Nuworld: The Saga Begins

by Lorie O'Clare

  “Where does this ferry go?”

  “South all the way to the border, if you have money.” He took a good look at Tara and her babies. “Been travelin’ a while, have you?”

  “Long enough. How much does it cost?”

  “Six Dorsels a person, no matter their age.” He eyed the babies.

  “I have gold.”

  “Change it over at the building, that way.” The large man rubbed his hand over his unshaven face and studied Tara. He couldn’t quite figure out her accent but knew he’d heard it before. She’d been traveling awhile…and so pretty…odd she didn’t have a man with her. Those two babies would turn most men away, but with her looks…he scratched his whiskers some more.

  “I need Dorsels,” Tara said, dropping several pieces of gold on the counter in front of a small wiry man.

  He handed her a stack of paper and she studied it, not familiar with the currency. The sheets were thin, dyed red, and there was a numeral two in each corner of the rectangular shape. She counted the papers by two and came up with twenty.

  “Are you sure this is right?” She looked as if she expected him to shortchange her.

  The man grunted and handed her three more pieces of paper.

  “How much to haul a jeep and bike?”

  “Ten apiece.”

  “How far will you take me?”

  “To the border. The ferry don’t go past the border.” The wiry man tapped the counter with a bony finger. “You pay to come back, too.”

  “And meals? They’re included with this outrageous price, I assume.”

  “Yeah, but I don’t know that the cook will be fixing food they can eat.” He aimed his longer finger at the babies.

  Tara gave the man the gold he needed and took the Dorsels. She returned to the large unshaven man now loading bags onto the ferry.

  “Where you heading?” He took her money and rubbed his whiskers as he stared at the jeep and bike Tara pointed to.

  “South.”

  “There’s a lot to see down that way.”

  “Have you been south of the border?” Tara could stand for some good stories, and as unappealing as this man was, he was the first adult to whom she’d spoken in over twenty-four hours.

  * * * * *

  Taffley studied her once again. She was quite browned from the sun and in dire need of a shower. Her hair was stringy from sweat, and her dress hung on her. She was beautiful, though. In fact, she was quite sexy. He liked dirty women.

  He didn’t entertain too much hope of catching her eye. Women like her seldom had much of an interest in men like him.

  His thoughts returned to her accent. It bothered him when he couldn’t tell what race a person was. You knew a lot about a person when you knew where they were from and what their people were. Then he noticed a necklace around her neck. It was a circle with a very nice looking ruby in the middle of it.

  “Yeah, I’ve been to a town or two south of the border.” He looked at the necklace one more time, and then it dawned on him. Panic attacked his entire body. “You can take the cabin on the left side of the hall.” Taffley spoke quickly, unable to look at her and afraid his fear would register through his words.

  Runners could smell fear.

  * * * * *

  The man who owned the ferry seemed nervous about something, but Tara was too worn out to worry about him. She walked onto the ferry and down a hall with several doors on each side. The farthest door on the left was slightly open. She peeked in and saw a bed sprawled in one corner. A table with two chairs pushed under it filled the other corner. An old dresser stood next to the door. One half-open window provided dim light blanketing the wooden floor and walls. She left her bags in the room and carried her children out to watch the crew bring her jeep and bike on board.

  * * * * *

  Taffley drove the jeep with attached trailer up a large plank and parked them on the back of the ferry. His hands shook as he worked. That sexpot he’d been drooling over was a Runner. He recognized the symbol of the Blood Circle Clan. The motorcycle matched the clan as well. The most dangerous race in the world. That clan called themselves that because they didn’t hesitate to draw blood. He’d heard all the stories.

  Why was she dressed like that? This was not the way a Runner traveled. For some reason, she didn’t want anyone to know who she was, he guessed. This bothered him even more. No doubt about it, she definitely had to be trouble.

  He looked at Tara briefly and walked off the ferry, muttering something about being right back.

  A few moments later, he entered the wooden building. “Saffle, d’you see that lady that come this way with those babies?” Taffley spoke to the wiry man.

  “Yeah, she had gold.”

  “She’s a Runner.”

  “Taffley, you’re going daft, she wasn’t dressed like no Runner.”

  “I tell you she’s a Runner. I know that accent, and she had the sign of the Blood Circle Clan around her neck.” He scratched his whiskers and turned to look at his ferry.

  “If what you say’s true, you’ve a problem on your hands.” Saffle pulled a piece of paper from under his desk. “This came through with all the mail today. They’ve been passing ‘em out, from what I hear.”

  Taffley took a wrinkled piece of paper from Saffle’s bony hand. His face fell as he looked at the contents of the paper. The top of the page said REWARD and a description followed. Oddly enough, it was Gothman writing, and the reward was Gothman currency. It was large: ten thousand Gothman gold coins offered for the whereabouts or return of a lady and two babies. The woman was described as a Runner, but it was said she might not appear in Runner clothing. The babies were twins, a boy and a girl, seven cycles old.

  “That’s a lot of money.” Taffley scratched his beard.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to take her to the border. She’s a Runner. I’m not going to cross her.” Taffley smiled. “You put a wire through and let them know our destination and where they can pick her up. You say I expect payment in full before I turn her over.”

  * * * * *

  Inside her room, Tara pushed the table in front of the door and began exploring. She found a small, connecting bathing room—with only one door. Relieved, she realized she wouldn’t have to share the facilities with another passenger.

  Fatigue was taking over, so she decided to wash herself and the babies, and change clothes. Perhaps the activities would revive her. She left her gun on the bathroom counter and began filling the tub.

  The children splashed the water as Tara scrubbed the dirt and grime from all of them, using a washcloth and soap she’d brought along. She rinsed herself after cleaning the babies, letting the water cascade over her head and back.

  Suddenly, the water in the tub splashed to one side and her babies slid off kilter. She grabbed them as she realized the barge had just pushed off from the dock. The ferry rocked as it slipped into the river currents. Tara held her infants close to her body until the movement slowed.

  After dressing the rambunctious babes in matching one-piece outfits, she put on a clean dress. A bell sounded, and the large man she’d encountered earlier yelled that supper was ready.

  A long table was set up in the open area of the ferry. Tara was obviously his only passenger. There was a chair set at each end of the table and to her delight, two highchairs were set on either side of one end of the table. The menu consisted of fried fish, new potatoes, and a leafy green vegetable on each plate.

  “I don’t really have food for the babies.” Taffley sat at his end of the table. “I found some bread and squash. You can feed them that, if you want.”

  “Thank you.” She sat after putting the babies in the highchairs. She quietly smashed the squash on two plates and tore tiny bits of bread to feed Andru and Ana.

  The babies made a mess, and the man ate loudly. Tara didn’t mind either. The hot food gave her energy. She enjoyed every bite and willingly accepted a second helping of fish. Th
e babies also ate well and contentedly sucked on bottles of juice after the meal was over. Tara sat back as the man lit several torches and cleared the table. The large wheel rotating under the ferry made a soft swooshing sound in the water. It was peaceful, and Tara began to relax for the first time since she’d left Gothman.

  Later, she sat on the edge of the bed rocking her two children until their bodies grew limp in her arms. She’d taken two of the drawers out of the dresser and filled them with blankets. Her babies looked beautiful, as they lay asleep in their makeshift cradles. She admired them in the moonlight, and for a moment, her mind went to Darius.

  A noise on deck forced her to push him out of her thoughts. She reached for her laser and held it low as she walked down the hallway.

  Creaking boards told her someone was there. She stood very still using the shadows in the dark hallway to hide her position. Taffley was leaning over the front of the ferry, apparently fishing, as a pole extended out over the water. She heard another creak coming from above the doorway which set her instincts to humming. Whoever was there chose that moment to jump down onto the main floor with his back to her.

  The noise startled Taffley, who turned around as the intruder raised a gun.

  Tara didn’t hesitate, she shot the intruder in the back. The sound of a yelp followed by a splash alerted Tara to the presence of another, much less brave, attacker. She chuckled when she thought of his shock when he hit the cold water. Tara stepped out of the shadows.

  The large man approached the dead body. He reached down, picked up the limp figure and dumped it overboard. “Much obliged.” He looked wide-eyed at her as he walked to the other end of the boat, evidently making certain no one else was in the water. “Damn thieves.”

  Tara walked to the edge of the ferry and listened. She was satisfied they were now alone and turned to look at the man.

  He didn’t say anything, but sat at the end of the table, leaning over to stir a fire burning in an iron stove.

  Tara turned to go back to her cabin.

  “Stay.” It was more of a suggestion than a command.

  She turned and looked at him.

  “I won’t hurt you. Heavens knows I’m no match. I’ll admit you scare me to death.” He smiled and showed off dirty teeth and several dark holes where teeth had once been. “Name’s Taffley. Sit and tell one of your stories.”

  “One of my stories?”

  “Come now, all Runners have stories. I’ve heard some good ones in my time.”

  “What makes you think I’m a Runner?”

  “Several things, lass. You wear the Blood Circle Clan symbol around your neck. Your motorcycle is a Runner’s bike, and you’ve just shown me the skills of a Runner.” He pointed to the chair she’d used during dinner. “Sit.”

  Tara did so and looked up at the stars. Her fingers instinctively played with the telltale necklace. Why hadn’t she taken it off? She watched as the man got up and went over to a cabinet built into the wall of the ferry.

  He opened it and pulled out a large bottle and two clay cups. He poured some of the contents into each cup, then set one in front of Tara. “The Sea People make an excellent wine. It’s become quite rare lately. Their economy’s crashed, you know.” He offered the information as if it were common knowledge and leaned back down in his chair.

  “You said you’d been south of the border.” She took a sip of the wine.

  “Yeah, Southland.” He took a large drink and made a face, then took another drink and set the cup on the table. “Why d’you want to go there?”

  “I haven’t been there.”

  “A true Runner response.” He laughed and then drank the rest of his wine. He offered Tara more after pouring some in his own cup, but she shook her head. “What’s your name?”

  “Tara. Tell me what the people are like down there. Are they warriors?”

  “Well now, some of them are. None to match you Runners, that’s for sure. They were doing pretty well for themselves, had lots of money to spend, ‘til the Sea People started that war up north. From what I’ve heard, they lost pretty badly. They didn’t know them Gothman would go and hitch up with you all Runners. Strange people the Sea People are.” Taffley stopped to wet his mouth. “Ever met one?”

  “No, not personally.” Tara wanted to hear about the south, not the north, but she decided she’d have to be patient.

  “They come across nice enough, gave me a fair bit of business there for awhile. Not very trusting people, though. Southland is real good for growin’ this opiate plant. All I did for the longest time was haul the harvests across the border. That’s all done now. The towns down there are hurting pretty bad. No reason to grow their crops, because there’s no one to buy them.”

  “The Sea People don’t want it anymore?”

  “I’m sure they want it. They just can’t pay for it. They’re broke, you see. Plenty of money they owe me.” Taffley poured more wine into their glasses.

  “What should I expect when I get to the border?” She swooshed the purple liquid around in the cup but didn’t take a drink. “How far to the closest town?”

  * * * * *

  Taffley thought about how to answer. He imagined what she would see when they got to the border. Saffle had sent that wire, and she would be picked up the second she got off the ferry. A twinge of guilt ran through him. She’d saved his life, and now he was turning her in for the money. He focused on the reward. It would clear all the debts he’d created when he still thought the Sea People would pay him for his services.

  “The first town is Semore. It’s about ten miles from the border. There’s Pixley, which is about fifteen miles in, but you have to drive a little west to get to it. And there aren’t any roads nearby. The roads starting at the border go to Semore. After Semore are Highton and New Hanger. All those towns are under the same government and use the same money. They’ve got some good ideas down there. It makes sense to have the same rules and money. I guess you’d have to see how they live to understand.” Taffley wondered if she would ever be able to go there.

  * * * * *

  “Are they all the same people?” Tara tried to picture what he’d described. Her excitement grew at the thought of being the first Runner to explore a new land. “Who’s their ruler?”

  “Well now, that’s where they are real different. They don’t have a ruler.”

  “What? That would be complete chaos!” She took a drink of her wine and pulled her legs up, getting comfortable in her chair.

  “You’d think, but it’s not. They have a bunch of people in charge. I can’t remember what they call it, but all the people get together every five winters and vote on who the people in charge are going to be.” Taffley got up and pulled a blanket out, shook it, then walked over and wrapped it around Tara. “Can’t let it be said one of my passengers got sick on my ferry.”

  “People say who their leader is going to be?” Tara adjusted the blanket around her, pondering the concept. “Who is in charge right now?”

  “The main guy is Gowsky, I think. Never met him. Don’t have cause to, you see. He’s got a mess on his hands. They were all accustomed to money coming in, you see. Except now, there is none. Money I mean.”

  Tara sat quietly for a minute. She’d never thought how their war could affect so much of the world. People who didn’t know her were struggling to keep their towns going because of decisions she and Darius had made.

  Tara suddenly came to the conclusion that a ruler would indeed be great if he or she were aware of all of the people around him or her, and not just familiar with a little corner of Nuworld. Darius had never been out of Gothman. Would he ever know what life was like outside his kingdom?

  “What you thinking, Tara?” Taffley cocked his whiskery face at her.

  “About everything you’ve just said. I look forward to meeting these people. It sounds like they need help getting back on their feet.”

  “Well now, how would you help them?” Taffley sounded curious.

/>   “I don’t know. It sounds like they’re farmers. You said they grew something the Sea People needed. Maybe there is something else they could grow that someone else could use.” Tara was anxious now to continue her journey and meet these people. “Like I said, I don’t know. I’ll have to wait and see what their land is like and what they’re like. What do they think of strangers?”

  “Anyone can come and go through their towns. That’s something everyone knows. Though I don’t know what they’d think of a Runner. They kind of blame you all for their turn of fate, you see. People say the Sea People could’ve beat Gothman if it weren’t for the Runners. I’ve heard that the Gothman king got tricked…”

  * * * * *

  Taffley stopped talking, and his mouth fell open. Now, he’d never been accused of being a real bright man. He liked what he did and tried to keep peace with everyone with whom he did business. Still, he’d learned many things sitting at this table with his passengers. He’d almost said that he’d heard about a beautiful woman, who turned out to be a Runner, and had tricked the Gothman king. That’s what he was about to say, but then he figured something out.

  “You’re the one, aren’t you? No wonder there’s so much money on your head!” Taffley quickly covered his mouth, knowing he’d said too much.

  “What did you say?”

  “Oh, I’m as bad as an old woman.” Taffley hung his head and pulled a piece of paper from his shirt pocket. He tossed the paper across the table.

  Tara picked it up and held it by the lantern. A look of shock crossed her face.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “I can’t believe this. The notice makes it sound like I’m his property.” Tara began to fume all over again.