Aurora (The Exodus Trilogy) (13 page)

It seemed Henry noticed as well, because he rose slowly. He muttered something and shot her a dark look before turning his back to her, then walked to the door. He stood there for a second, holding the doorknob.

“This is getting seriously close to treason,” he said. Then he turned the knob and went outside, leaving the door open. After a moment, Dean walked over and closed the door, shutting out the cold gusts. He looked sullen. Henry had been one of them, and Tina’s best friend for years. They had built this place, these first few cabins and a few boats. They had done it because they were friends who had trusted each other with their lives more than once. Now only Tina, Dean, and Kim remained of the original team from Selection.

The finality of it suddenly hit her. She hadn’t just committed to the independence of Port Hammer. She had lost her best friend.

Chapter 9

BEN WATERS

Ben wasn’t sure it had been the right decision, but he was determined to see it through. Followed by Drew and Lisa, he had set out early this morning, before dawn. The perimeter, especially north of Fort Andrews, was now being guarded more heavily than ever, and they had all agreed that they had to find another way out. So they had gone south instead, planning on taking a wide turn before heading north toward their destination.

Harry’s death had opened their eyes. It was a senseless and stupid way to die, and Ben blamed the leaders. He had no beef with the nervous soldiers, who’d probably just made a wrong call under tough conditions. The way the incident had been brushed aside though, and not even apologized for, was a different matter, and now there were rumors all over Andrews that a group of people had been murdered on the street. There was no way to blame balders for that.

Ben had put words to what they all seemed to feel. They had had enough. So here they were hours later, west of Fort Andrews, on their way to join the others gathering in Port Hammer. Ben, who had taken point, stopped and looked at Drew and Lisa. Drew kept up just fine, but Lisa seemed to be struggling under the weight of her heavy backpack. He felt his stomach growl.

“Guys, how about a break? I’m starving,” he said. Lisa smiled and unclipped her support straps, letting the backpack fall to the ground. Then she sat on it, breathing heavily. Drew did the same and took out three packs of MREs, which he passed out.

“What did you get?” he asked.

“Beef and mushrooms,” Ben said. He didn’t like mushrooms.

“Chicken kebab style,” Lisa said, making a face. The MREs weren’t all that bad, but the more exotic they were, the less real they tasted.

“Wanna switch?” she said. Ben nodded and threw his pack over to her.

“Hey, I like beef too,” Drew said.

“And what did you get, D?” Lisa asked, already shaking her pack to activate the heating. Drew hunched his shoulders, and started shaking his MRE as well.

“I got the mystery meat…” he said. Ben and Lisa laughed. There was no way anyone would trade anything for the mystery meat.

After eating, they sat there for a while enjoying the warm midday rays of Cancri. Ben closed his eyes, and he wasn’t really listening to what Drew was saying, until he heard him mention Harry. Then he opened his eyes and looked at him.

“What did you say?” he asked. Drew looked down and kicked at the snow.

“It was my fault,” he said. “If not for me, Harry would be alive today. I should have been there, but I chickened out.” He kept his eyes on the ground, and Lisa snapped back at him.

“What the hell has that got to do with anything?” Lisa asked. “I know you think going out there was your idea, but you were just the first one to say it. We all felt it, just like we do now. Freedom is important, like breathing. We need it, as humans.”

“Yeah… She’s right,” Ben said. “Don’t beat yourself up like that, Drew.” Nobody said anything for a moment.

“I’ve been thinking…” Ben continued. “The scientists say the air is breathable. They have found some unfamiliar microbes, but none of them seems dangerous…” Lisa eyed him quizzically, and he smiled at her.

“The thing is… What does it mean to be free? Really free?” he said.

“You’re not thinking of…” Drew began, then stopped as Ben took off his cap, and loosened the straps behind his head. Then he removed the mask. He waited for a moment, and almost laughed at their expressions. Then he let the fresh air fill his lungs, held it for a few seconds and then let it out again, grinning. He inhaled again, and let it out slowly.

“This! This is freedom!” he exclaimed. He savored the smells of wood and clean air, nothing like what he remembered from back on Earth.

“Oh my God, it tastes so good! I almost forgot!” He got up and swirled around, and Drew looked at him as if he’d lost his mind completely. Lisa just laughed and started taking off her own mask.

“Don’t you think we should… wait?” Drew said. Lisa just dismissed him and closed her eyes as she, too, took a deep breath. Drew shrugged, before removing his mask as well. Ben smiled at them both. He thought it was liberating and just what they needed. He laughed, watching Lisa jump up from the backpack and start dancing around, kicking the feather light snow as she swirled around and around. Drew seemed more apprehensive, but then he let his inhibitions go, and soon the three of them were dancing around. Ben wondered what people would say once they reached Port Hammer, but right now he didn’t care much. They were all scarred from their experiences back on Earth, and so far, life on Aurora had turned out to be more fragile than they had hoped. But here, now, they were kids again. For a moment, they were able to forget all their emotional baggage and just dance. To live is to breathe freely, Ben thought. Never had it been more true.

GEORGE HAVELAR

“I want that idiot punished,” George Havelar fumed. The sergeant who had started this mess would have to be punished, although it would likely change nothing. Eighteen people were dead, and all because that idiot had decided to play judge and executioner. And for what? A few angry civilians, who had decided to speak up for a friend? When he had ordered Colonel Quellar to crack down on dissidents, this sort of action had been the furthest thing from his mind. The colonel had thought quickly though. As soon as the incident was reported, she made sure there was evidence to suggest the protesters had shot first. Havelar didn’t know whether people believed it, but he had to stick with the story, or all hell would break loose.

“He’s already been placed under arrest, Governor,” Colonel Quellar replied. Havelar nodded curtly. He would have liked to plant a bullet in the sergeant’s head, but he kept silent. He had vowed to keep to the laws of the old country, and the sergeant would have his trial, as law demanded. Of course, he might get capital punishment, but with the tale of self-defense spreading, a complete acquittal was no less likely. Havelar would have to see what could be done about that.

“So, Thomas, what’s the status?” he said, turning toward the younger man.

“Sir, there are several people missing, and the guards on the perimeter report tracks leading away in every direction. Several patrols report having followed the tracks a way out though, and they all seem to turn north after a while. The only possible conclusion would be that at least a hundred people have left for Port Hammer just in the past two days.” Havelar nodded, his face grim.

“I can live with a hundred going off north, but we cannot let this continue, or Port Hammer will grow too strong. I will not have them break out, as it appears they are attempting to do. It weakens us as a community. Besides, there are a quite few key persons that are needed here,” he said. Thomas nodded. They had all heard Ramon’s report from the botched negotiations, and the consensus seemed to be that, sooner or later, something would have to be done about the budding rebellion to the north. The colonel had proposed an armed expedition on several occasions, but so far, Havelar had held back. He didn’t want war. All he ever wanted was for everyone to pull in the same direction. Nevertheless, it seemed armed confrontation grew more likely with every day passing. If they didn’t act soon, Port Hammer would be too strong to take down quickly, and the division would be inevitable.

“I will not accept Hamilton or anyone else driving a wedge between us,” he said.

“Just look at Ramon! I bet his daughter was coerced along, and I bet there are others just like her.” Havelar dismissed them, and he watched their backs until he was alone. He had made his decision. He took a few notes and waited, as his old friend would be here any minute.

RAMON SOLIS

Ramon glimpsed Thomas Dunn leaving as he reached the door to Havelar’s office. His mind was elsewhere though. With everything happening faster and faster, he was concerned for Maria. She had only replied to one of his messages, and the reply just said she was okay, and that he shouldn’t worry. Which of course did little to ease the feeling of impending disaster. Ramon expected the conflict to get a lot worse before it got better, but he was unsure of his own feelings in the midst of it all. On the one hand, he wanted nothing more than to get on with building their colony. There was so much to be done, and once winter ended, there would be expeditions to explore both south, west, and north of Verdi, and the plans called for an aerial survey of the nearest continents as well. On the other hand, he sympathized with those who felt everything was too organized, too much top-down organization. The ones gathered in Port Hammer, and probably others as well, thought Aurora should be open to anyone to explore and to build. They wanted an entirely different society than the one they had left behind, and sometimes Ramon wondered how they had been let on board the Exodus. He would have expected much tighter control. Havelar had more than once hinted that the conspiracy they had all suspected must have been put in place to ensure dissidents and subversives as he called them were given places on board. He might have been right. Ramon hadn’t been sure whether that would be such a bad thing, but from what he could see, it now seemed as though Havelar’s concerns had been correct.

He was greeted by a solemn Havelar as he entered the office from which the colony was being governed.

“Come on in, Ramon,” the governor said. Havelar wasted no time as Ramon found a chair and sat down.

“Ramon, I know your daughter thinks she knows what she saw, but you know the truth,” he said. Ramon nodded. It was a disastrous incident, and one he feared would tear them apart, but right now all he could think of was his daughter. He didn’t know how far he could go, but he hoped his long-time friendship with Havelar would count for something.

“The ones responsible will be dealt with, but let’s not forget we still don’t know every detail. Colonel Quellar is on the matter now, and so far, she has found evidence that there may be more to this incident than we first thought. The rioters may actually have fired the first shot.” He shrugged, and sat down behind his desk.

“Your daughter would be perfectly safe here. Actually, this will soon be the safest place to be. I’m afraid she will not come back any time soon though. You are aware that the shrink is up there too, right?” Ramon shook his head. He hadn’t known. He knew Kenneth Taylor could be charismatic even though he mostly kept to himself, but had trouble seeing his daughter as the victim of manipulation. She was too strong, too level headed.

“That may be so,” he said. Havelar looked up at him when he didn’t say anything more.

“Where do you stand, Ramon?” he said sharply. Ramon had prepared himself for this, and although he had his doubts, he had made up his mind. He had discussed it with Isabella well into the small hours the night before, as he always did when big decisions had to be made. She was even more terrified than he was for Maria, but after relentlessly going through the alternatives, the one option that remained had been clear to them both. He dreaded the consequences, but there seemed to be no alternative any more.

“I’m with you, George. I always have been.” He waited as Havelar smiled. Then, before the governor could say anything, he continued.

“But I cannot stand here while the soldiers march on Port Hammer. I need to take care of my daughter.”

“And what does that mean?” Havelar asked. Ramon folded his hands and leaned forward.

“I want command,” he said. When Havelar didn’t reply, he went on.

“In a few days, weeks at most, there will have to be an armed response. I don’t see another way, and I know you too well, George. My guess is that right now, the soldiers are rehearsing the attack. To deal with them once and for all.” He paused for a moment, expecting some kind of response. Once again, Havelar remained quiet, so he continued.

“So I want to be in charge. I want to lead the force. I don’t trust some military commander to prioritize the safe retrieval of my daughter. Let me do this, and I am your man one hundred percent.”

“You are no soldier, Ramon…” Havelar began, but Ramon interrupted him.

“There are plenty of soldiers, but I want the final word. Trust me, I will get the job done. Swiftly, ruthlessly, if necessary. But I will get my daughter back in one piece.” Havelar seemed to be considering his proposal, so he pressed on.

“Beating the rebels in the field is not your biggest challenge, George. It’s what comes after you should be concerned about. When all opposition is crushed, what then? You need someone for the days and weeks and months that will follow. I am that man, and you know it.”

“So if I let you out there, you will smash the rebels, save your daughter… You have always been one of my closest associates, a friend even. I have always trusted you, Ramon, but to lead in such a task... I don’t know... To get this done, you will have to commit acts that would seem… distasteful.” Ramon paused a moment. He had expected this to get messy.

“Don’t think I haven’t considered that, George. But my daughter is more important to me than anything. I will do what needs to be done, no matter what. You can count on that.” Havelar said nothing as he stepped over to the window and looked out over the snow-covered field outside.