The Displaced Collection

Chapter 8

The animal snorted at him contemptuously.

“To you kind this acceptable for visitor?” flashed through his consciousness. He heard the words in his mind — and the voice was that of his father. “We fear you kind not at all!”

To you kind this acceptable for visitor? We fear you kind not at all!Murdock’s mouth gaped in amazement. The bear was looking at him, and Murdock felt disgust coming to his mind. He put away his machetes and stared at the animal.

“This belongs to us!” Murdock got a mental vision of a planet hanging in space. “You visitor here!” The animal moved closer to him slowly and cautiously. It began sniffing the air around him and then snorted. “We know you. Have watched you long time!” came to his mind.

This belongs to us!You visitor here!We know you. Have watched you long time!Murdock glanced around the animal and noticed it stood on all fours on the floor of the main part of the cave. It had to hunch down to look him in the eye.

“I’m sorry. Where I come from, bears don’t communicate,” Murdock said, as if to explain his behavior. The animal snorted again in his direction.

“No need noise. You offensive enough to senses! You are human Murdock!” A small segment of a vision showing him standing beside his campfire outside the transport pod came to his mind. Murdock recognized the scene, but couldn’t remember seeing this animal nearby. In fact, he didn’t recall seeing animals of any kind. “You young and see what we allow!” flashed through his mind.

No need noise. You offensive enough to senses! You are human Murdock!You young and see what we allow!Murdock tried to envision all the men of the group and associated the group with the word man. He then tried to envision the females, associating them with the word woman. Again he envisioned everyone together and associated all of them with the word human. In turn, he received a vision of himself associated with human, man, Murdock. The emotion associated with all this seemed patronizing to him.

manwomanhumanhuman, man, MurdockMurdock then tried to envision the bear, and tried to make it a question. What he got back was the same as he sent, but with emphasis. Murdock had always had the ability to guess what an animal would do or where it would go, but he had never thought of it as telepathy.

“Rudimentary!”

Rudimentary!Murdock was astounded. He brought up a mental picture of being comfortable and sat cross-legged on the floor of the cave looking at the animal. It, in turn, sat on its hind legs and rested its front leg on the ramp leading up to Murdock. Then it rested its head on its foreleg and looked at him. Murdock stared at the animal, trying to figure out why it had chosen to show up now, as well as what it wanted.“On my planet, bears don’t usually associate with humans,” Murdock stated.

“Why?” the animal responded mentally.

Why?“Bears eat meat.” Murdock pictured a bear eating some of the animals he had seen here so far: a fish, a snake, a deer, and a man. What he received was a dissertation, of sorts, on the feeding habits of the animal in front of him. Apparently, the animal ate everything except men and the huge snake that Murdock had killed. The vision of the snake was one of fierce rage. He guessed that this animal actively hunted the snakes just to kill them. And he found that the bears here, like the ones back on earth, liked sugar, getting it mostly from berries and some unfamiliar roots.

As Murdock looked over the animal in front of him, he tried to estimate its size. Though its coloring was similar to that of a Kodiak, the bear outsized the biggest polar bears and Kodiak bears that he had ever seen in his travels to Alaska and Canada. And he couldn’t begin to estimate its weight.

The animal rubbed its nose with his free paw and sneezed. Murdock noted the twelve-inch-long claws.

Murdock tried to ask the animal its name. He pictured each of the others that he had met and put a name to each. Murdock then pictured this animal and tried to get it across that it was a question. He got a question in response. So he tried to picture the black bear that he had seen on his second day here, then another question. Puzzlement came to his mind.

“Not have names. Identify by smell,” the bear flashed.

Not have names. Identify by smell,“Can I give you a name? It would help me communicate and differentiate you from others of your kind,” Murdock asked. “Beron seems to be a good name to me.”

The animal showed indifference to his name. “Significance?” flashed the bear.

Significance?“In one of the ancient tongues of my planet it meant ‘brown one’,” Murdock answered. Beron flashed pleasure at the meaning of the name.

“Why did you come in here tonight?” he asked. Beron flashed back puzzlement. Murdock was stumped. “Were you curious about me?”

Beron flashed an affirmative.

“Wet is fine. Dry is better,” Beron flashed.

Wet is fine. Dry is better,“Ah, I see. You’re always welcome at my fire, Beron.”

“Share?” Beron flashed.

Share?“Sure, whatever that is.” Murdock had shifted to a reclining position to stretch his legs and immediately felt as if he were asleep and dreaming.

This time, he saw from someone else’s viewpoint. He saw himself following the mountain base through the trees, and it was as if he passed himself. He saw the other Murdock go to the stream, get water, and relax in the sun. Then he watched himself get up, come toward this strange viewpoint, and take the path up the mountainside. The view changed slightly; he saw two shadows on the side of the mountain, and then the view shifted back. At the cave entrance, the other Murdock passed from his view. The dreaming Murdock seemed to go to the center of the cave and wait. Then he saw himself again.

Murdock immediately grasped the meaning. He had been led here by Beron for the purpose of this meeting. He woke immediately and propped himself up on one arm.

“Did you give me the warning by the falls?” he asked.

“We did,” Beron flashed.

We did,Murdock hadn’t figured out why Beron always referred to himself in the plural. While he was still thinking about it, Beron got down and curled up on the floor of the cave. Murdock, reclining again, fell asleep. This time, he slept without dreaming.

When he awoke, Murdock found that the fire had gone out. He intended to go find more wood, but before he could reach the cave entrance, Beron had stuck out a paw, blocking his path.

“Is something wrong?” Murdock asked.

“Meet others and eat,” Beron flashed.

Meet others and eat,“I am a little hungry,” Murdock admitted. “What others?”

Beron didn’t answer. Murdock started to gather up his weapons.

“No need those,” Beron flashed.

No need those,Murdock was reluctant.

“Trust,” Beron flashed as he got up from the floor of the cave and started toward the entrance.

Trust,Murdock complied with Beron’s request. Just outside the entrance, Beron stretched up the side of the mountain. Murdock, seeing how big he really was, felt dwarfed by Beron’s size.

“Follow!” Beron commanded, starting up the mountain path. Murdock complied but found it difficult to keep up. The grade of the path had gotten considerably steeper. Trotting, he could feel his legs were not up to the task.

Follow!Finally, he had to stop. Beron had stopped also. Murdock was panting and sweating and had difficulty catching his breath.

“Wrong?” Beron flashed.

Wrong?“I can’t… keep up… with you,” Murdock managed to get out between breaths.

Beron c****d one front leg outward. “Climb… up/on!” he flashed.

Climb… up/on!Murdock grabbed a handful of fur as high as he could and, using the offered leg as a step, scrambled up the side of the huge animal as best he could. He settled himself just forward of the animal’s shoulders, at the base of his massive neck.

Beron trotted on. As they proceeded, Murdock felt the muscles move under the heavy fur. The breeze that the speed of their passage caused chilled him a little. In his estimation, Beron was truly impressive, and Murdock felt a little sheepish having to ride atop him in this way. I should have been able to keep up, he thought.

I should have been able to keep up“Our very young travel this way, when needed,” Beron flashed.

Our very young travel this way, when needed,That made Murdock feel even worse. I feel like I’m imposing on another intelligent species and I dislike imposing on anyone, he thought.

I feel like I’m imposing on another intelligent species and I dislike imposing on anyoneHe immediately felt calm coming from Beron. “Stronger should care for weaker/smaller.”

Stronger should care for weaker/smaller.Murdock enjoyed the ride atop the huge bear. He didn’t mind being a long way off the ground; he took in all the scenery he could. He had no way to gauge how far they had come from the cave.

After moving for an indeterminate amount of time, they had reached a mountain meadow. Murdock could see that the path continued up the side of the mountain, but Beron was not going farther up. Instead, he trotted across the meadow. From his perch atop Beron, Murdock could see a river flowing off in the distance, and Beron seemed to be heading toward it.

“We will meet others here?” Murdock asked as they approached the river. He got an affirmative response from Beron.

“Sacred place!” flashed the bear.

Sacred place!To Murdock, sacred place came across as a place of meeting and safety, a place in which unescorted outsiders were not welcome. He didn’t think the animal had any religious leanings, but he couldn’t be sure.

sacred placeAs they approached the river, Beron stopped. “Get… down/off!” flashed Beron and Murdock complied.

Get… down/off!Beron continued on into the river while Murdock waited on the bank. As Murdock watched, Beron snagged a large fish in his jaws and carried it over to him. The bear deftly removed the fish’s head and sliced the skin down the length with a claw. Then Beron quickly swallowed the fish-head whole. Seeing no means of cooking the fish, Murdock bent down, took a large chunk of the raw meat, and ate it. The fish looked and tasted much like salmon, but Murdock was never one for raw fish.

Beron speared some of the meat from the side of the fish with his claw and popped it into his mouth. As Murdock was reaching for another piece, Beron stopped him with a negative thought.

“Hunter gets head, hunter’s right. One bite for hunter. One bite for visitor. Rest for others,” Beron flashed. Then Murdock caught movement out of the corner of his eye.

Hunter gets head, hunter’s right. One bite for hunter. One bite for visitor. Rest for others,Twenty or thirty other bears of all different colors and sizes were coming toward them. Black ones, white ones, brown ones, but smaller than Beron. Murdock heard not a sound as they approached, and at first, he thought he was just imagining that they were there.

As the first arrivals got closer, Beron backed away from the fish, leaving it on the ground. Murdock backed up to stand beside Beron and watch. Some of the other animals that came toward him were carrying cubs, and some had cubs following them. Each adult, in turn, approached Beron and Murdock and nodded slightly to Beron, who returned the nod. Then each adult bear took a piece of the fish and backed off to allow the others to approach. The cubs didn’t take any of the fish; Murdock presumed that they were prohibited because of their age. This seems to be heavily ritualized and speaks of a high degree of sophistication and intelligence, he thought as he watched.

This seems to be heavily ritualized and speaks of a high degree of sophistication and intelligenceWhen all who were allowed had eaten, Beron swatted the remains of the fish in the direction of the cubs. Next, the adults, in turn, and in the order of their arrival, sniffed Murdock much as Beron had in his first encounter with the human. Murdock got quick flashes of disgust from each of them.

After what Murdock interpreted as the introductions, they all sat or lay on the grass. Murdock said nothing. He sensed that his fate lay in the outcome of this meeting. He stood patiently next to Beron, watching the cubs play among themselves.

He suddenly had a vision of one of the large snakes coming after one of the cubs as a question. Murdock envisioned himself defending the cub.

Then he saw himself being violently torn apart by one of the white bears; a feeling of disgust and revulsion was directed toward him. Murdock’s attention quickly turned toward the largest white bear, which snorted in his direction and began walking off. He got similar visions from some of the others as they followed suit. Murdock guessed that the meeting was over and that he was not well-received.

“So, what is the verdict?” Murdock asked when the others had all gone as silently as they had arrived.

“Some want hunt/kill all your kind. Some want leave alone,” Beron flashed.

Some want hunt/kill all your kind. Some want leave alone,“How do you feel about it?” Murdock asked. Without further discourse, Beron had started to leave the way they had come, and he followed.

He received a feeling of uncertainty from Beron. “Is that all of your kind there are?” Murdock asked. He got a vision of many thousands of the bears, all led by one of their own kind. “So, that was just a meeting of the leaders?” He received an affirmative response. Both walked in silence until they had reached the path they had come by.

“Is forbidden you, or any you kind, come beyond point/here! Only you allowed come onto mountain!” Beron flashed. Very deep cautions and warnings were embedded in the message, and Murdock got the vision of being torn apart, which he interpreted as a possible repercussion of any violation.

Is forbidden you, or any you kind, come beyond point/here! Only you allowed come onto mountain!“You are correct not to trust my kind,” Murdock stated. “On our own planet, my kind had eradicated a lot of the species that once inhabited it; cruelly and without mercy, for the most part.”

“Why?” The flash was tinged with distress.

Why?“Most of the time, it was for money or sport.” Murdock could feel the high degree of distress in Beron as they walked back down the mountain path toward the cave. He understood that Beron didn’t understand sport or money, but didn’t know how to explain these concepts. Personally, he had always felt that hunting for sport was akin to murder. He knew many so-called hunters who would kill deer or elk, take the head as a trophy, and leave the rest.

sportmoneyhunting for sportMurdock, however, hunted to survive. The thrill others got from sport hunting was foreign and disgusting to him. He always felt remorse when taking an animal — with the exception of those that attacked him first, such as the snake by the transport pod. A sense of understanding and sadness came from Beron as these thoughts ran through his mind.

“You stay/live here? You guard/protect path to sacred place?” Beron flashed as they reached the cave entrance.

You stay/live here? You guard/protect path to sacred place?“Am I allowed to? I would like to stay here, live here. I would like to learn more about you and your kind,” Murdock responded, stopping at the cave entrance. Beron responded with feelings of pleasure.

“We observe and share more in coming days,” the bear flashed as he left Murdock, continuing on down the mountain path.

We observe and share more in coming days,Murdock went inside the cave and gathered up his gear. As he did so, he felt an uncomfortable bulge in his pocket. The salt. I’d forgotten I had it. I wonder if I could barter salt for the use of some of the tools, he thought.

The salt. I’d forgotten I had it. I wonder if I could barter salt for the use of some of the toolsAs he left the cave, Murdock turned down the mountain path. While he traveled down the path, he thought Beron’s character was much like his father’s and his uncle’s. Beron seemed to think much the same way as he did about certain subjects. Murdock hoped he’d found a friend in Beron, which was strange for him. He didn’t make friends easily, nor did he desire them. For him, friendship required a lot of trust and understanding. Doing things for one another because you wanted to, not from any sense of repayment for previous good deeds or help rendered.

As far as a friendship with Beron went, that remained to be seen. Beron would be a powerful ally or a formidable enemy. I hope I can learn enough about his kind to not find out how formidable he can be, he thought. I’m not sure he understands my motives, though, and I don’t know what rules or restrictions he is bound by. Hopefully, I can survive long enough to learn. I certainly don’t want to offend him.

Beron would be a powerful ally or a formidable enemy. I hope I can learn enough about his kind to not find out how formidable he can beI’m not sure he understands my motives, though, and I don’t know what rules or restrictions he is bound by. Hopefully, I can survive long enough to learn. I certainly don’t want to offend him.After walking for the majority of the day through rolling hills, Murdock heard talking. Even though he saw no one, he proceeded cautiously. He was hidden by the trees and by a small hill. As he topped the hill, he made out people walking through the trees ahead of him. Murdock crouched down and moved ahead as stealthily as he could.

He saw three of the women coming from the transport pod, each with two water skins. He recognized only one — Rose Griffen.

Murdock crept into position to stop her on her return. He checked the area and detected no one else around.

“Hello, Rose,” Murdock said softly as she came toward him. She hadn’t seen him until he spoke. Her shock was evident in a deep breath she took as she tried to back away from him quickly.

“Goddamn it, Murdock,” she said tersely, breathlessly. “Do you have to sneak up on a girl that way? You scared me out of ten years’ growth!”

“Sorry, didn’t want the others to know I was here.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! You just about made me pee my pants! What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I just wanted to talk. I have a business deal for Whittier, but I’m not the one to propose it to him directly. How are things going?”

“About as well as could be expected. Whittier has set himself up as Lord and Master over the rest of us. Burns and Metzger are his muscle. What did you do to Collier?”

“I just tried to put the fear of God into him. Why?” Murdock asked.

“Well, it worked! He hasn’t slept well since Whittier, Burns, and Metzger rescued him from you.”

“Really? Do tell!”

“According to Whittier, you were about to behead Collier when he, Burns, and Metzger came to the rescue,” Rose said. “Whittier said they scared you off and you ran into the woods.”

“What do you believe?” Murdock asked her.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t there, and no one who was has disputed Whittier’s version. What business deal do you want to talk to Whittier about?” she went on.

Murdock reached into his pocket and handed her some of the salt. Rose looked at it and shrugged. “What’s this?” she asked.

“Taste it,” Murdock suggested. As she took one of the smaller pieces and touched her tongue to it, her eyes widened with surprise.

“Well, some of us would be interested! The oatmeal has tasted pretty bland of late, but I don’t see any use in salt except as a seasoning,” Rose stated flatly.

“We all need some salt in our diet,” Murdock said matter-of-factly. “Besides its use as a seasoning, it is used as a food preservative and in tanning hides.”

“And… we need it why?” Rose asked skeptically.

“Do you think it’s going to be summer here all the time? When winter comes, some of you are going to get pretty cold, considering what the colonists were wearing the last time I was here.”

“I still don’t understand what you want me to do.”

“If I can get one of the pickaxes and a small tarp, I can get you enough salt to begin tanning some hides for clothing.”

“I don’t think Whittier will go for it. He has a real dislike for you. You could give him a mountain of the stuff, and he still wouldn’t go for a deal. Not with you, anyway.”

“That’s where you come in.”

“I’ll deliver the message, but don’t hold your breath. How do we contact you, assuming he wants to talk?”

“I’ll be around this area for a while. Just go to the stream and yell for me.”

“Okay,” she said, walking off toward the transport pod.

When Rose was out of sight, Murdock crossed back over the stream. He speared a fish, cooked it, and ate his fill. After he had eaten, he heard voices over by the stream.

“Murdock!” That was Whittier calling for him. Murdock headed in the direction of the voice. When he reached the stream, he saw Whittier, Rose, and Burns standing on the other side.

“I’m here, Whittier,” Murdock said, showing only his head and shoulders. Grass and small trees hid his lower half.

“I have a counter-proposal for you!” Whittier yelled. “Why don’t you just show us where you got the salt, and we’ll do the work for you?”

“Can’t do that,” Murdock responded.

“No deal? No room for negotiation?”

“None!”

“How about you supply us with a couple of tanned hides and some meat?” Whittier countered. “Say, two hides and a deer butchered. We would pay you with the use of a tarp and pickax.”

As Murdock pondered that proposition, he heard someone behind him, getting closer.

“Let me think about it,” Murdock said as he drew his twelve-inch machete. “How about one hide and half a deer?” He readied himself. The noise was a lot closer, and whoever it was would be striking soon.

“I have to get two hides and a whole deer. The tarp and pickax are worth that much, at least!” Whittier called back.

Just then, the attack from behind came. Murdock just managed to sidestep the downward s***h of a machete held by Metzger. The machete stuck into the ground as Murdock made a quick little slice across the top of Metzger’s wrist. The other man yelled and grabbed his wrist as Murdock got behind him and shoved him with his shoulder. Metzger stumbled forward and fell face first into the stream. When Murdock looked up at Whittier, he saw that Whittier had grabbed Rose by the hair and was holding his own twelve-inch machete at her throat.

“You’re a real class act, Whittier,” Murdock yelled.

“Just doing my civic duty,” Whittier responded with a wry grin. “Now, suppose you come over here and surrender to Burns and Metzger.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Well, maybe your little girlfriend, here, won’t be quite so pretty the next time you see her!” Whittier drew the machete a little way across Rose’s throat. Murdock could see a thin line of blood start to flow from the small cut. Rose’s eyes got big, as the shock of what was happening hit her.

Murdock laughed aloud.

“I fail to see anything funny in this situation,” Whittier yelled, frowning.

“You won’t kill her, Whittier,” Murdock called back.

“And how did you come to that conclusion?”

“Several factors. Only one of which is the fact that, if you do, she won’t be able to carry any more water. Besides, it isn’t your style,” Murdock taunted. “You would rather have one of your goons over there do it for you. Too much like work and too messy for you!”

Murdock had noticed Burns and Metzger looking nervously toward Whittier. Metzger was still holding his wrist, which was still bleeding. “Why don’t you come over here, Whittier?” he continued. “We can settle this like men!” He paused. “Well, one of us is a man, anyway.”

“I’m warning you, Murdock — don’t test me!”

“I’m way over here, Whittier. What can I do to stop you? Keep in mind, though, that if you kill her, I’ll be hunting you and those two slugs over there. You won’t see me or hear me until it’s too late. I can guarantee you one thing, though.”

“And that would be?” Whittier asked haughtily.

“I can guarantee your death will be a slow and painful one! So, if you’re going to kill her, do it and get it over with!”

Whittier’s thoughts were plain on his face for all to read. Then the other man relaxed his knife hand, and Rose pushed it away. She knelt at the stream and splashed the cut with water.

“You stupid asshole,” she screamed at Whittier as she dipped water onto the cut. “You have a problem with Murdock, take it up with him! Leave me out of it!” Rose put more of the cold water on her neck.

Whittier, Burns, and Metzger were turning to leave. Murdock bent down and picked up Metzger’s machete.

“Hey, Whittier, you forgot something,” he yelled at the retreating Whittier. Whittier turned just in time to see the machete heading for his chest and leaned back. The sharp edge drew a neat line across his chest as the machete stuck in a tree just past him.

“You see that! He tried to kill me,” Whittier screamed to the other two men.

“If I wanted to kill you, Whittier, you’d be dead,” Murdock stated coldly.

Metzger walked over to the machete stuck in the tree and pulled it out. All three men turned their back to Murdock and walked off in the direction of the transport pod. Rose followed close behind them.

Murdock waited until the area was clear before turning his back on them and returning to his fire. He sat by the fire for an hour or so before finally deciding to take what he needed. I offered to barter, but they obviously didn’t think I had anything to barter with, he thought. Besides that, I have a right to at least use some of the tools. I’m part of the colony, even if Whittier doesn’t like it.

I offered to barter, but they obviously didn’t think I had anything to barter withBesides that, I have a right to at least use some of the tools. I’m part of the colony, even if Whittier doesn’t like it.Whittier, Metzger, Burns, and Rose walked quietly back to the transport pod. Whittier was livid and his mind continued to scheme. I have to turn this around, he thought. Murdock’s earlier escape into the wild had been a major disappointment, but Whittier had managed to turn it around to his advantage. He had made Murdock an unacceptable alternative to his rule, but this was not the same.

I have to turn this aroundRose’s presence complicated things. Whittier controlled Burns and Metzger and knew they didn’t dare dispute his version of the facts. But what was he going to do with Rose? She and Metzger had begun a relationship, but Whittier doubted that Metzger could control her. He doubted anyone could.

Burns was fearful of Whittier and his further loss of status and fearful of Murdock and his threat. He knew Murdock meant exactly what he said and was skeptical of his survival chances if Murdock decided to make good on it. Burns also knew that if he were banished, he’d have nowhere to go. He could survive inside a city, but not out here.

Metzger was in pain. His wrist hurt from the slice Murdock had given him, and his pride was hurt. He didn’t care much for Whittier or Burns, and he didn’t care if he lost his position with either man. Whittier could do his own dirty work if he didn’t like the results. Murdock had proven, once again, that his skills were superior.

Metzger had figured the chances of their ambush succeeding were low. He’d told them as much. And he wasn’t bothered by Whittier’s threat to Rose. Metzger knew Whittier didn’t have what it took to take a life himself.

“When we’re back at the pod,” Whittier began angrily, “we need to have a meeting of the minds. Go straight into the pod, and say nothing to anyone. That means you, too, Rose!”

When they were close to the camp, Burns trotted ahead to eject anyone who might be in the pod. He knew Whittier well enough to pick up on what the man wanted.

After the three men and Rose were inside the pod, Burns closed the ramp.

“That went well,” Whittier said sarcastically, exhaling heavily. He sat in the only chair, glaring at everyone.

“We did exactly as you told us,” Burns pleaded.

“I told you it wouldn’t work,” Metzger accused. “Only an utter fool would have fallen for that little ambush. Murdock never struck me as a fool.” Metzger glared back at Whittier.

“Murdock was correct about needing the salt. So, what do we do now? Do any of you have any helpful suggestions?” Whittier asked.

Rose looked sideways at Whittier, glaring, arms crossed.

“You have something to say?” Whittier asked, glaring back at her.

“You threaten me with a knife again, you better make it good,” she warned.

“I said helpful suggestions. Denigrations or idle threats aren’t helpful.” Whittier scowled.

helpful suggestions“We could let him borrow what he wants,” Burns stated, rather fearfully. “It didn’t seem to be an unreasonable request.”

Whittier slowly turned his attention from Rose to Burns.

“So, you’re saying that we should trust him? What makes him so trustworthy?” Whittier asked.

He waited for a response.

“All we get from him are threats and insubordination,” he continued when no one spoke up.

And then Whittier got an idea.

“I think you could be right, Burns,” he mused after a long pause. “I don’t see that we have a lot of choices. He could just walk into the camp and take whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Who could stop him?” Whittier looked from one to another slowly. “Since we have a tentative plan, we can at least continue talking to Murdock about it. I would keep this to ourselves until we can get things ironed out. I see no need to unnecessarily alarm the rest. Agreed?”

Everyone nodded agreement. “Rose,” he went on, “I need to talk to these two about other matters. We all will leave shortly to continue the negotiations, and I want you to do the negotiating. Close the ramp on your way out, please.”

Rose left and closed the ramp behind her.

“Do you have any special attachments for that one, Metzger?” Whittier asked after Rose left the pod.

“Nothing permanent, not that it’s any of your business,” Metzger said defiantly as he shrugged. “Why do you ask?”

“She’s going to be a major problem. I thought of a way to turn this around to our advantage, but it means that we all have to be of the same mind on the matter,” Whittier stated. “I know where Burns’ loyalties lie. I am not so sure of yours.” Whittier squinted skeptically at Metzger.

“What do you have in mind?” Metzger asked.

“Does it matter? I want to know if I can count on you.” Whittier asked.

Metzger thought.

“Let me put it another way, Metzger,” Whittier continued. “You don’t back me, then you’re of no use to me for anything. No special favors. You’ll be treated just the same as the rest. Or back me and be one of the elite, if things go as I want them to. But if I can’t trust you, you’ll be neutralized.”

neutralized“Is that supposed to intimidate me?” Metzger asked boldly.

“Not at all. I’m relatively certain I can find someone to replace you. You’re dismissed.” Whittier turned to Burns. “Burns, find me a replacement for Metzger.”

Metzger didn’t move.

Whittier could see the thoughts running furiously through Metzger’s head reflected on his face. Good! He is balancing his ambition with his morals, Whittier thought. Burns stood still watching both men. After a short while, Burns activated the ramp.

Good!He is balancing his ambition with his morals“I won’t be a party to murder,” Metzger said through clenched teeth.

“What would you call what you attempted with Murdock?” Whittier asked. “It wasn’t self-defense!”

“I mean, I won’t murder Rose,” Metzger clarified.

“Who asked you to?” Whittier asked. “I understand that there are some lines you won’t cross. No problem. I respect that!” Sort of, he thought.

Sort of, “All right, I’ll back you,” Metzger said, angry at his capitulation.

“Good! You and Burns go get Miss Rose and a couple of filled water skins,” Whittier ordered. “With any luck, we can make contact with Murdock again before dark.”

As he studied the encampment around the transport pod, Murdock noticed that very little had been done to secure the tools and equipment. It was as if he had never left. He saw the rest of the group milling around, talking or lounging on the grass. Just past them, he could see the site of his old campfire, where he cooked the snake he had killed. The remains of the snake still hung in the tree.

But as he waited for dark to fall, his conscience began to bother him. I can’t do this! There is no justification for stealing, he castigated himself. Stealthily, he retraced his steps, careful to be unseen by the others.

I can’t do this! There is no justification for stealingWhen he was far enough away from the transport pod, he traveled faster. Not long afterward, he crossed the stream and headed for home. But fatigue stopped him when he had traveled only a little over a mile from the stream crossing. He would have to spend the night there.

As the four walked back toward the stream, Metzger led, and Rose walked behind him. Whittier fell in behind Rose, and Burns brought up the rear. After they were out of sight and hearing of the pod, Whittier bent down quickly and picked up a rather large rock. As the rest walked, Whittier, making sure Rose didn’t see or hear him, rushed forward and struck her in the head with the rock. Rose hit the ground hard, face first.

“What the hell did you do that for?” Metzger asked excitedly. Blood oozed from the side of Rose’s head.

“Don’t act so surprised,” Whittier responded sternly. “You knew what was going to happen. You two pick her up and carry her across the stream.”

Burns and Metzger carried Rose while Whittier guided them across the stream.

“Stand her up,” Whittier commanded when they had reached a likely spot, out of sight of the stream crossing.

With Burns and Metzger holding Rose up, her head lolling forward and to the side, Whittier unbuttoned her shirt and removed it.

“What the hell are you doing?” Metzger asked, full of concern for Rose.

“What do you care?” Whittier asked. “She is nothing to you, remember? Burns, throw a rope up there. I want her standing up somewhat.”

Burns did as he was told, tying and hanging Rose, still unconscious and topless, by her arms, her feet barely touching the ground.

Murdock made camp and got a small fire going. Then he sat looking into the flames. He could not reconcile what he should do with what he knew to be right. After a while, he threw the last piece of wood on the fire, frustrated by his moral dilemma.

“Aw, hell!” he said aloud as he settled in for the night. His mind had turned back to Beron and the ritual he had attended earlier in the day. In a way, I felt privileged to attend the meeting with Beron by my side. I’m sure that not many strangers had ever attended a similar meeting. But then, maybe it is commonplace for them, but that’s of no consequence to me, I still feel honored. These thoughts pleased him as he drifted off to sleep.

In a way, I felt privileged to attend the meeting with Beron by my side. I’m sure that not many strangers had ever attended a similar meeting. But then, maybe it is commonplace for them, but that’s of no consequence to me, I still feel honored.Murdock suddenly woke. He thought he’d heard someone scream, but he couldn’t be sure it was real or just a dream. Checking the fire, he guessed he had been asleep for only a few hours. He stirred the embers of the fire with a stick, making it a point to be quiet.

Then he heard it again. A definite scream — and he knew from experience that only a human could scream that way. Someone was in a lot of pain.

He started to trot toward the sound, which came from his side of the stream; that much he was sure of. As he moved, trying to watch his steps and be as quiet as he could, he heard another scream. This time the scream was closer — a lot closer. Murdock trotted on.

When he reached the stream crossing — the spot at which he had confronted Whittier and company earlier — the screams had stopped. He could hear something, though. It sounded like dripping, but no rain fell. No, the dripping sound wasn’t water. It dripped too thickly, too much like syrup, to be water. And he smelled blood in the air.

Murdock followed his nose. Soon he found a limp body tied to the side of a tree. His hands moved quickly over the body, checking for breathing and trying to find a pulse. The breathing was very shallow, and the pulse he found was weak. His hand brushed against a bare breast. This is one of the women, he thought. His hands were covered in something sticky, and he knew it was blood without needing to see it.

This is one of the women, As quickly as he could, Murdock felt around the woman’s extremities, trying to locate the points that secured her to the tree. Failing, he got a fire going nearby. He needed to see to assess the damage done, as well as how she was secured.

Murdock took in a shocked breath in the firelight. There was Rose Griffen, tied to the tree. She was totally naked, bleeding badly, unconscious, but still alive.