by S. M. Wilson
She raised her eyebrows and gestured towards the ship. “Taking a journey.”
Storm stepped forward. “I’m sorry, who are you?”
The girl tilted her chin and looked Storm up and down. “You’re Stormchaser.” She wrinkled her nose. “Weird kind of name.” She turned around and looked at Leif with his shock of bright, blond hair. She smiled. “Well obviously you have to be the Norden. You’re Leif.” Then she turned back and looked at Lincoln. “So, that makes you Lincoln.” She put her hands on her hips. “What’s the point of sending a message? What’s the point of trying to write down what you can say in person?”
Something clicked in his brain.
That place he’d had to go yesterday. That message he’d had to ensure was given. He’d darted through the streets and banged on doors in the area until he’d finally been pointed in the right direction. But the family hadn’t been home. He couldn’t wait. The Stipulators would already be searching for him. So he’d pushed something through the door in frustration.
He still couldn’t believe she was standing in front of him. “You’re Jesa.”
She nodded. “Of course I am.”
Leif threw up his hands. “Well, I’m lost. What on earth is going on?”
Lincoln was still a little stunned. But he couldn’t help a smile. “This is Jesa. Blaine’s daughter.”
“What?” Leif’s voice echoed around them.
Storm shook her head. “But…what on earth is she doing here?”
“She?” Antagonism dripped from Jesa’s voice. “What is she doing here?”
Storm tried to find some other words but it was too late. Jesa moved a few paces to stand directly in front of her. “She is here to come to Piloria. After nine years, she is going to see her father again.” She prodded Storm square in the chest. “And you won’t stop me.”
Leif shook his head. “You’re Blaine’s daughter, really?” He still looked completely confused. “But how did you know? Who told you?”
Leif gave Storm and Lincoln a suspicious glance. They’d all agreed not to talk about Blaine. Lincoln stepped forward. “I met Jesa’s mother,” he said to Leif. “Her mother and brother approached me in the street. They asked me if anyone could survive there. They were desperate to know – I couldn’t lie to them.”
Jesa turned to face Leif. “We thought he was dead. We thought he’d died on the dinosaur continent. I stopped drawing pictures of him five years ago. I’ll never forgive myself for that.” Her voice had changed, the antagonistic tone was gone.
Storm reached over and hesitantly touched Jesa’s arm. “How did you know to come here?”
Jesa blinked, as if coming out of her thoughts. “Lincoln. He left a message. He told us he was going back to Piloria and asked if there was anything we wanted to tell my father.”
Storm gave Lincoln a half-frown. “But what now? She can’t come, can she? The Stipulators won’t let her.”
Leif shook his head. “How do we know that? They might. I was grabbed from my house in the middle of the night. How do you think I ended up looking like this? I’m still not even sure why I’m here. No one could answer my questions. The Stipulators don’t seem so organized right now.” He held up his hands. “Look around you. Last time we were here this place was full of them. Apart from the ones on the transporter, I don’t see any more.”
Lincoln nodded. “You’re right. Everything about this is odd.” He glanced back over to the ship. “It looks almost deserted. And we know that can’t be true.”
Jesa put her hands on her hips. “Deserted is good. If they say I can’t get on board, I can stow away. I’m sure I can find a way onto a ship as big as this.”
Lincoln glanced at her. Determined. Feisty. A lot like someone else he knew. He met Storm’s gaze. He could tell she was trying to stop a smile appearing.
“Someone want to tell me why we’re being forced to go back to the continent of death?”
Storm jerked at Leif’s words.
Lincoln sighed. How could he summarize the last two months? “It worked. They’ve made a virus. Or three viruses. I don’t really know. They need someone to trial them on Piloria to see if they actually work.”
Leif pulled back. “They’ve made a virus already? I thought that would take years.” He ran his fingers through his short hair. “And why us? We’ve already done our bit. It’s someone else’s turn. Who decided we should go anyway?”
“I did.” All four jumped at the unexpected voice. Silas Jung strolled out from the other side of the transporter, his shock of white-blond hair against his black Stipulator garb even more startling in the bright light of day. He looked like the kind of guy kids would run and hide from.
Leif seemed to catch his breath. Of course. Silas was the Chief Stipulator from Norden. Leif would have seen him on many occasions before. But he wouldn’t have expected to see him here. A wave of confusion swept his face.
Silas had a smug look. Conceit was particularly ugly on him. He looked down his nose at Leif. “The Chief Stipulators voted. We need the viruses trialled. Waiting until next year will take too long. It made sense to send people who already know the territory. We need results.”
“And I need to stay alive.” Leif finally spoke up. “My two friends already died on Piloria. I have no wish to set foot on the place again.” He shook his head as he glanced at both Lincoln and Storm. “Piloria’s the kind of place where you need to be with people you trust. People who have your back. People who can work together as a team.” He shot them both a look of disgust. “Now the hellos are over, I can say that you don’t have that here. We’re not a team. We’re not family.”
Silas snorted. “Do I care? And yes” – he gave a laugh, glancing at Storm – “some of you apparently are family. I don’t care if you decide to work separately and deliver one virus each. I just want to know it’s done. I want to know the results.”
Storm shook her head. “How do you know we can even do it? How do you give a virus to a dinosaur?”
Silas waved his hand. “The head scientists will fill you in. Just make sure you pay attention. There are to be no mistakes.” He started to walk away then gave another laugh. “And don’t worry about adding people to your merry little band. I’ll give you a few more. Dinosaur fodder. I won’t be doing a headcount. Except, of course, for one.”
He gave a signal and the door at the very back of the transporter slid open. Seven Stipulators were inside. They bent down and dragged out a body. A very angry body.
Reban Don’s ankles, wrists and mouth were bound. His face and body were just as bruised as Leif’s and he was wearing an odd set of scruffy blue and green clothes. His shouts could be heard beneath the gag. “You’d better watch your back, Silas Jung, I’ll get you—”
He was silenced by a swift kick from Silas’s boot. “That will be a bit hard – from Piloria. But I’ll be coming along – to make sure you get off at the other side.” Silas laughed and walked towards the other Stipulators, who fanned around him like some kind of guard as they strode off towards the ship.
Lincoln looked at the squirming body on the ground. Storm’s face was tight – she could barely even look at Reban. He gave a sigh. “Jesa and Leif, meet Reban Don – Storm’s father.”
The ship left without any fanfare, as the sun was beginning to set in the sky. The atmosphere was odd. This time there weren’t a hundred Finalists on board. This time there were only a few.
Storm could only hope that the other bunch of ragtag recruits who’d boarded the ship hadn’t heard that Silas had labelled them dinosaur fodder.
They were a mixed age range dressed in an assortment of greys and browns, all with a bewildered look on their faces. A few muttered about being saved from the mines. Another few seemed to be opportunistic adventure seekers. Two were definitely previous Finalists – Froan Jung and Tena Koll. They looked just as happy to be here as Leif. “There were seven other Finalists,” Storm hissed at Leif. “Where are the rest of them?”
&nb
sp; Leif popped a piece of fruit into his mouth. “Maybe they got lucky. Maybe they’re dead already.”
Storm shifted uneasily. The woman wasn’t here. The one who’d been scarred by the raptors. Last time Storm had seen any of them had been during the final Trial, when they’d all been on top of the cliff. The Stipulators had decided visiting Piloria wasn’t dangerous enough. They’d made the other Finalists stand with items on their head while she, Lincoln and Leif had thrown knives at them in the hope of winning the final Trial. And now, two of them were here again.
Lincoln had mentioned he’d recognized the uniform of some people from the labs. It seemed – although the voyage was supposed to be kept quiet – that a few of them had decided they didn’t just want to help develop the virus, they also wanted to see it in action.
Whatever their reason for being there, Storm didn’t care. She was more concerned with trying to quell the feeling in her stomach. The feeling of excitement.
Yes, she should be scared. Of course, she should be part terrified. She was also determined she would help find the plant leaves to assist Arta, and for Rune’s brother and sister, Cornelius and Livia, and anyone else they could help. She was almost sure she’d be able to find that part of the forest again.
But just the thought of breathing in deeply and smelling that rich air, seeing the expanse of land before her eyes, the wonder of the landscape and the aroma of life on the continent made her skin tingle.
Storm took herself off to a bunk room. Jesa followed her. Inside the room were several backpacks.
She grabbed one and emptied its contents over the bunk. Jesa thudded down onto one of the other bunks. She stared defiantly at Storm. “Are you planning on mentioning my father at all?”
Storm hesitated. “I don’t have much to tell. He helped us on Piloria. He’s managed to survive there for the last nine years. He seemed…comfortable.”
Exactly the opposite of how Storm was feeling right now. Blaine’s behaviour had been erratic. After nine years virtually alone he’d made it very clear that he struggled to be in the company of other people. He’d even made a veiled threat that they shouldn’t leave anyone behind.
“Comfortable? How can anyone be comfortable on the dinosaur continent?” Jesa asked angrily.
Storm started to repack the contents of the backpack. It was the same as last time. Several tunics, underwear and socks. A torch. Kindling. Rope and a harness, along with metal clips for climbing. Balm. A kit with some kind of chemicals. A mat and bedroll. A water canteen.
“He’s made his own shelter. He’s found a way to get clean water. He’s made ointments. He’s even made a boat from a tree. As for the things he can’t make…”
Her voice trailed off. Maybe this wasn’t the best conversation to have with Jesa.
But Jesa stood up and stepped right over to Storm. “How does he get the things he doesn’t make?”
Storm licked her dry lips. “He trades.”
“Who with?”
She should never have started this conversation. It wasn’t going to end well. But there was no point in trying to avoid it now. “With the Stipulators.”
“What?” Jesa’s voice rose in shock. No one trusted the Stipulators.
Storm tried to make it sound a little better. “I thought Lincoln filled you in on all this?”
Jesa shook her head. “I wasn’t with my mother and brother when they met Lincoln. Today was the first time I’d seen him.”
Storm nodded and sat back down. “Piloria isn’t like anything you’ve ever seen before. I could try and explain it to you, but it’s best that you just see it for yourself. There might be dangerous dinosaurs. But it’s much more beautiful than you could ever imagine.”
“Are you crazy?”
Storm held up her hands. “Maybe? I don’t know. Your father doesn’t want to be there. He wants to be at home. With you. With your mother and with your brother. But he doesn’t have any other option. There’s no way off Piloria for him. He’s had to learn to live there. The things that he can’t make for himself, like sneakers or paper? The Stipulators leave him a supply every time they visit.”
Jesa’s eyes narrowed. “And what does he do to earn them?”
Storm shrugged. “Gives them information about the dinosaurs. I’m sure it was him who pointed out where the nesting sites were for the raptors, T-rexes and pterosaurs.”
Jesa frowned. “So why aren’t they just asking him to plant the viruses? He knows the place better than anyone.”
How did she answer a question like that? Blaine’s behaviour was so erratic that there was no way the Stipulators would trust him to do something so vital.
Storm tried not to let herself smile. “I’m not sure that Blaine would do what the Stipulators want. He likes to make up his own mind about things.”
Jesa nodded, as her stomach growled loudly. “Are you going to tell me what the deal is with you and Reban Don?”
Storm felt the hairs stand up at the back of her neck – instantly defensive. “There is no deal. He’s never acknowledged that he is my father, and I’ll never acknowledge that I’m his daughter. I don’t want anything to do with him. You had your mother. You had your brother. My mother died when I was twelve and I was left in a Shelter. I had no one. What kind of a father lets that happen?”
Jesa stared at her for the longest time. It was almost as if she were trying to decide what to say. She pressed her lips together for a few seconds. It was the first time since they’d met that Jesa hadn’t seemed confrontational. “They couldn’t find us, you know. When my father was sent away, my mother took us somewhere else. We hid in another city for a few years.” Jesa broke her gaze from Storm’s and stared down at her hands for a moment. “Even if my father had sent a message home, it wouldn’t have reached us. We weren’t there. I’m not sure my father realized the risk of being found out. Oh, he knew the risk for himself. But for us, not so much. It would have been a death sentence.”
Storm swallowed and sat down on the bed next to Jesa. This was the second time she’d heard something like this. “Are you really sure about that?”
Jesa nodded. “Oh, I’m sure. My father had a friend. Another Stipulator. Neither of them were Chiefs like Reban Don.” Jesa looked off at the far wall. “His name was Kaden. He had bright red hair – as did his children. They stayed right next to us. I think Kaden and my father had some kind of arrangement. I think they covered for each other.” She took a deep breath. “Anyway, as soon as my father was seized, we left. My mum said when we came back a few years later one of the neighbours told her that the Stipulators broke down the door of the other house. Kaden, his partner and their children were dragged out onto the street and never seen again.”
Storm shook her head as an icy chill swept over her body. “I’ve never heard any of this. I mean, I’ve heard about the Stipulators being banished. But until yesterday, I’d never heard a single thing about their families being punished too.”
Jesa looked at her curiously. “I thought you were smarter than this. Haven’t you learned that you only hear what they want you to hear?”
Of course. Storm cringed. She didn’t like the other girl in the team thinking she wasn’t smart.
Jesa’s stomach growled loudly again. Storm stood up. “Come on, I’ll show you where we eat. There’s no rationing here – at least, there wasn’t last time.” She stared across at the other empty bunks and gave a sad smile. “Last time I was on this boat heading to Piloria these bunks were filled. The noise annoyed me.” She let her head hang a little as she tried not to let the wave of shame take over her. “And then on the way back? I hated the silence. It seemed to echo all around me. I moved in with Lincoln and Leif.”
Jesa looked curiously at her. “And now?”
Storm shook her head. “Everything has changed. We felt like family before. We don’t now.”
Jesa stood up. “Well, you have me this time. And we have more in common than the boys ever will – Stipulators for fathers.�
� She rolled her eyes then headed towards the door. “Probably a bigger virus than we could ever give the dinosaurs.”
It felt like a stand-off. Lincoln had selected one bunk, next to a wall, and Leif had chosen another as far away as possible. After a perfunctory glance into the backpacks that lay next to the bunks, there wasn’t much more to do.
Leif had left the dorm room almost as soon as he arrived and Lincoln decided to do the same.
He walked outside onto the deck. There hadn’t been a chance to see his mother or Arta before he got on the ship. He’d left messages with Lorcan Field and, surprisingly, he trusted him to deliver them. Now he watched as Ambulus City faded in the distance, its few lights glowing like stars in the dark sky.
It seemed they’d all had similar thoughts. Storm, Jesa and Leif were all leaning on the rail. Storm sighed as she glanced back at Ambulus City. “Imagine what it would look like if the whole place was lit up.”
Jesa leaned back. “Imagine if we could actually produce enough energy to do that.”
Leif turned to her. “What did your mother and brother say about you coming?”
For the first time since Lincoln had met her, Jesa didn’t seem quite so confident. She didn’t meet Leif’s gaze. “I didn’t exactly tell them.”
“What?” Lincoln couldn’t help himself.
Storm spun around. “You left without saying goodbye?”
Lincoln winced at her words. “So did I,” he said quietly.
Jesa’s eyes widened while Storm’s flashed as she turned on them both. “You both have family who love you, and you didn’t say goodbye?” It was more accusation than question.
Lincoln looked out across the ocean. His heart was twisting in his chest. “I had to make a choice. The Stipulators came to the lab for me. Lorcan let me sneak out another door. I had to choose between saying goodbye to my family or leaving a message for Blaine’s.”
For a few seconds he couldn’t breathe. He’d hated having to make that choice. His mother would be devastated when he didn’t return home. But he knew Lorcan would fill her in. And the important thing was that Arta was still safe, still being treated, while he found the medicine that could make her properly healthy again.