ESCAPE
Chapter 1
Jed stood in front of the shimmering doorway, the silver energy lines in his arms sparking with alarm. He struggled to keep the horror he felt from infecting his little sister’s mind. Jyari was already terrified. If his thoughts leaked through to her mind by the telepathy that Jeddonites often used, there would be no reasoning with her.
Beyond the doorway was the Control Room of Jeddon. The room was taboo to all except his father, King Ankzar and the elders of the council. Anyone found trespassing could be put to death, for not only did the room control the entire planet, but much of Jeddon’s wealth was stored there, too.
He was King Ankzar’s only son and he had been sternly warned away from it. Why on Jeddon had Jyari gone in? And how?
“Come out, Jyari!” he sent urgently, communicating via mental telepathy. “There is danger for you in there.”
Waves of Jyari's terror and longing for the safety of his presence flowed into his mind, but she refused to budge.
Jed scowled. He knew the entrance code. He had received it from his mentor, Xanor just days ago, while absorbing the Fourth Knowledge Bloc. He could get in, but he’d be breaking his solemn oath not to enter. How Jyari had managed to get in was beyond him.
His hesitation was momentary. He had to get his sister out of there before she was discovered - disgraced. Raising his hand to the control panel, he tapped in the code.
Abruptly the shimmering light dissolved and Jed stepped through the doorway into forbidden territory. He caught his breath at the strangeness of the room. Yet it was not so strange, because somehow it was all there in his mind.
Those colored flashing strobe lights automatically controlled the coming and going of the space shuttles and starships. And the glowing spheres were for light and power to the whole planet. In this room was almost total control of Jeddon. No wonder only a chosen few were allowed in. In the gloom beyond the lights, huge flags, dark statues and massive golden chests created blocks of light mingled with dark shadow. They too seemed familiar. But how could they be?
“Jed!”
Jyari’s whimpering cry filled his mind and he hurried forward to where a sliver of scarlet broke the gloom. Jyari's favorite cape was scarlet.
“Quick, Jyari,” he hissed urgently, as Jyari darted from her hiding place and clung to his waist. “Let’s get out of here before we’re discovered. Tell me your troubles later.”
“No, Jed! It's not safe! You must run away! Vexson plans you harm. He is evil - ”
“What? Hush.” Jed knelt and brushed tears from her face. “You’ve fallen asleep in here and had a bad dream. Our uncle isn’t evil. But if we are caught in here we’ll be punished severely. Why on Jeddon did you come into this room? And how did you get in?”
“I hid and watched Vexson tap the little box. But Jed -”
“You’ve done wrong. Don't you know the punishment for entering this room?”
He grabbed her hand and hurried towards the door, but Jyari pulled back.
“This is the only safe place, Jed. They won’t think to look here. Vexson is going to k-k-kill you!”
“Rubbish! Vexson’s a stubborn idiot sometimes, but not a murderer. Now come on!”
He yanked Jyari forward but she struggled against him; her outflung hand knocked against a glowing sphere. Deep in the palace, alarms began to shriek. They both froze.
“Run, Jyari!”
She fled, not to the door, but further into the deepest recesses of the room. Jed leapt after her, but whirled around at the sound of voices.
Vexson headed the rush of guards and elders as they poured through the doorway.
“Seize him!”
No sooner was the order given than Jed’s arms were grabbed. He struggled uselessly as the guards dragged him over to his uncle. The shrill alarms ceased as the elders adjusted the sphere that Jyari had knocked over.
“I see you couldn't wait to explore forbidden ground, boy. Just what did you expect to gain by coming here? Control? No...” Vexson’s eyes narrowed. “You could have no knowledge of this room. Or have you?”
Jed was hardly aware of the question. He was too busy trying to protect Jyari by blanking all thought of her from his mind. His head snapped back as Vexson hit him across the face. The blow numbed his senses. He could taste blood from his bruised lips.
“Answer me! Did that old rascal Xanor give you knowledge of this room?”
“What - knowledge?” Shock and outrage at such treatment from his uncle flooded over him. “How – how dare you -?”
“Huh! I dare easily. You’ve broken your solemn oath to never enter the Control Room without permission.” Vexson thrust his face close to Jed's. “You know this means death?”
“My father would not have me put to death! Exiled perhaps, but -”
“Ankzar is dead, boy. And so are you. I am the new ruler. And I declare you guilty of treason!”
His father - dead! Jed sagged with the shock of it. He felt as if a burning shaft had entered his heart. “But - how? And what of my mother?”
“Seret is mine!” Vexson roared with laughter, then turned to the guards. “Take him away - and keep a watch out for the brat, Jyari. She's in thick with this one. Have you seen her boy?” He grabbed Jed’s hair and stared into his eyes. “The truth!”
Jed gasped with pain as Vexson's mind invaded his. He managed to fragment his thoughts as Xanor had taught him, and leaked a distorted image of Jyari running to find him on the mountain.
“So she’s outside still.” Vexson chuckled. “Didn't learn much, did you, boy? Xanor must be getting feeble. That's why you're back so early! You – guard, wait at the door until she comes in. Go!”
Jed lay limply on the cold stone floor of the dungeon below the palace, his mind still
spinning with shock. How could his father be dead? But dead he must be, for Vexson had executed the perfect coup. And he had walked right into his uncle's hands; being found in the Control Room was excuse enough for Vexson to execute him.
Was it only an hour since he’d come running down the mountain from Xanor’s dome, joyful in the new Knowledge Bloc he had just absorbed? He’d been so eager to share the triumph of his early return with his father. Now he would never see him again - nor the orange skies and two suns of Jeddon. Thoughts of all he had lost made him feel sick.
He groaned and pushed himself up with an effort, the cold stone wall prodding his back painfully. What had gotten into his uncle to behave like this? He had always served Ankzar faithfully, in spite of their frequent clashes. Jed frowned. Vexson had never before treated him so roughly. It was almost as if his uncle were a different person.
He shook his head. Thank the planets Jyari had not been found. At least his mother and sister would be safe, for what could they do to depose Vexson?
He was the only one who had the right to challenge his uncle - or would have had, only for his disobedience to the Oath. Perhaps he deserved to die, since he had broken such a solemn vow so easily. Would his execution be tomorrow? Vexson would want it to be soon, he was sure.
“Jed?”
In spite of his weariness, he opened his mind to speak with his sister.
“Jyari? You escaped unseen?”
“Yes. I’m sorry they caught you, Jed. You must escape!”
“Oh sure, Jyari.”
He sent her an image of his surroundings, regretting it as her distress and sorrow came through.
“My fault, Jed.”
“Would have happened anyway, Jyari. I should have listened to you. You were right about Vexson.”
He smiled wryly as she agreed firmly with him.
“But how could he have planned such treason? Ankzar’s own brother! How could he have fooled us for all these years? We thought him loyal…” He sighed. “My punishment will be execution, Jyari. Do not grieve for me. Tell our mother goodbye - tell her I'm sorry.”
He broke off, unable to send through her shock and outrage.
“Exile on the Isle of Zarr! We'll visit you there once a year as is permitted, Jed.”
Painfully, Jed blanked her out. If only his punishment could be exile - but Vexson could not afford to let him live. If he lived he would soon be old enough to challenge his uncle’s claim to rule.
He tried to shut out thoughts of impending death with sleep and managed to achieve some sort of semi-conscious state filled with rustlings, whisperings and creakings. But a rough hand shaking his shoulder rudely awakened him.
“Up, boy,” the guard commanded. “Quick, now.”
Jed stumbled to his feet, stiff with cold. Was it time for death already? He glanced at the tiny black square of window. A lone star twinkled there still. A shadow blocked out the dim light from the doorway.
“Jed!”
“Mother?”
The shadowy figure paused, her silvery cloak glinting with reflected light from the guard’s glowsphere. Then she stepped into the cell with an imperious gesture for the guard to leave.
“I’m sorry, Seret.” Obviously discomfited, the guard stepped back, but only to the doorway. “He is not to be left alone with anyone - Vexson’s orders.”
Seret frowned, then ignored him. “Vexson agreed – a final goodbye, Jed.”
She made no move to touch him and Jed stood stiffly before her. He wished she had not come. He had managed not to think, not to feel any kind of emotion. Now he wanted to weep.
“Why did you go into the Control Room?” she asked harshly. “There could be nothing for you in there.”
He shook his head; it was too late for explanations. Besides, that would endanger Jyari.
“What happened to Father?” His voice was low - urgent. “I’ve a right to know!”
“An accident, Jed; his space-shuttle exploded.”
“It had to be sabotage! Vexson was too well prepared.”
Seret was still for a moment. “How can you know that? What do you know of Vexson’s plans?”
“How can I know anything? I’ve been away for weeks with Xanor.” Jed frowned, puzzled at her questions. “But if Vexson told you it was an accident, he lied. How long since any space shuttle exploded? Never in living memory! But if Father is truly – dead, I should be Ruler, not Vexson. You know that; the elders know it!”
“But you are guilty of treason.”
He searched the pale oval of her face. There was nothing in her expression to indicate that she even cared. Was this person his mother? He swallowed.
“Am I to have a trial?”
She seemed consider it, then shrugged.
“Who knows what Vexson will do? Since so many saw you in there -”
Hurt beyond bearing, Jed stepped back. “Goodbye - Seret.”
He stood rigid, staring at the door long after she had gone. Why had his mother acted so strangely? It was as if she did not care what happened to him. Like Vexson, she seemed to have changed into a different person. Surely Vexson must have some hold over her to make her act this way.
With a moan, he slumped back onto the hard bunk, but found his gaze drawn to a white blob that gleamed dully on the floor near the doorway. What was that? Paper? Curiously, he picked it up and smoothed out the creases, peering at it in the dim light. There was a rough diagram of a square, with a dome shape on one side - rather like a child’s drawing of the palace.
He shrugged and let it drop, then with a frown, picked it up again. It hadn’t been there before, he was sure. Had his mother dropped it - on purpose? Could it be a message of some kind? Something she dared not say aloud, or even telepathically, for fear of it being intercepted by the guard. He frowned and turned it around.
The light was still too dim to see properly, but he could just make out a curved line going from the edge of the dome to a little squiggle in one corner of the paper. He turned it around, examining it from every side. Perhaps it was nothing to do with him at all. Still, it might be…. He stared blankly at the far wall of the dungeon trying to puzzle it out. The light increased gradually and he examined the paper again. The squiggle looked something like a tree.
His heart did a sudden flip and began to thud with excitement. A tree meant outside! If the dome shape was the palace, then the square would be the dungeon underneath it. Could the curved line be a tunnel? An escape route? His gaze searched the walls of the dungeon. There was nothing there that looked remotely like a secret door. If there were anything it would have to be in the floor; a trapdoor or something. Without moving, he let his gaze drop to the filthy floor. A trapdoor could easily be hidden -
With a quick, indrawn breath, he sprang to the corner of the cell and raked his fingers across the floor. There was nothing there. It was stupid to hope for escape. Still, he hurried to the other side and searched – and his fingers scraped painfully against a sharp metal corner. Jed’s heart thudded with excitement.
It took him several minutes to scrape the trapdoor free of the grime that concealed it, but the hinges were rusted almost solid. He could raise it only enough to get his fingers under one edge. There was nothing to use as a lever!
Impatiently he scraped away more dirt and spat on the rusty hinges, hoping to loosen them. Then he heaved with all his strength and managed to raise it the width of his hand. He strained until he felt sick, but the rusted metal would come no further.
Suddenly, the door clanged open behind him. He whirled around; the trapdoor fell back with a thud. The guard stood in the doorway, laser-gun in his hand.
Jed’s wild hope of escape died. Guards were licensed to shoot escaping prisoners. Once again he had played into his uncle’s hands. Despair squeezed his heart.
Silently, the guard stepped forward and wrenched open the trapdoor, using his gun as a lever.
“Go, Jed,” he urged. “And one day, return.”
Jed leapt to the hole. “Your name?”
“Suumin.”
“Come with me, Suumin.”
The guard shook his head. “It is almost time for your execution. When your escape is discovered, I will be the first to follow. I may be able to save you. Go, quickly!”
Jed nodded and descended hastily, stumbling into Stygian blackness. He hoped there were no obstacles in his path. Then a tiny glow-sphere bounced down beside him. Suumins! Jed caught it and turned to thank the guard, but the trapdoor was already closing.
Holding the faintly glowing sphere high, Jed plunged forward into the black tunnel. He could hardly see more than a step in front of him, but it was better than nothing.
He ran where he could, slipping and stumbling and sometimes falling. He crawled where he had to, grazing his hands and knees on sharp gravel. He clambered over large boulders that almost blocked his passage and he wriggled through low openings on his stomach. And he looked over his shoulder frequently because he could hear echoing footsteps. Were they his own, or the guards’? He could not tell; there was no time to stop and listen.
Then he fell yet again and his arms were elbow deep in freezing black water. Panting, he scooped the bobbing glow sphere out and forced himself to his knees. The circle of light cupped in his wet hands was growing dimmer. He could not swim. How far – how deep was the water? There was no way to tell. He edged forward and lowered his feet in. The water came up to his knees. Relief surged through him. He waded forward and immediately plunged down almost out of his depth.
He came up choking and gasping, straining to balance on his toes so he could breathe. The water was so icy it almost paralyzed him. His movements were slow and erratic. The glow-sphere flickered and went out.
Jed thrashed about in a panic. He couldn’t go on without a light! His thrusting feet explored the uneven, rocky bottom. He slipped and went under again and when he spluttered back to the black surface, splinters of light glimmered across it. Now he could see which way to go.
“There he is!”
The hiss and spit of laser-fire galvanized Jed into action. He lunged forward, gulping and retching as the water flooded into his nose and mouth. He ducked as nucleon rays fizzed over his head. Water splashed behind him. A hasty backward glance revealed one guard was in the water; others waited with lights.
Jed forced himself on, though his arms and legs were sluggish with cold. Finally, his outstretched hands grappled with rock and he struggled out of the water’s icy grip, slipping on the wet surface as he ran.
There was a lull in the firing. Perhaps they were afraid of hitting the guard in front. He hoped it was Suumin catching up to him. There was still a faint chance of escape if it was.
He looked back and tripped again, jarring his head against a rock as he fell. He could not get up and go again. He was too dazed; too exhausted. The splashing behind him ceased and rocks clinked. A fainter splash told him a second guard had entered the water.
A sense of unreality engulfed him. This could not really be happening to him. Surely if he went back to the guards and said, Enough! They would shake his hand and tell him that this had been a testing, devised by Ankzar to prove his courage. Yet if this was his testing he would have to go along with it, or how would he face his father?
“Go, Jed!” Suumin’s gasp thrust into his exhausted mind. “I won’t shoot to kill, but they will.”
Nucleon rays fizzed about his head again, spattering dirt and gravel from the ceiling overhead.
“Don’t fire into the roof,” Suumin yelled. “Rocks are falling!”
Jed forced himself up. Being tested was one thing; dying was another. He stumbled on until he was at the absolute end of his strength, then fell again. There was a bead of light ahead. The end of the tunnel? The end of his testing? A pity to fail in sight of the end. He began to crawl.
There was a sudden roar. Gravel and rocks thudded down painfully over Jed’s back. He fell flat on the ground and covered the back of his neck with his hands. It was little protection. Behind him were muffled shouts, a scream and then silence.