All The Frail Futures: A Science Fiction Box Set

by J Battle

  He approached the Riven Rock from one side and climbed up its steep outer face, then he crawl along the curved upper surface to the rift itself, where he was able to hide between two jagged out cropping spurs that blocked him from view on either side.

  He was now in the centre, overlooking the rift, with a clear sight of the action when it recommenced. Of course, he had no intention of helping Handus in any way; that was not the way things were done. He was just there to watch. To his left, he could see Handus cleaning his fur and, directly below him, was the dead body of the ape. To his right was possibly the ugliest, most malformed creature he had come across in his long life. It crouched there, between the rocky sides of the rift, drool dripping from its jaws as it waited for Handus to restart, a long jabbing spear held in one hairy hand.

  Chapter 21

  Jones had spent hours, kneeling in the dust before the stones, recording everything he learned on his palm top. Both he and the cat remained close to the stones, no longer so wary of each other. They had used the stones to demonstrate addition, multiplication and division. They had exchanged names and the list of words they both understood was growing by the minute.

  There was a translation programme on his palm top that he’d downloaded before they left Earth. It was a long shot to think it might be needed, but they were travelling to an alien planet, and who knew what they might find? The instructions claimed that a vocabulary of one hundred words was sufficient for the programme to translate basic sentences and allow rudimentary conversation. So far he had a list of fifty-nine words and was hopeful that, before the day was out, he would have the rest.

  Without warning, another cat appeared from the other side of the AEC. Jones froze. This one wasn’t at all elegant and beautiful, it was a dull mangy, one-eyed creature, and the sharp teeth it displayed suggested that it was ready for something to eat, and wasn’t too fussy about the source of the meal.

  The newcomer ignored him and moved close to Perdus. There was an exchange of words, which he was able to record. He recognised Perdus’s name and quite a few other words, though he was still unable to get a sense of the meaning.

  Perdus turned away from the other cat.

  ‘Night. Now. Danger. AEC.’

  Jones turned to the captain, and called her over. When she arrived, he explained what he had been told. She looked doubtfully at the cats.

  ‘Are you sure you understand it correctly? You’re suggesting we go back in the AEC, when we were perfectly safe out here last night. No-one wants to go near that abomination.’

  ‘What’s wrong with it? It’s perfectly safe. It did carry us down, after all.’

  ‘No-one’s going near it. It’s not safe.’

  ‘I don’t understand what’s wrong with you all. It’s perfectly fine. It carried us down here, and it can take us wherever we want to go, Sir.’

  The fear in her face as she looked at the craft told him that he wasn’t getting anywhere. He turned back into the cats, just in time to see them slip inside the AEC.

  ‘Captain,’ he said, ‘I really think we should take the advice of the locals. If there is something dangerous out here, they would know.’

  ‘We’re perfectly safe out here.’

  ‘At least, I should get a weapon from the AEC.’

  ‘We don’t need anything from the AEC. Nothing in that ship is natural. It is our duty, now that we are here, to obey the rules.’

  ‘Rules, Sir? What rules?’

  ‘Don’t question me, technician.’

  ‘Sorry, Sir. Permission to enter the ship, Sir.’

  ‘With what purpose, technician?’

  ‘Further observation of the alien species, Sir.’

  Helen frowned. She was about to refuse, until she found that she couldn’t think of a valid reason.

  ‘Permission granted,’ she said, at last, ‘but you are not to remove anything of a technological nature from the ship. Understood?’

  ‘Yes, Sir.’

  As Jones climbed into the AEC, he wondered when she would start to warm to him.

  **********

  Inside the AEC, the black cat was curled up on the control panel and the mangy one was draped across three seats.

  ‘This. Is. Deylus,’ Perdus introduced his companion.

  ‘Where is the danger?’

  Perdus considered his words; seeking out the meaning. Then he said a new word that sounded very much like clickerclackers.

  ‘We are in danger from the clickerclackers?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Are we safe here?’

  The cats confided for a moment, then Perdus replied, ‘Door. Shut.’

  Jones tapped the pad that closed the door soundlessly.

  ‘How’s that?’

  There was no response from the cats.

  ‘What are these clickerclackers like?’

  ‘Hungry.’

  ‘How big are they?’

  When there was still no response, he held out his hand at shoulder level.

  ‘That big?’

  Perdus slid from the console and walked casually towards him. He placed a large paw on his hand, and pushed it downwards until it was half a metre from the deck.

  ‘That big?’ repeated Jones.

  ‘Yes. Many.’

  Jones opened a door in the console and removed a hand held plasma gun. It was fully charged and would be able to fire five hundred times. He hoped that that would be enough as he moved to the door and opened it to a hiss from the cats. Then he took up his station, to guard his crew as the shadowed light in the sky grew even dimmer.

  *********

  Trenlus was more than a little annoyed at his litterkin; rushing off like that at the call of the Lord High Preacher, leaving him to look after his Twin damned animals, when he had far better things to do.

  After all, Jellyus was due to come on heat any day now, and he had to be there to take full advantage, and prevent that big ginger from taking his place. He knew that Jellyus liked him; he’d worked hard enough for it, but as with most of the good things in life, timing was everything.

  Now here he was, stuck in the middle of a field, looking for the three juvenile delames that had gone missing. And would Deylus even thank him for his efforts? Not a chance now that he was mixing with the temple highbrows, with their strange sayings and serious expressions. In his considered opinion, there was only one thing worth getting serious about, and she wasn’t running about in this field; that’s for sure.

  Trenlus was a long lean, black cat, who took a great deal of care with his appearance; it was only what the females deserved. He was forced to interrupt his search for the missing animals on a regular basis, to clean the mud and delames manure from his normally pristine paws and indulge in a much appreciated grooming of his luxuriant coat. Thus preoccupied, he didn’t really keep a close track of the time. When the chill wind started up, he looked up from his self-administered devotions to find that it was suddenly twilight.

  Immediately, he spun around, to check the field for danger. For a second, he relaxed; in the dim light, no threat was visible.

  Then he heard a click. He froze, unable to move a muscle, until he heard the inevitable. The moment stretched out until he almost took a breath. Then he heard a clack, and leapt forward, his back arching to increase his stride.

  There was no faster cat than Trenlus in all of Pierdlund. But his speed was no use to him here; they were all around him as they clicker-clacked across the ground, tightening the noose that had sneaked up on him.

  With a snarl he braked to a stop, spraying mud. He swung his viciously clawed paws at the little creatures, flinging them into the air. When they landed, they flipped themselves over and came back for more.

  Although he fought desperately and with practiced skill, in the end, his efforts proved futile. There were so many of them, and they were so very hungry.

  Chapter 22

  Handus felt suitably refreshed and groomed, and suddenly confident, so he strode back over the
line. There was no time limit to this contest and he was quite prepared to take as long as he had to, before he came face to face with the Witness. In fact, it wouldn’t be long before darkness came, and that was just fine with him.

  He reached the narrowest part of the rift, currently being blocked by one dead ape. Keeping a careful watch on the approaching ape, he leapt over the body and prepared for the next stage. The ape had a long jabbing spear, so it would be difficult to get close enough to use his own weapons.

  He turned slightly, and stepped onto the back of the dead ape and walked until he was five legs from the body, on his own side of the rift. The Ape trundled forward, its shoulders bumping against the rift walls as it practiced its jabs. When it reached its fallen comrade, it stopped, as if it was reluctant to stand on the dead flesh. Handus took advantage of the momentary distraction to throw the first two of his picks at it. The first caught it harmlessly on the cheek, but the second was half buried in its left eye.

  The creature dropped its spear and staggered back, roaring, its massive hands covering its face. Handus leapt over the dead ape and thrust his sword at the ape’s groin. At the last second, he flicked his wrist and the sword swept sideways as he lunged forward. There were two satisfyingly thuds as the ape’s testicles dropped to the ground. As the beast convulsed in agony and amazement, he sliced his rapier across its unprotected neck and jumped backwards to avoid the jetting blood.

  From a distance of a few legs, he watched as the ape collapsed face downwards onto its comrade in arms; its comrade in death.

  When he noticed movement on the other side of the rift, he walked slowly back to his own side and stepped over the line. With his back to the rift, he began to clean his fur.

  As he did so, he considered his next step. The third ape wouldn’t have been able to see what happened with the first ape, as the second ape was blocking his view, so perhaps a repeat of his earlier tactic would work.

  Decision made, he turned and re-entered the contest area. His opponent reacted to his movement and charged towards him, obviously trying to get past the narrow part with the dead bodies before they met. As it ran, it carried before it a long heavy broadsword; it would need room to swing if it was to be successful. Hampered by the heavy sword, it lost the race and found Handus standing casually on top of the mound comprised of its dead comrades.

  With its sword held in both hands high above its head, the ape accelerated towards the cat. Handus simply took a step back as the sword was swung downwards towards him. The roar in the ape’s throat was choked back as it realised not only that its blow was going to miss, but that it was about to slice through the flesh of its fellow soldiers. As it struggled to turn the blade so as to do least harm, Handus ran along the rift wall and used his rapier to good effect.

  Soon, there were three dead apes, lying in a pile.

  Handus took a little longer at his toilet this time; he was beginning to wilt a little under the strain, and fatigue was soon going to become a factor. Checking the dimming sky, he decided that, after number four, he wouldn’t have to wait very long for complete darkness. With his excellent night vision, and the ape’s night blindness, there was surely a significant advantage for him. This was turning out to be much easier than he had expected, but there was the Witness to consider.

  When he was ready, he raced to the mound of dead apes, easily beating the ape that lumbered towards him. This one had two swords, but Handus was fairly relaxed, with two throwing picks concealed in his left paw. He was more than a little surprised when a feathered shaft blossomed in the centre of his chest, and he was knocked backwards off the apes. He was dead before he hit the ground.

  **********

  Lus had settled down to watch the action, growing in confidence that his cat would prevail. He froze when he saw Handus thrown back, his mouth gaping, his eyes already glazed. Only after a couple of seconds did he notice the piece of wood sticking out of his friend’s chest.

  He watched in disbelief as the ape climbed over the mound of bodies and grasped the stick in one massive hand. With a quick jerk, he pulled it out of the dead cat; there was hardly any blood. After licking the stick for a moment, it tossed it over its shoulder and turned to the cat’s carcass.

  Then it spent a short while bending over the body, prodding it occasionally with one bent finger. When it was absolutely sure that its enemy was no longer living, it began to tug at the cat’s limbs, hesitantly at first, but then with gusto. There was a ripping sound as a leg came away. The ape sniffed at the blood dripping from its gory end, then popped it into his mouth. A loud sucking sound could be heard as far as the other side of the battlefield. Soon it was bored with the sucked clean limb and threw it to one side; then it started to rip at the small body before it. Within the space of a couple of minutes, the corpse was completely dismembered.

  With the task complete, it wiped its bloody hands on its broad hairy chest and lumbered towards the other end of the rift, to proclaim its victory.

  Lus was watching, disgust rising in his throat, when he heard a noise to his right. He turned in time to see a small ape leap from the rock down in to the rift, a long stick in one hand. Without a thought, he ran to the place where the ape had been. He could taste its scent clearly. He looked down into the rift, but there was no trace of the creature, so he ran towards the apes’ side of the rock, sure that the little ape would have gone that way.

  As he ran, the anger grew in him. This wasn’t right. This was… He didn’t have the word to describe it properly. It was just wrong. Handus had fought well, and stuck to the rules. The little ape had broken those rules, to kill his friend and seize an unjust victory for the apes. He wanted to leap from the rock and rip the flesh from the evil creature, but there were dozens of large apes beginning to raise a cheer at the victory and he would have no chance to even reach it.

  So he stopped and sat on the rock, and watched the small ape scurry up to a tall red ape, with a naked jaw and multi-coloured fingers, and he knew that he was looking at his true enemy.

  Chapter 23

  Jones stood guard all through the night, leaning against the frame of the AEC doorway. He may have nodded once or twice, but he was sure that he hadn’t missed anything.

  When Captain Cockerall called to him, it was with some relief that he dropped to the ground and walked over to her.

  ‘Good morning, Jones. As you can see, we are all present and accounted for. You look tired; I saw you watching over us; you should get some sleep.’

  ‘I’m fine, Sir. I’ll sleep when I know we’re all safe.’

  ‘Are you sure, Jones? We can’t have you burning out.’

  ‘Don’t worry about me, Sir. You know I’d do anything for you.’

  There was an awkward pause then, as their eyes avoided each other. Jones wanted to rush back to the AEC and lock the door behind him. He knew that he had said too much.

  Then she smiled at him and it seemed that all would be fine.

  ‘In that case, I would like you to get sufficient supplies from the AEC to last us two days. We are going to walk back along The Wall to investigate the circular town we saw when we first broke through the clouds.’

  ‘We don’t need to walk to get to the town; the AEC could take us there in a few minutes. If you don’t want to fly it, I can.’

  The smile was gone as if he’d imagined it.

  ‘Don’t suggest that again, Jones. That is an order. Understood? We will have nothing further to do with that thing.’

  ‘But, what’s happening, Sir? Is there something I don’t know about? Why is everyone afraid of the ship? If it’s damaged in some way, I can fix it.’ He watched her face as if it could provide the answer he sought.

  She took a step closer, her face like thunder. ‘You have your orders. I hope I don’t have to repeat myself, Technician.’

  ‘No, Sir. If you say so, Sir.’

  As he walked back to the AEC, his head was filled with confusion; about the captain’s reaction to the AEC,
and to him. He couldn’t help thinking that she had noticed him watching over her, and that had to be a plus. He might have smiled quietly to himself at that, but he was still so worried at the idea of leaving the protection of the AEC behind them. He trusted the cats; he was sure that the danger they had warned him about was real.

  Standing within a couple of metres of the doorway, he found Dr. Pascal, leaning slightly forward.

  ‘Good morning, Doctor.’

  There was a slight pause before the doctor replied, before he was able to drag his focus back to the place his body currently occupied.

  ‘Oh, hello, Jones,’ he said, without turning his head, ‘this is really quite interesting. We travelled all the way from Apollo’s Arrow to this strange planet in this craft, but now I can’t bring myself to even so much as touch it. And everyone else, it seems, feels exactly the same way.’

  He turned towards Jones, examining him as if he had never seen such a person before in his whole life as a doctor.

  ‘Except for you, of course. You have no issues with the ship, or that palm top you keep playing with. Now why is that? What’s different about you?’

  ‘I don’t know, Doctor. It just seems that everyone has suddenly become frightened of technology. For no reason I can see.’

  ‘Did you dream of The Wall? The first night we were here, we all dreamt of The Wall, and ended up lying beside it. But you stayed in the AEC.’

  ‘I didn’t have a dream. I don’t dream; never have.’

  ‘Everyone dreams.’

  ‘That’s what people say. But, if I don’t remember a dream, or have even a sense of the experience, then I haven’t dreamed. That’s how it seems to me, at least.’

  For a moment, the good doctor looked as if he was going to disagree, then he turned from Jones and looked up at The Wall.