The situation had changed, but whether for better or worse it was too early to tell. Lord Caavax was nonhuman, representative of a species that was a traditional rival of humanxkind. On the other hand, unlike Coerlis, he was rational and might be swayed or influenced by logical argument. Better to contest with a rational alien than an obsessed human.
To do that, he needed to learn as much about Caavax and his backup as possible. Casual conversation was always a useful way to begin.
“Did you arrive via shuttle? If so, it must be getting awfully crowded on that mountaintop.”
“There was only just enough room,” the noble replied. “Landing required much delicate maneuvering. You will understand also a desire on our part not to upset or interfere with the situation we found you in until we were able to ascertain the details. We have managed.”
“Why the intense interest in my ship?”
“Pssussk. You are making jovial. We have reports that it is capable of achieving planetfall, a feat practically but not theoretically impossible for any KK-drive craft. If the reports are accurate, it would seem that you or some others you have had contact with have effectively resolved the theoretical contradictions. Even making allowance for your youth, I do not think I need to explain the interest those of a military bent would have in such a scientific breakthrough.
“Yet our information also suggests that this is a discovery you have kept to yourself and not revealed to anyone who is of the Commonwealth. This is something of a puzzle to us, but one that I assure you we will do our utmost to preserve.”
“The ship was a gift.” Flinx tried to impart the attitude of one for whom the matter was of little import. “A present. For that and other reasons, I’ve decided not to reveal its capabilities at this time.”
Clearly Lord Caavax did not understand. “But it would give your people a significant military advantage over the forces of the Empire.”
Flinx’s response expressed confidence rather than military expertise. “The Commonwealth can handle the Empire just fine the way things are. Sure, having ships equipped with drives the equal of the Teacher’s would give an advantage, but it would only be a temporary one.”
“Why temporary?” Slitted pupils dilated.
“Because I know how good your agents are, remember? Sooner or later they’d manage to bribe, steal, or cajole their way into possession of the necessary information. Soon Empire ships with similar capabilities would be plying nullspace. That would make the military on both sides happy, but only increase the misery of impacted noncombatants. The balance of power would be restored but the potential for destruction increased. So I prefer to keep the secret to myself.
“For one thing, unlike some humans and thranx, I have nothing against your kind. As far as I’m concerned, the issues that inspired historical conflict are as dead as those who disputed them.”
The noble twisted in a manner suggestive of second-degree understanding seamlessly infused with first-degree disagreement.
“A very self-centered explication, and therefore also very human. It remains, however, that I am bound by different cultural paradigms. The Empire wants the secret of your drive because it promises advantage. It is the essence of AAnness to seek advantage. Therefore I am afraid that your youthful idealism will have to be set aside should you wish to preserve your continued good health.”
“I can’t help you,” Flinx replied tartly. “I’m not an engineer or physicist. I have no idea how the Teacher’s drive operates or how it sidesteps the Kurita-Kinoshita equations, or whatever the AAnn equivalent is.”
“Ssissi. You needn’t worry about that. On board my vessel are many who are competent to analyze the workings of your drive. But as you know, your craft is programmed to defend itself against unauthorized intrusion.”
Flinx worked to suppress a genuine smile. “You tried to board her.”
“Obviously. Otherwise there would be no need for me to be standing here in these infernal, oppressive surroundings trying to reason with you. We simply would have put a crew aboard your vessel and departed quietly.”
“Leaving me stranded here.”
Once again the essence of a smile was visible only as a portion of the noble’s emotions. “You have friends. You would have survived.” He indicated Coerlis’s body. “I offer you more than what your fellow human was willing to allow.
“While the weaponry mounted on your vessel is no match for that aboard my own, we were of course constrained from firing by our desire to obtain your craft intact and undamaged, as well as a fear that if disabled and subsequently boarded, it might self-destruct, thereby obviating our whole purpose in coming here. The solution was straightforward: you had to be located and convinced to give us what we wish.”
“How did you manage to penetrate this far into the Commonwealth?”
“With great care and difficulty. We were helped by the fact that though this world lies within the self-proclaimed illegal Commonwealth sphere of influence, it is well away from major routes of trade and communication. We were cautious.
“You should also know that the mandate I was given, while all-encompassing, is possessed of a certain flexibility. I was told simply to obtain the secret of your ship’s drive. The actual methodology is left to my discretion. I am authorized and prepared to offer you a considerable fortune in return for access. You may even retain ownership of your vessel.
“Should you decline this very generous proposal, I am equally prepared and ready to use other methods to secure our objectives. These will be unprofitable to you except perhaps from the standpoint of experience, and considerably less comfortable. The choice is yours.” He took a step forward.
“I do not expect gratitude for having preserved your life from others of your own kind. I do expect, and insist, that you will accompany me back to my vessel and thence to your own in the company of myself and an advance team of designated specialists. Under their supervision you and your ship will retire via nullspace to Blasusarr, where you will be well treated for the duration of your stay.”
“So I’m a prisoner?”
“Guest. As for your indigenous friends, they are self-evidently not in a position to alert Commonwealth authorities to what has transpired here. It is also apparent that they have not the slightest inkling of the substance of this conversation. Therefore they may remain and depart in peace.”
Flinx replied quietly. “I can’t and won’t be a party to anything that increases the likelihood of conflict between the Commonwealth and the Empire. Besides, you have no intention of letting me go free, either with my ship or without. Even if I can’t explain the functions of the modified drive, I could still alert Commonwealth authorities to your possession of it.”
“Do you doubt my word, Ssisstin?” Several of the soldiers tensed in tandem with their superior.
Flinx smiled thinly. “Of an AAnn noble? How could I? You said I could retain ownership of the Teacher and that I’d be well-treated for the duration of my stay on Blasusarr. It won’t do me much good to retain ownership if I’m never allowed to leave.”
Amusement as well as appreciation figured prominently in the aristocrat’s reply. “Better a life of good treatment in the capital than a swift death by decomposition here.”
Flinx drew himself up so that he could stare sharply down at the noble. “That’s my choice to make. I can’t allow you to have the secret of the Teacher. It would be a betrayal of those who gave her to me.”
“An interesting problem in and of itself,” declared Caavax. “Who ‘gave’ the vessel to you? Where was this scientific breakthrough accomplished?”
Flinx thought of the childlike yet incredibly advanced Ulru-Ujurrians and had to grin. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“I am not overly credulous, but I am certainly prepared to accept any reality that is supported by evidence.”
“What reality?” Flinx argued. “If my ship is capable of the feats you suggest, why didn’t I just land her here? There ar
e no cities to damage, no developed areas to threaten.”
Lord Caavax eyed him pensively. “I have been wondering that myself. In time I am certain you will enlighten me. Now we will go.” He turned.
Flinx took a deep breath as he scanned the surrounding greenery. Surely his conversation had bought enough time? He knew it would be helpful if he could keep the AAnn noble’s attention focused on him.
“Sorry. I’m staying here, with my friends.”
Lord Caavax LYD turned back to him. “I said that your friends were free to depart in peace. For one who declares himself dedicated to forestalling conflict, you are remarkably shortsighted. How if I were to kill them one at a time, beginning with the youngest child?” A clawed hand rested on the handle of his long-muzzled sidearm.
“How if that doesn’t persuade me?” Flinx replied tightly.
“I believe it will. Your human-type is fairly straightforward in that regard. To save time and display my personal magnanimity I will not kill outright. I will amputate the female child’s limbs a joint at a time until she expires. If you still refuse to comply, I will resume with the male child and conclude with the female parent. If your obstinacy persists, I shall then begin on you, but not here. More sophisticated technology is available aboard my vessel.” As always, he remained correct and polite, an admirable representative of the AAnn aristocracy.
“Better for four of us to die than thousands or millions.”
“That is not logical, but you are not AAnn and will eventually come to realize as much. Why not spare your friends as well as yourself unnecessary unpleasantness? The end will be the same.” Flinx noted that emotionally, at least, the noble was utterly convinced of this.
What was delaying the others, he wondered nervously? Caavax was watching him intently, and it was clear he couldn’t stall the noble any longer.
He tried to make himself look as resigned and disconsolate as possible. “All right, you win. I’ll go with you.”
The AAnn gestured second-level gratification. “Of course you will. It was inevitable.”
Flinx started forward, only to have the reptiloid block his path.
“Where are you going, Lynx-sir?”
Flinx blinked at him. “To the landing site, of course. The place where the shuttles are.”
The noble gestured contrariwise. “Do you think me a complete fool that, having lost two of my party already to the inimical and subtle biota of this world, I would so readily offer up others for similar sacrifice?” With a perfectly trimmed and unpainted claw he pointed in the opposite direction.
“The depression in the forest is more than large enough to admit a shuttle. A skilled pilot interacting closely with a sensitive descent program should have no trouble positioning his ship so that we may board right here. It will be compelled to hover carefully, though I suspect that many of the remarkable growths around us would be quite capable of supporting its weight. Lifting off under such conditions, however, could prove difficult.”
Turning, he hissed in his own language to one of the attentive troopers. Flinx knew some of the sibilant AAnn tongue, having studied it on his own, and the noble’s terse command was relatively easy to understand.
Responding, the trooper removed a nonreflective cylinder from his duty belt. Telltales winked to life as he activated the communicator and spoke into the pickup. After exchanging a few words with the trooper, Lord Caavax turned back to Flinx.
“In a very few moments we will be gone from this place.”
“Programming notwithstanding, your pilot better be good,” Flinx replied. Hope continued to dominate his thoughts. Judging from the look on Teal’s face, he could see that hers were following a similar course. Since the ongoing delay did not seem to be troubling her, he made an effort to appear similarly indifferent.
Aware of his attention, she addressed him softly. “I don’t understand, Flinx. What is happening?”
Caavax watched closely as Flinx put a comforting arm around her shoulder. “These nonhuman skypersons want something from me. It’s important that I don’t give it to them, even at the risk of our lives. I’m doing my best to convince him that since you’re not directly involved, he should let you and the children go.”
“That is what I thought.” Her gaze probed his own. “If it is that important, you must do what you think best.”
She really was beautiful, he mused. “They want me to go with them.” He gestured upward.
Her eyes widened slightly. “Into the Upper Hell?”
“No. Beyond that. To—” He really wasn’t very good at this, he realized. “—a place beyond the sky. Where your people came from originally. Where I’ve come from. In a shuttle.”
“A skyboat,” she declared, sifting ancestral memories for a suitable term.
He nodded. Together, they settled down to wait.
Chapter Sixteen
The AAnn soldiers talked continuously. Flinx could sense their unease. They were anxious to leave what to them was not only an unremittingly hostile environment, but one that they found physically uncomfortable as well. The special fabric of their camouflage suits did its best to wick away the moisture that formed on their skin. Meanwhile their jaws hung slack as they panted, trying to cool themselves down. They were unable to perspire in the manner of a human.
The only lapse in the admirable display of discipline came when two of them fired shots into the hylaeal depths, certain they had seen something large and threatening moving toward them. Flinx had seen it as well, salmon-colored and spiked like a medieval armory. Three maniacal eyes had glared furiously in the group’s direction, only to vanish into the green depths in response to the first shot from the agitated troopers. It missed, of course, as did the several follow-up bursts.
After calming his jittery soldiers, Caavax stalked back to confront the humans.
“What was that?” To all outward appearances unaffected, the noble’s unease was apparent only to Flinx, who found himself inordinately pleased by the AAnn’s distress. Lord Caavax was more shaken than he showed.
“Probably a cheleac,” Teal replied, as if the apparition’s appearance was of no consequence. “They’re very fast. And very dangerous.”
“Its aspect was indicative of that.” Caavax was squinting warily into the verdure. “Do you think it will come back?”
“No. If it intended to attack, some of you would already be dead. The cheleac is a streaker, not a sneaker. Once it has fixed on its quarry, it comes straight at it. With a cheleac it’s kill or be killed quickly.”
“Is that so? Then how do you explain the fact that my soldiers have frightened it away?”
She turned hard green eyes on the AAnn. “If the cheleac did not attack it was because it had other prey in mind. You cannot ‘frighten’ one away.” She smiled thinly. “Besides, what makes you think it has gone ‘away’?”
The noble’s head snapped around and slitted eyes once more searched the greenery. “It is still here?”
Teal shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know. Why don’t you send some of your soldiers to look for it?”
Lord Caavax postured appreciation for the jest combined with unalterable determination. “You will forgive me if I say that that is a request in which I choose not to indulge.”
Flinx gazed longingly at the double mesh sack that held Pip. It lay on the branch between two of Caavax’s troops.
“Put that thought out of your mind, Lynx-sir.” Caavax was alert as ever. “Your dangerous pet will remain as it is, ensuring continued comfort for all.”
A muted roar reached them from above, echoing through the yellow-green firmament. The feelings of relief this engendered in the AAnn soldiers was strong. Several of them glanced toward the valley in the forest, but none left his post. There were no wild demonstrations. They were too well trained for such overt displays of exultation. That was a human failing.
Lord Caavax stepped past Flinx. Squinting through the curtain of creepers and lianas, the noble located and tr
acked the tiny glistening dot in the sky until it grew large enough to identify with certainty.
“It will be a blessing, sissink, to get off this homicidal world. I loathe the flora and fauna, the light, the climate, everything about it. Unpleasant day gives way to unbearable night. One might as well try swimming like a human as endure the demonical rain. This is a climate fit only for a thranx, and I believe it too damp even for them.”
“It’s too wet for me, too,” Flinx told him. “I don’t like getting drenched every night any more than you do.”
“Then you will find Blasusarr infinitely more appealing.”
Flinx was watching the AAnn shuttle as it descended. “I tried a desert climate once. Didn’t care much for it, either.”
Conversation became difficult as the thunder from the shuttle’s engines drowned out forest sounds as well as speech. Dwell and Kiss were gesturing excitedly, astonishment temporarily overcoming their fear.
Teal put her lips close to Flinx’s ear. “Fire comes from its belly! Why doesn’t it burn itself up?”
He turned his head and raised his voice. “The skyboat rides on fire!”
“Fire,” she avowed, “is very dangerous! Very threatening!” Her eyes were intent on the descending craft.
To Flinx’s regret, it appeared as if the AAnn pilot knew what he was doing. The shuttle descended in a smooth arc that would bring it alongside their branch in a few minutes. At that point his options would be drastically reduced.
Despite the deafening rumble, Teal was still talking to him. “You have lived the rain at night. So you know that with the rain comes sometimes the fire that scars the sky.”
He nodded absently, paying only cursory attention to her words. “Lightning.”
“Yes, lightning. Haven’t you wondered, Flinx, why there are so few lightning-caused fires in the forest? Why there are no large burned places?”