The Rift Rider (8 page)

"Well
put," Bei said. "But you're wrong about one thing. As long as the
Corporation exists, there will always be a resistance. Pathfinders or
not."

"You're
such a romantic," Awani said.

Charlie scanned
the screens. "Where's its head?"

"Over there,
see?" Awani pointed to the screen showing the ship's rear.

"I can't
see it."

"Look. I'm
pointing at it right now."

Charlie squinted
hard. All he could see was a thick block of colour. "I can't see it."

"For
Seenthee's sake," Bei said. "We're about to zapped out of existence
and you're acting like a pair of kids."

Awani shot
Charlie a look, and he had to turn his face, so Bei couldn't see the smile on
it.

"Sorry,
Bei," Awani said, smiling into the back of her hand.

Charlie sensed
some movement out of the corner of his eye. The giant chain encircling them had
come apart. Charlie saw the ghastly face of the creature and stopped smiling.
The glowing gargoyle head was coming straight at them. Its five eyes, bristling
with life and power, burned even brighter than the rest of it.

"What's it
going to do to us?" Charlie said.

"Shush,"
Bei said. "Keep quiet and don't move. It's sniffing us out."

They froze.

The roller
flowed closer until it was almost touching the ship's nose with the base of its
pulsing head. Its great glowing eyes filled the central screens. They seemed to
stare through the ship's exterior and into the hearts and minds of the three
silent passengers.

Charlie could
hear Awani breathing steadily beside him. In the last minute, nobody had moved
an inch. They stood like statues before the roller's glimmering eyes.

The feeling
started as a faint tickle in Charlie's left nostril. Without moving, he flared
his nostrils and thankfully the itch went away. He put it down to his recently
repaired nose and went back to concentrating on remaining as immobile as
possible.

 
But then it came back, this time in both
nostrils. He flared them again. However, instead of ebbing away, the itch grew
stronger. The desire to sneeze became unbearable.

Very slowly, he
slid his hand up his stomach, along his chest and onto his chin. Then, as
carefully as he could, he stretched his fingers towards his nose. With the
thumb and index finger on either side, he pinched hard.

The sneezes shot
out of him like bullets from an Uzi. By the time he had finished, his hands
were covered in nose juice and his eyes were streaming.

Awani and Bei
gaped at him, horrified.

Charlie wiped
the tears away and looked at the screen. The roller was snaking its body
excitedly. Then the beast opened its mouth, as if it were about to swallow them
whole.

At the same time
a second sneezing fit seized Charlie. As he stood, arched over, sneezing great
globules into his cupped hand, a booming voice engulfed him, repeating the same
word over and over.

"Friend,"
it said. "Friend. Friend. Friend."

The voice and
the sneezing stopped at the same time. Charlie looked at Bei and Awani. Their
looks of horror had turned to ones of anger.

"Are you
trying to get us killed?" Bei said.

"Did you
hear that?" Charlie said.

"The whole
galaxy heard it," Awani said. "What's wrong with you?"

"No, the
roller. It said something. It said friend."

Awani and Bei
exchanged looks.

The pounding
voice returned, repeating the same word as before. Charlie sneezed. It must be
connected, he thought. This time however the sneezing faded, while the voice
continued to call out to him.

Charlie decided
to take a chance. "Friend," he said, staring into the beast's five
eyes.

Bei looked at
him, incredulous.

Charlie ignored
him, and said, "We are friends. We mean you no harm." Even as he said
it, he knew it sounded lamer than a Hollywood B-movie.

"Friend
come home," the roller said. "I help." Now they had started a
dialogue the roller had stopped repeating itself so much and its voice stopped
tickling Charlie's nostrils.

"Yes,
please help us," Charlie said. "We need to get out of the Pass."

"You're
talking to it?" Bei said.

Charlie nodded.
"Can't you hear it?"

Bei shook his
head.

"How are
you doing it?" Awani said.

Charlie did not
know how, so he shrugged.

"Friend
come home," the roller said. "Friend come Divide."

"No,"
Charlie corrected. "We need to go to Seenthee."

"Friend
come home. Friend come Divide."

Charlie frowned.
He had no idea what the creature was talking about. He turned to Awani and
asked her what the Divide was.

"It's where
they come from," she said. "Their dimension."

He scratched his
head and turned back to the five eyes boring into him. "My home isn't the
Divide," he said. "It's . . ." He managed to stop himself,
before he said Earth. "It's Seenthee. And I need to your help to get
there."

"Seenthee
not home," the roller said. "Divide home."

This is going
nowhere, Charlie thought.

"No go
nowhere," the roller said. "Go home. Go Divide."

Great, Charlie
thought, another mind reader. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and
visualised what he wanted to say. "My home is a far away planet called
Earth. I want to return, but first I must travel with these friends to
Seenthee. I need your help. Will you help me?"

"Rayn help
friend."

"Rayn? Is
that your name?"

"Rayn help
friend."

"Thank you.
I'm Charlie."

"Rayn take
friend Seenthee. Friend come Divide."

"I don't
know," Charlie replied, honestly. "Maybe."

Charlie felt the
roller swell with happiness. It rushed out of him, and into Charlie, rocking him
in a wave of pleasure. It was overwhelming.

When Charlie
opened his eyes, they were wet with tears. He wiped them and smiled.

"What are
you smiling about?" Bei said.

"The
roller," Charlie said. "It's a friend."

Bei raised a
sceptical eyebrow.

Behind him, the
screens showed the giant head shudder as the roller opened its mouth. Awani
inhaled sharply and Bei reached for the front gun controls.

"No,"
Charlie said, placing a hand on the blue man's arm. "It's a friend. It's
taking us to Seenthee."

Charlie stared
into the gaping, glowing mouth of the roller.

"I hope you
know what you're doing." Bei said.

"Of course
I don't," Charlie said, smiling,

The roller
roared, surged forward and swallowed their ship whole.

 
"Who are you, really?" Bei demanded.
"And I don't want to hear any more bullshit about blanked memories."

The roller called
Rayn had released them once it had got a close to Seenthee it could get without
leaving the Wrake Pass. Before vanishing back into the Pass, Rayn, in its
roundabout way, told Charlie that if he ever needed a guide in the Pass, all he
had to do was call. Charlie thanked it for the offer.

According to
Bei, the journey should have lasted a week. It had taken them ten minutes. In
those ten crazy minutes, the fundamental physics that formed the basis of the Universe
had fallen apart. The ship's exterior had weakened to a fraction of its
original solidity. The light from within roller flowed through the ship, like
sunrays through a thinly curtained window. For the whole journey, they were
basked in the creature's alternating gold and purple glow. It seemed as if they
sailed on an ocean of light.

Inside the
beast, an immense combination of syncopated rhythms and trance overtures played
out. The noise, half whale song, half club mix, sent vibrations through the
three passengers. Charlie reckoned the beats came from the creature’s heart. Awani
thought they came from the colliding energy currents weaving around inside the
roller. Bei just wanted the noise to end.

Now they had left
the belly of the beast, the blue man wanted answers. He stared at Charlie from
over the back of the pilot chair, waiting for the truth. Awani hovered,
silently, at his side.

Charlie looked
at them both. Can I trust them? he thought. They might sell him out to the
Corporation as soon as they landed.

Sod it, he
thought. When we get to Seenthee, I'm going to need their help. Without it, I'm
screwed.

And so he told
them.

He started with
his fateful midnight surf, and his awakening inside the interrogation frame. He
told them about Brother Yojim's message, his language learner implant, his
capture and the pathfinder's promise to send him home.

The two turen
took the news that they had an alien on board with a calm that surprised
Charlie. But then Awani explained. After what they had just experienced with
the roller, she was willing to believe anything. Bei too had seen some things
in his time too. The possibility of a third species of people beyond their
galaxy seemed wholly plausible.

 
As Charlie spoke, he experienced an
unburdening, as if someone had taken a monstrous weight off his shoulders. The
words flowed out of him. And when he started telling Bei and Awani about Earth,
their questions came thick and fast.

He sat back,
relaxed for the first time in a long time. "Sorry," he said.
"I've been going on for ages."

"Don't
be," Awani said. "It's not every day an alien lands in our lap."

"Yeah,"
Bei said. "Tell us more about this surfing."

They moved into
the rec pit to make themselves more comfortable and Charlie continued with the
question and answer session. Only this time, he had quite a few questions of
his own. By the time the conversation wound down, exhaustion nipped at their
eyes.

"I think we
all deserve some sleep," Bei said.

"What about
the ship?" Charlie asked.

"It'll wake
me when we approach Seenthee space. We should have time for five or so hours
sleep."

Charlie looked
at the cockpit screens. "And the Corporation's defences?"

"The ship's
got its on special tricks to deal with that," Awani said. "I fitted
them myself."

"You
know," Charlie said, "I've been wondering how you got caught in the
first place. I mean you two seem too good far that."

"Thank
you," Awani said smiling. "You're sweet."

"We got
caught Charlie," Bei said, pronouncing his name correctly now that Charlie
had finally corrected him, "because we wanted to."

Awani raised an
eyebrow at Bei.

"He told us
the truth," Bei said. "I think it only fair we do the same."

"Go
ahead," Awani said.

"You were
right before," Bei said. "We are resistance. We intercepted the
destroyer on purpose, as part of a mission. There's been worrying news
filtering through our espionage division. The Corporation intend to finish us
off by cutting off the help we get form the robundee.

"The
destroyer was conducting experiments out by the Pass; experiments the
Corporation believes will help destroy us. To have any chance of surviving, we
need to know what they have discovered."

"So you
volunteered to get yourselves captured?" Charlie said, impressed.

Bei nodded. "I
was the bait. Before I joined the resistance I caused a fair amount of bother
to the corporation; stealing, smuggling." He coughed. "The occasional
hit. With my reputation, they were more than willing to believe Awani's bounty
hunter cover story. While they interrogated me, Awani changed into her
soldier's outfit, and infiltrated the destroyer to see what they've been up
to."

"What did
you find?" Charlie said.

As Bei had done
in the cell, Awani reached inside her mouth, yanked hard and pulled out a
tooth. She held up in front of Charlie. "It's all on this. It wasn't easy,
but I cracked their computer's defence. I downloaded every file the tech
department had."

Christ, Charlie
thought, they have some dentists over there. He wondered what they would pull
out of their mouths next. "So, what they've been up to?

Awani shrugged.
"We still don't know. They used an encryption method I've never seen
before." She waved the memory stick before him. "We have no idea
what's on this."

Bei gave Charlie
a Hollywood smile, and said, "That's where you come in, kid."

"Me?"
Charlie said.

"Yeah, you
green eyes. That was the deal you made in the cell, wasn't it? We help you
escape and find this Brother Yojim and in return you help us out."

"I remember
the deal," Charlie said, "but I don't know the first thing about your
alien software."

"You don't
need to," Bei said. "All you have to do is be charming and
handsome."

Charlie frowned.
He did not like the sound of that.

Later, after a thankfully
dreamless sleep, Charlie was staring out at the turen's home planet, Seenthee.
Awani had woken him, throwing him one of the light, linen-like suits Bei kept
stored on the ship. She told him to get to the cockpit, as he would not want to
miss this.

She was right.
With its crisscrossing continental belts, dissecting the planet to form four
almost symmetrical oceans, the planet looked like a giant Faberge egg suspended
in silky darkness.

Sitting there
with Awani beside him was a wonderful moment, the calm before the inevitable
storm to come.
 
Charlie pushed all
worries to the back of his mind and enjoyed the beautiful view both inside and
outside the spaceship.

Charlie was
still thinking about those stolen moments as the ship tore through Seenthee's
atmosphere, rattling like a can of nails. The storm had now defiantly come. There
was a great screeching, as if the ship threatened to tear itself apart in
rebellion. The cockpit screens showed the ship's edges burning white-hot.

Charlie slammed
from side to side, gripping his seat with all his might. It reminded him of
being unceremoniously thrown down a flight of stairs in one of the school's
wheelie bins on his sixteenth birthday. That ride, however, had only lasted
thirty seconds. This one was taking much longer.

When the ship
finally steadied, Charlie relaxed and enjoyed the view as they descended. Seenthee
looked different now from when he had first glimpsed it from space, but no less
beautiful.
 
Now from a mile up, it
looked more like a White Chocolate Toblerone that someone had broken up and scattered
over a sandpit. Charlie searched the area for signs of alien civilization, but
found only a few medium-sized cities scattered between the deserts and
mountains.

Bei brought the
ship hurtling down into one of the snow-capped ranges. White, browns, greens
and greys whizzed past the screens as he piloted the ship through a series of
valleys that opened out onto great expanse of desert. For a few minutes they
rocketed across the plain, leaving a whirlwind trail of sand and dirt.

Bei landed on an
abandoned runway in the middle of the desert plain.

"Pretty
damn good flying if I do say so myself," Bei said, removing his hands from
the control desk. "Made it through the defences without having to take out
even one sky drone."

"Where are
we?" Charlie asked.

"Welcome to
the Northern district," Bei said.

"Nobody
calls it that though," Awani said. "It's better known as the
badlands."

"Is it
dangerous?" Charlie said.

 
"No more dangerous than anywhere
else," she said, undoing her harness. "It's just called that because
it's bad land for farming."

While Awani
rummaged in the ship's store, Charlie followed Bei through the ship. The
burring sound of the opening drawbridge filled Charlie with childish
excitement. So far, he had only been inside ships. This would be his first
foray onto the surface of the alien planet. He stepped onto the drawbridge,
smiling an adventurer's smile.

A cold wind
whipped the smile straight off his face. He wrapped his arms around his body,
and cursed his seemingly Universe wide inability to select appropriate
clothing. Through chattering teeth he asked Bei for thicker clothes.

"Is this
what you mean?" Awani said, stepping up behind him. In her arms, she
carried a pile of white animal furs. She passed one to Bei and another to
Charlie, before putting one on herself. "Suxo skin coats," she said,
as she slipped it over her head. "Should do the trick."

Charlie wasted
no time getting into the coat. It came down to his knees, restricting his
movement, and felt heavy on his shoulders. But when the fur on the front
section stuck together like Velcro, sealing him into the coat's cosy warmth,
Charlie smiled. "That's better," he said. "Thank you."

He pulled his
hood up, and looked out over the empty runway. The planet's star was low in the
sky, and basked everything in a soft orange hue.

"What do
you call it?" Charlie asked, pointing towards the setting star.

"Veiga,"
Awani said.

"It's
massive," he said. "How come it's so cold?"

She laughed.
"It's coming into winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Don't worry though.
When we go south to Jajag city, it'll be hotter than a roller's arsehole."
She paused, a pained look on her face. "Sorry, just an expression. I know
you have some kind of bond with them."

"It's
okay," he said, unsure how comfortable he was being told he had bonded
with the giant creature.

"He's
coming," Bei said.

A figure,
wrapped up against weather, walked towards them, struggling against the strong,
icy wind. They set out to meet him halfway.

The distance and
the fading light made it difficult for Charlie to tell whether the approaching
alien was small or just very far away.
 
But when the hooded alien stopped a few metres in front of them, Charlie
saw it was the former. The man stood no taller than a eight-year-old child.

Bei shouted,
"Tills," rushed forward, and lifted the tiny pile of clothes high
above him. Small furry boots dangled in the air.

"Bei
Lowaiki, put me down right now," came a thick male voice, better suited to
a heavyweight boxer, Charlie thought, than this little fellow.

 
Bei obeyed, his face split by a massive
smile. "Tills, it's bloody good to see you, old friend."

The pint-sized alien
pulled back his hood, revealing a friendly, violet face. "Bei, you old
smuggler. It's been a long time, brother. Too good for me now you've joined the
noble resistance, is that it?"

"Never,"
Bei said. He scanned the runway. "How are things out here? It looks
quiet."

"Just the
way I like it," the little alien said. "The Corporation still wants
to see me dead. But Lady Ori and me have an agreement. I keep the runway
operational, and she keeps them off my back."

"How is her
ladyship?" Bei asked, grinning. "Does she ever mention me?"

 
"Not as much as she used to. But if
she finds out I let you land here, she'll have me sent down her mines before
you can say buggery bollocks."

"You do
yourself an injustice Tills. I could see you happily idling away your captivity
in her harem."

The small man
snorted.

Bei slapped him
on the back. "Don't worry, little man. I'm here to pay what I owe and then
some."

Tills put on a
look of mock astonishment. "Bei Lowaiki pay off a debt. You have changed,
brother." He looked over at Awani. She had her hood down. Her hair blew
pout behind her like a flying carpet. "And you're not the only one."

Awani smiled
beautifully and leant down so the blue man could kiss her cheek. "You've
grown into a beautiful woman."

"Still got
it, Tills," Bei said, laughing beside him.

To Charlie
surprise, Awani flushed, her face going bright pink.

"Who's
this?" Tills asked, pointing to Charlie. "Your boyfriend?"

Awani went even
pinker, her skin shimmering. "No," she said, putting her hood back
up. "He's . . . here to help us on our mission."

"Mission,
eh?" Tills said. "I see Bei's got you involved in this resistance
business too. Tut-tut Bei. This one could be the best burglar on the planet and
you've got her helping those do-gooders."

Bei stared down
at the small man. "What can I say? They pay well and every job comes with
the added bonus of screwing over the Corporation. Now, how about we get down
into that bunker of yours? It's freezing up here and I know you've got the
place stashed with plenty of booze to warm us up. Plus I got a favour to ask
you. We need transport."