El-Frankin #2
Finally we gain on it. It is uphill, this last bit, and the terrain uneven and rocky. We have to jump a small stream that flows from one side of the fence to another.
“There they are,” In-Sar says and points.
Sure enough, a lookout, same gray bulletproof material as the main building, looms before us. The windows glow a dusky red and have the outlines of two figures, each holding a long barreled gun.
I keep on going. If I think too much about it I will stop.
“Nearly there,” In-Sar says.
The figures have seen us. Ra-Tan and Phay-Nam have spotted me.
My stomach rolls with nerves. A hundred things I want to say are stacking up on my tongue.
But will they want to hear any of it?
They emerge, walk down the ramp to the ground and stand, side by side, guns low, shoulders back.
I slow to a walk. In-Sar lags behind me.
“My sons.” I hold up my hands as though in surrender. “I am glad to see you.”
“You speak again?” Ra-Tan says. He is the tallest of the two by an inch, but other than that there is little difference.
“Yes.”
“We thought your speech had gone forever,” Phay-Nam replies.
“We thought you had gone forever.” Ra-Tan tilts his chin. “Gone like mother and our sisters.”
“I am sorry for that.” I look into their dark eyes. First Phay-Nam and then Ra-Tan. “I let you down. I have no excuse for that.”
They look at each other.
“My heart was broken, but I should have cared for you, my sons,” I say and press my hand to my chest. “I am so sorry. So very sorry. Can you forgive me?”
Silence.
“You brought In-Sar,” Phay-Nam says, nodding over my right shoulder.
“Yes.”
“We have a mission.” In-Sar doesn’t mess about.
“What mission?” Ra-Tan asks.
“Your father was a recipient male,” In-Sar says.
“You got an Earth woman?” Ra-Tan appears surprised.
“As a farmworker?” Phay-Nam frowns.
“Yes, your uncle, Ar-Hagan received one. He is, as you know, an ambassador. His Earth female has a twin sister, Tammy, and the females wanted to be housed together. This was the king’s solution.”
“He is a wise male.” Ra-Tan nods. “We are lucky to have him as our leader.”
“And she has replaced our mother? That is why you can speak again?” Phay-Nam says a little briskly.
“No, no, not at all, that isn’t it. That isn’t why I am here.”
“So why are you here?” Phay-Nam asks.
I turn to In-Sar. Struggling to confess that I have lost my Earth female.
“We have a situation,” In-Sar says. “You see, apart from your father wanting to see you both, show you how much improved he is from when you last saw him in the depths of his grief, we have…he has…what has happened is…” He grimaces and shrugs.
I swallow, my throat tight. “I have lost my Earth female.” I look around, hands up, fingers spread. “She’s gone.”
“What?” Phay-Nam says.
“You haven’t!” Ra-Tan shakes his head.
My sons’ eyes widen.
“I mean how…? You are joking.” Ra-Tan looks at his brother. “Did you hear the same as me? Our father has lost an Earth female. An alien from another galaxy entrusted to him by King Athos.”
Shame swamps me, it’s a heavy boulder crushing my shoulders and making me stoop.
“Yes, I heard the same,” Phay-Nam says. “How did this happen, father?”
“She was out walking, on the farmstead. We think she was taken?”
“By who?”
“Jakarty,” In-Sar says. “It is the only explanation.”
“But the pass is impassable.” Ra-Tan frowns. “Which makes this the only access to the Uncivilized Tundra. A rebel hasn’t been through here, that is a promise to you. Have you seen these fences and the number of guards?”
“The pass is not impassable to one nimble and experienced enough,” I say. “There is no evidence of wild animal, no hirion tracks, just another boot print at the spot we found her armband. A big old boot, unlike ours, with worn soles. It has to belong to the rebel who took her.”
Ra-Tan rubs his left temple as though it’s aching.
Phay-Nam strides to the fence and stares out at the Jakarty’s land.
In-Sar squeezes my shoulder.
I am glad he is with me.
“So what are you going to do?” Ra-Tan asks.
“Not tell the king,” In-Sar says. “Ar-Hagan is convinced that will be the death penalty or exile for your father.”
“I agree with my uncle,” Ra-Tan says, his lips a flat grim line. “The king cannot find out.”
“So I will go…we will go…” I point into the distance, at the unfamiliar landscape. “And find her, out there.”
“Go to Jakarty land?” Ra-Tan says, his eyes wide. “But…that is…”
“That is a suicide mission.” Phay-Nam adds.
I shrug. There is no other option.
“But it is suicide to stay here,” Phay-Nam goes on as though thinking fast, he was always good at that. “Because once the king finds out….” He slides his finger around his neck. “You’re for the head chop anyway, father.”
My belly tightens so much I worry I might be sick.
“We are not thinking about that, it won’t happen,” In-Sar says. “I won’t let it.”
“Are you going with father on this deranged mission?” Ra-Tan asks.
“Not deranged, dangerous, yes, but not deranged,” In-Sar says. “And would you let him go alone?”
“No.” Phay-Nam shakes his head. “I am glad you will be with him. But how will you get across the border?”
“That’s where you come in,” I say. “Can you help?”
“You want us to help you cross the border? We are guards?” Ra-Tan shakes his head. “No can do. Our oath is to the king. We must protect the fence.”
“Yes, but your job is to stop Jakarty getting into the Civilized Tundra, not stop us getting in there.” I point at the mountains.
“That is true.” Phay-Nam looks at his brother and shrugs.
“I don’t want anything to do with this.” Ra-Tan tightens his grip on his gun. “We haven’t seen you.” He points at me with the tip of the weapon. “For a very long time and now you turn up here, and want us to help you.”
“That’s what family do,” In-Sar says.
Phay-Nam twists his lips and nods very slightly.
“Please,” I say. “She must be terrified, she’s in mortal danger. Who knows how the Jakarty will treat her. She’ll be nothing but a breeding machine, no respect, no care, and she’s a soft, gentle soul who has been so brave to come to another planet and generously offer to help us re-populate.”
“That is true,” Phay-Nam says.
“I suppose,” Ra-Tan clicks his tongue on the top of his mouth. “We could do it for her. That could work.”
“Yes.” I jump on that. “Do it for Tammy.”
“That is her name, Tammy?”
“Yes. She has pink hair and two breasts and curves and…” I stop talking. My heart is aching with what I have done. I have no pride left, no self-respect.
I have to get her back.
“Over there,” Phay-Nam says. “At the very end of the fence, where it’s at the steepest, the magnet can be turned off without alerting the control office, that is why this post is always manned. It needs to be fixed but keeps getting delayed.”
I look at the end of the fence. It’s at a precarious angle over a boulder.
“If the fence is on, it’s impossible to round because you have to hold onto it or you’ll fall,” Ra-Tan says.
“But you can turn it off?” In-Sar asks.
“Yes, but only for a minute or two.” He nods at my bag. “What have you got in there?”
“Weapons, bullets, food, and some blankets.”
“Firestarters?” Phay-Nam asks.
“Yes,” In-Sar replies.
“Good, it gets cold out there, they had a big cyclone a few days ago. Looked wild.”
“We can survive,” I say. “And we will find her.”
“I hope so.” Ra-Tan shakes his head. “How has it come to this?”
“Well, it has,” I say and step up to him. “And I will right my wrongs.” I draw him into a hug.
He snatches in a breath, and is stiff, but then he yields and hugs me back. “Be careful, father.”
“I will.”
Phay-Nam’s eyes are narrowed but I think I see them glistening with emotion. I hug him too and he stays stiff, even though he grips my tunic. “We will stay here,” he says. “To let you back in.”
“Thank you.”
In-Sar looks up at the sky. “It is dark now, El-Frankin, a good time to cross. Let’s go.”
“Yes, and there is a shift change.” Ra-Tan nods at the main building. “Even less chance of them noticing you.”
I nod as a rush of adrenaline spurts into my system. “I thank you, my sons, and I will return, with her.”
In-Sar is already making his way up the rough boulders, using his hands to climb quickly alongside the fence.
I copy him. A wind has picked up and presses my clothes against my body and ruffles my hair.
When we reach the end of the fence I look down at Ra-Tan and Phay-Nam. They each nod, giving the go-ahead.
The fence is off.
I step up to it and touch it gingerly. Nothing happens. So without delay I use it to haul myself around the high boulder, watching my footing and being careful not to drop our bag of gear.
Once I am on the other side, I slither down several feet. At one point, in the not too distant future, I hope to traverse it in the opposite direction.
In-Sar is swift and agile and is soon at my side.
We stare out at the Uncivilized Tundra.
“I never thought I’d stand on this side of the border,” In-Sar says.
“Neither did I.”
But I am glad that I am. Because at least now I am doing something. I am being proactive. We have a plan. Find my Earth mate, steal her away from the Jakarty, and bring her back.
What can go wrong?