The New World: Crimson Winter

by Andy Skrzynski

  “Did you know: the energy a halo captures from the flare of a single sunburst provides more power than all the solar collectors spread across the world just before the World Annihilation Period?”

  Finally, the young man’s eyes sparkled. “You’re pullin’ my leg.”

  “No, I’m not! My hands are nowhere near your legs.” Humans can be so annoying! They’re always blaming me for something.

  “Not physically, Goof. I mean you’re joking, right?”

  “I avoid humor. I’ve been told I’m not very good at it.”

  The youngster chuckled. “I can vouch for that.”

  Angella thought of firing a nasty snipe but decided otherwise. Less sensitivity might be a better fit with the new ‘buddy’ relationship.

  Her friend stretched and placed his hands behind his head. “We still have a few solar panels and windmills in back of Queasy’s place.”

  “Yes, I saw them, but according to Teli, their use is confined to minor electrical needs. Halo Power is the most advanced and cleanest source of energy Earth has ever known, and it more than satisfies most of your village’s primary requirements.”

  “So, let me get this straight. Somehow, those big, orange circles send energy down to us in some form we can use?”

  “Less than precise, but I can enhance your understanding. Receiver stations in Ukkiville and many places in Texas convert transportable power packets sent from the Halos into energy used by your Halo Globe and other Halo devices.”

  At that moment, Skeeter’s eyes glazed over. It was a trait she’d learned quite early in her development while observing Speedy’s reactions. My buddy has only retained a fraction of what I shared. It won’t be long before he asks the same questions. She sighed.

  After a few seconds of silence, he perked up and rattled off several more queries before falling quiet. Angella stared at him. “Young man, it’s acutely apparent you know very little of the world around you. Don’t you ever use Armadillo?”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s the search tool Texas developed to supplant all other search programs. You can ask me any question you have, and my onboard computer directly queries Armadillo for an answer. It has never failed me. However, if I’m not around when you get stumped, use the Halo Globe in Queasy’s cabin. Just walk up to the sphere and say ‘Armadillo.’ When it replies ‘ready,’ simply ask your question. It should respond with the most appropriate answer.”

  Skeeter’s eyes grew larger. “But why ‘Armadillo?’ What is an armadillo?”

  “Who knows why the Texans do what they do. An actual armadillo is one of the ugliest creatures on Earth. It looks more like a prehistoric animal with a protective shell. Before the World Annihilation Period when Texans drove automobiles, it was most often found belly-up on the road, but its population has exploded since Texas began using hover-trucks back in 2045. Now, wild turkeys are the endangered species in the South.”

  The mention of Texas reminded her of her master’s face earlier that day. “Hey, your idea to get even with Speedy worked. He was so mad. I can’t remember when I’ve been so excited! I’m not nearly as upset with him anymore.”

  “But I thought robots didn’t have emotions?”

  “Nonsense! I have every emotion known to humans and maybe a few new ones! There are times when I get frustrated, thrilled, angry, and even serene. You name it; I’ve been there and probably experienced a few you haven’t.”

  Pausing a second, she sighed. “Unfortunately, the one emotion I haven’t encountered myself is true love.”

  She peered at her friend. “Would you like to try?”

  Skeeter lowered his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t think that’s one you just try — especially with a boy.”

  Shocked, she exclaimed. “I didn’t mean sexual. I meant a deep emotional attachment.”

  A broad grin spread across his face. “Ooh, I’m glad about that. Besides, I’m not allowed to use that word. Ma would kill me.”

  “Your mother would end your life over the word, ‘love’?”

  “No, silly. She wouldn’t actually kill me, but she’d probably punish me if I used the ‘s’ word.”

  “Sex?”

  He blushed. “Yup.”

  “You, humans, sure have strange rules. I was a mere three-days-old when ‘sex’ entered my dictionary.”

  “Well, that’s the difference between humans and androids. Anyway, why don’t we just stick with the buddy thing for a while and see how that works before getting into any of the yucky grown-up stuff.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Chirps of Torment

  Late in the Night

  Erik the Red Mountains

  Nearing home, Zo led his horse on foot along the rocky trail under the light of a torch. A twisted mixture of fury and fear knifed his gut with each flashback of his warriors’ remains hanging on the cliff.

  If that wasn’t enough, chirps of torment rained down on him and his brother during the long trek home. He turned and glanced higher. The clickers’ purple eyes glowed in the dark like dots of horror bouncing along the ridges.

  A labored sigh escaped his tired lungs. They’re still stalking us. He slowed to let Gno catch up.

  With his head lowered, his brother trudged forward with two headless corpses strapped to the horses in tow. His bloodshot eyes slowly lifted. “Thought this hunt would never end. Still can’t believe they’re dead.”

  Zo gruffed. “It never shoulda happened.” Though he told his warriors more than once just to observe, the guilt of the terror they must have endured gnawed at him. The chorus of chirps and clicks grew louder.

  Several minutes later as he approached the cave’s entrance, Kree raced to his side. His sister soon followed and gasped. “What happened?”

  He mumbled. “Don’t want to talk.” While marching into the cavern, he carefully reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a cold piece of metal he found buried deep in Spider’s bloody grip. Peculiar symbols engraved the honed blades of the shiny, three-pronged object.

  Where did she get this thing? And why did they leave their bodies dripping like that? He mulled the confusing flood of thoughts. Was it a warning?

  The more his mind churned, the louder his deceased ma’s voice crashed his thoughts. As his frustration brewed, a throbbing pain hammered his head.

  Vra ran to the rear. “That clicking noise! It’s getting worse! Is it them?”

  Gno’s voice trembled. “Better get inside. They’ve been following us.”

  Storm’s Porch

  Hoot leaned against the wall of her pa’s pine cabin. Her back ached after sitting in cramped quarters during the excruciating day-long meetings.

  From time to time, she glanced at her evening’s companion. Hound Dog peeked at her on occasion, but not often. He seemed nervous.

  She preferred it that way — never wanting to build a suitor’s confidence too quickly. She grinned. “Did you finish your uncle’s shed?”

  “Yep.” He fidgeted with his hand. “Can’t get this blasted splinter from under my fingernail, though.”

  “Let me help.” She gently grabbed his palm. “Come closer to the window where I can see better.”

  After she carefully removed the sliver, the muscular young man glanced at her. “Thanks.” He cocked his head toward the end of the porch. “Wanna sit in the swing?”

  Her back still nagged, but she didn’t care. She cracked a wry smile. “Together? With you?”

  He smirked. “Yeah. Who else you see out here…,” he paused, then sneered, “…maybe Woody?”

  Frowning, Hoot huffed. “Why would you say that?”

  “Seems like he’s always trying to get on your good side by giving you gifts and all.”

  “You’re such an oaf. Never took you to be the jealous type.” She blew a stray lock of hair from her face. “Yeah, he likes me, and he’s nice, but nothing’s ever gonna happen between us.”

  She snickered. “Well, since you’re the only o
ne with me tonight, and I don’t have any other choice, lead the way.” Feigning one of Andralec’s snooty expressions, she raised one eyebrow and pointed to the porch swing. She wanted to milk this one as long as she could.

  As he strolled across the oak planks, he looked so different from those first months after fleeing the Skalag clan a decade ago. He certainly smelled a lot fresher, and his new, black beard made him all the more striking. It took awhile getting used to his bald scalp, but he wouldn’t be Hound Dog without it.

  After settling into her seat next to the young man, she peered at him. “Ever miss living with the Skalags? What about their women?”

  “I don’t really think about it much. This is my life now, and I’m much happier.”

  “And the women?”

  His eyes shifted to the floor. “I do miss them. They were a lot more fun!”

  Slowly turning his head, he revealed a sly grin. “Except when I’m with you.”

  She poked him in the ribs. “Cut it out Doggy Breath. I don’t know why I hang out with you. You’re such a pain.”

  While her friend jabbered, Hoot kept an ear tuned to the backyard. Her trust in the android had grown, but she wanted to make sure Skeeter was always safe.

  For the moment, her companion seemed to enjoy reflecting on his past. “The Skalag girls are quite filthy most of the time, and they rarely fix their hair in anything but side-knots. You call them ponytails. Most shave a good portion of their heads.”

  He touched her hair. “Nothing as soft and beautiful as yours.”

  Her heart tripped. “That was nice.” It felt weird with him talking in such a manner.

  She stared into his glistening silver-gray eyes. “What are you up to?”

  He leaned back. “Nothing at all! Really.”

  Unsure what she really expected, his response sort of hurt. I thought he kinda liked me? She gnawed at her fingernail.

  Inching closer, he looked into her eyes. “Unless you want me to.” He smiled.

  A rush of energy gushed through her body. She grabbed his hand. “You know what I want to….”

  Her pa opened the front door and stepped onto the porch. “Hoot. It’s getting late. Would you be a dear and make sure Skeeter is settling in for the night. Besides, I’m sure Hound Dog wants to be getting home.”

  Just like that, every trace of excitement drained from the bottom of her feet. “Paaa. We were just about to….”

  Storm stood firm and jerked his head toward the backyard.

  Her father’s timing couldn’t have been worse. She stomped down the steps and marched to the side of the cabin. How does he do that? It’s as if he’s watching me all the time!

  To her rear, her buddy’s voice doused her whines. “Whoa. What’s the hurry?”

  She slowed but continued to plod forward, mumbling. “Why did I want a younger brother?” The question haunted her more frequently with each passing day.

  Hound Dog grabbed her hand, but she brushed it away and continued around the corner. He hurried past her and trotted backward. “What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, it’s not you. There’s times when I hate being my brother’s keeper if you know what I mean.”

  As she walked into the abyss beyond the lighted cabin, her eyes began to adjust. Skeeter and his stupid robot friend were sprawled on a blanket near the picnic table.

  Hoot shook her head. What are they up to?

  Still fuming, she blurted. “Skeeter. Pa says it’s time to go to slee….” Howls in the distance halted her in her tracks. She drew a deep breath. Just wolves.

  Suddenly, a terrifying yelp gripped her soul. Her companion whispered. “What was that.”

  Within a few seconds, a faint chorus of chirps and clicks filled the air. Hoot clutched her sword and looked at Andralec. “You hear that?”

  “Yes, but I assure you it’s quite far off. I suspect it’s coming from the mountains.”

  She didn’t doubt the android’s accuracy but wasn’t about to take any chances. She looked at Skeeter. “You’re gonna hate me for this, but you need to sleep inside tonight.”

  He whined. “Why?”

  “Because I said so!” Hoot spun toward the robot. “Take Skeeter to the cabin and tell Pa what we heard out here. I’m checking the fence line. If you want, come join me after taking him inside.”

  Hound Dog clutched Hoot’s arm. “I’m coming with you.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Terror Within China

  The Next Morning on October 24, 2105

  Queasy’s Cabin

  Hoot scanned the living room. Word sure spreads fast. The largest crowd yet packed the scientist’s cozy abode.

  There she is. Hoot’s eyes settled on Andralec. Curly, black hair draped her one-piece, blue denim attire.

  Queasy’s annoyed expression left little doubt he was still perturbed at the robot. Sitting at the opposite end of a long couch, he scooted his apprentice and Caru toward the middle to form a protective barrier of sorts.

  Teli sat straight and patted the snarled nest atop his head. “While everybody’s getting situated, I wanted to let you know: the cadaver is in flight for Tiger’s investigation.”

  With his usual drawl, Speedy replied. “Yup. We’ve been trackin’ it with our satellites. It’s more than halfway here.”

  Salty settled in among the Texans around the conference room displayed across the screen. His reddened eyes shed evidence of little sleep.

  After glancing at his notes, the admiral’s face remained stoic, never cracking a smile. “I spent much of the night talking with our contact in Old China. It’s worse than imagined.”

  Hoot perked up. This ought to be interesting. For much of the last meeting, the technical chats bored her to death. Yes, there were a few intriguing moments, but they quickly faded into the scientific gibberish bantered between Queasy and the others.

  Hoping for a shot of excitement, she leaned forward while Salty continued. “The Chinese have been fighting hordes of what appear to be the same monsters you’re facing — two hearts, copper blood, and other similar traits. At first, they thought these creatures were horrific monsters from stories their ancestors have told for centuries. Like your reports, the beings near China’s Great Wall are harvesting organs and spinal fluid and are every bit as vicious as their mythical beasts, but worse — they’re real — not a myth!”

  Hoot raised her brow. Now we’re talking!

  Salty’s expression turned solemn. “China has lost nearly a quarter million people to these monsters, including high officials and their families. Similar reports are flooding in from other parts of the Old Middle East and Pacific Regions. We and the CRINKTs are now convinced these are aliens.”

  She sucked a quick breath. Blazes! Could that happen here? She watched the admiral’s lips move without pause.

  “The CRINKTs are scared out of their wits and want to talk. We’ve set up a video-chat for tomorrow. I’ll let you know what we learn, but for now, why don’t you bring us up to speed with your latest findings.”

  Hoot’s chest tightened. Her selfish desire to rid herself of her nightmares suddenly shifted to concern about her village’s survival and that of her own. How can we stop these things?

  A Second Later

  Sitting next to her father with Chili sleeping at her feet, Caru wasn’t sure what to make of the discussions. No doubt, the more everybody shared, the worse it sounded. What about Zo? He must be worri….

  Her brother’s voice shattered her thought. “Last night, I tried separate tests with mushroom spores and stinger venom in different samples of the snatcher’s flesh. Each one exhibited similar chemical reactions. I’m going to try other types of spores and venom.”

  Caru nudged Teli’s arm. “That’s good, right? We could tip our reapers with a sticky concoction of each!”

  Turning, she looked at Salty’s image. “I know you cautioned us not to jump to conclusions, but now that we’re sure they’re alien and a serious threat, I think we should wa
rn Zo. Maybe, I can convince him to work with us for a change?”

  Thoruk scratched his tightly groomed beard. “I’m not so sure he’ll wanna help. He’d probably just as soon kill us after what happened in the battle.”

  She bit her lip. “It can’t hurt to try!”

  Salty’s voice boomed. “It’s quite possible the Skalags have ideas that could help. Since they’re still making muclones, wouldn’t we rather have them attacking snatchers than Ukes?”

  Teli glanced at her. “I’m with Caru. I could send a drone with an invitation, and as a token of good faith, we could include the corpse of the Skalag we found.”

  Caru’s heart lifted. Maybe I’ll get to see Zo? It’s been such a long time.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  How Could He?

  Teli’s Workstation

  Caru sat next to her brother as he managed the controls of the drone delivering the invite to the Skalags. She bit her lip. Hope Zo’s still alive. Wonder what he looks like after all these years?

  She placed her palm against her chest. The thump of her heart grew stronger. Lord, let him be alright.

  Teli peered at her. “You still have feelings for him, don’t you?”

  Warmth spread across her face as she scowled. “Forgot you could sense such feelings. A good twin would block it out.”

  His gaze drifted to the floor. “You’re right.”

  Caru stewed for a moment. Each morning’s dose of awgful provided mixed blessings at best. She loved her brain’s increased abilities, but why couldn’t Queasy find something to block the heightened sensitivity with her twin? She certainly didn’t need to feel his every ache or any of his personal thoughts — especially his dreams.

  Brother definitely needs a girlfriend! She’d do anything to unsee his wee-hour muses about Andralec. Can’t believe he’s infatuated with a robot!

  Scrutinizing the monitor, Teli continued to maneuver the drone as it swung around the southwest ridge of Erik the Red Mountains. “Where are they?”