Quest for Freedom Read online

  “What is it?” Janai’s mouth dried up.

  The two Aknideans exchanged looks and then uttered something in their own language Janai didn’t recognize.

  “Guys, come on.” Lance said, nervously. “What gives?”

  “Quiet,” Vala ordered. She leaned close to Janai. “Morgee.”

  Janai’s heart skipped a beat. She grabbed Krav’n’s small, webbed hand, sweat making it slippery. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Vala had Tish in her grip. “We have to hide.” She pulled the little girl closer.

  Janai dropped Krav’n’s hand and checked the map. There was no other path and they couldn’t go back the way they came. She scanned the area for shelter, but she already knew she wouldn’t find anything. Besides, she couldn’t see very far with all the greenery. Then her eyes fell on the mountains to her left. She looked up at the mass of trees and shrubs that decorated the vast hillside.

  “It’s the only way,” Ash said. Janai turned to him, fighting tears that threatened to blur her vision. She studied his white hair and the pattern spots that stood out against his gray neck. He seemed taller, older. Moving in what seemed to be slow motion, he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Janai?”

  Everything seemed to move slower. Someone forced her onto the ground. She looked up as Ash hovered over her. She tried to get back on her feet but he held her in place.

  “Gryden, give her some water.” The new boy offered a water bladder. Ash held the container up to Janai’s lips and forced her to drink. She swallowed the warm liquid without protest. “You all right?” Ash offered her another drink.

  “Yes.” She accepted the second gulp of water then wiped at a tear. Anger pressed in on her for crying in the first place. She took a deep breath, forcing her attention back to the situation, and looked up at her Kritine companion. “There must be another way around.”

  Vala peered down at Janai, humor in her yellow eyes. “She’s all right.”

  Lance let out a nervous chuckle but held onto Penny’s hand. The two stood very close together.

  Janai got to her feet to the dismay of Ash, who still hovered over her. “I’m all right. Really.” She turned her attention to Penny. “Are you up to climbing this morning?” Penny pulled away from her brother and nodded. Janai turned to the two Aknideans. “Do we have time?”

  Vala and Gryden shifted earflaps and glanced at one another. “The Morgee are stationary for the moment,” Vala said. “We should have enough time, if Penny’s fast.”

  “I’m fast.” Penny stepped to Janai’s side. “Please. I can do it.”

  Gryden chose a tree that looked to give them the best advantage, and Penny scurried up in a matter of minutes. The little girl scanned the area from near the top of the tree and quickly, but carefully, made her way down the skinny trunk.

  She was breathing hard when her feet touched solid ground, and the others gathered around her. “I saw them.” Clear blue eyes as wide as bulb fruit bowls gazed at Janai. “Morgee are everywhere.”

  “What do you mean everywhere?” Janai said.

  “They’re over there and there, too.” Penny pointed to the trees, where Gryden and Vala had heard the soldiers, and back the direction they’d come.

  “Are you sure?” Lance said to his sister.

  “Uh-huh. I saw those big, shiny things. Like the ones in the rockdome.”

  Ash ran a hand through his hair. “The ground ships?”

  “Yeah, they went that way.” She pointed a freckled arm in the direction of the rockdome.

  Gryden stepped closer. “We don’t have a choice but to go through the mountains.” He shifted his earflaps. “The Morgee will capture us if we don’t.”

  He was right, but Janai hoped the wild animals in the mountains posed less of a threat than the soldiers. At least animals won’t enslave us.

  Blal’k looked up and narrowed his lids at the suns. “We might be able to keep track of the trail if we can stay near the edges of the mountains.”

  That was the first thing he’d said in a long time and Janai studied him. His head ridges caught the light and were not as pale as when they first lost Sarah. He didn’t look at her.

  Gryden shifted his bow as he looked in the direction of the soldiers. “Whatever we decide to do, we’d better hurry. They’re not going to stay there forever.”

  Janai scanned the area for the easiest way up. “There.” She pointed to an area with trampled grass.

  Gryden walked to the base of the mountain and inspected the flattened area. “Looks like an animal trail.”

  Sporadic claw prints headed up the mountainside. They were clumped in places and sparse in others.

  “What kind of animals?” Lance said, his voice quivering slightly. He scrunched his face as he looked up the mountainside.

  Gryden shifted his earflaps. “I don’t know. But whatever made this trail is bigger than a jumper.”

  “Think we can follow it?” Janai said.

  Vala followed the trail with her eyes. “Do we have a choice?”

  Janai wished they did. At least they had a couple of experienced hunters in the group. Maybe that will keep us from getting eaten. She shivered, despite the warm breeze that had kicked up.

  They started quietly up the mountainside, following the mysterious animal trail. Once in a while, someone slipped on loose dirt and rock, adding a bruise or scrape, but nothing serious.

  There were stretches of the trail where they had to use hands as well as feet in order to keep moving. The older ones helped the younger ones and, eventually, they reached a plateau. All were sweating and breathless by the time they got the chance to rest. Janai was tired, thirsty and bruised. The others had to feel the same way. But no one complained, not even Penny. They simply sat and drank from the water rations and peered over the edge of the small plateau in hopes of keeping out of sight of the Morgee.

  That’s when Janai saw the object. One of the large, gold cylindrical ships traveled toward the rock dome. The craft wasn’t going very fast or very high above the ground, and it shifted directions several times. Janai spotted small metallic things moving on the ground and realized they were the Morgee soldiers. They’d climbed higher than she thought.

  “They’re looking for us,” Vala said, adjusting the sling around her injured arm. “They know we’re in the area.” She took her bow in hand.

  Janai didn’t protest. If we’re attacked, Vala’s injured arm will be the least of our worries.

  16 ~ Higher into the Mountains

  They had to stop and rest more often now. They seemed more easily out of breath than they’d been at the bottom of the mountain. The terrain here was becoming rougher and the plateaus farther apart. There had been no sign of shelter, yet, and Janai began to worry. The only thing that kept her climbing was the knowledge that the Morgee were down on the flatlands searching for her group of refugees. They had agreed that since their map was useless in the mountains and the terrain harsher, they would travel during the day and sleep at night. The trees shielded them.

  Vala had given leadership over to Blal’k but still stuck with Gryden. The two Aknideans kept their attention on animal tracks, both for food and safety. Blal’k still hadn’t said much but had indicated that he wanted to take his turn leading the group. Janai agreed and kept a close watch on him. She volunteered to take the rear. This way she could keep an eye on everyone, not just Blal’k. They had avoided further serious injuries and she hoped their luck would continue. Her ankle was simply a dull ache now and she didn’t need the pain herbs as much as before but she kept it wrapped, afraid of twisting it on the uneven ground.

  The silent Tish stayed near Vala as usual, but she seemed to be watching the two Aknideans very closely. Janai wondered if she was actually learning how to track just by observing. From what she’d seen earlier of the Earth girl’s talents, she wouldn’t dismiss the possibility. Krav’n turned his head back toward Janai and studied her with those liquid eyes. Janai smiled and he smiled back, display
ing his sharp, dingy teeth. The Earth siblings stayed close together with Lance just behind Penny, almost touching his sister as they traveled. It took some doing, but he finally convinced her that she needed both hands for climbing and her doll would be safer in her pack, which Ash still carried.

  Penny slipped on a rock but Lance caught her. Janai found herself automatically gripping her sinsabe, which still hung around her waist. Penny was fine, though, and she let her grip relax. Ash, who walked just in front of the Earth siblings, had turned when Penny slipped. While Lance was steadying his sister, Ash smiled knowingly at Janai. His lavender eyes narrowed on her.

  “What?” she said.

  “You’ve become a true healer.” He motioned to her sinsabe.

  Janai looked down. Her hand was still resting on her healer’s bag. She was a little embarrassed that Ash noticed what she didn’t and heat rose in her face. She let out a nervous laugh and moved her hand away. Was he right? Could she become an official healer without proper training and the blessings of her elders? But she was still so young, yet. There’d never been a Kritine healer younger than twenty cycles. Janai wasn’t yet sixteen.

  She looked at him and shrugged. He started to walk away when she said, “How’re the images? Still see them?”

  He glanced over his shoulder. “Sometimes.”

  Suddenly Blal’k cried out. Gryden and Vala knocked arrows. Before Janai could make her way to him, Blal’k broke into contagious laughter and soon they were all chuckling. All except the two Aknideans. And Tish, of course, who displayed a huge grin but made no sound.

  “What’s so funny?” Vala said. She flattened her earflaps against her head briefly when Penny shrieked.

  Janai stopped laughing. “I don’t know. Blal’k started it.” She glanced down on the flatlands but no Morgee were in sight now. They seemed to be searching elsewhere. Thankfully.

  “Sorry.” Blal’k peered through half-closed lids and waved a branch at the others. “This fell out of that tree and I thought it was a crawler.” His face suddenly blazed a bright green and Janai realized he was blushing. The laughter picked up again.

  The group continued on with the Ronarian still in the lead. Once in a while, a chuckle escaped someone and the laughter would start all over again. The trilling fliers in the trees above seemed to join in.

  Janai was grateful to the whole incident with Blal’k and the branch. She hadn’t truly laughed in a long time and the merriment seemed to have a healing effect on all of them, especially Blal’k. Even Vala and Gryden seemed more relaxed. Aknideans rarely laughed, but they were affected nonetheless. Janai had seen Aknideans show pain and agitation so she knew they were capable of emotion. She wondered if Vala and Gryden felt left out sometimes, especially when the other races were so open with their feelings.

  Her thoughts drifted to Sarah, and she wondered for the umpteenth time what had become of the Earth girl. She wished she could hear Sarah’s laughter among them. Gryden interrupted her thoughts.

  “There.” The Aknidean boy pointed off to the left. “Over there’s an opening. In the rock. See it?”

  He was right. Janai and the others crossed from the animal trail, through the trees and brush. A large alcove. Large enough to shelter the group while they slept. But not big enough to live in for any length of time. It was enough. They would be near exhaustion soon. Something that even laughter couldn’t cure. The two Aknideans listened closely for any hint of the Morgee. If their laughter hadn’t gotten the alien’s attention, then they should be safe for now.

  Vala’s earflaps shifted. “I’m not picking up any sounds but those of the mountains.”

  “Same here,” Gryden said.

  Janai took in a sharp breath. “All right. Check the area for unwanted pests so we can eat and get some sleep.”

  Each scouted the area, tipping over rocks and other debris. A few jelly bugs were found hiding in the dark, damp places around the camp area. They fed on dead leaves and grasses. Jelly bugs were disgusting to look at and not at all edible but otherwise harmless. Krav’n and Penny swept the little brown oval-shaped creatures from the sleeping area with leafy branches, while Blal’k, with Tish silently shadowing him, gathered what he needed to prepare lunch.

  Janai checked Vala’s arm then dressed and re-wrapped the injury. The girl seemed to be healing quite nicely and her muscles responded to stimulation. She could brace her bow with that arm if they needed defense. Otherwise, Janai had forbidden her to overuse it. Her own injury was better, also. The swelling in her foot and ankle was almost completely gone and she decided to keep the wrap off while she rested.

  Ash glanced her direction several times and she found herself blushing at his attention. At first, she was flattered. But she grew uncomfortable when glances became observations and she was the object of scrutiny. Nevertheless, her heart flared when he studied her and she had to force her attention on her work.

  The two suns were high in the sky and the day warm despite the shade from numerous trees. Again, they had to ration water. They were down to two bladders and one cylinder. Washing was a luxury they again would have to do without. Blal’k couldn’t make stew without water and the Aknideans hadn’t had any luck locating prey, so they ate roots and sour-grass again.

  After lunch, Tish and Lance scouted the area to find the right carving branch for the little girl’s doll. They had promised to stay within sight of the camp and let anyone know if they ran into creatures during their search. Janai was helping put down sleep skins when the two returned. Tish displayed a huge grin and proudly showed off what she had chosen for Lance to carve, a thick branch with red and yellow speckles on the tips of the green leaves. Tish held her treasure out for the Earth boy.

  “I still have to finish Penny’s doll,” Lance told the silent girl. “But you hold onto that branch and I’ll start on yours very soon.”

  Tish looked disappointed but proceeded to sit on a nearby rock and cradle the branch like a baby.

  “Come on, Tish,” Janai said. “We need to get some sleep.”

  Tish slid off the rock, stomped her foot and pouted. Her pink cheek scars stood out in the filtered light of the trees.

  Janai was tired and didn’t feel like arguing. Luckily, Vala took Tish by the hand and said, “You can sleep next to me.”

  Tish calmed and allowed Vala to lead her to the sleep skins. Penny and Lance shared his so Ash could use Penny’s until they had enough to make a new one for him. Since Gryden carried his own, they didn’t need to worry about him. They decided not to have someone on watch this time. They were all exhausted and needed rest. Janai joined the others in the sheltered area and was soon asleep.

  ****

  She awoke refreshed and alert. As she stretched, she saw that the twin suns were low in the eastern sky. Ash was the only other one awake and he smiled when she looked at him. She couldn’t help but smile back. Tish stirred, interrupting their exchange. The silent girl sat up and began furiously scratching her arms and legs. Janai immediately grabbed her sinsabe and made her way over. Her ankle was vaguely sore today and she was relieved that it was almost healed.

  “What is it?” But the answer became obvious as she got close to the little girl. Red blotches stood out on Tish’s arms, legs, face and neck. Vala awoke and reached for the scratching girl. “Don’t touch her. She might be contagious.” Janai rummaged through her sinsabe for a bundle of herbs. “Try not to scratch, Tish. Vala, let me have your water cylinder.”

  Vala retrieved the water cylinder that had been one of two Janai had carried earlier. They had divided up the containers after the snapper incident. That way, if they lost another pack, they wouldn’t lose all their water.

  “Uh, Janai,” the Aknidean girl said, reluctantly. “I’ve already touched her.”

  Blal’k was at Janai’s side with a bulb fruit bowl. “Thank you.” She eyed Vala then mashed a few of the dried blue herbs in the bowl with a stick and slowly added water, while she ground and stirred the mixture into a paste.
“And you don’t itch anywhere?”

  “No.” The Aknidean girl inspected her own skin. “I don’t see a rash either.”

  Janai thought a moment. “Maybe you and Gryden are immune to whatever Tish has. Or maybe she just didn’t pass it to you.”

  She asked Blal’k for a fresh yellow spread-leaf. She’d discovered this sturdy harmless leaf from a plentiful bush near her own slave camp. The bushes grew everywhere like the mender-leaf trees, so Blal’k didn’t take long to locate a fresh one. Janai used the flexible leaf to scoop up small amounts of the blue paste and spread on Tish’s affected skin. The little girl was near tears.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Lance said.

  “Some sort of rash.” Janai continued to apply the mixture on the affected skin. She wouldn’t mention disease. Not yet. They hadn’t eaten anything different so she ruled out a food allergy. She looked up and found Blal’k’s liquid eyes studying her. “Check the others and see if anyone else has it.”

  He got to his task, and a few moments later, he was at Janai’s side again. “No one else has anything.”

  “You sure?” She covered the last of Tish’s affected skin with the mixture and couldn’t help smiling at the little girl’s blue-covered skin.

  “Yes,” Blal’k said. “I checked everyone.’

  Penny made her way from the sleep skin she shared with her brother. “What’s going on? What’s Blal’k looking for?’

  “Tish has picked up a rash somewhere.” Janai put the spread-leaf into the bowl and lifted it up to Blal’k. “Be sure and wash it out good.” She turned to Tish. “Better?” The little silent girl nodded and displayed her arms for Penny to see. “Where did you and Tish go yesterday?”

  “We just walked around the camp area looking for wood,” Lance said. “That’s all.” Tish picked up the branch that was lying at her side and hugged it to her small body.

  That gave Janai an idea. “Lance, where did that branch come from?”