The Lost World, page 31
Haig grunted as Mackinder turned to him, raising a thick eyebrow but made no further comment.
They continued playing, and soon enough were at the tenth hole. Mackinder finally managed to get Haig alone, when they both ended up in the same sand trap.
“Maddox, eh?” big Mackinder growled. He was a large, fat man, having gained weight since fighting the Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan. The time with the task force had left a mark on him, haunting him, perhaps, making him more determined to clean the “not-quite-humans” from Star Watch. That was how he termed people like Maddox and Meta, and no doubt would Jewel when she came of age.
Haig couldn’t help it, or so he told himself, and found himself relating the incident to Mackinder. The glasses of champagne no doubt helped loosen his tongue. Besides, he was still angry for having allowed Maddox to browbeat him to the extent that the captain had.
For all his bulk and pushiness, Mackinder was a sly man, a keen judge of personality. He used raised eyebrows and surprised looks, dragging the entire incident from the Lord High Admiral.
Mackinder remained silent as Haig finished telling the story. The Intelligence Chief had a pensive look as he stared into the distance.
“The others are waiting for us,” Haig said impatiently.
Neither Haig nor Mackinder had climbed down yet to ascertain if they could hit their balls out of the sand trap.
“Sir?” Mackinder asked, turning to Haig.
“Don’t give me that,” Haig said. “You believe I handled that wrong.”
“That’s not for me to say,” Mackinder replied. “You know best in handling Maddox.”
“I handled him the way I handled him. Now tell me, why do you think I did it wrong?”
Mackinder hesitated before saying, “My unease comes from my distrust of the half-breed. Maddox doesn’t have Star Watch’s best interest at heart.”
“Even though Maddox saved your hide against the Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan?” Haig asked.
Mackinder’s fleshy features went slack, although he nodded stiffly.
“Maddox’s hide was on the line that day, too, sir, so he saved us to save himself. Now, all of a sudden, he’s off to this location in the Beyond where New Men captured our scouts. That seems suspicious. I’ve heard there’s a game preserve planet where New Men release our people and hunt them like animals. The New Men arrogantly prove to themselves how superior they are to us because they can kill our people with power rifles and high-velocity slugs while Star Watch officers starve in some alien jungle.”
“I’ve heard a rumor of that myself,” Haig said. “You believe such to be the case in this instance?”
“We did receive an intercept that suggests it.” Mackinder related what Lord Hermes had messaged to Emperor Trahey of the Throne World.
“Do you think this star system could indeed be that place?” Haig asked.
“I find it quite possible,” Mackinder said.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this message earlier? It seems highly relevant to the Patrol vessels we send into that general area.”
Mackinder cleared his throat, perhaps to buy himself a moment to think up a reason. “We’re still running an analysis on it, sir. In another day or two, I would have alerted you.”
Haig scowled. Maybe the General was too shifty and sly. He might have transferred Mackinder, but the man had many key backers. This was a touchy situation.
“Maddox seemed emphatic about saving his people,” Haig said.
Mackinder snorted. “I imagine he left in order to hunt our people down like dogs with his New Men comrades. Perhaps this is the moment he’s waited for, to finally throw off the mask and openly join his people, the New Men.”
“Now, now,” Haig said, “is that accurate? Maddox has done amazing feats, saving Star Watch time and again.”
“Bah,” Mackinder said. “I tell you, sir, I believe we should test Maddox in this. That’s the safest course.”
“Test him how?” Haig said.
The large, fat man scratched his cheek, and then his puffy eyes brightened. “Didn’t Valerie Noonan escape from that star system?”
“She did.”
“And has she not met up with a small Star Watch flotilla near the Beyond in that general area?”
“She has,” Haig said.
Mackinder eyed the Lord High Admiral. Did the bottles of beer laced with whiskey cloud his judgment, or did he take a calculated risk in revealing what he knew?
The Intelligence Chief said, “Sir, I know the trade vessel Stellar Winds took several weeks to go from Krantz to our flotilla at Melome. It was an inefficient ship, having to use Laumer Points only. Perhaps Commodore Rice needs a test. He could take his flotilla at emergency speeds to this possible hunting preserve planet, using star-drive jumps to accelerate his timetable and reach the location fast.”
Haig shook his head. “It would take Rice a week at least to get there. Maddox will arrive at the location in a few days, as he has permission to use the Builder Nexus.”
“Perhaps you could stall Maddox.”
“Now see here, General. Those are Star Watch captives at stake.”
“Er, yes, yes, perhaps this Lieutenant Noonan—”
“Lieutenant Commander,” Haig corrected.
“Thank you, sir. She would know a faster way. I’ve read more than one report of how Maddox has gone from one end of the spiral arm to another in a dramatically short time. She’s his protégée. This is a moment to tap into her knowledge.”
Haig nodded. “They’re studying Maddox’s unorthodox methods at some of our tactical schools.”
“Precisely,” Mackinder said. “So, if this Commodore could take those battleships and rush to the planet as fast as possible, he could surprise Maddox and the New Men. He could find out what is really going on.”
“If Maddox is colluding, the New Men would ambush the flotilla.”
“That’s the beauty of this, sir. The Commodore has a direct link with his Builder Comm device on the Alexander. If anything untoward happens, he will send an immediate report. You then could send the fleet to the planet with a hyper-spatial tube.”
“Hmm,” Haig said. “That’s not bad. You really think Maddox could be colluding with the New Man?”
“He is one himself,” Mackinder said. “Don’t they say that blood is thicker than water? Here will be the proof.”
Haig frowned.
“Surely, Maddox’s activities have been fronts until now,” Mackinder said. “I tell you, sir, we can catch him in the act. Then finally, we can drop the mask. We can sweep these half-humans from Star Watch and maintain genetic purity. How else will Star Watch grow and expand unless we do this?”
Haig looked at his ball in the sand trap. He abruptly decided he had had enough golf for one day. He regarded Mackinder.
“You will tell the others that I am off to the office,” Haig said.
“Yes, Admiral,” Mackinder said.
Haig would use the Builder Comm device at headquarters. He would call Commodore Rice of the Alexander and give him new orders.
Haig rubbed his hands together and motioned for his adjutant to bring the golf cart around. Then he turned to Mackinder. “Thank you, sir. That is a splendid idea.”
For the first time in months, Haig shook Mackinder’s large hand. Then the two parted ways.
-31-
Sometime after the Lord High Admiral had called Commodore Rice on the Alexander, Valerie found herself shaken awake by a female Marine.
“Sir,” the Marine said, “you’re to come with me immediately to a meeting.”
“What’s this about?” Valerie asked groggily.
The Marine shook her head. “Get dressed. You have three minutes.”
Valerie was exhausted, having dropped into real sleep only an hour ago. Now she sat up, got out of bed, and donned her new uniform. She brushed her long hair, put on a cap, and was buttoning her jacket as she hurried down the corridors, the Marine setting a stiff pace. Valerie found herself entering the conference chamber of the Alexander. There sat Commodore Rice, his XO, and several other officers.
“Have a seat, Commander,” Rice said.
Valerie hurried to her indicated spot.
Rice cleared his throat. “Thank you for coming, all of you. I’ve just received new orders from the Lord High Admiral. This is an emergency and you,” he pointed at Valerie, “are at the center of it. I need your help to figure out exactly how to do this.”
“I don’t understand,” Valerie said.
“We’re launching an immediate assault on the planet where the New Men captured your scout.”
“What?” Valerie said.
“I have information that Captain Maddox will be heading there within days as he shakes out Victory and attempts a stealth mission via the Builder Nexus. We are going to hurry there as well.”
For a moment, Commodore Rice looked down as if uncomfortable. Valerie realized that something untoward was afoot.
“May I ask, sir, why I am here again?”
Rice looked up. “You are a Patrol officer, understanding the Beyond better than any of us. More to the point, you have also worked with Captain Maddox. You are familiar with his unorthodox ways. We need to get to the planet in question as fast as possible.”
Valerie sat back, thinking. “The fastest way would be to use the hyper-spatial tube, go to Earth, and then head to the enemy star system.”
The Alexander’s officers exchanged glances with each other and then fixed their gazes on Valerie.
Rice said. “That does seem like the fastest method, but the Lord High Admiral said nothing about it to me. He said we must go from here to there.”
Valerie frowned. “It took the Stellar Winds three weeks to make that journey.”
“Using Laumer Points only, I believe.”
Valerie furrowed her brow, thinking. “Oh, I believe you’re referring to Captain Maddox’s method of using the star-drive jump to go from the most useful Laumer Point to another. That can cut down days, weeks, depending on the length of the journey. You’re hoping to cut three weeks down to… How soon are we supposed to appear at the planet?”
Rice shifted uncomfortably, saying, “Soon after the Captain reaches it. He will be using the hyper-spatial tube after a small shakedown period, as I’ve said. So in four or five days from now at the most we must be there.”
“You want to travel in five days what took the run-down Stellar Winds three weeks. I need to study the star charts of the region.” Then Valerie decided to probe for the reason for this, as she was having some concerns. “We’re reinforcing Victory against New Men in case several star cruisers are there?”
“Something of the sort,” Rice said.
Valerie suddenly realized that wasn’t the case at all, and Rice didn’t want to admit it.
“Sir,” she said, “you’re asking for my help. Therefore, I need to know the exact situation.”
“Do you?” Rice asked sharply. “You have your orders. Carry them out. It’s as simple as that.”
“I see,” Valerie said. “Is Captain Maddox under suspicion? Is that what’s happening?”
“What if it is?”
Valerie stared at Commodore Rice.
He squirmed just a little before blurting, “Tell me, Commander, where does your allegiance lie? To Star Watch or to Captain Maddox?”
“I’m a Star Watch officer,” Valerie said. “That doesn’t mean I’ll sell my friends down the road.”
“And if they’re traitors?” Rice asked. “What then? Will you stick with the traitor against Star Watch?”
Valerie stiffened. “I know Captain Maddox is always under suspicion. I’ve seen his half-New Man ways and the arrogance he sometimes shows toward others. Yet, no officer in Star Watch has fought harder and more successfully. If you want my opinion, sir—”
“I do not,” Rice said, interrupting.
Valerie had likely gained more stubbornness than she realized while under Maddox’s tutelage, and possibly from facing her own harrowing situations. This stubbornness now rose to the surface.
“The truth, sir,” she said, “is that you should all be on your knees kissing Maddox’s feet for what he has done for humanity. Frankly, I believe it is an outrage that we’re trying to entrap him. He’ll be doing everything he can to free the Kit Carson crew and the others who the New Men have captured.”
“Are you quite through?” Rice said frostily.
Color rose in Valerie’s cheeks. She looked down and then back up. “I know, sir, I ought to be contrite. I ought to ask your pardon. But this insidious belief that Maddox is doing underhanded things is shocking and undeserved. I have served with him closely. I’ve learned from him, and I’ve seen him risk his life time and time again for others.”
“He also uses unorthodox methods,” Rice said, “sometimes disobeying commands.”
“I know. I’ve been there. I’ve seen it. Yet nearly every time he disobeyed a command, it turned out to be the right thing to do. I could only wish I was half the officer he is.”
“I see,” Rice said. “And you wish to have that little speech recorded?”
Valerie looked at each of the officers in turn. She knew the best thing was to recant and say she was fatigued and didn’t know what she was saying. But after all these years… Maddox was as much family as Meta, Galyan, Riker, Keith, even crusty old and sometimes untrustworthy Ludendorff.
“I not only agree to having that put in the minutes of the meeting,” Valerie said, “I quite frankly demand it because I want everyone to know exactly where I stood. Others may believe Maddox will do something underhanded against Star Watch. I don’t, and I stake my reputation on it.”
Rice nodded curtly. “Will you do your duty as instructed and help us reach the planet as fast as possible?”
“I will,” Valerie said. “I just hope we don’t arrive at the wrong moment and make everything worse.”
“How could that happen?”
Valerie shook her head. “I don’t know. However, I do know that you helped me in my time of need. You listened to, believed me and let me make the long-range calls. I appreciate that, sir. But I will also warn you. You helped me, and possibly Captain Maddox because of that. You may be as much on the hook as I am in regard to his trustworthiness.”
Commodore Rice stiffened, stared at her, glared, and then looked away as his features colored.
“I will do what I am supposed to do,” Rice said, looking up. “You have made your point.” He chewed on his lower lip, then shook his head. “No, I will say no more. We will put, as per your request, your words into the minutes. You will have your star charts. We’re bringing everyone from Melome aboard. So, we’ll be leaving in a few hours at most, hopefully sooner.”
“Yes, sir,” Valerie said. “I will follow orders exactly as they are given. I am an obedient officer of the Patrol and Star Watch, sir.”
“Excellent,” Rice said, some of his frostiness evaporating. “We’re going to be working together, and under harsh conditions, as we make jump after jump. You may be the only one who has undergone such strenuous travel.”
“I’ll talk to the medical people,” Valerie said. “There are a few tricks of the trade to make that easier.”
“Good. Any further questions, ladies and gentlemen?” Rice scanned his people.
There were no more forthcoming. Thus, Rice adjourned the meeting.
Valerie remained seated as the others left. She half-expected Galyan to appear. He did not, of course.
What had she been thinking? She’d opened her mouth and put her foot in it. She hoped she hadn’t wrecked her career, but she believed what she had said. Hell, maybe their showing up would prove beneficial in some way. She didn’t know how, but maybe it would be just in time to catch the New Men trying to pull a sneaky one.
Valerie sighed. She had a job to do, and if nothing else, she might help rescue her people. That was good, and that would make her adventures these past months worth it.
-32-
The close air in the tunnel made each ragged breathe a struggle. Riker’s pick struck the rock face, the impact jarring his wasted frame. Beside him, Keith toiled weakly, his once-strong form now a skeletal mockery of itself.
“Keep swinging, you worthless premen.” The New Man’s voice cracked like a whip, cutting through the constant drumming of metal on stone. “Glory awaits those who serve.”
Riker forced his spent muscles to comply, as the neuron whip in the guard’s hand waited for any hint of defiance.
Hours bled away in the relentless labor, the darkness held at bay by the feeble glow of their helmet lamps. With each swing of the pick, Riker felt the wrongness grow stronger, a creeping sense that gnawed at his mind.
“You feel that?” Riker whispered.
Keith seldom responded and did not now. It was questionable if he even heard the words.
There were other sounds, though. As they chipped, strange whispers seemed to echo at the edge of hearing. They spoke blasphemies, Riker was sure of it.
Then the tunnel seemed to change, taking on odd angles and geometries. Riker’s pick struck something that shattered, sending shivers down his spine.
“We’re close,” a New Man said. “I can feel it. Swing faster you wretches.”
Riker was already panting and sweating. He should turn back; flee from whatever lay ahead. But the neuron whip waited, leaving him no choice but to press on.
Then Riker’s pick punched through rock to a void beyond. A gust of stale air rushed past, carrying a whisper of nameless things.
“We’re through,” Riker said hoarsely.
The others around him worked harder, swinging their picks to widen the breach. One prisoner screamed in a thin voice. The worker beside him missed his stroke, driving the pick though his foot.
The neuron whip crackled. The offender twisted in agony until the New Men ceased the torture.
“Work,” the New Man said.
The trembling worker picked up his bloodied pick, panting, blinking like a fool.
Riker paused. It seemed that he was the only sane one down here. The growing madness around him ate at his weakening resolve.
