The Wishing Stone (7 page)

It was a special feeling of power.

“I know them. They're very powerful. At this moment they have allied themselves with other powerful beings and are on their way here to rescue Cindy and me.”

Teeh snorted. “You're dreaming. No one tries to rescue anyone from Amacron Thirty-seven. It's a dust bowl—hardly anyone can even find this place.”

“Then where is your Collector?” Sally asked.

Teeh scratched his scaly head. “I don't know. I suppose it is possible your friends got the upper hand with him. What is it they ordered anyway?”

“Watch ordered a laser pistol and a personal force field generator.” Sally added, “He also got himself a telescope.”

Teeh frowned. “We have to stop offering those personal force field generators. We lose more Collectors that way.” He paused and studied her. “Why are you telling me all this?”

“I told you, I want to get ahead. And I don't mind betraying my friends to do it. I tell you seriously, they are on their way here this very minute. If you don't take care, you'll be removed as boss of this planet.”

“Who are the powerful beings they have made friends with?”

Sally darkened her expression. “The
Tree-boards.”

“I haven't heard of them. What sector are they from?”

“They don't even come from this galaxy. They're from a black hole at the edge of the universe. They're an ancient race. They were highly evolved when your race and mine were
bacteria swimming in primeval mud. They have powers we can't even dream of.”

“Then what would they want with your friends?”

Sally spoke in a whisper. “They have allied themselves with Adam and Watch because they have a common goal. You see, the Treeboards have an ancient and undying hatred for ugly lizards like—for reptilian superraces like yours. Adam and Watch have stolen your Collector's transporter. They have an easy way to get here now, and the evil Treeboards want to come along for the ride, to destroy you. To destroy all Kasters, wherever they may be.” Sally paused for effect. “The shield you have erected around Amacron Thirty-seven will not stop them. It won't even come close.”

Teeh appeared unsure of himself. “This story sounds outlandish. Can you prove that these Tree-boards even exist?”

“Yes. I spent time with them on a lost moon circling a dead quasar ten billion light-years from here. They taught me many of their secrets, and I can show you some of those secrets now. I can teach you how to strengthen the force field that surrounds this planet so that even the Treeboards—even Watch or Adam—cannot get
through with their fleet of super-tachyon spaceships.”

Teeh raised an eyebrow. “What are those?”

“Highly developed vessels that you'll never see in a Collector's Christmas catalog. Listen to me, Teeh, please, I am the only one who can save you. If you'll just give me a few minutes with your computer, I can prove it to you.”

Teeh considered. “What do you want in return for this help?”

“You must erase my Wishing Stone debt.”

“What about the debt of your friend, Cindy?”

Sally waved her hand. “She is of no concern to me. She can rot here for the rest of eternity, for all I care.”

Teeh grinned. She had hit the right nerve. He was now convinced.

“Spoken like a true Raster,” he said. “Are you sure you don't have reptilian blood in your veins, Sally?”

“My grandmother always used to say my grandfather was a snake. I never met him, but I heard the stories. He was your kind of man, Teeh. And I am your girl. Where's your computer?”

Teeh stood and moved toward an elaborate
control panel. “You understand that while you work on my computer I must supervise you?”

Sally followed him to the computer. It looked like a bunch of lights and buttons to her. She wished Watch was with her now.

“Naturally,” she said. “It is my hope I can teach you a few things.” She added, “I mean that with all due respect, of course.”

“Of course,” Teeh said, in a good mood, for him. “You are familiar with my operating system? The famous Raster double matrix algorithm TEC dot software?”

Sally waved her hand as she sat down in front of the massive computer. “I learned about that when I was in first grade. It is an extremely primitive system when compared to what the Treeboards use.” Sally touched the keyboard and then paused. “I need an electric stick.”

“What?”

“One of those sticks your primitive robots carry. I need one.”

“What for?”

“I am going to link it into your computer system so that this whole planet will be transformed into one cosmic-size electric stick capable
of repelling the super-tachyon fleet that races toward this planet at this very instant.” Sally had to pause to catch her breath. “Do you have one in your desk?”

Teeh turned back to his desk. “I believe so. But frankly this kind of technology confuses me. I have never seen anything like it.”

“Neither have I,” Sally whispered.

“What?”

“Nothing. Everything will become clear quickly. The power of your protective shield will change beyond your wildest dreams. With this technology, you will be the single most powerful Kaster in this section of the galaxy.”

Teeh found an electric stick in one of his drawers. “I have not had the advantage of your obviously extensive education. How long will it take me to comprehend the Treeboard technology?”

“A sly lizard like—I mean, a brilliant Kaster—like you will know more than I do before we leave this room.” She stuck out her hand and took the electric stick. “Now I just need to know one other thing.”

Teeh stood nearby. “What?”

“Where does this computer plug in?”

“What do you mean?”

“Its power source. Where does it draw its power from?”

Teeh nodded to a black box at the side of the control panel. “From there. Do you need more power? I can have extra cables run in.”

“Maybe. Open the power box. Let me study it.”

Teeh did so. It looked much like a fuse box back home.

Sally turned on the electric stick and got up. “Stand aside, Teeh.”

He did as she requested but a flicker of doubt crossed his face.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Changing the polarity of the situation.” Sally rammed the tip of the electric stick into the black box. The thing literally exploded in sparks. She knew immediately the damage was enough to knock out the force field and all the robots. She turned the stick on Teeh and smiled wickedly up at his blustering expression. “I am changing everything,” she said.

He was enraged. “You will pay for this!”

“Wrong! We're through paying!”

And with that Sally stuck the electric stick up his fat snout.

Teeh turned a deeper green than normal and fainted.

Sally stepped on his cheap sunglasses as she fled the room.

T
hey came out of hyperspace in the center of the galaxy. There were so many stars that it was almost impossible to find any black space. Fur quickly handed them each a pair of black sunglasses. Watch stared out the viewing screen, enthralled.

“I'll never see anything like
this
in my telescope,” he said.

“If we don't get out of here quick we won't be seeing period,” Fur said.

“Why not?” Adam asked.

“There are tremendous levels of radiation at the galactic core,” Fur explained. “Our force field is keeping them at bay for the moment but that won't last. The first thing this level of radiation burns is the optic nerves.”

“Can we make a hyperjump so close to all these stars?” Watch asked.

Fur was grim. “We have no choice. But it could tear us apart.”

“We will go out in a blaze of glory,” Watch said, still staring at the stars.

“What glory?” Adam asked. “We failed in our quest. We weren't able to destroy the records on Tallas Four. Our debts will last forever. We will never be free of them.”

“Isn't there a saying on your world?” Fur asked as he worked the controls. “ ‘It ain't over till it's over'? That's my motto. Hold on, we're going to make another jump, and I can guarantee this one will be rough.”

They leapt into hyperspace, and the jump was different from the others. Not really rough, but it seemed as if the period of blackness lasted forever. During that time Adam wondered if they wouldn't be trapped for eternity outside of normal space
and time. But finally the stars reappeared and Fur quickly checked his navigation computer.

“I know where we are!” he exclaimed.

“Where?” Adam asked.

“In the Beta quadrant—not far from Amacron Thirty-seven.” He paused. “Are you sure you still want to go there? We'll never get through their force fields. Slave planets are strictly off-limits.”

“We have to try,” Adam said.

“But we can always try later,” Watch said. “Watch!” Adam complained. “I'm disappointed in you.”

“I would rather live with your disappointment than die in a Kaster force field,” Watch replied. But then he paused and gave it some thought. “But I suppose we might succeed in the end. We usually do.” He nodded to Fur. “Plot a hyperjump for Amacron Thirty-seven.”

“And may the Force be with us,” Adam said.

“Star Wars,”
Fur quipped. “Great movie.”

A few minutes later they were again flying through hyperspace.

When Sally ran from Teeh's office, she immediately saw that her plan had worked. The robot
guards were all immobilized. Yet her plan had its limits, as Cindy had pointed out. There was nowhere to go except into the desert.

Cindy and Hironee came out of the work warehouse as Sally ran over. The other slaves were still inside, casting hesitant looks in their direction. They had nothing else to do now that the power was off all over the compound.

“What's happened?” Hironee asked.

“I disabled the computer,” Sally said. “That means the force field is down for the time being. We have to get out of here before it comes back online.”

“But what happened to Teeh?” Cindy asked.

“He's taking a nap,” Sally said.

“A nap?” Hironee asked, puzzled.

“With an electric toothpick up his nose. Look, we can talk about this once we're deep in the desert and clear of the force field.”

Cindy nodded. “I'll get us water bottles and pack some supplies.” She dashed off to collect the stuff. For the moment Sally was left alone with Hironee and a robot that stood perfectly still nearby, caught in midstride by the drop in power. Sally was surprised that Hironee wasn't excited
and asked her what the problem was. The green girl answered with her head down.

“We can't go into the desert,” she said softly. “Charles went into the desert and he died.”

Sally put a hand on her shoulder. “Charles didn't knock out the robots like we have. They were the ones who hunted him down and killed him. Also, Charles was alone. In the desert we can help each other.” Sally paused. “Something else is bothering you.”

Hironee nodded weakly. “I hate this place. I've told you how much I hate it. But I've been here half my life. It's home to me now. I know that sounds silly but I'm afraid to leave it.” She stopped and Sally saw the tears in her eyes. “You and Cindy had better leave without me.”

“Nonsense. We'll never do that.” Sally gave her a hug and then gestured to the barren landscape. “This is no home for a person like you. Try to remember what Zanath was like—the blue water, the green islands, the warm yellow sun in the clear sky. That's your home, Hironee, and if you come with us you might see it again soon. I'm not promising you will. Maybe you will die in the desert like Charles—that's a definite possibility.
But you have to know deep inside that it's better to die free than to live as a slave.”

Hironee smiled. “You never told me, Sally, that you were a motivational speaker.”

Sally laughed. “My talents are endless.” She turned toward the building where Cindy had disappeared. “Let's take what supplies we can carry and get out of here before Lizard Breath wakes up.”

They came out of hyperspace much closer to Amacron 37 than they had been to the other worlds when they had finished making their jumps. Fur explained that he had intentionally cut it close so that the Kasters would have less time to spot them.

“But we can circle around the planet until they shoot us down if we're hoping to get into their-slave compounds,” he said gloomily as they raced toward the desert planet, a purple sun hanging in the sky off to their right.

“Are the force fields just around the slave compounds?” Watch asked.

“Usually,” Fur said. “There's no point in protecting all of a planet like this. It's mostly dust and sand. The Kasters usually concentrate their
energy where it's needed most. But that allows them to erect an even stronger force field. Don't fool yourself, this place is more protected than Tallas Four was.”

“Where we were far from a huge success,” Watch observed.

“Is there no way to get through the force fields?” Adam asked, frustrated.

“We can try,” Fur said. “We can turn Watch's generator up to full power and try to smash through. But there is an excellent chance we'll explode.”

“Better not risk it,” Watch said, having second thoughts.

“We have to give it a try,” Adam said.

Fur stared at him. “These two girls must be pretty special.”

“One of them is,” Watch said. “The other is just unusual.”

“They are our friends,” Adam said. “That's what matters.”

Fur was wistful. “I wish I had friends as loyal as you two.” He added, “Or at least as loyal as you, Adam.” Something on the control panel caught his eye. He pushed a couple of buttons, seemingly rechecking his readings. “This is odd.”