The Seasoning

by Dennis Ingram

  “But it got out of control,” David said.

  “It did. As a result the planet became almost uninhabitable. I sincerely hope there are survivors – we left food and medicine for the short term, but conditions there are brutal and long-term survival is not certain.”

  “And so you left.”

  Edward nodded. “My alternate plan. We would leave and come to Tau Ceti with the aim of starting a new civilization here, one set in the pattern we would have implemented on Earth. Then, we would return to Earth and Mars, and implement the same pattern there.”

  He paused, and David stared at Edward. He realized they had reached the moment he would discover what Edward really had planned.

  “And that pattern is …?”

  Edward made eye contact and took a deep breath. “I’ve studied this in depth and planned for a long time. If there’s one thing constant in human history, it’s that the best progress occurs when there’s strong centralized leadership, provided that leadership takes the people in the right direction.”

  He paused, and the seconds seemed to fall into the past in slow motion as David processed what he implied.

  It didn’t take long.

  “My god,” David said. “You mean to be an Emperor. Of all of us.”

  Edward laughed out loud, leaning back in his chair. He took a moment to compose himself. “Thank you,” he said. “You caught me by surprise. That hasn’t happened in a good long while. And to be honest, I haven’t laughed for as long.”

  “So you’re not planning to style yourself as an emperor?”

  Edward set his jaw and leaned forward. “I have no, and I mean no, wish for titles. My only interest is in uniting the human race under one leader and eliminating all the things distracting us from achieving our potential. I want, once and for all, to eliminate the pernicious influences of the families and their single-minded objective of acquiring and wielding power just for the sake of it. But I do mean to lead what remains of humanity – here, on Mars and on Earth.”

  Edward stood up and walked out from behind the desk, eyes blazing. “I can’t do this by myself, David. I need a team of capable, like-minded people with me. People who, like me, are dedicated to the cause of a united human race. Someone who will help me rebuild from the ashes of the disaster that befell Earth. David, I want you to be part of this dream.”

  “What are you offering, Edward?”

  “Mars is already on the right path. I have a capable governor in place there. I need someone who can fulfill that role here on Serendipity, while I return to Earth to establish control and take steps to help the planet recover. That position is yours if you want it, and I hope you do.”

  In full flight, Edward could be charismatic. When he focused on persuasion, he became like the sun shining through clouds of uncertainty. But David couldn’t ignore the events of the past few hours. He stood up and faced Edward.

  “It would be easier to listen to you if I could keep my thoughts off your guards attempting to rape my daughter.” He felt his blood boil as memories of Jake and Roberto freshened in his mind.

  Edward sighed and looked away. “What just happened here is a disaster, and I sincerely regret it. Certain of my employees … overstepped the mark in a most regrettable way. But I’m hoping you can put that aside with a promise from me they will be punished.”

  “So you say, but even now they stand guard outside the prison you’ve created for me and my people.”

  “A situation that will change as soon as we have an agreement.”

  David’s lip curled. “And there we have it. What I’m asking shouldn’t need to be part of a deal – it’s basic human justice we should all expect as a matter of right. You set a high price for that justice, Mr. Harper. And an agreement where you grant me leadership of the colony I am already the rightful leader of? Forgive me if that doesn’t seem like an attractive offer right now.”

  The temperature dropped, and David knew the door of opportunity had slammed shut.

  “So be it, Captain,” Edward said, his gray eyes cold. “That’s a decision you may come to regret.”

  He strode to the door and opened it, summoning Simon.

  “Escort Captain Miller back to the containment area.”

  Simon nodded and gestured to David to precede him.

  David speared Edward with a look as he left.

  They had drawn the lines of conflict, and he had the uncomfortable feeling he now knew far too much about Edward Harper’s plans for his own continued safety.

  The door closed behind them and Edward sat down with a sigh, closing his eyes for a moment and pinching the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger.

  Damn.

  He’d been sure he’d reach David, to persuade him of the need to follow the plan, to join with him to forge humanity into one united people.

  His hands clenched into fists. Jake and Roberto. If not for them he would have succeeded. His eyes took on a distant expression as he considered the possibilities. Perhaps David could be persuaded yet. Perhaps …

  But then he shook his head. He’d never been sentimental about the plan, and he already had the alternative path plotted. He had always switched to the alternative when circumstances changed, without regret or recriminations, and that policy had served him well.

  No. David Miller had had his chance. There would be another candidate.

  “OK, OK, I’m coming. There’s no need for aggression,” Ananda Kumar said, shaking a finger at Tobias.

  Edward had ordered him, Simon, Jake, and Roberto to assemble everyone from the Inspiration in front of the pavilion so they could be briefed.

  Most people came without protest, wanting to find out what had happened. Certain individuals, such as Ananda Kumar, seemed reluctant to do anything without complaining first. Tobias wondered why he always seemed to be landed with handling him. Jake or Roberto would be a better choice. Mr. Kumar would soon discover what someone without an abundance of patience or restraint could be like.

  He herded the Kumars toward the pavilion, and in particular to where the Kendell family had claimed a table on the grass outside. May as well keep the complainers all in one place where we can keep an eye on them.

  Edward and Carla emerged once everyone had arrived. Edward had abandoned his normal business suit – even he understood it would be out of place in an environment like Haven’s – in favor of slacks and an open-neck white shirt, every inch the businessman dressed in smart casual. His attire was, however, still several degrees more formal than anyone else’s.

  “People of Haven,” Edward began, catching their attention. Until now they’d been the “crew and passengers of the Inspiration.”

  “I regret to inform you there has been an incident involving the original colonists. An attack on two of my security detail and certain threats made by David Miller and the other men from the Hope. To preserve the safety of the inhabitants of this colony, we have taken them into custody. Further, until this dispute can be resolved, we’ve separated the families of the colonists from the rest of us for their own protection. Rest assured, all of them are safe and I expect they will rejoin us in due course.”

  He looked around the crowd and saw a mix of reactions – fear, outrage, surprise. Beside him, Jake and Roberto smirked.

  “In the absence of Captain Miller, I have assumed control of this colony. I will make all decisions involving the people and resources of Haven from now on.”

  He paused to give his audience time to digest this news. “For the short term, we must all pull together so the day-to-day activities of this habitat continue to run smoothly. To this end, I will distribute a list of tasks to you now. Most of you are already contributing your time and skills in a useful manner.” His gaze swept over the engineering crew. “Others are not.” This time he looked at the passengers. “That must change if we are to survive. Thank you for your attention.”

  Edward didn’t leave the floor open for questions, but some came from the usual quarter.<
br />
  “Just wait a minute, here!” Ananda Kumar said, pushing his way to the front. “What is this about assigning tasks? I did not pay ten billion dollars to come here and be treated like a servant! I refuse to do any such thing!”

  Typical, Tobias thought, his lip curling. Harper’s just taken control of the entire colony, but did you protest about that? Oh no. The only thing you’re worried about is getting your soft little hands dirty.

  Edward looked at Ananda without a hint of emotion. “There is no choice, Mr. Kumar, if we are to survive. I might remind you, your contract with Harper Industries provided for safe transport to Tau Ceti and nothing beyond that. I might also remind you Haven does not recognize Terran currency, or for that matter make use of any currency whatsoever. Here, you aren’t a wealthy man. You must work for your livelihood as the rest of us do.”

  Ananda Kumar’s mouth dropped open.

  After Edward departed the scene, the crowd divided into two halves – one centered on Kevin, the other on Ernie.

  “What does this mean for us?” Gena Sanchez asked, her hands as usual fidgeting, twisting a ring around and around her left ring finger.

  “No change,” Ernie replied. “We just do our jobs, and right now that’s working on the spaceport.”

  “Shouldn’t we help? I mean John and Heidi? I’m sure they did nothing wrong,” Tracey Howells said.

  Heinrich Schick scowled at her. “You heard Edward. They’re locked away to protect us.”

  “Ain’t no helping them, anyway,” Chuck Swanson said. “The best thing we can do is go on with gettin’ back to orbit, it’s somethin’ we need anyways.”

  Ernie nodded. “Like I said, we just do our jobs. We don’t need to complicate our lives with any of the politicking. Let’s just do something useful.”

  “Amen to that,” Chuck said.

  Ernie kept his true thoughts hidden. The others had no problem buying the idea they should keep their noses out of it and get on with what they liked to do – build things. But Ernie knew Edward’s success depended on them standing back and doing nothing to stop him.

  Kevin faced the usual barrage of complaints from Ananda Kumar and the Kendells, but he wasn’t the only one fed up with them.

  “Shut yer cakehole, Kumar,” a voice said in a brash Australian accent. “Jeez, all you do is whinge. Why don’tcha shut up and do something useful for a change?”

  Kevin suppressed a smile. Steve Pickard said little, but when he did he made his point with a blunt axe.

  Ananda turned and scowled at this new enemy, allowing Kevin to get a word in.

  “Look, you don’t have to do much, just help out with meals and cleaning up. You’re helping yourselves by doing this. There aren’t any servants here, so we all need to pitch in.”

  “Yeah, well, I have another question,” Steve said. Now he’d uncorked his mouth it seemed like he wouldn’t shut up anytime soon.

  “Why’re we doing what that wanker Harper says, anyway? I reckon we’re better off throwing our lot in with the colonists. It sticks out like a dog’s balls who the good guys are. You heard that mongrel Harper before – now he’s ditched us here, we’re on our own. He clearly doesn’t give a toss about us. Look at what happened over the houses. He just told us to sort it out and walked away.”

  Nods and murmurs of agreement followed, including, Kevin noticed, from Ananda Kumar. It seemed the insult delivered not a minute before had been water off a duck’s back. Or maybe he’d conceded to someone better at it than him!

  Kevin held his breath and counted to three. He agreed with Steve’s somewhat colloquial assessment, but he’d have to pull him aside later and tell him not to say these things out loud.

  “It’s true we don’t owe our allegiance to anyone,” he said. “I think we should think about that and discuss it. In the short term, though, we still need to look after ourselves, so I suggest we all pitch in and help.”

  He looked around, as if challenging anyone to disagree, but for once no one objected.

  “OK,” he said, “it looks like we agree. Why don’t we keep talking after dinner tonight and see if we can agree on what we should do next?”

  After that the crowd broke up and they all headed home. Kevin’s family found Tobias and Christian waiting for them, and were stunned to learn they would be taken into custody. They were forced to march to the warehouse, where they were separated, Kevin being put with the men, and his family with the other women and children.

  John looked up as Kevin entered. “Looks like they’ve promoted you, mate.”

  Kevin crossed his arms and scowled. He wasn’t in the mood for John’s humor right now. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  John shrugged. “They’ve penned all of us original colonists up here. You must be subversive enough to have been thrown in with us.”

  “What are they planning to do with us?”

  John shrugged again. “Search me. I’m not sure they know themselves.”

  Kevin looked around, rubbing the back of his neck. “We’d better find a way out.”

  “There isn’t one,” John said.

  Kevin shot him a sharp glance. “I think I’ll look around just the same.”

  John snorted. “Be my guest.”

  Kevin started to inspect the walls.

  “What would I know,” John said. “I only built the bloody thing.”

  David returned to his makeshift prison to find Kevin waiting there with the others. “You too, huh?”

  Kevin managed a brief smile. “It must be the company I keep.”

  David smiled in return but his eyes remained cold. “Don’t worry, we’ll find a way out. For all of us.”

  “So what did he want?” John asked.

  David leaned back against a work bench that ran along one wall of the room and pressed his lips together. He wanted to tell them everything, but that could put their lives in danger. “Long story short, a ‘join me and I’ll let you go free’ offer.”

  That got all of their attention.

  “And? What did you say?”

  David sighed. “It didn’t go so well.” He looked around the small group of fellow prisoners. “Perhaps in hindsight, I should have gone along with it, just to get us out of here, but the whole thing just stuck in my craw. If he’d offered justice first, freedom second, maybe. But while those asshole guards of his are out there running free it doesn’t work for me.”

  Kevin paced like a caged lion. “So, he wanted you to hand control to him?”

  David nodded. “That’s about the size of it. He’d hand it back when he returned to Earth as part of the deal. But the society he leaves behind would be quite different to the one we enjoy today.”

  “Screw that,” John said, shaking his head. “The last thing we need is that arsehole in charge!”

  Kevin nodded. “Yes, we all know what happens when we show weakness to the likes of him.”

  Simon took his place on guard outside the door of the men’s prison.

  His mind roiled. He felt dirty for what he’d done and he knew his growing guilt would have to be assuaged somehow, soon.

  If only Harper didn’t have this hold over us, we’d be free to do what’s right.

  He thought of Jake and Roberto, and what they’d almost done to Sabine, and his blood boiled and his hands twitched. He’d sooner kill them with his bare hands than have to work alongside those two, but he wasn’t free to act.

  Deep inside he could see a line approaching that once crossed, could not be retreated from. He could feel it coming, like a dog senses an approaching storm.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The day dragged by on feet of clay. The prisoners heard nothing more from Edward or anyone else from his camp. The guards took shifts in pairs, locking the door to one room while opening the other, so they could both cover the open room. They seemed torn between the extra security of closing the door, and the comfort of knowing what their prisoners were doing.

  The men jumped up as soon as the g
uards closed their door.

  “You’re certain there isn’t another way out?” Kevin asked.

  “Sure there is,” John replied, pointing toward the back wall. “There’s only a few sheets of corrugated aluminum between us and freedom. The trick is making a hole without making noise.”

  Kevin’s eyes glowed. “So what are we waiting for? Let’s do it!”

  John sighed. “Hold on there a minute, sunshine. I said without making noise, remember?”

  They all looked at David. He cleared his throat. “We need a plan. It’s all very well breaking out, but we have to think of our families. They’ll be in danger – they’ll use them as hostages. We need to figure out how we safeguard them. Besides, you’re assuming the only guards are those we’ve seen. Others might be patrolling outside the building.”

  Kevin crossed his arms. “So we do nothing?”

  David grinned. “I didn’t say that,” he said. “Just that we need a plan. Let’s start by taking stock of what we’ve got to work with.” He looked at John, who smiled.

  “Well as far as soldiers go, these guys aren’t smart.” He waved an arm around. “This room is full of machinery and tools. I’m pretty sure we can come up with something useful.”