Axler, James - Deathlands 66 - Separation

by Separation [lit]

  As they started to leave, J.B. noticed that Mildred made no attempt to move. "You coming with us?" he asked her.

  Mildred avoided his gaze for a second, then decided that she couldn't opt out in this way. She met the Armorer's eye with a level gaze.

  "I'm staying here, John. That's part of the deal."

  "Guess that mebbe answers my question," he said, looking away as he joined the others.

  "And maybe it's just not that simple," Mildred murmured as they left.

  DAWN BROKE with a clear sky and a light breeze that was chill but refreshing. Certainly refreshing enough for Ryan and Krysty to be out before many of the ville's inhabitants were awake. However, those who were up greeted the appearance of the couple as they walked through the streets with a mixture of curiosity and outright hostility.

  "Remind me again why we're doing this?" Krysty whispered to Ryan as they passed a sec man who made a point of sliding the catch on his blaster, either as a totem or a reminder not to step out of line.

  "Because we need to take a look around ourselves before we get assigned our work tasks," Ryan replied. "When Mildred and Sineta were talking about the ville and where it's situated on the island, they mentioned an inlet."

  "Yeah and they also made a point of saying how it would be real hard to get down there unobserved," Krysty pointed out.

  "True enough, but I'd just as soon check it out for myself. If Mildred reckons it's a no go, then normally I'd trust her—"

  "Normally?" Krysty queried.

  "Ninety-nine percent," Ryan answered. "Trouble is, this is that one percent. This ain't easy for her, but I sure as shit do not want to be trapped here at the mercy of a people that may turn against us."

  "That shouldn't happen," Krysty said.

  "Yeah, operative word being shouldn't," Ryan replied. "But this isn't a normal situation for Mildred, or for us. We've already talked about this, and last night did nothing to change my view on it. I don't blame Mildred—figure I'd feel the same if I was her. But I'm not."

  By this time they had left the ville and were walking down a path, beaten smooth by constant use over the years. A path that led to a sandy strip of beach that marked the small bay formed by the inlet.

  "Yeah, this would be fireblasted difficult to run an escape from right now, especially as we don't have any blasters," Ryan speculated as he turned and looked back up the hillside toward the ville. "Even more so as we've been followed."

  "I thought as much," Krysty mused, turning to follow his gaze. Her hair coiled around her in warning, as she squinted up into the trees to see a sec man lurking among the undergrowth. His stance was nonaggressive, but he had obviously been deputed to keep watch on them. "Wait, there's someone coming," she added. They could hear Mildred before they saw her. She appeared at a bend in the path, coming toward them. Even at a distance, they could tell from her body language that she felt uncomfortable.

  "Ryan, Krysty, what are you doing?" she asked as she approached across the sand.

  "Stupe question, Mildred. You know what we're doing," Ryan replied.

  "I had hoped that asking you not to escape but to help me, and help Sineta, would be enough," Mildred stated.

  The one-eyed man shook his head sadly. "Come on, what did you really expect? Most of the people here are going to be suspicious, some hostile, and a few might just decide to deal with us. We've got no blasters and only the word of your new ally that we'd be okay. If you were me, what would you do?" He waited, but Mildred didn't answer. Ryan continued. "You were right. If this is the only way to insure getting safely out to sea, then it'll be too difficult for us to crack without a major firefight. And I don't want it to come to that any more than you do. But I've got to check it out, have a backup plan if it all fucks up. After all, while you're helping Sineta we're going to be weaponless—"

  "Only our blasters," Mildred countered. "You, John and Jak still have knives."

  "Good you said 'our' blasters," Ryan noted, "but the situation is still basically the same. We're still going to be workers, at the mercy of others."

  "Join the club, Ryan—that's what my ancestors were," Mildred said heatedly.

  "Fair point." The one-eyed man shrugged. "I'm just worried that someone will get over excited and try to get some retroactive vengeance using us as the pawns."

  Mildred sighed. "Ryan, there's no real way of winning here, is there? Look, I don't figure that's going to happen. You know why I want to help Sineta. I haven't felt like this since I was a kid. And you know I don't want to let you guys down. Yeah, I'm torn here, but I need your help to help me. Prove to the idiots here that not all whitelanders are against them. As for those that would try to chill you to prove their point… Shit, there's fools like that trying to chill us every day."

  "That's fair," Krysty murmured. "We should help Mildred. That way we all get to the mainland and all get what we want."

  The one-eyed man pondered that. Finally he said, "Yeah, okay. I can't pretend to understand how you feel, but I know you realize why I feel like I do. But I warn you—if the shit hits, then we'll have to go in hard and for our lives."

  "Wouldn't expect it any other way, Ryan," Mildred told him.

  Krysty looked up at the waiting sec man, who had stepped onto the path at Mildred's entrance. She indicated his presence to both Mildred and Ryan before she spoke.

  "Come on, let's get back to the ville to see what we're supposed to be doing, before Markos and that brother of his start getting reports that'll give them ideas."

  Chapter Seven

  "Father, now that we have the opportunity, we must act," Sineta pleaded, holding the old man's hand while his healer administered the injection of morphine, supervised by Mildred.

  "You push me when I cannot think straight. My mind is traveling ever more like a maze, like the path of a half-crazy snake. Perhaps that is what I now am—" Barras halted as another spasm of pain racked his body, biting hard to try to prevent crying out in agony.

  "Just hang in there," Mildred said softly. "It'll take a few moments to start working."

  She indicated to Sineta to follow her to the far side of the room. She didn't want the baron to hear what she had to say, although, looking at the hard lump protruding from his stomach, the only sign of anything other than skin and bone on his wasted frame, she knew that in his heart he already knew what she had to say.

  "Mildred, I know he is not long for this world and will soon join our ancestors, but that is why I must press him," Sineta said quickly, preempting Mildred.

  "Sineta, I can't remember the last time I saw cancer like that. The tumor inside him must be huge, and it looks like it has spread over his whole body. He must be in immense pain. Any shots I can give him are not going to be strong enough. Pretty soon, he'll be too resistant to the dope to get any relief. How can he make any decisions like that?"

  "But he must. He is the baron, and we cannot move without his word."

  Mildred closed her eyes and sighed. "Okay, but don't be hard on him. It must be all he can do to keep lucid right now."

  They returned to the baron's bedside. From the expression on his face and the misting in his eyes, the morphine had kicked in enough to give him temporary relief.

  "Father—" Sineta began, but was cut short.

  "I know. I have a brief time of calm in which to gather my thoughts. Find Markos quickly and bring him here."

  Sineta rushed from the room, leaving Mildred and the healer alone. The baron dismissed the healer with a wave, then extended his arm, offering Mildred his hand. She took it and felt how weak his grip had become.

  "Listen to me, Mildred Wyeth. I have two things that I must do before the long night draws in on me. I must authorize the evacuation of our now-barren home, and I must decide between Elias and Markos for a husband." He smiled weakly, catching a look in Mildred's eye. "You think I should let my daughter rule alone, as she wishes? Ah, if only it were that simple. I would trust her to be a good leader, but the people of this island bel
ieve that a baron should be male."

  "If you trust her that much, why not make the precedent?" Mildred asked gently, interrupting him.

  Barras shook his head gently. "Another time, perhaps. But this is a crucial point in our history. We have to take to the whitelands to survive, and there would be too much fragility in a change of convention at such a time. Surely you can see that?"

  "I can't say I agree totally, but I do see where you're coming from," Mildred admitted.

  "Markos is a good man, but distrusts the pale ones because of his brother's teachings. Elias is more open, but does not have the people's respect. This delicate balance I must use for my decision. And at a time when I cannot think. There is something else that colors my mind and makes the choosing hard. A secret that is passed down the baronial line and must rest with Sineta before I go into the darkness. Something that is made the more important by the fact of our leaving the island."

  "Then maybe you should tell her now, while you still have the lucidity," Mildred counseled.

  Barras clicked his teeth and shook his head. "Again, not that simple. It could be awkward for this to be known when we—they—are preparing to leave. I will stay here, for I will be gone. But the secret cannot. I must trust you with this, Mildred Wyeth, so that you may carry it with you and tell Sineta at the right moment."

  "And what will be the right moment?"

  "You will know. You have enough wisdom for that." The old man looked away from Mildred, toward the doorway, as he heard the approach of Sineta and Markos. He said hurriedly, "It would be impolitic to tell you now—another time, when you administer my painkiller. Now I must prepare for my final great decree."

  The door to the adobe hut opened and Sineta entered with Markos respectfully at her heel. The sec man shot Mildred a glance that was curious. Was it because he wondered what had been said while she was alone with the baron or was it because he still couldn't figure her out? The baron had sat himself upright on the pillows and looked from his daughter to the sec boss. He sucked in a breath that was constrained and painful, then began. "I had my daughter bring you here because I have a decree. You will not like it, but it is a necessity. From today, we ready the islanders to leave our home and transport all our wealth, belongings and our spirits to the whitelands."

  Markos's eyes widened and his mouth fell agape. It took him a moment to regain his composure before saying, "Is this wise?"

  "You dare to question me?" Barras snapped. For the briefest of moments Mildred could see the strength of the man shine through, an insight into how he had to have been before the cancer ripped through him.

  "No, I would not presume to contradict the word of a baron. I would, however, wish to understand why such a decision—one that will meet with much opposition within the community and inspire resentment that will be divisive in some quarters—has been made." Barras gave a wry grin. "Very politic. In truth, I would not wish to leave this island unless it was necessary. And in truth, you know that it is. Take your head from the sand and look around you, Markos. This island can no longer support us. Successive generations have drained it dry, and now we have to find a new home. It will not be easy to wrench ourselves away from here, but it must be done. I shall not see it, but it is important we set matters in train right now, lest it be too late."

  "You mean that the word would be better received from you than from me," Sineta said bitterly.

  "That is not a stain on you, but rather an acknowledgment of fact. We shall talk of this another time, when we are alone. For now, all that remains to be said is that it is up to you and Markos to inform the people of my decision and to implement the necessary measures for the people to move. Now leave me. I feel tired, and have to rest…"

  Barras lay back on the pillows and closed his eyes.

  "The morphine's really taken effect now," Mildred whispered. "It'll put him out for a few hours."

  "Then we should leave," Markos said in a clipped, strained voice. "I have matters to attend, but I shall be at your home in two hours, if that is acceptable, to discuss arrangements."

  Sineta acknowledged the sec boss. "In two hours, then." When he had left, she said to Mildred, "Although it was the decisive action I wanted, I feel this is going to be fraught with problems."

  Mildred looked back at Barras, thinking of the secret he would be imparting to her trust. "Oh, yeah," she said slowly, "that's for sure."

  THE MEETING at Sineta's dwelling was short and far from sweet. Markos made it known that the move would bring nothing but trouble and that he, personally, was far from happy about living on the whitelands. However, he had a job to do and he would discharge his duty to the best of his ability. Having made his position clear, Mildred noticed that he seemed to relax and shift into a different gear, acting with a clearness of head and clarity of purpose that she wouldn't have thought possible. Plans for the evacuation were drawn with speed, the sec boss pointing out areas of difficulty and overcoming them with ease. It was hard to believe that this was the same man who had started the meeting by voicing such objections.

  He left in the still watches of the night, the plans complete. It was agreed that they would hold an island meeting the next morning to make matters clear and to begin the process. As he left, the sec boss ordered the night watches to prevent early rising hunters, miners, farmers and fishermen from beginning their tasks. Everyone had to be present in the main square when the meeting began. For Sineta and Mildred, it meant a night of little sleep. The reaction of the people was an unknown that worried the baron's daughter.

  As for Mildred, she wondered how her companions would feel, hearing this from someone else while she stood beside the baron's daughter. She knew that if it were her, she would feel in some way betrayed, and made wary. Yet she couldn't go to tell them now, for there could be no risk of the news leaking before the next morning. It was an untenable position.

  "I WONDER WHAT THE HELL this is about," Ryan said as the companions gathered in the main square with the rest of the Pilatans.

  "Whatever it is, Millie's got a hand in it," J.B. mused, seeing her enter the square with Markos and Sineta. "Which kind of makes me wonder why she didn't tell us about it."

  Doc laid a hand on the Armorer's shoulder. "I fear that is something on which you dwell too deeply, John Barrymore. Dear Dr. Wyeth is walking a very fine line at the moment, and we have to allow for this."

  "Yeah, but how far do we do that before it gets to be a problem?" Dean asked.

  Krysty shot him a puzzled look. "You're doubting Mildred?"

  Dean grimaced. "No, not really. It's just that… well, she kind of belongs here, and I figure that stuffs important. Mebbe more important."

  Doc raised an eyebrow. "You've been unsettled since we landed here, young Dean. What is it that ails you?"

  "Nothing," Dean muttered, shrugging off the memories of dreams that haunted him.

  "This still more interesting than waiting next hunt," Jak murmured.

  There was a raised platform in the middle of the square that was used for speeches and celebrations, and the trio of Markos, Mildred and Sineta mounted it to a hum of speculation that stilled as the sec boss raised an arm.

  "People, it is very rare in our history that we have to meet in such a way. And it is beyond such that we meet today, for we have something unprecedented in our history of which to speak. Our beloved Barras is too ill to come to speak, but he has given me orders and requested his daughter to speak to you. Pray be silent and listen well, for what Sineta has to say is of the utmost import."

  He stood back and made way for the woman. She stepped forward and looked over the sea of faces in front of her. Never before in her life had the reality of being the baron—the leader and focal point of so many—become so apparent. It was several moments before she found her voice.

  For many in the gathering it wasn't long enough. Markos's brother Chan stood in the crowd, instantly distinguishable because of his pigmentless skin, and listened in growing disbelief and an
ger to what Sineta had to say. She told the people of her father's decision to authorize a mass exodus to the whitelands and why. Their resources were all used up. It was a simple case of move or buy the farm. She explained that her father, herself and Markos were aware that many would be against mixing with the pale ones. These people had to face the reality of the situation.

  The plan was to find a place where they could live in relative isolation, so that they wouldn't have to mix with anyone—of whatever descent—if they didn't wish to. But there would be pale ones, and there would be no point in fighting it. She hoped that the presence of Mildred's companions would help to show that not all pale ones were the enemy. As for those who just did not wish to leave the island of Pilatu—they just needed to look around. The harvests were lessening; the game was harder to hunt; the mines were running dry. The island had served them well, but now it was exhausted. The time to reenter the world their ancestors had left behind had finally arrived, and truly they were the chosen ones for undertaking this momentous task.

  It was a good speech; a true speech. All the things that Sineta touched upon were true, albeit that they were angled to make her point seem more irrefutable. To many in the crowd, it seemed to make sense. Even those who were saddened by the thought of leaving the island could see that it wasn't a question of choice any longer.

  Watching the faces as Sineta spoke, Mildred felt it was going better than she might have expected. There were some that looked unhappy, even angry: not least among these being the instantly recognizable visage of Chan. Markos, too, had spotted his brother, and when Mildred glanced at the sec boss she could see the mixed emotions that boiled within him.

  But the faces that caught Mildred's attention most of all were those of the companions. At the back of the crowd, they stood out immediately and clearly by virtue of their skin color. She could see the amazement at the revelation, and also the disappointment. Her eyes locked with J.B.'s and, despite the distance between them, it seemed as though she could actually hear what was running through his head. His stare was accusatory. He felt that she had in some way betrayed them— could she be trusted?