The Aeolian Master Book One Revival

by John Northern

  As the translucent metal-door slid quickly into its recess, Professor Ahmand Benjamin Hillar, now second in command of the all-powerful Galactic Empire, stepped through the doorway and into the conference room of Hurd's Tower—shortly to be renamed. As he came to a halt and looked about, he found himself standing in a large oval room built with seven levels in a tier-like construction with each higher level radiating out. With the exception of the floor at the bottom of the room, each level was approximately six feet in width with chairs and tables and built-in horizontal viewer screens. On the bottom floor was a huge conference table, which seated, at the very least, forty people. He noticed that coming in from four different directions were wide stairways which led to the bottom floor.

  Ben wondered why Hurd had such a large conference room with the enormous table. He never had any conferences with more than five or six people at any one time. Must have been part of his future plans—king of an empire with people bowing at his feet.

  Ben walked down the steps toward the table. The soft, luminescent light hidden in the ceiling high above cast his moving shadow upon the steps, which were covered with blue El carpet.

  A hum of excitement was in the air as the people in the room were talking loudly or whispering amongst each other. There must have been at least a hundred and fifty men and women sitting in the chairs on the tiered-levels. They consisted of people who had been prominent before Hurd's takeover. Many of them were previous business owners who were released from prison the day before. Others were scientists, architects, doctors, and religious leaders. And there were a few Ben hadn't met.

  Ben knew these people were exultant that Hurd's reign of terror and horrific deeds was at an end, nevertheless, he noticed that most of them had disgruntled looks on their faces.

  Half way down the steps he observed the key players sitting around the conference table. Dahms was sitting next to the head of the table at the near end of the stairs, which he was descending. She was turned sideways talking to someone on the first tiered level and this presented her profile to Ben’s point of view. He could see she still had that look of business about her. She certainly wasn't one to sit around or dance around celebrating their victory when there was work to be done.

  To the left of Dahms were two empty seats and then there was Sam, Viella, Gaal, Xygliper, and Sweyn. On the other side of the table sat Zorn, Brale, Phist, Donn, Xilil, Everette, and Moonmaid. Roqford was lying in front of the chairs on the first tier opposite Dahms. His huge chin was resting comfortably on his paws. It wasn’t surprising that no one, in the upper tiers, was sitting close to him.

  Finally, there was Em who was sitting at the far end of the table. Ben thought it was strange how, several times the night before, and then again in the morning, Em kept getting that vacant look in his eyes. Then he would shake it off as if he were resisting a force pulling his mind into another world. It seemed, at any moment, Em would be leaving them again.

  Ben sat next to Dahms. Without offering a greeting, which was typical of Ben, he said, "I heard you had some excitement with Hurd's body yesterday."

  "That's right," she answered. "Some of our citizens got a little enthusiastic and hung his body by the neck in Central Park. Damn," she said, "I don't care how evil he was he didn't deserve that. So I had his body cut down and sent to the cremation plant."

  Dahms had spent the rest of the day in the Newusa City prison going over the list of prisoners. She decided who was to be released and who was to be left in prison. As it turned out, the majority—almost ninety percent of the prison population, was released, including her parents. Before the prisoners left the confinement, she made a promise, which Ben thought was appropriate, but might be hard to keep. She told the prisoners that their possessions and financial holdings would be returned to them exactly as they were before Hurd seized them.

  It was obvious that Dahms, in spite of her business-like attitude, seemed a bit fidgety. She sat tapping a pencil on the top of the table.

  "Anxious for the meeting to get started?" asked Ben.

  "We have a lot to do," she answered.

  "Indeed we do." Ben knew things would go smoothly with Newusa. A new government would be created. And the citizens would go back to work earning a decent wage, bringing with it prosperity for all those who wanted it.

  But that was the good news. On a higher level the fate of Newusa, in fact the fate of the entire planet of Ar could be in danger. If Thorne was powerful enough to wage war with the Galaef, it would put Ar in the middle. With these two powers battling over the Zen I crystals it was possible that the human population on Ar would be wiped out.

  Ben looked up as Bo Whimple and Tylr Rono walked down the stairway and sat at the other end of the table. Two members of the infamous city council. It didn't surprise Ben that they sat away from the revolutionaries.

  A moment later Juez and Went Chen entered the room. Viella jumped up to give her father a hug, and Sam walked over and shook his hand. Now the council was complete.

  Dahms had made it known on several occasions that one of these members was Rogae X, but for matters of security she would never say which one.

  After a few minutes of discussion amongst Sam, Viella, Juez, and the other council members, Juez motioned, for those who were standing, to sit, and he started the meeting. "I see new faces here today. So, I will first introduce myself. I am Juez Tybo." There was no applause. He introduced the other council members and then said, "Before we start with the discussion of the new government. I want to clear up the mystery of Rogae X." He had the other three councilmen stand up and without much ado and with a wave of his hand, indicating himself and the other councilmen, he said, "We are Rogae X."

  A loud murmur started through the congregation and then some laughter.

  Ben noticed a surprised look on Dahms' face. "By God," exclaimed Ben. "Hurd had all four council men plotting against him. Did you know about this?" he asked, looking at her.

  "No," answered Dahms quietly, but harshly. "The man I formed the underground with was Went Chen."

  "I'm sure they had their reasons for not telling you."

  "Yes. For the same reason I never told anyone about Went—a matter of security."

  Juez raised his hands to quiet the congregation. "Soon after Went Chen and Dahms formed the underground, Went came to me, knowing my feelings about Hurd and his corrupt government, and asked me to join them. It wasn't long after, that all of us formed a pact to do everything in our power to overthrow Hurd.

  "With the help of Dahms we started smuggling weapons into the tunnels under the city. We formed a hierarchy in the underground army with Dahms as the General. There were Commanders, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants and so on. We trained them for combat and got them ready for the revolution.

  "We even did things which might seem trivial to some of you, such as sneaking food out of Hurd's cache and getting it to the starving families.

  Eventually our plan was to get enough of our men stationed in the scent room so we could take it over and start the revolution. As it turned out we only had one man in the scent room when it started, but he was able to help the Galaef and his men when they attacked." Juez ruminated for a moment and then continued. "I am explaining this now because I want you to know that none of us, once the pact was agreed upon, ever supported Hurd. We all played our roles, which kept Hurd from suspecting anything. I was the antagonist to Hurd, which is what I was before the pact. So, it wasn't hard for me to continue in that role. Went and Bo played the docile and wimpy councilmen who would agree to anything Hurd wanted. Tylr played the councilman who would do what Hurd wanted, but questioned his decisions. All in all, we made it look like a council in turmoil with Hurd always getting his way.

  "But in case one of us was caught and executed or imprisoned, we agreed that the others would continue the plot to overthrow Hurd." He paused, which was enough for the people to jump to their feet and start a long and thunderous applause.

  The
uproar had taken Ben and the crew of the G15 by surprise, but Ben and the others acquiesced by standing and joining in. After all, thought Ben, these councilmen have defeated a very powerful man, a man who had a regiment of personal bodyguards and many loyal followers, a man who had an army and a scent tower.

  Ben found himself clapping harder. We're applauding not only Rogae X, but the fall of depression, oppression, and starvation, and the rise of a new and better way of life for the people of Newusa.

  Juez raised his hands and the applause began to taper off until the noise of the people shuffling to sit down was all that remained. "Now to the order of business," he said. "As leaders of the revolutionary government, we have made several edicts which will be in effect immediately. First, we have decided that Dahms will retain command of the city by acting as Provo marshal. There will be no pillaging nor plundering of the city stores nor personal property. Any violator will be treated as a criminal of the city." He had a stern look, one that made Ben think punishment would be harsh. "To this purpose Dahms has already set up a watch detail with patrollers armed and ready to enforce the law. They have been instructed to keep peace in the city, but to let the people have their freedom. In other words, there will be no curfew.

  "And secondly," continued Juez, "Dahms will continue . . ."

  Ben heard a noise and looked behind him. The double doors, at the top of the stairs, had slid open and the Galaef limped through the doorway. He was followed by Frosty, Samsung, and two other bodyguards.

  The Galaef had been taken to a Medical facility where surgery had been performed and DNA regeneration had been started, but it would take a couple of weeks before the regeneration was complete, until that time he would be limping around in pain—he refused to take drugs, calling them the ‘devil’s magic wand.’

  Juez looked up, and seeing the Galaef, he said, in a commanding voice, "All rise."

  The entire assemblage rose to their feet in tribute to the leader of the Galactic Empire.

  "Continue with your business," commanded the Galaef. He positioned himself midway between Sweyn and Bo Whimple before he sat down. His two bodyguards stood at attention on opposite ends of the room while Frosty stood directly behind him. Ben knew the Galaef would not interfere with local politics unless it infringed upon or threatened his own plans.

  Only Juez remained standing as all the people in the room sat down. "Secondly, Dahms will continue," he repeated, "to keep law and order until an election for a new city council has been conducted. The time for reform is now, but it will not be done in a haphazard, unorganized manner. A committee has been established to organize the election, which we have determined will take place in two months. This will give the candidates time to do their campaigning. If the committee determines more time will be needed, then it will be so ordered." He looked around the room. "Any questions, comments, or suggestions, please speak now."

  A man on the fourth tier stood up. "How do we know we won't end up with another Hurd?" His face turned red as he asked the question.

  Juez responded with confidence. "We have asked ourselves that question, and we have decided to form the new government with the city being divided into fifteen sections. Elections will be held to elect a fifteen-member city council, and the entire city will vote to elect a Mayor. During decision-making the Mayor will have two votes, which will give him a little more power than the council members.

  "Also, a committee called, 'The Committee of Government Affairs,' will be formed for the purpose of monitoring the official and personal affairs of the city council members and the city patrollers. It will be the committee's job to keep the council members and the city patrollers honest by making sure none of them are being bribed."

  The man who had asked the question nodded his head in agreement. And then he shouted out with vehemence, "But I also think we should elect Rogae X to the new city council, considering what they have accomplished—giving us back our lives."

  The congregation again stood up and started a thunderous applause.

  Juez raised his hands in the air in an attempt to quiet the members of the meeting. "Please, ladies and gentlemen, please save the applause for the end." But no one could hear him over the deafening noise.

  The applause roared and echoed throughout the room.

  Roqford, not being used to all this noise put his paws over his ears. Finally as the noise continued he stood up and glared at those around him.

  Ben watched him wondering what he was doing. And then he realized the noise was irritating Roqford, and he wanted it stopped. And it wasn't difficult for Roqford to get his way. When a six foot cat with three inch fangs protruding from his mouth stands up it can be very disconcerting. The people like a house of falling cards, stopped applauding and abruptly sat down.

  Roqford walked up the steps and laid down in front of the door. It appeared if there was another outburst he was going to leave the meeting.

  "Now," said Juez, "if you will hold your applause until the end of the meeting, we will be able to get through this more quickly. As far as any of the members of Rogae X running for city council, we haven't made that decision as of yet. After the ordeal we've been through we're not sure we want to continue in that capacity." He paused and then looked around and asked, "Are there any more questions?"

  A woman on the seventh tier stood up. "When will our businesses be returned to us?" she asked. The stringy hair, the circles under her eyes, and the thinness of her body made it obvious she was one of those recently released from prison.

  Juez looked sympathetically at the woman. "Myrna," he said, "the newly elected city council will have to make that decision, but I'm sure it will be very soon."

  "It can’t be soon enough," she said with anger in her voice. She sat down.

  He nodded his head and continued. "There will no longer be a prison at the crystal pits. The buildings will be partially torn down and restructured to house the miners, who, by the way, will earn a very good wage for their work.

  "The Galaef has several prisoners there, but they will be transferred to the city prison and kept there until we receive notice from the Galaef to release them or transfer them to the prison planet.

  "Next, the Run, which murdered so many of our valued citizens, will be turned into a zoo and amusement park, thereby turning this bad memory and horrendous feat of atrocity into a pleasurable experience for our citizens and their children.

  "And finally, we will have trials to determine who of Hurd's guards are responsible for the criminal acts committed against the citizenry of Newusa." He looked around the room.

  "And now I will turn the meeting over to the Galaef. We will hold all further questions about our fair city until the Galaef has finished with his business."

  Juez sat down, and the Galaef rose to his feet. His face looked distraught and almost portrayed a look of embarrassment. "As most of you know," he started, "Thorne is attempting to usurp the Galaefship. He has already commandeered the Flag Ship and returned to Galactus VII."

  A murmur arose through the audience, thus making it appear that most of them didn't know. It occurred to Ben that these people were still reeling from the victory of the revolution and hadn't had time to catch up on Galactic news.

  The Galaef continued. "There is only one way he can succeed. He must get into the control room of the computer planet. But since the internal structure is composed of millions of corridors making it virtually an impossible maze, and since the control room is located several thousand miles beneath the surface of the planet, and since no one can enter the computer except the Galaef and those with the Galaef, then Thorne will need me to get in."

  The silence, that fell over the congregation, lasted for only a moment.

  "That's only half the truth," said Em as he stood up. "It's true he needs to get into the control room, but he doesn't need you to do it."

  All the eyes in the room turned to this new face. Most of the rebels, including those of the ground forces
, had never seen this man. Who was he? Who dared to rebuke the Galaef? Some of the rebels looked to the Galaef's bodyguards—waiting, but they made no move.

  Most of the crowd returned their attention to Em—a most unusual man. His eyes were a glassy sheen. His manner radiated confidence. It seemed his mere presence commanded respect.

  He walked around the table to a position opposite the Galaef and stood in front of an empty chair.

  The rebels waited for the Galaef's angry rebuttal, but it didn't come, instead, he said, "It's the only half I can reveal."

  Ben became a bit anxious about Em’s attitude toward the Galaef, but what could he do? What could anybody do? Em was not really a part of the present Galactic Empire. Or was he? The night before, Ben and the Galaef had briefly discussed Em, this man from the past, this man with strange abilities. At one time, they were excited about finding him in the computer complex. But now the circumstances had completely changed, and they were confused about this man’s ability to know things he shouldn’t know. It was obvious he couldn’t have come from ancient Earth. Could he have? So, where did he come from, and what did he know of the present? How intelligent was he, and could he be of help in their present crisis as he had been during the revolution? Ben hadn't had much time to question or talk to Em since he had become coherent. After the taking of the city, Ben had gone his way to take care of business with the Galaef, and Em, according to Ben’s sources, had gone to the library to educate himself as much as possible on the history of Ar and the Galactic Empire.

  So, now what?

  Em laid his hands on the chair in front of him. "The secret is no longer valid,” he said. “Thorne knows about it and that makes it public. It's time to declare the situation as it stands so we can make plans."

  The Galaef had a surprised look on his face. "I'm not certain what secret you're referring to, but let me assure you, when discussing the Galaefship, there are certain areas of classified information which I am not at liberty to discuss."

  The audience had now become riveted to the conversation between the Galaef and this stranger.

  "I am referring to the ring and its bearer," said Em. "Anyone who has the ring can get into the Galactus VII control room without the Galaef. The fact that Thorne and I figured it out means it has not survived the test of time and therefore was never a good failsafe system." He paused, but for only a moment. "When you are on the throne again, you and the great minds of the Federation must devise a better system for safeguarding the Galaefship and the computer."

  The Galaef gave Em the wary eye. Was it bordering on absurdity to think that this man could have deduced this information merely by reading books about the Federation? "How do you know about the holder of the ring?" asked the Galaef.

  Em stood up straight. "During the ceremonial inauguration," he began, "the new Galaef gives his personal secretary, or an aide of his choice, a ring. This ring will be worn until the death or retirement of the Galaef at which time it will be returned to the vaulted treasury in the palace waiting to be placed upon the finger of the next chosen aide.

  "It's considered to be just a ritual. And everyone who views the inauguration or reads or hears about it believes it to be just that, but you and I, and unfortunately Thorne, know that it's more than that. It wasn't difficult to deduce from the information at hand and from Thorne's trips to Galactus V and his confidence in taking over the Galaefship."

  The Galaef suddenly felt as if his territory had been violated.

  "Who wears the ring now?" asked Em.

  "Myra," answered the Galaef. "But she escaped when Hurd took over."

  "And that's why Thorne doesn't have command of the Galactic Empire at this time? He needs the ring?"

  "Yes," said Taul.

  "That means he doesn't need you, but he does need the ring. It's the key to the internal operations of the Computer Planet. It's the only means by which the computer can be reprogrammed, and the only means by which the computer can be made to accept him as the new Galaef of the Galactic Federation, which will give him the power to invoke war whenever he deems it appropriate."

  The rebels and the Galaef's new staff finally understood the secret. They began talking excitedly amongst themselves as Em stood silently behind his chair.

  The extent of this new revelation meant the Galaef was expendable.

  Everette slammed his huge fist down on the table. "That means the traitor can wipe out Ar to get to the Galaef and not be concerned about it." His voice boomed throughout the room.

  "No," said the Galaef without hesitation, "there are three reasons why not: first, at this point in time he thinks I'm dead. And secondly, Ar is one of the major exporters of the Zen I crystal, and thirdly, he has found out something about the computer which allowed him to take over the flag ship and to change the communications codes. This is a change which only the Galaef has the authority to make.

  "Since you now understand about the ring, you can also understand that Thorne doesn't care a whit about me. And because of this, he will never destroy Ar."

  Everette gave out a huge sigh of relief and sat back.

  The Galaef looked at Em. "Thorne won't make a move until he has the ring."

  "So now comes the crucial question," said Em. "Where is the ring?"

  The Galaef's eyes flashed around the table from face to face. Would it be wise for all these men to know where Myra had landed? "What good can it do to let everybody know?" he asked.

  “What difference does it make?" asked Em. "It appears you haven't been tortured. So, you must have told Thorne, under threat of torture, where her home planet is located."

  The Galaef grimaced. "Actually it was under the threat of a mind melt, which I'm sure you've never heard of, but let me assure you, it's something you will never want to experience.

  "But as it turned out, I didn't know where Myra was from, so I sent Thorne on a wild goose chase."

  "In that case he will be coming back," stated Em.

  "Not likely," returned the Galaef. "I'm sure that since he thinks I'm dead, and once he finds out that the planet I sent him to is a dead end, he will think to take the same course of action which I took last night." Taul hesitated still finding it difficult to reveal classified information and then without revealing any, he said, "We set up a security net to track her. About nine hours later a cruiser in the Telnar sector reported Myra's ten-man destroyer cruising through their command lines without preauthorized notification. When they hailed her, she explained she was on the Galaef's business, and that they must tell no one."

  "So, where did she land?"

  The Galaef gave him a hesitant look.

  "We need to make plans," said Em. "Plans to retrieve the ring."

  "Yes," said Taul. He wavered a moment longer and then, "The cruiser continued to track her until she disappeared into the Ural mountain range in the northern hemisphere of the Linnel continent of Janus V. And when I say she disappeared I don't mean behind a mountain or into a group of trees, I mean she simply vanished."

  Ben watched as Sharpie quickly leaned forward and whispered in stunned revelation, “the Witch World.” The crowd of people became silent like the proverbial tree, falling in the forest with no one to hear it. The eyes of most, expressed horror as they stared at the Galaef. Even as Telephore Six was the exception for producing the only quadruped intelligence throughout the Galaxy, Janus V was the exception, or maybe better expressed—was notorious as the only planet producing an intelligence which lived on the dark side. For lack of a better term, they were known as 'evil witches.'

  Ben’s mind raced as he remembered that the oddity of the planet, and what made Myra's flight from Thorne peculiar, was the absence of electricity on the planet. That in itself doesn't sound strange, but when you find out that nothing electrical will work on the planet, that all magnetic fields are totally disrupted and that space ships cannot land nor take off from the planet, then you understand the mystery involved.

  Ben thou
ght of his Galactic Empire history lessons in high school. It was eighty thousand years ago a corporal in the Federation armada volunteered to land on Janus V by means of a space pod hanging from parachutes. His mission was to study the people of the planet close up. He then sent information back to the armada during the daylight hours by the use of a reflective surface and Galactic code - a series of dots and dashes.

  Over a period of twelve years he relayed information of the many horrors he had found on the planet and especially about the witches and their supernatural powers, which allowed them to change normal human beings into monstrosities.

  Then one day his signals stopped, and they never heard from him again.

  Gaal broke the silence in a low voice. "You had a witch on your staff?"

  "It was not of my knowledge," stated the Galaef. "Her documents had been falsified." The Galaef didn't feel it was right that he should have to defend himself, but considering the situation . . . "You're overlooking the fact that not all inhabitants of Janus V are witches." He said more calmly.

  "Witches?" asked Em. "Beings with supernatural powers?"

  "Yes," answered Ben. "There is irrevocable proof that feuding cults of witches live on the planet. And, I might add, much to the dismay of the Galactic Federation, spaceships cannot land nor take off from the surface of the planet, at least, that's what we used to think."

  "But no one knows," added the Galaef returning to his previous thought, "how many of the inhabitants actually belong to the cults. It is estimated that only a small minority of the population deals with witchcraft."

  "Yes," said Ben, "but there are enough of them to control the planet with feudal states.

  "Then Myra is probably a witch," stated Em. “It’s the only logical answer. How else could she have escaped the clutches of Thorne? She must have known about Thorne's plans the whole time. She didn't interfere because she had plans of her own, but somehow her plans were thwarted, and she had to escape."

  "Very unlikely," said the Galaef. "She was computer chosen . . . "

  "It doesn't matter," interrupted Em. "There's only one thing to do. We have to find Myra and retrieve the ring."

  "That won't be so easy," said Ben. "Even if someone does find Myra and recovers the ring, how will they get off the planet?"

  "Yes, but along that same train of thought, how will Thorne's men get off the planet?" asked Gaal.

  "We can't take the chance," said the Galaef in a commanding voice. "We have to retrieve the ring before Thorne, and if it can't be transported off the planet, it has to be destroyed. That means somebody has to go to Janus V."

  Ben grimaced inside and tapped his right foot in agitation. He knew what was coming.

  The Galaef was standing in front of his chair, obviously waiting for a reply, waiting for a suggestion or a plan as to how to find her, but Ben didn't say anything. The whole situation was absurd.

  Finally, after an uncomfortable few moments Viella said, "It will have to be Em. He's the only one who has a chance," she paused and then continued. "He has the insights, or some type of intuitive power, which none of us have. It will be this power which will aid him on the witch world."

  Everybody looked at Em. It was his turn to reply, to accept or to turn down the expedition. They waited in silence.

  "I have come into a strange time," he said as he looked at the Galaef and then at Ben. "A time of small and large upheavals, and considering the Galactic Empire—unrest on a grand scale. But now it becomes my time. It is the only time of my conscious memory, and I therefore must accept the responsibilities that come with it.

  “I will do what I can, not because I believe in the present political system, but because there are billions of lives which would be lost in a galactic war, fought over the greed of power." Em turned his gaze to the Galaef as he finished his statement.

  The Galaef stood erect. “The needs of the many must be considered when maintaining the integrity of the Federation. It has always been that way and always will be.” He looked at the Aeolian Master in a kingly manner. "What is your plan?" he asked. "And what will you need?"

  "I will need men to navigate and fly the G15 to the outer orbits of Janus V," he answered. "And then I will need men to go with me to the surface of the planet."

  "Okay," said the Galaef, "I'll send Zorn and his crew to get you to the planet." He paused as he looked at his officers sitting around the table. "Now we need volunteers to go with you into the Ural Mountains."

  Ben watched as the rebels looked around the room averting their eyes like school children not wanting the teacher to call on them. He understood what was going through their minds. No one was excited about going to Janus V. They had just fought and gained their freedom from Hurd. They weren't in a hurry to be stranded on a planet of witches, in a land of spells and demons, a land of the infamous outlanders, and a planet from whence no one returned.

  It occurred to him that no one might volunteer, but after a few moments Sharpie stood up.

  "Even though I'm not a man," she said in a disgruntled voice, "I'll go. The fact is I need a change of scenery."

  Ben knew what she really needed was to get away from the memory of Curt.

  The next person who stood up was a surprise to Ben. It was Jacob. "Sir," he said looking at the Galaef. "At the moment I am unemployed, and I do have a fair amount of knowledge in hand to hand combat plus training with weapons, which do not require electricity. If it would please Mr. Em I would like to go along?"

  "Fine," said Em.

  "Anyone else?" asked the Galaef.

  Brale stood up. "Excuse me, sir."

  "Yes?" asked the Galaef.

  Dahms expected him to point out something they had overlooked.

  "Sir, considering Myra's ship did not crash on the planet gives us hope that we might find a way off once we locate her, and therefore, I would like to go, sir."

  The Galaef was hesitant. "I believe you will be of more use to me here, especially when we go to Galactus VII."

  "Yes, sir," said Brale. He sat down.

  The next person to stand up was Samsung. "I will go," he stated.

  The Galaef shook his head. "I am surprised that you will not, at this time, go to your home in Newnippon. As a Lieutenant in the Galactic Federation you will go home with great honor, and I will be sure that they give you a warm welcome, perhaps even a parade. After what you have done for me and Newusa, you deserve the honor.

  "Nevertheless," continued the Galaef, "I must decline your offer to go to Janus V. I believe you will be of more use to me on Galactus VII when I return a few days from today."

  Samsung nodded his head. "I need no parade. I will go with you to Galactus VII." He bowed and sat down.

  The Galaef looked at Em. "You have two volunteers," he said, “but to be successful, I believe you’re going to need at least one more.” He was looking at Ben as he finished his statement.

  Ben scowled as he rose from his chair. I knew this was going to happen, he said to himself. Except I didn't know he would be keeping Samsung, the best warrior in the room, and Brale, the most analytical mind in the room. Isn't this great, I'm going to the Witch World with a butler, with a woman who's angry because her fiancée died, and with a man who might turn into a zombie at any moment. And then he said out loud, “I guess I’m not going to need this." He drew his phasor from its holster and dropped it on the table. Just when things seemed to be getting better, they were getting worse again. “Nothing to it,” he said sarcastically. “We’ll drop onto the planet, and with my expertise in sword play, I’ll fight a couple of bad guys, retrieve the ring, and be back in no time. It'll be a walk in the park, as the ancient Earthians used to say, or a piece of desert as they also used to say."

  Dahms laughed loudly. "The saying isn't 'a piece of desert.' That's a dry, arid landscape where very little grows. And it's not 'a piece of dessert,' which is something sweat we eat after a meal. The saying is, 'It's a piece of cake.'

  "You
know, my colleagues and I could never understand why you didn't come to Ar and interview people from the four cities when you were doing your digs and writing your history of Earth. There's a lot we still remember, after all it only six hundred years ago."

  "Yeah," said Ben. "Yeah, it was a gross oversight on my part. I realized that when I saw the picture of Teddy Roosevelt on the wall behind Hurd's desk.

  "But right now it doesn't really matter, does it? I am on my way to the witch world, and I'll probably never return."

  The Galaef stared at Dahms. "We're getting off the subject." He looked around. "Are there any more volunteers?"

  Xygliper stood up. "I'm not so sure it'll be a piece of cake, but since phasors don't work on Janus V, you're going to need my skills as an archer."

  “Now you have four.” The Galaef waited a moment to see if anyone else would volunteer. "It's settled then," he continued, "you will leave as soon as we repair the G15's."

  Suddenly a voice seemed to resound throughout the minds of everyone in the room. Not quite, said Roqford.

  Em, Jacob, and Ben looked up at the cat lying by the door. Many of the other people in the room looked around with startled expressions on their faces.

  I might as well go too, he said. He continued to lick his paw.

  ###

  Other ebooks by John Northern: Lor Dak, Book One, Diane.