Day of Night

By Will Decker

Book 3 in the HEALF Saga. Capt. 'Rod' Rodick's evil nemisis, Lord Balzar, is back! And he's building an army of sadistic soldiers to take back what he has lost. When Rod learns of his return, Rod feels it's his duty to bring an end to Lord Balzar's ambitions. But when Rod's allies are brutally tortured and murdered right before his eyes while he is unable to do anything to prevent it, Rod realizes that Lord Balzar's true intentions run much deeper than just control of the planet. Lord Balzar is out for revenge! Rod and Lote humiliated him when they defeated his army in the tunnels and catacombs of Healf by rallying the local peoples to their side. Now, with a single-mindedness bordering on mental defectiveness, Lord Balzar is unable to comprehend anything less than total domination over Rod and having the beautiful Lote all for himself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Will Decker
• Release date: Feb 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458129093

Will Decker

Hello,There have been some dramatic changes going on in my life and because of them I am finding that I now have more available time. Yeah, that's a laugh. Now it seems like my days are even more hectic than they were before. Hence, I have decided instead of using the narrow sighted approach to marketing my books, I am going to use a much simpler approach. No longer will my books be available through Amazon markets, but instead, my plan is to make them all available through the Smashwords site as well as their affiliated markets for FREE. However, this will take time so if you have read any of my books and are looking to read more of them, bear with me, I promise you they are coming. I hope this works for my dedicated (few) readers. On a different topic, as you can see, most of my writing efforts have been serials.With that said, you will never find a Cliff Hanger amongst my works. All of the stories have beginnings and endings and can stand on their own. Their common thread might be the characters and in some cases, the planet, but all are Stand-Alone novels! I really despise Cliff Hangers with a passion. Can you tell?Thanks for taking the time to get to know me a little better, WillHope you have a great day.Sincerely, Will Decker

Book preview

HEALF

DAY OF NIGHT

Will Decker

Book 3 in the HEALF SCI-FI Series

Copyright 2002 by WILL DECKER

Smashwords Edition

WILL DECKER has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased, or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law, or in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

DAY OF NIGHT is a work of fiction. The resemblance of any characters to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Names, characters, places, brands, media, situations, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

This eBook may not be re-sold or given away except with written permission from the author or as otherwise permitted through special promotions and programs.

A special thank you to everyone that has made this story possible. My beta reader, my proof reader, and to you the readers. I sincerely hope you enjoy this work of fiction.

Will

More Exciting Stories by Will Decker:

DRIVEN

UNREQUITED LOVE

FIRE BABY

HYBRID KILLERS

The ‘HEÄLF’ Collection:

MORTALITY REVISITED

CLONE WARS

DAY OF NIGHT

REGENERATIONS

HORSPAW

The ‘Mac" Collection:

THE WITNESS

TOXIC RAIN

BETRAYAL

RECORD KEEPER

DEATH IN THE DUNES

WIT-SEC FAIL

SIMPLY PERFECT BINDING 2ND Ed.

If you enjoyed this book, please take a moment to leave a review.

Authors starve or eat based on reviews. Thanking you from the pit of my stomach, Will

Table of Contents:

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Epilogue

Discover More Exciting Stories by Will Decker

**1**

Oh, it’s so wonderful. I can’t believe we’re really here! she joyously cried, twirling around with her arms held out, her long, dark hair, flying wildly about her head. She was a vision of beauty, as she spun dizzily over the moss-covered ground, her long trim legs carrying her lightly on her feet, while her full, firm breasts bounced rhythmically to her step. It had been too long since we were last upon the surface, and she was trying desperately to soak it all in, relishing the very fabric of the fresh air tinted with moist vegetation.

Reaching out, I grabbed her around the waist, and gently pulled her into my embrace, lifting her off her feet. Softly, I whispered in her ear, Yes, my love, we’re really here. You’re not dreaming.

With a fleeting kiss left gently upon her cheek, I lower her gently to her feet and let her go, watching her run gaily to the nearest clump of dense green foliage. Drawing a leaf gently across her face, she inhales deeply, luxuriating in the scent that fills her expanded lungs; it is a fragrance that we haven’t smelled for much too long.

Forcing myself to turn away from her and look around our surroundings, I likewise luxuriate in the flooding of my senses. We have so much to be thankful for; not only are we in the prime of our lives, thanks to Keazar and the recycling machines. But more importantly, we still have each other, despite the harrowing experiences that we have been through together. In addition to all of our other blessings, we have sufficient supplies for an extended journey; a journey that holds many prospects for new adventures and exploits. A man couldn’t ask for anything more.

Wary and Brae, two dear friends that accompanied us through Hell and back, step almost gingerly through the gate behind us that leads out of the subsurface. They, too, are finding it hard to believe that they are actually back on the surface. Unlike Loté, however, they stand motionless, contenting themselves for the moment with just holding each other close while taking in the lush green surroundings.

After breathing in the sights for a moment, Brae lithely runs over to join Loté with her cropped blonde hair bouncing gaily in rhythm to her unfettered bounds. Wary looks on happily, noting the unmistakable sprightliness in her step that hasn’t been there for a long time.

Giggling with excitement, they dance together on the soft, moss-covered jungle floor, holding hands and leaping about like a pair of wood nymphs.

Along with Wary, the ex-copilot that befriended me so long ago, and his lovely mate Brae, we have finally returned to the surface. After spending years in the deep tunnels and catacombs of Heälf’s bowels, we are all overwhelmed by the subdued sky beyond the jungle canopy, and the sweet smell of damp foliage. My heart swells at the sight of Loté’s happiness, as I look on, watching her prancing about the small clearing with Brae’s hands held in her own.

Together, with help from our sub-surface friends such as Keazar, the great recycler, we not only survived beneath the planet’s surface, we prevailed! Now, with their help, Heälf is becoming a much better place to live.

Eventually, there will be gates similar to the one that we just came through, constructed all along the main travel route, or what is more commonly referred to as the equatorial trail. Once the complete series of gates have been constructed along the entire perimeter of the planet, they will make it possible for people to come and go between the subsurface and surface as they please. The only tricky part in their construction is in the triggering mechanism that closes them automatically when a specific temperature is reached. If this trigger fails, the extreme heat from the rising sun will create a tremendous vacuum throughout the directly connected tunnels beneath the surface that lead to the gate. Having experienced just such a phenomena first-hand, I am well aware of the disastrous consequences that can result from such a calamity. When fresh air is sucked outward through the opening or fracture in the surface to fuel the raging inferno, extremely hot air and noxious gases are sucked back in to the planet’s interior to equalize the differing pressures. Anything or anyone caught in this backflow of heated air has very little chance of surviving.

Fortunately, we survived the ordeal. By pulling together as a team, and through sheer determination and strength of wills, we managed to overcome the odds. Of course, without Keazar and his recycling lab, it would have been for naught. Because even though we survived the elements, by the time we reached his lab, our bodies were beyond saving by any conventional means. However, Keazar’s recycling machines are not conventional. They are anything but! And with thanks to Keazar and his machines, we are alive today to enjoy our return to the surface, to the roots of our very existence!

Yet, that was a long time ago, and another life. Since then, we have pulled the differing factions that inhabit the subsurface together. We have managed to unite them under one cause with one main goal. We are teaching them to believe that all men are created equally, despite their physical or religious differences. And because of this equality, each man is deserving of the same respect that he reserves for himself. It is still a tenuous cohesion at best that binds the varying peoples, but it is growing stronger with each passing day.

With the vast number of men at Keazar’s disposal, most of which owe a debt of gratitude to him, I feel confident that the mandates laid out in our last meeting will be furthered along. In addition to these men, there are many more that have volunteered simply because they believe in the nobility of our cause. Building a new hierarchy from the rubble of a corrupt and vile dictatorship is not an easy task. But we have done everything within our power, and now it must grow and prosper of its own accord.

Yet, it is not easy for us to leave the subsurface with so much going on. However, out of love and devotion for Loté, the time has come to fulfill my promise to her. Only after doing everything that can humanly be done to find her parents, or discover positive proof of their demise, will I be able to return to the subsurface. Moreover, when that day comes, I look forward with eager anticipation to returning to my place in the new hierarchy and taking up where I left off.

Glancing over at Wary, I noticed for the first time that he had strapped the end of the sheath containing his long-knife to his thigh with an additional leather band; it struck me as rather peculiar, since that is how the soldiers that we’d encountered in the subsurface had worn theirs. Unlike Wary, I preferred mine to hang loosely off the hip. However, unlike both Wary and the soldiers, I also carried several less conspicuous knives, in addition to the long-knife. My favorite, a short-bladed weapon of superb quality and balanced to fit my grip, hung unobtrusively from the same girth strap as the long-knife, but positioned to ride in the small of my back. Although less accessible than the other short-bladed knives that I carried on my person, it was without a doubt my weapon of choice.

Loté was the only one amongst us that didn’t carry a long-knife, preferring a standard-bladed one that was much more popular on the surface where metal was a rare and precious material. She kept it strapped to her calf, where it was easy to hand, yet unobtrusive. In addition to this weapon, she also wore the prized gift that she had received from King Sheesa, in the more accessible place on her hip. This latter was a weapon to be coveted. Not only was the hilt adorned with many fine jewels and gemstones that had been mined from deep within the bowels of the planet, the blade was also comprised of the highest-grade steel available anywhere. Despite the high heat and humidity, it took very little effort to maintain a high sheen, and a deadly edge.

Though the weapon itself was an eye-catching piece, even more impressive was Loté’s ability to use it. Being an only child, her father had bestowed all of his wisdom and time on her. He had spent countless hours with her, teaching her the fine arts of food preservation and hunting, in addition to the finer art of hand-to-hand combat. Although I prided myself on my own abilities with a knife, she was every bit my equal. Unlike Brae, who formerly had a big brother to watch out for her, Loté had only herself. She had also been burdened with the chore of protecting her parents when they grew old and feeble, one of which was paralyzed from the chest down. Her mother, injured when Loté was a young girl, spent her life bound to a flat piece of split-rail wood so that others could move her with ease.

Because I promised Loté that I would help her search for her parents for as long as it took, we were going in search of them now, even though a lengthy span of time had elapsed. Ever since they’d been carried off by a stampeding behemoth, Loté hasn’t been able to forgive herself. And unless we find them alive, which is very unlikely, she will never be able to forgive herself. She will always feel to some degree that she is to blame for letting them perish. Even more so now, since she has become aware of the recycling process, and what the technology could have meant for them if we had known of it sooner, before they were lost in the jungle.

Although she wasn’t aware of the subsurface or the wonders of recycling at the time her parents were wrenched away from her, now she feels even more strongly concerning their loss. Our discovery of the many societies living beneath the planet’s surface that view death as nothing more than a temporary condition, has only added to her prolonged grief and immense feelings of guilt.

For her sake, I would like nothing more than for us to find them. Even if all we find are their remains. At least then, we could return with them to Keazar’s labs where they can be recycled.

However, in my heart, I know that isn’t going to happen. Even if they’d managed to cling to the behemoth’s back until it reached the western horizon, too much time has passed since then. When one considered the length of time that Loté and I spent in the subsurface, even if her parents had managed to survive for a while, by now they would have died of natural causes. In all actuality, there is very little chance that we will find any salvageable remains. The natural rotation of the planet cycling through its orbit would have carried their remains well beyond the eastern horizon by now, and the heat of the sun would have turned them into ash, a substance that even Keazar, with all of his knowledge and expertise, is unable to recycle.

Since our only hope lay in finding some remnant of their bodies before the sun rose on them, there was very little chance that we would be successful. Nonetheless, even with that in mind, I am determined to search at Loté’s side until we have all of the answers. Because, even if we can’t find any recyclable trace of them, we might find someone that met them after their disappearance and can fill in the blanks with answers to their demise. If not, I will continue searching at her side until she is ready to stop, and not a minute before.

Despite our exhilaration and joy stemming from being on the surface again, I was equally anxious to conclude this search. There was so much work that needed doing and I didn’t feel that it was fair to leave the burden on Keazar’s shoulders, even though he did seem more than anxious by the prospect. In fact, elated might better describe his attitude.

On the other hand, he was equally saddened that he couldn’t join us in our search. He had such a wonderful time, he said, regarding our last adventure that he was afraid of what he might miss out on by not joining us. After a brief reminder of what we’d all gone through during our last adventure, though, he quickly developed a change of heart. In his own words, he said, Someone needs to remain behind that knows how to run the recycling machines, just in case. Then again, if I know Keazar even half as well as I think I do, he’s probably training a new prodigy already.

Glancing up at the beautiful twin moons that cast their reflected light upon the habitable side of Heälf, I turned to Wary and said, We could set up camp right here and stay until the temperature starts to rise, but I don’t think that’s in our plans.

Nay, Captain, he quickly replies, anxious to be on the move, as a grin stretches across his handsome features. Turning toward the women, he calls out, Whenever you two are ready, we’ve got a long trek ahead of us!

Smiling, they turn and pick up their respective packs. As Loté steps past me, a flirtatious smirk turns up the corners of her mouth as she softly whispers, Would you like for me to take the lead again?

Immediately, I understand the veiled meaning of her words. A long time ago, just after we’d first met, she had led while we tried vainly to overtake the runaway mammoth carrying her parents. As I followed closely in her footsteps, however, I was awestruck by her beauty and the lithe, graceful movements that she exhibited. Without hesitation, I acquiesced to her suggestion. After giving her pack a slight upward boost to help her position it comfortably, I step aside and allowed her to pass.

We set out on a westward heading, Loté instinctively hunting out the easiest trail. Wary and Brae, unknowing of our little secret, assumed that she was leading simply because of her natural ability to break trail. When the terrain allowed it, we walked abreast in pairs, Loté and Brae in the lead, Wary and I bringing up the rear.

Unfortunately, the dense jungle growth isn’t very conducive to this. Instead, we spend most of our time either pushing aside leafy fronds, or being slapped in the face by them. When we aren’t busy with the fronds, it is all we can do just to keep our eyes on the back of the person directly ahead of us. Of course, since we are all experienced jungle travelers, and can feel the natural westward pull, there isn’t much threat of being separated or lost. However, I am enjoying the view from behind immensely, and Wary isn’t complaining either.

Overall, the going isn’t too bad. We are constantly assailed by the familiar, yet temporarily forgotten, smells and sounds of the jungle. Little critters are constantly on the move, looking for both food, and striving to remain ahead of the sunrise. Occasionally, we even hear the sound of larger predators, some, not surprisingly, stalking us. Although we are safer together than if we had been traveling alone, we are still in constant danger of being attacked. Many of the jungle’s predators demonstrate no fear of humans, regarding us as nothing more than a troublesome source of food.

Our largest danger comes not from the creatures that desire to eat us, but instead, from the many roving bands of bandits and murderers that slink stealthily beneath the jungle’s canopy. These tribes are comprised of men that enjoy the hunting of other men. They prefer stealing their food and supplies, and even women, from the less fortunate and more trusting of their brethren. Unfortunately, many of their female prisoners are kept only for pleasurable uses. When they grow tired of them, they might keep them around as chattel, or delegate them to camp slaves. But even more frequently, they will casually abandon them to the perils of the jungle, where their lives end tragically from animal attack, or the rising sun. Many times more dangerous than anything the jungle can conjure up naturally, these bands of rogues kill and torture their male captives for the sheer pleasure of it.

At the moment, though, roving bands of thieves and murderers were the furthest thing from my mind. The pure joy of being back on the surface was more than enough to occupy my thoughts. It was like a learning experience, reacquainting ourselves with everything that we had formerly taken for granted.

Strung out in single file, with Loté in the lead and me bringing up the rear, we had barely covered twenty-five miles, when she suddenly veered off the narrow game trail that she’d been following. Turning at a right angle and heading due north, we abruptly came out on the bank of a small, still pool of water.

In an excited frenzy, Loté and Brae shed their weapons, drop their respective packs at the water’s edge, and amidst a cacophony chorus of screaming and yelling, dash headlong into the warm embrace of the tepid liquid. The silence of the jungle is immediately shattered by their shrieks and giggles. Unable to resist the temptation, Wary hurriedly shrugs out of his own gear and dives in behind them.

Loté is the first to surface. Turning back toward the bank, she calls coyly to me, urging me to join them. Although I am certain that it is safe, I can’t shake the feeling that I should stand guard.

Enjoy! I called back to her, stoically resisting the temptation, while simultaneously warmed by the joy on her face. I’ll just wait until someone comes out.

It’s all right, Rod, she pleads, sounding slightly exasperated by my reluctance to let down my guard. There isn’t anything within miles that can possibly harm us!

She is right, and I know it. Yet, I cannot shake the feeling of paranoia. Could it be something as simple as having forgotten how to relax? On the other hand, were there real dangers lurking just out of sight; dangers that I couldn’t see with my eyes, only my sixth sense? From having spent so much time in the dark, sensory-deprived tunnels of the subsurface, my sixth sense had grown more acute, compensating for my other senses; now, it demanded my full attention and wouldn’t be ignored!

Come on Rod, coaxed Wary. She’s right, you know, there isn’t anything within miles of us.

Taking a last look upward, and not seeing anything but the jungle canopy, I slowly cave in to their demands. There isn’t anything lurking up there, and there isn’t anything lurking just beyond the dense foliage surrounding us.

After removing my pack and laying it on the soft green, moss-covered bank atop the others, I hesitantly untie the cords that hold my sheath snuggly to my waist. Before I finish with the knot, however, I suddenly think better of it. Because of the naturally high humidity in the subterranean tunnels, I had developed the habit of keeping the leather well greased. It would easily repel the pond water and protect the vulnerable metal of the blade from rust and oxidation. Despite what the others might think of my sudden attack of paranoia, I determined to keep the weapon with me.

With a whoop, I dove out over the water, landing almost near the center of the pool. The warm, clear liquid rushes over my body, rinsing away the sweat and accumulated grime. Along with the filth, goes the last of my doubts and worries. Much to my surprise, I am overcome with a profound feeling of optimism. Suddenly, I everything seems possible, even finding Loté’s parents.

Skidding along the soft, mushy bottom, I plant my feet in the murk, and push myself skyward, breaking out of the water with a whooping cry of joy. Even before I sink back to my feet, Loté and the others start playfully splashing water over me. Splashing back, the playing soon turns into a free-for-all.

Moving slowly through the chest-deep water while taking advantage of all the excitement, I sneak up behind Loté, and grab her around the waist. Before she can react, I lift her high above my head and throw her through the air. The sound of my laughter echoes back from the dense green foliage surrounding the pond, as I watch her land face-first in the roiled water, her screams of feigned anger are abruptly cut off, as the water closes over her head.

Almost immediately, I feel hands grabbing me around the thighs and thrusting me upwards. In a proud display of lissome strength, she circled back beneath the surface, coming up behind me and lifting me up high, clear of the water. Reaching the apex of her thrust, I simultaneously reached the pinnacle of my balance, and began the downward descent, headfirst. Adding to my forward momentum, she tilts me further in the direction that I am falling, driving me face-first into the murk.

I no sooner hit the water, than I scramble wildly to get my feet under me. In an effort to thwart me, she dives in behind me and grabs my ankles. Using her strong arms and grip to full advantage, she lifts upward, easily keeping me off balance. Trying desperately to keep my head above my own wake, I splash and paw frantically at the water. Then, in a move of grace and finesse, she slips her hands up my calves and draws me nearer to her. Within moments, she’s manipulated her hands until they’re around my waist, allowing my feet to settle back to the bottom, while holding me upright.

Wrapping my arms around her, we meld into each other’s embrace, our feet sinking into the muddy bottom. I suddenly want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything before.

Sliding my hands into the small of her back, I pull her savagely against me, feeling the firmness of her breasts and the hardness of her nipples against my bare chest. My passion is flaring hotly and she is responding equally, the warmth of the water having washed our inhibitions away.

With the intensity of a bolt of lightening, I hear more than feel the rap of something strike against the back of my head. In a haze, I hear Loté screaming, while someone else is frantically shouting. It’s Wary, I think, but I can’t be sure. Though I’m trying to understand what’s being said, I can’t comprehend the words. Everything is fading, growing fuzzier and unfocused, while the strength abandons my limbs.

Slipping out of Loté’s grasp, I feel my head slip beneath the surface of the water, instantly reawakening my dazed senses. Despite a tremendous pain in the depths of my skull, I can think clearly.

Though I’m desperately in need of air, I realize the folly of bursting back to the surface; I must use the ruse of unconsciousness to my full advantage, at least until I can assess the situation. In the muck of the bottom, my hands come across first a foot and then a leg. It’s Loté’s, and I give her a sharp pinch before pushing off and swimming away beneath the concealment of the murky water.

Nearing the bank, I draw my knife and plant my feet in the soft bottom, praying that they don’t slip and thwart my efforts. With an upward surge, I launch myself skyward. Even before I break through the surface, I’m aware that I will have to rely on my instincts and quick reflexes to judge the situation and react accordingly. But this knowledge doesn’t cause me any hesitation; my friends are in danger, and nothing will stop me from protecting them.

In an upward rush of water and splashing wake, I break through the surface, my eyes open and scanning; I am but a few scant feet from where our packs lay undisturbed. Tensed and ready, I fail to find a foe with which to do battle. Instead, the only thing that I see of note is a small, naked boy, standing innocently beside our supplies. He is holding what appear to be two long strings with a small pouch on the end. I recognize the weapon immediately as a sling. In the hands of an experienced wielder, it can be a deadly instrument.

When he sees me exploding out of the water directly in front of him, he takes an involuntary step backwards, tripping over his feet and almost losing his balance. Though he is startled and surprised, his actions put him just beyond my reach.

Hoping to use the element of surprise to my favor, and grab him before he can sling another projectile at me, I lunge forward, only to come up short, as my feet remain stuck in the gooey quagmire. Before I can break loose, he has regained his balance and is twirling the pouch about his head, readying to let loose with another projectile. If his aim is steady, he will brain me easily at this short distance.

There is nowhere for me to go but down. Yet, even before I can start to crouch, I see him slipping on the wet moss and losing his balance again. My sudden appearance so close to him had left him rattled. In his panic and haste, he hadn’t fully regained his composure, and the pouch containing the dangerous projectile strikes harmlessly against the moss-covered bank at his feet.

With a loud sucking sound, my feet lurch free of the muck. I am moving forward, quickly closing the distance between us. The look of fear and panic looms in his eyes as he sees me coming. Despite his cat-like reflexes, I am on him before he can plant his feet. Futilely, he scrambles and claws against the moss, trying to break my hold so that he can scurry away, back into the jungle where he came from. To his dismay, however, I am much larger and heavier than he, and easily pin him to the ground.

Realizing that he can’t move, and there is no hope of escape, his body goes limp. Meeting his gaze, I am confronted with only defiance, and maybe a small amount of shame and humility at having been captured.

Fixing him with my most menacing look, I hold him tightly while studying his features. And yet, he shows no sign of fear. If he is intimidated by me, he keeps it well hidden.

I hear the others behind me, as they come splashing toward the bank. Even before they manage to clamor out of the water, the questions are forthcoming.

Who is he? Wary asks, stepping up beside me and wrenching the sling from the boy’s reluctant grasp.

I don’t know any more than you do, I reply, my vision blurring from the pain in the back of my head.

Loté suddenly gasps and cries out Oh Rod, you’re bleeding!

Reaching behind my head and touching the spot where the pain is radiating from, I feel something that is both thicker and slicker than mere water. Though my hair is still wet, the substance is already congealing. The looks of alarm on Loté and Brae’s faces confirm that it isn’t just mud from the pond.

Does it look serious? I casually ask of her, trying not to sound concerned.

She reaches up and softly probes the back of my head. Gently, she presses her fingers against the wound, both to gauge its depth, and to verify that it hasn’t fractured my skull.

It doesn’t look that bad, but I’ll put some of Keazar’s salve on it anyway, she says, moving past me to the pile of supplies.

Keazar’s salve was next to a miracle cure for just about anything and usually healed everything short of death itself. While Loté selected the right pack and began rummaging through it for the salve, I turned my attention back to the boy glaring up at me. I still had my weight centered on his small chest, holding him securely to the ground, and he wasn’t caring much for it.

Who are you and where did you come from? I sternly request of him, feigning more anger than I am actually feeling, though my head is hurting like Hell.

Instead of replying to my question, he turns his gaze toward Loté, openly admiring her beauty, and simultaneously defying me. Loté, sensing his attention, smiled back at him. Much to my surprise, he immediately returned her smile with one of his own.

Don’t look at her, look at me! I yell down at him, suddenly angered by his lack of respect toward me. Pressing down on his chest until he is struggling to breathe, I demand again, Tell us, boy, what’s your name?

Go easy on him, Rod, he’s only a child, intervenes Wary, putting a hand on my shoulder to steady me, before I do something rash and regrettable.

Although I am sure that Wary knows me well enough to know that I wouldn’t intentionally hurt the boy, the boy doesn’t. For just a fraction of a second, I am certain that I see a flicker of fear flash across his eyes. Then, just as quickly, it is gone.

He’s just a baby, Brae adds sympathetically.

He may be just a baby, but he’s a dangerous baby! I argue, my gaze not wavering from him.

What’s your name, little guy? Brae tenderly questions him. When he doesn’t acknowledge her immediately, she adds, We won’t hurt you.

Why don’t you take your foot off his chest so he can breathe? Loté suddenly demands, as she approaches with the salve. Instantly, I am aware that she has tied her sheath back on. In her free hand, she is also carrying Brae and Wary’s long-knives. And put your knife away, he’s not going to hurt anyone.

Sheepishly, I put my knife back in its sheath, suddenly feeling foolish for my overt behavior. Here I am, a grown man in his prime, standing over a small boy, his thin, frail body firmly pinned beneath my foot, and I am brandishing a weapon as if I fear for my life.

Okay, kid, tell us where you came from, and more importantly, if there is anyone else with you? I ask gruffly of him, my pride feeling bruised.

Instead of answering, he springs to his feet. Wary, assuring that he won’t bolt into the jungle and escape, quickly grabs him by the shoulders, holding him firmly, but gently. Although a word hadn’t passed between us, we both know that he is being careful not to draw the wrath of the women. Where children are concerned, men are always at the disadvantage.

My name is Tye, he says defiantly, meeting my gaze.

That’s a start, Tye, I respond appreciatively. Can you tell us if you’re alone, or how far to where your tribe is camped?

I have no tribe. I don’t need anyone else! he fires back, the defiance in his voice and demeanor swelling proportionately to the fear that he is trying so desperately to hide.

No one is going to hurt you, Tye, Brae quickly interjects, her motherly instincts reaching out to him.

Meanwhile, Loté has moved around behind me and is carefully rubbing the salve over the gash in the back of my head. Almost immediately, the pain begins to subside.

Do you want me to wrap it? she asks softly, finishing with the salve.

No, thanks, it feels better already, I reply, grateful for her concern. So, Tye, I start, turning my attention back to the boy. You say that you are alone, so how did you end up so far from your tribe?

There is no tribe for Tye, he whispers fearfully. And then, as tears suddenly appear from the corners of his eyes, he softly adds, Anymore.

What do you mean by that, Tye? asks Brae, her motherly concern coming through in the tone of her voice and drawing Tye’s attention.

With tears running openly down his cheeks, he cries, They’re all dead.

Softly, his tears and sadness affecting even me, I press him to explain. What do you mean when you say that they’re all dead? I’m afraid we don’t understand.

I was hunting in the jungle when men with bows and long-knives attacked our camp, he started, trying hard to fight back the welling tears. I wasn’t afraid, really, he suddenly protested, though no one was saying otherwise. He was only a child, after all.

When he realized that no one was accusing him of being afraid, he slowly continued, the tears now prominent on his cheeks. I stayed hidden, waiting until they left. For three days, I waited, he said proudly. And then, quickly adding, Since I didn’t have any water with me, I chewed on the damp moss and licked the dew from the glossy leaves, just like my father taught me. He paused a moment, the tears subsiding while he remembered his father. When they left, I returned to camp, but everyone was dead. The men with bows and long-knives had taken all the food and water, so I followed them into the jungle. He hesitated, his eyes focusing on the ground at his feet. But I got lost. He was clearly embarrassed over this last fact, yet it showed what a strong character he had by being able to admit to it so readily.

It’s easy to get lost in the jungle when you aren’t traveling due west, I said conspiratorially. We were far enough ahead of the sunrise that there wasn’t any dire need to maintain a due-west heading. However, almost all the tribes stayed close to the equator where it was cooler and heavier trafficked. To stray into the northern or southern hemispheres meant more exposure to the sun’s heat, since it permeated over the poles. If this band of rogues were heading into one of the hemispheres, they clearly had another destination in mind; something more than just keeping pace with or staying ahead of the rising sun.

Do you know what their direction was before you lost them? I asked, trying not to sound debasing.

I’m not sure, he replied, looking confused by my question.

Which way did you come from? Can you point that way for us? asked Brae softly.

From that way, he quickly obliged, pointing toward the south.

They’re traveling northward, said Wary apprehensively. So what do you think could possibly be up north that it would draw them away from the equatorial trail?

Nothing comes to mind. Unless they went north to avoid the heavy traffic on the trail, there must be something more, I replied, thinking aloud to myself. Maybe we should go north and see.

No! Brae erupted defiantly, her concern evident in her face. My tribe has always traveled along the equatorial route. If we go northward now, I might never find them. She paused for a moment to catch her breath. When she started again, everyone could see her nervous anxiety and hear the quiver of fear in her voice. We might pass them and never know it!

She was going to argue her point, of that I was certain. Nevertheless, I was just as certain that I was going north.

She’s right, Rod, interjected Loté on her behalf. Not only do we run the risk of missing her tribe all together, we drastically reduce the chances of finding my parents. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she added in a subdued tone of voice, Or, at the least, learning of their whereabouts.

It did me good to realize that she had accepted the dire possibility that her parents were long dead and that the best we could hope for was information regarding their demise. Raising my hands defensively, I pleaded, Please, don’t misunderstand me, I was only thinking out loud. What’s more important is figuring out what we’re going to do with him, I said, indicating the boy. When everyone’s gaze shifted toward the boy, I casually asked of him, Why did you attack us?

I thought you were with the men that attacked my tribe, he said rather impudently.

For clarities sake, let’s refer to those men as bandits. Is that okay? Can you tell us how long ago it was, or how far back you were, when you got lost? I asked, hoping to learn how far ahead of us they might be now.

We’ll take him, Brae suddenly blurted, interrupting me and drawing everyone’s attention by her outburst.

What are you talking about? asked Wary, perplexed by her sudden outburst.

Yes. What are you talking about? I pressed her, my confusion on a level with Wary’s own.

He can go with us. Wary and me, she said defensively, her voice tinged with an underlying excitement. When we return to my tribe, he can live with us. We’ll take care of him. Treat him like our own.

I think we need to discuss this as a group before we make any rash decisions, I quickly suggested, not sure that I cared much for the direction this was taking.

Please, Wary, she pleaded, looking longingly at the boy while pulling on Wary’s arm. He won’t be any trouble. He’s just a small child. And surely, we can’t just leave him here.

Although he wasn’t sure that he was ready to be saddled with the responsibility of parenthood, he was finding it even harder to refuse her.

She has a point, Rod. We can’t just leave him here to fend for himself. You only have to look at him to see that he’s half-starved already. We’ll look after him, see to his needs and upbringing, Wary begrudgingly argued on Brae’s behalf.

If Loté doesn’t object, I won’t, I said, sounding defeated.

I think it’s a wonderful idea! she cried out excitedly, hugging Brae to her bosom and sharing in her joy as if she were a new mother.

Then it’s settled? asked Wary, searching my face and looking for my blessing.

Don’t ask me. Ask him, I replied, indicating the boy.

Brae immediately got down on her knees and put her face level with his. What do you think? Do you want to come and live with us? she tenderly asked, taking his hands in her own.

Looking suspiciously back and forth between her and Wary, he slowly weighed the alternatives in his mind before nodding his head in acknowledgement. Although he was a proud little boy, he was wise enough to know that he still needed an adult’s assistance in order to survive. Beyond that, what he was thinking was anyone’s guess.

Ask him how long it’s been since he lost the bandit’s trail, will you, Brae?

Two day’s time," the boy quickly replied of his own accord.

And they were definitely going in that direction? I asked, pointing toward the north.

He quickly nodded in acknowledgement.

That’s enough questioning, for now, cut in Brae protectively, pulling the boy into her bosom. He hasn’t had anything to eat in days. I’ll feed him now. When he’s rested, you can ask him the rest of your questions.

Sure, I softly agreed. Turning, I threw Loté a wink, as Brae took the boy’s hand and led him to a spot on the bank near the packs. Why don’t we all eat and get some rest, I further suggested.

While Loté and Brae sorted through the packs, Wary and I moved farther back from the bank, until we were just within the cover of the jungle.

Are you sure this is what you want? I casually asked of him, determined that I wouldn’t sound demeaning.

Did you see the look on Brae’s face, and the glow in her eyes? I’ve never seen her so happy, Rod. How could I not be equally happy? Can you tell me that?

Then, I am glad for you. For both of you! I quickly amended, shaking his hand.

That’s not why you wanted to talk to me alone, though, is it? You weren’t just thinking aloud when you mentioned tracking down the bandits that raided his tribe’s camp, were you? You seriously intend to track them down. I saw it in your eyes the moment the boy mentioned them. Would you mind telling me why? And what will you do if we catch up to them, kill them all?

In all honesty, I don’t know, I replied, unable to keep the sound of defeat from my voice. If it weren’t for the promise that I’ve made to Loté, I’d track them down and serve up justice in a style that only they could understand!

But you made a promise, just the same as I made one to Brae. Until we find her tribe and Loté’s parents, we are bound to those vows, no matter what other temptations or desires crop up in the meantime!

Yes, I know. Yet that doesn’t make the desire any less, I hesitantly agreed. And it’s not easy, just going about one’s business as if nothing has happened. They should be hunted down and punished for their crimes!

Yes, they should. But it’s not our job, Rod! Maybe someday, when we’ve fulfilled our other obligations, we can pursue those men, or others that are equally evil. But until then, we need to concentrate on the charges at hand.

Speaking as though I hadn’t heard a word he said, I replied, I don’t want this to be misunderstood, Wary, but I think we ought to detour northward before continuing west.

But that doesn’t make any sense, Rod! If we do that, we’ll be moving away from the more populated route, substantially decreasing our chances of finding either Brae’s tribe, or information concerning Loté’s parents! he replied exasperatedly. In addition, he went on when I didn’t immediately respond, Not only will it be unbearably hotter, dryer, and the food scarcer, but the lack of humidity will be atrocious!

It was only a suggestion, Wary. All I’m asking is that you give it some thought.

I’ve given it all the thought and consideration that I need to, Rod, he replied, his voice suddenly calm. If you want to parallel the main route along a more northern one, then I guess that I’m with you. You’ve been my friend for a long time now, several life-times, as a matter-of-fact, he added with a chuckle. You’ve never led us astray yet, why would you now?

Although he was acquiescing to me, I could still hear the reservation in his voice. Nevertheless, because of my self-serving nature, I hastily chose to ignore it.

Your trust in me is touching, Wary. I really mean that. Having a friend like you makes everything else seem insignificant.

We still have to convince the women. But if you want to travel northward before resuming westward, that’s good enough for me.

Congratulations again on becoming a father.

Thanks Rod. Now, shall we rejoin the others and get something to eat before breaking our plan to them? he asked with a smirk, knowing full well that it wouldn’t be an easy task convincing Loté and Brae of our decision to make a detour.

Wary and I sat silently eating cheese, bread, and dried meats, while the women doted over the boy. It was strange, watching them, especially since we hadn’t seen anyone that wasn’t in the prime of their life, age wise or physically, since entering the subsurface. The boy represented much more to us than just serving as a simple reminder of the fertile, virile people that we had once been; he re-instilled us with optimism toward the future; a reason for wanting to make this world a safer, more humane place to live. He represented everything that we’d been fighting for, and now had the opportunity to achieve.

The boy, Tye, wasn’t more than ten year’s old, yet he carried himself with a maturity that went beyond his tender age. I couldn’t help but wonder if he had always been this way, or if watching your family and friends being slaughtered might have something to do with it. In either case, he was holding up very well, everything considered. With the right guidance, he would grow into a man worth knowing, a son to be proud of. In a small way, I discovered that I envied Wary and Brae.

We’ll rest here a while and give the water a chance to settle out before we refill the flagons, I said casually, leaning back against a soft, moss-covered rock and closing my eyes.

The rest period was for Tye’s benefit, not ours. But I also needed more time to think. Although I was feeling confident that Loté would see things my way, once I finished explaining my reasoning, I wasn’t so sure of Brae. Now that she had Tye to worry about and mother, she would be even more anxious to be reunited with her family.

Lying on the rock with my eyes closed, feigning sleep so that I wouldn’t be disturbed, I found some solace in the fact that Wary had already agreed to my change of plans. I had to wonder if he would have agreed so readily if he felt strongly that Brae couldn’t be swayed likewise.

Raising my eyelid just enough to catch a quick glimpse of the others, I noticed that Wary had joined the women in playing with Tye. It suddenly occurred to me that if the boy wasn’t getting any rest, why were we wasting time here.

Rising up on an elbow, I leaned over toward the others and said, If I can have your attention for a minute, there’s something that I’d like to discuss before we start out.

Wary, after throwing me a knowing glance, moved over and put himself beside Brae and Tye. Loté meanwhile, stepped around the packs and positioned herself on the moss beside me. The time had come to lay my plan on the table and make my intentions known.

"Although I am well aware that none of you are feeling inclined to alter our original plans, a few things have changed since we started out. Before I go any further, however, I should probably make it clear that I don’t find it selfish on your part if you