The Light-Years Beneath My Feet

by Alan Dean Foster

  “With luck, cooperative weather, and coordinated timing, all forces will be in position to attack Charuchal-uul simultaneously. Expect fierce resistance then from that dominating realm, and strong counterattacks. But this is traditional Niyyuuan warfare. Charuchalans bound by convention not to utilize modern means of transportation. Will be difficult for them to know where to send reinforcements first. Their internal command and control will be spread thin.” He waved an arm fluidly. “We can do this! Will be enough triumph for all to share.”

  Viyv-pym was not completely convinced. “What if other realms, on other continents, perceive that this is true five-way alliance? Could generate twenty-third world war—using traditional means only, of course. Majority of world and population will be impacted by consequences only when watching media reports.”

  “There may be efforts at mediation, to keep conflict from spreading even farther,” Saluu-hir-lek conceded. “But military intervention unlikely. This is conclusion reached by myself and other advisors. Greater widening of clash would mean great expense to powerful realms not otherwise directly impacted. Is calculated gamble, surely. But this is unprecedented opportunity to acquire significant commercial and political gains. Fortune favors the bold. And as visiting alien has pointed out, for us to refuse to participate means possible strong alliance of Toroudians and Biranjuans against Kojn-umm. Situation for us now is like running on mud. We continue to advance with speed, or we sink in circumstances of our own choosing.” He eyed his staff unblinkingly. “Are you all with me?”

  The grating exhalations of support that filled the room surpassed even those that had greeted Saluu-hir-lek following his defeat of the attacking Toroud-eed at the walls of Jalar-aad-biidh.

  Meanwhile, not all that very far to the south, a small furry quadruped from the same unknown world as the verbally and physically expansive human was outlining the exact same plan to a tentative audience of officers of Toroud-eed, warning them that if they did not agree to participate in the grand adventure, their treacherous quasi-allies from Kojn-umm would surely unite with the defenders of Biranju-oov to destroy them. While some among his listeners questioned the dog’s motivation, none could find fault with his logic. Those who were reluctant were swept up in the general enthusiasm for the opportunity to get the better of the traditional defenses of a realm historically too powerful for far-smaller Toroud-eed to ever contemplate attacking.

  If anything, the general confusion and conflicting rumors that resulted from the multiple agreements and half assurances usefully served to confuse not only the potential target of so much deliberation, but the mystified media that was struggling to sort it out as well.

  Among those seeking to make sense of it all, only the government of the ancient and admired realm of Fiearek-iib managed to gain a real inkling of what was happening on the other side of the planet from its peaceful fields and upscale manufacturing communities. As powerful as distant Charuchal-uul, the overseers of that wealthy dominion observed via relayed media and their own operatives the gradual development of the grand strategy put forth by Saluu-hir-lek of Kojn-umm—and his seemingly innocuous non-Niyyuuan advisors.

  Premier and vice premier stood together before a force transparency on the sixty-third level of the central administration facility and contemplated the thriving metropolis of Yieranka spread out before them. Midday in Fiearek-iib meant it was midnight in western Saadh. Fighting there would be on hold, as without the assistance of modern means of illumination, the use of traditional implements of warfare rapidly reached a level of diminishing returns.

  “What you, really, make of these exceptional developments?” the vice premier asked her only superior. Though they often differed on matters of policy, what was happening half a world away easily superseded any domestic concerns or local politics.

  The premier gestured gracefully with one arm. “Remote threats are often the most dangerous, my friend. Believing themselves inoculated by distance, those are ones the comfortable all too often ignore. I been giving the matter more attention than I admit to in official briefings. For the moment, these atypical events half a world away not matter of immediate concern to Fiearek-iib.” He turned away from the reassuring panorama of power and accomplishment. “Important thing is to ensure it never will become matter of immediate concern.”

  “How can we do that without we become directly involved?” the vice premier wanted to know. Though in parliament they waved in opposite on many issues, on this they were agreed. Therefore she flattened her crest and lowered her tails in deference and sought to share the wisdom of one she respected, if often disagreed with.

  “Keep close watch on intelligence reportings not only from area of present conflict, but in nearby realms also.” His eyes, one whitened and opaqued by an inoperable disease and for which he idiosyncratically refused replacement, inclined toward hers. “If one examine close and dispassionately what has happened in Saadh, an interesting pattern of a kind begin to emerge. Intelligence experts mostly agree it start with Toroudian siege of Jalar-aad-biidh. A few others say it start with arrival in Kojn-umm of four mismatched aliens.”

  The vice premier’s mouth contracted to a point. Despite her advanced age, she was still considered very attractive; almost as famed for the flash of her still-taut frill as for her perceptiveness. “I know almost nothing of these aliens save what little I have encounter in the media. How could they be in any way central to such an upheaval among Niyyuu?”

  The premier’s expression wrinkled slightly. “Apparently, because they want go home. But nobody in astronomical establishment knows where any of their three homes are. It is reported government of Kojn-umm is very fond of them, and in no hurry see them depart.”

  “So to pass time they involve themselves in traditional local disputes?” The vice premier was openly dubious. “How that bring them closer to their homeworlds?”

  Her superior sighed, air whistling through his perfectly round mouth. “There is much here Intelligence Section do not understand. I myself can claim no revelatory insight. It hard enough determine what drives smaller realms such as Kojn-umm and Toroud-eed without trying also comprehend the motivations of unfamiliar aliens.”

  “Then what course we set for beloved Fiearek-iib?”

  He glanced back toward the peaceful midday setting that glowed beyond the barrier. If one tried hard enough, one could almost smell the newly opened hagril blossoms of the nearby Saralas world-forest.

  “I suggest armed forces of Fiearek-iib begin maneuvers of traditional military elements four ten-days early. Will generate early holiday for populace, who will be thankful and not look too deeply into reasoning behind it. Also start initiate conversations on private diplomatic level with all neighbors—not only in continent of Paanh, but across planet. Continue active monitoring of situation in Saadh. Otherwise, unless and until existence of formal alliances against Charuchal-uul can be proven conclusively, Fiearek-iib and neighbors stay out of growing conflict.”

  The vice premier was silent for a long moment before responding. “Do you really think, my friend, that armies that are fighting among themselves can work together long enough to defeat traditional forces of realm as large and powerful as Charuchal-uul?”

  The premier considered. “If this growing confusion of attackers can keep from destroying one another in process, then perhaps. If that happen, and it is end of it, then little will have been changed save for treaties and commercial agreements. But if it continues . . .” His words trailed away.

  As always, the vice premier was quick to jump on unspoken implications. “What you mean, ‘if it continues’? If Charuchal-uul defeated, there would be nothing to continue. Charuchal-uul dominates Saadh. If it fall to this motley blend of contentious assailants, it will take latter some time just to digest their triumph.”

  One eye shining, he turned to her anew. “Ambition is a craving that is never sated. Something drive these events that is different from all that have preceded it.”

&
nbsp; She speculated aloud. “The aliens?”

  “Possible. Possibly a combination of factors, a coming together of unique circumstances. We must be ready for anything.”

  The implications of what he was saying were daunting. “Surely you not think crazy Kojnians and Toroudians could even imagine attacking Fiearek-iib!”

  “I not have thought them capable of attacking Biranju-oov, either. Now all three continue appear fight among themselves, yet give every indication of moving against Charuchal-uul: separate but unequal. An outlandish way to run a war.”

  She gestured deferentially. “In this matter, I and my backers will support you in whatever responses you deem appropriate.”

  He could not smile, but indicated his satisfaction in typical Niyyuuan fashion. “I wish I knew of some, beyond what I already have tell you. We must remain aloof, observe carefully, prepare for all possible occurrences no matter how outrageous. And one thing more.”

  “Speak it, and I will see it carried through,” she told him.

  When he turned back to the panoramic view for a last time, it was not to gaze down at it, but beyond. “Have Intelligence find out everything, absolutely everything, that they can about these four visiting aliens of whom Kojn-umm has become so enamored.”

  Coordinated from four different directions, the grand assault on Charuchal-uul was like nothing seen on Niyu in civilized times. Needless to say, the media swarmed the offensive, in more of a frenzy than the combatants on the widely spread battlefields. Rendered lax by centuries of confidence in their own power and the knowledge that any alliance strong enough to seriously challenge them would be considered illicit on the face of it, the Charuchalans hardly knew where to counterattack first. Caught unawares by the need to fight on multiple fronts, their response was momentarily paralyzed. Defenders of ancient walls and fortresses fought bravely, even heroically, in the time-honored Charuchalan manner, but those in the south and east were overwhelmed as the government initially concentrated reinforcements in the north. When a portion of those were hastily dispatched on forced marches to help in the south, the northern forts and ports were taken by contentious battalions of Kojnians, Toroudians, and the marine forces of Biranju-oov, all simultaneously battling one another for ultimate control of the battlefield.

  It was all over so quickly that the proud Charuchalans hardly knew whom to surrender to first.

  News of the startling conquest of Charuchal-uul spread around Niyu as fast as modern communications could carry it: which was to say, instantaneously. Much discussion and not a little passionate argument swirled around whether or not the unprecedented cooperation of the armed forces of not two, not three, but five different realms constituted a formal alliance requiring a coordinated response from the rest of the planet.

  Part of the problem in deciding how to proceed arose from the very real fact that events had been allowed to progress to the point where even a coalition of all the powerful realms of the remaining continents would be hard-pressed to defeat the troublemakers. Especially since rumors abounded that defeated Charuchal-uul, instead of being plundered for commercial concessions, had been offered the chance to minimize its losses and concessions by becoming the sixth member of the fractious and unlikely partnership. Making traditional war on realms of modest power such as Toroud-eed or Divintt-aap was one thing; marching and sailing by traditional means across half a world to confront them while they were acting in concert with five other maybe-allies, one of whom was now still-great Charuchal-uul, promised to be costly in both expense and blood.

  So extensive realms such as Huoduon-aad and Gobolin-ees held back from issuing direct threats while their governments consulted among one another and tried to figure out the best way to respond to a political-military situation that was without precedent. As they did so, they were quite aware that the rapidly changing situation in Saadh and Ruunkh demanded a response as quickly as possible, lest the perceived controversy continue to escalate.

  Intelligence reports were eagerly perused in the corridors of power in Huoduon-aad and elsewhere. Many of these were detailed, some conflicted, others packed with absurdities clearly designed only to justify the expense accounts of their respective perpetrators. But a few stood out in the way they focused on a certain confluence of specifics.

  Most notable among these was the observation that nothing out of the ordinary had ensued until an apparently innocuous alien cook and his three equally implausible companions had grown unusually intimate with the military command of the midsized realm of Kojn-umm. That this was a matter of some significance was gradually recognized by the more perceptive among the concerned. As yet, however, they had not the faintest notion of what to do about it.

  This time the conference was held not in some flimsy portable structure hastily erected on the field of battle, but in the great hall of Sidrahp-syn-sun, in the traditional capital of Charuchal-uul. With its spiraling buttresses and frescoed, bubblelike roof, the ten-story-high vaulted ceiling reminded an awed Walker of a gothic cathedral as it might have been designed by an alien Dali. Even though he had been told that the structure had no religious significance, and its elaborate preserved frescoes depicted alien scenes taken from life on a world other than his own, walking its length still engendered deep and profound emotions in him. For once, Braouk did not have to bend to clear ceiling or overhang.

  Subsequent to being stunned by the leniency of their baffling brace of vanquishers, the Charuchalans had been almost painfully eager to accommodate any requests. As opportunistic as any Niyyuu, they sensed in making a willing offer to cooperate the chance to recover their own projected losses at the expense of others. Since tentative agreement had already been reached allowing them to keep all of their territory and most of their commercial advantages provided they participate in the peculiar alliance-that-was-not, the present summit had been called to discuss other matters. Being a conference now of associates, albeit continuously argumentative ones, and not a triumph of conquerors over the defeated, the mood was markedly more upbeat than its gloomy predecessor.

  Representatives of all sides met beneath a vast thousand-year-old dome that was entirely covered in bas-reliefs of gilded copper alloys inset with semiprecious stones. From below, it was like looking up at a bowl of Heaven, the entire procession of Charuchalan history up to the time of the building’s final construction being depicted on that fabulous curved surface. Walker wanted to lean back, relax, and study each and every bit of it at leisure, but knew he could not do so. As an important member of the delegation from Kojn-umm, it would not do to appear too awed.

  Speeches echoed as greetings were exchanged. Beneath the dome’s perfect acoustics, Niyyuuan voices grated harsher than ever on other ears. Disdaining diplomacy, Sque dealt with the din by placing the tips of no less than three tendrils apiece over each of her aural openings. Braouk, typically, elected to tough it out. Walker and George had no choice but to endure, since neither of them possessed the extra limbs necessary to cover their ears while still allowing them to manipulate objects in their vicinity.

  There were no seats, no tables. It was the Charuchalan fashion to conduct such gatherings while standing, the theory being that when the majority began to grow tired of the effort, it was time to terminate the proceedings. As no one had been allowed into the conference armed, modern conveniences were permitted in the ancient structure. Anxious to be consumed, enthusiastic refreshments darted to and fro among the participants, waiting to be grabbed out of the air. The interior climate was set at maximum comfort—for Niyyuu, of course. A few select commentators were allowed to record the proceedings for later broadcast. To Walker, the gathering had more the feel of a sophisticated party than a formal conference fraught with political and military meaning.

  As minor issues were debated and resolved, attentive automatic recorders faithfully took down everything that was being said. A general atmosphere of good fellowship prevailed. A few senior military figures made bold to discuss which realms should be
the subject of the new association’s first expedition even as their soldiers continued to skirmish among themselves at scattered locations both without and within Charuchal-uul’s extensive borders.

  It was left to senior Charuchalan general Deeleng-hab-wiq to move directly beneath the center of the dome, stand in the middle of the mosaic stone floor, and call for attention. Turning a slow circle, he addressed the entire assembly.

  “Guests and enemies, honored soldiers of Charuchal-uul and fighters of other realms: unusual times are upon us.” Someone made a crude but fitting joke, and the massed exhalations of appreciation ruffled Walker’s hair. Unperturbed, Deeleng-hab-wiq continued. “We have seen development of extraordinary tactics that not so much defy tradition as avoid it.” Unexpectedly, he halted in his slow turning to stare directly at Walker. “Perhaps significant visitor from unknown world has appropriate definition for it?”

  Though used to speaking in front of others—indeed, even shouting in front of them—Walker was caught off guard by the sudden attention. Something was digging at his ankle. Looking down, he saw that George was pawing his leg and staring up at him.

  “Say something, stupid. Just don’t say something stupid.”

  It was a potentially pivotal moment in their relationship with Niyyuu other than those from Kojn-umm, Walker recognized. He cleared his throat. “Where I come from, we’d call the strategy that’s recently been employed by the forces of Kojn-umm, Toroud-eed, and others an end run. When the forces arrayed against you, both military and cultural, are too strong to break through, you have to find a way around them.”