Fire Island: Book 3 of The Chatterre Trilody (Chatterre Trilogy) (15 page)

Larwin reddened beneath his tan. "Are you saying you understand why a culture would confine themselves or are you saying that I can't understand because of the values I was raised with?"

"Both."

"Huh." Larwin frowned.

Thunder said, "Why we each think like we do is not important. Nor is why we choose to live in one place, but if you are interested, it is my understanding that we all live in this area because when our ancestors came here, this is the area where the planet's citizens allowed them to settle. My parents taught me that we humans were allowed here, so we could survive, but this world still belongs to the original ones."

"Have you ever met one of them? Raine asked. "Do you know if any still live?"

Thunder and Nimri both looked at Kazza.

Chapter 20

"What a time for this to malfunction." Tem-aki smacked the side of her tricorder.

GEA-4 said, "If you are referring to the energy spike, I believe it was myst-energy."

"Seriously?" Tem-aki smacked her tricorder, again.

"Yes. I have recorded this phenomena many times. The only anomaly this time was that the surge appeared to come from the skull, and then eighteen-point-nine minutes later, return to the skull."

"And where was it in between?"

"Unknown." GEA-4 made an oddly human gesture toward the food preparation area. "It initially went to the basin, then appeared to return to the skull, but went past, presumably to the beach. I could theorize that it displayed an attraction to water."

Tem-aki nodded in agreement. "So, after going to the beach, the energy returned to the skull."

"Yes and no. If it had come directly from the water, I would assume it would come from that direction." GEA-4 gestured toward the window, then turned her attention upward. "Instead, it came from above."

"What is up there?"

"Other than the town, which we walked through, as we moved from the Sirocco to here, I have no idea."

"Perhaps you need to research that."

"My time is occupied with this skull, which seems to offer the best chance to find Colonel Atano."

"True," Tem-aki said. "Do you think he understood the coordinates?"

"Affirmative. The more perplexing question is if he can find transportation here. The Chosen and The Lost only have small, rudimentary water craft, similar to the thing that Draco Cameron calls dory. It would be impossible for such a craft to travel here."

Tem-aki swallowed hard. "Am I correct in believing that The Sirocco could make the trip?"

"Possibly, but I do not have a global image of this planet, so have no idea what type of terrain separates us. There was no ocean, sea, or even a lake visible from where they live. There is only a river. While it is a very large river, I do not know where it goes or if it is navigable. Furthermore, I do not have enough data on the type of vessel The Sirocco is to know its capability."

"So, the one thing we need to do is find out what my brother's coordinates are." She swallowed, again, but the lump of fear in her throat remained.

"And find out if they have more maps than those we have already reviewed," GEA-4 said.

"Good idea." Tem-aki looked at the sky and recalled the balloon, which had startled her. "Maybe we should consider other types of transport, like that big yellow dragon-ballon." She took a deep breath. "Do you think something like that would be easier?"

"Negative."

"Why not?"

"Would you really want to put yourself in a position to be blown whichever direction the wind blew?"

"But there are usually standardized circulatory patterns on every world."

"True, but I do not have that data for Chatterre. Do you?"

"No," Tem-aki admitted in defeat.

A deep rumbling sound came from near her feet, and the next thing she knew, Saphera was pressed against her side, rubbing the side of her furry cheek, against her ear. It was all Tem-aki could do to remain upright. Worse, GEA-4's attention remained on the skull, and worthless android that she was, GEA-4 did nothing to protect her from the onslaught.

"A little help here!" Tem-aki gasped

GEA-4 looked at her. "Lean toward her and put more weight on your right leg."

"That's your idea of help?"

"Did you wish something other than to retain your balance?"

Tem-aki blinked in shock. Saphera pressed until her left hip was jammed against the table the skull was displayed on and the rumbling sound grew in volume.

With no other option, Tem-aki tried to take GEA-4's advice. The moment she did, she felt less vulnerable.

"Good," GEA-4 said, without looking up. "Now, take your hand and gently, but firmly run in from the top of cat's head, toward its tail. Gently... like a caress.... Yes, that's it... Repeat... Again. I have nearly isolated the variances in the frequency."

The frequency of what?

"Purring."

Tem-aki blinked rapidly. What possible difference did the sound the cat was making have? As she pondered that question, she kept repeating the stroking motion, but the images inside the skull became indistinct and the light faded to a dull, vaguely pulsating glow.

~o~

Cameron hurried down the moonlit path, mind full of Annosha's worries about the Summer Solstice Ceremony and her dire predictions that terrible things would happen. Why had she seemed so certain? And what 'dire things' did she expect to happen? When he had pressed her for details, all she would tell him was, "The ending and beginning of a cycle is a particularly special time." Somehow, she had made the word 'special' sound ominous.

And then, she had presented him with an emerald green khata-scarf. While a khata-scarf, was a versatile gift, it was something one received publicly, not privately. When presented at festive occasions, the khata-scarf signified that the giver wished to give the receiver tashi delek. What did it mean when given privately? Aside from the obvious, was she telling him that she wished him anything besides good luck, but could not do so publicly?

Why did she feel the need to gift him with her emerald green khata-scarf more than two weeks prior to the Summer Solstice?

Did she foresee problems prior to then? If so, had she heard rumors or had she had a precognition?

Cameron clutched the silk scarf in his sweaty palm as he hurried home. Though he had tried not to show his worry to Annosha, now that there were only stars to see, and he didn't need to pretend to be strong, he dared to let down his guard.

First, Tem-aki and GEA-4 had come to him, but they refused to explain why.

Now Annosha gave him this token of luck.

What did they know that he did not?

Saphera, seemed frightened of Tem-aki and GEA-4. Could he be wrong about where they had come from and why they were here?

Might they have come to tear apart the order of Shaka-uma?

Did he have demons in his home? Under his protection?

Or, were they sent from above, as was his first thought?

Mouth dry, Cameron hurried down the steep steps to his patio, glad that most had already turned in for the night and that he would be able to 'sleep on his thoughts' before seeing others. At least, he hoped he could sleep.

A vague, pulsating light came from the salon. Who had forgotten to blow out the candles, before going to bed? Had they also forgotten to put water in the shallow dish under it? He hurried forward, glad that he had gotten home in time to deal with the neglect.

Was this why he'd been given the scarf?

He rushed through the dragon door and into the salon, where he saw Saphera leaning adoringly against Tem-aki, who was petting her, while staring at the skull.

What was this?

When had Saphera claimed them?

How long had they been able to touch her? Saphera still wouldn't allow some of the boys to pet her, though she had never run from them, as she had from Tem-aki and GEA-4.

Other than being given the scarf, what had changed, since he had gone up the cliff to speak to Annosha?

Stranger still, there was no candle and the odd, dull light was coming from the skull. Clutching the scarf, as if it was a life-line, he stumbled backward, unwilling for them to see how confused and useless he felt.

~o~

"If my calculations are correct," Larwin said, as he smacked his tricorder, "and I believe they are, "Larwin cleared his throat, "then GEA-4 and Tem-aki's location seems to be on the opposite side of this planet."

Nimri looked to her right at Thunder and Raine, who looked as confused as she felt. "Does that give you a clue how they got there or how they can come back?

He shook his head.

"What is the surface of this planet like?" Raine asked. "I mean, obviously, it is very different from Kalamar."

Larwin looked at Thunder. "You didn't go high enough to see Sacred Mountain, but did you go high enough to get an idea of how many land masses there might be between here and there?"

It was Thunder's turn to clear his throat. "As I said, all I saw was the one island in the center of water as far as I could see. Assuming you are correct and they are on this planet, I have no idea which direction I could have gone to return here without the skull."

"Interesting," Larwin said.

Yes, 'interesting' was the word, Nimri thought.

Larwin closed his eyes in thought for a moment. "Okay, how about this: next time the skull allows us, one of you crosses over there, then soars upward from there, while the other one soars from here. Once you get high enough, you should be able to see each other."

"Like the view from my ship," Raine said with a nod. "He's right, if you can go high enough you should eventually be able to see one another." She frowned and looked from one to the other. "Can you really go that high without a spaceship?"

"You saw Kazza," Thunder said.

"Well, yes, but -"

"He is a cat?" Nimri asked. Raine nodded. "His flesh and blood body breathes air, just like you and me. And, like us, his myst-form doesn't need that, nor does gravity hold it." She turned her attention to Larwin. "I am willing to do this."

"As am I," Thunder said, with a decisive nod.

~o~

"Our body, mind and spirit continue to move toward balance, yet we often have too much outer stimulus and noise and not enough time to dedicate to ourselves, which prevents us from achieving a better state of harmony," Annosha told Cameron, as she arranged her flowing emerald robe, so it would not flutter in the strengthening breeze, which caressed her patio.

Cameron nodded in agreement. "Sound helps get to the inner peace we all desire." Annosha smiled and nodded.

He took a breath to continue, but Annosha launched into a seemingly endless monologue about sound, which was something every initiate began learning on day one. He leaned back against the railing overlooking the harbor and his own patio. From this perspective, the novices looked like industrious golden bees. Cameron politely pretended to listen to her, as he tried to think of a valid reason to escape.

"Sound therapy treatment can be either passive or participatory. The passive aspect is that you become more relaxed by lying down and slowing your breath. By doing this, you prepare yourself to become the receiver of sound."

"I agree!" Cameron said, as he jumped to his feet, "but right now, I need to help with the preparations. Can we continue this discussion later?" He finally needed to pause for breath.

"Of course, of course, I need to oversee the balloon, too." Annosha rose to her feet, and though she continued speaking, she began walking toward her temple.

Cameron fled.

Dodging through the market, he glimpsed a familiar shade of gold. He abruptly turned toward the stall, intent upon finding out who was shirking their duty. If it was Varlet, he might have something practical that he could use to begin dismissal proceedings. For certain, he would look like a fool if the only tangible things he could point out were shifty eyes and thin, angry lips. It was infuriating how individuals, who were obviously unfit for leadership, still often managed to worm their way into positions of authority.

Late afternoon shoppers rushed to complete purchases, and he didn't catch another glimpse of gold for several paces. When he did, the individual's cowl covered their head and while he couldn't see the face, he realized whoever it was didn't appear to have overly wide shoulders, as Varlet did, nor was he tall or bony enough to be the chauvinist. Afraid that he might stumble on something that could implicate otherwise good novices like Emmet, Tristan or Benji, he started to leave. Just then, the figure turned and he recognized Tem-aki's profile.

Why had she come here?

This time of day, she always liked to head down to the beach. Come to think of it, she spent most of every day, rain or shine down there.

The afternoon he'd seen her standing on the patio in the wind-driven rain, she had stared at the dark, rolling clouds as if the downpour was a miracle.

She had come from the water, too.

And, onboard the Sirocco, she had spent most of her time on deck, staring at the harbor.

Upon arrival at his home, she had made a beeline to the kitchen and stared at the running water system.

Was it his imagination, or was she focused on water?

Yet, now, as he watched her move from stall to stall, she didn't seem interested in anything offered for sale, with the possible exception of some inferior block prints depicting Khaleesi, who some believed was the Mother of Dragons. Cameron frowned and wondered if Tem-aki did not speak of anything important because he had always been taught the dragon-mother was Shaka-uma, not Khaleesi. She wouldn't close him out for such a trivial technicality! Would she?

Was the dragon-mother's name actually Khaleesi?

Had the dragons abandoned them and stopped nurturing the fields because somewhere back in time, someone used the wrong name?