by Gary Weston
‘Baby-sitting our third grandchild. She got to be called Craggy, would you believe. What sort of a name is Craggy for a girl? You think I got a say in the matter?’
‘I’m guessing not. She’ll probably grow up hating her parents. I’ll call back as soon as I have any news, over.’
‘Ok. You just fly the bus.’
‘The what?’
‘Talk to you later, over.’
The transmission ended. ‘Fly the bus? The old guy must be losing it. Time he retired, I reckon.’
Chapter 58
Raven almost admired the Korvalians. One hundred below and they were naked. He had the protection of the suit but the swirling dancing snow chilled his bones just watching it. To break up the white was a wall of dark blue backs of huge strange creatures. Strange? They were putting their own lives on the line to try to save a race of people they had every right to hate.
‘Give me a bunch of Humans who would do that. Well, maybe. If the roles were reversed.’ He liked to think so.
‘I hope they know where they’re heading,’ said Carver.
‘Can but hope. Commander. Any regrets?’
Carver chuckled. ‘Regrets? I have a few. Then again, too few to mention. But I know what you mean. Them. Us. So different, and yet, so like us in many ways.’
‘You should have seen Joy here, yacking away to a female in their city like they’d been friends for-ever.’
Joy said, ‘Hey. She’s cool. And her son. Such a great kid.’
Carver said, ‘I think we’ve all learnt a lot with all this. I know I have. These big blue people are just that. People. Something to remember.’
Raven said, ‘If we don’t find that bomb soon, they’ll freeze to death.’
Joy said, ‘If we don’t find that bomb soon, I don’t think it’ll matter.’
They trudged on through the blizzard, mile after mile. The minutes were ticking away. Raven caught up with the one he hoped was LaH’vot.
‘Hey, Big Guy. You people have been amazing. You should turn back, now. There’s no need for you lot to die. This is our problem, not yours.’ He pointed to where he thought the Base might be. ‘Go. Take your people back to your city while you still can. Please. Save yourselves.’
LaH’vot sighed and brushed snow from his face. His blue plumage was caked with ice, huge clumps of it sticking to his legs.
‘I think I understand you, ugly one. This bomb is of our making. That was our mistake. You may be strange, weak and repulsive creatures, but you are not unlike ourselves, where it counts. In our hearts. If the spirits smile on us this day, we shall find this bomb. If not, we shall join them.’ He turned and trudged on with the others.
‘I’ll take that for a no, then,’ said Raven.
Chapter 59
‘Sir,’ said Nightly. ‘If I may suggest something?’
‘Go ahead, John,’ said Vickers.
‘Well. I’d feel happier if we were doing something other than talk to a ship that won’t even get here for weeks. We have children here. Mothers. I think we should get them all down into the tunnels. Give them at least a chance if the bomb does go off.’
Vickers said, ‘We’ve already talked about that. We are not exactly flavour of the month with these beings. Then I guess we could be. I have no idea what they eat. If the bomb goes off and we are in the tunnel, we’ll be trapped for maybe years. It’ll be a bloodbath, and I’m guessing it will be our blood. I respect your opinion, John. I always do. But I’d rather go quickly, not battling it out to the bitter end.’
Nightly said, ‘The storm is worse and it’s getting dark. They can’t see a foot in front of their faces. I think it’s game over.’
Vickers had been thinking the same thing. ‘I’ve been thinking about Venitia. She’s alone now.’
‘You still love her,’ said Nightly. ‘That wasn’t a question, by the way.’
Vickers grinned. ‘As insightful as ever, John.’
‘So, go to her.’
‘You wouldn’t mind?’
‘I’ll man the post. Go to her.’
‘Thank you, John.’
Vickers clapped Nightly on the back and left the offices. He walked the Central Path. Hundreds of people remained in the Base, hoping to see another sunrise. The path was empty. All were with those they loved, sharing last precious moments. Outside it was even worse, he knew. It was so cold that ones like Raven and Dainty couldn’t even take off their helmets to kiss each other goodbye. Raven had said only hours to go. Well, hours had already passed. He came to Venitia’s rooms. Rooms he’d once shared. He knocked on the door and Venitia opened it.
‘Trent?’
‘I…just wondered if you were ok.’
She’d been crying. He could tell.
‘Come in.’
He entered and she closed the door behind him. He stood awkwardly, not belonging in the familiar rooms. They stared awkwardly at each other for one long moment.
‘I’ve missed you,’ he said, his heart on his sleeve.
‘If only love had been enough.’
Vickers sighed. ‘I know. Venitia..’
She went to him; took his hands in hers. ‘You talk too much. You always did.’
‘And you. You always annoyed the hell out of me. I’d ask “Are you ok?” and you’d take a week to answer. That always drove me insane.’
Venitia smiled at him. ‘And it drove me mad that you even had to ask if I were ok.’
He stroked her cheek, so soft. Her green eyes were melting his heart. ‘I’m just a man. Stupid.’
‘You were my man.’
He curled her auburn hair about his fingers, took in her scent, longed for her touch.
‘I’ll always be your man. Until the day I…’
Venitia pressed her fingertips to his lips. ‘Shhh. This is you and I. Here and now. If we are about to die, I want to die in your arms.’
A solitary tear ran down his cheek and she wiped it away with her lips. No more words were needed. She led him to her bedroom.
Chapter 60
The wind whipped up the snow even harder, the Korvalians no longer blue. Like the Humans, they trudged through it relentlessly. Two peoples, one goal. Carver’s radio crackled.
‘John. No, nothing yet. We’re not giving up. Did you get through to the ships? Not surprising with this weather. Have all the vehicles on standby in the main airlock, just in case we need them to pick us up. That may be just wishful thinking on my part. Ok. Keep trying the radio. Yes. Good luck to you too, John.’
To Raven, Carver said, ‘That was John Nightly. He made contact with the ships, but the signal wasn’t good.’ He looked around him. ‘I can’t even see the Base. Much more of this and it won’t be the bomb that kills us. These suits only do so much.’
Joy said, ‘Look. They’ve stopped.’
‘Let this be it,’ said Raven.
They caught up with the Korvalians. They were standing in a group staring at something.
Raven said, ‘Tell me you’ve found the bomb, Big Guy.’
LaH’vot pointed to something. It was neither the bomb nor the dead female. Hidden in a pile of huge rocks was a hole. It was the other exit from the tunnels.
‘So where is she?’ Joy asked.
‘She was ill, remember,’ said Raven. ‘She could have become disorientated. Lost her way.’
Carver looked around them. ‘She can’t be far.’
All they could see was the thick snow covering everything. LaH’vot said something and pointed to the entrance to the tunnels.
Raven said, ‘Thanks for the invite, Big Guy, but that isn’t the answer. Not for us, anyway.’ He slapped the Korvalian on his arm. It was like a piece of ice. ‘You people go. No need for you to die for nothing.’
LaH’vot said something to the others, then one by one the Korvalians went through the entrance into the tunnel that would take them to the safety of their city. The Humans didn’t resent them for doing that. They had done all they could and the Humans couldn
’t ask more of them.
Miller said, ‘That bomb has to be here somewhere.’
‘That and the body. Covered by the snow,’ said Raven.
Carver said, ‘Do we keep looking or shall we go back? I can call Nightly to send the vehicles for us. They can home in on our radios.’
Joy squeezed Raven’s hand. ‘If I’m going to die, I can think of better places to do it than out here.’
Raven said, ‘Make the call, Commander. We might as well die warm.’
Carver made the call.
Chapter 61
Nightly got the message. He called Vickers and between them they organised every vehicle available to collect those outside. That done, there was little else they could do.
‘Shall I try to call the ships?’ asked Nightly. ‘Not much point them coming all this way for nothing.’
Vickers thought for a moment. ‘You can try. You might not even get through to them.’
‘I’ve been dreading making this call. Here goes.’
The signal Karma Casey received from Nightly was no better than the ones before.
‘Nightly. I heard bomb again. Have you found it? Have you found the bomb?’
‘…outside. …ing more to…in you coming here. Might be…time…but I will…if I can, over.’
‘Jeez. Have you found the bomb, Nightly, over?’
‘…with…families. …tried our…so. I guess that’s it. Over.’
‘Ok, Nightly. Let’s hope you’re gonna be ok down there. We’ll soon get you all home. I hope. Over.’
The signal faded to just static. ‘Computer. Call Commander Ramshorne.’
‘Calling Commander Ramshorne. Time delay of…sixteen point three seconds will occur.’
‘Rocky. I just got another call from Nightly on Nyzon Five. Nothing much useful, though. Shall I have it relayed to you?’
‘Might as well, Karma. Nothing useful on it at all?’
‘He mentioned the bomb again, but I couldn’t tell if they’ve found it or not. Rocky. If that bomb goes off, there might not be much to pick up down there.’
Ramshorne said, ‘You’re well over half way. Until we know for certain, we keep going.’
‘Ok. I’ll relay the message. Maybe you can make more of it than I can. Over.’
‘I’ll let you know. Over.’
‘Computer. Relay last message from Nyzon Five to Commander Ramshorne.’
‘I compute. Message relayed to Commander Ramshorne.’
‘And good luck with that.’
Chapter 62
Commander Rocky Ramshorne played the recordings for the fifth time. Even after the communications technicians had worked their magic, it was little different from the original. Ramshorne knew about the Korvalians from previous messages, when radio signals hadn’t been hampered by bad weather on Nyzon Five.
He had ordered the eight cargo ships to go to Nyzon Five in the hope of bringing everyone home, or at least to a safe planet. It wasn’t in his nature to give up on anything, or anybody. He looked at the three dimensional picture slide, changing images constantly. Amethyst took up many pictures. She was still a beauty. Their twin kids, of course, Poppy and Dusty. Then another familiar face.
‘Dixon Cragg, you joker. I still think of you now and then. And Misty, of course. I expect you’re together somewhere. Maybe on a ship in heaven, telling stories to the angels. Hey. This will make you laugh. My granddaughter. Poppy’s calling her Craggy. Crazy. A girl called Craggy. Oh, well. Jeez. I wish you were here to give me some advice about this bomb thing on Nyzon Five. In the good old days, you and I would have hitched a ride with the Blackness. Remember her? With her we could have got to Nyzon in hours, not weeks. Well, old friend. I’ve a date with a hot old lady. Yeah. I’ll give Amethyst your love. Mine too.’
Feeling his age, Rocky Ramshorne left his office and went home.
Chapter 63
Dom Morris had been itching to get out with the others, and had been sitting in the People Carrier ready to go. He was leading the convoy of nine assorted vehicles. Anything a person could sit in or even on.
‘Commander Carver. I have you on the tracker, but it isn’t a great signal. I’m pretty sure we’re on the right track.’
‘I’ll keep transmitting,’ Carver replied. ‘When you get nearer, we’ll set off a couple of flares.’
‘We’ll be watching. Still no sign of that damn bomb?’
Carver told him, ‘We are still looking, but not a snowballs chance in hell. And believe me. We could make plenty of snowballs.’
‘Tell me about it. We’re driving blind, here. We can’t be more than another hour away.’
‘If we have that long.’
Morris said, ‘Don’t you be talking that way, pal. It ain’t over yet.’
‘If you were out here and not in some heated vehicle, you might think differently. But you’re right. Negativity we can do without.’
The wind suddenly dropped and there was respite in the storm. ‘Damn,’ said Raven. ‘I can see where we’re going at last. Commander. Set off a flare before the storm picks up again.’
‘Good idea,’ said Carver.
Nine drivers scanned the horizon and a few seconds later, they saw the flare shoot up into the cold grey sky.
Morris said, ‘There. We see it. How the hell did you get that far in these conditions? Never mind. We can get to you faster, now that we can see.’
‘Glad to hear it,’ said Carver. ‘We’ll keep looking in the meantime.’
With the clear vision, they got all the speed they could from the vehicles.
* * *
‘I see them,’ said Joy. ‘And the Base.’
Raven said, ‘Might as well walk towards them. Keep our minds occupied’
Carver cried out, ‘Ok, everybody. Keep together. We’re going towards the Base.’
The soft snow was up to their knees, and progress was slow. They didn’t want to admit defeat, but they were exhausted and had done all that they could. At least if they could make it to the comfort of the Base, they could all go together. And warm.
The vehicles ploughed through the snow at top speed. Those on foot could walk no more. Joy sat on a mound, unable to move another inch. They watched the vehicles getting nearer, their spirits low, their bodies freezing. It was Dom Morris who reached them first. Knowing how weak they all were, Dom drove as close as he could to them and jumped out, the engine running to preserve the heat inside the cab. The other drivers did the same, going to help anyone needing assistance.
‘Come on, Joy,’ said Raven, taking her hand to help her to her feet.
They took the few steps to the main passenger door of vehicle, and Raven stood behind her to help her up the high step.
‘You’re taking half a ton of snow with you,’ said Raven. ‘Here.’ He brushed the snow off her backside. ‘There. In you go.’ He helped her inside, and looked back to see if anyone else needed a hand. Then, he saw it. Where Joy had been sitting, was a patch of missing snow. What remained, was a very dark blue.
Chapter 64
This changed everything. They had found the dead body of the female Korvalian. They knew the bomb had to be close by.
‘Ok,’ said Commander Carver. ‘Careful where you walk. That bomb has to be right here somewhere. Gently use your hands to feel for it.’
They fanned out from where the body of Ginkolo ChuN’res lay, face down in the snow. Around her, the snow was up to three feet deep.
‘Come on, damn it,’ cursed Raven. ‘Where the hell is it?’
Between them they had removed a small mountain of snow by hand.
‘Tagg,’ said Joy. ‘Maybe she dropped it. Perhaps she set it off and tried to walk back to the city.’
‘No,’ said Raven. ‘I refuse to believe we got to this point and the damn thing isn’t here.’
Dom Morris said, ‘If that is her arm, it should be this way. Right where I’m parked.’
‘This is getting ridiculous,’ said Raven.
; ‘I’ll just reverse off it,’ said Morris.
‘No,’ said Carver. ‘If you did drive over it, we were lucky it didn’t go off. Move over it again, we might not be so lucky next time.’
‘Right,’ said Miller. ‘The only alternative is to carefully dig by hand under the tracks. We’ll start by the front end, because that’s nearest to the body.’
‘We’ll do it. The drivers,’ said Morris. ‘You all get in the vehicles, as many as you can fit in, out of the cold. There are hot drinks for everyone inside.’
‘But don’t let anyone in this vehicle,’ said Carver. ‘The less this thing moves about, the better.’
‘Ok,’ said Morris.
Once inside the other eight vehicles, they were able to take off their helmets and feel the warmth from the heaters on their faces and pour beakers of steaming coffee.
Raven kissed Joy’s cheek and said, ‘An odd way of finding what we’re looking for, but we’ll take it.’
‘Whatever works.’
Twenty minutes later, Morris found the silver ball of death. The left-hand side track had run right over it. Carefully wiping the bomb without trying to remove it, he revealed the red numerical display. Not knowing Korvalian for one minute eighteen seconds, he had no idea how much time they had left. He correctly assumed, not much. He stood up and rapped his knuckles on the second vehicle.
‘I have it. What am I supposed to do to turn it off?’
Raven rammed his helmet on and leapt out of the vehicle. ‘Where is it?’
‘Here. Under the track. Do we dig it out?’
‘I’m guessing yes. They never supplied an instruction manual with it. Where’s Mervin Hanson?’
Carver, Miller and Hanson had seen the commotion and were wading through the snow towards them.
Carver said, ‘You’re as technical as it gets, Mervin.’
‘Hello? Me Mervin, not Merlin. Ok. We should get it out. Oh. Right. You want me to do it.’ Hanson got down on his belly and stared at the bomb. ‘Ok. Here goes.’ He gingerly scraped the last of the snow away from under the bomb, then holding it delicately, he wriggled back from the vehicle and stood up holding his prize. He wasn’t to know the numbers said fifty eight seconds.