Free Trader Box Set - Books 4-6: Battle for the Amazon, Free the North!, Free Trader on the High Seas

by Craig Martelle

  The companions watched it all with great amusement, not so much because of G-War’s efforts to teach the young ‘cats, but because they knew that for three cycles he’d begged for the company of other Hillcats. It reinforced the adage of “be careful what you ask for, you may get it.”

  Braden and Micah also acquired a room and enjoyed what it had to offer, sharing pot pies with Skirill and Zyena as the javelina population was quickly eliminated, despite G-War’s efforts to convince the kittens to leave some for the next time. Treetis was the first to make a kill, even though he wasn’t the largest or the fastest. G-War took great pride in the young ‘cat’s kill, beaming as a proud dad might.

  “I’m pretty sure there’s going to be some fireworks between the new ‘cats and G’s other litter. The first thing Klytus will want to do is fight the newcomers. He’s their size, but only because they’re half-grown!” Micah lamented.

  ‘I’ll handle my children,’ G-War snipped. ‘All of them. Maybe we just have a big fight off, let them all get it out of their system, and then we find homes for this brood.’

  ‘We’ll do nothing of the sort, my little scrubbykins,’ Fea purred over the mindlink.

  Coffee spewed from Braden’s nose. He started coughing and gagging. “Scrubbykins?” Micah punched him, but turned away so the Golden Warrior couldn’t see her laugh. She grabbed a handful of her partner’s shirt and dragged him back into the room, closing the door behind her. Skirill and Zyena almost fell out of their tree. Bounder and Zyena dropped their spears and bounced up and down.

  G-War had often taken pleasure in the others’ familial discomforts in the past. He looked at his companions, the other ‘cats, and finally to Fealona. Maybe this was what he was looking for all along, to have a little bit of what the others so readily enjoyed with their mates. He exhaled long and loud.

  ‘Okay, you win,’ G-War told Fea, rubbing his body past hers in the traditional way that mates did, ‘partner mine.’

  The South

  The caravan took two turns to make the northern border of the Plains of Propiscius. Micah yelled at Braden and anyone else who would listen as they spent one last day trying to sleep under the tent.

  “No!” she screamed. “I won’t spend one more minute in this tent with these creatures. They fart. They never stop farting. I think that’s all they do. They turn their food into a hideous smell. The stench is in my clothes, Braden!”

  Braden and the others pushed the wagon to the edge of the tent so it partially stuck out where the sun’s rays baked mercilessly. Micah slept in the back, just out of the sun but with enough fresh air to keep her happy. No one could disagree with her, but there wasn’t much they could do about it. Braden wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her this angry about something. He sniffed his shirt. The smell really was in their clothes.

  The plains started with scrub trees and short, dry grasses. The water buffalo spread out to graze, but they needed to move farther south before they’d find the grasses that were good for them. They rallied the tired kittens to keep the livestock moving toward the lake where Braden and Micah first met. The grass was good and there was plenty of water.

  “Where are these beasties going to find a home?” Zeller asked. Braden had always assumed Dwyer, but on second thought, there were other villages that could use the boost that the livestock would provide. Braden shrugged. Maybe it didn’t need to be his decision.

  “How about you take them where they will best serve the people of the south? Find ranchers who will help the herd to grow. I’m sure you and Tom will make a good decision.” Braden shook their hands. The deal was done.

  “I’m proud of you,” Micah told him as they watched Tom and Zeller talk excitedly in the Old Tech wagon. “I know you don’t want to let go.”

  “That was easier than I thought it would be,” he confided, even though he knew there were no secrets between them. “I think it’s time that we rescue the kids from your mother,” he added playfully.

  “I couldn’t agree more. Who knows what we’ll have to break them of.”

  Braden nodded before accessing their mindlink. ‘We’re going after the kids. Who’s coming with us?’ he asked the companions.

  Skirill and Zyena had always enjoyed their trips to the coast where two of their hatchlings lived. The ocean breeze made for great flying, plus they enjoyed the fish that the village of Trent always had in great abundance.

  Bounder and Gray Strider had enough of the water buffaloes and were happy to join Braden and Micah. Brandt said goodbye to Arnie and congratulated him on his work to keep the whole caravan moving when the King could not. He winked at the young bull and told him that even though the arrow wounds had healed, the cows would find the scars to be enticing.

  ‘G?’ Braden asked, wondering.

  ‘Not this time, Braden. We have to make sure all of these kittens are well taken care of, find good people and good homes. I know that you’ll get Ax, ‘Tesh, and those two urchins of mine and then you’ll rejoin us. By then, Fea and I will be ready to go with you. In my place, because I know that you cannot be trusted to look after yourself, Treetis will accompany you. He has my full confidence to keep you out of trouble as I would do,’ G-War finished as his mate nuzzled him. G-War and Fea jumped from the King’s head into the wagon and they waved as Brandt trotted away.

  Treetis brought his water buffalo to the edge of the herd where Braden could ride alongside without upsetting the livestock. The ‘cat spent a few heartbeats giving the beast instructions before leaping into Braden’s lap. The ‘cat looked like a younger, healthier Golden Warrior. Braden scratched behind his ears, but the ‘cat batted his hand away, before fixing him with his ‘cat stare.

  Micah watched it all as she heeled her horse into a run, letting her hair trail behind her as they headed toward the ocean. Brandt ran past, accepting the challenge of the race. The Wolfoids tried to keep up with the Aurochs while the Hawkoids easily flew far ahead, looking to keep the companions free from any dangers. Braden looked at the dust from those running ahead.

  “It looks like just you and me, little man.” Braden leaned over the ‘cat as his horse picked up speed.

  ‘The ocean?’ Treetis asked.

  “Water. Endless water that’s salty. You can’t drink it, but the fish that come from there? They are some choice eating. I’m sure G-War had to tell you about that.”

  ‘No, he didn’t, but he did say that we’d have to find our own way on Vii and beyond,’ Treetis replied.

  “As do we all, little man. As do we all…”

  Free Trader

  on the High Seas

  Free Trader Series

  Book 6

  By Craig Martelle

  Copyright © 2016 Craig Martelle

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN 10:

  ISBN 13:

  ASIN:

  Cover Illustration © Tom Edwards

  Tom EdwardsDesign.com

  Typography by James Baldwin - www.jamesosiris.com

  Editing services provided by Mia Darien – miadarien.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Other Books by Craig Martelle

  Free Trader Series

   Book 1 – The Free Trader of Warren Deep (February 2016)

   Book 2 – The Free Trader of Planet Vii (March 2016)

   Book 3 – Adventures on RV Traveler (April 2016)

   Book 4 – Battle for the Amazon (August 2016)

   Book 5 – Free the North! (September 2016)

   Book 6 – Free Trader on the High Seas (October 2016)

   Book 7 – Southern Discontent (January 2017)

   Book 8 – The Great ‘Cat Rebellion (2017)

   Book 9 – Return to the Traveler (2017)

  Cygnus Space Op
era – set in the Free Trader Universe

   Book 1 – Cygnus Rising (Sep 2016)

   Book 2 – Cygnus Expanding (Nov 2016)

   Book 3 – Cygnus Arrives (2017)

  End Times Alaska Trilogy, a Winlock Press publication

   Book 1: Endure (June 2016)

   Book 2: Run (July 2016)

   Book 3: Return (August 2016)

   Book 4: Fury (December 2016)

  Rick Banik Thrillers

   People Raged and the Sky Was on Fire (May 2016)

   The Heart Raged (2017)

  Short Story Contributions to Anthologies

   Earth Prime Anthology, Volume 1 (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)

   Apocalyptic Space Short Story Collection (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)

   Lunar Resorts Anthology, Volume 2 (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)

   Inanna’s Circle Game, Volume 2 (edited by Kat Lind)

   The Expanding Universe, Volume 1 (edited by Craig Martelle)

   The Misadventures of Jacob Wild McKilljoy (with Michael-Scott Earle)

  The beauty of the sea

  The freedom of the open ocean

  Serenity of waves lapping

  The fury of unconquered waters

  Acknowledgments

  James M. Ward helped me with an element of Free Trader Six’s plot that was bothering me. Just talking with Jim over a casual lunch cleared everything up in short order. Jim is a master at figuring things out and he is a superb mentor to those of us finding our way in this business. Thank you, Jim, and in your honor, the ship in this story is called the Warden.

  The ship is inspired by the Sea Orbiter, an incredible design that I hope someone builds someday, just so we can see it and know that humanity won’t be denied. Learn to live as one with the sea, for it cannot be dominated by brute force.

  In this book you’ll see the influence of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. I love the science fiction classics and tried to give some of their ideas life with the Free Trader. Of course, there’s always inspiration from David Weber and Anne McCaffrey. I think it all came together in a story with more action than we’re used to seeing, but there’s always something going on, and you get to see this world through all kinds of different eyes.

  As we are bombarded by the media with the worst the world has to offer, I bring to you the character Bronwyn, who is all about the freshness of youth and finding the good in people, no matter who those people are or what they look like.

  Thank you to Stephen Lee for all of his work with the 77 Worlds concept. I’ve been honored to include some short stories in his anthologies, and hope that I can do the game credit at Gary Con IX! We are talking about some other things, too, and I hope we have good news to share some time soon.

  I want to thank some readers by name as they are the ones who we look to when we’re feeling a little down. Diane Velasquez and her sister Dorene Johnson are incredible advocates and very supportive. Norman Meredith has thrown out a number of ideas that keep the creative juices flowing. The following people have also been very kind with their comments. Bill and Linda Rough, J.L. Hendricks, E.E. Isherwood, Heath Felps, Chris Rolfe, Barry Hutchison, Joe Jackson, Angela Hill, and so many more. It makes a day spent writing so much easier and more fulfilling when people appreciate the stories.

  Humans and the Intelligent Creatures

  The Hillcats (‘cat)

  The Golden Warrior – also called G, G-War, and Prince Axial De’atesh, can share his mindlink with others

  Fealona – from G-War’s home village and his mate

  Treetis – A young ‘cat, very much like G-War

  The Humans

  Braden – The Free Trader

  Micah – The Warrior, Partnered with Braden

  Axial & De’atesh – Braden and Micah’s twin children

  Bronwyn – Gifted child, able to speak with all creatures

  Dr. Johns – a clone, leader of the survivors from Cygnus VI

  Zeller – a Free Trader, from Trent, the same village as Micah

  Young Tom – a blacksmith from Whitehorse, Zeller’s partner

  Mattie & Caleb – Micah’s parents

  The Professor – an ancient

  The Hawkoids

  Skirill – also called Ess

  Zyena – Skirill’s mate, born on the RV Traveler, also called Zee

  Zeeka – Skirill and Zyena’s daughter, first Hawkoid born in the south

  The Tortoid

  Aadi – First Master of the Tortoise Consortium

  The Aurochs

  Brandt Earthshaker – King of the Aurochs

  Arnie – Zeller’s partner in trade, pulls her wagon

  The Queen – Brandt’s queen that he rescued from Toromont’s Run

  The Lizard Men (Amazonians)

  Pik Ha’ar – Lizard Man from the ship RV Traveler and friend

  The Rabbits

  Ferrer & Brigitte – a Rabbit couple moved from the Traveler to Vii

  The Dolphins

  Chlora & Rhodi – genetically engineered creatures of the sea

  The Whale

  Rexalita – engineered from a Sperm Whale, the largest creature on Vii

  Raiders!

  Zeller’s wagon bounced lightly as it crossed the stream, until Arnie stopped to drink. The Aurochs was barely winded, even after the long day’s pull. The Old Tech wagon used the power of the sun to assist in turning the wheels, aiding the great beast as he trotted across the countryside.

  Caleb rode in the back, sleeping, watching, and sleeping some more. The wagon’s padding made for an embarrassingly comfortable trip. They also carried fishing gear that Caleb intended to give to the new residents of White Beach, the village on the shore of the Western Ocean where the old inhabitants had been taken into the sea by vehicles of the ancients, operated by the Bots.

  The new residents saw the potential in fishing, and the Bots had not been seen for cycles. Fear disappeared over time and the people migrated, looking to make their own mark in the world. They moved to the empty homes, finding serenity in sleeping near the beach, in eating the crabs and clams they easily found on the shore. They could see fish and other sea life, but they had no luck in catching them. They tried using gear that they found in the huts and homes, but nothing seemed to work.

  The Free Traders carried word to the west, and Micah asked her father if he could help. He was powerless to resist, since Mattie wouldn’t let him turn their daughter down.

  That was how he found himself on the long journey west, traveling across the south, from one ocean to the other.

  He liked the padding of Zeller’s wagon, but he was also cramped among Amazonian rope, bags of mushrooms, sweetened pork that made him perpetually hungry, and special metal tools carried all the way from Old Tom’s forge. Zeller’s mate, Young Tom they called him, was building his blacksmith business outside River Crook. Old Tom’s tools would be put to good use as Young Tom started churning out the implements that farmers, hunters, shepherds, fisherman, and everyday people needed.

  Caleb noticed a marked increase in the wagon’s speed the closer they got to River Crook and Zeller’s mate, usually a three to four turn effort from Bliss. Caleb wondered if she was trying to cut the time to two turns.

  Arnie bugled his dismay at something unseen and bolted forward, only to slide to a sideways stop a few heartbeats later to avoid a barricade of logs blocking their way. Caleb was thrown about within the wagon, pummeled as the cargo dislodged.

  “To arms!” Zeller yelled as she jumped from the wagon’s buckboard to the ground and with her sword, hacked through the harness to quickly free the Aurochs. He danced out of the fallen straps and ran to the right, to the north.

  Caleb jumped out the back, brandishing a spare sword that Zeller kept in the wagon, just in case. He hadn’t practiced with it, but if nothing else, he was confident that he had a strong arm and a keen eye.

  Neither the sword nor his fisherman’s vision protected him fro
m the flight of arrows. He dodged, trying to get behind the wagon, but one arrow caught him in the calf and another, the thigh. Both thudded deeply, and he fell. Caleb crawled, furiously, seeking the wagon’s shelter to protect him from the onslaught. A hand reached out and grabbed him, dragging him onward, while the other hand whirled a sword, knocking two more arrows away.

  “What the..?” Caleb stammered, sitting awkwardly against the wagon’s wheel to keep the arrows embedded in his leg from wedging into the ground. Four men with bows crouched behind a series of rocks, not far from the trail.

  “Give us what’s in the wagon and no one has to get hurt!” a gruff voice called.

  “Come and take it,” Zeller bellowed in reply. Caleb looked up at her, shaking his head.

  “There’s not much we can do if they come for us. Sorry about getting myself shot,” Caleb told her, grimacing as she gripped the first arrow and yanked it out. The world spun before his eyes, then darkened to a pinpoint, before slowly coming back. She watched him and the wound, then quickly glanced under the wagon. The men had left cover and were spreading out, walking cautiously toward Caleb and Zeller.

  She tugged the other arrow out with one mighty heave. Caleb howled in agony and gripped his leg. Zeller expected him to pass out, but he didn’t. He writhed in agony as she haphazardly shoved numbweed into the wounds.