by L. S. Gibson
“Very well. I’ll pass on your report to the captain. We’ll be in touch. Piper out.”
Martin returned to the table and informed the Rhiava of the good news.
“As soon as Triena and the others are free to leave Sierrie and return here, a method must be found to contact Reliff,” Sernov said. “There may be a way to gain further information from the other Elders, the one kind of help they can offer while still trapped in the city.”
“Yes,” Martin agreed. “There’s little hope of rescuing anyone from the city while the shield’s still in force. Questor can’t send any more crew down either, at least not without trouble. The ship is capable of landing, but she can’t get through the planetary shield. Our engineer’s innovation with the shuttles won’t work on Questor. The energy in the shield reacts violently against any attempt to cross it, and the larger the vehicle the larger the reaction. It was a good thing Jon and Manny used the small shuttle when they attempted to land. If they’d made the attempt in an unmodified large shuttle, even Jon wouldn’t have got it down in one piece.”
Now, all they could do was wait.
The night was long gone now and the sun high overhead. Triena, her companions, and her new friends from Questor spent the night having a good rest. There was little else they could do while the Mideans were still swarming over the mountainside outside. A guard had been posted at the entrance to the crevice all the time they’d been waiting. Lector walked across from the entrance to the crevice and went over to the entrance to the chimney. He hadn’t suggested Barlow’s party climb up to the crevice via the chimney as the opening in the foothills was even harder to find than the crevice on the mountain. He stood as if listening for a few minutes, but he wasn’t listening, he was sensing to ensure that the coast was clear.
About an hour earlier there had been increased noise from outside the crevice. It was apparent the patrols were returning to the base on the summit. Once, Jon was convinced he heard Charod’s voice shouting instructions. But no one else heard one voice in particular among the many, and Barlow was concerned this was the first manifestation of some emotional reaction from Jon. Doctor Mannion confirmed the trauma Jon had experienced could affect him for a long time to come.
In fact, unknown to any of the humans, Triena kept a light contact with Jon during the long hours of waiting. He’d slept quite a bit of the time, and twice he’d begun to dream, or rather have a nightmare, finding himself back in that room. He trembled in his sleep, once calling out, but after a while Triena was able to soothe the dreams away. She understood Jon would be emotionally traumatized by his experience, in particular now that the actual threat had passed and his mind could be quiet for the first time. She decided to help ease this for him in any way she could until he could get more permanent help later.
It was time to move, and Lector led the way down the chimney toward the foothills below. When at last they emerged he suggested going on ahead and using his skills to ensure their safe passage. It was almost certain the Mideans would find the shuttle and leave some sort of guard in the vicinity. Manny told Peter Barlow to trust Lector, he’d proved most reliable. If anyone was there Lector would know.
Manny noted Jon was still quiet. Some food and rest appeared to have done him good, he was much stronger this morning, yet somehow Manny had the oddest feeling. As they made their slow way through the foothills he made his way over to Jon.
“Are you all right? You’re rather quiet this morning,” he asked, keeping his voice low.
“Yes, I just had some rather odd dreams,” Jon said.
“Not surprising after what you’ve been through. Were you back in that room?”
“Yes, but it’s not just that; the odd thing is I can remember part of them with clarity, and that's unusual as I can never remember my dreams. Oh, I know that I have dreamt, and I know if it has been pleasant or disturbing, but as for the content, no. But these, they were different.”
“Disturbing?”
“Strange, confusing. That room appeared a couple of times, which I admit is not surprising, but then all at once I was somewhere else,” he replied with a slight flush. He didn’t elaborate, but Manny hid a quick smile behind a sudden need to cough.
“Just a reaction, I'd guess,” Manny said with a touch of diplomacy.
Triena heard the exchange. A good beginning, she thought.
Just then Harji Singh, who was acting as point for the party, raised his hand and dropped down. Everyone else followed suit. Singh signaled Barlow and pointed off to his front and right. Lector could be seen hurrying back toward them.
Barlow moved across to where Manny, Jon, and Triena were and waited there for Lector to join them. Everyone else stayed where they were.
“Mideans, a party of about twenty,” Lector reported. He glanced at Barlow. “I suspect it’s the same party sent down to investigate your vessel’s landing. They’ve set up a cordon around it. We need to devise a plan to deal with them all at the same time.”
Barlow’s total party now numbered ten; still just half of the forces of the Mideans, but Manny assured him they were more than a match. Besides their own superior weapons, they had the added advantage of Lector and Triena. “Between us it should be easy to stun the Mideans,” Manny suggested.
Jon sat nearby listening. “You know,” he piped up, “no one has suggested that maybe we ought to take a prisoner. Isn’t it time we found out just what they want here? They didn’t just ask who I was and what I was doing here, they kept asking me about the Rhiava and their technology, but I don’t know what they were actually after. Maybe we should play them at their own game.” He directed his stare at Manny and Barlow and didn’t notice the glance exchanged between Triena and Lector.
“You’re right. We’ve been so busy treading on eggs around here,” Manny replied, sounding excited for the first time in days. “But look at our options now. Haven is gone. Reliff and the other few cities are occupied. Questor can’t send down anyone else while the shield is still in place. It just leaves us and the others at Sanctuary. The shield also stops the Rhiava from throwing the Mideans out.”
“Just what does that mean?” Barlow asked. The others were all listening, even Harji had moved closer, though he still kept watch on the direction of the shuttle.
“The shield considerably inhibits the Gifts of the Rhiava,” Jon interjected. “If the shield was no longer there, and in particular if they could combine their powers, the Mideans would be no problem. Correct?” This last part was directed at Triena.
“Correct,” she said, but she didn’t elaborate.
Jon hesitated, he’d expected her to say something more, but when it was clear she wasn’t going to, he continued. “If we can pick out the leader, I suggest we capture and question him.”
“I don’t know about bringing him with us. We’ll already be overloaded by two, I’m not sure I want to try three,” Simpson said.
“It’d be best if we could bring him. He’s sure to resist questioning, and as we don’t employ the methods they do, it’ll be easier to get information from him back at Sanctuary where we could take it straight from his mind,” Triena said, again she didn’t elaborate.
Jon glanced at her. He’d never heard her voice quite so hard, and wondered what it was she wasn’t saying.
“If necessary I could remain here,” Lector volunteered. “I can avoid the patrols and stay hidden. Also if the eventual plan is to raid the base, then I could continue to watch and perhaps gain some information while I wait.”
“You sure about that, Lector?” Manny asked.
Lector met his gaze. “Don’t be concerned. They won’t discover me.”
“Well, that would be better then,” Simpson said, though he was still a little doubtful.
They split into two parties. One, including Lector, went to the far side and the other, with Triena, took the near side. The plan was for Manny to circle the patrol with Triena providing a shield for him and choose the one they wanted to capture. It�
�d been decided they didn’t want to stun this particular individual as he could be out for hours. If there was a chance he’d talk and save them the trouble of having to take him with them in the shuttle, so much the better.
Manny picked him out by the minor differences in his uniform, nowhere near as fancy as the one Charod sported, but just different enough to mark him, and Jon confirmed he thought he’d seen him in the caves with Charod. He was positioned on their side of the circle.
When everyone was ready they moved into position. The Mideans remained in pairs, a presumable backup for each other, which in effect made it easier for them to be taken out. Triena and Lector were just going to give support now if they were needed, otherwise the Questor crew members were going to sweep across the Mideans and stun them. If everything went according to plan it should be simple. But then the best laid plans of mice and men…
ELEVEN
Medved felt thoroughly disheartened. Just the night before he’d climbed down the mountain at the head of his double squad looking forward to a successful mission, but his patrol had somehow missed the aliens, and then the prisoner had escaped.
Charod was in a terrible mood when he arrived at the site of the alien craft in the early hours of the morning. He managed to suggest it was Medved’s fault the prisoner had escaped the mountain. Charod forgot he had been the one overcome during the escape. How could Charod blame Medved who was halfway down the mountain at the time? Charod wasn’t the most forgiving person at the best of times, and he was convinced those who’d arrived in the craft had organized the escape. After losing his prize Charod was in an uncontrollable rage.
Medved was relieved when Charod ordered his patrol to stay and guard the craft. Charod thought it probable the aliens were hiding somewhere nearby and would want to return to their vessel to make good their escape. Medved shared his opinion and was happy the duty would keep him away from Charod for the time being.
However, he’d been waiting here almost all day now. Where could the aliens be? His men were weary. He gave two of them at a time a short rest period, but he needed to be careful. He believed he was also facing the two Rhiava who had been surprised in the caves, and one should never underestimate them. He walked back a short distance and leaned against the trunk of one of few trees that grew in this scrub-like area of the foothills.
Jon saw Manny signal to Barlow. Manny watched the Midean from just a short distance away and must have decided this was just what he’d been waiting for. Manny slipped away from the others and crawled along the rough ground keeping as low as possible. He made it to safety behind the tree and edged forward ‘til he was among the roots.
Jon watched as Manny took care as he pulled himself to his feet. Barlow and the rest of his men already had their weapons drawn, even Jon. Barlow tried to suggest Jon should keep to the background as he was still weak, but Jon wouldn’t hear of it. He had too many scores to settle. If he’d been strong enough he would’ve challenged Manny’s right to go after the leader, but he accepted his limitations at the moment.
Jon kept the knowledge to himself, however, that he still ached every time he moved. The doc said it was something to do with his biochemistry, whatever that meant. He didn’t much care what it was, but he knew who’d caused it, and the more he thought about it the more he came to understand he couldn’t forget, or forgive.
Ever since he’d awoken early that morning, Jon dwelt on the treatment he’d received at the hands of the Mideans. He was unable to think of anything else. The more he thought about it, the angrier and bitterer he became. He found it abhorrent that he’d gone so far as to accept his own death. The need for revenge began to grow in him, and he now regretted his benevolence in not putting Charod under that damn light.
He stood next to Triena on one side with Barlow on the other, all watching Manny as he moved in slow motion around the tree, and at the same time, by a prearranged signal, Lector began to project lethargy at the Midean.
Noting the Midean slouch lower, Jon watched as Manny moved around the tree to press his weapon against the Midean’s neck, but it was obvious he was unprepared for the Midean to just surge up and leap at him, and at the same time scream out a warning.
A state of pandemonium was unleashed as the Mideans reacted, alerted in an instant by their officer’s yell. Jon and the rest of his crew began sweeping the area as fast as they could with their weapons, but too many of the Mideans dropped to the ground at the same time as the crew fired and at least half of the Mideans avoided being hit.
Jon saw Manny had his hands full with the Midean officer—a trained combat soldier using tactics which were beyond Manny’s command. Manny was losing.
“Triena, come, I might need help,” Jon said, and not waiting for her reply, crawled as fast as he could toward the tree. He kept low so as not to make a target for the enemy as he wasn’t sure if Triena was shielding him.
Lector was also on the move from his hiding place, but stopped when he crawled too close to one of the Mideans and the man aimed his weapon on Lector, but it misfired and he launched himself at Lector instead. Lector used his physical strength to roll the Midean off him, and then applied all his concentration to render the man unconscious.
Meanwhile, Barlow led the others to cover from where they tried to pick off the other Mideans, most of whom had dropped behind various outcroppings.
There was a sudden scream. One of the Questor crew had been hit. Out of the corner of his eye, Jon saw Doctor Mannion crawl over to the downed man, but she was too late. Paul Willett had taken a direct hit to his chest. He must have died instantly. His death spurred on the Questor crew like nothing else could have done.
Singh, using his expert marksmanship, took out two of the Mideans in short order, and while the Mideans’ confidence waned, the crew fought back with renewed vigor. The Mideans tried to back off, and their rushed movements were enough to provide targets to those watching. Before long they were all out cold on the ground.
Except for the Midean struggling with Manny.
Manny was pinned to the ground by his opponent who showed a strength that wasn’t evident from his physique. Manny struggled to push the alien up and off him but it was apparent he couldn’t do so. In fact, the Midean was pressing down, and his arm was leaning across Manny’s throat. Manny fought with desperation, but it was clear his strength was failing. Jon saw he was beginning to lose consciousness.
Jon edged behind the Midean, whose attention was wholly on trying to kill Manny. Jon jammed the barrel of his weapon against the neck of the Midean, and in a cold hard voice that he’d used just once before, Jon said, “If you want to live you will let my friend up. In case you’re wondering this is not set to stun.” He pressed the barrel harder against the Midean’s neck. “And don’t be under the misapprehension that I won’t use this. I have every reason to hate every one of your kind.”
The Midean twisted his head to look up at this newcomer, and by his expression he recognized Jon as Supervisor Charod’s erstwhile prisoner. It was clear he believed Jon’s threat, and he released Manny and got to his feet. Manny was quick to rise too, throwing a look of thanks at Jon, but Jon’s eyes never left the Midean, whom he’d identified with as much ease as the Midean had him.
Manny took the piece of rope Lector passed to him and began to tie the Midean’s hands behind his back. Triena stood just behind Jon, with her back to him and her attention on the scene unfolding before her.
Lector called out to confirm there weren’t any more Mideans within his range. Barlow walked amongst the rest of the Mideans double-checking their condition. He came to where Mannion was still kneeling alongside Willett.
“We’ll bury him before we leave, Doctor,” he said in a quiet voice.
“Just that like,” she replied with anger. She wasn’t angry at Barlow, he just happened to be on the receiving end.
“No, not just like that. I’m as sorry as you are, Helen. But there’s nothing else we can do but say good-bye with grace.”
“I know, Peter,” she agreed. “I liked Paul.” Barlow nodded and walked away.
When Manny was sure all was secure, he walked over to Jon and put his hand on the weapon Jon was still pointing straight into the Midean’s face. Manny pushed it downwards. “It’s all right now, Jon, we’re in control,” he said, keeping his tone low.
Jon didn’t resist, but neither did he react. He let Manny push his arm down but he still faced the Midean. It was clear to Manny for the first time that Jon was more affected than he’d realized, maybe even more than Jon had known. This was the first time he had faced a Midean since his escape; maybe it would reopen the wound and enable the real healing to begin.
Triena fixed her attention back to them. “Jon, did you hear? Everything is under control.”
Jon gazed at her, and for a second it was as if he didn’t recognize her. Then he beamed and for a moment this was the Jon who Manny knew. “Yes, I know. Everything except for me,” he said wistfully.
“These things take time,” Manny said, wishing he could think of something more original and more useful. He glanced at Triena for help.
She came forward, moving at a slow pace. “I’m sure Manny is right. You’re still far from strong. All things improve with time.”
“I know, Triena, but this...”
“Ah, so you are Triena,” the Midean interrupted with a broad smile. He scrutinized her, his appreciation evident, before continuing. “Delightful, quite delightful. No wonder our young friend here was quite prepared to suffer and die for you.”
Jon swung his right hand at the prisoner’s head. The weapon still in Jon’s hand connected with the Midean’s temple, and he staggered but didn’t fall. He didn’t seem surprised by the blow.
However, it was difficult to tell who was more shocked, Jon or Manny.