Treasure of Light (The Light Trilogy) (71 page)

He smiled and leaned back in his chair. “We’ve got about twenty minutes. Let’s discuss your daughter. What’s her name?”

“Sybil. But I don’t need—”

“I think you do. When we’re on the planet I don’t want you distracted. You’re going to have to be sharper than I suspect you’ve ever been—”

“Indeed?” Rachel said. “And what do you know about me?”

He lifted a shoulder. “You’re right, I’m an idiot. Forgive my pretentiousness. Where was Sybil supposed to be?”

“Avel Harper was assigned to take care of her and Mikael Calas. Harper’s dead. I don’t know where the children—”

“In Mikael’s cabin on level nineteen?”

She frowned at him. How did he know that? “Yes.”

He keyed in a new sequence of coordinates on his console and the ship tilted sideways. “Then I suspect Sybil is quite all right. One of my crew’s first moves was to capture Mikael and take him some place safe. If Sybil was with him, my people will have taken her, too. Which means she’s probably already in Gamant hands again.”

Rachel exhaled a relieved breath—wanting to believe, not quite able to. “Thank you for telling me.”

“You’re welcome. Feel better?”

“A little.”

“Good. Now I’m going to make you feel bad again. Let’s discuss Tikkun. There are things happening there that might… shock you.”

Rachel tilted her head back to rest on the soft blue chair back. Her long black braid fell over her shoulder. Memories of Horeb fluttered: the holocaust of Old Believers in the square. The terrors of the civil war. Murdering Adom. “I doubt it,” she said. “But go ahead.”

He swiveled his chair around to face her. Through the window behind him, she could see the triangular wings of the shuttle gleaming with an eerie wavering fire. “Lichtner has begun his own Magisterially-approved reign of terror against the Gamants on Tikkun. You’ve read the neuro files. But I think you should know—”

“I didn’t understand very much of what they said.”

He laced his fingers in his lap and tightened them anxiously. “The philosophy behind it doesn’t matter. What does are the methods the Magistrates have approved for conducting the experiments. They’re brutal and inhuman at best. Be prepared for the worst you can imagine.”

She lifted her head inquiringly.
Jeremiel?
“The worst I can imagine, Captain, is that he’s used those methods on Baruch.”

Tahn’s face darkened. He swung back around to his control console, pretending to check readouts. “I ordered him not to use mind probes, but he doesn’t have to take my orders. I don’t know what else he might have done. However, you mustn’t let whatever you see affect you. You have to act like one of my finest security officers,
Sergeant Eloel.
Leave anything else to me.”

“I will.”

The shuttle began to level out and Tahn fell silent, concentrating on angling down over a broad red and tan banded desert. Rachel watched the landscape flash by below. Rain misted the air, creating a clinging gray haze. In the distance, a mustard-colored bubble rose from the sands, shiny, shimmering like a festered wound.

“Block 10.” Tahn said simply.

Rachel girded herself for battle. The shuttle swung around the camp twice and her gaze lingered on the high cliffs. The rain turned the red crevices into dark bloody chasms.

“Note how many ships are outside,” Tahn said. “If we have to make a run for it, chances are we’re dead. Understand? We don’t want to have to fight anybody. We just want Baruch back.”

“Understood.”

Tahn threw her a gravely serious look. “How many charges have you got for that rifle of yours? It would appear unseemly for me to carry one. Ill have to make do with my pistols.” One hung on each of his hips, just like Rachel’s own.

Professionally, she tapped each belt compartment around her waist. “I have five.”

“That should do.”

“Should? With these I could clear out the entire camp. What kind of trouble are you expecting? How many people are incarcerated here?”

“Unknown. I’d guess a thousand.”

“And Magisterial forces?”

“Two hundred, perhaps.”

Tahn set the shuttle down in front of the compound. Rachel tensed, watching twenty to twenty-five guards surround the ship. Tahn’s face hardened as he studied their rifles and hostile glares.

“This isn’t right,” he muttered. “Something’s wrong. Be on your toes.” He got out of his chair and headed for the side door. Rachel checked her weapons one final time, then followed.

Dannon stood up as the cruiser dove out of the sunlit heavens on the other side of Tikkun, coming fast, shields up. Heart in his throat, he walked forward, down to the second level to stand before the forward screen. The dark bridge was frighteningly silent. The air seemed to have gotten colder, bearing on its breath the faint scent of death.

Neil watched the ship’s approach and felt his throat tighten. In his memories, the two impregnable fortresses of his life crumbled to dust again—Jeremiel’s friendship … and the sanctuary of Gamant culture. All the wails he’d ever heard from dying people, all the pleas and cries of fleeing children swelled like the voice of God in his ears.

He felt light-headed. So much so, that he didn’t even hear the bridge door slip open and eight booted feet race inside.

“Dannon?” Halloway demanded. “What the hell are you doing here? Get out!”

He stumbled in fear, breathing hard, to see seven men and women lunge to take consoles, checking readings, eyes wide with apprehension.

“Halloway, where’s Tahn?”

She trotted to the command chair and stopped, looking curiously at him as she bent to retrieve the two pistols lying like crossed sabers on the floor. She dropped quickly into the chair, tucking the pistols beside her right hip. “If you’re not going to leave, Dannon,
sit down!”

His gaze swiftly drifted over the scene, officers fumbling at consoles, whispering fearfully to each other, asking subvocally for God’s mercy.
Gamants.
His heart stopped. A wrenching feeling like being disemboweled overcame him. He sank to the floor.

Carey shouted, “Uriah? See if you can get that ship on com.”

The dark-haired young man licked his lips, almost petrified with panic. His shaking hand input the correct sequence. No com aura flared around his head. She’d only just killed the com virus and it would take another hour before the ship had corrected itself, pulling out backup files, recorrelating programs, reengaging hardware.

A visual image swam into focus on the forward screen. The weasel-thin face and coppery hair set her stomach to aching.

“Goddamn it, Erinyes!” she shouted. “What the hell are you doing flying in at me out of attack mode? I’d have shot the hell out of you if I’d had any weapons!”

In a testy voice, he responded, “Greetings, Lieutenant. What do you mean, if you’d had any weapons?”

“We’ve had a major com malfunction. We’re basically adrift in space, Captain. Partial com, no weapons, no—”

“Ah, that’s why we haven’t been able to reach you. You’ve had everyone across four sectors of space on the verge of hysteria, I’m afraid.”

“Not our fault—”

“Let me speak to Tahn, Lieutenant,” Erinyes ordered brusquely.

She lifted a brow. “The captain is on the planet’s surface. May I help you?”

“I suppose you’ll have to.” He heaved a disgruntled sigh, obviously disturbed he had to deal with her instead of Cole. “The
Klewe
is on a special Clandestine One mission authorized by Slothen himself. I believe you have in your possession a boy, the new leader of Gamant civilization, Mikael Calas?”

“Affirmative.” The hair at the back of her neck crawled.

“You are to immediately turn him over to me. The Magistrates want him.” He flicked a hand at someone on his bridge, then turned back to Halloway. “We are transmitting the orders to you at this moment. I hope, given your curious circumstances, that you receive them.”

Carey’s green eyes narrowed. Around the bridge, she saw the Gamant crew cast questioning looks at each other. Against the far wall where Dannon had slumped, a soft laugh sounded—half hysterical; he shook his head, as though appreciative of Erinyes’ move.

Carey got out of her seat to go look over Uriah’s shoulder. The message had come through brokenly, but was still understandable.

Greetings Capt. Tahn. You … ordered to turn over … Calas to Capt. Erinyes without… delay. Report … Bogomil. Notify immediately… Baruch’s status.

Magistrate Slothen.

Carey swallowed nervously. Cole had said to do whatever they ordered, not to arouse suspicion under any circumstances. Would her Gamant crew let her turn the boy over? She folded her arms and gave Erinyes a cool stare. “What for, Captain?”

Erinyes’ diabolical face went crimson. “I don’t believe that’s your concern, Lieutenant. Your orders are simply to turn Calas over to me.”

She had no alternative. If she hesitated for very long, Erinyes would know something wasn’t right. She nodded tersely. “Please give us a few minutes, Captain. We’ll need to get him ready.”

A low rumble started across her bridge, disapproving Gamant voices rising. Carey lunged for the com switch, cutting the connection. Better Erinyes think her a rude bitch, than hear the outrage of her crew. Angry eyes turned suspiciously toward her, jaws clenched.

Dannon’s low laugh made her blood run cold. “Carey, Carey,” he said in an intimate tone. “What
are
you going to do now?”

She propped her hands on her hips. “Uriah? Get Yosef Calas and the boy up here.”

Mikael clutched Sybil’s hand tightly as they rode up the transport tube. His Uncle Yosef and Ari stood on the other side of the tube with bad looks on their faces. It made Mikael scared.

Sybil leaned close to him, whispering in his ear. “This is it, I think.”

“Yeah. I guess so.”

The door opened so fast it made Mikael jump. Uncle Yosef put a hand at his back and guided him out onto the bridge. Mikael’s eyes widened. He’d never been on a bridge. All the brightly colored screens fascinated him. He blinked wide-eyed at them.

“Lieutenant,” Uncle Yosef said softly. “What’s this all about?”

Lieutenant Halloway spun around in the command chair. Auburn hair hung in wet strands around her face. “We’ve been ordered by the Magistrates to turn over Mikael, Mister Calas. We’ve little choice, sir. Am I going to have trouble from you or your people if I comply?”

Mikael looked up anxiously. His uncle’s spectacles had slipped down on his nose. Ari’s face looked mean, eyes riveted on Sybil. She gave Ari a confident nod—as though they were silently talking. Mikael tugged his uncle’s gray sleeve.

“Uncle Yosef?” he whispered.

Yosef looked down at him through watery old eyes. “What is it, Mikael?”

“We need to go. It’s okay. Me and Sybil. We have to.”

Yosef knelt down, knees crackling like a campfire. He stroked Mikael’s black curls gently. “Why do you say that, Nephew? We don’t know what they want with you.”

“But I do, sir. Magistrate Slothen? He wants to talk to me about what he should do with Gamants. And I have to go tell him. Grandfather told me what I have to say.” He gave his uncle a brave smile. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll come back. I don’t know when for sure. But some day.”

Sybil slid up behind Mikael and patted his back. “Tell him about the books on Horeb.”

Mikael frowned, looking at her over his shoulder. He whispered, “I can’t yet. Grandpa said so.”

Sybil’s eyes widened. “Oh, okay. We’d better go, then. You know … before …
before.”

Mikael nodded gravely. Before the ship got attacked and they couldn’t get away. He turned to Lieutenant Halloway. “Ma’am, could you tell Captain Erinyes that we want to go now—fast.”

She lifted her chin slowly, a frown making lines in her forehead. “How did you know who—”

“Sybil has dreams, sometimes.”

Sybil nodded hastily. “Yes, ma’am, I do.”

Halloway just stared at them, then gazed at Uncle Yosef. “I’ve received orders only for Mikael. I don’t think it would be wise for me to include Sybil.”

Mikael’s heart raced. He bit his lower lip, looking at his best friend. She looked as frightened as he felt. He reached up and pulled hard on his uncle’s sleeve. “Uncle Yosef? I can’t go without Sybil. She
has
to come.
She has to!”

“Shh. It’s all right, Mikael,” Uncle Yosef said. He stroked Mikael’s back and that made the boy feel a little better. “Why does she have to go? I don’t think it would be a good idea either without asking her mother first.”

“Can’t you call her mother?”

“Negative.” Halloway said. “Rachel and Cole are on the surface. Sending a tran would endanger their mission there.”

Tears pressed against Mikael’s lids. He could tell from these grown-ups’ faces that they weren’t going to let Sybil go with him. His jaw trembled, but he gathered his courage to shout, “I
won’t
go without Sybil! You can’t make me!”