The Lodestone Trilogy (Limited Edition) (The Lodestone Series) (91 page)

Rael turned to face her. “Do you remember back at the tower in the Cathgorn mountains? There were machines there called computers.”

She looked up at him. “You said they were used for counting, right?”

“That’s right. Hannath and I have designed rudimentary versions of them. Computers generally count in zeros and ones, because that’s the easiest way to build them. It’s called binary code. It signifies two states–on and off, yes and no, like a simple language.”

Keris had a detached look. “At the library…Annata used the word ‘computer’. I remember now. She compared Boxx to it, although I didn’t know what she meant at the time.”

“Boxx is doing something similar,” Rael said, “although in a more sophisticated way. It’s recording zeros, ones and twos in a form known as a ternary code. In theory, ternary code can record more complex actions, particularly those involving uncertainty. Think of it as yes, no and…maybe.”

“How does that relate to us?” Alondo asked.

Rael put a hand to his chin, making him appear far older. “If I was a member of a technologically advanced society and I wanted to record something as complex as Kelanni interactions, I might well use a program based on ternary code.” He regarded the Chandara. The small creature cocked its head to one side, but its expression was unreadable. “It has three digits on each hand…I think it naturally counts in base three. And I think I can solve another puzzle now. Boxx, how old are you?

“I Am One, One, One, Zero, Two, Two, Zero, Zero turns.”

Rael’s lips moved as he made a mental calculation. “That’s three thousand, two hundred and thirty-one in base three.” Keris looked round and saw her own confusion reflected in the eyes of the others. “We count in tens–one, ten, a hundred, a thousand. It counts in threes–one, three, nine and so on.”

A thought was lurking somewhere in the back of Keris’ mind, a distant memory. Suddenly it jumped out and hit her like a slap in the face. “You said three thousand, two hundred and thirty-one turns…that’s the exact age of Annata’s first message to me. She told me that she was speaking to me from three thousand, two hundred and thirty-one turns ago. That can’t be coincidence.”

All eyes turned to the little creature that was watching them with its tiny black eyes. “It Is Not Coincidence,” Boxx said. “She Is My Mother.”

Patris threw his hands up in the air. “How can Annata be its mother? It’s a Chandara. Annata was Kelanni.”

“Actually,” Rael commented, “It kind of makes sense–if you define a mother as the person that gave you life. I would guess that Boxx was hatched or maybe cloned, and then programmed to do what would be needed in the far future. Observe and record us. Boxx is a living biological computer. Think of the possibilities.”

Keris could not think of one. Rael’s analysis was interesting, even insightful in its own way. But it did nothing to alter their current situation. “Boxx has told us that the testing is to begin first thing tomorrow. We should all rest and prepare ourselves.”

“So, which of us is to go first?” Shann inquired.

“Alondo Will Go First,” Boxx announced.

The musician looked as if he had just been struck in the face. “Wh…why me?”

Lyall stepped forward. “It’s all right old friend.” He turned to face Boxx. “I’ll go first.”

The Chandara looked past him. “Alondo Will Go First,” it insisted.

“We must do exactly as Boxx says,” Keris reminded them.

“It’s all right,” Alondo said. “Maybe the test will involve singing songs and telling stories. In that case, the rest of you are in big trouble.”

~

Dawn leeched slowly into a sky burdened with low-lying clouds. The atmosphere felt thick, oppressive. Shann stood with Rael and Alondo contemplating the view across Akalon. The tower rose like an obelisk from a bank of low-lying mist.

Alondo had been concealing his apprehension behind a ready smile and a breezy manner, but she knew him too well to be fooled. “So, you think there’ll be some monster for me to fight?” he speculated.

“I doubt it,” Rael assured him. “There aren’t too many dangerous creatures in these parts that I know of.”

“You can borrow my staff if you like,” Shann offered.

“No thanks,” Alondo said. “I’d probably just trip over it.”

Shann rubbed his back. “You’ll do fine.” She glanced behind her. Their small encampment sat in the shadow of the parked flying machines, an untidy scattering of tents marring the flat perfection of the great metal platform. The three blue-coated drach formed a loose guard near their transports. Protection from wild beasts seemed unnecessary this high up; Shann put it down to old habits. She turned back to Alondo. “Boxx will make sure you are safe.”

“You seem certain of that,” Rael remarked.

Shann smiled up at him. “Yes I am. Because whatever Boxx is–a Chandara, or one of those computer things you talked about–he is also our friend.” She stared out at the patchy fog which rolled across the undulating plain. “On the Reach, when the huge wave swept me over the side, I must have hit my head or something, because the whole world went dark. The next thing I remembered was waking up on the beach, with Boxx’s face looking down at me. I don’t know how, but it got me to the shore. It saved me. Then there was the time when we were attacked by the Kharthrun Serpent. Alondo, you were badly injured, but Boxx wouldn’t let you die. It nearly exhausted itself bringing you back to health.

“Boxx left its Great Tree–the Tree it depends on for its life–to help us. It may even die as a result. I don’t believe it would allow any harm to come to us now.”

Lyall emerged from one of the tents, followed by Keris, Boxx and Patris. Lyall called Alondo over. Shann made to follow, but felt a pressure on her arm. Rael whispered in her ear, “…if it’s in control of what happens.”

Shann turned toward him. “What are you talking about?”

“All I’m saying is, a computer can only process the information that is put into it. If I’m right, then the input that these tests are based on comes from us–from our interactions with each other. Boxx may have no more idea of how things are going to play out than we do.”

Shann shook her head. “That’s absurd.” Yet even as she said it, she had a worrying feeling that he could be right. In that case, there was no way of telling what kind of danger Alondo might be facing. She hastened to join the others, with the boy in tow.

Boxx was standing on its hind limbs facing Alondo. “Are You Ready?”

“Ah…I suppose.” He shuffled from one foot to the other. “Sure, let’s get it over with.”

“Wait a moment,” Lyall intervened. “Is Alondo allowed to take anything with him?”

“He May Take Anything He Can Carry,” Boxx trilled.

“Why not take your vortex arm?” Lyall suggested. He addressed Boxx. “Might that be of help to him?”

“I Do Not Know,” Boxx replied. Shann glanced at Rael. The boy returned her look, but said nothing.

“I’ll get it.” Lyall disappeared into a tent and returned bearing Alondo’s instrument.

The musician accepted it gratefully. He ran his hand over the curved body, the taut strings, the fluted neck, and smiled to himself. He slung the vortex arm over his shoulder. “Ready,” he announced. He accompanied Boxx toward the middle of the empty metal platform, the others following close behind.

Boxx stopped short of the centre, raised a three-fingered hand and spoke in a clear high pitched voice. “Drani-Kathaar.” Shann stepped back instinctively as a crack appeared in the seamless surface of the Dais and a pedestal rose silently, stopping at a point just below the height of the Chandara. There was a large convex bulge on the top of the pedestal. Boxx placed its hand on the bulge and it began to glow a dull red. As the colour deepened, the air in front of them started to thicken and swirl, like a mist forming before their eyes. Rael stared open-mouthed as the amorphous mass slowly congealed and became completely opaque. The centre of the Dais was now occupied by a grey dome of fog, about five times head height. Yet this was like no fog Shann had ever seen. Its surface was flat, but with an undefined quality, so that the more you tried to look at it, the more your eye seemed to slide off it. It reminded her of the whorls and eddies that moved over the fuliginous surface of lodestone as you changed perspective.

Rael began walking toward the apparition. He stopped before it and reached out a hand to touch its surface. “Rael. No,” Shann shouted. “Boxx, tell him to stop.”

“I Cannot,” it replied.

“Rael, get away from it, it may be dangerous,” Lyall warned.

The boy stood for a moment with his hand outstretched, as if mesmerised, then slowly withdrew his arm and stepped back. Shann clamped a hand around his arm to hold him in place.

Lyall addressed Boxx. “What happens now?”

The Chandara turned to Alondo. “You Will Come With Me.” It waddled toward the dome of fog without waiting for a reply. Alondo looked at Lyall, who nodded gravely; then he started after Boxx.

Shann released Rael and ran toward the musician, throwing her arms around him. “Be careful,” she said.

Alondo smiled warmly. “I’ll be fine, remember?”

She returned his smile.
But what if Rael was right? What if Boxx really has no control over what happens? He could be walking into…

Alondo turned and followed Boxx. Shann blinked away a tear and watched helplessly as the two of them carried on walking until they were swallowed by the forbidding mist.

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Chapter 30

Grey.
Alondo’s eyes darted up and down, right and left, but all around him the view was the same. The sky and the Dais had somehow disappeared and been replaced by a world of uniform greyness. There was no distance, no perspective. Already, he was completely disoriented. If there was a way out, then he had no idea in which direction it lay. The only single feature was Boxx. The Chandara was looking up at him like a small child waiting for guidance.

Alondo flashed a smile. “Wow, I love what you’ve done with the place. Minimalist, you know…not too much clutter…very nice. Actually, the decor it reminds me of an Inn at Sakima that I played once. They had just opened and were supposed to get new furniture, but-”

Boxx’s wide mouth rippled one word. “Begin.”

The grey world shifted. Alondo found himself standing in a cobbled street. People and carts rumbled on by. He could feel something in his hand. Reins. They were attached to a morgren that blew and stamped its feet impatiently. He could smell the beast’s fetid breath. A second morgren stood close by. Its reins were held by a small figure, her head covered by a cowl.
Shann.
This was Lind. Alondo’s mind reeled. It was impossible, but somehow he was back home. They were standing just outside the stables. He remembered this day. It was just before they had set out on their epic journey. Lyall had sent him and the girl into Lind to obtain supplies. He had just purchased two of the disgusting beasts from Fudoro, the stableman, for half an astria. It was to be their last stop. Except that Alondo had one more call to make. Alone.

He glanced down to see that Boxx was still regarding him. That was not right. They had not been introduced to the Chandara until much later, when Keris had met them in the desert outside Gort. Was all of this some kind of illusion? The smells were real; the raucous sounds of barrog swine and street vendors; the feel of the reins in his sweaty palm. His throat suddenly felt dry. “Why have you brought me here?”

“I Did Not. You Did,” Boxx replied.

“What am I supposed to do?” he pressed.

“What Are You Supposed To Do?”

Before Alondo could respond, the Chandara vanished in a flash of light.
Great. Now what?
How was he going to get back to the others at the Dais? Maybe that was the test. Figure out a way to get back.

The girl who looked like Shann threw back her hood. “What’s the matter? You look ill.”

Alondo found his voice. “No…no, I’m fine.” Perhaps that was what was expected of him. Retrace his steps. Alondo thought hard, remembering the sequence of events.
I left Shann to tend the morgren and went to see Ennas. Lyall had asked me to check in on the blind man and to inquire about the news from Corte, to see if there was any sort of pursuit. His boy Malan was still out in the fields. I gave Ennas half an astria.
“I’m sorry, I have to go somewhere. Can you watch the morgren and the rest of our things for a while? I won’t be long.”