Stolen Worlds (The Harry Irons Trilogy)

by Thomas Stone

  The consort slapped her belly in glee and then caught sight of Tringl. She leaned close to the Tetrarch, whispering in his ear. The Tetrarch nodded once and issued instructions to one of the royal guard. The guard chose two others to help and went to Tringl.

  As they approached, Tringl cowered. When they took him by the arms and pulled him forward, he tried to kick out at them, but his struggles were useless. Harry tried to help, but the guards surrounded him, preventing him from taking even one step toward his newfound friend.

  As they had done with the first criminal, Tringl's hands and feet were bound. Helpless, Tringl shouted for someone to help him. No one moved forward.

  The crowd began making their bets again as a fresh bowl of melted wax was brought forward. Tringl was held down as one guard inserted the funnel into his nose and another took the bowl of wax from the boy.

  The bowl was lifted and, just as it was readied to pour into Tringl's open nostrils, a great shadow fell over the compound. Simultaneously, everyone looked up. Harry, following their gazes, looked up as well. Overhead, some thirty meters, a dark form hovered.

  Hovering silently in the air, the ship was huge, streamlined, and jet-black. There was a moment's pause from the crowd before all hell broke loose.

  As the first beam shot down from the ship, the startled guard dropped the bowl of hot wax and ran. The beam hit the center of the open area and exploded. Dirt rose from a newly formed hole in the ground and rained down on the crowd. A few of the Malaaz were blown over from the force of the explosion.

  By the time the second beam struck, the crowd was running wild, trying to get out of the compound. The Tetrarch was hustled away to safety amid screams from those he ruled. The guards surrounding Harry and Blane ran as well. In his weakened state, Blane slumped to the ground.

  As another beam hit the ground, Harry jumped to Tringl's side and pulled loose the knots that bound him. Harry jerked the rag from Tringl's mouth and dragged him to his feet. Both ran to Blane even as another beam landed inside the compound. The ground shook and another hail of dirt rained down upon them.

  "Minerva," Blane muttered, "you're going to kill us. Get us out of here now."

  Besides the three of them, the compound was clear. The ship dropped even lower and focused a wide beam of light around the trio. In fear, Tringl hissed as he was lifted into the air and drawn toward an opening in the bottom of the ship. Harry gripped him by the arm with one hand as he held onto Blane's collar with the other.

  They were drawn into the ship by a directed tractor beam and deposited into a holding compartment. There was no motion as the ship lifted up and began to move away from the city.

  Everything happened so fast, Harry only had the chance to react, not to think about what was happening. Now, as he calmed his rapidly beating heart, he looked at Blane. "Why didn't you tell me?"

  "I didn't know," Blane gasped. "Besides, who cares? We're out of there."

  Minerva's voice floated from the rounded bulkheads. "Bart, dear? Are you all right?"

  Blane reached for the closest terminal outlet and plugged himself into the ship. "I'm all right now."

  "I am so sorry I didn't come sooner. Had I known the trouble you were in, you know I would have come immediately. Edward said you were all right."

  "He did, did he?"

  "Yes. I can't understand why."

  "You know Edward. He was buying time for himself."

  "Hmph," she responded, "at your risk. How are you, Harry? Long time no see."

  "It's uh, nice to be seen again."

  Blane sat up and removed the terminal from his head. "Charged. Now some decent food. This way." He turned and led the Harry and Tringl through a rounded passageway. Lights shone from recessed slits in the ceiling, illuminating Minerva's detailed interior. Tringl was dumbfounded and Harry had to assure him it was all right.

  "I missed you," said Bart.

  "I missed you too," purred Minerva.

  They took a right at a junction and then an immediate left into a bright kitchen and eating area. It was an unusual sight for a starship. Comfortable chairs surrounded a table with exactly three chairs. Instead of storage bins and enclosure packets for the food, there was only what appeared to be a medium-sized microwave oven.

  "Viewscreen on, please," Bart politely requested.

  On one wall a viewscreen appeared. Onscreen, the jungle raced by underneath.

  "Why don't we slow it down a little, Min'. How about three meters a second?"

  He'd no more than asked the question when the passing jungle view slowed considerably. Bart faced Harry. "Want something to eat?"

  "You're a little casual, aren't you?"

  "Why shouldn't I be? I'm home."

  "Maybe Tringl would like something to eat."

  "Okay, some Malaaz porridge for him. Choco-shake for me, and fries. You want anything?"

  "A glass of water."

  "Harry, you're too skinny for a grown man." Bart turned to the microwave. "Got that, Min'?"

  "Done," she said.

  Bart opened the oven and pulled out the requested items. Tringl fell upon the porridge like he hadn't eaten in days. Harry took the water from Bart and stared at the microwave.

  "That's a replicator, isn't it?"

  Bart smiled. "Why yes, it is, and this sounds like a vid commercial. They do still have vid commercials?"

  "Oh yes! Some things never change."

  "Population still sky high? Corporations still calling the shots?"

  "Yeah, I guess so."

  "I would have been surprised if it were otherwise. Well, I suppose it's reassuring to know it's still there."

  "Don't you ever miss it?"

  Bart sipped his choco-shake and shook his head. "No way. I've got everything I ever dreamed of right here."

  "Bart," said Minerva, "what do we want to do?"

  "Let's go get Fagen."

  "After what he put you through?"

  "There was no other choice. It was my fault, actually." Bart looked at Harry and explained. "I got us in a bit of a jam, that's why you found me in jail. Seems my powers of diplomacy completely failed me. In any case, like I said, Edward went on ahead. Neither of us thought it would take as long as it has. Where's Edward, Min'?"

  "He was on course prior to signal degradation. Barring the unforeseen, he should have arrived yesterday."

  "Are we headed back to the waiting area?"

  "Right-o."

  "That's fine for now." Bart looked at Harry. "I presume you've come to arrest Edward and myself. Of course, Minerva would be a prize too, wouldn't she?" Bart passed his hand along a smooth bulkhead.

  Harry said nothing.

  "What am I going to do with you, Harry?"

  Tringl finished his porridge and set the bowl on the table. In perfect Malaaz speech, Minerva asked if he wanted some more. Tringl looked around before pushing the bowl away and slapping his belly.

  "Why don't you let me help you get the ghlowstone? We can talk about everything else afterwards."

  "Oh Harry, we could certainly use the help, but on terms to be specified later? Please. Who do you think you're dealing with? And, although I find it difficult to remind you without blushing, you are in no position to negotiate."

  "Come on, Blane. Let me help you out here in your little adventure. Tringl could be of use. He knows the jungle."

  Harry struck a nerve in Blane. The wirehead had a wide assortment of things going on in his head, but Harry definitely felt his interest rise when he mentioned Tringl's jungle skills.

  "If I did decide to let you come along, there're a few things you need to know."

  "Like what?"

  "Well, like, first thing, Minerva will only respond to commands from either myself or Edward. Any attempt to commandeer her would be useless. Second, we know little about the area we're headed for."

  "Why not?"

  "We haven't been here before. You think just because we've got a ship with a warp drive, we've been everywhere?"
<
br />   Harry shrugged and Bart continued. "And last, we only think we know what we're going to find. We don't know for sure."

  "Sounds like every survey mission I've ever been on."

  "What about your crew?"

  "They'll keep. If Minerva will allow it, if you'll allow it, I'll send them a message and tell them to sit tight."

  Blane smiled and shook his head. "I don't know, Harry. I don't trust you."

  "Why didn't you just fly straight to the location in the first place? I'll bet the field interferes with Minerva's electronics. You all but told me so yourself back at the jail."

  "I don't remember telling you that."

  "You were a little out of your head."

  "I was not. Tired maybe, but not delirious."

  "So, you'd planned on going in after Fagen by yourself if things went sour? How were you going to get the prize back to the ship?"

  "I don't know, that's why Edward was going, to scout it out, see what sort of a plan he could come up with."

  "Seems to me you need some help."

  Tringl slumped over, asleep. Bart seemed to be considering Harry's offer. Harry had him on the hook and didn't want to let him get away. It was plain to see Blane was in control of the situation. Harry didn't know how far Minerva would go in protecting the man, but he suspected she would do whatever it took.

  "What kind of vehicles do you have aboard?"

  Blane looked surprised. "Any kind we need. Minerva makes whatever we ask."

  "Why didn't Fagen take one?"

  "For one thing, we didn't take the time to survey the site properly. Edward was in a hurry. We knew it was only a matter of time before a survey mission showed up. But there was also the same problem you had. Information. He didn't know what to expect, so he went to the Tetrarch to make a deal for guides. You know Edward, he looked at the map, calculated a short, hard hike and set out to do it. Macho thing, I suppose."

  "Fagen's a true explorer."

  "That's for sure. Too bad the history books won't treat him kinder." Blane leaned toward Harry. "The things we've seen, Harry, the places we've been! The universe is truly mind-boggling."

  "I'd like to hear about your travels."

  "You stayed in the Survey Service, I'm sure you've seen plenty of things as well."

  Harry shrugged. "Only in the local cluster. But you and Fagen... you've been outside."

  "Perhaps you should have come with us."

  "You threw your lives away. You both had careers, respect, money. You threw it all away and committed a crime."

  "Haven't you learned yet?"

  "Learned what?"

  "Everybody commits crimes. The bigger the ego, the bigger the crime. Fagen happens to have a huge ego."

  "Yeah, well, anyway, that was a long time ago."

  "Water under the bridge?"

  Harry shrugged. "As far as I'm concerned."

  Blane leaned back and eyed Harry. "I want to take you along. If nothing else, for the company. I'm sure Minerva would enjoy it too."

  "What about Fagen?"

  "If he's in trouble, like I think he is, he'll be glad to see any human face. Just one thing, Harry. Don't muck things up. Edward wouldn't take it well at all. Make your call to your people."

  "Agreed." Harry grinned and looked around. "Where?"

  Bart sighed. "Min', open a channel for Commander Irons. He needs to communicate with his ground team."

  "Go ahead, Harry."

  Harry made his call from where he sat. Burke wasn't happy to get the news and tried to talk Harry out of the decision, but Harry remained steadfast. He said nothing about Blane, Fagen, or the starship.

  "All right, Commander," said Burke petulantly. "If that's the way it's got to be. There's something else come up you should know about."

  "What is it?"

  "The Bedoran boy."

  "Yes. What about him?"

  "He snuck aboard the shuttle. He's here with us."

  Chapter 24

  Burke turned and angrily walked back to the shuttle. Yoni sat at the base of the ramp and watched the man walk past. He stopped short of actually entering and called up through the open hatch.

  "Still got the fix on that UFO?"

  Bobbie's voice floated through the hatch. "Jareem says he's got it down to the approximate meter."

  "Long, come down here a minute."

  In a moment, Bobbie stepped through the hatch and walked down the ramp. Burke pointed at Yoni. "Get this animal inside. Let's prepare for departure."

  "Where?"

  "We're going to follow that UFO."

  "Is it Fagen?"

  "I don't know that."

  "But you think it is?"

  Burke heaved a sigh and looked at the woman.

  "Irons is on that UFO, that's what I think. I don't know what he's trying to pull, but it's sure not by the book. Now let's load up and get going."

  "Right," said Bobbie as she turned and walked back up the ramp.

  Burke keyed his radio and told Utme to pull back from the perimeter. Like a good soldier, Utme didn't ask why. Ten minutes later, they were in the air.

  *

  Minerva's control center was nothing like Harry remembered. But the same could be said about the entire ship. Everything was different. Minerva had changed herself to make the accommodations more comfortable for the humans who now occupied her. As Blane explained, the ship wasn't any bigger because Minerva could only work with the molecules that were already there.

  The bridge was posh. Wood paneling lined the instruments and monitors. Because of Minerva's stasis field, acceleration chairs weren't needed. Instead, there was a full leather couch that ran the length of the instrument array. There was plenty of room behind the chairs and, as Harry discovered, an anteroom that led to a full bathroom.

  Blane sat in the center of the couch. Harry sat to one side and watched the viewscreen as Tringl explored the bathroom. He could hear Minerva talking to Tringl, telling him how the toilet worked. At the same time, Minerva answered Blane's requests.

  To Harry, Blane said, "I hope you won't need much rest. We're coming up on the embarkation area. I'll have Minerva set down exactly where she was..."

  "Hold on," said Harry, "that'll be nearly twenty klicks away. That's too far."

  "You can use the anti-grav flyer. You'll love it. It practically flies itself."

  "Nope, no good. We've got to get closer."

  "Harry, I've already explained all that. We're taking a chance on crashing without..."

  "Twenty klicks is too far. Let's press it and get closer."

  "I don't think so, Minerva is far too valuable for me to take risks with her."

  Harry looked at the ceiling. "Minerva?"

  "Yes, Harry?"

  "How close can you get to the ghlowstone location without experiencing serious signal degradation?"

  "Define serious."

  "Flight is no longer possible."

  "Three point two kilometers."

  "I don't see where that makes any difference," Blane interjected.

  "Makes a big difference to me," said Harry. "Minerva, can you get us within five klicks?"

  There was a pause. "The mission is within my safety parameters."

  "Good. Could you display the topo maps of our destination?"

  "What are you doing?" asked Blane.

  "I'm selecting a new landing site."

  "Now, listen, I'm the authority here. Minerva won't do anything unless I agree!"

  "Calm down, Bart. I'm the one going out, not you. We've got to get closer."

  "Ten kilometers," said Blane. Harry knew he'd won.

  "Five."

  The map was displayed on the monitor. In seconds, Harry spotted the most likely landing spot. Tringl came back, climbed over the edge of the couch and sat uneasily on the rich leather.

  "Where are we going?" Tringl asked.

  "To the Lost City. We seek the ghlowstone."

  Tringl patted his stomach in amusement. "No one has returned
from the Lost City. That's why it's lost. It is said the Krits guard the city. Some say they are ancestral spirits from the beginning of time, others say they are the ghosts of those who came seeking treasure. Who is to say what they are? Strange things sometimes happen in the jungle. The Malaaz do not venture there often."

  "You do."

  "I must seek out the hard woods in the forest. Besides, I don't like city life. I am free when I am on my own."

  "Do you have any fears about going to the Lost City?"

  "I would be unwise not to."

  "It's not too late to change your mind."

  "We have a bargain. I will help you. Then you will help me. If we both live."

  Harry trusted the alien. He was simple and honest, and he knew the jungle on Bedor-2. If there had been malice in Tringl's mind, Harry would have detected it. As it was, he was glad to have the alien's help.

  "We're passing the twenty kilometer mark now," said Blane. "Minerva, let me know immediately if you start having problems."

  "I will Bart, but I'm sure we'll be fine. My shielding is working at one hundred per cent efficiency."

  "I wish I felt as good about it as you."

  Blane was plugged into the console by four different lead wires. His eyes were no longer focused on the console readouts. Instead, he saw everything from cyberspace through a direct data stream fed straight into his brain.

  "What does Minerva look like?"

  Blane smiled. "She's beautiful."

  Minerva spoke up. "Would you like to see?"

  "I'm sorry," said Harry, "I have no implants."

  "It's not necessary. If you'll turn around..."

  Harry half-turned and looked over his shoulder. He froze. Before him stood a hologram of excellent quality. She was dressed in a formal, black silk gown that clung to her voluptuous figure like a second skin. She smiled. "Glad to meet you Harry."

  Harry nodded his head and realized Minerva enjoyed being looked at.