by John Rankine
‘Luke?’
Then she too, felt it. The cave was bending and distorting before her eyes and a weird clatter of gibberish sounded in her ears.
Whatever the sense of it, the intonation suggested a question and it was repeated over and over. A light with no source seemed to settle around Luke’s head and Anna could see that he, at least, was beginning to make sense of the message. The light expanded and included herself. Suddenly everything was plain.
The two were looking at each other, their hands stretched out, met and held. Around them, the inside of the cave was in a flux of change. They were rapt, ecstatic, radiant with a knowledge of each other and of a joint purpose.
The voice ceased. Normality returned. Anna looked at her hands and some of her normal reserve made her attempt to withdraw, but Luke pulled her close. His arms went round her. Slowly, her hands moved to lace themselves round the back of his head.
A bleep from Luke’s commlock broke into their private world. Koenig’s face appeared on the miniature screen. ‘We’ve decided to abandon Alpha. Get back here right away.’
It chimed with their thinking. Joy and elation on their faces, they moved slowly to the cave entrance.
Alan Carter lifted Eagle One in a storm of dust and swept her away on a course for Alpha. They watched Arkadia dwindle in the direct vision ports. It was not at all what Koenig had imagined as the ultimate landfall for his people. Maybe some would make out. In some ways, it was spaceship Daria over again. But if he could have seen his base, he would have been more positive that he had made the only choice.
In Main Mission, staff were in Polar rig with frost crystals making patterns on the direct vision ports. Lights were low and eerie. Paul Morrow was walking about doing arm swing exercises.
Sandra pulled off a heavy gauntlet to operate the monitor gear. It read, POWER LOSS RATE 45%. She shoved down the stud and got for her trouble, POWER LOSS RATE 47%.
Morrow stopped his Swedish drill and used the PA net.
‘Attention all sections, Alpha. Phase Six power cuts now operative.’
For the most part, his face on the communications posts was talking to empty and dimly lit areas. He went on, ‘All Alphan experimental sections are closing down. Personnel are instructed to evacuate immediately. Heating now automatically reduced to schedule two. That includes Medical.’
He put a hand on Sandra’s shoulder. She was silent. It had to be. There was more, ‘Travel tube facilities cancelled throughout Alpha. Effective as of now.’
That caught some of the evacuees moving from closing sectors. Doors that had begun to open slid back to fail safe and the migrants were faced with a long circuitous trek through darkened corridors. More than anything yet it added to the sense of a gathering doom.
Except for Anna and Luke who were holding hands in the rumble there was not much more cheer on Eagle One. Alan Carter, called ‘Radio contact with Alpha imminent, Commander.’
Koenig left his seat beside Helena and went through to be ready and waiting.
Bob Mathias went on foot to Main Mission to sort it out with the top hand. There was an angry rasp in his voice as he said, ‘What the hell is going on Morrow?’
‘There is nothing I can do.’
‘If you maintain those cuts, you might as well shoot my patients.’
‘All right, Doctor. I’m telling you there’s no way we can give you back that power.’
‘God dammit, they’re sick people! They won’t survive at those temperatures!’
‘Then I can tell you, they’ll be a little way ahead of the rest of us. If these power losses continue . . . none of us will survive.’
He held Mathias’s angry glare for a beat. Mathias spun on his heel. At the hatch, he called out, ‘It’s on your conscience then, Morrow.’
Sandra tried the monitor. It read POWER LOSS RATE 50%.
Koenig’s voice sounded on the Eagle Command net. ‘Come in Main Mission.’
It was poor reception and Koenig’s face on the screen was distorting.
‘This is John Koenig. Do you read me?’
Morrow called, ‘We have you, Eagle One.’
‘Situation, Paul?’
‘Fifty percent power loss.’
‘Listen carefully. We’re clearing, out. Put Operation Exodus into effect, immediately. Details later.’
Calculations raced through Morrow’s head. Without normal power, it would be a mammoth task. Other staff were doing the sums. Grim faced, they watched him hit the PA button.
‘This is Controller Paul Morrow. Stand by for an important announcement. We are putting Operation Exodus into immediate effect.’
Sandra Benes checked the monitor. It told her again, POWER LOSS RATE 50%. She cleared the screen and went through the sequence for confirmation.
Once more the screen glowed with POWER LOSS RATE 50%. She called, ‘Paul!’
‘What is it?’
‘Look . . . it’s stopped. Power has stabilized.’
Disbelieving, Morrow checked the sequence for himself. She was right. He got it again, POWER LOSS RATE 50%.
He called, ‘Kano. Computer check!’
As Kano moved, Morrow called Eagle One ‘Commander. Something new. Power seems to have stabilized.’
Koenig’s face was clearer. ‘Stabilized? Are you sure?’
Computer print-out was coming off the press and Kano read it out, ‘Computer confirms power loss, fifty per cent and stable.’
Morrow said, ‘That’s it Commander, we’re not losing any more power. It’s holding at that. What about Exodus—do we go ahead?’
‘Hold everything. Keep it on ice—if that isn’t a dirty word. Wait until we get back.’
The first sign of a break in the all round gloom, it had Helena Russell and Bergman smiling at each other. Surely there was something they could work out? But the pair in the back seat took it another way. Faces grim, they looked at each other. Evacuation to Arkadia was no longer a sure thing.
As Eagle One dropped to her pad and a boarding tube ran out, Morrow made a welcome announcement, ‘Phase Six power cuts cancelled. All other economies still stand.’
It was a long walk to Main Mission. Koenig was still trying to think the thing through. He said, ‘Helena, check out the survival requirements for the base on the terms of a fifty per cent power loss. Rush it through.’
Two by two, they were peeling off the group as they came to intersections. Left alone with Bergman, Koenig stopped at a communications post. ‘What now. Paul?’
‘Still fifty per cent and holding.’
‘Do the instruments tell us anything?’
‘Not the how or why, but it looks like it has really stabilized.’
Bergman was due to turn off for his section, ‘The planetary data . . . do you want me to work on it?’
‘Store it for now. When we have time we’ll process it.’
Koenig walked on and stopped at the next post, ‘Paul, check the energy requirements for high priority areas.’
‘THAT’S been done, Commander. We’ve just enough to keep them operational. Just.’
When he reached Main Mission, he was welcome. He could see from their faces that they expected him to pull something out of the hat.
‘How does it go?’
Sandra pointed to her monitor, ‘No change.’
‘Good. Paul, I’d like a talk.’
In the command office, Koenig sank wearily into his command seat. It was wholly cold and cheerless. He said, ‘Morale?’
‘Not good. They’ve worked it out for themselves. They know we’re stuck here. They know the power situation. They don’t know why or how long this will last.’
‘Priority one is to keep personnel alive.’
‘What’s the planet like?’
‘Worse.’
The command console bleeped and Helena Russell’s face joined the wake. But she had reasonably good news. ‘John, if we hold at fifty per cent we have a viable system on food and life support. Not pleasant, but we
could survive.’
Koenig came to a decision, ‘Paul, call all sections. Cancel Exodus.’
Anna and Luke had gone straight to the reference library and were close together in one dimly lit alcove. Anna was speaking in muted tones like an entranced Sybil. ‘Neither past nor future. The future is the past and the Testament of Arkadia is the link. They spoke to us . . . and we understood. Just you and I, Luke. There is no mistake.’
Their eyes linked and gently, Luke raised her hands and kissed the palms.
‘Yes. The time is now. We will do what has to be done.’
Morrow’s announcement broke in, ‘Attention all Sections Alpha. Operation Exodus is cancelled. Report for normal duties.’
Luke stood up and drew Anna to her feet. Hand in hand they went to look for Koenig.
He was still sitting at his desk, too weary to move. When they came through the hatch, years of command experience told him he had labour trouble.
Anna went right to the point, ‘Commander, we want to live on that planet.’
Rested and fresh, he might have had more tact. In the event, he said flatly, ‘That’s out of the question.’
Luke’s hands clenched. If there had been a Kendo stick handy, he would have been beating at Koenig’s head to let in a little light. ‘We belong there. We were guided to that planet.’
Koenig said, ‘Listen to me, Luke. Up here we have a chance, a chance we can measure. Down there, none at all.’
More gently, Anna pressed the case, ‘But a few of us could survive on that planet. We could . . . Luke and I.’
‘Surely you could—if you took half the supplies and made life impossible for the rest of us. No, I’m sorry.’
Luke’s eyes had a fanatical glitter, ‘But we must go, Commander!’
Harshly, Koenig said, ‘You will do as I say. There are enough problems.’
There was a momentary hesitation then both turned as one and marched out into Main Mission. No speech was needed between them. Anna went on and left by the main hatch. Luke Ferro walked over to the computer desk. Pressing buttons he began a sequence, took notes and then edged over to Kano, getting himself between Kano and the rest of the staff. When Kano looked up he was staring into the tube of a laser.
Luke leaned forward confidentially.
‘The combination of the protein store . . . give it to me.’
‘You’ll never get away with this.’
‘Tell me. I’ll kill you and everybody here.’
It carried conviction. Slowly Kano tapped it out and Luke reached over to rip off the print-out for himself. When it was in his hand, he took out his commlock and Anna’s face appeared on the miniature screen. Quietly he spoke out the figure sequence and heard her say, ‘Check.’
Then she was away, drawing her laser and thumbing the selector to STUN. At the protein store hatch, two security men smiled in greeting. Her hand came from behind her back and stun beams cracked over the gap. As they fell, she had her commlock out and was opening the door. Inside, there was an issue counter and behind it the locked panel. Working with the number sequence that Luke had relayed, she played the combination. She was through. She opened her commlock and said, ‘Combination correct.’
Luke Ferro straightened up. Kano took his chance and hit a button. The general alarm went off with a mind bending din that had every operator leaping from his desk. The laser swept down in a savage arc and Kano crumpled over his console.
Koenig appeared at the top of the steps and stopped as the laser swung to cover him. Ferro backed off a step at a time towards the main hatch. Conveniently, it was opened for him. Helena Russell, coming in at a run was level with him before she realised there was a heist.
It was a bonus for Luke Ferro. Quick as a flash, he had an arm round her waist and the laser jammed in the side of her neck. He had Koenig over a barrel. The expression on his face was enough. Koenig had moved, but stopped again. He said, ‘You must be out of your mind, Ferro, put that laser away.’
He was moving forward to take it. Ferro warned, ‘That’s far enough. I’ll kill her!’
There was a stop. ‘Now, Commander. Will you give me what I ask?’
Humouring a madman, Koenig said, quietly, ‘All right—an Eagle. Fuelled and ready to take off, but first release Doctor Russell.’
‘You’ll do as I say, Koenig! Do you hear me? What I say.’
Alan Carter ran in with Irwin and N’Dole at his heels. Ferro slewed half round to let them see what was happening. They stopped, looking at Koenig for guidance. N’Dole filled in some background. ‘Commander, there’s been a raid on the food stores . . . suspect Anna Davis . . . we’re looking for her now.’
The pattern was all too clear. Ferro said savagely, ‘Call them off!’
Irwin was sidling round to outflank Ferro and rush him from a blind quarter, but Koenig checked him. Luke Ferro recognised it as another tactical victory and grated out, ‘Do it, Koenig!’
Making his movements plain, John Koenig walked deliberately to the communications post and hit the PA button. ‘Security. Hold fast on the search.’
Turning to Ferro he went on, ‘Okay. An Eagle. What else?’
‘A moonbuggy. Stores and supplies to last us three years.’
Reaction from all hands was immediate and horrified. They looked at Koenig for a refusal. He said, ‘Be rational. You know the problem. Do you realise what the loss of those supplies would do to us?’
‘Your choice, Koenig. You’ll do it or she’ll die and you before they get to me.’
The hostage spoke up, ‘You can’t even consider it, John!’
He ignored her, ‘Ferro, you realise you’ll have no chance down on the planet . . . it’s barren, a dead world.’
‘No Koenig,’ it was a fanatic speaking, ‘Not dead. Dormant. Waiting for life, waiting for us.’
Bergman tried. ‘If we agree to your demands, you are condemning Alpha, all of us, to certain death.’
‘If Alpha is to be the sacrificial lamb, let it be! I speak for a higher destiny. The Testament of Arkadia. Preordained from the moment the first Arkadian stepped out onto Earth. Don’t you understand yet? What we shall do gives meaning to all the suffering of the Moon’s long odyssey. What we were seeking has been found. No accident brought us to this planet, but divine ordination. The seed of life is carried back to its ancient place of origin.’
All eyes were on Koenig. They were convinced that he had a madman to deal with. His quiet reply took them aback.
‘All right.’
Helena was appalled. Emotionally, she said, ‘John! Don’t let your feelings for me influence you. You must do what is right. No one life is worth what he asks.’
Again, he ignored her, ‘I said it’s a deal, Ferro.’
No one wanted Helena dead, but they reckoned she had stated the case. Anna Davis, rushing in with a laser in her hand, broke a stunned silence.
Koenig went further, ‘Paul, order the stores and provisions—stow them in an Eagle. Alan, prepare the Eagle for launch.’
Nobody moved. Koenig’s voice was a whiplash, ‘Do it!’
The habit of taking his command was too strong. Both men went to work.
Luke Ferro said, ‘We’re moving to the launch pad now. Be warned. Any attempt to stop us will fail and bring down upon you the terrible forces of chaos and destruction.’
Irwin and N’Dole made to follow as the trio went out. Koenig said, ‘Leave them. Irwin, a word with you.’ He was a minute speaking quietly to the security man and then Irwin walked out. He left a highly charged silence. Koenig had made hard decisions in the past; but this time, they reckoned he had condemned them all on a personal issue.
They watched Ferro’s party move through the base to a boarding exit. Morrow’s voice was icy as he reported, ‘The supplies are loaded on the Eagle.’
He got a nod from Koenig.
Even Victor Bergman was critical, ‘Those supplies are vital to us, John; regardless of whose life is forfeit. That must include He
lena’s.’
‘Don’t you think I know that, Victor!’
Paul Morrow said, ‘But we’re just letting them walk away, Commander!’
‘Luke Ferro is not holding a bible. It’s a lethal weapon and he’s obsessed. There’s another point you overlook. The forces that stopped the Moon and cut the power are involved in some way we don’t understand. If we make a false move, he’ll wreck this base. Sandra, where are they now?’
‘Approaching boarding area four.’
Koenig nodded, signalled to Bergman and N’Dole to follow and went out. Paul Morrow watched his withdrawing back and thumped viciously at his console.
The boarding tube was waiting. Anna Davis shepherded Helena inside and Luke Ferro followed slowly, watching Carter who was standing by. He asked, ‘Is the Eagle ready to go, Carter?’
‘When the ship’s sinking, the rats are first to leave.’
‘Keep clear.’
The boarding tube whipped away and homed on the entry hatch of the waiting Eagle. Inside the passenger module, crated stores took up most of the space. Anna kept Helena covered and Luke went through to the command module. He checked the panel. Fuel gauges showed maximum. He was a couple of minutes running through the console. Satisfied that he had a working ship, he prepared for lift-off.
Koenig and his party reached the boarding tube exit. Carter was still there and answered the unspoken question. ‘They’re inside."
Koenig used his commlock. ‘Ferro!’
Luke Ferro’s face appeared on the miniature screen. ‘Ferro, we did what you asked. Release Doctor Russell.’
‘Not yet, Commander.’
‘Release her, Ferro. We’ve kept our side of the bargain.’
‘Doctor Russell comes with us.’
‘Ferro. It isn’t too late to blast that Eagle on its pad.’
‘Don’t do that, Commander. We won’t harm her, you have my word.’
Carter put in, ‘For what it’s worth!’
Ferro went on. ‘This is what you’ll do. Escort us out into space. Use an unarmed reconnaissance Eagle. When we’re out of range then you can have her back.’