by PJ Strebor
"I am going to take you away from this place. Would you like that?"
Nathan's mind struggled to properly comprehend the words. So he gave what he hoped was a positive shrug.
"I’ll take that as a yes. I can place you almost anywhere. Do you have a preference?"
He dragged his eyes up to meet the intelligence officer. "Warm. And doctor free."
"I'll see what I can do."
Nathan thought he saw something like a fleeting smile. Then the hawk returned.
"But you need to do something in return. Nathan, look at me." With a start Nathan realized he had begun to fade out. "This is very, very important. As you may know your physiological tests show absolutely no contagion to the plague and no discernible reason for your natural immunity. You are simply a one in a billion chance who lucked out. What? You need to speak up, Nathan."
"I said, all for nothing."
The commander nodded slowly before continuing. "Yes. But the point is, you are the only person to have survived exposure to the plague. Do you know what that means?"
"I'm really lucky?"
"You're an intelligent young man so I shan’t mince words. You must not, under any circumstances, tell anyone about Delos. There are people who will stop at nothing to get their hands on someone who has a proven immunity to the plague. Nothing!" Spotiswood paused but kept his eyes locked onto Nathan. "If you tell anyone about this, there are people who will go to any lengths to get to you. They will kill anyone who stands in their way. And when they acquire you they will do things to you that will make the last four months seem like a party. Do you understand what I’ve said?"
He understood all right and he also sensed Hawkeye had chosen to leave something unsaid. For now, he only wanted to escape from this hellish place.
"I understand." He pulled the blanket around him. "All right, I give my pledge never to mention anything about myself to anyone. Can I go now?"
"Go where? You’re an orphan. I can see to it that you are farmed out to foster care if you like, or I could offer you an alternative."
"Alternative?"
"You could work for me. You will get the very best training and although it will be hard, I believe you are sufficiently motivated to pass the tests. This is covert work requiring total dedication to the task. It will also be an opportunity for you to honor your family obligation."
"What would I be expected to do?"
"We can talk about the details later. You have a unique gift that could be very valuable to my organization, and in return for your service you will, on the odd occasion, get to kill some Pruessens. Interested?"
Killing Pruessens sounded like a very good way to spend the rest of his life. The temptation lasted only a moment. Nathan had given his father his pledge and that pledge would always have priority over his personal desires. He would never forget his father’s words: Nathan, if the worst should happen and you find yourself alone, seek out Caleb Penkovsky, on Kastoria. He’s the best man I know. He can be trusted.
"I would like to send a communication,” Nathan said. “Is that possible?”
***
Spotiswood had given the boy two days to rebuild his strength and savor the richness of life. Nathan lay by the pool soaking up Arcadia’s late spring sunshine. The commander stepped onto the patio and took a seat beside him. Nathan lay on his back, his eyes closed, his face relaxed.
“Good morning, Nathan.”
He opened his eyes.
“Any word yet?” he asked.
“I told you not to expect a reply for at least a week. At this distance it may take longer.” His communication to Kastoria was not what Spotiswood had hoped for.
Nathan examined him skeptically when he handed him the reader pad.
“What’s this?”
“You need to read and thoroughly memorize every word.”
Nathan’s eyes dropped to the pad and he began reading. Occasionally he would glance at Spotiswood with hatred. After ten minutes he tossed it back.
“All right, I’ve read it.”
“Good. In about a week you will be interviewed by the news nets. They will ask you a great many questions and you will answer to the best of your ability.” He held up the pad. “Using this information only.”
Nathan snatched the pad back and scrolled through it.
“Bellinda was attacked by some unknown element, possibly northern pirates. My knowledge of the next six years is vague due to my injury. I was examined by doctors on the rehabilitation planetoid of Mylor,” he stared at Spotiswood with hatred and disgust in equal measure, “who told me the blow to my head, probably caused during the attack, and my general trauma had caused amnesia. I recall being cast into slavery along with my immediate and extended family but to the best of my recollection this was done without the knowledge of the Pruessen government.” He shook his head. “I recall us escaping and fleeing south. A ship, possibly a pirate, attacked Bellinda. I recall nothing after that until I awoke onboard an Athenian warship. Bellinda had been destroyed, my family lost and I alone survived in the rescue pod I was found in.” He stared at Spotiswood, bewildered. “Why?” He looked as if he would vomit at any moment.
“Your father was right. If word of your experiences in the north was to emerge it would cause public outcry. It could lead to war with Pruessen.”
“Good!”
“Athens will do anything to avoid war in the Quarantine Zone. That’s the political reality, so get used to it.”
“It’s all a lie.”
“Yes it is.”
“I won’t do it.”
“You will do it, Nathan, or you’ll spend the rest of your life on Mylor.” Oh, look at the fear on his face. That’s got his attention. “You’ll grow old and never see the sky again. Never see a Pruessen, let alone kill one. And if Professor Knightsbridge had his way you won’t last six months.” Spotiswood gave him a moment to digest the horror story. He would not hesitate to honor his threat. There was more at stake than the concerns of a teenage boy.
“Do as you’re told and you can live out your life in peace. Or war, if you prefer. What you do with your life is of no concern to me. If you want to honor your pledge to your father you will do as I demand.”
“You’re a real prick, commander.”
“Yes I am. Do you agree?”
Nathan lowered his head and nodded.
“I’ll be keeping my eye on you. Make one slip, divulge one secret, and I’ll know about it. I’ll have you back on Mylor so fast it will make your head spin. Understood?”
Again he nodded.
Four days later the reply to Nathan’s communication arrived.
CHAPTER 10
Date: 18th December, 311 (ASC)
Position: Penkovsky homestead, Mullally Province, Planet Kastoria, Athenian Colonial Space.
Status: Rehabilitation.
Caleb Penkovsky stood by the front door as the air-car touched down on the raised pad. For the first time in many a year he had butterflies in his stomach. Nervous at my age? Well, why not? I’m about to become a father again.
Bernice and the boy embarked from the craft and walked to the homestead entrance.
"Hello, wife." He hugged Bernie to him briefly. They would catch up later.
“Caleb,” Bernie said, “this is Nathan.”
“After all of those communications, it’s good to finally meet you in person.”
"Hello," Nathan said, his voice small, guarded.
He looked more nervous than Caleb felt. No, more than that. He was scared to death.
My God, what did those Pruessen bastards do to him?
"Welcome to Chez Penkovsky," Caleb said, guiding him through the front door. He felt Nathan squirm as he rested his hand gently on his shoulder. "I understand you're a big reader."
Nathan only nodded as he was ushered into the large, comfortable main room. His eyes took in the soft furnishings, thick colorful rugs underfoot, colors as
sailing his senses from every direction. He looked as if he’d never seen a room like this before.
"I like to read."
"Well then you're in luck," Caleb said. "I have a permanent link to the Orbital Space Dock, so you can access the net directly from Athens itself. With a week's delay, of course." He paused for a moment but when no response came he tried again. "We also have a cinema in town. It's an open-air set up, not as fancy as what they have within the Republic, but we get by."
Nathan’s forehead creased.
"We were planning on going into town tomorrow night to take in the latest offering. Would you like that?"
"What should I call you?"
The sudden change of direction caught Caleb off guard, but he adjusted quickly. "Oh, you can call me handsome, smart, sophisticated, but don't call after hours." He grinned and Nathan returned the gesture with a tight smile. Well, that’s a start.
"Since you’re part of the family now you can call me Caleb"
"Caleb, I have never seen a vid, ah, movie before, but –”
Caleb’s son jumped into the conversation without invitation. "Where did you come from? The core of the sun?"
"Lewis, behave yourself," Bernice snapped.
Lewis lounged indolently on the couch. Caleb could tell at a glance that the evil green monster had taken possession of his eldest child.
"Nathan, this is our son, Lewis," Bernie said.
Nathan offered his hand to Lewis and received a short, token response.
"Nice to meet you, Lewy," Nathan said.
"Don't call me that," the boy growled. "My name is Lewis, not Lewy, not Lew, Lewis. Got it, runt."
"Mind your manners, Lewis,” Caleb warned. “Nathan is a member of this family and you will treat him with due respect, or I will be displeased. Got it?"
"Yes, father." Before turning away he shot Nathan a narrow-eyed look.
"Nathan, this is Lucilla," Bernice said.
Caleb considered Lucilla to favor her mother's side of the family as much as Lewis favored his father’s.
"Hello Lucilla."
"Call me Lucy," she said, making a face at Lewis.
"Sure thing, Lucy." A short-lived smile.
Dinner moved along at a civilized pace with Lewis too sullen to make further nasty comments. Lucy badgered Nathan with questions until Bernice told her to mind her own business. Still, she was eleven years old. "Nathan?"
"Yes, Lucy."
"When you were a prisoner of the Pruessens, were you scared?"
"Lucilla Penkovsky!" her mother warned.
Caleb could barely believe it when a smile darted briefly onto Nathan’s face. "It's all right, Bernie," he said, still struggling with his words. He sat for some moments apparently thinking things over.
"I don't remember much of it Lucy,” he tapped the bump above his eyebrow, “but yes it was a difficult time." He passed his eyes over the Penkovskys, finally resting them on Caleb. "I'm very glad to be here."
Caleb nodded minutely.
After dinner, Lucy hugged Nathan and gave him a kiss on the cheek before dashing off to bed. Nathan blushed at her uninhibited show of affection.
A short time later Caleb showed him to his room and said goodnight. He stood by the door for only a few minutes before the sound of Nathan sleeping came to him.
***
The scream tore Nathan from a troubled sleep. He sprang upright in bed, bringing his knife to hand from under his pillow.
"What the frig was that?"
"Ricardo," Lucy said. As if it should be common knowledge to everyone she added, "Ricardo Rooster, Nathan."
Being scared to death by a farmyard animal embarrassed him no end. Now Lucy took an interest in his knife.
"Family heirloom," he said, by way of explanation.
"You sleep with it?"
He smiled while trying to think of how to explain to her exactly why he slept with a knife.
"It keeps away the boogie men."
"You said a bad word."
"Oh. Sorry."
"That's all right," she said bouncing to her feet. "Breakfast in ten minutes."
Nathan fell back onto his pillow and rubbed his face. Right now Telford, no more acting like an idiot. These are good people, show a little respect. With those thoughts firmly in mind he washed, changed into clean clothes and joined the family for breakfast. As he took a seat at the table he got the distinct impression that he and Caleb were underdressed. Lucy wore a frilly yellow dress, Lewis a simple but well-tailored suit and Bernice a smart pants suit, beneath her apron. She placed the stack of food before him.
"I hope you like pancakes," she said.
"So do I." He had only a vague memory of pancakes, but after the first delicious mouthful he remembered how much he missed them. His last taste had been nearly seven years ago.
Having attended to her family, Bernie sat down. As she ate she glanced at his casual clothing.
"If you look in your closet you will find a new suit."
"Thank you."
"If you hurry you will have time to change before church."
"Church?"
"Hello," Lewis cut in, "it's Sunday, you know."
"Thanks for that, Lew," Nathan said, ignoring Lewis’ disagreeable reaction and keeping his eyes on Bernie.
"So, do you like the pancakes?" Bernie asked.
"Great." He tried his first tactic. "Is this church far away?"
"Taylor's Bend is only twenty kilometers away."
"Oh," Nathan said.
"Is something wrong, Nathan?" Bernie asked.
"I'm still pretty tired from the trip, Bernie," he said.
From the corner of his eye he saw Caleb pause with a fork halfway to his mouth. Bernie looked up, and after swallowing said, "I see."
Nathan sighed. She does see. "My family believed in that…religious…stuff. Right to the end they believed. I don't and I never will."
"Oh, for goodness sake. All you had to say was you don't want to go to church, Nathan," Bernie said. She looked at her husband who had his tongue tucked into a cheek. "You can stay here and burn with the other non-believer if that's what you want."
"What do you say Nathan," Caleb said. "Want to burn with a fellow heathen?"
"Sure."
"It could sting a bit from what I’ve heard."
"You get that," Nathan said, returning to the pancakes.
***
After breakfast Caleb showed Nathan around, introducing him to his chores and giving him a feel for the place. He showed him the harvesting machinery shed, the outbuildings and the comm. shack. Nathan seemed more interested in the sensor network than anything else but listened attentively to all he had to say. It pleased Caleb the way he took to his chores without complaint.
***
Caleb bumped into him in the kitchen and joined him for a cool drink.
"All done?"
"Yes."
"Good," he said. "How did you sleep last night?"
"Fine."
Caleb had checked on him during the night and knew he was lying.
"Feel like taking a walk?"
By the time they reached the ridge that marked the northern perimeter of the plantation, their clothes were sweat soaked. Nathan raised his face to the sun soaking up the warmth as if he had never felt its touch.
From two and a half kilometers away the high, sand-colored compound walls stood like a stark rectangle around the parched white bud of the main homestead building. Spiraling forks of coffee trees radiated out from the rectangle like broad, green spokes from a hub.
Moving to one of the nearby coffee trees, Caleb scooped a hand full of moist, black soil into his hand and sniffed it. Nathan followed his move without direction, wrinkling his nose at the slightly acidic scent.
"This is the reason my forebears settled on Kastoria," Caleb said. "This soil will grow anything, but combined with the generous rainfall, equatorial humidity and e
levation that are unique to this region of Kastoria, it allows us to produce the finest coffee in any of the worlds of the Republic. It’s difficult to imagine more perfect conditions for our type of crop."
He pointed to the northern escarpment. "Too high, up there." He pointed down to the low plains. "Too dry down there. But this is just right. That is why the niche markets in the capital pay top dollar for our product. And if they don't want the good stuff then they can drink that synthetic swill like everyone else."
Nathan nodded then focused his attention to the far end of the valley. Caleb handed him his spyglass.
"That's our nearest neighbors," he said. "The Okuma homestead. They have a daughter about your age. I think you'll like her."
Nathan spent time examining the entire valley before handing the spyglass back. Caleb held it for a few seconds before making his decision. "I understand you have a birthday coming up soon."
Nathan nodded. In a few weeks he would turn fourteen.
"Well then, you can consider this an early birthday present." He handed the spyglass back to Nathan. "Happy birthday."
Nathan’s mouth opened but no sound came out. He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes downcast and mumbled a thank you.
“You’ll find a few features on this that are not standard on commercial brands. I’ve had that since my days in the Marine Service, so I hope you’ll take care of it.”
“I will.” Nathan worked out most of the refinements and asked questions until he understood it all.
"Caleb," Nathan began slowly, "my father said you could be trusted."
"Your father always had remarkably good taste."
"You served together during the Cimmerian war."
Caleb nodded.
"What was it like?" Nathan asked.
"What was it like being a slave of the Empire?"
Nathan stood perfectly still for some time before answering. "You had to be there to understand it." Then the point struck home. "I see."
"Well here's something else to understand. You have not earned the right to ask me that question. Anyone who hasn't served in the military and come under fire doesn't rate an explanation."
"I’ll remember that.” He looked down and scuffed his foot in the soil. “I was just trying to understand the man my father was in those days."
