“Ready, sir.”
“Anyone who leaves the company through redundancy, resignation or incapacitation is not allowed to be re-employed within six years.”
“But sir, isn’t it illegal to deny people their living?”
“I expect so, but we can deal with any cases if they arise, and if necessary deny it all anyway. It’s between us, the staff and the auditors, so if any of it gets into the public domain we can sue for breach of confidentiality.”
“Looks good, sir.”
“And add to the other directive that even if people have left the company, and anything happens to either of us, those people are to be subject to the same conditions as those still employed on the immediate staff.”
Amber tapped in the information. Tom stood over her to check and confirmed the ‘send’ key. A few seconds later, she turned towards him. “Very odd, sir.”
“What?”
“When I first checked the records, there were a number of resignations and travel requests to distant parts of the world from the immediate staff.”
“And?”
“They have all disappeared. There is no trace of any of them.”
“So the staff are still with us. Can you remember any of the names?”
“Most of them, sir.”
“Were there any who didn’t have their names on the list?”
“I think so; the pilot and a couple of the technicians at base.”
“Okay, get those guys in to see me as soon as we get near them.”
“Will do sir.”
“And make sure you get the key to the parachute locker.”
“I’ll go and find it now, sir.”
A Girl in the Bush
I
t was full moon. A girl was sitting waiting on the cliff top as she had done every full moon for many months. Her pale blue eyes strained hopefully into the gloom over the sea. The warm breeze whipped a mass of dark hair around her face like the leaves of a willow tree. She ran her hand through it to keep it out of her eyes. Would her man return to her this night at last, after all the waiting? Time went on and the moon started to sink beneath the waves. There was nothing; nothing mechanical flew over the island; nothing approached by sea. She sighed and wrapped her cloak more tightly around her body; even on this amazing island, it did get cooler at nights. “Is there another way out I wonder.” She walked slowly to the rock-fall that blocked the route to her home village. There had been a searing explosion all that time ago, and the way was still sealed; the heat of the blast had melted the rocks into obsidian. She was still completely isolated. She found herself praying for something to happen; anything would do to relieve the boredom and loneliness.
The following day, the girl was sitting on the beach, idly throwing rocks at the crabs scurrying around, when there was an ear-splitting explosion from inland. A shower of small stones dropped around her and into the sea. The crabs gave her ‘crab-evils’ and disappeared into the shelter of the rock-pools. She cowered into a depression in the cliff face until she was sure that nothing else was going to fall. All was silent now on the island. Even the seabirds had stopped calling. She gingerly retraced her steps up the path at the side of the cliff and peered over the top.
She heard voices. She heard engines. She saw people coming from where the fused passage had been; soldiers dressed in the hateful uniform she remembered from the attack on her village. Having been the only one to escape the carnage, she had assumed that the way had been permanently blocked, that the destruction had been final. That other place, which she now thought of as ‘Hell’, must still exist, as did the entry between them.
She kept her head down and studied the troops from the cover of the bushes on the cliff-top. Her heart almost stopped. Leading them, in a small vehicle sporting a long gun was an evil face only too familiar; the face which had led the attack on her home. “Antarn!” she breathed in horror. As if he had heard her, the hateful gaze swept across the now rock-strewn grassland towards her hiding place. The memories rushed back; she could feel his hot breath on her neck and his hands ripping at her clothes. She remembered the desperate escape, with him close behind her, destroying everything thing in his way to get her back. The pursuit had ended when she had arrived on the Island. There was something out at sea which seemed to have hidden her; it seemed in a different dimension. Antarn had been thwarted.
By chance she discovered the secret way through the cliffs to the village where she had been adopted by a kindly family. The place she had lived in was an oasis of peace, hidden in a dark and evil universe. She had been very happy there, and even more so, when her slave Two-Dan had turned up and fought for his freedom and her hand in marriage. And then Antarn had come. She remembered the attack and the murders of her adopted family and friends. The destruction was completed when there was a counter attack by the local insane ruler, and the ensuing battle had resulted in her and Two-Dan making their way back to the Island right before the sealing of the passage. In a flash, she was that terrified girl again. She shrank down out of sight.
She heard voices; voices getting closer. There was a large gorse bush to her right, clinging precariously to the cliff, and under it a small flat area where she might be able to hide. She eased herself gently off the path and squeezed into the shade and shelter of the foliage, ignoring the thorns scratching at her skin. She could not see the cliff now, except for the precipice below her, and muttered a prayer that they would not discover her. Then she looked down. On the beach below was her bag; the one which held her drinking water and had contained her picnic. She felt dizzy and would have fallen if her hand had not gripped one of the stems of the gorse. Blood seeped into the wood as the thorns bit deeply. She whimpered but held on. The voices got closer and she could hear them clearly now; two men. She knew they were going to see her bag and go to investigate. She was lost.
“Nothing down there on the beach,” said one, “but we have to check.”
“What’s that then? Looks like a girl’s handbag.” A lump came to her throat as she felt the owner of the other voice pointing downwards.
“No, nothing but a bit of washed up rubbish it looks like.”
“Should we go and see?”
“Nah, I’m hungry and thirsty. I’m not climbing all the way down there to get some litter.”
“I don’t know what we’re doing here anyway,” said the second voice. “It’s only an island.”
“We couldn’t stay where we were. Those frenzied guerrillas attacking us were going for the kill.”
“So it was a retreat then? We’re going to be trapped here instead, on this island?”
“But this particular island is the portal to another universe.”
“Yeah, right. Who told you that?”
“Commander Antarn is leading the expedition. He felt it his duty after he killed that soldier that looked exactly like him. He said that guy being his double proved there was another universe.”
“Not just his twin then. So what’ll we be looking for in this new place?”
“Oh, anybody he can try out a few of his torture techniques on.”
“Sounds like a waste of time. He tortures us enough with his stupid ideas.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that. Anyway, he also wants to see if there’s anything we can loot from the people out here to give us the edge if we’re followed.”
“People, I see no people. The island is empty.”
“Apparently he thinks we can use it as a jumping off point for an attack on the mainland. As you know, this place roughly parallels where we came over from, and therefore it’s reasonable to assume that there’ll be a mainland somewhere out there, a mainland we can collect untold riches from.”
“Untold? What sort of riches?”
“He hasn’t told us. But he is the commander, so we have to follow without question or get court-martialled. So, are we going down, in case the rubbish has an owner hiding somewhere?”
“No way,” said the second voice. “If there is an owner, I’m not having Antarn finding anyone to play with on my watch. Let’s report back to command; nothing out this way. In the very remote possibility that there is loose totty in the place, he needs to know it isn’t here.”
The girl waited in the shelter of her bush until night fell. She thanked her gods that the moon was hidden by cloud; it would have been terrible if her man had returned straight into the teeth of an invasion army, because army was what it was now. The column of troops had marched through the passage all day. The plain was thick with vehicles and mobile weapons and tents. A number of campfires blazed and a pleasant smell of cooking made her feel hungry. She trod carefully back down the path to the beach and had a sip of water from her canteen. How very stupid of her, leaving the bag in sight, but the sand clinging to it must have made it look as though it had been recently washed up on the beach. She took off her clothes and folded them neatly into the bag before fitting it to her back and slipping quietly into the water. She failed to notice a pair of night-vision field-glasses trained on her from the cliff above.
Value Added, Off the Shelf
T
he plane touched down smoothly on the hot tarmac of a new country. Tom made the crew wait while he finished his shower, and only when he was clean and fresh did he venture out from the controlled environment into the scorching heat. He was relieved to see a limousine waiting for him at the bottom of the ramp. A group of girls in the distance screamed and waved items of underwear. “Is this normal?” He whispered to Amber.
“You are famous around the world, and quite a pin-up out here, sir.”
“I can’t think why.”
“You do have a reputation, sir.” Amber blushed as they climbed into the car.
The chauffeur closed the door after them and the atmosphere became more breathable as the air conditioning took over. Tom settled into his seat and shot a glance at his assistant. “That would explain a few things, including why you were scared of me. I assure you I’m a bit different now; after my blackout, you understand. Are you still afraid?”
“You don’t seem to be like people said you were, sir.”
“Good.” The car made the short journey to the terminal building and drove through a lose curtain of plastic strips. “Can we be overheard in here?”
“No, you are exclusively secluded,” came the accented driver’s voice through the intercom. “Please be talking in widespread sureness.”
“That answers my question then,” Tom muttered.
Amber smiled.
Errorcode was waiting for them outside the airport. His familiar shifty smile was back in place, and if he was annoyed with Tom, he did not show it. A group of black-uniformed police were holding back another throng of semi-naked screaming girls. More items of underwear found their way over the cordon. Occasionally a policeman would turn towards the crowd and club one to the ground for no apparent reason, but this did not seem to bother them, the screaming and jostling continued unabated. Another car eased its way through and stopped beside them. “This is to take us to see Mr Nishi, sir.” The aide held the door open.
Tom nodded and inclined his shoulder. “Just practising,” he replied to the man’s unspoken question. He let Amber go first and then followed her into the back seat of a larger and even more comfortable car than the previous. “Drive on.”
They were driven past clean streets, shining tower blocks and more groups of fans. As they got further into the city, the traffic thickened, and the pace slowed and the girls followed. The car was mobbed a number of times, and Tom was relieved when they eventually drove down the ramp into the underground car-park of the Nishant Corporation headquarters. The driver was able to remove enough of the clothing attached to the outside of the car to allow them to get out.
Mr Nishi greeted them warmly in his expansive office on the top floor of the block. Introductions were made and cool drinks found their way into grateful hands. Mr Nishi greeted them in perfect Pangean. “It is good of you to come,” he said, indicating the luxurious sofa, and settling himself down on one opposite. He spread out a sheaf of papers on the low table between them.
“Thank you for seeing us,” said Tom politely. “I’m sure you are a busy man.” His voice tailed off as he saw Errorcode’s expression.
“I will be conducting the talks,” said the aide, “but I was led to believe we would be discussing the contracts in the Musoketeban language.”
Mr Nishi smiled and stretched. “Yes, but I realise that two of my distinguished guests do not speak it, and would like to include them in the discussions. I will also appreciate the opportunity to practice my Pangean grammar, so please indulge me.”
The smile briefly faded from Errorcode’s face, but quickly returned before anyone but Tom noticed. Mr Nishi continued, speaking directly to him. “You see, Mr Smith, I believe that Pangean is better for business discussions, where my language is more suitable for the bedroom…” He winked at Amber. She averted her eyes, and Mr Nishi gave a growl of pleasure. “So demure, so elegant, so unlike our own ladies.”
“You are very kind,” muttered the P.A..
“In my language,” continued their host, “we have many terms for discussing sexual positions and very much fewer for negotiation purposes. In my country we have little need for negotiation.”
“You intrigue me.” Tom leaned forward and took a sip from his glass. “Please tell me more; I am eager to learn.”
“I like you, sir.” Mr Nishi clapped his hands. “I am glad you brought your leader this time, Montague. He has a curiosity which is refreshing in these regimented times.” The aide shrugged and stood up. “Yes, please feel free to refresh your glass. Anyway,” Nishi continued, returning to Tom, “negotiation is not something that happens very often in his country; people are usually told what to do, and subsequently they do it. If there are any arguments, these are usually settled using blunt instruments or one form or another.”
“What, in the bedroom too?”
“Especially in the bedroom. Not all blunt instruments are the same you see.”
“Ah, I see.” He glanced at Amber. She was staring at her feet.
“Anyway, to business, Mr Nishi.” Errorcode had returned with his drink. “We do not want to take any more of your valuable time than necessary.”
“Of course, you are most kind. Now what can I do for you?”
“And of course what can we do for you?”
Mr Nishi was still relaxed. He leaned on his sofa and stretched his hands along the back. “Of course, and what do you think you can do for me?”
“We understand you are running short of resources; minerals, food, water, holy conkers and land. Your country is the most populous on the planet.”
“Yes, that is correct. We do not believe in preventing new people from being made. We are however reducing numbers of the males by abolishing the Health and Safety Executive, but as we treasure our females we do not let them do dangerous work, and the population has not stopped rising. At present my people can see no reason why they should change this, as females now outnumber males by five to one.”
“Your people?” Tom was intrigued.
“Yes, females are not allowed to hold positions of responsibility, so they are there to serve and service the males who run the infrastructure.”
“I can see the problem. That also explains all the girls at the airport and in the city.”
“I apologise for that, sir. I have instructed the police to deal with it as they see fit.”
“No, really there is no need.” Tom was worried. “Please tell them to stand down. I really don’t mind.”
“If it is your wish.” Their host operated the intercom and spoke a few words in the throaty language he was starting to recognise. There was a reply and a few more commands were given. Mr Nishi smiled. “I have given instructions that the police are to stop the beatings, and have asked for anyone on the ground when
the crowd disburses to be taken to hospital and given private treatment at my own expense. I hope that meets with your approval.”
“Most acceptable,” said Tom. “I wouldn’t want my visit here to be marred by the suffering of my devotees. Anyway, perhaps we should continue with our discussions. I’ll hand you back to Monty here.”
“Thank you, sir.” The aide breathed a sigh of relief. “We are a bit pushed for time.” He handed over a small folder to Mr Nishi. “You will find a list of details of what we are offering, sir.”
Nishi picked it up and scanned through. He nodded. “That seems acceptable.”
“If you look at the last three pages you will see what we are looking for in exchange. No need to read it out.”
“Yes, you have a deal sir, with the agreement of your leader.” Nishi nodded again, and this time Errorcode copied it. There was a brief pause and then both looked at Tom and nodded again.
Tom remembered his instructions, and disobeyed. “Let me see that folder.”
“You really don’t need to, sir.” The aide’s face was clouding.
“Yes, I think I do.”
Errorcode stabbed a quick glance at Nishi. Nishi shrugged and handed the file over. Tom sat back in his seat and thumbed through. There was a lot of legal jargon, but the main points stood out. He glared at Errorcode. “So you are proposing that we outsource the whole of our technology function to the Nishant Corporation?”
“Yes sir. It makes a good deal of business sense. We will save a good deal of money because Mr Nishi can provide four people for the cost of one of ours. It will enable us to lay off all of our existing staff, and thence concentrate on the actual business, rather than running a technology function.”
Into the Fourth Universe Page 8