“Here you are,” he said. “Hot hamarsi with krale-leaf, just in case there’s blood-sucking critters down there.”
“Krale?” Andel asked.
“It’s worked before,” Casco said. “There should be some in our supplies?”
“There is,” Lind said. “And speaking of supplies, this one’s yours, Tsemkarun Andel. All the packs are much the same, content list in a pocket on the side. Best to spread the essentials between us, just in case one goes astray.”
As Andel hefted the heavy bundle and stowed it in Qalān, Casco said, “I didn’t ask yesterday, but I seem to remember that you have some farsight, Lady Andel.”
“Some,” she admitted, “although I am no Ziquaran – more used to directing my vision downward through rock.”
“Still, you’re unlikely to lose your way.” Casco nodded.
“Lose my way?” Andel’s brow furrowed.
“Well,” Lind sniggered, “if the tent was any indication …”
Andel knew she wouldn’t lose her way. She was a diviner! But if she tried to justify herself to Lind she would seem weak. “Are we ready?” she asked, proud of the steel in her voice.
They left the warmth of the marquee and made their way to the bluff. As she descended the first few awkward paces down its side, Casco coughed. Three faces looked down at her, pale in the dawn twilight. He touched his forehead, almost as if by accident, and made a circular motion.
“Oh! Yes, of course!” She was glad the light was low enough to hide the pink flush on her cheeks. “Link with me please,” she said, “… and with each other if you haven’t already.”
She opened her mind’s veil enough to allow light contact from each of her team. It was important that they stayed in touch at all times. She had known that. Already she’d made a mistake. Casco’s gaze was understanding and she sealed her inner mind more tightly, embarrassed to think he might have felt her pulse of self-recrimination, but before she could look away he surprised her with a wry wink and a fleeting touch of respect.
We’ll maintain this light level of contact at all times during the expedition, she said. Agreed?
They responded in tight unison, and she realized the team were well used to being in each other’s minds. Casco was their unspoken filter. They were linked more strongly with him than with her, but that was to be expected. She was still a stranger, and it was Casco, as Huldar’s deputy, who would make their evening report back to base.
Step by step, they clambered and slid down the side of the steep plateau. As the first rays of dawn hit the icy plain below, they squinted against the stark white glare. By the end of the descent they were waist high in tough vegetation. All color had been subsumed in the shimmer of frost, and although bright, the sunlight seemed ineffective against the valley’s deep chill.
Andel was delighted when Casco projected an image of their destination and his proposed trail directly into her mind. After months of solitude as they travelled with the navigator, she had come to enjoy the silence and sanctity of her own head-space, yet now she appreciated how much she missed the fluent banter only possible through the sharing of familiar minds, and she longed for that opportunity – an invitation to join in.
I’ve had a closer look at this ridge-line, Lady Andel, Casco said. We should set out this way, he pointed toward the sun, more to the east.
Right you are, Casco, she replied, but when she peered ahead at the impenetrable scrub, she was unable to perceive even the slightest of paths.
“I’ll go first,” Cobar said, and Andel laughed in surprise. Oh! You’ve put an image in my mind! You are a … a giant boulder? So you’re going to roll the path clear!
“Don’t break anything, big boy,” Lind said. “You know the boss won’t like it.”
I know what I’m doing.
The party began to pick their way along Cobar’s rough-cleared track. As the morning wore on, they passed through seemingly endless fields of tight, twiggy bush. Around them, the chirp and bleat of a million tiny creatures saturated their ears. If not for their mental connection, there would have been no way to make oneself heard – not that there was much conversation.
By noon, the temperature had climbed to almost warm.
Casco’s mind showed them the sullen glint of dark water ahead, clogged with slightly greener shrubs and paper-thin reeds. If we keep the boggy ground to our left, we’ll come to a small clearing and a raised rocky ridge that will do as a causeway. Once we start following that, we’ll make better time.
Cobar forged ahead once more.
Andel could hardly think for the sound of the countless small creatures that clung thickly to the lower branches. Through their connection, she could feel Lind’s sharp focus searching out possible predators, animal or vegetable, but so far they had seen nothing larger than a hand-span.
How do such tiny bodies make such a volume of noise? she said.
Hey! Lind called to Cobar and Casco, remember on Belanze? On the trail with Huldar? Those tiny eel-things that made a piercing shriek every time they detected a footfall? Took us a day just to work out where the sound was coming from.
The sound had a psychic component, Casco said to Andel. Awesome camouflage. Couldn’t believe they were so tiny when we finally dug one up. Huldar formulated a counter-song to neutralize their cover … brilliant really.
I heard about that, Andel said. Didn’t he get Imperial recognition for it?
Certainly did. Huge honor. The other teams have been scrambling to catch up for several rotations now.
Let ’em try! Cobar growled. His shoulders bunched as he pushed through the wiry chest-high scrub.
When they finally reached the clearing, Andel slumped with relief. Even Lind appeared tired.
The rounded patch of rock seemed a lost and lonely island, surrounded by a grey-green sea of shrubs. Lind pulled a tripod and kettle from stores. Cobar conjured a flame, and soon there was hot tea with a dab of honey and kanth. Andel sighed as the mild stimulant eased the ache in her legs. Walking was one thing, but stepping around, through and over tangled vegetation on sodden ground was quite another.
She looked down at the boulder beneath her and felt the surface with practiced hands. “This rock’s different from the others we’ve seen.”
“It’s just a rock,” Lind said. “If we studied every one …”
“But look at it,” Andel scraped away some of the lichen, “the texture, the color … when you clear away the debris on the surface, you can see it’s spotted – crystal intrusions – quite pretty really. Maybe it was flung out by one of the volcanoes we’ve come to study.”
“How can a rock this size fly through the air all the way from there? You’re just making this up.”
Andel paused, a little shocked by Lind’s rudeness. “I know it’s a long way,” she said levelly, “but I’ve seen it happen. On Parsay there was a massive eruption – I saw rocks as big as houses fly through the air as if they weighed nothing.”
Lind’s next comment stalled when Casco frowned.
“We’ve made good time so far,” he said. “Better than expected.” He looked hard at Lind then said to Andel, “We’ll watch your back if you want to do a little divining.”
“Thank you,” she said.
With a deep breath she placed her hands firmly on the rock. Its meager warmth eased the chill in her fingers. Close contact was not necessary for her exploration, but it was a comfortable habit. When divining, she would connect to a specific stratum and often walk for miles, following trails laid deep underground during millennia long forgotten.
She closed her eyes. The flaring spiral Mark on her forehead warmed as she pushed her spirit into the boulder. Its structure sang of strength and time, and beneath it she found evidence of impact, proof that the boulder had exploded from the volcano’s maw in a massive, long ago eruption.
All around, deep under the waterlogged soil, layers of ash and pumice gave further evidence of that mighty event and many lesser ones before and
since. There was also evidence of vast floods and even a massive fire. The local ecology must have been routinely devastated. Then, while scanning for more indications of the frequency of eruptions, she sensed the unmistakable vibration of gold.
With her eyes still closed, she stood and scanned for the strongest signal.
What have you found? Casco asked.
That way! she said, pointing south. Gold. It’s quite strong. She paced to the edge of the clearing. The deposit pulled with a physical force, but the thick vegetation around their small stone island prevented her from following.
Casco’s gentle touch brought her mind back to her body.
He said, This place will be easy to find again, and the gold is going nowhere.
Andel shook her head to clear it.
“Gold so soon,” Lind said brightly. “You might be worth something after all.” She filled Andel’s mug with more tea. “Here. Some kanth. It’s a stimulant.”
“I know what kanth is, Lind.”
“Good for you!” Lind retorted.
The excitement of the find lifted Andel’s spirits despite the other female’s unfriendliness. As the team continued toward the ranges, it seemed there was new purpose in their step. That night, they camped on the opposite side of the plain, gazing over at the plateau toward the rest of the team at base-camp. With a little farsight to sharpen their vision, they could see the glow of the marquee.
“At least it’s warm in here,” Andel said. “Thank you, Cobar.”
Casco reached for more tea. “Gold on the fourth day!” he said. “That’s a record. This’ll lift Huldar’s spirits.”
Cobar nodded, as if thinking deeply, then rumbled, “But where are the predators? Not even the evidence.”
“Well, that means the inland sea’s got to be a giant impact crater,” Lind said. “Must be. Killed off all the bigger species. And the eccentric orbit of the planet just goes to prove it.”
“But the geology argues a huge eruption at some point,” Andel pointed out.
“‘The geology argues’,” Lind repeated scornfully.
“Yes!” Andel said. “And the area is still active. Look at the ranges around us, the conical peaks –”
“I do know what a volcano looks like!”
Cobar rolled his eyes and whispered a precious bottle of Lethian Besh from Qalān. He lifted it toward Casco, who answered the offer with an empty mug. He tried to catch Lind’s attention with a wave of his hand, but she was not ready to let the argument go.
“I think the inland sea is more likely a caldera, not an astrobleme,” Andel said.
“‘Astrobleme’,” Lind echoed, but after a second glance at the opened Besh she placed her mug beside Casco’s.
When Cobar offered the bottle to her, Andel hesitated. She was not much interested in alcohol – but if she didn’t drink with her teammates …
“Have you ever even tried the stuff?” Lind asked her.
Andel looked at the other two. Casco winked and offered her a small glass.
“Maybe just a little,” she conceded.
Lind took a swig. Astrobleme! “Might loosen you up,” she muttered.
Andel chose not to hear. She sipped the dark brown ale, which tasted better than she’d thought it would, and pulled an official report form from Qalān.
As she settled down to write notes, Lind made an incredulous face. “You’re doing that now? You sweet on the Gok or something?”
Cobar chuckled.
“Seems as good a time as any,” Andel replied, and soon lost herself in labeling the rock samples she’d picked up and the recounting of her day.
_________
Casco sat back and enjoyed his ale. Soon he would activate the strong psychic link he shared with Huldar and make his own report. He could sense his friend’s impatience, but it was best to approach such a meeting with his thoughts organized into words and phrases. Imagery was infinitely more useful if attached to conscious meaning.
A short time later, he smiled to see Lady Andel had nodded off with stylus and paper still in her hands, and that Cobar was also fast asleep – but Lind lay awake, waiting for him to connect with Huldar. The yearning in her eyes made him sad.
JUST TALK
Huldar lay in his tent and tried not to scratch his healing skin while he waited for Casco’s scheduled contact. The efforts of Ubaid and Alis had restored circulation to his extremities. Now it was just a matter of waiting for his skin to repair itself, but the healing of his injuries had taken great energy and it would be some time before his reserves were fully replenished.
He wondered where the team had made camp. Had they made it all the way across the valley, as Casco had hoped? He hadn’t received word of any danger or incidents through the day, so he had to assume they were all going well. Again, he pulled his hand away from his face. It seemed to have crept toward an itch all of its own volition.
At last he sensed the familiar presence and Casco asked, How you feeling?
Much better, thanks, Huldar replied. Good of you to finally find the time. Besh, is it?
Casco smiled, sympathizing with his friend’s frustration. Yes, Besh it is. Sorry you’re not here to share it, but you know what they say … all the more for me!
I see you’ve crossed the plains? How’s the new diviner working out?
She’s good … maybe the best we’ve had. Found gold already.
He studied Casco’s sending of events with great interest. A lucky find, or was it? Andel of Trianog seemed to have had an instinct that there was something there.
Needs work on her leadership skills, Casco said.
That will come.
Maybe you should take her under your wing – Casco sent a virtual wink – give her a few lessons.
No time for that … Huldar was careful to hide his attraction to their new team member. Such emotions had no place on assignment. Duvät Gok is pushing for me to start on local Qalān tomorrow.
Bit soon isn’t it? What’s up his ass?
Huldar winced as his sudden smile reopened the scabs on his lips.
Usually spends the first year sulking, Casco continued, then the last few months it’s tantrum time. Same every assignment.
Well, he’s ahead of himself, Huldar sighed. Won’t let up. Hobbles in here to berate me personally, even though he’s every bit as burned as me. He’s vowed to never set foot beyond camp again – or at least not with me. Says I tried to kill him.
Congratulations! Let’s hope he means it. What are you going to do?
Huldar sent the mental equivalent of a shrug. I’ll get back to work tomorrow. He seems fixated on the inner sea. I’ll make my way there first. Short hops: shouldn’t be too taxing. Maybe work toward you lot on the way back.
Casco’s disapproval was a mark of their friendship, but Huldar ignored it. Besides pacifying their Overlord, he hated lazing about convalescing while a whole new planet waited to be explored. No, it would be good to be working again.
Don’t push yourself for our sake, Casco said. Tsemkarun Andel is more than up to the physical strain … much to Lind’s disappointment, I must say.
Two strong individuals getting to know each other. They’ll work it out. Huldar frowned momentarily, then his connection cleared. I’ll tell Duvät about the gold, he said. That might cheer him up.
Casco sniggered. A big rod of gold in his hand might cheer him more, but we can be pretty sure he hasn’t got one of those! He sent a new image of Overlord-as-a-cake, now with a thin yellow grain of hamarsi sagging between its legs.
After their conversation, Huldar tried to put Casco’s image aside, but the next morning when he reported to Duvät Gok, he found it hard to keep it from surfacing.
_______
After speaking with Huldar, Casco opened his eyes and gazed around their tent. Andel’s report lay unfinished by her side and Cobar was lightly snoring, but Lind was still awake. Her haze seemed troubled, and Casco thought he knew why. He drew her attention with a subtle mental query,
then hushed his voice so as not to wake the others.
“Why do you dislike her so much?”
Lind looked at Andel with distain. “Trianogi are weak. She’s unreliable. At the first sign of trouble she’ll freeze up and say ‘It was foreseen …’ or some such rubbish. They’re all the same. I don’t know how she even made it onto the team.”
Casco shook his head. Despite his initial reservations, he had seen great promise in Lady Andel. “She was the highest ranked candidate available for this mission. One refused just because of the communications issue, but even when she knew, Tsemkarun Andel was still keen.”
Lind shrugged. “So what if we can’t communicate with the Realm while we’re here? What’s there to say?”
“For you, maybe – you have no family. But what of the others? And if Huldar had died out there in the snow … what then?”
Lind looked away. “You would have led us.”
“Huh! Do you think our Overlord would go along with that? A half-breed in charge?”
“If Huldar had died, he’d be dead too.” And no one would miss him.
“Aloud, please,” Casco said. He waited for Lind to continue. Her thoughts needed to be vented, and for that, speech was best.
“Archangels!” she hissed at last. “… Except for Huldar, of course.”
He motioned for her to lower her tone and she continued in a forceful whisper. “Pure arrogance in a bigger bundle. Duvät Gok nearly killed him. You heard him! He wouldn’t take no for an answer, wanted that work done straight away even though he knew how dangerous it was. Thought he’d choke when Huldar made him go as lookout. ‘I’m related to the Empress Ishiquel!’” she said, imitating Duvät Gok’s pompous tones. “How many times have we heard it? What did he think? The cold wouldn’t affect him because he’s Tiamäti? Because he’s an archangel? That it wouldn’t dare?”
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