Prosperine: The Adventures of the Space Heroine Hickory Lace: Books 1, 2 & 3 (The Prosperine Trilogy)

by PJ McDermott

  Shaking his head, Nolanski admonished himself. “Typical. What will Kalichia say?” He raised his arms in submission.

  The Chief pulled Nolanski’s arms down to his sides. Sadness and disappointment battled with the anger on his face. “Nolanski, my friend,” he said. “Today is a sad day for both of us, but I fear it will only become worse for you. I am arresting you for larceny, and for conspiring to unseat the lawful government of Avanaux. There may well be other charges.”

  Hickory stared at the man she had trusted, then turned away. “Jess? Call Brandt at the spaceport and tell him to send a team over here. Actually, tell him he might want to deal with this one personally.”

  “Have you got them all?” said Jess.

  Hickory looked around. Sequana, alias Ecknit, had disappeared, taking his chance to flee during the capture of Vogel. “We’ve got Nolanski and the alien. He’s a Bikashi—better let Brandt know that too. I guess Prosperine’s secret hoard of crynidium isn’t secret anymore. The IA is going to have to re-think its strategy. The Pharlaxian has disappeared. Let’s hope we’ve put his plans to eliminate Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth on hold, but somehow I doubt it.”

  Kar-sèr-Sephiryth

  Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth reminded Hickory of an African gazelle: long limbs, ramrod-straight nose and large soulful eyes that gave him the appearance of wisdom beyond his thirty years.

  Jess whispered to Hickory, “He looks the part.”

  They settled themselves amidst the Teacher’s followers gathered on the steps of the government building. Hickory thought the Teacher’s choice of location curious. Perhaps he was daring the establishment to challenge him, perhaps he hoped to sway some of the bureaucrats to his ideas, or maybe it was simply a message to his followers that Prosperine rules and regulations held no authority over him.

  He’d been reading from the Prosperine sacred scrolls, and now he put them aside and addressed the crowd. “Know for certain that Balor has already set the day and the hour of Prosperine’s ruin. Then will the ground buckle and heave and the air be consumed with fire, and the unbelievers and the righteous will both perish in terror and agony. Beg Balor for his forgiveness now, and believe in me, then you will be numbered amongst the just and will be with my father always.”

  Some in the crowd turned aside, muttering. All knew that by being virtuous, they could hope for another lifetime on Avanaux. Talk of everlasting life was madness. Others, although confused, sought clarification. “When will this happen?” asked one. Another said, “My wife is a good woman, but she does not know you. Will she be counted among the just or the wicked?”

  Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth spread his arms wide to encompass his followers. “My brothers and sisters, listen to what I say: in the Book of Balor, there are many signs that foreshadow the end of time. Before that day comes, Prosperine will be a shining light for many. My brothers will spread the word throughout the whole of creation. In the last days, the stars will be extinguished one by one until all is dark. When that time arrives, Balor will come from the heavens riding a shining chariot and will gather the faithful to him. He will make three lines, one for those who are damned; a second for those who have lived a righteous life, and the third line will be honored and sit at the table with my father. Those are they who are my faithful disciples.”

  A vision of the end of the Universe, thought Hickory. It wasn’t an uncommon theme in many civilizations. She personally had listened to two versions of the apocalypse in her previous missions and several others had been documented. All had been proven to be conjured up by the creative minds of beings who were less than divine. She waited until his audience quieted, then put the test question devised by PORO. “Teacher, why doesn’t Balor reveal himself to us?”

  Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth looked to where Hickory and Jess sat and inclined his head, smiling at them. “Don’t you know me, Hickory? How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Even were Balor to appear here in all his glory, many would not believe. I am here. Believe in me.”

  Hickory felt a tingling sensation at the back of her neck. She couldn’t take her eyes off the Teacher. Her mind raced. How could he know my name? She struggled to think clearly. Someone must have told him. But who, why? Did he realize she was an alien? He must know.

  Jess tugged at her arm, and Hickory patted her hand. “It’s okay, Jess,” she whispered.

  Despite the spellbinding revelation of her name, the significance of the Teacher’s reply to her question hadn’t been lost on Hickory. Of the fourteen previous investigations by the SPRA, the Teacher’s answer represented the closest to the biblical account of Philip’s questioning of Jesus.

  Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth waited, a smile playing on his features.

  Hickory took a deep breath. “Teacher,” she said, “you say Prosperine will be a beacon for many. Where then are the many? Are there other lands we do not know of that also worship Balor?”

  Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth let some sand pour from between his fingers then looked to the heavens. “Do you seek to test me then? For the sake of those others you serve, I will say this. The children of Balor are as grains of sand by the sea. The stars in the sky are many, Hickory, and my Father knows the name of every star. There are many lands and many peoples. Some already know the Father, some have yet to know him.”

  For those others you serve…? Another clue. He had answered her question in broad terms, but it wasn’t difficult to believe this naur knew there was life beyond Avanaux, and also that she reported to a higher authority.

  His followers, though they might not understand their meaning, were hanging on his every word.

  Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth rose to his feet and walked towards them. He cupped Jess’s face in his hand and looked at her with compassion. “I am sorry, Jessica-sèra-Jayne. You have lost a good friend, but fear not. He showed much bravery in the face of great terror and evil. Be at peace, for Gareth grieves not.”

  Jess flinched. “How can you know these things? How do you know my name? What right do you have to speak about Gareth like this?” She looked confused and frightened.

  “Do not be afraid. All will be revealed in time.” He placed a hand on Jess and Hickory’s shoulder. “You are knight commanders of Balor. You know not your power.” He held their eyes for a moment, then shading his own against the sun, he gazed into the distance. “The followers of Sequana are near. I must be gone before they can find me. I will see you again before this chapter is finished.” He beckoned to his supporters to follow and then walked swiftly away.

  “Well,” said Jess, “that was an experience. Look at me—I’m shaking like a leaf. You know I’m not a believer, but that guy could convince me otherwise. How come he knew our names? How could he possibly know my mother’s name is Jayne? He must realize we’re not from this planet, too.” She shook her head slowly.

  Hickory laughed half-heartedly. “It was a shock all right. It baffled me when he said it, but logically he could have found out from any number of people. Nolanski for one, or the Chief, or someone from the embassy.” She knew it wasn’t so simple. It was a stretch to suggest this naur could find out Jess’s mother’s name from one of these. There were too many unanswered questions. Hickory spread her hands. “I agree he’s impressive. He’s more knowledgeable about a lot of things than your average citizen. For one, he understands that Prosperine isn’t the center of the universe. I have to admit, his similarity to the historical Jesus is astonishing.”

  “Hickory…” began Jess. “When he touched me, it was like a wave of peace went through me. It was the strangest thing. I—”

  “Hush, Jess. Don’t read too much into it. He showed a lot of empathy over Gareth’s death. You probably felt a rapport with him.” Hickory had also felt the energy emanating from the naur, but she didn’t want to think of what that might mean, not yet. She reached out and pulled Jess towards her. “We’re both vulnerable at the moment.” But she wondered how this Teacher could know so much about them, and Gareth.

  James Brandt introduced Alex Mackie. “Ale
x is our replacement representative on Prosperine. His first job will be to organize Nolanski’s trip home.”

  Mackie had yet to complete the maquillage process, so they were face-to-face in the “Half Way House,” a small room inside the spaceport created as a temporary meeting place for both Avanauri and Humans.

  Mackie’s eyes crinkled as he shook hands with Jess. “Call me Mack. It’s not a great start to a new job—getting rid of the old boss, is it? But I hope to be of some help to you folks when I get settled.” Jess giggled and then blushed as Mack grinned at her. He inclined his head. “I’ve been told the Avanauri like a little color in the face. I can understand why,” he said.

  Hickory looked at Jess, surprised by her reaction. It had been many years since John had passed away, and not once in that time had Hickory seen her blush at a compliment. Hickory noted the laugh lines around Mack’s eyes, the broad shoulders and the square jaw and decided he could be good for Jess.

  “We can do with some help tracking down Sequana,” Hickory said. “He’s the one responsible for Gareth’s death and he won’t stop until Kar-sѐr-Sephiryth is dead, too. He’s become invisible since Nolanski and Vogel were arrested, but I bet he’s still rallying his followers to start a holy war.”

  “Is he still in Ezekan, do you think?” said Mack.

  “I doubt he’d hang around long. There are too many peacekeepers looking for him in the city. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s headed up country to lick his wounds,” said Jess.

  Hickory nodded her agreement. “James, did Nolanski say anything about where Sequana might have flown?”

  “The ex-ambassador hasn’t been all that cooperative since his arrest. My guess is he’s holding back hoping to negotiate his way out of this mess. He still maintains an allegiance to Sequana and Vogel, but he volunteered that the Pharlaxians have a sizeable training camp located in the desert somewhere beyond Tontine, towards the Ice Mountains. He couldn’t be more precise, he said, because he hasn’t been there himself. Personally, I think he’s lying, but he’ll only tell us more if we come to some agreement. I’m confident he will confess everything he knows, eventually.”

  Mack lifted his eyebrows and his lips parted in a broad smile. “Sounds like a good reason for us to do some desert exploring, Jess. What do you say?”

  Pursuit and Capture

  Josipe-sѐr-Amagon sat behind his desk, rattling a pencil between his teeth. It was disappointing to lose his card partner. That had been unavoidable. If Nolanski had confided in him, both might have profited, and Nolanski would not be in IA custody tonight. He sighed. Perhaps it was for the best. Things were more complicated since the Earthmen had arrived, and he did well to keep his wits about him and his hands clean. It annoyed him that the Pax leader had escaped. Sequana would cause a lot more trouble before he was through, but he would deal with that when the time came. He would have enjoyed watching the rebel leader languish in his jail. Instead, he had the Bikashi in custody. “Balor!” he swore, then touched his lips briefly in contrition.

  Too many had seen the grotesque figure since his arrest. Despite his threats, it was unrealistic to expect his guardsmen to keep silent. Rumors would be flying. No one had as yet realized the truth—it was almost impossible for a naur to conceive of such a thing. Most believed the rumor he’d spread that the Bikashi was a monstrous creature from the Scarf. Soon questions would be asked, and the truth would be revealed. There were aliens on Prosperine, and the Avanauri people were not the only, nor even the most advanced, civilization in the universe. From there it was a short step to denial of the sacred book and a sharp decline into anarchy. It could set the country back a hundred years—more!

  He snapped the pencil. There was only one option. He couldn’t make the Bikashi disappear without incurring the wrath of Vogel’s masters. It was clear from the answers to his questions—offered freely by the alien—that he was a high-ranking official, and should he be disposed of there would be repercussions and others to take his place. On the other hand, if he were to give Vogel over to the Earthmen, he would become their problem. That would at least delay things until the politics were dealt with, and he could afterward spread the rumor that the monster had been put down. Having reached this conclusion, the Chief wasted no time. He sent the Bikashi to the IA spaceport on Dominion Island with an escort of eight of his most trusted constables under the command of an officer.

  Lieutenant Thurle-sèr-Gammons was the son of the Chief’s sister. He was a competent officer, thought to be fair but tough by his troops, and considered somewhat surly by his superiors. He had received no favors from his uncle to arrive at this point in his career and had accepted that he was unlikely to progress past his current rank. But Thurle had not been ignored. Considered a firebrand and a radical in his youth, he had been attracted to the right-wing policies of the Pharlaxian main party and often attended their meetings. More recently he had come under the personal tutelage of Sequana.

  Halfway to Harbor Town, the escort was attacked by a troop of Bikashi and Pharlaxian cavalry. Thurle lined his naurs up to meet the charge, positioning himself at the rear with Vogel. He struck and killed three of his own command from behind. The remainder were slaughtered by the charging Bikashi cavalry, and Thurle headed off to the Hinterland with Vogel and his troops.

  For ten miles outward from the city’s walls, Ezekan was surrounded by farming land: hills covered with fruit trees, rolling river flats and valleys where vegetables, fungi, and grain were grown. Jess and Mack had discussed their plans with Hickory, who had agreed they would go to Tontine while she remained in Ezekan to follow up on the Teacher.

  It was a pleasant start to their journey, and Jess and Mack exchanged small talk as they went.

  The farmlands soon gave way to scrub followed by savannah—huge expanses of rolling golden grass, home to wild yarrak and other beasts. The ground underfoot was uneven, and they were forced to make several detours to avoid deep crevasses. To their west lay the River Ctarak, impassable by foot or yarrak for most of its journey from the Mountains of the White Cloud to the Endless Sea. Kyntai had said there was little point in braving the raging torrent and slippery rocks because all that lay on the other side were barren mountains surrounded by sunbaked deserts called the Hinterland where Violators and other predators prowled.

  To reach Tontine, travelers were forced to head north, past the small town of Hartlepool, and across the savannah between the Mountains of Valor and the Ctarak until they reached the toll bridge that spanned the river.

  Jess and Mack rode through the night, crossing the bridge by mid-morning the following day. From that point, they could either keep going north to the Trasel River and hope the ferry was operating, or make a detour eastwards to the river mouth and travel up the coastline to Tontine.

  Jess decided on the ferry crossing, rationalizing this as the more likely route taken by Sequana. When they arrived, the barge was moored on the far bank. They waved to the ferryman and dismounted to await his return.

  “We might be here a while,” said Mack, picking a stalk of golden-grass and sucking on the stem. “He’ll want to wait until they have a passenger or two on the other side to make it worth his while.”

  “I could do with the rest, anyway,” said Jess, stretching. “How long have you been with the Agency, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “I don’t mind.” He smiled. “I joined as a geologist eight years ago and spent the first three surveying remote star systems searching for crynidium deposits. I met the admiral on a planet orbiting Arcturus. I had to do a presentation on my findings.” He twirled the grass between his thumb and forefinger, then threw it away.

  “That would have been a tough assignment. He can be a scary man.”

  Mack laughed. “Especially as I had no good news to tell him. I spent half an hour explaining how gamma radiation reflectors and robotic stations operate, with him staring at me all the time. In the end, he said, ‘Mr. Mackie, you’re no damn good as a geologist, but I think yo
u’d make a fine administrator.’”

  Jess laughed at his impersonation.

  “I received the transfer order the following week, and I’ve been with him ever since.” He told her it was his perfect job. “Never a dull moment and always something new. I get bored very quickly, otherwise.”

  “I hope you don’t become bored with this job,” she said.

  “Never!”

  It took Jess and Mack a week to reach the village of Tontine; both were tired, stiff and saddle-sore. They handed the reins of their yarraks to a stable hand, with instructions to provide fresh water, food, and clean bedding for their mounts.

  Outside the stable, they glanced around the almost deserted, dusty streets. By Avanauri standards, Tontine was a sizable town. It had a population of around 1,000 and was the gathering point for the surrounding farms. The town boasted a temple, a school, an inn, and a variety of supply stores plus a marketplace. It was late afternoon, the sun was a wavering orange ball low on the horizon, and the first shimmer of the aurora was visible high above. Most townsfolk would be settling in for the night.

  The inn, though, was crowded. Jess and Mack drew stares as they made their way over to the serving area. The bartender nodded to them. “You’ll be some of those travelers from Castaliena we keep hearing about? We don’t get many strangers around here, but you’re welcome all the same. Can I get you something—food or a drink, perhaps? You look as though you’ve come a distance.”

  “We’ve journeyed from Ezekan, and we could do with a cold drink to start with. It’s hot as Hades out there,” said Jess.

  The bartender poured some ale into two beakers and they drank thirstily. “You speak well for a foreigner,” he said.

  Jess flushed. “Oh, we’ve been in your country some years, now. We’re almost locals—except for our color!” She and Mack laughed, and the bartender joined in. Jess hurried on. “This looks like a busy town. You must get a few people from the city looking to buy at your market?”