Earth-Thunder

by Patrick Tilley

  ‘A thousand apologies for inflicting this painful subterfuge upon you. It was necessary to apply constraints in order to convince prison guards we were taking you away for interrogation under torture.’

  ‘That’s okay,’ said Steve. He and Fran rubbed the cramp out of their arms and necks and took stock of their surroundings. It was a vehicle store. Several carts, carriage-boxes and their wheeled chassis were stacked neatly together, making the most of the available space. Around the walls, at chest and shoulder height, a variety of saddles hung over two staggered lines of short poles stuck into the stone walls.

  Fran addressed Skull-Face: ‘I appreciate you getting us out of prison, but before we go any further would you mind telling me just what is going on?’

  The diminutive samurai answered with a polite bow. ‘We are removing you from the Palace for your own safety. As they say in the Federation, “the shit has hit the fan”.’

  ‘That’s obvious!’ cried Fran. ‘But you haven’t answered my question! We were sent here as envoys of the Federation on matters of state and we have been treated outrageously! I must warn you now, Major – if we are subjected to any further serious breaches of protocol, the consequences to your country will be dire!’

  ‘Cool it,’ muttered Steve. ‘These guys are on our side.’

  Fran gave him a look that was pure venom. ‘When I need your input, I’ll ask for it, Captain! I’m the head of this delegation!’ She turned back to Skull-Face. ‘I’ll ask you once again, Major – what is going on?’

  Fujiwara remained cool and inscrutable. ‘The Shogun is dead – killed by his sister, the Lady Mishiko. Four hours after the crazed bitch put paid to our master.’

  ‘Ieyasu? The Lord Chamberlain?! Jeeezuss! Both of ’em?’ Steve turned to Fran. She looked as stunned as he was. When Roz had come through on their private line, she had not revealed why she and Cadillac were in the Palace. Now he knew. Unbelievable.…

  ‘The Major wasn’t kidding when he said the shit had hit the fan. This could split Ne-Issan right down the middle!’

  Fran gave Steve another withering look. ‘Even I can see that. But why were we arrested?’

  ‘Because it was the Lord Chamberlain who arranged for you to come here. Everything was going according to plan until tonight when, without warning, Lady Mishiko – who had only recently arrived from the mainland – exposed my master’s secret use of your communication devices. I cannot say how because none of us were there, but it must have been arranged with the help of our enemies. She was too stupid to have done it by herself. Lord Ieyasu knew the risks and –’ He spread his hands. ‘– has paid the price.’

  ‘And the Shogun ordered the arrest of everyone who owed their position to him,’ concluded Fran.

  Fujiwara bowed politely. ‘Precisely.’

  Steve frowned. ‘Yehh, but … if the Shogun is dead, why are people still being arrested?’

  ‘The news has not yet been made public.’ Skull-Face extended a hand towards them. ‘That is why we must hurry. We must reach the mainland before the island is sealed.’

  Fran didn’t move. ‘One last question, Major. Why are you doing this? Why not just dump us and save your own necks?’

  Fujiwara responded with a thin smile. ‘Because, Commander, I and my colleagues here have just lost our employer and all prospect of a comfortable retirement.’

  Fran smiled. ‘You’re speaking my language, Major. Get us home in one piece and you can write your own ticket.’

  ‘That’s what we’re counting on,’ said Fujiwara. ‘May we now proceed?’

  ‘Sure. Let’s go!’

  What this arrogant bitch needs, thought Steve, is to have her tongue stapled to the roof of her mouth.…

  Still smarting from the public put-downs, he beamed hate into Fran’s back as Skull-Face ushered her towards the far corner of the room where his four colleagues were now gathered. A couple of them had flat iron bars inserted between two of the large flagstones. There were two clicks as the bars triggered concealed locks then a brief grinding noise as the cornerstone pivoted upwards against the rear wall of its own accord, revealing a narrow flight of stone steps.

  Taking the lantern from one of his subordinates, Skull-Face led the way down into a small chamber with a tunnel leading off it. He paused for a moment while the counter-balanced cornerstone was pulled down and locked in place, then hurried forward with Steve, Fran and the soldiers following in single file.

  Cadillac lifted up the lantern as he reached the four-way junction and saw the scrape-mark on the wall of the narrow tunnel running off to the right. He sank down on his heels with a sigh and looked up at Roz. ‘I hate to tell you this, but I think we’re lost. I made that mark about half-an-hour ago.’

  He fished out the crude sketch map furnished by Lady Mishiko and tried to figure out where they’d gone wrong. Roz sat down with her back to the opposite side of the tunnel and perched the lamp on top of her knees so that he could bring the map close to the dimming light.

  ‘There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you as well.’

  Cadillac didn’t look up. ‘And what’s that?’

  ‘Steve’s here – in the Palace.’

  Cadillac marked their estimated position with a forefinger and slowly raised his eyes to meet hers. ‘He was one of the envoys …?’

  Roz braced herself for the inevitable blast. ‘Yes. He was sent here with a member of the First Family to set up some kind of a deal for the Federation.’

  ‘And got himself arrested!’

  Roz ignored the resigned sarcasm. ‘You heard the Shogun give the order.’

  Cadillac digested the full implications. ‘And now I suppose you want me to rescue him.…’

  Roz gave her voice a cutting edge. ‘How strange. I had the impression this was a joint enterprise. And now, at the mention of Steve’s name, it’s suddenly become a personal burden.’

  ‘You know what I mean!’

  ‘Yes! And I heard what you said! You’re a wordsmith – aren’t they supposed to know how to express themselves properly?!’

  ‘And we’re partners!’ cried Cadillac. ‘Aren’t they supposed to share everything – like secrets for example?! How long have you known he was going to come and screw everything up? From when we talked about him in the post-house? Or have you been stealing in and out of each other’s minds since we left the wagon-train?!’

  ‘No!’ hissed Roz. ‘It wasn’t till we got here! And he’s not screwing everything up! What happened to the idea of grabbing the envoys and swapping them for Clearwater and her baby? Remember how excited you were about that?’

  ‘Roz, c’mon – be realistic. The Federation are not going to exchange Clearwater for Brickman. What do they need him for?’

  ‘Forget Steve! I’m talking about the woman he’s with! She’s someone close to the President-General! The feeling I got was of a very strong attachment.’

  ‘So what are you suggesting – that we free both, take her with us, and send Brickman back to break the good news?’

  ‘Yes!’

  Cadillac’s eyes narrowed as he thought it through. ‘He’s going to love that. When the Family find out you helped to capture her, they’ll blow him out of the water!’

  ‘True – but he’s not going to tell them. If we can keep my involvement here a secret, Steve will be in the clear.’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Cadillac nodded admiringly. ‘Not bad.’

  ‘Not bad? C’mon, Caddy, it’s brilliant! All he has to do is explain how he lost her, then tell them they can have her back in exchange for Clearwater and her baby.’

  ‘It may not be that simple,’ mused Cadillac.

  ‘That’s why I’m leaving the details to you,’ said Roz. ‘All I’m doing is outlining a deal that will keep Steve up and running.’

  ‘Yes, I can see that – but it may not be enough. From what I’ve learned about the First Family, they’re not going to hand him a medal for losing one of their own – especially if she
’s as important as you suggest.’

  ‘He’ll manage,’ said Roz. ‘Steve’s talked his way out of worse jams than this. If he was sent to Ne-Issan as the escort for this high-wire then the Family must trust him. We have to make sure they go on trusting him – enough to let him help organise the hostage swap. It could provide a golden opportunity for him to get away too. We’d all be together. Wouldn’t that be fantastic?’

  ‘Yeah.’ The idea of Steve coming back into their life was the less appealing part of the plan. ‘Meanwhile, that leaves us with two problems – finding out where Brickman and this woman are being held, and coming up with a rescue plan – and figuring how, in the name of the Sweet Sky Mother, we’re going to get out of this gopher hole before the light –’

  Cadillac broke off and moved the lantern to a place of safety as he saw Roz’s attention turn inwards. She pressed her fingertips against her forehead and frowned, then her eyes widened in surprise and a delighted grin spread across her face. ‘We’ve only got one problem. Steve just came through. He’s free! Some Iron Masters are helping him escape from the castle – through a tunnel like this!’

  ‘Great,’ said Cadillac sourly. ‘Why don’t you call him back? Maybe he’ll send one of his friends to show us the way.’

  Roz got to her feet and extended a hand to Cadillac. ‘I don’t need to, Mr Grouch. Just follow me!’

  Steve and Fran followed their rescuers down several short flights of stone steps which took them deeper and deeper below the castle. Every so often, they came to a T-junction or a crossing. Some were ignored, but at others Skull-Face would suddenly turn left or right. The time and effort that must have gone into the planning and construction of this stone warren was incalculable.

  After several twists and turns, Steve asked: ‘Do all these passages lead somewhere?’

  Skull-Face glanced over his shoulder. ‘No. Some are designed to confuse pursuers. The route we’re following is part of a network that allows the upper crust to travel to and from the key areas of the Palace – and out beyond its walls.’

  ‘So how come you know about it?’

  Skull-Face smiled his thin smile. ‘I make it my business to know these things.…’

  After a while, there were no more junctions, but the tunnel they were in was broken up into fifty yard stretches built on alternate sides of an imaginary centre-line and joined together by a right-angle section twelve yards long. Being Steve, he had to ask why.

  ‘Safety measure,’ replied Skull-Face. ‘If this tunnel ran in a straight line from start to finish what chance would you have with a bowman behind you?’

  ‘Yehh, right,’ grunted Steve, mentally reeling from the message Roz had just left inside his head. Compared to the trouble that was coming his way, a bowman would have come as light relief.…

  When they finally surfaced via a spiral stone staircase and out through a hidden compartment in the back of an imposing roadside shrine, it was nearly a quarter to five on a bitterly chill, pitch dark December morning. Steve had failed to keep an accurate count of the number of steps he’d taken. Following Skull-Face had prevented him from taking a full stride, but he reckoned they were now about half a mile from the Palace.

  ‘There’s a small house a little way down the road from here,’ explained Skull-Face. ‘Belongs to a minor government official – but it’s only used by his family when the court moves to Aron-Giren. I suggest you take cover there while we organise some transportation, or you can squat in the tunnel – whatever you prefer.’

  The tip of Fran’s nose appeared from the deep hood of her cape. ‘The house sounds fine.’

  ‘Don’t tell me you have a key,’ said Steve.

  Skull-Face laughed. ‘We’re not that organised – but our skills include breaking and entering.’

  Their guides moved off. Steve stretched out his right hand as Fran went to shoulder her trail-bag. ‘Here, let me carry that.’

  ‘It’s okay, I can handle it.’

  ‘I’m sure you can!’ Steve pulled it from her grasp. ‘I don’t mind you fucking me around in front of these guys, but if you want to play top dog you’ve gotta act like one. In Ne-Issan, the boss doesn’t carry the luggage. So after you, Commander.…’

  The single-storey house – built clear of the ground like most private dwellings in Ne-Issan – was shuttered and barred, but Fujiwara’s team had a man inside in under two minutes. He opened one half of the main door and invited them in with a sweeping bow.

  Skull-Face made a quick tour of the premises and returned. ‘You’re in luck. There’s some quilts in a cupboard through there. Use those to keep you warm. There is some brushwood and a few logs in the kitchen but you must not light a fire. And I also regret to say there is no food.’

  ‘That’s okay. We have some emergency ration packs in our trail-bags,’ said Steve.

  Skull-Face nodded. ‘Are you carrying any other useful items?’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘A small powerful device we could to use to send a message to distant friends …?’

  Steve referred the question to Fran. ‘You mean like now?’

  ‘No, later, Commander. Your aircraft may be able to reach Aron-Giren but there are seven of us. Unless I am mistaken, that will require at least two aircraft, possibly three. To stand any hope of success, the pickup would have to take place in darkness – which means tonight at the earliest or tomorrow morning. By that time, this island will be swarming with troops from end to end. Nothing will be able to get in or out. We have to get onto the mainland.’

  ‘But that’s over sixty miles away!’ cried Fran. ‘The sun’ll be up in less than three hours!’

  ‘I’m aware of the difficulties, Commander. If we can’t find a way to move you overland in broad daylight, we may have to take to the water.’

  ‘Steal a boat?’ asked Steve.

  ‘Or talk our way onto one.’

  ‘Unngh! Marvellous,’ grunted Fran. ‘I can’t wait!’

  Steve exchanged an understanding look with Skull-Face. ‘Do your best, Major.…’

  Fujiwara spoke rapidly to one of his colleagues then presented him to Fran. ‘I will leave Yoshijiro and the lanterns with you. The rest of us will return as soon as we can. I’m sure I have no need to urge you not to do anything that might draw attention to your presence.’

  Steve laid his cape over the lanterns as the four japs edged sideways out of the door, then put it back on again as Yoshijiro shot the top and bottom bolts and dropped the bar back into place. The agent was short and stocky like most of his compatriots, but what marked him out was his amazingly wide, flat-featured skull set on top of an equally wide neck. It was like a dinner plate with a face drawn on it.

  Yoshijiro removed the long flat quiver containing a bow and thirty arrows from his back and settled down impassively to guard the door. Steve weighed him up. The two swords that marked him out as a samurai were still tucked into the sash wound around his waist. His hooded eyes had that deceptively sleepy, watchful look of a man who could spring into action – fast.

  He turned to Fran. ‘Why don’t you try and grab some sleep? I’ll help this guy keep watch.’

  ‘Yehh, why not? It’ll make a change from watching you snore your head off.’

  He followed her into the bed-chamber and dumped the trail-bags on the floor. Fran pulled a couple of thick quilts from the wall-cupboard, sniffed at them suspiciously, then wrapped herself in both and lay down using her trail-bag for a pillow.

  Steve took out the three-barrelled air-pistol that was packed alongside the compact radio and the emergency rations in the false bottom of his own bag, stowed it in his tunic, then laid a third quilt over her and made sure she was well tucked in.

  ‘I’ll be in the other room. If you want anything just call.’

  It was important that Fran was warm and comfortable. Her going to sleep was part of the plan, just as earlier he’d insisted on carrying her luggage. He had not turned into a spineless toady; the reason he’d give
n was pure hog-wash. Walking behind her in the dark had enabled him to ease back the zip of her bag, remove the pistol and empty the magazine before replacing it in its foam-lined compartment.

  Sweet dreams, Commander.…

  He left quietly, taking the remaining pair of quilts with him. Entering the main room, he passed one over to the silent Yoshijiro, wrapped the other round his own shoulders and sat down by the door to the bed-chamber and waited for Fran’s breathing to ease into the rhythmic ebb and flow associated with deep sleep.

  Not yet, Roz … but soon …!

  Yoshijiro’s sleepy expression vanished as he heard the faint voices. Steve detected four or five, of varied pitch – all speaking what sounded like Japanese. He could not understand what they were saying, but the voices sounded tense.

  He rose to his feet. Yoshijiro beat him by several milliseconds. Trouble …?’

  The samurai put a crack in the door, listened intently, then whispered: ‘Search party from Palace.’ He held up six fingers. ‘Officer give order to surround and investigate this house.’

  Steve whispered back: ‘What should we do – hide?’

  Yoshijiro shook his head. ‘Not possible. Must eliminate.’ He took off his white head-band and wrapped a strip of black cloth around his face.

  ‘Then count me in. Two against six is a challenge but it’s not impossible if we make the first move.’

  Yoshijiro smiled. ‘We have advantage. These are foot-soldiers not samurai. Fujiwara say you have great daring.’

  Steve bowed his head. ‘He honours me. Will you also do likewise by allowing me to use your bow?’

  He knew there was no hope of borrowing the samurai’s swords. The right to wear them had to be earned the hard way. It was not just a prized status symbol. Weapon and warrior were bound together by a strict code of honour and the only thing that could separate them in battle was death.

  Yoshijiro handed over the quiver and bow without hesitation. Steve took possession of it reverently, then hung the quiver on his back, tested the pull of the bow and notched an arrow to the string ‘Okay, what’s the plan?’