Paa-tol stood back from the transfer point, his back against the stone wall in the Tamorlee’s room. Upon his arrival, he had dismissed the Seeker standing duty at the door and ordered him to find either Tidul or Lurral and bring them back, hinting at news too important to wait for anything.
Heart beating rapidly, Paa-tol licked at dry lips as he waited for Amet to appear. Seconds passed. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, wondering what was taking Amet so long. Had he run into trouble? Not moved fast enough? Those Elay—he had never even dreamed of something like them existing.
“Amet!” he said softly. “Where in the name of Brogan’s Draak are you?” He swallowed and took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
A noise startled him. Something had fallen to the floor. He scanned the stone floor and saw something catch the light of the fayyal rocks. It glowed with a greenish cast. Three quick steps brought him to the object. One glance and he knew what it was.
The Tamorlee lay in a misshapen tangle of metal that had once been a ring. Something black adhered to the metal. As he reached out, the stench of charred flesh wafted upward. Shocked and nauseated by the smell, he backed away. In that instant, he knew that Amet was gone, lost to the void between one reality and another without a fire stone’s energy to get back.
He crouched by the wall, his glance never leaving the Tamorlee as he tried to sort things out in his mind. Amet was gone—and Dhalvad. It meant that he would have to stand before the Council and explain—what? That he and Amet had failed? That some kind of light beings had come for the crystals? That Amet had died trying to return to Jjaan-bi? That Dhalvad—Damn! Dhalvad’s mate. Both she and the derkat were a threat to him. As was the Tamorlee! It would tell the next Speaker all that had happened! Including his part in Amet’s scheme!
His first thought was to run far and fast, but the longer he sat there, the more he saw that that was not the answer. He had to rid himself of witnesses, beginning with the crystal. He stood and approached the Tamorlee. Kneeling near the crystal, he put his hand out, then quickly drew back, for he could still feel heat coming from the partially melted setting. He looked closely at the crystal. The fire that had burned Amet’s flesh had not even marred the crystal’s surface.
Unsure whether the crystal or some kind of interference from the Elay had caused Amet to lose control, he took out his knife and carefully scooped the hot metal onto the end of his blade where it cooled and fastened itself.
“We did without you for many years,” he muttered as he placed blade and crystal into a leather pouch on his belt. “We can do so again—and some day when you get tired of yourself, perhaps you’ll think twice about cooperating with me—as Speaker!”
Chapter 21
DHALVAD CRIED OUT when he saw Amet and Paa-tol wink out of sight, for with their disappearance went any chance of his returning to Jjaan-bi, and worse than that, there would be no one to stop them from doing as they wished with Poco, Jiam, and Screech, and he was too intelligent not to guess what that meant. Despair washed over him as he watched the second light creature return and meld with the first. Then he remembered the other crystal.
“Davin! Stop them,” he yelled, lunging toward his brother. “I must have the crystal! It’s my only way back to Jjaan-bi!”
Everything that had happened in the last few minutes had seemed like a dream to Bhaldavin, but at the sound of his brother’s voice and the look of anguish on his face, he woke to the fact that he was about to lose Mithdaar. The feeling of joy that Mithdaar had radiated was gone; in its place was emptiness.
“No!” he cried, reaching out toward the light creature.
Dhalvad bumped into his brother just as Bhaldavin’s hand entered the nimbus of light surrounding the amber-eyed visitors from another world. Both were instantly absorbed.
Terrified, Lil-el screamed as they disappeared into the glowing aura.
“Davin! No!” she yelled as the golden sphere began to lift.
As she lunged forward toward the light, Gringers caught her and wrestled her back away from the sphere.
Gi-arobi darted past them and launched himself toward the sphere, intent on following Dhalvad no matter where he went. But the sphere rose too fast, and he missed his target and plummeted back to the roof, bouncing slightly as he hit.
Lil-el stopped fighting Gringers and stood wide-eyed as the globe of light rose upward beyond the towers to join a second larger sphere of light far far above them. She trembled uncontrollably and felt arms tighten around her.
“Gringers,” she whispered. “What’s going to happen to them?”
He watched the sphere grow smaller as it lifted away. “I don’t know. I’m numb; can’t think. Were they the Ral-jennob?”
Tears trickled down Lil-el face. “I’ve never heard the word ‘Elay.’ It means nothing in the Ni tongue.”
“Nor in trader.” Gringers licked at dry lips. “They were after the crystals, not Davin. Perhaps they’ll bring him back.”
“If he still lives,” she said softly.
Thura moved up in front of Lil-el and put her arms around her and Gringers. “I’m afraid, Mother. Where’s Adda gone?”
Lil-el caressed her daughter’s hair. “With them.”
“We can’t stay here, Lil-el,” Gringers said. “The Wastelanders may return.”
“Go,” she said quietly. “Check on the others. Thura and I will wait here a little while.”
Gringers hesitated, then left by the tower stairs. He paused briefly by the body of his friend, then disappeared into the tower.
Gi-arobi moved closer to Lil-el and Thura and crouched near their feet, a mournful whistle escaping his lips as he settled down to wait.
Dhalvad and Bhaldavin were caught up in a whirling mass of golden light. Each could feel the other’s fear as a link was formed between them; then suddenly there were others within the link, and a voice echoed through their minds, cautioning them to relax. It was like the voices of the crystals, yet somehow richer and deeper.
Bhaldavin? Dhalvad called, testing the link as he felt his fear dissolve.
Yes! came a joyful cry. Yes, I hear you. Where are we?
I don’t know. Do you feel the others?
Yes. I’m sure one is Mithdaar. Bhaldavin hesitated, then spoke directly to the crystal. Mithdaar, can you hear me?
I am with you, my friend. I am pleased you came.
Please, Mithdaar, can you tell us where we are? What’s happening to us? Why are the Elay taking you away?
I will answer those questions if I may, a new voice said. My name is Oub-Tabo, and you are in our space module. We are pleased to have you aboard, though we are somewhat surprised at your easy access to our facility. It would seem that the Gatherer has taught you, as well as learned from you. While we integrate the information contained within the Gatherer, we would like to ask you some questions pertaining to your most unique use of the Gatherer’s energy.
I’ll answer your questions, if I may in turn ask something of you, Dhalvad replied.
What would you ask?
I need Mithdaar in order to return to my home. May I have it when you’re finished with it?
That will be up to the Gatherer came the reply.
Gringers returned to the roof with the dawn, the first rays of Ra-shun striking the tower and the light panels that would create and store new energy for those who had survived the coming of the Wastelanders. He found Lil-el sitting where he had left her five hours earlier, Thura’s head in her lap. The child was fast asleep, and within the crook of her arm lay the small furred one called Gi.
He had been up to the roof once before in the last hour—to retrieve Theon’s body.
Lil-el turned as he approached. Her eyes had been directed toward the east and the still faint light that was not a star. With the coming of morning, it was difficult to see the Elay’s sphere.
“It’s time to go. Lil-el,” he said.
She shook her head.
“You can’t stay here forever. Yo
ur sons are asking for you.”
“Are they all right?” she asked.
“They’re fine. Gils is watching them. There’re only thirteen of us left now, counting you and Thura. We can’t stay here any longer. We’ll have to try the rafts, and we’ll need you to help sing draak.”
“The Wastelanders?”
“Zojac’s death must have broken their spirit, but there’s no telling how soon before they choose another leader and come back, and we’re just too few to protect ourselves now. Theon was right. We should’ve left long ago. If I hadn’t been so stubborn…”
Lil-el raised her hand. “Don’t. You can’t change what you are, Gringers. Theon wouldn’t have wanted you to. You’re a Seeker at heart, with a curiosity that will probably be the death of you one day, but you can’t blame all that’s happened on yourself. Part of the blame rests on the Wastelanders’ ignorance, and with Davin and myself for not trying harder to get you to leave.”
“But you did try, many times. I just didn’t listen. If—”
A sharp whistle startled Gringers. He looked down and saw Gi-arobi sitting up on his haunches, his head tilted upward.
Thura’s eyes were also open. “The light! It’s coming back!”
They all scrambled to their feet and stood quietly as a glowing sphere descended from high above the towers. Lil-el clasped Gringers’s arm tightly and prayed as she had never prayed before.
“Is it Adda coming back?” Thura asked.
“If it’s not Davin or his brother, and it makes any threatening moves toward us, I want you to run for the tower,” Gringers said. “Is that clear?”
Neither answered him. Both were too intent on the light sphere as it slowed its descent and approached the roof. Gi-arobi ran a circle around the light, whistling excitedly.
Seconds passed and nothing happened. Blood throbbed loudly in Lil-el’s ears as she strained to hear voices from within the sphere. “Davin? Are you there?”
Gringers put out a hand and pushed Thura behind him, then disengaged his arm from Lil-el’s grasp. Dry-mouthed, he took a step forward.
“Elay, we want those you took returned!” His voice was raspy and not as deep as he had intended it to be. He cleared his throat, preparing to speak again.
A shadow moved within the sphere, then suddenly a figure emerged, drawing an aura of visible energy with him.
“Davin!” Lil-el cried, starting forward.
Bhaldavin caught and held Lil-el as the light faded from around him. He was smiling, and his eyes were alight with joy. Gringers and Thura joined in the reunion, Thura hugging both parents, Gringers demanding answers to his questions.
Gi-arobi saw Davin and jumped up and down, impatiently waiting for Dhalvad to appear. His whistles were sharp and urgent. The glowing sphere bobbed a little, then suddenly lifted, rising quickly and steadily upward.
Gi-arobi’s shrill ear-splitting whistle brought instant silence to the others.
Bhaldavin kissed Lil-el and excused himself. “I’ll be right back.” He crossed the space between himself and the olvaar and knelt beside the distraught fur child, whose whistles had turned sad and mournful.
“Gi? Gi, I have a message to you from Dhal.”
Gi continued to watch the sphere grow smaller and smaller as it rose into the sky. Bhaldavin glanced up. He could barely see the sphere anymore. He tried again.
“Gi, Dhal is fine. I have a message from him to you. Will you listen?”
Gi-arobi turned and looked at Bhaldavin. He could not cry, but there was a look in his eyes that spoke of grief. “Why Dhal not come out of light?” he demanded.
Bhaldavin looked up as Thura, Lil-el, and Gringers closed around.
“A good question,” Gringers said. “What happened to you two when you entered that light? Where did you go?”
“It’s going to take awhile to answer your question, Gringers. Let me answer Gi’s first. Gi, Dhal wasn’t in that glowing sphere you just saw. He’s already on his way back to Jjaan-bi. The Elay want to record the Tamorlee’s knowledge, and they agreed to take Dhalvad with them to help locate the crystal, though I’m sure they are capable of doing it on their own. You know why Dhalvad had to go home.”
“Gi want to go, too!”
“He knows, but he dared not risk you to the Elay’s energy levels within the modules.”
“Dhal go after Amet and Paa-tol?”
“Yes, and when he’s found them and freed his wife and child, he promised that he will return for all of us. He wants you to help us leave this place and start on a trip though the chain of lakes, away from the threat of Wastelanders.”
“How he find us we float down big river?” the olvaar asked.
Bhaldavin reached into his tunic pocket and brought out his crystal. “Dhalvad, Mithdaar, and I were linked very closely these last few hours, Gi. I think we could find each other no matter the distance between us now.”
“They gave it back to you!” Gringers exclaimed.
Bhaldavin nodded. “They only wanted it long enough to record its memory, then they gave it back, but only because it asked to stay.”
“Could you use the crystal to go to Jjaan-bi right now?” Lil-el asked.
“I think so, but Dhalvad would rather I didn’t try a transfer alone the first time, even with Mithdaar’s guidance.” He smiled at the worry lines creasing Lil-el’s forehead. “And right now my place is here. When Dhalvad is finished doing what he must to ensure his family is safe, he’ll come to us along with other Seekers who’ll help us find a way to Jjaan-bi—all of us.”
Bhaldavin slipped Mithdaar back into his pocket and held his hand out to Gi-arobi. “So, will you come with us?”
Gi-arobi glanced once more up at the sky and sighed. He came to Bhaldavin and allowed himself to be picked up.
Bhaldavin and Dhalvad had shared deeply while caught in the energy pattern of the Elay, so Bhaldavin knew how close his brother was to the olvaar. “I think we’ll become very good friends, Gi,” he said as he rubbed his thumb against the olvaar’s stomach, “if you’ll give me a chance.”
Gi looked into Bhaldavin’s eyes and studied him a moment or two. He then patted Bhaldavin’s hand. “Gi like Davin. Stay with you till Dhal comes, yes.”
“Tell us about the Elay,” Gringers said as they started for the tower. “You said something about a module. Is that like a spaceship, like the one that brought men to this world?”
“I guess you’d call it a spaceship, but it’s small compared to the pictures of man’s spaceship that we saw in the life recorders. The small sphere that took us away and brought me back was some kind of energy field that the Elay control with their minds. They tried to explain many things to me, but I didn’t understand everything. That may come in time, with Mithdaar’s help. He took from the Elay, as well as gave, I’m sure.”
“But who are the Elay?” Gringers pressed.
“They’re not gods, Gringers. They’re a spacefaring race who have delved deeply into the matrix of our shared reality. They discovered Gatherers, crystals like Mithdaar, eons ago, and have spent half their spacefaring years seeding the galaxies with them. Hundreds of years later they return to see what the Gatherers have learned and enter that knowledge into something they call a matrix pool, where it will be studied by others.”
“To what purpose?” Gringers asked, frowning.
“Growth and understanding, is what I was told.”
“And that’s all? No thoughts of conquest?”
“Do you mean that now they know about us, what’s to prevent them from coming back to take over?”
Gringers stepped into the tower room and started down the stairs. “That’s exactly what I mean.”
“I can only tell you what I felt while linked with them, Gringers, and that is that they have no need to conquer anything when they already have it all through the Gatherers. Their lives—their entire reason for living—seems to be the study of creation in all its forms, including their own part in the scheme of things
.”
“I don’t know. It sounds too good to be true. Did they say anything about when they might come back here?”
“No, but now they’ve discovered us, I think it likely that they’ll return periodically. But there’s no use worrying about that right now. Our job is to leave Barl-gan as quickly as possible and get the rafts out onto the lake where we’ll be safe from Wastelanders.”
Bhaldavin pushed Gi-arobi up onto his shoulder and took his daughter’s hand as they started down the stairs behind Gringers. He felt good inside. His family was safe; he had Mithdaar; and his brother would soon be returning.
Chapter 22
POCO PULLED ON Screech’s chain as he dug at the wood with his claws. She felt it give a little more. “It’s coming, Screech! I can feel it!” She pulled harder, straining until her shoulders and back protested. A buzzing in her ears warned her of a fainting spell. To stave it off she released the chain and drew in deep breaths.
“I’ve got to rest a few minutes, Screech.”
She heard his cough of agreement as she crawled several paces to the nearest wall and leaned back against it. The tremors in her arms made her shake as if with cold. She rubbed her upper arms and rolled her head around, trying to ease cramped muscles. She had no idea how long they had been working on the chain. It seemed like days. She was hungry and so thirsty that her tongue felt swollen.
Jiam was asleep nearby, bundled in her tunic. She had fed him finally to stop him from crying. Her fear of drugs getting into her milk had faded as the reality of their situation became more and more locked in her mind. They were going to die if Screech could not break free. He alone was their only hope, for his strength plus hers might just be enough to force the door.
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