by C. R. Daems
“It’s obvious they want us to believe they’ll let us live if we give up the Riss-humans. If we don’t, they want us to make a run for it east into the mountains. The fact that they aren’t shooting means they want the Riss-humans alive. The fact they have stopped so far away makes me think they want us to try to escape. Smells like a trap, Lieutenant,” Valk said slow and thoughtfully.
“You’ve five minutes before we start shooting,” the unknown man shouted.
“I agree. Everyone get ready to mount on my command. The Riss will drive. We’re heading west. No shooting unless we have too. They believe we’re unarmed. That could be an advantage,” I whispered.
“Is that wise, Lieutenant? There’s not much cover out there. Eventually, we’ll exhaust the fuel in our hydrogen cells. Here we at least have cover.” Valk watched me with a thoughtful frown.
“Normally, I would agree, Gunny, but I know something those men don’t. We have friends on the prairie.” I smiled at their shocked faces. “There are three kinds: the low-Riss, the middle-Riss, and the high-Riss. The high-Riss rule the Riss—their host is the Gorillai. The middle-Riss inhabit the foothills—their host is the Snowcat. And the low-Riss inhabit the prairie—their host is the Wisent. To the west of us there is a herd of Wisent.”
“One minute left,” the unknown man shouted.
“Mount up.” We piled in the gliders and accelerated to the west. The raiders were slow to react. I suspect they’d been caught by surprise, expecting us to go east. I reasoned they’d relied on us running into the foothills, where they had more men waiting. Gunny was right. They wanted the Riss-humans alive, or they would have opened fire when we fled.
Our unexpected reaction gave us a few minutes head start. The raiders from the north were the first to react. Minutes later the ones from the south joined the chase.
Forty-five minutes into our flight, I found a herd of Wisent. I could see vids being exchanged between Thalia and the Riss-wisent.
I signaled a slow down as we approached the herd. As Thalia had predicted, the herd split with little panic. Our three snowgliders crept into the herd. When we exited several minutes later, the herd exploded into chaos. I signaled full acceleration, and we circled back towards the mountains. Unfortunately, our diversion put us fifty kilometers north of our planned stop. I hoped the raiders would have a difficult time following us.
* * * *
We reached the foothills just after dawn. I doubted the hydrogen fuel cells would have enough of a charge remaining to make it back to Hylan. That remained a problem for later.
“We can’t allow armed men to follow us to the Riss. Unless a few got killed when the wisent panicked, there could be twelve or possibly more chasing us, depending on how many where waiting for us to the east. I doubt they’re going to leave until they get the Riss-humans. Our advantage is that they don’t know we’re armed.” I looked to Valk. “Gunny, I want you to determine the best terrain for an ambush. You’re the expert. Unless they turn back, we’re going to stop them from advancing further into Riss territory.”
* * * *
Sergeant Rynom fumed in disgust. Nothing had gone according to the clever plan they’d created back on the Puff Adder. First Red Berets showed rather than regular army from the Saipha garrison. One Wasp would be the equivalent of three garrison troopers. The only good news, they appeared to be unarmed as required by the Riss-human Treaty. Then the carefully planned trap in the foothills failed. The idiots ran west into the exposed prairie. What should have been a disaster for them turned out to their advantage because of those damn wisents. The beasts had totally destroyed one of the snowgliders, killed two of his men, wounded two, and caused a six-hour delay. He’d spent another two hours collecting the four men he’d left in the foothills. Now he had to chase them in the mountains.
* * * *
Two hours into our trek a snowcat suddenly appeared at my side. A good thing no one had noticed the cat’s arrival, until it stood next to me. Corporal Sanxay noticed first. He shouted a warning and turned his gun towards the cat. I stepped in front of her before he could fire.
“Stop. Everyone lower your rifles. This is a Riss-snowcat. Egon sent her to inform me of the raiders’ progress. There are ten men pursuing us. Egon estimates they’re several hours behind us.” The cat sat quietly by my side, looking like a large domesticated pet except for the four-centimeter feline fangs, which showed when she opened her mouth.
* * * *
Another Snowcat appeared a few minutes later.
“Aldric’s found a narrow trail ahead that might be a good spot for an ambush,” I said as I continued walking with the snowcats following. We maintained a grueling pace and arrived at the trail an hour later. The trail narrowed and then opened onto a wide-open field. At the far end of the field, a rocky area led into another narrow trail. Valk agreed the rocks provided good cover, and the open field would be a good killing ground if we could get them out in the open.
“Even though they believe we’re unarmed, they’ll be careful entering an open field like this. I would. They’ll send a few men ahead before the rest follow. In that case, we won’t get them all. If we don’t, it’ll be a stalemate. We need to make them think we aren’t armed, and running scared.”
“What if we made it look like the last person or two had just entered the narrow trail ahead? It may entice them to get reckless.”
“That might do it, but it would leave the last person exposed for a couple of minutes.” Valk pointed to the open area between the rocks and the path.
“Let one person stand at the opening waving for me to hurry, as if I were the last person.”
“Ma’am, Colonel Quentin’s other order was to make damn sure you didn’t get hurt. He’d bust me to private if I go back with you injured or worse, dead. Besides, life would be boring again.” He smiled but his eyes didn’t.
“Gunny, I can run three times faster than any of you. I’m not saying it’s not dangerous, but less so for me. Anyway, I’m in charge.” We discussed everyone’s position and when the ambush would begin. I insisted they wait until all the raiders were out of the pass. That met with opposition. I pulled rank—again.
I hid behind a boulder about fifty meters from the narrow trail exiting the open plain. Corporal Sanxay stood at the entrance.
Four hours later, two men began walking into the open field. I waited until they were well past the opening and signaled Sanxay.
“Hurry, Reese,” he shouted and I began running. Adrenalin pumped through me as I accelerated. I flew over the ground as dirt and rocks exploded with needles. I had though it would be laser fire, which would have been focused and required more precision. A Needler shot spread like buckshot, requiring less accuracy. My speed increased. I could feel Thalia’s concern.
Pain shot though my thigh and calf. I tripped. The entrance and safety lay only a few meters ahead. Needles were hitting everywhere. The pain eased. Thalia’s work. I jumped up and dashed for the opening. Just as I reached the opening, pain shot through my shoulder and back. Then my team opened fire. I had never heard a
nything like seventeen guns exploding simultaneously. I stumbled into the opening and landed on my hands and knees, gasping for breath. Suddenly the chaos stopped and a deathly silence prevailed.
I lay exhausted, and my entire body throbbed with pain. Before too long, the pain began to ease and miraculously stopped. I sighed in relief.
“You’re wounded, Lieutenant,” Valk said. He sounded angry as he inspected my wounds. “Colonel Quentin’s going to be pissed. We’re all going to be on extra duty for a year, if we’re lucky. We found two wounded and two got away. Their wounds are serious, but not life-threatening. The two that escaped will probably return to the gliders.”
I felt her amusement and relaxed. What else could I do?
“Don’t worry, Gunny, Thalia informs me my wounds aren’t too serious. Were any of our people hurt?”
“Two were wounded. They aren’t serious.” He turned towards the opening in the pass as the team started coming in.
“How’s the Lieutenant, Gunny?”
“Her Riss says she’s all right, although it doesn’t look good to me. Nothing life-threatening.”
“That’s good. Corporal Nuex should be able to help her. He’s had more medical training than the rest of us,” Terril said. “I’m impressed. That was some training exercise. Do you think we can get the Lieutenant to take us on another one?”
“I think she’s a little tired right now, Terril.” Valk snorted.
“The Lieutenant sure can run. She was right. If it had been any of us, we would’ve been killed before we got halfway.”
“We’ve got trouble.” Handel pointed back towards the pass. I saw rifles raised and heard safeties click off.
Chapter 13
“We got huge furry animals coming this way!”
“Don’t shoot. Those are Riss,” I tried to shout. It came out more like a whisper.
“Stand down!” Valk shouted loud and clear.
“Those are the biggest creatures...animals...people I’ve ever seen. Certainly wouldn’t want to do hand-to hand combat with them,” Terril said. “Look, they’re dragging the two raiders that got away. Bet their pants are full of shit.”
“Can’t say I blame them. I almost feel sorry for them. Well, sort of,” Adnett said. Nuex knelt next to me.
“Ma’am, those needles need to come out. It’ll be a long time before we reach a hospital. I’m afraid I’m going to have to take off your pants and shirt to get at them, and I don’t have anything to deaden the pain.”
“Go ahead, Corporal. Thalia will take care of the pain.”
He carefully cut out the needles and applied compresses to stop the bleeding, which wasn’t necessary. As he did, I felt Thalia communicating with the oncoming Riss.
“Oh, I’m glad I came along. They’re magnificent,” Terril whispered. “I wonder how the Lieutenant ever managed to get one of those in her? She’s so small and they’re so big.”
“My God but they’re big,” Sanxay said in a voice ringing with disbelief. I laughed.
“Their bodies are like a plane. I’ve got the pilot.”
“So it’s something like a brain inside you?” Sanxay asked.
“Yes. You’ve two lobes in your brain. I’ve an extra one. You’ve a network of nerves. I’ve a second network that can control the other—like now. I feel no pain, although Nuex is poking around with a knife.” I hadn’t thought much about it in physical terms before. I liked the analogy.
When the four Gorillai reached the pass, Thalia and the Riss exchanged events over the past few days, while the team bound the captives between open-eyed looks at the Gorillai.
When Nuex had finished, I managed to sit up, but only because Thalia continued to control the pain and the bleeding.
“We can relax and let Nuex work on anyone needing attention. The Riss are coming to us.”
Lieutenant, they’re scary when you first see them, but they’re a magnificent...people,” Terril said. “But I can see why the natives would be afraid of them and not realize they were intelligent.”
“Yes, Terril. Fear tends to override logic. Their size and general features makes them look terrifying. They’re a gentle people. We’re the terrifying ones.” I pointed to the raiders.
* * * *
Several hours later a large group of Riss entered the clearing. The team tried to look calm, but I knew they were uncomfortable with so many Gorillai. They relaxed somewhat when I went into the middle of the Riss-gorillai.
A series of vids followed. The SV stopped and one image remained like a picture—two beautiful snow-capped mountains with a river flowing between them.
As with Thalia’s name, it could never be translated in human words. The closest I could get to my Riss-name would be the River that runs between two snow-capped mountains. The meaning was clear: Riss and humans. We talked late into the night. The team asked lots of questions, which I translated like Zann had done for me. The next morning the Riss left with Aldric and Egon, and we left with our prisoners. Although the wounded weren’t disabled, we traveled slowly. Late afternoon on the second day, we reached the snowgliders. Although it was a welcoming sight with the snow shimmering with the deep orange of the setting sun, I felt sorry to leave my sisters.
We were lucky. The raiders had been prepared and brought extra fuel packs. With four prisoners we needed four of the six gliders. I drove one with all of the weapons. One had two healthy Wasps with the two healthy raiders, and in the other two, one wounded raider with one healthy and one wounded Wasp. I didn’t anticipate any trouble. The wounded weren’t in any condition to fight; Wasps guarded the two healthy ones; and I had all the weapons.
We reached Hylan early in the morning. I contacted the garrison and requested a shuttle. While we waited, we spent the time giving the locals an abbreviated version of what had happened, and the team gave their impressions of the Gorillai. The Hylan police secured the prisoners and the locals used the occasion to have a mini party. The shuttle arrived late that afternoon. Master Sergeant Wilson, with a broad smile, exited the shuttle first.
“Ma’am, you probably don’t need any help, but I brought six troopers along for company.”
“I appreciate that, Sergeant. We’re pretty worn out and could use someone to watch our prisoners. Not that I think they’ll be any trouble.” I smiled. This was probably the most excitement Wilson had in the last couple of years.
The local doctor treated the wounded. The two raiders had the most serious injuries.
“We should have the garrison doctor keep an eye on them for the next few days,” I commented.
“Before they hang?” Wilson replied with a smile.
“We may have some leniency if they talk. I for one would love to know who sent them and how they knew we would be transporting two Riss-humans.” Just then Valk and the team came along with the prisoners. Wilson took charge of loading them into the shuttle and securing them for the ride back.
We reached the garrison late that the evening and found Major Hickson waiting at the landing strip. I exited first. When I reached the ground, I stopped and saluted. He returned the salute almost reluctantly.
“I see you had trouble. What are they guilty of, trespassing?”
“They’re raiders, guilty of entering the Riss territory without permission, carrying weapons onto their land,
and attempting to kill Riss.”
“I assume you also entered without permission and had weapons. I’m afraid I’ll have to press charges against you.” He smiled. I just shook my head. As Thalia had said, puppets on the strings of prejudice.
“I authorized the Wasps to enter Riss land and to carry their weapons. If that’s too complicated for you to understand, I can get my Riss-sisters to explain it to you, Sir.”
The Major turned red and stuttered. To make matters worse several persons behind me coughed in an obvious attempt not to laugh outright.
“That’s insubordination, Lieutenant. I’ll have you court-marshaled.”
“I’ve thirteen witnesses as to what I said. I merely explained to you why it would be illegal to arrest my team or me. It’s I who should be pressing charges against you for your obvious violation of the Riss treaty in attempting to arrest a Riss, Sir.”
“You’re not Riss—” He stopped when I turned my head and pointed to the tattoo.
“In fact, I’m high-Riss, Sir. Arresting a high-Riss would bring the Riss nation down on you. The SAS might consider that a major inconvenience, Sir.” By now the major’s face had turned purple and silence had descended around me.
“This isn’t over,” he sputtered, leaving out my rank.
“No, it isn’t, Major. Tomorrow I’ll start my inspection of the garrison. You may want to accompany me and my Gunny, or you may send a surrogate in your place, Sir.”
With that the Major turned and walked quickly away.
“An interesting exchange, ma’am,” Wilson said as his detail led the prisoners away.
“I’m afraid I’m twice tired, Master Sergeant.” I frowned. “Tired from lack of sleep and of people who make judgments before they know the facts. Sergeant, would you see that the prisoners get any additional medical treatment, and that they remain separated from each other? I’ll want to talk to each of them tomorrow and don’t want them collaborating. I also have a couple of people who need checking on.”