* * *
“It’s Marlo and Terris,” Ken said as he focused the visual scanner. “Infra-red says Marlo’s the closest to go pee.”
“Ok,” Colin said, “urine sample time. Ida, is operation Yellow River ready?”
“Affirmative, the ultra sounds are perfectly coordinated. If he doesn’t walk too far from the center of the track as he passes we have a lock on.”
Yuri smiled. “I hope this goes better than the time we tried it in training.”
“So I was two centimeters off in the triangulation,” Ida snapped. “I still say it was that hunk of junk we had to use. The ultra sound wave length was off, so was the phase reinforcement.”
Colin leaned forward to get a better look at the trail. “I don’t think Foster minded at all. Last time I talked to him he said his erection still hadn’t gone down.”
“Two meters away,” Yuri announced.
“Ready to tingle his bladder...,” Ida said. “...now. Got him.”
Colin watched as Marlo stopped and after a moment’s pause snapped his fingers.
“What’s wrong?” Terris asked while turning.
Marlo wandered off the trail in the direction of a large bush.
“I have to take care of personals,”
Terris leaned his head back and laughed. “Couldn’t wait until we got back to town so you could do it in comfort?”
“I’m only going to do the standing,” Marlo said over his shoulder.
“I have a lock on,” Yuri said as he manipulated another instrument’s hand control. “Terris’ forearm.”
Colin watched as Terris grabbed his arm.
“Ah!” Terris exclaimed.
“What is it?” Marlo said from behind the bush.
“A bow fly.”
The Rangers watched as the two below finished their business and continued on down the trail.
“Ken, Ida, go get your samples,” Colin said when the targets were out of sight.
“I wish we had full lab facilities,” Yuri said. He watched two Ranger suits activate and ripple their way down the slope. “The field analyzers can only tell us so much about the blood and urine samples.”
“At least they’ll tell us if we can catch anything they have. The antivirals in our systems can handle most things; it’s just the unusual we have to worry about.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to be a carrier that has to spend weeks in isolation when I get back.”
“We’ll be with you,” Ida said as she crossed the trail fifty meters away.
“Yes, but when I get back I want a little romantic action. Col and Ken are too ugly, and you are more my sister than my sister.”
“Ugly?” Ken said through the radio system as he walked toward the large bush with specimen container in hand. “You haven’t looked in a mirror lately.”
“Screw you!” Yuri said.
“Screw you too,” Ken returned.
“Screw you twice.” Yuri said.
“Screw both of you,” Colin said. “Enough of the intellectual repartee, how’re the samples coming?”
“Yes,” Ida agreed. “Cut the male bonding while we’re working.”
“Hey Ida,” Ken said. “You must’ve tickled his bladder good with that ultrasound. It’s a swamp back here.”
“Got the tissue sampler,” Ida said.
“You know we’re saying screw you in your honor, boss,” Yuri said. “Yack you means the same thing, but so you’ll understand us, we talk Old Earth.”
“I’m quite familiar with modern slang, so yack and screw you at the same time. Now get back to your job.”
Yuri pulled a small monitor toward him and replayed the scene that took place minutes before. “What was that finger snapping thing?”
“Already noted it,” Colin said. “Must be their way of attracting attention instead of saying ‘Hey you’.”
“Sure a lot to learn just so we don’t step on a few toes.”
“Well, they’ve been separate from the main body of humanity for six hundred years, our first meeting has to be as close to perfect as possible. We’ve collected a mountain of information, but there’s only one thing I don’t understand.”
“That grunting thing?” Ida said.
“We’ll find out. Maybe it’s one of those habits that people do and don’t know they’re doing it.”
“Possible,” Ken agreed.
* * *
“That makes three,” Ida said while adjusting her medical scanner. “Three mutated viruses that’re harmful to humans, but it reads that we should be protected.”
“Should be?” Colin said. “Does that mean there’s a possibility we’re not protected?”
Ida nodded. “One virus in particular doesn’t come even close to matching anything in the database. The only way to know for sure is to send samples to a lab on Pellan.”
“So, you’re not one hundred percent sure the meds we’re taking will work,” Colin said.
Ida nodded. “Just to be sure I’ll add a third antiviral to our daily meds, draconimol.”
“There goes my bowls,” Yuri said. “The meds we’re already taking are giving me diarrhea.”
“Stick a cork up your butt,” Ida said. “For now, just keep taking your antiviral tabs every day.”
“We are,” Colin said, “but what about the people at home?”
“It looks like we’ll be in isolation when we get back,” Ida said. “That is, unless the lab back home gives us an ok, tells us our systems are clear and we just have to decontaminate our skin.”
“Oh crap,” Yuri said.
Ken smiled and leaned in Yuri’s direction. “Looks like you have to either change your sexual orientation or indulge in a little incest.”
Ida looked at Yuri with a mock sneer. “Wave that ugly looking thing of yours at me and I’ll cut it off.”
“He’ll be missing an appendage if he tries it with me too,” Colin said as he picked up a pad.
“Well,” Ken said to Yuri. “It looks like it’s just you and me then.”
Colin smiled. He knew the homosexual innuendoes and jokes were just a form of standard military humor. Both of his male troops psych profiles demonstrated a score, in that area, well into the heterosexual range.
“Either that or the local women,” Yuri said, looking wistfully in the direction of the suspected village.
“Take care on that one,” Colin said. “We have to know their attitudes and cultural standards first. We don’t want you dragged into the town square and have your wang publicly cut off.”
“You’ll all come to my rescue,” Yuri said. “After all, spears are no match for lasers and stunners.”
“Actually I’d just stand and watch,” Ida said with a smile. “I’ve never seen a guy get his dick cut off. I’ll even give you a necklace so you can hang it around your neck afterward as a keepsake.”
“They won’t cut anyone’s dick off,” Colin said. “I’ll do it for them first if you so much as wink at one of their women.”
“Does that include tits?” Yuri said waving a hand in Ida’s direction.
“Yep, tits too.”
“Well, I can control myself,” Ida said.
Both Ken and Yuri burst out laughing. Ida picked up a small lump of sod from the side of their dugout and threw it at Yuri.
“Enough of tits and dicks,” Colin said. “Was there any indication on the effect of those viruses on an unprotected human?”
“Negative,” Ida said. “All it read was that they were human specific, which means they only affect humans. Animals and birds aren’t affected and can’t even be carriers. I’ll do a daily check on all your metabolic functions to make sure none of us are coming down with whatever disease it causes.”
“Well,” Colin said, “if they hadn’t cleaned us out before coming, we would’ve infected them with a few we have. The med teams can work it out later.”
* * *
“What do you mean you’re more diplomatic than I am?” Yuri said as he sa
t on a rock by the side of the trail. “You’re as diplomatic as a kick in the teeth.”
“I didn’t say diplomatic,” Ken said from the campsite. “I said suave and sophisticated. We have to impress them, not have them think we’re all lowbrows like you.”
“Remember, you should have minimal problems with the one they call Farren,” Colin said. “Voice and body language analysis shows that he’s extremely self-confident, sympathetic, intelligent and logical.”
“I know, I know,” Yuri said. “We’ve been over it and over it. Talk to him formally and with the respect.”
“Keep it down,” Colin said. “Farren’s just around the bend in the track.”
Yuri pushed the receiver further into his ear to make it less conspicuous. He then made a final check of his civilian, casual outfit which they had all brought in case a uniform gave the wrong impression.
Finally, he looked up and saw Farren, a tall, middle aged man with a long blond beard, as he appeared around a bend. He was on his way to the fields and as usual was not carrying a basket. That fact led the Rangers to believe that he was in a position of authority amongst the warm workers.
They had decided on him as the first contact due to his apparent position, plus his friendly disposition that was demonstrated whenever he talked to a fellow worker. Their personal analysis of the man’s character was confirmed by both infra-red and voice computer analysis.
Yuri stood and struck a casual pose. “Ho, Yuri,” he called in the standard, friendly greeting. His arms remained by his side as no hand gestures were observed in any of their meetings.
“Ho Yuri, Farren, you’re a stranger around here. Did you come from across the dark or from the other side of the wall?”
“Ah... the dark, the wall? What do you mean?” Yuri said, confused by the question.
“Apprehension,” Ida said in Yuri’s ear. “I.R. reads mild fear.”
“Confirmed on voice,” Ken said.
“Damn,” Colin said.
Farren grunted then broke into a broad smile. “Ah,” he said. “You are tall. You must be from across the dark.”
“Sudden change in reaction,” Ida said in Yuri’s ear. “I.R. reads apprehension’s gone.”
“Confirmed on voice,” Ken said.
“The dark,” Colin commented in surprise. “Maybe he means space. Test him on that.”
“Ah… yes, I’m six foot,” Yuri said, “If you know that form of measurement.”
“Yes I do,” Farren said. “Very few of your people from across the dark visit here. It’s too hazardous to go where you can’t see. Did you have many problems?”
“No... ah... entering the atmosphere was a little bumpy but that was because of our angle and velocity.”
“Confusion,” Ida said.
“Well, there goes that theory,” Colin said. “He doesn’t seem to know of space travel. Try a direct question, Yuri.”
“We may be talking of different things,” Yuri said. “What do you mean by the dark?”
Farren laughed. “Our people haven’t talked in so long it looks like our words are now different.”
“He seems to understand,” Ida said. “I don’t know what, but he understands.”
Farren continued. “The long walk where you look everywhere but cannot see a thing. The place where many are lost.”
“Oh,” Yuri said, trying not to look directly at the man as was the convention. Suddenly he broke the custom and stared directly in his eyes.
“Don’t look him in the eyes,” Colin commanded. “They don’t do that.”
Yuri tilted his head left and right. “Ah... you’re blind?” he said in an uncontrollable outburst.
“What?” Colin said.
“No, I’m not,” Farren said in surprise. “I can see perfectly well.”
“Confusion,” Ida said. “And he believes what he just said.”
“Confirmed,” Ken said.
“He seems to take direct questions quite well,” Colin said. “Try another.”
“When you look at me, what do you see?”
Farren aimed his face in Yuri’s direction and made the, now familiar, grunting sound and sniffed the air. He then smiled. “Yes, I noticed the unusual clothing you’re wearing.”
“Sonar,” Colin said in a voice that sounded as if he was slapping his forehead. “They’re all blind and guide themselves by sonar, feel and smell.”
“Uh…” Yuri said. “Do any of your people see in different ways?”
“In what ways?” Farren said.
“With your eyes?” Yuri said.
“Uh…” Farren said, looking confused. “How can you see with your eyes?”
“It appears he doesn’t even know what eyesight is,” Ida said.
Farren’s smile returned. “I understand what you’re saying,” he laughed. “No, no. Be at ease my friend. You are quite safe here. We are a moral people. Satan has not visited us in many sun highs.”
“Moral?” Colin said. “Something’s very strange here. Yuri, stay off the subject of eyesight and for now, pretend you’re blind.”
“That’s uh… good to hear,” Yuri said.
“Announce us,” Colin ordered.
“Ah... I have three friends with me. They’ll soon be here.”
Farren clapped his hands. “The end of harvest and now four visitors from across the dark. This will be a cause for celebration.”
“This is not going to be as straight forward as we thought,” Colin said.
Chapter 5
Jim stood looking through the transparent wall of the Lydia’s observation deck. He had had it tilted so that the entire vista of the planet Earth appeared on the starboard side.
The glass of beer in his hand had not lowered in level in the past ten minutes. He just stood there looking as the beverage slowly warmed in his hand.
A violent hurricane covered the entire Asian continent. He couldn’t see the outline that used to mark the coast. The shoreline no longer existed. A map called up on the luxury ship’s computers appeared on the transparent wall and gave him a red lined layout of how things used to be.
“Over your psychotics yet?” Redmond asked as he exited a lift tube, the modern equivalent of an elevator.
“Oh, yes,” Jim replied despondently without turning around. “But I’m still angry enough to be ready for that Commonwealth Council debate tomorrow.”
Redmond laughed. “Well, people know you’re quite outspoken. No one but you could get away with telling that idiot Haugen exactly what’s what.”
“What’s the news from the boys,” Jim asked, changing the subject.
“No word from Colin, he’s been on that planet for sixteen days now. As there’s a communication blackout, except in an emergency, I can say that no news is good news.”
“He can take care of himself. And Michael?”
“He just arrived at that kids adventure camp. Our technical team’s at the Ranger training camp right now.”
Jim turned and placed his beer on a side table. “So, our little ploy seems to be working. How about the other agents?”
“There’s an electronics salesman, a secretary on vacation, a young man going home from college to visit his parents, and Halbert going to that convenient conference on Pellan. Each will return with one or two of those pyramids made to look like a Time Stone souvenir.”
“Are the military still tight lipped about the targets?”
“Well Jim, you have not asked them. You have the right to demand to know. After all, it’s mostly your money putting this operation together, and you’re head of government of a sovereign state where it’s being initiated.”
“Actually I really don’t want to know. Just so they do it and get this damn war over with. People are starting to go hungry in some places because of the raiders and the blockades. Somebody has to do something, but I don’t want to be bothered with the details.”
“You’re right there. Somebody has to do something. The government’s in too much of
a mess to do anything.”
“What do you mean by that?” Jim asked as he turned and scrutinized his old friend.
“Just that, since Rossetti retired, the Commonwealth lost the last effective leader it had.”
“Someone’ll come along,” Jim replied while turning his attention back to the planet below.
“They are,” Redmond said. “Dozens of morons who think they can imitate Hitler or Napoleon and get away with it this time. The government’s a shambles. Every few weeks we have some sort of recall vote. Nobody can keep up with who is in charge of what these days. The whole situation is set for a totalitarian. The probability is slowly approaching the inevitable. We just have to hope for the right one, and you’re our choice.”
“Oh doc, not you too.”
“Yes me too,” Redmond replied in an annoyed tone. “I know dozens of professors that feel the same way.”
“Good heavens,” Jim said, raising his arms in a gesture of frustration. “This must be the first time in history that academics support a right wing takeover.”
“We’ve learned from history. When a right wing government takes over, the first thing they do is to either eliminate or silence the academic community. At the moment it appears that there’ll be a takeover. There’re half a dozen members of the council who now have aspirations in that direction. Imagine Polinski, or Hong taking the slot...”
“They’re both idiots...”
“Many an idiot has done it with disastrous consequences. The power of the charismatic idiot is astounding, and they both are just that.”
“Yes, but I have no idea what to do with...”
“You have two dozen profitable businesses don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“What do you know about business?”
“Nothing, but...”
“They are still successful, why?”
“Because people who know what they’re doing are running them for me. But...”
“Then there it is. The vast majority of totalitarians trusted no one and ran everything themselves. That was their mistake, because no one can be proficient at everything.”
Victim of Circumstance (The Time Stone Trilogy Book 3) Page 6
