CHAPTER 14 (Northern Continent)
When Jim Cranston, Larya and the other six set out on their journey from domta Zanatei back to the settlement, winter was well advanced. With the cold winds had appeared rain and snow, although the latter had not yet reached the lower levels of the hills. Jim had been desperate to leave before this but had been detained by the need to be fully briefed about Lind culture, society and numbers, together with the preparation of a detailed exposé of what the Lind expected to happen come summer, so that he could brief the colonists.
The four humans were mounted; permanent permission for this had been received from the Eldas of the Gtratha, the rulers of Lind. The riders had a small lightweight pack strapped to their backs containing only the necessities required for the journey. Thomas and Jim were openly armed, belted swords at their side. All carried sharp knives within easy reach.
When Tara asked if she might also carry a sword (she thought she might feel safer with it, at least she could scare potential attackers away), it was her Kolyei who said an unequivocal no.
: You have only twelve summers. You must have fourteen to fight :
And that was that.
Francis was remaining behind and Jim had placed him in charge of the human contingent. He stood slightly in front of the others who gathered to say goodbye and he called out to Jim as the party left.
“We’ll be fine Jim. I know what is to be done, never fear. Asya will send a message if there are any problems. She has good rapport with your Larya.”
Jim had been more than a little surprised, but very pleased to learn that Asya was Larya’s daughter and that such family ties augmented telepathic abilities. On reflection he realised that the relationship between Larya and Asya made Francis some sort of relative, but Jim only got more and more confused when he tried to work out just how exactly he was related to the ex-rating.
Many Lind could send thoughts and images, and even actual words to each other over long distances. The Larg could not. Their telepathic abilities were limited to a few miles and that for the most able only. Jim intended to make advantageous use of this unexpected bonus. Francis had the important task, among others, of working out just how they could use this skill in a battle situation. He would also begin to work with the Lind to develop cavalry fighting techniques for vadeln-pairs together with explaining to the Lind how humans fought with edged weapons so that the Lind would be prepared if the Electra convicts did ally with their enemies the Larg. The Lindars would need to learn how to adjust their tactics for fighting with humans and against them. He was in for a busy time of it although he fully intended to involve James, Kath, Bill, Geoff and the others. Laura would continue to pursue her chosen profession as healer.
As Jim rode Larya out of the clearing he wondered again at the change in the man. From a dangerous troublemaker aboard the Argyll, Francis was transformed into his right-hand man and Jim was pleased and not a little surprised to realise that he had not a single qualm about leaving him here to see through a multitude of important tasks. Jim trusted Francis and that was all that mattered.
The journey back to the settlement was an uncomfortable one. The wind cut through their outer garments like hundreds of sharpened knives. The rain fell incessantly, soaking through their clothes during the first day and never stopping long enough for them to dry out. The Lind coat was far better suited to the inclement weather but the constant aroma of wet fur was not at all pleasant. It made for a miserable journey. They stopped to rest each sundown and spent damp nights squashed together underneath the one inadequate tarpaulin, which kept enough of the direct rain off them so as to ensure at least some sleep.
It was with a great deal of relief that they reached the end of the plains at last and entered the woodlands. The trees sheltered them from the ravages of the wind and from the worst effects of the downpours. It was, however, a wet and bedraggled party that reached the edge of the woods and looked down at the settlement.
They paused for a while to decide the best way to approach. From the cover of the tree line, Jim took out his binoculars and surveyed the lie of the land.
His lips pursed together as his mind registered what he was seeing.
“They’re strengthening the palisades,” he announced. “Wonder what’s happened to make them do that? There are more sentries than I expected to be seen on the walls as well.”
“Can’t we just go down and ask them to let us in?” asked young Peter in a plaintive voice. He was desperate to see his mother and little sister again.
Tara and Thomas agreed with him, adding their pleas to his.
“Might be better to approach first on foot,” demurred Jim. “If there has been trouble I certainly don’t want to be spitted by an arrow or these crossbow bolts that Arthur Knott was experimenting with when I left before I get the chance to explain myself.”
There were murmurs of agreement from their Lind partners. Afanasei too was of the opinion that caution was the safest option.
“We wait here,” he decided. “Jim and Thomas must go.”
It was agreed. To Peter’s immense chagrin, he and Tara waited in the cover of the trees with the Lind and watched Jim and Thomas begin their descent and start their long walk towards the gates.
As the two approached and became aware of bustle and other movement from inside, more guards appeared at the walls.
A voice called out to them. “No nearer. Stop there and identify yourselves.”
Jim cupped his hands round his mouth and bellowed, “Jim Cranston and Thomas Wylie here. Let us in. We have news.”
After a long moment, a figure waved them forward and the gates swung open. When they stepped through the narrow opening, the first person they saw striding towards them was Stuart MacIntosh, closely followed by Robert Lutterell and other members of the Council.
“Thought you were dead,” was Stuart’s first comment. “What took you so long, you rascal?” His face broke into a large welcoming smile. “One of the missing with you as well I see. I assume from Thomas’s presence that you found them all in the end? Where are the others? Are they far away?”
“Far enough and one question at a time old friend,” replied Jim easily, clapping his one-time commanding officer on the shoulder. “We have a lot to tell you and none too much time.”
“And we you,” interrupted Robert. “Glad to see you. Honestly didn’t think we’d see you again, especially with what has been a happening here recently.”
“Trouble?” asked Jim.
“You don’t know the half of it,” was the grim answer.
“I might be able to throw some light on the situation,” said Jim, “but we have some friends waiting patiently outside in the woods waiting for my word to come in and meet you all. Two old friends and five new ones as a matter of fact.”
Thomas, letting out a loud whoop of joy and recognition, began to run towards a tall middle-aged woman who had joined the interested folk at the gate, distracting Jim. There was quite a crowd gathering. The woman must be his mother, Jim decided. They had the same colouring and build and the lad could be heard recounting his adventures to the woman at top speed. Nearby colonists were gathering round to listen and loud were the exclamations of amazement from that general direction.
Jim decided not to wait.
“May I call our friends in?” he asked. “I have to warn you though that five of them are not human. They are Lind and are set to become our helpmates and allies in this new and dangerous world.”
“Lind?”
“What are they?”
“How did you meet them?”
“Was it them who kidnapped the youngsters?”
Jim held up an arm to stop what promised to be a liturgy of questions.
“It would be far better if they tell you themselves. They speak perfectly adequate Standard,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. He had been looking forward to this moment. “I do need your assurance that they will come to no harm. Young Peter Crawford and Tara Sullivan are with them.”
<
br /> Stuart turned to Robert. “See to it will you? Warn the sentries, make sure they understand.”
“Aye, sir,” he answered with a grin and sped off.
Jim thought hard at Larya, indicating that it was now safe to approach. He sensed her letting the others know then led Stuart MacIntosh and the others over to the palisades. As he climbed the ladder up to the parapet (new since his time, and the walls were much higher) he heard the Council members following behind, talking amongst themselves nineteen to the dozen about Thomas and Jim’s unexpected arrival.
He looked up at the tree line and was rewarded by the sight of the five Lind and the two children emerging and starting to walk down the hill. He was pleased to see that both Tara and Peter were mounted on Kolyei and Radya, thus proving to the watchers that there was no danger.
There was a hiss of anger from one of the sentries to his right. The man raised his bow and Jim watched in consternation as he retrieved an arrow from the quiver by his side.
“What are you doing?” an angry Jim yelled at him, “these are our friends.” The man looked at Jim, shaking his head. He made no move to un-notch his arrow.
“Seen these creatures before,” he said. “Took out one of the farms.”
“Not these creatures,” insisted Jim, “the Lind would not do such a thing.” He sent a telepathic warning to Larya and the approaching party stopped in their tracks.
He turned to Stuart and Robert who were nodding in agreement.
“Last month,” confirmed the latter. “Bunch of them, killed everyone, man and beast, wolves as big as carthorses.”
“The Larg,” breathed Jim. Now he understood why the colonists were raising the height of the palisades and why the settlement appeared overcrowded. The inhabitants of the outlying farms must have returned to the settlement for shelter and protection.
“The who?” questioned Stuart.
“The Larg,” repeated Jim. “They come from the southern continent, swim over the narrow part of the ocean using the islands to rest. They are the traditional enemies of the north. Vicious brutes, they enjoy killing. We’ve come to warn you and to decide how both we and the Lind can pool our resources to meet the threat.”
“Bit late for a warning,” growled Robert. “When we got to the farm it was all over. Managed to run them off though and killed one.”
Jim was very interested in this last piece of information. “Still got the carcass?” he asked.
Robert nodded. “Still there. It was a large farm. Buried the families but still to deal with the outlying livestock.”
It was Jim’s turn to nod. “I might want to look at the body later.” He gazed at the rest of the Councillors, warning in his eyes.
“Those that approach are our friends,” he emphasised. “They have been battling with the Larg for centuries, eons perhaps. They might be our only chance to beat the Larg off and there are other complications, which I will tell you about when we are alone. The Lind want an alliance. Together we have a good chance to defeat them before they spread mayhem and carnage throughout the eastern part of the continent. The Lind may have spirited away some youngsters but I assure you that they meant them no harm and that it was the only way they could think of to make contact with us.”
He still saw disbelief and uncertainty on some faces and his voice became more forceful. Out of the corner of his eye he watched as the trigger-happy sentry began un-notching his arrow.
“By all the stars in the sky, all sixteen of us have been living in their land, living happily amongst them, learning each other’s language and traditions. We have bonded with them!”
“Bonded?” asked one Jean Farquharson, an older, grey-haired lady who had been co-opted on to the Council by virtue of her great common sense and level headedness. “What do you mean bonded? You mean all this? These are not the same creatures that attacked the farm?”
“Definitely not. They are friends and allies and you must greet them accordingly, not shoot at them.”
There was a silence then Stuart MacIntosh nodded. “I trust you Jim,” he said. “If you say that they are our friends and vouch for them then I’m with you.”
Jean nodded then after a moment Jim saw Robert Lutterell do the same. Apart from Stuart MacIntosh, these were the most forceful members of the Council. It had been them he needed to convince. He looked for any other dissenting faces. He saw none. Francis McAllister had had the measure of it. These people trusted Jim; trusted his judgement. Despite his previous misgivings about leaving the domta, he had been the only person who had the force of character and reputation to enable him to persuade them of the friendliness of the Lind. If he had not been here, the human anger about what had occurred at the farm might well have precipitated a very serious incident, one that would have proved extremely detrimental to the future relationship between human and Lind.
“Stand these sentries down,” Jim ordered, “and I’ll tell our visitors to continue their approach.”
“Some inhabitants are angry about what has happened,” ventured Winston Randall. “Might it not be better for some of us to greet them outside the walls whilst others inside make sure everybody knows of their benign intent?”
Stuart MacIntosh agreed with this and Robert Lutterell and some others of the Council were sent to arrange it. He himself would accompany Jim to meet their guests, together with Jean and Winston.
At this point Thomas came bounding up towards them, anxious to be reunited with his beloved Stasya, his family in tow and a gaggle of excited colonists in their wake.
“Stasya says she is coming,” he shouted. “I want her to meet my family.”
That decided almost all who still doubted, and they began to lose their strained expressions. The boy was so happy and excited. Surely there was little to fear?
Agnes Crawford walked up to Jim at that point, her face glowing with happiness.
“Thomas says Peter is out there?
Jim smiled at her.
“Thomas says Peter has made an especial friend of one of these creatures? That they talk to each other with their minds?”
At that moment Jim was really glad that he’d decided to bring Peter and Radya with them, glad to have brought such joy back into her life.
She gave him a huge hug. “Thank you for bringing him home,” she said in heartfelt tones, too full of emotion to say any more.
Raising his voice, Jim shouted, “Let’s go,” and looking down at the woman added, “Peter will be so pleased to see you. I think you will like his Radya. She loves him very much and she has been looking forward to meeting you.”
“Meeting me?” Agnes squeaked.
“She has tended him well,” he answered her. “Don’t be jealous of the affection they have for each other. They are bonded, we think for life. The Lind call it vadeln.”
“What do I say?” she asked worriedly. “How do I greet her?”
“Invite her back to your cabin of course,” said Jim with a laugh. “Mind, it might be a tight fit but she’ll squeeze herself in somehow. She really wants to meet Peter’s human family.”
Jim started through the gate. Spilling after him, Stuart, Jean and Winston walked Thomas and Peter’s families, then all those who had managed to listen in and who wanted to be part of the excitement. It was quite a number that eventually exited the gate and approached their visitors.
Jim warned Larya. The Lind came to a halt some distance away. They stood motionless as the party approached, all but one Lind and her rider that is, Radya, Peter still on her back, began to move forward. As Peter’s mother broke free from the others and started to run towards them, he tumbled from Radya’s back and ran towards her. Agnes swept her son into her arms, cuddling him close. Peter squirmed free after a few minutes of this affront to his ten-year-old dignity and those watching could see him as he talked earnestly to her. Mother and son then turned towards Radya and the boy could be heard introducing them to each other in a clear, piping and excited voice.
“Radya, this
is my mother, Mummy, this is Radya. Isn’t she gorgeous?”
Radya’s polite reply was heard by all close enough to hear.
In perfectly accented Standard and to Agnes Crawford’s surprise, she said, “Good day Agnes. I am Radya. I am pleased to meet you.”
“I am very pleased to meet you as well Radya,” she replied. “I hear that you have been looking after my boy? You have done well. He looks very fit and happy.”
“Peter miss Agnes,” announced Radya. “I bring Peter here. I am sorry that Peter had to go away but it was necessary.”
Agnes laughed delightedly. “Oh, you and I are going to get along just fine!”
A similar scene was acted out as Thomas introduced his Stasya. The crowd that had followed the Councillors outside milled around talking excitedly. None appeared to be afraid. Jim wondered whether Afanasei, Kolyei and his Larya were imparting non-threatening vibes to the crowd. He rather expected that they were.
Tara remained seated on Kolyei’s back. She had no family to meet her. She sat there sadly, waiting for Jim and the Councillors to approach, a faint smattering of tears showing in her eyes; then felt her unhappiness ease somewhat as Kolyei telepathed her the emotions of love and belonging.
Winston Randall, recognising her as the girl he and Laura had rescued after the asteroid storm on the space ship, did his best in the circumstances and it was a good best.
“Tara Sullivan?” he asked, walking towards her.
She looked down and saw him, a merry smile on his face.
“Welcome back Tara,” he said, opening his arms in invitation. “What about a hug from me?”
So it was Tara’s turn to be hugged and fussed over. Kolyei looked on indulgently and wagged his tail.
“Janice and I have been so worried about you, Mrs Mackie as well although she doesn’t say much these days.”
Tara looked at him enquiringly.
“She is not well and is being looked after in the infirmary now. Perhaps you might like to visit her later?”
Jim was introducing Afanasei and Larya to Stuart and Jean.
“I am pleased to meet you,” said Afanasei in Standard. He had been practising this phrase for hours. He lowered his head courteously.
Stuart was immensely surprised at this but with great presence of mind copied the gesture. Jean merely stared up at Afanasei, open mouthed with astonishment.
Larya nosed Jim.
“Inside we go,” she said decidedly. “Heat and food.”
Jean was recovering admirably from the shock of hearing wolves talking Standard but did manage an answer.
“Yes. Certainly. I think the meeting hall, Stuart. Do you agree? We can have food brought to us there.”
Stuart did agree and led the way back through the gate. It was quite a procession that followed him and as they entered the settlement it appeared that all its inhabitants had turned out to watch them pass. Robert’s information dissemination had worked. There were many smiles and welcoming waves from the crowd and hardly any disapproving looks.
In order that all could see the truth of this, Jim remounted Larya (at her insistence) with Tara, Thomas and Peter following suit. Afanasei padded along at Larya’s side.
“What are they?”
“What kind of animal is that?” asked a wizened old lady.
“They’re like large dogs but far more beautiful. Look at the blue stripes on their coats.”
Peter and Radya were bustled away by Agnes, she intent on finding out just what exactly had been happening to her son over the last months. The Wylie family escorted Thomas and Stasya to one of the open areas near their own cabin. As many as possible crowded into the available area and some not so available; a few were noticed perching precariously on the roofs in order not to miss any of the fun.
Stuart led the remaining three Lind, Tara and Jim towards the meeting hall followed by those who had decided they wanted to hear the news directly from Jim Cranston’s mouth. The vet walked beside Kolyei, one hand on Tara’s arm. Tara was glad of his comfort; the settlement seemed to consist entirely of eyes, eyes that watched her and Kolyei’s every move. She was reminded of her arrival at domta Zanatei and began to wish she was back there. The domta had become her home. After all these months away, it was the settlement that seemed to be alien to her and not the country of the Lind. Winston patted her hand and caught her eye. He winked solemnly and Tara choked back a giggle.
Kolyei was preening himself as he deciphered the comments of the crowd.
“Don’t be stupid woman, they look nothing like dogs. Too large, horses maybe.”
“Who ever heard of horses like them?”
“They’re wolves,” breathed the selfsame old woman, “huge, proud beautiful wolves like those that once lived on Earth.”
“That child is riding that one.”
“Yes,” crackled the old woman’s sister, “she’s one of the ‘Children of the Wolves’, like the rumours that have been going round since the children disappeared.” Unconsciously she was echoing Yvonne’s words, spoken that day at domta Zanatei.
“Mighty odd wolves to let people ride them like that.”
And so the whispers grew louder and turned into excited shouts.
“The rumours are true! Look at this. Come and see. Look at the Child of the Wolf.”
The crowd grew bigger and noisier in its excitement. People tried to jostle forward the better to see this marvel.
“What food do I order?” asked Stuart of Jim. “I can’t very well serve them bread and cakes!”
“Meat,” replied Jim, “raw and lots of it. We’ve been on the road a long time and it’s been sparse rations for the last few days. We didn’t want to waste any time getting here. There is much to do and say and time is running out.”
When all were replete (the three Lind ate their fill in a corner of the hall in case watching them eat the raw meat upset any of their new allies’ dispositions) they got down to business.
“You start off,” ordered Jim, “then we’ll fill in the bits you don’t know and tell you what is likely to happen in the future.”
Nothing loath, Stuart began the tale, recounting all that had happened since Jim had left on his hunt for the children. The colonists had come across the Larg scouts a few times but had not understood what this meant. They had thought them to be another type of ruminant like the jezdic and zarova. The incident at the farm was the only time when the creatures had actually attacked. Afanasei was of the opinion that the Larg had only attacked in order to gain access to the domesticated herds in the farm’s paddock.
“Hunger,” Afanasei said. “The Larg are your enemy as much as they are the enemy of the Lind. If humans had not defended the zarova, they would have been left alone by Larg, at least in the beginning.”
“Scouts,” said Kolyei, nodding his head sagely.
“How do we defend ourselves against them?” demanded Robert Lutterell.
“How many are there?” asked Stuart MacIntosh.
“Scouts,” reiterated Afanasei. “Lindars come. Guard farms.”
“Lindars?” queried Jean.
“A Lind warrior regiment,” answered Tara, as Jim for some reason seemed unable to answer. In fact he was collecting his thoughts. If the colonists were jittery and worried now, after a small attack on a farm by some Larg scouts, how would they react to the news that an army of them was planning an invasion this coming summer?
With Kolyei’s encouragement, Tara continued to explain. It was no easy task to describe an alien species to a group of twenty serious-faced adults when one was only twelve.
“Each Lind pack has a sort of regiment of fighters,” she said. “Afanasei has just offered to send you some Lindars to openly patrol the area, for protection and also to act as a deterrent so that the Larg keep their distance.”
Afanasei looked at her approvingly. This youngling had a good grasp of the situation although he was in no doubt that the more experienced Kolyei was prompting her. Still, at least she
had the presence of mind to pick up on the explanations needed when she saw that Jim was preoccupied.
There were murmurs of relief. The Council had talked long and hard about how they were going to protect the outlying farms. The settlement was too small to house everybody comfortably.
The Council uttered their thanks and grateful acceptance of this offer.
It was Stuart who brought up the next subject. He had homed in on one word, initially spoken by Kolyei then repeated by Afanasei.
“Scouts?” he asked, “Scouts for what?”
Jim looked at him. It was time to tell all.
* * * * *