by Vic Broquard
“Huh?” asked Jarka, not following Kachina’s train of thought.
“The woman whose hands were lost. She jumped from the roof to end her misery. Her emotions are still strong there. I felt them. Traces of what happens at a place remains at that place, if only you open your senses to them. Yes, of these hundred women, many ought to have also jumped. Yet, they have not.”
“Oh, well, yes, yes she did jump. She’d lost her two babies, her husband, her home, and her hands. I’m sure that she felt that she had nothing more for which to live. It is understandable. Our hundred women, well ninety-six new ones, their bodies have been infused with a tremendous amount of magical energy which is allowing them to learn and pick up magic very quickly.”
“Yes, that is what I sense. It has given them an overriding new purpose in life. Yet, I warn you Mage Jarka. They must see it through to the end. If they do not, the goodness will turn to badness.”
Jarka wondered just what Kachina meant, but she didn’t have time to pursue it further. Honani reappeared, armed to the teeth as she was. “All set. Shall we be off?” he said, offering her his arm. She grabbed it and held on for dear life, muttering to herself how she hated Shadow Walking. Waves of nausea flooded over her as Honani took her to Asami, the water world and the vacation paradise planet. Soon the blue world appeared and Jarka began to calm down as she spotted the island and fortress appearing before her. The sandy beaches were just as she remembered them when she and Bernard took their honeymoon here twenty-one years ago. She focused on these memories as Honani landed them on the beach, well beyond any of Goro’s protection spells.
“I will leave you here to obtain the baron’s permission while I hire us that yacht that I mentioned. Back soon,” Honani said quickly. She picked up the distinct impression that Honani did not want to see Baron Goro. Perhaps they had had some differences in the past, she thought. He stepped back into the shadows and she headed up the beach to the Fortress and Circle complex. Halfway there, Baron Goro came out to meet her. He wore shorts and little else, the temperature was a balmy eighty degrees, the sun shone brightly, and the waves rolled in and out behind her, an idyllic scene.
“Hail Mage Jarka Dragon. It has been a long time since you visited our world. Welcome indeed. Pleasure or business? Have time for a swim and a beach party?” Goro said as he closed the distance between them, his arms open in a welcoming gesture. He also glanced about to see who had brought her here. He knew that she was not Duska and could not have gotten here without a Duska’s aid.
“I am afraid that it is a business trip this time, baron. I forgot how wonderful it really is here! I love it. I sure wish I could spend a month here basking on your beaches! No, it’s business this time.”
“Well, come on inside and at least have an ale with me,” Goro replied, still glancing about half expecting to see the Duska.
“No time. I’d love to but no time. You’ve heard about the recent abductions of women from all of the planets of the Federation except here, haven’t you?”
“No! Really? All of them? The dragons! On no! I thought that the problem was supposed to be solved!”
Jarka didn’t know how much she really ought to divulge to Goro. This was politically sensitive information and Asami was not technically involved since none of the ninety-six women came from here. “Can you keep a secret? This is all extremely sensitive information, for your ears only!” she lowered her voice, glancing around as if looking for eavesdroppers.
“Oh my goodness! Yes, a secret it will be! What has happened this time?” he was suddenly keenly interested and also made sure that they were not being overheard.
“The reds and blacks have been at it again. Ninety-six women this time. Diabolical, I say. They somehow have paralyzed the women’s arms, you know, like those original seventeen women that we told you about at last fall’s High Council meeting.”
“A hundred? Dear god. Will they also lose their arms like the seventeen? This is most alarming news! How awful. Is it really that bad?” Goro looked extremely trouble and shocked, Jarka surmised, either that or he was extremely good at hiding it.
“Some women’s arms have atrophied to matchsticks already. I am here to make a last ditch attempt to save their arms.”
“Here? On Asami? What can possibly be here that could help those poor women?” Goro asked, completely surprise by her statement.
“I need to talk with the Blue Dragons, one called Bolivar. I’ve heard that I would need your permission to speak with him. I don’t quite understand that at all, but that’s what I was told.”
“The blues? Oh!” Goro was not a stupid beach bum as she had always suspected. He instantly made the connection. “You think it was the Blue Dragons who somehow paralyzed these women’s arms? The blues are in cahoots with the reds and blacks!”
“No, you are jumping to conclusions on their complicity. No, I think that the reds are using something similar to the stuff that the blues exhale, their neurotoxin stuff. I want to discuss this with this Bolivar fellow, whoever he is. I am trying to find a cure before it is too late for these women, that’s all. I’m not sure why I need to have your permission to talk to this Bolivar, though.”
“Whew, that’s a relief! Yes, the only dragons who find Asami a fine place to live are the sea loving blues. Dad made a deal with them and so far it has been upheld. In general, the blues leave us alone and we leave them alone. Once in a while there have been some slight problems, but overall, it has been a fine arrangement. We don’t bother them; they don’t bother us. They live far out in the oceans, far from our small islands. By agreement, when communication between our species is needed, I have to send a formal document requesting the meeting. Bolivar is their representative who deals with us, though I really don’t know if he is actually their leader. Honestly, we know almost nothing about the blues, except they are fun to watch swimming in the ocean. They are terrific swimmers.”
“Good plan. Keep the contact between the dragons and humans small and only go through official channels. I like that idea. Minimizes trouble and confusions,” Jarka replied, figuring all this was merely more politics at work.
“I’ll make you that document right now. I should warn you. He’s a little aloof. I don’t think he likes us much,” Goro admitted and chanted. A scroll appeared in his hand and he handed it to her. “Present him with this and he should speak with you. Of course, the problem will be finding him. They apparently don’t have permanent homes like we do. Last I heard, he was in the far south quadrant. You’ll need a yacht. Tell the captain far south quadrant and he’ll know where to sail. Can I get you a yacht?”
“No, my Duska friend is getting us one. On behalf of all the women, we thank you, baron for your help. I hope that this proves fruitful. The women are so depending on me to save their arms.”
“I simply cannot imagine how they must feel. To lose one’s arms is to be almost completely helpless,” Goro replied sincerely. “Ah, that must be your yacht coming in now. Be careful with that one. The captain is something of a rogue.”
“Thanks, I certainly will. Talk to you later. Thanks again, baron.” Jarka shook his hand and used her Mystical Door to step out to the incoming yacht without its having to dock, much to Honani’s pleasure. He’d sent her a Message to that effect.
“Did you get what you needed?” Honani asked. Jarka waved the document. “Good. This is our captain, Hachiro. Captain, this is Mage Jarka Dragon from Adapazan, Baron Zoran’s mage.”
She looked the man up and down. He too wore only shorts. His fit body was nicely tanned from long hours in the sun. He saw her glancing at the ship and quickly spoke up, “She’s a bit old, but she’s sea worthy. Honani has paid me well to enter dragon waters. What is our destination? No questions asked.”
“Far south quadrant,” Jarka replied. “I have a document from Goro. It will allow me to speak with this Bolivar dragon. Somehow we need to find him.”
“Off we go then. Honani has said that time is of the essence.
Normal sailing time to that zone is a week. For an additional ten thousand, we can be there later today,” Captain Hachiro explained. Jarka had no choice — a week was way too long. She handed over a couple of gems. Hachiro grinned as he accepted them. “Excellent, excellent. If you will please go below to your cabins, Honani will show you the way. I will arrange for our speedy journey, Mage Jarka.”
Honani led her below deck. They shared a cabin. Two hammocks served as beds. “Best get you into one of these contraptions,” he suggested. Neither had been in one before and it was a rather comical scene before she finally was securely in hers. She laughed as he struggled into his. “Crazy way to sleep!” Honani commented, frustrated with the awkwardness of just getting into one. No sooner had he gotten into his when the entire yacht slipped slightly into the Shadows.
Jarka called out, “Oh no, not again!” Nausea and disorientation struck her once more! Fortunately, it lasted only a couple of minutes.
When the universe finally seemed stable to her once more, a deck hand knocked on their door. “We are there. It is safe to come back on deck and search for your blue.”
Honani rolled over and fell out of his hammock and Jarka laughed. He returned the favor when she crashed into the floor trying to get out of hers. Still chuckling, the two walked back on deck. The sails were billowing in the wind, and the yacht was cutting through the ocean waves. The motion began to take its toll on Jarka. Soon, she leaned over the railing and emptied out her breakfast. Not long after that, Honani followed suit. Captain Hachiro roared, “Land lubbers, mates, land lubbers. Keep your eyes peeled for a blue,” he ordered his lookouts.
Jarka looked out at the waters. Water was everywhere. No land was in sight in any direction. She was thankful that she did not live here on Asami! An hour passed before they spotted their first blue. “Wow!” exclaimed Jarka. Ahead off their port the huge, blue, snake-like dragon’s body was undulating in and out of the waters in a rhythmic pattern. It had to be at least seventy feet long, though its wings were currently folded back forming a streamlined shape.
As the yacht approached it, the dragon unfolded one wing and dipped it into the waters. The breaking action of the right wing caused the dragon to suddenly make a ninety degree turn in the water, now making for them. As it approached, it raised its enormous head up out of the waters, some fifteen feet tall, looking down upon those standing on the deck. “These are our waters,” it said menacingly.
“Speak to him,” Captain Hachiro whispered to Jarka.
“I wish to speak to Bolivar. I have a document from Baron Goro allowing me to speak to him. Where can we find him, please?” The dragon’s black eyes glanced at the document she held up and nodded its head slightly.
“Very well. You stay here, Bolivar will come to you.” The dragon dove back into the water, its head disappearing before the bow of the yacht. All ducked to avoid the following ocean spray. Jarka guessed the dragon had done that on purpose.
They didn’t have to wait long. Soon an even larger blue appeared in the waters just off their port side. Jarka guessed that it had either teleported there or Shadow Walked. It raised its head and called out, “Unfurl the document.” The voice sounded cold and inhuman. She did as asked and the dragon appeared to be reading it. To her surprise, the document vanished from her hand. “Can’t keep it. Don’t want it to be reused.” He morphed into human form and appeared on the deck beside her, all in one swift motion. “We talk back there where we are not overheard. I am Bolivar, the blue.” Wearing only shorts, he walked back to the stern and Jarka followed after him. He was impressive. If he’d been human, the sunlight glistening off of his wet, well-built body would have really pricked her interest.
“Mage Jarka, you may speak now. Why have you sought me?” Bolivar said. She detected either annoyance or possibly a twinge of hostility in his tone, if dragons had such.
“This is going to take a bit of explaining first. The reds and blacks have continued to abduct human females and impregnated them. This time, a hundred women have been recovered, though we do not how many others died while giving birth to the baby dragons. Again, to make sure that the captive women did not try to kill themselves or each other, the reds injected something into their shoulders which has made their arms totally numb, useless. Their bones can even be broken and the women do not even feel it. Worse, over time their arms atrophy and become mere skin on bone.”
“So it is true? There are a hundred of these women in your care now?” he asked, displaying a bit of interest she thought.
“Yes, but some of their arms are more like matchsticks now.”
“May I ask what you are doing with these women?”
“Well, because of their carrying the baby dragons, their bodies have been infused with magical energies. All are now learning magic and at a very rapid rate.”
“So it is true? They will become mages?” he asked even more interested.
“Yes, very likely, though some may well become Archmages.”
“Then what Werner says is true. You are making hundreds of mages and Archmages on Adapazan.”
“Yes, that is true. These women have been abducted, their families murdered, their arms mutilated and in a few cases their eyes ripped from their sockets. We are trying desperately to give them the means to live a worthwhile life after all that they have endured. After all, I am sure that you would be upset if humans abducted your mate, raped her, tore out her eyes, and paralyzed forever her legs and wings. Surely you would do all that you could to help her gain new skills so she could live a worthy life.”
“Hum, point taken. What has this to do with Bolivar?”
“Ah, now we get to the reason for my visit. We observed the reds inserting two drops of a bluish gooey substance into the women’s shoulders. Once inserted there, their arms became dead to them and have remained so ever afterwards. I have heard that your race sometimes breaths out a neurotoxin that perhaps acts in a similar manner.”
“Yes, it immobilizes our food for us so that we can easily pick up the shark or fish. It beats the red’s approach of diving down from above like some silly bird-like creature.” She detected a bit of hostility towards the reds.
“Mind you, I have never had the honor of meeting a Blue Dragon before, nor have I ever seen your neurotoxin. Yet, I was wondering if you could look at a sample that we took from some women’s arms and tell if it is somehow similar to your neurotoxin.”
“Are you suggesting that we blues had something to do with these abductions?” his voice raised up a notch. Anger was definitely present.
“Oh no sir! No sir! Nothing of the kind! I am looking to find a cure only. I do not mean to suggest that blues were involved in this in any way!”
“Fair enough then. Blues do not like reds. Let me see this stuff that you have.” She produced her precious vial, though its meager contents were half gone now, used up in her many experiments. Bolivar opened it and carefully sniffed it and then frowned, he looked terribly annoyed, she thought, if dragons could look annoyed. She wasn’t too sure about that.
“This is most distressing, Mage Jarka. While it is not exactly the neurotoxin that we breathe out, it is made from it. I find this most distressing indeed! It came from their arms?”
“Yes, our physicians collected it from many withered arms that had to be removed. They got some on their fingers and their fingers have been numb ever since.”
“That is to be expected. It is a permanent toxin to human flesh.”
“Yes, that’s what I wanted to discuss with you. If you blues spray this on your food to paralyze them and then you eat the food, how come you do not paralyze your own selves? As I said, I am trying to find any way possible to neutralize this toxin so that the women do not have to have their arms cut off.”
“Our digestive juices neutralize the toxin. While this vial contains a definite neurotoxin quite similar to ours, I do not know if it can be neutralized. May I examine some of it?” Bolivar asked. He poured a few sticky drops out onto
the wooden deck and then he spat on it. Immediately, a chemical reaction took place. After a slight fizzle, not dissimilar to pouring vinegar on baking soda, the bluish hue was replaced by a greyish color. He sniffed it again. “Ah ha. Yes, it is neutralized. Test it yourself.” Hesitantly, Jarka touched the grey mass, but found nothing happening to her finger.
“Now this is encouraging, Bolivar. Until now, nothing at all even remotely neutralized it. Your spit did the job, incredible!” Jarka exclaimed, but thought, now comes the hard part. How am I going to bargain for a bunch of his spit?
To her surprise, Bolivar said, “So now I suppose you want me to give you a bunch of my spit.”
“If you wouldn’t mind.”
“So you can perhaps cure these hundred women whose arms have been paralyzed by the reds when they were abducted and forced to bear their children?”
“Yes.”
“And these are the women who are now extraordinarily gifted? The ones who are learning magic so swiftly and may well become mages or even perhaps Archmages?”
“Yes.”
“Have not your Archmages and mages been killing many of the reds and blacks within the past year?”
“Yes, but. . .” she admitted. He interrupted her mid-sentence.
“You want me to help you cure these very women who will mature into Dragon Killers?”
“Yes, but they won’t bother you, sir.” Jarka grasped the reason for his hesitancy. He was a dragon after all. “If they have any beef at all, it is only with the reds and blacks who kidnaped them, did this to their arms, raped them, force them to bear their dragon babies, and if not for us, would have died when the baby dragons were born.”
“This is most serious, Mage Jarka. What you ask is that I betray dragon-kind.”
Jarka knew that what she said next could well be the most important words that she ever uttered in her life. The fate of at least a hundred women rested on her shoulders, may be countless more in the future as well. Yet, her devious mind saw an opening. “Yes and no. I give you my solemn word that the women will be fully informed that the Blue Dragons were coming to their aid and restoring their arms. If it were not for the blues, they would be armless. That, sir, will be a most powerful incentive for these women to never harm a blue. Further sir, you would not really be betraying dragon-kind. These women, whether they retain their arms or not, will in all likelihood become mages and perhaps Archmages. Casting of magic has little to do with one’s arms. On the other hand, they will be most thankful for their arms in their daily living, as you would be if you continued to have the use of your wings and legs, sir. See my point?” She certainly hoped so.