by Tom Larcombe
“Um, excuse me?” Walter said. “What's that got to do with anything?”
“Son, you're from Crystal Beach, yes?”
Walter nodded.
“Remember the crystal mine up on the hill?”
“Yeah, you know the place?”
“I own the mine,” Merlin said. “If your beanpole is who I think it is, then he's part of the group that's been leasing it from me for decades. They were always angry because I wouldn't sell it to them. We're just wondering if they've decided to hijack your unit and try to take possession of the mine by force.”
“But what does that have to do with them not telling me about the mission?”
“Do you honestly think that the rest of the town isn't going to end up seeing some fallout from something like that?”
“Yeah, but they don't know I'm from Crystal Beach. I was living near college and doing ROTC when I found out about the Wizard Corps. When I signed up, I used that address.”
“Think Walter. Nimue found that out in about ten seconds. If they've ever been in your mind, then they know.”
“Oh...”
Merlin turned to Nimue.
“Alright. I think we send this one back. I hate tampering with their minds, but you'll have to wipe his memory of all this. If it's at all possible, maybe we can throw a monkey wrench into their plans if you can put in an urge to find out what the upcoming mission is. If I'm right about it, and Walter has any decency at all, then I bet he'd head out on his own to warn them about what's coming.”
“Excuse me!” Walter said. “That's my mind you're talking about.”
Merlin turned to Walter and caught his eyes.
“Yes, but my daughter is currently at the mine in Crystal Beach. I hate tampering with minds as much as anyone, maybe more so. But I make exceptions. Besides, there's no danger to you. Nimue is quite as skilled as any brain surgeon.”
Walter felt a light touch on the back of his head before everything went black.
* * *
Damn it! How'd I manage to cut this strap so cleanly? Walter thought.
He knotted the ends of the friction strap together. The rifle wouldn't handle well or be as easily accessible, but his patrol had been clear, nothing more than wildlife out on the plains.
Just like it used to be back home. Wow, I really miss it there. I wonder how mom's doing with everything so messed up. At least she's eating. Between the eggs, her little garden, and all those chickens she could butcher she ought to be doing fine. I think I'd like to check on her and make sure though.
He turned and headed back for the base at a steady pace. He wasn't going to bother trying to hide, he'd checked the area and knew it was clear.
I think I'm going to spend some time trying to find out what our next mission is. If we're headed up north, maybe I can take some leave and visit mom. I've got more than a month's worth accumulated.
* * *
* * *
Chapter 13
Rynn sat in the kitchen, staring at the devices that still had her puzzled. She'd brought Eugene to help her since he did some work along those lines and was smart enough that he might figure out some things that she was missing.
“These here?” Eugene said. “I think they take a standard size ball bearing for ammunition. See how the ammunition hopper doesn't align with anything inside of it, you just dump it in? That's how it works with things like BB guns. I think this is just like that, except the ball bearings are probably a half inch size instead of a tiny BB. Then you plug in the crystal, activate it with a tiny trickle of magic to open the ward holding the energy in the crystal, aim, and pull the trigger. I think it's full auto too, it'll keep firing until you're out of ammunition, you let up on the trigger, or the crystal is drained.”
“Are you sure?” Rynn asked.
Eugene nodded.
“I'm not sure about the size of the ball bearing, that's just the closest I can estimate. I'm sure about the rest though. It'd look really cool when it fires. I think the ball bearings are accelerated down the barrel by magic that would be visible, like little arcs of electricity. It'd look like you're firing a hand-held rail gun.”
Rynn held out her hand for the weapon and Eugene reluctantly handed it over. While she wrote out what he'd told her, he picked up the next piece from the table. The 'chunk' of it hitting the table again drew Rynn's attention from her writing.
“That thing is nasty!” Eugene said, poking the weapon to push it farther away from him.
Rynn looked down and realized he was talking about the weapon with a hollow core of light metal that contained something volatile inside of the core.
“What is it?” she asked.
“You don't know? That thing is evil. It duplicates the effect of a white phosphorus grenade. The volatiles aren't solid through the core, they're individual little pockets. So the weapon slices off a piece of the central cylinder, about the size of four quarters stacked on top of each other. That chunk has a pocket of volatiles in the middle.”
He paused, shuddering as he chose his next words.
“It shoots out the chunk wherever you're aiming and when it impacts on something the volatiles ignite and explode the disc, creating flaming shrapnel that's traveling at high speed. The disc itself is magnesium so there's not a damn thing you can do to put the fire out except smother it under dirt or sand.”
Rynn shivered, remembering some of her father's war stories.
“Let's just put that one all by itself away from the others,” she said.
She got a dish towel and wrapped the weapon in it before putting it back in the bag.
“We've got five more, any clue what those are?” she asked.
“I'm almost afraid to look. That first one was cool, but that second one was just vile.”
“Well, here. Look at this one.”
Rynn picked one of the remaining devices at random and slid it in front of him.
By the time they were done, they'd identified all but two of the remaining devices between them. Those last two were replaced in the bag with the phosphorus gun. The other five they left on the table.
“I want to offer these to Michael, see if he wants something other than his Garand for when the raiders get here,” Rynn said.
Eugene paled slightly before speaking.
“When are they getting here, do you know? Andi and I want to help you defend the town. Where will you want us?”
“Sometime in the next couple of days. Michael or I will probably go pinpoint their location again tonight. And no, you and Andi will be with the other non-combatants. I haven't taught you combat magic yet.”
“But we managed well enough on the trip down here. We want to help.”
“Michael and I already talked about this. We'll want all of you students down at Anne's trailer when the fight happens.”
The door opened and Michael walked in.
“Speak of the devil,” Rynn said.
“Well, I'm going to get back to studying some more,” Eugene said quickly.
He went through the door that led downstairs, leaving Rynn and Michael alone.
Rynn smiled.
“So, did you find an easy spot for a well?”
“There's four spots where I could manage it in less than an hour. One of them's fairly near the trailer, so I think it'll be that one. I'm going to let Anne pick which one I do though.”
Rynn nodded.
“So are you home for a while?”
“Yes and no. I'm waiting for Bill, then he and I are going to set up some earthworks out back where I think the raiders are going to hit us. Dan has some others building fortifications on the raiders other likely approach too.”
“Oh, well then maybe you have time for this while you wait. We've identified the functions of all the devices on the table and they're all hand-held weapons. I thought you might like something extra for the fight.”
“What do they do?” Michael asked.
“Well, Eugene was all excited over this first
one. He said something about it looking like a hand held rail gun when fired...”
A half hour later, when Bill knocked on the door, Michael had picked a weapon. The one he chose also shot ball bearings, but larger ones. It had the range of a rifle and was aimed with magic, not optics.
Rynn watched as Michael walked out back with Bill. They were talking as they went, Bill gesturing and making shapes with his hands.
A few minutes later, she felt a large surge of power from out back. When she went to the kitchen window and looked out, Bill was staring at Michael.
Michael was obviously focused and either doing something he was unfamiliar with, or using a lot of power, since he was gesturing with his hands to help guide it. Rynn saw large mounds of dirt rising up perpendicular to the cliffs, as though a gopher the size of a minivan were tunneling through the area.
She turned back into the kitchen and started preparing a snack for when he was done.
I'm always starving when I use that much power, he will be too. He'll probably be tired as well, but there isn't a lot I can do about that.
Bill was still shaking his head when they came into the house twenty minutes later.
“That's the damnedest thing I've ever seen. I've seen some pretty impressive knacks before, but that beats all of them hands down.”
Michael was breathing hard. He sank into a chair with a sigh.
“I thought Dan said he warned you what I'd be doing.”
“He did, but earthworks for twenty-five men or so in under a half hour? I figured we'd be at it the rest of the day at least. You shoulda signed up for the military, they're all about digging half the time.”
“No thanks,” Michael said. “They've got a bunch of guys that can do similar things from what I've been told, and I don't much like the tasks they set them to.”
Bill nodded slowly.
“There is that. Nowadays it isn't as clear-cut as it used to be. Rescue work? Sure, not a problem. Projecting force? That I can see. But knocking off foreign governments or invading folks that didn't do anything to us just cause they might? Or invading 'em because someone we don't like travels through their country? I don't much like to see those things myself.”
Michael glanced at Rynn for a moment.
“There's lots more than that,” he said, “believe me. I've heard some stories from people I trust myself.”
“Well, anyhow, those trenches ought to work just fine. It's a shame we couldn't put them farther out in the meadow though. We could've worked in some enfilades and stuff with a couple of concealed side trenches.”
Michael shrugged tiredly. Rynn placed the plate of food in front of him and watched as he made quick work of that and a large glass of water.
He smiled up at her.
“Thank you,” he said. “I needed that.”
Bill glanced from Michael to Rynn, then back.
“I'll just be on my way then. I'll let Dan know we're all set up here,” he said.
“I'm glad you were here to give me some pointers on building them. They came out a bit different than if I'd been doing them myself,” Michael said.
“Any time, Michael.”
Bill eased out the back door with another glance at the two of them. As he left, Rynn sat across the table from Michael.
“Something wrong with the meadow?” she asked.
“Not really, but there's water only a couple of feet under the surface in a few spots of it. We didn't want to dig trenches only to have them fill up with water.”
I wonder if he can do something with that. If the raiders are going to be fighting right over earth covered water and he's strongest in Water and Earth magic...
“Have you thought about how you can use that to our advantage?” she asked.
He grimaced.
“Unfortunately, I have. I hate the fact that I thought about it right away. I hate the way my thinking is changing, how I consider things in terms of fighting now.”
“Michael, you know they're after you. You've got a right to defend yourself and your mind is using it.”
“We assume they're after me. Because they have a wizard with them.”
“Why else would they have made a beeline straight for Crystal Beach as soon as the wizard showed up?”
“I don't know, I'm just saying that we don't know it for a fact.”
“I think you should assume it's a fact unless you find out that it isn't. It's safer for all of us that way, you, me and the kids.”
“I know, I know. There's other people than myself to consider, but haven't you ever felt yourself changing and wished you could stop it?”
If you only knew. One day, you will, and I hope it doesn't send you fleeing in terror when you find out, she thought.
“Yes, I have. But I couldn't stop it and I don't think it would be wise for you to do so even if you could.”
“Alright. You've got a point, even if I hate it. I hope I can live with myself if and when things calm down again.”
“You've got people that will be glad to help if you have problems with it. I know both your dad and uncle were in the military. I imagine they've dealt with similar problems before. Didn't you tell me that Bobby used to help people who had problems like that with his power?”
Michael's voice had an edge to it when he replied.
“You don't get it. The biggest worry I have is that I won't have any problems with what I have to do. That I'll start to enjoy it, to love the fighting and killing. There's a part of me, deep inside, that's looking forward to it. I always used to keep that caged, didn't have any difficulty doing so, until the Council's first troubleshooter showed up here.”
Michael rubbed his chest, where she knew he had scars from that encounter, before he continued.
“The feeling is intense, like I'm all-powerful. When I don't feel that way, I don't much like the man I am when I do. But when I do feel that way, the urge to see just what I can do, see how powerful I really am if I go all out, is almost too much to resist. I'm afraid that one of these times, I won't.”
Rynn shook her head.
“I'm not a psychologist, but if you're anything like I remember, I don't think you'll ever give in to that feeling.”
“Maybe not now, but if the Council keeps trying? After five or ten attempts it might just be easier to live that way all the time.”
“Since when do you do things the easy way? Besides, if it would be easier to live that way then, it would be now also and I don't see you doing it.”
“Yes, but that's what I'm saying. It seems that my thoughts are already drifting that way.”
“I don't think it will be a problem. If it is, I'll be here to help.”
Michael's head started to nod.
“If I don't end up scaring you away first,” he said.
Rynn was pretty sure he hadn't even realized he'd said that last sentence.
Or if I don't scare you off before then, she thought. We make a great pair, each of us afraid that something about our basic makeup is going to scare the other one off. I wish I could just tell him, but I can't. Not yet.
“Come here Michael, let me tuck you into bed. You look like you could use a nap.”
He mumbled something under his breath as she helped him to his feet. By the time she got him to his bed, he was pretty much sleepwalking.
Should I undress him and put him to bed?
She blushed at the thought.
No, I'll just lay him down and put a blanket over him.
She left his bedroom and went down to the living room after getting him situated.
* * *
Okay, I need to go see where the raiders are again, Rynn thought. This time I'm not going anywhere close to them though. I'll just check from high above where they are.
She settled back comfortably in the armchair and let a large portion of her awareness flow out of her body. It took to the air above the house and she was intrigued to note that the crows noticed, and fled from, it.
I never knew they cou
ld do that. I wonder if it's them or the influence of the fae in the area? she thought.
She filed that thought for later perusal and sent herself flying over the countryside.
The river should've stopped them, so I'll check there first.
When she got to the river she stopped dead. Below her, spanning the water, was a makeshift bridge. It looked as though it were formed from whatever materials had been nearby when it was built. She could see the trunks of trees, hoods of cars, and all sorts of other things that were somehow held together to form a bridge.
I need to take a closer look, but first I need to make sure there aren't any traps. One was more than enough.
She brought up her Sight and looked closely from where she was. The only magic she could see was on the bridge, not around it.
I think it should be safe enough as long as I don't touch the bridge itself, she thought.
She swooped lower and examined the bridge more closely. It was held together by some sort of spell that was already unraveling. Within a day or two the entire thing would simply collapse into the river.
I guess that puts them on the shorter end of our time estimates for arriving. They can probably get to the mine tomorrow if they want. I need to find out where they are right now though. It would be bad if they were to arrive even earlier.
The tracks of the four wheel drive vehicles they were using were obvious in the grass on the bank of the river. She followed them out onto the plains, trying to estimate the distance to the mine.
I think they could get there just after dark if they drove straight through. I don't think they will though. They're less than an hour drive from the bridge so he had to have made it earlier today. He'll want some rest before attacking after the magical expenditure he must have made for the bridge. Just to be sure, I'll come back out and check in a few hours.
Rynn's awareness headed back for her body. But instead of snapping it back instantly, she flew it over the intervening area, checking the terrain for anything that might delay the raiders. She found no major terrain features to stop or even slow them very much until the point where the hill the mine was dug into began to rise out of the flat plains. There they'd have to choose between going along the north side, which would lead out onto the road north of Crystal Beach, or the south side, which led directly to the mine. She was pretty sure she knew which way they'd be going.
