"Can I get ye anything else?" he asked in the local language, although his broad Scots accent usually added to the likelihood of miscommunication.
The swan looked up from his empty glass at Jamie, its head and neck towering over him, its red beak and eyes looking quite menacing. The wings were folded back, leaving its three arms free. It wagged its tail feathers and honked.
"Another pint," it ordered.
Jamie stood stock still in shock as his PC hadn't needed to translate. The swan had spoken in human.
"And a plate of greens," it added for good measure.
It dipped its head and neck in the swan's way of acknowledgement, and smiled.
Jamie sank down on a stool next to the swan, checking briefly Spiky was busy and not looking in his direction, and then looked up at the swan. The swan dipped its head, so they were more on an even level.
"I didn't expect to meet another human," it said quite warmly.
"Another human?" Jamie stuttered. "What?"
"Yes, a human. The human on the Main Lake. Patchet."
"Patchet?"
"Yes. Patchet, he's called. I stayed there for a while, and learned the language. It's not easy to pick up. Quite illogical."
Jamie was stunned.
"I usually use my translator, but couldn't resist showing off."
The swan preened.
"Patchet," Jamie repeated, as if in a stupor.
The Swan looked at him curiously.
"I thought you would know him, being human."
Jamie looked at the Swan as if he'd been given a lifeline.
"We need tae talk."
Twenty Eight
The swan gave Jamie the name Patchet had called him, 'Flash', mainly for his talent for grabbing anything he wanted in a flash with his beak. He told him he was only passing through, but would break his journey for a short time to have a chat. Jamie needed to finish his shift, but at least Flash was willing to wait, and amuse himself until later that evening.
Once Jamie was free, he and Flash sat at the back of the pub. Flash was a travelling sales being, of all things. He used his tablet to show beings in the back waters, as he informed Jamie this was, items beings would otherwise not know about, if they didn't have access to technology. He was a trailblazer in a way, as a lot of these areas, being hard to service, were not on any competitors' radar, for exactly that reason. But a swan had to make a living, and he was trying to see if expanding his territory in this way would be profitable.
"And how did ye meet Patchet?" asked Jamie, getting to the point.
"I was living on Main Lake. Patchet turned up, oh, a few months ago, no, maybe a bit more. We'd never seen a human before, but he kept himself to himself, didn't cause any trouble, and kept me busy supplying him. Alcohol mainly." Flash smiled at this, and honked. "We've been good friends, he taught me some human, I taught him some of our language, and we'd often hang out on the Lake. He liked to fish. Spent hours."
Jamie thought quickly.
He'd met the Australian Engineer at Patchet station, where he'd repaired the Seasprite after a battle at the Cat Homeworld. He'd said then he was going to retire. Was this the planet? And was it close to Patchet station? If so, Jamie was close to the Cat Homeworld. Patchet was bound to have a ship. Maybe Jamie had a way off this planet after all.
Flash could see his new friend thinking, and sipped his beer while waiting for him to speak.
"How far is Main Lake?"
"Took me, oh, a weeks' flight to get here."
"What's that in land kilometres?"
"Not sure. Never bother with it."
"Do ye have a map?"
"Map? Don't need one. We swans have built in location senses."
Jamie was disappointed. This swan flew everywhere, but kept a tablet, and was more sophisticated than most of the clientele of the pub and surrounds. He wondered how he flew with a tablet. Wouldn't it interfere with his ability to fly?
"Special pack," Flash said as if reading his mind. "Ties so it's on our stomach as we fly, and we compensate for the weight." He sighed. "And arms don't get in the way. Non-swans are always asking." He seemed annoyed.
"Do ye know where this planet is located, sector wise?" Jamie asked.
"No idea. I don't go in for all that nonsense. Once I've got some tors behind me, there's a special she-swan I have my eye on. I'll be happy just raising families."
Jamie thought for a moment.
"If ye described the landmarks ye fly over tae get tae the Main Lake and where Patchet is, I could draw a map."
"Easier to go to the next town. There's bound to be a geo-locator program there."
"Where on main lake is Patchet?"
"He moves about a bit, lives on his boat, you see. But you're bound to find him at his favourite tavern."
There followed an untranslated name, however Flash wrote it down for him in Jamie's tablet notes. Like most places, he kept his much more useful pad a secret, and only used a tablet in public. Jamie thanked Flash for his time, and information. He'd something to go on now. He wanted to start out immediately, but knew he needed to plan. They shook hands.
"Hope you find what you're seeking," said Flash.
"Thanks. Ye've given me a life-line." Jamie smiled. "Safe flying."
"Safe travels."
They parted, and Jamie went to bed in the loft, excited and filled with renewed enthusiasm. All he needed was a direction, and some hope. Whatever had happened to the others, if they were alive and well, he would find them. Anna was alive, he knew it. Although he didn't have her sixth sense, he believed she was waiting for him. He had to believe.
He couldn't sleep, and lay awake planning. He had enough tors to survive some way to the nearest town, and he would play it by ear from there. He could always get work, if he needed funds.
Anna was out there, and he was on his way to find her.
Twenty Nine
Jamie started on foot, hoping to get a lift on a cart or a car, if one came along. Carts or wagons were more plentiful, as most of the farmers and villagers kept beasts which they used to drive them, but only a few richer farmers were mechanised, and drove cars. These were some form of combustion vehicles, the sort Jamie had only seen very old photos of in the Scots museum. He'd taken a look inside one day when a chance presented itself, and he immediately knew he didn't have enough arms to drive one properly himself.
The day began sunny, but rain started sheeting down soon after he'd left the village. Spiky hadn't been too happy, but paid out his wages, and surprisingly, a bit of a bonus. Spiky was as his name and nature implied, prickly, however, Jamie was pleased he'd shown a soft spot. Spiky hid it by saying Jamie had brought in more customers who just wanted to gawk at him, and business had been better than usual as a result.
His suit was keeping him dry and warm from the rain, although he was still finding it heavy going, mainly because the road was more or less just a rocky and muddy track, with potholes full of water, and visibility was quite limited due to the curtains of rain. He was almost run down by a cart as a result, and managed to jump out of the way as the driver pulled the beast to a halt down the track in front of him.
Jamie splashed through the potholes to catch up, and found a ramshackle cart and hog driver, who gestured to him to jump up. Perched on the cart bench seat next to the driver, he was making better progress, even though the jolting was severe.
The hog was a farmer, but didn't have a tablet or a translator unit. Jamie could understand the driver, however, the hog was at the mercy of Jamie's broken local speech, and also his accent. The hog was taking a load of produce to market at the main town, so Jamie was happy to accompany him, and shared some food he'd brought with the driver, who did likewise.
They came to a stretch of road winding through a forest. Trees on both sides made it even harder to see the road as the day darkened, and the rain increased. Jamie had to continually wipe the water out of his eyes to see the way, and the farmer was having to drive the beast harder,
as it baulked at the conditions.
Jamie later thought the pounding of the rain in his ears, had masked the sound of the shots. The farmer next to him seemed to suddenly sag and fall, for no apparent reason, until Jamie grabbed him to sit him upright, and saw the blood on his hands. His suit was set on hair trigger, and he felt the impact of several slugs bouncing off. The beast suddenly lurched faster ahead as it sensed danger and panicked, and Jamie grabbed the reins as several forms appeared at the side of the cart, one launching itself from the tree branches above onto the cart's load at the back.
The figure at his back grabbed Jamie with two of its arms, and locked the other around his neck, putting pressure on his throat. Jamie elbowed it in what should be its ribs, and as the grip relaxed slightly, brought up his fist in a backwards punch which shouldn't have connected, but did. He felt the figure stagger as if off-balance, and Jamie took the opportunity to stand, turn around on the seat, and pitch forward in a head-butt. At the same time, he'd revealed his guns, un-holstered them, shot the figure as he was pitching backwards, and the being somersaulted off the cart. Jamie turned, shot the figure on the left, and then the right. He grabbed for the reins and pulled to control the beast to get it back on the track, but then whipped the reins to get it to go faster. Several of the assailants had turned, and fled back into the forest as soon as they saw their colleagues fall.
Jamie pulled on the reins, and the beast slowed to a walk and stopped.
He turned to the hog to feel for a pulse where he thought it should be. He tried to support the head, and found there was blood, brains, and bone, from a large exit wound at the back. There was obviously nothing he could do. He splashed down the track to check the bodies of the attackers, but they were dead. One was a duck being, and the others were hogs. He took their weapons, looked carefully around at the forest on either side, and thought about the bodies. Their accomplices would most likely deal with them. As an afterthought, he searched the bodies, and took a pouch containing a small amount of coins from each of them. He put the coins with his own, and returned the pouches. He didn't feel good about it, but they had tried to kill him.
Getting the hog's body into the back of the wagon was harder than he'd thought, but he managed. He wrapped it in a tarpaulin he found in the back. He sat down up front again, took the reins, urged the beast on, and drove it at as fast a pace as he dared on the bad road. He wanted to get out of the forest without further incident.
Back in open countryside, he pulled the cart over, and jumped down from the bench. The beast now seemed calm, and proceeded to munch on some grass at the side of the track. As Jamie took a few deep breaths, the rain eased to a patter, down to a light mist, and stopped altogether. The sun peeked weakly from between the still looming clouds.
Jamie wondered what to do. He'd checked the hog's clothes for any form of identification, but there was nothing but a few tors, which he left where they were. He considered. He could drive the cart into town, and hand it all over to someone in authority. Someone was bound to know who the farmer was. Jamie knew as a human alien, he was likely to attract some attention, and didn't want to be held up. He could leave the cart here and just walk on, but he didn't like the thought of leaving the hog farmer's body there.
Finally, he climbed back on the cart, shook the reins, and the beast settled in a rhythm as they made their way down the track.
As the sun went down, Jamie started to look for somewhere to camp. The track crossed a small stream, and on the other side, there was a clearing with a few trees in a clump. He pulled the cart over, unhitched the beast and led it to water. After drinking its fill, he tied it to one of the trees. He'd learned a few things working for Spiky, at least. He looked for some firewood amongst the trees in the hope of starting a fire, but anything potentially combustible was completely soaked. He found a blanket in the cart, and resigned himself to sitting propped up against the wheel of the cart, wrapped in the blanket. He ate some of the food he'd brought with him, and even though cold, fell quickly asleep.
He woke to the pressure of a gun's muzzle digging into his cheek. He was instantly alert. It was dark, but the moons were up, and the sky was clear for a change, so there was enough light to see a figure behind the gun.
He stayed still. His suit was on hair trigger, his guns weren't visible, but he readied himself to act quickly. The light of the moons shone on the back of the creature, and he could see it was the shape of a duck being.
Jamie raised his arms carefully to show he was unarmed. The duck being stepped back a pace, but kept the gun trained on his head.
"Sloppy. I could have killed you, easy," said the duck being, in a quacking version of the local dialect.
"Why didn't ye?" asked Jamie, also in the local language.
"Too easy. I like a bit of a challenge."
It moved back again, and lowered the weapon slowly. Its beak parted in a smile.
"You're a bit different for these parts. What being are you?"
"Human," said Jamie, lowering his arms, but still staying alert.
The duck being considered this, putting its head on one side.
"Funny looking," it commented. "Aliens are a bit uncommon around here."
Jamie nodded, but said nothing more. Duck beings with three arms, and four webbed feet, carrying what looked to be a high calibre hand weapon, also looked strange to him.
"Sorry about the gun, but you can't be too careful these days," the duck continued. "Where are you headed?"
Jamie considered his answer, but couldn't see any point hiding his destination.
"The next town."
The duck nodded its head, put the gun in what Jamie saw was a backpack, and sat down.
"I need a lift," it said.
It nodded its head at its side, where one wing was held tight to its body with a bandage.
"Had an accident," it added, and quacked in laughter. "Can't fly, which is awkward to say the least."
"Well, after sticking a gun in my face, I should think twice."
"Just being cautious. Can't fault me for that."
"Humph."
"Alright, I can pay."
Jamie was tempted, given he needed tors for the journey.
"No need."
He explained it wasn't his rig, and what had happened in the forest. The duck-being nodded his head again, and shrugged its shoulders.
"As I said, always best to be cautious."
It held its head to the side again, and peered at Jamie. It said something which didn't translate, which Jamie took to be a name.
"I'm Jamie," he said, and the duck nodded. "Couldn't quite catch your name."
The duck repeated it, and Jamie shook his head.
"How about Dodgers for short?" he asked.
"Alright."
They contemplated each other for a moment. Neither of them wanted to sleep, as each couldn't trust the other wouldn't take advantage in some way. Luckily, the sky was lightening, and dawn wouldn't be far away.
Jamie got up, stretched, and went over to the stream for a drink. The duck didn't move, although it was more relaxed, but still alert.
As soon as there was enough light, Jamie hitched the beast to the cart, and climbed up on to the bench. The duck hopped awkwardly up, using one wing to get some uplift. It perched, and sat on the bench seat, clutching its backpack in its arms.
They set off.
Thirty
It took two more days to get to the town. They stopped only to sleep, and to buy food from a farm along the way. Dodgers kept up a constant commentary, about nothing in particular. She, as she was female, also knew the town, and knew some beings who would be able to help Jamie, she felt sure, although she said it was small, and not much of a place to do business.
She was on her way to a job, although she didn't say what kind of job, when she'd been shot at, injuring her wing. She didn't give many details, and Jamie got the impression she was being evasive. He was just as reticent in return.
As they neared
the town, the road improved, and traffic increased. Several cars motored past them, more wagons and carts were making their way in, and there were also beings such as hogs on foot, and bird species flying above. Jamie looked curiously about him, as the outskirts seemed to be made up of slums, which gave way to better kept hovels, which then became decent buildings. At the heart of the town, were the municipal buildings, small but functional, in a style of architecture Jamie thought of as 'military bunker'. In fact, there was a distinctly fortified feeling to the way the town was laid out. Buildings were practical rather than decorative, with thick walls and small windows.
It was raining again as they reached the town square. A ramshackle market was taking place, with a range of stalls mainly selling foodstuffs, produce brought in from the surrounding farms, and some general goods. It looked a bit half hearted, Jamie thought, as beings picked their way through the stalls in the cold and wet.
He found a large space where wagons, cars, carts, and other vehicles were parked, and halted. He tied the beast to a rail, and he and Dodgers made their way towards the square.
Dodgers pointed out a building on one side, sporting an ambitious sign stating it was the Office of Justice. Dodgers had offered to explain the situation Jamie had found himself in to the authorities, as Jamie's grasp of the local language was not up to the task. A gruff looking hog police officer accompanied them back to the cart, where he examined the body of the Hog farmer, releasing a stench as he unwrapped the tarpaulin.
"We'll need you to stay in town, while we verify your claims," the hog told Jamie, who wasn't very pleased with this. "Report back to the Office of Justice tomorrow. I'll need to see your papers as well."
Jamie had been afraid of this. Of course, he didn't have papers showing he'd arrived on the planet through normal channels. He was hoping he could leave town before having to complete any formalities. Perhaps he could just skip out?
A.I. Destiny 5 Talisman of Tomorrow Page 11