Torian Reclamation 3: Test of Fortitude

by Andy Kasch

  Jumper and Kayla emerged from the shuttle with Casanova on a leash. The three of them walked down the ramp to the ground, where Casanova stopped to sniff. Alan got the impression he didn’t like what he smelled, as he turned and looked back up the ramp. Jumper and Kayla had to pull him hard to get him to set foot on the soil.

  “Such a magnificent animal,” Shaldan said. “I don’t imagine that leash would actually hold him if he had a mind to be somewhere else.”

  Alan laughed. “It’s mostly for show. For your benefit, and that of the natives here. As guests, we feel obliged to provide you with a false sense of security.”

  Shaldan flashed his corner teeth. “That’s always appreciated, thanks. These felidors of Amulen are obviously apex predators. Why is this one is so tame?”

  “We raised him from a cub. He loves us. Jumper and Kayla have taught him to play a role in the war game they designed for their business. So he’s used to tackling strangers in a playful way, knowing it’s a game. I don’t know if Casanova could tell the difference between a real battle and a game anymore, so he’s probably not much use for protection—other than the scare factor.”

  Shaldan nodded. “That factor alone should be significant, though. Hopefully, you’ll never need anything more.”

  Jumper motioned for Alan to follow before he and Kayla turned and began walking Casanova towards the closest vegetation patch.

  “Guess I’ll go with them, and get a closer look at the plant life here.”

  “Wait a minute,” Shaldan said. “Maybe I’ll come along, too.” Shaldan jogged over to Trodenjo and talked to his shipmates, pointing back towards Alan. Trodenjo looked in his direction and nodded. Shaldan hurried back and the two of them then ran to catch up with Jumper and Kayla, who were happy to see Shaldan join them.

  “How far down do they have to go to get the mineral water?” Jumper asked Shaldan as Jumper took the leash from Kayla.

  Shaldan thought for a second. “Technically, all the fresh water on this world is magnas.pz mineral water, even what’s up on top. But the surface water is heavily diluted, weak in the mineral. Still safe to drink, as the mineral kills all microorganisms while balancing the other natural nutrients. Flavorful, too. The deeper the source, the stronger the mineral content is. Traditional wells can no longer get down far enough for the heavily concentrated stuff. The prized water that’s rich in the mineral, what you sampled on The Measure, can only be found in deep cisterns. The rocks are difficult to drill through, so they find most of it by mining.”

  A flock of tall birds flew out of the brush ahead, possibly spooked by their conversation. They captured Casanova’s attention. He became suddenly eager to reach the vegetation, and pulled Jumper ahead of the pack.

  When Kayla stopped laughing she turned to Shaldan and said, “I’m glad you’re along. Is Shaldan your only name? I mean, Mparians don’t have multiple names for identification, or numeric designations like Torians? My full name is Kayla2, and Alan’s is Alan2.”

  “Shaldan is my full name. It includes both my names. My family name is Shal.”

  “So your unique identifier is Dan,” Kayla said. “That’s also a popular name among Earthlings.”

  “That makes sense,” Alan said. “Which means Troden is the family name of your chief merchants. So their individual names are Jo and Mark, which are also popular human names.”

  “They say their last names first,” Kayla added.

  “I suppose what you’re saying is structurally correct,” Shaldan said, “but we don’t separate our names like that. They have two parts, but we say them together.”

  Casanova surged forward into a trot ahead of them, dragging Jumper helplessly behind him. They came to the brush. Casanova didn’t stop. He and Jumper vanished into it, and another flock of those long, skinny birds broke and flew across the barren dirt towards the next oasis.

  “Just as you predicted,” Alan said to Shaldan. The mood was now jovial.

  “Jumper, don’t lose us!” Kayla shouted.

  “Easy for you to say,” Jumper’s voice broadcast from behind the bushes. It was followed by a loud creaking sound, further followed by Jumper’s voice again.

  “No, Casanova!”

  Alan saw a tree near the perimeter of the oasis begin shaking violently. It cracked and fell, making a thunderous crashing noise.

  “Extat!” Jumper’s voice echoed.

  “Honey!” Kayla yelled. She sprinted ahead through the brush line. Alan and Shaldan ran after her.

  They came to a small clearing inside the first clump of bushes, where Jumper stood holding a broken leash behind the fallen tree. He appeared unharmed.

  “Casanova!” Kayla shouted.

  Jumper pointed in a different direction. “He took off that way, after he pushed the tree over. I don’t know what’s gotten into that cat. I couldn’t stop him.”

  Kayla continued calling Casanova, and began whistling for him, while Alan inspected Jumper from behind.

  “I’m all right,” Jumper said. “I was back here when he attacked the tree.”

  The four of them then pushed their way through the saplings and into the woods in the direction Jumper had pointed. The brush thinned out. It became walkable and downright pleasant as they made their way into the interior. Trees of different shapes and sizes were dressed in vines and moss. Exotic succulent plants were home to long-legged jumping insects. Some of the plants displayed foreboding thorns, though. It was different than any Torian landscape Alan had seen.

  “Look at this place,” Alan said. “It’s like a mini-jungle in here. I can see why Casanova likes it.”

  “Why are the forested areas so separated from each other on this landscape?” Jumper asked Shaldan.

  “That’s why.” Shaldan pointed to the ground in front of them. A tiny creek was running through that spot, barely more than a trickle. The creek bed was made of the same gray rocks that covered much of the planet. Large paw prints were in the mud before the creek. Casanova must have stopped there for a drink.

  “He went this way,” Kayla said. She pushed her way through the next line of brush.

  Shaldan continued his explanation. “The freshwater sources on this world all come from underground springs. The springs come to the surface in confined areas, and the water finds its way back underground before it travels far. You can see the results in these isolated patches of forestry. Some are bigger than others. The one we’re in now isn’t too large, so I’m sure we’ll find your pet.”

  As those words left Shaldan’s mouth, the bush next to him exploded and a dark red blur filled the air. Suddenly Shaldan was on his back with the front paws of a cat nearly twice his weight pinning him to the ground.

  “Casanova!” Jumper ran over and grabbed him by the skin on the back of his neck.

  Kayla reappeared. “Shaldan, I’m so sorry! Are you all right?”

  Jumper pulled the great cat off him. Shaldan sat up. His chest was bleeding through a tear in his shirt. The leaf of a large succulent was stuck to the back of his shoulder. He sat there in silence looking around for a few moments, blinking.

  Casanova pulled on Jumper’s grip and leaned towards Shaldan’s face. Shaldan retracted as far as he could, apparently overcome with terror. Casanova licked his face.

  “That’s his way of apologizing,” Jumper said.

  Kayla crouched down next to Shaldan and touched his wound.

  “I don’t think you’re hurt badly. The blood on your chest is only a scratch.” She then pulled the plant that was stuck to his shoulder away. A sizable thorn was red with blood.

  “This is worse,” she said. “We better go back to the shuttle and get you some first aide.”

  Jumper managed to retie Casanova’s leash around his neck.

  “Is he going to cooperate, now?” Alan asked.

  “He better. If not, we’ll leave him out here.”

  Kayla shot Jumper a stern look, but then turned back to Shaldan and helped him up.

  Casanova
cooperated. They all walked out of the oasis and back across the dry ground to the shuttle without further incident. Alan noticed Casanova was being good now and wondered if he felt remorse over the incident. Shaldan only mumbled a few words here and there in response to Kayla’s constant apologizing and inquiries as to how he felt. However he felt, he obviously wasn’t happy. When they arrived back at the shuttle, Kayla boarded it with Shaldan.

  That’s when Alan noticed the aliens. Trodenjo and his other three crewmembers were now talking with three shorter beings. From this distance Alan couldn’t be certain, but the alien’s skin looked to be blue in color. They also appeared to have disproportionately large heads.

  “Those must be the natives,” Alan said. “Come out of the rocks.”

  Jumper squinted. “Yeah, must be. I hope their business doesn’t conclude too quickly. We just got here. You gotta figure they’ll at least invite them to stay for a meal or something, don’t you think?”

  “Why? You hungry? Interested in trying some alien food?”

  Jumper shook his head. “That’s not what I had in mind. Look at those rock formations. They have a unique beauty about them.”

  “Yes, they do.”

  “Gaze upon them, Alan. And tell me if you don’t start thinking what I’m thinking.”

  “Oh, you want to go rock climbing.”

  “Can you think of anything better to do here?”

  “No,” Alan said after a few seconds. “I admit I can’t. They’re the standout feature of the terrain, that’s for sure. But I left my backpack on The Measure.”

  “I brought mine. I have enough equipment for both of us. Those look like they should be scaled freestyle, anyway. Not many sheer faces.”

  Alan nodded as he continued surveying the rocks, and then noticed that Trodenjo’s party and the natives were all walking towards the shuttle.

  “Here they come,” Alan said. “Maybe we can ask them about it.”

  Casanova let out a strange howl and plopped to the ground. Alan and Jumper stared at him.

  “He wants to go back in his cage,” Kayla’s voice said from behind. Alan and Jumper turned around. She and Shaldan were coming back down the ramp.

  Kayla continued speaking. “He knows he’s far from home, and doesn’t like it. The crate has become his most comfortable surroundings.”

  Kayla and Shaldan rejoined them on the ground. Alan noticed Shaldan kept his distance from Casanova. His shoulder was no longer bleeding.

  “Look at that,” Shaldan suddenly said, pointing in the air with his other arm. There was excitement in his voice again.

  They all looked up. A great dark bird, much larger than the others they had seen, flew overhead. They watched as it landed up in the rock formations in the distance.

  “I’d like to get a closer look at whatever that is!” Shaldan said.

  “Good to hear your normal voice again,” Alan said. “The cat didn’t mean to hurt you. He just plays a little rough.”

  “It’s all right.” Shaldan squeezed his injured shoulder. “I understand. Kayla helped fix me up.” He then walked around to Casanova, bent down next to him—slowly—and pet him. Casanova rolled on his back in appreciation.

  The rest of the landing party arrived with the three natives. Shaldan stood back up and joined Trodenjo, who gave him a brief quizzical look when he saw his torn shirt.

  Introductions were made. The natives called themselves Sulienites. Their skin wasn’t truly blue; it was more of a dark purple. Their heads, however, seemed even bigger up close. The Sulienites were short, only coming up to Alan’s chin. They had human-looking ears and noses, except the ears were positioned sideways and down. All three of these had brown eyes. They wore thick garments that seemed to be made of cloth, similar to the old Earth-style clothes Brandon preferred.

  The one who did most of the talking was introduced as Threeclack. Alan wondered whether the number three in his name was a coincidence, a title of some sort, or actually meant to be a number. The other two had one-syllable names that Alan forgot as soon as he heard them. He was interested in Threeclack for some reason, and found himself focusing on him.

  “I’m afraid there’s been another development,” Trodenjo said. Everyone looked at him. Alan could tell by his tone he wasn’t happy.

  “The Bolkan equipment delivery still hasn’t arrived. It’s now long overdue. Given the enthusiasm the Bolkans entered this trade agreement with, I fear something is wrong. We need to go directly to Bolkos from here and follow up.”

  Alan saw Jumper’s face contort as he eyed the rocks again, and knew his brain was hard at work.

  “What happened to you?” Trodenjo asked Shaldan.

  “This is nothing,” he said, looking down at the rip in his shirt. He turned around. “You should have seen the thorn they pulled out of my back.”

  Threeclack spoke. “Thorn?” His expression turned to one of concern.

  “Yes, from there.” Shaldan pointed to the closest oasis.

  “From a green succulent with rectangular leaves?”

  “Yeah, that’s the one. Hurts still.” Shaldan moved his arm around as he spoke.

  “You need special medicine,” Threeclack said. “Better come with us.”

  “How long will it take?” Trodenjo asked.

  “Go on without me, then.” Shaldan winced as he held his shoulder and moved his arm in circular motions. “You’re coming back anyway, so I’ll wait here.”

  “We’ll stay, too,” Alan and Jumper said in unison.

  Threeclack emitted what must have been a Sulienite laugh, a sharp series of throaty clicking noises.

  “If that is permissible,” Alan added, bowing before Threeclack.

  “Yes, you may remain here as our guests.” Threeclack returned the bow, but awkwardly. “As many as you like. I will see to your comfort.”

  Trodenjo looked around the landscape and then agreed.

  “We need to get Casanova’s crate off the shuttle,” Kayla said. “He needs it.”

  Alan looked down and saw Casanova’s head on the ground with his ears bent down. He looked downright depressed.

  “All right,” Trodenjo said. “We can bring that down. The grass inside is starting to die and needs sunlight, anyway.”

  Trodenjo went up the ramp with his three crewmembers and reappeared a few moments later with the crate, held in the air at the corners by four portable beam-lifts. They brought it to the ground and set it down. Casanova perked up when he saw it. Kayla was barely able to open the side door before he nudged his way in and vanished between the large half-dead blades of grass. Alan noticed Threeclack watching Casanova with considerable interest.

  “Stay local,” Trodenjo said to Shaldan after Jumper retrieved his backpack from the shuttle. “We should be back in three to four of this planet’s short days.”

  After a series of fast goodbyes, the shuttle was in the air again and quickly vanishing behind the gray clouds above. Some white clouds had also moved in. The thought dawned on Alan that they were now stranded on a planet two thousand light years across the galaxy and no one back home even knew they were here.

  “Come,” Threeclack said. “Let’s get inside. Looks like rain. Your animal can come along, seeing how tame he is. We have a facility for him which I think he may like.”

  Kayla looked back and forth between the nearby rocks, Shaldan’s wound, and Casanova’s crate. Alan could see she was apprehensive. He couldn’t blame her for that. It appeared they were heading towards nothing more than a dark cave.

  “I think he’d rather be here for now,” Kayla said. “He doesn’t mind rain. Maybe I can come back and get him after I see your …facility.”

  “Very well, then. Let us hurry.”

  Alan, Jumper, Kayla, and Shaldan walked with the three Sulienites. Alan was surprised at the fast pace the short natives set. Just as they arrived at the hole in the mountain, the white clouds overhead thundered and released a heavy downpour. They jogged the last bit of distance to t
he safety of the cave.

  *

  The cave wasn’t as dark as it looked from outside. What they had run into was a short tunnel cut through the rock. Faint daylight shone from the other end. Alan ran his hand along the wall as they walked. It was smooth and only a little cool to the touch.

  “How far back does this go?” Jumper asked. His voice echoed.

  “Very far,” Threeclack said, “and very deep. This is our largest city. Most of our western population is concentrated in this subterrane.”

  They came out the other side of the tunnel into a welcoming brightness. Alan needed to shield his eyes for a moment. He turned his head to the left at the sound of rapid chirping. An open atrium filled with trees and thriving plant life played host to a flock of large-beaked green and yellow birds. They chattered as they flew from tree to tree and seemed to be enjoying the raindrops dripping from above.

  Alan looked up. A series of majestic rock formations arched and twisted their way to the top of the mountain they were under. The sky could be seen in many places, but the rock archways created a natural weather barrier so the rain in the more open areas was filtered to a pleasant sprinkle.

  “Wow,” Kayla said. “Is this natural, or did you carve it all out?”

  “About half and half.”

  As they journeyed further inward, modern construction began blending equally with the natural rock. There were storefronts, office buildings, dining halls, residential homes, and modes of transportation. A hover train whirred by on a ledge above them at one place, running along the cavern wall almost as if it were a part of it. There was enough light coming through the openings in the rocky canopy to support vegetation and landscaping. Small Sulienites, what must have been children, laughed as they romped on playground equipment in parks. Alan marveled at it all.

  “Have your people always lived in the rocks like this?” he asked.

  “No,” Threeclack said. “When our ancestors first colonized this world they built outdoor cities and farms, just as they had known back on Salom. These fabulous natural caverns attracted many, so residences began to be constructed inside the mountains. Then the deep water pools were discovered, and it resulted in our largest industry. This entire metropolis gradually grew out of practicality for the miners. The rest migrated upon discovering the benefits of being housed in the rocks. Our former cities now lie desolate, though many of the outside farms are still in production out of necessity.”