Crystal Fire (34 page)

Watching him, Marissa tried to steel herself to his plight. Time and again, however, a woman's compassion filled her and she had to fight mightily against the impulse to go to him. Finally the interior battle exhausted her. She drifted off to sleep.

Brace heard Marissa's breathing slow to a deep, even rhythm. He at last dared a glance in her direction. She lay curled in unguarded slumber, her mouth soft and sweetly beguiling. Remorse twisted into a painful knot beneath his breast. He had almost killed her, the woman he loved. Gods, what else would he subject her to before all this was over?

Doubts and fears, like the snaking tendrils of the mists of Cygnus, wended their way around his heart. They pervaded him until his entire body felt damp and hollow. Wracking tremors began to shake him, and it was all he could do to contain the movements, fearing the sounds would once more waken his companions.

He didn't want them to see him like this, shaking like some frightened child. So weak, so uncertain, so cowardly. He, the Imperium's only hope, its savior! Ah, what a ludicrous thought!

A soundhalf sob, half groanrose in his throat. Brace flung back his head, pressing it into the unyielding stone. His eyes clenched shut and his strong throat worked with barely suppressed emotion. Had it come to this, then? Was he gradually succumbing to the influence of the Knowing Crystal? And where would it all endin the murder of Marissa?

He would kill himself before he'd let that happen. Not even for the sake of the Imperium would he allow the stone to manipulate him to ever again harm the woman he loved! But if the Crystal seemed determined to force it, how could he fight back?

Rodac. Rodac would help him. He'd take the Simian aside on the morrow and speak to him. Make him promise to guard Marissa, protect her from anything Brace might do under the Crystal's influence.

The decision filled Brace with a sense of relief. Gratitude surged through him. He was fortunate to have found such a loyal friend in Rodac.

Brace's glance strayed once more to Marissa. His gaze softened. He was even more fortunate to have found such a wonderful woman to love. Now one final obstacle lay between them and the hope of a life together. With a determined set of his jaw, Brace turned his thoughts to the coming solsand the culmination of the quest.

They were deep into the mountains the next sol when the skim craft's fuel finally gave out. They headed down to a relatively flat spot near the summit of one rock-strewn mountain, gliding to a sputtering landing. Brace was the first to disembark. He shook his head.

"Well, it's on foot from here on out," he muttered wryly. "Hope you're both ready for some strenuous exercise."

Marissa grinned. "I was beginning to get stiff with the inactivity. A nice long walk about now couldn't be more welcome."

Rodac merely grunted and gathered up their supplies, slinging a blaster over his shoulder.
Enough talk. Let's get on with it!

A bitterly cold wind blew through the mountains, hampering their progress as fingers and limbs began to numb despite the heavy winter clothing. After a time, however, Brace had more pressing problems to deal with. As the sol wore on, a low ringing in his ears intensified to a dull, rhythmic pounding. For a while he thought it was the effect of the rising altitude. Gradually, as the sound assumed the character of harmonic vibrations, he realized it was the Knowing Crystal. Ferox must have discovered they were hot on his trail and decided once again to unleash its powers.

Brace tried as best he could to close his mind to the Crystal's transmissions. For short periods it seemed to work, but the mental effort required could not be maintained indefinitely. Brace's head began to throb. His eyes watered.

His reddened eyes and the taut set to his jaw finally drew Marissa's attention. "Brace," she asked, moving to his side, "what's wrong? Are you in pain?" He refused to look at her, continuing to plow doggedly onward. "It's nothing I can't deal with."

She pulled him to a halt. "You look as if your head is splitting. If so, I've a mild narcotic I thought to bring along. Let me give"

"It
won't
help! Gods, Marissa, let it be! It's hard enough to concentrate past it as it is."

Her eyes narrowed. "It's the Knowing Crystal, isn't it? It's beginning to affect you while you're awake. Isn't it, Brace?"

He wheeled about and strode on, attempting to close the gap between them and Rodac up ahead. Marissa stood there for an instant, frustration and fear welling inside her. Her purpose on this quest was to help him reach Ferox and the Knowing Crystal. So far there hadn't been anything she could do, save watch Brace slowly be worn down by lack of sleep and the now seemingly incessant mental hammering of the stone. How much longer could he keep on?

Well, she resolved, as long as he persevered, so would she. With renewed determination, Marissa hurried to catch up with Brace. Never once breaking stride, he glanced at her as she drew to his side. The look was strained and wary, but nonetheless resolute. She smiled at him, then matched him stride for stride.

At mid sol they reached an impasse. The mountain before them could either be scaled, or they could waste an extra sol or two in skirting its wide girth. Brace glanced at Rodac.

''Well, what do you think? Is it climbable?"

For me, easily. For you two, with great difficulty
.

"Then what do you suggest?"

If we tie ourselves together and you follow carefully in my stead, I think it can be done. It will be dangerous, but quite possible
.

Brace turned to Marissa. "I know you don't like heights. Are you up to it?"

Her glance lifted to scan the sheer mountain face. It rose sharply upward, dotted here and there by jagged outcroppings of rock. The climb would be treacherous. By the time they reached the summit they'd be thousands of meters above the ground. Marissa's stomach took a sickening plunge.

She swallowed hard and turned back to Brace. Time was of the essence, especially in light of the Knowing Crystal's now-active attack upon Brace's mind. She nodded grimly.

"Of course I'm up to it. I've never imagined this was some leisurely jaunt through the mountains to pick wildflowers. Just tell me what you want me to do."

For an instant the tight, strained look fell from his face and his features softened. Brace stroked her cheek, trailing downward to the curve of her mouth. Then he turned to Rodac.

"Let's get on with it."

The ascent began easily enough, with Rodac skillfully leading the way, Marissa in the mid- dle, and Brace bringing up the rear. But when they reached the halfway point, the rock outcroppings that had initially simplified the climb grew fewer and farther apart and decidedly less stable. Several times Rodac's greater weight loosened stones that came tumbling down upon Brace and Marissa's heads. The gusts of wind that buffeted the mountain did nothing to make the trek any easier.

Despite the chill, sweat began to bead their brows and their limbs soon quivered with fatigue. The lack of sleep, combined with his painfully throbbing headache from fighting the relentless mental sounds, began to tell on Brace. He made several slips that almost cost him his hold on the mountain. After a time, it was sheer force of will that kept him going.

With the few sporadic glances she dared cast downward, Marissa saw him gradually weaken. Finally she tried to call to Rodac, but the winds had increased to a low howl and whipped the sound of her voice away. Frustration filled her. They
had
to take a rest.

Marissa glanced down at the large, flat outcropping of rock they'd passed a short while ago. It lay about five meters below them. Though she hated losing ground, it was the closest place to rest. There was nothing above them but the summit, and that was over a hundred meters farther.

She slowed her climb until Brace drew even with her. He glanced over in surprise, unaware of Marissa's presence until he joined her. One glance at his haggard face solidified her resolve.

He was exhausted, his eyes bloodshot, his features tight with pain. "Brace," Marissa shouted to him above the wind's loud wail, "we need to rest."

Dark, bleary eyes scanned her, then he shook his head. "We've got to get to the top before darkness. There's no time for rest."

Brace continued his climb, muscles trembling with fatigue pulling him relentlessly upward. Marissa rejoined him.

"Brace, please. You've got to rest or you'll soon make a mistake and fall."

He ignored her and kept on. She didn't understand, he thought. It was nearly automatic now, the placement of hand and foot in this seemingly endless ascent. As long as he kept himself moving and didn't think about the pain . . .

At that instant a bright light exploded before him. From its center burst a bolt of sheer, blinding energy. It shot straight toward him and into his right eye. Pain, excruciating in its suddenness and intensity, vibrated through him. His skull rang with a horrible sound. He felt his eye swell, thought it would burst. A nauseating dizziness engulfed him, and suddenly Brace couldn't see.

"M-Marissa!" he cried, and then his fingers loosened.

She saw him begin to fall and screamed. Blessedly, this time Rodac heard her. Realiz- ing what had happened, he flung himself against the mountain and hung on with all his might, awaiting the instant of full impact as Brace's weight hurtled downward.

Marissa also held on, her eyes clenched shut in rising terror, but the momentum of Brace's falling body was too great for her. With a breath-grabbing jerk, her fingers tore loose and she joined him, dangling in the air.

A sense of weightlessness engulfed her. A momentary sense of disorientation, then nausea and light-headedness. For a horrible instant Marissa thought she'd pass out.

Then reason returned. She was a warrior, not some weak-kneed, helpless female. She must open her eyes and face the situation before she could ever hope to do something about it. But to have her worst fears assume reality! Marissa swallowed hard, forcing down the gorge that rose in her throat, and slowly opened her eyes. She looked up.

High above, Rodac was still firmly plastered to the mountainside. Relief flooded Marissa. At least for the moment they were in no danger of falling. Gathering all her remaining courage, she swung her gaze downward. Brace, several meters below, swayed in the blue expanse of sky, flailing blindly.

"Brace," Marissa shouted down to him. "Are you all right?"

He glanced up at her, his face contorted in agony, and forced one eye open. "Your dagger," he cried. "Throw down your dagger!" She knew why Brace wanted it. As powerful as Rodac was, he couldn't hold on much longer, burdened with the weight of two people hanging in the air below him. Brace meant to ease the Simian's load by cutting himself free. To save her and Rodac, Brace was willing to sacrifice his life.

"
No
!" Marissa cried. "There's got to be some other way! I won't do it! I can't!"

"There isn't any other way. And it's only a short drop to that ledge beneath us. II can make it."

His dark, beautiful gaze locked with hers. One hand lifted, open and waiting.

"Throw me your dagger, Marissa."

She glanced down to the ledge that lay below him. It looked so very far away. If a gust of wind should blow at the wrong secundae or Brace misjudge his trajectory, he could easily miss the outcropping and continue to fallall the way down the mountain.

Marissa choked back a sob. To lose Brace . . . Still, there was no other recourse.

Twisting around, Marissa freed the dagger from her thigh. Nimbly flipping it over to grasp it by the blade, she tossed it carefully down to Brace. He caught it with a quick movement of his hand.

For one last, lingering instant he gazed up at her. Then his features hardened. With a quick flick of his wrist, Brace sliced through the rope binding him about the waist. He fell, the dagger still clutched in his hand. Marissa watched, her breath solidifying in her throat, and saw Brace strike the ledge below. At the last moment he twisted and his hands went out to break his fall. His left arm hit first, bending at the shoulder in a grotesque angle. Then Brace toppled over onto his back, slamming into a small, jagged pile of rocks. He lay there, unmoving.

She glanced up at Rodac to see him already beginning the climb downward. His movements sent her to swinging wildly in the air, and Marissa closed her eyes for a brief moment, then forced them open again. She riveted her gaze on Brace. The nearer she drew, the more worried she became.

He was bleeding from a gash in his forehead, and blood trickled down the rocks from some wound in his back. His left arm was twisted awkwardly at the shoulder, and, from the shape of the deformity, Marissa knew it was dislocated. Her eagerness to reach him grew with each passing moment. The last few meters before her feet touched down were agonizing.

Quickly she untied the rope about her waist and ran to Brace. First, her fingers probed for a pulse in his throat. It beat there, strong and reassuringly steady. Relief flooded her. Brace was alive.

Next, Marissa examined the gash in his forehead. It was bleeding freely, but when she blotted away the majority of the blood she found the wound was superficial. A tight pressure dressing fashioned from one of her tunic sleeves dispensed with that injury. She then proceeded to examine him for broken bones. Aside from the shoulder, he seemed reasonably intact.

Rodac landed behind her on the ledge. Marissa turned, glancing up at him.

"Help me," she demanded. "Brace is bleeding from somewhere in his back and, with his dislocated shoulder, I need help turning him over."

Together they managed to get Brace on his stomach. A sharp rock protruded from just below his right shoulder blade. Marissa's glance met Rodac's. She ripped off the remaining sleeve of her tunic, then slipped out of her backpack.

She handed it to Rodac. "We'll need water to cleanse Brace's wounds, and I've a small vial of healing powder, plus an extra tunic in my pack."

As Rodac rummaged through her backpack, Marissa ripped her sleeve into several long strips.