The Colony Ship Conestoga : The Complete Series: All Eight Books

by John Thornton

  “Hello!” The man called. “Riders on the carousel already! What a good omen!”

  His accent was odd, but not so much different from the people on the needle ship, or those encounter in Habitat Alpha’s Wolf City. Jerome and Cammarry were instantly alert. Jerome dismounted, but the statue he was riding was at its height and he stumbled a bit. He began to walk back against the direction of the turning, but Cammarry grasped his arm. “Just wait. We will come around again. Did you see those animals?”

  “Three horses, or some animal like that.” He turned and patted the statue of the animal with the serpentine neck and bulbous eyes. “I would like to see a living one of these.”

  The rotation of the machine seemed to take much longer as they waited, but the rate of rotation was constant.

  This time when the man and animals came into view, Jerome and Cammarry were on the edge of the spinning platform. Then they easily stepped off. The man was standing a bit in front of the animals. There were three large animals, two grayish and the one in the center shiny black color. They were connected by some straps, or ropes, to a four wheeled wagon.

  “Friends! Do not let me stop your ride! No, sir, no madam, I am not here to intrude on your pleasure. The carousel is in operation, and it is free for your entertainment, effleurage, and enlightenment!” The man was wearing dark brown clothing, of various shades, and a floppy hat. He was shorter than Jerome or Cammarry, but a bit taller and stouter than Khin. His age was hard to guess.

  Cautiously Jerome and Cammarry walked away from the turning machine and approached the man.

  “I am Jerome.”

  “I am Cammarry.”

  He bowed low with a flourish. “Pleased, yes, very pleased to meet you!” His dark face was deeply lined, but his grin was broad. “You can call me Bigelow, my original name does not matter anymore.”

  One of the animals behind him snorted. It was a large creature, about two meters tall and very muscular. It was covered in dapple grey colored short fur or hair. It had longer hair, a silky black color, hanging from the top of its neck, and also dangling between its pointed ears. It was very similar looking to one of the others. The third animal, the one in the middle was deep black over its entire body, both the short fur and the longer hair. The first animal snorted again and stomped a front hooved foot to the ground. Dust puffed up from the impact. The wagon creaked a bit as the animals shifted slightly. All three had bright, inquisitive eyes, and their ears were perched forward, but did rotate a bit at times.

  “Oh pardon me!” Bigelow said as he turned around. “I will introduce you three as well. Just hold your horses!” He spun back around and with a bow and sweep of his arm he stated, “These are my associates, Agnes, Arabella, and in the center Anika.”

  “Agnes?” Cammarry said with a chuckle.

  Jerome looked at her, nodded, and smiled.

  “Yes, my right horse is Agnes,” Bigelow said with another flourish. “It means holy and pure. Agnes, greet our new friends.” The horse on the right stomped its foot again. It shook its head a bit as well.”

  “Hello,” Cammarry offered hesitantly.

  “Arabella means receptive to petitions, while Anika means one with a sweet face. Ladies, please greet these fine people!” Bigelow again swept his arm in a bow and flourish.

  The other two horses each stomped a foot and nodded their heads.

  “Agnes. We knew an Agnes once,” Cammarry said with a far-away look in her eyes. She remembered what she had learned of the elderly people at Dome 17. A tear ran down her cheek.

  “Oh dear,” Bigelow said. “Have I somehow spoiled your ride? Please forgive me.”

  “No. It is not that. Just that our Agnes has died,” Cammarry replied. “She was….”

  “My dear sweet lady, oh, I know you are suffering. Loss is a terrible thing. That is one of the main reasons we have built the carousels! It is our penance to sooth the hearts of the people.”

  Bigelow stepped closer, and put a gentle hand on Cammarry’s shoulder. He then broke into a beautiful tenor voice and sang.

  “Oh, the carousel goes around,

  And this one won’t break down.

  Each one we build, our pride does glow,

  For the carousel will go around.

  Oh, the carousel goes around

  And it makes the dandiest sound,

  If the sky tube’s low, please don’t you fret,

  Because the carrousel will go you bet.

  Oh what fun, it’s a wonderful sight

  Finding joy for you both day and night,

  Girls and boys, come ride your toys,

  Cause the carousel goes round in flight.

  Oh, the carousel goes around,

  Don’t let me see you frown,

  Come ride a streak though the future’s bleak,

  But the carousel goes round and round.

  Oh, the carousel won’t break down,

  Cause it’s built the best, and stands the test,

  Permalloy, and power, for every hour,

  Cause this carrousel won’t break down.

  Oh, the carousel goes around,

  Since the Conestoga hit this ground,

  Come whirl for years, and lose your fears,

  For the carousel goes round and round.”

  Cammarry and Jerome looked at each other, and then Cammarry looked down at her arm. Bigelow was gently holding it right where she had been injured. The patching of the RAM sleeve was just under his soft grasp.

  “Thank you for the song. I am afraid I am not sure what to say,” Cammarry replied. “The words and phrases are certainly antiquated. Quaint, but archaic.”

  “Young or old, it matters not. Because we all go around and around but never get anywhere,” Bigelow said. “But here you can relax and enjoy the ride! Nice to have met you both. May you fare well on your lark.”

  As Bigelow turned to go, Jerome spoke up.

  “Can you tell me about that song? And this carousel?”

  “Can I? I am certainly capable of it, but are you asking me to do so?” He kept walking back toward his animals.

  “Yes, I am asking. Would you please tell me about that song?” Jerome hurried after him. Cammarry followed.

  Bigelow walked right past the animals and to the side of his wagon. It was a deep green color, with four wheels. The wheels were very similar to the drive wheels of an automacube, only about three times as large. The wagon had a seat in the front, with backrest and another seat right behind it. Three people could sit on each bench, and there was a cargo bed behind the seats.

  “Well?” Jerome asked.

  Bigelow climbed up onto the wagon and sat down. “The song is based on some ancient tune we heard when we roustabouts decided to begin building carousels. That was about ten years ago, same time as the drought started.”

  “So this habitat is not always this dry?” Cammarry asked.

  “Why not go back and ride the carousel some more? It is a pleasant, pleasing, and pleasurable pastime.” Bigelow picked up some flat straps that led to the harnesses which wrapped the horse’s bodies.

  “We lost our friend. Can you help us?” Jerome asked.

  “I cannot resurrect the dead. No I cannot not. I will not even try that anymore. I am sorry for your friend Agnes, but once the spirit of life is gone, the lark is over.”

  “We cannot connect with Sandie,” Cammarry muttered and then stopped.

  “It is not Agnes, it is Khin. I think he may have gone with the Ferryman.”

  Bigelow looked sternly at Jerome. His countenance charged dramatically when he heard the name Ferryman.

  “Cammarry, do not let Jerome tell anything more!” Shadow whispered to Cammarry.

  “Jerome!”

  “My new friends, in all seriousness, did you say the Ferryman?” Bigelow asked. His eyes were narrow and his lips pulled tight.

  “Jerome, no!” Cammarry said.

  “Yes,” Jerome said as he looked at Cammarry. “We need his help. We arrive
d in the middle of Habitat Beta, and we will not find our way without someone who knows this biome.” He turned back to Bigelow and looked up at him sitting in the wagon. “Our friend Khin disappeared, as we were looking for Reproduction and Fabrication. Can you, excuse me, will you please help us?”

  Bigelow reached down and grabbed a bottle from beneath the seat. He raised it to his lips and took a quaff of the purplish red liquid inside it. Then licked his lips. He opened his mouth a bit, then closed it and looked down. Taking another sip from the bottle he responded. “The Ferryman is a bad fellow, that one. If your friend went with him, I am afraid there is nothing anyone can do.”

  “We do not know he went with the Ferryman. He disappeared in a transport terminal, and we are not sure where he went,” Jerome said.

  “You two have used old words, not commonly heard among the rubes, nor even amount the roustabouts. I heard you refer to a transport terminal, biome, habitat, and your speech is uncommon. You speak of Reproduction and Fabrication….. Hum…. Your clothing is also not what I expected.” He took another drink from his bottle. “Who are you two? Really?”

  “I will tell you everything about us, but you must tell us about Habitat Beta,” Jerome said. He looked at Cammarry. “Cammarry, you always want to be a maven of current information, so may we share with Bigelow?”

  “Do not do it! Too many have failed before you!” Shadow said in one of the loudest voices Cammarry had heard it say.

  She shook her head, and looked at Jerome. His pleading eyes convinced her. “Yes. We are in this together. Khin and Sandie are lost.”

  “I am sorry for your losses. Loss is hard. I need to depart and catch up with the other roustabouts,” Bigelow stated. “I am willing to speak openly and honestly to you both, but I expect the same in return. However, I do need to leave momentarily. If you need water before we go, you will find the brass ring over there. Pull on it, and some water will be dispensed. I have already watered the horses, but make it fast.”

  Jerome looked back at him, and then turned to Cammarry. “Shall we?”

  “I said we are in this together.” They jogged over to the post Bigelow had indicated. There was a brass ring hanging from a small cross piece. A nozzle was on the post. Jerome opened his water container and set it under the nozzle. Pulling on the brass ring produced a flow of water. Both Jerome and Cammarry filled up their water containers, but by the time they finished, the water flow had slowed to a trickle.

  “So climb into the troika and let us make haste,” Bigelow called over. “I need to be leaving.”

  They rushed back and climbed up to sit on the front bench. It was wide enough to be comfortable. Cammarry sat in the middle.

  “Anika! Get us on girl!” Bigelow said and made a clicking noise with his mouth.

  The black horse in the center, stepped lively forward. The dapple gray ones followed her lead. Anika took off at a trotting pace, but Agnes and Arabella were cantering. The different gaits made no sense to Jerome and Cammarry who watched the horses in amazement.

  “That water was almost gone.” Jerome looked from the horses to Bigelow who was gently driving the team.

  Bigelow replied, “Each carousel has a water supply. This one has only been running for a day or so. The adiabatic distillation system on the carousel has not had time to fill the tank underground. That may take some days yet. With the carousels we can help people have better lives and enjoy themselves.”

  “You are taking water from the air?” Jerome asked.

  “Yes, the carousels do that, but provide more therapy for the heart than for the body. Only so much water can be wrung from the air,” Bigelow said. “Now tell me your story.”

  Jerome related how they had come to Habitat Beta, and concisely explained how they had come on their quest from Dome 17 on Earth to the Colony Ship Conestoga. He also explained how they had thought they were marooned on the needle ship, but had visited Habitat Alpha. Cammarry said nothing, but warily watched for a response from Bigelow. Bigelow drove the horses and kept his eyes on them. He took a few more drinks from his bottle.

  They rode in silence for some time.

  Finally Bigelow said with a weary smile. “Well, friends, that is quite the story. A tale for the ages, that one is. I am inclined to believe it only because of the way you two have been watching my associates here. It truly looks like you have never seen horses before.” With the reins in one hand, he took a swig from the bottle he kept under the seat. “I am an oenophile. I enjoy a good wine, perhaps too much. Helps me to stay focused on the present. I know the water at the carousels is safe, but the rivers, streams, and ponds, now that is a different matter. So wine for me.”

  “You say carousels?” Jerome asked. “How many have you built?”

  “I have not built any, personally.”

  “So you just maintain them?” Cammarry asked, finally joining the conversation.

  “Maintenance? No real need for that. A repurposed automacube is at the center of each one, and once the carousel is started, it will function. So long as the sky tube shines the carousel is self-repairing, self-monitoring, and self-sustaining. Unless Horace decides to jump off and lead all the other animals away.”

  “Horace? Is that the automacube?” Jerome asked.

  Bigelow jestingly slapped Jerome’s knee and said, “Oh my dear friend, you are a rube. No offense intended. Horace is the first horse on the carousel.” He then sang a bit. This time it was more of a dirge than the bubbly, happy tune he had sung earlier.

  “Horace on the carousel drives all around,

  Goes up and down, round and round.

  He’s been sad since the day he found

  Zalia is where our ship went to ground.

  The music begins and away they go,

  Low to high, every day you know.

  Poor old Horace would always say,

  This place is our final stay.

  How he tried and tried and tried,

  Horace sobbed, teared, and cried,

  But he just never stops going high and low,

  Because there is nowhere else for us to go.

  It is the sad truth on the carousel,

  This ain’t heaven, but it might be hell,

  When people come and also ride,

  It’s Zalia where we all abide.”

  Cammarry looked at Bigelow as he finished his mournful song and then he took a drink from the wine in his bottle. She said to him, “The archaic language does date your song. It make me want to cry.”

  “Well, it was old long ago, and we adapted it to fit life here. Forgive me for making you sad. The carousels are set up to give pleasure, not to take it. Forgive me for any diminishment in your life I have fostered on you.” Bigelow snapped the reins and whistled to his three horses. They shook their heads and continued their varied gaits as the troika moved along.

  “You never did say how many carousels have been built. How many are there?” Cammarry asked.

  “The one you rode was number seven. Our newest one. We plan on making fifty, one for every ten square miles.”

  “So what do you do?” Jerome asked. “You sound like you are part of this, yet not. Is it some kind of government project?”

  “Ha! The Kurent and the rest of the Unity of Beta cannot find their own genitals without a series of committee meetings. No, building the carousels is not a government project. I am a roustabout and one of Jenna’s people. I am a helper, not a builder. My role is to do as Jenna our leader tells me. I was doing the final check up on that last carousel. I like watching the first people come to have their initial rides.” He took another sip from his bottle. “I also help run errands, do odd jobs, care for my associates here, and generally get materials for the real builders. You will meet them: Monika, Siva, and Peter are the brilliant engineers who build the carousels mechanisms. Roshini, Neena, Cadelai are true geniuses. They design and carve the figures. Those are the builders. There are a dozen or so other helpers, like me, not counting the children. We
will catch up to them by nightfall. Now tell me more about this Dome 17 place, and your time on the other parts of the Conestoga.”

  “Well, the Earth was a dead, nearly lifeless place. Far worse than when your ancestors departed in the Colony Ship Conestoga. The only remnant of humanity was struggling to survive in Dome 17,” Jerome began. “We sent missions to seek out….”

  Cammarry glanced at Jerome, but remained silent as he related their story. She watched the muscles of the horses as they pulled the wagon. She watched the landscape around her as they rolled along. She wondered where Khin was, and why she could not connect to Sandie. She wished to never hear from Shadow again.

  9 Revelations