by Alex Archer
“None shall be asked,” Annja said. She figured she needed to at least be a part of the conversation. Maybe she could even win a few of the Jiao over to her side before this was over.
Maybe.
Hsusia looked immensely pleased. “It is my honor to fight you in this arena. I can see that you are a true warrior and you have my utmost respect.”
Annja bowed. “As you have mine. I wish the oracle in its infinite wisdom had not seen fit to pit us against each other. I would have preferred to call you my ally rather than my enemy.”
Again the crowd roared its approval. Clearly they liked what they heard from Annja. Well, that was one thing at least, she figured.
Hsusia held her hand up for quiet and the arena instantly fell silent. “When the signal is given, we will come out and not stop until one of us is dead.”
Annja nodded. “I understand. Are there any rules?”
“There are none.”
“So be it,” Annja said. “I have prepared myself.”
“As have I,” Hsusia replied. “Have you any final words before we begin?”
“I would ask one thing,” Annja said. “That you let my friends go regardless of the outcome of this battle. We have abided by your laws and the wishes of your oracle, but my friends do not deserve to be imprisoned here any longer than is necessary for us to battle.”
Hsusia considered this. “There is the final condition that must be met. One of your people must remain here. The others will be free to go, no matter the outcome. You have my word as ruler of the Jiao.”
“And if you are defeated in battle? Will your successor honor your wishes?”
Hsusia looked amused. “In the unlikely event that happens, my successor will indeed honor my final edict.”
Annja nodded. “Then the time for talking is finished.”
“It is indeed. Good luck to you, Annja.” Hsusia turned around and ordered the portals to be closed.
Behind Annja, the opening to the arena slid shut.
Annja took a few deep breaths and summoned the sword. An immediate gasp arose from the crowd. Annja had to smile. So they didn’t know that she’d come in here armed.
Well, that was one point in her favor at least.
Hsusia brought out a larger and longer version of the triple-barbed spear that Annja had seen in the painting.
Annja frowned. Apparently the artist got the dimensions a little incorrect, she thought. Oh, well.
Hsusia spun the spear as she stalked across the floor toward Annja. Annja kept the sword up in front of her. The goal was to close the distance quickly, get inside where the sword would be most effective and cut her down without giving Hsusia time or space to impale Annja.
Easier said than done, she decided.
Hsusia leaped into the air, twirling the spear as she did so. Annja saw her cut down the distance so fast that she barely had time to react. Hsusia seemed to be moving faster than anyone Annja had ever fought before.
That was confirmed less than a second later when the butt of the spear slammed into Annja’s ankle, sweeping the leg and knocking Annja flat on her back.
Wind rushed out of her lungs and Hsusia spun the spear, stabbing straight down with the tip.
Annja rolled backward over her right shoulder, came up and sliced at the head of the spear. Her blade connected, but rather than cut it in two, the spear shaft clanged and held.
Annja redoubled her attack, charging to keep the distance tighter. But Hsusia flipped the spear up and brought the butt down on the back of Annja’s head.
Annja saw stars and heard the roar of the crowd. They must have sensed that Hsusia could end this quickly.
Annja fought off the encroaching loss of consciousness and flicked her blade up and under Hsusia’s arms. She felt the blade connect, and despite the armor, Annja’s blade cut Hsusia’s left arm above the wrist.
Blood spilled on the alabaster-white surface of the arena.
A gasp erupted from the crowd.
This must be a first, Annja thought.
But Hsusia only smiled and nodded at the wound. Annja looked and saw the armor instantly seal itself up again. If there was an injury there, the armor would keep her from bleeding out.
How the hell did she do that?
Hsusia leaped away and immediately flipped the spear over so its point faced Annja. Then she charged and jabbed at Annja again and again.
Annja backpedaled away, using the blade of the sword to deflect. But the barbed heads were a double threat. Annja was able to deflect them but she also had to make sure the spearhead didn’t catch her blade on the pullback. Otherwise, Hsusia could easily and quickly disarm Annja.
Not that Annja would be unarmed for long. She could instantly regain the sword, but Hsusia was so fast that any moment unarmed would be a bad time.
Annja brought the sword up and feigned a downward cut. Hsusia stepped to the side and made ready to bring the butt of the spear down on the back of Annja’s hands. If the strike connected, it would crush the bones on the backs of Annja’s hands.
But Annja pivoted and dropped to one knee, slicing in a wide horizontal arc at Hsusia.
The move caught the queen by surprise. The edge of Annja’s blade cut into the armor again and she saw more blood flow.
But just as quickly, the armor resealed itself and any blood vanished from sight.
I wish I had a suit of armor like that, she thought.
“The oracle gives us many things,” Hsusia said. “Including this incredible suit of armor that has been handed down for many, many years.”
“Nice of you to offer me one of those,” Annja said.
But Hsusia merely smiled. “I think your time is almost at an end, Annja. It has been my honor to battle you.”
And then she spun and drove the spear in deep. Annja gasped, having missed the move entirely. She felt the metallic head of the spear pierce her side, turn and then rip outward.
Annja sank to one knee, clutching her side. That hurt like hell, she thought. Sweat ran down her face.
The roar of the crowd thundered in the arena and made Annja’s head swim. She was losing a lot of blood. It ran all over her hands, pooling around her feet. The sword dropped to her side.
Hsusia spun away and stood watching Annja for a moment.
Annja’s breath came in spurts. She tried to flush her system with oxygen, tried to energize herself, but she felt weak.
Hsusia sensed an opening and came running right at her, the spear point poised to pierce Annja through her heart.
Annja looked up and saw Hsusia rushing her full on.
At the last minute, Annja rolled and brought the sword up from the ground.
Hsusia ran right onto the blade.
There was the briefest resistance from the armor, but then it yielded to the sword and Hsusia slid down until her face was mere inches from Annja’s. The sword punched through her back, having pierced her heart.
Hsusia’s breath froze. Her eyes went completely black.
But a smile played across her face. Annja rolled her off and got to her feet, wobbled and then collapsed next to the prone form of Hsusia.
It was over.
The arena went deathly silent.
And then a roar went up from the crowd. The thunder grew in intensity until Annja thought the roof might cave in completely.
Hans rushed out of the stands and came to Annja’s aid. “Are you all right?”
Annja shook her head. “I’m losing a lot of blood. I need to get bandaged up or I’m going to die, I think.”
Hans clamped a hand over the wound and waved the rest of the team down from the stands. Annja heard him giving orders, but her world was drifting away.
Hsusia lay on the ground, an ever-widening pool of blood spilled out of her armor. Annja frowned. It was a shame that it had to end this way, she thought. Hsusia was a good woman.
And I’ve just killed her.
The blackness came again for Annja.
And she succ
umbed.
“WAKE UP, ANNJA.”
Annja groaned. “This is getting old, coming to like this.” She sat up and winced as pain lanced through her side. She looked down and saw the wad of bandages wrapped around her waist.
“Did it stop bleeding?”
Hans nodded. “We stemmed the flow and stitched you up. Not sure how long it’s going to hurt, though. Could be a while.”
Roux stood nearby. “You gave us all quite a scare, Annja. We thought you were dead.”
“Felt like it,” Annja said. She looked around, but the body of Hsusia had been taken away. The arena itself was empty. Apparently none of Hsusia’s people had stayed after the battle was over. “Where is everyone?”
“Holding a funeral for Hsusia,” Spier said. “There is a time of mourning for the Jiao now. I have no idea how long it will last, but we’ve pretty much been left alone because of it.”
Annja shook her head. “I wish this had gone down some other way. Killing Hsusia wasn’t necessary.”
“Apparently the oracle thought so,” Roux said. “And they do seem to do whatever it tells them.”
Annja frowned. “I’d like to know exactly what that oracle is. And how it’s able to exert so much influence here.”
Roux nodded. “Well, I may have the answer to that question. I’ve been thinking about it ever since you told me you were feeling sick.”
“And what did you come up with?”
“I believe that it is some type of radioactive device.”
“How is that even possible?”
Roux held up his hand. “Hear me out. The oracle supplies a constant stream of power to the Jiao. It powers everything here—the lights, the plumbing, everything. You reported that it needs a constant source of water around it. Water flows in cold and leaves hot. Much the same way the water is super-heated in nuclear reactors, right?”
“I guess.”
“And then there’s the fact that Hsusia said that every surface person who comes in contact with the oracle gets sick and dies. You got sick, as well, and nearly died if not for the fact that you had some extra help in the matter.”
“But how would they have ever gotten their hands on radioactive material?” Annja asked. “It’s not the sort of thing you just find lying around on the street somewhere.”
“True,” Roux said. “But some things do occur naturally. It would obviously be a very rare occurrence, of course, but suppose they did find it and were able to refine it in such a way that it became an object of fascination first and then, over time, an object of worship.”
“It makes sense,” Spier said. “Especially since the cataclysm might well have destroyed the official records that were kept pertaining to the object. Without the background, the Jiao would have concocted some other story that would fit with the nature of it. Thus, it became deified as a matter of course.”
Roux nodded. “It’s an evolution of a fascinating, naturally occurring object that then gets transformed into something godlike.”
“So, why don’t the Jiao get sick from it?” Annja asked.
“Who knows? Gradual exposure over the millennia? Perhaps they have evolved to be able to withstand the level of radioactivity without succumbing to it. Of course, whenever someone from the surface comes here, they obviously lack that immunity. So they get sick and die,” Roux said.
“You really think it’s radioactive?”
Roux nodded. “I’m convinced of it.”
“Well, that certainly explains a lot.”
Hans helped Annja to her feet. “You still need to rest, Annja.”
“What I’d like,” Annja said, “is to get the hell out of here. See the sun again, not some nuclear-powered light.”
“That’s a good idea,” Roux said. “What are the odds that the Jiao will keep their word and let us go?”
Spier shrugged. “I don’t think it will be a problem, provided one of us stays behind like they said.”
Annja shook her head. “No way. We all get out of here together or we all fight our way out.”
Spier frowned. “You’re in no shape to fight these warriors. They’d overwhelm us with sheer numbers and then what good would that do? Senseless violence is a silly thing. And our deaths would be for nothing.”
“So, what, you’re saying that we should leave someone behind?”
Spier shrugged. “We could draw straws or something.”
“Annja is excused from the draw,” Hans said. “She already put her life on the line for all of us. Several times over, if I recall properly.”
Annja shook her head. “Nice of you to say so, but I’m in this with you guys. I’ll take my chances like anyone else.”
Roux glanced around. “We seem to be a bit short on straws, however. Anyone have any ideas on how we’ll figure this out?”
“No clue,” Annja said. She looked at Hans. “Got anything you can use?”
“No.”
Annja looked at Mueller and Gottlieb but neither of them had anything, either. She looked back at Hans. “Hey, where did Heinkel go?”
Hans looked at her. “What?” He glanced around and then saw that Heinkel was missing. “I have no idea.”
Roux frowned. “I’m afraid we were all a little concerned about the state of your health, Annja. Heinkel might have slipped out during the confusion.”
“Why?” Annja asked. “Where would he go?”
Hans glanced at Spier. “Do you think?”
Spier shrugged. “It’s possible. But how would he know how to get there?”
“He’s a smart man,” Hans said. “He could figure it out easily enough.”
“What are you two talking about?”
Hans looked into her eyes. “He may have gone for the pearl.”
“What? No,” Annja said. “And, of course, he has no idea that it’s radioactive. What’s he going to do, bring it back here and get us all sick?”
“We’ll find him,” Hans said. He nodded at Gottlieb and Mueller. They all left the room together.
Annja looked at Roux. “How would he transport the pearl if he finds it?”
“The only safe way,” Roux said, “is with a lead-shielded bag or something similar. But he doesn’t have anything like that.”
Spier shook his head. “He has no idea it’s radioactive, anyway. He’d have no reason to think he has to be careful with it.”
“This is not good,” Annja said. She turned and winced as more pain lanced through her side. “If the Jiao find out one of us is trying to rob them of their precious oracle, I think we can kiss our chances of escape goodbye. They’ll kill us all, for crying out loud.”
“This is my fault,” Spier said. “If I hadn’t been so obsessed with finding the pearl, Heinkel would never have taken it upon himself to go after it.”
“Heinkel bears responsibility for this,” Annja said. “After all, you didn’t tell him to go get it, did you?”
“Of course not.”
“Okay. Let’s just hope that Hans and the others can find him before he gets us all killed.”
Roux sighed. “We might be too late for that.” He nodded toward the entrance to the arena area and Annja followed his gaze. A dozen of Hsusia’s warriors stood with Heinkel in their custody.
The lead warrior came over to Annja. “We caught this man in the oracle room.”
Annja looked at Heinkel. “What were you doing?”
He frowned. “I was doing what we came here to do.”
Annja looked back at the warrior. “He acted alone. He was under no order to disturb your oracle. Any damage he caused was due to his actions alone.”
The warrior considered this and then frowned. “The rule of law is that anyone attempting to take the oracle will be put to death.”
Annja shook her head. “Whose rule of law was that?”
“The queen’s.”
“The queen is dead,” Annja said. “So, too, must her laws be struck down.”
The warrior shook his head. “We have yet t
o elect a new ruler. Until such time as we do, the old laws remain in effect. Your man here must be executed for his crime.”
“I cannot allow that,” Annja said.
“Yours is not to say,” the warrior replied. “If you attempt to stop us, you will also be killed.”
Annja shook her head. “Did you see me battle your queen?”
“Of course.”
“And I bested her in armed combat, correct?”
The warrior nodded. “You defeated her according to the rules of the bout. Yes.”
“So you’re well aware of what I am capable of as a warrior, like yourself. You know that I will not simply let you kill one of my men.”
The warrior considered this for a moment. “I would not be in a hurry to fight against you, if that is what you mean.”
“It is.”
“What do you propose, then?”
But the answer came to Annja in startling detail. As she looked at Heinkel, he seemed to pale, and then he slumped over, vomiting.
Annja waited until he was finished. “Did you touch it?”
Heinkel took a breath and then nodded. “I removed it from the basin. When they came into the room, I accidentally dropped it.”
“You dropped it?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve got radiation poison, Heinkel. The oracle is some sort of naturally occurring radioactive substance.”
“Is that why you got sick earlier?”
“Yes.”
Heinkel looked at her. “But you got better.”
“I got better because of the sword,” Annja said. “I don’t know how to help you battle the sickness that is ravaging your body right now.”
The warrior frowned. “It would appear that the oracle is dispensing its own justice here.”
Annja nodded. “It seems that way.”
The warrior seemed satisfied. He turned to his men. “We will return to the oracle room and make sure that the oracle is once again properly positioned.”
But as they turned to leave, a thunderous sound echoed across the chamber. The lights flickered and went out briefly before coming back on.
The floor shuddered.
Roux frowned. “Annja?”
Annja looked at Heinkel. “What the hell did you do?”
He shook his head. “I put it back after I dropped it. I’m telling you the truth. Honestly.”