Prosperine: The Adventures of the Space Heroine Hickory Lace: Books 1, 2 & 3 (The Prosperine Trilogy)

by PJ McDermott

  “I didn’t realize Harbor Town was this big,” said Hickory.

  Nolanski replied, “About twenty thousand naurs and nauris live here. Sailors, shipwrights, merchants, fishermen. It’s a thriving market as well as the biggest seaport in Avanaux. Traders come here from the far eastern reaches of the continent to do business.”

  They disembarked and decided to walk through the town. Nolanski hitched Brutus to the wagon, and the yarrak followed placidly behind. A food market had been set up at the side of the road and was heavily patronized by eager shoppers. The whole town seemed to be buzzing. Acrobats, conjurers, and other entertainers drew enthusiastic crowds to watch their performances while patrons spilled out onto the road from many taverns. Naurs and nauris of all ages advertised their wares from doorways along the main thoroughfare.

  Gareth and Jess walked together, absorbing the atmosphere.

  “Except for the fact this is an alien planet, we could be in Rhode Island,” said Gareth.

  “Remind you of home, does it?” said Jess, laughter in her eyes.

  “To tell the truth, this is nothing like the place I was brought up. But I did have a boat moored in Newport. I can imagine it being just like this in the nineteenth century.”

  “I’d never have taken you for a sailor,” said Jess.

  “I wasn’t. My parents bought me the Pride of America when I was sixteen as a reward for finishing top in the national schools competition. I only took it out on the water one time.” He waved away an insistent young naur trying to entice him into a shop.

  “Your parents must be very wealthy to spoil you like that.”

  Gareth shrugged. “My father is a news magnate, my mother is a socialite, and I’m their only son. They did their best to turn me into a spoiled brat.” The smile left his face. “Damn near succeeded too.”

  Jess looked at him quizzically. Gareth was harder to read after the work done on his face during acclimatization, but a shadow lurked behind his eyes.

  “I invited some of my classmates out on the launch for a celebration party. One was a girl I had a crush on. Her name was Carole. I think she quite liked me, too. I organized a live band, some roving entertainers.” He gestured at the jugglers and magicians they passed by. “These guys would have fitted right in. We drank too much alcohol.” His words sounded clipped, forced out.

  He paused, staring at some revelers who were the worse for wear. He shook his head. “All the kids were having fun, and then an argument broke out. I can’t even remember what it was about. So stupid, really. There was a lot of name-calling and a scuffle. Someone pushed Carole, and she hit her head on a guardrail and fell over the side. She went straight down. We searched, but we couldn’t find any sign of her. That was the last time I set foot on Pride of America.”

  “God, that’s awful. That poor girl.”

  “It was an accident, but I always wonder, you know, if I could have done something to prevent it,” Gareth said, shaking his head.

  “You can’t take responsibility for every rotten thing that happens in your life, boyo. Some pain can never be forgotten, you just learn to tolerate it.”

  Gareth grunted. “I guess. Thanks, Mother”

  “Looks like sex is a commodity in Prosperine just like every other planet,” said Hickory over her shoulder. Several of the young naurs stared with interest at her brown skin as they passed. One of the nauris waved at Nolanski, lowering the top of her garment to reveal impressive bright purple and blue flashes.

  Nolanski coughed, and dragged his eyes away from the display. “More so, here. In the capital, they’re stricter about things like prostitution.”

  Hickory caught a disturbing image of inter-species sex, and she wondered whether Nolanski made a habit of visiting these quarters.

  “Hey,” said Gareth. “What’s going on over there?” Up ahead, an unruly crowd had gathered in a semicircle with many shouting and waving fists. Their anger was directed at a young nauri who had her back against the wall of a hotel. She cringed away from the hostile crowd, holding her head in her hands and trying to avoid being hit. The closest naurs and nauris pushed and shouted at her. One slapped her face and another kicked her. She wrapped her arms around herself and sank to the ground, trying to protect her belly. Her lips trembled and blood dripped from her mouth.

  “We should keep moving. We can’t get involved in domestic problems,” said Nolanski.

  “Domestic …?” Jess could hardly speak. “What do you mean? That poor girl is being beaten!”

  Nolanski’s brow furrowed and he shook his head. “Listen. You’re obviously good folks, but you’ve only just arrived here. You should take a little time to understand the local culture before getting on your charger.”

  Jess looked to Hickory, who shook her head. “Wait,” she said. She’d spotted a tall naur making his way forcefully through the crowd.

  “Let her be.” The newcomer spoke evenly, yet his voice resonated across the square. “Why do you pass judgment on this nauri? None of you are any more deserving in the eyes of Balor than she. All should lie prostrate and beg his forgiveness.”

  Hickory climbed onto the cart to get a better look and was joined by the other three. Looking over the shoulders of the crowd, she saw the naur position himself between the angry mob and its quarry. His gaze swept along the rows of onlookers, seeming to challenge them to respond, then settled on the ringleader.

  The opposing naur took a step forward, his hands clenched and eyes flashing. “She is a whore!” He repeatedly jabbed a finger at the nauri. “Beyond Balor’s forgiveness. She corrupts the innocent. She deserves to die.” He shook with rage.

  The nauri’s rescuer faced him, unblinking. “Who are you to say who should die and who should live? Many who die do not deserve death. Can you give them life? No? Then do not be so quick to say who deserves death and who does not, lest you invite Balor’s judgment on yourself.”

  Hickory whispered to Nolanski. “Is this—?”

  “Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth, yes, I think so—or one of his disciples, maybe.”

  Gareth’s head swiveled to face him. “You think so?” he said. “Don’t you know?”

  Nolanski clenched his jaw and turned away.

  Some guardsmen who had been alerted to the trouble moved into the crowd armed with staves and ordered the mob to disperse.

  The ringleader spat on the ground and shouted at the guards to arrest the nauri. “Everyone knows this one is corrupt, diseased. She should not be offering her body for money.”

  “Go home. You’ve had too much strong drink. Do as I say or you’ll spend the night in jail.” The guard encouraged him on his way with a tap on the head from his stave.

  As the crowd dispersed, the nauri rose to her feet and spread her arms wide with her palms facing her rescuer and her head bowed. She mumbled something inaudible. He smiled, and gently took her hands in his and drew her into his arms. “Tarisa sèra Happon, don’t be afraid. No evil will come to you. Now go to the temple and give thanks to Balor.” The nauri reluctantly surrendered his hand and hastened away.

  Hickory craned her neck to keep sight of the enigmatic hero, but he soon disappeared into the crowded marketplace.

  Nolanski took the reins and urged them to sit. “We were lucky the guards came along when they did. Otherwise, we would have been caught up in a riot,” he said as they got underway.

  “I think the Teacher, if that’s who he was, had things pretty much under control,” said Hickory.

  “You don’t know these people like I do,” he replied. “Usually they’re placid, yes, but when they get worked up, they’re uncontrollable. It sounded like that guy had a personal grudge to settle. Maybe he caught some disease from her. They’re not a forgiving race when it comes to losing face.”

  Hickory nodded. Nolanski was the expert. Still, it was an interesting encounter, and the tall naur, whoever he was, had shown remarkable courage. “You’re right. We should take advantage of your local knowledge.”

  Nola
nski, somewhat mollified, pointed to some cigar-shaped dirigibles flying overhead. Vapor trailed behind them as they moved sedately across town. “Those are an example of how rapidly the Avanauri is evolving. They invented the air-yacht two years ago, and the design is continually being improved. Right now, they’re only capable of short flights and the steering is unreliable, but they’re already experimenting with steam-powered propulsion. Once these people develop a better understanding of aerodynamics, machines like these will undertake much longer journeys, perhaps even as far as Castaliena.”

  As they approached Ezekan, the sun sank low on the horizon, and Prosperine’s twin moons moved higher. The entire sky became blanketed with pulsating sheets of emerald, pink and yellow. A thin ribbon of silver rippled slowly across the heavens and sank behind the mountains.

  “I’ve seen the northern lights in Scotland,” said Nolanski, “but I’d have to say this show beats that.”

  “Amazing ionization,” said Gareth. “There must be a heap of charged particles reaching the atmosphere. How often does this happen?”

  “Every evening for nine months of the year. You get used to it, son. We better get a move on. The gates will close in an hour or so.”

  The highway bustled with travelers coming and going from the city. Most walked, some rode yarraks and a few drove wagons of varying sophistication, raising clouds of dust as they entered the main thoroughfare. Hickory had to shout to make herself heard over the clatter of wheels, the stomping of feet and the continuous chatter of the Avanauri. As they drew near the city, the road became more crowded, and the stink of yarrak excrement became more intense.

  They reached the massive wooden gates as the sun set and passed under a stone lintel resting on twin pillars at either side of the opening. Hickory wondered aloud what the inscriptions signified.

  Nolanski explained. “Exaltations to the One True God, and a warning to enemies and non-believers that passing this portal will lead to a terrifying and prolonged death, not to mention that their souls will suffer the torments of hell for all eternity.”

  “Charming,” said Gareth. “Makes you feel really welcome.”

  “If you’re a citizen of Ezekan, it helps you feel secure.”

  “When you say ‘God’ and ‘hell,' I take it you’re not speaking literally,” said Gareth.

  “Of course not,” said Nolanski, smiling.

  Hickory caught a flicker of annoyance from Gareth. Nolanski had been deliberately patronizing since the attack by the Violators on Dominion Island and had become worse since Harbor Town. She’d have to talk to Gareth about keeping his cool.

  Nolanski continued. “Balor is roughly equivalent to the Earth concept of God, but the idea of heaven or eternal damnation is unknown to these people. ‘Good’ citizens are rewarded by being granted another life on Avanaux. Those who fail in this life simply cease to exist.”

  They led Brutus through the entry and into a tunnel that zigzagged through the thick external walls. Pretty effective defense, thought Hickory. Tough for an enemy to fight its way through here.

  If the smell of dung was intense before, in the enclosed space it was overpowering. They hurried through as quickly as the crowds would allow and after a hundred feet or so they exited into bright daylight once more.

  The outer ramparts of the city were separated from the inner wall by a dry moat crammed with crudely-built huts, ragged tents, and a flea market selling everything from second-hand clothing to medicinal cures and bootleg grog. Most of the other travelers dispersed at this point, but Nolanski guided his party through the shanty-town, then across a bridge spanning an open sewer, and finally through a second gate into the city proper.

  After a steep uphill climb, they turned off the main road and negotiated their way through a maze of narrow streets until they arrived in front of the embassy precinct. Nolanski fished a key from his pocket and unlocked the gate into the compound.

  “You can relax now. This is IA property, leased from the government. In here, you can be yourself. All the employees are Ezekani, of course, specially selected by the Avanauri leadership. They can be trusted to keep your secrets from everybody but their employers—under pain of death.” He laughed. “There’s not much happens here that the Prosperine Senate doesn’t get to hear about within the hour.”

  They dismounted, and Nolanski called out to the young naur who was leading Brutus away, “Kyntai, make sure you give him a good feed and a scrub-down. He’s had a long day.”

  The boy smiled, bobbing his head back and forth as the yarrak snorted and stamped. “Of course, Master Nolanski. Brutus is my favorite.”

  Nolanski showed them to their rooms, suggesting that they wash and rest before meeting him for dinner in the patio area.

  Hickory threw her bag on the bed and looked around. The room was spartan, with a fiber rug on the floor and a painted wooden icon fixed to one wall. She studied the painting with interest. It was a portrayal of Prosperine’s Supreme Being, Balor. The god, she recalled, had four aspects: omnipotence, retribution, mercy, and peace, which were represented as four faces. She wondered which this was.

  Half a dozen large pitchers of steaming hot water stood alongside a round stone tub in one corner of the room. Hickory noted the drainpipe leading from the bath to an adjacent cubicle containing a basic toilet system. The bed and a beautifully crafted table with two chairs were the only other concessions to civilization. There was no communication system and no electronics. Smoking oil lamps set at intervals around the walls provided light, and an open fire would afford heating in winter, she thought. She bounced on the straw mattress. Not bad. Comfy enough. The room was large, with wide folding doors leading onto a balcony. She went outside and leaned on the railing.

  The solar wind had dispersed, and the sky was clear of the ionic disturbance. The silvery moons shone brightly, providing Hickory with a fine view over the city. Centuries ago, when feuds were commonplace, each family unit had built their homes within protective enclosures so that the city had developed like a honeycomb of roads and alleyways. Dirigibles dotted the sky, some in use but most anchored to rooftops. It looks like the balloons are the latest status symbol in Ezekan.

  Here and there, a shower of sparks flared from an outdoor fire suggesting a public park, and scattered about the town were the temples—magnificent structures built from stone that twinkled and sparkled. They were shaped like pyramids, except each had four sides, and the tops were flat and smooth as though severed by a giant scimitar. Two rows of rectangular windows let in air and light, and at night they glowed orange. Other buildings stretched towards the sky, their spires reaching for the clouds. Flags and banners, representing the city’s ruling families, were draped over the turrets of the administration buildings congregated in the center of the city. Hickory could see guards lazily patrolling on top. Watchtowers, marketplace stalls, lodging houses, and taverns proliferated—yet another sign of the rapid evolution of the city.

  Exotic fruits, herbs, and vines grew over rooftops and hung from window boxes in riotous colors. In the distance, Hickory spotted a large grassy area containing a sparkling silver lake, with an ornate fountain spouting high into the air. On the far side of the lake was a low hill with a sprinkling of trees covering its crown like a bad haircut.

  After her bath, lukewarm but welcome nonetheless, Hickory put on the poncho that had been placed on her bed.

  She walked onto the patio area in time to hear Gareth and Jess quiz Nolanski about the populace.

  “Are they very warlike? Apart from all the walls and that one incident in Harbor Town, I haven’t noticed much sign of aggression. On the whole, they seem quite a friendly bunch,” said Jess.

  “On the whole, you’re right,” said Nolanski. “Most of the ordinary people, most of the time, are somewhat reserved and like to keep to themselves. The walls are relics of the past. Long ago, when the warlords of the Erlachi became powerful and greedy for land, the Avanauri clans banded together in cities like Ezekan. Avanaux
hasn’t had any internal conflict for five hundred years, but old habits die hard, I guess.”

  “The Erlachi? Who were they?” queried Gareth.

  “Erlach is a country on the slopes of the ice-mountains in the North. Look here,” Nolanski said and spread a map on the table. “It’s made up of six regions, see? Each one is governed by a hereditary warlord. These six rulers pay fealty to the royal house of Erlach, which has been around for millennia.”

  “Yes,” said Jess. “The Erlachi invaded the southern parts of the continent over a thousand years ago and were defeated when the naurs and nauris of the South united under the legendary warrior, Connat-sèra-Haagar. Even after all this time, she’s venerated by the Avanauri as a hero.”

  Nolanski looked surprised that Jess would know this. He nodded his agreement and continued. “There are statues of her everywhere you look. She was the one who founded the modern system of confederated states. Every major population center in Avanaux has its own regional government, but each one sends a representative to the Senate in Ezekan. The Senate establishes Avanauri-wide policies. The trade regulations are a good example—prices are set centrally, and trade routes are guarded by a police force that’s paid for by all.”

  “So, the police have authority throughout the country?” said Gareth.

  “Not for everything—only in specific roles agreed by the Senate. Rural Avanauri still hold onto their old tribal customs. If one of their own gets into trouble, it can be all-out war between two families until justice is seen to be served. That’s clan justice—an eye-for-an-eye type of thing—not legal redress. There are regional peacekeepers of course, but most disputes seem to get settled before they step in.”

  Hickory sat down opposite Gareth and poured a glass of cool water from a carafe that sat on the table. “They have some beautiful buildings. Some of their temple architecture is stunning,” she said. “What can you tell us about their religion? I understand they’re obsessive about their beliefs. Does all of Avanaux worship the same deity?”