded her agreement.
“Ishnu, is there someplace I can wash off this dust?” asked Hickory.
“There is a pool where you can bathe in private.” He led her to a mud brick building on the shores of the lake. “None will disturb you here.” He bowed. “I will take your fellow travelers to a house where they can rest. Anyar can wait with them until you return.”
&n
bsp; Hickory nodded. Half an hour wouldn’t hurt, and it would do her good to have some time alone.
The pool was a lagoon, bounded by a low wall but open to the lake on one side. A constant trickle of water from a natural waterfall splashed into the pool. Hickory dipped her toe in to test the temperature, then shed her clothes and stepped in. She ducked under the waterfall and ran her hands through her hair, then lay with her back against the side, luxuriating in the coolness.
They were now ten days into their mission, and she’d decided to call the Admiral tonight. It would be good to give him a report on the Mitanni people when she did. She considered her hosts. They were a poor people, but proud. And so few. She could sense there was some tragedy here. Is it my business to get involved? My job is straightforward. Get to the capital, find the Sword of Connat, and get out. I can’t afford to be distracted by whatever is happening with these people. And yet they are human. She decided she needed to at least investigate. Perhaps if she spoke one on one with Ishnu, she could learn more.
#
After she’d finished bathing, she transmitted to Jess and Gareth. The water is perfect if either of you wants a dip. And Jess, Anyar would probably appreciate it too. I’m going to take a look around. I’ll talk more later.
Fine by us. Jess came through after a moment’s hesitation. Anyar and I are fast becoming friends. I’ve been teaching her sign language and girl, is she a quick learner.
The village was square-shaped with dirt roads crossing each other at right angles. Most of the houses were brick made from mixing mud from the lake with grasses harvested from the plains and then baked hard in the sun. One building dominated the village. It was twice as tall as the others and constructed from stone which had been knitted together to form airtight walls. She poked her head inside.
Ishnu stood with arms outstretched, facing an altar on which stood a stone idol and several clay tablets. The writing on the tablets was worn to a point where the marks were almost illegible, but Hickory new enough from their island discoveries to realize this also was cuneiform. Jess, you need to see this. There’s a temple on the main street containing tablets with cuneiform. It’s almost illegible, but I can make out some symbols. I think you would do better.
I’ll come over as soon as I can convince Anyar to get out of the bath. She’s like a young girl.
Ishnu interrupted the conversation. “Where do you come from, Hickory Lace? You admit you are not of the Mitanni, yet we are alike, you and I. You know nothing of our lives here. You say you come from over the sea, yet such a thing has only been heard of in legend.”
How much could she tell this man without frightening him? She decided a portion of the truth was the best option. “Ishnu, when you look at the sky at night, what do you see?”
The Mitanni looked askance at her. “I see the many moons of Auriga; I see the half-moon called Goshe by our masters, I see the twinkling stars and some that shine but do not twinkle. I see the patterns in the stars that are the works of the gods.”
“In the daytime, you also see the sun, which provides light and warmth and gives life to this world you live in.”
Ishnu nodded in agreement. “It is through the generosity and blessing of Utu that the Mitanni prosper.”
Prosper. The Mitanni might be short on riches in the common usage of the word, but they abound in generosity of spirit. She expected their traditions and beliefs would contribute to keeping that spirit alive, providing them with hope for the future. Utu must be their Sun God, the equivalent of the Egyptian Ra. “Utu is also present in the stars you see at night. They are far distant from us, but each one brings life to the planets near to them like Utu does to this one.” It was an oversimplification, but it needed to be if he was going to accept the existence of distant inhabited worlds. “One of these planets we call Earth. It orbits a sun called Sol. That is where my friends and I come from. On Earth, there are many people like the Mitanni.” She paused, deciding on a different tack. “Do you ever wonder why you and the Bikashi are so different from one another?”
Ishnu’s face brightened. “There is no reason I should wonder. I know. The Mitanni comes from a different world.”
Hickory was astonished. “How do you know this?”
“The beginnings of the Mitanni, even before the first meeting with the Bikashi, is written on the tablets.” He gestured toward the altar. “The Mitanni were once as numerous as the stars themselves. The tablets tell us our ancestors lived in a great city beside a river. See here.” His finger traveled over the marks on the first tablet. “Utu smiled on them and they prospered. The granaries were full, and sheep, goats, and cattle were plentiful. Then one day Nergal, the god of fire, descended from the sky. He was jealous of Utu and appeared in the form of a man with a beast’s head. He tried to persuade the followers of Utu to serve him in his kingdom. Many were afraid and would not consent to be his servants, but others, including many of the priests and priestesses, agreed to follow him lest he destroyed all the Mitanni with fire and plague. This is how the Mitanni came to live on Auriga.”
Hickory was astonished. “But you continue to worship Utu?”
“When Nergal took our ancestors to his kingdom, the god treated the Mitanni people fairly, and they worshiped him in turn. Then a great war broke out between Nergal and the moon god, Enzu. The war lasted many years, and in the end, the gods were diminished and so too their servants.”
It fit with Sikona’s story. The Bikashi and their Lakedweller servants would have been decimated in the nuclear war.
“Utu watched the war between Nergal and Enzu from across the universe and beheld those who had left him for Nergal. He grew angry at his people and sent a curse upon them. Many of our children have been born malformed from then to this day. In bygone times, these unfortunates were offered up in sacrifice. Now, they are killed by the Bikashi.”
Hickory saw bitterness reflected in Ishnu’s face for the first time.
“Since then, many who escape the sword at birth develop madness later in life.”
“That’s why there are so few of you?” Hickory understood now. The sadness she’d witnessed in the village population swept over her. The Mitanni were doomed to extinction because the small pool of humans did not contain sufficient genetic diversity.
“In centuries past, the Mitanni were many, and they served the houses of every Directorate. Now we are few. Each quarter the masters come to the village and take the most perfect to serve in the palace of the Warlord. My own son, Aslexis, is there. The Sca…the Yatzi now perform the more menial tasks for the lesser lords.” There was a peculiar mixture of pride and sadness inherent in the leader’s last words; sadness for the fate of his people, yet pride in the perfection of his son.
An idea was forming in Hickory’s head. But she would need to discuss it with the Admiral.
CHAPTER 16
Infiltration
“They know who they are, Admiral, and they know where they come from. They’re as human as you and me. There must be a way for us to resettle them on Earth.” Hickory’s eyes blazed. She hadn’t expected opposition to her proposal.
“There’s no way, I promise you. Tell me how you would take two hundred people from pre-history, almost, and transport them into the twenty-third century. Put them in a refugee camp, maybe? A laboratory to be prodded and poked and studied to see what makes them tick? Or do we drop them in the middle of the Sahara and forget about them?”
Hickory ran her fingers through her hair. What was her father on about? Of course, they could resettle two hundred people—thousands of refugees had been successfully resettled in foreign places in years past by aid agencies.
“I assume they’d want to retain their culture and traditions? Of course, they’d want to stick together.” His lips curled. “Listen, time is running out. I was hoping you’d at least be in the city by now. I want you to focus on the job at hand. Get in, get the Sword, and bring it back. It’s simple enough, surely. Forget about these so-called Lakedwel
lers and these Yatzi gorillas. They’re doomed anyway. Just do what you need to do to finish the mission.”
A pink flush spread up Hickory’s neck toward her ears. “No way, Admiral. I’m taking these people out of here, whether you like it or not, and you’d better have transport and a plan to look after them. Otherwise, there’ll be no Sword.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Hickory. You don’t know what you’re saying. Your orders are to get the Sword of Connat and bring it to me.”
“Whose orders? I can’t believe you wouldn’t want to help. These are Earth people, human beings for God’s sake.”
The Admiral pressed his lips together. His face was red, and his eyes had almost vanished into his wrinkled face. He spoke hoarsely. “This is a direct command from the Politburo of the United World Government in New Rome. You are not, repeat not, to attempt any maneuver or create any incident which might give the Bikashi an excuse to declare war. The Lakedwellers, whatever their origin, have lived on Auriga for thousands of years. They are no longer Earthlings. They are not our problem.” He held up his hand to forestall Hickory’s renewed objections. “And they are not your responsibility. You will leave them in their village. You will also leave the Yatzi prisoners in Kaffur. Your sole objective is to steal the Sword without being spotted. Do you understand?”
#
Hickory paced from wall to wall across her small room. What the hell am I? A sneak thief? The thought grated on her. An order is one thing, but I’m not a robot, programmed to do as I’m told. Or is that truly what I am? Her mind raced, trying to remember a time where she’d refused an order, any order. She couldn’t for the life of her bring even one incident to mind. Relief flooded through her when she recalled the times she’d gone against her stepfather’s wishes to help the Teacher. Not quite a robot, then, but the question lingered.
She reviewed in her mind the plan she’d conceived earlier. There was a lot to do. Should she risk it? She wasn’t the only one who would be in danger, Gareth might die, Anyar might die, Jess might die. And Jess’s unborn child? It horrified her to think Jess might lose her baby because of her. The specter of her own loss raised its ugly head, threatening to overcome her. She forced her mind back to the present. Did she have the right to risk all these lives? I risk their lives every day simply by having them here with me. But this was different. This was not official, in fact, it was the opposite. The Admiral had given her a direct order, and she was going to disobey him. Worse, she’d threatened him.
Fractured Prophecy Page 14
