Terrineia

by Brian Whiting

  Often times as they rode, Alex would occasionally see a furry animal that reminded him of a rabbit or perhaps a large mole. Still unsure of how the newest setting worked on his weapon and half drunk with boredom trying to think of something else other than his home, he pulled out his weapon. The display indicated thirty three on the side. He would try shooting one of the furry animals the next time he saw one.

  A few minutes later the trigger button easily fell under the weight of his finger. A slight pop was heard, and a very small puff of dirt was tossed into the air, he missed his target. He waited several minutes before he saw another one. He fired off many rounds. The animal laid dead on its side. Alex smiled as he looked at the indicator, twenty-two.

  He looked back for a split second and saw one of his riders going back to pick up the dead animal. It took a few minutes for him to catch up, but when the rider did there was a four legged fuzzy critter tied to the side of the juntard. The unknown rider smiled at Alex then pointed to the animal.

  Several more fuzzy animals were looking curiously at the group of passing riders.

  “Sooowhhh… Soowhhh.” The rider started pointing excitedly.

  Alex took aim and fired several more times. Pop, pop, pop, pop. The rider turned back once again.

  Alex watched the indicator count back up to thirty-three once again. When the rider finally returned there were four fuzzy animals now tied to the side of the juntard.

  They continued riding hard stopping briefly at the many steams along the path as the juntards demanded it. The weather was hot once again, just like Alex remembered on the first day he arrived, he had already taken his jacket off but continued to wear the headset. Symboli wisely didn’t attempt to communicate for much of the day.

  When they stopped at the last stream before they would reach the fortified village of the southern border Alesti rode up to Alex and their Juntards drank water together. They dismounted and Alex walked away some distance to relieve himself. When he returned Alesti was waiting for him with food and drink. “You should consider yourself lucky you don’t have to use the restroom like I do.”

  “You should consider yourself lucky you do not have this hair to deal with.” Alesti was tying her hair in a ponytail as she had seen some other human females do in the videos she had been watching.

  The water tasted clean. The food was mixed nuts and tough bread. He looked down at his pants and noticed he had dropped two sizes since he had crashed. He ate the food gratefully. Alex spent the whole meager meal in silence, trying to summon the courage to talk to her about her misunderstanding him, but just as he was about to start the juntards signaled their completion of drinking water and the group mounted back up and continued riding to the fortified boarder village.

  They approached the village from the rear. The sun had recently set, but the area was well lit, there were torches set in expanding rings surrounding the village to see areas in the dark for a possible surprise attack by the Jebney forces.

  “Who approaches?” Yelled one of the guards on the wall above the gate.

  “It is Deetur and a small group, we come from the king on a mission. We seek refuge for the night, we have rods to pay of course.”

  “Could be, but I cannot believe you so easily, at times such as these and we cannot read your scrolls at night, also this village is full of soldiers, there are no rooms available, people sleep in the streets. You’re better off staying outside the gate tonight.”

  Alex would have bet a substantial amount that a whoop ass smackdown was about to happen with that guard.

  “Very well!” Deetur said and turned his juntard away from the gate, his men closely followed. They rode to the outer Northwest tower and dismounted from the Juntards. One of Deeturs men started skinning the fuzzy creatures.

  Alex approached Deetur. “What happened, you didn’t push the issue and get inside?”

  “Not such a secret mission if we make the whole village aware that I have arrived and then soon departed the next day.”

  Alex nodded his head in agreement. One of Deeturs men gathered some loose branches nearby to start a fire. Everyone seemed to gather around the fire as if it were a long past time tradition. At least this was a tradition Alex could relate to.

  “You know in the haste of leaving I never got everyone’s names.” Alex spoke first. “I know Deetur’s of course, as well as Alesti. Let’s start with you, what’s your name?” Alex pointed to the closest soldier to him, the one who had skinned the fuzzy animals.

  “Tasadi, then its Lostoy, Tashini, Bradas, Galvolesti, and the dumb guy.” Tasadi had pointed to each soldier as he called out their names.

  Alex looked at the dumb guy. “Certainly you have a real name.”

  “Corbin.” The soldier began with a crooked smile.

  “What do you do, Corbin?” Alex asked.

  “I play music.”

  “Can you play some music for me now?”

  Corbin spent time and looked at each person surrounding the fire. “No not here… not here.”

  “Corbin is dumb, but he never misses, he is the best death singer in the realms, of that no one can argue.” Deetur said as he eyed Alesti. “Tell me, Princess, the tale that drove you to swear a life vow to our mighty Alex here.” The fire was starting to pick up in intensity and the rider, whom Alex now knew was named Bradas, hung strips of meat on sticks over it.

  Alesti told the whole story, starting with the betrayal of Unbiter to her family, her attempt on his life, her run from the kingdom, the vow and of course Alex falling from the sky and the story thereafter. Alex enjoyed hearing the story, it sounds like an epic tale, he had to remind himself that it was real and wondered about how inconceivable his situation would have been even a year ago. Exploring space truly is an adventure, he thought to himself. The burning wood produced a familiar smell, like blueberries. So soothed and hypnotised he was at the moment, he never realized when he fell asleep dreaming of friends and home.

  Alex’s eyes popped open. His mind was active, he knew he had been sleeping, his body felt rested and his mind was alert. His headset still rested on his head. Reaching out with his mind and tried to discern the emotions of those nearest of him, but frustrated with the dull clouds surrounding their minds he stopped. He missed the Humani, being able to discern exact emotions was helpful to him, this was just annoying.

  Looking around he noticed the fire had long gone out, not even smoldering. One… no two of his group were sleeping. The rest appeared to be having a secret conversation some paces away. It was still dark, only the faint light of a nearby nebula provided a reddish light on some surfaces. The fire had died to glowing embers. His eyes adjusted and he stood up as silently as he could. He was careful to be quiet as he approached the group, hoping to hear a bit of the conversation.

  “.. not likely “

  “It isn’t… Considered.”

  Alex couldn’t hear enough to make sense of it and continued to approach less than fifteen feet away and still unnoticed.

  “What should we do th-“

  “Not going to kill t-“

  “Alex, good! You’re awake.” Deetur said.

  “What’s going on?” Alex asked finishing his approach normally.

  “Refugees approached the village a bit ago, the leader sent them on their way deeper into our territory, telling them they couldn’t care for them here, as they are preparing for battle. There is concern about letting them wander our territory.”

  “Many are likely to be spies.” Tasadi said.

  “Letting them behind our lines could be a huge mistake.” Galvolesti followed. “Did the refugees say anything more about what’s going on over there?”

  “Only that the soldiers gather, some of the villages have been massacred, they describe utter chaos, soldiers abandoning their posts. Patrols never coming back.” Said Tasadi.

  “Well, we had something to do with that last one.” Galvolesti said smiling as he and Deetur began to laugh.

  “Sou
nds terrible.” Alex said.

  “The timing is also bad, we do not know enough about Unbiter as a king to say this is normal behavior for him or if something else is going on. Plus, your arrival only stirs the details.” Deetur finished.

  “We should cross the border before morning. We will attract less attention.” One of the others said.

  “Yes, I agree. Let’s get everyone up and move.” Deetur replied.

  Alex returned to the camp where he fell asleep. Alesti was curled on the ground still. He knelt down and touched her shoulders.

  “Hey, time to go.”

  She reached and grabbed his hand softly. It was still too dark to see if her eyes were open but she sat up still holding his hand. Her head moved left and then right when she pulled on his hand he helped her to her feet. He pulled too hard, so she placed her hand on his chest to stop her momentum from falling forward back towards the ground.

  After a bearly noticable hesitation, she turned and picked up her things. Alex turned around and walked towards the group of Juntards nearby. Alex checked to see if Symboli was still secured to his juntard.

  “Thank you for your concern.” Symboli said in his ear.

  Alex went and looked at the power supply and the wireless transmitter.

  “Do you know how much power is left in the battery?” Alex asked Symboli.

  “Approximately ninety one percent.”

  “At this rate the transmitter will be powerless within a few months.” Alex stood up and tried to look around.

  “There is sufficient evidence for optimism to think we will be able to correct that problem before we run out of time. Finding the alternator would be an easy solution.”

  “Yes, I suppose you’re right.” Alex slowly became still.

  “Of course.”

  “Well, you’re not right about everything!” Alex grunted remembering the personal blunder of the previous days.

  “No, I am right about that as well.”

  Alex stopped and looked at Alesti who was just now mounting her juntard.

  “Not much of a love life if she doesn’t even enjoy the activity like we do.”

  “No doubt her physical experience will be different than yours, but its pretty shallow to discard a possible relationship just because of a physical interference.”

  Just as Alex was about to rebut, his hyperactive mind decoded that Symboli applied a double meaning, as it applied not only to Alex and Alesti but to Alex and Symboli as well. Unable to come up with a proper reply, Alex instead mounted his Juntard and they began the journey over the ridge into Alesti’s territory before sunrise.

  * * *

  They didn’t quite make it over the entire ridge before the sun fully crested above the horizon. Luck was on their side, though, as there did not seem to be any soldiers or patrols nearby. However, there were many groups of people in twos, fives and the occasional groups in double digits making their way towards the border going the long way around the ridge.

  Alex wanted to stop and talk to them but Deetur was adamant about avoiding contact where ever possible.

  They continued a slow trot across the land attempting to look desperate rather than a threat from any possible long distant observers. This seemed a little ridiculous to Alex, they were on juntards; refugees were not in most cases and never in their parties numbers.

  The sun was rising and it was hot, even hotter than yesterday. Their journey took them into some small hills that avoided the main trails between the villages. These hills contained a large density of trees and shrubbery. Deetur decided they would stay in the shade the remainder of the day and strike out again before the sun dropped below the horizon.

  They found a depression among a collection of small hills that blocked observable eyes from all directions, space enough for them and their Juntards. A small oasis of shaded area.

  “There’s only one village between us and the city of rock, we will skirt around it and head straight for the city. There you will get your chance.” Deetur said as he lay flat on his belly looking over the hill towards the distant horizon, Alex was the only one to join him on the hill. All around the countryside there were people traveling in various directions, holding large bags, pulling sleds, walking with Juntards.

  “What the hell is going on over here?” Alex asked.

  “Unbiter must be a madman, this is no way to run a kingdom.”

  In the far distance a massive fire was billowing large amounts of smoke into the sky.

  Alesti grabbed Alex’s foot, he looked down at her and she handed him a water container. He drank a fair amount and handed the rest to Deetur who drank the rest.

  “We may need your foul wine, Alex, before this mission is complete.” Deetur said.

  “Deetur, that’s not wine.”

  Something caught Alex’s attention. Two people were approaching awfully close to the cluster of hills near their position. Two young persons. The tallest was carrying something but Alex couldn’t tell at the current distance. They walked painfully slow. As Alex watched, the smallest fell to the ground. The taller one ran quickly to a nearby shrub and carefully dropped whatever they were carrying in the shade. Then returned to the one who had fallen and, with some effort, dragged that person to the shade. The small bit of shade was not large enough for both of them. Wails of sorrow carried into the air.

  “We should help them.” Alex said.

  “Absolutely not! I will not risk my men for some useless children, another solider… maybe, but not a child.”

  Alex looked at Deetur with a look of surprise. Alesti, who had overheard everything, said from behind. “Children do not offer us anything, its best to let them continue where ever they are going.”

  The ways of these people are not my ways, Alex thought to himself remembering the dinner. He stood up and ran over the crest of the hill towards the desperate children.

  “Alex, stop, come back here!” Deetur tried to quietly yell.

  Alesti ran over the crest of the hill to join him. All the while Deetur was telling her to come back as well. The remaining group all joined Deetur on the ridge and watched with interest.

  As Alex approached the young people, the eldest was clearly scared but too weak to do anything about it.

  “Yesla?”Alex asked.

  “Alex?” She replied, her face dry and filled with anguish. “Help us!”

  Looking down Alex saw a little girl perhaps three or four. It took only a touch to know that the little girl was long dead. The boy who had been dragged to the shrub was still barely breathing.

  “WATER, NOW!” Alex yelled. Alesti stopped her approach and ran back without thinking.

  Alex started to fan the boy with his shirt, trying to cool him off. “What happened?” Alex asked as he stared hopelessly at the other small dead child.

  “My village was attacked in the night, my home was destroyed with us inside. When it was quiet again he left, I took my brother and sister, we were going to the king for help. But after the long journey we were turned away from the city, no one is allowed to approach. We tried that village,” She pointed towards the village some distance away. “But they too turned us away. I thought if I went far enough north then maybe I’d find someone not afflicted by war that could help us.”

  “How long have you been carrying your sister?”

  “Since my home was destroyed… I should have listened to you.”

  Moments later Alesti returned with two water containers and handed one to Alex and one to Yesla. Alex carefully and slowly poured water into the young boys mouth who began to lick his lips and drink desperately. Just before they had finished the containers Alex picked up the boy. “Come, follow me.”

  Alex was holding the boy as a baby as he walked back towards the shaded hills. Alesti walked with the girl right behind him.

  “What is this? We are not a rescue mission!” Deetur said angrily. “We cannot help all these people!”

  “Do you remember Yesla from the village, this is her and
her brother.” Alex said as he passed where they lay on the small hill.

  Deetur stood up and approached Alex from behind as he laid the brother in the thickest shaded area. The boy was already starting to move on his own again. “That does not change the facts.”

  “I am doing this, if you don’t like it, you may release yourself from my mission.” Alex gave Deetur no more attention.

  “Why jeopardize the mission, too much is at stake. The fate of all life hangs in the balance, we cannot worry about a couple of useless kids.”

  Alex stood up and approached Deetur getting into his face. Unaccustomed to the close proximity Deetur began to step away from Alex, but Alex continued to close the gap.

  “I might not be able to save the galaxy but I sure as hell can save them!”

  “But they are kids.” Deetur whispered.

  “Imagine If you were them for just a moment. Would you want someone to help you?” Alex yelled loud enough to give away their position to anyone within earshot.

  “Alex, this is a cultural issue, try to relax.” Symboli said in his ear. Alex turned away from Deetur and returned to the boy, where he found Yesla now with him and she was whimpering in desperation again.

  Looking at the dead child, Alex asked the group. “What do you do with your dead?”

  Those standing nearby looked at him oddly.

  “I don’t understand your question.” Alesti said quietly.

  “Bury them, burn them?” Alex asked eyes locked onto the little girl, tears welling up in his eyes.

  Alesti stood there seeming lost on how to answer.

  “If your father died, what would you do with his body?” Alex asked Alesti.

  “When my soldiers die, we leave them on the battlefield but only after linking their arms, my grandfather died in his bed. My father summoned the hellona’s and they took his body. They do something with it but the people do not know or care really. The rumor is they further their knowledge of medicine.”