All The Frail Futures: A Science Fiction Box Set

by J Battle

  ‘Okay, Deylus,’ said Helen, with one hand on the warm smooth surface, ‘this is it. Show us.’

  But he wasn’t paying her any attention; he was looking up at the wall as it stretched unbroken into the distant mountains. He was looking at the single black cat that was sitting on the wall, three hundred legs to the right and twenty legs from the ground.

  ‘What’s he doing?’ asked Helen.

  ‘He thinks his presence will stop us.’

  ‘And will it?’

  Deylus looked at the army of super cats waiting on his word, then at his lonely friend.

  ‘Nothing can stop us,’ he replied, quietly.

  There was a quiet screech as he withdrew his sword from its back scabbard.

  Then he turned to D. ‘Place your hands on the edge of the wall, here at the bottom where it starts; one hand on each side.

  D did as he was told, feeling a little foolish.

  ‘Squeeze it.’

  D pressed his hands against both side of the wall; he felt it give a little.

  ‘Harder.’

  He squeezed with all of his strength. His fingers sank into the surface.

  ‘Now, see what happens,’ grunted Deylus as he drove his sword deep into the wall.

  D felt the wall shudder at the impact, and his hands fell wrist deep into its softened flesh.

  ‘It’s hollow,’ he gasped as he wriggled his fingers inside the open space.

  ‘It had to be. If it was solid, it would sink into the ground under its own weight. It’s made up of cells; each four legs long and two high. The blow from my sword interferes with its physical integrity; weakens it somehow.’

  D withdrew his hands, shaking off the powdery residue.

  ‘So, what do we do now?’

  ‘Rip it apart,’ said Deylus.

  D looked at him for a moment, then he smiled. With ferocious speed he tore at the wall; at the cell he’d already weakened. It came away in his hands and he tossed it to one side. It bounced a little as it the hard dry ground. Then he was on to the next. He was about to rip it away from its moorings when Deylus placed one paw on his shoulder.

  ‘That was just a demonstration; to show you how vulnerable the wall really is, but we'll need more than a sword to cause it real damage.'

  He unslung his backpack and reached inside.

  ‘That’s why I didn’t use this to kill the sur-male,’ he said, as he pulled out the bomb that Jones had given to him as they approached the volcanic island. ‘This will give it a shock, I think.’

  Jones stepped forward and took the bomb from him.

  ‘I wondered what had happened to this,’ he said, weighing it in his hands and studying the wall.

  ‘Will one bomb be enough?’ asked D.

  ‘Probably not, if it’s as big as they say; but it’s a start.’ He was already wondering where he could get charcoal, saltpeter and sulphur.

  ‘How big is it?’ D studied the wall. He noticed that the black cat was no longer there.

  ‘Who can say? Our scriptures suggest that it goes on forever, but the sur-male said it is probably no more than one hundred leagues in length,’ replied Deylus, his eyes tracing the line of the wall.

  D prodded one finger at the inner face of the wall, exposed when he ripped out its neighbouring cell.

  ‘It will take years to demolish it.’

  ‘If it takes a life-time, would you think it a wasted life?’

  D tore out another cell and sent in rolling after the first.

  Jones placed the bomb on the ground and scratched his unruly hair.

  ‘I should plant the bomb near the centre of the wall, for maximum effect, I think. Which means I’ll have to cover fifty leagues across the mountains; that could take me weeks.’

  ‘Don’t worry, little man.' From the ranks of the army strolled a large, muscular white cat. Jones recognized Sorus, the guard who’d tossed them all out for clickclacker food. ‘I can carry you like the wind. Just cling onto my back pack and you’ll be fine.’

  He licked his chops as if his definition of fine was a little different to Jones’s.

  Jones nodded.

  ‘I’ll probably need some help. We’ll have to dig a deep hole and pack it with heavy rocks, for best effects. A team of four or five should be enough.’

  ‘I don’t really like heights,’ said Helen, stepping back from the wall, ‘so I’ll come with you.’

  'What happens when the bomb goes off?' asked D.

  'Then you get a chance to tear the thing down. The wall will be weakened, but it should still retain enough solidity to bear your weight,' replied Deylus.

  D nodded. 'Yes, I guess we'll have to start at the top and work our way down.' He looked up at the wall. 'I'm not sure I like heights either.'

  ‘Don’t worry about the height,’ purred a large black cat, ‘we are cats; we love heights.’

  'Before you start, can you give me a little time on the wall?' asked Deylus.

  'You going after him?' Jones followed the cats one-eyed gaze.

  'Yes; I suppose somebody has to,' grunted Deylus.

  'Well, good luck. I suppose next time I see you it will be all over.'

  Deylus leapt onto the part of the wall just past the demolished section. He hesitated for a moment, as if unsure about the integrity of the wall. Then he turned to D.

  ‘In case we don't meet again, I just want to say watch out for Pi. She will try to stop you; she will try to persuade you that you are doing wrong; that you have been tricked by the sur-male. You must help each other to refuse her; there are four hundred of you; she can’t sway you all.'

  He glanced at the array of faces; all listening intently to his words. He felt suddenly uncomfortable. He wanted to turn and run, but they seemed to be expecting more from him.

  'At some stage, and I don’t know when that will be, when you’ve reduced the mass of the wall enough, it will reach a level where sentience is not sustainable, and it will become nothing more than an object; a landmark to remind us of our years of submission.’

  He adjusted his back scabbard and turned away without another word and began to run along the wall, in the pawsteps of his friend.

  D turned his back on the wall and addressed the crowd before him. He asked the four hundred enhanced cats to stay, and dismissed the rest.

  Then he bade farewell to Jones, Helen and their small group of cats

  **********

  Perdus was running for more than his life; he was running for everything he had ever believed. For The Wall, for the Twin Gods, may they bless the sky and the land, and for his people. His black fur matched the surface on which he was racing, his pawsteps sure and confident. If only he could reach the end in time. If he could do that, he would bring the wrath of the Twin Gods, may they bless the sky and the land, down upon these blasphemers. They would be tossed from its surface like chaff, and he would stride back down to the temple to lead his people to their destiny.

  Then the clouds broke and the sun shone gloriously on his back, confirming the righteousness of his path. With a snarl, he increased his speed. There was nothing they could do to stop him, not here on his beloved Wall.

  On and on he ran; indefatigable and resolute.

  **********

  Jones lay across the broad back of Sorus, his legs and arms hooked though he straps of his backpack.

  ‘Okay,’ he said, and the cat leapt forward. Jones closed his eyes.

  Behind them, Helen and four cats loped along, effortlessly.

  On the morning of the third day; they were ready. The mountains on this side of the wall were low and gentle, and had posed no problems to the small group. They’d arrived at sundown the day before and spent half of the night digging and collecting rocks.

  The bomb was now buried deep against the lowest part of the wall they could reach and packed down with earth and rocks. The timer was set to go off two hours after sunrise, as prearranged.

  The group jogged back to a safe distance from the site of th
e explosion, where the rise and fall of the land would provide an effect barrier. Jones felt much better now that he was able to run along under his own steam, as time was no longer critical.

  They came across a fast running stream, and Helen paused to admire the narrow waterfall that fed it as it rushed towards the river. Even Jones managed to leap the stream without mishap and they were soon far enough away to feel safe as they huddled up together, close to the wall.

  ‘Do you think they can really do it?’

  Before Jones could answer, the base of the wall was lit up. She looked up and smiled at the sun peeking through the clouds.

  ‘Maybe they will,’ she said, ‘maybe they will.

  Then they heard the thwump of the explosion. It was a little disappointing to Helen; she’d been expecting more of a bang.

  ‘Well, that’s it. Let’s hope it’s done the trick.’

  She looked at Jones beside her, and found that she was smiling. She thought of the waterfall with its cool water dropping three or four metres to the little pool. She shivered in anticipation; then she linked her arm through his.

  ‘Fancy a shower?’ she whispered, as she pulled him away from the wall.

  Chapter 63

  On the morning of the third day, just before sunrise, Deylus reached the highest point of the wall. There he found Perdus, sitting absolutely still, his eyes fixed on the heavy clouds above.

  When Deylus approached him, he turned his head and watched his calm movements.

  ‘You should go back,’ he said, softly.

  Deylus lowered his head in a negative gesture.

  ‘I think it’s you that should go back. You won’t want to watch what they are going to do to the wall.’

  ‘You don’t understand, Deylus; The Wall will not allow this sacrilege. And neither will the Twin Gods, may they bless the land and the sky. They will be cast to the ground if they make an attempt to harm The Wall. You should believe what I say, for I am The Interpreter of Dreams, and my word is the Truth.’

  Deylus stepped closer to his friend; he lowered his head and brushed his forehead against the black cat's chest, then he rolled over on to his back, leaving his belly exposed.

  Perdus took no notice of the submissive gesture, but stepped backwards a couple of legs.

  ‘Please Perdus, you have to come with me, before they come.’

  Deylus was back on his paws again, slightly embarrassed by his own actions. ‘If you don’t, you will die on this Twin-damned wall.’

  ‘There is no need for blasphemy, Deylus, and no excuse. Come with me, and I will save you.’

  Deylus looked down at the wall. They were at its highest part, a shallow peak that descended in both directions.

  ‘Can’t you see that you are wrong, Perdus?’ he asked,’ this is as high as the wall goes. If we carry on, we’ll just reach ground level. Is that not proof that the Twins will have nothing to do with us?’

  Perdus lowered his neck. ‘It is you that is wrong, Deylus. You lack the faith to see that the Wall is true and ascends forever. This is just an illusion the Twin Gods have put down to test us, may they bless the sky and the land. If you hold firm to your true belief, despite the treachery of your eyes and mind, then you too shall reach salvation. Hold my paw my litterkin, and I shall lead the way; onwards and upwards.’

  ‘I cannot do that, Perdus. I can see what is real and I don’t think you can, anymore.’

  Deylus wanted to hit him over the head with the hilt of his sword and carry him to safety, but it was just too dangerous to try.

  Perdus smiled kindly and put one paw on his shoulder.

  ‘If you won’t come with me, friend, then I must say goodbye. We may not meet again, but I hope the Twin Gods will spare you, may they bless the sky and the land. You deserve salvation, though I know that you cannot be persuaded, as you have been blinded by the Succ-y-Rist.’

  He turned and began to lope along the Wall.

  As he watched his friend carry on without him, purring some ecclesiastical tune, Deylus couldn’t help wondering how long his faith would hold out when he reached the ground.

  His considerations were disturbed by the arrival of D and his enhanced army.

  'How'd it go?'

  'Just as I expected, to be honest. He won't listen to anything that doesn't fit in with what he already believes to be true. But I had to try.'

  'You'll have to carry on after him,' said D, 'there's no way past us.'

  Deylus tilted his head. 'Good fortune, human,' he said, then turned to follow Perdus.

  D watched him go, then looked back to the cats lined up behind him. He'd already given his instructions, so they knew what they had to do.

  ‘Won’t be long now,’ he said. 'they should be in position soon and ready to blow.'

  He bent to squeeze the edge of the wall, then he felt a hand on his shoulder and heard a familiar voice.

  ‘You must not do this, Daniel.’

  He didn’t turn around. He didn’t want to lose himself in her eyes. He gripped the wall harder and felt the slight springiness beneath his strong fingers.

  ‘Daniel, you must stop this,’ she said, her voice full of sorrow, ‘we have already suffered enough; can you not see that? We came to this world full of hope; the way things happened was never our first choice, but the volcano came to life and darkened the skies. We had no option but to use other methods of survival, without the energy from the sun to sustain us. But we did everything we could to mitigate the cost to the natives of this world, even though our own health suffered. You must have seen the unhealthy parts of our body as you passed. Daniel? ’

  ‘Go away! I will not listen to your treacherous self-serving words!’

  ‘Hear me, Daniel. You must listen. For all our sakes, you must cause no damage. You must instruct your army of destruction to turn and walk away. This is imperative.’

  He turned to her then and allowed himself a moment when he could have reached out and touched her soft cheek, and felt the warmth of her seductive flesh. But he held his hand.

  ‘You can’t stop us,’ he said, grimly, ’how did you describe yourself? Not physically capable? Well, we are. You made us this way. So stand aside and watch us work.’

  ‘Daniel, you don’t understand my words. It is not for our benefit that I ask you to stop. It is for the sake of all of the cats and apes that have survived. If you fulfill your plan, you put them all at risk.’

  D shook his head. ‘Lies. Pitiful lies. They won’t work; not now.’

  ‘When have I lied to you, Daniel? I may not have told you the complete truth, but did I ever lie?’

  ‘Maybe you were never this desperate.’

  ‘You are correct; I am driven by desperation. But it is for the people of this land that I plead, not just myself.’

  D looked at her for a moment; she certainly appeared to be in distress. He shrugged and turned his back to her.

  ‘Wait, Daniel. Listen to me. Without The Wall, this land will no longer be safe. We have protected it from the creatures that live outside our demesne. We prevent them from entering this land. If we are not here, that barrier will fall and they will come, and they will feed.’

  He ignored her and reached for the wall again.

  ‘Here this, then Daniel Millett,’ there was iron in her voice, ‘if I cannot persuade you to stop, then I must force you. We not only withdraw our protection from this land; we also call them to us; those who are filled with hunger for your flesh; those we held at bay. They come now Daniel; they come.’

  Just then, the wall vibrated slightly and they heard the dull sound of the explosion.

  ‘Now!’ roared D, as he bent to the softened flesh of the wall.

  He ripped the first cell away from the wall and tossed it to the ground, far below.

  ‘No. Daniel! I beg of you. Hear my words, or regret will haunt all your days.’

  He tore away another chunk, and blocked his ears to her voice. He worked all through the morning, without a break, al
ong with the army of cats. When he did stop, he turned to find that she was gone.

  **********

  Lus wandered the dead-lands for weeks. He had no clear destination, though he generally kept going northwards.

  The first two weeks were tough; there was nothing alive and very little surface water. He came close to turning back several times. Only the thought of what he would become if he returned kept him going. At night, he hid as best he could from the clickerclackers, but he’d heard not a sound from them. He could not know the sacrifice they had made.

  As he ran, the land grew healthier, with areas of patchy greengrass, and narrow streams that barely hindered his progress. There were small hopping creatures that he was able to hunt. And so he was sustained.

  After loping across the country for nine weeks, he came to a wide brown river. Its banks were steep and it appeared to be far too deep for him to wade across.

  Reluctant to risk getting wet, he decided to rest on this side of the river and consider his options. It was late in the day, so he curled up and caught up on his beauty sleep, now confident that the clickerclackers no longer posed a threat.

  As dawn brightened the cloudy sky, he heard a deep, extended groan, drifting across the river. He was immediately on this paws, his nostrils twitching as he stared across the river at the low green riverbank. The land rose away from the river and crested a couple of hundred legs from its bank.

  He could see something coming over the hill and sliding down the slope towards the river. It was long and segmented; its yellowy grey skin seemed to glow in the low light. Its huge body concertinaed and expanded as it dragged itself along; behind, it left a glistening trail he could see clearly despite the distance. When it got to fifty legs from the river, it changed direction and began to move parallel to the water’s edge. Then it stopped and bent its body around itself until it was travelling back the way it had already passed.

  For an hour or so, that was all it did. Back and forward along the river; never getting any closer. As the morning progressed, it was joined by another similar beast, then another. Soon the other side of the river was swarming with them, groaning and wriggling up and down the river.