Free Trader Complete Omnibus

by Craig Martelle

  “Maybe you should try fishing their way,” Bronwyn suggested. Caleb furrowed his brow, not understanding. He was a master fisherman.

  Bronwyn impatiently took his pole and pointed to the water in the well deck. “Jump in,” she commanded. Caleb felt like he could swim like a fish and wasn’t willing to be proven wrong. He took off his shirt and dove into the water. The two Dolphins swam circles around him, which he found slightly disconcerting because he could only think of them as sharks.

  They lined up side by side. Caleb looked to the trio standing over him. “Grab on,” Bronwyn said, stabbing a finger toward her two friends. Caleb turned, still treading water, and wrapped a big hand around each Dolphin’s dorsal fin. Instantly, they shot toward the open ocean at a speed Caleb never dreamed possible. He squinted as he was battered against the waves, salt spray hitting his face like rocks blown in a strong wind.

  They jumped from the water and turned, nose first, toward a trough. Caleb took a deep breath and the three of them plunged beneath the waves. They raced downward toward a school of tuna that were bigger than what he was used to. The Dolphins dodged one way, then another. Caleb lost his grip on one of the two, changing hands to get a better grip on his remaining ride.

  Rhodi headed into the school, scattering the fish, while Chlora, with Caleb, hesitated for a heartbeat. The big fisherman was starting to run out of air and was thinking of kicking for the surface. Chlora dashed forward and grabbed a fish that had just turned toward her when Rhodi raced past with another in his mouth. Their tails worked to propel them upward. They broke the surface and continued until both Chlora and Caleb were completely out of the water.

  The Dolphin splashed into the top of the wave, using the tuna in her mouth to keep her from going back under. Rhodi joined her and they swam back to the Warden, into the well deck, and deposited Caleb next to the deck where the others stood.

  “Ha!” he yelled, splashing the water and pumping his fist. “That was some real fishing.” With a smile splitting his face, he climbed from the water, where Chlora and Rhodi both gave him their fish, before heading back toward the school to get one of their own.

  It took an intervention from Holly to be able to build a fire on the garden level, much to the Rabbits’ dismay, but Caleb wanted everyone to share in what the sea offered without sending it through the fabricator first. They prepared the meal and then sat on the deck outside. It was early afternoon and the sky was perfect, the sea rolling gently.

  Pik, Aadi, the Hawkoids, and the ‘cats enjoyed their tuna steaks raw, while the rest ate what Caleb had personally cooked for them. There was plenty for all. The Rabbits continued to be disgusted by the concept of eating flesh, but they remained with the others because the company and conversation were both good. The scientists were nowhere to be found, although Braden had invited them, even asking Holly to cut the power to their laboratories until they made an appearance. Holly wouldn’t do it.

  ‘I think it’s time,’ Aadi told them all over the mindlink.

  “Time for what?” Caleb asked.

  ‘To bury my eggs. I hope I can hold out until we arrive. It just wouldn’t do to nest in the dirt of the garden level. There seems to be a distinct lack of sand anywhere on the ship.’

  “Pick up the pace, Holly. We have Tortoids coming!” Braden yelled.

  The Babies

  They landed at the cove, where everyone raced off except Brandt. Rexalita wasn’t with them as she stayed closer to the island, in much deeper water. Chlora and Rhodi were there, but they couldn’t carry the Aurochs. The Warden pulled in as close as it could get and it still wasn’t close enough.

  The Queen, Denon, and Malo showed up as the ship was making its way toward shore. They’d found better grazing not far off and had made that their home while they waited for Brandt, the King of the Aurochs, and his companions to return.

  While the others looked on helplessly, Brandt backed up to the other side of the ship. He pawed the deck and started running. He hit the edge and leapt, not clearing much ocean before he splashed down and sunk beneath the waves.

  “Brandt!” Braden screamed and ran into the ocean, diving into the waves. Chlora and Rhodi came alongside the Aurochs as he pawed the sand and struggled to walk to the shore. When he pushed off, he floated a little off the bottom, before falling back for another push. When his hooves weren’t touching the sand, the Dolphins positioned themselves under his sides. They swam hard and the King moved forward a great leap. One more and he was almost where he could get his head out of the water. A final surge and he was into the waves, walking forward. He gulped in a great breath of air and stopped, focusing on breathing.

  Braden swam up beside him, rubbing Brandt’s ear and stroking his head.

  ‘If you go to sea again, I won’t be going with you. Don’t take it personally,’ Brandt said in his booming thought voice. Braden was relieved and hung on as the King of the Aurochs strolled from the ocean, head held high, ecstatic to be on solid ground once again.

  The companions’ relief at having Brandt ashore was quickly forgotten as Aadi started moaning. They grabbed the first patch of sand that was well above the water line and received sunlight throughout most of the day. Micah started digging first with her hands, but the Queen bumped her out of the way and with two quick paws at the ground, a trench was dug, deep but not into the cool sand.

  They helped Aadi over it and he descended until his legs touched, then he carefully laid one egg after another, ten of the them. Six looked fresh, but as he’d known, four of them had been killed by the Security Bot’s attack. He used his face to push these to the side. When the others hatched, the shells and their unborn brothers would be buried together. Aadi kicked sand over the eggs and settled down to wait. He didn’t have to stay, but Tortoids were unique. In order to maximize hatchings with such few eggs, they were almost ready to hatch the second they were laid.

  The companions loaded what they had into the wagons, set up a campsite on the beach, and made themselves comfortable.

  “G, is there any game nearby? Nothing like hunting to make the time go by.” Braden hoped that G-War found something. He wanted to stretch his legs, see the land before him.

  ‘Yes,’ the ‘cat said and raced into the brush. Braden’s bow had been on the ship, but he hadn’t taken it ashore. It would have been of no use against the Bots, but he was happy to string it and feel its power in his hands. He took two arrows with him, a hunter’s challenge, and ran after G-War. Treetis passed him, while Fealona kept him company. Bounder and Strider soon overtook them, slapping the ground with their spears as they ran after the two orange ‘cats.

  “I’m not going to get a shot, am I?” Braden asked Fea as he slowed to a walk. Fea shrugged.

  ‘You can take a shot,’ she started slowly, ‘if you don’t mind shooting something that’s already dead.’

  A Hillcat’s scream filled the air. Braden thought that it was probably Treetis. Then a Wolfoid’s growl, bark, and howl suggested that Bounder and Strider had found their own prey.

  When Braden and Fea reached them, two deer, a doe and a buck, were close to each other, both victims of the hunt. Braden put his bow down, disappointed in not getting to participate, but he knew he couldn’t outrun the others. Sometimes it was better to accept your place, as Braden was learning to do.

  He pulled out his skinning knife and started cleaning the deer.

  The Wolfoids helped him drag the two carcasses back to the beach. Braden intended to smoke any excess meat to carry on their journey back to New Sanctuary.

  Micah had heard the kill and started a fire. It was burning nicely by the time Braden returned. He butchered the meat and started putting the strips over the fire when the first egg started to crack.

  “Damn, Aadi! You couldn’t wait until after lunch?” Braden joked, but it still earned him a punch in the arm. Four Aurochs, a Lizard Man, three Hawkoids, two Rabbits, two Wolfoids, three Hillcats, and four humans gathered to watch six Tortoid babies being bo
rn. Aadi was focused on the eggs. He didn’t blink. They couldn’t tell if he was breathing.

  The first Tortoid cracked through the shell and crawled out. It was little bigger than Braden’s hand, and its fat little legs could barely hold it up. It took two steps before it started hovering. It didn’t move very far before it opened its beak-like mouth and made a cawing sound.

  ‘Quick, bring fresh meat!’ Aadi ordered.

  ‘I love them!’ Bronwyn said to no one’s surprise.

  ‘Little Daksha, you are my first and I am proud of you,’ Aadi cooed to the baby Tortoid that cried with hunger. The others cracked through their shells in order. The companions each took turns feeding them raw venison from small sticks. Fea fed them from pieces skewered on a claw. The male ‘cats couldn’t be bothered with the children. Fea committed to teaching her two orange men yet another lesson when the time was right.

  Even the Rabbits took a turn.

  Braden couldn’t tell them apart, but didn’t want to let his friend know that. Micah smirked at him, suggesting that Aadi already knew.

  And the Tortoid could not have been prouder. Six baby Tortoids, which he didn’t consider bad for a new parent at two hundred cycles old. He was the most well-traveled Tortoid both on and off Vii, and he wanted that for his children, too.

  * * *

  This is the end of Free Trader 6 – Free Trader on the High Seas

  Book 7: Southern Discontent

  * * *

  Free Trader Series

  Book 7

  * * *

  By Craig Martelle

  Humans and the Intelligent Creatures

  The Hillcats (‘cats)

  The Golden Warrior – also called G, G-War, and Prince Axial De’atesh, can share his mindlink with others

  Shauna & Klytus – G-War’s children, bonded with Braden & Micah’s twins

  Fealona – from G-War’s home village and his mate

  Treetis – A young ‘cat, very much like G-War

  * * *

  The Humans

  Braden – The Free Trader

  Micah – The Warrior, Partnered with Braden

  Axial & De’atesh – Braden and Micah’s twin children

  Bronwyn – Gifted child, able to speak with all creatures

  Dr. Johns – a clone, leader of the survivors from Cygnus VI

  Zeller – a Free Trader, from Trent, the same village as Micah

  Young Tom – a blacksmith from Whitehorse, Zeller’s partner

  Mattie & Caleb – Micah’s parents

  * * *

  The Wolfoids

  Bounder & Gray Strider – the alpha and his mate, leaders of the pack

  Cygnus Standing – the first Wolfoid born on Cygnus VII

  * * *

  The Hawkoids

  Skirill – also called Ess

  Zyena – Skirill’s mate, born on the RV Traveler, also called Zee

  Zeeka – Skirill and Zyena’s daughter, first Hawkoid born in the south

  * * *

  The Tortoids

  Aadi – First Master of the Tortoise Consortium

  Daksha – Aadi’s first born

  * * *

  The Aurochs

  Brandt Earthshaker – King of the Aurochs

  Arnie – Zeller’s partner in trade, pulls her wagon

  The Queen – Brandt’s queen that he rescued from Toromont’s Run

  Cragmore – the Aurochs that Bronwyn rides

  * * *

  The Lizard Men (Amazonians)

  Pik Ha’ar – Lizard Man from the ship RV Traveler and friend

  * * *

  The Rabbits

  Heloysius and Luciana – a Rabbit couple living at New Sanctuary

  * * *

  The Dolphins

  Chlora & Rhodi – genetically engineered creatures of the sea

  * * *

  The Whale

  Rexalita – engineered from a Sperm Whale, the largest creature on Vii

  The Raid on Livestel

  An arrow thudded into the Wolfoid’s shoulder. Her cry of pain pierced the cool, morning calm.

  Farthest afield from Livestel, she turned to call for help, but the town was too far away. Her head spun as she started to fall. The livestock grazed, oblivious to her anguish. Her eyes rolled back in her head, leaving the shadow of a pack of humans in the back of her mind.

  Humans, carrying bows and arrows, running toward Livestel, her home.

  The chill morning air affected the old and young alike. The pups and younger Wolfoids were more energetic while the oldsters were less so, shuffling about as the blood flowed sluggishly through old veins.

  The day was clear and the animals grazed. Domesticated pork, raised for two purposes—to feed the Wolfoids and to trade for goods that the town needed.

  “Get down!” White Mountain cried from her padded seat. She remained on the rounded cushion lying on the ground, having no inclination to chase after the errant pup. To a human ear, her words would have sounded like yips and growls.

  To the pup, they sounded like a general’s command. The pup hung its head as it slowly climbed from the roof of a storage shed. He had intended to jump onto the roof and pounce on his playmates, but White Mountain was having none of it.

  A new plan was in order. When he hit the ground, he bolted around the side of the nearest building.

  White Mountain shook her head. Where do they find the energy, she thought.

  Was that movement? White Mountain turned her graying muzzle toward it. Just the herd grazing. Where was Running Stream? She was on duty that morning. Probably on the far side, chasing a stray. Nothing else caught her eye. She turned back, in time to catch another one of the pups just before he got into trouble.

  Running Stream winced, remembering the arrow but not how she ended up on the ground. How long have I been out? she wondered, but the men were there, not far ahead, crouched low and running toward Livestel. She levered onto her side and forced herself to stand shakily on three legs. She looked for her walking stick, but couldn’t see it. Waves of red swept across her vision.

  “To arms! To arms!” she called weakly. The herd continued to graze, unfazed by the emergency, unmoved by the near-whispered shout. She started to lope, using the ungainly three-legged gait of an injured Wolfoid. She abandoned the herd as she made it to two legs and started to run, waving her good foreleg as she sought the attention of her people.

  The running men closed on the town, increasing the distance between them and Running Stream. She was falling behind.

  She was failing her town, failing her people.

  One of the men turned back. Spotting her, he quickly nocked an arrow and fired. Running Stream dove to the ground, grunting with the impact. She stayed down, until an arrow dug into the ground by her side. She jumped to her feet with renewed vigor and ran to the side, dodging as she went. Stream never knew if they fired more arrows at her.

  Her breath came in ragged gasps. She saw only escape and was running toward it, informing the town of the danger disappeared in her blind panic.

  White Mountain clapped her hands to get the attention of two furballs rolling in the dirt. They stopped and looked at her.

  “Enough of that. I swear, you pups will be the life of me!” she cursed. They started to walk away before one darted and the other took off after him.

  An arrow thudded into the framework of the building behind her. She looked at it dumbly, not understanding what she was seeing. She cocked her head one way, then the other. A squeal ripped from her as a second arrow dug deeply into her chest. She gasped and panted, unable to catch her breath. She reached for the pups to protect them and fell on her face.

  Men ran into town, shouting at any Wolfoid they saw. The pups fled from the onslaught, while arrows flew at their rapidly retreating forms. The men kicked in doors and pulled oldsters out, propelling them toward the center of town. They let those go who were fleeing into the field.

  The morning’s crisp air settled in an uneasy
calm over Livestel. The yelling stopped, leaving only the sound of whimpers and the breeze in the nearby trees.

  “Can we help White Mountain?” one of the older Wolfoids asked in her native tongue.

  “Shut up, you,” the man replied. To him, the Wolfoid hadn’t used language, but had only made dog noises. He growled at the creature, pointing an arrow nocked to his bowstring. “You understand this, don’t you?”

  He laughed with a crooked smile and some of his gruff fellows joined him.

  They didn’t search all the buildings, only the ones around the town square. Just enough to be sure that they wouldn’t get a nasty surprise.

  “What are you waiting for?” the old Wolfoid asked, quickly holding up his hands and looking away when the man pulled back and prepared to unleash an arrow.

  Time crawled as the pups gathered themselves. The oldest of the bunch, Cygnus Standing, the first born on Vii, rallied the pups.

  “What are we doing? We’re not cowards!” Cygnus barked. “White Mountain needs our help. They all need our help. They can’t shoot us all, so we’ll run as fast as we can, right at them. Can you run fast like the wind?”

  The other pups nodded, but their eyes were wide, the whites showing their fear. No choice, Cygnus thought.

  A large hunting party had left the town the day before and gone into the rainforest. They wouldn’t return until nightfall. The pups were the town’s only hope, unless they wanted to live their lives in shame. That thought raised Cygnus Standing’s hackles. “We’re all our oldsters have. Follow me, spread out behind me. I’ll act as a shield so they can’t see you. They have bows, so when we get within range, you must run like you’re chasing a rabbit that doesn’t wish to be caught.”