Homesmind (16 page)

—We have a bond— Olin said. —Whatever happens to us later, even if we do not become partners, that bond will always be there— But she felt the thoughts behind his words; he still believed that he would win her over completely.

—I want to care for you as much as you care for me— she said. —Sometimes I wonder if I can love. I thought I felt something for Rulek, and yet I cursed him in the end—

Olin pulled at her tunic. She was about to remove it when he started, nearly knocking her out of the seat. "What's that?" He pointed at the panels.

She sat up. The shuttle's scanners were signaling to her. Tiny lights flickered on the map of the outlying areas around the village; she signaled for a more detailed view.

"What does it mean?" Olin asked; he could not read a map.

"It means there are people less than a day's travel from here, many people. Hundreds, maybe thousands." The map of the northern plains faded; a depiction of the south showed a smaller number of lights. "They're coming from two directions."

"We're going to be attacked," Olin said. "I don't believe so many would only be seeking refuge."

The wall would not hold against so many; they had waited too long. They got up quickly and climbed out of the shuttle. Already those who had been on guard near the vessels were running along the paths, rousing the village. Anra realized with dismay that she would not be able to rescue her parents.

By the next night, the plains near the village were ablaze with flickering torches and small fires. Above them, the stranger comet had grown larger, becoming a bright dagger. The villagers had gathered in the north field, some sleeping uneasily while others watched or fetched food from the craft. They might have fled in the shuttles, but had considered the possibility that some among those outside might want to leave Earth with them. Without touching the multitude's thoughts, the village could not tell if the other Earthfolk were united in their purpose. They would wait, and hope to save some.

In the morning, Anra had her first clear look at those who had surrounded the village. Thousands were grouped outside the wall, but they looked ragged and worn. Some had brought packs and horses, but their supplies seemed scanty. She watched as one group cut small pieces of meat from a roasting carcass and parceled them out to a large crowd waiting for food.

Fiella and Paeter moved among the seated villagers, carrying food and water to some of the older people. Another group sat with Leito; they were holding their minds steady, sustaining the wall and focusing the energy of the Minds. Anra wondered why the mob outside was still waiting. They might not yet know what they wanted to do, or they might only be gathering their strength. The Minds could protect the village, but those outside could also draw on Their power; the Minds, directed long ago to serve Earth, would serve them all—They could not do otherwise. Anger and hatred would wrench Their power from Them.

"Look," someone called out; others pointed at the sky. Anra looked up. A dark object was dropping directly toward them. She was about to cry out in fear, afraid the battle had begun, when she saw that the object was a shuttle. Its hum grew louder as it approached and landed just inside the wall.

The vessel had angered the crowd outside. People milled around, gesturing frantically at one another while others shook their fists. The shuttle's door opened and Lydee stepped out, followed by Reiho and Etey.

Marellon was already stumbling past seated people toward Lydee. Anra hurried to the skydwellers. "You've come back," she said to Reiho as she grabbed his hands. "But you shouldn't have."

He gazed at her solemnly. "We won't let those we love struggle alone."

She turned her head. Olin was hanging back; he had never seen skydwellers before. Anra took his hand as Reiho gazed from her to the boy, then smiled. For a moment, she forgot the crowd outside and clutched at Olin's hand more tightly.

By noon, the mob outside had still not assaulted the wall, but a few old people had gathered and were communing outside a ragged tent. The arrival of the three silver-clad skydwellers had clearly unnerved them.

"What can they want?" Olin asked. "They don't attack and they don't try to pass through the wall."

"Maybe they think the skydwellers have some magic they can't fight," Anra replied.

'"We should have left this place as soon as we knew they were coming."

"Perhaps. But the wall would have grown weaker without our minds to help hold it there, and they might have sensed our departure. They could have attacked many of us even from a distance."

"That may be," Olin muttered. "But I also think some of those here are prepared to die here before having to abandon Earth."

Anra had searched the crowd, hoping for some sign of Silla and Harel. She had walked around the entire perimeter of the wall, thinking she might see her parents on the southern plain with the smaller crowd there, or even on the opposite bank of the river waiting to fly across. The family could be concealed among those outside, but somehow she doubted it; they would have made their way to the front to view their old home, she was sure. Perhaps it was just as well. She would not have wanted to fight them, too.

The old people outside the tent rose. Five of them began to walk toward the barrier, holding up their hands; they carried no weapons. Anra, suspecting a trick, added her strength to those maintaining the wall. She noticed that Gennon, only a few paces away, was also working to hold up their shield. Barla was near a group of younger children, hovering over them protectively; Kierlus and Riene stood guard near a few old people. The five strangers came closer, stopped for a moment, and then stepped through the invisible shield. Several villagers stood up as Leito walked toward the strangers and lowered herself to the ground with the aid of her walking stick.

The minds of the strangers were shielded. The hard, cold look in their eyes was ominous. Anra and Olin moved closer to Leito in case the five suddenly struck out at the old woman.

"You have passed through the wall," Leito said. "That shows that you do not intend to harm us—at least not at this time." The old woman's voice was weak; the villagers, linked by their Net, were listening to her through Anra's ears.

"We don't want to harm you at all," one of the five replied. "To lead a person to death is not to harm if one's purpose is to lead that one to truth and away from an evil that would condemn the soul." The speaker smiled mirthlessly. She was a stocky woman with dark skin and thick white hair coiled around her hed in braids. "But we have come inside only to talk and to ask you some questions. We five are too few to harm you here, and are at your mercy. I would ask you for a truce, but I don't know what oath would have any meaning for you, or for such creatures as those." She waved a hand at the three skydwellers nearby.

"You have your truce," Leito said. "No mind will strike at you here while you speak, and we are all safe from those outside."

The other woman showed her teeth. "Safe for now. But I've felt this shield that surrounds you. It won't hold against so many people."

"Ask your questions."

"Some of us have heard the Voice, the call of the Visitor. I have heard it myself. At first, I feared its demand, but I've come to believe that God speaks through it."

"We know of the Visitor," Leito said, "but we have heard no Voice."

"The Visitor calls to us. We knew that one day Cod would draw all souls together and we would be trapped in separateness no more. That day is upon us. Earth's cycle is ending. The Beings called the Minds weaken, and the Visitor will take our souls."

Leito shook her head.

"You can't deny it," the woman continued. "The Visitor is hungry for us. You've fallen so far from the truth that you can't see it."

"You said you had questions," Leito murmured. "I have heard no question yet."

"Why are the Minds trying to deceive us? We've heard Their murmurings. They show us a world in the sky and say that we must go to it, that we must soon call for the skydwellers' flying ships to take us there. That cannot be true."

"It is true. The Minds will live on one of the comets. They would be lost if They remained here, and we would lose our mindpowers. There, the Minds can still serve us. Here, we would have to live on as solitaries for many cycles."

The white-haired woman leaned forward. "If we fight what must come, then solitude will truly be ours. We must heed the Visitor—it's God's sign."

'The Visitor is not what you think," Leito said firmly. "It is only another comet. Skydwellers have many worlds, and it is only another of those worlds."

"Perhaps skydwellers gave it life long ago, but God has touched it and it has turned from their unholy ways. Even their own Mind fears it now. You don't hear the Voice. You are too steeped in sin to hear it. You've consorted with the soulless silver ones too long."

"One here has heard it," Leito said, gesturing at Raef, who stood among the people on Leito's right. "He can tell you what the Voice calls you to, and it is death." She paused. "Do you have more questions?"

Two red spots had appeared on the woman's cheeks; her brown eyes were angry. "It is useless to ask this of you, I see, but maybe others here will choose to save their souls. Will you give up your shield and join us while we wait to join the Visitor? Will you destroy these machines that surround you? There are still some among us who doubt, but if you join us, they may see their error. We won't harm you if you accept the truth. Will you join us?"

Leito was silent. Then Anra felt the thoughts of the villagers flowing into her great-grandmother.

—No—

—Stay behind the wall—

—Let them fight us—

—We'll leave Earth now if we must—

"We can't join you," Leito said at last. "Go to await your fate, and leave us in peace, but let those who might wish to join us pass through the wall."

The woman stood up; her companions rose with her. The man and woman on her left had anger in their faces, while the couple on her right looked sorrowful. "You fools," the speaker burst out. "Do you think it's so simple? Do you think we can let you linger here to feed the doubts of waverers? You were placed here as our last temptation. When we pass through that barrier again, our truce will be over."

She turned, leading her companions between two shuttles toward the wall. The barrier rippled as they passed through it.

The mob outside began to stir as men and women took up their weapons. Those nearest to the wall were taking aim, sending blades of light at the invisible barrier. A web of bright strands was weaving its way from mind to mind as they joined their thoughts for battle.

A small group of people ran toward the wall. The villagers started to buttress their shield. One man stumbled through to Anra. "Help us," he said weakly.

—Let them pass— she cried out to the villagers. —They want to escape— Others streamed through the wall. Anra led one group to a craft; the door slid open and they scrambled inside. —Tell it to go to the Wanderer— she directed. —It will carry you to safety— A few people nodded; their fear of those outside had overcome their terror of the strange vehicle. The door closed as the craft lifted itself quickly, followed by three others carrying people who had passed through the wall safely.

The villagers now had a clearer view of the mob outside. Others who had run toward the wall were not so fortunate; several people writhed on the ground, struck down for trying to escape. Anra saw a knife flash toward one woman; a man lay still with a spear in his back. Blood flowed from one man's nostrils as his mind was crushed. The attackers were fighting among themselves.

The villagers linked minds tightly, struggling to hold up the wall. A few ran from the field, racing toward the south side of the village to aid any who had made it through the wall there. Another craft was soon rising through the sky.

The attackers were regrouping, forming a line. Anra felt the Minds straining; They were growing weak and would be unable to hold up the wall for very long against so many. Her link burned; the Minds' cries threatened to deafen her.

Etey stumbled toward Leito and seized the old woman's arm. —We must get away before the wall falls—Leito stared at the skydweller blankly. —Don't you understand? I hear Minds dying. They're feeding power to our enemies and to us. They're being forced to fight Themselves—

Leito jabbed her stick into the ground. —The wall must be held— she said fiercely. —Some of us must remain to protect those who flee— Other old villagers were echoing Leito's thoughts; they would stay until the rest of the villagers were safely gone.

Gennon was already inside one shuttle, pulling others up through the doorway. A few villagers were retreating from the wall, dragging weak friends with them. Mila fainted and was still; Deene dropped to her side, tugging at her arms. The wall shook, blurring and distorting the figures outside.

—I hear the Voice!— Leito called out. —The Visitor beckons. I can hear the Voice now—

"Get into a shuttle," Anra screamed aloud.

—No, child. My life is over now—

Fingers gripped Anra's shoulders; she was being dragged toward a craft. "Come on," Marellon muttered. The wall was glowing; Marellon's face was stark and pale in the bright light. She twisted away. Etey was still standing with Leito, adding her strength to the old woman's.

Several shuttles lifted. Flames sprang up from the ground, burning along the wall as a stream of people poured through the collapsing barrier. Kierlus and Riene were engulfed by the flow; Kierlus's head bobbed above the crowd, then sank.

Anra froze. "Olin!" she screamed, unable to find him. Marellon pushed her into the shuttle and climbed in after her. She collapsed in one seat and peered through the dome. Another shuttle was dropping slowly toward the ground, trapped in the mob's mental web. People holding knives and spears swarmed toward the downed craft and began to beat on its sides, then stepped back as the door opened. Anra caught a glimpse of Hiya's strained face; the woman was struggling with the door, trying to close it again. She suddenly fell into the crowd's waiting arms; a knife flashed as Raef was hauled out of the vessel. With horror, Anra realized what had happened. The mob, unable to break into the sturdy craft, had broken through Hiya's mental wall and had forced her to press the door open.