Star Bridge (Chaterre Trilogy Book 1)

by Jeanne Foguth

  Larwin yanked off his helmet and squinted at the opening, certain that the beast couldn’t burrow through rock, but fearful that he was wrong.

  The madrox roared.

  Dust billowed from the opening and coated the magenta leaves with black soot. In one spot, Larwin thought he saw a tiny tendril of smoke rise, but when he leaned close for a better look, he only saw the ashen remains of his rope.

  He wiped sweat from his eyes and leaned back against the sculptures.

  The earth trembled. GEA-4 stared at the opening. Where had she been when the madrox had him pinned down? Off singing silly ditties? “Since the cave is too narrow for the madrox, it is trying to bore through.” The shaking increased. Boughs whipped, as if in a stiff wind. Assuming it continues at its present rate, it should succeed in three days.”

  Wonderful news. “Madrox are attracted by energy emissions,” Larwin fumed. “They stalk ships with faulty warp drives. Why did it chase us?”

  “I monitored unfamiliar energy readings in the main tunnel.”

  “From the madrox?”

  “No. At times, the energy split into two random units, both of which moved down the tunnel as if fleeing from the beast.”

  “Perhaps the energy was from the wormhole.”

  “It is a possibility.” GEA-4 picked a wilted leaf and studied it. “Or perhaps it followed the Pterois Volitan.”

  Larwin snorted. “The Pterois Volitan didn’t come down the wormhole and it didn’t have warp capacity.”

  “Perhaps the animal followed the plutonera.”

  “The what?”

  “Plutonera.”

  He snorted. “My ship didn’t use that.”

  “Correct.”

  Coldness washed over him. “Was the debris you ran into an old plutonera canister? Is that why you think the beast followed us?” The sweat in Larwin’s suit seemed to form ice crystals.

  “As per Article 123—”

  Larwin tore at the suit’s bindings. “What does Article 123 have to do with anything?

  “The Schimmel was carrying plutonera when it blew up.”

  “Schimmel?” Larwin went very still. What was the android talking about? It occurred to him that he’d made several assumptions about the events, which had ruined his ship and landed him atop a mountain with the most magnificent view he’d ever see. “I think you’d better tell me exactly what happened while I was sleeping and begin with telling me if you’re talking about the high commander’s ship.”

  “This Schimmel was a Quergi freighter. At 18:42 I monitored a distress call from it,” GEA-4 said. “The ship was immobilized and loosing life-support. There were five crew still alive.”

  The dragon bellowed, and the ground trembled, but it didn’t sound quite as close and less dust billowed from the cave’s mouth.

  He nodded. “The Quergi are allies.” Larwin stepped out of his environmental suit. The night breeze hit his saturated jumpsuit with the promise of a severe winter. He shivered, but was more concerned with understanding what GEA-4 was trying to report. “123 makes sense. Continue with your report.”

  “Thirty-six point ten minutes later, I rendezvoused with the freighter. I was in the process of coupling our ships to save the crew when the Schimmel exploded.”

  So that was how she’d gotten so far off course and they had crashed in the forbidden territories. Why hadn’t she said so earlier? He frowned and looked at her. “You told me our engine was damaged by debris.”

  “That is the factor that shattered it and impaired steering.”

  “Are you telling me you failed to scan the area?”

  “No, I am not,” she said. He was afraid that was what she would say. “I completed all inspections prior to docking. The madrox had bored through the hull and was in the freighter’s hold consuming the cargo. Probabilities indicated it would remain there while I rescued the crew.”

  “Let me guess. The cargo was plutonera and the beast hiccuped.” He closed his eyes, envisioning the situation. “Of course, the freighter disintegrated and you didn’t complete the rescue, because there was no one left to rescue.” He sighed as he opened his eyes. GEA-4 inclined her head. Why did worst-case scenarios always happen to him? Larwin rubbed his temples. “Would I also be correct in presuming the Pterois Volitan got bathed in plutonera residue?”

  “Yes.”

  `Madrox were known to act like Prudian bloodhounds when it came to plutonera. The tension in his temples increased. `'I assume that the beast followed us here.” And the debris, which had damaged his ship, was part of the Schimmel. Everything made sense. Her scanners were fine; they were the victims of fate.

  “Yes, Colonel Atano, that is correct.”

  “Can you tell me why it bypassed my ship and chased me down the tunnel?”

  “No, I can not.”

  “Not even a theory?”

  “Only the two odd energy readings.”

  The ground shook as the beast bellowed. A small trickle of pebbles rained down on Larwin. There was only one way to deal with a cosmic dragon. “GEA-4, scan this area for a water source.”

  He clenched and unclenched his hands while he waited for her conclusion. “My search did not encounter anything but moisture in the vegetation,” she said.

  That’s what he’d feared. He tried to keep his tone calm. “Will it rain prior to your estimate of when the madrox breaks through?”

  “I am not programmed to predict weather, but logically, it is doubtful.”

  “Does the atmosphere here have enough vapor to deter a madrox?” He was perspiring so much, it might.

  “The moisture level at this altitude would irritate the madrox. Should it be provoked, I predict it would respond with brute force.”

  “Great. Anything else?”

  “This one is unpredictable. Madrox normally like hot, high-energy destinations.”

  “Yeah, like Kalamar’s volcanic moon.” Vilecom was a molten ball, which had the notoriety of being a place one could always spot madrox. Larwin shivered. “Scan the planet’s surface for water sources.”

  “I did. I can’t detect any closer than the valley.”

  Larwin sighed. Amazing how inconvenient a madrox could be when he didn’t have his space ship. Any other time he’d encountered one; he’d simply detoured around the beast and zipped away. How could he find an expedient way to alleviate the problem in this primitive place? “Why is it so determined to get at us?” GEA-4 tilted her head and looked at him. “You said it was boring through solid rock. Why would it do that for days?” He frowned as he studied surrounding rocks and trees. The creature’s fixation on him didn’t make sense, especially when a layer of plutonera must linger on his ship. “Scan for whatever a madrox would consider food or shelter.”

  There was a long pause, as GEA-4 turned in a complete circle. “There is no lava or radiation within my scanner range. However, it is possible that volcanic activity or heavy metal deposits exist outside my range.”

  Without food or heat sources, the beast should leave. What reason could a madrox possibly have for pursuing a human and a machine down the tunnel? None, yet it still persisted. “It should go away.” Larwin settled between the legs of the larger stone guardian, which gave him some protection from the chilling breeze and prepared to wait.

  Through the remaining night, the madrox continued its uncharacteristic assault.

  As a gentle breeze heralded dawn’s promise, Larwin chewed a Vitameal bar and grimaced at the foul flavor. He looked at the package and was surprised to discover it was omelet flavor. Until he’d eaten on this planet, he’d thought omelets were his favorite food. He hacked his way through the branches and sat in the spot where he’d first seen Kazza. Looking into the distance, he contemplated what the madrox would do once it broke through. For certain, it wouldn’t follow the feline’s pattern and turn into a friendly companion. Sunrise broke over the distant ridge, bathing the land in magical light.

  GEA-4 joined him. “The madrox is still on my predicte
d timetable. We have time to reach the valley floor, where there is adequate water for protection.”

  He stared at the scene and wondered what attracted the beast. It couldn’t be the wealth of plants. And he doubted if it was after any residual plutonera that might be on his suit. If it had been that, the beast would be digging up the planetoid’s dusty surface to get at the Pterois Volitan.

  With the madrox blocking his way, there was no possibility of reaching the Pterois Volitan and calling for backup. Even if he could reach the planetoid, the brute would consume whatever energy attracted it and melt all botanicals before support from Guerreterre could reach the planetoid’s remote coordinates. He sighed. Even if help could arrive, his commander would never allocate water away from the home world.

  In less than three days, the beast would break through.

  Larwin dusted off his uniform and marched toward the trail, which he’d just spent two days climbing.

  If it broke through, the creature would ruin everything for him. Even if it didn't break through, chances were that he could never go home. Clumsy and destructive as madrox were one of them could destroy billions in resources simply by exhaling toxic fumes. Being abandoned here was not a bad fate and he had already lived longer than he expected.

  The ground shook causing several small rocks to clatter downhill and leap over the precipice. The magenta branches swished as if in an unseen wind. The intense heat madrox radiated would probably dehydrate plant life, even before it actually broke through the wormhole. Worse, it could desiccate him like the doll he’d found in the tunnel.

  Larwin shuddered at the memory. He looked over his shoulder. A crimson puff of smoke rose from the mouth of the cave. Once the beast broke through, the only sure safety was near water. And there wasn’t a drop on the darned mountain.

  Purposefully, he began to move down the hand-wide ledge that Nimri euphemistically called a footpath. Veiled as her home was by the high humidity from the falls, they should be safe, at least for a while.

  It would be nice to see Nimri again, too.

  ~0~

  Nimri stumbled over an unseen rock. She fell toward Chase, who was a pace ahead on the narrow, winding path, but caught hold of a towering boulder to her right and the bough of a spiny bush to her left. While she fought to regain her balance, Chase continued upward at a steady, determined pace. Nimri massaged her aching ankle and watched the resolute set of her guide’s shoulders. She shook her head at her puzzling escort’s back. Was he too wrapped up in his fears of Cartwright and his Yetis to notice that she’d injured her ankle? Did his disregard stem from her disbelief that he, a Lost, claimed to love Tansy?

  Assuming Tansy had actually shared his feelings, after the terror she’d suffered, it was highly doubtful that she still retained any tender sentiments. Did he realize that?

  If he’d spoken the truth, so many things made sense. It might even mean that Larwin’s breath of life could cure all but a broken heart.

  But, if Chase had made up the story that Tansy loved him, he could be leading her into more danger than Cartwright and his Yetis. Assuming they existed. She’d never find out while she hung onto a boulder and healed her ankle.

  Her half-healed left ankle protested, but Nimri got to her feet and hurried after Chase. Soon, the narrow path twisted upward, snaking along the vertical face of the rocky mountain. Strange how both Cartwright and Rolf had chosen such isolated spots. Or perhaps the Lost lived high on the rocky bluff to avoid future floods. Maybe the path would seem more walker-friendly if clouds didn’t blanket the moon. As it was, starlight provided the only illumination on their perilous trek.

  Perspiration stung her eyes by the time she caught up with her unhappy guide. She wished Chase would stop long enough for her to totally ease the sprain.

  Or at least slow down.

  As she thought that, he abruptly halted. Nimri nearly bumped into him. Chase stared ahead, transfixed. She peered around him. Two tawny eyes glimmered in the dense shadows. Did Yeti eyes shine yellow in the dark? Chase lurched backward. The eyes looked huge enough to belong to such a horrible creature. Nimri sidestepped, landing on her sore ankle. Her right knee connected with rough rock. Gasping at the sharp pain, she blinked. When she looked, again, the watcher was gone.

  Gooseflesh broke over her as it did when she plunged in ice-laden water.

  Not knowing if she would need to flee or not, she waited, all senses alert. Predators often moved in packs, and she was in no condition to walk, let alone run through the night over unfamiliar territory. Nimri grabbed her knee with her left hand and her ankle with the right then sent binding thoughts to the ligaments and healing thoughts to the torn flesh.

  Chase, cowered behind her, his back protected by the craggy wall and his other side by the trunk of a twisted tree. He raised his arm and pointed, finger shaking, up the trail at a patch of desolate blackness. It lay just past where she’d seen the shining eyes. “Cartwright’s.” His trembling hand dropped. Chase’s throat-ball worked up and down several times. His complexion appeared white in the darkness. Just then, vermilion rays of moonlight broke through the clouds, illuminating the jagged terrain they’d just come up.

  Nimri looked from Chase to her destination. Hut-size boulders faced each other across the thin trail. Beyond them lay impenetrable blackness.

  Involuntarily, she shivered.

  No wonder Cartwright never came to market. Old men and impassible trails were incompatible. Eerie as the trail to his home appeared, it was no wonder Chase feared to venture there at night. She inhaled. The myst power was so strong that even she could feel it. With that understanding came the certainty that she was being watched.

  Nimri shivered.

  Chase turned and scrambled down the path as if the winds of misery were whipping at his heels.

  Unwilling to sever her last link with humanity, no matter how surly, Nimri called after him, “Where are you going?”

  “Home.”

  “But—”

  Chase stopped and partially turned. “I did what you asked.”

  “You still need to show me Cartwright’s home.”

  “It’s the only one.” Chase edged a step downward.

  “Why does Cartwright live so far from everyone?”

  “If his Yetis don’t kill you, you’ll have to ask him.” He gulped. “I hope you survive long enough to keep your part of our bargain.” With that, Chase sprinted out of sight.

  Yetis! Cartwright actually lived with Yetis? It wasn’t a story concocted by the traders to frighten them? Did the creatures have big yellow eyes?

  The feeling of being watched intensified.

  Swallowing her fear, Nimri took a step up the footpath. She sensed movement behind her and heard sniffing.

  I am not afraid.

  A bass growl from her left made the silent thought a whispered mantra. “I am not afraid,” she whispered, loud as a falling leaf. “I am not afraid. I am not afraid...” She repeated the mantra a dozen times for every unsteady step.

  A cantaloupe-sized rock slowly rolled past. Nimri stepped out of its way, then hoping she sounded more assured that she felt, asked, “Cartwright, is that you?” Her voice sounded as alone and afraid as she felt. “I am Nimri Tramontain. I’ve come a long way to speak with you.”

  Silence.

  She ran her tongue over her lips and wondered if she should go on, wait for dawn or—what?

  Abruptly, a man stepped from between two huge boulders bordering the path. He stood arms akimbo. At that moment, the moon’s sinking red orb moved behind the boulders, silhouetting him. Had he timed his appearance? Moved the moon to make the event appear more dramatic?

  The short hairs at Nimri’s nape stood on end and tried to uproot her braid. Then she realized the silhouette looked familiar.

  Larwin!

  How had he gotten here? Why was he here? Had he disguised himself as a Guardian to check out her and her defenses, as Bryta had imagined? A breeze gusted, chilling the sweat enveloping
her body. Nimri shivered as she remembered Bryta’s intensity. ‘No one on this side has ever seen Thunder Cartwright, but years ago, I heard a description of him and this Larwin could pass.’

  “Gunda, Carn, go home.” Not Larwin’s voice.

  “I am not afraid. I am not afraid...” She resumed her murmured mantra.

  Movement to her right.

  Movement to her left.

  Huge hairy things, half a head taller than her and three times wider emerged from the shadows on either side of her. They came toward her, knuckles of too-long arms dragging in the dirt. They had to be the Yetis Nimri stared straight ahead, afraid to blink. One shuffled close and started snuffling. Air currents tickled her neck.

  “…not afraid. I am not afraid. I am not...”

  Coarse fur brushed her forearm.

  Nimri locked her knees and kept whispering her incantation.

  A large heavy body bumped her other hip, knocking her against the sniffer’s bristly side. The hairy beast grunted. Nimri fought to hold back her scream.

  Instead of attacking and ripping her to bits, the beasts ambled toward the silhouette. Bigger than the man, they hunched over, their knobby knuckles swinging just above the dusty path. The man didn’t move as the creatures lumbered past and brushed against him.

  After the creatures receded into the shadows behind the left boulder, Nimri was alone with the shadow-shrouded man and crimson moonlight.

  Despite the athletic appearance of the man’s outline, it had to be Cartwright. Who else could order Yetis to leave, then ignore them as they passed?

  “Cartwright, I apologize for disturbing you in the middle of the night, but times are desperate.” Good, her voice only sounded a bit breathless. Hopefully, he’d think she was merely winded from her climb.

  “We’ll speak inside. Come.” He turned, took two steps and disappeared into the blackness.

  Inside what? Nimri squinted into the dense shadows. She took a deep, cleansing breath and forced herself to take one big, confident-looking step. The ninth step brought her to the huge boulder. Eight more and she passed it. A candle flickered in the all-encompassing darkness. Nimri straightened her back and blindly walked toward it. As she entered the gloom she was able to distinguish dark shades of gray from pure black; Cartwright, veiled in shadows, stood near a cleft in a mammoth stone and motioned for her to come. Head high, she limped forward.