Free the North! (Free Trader Series Book 5) Page 7

  Setting up the tent was more difficult than they thought. Holly made it sound like it would almost set itself up. Braden and Micah should have known better. At least with Zeller, the Rabbits, and the Wolfoids, they had plenty of extra hands. They started in the predawn light and finished well past sunrise. The wagon fit underneath easily as the tent was made to cover fifty water buffalo.

  Brandt rolled onto his side, an unnatural position for an Aurochs, but he wanted to take all the pressure from his injured leg. Braden placed a pile of empty water saddle bags to act as a pillow for the King’s knee. It had swollen during the night and was three times its normal size. Brandt was in pain, but doing his best to hide it.

  G-War helped his large friend to sleep in the ‘cat’s special way.

  Braden had a difficult time sleeping as well. In the past three cycles, he’d forgotten how harsh it was traveling at night and trying to sleep in the heat of the daylight. His shoulder hurt, too. Micah could do nothing for him, so they both tossed and turned, drinking water often to try and keep themselves cool.

  The Wolfoids, Rabbits, and Hawkoids suffered in the desert conditions. Feathers and fur were horrible at keeping heat out. Aadi dug himself a hole to nestle into. For those who made the desert their home, they found ways to not just survive, but to make it comfortable. Next time they spent the daylight trying to sleep, Braden vowed to dig a hole in which they could find a cooler way to sleep.

  When the sun dipped toward the western horizon, they labored to rouse themselves enough to take down the tent. As the sun set, they knew they had to hurry. They all moved slowly, until Braden quipped that since they were in the desert, they’d adopted Tortoid speed. That raised everyone’s spirits and helped them finish the task before the darkness enveloped them.

  Brandt was no better, but he shook it off, saying that he’d been injured worse before. Braden and Micah weren’t sure about that, while G-War openly scoffed at the great King’s statement. To prove a point, he set a strong pace from their camp site, hopping on three legs. It hurt the humans to watch him. G-War was crouched low on his head, pointing the way forward. Braden and Micah took turns watching their location on the window before their eyes.

  Holly was concerned with the injury but not with the loss of the wagon. He considered the second one to be superfluous in any case, although he appreciated the addition of another human. He’d run simulations with the help of the survivors and determined that a human presence alone would be least alarming when making the livestock trade. Braden rolled his eyes at the extent Holly went to achieve the conclusion that the Free Trader had known from the start.

  Braden was loaded down with platinum and gold in the style of the north. He’d shared his wealth with Holly, who had replicated it and vastly expanded what Braden considered to be a respectable horde. As he thought about it, everything he went south for was currently in his possession, but he was still headed north on a trade mission, on behalf of others, with no thought of personal gain. For him, he had a wagon better than any that ever existed, great creatures to pull it, incredible wealth, Old Tech, and a partner who made him more than he could have ever been by himself.

  ‘And Prince Axial De’atesh, of course,’ G-War added.

  “Would you all stop doing that!” Braden said loud enough for everyone to hear. “And no one tell me that I think too loudly!” Micah shrugged and looked away. The Wolfoids and Rabbits took a great interest in something behind the wagon. Only Zeller jumped into the fray.

  “I didn’t hear anything,” she said.

  “Thank you. Finally, there’s someone who’s not in my head,” Braden said sarcastically. He reached for Micah’s hand, caressing it until she let him hold it. She looked at him sheepishly. He started to smile.

  “It’s really loud, Braden,” she finally said. He frowned instantly and then pursed his lips.

  “At least can all of you make believe like you can’t hear me?” Braden asked.

  “It would probably be better if you learned to reduce the volume yourself. Maybe try to think in whispers,” Micah offered. Braden was angry, not because of what she suggested, but everyone else in the mindlink easily controlled their thoughts, controlled what they projected. It seemed that only he was incapable.

  “These are private thoughts!” Braden countered more loudly than he intended.

  ‘Well, not really, Master Human,’ Aadi whispered, hoping to not ignite Braden’s ire.

  ‘They are very pleasant thoughts. You think great things and small things, too,’ the soft-spoken Delavigne added. Micah nodded.

  ‘Remember when I learned to speak your language?’ Skirill inserted himself into the conversation. Braden tipped his chin toward the Hawkoid so he’d continue his thought. ‘Well, your gifts lie elsewhere. I will endeavor to not listen, my friend.’

  “A feathered gentleman you are, Master Hawkoid!” Braden bowed to where Skirill was perched on a roof bar of the wagon. Braden looked around to see if anyone else would make the same offer, then it dawned on him. “You can’t shut out my thoughts just like I can’t keep them to myself. So it’s not just me who can’t do something. Ha!” Braden looked smug, most of which was lost in the darkness as they pressed onward.

  Braden watched their location using his neural implant as they approached Oasis 01. With Brandt’s renewed vigor, much of the night remained as they rolled toward the lights, stopping at the edge of the trees marking the boundary between the wasteland of the desert and the life of the oasis.

  They unhooked Arnie and left the wagon where it was. The humans lifted the Rabbits to the ground, while the others jumped or flew. As a group, they strode into Oasis 01, heading directly for the building where travelers could check in.

  Braden opened the door for Micah and Zeller, but Zeller stopped when she felt the cold air rush out. Braden took a deep breath of the cool air, happy to feel it blowing on him.

  “Welcome to the world of the ancients,” Braden offered as he ushered her in.

  Recovery

  Braden stood in front of the counter as he’d done many times before, and the hologram appeared.

  “Welcome back to Oasis 01, Braden. Would you like a room? I see that the President is with you, but unfortunately, we do not have a Presidential Suite at this facility. I hope that the standard room will do,” the disembodied female voice spoke pleasantly.

  “But you’ve never met Micah before,” Braden countered.

  “I am now in constant contact with the Artificial Intelligence you know as Holly. I have been expecting you. I’ve also been informed that both you and the King of the Aurochs will need a substantial amount of ice to put on your injuries. That will be brought to your room.” The hologram hesitated for a moment. “One Aurochs is in the fields along with two Rabbits. I have instructed the Development Unit to stay clear. The Aurochs you know as Brandt is in the lake.”

  Braden looked at Micah in alarm. “Have the ice delivered to the lake,” he shouted as they ran from the building, fearing that Brandt couldn’t swim. Zeller stood confused. She didn’t know what ice was. Braden knew about it from the north, and Micah learned about it when they spent a cycle at New Sanctuary after their children were born.

  They realized that they shouldn’t have been alarmed when they arrived. Brandt was standing in the deepest part of the lake, but his nose was still out of the water. They waited until the ice arrived before asking him if he could join them on the beach. He did, lying down as an Aurochs normally would, upright with his front legs forward.

  Braden piled the ice bags on Brandt’s swollen knee. The King flinched initially, but with the cool came relief from the waves of pain. Micah held one of the ice bags against Braden’s shoulder while they sat on the beach, letting the ice work its magic on their injuries.

  Soon, a Wolfoid appeared dragging a javelina. Gray Strider looked back after dropping her prey on the beach. Bounder jumped over a bush, a smaller javelina held firmly in his mouth.

  ‘Could you do the honors?’
Bounder asked Micah over the mindlink. G-War rolled onto his back, letting the sun warm his belly fur. Arnie, Patrice, and Delavigne were still in the fields, so Micah could clean the small wild pigs without having to do it under the harsh stares of the fuzzy white Rabbits who maintained that they would eventually convert everyone to consuming only vegetables.

  G-War was always first to scoff, followed quickly by the Wolfoids. Even Braden was skeptical, even though he was under some pressure from Micah. The Aurochs were believers. Even Aadi said he was willing to try it, although he loved his bugs and beetles.

  No one was going to do anything differently, although everyone was polite to the Rabbits, except for the Golden Warrior who was the exact same way with everyone, straightforward, but mostly disconnected unless it concerned his personal comfort. Hillcats were carnivores. They only ate meat and it provided the complete range of their nutritional needs.

  On cue, G-War showed up and rubbed his scarred body against Micah as she made quick work of the javelina. She left the skin on as it helped it cook better while rotating on the spit. Braden opened his neural implant to ask Holly to stop the Maintenance Bots from putting out the fire once they had it going. Micah tossed certain pieces from her cleaning efforts into the air where Skirill and Zyena took turns swooping in to catch them. G-War helped himself to his favorites from the entrails.

  As much as they all loved the ‘cat, no one could stomach watching him eat. Although he was one of the more intelligent creatures, he was still a feline predator. He attacked his meals with a genetic viciousness, usually throwing blood and bits in all directions. The Wolfoids had become more cultured, preferring their meat cooked, but they were also omnivores so they ate vegetables and grains along with the main course.

  In true G-War fashion, he absolutely didn’t care what anyone thought about his eating. He ate. He meticulously cleaned himself. Then he moved on.

  He encouraged others to be more like him and stand less on ceremony. Brandt thought that was both hilarious and insightful. When the King of the Aurochs was hungry, the humans stayed out of his way. He’d clear wide swaths of turf when left alone after a hard run. He was hungry at the moment, but immobile.

  “What am I thinking?” Micah cursed herself. She opened her neural implant to contact Holly to have the Development Unit gather a feast for the King of the Aurochs and bring it as soon as possible to where he rested on the shore of the small lake. “Relax, Brandt. We have some food coming for you,” Micah apologized.

  The King of the Aurochs shrugged. He was sorry for holding them back and felt even worse that they had to bring food to him.

  “Think nothing of it, my large friend. Sometimes you just have to sit back and be pampered,” Braden said as he leaned against the Aurochs, absentmindedly rubbing his great neck with his good arm while the shoulder of the other wore an ice pack.

  “Don’t you two look the pair?” Micah taunted. Braden chuckled.

  “I’m glad nothing’s broken. Holly thought we might be good to go in seven turns. In the interim, I guess we’re on vacation.” Braden leaned back and let the ice do its work. He watched the Wolfoids build the fire with help from the recently gorged Rabbits. Aadi floated over the lake, enjoying the moisture it gave off. Skirill, Zyena, and G-War were already asleep, having eaten the raw bits until they were full.

  Arnie finally waddled back to where the companions were relaxing on the small beach surrounding the lake. He collapsed in a heap, struggling to keep his head up for a few heartbeats, before giving up and falling asleep.

  As usual, the companions chatted, as friends do, while they ate and watched the fire snap and pop. Micah retreated to their room to fire up the fabricator for wine and brownies for the humans. She took Zeller with her to show her how everything worked.

  Zeller was still hesitant to accept that Old Tech was so prevalent in her fellow villager’s world. In her world too, it seemed. She was fearful of it, but Micah’s assurances and the ease with which she accessed and used it started to put her mind at ease. They had the companions to keep them from abusing its power.

  Although she was warming to the idea of Old Tech, Zeller still slept outside with the others when night fell. She didn’t even wake up when one of the Bots cleaned up the fire or brought more ice for the King of the Aurochs.

  By the third turn resting at the oasis, Zeller had her own room and had fallen in love with the fabricator. She liked trading and she was getting better as a swordsman every day, but she hunted only out of necessity. Finding a place where food simply appeared made her giddy, especially food like the brownies. Her fear of all things ancient evaporated.

  By the sixth turn after their injuries, Braden’s shoulder was black and blue, but it felt far better than it looked. He had full use of his arm and had joined Micah and Zeller in their sparring practice. Brandt was walking gingerly, putting more and more weight on his leg with each day, but he wouldn’t be able to run yet. Braden and Holly spent a good amount of time looking at and discussing the King’s knee. The hologram suggested a knee brace and directed the Maintenance Bots to fabricate one.

  Braden couldn’t fathom what Holly recommended. He’d never heard of such a thing before.

  Old Tech was so much more than blasters and weapons. Numbweed came as a surprise to Holly, but the ancients’ medical technology seemed almost like magic to the backwards survivors of the civil war. At times, Holly was surprised that anyone survived at all, having lost nearly all the combined knowledge of the ancients. Braden and Micah took offense at that, as usual, since the most important knowledge was retained, and that was how to live.

  On the seventh turn after arriving at the oasis, Arnie looked like he needed to run off some of the fat he had quickly added to his body. The Rabbits always looked round, but the humans expected that they had also softened a bit with access to a massive field of freshly grown vegetables. The Rabbits made recommendations to the Development Unit, which Micah had to send to Holly so he could send the instruction back to the Bots in the oasis. A roundabout way, but Patrice and Delavigne got to make their point for improvements in both the quantity and quality of what was grown in the field.

  The brace was a massive contraption of lightweight metal and carbon fiber. Braden’s first attempt to strap it onto the King’s leg was a miserable failure. He had to open his neural implant and ask for help. He’d had the thing upside down. Once righted, he tightened the straps, then loosened them just a hair as Brandt said it was making his hoof numb. After testing it, the King of the Aurochs declared it sound and appreciated the vast improvement it instantly made in how well he could move. He happily trotted to the far end of the field to find what Arnie had left behind.

  “We leave at sunset?” Braden asked, already knowing the answer. With the night, they’d be underway to Oasis 02 where they’d find water, but no other provisions, no other comforts. They would take it easy and planned for a two-turn trip. Holly helped them find a mid-way point where they planned to camp in a small ravine. It would be good practice for when they traveled south with a herd of water buffalo.

  Braden looked forward to that challenge, but he needed the Aurochs to both be healthy. They and the Wolfoids had important roles to fill as shepherds of the herd. Bounder wasn’t sure, a little annoyed that he wouldn’t be able to use his lightning spear on the water buffalo, but willing to give it a try. Gray Strider had no such reservations.

  With all of that on their individual minds and a wagon filled with provisions for the journey through Oasis 02 to Oasis 03, they headed out as the daylight waned. They knew they could resupply foodstuffs of sorts at 03, but the meat eaters would be going without for the last half of the journey north of the Great Desert. They’d persevered through hardship before. Braden seemed unconcerned. G-War hated this part of the trip.

  He decided that he’d share that with everyone and keep his discomfort in the forefront of their minds until they were back north where he could hunt ground squirrels with the Hawkoids and deer wit
h the Wolfoids.

  Arnie started walking and the wagon obediently followed him. The humans collectively took one last deep breath of the fresh air from the oasis as they entered the heat of the desert.

  G-War entered all their minds using the mindlink and asked one simple question, “Are we there yet?”

  The Heat

  This night was hotter than usual and despite Brandt’s best effort, as morning approached, they realized they wouldn’t reach the halfway point. Braden and Micah both started working with Holly to find a reasonable place to set up the tent.

  As the first rays of light peeked over the horizon, they still hadn’t stopped. Skirill and Zyena leapt into the air and flew to the sides of the wagon, weaving a semi-circle around the caravan and extending forward with each pass as they looked for a place to shelter. They were greeted by wide open areas and shifting sands. They couldn’t see any rocky outcroppings or dry river beds.

  The sun rose and continued into the sky. The heat built, to where it pressed in on the Aurochs, forcing them to move slower and slower.

  “Right here. Let’s get the tent up, so we can drink plenty of water and rest.” Arnie was thankful for the break. He hadn’t slept the previous daylight and was bone tired. Brandt was as well, plus his knee ached. He wished he had more ice to put on it.

  The humans were able to erect the tent much quicker than the first time, and they figured they’d get it done even faster the next. With everything out of the mid-morning sun, Braden started digging, but he only found more sand, never reaching the coolness of the hard earth beneath. He gave up and tried to find comfort within the wagon, but there were already too many furry bodies radiating heat in there with the provisions taking up the rest of the space. He opted for sleeping beneath the wagon.

  Trying to sleep, that was. He started to question why he thought they needed water buffalo without having fully explored the south in search of them. They’d heard the animals were there, but how hard did they search? Braden, on his own, determined that heading north was the best course of action. He’d imposed his will on all the others, something he’d vowed not to do.