The elevator doors opened to the empty corridor they’d first passed through. They took a left and started walking, no longer conscious of how they’d adjusted to the ship’s spin while walking.
‘I feel good. I can walk,’ Neeson said.
“Hold on,” Tom told Zeller. She stopped to watch as Tom slowly put the ‘cat on all fours. Neeson took a few steps, jumped into the air, and then jumped higher. He bolted toward the door to engineering, drifting to the side until he bounced off the wall. He didn’t care. He adjusted and accelerated. He didn’t slow when he reached the end, but leapt into the air and kicked off, racing back toward Tom and Zeller.
The two held hands as they walked toward him, lifting them as he flew beneath. He ran nearly to the other end of the corridor, almost a full kilometer, before turning and running back. He caught up to Tom and Zeller as they opened the door. Neeson’s chest heaved with his efforts.
“It is good to have you back,” Tom told the ‘cat.
‘It is good to be back,’ Neeson replied. ‘I’m sorry for all of it, for being a burden when I couldn’t fend for myself. I will make it up to you.’
“A burden?” Tom looked skeptical. “It’s what friends do for each other. What do you say we get back in the matter transfer chamber and go home? I don’t know about you, but I could use a good puke.”
Zeller elbowed the big blacksmith in the ribs.
He looked back sheepishly. “You know we’re gonna.”
“I guess so. My stomach already hurts.”
‘I’m oh for one in that department,’ Neeson stated. ‘Because I’m a ‘cat and we’re better at some things, maybe most things.’
“Humility being your greatest trait.” Tom put Neeson over his shoulder as he climbed the ladder from the catwalk down to the engineering deck. “Are we supposed to wait for the scientists?”
Zeller shrugged, pulled the comm device, and called Holly.
“They won’t be returning for a while as they are starting to work with the systems in order to bring the ship back to life. They are taking the first steps in humanity’s return to space.”
“But we’re already in space,” Zeller answered.
“To explore further, Free Trader Zeller. Go beyond the boundaries of the Traveler and see what’s out there.”
“You can count us out, Holly.” Tom gave Zeller the thumbs up before she continued. “Fire up the mat trans. We’re coming home.”
Parting Ways
Bronwyn sat tall on Cragmore. Treetis sat next to her. Zeeka circled lazily overhead. The King of the Aurochs was nearby, holding his head proudly as he watched the herd graze.
“Preening?” Braden whispered.
“Oh yeah,” Micah replied. A number of young men stood in a row. The Rabbits were trying to explain via Bronwyn what the farmers needed to do, but the men only had eyes for the willowy young woman. She was trying not to smile as she repeated what the Rabbits were saying, giving the young men their instructions.
The twins held onto their parents while the Wolfoids gnawed on great slices of salmon jerky that the twins had discovered the Warden’s fabricators could produce.
Gailey stood next to Vii’s first couple.
“You have to leave?” she asked.
“We do,” Micah replied, “but the Aurochs and Bronwyn will remain, along with Treetis and Zeeka.”
“Treetis and Zeeka?”
“That regal Hillcat and the Hawkoid circling overhead.”
Treetis tried to act like he didn’t know they were talking about him.
G-War and Fea pranced impatiently. “What?”
‘I’m really not sure you humans can be in charge of anything. You make a dog’s breakfast out of it all!’ the ‘cat retorted.
“I don’t know how to answer that, G. I think we do okay, but your advice is always appreciated. Just like the sage words that Aadi shares.” Braden tipped his head at the Tortoid.
‘It is settled then,’ Aadi replied.
“What is settled?” Braden wondered aloud, feeling more and more like he’d missed a meeting.
‘I shall go with Brandt and one of the cows as we return north with the Wolfoids and their spears. We will collect the wagon from where we hid it and return to New Sanctuary by way of Livestel.’
“Damn. I did miss a meeting. Where was I?”
“Oversleeping,” Micah replied.
He did like the bed in the captain’s quarters. It reminded him of the presidential suite’s bed in New Sanctuary.
“That leaves …” Braden looked around and started counting as he pointed. “Us, G-War, Fea, Skirill, Zyena, and it looks like that’s all who are coming with us on the ship.”
“I think Chester and Hope will be joining us.”
“Who?”
“Future Free Traders. They only need someone to guide them.” Micah knew how to convince Braden.
“Sounds good. I think your parents are going to be surprised when we pull up in the Warden.”
“Just a lot.”
Micah and Braden shook hands with Gailey, wished her well, and headed for the ship.
Bronwyn and the Rabbits waved good-bye. Bronwyn thought about her new role as the anchor of the southernmost point on the expanding trade route. Southport needed a central market with stalls, a place to park wagons, keep horses, livestock, Aurochs companions, houses for visitors, and so much more.
Is this what it’s like to be an adult? She scowled before realizing that the young men were watching. She smiled back at them, and they sighed in relief. I’m going to like being an adult.
Tom and Zeller held their stomachs after the post-transfer power-puking. Neeson waited until he could jump to a clear spot on the floor of the matter transfer chamber. The wall slid to the side and they walked out, picking up their pace on their way to the elevator. They kept drifting sideways as they walked.
“This is new,” Tom said, his lip curling in disgust.
They reached the elevator and punched the button for the top floor. They waited until it arrived and then ran from it, opened the door, and shamelessly bolted into the sunshine.
Tom picked Zeller up and swung her in a circle. “That wasn’t so bad. Maybe we can go up there on vacation?”
She punched him in the chest and laughed.
“No way in hell I’m ever going back there.”
“Never say never. If you got hurt, I’d carry you up all those stairs so they could make you better.”
“I believe you would.” Zeller pointed over Tom’s shoulder and he put her down. Neeson growled low in his throat as he saw a small domestic rabbit. He tore into the undergrowth. The ‘cat’s scream announced to the world that he’d made a kill.
“Take us out, Holly,” Micah ordered. Braden leaned over the railing. Hope and Chester were on deck, beaming and waving at the small crowd gathered on the pier. The old man sat in his usual spot, fishing. His pole bent and he set the hook before dragging his catch in.
He held it up for those on the ship to see, nodding once. When he looked at the biggest fish he’d ever caught from the pier, he thought he saw bite marks on its side.
Chlora and Rhodi appeared next to the Warden as it slipped out to sea. They chittered happily before swimming up the well deck. Rex waited in deeper waters.
‘South, my friends! We are heading south on our way to the Eastern Ocean!’ Axial told them.
Land Ho!
‘When is the next crisis? And the one after that? When will the humans join humanity in being decent?’ G-War glowered at the sea. The Dolphins, Chlora and Rhodi, played in the waves as they always did. The fertile sea provided for all their wants and needs. Rexalita, the great sperm Whale, meandered in the distance, casually scooping vast schools of fish into the bottomless pit of her stomach.
The sun’s rays glinted off gentle waves as the Warden cut a line north. Fealona and Prince Axial De’atesh sat on the deck, bodies touching as they listened to the thoughts of the others on board.
‘T
hey are excited, my scruffy-looking love monster,’ Fea purred. He didn’t seem to hear.
‘And you think ‘cats are the answer?’ Fea turned to face the Golden Warrior, G-War. She licked his head to straighten the hair. The Bat-Raven had taken half of his ear before the others had rescued him. He owed Braden his life. ‘Did you forget how the new ‘cats treated you? A prince! But an outsider who couldn’t see that their way was the best way. Doesn’t that sound familiar?’
G-War closed his eyes. He needed to clear his thoughts. The humans from Dunk’s Hollow gave him pause. If ‘cats were in charge, none of that would have happened. The ‘cats would have known of the evil in their minds before they acted. Hillcats would have stopped it before he was dragged across the southern continent without a decent meal.
Which reminded him. He was hungry. I know how to fix that… he thought.
Braden sat in the captain’s chair with Micah draped across his lap. “Don’t we have children around here somewhere? I feel like I should worry more about them.”
“What for?” Micah replied. “They are with the Rabbits working in the garden. Shauna and Klytus are watching over them.”
“Klytus!” Braden blurted. “That ‘cat can get into more trouble. No wonder G-War has been so uptight lately.”
“He has fallen into the ocean more than all of us combined.”
Aadi bounced through the doorway. The ship’s motion was minimal, but the fifth deck of the sail was high enough that small movements were exaggerated.
‘Excuse me, pardon me, excuse me,’ the Tortoid mentally intoned as he swam through the air using his inherent ability to float. ‘As we approach Trent, we’ll go ashore, spend quality time with Micah’s wonderful parents, and then what?’
“I don’t know.” Braden shrugged.
‘Master President?’
“Aren’t we all about trade? We’ll spend what time we need to spend to expand the routes, expand the quantity of trade goods by expanding the number of free traders. That means we need to encourage Holly to build more old-tech wagons.”
‘Hover vehicles?’ Aadi suggested.
“Will the people ever be ready for those?” Micah shook her head. They’d been struggling with the question for years and were no closer to an answer.
“They’ll figure it out, because they have to. Imagine the trip across the Great Desert in a hover vehicle? It would take less than one day. A course can be mapped, and the vehicles driven on auto-pilot. Like the Warden. We climb aboard and Holly makes it go where we want to go. People could load supplies at one end and send them through. Have a trusted agent on each side, and there you are—trade at the speed of thought.”
Micah puffed her cheeks and noisily blew out a breath. “It’s time to tell them. We’ll need to take a trip in the hovercar, as we had planned before. We need it to succeed.”
“We’ll carry blasters, but that’s the last thing I want. If we have to shoot someone, the civil war starts anew.”
‘I shall provide all the help I can,’ the Tortoid offered.
“We’re going to need it, Aadi. From Trent, we go overland to New Sanctuary, then take the hovercar out. Is there an Aurochs we can trade with to take us?”
“The herd is there, grazing the foothills, providing the fertilizer for the Rabbits to produce incredible crops. With the addition of fish, Trent is becoming a trading powerhouse. Cornwall stands in their shadow.” Micah beamed with pride. Cornwall had dominated Trent for her entire life, until she ran away. Rather, until she returned and put Cornwall in its place.
Klytus and Shauna’s mother was from Cornwall.
‘Hey, G. You want to stop in Cornwall so the kids can see their mom?’ Braden asked using the mindlink.
‘Of all the things in our lives, this provides you with the most amusement. My answer is the same as it always is. I most assuredly do not want to stop in Cornwall.’
‘We’ll be going right by it on our way back to New Sanctuary,’ Braden explained, laughing.
‘About that... I think Fealona and I are going to take a couple Aurochs and head inland for a bit. You can catch up later in your spaceship car, but I’m not getting into it. You drive horribly, and I refuse to ride with you.’
‘There it is. You don’t like my driving. The only time I’ve driven was on the Traveler.’
‘Yes, it was terrifying, and I was slammed around the inside of that mobile coffin.’ G-War shared a couple images of himself flying through the air as Braden tried to figure out the brake and accelerator pedals.
Braden winced. “I’m a better driver now!” he pleaded with Micah. “I just needed some practice. That’s all. A guy has one bad day driving, and he’s condemned for life!”
G-War didn’t argue with Braden’s conclusion. Micah refused to answer.
“That cuts me deep. My two loves in this world and you’ve ganged up on me. It’s a crushing blow from which I may never recover.” Braden held one hand over his heart in a dramatic swoon.
‘If he falls on the floor, I’d leave him there,’ G-War suggested.
“I think I will. The truth should never hurt you, lover mine.” Micah smiled at her partner. “We could simply ask Holly to send the car here. Why inconvenience the Aurochs? Isn’t technology supposed to help us?”
“We don’t talk enough,” Braden admitted. “There’s the answer right there. Master President, if you would be so kind as to let Holly know, I’ll clean up the twins. We’ll be in Trent this afternoon. Skirill and Zyena have already gone inland. They said with the increase in crops, the wild rabbits are out of control. Still going on a walkabout, G?”
‘I think we are,’ the Hillcat replied.
“Free will is a great thing. Enjoy yourself. Cornwall is only a short run from Trent, if you reconsider.”
G-War slammed the mindlink closed while Braden laughed at his old but incessant taunt.
“Do you know what Hope and Chester want to do?” Braden asked.
“I do not,” Micah admitted. “Aadi?”
‘No, Master President.’
“I guess we better ask.” Braden and Micah headed down the stairwell like seasoned sailors, easily walking with the ship’s motion. Aadi bounced through the doorway on his way after them.
They found the Southport newcomers in the galley, enjoying a hot, fabricator-made breakfast.
“We’ll be landing soon and getting off. We’ll be going overland from here. What do you guys want to do?” Braden asked without preamble. Micah nudged him from behind. They moved aside to allow Aadi past.
“We hadn’t thought about it. We’re happiest on the ocean, and this ship is incredible.”
“You can tend the garden deck, fish, and generally help maintain the ship. Holly, are you there?”
“Yes, Master Braden. I am here,” the artificial intelligence said through the galley’s speakers.
“Can you bring Hope and Chester up to speed regarding the ship?”
“I can train them in all aspects of ship operation.”
“And help them with fishing gear in order to have something to trade when they pull into ports?”
“Of course.”
“We are pretty good fisherman,” Hope replied. Chester nodded.
“Then it’s settled. Enjoy yourselves, and don’t get into fights with Chrysalis and Patti May. They’ll keep to themselves. The fresh vegetables and greens will be a nice alternative to fabricated food,” Micah said before hugging the newcomers and heading to the waterline deck. Braden said his good-byes and followed his partner out. Aadi waved a leg and swam out the door to the balcony and over the rail.
A fishing boat sailed to the rear of the technological marvel known as the Warden, entered the well deck, and bumped against the side to allow the Warden’s passengers to climb aboard. The twins were first over the rail, tossed by their parents into their grandfather’s arms. Micah and Braden stood, arms around each other as they watched the reunion.
“I’m nobody now,” Micah told Braden.
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“We’ve been nobody for a long time.”
The long-haired calico rubbed against Braden’s leg while the smaller version of G-War tried to gauge his jump. Micah scooped him up and threw him onto the boat before he could fall into the ocean.
Again.
Braden picked up Shauna and held her for a moment, listening to her purr before handing her across. Aadi floated by and clasped his beak-like mouth onto a rope hanging from the single mast. The Golden Warrior and Fea trotted up and with grace, vaulted high, kicked off the rail, and landed on the deck of the ship. They zeroed in on a fish flopping nearby.
“Figured the hungry furballs would enjoy something fresh,” Caleb said as he held out a hand to steady his daughter to help her climb across. Braden almost jumped, but realized there were more going ashore. The Rabbits, Heloysius and Luciana, hopped across the deck.
Braden looked at Micah. She flexed the muscles of her back and neck before attempting the lift. Rabbits were dense and weighed much more than they looked. With her elbows close to her body, she picked up Luciana and leaned across to set the Rabbit on the rail. Caleb helped her down.
Braden lifted Heloysius. “What have you been eating?” Braden complained as he pushed the Rabbit toward the boat. His big foot caught on the rail and the boat started moving. Braden leaned. The Rabbit was too heavy. Hands grabbed Heloysius and pulled him across. No one grabbed Braden.
He went face-first into the water, getting Rabbit-kicked on his way down as Heloysius struggled for balance. He rotated once under the water and swam away from the boat to avoid getting pinned between the hull and the side of the well deck. He surfaced and shook his head. His signature braid flopped back and forth. Micah walked to him and with a well-practiced move, hauled him from the salt water.
“To think I was worried about Klytus going in the drink,” Braden said, frowning.
“You saved Heloysius from a dunking, and you did it without flailing. Bravo!” Micah said.
“I can’t tell if you’re kidding,” Braden said slowly. Micah windmilled her arms and made a screaming face. “I suppose you think that’s funny.”
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