The Colony Ship Eschaton: The entire ten book series, page 159
“So Haro, where do we find this monster of Edem’s?” Monic stated. “And more importantly, where do we go to recover Kimberly’s body?”
“Monster? No. Perhaps a sick jag? Or a lost croc? Or some other poor beast trapped and angry in those tunnels? Machine maybe? Let me show you where we shall go,” Haro said and they walked to the abandoned hut where Edem had said he and Kimberly had gone down into the places under the land.
Haro tried to enjoy the light from the sky tube, and the views of the trees, plants, and birds as they walked, but his mind was troubled. He knew there were other places, like the world Brodie had come from, and the places under the land. But he had no real desire to see them. Especially after Brodie and Adeela had come back, with Adeela barely alive. ‘Why does life have to bring troubles to me?’ Haro thought, but then remembered Kimberly and Mina, and thought of their loss and their troubles.
They entered the hut, one of several on the edge of Fair Havens which was empty. Haro walked over and looked at the grille which Edem had said was the way to get to the ladder which led downward.
“That is a small space, but I think I can manage. Shall I go first?” Haro asked.
“Well my big friend, if I go first and you get stuck behind me, I will have no way out. So yes, you go first. If you get stuck, I will go for help,” Monic replied. She was trying to cover over her sadness with some humor, and would never have spoken to Haro like that if anyone else was around.
“That is a good point,” Haro chuckled. He pulled the grille off and slid his legs into the small opening. The grille space was actually smaller than he had thought, but the shaft behind was wider than it looked. So after the tight squeeze getting past the opening, descending the ladder was not too difficult. Monic followed him.
“I am glad this is not too tight for you,” Monic stated.
“But not far below is where Edem said Kimberly was killed. He described a shaft that goes level and they had to raise a heavy grille to enter that,” Haro replied. He was looking down, but the few lights in the shaft did not illuminate much yet.
He descended and was only a few rungs from the bottom when he saw the blood. “There is lots of blood here,” he said as he proceeded to the lowest rung. “There is also a large hard metal grille. It looks very heavy. Yes, much blood, but there is no body.”
“So did the monster take it?” Monic asked. “I know crocs will drag off a kill and eat it at a different place. Jags also carry away their kills. Was this a croc or a jag?”
“I do not think a croc would be this far from water. A jag usually stalks its prey and then springs in for a quick bite to the neck or into the side of the head. I have never heard of a jag coming into a place like this. Those big cats like the forest and trees. But we do not even know if this was an animal attack. Edem says it was a monster. Perhaps a machine of some unknown kind?” Haro had stepped around the blood on the floor and looked at the heavy grille. There was not room for Monic to stand near him, so she remained on the ladder.
Haro grabbed onto the top of the grille, and using his brute strength he raised it upward. “Can you see anything in there?” he asked.
Monic tried to see into the shaft, but it was too dark to see anything. “No Haro. Just the blood there on the floor. There is a bent piece of metal. I wonder what that was doing here?” She had leaned down as far as she could to see into the vent. The bent metal rod was stuck to the side.
“I will reach it,” Haro said and held the heavy grille with one hand, and grabbed the bent piece of metal with the other and handed it to Monic on the ladder. He was sweating with the effort to keep the grille open.
“Haro, lower that,” Monic said. “The end of this metal is bent and looks like the edge of that grille. Perhaps Edem was using that to keep the grille up? Neither he nor Kimberly could have lifted that up alone. They used that pry bar." Monic pointed to the dark form of the pry bar in the corner of the shaft.
“Give me that small metal piece,” Haro said between gritted teeth.
She gave him the metal piece and he slid it under the grille. “Oh, that is better,” he sighed as he released the grille and it wobbly sat on the metal piece. “I bet that is what they did. They forced up that heavy grille, using the pry bar, and stupidly propped it open. But what would happen if…” Haro grabbed the pry bar and smacked the metal piece.
Slam! The grilled crashed downward making a loud clang as it struck the floor, the metal piece shot into the horizontal vent and clinked as it rolled along.
“An accident?” Monic said. “Those fools crawled under that grille and it fell on Kimberly? But why the story of a monster? And where is her body?”
“Perhaps it all looked like a monster did it?” Haro answered and propped the pry bar to the side. “Edem is not a brave man, nor a smart man. So when the grille fell, he panicked and ran away. Kimberly crawled off somewhere?” He squatted down and peered into the dark vent. “This is much blood, but perhaps she survived? Kimberly?” he yelled into the vent.
There was no answer.
“Haro, why does this ladder lead here?” Monic asked. “There seems nothing here but a dead end and that heavy grille. Is that all?” She examined the walls with great care. “A ladder just to reach that heavy grille? It does not make sense. Why the ladder?”
“That is a good question,” Haro looked around. The light was dim, but enough to try to find things on the walls. His large hands pushed and shoved, but all seemed to be flat and smooth with no changes.
“Here is something,” Monic stated after some searching. “This tiny crevasse in the wall. I cannot see it, but I feel it with my finger nail. It runs in a straight line, not like a crack, more like a seam.”
Haro felt along that tiny line as well. He traced it straight across, and then it made a right turn and preceded to the floor. “It feels like a door, perhaps?” Haro said. “So that would answer your question, this ladder leads to a door. I wonder if there is another door above, and not just the vent hole we crawled into?”
“I do not think it wise to follow where Kimberly went, as her fate may become our own. However, if that is a door and can be opened, perhaps we can locate where she went by another route? Maybe find her body?” Monic pulled out her dirk and used it to clean out the line they had found. The sharp point of the dirk’s blade cut through the mold and grime which had hidden the seam of the door. It was difficult work in dim light, on a ladder, and in a tight space, but she carefully followed the seam.
After she cleared the track, she also found a slot which was covered over, and she dug out the accumulated gunk from that as well. “Haro, can you open this door?”
“I am not sure. It looks like it has been closed for a very long time. But I will try. I too do not want to enter that vent where Kimberly and Edem went. They were fools, and she may be dead. But at least there is no monster down here.” Haro placed his hand into the now cleaned slot and pulled. The door buzzed, which surprised him a bit. When he pulled again, the door buzzed a bit louder, and there seemed to be a slight movement sideways. He grabbed the pry bar and using the blunt end tapped all around the edge of the door. It made a large clanging sound with each tap, but he hoped it would loosen the door enough to have it slide open.
Setting the pry bar down, he tried the door again. The buzz was about the same sound, and the door opened a crack. “That is working,” he said almost as much to himself as to Monic who was still on the ladder.
“Yes, and when that opens we will look for Kimberly. How can I help?” Monic asked.
“There is only room for me here. I will try harder to knock this door loose,” Haro said. He rapped the door again and again with the blunt end of the pry bar. He then put his hand into the slot and pulled. The door buzzed then the door slid shut tightly again.
“That is the wrong way. I want you to open!” Haro said addressing the door. He laughed a bit as the fear of a monster was subsiding.
“Try it again. Perhaps it will open more?” Monic encouraged.
Haro pounded on the door, and pulled at it, and pounded some more. He alternated pounding and pulling for a long while. He was sweaty from the efforts, but felt undeterred.
“At least a new experience. I have never been challenged by a door before. Especially one so stubborn.” Haro and Monic both laughed at the reference to fighting in the ring. Haro was undefeated. He put the steel pry bar down, as it was becoming bent from all the pounding. He pulled out his hard metal hatchet and rapped the door with the hammer side of the hatchet. The permalloy head of the hatchet rang loudly as it impacted with the permalloy of the door.
Haro pulled on the slot and the door buzzed and slid open about two thirds of the way. The buzz did not shut off but kept sounding and the door vibrated a bit as it was stuck. Haro stepped into the darkness beyond the door, and was suddenly overwhelmed by a bizarre purple light.
“What is that?” Monic cried as the light irritated her eyes. She put up her hand to shield her eyes, and did not see what happened next.
“No!” Haro cried in anger. He swung the hatchet as a bluish-purple limb came darting toward him. The end of the limb was sliced and it withdrew rapidly.
Monic looked into the purplish light, squinted her eyes, and saw the monster. It was round and blurry in the purple light. It was right beyond the door and taking up most of the space there. She drew the blowgun and loaded in a drug-laced dart. She shot the dart right into the monster from close range as Haro again chopped at it with his hatchet. The dart disappeared into the purplish light around the monster, and Monic was certain it had been hit.
Haro swung a mighty chop and a small section of the purple limb slivered off. A second limb then struck him and tried to push him back into the vertical shaft. He resisted with every muscle he had. The limbs were not much larger around than Haro’s arm, but were very strong and limber.
“Haro, I hit it with a dart. Back off for a moment and let the drug drop that thing,” Monic cried.
Haro stepped back, but only momentarily got away. The limb sprang at him and he was pinned against the wall. With his one arm he wildly swung the hatchet, and there were slices appearing in the limb, but they were small and not stopping the pressure he was feeling.
“Release him!” Monic screamed as she pulled out her short sword and stabbed down at the limb. Her blade sank deep into the thing, coming out the other side. The limb retreated, yanking the weapon from her hands. The limb disappeared into the purple light with the sword stuck through it.
“Escape!” Haro ordered. “Quickly!” He grabbed a chunk of the appendage which had been severed. It was strange: not cool, hot, moist, wet, or slimy. It felt odd and pliable. He stuck it into his pocket.
Monic leaped back onto the ladder and began to climb. Haro followed. They got a ways up and then stopped. Haro looked back and could see one injured limb flailing about. He drew out his own blowgun and expertly placed several darts into the limb. Monic also shot several more darts into the monster’s limbs.
They waited, but the monster did not cease its thrashing about. A different limb appeared, one without injury, and it seemed to be probing about looking for them. The monster itself did not enter the shaft.
“The darts seem to have no effect. I am sure we hit that thing,” Monic said.
“Yes, and I struck it as hard as I could with my sharp hatchet. I am not sure what that is, but Edem is right. There is a monster down here. We must return to Fair Havens,” Haro stated. They rushed up the ladder.
24 Installing replacement parts
“Ares, can we speak directly to Edgar or Roxanne?” Jamie tried again.
“I am… unable to connect….you to those systems…. I can relay messages….” The weak Ares replied. “If the macroactinide capacitor enhancers are …installed… I will be able to assist….more.”
“So all we have is the instructions to go to the tip of the drive section?” Jamie asked.
“Yes… that is a major… hub for ….scanners and ….communication,” Ares stated. “Edgar has…. the replacement…. parts…. in queue… Shipping will take….about three hours….”
“Ares, we are unsure where the tip of the drive section is located,” Jamie explained again.
“A yellow automacube….. can easily guide….you there…” Ares answered.
“There are no automacubes here,” Jamie said. “Can you summon one, or have another system on the lattice summon one?” Jamie was frustrated, as she had explained this to Ares already.
“Do not delay any… further. Need…. macroactinide capacitor enhancers installed…. invaders are in ship…. Need Goliath link and coupling…” Ares responded yet again.
“Jamie? I think maybe we should head back to the needle ship. I think we can find our way there. Perhaps we can establish contact with one of the other AIs, or better yet Roxanne?” Michael too was frustrated.
They were preparing to depart the way they had come when there was a solid rapping on the other door. It was the permalloy door which was reinforced from this side by permalloy rods stretched from floor to door and melted into both. There was another distinct rap on that door.
“What is that?” Michael asked.
“Conjecture only. Probable sound ….that …is …1117,” Ares stated. “Why… do…. you wait here? I need replacement…. parts. Proximity alert!”
“What is 1117?” Jamie asked.
“Yellow automacube…” Ares said. “Why delay… departure?”
“Ares, that door is sealed. Is it safe to open?” Jamie asked.
“I have… no scanning… abilities which are… functional,” Ares replied. “Conjecture that yellow automacube…. 1117… is waiting. Conjecture only…. Theta Four supplied…. probable.”
“So Ares is saying our guide is right outside? Probably? But that door was sealed by someone who was really serious about keeping it shut,” Michael said. “I could cut through that door like so many other doors. What do you think?”
“I say we try,” Jamie responded. “If the automacube is out there, it is doubtful it is a hostile environment for us? Right?”
“If? Yes, if it is safe it will be safe,” Michael said. Michael gave her a sly smile, and connected up the molecular saw. He easily cut the makeshift reinforcing bars, and then hesitated. “We have seen things explode here. Are you sure?” There was a twinkle in his eye as he looked at Jamie.
She smiled back at him, and nodded.
“I am only cutting a peephole at first,” Michael said. He turned on the m-saw and made a small round opening. Nothing exploded, and no gas seeped inside. He could not see much through the peephole, so decided to open the door itself.
He cut through the sides of the door and worked his way around the edges of it. The door was pretty tough, but the m-saw did its job. Jamie helped him set the severed open door off to the side.
Outside was a dark and blackened hallway where some nasty fire had happened long ago. The only light came from some fixtures a good distance away, and from what spilled out of where they were standing. Sitting among the blackened walls and floor was a bright yellow automacube with the number 1117 painted on its front. It looked to be in perfect condition. It was a stark contrast to the destroyed areas all around it. On its top was the folded flat appendage, and just behind that were two illuminated buttons on a small touch screen. One said ‘Proceed’ and the other said ‘Halt.’
“I think we have a guide,” Jamie said and walked out through the cut open door. “But I think we better seal in Ares before we go. I do not feel it is safe to just leave it exposed to whatever might come this way.”
“Good idea,” Michael said and went back into the chamber with Ares’ central memory core. He sealed the back door shut with one of the reinforcing rods, and then stepped out of the chamber. He replaced the cut open door section and then used the m-saw to melt some of the steel cuttings and dribble a rough weld over that door as well.
“It is not as strong as permalloy by any means, but that old steel should deter someone for a while.” Michael replaced the tools and then pushed the ‘Proceed’ button on the automacube.
The yellow automacube, 1117, spun around on its six wheels and headed away. Jamie and Michael followed.
“Reminds me of another time we followed an automacube,” Jamie said. Her eyes were alert as they traveled.
“Yes. Hopefully this works out. I wish we could directly speak with Roxanne or Edgar, but I guess we have no other choice than to trust our guide,” Michael replied. “We have been guided by automacubes, and AIs, and even a dog. Liduma showed us where we needed to go. I hope her pups are doing alright.”
