The Sparse Lands, page 30
part #6 of Steven Gordon Series
‘No doubt. I will get it seen to.’
‘So, are you home on holiday?’
‘Well we met a young lady while she was on leave and she wanted to meet your parents. We had a weekend off so we took her on a wee jaunt, popped in by.’
‘How are you Jean?’
A figure moved into the screen. She waved. ‘Hi Charlie.’
‘Aye, aye.’
‘Have you received my latest letter?’
‘Heard nothing from you since you went across the great barrier. How are things?’
‘I did write a letter. Sent it away weeks ago. I have lots of news. It would seem that we are destined to meet again.’
The got Charlie’s interest up. ‘How so?’
‘I am now at Admiralty school. I am going to be a Post Captain, and I am being sent along with my ship and crew to the Federation.’
‘Wow, that’s kinda big.’
‘Did you meet Admiral Valachean?’
‘Morach, aye, I met him.’
‘I am going to be his Post Captain. What is he like?’
‘I liked him, we got on well. Knows his stuff, very intelligent. He isn’t as biased as many. I presume this was the Grand Commander’s idea?’
‘I believe so. Any idea what he is up to?’
Charlie shrugged. His father appeared behind Jean for a moment. He juggled a pair of imaginary breasts in front of himself for a moment then gave Charlie the thumbs up and disappeared. Charlie closed his eyes and shook his head.
‘You okay Charlie?’
‘Aye, I’m fine. I have no idea what the Grand Commander is up to.’
‘I am sure my letter will catch up to you shortly.’
His mother re-appeared, ‘Aye, and just when were you going to tell us about this wee cracker here?’
‘As I had no idea we were ever going to meet again, or you were going to meet her, then never.’
‘You are such a heartless wee shit!’ Charlie had to sit and wait until his mother had finished her tirade. It seemed to please Jean no end. Being so far away, he couldn’t read anyone’s minds either.
chapter 62
It was quiet and the rain had stopped. Charlie thought it was beyond peaceful. Where were the sounds of the birds and the bees? The land was sterile of animal and insect life. His chickens had been returned, or some of them anyway. His food had also arrived two weeks before, and now they were right into the mating season. He smiled as he remembered his last conversation with the Chief. He had replaced the tablets that Glee had stashed away to ones that would make them more fertile. He had also eaten half the boiling of tatties that Charlie had prepared for himself. With the butter melting over them, he had bawled in an almost bovine way with pleasure.
Charlie’s eyes caught movement in the far distance. There had been no air travel in days. His eyes zoomed in. It was a shuttle craft of a design he wasn’t familiar with. As it got closer, his eyes scanned the interior. He recognised a host of armed troops, of a race he was unfamiliar with. He ran back to his house. The only weapon he could find was his emergency escape tool. He took it off the charger and strapped it on. He watched the ship through the walls as it came into land.
Troops spilled out and clambered over the wall. They obviously weren’t used to the gravity. They surrounded the house. He tensed up ready for action. A figure was lifted up over the wall and approached the house. Then he realised the troops were facing out from the walls and not inwards. The figure took the last few steps alone; they weren’t armed.
They knocked on the door. Charlie retuned his eyes to normal and swung it open.
‘Thank goodness you are in. I hear you can change the gravity of your environment. Could you please?’
Charlie took a step inside and returned the field to the same setting he used for Darrick.
She took a deep breath. ‘Thank you for that.’
‘Tell your men to stay within a half metre of the wall. They will benefit from it.’
The female passed on the information to a large male and he nodded.
‘May I come in Captain?’
Charlie stepped inside. He was waiting for some of her men to follow, but they turned away from the door. Charlie closed it and followed the strange female into his home. He invited her to sit down.
‘You have me at a disadvantage.’
‘I am Queen Wiola Maleck of the Gisha race. You know why I am here?’
‘No!’
‘You mean you haven’t read my mind yet?’ Charlie felt a cold chill go through him. ‘Please don’t try and deny it Captain. I am sure you know by now what transpired on my home world.’
Charlie got up and he saw a flash of fear go through her. It was gone in an instant.
‘Would you like something to drink?’
‘Do you have Earl Grey?’
‘I have Tetley. I’m not a great tea drinker myself, I prefer coffee. It is the cheap stuff.’
‘It will do.’
Charlie was tempted to read her mind but decided against it. He gathered his wits and returned with a teapot. He poured her a tea, and she seemed to take great delight in helping herself to sugar and milk. He poured himself one to be polite. They sat back and sipped at their tea for a few minutes.
‘So, who’s mind do you want me to read? An enemy, a love rival, husband?’
He was surprised when she giggled, ‘You are really being polite aren’t you? You really haven’t read my mind.’
‘Why would I?’
‘Don’t you do it all the time?’
‘I don’t do it at all, unless I really feel a need to. Right now I don’t feel a need to.’
‘Tell me Captain, do you find me attractive?’
Charlie frowned. ‘No, not in the slightest.’
‘That is a shame. Your lady friend told me some very interesting things when she was on my world visiting. A lovely woman. One of those things particularly peaked my interest.’ She put her hands to her face. ‘This is so embarrassing. You see I have no children, but I need a successor. She suggested that I seek out a donor. From something called a sperm bank. Which we don’t have.’
Charlie shook his head, ‘How the hell can I help you with that?’
‘You are going to be the donor.’
Charlie went very still for a moment. ‘You want me to donate my sperm. Seriously!’
‘Um, not quite. I want you to mate with me and make me pregnant.’
Charlie sat back in shock. ‘What!’
She took another deep breath. ‘I have never had a companion Captain, and I am damn sure if I do get pregnant, it isn’t going to be by artificial insemination. I want the real deal.’
Charlie was forced to blink a couple of times. ‘You are serious about this, aren’t you?’
‘Deadly serious.’ She took another sip of her tea to give him time to absorb it all.
Weird chills were running up and down his body. ‘Are we even compatible?’
‘Very compatible actually. I had the ladies’ rooms cleaned by forensic experts. They took hair samples and ran a genetic series on them. Did you know that our race shares the same basic genome? We too only have one stomach. Although we eat fruit and vegetables, not meat. Our reproductive organs are pretty much the same too. I believe you have only two options open to you Captain.’
‘You mean my choices are to kill you or fuck you.’
‘That is very accurate summation.’
‘Which means you haven’t told anyone yet.’
‘Of course not. I had to kill a lot of my people to keep this a secret. You know, I have a very good intelligence network Captain. Once I found out you could read minds, I did a full work up on you. I even visited Darrick to gain information. It was my luck that the Grand Commander visited while I was there. We Gisha have a drink that is infamous for loosening a person’s tongue. Did you know that the Grand Commander himself calls you the deadliest being in the universe? I learned a lot that night.’
‘Too much by the sounds of it.’
‘Enough to make me even more determined Captain. You, of course, know the penalties of not complying with my wishes.’
‘They are obvious. The moment you open your mouth, I’m as good as dead.’
‘No Emperor would wish such a person as you near them. Even though you obviously don’t practice your art all that much. Can you cancel out the voices?’
‘Block them, yes. What do you get out of this? There has to be more than a sperm donor? You know we look nothing like one another. Will you be happy having a child who is a potential meat eater?’
‘You call mating sex, don’t you?’
‘One of the many things it is called.’
‘The first thing I want Captain is the sex; lots and lots and lots of it. I know you will not be hindered by the physical factors involved in this. I also want a son to rule after me. One who can read minds. Don’t worry about his physical appearance. We are masters of manipulating genes. He will look fully Gisha. We will very quickly find the gene that opened your mind and manipulate it. He will also be the son of a noble lord.’ That seemed to amuse her.
Charlie snorted, ‘Noble lord huh. What happened to me was the result of an accident, you have to realise that. There is no guarantee he will be able to read minds.’
‘I have done my homework Captain. I know some Humans have what is called a sixth sense. My experts say that after your accident, whatever medical system that was used to heal you, must have mistaken that underdeveloped part of your brain as some form of injury and fixed it. We can manipulate it so the child is born with the ability.’
‘You can really do all of that?’
‘Yes we can. We do differ slightly from Human females; we are able to fertilise more than one egg at a time and pick the best of those to bring to full term. We have some control over how many eggs we allow to fertilise. A subconscious thing, as we only have a limited number of eggs in our life time. Most release three. I am going to release a dozen. You will fertilize them all. I will have them removed and manipulated, then I will keep the best for implantation.’
‘A whole family!’
‘Oh yes.’
‘Jeez, you are keen.’
‘If I am only ever going to have sex once Captain, then I am going to make the most of the opportunity.’
‘I don’t understand why you are going to all of this bother.’
‘Because if I take a mate, then he will become regent. I shall lose all of my power. I may be willing to give it up to a son, but no one else.’
‘Are you the first Queen of your race?’
‘No, the third. They gained power because their husbands died, and only kept it until their sons were old enough to take over.’
‘So they became regent.’
‘Yes, but were called Queen. I was made Queen when my father died and have ruled ever since. I do enjoy it.’
‘How are you going to explain the child, or children?’
‘From a donor of course. No one will ever know who.’
‘You have a whole ship full of people out there who will have a damn good idea.’
‘I told you, I will have the eggs removed. I will wait two months before having the first replanted.’
‘So people can’t tie it in with this visit…’
‘Exactly. Only the head of the team will know. He will be the only one to see me. The only other person who will know anything at all, is standing outside right now. He is the most loyal of all my subjects, promoted to the post by his predecessor.’
Charlie closed his eyes and searched. ‘Let me tell you something. He is not happy. You told him what you intend to do?’
‘I trust him.’
‘He is jealous, infuriated, feels insulted. Loves you with all of his being.’ Charlie smiled, ‘Doesn’t think he is good enough for you, but better than any damn meat eater. Hopes you will find me repulsive; wants to rush in here and kill me.’
‘Oh stop!’
Charlie opened his eyes and found her pressing both fists between her legs. She was taking deep breaths.
‘You okay?’
‘I will be in a moment.’
‘Found that a bit of a turn on did you?’
‘Our mating season doesn’t arrive for two months. However, I have discovered I can control it to some degree. I find this situation highly stimulating. That little demonstration almost put me over the edge. Wow!’ He noticed her eyes were watering a little. She brushed a tear away.
‘Well I wouldn’t let yourself be tipped just yet. I’m not ready.’
‘I thought you Humans were always ready?’
‘I can control my hormone levels. I will need to turn them up, and probably make a few minor adjustments to my physique to accommodate you.’ Charlie rolled his eyes, ‘Maybe the word “fit” would suit better.’
Her outer skin suddenly underwent a colour change. It was momentary.
‘I see.’ Her voice came out as a squeak. She cleared her throat. ‘Then maybe I should retire until tomorrow.’
‘Considering how close you are to losing it altogether; I would advise it.’ Charlie rose to his feet. She followed.
‘Until tomorrow then, Noch Man Drich.’ She bowed slightly.
Charlie returned it. ‘On the way out, I will challenge your man. Order him to kill me.’
‘Why? No!’
‘Do what you are damn well told.’ His sudden aggressive move made her jump. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t kill him.’
She followed him to the door. He let her out and stepped out after her. Charlie caught the eye of her bodyguard. There was enough emotion in them for Charlie to justify taking offence.
Charlie squared off, ‘You got a problem!’
Wiola took a deep breath. ‘If you think you can kill him Moran, then do so.’
He only hesitated a second. His assault weapon came up; triumph shone in his eyes. In a heartbeat Charlie was right in front of him, the weapon was pulled from his grasp and bent in two. He handed it back. The shock in the bodyguard’s eyes didn’t last more than a second. He let go of the weapon and snatched a knife from his waist. It was so quick his eyes couldn’t register it. He found himself bent over backwards with his own knife at his throat.
He bellowed in fear and with rage as Charlie slowly dragged Moran’s own knife in his own hand across his throat. As it reached the other side, the fight went out of him. Charlie stood him up, and the guard stepped back. The fear was still there, also respect. He slipped the knife back into its sheath. His Queen was standing with her hands outwards, stopping anyone interfering. He picked up his weapon and bowed low to Charlie. He joined his Queen.
She pulled away the collar of his uniform to inspect the cut.
‘Do you understand now Moran?’
He glanced at Charlie again, ‘Yes my Queen.’ He suddenly smiled then laughed aloud. ‘His son will make a fine King.’
‘It fills me with delight that you agree Moran. You are the closest thing I have to a friend. I need you by my side; then my sons.’ She touched his face and his eyes filled with pride and devotion.
‘Would his own father not make a more fitting teacher?’
‘He will never know his father. You will take his place as father, mentor, teacher. It has to be that way. Just not husband. I hope you understand.’
‘I understand my Queen. You do me the greatest of honour.’
‘Take a mate this year; I order it. You will have a son and bring them up together. They will be bound as brothers from birth. That plain but pretty one your family have been trying to get you to marry for years, she will do nicely. She has a good body and will bear sons well. She also loves you.’
‘I cannot return her love.’
‘You are not the type that will not care, nor abuse her.’
He sighed, ‘I do like her. We were childhood friends. I would never harm her, nor allow harm to come to her.’
‘She has waited a long time. Return her devotion with kindness Moran.’
‘I will my Queen.’
‘Tomorrow, I will return alone. I will need a communicator. I may be a few days.’
‘I understand my Queen.’
Charlie watched the shuttle craft take off, with a feeling of dread in his guts. He had been totally outmanoeuvred. It was going to be a long bloody week. He lay down on his lawn and closed his eyes; his only companion the ever-enduring silence.
J.W. Murison, The Sparse Lands
