Infinite Day (82 page)

And in every area of that interior world, Merral continued to find himself troubled by Luke's death. Grief, anguish, confusion, skepticism, and anger were intertwined and conflicted with each other. In this mood, Merral found that their final destination became attractive.
I need to get to Earth. I am clinging to life, to faith, to hope by my fingertips. Once I get there, I can let go.

Finally, though, it was time for the
Sacrifice
to emerge from the dead lands of Below-Space. This time, they were extraordinarily careful. The ship was put into low-noise mode and gently maneuvered upward until the surveillance probe was released. Then, as the Jigralt system was thoroughly scanned, Betafor was encouraged to listen on every waveband for any hint of a lurking Dominion presence. Yet after several hours, they had heard and seen nothing to alarm them. Three Assembly military ships were orbiting near the Gate, all on high alert, and all the signals from the green-blue disk of Jigralt itself indicated a world with a normal, if tense, Assembly society. Finally, after consultation with almost everybody, Merral sent a message to what appeared to be the coordinating and command vessel.

“This is the Assembly vessel
Sacrifice
, under the command of Merral D'Avanos of Farholme. Our ship is a liberated Dominion vessel. We now need urgent passage for people and a data package to Earth through the Gate.”

The answer came back as quickly as the distance between the vessels would allow.

“This is Captain Khiroz from Assembly vessel
Hope of Glory.
” The image on screen was that of a stern woman with tied-back blonde hair. “Reports of the battle at Bannermene have reached us. Were you there?”

“Yes, we were present at Bannermene, where we destroyed four enemy vessels.”

The captain replied, “We need to establish your credentials. Please surface without any of your weaponry armed and approach to the following coordinates.”

“Thank you, Captain Khiroz. We will do as you say.”

The transmission ended, but Merral froze the screen image and stared at it. Something about the captain was cold and severe. She was meticulously dressed, and the sharp creases in her uniform seemed freshly pressed. Something—a badge of some sort—glinted in her left lapel. But there had been no hostility, and Merral's hopes of seeing Earth within hours rose. He gave orders for the
Sacrifice
to surface.

Ten minutes later he was tapped on the shoulder. It was one of the crew, who gestured him to the rear of the bridge, murmuring, “Jorgio would like to have a word with you.” There, in the doorway, stood the tilted figure of the gardener.

“Mister Merral,” Jorgio said in a rough whisper. “I've come to say as I really don't like that ship you were talking to.”

Merral felt exasperation.
That's all I need, just when an open Gate is in sight and when Earth is barely a day away.

“Can you be specific?”

The strange face twisted in thought. “No, I don't reckon as I can. I just think as there's something there as shouldn't be there.”

Merral felt himself struggling with Jorgio's hunch. In one part of his mind he wanted simply to proceed, while in another, he realized that too much was at stake.
I learned a hard lesson at Bannermene
.

“Thank you, Jorgio. Let me know if you have anything more precise. I'll run some checks.”

As the old man lurched away, Merral walked over to Betafor. “That old and very reliable friend of ours doesn't like that ship. Scan everything you can, please. I want to know of anything—absolutely
anything
—that doesn't add up.”

Then he went over to Vero. “Jorgio has a bad feeling about that ship. But he can't be more specific. What do you think?”

Vero looked troubled. “Ah. Well, there's something rather cold about the captain. She gave no first name, for a start. But I just talked with Helga. They are tracking us with weapons—as you would—but there's no sign of anything more aggressive. Look, why don't you try to engage her in conversation? I'll listen in.”

“Good idea.”

Merral went back to his chair and called up the
Hope of Glory
again. “Captain Khiroz, can you tell us how things are on Earth? We have had no news since the Farholme Gate was destroyed. For instance, can you tell us whether a ship made it from Farholme?”

“Yes, two months ago, bearing the lord-prebendant.”

“The
who
?”

The mouth flickered. “I meant to say the
Lord's
prebendant.”

On the edge of his line of sight, Merral saw Betafor wagging a finger in a most negative manner.
The captain
said—and meant—“the lord-prebendant.”

They continued talking, and Merral outlined a little about what had happened on the journey to and from Sarata. As he did, he saw how the captain listened and nodded. Yet he felt she showed a strange absence of empathy with a tale that must surely have been remarkable.
Is she really listening?

After he had ended his account, Merral asked the captain, “Have you been here a long time?”

“Yes,” she said, her eyes tracking something offscreen. “The ship's been here three weeks.” A moment later, she said, “My apologies, Commander D'Avanos, I have some work to do. However, you are cleared for docking with us.”

The screen went blank.

Betafor spoke. “Commander, there are inconsistencies in her statement. Remember that I used to be responsible for stopping and searching vessels? There is residual Cherenkov radiation on the hull. This suggests they have been through the Gate within the last five days.”

“Thank you, Betafor. Thank you very much. You have confirmed a suspicion. How long to docking, Laura?”

“Twenty minutes.”

Merral beckoned Vero away, then went and stood in the corridor outside the bridge.

“Vero, I'm persuaded that something is wrong. I am haunted, too, by the envoy's comment that evil was spreading in the Assembly.”

“Hmm. ‘Step into my parlor, said the spider to the fly.' It's an old rhyme. I heard the ‘lord-prebendant' slip too. I don't like it. Is
he
running the show?”

“I hope not. But we have to make a decision.
Now.
The Dominion may be close behind. And we need to get to Earth.”

Vero made no answer.

He wouldn't; it's my decision
.
And it's a decision that I feel I am in no state to make.
Even so, Merral sensed he had made a choice. “I suggest that I go on my own with a copy of the data package.”
Am I being brave, or have I simply become fatalistic?

“Suppose it
is
a trap. We'll lose you.”

“Vero, I think I am now more a liability than an asset.” The way his words were hued with despair caught him by surprise.

Vero gave him a gaze in which sympathy and reproof were mixed. “That is untrue. You're in a hole, and you need to get out.”

“Easier said than done. It all feels very dark with me.”

“Your friends are praying that dawn will break.”

“Good. But do you disagree with my choice?”

“Perhaps. But we may be in even more trouble if it is a trap and we have the
Sacrifice
locked onto their ship.”

“True. I think I will call Captain Khiroz and say that we are reluctant to dock the whole ship. It's too big, Laura's inexperienced in docking, we are unsure about the docking mechanism . . . some sort of excuse. I'll go over in one of our ferry craft. I'll take a short-range alarm of some sort. Then if it
is
a trap, Laura can pull away, and you can all dive into Below-Space.”

“Are you sure you should go on your own?”

“Yes.” He heard the desolation in his voice. “We won't tell them who is on the shuttle. Lloyd will want to come with me, but I think I'll leave him behind. No sense in risking a good fighting man.”

“Then, my friend,
I
will come with you. Two sets of eyes are better than one.”

“
No
.”

Vero raised his hand in protest. “Try to stop me. Our fates have been bound together for a year. They can be linked a little longer.” The determination in Vero's tone was so strong that Merral yielded. “Very well. I would value your company.”

Merral called Captain Khiroz and rearranged the docking arrangements. Any lingering doubts that there might not be anything wrong were removed by her disapproval over the change in plans and her insistence that he bring over everything—and everyone—that he wanted to take to Earth.

Feeling resigned to what was about to happen, Merral then sought out Jorgio. The man was in his room sitting on his bed.

“Old friend,” Merral began, “there may be a hitch. Vero and I are going over first.”

The thick lips pouted. “But you're not in the right mood. You are like a lump of wood.”

That's a good description
. “I can do what I have to do. But I would value your prayers.”

“
Tut
, best thing as I can pray is that
you'll
pray.”

“I am finding that very hard. But look, if it doesn't work out, make sure you get to Earth.”

“I think as I will. In the end.” And he gave Merral a clumsy hug.

Merral found Anya in her room as well. The conversation between them did not go well. Her eyes told him that she feared for his safety, but neither he nor she seemed able to say anything meaningful.
A
dialogue between a piece of wood and a rock.

“It's all wrong,” he said. “But I need to take the risk.”

“I'm sorry.”

They clasped hands, and he left.

Then, after a short conversation with Laura about the strategy for any sudden departure, Merral headed down to the shuttle bay with Vero. There he said farewell to Lloyd, whose face depicted utter frustration.

“It's probably going to be okay, Lloyd; we may be sending for you to come over in half an hour.” Merral lowered his voice. “But if it isn't, then help Laura get this ship out and head on to Earth. It—and Jorgio—need delivering safely.”

“Nothing better go wrong, sir. I'm not sure I can bring myself to leave you behind.”

“In which case, Sergeant, you would be disobeying orders.”

It was only a ten-minute journey across to the
Hope of Glory,
but it took another five minutes before a secure docking could be achieved.

“Ready?” Merral said to Vero as they stood before the door waiting for the pressure to equalize.

“Yes, my friend. For whatever lies before us.”

“Vero, I just want to get to Earth.”

“I know. But the road set before us is not always straight.”

As the door began to open, Merral put his hand into his pocket and touched the small transmitting switch he had acquired.