The Darkness at the Edge of Noon: a Thalassia novel

by Patrick McClafferty

  “Oh, it’s like this, Aileen. When Logan freed Rhiannon, call her Nan for short, I do, when he freed Nan he got kind-of busted up.” Aileen frowned, then glared at Logan. “Well, actually he was dying, broken ribs through lungs, you know.” The medic nodded numbly. “Nan still had to get out of her predicament, so she coaxed the K’Dreex out of the dead Zzzkntti and into Logan. Then she got her to repair him.”

  “So that was how...”

  “Yup. That was how he got healed of everything but his bad looks.” She frowned at the man, and he frowned right back. “We may do something about THAT, however.”

  “Now wait just one minute.” The man under the microscope fumed.

  Selene smiled. “So our friend has a creature that lives inside of him. A creature named Jade. Jade is a bit depressed, since it was her people that caused all the problems. Logan, however, is working on that, bless his heart.”

  Aileen looked at Logan and frowned. “I’ve said many things to and about Logan MacKennit before, Goddess, but bless his heart sure isn’t one of them.”

  “Then you don’t know him, Aileen Cronin, you don’t know him at all.”

  “Well, I do know that your sweet sister has her eye on him. I may not be a goddess, but I am a woman, and I know that look.”

  “Well.” Selene returned with a throaty chuckle. “It is pretty obvious, but you’re wrong. She’s not looking. Nan has him hooked, landed and filleted, but he just doesn’t know it yet.”

  “Are you two talking about fishing?” Logan asked from the other end of the table. Aileen burst out laughing and he had a hurt look on his face for a second. “Have your little joke, Medic Cronin. However, Jade and I were just talking, and we decided that you would be a good recipient for your own ‘advisor’. He glanced at the goddesses. “What do you think, ladies?”

  Four sparkling violet eyes regarded the squirming medic. The goddesses smiled. “We think that it is a splendid idea, Logan.”

  “Don’t I get a say in this?” Aileen squeaked.

  “No!” The goddesses answered in unison.

  “Should I hold her down?” Logan asked, with uncharacteristic enthusiasm. He too was smiling. The medic’s eyes grew huge.

  “I don’t think that will be necessary, do you?” Rhiannon swung her eyes to Aileen.

  “Ahhhh.”

  “I didn’t think so. Hold out your hand, dear. This will only hurt for a second.”

  Logan held out his own hand, and gave the medic a sly grin. “That’s what they always say, right before the headman’s ax swings.”

  “Logan!” A chorus of voices protested.”

  “All right. It’s no more than a pinprick, truthfully. But you all had that one coming.” This time it was Jade that was laughing, and to Logan it sounded very good.

  A swelling bump stood out in Logan’s palm, grew to the size of a small walnut, and then split, dribbling blood over his palm and onto the well-oiled wood tabletop. Logan tipped his palm to deposit the small black slug on the upturned hand of Aileen Cronin. The woman’s eyes were big, but she never flinched as the black creature pierced her skin and entered her bloodstream.

  It took a full three minutes before Aileen got that far-away look; the look that meant she was talking with her “advisor.” Her face lit up in a radiant smile. “Why, he says his name is Moray and he brings me greetings from...” Her face swung to Logan. “Logan and Jade, ohhh, this is just too much.” The woman began to cry. Logan was pushing back his chair, but Selene beat him to it, cradling her arm around the weeping girl.

  “Shhh.” Rhiannon whispered softly into his ear. “Let her handle it. Trust me. Aileen needs a woman’s touch right now.” Her glorious eyes pinned him against the table. “So, when do you plan to go?”

  Logan swallowed, his throat suddenly dry as dust. Rhiannon smelled of lilacs, and the scent made his head spin. “I, uh.” He cleared his throat, and she gave him a knowing smile. “Two days from now. That will give us time to repair our armor, and put together some provisions.”

  The goddess nodded, then glanced down at his ribs that were showing through the thin shirt he had on. “When was the last time you ate?”

  “I, ahh. Yesterday, I think. No, it was the day before.”

  “Are you telling me that you’ve been here for two days and haven’t eaten a thing? What are you, a masochist?”

  “A what?”

  The temperature of her eyes dropped fifty degrees in as many seconds. “From now until the time you leave you will eat three square meals a day. Promise!” Logan nodded. “Good!” She took his hand in a viselike grip. “We’ll start right now. How do you like your steak?”

  “I,” He blinked. “I haven’t had a steak in ten years. Medium rare, if you please, Goddess.”

  The woman holding his hand smiled. “You can call me Nan, if you will.” She pulled him toward a doorway. “And tell me, how do you like your baked potatoes?”

  Logan’s eyes were beginning to glaze.

  “We’re on the moon Elysium, Grady, in a sealed building. Tell me again how it was possible for you to lose all of our equipment.” Logan was starting to get a little angry.

  “But, Gunny.” The big man protested. “I put it right over there, next to the wall, and when we got up this morning it was all gone.”

  “Just like magic.” Logan’s eyes narrowed as his suspicions grew.

  “Yeah, just like magic.”

  “Selene.” He said to the empty air. “Did you just happen to borrow the armor for some reason, and not mention it to the men?”

  He heard the laughter before she even appeared. “No, Logan, I did not borrow the armor. I threw it all out.”

  “What!” He could feel his blood pressure rising, and Grady was backing off into the shadows to avoid being drawn into the upcoming fight. “Don’t you think that we will need our armor if we are going to meet any more of your four armed green playmates?”

  “Be nice, Logan.” She smiled sweetly. “Rhiannon and I replaced your outdated hoplite armor with something better.”

  Visions of lace trimmed smocks filled Logan’s mind. “I can’t wait to see it.” His voice was flat. “What’s a hoplite?”

  Selene laughed. “Rhiannon is bringing it in right now.”

  Logan rolled his eyes and turned. The Goddess Rhiannon was standing next to a pile of armor. But what armor! Nan held up a breastplate. “Your new armor, good sir.”

  Logan reached out a hand, and struck the piece with a fingernail. It rang like a struck bell. “Is that...” He couldn’t go on.

  “Yes, it’s metal.” Rhiannon’s grin was wide. “The rules won’t allow us to give you advanced weapons or body armor, but we did stretch things a little to make improved armor out of steel, rather than your own ceramic. The style still reflects the ancient Greek hoplites. Your swords and knives are also steel.” Logan could tell that the red haired goddess was really getting into it now. “Since you did mention crossbows at one time, we made up a couple of these.” The weapon she held up looked light, a toy a girl might use. The goddess frowned, then in a swift motion picked up an eight inch quarrel from the table, loaded it and pulled back the stout string with a strong smooth pull. Logan noted the play of her muscles, and reminded himself never to arm wrestle with her. She raised the bow and fired in a single motion. Across the room they all heard a meaty chunk.

  “I was shooting for the knot five feet up.” She set the bow down and crossed her arms. “There’s only one.”

  There was only one knot, Logan found out later, and the quarrel was buried to the flights in the center of it. An inch of barbed shaft stood out of the six inch beam on the other side. The thing had passed through six inches of solid oak, starting with the knot!

  “Well take them, Goddess, with our thanks.” He replied, when he got back to the group. He couldn’t look Rhiannon in the eye.

  She winked at a stunned Aileen, and began passing out armor. It was quickly obvious that the armor was custom fit for each person. When she
was done the squad members stood around laughing, rapping on each other’s black armored chests. The goddess nodded to Logan.

  “Line up, you jokers.” He growled in his best parade ground voice. They lined up. Rhiannon went from person to person, touching each armored chest—and where she touched, a small symbol appeared. She stopped at Logan and gave him a warm smile, but no touch, and turned to the squad.

  “Those symbols on your armor are your new rank. Those ranks date back from antiquity. The vessel that landed here hundreds of years ago had aboard it an ambassador, from a country called America. As an ambassador, he was entitled to a small military unit from his own country to attend and protect him. They did their job well, and you are their descendants. Logan has promoted you all at least one step. You should be proud. You are the last members of the United States Marine Corps: Private First Class Megan Tighe, Private First Class Ryanne Keegan, Corporal Bel D’Alton, Corporal Tiana Crowe, Lance Corporal Grady McMullan, and Sergeant Aileen Cronin.” She winked when she got to Logan, then she turned to face the others. “Congratulations, Marines!”

  “Ooh-rah!” They bellowed.

  Aileen was frowning. “Ahh, goddess, what about Logan? Doesn’t he get anything?”

  Nan gave her a warm look, as if she had been waiting for that very question. “Gunnery Sergeant Logan is the only one among you who never asked for coin for his service. Therefore...” Logan held his breath. Rhiannon reached around her wealth of red hair and gently removed her silver crescent moon and chain. There was a flash of light from her hands, and where she had held one medallion before, now she held two. She put the first back around her neck. The second she placed about Logan’s. “This will give Gunnery Sergeant Logan the ability to talk to me when he wishes, and to bring whoever he wishes back to Medin.”

  The voice in his head said dryly.

 

 

 

 

  Rhiannon gave him a beatific smile. “Be nice, you two.” She whispered.

  Chapter 5

  They were seven black ghosts drifting soundlessly through the fog-shrouded forest. Damp and cold, the air smelled of mold and wet bark. Five miles to go to reach the field that held the hidden doorway, the field where they had been ambushed the last time. Now it was their turn. The forest was strangely silent, holding its breath for something to happen. Logan could feel it in his bones.

  Selene or Rhiannon had done something to them. That much was evident. Not only were they healthier, faster and stronger, their night vision was better. Much better.

  The trees slipped by and Logan held up a hand. In the darkness there came the dull chunk of a crossbow, and then another. Bel and Tiana returned to the group, wiping their soiled bolts with a dirty rag. Their fingers flickered. Two sentries, now dead. Path clear to the target but... Bel stopped her fingers and shrugged. Logan nodded, and the two scouts faded silently back into the bush.

  From the edge of the dark jungle Logan could see what had bothered the two scouts. The doorway to the underground city stood wrenched open, a cluster of hulking four-armed guards standing watch. They were too late. The attack on the humans had already begun.

  His fingers flickered. In the darkness he saw the replies. Then they ran. The meadow was wet with the night dew, and the scent of the grass crisp and clean. The guards at the door turned at the sound of their approaching feet, and charged. The furthest stumbled and fell, and didn’t rise; then the next. A moment later the leader of the creatures pounded along, unaware that he was charging alone. Grady’s swift sword stroke swept its legs out from under it, and Logan completed the motion with a quick thrust of his own. The squad squatted in the grass panting.

  “The attack has begun.” Logan met each pair of eyes in turn. “That means we have to go in, break up the attack, and save who we can.” Six heads nodded. “Bel and Tiana. Remain outside. You’re too lightweight for close infighting. Stop reinforcements with your crossbows. Only try to find us if you run out of bolts and can’t hold them back. I’ll try to get us all out. Got it?” Six nods. “Let’s go. This is a team effort, folks.”

  There was a murmur of distant voices that slowly grew louder as they descended further and further underground. Unlike his own city, these floors were wet and slippery, and the air smelled foul and left a bitter carrion taste on the tongue.

  The murmur of voices soon became distant shouts and screams, and then they were on the rear of the Zzzkntti horde. Dozens of green shapes jammed the narrow passage. There wasn’t a plan. Logan and Grady drew their swords and began hacking. Soon, the mass of advancing green bodies seemed to hesitate, aware finally that something was wrong behind it. More Zzzkntti died. The mass tried to turn. Tried and failed. The beleaguered humans were given a fresh lease on life by the momentary distraction. When the creatures withdrew from their advance, the city humans attacked. When the creatures turned to fight their tormenters, Logan’s forces chewed up their rear echelon.

  Logan stood in a small side passage, leaning on his sword, catching his breath and wiping green ichor off his face when he felt a mental pull, from further down the corridor.

 

  Jade sounded unsure.

  It didn’t take Logan more than two seconds. He picked up his sword and it seemed to weigh a ton. Running was even worse. He was definitely getting too old for this shit. He forgot all about that when he turned the next corner. The four green skinned creatures were battering at the crumbling remains of a barred door. He only had a moment to regret the fact that he’d forgotten to ask for help, then he was into them. Surprise carried him through the first two. After that he was in trouble. Screeching talons raked across his new breastplate, but when they touched the silver medallion that seemed to be embedded there, there was a flash, and the concussion blew the creature across the room to land in a crumbled smoking heap in a pile of old books. Three heads peeked around a tottering bookcase. Two he knew, the third, a woman, he did not.

  The last Zzzkntti was the biggest creature Logan had yet met, making the seven footer from the cave look like a mere youth. This old monster had whitish scars across arms and chest, and a puckering line ran from crown to chin. It casually reached over and tore a three foot leg from an overturned oak table to use as a club. This was something new, Logan thought to himself, with more than a little dismay. The creatures were using weapons now. What next?

  The thing charged, and swung the makeshift club at a speed Logan found astounding. He just managed to get his arm up to take the hit on the vambrace instead of his head. Helmet or no, it would have turned his brain to mush if it had connected. As it was, his entire left arm went numb from wrist to elbow. His own reverse cut took off the creature’s right arm, just below the elbow. Great, he thought, as the thing screamed. It only has three more arms left, and the thing was mad now. The Zzzkntti turned the next stroke in mid swing, and caught Logan across the face, bending in the cheek guard and knocking him halfway over a fallen bookcase. Things were blurry now, and Logan had to raise his sword with both hands to keep the pounding blows from crushing the rest of the screaming agony that was his head. The taste of copper was strong in his mouth, and he thought that he might have a couple of loose teeth.

  The thing raised the table leg high over its head for one final crushing blow, when Logan heard a dull chunk. He blinked. The monster seemed to have a crossbow bolt sunk to the flights in his left eye. There was a surprised expression on the monster’s face as he toppled over backward, to crash to the floor of the library.

  Bel stood in the doorway, her crossbow stock propped on her hip. “I thought that this was supposed to be a team effort, Gunny.”

  “Yeah,” he groaned, “
I charged, you saved my ass. Team effort. Give me a hand up please.” She grinned and extended a hand. “OK, you can come out now; all the bad guys are dead.” As the three forms emerged from behind the tottering cases of books, the rest of his squad arrived through the other door.

  “Big sucker.” Grady drawled, poking a toe into the dead monster. He frowned at the table leg clutched in the dead hand. “That might have been bad news.”

  “Tell me about it. Are the monsters all dead?”

  “Dead or running.” Grady was scratching at a cut on his cheek.

  “Good.” He looked up at the three who stood before him. The girl’s eyes widened.

  “Is that you, Mister Logan?”

  “Yeah, Silvie. It’s me.”

  The girl giggled. “You’re always busted up when I see you, but you always seem to get better. Will you get better this time too?”

  Logan tried to smile and winced from the pain. “I think so, honey. Everyone cluster around. Let’s go home.” He put a bloody hand on his medallion. “Are we all here? Bring us home, please.”

  “But how...” Silvie began, but she stopped, her mouth hanging open. They were already there.

  “Let me take a look at that face.” Aileen was taking out her medical bag, frowning at his face. “It looks as though your nose caught it this time.”

  “Finally.” Logan laughed, and then grimaced in pain. “I’ve been trying hard enough.”

  “Let’s get that thing off,” she gave a hard pull and Logan gasped as the dented helmet came free.

  Her delicate fingers touched his face. “Nose, cheekbone, eye-socket, I don’t think the jaw is broken, but it may be fractured, a couple of loose teeth. Maybe a concussion.” She glanced at his dented and twisted vambrace. “Probably a broken arm too. All in one afternoon.”

  “Lucky for me Bel was around, so we don’t have to deal with him again. Damn, he was big and fast.”

  “Mister Logan, is it?” A slender blond woman asked. She had the studious, squinty eyed, slightly hunched over look of the spinsterish professional scholar, Logan noted. Probably a teacher. She might be pretty if she relaxed and straightened up a little. As it was ....