Determinedly, I blocked the path of one. I jabbed the deck with the symbol for “why.” “? ? ?” What’s going on?
ONE-ARM FISH TELL BIG OUTRIDER TRADE YES.
My heart pounded. They were pulling back, carrying out their bargain. We had an hour, no more, to cement the truce.
Now it depended on me.
I keyed open every frequency the suit had. Let them all hear. “Ship’s Boy Carr to Olympiad, to Station, to Centraltown Admiralty, to Venturas Base. To the regional government. All planters within range of my voice, attention!”
“Belay that, joeyboy!”
“Who’s there?”
“Frand. Captain Frand.”
Over my dead body. “Station, record, please. Ms Frand, this is for your Log.”
“I say what goes into—”
“Goofjuice.” Steady, joey. How would Fath handle it? “You’ll be interrogated under poly and drugs, for having relieved your Captain. Hide what I have to say and they’ll hang you. Transmission begins.”
“Just a—very well, Log it, Mr Sutwin.”
“This is Olympiad’s Ship’s Boy Randolph Carr—”
“No longer. You’re removed from our ship’s company.”
I reared in my suit, ricocheting off a membrane. “Don’t interrupt, you self-righteous sea lawyer! The fate of Hope Nation and home system is in our hands. This is Randolph Carr, reporting from the alien vessel, uh … One-Arm. On Captain Seafort’s instructions, I’ve been negotiating with the outriders. We have a truce. They’ll cease their attack on the Venturas and on Olympiad As a show of good faith, they’re withdrawing for an hour.”
“Olympiad Colonel Kaminski on Orbit Station. It’s a trick. In an hour, we’ll be over the horizon. When they Fuse back, there’ll be nothing to stop them. Olympiad won’t be in position to give covering fire for three hours forty-seven—”
“I’m well aware, sir.” Ms Frand’s tone was cold.
“—and the Venturas’ lasers won’t suffice. We won’t stand down. Keep firing!”
“I agree. We will.”
“Carr to Station, are you crazy? You just said you can’t get them all. The fish know you’re going over the horizon; why infuriate them to no purp—”
“You have no standing, Mr Carr.” Frand. “Leave this to respon—”
“I want to hear.” A new voice. It sounded distant. “Henry Winthrop, Council of Planters. Randolph, what have you arranged?”
“Nothing firm, but—”
Ms Frand said forcefully, “A glitched joeykid can’t make a treaty! Only the U.N. Assembly—”
Mr Winthrop growled, “They bombed Centraltown, Ms Frand. I was a boy and saw the devastation. Were you there?”
“No, but …”
“If he can head off war, don’t stop him or I’ll make you regret it! That’s a threat to you and your Navy and the whole frazzing U.N.—”
“Governor McEwan here. You speak treason, Winthrop. Remove yourself from this conversation.”
“Hold on, now.” Palabee, his tone anxious. “Bishop Scanlen and I are at target zero. Let’s hear—”
“LISTEN, ALL OF YOU!” Inside the helmet, my scream nearly shattered my eardrums. “They want to trade. All we—”
“We tracked his transmission.” Ms Frand. “I know the fish he’s in. He told them to wait ’til Orbit Station horizons. I’m going to settle—”
I grabbed my stick. “FUSE NOW NOW NOW!”
The fish pulsed.
“—no-Fuse fish die—”
The membrane parted. Protoplasm glowed white, gushed outward. I ducked, as if I might escape the fire.
Another pulse.
Dark. Fusion.
I gritted my teeth, wrote by feel. “Defuse ship
Moments later we Defused in the black of space. I peered anxiously through the membrane. Hope Nation was nowhere in sight. No Station. No Olympiad.
I was panting. The yellow suit light glowed steadily. My time was almost gone. Where in hell were we? The cold unforgiving light of a billion distant stars was my only reply.
We Fused again.
“—gone no idea where he—”
“—should have listened.”
“—make a treason charge stick, McEwan, go ahead and try. Anthony Carr was right; you’re a snake in—”
There was light behind the fish’s skin. Strong light.
I wrote, “Where one-arm fish?”
An outrider materialized, out of the fish’s flesh. I wished they wouldn’t do that; it gave me the jumps. PLANET
“—we have a shot for perhaps ten more minutes. There’s no more than a half-dozen fish over the atmosphere.”
“Colonel, we’re three hours twenty—”
A porthole opened, inches from my face. I flinched.
Orbit Station loomed, breathtakingly close.
Hastily, I keyed my radio. “Colonel Kaminski, hold fire! It’s Randy Carr. I’m in the fish alongside.”
“What are you up to, joey? Olympiad wants you dead, so do Scanlen’s crew. And if you’ve joined the fish, so do—”
Lord God, remember that help I asked for? Now would be a good time. “Sir, my fish won’t attack. Hear me out!”
A pause. “I don’t know, son. The time comes for a joey to take sides.”
“Yes.” I tried to recall the Station tech whom Kaminski had asked Anth to rescue, ages past, at our reception. “Is Mr Driscoll still on Station? Anthony would be pleased. For his sake, I beg you, sir.” I held my breath. It would be enough, or it wouldn’t.
“Are you …” His voice was subdued. “Have you gone over to the fish? Tell truth, joey.”
“Truth, sir? The Church has gone mad. They want all fish dead, at whatever cost. Fath—Captain Seafort—is compromised; he’ll give anything, do anything, to save Corrine Sloan. Lieutenant Frand’s taken Olympiad for the Church. Scores of fish will die today, and Lord God knows how many of us, when the aliens exact revenge. Have I gone over? Yes, sir. To peace. If that be treason …” I fought to bring my voice under control. “… execute me now!”
Bravo, joey. Anthony Carr, his tone sardonic.
Bravo, son. My father Derek, his voice somber, from some unimaginable distance.
“Dad, I …”
“Very well, you have our protection. Olympiad take notice.”
“Kaminski, you’re blocking our shot.” Lieutenant Frand sounded disgusted.
I said, “Mr Winthrop, Bishop Scanlen, all of you. I have a deal worked out, but I need help with the details. I need Captain Seafort, and also—”
“He will not be brought to the caller.”
“Not to the caller. To the fish.”
Dead silence. For over a minute, I heard nothing but my short stabbing breaths.
Then, “This is Right Reverend Scanlen. What deal do you offer?”
“Salt. I know it sounds odd, but they want salt. Let them trade and they’ll—”
“You need rebalancing.” Scanlen’s tone was dismissive. “Ms Frand, obliterate that fish at the first opportunity. I have a link to Mr Kenzig if you wish that confirmed.”
“No, sir. Not necessary.” Frand’s tone was heavy.
“You will send Seafort and his woman groundside as soon as hostilities cease.”
“Reverend Pandeker assured me that wouldn’t be neces—”
“I’m certain it was his honest conviction.” Scanlen’s voice was unctuous. “But from the Cathedral, the view is clearer. God’s law demands retribution.”
“I don’t—I’ll have to think …”
“Of course, Ms Frand. Think it through. Consult with Reverend Pandeker.”
A long silence. “Very well.” Frand sounded defeated
.
So it was to be treason. I called, “Mr Winthrop?”
The reply was immediate; he must have been waiting by his transmitter. “Yes, joey?”
“In less than an hour, thanks to the Church and Navy, the fish will attack. When you’ve had enough of their madness, call me on this frequency.” Two could play at insurrection.
“Palabee to Admiralty. I’m leaving at once for Centraltown. Join me at—”
“Do that, Vince.” My scorn was withering. “By heli, it’s a six-hour flight. I estimate they’ll meet you about halfway. Think of me when the first outrider leaps aboard.”
“You little bastard, you wouldn’t—”
“I wouldn’t. They would.” My voice was ice.
“We can’t just hide in the hills—”
“I tried reason. I tried begging. Now I’ll try the only course left. Good day.”
I clicked off my caller, gripped my stick. “One-arm talk big outrider.”
BIG OUTRIDER NOT IN ONE-ARM FISH.
“One-arm go big outrider fish.” Or, if you prefer …
SMALL TIME. MINUTES. NO-GO. I grunted. If that wasn’t “Wait a minute,” I didn’t know what was.
Abruptly we Fused once more. Other than the suddenness, it wasn’t quite as unnerving. Moments later, we Defused. We’d emerged perhaps a little farther from the sun, but I had sunlight enough to see we were surrounded by fish.
Our fish’s color swirled ever more rapidly; our direction changed, and fish loomed closer. We must be squirting propellant, but I felt nothing.
An outrider merged into the outer membrane and was gone.
I used the wait that followed to work at vocabulary. We needed a symbol for “help.” I drew “Trade help outriders,” and “trade help humans.” They didn’t understand. Then I tried, “Outrider help one-arm suit, one-arm no die.”
YES. HELP.
A new word. I sighed. We needed so many.
In moments, the membrane admitted two outriders. I realized I couldn’t possibly keep track of them. Perhaps they couldn’t themselves.
In the dim light, the outrider drew. BIG OUTRIDER SAY WAR / NO WAR.
“Here in one-arm fish?”
YES. He withdrew, attached himself to a membrane.
There was one outrider left.
“Hello.”
He quivered.
I got to work. “One-arm not big-human. Big-human in ship. Humans war humans. One-arm say trade. Ship-humans say no-trade.”
I waited. It was a lot to digest.
TRADE EQUALS NO WAR. NO-TRADE EQUALS WAR.
“I know that.” I bit my lip. Fog was settling into my thoughts.
“Big outrider say fish go planet. Not planet.” Damn it, I needed words we didn’t have. I tried to recall every bloody symbol we knew. Near. Jess had made a hieroglyph for “near.” Circles close, but not touching. Harry had seemed to understand. If he did, they all did. “Big outrider help one-arm. Big outrider tell fish go near planet. Small time. One-arm talk ship, one-arm say trade. Fish go near planet. Near war.” But not make war. Please, God, help them understand.
HUNDRED FISH GO NOT-NEAR STATION, NEAR PLANET. FISH /HUMANS NEAR WAR. NOT WAR.
“Yes!” I underlined it three times, as if he’d taste my fervor. “One-arm tell big-human go inside one-arm fish. Big-human talk big-outrider.” I’d bring you together, here in my fish. It would be the last thing I did.
TRADE?
“Big-human say trade.” It was a promise I hoped I could keep.
We waited while he sent emissaries throughout his fleet.
One by one, the fish began blinking out.
I floated, in fetal position. Occasionally my helmet touched the overhead, or my arm the deck.
“—another twenty or so. They’re massing just above the outer atmos—”
“—urged to take every precaution. In the great war, the Centraltown bomb appeared overhead less than thirteen minutes—”
“—at flank speed. They’ll have begun their descent before Olympiad’s in position to—”
My suit was hot, desperately hot. I ought to do something about it.
“—posted a list of inoculation centers in the event of virus—”
“Josh Hopewell, Theo Mantiet, this is Winthrop on open circuit. I can’t locate you; call me privately the moment you—”
The big outrider had anchored himself to the deck. He waited impassively, an occasional twitch his only motion.
“Kaminski, have you located the fish with the Carr joey?”
“—emergency meeting of the Planters’ Council—”
“Ms Frand, I haven’t tried. We’re over horizon for all but a few of—”
“I’m right here.” I cleared my throat, tried again. “Randolph Carr … to all parties, attention.” My tongue was thick. “We’re in a great … squadron of fish just outside the atmosphere. Once they begin their descent I doubt they can reverse …” I panted.
“You frazzing traitor!” It sounded like the Bishop.
“I never told them to attack!” And it was even true; I’d only told them to pretend to attack. What would the aliens do if my scheme failed? It didn’t bear considering. “We have … few minutes at most. Station can’t help you now, Scanlen. Neither can Olympiad. Your joeygirl Frand will show up just in time to watch the carnage.”
“You think your fish friends will spare you, Randolph? You’re done for. If not by them, by us.”
“Oh, I know. But … better hurry. Fading fast, here.” I slapped my leg. It didn’t seem to help. “They’ll listen to me, see? Like me to call ’em off?”
“What do you want?” Bishop Scanlen’s voice was strained.
“Help. I want a responsible adult to treat with ’em. One you’ll all trust.”
“And … who’s … that?” The voice floated from another galaxy.
I jerked myself awake. “Already told you. Mr Seafort.” I yawned mightily, nearly dislocated my jaw.
“You jest. I wouldn’t trust him enough to—”
“Not his intent. Justasec.” It was no use. I tore at my clamps. Somehow I got the helmet off, took huge gasps of horrible air. Cradling it upside down, I spoke into the helmet mike, straining to hear the speakers. “Bet you trust his word. Most honest man you ever met.”
“That’s as may be. He’s … out of the picture.”
“Put him back in. Got only a few minutes.” The fetid air was making me dizzy. Barely better than the suit.
The big outrider stirred. Other aliens squeezed through internal membranes, headed for the skin. They became indistinct, disappeared.
Hastily, I wrote, “?”
OUTRIDER HELP ONE-ARM.
How? I could ask, but it seemed too much trouble.
“Ms Frand, what about it? You want war?”
“It’s not my decision, joey.”
“Goofjuice! Send Mr Seafort. We’ll put a stop—”
“We’re sailing your way.”
“Send him in the launch!” The launch could sail rings around a behemoth like Olympiad.
“He’s under administrative deten—”
“Jesus God, how’d you ever make lieutenant? Release him! Scanlen doesn’t own you!”
“No, but Lord God owns my soul. I’m doing what—”
I panted, “What d’ya think He’ll … say when … fish take out Hope Nation? ‘Well done, daughter’?”
Frand’s tone was somber. “No. I don’t think that. Olympiad to Admiralty, urgent priority. Respond.”
“Lieutenant Riev at Admiralty, go ahead, I’ll relay …”
“Put Kenzig on the line, you contemptible toady!”
“Ma’am, we serve the same cause—”
“The bloody hell we do. Put him on!”
Two outriders merged through the skin to enter our chamber. Their forms were thick and bulky.
I wondered what prayer to make at the end. I wouldn’t be conscious much longer.
The outrider nudged me with a gray app
endage.
I waved him away. “Later.”
“Kenzig here.” The Admiral’s tone was cautious.
“Sir, I know your position’s difficult, but do you think we might do as he asks? Carr trusts him, so do the planters. Hell, I do too, for that matter. Seafort won’t go back on his word.”
OUTRIDER HELP ONE-ARM.
“Too late, joey.”
ONE-ARM NO DIE.
“Yes, die.” Please, God, get it over with. I’d failed.
The outrider poked my air tank. Floating free, it drifted across the chamber.
“Leave it, it’s empty.” I couldn’t write that, my brain was fogged, and we didn’t have words.
He poked it again.
The speaker crackled: “All citizens of Centraltown, by advice of the Planters’ Council, remain in your homes. Stay off the streets.”
I closed my eyes. Something nudged me. I squinted. My tank. I shoved it away.
Wait a minute.
I was wearing my tank.
Wearily, heart pounding, I shoved off after the other tank, cornered it at a membrane.
The surface was mottled. I could barely make out the plate.
UNS Challenger.
“Thanks, but it’s fifty years old. It wouldn’t …”
The seal was good.
I cried, “Don’t give me hope!” If it was empty, it would be too much to bear.
“You’d send the SecGen to his death inside a fish?” Admiral Kenzig.
Ms Frand said, “They haven’t killed Randy.”
“Not yet.”
I reached behind me, undid my useless tank, switched the hose connector to the new. In zero gee it was just possible; in grav, I couldn’t have managed it one-handed.
Helmet.
I grabbed at it; it skittered away.
The outrider fell atop it, surged from deck to bulkhead. It loomed over me, brandishing the helmet. I flinched. It flowed over me, centering the helmet on my suit, blinding me completely. A click. Another.
Light, as the outrider withdrew. Hastily, I switched on the tank.
Cold, fresh air.
My lungs heaved. Lord God! I breathed, over and again. The dull ache behind my eyes receded.
“Venturas Base to Olympiad, fish are coming down! Half a dozen at least! For God’s sake, help us!”
I spun to the big outrider. “Outrider say no war!”
NO WAR.
“Fish go planet!”
Children of Hope Page 59