Starfall Muta

by Alan David

  Clark had to use his transmuter to understand what was being said, and soon discovered that these were from Pacian’s camp, preparing to make for the edge of the forest to await Clark’s return. They were delighted that the trip was now unnecessary, and assured Clark that another hour’s journey would take them into the new camp.

  Clark lost some of his tension now they had company, and he plodded on within the party as they covered the last lap. He was dripping sweat by the time the scouting Avics called out that the camp was in sight, and Clark was filled with relief.

  Magenta and Hanton came running across the clearing from the cluster of huts as soon as word reached the camp of Clark’s return, and Clark looked into Magenta’s smooth face, telling himself that he hadn’t expected to see her again. She almost threw herself into his arms, such was her excitement, and Hanton stood back, watching, looking around for Searby.

  Pacian came up, twittering excitedly, and Clark held up a hand.

  ‘How are Mallory and Paine?’ he asked.

  ‘Lieutenant Paine didn’t survive the trip here,’ Magenta said softly. ‘We buried him, Commander.’

  ‘And Mallory!’ There was an edge to Clark’s tones. He had bad news to impart.

  ‘Lieutenant Mallory is conscious and making progress. How did you get on? Were you successful?’ The urgency of the situation was obviously almost too much for the woman. Her dark gaze slid to Balfin’s hard, tired face, and she looked at Clark once more. ‘What happened to Professor Searby? He didn’t come back with you!’

  ‘Let’s get into one of the huts and have some food. I’ll give you a report while we’re resting. I’m not an old man, but I’ve never felt so tired before in all my life.’

  ‘It’s the climate and conditions,’ Hanton said grimly. ‘It takes a long time to really adjust to it. But what about the Professor, Commander? Is he all right?’

  ‘He’s dead!’ Clark tightened his lips and shook his head. ‘It’s a nightmare to even recall it.’

  They were silent, and Pacian led the way to one of the huts. Clark sank down on a pallet and tried to relax, but his nerves were taut and his mind was still clutched by the unreasoning-horror that had assailed him the moment he’d opened his eyes to find himself a prisoner of the Marscs.

  Balfin began to tell the others of their experiences after leaving the forest, and Clark listened intently, his teeth clenched. It all sounded too bad to be true, but he relived every instant of it, feeling the horror drawing tighter in the darker recesses of his mind.

  There was silence after Balfin ended his narrative, and then Pacian ruffled his shoulder feathers and twittered gently. Clark turned up the transmuter.

  ‘The Marscs have always been our enemies. They come into the forest hunting us at times, and they think nothing of marching several days to catch us. We fear them more than we fear the Ogrins.’

  ‘Did you have any luck looking for a way off the planet, Commander?’ Hanton demanded.

  Clark explained his trip with Ralip, and Hanton’s eyes gleamed.

  That sounds promising, sir! But will we be able to grab one of their ships?’

  ‘I fear they will have a tight security ring around the spaceport.’ Clark’s eyes glittered as he recalled the view that had met his eyes when Ralip’s skyraft had circled the spaceport. ‘We’re going to have to sweat it out for a week at least before we think of moving on.’ He glanced at Pacian. ‘Can you put up with us for that length of time?’

  ‘You are free to stay as long as you wish,’ the Avic retorted. ‘We are pleased to have your company. Let me know if there is any way we can help you.’

  Clark thanked the alien. ‘Are you safe from attack here?’ he asked.

  ‘As safe here as anywhere in the forest. There is nowhere perfectly safe for us. But I don’t estimate any attacks being made against us at this spot. We have never been attacked by Marscs or Ogrins in this area.’

  ‘Then we’ll sit it out for a week before contemplating any movement,’ Clark decided. ‘He glanced at the intent faces watching him, saw worry in Magenta’s beautiful features and resignation on Hanton’s tough face. He glanced at Balfin and knew that Balfin was prepared to back him up in anything he decided to do. ‘We’d better get all the rest we can,’ he continued. ‘When we do move out it will be hard and dangerous. We’ll have to move fast and be prepared for anything. In a week Mallory should be well enough to move, but in any case we shall have to wait for his complete recovery. But that won’t mean we shall be sitting around doing nothing constructive. There are plans to make and details to work out.’

  His words fired them with some determination, but Clark himself was far from feeling confident. With the horror of their brush with the Marscs still fresh in his mind he could only think that perhaps the only safe course for them was to remain here in the forest with the Avics. It would be a mean kind of existence, but at least they would be alive. On the other hand the prize that glittered seemingly out of reach, the means to return to Earth, seemed important enough for them to take the risks required.

  Clark tried to relax when the others left the hut, and he settled himself to sleep. For two nights he had practically been without sleep, and his thought processes were slow and erratic. He closed his eyes and tried to ease his aching body, and with the knowledge that whatever lay ahead of them was still in the future, he blotted out his weariness and despair and gave up the unequal fight to maintain strict control of his senses. He slept.

  Chapter Twelve

  The following days passed slowly, and as Clark observed, they spent most of the time talking over plans and ideas. A week after their return to the forest, Clark found himself in a better frame of mind. Some of the horror that had assailed him in their brush with the Marscs had faded into the background, and once again he was feeling optimistic. He did not diminish the fact that the odds were against them, and he fancied they would not be able to successfully complete the last part of their mission, the stealing of a ship capable of carrying them away from the planet. Even if the Brutans were not on their guard against such an attack, he figured their security measures would be more than sufficient to prevent the casual stealing of a spaceship. In any case, Clark feared that no such ship would be just sitting on a launchpad waiting for them to board it.

  But he kept his mind occupied as much as possible and tried not to brood upon the climax. Whatever transpired, they would be totally committed, and if they ran out of luck, or lost the initiative, they would pay with their lives. It was a gamble, and they had to take the chances or sentence themselves to this living nightmare of remaining on Muta with the Avics for company and the Ogrins, Brutans and Marscs for enemies.

  Lieutenant Mallory made good recovery during the passing week, and at the end of that time he was walking around normally. He had been sullen and morose for the first few days, no doubt fully aware that his panic-stricken flight which had wrecked the shuttlecraft and injured him had really smashed their chances of escape. But as the days went by he slowly found the nerve to face his colleagues once more.

  Clark said nothing of Mallory’s lapse, but he was aware that Mallory was likely to break again under pressure, and made a mental note not to trust him completely in any future operation. He watched Mallory’s face while they talked over their intentions, and noted the set expression which showed on the man’s pale features, the hunted look which showed briefly in his dark eyes.

  Balfin was the mainspring in the plot to steal the spaceship. He sat for hours with Clark, discussing all the possibilities, pointing out the apparent pitfalls and estimating their chances. But they finally agreed that a great deal depended upon the aid they could expect from Ralip when they returned to the farm, and Clark was only too aware that if the situation there had changed a great deal since they’d left then they would have to revise all their plans.

  The Avics did what they could to help, but that aid consisted mostly of information that really wouldn’t help. None of the Avics had ever seen
the spaceport or a spaceship. None of them had left the forest. But they all knew something about the Brutans, and Clark listened to all he could about their major enemies.

  Finally Clark decided they were ready to make their attempt. He felt that the longer they delayed the less hopeful they became. Mallory was well enough to make the tough trip through the forest, and they would not force the pace. The Avics agreed to accompany them to the edge of the forest, and Clark was thankful for their help.

  They set out at dawn and to Clark’s relief he discovered that the past week had helped him a great deal in becoming acclimatized. The going was still rough, but he took it in his stride, and by the end of that first day he was well pleased with their progress. When they made camp, with Avic guards out to screen them, they ate in the growing shadows, then talked before sleeping.

  ‘We’ll be out of the forest by tomorrow evening,’ Clark said at a short briefing. ‘Get all the sleep you can tonight, because tomorrow will be a hard day and we’ve got to go on without halting once we’re out of the trees. It’s a long walk to the farm, and we can expect no other help until we get there.’

  They turned in, and slept soundlessly until dawn, thoroughly exhausted by their physical efforts.

  Next morning they went on, and Clark began to feel the effects of being hemmed in by the tall trees. He longed for open countryside, despite the fact they would be more vulnerable to detection. The hours passed slowly, and during the afternoon Pacian came back from the leaders to talk with him.

  ‘We are near to the spot where your craft crashed,’ the Avic said. ‘Do you want to visit the place? Is there anything aboard that might be of help to you?’

  ‘We’ll give it a miss,’ Clark said without hesitation. ‘The Brutans are aware of its location and most probably they have set a trap around it. There are one or two items aboard I could do with, but I’d rather go without them than take any kind of a chance now.’

  The Avic nodded and went back to the leaders, and Clark wiped sweat from his brow and told himself that they were nearing the end of the toughest part of the hike. He was impatient now to get out of the trees, to be able to stand up and look into the distance. He was accustomed to peering through a hatch at illimitable space, and the close confines of the trees made him chafe inwardly.

  Presently Pacian returned, twittering softly, and Clark fancied there was some kind of trouble. But the Avic had news.

  ‘One of our scouts went close to the clearing where the shuttlecraft lay, and he reports that it is gone.’

  Clark thought about that, a frown on his rugged face.

  ‘The Brutans?’ he demanded.

  ‘Most likely. They had probably taken it to their city to examine it.’

  ‘It’s of no use to us. It was broken beyond repair!’ Clark did not want to become too single-minded, but he knew their only chance of escape lay in capturing a spaceship.

  They went on, and as shadows began to fall amongst the trees the Avics became excited. Finally a halt was called and Pacian came up quickly.

  ‘We are a mile from the tunnel and dare not go closer until the sun has gone down,’ the Avic announced. ‘We can do no more for you. But we shall wait until you enter the tunnel before returning to our camp. I hope you will be able to get away from Muta, Commander. If you do you must warn your people not to venture here again.’

  ‘Don’t worry!’ Clark smiled thinly. ‘We’ll give Muta a wide berth next time.’

  They spent the time waiting for darkness by eating and preparing for the last phase of the trip. Clark was beginning to feel nervous, because so much of the next part of their plan depended upon Ralip, and until they saw the Brutan woman again they would have no idea of the general situation.

  When it was dark enough for them to leave, Balfin went on ahead with Hanton, each carrying a Laser, and Clark took his leave of the Avics. He shook hands with Pacian and then the Avics turned and faded into the jungle. Clark looked around, staring into the deserted areas, feeling that the Avics were still watching them and would continue to do so until they were safely into the tunnel, and Clark could not help wondering what would have become of them if the Avics had proved to be enemies instead of friends! He dared not dwell upon the thought and turned his attention to his own party.

  Magenta and Mallory was standing close together, and Clark peered at Mallory, wondering how he had taken the tough march. Mallory’s teeth glinted as he forced a smile.

  ‘I’m all right, Commander,’ he said tightly. ‘Don’t worry about me. I can keep going.’

  ‘The worst part of it is over,’ Clark said. ‘When we get out of the tunnel it will be all open countryside. Let’s move on, and stay close to me now.’

  They moved along the faint trail that Balfin and Hanton had left, and when the ground began to rise Clark knew they were close to the hill and the tunnel. He finally halted and made Mallory and the girl stay down while he went ahead to contact Balfin, and now there were tiny fears in the back of his mind, trying to take hold of his imagination and attention. He felt the Brutans might have discovered the tunnel and had set a trap there for them. But there was no other way out, and if they had to fight for their passage then they would do so. There could be no turning back now.

  A whispered challenge came to his ears and he replied instantly, moving in to find himself covered by the Laser in Hanton’s hands.

  ‘The Major has gone through the tunnel to check the other side,’ Hanton said. ‘We’re doing all right so far, huh, Commander?’

  ‘If the rest of it goes as easy as the first phase then we’ll have nothing to worry about,’ Clark retorted. ‘But after this there must be no talking. The Brutans appear to have some kind of sonic detector.’

  He could hardly make out Hanton’s features, and they could not see more than a yard through the gloom. They crouched together and waited for Balfin’s return, and the minutes seemed like hours.

  Presently there was a faint rustling sound from the direction Balfin had taken, and the next moment Balfin appeared. He was breathless from his exertions and sat for a moment taking deep breaths.

  ‘The way is clear as far as I can tell,’ he said at length. ‘I went through the tunnel and checked outside it. There’s no sign of guards. I expect a week of waiting around with nothing happening has put them off.’

  ‘I hope you’re right.’ Clark started to his feet. ‘I’ll fetch Mallory and Magenta and we’ll go through the tunnel. We can’t afford to waste any time. It will be a close thing as it is to get to Ralip’s farm by dawn.’

  Balfin nodded, knowing only too well what lay before them, and Clark went back to where he had left Mallory and the woman. They were waiting for him, silent and still, and Clark led them back once more. When they reached the spot where Balfin and Hanton were crouching the Major got up instantly and started away. They followed him closely, moving slowly and silently.

  Passing through the tunnel proved to be no less nerve racking than the previous times, Clark found, and they held on to one another in the total darkness. When they emerged finally they dropped into cover while Balfin went forward to check out their route.

  Clark warned the others not to speak or make any noise under any circumstances, and they waited, finding a keen wind in their faces. The moons were not showing in the sky and Clark was thankful that the night was much darker than their previous trip. But the moons would be showing later, and by that time he wanted to be well on his way to Ralip’s farm.

  Balfin returned, moving stealthily, and he dropped down beside Clark.

  ‘That camp is still where I saw it before, but the men there are not on duty. I didn’t see any guards prowling around. I figure they’ve got over the scare when we first landed, and this camp is merely a routine station to guard against Ogrins and the like.’ There was no emotion in Balfin’s soft voice, and the news heartened Clark.

  ‘Okay, Kester,’ he said. ‘Lead off and we’ll start making good time. So far so good!’

  The
y went on, remaining in close contact in the darkness, and as time went by Clark felt his spirits begin to soar. If they managed to avoid trouble then there would be few complications in this phase. It would make the last part seem more possible to accomplish.

  But Hanton, on Clark’s right, was suddenly going down, and Clark spotted movement in the sky at the same time he caught Hanton’s movement. The others were going down, and Clark looked up as he hit the ground, making out the ominous shape of a skyraft coming silently towards them. It could only be spotted by the blanking out of stars in the background, and it was perfectly silent.

  They lay still, and Clark found his nerves tightening. He hoped neither Hanton nor Balfin would fire at the craft, unless it attacked them, and he turned his head slowly as he followed its progress. It went right over them, but did not deviate from its course or lose any speed. It disappeared in the direction they came from, and Clark took a deep breath as he waited until a safe period had elapsed.

  Balfin got up to go on and they hurried to keep him in sight. Clark looked around, seeing Mallory and Magenta together, and the woman seemed to be helping Mallory. Clark waited for them to draw level, and he leaned towards Mallory.

  ‘How are you making out?’ Clark demanded.

  ‘Beginning to feel the pace a little now, sir,’ Mallory admitted. ‘How much farther to the farm?’

  ‘Several hours yet. I’ll tell Balfin to lose pace a little. It will be better to arrive later than schedule than have trouble because we’re moving too fast for you. Just take it easy.’

  He went on then, increasing his pace to catch Balfin, and the Major turned his head as he glimpsed Clark’s shadow gaining on him. Clark opened his mouth to ask the Major to slow his pace, but before the words came a shaft of brilliant white light stabbed down at an angle from the dark sky, striking the ground a hundred feet to their left. Balfin fell to the ground, sweeping out an arm that knocked Clark flying, and as he rolled, Clark caught a glimpse of the other three dropping to ground.