Gretchen stirred and tried to sit up herself. “You can get me mine. So this habitat is called Winter?”
Grandpa Gari chuckled again. “No, we call this place the Wilds, and it is winter here three months of the year. Three months for winter, three months for spring, three months for summer, three months for fall. Those are the seasons of the year. Perhaps as a Free Ranger, you are not familiar with this habitat’s seasons? Officially it is E Habitat. Do you usually visit other habitats?”
Gretchen was unsure what to say. She looked worriedly at Paul. Stress was etched into her face. “We must get back and finish our work. Paul do you think it is too late?”
Grandpa Gari had laid out Paul’s clothing for him and had placed Gretchen’s clothing on her bed. As he set the closing down, he stroked it gently with his hand, his old bony fingers running through the RAM fabric.
“If we have been here for three weeks? No, I mean, how… have we been fed? And wastes… who?” Paul stammered while he slipped on his clothing. He was very weak and could hardly stand. He slumped back into the bed pulled himself up by his arms. “I have no energy, am very weak.”
“Of course my friend. Anyone who went through regeneration like you did would be very weak. I have tended to your needs and nurtured you though this recovery. I know what it is like to recover. I once had the doctor regenerate three of my toes, that was about five winters ago, and I remember how weak I was after that. Both of you have been through much much more than I.” Grandpa Gari folded his arms and stepped back a few steps as Gretchen put her clothes on as well.
Gretchen searched her clothing but none of the pockets or pouches had the communication system. She wanted to walk over to the pile of gear, but did not have the strength. “Paul, what are we going to do?”
“We must regain our strength. Then we head back and set up the teleportation pad.”
Grandpa Gari looked between Gretchen and Paul and back again. “My friends it is not my place to question those of the Free Rangers, but it sounds like you are planning to go back into winter’s grasp. Is that correct?”
“Yes sir, our people are depending upon us. We have a task to complete,” Gretchen said as she tried to stand. She was too wobbly on her feet and sat back down. “Paul we must contact Tiffany, but I have none of the communication system.”
Paul looked at Grandpa Gari and asked, “I appreciate all that you have done, but can you assist me more? Our people really are in need. We had a communication system with us but it is not in our clothing, is it in the sack by the fire?”
Grandpa Gari walked over and picked up the sack of equipment and brought it to Paul, setting it on the bed. “This is everything trapper Ferdinand carried with him when you were brought here. The doctor may have more of your things, as much was frozen and much happened in the regeneration process. You can ask the doctor about anything else in the morning.”
Gretchen attempted to stand, and Grandpa Gari rushed to her side. She placed her arm around his shoulders and he helped her to walk over to Paul’s bed. Together Gretchen and Paul sorted through their equipment. There was one communication set, a single fusion pack, and five ration bars. All the equipment had been placed into a medium-size cloth sack.
The weapons, the teleportation controls, the tools, and the medical kit were missing.
“Paul, we cannot do this alone. We are already in this man’s debt, and we will need others to help us complete our mission.” Gretchen hugged Paul as she said this.
“We have the one communication set; I will try to contact Tiffany.”
Grandpa Gari interjected, “Was there another Free Ranger with you? Trapper Ferdinand did not say anything like that. I certainly hope another person was not left out in winter’s grasp. If so, that person would certainly be dead by this time.”
“That should not be a problem for Tiffany. Tiffany?” Paul said as he placed the communication system over his ear. “Tiffany? This is Paul please respond.”
The AI Tiffany responded, “Paul it is wonderful to hear that you are still alive. Is Gretchen with you?”
“Yes Gretchen is here, but we are unsure where here is. Can you help us?” Paul asked.
Gretchen smiled with huge smile of relief and happiness as she realized Paul was communicating with Tiffany. Grandpa Gari looked pleased as well.
Tiffany said to Paul, “When you both became unconscious, my field of vision was quite limited. One communication system fell into deep snow. The other allow me to visualize that you were rescued by a large man, who I believe was using a transport vehicle powered by animals, but that conjecture is just from the noises I heard through the communication link. One communication link is still buried in snow. The other communication link, the one you are using, was stored in a dark place and I lost visual and auditory communications. Until your reactivation of the system, moments ago, I considered you both lost. Your injuries were quite severe, how did you survive?”
Paul looked at Grandpa Gari, “Sir? I have reached our friend Tiffany; can you please help us understand what is happened to us?”
Grandpa Gari nodded, “Is your friend Tiffany a human or an artificial intelligence? I have heard that the Free Rangers have a few artificial intelligences, but I did not realize they were using them in the habitats. Perhaps, I am overstepping my bounds in asking inappropriate questions; please forgive me if I am.”
“Paul this man and his friends saved us, we need to trust him, and he seems more sophisticated than I first considered. No offense meant, Grandpa Gari.”
“No offense taken, Gretchen. You Free Rangers have your ways; we who live in the habitats have our ways. I am open enough to accept that both have merit, and I look for trade when I can, and I help all who have need.” Grandpa Gari walked over to the fireplace. There was a grill on the one end of the fireplace with a pot on it. “I have vegetable and venison soup. May I serve you each a bowl while we discuss your situation?”
“I am not sure what you are talking about. But if it is a food ration, I will take one,” Gretchen replied with a large smile. Paul also nodded his agreement. “But first I must ask why you keep calling us Free Rangers?”
“Free Rangers are who you are. I am a dweller of Habitat E, what we commonly call the Wilds.” Grandpa Gari extended his arm and pointed at the tattoo. “You have no designation on your arm; therefore you are a Free Ranger. You were found near a little used entrance to this habitat. Trapper Ferdinand and I assumed you were here to trade. We have not reported you to the CPO, or the Governor, or to the other authorities, as some others would have done. May I know what you were bringing to Habitat E?” Grandpa Gari served each of them the soup. He ladled it into permalloy bowls and brought it to them on permalloy trays. The aroma of the soup was tantalizing, and exotic, to the noses of Paul and Gretchen.
“Thank you,” Paul said, “but we are not Free Rangers. We are not from the ship. We have come to the Vanguard from Earth in a small scout ship. Our people are in desperate need. We then came through the hallways and maze of corridors until we found our way into this cold habitat.”
Gretchen had tasted the soup, which reminded her of the broth she had received previously. The taste was wonderful. “This food is very good. And I thank you for it. While we were traveling to get here through the hallways and decks, we were attacked by a man with an illness.” Gretchen hesitated to say that she had killed the man who had attacked them.
Grandpa Gari looked quite puzzled. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and glanced between Gretchen and Paul. “An encounter with a Roe can be deadly. I hope you were able to terminate that Roe. I still recall the time before the outbreak. My parents even traveled between the habitats, I have a very old memory of riding in a transport vehicle to a different habitat. But as I said that was before the outbreak. The outbreak happened when I was eight years old; it was a terrible, terrible time. The Roe are a cruel curse. They are a scourge, but thankfully they have been nearly eradicated from this habitat. Only on rare occasions do we
see an animal infected. It is killed on sight. I cannot recall the last human victim here in the Wilds. But I hear rumors the Roe are common outside of the habitat.”
“The Roe? Is that what you call the man who had that illness? The one who attacked us?” Paul asked. “Where we come from there is no disease like that.”
“I thought all parts of the ship were infected by that outbreak. But you Free Rangers know better than I the condition of the ship’s other places,” Grandpa Gari said.
“We came from Earth, we know very little about the Vanguard,” Gretchen stated.
“We all come from Earth, originally. I was born in this habitat. I will die in this habitat before we reach Projima. You say you were traveling in the corridors and passageways beyond the habitat, which is the realm of the Free Rangers. You say you traveled in a ship, and that too is what Free Rangers do. I have heard them called shuttles, but they are small ships. However, I do understand, if you do not desire to be called a Free Ranger, I will respect your position. I know the Governor of Habitat E is very strict on his enforcement of the quarantine. He makes direct reports to the Central Planning Office.”
Paul spoke up after swallowing a large helping of the soup. “We really know nothing about you or your people or the groups you speak about. We came to the Vanguard seeking a safe place for our people to come to. They will be coming from back on Earth. We must get our equipment ready and set up the teleportation pad as soon as possible.”
Grandpa Gari shook his head slightly and said with condescension, “Parts of what you say are accurate, but parts cannot be accurate. We will speak to the doctor in the morning. Perhaps these delusions are side effects of such high levels of regeneration? Winter’s touch can be devastating.”
Paul was discouraged, but the soup was giving him strength. Gretchen was uncertain how to proceed. She then said, “Everything we have told you is the truth, but it must sound fantastic to you. Would you believe if we let you speak to Tiffany the artificial intelligence system?”
Grandpa Gari looked at Tiffany then he looked at Paul. “Artificial intelligence systems can be trained to say whatever they are taught to say. I am not an engineer nor a technician. Most of the year I am a farmer, and during winter I am just a survivor. I do not want to make more trouble between the Free Rangers and the CPO. So I believe we should speak no further about these matters.”
There was a sudden pounding on the front door. “Grandpa Gari! The constable and several troops are coming!”
Grandpa Gary bolted for the door and yanked it open. A cold blast of snowy air accompanied the large man who entered the house. He was wrapped in furs and strange clothing. He shut the door behind him.
“Ferdinand? How much time do we have?” Grandpa Gari asked.
“They know that Free Rangers are here. They must leave at once. I have my sled ready to go. I have brought suitable clothing for them. The troops are coming on snowshoes, but we still must leave immediately. I know not how they uncovered the truth.”
17 flight and rescue?
Paul and Gretchen stared in awe at the large man. What little could be seen of him, under the layers of clothing revealed bright eyes and dark skin. What was most unusual was his clothing. He was wrapped in clothing made of some kind of hair or fur. He was obviously agitated and in a near panic.
“Ferdinand they are very weak, but get the necessary winter clothing. We cannot have them caught here,” Grandpa Gari said with alarm. “You must take them to a place of refuge.”
The big man opened and shut the door and again another blast of cold, wet air went through the room. Grandpa Gari turned to Gretchen and Paul and said, “My friends you must flee. Somehow the authorities have learned of your presence here. If you are caught you will suffer greatly. I apologize. I thought you were safe here. Also, if you are found in my home I will be arrested. Go with Ferdinand he will take you to another shelter. I will tell the doctor in the morning to look for you where Ferdinand takes you; perhaps the doctor can help you with your delusions.”
The door opened again with another blast of winter’s cold. Ferdinand dropped the bundle down and unpacked more odd looking clothing. “The poitevin are well rested and we can make it to Orsk by morning.”
“What is happening” Gretchen asked.
Grandpa Gari handed her clothing from the pile, “Put on these coats and pants, and boots.” Gretchen was dumbfounded, she knew not how to put on the clothing.
Grandpa Gari quickly helped here. “This hole goes over your head, the bands wrap around your arms while your hands slip into these mittens. Pull the pants on. There also mukluks here for you to put on your feet. Slide your foot and shoe inside.”
Paul watched as Grandpa Gari helped Gretchen into her winter garb. He copied her actions and also was dressed warmly. He could not identify the fabric or the material the clothing was made from. Grandpa Gari led them to the door, slid the sack with their equipment into their hands, and watched as Ferdinand led them into the darkness outside.
“Farewell Free Rangers. I hope to meet you again,” Grandpa Gari said as he slammed the door behind him.
Outside of the cabin was dark, the sky was grey, and the wind was howling. Snow covered nearly everything in sight except for the bizarre things stomping their feet in the snow. There were four of them, each with four legs, upright rectangular heads, long pointed ears, and thick hairy tail. They were covered in long shaggy hair, dark brown or black in color. Wide streams of frosty air came from their huge nostrils. Their fur was white on their underbelly, but looked tan-like compared to the pure white of the snow. The animals also had white fur around their noses, and each had an irregular patch of white around their eyes. The creatures stood about as high as Gretchen.
Ferdinand placed a strong arm around both Gretchen and Paul, one on each side of him, and led them toward the animals.
“Animals?” Paul said in astonishment. “Are they safe?”
“The poitevin? Of course they are safe,” Ferdinand forced a laugh. “We must get you onto the sleigh quickly and be away.” He both supported them and directed them toward the sleigh which was hooked up to the four animals. One of the animals turned and brayed at him as he helped Gretchen and Paul onto the sleigh.
Paul and Gretchen were on the bench at the back of the sleigh; Ferdinand covered them with a stiff and heavy blanket, and climbed onto the driver seat. The four animals were harnessed to the sleigh, and Ferdinand picked up too long strips of material and gave a command. The animals responded and stomped forward, the harness connecting them to the sleigh. They all slid away.
Paul finally realized he still had the communication system on and said to Tiffany, “Can you help me understand what is happening?”
The AI Tiffany replied, “Yes Paul. I have monitored the conversations between you and the two indigenous people you have encountered. This habitat is in a winter cycle of weather. I conjecture that this habitat is highly viable, as the local people seem to be surviving here. The animals which are pulling your conveyance are a variant of the equus asinus. Commonly referred to as the donkey. My database has no reference to the term poitevin; however, records from before the Great Event are incomplete.”
“Tiffany, how do we get back to the teleportation pad and finish our work?”
“I am working on that problem as we speak. I can give you guidance utilizing the two communications links, but I am not able to directly plot a route for you. Currently you are moving away from the teleportation pad area,” Tiffany stated.
The sleigh carried them through the forested area. Bundled in their garb Gretchen and Paul were warm, but they had no idea where they were headed. Gretchen tried to call out to Ferdinand, but he did not hear her. The world around them consisted of the dark greens of the trees, the sparkling white of the snow on the ground, and the gray of the sky.
After some time the sleigh pulled away from the forest and into an open area. The sky overhead was getting less gray and lighter in color. There was a str
eak of brightness that appeared from one end of the sky to the other and that seems to be getting brighter as time passed.
Suddenly, four figures appeared alongside the sleigh. They were people moving at a very fast rate of speed by propelling themselves along on thin rails which were strapped to their feet. They sped through the snow. In their hands were long poles that they poked into the snow to direct themselves along. They were dressed in slick white clothing, which was not as bunchy or bulky as what Ferdinand wore.
Ferdinand looked at the people coming alongside. He whipped the reins up and down and frantically called to the poitevin. The animals picked up speed and began to race ahead, the sleigh bouncing roughly behind them. Gretchen and Paul held on during the rough ride. The looks on Fredinand’s face showed great fear of these people who were pursuing.
The Colony Ship Vanguard: The entire eight book series in one bundle Page 16