by Gary Weston
‘What is he doing?’ asked Doctor TuD’nip, not too pleased at having his walls defaced.
‘He’s a little stupid, I think,’ said LaH’vot.
Raven said. ‘Ok. This circle is the planet, right?’ This got no reaction.
Joy said, ‘Let me try. I’m a better artist than you’ll ever be.’
Joy took the bowl and dipped her finger in it. She drew two figures on the wall standing on top of the circle. ‘This pretty one is me, ok? And this one is him. See? Me. Him.’
‘A good job they’re stupid,’ said TuD’nip. ‘They’d be dangerous if they weren’t.’
Regnad said, ‘They’re trying to tell us something. I see it. One shape is her, the other is him.’
‘And the circle?’ asked LaH’vot.
Regnad said, ‘Not sure. Wait. The figures are standing on the circle. The circle is the planet.’ Regnad got out of the bed.
Larlso said,‘Regnad. You are too weak. Get back into bed.’
‘Mother. I’m fine.’ He joined the Humans at the wall. Dipping his finger in the bowl, he made another circle. Then he pointed at the Humans, then up at the ceiling.
‘I think he understands,’ said Joy. She drew another figure, this time inside the circle. Then she pointed at Regnad.
‘That is me,’ said the boy. ‘Here in the city.’
‘I do see it,’ said LaH’vot.
On the circle Regnad had drawn, Joy drew two more figures. Then she drew a line from one circle to the other.
‘Try a ship,’ suggested Raven.
Joy drew a cone shape with two figures in it. Then she drew a line from that to the first circle, then back to the other circle. Looking at her audience, she just used her finger back and forth with the ship between the planets.
‘More are coming here,’ said LaH’vot. ‘That’s all we need.’
‘No,’ said Regnad. He pointed at Joy and Raven then the figures on the planet.
‘Yes,’ said Joy. ‘You’re getting there.’
Regnad wiped the two figures away with his hand.
‘I hope that isn’t supposed to be us being blown up,’ said Raven.
Regnad drew two more figures on the other circle, then pointed at Joy.
‘Yes. We want to go home. In that,’ she added, pointing at the ship.
‘They want to go back to their own planet,’ said LaH’vot. ‘Ships are coming for them.’
‘But what of the bomb?’ said the doctor.
‘Ah!’ said LaH’vot. ‘A good question. Regnad. Tell them the bomb will be going off.’
‘Me? I haven’t even seen the thing.’
Larlso went to the wall. ‘The bomb is round, right?’
‘Yes. About so big,’ said LaH’vot, using his hands to demonstrate.
Larlso said, ‘Regnad. Draw a round shape, but smaller than these two.’ Regnad did that. ‘Now draw lots of lines from it. That is right, isn’t it?’ she said looking at LaH’vot. ‘It will break up into pieces?’
LaH’vot wasn’t sure. Nobody had ever seen a bomb go off on his planet. ‘Boom, boom.’
‘Crap,’ said Raven. ‘Boom, boom. That’s the bomb. Big Guy. Where is boom, boom?’
This, LaH’vot got. He pointed upwards, but in several directions. ‘Boom, boom.’
‘It’s on the surface,’ said Joy.
‘Yes,’ said Raven. ‘And nobody has a clue where it is.’
‘Never mind the bomb,’ said the doctor. ‘What I want to know is, who cleans my wall?’
Chapter 54
Ginkolo ChuN’res almost hadn’t made it to the surface. She had hidden her illness well, even from her family and friends. Only herself and Doctor TuD’nip knew the truth about her health. She’d had no desire for their pity, or to be treated differently. The doctor had been at a loss of how to treat her rare condition. All he did was advise her to avoid stress and over-exertion. The stress of debating for action and the frustration of not getting the numbers had taken its toll.
The bomb wasn’t that heavy, but carrying it along the miles of tunnels to the hidden exit had exhausted her. She had rested at the exit, feeling the freezing cold wind chill her to the core. Her strength was failing her, and only her will-power was keeping her going. She thought of Regnad, dying, having been poisoned by the monsters. No more of their young ones must die at their hands.
‘Damn you, LaH’vot. You should have acted by now. I cannot trust you to do this. It may kill me, but I will end this.’
Ginkolo got to her feet and picked up the bomb, almost dropped it and climbed through the hidden exit. The gale force winds cut through her, and she almost fell. The sky was an unpleasant dark grey, tinted with black, and thick snow was falling, being whipped around by the strong wind.
She knew she had to make at least some distance from the exit, in case the others followed her, intending to stop her. She put one foot in front of the other; ignored the cold, dismissed the pain. Thick swirling snow stuck to her fur which did little to protect her from the elements. Their planet was colder and thousands of years living below ground at a constant temperature had reduced their tolerance to cold such as this.
She had no idea how far she had walked, or for how long. She thought in the distance she could see the place where the monsters lived. She pushed herself on. Then the pain seared through her entire body as one heart stopped completely. Ginkolo dropped to the ground, the pain unbearable in her other heart. All went black in her mind.
She awoke sometime later and it was becoming dark, their sun the smallest of dots on the horizon. Her time had come. She looked for the bomb, but for a moment could not find it. Had she dropped it on her journey? Had it all been for nothing? Then she saw it, covered in snow. She reached out for it, but it was too far away. The handsome face of Regnad filled her mind. With her very last breath, she pulled herself along, reached out and activated the bomb. The glowing red numbers were the last thing Ginkolo ChuN’res saw as her second heart stopped for good.
Chapter 55
Principal LaH’vot called the public meeting outside. He knew he had his work cut out. Feelings against the visitors ran strong. Tagg Raven and Joy Dainty stood either side of him.
LaH’vot bellowed out. ‘Silence. You need to hear this. Silence, I say. Thank you. We need your help.’
Disbelief mixed with laughter was the reaction he got. ‘Silence. I believe Ginkolo ChuN’res has taken the bomb to the surface.’
There was a rousing cheer. This wasn’t going well.
‘No,’ said LaH’vot. ‘The visitors intend to leave and return to their world. As I speak, their ships are coming here to take them home.’ More cheering. ‘Yes. I agree. That is what we all want, myself as much as anyone.’
‘So? What’s the problem?’ one asked.
‘The bomb,’ said LaH’vot. ‘If Ginkolo has been successful in activating the bomb, it will explode in exactly one full day of her doing that.’ More cheering, but LaH’vot persisted. ‘We have misjudged them. We should not be enemies.’
One called out, ‘Rubbish, LaH’vot. They killed our people.’
‘And we killed some of them,’ LaH’vot reminded them. ‘We need to stop the bomb exploding.’
There were shouts of, ‘Let them die. Ginkolo is a hero. Good for Ginkolo.’
The crowd began chanting that. ‘Good for Ginkolo. Good for Ginkolo.’
LaH’vot knew he was beaten. ‘I tried.’
‘Not looking good,’ whispered Raven. ‘This could get very ugly.’
Joy stood by Raven and held his hand. ‘I love you, Tagg.’
They were words Raven hadn’t heard in years. ‘And I love you, Joy Dainty.’
They stood together, fully expecting to be killed by the angry mob. Then, pushing his way through them came Regnad, helped by his mother.
‘May I speak?’ Regnad asked.
‘Yes,’ said LaH’vot.
But the noise from the crowd drowned him out.
‘Let my son speak,’ yelled Larlso.
Gradually, the noise subsided. They all gasped with shock when Regnad held Joy’s hand.
‘She is my friend. She could have killed me. Instead she set me free. Help us find the bomb. Please.’
He got a stunned silence for making that plea for help. Regnad looked up at LaH’vot but there was no more he could do. Regnad started to walk unsteadily away, still sick, but he did not let go of Joy’s hand. Together they walked towards the path that led to the tunnels, the way to the surface, the way to the bomb. Larlso took Raven’s hand, with tears of pride for her son, streaming from her bands of black eyes. The others watched Regnad’s faltering steps and the mood changed. One by one they followed them.
‘Wait,’ said LaH’vot. ‘We shall go. Regnad. Go back to the doctor with your mother. You are too ill.’
‘Come with me, my brave Regnad,’ said Larlso.
The boy let go of Joy’s hand and took the hand of his mother. Joy and Raven understood what was happening. Joy kissed the boy above his eyes.
‘Thank you.’
They watched mother and son walk slowly away.
‘Time to go,’ said Raven.
Chapter 56
It was an odd procession. Raven figured there were fifty Korvalians following them. He was also aware that somewhere above them, a bomb was ticking down the seconds to explode. Each step he took was another tick. The chances of finding the bomb in the frozen wastelands of the planet were slim at best. He wished he could radio ahead and warn them about the bomb and that they were on their way.
There was also the issue of the ships, eight cargo vessels meant to take them all home, and they certainly had to be told. After the bomb had exploded, he could see the planet being dead to all life for many years to come. If the bomb exploded before the ships arrived, those on the ships would be in danger too, if they were unaware and landed. It took so much of that precious time, but finally there they were at the hole in the Base, looking up at faces looking back down at them.
‘Hey. Drop the harness,’ said Raven. It was lowered and he fastened Joy into it. ‘Try to explain we are not exactly alone.’
Joy was pulled up. Carver and Vickers were already waiting, having been advised of their arrival. As the harness was lowered for Raven, Joy told them of the “Guests” and seeing the look on their faces, decided Tagg could tell them why they were here. Once Raven was out, undoing the harness, the Korvalians who easily climbed the walls of the hole, came out one by one. Pins would have made loud clanging sounds in the silence as nearly fifty huge blue creatures stared back at hundreds of nervous looking Humans.
‘Psst. Commanders,’ whispered Raven. ‘Say something.’
Carver shook his head. ‘Err. I…err, welcome. I guess.’
‘Hello,’ said LaH’vot.
‘Glad we got that out of the way,’ said the relieved Raven. ‘Now, believe it or not, these people are here to help us. But there’s little time for niceties and introductions. Basically, these guys made a bomb. I saw it. Not big, but powerful enough to take out all life on the surface.’
‘I knew it,’ a voice called out. Norton stepped forward. ‘You’ve brought these murdering monsters up here with a bomb.’
‘No, you idiot,’ snapped Raven. ‘The bomb is outside, somewhere. These guys are here to help us find it.’
Norton cried, ‘You don’t know where it is? Raven. You’ve really excelled yourself this time.’
That was just too much. The right hook floored Norton, blood gushing from his nose again. Joy Dainty had no idea she could punch like that.
‘Somebody get him out of here,’ said Carver.
‘My pleasure,’ said Miller. ‘Come on, you. Let the grown-ups talk.’
Miller dragged Norton away as Raven tried to explain what he knew.
‘Norton was right about one thing. We really don’t know where it is. From what I gather, it might only be a few hours before it goes off.’
Carver said, ‘I see. I think. But if they planted the bomb, why are they here to help us?’
Joy said, ‘No time for that. Hopefully later.’
‘You must have some clue as to where it could be,’ said Vickers.
Raven said, ‘Not really. The one who brought it to the surface was a dying female. She could be anywhere.’
‘Well,’ said Hanson. ‘Not quite anywhere. For a start, she didn’t come this way. I think we might have noticed a large blue dead female.’
‘Damn. You’re right,’ said Raven. ‘She wasn’t coming this way with it. There must be another way to the surface we don’t know about.’
Joy added, ‘And she’d plant the bomb as close to the Base as she could. It must be somewhere between here and the other exit.’
‘I’ll try to make them understand,’ said Raven. ‘Hey, Big Guy?’ Thankfully, LaH’vot moved forward. ‘Ok. Work with me, Big Guy. See this hole? Hole. Right.’ He pointed to the outside of the Base. ‘Out there. Another hole.’ Nothing. He tried again. ‘In here, a hole. Out there. Gotta be another one. Another hole.’
LaH’vot just stared at Raven. Then he looked at the hole and pointed at it. Then he pointed to the outside, then the hole, then the outside again.
‘Yes,’ said Joy. ‘But where is it?’
LaH’vot looked for the exit of the Base he was unfamiliar with. Then he thought he recognised what might be it and walked towards it.
Raven yelled, ‘Anyone with a suit who can walk. Get your suits on. And hurry up about it. The others stay put.’
Carver said, ‘Trent. I’ll go with Raven. You stay here and keep a lid on things. Get John Nightly to try and call the ships.’
Vickers said, ‘Do I tell them not to come?’
‘No. Explain what is happening. Tell them to keep coming here. If there’s the slightest chance of us surviving this, I want a way to get off this damned rock.’
‘Understood,’ said Vickers, hurrying away.
‘Raven,’ said Carver. ‘An idea just occurred to me. If we can’t find the bomb, why don’t we all just go into the tunnels, maybe even to the city?’
Raven said, ‘That thought crossed my mind too, on our way over here. But just because they’re here to help us now, doesn’t make us best buddies. That and the fact I don’t know if that bomb is the radioactive kind. We go down the tunnels, we’ll not be able to come back up here for…ever.’
Carver nodded gloomily. ‘In other words, find that damn bomb or die.’
Ten minutes later, those going outside were in their suits to protect them from the elements. There were about sixty willing and able to go outside.
Miller suggested, ‘We could use what few vehicles we have. Go a little faster.’
‘Not this time,’ said Raven. ‘I saw that thing. About this small. Drive over it, buried in the snow, boom, boom.’
‘Boom, boom,’ said LaH’vot, waiting patiently.
‘You’re a man of few words, Big Guy.’
‘Ok,’ said Carver. ‘Stay in view of each other at all times. Follow the natives and keep up. The bomb is quite small, so instead, look for a big dead blue female. Time to go.’
Carver pressed the controls for the huge outer door. Snow blasted sideways at them in the strong winds. Everywhere, the ground was covered in fresh snow, and somewhere was the bomb.
Chapter 57
Karma Casey tried to tune in the radio for a better signal. ‘I repeat, this is Captain Karma Casey, calling Nyzon Five. I barely heard you. Must be crap weather you got over there. Did you say something about a bomb?’
She got a whistle and static in return. Then, ‘John…ly. Jo…Nightly, calling Cargo Freighter Cap…Casey. Are…receiving me, ov…’
‘Nightly. This is Casey. A terrible signal. Did you say something about a bomb, over?’
‘…is…bomb…where. Not long before….off. …look…for it. If …don’t hear from…too late, over. Only…if hear…us, over.’
Casey said, ‘I’ll inform the freighter commanders. We’ll try to call you back
later. Maybe get a clearer signal. We’re chewing up the miles as fast as we can. Good luck, over.’
Casey tried to make sense of Nightly’s calls. As per the regulations, all calls ship to planet were recorded to be deleted later. ‘Computer. Play back last radio contact between us and Nyzon Five.’
‘I compute.’ The computer complied. ‘John Nightly of Ny…ca….Captain…can you…me? Are you re…..me, over.’ Then her own voice, clear and unbroken. ‘I hear you, John Nightly. Terrible signal, over.’
Nightly continued. ‘…bad situation. Planet natives have…bomb, somewhere…Base. We have lit…left before deton….be advised we are…Repeat. Searching …bomb, over.’
‘Computer. Digitally enhance the recording.’
‘Recording previously enhanced.’
‘Do it again, damn you.’
‘Command does not compute.’
‘Shit! Computer. Enhance enhanced recording.’
‘Command does not…’
‘Just do it, damn you.’
‘Command does not compute.’
‘Ok. Call Commander Rocky Ramshorne. Maybe you can do that little job for me?’
‘Calling Commander Rocky Ramshorne. Time delay of…fourteen point seven seconds will occur.’
This signal came in clear. ‘Captain Casey?’
‘Rocky. Had a weird one from John Nightly on Nyzon Five. You tell me. There’s something about a bomb down there. Computer. Relay recording from Nyzon Five to Rocky.’
‘Command does not compute.’
If Casey could have, she would have slapped the computer. ‘Ok. Relay the enhanced recording from Nyzon Five from John Nightly, to Commander Rocky Ramshorne,’ then under her breath muttered, ‘Before I rip your damn diodes out.’
‘Relaying enhanced recording.’
‘Finally.’
It took a minute and several replays by Rocky to make any kind of sense from the message.
‘Casey. I did hear bomb, right?’
‘Yeah. I’ll try again in about one hour. See if I can get a better signal. I’ll pass it on as soon as I get it. How’s Amethyst?’