Back in her room, she chose her oldest harness to wear. It had been her favourite once. Tahar had given it to her one nameday, and she’d worn it many times on the hunt, but it was a sad remnant of better times now. It had been mended so many times, stubbornness was all that held it together. It had served her well through the war, but it was so shabby now that she only wore it when out with Sharn on a salvage run. She pulled it on and tightened the buckles. It still fit her like a second pelt.
Outside, the sun had yet to appear over the roofs, and Shima paused to feel the night. The Harmonies promised that all was well. Chailen and Sharn were safe in Tahar’s house behind her, sleeping. She sampled their mind glows and knew they dreamed of pleasant things. They were happy. It made her smile knowing they were content, but her own mood intruded to spoil the feeling. Her sib had no future here. Sharn was barely able to feed them despite working hard, and all of their hopes were feeble things. The Harmonies recoiled, pulling away from her dark thoughts.
It was time to take charge and fix things.
Shima hefted the sack, and on two legs headed for the market. It was a long way, and four legs would’ve been faster, but she needed her hands. The sack contained tools and a few trade goods she’d been saving. Food chits were too precious to trade, and money had been worthless since the war. Despite everything the Humans were doing to help, the Harmony of Shan had turned into a pitiful thing. Scraps of pre-war technology were the only currency in the shattered remains of the city. That wouldn’t always be so. Better times lay ahead, but harder times lay between. The scraps Chailen and Sharn needed to survive were running out.
The streets were empty and the houses silent. Many of them remained abandoned despite the war being long over; their owners dead or fled. Some still lived within the keeps, but many had chosen to join remnants of family and clan on Harmony. The exodus to homeworld had slowed, but it hadn’t stopped altogether. The Human fleet spent much of its time ferrying people and supplies between the twin worlds of Harmony.
She understood her people’s need to consolidate their clans and families on one world or the other. The Merkiaari had driven many family lines to extinction, while others were in perilous need of new blood or they too would vanish. There was a steady flow of people in both directions to satisfy this need. Once done, the clan elders would reassess things, and choose a new path for their clans.
Shima left her district behind, following the road into a bombed out district. The Harmonies warned her before she saw the feral eyes watching her pass by. She didn’t stop, and didn’t try to coax the younglings out of hiding. She had nothing for them, and no words of comfort would help. They were the leftovers; feral younglings without family or clan to care for them. She didn’t stop, and for their love of Chailen, they let her pass through their territory unmolested.
The market was no such thing in reality. It was simply a cleared patch in the rubble where items were traded. Shima zeroed in upon what she’d come for. A working vehicle. A few early risers were already setting out their meagre offerings as she walked by. She noted the lack of power cells. Those were coveted, and the means to recharge them also. Normally that would be bad news; everyone needed the things to power the tools they used in their salvaging work, but here and now it was very good news. It increased the value of what her sack held, and she badly needed a car. Working vehicles were rare in the city. They had never been numerous to begin with, and the Merkiaari had taken a positive delight in blowing the things up when they found them. There were far fewer in Zuleika now.
“The Blind Hunter honours me,” Hamal said, performing her bow before offering a hand. “What do you need?”
Shima’s ears went back. She couldn’t prevent the involuntary flinch, but she said nothing about it. Her mission was too important. She briefly touched Hamal’s palm.
“Trade,” Shima said, and shook her sack.
Hamal’s ears flicked in agreement. “Of course, let me see what you have.”
Shima handed the sack over, and Hamal rummaged around inside. She pulled out the tools and offered them back, correctly assuming they weren’t part of the trade. Shima used the Harmonies to watch the trader, trying to get a read on her chances. Hamal’s ears stayed up. She was interested. The sack held all of Shima’s precious power cells for the beamers she no longer owned, plus an equal amount she’d saved from her runs with Sharn. She’d been planning this trip for a long time, and had saved up a stash.
“Well,” Hamal began and Shima’s ears wilted. The Harmonies were clear. The sack wasn’t worthy. “Do you have anything more to offer? I can hold a car for you if you need to fetch it?”
“I have nothing else.”
“Perhaps your mini-computer. It’s a Human device is it not? There’s a good market for anything alien.”
Shima knew there was. The market for Merki technology had always been lively, but such things were all traded soon after the war ended. There wasn’t much left to find. Human tech was also coveted, but very rare.
She indicated her wristcomp. “I cannot trade this. It’s linked to the little machines inside me.”
Hamal’s ears pricked at hearing that. “I’ve heard of the invisible machines. In future, Harmonies willing, all shall be blessed as you have been.” She peered into the sack again, and her tail rose to gesture a shrug. “I would like to help, but…”
Shima swallowed her pride. Thinking of Chailen and Sharn, she bowed very low to Hamal. “Honoured Hamal. I beg your indulgence.” She glanced up, and then back at the ground in supplication. Hamal’s ears were down and her eyes wide in dismay. “My sib and her mate have great need. I… I beg…”
“Don’t!” Hamal gasped. To see a hero reduced to begging was shocking. It was shameful, and reflected as badly upon her as much as Shima. “Please. You must not. Someone will see.”
Shima had never considered herself a hero, but most did, including Hamal. The Harmonies revealed her wavering, but not enough to take the trade. Shima swallowed the last of her dignity and let her knees hit the ground. She heard the shocked oath from behind her, and knew her humiliation would sweep through the market. Well, too late now to take it back. She went all out, and bowed from her position, kissing dirt.
That did it.
Hamal pulled her up, her ears were hard back, and her eyes white-rimmed in a kind of shocked panic. People were gathering around, and muttering about the shameful display, and Shima began to feel sorry for her, but by the Harmonies she needed a car. Needed it. She would make it up to Hamal later, but for now she would take all the sympathy she could get.
In no time at all, Shima was airborne and flying out of the city. The car Hamal supplied was a wreck, but it was just about airworthy, and hers for the entire cycle. Its canopy was missing, and all of its interior had been scrapped to increase its cargo capacity. Her destination was the Centre for Agricultural Research; her old workplace. If she was right, no one had looted it yet. It was too far from the city to reach easily, and surrounded by empty countryside.
Hundreds of heikke blurred beneath her as she flew the familiar route, and memories arose. The Merkiaari had killed her father, and millions of others, the last time she’d been this way. It seemed like another world now, like a dream. She wondered where Adonia was, and their colleagues. If she’d survived, she was probably living in a keep somewhere. As far as she knew, Adonia’s family were all on Child of Harmony, not on homeworld.
Shima landed in her usual spot outside the main administration building. The parking apron was weed choked, but otherwise empty. She could tell no one had visited in a long time. She climbed out of her car and listened to the sighing of the wind. Her ears swivelled, trying to pick up any activity, but there was nothing.
The centre had been forgotten.
Shima retrieved her tools from the floor of the car, and headed into the administration building. She had a plan that boiled down to stealing everything not nailed down as quickly as possible. If her luck held, she would have cycl
es out here before someone noticed her riches. When that happened, there would be a sudden rush to sniff out where she’d found it all. She didn’t need the competition, and wouldn’t trust to luck; it was too important. This run was for Chailen and Sharn. They had need, and she was determined to provide.
Her first stop was her own office. She placed her hand on the scanner beside the door, but of course it didn’t work and remained stubbornly shut. She’d hoped there might be a trickle of backup power left, but no such luck. She forced the flattened end of her lever between the door and the lock plate. During power outages, doors locked automatically. Backup power allowed everyone to move around, but the centre had been offline too long. Every door would be sealed tight. Locked doors would slow her down, but they wouldn’t stop her.
The door resisted but finally gave way, and she entered the familiar office. Her eyes went to the dark computer screen. In her mind, she saw the last thing it had displayed for her. Her father, calling to warn her about the attack and say goodbye. He’d known the Merkiaari would destroy Hool Station, and he’d used his last moments to talk with her. That short conversation was branded upon her memory.
Forget about me, this place is finished.
He’d been right. Less than a seg later, the Merkiaari had blown the station out of orbit along with Child of Harmony’s orbital defences. Those huge fortresses had been armed to the teeth, but they hadn’t lasted any longer than Hool—an unarmed station—had done.
Shima tapped a few keys on her keyboard, but the computer screen remained dark. She stuffed the keyboard into her sack, followed by the computer and screen. It was lightweight but bulky. Her sack bulged. She filled the remaining space with a few things she found in her desk, but the most important item, her security card, went into a pouch on her harness. She’d need the key-card to enter the labs after she restored power. That was essential. The security doors wouldn’t open without power, and no amount of prying at them would work. The labs contained secrets that were worthless now, but they also contained dangerous items in need of containment. She had no interest in them, but she did need to get in to steal the treasure the labs contained.
Shima spent the rest of that cycle grabbing easily obtained portable items. She raided offices for every computer she could find, and when they ran out, she attacked the doors to the storerooms. Inside she found untouched office supplies, various hand tools for maintenance, and cartons of power cells to fit them. The cell chargers were a bonanza. Those were worth her weight in food chits. She wanted to jump for joy at the sight of them.
It made her sad when she realised how excited they made her. They’d been commonplace once; not worth even a second glance when she needed one. How many times had she just thrown them away instead of having them repaired? Dozens at least. Now they were more precious than food. She could hunt for meat easily, but technology couldn’t be found on the hoof like a Shkai’ra in the wild. All the factories were gone, the technicians dead or grubbing in the dirt like her.
She snatched armfuls of everything within reach, and ran to the car. Hamal would give her the most for the chargers and the cartons of new power cells, but she didn’t hold back. She filled her car with everything the storerooms contained; even the cleaning supplies. Hamal might not want them, but maybe she would too. One by one, she emptied all the storerooms, and then went looking for something else to steal.
Her bounty grew.
She stuffed the car with loot until she had to stop. There was barely room left for her to drive. Besides, she was losing the light, and Hamal would be waiting for her return. Working vehicles were rare, and she would want to lock it away somewhere for the night. That was fine with Shima; she didn’t plan to unload it. She had a deal in mind for Hamal, and the haul looked even more impressive spilling out of the car this way. Hamal would be impressed. An offer of partnership should fall on fertile ground.
Shima climbed into the car, and drove back toward Zuleika.
* * *
6 ~ Visitors
Centre for Agricultural Research, Child of Harmony
The next morning, Shima landed in her usual place outside the administration building, ready for the next step. Hamal had been more than willing to provide all she needed after seeing the quality of her trade goods. Suddenly, all things were possible. Need a car? Certainly! Tools, supplies, charged cells in exchange for depleted ones? Not a problem. Anything the Blind Hunter required, Hamal could suddenly supply.
Shima had asked for a fully-charged high-capacity power cell out of a ruined vehicle, a set of power cables long enough to reach the generator room, and the tools necessary to make use of it all. Hamal knew someone who knew someone, and in short order, Shima had what she needed. She had to promise to return it all after a single cycle. That was more than enough time for what she had in mind.
She climbed out of the car, and used the Harmonies to search the area. No one was near, but that might not be so for much longer. Hamal would be selling her first load of salvage soon. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out who had supplied it. She hadn’t been followed; the Harmonies would have warned her, but she had a feeling she would be watched upon her return to Hamal.
Satisfied her secret was safe for now, she retrieved the cables from the car. They were too heavy to carry, so she unrolled them on the ground to make things easier. Hooking a pair of connectors on her harness, she hefted her tools and dragged one end of the thick cables into the building.
The door to the generator room was open and waiting—she had broken in before leaving the night before. The dead backup cells would be worth salvaging at some point, but they were big and heavy. Sharn would have to help come the time, but she hadn’t forgotten her need for haste. The moment her goods hit the market, she would be on borrowed time. She had to secure the best treasure before she had visitors out here.
It didn’t take her long to unhook the couplings from the dead cells, and join them to her cables using the connectors Hamal had supplied. Retracing her steps to the car, she paused to consult the Harmonies again. She was still alone, but she felt uneasy as if being watched. The Harmonies were warning her to hurry. That’s what she assumed the feeling meant. It could easily be her own anxiety talking, but she hadn’t survived this long by ignoring warnings. She rushed to attach the cables to the power cell, and close the circuit. Tightening the last clamp, she pressed the button and the red light blinked on.
She hurried back inside. The emergency lighting glowed at about half intensity. Its orangey-yellow light told her the power wouldn’t last long. She ran through the building, and down the spiral way to the labs. The lighting was even more subdued here. No windows for natural light to enter, and the cell she’d brought was meant to power a car not a building. She needed to get all the doors propped open before the power failed again.
Her security pass gave her full access to all of the labs, and she quickly used it to open the first door. It slid aside for her, and she dashed inside. She grabbed the first thing that came to hand—a trolley meant to transport soil samples, and dragged it into the open doorway. When the power failed, it would stop the door closing all the way. She hurried to do similar things with every door on the level, and then descended to the next one, hoping to reach all the doors before she ran out of time and power.
She breathed easier when the last door opened for her, and the lighting still glowed faintly. It was bright enough to retrace her steps without needing the lamp built into her wristcomp. Rather than waste the remaining power, she disconnected the cables from the power cell, and stowed them back in the car.
Shima worked for segs without a break, to strip the Centre of all its most valuable tech. She began with the highest value portable items, in case her competition arrived. High value no longer meant centrifuges, or microscopes; not even thermal cyclers, or DNA microarrays were worth taking. Post war, high value meant any kind of hand tool or equipment that could be modified. Hand lamps would be good. She stole all she could find. Any kin
d of solar array, or equipment with a solar cell as part of its construction, would sell for a good price as well. Someone would dismantle them for parts. A few orbits ago, she would have been horrified by such vandalism. Now it was simply survival in a post war world.
She worked her way through the labs on the lowest floor first, and then moved up a level. There was plenty left behind for another run, but the equipment was too bulky to carry away. She would need a bigger vehicle, and Sharn’s help if she decided to bother with it. She doubted she would. Hamal would have trouble selling them, and her time would be better spent salvaging other places.
Her car was already heavily loaded, when the Harmonies warned her of two people approaching. She paused to survey the area. She couldn’t hear or see them, but they were moving faster than any Shan could run. The Harmonies couldn’t detect vehicles, but the direction gave her the clue she needed. They weren’t on the road. She scanned the sky, looking toward the city, and saw it. A gleaming silver car harking back to better times. It was in perfect condition. It still had its canopy and appeared like new. Whoever these people were, she doubted they were here for salvage.
She quickly finished her loading, and then paused again to watch the newcomers land. Two males exited the vehicle and approached her. One, the younger of two, wore a warrior’s harness and carried an equipment bag. The older male took the lead. She hadn’t seen Tei’Thrand in an age. Older, she thought. The seasons had begun to speckle his coat with silver, though he was no older than her father had been before he died. He looked tired, and careworn. The Harmonies revealed a stressed but determined male; one intent upon a mission of some kind.
Shima bowed. “Tei’Thrand, you honour me with this visit. May you live in harmony.”
Incursion: Merkiaari Wars Book 5 Page 4
