The City that Time forgot

by Patrick McClafferty

  As she walked by Lyndra gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and grimaced. “You need a shave.” She grumbled.

  The Arrow was closer to the kraken now; less than five cables Gareth judged, and he could now see the tail of the whale that was its victim, nearly buried beneath tentacles. He was reaching for the Colt when a voice from above called to him.

  “Gareth!”

  Frowning, he looked up. “Ria?” The elf was sitting casually, her leg wrapped around the mainmast yard, her back to the mainmast. She was grinning.

  “Did you know that there are two more krakens approaching you, one to port and one to our stern about eight or nine cables distant?”

  He shot a Chiu a startled look. Is it spawning season, already? White faced, Chiu nodded. Scheiße! He growled. This is the last place we want to be then. He studied the struggling behemoths off their starboard bow. You take one of the other two, and Lyndra will handle the other. All you need to do is slow them up until I get there with the heavy weapons. Chiu and Lyndra nodded once, turned and ran. Gareth drew the Colt and flipped on the power supply. In a small display built into the side of what looked like the receiver, the battery read fully charged, and the ammunition level read four hundred and eighty seven. He had used only five hundred and thirteen of his possible one thousand depleted uranium slivers that the pistol accelerated to a significant fraction of c in an instant. Since he had only received ten thousand rounds from Athena with the pistol, he’d been very conservative in their use. There were, however, times when conservative didn’t cut it. This was one. The digital display lit as his hand squeezed the grip. “Beware the noise!” He called out, setting the red targeting pipper on the kraken’s head and squeezing the trigger. The tearing-air sound of the three shot burst made his ears ring, and the head of the kraken dissolved into a spreading cloud of blue gore and white bone. The body of the squid-like creature slipped off the back of the whale and into the cold ocean waters.

  Gareth had just turned when Chiu’s crossbow chunked as she fired. The bolt struck the beast below the left eye, burying itself to its flights, and the kraken went mad with pain striking out wildly. One thick gray tentacle struck the Arrow, shaking the entire ship and a crewman on the top foremast fell screaming into the ocean. Running, Gareth didn’t have time to aim, but flipped the pistol to automatic as it came up, and fired from the hip. The concussion knocked him to the deck, along with every other crewman, but not before he saw the monster literally blown in half by the force of the explosion. Glancing once to make sure Chiu was all right, he scrambled to his feet and headed for the stern.

  If he was worried for Lyndra’s safety he needn’t have been. Just as he approached, she fired the crossbow, the bolt speeding across the single cable length of water to disappear completely in the very center of the beast’s dinner-plate sized left eye. The kraken stiffened, and with an ear-piercing screech slid beneath the waves.

  The waters around the Arrow went wild with jumping leaping dolphins. Captain Athan touched his shoulder. “You did well lad, you and the ladies.” He paused, glancing up at the tall foremast. “It’s too bad about Jeffries though. He were a good…”

  “Ahhh, Capin?” A sailor called from the main deck, smirking like an idiot. “Mister Jeffries would like to know if he can come aboard now.” Gareth and Athan joined the rest of the crew who were leaning over the starboard railing. There in the water, being supported by two dolphins was the beaming foretopman.

  “Permission te come aboard sir?” He called up when he saw Captain Athan watching.

  “Permission granted.” The captain called back, a bemused look on his face as he turned to Gareth. “I see what you mean about dolphins.”

  “It was a bleedin’ miracle, that’s what it was.” The voice of Jeffries floated up from the lower deck. “I fell off’n the bloody mast, and hit the water. Stunned me like, it did. Befer I could drown those fishies pushed me up to the surface so’s I could breath, and held me there. They was warm. I could feel em, jest like you and me. Who would’a thought?”

  Gareth stood apart from the small impromptu celebration of Jeffries return, and looked up into the air. Did you have something to do with this? He asked, directing the thought to Athena.

  Well… maybe just a little. A slight nudge as he falls, and he lands on his side rather than his back and is stunned, rather than knocked unconscious. The dolphins, thanks to your intercession, did the rest.

  Whatever, I’d like to say thank you.

  Sentimentality? I thought you were a cold blooded killer.

  Gareth chuckled. Don’t let it get out or it will ruin my reputation.

  Chiu knows that there is a real human being buried in there, and Lyndra is beginning to suspect. Both women know enough to keep their mouths shut if they know what’s good for them.

  Threats Athena? I thought you were the all loving Earth Mother.

  Gareth. The voice in his mind said slowly and clearly. I am the spirit behind Mother Nature, and She is red of tooth and claw, implacable as death and unforgiving of stupidity. I am not a computer, although on occasion I use them. I have feelings and emotions, wants and needs. Some are beyond your current comprehension, but others, like anger and lust are old friends. Gareth could have sworn he heard Athena let out a frustrated sigh. You should go now. Chiu is somewhat upset that she missed the shot and nearly got someone killed. Check her crossbow.

  You think of everything.

  Someone has to. He was about to turn away when she continued. You did very well today, my Gareth. She purred. Very well indeed. Her laugh was low, and filled him with apprehension. One of these days I may have to start paying you what you’re worth.

  I thought that we settled the issue of pay before I ever stepped foot on Eldenworld. You saved my life and gave me back my health.

  There was a soft laugh. You really aren’t interested in money, are you? It’s one of the things I like most about you. Your pay, if you will, was for reaching Zuebrihn and speaking with the Eye. Athena made a low humming sound, and Gareth could picture her drumming her fingertips on her arm. I’ll think of something appropriate, and commensurate with your vast talents. There was a playful lilt to her thoughts.

  That’s what worries me. Gareth replied dryly. I need to see Chiu now. Thank you again.

  There was a slowly disappearing look of horror on Chiu’s white face as she watched the crewmen thumping crewman Jeffries heartily on his back. She turned as Gareth approached. “I almost killed that seaman when I missed my shot.” Her voice shook.

  Gareth smiled gently as he touched her shoulder. “Don’t be too quick to assign blame. Have you thought to check your crossbow? I can’t imagine you missing a shot like that without good cause.”

  Lifting up the heavy crossbow, she checked the operation. In a moment Chiu turned back to Gareth. “How did you know? The bolt holding the limb to the stock was loose.”

  He could easily have lied, and taken the credit for himself. “A little bird told me.” He admitted. “This little bird watches over us more than we realize, I think.” He gave Chiu a grin. “Her nudges saved that crewman’s life. I suspect that she would do more to save ours.”

  Chiu frowned. “I’m not sure I like the idea of a divinity watching me.” Her tone was flat, almost cold.

  Gareth shrugged. “Who cares? I don’t worry about it and neither should you.”

  Chiu tucked her crossbow under her arm, and turned for the companionway. I’m going to wash up as best I can, and change into some clean clothes.” She wrinkled her nose. “I suggest you do the same while we still have water to bathe with.” Gareth sighed.

  Eight days later, racing before the ominous black clouds and flickering lightning of an impending gale, the foremast lookout sighted the entrance to the protected harbor of Draealea. An hour more under full sail, and just as the storm caught them, the Arrow slipped into the sheltered anchorage, dropping both fore and aft anchors as soon as they were in position. Bent double in the howling winds, crewm
en lashed the sails down for safety and then, fighting torrents of water falling from the sky, descended into the warmth and safety of the ship. For three days the Arrow tossed at anchor, and Gareth again wondered at the strange fortunes that put them in safety in the very teeth of the storm. Outside the rain and sleet hissed against the stern windows of the sturdy schooner.

  “Ye want te go where?” The stablemaster growled when Gareth told him where they intended to go with his horses. “Are ye bloody daft? Ancient City? There ain’t nothing there now, and never has been to the best of my recollection. Strange things roam the ruins along the way, and most who go never return.” His weathered face turned hard. “I’ll sell ye the horses ye need. If ye get back I’ll buy them back.” His dark eyes glittered.

  Gareth’s smile was cold. “Damned straight you’ll buy them back friend, and for the same price we paid, less ten percent… for wear.”

  “That’s robbery! I will not…” The stablemaster stopped suddenly as Gareth placed the kukri on the rough counter between them.

  “We might just decide that’s it’s cheaper to take your horses… for free. If you try to stop us, well, people around here probably wouldn’t miss such a cheerful fellow as you.” Gareth’s eyes were flat and filled with anger.

  The stablemaster swallowed, his face pale. “Ye don’t have to threaten me. You have a deal.” Gareth shook the man’s hand and gave him a smile.

  “See how easy it was, once we came to an understanding?” The grizzled stable man just growled under his breath.

  Lyndra gave him an appraising look. “You’re getting to be a hard man, Gareth.”

  He sighed. “The stablemaster’s not really a bad man, he’s just greedy. He will push and push and push until someone pushes back. I pushed.” He said as he loaded the horses. The map they’d gotten in Shsa-Tirion showed the great city at the southern end of the Draealean Peninsula, some one hundred leagues distant. Now they would be six riders and three pack horses—for the moment. Gareth knew that later. when they were out of sight of people he, Chiu and Lyndra would change into their four-legged forms, while Ria would take to her own swift feet. Kuan and Darbuk would ride and look after the horses.

  Most of the peasants they saw working the meager homesteads wore brightly colored clothes with tall pointed hats with wide floppy brims. After a while he noticed that all the peasants in all the farms wore the exact same colors. The road passed through a small village, and on the other side the peasants again wore eye shocking colors, but in totally different shades.

  Riding up beside Kuan, he gave the small guide a curious look. “What’s with the colors? It hurts my eyes.”

  Kuan chuckled. “It prevents mingling and runaways. Having clothes of other colors is illegal.”

  Gareth nodded. “Chains of cloth instead of iron.”

  “Exactly. The serfs of each landlord wear the colors of that house.” He stopped and raised an eyebrow. “And these fine fellows are the local magistrates.” He said, nodding to a column of eight sweating soldiers marching along on foot, led by what was probably a noble on horseback. He gave Gareth a wide grin. “If you don’t mind, I’ll deal with them. A small show of force may be necessary.”

  Gareth shook his head. “As you will.” He slowed up to let the small guide take the lead.

  “Good morning, Lieutenant.” Kuan exclaimed, dipping his hat in an outrageous flourish. “And how are you and your men today?”

  The man on horseback held up his hand, and the sweating column came to a clanking halt. “Hot.” He replied, glaring at Kuan. “And I am a Captain. Who are you, where are you from, and where are you going?”

  “I…” Kuan waved his hat again. “am Ecclesiarch Diebold Lipshitz,” Gareth snorted back a loud laugh, “the eminent archeologist from the University of Upper Urruthra. Surely you must have heard of me? My companions and I are going to study the ruins to the south of here.”

  “No ruins there.” The captain rumbled. “I will see your travel papers.”

  Kuan looked over at Gareth and gave him a small nod. “I have all our papers in my man’s saddlebags.” Gareth slid from his saddle as Chiu and Lyndra slid from theirs. “Ahhh, here they are.” Kuan held out a sheaf of blank pages, but the captain didn’t move a muscle as the heavy shouldered sabertooths sauntered on either side of his suddenly nervous horse. The foot soldiers all took a step backward and stopped, when Lyndra’s low growl let them know of her presence behind them. The captain’s hand twitched toward his sword, but a smiling Eriato, sitting casually in her saddle with her strung and notched bow across her lap shook her head. “Oh dear, Lieutenant.” Kuan murmured brightly. “I totally forgot to introduce you to my friends.” The smile fell from Kuan’s face. “To prevent any misunderstandings, perhaps you all should just drop your weapons? I’d like to remind you that the claws of a sabertooth tiger can shuck you out of your armor as easily as a gourmand shucks an oyster from its shell. The results for both you and the oyster would be, unfortunately, similar.”

  The captain’s face was the color of chalk as he slid from his horse and dropped his sword. “Disarm.” He called to his troops. Weapons hit the ground with a clatter.

  Kuan was smiling again. “Very good. While we’re on a roll… why don’t you all just remove your armor? The weather is so nice, don’t ye think?” When the Captain hesitated, Gareth growled, low in his throat, and suddenly the armor followed the weapons to the ground. Kuan crooked a finger to two grinning boys who were watching from the side of the road. “Tell me, lads, is there a well in that village?” He nodded to the small cluster of buildings that stood a few hundred meters away.

  “Yes my Lord.” The taller of the two boys called back, nodding his head respectfully.

  Kuan flipped him a small golden coin, probably more than his parents made in a full year. “Very good. I would like you and your friend here to pick up all the weapons and the armor and drop them down the well.” The boys gaped. “Come now… chop chop.” Kuan clapped his hands imperiously, and unsurprisingly the armor and weapons soon disappeared. Kuan gave the captain a little mocking salute. “It was so nice to meet you Lieutenant; we’ll have to do it again some time.” With Gareth, Chiu and Lyndra back in the saddles and Kuan leading the captain’s horse, they continued on through the town. Grinning faces looked down on them from second story windows, and one comely young woman actually tossed Kuan a flower. Kuan smiled in return, handing the horse off to one of the boys, and pointing to the girl in the window. In the distance the underwear clad soldiers walked down the dusty road toward Draealea.

  “What will happen to all that armor, those weapons, and the horse?” Chiu asked Kuan as they departed the town.

  The small guide’s laugh was bright. “The armor and weapons will be gone and sold in an hour. The horse may or may not stay. The town will then have a party for a month.” He looked back over his shoulder wistfully, probably thinking of the flower and the girl who tossed it… the girl with the new horse. “It should be a very good party.”

  They rode along for some time, the silence broken only by the clip/clop of the hooves on the hard-packed dirt.

  “How much further until we turn off the road and head cross country?” Gareth asked, wondering to himself how many more weeks he was going to have to spend in the saddle. He remembered vaguely that he’d complained about riding around all day on patrol in a JLTV, Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, the replacement for the aging humvee. He’d never had it so good he realized.

  “The map I… acquired.” Kuan began, looking slightly embarrassed. “Showed that last village as the last village.” He grinned. “We should be passing a manor house in a few kilometers, and then after fording a small river we turn east into low hills. We should make them before nightfall and reach our destination in two weeks, give or take.” They rode on quietly for some time before Kuan asked, “Have you been on the trail a long time?”

  Chiu snorted in laughter, and for a moment Gareth thought she would fall off her horse. “I�
��ve been traveling since I first arrived in this asylum—about three, or three and a half years.” He replied, frowning as he added up all the months and leagues.

  Kuan shook his head. “Don’t you have a home?”

  “No.”

  “Yes!” Chiu cut in. “Gareth is a Special Operative of the Oseothan Senate, and as a member of the Senate is provided with a house and servants.” Her smile turned inward, and more than a little wistful. “Our house is just outside the capital of Puasheehchester, and sits atop high cliffs overlooking the ocean.” She threw Gareth a quick wink. “Our house is actually larger than the mansion of my parents, and they are Senators.” She said proudly.

  “I remember.” Kuan muttered. “Your mother Shaw is the one who hired me don’t forget.”

  The buzz of conversation lulled Gareth into a sort of half doze, and his thoughts wandered. It’s too bad if I fail all the people will die. He mused. I wonder if they hid somewhere they could be safe? It would have to be someplace deep enough to protect them from radiation, and designed to hold thousands. Millions maybe. His eyes opened wide. Someplace like The Yeugate. Chiu was staring at him as she picked up the edges of his thoughts. Athena, would The Yeugate be deep enough to protect people and animals from the supernova radiation?

  Very good. I don’t know, but I’ll speak to someone who does. She let out a deep breath. I’m sorry to say that your nice weather will only last two more days, when a new storm will blow in from the Great Ocean. You might keep your eyes open for suitable shelter.

  Perfect. Gareth grumbled.

  The cave, set in the side of a steep rocky hill, was deep but widened after a narrow entrance into a spacious sand-floored shelter. A small pool of icy water sat at the back, and the travelers found the remains of a fire from previous adventurers. Lightning flashed in the distance, and as they led the horses inside they could see a wall of blackness approaching from the south. Gareth and Darbuk, armed with kukri and ax respectively went out to forage for wood while the others made camp. The rain began to fall as they dragged in the last of the firewood.