by Lee Abrey
****
There was no useful news from intercepted messages, only the words of the horrified peoples of the Quadrants watching their worlds crumble. They were abandoned. Eventually the messages stopped coming and everyone gave up hope of help from the skies.
For the peoples of Galaia, dependent on Home and the Alpha and Beta Quadrant planets for food, equipment, and people, they now had to farm, fish, hunt, and put away their own stores for winter. They had to breed. There was no industry. They couldn’t stop to build new hearts for their machines.
A footnote explained they weren’t real hearts but power sources made of rare metals. I remembered a teacher telling me that the metals the Yusaf used for their machine hearts and starships were rare alloys, stronger than steel by more than we could imagine.
There was no time to find and mine the rare metals or minerals then smelt them, nor did they have the equipment to do so, or even the materials to build the equipment they needed to start these ventures. Then they would need to build the hearts, machines, and ships. They simply did not have the people to spare.
The Yusaf had to let go of technology, of expectations, and start again. As their settlements grew, at first they focused on basic versions of the most useful technologies and on farming, so they could feed, clothe and shelter their people.
In most cases the military took over, so there was no private enterprise. Everything was communal and the focus was on survival. They had the technologies to breed and rear animals very fast but it was dangerous to use those methods on humans.
However, the multiple birth technology was considered safe, although it destroyed the bodies of those women who went through it. It was made law. All the women had to have as many children as they could and they were treated so they would have twins, triplets, or more. Refusal was not permitted.
At the same time, the Yusaf were desperate to preserve their knowledge so stopped using the computers except to print out the words inside, hoping to conserve their remaining machine hearts.
That is how Galaia’s people survived until Dragon arrived. They weren’t starting from scratch. In order to know how to farm animals, crops, birds and water life they only needed to read and follow a diagram. It was the same with how to build the abattoirs and mills. How to make a solar panel, a water turbine or a water heater. How to build a printing press, and basic powered tools and devices. How to tan leather then work it, how to shear a sheep, spin the wool, weave it, how to do the same with cotton, flax and silk.
Then there were the smiths who worked in glass or metals, and the farriers, because the new world ran on the hooves of horses. The Yusaf began to manage the forests to stop the population cutting down every tree, and began a program of replanting that somehow survived, admittedly in fits and starts, down the millennia.
As the settlements grew more things were made, the population surged, and they tapped rubber. A decision was made to devote crops to the production of biodegradable plastics or bioplas, which they grew in vats much as we do today.
The Yusaf tried to inculcate a respect for knowledge in their children, hoping to arrest the slide into the primitive, which had gone from being something they admired - thinking a simpler life was good - to something they feared, as the lights of civilisation went out across the Quadrants.
Even the word ‘civilisation’, long a euphemism for a negative experience imposed by brutal colonial powers or used by bigots to denigrate those with different skins and cultures, began to enjoy a resurgence in unprejudiced and non-ironic use.
As they struggled to survive and keep their standard of living above simple subsistence, the problems multiplied. Soon enough they were making weapons to use against each other.
Even as they went hungry, people argued over unimportant matters, one bloody war in particular being started between two brothers over a slice of birthday cake. Aside from stupid squabbling there were always some who would steal rather than work. Then there were those who simply could not agree and would not give an inch.
Eventually the Yusaf split into warring tribes and scattered around the world. They were lucky that enough of them survived to keep the planet inhabited, but it should be noted, once the Great Silence began, despite the wars and enmities, the one constant in the history was the trading of women as bloodstock.
Even between enemy states women moved with ease, providing they were slaves for breeding purposes. Kingdoms that prided themselves on maintaining the trappings of civilisation, like coin, taxes and laws, still allowed any woman to be sold.
Within a few hundred years the continent of Pangea was riven with political boundaries. There were the Leas Kingdoms in the south, Sriama in the north, (then several separate kingdoms), and descendants of the original settlers held the centre, the Old Kingdoms, as they had since the beginning.
Dragon came in 1918 A.E., around seventeen centuries after the Great Silence began, when the starship Delta Queen arrived at Galaia. The Dragon shuttles landed at Peterhaven in Sendren, on top of the Greened Citadel hill.
It was noted the ship was called that because Dragon was originally from the Delta Quadrant, also that there was a shuttle in the collection of the King of Highcliff.
From their maps Dragon recognised the Greened Citadel as an old landing site. Peterhaven was once a spaceport, the capital of the world. Although Malion and many other places had landing sites for skyships, Peterhaven was the only one where the shuttles took you up to the starships.
There was thunder and lightning and clouds suddenly appeared in a clear blue sky. Through it all came two silver shuttles, and the clouds boiled as a warm rain began to fall. The Twelfth Oliver went out to meet them. Some people thought he was crazy, that the newcomers meant them harm.
The Yusaf were very afraid when Dragon came from the stars. People had forgotten that starships existed. Over the years, unable to replace the worn-out, they’d lost much of their technology, until many thought the stories of their arrival from other planets were just that, stories.
Dragon were both beautiful and strange, and the Yusaf were awed. Were they gods come to walk upon the World? Their language was familiar but the centuries had changed the meanings of some words. Accents had melded, blended and created something quite different. Though many seemed obviously human, some of the new tribe appeared as winged mythical beasts.
To King Oliver’s surprise he understood most of what they said, even the ones with wings, and they could understand him. Communication wasn’t hard providing everyone talked slowly. To his good fortune, as thanks to the mines in the south of the kingdom Oliver was a man rich in gold, the newcomers were soldiers for hire. The Quadrants’ best.
For nearly two thousand years, since not long after the Great Silence began, they had travelled in their little starship. It carried many thousands of the tribe but was small compared to the old Home starships. Those carried entire cities in their bellies.
****
I became distracted by how I ‘saw’ Cree. It was like looking into a prism, I decided. Wherever he was wasn’t quite where I was, but we could see each other through a glass-like plane.
“Cree, are you human or Dragon?” He smiled.
Questions like that are hard to answer, maybe I was, once. I frowned, wondering how to phrase questions he would answer clearly. Besides, I was pretty sure he was Dragon.
“Do you know how Dragon was made? And why?”
Well, they were made from humans. There is more to them than you see. They have other parts. He tapped his temple. It’s a very old part of humans, where there were bits of leftover animals, birds and reptiles that we used to be, tweaked a little. Instead of only having the option for human skin, a man might have thicker reptile skin, eyes that could see in the dark with stronger bones and muscles. And wings. A soldier with his, or her, own armour and weapons built in.
“We were dragons once?”
We were reptiles, he said, way back, hundreds of millions of years back. You wouldn’t think it
to look at us, but there’s the memory deep in the code, and if you know which markers to tweak you can make any creature your heart desires. If you know the code.
“Aye,” I said, understanding suddenly, “it’s genetics. The Yusaf and the Dragon knew how to do it, more than trying to find a healthy partner who isn’t related or mad to breed with, but we don’t know how to do the deep-inside genetics. Not any more.” He nodded.
We forgot, like we forget that Dragon come in people-shape and dragon-shape. And some of them can move between. Everyone was very surprised when some Dragon began to move between one species and the other. Shape-changing was unexpected. It did not fit the theory. He waved his pipe. Of course, it fitted myth, as it’s a common human fairytale that there are creatures not at all human, able to pass as human.
Until I met Cree I believed in science. Since then I saw a woman turn into a dragon, met other shape-changing dragons, and developed a ghost who was sure he wasn’t one.
They say that when Man created Dragon, said Cree, he accidentally created real magic.
I remembered as a boy, Mother telling me magic wasn’t real. How could she have said that to me? Her own mother was Dragon!
Have I told you, said Cree, distracting me from my annoyance with Mother, the Dragon Soldier’s Prayer?
“No,” I said, sitting up a bit, “what is it?” He cleared his throat.
Man seeks duality but Dragon is Shadow, chained to none, between the Light and the Darkness. Past good and past evil, Dragon dwells. We glory in the dance of war and the will of the gods. Will Haka take us back to the Underworld today or will she accept our offerings? Chills slid up and down my spine. Cree went on, Where Zol and Haka dance, there are Dragon, the Children and the Chosen. Glory be to Thet. He stopped. There’s more, but that’s the best bit.
****
Chapter 25 - Mad-But-Not-Dangerous
I looked down at the page I was on.
The name Dragon should not be synonymous with evil. Since they left the kingdoms, Dragon’s true nature has been excised from memories and language until they are in danger of becoming some kind of bogeyman, even to the Blood whose cousins they are.
Dragon are magic. Magic is neither good nor evil in nature. It just is. People, be they Homo draconicus or Homo sapiens, choose which aspect of magic shall be manifest.
I fell asleep, something I was doing often and without warning, partly due to the drugs, also a part of my healing. I woke up to find Azrael in my room, reading When Dragon Came.
“Hey,” I said, struggling to sit up.
“Hey. Look,” he said, demonstrating, “I can use my right hand a bit.” His fingers weren’t responding that well but I nodded and looked impressed. “I’ve been reading this. I kept your place,” he said, tapping the cover.
“Interesting book,” I said.
“I thought so,” he said, “listen.” He began reading aloud. “When Dragon inspected the planet, they discovered most of the peoples regressed to tribal societies. People were accused of witchcraft when crops failed, superstition was rife. Some areas had forgotten their vows to Galaia, to be gentle to her green skin, and needed some draconian reminders. These came in the form of Dragon moving in, closing down the industries, and even removing knowledge from the libraries.” He looked up at me. “I didn’t know they did that.” I hadn’t known either.
“Does it say what kind of industries?” I said. He shook his head. “Dragon are still in charge of me,” I said, “Virginia was here this morning. In human form.” He nodded. “She brought the books.”
“I have one,” he said, “his name’s Stefan. Says he’s a friend of Mother’s and a Westwych. Certainly looks the part, black hair, blue eyes, though he’s tall like me. Mother says yes, he’s a friend and cousin, they know each other from holidays in Bronlea down south, when they were children. He’s Dragon, I’m sure of it. He knows his stuff though. The doctors here know him. He’s someone famous in medical circles. And the nurses! It’s all giggling and yes doctor, no doctor. I thought I had a chance with that little redhead.”
My Anna? Then I remembered more important things than sex. However, I was still miffed over Anna. Neither Azrael nor I could have done anything for her, but it didn’t stop us fantasising.
“I found out something,” I said. Azrael looked at me.
“Hmm?” he said.
“Virginia told me my grandmother on Mother’s side is Dragon,” I said, “my Grandmama Daeva.”
“Gods,” Azrael said, and sucked in a breath, “you’re more Dragon than I am. Double!”
“Aye,” I said, relieved to be talking about it, “I think I might have some of the extra-senses they’re supposed to have. At least, I’ve been seeing things.”
“Things?” he said, looking puzzled.
“Well, one thing in particular,” I said, “I think I have some kind of spirit guide.”
I’ve never known anyone so embarrassed by my presence, Cree said, as he materialised suddenly near the ceiling. I refused to look.
“Oh?” said Azrael, and nodded as if it were normal. “Like a fortune-teller.” He looked impressed. “Can you tell the future yet?” I winced.
“A fortune-teller?” I said, “Oh please no.” I heard Cree laugh. I tried to explain. “It’s a ghost. Um, I mean, he says he’s a being-not-in-body.” Azrael nodded.
“That makes sense,” he said. I was flummoxed.
“It does?” He nodded.
“Nanny Black says other worlds and times are at angles to ours and we can see into them if we know how. Has this been since the accident?” I frowned.
“No,” I said, “it started back when I first came here.” He nodded again.
“Maybe the citadel is closer to the other worlds than Lower Beech,” he said, “or maybe you were coming to the age where that ability kicked in. I’m sure I read somewhere it can happen at puberty.”
“I hit puberty a little before I got to Peterhaven,” I said, rather archly.
“Oh of course,” he said, “or like you it happens during.” He smiled. “I’ll stop trying to reassure you shall I? While I’m ahead.” I motioned a cuff at him but we were both too weak to risk even a playful swipe at each other.
****
If I was surprised at Azrael’s matter-of-factness, then the next person I confided in, Fenric, shocked me to the core. He dropped in to see how I was. We sat outside in the shade, smoking, and talking. Thinking to ask his opinion, I stumbled over how to explain my hallucinations. Despite the dragons I drank blood from being apparently real, able to transmogrify, them knowing Cree and Azrael knowing them too, I was convinced I was going mad.
Perhaps it was after-effects of the poppy juice. And the mindweed. Obviously. Because otherwise didn’t bear thinking about. My reasoning was that these chats with Cree weren’t really happening, I was viewing them through the kaleidoscope of my splintered mind. Just like Cree had said. I ignored that I was taking mental health advice from a hallucination. The same hallucination that told me Dragon were accidentally real magic.
Insanity was the only explanation that made sense. My parents’ shenanigans had driven me out of my mind. No longer sure who I was and where the world began, I was possibly at the beginning of madness. As I hesitated over how to introduce the subject, with Cree bouncing around in some state of excitement that I couldn’t interpret, Fenric looked right at Cree.
“Can you ask your ghost to shut up?” he said. “I can’t focus on both of you.” I hissed in my mind, shut up!
“He’s not mine,” I said aloud, sounding apologetic. “And he’s a being-not-in-body, not a ghost.” Fenric looked amused.
“He’s not yours?” he said, laughing. “What, you’re minding him for a friend?” I laughed too, a bit nervously.
“Um no, well, I mean yes he’s sort-of mine,” I said. “He’s attached himself to me. I’m not sure why.” Fenric shrugged.
Don’t sound so disappointed that I am real, said Cree, did you want to be mad? The crazy
boy who sees ghosts? Fenric shook his head.
“Maybe it’s more common where I come from,” he said, “beings-not-in-body.”
See? Cree said. Some people understand.
“I was taught,” Fenric was saying, “that creatures beyond our usual perceptions are everywhere. My mother used to leave out milk, food or mindweed for the pixies. She swore they did jobs in the house for her, but messed things up if she forgot their treats.” I’d heard of people who believed in ghosts and pixies, even fairies, but Mother claimed not to care about the gods and Father was an avowed atheist so I wasn’t brought up to believe in the supernatural.
“Where do you come from?” I said. Fenric looked at me, grey eyes glowing with their shower of gold.
“The south,” he said.
“Dragon is secretly running the old dragon kingdoms,” I said, not sure why I was laying it out like this, “aren’t they?” If it was true, and it looked that way, saying it might make me someone to be silenced. For all my dabbling in the martial arts I knew Fenric could snap me like a twig. He trained me and when we sparred was usually only moving at half-speed. He smiled.
“You make it sound like a bad thing.”
“Well,” I said, and paused. Was it a bad thing? “Shouldn’t people get to have a say?” He laughed.
“People? Human or Dragon or something in between, we’re all people and all capable of idiocy. The less say most people have in their governance, the better. Besides, most aren’t interested. Why do you think so many complete morons get to be officers? Only because the good people can’t be bothered and actively avoid promotion.” He shook his head. “I’ve been in the army,” he said, “I’ve seen the results of real stupidity.”
“But,” I said, “not everyone’s stupid.”
“Aye,” he said, “which is why Azrael’s here.” I frowned, not sure what he meant. “You don’t think he’s stupid?” said Fenric. I shook my head.