by Ian Miller
"I shall place the lid over you, and you will feel a slightly warm sensation, starting in your toes, which will work its way up your body. Do not be frightened." With that, he placed the lid over her.
"There," the Roman stated a minute later, as he removed the lid, "you do not feel hurt?"
"I'm not healed either," Natasha noted.
"Of course not. The first step is to find out what is wrong with you."
"You're obviously not psychic."
"Of course not! There's a rational explanation for everything that's about to happen, although there's no guarantee you'll receive it."
"Why not?"
The Roman ignored her question. "Watch the screen," he said.
An image of a body appeared, in a rainbow of colours, largely green, blue and yellow. Tiny pockets of red were also present.
"I suppose we could say you're in luck," the Roman said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"There's actually some of you left," the Roman muttered. "Not much, but some. See the red? That's normal tissue. You have about fourteen hundred carcinomas developing, although most of these are microscopic. However, you should be able to locate five of the largest by physical examination."
"So you can't cure me," Natasha muttered. She felt strangely hurt. When she had arrived, she had given herself zero chance, but somewhere along the line a faint glimmer of hope had risen within her. Now, again, it was gone, and suddenly she realized that she would have liked to live.
"The answer's just maybe, and that depends."
"Depends on what?"
"There's a small problem with definitions," the healer said, "but basically a cure may be still possible providing you survive the treatment."
Natasha looked up and her face would have smiled had it been less contorted. "So your technology's not flawless?"
"Nothing's flawless, but I'm still your only hope. And I'm afraid I need you to take a series of tests for some length of time before I can make any further progress."
"Test?" Natasha protested. "Do you know what I . . ." She paused, as she realized how stupid that must have sounded.
"A day, minimum. Probably nearer a week. Is that too much to give up to live?"
"I'm sorry," Natasha muttered.
"Starting now?"
"I . . ." She paused, and took a decision. "Yes, why not?"
"Then wait here while I go and get something," the Roman said. He turned and disappeared through the doorway that seemed to lead to some excavation into the hill.
Natasha sat there, and studied the room more closely. There were absolutely no clues at all, except for the screen, which seemed to have a device enclosed by a large metal casing. There were absolutely no markings on the casing, except . . . Yes, there were symbols. Small, and in no language on Earth.
So, as she believed, the man was alien. Now, what could the symbols mean? She peered forward, to get a better view.
"The writing, roughly translated, means, 'fit screen, type whatever, here'."
Natasha started, turned, then said, without becoming defensive, "I was curious."
"Yes, you're starting to try to put two and something together, but you don't know whether you're trying to guess the variable, or force the answer."
"Very perceptive," Natasha countered. "Next you'll be trying to read my mind."
"Up to a point, correct," the Roman said. "The tests I was mentioning involve monitoring your mental responses to a number of stimuli. I have here some headgear. You have to wear that continuously for at least a day, and preferably longer."
Natasha stared at the device, then said, "I can just see myself wandering around town in that. Nobody'd notice a thing, of course."
"You could always wear a big hat," the Roman laughed. "Alternatively, you could always stay here out of sight."
"You're thinking of keeping me here?"
"The question is, are you thinking of trying to get cured."
"I'm afraid I won't," Natasha said sadly. In her hand she held a pistol, pointed directly at the Roman.
"I'm afraid now I don't understand," the Roman said. "I promise you I shall attempt to restore your health. Why should you now threaten me?"
"You're very very convincing, but you're M'starn, aren't you? Perhaps you can cure me, but the price won't be worth it."
"Why do you think I'm M'starn?" This was said in the tone of a quizmaster, trying to get the contestant to reach the winning answer.
"You don't deny it!" Natasha stated flatly, without either conviction or doubt in her voice.
"I deny it, absolutely," the Roman said, in a more serious tone, as if he really wished Natasha to believe. "Now, why are you sure I am M'starn?"
"If I were sure, you'd be dead," Natasha said coldly. "In fact Lieutenant Lansfeld assured me you weren't, and I have a lot of respect for his judgment. But at your side there is a small staff. That is only worn by M'starn generals or their equivalent."
"You mean this?" the Roman said, pulling up the staff and showing it to Natasha.
"Exactly. It is not of this planet, and neither are you."
"You know I can cure you, and if you kill me, that is the end of your life?"
"I believe you. But my duty is more important than my life. You may find that hard to believe."
"Suppose I told you that your conclusions are wrong?"
"Convince me."
"Then please put the weapon on the table, just in front where you can reach it if you need to, but so as you're not holding it. I don't want you to accidentally pull the trigger."
There was a pause, and then Natasha placed the pistol on the table. Just as she started to withdraw her hand, the pistol flew through the air, to be caught by the Roman. He appeared to place the pistol in a drawer of the table.
"Fool!" she cursed herself.
"No," the Roman smiled. "Anything but. You did not kill me because you have a natural sense of justice. You had to give me the benefit of the doubt because you could not absolutely rule out the possibility that I might not be what you feared. That can never be thought of as failure."
"But I've failed my people. You can now kill me."
"That is the very last thing I intend to do. If I wanted to, I could have done that well before you lost your weapon."
"What do you mean?"
"This is not a badge of authority," the Roman said. "I passed this over your face three times, and you did nothing. This, roughly translated, is called a Krezell wand. See that stone?" and he pointed to one of the huge stones.
"Yes."
"Then watch."
He turned the wand and pointed it at one of the rocks. Immediately a blue glow connected the two, and almost instantaneously the rock exploded in a shower of molten silica.
"As you see, I could have killed you easily."
"May I look at it?"
The Roman handed over the wand.
"You trust me with it?"
"As yet you don't know how to use it," came the quiet reply, "and even if you did, you can't."
"It's exactly like the one we captured from the M'starn general," Natasha said. "I don't understand."
"This wand is not made by the M'starn. They captured the ones they've got, but they can't use them," came the reply. "Now, back to the headgear. Will you put it on?"
"That's alien, isn't it?" Natasha asked.
"Yes," the Roman said, "and it is forbidden for you to show this to anyone else. You agree to that condition, or there's no cure, and you leave right now."
"You'd let me leave?"
"With regrets that I doubt you could even begin to understand," the Roman said, "but yes, I have no intention of trying to force you into something you don't want to do."
"Then go ahead," Natasha said. She was strangely more confident. If this man, if he were a man, was alien, he could have done almost anything to her already, and the very remote signs of hope, of life, were beginning to rise within her again. She winced a little as
the device was fitted, as adjustments were made to make it fit her head.
"Now," the Roman said softly, "we have to check whether it's working. I want you to concentrate on thinking of a geometric shape. Try to visualize an image of it." There was a pause, then the Roman nodded and said, "Excellent. An octagon."
"How did you know?" Natasha asked warily.
"Do it again, but this time keep an eye on the screen," the Roman suggested. Natasha did, and to her complete surprise, an octagon appeared on the screen. "The next trick," the Roman said, is to try to make your shape do something, say rotate, or change colour. Try it." So Natasha did, and was surprised that she could make it spin, change from red to, yellow to green, then she could add more shapes. It was strangely satisfying, to do something that nobody else could do, even if it was only through alien technology.
"Ha! Having fun!"
"And why not?" Natasha asked defensively.
"No good reason at all. Now, let's make a further step forward. This Krezell wand is not intended as a weapon, but rather as a means of carrying out action by thought. Grasp it firmly, and try to imagine it as part of yourself." Natasha took the wand, held it, and . . . nothing happened.
"I'll put a lump of ice on that stone, then point it at the ice and think of heat, and while you are thinking of heat, think blue, not with words, but the feeling."
Nothing happened, and Natasha was about to put the wand down.
"Don't give in yet," the Roman warned. "For what it's worth, it took me an awful lot longer to get anything. The key is really to relax, and try to mentally absorb it. When you get close, you'll feel a slight tingling in the fingers. When that happens, try to will the wand into you, but don't try too hard, keep a firm but not too tight grasp. And try to empty your mind of everything else."
There was a pause, and the Roman said softly, "You're getting closer . . . there!" She did feel a slight tingling. "Now, try to think of heat, blue heat coming from you, and try to get a blue light to connect to the ice. Of course you have to point the wand at the ice." There was a pause, then, "That's it. You're getting closer. Remember, the blue is just a guidance light, to let you know exactly what it's acting on. Now, will it to come out of the wand and go to the ice."
At first nothing happened and Natasha began to feel silly.
"Don't worry," came cheerful encouragement. "This is actually very easy once you've done it once, but until then it seems quite impossible. The important point is not to try too hard. The more you think about it, the more conflicting thoughts get picked up, and the device effectively gives up, confused. You have to clear your mind of every thought but one."
'More easily said than done,' Natasha thought, but then felt encouraged as she felt the wand connect to her. She felt so excited, but nothing happened.
"Nearly there, but don't get excited. It's like walking a tightrope. Jump up and down in excitement after getting the first step behind you and you simply fall off."
She relaxed, and tried again. This time she found the connection easier, then suddenly a very faint blue light appeared at the end. Encouraged by the Roman, she willed it towards the ice. At first nothing much happened, but then, as she willed it harder, and then not as hard, but from deeper within her, the glow grew, and the ice shattered and began giving off steam. As she felt pleased, the light collapsed.
"Thank you," she said, and handed the wand back.
"Not tempted to use it on me?" he smiled, as he placed the wand in a drawer.
"It's not mine," came the simple reply. "But you must be an alien. How are you related to the M'starn? And how do you assume human form?"
"I am as human as you," came the reply. "I was born in the Ager Romanus."
"Then how? "
"I shall explain in due course. For the moment, trust me."
"I suppose this is rather stupid, but I guess I do. I suppose it's too much to hope that you might . . . What's that?"
There was a commotion in the waiting room. The Roman waved Natasha to remain seated, then he moved to investigate. But as he was about to reach the door, it was flung open, then a black clothed being forced its way in and hurled the Roman back across the room. The Roman seemed to hesitate, then turned and disappeared down the cellar entrance.
Two more black beings entered. Natasha cursed as they turned towards her. She was weaponless. Then she remembered the drawer. She retreated behind the desk, and stared at the M'starn with what she hoped was a terrified look while her hands grappled with the drawers. The first two were locked, but the third pulled open. She grasped for the pistol, but instead found the Krezell wand. She grasped it, and prayed. With a hideous cackle, the leader advanced and reached out with strange black gloves to grasp her neck. She had sat absolutely still, trying to give the impression of being paralyzed with fear. Suddenly, she lurched forward and dived to the side of the M'starn leader. As she dived, she clutched the wand and brought it up between them. The M'starn leader cackled and she felt a claw-like hand grasp her arm.
She turned and willed the heat. The wand glowed into life and the blue light surged forward to sever the M'starn leader's trunk. With a hideous scream the body collapsed. The remaining M'starn reached for weapons, then saw the Krezell wand turn towards them. With a cry they dived towards the cellar. Natasha stopped the wand's activity and followed.
There was a long tunnel reaching deep into the hillside but it was well lit by a sequence of electric lights. Natasha ran quickly but carefully down the path, slowing at corners to peer carefully around. She ran around the third corner into a larger space and stopped in total surprise.
There before her was a . . . what? It was a little over two metres high, with a body that was covered with what appeared to be brown feathers, with lines of green feathers along the sides. However, 'bird' was almost the last word that came to mind. Its legs were substantial, and also covered with feathers, and it was resting on a large feathery tail, which, at its base, was almost as thick as its legs, and appeared to have sufficient mass to help balance the rest of the body when standing upright. Instead of wings, it had quite long arms, which ended with clawed hands. It had a shortish thick neck that supported quite a massive head. The head had a massive forehead, on top of which a rigid brown comb-like projection began and ran across the back of the head. There was no beak, but instead two powerful jaws projected out, and inside these were rows of very dangerous looking teeth. There were no apparent ears, but there were two very large eyes placed in the face rather than the sides of the head, and these were focused on Natasha.
Whatever it was, it raised its head and roared, then raised one hand, and opened its palm towards Natasha. Natasha held up the Krezell wand and stood her ground, then she raised her left hand and opened her palm forwards. The being before her seemed to almost nod, but then did nothing, its eyes boring into her as if it was challenging her to make the next move. She was beginning to wonder what to do next when she noticed that the creature had a metal band, very similar to the one she was wearing, around its left arm.
Suddenly there was a scuffling noise behind the being, and a bluish ball emerged from another tunnel, it flew across the space, hit the wall and rebounded back into the tunnel. Then it emerged again, this time rolling quickly across the floor. Natasha noticed the being almost retreat as its legs twisted back, its hands pulled down over its head almost as if in frustration. Then, from the tunnel, a smaller equivalent came running out, head forward, tail horizontal. Unlike the first, while it too was feathered, apparently more brightly, it was clothed; the main clothing consisted of sky-blue padded overalls which included a section extending half way down the tail, it had what appeared to be a lightish green scarf, and it had a blue cap at quite a jaunty angle over its comb. In mid flight its right foot landed just in front of the ball, but almost two meters to the right. Its body leaned out, its arms extended outwards to give it balance, its neck came up so that the twisted head was almost above the ball as it rolled forward, then the tail whipped around and
with a mighty thump the ball flew towards the wall. Still in full motion, the being leaped upwards, anticipating the return of the ball, but the ball, on hitting the wall, also hit a projecting rock and flew out into the cavern. As the ball came flying towards Natasha, the ball-player landed, pivoted, and rushed towards Natasha, mouth open, tail horizontal, arms extended. As it charged towards Natasha, it gave an excited roar. Natasha flinched backwards.
There was a roar of anguish from the larger being, then the smaller one, for the first time, saw Natasha and skidded to a stop, two meters in front of her. Natasha trapped the ball with her foot, then bent down at the knees to retrieve it, all the time watching those before her. As soon as the ball was secure, she rolled it quickly back to the small being, who picked it up and was pulled back by the larger one.
As the two stared at Natasha, she looked around and saw a small stick. Still keeping her eyes on them, she took the stick and drew the caped figures of the M'starn in the dust. She looked, and the larger one nodded its head up and down, as if to indicate understanding. Natasha then raised two fingers, and again the being nodded. She then pointed, in turn to the two possible exits, and tried to look puzzled. The smaller one jumped up excitedly and moved towards one of the exits.
Just as it reached the entrance, a fleeing black shape collided with it. The M'starn dived under the being's arm, managed to grasp it from behind, then brought a weapon to its head. It was staring down the tunnel and Natasha saw the Roman had halted. The M'starn made a threat, and although Natasha could not understand the language it was clear what it implied, and it was clearly made to both the larger being and to the Roman. Natasha then realized that, as the angles were, if the M'starn was watching the larger being and the tunnel, he could not see her. She raised the Krezell wand and implored heat. The blue light flashed. First, the hand holding the weapon was severed, and then the M'starn collapsed, headless.
"Well," Natasha muttered to herself, "I never thought I'd ever end up saving the life of a . . . whatever."
"Thank you very much, all the same," came a strangely resonant but high-pitched voice. "I appreciate your action."