The Repeated Arrival
VI
The two weeks gone by at Camp Astasan were as per plan and the training was progressing extremely well. Sergeant Colburn’s vast experience was instrumental in shaping the unit and to his credit the group already looked like a small military unit. Henry left a greater part of the duties related to training to Major Vallery while he took care of organizing the expedition.
Lying before him on the desk was a heap of writing plates which he had to check and sign, and the more they progressed with the training, the higher and higher the pile grew. After hours of writing and checking the plates, he leaned back on his chair. Henry hated anything then it was quite easily paperwork. It seemed to him that he could never finish it. He took a break before he got checking the inventory of equipment, food, ammunition and numerous other odd things.
He was watching the runway and the small bushes in the vicinity of the camp when he heard a knock at the door. Corporal Malcolm appeared at the door, a bit pale. One look and Henry was sure that something was wrong.
“Excuse me, Brigadier, for interrupting your work… but you have a visitor.”
Henry was not fine with interruptions. “Haven’t I told you that I don’t want to be disturbed by anybody while I’m working? What has happened?”
“No… no… nothing has happened! I’m sorry, Sir, but she insisted on seeing you and I must tell you that she is extremely assertive. I get … goose bumps talking to her.”
Henry could not believe what he was hearing but still asked, “And who is she?”
“Soldier, Maria Conchez.”
Now it was Henry’s turn to be a bit cold. Of all the people he had dealt so far in his career, she was one person he couldn’t quite figure out how to handle. “Is she alone or with soldier Keniko Sun?”
“She’s alone. She said that it’s urgent, but I didn’t want to allow her in without your permission.”
“Let her in!”
“Yes, sir.”
Malcolm opened the door. Henry noticed that she was sitting on Malcolm desk and she jumped to her feet when the door opened. When she passed him, Malcolm, gave way with clear fear of the lady.
“The Commander will see you now.”
He closed the door and was relieved to be out of the gaze of Maria. Henry suddenly got the feeling that a chill settled over the office when she came in. Her copper complexion couldn’t hide the dull rings under her eyes; she looked as if she hadn’t slept for several nights.
Henry asked her, “You need me for something, Miss Conchez?”
With some amount of caution, she looked around and then pushed back her curly black hair, “Yes, Brigadier.”
“What did you do to Corporal Malcolm that he’s so scared?”
“I threw all the papers off his desk when he didn’t want to let me into your office, and…” She abruptly stopped fell on her knees and lowered her head to the floor.
Henry stepped toward her but remembered not to touch her. “Damn, what’s happening n…?”
But before he could take another step she looked at him, and Henry froze instantaneously. Her eyes were completely black, and she spoke in such a deep voice that he abandoned any lingering idea of trying to help her stand up. “I am no devil, Brigadier! My name is Kir, translated into your tongue, Master.”
Henry was slowly retreating to the window. Maria in the trance state got up and started to walk towards Henry.
“I see that you still have the experience from our last encounter fresh in your mind.”
He had cleared his throat before he answered. “I have a good reason to remember it.”
“I enjoyed seeing you in flight. It was a small test.”
Maria continued to walk towards Henry until Henry had nowhere to retreat to. Henry thought it was wise to keep the conversation going. “And what did you conclude from your test?”
She looked at him and reached out and touched his chin. “Always direct! I concluded that you were a threat to me, but Maria likes you, and that’s why I haven’t hurt you.”
Henry was confused because he had no special feeling for Maria, nor believed she had any for him. He asked anyway, “Maria likes me?!”
Instead of answering she caught his chin and squeezed it with a strength which Henry was sure Maria couldn’t possess. The pain erupted and almost turned his entire face numb. “Don’t make me hurt you! I’ve already told you that my name is Kir, and I am Maria’s master.” She loosened her squeeze and continued. “You’re the first person with whom I am talking directly.”
When the pain eased a little, he asked her, “Should I be honored by that? And what about Keniko?”
Maria’s looks were piercing, “Ah, yes, sweet Keniko! Only Maria talks to her, but I have decided to talk to you. So be convinced that you are honored. Everyone, with whom I talk, one way or another, dies after a short while.”
Henry closed his eyes and sighed. “Does that mean I’ll survive this conversation? Or not?”
She gently stroked his hair. “Yes, you will survive.”
She hastily pressed her lips to his and kissed him passionately. For a moment he wanted to protest, but then he let go and held her gently around the waist. Pins and needles were rushing through his body and some odd warmth. As suddenly as she kissed Henry, she pushed him off her. “That is enough for now. You should know that I did that for Maria…” She looked at him coyly, touching his lips with a forefinger. “You didn’t resist too much when I kissed you.”
Henry did not attempt to respond. Besides, his lips were still tingling from the hot kiss he had got. “Anyways, this is not the reason that I came here.” Not paying any attention to him, she moved closer to the desk, on which was the heap of thin writing plates. She took one of them and gently touched it. It turned on and shone with a bluish radiance. When she had quickly looked it over she asked, not raising her eyes, “Is everything ready for the expedition?”
Henry sat on the armchair, made himself comfortable and responded, “Unfortunately, I haven’t resolved it all yet.”
Kir leaned her palms on the edge of the desk. “I reckon you’ll have to speed it up a little.”
Henry was still under the influence of the kiss, but when he realized what Kir was saying, he asked, “Why is that so?”
“You must do that because I say so.”
Henry was not impressed with the fact that he had to hurry things up, but in the given circumstances he had no choice.
Kir went to the window and watched empty runway. “That General, he is coming back soon.”
Henry looked Kir with disbelief. “I have not received any such notice that he was coming back. I do not get it. Why would General Hensell come back without any serious reason?”
Kir looked at him, “As I told you after the General went back the first time, all those who went on the expedition to get back the survivors died even before they reached the ones they were trying to save.”
Henry remembered that prophecy so to say when Maria was in a trance. “I remember very well what you said that day. But I didn’t believe that that would happen.”
She glared at him as Kir did not like doubters, “I think you’ll have to believe me from now on, Mr. Broncon.” She came closer and caught his hand. “Would you like to know how mighty I am?”
Henry tried to pull his hand from her grip but did not succeed. So he spoke out of the situation, “I don’t think that will be necessary. I don’t see any reason to challenge your might, but I am quite interested in another thing.”
Kir loosened its grip. Henry got his hand out and rubbed the sore part and thought it would be dangerous to get in an argument with Kir. He just wanted to play around and if possible get some more information about Godeena. Kir, on the other hand, was pleased wit Henry who did not see want to challenge her. So, she smiled happily and asked, “And what is that other thing?”
“What waits as on Godeena?” Henry asked.
Kir ran his hand through his hair. “The question is apposite, but even I am not that sure.”
He wasn’t really happy to not have an answer but thought it was stupid to express his emotions.
Kir could make out that Henry wasn’t happy, “You’re much too impudent, Brigadier!”
“I had no intention of offending you, Kir,” He tried to apologize. “I thought that you would know better as to what awaits us down there.”
Kir offered an answer, “Whatever it is, it’s very powerful and relentlessly attacks anybody landing on its planet. We’ll name it the Being.”
Henry got interested in what Kir said as well as weary of this new thing called “Being”. Henry leaned on the desk and after a short moment said, “We won’t give up, we can’t give up but we will need your guidance to make it back if at all. Do you have any thoughts on what we can do?”
“Maybe, but we’ll come to that a little later.” She moved a chair closer, turned it around and mounted it opposite him. “I suppose that the Being might be waiting in the ruins of the city of Absolute. Having survived, the team tried to escape far from the town and the island, but the Being didn’t allow them to. Of the three survivors, only the General’s granddaughter remains. At the moment, she is hiding in a cave, and she has been safe so far.” She then told Henry what to do, “I advise you to change your decision about the place you plan to set up the camp.”
Henry stared at her because the information that Kir gave was unknown to him he could not understand as to why the location of the camp was a problem. “What’s wrong with the position of the camp that I have chosen?”
She at him but this time did not try to wrestle with him physically, “It must be 186 miles further’ to the east.”
Henry understood the position that Kir mentioned but anyways, he took out the digital map of Godeena and pointed to the location of which she had spoken. “You mean in this crater?”
Kir slowly got up from the chair, came close to Henry’s back and with her chin leaning on his shoulder, bent over the map. “Yes, that’s the location.”
Zooming in, Henry studied the crater. “But it’s a bad place for communication.”
Kir sighed, “Maybe so, but the Being isn’t able to come close to that crater for some reason.”
Henry was having a tough time to ignore Kir’s touch while still trying to get his thoughts on the Crater. “You are sure about the Crater?”
Kir quite enjoyed the discomfort that Henry was feeling, is discomfort. “Yes Sir, completely.”
He enlarged the map further. The crater was seven hundred yards deep and thirty-odd miles wide. At the bottom was a small lake and a clearing in which they could place their camp and a tiny runway which should be good for transporter and cruiser. There was adequate space for transport ships and fighter-bombers. The only problem would be communication, but that could be solved by placing transmitters at the crater’s edge. Henry after a moment’s thought, said, “There is enough space for all our needs. I think the Crater should be as fine as or even better than my suggested location.”
Kir moved back and said, “Only there we will be sheltered when we land on the planet. Anywhere else on Godeena, we will certainly be in danger of his direct attack.”
Henry was observing the grim face of Kir. He was wondering what could this Being be, which caused even a creature like Kir to be wary. Henry also couldn’t figure out another thing. What is it about the crater that the Being could not enter? It looked much like any other place on the planet. “Do you by any chance know why that Being doesn’t approach the crater?”
Kir realized the pressure that Henry was in and tried to answer him, “I can feel the Being everywhere on that planet, but not in the crater. Nevertheless, I don’t know why he avoids that place.”
Henry didn’t quite get a response the way he liked. He wanted to probe the matter a little more, even if it was to take a chance with Kir. “How do you even know that? I don’t get how you can sense him.”
Kir glared at him but before she could say anything, the communication console on Henry’s deck flickered which Henry pressed. They then saw Malcolm’s worried face, “Excuse me, Brigadier, but some very important information has just arrived.”
Henry asked, “Is General Hensell coming?”
Malcolm was astounded, “How, how did you know that, Brigadier?”
“Hm. Don’t bother about how I know. When are they arriving?”
“They come in an hour, Sir.”
Henry thought for a moment, “Alright, take care of the welcoming party.”
“I’ve already informed them and got it coordinated.”
“Excellent. And if in the meantime there is any more news then let me know. Also, inform Major Vallery about it.”
“Yes, Brigadier!”
Henry turned off the communication console and looked at Kir. She was smiling victoriously. “You were right!” Henry said.
She casually waved her hand, “I have been always.”
Henry leaned in the chair and stared at her black eyes. “I am repeating myself. How do you know all this?”
Kir comes close to him and gently touched his cheek. “You don’t have to worry how I know, see or sense it. Even if I told you, it would be beyond your perception. What is essential for you to understand is that I know things and that you need to believe me.”
“You’re very persuasive, both physically and logically. I have no choice but to believe you.” Henry smiled and was quite impressed that he was having a conversation with an unknown powerful being, “However, I’m still interested in knowing why you’ve decided to come with us when you know that Godeena is dangerous.”
Kir lowered her head to his ear, touching his ear with her lips and said, “I love danger.”
The closeness of Kir sent a tingling feeling through Henry’s body. He asked her, “Am I one presenting the danger or am I the danger?”
Kir laughed, “Henry, Henry, Henry. Always so direct! You are a challenge for Maria, but you’re my predestined relationship. Don’t bother yourself asking how or why. We are both connected more than you can understand.” She went to the window, gazed at the runway and said, “You’ll find out everything in time.”
He watched her perfect body while the sun formed a yellow aura around her; he got the feeling that she had golden wings. She looked unreal, like a painting of an angel in the biggest cathedral in the capital city. Henry was watching her and admired her.
He got himself back to reality and, though he wanted her to explain what she said a little more in detail, Henry held himself back. “May I ask you another question? It has nothing to do with what you just said.”
“You may…” She raised her head without turning away from the window.
Henry needed Kir’s advice for sure. She knew things which Henry couldn’t get from any other source. Henry had to win her trust. He needed her and that it was clear. So he asked Kir, “Will you be my counselor?”
Surprised, she looked over her shoulder and laughed. “Are you sure you want that?”
Henry with a serious voice said, “I am certain, but just one condition.”
Kir curiously watched him. “And that would be?”
“You will be Maria before others, Kir only when we are together, and you won’t call me Brigadier.”
“Brigadier, that won’t be a problem. Besides, nobody other than you has met Kir. And for Kir, you’re simply Henry.”
“Well, then that takes care of things.”
Kir stepped back from the window and asked, “We’ve settled that Henry but I am interested in knowing why you would want a cold-blooded killer to be your counselor?” She threw back her long hair and looked into his green-blue eyes. After a short pause, when he didn’t answer, she said, “You haven’t asked me why I killed those businessmen.”
Henry sank into her armchair and stretched out his hands. “About that the interest was always there. Now that
you have mentioned it, I would like to know. I do have some details A dozen of the hotel room photos showed the butchered businessmen in expensive suits. Their files were extremely slim; they only showed that they were employed at the Harlingthon Center. That’s about it, so you can fill in details.”
“I am starting to like you more and more for your direct attitude. Do you want the whole story or only parts?”
“I think we’ve got enough time for the whole story until the General comes. I’d like some coffee. Do you want something?”
She simply waved her hand gesturing that she needed nothing. “I was born on the planet Baulon in the system Kvull 2. My parents were poor farmers. Very early on they realized that I had supernatural abilities. They considered that my abilities might help them to get out of the misery in which they lived, so they contacted an institution. Unfortunately, with this decision, my parents signed a death warrant.”
Henry was taken aback, “Why? What happened to them?”
“The people from the institute killed them, and it was presented as an accident.”
“Why did they kill them? That makes no sense.”
Kir gazed into the distance and after a short pause answered, “It made no sense to us, but to them it was a routine procedure to keep the lid on my special powers. I was taken to the Harlingthon Study Center, where I lived as a lab rat and a student until I was twenty.”
Henry didn’t know about her past and was genuinely interested to know. “What happened then?”
“I escaped from them.”
Henry took a good gulp of the coffee. “I’m sure they didn’t like that!”
Kir shook her head, smiled and continued, “You’re right. For three years I hid successfully, so they decided to send out their elite huntsmen, who had power similar to mine. That cat and mouse play bored me, and it was high time to end it. I allowed them to capture me and take me to the Hatanasad Hotel. I wanted to get face to face with my former mentor and teacher, Barkley Gortonsky, who was the head of Harlingthon.”
“I saw his name in the report,” Henry added.
“Before I escaped I took care of his deputy, Kanderian Derbas – he went mad. I entered his mind and discovered what that bastard had done to my parents.”
Godeena: SF Novel Page 13