“Yes,” Zak said, worrying that the serum was wearing off. And if it was wearing off on his Father, then what of—
“I think I know where your father’s going with this.”
The object of Zak’s concerns chimed in with a zeal to match the crazy man beside her.
Zak glanced back and forth between them.
“Please,” he crossed his arms. “Do share.”
“We can create a vacuum in the cave, can’t we?” Aimee asked Zon.
“Yes,” His head pumped. “We used to keep food supplies preserved in the caves. Just start a fire—cover the entrance with a Zulli tarp—and the fire would suck it in, extinguishing itself once all the oxygen was gone.”
“Like saran wrap.” Aimee said to a host of blank faces. She shrugged. “Well, that’s what they call Zulli tarp back home.”
“The problem,” she continued, “is that once you drop that tarp—will there be enough time for us to take off?”
“That’s my concern as well,” Zon mulled.
“My concern,” Zak interrupted, “is getting the damn thing up there.”
Aimee laughed. “You pick up my bad habits when you talk.”
There she stood, laughing at him, when only a brief spell ago he was trying to stop the flow of life from leaving her body. He was completely on edge and anxious to get Aimee back to the Horus. If he had to strap the damn terra duster on his own back and haul it up the mountain, he would do it to expedite this process.
“Okay, so just to recap, you need that pile of—” Noting Aimee’s raised eyebrow he rephrased, “that terra duster up that hillside and in that cave, and you have confirmed that it can’t make the journey under its own power?”
Aimee shot a quick glance at Zon and with his hasty nod she claimed, “Yes. Unfortunately, it was engineered for space travel, with a minimal capacity for atmospheric flying.”
“Zuttah!” Zak shouted.
Lumbering towards them with a rock lodged in the corner of his mouth, Zuttah spit it out and bounced his head. “I still can’t believe it, but it looks like we got most of those boulder-headed beasts. The last reconnaissance returned with a report that if there are any Korons still out there, they’re deep in hiding and they won’t venture near the river again.”
It was amazing that it had worked, but there was no time to dwell or rejoice on the events of the day. Zak scanned the slope that climbed the mountain face. It was manageable with enough men—of course those men were preparing to engage in an epic celebration once they joined up with their families inside the crater walls.
“We’re going to need to move that terra duster,” Zak explained.
Zuttah’s eyes widened.
“Where?”
He followed Zak’s hand and shrugged a beefy shoulder. “Alright. I’ll gather some men.”
No questions asked. That was Zuttah.
“The composite is light,” Aimee offered, recalling Wando’s description. “Though the frame is bulky, it was designed to weigh as little as possible.”
Zuttah snorted and his mustache ruffled. “We have a skid. We’ll have it up there before nightfall.”
The two suns rested at opposite angles atop the crater wall. They would drop behind it soon.
Was it even possible that just this morning he had woken with Aimee at his side and the dam was still intact? So much had transpired so quickly. And now the hastened pace was not about to let up. He wanted assurances that the young woman flailing her hands in an animated conversation with his father was going to be safe. He wanted to return the proud and daring Gordeelum to his parents...and if it meant chancing their lives in a vessel that roamed the lands when his father was young...well Zak trusted those around him.
* * *
By nightfall Zak was beginning to worry. The elephant, as Aimee referred to it, still squatted quite a distance from the cave, and a host of men lingered on the wide cliff that jutted over the slope below. Repeated pleas for Aimee to stay off her feet primarily went unheard. At the moment she was on her knees drawing graphics in the dirt. Zon stood above her, gripping his forehead.
“Can you fly this thing, Zak?” Gordy stepped up alongside him.
Eyeing the tarnished monster, Zak mused, “It is a distant predecessor to the first craft I learned. I think Aimee has a saying, It’s just like riding a bike.”
“Aimee did a great job landing, but she was coached,” Gordy added. “We’re not going to be coached.” He kicked at a stone and watched it shoot off the ledge and disappear into the ravine below. “Maybe we should stay here.”
Zak studied the young man. Trouble lurked in the bright eyes.
“You don’t want to go back?” he probed.
Gordy stared out into the desert that was now dissected by a resplendent river.
“What we did here,” he began tentatively, “it was amazing. I’ve never been a part of such a monumental feat. I feel like I—I—achieved so much. Nobody back home would have thought I could do this.”
“Did you ask them?”
“Huh?”
“Did you ever ask them if they thought you could accomplish something so grand?”
“Well, no,” he defended. “But, I could tell.”
“Gordeelum,” Zak placed a hand on his shoulder and guided him a few steps away for privacy. “When your parents were sick, I visited with them in the Bio Ward.”
“When I was locked up?”
“You know you were put in that chamber for protection,” Zak reminded in a low tone. “Anyway, they told me that they thought you were the bravest person they knew...that you faced your solitude with that virus with a maturity that made them both so proud.”
Gordy’s eyes rounded.
“They felt,” Zak continued, “that you were capable of anything.”
“They—they—” Gordy cleared his throat and his voice resumed much deeper, “they never said anything like that to me. When they received their serum and were released from the Bio Ward, they smothered me. They wouldn’t let me out of their sight. It was a battle just to get them to let me go to school in the R-4 satellite.”
“And why do you think that was?”
“Yeah, yeah, we almost lost each other, so they didn’t want me to go away to the satellite for such a long time.”
“Gordy, do you know how many people want to be loved by their parents like that? How many even wish they had parents?”
A quick dart of the eye at the bedraggled man working with Aimee did not go undetected by Gordy.
“Well,” Gordy straightened his posture, “maybe they will be even prouder when I return—when they learn what I took part in here. Will you put in a good word for me?”
Zak smiled. “Of course.”
“And maybe they will find some clause that will allow me into the Warrior apprenticeship.”
“I’ll put in a good word for that as well.”
Trying to look composed, Gordy’s lips failed him and erupted into a white-toothed grin. “Cool.”
* * *
“Is this going to work?” Zak asked, incredulous.
“Yes.” There was a subtle waver to Aimee’s voice. A slight lilt that sounded like, of course this is going to work—I mean, I’m pretty sure it will work, that is, I hope it will work.
“Yes,” she repeated, seeking affirmation from Zon.
The tip of the man’s finger tapping against his bottom lip didn’t inspire confidence.
“Well, if I understand Aimee correctly,” he started, “they mounted these drives to power this relic. It’s been a long time since I was able to tinker with space travel technology, but even in my day, ion drives were being phased out. However, given the circumstances and limited resources Aimee and her friends had, I think they did a remarkable job.”
Heat infused Aimee’s cheeks under the praise. Zak’s lingering glance also made her feel flush. And the touch of his fingertips against her cheek elicited a fevered reaction.
“We have to do this fast,” he proclaimed gru
ffly. “I’m afraid she may have an infection.”
Infection! It’s just your eyes that make me burn up.
“The craft is in place and the tarp is up,” Zon directed. “As soon as you are in the ship and ready, I will start the Zull dung fire. With the tarp across the cave entrance, the fire should deplete the oxygen and give the ion drives enough boost to propel you out of the cave and into our lower atmosphere...” The lapse in his words spoke volumes. “I just hope you have enough power to make it out of the atmosphere. In space you will be fine, of course.”
Zak’s eyebrows knitted. “I am not going to chance Aimee and Gordy’s lives on hope.”
“Hope got us here in the first place, Zak.” Aimee injected. “There are no guarantees. I learned enough about this elephant on the trip to Ziratak. This will work.”
Sharp gold eyes pierced her. “Aimee—”
“Have faith in me, Zak.”
His intensity wavered. “You know I do, but—”
“Son,” Zon reached for Zak’s shoulder and squeezed. “Finding you—alive—has been a miracle. Do you think I would risk anything happening to you?” His voice grew hoarse. “I feel confident that this will work.”
Zak’s hand clasped the arm that was extended towards him. “Will you come with us? I just found you. I don’t want to lose you again.”
Misty eyes scanned the desert. “Only a few days ago I lived as a recluse, begging upon the aid of others to feed me and hide me from the Korons. Now, I have my land back...and my mind. There are exciting times ahead for the people of Ziratak, and I want to be part of that. And then—” he smiled at Zak, “—when you return, I will be able to show-off all that you made possible.”
“No, no.” Zak shook his head. “Don’t credit me. The victory here today has been the work of many.”
“Indeed.” Zon used his grip on Zak’s shoulder to draw him into a quick embrace. “But know this,” he declared quietly. “When you were young, I always predicted that you would grow up into a fine man. Thanks for confirming my notions.”
Stepping back, Zak flashed a grin, “Well, Aimee tells me that I had to get my smarts from somewhere—” Over Zon’s head, Zak sought her glance. “—now we know.”
“I’m sure your mother was the smartest in the family.”
“Ahh,” Zon’s laugh was bittersweet. “She speaks the truth.”
They sobered and Zak vowed quietly, “One day we will return here.”
We. Her and Zak. Bonded. A couple that would travel the galaxies together.
She stepped forward and wrapped her arm around his waist. “Definitely.” Her smile extended to include Zon.
A family. Pain and longing for her own family wormed its way into her soul. Always in tune with her, Zak bent his head and whispered, “After I meet your parents.”
Oh God, enough with the tears. She crammed her fist into her eye and beamed up at him. She felt so loved by this man.
“And when you return,” Zon clapped them both on the shoulders, “we will all climb the crater and search for the temple of the monarch. As the legend has it, all we have to do is find a cave with floating planets in it. It was said that they form the path to the temple gate.” Mirth filled his voice. “Of course, it is just a legend, but wouldn’t it be a fun adventure to share?”
Aimee and Zak’s eyes locked. A cave with floating planets marking the gate to the temple.
The trio was disrupted by Zuttah’s shout, “We are ready!”
* * *
Through the windshield Zuttah waved up at him with a smile short a few teeth. Zak was going to miss this gentle leviathan. Zuttah and Zon would remain and guide the Ziratakians on a new adventure—a pursuit to restore a world of splendor and peace. A civilization abundant with soaring temples, brilliant banners, exotic gardens, ethereal music, and happy families. A world Zak once recalled.
Beside him, Aimee barked into a remote. “Clear out the cave and light the fire.”
Anxious eyes met his as their hands simultaneously latched onto the same control.
“What do you want to do?” she whispered to exclude Gordy who was busy communicating with Zon through an earpiece. The young Warrior knelt in the rear, administering to the interior cavity of the giant elephant foot.
Zak contemplated her question, sliding his gaze over the dark hair that dipped before her shoulders as she leaned towards him. Her bottom lip was moist and blushed after being released from her nervous bite. A fur vest replaced the blood-stained blouse. Long, sleek arms were poised over the controls, prepared to launch this behemoth into space.
“I want to be the father of your children,” he said with a grin.
Her eyes widened, and then she snorted. “Do you think you can wait until we get back to the Horus, or should I inform Gordy that we’ll be awhile?”
On a chuckle, he took his eyes off of her and gave Zuttah a thumbs-up sign through the window. The burly giant frowned and looked up.
“If I have to wait,” he quipped, “then this thing better fly at superluminal speed.”
Aimee laughed and danced her fingers over the hologram.
Outside, Zuttah’s hulking frame retreated until he was nothing more than a hazy silhouette behind the diaphanous tarp. In another moment his silhouette disappeared altogether.
“All clear,” Zon communicated across all their earpieces. “I will start the fire and then I will move outside,” he hesitated, “out of range of your earpieces. You will be on your own after this. When I’m certain the cave has been depleted of as much oxygen as possible, I will wave the banner outside. When you see that—”
“I gun it,” Aimee filled in.
“Gun it?”
“We go,” she corrected.
“Right.” Relief filled the tinny voice. “Okay—I’m heading out. Zak—” There was a lengthy pause. “There is something for you under your chair. I love you, son.”
Before Zak could respond, the earpiece was filled with the howl of the wind from the cave ledge. Zon was a murky profile behind the tarp. Suspended over his head loomed the shadow of the banner held in his raised hand. When that banner fell their fate would be revealed.
“There’s no time to look.” Aimee read his mind as he glanced towards his feet, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was down there.
“Soon,” Zak said more to himself.
“Gordeelum,” he yelled over his shoulder. “Get in your seat.”
“Yes sir!” Gordy’s enthusiasm came across loud and clear as he could be heard fastening himself in.
“Zak,” Aimee said softly as their eyes stayed glued to Zon’s raised arm, “do you think you found the gateway to the monarch’s temple?”
“It’s just a legend, Aim.”
“Then what—”
The banner fell.
Chapter Sixteen
It felt like trying to stand up from the couch with a tray full of cement blocks across your lap.
Aimee struggled to lift the tarnished beast off the cave floor. Beside her, the corded muscles on Zak’s arm tensed as he fought with the controls. The elephant gagged on the oxygen still trapped in the alcove, and then it caught an anoxic gasp and lunged forward. For a blinding moment, the tarp hugged the windshield. As they cleared the lip of the precipice the flimsy material slid away, exposing the desert valley below.
The terra duster took a sickening dive.
“No!” Gordy screamed.
Aimee was prepared. She initiated the two remaining chemical motors as Wando had instructed. These would power them through the atmosphere until the ion thrusters could resume.
It was an aerobatic maneuver that the best pilots might flinch at, but outside, the imminent blur of sand began to recede as they pulled up into Ziratak’s stratosphere...into the blazing path of the suns.
Zak reached up with one hand to shield his eyes. “You’re doing it, Aimee.”
Looking down at the controls, with his hand still arced over his brow, Zak offered, “two more atmospheric lay
ers to go and we’ll be in space.”
Perspiration beaded on Aimee’s forehead and her stomach itched again, but she could not take her fingers off the panel. The pointer and middle finger pushed higher atop the screen...two small digits urging a massive elephant to fly.
Chancing a glimpse at the windshield she saw the lingering gasses begin to thin out and give way to the dead black of space. But, space was not dead. As the few wispy tendrils of atmosphere dispersed, it was replaced with the brilliance of the cosmos in a dazzling strobe effect. Stars twinkled, and distant planets gleamed. Mystical clouds bathed the elephant which now glided smoothly in a state so quiet no one dared to speak...or even breathe.
Finally, Aimee broke the stillness. “It is still so beautiful,” she whispered in awe.
“It is.” Zak looked at her and then beyond into the stars.
“It is trumpenen!” Gordy called from the back.
Trumpenen, Aimee mouthed.
Zak shrugged his shoulders and grinned. “Time to reprogram our translator.”
Growing serious, she leaned in confidentially. “How do we find the Horus? Wando and JOH had programmed in the Ziratak coordinates. I didn’t do much of anything but sit back and wait until we landed. Now I don’t know—”
“I come in handy sometimes, Aim,” Zak teased. “Look—” He tapped a display high up on the dash between them. “You see that flashing strobe? That is us.”
“Okay, but there’s an awful lot of nothing around us, and Wando warned that if the charge/mass ratio isn’t right, we won’t have enough velocity to make it back to the Horus.”
“You worry too much.”
Dexterous fingers extended and the blinking spot decreased as the view broadened and a host of flickering specs appeared.
“Are those all ships? There must be hundreds of them.” Aimee leaned forward and looked out the windshield expecting to see traffic lights regulating the rush hour. But there were no space crafts in sight.
“They’re just beacons,” Zak explained. “Some are on vessels—most mark planets and asteroids. Ummm, on Earth do you have a device that identifies you from the person next to you?”
Beyond : Series Bundle (9781311505637) Page 42
