○O○
Wilmington had watched Cerf Delaflote and his pilots inspect and arm their aircraft. He made sure the Frenchman understood that he was not to attack until dawn. The way Wilmington had it planned, the cargo V-tols would lift him and his ground troops out to the ambush site and his wheeled vehicles would join him after his business was completed. He would be in position in sufficient time for his mercs to deploy and be ready when Delaflote's V-tols sprang the trap.
Leaving the aircraft hangar, Wilmington was on his way back to brief his merc commanders. As he approached the tram station and was preparing to mount, another tram pulled up with Lieutenant Colonel Fisher aboard, his face swollen and bloody.
"What happened to you?" Wilmington asked nonchalantly and went on to mount his tram.
"O'Connell hit me."
"Did you cry?"
"I asked him to hit me."
"What did you say?"
"I told the guards he knocked me out, then escaped. It fooled those idiots you hired easily. Then, at the Command Post, I gave your staff the same story and told them I wanted to report to you personally and accept full responsibility for the escape. They, of course, told me where I could find you."
"What's all this about?" Wilmington asked slowly.
"Not long ago, you explained to me how to end my dilemma. All I had to do was just inform you I want no further injections. Please consider this my official notification." Fisher reached for his pistol. In a flash, Wilmington hit the manual override on the tram's control panel and then pushed the accelerator rheostat all the way forward. His tram leapt forward and slammed into Fisher's knocking him off his tram and onto the floor. Wilmington dove over the control panel like an Olympic diving champion and landed right on top of Fisher. In a motion too fast to see, Wilmington dislocated both Fisher's arms at the shoulders. Then he stood up and retrieved Fisher's pistol. He stood over Fisher watching as he suffered in excruciating pain.
"Does it hurt?" Wilmington asked.
Writhing on the floor, Fisher managed a weak smile, "Everyone is concerned about my level of pain. I'm touched."
"I'll say this for you, Fisher, you grew a pair…at the end." With that, Wilmington shot Fisher between the eyes, blowing the top of his head off and splattering his brains all over the floor. Wilmington stood there a moment, examining the bloody mess before him and enjoying the exhilaration of the kill. He then tossed the pistol into the back of his tram, remounted, and drove away.
○O○
It took far longer than Kathy and Le'ha liked to get everyone together and ready for what promised to be a considerable road march through a wet cave with all their weapons, the PEAS, logistics, and their wounded. The E'meset went through the mouth of the cave extinguishing all the fires.
The vehicles were camouflaged as best as could be done. If they were discovered, it would lead the Ukse directly into the cave after them.
Kathy looked near the far wall and saw one of her soldiers in an animated argument with a lab coat. She went to investigate. "What's going on here?" she asked.
"Ma'am," the soldier reported, "Doctor Haythornwaite, here, insists this heavy equipment be taken along."
The doctor looked at Kathy. "Are you the responsible authority here?"
"Yes, sir, I'm Lieutenant Colonel Selina. What is this equipment?"
"This is an essential piece of equipment for our survival, Lieutenant."
"It's Lieutenant Colonel. What does it do?"
"This analyzer allows me to scan both our food and water for contaminants, whether they be animal, vegetable, or mineral. I'm sure you've been told how unhealthy the water is here. I scan it with this equipment after filtration to determine if it's safe to drink. I see you're bringing the water filtration equipment; ergo, you must bring this, as well, to ensure we've completely cleaned the water. I don't see why this is even a question."
Kathy looked at the soldier and ordered, "Bring it." She glanced at Doctor Haythornwaite. "Can you determine what any substance is made up of with this thing?"
"Of course."
Kathy pulled her E'meset knife with the intention of cutting a chunk of the red stained material out of her uniform. The rain had all but washed the red substance away. Looking around, she cried out, "Zolna!"
Zolna came trotting toward her, "Yes, ma'am?"
"You still have that piece of my uniform I gave you?"
Zolna reached into his breast pocket and retrieved the small, stained swatch. "Yes, ma'am, and it's still gooey," he wrinkled his nose as he passed it to Kathy.
Kathy handed it to the doctor. "I need to know what this stuff is."
○O○
Like all journeys, this one began with a first step.
Five E'meset were up front. Among them was Le'ha. Walking next to her were Dave and Kathy.
"You are the first Ukse to enter here…in a welcome way," Le'ha commented. "This is a holy place, you say sacred. We call this place Oviecotee en Eya'Etee Ki Kee, the door to the home of our mother."
"Le'ha," Kathy asked, "Everything here seems to be named after Eya'Etee, mother. I thought your god's name is Lu'aya?"
"Eya'Etee Ki Kee is the ground, stones, plants, water, and air. You say planet. All is Eya'Etee. She is mother to us all.
"Lu'aya is not a name; it means the maker, the maker of all things. We do not know what name was taken by Lu'aya, it has never been revealed to us. Lu'aya has made all that is or will be. Lu'aya made Eya'Etee Ki Kee."
"Where does Lu'aya live?"
"Lu'aya is everywhere—in the stones, the trees, in me, and even in you, and all the Ukse."
"Strange," Kathy said. "Though we are from separate worlds, our beliefs are not that far apart."
"Le'ha, you said…at Koor adusa Eya'Etee Ki Kee all our hurts would be healed. What did you mean?" Dave asked.
She looked down at him with a puzzled expression, "I mean that all your hurts will be healed. Did I not speak the anglish right?"
The tunnel became more and more constricted until at last they were all in a single file. They passed through a tunnel that was extremely tall and another that was so short that all six hundred ninety-nine of them had to crawl, pulling their equipment and the wounded with them.
Eventually, they entered into a rather large gallery out from which five tunnels led in separate directions. Each tunnel was marked over its opening with a carved effigy of some animal. They passed under the image of the winged creature.
Works of art were everywhere to be seen as they trekked through this underworld of the E'meset. In one gallery, nearly every stalagmite had been carved into the image of an E'lawvat E'meset.
"This is the Ornya a kunya," Le'ha explained, "the home of our honored. Here are the memories of our ancestors who did great things for the people. Here we remember them in stone." She approached a carved stalagmite, "This is Palotu Ayanya, who brought order and control to fire. Over there is Callas tie ya, who learned to make fall the little fish during the first Ukse war."
"Are we the second Ukse war?" Kathy asked.
"The rains have not come, the sun not risen, the two moons not yet set," Le'ha replied.
"Say what?" Dave did not understand.
Kathy translated, "She's saying the jury is still out."
Dave wandered over to where several tall stalagmites sat close to the path and were yet untouched. "Looks like you have room for a few more," he stated.
"There are many such rooms as this within Eya'Etee Ki Kee. And room for many more."
After three hours, Kathy was becoming concerned for the Bios. They were bravely trudging on, but it was plain to see they were exhausted. None had had any real sleep for almost two days, and the battle in the city had drained them physically and emotionally. Kathy requested Le'ha call a halt. Le'ha looked about at the others and the wounded, "Yes, it is always so when travelers reach this point that the body grows weary. A short distance this way is comfort for the people."
Five hundred meters later, they ente
red through a short, small tunnel that led into a vast, empty gallery devoid of cave formations. It was quite warm and dry in this chamber, which Kathy realized was indeed a necessary comfort for the Bios.
The E'meset and the SUBs aided everyone into the chamber, set up the PEAS, and got everyone comfortable within the plastic shelters. Then the E'meset placed guards outside the gallery. The wounded were made comfortable, then the Bios all settled down to rest. All but one. From a far corner, the hum of a device caught the ear of every SUB and E'meset in the gallery. Kathy and Dave advanced with some caution toward the source of the sound. There they found Doctor Haythornwaite examining the piece of cloth Kathy had given him. He looked up as they approached.
"Lieutenant, just where did you get this?"
"Lieutenant Colonel. What is it?"
"Every one of my attempts at analysis thus far has been futile. It is, of course, blood; however, there is an element in this blood that is a profound mystery. I've isolated it, but am unable to identify it. It is completely outside the scope of my knowledge and experience. It appears to me to be a separate living entity; a parasite, if you will. I really need a fresh specimen."
Kathy looked over her shoulder and called out to Le'ha who walked over to them in a very poised manner. Kathy was about to speak when she stopped herself. She thought a moment, then took Le'ha aside.
"Le'ha, I'm going to ask you for something that I fear might anger or worry you. I hope you trust me enough to know that all that we do here we do to stop the evil that is being done to your people."
"I trust you, my Kathee. What would you have of me?"
"Le'ha, I need a little, very little, of your blood."
Without hesitation Le'ha held out her arm.
Kathy took her hand. "How do you say thank you?"
"Key'Etos," Le'ha replied.
"Come, Le'ha, this way."
They joined Dave and Doctor Haythornwaite back at his mobile analyzer. The doctor had already prepared a syringe.
Le'ha looked at the man in the white lab coat with the needle in his hand and recoiled. She bared her teeth and made a sharp noise at him. "No needles!" she cried.
"But young…woman…I need a sample of your blood—" the doctor stammered.
"Where?" Le'ha asked. Her face revealing contempt, not fear.
The doctor pointed to a tray on the side of his machine upon which sat a glass slide.
"About three drops on that slide," he told her.
Le'ha drew her large hunting knife and jabbed the tip into the flesh on the bottom of her left arm. The blood flowed down the side of her arm and dripped neatly onto the slide.
The doctor then provided her a sterile gauze to stop the bleeding. "I have medicine to prevent infection," he offered, reaching for a container.
"I do not need that," Le'ha said.
"Don't be stubborn, young woman. That knife is filthy."
"I do not need it," Le'ha repeated sternly, then lifted the bandage to reveal the wound to the doctor.
He lifted his glasses. "What's this?" He produced a flashlight and examined the wound more closely. He was astounded. The wound was well on its way to healing.
"How is this possible?" Doctor Haythornwaite asked aloud.
"With Lu'aya, all things are possible," Le'ha replied. "Why do you take from me my blood?"
"We are trying to understand what it is that makes your blood so wonderful," Kathy replied. "Your blood heals your wounds, keeps you healthy, and extends your life. That is why Wilmington wants it…to make the Ukse live longer."
"Why do you not just drink?"
"Drink…what?"
"Water."
"We do," Kathy explained, "but we have to clean it first."
"Why?"
"Some of the gasses of your atmosphere are in it, as well as micro-organisms that we don't understand, which might make us sick."
"Wait a minute!" Doctor Haythornwaite backed away from his analyzer, his face pale.
"What is it?" Dave asked.
The doctor looked up at Le'ha, wonder on his face. "They drink the water unfiltered, not purified. I found an element in her blood that acts as a living thing. And there are unknown bacteria in the water…which we do not drink until we purify it.
"Is a very simple picture starting to form, Lieutenant?" the doctor asked, looking up from the analyzer.
"Le'ha," Kathy asked, "where do you get your drinking water?"
"We drink from the rivers and the lakes. And we come here five times a year to give thanks and to drink of Eyaden Metoe'Ay, mother's milk."
"Here? Where in here?" Kathy asked excitedly.
"We go there now, Kathee…to mend your people."
○O○
The dawn did not arrive as Wilmington had hoped, as a brilliant, red ball of light breaking the horizon. Rather, the sky had become overcast and was threatening rain. Time would have to be the deciding factor. Sunrise this date would be 06:43. Cerf Delaflote and his V-tols were on station at 06:25. Wilmington and his mercs were in their ambush positions on the ridges overlooking the trail below at 05:30.
At 06:30, all was still quiet. Wilmington's Listening and Observation Posts were reporting neither sight nor sound of the CDF column. 06:40 came and went, still no sign. 06:45 and the outposts remained silent.
At 07:00, Wilmington had enough. He stood up from the depression on the ridge where he had hidden and cursed before he fired up his COMde. "All observation posts, this is Whisky Leader, report, over."
"This is one, negative. Over."
"This is two, also negative. Over."
"This is three, same-same. Over."
"This is four, I got nothing. Over."
"Damn it all!" Wilmington shouted. "How could we just lose them like this?" He went to the edge of the cliff and looked down trying to will his targets there.
"Serf," Wilmington shouted into his COMde.
"This is Épée six actual," Cerf Delaflote responded, remaining professional.
"Serf, they are not here! Go find them!"
"Roger. Épée six actual, out."
"Dammit it to hell!" Wilmington was furious as he saw his plan dissolve. "Surely they did not arrive early and pass unseen in the dark. What the hell else could go wrong?"
Just then, it began to rain.
○O○
Kathy let everyone sleep six hours. Even Le'ha and her warriors got some sleep.
Upon waking, the wounded were again checked, and equipment gathered. A liquid nutrient was consumed by the Bios for breakfast, respirators checked. The PEAS were deflated and stored, all equipment gathered, and then everyone lined up. The rear guards were the last to leave the cozy, warm chamber.
The march went on for hours. They passed through natural tunnels of every description: narrow tubes, wide corridors, massive galleries, low crawls, and a few pits. In some places the path was as straight as a laser beam, and in others it was extremely serpentine. Occasionally, the path angled precipitously downhill, while sometimes it was a steep climb. In these locations, moving the wounded in the stretchers was a serious challenge.
At last Le'ha's point man ran back. He approached Le'ha and reported, "Pah, ey Eolamerkay Ukse."
Le'ha turned to Kathy and Dave. "We have arrived, and there is no sign of Ukse."
They climbed over a large boulder, then a couple hundred meters more and the CDF survivors entered a vast and beautiful chamber. The glowing stones the E'meset called Volessa were growing out of the walls, ceiling, and floor…everywhere providing ample illumination in the immense gallery. There were several large ponds scattered all about the chamber being fed by streams, waterfalls, and springs. All the water was aglow, as well.
There were strange and delicate plants growing all about and, of course, the wondrous art of the E'meset was everywhere to be seen. As Kathy approached the nearest pond, it was impossible not to notice the brilliant, electric yellow algae growing on the surface and all around each pond like a bath tub ring. It grew up the rocks and
covered almost every surface in proximity to each glowing pond.
Le'ah directed that the wounded be brought forward. They were laid around the edge of the largest pond like the numbers on a clock. All thirty E'meset began to sing a song that sounded somewhat like a Gregorian chant as they administered to the wounded.
Le'ha shouted out as the ceremony began, "Do not approach the pond or your friends. Stay still and stay back."
As the E'meset approached the wounded Ukse they brought large shells filled with the brilliant water to the injured soldiers and bid them drink deeply. The Ukse held their breaths, pulled the bottom of the mask away from their mouths and drank, and then they replaced and sealed their masks. Those who could not drink or who were unconscious were immersed into the pools up to their chins.
The E'meset removed their bandages and large handfuls of the yellow algae were massaged into the wounds. Not one of the wounded Bios exhibited the slightest fear or pain.
Le'ha stood near Kathy and whispered. "Water from the lake Kosta tea elle flows down through the world and through the glowing stones Volessa Eya'Etee Ki Kee. The water then becomes mother's milk, Eya'Etden Metoe'Ay. The La Vat Ay, you call it algae, feeds on the liquid Volessa Eya'Etee Ki Kee. Truly Lu'aya protects the E'meset. Here is the proof."
The singing, drinking, and massaging with the yellow slime went on for a very long time. As they waited, several uninjured Bios who were standing watching had to lie down, and as they did, they fell asleep.
As Kathy stood there listening to the music and watching the E'meset treat the wounded, she noticed that the glowing stones on the wall behind the pond seemed to be throbbing in rhythm with the music. She was going to point this oddity out to Dave, but she could not take her eyes from the phenomenon. The stones were so beautiful. She began to recall everything in her life that had ever made her delirious with joy or even simply happy. Her memory settled on one event in particular…her recent expression of love to Dave. The entire event replayed in her mind and again her body tingled and her mind was ablaze with desire for Dave.
The Vampires of Antyllus Page 34
