Free Trader Complete Omnibus
Page 49
“What did you hear that has bothered you like this?” he asked, knowing that she wouldn’t answer.
“The fish that bite. The crocs that attack. Even Brandt wasn’t safe. This merry band of evil tries to stop us from civilizing this world. I won’t have it!” Braden proclaimed. “Ess, can you see that school of terror fish?”
Skirill leapt from his perch and winged toward the stream. He flew toward River Crook, then back south toward the Amazon.
‘Yesss,’ he said in his thought voice, thinking as he talked. ‘I can see them. The school is swimming toward the rainforest. Crocs are with them, shepherding the fish, as humans do with sheep or pigs.’ Skirill flew back and looked at the water in each of the streams between the caravan and River Crook. They were clear.
“Brandt, can you walk?” Braden asked. The great beast stood in answer and stomped, shaking the ground. The numbweed was working. “Let’s get across all the streams now, while the fish and crocs are gone.”
They readied themselves quickly. The cart was full of unhappiness, but Micah cooed to them while G-War purred his loudest.
Aadi swam through the air over the stream, watching closely for any sign that the fish or crocs had returned. He positioned himself over the water to the south where he could give warning if anything swam past. Brandt snorted and pranced, fighting his fear of the stream. It took Skirill and Aadi’s assurances that the fish and crocs were gone before he ran, full speed across.
Braden stayed as Micah urged Speckles forward, slapping the reins on his rump to get him to move faster. He trotted into the water, then stopped for a drink. Micah was shocked and slapped the reins against his back. He looked up, confused. Fear started to grip Micah. And then a small hand appeared on her shaking arm. Bronwyn’s puffy red eyes looked up at her.
“It’s okay. C’mon, Speckles. Get us to the other side,” she said calmly. The horse pulled hard and the cart bounced across the stream. When they were on the bank, Micah let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
Braden spurred Max forward and they trotted across the stream. He stopped at the other side and turned so Max could drink, since Aadi told them it was clear.
They followed this routine across the remaining streams.
Ax and ‘Tesh held themselves up, each with their arms wrapped around their mother’s legs.
Braden looked at Brandt’s injuries. Running through the stream had washed away most of the numbweed. If they hadn’t applied it, he may not have been able to walk. It was worth it. And now the wounds were clean. When they applied more numbweed, he would be back to his old self.
They continued to River Crook where the people were happy to see them. Unfortunately, the caravan wasn’t the only thing attacked by the crocs and the mutie fish.
6 – River Crook
Crabby was first to offer his hand. “You are a welcome sight! We ain’t seen no one in ages! The last were a group from Westerly that walked here, then went back home.” Crabby looked closely, eyes wide when he saw Brandt’s injuries. He waved over a young man who showed the King of the Aurochs a place near the trees where he’d be in the shade and could lie down on a soft bed of thick grass.
Bronwyn took the numbweed and the twins to treat Brandt’s wounds.
‘Joining us has not been kind to you,’ Braden told the King over their mindlink.
‘I feel like a calf again, my friends. You have given us hope and a new life where we matter. These scratches are nothing,’ he said in his booming thought voice.
Ax and ‘Tesh attempted to climb on Brandt’s head while Bronwyn looked at each of his legs, applying a thorough coating of numbweed to the fish bites and shredded skin. Micah watched as her son was wrist deep into the Aurochs’ nostril as he attempted to climb up the King’s face.
‘I think that’s enough, you two. Let Brandt rest,’ she told them both. It didn’t change anything they were doing, so she picked them up and bodily carried them away. Braden took one of the squirmers from Micah before resuming his conversation with Crabby.
“Looks like you met the Menace, what we call sharkfish,” Crabby said. He shook his head as he looked at them. “We lost two before we figgered what was going on. They show up outta nowhere. If the crocs don’t get you, the sharkfish will.”
Yellowfin ran toward them from a field, lightening their sober moods.
“We’ve taken to posting a watch at the next bend. When he sees them coming, he screams and everyone gets away from the water. The banks here protect us. The crocs can’t climb them without exposing their underbellies. Roasted croc tail tastes pretty good, by the way.” He didn’t smile as he wasn’t trying to be funny. They were fighting for their very existence.
Braden and Micah saw the villagers of River Crook winning. They still fished. Their fields were growing. They hunted. And they killed those who would hunt them.
“We’re sorry that you lost two people to the Menace,” Micah said for both of them. Braden nodded and hung his head.
“They lived well and they died free. We have a future and we’ll do what we got to. Come, lemme show you the progress we’ve made…”
When Crabby finished the tour, Braden led him back to the cart. With little fanfare, Braden handed Crabby two of the saw blades. The Old Tech steel glistened in the daylight. Crabby, for once, was at a loss for words. With these, buildings would go up in no time.
The thirteen villagers of River Crook celebrated the caravan’s arrival. All creatures great and small were welcomed with equal joy. They traded little things and finally, with Micah’s encouragement, Braden shared his stock of sweetened pork. This was the hit of the celebration.
Braden watched longingly as the last bits were devoured. Micah squeezed his hand in sympathy.
River Crook was going to be a good village, well placed to support trade. Braden and Micah believed the loss of twenty-five crocs would delay new attacks on the village. For this, they were grateful. Twenty-five crocs was a big haul. The village had managed to kill a total of five over the last six moons.
The companions stayed four turns of the sun until Brandt’s scabs were set and he could walk without pain. Bronwyn remained with the animal companions, avoiding contact with other humans. Once Brandt was ready to go, he coaxed Bronwyn onto his neck. The others saddled up and headed out.
When they were on the road and it was just them, Braden had to know. ‘During the croc and sharkfish attack, what did you hear?’ Bronwyn shook her head, but the King’s great voice spoke to her that it was time. They could discuss it. It would make her feel better and they would know more. Knowing the enemy was the first step in being able to defeat them. That was how they had removed the Bat-Raven threat.
‘Thousands of voices screaming for blood. Sharp teeth ripping into my soul. The croc masters saw Micah. They know her as the chopper. She killed two of them with her sword. They all know this. They rally behind it.
‘They were waiting for us. Amazonians told them to wait for us at the stream. These Amazonians are different from Akhmiyar and my other friends. They are smaller, with hands, not claws, more like us than the Amazonians. I will always have nightmares because of them, I know it!’ Bronwyn buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
G-War jumped on Brandt’s face and climbed to the top of his head where he could be close to Bronwyn. He sat close and looked at her. She stopped crying and reached out a small hand to ruffle his ears.
‘Here’s what they look like,’ G-War added, taking the image from Bronwyn’s mind and sharing it with the companions’ via their mindlink.
Braden opened his neural implant and shared the picture with Holly. Braden was surprised that Holly did not have an instantaneous response. He told the human to wait.
‘Holly’s looking into it,’ was what he shared with the others. Micah squinted her eyes at him. She was used to quick answers from the neural implant. She opened hers and told Holly to share the answer with both of them, knowing that the hologram did whatever the Pres
ident told him to do.
‘Thank you for being so brave,’ Micah told Bronwyn while she waited. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to ride in the cart with Ax and ‘Tesh?’
The little girl shook her head. The view from atop the King’s head was incomparable.
Braden and Micah each stopped talking as information rolled through the Old Tech windows before their eyes. Holly analyzed the images of the new Amazonians and determined that these were the ancients’ original creations, part human from Earth and part lizard from Vii. Holly suspected these creatures had learned a way to cheat death.
It was the original Lizard Men’s responsibility to increase the population of the Amazonians to do work in the rainforest that the humans couldn’t.
These ancient mutants had improved as they could control the crocs. Whether they did it with Old Tech or with an ability like the mindlink, Holly didn’t care to guess. All that mattered was that these old creatures were dangerous. They were probably the ones who had started the Amazonian War, creating internal strife so they could take over. Then they could lead the remaining warriors against humanity.
But why now? Braden assumed it was because of New Sanctuary and the reintroduction of the Old Tech. Even if Braden and Micah hadn't traveled through the rainforest, the Amazonian War was probably inevitable. Although the ancient Lizard Men may have moved up their timeline because of the human discoveries, the end result was going to be the same. The ancient mutants sought to regain control.
‘We need the ancients on our side. Holly, we have to go to RV Traveler. The ancients from Cygnus VI have to help us fight these mutie Amazonians. Just like every other battle we’ve fought, we have to win this one.’
7 – Westerly and Back
They raced to Westerly to show the village that it wasn’t forgotten. They celebrated the building of new homes and expanding fields. Fewer, better rested people produced more. The former elder had taken himself to White Beach to live alone. No one knew what happened to him after he left; no one cared either.
Felip led by example. He worked the hardest, yet still had time to help others. Westerly was in good hands.
They spent less than a turn before returning east.
Brandt’s legs were healing well. Bronwyn’s burdens were lightened as each of the companions talked with her. Even Max and Speckles were kind, in their simple way. She cheered up and returned to being the happy girl spreading joy to all. The babies were crawling and needed her attention whenever they stopped. Braden and Micah would set up the camp and hunt, fish, or do what needed doing so they could rest at the end of the daylight’s travel. When Bronwyn was with them, they didn’t have to hobble the horses. They stayed nearby because she asked them to.
They reached River Crook by mid-daylight the second turn after leaving Westerly. They waved, asked what they wanted for the next traders who came through, then continued on.
Skirill flew ahead, then Aadi to make sure the stream crossings were clear. Once they were assured, Brandt led the way at a run the horses could match.
They didn’t stop until they were through the water and safely heading onto the Plains of Propiscius, away from the rainforest. They’d tell Candela and Tanner how to cross the streams. Braden wrote it in his new south land’s rudder. He’d let them copy the entry into their own book.
They traveled quickly across the grasslands, Brandt and the horses grazing as necessary. The others hunted each evening. Braden and Micah took turns hunting and parenting. Since Micah had learned to use the bow, Braden couldn’t monopolize hunting duties. G-War and Skirill were happy hunting with either human. They only cared that the prey was dropped with one shot, cleaned quickly, and turned over for eating.
They pushed through, turn after turn, until they rolled into Coldstream late one evening. Only a few people were still up. The companions didn’t want to wake anyone, so they slept in the cart. Brandt and the horses lay nearby.
Bronwyn woke first as Akhmiyar approached, the false dawn providing the first hint of the morning’s light. The others roused themselves. Aadi probably had not been sleeping as he appeared between the Amazonian and the cart. Bronwyn waved him aside.
Akhmiyar approached and they greeted each other. He and Bronwyn spent an uncomfortably long time talking. On occasion, the usually stoic Amazonian became visibly agitated. Bronwyn shook her head, then nodded, then watched, and nodded some more.
Braden grew impatient. He leaned forward as if his physical presence would insert him into the conversation.
It didn’t. Akhmiyar bowed and Bronwyn bowed back. The Amazonian turned and jogged silently into the rainforest, disappearing into the first shadow.
Bronwyn took a deep breath, then attempted to recount everything the Amazonian had said. Aadi was ready to fill in if needed.
The Amazonian War was going badly for Zalastar and the loyalists. Although they held superior numbers, the others were attacking Zalastar’s people in small groups. This alone would have made no difference, but the rainforest creatures came to the aid of Zalastar’s enemies. Bronwyn shared the image of the mutant Amazonian.
That was when Akhmiyar became agitated, for they had thought these creatures were long gone. Their return explained many things.
They were called the Overlords. Long ago, they showed the Amazonians how to build and maintain the road. The Overlords had Old Tech and the old ways. They were rallying the others against Zalastar, using methods known only to them. The rainforest was going to become a very dangerous place.
“That’s why we need other ancients on our side. We need to get to New Sanctuary yesterday,” Braden said. Bronwyn started getting ready to go. They were leaving before sunrise.
8 – Run!
“I need to go with you!” Bronwyn cried out loud, her lips quivering.
“No,” Micah said firmly. “You need to stay here and help take care of Axial and De’atesh. Who else can I trust with my children? Who else can we trust to be ready when we talk to you from a long ways away?” Micah touched the Old Tech on the little girl’s small belt.
“We won’t be gone long. We need you here. When we come back, there will be plenty to do and we’ll all be busy.”
There was no time to waste. Brandt could travel the fastest, so he agreed to carry them. They left the horses with Bronwyn and ran from Coldstream at sunrise.
Micah sat in front of Braden between the Aurochs’ shoulders and neck. The blanket they sat on barely made the trip survivable. Brandt jogged east, then turned into the rainforest. The newly renovated road was in perfect condition. Brandt ran, fast, then faster. Braden, Micah, G-War, Aadi, and Skirill hung on for their lives. By the time night fell, none of them remembered the journey, only the incessant bouncing, Brandt’s spine digging into them, and the rain that started shortly after they entered the aptly named rainforest.
When he finally slowed to a stop, he gulped in great breaths of air until he settled enough to graze along the side of the road. He ate whole bushes and continued devouring a wide swath of grass. The companions huddled under a single deerskin, leaning against each other to get some sleep. Aadi hovered overhead, acting as a roof to keep some rain from them.
When they roused, they were sore and still tired. Brandt was asleep. They took care of their morning business and waited. The great beast had spent too much energy the turn before.
When he awoke, he ate what was left of the grass and other greens, then told the others that he felt great. When they regained their perch on his back, he took off at a slow jog. He worked the kinks out of his muscles until he could increase his speed. He flew forward this time, not slowing or resting until the rain stopped and the sun south of the rainforest shone on them. They’d crossed the rainforest in less than two turns, an incredible feat by a magnificent creature.
They climbed down into the open air. Skirill flew above them to watch. G-War sprawled in the sun to dry out. Braden and Micah stripped, leaving their clothes on the ground while they enjoyed the sun’s heat.
Braden and Micah thought it was because the Amazonians knew they’d be run over if they got in front of a stampeding Aurochs.
Brandt found plenty of fresh fodder at the southern edge of the rainforest. Braden was pleased to see what looked like cart tracks heading east and nothing going south or southwest. The Development Unit had done what he asked.
The other companions hunted and enjoyed fresh rabbit and fresh tubers. They only killed what they were going to eat right then. Although they saw a tender buck, they let him go. They didn’t need that much food. He’d be somewhere close when they returned.
With a few last mouthfuls, the King declared himself ready to finish the journey. They climbed aboard Brandt for a sprint to the land oasis that was New Sanctuary. The King of the Aurochs looked forward to grazing the expanded fields.
9 – Ready to Fly
‘Are you sure I can go?’ Skirill asked for the twelfth time.
“Yes. Holly says the ship is large with wide open spaces. He said that you might not feel like you’re inside at all. If the ship is that big, we will need you. The only reason Brandt isn’t going is that he won’t fit in the corridors between the ship’s core areas.
“Our greatest advantage is our mindlink. We can talk without using the neural implant. Plus, Micah and I can talk with Holly at any time. We’ll need him because we won’t know what we’re looking at. Our trip has two goals. The first is to link the ship with Holly so that he can take care of all the technical stuff. The second is to clear the space around the matter transfer area. The survivors from Cygnus VI will need space to stay while the transportation takes place. Holly said it’ll take many turns for the survivors to get to the Traveler and many more to transfer them to New Sanctuary.