Free Trader Complete Omnibus

by Craig Martelle

  ‘These Amazonians are tough! I’m glad they’re on our side,’ Braden told Micah in his thought voice. ‘How about you? Are you okay?’

  ‘We’re just fine.’ She smiled at him as he stitched a shallow wound on the other warrior’s front arm. G-War sat and watched them both, while Aadi talked with Akhmiyar.

  ‘Master Humans, with the war, Akhmiyar is very interested in your medical skills. Could you teach him how you repaired their wounds?’

  “Yes, no problem. I can teach him, but I’m afraid they won’t be able to make the numbweed. You need fire for that. But we can make it for them, especially if they can bring us the bushes. You can show them which ones I’m talking about.”

  Braden and Micah looked over the villagers. Some scratches and plenty of bruises, but nothing that would keep them from making the journey to freedom.

  Akhmiyar limped slightly, but led them on a shorter route out of the rainforest. They were far to the west of Coldstream, but not quite to Bliss. They decided to continue walking to Coldstream. Village Bliss remained in contested territory. Until it was safe, they couldn’t go back.

  Akhmiyar said that he and his two warriors would travel inside the rainforest and meet them in Coldstream. They said their good-byes and watched as the Amazonians faded into the dark of the rainforest day.

  Braden felt bad making Micah walk all that way. Skirill and Brandt were too far away to be any help, so he held her hand as they strolled. She said it was refreshing and she should do more of it. She felt like she sat too much. Braden looked closely at her and he could see that she was showing. How had he missed that?

  Maybe he didn’t look at her with such a critical eye. He didn’t care that she had scars down both arms and on her neck. He didn’t care if she had a thin waist. She was his partner, an equal who challenged him.

  He liked to think that he was a far better man than the one who rode from the north, seeking fame and fortune. He looked at the villagers walking along quietly. Before, they wouldn’t have been rescued because no one would have known they were taken. They had a place to go because the trade route had been established and people were introduced by way of their trade goods.

  Although the Amazonians blamed him for the war, he suspected that it was there all along. If it weren’t for him, then something else would have been the catalyst. The war was inevitable, he realized. And he hoped that he was helping to bring it to a swift and sound conclusion. He hated taking lives, but they gave him no choice. Kill or be killed. He wasn’t about to be killed. There was too much to do.

  He had children on the way and he wanted more than anything that they grow up in a world free from conflict, where people made their lives better by working with others.

  He’d gone a long way toward creating that world. He and Micah, that was. He couldn’t have done any of it without her.

  She gripped his hand tightly, knowing that the future was going to be okay. She felt a furry body run into her from behind. G-War rubbed against her leg, almost tripping her.

  ‘I have so much to teach my kittens, so you take care of them. It won’t be too much longer now before we get a look. What’s with the humans and their hairless kittens? Maybe we don’t want a look until they are more presentable.’ G-War contemplated life with little ones around. He decided that it would be okay. If they pulled his tail, he’d give Braden a good scratch. There’s wasn’t much of the human’s body left unscratched. In that, he and Braden were alike. They both looked rough.

  ‘One too many battles, my friend,’ Braden said over their mindlink.

  As Braden didn’t care how Micah looked, she didn’t care how he looked. She knew where nearly every one of his scars came from. She was there, cleaning them for him as he cleaned her wounds.

  “Crap, Braden! If you would have told me what dangerous business trading was, I would have never let you take me away from that lake!”

  74 – Settling In

  After the rescue of the Bliss villagers, Coldstream was overwhelmed with people. The new additions from White Beach and Westerly readily packed up for the trip to Greentree and McCullough. Even some people from Bliss joined them. Leaving Coldstream and the sweetened pork behind, Braden and Micah rode on Max and Speckles as they continued leading the caravan of refugees east.

  Brandt and Skirill found Bronwyn and the new traders. They had taken good care of the wagon. All was well. Everyone made progress, although the smithy was still working on a formula for the strongest metal. They had not produced much, but expected over the next few moons to leap forward. Tom thought they were close to success. Maybe Braden and Micah would take some of the metal to New Sanctuary and have it analyzed to see exactly what Tom needed to do.

  With his growing family, he was more inclined to find an Old Tech solution. He only wanted the best world for his children. He also learned that they could not have recovered the villagers without the blasters, or freed Brandt, or destroyed the Bat-Ravens.

  The good guys needed Old Tech weapons. If they didn’t use them for the right purpose, the King of the Aurochs would run them over. Braden shuddered at the thought. The King was a magnificently large creature.

  With Micah at his side, for the first time in a long time, he opened his neural implant. Holly immediately greeted him.

  Braden requested that a number of saw blades be manufactured that they could pick up the next time they were in New Sanctuary. Holly said the wheel hubs for the wagons were ready, and the printed books had been manufactured and were ready for pick up as well.

  Braden asked about Cygnus VI. Holly said that the data had been transmitting nonstop since they last talked with the outpost, although it wouldn’t be analyzed until after the download was complete. The humans seemed to be in good spirits knowing that the last four hundred cycles of work was not wasted, and they looked forward to transporting to Cygnus VII when the matter transfer equipment was functional.

  He wasn’t comfortable with ancients and the Old Tech at New Sanctuary. Not until they had the failsafe in place. Since they didn’t know what the war prevention failsafe looked like, it could be quite some time before the last remaining humans from the before time could return home.

  “Stop worrying, lover. It will be okay.” She couldn’t hear his thoughts when he used his neural implant, but she guessed. The troubled look on his face told her all she needed. He agreed, wished Holly a good night, and closed the window. “Let’s take some time, let other people lead for a while.”

  He looked at her and sighed. If he could only do that.

  75 – The Traders Return

  During Braden and Micah’s trip to the west coast, Candela and Tanner made two complete passes through the villages from Dwyer to Coldstream. Each time, they improved their trades. They traveled with a full wagon, trading all the food while it was still fresh. The Aurochs made the trips go quickly.

  Bronwyn made sure they had no problems with any creature they came across. She kept the Aurochs happy and they made her happy. She spent most of her time riding on the older cow, stroking her ears and rubbing her neck.

  They even successfully traded with the Amazonians. Bronwyn shared that many warriors were fighting and it disturbed her. Zalastar personally assured them that the road was safe and would always remain so. Trade with the humans was critical as they needed all the tunics and limb protection they could get. These identified Zalastar and his loyalists to the average human. The friendly Amazonians were committed to keeping the humans out of the war.

  The raid on Village Bliss had not yet happened, but it wouldn’t change his commitment, only the reality of the situation. Akhmiyar took action to protect Coldstream, to ensure the conservative Amazonians came no farther east.

  Having completed their trades, Candela and Tanner wished everyone well, packed up, and in the spirit of tradition, they left at sunrise for Village McCullough. The trip was less than a single daylight thanks to the Aurochs. The younger cow pulled the wagon, while the older cow led the way, with Bronwyn
safely astride her wide neck.

  The wagon was filled with vegetables and meats, but most significantly, two new shovels made from Tom’s latest metal. These were sturdy and his best products yet. He said he could produce many of these in a single day. He celebrated with his crew as they had worked relentlessly for moons to produce one functional shovel. Everything else paled in comparison.

  The traders knew that Tom’s smithy would be the single most influential trading stop in the south. They made sure he received the choicest crops and extra tidbits whenever they passed through.

  As the Canavan, as Candela and Tanner called their caravan, approached McCullough, a familiar figure flew overhead.

  “Skirill!” yelled the little girl, waving her arms furiously. Skirill swooped low to pass over them then circled and with the cow’s permission, landed on one of her horns.

  “Good to see you, ‘ronwyn!” the Hawkoid said in his best human speech. Bronwyn crawled forward until she perched on top of the Aurochs’ head where she could scratch Skirill’s chest and neck.

  ‘Your feathers have grown in very well! You are the most magnificent bird in all the land,’ she exclaimed in her thought voice.

  ‘You are also too kind, precious one. The others are in McCullough and await your arrival. They have much to share.’

  ‘I know of the war. I know it’s terrible.’ She hesitated. Skirill knew that she was deep in his mind, looking at the images of their travels. ‘Oh no! My Brandt…more scars. Even Braden.’ She sat up straight, surprise on her face.

  ‘Micah?’ she asked. The Hawkoid bobbed his head happily as the Aurochs broke into a run. Skirill jumped from the bouncing horn before he was thrown off. The young cow pulling the wagon also started running. The trader couple was alarmed. They thought something was wrong and kept yelling for Bronwyn to explain.

  She didn’t hear them. She crouched low over the Aurochs’ head as the great creature raced forward. Bronwyn was going to be a big sister to others just like her and she couldn’t wait to talk with them.

  76 – Trade Routes and More

  “They are so precious! I love them!” Bronwyn exclaimed to Micah’s belly.

  “Am I the only one who can’t talk to my children?” Micah asked.

  ‘Appears so,’ G-War interjected.

  “Ass!” Micah blurted out. Bronwyn gave her a sharp look so she mumbled a quick apology.

  ‘Although you don’t think you can talk with them, you are closer to them than any of us will ever be.’ Aadi always knew the right thing to say. Tears welled up in her eyes.

  Braden watched everything. Silence was his key to survival. He’d never traveled with a pregnant woman before, but he’d heard stories. He maintained a certain level of fear-based respect as his partner went through her changes.

  “You are more beautiful than ever,” was what he settled for. Safe, but true. He was proud of her, of them.

  “Enough with the baby stuff. How’d the trades go?” Braden asked Candela and Tanner. Micah was interested, too. They had shed blood and invested a great deal of themselves in getting the trade route set up. She most wanted to hear that it was successful without Braden. She didn’t want to live on the road.

  She wasn’t disappointed. The young couple’s excitement was infectious. As Braden listened, he was both excited and saddened.

  ‘Give them the wagon, lover. Trade them something for it. Then they can own it and go about their business, the business you made possible for them,’ Micah told Braden over their mindlink. Braden nodded. Then he made the offer.

  The young couple could not have been happier. They agreed to a percentage of the goods over the next cycle. All that meant was that Braden and Micah would get vegetables and mushrooms, which was no different than their current situation, but he had done the right thing. If he wanted trade to flourish, then he had to help new traders get established. It didn’t hurt that Tom was building another wagon.

  He’d be surprised when they brought the Old Tech wheel hubs. Which begged the question, when were they going back to New Sanctuary?

  “We can go in the next turn or so?” Micah offered, once they were alone.

  “Are you okay to travel?” Braden asked, unsure of what was different.

  “Of course. Let’s take the cart and I’ll ride in that, sitting using the leather strap. That may be a little easier on my backside. As long as the Prince is with us, I’ll know that the babies are okay.” Braden nodded.

  “And sooner is better. We know that Zalastar controls the road. Let’s go while that remains true. I wonder if the Medical Lab can check you out, make sure everything is okay?”

  “And maybe we can get the neural implants removed?” Micah suggested noncommittally. Braden was ready for that, but not ready. He liked having the maps in his head. Until they could get them down on paper, he didn’t want to lose his hard-gained knowledge.

  They also needed the implants to control the Old Tech in New Sanctuary. As long as they had it, no one else could get it. By carrying it inside them, they protected the world.

  “I don’t know,” Braden finally said. Micah knew that meant they wouldn’t. They’d keep the Old Tech and she’d watch closely, making sure that it didn’t take over their lives. For now, they had resisted its call. She was convinced they used the Old Tech for good. Braden’s trade of his coveted wagon demonstrated once again that his personal power wasn’t a goal. He was a rarity in the south and from what she understood, in all of Planet Vii.

  77 – New Sanctuary

  “I think that’s the best decision, Brandt,” Braden told the King of the Aurochs. They had discussed who would go to New Sanctuary. In the end, only Braden, Micah, G-War, and Aadi would travel together. If Brandt went, then Bronwyn would insist on going. Skirill couldn’t fly in the rainforest and if they spent any time at New Sanctuary, he would have nothing to do. By staying, he could watch over Bronwyn and all the villages.

  Bronwyn knew about New Sanctuary because she had seen it in their minds, but she didn’t talk about it. First-hand knowledge was different. They didn’t think she was ready for that.

  She was the first of a new generation who didn’t need the Old Tech to be superior. They wanted her to thrive on her own. Braden also saw the darkness that the Old Tech could bring. He and Micah carried it with them, but they had each other for support, to fight its seductive draw.

  They left at first light, Max in the lead and Pack behind with Micah holding the reins from her position across the leather strap at the front of the cart. G-War was in the cart on a soft blanket, while Aadi held a small length of Amazonian rope tied to Braden’s saddle. For this trip, Braden insisted on a cover for the cart, to keep the interior dry. If they were to carry a load of books, those wouldn’t fit in a case like the one he used to carry his rudder. If rain got to them, they’d be ruined. G-War agreed. He was looking forward to a trip through the rainforest that didn’t end with a wet ‘cat.

  Braden brought an oiled deerskin with him, hoping that he could stay dry, too. Max and Pack unfortunately were left to the weather. But if they were attacked, the special material from Village McCullough covered them from their ears to their tails and down below their bellies. Micah expected Bronwyn had something to do with the extensive coverings for Max and Speckles, as she called him.

  Having traveled this route before, they were well prepared. What they didn’t expect was the work the Amazonians had done on the road. Zalastar had told them moons ago that his people would repair the road, but that was before the war. They were surprised that he could fight a war and fix the road. Maybe the war wasn’t as extensive as they believed. Or Zalastar had more Amazonians at his command than they knew of.

  It made the travel easy and quick. The horses trotted much of the time. The cart was light as they carried no load, and it rolled along the surface smoothly. The Amazonians even improved the crowning of the road so the nonstop rain ran off, leaving the middle of the road firm.

  They still traveled for th
ree turns in the rain. G-War never left the cart. Aadi remained indifferent. Max and Pack were only slightly miserable. The protective material kept off most of the rain.

  Everyone appreciated seeing the sunlight peeking through the Amazon’s southern border. Without Skirill flying ahead, leaving the rainforest was less exuberant than usual. They missed him and the King. During their trip, they discovered that they could talk over their mindlink until they were most of a turn distant from their friends. Then they couldn’t hear them anymore.

  There was nothing to worry about. The trade route had been established and Brandt suggested that before the moon was out, he’d lead the caravan back to Westerly. They were all curious to see how Crabby and the village of River Crook was progressing. They also wanted to know if the rest of the people from White Beach had gone to the village under the water.

  So many questions.

  They’d see what Holly knew, but in person, not through their neural implants.

  As they approached New Sanctuary, the Security Bot hovered out to greet them. When they asked why he did that, he said that was in his programming. Their close proximity to the Bot helped confirm their identities through something it called DNA sampling. The President was welcomed back, as were her companions.

  They left the cart in the open area by the buildings, and they turned the horses loose to graze. Work expanding the fields was well underway, so Max and Pack could eat to their hearts’ content. G-War helped himself to a fresh meal of rabbit upon their arrival, then settled on the beach to sleep in the warm shade. Aadi floated around, doing as he did. The humans expected he waited for them to engage the Old Tech, so he could continue to learn and study. If anyone could design the failsafe against war, they expected it was the Tortoid. They hoped he would find an answer.