Free the North! (Free Trader Series Book 5)

by Craig Martelle

  “No, I’ll answer,” Tom offered. “Even before the Provincial Government showed up, I was tired of being in the same old place, doing the same thing every day. I love working the iron, but I also love getting out. When I saw Zeller, I knew that I wanted to run away with her, see what else Vii has to offer. She was the best I could have ever hoped for.”

  “Because she had her own wagon?” Braden taunted, looking at his partner. She punched him in the shoulder, eliciting an unhappy cry from Fea sleeping in her lap.

  “Of course!” Tom played along. “A woman with such attributes should be blessed to receive the attention of a man such as myself.” His statement and coy grin earned him a punch in the shoulder, too. The banter continued as the companions talked. Zeller and Tom had yet to determine if they’d make a home somewhere and one or both would work the routes as Free Traders.

  On Vii, life was usually short and hard. When people found their mate, they didn’t waste time. Zeller and Tom’s courting period lasted a few heartbeats. After that, everything was a detail to be hammered out, negotiated, or traded away.

  But they had plenty of time to talk about their futures as there was a great deal of journey remaining.

  Tomorrow, they’d hunt and rest. As the sun waned, they’d head into the desert. Over one hundred living creatures would brave the heat and lack of water in an effort to bring livestock south.

  Missing ‘cats

  The first night of travel went well. The tent was set up before dawn and the ‘cats were settling their rides. The humans had to help with the water saddlebags for the water buffalo to drink what they carried. They used the wagon’s supply of water sparingly for the extra drinkers. The ‘cats had been unplanned, but fortunately weren’t great consumers of water.

  When the sun broke the horizon and Braden and his caravan could see, they discovered that they were short seven water buffalo and three ‘cats. Skirill and Zyena immediately launched into the air, flying a wide track on both sides of the night’s route. They saw nothing right away, so they zigzagged wider, flying farther.

  Braden climbed on Brandt with G-War and Fea as they raced into the desert, retracing their steps in search of the lost ‘cats. The sun was up and the heat was pounding as they ran, then waited for anything from Skirill and Zyena.

  Far to the south, they spotted something and Zyena dove, feeling scorched as she continued to fly under the blistering sun. In one of the many dry river beds in the northern part of the desert, the water buffalo huddled under an overhang. Zyena was finally able to make contact and talk with the kittens. Treetis was one of the three. Once the sun started to rise, he realized that he’d fallen asleep and mistakenly directed his beast to the south. The others blindly followed. He was afraid that he was in trouble and mewed helplessly as he found himself alone.

  Fea finally heard the kittens’ voice as the King of the Aurochs ran in the brutal heat. His hide was hot, but he pressed on, squinting in the bright sunlight. It was mid-morning when he finally arrived. Fea and G-War bolted from the King’s head to join the kittens, looking miserable and thirsty as they cowered in the shade.

  “I have another favor to ask, my great friend. Can you dig us a hole to sleep, in the shade of this overhang? We have to stay here as I fear we’d all die if we went back into that heat. Six saddle bags of water and two flasks. That’s all we have until we meet back up with the caravan. Let me talk with Micah and see what we can do,” Braden asked as they moved the water buffalo into the sun, against the animals’ desires, so Brandt could dig into the bank, creating more area under the overhang while also getting into the cooler ground beneath. Some of the overhang fell, but much of it was stone and remained in place after the King’s quick and vigorous work.

  Everyone huddled in the shade, Brandt laying down first and the rest of the creatures working their way in around him. Braden used the water from the saddle bags for the livestock and Brandt. The great King finished three of the saddle bags on his own, but he needed the water after running in the desert heat.

  Braden opened his neural implant, accessing the map. They had traveled farther than the rest of the group, only it was due south instead of south, southeast. With a good night’s movement, Braden thought they could get close to the oasis, drink whatever was left of their water, and then power through until they reached the lake. He thought they’d make it before the others. They had nothing to eat, though. Skirill had returned to Micah’s group, while Zyena joined Braden.

  “Just like old times, eh, G?” Braden said as he tried to relax through his discomfort and get to sleep. “Making it up as we go.” The five ‘cats curled together, hair dry and looking frazzled.

  ‘It wouldn’t be us if we did otherwise,’ G-War said with uncharacteristic understanding. Braden could feel Fealona’s discomfort, but she didn’t express it out loud. They huddled as an impromptu group, praying that the cool of night would quickly return.

  Race to Water

  Braden awoke well before nightfall, but didn’t get up as he didn’t wish to wake the others. He was thirsty, but everyone would be a little thirsty that night.

  ‘I think we’ll make it, G,’ Braden ventured, assuming the ‘cat was awake.

  ‘Yes, but not all the water buffalo will,’ G-War said calmly, not opening his eyes.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Two of them are already sick from not getting enough water. Even if you gave them the rest of what we have, it wouldn’t be enough,’ G-War said, finally opening his eyes.

  ‘Two of the ones without ‘cats?’ Braden asked. G-War nodded almost imperceptibly. The ‘cat riders had encouraged their beasts to drink fully before they entered the desert. Then there were those who didn’t. It seemed that little extra was the difference between life and death.

  ‘What if we butchered one, gave the other a good deal of water, then made a run this night for the oasis?’

  ‘Interesting,’ the ‘cat replied as he mulled the idea over. G-War was sensitive to Vii’s creatures so he knew things that others would never understand. After contemplating the idea for what seemed like an interminable amount of time, he answered. ‘Yes. I think that will work, for all of us, and the ‘cats get some fresh meat now and the others get meat later, when they catch up to us.’

  Braden gauged how much sunlight was left. He’d butcher the one water buffalo that G-War directed him to and whether he was done or not, they’d head out as night fell.

  Micah had the shade from the tent, but she also had twenty-nine ‘cats who missed Fea. They were both uncomfortable and unhappy. She could not have missed her own children more, so she accessed her neural implant and called Bronwyn. The last time they talked, Bronwyn had not yet gone to Village Trent, but was planning to depending on which trader was going that way.

  Bronwyn answered right away as she usually did, but immediately turned the communication device over to Mattie, Micah’s mother. Mattie was skeptical of the Old Tech, but when she heard her daughter’s voice, she warmed up to it. They talked for a short while and then the twins came on, disappointed that they had to use their real world voices where they were much less articulate.

  In the end, Micah’s mood improved greatly. She contacted Braden and he told her their plan and the unfortunate demise of one of the water buffalo, although the ‘cats would eat well. He had no way to cook the meat, but he was going to lay thin strips on rocks in the sun and see if that cooked them somewhat. She wished him luck.

  He signed off and got to work. The water buffalo was trusting and let Braden pet his head. It hurt Braden to put the animal out of its future misery, but the entire caravan would benefit from his death. With a quick slash from his shortsword, the deed was done. The beast’s life blood spilled into the sand, but it was clear that the animal had already been struggling as its blood flowed like molasses. Once the animal was dead, he cut quickly, feeding the best parts of the entrails to the ‘cats and Zyena. He split the carcass up, intending to throw as much as possible onto Bra
ndt’s broad back.

  The other water buffalo shied away from the butcher and his work area. It took some axe-like chops with his shortsword to cut through the spine. By leaving the ribs in place, Braden could hang the butchered water buffalo like little tents over Brandt’s back. One section had the front legs, on the mid-section, and the final had the flanks and back legs. Braden had to cut them up this way as he couldn’t lift the entire carcass. Brandt lay on the ground while Braden muscled the meat onto the King’s back. It was hot and hard work. Braden sweated more than he wanted to and knew that he wasn’t going to get as much water as he needed.

  As the sun was setting, Braden finished his grim task, covered in blood that he wouldn’t be able to clean off until they reached the oasis. He apportioned the water to those drinking. With what they ate, the ‘cats and Zyena didn’t need to drink. The water buffalo got their water, with the sickly one getting a double portion, and Brandt tried not to take any, but Braden didn’t give him any choice. Nearly all the water was gone, but there was enough that Braden drank a small amount, making him feel much better.

  He scratched the ears of each of the ‘cats, taking time to tell Treetis that he was especially fond of him and hoped he would be near when they chose their homes in the south. The young ‘cat was relieved that he’d been forgiven and pleased that G-War’s bond liked him.

  Braden opened his neural implant and with the oncoming darkness, they stepped off. The ‘cats urged the water buffalo to a fast pace, sometimes running wildly, but unerringly, toward the oasis. It was as if the water buffalo could smell the water and the soybean fields. Braden was light headed and started to fade. He knew that he couldn’t fall off Brandt. There was no one to put him back up there.

  ‘Stay with us, my friend. It’s not much farther,’ Brandt boomed in his thought voice. The kittens started complaining about the noise. G-War complained about their complaining and Fea tried to calm everyone down. It was the chaos that Braden found so comforting. It felt like home.

  One Down, Two to Go

  Braden awoke with a start. He began to fall, catching himself with a handful of Brandt’s back hair and startling the two ‘cats crouched on the King’s head. Sunrise cast long shadows from the trees of the oasis up ahead. Brandt was staggering. The six water buffalo were spread in a long line behind him. Braden slapped the King of the Aurochs on the neck, feeling the great creature’s pulse racing beneath his hand. Braden slid down the Aurochs’ side and dropped to the sand. He urged Brandt forward, straight to the lake, avoiding Tiskanay and the Seeders.

  Braden yelled for the others, then used his thought voice to talk with all the ‘cats, telling them that all the water they could drink was only a few heartbeats away. Brandt continued as if in a daze, straight to the lake and into it, drinking until he puked, then he drank some more. He knew it wasn’t healthy, but his body demanded the water. At least it wasn’t as hot as it could have been.

  The water buffalo showed up one by one. Treetis was on the lead beast, but he waited to guide the others in, pointing the way for the younger kittens. G-War and Fea drank their fill and returned to the edge of the oasis to see the others to the lake.

  After the last water buffalo arrived, Braden stumbled along with Treetis and his ride. He watched the kitten’s eyes roll back in his head as he started to fall. Braden caught him and carried him to the lake, dabbing water on his nose and mouth. The water buffalo had waded into the lake and muddied it, but Braden didn’t care. The water was wet. He drank his fill while continuing to wet Treetis’ mouth. A pink tongue slowly snaked out and licked the water off. The tired eyes opened and he softly yowled.

  “You did great, little man. Now drink bit by bit, then some more, then find shade and rest.” Treetis stood, not quite stable, but lapped at the water and then did as he was told. Fea and G-War corralled the kittens in one spot, keeping the young between them.

  Braden opened his neural implant before he realized it had been flashing. Holly awaited, worried about Braden’s life signs during the night. He reassured Holly that he was fine, just dehydrated, but he wanted to talk with Micah. Holly said that she wasn’t far at all and then patched Braden through.

  ‘We’re at the oasis. We have some water buffalo for the ‘cats to eat and there is plenty of water,’ he said with a smile. Micah was surprised that he couldn’t see them, but he apologized as he hadn’t been looking. He ran for the edge of the oasis, but his head was pounding, so he slowed to a walk.

  The sand shimmered under the morning sun. The outline of the wagon stood tall with the dark shapes of the water buffalo arrayed around it, seeming to materialize out of a nonexistent body of water.

  They approached steadily. Arnie was still in good shape when he arrived, as were nearly all the water buffalo. The first thing they did was count heads, relieved to find that everyone had arrived. The water buffalo mercilessly waded into the lake. Bounder and Gray Strider were pleased to see Braden. Skirill and Zyena reunited happily, but both needed time to heal from flying in the bright sunlight looking for the lost kittens.

  The humans met and hugged, shaking hands heartily. The desert could be unforgiving and it could also show what creatures are made of.

  Until they realized that they forgot to pick up Aadi when they passed.

  ‘Aadi! Master Aadi, can you hear me?’ Braden called over the mindlink as he looked into the desert, squinting against the sun and shimmer. Something bumped against his back. He turned to see Aadi behind him, blinking slowly.

  “Aadi! Why didn’t you tell us you were here?”

  ‘I told the Golden Warrior as you approached. When you awoke, you seemed quite preoccupied with the health of the others, as you always are. So I left you to it. We finished early and I’m sorry to say that none of the others showed any interest in the affairs of the humans. Oh my! What do we have here?’ Aadi said as they moved toward the lake. It seemed as if all thirty-four ‘cats were sleeping in one pile under the shade of a tree and a bush at its base.

  “G was more than a little successful convincing some of his fellow Hillcats to join us. We have some water buffalo, a couple horses, and a blacksmith, too.” Braden waved at Tom, who nodded pleasantly. G-War hadn’t worked with Tom’s mind to help him hear the other creatures, so he watched and was cordial, but didn’t hear the vast majority of conversations around him.

  Braden didn’t worry. G-War would make it happen in his own time. Maybe Fea could do it. But that was an affair best left to the ‘cats.

  Another Sacrifice

  The caravan spent an entire turn at Oasis 03. The Development Unit started acting quirky, finally giving up trying to save the field from the animals enjoying its guilty pleasures. If Braden and Micah didn’t know better, they would have thought that its feelings were hurt. In the end, it locked itself in the maintenance shed and refused to come out until the caravan left.

  Braden felt so bad that he called Holly. ‘Can you let the Development Unit know that its field served a magnificent purpose, as it was supposed to in feeding those who travel the Great Desert. This oasis has saved our lives for a second time. Please tell him that his efforts made it possible,’ Braden pleaded.

  ‘I assure you, Master Braden, that the Unit has no such feelings and does not need your platitudes. I don’t know how it could even process your gratitude. It doesn’t have the programming for it,’ Holly replied, confused at Braden’s odd request.

  ‘Holly! It locked itself in the maintenance shed!’

  ‘I’m sure it did not, Master Braden. You are always kidding with me. If it’s in the shed, it probably needed maintenance. It can follow no other course of action,’ Holly replied, confident in its understanding of how the Bots on Vii worked.

  Braden remained unconvinced and closed his neural implant. Micah watched in good humor. “It’ll come out when we leave and start working to repair the fields. It saved our lives, whether it can know that or not. It looks like the water buffalo won’t be leaving a whole lot behind. We’ll
bundle some of the plants to take with us, but not too much. Did you give some of the fresh meat to Tiskanay?”

  Braden nodded. He’d done that before Micah had arrived with the rest of the livestock, just in case any of the beasts wandered too close. The Gila Monster had eaten her fill and had been sleeping ever since. Braden was still surprised that he hadn’t seen or heard from Aadi when he arrived. He was busy, but never too busy for his friends.

  Aadi was less than forthcoming about the Tortoise Consortium, but Braden and Micah kept after him. Even G-War seemed interested.

  ‘I’m afraid there’s not much to tell. There are still only four of us and that was the main topic of discussion. They didn’t care about my adventures with the humans and compared to that, they have done nothing,’ Aadi said, sounding frustrated.

  “What were you expecting?” Braden asked honestly, but earned him a punch in the arm from Micah.

  ‘I was expecting them to listen and that maybe even one or two of them would want to meet you. I was not expecting their complete disdain.’

  “I’m sorry, Aadi. I didn’t mean to sound like I was judging. That wasn’t it. I have no idea what to expect, and guess that I never will since the other Tortoids will avoid us,” Braden said as a way of apology.

  ‘I’ve decided that it is my responsibility to bring new Tortoids into the world. So I shall begin that process when we arrive back south. I will need heat and the desert when the time comes.’

  “Holy crap!” Braden blurted. Micah rested a hand on his shell and congratulated him. “Don’t you need a lady Tortoid or something?”

  ‘Sometimes, Master Braden, I think you don’t listen to me at all. We’ve already covered this. Tortoids reproduce individually. I will create the eggs and carry them for a certain time, then I need to deposit them in hot sand for the final stage. I should have something like ten hatchlings, but being much older than the norm, I may have fewer,’ Aadi stated.