by K R Sanford
Marco scratched his chin and squinted, “I’m assuming the Gorks are not Vallian-like.”
“Nor man-like,” said William. “They are more like, well, their jaws are most prominent, like a squared-off scoop shovel. They have a snout like a dog; lips with scales like a snake, and they have no eyelids. Their skin is cat-fishy, smooth and shinyalways shiny, with long arms, two legs and, oh yes, webbed clawed feet.”
“John, have you seen any of these creatures?” asked Marco.
“I saw a skeleton, Marco,” replied John. “I saw one out on the dried seabed. They must not be very smart. They are not a mammal. They must have evolved from a reptile that migrates in herds. And, like William said, they live underground.”
“This planet,” continued John. “expands in the warmer months. Fissures open up and the seas drop into the trenches that circle the equator. It's easy hunting that time of year. They're scavengers. When the water drops low, they go out to trap fish and small sea creatures in the pools. Hungry enough, they will eat each other. What is interesting, they are capable of speech.”
Marco scratched his chin again. “How many are there?”
“Thousands over the mountains,” replied John. “One more thing I've heard, they're nocturnal. Sometimes they don't get back to a cool damp place before the sun comes up and they suffocate.”
“Now that is strange,” said Marco. “They must be able to breathe through their skin like insects?”
“You are correct,” said John. “They most likely take oxygen through spiracles. The loss of oxygen makes them lose what thinking they have and they wander around until they die. They're scavengers and they will eat one another if they're left dead.”
“Hmm,” grunted Marco. “You seem to know a lot about these Gorks, Chief”
“Most of what I've heard has been from Pawdell,” replied John, “Mondell's son, the clockmaker.”
“Yes, I've met Mondell.” Marco yawned and shook his head. He needed to keep himself awake. He continued. “So, you haven't actually seen a live breathing Gork?”
“Well, no,” replied John.
Marco blinked hard and turned back to the table. “The table is still black, except for the gems and gold saucers, John.”
“Captain,” chimed Balrug. “What you hear from Chief Spierd is true. When we first came to Ameda, our people set sail across the waters. They made boats for fifty warriors and sailed the Emerald Sea. One night, their ships got attacked. Only one ship made it back. That was not the last of the Gorks. They had a taste for Vallian. Over the years, they have gotten bolder and bolder. One day, they will find a way to cross the mountains and when they do, I'm afraid our village will not be the same.”
Marco replied, “It does seem funny, a lot of pieces to this Gork story don't fit together. If the Amedans saw a real danger, they would cross the galaxy to help you. They did before.”
William looked past Marco and spoke. “That's not what happened, but like you say, things don't fit together. When the Amedans left, the Boyer's and Chief Spierd came. We all knew a new age was upon us. We also knew to change the way one lives after thousands years will not be easy.”
“Not without help,” replied Marco. “And, you will have help, but one thing at a time.” Marco looked down at the floor. He bit his lip and mumbled, “One thing at a time.”
“Captain, listen!” William raised his hand and turned toward the east portal. “Do you hear it?”
“I don’t hear anything,” said Marco.
“I hear it,” said Balrug. “It’s the sound of horses, the mountain folk.”
“Gonquin will pass on the road any second,” said William.
“Any second, William? If he does,” said Balrug. “It will be a record time. Gonquin won’t push Faragorn that hard.”
“Ha,” balked William. “You misjudge Faragorn.”
“He won't beat Faragorn like that, any minute indeed.” Balrug huffed.
The Chief and Marco marveled at the sudden spat between Homalet and Vallian master.
“Balrug,” said William in a condescending tone. “Faragorn knows exactly what's going on. He will make this run like he's never done before.”
Balrug had enough. He got up, walked over to the east portal and looked down at Shrine Lake Road. William followed. They both strained to see if Gonquin and Faragorn were coming, but nothing happened.
Marco got up and went to the north portal. He too, looked out then signaled the Chief.
When the Chief saw what alarmed Marco, he hurried to his quarters. He returned carrying a beat up scanner. He set it on the marble table and slid the cover off the holograph grid.
Marco turned to Balrug and William, who agreed the sound of the horses were getting closer.
John ran a test on the scanner. He made adjustments. He touched the sensors on the top of the grid. He took a seat to study the information coming in.
The outline of a cargo ship projected on the holographic grid. It floated a few inches above the scanner platen then filled in three-dimensional. They watched as it rotated fore and aft.
The scanner located weapons, life support, engines and cargo holds. It rotated each time a new function got identified. A scroll rolled down along the edge of the projection. It tabulated a read-out of specifications; range, speed, weight, dimensions and a name at the bottom, Built by Frank Bradley Corporation.
The holograph blinked and projected an image of a dome replacing the image of the starship. The dome scrolled down a window with the dimensions and specifications.
“One mile in diameter, one thousand feet high,” said the Chief.
“Nothing surprising here,” said Marco. “Go to present location and time of contact, John.”
The Chief pushed a sensor. “Forty-five minutes, Captain.”
“Then we need to coordinate my transmission with the closing
The Shrine began to rumble.
“The sound of hooves at full gallop,” yelled William.
Marco and John looked over Shrine Lake Road from the north portal. A line of horses and a cloud of dust swept past the Shrine. The heads of hooded Vallians bobbed up through the thick cloud of dust. The muffled sound of armor against sword weighted heavy in the air as they made their way to the tunnel road.
“I don't see Gonquin or Faragorn,” said Balrug.
“Nor do I,” said William. “Some delay?”
“Have we both missed our guess?” Balrug replied.
“Well, I need someone to get down there and find out what's going on,” barked the Captain.
“That's something I can do,” said William. He started after the stairway.
“I'm going too,” said Balrug. Seeing a movement out the south portal, he stopped “What's this?” he cried. He leaned out the portal to confirm what he saw. “It's Gonquin and Faragorn.”
William stepped beside Balrug and waved to the white haired Vallian racing up the steps.
Faragorn took sure-footed steps. He ran at full gallop then came to a halt on the dirt path below the south portal. He reared his head. He stomped the ground.
“Gonquin, how goes the work you do? We did not see you pass and feared something was amiss,” said Balrug.
Gonquin shouted, “A dozen riders have come with me through the back road to the west. They are at this very moment loading wagons with supplies.”
“Ah yes, good, Gonquin,” replied Balrug. “Faragorn, thank you. A noble run you have given us tonight.”
Faragorn reared his head and scraped the ground. The red war plume danced on his head. His long white mane sailed in the air.
“If you take the passage in the Shrine, you can join us at the Grand Ballroom,” said Gonquin.
“Yes, that is exactly our plan,” replied Balrug. “The instant the main entrance gets sealed, the Captain will signal his ship for help. He expects a torpedo to strike the Shrine and open the passage.”
“You take a great risk, Balrug,” said Gonquin. “And what if that starship does no
t fire? You will get trapped. What then?”
“Captain Miller will convince them to fire,” replied Balrug.
“Oh yes, the cross-caster,” said Gonquin. “I should like to see that. But alas, I will be far underground with the horseman and the village folk; only you will need a signal. Gonquin pulled an arrow from his quiver. “I will shoot a flaming arrow above the village. Then you will know the entrance is ready to seal.”
At that moment, a gust of wind blew over the Shrine giving Gonquin and Faragorn a start. Gonquin looked up and spied the edge of the dome. It moved out over the top of the rotunda. He pointed his arrow in the air. “The dome is falling,” he cried. “I will tarry no longer. Remember the arrow.” With that, Gonquin and Faragorn were off.
Gonquin flung the arrow back in his quiver.
Faragorn leaped. He dropped down like a feather on the Chief's flowers. They leaped back and forth over the steps, churning up the flowers as they went. Finally, they were on the road leading out of sight to the cutoff.
Balrug could not see the entrance of the tunnel. At the south portal, Balrug and William watched the dome get closer and closer. They waited for Gonquin's arrow.
Marco looked at his cross-caster lying on the chair. “John, you better pack your hand phaser and communicator. We need to move out.”
The Chief vacillated, not eager to leave his home. He took a deep breath and trotted down the stairway to pack his gear.
Marco looked back out the south portal and waited with Balrug and William.
The dome moved slow. The back edge was clear of the Shrine and in full view of the south portal. They knew, the dome would set, covering the village homes, shops and harbor. In silence they watched.
At length, Balrug asked, “How do they make such a thing?”
Marco smiled and pointing to the sky. He said, “Out there. You might think it too simple when I tell you. They make it like a child's soap bubble. They can make a full sphere or a slight arched dome like this one.
Transparent chromium flows into a ring until the thickness is what they need. The ring gets turned against the solar winds. When liquid distorts to the right depth, an energy pulse causes a chain reaction. It makes the dome solid as you see it. They guide it with a tractor right where they want it.”
“That is a very strong soap bubble,” said Balrug.
“What's more,” replied Marco. “These bastards will go back to earth and report they saved this planet from a terrible disease. This bunch will come back with a special authorization to quarantine the planet. No one gets in and no one gets out except the Frank Bradley Corporation.”
“This happens with regular success for these people l gather?” asked Balrug.
“Balrug, if you only knew,” replied Marco. “These people have gone from star system to star system. It's the same thing over and over.”
“I can understand why you have become disheartened over the years,” said Balrug.
Marco gazed at Balrug for a loss words. He looked to the fishing boats moored in the harbor. He studied the deserted village blackened in the shadows. He smelled the charred air in the still starlight. He frowned in disappointment.
C H A P T E R 5
___________________________________________________
The Dome
“That's it!” cried William. “There's the signal.”
Marco moved to the west portal and pulled his communicator off his belt. He activated the transmitter. “Miller to Eagle: ship abort!” He dropped the communicator. He picked it back up and examined the smoking end. “Toast,” he said.
“What happened?” asked William.
“I was afraid of that,” said Marco.
Onboard the Eagle at thirty-thousand miles the lights turned off. The bridge switched to red light. A narrow beam blinked across the main viewer and the helm went black. Immediately all power began to shutting down throughout the ship. The red light on the central processor faded. The Eagle drifted with the solar winds somewhere in the Corsi Star System.
“They stepped on my communicator, “ replied Marco.
“Did you get through to your ship?” asked William.
Marco's face filled with doubt. “I don't know,” he said. “There's no way of knowing. We'll have to wait and hope for the best. If they got my signal, they might run evasive maneuvers until the Eagle can power up and go for help. In the meantime, William, any ideas on how to open that passage door?”
“It opens when the Shrine comes under attack. I'm sure your friends out there don't know that,” replied William.
Marco’s lip stiffened. He jabbed his finger at the dome. “Those are not friends, William. But, I do want to try something.” Marco pulled the blaster from its holster. He walked to the narrow opening in the mountain wall. He fired down the passage. A bolt of light streaked into the tunnel. A small explosion erupted inside, then nothing. He turned to William.
“You know, William, you started out being an interesting person. Then, you say something crazy like murderers being my friends.” He walked over to the chair. He picked up the cross-caster. He stuck the blaster back in its holster then walked to the south portal and stood next to Balrug.
William eyed the Captain. “You can dish it out but you can't take it. Is that it?”
Marco glared at the little Homalet and retorted, “So it’s my fault? I have a clear shot here, William. Excuse me.” He pulled a tetra-thermal shell out of the strap across his chest. He pressed it in the breach of the cross-caster. He raised the weapon to his shoulder and fired.
The shell bolted from the cross-caster, sending a trail of white light into the air. A hundred yards out a blue halo rang a diameter of fifty yards across. A hissing sound came from the center of the blue halo. A high-pitched wail ripped into the back of the cargo ship. It hit.
A fireball rolled over the rear section of the galactic vessel. The sound of the explosion reached the back to the Shrine. A thud fell on the floor. Marco turned to see the Chief standing with his mouth open and his backpack lying at his feet.
“Holy shit,” cried John. “He dropped his shields. You got one of his main engines.”
Marco was reloading when the Shrine burst into flames. He covered his face. He took a moment then looked around. There was no damage, no fires inside the Shrine. There was not so much as heat on his skin.
A transparent film appeared over the four portals. For several seconds, he studied the windows over the portals. “We're in a force-field,” he said. He watched the big ship list to one side and the dome descend in the sky.
William unaffected by the blast stood as if living in a faraway dream.
Marco looked on, puzzled by the ominous presence emanating from the little Homalet.
“What was that?” asked Balrug.
“A thermal torpedo,” answered the Chief.
“There must be another ship around here somewhere.”
“Listen!” shouted William.
The sound of rock was grinding at the end of the passage. Balrug and William grabbed their packs and raced inside the passage.
The Chief scooped up the scanner. He stepped past the north portal and shouted. “There's the other ship, Interstellar Forces!” He ducked inside the passage with the others.
Marco gazed out the portal at the galactic battle cruiser. It hovered over the north end of the lake. 'Humph,” he grunted. He slung the cross-caster over his shoulder and following into the passage.
William stood inside the passage with his sword drawn. ‘Odinvain,’ etched on the blade glowed fluorescent. It gave light enough to light the passage for several yards ahead. “Take your time, Captain,” said William. “Let your eyes adjust.”
“We don’t have time, William. The dome is free failing.” replied Marco. “When it hits, these walls could drop on us.”
“Then we won't waste time,” said William. He reached his hand inside the wall and pulled a lever. The passage door closed. They moved out to join the others. “We need to hurry,�
� said William taking charge.
The Chief pushed past Balrug and set a fast pace down the tunnel.
“Do you know the way, Chief?” asked Marco.
Balrug laughed, “Follow that light.”
The Chief, without a word, marched down the passage into the underground.
The cool temperature in the tunnel and the quiet sound of solid rock raised their spirits. There was chatter and sporadic laughter yet their pace did not slow.
The tunnel opened to a large cavern. There on the road ahead were fresh laid tracks of wagon wheels and horses. The Chief closed their ranks. They picked up the pace to a steady trot.
Overhead, the cavern rose forty feet. Marco was not as comfortable in the open cavern as he was in the rock passage. “William,” he whispered, “How long before this tunnel gets smaller?”
William heard alarm in Marco's voice and replied, “It doesn't. Why do you ask?”
“A shuttle craft could make it down here,” said Marco between breaths.
“When do you think that dome will hit the ground?”
“Any second,” replied the Chief. He brought the group to a halt. Before catching his breath he gasped, “Find cover.” He passed the crystal lamp along the tunnel until he found a small recess. They made a dash for the recess and pitched themselves against the dirt.
They waited for an uncomfortable minute. A sharp jolt crashed against the cavern wall. Loose dirt and rocks fell from overhead. The four pitched themselves tighter against the shallow recess. Rocks were falling around them. Tons of rock and dirt landed where they stood only moments ago. Two more jolts shook the cavern wall. Balrug groaned, Marco swore then it stopped.
The Chief passed his light up and down the tunnel. Fine particles of dust floated from the ceiling. “Well,” he said. “Are you guys ready to get the hell out of here?”
“Wait,” said Marco. “The dome is on the ground. Bradley will put more resources in clearing the entrance. We need to slow him down.”
“He's right,” said the Chief. “With the right impact, A hundred feet of rock and dirt will come down, right here.”