Threshold Shift (21 page)

“What’s
happening?” Jon asked. “Is this normal?”

“He
resists,” Jeremiah replied. “He wishes to remain Asher.
This is not right.”

Jon
watched as the two Jeremiahs in green held Asher down while the third
hastily strapped him into the sofa.

“Have
faith, my brother,” Jeremiah said. “Your pain will be
over soon.”

Even
strapped in, Asher continued to struggle.

“He
doesn’t want this,” Jon said, reaching for the nearest
Jeremiah. But his hand fell abruptly short, he could no longer move.

“Everything
will be fine, Jon,” Jeremiah said soothingly. “Relax.”

Jeremiah’s
many fingertips continued to brush over Asher’s forehead. It
made no difference, the convulsions continued.

Chapter
Fourteen

Jake
sat in the driving seat of his old transporter, his right hand
straying to the ignition sequence keypad again and again. He even
keyed in half the numbers at one point before snatching his hand
back. He couldn’t leave Jon, no matter how angry he was with
him. Jon was his son. But he couldn’t just sit here and do
nothing. Argon was probably already under siege, the human
inhabitants fighting for their lives with limited ammunition and
supplies against an enemy that vastly outnumbered them. Jake knew he
could help them, if only for a little while. It would be a futile
gesture, but it would be better than this. He was the Marshal and he
needed to act.

With
a sigh he gazed up at the spaceport tower through the reinforced
windshield, the multi-coloured lights still blinking in repeating
sequence. Roe was outside, sitting on the grass with her arms
crossed, waiting. She believed Jon would convince Jeremiah to end the
uprising and stop the killing. All he needed was time. She had asked
him to believe as well. Jake had told her not to be so naive, he had
shouted at her, berated her, and finally thrown up his arms and
retreated into the transporter. She could not understand. How could
she understand? Jake had shared the memories of Wun from the very
beginning. He understood the vast thoughts of that great mind, the
insignificance of time, of place, the overriding singularity of
purpose. Asher and Jeremiah were no different, their lives untouched
by Jake’s experiences, by his insight. It wasn’t that
they were evil, they simply didn’t care.

Roe’s
brother climbed into the passenger seat beside him. Jake did not
move.

“So,”
Andy said. “What now?”

Jake
met the young man’s eyes and saw the twelve-year-old boy who
had attended Eleanor’s funeral just a few weeks before. Ten
years changed so much. He saw the shadow of Roe in the boy’s
features. They shared the same mouth, the same eyes and the same
passion.

“We
wait,” Jake replied.

“I
can’t just wait,” Andy said. “It’s not safe
here.”

“The
Threshians don’t even know where we are,” Jake said.
“It’s safer than the town, or the mines, or any
homestead. It might even be the safest place on the planet.”

“But
those ‘things’ are in league with the Threshians.”

“You
mean, Jeremiah,” Jake said. “And yes, you’re right,
they are. But Jeremiah won’t betray us to the Threshians. You
have nothing to worry about.”

Andy
didn’t seem to hear. “What does Jon think he’s
doing?”

“I
think he’s hoping to appeal to their better nature,” Jake
said. “Family means a lot to them. He has a chance.”

Jake
heard himself say the words, and hoped he was right. Just one chance,
to end all this, and Jon was taking it. Maybe he could do it too.
Jake was not very familiar with the man, but he remembered the boy,
from birth to his very first steps, very first words, very first
‘no’. Jon would argue his beliefs even in the face of
punishment, even after punishment. He would gradually work around any
obstacle in his way, No, Jon had a chance, and Jake believed it. That
was why he waited.

“I’m
not stopping you going anywhere, Andy,” Jake said. “Just
be prepared to walk.”

“You
and Roe,” Andy said. “You’re as bad as each other.”

Jake
didn’t turn around. “Don’t trip over yourself on
the way out.”

Andy
exhaled loudly through his teeth and then jumped out of the
transporter, slamming the door shut in his wake. Just a boy, Jake
thought. He smiled soberly and resumed his vigil.

“Come
on, Jon,” he said under his breath. “Talk him into it.”

*

To
Jon, the still figure of Asher appeared relaxed, his breathing
shallow but consistent, his lips curled into a benign smile.

“Is
he…?” Jon asked without even really knowing what his
question was.

The
Jeremiahs did not answer, and he looked up to see that all three had
retreated from the couch, heads down, hands across their own faces.

“What
is it?” Jon asked. He would have assumed the three Jeremiahs
were in pain, but they didn’t make a sound.

“I
am adjusting,” Asher said weakly. “It will be over soon.”

“Asher,”
Jon took a step forward, discovering he could move again. Without
hesitation he knelt beside the couch.

“Not
Asher,” the frail figure said. “Jacob and Asher are
assignations for single unit scouts. I chose Jeremiah as a more apt
designation for one who is many, but not Wun.”

“What
about, Asher?” Jon asked.

The
man on the couch smiled. “Little brother, you are so foolish,
so young. All that Asher was, is here, and more. I am Jeremiah now.”

The
man who had once been Asher Smith closed his eyes, the smile
remaining as his breathing slowed to a final halt.

Jon
shook the body by the shoulder, but it was still and lifeless. He
felt a moment of loss, but then realised his mistake. If Asher had
spoken the truth then he was not dead, he was simply standing just a
few metres away in three separate bodies.

“That
body had served its purpose,” Jeremiah said with his father’s
voice.

Jon
looked up, the crimson Jeremiah stood upright, his features
coalescing into the mirror image of Jacob Klein, except of course
that Jacob Klein was not the first to wear that face. It was the face
of Wun.

“He
lives on in me,” Jeremiah added. “No-one has died today.”

Jon
stood up, finding himself arranging the arms on the body in quiet
repose. When he was finished, he turned to Jeremiah. “What of
my proposal?” He asked. “Will you allow humanity safe
passage from this planet?”

The
crimson Jeremiah ignored him and marched across to the elevator and
pressed the button.

“I
am considering it,” another Jeremiah said. “You almost
convinced Asher, and that resonates within me. But you have to
understand, little brother, Michael will not be so easily swayed. He
has longed for this day for decades.”

“He
still needs you,” Jon said. “To supply him, to help him
defend his world, how can he say no?”

“I
need him too, Jon, remember.”

The
elevator doors opened and the crimson Jeremiah beckoned him in.

“This
is not something we can achieve over an audio link,” Jeremiah
said. “We will go to him.”

Jon
followed Jeremiah into the elevator and they descended to the
spaceport below.

“Asher
was most refreshed by your presence, little brother,” Jeremiah
said. “Never before have I met one who is linked but has never
shared. It had not occurred to me to indulge in natural procreation
before. The results are... interesting.”

“Thanks,”
Jon replied. “I think.”

“Yes,”
Jeremiah said, his gaze lost in reflection. “Asher made the
right choice in saving you.”

They
exited the elevator, Jon noting that Jeremiah did not follow or lead,
instead the crimson avatar kept pace with him, walking by his side.

*

Roe
watched as two indistinct figures emerged from the spaceport, in
moments they were close enough to resolve into Jon and the red garbed
Jeremiah. She struggled to her feet, wincing as a jolt of pain
coursed through her broken leg. Despite the pain she found herself
smiling, Jon and Jeremiah were walking casually, relaxed. They were
even talking to each other like friends. She limped across to the
transporter and wrenched open the passenger door.

“I
see them,” Jake said from the driving seat.

“He
did it,” Roe replied. “He convinced them.”

“Let’s
wait and see,” Jake said cautiously, still grim. She could see
he gripped his gun in one hand, the safety off.

About
twenty metres from the transporter she saw the two men pause for a
moment, deep in conversation, and then Jon pressed onward alone, the
red Jeremiah waiting expectantly. Roe limped forward to meet him.

“He
agreed,” Jon said as they embraced. “But it’s not
over yet. We have to go to Michael’s compound and negotiate.”

“When
do we leave?” Roe asked.

Jon
shook his head. “We, means me and Jeremiah. I’m sorry
Roe, you can’t come.”

She
recoiled from him, almost losing her balance in the process.

“Last
time I let you run off without me you died,” she said. “I
have to go with you.”

“Roe,
you can’t. Jeremiah will only take me. That’s the deal.

“He
looks like your father now,” she said. “Michael might
even shoot him on sight.”

“No,”
Jon said. “He’s confident that won’t happen.”

She
found herself staring at him in disbelief. From his expression she
couldn’t tell if even he believed what he was saying. But there
was determination there, the same old Jon Klein determination to see
it through no matter what.

“Where’s
Jake?” Jon asked.

“He’s
in the transporter,” she said, with a glance over her shoulder.
“He’s been there for a while. I don’t think he
wants to come out.”

“I
better go and speak to him,” Jon said. “I don’t
want him trying to shoot Jeremiah.”

He
walked off towards the transporter, leaving her staring at the
expectant Jeremiah. She found herself limping towards the avatar,
gritting her teeth with each painstaking step. The avatar did not
move to help her, even though it was obvious where she was headed. He
simply stood there, his face belying a lack of visible emotion.

As
she closed the gap she saw how young he looked, perhaps only a year
older than herself, wearing the Marshal’s features lightly,
casually even. Somehow they did not fit, not properly, they were too
soft. She realised that while Asher had grown into that face,
Jeremiah still had some of that growing to do.

“Hello,
Roe,” Jeremiah greeted.

She
stood before him, plainly invading his personal space. “What
are you up to?”

Jeremiah
took a step back, his expression betraying amusement. “I am
simply acceding to Jon’s wish, to make an attempt to arrange
safe passage for the humans who have occupied this planet.”

“Hold
on,” Roe said, stepping forward. The pain shot through her leg
again, and for a moment she felt sick, but it was not enough to stop
her. “You said ‘attempt’.”

“Ah,
yes,” Jeremiah smiled. “I said ‘attempt’
because Michael vowed to me many times that he would erase the human
blight from his planet without exception. I do not believe anything I
say will change that.”

“Then
why are you going?” She asked.

Jeremiah
shrugged, his smile broadening. “You are obviously in pain
Roe,” he said, pointing to her bandaged leg. “I can heal
it for you.”

Roe
found it was her turn to take a step back. “Keep away from me.”

“It
will not take long,” Jeremiah said, reaching his hand out.
“Would you rather it festered without proper medical attention?
Would you rather you lost it? Would Jon still love you if you only
had one leg? I do not believe he would.”

She
swung the rifle upwards, the butt connecting with his stomach. He
wheeled backwards as she fell to the ground.

Jeremiah
clutched his chest as Roe tried to get up, but the rifle had already
been snatched from her hand. She could only peer up at him as he
struggled to breath, winded from the blow.

“Very
good Roe,” he said between laboured breathes, the rifle
floating just beyond her reach. “I was not ready for that.”

“Why
would you say that?” She asked, and then abruptly she knew
without being told. “You’re jealous.”

Jeremiah’s
smile abruptly disappeared as an explosion sounded somewhere close
overhead.

“Ow!”
he said, holding his hands over his ears. “That was loud.”

She
turned to see her brother running towards her, his rifle sounding
twice more. Both shots impacted close to Jeremiah, but did not
connect, he was deflecting them.

“Get
away from her!” Andy ordered.

Jeremiah
rolled his eyes and the sent her brother flying with a wave of his
hand.

“Stop
it!” Jon shouted as he ran forward, Jake just behind him.
“There’s no need for any of this.”

“I
apologise, little brother,” Jeremiah said. “I was simply
trying to heal Roe’s leg. She decided to attack me rather than
let me help her.”

Jon
helped Roe to her feet. She could see he was confused.

“Roe?”

“He’s
not right,” Roe said, trying to think of some way to explain.
“He said things.”

“Poor
child,” Jeremiah interrupted. “I apologise if you took my
words the wrong way. I am not used to conversing with humans, perhaps
I lack the ability to make myself properly understood.”

“I
understood you well enough.”

“Calm
down, Roe,” Jon said. He snatched her rifle out of the air and
helped her get back on her feet.

“What
about Andy?” She asked. “Is he OK?”

She
looked over to where her brother was laid out on the ground just a
few metres away.

Jeremiah
shrugged. “He will be fine.” The avatar turned to Jon.
“Are we going? Every minute wasted could mean another human
life.”