Axler, James - Deathlands 66 - Separation

by Separation [lit]

  On board the two remaining ships were Ryan and Dean, and Doc and J.B. For the former pair, it would be an easy night. They were among those who would work with them, and who didn't see them as enemies. For the latter two, this was still not the case. Despite the fact that J.B. had saved the life of the separatist who would have chilled both Doc and himself, the general atmosphere was still against them. Added to this, the livestock on board were still disturbed by the events of the voyage and prowled their cages, making it hard for anyone to rest. Tempers were frayed and getting worse in such an atmosphere.

  "Truly, I would never have been so pleased to partake of an invigorating scramble in such unseemly circumstances," Doc remarked to the Armorer, with no lack of wit as they took turns to keep watch while the other tried to sleep.

  On the mainland peninsula, the night winds howled and swept along the bare rock, making it hard for those in the makeshift shelters to rest.

  "It is not perhaps how I would have envisaged our first night in a new land," Sineta said to Mildred, Krysty and Markos as they huddled around the fire.

  "In truth, it could hardly have been any different, if one chose to reflect," Markos considered at length. "Whatever happened, we could not establish a comfortable and even semipermanent camp immediately."

  "That's true, but it doesn't stop it being so damn cold," Mildred countered.

  Farther up, at the point where the stone and slate gave way to topsoil and grass, Jak joined the sec men who were keeping watch on the land beyond, taking his turn with the rest of them. It was gesture that was appreciated by sec men who had no experience of the mainland.

  And so the night passed. Dawn broke and the first of the remaining ships moved into position as soon as the light was sufficient. It unloaded with ease, and it wasn't long before Ryan and Dean were reunited with their companions. The ship was sent off to join the others, now little more than matchwood against the rocks.

  The tide had receded during the hours of darkness and it would be a race against time to bring the final ship into position and unload it—including the livestock—before the waters began to deepen once more. Only if it was unavoidable did anyone wish to wait the hours until the tide went out once more.

  On board, J.B. and Doc helped to prepare the animals for unloading. They were released from their cages one at a time and led down a gangplank into the shallow waters. Once at the bottom of the incline, they were roped with the lengths thrown down from the top of the slope and were then guided up. Here they were put in the charge of Pilatans who were ready for them, penned in crates until they were all on the level.

  It was a slow and painstaking process, with many of the frightened animals refusing to make their way up the slope, the Pilatans at the bottom of the incline forced to beat them to make them move from fear and pain. The resultant cries from the beasts did nothing to quell the fear among those still on board the boat.

  J.B. and Doc were among the last to start the ascent. They both stood at the bottom of the scree, the water of the incoming tide lapping at their ankles as the seaman deputed to scupper the last boat set its course and clambered down and into the calm waters as the craft headed for the graveyard that the rocks had become. They helped the man onto the drier land of the slope and, as he began to climb, they watched the boat crash into the side of the cliff.

  "That's it, then." Doc sighed. "No way back for any who may regret it, now."

  "No way back for us, either," the Armorer added. "And unless we move it, we'll risk being drowned in this damn tide."

  They began their ascent, some distance behind the others. Doc found the moss and slime hard going, his hands and feet scrabbling for holds, his lion's-head swordstick tucked into his belt. Once or twice he lost his grip completely and felt himself begin to slip and fall backward, but always J.B. was there to grab him and help him up again.

  By the time that both men had reached the summit, they were exhausted. Ryan and Dean were there to help them up over the edge.

  "Thanks for sending a rope down for us," J.B. panted.

  Ryan grinned. "They've used them all on the animals. Guess they didn't think you'd need them."

  "Great. I'll do the same for them sometime," J.B. gasped.

  Climbing to their feet, both men could see that the train of Pilatans and their animals were ready to begin their trek. At the head of the convoy were Markos and Sineta, with Mildred, Krysty and Jak waiting for them. They were facing the beginnings of the grasslands and Sineta looked back to where the four men were standing. She said something to Markos, who turned and beckoned to the four companions.

  "I guess they want us to take the head with them because we know the mainland," Ryan said wryly.

  "But, Dad, it's different here from elsewhere and we—"

  "I know," Ryan said quietly. "But you know what, Dean? They've got to discover that for themselves."

  Chapter Thirteen

  The caravan of Pilatu made its way across the terrain for two days. Progress was slow, slower than had originally been envisioned by Sineta as the wags had been ditched and many of the older Pilatans found it hard to keep pace on foot. There were horses in among the livestock, and the younger, fitter members of the tribe gave up their mounts to assist their elders. Sineta herself was one of the first to do this, followed by Markos. The companions, who had also been given mounts so that they could keep pace with the caravan leaders and also scout ahead, also gave up their seats, although Doc was incensed when Sineta insisted that he retain his mount, on account of his age.

  The area presented the weary caravan with no great threat. Rolling green hills led away from the rock peninsula where they had landed, forming a bland green barrier between themselves and the great lands beyond, the inclines making it impossible to see what lay over the crests of the hills.

  "Perhaps it will be better on the other side," Markos said to Ryan as they rode on the first day. "If it stretches like this for any great distance, then how can it be farmed? Where is the shelter?"

  "It'll be different, all right," the one-eyed man replied. "You don't know how different…but I'll be glad when we're beyond this."

  Ryan shivered as yet another cold gust swept along the hills. Certainly, this was hardly the most inspiring introduction to the mainland that the Pilatans could have wished. The hills were covered with a thin layer of topsoil that was enough to allow the sparse growth of grass and moss that softened underfoot but allowed for nothing else to take root. The rock beneath the soil was flat, so there were no outcrops to stop the winds from howling across the flat plain that rose in an incline to the crest.

  With the slow progress that they made on foot, it seemed as if they would never reach the crest to see what lay beyond. The Pilatans moved slowly, and even to reach the crest of the long, undulating hills meant trekking a greater distance than the length and breadth of the island they had left behind. The scale of the mainland was something they couldn't even imagine, let alone adjust to with ease. And with each passing hour that they walked, they grew more and more apprehensive about their undertaking. Was this land too big for them to assimilate? Would they be able to find somewhere that had the resource and reassurance of their home?

  It was something that the companions could do nothing to assuage. The vast plains of grass, rising upward, bespoke of a massive land movement at the time of skydark, which had stripped this long stretch of land and formed a new coastline that hid from view the land that lay beyond. Under their own steam, they would have made the distance in a day, and be able to view the area beyond for possible shelter before nightfall. But with the heavy caravan slowing them, it meant a night camping on the plains.

  As darkness fell, the temperature dropped to below zero, with the wind chill taking it down a few degrees more. Even with the temporary shelter they were able to rig from the crates and belongings they carried with them, it was still hard for the Pilatans to make anything in the way of warming conditions. It was hard for them to keep fires going in the tee
th of the winds, as they had never had such conditions to contend with on the well sheltered island. The companions passing among them had to teach them how to shelter and nurture their fires.

  There were also complaints about water running low. Many of the older Pilatans were fearful that they wouldn't be able to find another supply before their own ran out. Jak rigged plastic sheeting they had brought with them to catch the dew, and also hunted out a small spring that he was able to detect by a slightly more verdant growth of grass and moss. It wasn't much, but it did help to alleviate fears, which may have been just as important as the actual production of water. For the caravan to proceed on the morrow, the Pilatans had all to be in the frame of mind to continue.

  "I know we are slow," Markos said to the companions as they gathered around their own small fire, "but we should—if we can continue even at this pace—attain the crest of the hill by nightfall tomorrow."

  "I hope so," Mildred replied. "Another night like this won't be good for the older and weaker people. We need to get off this plain."

  "I'm sure we will, and that we'll find better conditions," Sineta said with a confidence that Mildred couldn't share.

  "Don't place your hopes too highly," Mildred said carefully. "We don't know what's going to be on the far side of the hill. It may be good land or it may be little more than a dust bowl." She saw Sineta's face drop as she spoke, and continued rapidly, so that the woman wouldn't be too dispirited. "I'm not saying that it'll be a disaster, but you have to take in the fact that conditions change so quickly here. You always have to expect the unexpected, otherwise you won't be able to adapt and survive."

  Markos smiled grimly. "It seems that we have been in isolation too long, perhaps become complacent because of this."

  "It's not anyone's fault," Mildred said softly. "It's just going to be a lot to learn quickly. And you'll have to."

  AS DAWN BROKE, the Pilatans stirred to wakefulness and prepared to continue with little ceremony. There wasn't a single one of them who couldn't wait to crest the hill, no matter what may lay on the other side. The morning was dull and overcast, the wind chill seeming to cut straight through cloth and flesh, cold to the bone with every step. And the distance ahead, on an upward incline, was enough to suggest a good day's march. They broke to rest on three occasions, partly for the people and partly for the livestock, who were unused to walking such distances, and some of whom had the extra burden of the crates. On each break, many could barely wait to continue, preferring the relentless toil to sitting, waiting, in the biting cold.

  But finally they reached the crest of the hill. A short plateau stretched ahead, just enough to make a view of the land beyond difficult. The distant peaks of hills and mountains were all that could be seen, shrouded in the mist of clouds that lay low in the overcast skies.

  "Must drop down into one hell of a valley," J.B. remarked to Ryan as they trudged across the plateau.

  The one-eyed man agreed. "Problem is, what do we do if the drop is too steep to get down easily?"

  The Armorer glanced back at the caravan stretching out behind them and then forward to where Mildred walked with Markos and Sineta.

  "Dark night, how's Millie going to deal with that one?" he murmured.

  The same thoughts had also crossed Mildred's mind. Seeing the mist-enshrouded vista ahead, she had wondered what course of action could be taken if it proved impossible for the Pilatan caravan to descend on the other side of the hill. And, looking along the ridge that stretched on either side for as far as she could see, she had to admit that she had no ideas. She prayed that it wouldn't be necessary to try to come up with any.

  "Oh my sweet Lord—look at it, it's beautiful," Sineta breathed with a tone of awe in her words.

  Mildred snapped out of her reverie and took a few steps forward to where Sineta and Markos were viewing the land on the reverse of the plain. Stretched ahead of them were undulating forests and woodlands, with stretches of bare scrub between. In the far distance could be seen at least two villes, both dozens of miles apart.

  The view stretched for maybe eighty to ninety miles by her reckoning, and showed a fertile stretch of land with a population, probably sheltered by the arid plain they had just traveled across. There was opportunity for the Pilatans here, and proof that it could sustain a population…even, in fact, giving them populations to trade with.

  But would they have an easy access to this promised land? Looking down, which, she noticed, both Markos and Sineta had so far failed to do, she could see that there was a sharp incline toward the bottom of the valley, as the land had been pushed sharply up by earth movements. However, it wasn't so steep an incline that it would be impossible to traverse. Rather, it would require a deal of care. There were pathways that could be used, made by ridges in the rock. And along the way there was much vegetation that could be used for handholds. The livestock would be a little more difficult to manage, but even so…

  "Figure we can do this?" J.B. said in her ear, making her jump.

  "John, don't do that, for God's sake!"

  "Sorry." The Armorer grinned. "I didn't realize how deep in thought you were. But what do you reckon?"

  She shrugged. "It's not so bad."

  "For us and the fitter Pilatans, mebbe not," he cut in. "But what about the older ones and the animals?"

  "Yeah, I know. But what can we do? It's got to be done."

  AS THE PILATANS GATHERED on the edge of the plateau, they were all stunned by the scope and richness of the land that lay beneath. Too distracted, in many cases, to recognize the perils of the descent into the valley. Mildred had torn Markos and Sineta away from their admiring glances at the world below to discuss the descent. When she pointed out the only route, both had decided that the manner of their descent should be left in the more experienced hands of the companions. They were also of the opinion that the descent should begin quickly: partly because a delay would give the members of the caravan a chance to fret about their route, and partly because there were only a few hours until the light faded.

  While Markos, Sineta and Mildred organized the caravan into some kind of order in which to make the descent, Jak went ahead to scout out the best possible route. The albino covered the territory swiftly, moving with ease down the narrow paths and among the undergrowth. It was simplicity itself for him to cover the distance, but he was mindful of the mixed abilities of those who would follow in his wake. Picking the widest paths, and those with the best vegetation for handholds, he marked the twists and turns of the route with branches torn from the trees. By the time he had returned to the top of the ridge, the Pilatans were organized in order of descent and Mildred had gathered the companions to her.

  "Ryan, Jak, J.B.—you guys go down ahead of us and make relay points, so that there's help fairly close at hand for any that may need it," Mildred said. "Krysty and Dean—one of you go to the middle, the other to the bottom. Take these," she added, handing them medical supplies she had prepared during Jak's marking of the route. "That way we've got first aid to hand if it's needed along the way. I'll stay up here with Markos. Sineta's going to be one of the first down, and I want Doc to go with her. The last thing we want is for an accident to happen to the baron, so I'd appreciate you really keeping a close eye on her, Doc."

  "It shall be done. You have no need to ask," Doc said with a small bow.

  "One more thing," Ryan interjected. "I figure we're far enough away from any of those villes not to have trouble from them, but we've got no way of knowing what kind of wildlife is out there."

  "Keeping distance, but can smell it. Could be problem," Jak affirmed.

  "Okay," Mildred stated. "I'll make sure they know to keep their blasters ready and be triple-red."

  Ryan nodded, then looked at the darkening sky. "Good. Let's do it, then. I don't like the look of the clouds. The last thing we need is rain on top of the worsening light."

  Moving swiftly to get the process under way, the companions separated and moved into position wh
ile Mildred prepared the caravan. Doc and Sineta were the first to make the descent.

  "I find that the best thing to do is not to look too closely at the drop that beckons, but rather to concentrate assiduously on the path in front of you," Doc advised the baron as they began the descent.

  Taking a quick glance across the open lands to one side of her and the angle of descent, Sineta nodded. "I will take those as wise words, and well worth adherence," she said nervously.

  But the route Jak had selected was a good one, and on those few occasions when she felt herself beginning to slip, or her confidence did likewise, making her believe that she would tumble, the vegetation by her sides and the sure hand of Doc Tanner sustained her. They passed Jak, Ryan, Krysty and J.B. along the way without requiring help. When they had reached the bottom, the baron looked up at the crest of the hillside, where those following in her wake could be seen streaming down the paths.

  "I think, if we all have a guide as good as yourself, then we may make it unscathed," she murmured.

  "Why, thank you, madam," Doc demurred.

  The Pilatan progress down the side of the incline was erratic. There were times when the slower members of the tribe held up those that followed in their wake, but there were no casualties and little need for the companions who were stationed along the way. However, when the livestock were led down, things were slightly different. The herders who had led them across the plain, and who had been in charge of the animals on the flat island of Pilatu, found it difficult to keep the beasts in line. The sheep and pigs were terrified, but were so closely roped as to be unable to break. Horses, coming down singly, were nervous but able to keep their footing. The cattle, however, were another matter. Roped together, but of varying strengths, and with each one pulling against the others in fear, it was inevitable that at one point a rogue would try to make a break, risking pulling the entire herd off the path and tumbling them down the steep incline.