Enryn

  Enryn

  GERARD WHITTAKER

  ENRYN

  By Gerard Whittaker

  Smashwords edition.

  Copyright by Gerard Whittaker, 2010

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Prologue

  "Hurry, for the Ship's sake hurry," her father snapped as the first of the snows began to fall on the farmstead.

  Enryn ran outside to see the large white flakes of death falling from the sky for the first time, she was only ten but knew enough to panic, for when the snow fell the winter of the world would last a hundred and twenty years.

  Her family rushed to pack the last of the harvest onto the carts, shutting down the only home Enryn had ever known for the last time, knowing they would never see it again. Soon the warm home would be crushed beneath the ice, just like everything else on the world. They pulled away into the snowfall, heading East towards the Sun as the Winter chased them back to the Ship.

  Waiting for the final harvest had been a bad idea, but the Council had taken the risk with one small family to feed the entire ship through the long cold death.

  It was all right for the Council, they could sleep through the winter, but the passengers would have to live and die huddled against the dark time, trusting to the hydroponics section to grow just enough to supplement what the farmsteads had been growing for the last hundred and eighty years.

  In the world of Tharsius there was no day or night, just the slowly turning world that took three hundred years to turn once. The Sun melted the ice and grew crops while the hungry dark slowly crept up behind to kill everything not protected by the Ship.

  The wagons rolled down the track, pulled by immense beasts that had served the family well for nearly two hundred years, but would be butchered back at the Ship. There was no room for compassion and no way to feed them, so they could either be turned loose to die in the cold or help feed the Passengers.

  The family turned their ten wagons into the Sun, racing to escape the snow, and the clear night that would reveal the stars that no living man had seen.

  An attack by savages from the rolling towns forced them to take a detour, and then a broken axle had delayed them even further; they finally ditched the wagon and tons of food. They reached the valley created by the immense colony ship crash landing to see it full of an early snow fall. All they could do was look on in horror, the ship was closed up, sealed off from the world for the next a hundred and twenty years. A further fall of snow covered the ship as they watched, turning to ice and burying it completely.

  All they could do was turn their wagons into the Sun and chase the eternal dawn, knowing they had no chance to escape those who hunted them across the world of Tharsius.

  The father looked sadly at his wife, their three sons and two daughters, wondering who would be the first to go. The bounty on their heads was enough to have every rolling town hunting them to extinction. And The Backbone of the World stood before them, the one place it was possible to circumnavigate the world of Tharsius and escape the hungry dark. But it was the last place they wanted to be for it was the lair of the beast who controlled the passage to the far side, and it did not like marooned aliens who were far brighter than the local peasants.

  Except to eat.

  "Enryn, you will make it somehow," Jinryn insisted. "I was born to kneel. And you to stand proudly." She was younger than her sister and didn't understand the reality of their plight; like many of the children of the Ship she was naturally subservient, and thought her free spirited sister was some kind of hero. Enryn knew better, she was terrified.

  "I can't see any of us making it my sister," Enryn sighed. "We can't cross the Backbone when we reach it, and if we try to go through the tunnel we might as well invite the beast to eat us."

  "Then all we can do is hide before the entrance and wait for a miracle," Jinryn gasped sadly.

  "The dark has come and gone many times while we have waited for that my sister," Enryn sighed, "and we are still waiting to be rescued." Enryn turned for one last look at the Ship and could see nothing, nothing at all. The white death covered the land as far as the eye could see. She turned back to follow the wagons into a world of danger.

  Percival Base, Louisiana, Earth

  Master Gunnery Sergeant Ace Macintyre presented his papers at the Gatehouse and let the Taxi drop him off at the Sergeant's mess. He'd no idea what he was doing at Percival Base, but he was only a Master Gunny, just about the highest ranking Non-com in the US Marines, so of course no one told him what he was doing. It was his job to tell other people, meaning Officers, what he was doing. When he knew himself.

  He reached his quarters to see half a dozen letters waiting for him, the biggest was from his Ex-wife, who had been following his progress over half the world, telling him she had sold their house and not to bother trying to find out how much she had got because the money was already safely tucked away in an offshore bank.

  The next letter revealed an embossed card inviting him to a wedding.

  Big deal!

  Then he noticed the names of the two couples: John Percival and Isralla Inra-Shrombasre. Eileen Percival and Ison Inra-Shrombasre, cordially invite you to their joint wedding.

  So the Percival family who had started two wars were now marrying into an alien family from a planet called Yag-Urth, that no one had ever heard of. Ace looked through the window as a Destroyer came in to land. The torpedo shaped body had three energy cannons running the entire length of the hull, and three stubby wings, again as long as the hull, with yet more huge cannons on the wingtips. He discounted the array of secondary turrets that festooned the black hull, they were overkill.

  The Destroyer settled into a cradle, and was lowered into her silo, disappearing from sight. Ace saw the silo doors slide shut, sealing her off from attack, and then looked around the base, seeing a hundred or more silos, some far larger than the Destroyer's.

  He had seen starships before, and even been on the Moon once, testing the readiness of the three huge Battle stations kept parked there for planetary defence. But he finally realised where he was. Percival Base was the home of the Percival family, who were the biggest defence contractors on Earth, and virtually ran the NASB, the National Aeronautical and Space Bureau, that had taken over all military affairs in space. It had always seemed strange to him, that the people who made the ships and sold them to the Government were also the ones who fought them.

  They were making money every way, for every ship they lost in combat they would sell the Government an even bigger one.

  Nice deal.

  Ace checked the time and changed into his dress uniform, asking the way to the wedding. "I'm just going myself," the desk Sergeant offered, "you can't miss the Cathedral, but it's a long way so I'll take you Gunny."

  "A Cathedral on a Base," Ace gasped.

  "But this is Percival Base, we do the impossible every day."

  "I was wondering why I was invited?"

  "Everyone is invited, everyone," he laughed.

  The traffic soon slowed into a veritable traffic jam as they drove across the base, past the Percival mansion, that warranted a private security screen and a ring of energy cannons, and on towards the far side of the Base.

  The Cathedral consisted of several low domes of crystal and a dozen towering spires holding multi coloured shapes that looked like natural living ge
ms. The bright sunlight hit the gems and was split into a thousand prismatic colours, that seemed to surround the Cathedral in half a hundred rainbows, which recombined into a dome of white light declaring independence from all Earthly authority. Either man made or natural.

  "Looks tacky to me," Ace dismissed it. "Like something left over from Vegas. And those fake gems, I ask you?"

  "When you consider that a month ago it didn't exist, and that as best we can tell the gems are real, I hope you'll look with fresh eyes."

  Ace turned back to see the Cathedral as a work of alien art.

  "Mind you," the driver laughed, "I'd like to see some fool try to steal a one ton diamond, it'd make one hell of an engagement ring."

  Ace looked at the dome of pure white light that surrounded the Cathedral, and only then realised it was impossible to enter with ill will, for it was protected from all harm. He had a feeling that it would still be there long after mankind had left this plane of existence.

  They pulled into a car park and walked into the work of art, to see the interior was of plain white marble with a clear dome for a ceiling. There were no pews in the vast white space, and everyone stood mingling in confusion. The family stood gathered on the alter welcoming them all, even the two brides.

  Ace had expected the bonding of the children of two very powerful families to be different, but he had seen nothing yet.

  Then a being appeared in the entrance, a woman of great power who walked towards the alter, leaving roses growing within the marble with each step. The flowers ran under the floor and up the white walls, growing and flowering as the guests watched them in disbelief.

  The ceremony was brief, the two couples knelt humbly naked before The Lady, looking up at her as she judged their souls and love. A blond girl knelt before them carrying the rings on a silken cushion, and as John and Isralla exchanged rings they gave a bracelet to the astonished girl. The crowd were not sure what that meant.

  Eileen and Ison were next, and bonded with eternal love.

  Then The Lady looked across the crowd to see another couple with a daughter. She commanded them silently to kneel before her, a short blond girl was also dragged to kneel behind them. The Lady bound the couple together, with the blond who served them and their adopted daughter, forming a single family.

  The Lady glanced across the room, looking deep into all their eyes. Some looked away in shame, before being compelled to look into Her eyes, finding repentance and forgiveness.

  Ace caught her gaze for a split second that lasted an eternity, his soul was ripped bare, his crimes revealed and his sorrow judged. All that he had done, both good and ill, was understood and forgiven. Even by him. The gaze moved on leaving him trembling like a leaf.

  One man stared at her defiantly, daring her to judge his sins.

  She turned to the alter and a statue appeared, thirty foot tall and holding a jagged spear of justice. The man saw the spear aimed straight at his heart, and collapsed before The Lady.

  She turned away seeing the family again, and her tranquil face turned thunderous. She pointed to a boy of about seven, snapping, "You were not invited, get thee gone worm!"

  A dark form was pulled kicking and screaming from the boy's chest and he collapsed. The Lady grew to monstrous proportions, holding the wriggling creature with rage. "You would dare invade this family that I have Blessed! Yes, I know you. Never again shall you return to Earth, or threaten them in any way, now be gone!" She flung the creature from the Earth forever.

  Then she turned to the boy laying crumpled on the flowered marble, seeing a girl of eleven holding him in tears. "Your love and devotion do you credit Lorza, but fear not for Jack." Then she saw the damage the Aelder had left on the boy and held them both in rage. "Child, my time is limited in this realm, I have not the power to save him."

  "Then use me Great Lady, use me to save Jack."

  "You would willingly sacrifice yourself to save your charge?"

  "If that is the only way, then I accept. Take me lady that he may live."

  The Lady smiled and let them go, but instead of being seven and eleven they now looked sixteen each. "I took years from you to save Jack, and gave them back. Lorza, your love has saved you both. From this day forward your hearts shall beat as one for all time, I unite you both in My Name."

  The Lady seemed to fade from reality, floating away across the cosmos, leaving behind a very humble crowd and a thirty foot high statue infused with Her Presence.

  Ace stumbled from the Cathedral, seeing tiny winged forms flying through the multi coloured marble roses, and wanted to believe they were birds, he wanted to believe that very badly indeed.

  "Come on, or we'll miss the Titanic," his driver bustled him away from the Cathedral.

  "You what!"

  "The Titanic, that's where the reception is."

  Ace looked across from the Cathedral to see a full sized copy of the RMS Titanic floating in an artificial lake. A Perspex cover shielded the whole deck, only the twin masts and the four funnels were missing to dispel the illusion that it was the real ship.

  Ace climbed the gangway and showed his invitation to the steward, who directed him to the first class section and the Cafe Paresian, where he blended in with the Big Guns. That was one thing about being a Master Gunny, he did the work but also got the credit; half of his job was making the Officers look good, and mingling with the civilian dignitaries who did not trust Officers.

  It took an hour for the fake ship to load, and Ace saw the Percivals and new family rushing on board.

  Then the sky lit up with fireworks that seemed to be flying rather slowly. Ace looked over the rail to see the ground falling away from the ship.

  The Titanic was flying.

  "I take it you didn't get the information pack?"

  Ace turned to see John Percival and his new wife Isralla grinning at his look of shock. "If I had read this, I still would not believe it sir," he said snapping to attention.

  "I'm not in the army anymore," John offered his hand. "In a few weeks I'm going to need someone I can trust. And I thought who better than a Master Gunny."

  "Then you chose me sir. May I ask why?"

  Isralla took over, she was a very short and slim girl who was trying to look eighteen, with short golden hair and large golden eyes. Ace had read an article claming that she was far older than she looked, but he refused to believe she was forty.

  "We are going on a cruise in a new ship," Isralla explained, "and it's going to be exiting. Unfortunately we've been forced to take units from half our armed forces with us, and that is a recipe for disaster."

  John continued, "There is no overall control, half the Units are in active competition with each other, and the Percival/ Inra-Shrombasre family are a civilian organisation who can make suggestions and hope the military leaders take our advice seriously."

  "That sounds familiar," Ace sighed. "So where do I come in? Not to spy on my Bosses?"

  "Nothing like that," John gasped. "However, we need to know the true state of the Iowa. And not some Bulshit dreamt up by an incompetent officer."

  "You'll be quartered with the Marines," Isralla continued. "But have free run of the ship and a direct line to us. You're not married?"

  "Not anymore," he sighed.

  "Good, this is going to be a long cruise and all the men are single," John pointed out. "The Iowa is a warship and there aren't any married quarters. There aren't that many women on board, and those that are will pull their weight."

  "So where are we going?"

  "Oh, a quick spin around the Galaxy," Isralla laughed. "It might take two or three years."

  "How big is she?" Ace gasped in shock.

  "More than three hundred thousand tons," John laughed. "The Iowa is a Dreadnought with planetary assault capability, using the Marines, an Air wing under the Air Force, even the Army and Navy have a huge military presence."

  "And they will squabble like babies if they don't get their own way," Isralla sighed.


  A very pretty girl with dark blond hair came up with Champaign for them all, she served them and stood chatting while grinning madly.

  Ace noticed her bracelet and saw that it matched John and Isralla's rings. "I saw you in the ceremony."

  "I'm Jina, I belong to them," she laughed. "But I didn't know how much till they gave me this bracelet."

  "I'm still confused about that," Ace sighed. "The papers were calling you some kind of slave!"

  "Trust the press," she sighed. "My name is Jina Percival and I serve them willingly. Gunny, I kneel before no one!"

  "So who was that?" he stumbled over the question. "Who, or what, married you?"

  "The Lady of Yag-Urth, Ellberath the Divine," Isralla laughed, "an old family friend. She insisted on performing the ceremony, to make sure I was properly married off."

  "She was a Goddess!" Ace gasped.

  "Yes, so what?" Jina asked simply.

  The Titanic past Mars as the team of Blue dancers from the world of Triteam were putting on a show of acrobatics the passengers would never forget.

  As they past Jupiter there was a chore singing of love and honour in perfect tune and with rousing words, as the final thirty survivors of the Warrior Bards of the LySeelel gave their benediction to the family who had saved their race from total extinction.

  The meal was served on the way to Saturn.

  Then, by Saturn's light the four couples danced declaring their love. Especially the two that hadn't intended to get married. Darko and Karin were dancing sweetly, as their adopted daughter Birgit was laughing with Atia, the blond girl who served them.

  The newly sixteen year olds Lorza and Jack Percival were swaying gently in each others arms, lost in their eyes.

  Eileen and Ison too were dancing stately, while suspiciously watching their joint mothers laughing in the bar.