Medieval Mars: The Anthology (Terraformed Interplanetary Book 1)

by Travis Perry

  Brother Lucas held his tongue at the playful rebuke. They silently passed the Pilgrim’s Well and the people waiting to fill buckets and water jars. “The line grows longer,” Lady Lynette said softly.

  “Maybe you imagine it,” Brother Lucas said, though he feared the same. He forced his eyes northeast to the massive snow-covered cone of Mons Elysium pushing against the edge of the sky. White billowy clouds skirted the lower reaches of the mons. Always white clouds. Never gray, never dark. Never rain. He shook himself. You’re letting Lady Lynette get to you.

  The flagstone street gave way to the hard-packed dirt of the Western Road that led to New San Diego thousands of kims away. There was an old saying that all roads lead to New San Diego. In the case of Paradisus, the saying was true. There was only one road and it led to the West.

  Quiet fields of struggling crops replaced the dirty bustle within the town. They turned down a path leading to the Grove. Dirt and bits of stone pricked Brother Lucas’s toes. Foolishness, Lucas, for not wearing boots! Stupid is as stupid does, as his old pa always said.

  Ahead, Grandmaster Justin sat on the low stone wall surrounding rows of grand fruit trees. “Nothing like keeping an old man waiting,” he said without turning. Long gray hair partially hid his face.

  “You forgot to mention crotchety,” Lady Lynette replied.

  “Hmm,” Grandmaster Justin mumbled. “I’m just as pleasant now as when you were in my class, Lynette.” He turned to her and rubbed the stubble peppering his jaw. His Royal Order of NASA pendant glinted in the sun. “Or should I call you Lady Lynette like everyone else?”

  Lady Lynette chuckled. “As my old crotchety teacher, Justin, you can call me anything you wish.” She drew a long breath and turned to the trees. “The leaves and the fruit continue to wither. I remember climbing the trees as a child and stealing the sweet fruit. We both did, Lucas. Remember?”

  “I do, m’lady.” Warm memories bubbled up inside Brother Lucas. What happened to those days? The world was so different then. He and Lynette were different: happy, carefree, and always together. He cringed inside. Create in me a clean heart, Lord Jesu.

  “And I remember your endless antics giving your lord father fits, Lynette. And your father as well, Lucas. He took a switch to you, more than once, I remember. May they both rest in peace.” He leaned forward. “Surely you didn’t summon me all this way to talk about shriveling fruit.”

  Lady Lynette slid next to him on the wall. “That’s exactly why I summoned you, Justin.”

  Brother Lucas choked back a gasp. The govness of Paradisus sitting on filthy rocks!

  Lady Lynette motioned toward the sky. “I want to discuss the drought. How long has it lasted, five cycles now? When was the last time rain fell on our crops? It was over a cycle ago.”

  Grandmaster Justin nodded. “The prevailing winds shifted south, sending most of the rain over Tyrrhena Terra.”

  “Will the winds ever shift back?”

  “I can’t make weather predictions any more than you. We lost the knowledge hundreds of cycles ago.”

  “So we’re left to the capricious whims of nature?”

  “Unless you have a plan to shift the winds north again.”

  “Not to shift the winds,” Lady Lynette said. “But maybe there’s something we can do to end the drought. I’ve been reading—”

  “Reading? I’m proud of you, child. I don’t recall you ever doing that in my class.”

  Lady Lynette slapped the Grandmaster’s arm. “I’m serious.”

  “Tell me what you’re serious about, child.”

  “Cloud seeding.”

  Grandmaster Justin’s eyebrows shot up. “Did you hit your head on our way here?”

  “Stop it! From all I’ve read in the ancient texts, it’s a simple process. The ancients used the technique extensively in the early cycles of colonization.”

  Brother Lucas groped for understanding. How could someone possibly plant a seed within a cloud?

  “Hmm,” Grandmaster Justin muttered. He looked away and absently fingered his pendant. “I’ve read the same texts.” He rubbed his beard again. “Where do you propose getting the silver iodide?”

  Lady Lynette blew out a long breath. “We have one in custody who claims to have found Eden.”

  Grandmaster Justin rolled his eyes and laughed. “The Seeker? I’ve talked to him. He’s mad.”

  “He was once a sworn Brother of the Shield,” Brother Lucas said.

  “He’s still mad.”

  “M’lady,” Brother Lucas said. “I learned the ancient myths of Eden and the Mist Home. All the Brothers did. New San Diego is the first home of man.”

  “New San Diego is the first city built by our people in the open air, Lucas,” Lady Lynette said. “But there were much older colonies where our first ancestors lived under domes of glass and steel. It was during the beginning time when the land was too cold to support life and the air too thin to breathe. It was from these first colonies that we started to transform Mars into the world we know.”

  “Eden,” Brother Lucas said softly.

  “Yes, Eden was one,” Lady Lynette said. She turned. “And if you talked to the madman as you claim, Justin, you heard his tales of large storehouses. You saw the items he carried from the Time of Magic.”

  “Simple junk from any number of places,” Grandmaster Justin muttered.

  Lady Lynette jumped to her feet. “Now you’re just being stubborn. When my father died, I swore to serve and protect Paradisus until my last breath. Our crops are failing. The people grow thirsty! I must try to end this drought. Will you help me?”

  “You’re very persuasive, child. Crazy, but persuasive.” Grandmaster Justin chewed his lip. “Answer one question. Assuming this Eden exists, how will we travel there and haul the silver iodide back, hmm? And there’s another problem.” He pointed up. “The clouds you wish to seed are above while humans are firmly planted below. Gravity is funny like that.”

  A smile flickered across Lady Lynette’s face. “Quite simple, my dear crotchety teacher. We use that new invention of yours. What do you call it? Ornithopter?”

  Grandmaster Justin’s face paled. “You’re not serious. It hasn’t been fully tested yet!”

  “I am completely serious,” Lady Lynette said gently. She took his spotted hand. “Thank you for helping, my friend.”

  • • •

  Beyond the locked chamber door, the madman who called himself the Seeker cried out in prayer. Brother Lucas recognized the old words, ancient beyond remembering. “I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I detest all my sins because of your just punishment.”

  Lady Lynette nodded and Brother Lucas slid the key into the lock.

  “I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee—”

  The man jerked up from kneeling at the side of the bed when Brother Lucas pushed open the door. He wore a faded jerkin and frayed riding breeches. Long dark hair streaked with gray hung in a ponytail. A wild beard, equally grayed, covered his jaw.

  “Oh my Holy Mother,” the Seeker cried. He crawled away. “Forgive me, Holy Mother. I have sinned.”

  “I’m no holier than you,” Lady Lynette answered gently. “I am govness of Mons Elysium and a simple servant of Lord Jesu. Brother Lucas, help him to his feet.”

  Brother Lucas hesitated and felt a twinge of embarrassment. He helped the Seeker to the bed. “Others think me mad, my lady,” the Seeker said with an angry glance at Brother Lucas. “I am not!”

  “I believe you,” Lady Lynette said. “But we don’t even know your name.”

  The Seeker bowed his head. “I am but a seeker of truth.”

  Lady Lynette lowered her head in return. “Fair enough, Seeker. Tell me in what direction is Eden? How far?”

  “A four week march southeast beyond Albor Tholus,” the Seeker said. “Toward where water flows through the Athabasca Valles.”

  “There are no settlements that far,” Brother Lucas said. “Maps are unreliable at
best.”

  Lady Lynette retrieved a small metallic object with short protruding wires from a pocket in her smock. “You found this in Eden?”

  The Seeker nodded and then stared at folded hands. “Forgive me. I removed the holy relic. A sin, I know, but my pride…I wanted to show everyone that Eden is real.” His eyes flicked up at her. “I deserve whatever punishment you deem necessary, my lady.”

  Lady Lynette patted his shoulder. “No punishment, sir. I want to thank you and ask if you are willing to escort Brother Lucas back to Eden.”

  Brother Lucas’s knees nearly buckled. He gasped. “Me? Is this a joke?”

  Lady Lynette looked at him with a smile so familiar, yet one he suddenly hated. “I trust you more than anyone, Lucas. You should feel honored, my old friend.”

  Brother Lucas ran fingers through his hair in frustration. “Honor? I was thinking of other words.”

  ***

  For two days Brother Lucas and Grandmaster Justin had tried to reason with Lady Lynette. She was as stubborn as Brother Lucas could ever remember, and as prickly as any rosebush.

  “I hate to order either of you. But as govness, I must do something for the people,” she had explained nearly to the point of apology.

  Lady Lynette stood next to Brother Lucas above the remains of a small ancient crater near the fringe of Paradisus. Ronald rubbed the pommel of his sword as he eyed the crowd ringing the crater. Word had spread and it seemed half the town had come out. There was almost a festive buzz in the air. Lady Lynette gave a sharp tug to her gown and huffed. “I despise these formal clothes.”

  The strange ornithopter stood perched next to them. Hinged wings of supple wood and taut white cloth extended out for many meters above a woven rectangular basket. It all looked like a winged bird’s nest on wheels. A fan-shaped tail extended from the rear of the basket. Down the inner crater wall a wide path had been cleared of rocks and trees, ending in a long wooden ramp jutting up toward the clouds.

  Sweat covered Brother Lucas’s face. Despite the morning heat, he wore heavy riding leathers and shirt. A wool cape draped his shoulders, fastened at his neck with a metal clasp of the Sanctus Ordo. The Grandmaster told him he’d be grateful for the layers once they were flying.

  Flying! Like the fabled dragons of the Valles Marineris!

  “No!” Grandmaster Justin snapped. He stood with a young squire on a short scaffold alongside the ornithopter’s basket. “Everything must be balanced! Pack it again like I showed you.”

  Dressed in similar heavy garments, Justin clambered down the steps. “I wish you’d listen to me, Lynette. The ornithopter has only been tested carrying a single person.” He jabbed a thumb against his own chest. “Me.”

  Brother Lucas thought he saw hairs on Lady Lynette’s arm bristle. She was tired of arguing, he knew. Could she change her mind? “Do you fear your invention won’t fly?” she asked.

  The Grandmaster smirked. “Oh, she’ll fly. I designed her to carry over 180 kilos. The only risk is dear Brother Lucas throwing up all over my invention. He’s whiter than the wings.”

  Brother Lucas turned away, trying to hide the fire spreading across his white face.

  Two Brothers of the Shield escorted the Seeker through the crowd. He wore new leathers and wool cape. Chains shackled his hands. His eyes grew large. “The angel of the Lord!”

  Grandmaster Justin snorted. “Hardly. This is our transportation on a great fool’s errand.”

  Lady Lynette lifted her head higher. “You’re still not convinced.”

  “I am a man of reason. I don’t make decisions based on supposition and hope.”

  “Then you’ll be glad that I assume full responsibility if the quest fails to find Eden.”

  Grandmaster Justin’s eyes locked on Lady Lynette. “Very noble of you considering you’re not coming with us.”

  Brother Lucas tensed. “How dare you!”

  Lady Lynette didn’t flinch. She hardly seemed to breathe as she returned his stare.

  The Grandmaster’s gaze fell to his feet. He turned away. “Where is that squire? I’ll probably have to repack everything.”

  “Thank you, my dear friend,” Lady Lynette said with a hint of relief. She then turned to the men escorting the Seeker. “Release him.”

  Her face turned serious and cold. “I trust you to lead Brother Lucas and Grandmaster Justin to Eden. It is essential for my people. I will repay you in very bitter coin if my trust is broken, Seeker. Understood?”

  The Seeker fell to his knees. “I honor your trust in me, Madam Govness! It will be repaid a hundredfold.”

  “Prepare yourself and our guest,” Lady Lynette said to Brother Lucas. “It’s time to fly.”

  Grandmaster Justin climbed the short scaffold into the basket. Lady Lynette squeezed Brother Lucas’s arm. “Dios speed. I have faith in you.”

  Brother Lucas nodded. He wanted to smile but that would be a lie to how he really felt. He took the Seeker by the arm.

  “The Seeker first,” Grandmaster Justin said. “Then you, Brother.”

  The Seeker jumped into the basket without hesitation, quoting a passage of sacred text familiar to Brother Lucas. “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands.”

  They squeezed into the narrow space between bags and small boxes of provisions, enough to last a week. Grandmaster Justin sat on a small raised seat; then the Seeker sat on the basket floor immediately behind, and then Brother Lucas, his legs straddling the Seeker.

  The Grandmaster clutched a long lever rising between his knees and put his feet on two metal pedals attached to some type of cylinders protruding from the basket floor. He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m sorry you don’t have seats. Passengers weren’t planned in any of my tests.”

  Brother Lucas’s heart pounded as the scaffold was pulled away. People moved back, including Ronald and Lady Lynette. She extended her hand toward him, but not with a wave. Her lips moved but he couldn’t hear her words. She’s praying for me…for us.

  The Grandmaster pushed against the pedals and relaxed, pushed and relaxed. With each compression, the wings moved down and then up. Down, up, down, up. “Hydraulics, Brother Lucas, from the Time of Magic. In case you wondered,” he said over his shoulder.

  He pumped the pedals in a quick regular rhythm. The wings beat faster and harder. It wasn’t with a simple up and down motion, Brother Lucas soon realized, but the motions similar to dragon flight. He stared in awe. Who is this man who can recreate God’s handiwork in a machine?

  Grandmaster Justin raised his arm and pointed ahead. The ornithopter crawled forward, pulled by magnificent wings. Brother Lucas had to grab hold of something, anything. He found a rope that held supplies in place.

  Suddenly the front of the machine dropped. The machine bounced and shook as they raced down the crater. The Seeker whooped, thrusting fists into the air. Brother Lucas’s stomach dropped. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death!

  They hit the ramp, snapping Brother Lucas’s head back, and the ornithopter shot skyward.

  A cheer erupted below. They were flying!

  The wondrous dragon-machine tilted left and Brother Lucas found himself holding his breath until Paradisus came into view. They soared over the waving, cheering crowd, the craft’s wings moving with glorious strokes.

  Brother Lucas gawked at the shrinking town, the pale walls of the great hall, the outbuildings and livery stables, homes crowding the narrow streets. A patchwork of fields, some fallow, others brown and dying, radiated out from the city. The narrow ribbon of the Western Road split the fields on its way to distant New San Diego.

  Grandmaster Justin made one more pass over the town before the ornithopter leveled its flight and turned southeast. “Enough of the theatrics,” he said over the cold wind hitting their faces. “Now all we have to do is find Eden.”

  • • •

  The great Mons Elysium rose from the surface far to the northeast. Brother
Lucas guessed they flew no higher than fifteen meters above the rocky plain as they followed a course south of the ancient collapsed remnant of Albor Tholus.

  The Seeker knelt next to Grandmaster Justin, studying a map handed to him. He pointed out landmarks over the Grandmaster’s shoulders.

  Grandmaster Justin fell into a steady rhythm of pumping the foot pedals and resting for a short spell, pumping and resting. The strokes of the ornithopter’s wings never faltered.

  “How is that possible?” Brother Lucas finally asked.

  The Grandmaster pulled the lever in front of his seat to the left. The ornithopter banked gently in that direction. “It’s a combined system of hydraulics and flywheels that I invented. Really quite simple.” He gave a sideways smirk that Brother Lucas was quickly learning to dislike. “I pump the pedals, applying pressure to cylinders beneath our feet, which then receives assistance from a hydraulic engine and transfers multiplied force to the wings, causing the motion that you see. Force is also applied to the spinning flywheels. When I rest, the flywheels take over, releasing energy to power the wings.”

  “Truly miraculous, Grandmaster.” Brother Lucas tried to picture flying wheels.

  “Nothing miraculous about it, dear Brother.” He tapped his forehead. “What the mind can conceive, man can build.”

  Whether intended or not, the Grandmaster’s biting comment silenced Brother Lucas. Like Lady Lynette, he had been a student of Justin’s for a time. They were both children then and Justin had yet to become Grandmaster. Over the years, an animosity had grown in the Grandmaster against anything of faith and especially the Sanctus Ordo. Why? What had happened?

  Brother Lucas fell silent and watched the rocky ground roll by. The Grandmaster logged every kim into a leather book that he kept at his feet.

  Nearly ten hours passed, and the sun dipped in the west. The Seeker looked up from the map and pointed at the rim of a large crater rising from the plain. “Corinto Crater.”