Fire On the Sand Read online

Greg shuddered. "No fun. I'd like to get us both home, home to Earth."

  Jake looked somber. "I'm not sure that's possible, Greg. Many come here over the years, but I've not heard of anyone returning to your world unless a Pure Blood has a reason for them to do so."

  "There's no hope at all?" The thought of losing all he had known, all he held dear filled Greg with melancholy.

  "Never say never, mate." Jake shook his head and stood upright. "There's always a chance. Besides, it's not so bad here. Penumbra City's got plenty going for it. You're an engineer?" Greg nodded. "There you go. We could always use a guy like you."

  "I'll think about it."

  "Do that." Jake peered out the lounge window. "We're heading out of the hangar now. It could be dangerous leaving the city, so it's time to go earn my pay. Be seein' you."

  Jake departed, leaving Greg tired but restless. He watched as the airship gained a modicum of altitude, the battered rubble of the area around the hangar giving way to intact buildings, streets and plazas. Spires and towers drifted silently by, seeming close enough to touch. A few lights showed here and there, and Greg wondered again about the people who lived in such a place.

  Something new about the scene niggled at him until Greg realized the world below had taken on a dull red hue. Reflective surfaces showed a ruddy red light coming from somewhere. He pressed his face against the glass and craned his neck as far as he could until he made out a ruby-red orb rising above the distant rooftops.

  "Holy cow!" he muttered.

  He found himself looking at a kind of crimson Saturn, complete with rings. Sometime in the period they'd spent in the city the world had risen above the horizon to flood the world of BloodDark with an appropriate shade of red. Greg sank back in his chair. The feeling of being elsewhere other than Earth hit him with enough force to make him weep.

  Chapter 10

  The sway and bob of Oculus Nightingale's gondola beneath her feet felt comforting to Adena as she made her way aft to the lounge. She entered to see Greg lying on the padded bench seat with his feet up and eyes closed.

  She took the opportunity to look him over. He had a tall, rangy figure with hair the color of mahogany and sculpted features that had already begun to flesh out with proper food and attention. His eyes were a curious jade green shade, friendly and even merry when Greg was in good spirits, dark and solemn other times. Adena felt an attraction to him and sensed he might feel the same for her. She remembered another human she'd fallen for, decades ago, and felt a moment of sadness. Unlike her own mixed heritage with its strain of Pure Blood longevity, pure humans tended to be short lived by comparison. She tended to enjoy them while they lasted.

  In her fatigue-induced daydream, Adena hadn't realized Greg had woken up, and he watched her now with a small smile hovering about his lips. "Are we safe?"

  "Yeah. We passed the outskirts of the city not long ago. The murriks left us alone this time. Have you been out long?"

  "Long enough." He wiped a hand over his eyes and sat up. "That last escapade exhausted me."

  "I don't wonder at it. You took a beating back there."

  "Yep." He shook his head and looked rueful. "I really could do without anyone else whaling on my hide for a while."

  "I don't blame you." Adena listened to the airship's engines rumbling at full power. "We should reach one of our way stations in ten hours. We'll moor and rest up there, make some repairs."

  He stood up and swayed. Adena hurried to hold him steady until he regained his balance. He accepted her help, and she couldn't suppress the frisson of excitement his close proximity gave her. For a long moment he stared into her eyes.

  "I...should go check on Cathy."

  She stepped back. "Of course."

  He brushed past her and headed for the accommodation area. Adena took a deep breath and followed.

  Conner had settled the human Greg called Cathy Kozinski in one of the bunks and drawn the curtain. Greg pulled it back, and they stared down at her.

  The earth woman slept peacefully from all appearances. Her complexion looked pale and drawn, and two bite marks marred the left side of her throat.

  "Some Pure Blood fed off her," Adena murmured. "I guess she owes her escape to that silver being's attack."

  Greg stroked a strand of hair back from Cathy's forehead, and Adena felt a stab of jealousy. Cathy's eyeballs moved beneath the lids, but she didn't open her eyes.

  "I don't want to think about what she must've gone through while we were separated," he admitted.

  "Then don't. Put it behind you, both of you."

  He looked up at her, pain evident in his green eyes. "Do you really think there's no chance of us returning to Earth?"

  "I've not heard of anyone, other than a Pure Blood, getting through the Portal. It's too well guarded. That's not to say it's not possible, just very unlikely."

  "Yeah?" He sagged a little. "I guess you're right, but I'm not giving up on the idea.” He clenched his fists.

  She nodded. "Whatever helps. C'mon, we'll leave her for now. Conner's keeping an eye on her. He'll tell us when she wakes."

  He didn't move. Adena touched his arm.

  Greg smiled. "You're right. We should let her rest."

  They made their way back to the lounge. Adena poured a glass of wine for them both, and they sat and drank in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Adena's ran along practical lines. After turning over a few options she looked at Greg.

  "The way I see it is like this – you should return with us to Penumbra City. We could sure use someone like you, a trained engineer, a guy not afraid to take risks when the chips are down."

  "How would I get us back to Earth?" His voice sounded tired.

  "I've no idea, but at least you'll be somewhere safe until we can figure something out."

  Greg appeared to mull it over then nodded. "Okay, I'll buy that." He rubbed his eyes. "I'm sure tired of people whaling on me – have I already said that?"

  She grinned. "You said something along those lines. Greg, go to bed. You've had enough for today."

  He went to his bunk, leaving Adena alone in the lounge. She looked at the bloody red hue of the endless frosted plains below, the faint shadows cast by the gas giant Gore, picking out hillocks and ripples of wind-blown sand and gravel. After a few moments, Adena became aware she was no longer alone. She turned her head to see Mr. Phibuli perched on a chair back, his gemstone eyes reflecting the external light like rubies as he watched her in turn.

  "I didn't see you there."

  "No."

  "What's wrong, old bird? And I want an answer this time."

  Mr. Phibuli's chest rose and fell as if he emitted a deep sigh, although unlike a real bird he didn't breathe. "That being — the silver woman. I recognized it."

  "You know it?"

  "It's a weapon the like of which this world hasn't seen for a millennium. I thought them all destroyed."

  Adena narrowed her eyes and stared at the bird. "How do you come to know of it?"

  Mr. Phibuli blinked. "Because I am — or was — one, too."

  Adena's skin crawled with shock and a frisson of fear. After a few seconds, she found her voice again. "I do hope you're not going to be a threat to my crew or my ship?"

  "Of course not!" The brass parrot's scoffing reassured her. He sounded like her old companion, although she couldn't fathom the change in him. "You're my friend. I will never cause harm to come to you and yours."

  "That's good to know, but I need to know more about this. If you're a weapon, then who made you? And to what purpose?"

  Mr. Phibuli's claws scratched the chair back, adding to dozens of minute scratches he'd made over the years. "You've heard of the Kloog. They made me with the express intention of destroying Pure Bloods."

  Adena stared at him. "The Kloog? They were the ones who drove the Pure Bloods to this world over a thousand years ago. You're that old?"

  "I'm that old."

  Adena's mind reeled with the id
ea of her old friend being so ancient. "I'm guessing they didn't fashion you in the form of a brass parrot."

  His beak opened and shut with a series of rapid clacks, Mr. Phibuli's analog to laughter. "You're right. My original outward form could take the shape of anything I needed to be at the time in order to complete my missions. I was badly damaged in the battles that took place when the Pure Bloods fled before my creators. In the course of their rout I was inadvertently swept up and taken along to this world. In their haste to build their new base, the Pure Bloods overlooked me. I escaped their notice, but found I no longer had access to the powers I needed to rebuild myself. I was forced to lie dormant to preserve what I had.

  "For centuries I existed as a curious metal object with a spark of intellect, hiding in the wilderness with few senses with which to interpret this strange world. Eventually I was discovered and taken to a Quadsang, a woman of genius with the necessary knowledge to understand what I was." He moved his wings to indicate his body. "She fashioned my present form."

  "So, you went from a powerful war machine to a brass parrot?"

  "It was the best she could do." His voice betrayed no annoyance or defensiveness. "At least I have mobility. That's something I prize highly after being immobile for hundreds of years."

  Adena couldn't imagine the torture her friend had gone through. "I guess so."

  "At least it allowed me to reassess my existence, the nature of my being. With no communication to my Kloog masters for so long I could call myself emancipated. I decided I was free to do what I wished, to make friendships and even enemies if I so chose." He blinked. "I'm glad I chose you as a friend, Adena."

  Adena nodded and swallowed the lump that had appeared in her throat. "Likewise, Mr. Phibuli. Uh, how did you come by your name?"

  "It was given me by my rescuer. She never did divulge her reasons."

  "So, you're saying this silver woman is another of your kind? You didn't know she was here on BloodDark?"

  "Yes, and no, I didn't. Had I been fully functional, my sensors would've picked up her trace from the other side of the world. As it is..." He clattered his wings again in a way that suggested embarrassment. "I didn't sense her until I was practically on top of her."

  "Is it female? I don't know if you have genders."

  "Some of us identify with one gender, some don't bother with such attributes. I call her her because she chose female form. I don't doubt we came off the same production facility, so to use your term she is in effect my sister."

  "How did she come to be here?"

  "I can only surmise she traveled to BloodDark the same way I did and perhaps met with similar damage. It appears her repair systems worked much better than mine."

  He sounded rueful. Adena frowned. "Will she be a threat to us in future?"

  "That I don't know. The Pure Bloods are not what they once were, but they might manage to destroy or damage her enough to neutralize her. If she does make an appearance, I can certainly reason with her."

  "I hope she doesn't make an appearance." Adena stood up. "Well, your kin or not, I'm glad we're heading away from there as fast as we can. As for me, I'm heading for bed. It's been a long day."

  She stepped into the passageway and saw Zared standing outside the cabin allocated to Cathy Kozinski. "How the hell did you get loose?"

  He turned and pointed a pistol at her. The muzzle looked big enough to roll a bowling ball down. "I am taking over the ship, Captain." Zared's voice sounded as if it came from far away. She saw his eyes had an unfocused quality as if he were drugged.

  "Like hell you are!"

  Adena made to close the distance. At that moment the curtain to the booth parted and Cathy Kozinski stepped out. Adena expected Zared to seize her as a human shield or hostage. Instead he looked at Cathy as she turned toward Adena.

  Adena swallowed. The other woman's eyes glowed with silver light.

  Chapter 11

  The woman who was not Cathy raised her left arm. Her hand twitched and appeared to melt, reforming into the shape of a vicious-looking blade. Adena drew her sidearm in one swift practiced motion and leveled it on the woman as she held the blade to Adena's throat.

  "You will do as I command," the silver lady barked.

  Her voice sounded rusty as if the words were unfamiliar to a throat that had not spoken for a long time. Adena felt the hot nick of the blade on her skin, and the ticklish feeling of blood beginning to seep. She lowered the pistol and returned it to her holster.

  "It seems I have no choice."

  "I seek a place of refuge, to heal myself."

  Adena cast a sideways glance. The woman's eyes glowed bright mere inches from her own.

  "Do you know of such a place?" her attacker asked.

  "There's one place not far off." Adena gritted her teeth. It pained her to be in such a humiliating position, but survival of her crew, her ship, then herself took precedence in that order. "It's one of our way stations."

  "You will take me there."

  "Then you'll let us go?"

  The woman's nostrils flared. "Perhaps. I smell the taint of my ancient enemy in your blood."

  Perspiration broke out on Adena's brow. "I'm not a Pure Blood. We trade with them sometimes, but otherwise have nothing to do with them."

  "Trade with my enemy makes you my enemy." The voice became more assured as the creature became focused on the task at hand. "But there is some other species in your heritage, one not known to us. I will permit you to live — for now."

  She pushed Adena in the direction of the flight deck. The strength behind the push suggested a lot more force would follow if she did not obey the woman's demand.

  Adena made her way to the flight deck, all the while trying to figure out a way to overcome the woman. As they passed through the lounge she glanced around for Mr. Phibuli, but he'd made himself scarce. Adena didn't think he would be capable of tackling the creature following in her footsteps, but he might be able to reason with it.

  The crew looked around as she entered the flight deck. Their eyes went wide when they saw Adena was being followed by a woman with a blade where her left arm should be. Adena addressed Jake. "Mr. Dyer, shape a course for Tabletop."

  His eyes flicked between Adena and the silver lady. After a few seconds, he swallowed any protest he might have had and nodded. "As you wish, Captain."

  Adena sensed the anger and resentment beginning to build around her as the crew bent to their tasks. Zared pushed past her and took up a stance to the rear of the flight-deck, close by. Adena glanced at him. His face looked dreamy as if he were drugged. She wondered how long he'd been under the creature's influence and how he'd escaped his chains.

  At that moment, Greg spoke from behind her in the passageway. "You're not Cathy!"

  The pressure of the creature's blade slackened by one iota, and Adena and Jake moved at the same moment.

  Drawing her revolver, Adena whirled on the creature as Jake drew his weapon and leveled it at its head. Greg, she saw, had a weapon drawn already and pointed at the woman's kidneys.

  The woman blurred. Adena's pistol vanished from her grasp. Two deafening shots rang out from Jake's revolver before the blur passed him, leaving him lying in a heap on the deck. Greg stood staring where his right forearm had been scant seconds before. A bright gout of blood shot from the arteries. He began to sway on his feet.

  The woman appeared not to have moved at all. Again, Adena found the blade at her throat.

  "You will take me to this way station," the woman said.

  "I...I will tend to my crew first!" Adena ground out.

  "Direct others to do so. Now."

  The pressure of the blade against Adena's throat increased. Adena winced.

  The silver lady’s voice grew stronger. "Obey my orders."

  Adena was forced to watch as the two men were carried out of the flight deck. Jake groaned, much to her relief. At least he still lived. Greg, on the other hand, appeared to have gone into shock. "See to him!" she c
alled as a bleary-eyed Conner helped carry him aft.

  Greg recovered consciousness to find himself in a strange bunk. Conner hovered over him, his expression anxious. Greg stared up at him. "Did Cathy just cut off my arm?"

  "It wasn't your friend, but yes, she did. I've bound it up for now and put you in the skipper's bunk."

  Greg recognized Adena's scent. "Nice quarters," he muttered. "To the skipper go the perks."

  "Yeah, something like that." Conner helped Greg to sit up and held a glass to his lips. "Drink this. It'll ease the pain and do something for the shock."

  The liquid had an unpleasant, bitter taste which an infusion of herbs failed to mask entirely. Greg swallowed it down and felt a warm numbness spread outward from his stomach. His arm hurt like hell, but the laudanum began to dull the pain. "Where's Adena?"

  "Here." Adena entered as he spoke. She came to stand by his bunk. Her expression was tender and tearful. "Poor Greg! You're never out of harm's way, are you?"

  "I guess not." He glanced at the door behind her. "Where's that...that thing?"

  "On the flight deck, making sure she's obeyed. It seems she wants us all healthy enough to follow orders, so she permitted me to come back here to check on you."

  "Is...is Jake okay?"

  She glanced at Conner, who nodded. "He's more winded than hurt," Conner said. "He'll live."

  Adena's pretty features twisted into a grimace. "That's a blessing. He's a good man."

  Greg frowned. "It hardly moved, yet it put all three of us out of action."

  "I know. I felt as helpless as I've ever done, and I'm not a slouch when it comes to fighting." Adena face set. "I really, really hate having to take orders on my own ship!"

  Greg lowered his voice. "Is there any way we can get rid of it?"

  "I don't know." She looked around her quarters. "I hoped Mr. Phibuli would have some advice, but he's vanished."

  "Your mechanical parrot could have advice?" Greg stared.

  "He's not just a parrot. It turns out he has more in common with that creature up forward."

  "It took on Cathy's appearance."