CHAPTER 22
Syd and Ernie scrambled through the woods. Syd found the cache easily and they quickly dug out and donned the crowns and strapped on the power packs. They ran to a point directly opposite the camp commander’s office, splashed across the river, and moved quickly up to an open window at the back of the office. They were just in time to see the two Guardians escorting the two prisoners out. Syd, followed by Ernie, climbed through the window into the now empty office and peered out carefully from either side of the doorway.
Deng Lee led his troupe to Joshua’s house. Emily sat there, slumped forward at a table, weeping. Noah, trying to comfort her, looked up in terror. They didn’t have to hunt for the box of guns — it lay open in plain sight.
Other members of Monty’s group and Deng Lee’s two friends had joined them. Deng Lee eyed his little army of twenty-one.
“OK. Whatever ammunition we have is in the guns, so shoot carefully. Syd says to aim for the head. We go after the Guardians. We’ll then see how the Warriors react. Head for the couples quarters as they are just opposite the commander’s office and are on a rise high enough to give us a view. Me and my two buddies here will climb onto the latrine roof. When we start shooting, that’s when you start. Remember — don’t waste bullets. Good luck. Let’s go.”
Monty, armed with the special weapon, was at the couples quarters when they arrived and deployed. He joined Deng Lee on the roof of the latrine building. As the prisoners were led out, they readied themselves. Monty was about to fire when he heard the shots and saw the commander collapse. There was a moment of stunned silence.
“Shoot! Shoot the guard!” he shouted as he pressed the button on his power pack. A volley of gunfire rang out as flashes of lightning erupted. An enormous cloud of dust engulfed the scene. The Warriors emitted a cry of triumph and charged into the cloud, swinging their truncheons.
“Joshua, get the prisoners out of there,” Monty shouted, not even certain they were still alive. Joshua heard Monty calling from a long distance away. He opened his eyes, surprised he wasn’t dead. He grabbed Rebecca lying on the ground, threw her over a shoulder, grasped the Warrior Medic by the arm and pushed through the charging Warriors to the safety of the couples quarters.
“Stay in position, until we see what’s happened,” Monty called out.
Joshua placed Rebecca on a table. He pressed an ear against her chest and smiled when he heard the heartbeat. She had fainted. The Warrior Medic bowed and motioned to untie his hands. Joshua complied, and the Warrior Medic immediately untied Rebecca’s hands before running back to the melee.
The mountain breeze blew the dust cloud away. More Warriors lay dead, the Guardians annihilated. Some of the Guardians had made it to the platform before dying. Syd and Ernie were collecting their special weapons. There was an angry roar from the Warriors when they saw the humans with the special weapons.
The Warrior Medic ran in between them. “Do not harm them,” blared the monotone loudspeaker. “They defended us. The humans support us.”
“How do you know this?” a Warrior asked.
“I saw the two humans on the platform fire at the guard from behind. Joshua killed the camp commander, and pulled me and the human nurse to safety.”
There was a general hubbub as the Warriors discussed the issue. The Warrior Commander stepped forward.
“The Warrior Medic is right. The Guardians would have killed us all. How the humans got the special weapon and other weapons, I don’t know, but they used them on the Guardians, not on us.
A Warrior shouted: “They used their weapons to rescue one of their own. How do we know they won’t use their weapons on us now?”
Monty cautioned his group to stay alert and in position and then strode around the Warriors to stand beside the Warrior Medic.
“Warrior Commander and Warriors, if we had wanted to kill you, we would simply have continued firing. We rescued not only one of our own but also the Warrior Medic and saved most of you from death at the hands of the Guardians. What is more important now is to determine how we will defend ourselves when the Guardians on Planet Dawn and your home planet attack to avenge their comrades.”
The Warrior Commander turned to face the Warriors. “This Warrior is familiar with this human and his comrades. They are fierce and brave, and we Warriors admire such qualities. Once they wanted to kill me, and, even now, I recognize another of their comrades has a gun trained on me.” — He was interrupted by a chorus of angry, shrill cries from the Warriors. — “No, Warriors, be not disturbed. The humans are cautious at the moment. I say to the human leader — if you give up your weapons, we promise to defend you.”
“Your Excellency, with all respect, you were unable to defend yourselves. We are no longer slaves. We were free people on Planet Earth and we are now a free people on Planet Dawn. We will not surrender our weapons.”
Monty’s speech was greeted with a cacophony of cries and shrieks. The Warriors began to press forward. Monty flipped his head and the visor fell into place. Syd and Ernie did the same. The Warrior Commander held up his arms.
“Silence, comrades, and move back. Enough have died today. It is difficult for us to accept that humans can be free. Do we need the humans? War between the Sacred Clans rages on our home planet, and the information we receive indicates the Warriors are winning but with terrible losses. It is unlikely that we will see Guardians attack from our home planet or Warriors to reinforce us. Therefore, we are alone. The remaining Guardians here are in their city. We must retreat and defend our own city.”
Monty shrugged. “Your Excellency, we too will retreat to a place of safety. After the Warriors and the Guardians have killed each other, we will be free to establish the society we desire.”
“Sir, may I have a word?” a loud voice interrupted, and Joe stepped forward. “This man does not speak for all the slaves. I’m the leader of the slaves who want to be protected by you. We do not believe we can overcome both the Guardians and the Warriors. We do not want freedom. We are happy to serve you. I can be a better Overseer than Joshua.”
“Who is this human?” the Warrior Commander demanded.
Joshua had followed Joe into the clearing. “Master, he is a troublemaker. He lowers the gold quota. He serves only himself.”
Joe pointed to Monty. “Sir, there is your troublemaker. He is the one with weapons — him and his gang. We don’t have weapons. Ask him where he got the weapons. He won’t tell you. But I can tell you. See that man there.” He pointed to Syd. “ That man is not your friend. It took me awhile, but I now remember something about that man, something that will convince you that I am on your side.” He paused for dramatic effect.
Joshua fired a third shot that day. The bullet ripped through Joe’s head and spattered the closest Warriors with blood and bits of gore. There was an angry outcry from the Warriors and, truncheons raised, they pressed forward.
“Rocket ship! Rocket ship!”
Both Deng Lee and Syd shouted as a silver cigar-shaped aircraft with stubby wings whooshed low over them, flew past and banked to return.
“Take cover,” Monty cried out. He yanked Joshua by the arm and joined Ernie and Syd as they ran into the office and flattened to the floor. The Warriors scattered in all directions. Deng Lee leapt off the roof and herded his troop deep into the couples quarters.
The Warrior Commander and several Warriors raced towards the rocket ships that lay parked at the landing site. The Guardian ship blasted them and continued on, firing and strafing the fleeing Warriors. It banked again for the return and came in low looking for targets.
“Syd, Ernie, join me as it comes by and fire.”
The three ran out onto the platform, firing in unison. Bolts of lightning lashed out engulfing the rocket ship. There was a tremendous explosion as the craft blew apart, sending debris falling on both sides of the river.
“Warriors, man the ships. Prepare for more attacks,” Monty bellowed, hoping the translation equipment was still working. Warriors ran towards the parked ships.
The four men, jumping over dead and wounded Warriors, made their way to the couples quarters. Monty grasped Alicia. “Are you ok?” he asked.
White-faced and trembling, Alicia stuttered, “If you h-h-hug me any t-t ighter, I won’t be.”
Ernie and Thelma embraced. “Jesus, Ernie, what happens now? That was very scary.”
“I guess we’re at war. It looks like we won the first battle.”
Rebecca saw Syd coming and flung herself into his arms. They held each other for a long time, kissing unashamedly, while Joshua looked on. At last, they unclasped and Rebecca hugged her father. “Thank you, pappy,” she said over and over. Syd shook his hand. “Mr. Joshua, I am honoured and proud to be part of your family.”
Monty stood on a chair. “OK, everybody. Time to get down to business. Deng Lee, take some people and retrieve as many special weapons as you can. Ernie, go with him in case the Warriors object. Come back quickly. We need a council of war to figure out our next steps. Mr. Joshua, are you with us and can we have the rest of your guns?”
Joshua nodded. “Noah and I will bring them back. I’d best see how my Emily is faring.”
“Mr. Joshua, don’t stay in your house. I’m sure it will be a target.”
Deng Lee and Ernie returned a short time later with ten of the weapons.
“The Warrior Medic is not far behind and wants to meet with us urgently,” Ernie reported. “He is bringing with him a delegation. Monty, I’m sure they want to negotiate.”
The Warrior Medic and his panel of six Warriors stood in a shallow semi-circle in front of the couples cave. Monty and his war cabinet faced them. Monty bowed and the Warriors returned the bow.
“Humans, it is we who should bow to you. The Warriors agree that you have saved many of us from death. This Warrior is personally indebted for saving his life. This Warrior has been appointed by the Warriors to replace the Warrior Commander. The Warriors with me have been appointed to determine how we may best proceed to defend ourselves against the Guardians. Can we join together in a common defence?”
“The previous Warrior Commander said clearly that you do not need humans. What has caused you to change.”
“After the attack by the Guardian ship, it would seem we do need humans. Therefore, this delegation asks again — can we join together in a common defence?.”
“Provided we can agree on terms, we believe we can. You have armed rocket ships, and we have the special weapon.”
“Warrior terms are very simple. Humans and Warriors fight side by side. Should we win, you surrender the weapons and we protect you.”
Monty bowed and motioned his group to turn away. “If those are your terms, we cannot form an alliance. We will never surrender our weapons. We will defend ourselves to the death in order to stay free.”
“The human that Overseer Joshua killed said the slaves do not want to be free.”
“That particular human spoke for no one but himself. Our meeting is over. We cannot waste any more time. We must prepare for the next Guardian attack.”
“Wait. We will return.” The Warrior Medic led his delegation away.
“It’s likely they’ll ask for more mandate from the Warriors,” said Monty. “Are we all in agreement that we support them if they agree to the terms?”
There was a general nodding of heads. “I’m not in agreement,” a voice said. The Doctor had been standing just out of sight. “I believe the Guardians will win. They’re the better species, and we should support them.”
“But, Doctor,” Rebecca objected, “it was the Guardians who were going to kill me. Look how many Guardians were killed in rescuing me. They would never agree now to be friends with us.”
“It’s a matter of discussion with them, Rebecca.”
Monty shook his head. “Sorry, Doctor, Rebecca’s right. The Guardians you knew and became friends with are no longer there, so you can forget about discussion. The action we took ended any possibility of an alliance with the Guardians. I don’t feel great about working with the Warriors either, but if we can make a deal, I think it’s best. We need their rocket ships — we need to get around, we need the guns they have on their ships, and we have to get food here.”
Joshua and Noah returned carrying the box with the remainder of the guns. A tearful Emily embraced Rebecca. “I never thought to see you or pappy alive again, child.”
The Warrior Medic came running back. “Guardian rocket ships are on their way here. Radio measurement indicates six. We must seek shelter.”
“Where are your ships?”
“We have commandeered the three Guardian ships and three Warrior ships are on their way from the old camp and will be here shortly.”
“Send the three you have here to join with the others. Where will you hide?”
“Monty, I know a cave,” Syd interrupted.
“Warrior Medic, Franklin Monroe will lead you to safety. Take Rebecca and family with you. The rest of us and all the slaves will take shelter across the river in the forest.”
The slaves needed no urging. Led by Deng Lee, Alicia and Thelma, they splashed across behind the camp commander’s office where the water was shallow enough. Monty watched the last of the Warriors disappear into a forested gully followed by Joshua and Noah carrying the box of guns. The three rocket ships rose and flew off. He was about to cross the river himself when the Doctor walked towards him.
“This is madness,” the Doctor said. “I’m not joining you.”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll wait for them and try to negotiate.”
“Jack, negotiate what? We are no longer slaves. We will not surrender our weapons. You’ve got nothing to offer them. Besides, you’ll never have a chance to discuss your loyalty. They’re going to shoot first and ask questions afterwards. We’re at war. We need a doctor.”
The Doctor paused, thinking. “But at least I could try to talk to them. I still believe they are a rational species.”
Monty shook his head vehemently. “You’re putting me in a tough position. Suppose you survive to meet with them. What will you say about us? You don’t know where we are? To quote a well-known leader on Earth — you’re either with us or against us.”
The Doctor didn’t believe that Monty would kill him, but realized that his chances of persuading the Guardians were vanishingly small. He reluctantly followed Monty as he forded the river and ran into the shelter of the trees.
“All those with the special weapon, come to me,” Monty shouted.
Deng Lee and his two friends, Ernie, and Jeff quickly responded. Alicia and Thelma and two of the men from the couples quarters volunteered. Monty helped them strap on the power packs and adjust the crown. “Remember — to fire, flip your head forward so the visor comes down across your eyes. Look at the target and press the button. Fire when I signal.” He hugged and kissed Alicia. “Lee, make sure the slaves are well back in the woods and hidden. The rest of us take cover.”
In the far distance, Monty heard the faint rumble and saw sunlight splash off the bodies of the oncoming rockets.
“They’ll be here any second,” he shouted. “Stay down.”
Like approaching thunder, the sound of the rockets surged to an ear-splitting crescendo as the six aircraft in line swooped in low over the camp, swept past it and mounted high in the sky. The formation banked. Three ships split off and circled over the camp. The other three came in low and hovered over the clearing in front of the camp commander’s office.
“Hold your fire,” Monty called out. “We don’t want to engage until the Warrior rocket ships arrive. Let’s see what they do.”
From his vantage point, Monty saw one of the ships descend, and a dozen Guardians spilled out and raced to different parts of the site. Several carried the bodies of their fallen comrades into the craft. They searched the slaves’ quarters and the latrine building. A bolt of lightning hit the top of the Warrior tower and blew apart the cabin. Another bolt left Joshua’s house burning.
Monty could see the Guardians conferring. One Guardian, who seemed to be in charge, was pointing to the trees further downriver, towards the gully where Syd had led the Warriors. The two hovering ships moved towards the gully and began firing, blasting the trees part way up the hillside.
“They remember the cave where their search party was killed,” Monty said. “Get ready to cross the river.”
Far up river and high in the sky, Monty saw six specks, moving rapidly, just below the Winds of Dawn. The three Guardian ships, circling above the camp, intent on the ground action, did not detect the Warrior ships until it was too late
The hovering ships had found the cave opening and fired directly into it. The Guardians on the ground now charged forward to storm the cave. As the first Guardians entered, a bolt of lightning filled the cave opening and blew them back.
“Let’s go!” Monty shouted as he splashed across the river and raced towards the gully. “Take cover in the diggings. Rake the Guardians. Fire.”
A flood of lightning engulfed the Guardian line regrouping to assail the cave. Return fire shot over the humans as they ducked below the digging rim.
“Fire again!”
They raked the Guardian line and lightning came from within the cave as well. When the dust cleared, the ground in front of the cave was littered with the charred bodies of Guardians.
The Warrior squadron attacked in a deafening roar of rocket engines. Five engaged the Guardian craft circling over the camp. The sixth dove at the hovering space ships, firing at both in quick succession as it swept past. One of the hovering ships crashed bow forward into the river and was burning. The other ship, smoke coming from its engine, was trying desperately to gain altitude when the Warrior rocket ship returned and blew it out of the sky. High up, two of the Guardian ships were spiralling out of control, in flames. The third, trailing a long black tail of smoke flew away, hotly pursued by a Warrior ship.
The Warriors poured out of the cave and inspected the Guardian bodies. Several were still alive but badly wounded and these they killed, smashing the yellow heads with their truncheons. They raced into the Guardian ship parked in front of the camp commander’s office but found it empty.
“Monty, where’s Thelma?”
Monty looked around. He realized both women were missing, and he was filled with gut wrenching fear. He and Ernie ran back to the river. On the other bank, the Doctor was examining and washing Alicia’s forehead while Thelma stood by. Relieved, they plodded across the water.
“What happened?” Monty asked.
“Alicia tripped as she started into the water and bashed her head. I pulled her out and then went for the Doctor,” Thelma explained.
“She’s ok,” the Doctor said. “She’ll have a big egg on her temple for a few days. There’s no sign of concussion.”
“I’m sorry, Monty, I screwed up.”
“Monty, she was face down in the water and unconscious. I had to pull her out.”
“It’s alright, Alicia, Thelma. There won’t be a court martial. We’re just happy you’re both ok.” He held Alicia’s hand and kissed it. “We seem to have won the day.”
“You’ve won a skirmish,” the Doctor said. “They’ll be back. It pains me that I’m part of this.”
Monty shrugged. “You’ll think differently when we’re free.”
“We won’t be free. The Guardians are too powerful. Besides, have your Warrior friends agreed to your freedom?”
“Well, you have a good point there. We’re way apart on terms.” Despite his bravado, Monty was worried. Without food supplies and the Warriors’ ships, their fight for freedom could be short-lived. “We need to convince the Warriors to form an alliance.”
“Monty,” Deng Lee called from the camp commander’s office. “The Warrior Medic is here and wants to talk.”
“Be right there.” He turned to Alicia. “Do you feel well enough to check whether the other slaves are ok?” She nodded. “Also, sound them out on how enthusiastic they are for the fight ahead. We need volunteers for whatever weapons we have.”
The space in front of the camp commander’s office was filled with Warriors. Several were leaning on colleagues and walking towards the clinic with Rebecca in the lead. Joshua and Syd climbed the steps to the platform. Joshua had both revolvers in holsters strapped to either side of his waist. Syd, in addition to the special weapon, also had a holstered revolver in a belt hanging from a shoulder. Noah, cradling a rifle, stood with Emily at the side of the clearing.
“Any casualties?” Monty asked.
“None,” Joshua answered as he thumped Syd on the back. “My boy here had us well back, and when the firing began, he was the one to attack.”
The Warrior Medic was alone on the platform. In addition to Joshua and Syd, Monty summoned Ernie and Thelma, Jeff and Deng Lee to join him.
“Humans,” the loudspeaker blared, “once again, you have shown yourselves to be brave and resourceful. The Warriors acknowledge this and express their appreciation.” At this, the entire gathering of Warriors bowed.
“Your Excellency,” Monty said as he returned the bow. “We applaud the skill and courage of the Warriors flying the rocket ships who made this day’s triumph possible.” Again there was much bowing back and forth.
“The Warriors request that you explain what you mean by freedom.”
“We wish to organize our society and pursue our own ends without interference or control by the Warriors. We would occupy half the planet and the Warriors the other half. There would be no more raids on Earth or elsewhere for slaves.”
“How would we acquire gold?”
“We could mine it for you, or you could mine it yourself. If we mine it for you, we will determine the shifts we will work and the amount we will produce, and we will negotiate with you the price you will pay.”
“Pay? We know from our data banks that you have units of exchange on your home planet. We have no such units.”
“A price need not be in units of exchange. You have things we require such as transportation and machinery.”
“Your Excellency,” Thelma interrupted. “In time, we could develop units of exchange which would facilitate trade between us. You have used us as unskilled labour, but among us are many skilled people who could be useful to both humans and Warriors. Even now, the human nurse Rebecca is caring for wounded Warriors. You do not have to enslave or to oppress us to acquire what you need.”
“Humans are asking us to change how we have lived for many years.”
Ernie jumped in. “Warriors have changed traditions that are centuries old. You have broken the Sacred Writings and have killed Guardians. You are challenging Guardian domination.”
“Warriors,” the Medic turned to the gathering, ‘you have heard the humans. Let me present the case. We are evenly matched in armaments with the Guardians, except for the special weapon which they have in abundance and which we now have some, taken from the bodies of the Guardians. Twice today, the humans, with the special weapon and their bravery and cunning, came to our aid and helped us against the Guardians. This Warrior Medic, now the Warrior Commander, is convinced that with the humans, we have an advantage. We need to decide quickly. What say you?”
A Warrior stepped forward and bowed.
“Monty, that’s the one who knows me,” Syd whispered.
“Warrior Commander, this Warrior Pilot agrees with you that it is to our advantage to ally with the humans. Without the humans today, most of us would be dead or fleeing. At least two humans have shown that they can serve our interests without being forced to do so. One is nurse Rebecca who treated us when she did not have to, and whose reward for so doing was to be sentenced to death from which she was justly rescued. The other is Franklin Monroe who risked his life when he left the safety of his digging during the bird attack and saved many of us from death or serious injury. I believe we can chance that our two species can live in peace, once we have defeated the Guardians.”
Another Warrior spoke up. “The Warrior Pilot’s judgement is weakened because his life was spared by the escaped slave. Therefore, he has come to see special qualities in humans. He forgets that the escaped slave killed eleven of our comrades. He has found two humans who acted selflessly. What about all the others? Overseer Joshua killed the slave who was about to reveal something of importance to us. Why? Look at their delegation. They are all armed with the special weapon. Can we really trust that humans will be peaceful?”
“Warrior Commander and Warriors,” Monty said. “Humans ask the same question. Can we really trust that the Warriors will live in peace with us? We have been oppressed, beaten and even killed by you. That is our experience with Warriors. Why should it change? We face a common enemy that is powerful. We would not have this discussion if you felt confident you could defeat the Guardians alone. We need each other — that is a firm basis and the only basis for an alliance. It is time to stop talking and to act.”
The Warrior Commander moved into the gathering of the Warriors, away from the translation equipment. The volume of shrieks and high-pitched cries that human ears could pick up indicated intense debate was going on. Finally, the Warrior Commander returned to the platform.
“The Warriors agree. We are allies. We accept your terms.”
Monty heaved an enormous sigh of inward relief. There was now a fighting chance to succeed. He removed the crown from his head and dropped it to the ground and bowed. The Warrior Commander returned the bow, picked up the crown and handed it back to Monty.
“What happens now, Monty?” Syd asked.
What indeed? Monty thought. The last war he had managed was an assault exercise on a Nova Scotia beach during his naval cadet days. He had studied military strategy of the Second World War, but there had been no lessons on intelligent mushrooms flying rocket ships and armed with a personal weapon containing canned lightning.
“Warrior Commander, will your radio measuring device continue to warn us if the Guardians mount another air attack?”
“Yes, we have set up the equipment in the commander’s office.”
Monty faced the war cabinet. “Joshua, do you know how much food we have on hand?”
Joshua thought a moment. “The regular delivery was not to come for two more shifts. We still have enough food for four meals.”
“Warrior Commander, to be safe, we must get extra food here. Suppose the Guardians attack the farms?”
“They are too close to the Warrior city. We Warriors would consider an attack on the farms an attack on our city, and take measures to repel it. The Guardians are more likely to focus any attack directly on our city. Nevertheless, we will ensure extra provisions.”
“Rocket ship!”
“It is our own. Do not fire,” called a Warrior from the camp commander’s office. “It is the ship returning from its pursuit of the damaged Guardian ship. Our ship has radioed that they chased the Guardian ship within sight of their city, and then retreated when the Guardians sent up aircraft. They could see the Guardians are assembling their entire fleet.”
“We must move to our city and prepare to defend it,” said the Warrior Commander.
“Is that what they expect you to do?” Monty asked.
“Yes, it is what we did in the distant past when they invented the special weapon. Our city is well fortified.”
“Perhaps we should do something unexpected.”
Alicia came up to them. “Monty, the slaves are ok. There are about 30 men and women who will join in the fight if we have enough guns. The couples with children just want to protect their kids. The others are frightened but eager to be free. Hilda stopped me and wanted to know whether I’d seen Joe. I told her he was killed during the attack and had behaved very bravely. Can’t we get rid of his body? He’s still lying there.”
Jeff and Syd jumped off the platform and carried Joe’s body away. They placed it in the still smouldering ruins of Joshua’s house.
“Monty, I need to talk to you alone,” Alicia said quietly. “Right now.”
They walked a short distance away and sat down on the grass beside the clearing.
“Monty, after I had sounded out the slaves, my head was killing me so I went in search of the Doctor. One of the slaves directed me deeper into the woods. I heard the Doctor’s voice and saw him talking into what looked like a walkie-talkie. I was too far away to hear what he was saying or the monotone voice that answered. I believe we’ve got a spy in our midst.”
“Damn it. I always had doubts about where he would stand. I take it he didn’t know you were watching him.”
“No, I sneaked away.”
“Good, we’ll be very careful what we say when he’s around.”
They returned to the platform. “Warrior Commander, shall we meet in the camp commander’s office which has a relief model of the entire area, so we can plan our strategy?”
“This Warrior must first dispatch most of the Warriors to our city.”
He moved away from the translation equipment. The rocket ships descended and Warriors