by J P Nelson
JéPahn produced a silver coin and rolled it across his knuckles, “Because this will be at center, and I will be following it.”
Fhascully asked, “And what then, professor?”
Albri was grim, “If my calculations are correct …” he gestured outward with his hands in an exploding motion.
Ervis said, “We are wasting daylight. Let us find positions.”
Off to one side, Caroll slapped Gordi on the shoulder, “Be strong old friend.”
The two had gotten to know each other well during a two-year period Gordi had worked with Logan. They had been chums and just spent some little time in playing catch-up of the last few years.
Gordi warmly replied, “Wouldn’t try it any other way.”
As the people dispersed to their stations, the captain stood next to Albri, “Now, how is this fissure thing going to work, again?”
“There is a fault-line beneath us on the sea floor. Greybeard was of thinking long ago that Meinkutt is a separate continent, connected only by the ice. He said the elves were adamant about it. If my theory is correct, that divide is beneath us right now and wants to separate as we speak.
“The ancients sometimes harvested energy released through such fissures to power their technology. I want to take advantage of the pressure below to give us passage. When the moment is right, U’Lahna is going to do her thing, however it is she does it, and encourage a burp in that fault-line’s process.”
“Is this all theory, or do you have something more solid. No offense, but we are putting my ship and men at risk, here.”
“Not far from my home is something similar. I cannot go below to explore it, but I have seen the effects.”
“Yes, yes … the commodore called it The Flume. He has told me tales of it.”
“That is correct. I believe the initial contrast in water, now, will aide our transit through the resulting channel. While we are doing our business at the castle, I am in hopes things will stabilize and the warm current will command the surface and allow us passage back through.”
“You believe the ice and sludge will not fall back and reform the barrier?”
“Possibly … probably in time it will. The iceberg may even close back in on itself. But I am going to stay optimistic we get back before it does.”
Ervis glanced to the ice, then to the people about to do their magic, or whatever it was they did, and offered, “You are indeed an optimist. But I can think of no better way. Let us be underway.”
Albri put his slide-rule in his pocket, “Yes.”
Fhascully was curious and concerned, “No disrespect to you, professor, and I am ready to do whatever is necessary to rescue our men, but scientist to scientist, will this not cause many and possibly ascetic ramifications? If this is a fault-line and unnatural action is caused, it could affect the entire gulf on the other side, not to mention the ecology of life within this very tunnel.”
“You levy sound points, and I appreciate the courtesy in your tone. Scientist to scientist, right now, I am a father using science as a tool. Have you ever seen combat?”
“Yes, I have swung a blade a time or two.”
“There are at times actions required of violence to achieve the peaceful reward.”
“A quote by Bahraham Lukavid; he was a soldier, explorer, poet, naturalist and physician. His work inspired me to my field.”
“Then perhaps we have something to talk about.”
Ervis looked from one to the other and asked, “Professor, professor, are we ready to launch phase one?”
Albri replied, “We are ready captain. JéPahn? Toss the coin, if you please sir.”
JéPahn hurled the silver twenty-shill piece as high in the air as he could and closed his eyes in deep concentration. Rolan the cleric and Caroll had hands upon Lesli who in turn seemed to be in pain, then opened her hand to the coin as pulsations of green and yellow light flew from her hand and encased the coin, making it glow. U’Lahna and Mahrufael both bombarded the young woman with more effects, which she absorbed and transmitted forward.
As the coin began to fall to the sea it began glowing an ugly dark red and black. Tammin held both hands to the coin as it bubbled and roiled and seemed to grow.
Lesli, now spent and wavering, was caught by Fhascully as Gordi raised his hand as if to catch something. The coin disappeared into the rolling waves as Gordi closed his eyes, tilted his head back and curled his fingers into a fist.
Mahrufael waved his hands and spoke in an unknown language, the air about him crackling with radiating energy, causing everyone’s clothes to become filled with static electricity. U’Lahna stepped up and stood upon the bowsprit, opened her hands as if embracing the sea as she began to hum … or was it she who was humming?
Suddenly, a harsh streak of green lightning pierced the sky, followed by deafening thunder that caused even the most experienced person to jump, feeling the sound deep in their belly. The smell of ozone reeked the nostrils as the lightning flashed again and the hair on every arm rose, the hair on many heads prickled and frizzed.
Gordi, his clothes flapping and hair full of static charge, opened his fist and made as if to push outward. Tammin stood beside him in a mirror image. Both men reflected expressions of intense exertion on their faces.
Suddenly the sea exploded upward, beginning from one hundred yards forward of their position, the effect racing toward the iceberg and then down underneath.
JéPahn said, “Now!”
Nobody saw the actions of the manifestors at that moment. What everyone saw was the awe inspiring, unbelievable explosion of ice … high into the air like a volcano.
Tammin fell back and would have landed on his duff, had he not been caught by two of crew. Gordi staggered for a moment and shook his head.
Suddenly Albri said, “Oh shite … brace yourse---”
The shockwave impact hit the ship as suddenly Gordi put both hands up and yelled at top of his lungs. Ervis could remember a time when he had been aboard ship in a tidal wave. He had been only one of five men to survive. The wave of force and ice reminded him of that and he was sure they were all dead.
Ervis did not flinch, lament or cry, he just muttered, “Poseidon’s Beard.” But the damage he expected did not happen. The ship was pelted, yes, he felt the force roll her up on stern and almost heel her to starboard … but Qua’Korr did not go down, and ice did not touch her hull. Instead it flew up and over, hitting the top forty feet of mast, but no damage save for the crow’s nest. Even the spars were intact.
As the ship righted itself he saw Gordi stumble, look him in the eye, then fall. Albri was also down, but getting up he saw Gordi and ran over to him. Looking to Ervis he said lamely, “Sorry about that. I … I …”
Ervis asked curtly, “Is there anything else I should know?”
Albri with Feila’s son, Ju’Balii, were helping Gordi to his feet as Albri meekly replied, “No captain, nothing else.”
Walking the deck to make sure no one was injured, beyond some bumps, and superficial cuts, that is, he found Anu, “Let us come about and engage phase two of this plan.”
“Aye captain.”
___________________________
Getting through the new ice passage was not a problem, although they moved carefully. U’Lahna, Mahrufael, Tammin and Gordi were not part of the second phase, which was moving through passage and entering the gulf, unless wind was needed. But they were a working part of phase three. First, however, they would need rest.
Albri made it clear, “Manifestors, regardless of their source, are finite in their limits of power. Many exert heavy tolls on their bodies, more so than physical labor. They need recuperation.”
The passage was not completely clear; there was floating ice and slush, but it was simple enough to push through. The width was at no point closer than fifty feet, but in a couple places the passage was eighty to ninety feet wide. Once they entered open gulf, the Qua’Korr went into full sail.
Gordi slept soundly fo
r a bit over eight hours, then awakened to a ravenous hunger. Making way to the galley, he found a smiling face and a healthy plate of food waiting for him. “Thanks, cookie,” he said as he walked past Lesli drinking tea.
Hesitating a moment, Gordi sat his own mug down beside her, pulled something out of his pocket, then put her sap down next to her mug, “You did good, Lesli, real good.” Then he picked up his own mug and walked away.
Sitting down by himself, she walked up and sat beside him, “Can I ask you a question?”
Looking across at her he replied, “Yeah, sure …” then he took a bite of well cooked beef.
“You said I’m not ready.”
“Yeah, I did. You’re not.”
“Will you show me what I need to know?”
Without expression he asked, “What makes you think I can?”
“I’ve talked to Feila about you …”
Without looking to her, he slowly, methodically ate several more bites. She noticed he was picking the meat out of his stew bowl, then the potatoes, then the vegetables. It was an odd thing, he knew, and he paid attention to her watching him. She said nothing, however. He liked that … courtesy. Not that he would have minded if she did.
“Tell you what, after this, we’ll talk about it …” he pulled the spoon out of his mouth slowly, to get every drop of the tasty gravy, “… but you gotta live through it. Don’t be a hero …” he looked her eye-to-eye, “… am I clear?”
“You are a hero.”
He replied with a short huffing breath, “Maybe. But I’m durn good at what I do.” He looked back at her, “Do what I say, hear?”
She nodded her head, “I hear you.”
He tilted his head to the left in a slow stretch, then to the right, then straightened his back and with careful ease turned his head to the left, then back to center, then to the right, back to the center and breathed deep and full. Out of the corner of his eye he watched her watching him and offered, “It’s going to be a long-g-g evening.”
She looked at his stick, then to the bladeless sword handle in boot as she asked, “What is that? It radiates no aura.”
He grinned impishly, “Souvenir … another time and place.”
She gave him a questioning look, which he did not acknowledge.
Shrugging into his thick, knee-length fur coat and belting it on, then taking his time to pull leather gloves over his hands, he flexed his fingers and muttered to himself, “Yup, going to be a long one.”
Up the companionway he came abreast of JéPahn and greeted him, “G’evenin’ mate.”
“Good evening to you, sir.”
Together they walked to the ship’s bow, “So … you Pyntahku trained?”
“No. I’m independent. I had to learn everything the hard way.”
“Don’t knock it, it’s the best way … you appreciate it more.”
“If I understand correctly … you are going to …” JéPahn held both hands in front of him, palms up, as if to carry something.
“M-m-mn-n-n … something. Not sure what I’m going to do yet, or if I even can. Can you imagine holding a hunnerd pound dumbbell in each hand for hours at a time?”
JéPahn’s forehead creased in thought, “No-o-o … why?”
Tammin, U’Lahna and Mahrufael were already there with Albri, Ervis, and others. Feila rubbed the side of her mouth while looking at Gordi. Gordi reached up to rub his own mouth, “What? Gravy?”
“No, lipstick.”
Without missing a beat he replied, “So it was you kissin’ on me.”
“In your dreams, big fella.”
“Every night, darlin’ … and daytimes too.”
Ervis looked from one to the other trying to decide whether to take them seriously. Tammin’s face reflected, ‘I think I am going to like these people.’ Kravieu walked up puffing strong on his pipe.
Albri said, “Alright children, it is time to get back to work. Tammin, are you sure you understand what I want? Yours is going to be the hard part.”
Gordi grunted. Tammin turned and looked at him, then looked back to Albri, “Ah think so. Ve sha’ see. Ah make vind change under poat …” he slid one palm across the other in a slick motion, “… so it go ower vater vith wengence …”
Albri nodded and partially squinted one eye, “I-I-I-I think you have it, and Gordi …”
“Yes-s-s-s?”
“I want you to think, Cosieno Dunes.”
“Cosieno---? Brie, I like to forget the Dunes. Besides, that was a canoe with sand … you know, sand?”
“Same principle.”
Albri looked to Ervis, Anu and Rosey, “Let us recap, what we are going to attempt is something the elves reported achieved with some of their war ships. If we succeed, we are going to reach speeds that could blow your caps off … literally.
“Captain, I have no idea how fast we may go, and this may not work, but if all goes well you need to keep tight control of the rudder. Gordi is our stabilizer.”
Glancing to Tammin he continued, “He has altered the shape of the keel ... so-o-o …”
Once more breaking out his slide-rule, Albri made some more calculations as Gordi muttered to Mahrufael, “I always hate it when he does that.”
With a satisfied expression, Albri said, “If we are ready …”
Ervis nodded to Anu and Albri directed, “Gordi … your ball.”
Gordi stood behind the bowsprit, braced his feet wide, shrugged his shoulders and flexed his fingers. As he bowed his head in deep concentration, JéPahn commented to Ju’Balii, “It looks as if he is preparing to lift a barbell.”
Lesli looked about and saw the ropes begin to vibrate as the creaking of timbers could be heard. All around crew began to shift their footing in astonishment.
Albri directed, “Tammin, now … U’Lahna and Mahrufael ... it is time to alternate your effects.”
Tammin went into a deep state of focus as U’Lahna outstretched her hands. Gordi clenched his hands together and his face grimaced. He lifted his head as he shrugged his neck and shoulder muscles up and back into a locked position.
From various points of the rail voices could be heard in exclamation, “Poseidon’s beard, we are up out of the water …”
“… and feel it … we are picking up speed …”
“Someone check the line … how fast are we goin’?”
The sails were full and Qua’Korr kept getting faster and faster. One crewman went over the stern by rope just to see and came up to declare with excitement, “The hull is not even touching water. We have grown fins beneath keel and rudder. It is all we are riding on.”
Faster and faster the ship moved as drums beat-to-quarters. Ervis himself handled the wheel as Anu checked for speed. His face was in a frozen expression of shock as he came to Ervis, the captain’s hair blowing with the wind, “Captain … we are at fifty-nine knots.”
In time the mouth of the river came into telescope view as they did not slow down, but rounded out to enter the river at full speed.
Ervis was heard to exclaim, “Now this is sailing!”
Their timing was perfect as they slowed speed before meeting the ice. Tammin returned the keel and rudder to proper form as Feila showed up on deck in full combat regalia.
“Okay Albri, it is my turn. You and those who have been at it need rest. As for you, you haven’t slept in days. Find a hammock, Rolan has something for you, no arguments.”
She looked to a detachment of men she had chosen, then to Lesli, then she made declaration, “We do not know what is here, but we are about to cross the threshold into harm’s way. It is most likely we are already there and will act as such. There will be no sounding of bells.
“Magic is at play here; expect we are being watched. We are to guard this place at all costs while our heavy players get required rest.
“Lesli, let’s see if the ice itself is magical, or if it is result of magical influence.”
She looked up and down the deck, observing the rotation of cr
ew, “People, in nine hours we proceed to N’Jiun Castle, either by ship or by foot. Then we kill some trolls.”
Chapter 65
FEILA AND LESLI were just in front of the ship’s bow along with six men. Lesli was on one knee, her left palm flat upon the ice. It was an ugly, grayish, dirty looking ice. Taking your time to look at it, it didn’t fit in with the wild, beautiful countryside.
Standing up, Lesli looked to Feila with bewilderment on her face, “I could feel the overwhelming presence of magic from the deck, but this is beyond anything I have experienced. This ice isn’t just frozen water, it is dead water.”
Feila lowered her head and raised her eyebrows, “Dead water?”
“Like stagnant water, only worse. It is almost like poison. My father used to make it, but only in small amounts, like a cup at a time. He called it juju magic. It isn’t real high level, but to make an effect like this …” she waved her arms up river, “… it would take several people, or a couple really powerful ones to make it reach so far … and keep it frozen as well.
“They said it reaches another eight miles or so, didn’t they?”
“Yes, and the lake behind the castle is frozen as well.”
“If I eat this, the ice will immediately go soft, but you wouldn’t want to drink it. It could make you real, real sick … maybe die. It is full of disease, the kind that makes your bowels go to water for a long time … ‘till the dehydration kills you.”
“You know a lot about this kind of thing?”
“Like I said, my father made this stuff.”
“May I ask your father’s name?”
Lesli hesitated, then carefully watching Feila’s face she replied, “Meincha Koatun.”
Feila’s face showed no reaction. Lesli added, “He was a good father to me.”
“I have no doubt. This is going to be a lot, can you handle it?”
“I’ll have to release a lot as I go, but yes. I can do this sort of thing all day long.”
“From how far away, how far from it can you be?”
“Well, the closer the better. I’ve absorbed entire shade-clouds before, standing in the middle. I’m thinking this will be similar.”
