NAAN (The Rabanians Book 1) (33 page)

When I woke up flashes of light were flitting past the window. I crawled to one of the seats and looked for the seat belts. The hovercraft danced side to side and shook wildly. Suddenly it dove towards the ground. I thought it was about to crash but then it leveled out, stabilized, and accelerated towards the city. In seconds it was above the roofs of the shorter buildings on the outskirts. Then it soared over the rooftops of the pyramidal buildings of the inner city.

I’d had only a short time to catch my breath from the fast takeoff and the dive that followed. The hovercraft was completely dark. I crawled along by feel, and again on my hands and knees, over to a chair next to the window. Other hovercrafts were following us. Our hovercraft maneuvered between the buildings and the arm of the chair pressed into my chest so hard that the pain completely crippled me. Another maneuver and I was thrown from my seat and smashed against the wall. I felt my way along again until I found the chair and sat back down. This time I found the lap belt and snagged it down tight. After a few second of searching I found the upper restraints as well. Now securely strapped in, I let my head fall back against the headrest and held the seat arms tightly.

Now that I was fastened to my seat I was able to see how close we were coming to scraping our wingtips on the buildings. I turned away from the window and glanced into the cockpit. I barely had time to glimpse the pilot before the hovercraft suddenly turned, dropped toward the ground, and pulled up close to a building. The maneuver took my breath away. My chest ached where my body was thrown against the safety belts. It felt like I was being torn in half.

For a short moment I caught the pilot’s reflection in the front window of the hovercraft. He was small and boyish. His size reminded me of a Naanite man. I wondered if maybe Daio had sent someone to save me. I was still woozy from my exertions, and from being tossed around by the erratic flight, so I wasn't sure if what I’d seen in the reflection was real or just my imagination. The hovercraft tilted onto its side and accelerated again. It was too much for me and I blacked out again.

I woke to a deep humming sound. My head was propped against the window. Outside the darkness was complete. The hovercraft was dark as well, except for a faint light coming from the cockpit. A blanket covered me and there was a bandage on my head. Everything that had happened to me since I walked into the
messenger
service went through my mind: The escape from the city, the desert, and the pain in my legs, the dizziness, and the hovercraft. I remembered why my
whole
body was in such a pain again. Was I dreaming? I looked at the darkness on the other side of the window and wondered where I was. I tried to straighten up, but the pain in my chest stopped me and I remembered how I’d hit the arm of the chair. Suddenly someone stood up and walked towards me from the cockpit.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

Now I was certain I was dreaming.

“You lost consciousness a few hours ago. I started to worry you wouldn’t wake up.”

Nothing made sense. I could not speak.

“I am dreaming,” I mumbled. Only in a dream could the girl who’d caught me also save me. Only in a dream could a
junker have the power and maneuverability of a top of the line racing hovercraft. I shook my head, trying to clear the dream from my mind. It made my head ache. I coughed and the pain in my chest made it clear this was not a dream.

“What happened?” I asked. What I really wanted to ask was why are you here? What are you doing? Where are we?

“My father was about to kill you,” she said.

“Your father,” I said.

She nodded, “He planned to turn you over to the Occupiers as a proof that it wasn't the Desertians who scrambled their way into Seragon’s systems.”

“How did you find me?” I asked.  It wasn't important, but suddenly this puzzled me.

“There are five location sensors in your clothes. Two in your pants and three in your shirt.”

“My lucky number,” I mumbled to myself

"I had to jam the system to confuse them. Otherwise they would have found you the minute you left the
messenger
center.”

I nodded. “And what are you doing?”

“Saving you I think,” she said and walked to the cabin. 

I released the belts and tried to get up but the pain in my chest held me back. I held my breath and with great effort rose and walked to the cockpit. 

“Where are we?” I asked, but the view from the front window left me no doubt. I recognized the White Planes and the green stains that were so unique to Naan. My heart started to race.

“This is only a hovercraft,” I mumbled. “How?”

She smiled. “You still don't know us,” she said. “We know very little about scrambling, but we can transform any wreck into a very capable hovercraft.”

My mind was racing now. I couldn't believe this was all happening. We were in space, far away from Mampas. The Mampasians would not look for us beyond their atmosphere. They would know we were in a very fast hovercraft but they would never suspect it could escape Mampas’ gravity. The desert people knew though.

I sat next to her. The pain of that simple act was agonizing. I wanted to ask her why she was doing this, why she was risking everything she had for me.  Maybe even her life. The sight of her stopped me.

“Your flying is amazing,” I said. I was happy to see her smile. "I am no expert. Actually I can’t fly anything, but I know an expert when I see one. Where did you learn to fly like that?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “It's no big deal among the Desertians.” After a short pause she added bitterly, “It's part of my life, much as scrambling is a part of yours.”

I wanted to tell her that scrambling was not part of my life but that would be a lie. “I would give it all up in a second for a simpler life,” I said.

She nodded. "I have already done so,” she said and gazed at me. “Your story about the disease, the plague on Naan, is it true?” she asked as if she was trying to make sure she hadn’t done all this for nothing.

“Yes. The plague is real,” I said.

“I know about the plague. I am talking about your story.”

“Yes!” I said trying to sound decisive. “You know about the plague?”

“I’ve heard about it.”

I tried to take a deep breath and sigh, but the pain stopped me abruptly. I laid my head back and closed my eyes. 

“So? Did you find the cure?” she asked.

I lifted my head. “I’m not sure. Maybe.” I looked at her. “I hope so,” I said. I thought how awful it would be if everything I’d gone through was for nothing.

“Buckle yourself in. We are landing in a few minutes,” she said.

She helped me pull the belt over me and secure it in place. I listened as she notified ground control of our arrival and asked them to tell Daio the Herdsman required his presence at the airport was required.

The hovercraft was a complete wreck now. Su-thor had squeezed every ounce of performance out of it. Daio, Dug, and the Doctor watched it land and found it hard to believe that it had made it all the way from Mampas. Su-thor came out first and then helped Sosi. Daio came forward and helped him as well. The Doctor came up from behind and watched them worriedly.

“I need to sit down,” I said in Seragonian.

Dug waved at someone to bring the car over. When it arrived he opened the door and helped me into the seat.

“Give me my right shoe,” I said pointing to my foot.

Daio stared at me and then at my foot.

“My shoe,” I said.

He bent over, and pulled off my shoe then handed it over.

“Are you okay?” he asked in Naanite.

I shook my head. What kind of question was this, I thought, while trying to pull the shoe’s heel, but I couldn’t get any leverage to do it without using my injured ribs.

“Let me,” he said and took the shoe. He rotated the heel and pulled it from the shoe. A small plastic case fell to the ground and he bent down and picked it up.

“That memory card holds the information I got from Shor,” I said. “I hope it was worth all the effort.”

Daio stared at the plastic case and then handed it reverently to the Doctor.

I rose. Suddenly I was eager to see the horizon. I remembered the promise I’d made to myself of a long trip in the mountains. I knew I would need to wait, but at least I could gaze at the mountains. I looked at the horizon for few moments until I remembered my savior. I turned to them.

“Meet Su-thor,” I said in Mampasian, “She saved my life. If this crazy voyage turns out to be worth something Naan will owe her a lot.”

“We are very grateful,” said the Doctor and she smiled when she heard his accent.

“I am the daughter of Oziri-Dos, and you don't need to thank me.” She gazed at me before continuing. “If I hadn't been involved in the first place…” She shook her head. “If I wasn't forced to interfere, he would have gotten back here on his own,”

“You were spotted?” asked the Doctor.

I looked at Su-thor.

“The Desertians probably know we are here,” she said. “They know this hovercraft can leave the atmosphere. If they don't find us in the desert they'll assume we are here.”

“And the Mampasians?” continued the Doctor.

She shrugged her shoulders. “They think we, the Desertians, caused everything that happened on Seragon.”  She shook her head.  “I don't know what will happen. I don't think the Desertians will tell them that everything originated from Naan. Not as long I am here.”

“I’m sorry,” I said.

I was sorry she had sacrificed everything she had to help me. And I was terrified that now we had to depend on the good will of her crazy father.

Daio nodded. “You both have sacrificed so much for Naan. There is nothing we can do that will fully repay you.”

He spoke in Naanite. I thought about the words he chose –There is nothing
we
can do that will fully repay
you
enough
.
I felt odd. I walked back to the car and he helped me sit in the front seat. Su-thor got in as well and we all drove to
their
home.

I stayed in my room for two weeks. Even after that I didn't leave the house. Moah prepared a feast on the first day I finally left my room. The Doctor was the only guest in attendance. That said a lot about our social situation. I had just translated to Daio and Dug something that Su-thor had said when the Doctor stepped into the living room. He carried a small box and emptied its content on the table. We all turned to look.

“I decided that one translator is not enough. This device is the latest thing in the field,” said the Doctor. “I thought it necessary since Su-thor doesn't understand Naanite, you don’t understand Mampasian, especially with her accent, and Sosi only understands a bit of both.”

He handed Su-thor a small device, “Put on the earphone,” he said and gave me, Daio, and Dug similar devices. "Now you all can speak whichever language you feel most comfortable with and your devices will translate. Your devices are set to Naanite but you can switch to Seragonian if you like.”

“This is absurd,” said Dug.

"It may be absurd but there is no other way,” I said. “Su-thor is starting to learn the language but there is no point in her suffering until she understands what people around here are saying.”