Toth

by James C. Glass

  “Immediately. Two boats and you’ll have an hour to reach the village and occupy it. With the firepower you described, Queal must have left only a few soldiers in the village. They cannot stand up to fifty if you have courage, Renz. If you don’t have it I will send someone else. Loy, perhaps. He would happily lead if given the chance.”

  It was as if Renz had been slapped. “So, he’s been talking to you, as I’ve been told. He’s all thought and no action and the men see him as a boy. No, First Counselor, I will lead the attack on the village.”

  “Words I expected you to say, Renz. You’ll come in from the southeast, close to shore. They can’t see you until you’re right at the beach. Kill whomever you have to, take women and children and tow them back here in at least six boats, skiffs, whatever you can find. I want to see a ring of hostages around this island by morning, because I think Queal must now make his next move quickly.”

  “The men are still shocked by what they’ve seen today,” said Renz.

  “You will convince them Queal’s full force is on the island and the villagers are helpless. Keep their minds on the urgency of their action, the speed with which they must perform this task. Fire them up; remind them of their comrades! This is vengeance! Anything that resists, they kill! Lead them, Renz! Ptak’s troops are loaded and ready. Bring him to me.”

  Renz walked past Rudy to reach the other boat where Kyle Ptak watched silently over his men. Rudy started to follow them coming back, but Jezrul waved him off curtly, and so the man stood sullenly watching a few meters from them while Ptak was briefed on the plan. The two commanders ran to their boats, both shouting for the door to be opened, and Renz’s boat was already moving when Rudy rushed up to Jezrul.

  “What’s going on? You’re sending them out again?”

  “Yes.”

  “But where? Queal might attack by nightfall! We need our troops here!”

  “Queal will not attack so quickly. He has an aircraft down, and there might be survivors, and he will now have renewed hope about his starship. There might be reinforcements coming, and we need all the advantage we can get. I’m sending these boats to take hostages on the mainland. They will be a shield against air attack and the starship will have to consider carefully before firing on us.”

  Rudy’s face turned red. “The occupation of the village was to be later. Toth will not approve this action!”

  “I’m not asking for his approval,” said Jezrul, and before Rudy could react he seized the man by the throat, and pulled his face close. “There is no time for approval, no time for discussions in between fits or whatever he is suffering from, and no time for references to The Law or what plans He has for the future. I am First Counselor, and I deal with the present, which is this: the starship is alive because you did not kill it, a landing vessel has arrived, heavily armed, and the gun crews have prevented a catastrophe for you. This is only for the moment, since other vessels may be on their way. You see nothing in the skies? Of course not, the starship hides in orbit out of our view, its landing craft coming in low from the west where you can’t see them either. There could be one, two, or several them. I will try to determine this from the woman, but truth from her is uncertain. Queal is on the island with his major force, hoping for reinforcement. We could be up against attack from air, sea and orbit within a day. Do you think our weapons can defend against this? Do you really think it?”

  “I will defend Lord Toth to my death,” said Rudy, struggling to breathe.

  Jezrul squeezed harder. “In the next days we might all die in His defense. Does that make you wise? And is it wise to burden Our Lord with the bad news from the island when he is so seriously ill? Have you thought of that, Rudy? Have you? You could kill him, but I won’t allow it! I will kill you by my own hand if necessary, unless you remain silent about this. I am responsible only to My Lord, and when the hostages are in place He will be informed, but only then. I will not allow Him to be without hope, even if I risk His displeasure over my decision. My decision, Rudy, I take full responsibility for it!”

  Rudy relaxed and Jezrul eased the pressure on his throat. “He will ask about what has happened on the island. What can we tell Him?”

  “A half-truth that will force his decision to invade the village. I will not mention the landing craft we shot down because the implications are too negative and are only speculations on our part. We are preparing to destroy the invaders at sea, as planned, and that’s all He needs to hear. We still haven’t seen the star craft, and if it appears again we are prepared to shoot it down. Positive news, Rudy, only positive. Do you understand me?”

  “I’m to remain silent.”

  “No. When I’m finished, you will put forth our case for the woman, and I will support you. We will talk about the future to give Our Lord confidence. You must do this, for if you say anything that gives Toth pain I swear I will destroy you! He is everything to us!”

  Rudy’s face softened, and he looked away, and Jezrul knew he’d won. The zealous rage, the constant reference to the welfare of Toth had worked—for the moment. But Jezrul made another decision in that instant, sensing distrust. When Toth was gone, Rudy Hoffman would be gone with His Lord to whatever fate lay beyond death.

  “I will do as you say,” said Rudy. “I do it for Toth’s safety.”

  “Your reason is mine. Thank you. Before we see Toth I must speak with the woman. Come with me.”

  While they had spoken the troop-laden boats had left and the door to the sea was now closed. They left the bay and went up the stairs to the woman’s room where Jezrul knocked three times before unlocking the door. She was sitting on the bed, dressed in a robe and Rudy was once again struck by her loveliness: small hands folded in her lap, dark eyes looking up submissively and stirring in him a desire to care for her. A gentle person, innocent, unaware that she had been condemned to death.

  “Wait here,” said Jezrul and so Rudy stood in the doorway. Jezrul sat down beside the woman, but she looked at Rudy, studying him. “He’s a friend,” said Jezrul, “and very close to Toth. Kari, I only have a moment, so listen carefully. I don’t want to give you false hope, but there’s a chance your starship has survived, and is hidden in an orbit we can’t see from here. Leader Queal has managed to reach an island not far from here, and he will likely attack us within a day or two.”

  Rudy saw her eyes widen and a flicker of a smile.

  “If he comes at us from the sea we will almost certainly destroy Queal and all your companions before they even reach us, and this goes beyond everything we believe in. Rudy and I,” he gestured towards the doorway, “have been talking, and we have a plan that might avoid all bloodshed, but only if your starship still exists. There are dissenters among our people, those who will not live under The Law, though they are not numerous. Still, they are loud and provocative, and we wish to be rid of them so the rest of our people can remain in peace. Rudy and I meet with Lord Toth in a few minutes, and I wish to propose the following: we propose a truce with Queal, release you and Diego to him, but with the provision that you leave immediately, and take all the dissenters with you at one time. That is perhaps thirty people, in addition to your own supplies and personnel. But it must be done in one trip, Kari. We want no further landings. Can it be done, Kari? How many landing craft are on your star craft?”

  Kari looked straight at Rudy. “Yes, it can be done. Belsus has four Gulls for planet fall. Each one can carry twenty people. They’re also heavily armed, so if Belsus is still up there, you’re in deep trouble right now.”

  “So are you if they attack us, Kari, but we don’t want that. There has been enough killing, and we want it to stop right here. We’ll talk to Toth, and if he agrees we’ll contact Queal and do all we can to reach your ship.”

  “If it’s still there,” said the woman.

  “We’ve overheard radio conversation that leads us to believe that. Now we meet with Toth, and I’ll return later. You must feel closed in by now; we’ll take a walk in the gar
dens, if you like.”

  “That would be a nice change,” she said, voice flat, still looking at Rudy.

  “Good,” said Jezrul, and he returned to Rudy, smiling as he locked the door again. “Four landing craft,” he said.

  “Perhaps. She might be lying.”

  “And spoil a plan to get her away from here? I think not. We go to see Toth, now, and remember what I told you.”

  “I will,” said Rudy, remembering the death threat. How smoothly you tell lies?, he thought as they descended the staircase to Toth’s throne room and sanctuary. All that you say is a lie, to the woman, to me, to Our Lord. I should let it destroy you.

  He had seen her eyes as she’d spoken to Jezrul. You lie so well you don’t see it in others. The woman had said four Gulls. They had seen two, and now Rudy was certain that only one remained.

  He worried about that one.

  And the audience with Toth did nothing to improve his day.

  Toth was exhausted, his illness now progressing at a horrible rate. He appeared before them slumped in the throne, eyes sunken, His breath came in ragged gasps. “There is news?” he asked.

  “Good and bad, My Lord,” said Jezrul. “Queal has played into our hands. He has landed with full force on the island to the west, and fired on our troops. They wisely turned away with only a few casualties, and have just now returned. Lord, the mainland village has been left unguarded, and now is the best time to strike. Queal will be isolated on the island if we control the mainland. He cannot run away, and will surely be forced to attack us with limited resources. We will destroy him on the water, Lord, if he cannot retreat. I ask that we send our troops to the mainland to occupy it and when Queal’s attack begins they will move in behind him to cut off any retreat, then immediately take the island. In one move we will have destroyed the invaders and accomplished other elements of Your Plan.”

  Toth coughed, and sighed. “Do it, Jezrul, and then return to me. It is you who must preserve our society when I am gone, and there are things we must discuss.”

  Jezrul dropped to his knees before the throne. “Lord, you will be with us for many years. Rudy and I will see to that. Your Wisdom determines our future, but I am truly thankful for your confidence in me. The men will be on their way to the mainland within the hour. There is another matter, Lord, regarding the woman. Rudy will speak to this. Lord? LORD?”

  Toth’s head had dropped as if he were dozing. It jerked upwards and Toth sighed again. “Yes?”

  “About the woman, Lord. Rudy has a suggestion to make.”

  Rudy stepped forward, and made his case for Kari: her use as a scientist, her innocence. Jezrul agreed. “It is logical, Lord, and she can atone for the actions of her comrades with a lifetime of service to You.”

  “She is not baptized, Jezrul. She is alien to us.”

  “You need only order her baptism, Lord, and I will see to it,” said Jezrul. “You have placed her in my care.”

  Toth shook his head sadly. “I must remain firm on this, Jezrul. She is not one of The Chosen, and can never be. When the fighting is over there will be no aliens left among us, not even one. I trust you to take care of the woman, innocent as she is, in a way as painless as possible. Now, see to the men, and return here. We will talk about your responsibilities.”

  Jezrul’s expression remained calm and passive. “Your Will is mine, Lord Toth. It will be done.”

  The image of an emaciated old man slumped in the throne flickered, and was gone.

  “I’m sorry,” said Rudy. “I’d hoped he would change His mind. The hour is near, Jezrul. He’s dying.”

  Rudy went to a panel and increased the flow of Beta Choline to his beloved patient. Jezrul stood at his side, watching. “I can only ease His pain,” he said sadly, and Jezrul put a hand on his shoulder.

  “Your caring loyalty will not be forgotten, Rudy.”

  Tears flooded Rudy’s eyes, and his body shuddered. “Please excuse me,” he said, and then put his hands to his face as he turned and started towards the door. Jezrul hesitated one instant, then typed in a quick series of commands on the keyboard, watching with satisfaction as the Beta-Choline sensors showed a decrease in drug flow to a level far below what Rudy had programmed. He left the room to comfort Rudy, and took him to a room for a few moments of seclusion and rest.

  Rudy had not slept for over two days and a night, and in moments he was snoring. Jezrul left him there and went to his own room where he retrieved some surgical tools, a syringe and a liquid-encased biochip. He went down the hall to Kari’s room and unlocked the door without knocking. She was standing near it, had probably seen him coming, and there was fear in her eyes, a look that made him shiver in anticipation.

  “What are those things you’re holding?” she said.

  “Something that will save your life. Now, take off your robe and lie face down on the bed. Do it!”

  She complied, and Jezrul sat down besides her, concentrating hard to control the shaking of his hands. He ran his hands over her back, massaged her neck, and then shot a burst of anesthetic into her at a point just above the top of her spine. Her head was turned towards him as she tried to see what he was doing. “Turn your head the other way!” he ordered. “You’ve seen this done to a baby; it is painless and will only take a moment. It is necessary, Kari. Toth will have it no other way if you’re to stay alive even another day.”

  Knife in one hand, the other reaching around to feel a breast, he leaned over to whisper in her ear; “Kari, even if you leave us, for a little while you will be one of us—and I will show you The Pleasures.”

  It was not The Pleasures he was thinking about as he cut into her, and he shivered at the sound of her muffled scream.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  The maw of the Gull opened wide and spit out two inflated rubber boats in a cloud of white smoke. Marines followed in full battle dress with laser rifles and power packs, tumbled into the boats and rowed to shore. One boat picked up Mootry from the remnants of the port wing. Mootry slogged the last few meters to where Osen stood knee-deep in water, smiling. They shook hands, embraced as Michael watched in bewilderment from the shore. “How you doin’, boy? Taking care of the old man? Hi, Mike!”

  Michael waved. “We’d just about given up on you, Floyd. Didn’t see much to assure us you were still up there.”

  “We nearly weren’t,” said Mootry. He walked up to Michael, pumped his hand, and looked out at the crippled Gull. “Sure did a number on the lander. We’re lucky to be alive. The battery must be right at the horizon, otherwise I don’t see how they could have spotted us only a hundred meters up. Heavy laser cannon out there, Mike. Were you actually going after them in boats?”

  “That’s still the plan, with the Gull all shot up. Our hopes for air cover are still smoking out there.”

  “Fire’s out,” said Mootry. “Voltage surges when the wings were blown off, but the lifters weren’t affected, thank God. I don’t know how Muesl brought her in without any control surfaces, but he did. Thruster’s okay, but she’s a ruptured duck at this point.”

  The marines were coming to shore in relays, twenty-five men with rifles and field packs. A crowd had come down to the beach, marines exchanging obscenities, embracing. Krisha arrived and saluted smartly. “Colonel,” she said, “glad you made it in, sir. We sure could have used that Gull.”

  “Captain,” said Floyd, grinning. “Had yourself a little firefight?”

  “Yes, sir, and we shot ’em up pretty good—with your help, sir.”

  “We’ll get at them again. Gull Two is at your camp on the mainland. We were doing fine low to the water, but when we came in at two hundred meters those lasers out there opened up on us. I don’t think they can see the beach from there. Where’s the radio, Osen?”

  “Right here, sir,” said Osen, pulling it from his ear.

  Floyd took it and called Nik, warning the other Gull to stay below thirty meters on any sortie it was called upon to fly, and to sit tight for the momen
t. He clicked off.

  “Whoever fired at you might hear that,” said Michael.

  “I don’t care,” growled Floyd. “We’re going after their ass just as soon as we’re all dried out. What’s your plan?”

  Michael gave it to him in detail while the marines finished coming ashore. Islanders were now coming down to the beach, Derald with them. Michael introduced Floyd to the old man, and they shook hands. Derald looked out at the floating Gull. “It does not sink,” said Derald.

  “Airtight, but she’ll never fly again.”

  “Is there other damage: the weapons, or the big engine?”

  “Nope, only the flight control system, anything connected to the wings and tail. Muesl used the vernier vanes in the engine exhaust to get us turned around and that’s okay for fine maneuvering in space, but down here we can’t fly without wings. We’d be like a spinning plate.”

  Derald listened quietly, forehead wrinkled in thought. “You can lift off?” he finally said.

  “Sure, a few meters, but with no flight control we’d take off like a kid’s leaky balloon if we powered up. Look, forget about the Gull. We’ve got another one, but that’s it, and I’m not taking any chances with stranding everyone here. We’ve got to use it right the first time.”

  “What about Belsus?” asked Michael.

  “A little scarred up, but okay, considering how chewed up our reflective coating is after a hundred years of space dust. Blew one of the supplies pod all to hell and both aft turrets, which were fortunately empty at the time. We were dropping to a lower orbit when they fired; the feeler beam got intense a minute before that and we knew they were locked on. Another second earlier and Belsus would be no more. Sorry about the silence, Mike. We heard you calling, but didn’t answer until we were ready to come down, and contact time is short anyway. We’re in geosynch right at the southern horizon, and this island has been giving us reflections.”

  “We need to make a move soon, Floyd. Toth knows we’re here now and the flyer is down. He’ll be looking for the other one, and with us out here he might make a move against the mainland to cut us off.”