“Five klicks out,” Dayne said.
I stopped the truck and got out, pulling field glasses from my bag. They were small but effective, perfect for when I didn’t want to point a rifle downrange.
“The first village is dead ahead, but there’s another one upriver,” I said.
“Are you going to have to pacify every one of them, or can you draw them into some kind of show of force?” Dayne asked. She was thinking like an officer—maximum effect with minimal risk.
“I don’t know. We’ll see how it goes, but I’m planning on using them against each other if I can convince at least one group that we can’t be beaten. At least, not by a bunch of rogues on lizardback.” I shrugged, because I genuinely didn’t know. My goal was to keep the human cost at a minimum, because these people would either be a part of the Oasis, or against it. There wasn’t a lot of room in between.
“Let’s drive up and announce our presence. If rounds start flying, shoot back,” I said.
She nodded as we got back in the truck, and I began to ease forward, following the rutted track that got deeper as we drew closer to the village. In total, there were twenty round houses of good construction, with three larger buildings in the center. I saw a pier jutting out into the lazy river, and a series of small boats bobbed in the water. There were no sails, but there were no obvious engines, either, meaning their tech level was in question.
We made it to a half-klick away before any challenge was issued. It came in the form of a dozen people, boiling out of the middle building and taking up defensive positions behind low walls throughout the village.
“They have an invasion plan. That’s smart,” I said.
“They’re not shooting yet,” Dayne said, her own rifle trained ahead.
“Any scopes?”
“Yes. They see me,” she answered. “Three long guns, and several smaller weapons. There’s a mortar, too, but no one at the station. It’s on top of the second large building. Looks old but in good repair. Standard mortar, not a special.”
“Special?” I asked. She’d put an emphasis on the term.
“Kassos has defensive positions in the north with special mortars. They fire chain-reaction rounds. From your time, I think, called—Orlikker? Something like that. They’re used to short out incoming Hightec, and the crews can switch them out for standard rounds that go boom,” she said.
“Good to know. I’m getting out. You know what to do if I go down,” I said.
“No, I don’t. Tell me,” Dayne said, alarmed.
“Drag my stupid ass in and get me home.” I stepped out, waving with empty hands. The people began to filter out of their positions, rifles still up. There were no adults of note, only an older couple who had to have been well into their end years.
The village was all children, and one teen who glared at me with a sneer. I stood and waited for them to approach, then called out again.
“We hear you. No need to keep running your fucking mouth, stranger.” The teenaged boy spoke, proving that teenagers are assholes in any era, so I nodded politely as he swaggered up, flanked by the old couple and a dozen kids ranging from young to younger.
“Who’s in charge here?” I asked, my voice cracking with authority. The kid flinched as if slapped, then began to lift his weapon. It was a bullpup shotgun of a newer make, post-virus and elegant in a brutal kind of way. I streaked forward, snatched it from his hand, and slapped him across the mouth with it before he could move.
The click of weapons sounded harsh in the air, but no one was louder than Dayne, who walked forward with her rifle up and ready. “I’m going to start shooting in three seconds. One.” She fired, shattering the rifle in a teen girls’ hands and earning a shriek of fear.
The old couple stepped forward to check on the girl and the teen boy, both of whom were on the ground in various states of disarray. “No need for that, lady.” It was the man who spoke. The woman glared, her gaze a heated ray of hatred.
“Then put your fucking weapons on the ground,” I said. “I won’t ask again.”
As one, the village disarmed, and then they truly looked like scared kids. “How many Konnodar have left here for the raid on the Oasis?”
Everyone looked dumbstruck, as if I’d stolen in while they were sleeping and listened to their dreams.
“Eleven,” answered a little girl with brown hair and a half-grin.
“Aren’t you scared?” I asked her.
She put her hands on her hips. “No. You can’t eat me.”
“That’s true. So the adults left you in charge while they’re off to raid that monster Jack Bowman’s place?” I asked.
“Yes. I take it you’re him?” the old man asked.
“One and the same. This is Dayne. She was from Kassos, but she’s with me now. I’m here to stop you from making a terrible mistake.”
“What would that be?” This time, it was the old woman.
“Staying with Kassos and living in fear of the Procurators. I’m going to remove them,” I said.
Half the village laughed outright, while half of them looked at me like I was dangerous. That was fine with me. Both reactions were acceptable as long as they were listening.
“Oh. You mean it?” the man asked.
“He does,” Dayne said. “He knows who the Procs are, and he had far more Hightec than they’ll ever have. He has food, water, tech, and safety. Most of all, he has freedom, and no one coming through twice a year to steal the best of everything in the name of some distant greater good.”
The woman spat on the ground at that.
“What have they taken from you, lady?” I asked her.
“I’m no lady, you raiding bastard. I’m Meerni, and I hate the Procurators as much as the desert monsters. At least the monsters eat you because they’re hungry. The Procs hurt us because they can.”
“They’re finished, Meerni, they just don’t know it yet. I’ll either get rid of them, or they’ll figure out a way to kill me. Since I’ve killed a Scalebeast, a Cleaner, and a Konnodar in one week, I’d say they’ve got a hard time of it ahead of them.”
“Bullshit, mister.” It was the teen boy, sullen but alerted by my claim.
“Don’t believe me. You’re right to be skeptical. Anyone can lie, especially if they want to control you. Here,” I said, pulling the tablet from a bag slung over my shoulder. “Take a look for yourself.”
I held the tablet out and began flashing through images of the Scalebeast, the massive Cleaner, and then the Konnodar. The crowd hissed in disbelief, then they saw me in some of the images. The last one was of me holding a knife and cutting away Cleaner armor, smiling into the lens. The picture had been taken while fluid dripped from the armor plate, a nice touch for a doubting crowd.
“It’s true then?” Meerni asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“What do you intend to do to everyone along the river?” asked the man, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“What’s your name, sir?” I asked.
“Fortas, and it isn’t important. There are hundreds of us up and down this channel, and we need to know if we’re going to fight you, starting now.” His jaw took a belligerent jut, and he stood, hands at his side. For an old guy, he had a lot of brawl left in him.
“I’m going to see who will join us, what the Procurators are doing and when I can trap them, and then I’m riding off to stop your fighters from making the last mistake of their lives. Your people will not breach my walls, no matter what the Procurators have promised you. That’s what it is, isn’t it? They offered you something, and your Konnodar riders jumped at the chance because you’re being bled white?”
“There are too many lizards to fail. They’ll—” Meerni began, but I held up a hand.
I touched my communicator. “Yes?” It was Yulin.
“Where are you right now?” I asked.
“With the Daymares. Setting up outer patrol sensors. What do you need?” she asked.
“If I light up a targ
et, can you send a Condor?” I asked her.
“Sure. Andi can link it in directly, or we can send one from the Chain. Give me your location,” she said.
I pinged the tablet, then pointed it toward the building with the mortar. “Got it?”
“Two hours, maybe less if I catch a tailwind. What do you want? A message, or rubble?” Yulin asked.
“Both.”
“You got it, Jack. Tell the natives we don’t like it, but . . . you know,” Yulin said, laughing.
“Will do. I’ll call back when it passes,” I said.
“I’ll dip the wings for you. Out.” Yulin was gone, and I tucked the tablet away, looking at Dayne. “Nice day for some sun. Let’s hit the dock while we wait.”
“Sounds good.” Dayne began to move through the villagers without a second glance, and I followed.
“Oh—for safety reasons, don’t go in that building after an hour or so. I’ve ordered it destroyed,” I said.
“Bullshit,” the teen repeated. He had a bruise blooming on his face, and no sign of calming down. I’d have to make sure he understood I was serious.
“Suit yourself. The drone is quiet, so you won’t have much warning once it starts the firing pass. We’ll be on the dock. How’s the fishing?” I asked, but I got no answer. After a moment, I shrugged and made my way after Dayne.
We spread out on the dock, the boards warmed by the sun. It was a floating pier, with pontoons and a light on the end, powered by a fan-like solar panel.
“So they fish and trade, and they have some tech,” Dayne said. “More than I expected. I should know more about them, but I think they’re kept in the shadows by design. Something about those Konnodar makes me nervous.”
I stared at her, then smiled. “You mean walking dragons with a taste for flesh should make you, what? Sleepy? You’re being reasonable. It’s a weird setup to ride beasts that are one blood drop away from going full carnivore.”
We kept an eye on the villagers, who alternated between staring at us, watching the sky, and running into their houses for food and drink. Then one of them shouted, and I knew the Condor had arrived.
“Why don’t we just shoot the Konnodar with those?” Dayne asked.
“Because I need the riders more than I do their corpses. I can’t rule over a boneyard,” I said, and she nodded, looking at me with something like respect. “Showtime.” I stood, waving to the villagers, who were getting as far away from the main building as possible. I saw the Condor dip toward us, its wings waving in a one-two-three before it streaked away, lining up for a combat pass. When it completed the turn, it lowered to thirty meters and accelerated.
“Andi’s just showing off,” I said, though it could have been anyone in command of the craft. I tapped my communicator. “Andi, is that you?”
“You know it, handsome. Stand by for fireworks. Firing,” she said.
The gun cut loose in a sparkling fury as tracers lit up the air, even in broad daylight. The rounds didn’t strike the building. They vaporized the top floor, the mortar, and then the wingwalls that trailed away. In ten seconds, the largest building in the village was rubble.
“Message received,” I said into the communicator.
“Anything else?” Andi asked.
“We’re good. Nice shooting,” I said.
“Aristine said to come back home as soon as possible after you roust the locals. The lizard cavalry—can’t believe I’m saying those words out loud—are a hard day and a half out. They’re gathering people as they go. About three hundred strong now. Oh, and I want you to come back home because I’m—according to Yulin—a needy bitch. This is coming from a woman who hasn’t gotten out from under Breslin in a month, mind you, but I have claim when you roll back into town, no matter what your new girl says,” Andi said.
“New girl? What makes you think—”
“Hi, have we met? Just come home, Jack. We miss you. Be safe. Those lizards aren’t fucking playing. They look scary from the air. Can’t imagine what they’re like on the ground. I’m out for now. Kisses,” Andi said, and the connection was cut.
“New . . . girl?” Dayne asked.
“Sorry. She didn’t see your, ah—maturity from the air,” I said.
“Maturity? You mean I’m not some swooning girl, shaking her tits at you and hoping to be saved?” Dayne asked, smiling broadly at my discomfort.
“If, ah, I remember correctly, you asked me to save you three times in one night. You should feel incredibly safe right now,” I told her, then added a small bow for the hell of it.
She responded by kissing me. “New world, new rules. I guess mature is better than dead . . . and yes, before you ask. You may save me again, as long as you understand that next time, I get to be on top.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” I told her, and we kissed again, sealing the deal. Dayne was mine, and I was glad of it. “Let’s see what the village has to say about our great and terrible demonstration, shall we?”
“Let’s,” Dayne said, and we turned as one to face the advancing people, their body language quite different from our first encounter.
“You weren’t lying,” Fortas said thoughtfully, peeling his eyes away from the ruined building.
“I don’t lie. Procurators lie. Kassos lies. I do not, nor do the people under my protection,” I said.
Fortas considered that then stuck out his hand. “I think that’s a hard promise to keep, but at least you’re trying.”
“I will never stop trying, too. Now, a favor. Tell me about the Procurators. What, exactly, do they do here?” I asked.
“It’s not here so much. It’s the three villages at the bend, where the water is deep and their ships can enter with ease. I don’t know where they go, but I know they have one ship that’s a kind of hospital. They take men aboard, and when they come out, they’re Konnodar riders with something to prove. None of them last long, but for a while they’re death on legs. Good fighters, and tough to kill,” Fortas said.
I looked at Dayne, who nodded. “Ever heard the term nanobots used around the Procurators?” I asked.
“Sure. Blood machines are the ultimate get, but not for us. Maybe for the elites, but not for us. Why?” Fortas asked.
“Just thinking out loud.” I pointed with my chin. “The big bend up in that direction?”
“Yeah, but they’ll shoot you down before you get close,” he said.
“So take us, and be our introduction. You know what I’m about, Fortas, and you understand that I want to stop people from exploiting you, not replace them,” I said.
He rubbed at his scalp, thinking, then gave a sharp nod. “We’ll walk. If we go in your truck, they’ll fire on us before we even sniff the outer walls,” he said.
“There are walls?” I asked.
“Of a kind. Low berms, and there will be some fighters left behind. Unlike us, the big three don’t leave themselves undefended. They guard their holdings with a different kind of fury,” Fortas said, and there was disgust in his voice. It seemed that all of the river people were far from unified. If anything, they had the feel of a community coming apart at the seams.
“How far a walk?” I asked.
“Five hours if we take the outer path. It goes away from the river, and we can avoid any questions from the inner villages. At least until we get to the guards. There will be guards. I guarantee it,” Fortas said.
“And they’ll be armed,” Meerni said. “And pissed. They don’t lie riding out. Every time they do, they lose a few men.”
“Then we need your help even more. Will you help?” I asked.
The villagers conferred through a series of glances, but it was Meerni whose face softened. “Yes. We will.”
“Thank you. How many of you want to go?” I asked.
Every hand raised, and in a flash we became something more than a raiding party. We became the hope for a people who had little future at the hands of the Procurators.
“Then grab your gear. Let’s go,” I
said.
21
We walked in a group, not column, because I wanted the villagers to feel like they were allies rather than in a militia. After the first klick, some of the kids began to chatter, and by the second klick, the conversations were alive with questions and comments like we were old friends. Children can adapt to almost anything; it’s the adults who often find growth to be hard.
“We walk for another hour, then food break. I want to negotiate on a full belly,” I said.
“Sounds good to me,” Fortas agreed, passing word to the few who hadn’t heard. In total, there were nearly thirty of us, a ragtag bunch that resembled a displaced orphanage more than an avenging force of freedom fighters. The sun was high when we stopped, and everyone circled around digging into travel packs and pulling out small strips of jerky and dried fruit.
“That’s it?” I asked Fortas, who was trying to chew his way through a piece of mystery meat.
“Not much fresh while the raids are on. We cook our dried goods in the—ahh, well, we used to cook in the building that you destroyed,” Meerni said, with a hint of acid.
“Shit. Well, hold on. Dayne, can you get the kids to build a fire?” I said. She nodded and began directing various children, who took their orders more like a game than a chore. In seconds, they were piling dried wood into a central pile where I pointed. “Rifle, please?” I asked, taking her gun and looking up.
“What are you looking for?” Fortas asked.
“Lunch,” I said, squinting into the sight. High above on thermal, there they were—the blood chickens that I enjoyed a love/hate relationship with. I waited until they rode the wind closer, looping in to cast a gimlet eye on us in case anyone showed signs of being lame. I fired, and seconds later one of the birds began to tumble in a flurry. Two of his friends swooped down, thinking he was an easy snack, but I shot both of them as well, causing all three raptors to spiral earthward. They landed with a thud a hundred meters away. “If you don’t mind?” I asked the kids, and they pelted away, howling with laughter.
“That was rather efficient,” Fortas said.
Future Retold Page 13
