The Encounter (15 page)

              It was an accident. The boys shouldn't have been doing what they were doing. His father never blamed the stallion. Joseph wanted to kill it that day. Three years had passed. The urge was still there.

              He had given his father long enough to get into position. It was time. He eased back down the ridge and went to his horse. He mounted up and drew his rifle. He chambered a round. Joseph spurred his horse. He topped the ridge at a full gallop screaming and waving the gun.

              The entire herd moved at once. In a thunderous sound of hooves they broke for the tree line, the stallion in front.

              Riding at a full gallop through a stand of trees was difficult enough. Trying to stay even with a herd of stampeding horses was down right dangerous. He had to be in position at the front, when they neared the draw. His father would come in from the side and go for the stallion. The horse's instinct to survive would separate him from the rest. Joseph would turn the others into the draw. After that they'd take turns running him off until they had what they wanted.

              Martin was in position. He could hear them, and feel them, in the ground under him. His horse jumped a little. He opened the loop on his rope.

              The horses exploded from the trees. The stallion was ten yards in front. Joseph was right with them. The stallion veered left to lead them away from the natural trap on the right. Martin spurred his horse. The stallion spotted him and accelerated putting more distance between himself and the herd. Joseph was there to take over. The plan worked again. Joseph turned the herd into the draw.

              Martin had no intention of roping the horse, but there he was in easy reach of his loop. Tied off to a tree, the stallion would be out of the way until they finished. With more time to work the herd he might find two or three more he could use. He released the rope. It settled around the stallion's neck. Martin looped his rope around the saddle horn and reined in on his horse.

              Joseph was driving the herd. He looked back just as his father's rope went taut.

              The chinch on Martin's saddle held for a moment, then it slipped. The sudden shift in weight caused his horse to go down. Martin's head hit a rock. His horse rolled on him, and then stepped on him getting up. It all happened before Joseph could come to a stop.

                                                        ***

              Sarah was sweeping the porch. A sudden chill went up her back. She shuddered. She walked to the steps and stood watching the hills beyond the corral. It was late in the day. They should be back soon. She went back to her sweeping. She couldn't seem to lose the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

                                                        ***

              Joseph had reined in his horse so quickly he almost went down himself. He turned the animal and dug in his spurs. The horse had barely reached full stride before it was being pulled in again. Joseph was out of the saddle on the run. He stumbled forward to his knees beside his father.

              The left side of Martin's head, above the ear, was oozing blood. A small puddle had already formed on the ground. Martin's eyes were closed. A bloodied rock lay nearby.

              Joseph froze for a moment, and then he touched his father's chest. "Dad..." His voice shuddered and seemed far away. He shook him slightly. "Come on wake up... Please wake up."

              Martin didn't move. Joseph watched his chest. He could see it rise and fall with each breath. At least he was alive. His next thought was of Sarah. She'd know what to do. He had to get his father home.

              Joseph stood up and glanced around. Martin's horse stood a few yards away the saddle hanging to one side. He needed what was in his father's saddlebags. He picked up the reins to his horse and swung into the saddle. He had to be careful. The other animal was still nervous. There wasn't time to chase him down. As he got close the other horse moved away. He had to have those saddlebags. He reached back and drew out his rifle. He placed the butt against his thigh. He started toward the horse again. If the horse bolted he'd shoot it. The other animal stood its ground.

              He was only a foot away. "Easy boy... That's it just stay put." He reached over and took hold of the bridle. "Gotcha..."

              He placed the rifle across the saddle in front of him, leaned across, took the reins with his other hand and led the horse back to his father.

              Martin hadn't moved. Joseph ground tied both horses with a rock. He took the food sack, and a canteen, and knelt beside his father. He emptied the sack and wet it down. He slowly turned his father's head to the side and wiped some of the blood off his face. He placed the wet sack over the head wound to try and stop the bleeding.

              He had to get home. He stood and walked to his father's horse. In the saddlebag was a small hatchet. He took the hatchet and ran for the tree line.

                                                      ***

              Margaret leaned against a deadfall. Lawrence was off taking care of his business. He had insisted on providing lunch. She'd insisted he not shoot it. The berries, wild onions and deer cabbage weren't bad. She was sure Lawrence would have preferred to have something dripping grease into a fire. It made her feel good that he tried to do it her way just to please her. She picked up the canteen and took a drink.

              "What're you thinking about?" His voice came from behind her.

              She lowered the canteen and looked back. "The road..." She lied.

              He joined her and reached for the canteen, "How far?"

              She handed him the canteen. "Not too far."

              He took a drink.

              She continued. "I was thinking. With the moon almost full maybe we should try and make the town tonight. The sooner we get in and get out the better. If you think you can make it."

              Lawrence capped the canteen. Hiking through a mountain forest was very tiring. He resented the insinuation, but the truth was he was beginning to feel it. He didn't want to appear weak in her eyes. Besides, the thought of a bed instead of the ground really appealed to him.

              "If we're talking a room and a bed, I'm game if you are", he answered.

              "It'll take a day or so to get what we need and something to carry it, and us."

              He shouldered the canteen. "Let's go." He said and walked away from her, then stopped and looked back when she didn't follow.

              She was standing where he'd left her. She pointed to her right. "That way..."

              She walked away from the deadfall. He joined her. A funny thought occurred to him. She was cute, really different, liked the woods and her mother lived on the other side of the universe. What more could a man want?

                                                        ***

              Joseph had worked feverishly to cut what he needed out of the woods. After dragging an armload of limbs back to the horses he checked his father. Nothing had changed. He didn't seem to be bleeding as much. He used the rope to assemble a platform between two poles. He discarded his father's saddle, but kept the blanket. He used the rope to harness the poles to the horse. He picked up the saddle blanket and spread it across the platform, now for his dad. He carefully moved Martin to the platform and secured him with more rope. He was ready.

              He stepped into the saddle and picked up the reins to the other horse. He couldn't move very fast. Home was at least two hours away. He thought about Sarah and what she'd said. He'd assured her he'd take care of things. Would she ever forgive him for letting this happen? Could he ever forgive himself? One thing he was sure of, when he'd done all he could for his father he'd find and kill that horse.

                                                       ***

              Space was particularly black in the shadow of Earth's moon. The view of the stars began to ripple slightly. A vortex formed and an Intergalactic Class Starship emerged. The vortex closed and the vessel took up station keeping out of Earth's view.

              The warship was the size of an aircraft carrier and performed a similar function. Its basic hull design was similar to Margaret's smaller ship. Its current orders were to retrieve and return the Chancellor’s daughter.

              The ship's Commander had remained at the rendezvous point until her encrypted distress signal came through. She was being pursued by the Vergon. The portal was her only escape route. The message ended abruptly. He broke communications silence but got no response.

              The hanger bay was filled with ships of various sizes. An opening appeared in the hanger wall. Seven men entered the bay. The opening closed behind them. They crossed the hanger. Two stopped, while the others continued on. The Battle Cruiser Commander handed a PDA like device to Ahthra, Margaret’s older brother.

              The Commander watched while Ahthra viewed his orders. “Those orders come from the Chancellor himself. But we have another problem. Something may have altered the time line. According to the chronicles, this was a thriving world with a human population in the billions. Scanning the planet now shows a third of the population, gone. Monitored broadcast indicate it was intentional and it happened the day after your sister disappeared. Nothing was going on before that to indicate this might happen. We lost people down there.”

              Ahthra glanced up, “they think she’s responsible?”

              “Don’t know. It’s fortunate that Earth has had no contact with the universe around it.”

              Ahthra finished and handed back the device.

              “Do you understand the orders?”

              “Yes sir... It’s also possible that those chasing her may have caused a change in the time line.”

              “She led them there.” The Commander studied him for a moment. “Your father prefers you lead this mission for obvious reasons, but he’s given me the authority to replace you if I see a problem.”

              “I’m an officer. I’ll carry out my orders. My father knows this, but only if there’s no other choice.”

              “With what’s happened, your orders are amended. If you recover your sister alive, she’s to be turned over to the Council... Are you clear on this?”

              “Yes sir, but first I have to find her.”

              The Commander pondered the situation for a moment. “Very well... Carry on, Captain.

              Everyone knew about the bounty on his sister. He had spoken to his family before they left for the rendezvous point. His mother wouldn't let him go until he'd promised to get her back, safe. He also knew
what
had been offered to the Vergon. Keeping that promise would require a lot of luck.

                                                       ***

              Sarah stoked the fire in the stove. Dinner was almost ready. She heard her name called from outside. She closed the stove, set down the poker and started across the room. It was about time. It was almost dark. If they had decided to camp out, with her expecting them back, they would have never heard the end of it.

              She stepped out on the porch. The sun was just above the mountains. She shaded her eyes. Her heart sank. Joseph was passing the corral. He was leading her father's horse.

              "Oh god, no," she said to herself as she ran to meet him. She stopped at the front of her father's horse. She looked at Joseph. His face was flushed. Her heart was in her throat. She walked around to her father and looked at him. Her hand came up to her mouth. The sack was soaked with blood. There was a small trail of blood coming from his nose and mouth. She knelt beside him and carefully looked under the sack. The blood had dried and the cloth was stuck. She had to peel it back. His hair was matted and the skin around his ear was badly discolored. He was still breathing.

              She looked up. "Give me the canteen and go hitch the wagon. We gotta get him to town."

              Joseph didn't move right away. He wanted to say it wasn't his fault, but that wasn't the way he felt.

              Sarah lost her temper. "Now", she yelled. "Get the wagon."

              Her tone startled him. It surprised her a little as well. He dropped the canteen, untied the reins from his saddle horn, and then used his spurs.

She got the canteen and returned to her father. She started loosening the ropes. She poured a little water on his lips. He wasn't going to die. She wouldn't let him. God wouldn't do this to her. She wanted to cry, but she managed to hold it in. She had to be strong. She looked at the barn and shouted, "Hurry Joseph."