Sci-Fi fantasy from an unknown author
Amaranth Rose 003
Welcome to Raznack
Part 2 can be found here: https://medium.com/@gjsittler/amaranth-rose-002-41f4bf1204d7
The entire series is listed here: https://gjsittler.medium.com/list/this-mortal-coil-081bdde292a6
Part 3 of Chapter 1: The welcoming committee elicits a defensive response
“Rough trip?”
Stan nodded.
“Rough past year and a half or more.” He sounded weary, depressed, to Nick’s sensitive mind.
“Something bad happen?”
The Metallurgist nodded, sighing deeply.
“Broken heart?” Nick hazarded a guess. He winced at the look of suffering that crossed Stan’s face. “I’m sorry, Sir, I had no right to pry.”
“It’s all right, Nick.” Stan sighed deeply. For a moment Nick reminded him of a sympathetic cab driver. It was a sharp contrast to the shuttle pilot. “She was engaged to a young man, until there was an unfortunate encounter with a particularly nasty person, a real psychopath. It turns out he’d already murdered a number of women. Debbie was lucky to escape with her life.” He fell silent for a time, staring unseeingly at the verdant landscape, remembering Debbie as she’d looked in the hospital, bandaged and sedated.
“What happened to him?” Nick asked softly after a while, his voice a soothing caress, calm and encouraging.
“Her testimony put him in prison where he can’t assault anyone else, but her fiancé left her. Claimed he couldn’t stand the thought of her being “damaged goods”, as he put it, which shows his quality.” Stan snorted. “I thought my son Fred was going to kill him. She still has nightmares at times. I thought bringing her along would be a nice break for her, help her work through it and get her mind straightened out.”
Quite a tale, Nick thought to himself. That might explain some of the skittishness he’d seen in her. Definitely a need there for some gentle treatment. If there was one thing Nick enjoyed, it was a challenge.
“I understand. I expect the medicine made her sleepy. I’m sorry about that.”
Stan shook his head.
“Not to worry. It’s the best thing for her right now. She needs the rest.”
Nick nodded. They rode on in silence for some time.
“So, what’s the political situation on Raznack?” Stan asked.
Nick had turned back to scan the horizon again.
“Well, there are a number of splinter groups that have various agendas. The group that Hugo’s involved with is my main concern right now. They think we shouldn’t change Raznack, we should keep it the way it is, preserve its natural beauty and charm and leave our society to continue to stagnate and rot. They were very opposed to your coming, hence your unpleasant welcome. You and your daughter are the first visitors to Raznack in fifty years, other than the galactic census people that come every twenty years.”
He scanned again.
“Hugo is not the pilot who was supposed to shuttle you in. He offered to ‘fill in’ on short notice when the pilot that was originally assigned to the job turned up missing today. Hugo’s going to be in for some questions before the week is out. The original pilot turned up in the hospital very ill.”
He surveyed the road ahead carefully. It was some time before he spoke again.
“Then there is the group that feels we should exploit Raznack’s resources as much as possible to benefit our society and strip mine every ore deposit we can find.” He looked around again. “They’re the ones that brought you here.”
He was quiet for a time.
“Which side are you on, Nick?” Stan inquired.
Nick gave him a long, searching look. He turned back to the road again, scanning the horizon for a long moment.
“Neither one.” He looked at Stan then. “I happen to think there is a third way. I think there’s a way we can have our metal and our world.”
“I see,” Stan said slowly. “Do you have some kind of plan as to how to go about that?”
There was always at least one person on every planet he visited who had their own plan for remedying whatever situation he’d been called in to consult about. It usually paid to listen to them and at least hear them out; then when he had to burst their balloon he could do it diplomatically.
“Yes, Sir, I do. I’ve given it a great deal of thought.” And for several miles Nick proceeded to relate to Stan his ideas on how Raznack could have industrialization and modern machinery and have very little damage to the existing environment.
“Raznack has a fantastic mineral wealth, Dr. Duvarnos. But it’s not underground. It’s in the seawater. As it is, the seawater is so full of minerals it’s toxic to human life. A walk along the shoreline will kill a person if they’re not equipped with a respirator. If we could mine the seas, extract the metals, we could have all the metals we’d ever need,” Nick summed up. “With fuels derived from plants, we could afford almost limitless technology. We could afford to export metals, I think.”
Stan mulled this over.
“You’ve put a lot of thought into this. I think your plan is worth exploring to say the least.” He looked at Nick steadily. “For a Security Specialist you’re extremely well informed on technical matters. Where did you go to college?”
“I didn’t,” Nick said with a smile. “I never even graduated from high school. I left school when I was fourteen. I was in a lot of trouble at the time. I’ve had a private tutor since then. I read a lot when something interests me. I study things on my own.”
A self-taught genius, Stan thought to himself.
“It sounds like you’ve had an exceptionally good tutor then.”
“The very best on Raznack,” Nick said with a sly grin. He turned to scan the horizon carefully once more.
“Have you put this proposal to anyone else, Nick?”
“Many times.” He sighed. “But the bureaucrats in charge are too afraid of the unknown. And they won’t listen to me, I’m just a Security Specialist to them. A glorified cop. They don’t want to take chances on technology they don’t understand. That’s one of the reasons I insisted on meeting you at the shuttle. To have a chance to discuss it with you, since you’re the expert. That, and I wanted to ensure you got to Castle Royal safely.”
This took Stan by surprise. He studied the younger man carefully. Nick was older than he looked, he realized. At first Stan had taken him for a fresh-faced youth in his early twenties; now he realized he’d been deceived by Nick’s exceptional physical beauty. He was actually probably somewhat closer to thirty-five, in his revised estimation.
“Are we in danger?”
Nick nodded soberly.
“There have been threats to kidnap you. I take that seriously. As the Chief of Security at Castle Royal, it’s my job to take it seriously.”
Lord Nickolas Kelanderias was actually in charge of a great deal more than just that, but he didn’t feel that Stan Duvarnos needed to know that just yet. There were some aspects of his job he didn’t care to talk about with all and sundry. His exceptional skill with both weapons and hand-to-hand combat had earned him a reputation in all strata of Raznackai society. It stood him in good stead when he had to track down a criminal and bring them to justice. It was said that he could draw a weapon and fire three lethally accurate shots before his opponent could squeeze the trigger once. Many had sought to end his life, and the few who had lived to tell about it were strangely silent on the subject.
His enemies insisted he was not above assassination. To these accusations Nick’s only reply was a stony silence. Nick had earned the nickname “The Black Death” honestly, and not just for his predilection for wearing black. To his enemies he was anathema. To his friends his loyalty was unwavering and unimpeachable. The only man who did not stand in fear and awe of him besides his immediate superior was King Dalmar. The only man more hated and feared, and misunderstood, on Raznack was the Royal Inquisitor, Lord Griffendahl, the only man besides the king to whom Nick answered. He stiffened, suddenly alert; he’d caught sight of something on the far horizon.
“Looks like we may have that threat materialize shortly.” He began to rein the horses down to a fast trot, then to a walk.
“No sense in having the horses tired or nervous when they stop us. This way we’ll have a little horsepower to work with if we should have to try and make a run for it.” From a dark shelf beneath his hands he pulled out a radio.
“Stormpower, this is dragonfly. The flies have sighted us. Send the bumblebee to the coordinates of this signal. I repeat, send bumblebee to these coordinates.”
“We’re on our way, My Lord,” came a static-laden reply.
Stan studied Nick curiously. According to his information on Raznack, the title of “Lord” was acquired, not inherited, for the most part, bestowed upon individuals as a form of recognition for their accomplishments and outstanding service to the crown. Only the scions of a few very old houses were awarded the title by inheritance. It was usually awarded to older men. Stan wondered idly what the very handsome young man had done to earn that accolade.
Meanwhile, Nick opened a cabinet beside his knee and pulled out two weapons. He handed one carefully to Stan. He slid the other into the dark recess of the dash so that it was hidden yet within reach.
“Ever seen one of these?”
Stan turned the weapon in his hands; it was very much like a pistol in shape, except for the extended muzzle. It was nicely balanced, and the highly polished stock fit his hand like a glove. He pointed it away from them and sighted down the barrel. He scanned the indicators on the butt of the weapon.
“Nice. A model 606 talaser pistol. Punches a six-point-oh-six millimeter hole in anything it hits. Virtually no recoil, very little mess. Fires at least a dozen times per charge. Solar rechargeable option, and it’s fully charged. On this planet, that means virtually limitless firepower.” He looked at Nick and smiled slowly. “The weapon of a true gentleman.”
“You’re familiar with it, I take it?”
“I’ve qualified expert marksman with a similar weapon the past twelve years running.” It had been a sort of therapy for him after Rebecca died. “Though mine is not as fine as this. And it doesn’t have the solar recharge feature. A very sensible option, considering your two bright suns.”
Nick gave a pleased nod.
“Excellent.” He pointed to the weapon. “Hide it. Let me do all the talking. Just play along. Don’t act surprised at anything I say. If worse comes to worst, protect your daughter. These aren’t city boys.”
Stan nodded. He slipped the weapon beneath his shirt.
“Just do me a favor, and don’t aim for the head.”
A dozen men, riding three abreast, hove into view coming down the opposite side of the avenue at a fast pace. They galloped across the grassy median and rode up to block Nick’s way. He pulled the coach to a stop in the grass beside the roadway.
“Hullo, Nick!” A large, heavyset man on a big, iron-gray horse greeted him a bit too exuberantly.
Nick looked around.
“Hello, Gabe, Deke, Jim, Kale. What brings you out on such a fine day?”
They sat silently, the soft squeak of leather against leather betraying their uneasy fidgeting.
“We thought Vince was collecting the professor. We were going to escort him to the castle,” Gabe said hesitantly.
“Really?” Nick’s raised eyebrow conveyed his doubts as to the veracity of Gabe’s statement. “Well, I’m sorry to say that Vince had a very bad night last night. So I thought I’d better take over for him.”
“Um, is he all right?”
Nick looked at the man on a sorrel mount.
“Your brother is as well as can be expected, Kale, after I caught him trying to dose me with a sleeping potion at dinner last night. He and I had a nice long chat with his Lordship the Royal Inquisitor.” All the men looked concerned, even frightened, at this news. “I’m sure he’ll be well enough to walk again by the time his trial comes up.” His tone was cold and hard. Kale turned almost white. “Of course, if his co-conspirators were to turn themselves in, I’m sure his Lordship the Inquisitor would be more disposed to see that he gets the medical attention he needs.”
There was an audible gasp from a man in the rear of the entourage.
“Black Nick! For pity’s sake! We weren’t going to hurt the professor. We were just going to send him off planet, no harm done.”
“And what if you succeed, Carlos? What do you think will happen then? Have you thought beyond that? Professor Duvarnos is tops in his field, gentlemen. If you succeed in getting rid of him, one way or another, the King and the High Council will just get someone else, someone less qualified, less innovative and creative. What do you think will happen then?”
The group was silent.
“There’s one more thing you might not have taken into account. I’m in charge of their security. It’s my job to see they get to Castle Royal safely or die trying. Which one of you wants to kill me? And which three or more of you will I kill before I die? I don’t think the King and Lord Griffendahl would take it too well, either. There’d be a price on your heads for sure, and it would end any chance you have of being able to peacefully negotiate with them. Without me, you’ve got no one to plead your case for you. You need me.”
The men shifted uneasily on their mounts.
“Aw, c’mon, Black Nick! I thought you were on our side!” said a man on a slightly jittery bay stallion.
Nick sighed.
“Well, surprise, surprise, Carlos! I’m not. And I’m not on the side of the King and the Council, either, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m on the side of what’s best for Raznack and the Raznackai. I think the answer lies somewhere in between. But I have to get Professor Duvarnos to the castle soon, or they’ll be looking for us, and if they find you guys it won’t be pretty. I suggest you ride on along, and let us get on our way.”
“What’s this guy like, anyway?” Carlos rode to the front of the carriage, and caught sight of Debbie for the first time. He also saw Stan sitting beside her.
“Oh, my! No wonder you’re acting so big! You didn’t say you had a pretty little angel with you! Whoo wee, no wonder you’re so anxious to get home and get a piece of the action.”
Several of the men rode up close to take a good look. They made several suggestive comments about Debbie. Stan’s hand tightened on the weapon he had hidden inside his shirt.
“I’ll tell you what, Black Nick, let us have the girl as payment for our trouble, and you and the professor can go on. As a sort of toll fee, in exchange for safe passage. That’s a fair trade, I think. I’m sure we can find a use for her,” Carlos sneered derisively.
Several of the men sniggered.
“Yeah, we could take turns finding a use for her,” one man jeered.
Stan struggled to remain calm as the man’s meaning was clarified by a salacious gesture.
“She belongs to him, Carlos,” Nick said coldly. “Leave her alone.”
Carlos looked crestfallen.
“No, Black Nick, tell me it’s not so. No old man like him could keep a pretty young thing like her satisfied.”
Stan stiffened, his irritation mounting. There was a smattering of chuckles from the other men.
“You may think you’re the biggest Romeo on Raznack, Carlos, but I’m warning you, stay away from her. It’s not what you think. You harm so much as one hair of her head and I’ll kill you.”
Carlos sniggered and rode around to the back of the coach. His horse shied away from the carriage a couple of times, and Carlos smacked it in the side of the head with a riding crop and swore loudly at it. He maneuvered his mount up close and looked at her face, tilted back as she slept.
“What harm can one little kiss do, Nick?” Carlos said as he bent down toward her. His puckered lips drew within a few inches of hers.
Suddenly there was the sharp report of a talaser pistol. Carlos jerked slightly, then turned an ungainly somersault to land face up in the bottom of the carriage. A small round hole in the center of his chest was slowly reddening at the edges. A small hole appeared in the front of Stan’s shirt, its edges smoking momentarily. The rest of the men were shocked into immobility for a moment.
Nick whipped out his pistol and aimed it straight at Gabe. He snatched the talaser pistol from its hiding place in the dash and brandished it at the others.
“Hands up, everybody, or he gets it next.” Slowly they raised their hands. “Deke, you get his horse, and all of you get the hell out of here!”
Deke hesitated.
“Go on, I’ll take care of it. Just get out of here, NOW!”
Jim started toward the fallen man. Stan sat silently, listening; he thought he heard a helicopter engine far off in the distance.
“Get out of here, Jim, NOW! I’ll take care of your brother. Just go, before someone sees you. Go on. Don’t make me shoot Gabe,” Nick threatened.
Jim retreated finally, and they rode off, leading Carlos’ horse. By the time they’d disappeared in the woods, Stan and Nick could distinctly hear the sound of an engine headed their way. Nick took Stan’s weapon and returned it to the cupboard with his own. Soon a helicopter came into view. Nick picked up the radio.
“Dragonfly to Bumblebee, we have a casualty to transport.”
Part 4 is published here: https://medium.com/@gjsittler/amaranth-rose-004-b54f6c4686e3
NOTE: Comments and claps are encouragement to publish more. Since the author is deceased, there won’t be any edits, other than spelling or punctuation correction.
