Cain's Crusaders (19 page)

There were easily fifty or more ships now crowding the space off to Adam’s six. In dark mode, the
Phoenix
continued to put space between them and the bounty hunters, some of which had now spread out in a wide fan-like formation, yet still headed away from Adam’s position.

Even as this was happening, newer contacts were appearing, some heading roughly in Adam’s direction, yet none apparently aware of this. Adam held his breath as five huge cargo ships passed within extreme visual range of the
Phoenix
, heading in the opposite direction. As they passed, Adam wondered what cargo ships expected to accomplish against the
Phoenix
, if they had been the ones to detect him. They carried no real armament to speak of, nor shields against flash bolts. This just showed how effective was McCarthy’s bounty. Even ships that had no chance of stopping him had taken flight, and it was only going to get worse.

“We cannot keep the power off for long, Adam Cain,” Arieel said softly, not wanting to interrupt his thoughts too abruptly. “It will soon grow very cold and the atmosphere scrubbers will cause even more damage.”

“I know. We just need to get to some open space so we can bring some of our systems back online. It looks like the bulk of the other ships are heading away from us now, so just a few more minutes.”

“I’ve been thinking,” Arieel began, “why don’t we just hide somewhere until the deadline for this
reward
has passed? Once the seven days have passed, then the bounty – as you call it – will no longer be valid and we can resume our journey.”

Adam pulled his attention away from the proximity screen and stared dumbfounded at the pretty Formilian. “What about the Rite Ceremony? You have to be there.”

“Even though I have never missed one in my tenure, I’m sure the Order will understand my delay, based on our current circumstances.”

“But what about … what about the device, the thing inside you?”

“You mean the
Gift
? What of it? I still live.”

“No, the other one,
the bomb
.”

“What are you speaking of, Adam Cain? What bomb?”

Adam couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Either the story of the bomb was a lie – which in a way was the whole basis of the Formilian religion – or Arieel didn’t know. Was that even possible, given her background, training and awareness of all electronic devices around her? Adam had to be careful – and then he corrected himself. Why did he need to be careful with Arieel? It was a very good chance that neither one of them would live beyond the day….

“Arieel, don’t get upset, but is there not a self-destruct explosive in your body, a device to keep the secret of the
Gift
from falling into the wrong hands?”

Arieel stared at him for what seemed like a full minute, before she suddenly burst out into laughter. “Of course not, Adam Cain, where did you read that information?”

“I didn’t read it,
Convor
told me.”

The remark caused Arieel’s smile to suddenly vanish and her dark eyes cloud over. “Explain!” she cried out.

Adam took a deep breath. He didn’t know the truth. All he could go by was what he had been told. “Convor said there is a device in your body that needs to be reset every twenty-eight days at the Rites Ceremony. If it is not reset, then it will explode. Is this not true?”

Arieel was quite once again, staring unblinking into Adam’s eyes, seeking any deception. “Why are you saying this? If I had such a device within my body I would be aware. Yes, the Ceremony is a ritual all Speakers endure; we have for thousands of years. I have never missed one, nor have any of the Speakers I’m aware of. But it is simply a ritual for our people. It has no hidden purpose.”

Adam could tell from her voice that Arieel was growing scared and uncertain. He could see her eyes trying to work through the significance of Adam’s revelation. Finally she squared her jaw and narrowed her. “I do not know the reason why you wish to scare me like this; our current predicament is scary enough as it is. But I can assure you I do not have within my being a device set to explode in seven days….” Her voice trailed off when she spoke the words
seven days
. The timing of the bounty and of Adams words was too much of coincidence to be pure chance.

“Is this the reason the reward expires in seven days?” she asked. “If I return within that time, I will live. Yet if I do not return for the Ceremony, then I will … die?”

“That’s what I’ve been told, Arieel. I’m not making this up. I’m sorry you didn’t know – I thought you did.”

“I must speak with Convor immediately!” Arieel suddenly proclaimed. CW communications were beyond tracing, so a link with the High Celebrant certainly was possible. But with the revelation that Convor was her father, the conversation could get very emotional.

“Are you sure? You may not like what you hear.”

“I must verify this information independently. The High Celebrant will not deceive me.” Adam watched her mouth tighten up and he could almost read
her
thoughts.
Like he apparently already has!

“If you insist,” Adam said, turning back to his console. He tapped in the information that the CW computer would need to establish the continuous wormhole link and then waited the thirty seconds or so for the holes to form. A separate screen on his console lit up and a young, extremely handsome – as they all were – Formilian appeared.

His expression exploded when he saw Arieel on his screen. “
My Speaker
, I was not expecting your link! I am ill-prepared for the dialog.”

“Just get the High Celebrant. I must speak with him now.”

“My Speaker, I believe he is in council.”

“Then get him out! I must speak with him – now!”

The young Formilian blanched, having never come under the overwhelming scrutiny of the Speaker before. “Yes, immediately. Forgive me.”

Leaving the screen live, the terrified Formilian disappeared from view. Adam and Arieel said not a word to each other as they waited at least two full minutes before the image of Convor slipped onto the screen.

“My Speaker, I am so glad to see you still well. I am sure you have been made aware of the reward that has been offered for you and Mr. Cain. I have just been in council discussing what options and assistance we might be able to offer, yet my relief is beyond words that you are still well.”

“Father, what is this story I have just heard regarding an explosive device within my body? Is it true?”

The shock on Convor’s face was evident from forty light years away. First his mouth fell open, but then it snapped shut as he focused his attention on Adam. “What have you been told, Arieel?”

Adam noticed how both father and daughter had suddenly dropped the official protocol of their respective positions. This had to be significant.

“I have been told that this device will explode unless I return to the Temple by Rites seven days from now. The significance of the timing of the reward and the Rites Ceremony has me very concerned that this story might be true.”

“It is nothing to worry about, Arieel. You will be back with time to spare before the Sacrament. You will be fine.”

“Then it is true!”

“Yes, my daughter, but it is something that all the other Speakers have also had to endure.”

“But why was I not told?” Arieel had begun to cry, the tears streaming down her tan face.

“It was not necessary,” Convor said. “In all our time, no Speaker has missed the Ceremony. It is our most-constant affair, the one thing that all our people can count on.”

“Of course it is a constant, because if not, then the Speaker would die! I would die.”

“Arieel, you must realize that the
Gift
is our most guarded secret. If others were to learn of it, then our entire way of life would be in jeopardy. You are much too valuable to be allowed capture and investigation. The precautions you speak of are a necessary evil in order to protect you and our beliefs.”

“How am I protected if I am dead?”

Convor did not respond. Instead he watched as Arieel wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks and regained some of her composure. Finally she looked back at the image of her father, his own face a study in pain and anguish. “I understand the necessity of this action, father, I just do not understand why I was not informed? It is obvious that the presence of this device has been shielded from me – even a betrayal by the
Gift
itself. What else are you not telling me?”

“Nothing Arieel, the reason you were not told was so that you would not worry. The Order has protected you and will continue to do so.”

“Until now – just look at what has transpired over the past several weeks. If I had not been rescued by Adam Cain, I would have simply exploded at the appropriate time, and then your troubles would be over. A new Morlic-Speaker would be born and the Order would carry on until she is old enough to assume her position. But
I
would be gone.”

“It is not like that, Arieel. Your abduction was unexpected; something that has never before taken place in our entire history. We were ill-prepared for its occurrence.”

“And yet – you must admit – if the credits for my return had not been requested, you would have tried little to save me from the evil Human who took me. In time, the situation would have resolved itself.”

“Arieel, stop being like this!” her father commanded. “We were trying all we could to get you back. You are much more important to our society and our religion than just as a vessel for the
Gift
. Even now, your survival will prevent the Omphly savages from attacking us. If you should parish, then there will be war.”

“And we cannot have
that
,” Arieel said sardonically, the tears still escaping from her dark eyes.

Convor seemed to know what she was intimating, because he leaned in closer to the screen, even as a solitary tear escaped his own glassy eyes. “You are my daughter, Arieel; above all
I
want you back. It has always been difficult for me to separate the responsibilities of my office from those of a parent. And now I have the dual weight of saving my daughter and of saving our religion resting upon my shoulders. Both are intertwined and both are just as important.” He looked over and Adam and made eye contact. “I know I may be asking the impossible; you have already exceeded your charter, Mr. Cain, but please return my daughter to me. I know you are a Human, and probably incapable of understanding the emotions of Formilians, but I besiege you. If you can do this, then you will never want of anything from me or the Formilian race.”

Oh great,
Adam thought,
nothing like putting even more pressure on me!

“I understand, Convor. Unfortunately, what happens over the next seven days may be out of my control. Is there anything you can do to help us get back, and all I one piece?”

“The council was just been discussing this. We are at a loss. The offer was broadcast in the open to every world within the sector and beyond. Even the newscasts are speaking of it. It has taken on a life of its own. Within the Coalition, the subject is appalling, even though an inordinate number of spaceships have departed from the various worlds of our union. It is especially disturbing to see this happen.”

“How were they able to find us so fast?” Adam asked.

“Your approximate coordinates were revealed, as was the description of your ship and it’s very distinct gravity signature. You may possess one of the fastest ships in the galaxy, but it does leave a unique trail as it passes.”

“That it does –” Adam sat up suddenly. “Convor, I have to go. A plan just popped into my head and it’s going to get very busy around here.”

“What is it, Mr. Cain?”

“I’m not going to tell you. Even though I believe
you
are loyal to Arieel, I can’t say that about the others around you. The less you know, the safer we’ll be.”