the Runner

by Peter Ponzo

CHAPTER 4

  Attack

  Kriss was furious.

  "Gone! They're gone! Now they'll warn the Dome! We cannot wait! We must attack immediately! We have planned this for months! We all know what to do! We start at once!" He shouted to the crowd of men gathered in the clearing, littered with the debris of wrecked huts and fallen trees.

  The men hesitated. One man whispered to another. "Where is the toothless one?" They all looked about. Kriss sensed their lack of enthusiasm. It had always been Grid who commanded their respect; now Grid was gone. Kriss stood on a fallen log and shouted once again.

  "Men! Today we are animals, grovelling for a few scraps of food from this miserable jungle, gathering firewood like children, shivering in our beds, criminals, banished from the Dome - a Dome which our forefathers built! Today we are animals. Tomorrow we can be kings! "

  There were a few quiet murmurs of agreement and many grunts of discontent. Kriss continued.

  "Tomorrow you will eat what you wish - as often as you wish - whatever you wish! No more pigs burned on a wood fire. No more berries covered in insects. Tomorrow you will have greenstew, sauces and tastecubes, coffee powder and mock-chicken, mountains of salad! Tomorrow you will live in a computer controlled environment, no longer in mud shacks. Tomorrow you will hear the sound of music, no longer the shriek of these cruel winds. Tomorrow you will taste the sweetness of a gentle life, free of care."

  A few murmurs of agreement.

  "Tomorrow belongs to you! You will have a hundred girls -"

  There was a shout from the crowd. They raised their spears and began to chant. "Girls! Girls!"

  Kriss smiled. He must remember this speech. It will go into the history books of the NewDome.

  ______________________________________________________

  It was dark when the android had finished his check of the control systems. The Home planet did not have a moon. When the last sun had sunk beyond the Dolom Mountains there was only the dim glow from the milky way and the shafts of light from the few ports in the Dome to illuminate the Barrens. TOM walked to his position by the port facing the Dome and stood stiffly. He would stand there until morning when the control system check would begin again. He would have time to contemplate the trajectory of the missing stars, perhaps to extrapolate, to determine the next star in the sequence. The path of the star-eater seemed erratic, yet it must succumb to mathematical analysis. He would think on that problem until morning.

  "TOM? Have you gone inoperative?" asked LIZ.

  "Of course not," answered TOM.

  "You may be interested in the fact that transworld vessel K-39 has left its pad," said the shipcomp.

  "That is quite impossible," said TOM quietly. "I am certain that no departures were scheduled."

  "Shall we check with DOC?" asked LIZ.

  "If you wish - but I looked at the departure schedule just this afternoon."

  Lights flickered on the command console and a booming voice responded:

  WE ARE AT YOUR SERVICE, LIZ

  TOM grunted.

  LIZ asked, "DOC, was K-39 scheduled to depart transworld this evening?"

  NO IT WAS NOT

  "But the ship has ... oh my, now K-33 has also left its pad," said LIZ.

  THAT IS QUITE IMPOSSIBLE

  "You have been wrong before, DOC," said TOM quietly. "That storm over Dolom Mountains last night. You predicted a 0.4% probability -"

  THE LAWS OF PROBABILITY ARE IMPRECISE MY DEAR ANDROID.

  THERE IS A FINITE, NONZERO PROBABILITY THAT ANY GIVEN

  PROBABILISTIC PREDICTION WILL BE INVALID

  "Mumbo jumbo," muttered the android, too quietly to be heard. Then, more loudly, "- and the missing stars. Can you explain that?"

  "Would you two stop that! K-45 has now left its pad!" said LIZ.

  TOM looked out the port. Three huge mining ships hovered in the air beyond the Dome, ports glowing, red landing lights flashing. He ran to the command console and punched a comtab. A tired voice answered.

  "TOM? What is it? Do you know what time -"

  "Master Kevn. Three transworld vessels have left their pads. There have been no sanctioned departures," said TOM.

  "TOM!" said LIZ. "Someone is attempting to enter this vessel!"

  There were scraping sounds coming from beneath the ship. TOM punched several comtabs and the huge mining ship began to hum, the hum increasing to a deafening roar. DOC's voice boomed:

  ANDROID! RELEASE CONTROL OF K-47!

  YOU DO NOT HAVE SANCTION -

  "DOC! Please be quiet! Let TOM do what he must!" shouted LIZ.

  The three men fell from the refuelling tube which hung from the belly of the huge vessel and died instantly, and K-47 rose quickly to thirty meters above the ground.

  "TOM! What's happening!" shouted Kevn from the phonelink.

  "Master Kevn, we are of the opinion that unauthorized departures of K-33, K-39 and K-45 have taken place," said TOM.

  "... and TOM is preventing a similar abduction of K-47," said LIZ.

  A blinding flash of light leapt from the turret on K-33. A large triangular section of the Dome fell away. A second flash from K-45 and the observation tower crumbled and fell into pieces, sliding down the curved sides of the Dome.

  Another flash, this time from K-47, and the turret on K-33 vaporized.

  "TOM, that was wonderful!" shouted LIZ.

  Then a booming voice from the console:

  WELL DONE ANDROID ... TOM

  DOC began to lower the canopy over the Dome. Designed to protect the Dome from severe storms it was little protection against the weapons of the transworld vessels, but it did cover the glowing ports. In a minute the Dome was dark. All three vessels rose, hovered for a moment then moved in the direction of the Dolom Mountains. All except K-45. It remained directly above the Dome.

  THIS IS A MESSAGE FROM PROFESSOR KRISS

  The booming voice filled the command room of K-47. It also filled every corner of the Dome. The citizens who had been scurrying for shelter in the vaults beneath the malls stopped, listened. Lori sat on her cot, listening. Kevn was halfway down the ramp which led to Gravic's rooms; he stopped and listened. Gravic had slid out of bed, confused at the noise, the shattering noise. It was now quiet and he listened to the voice of the Dome Omniscient Computer carrying Kriss' message.

  THIS IS KRISS.

  I HAVE CONTROL OF ALL THE TRANSWORLD VESSELS.

  I CAN EASILY DESTROY THE DOME AND ALL THE CITIZENS THEREIN.

  YOU HAVE SEEN A SAMPLE OF THAT TONIGHT.

  BUT THAT IS NOT MY WISH.

  I ASK ONLY WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE.

  ALL CURRENT OFFICIALS SHALL GATHER ON THE CEREMONIAL DECK

  AT ONE HOUR BEFORE HIGHSUNS.

  AT HIGHSUNS TOMORROW YOU WILL INVEST ME AS FIRST CITIZEN.

  IF THIS REQUEST IS NOT GRANTED THEN

  THE DOME WILL BE ANNIHILATED

  Kriss smiled at the command console within K-45 and closed the comlink. Tomorrow he would vaporize Dome officialdom as they stood on the ceremonial deck.

  ______________________________________________________

  Gry and Runr were halfway across the Barrens when they saw the night sky light up over the Dome.

  "We're too late," cried Gry. "Kriss has reached the Dome. He has the mining ships. He can ... uh, destroy the Dome, easily. Lori, my poor sweet Lori!"

  They continued running. Gry was very tired; Runr stopped frequently so he could catch up. The flaring lights ceased over the Dome and they could hear the roar of the ships approaching. "Runr! Get down! Hide behind those rocks!"

  Two great ships floated by, some fifty meters above them, heading for the mountains. In the distance they could see a third ship, ports glowing, red lights flashing, searchbeams scanning, sweeping the ground below. They were crouching in the shadow of a large rock when the rock burst into light. They didn't move. When the light had passed they continued their run
to the Dome.

  Gry was very tired; he fell often and each time Runr helped him to his feet. While he was lying exhausted on the cool ground he saw the fourth vessel. It came slowly across the plains. They were in the open. There was no place to hide. Runr and Gry lay quietly and motionless on the ground, hoping not to be seen. It was dark; it was possible that the great ship would pass. Suddenly they were flooded in the blinding light of a searchbeam. The vessel dropped abruptly to ten meters and a belly door opened. A refuelling tube fell out and they heard a voice from the ship:

  "Master Gry ... climb onto the tube. We will lift you both into the ship."

  "Great Mother Earth!" cried Gry. "It's TOM!"

  They clambered into the end of the tube and held tightly to its corrugated sides. The tube rose slowly into the vessel, the fuelbay doors opened and the android greeted them.

  "Great Mother Earth?" said TOM quizzically. "The ravages of time and neglect have reduced planet Earth to a swamp, polluted and unfit for human habitation. Why then do you call it -"

  "TOM! Get us back to the Dome! Quickly! Please!"

  The android promptly left the fuelbay and Gry could feel the great ship accelerate. He and the boy quickly ran to the command room.

  "Welcome, master Gry," said LIZ. "Welcome, master Runr."

  Runr placed his hands firmly on the console and LIZ responded with a flurry of blue lights. The boy smiled. They were friends.

  When they reached the landing pad, Kevn, Sal and Gravic were waiting. The belly doors opened, the stairway unfolded and the trio climbed into K-47 and went immediately to the command room. Gravic collapsed wearily into a corner seat. Gry left the console chair and Kevn sat down, hands poised above the array of comtabs. Then he spun about in the chair.

  "I'm not sure it's a good idea to follow them into the mountains," he said.

  There was silence, then TOM spoke. "They have three vessels, each armed with identical weapons. We cannot hope to win a battle against three K-class vessels. Therefore we must avoid such a battle."

  A voice boomed from the console:

  WE AGREE WITH THE ANALYSIS

  "What do you suggest, TOM?" asked Sal.

  "We have two advantages over the opposing vessels," said TOM. He paused and all waited for him to continue. TOM stood slightly taller and said, "DOC and Runr."

  They all looked at each other then again at the android. TOM continued.

  "All K-class vessels are equipped with automatons, and indeed, androids. They are necessary to the proper functioning of the ship control systems. However only K-47 has access to DOC, the most sophisticated automaton on this planet. That is to our advantage. Further, only K-47 has access to an individual, Runr, who can not only communicate with, but also repair ... and destroy ... automatons."

  WE AGREE WITH THE ANALYSIS AND ...

  Blue lights flashed violently on the console and DOC didn't continue.

  Gravic rose and walked to the android, placing his hand on TOM's shoulder. "You seem to see more clearly what is to be done, TOM. What do you suggest?"

  "DOC will put through a comlink to the other vessels. The androids in the other vessels, unless they have been destroyed, will respond - presumably under the watchful eyes of the human inhabitants. DOC will ask for direct communication with each shipcomp. It is necessary that all three shipcomps be in contact simultaneously since they will be destroyed simultaneously. DOC can easily handle that."

  Blue lights flashed on the console. Runr smiled.

  "Then DOC will place Runr on the comlink. Runr will invade the shipcomp phonarite and destroy them."

  "But why would they agree to establishing a direct link to the shipcomps?" asked Kevn.

  "DOC will communicate directly with the androids," said TOM. "They will certainly agree to DOC's request. It must take place quickly, before the humans can intervene."

  Gravic turned to the black boy. "Runr, can you really destroy the computers?"

  "I don't know ... I might be able to break some crystals ... I don't know," said Runr.

  WE ARE READY boomed DOC.

  Kevn rose and offered Runr his seat. The boy refused, knelt with head buried in his chest, eyes closed and placed his hands firmly on the console. Blue lights winked, then went dark. They all gathered about the console and waited. No one spoke; no one breathed. Runr began to moan.

  WE ARE ATTEMPTING COMMUNICATION WITH THE ANDROIDS

  THE ANDROIDS ARE NOT PRESENT boomed DOC.

  TOM winced.

  WE WILL ATTEMPT DIRECT CONTACT WITH SHIPCOMP

  Blue lights flashed again then went dark. Runr rocked his head.

  WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A COMLINK WITH ONE VESSEL ... TWO VESSELS.

  K-45 HAS REFUSED ACCESS.

  RUNR. YOU NOW HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO TWO SHIP COMPUTERS

  The boy seemed almost too small, huddled by the console. Gry crouched by his side. "Go to it Runr," he said quietly. Runr moaned and swayed from side to side. There was a great roar from the direction of the mountains. TOM placed the scene on the televiewer. K-39 had fallen from the skies and crashed onto the Barrens in a cloud of rising dust. In another moment there was a giant fountain of flame. The transworld vessel was demolished. Gry sighed with relief.

  Kevn leaned forward and gazed at the televiewer. K-45 was rising, heading for the mountains. K-33 followed. Runr collapsed into Gry's arms.

  K-33 HAS CLOSED THE COMLINK.

  BOTH VESSELS NOW RETREAT

  "One down, two to go," said Sal.

  "I fear that my plan has failed, master Kevn," said TOM.

  "TOM, we have just eliminated one third of our enemies," said Kevn. "Your plan was a great success."

  "TOM has also destroyed the gunturret of K-33 ... back at the Dome," said LIZ with obvious pride. "K-45 alone is the primary threat."

  "Not so," said TOM. "K-class vessels have seven turrets. Each has sufficient weaponry -"

  "TOM," said Gravic, "let's get back to the Dome. Perhaps we have time to arrange for some defense - this vessel and - and -"

  "The replacement components for the laserguns and cannons are in the vault below the Research Lab," said Sal. "We can build cannons - if we have enough time."

  TOM watched them leave then sat by the console. The android looked weary - as weary as an android can look.

  ______________________________________________________

  "You fools!" shouted Kriss. "You incompetent fools! How could you give them access to your shipcomp! Now! Bring your ship to the far side of the jungle, next to Black Mountain! We will return and destroy the Dome ... tonight!"

  Both ships rose to fifty meters and slowly moved over the jungle in the direction of the large black peak, its crown covered in snow just touched by the rising suns.

  ______________________________________________________

  The old man saw them come. The mountain cat whined. He stood at the mouth of the cave and watched the huge ships descend into the large clearing at the base of his mountain. He watched until the roar of the ships had ceased. He saw the men exit. He saw several being beaten by one man. He saw others approach from the jungle. Soon they gathered and seemed to be engaged in animated conversation. The old man turned and walked into his cave. When he emerged he carried his grey staff. Slowly he walked down the gentle slope and headed for the Barrens.

  ______________________________________________________

  When Kriss had finished his harangue he reentered the vessel K-45 and made his way to the command room. He walked to the console and read the labels. He had never commanded a transworld vessel and he had no time to learn now. Perhaps he was a little hasty in beating his crew and sending them back to the camp. They, at least, had some knowledge of the control systems. He turned and stared at the android standing stiffly in the corner. He walked to its side and poked its left earlobe. The android swayed, straightened and blinked twice.

  "Android ... do what I say and you may liv
e to see another day. Do you know how to operate the weapons on this vessel?" The android nodded. "Good! Now sit at the console and take this ship to the Dome. The other ship will follow. When you get there you will fire all weapons simultaneously, continuously, at the Dome. The Dome must be destroyed. Do you understand?" The android nodded.

  The trees swayed as the ship engines screamed into life and K-45 rose vertically to thirty meters and turned slowly in the direction of the Dome. K-33 followed.

  ______________________________________________________

  Gry awoke with a start. He was home, in his room, and Lori slept by his side. He gently rubbed his sores, bandaged with such affection. It was surely a miracle that he had escaped the Dolom camp. He raised himself on his elbows and peered into the corner of the dimly lit room. Runr was sleeping.

  Kevn and Sal had insisted that he return to his room and console Lori. She would be worried and there was little for him to do at the Labs. They would work through the night to construct a lasercannon. If they succeeded - if there were sufficient time - it should be able to repulse the two transworld vessels. They would mount the cannon on the observation platform atop the Dome. The tower which normally housed the platform was destroyed so they would have a clear view of any approaching ships. TOM had been instructed to keep the mountains on the televiewer and warn of the first indication of the attack. They were quite sure that Kriss would not wait until highsuns the next day. He would attack at firstsuns.

  They were wrong.

  As the ships approached, the canopy began to descend over the hemispherical Dome, then stopped, entangled in the remains of the observation tower.

  CITIZENS! SEEK REFUGE IN THE VAULTS! came the booming voice.

  It rang throughout the Dome. People began to appear in the malls, half-dressed and frightened. The ramps and levitators which led to the vaults were jammed. The good citizens pushed and shouted, several children were trampled, the old and infirm were left in their rooms to fend for themselves. There was general chaos in the Dome. Even the militia, accustomed only to internal protests, sought refuge in the vaults.

  Gravic fell out of bed and ran to the window which looked out over the Barrens. It was still dark but he could see the glowing ports and flashing red lights of the approaching vessels, just a few meters off the ground, still several kilometers from the Dome, approaching swiftly. Had Kevn and Sal been able to construct a lasercannon? He looked at the clock on the wall. It had only been two hours! There had been too little time - the Dome was helpless!

  He was still staring at the approaching ships when the first lasergun flashed. There was a great burst of light and the ceiling collapsed. Gravic, the First Citizen, was the first casualty of the battle.

  ______________________________________________________

  At the sound of the blast Kevn stopped, the cannon fire-control computer still in his hand.

  "Too late, Sal! Let's get out of here!"

  "Just a few more minutes - we'll at least have this one weapon," shouted Sal.

  "Why didn't TOM warn us?" cried Kevn.

  A large crack slithered down the wall, quivered, then opened wide. The underground vault began to fill with dirt which spewed from the gaping crack. The lights dimmed, brightened, then went out. They both groped their way to the levitator.

  "No! We'll have to take the ramp!" shouted Kevn above the roar of falling debris. "We might be stuck in the levitator!"

  They pushed aside a fallen beam and started up the long ramp to the Labs above.

  ______________________________________________________

  "TOM! Are you inoperative!" shouted LIZ.

  The android was standing stiffly at the console, staring at the televiewer which clearly showed the approaching vessels. He stood motionless. The first lasergun had fired and a piece of the Dome had exploded.

  "TOM! I am going to bring up K-47!"

  The engines hummed, roared and the vessel hovered for a moment above the landing pad then rose quickly to ten meters and turned to face the approaching ships. TOM continued to stand before the console, motionless. LIZ brought all seven weapon turrets to bear; they fired simultaneously. One of the approaching vessels was hit. K-33 shuddered and dropped several meters, then steadied. Three turrets of the other vessel, K-45, turned and flashed and K-47 plummeted to the pad. The port lights went out.

  "Great work android!" shouted Kriss. "There will be a place for you in the NewDome! K-33? Are you still with me?"

  "Yes, chief ... we're still here ... but we ain't goin' nowhere. The forward controls are busted. We're stuck."

  "Just hold your position! Fire your laserguns at the Dome - anywhere at the Dome. I'll move in. Without K-47 they're finished! Victory is ours! This day will be go down in history!"

  Kriss barked at the android. It punched several comtabs and all seven turrets rotated to face the Dome. "Fire! Fire!" shouted Kriss. All seven guns flashed. Three large sections broke away from the Dome, slid to the ground and shattered.

  ______________________________________________________

  Kevn and Sal ran to the nearest Dome exitport.

  "DOC! Open the door!" The massive door heaved, groaned, then slid partway open. They squeezed through and began running to the landing pad. That's when they saw K-47 fall. They stopped.

  "What now?" shouted Sal. "That was our last hope!"

  They heard voices behind them. Gry, Lori and Runr were running from the exitport toward the stricken K-47. They all stood and watched, helplessly. Laserguns erupted from both hostile vessels, pieces of the Dome were crashing all around them. They continued to run to the fallen K-47.

  "Maybe it's still intact!" shouted Kevn.

  "Maybe some of the ... uh, guns will work!" shouted Gry.

  When they reached the landing pad, Gry scrambled up the twisted remains of the stairway which lead to the portal in the belly of the great ship. The ship was listing to one side. He could reach the portal but couldn't open it. Sal followed.

  "Looks like TOM is inoperative ... and shipcomp too!" shouted Sal.

  "Maybe not!" cried Gry. "Runr! Can you climb up here?"

  "Gry! No! Not the boy!" shouted Lori.

  Runr leapt onto the stairway, climbed to the top and clung to the railings.

  "Runr, can you contact LIZ? or TOM?" shouted Gry.

  Runr stared at Gry, then placed his hands on the doorway and closed his eyes. He held that stance for several moments.

  "Well? Runr?" whispered Gry.

  Runr opened his eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks.

  "LIZ is dead," he cried.

  "TOM? What about TOM?" shouted Sal.

  "I can't find TOM," whispered the boy tearfully, hanging his head.

  Laserguns flashed. A piece of the Dome hurtled through the air and landed near K-47.

  "Let's get out of here!" shouted Kevn from the ground below.

  "Gry! Runr! Come down at once!" cried Lori.

  They all gathered at the base of the stairway and anxiously looked about. There was nowhere to run. Flames erupted from the turrets on both enemy vessels. Pieces of the Dome were falling everywhere.

  Their world was coming apart.

  Kriss had won.

  Gry held Lori. The wind began to sweep across the plains from the direction of the Dolom Mountains and large columns of dust rose from the plains. There was an eerie glow from Black Mountain. Later, Gry was to recall that at that precise moment a miracle happened.

  The first jagged bolt of lightening rose from the darkness of the Barrens like a shining arch and they all watched in awe as it curved, upward, downward, toward the Dome. The ground shuddered as it hit K-33. The vessel vaporized; only a cloud of grey dust remained.

  Then K-45 turned and faced the Barrens, rotating its turrets so that all faced the dark plains. The ship rose higher and began to move toward the Dolom Mountains. Its cannons barked and several orange balls of fire exploded near t
he base of the mountains. It rose higher and hesitated for a moment. Then the second jagged arc of lightning rose and descended. One moment K-45 was there; then it was gone.

  Immediately, the wind ceased, the roar subsided, all was silent but for the hiss of burning metal from the shattered Dome. The small band huddling beneath the stricken K-47, began to walk out onto the plains, staring at the distant mountains. As they watched, the glow about Black Mountain dimmed and all was quiet.