thefiremargins

by Lisanne Norman

  "We also have one replay which mentions that these Leska pairs have suddenly become too sensitive to pain to be able to fight, indicating that the disability is a new one. In another replay, we find Vartra concerned for the happiness and welfare of new Leskas. He's aware of the suffering the telepaths of those days have endured, saying that too many have died, and that they've all been discovered too soon. There is almost a sense of guilt in the Vartra of the visions, as if he feels personally responsible for causing the telepaths suffering. He feels the need to justify himself, saying *I was never looking for a solution.*"

  "Why would a political figure such as Vartra feel responsible for their suffering?" asked Jack. "Could he have ordered them to do something for the good of Shola that resulted in large numbers of them dying?"

  "Possibly, but there's more of a sense of having had a plan in the making and that it, and they, had been discovered too soon," said Kusac.

  "This all hinges on whether or not Vartra was a real person, or the personification of an idea," said Garras. "I still say you're building on sand, Kusac. More than a few of us know Ghyan is biased toward the theory that Vartra was a living person, not a God."

  "We've nothing else to build on." Kusac was beginning to get exasperated at Garras' stubbornness.

  "In Earth's past, heroes easily became gods in the eyes of the people who came after them," said Jack. "The outstanding abilities they showed immediately marked them out as the son or daughter of one or another of the gods— immediately with hindsight, of course," he grinned.

  "What does Kaid believe?" asked Konis.

  "He believes Vartra is a God, as I do," said Garras. "And that Vartra speaks to him, as He does to others."

  "I know Kaid believes Vartra was a God, so do I, but I also believe he was a person! How could Kaid experience these replays without being aware that Vartra, as a person, was in them?" demanded Kusac. "He recorded them!"

  "Patience, Kusac," said his father. "What about Lijou? Could he shed any light on this? Perhaps his records say something."

  "Lijou's head of the Order. Of course he believes Vartra is a God," said Garras.

  "I wouldn't be too sure if I were you," said Kusac. "Lijou obviously knows how Ghyan feels yet he never removed him from office. Carrie's reminding me that Kaid told her that Lijou and Ghyan were cooperating on this whole issue. If they were diametrically opposed, how could they cooperate?"

  "I need to speak to Lijou personally about this," said Konis. "What you've told me, Kusac, shows that there is definitely some link between these replays, as you call them, and the past. If they can be reliably tied to the time of the Cataclysm, then that's all we need. Whether or not Vartra is a God isn't relevant to whether or not we can rely on these replays as being historically accurate."

  He looked over to the Human. "I'll keep in mind what you've said, Jack. It seems logical to me that a folk hero could well become regarded as a God with the passage of time. Now, changing the topic slightly, yesterday the council, backed by High Commander Chuz, ordered that all guilds were to make their records available to a committee led by General Raiban. There will be Terrans involved too. A Dr. Michaels will help guide the committee until someone more appropriate has been brought from Earth. He's actually here to head a team of Terran archaeologists who are to excavate the ruins looking for more clues to our past, specifically what the Valtegans were doing here."

  "That's going to please the guild leaders," said Garras. "I can't see them opening up their records willingly."

  "They don't have the choice," said Konis. "It has to be done. We have to find out why the Valtegans had a presence on Shola during the Cataclysm."

  "They're going to investigate the ruins?" asked Kusac. "I can imagine how delighted Master Esken was."

  "They're choosing the five most promising sites to excavate," said Konis. "All ruins will be placed under military guard to prevent them being tampered with."

  "Looks like there'll be new skills to learn," said Garras. "It's an exciting time for the young ones."

  "It is indeed," said Konis, glancing at Kusac. "No one could have realized how far-reaching the impact of meeting the Humans would be on our culture. I hope we don't change too fast."

  "I'm sure we won't, Father. We can rely on people like Esken and Chekoi to stop that happening." Kusac hesitated, wondering whether or not to bring the ruined shrine to his father's attention again. "Father, what about the ruins on my estate?"

  Konis finished his drink before replying. "I'm sure you can rest easy on that issue, Kusac. I don't think the remains of one building will be of interest to the archaeologists."

  "I'm afraid they may be. As I began to tell you earlier, on our visit yesterday, we unearthed the bulk of what is definitely a statue of Vartra. Not just that, but Carrie is sensing more of the building underground. Caverns and metal structures, she says. Several of her dreams, or replays, have been centered there, so have Kaid's. She's convinced that a group of telepaths, possibly under Vartra's command, were in hiding there."

  His father swung round on his stool to face him. "Let me get this straight. You think that you've found Vartra's primary headquarters up in that old ruined shrine?"

  Kusac nodded. "Yes. It has all the potential of a concealed base, if there's anything underground as Carrie says. The feel of the ruins at one part is like the Warrior Guild, controlled aggression is how she put it. Not what you'd expect on holy ground."

  "The Brotherhood has that," reminded Garras.

  "This place is nowhere near as large as Stronghold. There isn't the room above ground for a large number of people to have been trained as Warriors. Believe me, the last thing I want is a group of Humans on my estate," said Kusac. "I don't want Carrie exposed to them again, especially now that she's pregnant and we're just about to move into our own home, but ..."

  "What we need is a large ultrasound scanner," said Jack thoughtfully. "Like the one down the corridor. Of course, it would need a few adjustments— a way of running it without a main power feed, for instance. And if we were lucky enough to find anything, well, I used to hunt for fossils on the east coast of England as a lad. I know a little bit about unearthing finds of archaeological interest. How are you at tinkering with electrical equipment, Garras?"

  "I've had to do a few field repairs in my time," he said. "Not that I think this has anything to do with Vartra, you realize."

  "Think of it as an opportunity to prove me wrong then," said Kusac, relieved that Garras was prepared to help. "Or a legitimate reason to be excused moving furniture."

  Garras' mouth opened in a deep grin. "That'll do," he said.

  "No need to tell the authorities unless we're sure of what we've found, is there, Konis?" said Jack. "You're just indulging an old man's whims, aren't you? I mean, what possible interest could they have in a ruined monastery?"

  Kusac watched his father look from Jack to Garras then back to him as a pained expression crossed his face. "I've never met anyone more devious than your mother, till today." He shook his head, ears flicking in mock dismay. "Keep me posted on what you find. I can't see it's in Carrie's interests to have strangers living on the estate, but if you do find anything important, we'll have to tell Raiban."

  Kusac nodded. "Knowing that the ruins are being worked on will make it easier for Carrie to accept that she can't do any more digging herself."

  "Until we get these two new global projects off the ground, none of us will have any idea of what is and what isn't important," said Konis, glancing at his wrist comm. "We'd better be heading back soon. When will the estate housing be finished?"

  "Garras and Vanna are already living in their home, and several of the Brothers are in one of the finished dormitory houses, but that's all as yet. There will be some ten estate cottages ready by the end of the week when we plan to move in. Jack's quarters here should be ready around the same time. The rest of the cottages are further into the estate and not of such a high priority. Obviously I wanted the main area totally f
inished first, and the nearest fields are having their crops planted now. We couldn't have managed it without the help of Mother's clansfolk. She's even arranged for me to have an estate manager."

  Konis got to his feet. "It looks like you've got everything well in hand," he said. "I'm going to head back up to the house. I'll see you later."

  "You forgot to tell us what's happening about Fyak," Kusac reminded him.

  "So I did. It's been decided that we're going to see he's contained within the desert region for the time being. We'll be monitoring his activities from a distance. The tribes are fiercely independent, as you know, and no good will come if we get involved at this stage. The last thing any of us wants is a civil war on our hands. Naturally, the sale of armaments to them has been stopped, but that's all for the moment. It's not what I feel we should be doing, but there's enough going on with this social upheaval without making more trouble for ourselves. Have you had any news of Kaid or Dzaka yet?"

  "None, beyond what you already know, that when he reached Raul he hired a hunting aircar for two weeks."

  "If he's gone off to Rhijudu then the worst thing we can do is draw attention to that fact," said Garras. "He'll contact us when he's ready. Until then, we wait."

  "When he's back, I want to speak to him about that female, Khemu. Before I see Naeul Arrazo personally, I need to have all the facts," said Konis, walking toward the door. "I'll see you all at third meal."

  * * *

  "Nearly there," said Brynne, following the beacon into the parking area at the rear of the building. "That's it. Vartra's Retreat." He took a moment to glance down at it himself.

  Nestled in the rocky embrace of the Dzahai Mountains, the Retreat was an imposing building. Built of blocks of the native stone, its gray exterior lay sprawling beneath them. From the air, it was easy to see that the original building had been of quite modest proportions, and had been added to over the centuries.

  Byrnne returned his attention to the aircar and began to circle down to the vehicle park.

  "We can take a look at the Retreat, then go crystal hunting," said Ross.

  "Fine by me."

  * * *

  "What's the history behind this place?" asked Ross, as he and Brynne walked toward the entrance. Lhea followed them at a respectful distance.

  "Ah. Give me a moment," Brynne said, searching through his memories. A stray thought came from Vanna.

  The Retreat?

  Yes. What is it?

  Legend has it as a place where Vartra will answer the prayers of His worshipers. It's where you go when you really need the God's help. If you're actually interested, ask Lhea or one of the lay-priests. They'll be glad to tell you.

  "Vanna says it's a place to get close to Vartra," said Brynne. "Apparently the people believe the God answers their prayers here."

  "A place of pilgrimage," nodded Ross. "Very impos-ing. Do you think we'll be able to find anyone to guide us round it?"

  "We can ask," said Brynne. "It isn't a tourist attraction, though, it's a working holy place."

  "They don't cater for visitors?" Ross stopped to look quizzically at him. "You do surprise me."

  "Why?"

  "I'd have thought their trading instincts would have made them aware of the commercial possibilities of such a place." He waved his hand toward the massive wooden doors. "I'm sure any visitors from Earth would love to come and see this."

  Brynne drew him on again and they passed into the entrance hallway. "This isn't for the curious, Ross. It's for people who believe in their God. They don't make a circus out of their religion, it's a very personal thing." He turned to look for his bodyguard.

  "Lhea," he said, beckoning her closer. "Can you tell us about the Retreat?"

  "What would you like to know?" she asked.

  "How about starting with where we are?" suggested Ross.

  Lhea raised an eye ridge. "In the entrance hall," she said quietly. "If you look at the paintings on the walls, you'll see the story of the God's life"

  "Take us round them, please, Lhea," said Brynne.

  She led them past a small group of curious Sholans to the first panel. "This one shows the world as it was before the Cataclysm," she said, indicating a scene showing large cities, busy roadways and airports. "It wasn't a pleasant world, as you can see by the dark clouds that sit above the scene." She moved on to the next panel.

  "Looks just like Earth," said Ross in an undertone.

  "I think that's the point," said Brynne. "Don't you prefer Shola with its forests and plains to Earth with its highly industrialized cities?"

  "Each has its own merits," said Ross placidly.

  Lhea stopped at the next panel. "Then came the Cataclysm," she said.

  The scene depicted a world in chaos, with angry, boiling clouds of darkness in the sky, echoed by floods and earthquakes below. City towers were falling, and everywhere Sholans were shown running for their lives.

  She moved on to the next panel. "This is our God," she said simply.

  On a rocky parapet, a tall Sholan wearing a Warrior's harness was standing. Arm upraised, he appeared to be calling to them as they stood looking at the panel. Behind him, the sky was tinged with fire.

  "Powerful," said Ross. "Primitive imagery always works best."

  Brynne shifted uncomfortably and Lhea positively scowled.

  "Excuse me," said a voice from behind. "Perhaps I can be of assistance?"

  Brynne turned to find one of the Brothers standing be-hind them.

  "News of the arrival of two Terrans travels fast," said the lay-priest, mouth opening in a slight smile. "I've been asked to invite you to visit the Guardian."

  "The Guardian?" asked Brynne. He felt Ross tap his arm and turned to look at him.

  "What are you talking about?" asked the older man, frowning.

  "The Guardian's invited us to visit him," said Brynne.

  "In English," Ross said, his tone sharp.

  Brynne frowned. He was sure he'd told him in English.

  "You are to meet the Guardian of the Retreat," said Lhea, coming to the rescue.

  "I'm sorry," said the Brother, switching to English. "I had not realized you only spoke your own language. You must have been one of the first Humans to arrive on Shola. Nowadays everyone is given a knowledge of our language. Please, come with me."

  They followed him through the inner doors into the main hall of the building, walking down the side aisle past the rows of padded mats, some of which were occupied by sleeping or meditating Sholans.

  "We're a working Retreat," the Brother said quietly. "There are always those who are ill in spirit or body who need to seek the God's healing."

  He led them toward the statue of Vartra, where he stopped. Taking a piece of incense from the container, he crumbled it into the glowing brazier held between the God's hands. Bowing, he stepped past it and waited for the others to follow.

  Brynne felt self-conscious as he paid his respect to the God. He could feel Ross' critical gaze burning holes in the back of his head. Ross didn't agree with any of the Sholan religious beliefs and his request to come here had surprised him. Stepping over to join the lay-priest, he watched to see what Ross would do.

  "Sorry," Ross said, with a gentle smile to the Brother. "This isn't my faith." With that, he stepped past the statue to join them.

  Brynne tried not to glance at the Brother, but his eyes slid sideways despite himself. He saw the gentle flick of the lay-brother's ears in his direction, saying that he understood and it didn't matter to him.

  Lhea took a moment or two longer to make her obeisance before she joined them. The Brother turned, and, pulling the heavy crimson drapes aside, led them into the residential area of the building.

  * * *

  "It's a pleasure to welcome you to the Retreat," said the Guardian, standing up to receive them.

  Brynne looked round the small lounge. He was surprised to find it no different from any other he'd been in.

  "It's good to have a home
ly anchor when one lives in a holy place," he smiled. "I'm pleased to meet you," he said, holding out his hand. "Your presence honors us. I'm Dhaika."

  They touched fingertips briefly.

  "You've brought a friend with you, I see. And Sister Lhea."

  "Guardian Dhaika," she said, inclining her head to the priest.