Aurora

by Mark Robson

  ‘Right!’ she said, surprised to feel the flutterings of fear in her stomach. Or was it excitement? ‘Let’s go then,’ she told him.

  ‘They are already positioning to fight,’ Fang warned. ‘We won’t be able to get there before they start.’

  ‘Do your best, Fang,’ Kira replied. ‘Remember, it’s not our responsibility to stop them fighting. If they want to kill each other, that’s up to them. Let’s concentrate on doing what we came here for and then get away as fast as possible.’

  ‘Fang thinks he can see the Baron,’ Kira called over her shoulder. ‘But there’s no way we’re going to reach him before your friends are attacked. Getting a clean shot at his engine might not be easy.’

  ‘Just give me a chance,’ Jack shouted. ‘That’s all I ask.’

  The rhythm of Fang’s wingbeats became more urgent as he accelerated towards the distant specks of aircraft, but they were still several miles away when the fight began. Two of the large formation broke away from the main group to attack the friendly RE8s. Fang confirmed that one of them was an all-red triplane. There was no longer any doubt. They had found The Red Baron.

  Kira held her breath as the two triplanes dived at the Allied aircraft. It looked like an eerily silent dance of death at this range, though she knew that each side was spitting death at the other. First one, and then the other enemy aircraft broke away. The lead attacker returned to join the main formation, while the other dived and turned eastwards.

  ‘What happened?’ she asked Fang. ‘Can you see anything at this range?’

  ‘The leader is definitely the one we’re looking for,’ Fang confirmed. ‘The weapons of the RE8s damaged the other pilot’s machine.’

  ‘Is the Baron going to attack again?’ she asked.

  ‘I think his priorities have changed,’ Fang told her. ‘Look to your right. He’s just spotted more aircraft closing.’

  Kira twisted and pointed out the newcomers to Jack. ‘Are those machines friendly?’ she asked.

  ‘It’s the boys from 209,’ Jack confirmed. ‘It looks like the Baron’s Circus have seen them, too. He’s leaving the RE8s and marshalling his men for a more dangerous scrap. I don’t know if you’ve seen them, but there’s another group of our boys just ahead and below us. The Baron is signalling his men to attack. The sky’s getting busy around here!’

  Within seconds the sky seemed to become a whirling mess of aircraft turning and diving on one another, with more arriving all the time. Kira didn’t know where to look. Just about all the aircraft had red bands around their engines, but she had not yet spotted the one she was looking for.

  Suddenly, Jack began jabbing her shoulder again. ‘Over there!’ he shouted, pointing out to their right. ‘Above the main fight – look!’

  Kira followed Jack’s gaze and spotted the Baron, ‘I see him!’ she yelled back excitedly. ‘What’s he doing?’

  ‘Looking out for his junior pilots, probably.’

  ‘I can sense the Baron’s surface thoughts,’ Fang said suddenly. ‘He is watching over a relative. The name Wolfram is in his thoughts a lot. Tell Jack to prepare. We’ll be in position shortly.’

  Fang turned and the red triplane slid closer and closer. Kira tensed as she felt Jack raise his rifle and settle the sights.

  ‘A bit closer,’ she heard him say, more to himself than as a direction for Kira. ‘A bit closer.’

  CRACK! The sound of the bullet leaving Jack’s rifle made Kira jump. No sooner had he fired the shot than the red triplane tipped and entered a steep dive.

  ‘You got him!’ Kira exclaimed.

  ‘No.’

  ‘No.’

  Jack and Fang answered simultaneously, denying the hit.

  ‘I rushed the shot. It went high.’

  ‘It missed the top of his engine by a hand’s width,’ Fang confirmed.

  ‘Why’s he diving then?’

  ‘One of the allied pilots has attacked his relative,’ Fang told her. ‘The Baron is intent on chasing away the attacker. Hold on tight. I’m not going to let him get away now.’

  ‘What’s that fool doing?’ Jack exclaimed as they nosed down into a steep dive to follow the red triplane.

  ‘He’s protecting his relative,’ Kira shouted back. ‘I wouldn’t call that foolish.’

  ‘Not the Baron,’ Jack corrected. ‘The pilot he’s chasing. He’s wasting all his energy by weaving around. If he flew straight and let his aeroplane get up speed, he’d outrun the Baron easily. His machine’s faster than the Baron’s triplane.’

  The pilot must know who’s on his tail, Kira thought. If someone with the Baron’s reputation was chasing me, I doubt I’d be thinking rationally, either.

  For a moment it looked as though the allied aircraft might fly straight into the ground. But then at the last possible moment he levelled out, flying at no more than treetop height, and often dropping down lower until he was hopping over hedges and weaving around trees.

  Fang bottomed out of his dive at a similar height and it felt to Kira as if time had suddenly accelerated. The world flashed past at a ridiculous speed. They were gaining fast on the red triplane.

  ‘Why hasn’t the Baron finished him?’ Kira heard Jack wonder aloud. ‘He must have had him in his sights a dozen times!’

  ‘His weapons are not working,’ Fang said, answering the question that Kira could not help echoing in her mind. ‘He’s trying to fix them. His surface thoughts are full of frustration.’

  They were racing along the line of the Somme canal towards the town of Vaux-sur-Somme. Kira’s heart was racing now. Fang jinked to the right to try to give Jack the angle to fire as they gained.

  ‘The pilot’s running at the church!’ Jack exclaimed. ‘He’s so focused on von Richthofen chasing him, he’s not looking where he’s going!’

  ‘Shoot, Jack, shoot!’ Kira urged.

  ‘We’re not close enough,’ he growled.

  ‘Try!’

  The air was remarkably smooth, given the height they were flying at, but Fang could only match the height of the aircraft he was chasing.

  CRACK! Jack fired. Click, click – re-loaded. CRACK! He fired again. No response from the Baron’s machine.

  ‘Am I even close?’ he gasped.

  Kira relayed the question.

  ‘Both shots hit his machine, but neither hit the engine,’ Fang replied.

  ‘Hits, but not on the engine,’ she called over her shoulder. ‘Try again.’

  At precisely that moment all hell let loose. Another allied machine overtook them at speed down their left hand side, spraying a torrent of bullets in the direction of the red triplane. Some seemed to find their mark, but none with any more effectiveness than Jack’s efforts. The Red Baron turned hard to the right and rolled out heading northwest to climb up Morlancourt ridge. The attacking aircraft was going too fast to follow him. The pilot, having achieved his aim of giving his colleague a chance to escape, instead elected to pull up and enter a gentle left turn over the town.

  ‘Don’t lose the Baron!’ Jack yelled.

  Kira did not have to repeat the message to Fang. He turned so hard and low that his wingtip came dangerously close to catching on the ground. Crushed against his back, the two riders struggled to maintain their balance. Jack almost dropped his rifle as he fought to stay upright.

  Before they had even completed their turn to follow the Baron’s triplane, bullets were coming at them from several directions on the ground. Kira crouched low to Fang’s back, terrified as the zipping whine of the deadly projectiles filled the air. She felt Fang’s pain as several hit him in the chest and legs. More passed upwards through his left wing as he powered up the ridge. Von Richthofen was running for friendly territory but, by doing so, he was crossing the lines at a height that opened him up to a veritable barrage from the ground.

  Lying flat against Fang’s back, Kira saw Jack out of the corner of her eye. He was not only still upright, but he was lining up for another shot. Was he mad? The Baron’s ai
rcraft eased right again, rolling out eastwards. Fang matched the turn, remaining behind and slightly right. The triplane had to be nearly four hundred paces ahead of them. How could Jack possibly hope to score a hit at that range?

  CRACK! He loosed the shot and, a second later, the Baron’s aircraft pulled up sharply and entered a right-hand turn before nosing down and impacting the ground hard at the top of the ridge.

  ‘You did it!’ Kira exclaimed. ‘He’s landed. Whose troops are those down there? Look! They’re running to take him prisoner.’

  ‘They look like Aussies to me,’ Jack replied, his expression unreadable.

  ‘They will not be taking him prisoner,’ Fang announced, his tone solemn as he eased them away from the ground and entered a gentle climbing turn to the right. ‘Jack’s last shot hit the pilot in the back. He’s dead. I felt him die.’

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Jack’s Riddle Solution

  ‘You knew!’ Kira accused Jack as he slid down Fang’s side to land next to her. ‘I could see it in your eyes. You knew you’d killed him, didn’t you?’

  ‘I suspected I’d hit him, yes,’ he admitted with a shrug. ‘It wasn’t intentional. At that range I was lucky to hit the aircraft. Hitting the pilot was a fluke. As soon as I saw his aircraft pitch up and to the right the way it did, I knew it was likely that I’d injured him – or someone else had. There were a lot of bullets spraying at him from those machine-gun posts on the ground. It might not have been me.’

  ‘No. You killed him,’ Kira said firmly. ‘Fang may only have one eye now, but his vision isn’t like ours. He sees things we can’t. He tracked your bullet. It went straight in through the Baron’s cockpit and into his back. Fang was also listening to the Baron’s surface thoughts. He felt the shock of impact. He felt the Baron die.’

  ‘Well, I can’t say that I’m sorry,’ Jack admitted, jutting his chin defiantly. ‘He killed a huge number of our men, including my wingman last year. He was a menace – a brilliant pilot – but a menace to our forces. Don’t worry, Kira. He’ll receive the recognition he deserves as the worthy foe he has been. I’ll get the Boss to see that he’s buried with full military honours. April 21st will long be remembered as the day The Red Baron died.’

  ‘He was defenceless and you shot him in the back!’ she accused, eyes flashing dangerously.

  ‘Baron von Richthofen has never been defenceless,’ Jack barked vehemently. ‘He was a master strategist, although today he wasn’t on form. I don’t understand why he made such an uncharacteristically reckless error. He chased his prey – down to low level on the wrong side of the lines, with no support and with limited weaponry. It wasn’t like him at all. It’s long been known that he is . . . he was a careful pilot. I’m sorry, Kira. I didn’t mean to kill him. This didn’t work out the way I intended. But come. You did as I asked. Let’s go and see Elian and I’ll fulfil my side of the bargain.’

  Kira shook her head with a look of disbelief and stormed off ahead of him. She felt sick and used. Hunting and killing a creature for food was one thing, but hunting down and killing one specific man felt horribly wrong. Even though she had not personally killed the Baron, she felt responsible. The feeling twisted in her gut until she wanted to throw up.

  Elian was momentarily delighted when Aurora gave him the news that Kira and Jack had succeeded in bringing the Baron down in Allied territory.

  ‘It’s not all good news,’ Aurora continued. ‘Jack killed the pilot.’

  ‘Kira and Fang are all right, though, aren’t they?’ Elian asked quickly.

  ‘Yes . . . and no,’ Aurora replied cryptically. ‘Fang was hit by a large number of stingers, but has not suffered serious harm. Kira was not harmed physically either, but Fang tells me she’s deeply troubled by Jack’s shooting of the pilot. She feels responsible for the man’s death. You will need to tread lightly when she reaches you.’

  ‘I see,’ Elian said. It was a reflex answer. He didn’t see at all. Why should Kira feel responsible for Jack’s actions? He was a soldier involved in a war. Killing had been a part of his life for several years. It was not her fault that Jack had used his weapon against the man, rather than the machine. The mission was a success. She had done what Jack had asked, which brought a pressing question to the forefront of Elian’s mind. ‘Has he told her the answer to the Oracle’s riddle yet?’

  ‘No, not yet,’ she answered. ‘Jack has promised to tell you both together when they reach you. They are on their way to you now.’

  Elian was out of his seat, through the door and outside in no more than a handful of heartbeats. He could see them coming across the field. Kira was some distance ahead of Jack. Both had their heads down. He could understand Kira’s posture, but why did Jack look so depressed? Surely he should be jubilant. He had done what no other flyer had managed. He had shot down his deadliest enemy.

  The two figures came closer. When Kira turned from the lane into the courtyard, he ran forwards and drew her into a hug.

  ‘Aurora told me,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘It’s not your fault, Kira.’

  Kira did not reply, but she leaned her head into his shoulder and he could feel her weeping gently. Elian was shocked. This was not like the Kira he knew. He never thought he’d see the tough huntress shed a tear, let alone weep. Jack entered the courtyard behind her. His eyes were sad as he met Elian’s gaze.

  ‘I’m sorry, Elian,’ he apologised. ‘I meant no harm to Kira, I swear. I hope she will forgive me eventually. Come. Let’s go inside. The Boss needs to wire the news to HQ as soon as possible. I’ll give my report, then show you the answer to your riddle poem.’

  Jack led the way into the mess building. He left Elian and Kira and went to make his report. From the moment the door closed, Elian began pacing back and forth like a caged cat. Kira sat on a stool and stared blankly out of the window, listening to the sputtering of aircraft engines starting up – the launch of another patrol.

  To Elian every second Jack was gone felt like an age. The longer he waited, the more his suspicion of the pilot increased. What was he really doing? Did he actually have an answer to the Oracle’s riddle, or had he fooled them into helping him with false promises?

  The door opened and Elian turned instantly. Kira remained staring out of the window. Jack entered, carrying a folded map. Why a map? Was the final orb in this world after all? Did he know the orb’s location?

  ‘The Boss sends his thanks for your help,’ Jack began. ‘Apparently there are generals at Headquarters who want us to use all means possible to convince you to help with another problem . . .’

  ‘But you promised . . .’ Elian objected fiercely.

  Jack held up his hand, his stern expression halting Elian’s outburst. ‘If you’ll let me finish, Elian,’ he continued. ‘The Boss’s words were, “The Generals can go and take a running jump!”. He has authorised me to release the answer to your riddle, but I didn’t need his permission. I would have done it anyway. Here. Look.’

  Jack moved to the table in the centre of the room and unfolded his map. There were lines of symbols on the back, which Elian knew to be the strange writing of this world. There were five groups of four lines. It had to be the Oracle’s riddle rhyme.

  ‘Before I tell you outright what the answer is, would you mind writing out the riddle verses in your own language?’ Jack asked. ‘I wonder if this works in both of our languages.’

  ‘I’m not too good at writing,’ Elian admitted. ‘What about you, Kira?’

  Kira was still staring out of the window. She did not look round, but she shook her head.

  ‘OK, I’ll try,’ Elian said.

  Jack handed him a writing instrument unlike anything he had seen before. Placing the pointed end against the paper, he was amazed to see ink flow in a neat line as he brushed it against the white surface. Elian wrote the lines out in his own language, doing his best to make sure they lined up with Jack’s verses.

  When Elian had finished, Jack thanked him and th
en carefully underlined the fifth line, the tenth line and the seventeenth line:

  Beyond time’s bright arrow, life-saving breath,

  Love’s life force giving, slays final death.

  Orbs must be given, four all in all.

  Orbs to renew me, stilling death’s call.

  Delve ’neath the surface, life’s transport hides,

  Healing, restoring – bright river tides.

  Enter the sun’s steps; shed no more tears.

  Attain ye the orb; vanquish the fears.

  Release the dark orb – death brings me life.

  Take brave ones’ counsel, ’ware ye the knife.

  Exercise caution, stay pure and heed,

  Yield unto justice: truth will succeed.

  Ever protected, the dusk orb lies

  Behind the cover, yet no disguise.

  Afterlife image, unreal yet real,

  Lives in the shadows, waits to reveal.

  Life after death from death before life,

  Enter the new age, through deadly strife.

  Greatest of orbs is – dragon’s device.

  Gifted for ever: life’s sacrifice.

  ‘Do you see anything unusual about the verses now?’ he asked.

  Elian looked, but he could see nothing. He shook his head.

  ‘The riddles in each verse are clever,’ Jack explained. ‘If I had been clever enough, then I might have worked them out the way you were trying to do. But, to be honest, I wasn’t sharp enough to see the answers. There is an easier solution. In my language the Oracle’s poem is what we call an acrostic. You can read words downwards using the first letter of each line. I didn’t notice it until I wrote it out on the map. Even then I didn’t notice it straight away. Of course, once you see it, the solution is obvious. Try taking the first letter of each line and writing them out across the page like this’

  Jack wrote the letters:

  B L O O D H E A R T E Y E B A L L E G G

  Then he added diagonal slashes after the fifth, tenth and seventeenth letters, just as he had underlined those relative lines in the poem.