crispina kemp

Chapter Sixteen of my current wip. As before, all and any comments very much appreciated

Please note: This is now a weekly post

Hunger rattled Cela-Byi. But she was not to eat until she had met with the star-spirit Kija. And to meet with the star-spirit she must climb to a high place. But what if the place she went to was the wrong place?

Three days now she’d been climbing, keeping a far distance from the hill-dows: Robi-dow where the spirit-mother crab had given life to Li-Kerbi’s father, and Greal-dow whence had come the mother of the sacrificed Tammi-Tiki. She doubted any there would recognise her, even those who’d begun life in Toki-dow, not while she wore these dragon skins. They encircled her neck and shoulders and her hips, draping her like the sorrowful leaves of a wind battered tree. Li-Kerbi, now named Cela-Byi, as all could see.

She hadn’t known when first she set out that these mountains were threaded through with innumerable valleys. But of course, it must be so, for the hill-dows weren’t set atop the mountain ridges. She followed a trail – made by hunters or by the hunted? But it was a trail and how else to make her way through this otherwise trackless sea of trees. And it must go somewhere, even if it wasn’t where she wanted to go. Besides, on a trail she could see ahead, and behind, and some distance to either side, less likely to fall prey to a stalking cat. And neither would her feet disoblige a basking legless dragon. Though she supposed if she’d been reborn to spirit-mother Byi, she had the spirit-dragon’s protection. That gave her courage.

The trail dipped through a sudden stand of trees, more densely grown than those she’d seen these past three days. Behind her the way was clear, no danger there. She checked to either side. Was that to south and north? She’d lost her sense of direction after encountering a fallen tree on the second day’s climb. Unable to pass it, she’d had to double back and take a new trail that branched from the first. But left and right, south and north, no suggestion of danger there. With an enheartening breath she walked on.

As she emerged from the trees there stood a giant, a woman, and not a shred of skin on her red glistening body.

Cela-Byi screamed, fist to her mouth. Yet the giant made no move towards her. It wasn’t a danger, merely a terrible sight. With several deep breaths she regained her composure and swallowed hard, eyes fixed on that sight. It was gross. It was wrong. It wasn’t like a flayed deer or a pig, prepared for the cook-fire. And where were the flies? There were none.

She took five steps back. The giant dissolved into the air.

Cela-Byi blinked. Rubbed her eyes. Squinted, Turned her head to every angle. But could find no lingering trace of that giant.

Lower lip held tight between her teeth, Cela-Byi turned around. But to retrace her steps would take her back to where last she’d seen a branch in the trail, disregarding the branch that led to the fallen tree. Three days the ancestors had said, and this was the third day. She couldn’t go back.

She brought up her hand to gnaw on her nails, though this wasn’t a habit of hers. Gnawing helped her regain calm while she thought. The sacrificed boy, Tammi-Tiki, had been found stripped of skin, a message from the star-spirit Kija, so Cela-Kuci said. This skinned giant woman on the trail ahead must also be a message from that same star-spirit. And that message was for her. Then she must go forward. Maybe the giant would tell her where to find the star-spirit.

The giant appeared again. This time Cela-Byi held her place and didn’t flee. This time, with much bolstering talk in her head, she kept her composure. I am not afraid, I am born to Byi spirit-mother, the dragon-spirit protects me.

“This place is for spirits and gods,” the giant said in a voice that seemed to arise in every direction. “No Itamakku walk here.”

Cela-Byi stepped back, arms slammed across her chest, jaw set firm. She’d known to seek the spirits wasn’t wise, that it could be frightening, dangerous, life destroying. But she was a cela now, a spirit-woman, and the star-spirit Kija had summoned her. She must go on.

“I thank you,” she said to the horrible apparition. “For this is the very place that I seek.”

And if proof were needed that the giant was from the spirit world, as Cela-Byi walked towards it that red-fleshed giant disappeared.

*

Beyond that dark stand of trees, the trail widened and merged with the grazed grasses of an open place. Indistinct in the mist-veiled distance was a scatter of buildings, seeming in shape most unlike any the Itamakku used. But before Cela-Byi was near enough to see them properly, a falling star dazzled her. She brought her hands to cover her rapidly blinking eyes. And once she’d recovered her wits she queried that sight. A falling star in the day-time sky?

Never. It wasn’t a star, not with eyes. Two eyes. The strangest thing Cela-Byi had ever seen. But a spirit-woman, such visions might be granted her now. She sank to her knees, exhausted in the awe of it. And a new vision appeared before her now. The star-spirit Kija. Her chest swelled with a hitherto unknown emotion, and she nigh swooned away.

He stared at her, a most unlikely deer. More like an Itamakku man – except his colouring wasn’t the same and he wore the deer’s yellow colour.

Was she to speak first? Might she ask what his message? Or must she wait until he said. She sank back onto her heels, her knees beginning to hurt.

When he still didn’t speak but merely looked, she gathered her courage and asked as she’d been told to ask, “My people wish to know what you want with us. Have we offended in some way? Our many apologies if we have. What further sacrifices must we make?” She hoped she wasn’t to be named as one.

He spoke. But it seemed this spirit didn’t speak Itamakkuese.

She held out her hands in helpless mime.

He approached. And such a warmth oozed from him as if he were preparing her for bed. Her body responded, eager for union with this deer-spirit. Beneath the dragon skins her body glowed, her breath shallow, rapid, wondrous. She rose to her feet. He held out his hand.

She hesitated to take it lest, like the giant, he disappeared.

Again, he spoke, his sun-streaked eyes holding hers so she couldn’t look away.

Continues next Monday

Please, your comments would be so much appreciated

Chapter Fifteen of my current wip. As before, all and any comments very much appreciated

Please note: This is now a weekly post

Two concerns robbed Jess of his sleep and his appetite. He must ensure no others of his team strayed beyond the barriers, there must be no contact, not even distant. And he must keep his bodily changes hidden from the Techs, and that meant hidden from his team as well, both observers and operatives. Trouble was Antel, Armar and probably Kookka too already knew, and if the Techs found this knowledge in their heads he was dead. He rocked on the edge of his bed as if thus to escape his thoughts.

Better to quash them.

He needed to enter the psi-sphere where, it was said, all answers were found. And indeed, there he did find an answer. So simple.

“Armar, Kookka,” he called them to him the next day. “That southern island…you know the one? I’m thinking it needs a thorough survey. We’ll take a flier.”

He didn’t wait for questions but led them to the fly-port. It was early, all three fliers were still on their pads. “I’ve always thought three a lucky number.”

“Since when have you been superstitious?” Kookka said.

Jess ignored the jibe. He nodded to the nearest flier. “Climb in.” And waited for the Tech who was hastening towards them with his leather-bound flight log.

“You have reason?” At least now the Techs didn’t query Jess’s ability to control the flier.

“We’ve discovered an island much changed since it was last surveyed.”

“That is for the Techs—”

“But you Techs are busy checking and repairing the perimeter holos. They must be restored to full working order as a matter of urgency. Everyone’s survival depends on it.”

The Tech twitched his head. Jess had often wondered if the Techs could detect the Monza’s sarcastic tones. Perhaps. Perhaps. He signed the Tech’s flight log and turned his back: dismissed.

As they rose above the camp, Kookka nodded back down. “Would that be our catering overseer?” The green-suited Canipse was waving his arms like a tree caught in a high wind. “Wonder what that’s about?”

“Stirring shit, no doubt,” Jess said. He couldn’t forget Canipse’s involvement in the flaying of the immature Itamakki.

Kookka growled. “Would that be the same shit as his operatives serve us for supper?”

“Oh, you too? I thought it only me he was targeting.”

“I’d say he doesn’t make the best of enemies,” said Armar.

Jess held his words, his mind on the flying. But after he’d dealt with the Techs, that overseer would be next – before his flabbermouth caused more trouble.

He had settled the flier on the bare volcanic rock before he said more. “Whatever we say, discuss, debate, decide while at this far place, it’s crucial you don’t bring it to mind when we return.”

“Then it’s true, our illustrious leader is hatching a rebellion,” Kookka said, not a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“Where’d you hear that?” Jess snapped.

Kookka rested a calming hand on Jess’s shoulder. “Hey, joking.” Yet the look said I’m with you. Jess replied with the slightest shake of his head.

“But by the way you reacted…?” Armar said.

Jess hit the button to open the door. “It’s safer to speak outside the flier.”

Kookka’s wide brow furrowed as he planted his feet firmly on the rock. “I was joking but now I’m thinking maybe I’m right.”

“Kookka, you must have noticed…and I know you have, Armar, and now Antel’s confirmed it. I’m changing. Maturing. I soon won’t be a Monza-Imm. I’ve had contact with a breeding female, her pheromones have triggered me.”

Armar clasped his hands, brought up to his forehead as if in deep thought. “So, the GM Programme has progressed that far.”

“But contact…with a Sanki? When? Ah! The day of the dragons, got to be. You’ve been funny since then. Not overly yourself.”

“It was at a distance. I never imagined…” Jess drew in a breath and bit his lip. That was a lie. From the first moment he’d seen her, when he’d smelled her fragrance… “No contact, the Techs tell us, and now we know why.”

He paced, moving away from the tight trio they’d formed on leaving the flier. He was hoping he wouldn’t need to say more, that Kookka and Armar would figure it out, the same as he had. But though their heads drooped, and their faces frowned, they said no more.

“I don’t know what other changes to expect,” Jess said. “How noticeable they’ll be. Have you ever seen a mature Monza? No, because after they mated they died. No mature Monza ever survived.”

And neither would he survive, not when the Techs saw the changes. They’d know the cause. There would be no shipping him to the Fire-keepers of Colabri this time. He had disobeyed and now bore the mark. The Techs wouldn’t allow that to be seen.

It wasn’t the death that frightened him, but its manner. The Techs would skin him like they had that young Itamakki. They claimed never to kill but like so much else with the Techs that was clearly a lie. His breath caught just at the notion. His belly queasied, sweat beaded. Rather his companions killed him here, now, than that. But their stun-guns weren’t designed to kill.

“Armar, Kookka, I need your help. We’ve to get rid of the Techs.”

“An interesting proposition,” Kookka said, a loaded side-glance at Armar. “Maybe overly hasty. As you say, you don’t know the changes. Maybe they won’t notice? We haven’t seen a mature Monza, so it figures neither have they.”

“Adamzal,” Jess said. “Remember what Joel told us.”

“I’m not party to this,” Armar said. “What did Joel say?”

“He’s been to Adamzal,” Kookka filled in. “He says there are breeding females there, that the Techs control their breeding and take the Amzal-Imms for work where size and strength is needed, in the mines.”

“But…” Armar stuttered over his thoughts. “But why this GM Programme to ensure the Monza’s survival when they’re already flourishing on Adamzal?”

“It’s a cover,” Jess said.

“Kookka’s right about you,” Armar said.

“He does have history.”

Jess shot Kookka a look but still admitted it. “The Fire-keepers of Colabri erased that from my personality.”

Kookka raised a brow – which with a slight cock of his head Jess returned.

“Sounds like it,” Armar said with what would have been a laugh if it hadn’t been underlaid with concern.

“We don’t know the Techs’ true purpose on the GM planets,” Jess said. “Yet to genetically modify the native life isn’t it. Unless it’s to breed more tireless workers for them.”

“But I have to agree with Kookka,” Armar said. “To be rid of the Techs? That’s too extreme. And anyway, how were you thinking of doing it? Are you talking of killing them? Feed them to your dragons? Don’t ask me to mix you some poisons, my apothecary days are long behind me. And just our Techs here at this base? Or all the Techs on Ayin? And what happens when the STC-Transporter returns? And can we survive here without the Techs? And have you thought how long their demise would go unnoticed – if you mean just the Techs of Clutch Six? Whatever your intention, I’d say you’ve not thought it through.”

Armar was right, Jess hadn’t thought it through. “All good questions. In answer, only our Techs on base. And no, no killing – I don’t think I can, though maybe that’s just a prohibition the Techs instil in us. I thought maybe to strand them. Too far away from our base to be a problem. Here. Or on one of the other islands. Too far south for them to contact the Techs at the other bases. It’s doable.”

“And it saves your life?” Armar said.

“Would you meekly and obediently wait to be taken and –” he grimaced, barely able to say it “– skinned? For no fault of your own? Yea, I was outside the perimeter. But I was checking on a holo that they had neglected.”

“I say it’s workable,” Kookka said. “Though, my friend, we should wait before laying further plans, see the fullness of these changes. But I promise you, we’ll act on it before they ever have a chance to take you.”

It wasn’t the result he’d wanted, but it would have to do. Meanwhile, there were more holos to check. Those around the farms.

To be continued next Monday

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