Planet of Men: Book 2 of Enigma

By Bill Bryson

Escaping the wrath of powerful godlike overlords, Peter Blackwood finds a temporary place of safety on Freedom Island, the only place on planet Enigma where overlords cannot touch him.

But the game designed by the alien red cloud is far from over. Once only a myth sustained for centuries, Blackwood is now a living symbol of rebellion against the tyrannical supermen.

The islanders have their own war to fight against an imminent invasion by the overlord imperial forces. To end the war and win the game, Blackwood must discover and activate an ancient super weapon called The Heart of the Sun.

But every victory has a price...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Foremost Press
• Release date: Jun 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781936154807

Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson's bestselling books include One Summer, A Short History of Nearly Everything, At Home, A Walk in the Woods, Neither Here nor There, Made in America, and The Mother Tongue. He lives in England with his wife.

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Book Two of Enigma

David Crane

Published by Foremost Press at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 David Crane

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

PROLOGUE

My name is Peter Blackwood. I am a citizen of the space Confederation. I was a soldier in the Space Marines and a Space Marine officer. After thirty years of living and working in space, helping humanity colonize new planets, I finally decided to retire. My destination was a paradise resort planet where I planned to settle down and write my memoirs. But that was not to be. On my way, I was abducted into deep space by a red energy cloud. The cloud took me far away from the Confederation, forcing me to crash land on a distant planet.

I soon discovered that a powerful alien intelligence delivered me here for a purpose. I became a player in an ancient game designed by the red cloud. The planet I ended up on was colonized by humans against their will. Their ancestors were brought here by the red cloud. Their society was divided into mortals and powerful overlords; immortal human demigods that ruled the colony. As a scientist, I wanted to know why. But the red cloud wanted me to go further. It made me into something I never wanted to be: a rebel messiah.

I became a symbol of hope for those struggling against the tyranny of the overlords. I managed to find my own friend and benefactor among the human supermen. She was a part of the rebellion and wanted me to fulfill a four-hundred-year-old prophecy. The overlords tried to destroy me and nearly succeeded.

Escaping their wrath, I found refuge on Freedom Island, the only place on the planet where they could not get to me. On this island’s soil, every human demigod became mortal again. On the island, I found new friends and allies. I was safe on the island, but I had no choice, but play the alien’s game to the end.

The rules of the game were simple: for humans to live, the gods must die. . . .

CHAPTER 1

Freedom Island, 3,500 A.D.

The red cloud paid me a visit as I sat on a beach watching the beautiful sunset.

I was placed with a fisherman’s family to keep me away from possible assassination attempts. There was, of course, a question of belonging. By law, I could choose to live in any tribe I wanted provided they formally accepted me. To be accepted, I had to pass the tests of wisdom and courage and receive my tribal tattoo, armor, and ritual weapons. But that was in the future. Tonight I allowed myself to relax, and simply sit on a beach watching the surfers dance on the waves and defying gravity.

The scene was surreal. I was never able to master surfing, but I enjoyed watching with envy those who did. There was something beautiful and primal about using the ocean’s immense power to propel oneself through and over the sheets of water that resembled liquid glass and disintegrated into thousands of diamonds sparkling in the sun. Well, this evening the diamonds did not sparkle. The sun was hanging in the sky like a large red balloon, casting a faint crimson glow over the water. Through my binoculars I could see the coast guard patrol boats and switched my attention to one of the surfers. She was young and graceful and rode the waves like a pro with skill and daring that nearly took my breath away. She was about thirty, and the black surfing suit wrapped nicely around her trim, well-toned body.

I wrapped my fingers tighter around my binoculars and followed the progress of the surfer. She was master of the game: light, strong, flexible, and incredibly agile. There was such joy on her face that I smiled in response to her moment of happiness. The young woman rose on the crest of the wave, turned, went down, and propelled herself forward into the shining tunnel of advancing water. She emerged from under it balancing on her surfboard and yelled in triumph. Then suddenly, everything in my field of vision turned red. I felt a familiar tingling sensation and looked up. There, hanging in the sky, was the red cloud. It was smaller than I remembered, but I had no doubt that it was just as powerful. The woman saw it, too. She lost her balance and fell from the surfboard into the water. The water turned the color of blood.

I stood up in alarm, noticing a disturbance on the surface of the water about half mile from her position. The water moved as if sliced through by a submarine running at full speed. It was white in color, and abruptly an image flashed in my mind, followed by a stab of pain from a telepathic connection. The red cloud instantly showed me the cause of the disturbance. It wasn’t a submarine, and it wasn’t a torpedo. It was a hydro wolf, a deadly predator of the seas that got brave enough to attack its prey in shallower waters.

Hydro wolf! I yelled at the top of my lungs. Get out of the water!

The surfer looked up at the red cloud and stared at it in fascination and superstitious dread. I patted my diving knife, making sure it was still with me, kicked off my sandals, and ran toward the water. The patrol boats also noticed the crimson cloud, but I wasn’t certain if they noticed the hydro wolf. From the telepathic message, I was able to deduct that the hydro wolf was not as big as I feared, but it was large enough to rip a person to shreds. I jumped into the water and using the rapid swimming style taught to me in the Marines, I went on the intercept course. The hydro wolf and I were competitors. The young woman was the prize. And I was about to face a monster of the deep in a battle to the death.

I was late but not too late.

To her credit, the surfer did not panic. She used her surfboard as a shield to protect herself against the striking tentacle, and I saw a glint of silver in her right hand, and then in her left hand. Two knives! She surely was prepared for any eventuality. The hydro wolf missed its prey on the first run, but on the second it succeeded in catching the woman and wrapped two of its deadly tentacles around her. It dragged her underwater just as I slammed against its side and savagely sank my razor-sharp blade into its flesh.

The hydro wolf turned to face the new threat. I anticipated the maneuver and kept close to its main body, repeatedly striking with my knife. Bright orange smoke appeared in the water. At first I thought the beast was trying to disengage by releasing a cloud of inky liquid to cover its escape. Then I realized it was bleeding. It was wounded, but it refused to abandon its prey. A tentacle rushed toward me, and I hacked at it, severing the spiky tip. I saw the surfer jump out of the water and land on the hydro wolf’s broad back. Deadly tentacles went after her like snakes, and I managed to hack off another one before an amplified human voice could be head over the noise of the battle:

This is coast guard. We are preparing to fire! Disengage and dive!

The woman jumped into the water and landed just a few feet away from me. More deadly tentacles appeared, and this time they caught us both in a deadly grip. This is what it must feel like being killed by a giant anaconda, I thought, as I tensed my muscles against the incoming pressure. I glanced at the young woman and our eyes met. There’s an old saying that when one faces imminent death, the time stops, allowing you to reflect on the events of your life before you meet your maker. I didn’t want to die, not like this. But for some strange reason, I didn’t feel fear because I didn’t have the time. For me, time did not stop or even slow down.

The image of the Grim Reaper, armed with deadly tentacles was suddenly and violently shattered by the sound of a man-made thunder. And just a few seconds later, the monster’s deadly grip slackened and the tentacles went limp. I blinked the salt water and the orange blood from my eyes and was rewarded with an image of a sleek coast guard cutter. Several men wearing sea helmets and flotation vests waved at us from the upper deck. One of them stood behind what looked like a large-caliber machine gun. Its long barrel was still smoking.

You alive down there? yelled one of the men.

I think so, I yelled back. Is it dead?

We believe it is, the man shouted back.

The young female surfer flashed me a fierce grin and using her two knives climbed onto the back of the dead monster. She helped me up, and soon both of us were onboard the coast guard cutter, whose crewmen looked at us with curiosity and awe. One of them, a blond young man in his late thirties with the deeply tanned and weathered face of a professional sailor saluted crisply and gave us a careful look over.

"Welcome aboard the S.D.F. Ranger, he said. I am Captain Leif Swanson. Is it not too late to be surfing at this hour?"

It is a perfect hour, the young woman replied challengingly. You should try it sometime. It is a lot of fun.

Not in my lifetime, I am afraid. Swanson smiled politely. He was roughly handsome and his teeth were even and very white. The young woman looked at him with interest and shook the water from her dark brown hair.

I am not sure who killed this thing—you or me—but I am grateful, she remarked.

Thank you for saving us, Captain, I said, offering my hand. If you hadn’t shown up when you did, both of us would be fish food.

Just doing our job, Swanson replied. His handshake was warm and firm. You look like you could use a shower and a change of clothes. I have never seen anyone going against a hydro wolf like you did. He looked at the dead predator and shook his head. Lucky for you this one was not fully grown. It was probably very hungry or very stupid. They do not usually attack humans in shallow waters. We will have to look into it to make sure it never happens again.

The shower felt good, and the newly pressed blue jumpsuit fit me nicely. I asked for an extra large size, and gratefully rolled my sleeves above my forearms. The young surfer, similarly dressed, joined me and Captain Swanson in his quarters. The room was small but comfortable, and the coffee was strong and delicious. The woman, who temporarily served as my sister-in-arms had pulled her hair back into a ponytail, and for the first time I noticed how beautiful she was. She had a high forehead and jet-black eyebrows above expressive, catlike eyes. They were violet eyes, a color very rare in humans. Her skin was smooth and tawny. She had a well-formed mouth and strong chin. And she managed to look graceful even in a baggy sailor’s jumpsuit.

We haven’t been properly introduced, I said. My name is Peter Blackwood.

Lita Sandir, she replied, offering me a curt nod, then turned to the captain. Captain, I will give half of the hydro wolf to you and your crew. There will be plenty of meat to eat and to cure. I am taking the rest to my tribe.

This is very generous of you but we—

It is a gift, Captain. Please accept it.

As you wish, Swanson replied. What tribe are you from?

Aquarius, she answered proudly. As for this gentleman, I have no idea.

I am a guest here, I explained. I don’t belong to any tribe yet. I escaped from the mainland to stay here.

Captain Swanson frowned, and Lita gave me a peculiar look. You look familiar, she said.

Yeah, I said. I get that a lot. Good thing they think I am dead.

We need to verify your presence here as legal. Swanson turned to glance at Lita, then back at me. Do you have any identification, Mr. Blackwood?

The Grand Arbiter has it, I said with a shrug. He has both the copy and the original.

Swanson and Lita exchanged puzzled glances.

Trust me, I said. Just get me back on dry land and contact your superiors. Or you can lock me in the brig assuming you have one.

Lita made a face and folded her hands on her chest. He could be an enemy spy, she said.

A spy would not risk his life to save a complete stranger, Swanson pointed out. You are a brave man, Mr. Blackwood. This was the damnedest thing I have ever seen. Only the overlords can go up against these monsters. Nice job.

My thanks to your crew and especially your machine gunner, Captain.

Well then, Swanson said and glanced at his wristwatch. I need to inform the authorities about this. I have already reported the incident to the nearest available cutter, and they will take our patrol position. At this speed we should be back in port in about an hour and a half. Well then, if you’ll excuse me, I have a ship to run. The galley is at your disposal. You look like you can use another cup of coffee.

I would love another cup, I said. Lita barely nodded but said nothing.

* * *

A package from Alexis Troevski awaited me when we returned to Aquarius tribal territory. We thanked Captain Swanson and his crew for his assistance, and my new acquaintance, Lita Sandir, shook my hand firmly before fixing me with her enigmatic, violet eyes. You are a brave man, she said to me when we jumped from the motor boat and onto the beach. Very brave, but foolish. You could have easily died, you know.

I saved your life, I remarked. Is that the way you show your gratitude?

Captain Swanson saved our lives, she objected.

You didn’t thank him properly.

What are you, my father? she said with a peculiar gleam in her eyes. Do you know how much a fresh hydro wolf costs? A beast like we killed could feed a family for a week.

Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a fierce-looking tribal guard officer accompanied by a quartet of soldiers. Aquarius tribal crests appeared prominently on their helmets and light armor. They carried short swords and short-barreled machine pistols. Seeing them, Lita straightened and saluted.

Lieutenant Zimmer, Coastal Patrol, the officer said looking at me suspiciously. Magistrate Sandir, your presence is urgently required at the tribal council. There has been another murder. A dissident family has been killed.

Lita nodded and said, Thank you, Lieutenant. I will be there as soon as possible. And please take this man into custody. He has no tribal identification, and until his identity is established we will treat him as a potential illegal visitor.

Officer Zimmer shrugged. Magistrate Sandir, this man has the highest security clearance. Orders are that he is not to be touched. And if requested, offer all possible assistance.

What? Lita’s beautiful violet eyes became very wide. Are you serious?

I am very serious, Magistrate Sandir.

Zimmer opened his shirt pocket and produced an encapsulated standard memory crystal chip. Mr. Blackwood, he said, I am ordered to give this to you. It has instructions where and how to activate it. The message is for your eyes only.

Lita rolled her eyes and just stood and watched.

Thank you, Lieutenant, I said. Am I free to go?

Yes, sir, Zimmer said. He saluted me and turned to Lita. The young woman gave me a stare full of more puzzlement than anger. I offered her a smile, but her smile was forced. She shrugged her shoulders and followed Zimmer and the soldiers across the beach and up the sandy slope toward the waiting marked electric automobile. I was finally left alone and looked at the data chip in my hands. The chip had a small thumbprint identification window, and I pressed my right thumb against it. A tiny screen lit up with green letters against the black:

Identification positive, please provide password via voice pattern confirmation.

I cleared my throat and made sure there was no one within earshot to hear me or see what I was doing. People on the beach minded their own business, and my expanded senses assured me there was no danger. My blood was still filled with adrenaline from my recent encounter with the hydro wolf and my introduction to Lita Sandir. She looked somehow familiar, but I could not recall where I might have seen her. She fascinated me despite her natural superiority complex.

Peter Blackwood, I said into a tiny microphone.

A familiar face appeared on the data screen.

Mr. Blackwood, Alexis Troevski spoke from the screen, "I trust you are in good health, and your mission has not been compromised by unforeseen complications. Thanks to our vigilance and your arrival, we now have a near complete picture of the enemy’s spy network on Freedom Island. To ensure that the enemy does not know of our discovery, we will arrest the spies only after the enemy invasion forces have been assembled. You will continue to play your role as Edward Grant’s clone. The enemy clone in our possession will be prepared for its own special mission. According to our intelligence, a group of enemy commandos has been able to penetrate our defenses and is currently hiding on the island. We are not certain of their assigned targets, but they must be found and eliminated.

Your benefactor, Sachiko Nomura, has contacted Chancellor Ruslan Komarov, who is sympathetic to our cause, but for obvious reasons will never actively assist the Society of the Sacred Sun Stone until the prophecy has been fulfilled. Komarov’s niece, Alexandra, has defected to Freedom Island, and is currently in custody of the Scorpion tribe. We advised the chancellor to publicly denounce her, and she has been declared a traitor. Alexandra delivered to us vital technical data concerning the enemy’s use of advanced battlefield robots. We are verifying the information through our own sources on the mainland and the smugglers. In order to convince Grant of your successful infiltration, you must be formally accepted into a tribe of your choice. To be accepted, you must pass a series of tests. Your tribal leader will explain them to you. Lady Nomura sends her regards. This chip will self-destruct in ten seconds following the end of this recording. Good luck!

The screen went blank. I threw the chip on the ground and stepped back, awaiting a small explosion. But there was only a wisp of smoke as the chip’s memory core was wiped out by molecular acid. I had used similar devices while serving in Space Marines and knew that information destruction was certain. I buried the useless chip in the sand and glanced at my waterproof wristwatch. My stomach growled, and I realized it was dinner time. The sun had just vanished below the horizon and the sky was the color of pearl, decorated here and there by wisps of dark, violet clouds. My work would begin tomorrow, but tonight, I could enjoy the best the island had to offer.

I hailed an electric cab and got in. I was the chosen savior of these people and none of them suspected that I was among them. I was hiding in plain sight without the need of masks, fake beards, or advanced cosmetic surgery. My life on planet Enigma just became much more interesting and twice as dangerous. I knew there was going to be a war, and I still had no idea how to stop it. Besides, these brave and proud people had yet to accept me as their messiah. Troevski said I had to convince them. And the only way to do that was to prove to them that the red cloud was on my side.

I shook my head as I consumed my dinner at one of the local cafes. The damned alien entity did not take sides. We were all toys, pieces on a chessboard. There will be many moves and counter moves before the winning side declared a checkmate. As I pondered the possibilities, a question came into my mind as if planted there by an invisible hand of a higher power. Will the new world without overlords be better or worse?

It was hard to tell. The red cloud had been manipulating the events on this planet for centuries, preparing the stage for my arrival even before I was born. But I had no choice but to play along. Troevski said the red cloud would destroy the colony if I refused to follow the red cloud’s grand design. The alien enabled the old man to live four hundred years to witness my arrival. But Troevski was no overlord. I could see that he was tired. He was tired of violating nature’s laws, tired of war, tired of waiting for a miracle.

I didn’t want to play God with these people. I needed a backup plan in case I failed.

I felt a sudden stabbing pain in my skull and a familiar alien voice resonated in my mind:

"Failure is not an option."

Damn you, I said through clenched teeth. I looked around, expecting to see the red cloud, but the sky was clear. The clear sky offered little comfort. The damned alien could make itself invisible, and its telepathic intrusions started to grate on my nerves. I didn’t know if the red bastard could read minds, but it sure as hell had no such concepts as respect of privacy. I ordered coffee and mentally went over the data Troevski’s men extracted from the captured clone. Grant had his game plan, and I had mine. The enemy commandos hiding on the island had me especially worried. How could they get in bypassing so many security safeguards of an island-nation living in a permanent state of hostilities with the overlord imperial colony? Could the tribal security measures have gotten so sloppy? No. I didn’t think so. Something else was going on, and I was going to discover it. I looked at my left hand where Sachiko’s metal bracelet used to be. I missed its reassuring weight, and I missed my beautiful overlord lover and friend.

Sachiko Nomura could take care of herself. Sam Pole, the child overlord turned vigilante, was making news headlines across the colony, and no doubt he relished the attention he was getting, basking in the spotlight like some kind of masked superhero from an ancient American comic book of old Earth. Rejected by his family, he became angry and vengeful, channeling his teenage aggression against everything he perceived as a threat. I knew his life was in danger, but I could not help him. I remembered what Sachiko told me before I left for Freedom Island:

"If he turns out to be evil, I will have no choice but to find him and put him out of his misery. None of us wanted it to happen. Fate robbed him of his normal childhood. I will offer him one last chance, and then I will kill him."

I know you will, I thought bitterly. I know you will . . .

CHAPTER 2

I sat on an air mat inside a fisherman’s hut, looking at the transmitter placed in front of me. The hut owner was one of the overlord spies named Derek Bee. He was a loner and a highly unpleasant fellow hopelessly addicted to alcohol. He was physically strong from years of hard labor at sea, and in his younger years he had the misfortune of fathering at least a dozen illegitimate children. He was cast out of his tribe and forbidden to return until he changed his ways. Derek Bee was incapable of change, and by law he had to support the children he sired or be banished from the island for good.

Edward Grant’s agents had little trouble recruiting him. They provided everything he desired, including secret trips to the mainland, where he could enjoy the company of young women and liquor. Bee was useless as a spy, but he could be a perfect cover for all illegal activities conducted on Freedom Island by the imperial intelligence. The tribes had their own counterintelligence and ruthlessly hunted down enemy infiltrators. They were successful in rooting out most