Dream thief

by Stephen R. Lawhead

  Spence made to follow Gita, but was watching Gita's reception rather than attending to his feet. He lifted his foot, the bridge swung, and Spence, his eyes still on the scene before him, felt the awful sensation of treading out into empty air.

  Unbalanced, the bridge pitched further, and Spence felt his other foot slip off the footlines. His right hand lost its grasp and scratched for a hold. He saw the darkness below him and heard the rush of the river below. It all seemed to come flying up toward him to pull him down and swallow him. He heard someone yell his name.

  Even as it was happening Spence knew that it had happened once before. In a dream. The thin line between his dream and the terrible reality that now engulfed him blurred in that instant and melted together. That he would fall, he knew. Knew it with rocksolid certainty. He would be crushed on the rocks below and his body swept away in the river. It was all foretold in the dream.

  The world spun around him. The sky above, the bridge, his friends, the villagers, the greedy darkness below-all revolved in kaleidoscopic fashion. He felt his grip on the handline slipping and a fuzzy confusion passed over him. He shook his head to clear it and cried out for help. The echo of his own voice rang sharply in his ears and died away in peals of laughter.

  His fingers, burning with pain, slackened and he felt the rope twist in his hands as it slipped away.

  26

  …

  I DON'T LIKE IT. It's getting too dangerous." Packer stood (with his arms folded across his chest and his back to his listener. His red hair, uncombed for many days, stood out in all directions like a shaken red mop. His normally fresh jumpsuit was rumpled and sweat-stained, and his face, gray with fatigue, bristled with long red stubble.

  "What would you have us do about it, friend? It is dangerous, yes. We are not playing a child's game." Kalnikov slumped back round-shouldered in his chair and frowned at the ceiling. He, too, showed the strain of the passing days.

  "We could try to get him out," suggested Packer.

  "Too risky. Besides, just the attempt would tell them they have captured an important prisoner. It would also tell them that we have a good network of spies reporting their every move. In cases like this, unfortunately, it is better to wait and do nothing. We must not endanger the network.

  "Just leave him? It's my chief assistant we're talking about, you know; head of our glorious network."

  "All the more reason to remain calm. He must not be made to appear at all valuable. Otherwise, they will think they are in a position to bargain with us. They must never think that! They must remain uncertain on that score. We must keep them guessing. Silence is better. And it is better for Jones, too. You will see."

  Packer ran his hands through his hair and sat down with a flop in a chair opposite the Russian pilot. A deep frown creased his unhappy face. "I suppose you're right. But I still hate it!"

  "I know. It is most unfortunate. But there is yet hope. We do not know what he may have told them. He may have convinced them he knows nothing of our whereabouts. And unless they are very desperate, they will have to believe him. I don't imagine even Ramm is bold enough to begin arresting people wholesale. The mutineers must still maintain some semblance of order-at least for a little longer. So, perhaps they will release Jones, eh?"

  Packer nodded slowly. Kalnikov continued. "Now, then, how are we coming on the break-in?"

  "MIRA's shields tumbled a few hours ago."

  "That's good news! Yes? Fantastic! That is something to cheer about at least."

  "Well, yes and no. Without getting too technical, let's just say we're only sixty percent home. There's still a long way to go. MIRA's a tricky gal. She's state of the art and her data blanks are all biochip components. They're a lot tougher to manipulate at arm's length. More complex. We can roam around inside her circuits and sample bits and pieces of stuff we run across, but that way it would take years to find what we're looking for. And there's a good chance that we'd stumble over an internal tripwire of some kind and give ourselves away-they'd know they had a worm. They'd start shuffling the stuff around and we'd never find it. We need to know where the information we want is stored, and we also have to find which lines they're using for communication. In short, we need a master key to the system layout. A road map. We're working on it now."

  "Well, keep working on it. Let me know as soon as we have something." Kalnikov got up and brushed the bags out of his uniform. "I've got to go and pick up the last shift report from my second-in-command. "

  "There is one thing, though," Packer called after him. "We could order a shutdown of certain on-board systems throughout Gotham."

  "Oh? How would we do that?"

  "It's simple. We merely introduce false information into the matrix-say, splice in a signal for a faulty blower fan or something. MIRA would shut down the ventilator in order to check it out, or she'd signal someone to go fix it. Anyway, it would be shut down while all that was taking place. It might be useful."

  "Oh, yes," Kalnikov smiled broadly. "You never know what might be useful." …

  RAMM PACED BACK AND forth in front of the director's desk. Wermeyer sat watching him, drumming his fingers on the wooden desktop.

  "It's not good. I have to let him go soon; I can't keep hint indefinitely-we haven't charged him with anything. People are asking questions."

  "Well then, charge him. Think up something. If we let him loose now he'll know we don't have a clue where they are. And if he is in contact with the others, they'll know it, too."

  "Any word from Hocking?"

  "For the third time-no, not yet! Relax, will you? Getting nervous won't help. Everything's going as planned. The takeover is right on schedule."

  Ramm shook his head and glared at Wermeyer. "I won't relax until this place is buttoned down tight. Right now there are too many variables. Too much can go wrong."

  "You're a worrier, Ramm. I've already told you, nothing can go wrong. Why don't you stay here and have a drink with me? You look as if you could use one."

  "No, thanks. I'm still on duty," replied Ramm coldly. He turned to walk out of the room. "Still, I wonder what can be keeping Hocking. He was supposed to have been here by now."

  Wermeyer only shrugged and turned away. Ramm was a worrier-a good soldier, but a worrier and a stickler for detail. But soon it would all be over and then the station would be theirs. And after that? Well, who could tell? Anything was possible. Anything at all. …

  SPENCE FELT THE ROPE twist in his grip as his fingers let go. He saw it slide sideways. His hand clawed the air. It seemed that he hung motionless for a fraction of a second before sinking backward into the chasm. He heard the screams of horrified onlookers and recognized his own name among unintelligible shouts.

  He twisted in the air even as he fell and managed to snag a piece of the side-webbing of the bridge. With one hand he caught the length of rope and held on. Then, blood pounding in his temples so hard that he could hardly see, he managed to get his other hand on the rope and haul himself back up a few centimeters.

  The rope as a weak lifeline; it served only to prolong the agony. For as he clung to the rope, kicking his feet to maintain his grasp, the strand snapped and he plummeted into the chasm below-to the renewed shrieks of those watching on the banks above.

  Spence saw the darkness rushing up toward him and the gray brown rock face slipping past him only an arm's length away.

  Then something struck him. At first he thought he must have collided with a rock jutting out from the stone wall. There was a tearing sound-as if he had snagged his clothing on the rocks. In the same instant he felt a sharp pain between his shoulder blades.

  He caught and spun, arms and legs jerking uselessly. His head snapped forward, driving his chin into his chest.

  He was dangling in mid-air. He turned his head to see what had saved him and looked up into Kyr's two huge eyes. The blow Spence felt between his shoulder blades was Kyr's lightning-fast grab at his clothing. The Martian now held him with one hand, clinging pr
ecariously to some near-invisible handhold with the other.

  Moments later they were clambering over the edge of the precipice, eager hands pulling them to safety. Adjani gripped Spence's arm very hard and pulled him away from the edge.

  Kyr bent over him and asked, "Are you injured?"

  "No. Dizzy. I'll be fine."

  "I am sorry if I hurt you, Earthfriend. Your gravity does not allow me so move with ease. I fear I struck you too hard."

  Spence only shook his head.

  "I never saw anything like it!" cried Gita. "I never saw anyone move to fast in my whole entire lifetime. Great merciful heavens!"

  Spence turned to the chasm. "My dream almost came true just then. Thank God it didn't. And thank you, Kyr. I owe you my life."

  "I am glad to serve you, Earthfriend. I sensed you were in difficulty."

  "Look at that!" shouted Gita behind them. "Our audience is leaving. Show's over! "

  They turned to see the villagers filing silently away, heading back to their homes as darkness closed on the mountains.

  "I don't blame them," said Spence. He nodded toward Kalitiri, seen as a dark, impenetrable mass over them, now indistinguishable from the mountain around it. "We go to beard the lion in his den. I'm sure they don't want any part of it. But I wonder how they knew?"

  "They are a very superstitious people, these hill-dwellers," said Gita. "They do not like to wander these mountains in the dark. Only tragedy can come of it. When the sun goes down, they light their fires against the night and squat in their home until morning."

  The last of the hillpeople were gone now, padding softly away in the twilight. They had gone quietly so as not to arouse the slowly awakening spirits of the hills.

  "What do we do now?" wondered Spence out loud. "Any ideas?"

  "Yes," said Adjani, "I've been thinking about it all day."

  "And?"

  "And I think it's time we had a council of war."

  27

  … THE IDEA WAS LUDICROUS. Plain silly, it seemed to Spence. The four of them were going to try to break into the Dream Thief's stronghold bare-handed-with not so much as a bludgeon to swing between them-and what? Reason with him? Talk him into putting aside his evil schemes? This one who, through the mysterious tanti, wielded power over men's minds, could direct their very thoughts according to his will-they dared to approach him?

  It made no sense. It was not logical. Their chance of success, Spence reckoned, was nil. But what could they do? Something had to be done; someone had to try. It had fallen to these four; there was no one else.

  So, Spence turned his eyes away from the dark, imposing shape of the palace. "Shall we go over it again? Just to be sure we all know what do to?"

  They had been over it several times, but once more would not hurt, and it gave them something to do while they waited for the moon to rise above the rim of hills to the east. Spence could already see a slice of the moon showing; it would not be long now.

  "Right," said Adjani. "We all watch each other and go quietly. Spence and I will go first; Gita and Kyr follow. We don't know if the gates are guarded, but it looks pretty quiet from here. We haven't seen anybody moving. Probably they're not expecting anything. "

  Of course they're expecting us! Spence shouted inwardly. They know we're here. They've been waiting for this as much as we have! But he said nothing and nodded as Adjani continued.

  "Once we're inside, we try to find Director Zanderson and Ari. Then we look for the machine-Kyr will know what to look for. Okay? Remember, we have the element of surprise on our side. If we aren't seen, we just might pull it off without a hitch. "

  There was much that was not said. They all knew it, but nodded their agreement just the same. Of the four, only Kyr seemed not to have any reservations about what they were about to attempt.

  Adjani looked around him. The moon had risen and was pouring her liquid light all around. The palace, with its leafy camouflage, shone traced in silver. "It's time. Let's go," he said and stepped from their hiding place onto the rocky, overgrown path leading to the gates.

  Spence followed him and they crept toward the massive walls, which appeared to grow still more massive and impenetrable as they neared. The waiting had only served to make their task more hopeless in their own eyes, and the Dream Thief more terrible.

  It was with an overpowering sense of dread and doom that Spence stole toward the huge wooden gates.

  Not a branch moved, not the slightest breath of a breeze ruffled the leaves. The ruin appeared a dead and abandoned relic, a shrine to an earthly deity long departed. Perhaps it was true; perhaps the Dream Thief did not exist after all. Or perhaps he had gone.

  Even as he thought these things, Spence knew they were not true. He had been drawn to this place by forces greater than his own volition. Whether by the Dream Thief or some other, it did not matter. He was here. Very well; come what may he would see it through.

  "Listen!" whispered Adjani. "What's that?"

  Spence had been so self-absorbed he had not noticed any sound at all. "I don't-"

  "Shh! Listen!"

  There came a sound like laughter, or singing heard from very far away-as if from a boat far out across the water. The sound came to them and then drifted away, just the barest hint of tinkling voices; almost nothing at all. Then all was silent again.

  Adjani and Spence looked at each other, shrugged and continued toward the gates.

  Spence could now see the individual beams that made up the gates. He could see the great iron bands with bound them. The dark walls arching over them rose higher and, though smooth, Spence saw where a person might find adequate hand and foothold for climbing.

  They had almost reached the entrance when there came a scratching noise from behind the gates, and suddenly this gave way to a great creaking groan as the huge gates swung open.

  Spence froze in his tracks. Adjani crouched down. There was a buzzing sound in the air above them that made Spence's stomach tighten and his heart leap. It was a now-familiar sound, and one that filled him with despair.

  Then he saw them: three pair of luminous green eyes just inside the gates. Three more dark shapes passed just overhead. He glanced around to see the forms of three naga demons touching lightly down behind them.

  Then all the creatures began advancing at once, drawing the circle tighter around them. Spence and Adjani stepped close together. The creatures inside the gates moved into the moonlight and Spence saw that the one in the center carried a large silver orb-the same object he had seen before, that had stunned the dogs, and later had knocked out Kyr.

  The malevolent creatures came closer. Spence looked back and saw that Kyr and Gita had not moved from their hiding place. The creatures appeared unaware of their presence; perhaps Kyr and Gita would remain unnoticed and could help them in some way.

  The beings came nearer, surrounding them completely now. There was nowhere to run, and running was ineffective anyhowone blast from the silver orb and it was all over. Spence felt waves of helplessness and horror rise in him and subside. The creatures were within a few paces, ringing them in completely.

  Spence looked into their glowing green eyes. Thoughts came into his head, thoughts which he knew were not his own. Inner voices spoke to him. Come with us, they said. You will not be harmed. Come.

  Spence raised clenched fists to his head as if to drive the alien thoughts out. No! He shouted inside. I will not!

  But his feet were already moving toward the gate-the demons were taking them inside. He opened his mouth to speak, but could not make his tongue move. He stared around in mute terror. God, help us! Save us!

  They shuffled past the opened gates and under the arch. Spence felt some will other than his own directing his steps now. And though he fought it, still he moved on. He was powerless to stop himself from doing what he did not want to do. He was under complete domination to a force greater than the force of his own will.

  Then, once again, from out of nowhere the sound of singing re
ached his ears: closer this time and more distinct. But it was not singing, it was the sound of many voices, excited voices, clamoring all at once, coming closer.

  The force that grasped him slackened and he turned to glance behind him. A long line of bright lights were swinging through the night toward them. For a moment he could not think what they were, but the voices came from these lights that floated swiftly nearer.

  Torches! He grabbed Adjani by the arm and swung him around, pointing to where the torches massed together at the head and trailed off in single file behind. All at once it hit him. He found his voice in the same instant. "The villagers!"

  The naga demons hesitated momentarily. Spence felt their hold on him withdraw as their attention shifted to this new development. The creature with the orb stepped forward, his wings half-fanned out from his repulsive body. He raised the orb just as the first of the torchbearers came running up.

  Spence saw their faces in the light; the blades of makeshift weapons flashed in their hands-hoes and machetes and other implements. They rushed forward toward the creatures and then halted in confusion as the demon with the orb scuttled forward and raised the object over his head.

  Spence threw himself headlong at the creature and knocked the sphere away. He landed with a thump that knocked the air from his lungs and saw the silver object roll to the side.

  There was a great cry and the peasants came rushing in. He felt icy hands on him and saw two creatures clutching at him, lifting him to carry him off. He yelled and was immediately surrounded by villagers bearing clubs and machetes. Then he was being hauled to his feet and he looked up to see Kyr bending over him.

  "I'm all right. I'm fine," he said, standing.

  "Come on!" cried Adjani, right behind.

  The peasants swarmed around them, pushing through the gates. The night was filled with light and noise-it was like a river flooding into a dry valley. Here and there the current eddied. Spence saw knots of men pummeling the earth; hoes and shovels rose and fell, and he knew that the demons would trouble them no more.