The 13th Star: An Action Adventure Sci-F Apocalyptic Novel (18 page)

His words to her echoed in his head. He’d wanted to write only a few words before he went off to battle, but the words burst
from him. He remembered every word he wrote:

My Tamar, I’m leaving you and going into
battle. Suddenly I realize that for me you’re the quiet, the
reconciliation, and the love, and from you I have to leave for war.
My Tamar, the love of my heart, I don’t know what will happen. I
just know what you’re for me now and what you’ll be for me as long
as I live. You, who showed me the path to happiness and joy—there’s
no one better. There’s no one besides you who can fill my heart
with so much goodness and a boundless horizon.

My Tamar, I leave you to fight and hope
I’ll find the way back. You came to me late, but you compensated me
for every moment you weren’t with me. I cannot stay with you,
although that’s all I want. I have to fight, among other things,
for the right to return home to you. I don’t know if I will return;
I don’t know what will happen. But when you’re inside me—in my
heart, in my soul—everything’s much easier. Everything becomes
simpler. Everything becomes for you.

Yes, my dear, even this war is for you.
To allow you life even if I die. This may be a great sacrifice, but
I have no life without you. And I will not stop fighting for
that.

My Tamar, I leave you today, but already
think of the day of our next meeting. You’ll be in the kitchen and
I will surprise you. I’ll pick a flower from the beds in our yard
and put it in your hair. Yes, Tamar, that’s how I will remember you
until the next time we meet.

There are not many words to describe how
much I love you.

Pray I come back to you, because this is
my prayer. They say the good Lord hears the prayer of lovers.
Mattoui.

He remembered it verbatim and tears came to his eyes. He didn’t notice events around him and woke as if from a dream into
a circle of weapons directed at him.

“What’s going on here?” he asked, receiving a punch in his face as a reply.

“I knew you would return, but I didn’t think it would be so fast,” said Zoron. “You’re not too smart, and I understand that
every time anew.” He laughed out loud. “If you’re here, all the rest will come soon.”

He punched Mattoui’s aching face again, who fell to his feet because of the violence. Mattoui was surrounded by dozens of
soldiers. A military Kaiser hovered overhead bearing Coldor’s insignia—his personal Kaiser.

Someone was waiting for me. Someone knew I
’
d come, he thought. I was too exposed.

***

“Where’s Mattoui?” asked Thor.

“I sent him to get Tamar,” Rettoul replied.

“What?” Thor was shocked. “Tamar? But Tamar’s here.”

Everyone was silent, not able to believe their ears. “Tamar’s here?” asked Berez.

“Yes, here with me. We knew you’d come here and our identity was kept secret. You can’t be serious,” said Thor. “You didn’t
really send him back to Kantara, did you?”

Rettoul swallowed with great difficulty. “Yes, he went home to Tamar.”

Zoi took a deep breath, trying to understand. “What’s going on here? Can you explain it to me?”

Thor began:

After all the chaos, I was left behind,
soon becoming a wanted person. You were all together, I was alone,
and I was looking for a way to reach you without making too much
fuss so as not to fail myself. There aren’t many places to escape
to in the galaxy. There’s very little left after the war, in fact.
And as someone who knows a bit about the way Rettoul’s head works,
I knew that one of his first stops en route would be Moran.

I looked for you everywhere until I
reached Moses’ den. Coldor’s people constantly looked for you
there. They believed you’d reach Moran and that the first place
you’d go would certainly be Moses’s den, if only because of Zoi.
They came every day and I gradually befriended them. They hadn’t
the slightest idea who I was. From time to time I gave them false
messages—that you’d been seen here or there. And then some thugs
came and attacked them. I defended them without any difficulty,
overcoming the three attackers. They thanked me and our
relationship grew stronger.

After the first group of thugs, a second
group and then a third came, each one larger and stronger. I
overcame them all and my false name spread far and wide—no one
approached me and Coldor’s men became my good friends. They felt
much stronger with me next to them. I didn’t mind. I learned a
little about them and where you were, but every time it turned out
that these were only speculations. In fact, they believed you were
no longer alive.

Then Moses called me and said there was
child trading on Moran and someone named Slaughter was responsible
for it. He was a very bad person and few had seen his face. The
children disappeared after he got hold of them and people were
deadly scared of him. Moses also said that every three evenings,
there was a competition wherein one fought to the death. Every time
the competition got tougher until the winner finally fought
Slaughter himself. As he saw how I took care of thugs who came to
the den, he wanted me to try to get to Slaughter. I knew I might
not get out of there alive, but he believed I was tough enough to
deal with him. Moses was afraid—he has three children and he won’t
let them out of the house. No one knew they existed, and many
Moranians did likewise.

I agreed and competed in the first
competition. Of course, I overcame the bully sent to me and left
him bleeding to death on the floor.

Three days later there was another
contest. This time I was supposed to trounce two thugs. I beat
them, although it was a bit difficult because they were especially
tough.

Moses was amazed that I was surviving.
Don’t get me wrong—he didn’t want me to get killed, but couldn’t
believe I got out alive. The third competition was held three days
later—three competitors against me. I almost lost my eye in that
battle and I still suffer from headaches almost around the clock,
but never mind. I’m alive and they aren’t.

The next day I received a special envoy
from Slaughter, who asked to meet me. He wanted to see for himself
who’d managed to overcome his men. In this meeting, Slaughter
talked to me as if I were one of his closest friends. He opened up
and said he was very sick and was looking for good people to be
with him and protect him and his family. At first I was nice, and
after I managed to get closer to him, sometimes staying alone with
him, one time I told him in no uncertain terms that he wouldn’t
leave the room alive unless he did what I demanded of him.

Two days passed, after which he
officially announced that we were going on a trip off Moran. When I
returned, Slaughter was no longer with me and, in fact, I became
Slaughter because no one really knew him. I got into the character.
I preserved the fear of him, I received all his assets, and, in
particular—I kept the children.

Thor tried to finish with, “Tamar helps me care for them—”

“Tamar! What’s the connection between Tamar and you?” The three were surprised.

“Immediately after you left Kantara, I realized she was in danger. It was clear she was a bargaining chip for Coldor and his
men. I found her helpless at home; she didn’t know what to do. She was very worried and she didn’t believe Mattoui would come
home alive.” Thor shook his head sadly. “I had a hard time convincing her to join me because I’d promised her that Mattoui—and,
in fact, all of you—would come to us long before Coldor found you. Tamar is here with me on Moran, in charge of the children.
She does a wonderful job. I am sometimes so excited to see her and the children with her.”

Rettoul was astounded. He was the one who’d sent Mattoui, his best friend, into a death trap. He couldn’t have expected such
an occurrence, and yet he considered
himself to blame for what surely happened—or was happening now—to Mattoui. He paled.

“What happened? Where’s Mattoui?” Berez was frightened.

“Mattoui returned to Kantara to meet Tamar. I released him. God, what a disaster.”

“It doesn’t have to be a disaster,” said Zoi. “They might’ve known that we all disappeared and probably wouldn’t go back there
again, especially if Tamar also wasn’t there anymore.”

A tap at the door startled them and the door opened immediately. Tamar entered with a light step. “I’m so glad to see you
all—” She suddenly stopped. “Where is my man?”

“On his way to you, Tamar…on his way to you,”
said Rettoul, holding his head.

“Now we can kill him and finish the business,” declared Bar.

“No one kills him. We could’ve done that a long time ago. Now we have the opportunity to reach the other nothings. They’re
good friends—they’ll come to him,” said Coldor. He turned to a short, black-clothed man. “You can get what I promised you
right now.”

colder went into a corner and gave him a heavy suitcase. The man was one of Slaughter’s men. He’d avoided the ambush set for
three of his friends and immediately understood there could be a large profit from this business.

The group got organized in the residential area. Thor apologized for the only vacant rooms being in the children’s living
area, but it actually amused them. None of them had, in his childhood, enjoyed a painted, calm room. Rettoul stopped Thor.
“I don’t understand—if the real Slaughter no longer exists, why leave people in fear? And why are you still taking the children?”

“There’s a big difference, Rettoul. Slaughter took the children and did what he wanted with them. I’m taking the kids to give
them life. You see, here they have an entirely new life. I’m giving them so much. True, they’re cut off from their families,
but their families can’t give them what they get here: culture, heritage, education, good food, routine—everything. And from
here they’ll depart for a better world. Rettoul, they’ll build that new world, for what’s out there is disaster and decay.
Tamar and the rest of the team selected for this purpose give them the foundation to build a better world for all of us.”

“You still haven’t answered the question: Why let the people to live in fear? Slaughter is no more. Why do you need Slaughter?”
Rettoul replied.

“Slaughter created order on Moran. True, the planet’s very violent, but there’s routine. Don’t forget—I only came here recently.
So many changes can’t be made at once. If I announce a change in attitude, someone who wants this power for himself will arise.
Today a guy called Slaughter and his exploits stop any competition, but as soon as they know Slaughter is no more, the residents
will be less alert and another
person just like him will arise. Then it’ll be harder, with too many camps and too many wars in the street. Today there’s
one war—Slaughter’s war—and I can control it.”

Rettoul wasn’t sure if Thor’s method was correct, but he said nothing. Someone beckoned to Thor and he asked Rettoul to join
him. “I want you by my side. I don’t want to shatter Slaughter’s power, but we were always together. You’re the leader.”

Rettoul joined him. Thor talked to one of the guards and in an instant became red with anger. He grabbed the guard’s shirt
and shook him hard. “You fool! No money in the world is worth that! What were you thinking?”

Rettoul looked at the poor guard, who grew pale and began to stammer. “But…there are more than two thousand… That’s a huge
number… For months we didn’t collect such a sum from the population…”

Thor ended the guard’s words by punching him in the face. Rettoul watched in silence. He didn’t understand what was going
on, but assumed Thor’s aggressive behavior was needed, if only to maintain the tough image he’d assumed.

“You won’t believe what happened now! The idiot sold Mattoui to Coldor for money,” said a pale Thor to Rettoul.

“What do you mean? I sent Mattoui back home.”

“You only think you’re responsible for what happens here. Moran has other laws, as I mentioned to you earlier. My man decided
to give me a ‘special gift’ from Coldor and sold Mattoui to him. In return, he brought a heavy suitcase, as promised—a reward
for each of us.” He said the word ‘us’ quietly.

“What? Moses sold Mattoui and the rest of us?”

“No. My idiot, whom I sent to bring you, saw Mattoui leaving on Moses’ Kaiser. Although Moses and I are good friends… Well,
on Moran everyone’s always suspicious of everyone else. He decided to take responsibility and abandoned his friends—you used
that heavy tape on most of them—avoiding a confrontation with you. After realizing who you were, he tracked Mattoui and reported
to Coldor, leading his men straight to Tamar and Mattoui’s home.”

Rettoul tensed. “I didn’t think we’d get out of this war alive. When there were only four of us left, I said okay, that’s
also for the best. When I saw you, I was filled with so much joy. And now this great loss.”

Thor patted Rettoul on the shoulder. “I know what Mattoui is to you. We have to think what to do now. Too many cards were
wrecked my hands.
You know what the most annoying thing is?” Thor said to him. “This fellow was one of Coldor’s men originally, but because
I connected with them in the den, he felt far safer with me than with his friends. He soon defected to me. I trusted him,
and he obviously didn’t know who I
was
. But I thought he was reliable… Good God, so reliable that he sold my friend for me.” Thor was appalled
.

It could
’
ve been just another night, Zoi thought. Thor, Tamar, Rettoul, Berez, the children, he himself—only Mattoui was missing. With
a tear in his eye, he could see the joy in the house that Tamar and Thor had built. He was tired of events—of recent years
in general and of recent months in particular. Rettoul was to have brought the redemption so yearned for. They were supposed
to help him. They were together all the time, and now Mattoui was in the wrong hands.

Having known Coldor and Bar for many years, Zoi was well aware what they were capable of and where they might go. The tear
didn’t fall, but as he heard the laughter of children, he looked around the room. It was nothing like he’d ever seen.

The room was tidy, despite the large number of children, and each had their clear place. Despite the order and authority clearly
evident, the smiles of joy never left the faces of either the children or the educational staff. Tamar looked somewhat wilted,
though. Her joy and giving and love for the children had been diminished as soon as they realized Mattoui might not return.

Lots of small corners were arranged in the room, filled with children’s games and plenty of dolls and toys. It seemed that
every child had as many games as they wanted, and plenty still remained for the rest. Corners for board games, with groups
of three, four, five, and six children sitting around them, playing with great concentration. Arts and crafts, reading corners,
a TV corner, a computer corner, a work area with a teacher—it was amazing what Thor and Tamar had created. The dream of every
educator, and everything necessary could be found in this magical room.

Rettoul retired to his room, thinking of Mattoui. He didn’t care about anything except for the fact that he’d sent Mattoui
to his death. His heart was heavy. He’d never
felt like a prophet, despite everything that’d happened to him and his strong sense of a mission that had grown steadily over
the years.

And now he felt he’d buried his best friend his own hands.

A light knock at the door woke him as if from a nightmare
.
His whole body was sweaty, his face apparently very pale as Tamar, standing at the doorway, was shocked to see him.

“What’s happened?” she cried.

“I hope it’s just my love that terrifies me and not reality,” he replied quietly.

Rettoul was silent for a long time and Tamar didn’t urge him on. Then he said, “The truth is, I don’t think they’ll do anything
to him until we get there to save him.” As they talked, things became clearer in his thoughts. “They won’t hurt him, Tamar,
at least as long as they believe that we’re alive. And as long we give them the impression that we’re coming to save him.”

“What do you mean, ‘give them the impression’? Will we try to save him or not?”

“Of course we’ll save him!” he said firmly and loudly, if only to convince himself of the possibility. “You have to understand
that they won’t settle for just one of us. They’re doubly afraid because by ourselves, we managed pretty well in their ranks.
They know and appreciate our capabilities. Our strength together is not analogous to the power of five, but of five hundred,
if not five thousand. They’re aware what we mean as a team.

“After your "incident" on lavi , and after we all disappeared, they announced a separate award for each of us and a particularly
large prize for us as a group. It was clear that they wouldn’t make do with one, no matter who it was. That’s how they can
break us. One is the bait for the other four, and they aren’t an idiot who would forgo four even if one should be left alive.
I know they won’t harm Mattoui for now, although I don’t know how long that will last.”

Now it was Tamar’s turn to be silent for a long time and Rettoul feared disturbing her. Suddenly she stood up and asked, as
if the conversation hadn’t ended previously, “Rettoul, exactly what’s happening here?”

“What do you mean?”

“Something doesn’t make sense. Despite the love and tremendous sharing between Mattoui and myself, I know you’re hiding something
from me. I never asked Mattoui what motivated you, what brings you together, what brought you to this situation that now all
of us—including myself—must run for our lives. I did this because Thor assured me that by keeping quiet I’d get to meet Mattoui
quickly and easily. I knew that if I stayed at home, there was a good chance I’d never see him. I didn’t ask Thor what or
why, I just went with him—as I did before with Mattoui. I never asked what this secret among you is, what weaves the spell
that will probably never be broken. But now it’s time to let me know. This isn’t ‘my love,’ it’s no longer ‘your friends.’
Mattoui’s life is in danger because of this special relationship. That’s clear to everyone. And yet—the reason is hidden.”

Rettoul was silent.

She had a point, but he’d never talked about the relationship between him and Mattoui apart from their shared history. Yes,
they were united by something they’d never spoken about. This was the first time things had to be said.

“You said there’s a period when they won’t hurt Mattoui, as long as they’re sure you’ll get there to save him,” Tamar continued.
“We’re going to waste some of this time so I know what’s going on. I can’t remain silent any longer. It’s not just your life,
or the lives of Berez, Thor, Mattoui, or Zoi. My life is hanging by a thread with yours, and my flight from home and integration
into Slaughter’s life… The lives of dozens of children are also in danger. Rettoul, there are points of no return in life.
You and I have reached one. Maybe if I understood, other things would become clear—not only to me.”

Rettoul knew she was right, but the words were heavy and impossible to pronounce. He didn’t know where to start in sharing
the facts. His obligation wasn’t only toward her, but as she said, to each of his friends—Zoi, Thor, Berez, and, of course,
Mattoui—and toward all the children who’d been gathered and protected in order to create and enjoy a better world for everyone.

In the silence he told her the story of his life and destiny. He explained Mattoui’s role and the roles of the others in the
quintet. He spoke about Benaya and his real parents, told about the scrolls and the ice planet. Words fell from his lips as
nothing was forgotten.

This was the first time he’d heard his life story aloud, in his own voice, and suddenly things took on a different meaning.
Tears filled his eyes when he talked of
Benaya. He was moved when he mentioned his parents, angry when he described his training, and almost silent when he described
the scrolls.

Tamar listened carefully, even when it seemed parts were missing. Soon the whole picture was complete. They were silent for
a long time when he finished.

“I don’t understand why you think I know where they are,” Mattoui replied to Coldor.

The room he’d been put in was somewhat familiar. He’d never visited the prison on Falcon, but many stories had been told about
the place: the security personnel, trained to act like starved animals and beat the prisoners mercilessly; the rotten, wet
structure, where even if prisoners managed to protect themselves against rats and snakes, they’d fall ill after a short stay;
the wormy food eaten by insects that was unfit even for animals, let alone prisoners. Mattoui knew he’d be imprisoned there.
He also knew he’d be released—if not by his friends, then Coldor would keep him alive to serve as a bargaining chip. The location
was intended to scare him and break his spirit.

He didn’t know where his strength came from to deal face to face with Coldor fearlessly, although he had no confidence that
this time he’d come out alive.

Countless thoughts went through his head, but none pertained to Tamar, only his friends. When would he meet them? On the one
hand, he knew none would abandon him. On the other hand, they might realize that perhaps they should give up on him, having
given up on Thor, if only to achieve the ultimate goal.

“You got it wrong,” said Coldor. “I already know where they are. Who do you think sold you to me? Who sent you home? Rettoul
won’t let anything stand in his way. You should’ve seen it before, since you were so close to him. You’re not a stupid boy,
Mattoui, and yet Rettoul managed to sell you—and all in the name of love.” Coldor roared with laughter and its echo didn’t
leave Mattoui’s head.

“So…” Mattoui ignored what he said. “Kill me. Throw me into a filthy wet cell until I rot. Why, actually, are we talking now?
After all, I know you well, Coldor. You don’t do anything for nothing. True, this is a great opportunity to hurt me, but you
don’t waste time on nonsense. You’d enjoy seeing me thrown in a cell with snakes and rats far more. You’d be far happier watching
me trying to avoid your men’s lashings. Dear Rod Coldor, you wouldn’t waste your time interrogating me without it serving
a purpose for you.”