Adventures on RV Traveler (Free Trader Series Book 3) Read online

  They squeezed into free spots on the bed. G-War joined them. The babies adjusted themselves so they could each put a hand on the ‘cat. That’s how they had slept from their first day in this world. As Braden had told Micah long ago, the ‘cat and the companions would be their parents as much as the humans.

  Micah fell asleep right away. Although Braden was exhausted, sleep eluded him.

  He thought about New Sanctuary. Micah had gained skill with the recurve bow and the special carbon fiber arrows. They both learned how to use the blasters, dialing the beam to a pinpoint, or opening it up to throw a fire wide. They perfected both short and long bursts. The Security Bots had taught them well.

  Braden replaced his long knife with a shortsword produced in New Sanctuary’s factory. It was longer, sharper, and more sturdy than his trusty blade. They discovered that Micah’s sword was Old Tech, as were all those recovered from Elder McCullough and his men. That begged the question, where did they get them?

  Maybe these were a hand-down, like the blaster that Micah carried. Their history didn’t matter. The Old Tech weapons were in the hands of good people who were doing the right things. As he thought back to today’s festival, he didn’t remember seeing anyone carrying weapons.

  Except for he and Micah.

  Next time, they’d secure their weapons and arrive as friends, not conquerors. But they needed to be ready, just in case. The Bat-Ravens. Hostile Amazonians. Someone had to carry the responsibility of making war to keep the peace. He and Micah were armed so no one else had to be. They were trusted. No one cared that Braden and Micah had weapons. Aadi called it purity of heart.

  Was it that simple?

  4 – Planning to Leave

  Bronwyn’s parents were more than happy to take responsibility for Ax and ‘Tesh, especially since Bronwyn was there. The little girl went from being the strangest one in the village to the one others wanted to be like. She carried the authority of the King of the Aurochs and of the Hawkoid, Master Skirill. When Akhmiyar visited, he first went to Bronwyn, then to Brandt.

  The only one they could trust with the Old Tech communication device was the eleven-cycle old girl. They gave it to Bronwyn and showed her how to use it. Micah wanted to talk with her every day when she was apart from her children. Morning, mid-day, and evening, Bronwyn was to have it where she could hear it. She needed to carry it on her belt when she was outside so it could charge itself. She was not to give it to anyone else.

  Braden and Micah went to work. They wouldn’t leave until the books were passed out, traders were identified and plying the routes, and Braden’s caravan had made a circuit of the villages from Coldstream to Dwyer.

  Sweet pork. The fabricator couldn’t make anything like it. Besides Skirill and Brandt, the next thing that Braden missed the most was Coldstream’s finest delicacy. From what he’d heard from new travelers, he wasn’t the only one smitten by their pork specialty. Others were trying to duplicate it, but there was only one original.

  Old Tom. He could incorporate the new wheel hubs into the next two wagons. Those would roll better than any others on Planet Vii. Braden also had a couple hints for Tom to further refine his metal. Holly had the sample examined and then made recommendations for two different types of steel. One that was pliable and another that was rigid and strong.

  The Traders. Braden stopped Candela and Tanner from leaving until he could check their progress with reading and writing. They shied away. They’d stopped writing the heartbeat Braden and Micah left. Braden was furious, but contained his anger. He gave them one school book and three blank books. He helped them draw a map in the front of the book, showing the trade route from Dwyer to Westerly. He scaled it to give them a perspective of the distances. He included a legend, with travel times for humans and Aurochs. He wrote the village names at the top of a page, leaving multiple blank pages for the trader’s notes before writing the next village name.

  He drilled the young couple on their alphabet and made them do math problems until they were ready to cry. Micah ended the day’s lessons, without yelling at Braden. She knew the importance of his rudder, but dragging the south toward civilization wasn’t going to be easy. He needed to give them time. Make reading and writing important to the traders where they wanted to learn instead of assuming that they would just do it because he said so.

  Braden lightened up as he watched the escaping forms of his trader apprentices. Micah shook her head. “How can it be important for them? And the right answer isn’t because I said so.”

  Braden couldn’t answer that. Not yet anyway.

  Micah taught the following day and the next, while Braden talked with people. Everyone wanted to tell him what they had done over the past cycle. He listened, praised, and encouraged. His role was simple, now that the hard work of establishing the trade route was done. He needed to keep people excited about trade and buying in to the future it created.

  Braden occasionally disappeared into their hut. Micah knew he was talking with Holly. They’d learned the matter transfer system was ready, and the people of Cygnus VI wanted to leave. They had to travel to the ship first, and Holly hadn’t been able to establish communication with anyone on board. It was Braden’s intent to go there first, explore, verify, and make the connections Holly needed. Then the people from Cygnus VI could move to the Traveler and stay there. Braden was hesitant to bring them to Vii.

  He thought if they were free, they could do a great deal of damage to the fragile balance in this world. If they were willing to stay at New Sanctuary, then maybe that could buy time until they figured out what was best for everyone. The scientists from Cygnus VI had nothing in common with the people of Vii.

  It had taken him a long time to build the people up. It would take the ancients no time to tell the villagers how backward they were. He didn’t need that kind of help.

  Braden and Micah would travel to Westerly. Candela and Tanner would go east. When they crossed paths, the young traders vowed to share their rudder with Braden. They wanted to make him proud. He wanted them to do right by the trade. Negotiate. Trade. Deliver. He didn’t care about his cut, although he’d miss seeing Old Tom’s face when the young traders gave him the Old Tech wheel hubs.

  They left. Even not having traveled together for nearly a cycle, it was like time had never passed. Skirill flew ahead, while Brandt, with Bronwyn & G-War riding him, set the pace. Aadi held in his beak a thin Amazonian rope tied to Max’s saddle. Micah rode in the cart with the twins.

  The first stop was Coldstream, where they secured some of Braden’s favorite, the sweetened pork. The festival had drawn down the supplies, although with the opened trade routes, Coldstream had vastly increased their animal stock. The size of the pen had tripled, if not more. They’d captured wild boars to increase the size and quantity of the pigs. It was refreshing to see. Dantan promised that their supply of sweetened pork would be refreshed when Braden passed next. He said he’d hold them to that and with a smile and a wave, the caravan moved on.

  They avoided Bliss. No one was there. Skirill confirmed that the village was empty.

  They traveled across the open plains, the sparse trees, grasslands. and rolling hills. Candela and Tanner hadn’t mentioned that they’d come this far, but the wheel tracks across the plains were clear.

  Were these their tracks from over a cycle ago? They had blazed a trail that would last. Maybe it was symbolic. Maybe it just was.

  5 – Stream of Pain

  They followed the clear trail for two turns. On the third turn, they approached the series of streams that the River Crook fed. The boulders that Brandt had moved were to the sides. It was comforting to see.

  Brandt waded into the stream on the crossing he originally forged.

  When he was knee deep, the water started churning around him. Bronwyn’s scream pierced the air. G-War stood, hackles up, ready to fight. Brandt pranced, then dipped as if he was going to fall. Braden jumped from Max and ran to the water’s edge. He had his blaster in
his hand ready to take on the unseen enemy.

  A croc surged from the shallows straight for him.

  His new skill with the blaster helped him deliver a short, quick-killing shot.

  Micah had her blaster out, but she remained in the cart. If she got out, the children would follow.

  Skirill swooped back, flying low over the water. ‘Fish. Cold-water Crocs.’

  Brandt bolted forward as Bronwyn continued to scream.

  ‘Skirill! To me!’ the ‘cat called out. Braden shot a second croc, then a third.

  Brandt stopped on the shore, his lower legs bleeding from where the skin was mostly gone. His legs shook as he struggled to stand. Two crocs dashed from the water, skimming the ground as they drove straight at him. He wasn’t ready to be croc food. With one wide sweep of his head, he knocked both crocs aside. With a quick lunge forward, he speared one of the two with the point of his horn.

  He turned to face the second croc, recovered and readied to rush. Maybe it was his fellow dangling ingloriously from the King’s horn or the fact that alone, he couldn’t hurt the Aurochs, but the croc turned tail and bolted back into the water.

  Skirill flared, then hovered beside Brandt. With a graceful leap, G-War launched through the air and landed on Skirill’s back. The Hawkoid dipped, then dropped until he bounced off the ground. With a couple hops and hearty flapping of his wings, he was airborne again, carrying the ‘cat across the stream.

  G-War jumped into the air, twisted, and landed on his feet beside Speckles. He faced the stream, ready to fight.

  Braden backed up to give himself more room. “What’s going to happen, G?” he asked, hoping for insight into the battle ahead.

  ‘Be ready, they come.’

  Micah waved to Skirill. She held up her pouch which carried their supply of numbweed. He had to get it to Bronwyn, who knew what to do.

  But the little girl continued to scream. The horses were upset and pranced. Braden smacked Max’s flank to move him away from the stream. Speckles started to move too, but Micah grabbed the reins and steadied him. Her blaster was cradled at her elbow as she fought to keep the cart steady.

  The crocs surged from the stream. Braden had never considered them intelligent, but this attack looked coordinated. They came on a wide front, side by side. Two attacked him while the others raced past.

  He shot one then the other, then the first one again to make sure it was dead. He turned as Speckles reared back on his hind legs, two crocs in front of him.

  Aadi tried his focused thunderclap on two others, but they continued forward, unaffected.

  G-War couldn’t fight the crocs. He was running in front of them, making himself a target so they would chase him instead of going after the cart, Micah, and the children. Speckles' front hooves crashed down, glancing off one of the crocs. Braden shot the other as it launched itself toward the horse’s back legs. Micah had lost the reins while shooting at two crocs trying to get behind the cart. They ran by quickly, but when they stopped to turn, she dropped them both.

  Three were chasing the ‘cat, and at a straight run, they were faster. G-War didn’t run straight. Skirill was watching, telling the ‘cat which way to turn. The crocs missed, racing past. Skirill flew in a tight circle, the pouch still hanging from one claw.

  Brandt bolted back across the stream. By running, nothing could stop him. Bronwyn finally stopped screaming. She hung on to the King’s head, whimpering and crying.

  Brandt raced toward Speckles and stomped the life out of the remaining croc.

  Braden shot one, then two, and finally the third that had gone after G-War.

  Skirill screeched a warning. Braden turned to see another wave of crocs break from the foam of the stream and race toward them.

  Braden was ready. With one adjustment and a long trigger pull, Braden threw a line of fire across all of the crocs, who screamed in pain as the flames washed over them.

  Some emerged, charred, blind, but pushed forward. Brandt made short work of them. Micah shot the rest.

  The stream flowed on, clear, sparkling.

  Skirill dropped Micah’s pouch on Brandt’s head, in front of Bronwyn. She watched it hit, balance for a heartbeat, then slide off, falling to the ground. She remained flat, holding on.

  Micah checked the twins. They were crying, but okay. G-War jumped into the cart to help comfort them. With a final hug, Micah climbed out and walked past the crocs, shooting each once, with a longer shot than was necessary.

  Just to make sure. There were twenty-five carcasses when she finished.

  Braden finally put his blaster away.

  “Just like the Bat-Ravens,” he said grimly. “Bronwyn. Come on down. Let’s look at you.”

  Brandt bowed his head until Braden could help the little girl from him. She resisted, until she collapsed into Braden’s arms. Brandt laid down. His lower legs were a mess, the skin shredded from thousands of tiny bites. Micah hurried to him, picked up her pouch, and started to apply numbweed. She nodded to Braden, who took the little girl to the cart. He pulled out their full supply of numbweed and returned to Brandt, helping to ease his pain and start the healing.

  Aadi floated close to the stream and watched. If anything returned, then at least he could give warning. It bothered him that he couldn’t help the companions fight this terrible enemy.

  “What the crap was that?” Micah finally asked. Her adrenaline surge passed as she worked on Brandt’s legs.

  “An old enemy, fighting in a new way. I suspect the Amazonian War has taken a turn for the worse.” Braden stood by the cart, dangling one arm inside so he could touch one of the children. G-War purred loudly, trying to comfort the three of them. Bronwyn was curled tightly in a ball, hugging herself and rocking.

  “What did you hear that has bothered you like this?” he asked, knowing that she wouldn’t answer.

  “The fish that bite. The crocs that attack. Even Brandt wasn’t safe. This merry band of evil tries to stop us from civilizing this world. I won’t have it!” Braden proclaimed. “Ess, can you see that school of terror fish?”

  Skirill leapt from his perch and winged toward the stream. He flew toward River Crook, then back south toward the Amazon.

  ‘Yesss,’ he said in his thought voice, thinking as he talked. ‘I can see them. The school is swimming toward the rainforest. Crocs are with them, shepherding the fish, as humans do with sheep or pigs.’ Skirill flew back and looked at the water in each of the streams between the caravan and River Crook. They were clear.

  “Brandt, can you walk?” Braden asked. The great beast stood in answer and stomped, shaking the ground. The numbweed was working. “Let’s get across all the streams now, while the fish and crocs are gone.”

  They readied themselves quickly. The cart was full of unhappiness, but Micah cooed to them while G-War purred his loudest.

  Aadi swam through the air over the stream, watching closely for any sign that the fish or crocs had returned. He positioned himself over the water to the south where he could give warning if anything swam past. Brandt snorted and pranced, fighting his fear of the stream. It took Skirill and Aadi’s assurances that the fish and crocs were gone before he ran, full speed across.

  Braden stayed as Micah urged Speckles forward, slapping the reins on his rump to get him to move faster. He trotted into the water, then stopped for a drink. Micah was shocked and slapped the reins against his back. He looked up, confused. Fear started to grip Micah. And then a small hand appeared on her shaking arm. Bronwyn’s puffy red eyes looked up at her.

  “It’s okay. C’mon, Speckles. Get us to the other side,” she said calmly. The horse pulled hard and the cart bounced across the stream. When they were on the bank, Micah let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

  Braden spurred Max forward and they trotted across the stream. He stopped at the other side and turned so Max could drink, since Aadi told them it was clear.

  They followed this routine across the remaining streams.
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  Ax and ‘Tesh held themselves up, each with their arms wrapped around their mother’s legs.

  Braden looked at Brandt’s injuries. Running through the stream had washed away most of the numbweed. If they hadn’t applied it, he may not have been able to walk. It was worth it. And now the wounds were clean. When they applied more numbweed, he would be back to his old self.

  They continued to River Crook where the people were happy to see them. Unfortunately, the caravan wasn’t the only thing attacked by the crocs and the mutie fish.

  6 – River Crook

  Crabby was first to offer his hand. “You are a welcome sight! We ain’t seen no one in ages! The last were a group from Westerly that walked here, then went back home.” Crabby looked closely, eyes wide when he saw Brandt’s injuries. He waved over a young man who showed the King of the Aurochs a place near the trees where he’d be in the shade and could lie down on a soft bed of thick grass.

  Bronwyn took the numbweed and the twins to treat Brandt’s wounds.

  ‘Joining us has not been kind to you,’ Braden told the King over their mindlink.

  ‘I feel like a calf again, my friends. You have given us hope and a new life where we matter. These scratches are nothing,’ he said in his booming thought voice.

  Ax and ‘Tesh attempted to climb on Brandt’s head while Bronwyn looked at each of his legs, applying a thorough coating of numbweed to the fish bites and shredded skin. Micah watched as her son was wrist deep into the Aurochs’ nostril as he attempted to climb up the King’s face.

  ‘I think that’s enough, you two. Let Brandt rest,’ she told them both. It didn’t change anything they were doing, so she picked them up and bodily carried them away. Braden took one of the squirmers from Micah before resuming his conversation with Crabby.