Moto settled onto the sand as Gonzales staggered to the doorway with his hands rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Any sign of her?"
"Nothing. Her suit is ready, but she's not returned. I think god intends to keep her," Gonzales said. "You didn't bring Waleski back?"
"We need her for defense. Like it or not, we'll need everyone, including you, if the Krons attack in force."
"But what about Coffin?"
"Leave food and water for her. We'll check for her every other day until we're certain that she's gone."
"But she's one of us!"
"I know that. We can't leave the kingdoms in peril just for her."
"We can't leave our island unprotected, either."
"Why not?" Moto asked.
"Because this is the only place where we can have our suits repaired."
Moto stared at Gonzales as understanding came to him with an immediacy that couldn't be rejected. "You're right. We do have to defend this island now. We don't dare let the Krons prevent us from reaching this castle. If it falls, then sooner or later, we'll fall. When that happens, the Krons will win."
Gonzales nodded. "That's what I concluded. God talked to me, again. I don't know what he's saying, but I can show you."
"I'd like to see what you found."
Moto followed Gonzales inside the castle. He watched as Gonzales touched one wall where colored lights created a pattern. With one touch the lights changed to portray a white rectangle. As god spoke, images formed and moved on the rectangle to form a pattern.
"Standard United Earth Reconnaissance Force structure dictates that the unit, formed of thirty personnel and officers, operate with two active teams and one headquarters team headed by the force leader in standby reserve. Each active team can work as a single unit or as two units when circumstances dictate by dividing along section lines under the sergeant and corporal who lead the unit."
"Touch that pattern," Gonzales said.
Moto reached out to touch one image on the rectangle.
"B Team is led by Sergeant Klaus and Corporal Coffin."
"Touch another," Gonzales said.
"A Team is led by Sergeant Waleski and Corporal Nigel."
"I recognize the names, but nothing more," Moto said.
"This is similar to something that Coffin once showed me," Gonzales said.
Moto traced his finger to the third box.
"Headquarters Team is led by First Lieutenant Gonzales and Corporal Smith. Private Moto is a member of this team."
"It didn't say that before," Gonzales exclaimed.
"It didn't?" Moto asked.
"No. This time, it said more than I heard before."
"For now, you'll have to remain here. I will send Sir Private Sabbo to record what you hear, if you can maintain god's confidence in you."
"You think this shows I have his confidence?"
"What else could it be?" Moto asked.
"Couldn't god be punishing me?"
"I don't see why. I'll have Sabbo bring out more food and water for you both. That should give me a day or two to replan our defenses. I better take back Coffin's suit."
"No! If she's alive, she'll need it for her return." Gonzales stepped in front of Moto to block him from reaching the suit.
"It goes back. We can't take the chance that a Kron might sneak up while you're asleep and steal it. We know that one of them once made a suit work. God might let them succeed again just to punish us for not protecting the suit properly."
Gonzales' face drooped knowing that Moto was right. He nodded at last and stood aside. Moto moved on.
"If she returns while Sabbo is with you, then you can send him back for her suit while you remain here to defend her. If not, then it won't matter to her."
Chapter 28
A hand reached into the homer nest to retrieve the newest arrival. After a moment, the homer was released back to the nest while the hand opened the rolled leaf to read. Basoc turned to one of his men.
"He's finally agreed to our terms. Travel to the coast to meet with the next boat. Tell King Xidon that he should instruct our forces to hold off their attacks until they see our signal."
The man turned and left the room. Moments later, the sound of his mount could be heard as he galloped away.
Basoc glanced about at the men he still commanded. Though few, they were steadfast and would fight on order. However, he had better use than to send them against a foe that currently outnumbered them. There were other ways to deal with the Knights of the Star. Basoc knew that, because he understood their operations.
"Gather round. I have a mission for each of you. The fool of Verata might not fully succeed. If not, then it will remain up to us to sow the seeds of their destruction."
Chapter 29
"I hope you can hear me, Gonzales. I don't see the island anywhere." Sabbo's voice carried some concern within its tones.
"Du…uh, Sir Private Sabbo! I can hear you," Gonzales replied. He stepped out of the castle onto the sand to gaze about.
"Can you see me at all?"
"Not by sight, but I see your dot on my directioner." Gonzales glanced about for a moment before he remembered that there was an arrow in his god vision that always pointed north. He studied the display. "You're south of the island. Turn to your shield side and resume travel. You're not too far from the island."
"Thank you, Sir Lieutenant Gonzales."
"Just call me Gonzales. It's a whole lot easier."
"You should call me Sabbo. Left...hover...forward. Am I heading in the correct direction?"
Gonzales studied the god vision for a moment. "You're almost at the correct angle. You'll approach close enough to see the island soon and make your own adjustments. I'll be watching for you. Can you see any Krons on the water?"
"Not around here. Their ships ply our waters only so long as a knight isn't present. They retreat upon spotting one of us. I do believe they're more afraid of us than ever. I see the island now. Five left."
"You're in sight now. How much supplies did you bring?"
"As much as I could carry. I do appear a bit like a pack animal, do I not?"
"Can you land with all those?"
"I'll have to. These were all lashed to me so I wouldn't have to worry about losing any. I'll be down shortly. Has anything more happened?"
"Not yet. I've touched every wall I can reach inside to see if there are any more hidden messages from god. Only the one has appeared. There won't be much for you to record," Gonzales answered.
"What of Sir Corporal Coffin?"
"Not even a glimpse of her. I wish I held better news than that."
"Land," Sabbo ordered. Gonzales walked over to greet Sabbo personally. "Moto decided that more must be done to protect our island. He spoke with the other knights before deciding that he would approach the Grand King and ask for stone workers and stone to build a protective wall for us," Sabbo said. "Reach around back and untie the netting. I can't seem to reach it myself."
Gonzales nodded. "Good to see you again. I'll get the netting loose."
"We make a good team. I hope we work together often."
"All right, I'm about to slip the knot free. Ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be. Do it," Sabbo replied.
Gonzales slipped the knot loose and barely caught some of the load from falling. He eased what came loose down to the sand in case anything was breakable.
"I'm glad you didn't let that fall. Our fresh water and spirits are in that pack."
"Spirits?"
"Just enough to stave off any chill out here. Nothing like the amount that Royal consumes daily. It's not the drink that's evil. It's the lack of moderation," Sabbo said.
"So, we'll have a wall to protect the doorway?"
"More than that. If Grand King Vimma and the Council of Kings agrees, we'll have a wall built around the entire island so that enemy boats cannot land."
Sabbo removed the rest of his telling load. His knees were about to buckle when he sighed wit
h relief at placing the burden down upon the sand.
"We best get this inside. We might have a storm tonight. There are signs in the sky," Gonzales said.
"Oh, magnificent. I arrive just in time for a storm. How high does the water rise?" Sabbo asked.
"During a storm? I don't know. If conditions get bad, we'll fly back to the coast," Gonzales answered.
"It would have to be bad for you to prefer flying." Gonzales smiled. "I need to write down your discovery before any storm arrives. If it's bad enough, the castle might not be here when we return," Sabbo said.
"If it's not, then why bother?"
Sabbo cocked his head at Gonzales. "You could be right. However, we need to know everything that might help us later. Even if we lose Castle Staten Island, we'll still have the suits."
Gonzales lifted one pack and carried it into the castle. Sabbo followed him with another. "You should have seen me when I loaded everything."
"You loaded?" Gonzales asked.
"Well, when the proctors placed everything on me. I just hovered a step above the ground. I couldn't even tell that I was carrying everything until I landed."
Gonzales preceded Sabbo back outside to retrieve the last packs. He was careful to salvage the ropes and netting used to secure the packs to Sabbo.
"I hope you don't plan on us tying all those packs to ourselves if we have to leave because of the storm," Sabbo said.
"I was thinking of securing the packs inside the castle before we leave. While we're gone, they won't float away should the water come in."
"Ah, good idea. We might not have to carry back more supplies when we return. Unless you're hungry or thirsty, we should get to the discovery."
Gonzales walked over to one wall. "It was here that I chose to sit down. I touched the wall and that caused it to display this tapestry of light."
"An interesting name you've given it. I shall use that in the description I record."
Gonzales smiled weakly as he touched it. The colorful lights that moved about randomly ceased. In their place was a rectangle. The voice Gonzales heard before began its lecture. Sabbo hurried to write down everything phonetically that he could.
"Make it start again. Can you do that?"
"I don't know how to make it start over until the colored lights return. I can make it stop by touching one of the patterns."
"No, don't. We'll do this bit by bit in the proper order. I'd rather not miss anything."
***
"Hungry?" Gonzales asked.
Sabbo nodded. He'd written on ten leaves, though it took four restarts in order to get that far along the lecture. He glanced up inside his helmet for a moment. At the same time, he tapped his marker on a leaf.
"Those numbers have…"
"Numbers?" Gonzales asked.
"Oh, my god, those are numbers! That's why they repeat in that manner," Sabbo exclaimed.
"What are you talking about?" Gonzales asked.
"I just discovered that some of the god vision writings are numbers. They correspond to our own numbers. We number things based upon our fingers. God must have given the original knights the same numbering system."
"Then you mean that our numbers are like what god uses?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Some of their numbers make sense to me now. One looks like a stick or a single finger held up. That means the next number that follows it has to be a two."
If those are numbers, what are they for?" Gonzales asked.
Sabbo stared inside his helmet. He mouthed the numbers in his own language through several repetitions, before he exclaimed, "It's for telling time!"
"Why would god need to know the…"
"Not for god, but for his knights. They might need to know the time when they're not near a town or castle. That's why those numbers are identical in all of our god visions."
"You're certain?" Gonzales asked.
"No, but I think I can prove it if need be. I'll bring this up with Sir Private Moto when we return. We have cause to celebrate. I've written down most of what god says when you touch the wall…"
"Storm warning. Activating defensive shield."
"God?" Gonzales exclaimed.
Sabbo wrote furiously upon another leaf to catch the latest words of god. He then glanced around. "I don't see anything different. Any idea what that was about?"
"Maybe god was telling us something about the time."
"Possibly. Would you mind bringing out the food and drink while I put these in the correct order?"
Gonzales nodded. A moment later he rummaged through the packs to find what the proctors had provided for them. Rolled hard meat was one favorite among the knights. For one thing, it could be handled easily while hovering. For another, it cooked up well when sliced and placed in stews and soups. He selected two and withdrew two small water flasks. With those in hand he walked back only to pause before reaching Sabbo's side. He gazed outside in amazement.
"You best come over here and look outside."
"Do we have Krons to fight?"
"Worse. The storm is here already."
Sabbo stood up slowly, favoring his legs to stretch out any kinks. He walked over to stand beside Gonzales and stare at the storm. "You didn't say that it was already this bad."
"That's why I wanted you to come over here. Do you feel any wind?"
Sabbo licked the back of his hand and held it out toward the jagged doorway. He shook his head as lightning flashed out at sea. The momentary light was enough to illuminate high waves hitting the opposite side of the island. Stepping through the doorway, he managed only a few steps before he contacted an invisible wall.
"Outside activity is not appropriate unless emergency conditions exist. Consult Lieutenant Gonzales for permission to pass."
"God spoke your name," Sabbo muttered, as he stepped back a pace.
"I hope I haven't offended god," Gonzales replied.
"I don't believe you have."
"I better meditate. Here, you go ahead and eat. I should fast while I meditate."
Sabbo fumbled to avoid dropping the food and drink that Gonzales thrust upon him. "Can you remember what god said? I need to write it down."
Gonzales shook his head as he returned to the one room inside the castle. Sabbo stared out at the storm for a moment before deciding that maybe god would repeat the message if he stepped forward once more.
"Outside activity is not appropriate unless emergency conditions exist. Consult Lieutenant Gonzales for permission to pass."
Sabbo mouthed the syllables that he didn't understand, as he made his way back inside to write those down. He had stepped back one pace in time to view a bolt of lightning strike and briefly illuminate the shield. Despite the nearness, he didn't have to shield his eyes. When he reached his writing equipment, he discovered that he still had their meals in his hands. He glanced around before deciding that it wouldn't matter if he placed those on the shelf where one of the suits used to be stored.
"Would you mind starting the tapestry of light once more? God isn't mad at you. He spoke your name even after you came in to meditate," Sabbo said.
"Are you certain?" Gonzales asked, as he glanced up at Sabbo.
"I'm certain. Isn't god protecting us from the storm? Would it make sense to do a favor while angry?"
Gonzales' eyebrows hunched down as he gave thought to the conflict that Sabbo described. When he lifted his eyebrows, his face was less somber. "I hadn't thought of that."
"For all you know, god was telling me to step beside you so I wouldn't be hurt."
"You're right. We don't know what he said, and you were the one who found the wall. Maybe you should be meditating."
"I'll meditate later. For now, eat something and assist me with what I need."
Gonzales lifted one hand to reach the wall. As he contacted it and approached the tapestry of light, new images appeared along the bottom. Upon seeing those, Gonzales halted.
"Oh, my god, he shows us something new."
&n
bsp; "Please, no. I haven't finished the other yet. Why did you have to find something new?"
"I don't know why something new appeared."
Sabbo studied the images, before drawing likenesses upon yet another leaf. "At this rate, I'll need another pack of these and more markers. My tongue will be black from all this writing."
Gonzales touched one of the images. A new image unfolded from the one he touched. As one finger traced down the image, a color bar moved with it. He turned toward Sabbo only to say nothing despite his open mouth.
"I see it. I'm not sure what it means. Maybe you shouldn't touch it for now," Sabbo said.
Gonzales lifted his finger.
"Ride of the Valkyries selected," the god voice announced.
The image disappeared as a symphony of sound filled the room. The two men looked around for the source only to discover that it came from the same locations where the god voice emanated.
"Whatever it is, it goes well with the storm outside," Sabbo said moments later.
Chapter 30
Coffin opened her eyes. Strange clear ropes led to blocks that covered her wrists. Though she tried, she was unable to withdraw her hand or the stump of her other arm. As she studied the ropes, she realized that something liquid moved within them. She tried to lean forward for a better look only to feel herself move down and backwards. It wasn't much, but it was enough to frighten her that she was about to fall. She lifted her head once more to stare at another clear rope that led to one arm. Something held the rope against her. She could see dried blood on the fabric that covered the end of the rope.
"Where's Sir Lieutenant Gonzales or Sir Sergeant Waleski?" She waited a minute, before demanding, "I want to know what's happening!"
In response, music filled the room with soft sounds meant to soothe someone in recovery. Despite her unfamiliarity with the symphonic sounds, she found herself interested in what was taking place as she glanced about the room. She soon drifted back to sleep, though the real cause was an increase in the drugs meant to incapacitate her. She wasn't awake to hear the next computer message.
"Medical procedure complete on left hand. Missing fingers restored through adult stem cell stimulation. Transferring unused solar power back to reserve."
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