The Free Trader of Planet Vii

by Martelle, Craig

  ‘Yes. She is delightful. But it grows old. Time to go back to the village where it is dry and warm. Did I mention that I looked forward to being dry?’

  Braden laughed softly. The one constant in the universe was the ‘cat’s ability to hold his own comfort above all things.

  “If we must, Golden Warrior, we’ll go back to the village. I feel my home is here, though. Yes, I know they miss me, but I’m not really like them. I’m more like you. Oh, thank you!” She squealed, smiling from ear to ear. Braden had no idea what the ‘cat told her, but if it enticed her to leave the rainforest, then it was the right thing to say.

  Akhmiyar took the lead, while four Lizard Men fell in behind. Braden stayed beside Bronwyn, although he wasn’t sure that she knew he was there. She was holding Aadi’s shell with one hand, while G-War was draped around her neck like a scarf, his long legs dangling well below her waist. Braden didn’t care as long as they were headed in the right direction.

  It took to the end of the daylight before they reached the border between the Amazon and the Plains of Propiscius where the Village of Greentree sat. Micah let the villagers know when Braden and the others would arrive, so they were waiting. She also talked to them about the Lizard Men, the Amazonians.

  Micah told them that the Amazonians had saved Bronwyn when she got lost. She hoped this would make their appearance less startling.

  It didn’t matter. When Akhmiyar stepped out of the rainforest, he had to cover his eyes. The Lizard Men weren’t accustomed to direct sunlight. His skin looked a sickly green, where in the rainforest it had been a vibrant shade of nature.

  A couple, who Braden assumed were Bronwyn’s parents, ran forward to her. She took their hands and introduced them to the Hillcat, who had gotten down to walk into the village. He looked stiff from his ordeal, and Braden told him that it served him right. The child then introduced Aadi, and finally Akhmiyar.

  The villagers were relieved at the child’s return. They slapped each other on the back happily and gave approving nods to Braden.

  Bronwyn knew her parents couldn’t hear the other creatures, so she told them what they were saying. Braden urged everyone into the shade, which he knew Akhmiyar had to appreciate. There were too many people crowding around for Braden to be sure.

  Braden shouldered his way to the front, dragging Aadi along with him. When he reached Akhmiyar, he turned around and held his hands up, trying to get the crowd’s attention. Once the villagers settled down, he assumed his best trader voice and projected as he had been taught.

  “Meet Akhmiyar, Amazonian leader. He’s brought a sample of their wares: mushrooms that can take the place of a meal. They aren’t much to look at, but they taste fine and they keep you healthy. He is willing to trade. What do you have that he could use? Any fresh meat?” Braden watched the people carefully. They looked away.

  ‘Micah, what do you think they have to trade?’ he asked using the mindlink.

  ‘Ask about their songs.’

  ‘Songs? Did I hear that right?’ The villagers looked at him as he made faces trying to figure out what Micah said.

  ‘Songs. Music. We know the Lizard Men make their own music. Maybe something new and fresh would be of interest.’

  “Micah! You’re a genius,” Braden shouted above the growing din. “Villagers of Greentree! Would you have music that you could share with Akhmiyar?”

  The old man who talked to them when they first entered the village stepped forward. “They would trade food for music?”

  “I believe they would. They are a very cultured people. Aadi? Bronwyn? What does Akhmiyar think of the offer?”

  “Yes!” shouted the little girl. “We would love to hear the village play!”

  “Get your instruments!” directed the old man. People raced away, returning quickly with odd instruments of all kinds, made from wood, hide, strings, and even stone.

  One young man beat a large hide-bound bowl using a rock tied to the end of a stick. The sound was deep and bold. Other instruments joined in, weaving a sound around the regular beat. More joined until the sound was full. Voices were added, singing notes and dancing within the tune. The players played, the villagers swayed, and if Braden and Micah could put an emotion to the music, they would call it happiness.

  Aadi bobbed his head, slowly, letting Braden and Micah know that the music was well received. The trade had been made and it was a good trade, because everyone was happy with what they received.

  G-War found Bronwyn in the crowd and stood next to her as she stroked his fur, with her eyes closed, completely giving herself over to the music.

  When the playing finally stopped, everyone clapped, even the players themselves. After watching the humans, Akhmiyar tried to mimic their movements, but his clawed hands were not made for clapping. The sound he made was a click, click as his heavy claws rapped against each other.

  Bronwyn let go of G-War and ran to the Lizard Man, wrapping her arms around his waist and giving him a hug. The villagers stopped and watched. The little girl finally released Akhmiyar and waved good-bye as he and his four fellows made to go back into the rainforest. He handed her a bag made of leaves and vines, then turned.

  ‘Aadi, can you ask Akhmiyar if he’s seen numbweed anywhere?’ Braden formed an image of the plant in his mind, hoping that Aadi could share it.

  ‘Yes, yes, it grows everywhere. Look for where the sun shines through the overhead in the rainforest. You’ll find the plants there,’ Aadi said. With that, the Lizard Men faded into the dark interior of the Amazon.

  Bronwyn handed a leafy bag of mushrooms to her parents, who handed the bag to the old man. He looked at Braden and Micah. Micah took one of the mushrooms, rinsed it off, then broke it into pieces. She ate one to show the villagers that they were safe. Soon, all the villagers were eating them.

  “Congratulations. You’ve made your first trade,” Micah said to the old man.

  41 – Lots to Trade

  His name was Ditarod. He was the Village Elder, although they didn’t seem to have anyone in charge. People did as they always did. No one needed to be told. That made Greentree unique.

  This community was the closest knit that Braden had run across in all his travels. Everyone was equal here. He liked that, but understood that it wouldn’t work in all places. He was happy that he didn’t have to install new leadership, and happiest that he didn’t have to watch Micah kill anyone. She was good at it, and that was disconcerting.

  As Braden looked around, many villagers wore well-tanned hides. Good tanning was not easily come by. He thought they could trade tanned hides, or even the knowledge of the tanning process. They could trade musical instruments. As villages became more civilized, music could become important. The Amazonians were willing to trade for it and maybe others would too, but how did one move twenty villagers and their musical instruments?

  Animals. Big animals pulling wagons. Traveling musicians? What a concept. They could travel the rainforest road, bringing music to thousands of Lizard Men along the way. Braden was concerned that traveling musicians might stumble across New Sanctuary, but that concern was far away. They needed to find animals first.

  One step at a time, he cautioned himself. Relax and enjoy the moment.

  And the company. He looked down at his hand, fingers intertwined with Micah’s.

  Enjoy the moment.

  As soon as I check on Skirill, he thought.

  42 – The Good Companions

  The Hawkoid was still in pain, and with the darkness of evening, Braden couldn’t search for numbweed. First thing after sunrise, he’d go into the rainforest and find where the light penetrated to discover the numbweed plant. He’d make the mixture that would return the injured Hawkoid to health.

  Braden’s rescue of the little girl turned into two different tales. Bronwyn told the story of the Golden Warrior, Master Aadi, and Akhmiyar. Braden was nowhere in her version of the tale. She was different and had always been treated differently. She said that she cou
ld talk to animals, but no one listened, just like they were barely listening to her now.

  Braden and Micah knew she was exceptional. He once thought G-War could talk with any creature, but not so. Bronwyn could. He wondered if they would allow her to be his Trade Apprentice? But then again, she would have to acknowledge his existence.

  Micah introduced herself to Bronwyn. The little girl waved with one hand while the other continued to stroke G-War’s fur. “Would you like to meet Skirill? He’s a Hawkoid. He’s injured and it would be nice if you could talk with him.” The little girl brightened as she took Micah’s hand and skipped as they walked to where Skirill was standing on a log, covered with a blanket.

  “Hi! My name’s Bronwyn. Can I see where you hurt?” she asked merrily.

  Micah lifted off the blanket. The little girl leaned close, angling away so the firelight could shine through. She put her hands on his wings, very gently. “It’s going to be alright. My! Aren’t you a big bird?” She stroked the feathers along his back, then under his chin and down his chest. The Hawkoid closed his eyes and craned his neck in pleasure. Micah watched, fascinated at the transformation.

  “The ‘ain is gone!” Skirill exclaimed aloud. He stretched his wings. The wounds were there, not leaking, but they still looked painful. Skirill expanded his chest as he took deep breaths.

  “Hang on, Ess,” Micah cautioned. “Don’t go flying anywhere just yet. The pain may be gone, but the wounds remain. You don’t want to tear anything. We’ll find numbweed tomorrow and start you on the path to a real recovery.”

  “I ‘eel good!” Skirill stated.

  “Thank you, Bronwyn. What did you do for him?” Micah asked.

  “I just pushed the pain away. He is such a noble creature. Do you think I can ride him like Golden Warrior did?” Micah was taken aback. She must have abilities like those of the ‘cat to look into a being’s mind.

  “No, sweetie, I think you might be too big. And when Golden Warrior rode on his back, he was afraid and didn’t like it.”

  “I know, but it sounded like fun.” The little girl hung her head for a heartbeat, then skipped away toward the horses. Micah ran after her. She didn’t want the horses to accidentally step on Bronwyn. But, Micah should have guessed.

  Bronwyn could talk to the horses.

  “Hi, Max!” the little girl said in greeting as she approached. “Hi, Speckles!”

  Braden joined Micah as they watched Bronwyn in her element, with the creatures of Vii. “Speckles?” he whispered to Micah.

  The little girl interrupted Micah’s shrug. “You call him Pack, but he prefers Speckles. See the dots all over his body?” Braden took it in stride.

  “Is there anything else we should know about our friends, Max and Speckles? We can’t understand them when they talk to us.”

  “They like you very much. Aadi, Golden Warrior, Skirill. They all like you so I’ve decided it’s okay to like you.” For the first time, she faced Braden directly and looked into his eyes.

  “Thank you, Bronwyn. We will accept your help any time. Do you know anything about flying mutants, birds of all black, with skin like a bat, a face with fangs, not a beak?” Micah looked harshly at Braden for asking a little girl such a question.

  She shivered. “Yes,” she said in a low voice. “My bird friends told me about them. They come from the north, in a cloud, once or twice every moon. Everyone must hide. Is that what happened to these two glorious creatures?” She stomped over to Braden, making a fist, preparing to swing at him.

  “You don’t let them get hurt like that again!” she cried. “You hide like you’re supposed to!”

  Braden and Micah both raised their hands. “To the best of our abilities, we will protect our companions,” Micah said for both of them. Bronwyn calmed immediately.

  “Bronwyn, can you help us? We are looking for big, strong creatures who are able and willing to pull a cart or a wagon. That’s a way for us to move large quantities of trade items between the villages. Max and Pack, I mean Speckles, have helped us so far on our journey. They are the heroes of our caravan, but they need help.”

  “Yes. I’ve heard of large creatures, but they won’t come with you, not unless I’m with you and can talk with them.”

  “Ooh. I’m not sure about that. It’s dangerous where we travel, sweetie.” Micah offered. The little girl stamped her foot and pouted.

  “What if she’s right? If she can talk with the creatures, then this could go much easier.” Braden resigned himself to it. They’d have to talk with her parents and see if Bronwyn could come along. Braden looked at Micah and shrugged. So much for any private time with his partner while plying the trade routes.

  Bronwyn’s parents were fine with her traveling with her saviors, Braden and Micah. The little girl explained it to them as necessary to help the village. She was right, but only in a small way. She would be helping the entire south. All of the villages would grow to depend on these new beasts of burden, and that included the Amazonians.

  43 – A Growing Caravan

  In the morning, Bronwyn was ready to go early, but Braden had to find numbweed first. They all had wounds to heal.

  Braden wanted to go into the rainforest at first light, but Micah convinced him to wait until the sun rose higher in the sky. She wanted his search to be as short as possible. Bronwyn said she would go, too. G-War and Aadi would keep her company. Braden noted that she didn’t consider him to be company.

  “Well, maybe they’ll keep me company, too,” Braden suggested. She shrugged her little shoulders. Even though she decided to like him, she preferred creatures other than humans. Braden felt sorry for her. Such a gifted child, but humans had not treated her well. She was loved, as shown by the way the villagers felt when they thought they lost her to the rainforest.

  “G. Aadi. You guys up for a trip to find some numbweed?” Braden asked.

  “Of course they are, silly!” Bronwyn marched off smartly, Aadi at her side, the Hillcat running ahead. Braden looked back at Micah, holding his hands up in surrender, and jogged after the little girl.

  The first numbweed bush was less than a hundred strides into the rainforest. Braden was embarrassed at how easy it was to find. Bronwyn walked right to it and pointed.

  “Let’s take this back to the village. I’ll start preparing it and then you and Micah can come back and find more. The sooner I get started on it, the sooner we’ll have Skirill back in the air. Is that okay?” She waved him off.

  ‘G. Convince her to come back to the village and then you can come back in to find more. I’ve got work to do for Ess and the horses. Do you need any?’

  ‘I’m fine. Yes. We are going back to the village.’ On cue, the little girl turned and skipped through the underbrush, avoiding puddles as she headed back.

  ‘On our way back with the first batch,’ Braden sent to Micah.

  ‘Already?’ she answered.

  ‘Yeah. It’s a real short story…’ he said. The villagers hadn’t noticed they’d left, so they didn’t get a second glance when they returned. Micah took Bronwyn’s hand as they turned around and immediately went back into the rainforest. Braden and Micah exchanged looks as they passed each other.

  Braden put the small pot over a fire, added a small amount of water, and crushed the numbweed leaves into it, creating a pungent mixture. As the water reduced without boiling, he added water, small amounts at a time. Couldn’t let the leaves get too wet and couldn’t let the water boil. He filled the pot with the first batch. When it was ready, he put it into an oiled pouch that had remained empty of numbweed for far too long.

  He had started working on the second batch when Micah and the companions returned. Aadi didn’t have facial expressions, but his head hung low and if he could look sad, that would be it. Numbweed bushes were piled onto his shell and tied in place. He didn’t seem to relish his role as the group’s cart. Micah and Bronwyn skipped along beside him, hand in hand, singing merrily. G-War was nowhere to be seen, but Braden
could feel that he wasn’t far.

  “It’s okay, my shelled friend; we’ll have this off you in a heartbeat.” Braden undid the Lizard Man rope that he grew more fond of with each use. It would be hugely popular in the north, where ropes tended to be dry and stiff, bulky and weak.

  The bushes fell to the ground. Braden decided they’d leave at sunrise. In the interim, he had a great deal of numbweed to process. Maybe he’d show someone in the village how to do it, too. Everyone could use numbweed. This could be one of their trade items, especially since the bushes grew so close. They had a ready resource.

  The power of numbweed was unknown in the south.

  It was time that changed. With enemies like the mutie birds, everyone needed to know about numbweed.

  Micah took the completed first batch to Skirill and applied it liberally to his wounds. To get at the scratches and scabs on the horses, they had to be washed. With Bronwyn’s help, they walked to a nearby stream. The little girl didn’t need to lead them by a rope, Max and Speckles simply followed her and did as she told them.

  When they were washed and while they stood in the stream, Micah applied numbweed to each of the many wounds on their backs and flanks. Micah took the time to wash herself and asked for Bronwyn’s help to put the numbweed on her scratches. The little girl was impressed by the scars.

  “Is this how a real warrior looks?” she asked innocently. Micah flexed her muscles, showing off.

  “Yes. I guess it is. You should see Braden’s scars if you want to know the burden that a warrior carries.”

  “I don’t know,” the little girl answered.

  “He is my mate and I ask that you treat him with respect. He would give his life to protect you or any of the others. He saved the Golden Warrior’s life, many times.”

  “Okay,” she finally said. “He can be my mate, too.” Micah laughed until she choked. The innocence of youth. Yes, they would all be friends, but Braden only had one mate.