by Tom Hoffman
“I’m afraid I’m not very popular among my fellow warriors. I don’t seem to get the same giddy pleasure they do from killing the enemy.”
These words struck a chord deep within Edmund the Explorer. He thought carefully. What would the Thirteenth Monk say if he were here? He grinned. The Blue Monk wouldn’t be hiding behind the trees. By now he’d be sitting next to the Anarkkian looking at family photos and swapping vapormail addresses and bread recipes.
“How about we put down our weapons for a bit and have a chat. We can always kill each other later if we want to.”
“Sure, why not. But just so you know, there’s a very good chance I’ll dust you with the beamer the instant you step out from behind those trees.”
Edmund the Rabbiton burst out through the foliage on the left side of the ship. He glared at the Anarkkian, who was half sitting and half lying on a flat rock next to the crippled ship. “I would advise against that, or you’ll have me to contend with! I might remind you I am indestructible.”
“Hey explorer, you never explained to your Rabbiton what jokes are?”
Edmund the Explorer put his paw over his mouth to keep from laughing. This was getting ridiculous. He hollered out to Edmund. “She made a joke A2. She’s not really going to dust me.”
“Ha ha ha ha.”
“I’m impressed, explorer. I could never get my Beeter to laugh out loud like that. I’m not sure who programs them, but I hope I never meet them.”
Edmund the Explorer put down his vape guns and walked out through the trees. He stepped into the open and spotted the Anarkkian warrior hunched over on the large flat rock. “Are you hurt?”
“I had a bit of a fall about a week ago. One broken arm, one broken leg, and no medpacks. Half the time the Warrior Narkks steal them from the ships and sell them. Never have quite understood the logic behind that.”
“You have the time throttle?”
“You don’t waste time. Yes, I have it.”
“Where’d you find it?”
“In a cave up the mountain, along with the remains of an old Mintarian scouting party. Not sure what got them but it wasn’t pretty. Why do you want it? You going to shut down Anarkkia? I can’t let that happen, you know. You’ll have to kill me to get it.”
“Relax. Nobody is killing anybody. They only sent me here so it wouldn’t be used against us. That’s all. If you want we can vaporize it right here and now.”
“Now there’s a good solid plan. I guess you were busy exploring some creepy cave during that class on Mintarian technology. Try to vape it and Nirriim will be frozen in time for the next trillion years or so. You don’t think the Mintarians thought of something as simple as that? The only real problem is I have no idea how to destroy it. If I did know, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“Mintarians were a little before my time. I don’t know much about them.”
“You wouldn’t want to meet one. They’ve got some terrifying teeth on them. The ones in the cave look like they got marinated for ten years in ugly sauce.”
Edmund the Explorer burst out laughing. “Good one. I suppose now would be a bad time to mention those two lovely green tusks of yours.”
“I’d rather have tusks and scales than walk around looking like a fluffed up Quintarian furball.”
“You know what? I’m starting to like you. My name is Edmund the Explorer. What do they call you?”
“That depends. I’m Neilana to my friends. I won’t mention what the other ones call me. I wouldn’t want you to faint or anything.”
“I do appreciate your restraint. So, Neilana, what are we going to do about all this?”
“Well, do you have any medpacks?”
“A2, how many medpacks do we have?”
Edmund approached, reaching into a side pocket on his pack. “We have two.”
“That’ll do it.” Edmund the Explorer took the two medpacks from Edmund and stepped over to Neilana. “Where’s it hurt?”
“The arm and leg that look most like a pretzel.”
Edmund the Explorer unwrapped the medpacks and held the first one next to Neilana’s broken leg. He pressed the blue tab and a two foot sphere of brilliant green light surrounded the leg. He used the second pack on Neilana’s broken arm. “Never have quite understood how these things work.”
“Shapers invented them. They figured out how to confine shaper energy inside a carrier tube. Break the tube and it heals about anything.”
“Live and learn I always say.”
Five minutes later Neilana rose up, gently putting pressure on her leg. “Just like new. Okay, you want to hand me my beamer so I can dust you both and get out of here?”
“Ha ha ha ha.”
“You had a good teacher, Rabbiton. Maybe if they programmed our Beeters to laugh, the war would be over by now. I haven’t missed the fighting, I can tell you that. It’s been quite enjoyable sitting here listening to the wind blow through the trees for the past month – before I fell, anyway. Sometimes I could almost hear a melody, a kind of song.”
An odd feeling rippled through Edmund. “Perhaps the trees have their own song, just as the ocean does.”
Neilana looked surprised. “How do you know about that? You’re a Rabbiton.”
Edmund told his first lie, realizing that perhaps Edmund the Explorer had been right about good lies and bad lies. “The Tree of Eyes told me about it. It sang the song for me, and now I hear it when I listen. The song is everywhere.”
Neilana looked questioningly at Edmund the Explorer, who shrugged. “Hey, I was asleep in a big feather bed when all that happened.”
Neilana studied Edmund the Rabbiton. “You’re right about the trees having their own song. I’ve heard the song since I was young, but I quickly learned never to talk about it. The Narkkers laughed at me the first time I told them I could hear it. I never mentioned it again. The ocean, the trees, the sky, the earth... they all have their own song, and when you hear them together it’s...” Neilana didn’t finish her sentence. “I guess there are no words to describe it. Let’s just say if the Anarkkians could hear it, this war would be over in about five minutes.”
Edmund the Rabbiton said, “Perhaps if you returned to Anarkkia you could teach others to hear the song. You never know what might happen.”
Neilana stared at Edmund. “What are you?”
“I am an A2 Carrier Rabbiton with the upgraded internal dynamics package and the optional Interworld Positioning System.”
“Uh huh. I think you may have a few extra crystals they didn’t tell you about, my friend.” Neilana turned to Edmund the Explorer. “I don’t suppose you have a CDETS in your back pocket?”
“I had a sack of them but I traded it for a keg of magic ale.”
Edmund the Rabbiton spoke up. “I have one.”
Neilana turned towards Edmund. “What do you mean you have one?”
“I am powered by a CDETS.”
Edmund the Explorer broke in. “A2, you can’t do that. If you take out your CDETS you would... stop working. You would die.”
“You are incorrect. The internal dynamics upgrade includes an auxiliary power source which will keep me going for almost three months. We will be back to Earth long before then and you can install a new CDETS.”
“A CDETS costs almost forty-thousand credits, A2. Emma and I can’t afford something like that.”
Neilana pulled out a small cloth sack. She tossed it over to Edmund the Explorer. “This should cover it.”
Edmund the Explorer eyed the small bag. It was made of green velvet and was decorated with the image of an arrow piercing a gold spiral. “What is it?”
“Nirriimian white crystals. I found them on one of the Mintarians.”
Edmund the Explorer opened the sack and peered into it. “This will buy ten CDETS.”
“It’s only credits.” Neilana studied Edmund the Explorer. “You may as well take this while you’re at it.” She opened her hand, revealing a gleaming blue iridesce
nt metallic cube. “It’s called a Mintarian time throttle.”
Edmund the Explorer took the time throttle from Neilana. “A2, are you sure you want to give up your CDETS? You don’t have to.”
“I want to do it. It is the right thing to do.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. Neilana, let’s go fix your ship.”
* * *
Sunrise found the two Edmunds and Neilana standing next to a fully operational scout ship. “What will you do when you get back to Anarkkia?”
“I will go into hiding. I have friends I can stay with outside the city. They are more open to the songs there. I will teach them how to listen. No words can express how grateful I am to both of you. You should know our meeting was not accidental. The trees whispered this to me long before you arrived.”
“Well, it seemed like a better idea than killing each other. Be safe then. I’ll spend half the white crystals on Nirriimian brew and the rest on a new floater for Emma. After that maybe I’ll get around to buying a CDETS for A2, but only if I can find an old beater in a junk shop.”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Neilana smiled at Edmund the Rabbiton. “I’m still not sure what you are, my friend, but you are far more than you seem to be. I am forever in your debt.” Neilana turned and climbed into the ship. “Better move back. I’d hate to accidentally turn you into a mound of charcoal.”
With a wave, the two Edmunds walked away, disappearing into the trees. “She’ll be home before we are.” Moments later a brilliant flash lit up the mountainside. Neilana was on her way back to Anarkkia.
“All’s well that ends well, I guess. We got the time throttle and I didn’t have to wipe out half the Anarkkian army doing it. I’m thinking we should make our way back to the Tree of Eyes then head back to the World Doors. I could sure use another night in that feather bed. You haven’t managed to lose the Seventh Key have you? I’d hate to have to tell Bruno Rabbit you were the one who lost it.”
“I have the key safely in my pack. I check daily to make certain it is still there.”
“Good. Go ahead and pop this in with it and we’re good to go.” He tossed the time throttle to Edmund, who strapped it securely inside the pocket with the Seventh Key.
As they strolled down the mountain path towards the Timere Forest, Edmund the Explorer clapped his paw on Edmund’s shoulder. “I hate to admit it, but we did a good thing today, A2. Emma will be proud of us, and that makes me happy. Speaking of Emma, did I ever tell you about the time my ship crashed on Deailderon? Spiders the size of scout ships. It was terrifying. The only weapon I had was a small pocket knife that Emma gave me for my...”
Edmund the Rabbiton was happier than he had ever been. There was nowhere else in the universe he would rather be right now. He heard the trees and the ocean singing, their exquisite harmonies whirling and soaring through the clear mountain air.
Chapter 27
The Fires of Life
Hiking down the mountain was much faster than hiking up the mountain. In less than a day the two Edmunds had reached the edge of the Timere Forest. “Are you ready to face the ants again?”
“I’m ready. I am amazed by their size and strength, but I seem to have lost some of my irrational fear.”
“Good. I’m in the same boat as you when it comes to spiders. I don’t like them, but I’ve almost conquered my fear of them. Let’s head back to the Tree of Eyes. At this rate it should take about a day and a half to get there. Tread lightly, my friend, and don’t forget to whisper.”
The forest was beautiful, narrow beams of sunlight angling down through the cathedral of trees, covering the forest floor with a soft flickering light.
“I can’t wait to see Emma. There’s something special between us, in case you hadn’t noticed. I feel as though I’ve known her forever. She always says no matter what happens we’ll find each other again, and I believe her. We’re all so much more than a bunch of furry rabbits scurrying about looking for food. When I look into Emma’s eyes I see a reflection of what we truly are.”
Edmund the Rabbiton nodded. “The Tree of Eyes said we live on after... you know. I wonder if I will? I know I’m a Rabbiton, a machine, but I feel more than that.”
“You will live on, my friend. I know it. You’re different from any Rabbiton I’ve ever met. Put a little fur on you and you’re one of us.”
“Hmmm. Perhaps I should think about buying a fur coat. Ha ha ha ha.”
Edmund the Explorer never saw the ant that grabbed him. He saw its mandibles whip around his chest, and was turning his head to look when his world went black.
Edmund the Rabbiton was gazing up at the glorious sunlight filtering through the trees when he heard Edmund the Explorer’s terrible gasp. He turned and saw the ant. With a roar that echoed through the forest, Edmund leaped towards the ant. He grabbed one of its mandibles, and with every ounce of strength he could muster, slammed his fist into the ant’s head below its tongue. The four thousand pound ant dropped to the forest floor with a dull, earthshaking thud. Edmund pried apart its mandibles, freeing Edmund the Explorer. His pack fell to the ground as he picked him up, cradling him in his arms. He was still breathing, but just barely. There was a thundering crash and the sound of trees snapping and splitting. More ants were emerging from the side of the trail. Edmund ran. Faster and faster he raced down the forest trail, holding Edmund the Explorer as gently as he could.
They had used both their medpacks to heal Neilana. Edmund’s mind was racing. The Tree of Eyes had warned him about this, telling him to return to the Tree if he needed help. The Tree was a powerful shaper and could heal Edmund the Explorer, but he had to get there before...
Edmund ran and ran and ran, never slowing down until he reached the circle of trees. He had been running for over five hours. For the first time in his life he felt tired, his legs and arms shaky. He carried Edmund the Explorer through the trees into the clearing. The Tree of Eyes was waiting for him.
“Quickly, bring him here, close to us.” Edmund ran to the Tree and held out Edmund the Explorer. Hundreds of tendrils shot out from the Tree and wrapped around him until he disappeared inside a leafy cocoon. “We will do what we can to heal him, but it is not as simple as that. We have stopped time within the cocoon. He must remain here with us. He is not dead, but he is not alive.”
Edmund the Rabbiton was feeling dizzy and wasn’t sure how much longer he could remain standing. He had never experienced this before and didn’t know what to expect. This would be the first time he had ever died.
The Tree of Eyes spoke to him in a gentle soothing voice, like a mother to its bunny. “You told Edmund the Explorer your secondary power supply would last for three months when you knew it would only last for several days at the most. You used up all your reserve power running here.”
“We had to get Neilana back to Anarkkia. I knew it was the right thing to do, but I also knew Edmund the Explorer wouldn’t let me give up my CDETS if I told him the truth.” He stopped, his thoughts muddled and confused. He couldn’t remember why he was here. What was this tree with so many eyes, all looking at him? He tried to pick out a single pair of eyes to focus on but couldn’t seem to do it.
Dozens and dozens of tendrils reached out and wrapped around him. It was a comforting feeling, like lying in a soft bed, or what he thought that would be like. He had never slept before, but imagined this is what it must feel like to drift off to sleep. He heard a quiet voice in his head, but the meaning of the words was unclear to him.
“You have made a great sacrifice, Edmund the Rabbiton, and it was not made in vain. Neilana’s teachings bring an end to the Anarkkian wars. It takes almost four years, but as more and more Anarkkians hear the Songs of Life, they rise up and bring to a close this terrible chapter in the life of Anarkkia. Never again will Anarkkians wage war. Edmund, it is time for you to sleep now. We have shaped you a new CDETS, but you have wounds which lie beyond this physical world. This is not the end of your life, only the end of this short chapter
, and you still have much to accomplish. These are dark moments for you, but in time you will awaken to a great happiness.”
Edmund the Rabbiton was drifting, then soaring through an inky infinite blackness. He was in the Void, the space between all worlds, on his way back to the Blue Monks. The words of the Tree of Eyes were still in his thoughts when he saw a familiar sliver of light in the distance.
He willed himself towards the light, watching it grow larger as he approached it. Then he was next to it, looking down into it, gazing at a silver Rabbiton sitting on a pile of soft velvet pillows. Edmund tumbled into the blazing light.
Once again he was sitting on the pillows in the monastery. Standing in front of him was the Thirteenth Monk, his face a curious mix of deep sorrow and infinite joy.
Wave after wave of memories rolled through Edmund, filling him with an unbearable sense of loss. With a dreadful wail he rolled forward, wrapping both arms around his head. He would never again see Edmund the Explorer and never again see Emma. His cries echoed through the empty stone building.
“Edmund, come with me. It will be all right, but you must come with me into the garden.” The sound of these words drew Edmund out of the darkness for a brief moment, long enough for him to look up at the Thirteenth Monk.
“You are in shock, Edmund. You need to stand up and follow me into the garden.”
Edmund rose to his feet, his legs wobbly. The Thirteenth Monk hummed two short notes and the blue door swung open, brilliant sunlight flooding into the darkened monastery. They walked into the garden of the Blue Monks, stepping across a smooth stone path to a nearby bench. The Thirteenth Monk motioned for Edmund to sit next to him.
He took Edmund’s hand between his paws. “It will be all right. What you just experienced took place almost fifteen hundred years ago. Edmund the Explorer and Emma have moved on to other places, other times. The death of our physical body is not the end of us, Edmund. Edmund the Explorer and Emma will find each other again. It can be no other way. Do you remember what Edmund the Explorer said to Emma?”