The Free Trader of Warren Deep (Free Trader Series Book 1)

by Craig Martelle

  “Is that what you call the Great Desert?”

  ‘There is no reference in my database to a location called the Great Desert.’ Braden couldn’t follow how the Mirror Beast thought. How could it not know about the Great Desert? He took a deep breath and put himself into his best trader frame of mind.

  “I am Free Trader Braden. What are you called, good sir?”

  ‘I am Development Unit 67C.’

  “A very long name, but elegant. I shall call you C. Is that okay?”

  ‘I will add that to my programming.’

  “Where are you from?”

  ‘I was manufactured at the Higgins Bot Construction Facility.’

  “And where is that?”

  ‘Higgins Bot Construction Facility is located outside Sanctuary within grid zero zero.’

  “And where is that?”

  ‘It is grid zero zero.’

  “You’re not helping. Is it south of here? How many turns?”

  ‘Grid zero zero is one thousand seven hundred eleven kilometers south west of this location.’

  “What’s a kilometer?”

  ‘A kilometer is one thousand meters.’

  “Again. Not helpful. Are you looking at me? Here. This is one stride. How many strides is a kilometer?” Braden stepped purposefully forward with his left foot, then held that position, indicating by pointing that his is what he meant by a stride.

  ‘Your stride is 0.87 meters. By your measure, you are one million nine hundred sixty-seven thousand four-hundred ninety nine strides from grid zero zero.’ C didn’t seem phased when spewing out long numbers.

  “That’s a long way, C. You said that this was oasis zero three. Does that mean there is a zero two and a zero one? And where would those be, in direction and strides, from here?”

  ‘Oasis zero two is eighty-six thousand two-hundred six point nine strides to the south south-west from here.’

  “Well that’s not far, but still sounds like a long way. Skirill! Have you been listening?” Braden asked.

  ‘Raptly,’ came the Hawkoid’s response.

  “Great. If you can fly that direction for a dozen or so heartbeats, maybe we can find out how long it would take you to fly there and check things out.” Braden turned back to Development Unit 67C.

  ‘C. Watch my Hawkoid friend flying above us. How long would it take for him to fly to oasis zero two if he maintained his current pace?’

  ‘This unit cannot make the calculation. As a surface development unit, only ground measurements are possible.’

  “My friends and I need to talk about some things. Go ahead and begin your Phase Four, whatever that means, but don’t go too far. I’m sure that I will have more questions.” Without another word, the Development Unit scooted out from the brush and across the beach, heading directly out of the oasis. Soon the unit was in the desert, digging into the sand with invisible hands.

  44 – Distance Check

  “What do you make of that, G?”

  ‘I cannot feel this Beast. I hear its words, but it is empty to me. I do not like it or trust it.’

  “That’s odd G because it didn’t give me the impression it was capable of telling anything other than the literal truth. What’d you think Master Aadi?”

  ‘It is an interesting creature. Why does it shimmer like that? How can it reflect attacks upon it?’

  “I think those are questions for the next time I talk to it. I wish it could tell us how far we’ve come. Is eighty-six thousand strides further than what we’ve already traveled? I need to walk it to get my mind wrapped around it. Skirill, keep your eyes on me. I’ll take a few flasks.” He held his hands up and waved at the Hawkoid. “Care to head out into the heat Master Aadi? G-War, how about you?”

  ‘Yes, Master Braden. That sounds pleasant. It is so cold in here. I shall enjoy getting out.’ The Tortoid took their departure as imminent since he started air swimming toward the beach.

  ‘Surely it jests?’ Was the simple response from the ‘cat.

  “Let me grab a couple flasks and then let’s head toward the next oasis. G, if you would be so kind, keep track of time for us. Braden slung his Rico Bow over his back along with three flasks. He shifted his long knife until it was comfortable in his belt. With a small cloth wrapped around his head, they set off.

  Braden diligently kept count of his steps as they walked. It took little time to reach one thousand paces. He thought it would take longer.

  He was getting hot beneath the desert sun, even for this brief time he was exposed, but knew the oasis waited not far off. He drank one full flask before turning around and pointing his toes back the way they had come. Aadi swam through a small arc and joined up at Braden’s side as they started their return trip, the daylight’s mission complete.

  ‘This is quite pleasant Master human. I only know how far we came since we met. I believe the oases are not too far apart.’

  “I had the same thought. I think we should be able to get there in three nights of traveling, or somewhere there about.” Braden ran the calculations through his head. He was confident that they could find the next oasis without any great stress. Skirill had the eyes of a Hawkoid and would show them the way.

  “What lies beyond oasis zero one?” Clearly another question he would have to ask the Mirror Beast when they returned.

  The oasis readily welcomed them. Skirill and G-War hadn’t moved. The horses were eating grass which grew spartanly between the bushes. Even the Gila Monster hadn’t changed positions. It was good to see that their truce held, despite Braden and Aadi’s absence.

  The Mirror Beast threw up clouds of dust as it plowed purposefully through the sands just beyond the outer trees of the oasis. It was making significant progress. Braden was impressed with how much work it could do. He wondered if he could command it to help them?

  “C! Can you hear me?” He changed positions and yelled a second time. Then a third, before finally giving up.

  “Master Aadi, any ideas on how I can talk to it?”

  ‘I suspect, my human friend, that it is singularly focused on the task at hand. You may have to wait until it completes that task before it is open for further conversation.’

  “Well that’s just a cloud of dog breath! Who knows how long this Phase Four is going to take?” Braden waded into the lake for a refreshing swim, then waited.

  And waited.

  Still waiting.

  45 – Moving On

  Three turns passed and there was still no contact with the Development Unit. It went diligently about its work, both daylight and night, oblivious to the presence of the companions. Braden even tried standing in front of the Beast as it dug and plowed, but it deftly moved in a tight circle, neatly avoiding the human obstruction.

  Their supply of smoked meat was getting low. They needed to leave.

  Braden expected to find another Mirror Beast at the next oasis. He would talk to that one.

  He manhandled the cart to the south side of the oasis and prepared it. Come twilight, he would saddle Max, harness Pack, and they would depart.

  He encouraged everyone to rest, although Braden was the one who needed it most. The horses would probably perk up when they got to stretch their legs.

  Skirill took the time to fly south southeast for a good while. He flew the distance he figured they would travel on the ground that night. He saw nothing different from what they traveled before. He did not fly far enough to see another oasis. He told Braden that he would do this daily until he saw their destination.

  G-War remained unperturbed as usual.

  They departed in the early evening, as the sun was setting, having drunk their fill of water. Braden thought he sloshed as he walked. He knew that drinking to excess was a fleeting thing to do, but it was what they decided. The extra water would be meaningless if they became stranded under the desert sun.

  They angled south south-west, moving quickly at first, intending to slow gradually through the evening. Temperatures seemed cooler
than their previous trip. As winter approached, Braden’s caravan benefitted. They maintained their pace through the early morning hours, only slowing when Skirill flew before them, looking for a place to rest for the daylight.

  He found nothing.

  He circled wider and flew further. Still nothing.

  G-War knew before the rest of them that Skirill could not find a place to make camp. He told Braden and they stopped where they were. Braden needed the extra time to dig a shelter. He was already tired before taking the first shovel full of sand and dirt. He kept digging past the sunrise and well into the morning. He planted the branches in the ground, angled away from the sun to create a shaded area over the pit. It was cool in the back, at the lowest point, but toward the front, it received the least amount of shade and was the shallowest.

  They left the cart in the sun, while bringing their meager amount of smoked meat and both casks into their shelter. It was a tight squeeze for all of them to get in, especially after the horses laid down. In the end, Braden got the least sleep as he was half in the sun most of the time. He drank a little more than his self-limited allotment of water to compensate, and he didn’t feel bad about that. Hopefully tomorrow would bring them to a better shelter.

  46 – Oasis Zero Two

  The second night of travel ended on a better note. Skirill found a place quickly, not far off the track they were following. They set up in an elbow of a dried riverbed, protected from the sun on three sides before Braden put up their awning-like contraption. They slept well that turn.

  It was cooler earlier in the evening, so they left before nightfall. They again traveled quickly, Braden felt that the horses surge ahead each night as they sensed fodder at the end of their journey. With their limited rations, the horses were starting to lose weight.

  Aadi took to bracing himself against the cart as they traveled. He floated and the cart carried him along effortlessly. Skirill wedged himself between the tree branches tied across the top of the cart. G-War was inside the cart somewhere. Braden suspected the ‘cat relaxed on a soft blanket. Then again, despite the Golden Warrior’s calm exterior, he was ill suited for life in the desert. He was probably the most miserable of them all. Braden was surprised he hadn’t heard any complaints.

  On cue, ‘Crossing the Great Desert was our journey to a better future. We all agreed it needed done. There is no sense in crying about it now. For its information, I am hungry. I have been hungry for the past seven turns. I will continue to be hungry until I can eat a fresh kill. Looking around, I don’t think that will be anytime soon.’ The ‘cat snorted in derision.

  ‘Sorry I brought it up, G. I will get you to fertile lands in the south.’ Braden answered in his thought voice.

  ‘Why did it not ask about the lands to the south when it was talking to it?’ G-War was not pleased. He was convinced the Mirror Beast had much more information to share. He didn’t trust the Beast as it was not forthcoming. By that, the ‘cat meant that he was unable to look directly into the thing’s mind and see what he wanted to know. Just like he did with Braden. His fur was dry and he was hungry. He was hot.

  Braden could now feel the ‘cat’s discomfort. All it took was to ask. He hoped that by sharing, the ‘cat could free himself from some of the burden. They called people who removed pain like that empaths; they were the healers.

  Braden wasn’t one, but he and the ‘cat shared a bond. He knew that G-War reduced his pain. Braden wanted to reciprocate. In the end, he settled for the simple act of listening to the ‘cat’s complaints, sharing the experience.

  Master Aadi was unaffected by the dry, the dust, and the heat. He was the only one native to the desert.

  After the third night of travel, Skirill flew off believing that he would find the next oasis. He was surprised when he saw it due east of where they were. Braden watched as the Hawkoid started south and abruptly changed course to the east, beating his wings hard against the cool of the morning air. Braden closed his eyes and opened his mind. He linked and could see what Skirill saw. It looked like the sands of the desert won the battle against the green of the oasis.

  Trees, long dead peaked out from the sand. In a few more cycles, no one would ever know there had been an oasis here. It had fought the battle against the desert, winning long enough for the trees to grow tall and strong, but in the end, lost the fight.

  Braden turned Max’s head toward the oasis and he laid into the horse with his heels. Pack sensed the urgency and trotted along behind, losing ground but keeping Max in sight as they fled into the morning dawn.

  The darkness of dead trees rose before him as Braden arrived. He fell from the saddle, grasping the strange and long dead leaves of the trees unique to the oases. They were sharp and he cut his hand. He hung his head in despair. He never thought about an oasis that wasn’t.

  He walked around the open area between the dead trees, assuming the lake was somewhere below him. After Pack arrived, Braden dug out his shovel and quickly found the metal fountainhead. He hit it a few times with the shovel to encourage water to spew forth, but it defied him.

  He found the shore and dug into the sands until he found the strange material that made up the bottom of the oasis lakes. He cleared it, and then worked to expand the patch. Last time he cleared the materials, the water surged from the fountain.

  He continued clearing the area closest to the beach; it was the shallowest. As the sun climbed slowly into the sky, he realized that he best build the shelter. Despite being in the oasis, there was no water and the sun would beat down on them mercilessly if they didn’t have shelter.

  He used the existing trunks to rig a wide awning. It would be hot as they were in the open, but they wouldn’t be in the direct sunlight. He made quick work of the shelter and went back to digging the sand away from the shore of the lake. His back ached as he continued to dig, until he finally gave up and joined the panting animals in the shelter. He fell into a fitful sleep.

  47 - Restored

  When Braden awoke in the middle of the afternoon, he heard the noise, but couldn’t figure out what it was. He walked from under their shelter and was immediately blinded by the relentless sun. He covered his eyes with his hand and pressed ahead. He walked over the hard surface of the small area he had cleared from the lake bottom until he reached the fountain. It was gurgling, but no water was coming out.

  It was confirmed. The lake bottom powered the fountain.

  With a new energy and despite the sun, he dug into the sand, throwing it where the beach should be. He cleared the entire shore for a few arm spans, then began moving into the deeper sand. The lake bottom was a dark glass over top of a fine pattern of intricate metalwork.

  If the ancients could make something like this, why could they not save themselves? These creations were like magic.

  Humans had lost the ability to do this. What a shame.

  Old Tech called him. Maybe it was in his blood to find it and restore that which had been lost.

  From the cleared shore, he started digging a path directly to the fountain. The sand walls collapsed as he dug into them, so he cleared a wide path, getting wider as he got closer to the middle of the lake. It was hard work and he was wearing down from the heat. He drank often, to keep his energy up.

  Once at the fountain head, he cleared the strange vents he had seen in the other oasis. He exposed the smooth metal of the pipe buried in the ground. He dug out around the pipe. And dug. And threw sand. And dug some more.

  It was twilight when he finally cleared the vents enough that sand stopped falling back into them.

  With a great sigh, air rushed into the vents, dust in the air and grains of sand disappeared into the darkness. Heavy vibrations shook the pipe until it turned cool as water surged through it. The water bubbled out filling the area around the bottom of the pipe quickly. The vents covered with water and the level rose. Surrounding sand was washed away into the vents. He let it go. He couldn’t dig any more. Let the water do the work.

 
He knew that all he needed was to keep the glass exposed to the sun and the oasis would work.

  It filled the trench he had cut to the center pipe. It didn’t make it to the shore area he had cleared. There wasn’t enough water, enough energy driving it from the pipe.

  He sat in the cool water as it swirled around him. When he looked up, he saw that he had company.

  The ‘cat sat at the edge of the water, enjoying the coolness it brought to the air. Skirill waded in next to him and stood majestically leg deep in the resurging lake. Master Aadi floated over the fountain, taking in the moisture as was his way, through his feet.

  Even the horses were making their way to the water. The waded in, kicking up clouds of sand dust as they drank heartily.

  48 - Hope

  “I think we need to leave tonight,” Braden said, even though he was already exhausted. He knew that he would fall asleep in the saddle, but there was no food here. The horses needed to eat. Everyone needed to eat.

  No one suggested anything different, so after they drank their fill and loaded up, they were off to the south south-west. Skirill had not scouted the area before it got too dark, but they figured the risk of traveling into the unknown was better than the alternative - starvation.

  It had to be more of the same. If the next oasis was like this one, Braden would shovel it out. They would drink and move on. So what if they were hungry. At this rate, they could be out of the Great Desert in six turns.

  What waited for them on the other side? This started to bother him. When traveling the roads of Warren Deep, very little was unknown to him. This was completely different. There were no stories told in pubs about what lay south of the Great Desert. No one alive knew anything. By not asking the Mirror Beast before letting it go back to work, he squandered their chance to know.