Escape From Zulaire

by Veronica Scott

  When Deverane called a halt somewhere in the early hours of the morning, she sagged in relief, sitting on the nearest flat rock. Latvik came to hold the sleeping Sadu for her while she slipped the pack off. Then, cradling the toddler in her lap, Andi leaned against a convenient tree, closing her eyes.

  The captain shook her awake. “Sorry to disturb you.” He kept his warm, reassuring grip on her shoulder as Andi tried to reorient herself. She’d been sound asleep, even past the dreaming stage.

  “Are we moving again so soon? I don’t know if my arms and legs will take that command right now, Captain.” Determined as she was, Andi couldn’t keep the exhaustion out of her voice.

  “No. Relax, I just need a small favor.” He gave her the easy smile, accompanied by a warm glance from his brilliant green eyes. “Wilson and I want you to look at the map. We can’t aimlessly march through the jungle for too long. We need a specific destination.”

  She sat up, disturbing Sadu, who whimpered. Deverane lifted him smoothly out of her lap and deposited him on the pile of packs. Scrunching his small body around like a puppy making a warm nest, Sadu went back to sleep.

  Andi ran her hands through her now-tangled black curls. Embarrassed to mention such a mundane concern in desperate times like these, she said, “I need a comb or even a set of clips. Don’t suppose you have anything like that in these two-ton packs?”

  “Hardly.” Quietly, Deverane laughed, putting his hand under her elbow to help her stand up. He rubbed his other hand over his head. “Hair’s not an issue for us.”

  Andi walked with him to where the sergeant waited.

  “What kind of destination?” Yawning, Andi rubbed her eyes, stumbling a little. She tried to put herself into a businesslike mind frame, be professional to match Deverane’s competence. Not be some helpless person he rescued. “What are the priorities?”

  Deverane ticked them off on his fingers. “Transportation. A comlink strong enough to reach the capital. Anywhere around here we might find one?”

  Stopping in front of Wilson, Andi pushed her hair off her face again. “Where’s this map?”

  Holding out a flat disk, the sergeant pushed a button, and the holographic representation of this half of the Zulairian continent spread out in thin air. The sheer speed with which it appeared made her eyes cross. Each major feature glowed in a different color. “We figure we’re about here.” Wilson pointed with one long, thin finger. The spot was achingly far away from the green dot of the capital, which promised absolute safety.

  Even on the map, home is a long way off. Closing her eyes, Andi concentrated on visualizing landmarks.

  “Are you all right?” Deverane put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to lean on him. “Do you need to sit down?”

  “No. I’m just so tired, and everything is so damn far away from where we are.” Andi opened her eyes. “Let me take it in for a minute, okay?” Despite the overwhelming temptation to stay within the reassuring circle of his embrace, she forced herself to move away, to study the map readout details. She snapped her fingers. “I just remembered, Iraku told us the nurse had gone home to her village last night.”

  “So?” He invested a lot of hope in that one syllable.

  “Don’t get your hopes up too far, but the nursemaid was proud of her village because it has a major shrine to Sanenre. Their priest has a comlink to the capital because he has to confer with his church hierarchy about the conditions at the shrine, the number of religious pilgrims, the donations…” Andi paused, trying to remember scraps of half-heard conversation about this nameless village. “There might even be transportation available. The place is remote, but it receives quite a few visitors from the lowlands during the pilgrimage season.”

  Deverane was so pleased his face lit up, crinkles of good humor around his green eyes. “You could join the Sectors Intel staff any time. Nice job.” He nodded at the map. “You see the shrine, Wilson?”

  “Local shrines in red. Let me look.” With his index finger the sergeant skewered a ruby dot all by itself. “This must be it. Nothin’ else this side of the mountains.”

  The captain squinted, apparently estimating the distance, then looked over at Wilson. “Maybe another four or five hours to march?”

  “Good guess, sir. Considering we’re carrying a baby and a tranked noncombatant.” The sergeant shot Andi a sympathetic glance. She massaged her aching calves and grimaced.

  “Best I can do for you, sorry,” she said.

  “All right then.” Deverane stood with his hands on his hips. “Five more minutes, Miss Markriss. Wilson, set the destination on your tracker and take point when we move out. I’ll have Rogers take over the duty with the Tonkiln girl.” He was gone, striding off before Andi could say anything.

  Wilson walked away and returned with her pack, which he dropped by her side. “Better eat something, ma’am.” The advice was given in a kind but firm tone. “Field rations in your pack will give you an energy boost. And be sure you wash it down with water from the canteen.”

  Automatically, she reached out to fumble with the flap of the pack, her dry throat aching at the thought of water. “Thank you.”

  Putting his hand on top of hers firmly, Wilson stopped her as she lifted the water bottle. “Now you promise to eat a ration bar with that?”

  Surprised, she nodded. Reaching into the bag he brought out one of the bars, unwrapped it for her and handed it over with a flourish. She laughed and took a big bite, chewing ostentatiously and swallowing hard. “I can see why Abukawal preferred to go hunt his own dinner. Now I need that water, okay?” Grinning, the sergeant walked away as Andi opened the canteen. The cold water was wonderful going down her parched, raw throat.

  All too soon, the column was moving again. Rogers, now carrying Lysanda, didn’t offer to make conversation, so Andi put one foot in front of the other as required and allowed herself not to think.

  ***

  Deverane called for two more breaks during the night, each longer than the previous one. Andi was walking slower and slower, her companions adjusting their pace to hers. By the second halt, Lysanda was coming out of her tranquilized state.

  “No, ma’am, I ain’t giving her anything else right now. Best we let her wake up and walk a bit,” was Wilson’s reply when Andi asked.

  “Do we dare let the drugs wear off? What if she gets hysterical on us?” Andi lost her grip on Sadu’s hand. Running to his big sister, the toddler begged to be picked up. Lysanda greeted the baby with a cry of delight.

  “She’s still in shock to a large extent, ma’am.” Wilson and Andi watched the Obati girl tickling her younger brother and playing peek-a-boo as the baby shrieked with laughter. “It’s a mercy.”

  “How long will she be in shock, do you think?” Andi looked away from the huge bruises on Lysanda’s face and arms, revealed by the morning light.

  Wilson rolled his shoulders. “There’s no tellin’. I’m sorry. I’d say let’s hope she stays this way until we can get her back to her father in the capital. And proper doctors. I’ve had the sergeant’s course on field medicine, nothing advanced. This ain’t my specialty.”

  “As far as I’m concerned, you’re doing a terrific job.” She gazed around the small clearing, counting heads. “Where’s Rogers?”

  “Captain sent him and Latvik ahead to scout the village. We’re nearly there. Didn’t you know?”

  Andi shook her head. “I’m so tired, you could make me walk all the way to the capital, and I’d never realize it until I ran nose-first into the gates.”

  Moving quietly through the dense jungle, the two soldiers returned in a few minutes. Both men were keyed up, holding their weapons at the ready. Lords, now what? Andi’s muscles started tensing for fight or flight in anticipation of the next problem.

  “It’s real ugly, sir,” Rogers reported to Deverane. “I think the entire village has been massacred.”

  Andi’s knees buckled, and she staggered a step. More carnage? This can’t be happ
ening, not on Zulaire.

  “You’re sure? Any hostiles still around?” Eyebrows drawn together, the captain was intent on the men and their assessment.

  “We’re sure, sir.” Rogers bobbed his head. He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple prominent. Glancing quickly at Latvik, he added, “There’s quite a few bodies in the village square. Nothing moving, though, other than some big carrion birds.”

  “Whoever did this hit and ran maybe two days ago, is my guess, sir,” Latvik chimed in. “Judging by the condition of the bodies in the square. We didn’t go all the way through the town.”

  Wilson and Deverane exchanged a look. The sergeant shrugged. “We do need supplies.”

  “Milk or juice for Sadu, if at all possible,” Andi said. Can’t let him get dehydrated.

  “Someone set fire to the big shrine and some of the houses, but pretty much everything else is intact,” Rogers added to his previous, terse report.

  “Oh?” Deverane tilted his head, raised his eyebrows slightly. “Any vehicles?”

  “No, sir. Couple of beat-up tractors that had been set on fire. Pretty poor farming village by the look of things.”

  “And you say the shrine was burned?” The soldier nodded. Deverane cursed. “Damn, we needed the comlink.”

  “Rebels must have been in a hurry. Maybe they did a half-assed job and left something we can use,” Wilson said.

  Andi sat cross-legged on the ground, leaning on her pack, waiting in tired silence while Deverane considered options. I don’t care what he decides. I just want to be on the move again, and I trust his judgment. Being in the open makes me nervous. Skin crawling, the spot between her shoulder blades itched, as if she was in the sights of a sniper’s weapon. I hate this waiting. Gives me too much time to think about what happened back at the Obati summer compound. She shivered, trying not to focus on the memories, unable to really process the brutal reality of the events that had happened. Part of her still wanted to somehow believe this was all just a horrific dream.

  Drawing his blaster, the captain checked the charge level. “All right, we go in. Weapons hot. We make it fast, in and out, take what we need and be on our way. No one wanders off on any unauthorized explorations.” He stared straight at Andi.

  The men all nodded. Lysanda remained oblivious, sitting on the fallen log she’d selected, playing aimlessly with her hair and crooning a soothing tune to herself. She was braiding and unbraiding the same thick plait in a repetitive motion. The fixed look on her face and the blank stare in her eyes was unnerving. Andi had the sudden urge to catch Lysanda’s hands and force the girl to be still and calm. Sitting big-eyed but quiet at his sister’s feet, Sadu reached out to bat at the long, swinging braid as if it were a toy.

  “Sir, maybe the women should stay here?” Latvik said. “It’s about the worst atrocity I’ve ever seen.”

  “We can’t afford to separate.” Deverane met Andi’s gaze across the small clearing. “I’m sorry, but you’re all going to have to come with us. It’s not safe to split up. I don’t want to spend time backtracking to collect you.”

  I don’t want to be left behind in the forest anyway. Drawing her blaster, Andi nodded. “I understand. Let’s get it over with.”

  “All right then. We need food, more water—”

  “The well is…polluted, sir.” Latvik swallowed hard, stared at Andi briefly and withheld the details.

  “Check the first few intact houses or the marketplace, see if anyone has water stored in jugs. At least we can fill our canteens.” The captain’s next remark was said directly to Andi. “Can you look for something else to wear? I can see those sandals I picked out in the dark are too small. We can’t have you going down with ruined feet. And your clothing isn’t practical. Pretty, but not practical.” The lopsided grin came and went, before she registered his attempt to tease her.

  She knew her answering smile was weak. “The last thing I feel right now is pretty, but thank you. I’d like to change into something else but I—I hate to help myself to some poor person’s possessions like a common thief.”

  Walking over to her, he extended his hand, palm up. She laid her hand in his, and he carefully tugged her to her feet. He was gazing down into her eyes, and Andi had to raise her head to look directly into his face. His eyes held a gentle, warm expression, and his words were soft, meant for her ears alone. “There’s really no choice, if we’re going to make it back to the capital and bear witness to their fates. They won’t mind. Trust me.” Without shifting his focus from her face, he reached down and scooped up her pack.

  Sighing, she took the strap of the bag from him, allowing him to adjust the weight on her shoulders. “I’ll look for some things for Sadu and Lysanda, too.”

  “Good.” Deverane gave the backpack one final tweak, patted her shoulder and stepped away. Raising his voice, he commanded everyone’s attention. “All right, let’s get this done. Rogers, Latvik, lead the way. Wilson, take rear guard. Abukawal, can you help with the girl and the baby?”

  The Shenti warrior nodded, moving to snatch Sadu off the ground. He tossed the toddler high into the air, catching him easily, much to Sadu’s chortling delight. Abukawal repeated the game one more time before handing the boy to Lysanda with a wide smile. Hooking a hand under her elbow, Abukawal assisted Lysanda, now holding her brother, from her mossy perch. Andi held her breath, but in some corner of Lysanda’s mind she’d apparently accepted Abukawal as part of their group—and therefore a friend. Her bruised face was relaxed, calm, a small smile on her lips. She held out her delicate hand to Abukawal and the big warrior clasped it carefully, as if he was afraid of crushing her birdlike bones.

  When the column moved out, Andi toiled up the ridge behind Rogers and Latvik. As the forest thinned, a stomach-churning combination of smells assaulted her nose—stale smoke with a sickly sweet odor overriding everything else. I hope I can deal with this. Lords give me strength. Nausea roiled Andi’s gut, and her head swam.

  “Close up, close up. Stay together.” Deverane’s impatient, harsh reminders kept coming.

  Reluctantly, she trudged the last few yards into the village, past the fringe of houses and small kitchen garden plots. Domesticated animals grazed in their pasture around a burnt tractor, displaying supreme indifference. Andi stopped for a second as she approached the first pitiful cluster of bodies, then averted her eyes. I’m never going to get this out of my nightmares. Lady Tonkiln, the cook, these poor people—so much senseless suffering and death. And for what?

  Crossing to the opposite side of the dusty street, Andi covered her mouth and nose with her hand. Resolutely, she stared at the rutted track they were following to the heart of the settlement. I can’t look at anymore pitiful scenes, I just can’t. My heart aches for everyone who’s suffering and dying in this conflict.

  Andi walked into the large circular gathering place at the center of the village and stopped. A line of eight bodies lay crumpled against the wall of the largest building. Streaks of dried blood painted the clay bricks where the victims had been placed for this execution. The signs of violence and hate were all around her whether she wanted to see them or not.

  “Obati.” Startled by the guttural hatred in Abukawal’s voice, Andi turned to the warrior.

  “The Obati did this.” Abukawal pointed at the graffiti painted with blood in sprawling loops on the walls. He kept a tight grip on Lysanda’s hand. Oblivious, she remained in her own little world, could have been on a stroll through the gardens back at her home for all the emotion she displayed. The Shenti warrior stared around him, a muscle in his cheek twitching.

  “Calm down.” Deverane was unemotional, his tone contrasting with the anger in Abukawal’s voice. “I doubt if the Obati have even had time to think since the massacre at the summer compound. And this appears to have happened at about the same time, judging by the condition of the corpses. Someone is setting up a nice little double play, to make it look as if the Shenti and the Obati in this region have been at each other’
s throats. We know better.”

  “I saw Naranti Clan killing members of Lord Tonkiln’s family last night,” Andi said, walking closer to Abukawal, keeping her tone low and steady. “You claim you have proof about the Naranti involvement in all this.”

  Abukawal nodded, but the veins still throbbed in his thick neck. Face flushed, eyes narrowed, he clenched and unclenched his fist. “We must stop this before the whole planet erupts in flames and death.” Thick and clogged with emotion, his voice rumbled.

  “We’re working on it, but first we have to get ourselves safely back to the capital. That’s my focus here.” Deverane marched up to Abukawal, forcing the warrior to take a step back. The captain kept his eyes locked on the Shenti’s face, even though he had to look up to do it. “My only focus here. Clear?”

  There was a long minute before Abukawal lowered his gaze. “Clear.” His shoulders slumped.

  Deverane watched him for another minute before turning away, apparently satisfied. “All right then, Rogers, you and Abukawal have the guard duty here in the market square. Latvik, Wilson, foraging detail. You know what to look for.”

  “How much time, sir?” the sergeant asked.

  He checked his wrist chrono. “Ten minutes and we meet back here. No exceptions. We have to keep moving.”

  Andi looked at the carnage around her. Lords, I can’t stand here just thinking about what happened. I need to do something, too. We’re wasting time. “Any suggestions where I should start my search?”

  “I’ll go with you.” Deverane came to her side. “You don’t go alone.”

  “I don’t need a guard. I know how to use this—” She waved the blaster. “I can take care of myself. Didn’t you want to check out the com room at the shrine?”

  “Well, yes.” He looked her up and down. “You’re stubborn at all times, aren’t you?”