Planet Walkers

by A. V. Shackleton

  “Tell me.”

  Sari’s lips compressed. “It’s hard to know where to begin. I wasn’t there when it happened, but there was a terrible storm … we lived in the northern plains of Areesh. Nothing fancy. They grew little attar, a herd of shuna. Mother always had cakes in the cupboard and a kettle on the fire. She liked galano, just like you. And father, he was a Rukh, you know – but always out walking with the herd. He loved the wild moors. On the day it happened –”

  “Meeting’s about to start.” Lind plopped down beside them and tipped her head toward the hearth.

  “Oh! The Overlord’s here already?” Andel said. “I didn’t realize! Sorry, Sari. Another time?”

  Sari hesitated slightly, then settled back into silence.

  Duvät Gok cleared his throat. “Good evening, all!” An uncharacteristic smile played across his mouth. “Yes, very good.” He bowed his head for a moment, as if lost in thought. When he lifted it again, his eyes glittered in the light of the coals. “I have been looking through our target summaries and we are well on track,” he said. “Well done.”

  He smiled again. Andel had never seen him smile. She was unsure whether he’d noticed the stunned silence. Someone disguised a laugh as a cough. His face returned to its habitual scowl.

  “But of course, there is plenty still to do,” he said brusquely. “We are nearly halfway through our contract and yet to visit the northern continent and the far southern archipelago.” He swept his hand back toward the work tent. “Our reports must be kept up to date! I notice that several are yet to be completed.” He lifted his chin. “The God-Emperor despises laziness, and so should we.”

  “That’s more like it,” Lind muttered beneath her breath.

  Andel heard Casco’s faint snigger.

  “I want those reports by tomorrow.” Duvät Gok glared around the room. “You know who you are!”

  “Faking,” Lind murmured. “Hasn’t read a report in months.”

  Duvät made a curt signal and swept from the marquee. Huldar stepped forward, frowning as he watched the Overlord’s departure.

  “For a moment I thought he’d been exchanged for someone pleasant,” he said quietly, “but it seems not.”

  When the Uri’madu had settled, he continued. “Now, the minimal tilt of this planet means there are no seasons, as such – only one long cycle from freeze to thaw and back again. The southern islands are at a higher latitude than the northern polar landmass, so they’re bare of ice sooner and habitable for slightly longer – slightly longer,” he emphasized. “We’ll have four weeks at best before we have to take what time we can for our visit to the north polar regions.”

  “Where there’ll be even more snow and ice,” Tam muttered darkly. “Can’t wait.”

  “Yes,” Huldar agreed. “It’s been quite a feature, hasn’t it?”

  “Could call the planet ‘Snowball’,” said Arko.

  “I’m sure we’ll find a much more original name,” Huldar said. “But that’s something for another time. We’ll have to wrap up here soon, within six weeks I’d say, seven at most. I’ve already made a portal to the edge of the southern archipelago, so that should keep him happy, but no further infrastructure as of yet.”

  “How many islands?”

  “Not so many as there were when the thaw began,” Huldar said. “Some have been drowned by rising oceans. However, the waters have reached their peak and a number remain well above sea level. Some are quite large, so there should be plenty of interest – and the cool will be refreshing after the heat of the deserts.”

  Andel’s pulse quickened as he looked right at her.

  “Tsemkarun Andel?”

  She nodded.

  “We’ll need a rapid assessment of the volcanic potential down there. An eruption could be devastating.”

  “Of course,” she answered.

  “Is it possible for you to head south with me before the rest break camp? Let’s say four weeks from now?”

  “‘Never blind yourself to the song …’” Andel’s voice petered out when she noticed the faint smile creasing Huldar’s eyes.

  “It’s something my father says,” she stammered. “It’s better to know the dangers before you take risks, but the risks you take define you.”

  She saw Huldar’s eyebrows creeping upward. “So, four weeks …?”

  Sari nudged her very softly in the ribs.

  “Yes, of course,” Andel replied. “That’s quite possible.”

  She looked down, hoping her blush would be mistaken for the glow of the firelight. Why did she always say the wrong thing? Casco’s head shook slowly from side to side, but she could feel his inner smile. Sari’s gaze was warm, but Lind’s expression seemed … was it triumphant?

  She tried to pay attention to Bush and Topper’s report on the water situation, but it would be her turn soon and already she was nervous.

  “Lady Andel?”

  She started. Was it time for her to speak already?

  “Umm … Hello everyone,” she began. “I’d like to begin by saying how lovely it is to be all back together, it’s been months since we met like this, and thank you, Tam, for the magnificent feast you’ve prepared!”

  She waited for the smatter of comments to finish. “Now, Casco and Cobar and I have covered a lot of ground, mostly to the north and north-west so far, and I am happy to report we’ve found this continent bountiful indeed. On the edge of the western desert we have found a wonderful bed of blue calcite, which, as you know, is favored by potters for glazes and also its properties as a substrate which will survive the high temperatures of firing, and also light-singers for its ability to hold light for long periods of time. And also, there is a charm that can make it invisible, so, an interesting find, and –”

  “Tell us about the nacrite!”

  “Arko!” Sari said indignantly. “Manners!”

  “No, it’s all right, really.” Andel smiled at her friends. She could understand their impatience. “Yes, the nacrite – I was going to make you wait, but … well, remember when we were all on the cliffs? Well, while we were all sitting around waiting to try out Huldar’s ‘sky step’ –”

  Nachiel chuckled. “And Gento was flinging those spongy fungus-balls around! Ugh!”

  “I copped one right on the head!” Arko said.

  “Yes, well, perhaps the mysteries of Gento’s sense of humor should be discussion for another time,” Andel said firmly. “Anyway, as I was saying, while we were waiting there on the sky cliffs, I couldn’t help having a little feel for what was there, and there it was – the signature of nacrite. It’s rare but unmistakable, and it was coming from somewhere beneath us. Casco and I returned the next day, and in a cave under the cliffs we found –”

  “You found,” Casco interjected.

  “– a wide cavern where nodules of nacrite bob about like yellow bats on the ceiling!”

  Sari shook her head in amazement. “Stones floating like bats? Amazing!”

  Nachiel clasped his hands together. “More precious than anything, even the fire-opal you found before we moved to the foothills. Though that’s gorgeous!”

  Gento agreed. “Every sword-maker in the Realm will be beating a path to that nacrite,” he said. “A weapon with that in the alloy… forged by a Sajhar, you have a blade that’s flexible yet strong – light as a feather and sharp as a bento’s tooth.”

  “Congratulations, Tsemkarun Andel,” Huldar said. “And having since investigated the site, I can say that, better still, the nacrite is easily accessible through a network of existing caves and tunnels, meaning it can be harvested with minimum disruption to the planet. The Uri’madu have never found such potential riches before, so well done, everyone.”

  “Where’s the smiling one?” Tam asked. “Does he know?”

  Huldar shrugged. “He would if he’d read the report, but sadly, I think he’s been too busy.”

  “Busy making our lives miserable,” said Casco.

  “Not so miserable th
at we can’t enjoy a good feed!” Tam spread his hands above the feast he had prepared. “Come and get it! Spicy krale casserole served on a bed of purple ground-nuts harvested from the newly famous sky-cliffs region.” He paused as Duvät Gok reentered the marquee. “Ah, Overlord. Joining us for dinner?”

  The Overlord grunted. “It’s amazing what hunger does for one’s tolerances.”

  Later, Andel sat chatting with Sari and Gento while she finished her meal. After scraping out the last, she saluted Tam with her bowl. “Very nice!”

  “Not bad, eh?” he replied.

  “Not bad at all.”

  “How about a story?” Gento said. “Huldar?”

  “Someone else should have a turn.” Huldar’s gaze settled on Casco. “What about you?”

  “Yeah, Casco,” Topper called. “Tell us a story!”

  “Casco! Casco! Casco!” They all took up the chant until Casco grinned and held up his hands.

  “All right!” he said. “As it happens, I do have a story. How about –”

  “Lord Marachel the Weaver!” Arko shouted.

  “The Iskilatu Gates!” Lind cried, her hands clasped together like a child’s.

  “No,” said Casco. “How about –”

  “The Five Legs,” a deep voice rumbled.

  “Exactly,” said Casco. “Cobar, my friend, you know me too well.”

  “Haven’t heard that one for ages,” Gento said.

  Andel leaned closer to him. “I haven’t heard it at all,” she admitted.

  “You’ll enjoy it,” said Sari. “It’s about explorers, like us.” She looked at Tam. “The shawl?”

  Tam reached into Qalān and pulled out the storyteller’s mark of office, a wide shawl, once white but now yellowed with age. Sari took it from him and arranged the soft kressie-wool over Casco’s back, then returned to her place beside Andel.

  Casco shrugged his shoulders to settle the folds, then waved his fingers for drink and honey-cakes.

  Tam groaned, but brought a bottle of Besh and a plate of cakes anyway.

  “Get on with it, Casco!” Ronnin muttered.

  “Wants his moment with the shawl to last, he does,” said Topper.

  Bush laughed. “The only time we’ll all be listening.”

  Finally, Casco held up his hand and everyone fell silent. Beyond the tent, a chorus of nocturnal creatures filled the vacuum with sound. Within, coals creaked quietly in the hearth.

  “The Five Legs,” he announced, and bowed his head. “We honor El with this story of discovery.

  “This is a tale from the time of the God-Empress Karuzät Enna,” Casco began. “Thirty-fourth God-Emperor of the Realm, and grandmother of Tsemkarun Ishät Ashik, who is, as you know, the thirty-sixth God-Emperor.”

  “Makes sense, doesn’t it?” Nachiel said. “The … ow!”

  “Quiet!” Ronnin whispered. “He’s got the shawl!”

  “Toward the end of Karuzät Enna’s reign,” Casco continued, “the apprentice scryer, Ulisharu of Trianog, discovered a new planet; a cool world, but none the less green and welcoming.”

  Lind sat up taller. “The same Ulisharu who discovered this planet? Made our map?”

  “The very same,” Casco said. “Karuzät died only three hundred years after Ulisharu of Trianog began her apprenticeship.”

  Duvät Gok cleared his throat. “The God-Empress Shamkarun Karuzät Enna,” he corrected. “May she rest sweetly in the Breath.”

  “Of course. Thank you, Duvät Gok.” Casco smoothed the tasseled edge of the white shawl. “Anyway,” he continued, “as Ulisharu studied the new world, she noticed a strange feature on one of its continents. There were clusters of domes like balls of twine clumped together, rising high and spreading low, as if they had been knitted from the grassy plains around them.”

  He looked expectantly at Huldar, who answered with a small nod.

  Tam emptied a pile of nuts onto the ground in front of Casco. Huldar muttered a charm beneath his breath and the nuts began to move.

  “Look at what he’s doing,” Andel murmured. She watched in fascination as Huldar guided the nuts to form into domes.

  “Just like in the story,” said Sari. “Clever, isn’t he?”

  Casco continued. “Imagine the young scryer’s surprise when rolling from the tubes came dozens of furry five-legged creatures.”

  Andel was delighted when a ball of groundnuts rolled across the table and raised itself up into a star shape. Another joined it, and another then the three shapes linked to form a single mass.

  “With much appendage-waving,” Casco went on, “the creatures formed into groups and set off across the plains, rolling along in communal balls. Ulisharu realized she had discovered one of El’s greatest blessings – a new sentient species.

  “The God-Empress Shamkarun Karuzät Enna was keen to make contact with the new race, so scryers and navigators worked together day and night to develop a chord of translation. In due course, a team of Imperial Explorers set off, and high in the Palace Of Winds, Ulisharu and the God-Empress watched constantly, waiting for their arrival on the unknown world.”

  Huldar sang again and the ball of groundnuts reformed into a miniature cupola. The ghostly image of two women appeared, standing beneath the pillars of its roof.

  “Now, as we know,” Casco went on, “every team has a Shamkarun, and in this case it was Shamkarun Okriien Enna who was chosen to lead.

  “The honor of first contact is rare indeed and each situation is different. Would the new species be aggressive? Would communication be possible? There are no rules or guidelines beyond the need for peace. We Uri’madu have not yet been in such a position, but we can all well imagine the excitement and trepidation that Shamkarun Okriien Enna’s team must have felt.”

  Casco paused as Huldar rearranged the groundnuts into two piles. One became a small group of Annangic shapes, from the other a ball pinched off and rolled toward them.

  “When they were ready,” Casco said, “Shamkarun Okriien left his team close by and walked on alone to stand by the open end of a tube. After some time, a star-creature rolled from it. When it saw the annangi it stopped and froze like a fur-covered stone.

  “Okriien Enna sang songs of gentleness, hoping the creature would respond with curiosity rather than fear, but the world of the Terric – which, as you have no doubt guessed, is the people this story is about – is also a world of fearsome predators. Quick as a wink it fired its slingshot straight at Okriien’s head.

  “Now, Okriien Enna had been chosen, in part, for his ability with screens, and the stone was easily deflected, but this did not stop the furry Terric from trying again, and again. When it realized its sling was ineffective, it retracted its limbs and laid still, a knee-high ball of fur, and started to shriek for help.

  “Have you ever heard that cry?” Casco asked them. “The distress call of a Terric?”

  Huldar winced. “Yes, I have.”

  “Terrible,” Nachiel agreed.

  “Certainly is,” Casco said. “Soon, more Terric came rolling from the tubes, summoned by the call.”

  Andel watched the tabletop, where several more balls of groundnuts rolled toward the annangi and surrounded them.

  Casco nodded. “Shamkarun Okriien waited, his veil calm, his haze open, while his team stood back, poised on the edge of their half-wild portal, ready to come to his assistance or help him escape.

  “The largest of the Terric stood up like a hairy star, all five limbs extended, her long manes flowing in the breeze, and approached the Shamkarun. Three dark globular eyes pushed out from her middle. They swiveled on their pedicles and examined Okriien Enna from head to toe. She came closer and poked Okriien’s waist with long, sharp claws.

  “Others of the Terric began to unfold. Their eyes turned. Their claws clattered. The leader stood as tall as he could be. Her olfactory organs wobbled. Her mouth chittered in commentary as she walked around, and her eyes rotated, absorbing the sight of the strange new being from ev
ery angle.

  “After several circuits, the Terric grasped Okriien’s shirt in her claws and pulled. Okriien realized she wanted to see what was beneath his clothing.

  “Slowly, he took off his shirt … The Terric raised their arms and clacked their claws. The leader’s chittering grew more aggressive. She pulled at Okriien’s pants.

  “Okriien hesitated, but as the leader’s agitation increased he saw no other option and removed his trousers.

  “At that, the Terric lowered their limbs, their chittering smoothed into chirps and their gestures became soft and friendly. The rest of the annangi came forward, food was offered, and the creatures went wild with excitement. No one else was required to remove their clothing, and perhaps that was just as well because it was only after fluent communication had been established that the truth was discovered. When Okriien Enna had removed his pants, the Terric believed his penis was a retractable fifth leg and accepted him as one of their own.

  “But one has to wonder,” Casco said, “would they have greeted us so warmly if Shamkarun Okriien Enna had been female?”

  With a cheeky grin, Huldar made the groundnuts on the table grow into a single male annangi with an improbably long penis, then he let his creation collapse.

  ON THE SOUTHERN ARCHIPELAGO

  “Andel, could you stand a bit closer, please,” Huldar said. “Cobar won’t bite, and I believe Casco had a wash this morning.”

  “But did you?” Casco said wryly.

  With a muttered song Huldar stepped the four explorers through to the rocky shore of a small bay on an island in the planet’s deep south. Andel was almost knocked sideways by the unexpected force of the wind. Beside them, a wild grey ocean heaved against a long headland. Giant waves swept foam across the shallow reef in an endless cleansing roar. Small shrubs dotted the stony dunes behind them, pressed low and westerly as if extruded by the savage polar winds.

  Portal needs a little tuning, Casco said.

  “Sea levels won’t begin to fall for several months,” Huldar yelled against the wind. He pointed to the breakers. “Over here, before the seas rose, this reef terminated in a cliff. There’s a great chasm.”