“Cadjoo.” Help.
Marris’s yell broke through the high-pitched voices only she could hear. “If I can switch cables from the auxiliary power to the light speed engines, yes.”
Her breath shuddered in and out. She stared wide eyed out the clear panels. The deep-green surface of Arranon rushed forward, replacing the flashing colors only she saw. Her jaw tensed. The cloying scent no one else seemed to notice faded.
“Do it, Captain. Get us down. In one piece,” Birk yelled, tightening his restraining straps.
Pak twisted the throttle. “We’ve lost a stabilizer. I can’t hover. This is going to get rough.”
The belly of the craft hit the ground and skidded through the dense vegetation, somehow avoiding the large trees. Saplings and young evergreens in the path of the uncontrollable aircraft snapped. The ship tipped on its side, nearly going over before slamming back down upright and stopping.
Erynn’s head whipped around, connecting with the frame of the seat back. She inhaled through clenched teeth and winced. Blood trickled down her temple. She raised a shaking hand to wipe away the flow.
Marris flipped a switch. The support struts raised and leveled the ship. He gripped the throttle and pulled. Engines whined into an eerie silence.
***
Erynn searched her mind for information about this world.
Arranon. Cold and unforgiving—a dangerous place for those unprepared for the risks.
She remembered only archives, the documentaries, and the wild, dangerous beauty they portrayed. Extended polar caps of ice and vast oceans covered two thirds of Arranon’s surface. Abundant plant and animal life evolved to thrive in the habitual cold of the equatorial landmasses.
She knew little about the people other than they were hearty, and had adapted to the bitter, harsh environment. The extreme weather defining Arranon created subtle changes in their physical development. Their skin was thicker, and their ears were smaller, lying flat against the side of the head. Their hearts were bigger, and their circulatory system held a larger volume of blood.
With Korin and Arranon’s detached relationship, will I find assistance here? Yes. Cale will help me.
“Check out the damage. Get started on the repairs,” Birk yelled to Marris.
Marris unbuckled and hurried to the rear of the ship.
Birk released his straps. He stood up, leaned over, and grabbed Erynn by the front of her jacket. “Stay put,” he snarled. “This won’t take long.” His odd eyes lingered a moment, studying her face. He hurried toward the exit and activated the controls. The ship’s hatch slid open. A second panel operated the ramp, which was humming into position.
Thin wisps of smoke drifted in on icy air. Erynn shivered and wrinkled her nose. The scent of burned metal was acrid and heavy. The strong odor overpowered the lighter aroma of scorched vegetation. The sight of Arranon’s open freedom beckoned, encouraging her.
If I can escape. No. When I escape.
Her gaze darted between Pak pushing his stocky frame out of the pilot’s seat, and Birk standing by the open hatch.
The stirring of hope faded. She dropped her head and stared at the smooth metal floor.
How can I get past them?
Erynn returned her attention to Birk.
Watch him. Stay alert. Be ready. The time will come.
Birk mumbled his annoyance under his breath. He turned to Pak. “Stay here.” He jerked his head in her direction. “Watch her.” He moved down the ramp, surveying the thick brush and dense woods. Turning to the left, he disappeared into the undergrowth and reappeared a moment later from the right. He peered into the ancient forest. “Well, Athru isn’t here. Yet.”
Pak stood at the top of the ramp and watched the woods. “Major, it’ll be dark soon. Arranon is a harsh world. There are places you don’t remain at night. That is if you want to stay alive.” He inhaled and exhaled, the icy plume streaming before him. “The katjaramuud inhabits these forests and would find us to be an easy meal.”
Katjaramuud—large, carnivorous. Not good.
The men’s fear brushed against her and mingled with her appraisal of her own situation.
Birk ran up the ramp, rubbing his hands together. His breath was a frosty vapor when he called to Marris at the back of the ship, “Captain, how much longer? I don’t want to spend any more time than necessary in this primitive place.”
Captain Marris came from the back, tools in hand. “Almost there, Major. I’ll need to make a few adjustments outside. The blast penetrated the shield. Hit the light-speed engine’s generator. It’ll take me a few minutes to relay power from the auxiliaries, sir.”
Birk’s voice was tight. “Get going, Captain. I don’t need to remind you of the consequences of our remaining here.”
Impatience and anxiety slammed into Erynn. She trembled involuntarily, and the tunnel of light in her mind narrowed, reducing her exposure to their emotions.
Nodding, Marris moved down the ramp to the rear of the craft.
Erynn turned to face the forward panels.
Where is Cale? Where are the pilots from the other fighters? They’re here, somewhere. Aren’t they?
Darkness moved in degrees through the dense woods, layer by layer in an onward drive until evening shadows enveloped the ship.
She shifted in her seat. The restraining straps cut into her shoulders and ribs. Erynn glared at Birk. He stood at the hatch, staring into the dark.
Who is this man? What is he doing here? Where is he from? Why Korin? Why me?
A fiery heat surged in the pit of her stomach. The burn raced upward, a flame that sought release. The explosive rage threatened to overtake her. She closed her eyes, squeezed tight, willing her anger into submission.
Now isn’t the time. But soon, yes, soon.
Her eyelids relaxed and opened. She glared at Birk.
Birk’s attention slid from the approaching night to her. He moved from the top of the ramp to sit next to her. His odd, colorless eyes focused on her, making the dark pupils stand out. He reached toward her, brushed a strand of curls from her face, and pressed a painful spot on the side of her head.
Erynn jerked at his touch.
When he drew his hand back, blood smeared his fingertips. He wiped the stain down the leg of his flight suit. “You will heal without attention.” He glanced out the open hatch, hand resting on his holstered weapon. “You have questions. They’re in your eyes. I can see them.” He turned back to her and chuckled. “Go ahead—ask.”
The questions tumbled out at once with a harsh tone of accusation. “Who are you? Why… Where did you come from? Why?”
Pak laughed, leaned his stocky form against the frame of the hatch, and shook his head.
Erynn glared at him and frowned.
“I’m Major Birk, from a battle cruiser stationed beyond your system—one of the few remaining in our fleet.” He stared at her. “Long before I was born, my world died, destroyed by overpopulation, misuse of resources, and greed. Forced to live in ships, we adapted to a new way of life—taking what we need from other worlds. Some of those we challenged fought back, weakening our armada.”
Good. You’ll find a fight here as well.
“Admiral Newell came up with a different strategy.” Birk stood up and began pacing. “The next system we came upon would fall to us with no battle—no loss of ships, or men. We would take over from within—infiltrate their government and economic sub-structure.” He stopped, his hands braced on the arms of her seat, his face centimeters from hers.
Erynn held her position. She didn’t draw away, refusing to show weakness.
“We need your resources to survive.” He smiled. “Unfortunately for you, the process will destroy your worlds. Your weakness simply made you the target of a more advanced civilization.” His sour breath carried over her.
“You’re not more advanced, and you’re far from civilized.” Anger and shame burned in Erynn. Cale had recognized the danger. He had opened himself to the warn
ings she ignored, and now—
“But General Cale Athru found out about us,” Birk went on, disregarding her insolence. “Athru informed Arranon’s government. They listened.” He tipped his head. “When Athru came to warn Korin, it was too much.”
Erynn shook her head, her voice hard as stone. “You have no idea.” She narrowed her eyes and allowed a brief turn of her lips. “Cale will stop you.”
Birk’s jaw muscles tensed and his pupils dilated farther. “No, he won’t. You have no idea of the power we command.” He straightened and took a step back, his fists white knuckled. “I’m going to find out why Marris isn’t finished.” He pulled a small hand-held lamp from a charging unit near the exit.
Darkness encompassed the ship like a thick, fibrous cover of spinner’s fluer.
Pak still leaned against the frame of the open hatch, able to keep Erynn in view and survey the shadow-filled forest.
Erynn watched him and opened to his emotions. Only one resided in Pak—fear. Deep-seated dread was a primary element of his core being.
Pak glanced at her, his gray eyes slits. He shivered as a blast of chill, damp air whipped inside. He turned, staring into the night. His fingers clutched the sides of the hatch as if loosening his grip would allow the choking blackness to suck him away.
If only it would. Unbuckle these restraints, and I could help.
Birk stormed up the ramp, his body hunched against the cold, and shoved past Pak. He threw the lamp against the wall. The light extinguished with a pop. The small device shattered, clattering to the floor. He slammed his hand against the panel, retracting the ramp and closing the hatch.
Birk glared at Erynn. “Marris is gone.”
Chapter 8
ERYNN WATCHED NIGHT PUSH THE last of the deep shadows into hiding. Someone or something out there had taken Marris.
Jaer? Katjaramuud? Where is Cale?
Birk was at the back of the ship, examining the unfinished work done by Marris. Pak sat in the pilot’s seat, staring trancelike into the inky blackness.
“Prepare. Be ready.” A high voice swirled around her and from inside her mind.
Erynn inched her hand up and released the buckle that strapped her to the seat. The resulting ease of breathing almost made her sigh. She checked the distance to the exit. Impossible. She’d never make the sprint to the hatch, open the lock, and escape outside before Birk or Pak caught her. She squeezed her eyes shut.
There has to be a way out of this—to get to Korin, home, and dad. What is happening to my dad?
Her chest tightened. She glanced down to make sure the restraining straps were still unfastened. They were. She forced air into her lungs.
Dad is fine. He has the situation on Korin under control by now. Help will arrive.
A soft scrape against the hull of the ship brought Birk forward. He searched the darkness that surrounded the ship. A thump followed and a bulky fur-covered body slid across her field of vision outside the clear panel. Erynn’s eyes widened. The ship lurched sideways several meters. A noisy thud sounded from the rear of the craft, spinning it around.
Birk slammed into the control panel to the right of the cockpit and groaned.
A large vine-covered limb hit with a loud crack, leaves undulating like they were underwater. Vines wrapped the window and caught there like the tentacles of a mwirr grabbing its prey.
Interior lights went out with the sparking stink of burning wires. The ship continued its forward thrust. It tilted and rocked in all directions, propelled through trees and dense brush accompanied and by the screaming of grinding metal.
Erynn grasped the arms of her seat while pushing her feet against the floor to keep from landing on the deck. With one last lurch, the rocking, thrusting drive of the ship ended.
Vines clung to the forward panels, obscuring visibility. In the darkness, Erynn catapulted silently from her seat to the control panel. She ran her hands over the rough wall, finding what she hoped were the release mechanisms for the hatch and ramp.
Please be wired separately from the lights.
Birk and Pak moved about in the dark up front. The ship began to sway back and forth beneath their shifting weight.
“Don’t move!” Birk yelled.
Erynn held her breath. The rocking ceased. She depressed the panel. The door shrieked and ground to a halt only partially open. The ramp remained retracted. She squeezed her body through the small opening and quickly surveyed the area.
Crashing ocean waves replaced the closed-in silence of the ship. The sharp scent of the sea and cold air burned her nostrils. Light from two full, silver moons illuminated the scene. The ship occupied a small clearing a short distance from a dense wooded area. The dark forms of two huge beasts receded into the cover of the trees.
Why had they stopped their attack?
She looked down. The front of the craft and one crumpled landing support perched over a ledge.
Fifteen meters below, waves worked against the massive rocks of the shore.
“She’s trying to escape. Stop her,” Birk spat.
The ship rocked forward over the cliff. The two remaining supports slid in the direction of the shifted weight.
Erynn leapt, hitting the ground in a crouch, and pushed upright. She sprinted to the edge of the forest as far from where the lumbering animals had entered as possible and dove into the dense brush. She squatted among a tangle of branches with thick, broad leaves and watched the ship teeter on the rim.
The cracking snap of limbs and the crunch of brush faded as the creatures retreated deeper into the woods. She glanced back toward the forest, her breathing quick and ragged. Her eyes adjusted to the monochrome light. She saw a wall of trees and nothing else.
What if those animals return? Worry about that if it happens.
A gust of icy wind danced around her and she shivered. Her attention whipped back to the ship. She watched Birk and Pak jump from the hatch just before the ship slid over the lip of the cliff and exploded on the rocks below. They were alive. Birk would come looking for her—soon.
She knew if her heart beat any harder, Birk would hear the pounding, disjointed rhythm. This was her only chance to get away. He would find her if she didn’t move.
Move where? Calm down, work this out, make a plan. You’ve been through survival training.
She scanned the areas beyond her cover. To her left about twenty meters away, the forest curved around, spilling over the cliff. To her immediate right a narrow strip of bare land angled down between the trees. Then there was always the forest behind her.
The animals—no, not a good idea.
There appeared to be only one choice. The clearing sloped away from the rim of trees, hiding the narrow path from view. Pushing through the low brush, she side-crawled to the edge. Lying face down, Erynn pulled at the stony soil with her hands while pushing at the loose dirt with her boots. Waves crashed against rocks below with a constant tempo, masking the scrabbling of her passage. She stopped and lay still and quiet, listening. Her forehead rested against the uneven surface. Her heart’s quick beat thumped, compressed against the solid ground. The rich scent of the soil stirred by her efforts filled her nostrils. The aroma reached her burning lungs, soothing the raw passages and hitting her bloodstream like a drug. Her heart eased its wild pace and her mind cleared.
Is there some medicinal quality to the soil here?
Erynn rolled to a crouch and turned. The rising glow of the burning ship was a backdrop to Birk’s tall form and Pak’s shorter one visible in the clearing. She lay flat again and pushed forward. The pebbly soil gave rise to sharp stones that bit at her hands. The downward slope increased and widened. The concealing safety of trees and brush was far above her. If Birk were to find the path and come now, the forest was too far away. There would be no time to hide. Down was her only choice. Erynn stood up and scanned the route behind her. A faint orange light from the clearing was all she could see. She took a deep breath and hurried on. The trail gave way to large
r outcroppings of boulders. She slipped and slid on their wet surfaces.
Deep shadows cast by the rocks caused her mad descent to slow. After seeing those two large animals leaving the clearing, understanding they were responsible for tossing the ship around like a toy, she moved with a deliberate caution. She peered into each dark recess before proceeding. An attack by an indigenous life form after escaping Birk would be an unpleasant turn.
Not good.
She chuckled nervously at the irony. Protruding boulders further slowed her descent. She reached out for support and felt the increased moisture on the surface of the stone, cold and slick. Her breath fogged and ripped into tatters, spirited away with the wind. Heading toward the ocean and possibly a dead end, the only alternative was to return to the clearing. That option wasn’t necessary yet.
The rocks beneath her boots became slippery with slime. The ocean appeared below her to the left, the crashing of the waves deafening, the scent briny and sharp.
Light from the two moons became intermittent as fat black clouds raced in. They cloaked the shore with dark shadows and hulking shapes. Uncertainty added an icy hand to the chilling gusts driven from the sea.
“Hurry. He’s coming.”
This knowledge swirled in the wind around her. She heeded the warning, jumping from one rock to another, increasing her speed down to the shore.
Erynn came to the obstruction she feared. To her left and curving ahead, huge boulders separated her from the main onslaught of the ocean as waves slammed against the rocks. Less than a meter below her lay a small sandy area protected from the powerful surge.
The sea pushed forward against the outer barrier to rise gently on this side with each charge of the sea.
On her right, a sheer wall of black rose to the forest forty meters above. The barrier met and joined the boulders at the heaving surf.
Storm of Arranon Page 5