« It’s Marius, » says Balin. « He says that despite the tsunami, Ailann’s group took care of the three invaders in Albion – and they disappeared from the projection in the temple. Only forty-three to go. »
Tsunami? I don’t even want to know. But I can’t forget what Patrick said: this is a time-consuming nuisance to distract us from the real issues. « We could probably eliminate all of the invaders, but how long would that take? »
« The better strategy is to figure out how they got here, » says Balin. « They must have a physical location. If we could figure it out and get a message to Danak…»
« Assuming they’re all housed in the same place, which would be stupid, » says Patrick.
« They have to be somewhere on Dolparessa, » says Ari. « They’re limited by range. »
« But Molly is supposedly on Skarsia, » says Balin. « And while it’s true that a powerful telepath could read thoughts from a distance, in order to attack, they need close contact. As far as I know, this isn’t even the way they attack. Something’s funny here. They must be being aided by some kind of technology. »
« Skarsium crystals? » asks Whirljack. « Remember the disaster at the mine with Owen? The telepaths wanted the crystals to improve their range and power. »
« It let them do mind control within a limited range, » says Tommy. « It was some kind of hypnotic effect. »
« Possible, but I think Balin is right. They’d need to be fairly close to affect Ash like this. And the manufacture of Skarsium crystals is very carefully controlled. At this point, the employees of the production facility all have to pass the teleport test. »
« Which means they have to fail the teleport test, » says Blackjack. « Anyone with the sap of the Cu’endhari can’t be teleported – and no Cu’endhari would ever betray Dolparessa. »
« Well, it’s something to consider; there might be human Cu’endhari descendants with an axe to grind. But I think it’s very unlikely given the way that people of the sap hold their roots to be sacred. »
Wynne is holding the assassin’s gun gingerly, turning it over in his hands. The man is still clinging helplessly to a thin outcropping of rock.
« We should shoot him, » says Ace.
« I know, » says Wynne. « But we don’t know what will happen. I mean, to kill him like that…»
I understand what he means. Zombies, rambats, and hydras generated by the pleroma are one thing, but emanations don’t kill sentient life. Well, that is, with very few exceptions. Cillian could kill, but so far had never killed a human or a Cu’endhari. Was he the one to eliminate the three in Albion? Did he steel himself to do it, or perhaps rationalize that he wasn’t sure killing them in here would kill them in the material world?
There’s only one solution. « Give me the gun, » I say to Wynne. I’m none too happy, either. I’ve killed dozens of warriors in fair combat, but this is horrible, like swatting a fly.
But before I can do it, Patrick’s face goes blank, and he intercepts the weapon. He turns and shoots expertly. There is barely time to register the impact before the assailant vanishes. Patrick blinks several times, and then looks at the weapon in his hands. « How did I get this? » he asks, confused.
Balin takes it from him. « Never mind, » he says. We’d all forgotten that Patrick, sweet Prince Patrick, was the emanation capable of cold blooded murder – but he never kept any memory of doing it.
« Let’s look for shelter here in the valley, » Ross suggests. « There’s no snow here. In fact, I’m thinking that rather than track down the second one in the mountains, we should travel along the valley. We’re not properly equipped for extended mountaineering. »
It was a good point. The six emanations who had joined us lacked boots, crampons, or even adequate jackets. They had left the mall without provisioning, unused to a pleroma which failed to provide them with what they needed before they thought to ask. « All right, » I agree. « We need to start fighting smarter. Somebody brainstorm how we can get rid of these attackers. »
« Marius says we’re down to forty-one, » says Ari. « And the missing one wasn’t taken out by either of the known teams. So either somebody off the radar did it, or…»
Or the pleroma did. So far, we saw it take out three – one by the hydra, one by the first avalanche, and one by a rambat. So it wouldn’t be surprising…
It seems like we all get the same idea simultaneously. « We should just take cover, » says Balin. « Then the pleroma could really kick loose. »
« Yes, but there are three teams out there with unrecognized members, » says Wynne. « The pleroma is as dangerous to them as it is to the assailants. »
« New plan. We have to find the others as soon as possible – or at least contact them and make certain one in each group has completed a quest achievement. »
« News coming in from Ailann, » says Ross. « He says they just got a message from Jamey. All the branches in his group are alive, but Harsh has been hurt pretty badly. We don’t know much more – Jamey is reluctant to use his telesending ability in case the telepathic invaders can pick up on it. »
« Does Ailann know where Jamey is? »
« Jamey said he was in the playground of the squirrel, » says Balin. « Ailann doesn’t know what it means, either. »
« Oh, but Marius does, » says Ari. « Marius says there’s an amusement park called Squirrelworld on the west side of the continent. »
« It’s got to be Davy’s Tervok thing, » says Tommy. « Wasn’t Tielo’s theme park at Nightside supposed to be based on that? »
It figures. Davy has a fetish for hand-puppets, and his favorite is a holome character named Tervok the Squirrel. Tielo had originally intended to build an ordinary water park to attract vacationing Hreck and Floatfish, but Bobert Crandon had convinced him that human tourists would be attracted by a merchandising tie-in. In preparation, a new character, Denolin Donni, had been introduced into Tervok’s show, Stop Motion Tuberose.
« The hovertrain must stop at the amusement park. Tell Ailann’s crew to meet up with Jamey. »
« Now we’re cooking, » says Tommy.
« There’s a cabin at the edge of the woods, » says Ross. « Why don’t we go there, rest, and discuss our next move? »
*****
Greengrain rye isn’t very good. It’s like something Clive would eat. Fortunately, I’m not at all hungry. I decide to leave it to the emanations who need it.
« This does taste better than I’d expect, » says Tommy. « I hope I don’t break a tooth on it, though. »
There’s a fireplace. For a moment, everyone looks horrified until Ace finds a gas valve. Then it’s nice to huddle around it. I sit between Patrick and Ross. If we weren’t in the middle of an emergency situation, it would be very nice.
« Look what I found, » says Wynne, holding up a bowl containing what appears to be a hard-shelled nut.
« Davy was working on those, » says Ace, « as a part of a nut substitute project. They’re called chestnaughts. »
We find a roasting pan. The shells slide off easily once the heat splits them. I’ve never had real chestnuts before, so I have no means of comparison. The only place in the Domha’vei where chestnuts are grown is the southern Skarsian continent, Naroveena. I remember that random fact because Valentin once discoursed about the use of chestnut casks for aging wine.
Somehow, I don’t think they taste like this. The exteriors are crunchy and crumbly, like some kind of sweet cracker, and the interiors are filled with a molten goo which tastes like chocumber and marshmallow.
« This must be the perfect food to eat around a campfire, » says Tommy.
« I can see why the Mover put a cabin here, » says Ari. « It reminds me a bit of our house on Eden. »
We’re startled by the sound of snoring. « It’s Chase, » says Balin. We break into laughter.
« But he must’ve been really tired, » says Ross. « I forgot that he needs sleep. »
« It’s funny, » says Ace. « But I kind of feel…»
« Is that what this is? » asks Rand, yawning.
Tommy grabs onto my arm. « I don’t want to, » he says. « I’m afraid. »
« It’s not supposed to be bad, » says Balin. « Not like you’re going dormant or something. »
« It’s actually very refreshing, » I tell them. « I like to fall asleep in your arms. Well, one of you, anyway. Or two, when the occasion arises. » I nod at Whirljack…but he’s already asleep. And I’m not tired in the least.
« Look, » says Ross. Patrick is beginning to slump. I gather him into my lap, where he curls up in slumber.
« This is actually kind of…» I murmur, my voice breaking. Except for Chase and one time with Davy, I’d never had a chance to see any of them asleep.
Balin is holding Chase. « He’s sweet like this, isn’t he? »
« They all are, » says Ari. « And vulnerable. That’s why I don’t understand how humans can sleep together. Wouldn’t it be more practical for one to stay awake at all times? »
« Then they’d have much less time to share with each other. That’s why they don’t like to sleep on shifts, unless there’s some dire crisis. Also, sleeping together is generally reputed to be pleasant. »
« Don’t you know? » asks Balin.
« Emanations don’t sleep. I never slept in the same bed as Merkht, for obvious reasons. I couldn’t spend the night with Johannon because our affair was supposed to be a secret. Sleeping with Clive was no picnic because he has some kind of traumatic disorder and keeps a gun under his pillow. »
« How about with Chase? » Balin persists.
« Chase…well, Chase…»
« Chase was addicted to Black Opium-27, » says Ari. « So his sleep wasn’t entirely natural. »
It was true. He slept like the dead, the opposite of Clive, who’d waken at the slightest noise.
« But not now, » says Balin.
He’s right. Chase looks more peaceful than I’d ever seen him.
« He’s changed, » Balin adds.
« Are you trying to get him a Gold Card? » says Ari, smirking.
« I’m that obvious? »
It’s sweet, though. At first, Balin comes off as arrogant, but he’s really quite protective and considerate of the ones he loves.
« There’s more going on under the surface than you’d think, » he says quietly. « It’s true of all of us. I never expected to love Chase. »
I close my eyes. I’m not drowsy, but I just want to feel them, these men, feel the presence of my husband, Ashtara. Then Ross kisses the back of my neck, and I’m wondering if I can slip from beneath Patrick without waking him.
Balin snickers. « If you succeed, you’ll end up waking the others, » he says.
« I can be suave, » says Ross quietly.
« Let’s bet on which one wakes up first, » says Ari.
« Tommy, » says Balin. « If there’s sex going on, he knows about it. »
« Whirljack, » says Ari. « He’ll be the most sensitive to Tara’s moods. Or Rand. »
Ross is kissing me, but I’m feeling a bit guilty. I don’t want to disturb anyone’s slumber. They’re exhausted in a way they’ve never been before.
Patrick stirs. I rest his head gently on Ari’s lap. Ari chuckles, and Patrick shifts slightly.
Ross pulls me to my feet. « There’s a bedroom, » he says. « Leave them by the fire. »
Ross and I aren’t even between the sheets when I hear Tommy mutter, « Hey, where’s Tara? »
« I win, » says Balin.
« I’m confused, » says Tommy. « From here, it looks like Ross is winning. »
« Go back to sleep, » says Ari.
« If you insist, » says Tommy, curling up against the enormous man’s chest.
Ari glances across the room in confusion while Balin grins. Tommy has been trying to catch Ari’s eye for quite some time, but Ari is oblivious. Normally, I’d like to see how that plays out, but now…
Well, let’s just say I have more pressing matters to attend to.