by Gail Gernat
“No, it certainly wasn’t. He probably put it on you in the middle of the night. I hate the thought of him prowling around up here when I am asleep.”
Spraying freezing on the spot, Radhya dug forceps into his forehead and extracted the machine. She put it with the others in the freezer in lab two. Returning to the med lab, she checked on Amlina. She had Max carry Amlina to his old room, across from hers. Radhya then woke Will and sent him to bed.
Amlina was doing well. Her fever was lower, and the scan revealed the tumor was shrinking rapidly.
Radhya descended to the next floor to check on Barone. He was also much improved.
“Well Noel, you are progressing very well. Just my luck you are one of those fast healers. In another day or so, you will be well enough to travel,” hinted Radhya.
“Where am I going?” Noel croaked.
“Why, I thought you might feel like going home, to show off or whatever it is that men do,” she replied. “I actually have business to conduct on Jabin’s World myself. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be here while I’m away.”
“Actually my dearest, I would like that very much.”
“Well, I wouldn’t. If you want to stay on Pleasant you’ll move to the visitor’s center and pay the going rate,” she said in a hard voice.
“Radhya, are you throwing me out?”
“Why of course not Noel, I’m just telling you, you can’t stay here.”
Radhya turned and left the room fuming at Lord Barone’s obstinacy. She pondered his power to arouse her to anger every time she was in his presence. She dashed down the stairs and into the kitchen. Aninya was cooking, Singha and the kits purring around her feet. Radhya slowed and took a deep breath.
“Milady, one of the slave girls, has disappeared. Her name is Rada,” Aninya began.
“Yes Aninya, I know. She went, ah, walking in the forest outside the fence, and the dire wolves got her. We found the body, but didn’t retrieve it. Will has a holo for proof. Tell all the other girls to stay away from the woods will you, especially at night.”
A horrified Aninya stared at her. Radhya walked to the slaves’ galley. A number of slaves were having breakfast. 72 rose hurriedly to his feet.
“Sit down,” she told him. “Finish your food. This is your territory on which I am intruding. My own slaves don’t seem to mind. Your master is improving so rapidly that he will be leaving here in about two days.”
A look of severe disappointment crossed the faces of Barone’s slaves. Radhya felt stricken at their pain. When the most important thing in life was getting enough food, and it was taken away with one breath, it must be a terribly frightening thing. She closed her eyes at her insensitivity and shook her head.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized, “I’m leaving myself, or you could stay longer. I’ll have Aninya make you up some care packages, dried fruit, protein bars and a few things like that before you go, okay?”
“Thank you milady,” answered 72, “we have just been enjoying your good food, and the fine quarters so much we hate to leave. Such packages would be a blessing to us, but what if my Lord finds them?”
“Since when does Lord Barone ever lift anything? You carry all the gear everywhere, so you just put it in with his stuff, he doesn’t notice because he doesn’t ever carry it. If he does, tell him it was a present from me. He’ll throw it out because he will think it is poisoned. If he doesn’t notice, you have a little food for a while.”
“We are forever grateful.”
“I’m sure Lord Barone will drag you back here as often as he can,” she consoled. “See to it please Padr. And after lunch wake Will and meet me in the den. Until then do whatever needs catching up. I’ll be with Kaarl and Geo all morning, so you are free. Moreover, don’t forget to have D’Bara clean the med lab. Use the prod if she is reluctant. It’s good for her to learn a little discipline.”
D’Bara glared at Radhya from her seat at the table, hate flickering in her eyes like fire eating through wood. Her hands and arms had prod welts on them from the day before, and her beautiful face had bruises as well. Radhya smiled at her sister, grabbed a piece of fruit from the bowl and left the room.
In Geo’s room, she first discussed finances with Kaarl and arranged to buy some more slaves. More than ever, she made sure the full extent of her wealth was hidden. Kaarl left with his instructions.
“Radhya, your brother is supposed to call anytime now. We should go to the comm center,” Geo told her.
“Have Padr transfer the call here and lock the comm door,” she said.
Minutes later the holophone in the corner lit up. Radhya accepted the call.
“Steph,” she smiled, “It’s been a long time since I heard from you.”
The most handsome man in the known galaxy peered out at her. His hair was as golden as spring sunshine and his eyes an incredible amethyst and blue, with long, long dark lashes. He had a generous full mouth with perfect teeth. Dimples complimented his perfectly shaped oval face. The classic Grecian nose was the final touch. However, he looked very cross.
“Why did you message me to call you?” he asked. “You know I’m too busy to chitchat.”
“Steph, we have a serious problem with Petra.”
“You know I have no concern for that stupid slut. I don’t want to be bothered.” He reached to cut the connection.
“Wait! It involves money.”
He paused, “There is something else?”
“Steph, she is here in disguise, a genetic makeover as a slave to kill me.”
“Radhya what are you babbling about? Where’s the money?” Stephan asked with irritation.
Beginning with her forced contract to contract, Radhya told him the whole story, suitably edited to leave out the plan.
“Well little sister, this is a fine mess. You know Barone probably has her assets now, so she is unlikely to be restored to royal status. She is done for as far as that goes. Do you have proof she plans to kill you?”
“Steph, Geo records everything.”
“Send me a microburst.”
Geo sent a transcript to Stephan. He stared at it off screen for a moment, revealing his stunning profile.
“How is it that she is still pretending to be a slave and trying to kill you after an interview like this?”
Radhya sighed. “I developed a substance I call a dismemorizer. It removes a person’s memory for about twelve hours. It’s like that time never existed to the person, so Petra doesn’t know I broke her cover, and she is carrying on. I made her clean stables yesterday, and today she is cleaning feces and vomit from my med lab.”
A delighted smile illuminated Stephan’s face, like the sun coming from behind clouds. He chuckled aloud.
“Sister dear, that alone is worth my help. Unfortunately, I’m more mercenary than that; I want your dismemorizor formula.”
“I already hold the patent.”
“I want permission to duplicate and put it into production.”
“If anyone can buy it, it kind of defeats its purpose.”
“I still want to produce it. Take my terms or do without my help.”
“I want half your earnings then.”
“I’ll give you one third.”
Radhya thought a moment then agreed.
“Another matter Steph.”
“What now?”
“If Barone gets me busted to slave, all my property is forfeit. I don’t want him to get any of it. I have a living will, and you are to get everything but my slaves. I have made other arrangements for them. But I want you to know Barone intends to take everything I own and I don’t want him to have it.”
Stephan smiled wolfishly. “Don’t worry about that sister. If you have left it to me, rest assured I will get it. I’ll get back to you when I check this info out. At the very least, I can contend we should split Petra’s property and not allow it exfamilia at least. Take care sister, take very good care.”
Stephan cut the connection. Radhya looked at Geo
.
“Too bad he isn’t at least part human,” Geo snorted.
“He’s all I have left of family,” replied Radhya forlornly.
“Bah. Your mother hated you. Her eyes were only for Petra. Your father ignored you; only Stephan existed for him. Your grandfather was the only one in the whole family with both a heart and a brain. Should be glad to be rid of them,” he snorted.
Radhya smiled wanly at the dear old man.
“You have those three young bucks for friends. And just you wait until you fall for some smart young aristocrat and have children. Listen to me, and you won’t make such a mess of their lives as your parents did.”
“Oh, Geo, you are my parent,” cried Radhya hugging him. “What would I ever do without you? You keep me sane.”
Geo grinned back at her and hugged her in return. Radhya left, crossing the dining room to the den. Padr was standing just inside the door. Will was sitting in a leather chair munching breakfast.
“Morning,” she called to them both, pulling down a map. “Sorry to cut your sleep short again Will, but I want you to see Spa Island.”
She pointed to a small island many miles off the coastline, southeast of the track.
“This is my Spa Island. It has every pampering device and technique known to humankind. Plus a few I’ve invented myself. The older ladies are going to love my bacterial facelift. I need medical checked out in case I have forgotten anything, and I need the whole unit landscaped. So we are going to go and see it in person.”
She snapped the map back up. Locking the door to the den, she led them through the back panel to the secret entry. Padr looked surprised.
“Didn’t you tell him?” Radhya asked Will.
Will shook his head as Radhya pushed the men into the lift. This time it sank very far down, and they were deposited in a huge cavern. The lights on the far walls appeared misty with the distance. Three hovers bulked to one side.
“Can either of you drive a hover?” Radhya asked.
“I can,” Padr replied.
“Good,” responded Radhya, “I can, but I’d rather watch the scenery go by. You drive, I’ll navigate.”
The trio climbed in. It was roomy and comfortable, even while fastened in the safety restraints. Radhya pointed the way, and Padr drove. Will went to sleep in the back, shifting gently with the vector changes.
After ten minutes of slow travel, they burst from the tunnel onto the ocean. The sea lapped grey and green around their vehicle as they sped over the low waves, throwing curtains of water from their base. Radhya adjusted the course, and Padr picked up speed, going faster and faster until the hover was flat out. An involuntary grin of pure pleasure split his features as they raced over the water. Radhya beamed back in response.
All too soon, Radhya tapped his forearm and pointed to the land rising majestically from the sea. Padr reduced speed and brought them around a pair of steep arms that opened on a spacious bay. He eased the hover into the harbor and skillfully landed them on the sloping sand beach. Will woke with the cessation of noise and movement.
It was a semi-tropical paradise, where large trees were waving in the warm breeze. Up the path, gleaming white stone buildings lifted from the sand, like Moore sculptures.
“This is my spa, for those royals who do not crave the excitement of racing nor the thrills of hunting. It contains everything the pampered aristocrat could desire, from hot springs to mud pits,” Radhya laughed to the men. “We’ll bring Max later but Padr, bring out your sketchbooks. Plan the landscaping. I want it to be as special as your last.” She sparkled at him.
“I can’t wait to start another project,” he beamed back. “I’ve been feeling useless.”
“Never useless Padr, you’re never useless, decorative maybe, but never useless,” Radhya laughed.
Padr wandered outside the complex of buildings noting dimensions and elevations while Radhya and Will inspected the interiors. When that was accomplished, they sat in the shade on the sand and discussed the plan. Gradually the sky grew darker, and the waves loomed larger, no longer colored with any green, just white foam laced grey.
Radhya said, “We should go find Padr. If the waves get too high, they could flip the hover.”
They found Padr at the landside of the complex staring at the completely barren hills.
“What do you want me to do about the rest of the island?” he asked.
“Do whatever you think best. The contrast is nice, but so would a splendid view be nice. It’s all in your hands. Unfortunately, you’ll have to work it out later. The waves are getting higher, and I think perhaps we should go.”
They hurried back through the spa to the beached hover. Strapping in, Padr wasted no time getting them underway. He sent the little vehicle zipping along the shoreline to the harbor’s mouth. Rounding the point, the nose of the craft rose up to its full height, straight up, then crashed down.
Six-meter waves were pounding the coast in a fury, and the wind was doing its best to strip the leaves from the trees. Padr wrestled with the controls. He maintained just enough speed to keep the hover stationary in the wind and waves. They were crashing from trough to trough. Padr timed the waves. In the dip, he flipped the vessel sideways and around before the next wave could smash it to bits. He cut in some more speed and retreated into the harbor.
“Look out!” yelled Will pointing out the back window.
A rogue wave had rounded the headland. It picked up the small craft and hurled it onto the steep rocks of the island’s face. Waves sucked them back and hurled them forward again; the hover leaking in many places.
“Hang on,” thundered Padr.
A third time the waves crunched them to the cliff. This time the hover shattered like an egg on marble.
Radhya flew through the air into the water, tossed and twirled. She could not breathe. Thrust into the sky, she gulped foam and air, and then plunged into the dark roiling water again. She smashed into a rock and grasped it with all her might, only to be torn away from it and smashed into another rock and another. An arm snaked out and caught her by the tunic pulling her forward. Her salt stinging eyes caught a glimpse of Will as he pushed her leeward of himself. A large hand reached down and seized her shoulder. Padr hauled her panting onto the small ledge of rock at the base of the cliff. He reached down again and fished Will from the frothing water. Radhya had barely enough strength left to cling to the rock face.
“We have to work our way along the rock to the beach,” yelled Padr over the banshee wail of the wind.
“Can’t,” gasped Radhya “no strength left.”
“Have to. No choice,” yelled Padr back.
He inched cautiously forward on the cliff. Will nudged her to follow. Stubbornly she shook her head. Will nudged her again. The sky opened up and wept stinging tears of rain.
“Come on,” bellowed Padr, “I’ll help you.”
He held out his hand which she clung to as she inched her way forward. Will followed supporting her from the other side. Centimeter by painful centimeter they crept along the cliff climbing higher to avoid the waves that threatened to suck them back to a watery grave. The cliff above them lowered as they climbed. Finally, a subjective eternity later, they crawled over the lip of rock and were on top.
Now the wind smote them full force as if determined to force them back into the sea. The rain pelted down so hard visibility was arm’s length. The trio staggered downslope, the only method they had of telling direction.
Eons later, a white building in front of his outstretched hand halted Padr. They worked their way to the left, trying to find a door. Padr yanked at something and vanished into the dark. Radhya fell in behind him, and Will tripped on top of her. The cessation of pounding was like sudden sensory deprivation, only the loud rasping of their lungs echoed through the space.
Will crawled to the door and sealed it shut. Radhya stumbled to her feet and hit a switch. Nothing happened.
“Power plant’s shut down. No light, no heat, no
messages, no food,” she gasped.
Padr rose and prowled the room.
“What is this building?” he asked.
Radhya looked around.
“Massage therapy I think,” she coughed.
Will checked her pulse. “I think we need to get out of these wet clothes,” he stated.
Radhya tottered to the wall, barely visible in the gloom. Pulling out drawers, she finally found some sheets. Handing a couple to each man, she began to strip. Then she wrapped herself in sheets and spread her wet things to dry. She found a dry corner and curled up to sleep. The men followed her lead and soon joined her, one on either side.
Chapter 15
Padr was sound asleep on his back when they found them; Radhya snuggled to his side. Will cupped her back, his arm around her. The sharp intake of breath from 72 awakened Will. He rolled over with a loud groan.
“Well, sleeping beauties, care to tell us what happened?” Rory drawled. “We have been frantic looking for you. See Geo has been pried from his den and Noel insisted on sending 72.”
Will sat up stiffly, feeling every bruise and pulled muscle. He slapped Padr on the back of the hand. Padr opened one swollen eye, but it drooped shut again. Radhya slept on.
“We were sure you were dead when we saw the hover wreckage on the beach,” said Geo.
“We should be,” answered Will. “Padr was amazing!”
Max, Rory, Geo and 72 looked dubiously at the battered hero.
Will babbled, “No really, I never saw anyone control a machine like that. We would have been safely back at the beach if that one giant wave hadn’t come into the harbor. It smashed the hover. Padr found the ledge and got Radhya and me up onto it. Then he led us over the cliff and here. I’m amazed we survived.”
He looked at Padr with great respect.
“It’s all a big load of horse droppings,” Padr murmured throwing a hand over his eyes.
“I doubt that. Radhya’s an excellent judge of character. None of the rest of us could see anything in you, but she did,” said Geo with a grunt. “We are a little bruised. However, I don’t think any serious damage is done,” Will continued.