The humans met and hugged, shaking hands heartily. The desert could be unforgiving and it could also show what creatures are made of.
Until they realized that they forgot to pick up Aadi when they passed.
‘Aadi! Master Aadi, can you hear me?’ Braden called over the mindlink as he looked into the desert, squinting against the sun and shimmer. Something bumped against his back. He turned to see Aadi behind him, blinking slowly.
“Aadi! Why didn’t you tell us you were here?”
‘I told the Golden Warrior as you approached. When you awoke, you seemed quite preoccupied with the health of the others, as you always are. So I left you to it. We finished early and I’m sorry to say that none of the others showed any interest in the affairs of the humans. Oh my! What do we have here?’ Aadi said as they moved toward the lake. It seemed as if all thirty-four ‘cats were sleeping in one pile under the shade of a tree and a bush at its base.
“G was more than a little successful convincing some of his fellow Hillcats to join us. We have some water buffalo, a couple horses, and a blacksmith, too.” Braden waved at Tom, who nodded pleasantly. G-War hadn’t worked with Tom’s mind to help him hear the other creatures, so he watched and was cordial, but didn’t hear the vast majority of conversations around him.
Braden didn’t worry. G-War would make it happen in his own time. Maybe Fea could do it. But that was an affair best left to the ‘cats.
Another Sacrifice
The caravan spent an entire turn at Oasis 03. The Development Unit started acting quirky, finally giving up trying to save the field from the animals enjoying its guilty pleasures. If Braden and Micah didn’t know better, they would have thought that its feelings were hurt. In the end, it locked itself in the maintenance shed and refused to come out until the caravan left.
Braden felt so bad that he called Holly. ‘Can you let the Development Unit know that its field served a magnificent purpose, as it was supposed to in feeding those who travel the Great Desert. This oasis has saved our lives for a second time. Please tell him that his efforts made it possible,’ Braden pleaded.
‘I assure you, Master Braden, that the Unit has no such feelings and does not need your platitudes. I don’t know how it could even process your gratitude. It doesn’t have the programming for it,’ Holly replied, confused at Braden’s odd request.
‘Holly! It locked itself in the maintenance shed!’
‘I’m sure it did not, Master Braden. You are always kidding with me. If it’s in the shed, it probably needed maintenance. It can follow no other course of action,’ Holly replied, confident in its understanding of how the Bots on Vii worked.
Braden remained unconvinced and closed his neural implant. Micah watched in good humor. “It’ll come out when we leave and start working to repair the fields. It saved our lives, whether it can know that or not. It looks like the water buffalo won’t be leaving a whole lot behind. We’ll bundle some of the plants to take with us, but not too much. Did you give some of the fresh meat to Tiskanay?”
Braden nodded. He’d done that before Micah had arrived with the rest of the livestock, just in case any of the beasts wandered too close. The Gila Monster had eaten her fill and had been sleeping ever since. Braden was still surprised that he hadn’t seen or heard from Aadi when he arrived. He was busy, but never too busy for his friends.
Aadi was less than forthcoming about the Tortoise Consortium, but Braden and Micah kept after him. Even G-War seemed interested.
‘I’m afraid there’s not much to tell. There are still only four of us and that was the main topic of discussion. They didn’t care about my adventures with the humans and compared to that, they have done nothing,’ Aadi said, sounding frustrated.
“What were you expecting?” Braden asked honestly, but earned him a punch in the arm from Micah.
‘I was expecting them to listen and that maybe even one or two of them would want to meet you. I was not expecting their complete disdain.’
“I’m sorry, Aadi. I didn’t mean to sound like I was judging. That wasn’t it. I have no idea what to expect, and guess that I never will since the other Tortoids will avoid us,” Braden said as a way of apology.
‘I’ve decided that it is my responsibility to bring new Tortoids into the world. So I shall begin that process when we arrive back south. I will need heat and the desert when the time comes.’
“Holy crap!” Braden blurted. Micah rested a hand on his shell and congratulated him. “Don’t you need a lady Tortoid or something?”
‘Sometimes, Master Braden, I think you don’t listen to me at all. We’ve already covered this. Tortoids reproduce individually. I will create the eggs and carry them for a certain time, then I need to deposit them in hot sand for the final stage. I should have something like ten hatchlings, but being much older than the norm, I may have fewer,’ Aadi stated.
Braden couldn’t reply. He always thought of Aadi as a grandfatherly type, not an individual who could produce a new family. Braden settled for slapping Aadi on the shell and congratulating him, hoping to get the chance to name one of the little guys.
‘No,’ was all Aadi said to that request as he turned and casually swam toward the lake, floating higher to avoid getting bumped by the water buffalo.
One of the kittens started howling and yowling. Fea was off like a shot with G-War close behind. Braden and Micah ran after them, not knowing what had happened but that something was wrong.
They raced around the lake toward the area where the Seeders had been isolated. A water buffalo had wandered too close and had been peppered with seeds from all three plants. The ‘cat who was linked to that beast was in a bawling mess as the water buffalo staggered back toward the lake, stumbled, and fell.
“We need to get that out of here. We don’t need any more Seeders and especially not right here on the beach,” Braden told them, waving at Brandt. He had the strength to drag the dying beast into the desert, although he didn’t want to do it. The other choice was to burn the beast using their blasters right there, but what would that do to the rest of the ‘cats and livestock?
“I’ll go with you,” Braden offered as he used some of the northern rope to tie the water buffalo’s legs together with a loop on the other end to throw over one of Brandt’s horns. The kitten cried intensely as he watched his beast dying. Fea and G-War asked if they could come along and bring the kitten.
Brandt started pulling. The water buffalo left a rut in the sand as Brandt dragged it. Its life force faded as they made it past the lake, along the widest trail, and away from the oasis into the desert. The kitten got to say its goodbyes and then Fea and G-War walked it back into the oasis. Braden untied the rope, thanking Brandt for his help, and waited for him to return to the oasis. When Braden and Micah were the only ones left, they stood with their backs to the oasis, dialed the flame setting on their blasters and fired, burning the dead beast and killing the Seeders within.
A dark cloud of smoke trailed into the sky.
02, then 01, then…
The caravan made its way as quickly as possible, hoping to make Oasis 02 in one night. That didn’t happen.
The water buffalo ate too much and then drank too much. They moved sluggishly the first night, so they had to erect the tent and everyone piled underneath it. Although it was a big tent, Holly only constructed it for an exact need. There was no spare room and over fifty very large animals generated a great deal of heat, and as it turned out, methane from ingesting such quantities of soybeans. The humans could barely tolerate the smell, but the ‘cats were even less able to deal with it. Everyone suffered except the water buffalo, horses, and Aurochs. Arnie and Brandt seemed unfazed and although they didn’t admit it, probably added to the noxious gases that refused to leave the confines of the tent.
They left well before sunset, braving the heat of the desert, knowing that they’d arrive at the oasis halfway through the night. They passed around the water, making sure everyone drank. G-War worked his m
agic and declared that he didn’t think any of the animals were at risk of dying.
Oasis 02 was a disappointment for the kittens since there was nothing for their animals to eat and very little shade. The humans set up the tent partially over the lake to provide both shade and water while they rested, but as soon as evening came, they’d be on their way.
The livestock picked up the pace as they had nothing to hold them back and everything waiting on them at Oasis 01. The kitten who’d lost his water buffalo found a new friend and they moved smartly with the herd. G-War and Fea were pleased with the efforts of the young ‘cats. Fea told them all, but G-War didn’t, thinking it would make them soft giving them praise for the mundane. This led to a healthy argument between all those listening as they each contributed their own definition of “mundane.”
G-War refused to be persuaded, although he was significantly outnumbered. His point was that they needed to learn that although this wasn’t mundane until recently, it was their new world. He wanted them to toughen up. He pointed to his scarred body. How could any of the ‘cats be ready for this if they received a thank you for casually riding a water buffalo? Fea gently stroked his scars with a paw, suggesting that she hoped none of the ‘cats had to deal with anything like that, but expected they’d surprise Prince Axial De’atesh with what they were capable of.
He smirked at her, but didn’t argue further.
Bounder considered that to be G-War’s best answer to Fea’s statement, which earned him a scowl from Gray Strider. Skirill stayed silent as well, having already had the argument with Zyena about how much danger their children should be exposed to.
The arrival at Oasis 01 was anticlimactic as they strolled in like they owned the place as dawn’s first light showed them the green fields and tall trees. The water buffalo went to the lake, then to the fields. The Development Unit was nowhere to be seen, so they expected Holly had prepared it for the onslaught headed its way.
Micah showed Tom and Zeller how to get a room, how the fabricator worked, some recommended meals, and how the bathroom worked. They didn’t see them for two turns after that.
The young ‘cats and kittens were completely taken by the opportunity to hunt. The javelina ran here, there, and everywhere, terrified at the influx of predators. G-War had to stop them all, drag some of them back to the lake, and instruct them on how to make a kill. He had to close his eyes and take deep calming breaths. A Hillcat that didn’t know how to hunt. It was almost enough to give him heart failure.
The companions watched it all with great amusement, not so much because of G-War’s efforts to teach the young ‘cats, but because they knew that for three cycles he’d begged for the company of other Hillcats. It reinforced the adage of “be careful what you ask for, you may get it.”
Braden and Micah also acquired a room and enjoyed what it had to offer, sharing pot pies with Skirill and Zyena as the javelina population was quickly eliminated, despite G-War’s efforts to convince the kittens to leave some for the next time. Treetis was the first to make a kill, even though he wasn’t the largest or the fastest. G-War took great pride in the young ‘cat’s kill, beaming as a proud dad might.
“I’m pretty sure there’s going to be some fireworks between the new ‘cats and G’s other litter. The first thing Klytus will want to do is fight the newcomers. He’s their size, but only because they’re half-grown!” Micah lamented.
‘I’ll handle my children,’ G-War snipped. ‘All of them. Maybe we just have a big fight off, let them all get it out of their system, and then we find homes for this brood.’
‘We’ll do nothing of the sort, my little scrubbykins,’ Fea purred over the mindlink.
Coffee spewed from Braden’s nose. He started coughing and gagging. “Scrubbykins?” Micah punched him, but turned away so the Golden Warrior couldn’t see her laugh. She grabbed a handful of her partner’s shirt and dragged him back into the room, closing the door behind her. Skirill and Zyena almost fell out of their tree. Bounder and Zyena dropped their spears and bounced up and down.
G-War had often taken pleasure in the others’ familial discomforts in the past. He looked at his companions, the other ‘cats, and finally to Fealona. Maybe this was what he was looking for all along, to have a little bit of what the others so readily enjoyed with their mates. He exhaled long and loud.
‘Okay, you win,’ G-War told Fea, rubbing his body past hers in the traditional way that mates did, ‘partner mine.’
The South
The caravan took two turns to make the northern border of the Plains of Propiscius. Micah yelled at Braden and anyone else who would listen as they spent one last day trying to sleep under the tent.
“No!” she screamed. “I won’t spend one more minute in this tent with these creatures. They fart. They never stop farting. I think that’s all they do. They turn their food into a hideous smell. The stench is in my clothes, Braden!”
Braden and the others pushed the wagon to the edge of the tent so it partially stuck out where the sun’s rays baked mercilessly. Micah slept in the back, just out of the sun but with enough fresh air to keep her happy. No one could disagree with her, but there wasn’t much they could do about it. Braden wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her this angry about something. He sniffed his shirt. The smell really was in their clothes.
The plains started with scrub trees and short, dry grasses. The water buffalo spread out to graze, but they needed to move farther south before they’d find the grasses that were good for them. They rallied the tired kittens to keep the livestock moving toward the lake where Braden and Micah first met. The grass was good and there was plenty of water.
“Where are these beasties going to find a home?” Zeller asked. Braden had always assumed Dwyer, but on second thought, there were other villages that could use the boost that the livestock would provide. Braden shrugged. Maybe it didn’t need to be his decision.
“How about you take them where they will best serve the people of the south? Find ranchers who will help the herd to grow. I’m sure you and Tom will make a good decision.” Braden shook their hands. The deal was done.
“I’m proud of you,” Micah told him as they watched Tom and Zeller talk excitedly in the Old Tech wagon. “I know you don’t want to let go.”
“That was easier than I thought it would be,” he confided, even though he knew there were no secrets between them. “I think it’s time that we rescue the kids from your mother,” he added playfully.
“I couldn’t agree more. Who knows what we’ll have to break them of.”
Braden nodded before accessing their mindlink. ‘We’re going after the kids. Who’s coming with us?’ he asked the companions.
Skirill and Zyena had always enjoyed their trips to the coast where two of their hatchlings lived. The ocean breeze made for great flying, plus they enjoyed the fish that the village of Trent always had in great abundance.
Bounder and Gray Strider had enough of the water buffaloes and were happy to join Braden and Micah. Brandt said goodbye to Arnie and congratulated him on his work to keep the whole caravan moving when the King could not. He winked at the young bull and told him that even though the arrow wounds had healed, the cows would find the scars to be enticing.
‘G?’ Braden asked, wondering.
‘Not this time, Braden. We have to make sure all of these kittens are well taken care of, find good people and good homes. I know that you’ll get Ax, ‘Tesh, and those two urchins of mine and then you’ll rejoin us. By then, Fea and I will be ready to go with you. In my place, because I know that you cannot be trusted to look after yourself, Treetis will accompany you. He has my full confidence to keep you out of trouble as I would do,’ G-War finished as his mate nuzzled him. G-War and Fea jumped from the King’s head into the wagon and they waved as Brandt trotted away.
Treetis brought his water buffalo to the edge of the herd where Braden could ride alongside without upsetting the livestock. The ‘cat spent a few heartbeats giving the beast
instructions before leaping into Braden’s lap. The ‘cat looked like a younger, healthier Golden Warrior. Braden scratched behind his ears, but the ‘cat batted his hand away, before fixing him with his ‘cat stare.
Micah watched it all as she heeled her horse into a run, letting her hair trail behind her as they headed toward the ocean. Brandt ran past, accepting the challenge of the race. The Wolfoids tried to keep up with the Aurochs while the Hawkoids easily flew far ahead, looking to keep the companions free from any dangers. Braden looked at the dust from those running ahead.
“It looks like just you and me, little man.” Braden leaned over the ‘cat as his horse picked up speed.
‘The ocean?’ Treetis asked.
“Water. Endless water that’s salty. You can’t drink it, but the fish that come from there? They are some choice eating. I’m sure G-War had to tell you about that.”
‘No, he didn’t, but he did say that we’d have to find our own way on Vii and beyond,’ Treetis replied.
“As do we all, little man. As do we all…”
The beauty of the sea
The freedom of the open ocean
Serenity of waves lapping
The fury of unconquered waters
Acknowledgments
James M. Ward helped me with an element of Free Trader Six’s plot that was bothering me. Just talking with Jim over a casual lunch cleared everything up in short order. Jim is a master at figuring things out and he is a superb mentor to those of us finding our way in this business. Thank you, Jim, and in your honor, the ship in this story is called the Warden.
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