The Psychonaut: Book 1 in the Psychonaut Trilogy

by Adams, Tom

  “That’s good advice,” he replied. “I can’t project my astral form on a first breach, even with you helping, but the next gateways are already existent. We should play safe, as long as you’re up to it, that is.”

  “Bien sûr.”

  “Ready for the next step?” Albany asked.

  “Yeah, this is the wet one,” Merrick replied. He relayed the plan for the next traversals to the others and they made their way through Jahun’s tunnel, down to the spring.

  They needn’t have worried about the next stage. The other side of the gateway held no threat and they were soon in Babylonia.

  “Everyone okay?” Merrick said.

  “Someone pinch me,” Hacker said. “This whole thing is jai-wank.” The comment was light-hearted, but Merrick could sense his culture shock underneath. He weighed up the man’s state of mind and was convinced the man would cope.

  “You’ll be okay,” Merrick said. “I’ll line up a re-orientation session when we get back, but in the meantime we’ve only got two more gateways to access, according to my calculations.”

  “Right—let’s do this,” Albany said, his eagerness obvious to all.

  “Let’s not get over-confident,” Merrick replied. The next gateway is up ahead.”

  They followed the passage through to Kemran’s nexus and were pleased to find both Jahun and the Babylonian waiting for them.

  The two guardians embraced them, all except the mercenaries.

  “We sensed your presence,” Jahun said. “Our hearts are glad you have come.”

  Merrick explained as fast as he could, all that had happened since they parted company. They compared time-lines and were fascinated to discover that both their continuums seemed to move forward together. After the hasty exchange, Jahun sensed the party needed to move on.

  “Carry out your mission,” she said. “You can be confident that the nexus remains secure.”

  “Nexus? That’s a good way of describing it,” Aislynn said. It was the first time she’d spoken. Merrick tried to weigh up her motivation but she remained closed.

  “We’re just glad our life’s work as guardians has meant something,” Kemran said. “If you use the gateways to bring balance back and thwart this evil uprising, then our vigil will have served its purpose.”

  Merrick thanked them for their service and gave his attention to the next transition. As before, he and Celestia probed ahead to the portal crossroads. They gave the all clear and Merrick enabled the pathway for all to follow. They used this method again to pass through the eastern gateway and finally arrived at the world known as Celebrai. It was a barren, rocky wasteland with little vegetation and no sign of civilisation. They all reached into their haversacks and took out another layer to put on, together with gloves.

  “I bet this is what Mars is like,” Albany said.

  “Only the atmosphere is breathable,” Johnny added.

  “It’s hard on the chest though,” Biff said. “I feel like I’m on the verge of an asthma attack.”

  “We’ll have to put up with the alien atmosphere on this trip,” Merrick said. “In the long term, if we can acclimatise or enhance our oxygen supply, we’ll be more prepared. Now give me a moment while I find—”

  “Hush,” Celestia said, raising a hand to emphasise the instruction. “There’s a hostile presence bearing down on us.”

  They drew their weapons and formed a haphazard defensive circle.

  Merrick held his unfamiliar pistol. Mike had told him it was a Heckler and Koch in their five minute training session. He felt under-prepared, but remembered that all he needed to do was aim and shoot. “Which direction?” he said to Celestia.

  “I don’t know,” she said, “I cannot home in, yet it’s nearly upon us.”

  “I can’t see anything approaching,” Biff said, “and there’s no cover out here. Are you sure you’re reading the situation right?”

  Then they heard it. The sound of air slewing over giant wings, a petrifying screech borne from above. They all looked up to see the plummeting form of a colossal raptor.

  “Shoot it down,” came Biff’s order. There followed the disappointing, dry click of malfunctioning firing mechanisms. Only one weapon discharged, but its projectile traced a limp arc from Hacker’s firearm.

  “What the f—” was all Hacker had time to say as the creature picked him up in cruel talons and carried him skyward. The sound of his agonised cries receded into the distance. All they could do was watch, impotent, as the raptor become a pinprick against the cold, blue sky.

  ~~~

  Chapter 35

  All the fools sailed away

  What the fuck are you all waiting for? ” Biff turned to them, shocked—as they all were—but exasperated as well. “We’ve got to track that thing down or Hacker’s a goner.”

  Johnny had thrown his rifle to the floor and was fumbling with a compass. “It’s a no-go, mate. I can’t even get a direction reading, the needle just points in a random direction.

  “So, let’s yomp it. We know that bastard-thing was flying towards the ridge over there. We need to get going.”

  Most of the party looked at Biff in a resigned way. Some just looked at the ground. Albany still scoured the skies, looking to see if the raptors hunted in twos.

  “We can’t get diverted, Biff,” Merrick said. “That thing could have taken him anywhere. I wish we could save him, but I can’t sanction risking all our lives.

  Biff looked round for some support. “Can’t you create a gateway? We could keep up that way.

  Merrick squinted his eyes, looking at the horizon. “I can find existing portals and create them between worlds, but I can’t create a gateway within a world.

  “Look, mate,” Johnny said, putting his hand on Biff’s shoulder, “We’ve been in this situation before. We had to make some tough decisions back in Somalia—lost people we couldn’t save. It’s a tough call but Merrick’s right. You know Hacker would do the same if he was here.

  Biff looked at his brother in arms with fire in his eyes and shrugged Johnny’s hand away. “Well, you know what I say? I say fuck you. Fuck you all. I owe Hacker my life and I’m not giving up that easily. Even if it means going it alone.” He picked up his rifle, turned his back on them and took off at a punishing speed across the plain.

  “Biff, wait,” Merrick called.

  “Leave it,” Johnny said. “They’re both dead men.

  “There don’t seem to be any more raptors—at least for the moment,” Albany said, “but I think we should move off this plain. We’re too exposed here.”

  “I agree,” Merrick replied, “Shamon’s gateway lies in that direction.” He pointed the opposite way to the path Biff and the raptor had chosen. There was a faint line of purple mountains rising from the plain to meet the cloudless, azure heavens.

  “It looks like we’ve got quite a trek ahead of us,” Celestia said.

  “Yeah, I reckon it’s going to take us at least four hours at marching speed. And that’s without stops.”

  Albany looked at the pistol in his hand. “What do we do about the weapons? It looks like Karapetian’s guns are dud.” As if to emphasise the point, he raised the pistol and aimed away from the group. It clicked once, twice, then jammed.

  “I don’t think it’s the guns,” Merrick said. “This place has a different atmosphere, you can tell it in our breathing. I figure it doesn’t support combustion in the same way as earth.”

  “So, we’re defenceless?” Aislynn said.

  “I’ve got my Bowie knife,” Johnny patted a short scabbard at his hip.

  “And we’ve got daggers,” Albany indicated to Destain and himself.

  “It’s not much, but it’ll have to do,” Merrick said.

  “We could retreat, and come back more prepared,” Destain said.

  Merrick thought for a moment. “That would seem the obvious thing to do.”

  “But ... ?”

  “But, I sense time is running out. Shamon could st
art his assault soon, and we know next to nothing about his war machine. What do the rest of you think?”

  “Maybe Destain can give us one of his insights,” Albany said.

  His telepathic brother raised a hand to expose the eye and moved it in a circular motion, his brow knotted in concentration.

  “Well?” Merrick said.

  “The runes are balanced.”

  “Meaning?”

  “There are equal costs and consequences for either decision.”

  “So, I might as well toss a coin?”

  Destain looked hurt. “I’m sorry I can’t be more specific.”

  Merrick looked at the distant mountains again. “Let’s push on. I’ll be damned if I’m returning empty-handed. Besides, there may be a chance that Biff’ll return. Are you with me?”

  They all agreed, albeit half-heartedly. Celestia swept the terrain as far as her gift would allow and confirmed there wasn’t any immediate threat from intelligent life. “But then again,” she said “I didn’t see the flying beast coming. I can sense a creature’s presence, but not their path.”

  “Then just tell us when any creature approaches,” Albany said.

  “Sûrement, mon cher, there is a scorpion under your left foot, not to mention a snake underneath that rock and a swarm of beetle-like creatures moving across the plain towards the ridge. I can give you a minute-by-minute update if you like.”

  “Okay, you’ve made your point,” Albany conceded.

  Since they had no use for them, they concealed the guns underneath a parched thicket and followed Merrick’s lead.

  He set a brisk pace, stopping only occasionally to take a drink and rest. They were warmer for the activity, but the landscape remained bleak and forbidding. They crossed a two mile stretch of hard, cracked sand with only the occasional rough tussock of plant-life shouldering through the fissured surface. Johnny theorised it could be a dried up river bed, which meant that if they ran short of water on the way back, they could dig down and extract it. Apart from the wind, buffeting them with puffs of loose soil, there was no other sound except an isolated insect advertising its territory with a rub of chitinous legs.

  There was little to say as they trudged for miles on end. The distant mountains didn’t seem to get any closer and Merrick revised the e.t.a to a further three hours. The sun had only moved a short distance across the sky from its zenith, and there was no sign that nightfall approached.

  In time, the party saw the terrain break up into reed-covered mounds and hillocks. This would have lifted their spirits if it wasn’t for the fact that the inclines and uneven ground slowed them down.

  “I think my feet are going to drop off if I walk much further,” Albany said. He was the only one complaining out loud, but Merrick could feel the impatience and resentment rising in his companions.

  “Right you are, let’s take a break,” he said. “Destain, have a look at your brother’s feet and see if you can do anything for him.” He winced as soon as the words passed his lips. “Sorry, I meant—”

  “Don’t concern yourself,” the sightless healer replied, “pity is a wasted emotion seeing as my perception of the world is greater than the keenest eyesight could visualise.”

  “Are you still sure we shouldn’t step through a new gateway back to earth?” Albany said.

  Merrick was just thinking this might be a wise move when Celestia lifted her head. “Horsemen approaching up ahead. They’re heading this way.”

  “Hostile?” Merrick asked.

  “Yes. They’re Ukurum.”

  “Aislynn, can you hide us?”

  “Absolutely,” she replied, “but it’ll help our concealment if we lie low against the vegetation.”

  They followed Aislynn’s lead and lay flat in the hollows between the reeds. Merrick could only see himself, but sensed Celestia next to him.

  You think they detected us? he sent.

  Let’s see. Ready for a mind meld?

  They joined up in an instant and projected themselves in the direction of the oncoming Ukurum. Two men and a woman made up their party.

  Merrick read them. They know something’s here.

  Oui, one of them is a powerful farseer. Destain, are you hearing this?

  Yes. The only two advantageous futures I see involve confronting them. They won’t just pass us by.

  You said two futures?

  Either you kill them, or you capture them. Either way, there’s going to be blood spilt.

  Right. Is Johnny nearby?

  Next to me.

  Fill him in. He’s in charge of leading the assault.

  As you wish, but Aislynn and Albany won’t know what’s happening.

  They’re quick on the uptake, we’ll risk it.

  The Ukurum dismounted. Merrick didn’t need Celestia’s far-sight to see them now and they disconnected. The Ukurum bore unidentifiable throwing weapons and swords at their sides, their stances indicating awareness and caution. They had dressed for the cold, draped in tightly-bound tunics and headgear. All he could make out were their eyes, peering through swathes of cloth.

  The figures had only walked ten yards further when Destain made contact. Johnny suggests keeping our camouflage. He’s going to take out the front one. He seems to be the leader. When you see him go down, Celestia’s to take out the second. If it’s possible, Merrick take the third—but don’t get in the way of Johnny. He’ll also be homing in and won’t be able to see either of you.

  The plan had many disadvantages, but Merrick couldn’t think of anything better. He gave the affirmative and adopted a crouched position, muscles tense like clock springs. He sensed Johnny move and Celestia follow a second later. The Ukurum leader grunted and doubled over. Celestia had taken out the second in a heartbeat. Merrick rose up and saw that the third was quick to recover, swinging a halberd in wide arcs. She looked poised as she interspersed the swings with aimed thrusts.

  She sees us with far-sight, Celestia sent, hold back. “Aislynn, drop our camouflage,” she said out loud, “Johnny and I will subdue her.”

  They materialised as if reality blinked, then opened its eyes. Johnny and Celestia were on opposite sides of the Ukurum, wielding long knives.

  “You’re a long way from home.” The Ukurum spat out the words. “This is a desolate place to die.”

  Merrick hung back, sensing her confidence. Don’t underestimate her, Celestia. She’s no novice.

  Thanks for the warning. She continued her weaving and bobbing around the warrior, all senses alert. This kept the Ukurum distracted and Johnny used the initiative. His knife struck the Ukurum on the head, hilt first. It stunned her long enough for Celestia to grab the halberd and kick her to the ground. Johnny completed the double-act by sitting astride her, pinning her with his knees. She wriggled like an eel, but two hundred and fifty pounds of mercenary muscle weighed down on her.

  “Finish it, then—you bastard.” Her eyes flashed hatred.

  “Don’t you worry, love. I’ll make it quick.” Johnny reached for his knife and lifted it above his head.

  “Wait,” Merrick said.

  Johnny didn’t take his eyes off the Ukurum, but the knife remained poised like a guillotine blade. “Don’t get soft on me, Merrick. She’s a threat the longer she stays alive.”

  “We need to find out what she knows.”

  “You realise I won’t break,” the Ukurum said to Johnny. “Do it, dog-fucker.”

  Johnny’s blade twitched, then he threw it to the ground. “You’re too interesting to kill,” he said and reached into a pocket. He flipped her over, pulled her hands together and bound them with cable ties. He repeated the task on the feet, then linked all her limbs with a third tie so she was immobile. Only then did he get up, brushing himself down and re-sheathing the knife. The others gathered round.

  “Nice work,” Albany said. Destain pulled Merrick to one side and spoke in a whisper. “It’s good you didn’t kill her. This one’s future is entwined with our own.”

&nb
sp; “That’s good?”

  “I believe so. Treat her with wisdom and let fortune deal the cards. You won’t regret it.”

  Merrick nodded and approached Johnny. “Think you can extract some information from her?” he said.

  “Can’t say for sure,” he replied. “She’s hard as a rhino in armour, but I’ll enjoy trying. What do you want to know?”

  “Find out if there are others close by, then how far the city is—I only have a vague approximation. Then it’s anything and everything she can tell us about Shamon’s stronghold and defences. I’ll know if she’s lying.”

  “Am I to use any means at my disposal?”

  Merrick hesitated, then said “Yeah, but don’t kill her. She’s valuable.”

  Johnny sniffed, then grunted his agreement. Celestia and the others rounded up the horses while Johnny and Merrick set to work.

  Johnny didn’t waste time. He stripped the woman, using his knife to remove the tunic where her posture interfered with the task. In a matter of minutes her naked form was shivering on the ground.

  Merrick was already conflicted. So it starts with humiliation, but where does it end? He could sense her resolve and hatred diffusing out like a squirming cobra. To Merrick’s surprise, Johnny began with an appeal to her reason, yet didn’t even get a name. The physical stuff started with a rain of blows to her face and body. He knew all the vulnerable zones and didn’t shy away from exploiting every weakness. Before long she was covered in blood and spitting teeth. Merrick’s stomach started to revolt. What made it worse was reading Johnny’s mind and knowing he was enjoying this.

  After ten minutes of punishment, he signalled for Johnny to stop. “Listen, mate. This is taking too long. We can work on her later.”

  Johnny hesitated, then stepped away. “You’re the boss,” he said, leaving the woman cursing and spitting on the ground.

  “Cover her up and throw her on the back of a horse. We’re taking her with us,” Merrick said.

  Close up, Merrick could see that horse was only an approximation. The creatures had no discernible ears and a mosaic of scales substituted for body hair. The Ukurum saddles could accommodate three riders as the beasts were much longer than their terrestrial counterparts. The muzzles, shorter than a pony’s, had jaws that closed and opened sideways, like insect’s mandibles. They were compliant beasts however, and accepted their new riders with a minimum of fuss.