by Chris Hechtl
“Oh?” Deidra asked looking up. She used her implement to get some from the healer's tray. The woman looked disgruntled but then chuckled and shrugged it off. Deidra tried it and grunted. “It's okay,” she said.
The healer took the rest of the small dish and gave it to Zara. Zara nodded politely to her.
When they were done eating the woman took care of the dirty implements and trays, putting them in a container in a sink of all things. “This place has everything,” Zara observed.
“A bed?” Deidra yawned.
“I wonder,” Zara said. She looked around and spotted beds just as the woman came and handed them strange tubes.
“They must be sickly. Mint is for stomach ailments,” Deidra warned sniffing.
“Apparently not all,” Zara said amused. She sniffed at a tube the healer woman handed her. She was also handed a small brush. She examined it. The bristles were soft and many. It was made out of that strange material. Hard yet flexible she thought testing it. She went to put it to her hair but the woman chuckled and showed her it was to clean her teeth. She examined it in awe. She sniffed the tube and then held it up to Deidra's nose.
“Interesting,” Deidra replied with a wary sniff. “Apparently they like the smell of mint.”
“To be fair we do as well sister,” Zara replied.
“True,” Deidra admitted. She liked mint candy around the holidays, as did her sister and... She put the thought aside hastily. There would be time to grieve later.
The driver called to the healer. The healer came forward and then waved to them. They looked. It was near dawn and a castle was in the distance.
“The viscount of Monty,” Deidra said eyes dark. “The fool.”
“You think we cannot find sanctuary there?” Zara asked warily.
“I think he'll trade us to the Duluthians for a crust of bread,” Deidra growled. “We must make it clear for them to move on.”
“I think they are settling here for the day and moving on at night,” Zara said and then yawned. She looked at the peasants. The couple had been lulled into sleep by full stomachs and the rocking and thrumming of the metal carriage. “Sleep it is,” Deidra said as the healer pulled what looked like pillows and blankets from a cupboard. She looked out the windows of the metal carriage. Some of the gaijin were covering the vehicles in strange ragged brown cloth while others either set up to guard or bedded down.
“I don't think I can,” Zara said fearfully as the healer showed her a bunk in the back.
“You will. Just focus on dreams of peace and the barn,” Deidra said soothingly. She knew she and her sister would have terrible dreams this day, and for many more to come.
The next evening they passed a small castle keep in the dark. It was built into a cliff face. The girls were disdainful of going to it when asked and refused to leave the camper. Confused Wanda and Sue went to Perry.
“It might be someone they don't trust,” he replied with a shrug, eying the dimly lit edifice. He didn't like the looks of it; there was no way to retreat from it. “Nice use of real estate though, it's built right into the plateau. It must use a series of caves for the interior.” He noted there were no windows on the lower ten meters of rock. He wondered if it had secret tunnels and passages.
“It's like the castles in Turkey,” Nate murmured. Perry glanced his way. “Saw it once when I was a lad on holiday. Bit like this but more reddish. Course that could be the light,” he observed and then shrugged.
The buildings in the walled town around the base of the castle were Asian style fortresses of wood and red stone. Each had smoke pouring from smokestacks. “Interesting mix of architectural styles though,” Nate said, nodding then pointing to a lung chi dragon carved into the ends of the rafters. “Fascinating. They adapted their Terran cultural references to an alien world.”
“Or that may be a real animal Doc,” Perry said. The Biologist turned on him. “Alien world Doc, the lung chi dragons could have crossed over from here to our side at one point.”
Nate's eyes went wide as he assimilated that. Perry snorted in amusement. “You know, I never suspected that...” He heard the biologist murmur thoughtfully. “We'll have to look into it. I'll cross reference... Oh dear.” He looked around for his laptop. Their intranet was down while they were on the move.
Perry snorted again. “You'll have to wait for the next stop Doc; we're not pulling over here.” He turned to the group. “All right boys and girls, head 'em up and move 'em out!” he said waving to the road.
<==={}------------>
Doctor Roshenko looked amused as they bounced along in the camper. Ryans was bored, they'd spent the past several days staring out at the darkened countryside as they traveled each night. He'd switched to the camper just to stretch his legs. He leaned over to the scientist, clearly trying to keep from arriving at terminal boredom. “What's that?” he asked looking at the chunk of rock in the man's hands. Roshenko must have picked it up from somewhere but he wasn't sure where. He nodded his chin to it. “That important?”
“Only concrete,” The geologist said, smiling with delight.
“Okay.” Ryans nodded. He didn't get the amusement the geologist was sporting though; clearly something was significant about that. More significant than what he considered.
Sydney looked up, clearly surprised. “Did I hear you say concrete?” he asked. “Here?”
“Yeah he said that.” Ryans replied looking over to the historian. “That significant?” he asked. Sydney flipped the laptop down. He was still picking through the vocabulary database, amused that it was working out but annoyed that it was so slow.
“Of course!” Sydney said throwing his arms wide and looking at the ceiling. “It's a roman thing. Europeans lost it for centuries! We didn't re-invent it until modern times!”
Ryans nodded. “Well, it looks like they never lost it here.” Ryans said amused.
“I'll say,” Sydney said shaking his head. “Where is that from anyway?”
“The village wall we paused at two days ago. The one near that big empty house,” Roshenko replied.
“Ah,” Sydney said nodding. “So if it's there at a serf's hut...”
Roshenko nodded. “Then it's most likely all over. I wonder if they have rebar?” Roshenko mused.
“Probably, or something similar. When the medieval builders made castles in Europe they used chain for that purpose,” Sydney replied. “Though it probably cost an arm and a leg. Iron isn't exactly easy to mine with hand tools.”
“Yeah, but they seem to be doing okay. And that plateau had an iron deposit. You could tell from the red streaks. And it wasn't mined. Was it Doc?” Ryans asked, turning to Roshenko.
Roshenko frowned and then shook his head thoughtfully. “No, no it wasn't. Which means...” He paused then brightened. “That they've got other mines. Mines easier to work or closer to current towns!” he said smiling.
“Probably,” Sydney said nodding. “Any idea on the formula for that?” He indicated the rock.
“No, not likely any time soon until we've stood down for a good spell to check,” the Geologist sighed.
“Yeah well, keep me posted,” Sydney said smiling.
“Why medieval?” Roshenko asked suddenly. Sydney paused. “I mean, why a feudal society? We've spotted a blending of architecture and racial cultures, not to mention genotypes, so why feudal specifically? And why European style over say Asian?”
“Defense,” Sydney answered. He sat back down on the bench as they rumbled past a rocky stream. He glanced out the window at it and then back to them. “In history a person, usually a bandit or someone strong becomes an alpha male. He leads the pack. He sets up shop and builds a stronghold for him and his group. This allowed them to defend against others who may attack them.”
Roshenko nodded. “Ah, I'd think trying to survive on an alien world would keep them busy enough.”
“Precisely Doc,” Sydney said waving to the window. They could see an alien bovine munching on a hed
ge on the other side of the road. Four of its six eyes were closed. The middle legs stomped occasionally. The tail would flick, possibly flicking away pests. “Look at it. An alien world. They needed to defend against the predators here, as well as each other.”
Ryans nodded in understanding. He'd come to a similar conclusion. What bothered him was all the influence from various cultures but they hadn't combusted into modern Terran culture and technology over time. “And what better way to secure a territory than with a castle?”
“Right,” Sydney nodded in agreement. “A fortified wall keeps the enemy out and your own people in safe, securing your power. It also gives the people inside, a wall to build against at first.”
“Ah,” Doctor Roshenko nodded. “I see.” He rubbed his jaw. “But they could have moved out of it,” he said looking up after a moment.
Sydney nodded. “Sure, if they’re not stuck. Something is stagnating them. I'd say they have a problem with breeding off the top of my head. I mean, we've seen so few animals, and the houses are clustered in villages or towns that are miles apart. In a feudal society people are tied to the land in a subsistence living mindset. I'd imagine trying to survive on an alien world is an added complication to that. They don't have the time to develop more.”
“Which is the reason you said stagnant, or at least it's one of the reasons. Yeah, I can see that now,” Ryans nodded.
“The lords lording over the serfs adds to the problem. There may even be a genetic problem going on. Especially with the serfs tied to the land as they are. After all, with so few humans crossing over every year, you'd think the breeding program would be a major concern or recessive genetic defects would start cropping up,” Sydney murmured. Outside it began to rain. They looked up to the roof of the camper as they heard the pitter patter of raindrops.
“Maybe, I doubt they know it as that though Sydney,” Roshenko cautioned, looking over to the princesses. They ignored the men completely. “But if you’re right then serfs marry serfs, and lords marry lords... Yeah, I'd say you've got a double breeding problem now that you mention it.” He sighed then shrugged. “Not my problem, yet,” he said grimacing. The others nodded.
<==={}------------>
Princess Deidra stepped out, needing to get away from the cluster of people. They had been traveling for days in the metal carriages and she needed air and sunlight. The rains had washed away the dust but the area the gaijin had stopped at was muddy. There was a cliff nearby overlooking the forest below. She stepped over to it, breathing in the crisp clean air of the morning.
She needed it, needed the change in perspective she realized. Balthazar would have loved... her hand went to cover her mouth as tears fell. She couldn't be miserable she told herself, crying softly. She remembered her little brother, so full of life and potential, now meat in the ground. It was wrong and her heart twisted. She felt guilty, unclean. Not just the rape, but in leaving her brother like that. Her brother and sister, they deserved better. Rubin had deserved... fresh tears fell. Her people, she thought, what would become of them?
A hand fell, running through her ragged dress. She had been offered clothes by the gaijin healer but they were men's clothes not proper dresses. Oh she didn't mind if she were riding, but to dress like she did? In pants all the time? No, she'd rather remain a princess, she thought, realizing pride was playing a part in her decision but not caring. Her head came back and she felt the light morning breeze blow her hair out behind her. She faced the day. She was Deidra, princess of the realm and she'd damn well do as she pleased, she thought. She'd make the Duluthians pay for their crimes she vowed just as she heard footsteps behind her.
<==={}------------>
Ryans watched the princess near the edge of the cliff. She hugged herself, looking out over the edge.
“She's not going to jump is she?” Sue asked concerned. She was worried about despair and depression in the two teenagers. Both showed signs of trauma of course.
He gave her a look. He jerked his head to Deidra. “Worried about depression Doc? Somehow I don't think the lady is wired that way. She's more of a...”
“Leader? Even leaders have to feel the pressure,” Sue said. “Especially at her age and the trauma she's been through.”
Ryans frowned. She was right but he wasn't quite willing to give in. “No, but if someone like me goes and askesher we're more than likely to be pushed,” he said. She grimaced.
She gave him a glare but couldn't hold it for long. “Give the lady a break, she's a rape victim.”
“I'm trying Doc,” he sighed holding up his hands in surrender.
She wrinkled her pert nose at him. “Try harder. In fact why don't you go over there and talk to her. Get her to talk a little more so we can work on this language barrier.” They had been working on it for a while but still had problems with verbs and tenses. Names and objects were coming through though.
Ryans shook his head. “Didn't I just mention a determined desire not to be pushed over the edge?”
She smiled. “Come on chicken. She's a widdle guurl,” she mocked.
“Say's the widdle guurl,” Ryans growled. She held up a fist. “I'm going, I'm going,” he sighed getting up and throwing his hands up in the air. “Bully,” he griped.
“You’re damn tootin',” Sue smiled smugly.
“Hey ah, Princess Deidra right?” he asked walking closer to her. The teenager turned and glanced at him then went back to watching the skies. “We're not exactly safe next to this cliff you know. It rained last night so it's probably slippery.”
“So go back,” she said not looking at him.
The translator caught part of that but he was fairly sure of what she was saying anyway. “Sure, just as soon as you do,” he said stubbornly. Two could be pigheaded.
“Leave. I order you,” she snarled, hugging herself tighter and turning away.
“First off, I'm not one of your subject’s lady so that bullying crap won’t work with me. Second I happen to be in charge of this group,” he said indicating the Terrans. “If you don't want to be here we're more than happy to drop you off at the nearest village.”
She turned glaring full force at him but slipped. Her arms flew out wind milling. She screeched as she fell backwards. He lunged forward and grabbed her ankle as she fell. She dangled there over the cliff edge.
“Quit struggling,” he snarled, feeling them both slip down to the cliff edge. “Ah, a little help here?” he called over his shoulder. His grip on her ankle was slipping.
Ryans felt hands on his hips and then a rope was tossed out to Deidra. She grabbed at it desperately. He dug his knees in and pulled. She squeaked as his grip tightened like a vice on her ankle and he pulled her back off the edge to safety.
He panted for a second, surprised he was tired. He pulled her away as the cliff edge crumbled under her. As they moved back the section they had been on gave way completely and slid down the sheer cliff. He wrapped his arms around her instinctively as he backed away.
She clung to him for a moment breathing heavily and then pushed herself away and getting up she stalked off wiping at the mud with an angry hand. He shook his head and turned to the Gunny. “Thanks.”
“Sure. Least one of you thought of it,” the Gunny said smiling. “That girl just doesn't appreciate a favor,” he sighed. He rolled his shoulders and he coiled the rope. Ryans shrugged glancing in the direction the princess had stomped off. He had no intention of following her. Her or Sue for that matter.
Zara came over and grabbed her arm. “Are you all right?” she demanded. Deidra scowled, not answering as she brushed dirt and debris from her soiled dress. It was a gift from her mother. If she had one from the carriage she would have burned this tainted thing despite her mother's wrath. Mother would have understood in the end she thought. She'd burn it anyway, first chance she got, she thought turning as Zara shook her arm and then stepped back.
Deidra looked up and glared. “I'm fine,” she growled. “No thanks to him,” she
said jerking her chin to the leader of the gaijin. She'd make him pay for manhandling him. No man might touch her without permission.
“Him? He saved you. Again sister, He saved you. Had he not been there to grab you...”
“It was because of him that I fell!” Deidra snarled, watching her sister's eyes go wide. Zara stepped back in alarm. “He...”
“We need to go,” a soldier said waving to the trucks. She looked around. The gaijin were loading up to leave. Turning she gave Ryans a fulminating look over her shoulder before she reached down and hitched her tattered dress up so she could more easily climb on board the carriage.
<==={}------------>
Ryans caught the look and snorted. “Just between you and me I think I'll ride with someone else this go around,” he said to Perry.
Perry had also caught the look and snorted as well. “Yeah, I don't blame you,” he said waving to the improvised command hummer. “After you,” he said.
<==={}------------>
Zara stared out into the night, looking through the window as she rested her chin on her folded arms. “That's twice he's saved your life,” she murmured to her sister. She was bored, bored of being cooped up, bored of playing the word game with the healer and the strange contraptions she had.
Deidra looked affronted. Up until now she hadn't thought of it, hadn't thought of the implications. Now suddenly Zara's pointing them out forced her eyes open to the potential problem. “I...”
“You know it's true. Once for me, twice for you.”
“I... it's not true!” Deidra said desperately, glaring at the peasants who dared look up in interest. Bux immediately dropped his head. His pregnant wife looked away.
“I know it is. You know it is Deidra,” Zara said looking at her sister in the reflection of the window. It was dark, far darker than normal because of the clouds overhead. Apparently it didn't bother the gaijin. Some like their driver wore strange contraptions on their heads covering their eyes.
“It's not true!” Deidra said as the trucks slowed and then stopped.