Tor’s Odyssey

By Michael O. Gregory

Facing destruction by a neutron star, Earth sends out seed ships into the cosmos to perpetuate the human race. Ship 94 arrives at its destination, an earth-like planet, where it completes its mission to produce at least three hundred human breeding pairs, along with animals that would be of use to them, and training resources to give the new colony a jump-start into the Iron Age.

Five-hundred ninety-seven years later, Tor, a young man, and his mastiff dog, Benjy, returns from hunting to find his entire village massacred by invading soldiers of the Nurtiska Empire. With no other choice, he must flee. Thus begins an odyssey of revenge that turns into a search for a place of refuge for himself and the survivors of the Delta Clans.

In his travels, he meets and takes as mate Koreen, a young woman of his own age. Will they find a refuge for themselves and the survivors of the Delta Clans where the Nurtiska Empire can never find them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796028935

Michael O. Gregory

Raised on ranch in north Texas, Michael entered military service in 1956. He served two tours in Vietnam. The first with the Airborne Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division. The second as an infantry heave weapons advisor on a mobile advisor team (MAT-105). Retired from military service in 1977 as a Sergeant First Class. Michael won the 2009 Beach Book Festival award in the history category for "SHINY BAYONET'. A first hand historical account of the first combat operation of the Vietnam War of the men of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry division (Air Mobile), 10 to 14 October 1965. Michael now lives with his wife Jeanne in Evans, Georgia.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Light struck and reflected off the highly burnished metal parts of the ship as it passed from the dark side of its orbit into the sunlight. The skin as well as most of the ship was made of exotic compounds and metallic like ceramics that shone a flat yellowish-white, orange or gray in the sunlight. The ship was a seed ship; to be specific, ship number ninety-four of its class. The seed ships were mankind’s last hope of preserving its future. They were large ships, well over six-hundred feet long. Most of the ship would never enter the atmosphere of any world. Only the payload, a large cylindrical shaped reentry vehicle fifty feet in diameter and seventy-five feet high, and smaller seeding vehicles would ever rest on another world.

Sixty-one years before, astronomers had discovered a neutron star on a collision course with our solar system. They now had just four years left before the neutron star arrived and brought destruction to the entire solar system.

At first there had been plans to send out one or more generation ships whose descendants would eventually colonize a new world. That idea, however, was soon shown to be unworkable. A generation ship would have ended up being about the size of a small moon. It was also questionable whether a habitable environment could be sustained for the centuries required to reach a new home. That spurred the idea that if man himself couldn’t reach the stars, then perhaps his seed could. A seed ship would not have to provide an environment for living organisms; only storage at near absolute zero for the seed.

The nations of the earth started a program to build and send out seed ships to promising new worlds. Using the latest technology the seed ships on a long voyage between the stars could reach speeds of over half-light speed.

The seeds that the ship would carry would be embryos of many animal species, both domestic and others useful to man. Human embryos would also be carried, along with the seed of plants useful to man. The seed ships had the technology to bring the embryos to term and to care for them until they could care for themselves. The ships had been programmed to produce at least three-hundred human breeding couples over a period of twenty years. If most couples could produce six to eight offspring in their lifetime. In three to four hundred years man’s survival on the new planet would be assured. The seed ship would also produce other animals in sufficient quantity to perpetuate themselves. The ships also had the means to teach language and social skills, and to impart enough knowledge to enable members of the new generation to further their knowledge, using the ship’s data banks. It was naïve to expect any of the new colonies to begin at the same level as that of earth. Perhaps they could give them a jump start into the age of metal working. With some luck man could colonize the stars.

Ship ninety-four had reached the final minutes of the countdown. At a precise point in the orbit the boosters would fire and send number ninety-four on its journey to the stars, heralding a new beginning for mankind on a far distant new world.

The boosters fired. After leaving orbit, ninety-four’s ion engines started their slow acceleration, driving the ship out beyond the outer planets of the solar system. At a certain velocity the interstellar ramjet took over to drive number ninety-four to the stars. Able to scoop up its fuel as it traveled through space, the interstellar ramjet continued on, year after year, decade after decade, and century after century. The earth and solar system had long since been destroyed; yet number ninety-four continued on its voyage through the stars.

Finally, as ninety-four neared its target a class ‘G’ star with a ninety-six percent of the luminosity of earth’s home star, it started to decelerate; entering orbit around the second planet from the star, a planet similar to earth, but with one large moon and two small moons. The planet had two percent more mass than that of earth. It also had a uniformly subtropical climate. There were two large continents with smaller land masses that straddled the equator, with open, ice free water at both poles. The planet had a day of twenty-five hours and nine minutes earth time, and took three hundred thirty-six days to orbit its star. Following its program, number ninety-four had conducted a survey and mapping of the planet from orbit. After the survey, the smaller seed ships were sent down to penetrate the atmosphere, to glide over the land masses broadcasting their seeds.

Finally choosing the best location for the colony, an area with water and other requirements, isolated enough to not be interfered with by the indigenous wildlife, but easy enough to allow expansion when the colony was ready, number ninety-four left orbit and landed to complete its mission. By then the new flora had started to take hold on this new world.

ONE

The darkness within the dwelling started to recede as the predawn light gathered in the eastern sky. Tor rolled over on his sleeping pallet and opened his eyes. He could just make out his surroundings in the light coming in through the windows. His younger brother, Frann, still slept on the pallet next to him. In the other half of the loft beyond the partition he could hear his three sisters starting to wake-up. His oldest sister, Alamea, would see that the other two got up and dressed. Tor reached over and shook his brother by the shoulder. Wake up, Frann!

Frann sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Why did you have to do that?

Do what, little brother? Tor asked.

Go and wake me up. In my dream I was about to kiss, Laudomia.

Tor laughed. That is the closest you will ever get to kissing Laudomia. She is the most attractive young maiden in our clan. With the attention of all the young men in the clan she knows her worth. She wants a lot better than the likes of us for a mate.

Well I can still dream, can’t I? Frann smiled as the image of Laudomia came to mind.

Tor and Frann heard giggling coming from their sister’s half of the loft. Poor, Frann, Yelena said, with a hint of jest in her voice, can’t get the girls to notice him.

You just wait until I get my hands on you, you little pixie! Frann exclaimed in mock indignation.

Promises, promises. Yelena retorted.

You kids stop fooling around and get dressed! their mother called out from the hearth below, where she had started to build a fire to cook breakfast.

Yes, mother. they all responded, somewhat in unison.

Getting to his feet, Tor grabbed the kilt from atop his brother’s wicker trunk and tossed it at him. Get dressed, Frann. You can dream more about Laudomia later on.

Tor took his own kilt from atop his own wicker trunk and started to dress. The only items of clothing worn by either gender were a loin cloth and kilt. After tying his kilt about his waist, he put on his sandals. He then put on and adjusted his leather harness. The harness had a collar made of overlapping leather parts that covered most of the shoulders, the chest above the breast and the back half way down the shoulder blades. Metal badges and other decorations were affixed to the collar. The belt being connected to the collar by straps, had small close-spaced decorative metal bosses with small rings all around for the attachment of weapons and other equipment.

Their mother and sisters, like most other women preferred kilts in bright colors. The men in the family, like most other men, wore darker colors. Most of the kilts in the village were made of a linen-like natural fiber that grew along the Hern River Valley and were dyed in solid colors. In other areas, especially the mountains with its cooler climate, a light wool fabric was preferred. The helm of the kilt was trimmed with a one and quarter to one and a half inch wide ribbon with alternating bands of colors, each about one quarter inch wide. These were the clan colors. Above the clan colors ran another ribbon about three quarters to one inch wide; usually of one color trimmed with one or more colors. This identified the family or house of the wearer. The hem of everyone’s kilts in the village had the alternating bands of blue, white, orange, white and blue. Each color sequence was separated from the next by a thin, black band. The family ribbon of the house of Maccrea was maroon trimmed with golden-yellow on the top and yellow-green on the bottom.

Tor also wore metal on his harness to denote the same family and clan affiliations plus clan rank and affiliation with the delta clans. Everyone, both male and female, dressed identically in kilt, leather harness, cross garnered sandals and loose fitted linen cloaks with hoods, mostly of a light color, to protect them from the sun during the day and to provide some warmth during the cool of the night. Both males and females went bare breasted. Since women had never covered their breasts, they were not erotic objects for men.

A few minutes later the family gathered in the common room on the main level, where their mother, Cherie, had started a fire in the hearth to heat water for herbal tea and make porridge. After breakfast everyone would be out taking care of chores - working in the fields, tending the livestock, or some other group activity. Their father, Evered, would soon be back from his trading venture to the mountains up river.

Their home, like most of the others in the village, was a round structure about twenty-four feet in diameter, made of sun-dried brick. The lower level contained a single room paved with flagstone that served as the family common room. It was also where the parents and infants, if any, slept. The children slept in the loft, girls on one side of the partition, boys on the other. The loft and thatched roof were supported by a central wood column.

Tor at nineteen was the oldest of the siblings. Then came his sister, Alamea, seventeen, his brother, Frann, fourteen, his sister, Yelena, was ten, and his youngest sister, Liza, was six. Their father was forty and their mother thirty-six. Everyone that they knew had a uniform appearance – golden-brown skin with black hair and dark eyes. There were some individuals in the clan with brown or reddish-brown hair, and some with light colored eyes, like hazel, green, or blue, but they were rare. They all wore their hair long – men and boys just above the shoulders, women and girls down to their waists. All men wore beards, mostly trimmed short.

Tor’s mother was carrying another child who would be born in about five months. All of Tor’s sisters wanted it to be a boy so they wouldn’t have to give up more space in their already crowded half of the loft. Their father also wanted it to be a son. He didn’t want to think of providing a dowry for yet another daughter.

When the breakfast was ready, everyone sat on cushions on the floor at a low table, each with a cup of tea. Their mother served the porridge with a little dried fruit and some beef jerky. As they ate, the conversation turned to the upcoming New Year celebrations. It would be the five hundred and ninety-seventh year from the creation, the time that the one universal God, seeing this wonderful new world, created man so that there would be someone to enjoy it.

The New Year festivities would run for four days. Everyone would dress up in his or her best kilt and harness. Most dress harnesses were of richly dyed and shined leather, with burnished brass or bronze, some of the more prosperous members of the village wore gold or silver metal on their harnesses. The eligible young maidens of the village wore precious metal and jewels on their harnesses as part of their dowries. Tor’s dress harness was of ox blood dyed leather. The segments of the collar were edged with leather lace of a contrasting buff color. His harness metal was burnished brass.

The four days of the festivities would include religious observances, games of speed, strength and skill with hunting and war weapons. Tor usually acquitted himself quite well in these contests, being fleet of foot and well-practiced with hunting weapons. He especially liked the stone throw and the post toss.

Oh, Alamea, her mother said, I have noticed that you have been seeing a lot of Nesbit of the Hakon family.

Alamea put down her tea cup. Yes, Mother, I have been seeing him a lot lately. At first he just seemed to be every place I went. Then he finally approached me and declared his love for me. He would like to take me as mate next year.

Is he prepared to take a mate?

Oh yes, Mother. His father will be giving him an inheritance of land near the river, plus a share of the livestock.

That sounds very good, Alamea. You will also need a home of your own; what about that?

Nesbit has been talking with his father. He will be building a new home for us.

Her mother smiled. Then we can expect a formal visit from the match maker sometime soon.

Alamea nodded. Yes, Mother, I would say soon after the New Year celebration.

With a laugh, Tor said, Then, Sister, it looks as if you will be making me an uncle before I have the chance to make you an aunt.

Oh, Tor, there are many girls who are interested in you and would love to be your mate, Alamea responded, but you’re such a recluse. All that you are interested in is being in the field with your livestock, or off hunting by yourself, with that dog of yours, Benjy for company.

Girls interested in me? Tor looked up with interest. Who?

Alamea chuckled. If you had the mind to, dear Brother, you might have noticed that Tilda of the family, Rory, is often close by, observing you.

Tor raised an eyebrow. ‘You mean little Tilda with the dimpled cheeks and perpetual big smile?"

Yes, you knot head! Alameda exclaimed, Little, Tilda, but she’s not so little anymore. She reached her sixteenth birthday about four months ago. All it would take from you is a wink and a smile. She would likely swoon in your arms.

Tor laughed. Then I should make it a point to pay more attention to Tilda.

Tor, what will you be doing today? His mother asked, changing the subject so everyone could finish breakfast.

I’m still working with Chief Drury’s family’s new filly that needs to be trained to pull a cart. I have her trained to the harness. I’ll be working with her for two to three more days to get her used to pulling a cart. Then I should have enough time to go hunting. Perhaps I can bring back something special for the New Year feast.

See what I mean? Alamea said, All you ever think of is to go off by yourself to hunt.

Tor arrived at the Drury’s stable with his dog, Benjy, who had followed him from home. Benjy, a large male mastiff, was loyal to Tor and followed him everywhere. Also at the stables when he arrived was Tilda. His conversation with his sister, Alamea, still on his mind, Tor took a good look at her. Tilda was no longer the scrawny little brat he remembered who had always been in his and his friend’s way when he was younger. She stood taller now; her hips were that of a woman, and her breasts that he remembered as little more than buds were now well developed. How he had been so blind to these sudden developments? She was beautiful. Good-morning, Tilda, he said with a new look of interest.

She gave him a big smile. Good-morning, Tor. Do you mind if I watch you work with the new filly?

Benjy gave Tilda a sniff, and then let her scratch him behind the ears as he wagged his tail.

Yes, Tilda, you can watch, Tor said, I find caring for cattle, sheep, goats and pigs is work, but horses I love, and anything that you love isn’t work.

Tor watched how Benjy reacted to her. Benjy has really taken to you. He doesn’t show that to everyone. Perhaps you could keep him company as I train the filly. Then later on you could join me at my home for a meal. My mother bakes a terrific sweet bread.

Oh, I would love that, Tor, she replied with a show of excitement that she could hardly conceal, Are you sure that she won’t mind?

Tor winked. I’m sure that she wouldn’t mind. My sister, Alamea, has spoken well of you. Mother is eager to meet you. He then turned away to take the filly from the stable.

By the time that Tor and Tilda left, Tor felt that the filly was well on the way to becoming a good cart horse. Tomorrow he would ride in the cart to get her used to being controlled by the reins.

As they walked to Tor’s home. He took a good look at Tlida. She wasn’t the most beautiful young woman in the village, but she was more attractive than most. Even more important, she was pleasant to talk to. She didn’t display a lot of silliness like some of the other girls. Perhaps, he thought, he should seriously consider paying court to her. After all, he would eventually have to take a mate. She might be right for him.

Mom, I’m back, Tor called out, and I have someone with me for the midday meal.

Looking up from her loom where she sat with her daughter, Liza, weaving cloth for new kilts, his mother responded, Yes, dear, I can see. Is that not Tilda?

Yes, Mrs. Cherie, it is I, Tilda. Tor invited me for the midday meal.

Tor, build up the fire and put the water on for tea, Tor’s mother said, I will set the table for the meal. Tilda, would you give me a hand?

It will be a pleasure, Tilda replied with a smile.

By the time that everything was ready, Frann, Alamea and Yelena had returned from their chores. Alamea was a little surprised to see that Tor had acted so quickly. Maybe he did have an interest in, Tilda.

During the meal, the talk was about the coming New Year celebrations. It was a time when they all dressed in their best and made devotions to God for prosperity in the coming year. There would also be clan celebrations, with dancing and other festivities. I have one more day to work with the filly for Chief Drury. Then I should have just enough time for a hunt, Tor said, "Perhaps I can get