Chapter  17

Reunion

Troy Roarke stood between the two shuttlecraft which had landed on a plateau in the Golden Mountains.  Roarke wondered how much longer they could remain on the plateau before the Tragadomians found them once again.  Several members of the crew had been captured or killed during the previous Tragadomian attack.  Roarke was concerned that the attacks would continue.  As the Tragadomians chased them all over the planet, each subsequent attack would further reduce the size of the shuttle crew until no one remained.

Immediately after they had landed on the plateau, Roarke had ordered a roll call of crew members.  The roll call revealed that nine were missing.  Because of the frantic rush to escape the Tragadomian flying platforms, it was unknown which of the missing nine had been captured and which had been killed.

Even before the roll call was taken, Roarke had realized that Landen and Triamber were missing.  Roarke was distressed by the loss and ardently hoped that the two men were still alive.

Roarke knew that he had to locate Morley and the Emerald Warrior crew as soon as possible.  The Tragadomians had successfully divided their enemies and would conquer them unless their enemies managed to unite.

Roarke dispatched scouts in all directions.  To the west, he sent Linus Donovan.  Donovan had often taken long walking tours in Ireland and was accustomed to the type of terrain found west of the mountains.

To the north, Roarke sent Nat Kurre, and to the south, he sent Rich Adams.  The two security guards were experienced mountaineers.  While on earth, they had occasionally gone mountain climbing together in the Rocky Mountains.  The Golden Mountains were a smaller range that would pose few difficulties for the men as they explored the northern and southern peaks.

To the east, Roarke sent Rugert.  While in the shuttlecraft that Rugert had flown toward the Golden Mountains, they had observed large factories.  Rugert explained to Roarke that those were the factories in which he and his engineers had once worked.  Because Rugert was familiar with the area around the factories and could communicate with the Noelmians who worked there, Roarke gave the Noelmian engineer permission to scout the area.

All four scouts wore backpacks filled with enough food and water to last for several days.  Each man also carried a communication device and a laser pistol.

Late in the morning, Landen was awakened by a honking sound.  He opened his eyes to see two baby geese waddling around the room, honking merrily.  Francis was not in the cottage.

Landen walked over to the window and the geese followed him.  He did not see Francis outside.  As he headed for the door, the geese still followed.  Landen laughed when they came outside with him, tagging at his heels.

Once outside, Landen spotted Francis in the flower garden on the south side of the cottage.  Several rabbits were gathered around him.  A variety of birds circled overhead.  One bluebird had found a perch on his shoulder.

As he came nearer, Landen observed that Francis was feeding the animals with small pieces of bread and cheese.

"These animals certainly trust you," Landen said.  "A rabbit has never allowed me to get so close."

"They are comfortable around me," Francis said, picking up a rabbit and cradling her in his elbow.  "Peter would like to hold you, little rabbit.  Do not run away from him."

Landen stared in amazement at Francis.  The man had spoken aloud in English; he had not used telepathic speech.

"How do you know English?" Landen asked.

"I speak many languages," Francis said.  He handed the rabbit to Landen.  "It would have been a deception for me to continue to communicate with you through telepathic means.  I did not want to shock you earlier by speaking in English, but you are strong enough now to know the truth.  I am originally from earth.  I came here in order to set right the havoc caused by Haden. The moment that Haden corrupted the gentle, little Trag lizard, it was destined that one day it would be necessary for me to leave the Blessed Realm and reside here for a while.  Haden is a renegade from the Blessed Realm."

Landen was overwhelmed by the revelation. "Do you have the power to stand against  Haden?" Landen asked.

"No.  I am merely a man like yourself.  If Haden must be destroyed, we are not the ones who will do it.  There is still hope for Haden, though.  Unlike the Evil One, Haden has not abandoned himself to the void.  There remains goodness within Haden."

"But not within the witch-captain," Landen said.  "We must free Haden from the influence of that fiend."

Francis nodded.  "The witch-captain jealously controls all access to Haden.  The door to the inner sanctum is guarded carefully by Adrian Baalson."

"We must break through his guard," Landen said.  "It is time that I go to the shuttlecraft in the mountains so that we can organize an attack on the Crystal Palace.  I should leave immediately."

"Not yet," Francis said.  "Troy Roarke has sent a scout in our direction.  The young man will be arriving at this cottage in about two hours.  You should wait here for him."

"All right."

"You must be hungry," Francis said, walking along the path leading to the cottage.  "I'll fix you some vegetable soup."

Landen set down the rabbit.  The two men returned to the cottage.  Having spotted their mother, the geese no longer followed Landen.

Francis prepared a tasty soup that he served with bread and cold milk.  Soon after Landen finished the meal, Francis beckoned him to the window.

"Come here, Peter.  Your friend has arrived."

Landen looked out the window to see Linus Donovan

approaching the cottage.  Francis and Landen went outside to greet the Irish pilot.

Seeing two men emerge from the cottage, Donovan stopped on the pathway.  He looked with amazement at Landen.

"Mr. Landen!" Donovan exclaimed.  "What are you doing here?  We thought that the Tragadomians had captured you."

Landen and Francis came forward to welcome Donovan.

"I have a lot to tell you, Linus," Landen said, giving Donovan a vigorous handshake."First allow me to introduce the man who saved my life.  Linus, this is Francis, the shepherd who cares for the animals and lands in this region west of the mountains.  He is also an accomplished philologist.  He has studied the languages of earth, and his English is quite good."  Landen grinned at Francis. "Francis, this is Lieutenant Linus Donovan, the fine shuttle pilot who brought Triamber and me down to the surface."

"Linus also consecrated this planet to the Lord of Light," Francis said as he shook hands with Donovan.

Donovan's eyes widened.  "You know about that?"

"Many witnessed your act of faith.  It was an act that heralded victory for some and defeat for others.  One day in the near future, you will again see the flag that you created. Henceforth, in the chronicles of Noelm, you will be known as Linus the Consecrator."

The three men went into the cottage.  Francis provided Donovan with food and drink while Landen related all that had happened since their separation.

Later that day the men began their long trek into the mountains.  Francis had arranged for two of his Noelmian assistants to care for the animals who lived near his cottage.

Rugert was in a happy mood when he returned from his scouting expedition to the east.  He had located the Emerald Warrior crew in the work camps and established contact with them.

Adams and Kurre also returned from their scouting expeditions.  Kurre had found nothing in the north, but Adams had located a community consisting of almost a hundred runaway Noelmians who lived hidden in the southern ranges. These Noelmians agreed to help the humans in the upcoming battle.  Messengers were sent to the other hidden Noelmian communities and down into the towns of that region.

Troy Roarke was delighted when Donovan returned with the two men whom he had found.  The tall first officer rushed forward to clasp the hands of each man.

"Good work, Linus," Roarke congratulated Donovan on the successful scouting expedition.  Roarke turned to Landen.  "I can't adequately express how happy I am to see you again, Mr. Landen.  But where is Triamber?"

"Triamber has successfully completed his mortal life," Landen said.  "He now dwells in the Blessed Realm.  Triamber was killed yesterday by the witch-captain."

Roarke's face fell.  "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Landen said.  "Triamber won."  Landen proceeded to tell Roarke the story that he had told Donovan earlier that day.

"Triamber died a hero," Roarke said.  "I'm certain that you will spread his story throughout Noelm.  You are now the Loremaster of Noelm,  Mr. Landen.  Triamber chose you to be his successor.  I hope that someday you will be able to tell the children of Noelm about the triumphant battle to capture the Crystal Palace."

"When does the attack begin?" Landen asked.

"Probably tomorrow," Roarke said.  "I'd like more time to formulate battle strategy, but we have to strike before the witch-captain learns of our plans.  Captain Morley will give us the signal to begin the attack.  We are using a military code to communicate with Captain Morley.  I write out the message in code.  Then Rugert uses telepathy to transmit the message to Noelmians in the work camp.  We reverse the process when Captain Morley wants to communicate with our mountain base.  By using this procedure, we don't have to worry about the witch-captain intercepting our telepathic messages.  He wouldn't be able to crack the code."

"It's a good procedure," Landen said.

Donovan and Francis readily agreed.

Click here to read Chapter 18 -- A Matter of Honor

This page was last updated: May 8, 2009