The Colony Ship Eschaton: The entire ten book series, page 129
“Are you coming for trading day?” a child asked from where she had been standing. She was nearly hidden by the tall weeds and grasses around one dilapidated house. They had been so busy looking over the gardens and the intact cabins; they had failed to see the young waif.
“Be still…” Kedar began, but Seorim grabbed his arm and interrupted his rebuke of the young girl.
“Yes, dear child,” Seorim said in a phony manner. “We are from far away. Would you be so kind as to help us to find where to trade?” Seorim glanced quickly at Asa with a look that told Asa to put away the club he was ready to use.
“Did you come over the mountain?” the girl asked in an awed voice.
“We are from far away, and we need your help. Will you be so kind?” Seorim asked.
“Okay. Traders go to the town square. That is right by the Fellowship of Maintenance Tabernacle. There are booths and tables for trading.”
“Forgive me, but I missed what you said,” Seorim stated as he inched closer. “I am having a bit of troubling hearing you. Will you repeat what you just said?”
The girl looked deeply at Seorim, and then at the others. When her eyes met Kedar’s her face froze. Then, just like the animals in the grassland, she turned and ran quickly away without a sound. She disappeared in the grasses.
Seorim peered deeply into the grasses, but the girl was gone. He turned in a rage at Kedar.
“Fool! We need to learn from these savages. A hostage would be good leverage. You will follow my example,” he then dropped his voice to a mere whisper. “Do you understand me?”
Kedar was sweating and his reply caught in his throat.
“I take it by your silence, that you do understand.” Seorim stared into the face of Kedar who tried to hide his eyes from the penetrating glare of Seorim. After a suitable period of intimidation, Seorim turned and again followed the trail toward the more populated parts of the town.
Asa stood to the side and slapped his club into his other hand. He wished he had a chance to use it, but his fear of Seorim was more than his desire to hit an impudent girl.
The sky tube was growing dim as they walked. The intact cabins were arranged in rows along the sea coast and all the way up to the edge of the world. A few boats were tied to small hard metal docks. The docks then had walkways back up among the cabins. Lights were in some of the cabin’s windows, and the light flickered like honest fireplaces or oil lamps. Not the constant glare of witch-fire or other black arts which made light.
The town square was easy to find. This town was about the same size as Media had been. The town square was hard packed dirt and did indeed face a large building. The building was made of wood, its front being a narrow triangle shape and having a doorway. The sides of the building were very steep and leaning inward to meet the opposite wall at the top, which made the walls and the roof one and the same. There were no windows.
“That building must be the Tabernacle the child spoke about,” Seorim hissed. “Now when we meet someone, neither of you are to say anything. Just put on a pleasant face and remember we are here for trading.”
People were standing around the town square and packing up parcels to put away goods or foods or items. One man lit several torches which put off some light, but it was still very dim.
Seorim approached the man who was lighting the torches. He was carrying a small lit torch with which he ignited the larger torches.
“Good sir, we have come a long way for trade. Would you be so kind as to help us?” Seorim asked.
“It is rather late to be starting. Perhaps you can wait until tomorrow?” the man said and continued onward, not paying much attention to the question.
“Jaaslim, these men are guests,” another man said as he approached. “They must hail from the Fresh Sea. Show them proper hospitality.” The new man was short and older but his features were obscured by the dim light. “Please forgive this offense. It is not often people from over the mountain come all the way to Troas. So let me give you a welcome. How may I help you? My name is Ischal. I am one of the Fellowship of Maintenance.”
“There is no offense to forgive, Ischal. We are but humble traders come to Troas on a long journey.” Seorim had a keen ear and had heard the name of the town. He was working hard to use every advantage. “We have already traded our own goods for some eggs and fruits. May I give you a sample?”
“Certainly, but let us go inside. It will be dark soon, and we will all be more comfortable in the Tabernacle,” Ischal said.
“Lead us on, friend,” Seorim replied.
Ischal turned and led them up to the Tabernacle’s door which he opened. Inside was a long narrow room which was tall and pointed. Oil lamps were burning in various places all around. Benches made from wood were arranged in groups of four, all facing inward toward a small table. There were eight such settings of benches and tables. At the very back of the room was a door near a larger table against the wall. Some implements were on that larger table.
“Please have a seat,” Ischal said. The oil light illuminated his features and his weathered skin was worn and tight to his face. His hands had large knobby knuckles, and his deep brown eyes were almost black. “May I offer you water in response to your generous offer of sharing?”
“Yes, please,” Seorim said with his best fake smile.
“I will return in a moment.” Ischal walked between the benches and went to the end of the room. There, a small hand pump was located and he pumped out water into a glass pitcher. Bringing that along with mugs for each of them, he set them on the small table. “Please help yourselves.”
“I will first give you a sample of the items we have. I am afraid, that being from so far away, we may not have traded well. Are these eggs of any value?” Seorim pulled out a turtle egg from the sack Kedar had carried. “This is yours.”
“Why yes!” Ischal’s eyes grew wide. “I thought you were referring to chicken eggs, not turtle eggs. You are quite a generous man.” Ischal carefully took the egg and slipped it into his pocket. “I imagine such generosity comes from the joy we are all sharing in the visit of the Operators to Weather Monitor. That was such a long time coming. But we of the Fellowship of Maintenance have long awaited their return. To think, my niece Julia was there to see them herself. She is such a good reader.”
Kedar and Asa bit their tongues, but Seorim smoothly passed each of them a mug of water. “Drink up my fellows. We have come to the right place.” Then Seorim turned to Ischal, “So Julia is your niece. You must be very proud. Tell me more about this fine event.”
“I am sure you have heard the stories, for who in Secondary Aquatic has not?” Ischal laughed. “But I myself have never been to the Fresh Sea, so forgive me if I presume too much.”
“Again, nothing to forgive. Who would not be proud of a niece like her?” Seorim replied. “It would be a joy to hear the account from her own uncle.”
“Yes, certainly. Well, she was selected to carry the blessed Procedure Manuel to the Weather Monitor. Sihnesto of the Fresh Sea had told her of the Operators' arrival. Perhaps you know him? Well, anyway, she went up there and Routine Maintenance was done. No error codes!”
Seorim mirrored the man’s excitement, even though he had no idea what Ischal was babbling about. “Please go on!”
“Well, Julie met Operator Regina, and Operator Michael, and Operator Jamie. They were working the machines of the Weather Monitor. And then Julia recited to them from the blessed Procedure Manual.”
Seorim nearly choked when he heard the names of Jamie and Michael. He knew them to be the heretics from Antioch with crazy stories. He could almost taste his revenge, but he maintained his countenance. “My dear friend, this is even better than I had heard. And to think we only came here to trade and now we have found the uncle of Julia who met the Operators. I almost hate to ask, but would you please tell us more?”
“Julia recited to them from the Blessed Procedure Manual and the Operators then opened up the elevator and descended away. The symbols to this day are still illuminated. Just like they were when the Operators departed. Every Fellowship of Maintenance selectee reports the same thing. The symbols still glow on elevator!”
Seorim put on a face of amazement to echo the joy and exuberance expressed by Ischal. “My good friend, our trade would be complete and filled with joy were we able to give you most of these eggs and fruits. Just for the privilege of being able to meet your niece. Is it possible to arrange that? Just to hear her relate what she saw, personally. Oh that would be wondrous. Or am I overstepping protocol? Perhaps I have offered offense?”
“Not at all. Your offer is more than generous. Certainly I can take you to meet Julia. Of course, she would be pleased to relate her experiences to you. Many have come from all around the Salt Sea to hear her speak. Perhaps people are doing that with Sihnesto at the Fresh Sea?”
Seorim did not know how to answer, so he reverted to false praise and diversion. “Again, I must congratulate your niece on what happened. That must really make you feel so pleased and happy.”
“It does do an old man proud. Yes it does. However, it is far too late for us to visit her tonight. In the morning I will take you to her.”
“Well, we will just go back outside and wait for when you think the time is right,” Seorim said. “We are weary and dirty from our travels.”
“Nonsense. You will not go rest and sleep outside. The Tabernacle offers you accommodations. Over by the pump is a room with a toileting area. There are blankets and cushions stored there as well. You are free to sleep on the benches here. There is also a room back there with cooking equipment. Please use the facilities in any way you need. I should have realized how tired you must be. So I will depart now, and return in the morning.”
“Here my friend, please take half of the eggs now, and as many of the fruits as you can carry. Consider it our gift to you for your hospitality and willingness to arrange for us to meet Julia. It will be such an honor.”
Ischal got up and smiled at the sack of eggs and fruit he carried with him. He departed and gently shut the door to the Fellowship of Maintenance Tabernacle.
“Chief Elder?” Asa asked, after he knew Ischal was gone. “What is your plan?” Asa knew better than to doubt, so he phrased his question in such a way, and with such a tone in his voice, as to communicate trust in the Chief Elder.
“That man will provide us with a way to get home,” Seorim smiled. “But first I must cleanse myself. You two also will make yourselves as clean as possible. Tomorrow he will introduce us to an important person.”
“A woman?” Kedar let slip.
“Yes, a woman who will show us the way home. I am sure we can somehow convince her to share her knowledge. After that, if she has a tragic accident, well and good.”
Kedar and Asa both liked the sound of that.
4 Low tech testing
The sky tube had just begun illuminating the habitat when Josiah opened up the blacksmith shop's doors. He knew Jamie, Michael, and Regina were coming soon to get the tool he and Lorna had made. Their invention was simplicity itself. The BTR was hung on the end of the pole, and that pole slid into another pole slightly larger, and that one into a third. When fully extended, the shaft was still light enough in weight to easily maneuver, yet it extended for a distance. When fully compacted it was no longer than a shovel. He hugged Lorna after he tested its extension one last time.
“That is very well done!” Jamie said as she entered the blacksmith shop. “Michael told me you were making something. That telescoping pole is up to your usual standard of excellence!” she complemented Josiah’s work. She then turned and admired the Dome 17 model. “That is so realistic.” Jamie reminisced with Lorna about some of her own adventures to other domes, and shared how the model really reminded her of coming back to Dome 17. Jamie did not speak about the time when she led a team to Dome 3. That was before Lorna was on the Committee, and what Jamie saw in Dome 3 was so ghastly it still haunted her, even with all she had seen on the Eschaton. “So do we head over to the Center and start exploring?”
“Roxanne rolled off to engineering this morning.” Regina commented as she joined them. “Henry, the team leader there sent a message through Theta Four. He requested the AI come for some detailed evaluation of a power system which may, and I say may, be re-activated. Roxanne asked me if going to engineering was the right choice. I said yes. Roxanne can do remote conjectures on that power system, but they are limited. Henry said it is very time sensitive and a detailed assessment could only take place on site. The team there opened a seal, and power is trickling away, but they cannot figure out why or how to stop it. Roxanne wanted to investigate while power was still in the system. So it will be us three today. It looks like you are all packed up,” Regina looked at the backpack Jamie had brought, and the Willie Wacker weapon which was holstered on her belt.
“Henry would not request Roxanne for some minor reason. He is a level-headed man. You, of all people, know how important having the right tools can be,” Jamie laughed; her lithe figure and freckled face showed her confidence and earned self-assuredness.
“Yes, I too brought a pack of equipment. On this ship, you never know where you might find yourself. It is really a handicap to not have the data sticks working. Especially since The Voice took most of those….” Regina seemed to ponder for a moment. She carried deep scars, not all physical; from her encounters with the malignant system they called The Voice. “Well, it would be nice to have more modern artificial intelligence systems.”
“Well said, Regina. Am I the only one who is lacking in gear?” Michael asked in mock seriousness. He had the other Willie Wacker as well as a permalloy sword. He and Jamie had spoken about what they needed for these tests and decided a single backpack of supplies was sufficient. “Willie told me he was heading out with a trade group for Media. He said they are far worse off than we are here. He assured me the BTRs will work.”
Jamie turned to Lorna and Josiah and asked, “Are you sure you do not want to come and help? Who knows what we will find.”
“Please, not another shocking discovery,” Josiah laughed. “That underground garage left an impression on me. Lorna and I have some things to work on here. If you run into trouble come and get us, or any of the legionnaires.”
“Lorna, do you miss the days of instant access to other people no matter where they were in the dome?” Michael asked.
“Yes, often. You adventurers were the only ones ever really out of contact, and that was only on your forays to the dead domes.”
“Who would have ever thought that being cut off by dust and radiation would be a training aid preparing us for this colony ship?” Jamie said with a wide toothy grin.
Leaving the blacksmith shop, Regina, Michael, and Jamie proceeded to walk the short distance to the Center. As they walked under the main entry they all glanced up at the words embedded in the permalloy, “Faith, Obedience, Honor.”
“Well, where do we begin?” Regina asked. “Levels one and two have been pretty thoroughly examined. Unless more secret doors rotate open. Not much was found in those places, and many of the doors on that level we cut open. Level three is where the tragedy happened. Several doors were already open, and those rooms had nothing of substance. The door that was cut open was in the corner of that floor, and some structural damage was sustained around the blast site. But there are other doors nearby that are still shut. Do you want to try our tool on those?”
“With your history, and with what Jamie and I have experienced, I am not sure any of us can know what to expect. I am fine leaving the decision to you, Regina. You have been supervising the exploring here more than either of us.” Michael shrugged his shoulders and gave her an honest look.
“You two have been busy in other places. Jamie, what are your thoughts?” Regina asked. “You two are the adventurers.”
“Lead on. Who knows, maybe we will find this does nothing at all, or maybe it will really help. I do kind of wish we had four or five modern AIs to help us in all this. I know Roxanne was needed in engineering, but I do wish we had more of the modern AIs.” Jamie answered.
“Level three it is. But the blast left terrible…” Regina hesitated as she was about to say stains, but that seemed too morbid.
Jamie grabbed her by the arm and with gentle pressure said, “We know what you mean.”
They entered the portal room and saw the eight portal hatches in the far wall. The remains of Brink’s desk were slid to one side, no one used them, and no one really wanted to remove them, they once had sat where the stairway was cut open. Before they headed up the stairs with their extension tool to try out the Basic Temporary Recognition tags, Jamie wanted to try it on the old ship’s artificial intelligence system, Theta Four. Taking one of the BTRs she approached the portal doors.
“Theta Four here, how may I be of service?” The display had lit up and the machine voice had answered.
