by Alan Black
Stone decided to change the subject. The picture of starving Hyrocanians killing and eating their own wasn’t a pleasant thought. “How’s the back doing?”
Allie smiled, “Doc Menendez says I’m doing all right, I just can’t lay around and do nothing, like some people.” She poked him in the ribs. “Walking. She says to just keep walking.”
Walking was all the medicine they had. Dollish, in his continued search for editable native plants, had provided the medical corps with several herbs to replace their exhausted medicine. Those substitutes just weren’t robust enough to completely relieve pain beyond the nanites capabilities, not to mention replace the tools and equipment needed to perform extensive corrective surgery. Allie’s nanites fused the bones around the cracks in her spine, but the muscles around the fusion refused to relax.
“So, I am going to take a stroll around the parapets. And Dollish, let me know when the Governor lets you take the shuttle. I’ll fly the thing for you and we can take a few marines and go hunting.”
Wyznewski said, “I want to go. Oh, that reminds me, we found a compartment with all its hatches inoperable. When we finally got it open, it was full of weapons. Hammermill is as giddy as a schoolgirl on her birthday. Lieutenant Vedrian, he wanted me to let you know so you could come up and resupply the ground troops.
Stone watched Allie slowly walk to the wall’s parapet, surrounded by her attendant piglet squad. She walked the parapets checking the posted guards, keeping the watch alert. Agent Ryte’s drones provided base overwatch and after months of standing watch after boring watch looking for possible dangers coming from the jungle, everyone found it hard to stay alert, but one look from Allie was enough for most on guard duty to give maximum effort to even the most boring of tasks.
Dollish and Wyznewski wandered away. The last Stone heard, the spacer was trying to interest the scientist in a new batch of herbs and leaves he’d located and the scientist was trying to interest the spacer in a recent study he’d done of the planet’s plate tectonics. Before Stone could catch a second breath, his dataport beeped. The daily injury report from Menendez popped up. The list was depressingly short. Without medications, most injured personnel either healed slowly or were removed from the list when they died.
His dataport beeped again and a report from Hammermill popped onto the screen. He didn’t take time to read it, it was Hammer’s daily request for more support. Guarding their prisoners was a matter of welding them inside a series of compartments on the Rusty Hinges and guarding the only working hatch. There wasn’t anything he could do about it.
Scattered around the compound were dozens of off duty military personnel, some still healing from wounds and injuries received during their stay on Allie’s World. Some wounds lingered even with nanite assistance. The nanites helped, but there were limits to their effectiveness. Menendez had finally ordered Tuttle out of her suit, protecting her wrist as much as possible. The pain must have been intense, but Tuttle grimaced, grinned, and waved her stump around like a badge of honor. However, there was only so much work people in constant pain could do. Everyone had been on duty for months on end. He wondered if he really could dump the Hyrocanians on the corner of an isolated island or somewhere. Still, if he did that—and he might not have a choice soon as they were all wearing down to a frazzle—he didn’t want to subject his new planet to such disgusting creatures. He also didn’t want it on his conscience that he’d knowingly tossed them out to die.
He’d ordered the scientists to perform a quick scan on all creatures in the vast array of the ship’s holding pens. Creatures presenting minimal levels of intelligence and not even questionable levels of sentience were classified as animals and left aboard to feed their Hyrocanian prisoners. Even now, he wanted to set all of the penned creatures free and open the ship’s hatches to vacuum. He often woke up from nightmares of Hyrocanians eating him and his drascos. As horrible as the four-armed freaks were, he couldn’t bear to order the Hyrocanians left to starve to death.
A third report beeped on his dataport calling his attention to an updated armorers list from Li and Janson. He whistled. Wyznewski was right about finding a compartment full of weapons. It must have been a huge compartment. Now they’d be able to defend themselves properly, unless the Hyrocanians showed up with another operational spacecraft. The storeroom contained weapons and ammo of all types: individual, team based, ship and base defenses, crew manned, with tons of spare parts.
His own pair of personal piglets stood at the ramp looking up at him. The two were recognizable by the shoulder bags they carried filled with all sorts of odds, ends, and duct tape. Running around between the injured were hundreds of small piglets. The scientists no longer had the necessary equipment to correctly verify and authenticate the piglets level of intelligence. The level was questionable at best with the equipment they did have, but Stone didn’t care. They discovered piglets and drascos stored all over the huge spaceship. They set the drascos free in the jungle, and allowed the piglets free reign in the compound.
He glanced down at his piglets. They were the only creatures on the planet he couldn’t detect by smell. He smiled and they smiled back with a bizarre imitation of a human grin. Their face wasn’t designed to smile, but he recognized the effort. Stone didn’t know why, but this pair adopted him. They showed up at odd times to see if he needed anything. The rest of the time, his duo joined their fellows, tilling and toiling in Dollish’s garden. They seemed to enjoy working with dirt between their fingers, eating weeds, bugs, and small rodents with equal enthusiasm. Unlike the Hyrocanians, they killed and cooked the rodents before eating.
His dataport beeped. Being Governor wasn’t the plum, easy assignment it was cracked up to be. During his attempt to take a short break from his duties he’d already been interrupted more often than when he sat at his makeshift desk in the small nearby bunker. There always seemed to be some pressing matter needing his attention—refereeing between inter-service rivalries, overruling one of Wyznewski’s harebrained schemes, or officiating at the wedding of Privates January and al-Julier the day before their attempt to reach Brickman’s station through hyperspace—there was always something to do from oh-dark-thirty to oh-dark-thirty, and often well beyond.
He tapped open the comms, calling up a display. He was shocked to see Vice Admiral Temple smiling at him. The last time he’d seen the admiral, the man tacked on his new rank tabs. That was in Butcher’s office back on Lazzaroni Base.
Temple said, “Sorry it took us so long to get here, son. The marines in your message ship gave us a clear picture of what was happening in this system, but it took us longer to gather a large enough fleet and a bevy of mine sweepers at Brickman’s Station to come rescue you. Strange though, it doesn’t look like you need rescuing.”
Stone glanced over his shoulder, spotting Allie and her attendant piglet detail. He tapped open his personal assistant for a direct, private call. “Allie, it looks like our rescue has arrived. Now can we go introduce you to my parents?”
The End
Books
By
Alan Black
Science Fiction
Metal Boxes
Metal Boxes-Trapped Outside
Chewing Rocks
Empty Space
Steel Walls and Dirt Drops
Titanium Texicans
General Fiction
Chasing Harpo
Historical Fiction
An Ozark Mountain Series:
The Friendship Stones
The Granite Heart
The Heaviest Rock
The Inconvenient Pebble
Western Novelette
A Cold Winter
Non-Fiction
How to Start, Write, and Finish Your First Novel
About the Author:
www.alanblackauthor.com
Alan Black has been writing novels since 1996 when he started Eye on The Prize. His writing tastes are as eclectic as his reading preferences.
Alan
spent most of his adult life in the Kansas City area. The exception came at the orders from the U.S. Air Force when he was stationed in Texas, California, Maryland, and Japan. He and his wife were married in the late 70s and lived in Independence, Missouri, but now live in sunny Arizona.
Alan Black is a #1 bestselling author for Metal Boxes, a young adult, science fiction, military, action adventure. He is a multi-genre writer who has never met a good story he didn't want to tell.
Alan Black's vision statement: "I want my readers amazed they missed sleep because they could not put down one of my books. I want my readers amazed I made them laugh on one page and cry on the next. I want to give my readers a pleasurable respite from the cares of the world for a few hours. I want to offer stories I would want to read."
Praise for Alan Black’s books
Metal Boxes
WOW!
What a great rip-roaring adventure, I loved it from page one to the end. A grand space opera with a very likeable main character of Midshipman Stone.
I am reminded of Heinlein's writing with the humor, drama and palpable love the characters show for each other, I felt like I was reading a Lazarus long story. Which is very high praise! This is the first novel I've read by author Alan Black, but it won't be my last. I don't give very many five-star ratings but this one is well deserved, I'm sure it will come to be considered a classic of the sci-fi genre, it's that good.
Amazon review by last spartan on April 28, 2015
Titanium Texicans
Alan Black's work will suck you in!
I am not good at reviews, but this is the third work of Mr. Black's that I have read in three weeks because his writing captures my imagination. I like good space operas because they last longer, but Black's stand alone works are great because they leave me satisfied at the end and not disappointed that there isn't more to come.
Titanium Texicans is a page turner full of authentic dialogue with concepts greater than the satisfying amount of sci-fi technology woven into a well-written coming of age story. Take the time to read it, I certainly wasn't sorry that I did.
Goodreads review by Michael A Cox on June 13, 2015
Empty Space
Funny, disturbing, and poignant.
Funny, disturbing, and poignant....not how I would usually describe a SF space novel. This book, while well written SF has a lot to say about social class, society, humanity, and the human condition. Our protagonist is almost an anti-hero as he's someone you root for throughout the novel, even though he's a serial killer at heart.
This is a great book, and I didn't want to put it down but it has thought provoking components throughout the novel and intertwined with action, adventure, and technology.
Amazon review by Fred on March 20, 2015
Chewing Rocks
Chastity Snowden Whyte only has a small chip on her shoulder. No problem. She’s an asteroid miner and works alone. But author Alan Black knows that comfortable characters don’t make for good reading. From page one, he piles problem after problem on Sno, keeping the reader turning pages to find out what happens next. Chewing Rocks is engaging science fiction and a fun read.
Goodreads review by Paul Bussard on July 06, 2014
Steel Walls and Dirt Drops
Military sci-fi ground pounder action in space – so cool!
A long time reader of military science fiction, I found this book to stand with the best like David Drake’s Hammer’s Slammers and Redline and anything by Dietmar Wehr. I hate spoilers in reviews so am in a turmoil because I very much want to shout out the so cool surprise ending – but I won’t.
I thoroughly enjoyed how the author builds the story putting the hero in situation after situation that challenges her abilities causing her to grow and develop. Even more, she is a commander we can all like. She is smart, savvy, honest with herself, deals well with her people, has self-doubt where it makes sense to, and not automatically so beautiful she would be completely unbelievable. I even like her better than David Webber's Honor Harrington because she feels more real.
The author does not take the easy, predictable route to the good guys always doing the exact right thing. There are plenty of good guys doing the wrong things – sometimes for the right reasons, but still wrong. There are other good guys mostly doing the right things, but then have lapses of judgment. Sound like what a real commander might face in a tight situation? It all rang true to me. So not only are there good human insights (in outer space – people are still people after all) there is also a lot of quick well-paced exciting action with a great military elite.
The science is believable and just the right amount to support the deep space situation and keep the story moving without being overwhelming. There a few twists I absolutely didn’t see coming – I love that in a book.
Amazon Review by Sandy on September 28, 2014
The Friendship Stones
Alan Black hits a home run with his book, The Friendship Stones. Its poignant story set in the Ozark Mountains in the early 20th century, brings to mind the life and stories my father lived while growing up in the southern North Carolina mountains. It is a life that today most of us do not know as we are accustomed to many luxuries and technology. Mr. Black brings an appreciation of what it means to cherish every little thing in life while appreciating the beauty of the world about us. It is set in a time of simplicity and hard work, and its main character, LillieBeth, accepts this with humility and determination to follow the lessons she has learned in life, both at church and from her family. Even in this simpler time, the world is flawed and the antagonists come in different characters. The suspense and tension they bring keeps the reader on edge and turning pages.
I highly recommend this excellent book and suggest all readers should continue reading the books of The Ozark Mountain Series.
Goodreads review by Nancy Livingstone on Jan 26, 2015
The Granite Heart
Heartwarming Historical Fiction
Alan Black takes us back to the 1920’s, to the Ozark Mountains, and back into the world of twelve year old LillieBeth Hazkit, who tries to live by the teachings of God, but finds life can sometimes be confusing, brutal and too unforgiving to always accept that God has a plan for all contingencies. Her strange hermit-like friend has been killed, her teacher has lost her job through no fault of her own and the impoverished mountain town becomes a colder and less friendly place for someone with a heart as big as LillieBeth’s. The archaic and small-minded double standards set her teeth on edge and she is determined to stand strong and be heard, no matter what. The men who murdered her friend and raped her teacher have been captured, but enroute to the county seat they escape and kill one man while injuring her father. To LillieBeth, justice must be done, plain and simple and she and her former teacher, Susanne Harbowe set out on an impossible mission to hunt down and capture these monsters.
Told from Susanne’s point of view, LillieBeth’s story takes on a new depth as she makes her mark on the hearts and minds of those who know her. Alan Black has created a warm and inviting tale that places the reader back in time, to a place so remote, it’s almost as if the rest of the world does not exist. Simple joys, complicated pain and a loss of childhood innocence shake LillieBeth’s world and harden her heart, while forcing her into the world of adults.
Alan Black creates a world filled with history, rich in detail and well-developed characters that worm their way into your heart and mind. That I could feel LillieBeth’s feelings and see what she saw is the mark of an amazing author who deserves to be read.
Amazon review by Dii (TOP 500 REVIEWER) on August 22, 2014
The Heaviest Rock
Strength of character and a easy manner to it that catches you and keeps you ...
This series is one of the most enjoyable ones I have read. It has heart, action, humor, strength of character and a easy manner to it that catches you and keeps you right there through till the end. Can't wait for the next one 'wiggles on' for those of you who don't k
now what this means I guess you will just have to get the book and find out for yourself, big hint it is so worth it !!!
Amazon review by Tammie on March 2, 2015
The Inconvenient Pebble
Always great
The author has developed a great character who we as readers want to follow. I'm not into the religious part but it really makes the main character who she is and what she does. I hope the author has a lot more of this story for us to read.
Amazon review by Dave R. on July 4, 2015
Chasing Harpo
Loved this book!
Alan knows how to write to engage the reader. Chasing Harpo had me laughing in some parts and on the edge of my seat in others. He has obviously researched the mannerisms of Orangutans and is able to describe the apes point of view with ease. The characters are believable and the writing style flows well. Great read.
Goodreads review by Amanda Mackey on February 08, 2014
A Cold Winter
What a horrible day.
In a bleak, one-woman show, Alan Black takes us through the hardships of surviving a cold, hard winter. You could almost freeze reading every page...and that's not even mentioning the wolves.
I hope tomorrow's a better day for Libby.
Amazon review by Daryl Russ on December 7, 2014
How To Start, Write, and Finish Your First Novel
Are You Just Itching to Write a Novel?
Have you ever read a book and thought, “I didn’t see THAT coming,” or “Thank goodness I dragged myself through the first 30% because the last 70% was fantastic!” ??????? Or, how about, “I could write better than that!” or “I wish I had the guts to do what these people have done…” ????????? Truth, I would be clueless where to start, I see myself as having a mazillion ideas and be running willy-nilly across the ages, no patience, no real plan, and worse, no organization…totally me.