by J P Nelson
The others were investigating the overhead tracks, chains, any article which caught their interest. Jha’Ley thought the closet to be a control panel, not unlike the ones in the place pop called Starlab, but he did not say anything.
Seedle poked his head out and carefully came over the broken glass of the thing’s front, “Well, fellows, it is definitely a vehicle of some kind. There are these two seats, a row of seats on either side in the back, and a door in the back which is busted open due to, guess what? Ice.”
Toagun added, “And the back doesn’t go very far … only thirteen feet or so. There is a pair of real small pilot’s wheels in front of these seats, but I have no idea what kind of rudder they controlled. It had to have flown, but I can’t see how.” He looked to the others with a futile expression of inquiry, “Magic maybe?”
There was no answer, but much speculation. Jha’Ley hung back and enjoyed the sound of the men bantering among themselves. Seedle and Dessi were awkward with each other, but sometimes it’s best to let things work out on their own. Jha’Ley didn’t see what went on in the symbol room, but he heard of it later.
Before leaving the cave to rejoin the rest of the team downstairs, Rufus examined his forearm, “It is healing well, sir. You set it clean. I do not suspect you shall have difficulty,” He got close to Jha’Ley’s face and embellished his own facial features, “as long as you allow it to heal-l-l.”
“Aye, Mister Rufus, duly noted.”
Dessi raised his own eyebrows, “To such, sir, I concur!”
Jha’Ley’s swelling was down, and to avoid questions he left the splint and wrap off. He had long since washed and was wearing his other tunic, so that was not a question to be raised.
At the camp, he reported, “Gentlemen, we have found a head and a room with water for bathing. I shall attend first, making sure all is safe. Then we shall arrange shifts.” He flashed a smile, “I have banged my knee and arm a bit, so please be gentle with my tender hide.” He glanced back to Toagun, Dessi, and Rufus, “If my trusted body guard will join me, and Mister Rufus, if you will bring the bag of bandages …”
One of the men asked, “Sir, did you find sign of the friendly?”
“It is still a mystery. Let us all keep watch, shall we?”
Leaving the room, he made it a point to go right to the head, then the bath room. Jha’Ley looked to Toagun, “Now you can get them started, since you know where it is,” he added with sarcastic mirth, “and I am obviously safe.”
Pointing to the swirling water he said to Dessi and Rufus, “Do not be shy, gentlemen. You can wash your clothing at same time.”
The next few days allowed Ottus to shine. Not only was he an excellent carpenter, but he knew the craft of dugout making well. By his leadership, the process of felling trees and making of four canoes of about twenty-eight to thirty feet long went fast and smooth. Turns were taken at watch, hunting, and crafting under Ottus’s direction.
Dessi insisted on taking turn at building, as he knew the skill also. Jha’Ley alone refrained from the building, as he was letting his body mend. A believer that every person should do their fair share, he took over cooking chores. He also began a major meat smoking operation while they had the chance.
Toagun commented, “You know, you don’t have to do this, your being commodore and all.”
“Actually, I enjoy cooking.”
“Really? You forgot the salt, garlic, parsley, and uh, butter.”
“Did I hear you say, give your share to Private Fadious?
The private smiled an exaggerated smile just behind Toagun.
“Oh, no … not at all. I think you should open a house. In fact could I have some extra to take home?”
Jha’Ley noted Seedle and Dessi must have ironed out their beef with each other, they were over on the side playing Rock, Parchment, and Shears over something or another. Which reminded him …
Jha’Ley took Seedle to the side and handed him the flask, “Thank you. It came in very handy.”
Seedle shook it with feigned disappointment, “Empty, sir?”
Jha’Ley smiled, “Pleasures of being commodore.”
In eight days time, the team had four very finely made canoes. They rested a day and ate well while Boak went over details of white water travel and answered questions. There would be five men and gear in three craft, and four men in one. Every man was skilled in the arts of swimming and canoeing, but the Class II and III rapids later in the journey would be a worthy challenge requiring serious teamwork.
As they travelled, Boak would match each team based on skills he observed … hopefully well in advance of hitting the first Class II. What they did not know, was the nature of water between this river and the point they left the sea’s outlet into the one they followed up.
When it came time to leave, Seedle made mention, “Well sir, we have a huge pile of wood there against the wall. You would think we were preparing for the winter. And there are also plenty of candles in the head and bathing room …” His expression was one of question.
“Mister Seedle, that is exactly what we were doing, just in case. Besides,” he shrugged, “it gave the men some good exercise.”
Seedle gave an under-the-eyebrow exaggerated expression, “Yes sir, of course. That was exactly what they needed … sir.”
Both gave the other a sly grin.
Dessi and Toagun braced Jha’Ley as the last man was headed down the rope. Dessi wanted to know, “Now … sir … you are absolutely certain Mister Sealer cannot accompany you in this?”
“I am sure. Mister Sealer, can you descend to depths of two hundred fathoms?”
He breathed in with skeptical apprehension, “No sir, I cannot.”
“Can you hold your breath for forty-five minutes at minimum?”
“No.”
“Can you outswim a school of giant piranha or those eel things?”
Dessi and Toagun glanced at each other; Dessi could not help but grin as Toagun wrinkled nose and upper lip. They both said “No.”
Jha’Ley hesitated, then bit the inside of his mouth’s edge, “May I borrow your wondrous Beckerson, with those harpoon-like heads?”
Toagun’s face was blank and Dessi asked, “Sir, are you going to hunt one down?”
“Do you think I am crazy?”
Toagun and Dessi glanced at each other with straight faces.
Jha’Ley blew a short laugh, “Forego that. No, sergeant, but if they are what I think they are …”
Toagun asked, “What do you think they are?”
“Hungry fish.”
Toagun chuckled, then went to get the weapon.
Dessi asked, “And you insist on this?”
“Yes, I want to leave it as close as possible to how we found it.”
Toagun handed him the weapon, loaded with the barbed heads, “These are hard to replace. We had to cut the one out of the teerex neck. Fore trigger, top bolt. Aft trigger, bottom bolt. Both …”
“I get the picture.”
Toagun emphatically widened his eyes as he pointed, “This, sir, Commodore Jha’Ley, it is called a safety … safe---ty. Do not … I repeat, do NOT flip this switch until you are ready to fire.”
“Understood.” Jha’Ley pointed, “This switch?”
“Yes.”
“This one right here?”
“Yes sir.”
Jha’Ley squinted his left eye, “I have it. Thank you sincerely Mister Sealer. Sergeant Dessi?”
“Yes sir?”
“That will be all.” Jha’Ley snapped a salute, “You have the con.”
Dessi snapped to with a return salute, “Aye sir!”
Jha’Ley watched until both men were all the way down. They had taken his gear, again, save for the pants he was wearing and belt with knife. As both touched down, he began pulling the rope and making a neat coil inside of the door. Then he untied the knot securing it to the entrance.
He had explained, “It is my backup in case things go wrong underwater. I
do not want to descend that cliff unassisted. Me and extreme heights, we are not bed partners.”
First was to close the other side opening, then up to the cave entrance. He had gone up with an axe and cleared the wheel area a couple days ago. He had been careful, but the axe did a good job.
As he started to close the door to the cave, he noticed a bird crawling out of one of the flutes and looking around. “You there, my humble apologies, but you are why I must close up.”
Then to the side opening they had come to know so well. All along he had carried a candle. They learned each candle had one hour marks, and they were accurate to the minute. None of them burned less than twelve hours.
As he closed the side door, he wondered how long the air would stay breathable. Moving to their camp room, he lingered. They had collected some pieces of broken pottery to take as evidence; not so much of this place, but to prove they had been in a location of ancient origin. To his knowledge those designs were unknown anywhere.
Back at the pool, he saw his tunic, neatly folded and tucked away in a corner. Putting his hand on the lever he thought and deliberated for a long, long time. Blowing out the candle, he took his watch from his belt pouch and tied it by cord directly to his belt. With Beckerson in hand, he jumped in feet first.
Turning the wheel hatch, he carefully lifted it. He could see down because of the glows of quartz. How did that work? Pop had talked of geothermal power; that it was what he believed Skylab operated off of. Was this related?
Carefully he eased down the tunnel, knowing if he could read movement currents, these indigenous water creatures could do so as well, much better, even. It had been over two weeks, wait, no, a bit over a week since they saw him, potential food, go up that hole. Would they have forgotten?
Jha’Ley thought with a clear path he could outswim them, even with his forearm. He had taken care and it was healing well, and his knee felt great in the water, if not still stiff when walking.
Slowly moving along, he knew it was quite a way to the mouth of the cavern, about a half mile with the winding around and all.
He thought, ‘Easy as she goes, no fast movements; take your time Jelly Roll.’
There was something he wanted, something which had crossed his mind several times in the last few days. He saw it, in the glow of the quartz. Unhurried, gradually he made his way, then saw a piece of gold-laden quartz the size of his fist, loose in the rock over his head. Stopping only a moment, he pried it loose.
Some fragments broke off and fell to the base beneath. Glancing around, he thought, ‘Maybe that was not such a good idea.’ He felt movement in the water, Miu’Ganté! Spinning about he forced the piece into his belt pouch. Then he saw it, or rather them.
A pair of those eel-like fish separated paths and was coming for him. Wait; another current behind him! He turned quickly aimed, and pulled the trigger. Shite! Nothing … current behind him … with another spin he barely evaded a wicked bite, but the second creature still collided against his torso with the top of its head. The force knocked the Beckerson out of Jha’Ley’s hand as he moved again to evade the third creature’s attack.
Swimming in erratic patterns, twisting and turning, he just barely made it out of their grasp as they moved with coordinated attack patterns. His dagger in hand, he did an inverted spin and a corkscrew pivot … ever thankful for his enhanced swimming abilities … and as the second creature darted for him, he literally swam in a loop about its head and slashed its gills.
Yes-s-s … the tissue was not overly tough … and as it thrashed by he sliced along the tail. Quickly angling away, he saw the first creature take notice and suddenly go for its mate with open jaws. The third was not so inclined and made straight for Jha’Ley.
He felt pressure within his chest akin to panic, but he knew it was not fear, but … he inhaled and repeated the yell thing he did with the piranha. The creature did not explode, but acted as if it had hit an invisible rock barrier. The effect upon impact reminded Jha’Ley of multiple ripples from a rock dropped into water.
Whip-like convulsions of the creature caused a violent ripple as Jha’Ley tried to recover from extreme light-headedness. This was not the time to pass out.
He became aware of more current as he turned in a partial coherent state and saw another creature, or was it one of the same, bearing upon him with unnerving speed. Jha’Ley saw the Beckerson lying on the gravel floor and dove for it. Grabbing it, he felt rending pain in his fist. Whipping about, he flipped the safety off and aimed into the mouth of the creature.
Wait … wait … wait … he pulled both triggers and fired between the wide, serrated, tooth lined jaws. The creature’s mouth closed instantly as it rammed into Jha’Ley, then it twisted and lurched as Jha’Ley hit the gravel and bounced upward in the water. Sure one or more ribs were broken, he tried hard to swim out of there.
Finding the cave mouth, he conjured as much speed as possible and hit the curtain-fall of the water. He took no time to dawdle. Knowing he was bleeding, his first thought was piranha.
Jha’Ley’s vision was cloudy and his fear was of passing out. Sounding off with “pah---pah---pah---,” he thought he found the edge of the lake, hopefully the edge where his team was waiting.
Current, he felt current, lots of smaller currents. At best speed he could muster, he headed straight for the lake’s edge and he was not slowing down. One instant he was in the water, the next he was sure he was flying though the air. He landed in a mass of vegetation which cushioned his fall, but he came to a stop against a huge tree.
He lay there for a bit, wondering if he was really alive. Setting the Beckerson down, in his lacerated hand he found he had collected some gravel. One stone radiated with a blue sparkle. Brushing the other away, he eyed the stone carefully; a perfect sapphire. How did he know that? With a sack full of such stones he could finance his own expedition … his own ship, crew, supplies … for years.
Seedle had the telescope out when he saw Jha’Ley shoot up from the lake’s edge and hurtle into the jungle. He yelled, “Dessi!” Then he bolted along the shore with Toagun and team close behind.
They found him sitting with his knees cradled up, abraded elbows on his knees, head in hands. He was covered in blood and more. Seedle was right there with Rufus, kneeling beside him. They had to assist him up, but he could walk, although he was woozy.
At the dugouts they had a fire and his wounds were tended.
Rufus explained to Dessi, “His back is badly abraded with one long cut, and his right hand is torn, palm and back. The cut does not need stitching, but he will have to be careful flexing those muscles. He said something about having broken ribs; I think one, maybe two, but bound up he should be fine. He should not be rowing a boat.”
Dessi made a wry comment, “You forgot something Ru … you, Seedle, and the commodore are going to have a time.”
“Oh?!”
“He landed in a pile of dinosaur-sized poison oak.” He handed Rufus a sheaf of leaves he had been collecting, “Boil these, make a thick solution, then spread it all over you. It will counter the itch if you do it soon enough.”
Dessi grinned an evil grin as he saw Seedle already scratching.
Chapter 52
FROM DEEP WITHIN my sleep I could smell the rich aroma of finely brewing coffee. Coffee? Slowly I sat up, sleep still hanging on to the back of my eyelids. I’m a morning person and usually wide awake, early.
Looking over into the shadows at the end of my quarters, I saw the man moving as if walking out from the wall. His tunic was fresh, just as always, with hair and goatee trimmed perfectly. In his left hand was a mug of steaming coffee.
“Good morning Wolf.”
Lamely I replied, “Good morning Hoscoe.”
“Are you ready? We have much work to do.”
“Work?”
He glanced to the wall opposite my bed, only it wasn’t barren. His maps were painted all over them. What was going on?
“Would you like some cof
fee?” With that he reached his mug out to me … his mug … the one I fixed that time years ago … that time I, I, that raging beast-like fury came out the first time and I almost killed him.
That rage still was there, kept deep inside. Instead of letting it out I turned it into myself, keeping my guts constantly twisted in knots. Sometimes I thought I was bleeding in the pit of my stomach, it hurt so bad. There were times I could spit up blood, but I wouldn’t heal myself.
He, Hoscoe, he never handed that mug to anyone, even me. It was like it was a part of who he was. When you see a monarch with a scepter in hand, it makes you think, or it makes me think, anyway, of a symbol of power, of rule. Hoscoe’s mug was like his symbol of wisdom, clarity of mind and purpose, self control and poise.
Shael’s, self control and poise, something you definitely could not accuse me of. Yet, here he was offering his mug to me.
Hesitantly I reached out to take it. But as I tried to clasp my hand around it, it was as if grabbing air as it and he began fading into the shadows. As he did I could hear him say in a drifting voice, “You do not belong here …”
With my hand in my hair and bottom lip quivering, I desperately reached inward to wake myself up. Only … I was not asleep, I really was awake, which made it even worse. Burying my head in my hands, I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth trying to get it out of my mind. Was I finally going insane?
It had been well over a year since claiming the Coliseum Title. Every fight was a new milestone in the record books. Edgarfield was now the top name in the business and living high up the ladder.
He had a growing stable of fighters, private carriage, an entourage of women lustful for men of wealth and station, and now enjoyed a place of prominence among his peers.
The word was, Edgarfield may get his sanction as a Gladia~Kai Master, a long-time goal of his. The Dai Tauro Gladia~Kai for sure had him up for consideration. My understanding was it took an awful lot just to get considered, and then the cost ran way up there. If you got a foot in the door, it was another year or two before you got sanctioned, and that was if you were finally approved.
