The Earthrise Trilogy

by Colin Owen

  "So you ran away from them," his master interrupted.

  Bakal remembered something.

  "There is one thing master. The humans have blocked the tunnel, we couldn't get through and had to go over land to the human place."

  Bakal could see that his scrap of information had saved him.

  "So, they know of the tunnel, and have blocked it. They must be expecting our attack."

  The master told Bakal he could go, and sat back on his throne thinking how he could turn this information to his advantage.

  ❧

  Kay met with Jimmy. "I want you to coordinate our defences," she said, "use whatever means you have, to set up a defensive perimeter line."

  "OK," Jimmy answered, "I'm on it." Jimmy left the room and Kay looked to heaven.

  "Father we need your help, please give me wisdom."

  "Don't worry, He has it all in hand." Kay turned to see Sam standing in the doorway behind her.

  "I wish I had your faith Sam," she said, smiling back at him. Somehow things always looked better when Sam was around. Kay made to walk towards him, but stopped suddenly holding her stomach. She tottered a little and Sam rushed to her and caught hold of her just before she fainted. He laid her gently on the floor and felt her forehead. It was only a few moments and she came to and looked up at him.

  "What?" She asked, on seeing his face.

  "When were you going to tell me?" He asked, a little sternly.

  "Tell you what?"

  "About the baby."

  Kay was just as stunned as Sam.

  "Baby?...I'm going to have a baby?"

  "You most certainly are my dear." Sam helped her up and cuddled her. "Congratulations, I think it's wonderful."

  "Oh Sam," Kay said, beginning to cry, "I didn't know, honestly."

  "That's all right love, don't fret about it. Sometimes these things do creep up on us. I am a doctor remember, so I should know."

  He led her to the sofa where she lay down for a while.

  "It's all too much Sam, we have the snakes to contend with and now this..."

  Sam brought her a hot sweet drink, which she sipped slowly and then dozed off. Sam hadn't wanted to alarm her anymore than she was already, but he was worried too. The battlefield is no place for a pregnant woman.

  Just then, Jimmy returned. "Shush, she's asleep." Sam warned him.

  "Oh, sorry," Jimmy whispered, "I'll come back later."

  Sam told Jimmy the news and asked him to be prepared to step in if needed. Jimmy nodded and left. He went straight to Chris and Shelley's house, Chris answered the door and brought him in.

  "Chris, I've just been told that Kay is pregnant."

  Chris' eyes lit up. "I know," Jimmy said, "it's great news, but we may need to help her out if things get rough."

  "Yeah, right, Jimmy, no problem."

  "Will you help me with the defences and Shelley help Kay personally?"

  "Yes, of course we will, anything you need, anytime."

  "Great, thanks guys. It may get very rough in the days ahead, but I'm sure we'll win -- we have to, it's the only acceptable option." Jimmy left and set about designing the defence perimeter.

  ❧

  Jake and Zeek had moved the mining laser into the settlement and set it up on a mound where it had a commanding view of the lake.

  "They may not come that way next time Zeek, but at least we have this baby to hand should we need it."

  Zeek was not his usual self.

  "All this talk about attacks is giving me spaceman's tummy. Do you really think they'll come?"

  "I'm certain of it Zeek. They want to destroy Eden and all it stands for. The serpent tried to destroy humanity on Earth, and now he's here to try and finish the job. Well, I for one don't intend to let him."

  "I do love it when you get all assertive Jake..."

  They both laughed, they'd been friends for many years, and it was going to take more than a serpent to separate them.

  Jimmy had used the laser to make a few 'holes' around the perimeter of the settlement. He'd lined them with flammable material and set a small charge at the bottom. He knew that fire was the great leveller, it destroys all living things, and no animal will go anywhere near it. He was right, but at this stage, he didn't know just what kind of animal he was up against. He went to see Kay to tell her what he had done, and they discussed the situation.

  "The trouble is Kay, we don't have a fall back position. If they break through the perimeter, we've nowhere to go."

  "I understand Jimmy, we'll just have to pray that they don't."

  It was at this point when it dawned on her that Lark would be the safest place. "I'm so stupid," she said, scolding herself. "At the first sign of trouble we'll move as many as we can down into Lark."

  "Perhaps we should start moving some right now," Jimmy said, "we might not get much warning."

  "Then let's do it, at least, all the younger children."

  The word was spread, and the school, together with all the youngest children moved out of Eden and down into Lark. Some of the children's families moved with them for support, should it be needed. Other than that, Danny, and all those his age and above stayed behind to fight.

  Below, in the darkness, hoards were beginning to assemble. Agallon was sent to the head serpent to ascertain how many snakes were available.

  "We lost several hundred in the last encounter with the humans, but there are at least a thousand left and ready."

  "Good," Agallon sneered, "that's more than enough to annihilate these humans; come, its time."

  The head serpent didn't like his snakes being used in this way, but he was afraid of Agallon, and even more so his master, to protest. The call was sounded, and snakes appeared from every nook in the underground domain. The army slid towards the central cavern where the ruler of darkness was waiting. The central cavern was easily big enough for all to enter. The ruler of darkness liked such gatherings, his arrogance and pride fed on them, and he loved making speeches.

  "Serpents and snakes," he began, "the time has come to rid ourselves of humanity once and for all."

  The cavern echoed to the sound of his pompous voice, and He strutted, like a peacock, in front of his somewhat captive audience, devouring every scrap of adulation.

  "They are no match for you my warriors, they are but a few, and we are many. You will devour them easily."

  The snakes, which are the lowest rank in the domain of darkness, cheered. The serpents were more subtle in showing their support, but nonetheless, they did. The demons stood silently around the edges, looking for those who were not enthusiastic enough to satisfy the ruler's voracious appetite for adulation. It was certain death to be singled out at such gatherings.

  Bakal was, as always, near the front trying to be noticed. He cheered loudly, especially when the ruler was passing close by. The ruler went on.

  "And once we have accomplished this, we shall live in peace, free from the tyranny of human prayer."

  There were even more enthusiastic cheers.

  "Once this boundary has been removed, we will all enjoy a better life, and darkness will once again rule."

  His voice raising to a crescendo to signify the end of the speech and the start of yet more adulation. The cheers were expected to last at least as long as the speech, but the slaves of darkness always gave good measure; their lives depended on it.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter 9.

  The Battle for Eden

  Some days had passed and the move to Lark had been completed successfully. Eden was almost bereft of people without the young children and their families. It seemed to those who were left, that the very heart had gone out of their community. In a way, it gave them more impetus to fight, a focus that they could hold throughout the conflict, and a purpose to win. No snakes were going to take away all that they had striven for, no matter how big they were.

  It was late afternoon when they came. Chris Forester was on patrol near the laser when he n
oticed the grass moving in an unusual way. There was no breeze that he could feel, yet the grass was moving rhythmically. He called out to Jimmy who was on the other side of the settlement.

  "Hey Jims, come and look at this."

  Jimmy came over quickly and looked at the grass moving.

  "That's them Chris, they're on the attack."

  Jimmy sounded the alarm and all the Edenites came out and took up their positions.

  "Keep a sharp eye out for movement in the grass, these are normal size snakes, not like the big one that Danny killed."

  Everyone obeyed him and scanned the fields for movement. The snakes on Jimmy's side were getting closer, so he prepared to set off the charge in the pit he had dug on that side of the settlement.

  "Wait for them to get right on top of it Jims, then let them have it." Chris said.

  Jimmy didn't need to be told twice, he watched intently as the swarm came closer.

  "Now!" Chris yelled, and Jimmy hit the switch. A sheet of flame shot up skyward blowing snakes every which way. The ones that had gone straight up came straight down into the flames and were destroyed. The grass caught fire in front of, and behind, the pit killing hundreds more of the tiny snakes.

  "It's the babies," Chris yelled, to the others, "and there are thousands of them."

  Still they kept coming, even across the line of chemicals that Gareth had laid as a second line of defence. At first, this stopped them, but those behind the front row just crawled over their dead comrades, and gradually formed a bridge that the main body of the attack could use to get past. Still they came. Chris fired up the laser and set fire to a line of grass behind the front ranks.

  "Divide and conquer," he shouted to Jimmy, who was looking to see if any of the others were under attack.

  It seemed that the attack was just on this one front so he called some of the others over to help out. The grass-fire spread quite quickly, and was soon raging over a large area on that side of the settlement. The snake numbers had been seriously depleted, and what was still coming, was no threat. Dave Thomas came over to survey the scene. There were still several hundred baby snakes coming steadily for them. He took a deep breath and yelled,

  "In the name of Jesus I command you to stop and go back from whence you came."

  Instantly, the little snakes stopped, turned, and went back into the flames and were destroyed.

  "Hallelujah!" Dave shouted, "I knew this was a spiritual battle." He turned and informed the others of his discovery. A great cheer went up when they heard it.

  It was all clear, and not one snake had made it through the lines to the settlement. The fires burned on for an hour or so, consuming the remains of the attackers completely, virtually nothing was left of the hoard.

  "You know," Jimmy said, "that was too easy, they were just testing our defences."

  "I think you're right Jim," Chris replied, "and where were the big guys? They'll be back, but not for a while. The news will have to get back to their leaders first."

  Jimmy and Chris went to find Kay who was not doing well with the morning sickness; she was getting it in the afternoons too! When told, she seemed pleased that it had gone so well, and congratulated them both on a job well done. "Now we must prepare for the second wave, which will be stronger."

  She advised them to replace the spent firetraps and check the ones not used, then said, "They'll come from a different direction next time."

  The guys went out to carry out her orders.

  ❧

  Steve awoke with a start from his wonderful dreams. Clare jumped up too. "What is it Hun?"

  "I'm not certain Sweetie, but I think it's started back at home."

  Both Cain and Abel suddenly appeared in the shelter and confirmed what he had just said.

  "You must leave immediately if you are to help your friends." Their faces showed concern so Steve and Clare got up and woke the youngsters.

  "Wake up guys, we're leaving."

  Tris and Hope got up quickly and were ready to go. They all turned to Cain and Abel to say thanks for all they had shown them, but both had disappeared.

  "Thank you anyway." Steve called out into the air, and then remembered he could think it to them. He did so, and both Cain and Abel answered him, but they all heard it.

  "We must remember to start thinking like them," Steve said, "and less like humans."

  With that he concentrated for a couple of seconds and was seated in the ship, but he was alone.

  "Come on guys," he thought to them, and one by one, they appeared. "Let's go Tris time is short."

  Tris obeyed and promptly took off. Navcom took over and they were in orbit in a matter of minutes.

  The big ship appeared in the distance closing rapidly. The Kerasite additions at the rear, shone like glass, reflecting the light from the sun. They were soon inside with the cargo bay doors closed behind them. The air pressure came up and they exited the small ship and went straight to the main cockpit. When all were strapped in, Steve hit the engines. The rockets took them out of orbit and started them on their very long journey home. Once clear of the moon the Trion drive kicked in and acceleration was fierce. Steve had not set a cut-off so the ship just accelerated continuously. Light speed came up in thirty minutes, and navcom took over and set the course for home. A little later, the engines shut off at Mak c 1.

  "What's happening Tris, why have the engines stopped?"

  "I don't know Steve, I don't think there's anything wrong with them."

  "That is correct," a familiar voice came to their thoughts, "use your gifts..."

  "I think I understand what we're expected to do," Steve said. "Remember they said that they brought us here, and caused us to get here much faster than we expected, well I think they want us to control the ship the same way to get home."

  "To give us practise!" Clare said.

  "Exactly," came the same familiar voice, "God be with you my children."

  ❧

  What Jimmy had said earlier had struck home. It had been too easy, far too easy.

  "I sense a malevolence behind all this," Lisa said, "why waste so much life on such a useless attack, it doesn't make sense."

  "Maybe we'll get more of an idea next time they come." John answered. He hadn't said much so far, but he knew his wife and trusted her completely. Bill set the movement sensors to a more sensitive setting and they all went to get some rest.

  Sleep didn't come easy to Eden that night, Kay in particular was struggling with it, and Sam was also awake.

  "I keep getting pictures Sam, it's almost like I can see them."

  "Describe them to me Kay, it may make things easier."

  Sam, being a doctor, thought that doing something positive might help Kay get some sleep. It was a gamble, but it couldn't really do any harm.

  "Well, it's mainly dark, but I see caverns, somewhere not too far away from us, possibly in the hills behind the waterfall. There are lots of beings down there, but they're not human -- and there's a really big one that struts about a lot. There are serpents too, much bigger than the one Danny killed...Lots of them, in ranks like soldiers...Like an army of soldiers, with smaller snakes in attendance. The serpents are subject to the other beings, and the snakes subject to the serpents, and they're all subject to the 'strutty' one."

  "Sounds like an ordered society with a dictator," Sam said.

  "Yes, they are, they are organised, but the strutty one has his own agenda that the others don't know about."

  "That's some vision Kay, are you sure about it?"

  "As sure as I am that you love me," she said, turning to face him. "Thanks, I feel much better now doctor." Sleep came to both of them after that.

  Jimmy and Shelley were also struggling with sleep. Jimmy kept having flashbacks to what had happened, all those snakes burning, and the way they had obeyed Dave's command. Shelley was quiet mostly, but said, "I'm afraid Jims, there's something very wrong about all this. Why sacrifice so many for so little? It just doesn't make sense. W
hen do you think the next attack will come?"

  "I don't know for sure, but if it were me, I'd wait till we were off guard, I figure they'll try to surprise us. Other than that, your guess is as good as mine."

  ❧

  "So commander, the first wave failed." The ruler of darkness was gloating more so than angry.

  "Yes, my lord," Agallon quaked, "not one got through their defences."

  Agallon shut up, better to say too little than too much.

  "Quite so commander, the losses are terrible," the ruler lied, "but we must not give up, send the serpents."

  "Yes, my lord, as you command."

  Agallon got up and left the ruler's cavern, glad that he had come out alive. He barked orders to prepare the serpents for the attack, and he was obeyed instantly.

  The order came through to the head serpent, who had no choice other than to order his serpents to attack the humans.

  "The snakes will go in first," he growled, knowing that they would be sacrificed in the flames. "Serpents, you will wait until their defences are depleted before you attack."

  The head serpent had his private guard, as all leaders do, and he took these aside and gave them separate instructions. This done, he ordered the army to move out.

  The blocked tunnel was a problem for them, as it impeded their most easy access to the humans. 'Blocking it was a good strategic move on their part,' he thought to himself, 'these humans are cunning.' These thoughts did not comfort him, he knew that the ruler would happily sacrifice all of them for his own ends. The head serpent wasn't going to let that happen if he could help it.

  The army broke surface in the darkness and headed for the settlement. Silence in the ranks had been ordered to surprise the humans whilst they slept. The snakes took up their position at the head of the line and set off first. The head serpent held the rest of his troops back so that a gap opened up between them. He himself was surrounded by his personal guard, and kept to the rear.

  All was going according to plan, the snakes moved almost noiselessly through the long grass, it was well known that humans couldn't see very well in the dark.