Resolutions E-Book

Stephen Drake

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Kevin Murdock, martial artist extraordinaire and longtime resident of the planet Oomah, is still center stage - and reluctant - to mentor any of the new batch of colonist arrivals. He alone is the remaining fair law on the planet.

The new arrivals are with few leaders, and more clueless or dangerous individuals. Meanwhile, some of the previously arrived colonists are stirring up hate and discontent. 

Surprise awaits Murdock and his family. Are the plateau dwellers going to be the seeds of a new civilization, or will they devolve into something else... something dangerous to the remains of humanity?

Leseprobe

RESOLUTIONS

DISCPLACED BOOK 3

STEPHEN DRAKE

CONTENTS

The Displaced Series:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

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About the Author

Copyright (C) 2019 Stephen Drake

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2021 by Next Chapter

Published 2021 by Next Chapter

Edited by Ashley Conner

Cover art by CoverMint

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author’s permission.

THE DISPLACED SERIES:

Displaced

Civilization

Resolutions

Dedicated to Linda and Susan; for without their help and support, this work would not have been possible.

A special thank you goes to Paula Shene, K.J. Simmill, and J.C. Stone. Excellent authors all, in their own right, for their friendship, suggestions, help, and for taking the time from their busy lives to read my work. Words fail to convey my deep appreciation for them.

I would also like to thank:

Shihan Samuel H. Hyatt, Sr. for his technical assistance, instruction, and friendship.

Shodan Kenny Evansen for his friendship, instruction, and fabulous artwork.

Author’s Note: Since the publication of the first two books in this series, I’ve had several questions from my readers. This book was written to answer those questions and to move the story along.

1

For as long as I can remember, I’ve heard people refer to my father as everything from Saint to Demon. To be sure, at any given time, he could be all that and more, but he was just a man, with all the faults and failings that go with being human. Most people forget that all-important fact.

ANDREW MURDOCK, THE REAL KEVIN MURDOCK: A DIARY

Murdock was tending his fire atop the Stairs of Mount Oomah, as he referred to the series of plateaus, when something silver went streaking past, far overhead. Long after it had disappeared, he heard the deafening roar split the night. Beron had just given notice to him, and he was to pass on the notice to everyone who could perceive his thoughts. The newest arrivals were on their way.

Oh… joy, Murdock thought. Has it been five years already? We haven’t recovered from the last bunch of invaders.

“If anyone is interested, we’re about to have more invaders,” he flashed to his tribe.

“I was wondering what that was,” Declan replied. “How long before it lands?”

“I have no idea how many orbits it’ll take before velocity is reduced enough to allow planetfall. If it follows the same procedures as the last one, it’ll be at least two days after landing before anyone disembarks.”

“How many are on this one?”

Murdock did a quick mental calculation. “Another two thousand people, supposedly.”

Murdock guessed it was two hours before sunup when the approaching ship circled the area several times before it hung motionless in the sky. The maneuver had awakened him, putting him in a foul mood. A mood that was worse than the one he was in when he was notified.

“It’ll be landing soon”, he flashed to the others. “Probably at sunup.”

Irene Harris, MD, Annie Cooper, LPN, and Roy White, EMT, were sitting out on the roof of the medical facility when Irene and Annie received the message. They both stood with excited expectation and looked up at the quickly lightening pre-dawn sky at what appeared to be a dark hole … and it was getting larger.

Declan Griffen was saddling his new mount in preparation to continuing toward home, when Murdock’s latest message reached him. He stopped handling the tack to calm the skittish beast, and looked up to see the huge hole in the sky, and whistled.

“Dancer, either that is one huge ship or a meteor is coming,” he said to the mount, as he watched it descend.

Murdock levitated off the step and across the open plain, to the top of the next step, where he saw the colossal ship descend. When it was a few thousand feet up, the ship separated into several and formed a circle before continuing its descent. Then Murdock heard the booming separation explosion. He counted eleven ships. Why eleven? Two thousand should fit in ten pods. What’s in the extra pod?

Just at full sunup, all eleven ships touched down on the bluish-green, grass-covered plain with rolling hills surrounding it. They weren’t far from the empty landing pods he had placed below the second step. From his vantage point, he could see the enormous circle they formed. Each lander looked to be the same size as the previous pod that had landed five years ago and was set aside not far from the stream that ran down each of the steps. They were several miles from the river and the medical facility.

“Did you want to meet the newcomers?” Murdock flashed to his wife, Mei Lee.

“Yes, and so does Emily. We’re hitching up Donder to the cart,” she replied.

He wondered, Why did the deer that Heather and Alvin tamed end up with those particular names? It had to be Heather or Emily.

“Be careful,” he flashed. “The landing was noisier than usual since there are eleven pods this time. It’ll draw attention from Elizabeth Reyes’ group, and others.”

“We’re planning on crossing the plain off the top step, a few miles from the river.”

“The new pods are off the second step, close to the stream, so make a direct course toward there. I’m close to the landing site now. Bring plenty of hides. I’m thinking of making camp close to the step and the stream, for safety.”

“Head to the stream under the second step,” Murdock flashed to Declan. “Our wives are on their way.”

“I know,” Declan replied. “Em let me know. I should be there in four or five hours. I’ll let Irene and Annie know where we are. I’m sure they’re gonna want to meet the newbies.”

“Well, be careful.I’m sure our enemies know another ship is down, and they will come around to see what they can do to further complicate an already complex situation.”

“Are you always so… negative?”

“I’m not being negative. Just realistic. With all we’ve been through, there are some that would like us to… go away. If any of them show up, I’m planning to defend me and mine. Is that okay with you?”

“Hey, I’m on your side, brother. I don’t like to admit it, but you’re right more often than not. I’ll see you when I get there.”

I’ve only known Declan for three or four years, but I like having him around. He makes me laugh. Murdock smiled.

By the time Declan arrived at the campsite, it was late afternoon and Murdock had several poles stacked and was lashing them together at the top.

“Greetings, brother. I come bearing gifts.” Declan held up four large fish, already cleaned and ready to cook.

Murdock smiled. “You know what to do with them, don’t you? If you start them now, they may be cooked by the time the wives and kids get here. I’m expecting them any time now.”

Declan nodded and started cooking the fish.

“I’ve been thinking—”

“Uh-oh, we’re all in trouble now!”

Murdock became stone-faced and tried not to chuckle. “Like I was saying, I’m thinking we need to keep some sort of record of who arrives, who dies, who’s born…”

“That would work out pretty good… if we had miles of paper and gallons of ink.”

“Ever thought of clay as a medium?”

Declan’s mouth opened, shut, then opened again and nothing came out.

“Wow, I left you speechless. Who would’ve thought that was possible?”

“I was thinking about that before I learned to fire clay. Since then, I haven’t given it much thought. I guess I could do it. It would take skill to write legibly and to keep it that way through the firing. But yeah, I think it would work.”

“See what you can do. Our wives are here. Time to get the tipis assembled.”

It was shortly after sunset, both lodges were assembled, and the two families were sitting around the campfire eating the fish.

“When do you think the newbies will be up and about?” Declan asked while finishing his fish.

“The procedure I observed, when you and Em arrived, was during the third day, after landing, there should be signs of life. Can you hit anything with that yet?” Murdock indicated Declan’s bow.

Declan chuckled. “The safest place seems to be in front of me.”

“He does fair,” Emily corrected, “if he has time to practice. He’s been practicing some, but not like he should.”

She was untying the front of her buckskin dress and pulled out an arm. It briefly exposed her milk-filled breast before she held little Gordon to her nipple.

Declan smiled. “Greedy little guy, ain’tcha?” He grinned at his son, caressing the infant’s cheek.

“No different than his father,” Emily quipped which caused everyone to laugh.

“So, what’s the plan?” Mei Lee asked once the laughter quieted.

“Tomorrow, I’m planning on marking out a barrier line to keep these idiots—I mean invaders, corralled,” Murdock said.

“Why do they need to be corralled?” Emily asked.

“There are two thousand people, who don’t understand what this place is like or how to defend themselves against the dangers here.

“Remember how weak you all were, when you disembarked. I’m sure they will be weak also. Do you think they should just be allowed to wander off on their own? Besides, a barrier works both ways. Keeping them corralled and safe, and keeping anything, or anyone, out that might endanger them.”

“At some point, though, they’ll be released?” Emily said.

“Yes, they will be loosed upon our world, for good or ill. I want my family out of their reach when they are.”

“Are we going to have a guard tonight?” Declan said.

“Why wouldn’t we? We have Liz Reyes’ group, who are belligerent toward us. We have Raymond Tutt, Ted Wagner, and their bunch of pirates and thieves. And we have Keith Rogers and his group of Lotus Eaters. About the only group we haven’t managed to honk-off are Markus Lantz and the farmers in his group. We’re away from home and the protections that go with it. You go and rest. I’ll take the first watch. I need to plan things with Beron so we have some backup.”

Vernon Parker, Sebastian Heartly, Elizabeth Reyes, and three others, from their group, were laying on their bellies, looking over the cliff-edge at the landed pods.

“Where did those women we were following go?” Reyes whispered to Heartly.

“We lost them shortly after we saw them in the distance,” Heartly whispered back. “One of them looked familiar.”

Reyes frowned, trying to think. “That was Mei… something. She’s Murdock’s woman, or so I believed a couple of years ago. She came around once when the doc was attacked.”

“Ah,” Heartly nodded, “that’s where I saw her before.”

Reyes motioned Heartly to move back as she moved back from the cliff. Heartly passed on the signal to the man next to him. He motioned to Parker and all the way down the line. Reyes stopped fifty yards away from the cliff edge, as did the rest of their party.

“Make camp here,” she said. “I want two of you to mount a guard while the rest of us sleep. I doubt anything will happen with the pods for a while yet. The winters haven’t been kind to us over the past five years. We’ve lost the majority of our people, and we’re in dire need of an infusion of new blood. It’s imperative we make a case for our group to the newcomers.”

“We all understand that, Liz,” Heartly whispered, while another man got a small fire started.

Reyes smiled at Heartly. “You know, Bass,” Reyes said as she moved closer to him and slipped her hands around his waist, “just because I let you grope and snuggle with me doesn’t give you permission to use familiar terms in front of others.” She grabbed his genitals. “I could have these removed, you know? I don’t think you’d like that,” she said, with sugar in her voice.

Heartly cleared his throat. “Sorry, Elizabeth.”

“Ma’am is better.” She gave his genitals a squeeze.

“Um… yes… ma’am, I understand.”

Markus Lantz, Kathy Watkins, and Heather Stevens crept into the medical facility compound just before sundown.

“Hello?” Heather yelled when she entered. “Is anyone here?”

“What do you need—Heather!” Annie Cooper ran over and hugged her. “Is there an emergency?” She looked over Heather and the two guests.

Heather took a deep breath. “No, no emergency. This is Mark Lantz and Kathy Watkins. They’re the leaders of our group, the one down from this plateau. We’ve come because of the new arrivals. Are you gonna go meet them?” She looked at Annie with begging eyes.

“As a matter of fact, I do have to go to do medical assessments and give my personal okey-dokey. Why do you ask?”

“Our group needs wood and metal workers. We lost a couple of them last winter to exposure. Do you think we can go with you to meet them?”

“Well, you can go with me, but I don’t know how close you’ll be able to get for a day or two. If you remember… well, maybe you don’t. When we arrived and disembarked the pod, Murdock was only there for two full days, maybe a little more. That’s as long as I’m planning to stay there, unless things change that requires me to stay longer. But you’re free to travel with me, there and back.”

“I know it’s a big intrusion, but can we rest here until we leave? We didn’t come prepared for a long trip. We really don’t have what we need for a trip into the wild. If you say no, we’ll understand.”

Irene Harris came out of the house. “What’s going on, Annie? Your dinner is getting cold. How are ya, Heather?”

“Hey, Doc, all of us are fine,” Heather yelled.

“They need a place to sleep until tomorrow,” Annie said. “They’re going with me to see the new arrivals.”

“You make it sound like a trip to the zoo.” Harris chuckled.

“You mean, it isn’t?” Annie flashed to Irene. “I hope Kevin can corral the beasties.”

“Sure, bring them in,” Irene said. “I’ll get Roy-Boy to rustle up something for them to eat.” She turned and entered the house.

“You know he hates it when you call him that,” Annie flashed, and motioned for the rest to follow Irene as she brought up the rear.

Murdock was standing a few paces from the campfire, gazing out into the night.

“You know what I have in mind,” he flashed to Beron. “Will you help?”

Murdock knew the huge bear was lying atop the step above the camp, keeping a watch of a different type. He also knew Bridget was lying next to him, as usual, her focus directed to the human children, whom she adored.

“We will help all we able.” Beron replied. “You know all need is ask. Bridget guard families.” Beron paused. “Why use food for travel?”

A picture of the deer popped into Murdock’s mind. “They are what humans call draft animals. They are stronger than humans and can pull for a longer time. I appreciate that you remain invisible to them. Seeing you would frighten them and cause disruption.”

If there was such a thing as shrugging while communicating telepathically, that was what Murdock perceived.

“We remain hidden from you kind at these events,” Beron flashed.

When Murdock woke Declan for his watch, he had gathered more wood for the fire, enough to last through the night.

“I’m going to get things set at the landing,” Murdock whispered. “I’m counting on you to see to it that camp is struck and our families are transported. Bridget is watching and will help. Not that I’m expecting any trouble, but you never know.”

“What about you?” Declan said.

“Beron is going with me, so, I’ll be fine,” Murdock said as he slipped off into the darkness.

Murdock was above the landing site, atop the plateau that was across the stream from the landing area, gathering poles needed to mark the barrier, when he heard a strange noise coming from the trees. He checked the breeze and found it blowing into his face, so he froze amongst the saplings.

As he readied himself with his bow, he could hear snuffling and grunting sounds headed his way. He crouched as the creature broke into the open. A wild boar… sort of. It must weigh five hundred pounds, and what a tusker! That head almost looks like a warthog. It may be a cross between a warthog and a razorback.

The boar stared at him, stomped the ground and snorted before continuing to forage. As it turned, Murdock drew back and let an arrow fly. The beast dropped.

“Destroyer,” Beron flashed. “Stray. Difficult control and confine.”

“This is a destroyer?” Murdock replied. “I should have known. They eat anything they can find, leaving little, if any. It never occurred to me.”

“Why you take?” Beron flashed.

“Where humans come from, they are good to eat. Many have tamed them.”

“Strange, you kind.”

A few hours later, Murdock levitated the processed porcine and two dozen one- to two-inch diameter poles off of the ridge above the landing site. As he did, he saw Declan and their families heading his way.

“Where did you get the tusker?” Declan asked as he dismounted.

“Up there.” Murdock indicated the ridge he had just descended. “Get it cooking while I place the poles, and then I’ll help with resetting camp.”

After the poles were set, marking off a three-hundred-square-yard area with the pods inside, Murdock helped to get the tipis set up again. There wasn’t much left for him to do, as his family, and Declan’s, had worked together to get the tasks accomplished.

It’s amazing what can happen when everyone works together.

“Raise the pig,” Murdock told Declan. “Slow cook it and turn it so it’s not dry. What do you think of trying to trap some young ones and tame them?”

“We’d have to make an enclosure to keep them in and predators out,” Declan said, “but I don’t see why we couldn’t try to tame them. I’m sure the older kids could do quite a bit of the raising. It would secure another food source for us.”

“Hey, Murdock!” Annie Cooper yelled, from a distance.

Murdock turned and saw her. Heather, Kathy Watkins, and Mark Lantz were further away.

“What’s going on, Annie?” Murdock flashed.

“They need help. Not too bright to venture out unprepared.”

“What kind of help?”

“They need replacement craftsmen, metal and wood mostly.”

“If they’re not armed, bring them in.”

Annie retreated to talk to the trio, and then all four proceeded into the camp.

“Not too bright venturing out unarmed and ill-prepared,” Murdock said, as the four entered the camp proper. “Heather, you know better.”

Heather moved over to Murdock and gave him a hug. “I know, but someone insisted we didn’t need them,” she whispered in his ear. “They refused to travel with me if I were armed.”

“Is that true, Lantz? Did you refuse to travel with Heather if she were armed?” Murdock scowled at him.

“This is not that hostile of a place,” Lantz said. “Weapons are not needed most of the time.” Lantz said dismissively.

“How would you like to walk home alone? I know the dangers, and I go everywhere armed. You are a fool!”

Lantz backed up a step or two. “Are you saying you won’t help us?”

“I don’t suffer fools,” Murdock snapped, “but you’re worse! You’re an imbecile and a fool. Anyone who would ever listen to you is asking to end up as dinner. I told you about the cougar. Did you or your people take care of it? There are also wolves and pirates. What was your plan if you ran across one? Push Heather out in front of you so you can run?”

Lantz took a couple more steps back.

“You can take your stupid ass right on back to where you came from. I’ll have a powwow with Heather, and then decide for myself.”

“But… but… I don’t know the way home.”

Murdock arched his back, let his head hang back, and exhaled loudly. “Maybe, sometime in the last five years, you should’ve gotten outside your house for more than five minutes.” He stomped over to Lantz and grabbed his upper arm, instinctively digging in his fingers to separate the bicep and tricep muscles, to reduce the amount of resistance Lantz could affect. He dragged the taller man to the first pole. “See pole? Follow pole, that way,” Murdock said condescendingly. “When you get to the cliff, you can do everyone a favor and jump off. Or you can turn left and go to the river. At the river, you can drown yourself, or turn right and follow the path home. If you ever endanger Heather or Alvin—or anyone else, for that matter—I’ll show you, firsthand, what the wolves can do!” He shoved Lantz back, causing him to stumble. “Now get your dumb ass home! You see what I have to put up with?” He entered the camp. “And people wonder why I am the way I am. And you, young lady!” He scowled at Heather. “You should’ve never left the house without something, anything. I thought I taught you better than that.”

“Lantz wasn’t going to give her the annual allowance of flour if she didn’t guide him unarmed,” Annie said.

“Why you?” Murdock asked Heather.

“Because no one else knows where the medical facility is. I knew because Declan told me on one of his visits.”

“So, you and Alvin don’t live with the rest?”

“No, we moved about a mile toward the stream so we could do what we needed with the deer. Built our own place and have been improving it. We’re both still expected to help with the harvest for our bag of flour.”

“As well they should,” Watkins said, then seeing the glare from Murdock, decided silence would be the better option.

Murdock turned his attention back to Heather. “What happens if you need help?”

She shrugged. “Deal with it ourselves, mostly.”

“But if they need help, you better show up fast, right?”

“That’s about the size of it.”

“Do they use your mounts?”

“Most of the time they just take an animal they need for plowing or whatever.”

“Payments?”

Heather shook her head.

“And why should there be any payment?” Watkins said. “None of us get paid. Labor is donated for the good of the community.”

“You need to move your operation across from the medical facility,” Murdock said. “Let them see the value of you being there. Think about it and discuss it with Alvin. How’s that pig coming along?” he asked Declan.

“You have another issue to deal with.” Annie pointed discreetly toward the landing pods.

Murdock turned to see one of the pods opening its ramp. He stood there, sucking saliva through his teeth as if he had something stuck between them.

“I’m not in the mood for this.”

Curtis Griffen held up his arm to block the sunshine from his light-sensitive eyes as he made his way down the transport pod’s ramp. The meal inside the pod was insufficient for him, and his rubbery legs protested. I hate that feeling.

Once his eyes adjusted to the sunshine, after he’d reached the bottom of the ramp, he thought he could make out something. Are those… Indians? With a couple wigwams, no less. Am I hallucinating? Maybe I’m still in stasis and this is just a dream… or a nightmare.

A few seconds later, as everyone moved toward a figure walking toward them, he could see two men and three women wearing buckskins, and two women dressed much as the rest of the newcomers, just more worn, almost threadbare. The man coming toward them was short and appeared to be well-armed. From what Curtis could see, a bow, arrows, and two machetes. He walks with authority and a purpose. Danger!

“I am Murdock,” the man said, “and I have been here for ten years. If any of you think they know more than I do about this place, then speak up. I’ll be more than happy not to think about you when winter comes and you’re starving and freezing. If you look that way,” he pointed at the sticks poking up from the ground, “you’ll see sticks. Stay away from them. There is a barrier there for the safety of all concerned. If you look toward the stream,” he pointed the other way, “you’ll see a cliff face. Don’t go up there. If you look behind me, you’ll see another cliff face. You can go up there if you want to, but not the one behind it. Off toward the poles is the river. Once I’ve released you, you are free to go that way. There are lots of fish in the river. This planet has various wildlife. There are deer, wolves, and mountain lions. Deer being the most plentiful. There are also bears, but don’t hunt, bother, or molest them. All the wildlife is bigger than you’d expect.”

“Why should we do anything you say?” someone asked. “Who appointed you Lord over us?”

Murdock grinned mirthlessly. “You can do whatever you want, but when you end up dead, you’ll have no one to blame but yourselves. Going contrary to what I said will get you killed, so you go right ahead. It won’t bother me in the least. I’m not here to babysit a bunch of whiny tenderfoots. I’m here to give you all a fighting chance to survive, but you can do what you want. I’ll not waste my time with any of you. I don’t suffer fools.”

“He sounds harsh,” whispered a woman standing close to Curtis.

He frowned at her.

“What’s your problem?” she asked in a surly tone.

“Shut up. I’m tryin’ ta listen.” Curtis answered.

“How rude can you get?” the woman asked rhetorically.

“I know some of you might think I’m harsh,” Murdock said, “but I’m not as harsh as nature. This isn’t a vacationers’ campground. Survival is harsh, and you might as well get used to it. You don’t have a lot of choices. You will only be as safe as you want to be, but that will take a lot of work, from you, to accomplish.”

“Where is our equipment? Did you steal it?” a man said, from the middle of the crowd.

“Why would I do that? If you listened to your briefing, it said your equipment was under the pod, unless they changed it from when I arrived. If you can’t find it, then get back in the pod, close the ramp, and never come out. You’re just too stupid to survive. If I took your stuff, wouldn’t that make you more dependent on me? Believe me, that’s the last thing I want. I have my own children to worry about. I don’t need more little babies. There are some here already that would kill you for what you’re carrying, but that isn’t me. Now then, all those who think they’re qualified to lead this group, go over to the stream. Everyone else stays at this end.”

Murdock waited while the group separated into two groups. He drank from his waterskin while he waited.

“Now, I want you to be honest with yourself,” Murdock said to the remaining, when the sorting was complete. “If you absolutely and unequivocally, don’t want to lead, then come forward. That would include those who feel you’re totally unqualified, or have trouble giving orders to others.”

The waiting continued while they thought about it for some time. Five people came forward.

“You five remain. The rest of you can go over to the stream.”

Murdock sized them up. He looked at the smallest of the five, who were still taller than he was.

“What’s your name?” he asked the smallest man.

“Charles. Charles Benteen.”

“Are you any relation to Frederick Benteen?”

“Not that I’m aware of. I don’t know who that is.” Benteen answered softly with a confused look on his face.

Soft-spoken, shortest man, doesn’t want to lead. “Well, Chuck, you’re it. You’re in charge of this… this herd. Come over here by me.”

Benteen ambled toward Murdock, hesitating at the poles that marked the barrier.

“Why did you pick me? I don’t want to lead. I’m not qualified to lead myself, let alone two hundred.” Benteen protested.

“That’s why I picked you. I’ll explain it later, after they empty the other pods and I pick the leaders. For now, you need to get all the gear in the compartments on the ground, and get everyone outfitted similar to me. Get the waterskins handed out, two to a person, and get them filled, hopefully without muddying the stream. If the other pods open, separate yourselves and don’t tell them anything about this conversation.”

Benteen nodded and started back beyond the barrier.

“Oh, and Chuck, if I call for you, don’t make me wait and don’t make me come looking for you.”

Benteen blanched. Once he was on the pod side of the barrier, Murdock went back to his campsite to wait.

“Why did you pick that guy?” Declan said, when Murdock had returned.

“Because he didn’t want it.” Murdock poked the roasting porker, then took out his six-inch knife and cut off a piece. “I’m trying to prevent those with megalomania from gaining power over these tenderfoots.” He took a bite of the pork. “That’s good stuff,” he said, around the mouthful of meat.

“Thanks.” Declan smiled.

Everyone at the campsite cut their own piece of pork.

“What about Watkins?” Heather hesitated to take a piece of the meat.

“Heather, what kind of a leader is she?” Murdock glared at Watkins.

“She mainly keeps the women in line and agrees with Lantz.” Heather kept her gaze forward and didn’t look toward Watkins. “I think they have something going between them, though.”

“If you stand there holding that meat, it will get cold and greasy.” Murdock took another bite. “I suppose she can have some, but only because I know you and you feel guilty eating in front of her. It’s not because she deserves anything from us.”

2

“Every decision has its upside and its downside. The key is to make the best decisions you can with the facts available at any given time. Refusing to decide is, of itself, a decision.”

KEVIN MURDOCK, COLLECTED SAYINGS

An hour after the first newcomers disembarked from their pod, the ramp of the second pod opened. Murdock was waiting at the barrier when the inhabitants exited.

After eating, Declan had gathered a large amount of clay, with Andy’s help, from the stream bank, and was now cleaning it of larger bits of debris that would hinder the manufacture of high-quality clay. Mei Lee helped by emptying the cart and getting it set closer to the barrier so Declan could use it as a bench. The younger children, Rosa Lea, Maureen, and Roslynn, were playing near Emily and little Gordon, staying out from underfoot.

When Declan started making the frames, he was interrupted by Sebastian Heartly, Elizabeth Reyes, and the rest of their troop getting close to the camp fringes.

“What’re you doing here?” Declan growled.

Annie joined him.

“Relax, Declan,” Bass Heartly said. “We aren’t here to cause any trouble.”

“Where’s Murdock?” Reyes asked dismissively as she pushed her way forward. “We have business here, so go fetch him.”

“What’s the nature of that business?” Annie asked the shorter, Hispanic woman. “He’s busy, at present, so you can tell me and I’ll see to it he gets the message.”

Reyes chuckled. “My business with him is my business. I don’t deal with underlings. Is that pork you’re cooking?” She pushed Annie aside and strode into the camp with her five followers.

“That’s close enough, Elizabeth.” Mei Lee had approached from behind Declan and Annie, and no one had noticed the short Asian woman. “You’re not barging into our camp, uninvited!” Her bow was at the ready.

“And who’ll stop me? You? There are enough of us to take over your camp.”

One man stepped forward. Mei Lee shot him in the leg and nocked another arrow before anyone could react. Another man reached for his machete, but before it cleared the scabbard, she shot him in the arm. Everyone not injured rushed her. She used her bow as a staff, laying out Bass Heartly with a strike aside his head. Another man grabbed the bow from behind, lifting Mei Lee off the ground. She kicked Reyes in the solar plexus. While Reyes gasped for air, Declan and Annie jumped in and tried to subdue the remaining men.

“Bridget?” Mei Lee flashed.

Reyes and her followers dropped to the ground, unconscious.

When Reyes awoke, she saw the sky and Murdock bending over her.

“What?” Reyes said, after a long silence. “Did you take advantage of me while I was unconscious?” She glared at Murdock, who remained silent, scowling at her. “Where are my men?” she said, after looking around. “Are you going to answer me or just stare?”

“What’re you doing here?” Murdock asked impatiently.

“I’ve come to get replacements. I’m allowed, aren’t I?”

“You’re allowed to come to the newbies and ask if any want to join your group. However, you may not come into my camp and try to take it over for yourself.”

“Your minions attacked a peaceful party,” Reyes said.

“My wife did as I would expect her to. Besides, there’s nothing peaceful about your party. Be thankful I was busy. If it would’ve been me, you wouldn’t be explaining yourself. We’d be burying you.”

“That sounds like you. Two years ago, we marked you a bandit. You’re someone to be eliminated at any opportunity. You, and any who follows you, are a plague upon those who live here.”

Murdock laughed. “Well, here I am. Eliminate me.”

“That’s just your style. You won’t face a man, but an unarmed woman is all you can handle!”

Murdock pulled out his eighteen-inch machete. “Would this be big enough for you?”

Reyes stared at him for a few seconds. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? It would give you a reason to kill me and claim self-defense.”

“I don’t understand your anger with me.” Murdock replaced the machete.

“You stranded us in the middle of nowhere! You let us all freeze and starve!”

“You chose the place for your encampment. I tried to help you get started. It’s not my fault if you didn’t learn or do the work required.” Murdock looked at her with mock compassion. “I told you early on I wouldn’t do the work for you. So now you feel justified in attacking my family.” He shook his head. “You think I owe you something. You think I owe you survival. You have a right for a chance to survive. Survival isn’t guaranteed. I gave you your chance to survive, so it’s not my fault you squandered it.” He turned to leave.

“Is that it, then? You’re going to turn your back on us… again!”

Murdock stopped. “Liz, go home. Take your men and gohome.” He didn’t turn around. “Take this as my last friendly gesture. I won’t recommend your group to any of the newcomers, so gohome!” he growled, through clenched teeth.

Reyes stood to protest, but didn’t see Murdock anywhere. When she turned around, she saw her men staring at her, their wounds dressed and treated.

“Get on your feet! He can’t do this to us. I refuse to let that be the last word on the matter.”

“Um… Elizabeth,” Heartly whispered, “I think you need to let this go. If you don’t, then we’ll all end up dead. Murdock wasn’t speaking from anger. He was serious.”

“How did it go with Reyes?” Mei Lee asked Murdock, once he returned.

“Not well.” He exhaled loudly. “I let her and her men go. I told them to go home, and I told her I’ll not recommend any newbies go to her group.” He shrugged.

“What was her reaction?”

“I don’t know yet. I left after telling her to go home. Whatever her reaction is, we all need to be on our toes.” He looked to the pods. “It’s time for me to give my spiel… again.”

Mei Lee watched her husband plod back to the barrier. She could see how the stress of the situation was wearing on him. He’s exhausted. After ten years of fighting with others, he’s getting worn out.

“We need to be on our toes,” Mei Lee flashed to all that could hear her thoughts. “Reyes and her cohorts are now an unknown element. We have to be ready for any repercussions.”

“What is the threat level?” Irene Harris asked.

“Assume their group is the highest possible threat to all of us,” Murdock replied.

Before Murdock started his spiel again, he called for Benteen.

“Line up your people. I want them to give their name to my associate,” he motioned toward Declan, “and then our medico will assess them.” He pointed at Annie. “If they get out of line, my people have my permission to take them down… hard. Get me?”

Benteen nodded and ran off to corral the rest of his pod-mates, and got them cued close to Declan, with himself at the head of the line.

“Next!” Declan motioned the first person in the cue, forward. “Name?”

“Charles Benteen.”

“You’re the leader, yeah?” Declan asked as he scribed Benteen’s name onto the clay tablet with the chisel-shaped stick.

“So I’m told,” Benteen whispered.

“I want you to go over there and see Annie. If she clears you, come back to help keep your fellows in line. Try not to upset her. She doesn’t like hurting anyone, but she will, quicker than you can imagine. Next,” Declan called to the next person in line.

Things progressed quietly for the first fifty of the first pod.

“Name?” Declan said, without looking up.

“Curtis Griffen.”

“Middle initial?” Declan’s heart pounded.

“D.”

“I have a problem,” Declan flashed to Annie. “This may be my brother, but he doesn’t recognize me.”

“You have changed,” Emily replied. “You’ve filled out nicely.”

“I’ll hold him aside for Mei Lee,” Annie flashed back.

“Go see Annie. Next.”

While Curtis was walking to Annie’s position, which was away from the rest, for patient privacy, Annie flashed Mei Lee about the situation. By the time Annie finished with Curtis’ exam, Mei Lee came over to him.

“Come with me,” she said.

“Why?” Curtis balked. “I din’t do nothin’!”

“Shut your pie-hole!” Mei Lee said. “Nobody said you did. Just do what you’re told. You’ll have your chance to lodge any complaints.” She herded Curtis to where Kathy Watkins was sitting. “Sit here and wait for my husband.”

“What’s goin’ on?” Curtis asked Watkins, after Mei Lee left.

“How the hell would I know? I think these people are all crazy.”

Curtis shrugged. “I woul’n’t know. Jus’ got here.”

“No shit, Sherlock! I was here before you exited the pod!”

“I was just tryin’ ta conversate. No need to get pissy.”

“Can you move over? A mile or two should be sufficient.”

Curtis gave up trying to talk to Watkins, and lay back, closing his eyes to avoid further conversation with her.

“Hey, Cee Dee, want to help me process more clay?” Declan tapped the bottom of Curtis’ foot with his own.

He had run out of clay after the third pod, and needed more.

“Huh?” Curtis tried to focus. He had fallen asleep, and hearing the pet name his brother used to use caused him confusion. “How d’ya know what m’brother used to call me?” he said, groggily, as he got to his feet.

“How is that worthless brother of yours? Seen him lately?”

“Not for a while. Don’ know what happened to him.”

“How are your sisters?” Declan dug clay and put it on a hide.

Curtis scowled. “How d’ya know so damn much about me?”

Declan chuckled. “I know you didn’t stop sucking your thumb until you were six.”

Curtis grabbed the much more substantial Declan and tried to shake him, which was ineffective, as he was too weak to do much.

“You tell me right now how you know so much about me!” He tried to be stern.

“Or what, little brother? What do you think you can do? You’re weak as a kitten.”

Curtis moved backward. “What’d you call me?”

“You heard me. I said you were weak as a kitten.”

“No, before that.”

Declan laughed. “Have I changed so much? You used to call me Dee Cee, and I called you Cee Dee. You called me Dee Cee because you knew I hated my middle name. I still do.”

Curtis stood back, eyes wide. “Declan?”

Declan held out his arms, palm up. “That’s me! Now, let’s get this done.” He turned to his task of collecting clay.

Both brothers dragged the hide loaded with clay back to the cart bed, where Declan was doing his scribe work.

“Go get some pork. It’ll help you get over the grogginess.” Declan smiled.

“He is my brother,” Declan flashed.

It stunned Curtis. I haven’t seen my brother in years, and now here he is. He walked over to the fire. As he got closer, a huge woman came over. She’s six-six, at least, and built like a tank.

“Hello, Curtis,” she said, sweetly. “I’m Emily, your sister-in-law.” She pulled a six-inch knife and sliced through the cooked pork, then handed him the knife. “Use the knife to stick the meat and eat it that way, or you can use your fingers. We don’t carry plates when we’re out and about.” She smiled at him.

“Uh… thanks, Emily. I’m a little stunned by all this.”

“That’s understandable, given the circumstances.” Emily chuckled. “When you’re more emotionally steady, I’ll introduce you to your nieces and nephew.”

Nieces? Nephew? I can’t believe Declan landed anyone, let alone someone so large and so nice. I always thought he’d end up with a skinny screecher. He chuckled before biting into the meat.

Once Declan was back with wet clay, the line proceeded.

“Are you okay?” Murdock asked his friend, bending in to make their conversation private.

“I’ll be fine,” Declan said, between the individuals filing past.

“Andrew?”

Declan looked up and saw an older man, maybe late fifties, coming toward Murdock.

“Andy Murdock! It is you!”

The man grabbed Murdock’s hand and pumped it. “You old so and so! I thought you were dead! That’s what they told me, at any rate. And yet here you are!”

With difficulty, and without injuring the man, Murdock extricated his hand.

“I’m sorry, sir, but you have me mistaken for someone else. I don’t recognize you.”

“You’re not Andrew James Murdock? Sorry, but you look exactly like him!”

“Andrew James Murdock was my father,” Murdock said.

The old man smiled. “That explains it! I’m Zeke. Zeke Jakes. I guess you’d call me a good friend and confidant of Andrew’s.” He stepped back and offered his hand again to Murdock.

He warily shook Zeke’s hand. “You knew Andrew well?”

Zeke leaned in. “I knew him better than you did, and I know things you will want to know. When this all calms down, find me and we’ll talk.”

“Give Declan here your name, get checked out medically, and then come find me.”

“Sure, I can do that. It’ll be nice to sit and talk to someone that knew Andrew toward the end.”

“Mei Lee, please keep track of an old guy. Name is Zeke.” Murdock flashed. I need to ask all kinds of questions, and I hope Zeke has the answers.

Declan ran into several snags while scribing the names. More than once, he ran out of clay and had to collect more. He had to take several breaks to wait for the scribed tablets to dry enough to remove the frames and not have the tablets fall apart.

By the end of the first day, he had only gotten through half the newcomers, having to stop because of the failing light. Murdock had gotten the ten initial leaders picked. There were ten new arrivals that did not revive, in the ninth and tenth pods, and he got them buried, away from the pods and the stream.

“I’m whupped.” Declan sat close to the fire. “I haven’t written for that long in years. I must be getting old.”

Everyone laughed.

“You certainly look much older than you did this morning,” Murdock said.

“Is there more pork left?” Declan flexed his fingers. “I sure could eat more of that!”

Emily got up to cut some pork for Declan, and gave it to him.

“Thanks, Em. You’re the best.”

“Is this a bad time to bring up my group’s request?” Kathy Watkins said, in a surly tone.

“I think it should wait until we know the skills available, don’t you?” Murdock replied. “We don’t even have all their names yet. Is there something so pressing you can’t wait another day or two? Even if you find replacements, those meeting your requirements, you will have to take it slow going home, or give them another day to build up their strength. Besides, once we find them, you have to convince them to join you. I’ll not force anyone to go where I or anyone else thinks they need to go.”

Even though Murdock had slept hard until Declan woke him, he greeted the day tired and testy. Declan—feeling the same—Andy, and Curtis managed to get more clay and get things set for finishing the lists of newcomers after breakfast.

Declan was looking forward to finishing the list. I don’t know why I want to be done with it. I’ll be home, but then I must fire all the tablets and hope none break. It’ll take weeks to fire them all, even with Curtis’ help. I know I have to talk to him and try to convince him to come home with me and Emily.I can’t lose him again.

Murdock spent his time trying to get everyone outfitted. The leaders he’d selected had failed to outfit anyone properly. He also had to teach them how to collect water without getting dirt into their waterskins and without muddying the water in the process. He only had limited success in his instructions.

By late afternoon, Declan had just started the list from the last pod. As soon as he had the leader’s name, Murdock called all the leaders to a meeting away from the rest. Declan kept working.

“Name?” he asked, with impatience.

He had asked the same thing, the same way, for almost two days. He glanced up at the cue and figured he was in the last fifty.

“Angelica Griffen,” a deep, sultry voice replied.

“I need you to go over there and get checked out by Annie, and then come directly back here,” Declan said, without looking up.

He was glad for the mental training Beron and Murdock had given, so his thoughts were his own. He wanted to surprise everyone at their camp with yet another family member.

When Angelica returned, he was almost finished creating the lists.

“Have a seat on the other side of this cart. I’m almost finished,” He watched her surreptitiously while she complied. I need to calm myself. I’m getting too anxious.

“So, why did you pick us to lead?” Johann Spitzer said, once all the leaders had gathered away from the rest.

“Mostly, because you don’t want it,” Murdock said. “The previous pods held elections for their leaders, and those elections led to tyrannies with a lot of pain for everyone. I’m trying to prevent that from happening to you.”

“Well, you know we’ll be replaced as soon as they hold an election,” Parker Sheetzen said, “either by pod or as a complete group.”

“Possible,” Murdock said, “even probable, but that won’t change anything. I will still seek you all out and hold you accountable. In the last two landings, we had several rapes, bullying, and murders, with no one stopping any of it. They all thought it wasn’t any of their concern, so they stayed out of it. However, if all you want is to behave like a pack of wolves, then go ahead, but don’t be surprised if someone treats you as such. I had in mind something… more. Something with some semblance of being civilized.”

“How come the others acted that way with their fellows?” Georgia Nyree said.

“Some were spoiled brats, some were bullies, and some were just power hungry. Out here, it doesn’t matter what you did before. What matters is what you do now. I don’t expect anyone to know everything. I do expect humans to behave better than the animals they claim to be superior to.”

“So what are we to do now?” Sanittie Laust said.

“Gee… I don’t know,” Murdock said sarcastically. “It’s now late spring or early summer and you have until winter begins to get sheltered, warm, and fed, you and your charges. So what do you think you should be doing?”

When no one answered, Murdock said, “Don’t you think you should figure out who amongst your people are hunters, builders, farmers, and a thousand other occupations? If you have no experts, would hobbyists work? Are you going to need weapons? You need to keep one thing in mind, always. There are animals here that would love a human for a meal, four-legged and two-legged animals. I want all of you, at your first opportunity, to walk to the river. It’s that way.” He pointed toward the river. “And when you see the speed and volume of the water, keep in mind it freezes solid each winter.”

The entity had been awake a short time and was reluctant to exert control over its host. It had sensed its enemy nearby, along with its fellow entities. There were fewer of its fellows than it had expected, but it was unconcerned with the losses.

It opened a passive connection to the host’s visual cortex, allowing it to receive the images the host saw. As the host turned its head to take in all within view, the entity stimulated the second-sight part of the host’s visual perceptions and saw the two figures, cloaked in black robes, invisible to the host’s usual visual perception. It also saw the red-tinted psychic barrier that closed off the pods and the humans from the greater local environment. This action lasted only a fraction of a second, but it risked the entity being perceived by its enemy and its host. As a precaution, the entity erased any memory of what the host saw.

The entity had decided to seek its fellows when the hosts were resting, during their period of inactivity and low luminosity, when the hosts were the most unaware of the entity’s presence.

Murdock had dismissed the meeting of the leaders about an hour before sundown. He was irritable and tired from a lack of sleep and from dealing with these intruders. I know I’m not a people-person. He splashed water from the stream onto his face to wash away the strange taint he felt from dealing with the newcomers.

“Kevin, I have someone for you to meet,” Declan said, from behind him.

Once Murdock stood and turned to face Declan, he saw a familiar female.

Angelica saw the expression on Murdock’s face go from startled confusion, to hurt, and then to anger in a fraction of a second as the stream water ran down his face.

Declan, this is a mistake, she thought. I don’t know why, but I know this is a mistake.

“This is my sister, Angelica,” Declan said, in an upbeat tone.

Angelica could see the anger directed at Declan, and then she saw Murdock’s lower lip quiver, a burning glare in his eyes. He turned and strode to his lodge and shut the flap.

As Murdock passed her, Mei Lee stood with a puzzled look.

She turned toward Declan. “Declan, what—”

Standing before her was the spitting image of Rose. Not the Rose she knew with the scars, but the one she’d briefly met when she’d first arrived. Her mouth hung agape.

“Mei Lee, this is my little sister, Angelica,” Declan said. “Angelica, this is Mei Lee Murdock.”

Angelica smiled sweetly and extended her hand to the small Asian woman. “Nice to meet you, Mei Lee.”

Oh, my god. She looks and sounds just like her. “Nice to meet you, Angelica.” Mei Lee took the offered hand and shook it, and flashed a brief smile.

Declan received a cold glare.

Declan looked back, confusion on his face.

“I don’t think Murdock likes me,” Angelica said to Declan.

“Sorry about that. It wasn’t you, Angel. I’m certain of that. He’s probably just tired.”

“You know, you owe her an apology,” flashed to Murdock’s mind, from Mei Lee.

“I know. I was taken by surprise when I was tired. I thought I was losing my hold on reality when I turned and saw her.”

“I understand. I, too, was taken aback when I saw her. She is the spitting image of Rose. She even sounds like her.”

“I thought I was seeing a ghost. She looked the way Rose did when we first arrived. I knew about finding his brother, but not his sister.”

“No one did. Declan, thinking he was being clever, hid it well.” Mei Lee’s anger came through her thought transmissions.

“Don’t be too cross with him. He was just excited.”

“He’s shared with us enough to know our feelings for Rose. He should’ve given us a heads-up at least, so we would be prepared.”

“She is his sister. I think he doesn’t notice the similarities since he hadn’t seen Rose in several years. I think he’s missed his brother and sister for a long time. Having them both here now brings out his excitement.”

“Are you making excuses for him?”

Heather Stevens and Kathy Watkins were sitting together close to the fire when Murdock stormed past.

“This looks interesting.” Kathy smirked.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Heather said.

“Looks to be trouble in paradise, to me.” Watkins was still smirking.

Heather shook her head. “You disgust me. You’re just looking for grist to feed your rumor mill. These people are my friends. I’ve lived with them for some time before coming to your group. They all have their issues, but they’re good people and don’t deserve your innuendos and lies.”

“Sounds like you’re more comfortable with their company than ours.” Watkins glared at her. “Keep in mind, we took you in, gave you a place with us. Should I take this conversation into account when it comes time to dole out the flour and grain?”

“You’ve reminded us of that at every opportunity. Maybe I need to keep your threats in mind when you come around looking for my and Alvin’s help, or when you want to borrow one of our animals.” Heather glared back at Watkins as she stood. “You have a right to your opinion, but you needn’t be such a bitch about it. We also have the right to ignore you and your requests.”

She stepped over to the fire, turning her back to Watkins.

Murdock exited the tipi two hours after sunset. As he approached the fire, he clapped twice to get everyone’s attention.

“I would like Curtis and Angelica to come forward,” he said, once he reached the fire.

It didn’t take them long to join him.

“As most of you know, our brother Declan has found his Earth brother and sister. As Declan is my brother, so is Curtis. And Angelica is my sister. I was married to their sister Rose. As she was family, so are they. I look forward to the day they are fully trusted and accepted as family to all of us.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” flashed to Murdock’s mind, from Declan.

“You know what it means. When you first arrived, I accepted you as a brother-in-law. Now you are more than that. You’re one of the most trusted people here. They both need to prove themselves to be worthy of joining our tribe.”

“But I wanted to bring them home and keep them safe from the abuses that are sure to be inflicted by the other new arrivals,” Declan flashed.

Murdock marveled at how even Declan’s thoughts came across as whiney at times.

“You can’t keep them safe, as you well know. This planet isn’t safe. You’re free to take them home with you, as long as you take responsibility for their conduct and their training. In the future, should they join our tribe, they will become full members, just as Irene, Annie, you, and Em did, and will, thus, be held accountable for their own actions.”

Ted Wagner was lying just inside the tree line, close to the river. He had been watching the granite building that was against the ridge to the next level up. Twenty-foot walls of granite he thought as he lay watching for signs of life, narrow doorway into the compound, two-story house, possibly a water filtration system on the roof. It had to have been built by Murdock or with his help. It needs to be conquered or destroyed.

“What do you think, Ted?” Harvey Stoddard whispered.

“I think we need to wait and see who’s inside. It would be foolish to take over the building if Murdock is in there.”

“Before the wall that confined us was constructed, that wasn’t there. Murdock has been operating longer than that building has existed. You’re not scared of Murdock, are you?” Stoddard looked at Wagner sideways.

“I wouldn’t say I fear him,” Wagner said, with more conviction than he felt. “What does it gain us if we die trying to improve our situation? Imprisoning us was wrong. We’re just trying to survive any way we can. Besides, you didn’t feel the effects of Murdock’s anger.” Wagner rubbed his chest absentmindedly, as he always did when he remembered the confrontation with Murdock.

Stoddard snickered. “Maybe you shoulda made sure Murdock was dead before you took his stuff and the women.”

Wagner shot a glare at Stoddard. “If I would’ve hit you in the head like I did him, what little brains you have would be splattered all over the place.”