CHAPTER 21
As the weeks went by, it became obvious to the slaves that there was mounting tension in the camp.
”There’s definitely something happening,” Monty observed to the group at their post-shift meal on the bank of the river. “The Warriors stop patrolling every now and then and meet in small groups. Many of them don’t even bow to the camp commander. Let’s watch our captors carefully and report whatever we see.”
The next day, from their shift stations, they could see a meeting take place in the clearing in front of the camp commander’s office between all the Warriors, the camp commander and three Guardians who had arrived by rocket ship. The Guardians had their visors down. The Warrior Commander’s thick black stalk-body and enormous umbrella head towered over the Guardians. Beside him was the Warrior Medic.
The meeting broke up as the shift ended. The camp commander returned to his office and the three Guardians flew off. The Warriors walked away, but many continued to confer in small groups.
The Doctor joined Monty and his group at the post-shift meal at the water’s edge and provided some information.
“The Warrior Medic says they’re increasingly unhappy with Guardian administration. They want the special weapon and they want equality. However, they’ve been at peace for centuries, and the Warrior Medic insists it will all work out. I like to think that two intelligent, rational species will not solve disagreement with violence.”
Ernie, facing the river, his legs dangling over the bank, twisted to face the Doctor. “On the other hand,” Ernie suggested, “if the two species come apart, won’t that help us? We may find ourselves free.”
The Doctor grimaced. “Ernie, if a blood bath ensues, we may find ourselves the first victims. No, I believe the two species, specially the Guardians, are too wise to let centuries of peace collapse.”
Monty, lying stretched out on the grass with his head on Alicia’s lap, sat up. “Doctor, at a certain level, the Guardians are no different from us. There are good guys and bad guys. If our camp commander is an example, the bad guys are in power right now. Look what happened to Rebecca. The good guys vindicated her, they all got turfed out, and the bad guys triumphed. And that’s just in our neck of the woods. We don’t know what’s happening on their home planet.”
The Doctor shook his head. “The Warrior Medic admitted there’s a lot of unrest on the home planet, but still was convinced they would work it out.”
“They might,” Monty said. “But if they don’t, we have to be ready.”
The Doctor’s contempt was obvious. “No doubt you have a plan.”
Monty shrugged. A plan was forming but he wasn’t ready to discuss it with the group, and certainly not with the Doctor whose loyalty he was uncertain about. He would run it past his immediate team — Alicia, Ernie, Thelma, Syd, Jeff, and Deng Lee — and get their input.
The Warriors, preparing permanent cave quarters, drilled into the rock face at the down river site and planted their explosives. Joshua and Noah ordered the slaves to vacate the site and to move back towards the up river end. Syd made his way to the edge of the crowd, covertly looking for Rebecca. Off-shift slaves joined them to watch the fireworks. Rebecca pushed her way through and stood beside him, pretending to focus on the downstream action.
Huge explosions ruptured the serene calm of the river and blew out a volley of boulders and rocks and enormous clouds of dust. The crowd pressed back, pushing Syd and Rebecca against each other. A fog of dust swept over them and hid the clutching of their hands. When it cleared, they were covered in grey brown dirt.
“Hello, pretty girl,” he said to her.
She appeared stonily indifferent.
“My name’s Franklin. What’s yours?’
“Rebecca,” she managed to answer.
“Everyone back to their posts,” Joshua shouted.
Rebecca watched him go. She ached to embrace him.
One of the slaves said to Syd, “That girl you were trying to talk up is Joshua’s daughter. The rumour is he killed the last guy who got too close.”
“Well, I can see why guys might be tempted. She’s a real looker.”
Joe followed Syd a short distance. He recognized him as the man who had entered Monty and Alicia’s sleeping quarters. There was something familiar about him, but he couldn’t quite place the memory. He turned quickly back when he noticed Joshua bearing down on him.
“I told you to stay in your own end of the camp.”
“I just wanted to see the action,” Joe said. “I wasn’t the only one — even your daughter came to watch. Besides, I saw the guy who sneaked in with Alicia, in case you’re interested.”
“I’m not interested. I will not be made a fool again. All you do is cause trouble. Just fill your gold quota — that’s all you gotta do.”
“He’s after your daughter,” Joe persisted.
Joshua hid the fear that was rising within him. “Who’s after my daughter? What nonsense are you talking now?”
“His name’s Franklin. He introduced himself. I saw it all. She wouldn’t answer at first, but then she gave him her name.”
Joshua felt a great sense of relief. Syd and Rebecca hadn’t betrayed themselves.
“So what?”
“Don’t you see what kind a guy he is.” Joe said triumphantly. “ First Alicia and now Rebecca. I see stud written all over him. No woman in the camp will be safe.”
For the first time in his dealings with the slaves, Joshua, slapping his thigh, doubled up with laughter. “You’re too much,” he gasped, and waved Joe away.
Joshua had suggested to Rebecca that if she went to watch the explosion, she might encounter Syd. He found another occasion to bring the two together. As Syd’s shift ended, he ordered him and four other slaves to carry out a special work detail. He led them to the other end of the camp where bedding and cots had arrived for the clinic. The five slaves carried the supplies from the landing field to the clinic. Joshua instructed three of them to help the Doctor set up the cots, but made sure Syd stayed clear of the clinic. Joshua felt it was too early for the two to confront each other.
Their work finished, the five slaves walked past the river bank where Rebecca sat with Monty and the group.
“You’re welcome to join us,” Monty invited the five slaves. One readily agreed, the other four returned to their tent.
“What’s your name?” Monty asked.
“Franklin — Franklin Monroe.”
He was introduced to each member of the group. When he came to Rebecca, he said, “You’re the pretty girl I shared the explosion with.”
Rebecca nodded, too overcome to comment.
“I’ll get you some food,” said Alicia.
He sat down next to Rebecca. In the moonlit dark, with the group clustered all around them, they were protected from prying eyes. He grasped her hand and raised it to his lips. They leaned into each other, pressing their cheeks together. Rebecca stifled a sob, and both had tears in their eyes.
“You’ll soon have us all bawling,” Thelma said.
Alicia returned with the food. Rebecca took the plate and spoon fed Syd.
“My mother told me when an Ashanti warrior returns from battle, the woman’s first duty is to serve her man.”
Thelma laughed, “I’m not sure what was meant by serve. I don’t think it had anything to do with porridge.”
“Thelma, behave yourself,” said Ernie, shaking his head.
As Rebecca entered the house, Joshua noted the aura of happiness that clung to her. She hugged him and Emily while Noah watched with satisfaction. They were a family again.
Syd became a regular visitor to their meals. He could not stay long since he had to time his visits to the mid-sun dark period. A group member brought him his food so he wouldn’t have to chance a meeting with other slaves at the food wagon, particularly Joe. He always sat next to Rebecca, while members of the group stood around them.
Despite the ongoing danger of Syd being discovered, the happiness that radiated from Rebecca infused the house. Frequently, they discussed when it would be appropriate for Syd and Rebecca to couple. Joshua wanted to put it off for awhile to avoid any danger of recognition.
One post-shift as the family was deep in discussion, there was a knock at the door. The Warrior Medic stepped into the house with the translation equipment.
“Greetings, nurse Rebecca. It is regretted that you are no longer in the clinic. This Warrior enjoyed our association. It is Overseer Joshua that I have come to see.”
Joshua bowed again.
“Overseer Joshua, all the Warriors will attend a general meeting which will start immediately. You and Noah will monitor the slaves during our meeting. Should you have trouble, the Tower Warriors remain on duty and will alert us.”
Monty and Alicia were walking hand in hand to their quarters. They were passed by dozens of Warriors all heading downstream to an open space between the river and the trees just beyond the last digging.
“The Warriors are meeting,” explained Noah to the slaves as he patrolled along the river.
The shift proceeded uneventfully until after the water break. Several Warriors led by the Warrior Medic trundling the translation equipment approached Joshua.
“The Warriors demand the presence of slaves Monty and Ernie at our meeting.”
Joshua led them to the couples’ quarters, opened the enclosure curtains a rift and summoned the two men. Before they could respond, the Guardian camp commander scurried over.
“What is the meaning of this? These slaves need their rest. The Warriors must return to their supervisory responsibilities.”
“We Warriors are holding a meeting. We wish to ask these slaves certain questions.”
“We refuse to allow them to leave their quarters. You are inviting nonsense if you believe that human slaves can assist Warriors in their difficulties with Guardians.”
“That is for us to judge. If the slaves cannot leave their quarters, then the Warriors will come here.”
Monty and Ernie stepped out into the open in front of the cave. Dozens of Warriors congregated around them. The Guardian beat a hasty retreat. Joshua stood uneasily on the sidelines.
The Warrior Medic began: “When you were in detention, you were heard to say that the escaped slave had not killed the Warriors, that it must have been the Guardian. How do you know this?”
“Sir, it was speculation on our part,” Monty answered. “We could not believe that the escaped slave with a bow and arrows could kill a Guardian and six Warriors. Therefore, something else must have happened.”
“You believe there was a fight between the Guardian and the Warriors and that all died as a result?”
“Yes. sir, that is what we believe.”
The tall, massive Warrior Commander came forward. The Warrior Medic bowed and stepped back. “ I am the Warrior Commander and I tell you the slave speaks nonsense. The Guardian’s head was slashed and the special weapon missing. The escaped slave killed the Guardian and then turned the special weapon on the Warriors. The real issue is that we are not armed with the special weapon.”
There was a swell of angry agreement. The Warrior Medic continued:
“At the birthing cavern, you discussed our Sacred Writings with a Warrior and suggested they be renewed or reinterpreted. Such counsel is heresy.”
“Sir, I was the one who gave such counsel,” said Ernie. “I did not realize I was committing heresy. On our home planet, we have similar documents which we call constitutions and which establish the rights and obligations of citizens in a nation. From time to time, a constitution may be amended to better reflect changing circumstances, and in some cases discarded and reformulated.”
The Warriors appeared satisfied and moved back to their meeting space.
“Return to your rest,” Joshua said to Monty and Ernie. But the two men were more interested in the outcome of the Warrior meeting. They walked to the path that led downriver and stood in the sunshine, watching the Warriors. Suddenly, a shadow darkened the sun and a high pitched cacophony of sound filled the air.
Joshua, walking away, did not even look up. “Take cover,” he roared as the tower siren emitted an endless pulse of alarm. Joshua raced upriver, grabbed Emily who was doing her water rounds and leapt into the nearest digging.
Monty saw a thick black swarm cover the sky and descend in a long line towards them. He and Ernie ran quickly back to the shelter of their cave.
The Warriors took the brunt of the bird attack. Out in the open, bunched together, they ran madly in all directions as the birds dove at them, sharp beaks knifing into their umbrella heads. Some escaped into the shelter of the trees, others flung themselves into diggings, nearly crushing the slaves cowering there.
Three Warriors, trailing a long veil of attacking birds, ran towards Syd. Armed with his shovel, he jumped out of the digging and whirling like a dervish, slammed into the line of advancing birds. For a moment the birds veered away. He pointed his shovel towards the excavations in the rock face. The Warriors understood and streamed towards the shelter of the caves. More Warriors ran past him, and the line of birds returned. Once again he smashed the line with his swinging shovel and the line swept away.
A frightened squirrel ran out onto the bank of the river. The birds flung themselves on it and within seconds reduced it to bones.
Then the birds were gone, the attack over. Cries of pain came from all sides. Slaves who had not found shelter fast enough clambered out of the diggings, faces and arms covered in blood. Several Warriors lay sprawled on the ground. Others emerged from the caves or the trees. Some leaned on a companion. All the wounded, human and Warriors, headed towards the clinic.
Rebecca did not wait to be called by the Doctor but was at the clinic, washing, disinfecting and bandaging wounds. The Doctor did a quick triage and pulled in the more serious hurt. One man’s face was completely bloodied and blood caked his scalp and dripped down his hair.
“Wash his face,” the Doctor ordered. “Then we can see how badly bitten he is.”
Rebecca quickly washed the face clean. “Oh,” she gasped involuntarily as she recognized Syd. His face was pocked with the sharp bites made by the birds’ long beaks. She quickly applied ointment and then addressed the wounds on his head.
The Doctor stood there, staring at Syd, mouth open, eyes wide with surprise. “Doctor, please,” Rebecca pleaded. “There are many other patients. I can handle this one.”
“Many Warriors are hurt,” the computer voice announced. “This Warrior Medic needs more space.”
The Doctor prdered the slaves out and treated them outside the clinic. Most of his patients required only minor care and soon returned to work. Syd remained in the clinic on a cot.
The clinic was too small to accommodate more than three Warriors. A large tent was set up outside for the remaining wounded Warriors.
“Warrior casualties are serious,” the Medic announced. “The birds attacked their heads. This Warrior Medic will require help from the human doctor and nurse.”
“We are expressly forbidden,” the Doctor objected. “The Guardian Doctor made that clear.”
“Warriors will die unless we treat their tissue requirements. Nurse Rebecca has carried out this treatment before and knows what to do.”
“I cannot allow Nurse Rebecca to ignore a Guardian order.”
“Guardian decisions are no longer beneficial to Warriors. The Guardian Commander could have challenged the birds with his special weapon but chose not to. Nevertheless, a colleague will consult with the camp commander while this Warrior Medic begins treatment.”
The Warrior designated to talk to the camp commander returned a few moments later. “The Guardian Commander gives permission for the human nurse to help the Warrior Medic until the Guardian Doctor and medical staff arrive. They have been summoned.”
Two dozen Warriors lay on cots in the tent, their umbrella heads covered in gaping holes left by the sharp beaks of the birds. Rebecca applied the tissue substance that the Warrior Medic handed her, carefully and rapidly filling the wounds. The Doctor patched up the remaining human slaves requiring treatment.
The Warrior Medic treated his patients in the clinic and then joined Rebecca in the tent. He quickly inspected her work and bowed his approval. Rebecca sensed her patients were in pain, for now and then one uttered a high pitched cry. A Warrior reacted by lashing out with an arm, knocking Rebecca down. The Warrior Medic rushed over and calmed the patient.
“The patient apologizes,” the Medic said. “He could not tolerate the pain. You may proceed.”
Finally, they were finished. Rebecca ran into the clinic to see Syd. She had left him with his face completely bandaged except for his eyes and mouth. The Doctor had cut away his hair and disinfected the head wounds.
“Why did I not know about this?” the Doctor asked, his bitterness unmistakeable.
His question went unanswered. The Warrior Medic and two Warriors approached them, with Joshua following.
“We seek the slave from the last down river digging. He is not at his post, and we are told he is here. We believe he is badly hurt. Is this the one?”
“Are you Franklin Monroe?” Joshua asked.
“Yes,” said Syd.
“The patient is too hurt to return to his post,” the Doctor declared.
“This is the slave you seek. He will return to his post as soon as he is able,” Joshua said.
The three Warriors bowed deeply. “Franklin Monroe, your courageous action saved many of us from grievous injury and death. We express our gratitude. When you have recovered, we will grant you any wish that is within our power.”
Syd remembered the last time he had heard such words, and the calamity that had ensued, but managed to say, “Thank you.”
After the Warriors were gone, the Doctor took Joshua by the elbow. “Let’s go for a walk. You and I have to talk.”
Rebecca held Syd’s hand. She finally had him alone, and she couldn’t even kiss him. “You are truly my Ashanti warrior. Even the Warriors agree.”
She saw the smile in his eyes. She waited by his side until he dozed off. Then, along with the Warrior Medic, she checked her other patients.
“You must return to your regular duties,” the Warrior Medic said as he excused her. “It is preferred that you not be here when the Guardian Doctor arrives. There is much animosity now between Guardians and Warriors. Although you were given permission to assist, your presence may remind the Guardian Doctor of previous disputes.”
She went back one more time to see Syd and found him still asleep.
“Don’t worry,” the Doctor said, as she took her leave. “I’ll look after him. I expect to hear his story. I’ve expressed to your father my utter disappointment at not being made aware of Franklin Monroe. I have lost a brother and deserved better treatment.”
Rebecca, embarrassed, said nothing but merely nodded. Her shift had long since ended and she walked slowly up the path, past the food wagon and up the hill to her house, returning the bows of the Warriors. She picked away at her food until her father came in.
“We have angered the Doctor,” she said.
“I know. We had words. But that is a small problem. There is something happening in the camp that makes me uneasy. I believe — “
He was interrupted by a knock at the door and the Warrior Medic entered.
“The camp commander informs me that the Guardian Doctor will not arrive as expected. He states that Warrior behaviour has made it impossible for him to attend. Nurse Rebecca must return to the clinic to assist me.”
Rebecca began to pull on her smock, but Joshua stopped her. “Does the camp commander agree?”
“The camp commander has expressed indifference — we may do as we please.”
“That does not constitute approval to proceed,” came a voice from the door as the Doctor stepped into the house. “I will not allow Rebecca to become an issue in your disagreement with the Guardians.”
“Nurse Rebecca is a slave. We Warriors have as much right to command her obedience as the Guardians. One Warrior in our care has died and several others are near death. There is no time to debate further. Nurse Rebecca has experience treating Warriors and is ordered to report to the clinic immediately.”
The Warrior Medic pushed past the Doctor who stood there frowning and shaking his head. He and Joshua watched uneasily as Rebecca made her way to the clinic.
Rebecca stopped first at Syd’s bedside. He was awake, talking to Monty crouched beside the cot. She took Syd’s hand and kissed it. “I can’t be with you now. I must help the Warrior Medic,” she explained and proceeded to the tent.
Monty stood up. “I’d better let you get some sleep. We’ll talk some more after my shift. Get well quickly.”
Rebecca needed no instruction and knew which bottles to pick off the shelf and how to apply them to the multiple head wounds of the Warriors. She worked into the next shift before the Warrior Medic announced they could do no more. Another Warrior had died but the remaining patients appeared stable or improving. Completely exhausted, hungry and thirsty, she stopped once more to see Syd before heading off to her house.
Syd was sitting in a chair while the Doctor removed his bandages and examined the wounds on his face and head. Most had lost their fiery look.
“You’ll live,” the Doctor said, and thought: too bad. He applied more ointment and bandage. “You may leave the clinic, if you wish, but return the second sunrise.”
Rebecca and Syd left together. Rebecca squeezed his arm as she went to her house, and Syd walked leisurely towards his end of the site. Warriors bowed to him as they passed, the bandaged face a badge of honour. If they only knew who he was, he thought, would they still bow?
He mulled over his whispered talk with Monty. There was rebellion in the air, the Guardians and Warriors clearly antagonistic to each other. If open warfare erupted, the humans had to take advantage. Monty divulged that he had a plan, but it needed Syd for input and to make it viable. “Therefore, get well quickly,” Monty said.
A Warrior approached him, trundling a translation machine. They bowed to each other. Syd would have walked on, but the Warrior reached out a restraining arm, and gently pulled him towards the rock cavern being prepared for the slaves. The cavern was large and empty since the Warriors had stopped construction. The floor was strewn with rocks and boulders. The Warrior motioned Syd to sit on a large flat boulder.
“This Warrior wishes to speak with you.” The monotone volume was turned low. “You may be assured our talk will be confidential. This Warrior knows who you are.”
Fear gripped Syd, and he half stood up. “What do you mean? My name is Franklin Monroe.”
“I know who you are. You saved me from injury and death during the bird attack. I recognized you as you leaped out of the digging. You spared my life on another occasion. I am the Warrior Pilot you did not kill. Your form and features are ingrained in my memory. Twice I owe my life to you. The Warriors believe you are dead. This Warrior will not divulge your secret.”
“You’re wrong, you’re making a mistake.”
“This Warrior knows you are the escaped slave. How you returned is a mystery. This Warrior is indebted to you.”
The Warrior bowed and left. Still shaking, Syd reached his tent, crawled onto his cot and fell asleep.
He slept an entire shift and awoke feeling refreshed and returned to the clinic. The Doctor removed the bandages. “We’ll leave you un-bandaged for the time being. If any of the wounds get infected, come back.”
Rebecca was assisting the Warrior Medic in the tent. He waved at her, and they blew kisses to each other.
Syd joined Monty on the river bank for the meal. Monty was sitting with his key team members a short distance away from the larger group. He told Monty about his encounter with the Warrior. “He seemed genuine in his gratitude, but it really shook me up.”
“If he is really grateful, then we may have an ally. Rebecca insists the Warrior Medic is also a friend, and her patients definitely show signs of gratitude. This all seems to indicate that if there’s a bust up, there may be an advantage in supporting the Warriors.”
Thelma objected. “Suppose we favour neither side and let them kill each other. Then all we have to do is clean out what’s left over and we’re free.”
Monty nodded “It’s quite a sound option, Thelma. The only thing is we don’t know what’s happening on the home planet. Unless they annihilate each other on the home planet, we’ll simply face another invasion once we’re free. Ideally, we should support the side that wins on the home planet.”
“The question is, Monty,” Deng Lee added, “even if we decided to favour a side —say, the Warriors — how do we know they can be trusted? ‘Thanks, guys, for supporting us, but you’re still slaves.’ Maybe Thelma’s right. The war starts, we grab our weapons, hightail it out of here, and watch what happens.”
“Like I say, it’s a real option, and I’m not discounting it. On the other hand, they have things we need, like transportation — we need to get around, we need the guns they have on their ships, and we have to get food here. I believe the choice we make will depend on events. If we do something now — like try to escape — we’ll simply unite the Guardians and Warriors. The seven of us are a war cabinet. Let’s meet as often as we can and keep on top of what’s happening.”
“Can we include Rebecca?” Syd asked.
Monty looked at him solicitously. “Not a good idea. It would put her in a difficult conflict of interest. We don’t know where Joshua stands and what his reaction will be if push comes to shove.”
“Then I’m in a conflict of interest too. Joshua came to see me while I was in the clinic, and I asked him formally for his daughter’s hand. Sure, he wasn’t all that thrilled about it, but he agreed. I don’t want my father-in-law hurt.”
Alicia, sitting next to Syd, embraced and kissed him. “Congratulations,” she said. “If Rebecca still loves you, hairless and cut up, then we will protect her father.”
Jeff reached over and gripped Syd’s hand. “Mazeltov. If you’re looking for a best man, I volunteer. I will also protect your father-in-law. When is the happy event?”
“Joshua thought it’d be better if we appear to be courting for a week or two.”
“I’ve never been in a war cabinet before,” Thelma said. “I never realized we plan weddings as well as wars.”
Monty chuckled. “Franklin Monroe, it will be part of our planning to keep Joshua from harm. Now, can we sound out the other slaves to see how much support we would have?”
Deng Lee stood up. “I’m sure we can sound out some, but we better do it carefully. If Joe hears about it, he’ll do everything he can to screw us. And I still believe there’s a mole.”
Monty nodded. “OK. Each of you talk to a few slaves. You all know your parts if the signal goes. Let’s stay close in touch.”
Monty took Deng Lee aside, as the others left. “There’s a hole in our plan that needs to be plugged. I know you’ll try to raid the house for the guns when Joshua isn’t there, but he may come after you and may get hurt. We may have to tell Rebecca our plans in order to get Joshua on side. Think about it.”
There was no warning siren signalling the start of the shift. Shift workers straggled to their stations, some arriving well after the sun had risen. Warriors milled about but paid no attention to the slaves. Warriors deserted the watch tower and scrambled down the tower ladder. The Warriors headed downstream and congregated in the clearing beyond the last digging.
The Guardian camp commander came out of his office, stood for a moment on the platform in front of it, and then walked slowly down the site, inspecting the diggings and examining the gold sacks of the panners.
“He’s showing the flag,” Ernie commented to Monty as they drained sediment from the sluice box.
“He’s not taking any chances. He’s got his visor down,” Monty observed.
A Warrior walked past the camp commander. The camp commander must have said something for the Warrior stopped and snapped around. They faced each other. The camp commander slowly reached towards the button on the power pack strapped to his stalk body. They were very close to Monty’s station.
“Watch out, Monty,” Ernie warned. “You’re in the direct line. I bet he wants him to bow.”
Guardian and Warrior continued to face each other. Seconds went by and lapsed into minutes. There was a rustle of tendril feet and high pitched calls. The Warrior Commander stepped between the camp commander and the offending Warrior. A dozen Warriors walked along the water line and placed themselves behind the camp commander. The standoff lasted awhile longer. Then the camp commander turned and walked back to his office.
The Warrior meeting went on for hours. Joshua and Noah patrolled the site. Emily did not show up for the water break.
“Man, you can feel the tension,” Ernie said.
“Just keep working,” Joshua ordered as he passed Monty and Ernie. “What’s going on doesn’t concern us.”
He stood to one side