The Decade Worlds

by Patrick McClafferty

  “If you aren’t busy, I’d enjoy your company.” He said to the empty room. After the lights in a room were turned off Ell set the audio pickups to emergency only.

  “I thought you’d never ask.” Athena murmured, sitting down beside him with a graceful movement. Her white Roman gown was slit up the side, and an amazing amount of thigh was exposed that went all the way up to… he tore his eyes away and concentrated on lowering his pulse.

  “You do that on purpose, don’t you?” He asserted in as rough a tone as he could manage.

  Her violet eyes sparkled. “What, me??” She asked, placing the tips of her long fingers on her porcelain breast, drawing Gareth’s attention to that ample portion of her anatomy. Her eyes grew ingeniously wide, and Gareth laughed.

  “Oh no you don’t.” He joked, pouring her a glass of red wine and handing it to her. “I’ll not be lured down that slippery slope.”

  Her eyes widened even more, and she glanced down between her breasts. “They’re not slippery,” her smile became wicked, “unless we want them to be.” Gareth swallowed and reddened. Athena’s face became serious. “You need to relax, my champion. Even Ria could sense that. When was the last time you and Chiu made love?” Gareth was shocked with her blunt question, and for a moment his jaw hung open. “I thought so.” She announced primly. “You haven’t made love since before Lyndra was killed.” Her perfect face was intent. “I could seduce you right now, but I won’t. It would hopelessly complicate matters when you need all your concentration for the job at hand. Tomorrow, however, you will take a pod to the Caravanserai of the Seven Sisters and spend quality time with your wife.” She glared at him. “You know what I mean. If you don’t, I will take matters into my own hands.” She growled.

  “And, is that supposed to frighten me?” Gareth ventured, smiling.

  Her smile was predatory. “It should, if you want to walk for the next week.” He opened his mouth, and shut it again, flushing furiously. Athena reached over and touched his cheek. “You are doing better than I ever expected or hoped. Please, don’t let this adventure kill you.” She glanced over her shoulder to the Colt Gareth had thrown carelessly on the couch. “I see you broke your gun.”

  Gareth growled. “Lothar zapped it, somehow. It’s burned out.”

  Her smile made Gareth draw back from its sheer malevolence. “I see. I’ll fix your gun, and make a few small changes. Let Lothar zap it again, and the gun will promptly sputter and spark as before, but it will be fully functional. He might be somewhat surprised when you pull the trigger.”

  Gareth returned her smile. “This is another one I owe you.”

  Athena slid closer. “I think I’ll collect on that right now, with a single kiss.” Her hands snaked behind his head, drawing him closer, and her lips found his. This night Athena tasted of mandarin orange.

  Chapter 7

  LOTHAR

  In the morning Mairi found him asleep on the couch before the fireplace. Someone had thoughtfully provided him with a pillow and a blanket, although his glass of wine was still half full. Gareth opened his eyes and smiled up at his daughter, who was looking down on him, a quizzical expression on her face.

  “When I finally got to sleep, I had the nicest dreams.” He murmured, licking his lips reflexively. They tasted of orange, and he frowned. It had all been a dream, hadn’t it? He asked himself, to which he received no reply.

  “What are we going to do today?”

  Gareth opened his mouth to tell his daughter that they were flying to the Realm of the Shattered Plains, but he stopped as another thought intruded. “How is the transport for the Qual coming, Ell?” He said to the air.

  “You were busy yesterday, so I didn’t bother to tell you that the transport was finished. The Achéron is currently in a high Earth orbit. Onboard sensors indicate the Qual have cleared a large field and are ready to begin boarding.”

  “You would think that they were eager to leave.” Gareth muttered ironically. “Can we get from here to there by noon, using the transport pod?”

  “No problem,” Ell replied in a calm voice. “if you leave by eleven hundred.”

  Gareth bit his lip. “Please set it up so that the transport ship arrives fifteen minutes after I do. I’ll make sure the loading is going well before Mairi and I continue on to the Shattered Plain.”

  “Does Chiu know you’re coming?”

  He smiled. “I thought we’d surprise her.”

  “It’s about time.” There was a surprising tone of exasperation in the AI’s voice.

  Gareth sighed. “I have the two steamships on shuttle runs from Pellanon and Luxoroth to pick up refugees for delivery to Brivrelsea. By the time the ships arrive with refugees a dining hall and quarters will already be available at their relocation site on Vurean. Have some of the marines begin making sweeps with the pods we have available to check on our evacuees.”

  “Two things.” Ell began calmly. “The steamships will need to resupply with coal in a few days. There was a limited supply when you sent them on their way to Pellanon. Second, if you add just a few more minutes, Iona could have the pods deliver the people directly to the relocation area on Vurean.” The AI suggested.

  “That’s a very good idea, except that four of her pods are already in use shuttling elves for the next month. Here is another idea to work on. Why don’t you contact the Sergeant Major, and have him select a dozen of his best marine shapeshifters and start training them for covert duty. I want a six-man roving patrol to visit all the encampments at least once a month, with four in uniform for high visibility, and two in mufti, able to blend in with the local population. There is too great a chance of somebody hoarding all the resources to make themselves rich. The marines will be my Police Force.” He rubbed his temples to ease the headache that was already threatening to ruin his new day. “What news of Lothar?”

  “The crew of a small fishing boat was slaughtered and the boat stolen, between Traafodon and Obradeena. With a boat Lothar can be here in four weeks.”

  Gareth shut his eyes. “At least it will keep him from devastating every village he goes by.” He replied wearily. “Four weeks.” He repeated. “See if you can’t start evacuating people out of Puasheehchester right now. Pack them into The Yeugate if you have to, and start their inoculations. When the people there are moving along, we’ll start moving the people in Molva. Don’t forget that Lothar is coming here to find me, and he’s pissed!”

  “And where will you be when Lothar arrives?” Ell asked in a subdued voice.

  “Right here waiting for him, to keep him focused on me, and only me.” Gareth snarled. “You remember what we spoke of about that confrontation?”

  “I remember, and I remember that it sounded foolhardy.” Ell snipped.

  “I’m more than willing to listen to alternatives; I told you that before.” Gareth maintained. Ell just sighed. “We should probably go now.”

  “Breakfast first.” Ell demanded.

  “As you wish.” Gareth quipped. Mairi just giggled.

  Two Qual joined their slow descent as the transportation pod slowly spiraled downward out of a clear sky toward a large empty meadow. Mountain peaks surrounding the two-kilometer field were still snow covered.

  “Set us down over by those structures to the north.” Gareth murmured, pointing to what was obviously temporary housing. The pod dropped.

  Mairi looked around with wide eyes. “This place is beautiful. I wonder where they live.” She asked as they stepped from the bubble.

  A tall Qual with a brilliant orange beak flared to a gentle landing, and stepped forward. “Our homes are in the mountains, up at what you would call the tree line.” A number of the winged beings were coming out of their buildings, gawking at the two flightless creatures who had stepped out of the pod.

  Gareth touched the creature on the shoulder. “It is good to see you again, Ufn'waj. Are your people ready for a long trip?”

  The Qual laughed. “We have been ready for centuries. When
will the transport be ready?”

  There was a dull rumble in the air, and Gareth looked up to see a dark cylinder dropping from the sky. “Is now close enough?” He asked, grinning.

  The Qual didn’t even bother looking up, but placed a thin hand over his heart and bowed to Gareth. “Although it was an impossible hope, you have kept your word, my friend.” He stared at Gareth openly for several long moments. “I have embedded your image in our racial history. I warned you the last time I saw you that our children would say their prayers to you at night, and bless your name. You brought this on yourself.”

  Gareth returned a sour smile. “You might not thank me so much when I tell you what I have to tell you.” The Qual cocked his head to one side, and regarded Gareth levelly. “Some time ago we came across a creature called Lothar.” The Qual’s eyes widened slightly in recognition, but he made no other movement. “A self-regenerating assassin; I’ve been told that the creature is immortal. It is after me.”

  “Why?” Was the only word that came out of the Qual’s silver translator.

  “I’ve bested it twice.” Gareth admitted. “It’s mad at me. The point is, I cannot risk this creature escaping off world. I’ve taken precautions in every craft capable of leaving the atmosphere. If Lothar captures that ship,” he nodded to the descending transport, “that ship will immediately leave the Earth, accelerating for thirty minutes and then self-destruct. It will do that if Lothar is aboard, with or without anyone else.” He looked into the wide intelligent eyes of the Qual. “Do not, under any circumstances, let Lothar capture your ship. All aboard will perish.” He unslung the rifle he carried on his back and handed it to the avian creature. “Take this. This weapon is very powerful. Although it may not kill Lothar it will hurt him, perhaps long enough for you to finish boarding. It has three settings. I recommend using the first, or the second if you absolutely must. The third setting will take the top off any nearby mountain; I know. I tried it on the last setting, and it sliced off the top of a wooded hill.” He admitted ruefully. “If you board successfully take the weapon with you. I would recommend destroying it at the earliest opportunity.”

  Ufn'waj gazed down at the greenish weapon in is hands. “Yet you trust me with this?”

  “I do.” Gareth acknowledged, just as the thousand-meter transport settled gently to the meadow. “You should get your people in as soon as you can, and away.” Gareth gave him a deep bow. “It has been an honor to know you. Perhaps, one day we can take one of our repaired starships and visit your homeworld.”

  The Qual stepped forward and enfolded Gareth in his long wings. “It would be an honor if you did.” Came out of the translator as a whisper. He unwrapped his wings from around Gareth. “I should go now.” Ufn'waj, holding the rifle awkwardly, began shouting orders in a squawking, unintelligible language as the wide ramp of the transport descended to the ground.

  “Do you think they will get away all right?” Mairi asked as they boarded the pod.

  “I think so.” Gareth replied as the pod spiraled upward over the huge transport. “Ufn'waj will probably have all his people aboard in just a few hours.”

  “Was it wise to give him the rifle?”

  Gareth shrugged. “I trust him, but who’s to say. I hope that he destroys it. It is his problem now.” He leaned back in his seat. “The Caravanserai of the Seven Sisters,” he told the AI, “best cruise speed.”

  Eight hours and thirteen minutes later, the last of the Qual boarded the transport Achéron, which then lifted silently and departed the Earth. Forty kilometers to the south Lothar paused his headlong rush through the woods toward the Qual camp, watched the transport dwindle in the sky and cursed in impotent fury as he turned back toward his hastily beached boat.

  The courtyard of the Caravanserai of the Seven Sisters was a massive enclosure, draped with flowering vines. Bright blossoms filled the air with the sweet smell of Jasmine, as songbirds trilled melodies as if their hearts would burst. Water murmured in a soothing voice from a tall ornate fountain. The walls of the building were four full stories tall, with the windows and doors facing inward to wide loggias that led to sweeping graceful stairways. At the moment, pandemonium ruled. Standing beside the multi-story building a caravan, still being organized, stretched for a full kilometer. As the pod set down alongside another identical pod, Gareth and Mairi could see people running to and fro, carrying boxes and bags to be loaded on the caravan. A familiar young man came out of the stables that lined one side. Sixteen to seventeen years old, and already Gareth’s height, he was wearing a loosely wrapped yellow turban around his head, and he approached Gareth with a smile of recognition on his young face.

  “It is most good to see you again my Lord.” He said, bowing slightly. His voice was noticeably deeper than the last time Gareth had met the young man. “All has been in chaos since the arrival of your wife two days ago. Whatever she told father I don’t know, but he purchased the caravan you see outside.” The boy’s dark eyes became very wide. “The rumors say that we are traveling to mythical Shsa-Tirion.”

  Gareth bent closer to the boy, and spoke very softly. “This is a very great secret, but you are going much farther than Shsa-Tirion. You will be going to a land with no raiders, no packs of three-legged Ups to attack the unwary, and with two suns.”

  “Two?? Truly?” The boy gasped.

  “Truly.” Gareth smiled. “You may ask my daughter. She has been there.” Gareth stepped aside to present Mairi, who had been hiding behind his back. He heard Ahmed gasp. “This is your daughter, my Lord?” Gareth smiled. “She puts the very flowers in this courtyard to shame.” The young man whispered, bowing to the young woman. He is a smooth operator. Gareth thought in admiration. “Did you actually see two suns?” He asked Mairi intently.

  Mairi looked up from staring at the ground. Her cheeks were crimson. “There were two suns; one yellow and one blindingly white. If you stay outside too long you get a sun burn.” Ahmed frowned. “Your skin will turn red, as if you got too near a fire.” She smiled at his look of awe. “And there are trees and rivers and lakes and meadows,” She paused for effect. “and huge deserts with scorpions ten meters long.” He gave her a disbelieving smile.

  Gareth interrupted. “The scorpions weren’t really ten meters.” He gave Mairi a wink as he turned to Ahmed. “They were more like fifteen meters long, with stings that rose ten meters in the air. It is a world full of danger, and adventure.” He added, throwing more fuel on the boy’s enthusiasm. “I…”

  “Ahemmm!” A voice interrupted him, and he turned to find Chiu glaring at him, her hands on her hips. “Okay, what’s wrong?” There was a note of tension in her voice. “Why are you and our daughter out here in the middle of nowhere?”

  “We’re here because, my dear, you are here. I thought we might spend some time together. We’ve both been a little tense lately, and I thought…” Whatever else he had been about to say was interrupted as Chiu launched herself into his arms.

  They sat on the private fourth floor balcony much later, sipping chilled sweet wine and watching the activity far below them. Chiu sat with her head on his shoulder, a small content smile on her face.

  “I managed to get the Qual away safely, and the elves are well on their way, as are the dragons.” Gareth recapped to Chiu. “Duras Evvos and Paldeen Athan are taking their ships to Pellonon and Luxoroth to pick up humans, and assorted other species, while the residents of Oseothan are, as we speak, receiving inoculations and being processed through to Puborg. Your parents seem to be having the time of their life.” Gareth grinned.

  “What of Lothar?” Chiu asked in an emotionless voice.

  Gareth’s grin faded. “Lothar is heading for The Yeugate. He stole a fishing boat between Traafodon and Obradeena and killed the crew. That would put him three or four weeks from Oseothan.” He forced a tentative smile. “That’s why I’m here. It seems we have a small space of time to catch our breaths, and I’m taking full advantage of it.” His smile widened as he look
ed down into the courtyard where Mairi and Ahmed sat on a small stone bench beside the fountain. He could see her arms move as she tried to describe the wonders of Gocaea.

  Chiu followed his gaze. “Is that really safe?” She asked, her brow furrowing.

  “Mairi has had little enough chance to interact with people her own age.” Gareth remarked, thinking of Mairi’s experiences at the University of Oseothan, and how Gareth’s amazing accomplishments had made her pariah by association. “Ahmed is a good lad, and we have nothing to fear from him.”

  “It’s not him I’m worried about.” The dark-haired woman at his side growled as, far below, three of Ahmed’s sisters about his same age bolted through the arched doorway from the main Caravanserai to cluster about the two young people, just as eager as Ahmed to hear the stories of strange places and distant suns.

  Three days later, at some time in the dead of night a voice in his mind woke Gareth. Gareth! Wake up. There is a problem in Oseothan.

  He growled, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. Beside him Chiu murmured her displeasure. What is it? Is Lothar there? He asked, yawning widely.

  Ell’s sensors have detected that there is a fleet of human vessels heading to Oseothan. The occupants are all armed men, so it is doubtful that they are refugees.

  How many?

  Fifteen to twenty small to medium sized ships. Athena answered immediately.

  Gareth frowned. That’s too few for a really serious attack. You said it was Ell that discovered this. Why didn’t she let me know?

  There was a sense of embarrassment. The drone is on the way, and will be there within the hour. I’m just speeding things up, a little.

  Why didn’t you just tell me yourself? Why wait for Ell to find the fleet?