Red Star Sheriff

by Timothy Purvis

  “Are you sure heading back to the ranch is a good idea? Maybe they’re counting on us to do that.”

  Aidele pursed her lips and sighed. “Don’t know. I’ll ruminate on it some more before we reach the surface.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “Ya know, ah got lost in these caves once.” She smiled. “Might’ve been thirteen or fourteen, I guess. Mom had gone to see dad at his labs and Grandfather was busy with the crops. Ah’d decided ta take Mesmerize out fer a ride and we jus’ rode an’ rode. Eventually we got to the Spine and I, being the genius that I am, decided ta go in for a spell. Ah happened ta have some torches and went in fairly deep. Well, the torch fuel started runnin’ low and ah wisely made the determination ta head back. Only, what ah hadn’t paid attention to, while being so inta explorin’ an’ all, was that ah’d got us all turned ‘round an’ had no idea where the heck we were. Ah spent hours tryin’ ta find mah way out. And when the fuel done ran out, ah began ta cry.”

  Aidele’s eyes teared up and she stared at the floor of the cave right by the fire. Durante didn’t interrupt her. This was the most she’d opened up since tossing himself into her life.

  “Good ole Mesmerize reminded me ah wasn’t alone. Ah was down here for almost a week stayin’ warm by Mesmerize an’ eatin’ what he ate. Which was mostly lickin’ mosses an’ eatin’ lichens. Not the most appetizin’ thing, but works when yer starvin’.” She shook her head and looked to Durante with a bright smile. “Little further ‘long here, there’s a subterranean lake. Got plenty o’light as there’s a good deal many tunnels up through the ceilin’ puncturin’ the outer rock. Nothin’ ya ken climb up, course. Din’t take us there right yet as we got plenty of water in the canteens and all the nasties that come out at night to congregate there you don’t want to meet.

  “Anyhow,” she inhaled deeply and continued, “when ah finally managed ta find mah way out an’ git home, I was dirty, hungry, and haggard. Mama was frantic. She showered me with affection, cleaned me up, fed me, and after I told her where I’d been and why, she tanned my hide so bad I thought I’d never sit again. Didn’t stop me from coming back, though.”

  “Of course, it didn’t.”

  “Ah spent years exploring these tunnels. Know every square foot and mile for maybe sixty-miles. Every alcove, burrow, lake, and spindler nest. Like this one right here.”

  “This is a nest!?” Durante started and gave a tired grin. “Of course, it is. Why wouldn’t it be? You know, feel free not to tell me things like that. I really don’t need to know.”

  “Spindlers are strange critters. Usually live much deeper than this. The tunnels seem to be much to their liking as they won’t venture much closer to the surface than quarter mile or so. Typically. Guess’n the light hurts ‘em somehow. Webbing ain’ as sticky as ya’d imagine. Those thin threads linin’ the walls can’t be pulled off none too easy and are great insulators. Ah guess they spin ‘em ta keep the wind at bay. Not sure if’n ya noticed, but it can blow pretty hard through here.”

  “Yeah. But it’s not windy here.”

  “That’s because of the webbing. Ah tell ya this, they really ain’ fans of heat an’ fire. But damned if it wasn’t lucky ta discover how warm it can get if you build a fire in the middle of one of their haunts. Got scared of ‘em first time I saw one. Built a campfire to drive ‘em back. Then felt real toasty after a spell. You watch, few hours from now, it’ll be warm as all git out.”

  “It is starting to feel warmer.”

  He wanted to ask her about Asta, but she was in a better mood than she’d been in days and the last thing he wanted was for her to decide to leave him behind in one of those dark tunnels. Not that he thought she would. He also wanted to know if she had any ideas about how Mr. Berricks discovered her father’s journal, but that wasn’t a topic he was ready to bring up just yet. If ever.

  “You know,” Durante said before any further conversation occurred, “I’m feeling pretty tired. Think I’m going to get some shut eye. I… really appreciate your sharing that with me. You’ve led a really crazy life, it would seem.”

  “I can’t say you’re wrong about that…” That distant look overcame her again but she immediately shook it off. “Might be a good idea to rest some. Still got quite the journey ahead of us. I think… I think that we do need to get back to the ranch. If only to warn Grandfather. I can’t think of any other move. And, besides, we’ll be going on a week in the Spine. They’ll have to have given up the search by then. Can’t even imagine why Lynch would even bother with me again after all these years.”

  “The…,” Durante hesitated, “…journal. And me. General Berricks must have sent them after me.”

  Aidele knitted her brows. “Who are ya talkin’ ‘bout?”

  “I… I owe you a serious explanation. Especially after all you’ve done to get me to safety. You deserve to know the truth. And I’ll tell you. But can I tell you tomorrow? It’s a lot to ask, I know. I’m just so tired, though.”

  Aidele nodded. “It’d be nice ta know what all this is about. Ah ken wait a night. But yer spillin’ the beans first thing.”

  “Deal.” Durante started to lay down and cover up and then lurched upwards. “Oh! Yeah! I didn’t ask before because, well, of everything and I didn’t want to put any more pressure on you. But, is it possible to see if we can make up some torches? It would make it easier for both of us, and Mesmerize, if I could walk some of the way.”

  “Not a lot of stray materials in these tunnels. However, ah’ll see what ah can kick up.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.” He laid back down, rolled over, and pulled the blanket around him. He was asleep almost immediately.

  AIDELE WATCHED HIM sleeping and quirked the corner of her lip. Damn. Everybody else can just go to sleep on a dime. Ah’ll have what yer havin’, sir. After a bit, she herself got more comfortable and rolled over onto her side and braced herself on her left elbow. She pulled out her father’s journal and examined its cover. It was thick and now marked with a bullet hole in the top corner.

  Gawddamn savages. Why does everyone want this journal so damn bad, dad? What did you write that has young men breaking and entering, and Grandfather keeping secrets? What did you come up with that sticks in the craw of Generals?

  It was just a journal. Her father had written dozens if not hundreds of them. This one was leather covering thick cardstock and roughly five hundred pages of diagrams and writing that she noted as she thumbed through it. Her thumb pulled into the back cover and she opened to see the back corner had been peeled up exposing a small rectangular cavity.

  If I had to guess, there was a tracking chip here. So, Grandfather must have destroyed it and that was why the indicator no longer worked. Okay, so we know how Durante found the journal. So how did he know about it to begin with? And why does he feel familiar to me? She glanced over to his sleeping form and heard a snore. She shook her head unable to stop the grin from forming. She went back to reading and started through from the beginning.

  ‘On Outfitting A Red Star Sheriff. This one’s just for you, honey!’

  By the Spirits, the mysteries, o’father of mine! Not only did you forge these guns for mom, you also… you wrote her a book. What were you and mom up to?

  She ran her hand down the page feeling the smooth fibers and barely perceptible divots of ink on paper. The title ‘On Outfitting A Red Star Sheriff’ was its own line in the center of the very first page. The ‘This one’s just for you, honey!’ was written at the bottom as a postscript. Flipping the page, she found a whole section with just writing and no diagrams.

  ‘We both know this dangerous task of yours. This mission you’ve put on your shoulders, you’ve told me the story, told me your tales, and I understand the reason, the motivation. I just don’t understand why it has to be you, my love. Why it’s your life that must be put on the line. But far be it for me, while my wife is out there digging out this conspiracy and its players, to stand aside and do nothing. These will
be your arms, your armor, your instruments. Yes, I know, the ‘Red Star Sheriff’ works alone bringing justice to the unjust. But the Rossumi aren’t all knowing!’

  She pursed her lips and reread that last line. What the hell is a ‘Rossumi’? She made a mental note to bring that up, as well as a ton more, with Grandfather to see if he had any idea on it, and continued through the journal. She read most of the first part and started skipping through whole sections. There were just too many pages and she was starting to tire. Diagrams littered pages with high concepts. The miniaturized railguns, his ‘Rectifiers’, were there with a hastily scratched note:

  ‘Well, what do you think? Worth taking to prototype?’

  And, clearly, he’d taken them to prototype.

  There, a concept for a wheel-less chariot that could hover above the ground.

  We have those, they’re called gravimagnetic lifts. Here, an under-armor that could disperse the kinetic force of fired rounds.

  Could’ve used that one while huntin’ down Kern Michaels.

  Aidele’s eyes drifted to the fire. So many months since her father’s death and it still felt raw and surreal. And here she was, back on the warpath, once more drawn into conflict because of her father. Or maybe still on that warpath, never left it, because what started all of this was in her hands and it was her responsibility to figure out what her father was trying to accomplish with this book.

  ‘You’ve done it for yourself! You’ve taken on this mad quest and murdered your enemy! How long before your thirst demands you find new enemies to take their places!?’

  Grandfather’s words were prophetic after all. And Lynch was still out there looking for Durante and the journal. Maybe ah should jus’ go up there an’ take out that ole betty’s posse an’ send her back to this… Berricks… with mah own message. She smiled darkly at the thought and then felt immediate guilt, her smile fading. If I were to do that, that would leave Durante on his own. And what if I didn’t come back? No, best to get him out and back to the ranch. But, he’s right though, that’s a dangerous play. If Lynch gave up and headed to the ranch, she’d be waiting for us. Yet, what about Grandfather? Spirits, what if she hurt him trying to get to me and knows my next move would have to be the ranch? Because, really, there’s no other choice, is there? If she did do that, if she did hurt Grandfather, there’s nowhere on this planet ta hide! Ah’d come git ya jus’ as fast as ah went after Michaels! There’d be nowhere fer yer skank ass ta hide!

  A tremble wracked her body and she stopped herself, taking deep breaths. Get it together, woman. Focus. Ignore Lynch. For now. She’s not the big problem. The big problem is that, so far, I’m not seeing anything so fucking amazing everybody and their brother has to possess this book. It’s just for mom. So, what was it? What is it?

  She felt a new surge of energy and went through page by page, section by section. She was almost to the end. The final section. If that didn’t prove crazy important, she was just going to hand it to Lynch herself. Tell the dog to go back to her master and leave the common folk alone. She had plenty of other writings from her father. What was one less lovingly crafted for her mother? Better that than all this lying and deceit. All this… death.

  Oh, Spirits… She stopped, stared at the words in shock and horror. This… this has to be it. Well, of course he’d save it for last. She stared at Durante again, her facial features downturned, tears flowing from her eyes. Gawddamnit, dad! Why’d you have to be so fucking clever? Durante said, ‘General Berricks’. And I automatically assumed a general in our army. But, no, he meant Union General Berricks. And if the Union got their grubby mitts on this technology… shit. The war never officially ended. There was just a treaty to end hostilities. We might have declared ourselves independent colonies, but everything I’ve learned about our history over the years tells me the Union still views us as theirs. No. No they can’t have it back!

  She closed the journal and sat up to move towards the fire. She leaned in closer and held the journal outward, determined to burn it to ashes. Aidele froze. The tears were coming again, flowing down her cheeks, falling to the ground.

  “I… I can’t…” she sobbed and Durante muttered in his sleep.

  She trembled and slowly sat back down and held the book close to her chest trying to keep her sobs quiet.

  Dad… had the chance to destroy it… ‘I should never have invented it!’ he’d said… Yet, he kept it. Of course, maybe he didn’t have time?

  She leafed through the final section once more and her blurry eyes caught a postscript on the very bottom of the back-cover’s interior.

  ‘Screwed up bad. Should’ve listened. Now they’re coming for it. Aidele, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry. But I’m sure you’ll know what to do when the time comes. I hope I’m not too late. -Dad.’

  Aidele’s whole body ached as she closed the book and scooched back to her saddlebag. On that last day… you wanted to go to your labs. Yes, dad, I know what to do. For now, I’ll keep the journal safe. After we make sure Grandfather’s safe, I’m taking Durante to the labs. And he is coming with me. He’s apologized, sure, but we’re in this together now. To the labs.

  She sighed and leaned back. Her eyes closed and she was asleep before she knew it.

  IT’D BEEN FIVE days and they’d yet to find hide nor hair of them. Asta marched out of the cave in exasperation and extinguished her torch in a sand bucket near the entrance. Every opening, tunnel, dip, alcove, and break they could find had been searched. They’d even backtracked to the pass leading into the Spine. Still nothing. Asta was too tired to be furious as she stood out on the overlook with hands braced on hips.

  No tracks. No scat. Not even remains of a blasted campfire! It’s like she jus’ vanished. Damnit!

  Drevan came out of the cave too, extinguished his torch, and walked towards her. Neither said anything for a moment until he cleared his throat. “We’re goin’ ta hafta face facts.”

  “She’s gone.”

  He nodded and sighed. They were alone for now, standing in the night air looking at a lazy moon drifting across the sky. A cold shiver went up Asta’s spine.

  He said, “She’s still down there, ah’m sure. Jus’ way far from us. Tyler’n Mason took their viewers up ta the ridge. Been scannin’ the landscape in shifts fer days. Asides from a caravan off ta the east the other day, no one’s done ridden out near or from the range.”

  “Could’ve made out under cover o’night.”

  “Doubt it. But even if she did, there’s only one place ah ken think o’her headin’.”

  Asta turned to Drevan. “There ain’ no way she’s stupid ‘nuff ta head back ta the ranch.”

  “Ah would if it meant warnin’ the old man.”

  She shook her head. “Ah’m pretty sure she stopped to take a gander who was chasin’ her. Woulda had ta known it was me. An’ ah know where the ranch is. She knows ah know it too.”

  “That might be true. But Mr. Lester still lives there. She might be willin’ ta take that chance.”

  “Ah ain’ goin’ nowhere near that ranch!”

  Drevan grunted as Asta walked past him and towards their campsite where a fire was roaring in its pit. She rubbed her arms as she sat down in front of it on a rocky outcropping. Drevan came over and joined her.

  Rubbing his hands together, he said, “Then it’s time ta call off the job. We’ve been out here damn near a week. Our quarry has evaded us.”

  “Ah kent jus’ run off wit’ mah tail between mah legs!” She stared up into the sky and growled. “Maybe ah ken head her off ta the ranch? Ask if’n she’ll jus’ hand it over?”

  “Okay. Great. An’ where d’ya suggest we try’n head her off at? There’s at least a hunnerd miles o’stretch here she ken find an exit. Mah belief is she’s still travelin’ the networks bidin’ her time. However, she could jus’ as easily already be back home. Jus’ cuz the boys ain’ seen nothin’, don’ mean nothin’s there. An’ we both know Aidele’s a wiley little cuss’n don’
give up none too easily. Jus’ ask Kern Michaels what he thinks ‘bout her. Oh, wait, y’kent. He’s dead.”

  Asta glared at him. “So ya want me jus’ ta hand the money back over? Jus’ like that? Y’know why that’s no option!”

  Drevan shook his head and clasped his hands between his knees leaning forward. “Asta, we got three options here. We keep searching these here hills til we’re rovin’ skeletons, we go back ta the Lester ranch and confront Aidele there, or we go back ta Berricks and cry off. None o’em are real good options, but ya hafta make one o’em. Or we ken alter option three’n jus’ cry off’n not go back. However, that’s the worst choice fer ya cuz o’what it’ll mean to our rep. An’ gittin’ jobs is hard ‘nuff right now wit’out that danglin’ over our heads.”

  Asta sighed and leaned back to brace her hands on the stone wall behind her. “Ya don’ make it easy, Mr. Polk. But yer right. Yer right way too often. Maybe that’s why ah always did have such a tough time sayin’ no ta ya.”

  Drevan cocked a brow and sat up straighter. “Oh? Seem ta recall poppin’ a certain question ta ya years ago’n ya had absolutely no qualms ‘bout turnin’ me down flat. ‘No’ was the first word outta yer mouth.”

  “Ah done birthed yer damned kids, din’t ah?” She let a smile cross her face. “Ah don’ see what a piece o’paper woulda changed ‘bout our lives anyhow. Is that why ya never took off? Kept ridin’ hopin’ ah’d break down’n give ya yer yes?”

  “Well, ah’m still hopin’ fer that. But ah rode at yer side cuz ah love you.” He chuckled. “But damn if’n there ain’ days that ya jus’ tax mah ass.”

  She shook her head and drew in a deep breath to let out slow and steady. “Awright. Ya win. We’ll go back ta Berricks, let the general know she stole our mark. She gits that from her momma, y’know. Then he ken deal with the rest.”

  “Ya gonna tell him where it’s at?”

  “Y’know, ah think ah jus’ might let him figure that out on his own.”

  Drevan chuckled at the gleam in her eyes and then they were interrupted by shouts and two gunshots. Mills came racing out of the cave, torch waving through the air, gun in his left hand.