TICEES (76 page)

*****

The ebony fighters skimmed along the barren desolation at unimaginable speeds. Korba watched the scanners and maneuvered his ship to the anticipated location of the caverns. But nothing showed. The ship seared to a stop and the cockpit slid back. In desperation he looked out over the unbroken white expanse. “Shan!” he barked into the intercom. “Where is it?”

Shan’s fighter edged up to Korba’s. The warrior checked the coordinates frantically. “It’s got to be right below us, Sire. The entrance must be covered by snow!”

Korba tensed at the panic in Shan’s voice. “Everyone up!” he ordered. “I’m going to blast it.”

“No!” shouted Shan. You’ll send a tidal wave of water and debris down the main tunnel. “You’ll kill her!”

Korba clenched his teeth. “Get up!” he shouted scathingly. Korba watched as all the ships complied, moving to a higher elevation. If he superheated the snow and ice, it would vaporize rather than melt. But he could not judge the depth accurately. Too much energy, and he would blast right through into the tunnel. Too little, and he would leave a pool of water perched on top of a precarious ice lens. He would have to do his best. Taking one last look at the coordinates, he adjusted the energy beam and fired.

Steam exploded from the area, the hiss nearly piercing his eardrums. Korba waited for the mist to clear, then he moved over the area. His judgment had been nearly perfect, but the hole in the lens was too small. Sighting in his laser, he etched an opening large enough for several men to descend. Korba leaned out of the fighter to make one final inspection, but he did not have time to finish his check.

Shan’s fighter plummeted to the ground, but before it actually touched, Shan bailed out and scrambled for his footing, bolting for the cavern entrance. Korba was instantly out of his ship, dropping an inhuman distance to the ice. Springing like a black leopard, he blindsided Shan, hurtling him to the ground. Korba grabbed him roughly and shook him. “You will wait for the rest of us!” he growled fiercely.

Shan tried to struggle away, but the black-haired Warlord was far too powerful for him, and Korba slammed him down hard. “You’re a fool, Shan! Think about it. Do you not think she heard the blast? She is scared, and she is armed! You wait, or you will not live to see her!”

Shan nodded frantically. Korba released him. Shan struggled to his feet and hustled to the cavern entrance. There he began his careful descent with Korba and Stose right behind him. Shan waited for them at the ice-rock interface, looking to Korba for guidance.

Korba nodded to him. “Call her,” he ordered in a whisper.

Shan swallowed hard, trying to moisten his parched throat. “Chelan!” He waited, his eyes anxious. “Chelan!” he shouted. “It’s Shan.” But there was no response. Shan became frenetic. He whirled around and attempted to flee down into the cavern.

But Korba grabbed him again, hauling him up short. “We go slowly, and we go together,” he seethed.

Shan nodded and watched as several men joined them. Korba signed to them, and then they all proceeded cautiously.

Shan approached the entrance to the cavern, his heart pounding, his eyes wild. He took a quick look around and then ran to the center of the cave, beginning a frenzied search. He was utterly panic-stricken.

Korba’s icy eyes scanned the area, scrutinizing every inch of the cavern. He tilted his head. She had been gone a long time, for her scent was nearly nonexistent.

Shan ran to him, his eyes crazed. “If she went up, she would have perished. I know she would not have done that.”

Korba looked at him. “Where could she be?” he asked as calmly as he could, exercising precise military control over his own mounting anxiety.

Shan chained his emotions and concentrated. “The connecting tunnels,” he indicated. “But there are many, and most of them—” Shan stopped as he remembered the cavern he had mentioned to her. Without uttering another word, he was on the run.

Korba signaled his men to follow. “Stose, I want you to stay here. I’ll call for you if you are needed.”

“Yes, my Lord,” the doctor answered.

Korba turned and sprinted to catch up with Shan. Shan moved quickly through the tunnel, descending deep within the planet, and then came to a sizable opening with three forks.

Korba rushed up beside him. “Which way?” he asked brusquely.

Shan shook his head. “I’ve explored so many,” he breathed, “I’m not sure.”

“Think!” shouted Korba, and Shan jumped.

“There were two that went to the same cavern.” Immediately he made his selection, and they were in motion.

They ran a long way, and finally the tunnel began to ascend and narrow. Shan was beginning to think he had made a mistake, but then he caught a glimmer of the familiar blue light of the cavern.

Shan moved up to the narrow opening and then glanced back at Korba. The Warlord nodded, and Shan hoisted himself out of the opening and onto a precarious rock ledge overlooking the chamber. He realized immediately that he had taken the upper entry, but it did not matter. He had found Chelan.

Korba edged out and looked in the direction of Shan’s gaze. Both men saw the huddled figure under the fur blanket. Suddenly, Shan lurched forward. “She’s hurt!” he cried as his eyes landed for the first time on the blood at the end of the blanket.

Korba grabbed him forcefully and slammed him back against the rock wall. “You damn fool!” he shouted. “You’d never survive that jump.” Korba held him while he beckoned to his men.

They handed him a portable antigravity mechanism and a rope. But Shan was beyond reason. He knew it would take too long to descend with the antigravity lift, and before Korba could react, he had secured the rope’s end around an outcrop of rock and was cascading recklessly down the rock wall.

“Get Stose in here!” shouted Korba, and he lunged over the edge of the cliff in hot pursuit of Shan.

Shan hit the floor running and flew to Chelan’s side. Falling to his knees before her, he looked at her death-white skin as he reached for her cool cheek.

Korba ran up beside him just as Shan pulled back the fur. Shan lurched backward as though shot through the chest, his face draining of all color.

Korba looked down, and his heart stopped. His body was rendered totally unresponsive, and he was mute. Finally, he shook himself from his stupor and knelt down by her, afraid to touch her. Then he looked at Shan, his voice cracking. “She didn’t tell you?”

But Shan could not speak.

Korba swallowed hard and reached for her, rolling her to her back. He listened to her chest, but her heart was weak and her respiration even weaker.

Just then Stose rushed up. “Oh, my Lady,” he breathed, and he immediately set to work. “Here!” he yelled as he forcibly shoved Korba down by her side. “Push down on her abdomen here, and keep pushing hard and rhythmically. We’ve got to get her uterus to contract.”

Korba obeyed immediately, and he pressed hard into Chelan’s soft and distended flesh. He felt an unfamiliar thickening deep inside her, and he eased off.

“Press!” shouted Stose at the stunned Warlord. “Press hard! Don’t worry about bruising her. If we don’t stop the bleeding now, she dies!”

Korba responded, almost feeling disembodied.

Stose cursed as he began pumping her full of fluids and nutrients. The last thing he would have thought to bring was a hormonal muscle contractor, so he would have to rely on artificial blood products until her uterus took care of itself, if it did. When Stose had gotten all the IVs in place he relieved Korba from the uterine massages.

Korba sat back and took in several deep breaths, his eyes still wide with shock. Then he looked over at Shan, the man’s gaze riveted to the small bundle still clutched in Chelan’s arm. Korba did not know what to say or do to help the young warrior, and his heart grieved for him.

Finally, Shan moved to his knees, his face contorted. “But how?” he whispered, his voice strained. “She had just bled.”

Korba hung his head.

Shan reached for his tiny infant and drew him to his chest. Instinctively he began to rock his son as he looked at Korba. “Why didn’t she tell me?” Shan’s voice cracked, and he looked down at his dead baby. “Why didn’t she tell me?” he whispered in desperation. He looked over at Korba. “I would never have left her,” he cried softly. “Never.”

Korba winced. “That is why she didn’t tell you, my friend.”

Shan instantly crumbled, hugging the baby tight. “He was my son!” he wailed. “I could have helped her.” Shan rocked frantically. “She did this to spare me and my career. Now I have lost all!”

Stose looked up helplessly as Shan hunched over the baby and convulsed.

Korba felt his own heart breaking, not just for Shan, but for Chelan’s loss also. Then he looked down into her peaceful face. “Damn you, Chelan,” he whispered as he tenderly touched her cheek. “Why do you always think of others before yourself, pretty woman?”

Korba looked over at Shan. He watched as the shaking man slowly unwrapped his infant son, his gaze taking in the perfectly formed body. Korba squeezed his eyes tight.

Shan picked up each tiny hand and held them tenderly. Then he touched the small, cool body and ran his fingers through the fine black hair. Carefully and reverently, he rewrapped the baby and hugged him close. He looked over at Korba through clouded eyes as he continued to rock. “May I be excused, my Lord?” he asked in a shallow whisper. “I’d like to be alone with my son.”

Korba felt everything in his body twist. “Don’t do this, Shan, please.”

Shan shook his head vigorously. “It is best for all, my Lord. Please don’t deny me this.”

Korba felt like he was being kicked in the stomach. “Think about Chelan, my friend. She would want you alive and well. She would not want this.”

Shan wobbled unsteadily. “I am thinking of her, my Lord. No one knows what emotions the future may bring for any of us. I cannot predict my feelings pertaining to her. None of us can. I am not willing to live with that uncertainty and the pain I could one day bring to her, or to you, my Lord.” Shan hesitated and looked deep into Korba’s stricken eyes. “Please, Sire, grant me this.”

Korba felt his throat constrict, his emotions in so much turmoil he felt winded. “You may go,” he finally uttered weakly, and he watched as Shan smiled.

“Thank you, my Lord.” Shan paused and looked down at Chelan. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Then he looked back to Korba. “Take care of her for me, Sire.”

Korba could no longer speak. He simply nodded.

Shan smiled again and then rose to his feet. He straightened himself and walked through the group of stunned warriors, heading for the lower entrance.

Korba watched him disappear, and then he looked up at the ceiling, taking in a deep and painful breath. He would not interfere with a man’s right to die as he chose, and he let his head fall forward.

Korba finally looked up into Stose’s troubled eyes. The Warlord was scared to death to ask, but he had no choice. “Will she survive?”

Stose nodded almost imperceptibly. “She will survive, my Lord, but as to whether she will be okay, I would never dare to answer that.”

Korba looked down at the ashen beauty. He reached out and stroked her tangled hair. “She will be okay,” he whispered, and he broke down and wept openly in front of all his men.

*****

Shan staggered through the tunnels and through the cavern where he had shared his love with Chelan. He paused briefly at the cavern entrance, clutching his son tightly as he allowed his memories to flood forward. Then he turned and began his journey to the surface, his emotions spent and his thoughts anesthetized. The guards parted for him at the opening, and he straightened up and took in a long, deep breath of the glacially crisp air.

Slowly, he began walking and continued to walk for a long time. His exposed face burned, and he saw the coming front. He had met her by storm, and he would perish by storm. It was as it should be.

Eventually he stopped and looked down at his tiny son, the child born of Chelan’s love. Shan fell to his knees and laid the baby on the frozen ground. Then, with one fluid motion he removed his shroud and spread it out upon the snow. The wind bit fiercely into him through his uniform, but he did not notice.

He lay down on the shroud and opened his uniform jacket, exposing his bare chest. He reached for his son and pressed the baby to his heart, drawing the shroud over them. Shan closed his eyes as his last tear escaped and froze on his cheek. He said good-bye to Chelan and to his son, and at long last he was at peace, the planet’s last dance enacted upon his soul.

*****

Korba’s men warned him of the storm, and Chelan was quickly bundled up and moved to the surface. Korba placed her in his fighter as Stose made sure she was stabilized for the journey. Then Korba ordered Stose and two of his wingmen to follow him up to RIBUS 7.

Korba climbed into the cockpit, and the black ship began to move silently over the barren wasteland, the wind-blown snow already beginning to drift. Korba looked down at a frosty snow-covered mound, a flutter of black shroud exposed at one end, and closed his eyes momentarily. He knew that Shan was already dead, and that he had died as he had chosen, unable to live a life without Chelan, and especially a life without his son.

Korba mourned for the man, knowing in his heart that he may have done the same thing. There could be no greater sorrow in life than to lose all with no hope of recovery. Shan had given up his career long ago, and with the loss of Chelan and the death of his son, his life was going to be a misery he chose not to endure.

Korba signaled Dar that he was about to leave the planet. He engaged the thrusters, punching his fighter through the atmosphere toward Chelan’s one true home, RIBUS 7.