The Colony Ship Eschaton: The entire ten book series, page 100
“We should have met a guard by now. I have been told the predicators patrol the edge of their city frequently. Yet we see no one at all.”
“I do not see anyone either,” Conner stated. “Usually on the farms around Antioch people are working during the days. And what is that smell?”
“It is something burning. It is especially vile.”
They walked on. Entering the town of Media itself, a haze was over the area. They saw the three streets lined by the permalloy cabins. The cabins were of nearly identical construction to the ones in Antioch. But again, they saw no people. A few goats ran loose across the way between the cabins, but no people.
“I think Brigham spoke the truth. Rector, something bad has happened here. Something very bad.”
“I get that same feeling. I thought maybe it was just me. We will look around a bit, and if we see no one, we will depart.” Conner could feel his heart beating more rapidly in his chest. He was not sure why, but the whole town being empty was frightening.
They passed the first street when they saw a person in the window of one of the cabins. The person pulled back quickly. So fast, nothing about the person could be identified. It was the briefest glimpe. The foul odor was stronger the more then entered the town.
As they made it onto the second street they could see down the way to the town square. There were blacked piles of ash in the town square across from what had once been a large wooden building. Tendrils of smoke curled up from the charred remains of that building. Two large doors were lying to either side, as if ripped from the building prior to the fire. The doors had not been burned and that fact made them stand out against the background of such destruction. It was eerie and ominous to see the doors to the meeting house which were now all that remained intact of what had been the center of activity for the Clan of Tobit. They lay like trees chopped down by a might swipe of an axe.
As Tobias and Conner walked up to the ruined town square, Conner saw chains and manacles which were charred black in one of the piles of ash.
“Whatever happened here?” Conner muttered under his breath.
The smell was getting excessive, the haze thicker, and it was not just the charred wood which was putting off the smoke and odor, there was something more.
“Rector, those are bodies,” Tobias stated as he pointed toward several blackened lumps on the roadway. “They had metal ring armor on, but the flesh is burned away. Brigham was right. This is the work of demons.” Tobias was frightened.
Tobias and Conner walked past the bodies and headed passed the last street. They still had not encountered anyone directly, but had seen a few other glimpses of people in windows of the permalloy cabins. As they went on they approached the edge of the world, the permalloy wall which reached far overhead and eventually arched to meet the sky tube. Long ago, someone had built wooden structures against the edge of the world here in Media. But they were very old, and the wood was rotted in places, and was grey and brittle with age. Only at one end was there fire damage, and that looked like it had taken place longer ago than the smoldering meeting house. There was even a small stack of the old lumber which had been piled together. In the center of the old wooden structure there was significant damage, but not from fire. It looked like something had ripped the wood apart as it clawed its way out from within. Planks and shards of wood were strewn about in a haphazard manner. The broken pieces of wood showed whatever had done the damage had been strong, for even though the wood was old, some of the broken pieces had been stout beams.
“Rector, something broke out of there,” Tobias said out loud.
“Yes, but look, there are permalloy doors and things behind all this wood. It sort of reminds me of the Center in Antioch. Why would anyone cover that with wood?” Conner pointed out.
A young boy came running out from one of the hard metal cabins. He was barefoot and fearful. He raced up to them and cried out, “Are you from Raphael? Have you come to save us from the demons?” His eyes were wild, and he clung to Tobias’ with both hands.
“What has happened here?” Tobias asked him.
“The demons! They come! They take the men away, or kill them. We are accursed! Have you come to slay the demons? Or the sorceress? Please you must save us!”
Tobias squatted down and talked to the boy face to face, “Slow down and tell me what has happened.”
“I did tell you. Demons! They came out of the old haunted place. They killed the predicators. They have taken my father away,” the boy was frantic.
A woman emerged from the cabin and with a panicked look rushed out and grabbed the boy, “Come back Doeg. We must remain hidden lest they return.” The woman was haggard and exhausted. When she was close to Conner and Tobias they could tell she was not nearly as old as she looked.
“Dear woman, please explain to us what is happening here,” Conner said. “We have come from Antioch with news, but what has happened.”
At the word Antioch, the woman stopped. She would not meet their eyes, but she did look more at them. “Heretics? It matters not. I am sorry sir. But our town is under siege. You would be best to flee while you can. They come mostly at night. From the haunted ruins by the edge of the world.” She turned and started to pull Doeg away with her.
“What is your name?” Conner asked.
“I am the wife of Mizzah. We must go and hide,” she took the boy by his hand and ran away.
“But mother, maybe they are from Raphael and have come as deliverers! They can return father!”
She backhanded Doeg with a sharp smack to the face. His nose bled, and he grabbed it to stop the bleeding. He glared at his mother and said with his hand still holding his nose, “Woman, when I come of age, I will remember this.” There was a clear threat in his young and small voice.
“I did not catch your name? We do bring news. And we do want to help you! Perhaps there is a way?” Conner offered.
Tobias glanced at him with some astonishment, but said nothing.
Conner continued as the woman walked away, pulling the boy who was still holding his nose with the other hand. “This is Tobias and I am Rector Conner of the town of Antioch. Do you know where Brigham’s family can be located?”
“My husband is gone. I am nothing. Brigham was from the last hard metal house on this road, if any family are still alive,” she pointed quickly, shoved the boy into the cabin, and then she slammed the door.
Conner and Tobias walked up the street and now did see some women taking quick peeks at them from the windows. The cabin the woman had indicated as belonging to Brigham’s family was nearly identical to the others, but last in the row. They approached the door and then knocked. There was no reply.
Conner stepped back and raised his voice, “I have news of Brigham. Please open up so I can tell you.”
The door slowly opened and a woman stepped out. She was gaunt and trembling. Her matted hair had not been brushed in some time, and her woolen clothing was in tatters. Her face had numerous scars across it. Her hands trembled as she pulled at her clothing. She would not look up at the visitors from Antioch. She kept the door open and looked like she was ready to bolt inside.
“I am wife of Lahmi, mother of Brigham. My husband is missing, carried away by the demons. You know of my son?” The woman had only about half of her teeth.
“I am Conner, what is your name?”
“Men do not ask my name. But these are strange times. I am called, Ashnah. Brigham is my husband’s son,” she added quickly as if making up for a mistake. She grabbed at the door and held it tightly. She slipped a bit behind it as if it were a shield between her and the strangers, Conner and Tobias.
In as gentle of a manner as possible, Conner explained what had happened to Brigham. He stated simply that he had died on the way back to Media. He did not elaborate on the mode of Brigham’s death. As he concluded the account Conner added, “Ashnah, I am truly sorry for your loss.”
She had no response. She just stared at the ground in front of her cabin. Then she ever so quietly and gently shut the door.
18 Rules of the game
Brink, Gideon, Lorna, and Regina all entered as the door opened. There was nowhere else to go. Biological Research BR47 was much as Regina remembered it. The last time she had entered it through a hatch in the floor, and left it nearly dead. She did not recall how she had been transported away, only severe pain followed by a vague sense of being carried a long distance.
They smelled vegetation. The circular ball which illuminated this area was lit up and they could see some of where they were located. They were standing on a small section of metal flooring, but built up around it was a variety of boxes containing soil and plants.
Looking further around Regina remembered clearly the orderly rows of plants. She could walk from any place in this mini-habitat to any other place, even in the dark. All thanks to the playing of games, orchestrated by The Voice.
The rows were set about one pace apart, with the permalloy flooring between. The plants were growing out of the soil which was contained in individual planters. The plants in the row nearest the door, were all almost uniformly tall, with large leafy branches. The same kind of yellow pods hug in clusters on each plant, just liked Regina had seen the last time she was here, and had revisited many times in her nightmares. The plants got progressively shorter as the rows got closer to the center.
Looking down the aisle, Regina could see where the transparent materials had been enclosing the place she remembered as the booth. It was a hexagonal shaped room. The remains of the transparent enclosure were still scattered around. There was a chair and some kind of table located at the center of the booth. On the bench were controls and a display screen, as well as a data stick, a reader, and the fusion pack Regina had lost here what seemed like ages ago. Or what seemed like only moments before. Regina’s heart was pounding and her head throbbed. She was breathing with difficulty as the anxiety of facing her deepest fears was materializing. The display was playing an audio and video clip of a man ranting and raving. The display shut down as they walked in.
“You are not alone,” Lorna said and wrapped an arm around Regina. Lorna’s short blonde hair just touched the edge of Regina’s face as she was hugged. That action broke the ascension of anxiety and allowed Regina to avoid fainting.
Lorna had heard Regina relate what had happened in this place, but none of them had ever been able to relocate it. Lorna saw the broken transparent walls, and noticed that the ceiling of the booth was still intact and was also made from clear materials. There was a circular clear tunnel which led straight upward into the darkness.
Gideon stumbled over and stood next to them, his bandaged hand soaked in blood and having an occasional slow drop of blood falling off of the saturated dressing. Brink remained near the door. He had turned to face it when it had closed.
“There are small animals in this place,” Regina said. “Lots of them.”
Looking out from the remains of this transparent booth Lorna could see the rows of plants all seemed to radiate outward from this room. In every direction was a row heading away.
“Now we will play some preparation games,” The Voice said. The words echoing about the area.
“I will stay and do your bidding, but release the others,” Gideon yelled. “I am already injured by you. So let them go!”
“This test subject is indeed injured. That will not work for the games,” The Voice stated in its cold mechanical manner.
Gideon was fully prepared to be struck down where he stood. He raised his sword as if it might somehow deflect the killing blow he expected.
Instead, a side section of wall opened and out came a man. He was limping, and moved with jerky motions. Right behind him was a white automacube.
Gideon turned to face the man and machine. His sword point was even and level at the man’s neck height. The man stopped just out of sword range. Gideon looked him over. He had significant burn scars over parts of his face. His arm was mangled, but somewhat functional. His clothing was tied together rags.
“Do not hurt primary test subject. Lower your sword,” The Voice said.
“Why?” Gideon screamed. “So he can kill me! No!”
“I need each test subject intact. Healing will be done to your injuries. You cannot play the game successfully when injured,” The Voice said.
The white automacube rolled forward.
Lorna pulled out her permalloy dagger and stepped in front of Regina. Regina struggled to pull out her dagger as well, but every time The Voice spoke, Regina’s anxiety soared and it was hard for her to focus on anything. Brink continued to stare at the sealed door.
“Gideon, might that be Shammai?” Lorna asked. She had heard the accounts Michael and Jamie had given, but was not sure who the scarred man was who stood in front of them.
Gideon was unsure what to do. The automacube was slowly rolling forward. “Shammai is dead,” Gideon finally said.
“I wish that were so. In a way it is true. The demon will do as it says. But it does exactly what is says,” the scarred man replied. “Your hand will be healed, if the demon says it will.”
Gideon glanced at his injured hand. He knew he was not in shape to help much, and machines had, in fact, healed him before. But they were in that Medical place. “I will not drop my sword, but the machine can treat my hand.”
“That is acceptable. Test subjects must be functional to play game,” The Voice said.
Gideon lowered the point of his sword away from the scarred man and the automacube. The machine’s arm extended outward, and with amazing dexterity unwrapped the bloody bandage. Gideon still had his thumb and index finger, but the other three were gone. A small tube extended out from the automacube and sprayed a gel over the injuries.
“Yikes!” Gideon screamed and tried to pull his hand away. The arm of the automacube had caught it with the pincers and held it fast. Before Gideon could swing his sword over and free himself, an additional gel was sprayed on the injures, and the hand released. Gideon’s sword swipe missed the automacube’s arm as it retracted quickly.
“It burns like fire!” Gideon said as he swung his hand around. His sword arm was forgotten for the moment as his head was filled and his vision blurred with bright lights caused by pain.
“It will not bleed, and it is cured,” the injured man stated. “Believe me, I know.”
“You are Shammai?” Lorna asked, still holding the dagger.
“I was. Now I am called Primary Test Subject. The demon controls everything.”
Gideon looked at his roughly healed hand. He could flex the index finger and thumb, and the short stumps remaining were scarring over. The pain was receding.
Gideon stepped over toward Regina and Lorna. The shattered remains of the transparent booth were odd to him, but in a way, he was glad his hand was no longer bleeding. He actually felt a bit of strength returning. He did not notice where the white automacube had gone.
“Brink, come over here,” Lorna called. He did not move.
“That test subject may remain at that location for introduction to this game. I know you are special test subjects.” A flickering came from the desk, and the data stick which had been sitting there inertly before, now suddenly flared to a dull glow. “I have gained access to some of the alien technology.”
A recording of a man’s voice came from the data stick.
"Then Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of bright colors she wore, and laid her hand on her injured head and went away crying bitterly. Tamar then lived….” The pitch and quality of the recording changed at this point. “She found that on the east side you shall mark out the border. The edge. From one side of the sea to another. Where the mountains rise in the center. This is the east side. The south side, toward the South, shall be from Tamar to the waters of salt, along the brook to the Great Sea. This is the south side, toward the South….” Another altered sound was heard, even though it was the same man’s voice. “…Yes indeed. So you see my friends, Tamar was injured and damaged, but she survived. We too will survive. But we will not be like Tamar. We cannot. We are not bitter, we are victorious! We will strike out on our own across the desolations of blackness to our new home, the New Canaan, to the new world of Zion’s Gate!”
“What is that?” Lorna asked.
“That describes the game,” The Voice replied.
“That is nonsense,” Lorna replied.
“The game consists of you test subjects achieving one single goal,” The Voice began, but Regina interrupted.
“Single goal? You never stop with your games! You nearly killed me! Let us go now!”
“Emotional outburst are irrelevant. The game consists of you test subjects achieving one single goal. You are to encounter the human Tamar and to kill her,” The Voice stated.
