Without Rhythm (The Lament)

by P. S. Power

  "Who can really sleep? I keep expecting to have to jump up and go to battle positions, only this isn't that kind of ship, so all we do if attacked is take to the air and run. I wonder if Captain Mina would let me check out a rifle, like you have? Just to have near. Not that I know how to use one. I should ask anyway." He sounded firm when he said it, which was different then his normal tone.

  "Sounds like a good idea actually. Maybe see if Clark and Mara will bring it up for you?"

  Roy had to work, so he headed straight to the mess hall, which is what he called the dining room off the galley for some reason, and Pran washed, making sure she was very careful with her water ration. On the good side it was way easier, not having any hair. On the bad... No hair. It had made a good disguise and fit her new station, even if it wasn't something she would have normally thought to do. No one would question her on it too much. Bards were allowed to be strange. Especially the young ones just starting out.

  After she grabbed her customary bowl of oatmeal Pran was kind of at loose ends. The Guardians had already left for the day and while they'd teased her about exercises and duties, no one was around at all to tell her what to do. They'd even taken Claire away with them.

  Feeling more than a little conspicuous she walked outside, away from the craft a little and noticed that the previously empty field was now full. Twelve ships were there in all and people bustled between them in an almost random fashion. The morning was cool, but the sky was clear, a stiff breeze making the ships strain on their lines just a little. The "bags" on top were all inflated, which wasn't normal when landed. It was probably so they could all take off if something happened, like Roy said. It meant the wind had a lot more affect on them than it normally would have.

  Trying to be productive she ran through a set of breathing exercises, then stretches, her body protesting as she did it. No one seemed too put off by it, though a few stared at her. They waved at least when she looked up. Then, again on the idea that doing something was going to be better than sitting and being bored, she started a walking guard around the ship. It was hard to keep up the irregular movements, but it did mean that when the strange men in Guardian black came up to the ship they stopped and waited for her to come around to them, rather than going in on their own.

  "Guardians Robert and Howl. Come to see Guardian Saran."

  Pran had her rifle with her, pointed at the ground, since accidentally hitting a giant bag of hydrogen was a poor plan. She nodded and smiled at the men, who looked hard, but not as big as Clark was. One of them had a beard that was shot with gray, Robert she thought, since he'd given that name first. The other man was younger, but had turned to watch everything around them, letting the other man figure out where to go.

  "Apprentice Bard Pran. Guardian Saran is working out of The Conscript. That's..." She looked around and pointed one ship over, directly to the left, since she was facing away from the ships.

  "Right there. Do you need me to take you over? I mean, is it an emergency? They'll recognize me, I think, which will get you in faster." Maybe not, but the people had been around and seen her, if they remembered the strange bald girl in black at all.

  "That would be best I think. We have a report. I..." The man stopped, took in her rifle and black outfit and then shrugged.

  "You're a Bard? I've never heard of one of those actually being useful before." He smiled when he said the words, making his beard twitch a bit. Then he waved at the rifle.

  "They have you standing guard?" It was a real question at least, not just some kind of joke.

  "It's a long story. I used to be an Apprentice Guardian. For... five whole days? Six? Time flies, you know how it is. Anyway, this way. I'm not officially on guard duty. Really I'm supposed to be making sure everyone gets where they need to be." At least that was close enough to true to sound good.

  The men didn't insist on running or anything, but did walk fast and in a straight line. There was no one on the door of The Conscript, so Pran went in, hoping it was allowable. The layout was nearly identical to The Lament, except that there were paintings on the walls in the hallways. They weren't all very good, but added a nice touch of color. It wasn't a horrible idea. She'd have to see if Captain Mina would like something like that too. At least if they ever had time for such frivolous things again.

  She ended up finding Saran on the Captain's bridge, sitting near the radio, talking on it in fact, when they came in. Looking up the woman waved and got them all to come over, holding up a single hand for silence.

  "Alright. If that's the case. We can't spread our people too thin. So far we don't have any real information..."

  There were some pleasantries and then the silver haired woman gave the men a solid nod.

  "Robert, do you have something for me?" She sounded happy enough to see the man, who nodded back.

  "The Captain and First on The Sorrow noticed an enclave about sixty kilometers from here, to the north east. They had electric lights going, or we'd have missed it totally. From the sound of things we figured that you'd want that information as quickly as possible."

  The woman stood up and moved to her left, where a map was laid out. It was a pretty thing, but new, having been drawn in the last days. Copied at least. Pran could tell by the fresh ink on it. The hand was fine and it was well done. After a few seconds she could see what it said, the words crisp and the paper un-smudged at the edges.

  "Where? Do you have exact coordinates?"

  The older man shrugged and then pointed at the paper.

  "About here, but we went over in the dark. So no landmarks or anything."

  They started discussing what to do about it, since just flying back over wasn't going to be a good option, not if the people had old technology, which they clearly did. Pran just stood there, not knowing if she was supposed to hear any of this, or just leave, but no one suggested she do anything at all. Finally the Captain wandered over and handed her a cup.

  "Could you run down to our galley and get me another coffee? I just take it black, so it isn't tricky or anything. Just ask for it and tell them who it's for." He smiled at her, but it held a feeling of patronization. It was enough that the Guardians all stared at the man, but Pran just shrugged. Useful was better than not after all.

  "Sure. Should I get some for everyone else?" It was a little daring, but the Captain nodded happily.

  "Please. See if you can get a pot?"

  She jogged down the stairs lightly, making sure not to run into anyone, rifle in hand. The galley was in the same place she was used to, which was helpful. The room looked a lot warmer and cheerier, with a giant mural in the dining room. It was just a country scene with a stream running through it, the perspective was clumsy, but it was better than the light gray on The Lament.

  "Excuse me? The Captain asked me to get a pot of coffee for him and the people on the bridge? We'll need some cups for that as well I believe."

  The man in the white apron marched over and looked almost like he was going to hit her for a second, his eyes going to the weapon in her hand cooled his ire fast enough and he tilted his head instead of barking at her.

  "I don't recognize you. Name?" He pulled out a sheet and a little stub of pencil, looking ready to fill the whole thing out himself.

  She put her left hand out though and sat at the table so that he could take the Captain's mug and trade with her.

  "I'm Pran. From The Lament." She started writing, making sure that her words were very clear.

  "Good, so you know how to fill out a use record... I'll call things out as I build the tray. It will take a bit, I have some cookies in the oven. I won't let them burn."

  She sat and made a note when he called out how much canned milk he was putting in the little container, how many mugs were leaving on the tray and so on. For all his complaints about time, he managed it perfectly, handing off the tray fully loaded just as soon as the pot of coffee was finished. The silver thing got transferred to another container, also made of metal, that had
a locking lid on the top, so she wouldn't spill it on the way back up.

  "Thanks." She was halfway out the door when the man grunted at her back.

  "Don't thank me, it's my job. I should be thanking you, making sure the cookies don't burn while I run up."

  She didn't wave, having her hands full, but smiled and looked back a little. The man had already turned away.

  Back on the bridge no one mentioned how long it had taken her, but the Captain did ask for her to make the cups up for everyone, which actually got Saran to make a face at him.

  "Pran isn't a Shipman's Apprentice you know." It came out a little dry and sounded unpleasant enough that the Captain stared at her for a few moments before speaking, his own eyes a little hard.

  "True. But she got the job done anyway, which is far more important." He sighed and looked at Pran.

  "Thank you."

  She didn't say anything, just nodding a bit, not wanting to be the centerpiece to whatever bit of what was going on if she could help it. Guardian Robert looked around and then got himself a cup of coffee, taking it black. After a few sips he gestured at Pran.

  "Perhaps we should let her go back to her duties? She was guarding The Lament and surrounding areas before she brought us here. Doing a decent job of it too it seems. No one has attacked yet at least." It was probably a joke, but he sounded serious and didn't smile about his words.

  That got everyone to look at her, which included the woman that sat at the controls, reading something. She turned to look at everyone and spoke quietly, her voice friendly enough on the surface, but a little catty underneath.

  "Well, I suppose she could do that, since it's so much more important than whatever her real duties are. Being pulled into this Guardian mess with the rest of us." There was grumbling as she turned away, but no one else tried to correct her.

  Pran smiled and tried to look like she was willing to work. The situation seemed to have a lot more depth than she'd figured it would. While the situation was clearly Guardian business like the woman at the controls had implied, it was also a real problem. Shouldn't everyone want a part in stopping it? Real people had died already and more probably would if they didn't do something.

  "I'll... go and do that I guess. Unless someone needs me to do something else?"

  The Guardian High Council member made a face at the Captain again and looked a little out of sorts.

  "Actually Pran, if you could... Would you be willing to run some messages along the guard line for me? I have a few written out, but I can't spare anyone to deliver them."

  To his credit the Captain didn't make fun of the woman over it and even threw in a little support, with a good natured wave of the hand.

  "It probably is at least a bit more important than getting me a second cup of coffee for the day." He walked over and poured his mug full, pulling it from the tray and taking a large swallow.

  "Not more important than the first one, but the second..."

  The head Guardian just handed off the stack of folded papers, which Pran stuck in her little belt

  pouch, folding them all once. Then her attention was drawn to the map, a dotted line showing

  where the guards would be walking. It started right behind The Conscript and ran around the town

  of Danning. The whole thing stretched about fifteen kilometers. None of the Guardians seemed to

  think anything of it as far as distance went. For her part she just tried not to think about the blisters

  she was going to have.

  It took hours, with her jogging the route, trying to break her pattern just a little bit when she could. It made the whole thing too hard to keep up with, so she mainly just jogged, like a normal person. A slow and steady pad of feet on the dirt, staying as close to the line on the map as she could. There was a sheet of paper for each of the Guardians on duty, and only two of the six had a message for her to take back. It wasn't until she got to the last one that she actually recognized someone.

  Tuvin the staring apprentice. He was doing better this time as far as that went. Of course she was fully clothed, so that had to make it easier.

  The boy sounded a little distant, not breaking his watch to speak to her.

  "Thank you. Are you going to see your Guardians again now? They're questioning the prisoners in town."

  To him that was probably the natural order of things, since, if she were a real apprentice she'd be with her master, unless sent to do something by them. Pran couldn't, needing to get the messages back to The Conscript. Then, honestly, she needed to get with Bard Ben and explain things. He was technically in charge of her now. Also probably still asleep. The man did like his rest after all.

  Shaking her head she didn't explain, just taking off, making it back to the ships quickly enough, since she'd run a big circle and was near the starting point.

  Luckily there wasn't a need to return the messages again, not yet at least. That meant she could catch a shower and make sure that Ben had food waiting for him as soon as he woke up. Some coffee too, since she'd seen him drinking that before. As an afterthought she got a tray and took some to the Doctor as well. He needed to eat too and it was about lunch time anyway.

  The fussy man looked very clean and well groomed when she knocked on the door, opening it almost instantly.

  "Is there an emergency? Another attack?" He sounded ready for action if there was one, his face set and almost rough looking. Prepared for the worst.

  "Um, no. Coffee and a roast beef sandwich instead? I can see to the meals for the injured too, if you want. After I deliver the rest of this to Bard Benjamin I mean." She didn't mention her change in status, but the man didn't seem to care, just beaming at her as if she'd invented coffee and roast beef herself instead of just bringing it to him.

  "Why thank you dear! That's very kind. I was just about to run off in search of such things myself. I do think that all our patients will be able to eat solid foods today. Nothing to protein heavy please. Perhaps some rice and steamed vegetables?" He said it doubtfully, as if expecting it to be hard to get, which might just be the case. They only had the one cook and she didn't seem to have been doing up any rice at all.

  "I can ask. We'll work something up at least. I'll see to that as soon as possible."

  She carefully carried the tray with its remaining cup and sandwich to the next door and knocked more firmly than she had on the Doctor's. Several times. Finally there was a sound from inside the space, and Ben came to the door, his face being the only thing that could be seen at all. Another, more female voice came from within.

  "Crud, I shouldn't be on duty yet... I have late watch..." It wasn't someone the Pran knew at all, from sound alone, so she just shrugged and called back, making her voice happy.

  "I'm here for Bard Benjamin. Didn't know he had a guest or I would have brought more food. Anyway, here, I'll get the cup and tray after an hour or so. I need to get something to eat for the injured people and then I thought I'd play for them, or tell stories for a bit. We should also work up a performance for later, since a lot of the crew won't have anything in particular to do. Maybe a roving thing? There might be other Bards, so we should get with them and see if we can coordinate. If that's a good plan I mean."

  She waited, wondering what the man would do. He wasn't that much older than she was, but he was a full Bard and she, very clearly, wasn't in charge.

  "Um... Yes. that sounds like a really good plan. Your Guardians letting you have the time off?" He reached a single hand carefully through the crack in the door and worked the tray around with his body mainly behind it, showing the woman in his bed. One of the people that had snuck out with Dovish and the red nosed man the other day. Hence her having night watch. Almost no one ever wanted that.

  Pran waved. It wasn't like they couldn't be friendly after all. The woman scowled for a second then made a funny face and smiled back.

  "Hey." She sounded a little sheepish. Why that would be Pran didn't know. Ben was a catch, even if only for
a brief interlude or two.

  "Hello! Sorry to wake you. I just have to check in with my Master Bard here and then I'll be out of your hair."

  "What?" Ben let the tray wobble a little then desperately grabbed at it, letting his leg show past the door, exposing his naked hip.

  Pran felt a sudden wash of kinship with Tuvin and how he could let himself become a little distracted by things like that. She forced eye contact and nodded.

  "From the Bards' High Councilor herself. Just until they find me a better position she said. Apparently she's a personal friend of the Guardian High Councilor, who really thinks that me getting someone's leg broken isn't worth losing everything. It might be fitting for me to be here though, as punishment. It really wasn't the best plan ever, was it? Poor Sollen." For the first time in days a feeling of remorse washed over her for that. She hadn't realized it, in the rush and stress, but that part of things really bothered her. The boy had just been helping and was really a good friend to her. In return she got him hurt and possibly falling behind everyone else. Because of her big ego and swollen head.

  Hopefully he'd keep up with his studies and not let the event throw him off too much.

  "Wait... I'm not up to speed here. You're my apprentice, or did they put you in charge and knock me down again? I hope not. That would be embarrassing." He was making a joke, because both were pretty unusual. Most masters didn't take their first apprentice until ten or fifteen years after finishing their own first year. Ben was still in his.

  Not that far in either, if Pran had the math right.

  "Nope, I'm your apprentice. So you know, free laundry service and all that. I don't have my own instruments. The school confiscated the ones I'd made." It rankled, but there was little to be done about it at the moment. She didn't have any way to make more, she didn't think.

  Ben just nodded though and then yawned.