Catastrophe in the Firesnake Page 8

  “What?”

  “He thought if you found the key, he could travel in time to deal antiques, then return the money to you.”

  “Was he lying about the volcano?”

  “No. That part is true. At least, that’s what Ba thinks.” He blew out his cheeks. “Seems certain.”

  “You don’t believe in the pyramid being a time portal?”

  “Kinda. But it’s hard. Mom doesn’t.”

  “I wouldn’t either. But your ba knew the name of my spirit guardian. I’ve never told anyone about her before.” Her breath hitched. Who was Sharr Shuvuu anyway? What was her valid reasoning behind directing Aedre’s future? “There’s still time.” She gazed out of the window at the car park backed by a dusty road. “I can find this crow woman and ask her where the key is.”

  “But you’re paralysed, and the hospital won’t allow it.”

  “They’ll have to let me. If I can save lives, I won’t be useless.” Shape-shifting would give her the ability to feel and move too.

  “I think you should give up on the idea for now. You’ll be here for some time, and Haunted River runs nowhere near Abud. We still have ten years until the volcanic eruption. There’s time.”

  Aedre blinked. “Sooner’s better, though. I don’t think this crow woman he speaks about will tell anyone except me where the key’s hidden.”

  ***

  The next day, while a nurse spoon-fed Aedre a bowl of sweet and spicy curry, someone tapped at the door, opened it a little, and poked his head through the gap. He was tall for a Native-Red. “Aedre?”

  “Yes.”

  “Sorry. You’re eating. Shall I come back later?”

  The nurse stopped the spoon halfway to Aedre’s mouth and shrugged.

  “It’s okay. I don’t mind people watching me eat.”

  He smiled and entered, arching an eyebrow as he approached the bed. “It smells good. Western Firesnake curry?”

  The nurse nodded.

  “Not too spicy for a Noctar?”

  Aedra grimaced. “No. Not as spicy as Giokese sambal.”

  He clasped his hands together. “My name’s Tak, and I’m from the Nerthus Embassy.”

  “You don’t look like a Nerthling.” That remark should pay him back for calling her a Noctar.

  He chuckled and lowered himself into the empty seat. “It’s not just Nerthlings who work for the embassy.”

  “And not all foreigners with white skin should be called Noctars.”

  He opened his hands out. “I’m sorry about what’s happened to you.”

  Tears stung the back of her eyes, and she sniffed. “Shit happens.”

  “The government’s agreed to pay for your flight to Nerthus as an apology for your poor treatment at their labour camp.”

  Her heart seemed to freeze, then pound. “I can’t believe it!”

  “You’ll need to contact your father.”

  “But the Airdome—”

  “Don’t worry about any Airdomes. I’ve brought an airSphere from the embassy.”

  Her hands tingled. The first body sensation she’d had since waking at Haunted River. “Can I call him now?”

  “Yes. But I’ll talk to him first and explain the situation.”

  Her face dropped. “Tell Dad I’m paralysed?”

  “Of course.”

  Hopefully, Dad wasn’t still in a mental asylum. Then again, even if his psychological state had improved, the news could cause another breakdown. “Maybe it’s better he doesn’t know.”

  “Sorry, but your family has to know. You need to return to your homeworld.” He squashed the airSphere one-metre in diameter against the wall. The nurse left with the empty bowl and spoon.

  Tak dialled her Dad’s. Nothing.

  He called the Bod’s Android Recovery Centre. An elderly male receptionist answered. “Hello. How can I help?”

  Tak leaned closer. “Does Pak’Johnston still work in the electronics department?”

  The receptionist swung around and scanned a second airSphere by his side. “Putting you through now.”

  As Tak’s airSphere pulsed red, Aedre’s heart raced. If only she could talk to Dad first, rather than have Tak tell him the bad news. At least the airSphere wasn’t in privacy mode so that Dad would see her straight away and know she was alive.

  Dad appeared. His ginger hair had receded, and more circles lined his under-eyes. Upon recognition, he shot up from his chair and pulled his airSphere around himself. “Aedre!”

  “Pak’Johnston?” Tak asked.

  Dad frowned at Tak. “Speaking.”

  “My name’s Tak, and I’m from the Nerthus Embassy. I’m afraid your daughter’s become paralysed from the neck down.”

  Colour drained from Dad’s face. “Aedre?”

  Time slowed, and she couldn’t hold back the tears.

  “Doctors are still unsure whether she has a neurological disease or sustained internal trauma to the brain. There are no head wounds, but lots of internal swelling. The doctors can talk you through this in due course.”

  Dad nodded, eyes dazed. “Come home, Aedre.”

  “The Inarmuzzan government will buy Aedre a ticket as an apology for poor treatment at the labour camp she’d been mining in—”

  “Labour camp? Mining?”

  Tak stared at Aedre, eyebrows squished together.

  “Sorry, Dad. I didn’t tell your colleague when I called from the embassy that I was on my way to a labour camp.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I didn’t want you to get worse.”

  “I mean, why have you been in labour camp?”

  “I ran out of money and couldn’t afford a ticket home—”

  “But your teaching position.”

  “I resigned before my contract ran out.”

  “You should’ve asked me for money. I would’ve bought your ticket.”

  “I was too proud.”

  “It’s my fault.” Tears welled, and he rubbed his face. “I should’ve bought you that ticket to Mayleeda in the first place. I should have encouraged you, not put you down. Should’ve let you follow your dream.” He turned away, sniffing.

  “No, Dad. I was wrong to ask for so much.”

  Dad spoke to Tak. “When can she return? Surely cryosponge is too risky at the moment.”

  “The doctors say that once the swelling goes down, she’ll be good to go. Paralysed humans are at no more risk than the non-disabled.”

  The reminder that she wasn’t non-disabled made her gag.

  “Can I talk to Aedre again?”

  “Same time next week?”

  “That’s two weeks in Kuanja, isn’t it?”

  “That’s right.”

  After Tak left, Aedre’s heart continued to flutter. Finally, she could return home. How stupid she’d been to disconnect herself from Dad and Soozan. Mum was dead, but they weren’t.

  If it rained before then, could she ask someone to take her to Haunted River? She just needed to tell Yasmin how to travel by river and rain, then Aedre could find the key for the villagers.

  ***

  A few days later, Aedre sat in a wheelchair in the patients’ common-room. Some played ping pong, while others drank tea and chatted, read books, or watched holographic TV.

  On the news, a search was on for a man who emitted poisonous gas in a bank in Rajanakki. The image displayed a YuFang lookalike. He’d killed innocent women, men, and even children.

  A lump formed in her throat. She shook her head, vigorously. Must be a different man. Jerjens looked similar.

  Who was she kidding? Jerjens looked as different as Saxs, Papsnens, Native-Reds, and other ethnicities. There was similarity in their race, but differences sufficient to distinguish from one individual from another. His sturdy posture, rounded shoulders, square jaw, and full black beard told her it was him.

  What had the Yiksaan wanted with YuFang? Even worse, what had he done to Yasmin and YeLi? Were they safe? Was Apek safe in the hospital still, or had
he come back to find carnage at the temple?

  When Gus next came, she’d arrange for him to take her to Haunted River. In the meantime, she’d ask doctors for permission to do this. She’d tell them she wanted to perform a Nerthling pagan water ritual for luck. The Giokese Indites appreciated elemental worship.

  ***

  Gus pushed Aedre down to the hospital reception, then struggled with her aurashield remote. The downpour of rain slammed into the plastic roof of the hospital’s porch. The receptionist lay asleep on a mat behind her desk. No-one stopped them.

  Once outside, Aedre’s aurashield floated around them, holding back the rain as Gus pushed her wheelchair to his car. Lamplight shone on Somare as he got out of the car and ran to greet them. Father and son lifted her into the front passenger seat.

  Somare belted her in. “Thank you for doing this.” He slammed the door and ran around to slip into the back. He leaned between the two front seats, most likely because she couldn’t turn around to meet his gaze. “Gus said you didn’t think the crow woman would listen to me.”

  “That’s right, and I wanna save the villagers without messing up. You’ll have to hold onto the key for ten years before the volcano erupts, though. The government is buying me a ticket home, so the sooner I know its whereabouts, the better.”

  “That’s great news. I’ll look after the key. With no more drones following us, and with Bamdar in prison, the evil bastard won’t muck things up. You did well to bring down the Yiksaan. I should’ve told you that before.”

  “Thanks. But two hundred and eighty people died.”

  “You didn’t know that would happen. Who’d think androids could rebel. It’s an interstellar debate now.” He laughed. “Mayleeda is actually thinking about giving androids rights.”

  She clenched her jaw. Somare certainly hadn’t given his labourers any rights. Whether he was a father and husband or not, could she trust this monster to hold onto a key to the past and future for the next ten years?

  After Gus strapped himself in the driver’s seat, he started the engine and entered a dark, country road.

  Her bottom slipped down on the leather car seat. Unable to push herself up again, she sighed.

  “So, now that it’s raining are you going straight to see the crow woman?” Somare asked.

  Aedre swallowed. “Yes.” She couldn’t tell him she’d first search for Yasmin and that murderer, YuFang.

  ***

  Aedre appeared standing next to Yasmin’s bed. “Yasmin. It’s me, Aedre.”

  Yasmin’s voice croaked in the dark. “You came.”

  “Are you safe staying here? Has YuFang hurt anyone?”

  Yasmin switched on her bedside lamp and rubbed her eyes. “We’re all fine. What time is it?”

  “Hour thirty-six. What about YuFang?” She’d tie him up and drop him on the steps of the police station. Didn’t matter they were corrupt. The government offered a generous reward for his capture. They could argue about it between them.

  “He’s here too. Apek’s helping him heal and get his memory back. Says YuFang’s memories aren’t real. He thinks YuFang was a different man called YuFu with a different past.”

  Aedre wrinkled her nose. What rubbish had YuFang been feeding them? How could they be so gullible? “You know he’s a murderer? I’ll either tie him up and call the police or take him there myself.”

  “Please leave him alone for now. He has to find out who he is. He won’t hurt us.”

  “He’s dangerous.”

  “Please don’t. You trust Apek, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “I beg you.”

  Aedre bit her lip. “D’you wanna learn how to travel by river and rain? You could save your mum.”

  Chapter 11*Akachi

  Akachi’s head hurt from clenching his teeth while watching live footage of YuFang in the Feili temple. What was this bank robber turned mass murderer doing hiding out there? Taking advantage of kind people?

  The elderly Jerjen and young mixed-race woman treated him with fondness, even though they knew he’d murdered children. Disgusting. The Feili healer seemed to believe YuFang’s pathetic stories of a different life.

  Akachi stepped out of the airSphere and buzzed Pak’Thor on another.

  A sheen of sweat twinkled on the smiling quantum physicist’s high forehead.

  “Been watching the drone’s footage?”

  “Yep, look.” Thor directed his airSphere’s camera to another airSphere which displayed an aerial view of three Jerjens sitting around the tea-table. Thor rubbed his skinny hands together. “It’s getting exciting. I look forward to Aedre’s arrival. Hope she gives away some dirty secrets about how she does it. It must be a technology we don’t know about. Wonder if she’s from outside the boundaries.”

  Heat flooded Akachi’s face. “D’you know YuFang’s the murderer from Kalak?”

  “Sure. Been watching since you activated the drone.”

  “I’m telling the MSS.”

  “You can’t do that. Not yet. Not until Aedre arrives and tells them how the hell she does it.”

  Akachi tapped his foot. “But he’s dangerous.”

  “Not while he’s hiding in the temple. Just wait for the redhead to show up. If she knows YuFang’s been busted, she might not return.”

  Akachi’s stomach hardened, and he cursed under his breath.

  ***

  Akachi was the drone controller. Although he couldn’t stop Thor viewing drone 1, he could reconnect it to a control system and tag a second drone to Apek.

  Akachi left his apartment early that morning, hired a car with blacked-out windows, and made his way to Jerjen town. With light traffic, he should arrive in time to see Apek on his morning stroll.

  The neighbourhood was peaceful, and the road outside the temple was more akin to a wide footpath, bleached chalky white by the blazing sun.

  Outside the temple, he slipped on monitor glasses, retrieved a magnetic programming disc, and opened his window a notch. Then he commanded the temple drone to fly out to him. It made its way from the second floor and landed on the disc. Using the monitor implanted in his palm, he reprogrammed it to respond solely to him.

  The drone flew back through the temple’s open window just as Apek walked out in flip-flops, carrying an empty cotton bag.

  From a small pouch, Akachi retrieved a metal rod and aimed an invisible laser beam at Apek. He slipped a mosquito drone out of his pocket and programmed it to tag him. The drone flew out the window and followed Apek down the street.

  Akachi rubbed his brow to ease his throbbing head and used his monitor glasses to command drone 1 to follow Apek too. That would fool Pak’Thor into believing their drone still tagged Apek.

  Akachi would have to keep a constant watch on both drones. Drone 1 would appear to tag Apek, but, when Aedre came, he’d direct it away from her revelations and record her information with his secret drone 2.

  ***

  While most of Rajka slept, Akachi went to a quiet bar. He swigged his third glass of liquor and lowered his face to gaze at his reflection on the polished, wooden countertop. Maki had his eyes—large and dark.

  His son was safe in Blueleaf school now, and Dav had passed on all parental rights. Shame, it’d be Akachi who’d have to break it to the boy that his mom was dead. Not a good first impression—the bringer of bad news. The kid would probably blame him for Velina’s death and Dav’s disappearance. Fucking Dav.

  Once he found out what had happened to his baby sister, negativity would no longer seep into all aspects of his life. He’d be free to quit his job and be a father to his son.

  His holophone buzzed, and a miniature Thor stood on top. “Where the hell are you?”

  “In a bar.”

  “Get your ass home. Aedre showed up.”

  “Shit.” He ran up the road, and once home, he viewed the live footage. How much had he missed?

  Aedre, YuFang, Apek, and Yasmin sat on the floor around the tea-table.


  Aedre showed her redhead form—a Nerthling Sax, perhaps. “I don’t have long. I’ve promised someone else a favour. Should’ve done it a long time ago, but it didn’t rain.”

  “What do you mean?” Apek asked as he rubbed an eye.

  “I can only travel and shape-shift when it’s raining.”

  “It’s not raining.”

  “It’s raining where my physical body lies.”

  “Where’s that?” Apek asked.

  “A place called Haunted River, in Monkey Forest, Giok.”

  Akachi gasped. Now Thor knew where Aedre was. He had to find her before Thor did.

  “Giok’s a nice place.”

  “Sorry, Apek. But I have to rush.” She pointed at YuFang. “He’s a murderer. I want to take him to the police.”

  “No. Don’t,” Apek said.

  Akachi knew what he’d say. That would buy him time. While Apek and Yasmin explained YuFang’s dreams and conspiracy theories about his fictional past working for Tanmixan, Akachi rushed to his invisible shelf and accessed his airSphere linked to drone 1. He flew it out of the tearoom and into an upstairs bedroom.

  He hooted. Thor wouldn’t find out if Aedre revealed anything. Akachi’s airSphere buzzed. “Speak of the Devil.” He didn’t accept but continued to watch drone 2’s footage, moving the drone closer to Aedre.

  YuFang hung his head, then looked up. “If it makes you feel better, once I’ve contacted these people I’ve been dreaming about, I’ll surrender to the police.”

  “Good.” Aedre nodded.

  Akachi nodded too. That seemed reasonable.

  “Can you save my mother from Glass City?” Yasmin asked Aedre.

  “And find out if these people from my dreams are real?” YuFang asked.

  “I don’t know.” Aedre blinked tears from her eyes. They rolled down her cheeks and rested on her small pink lips. She wiped them away. “I’m paralysed. Had an accident at the Yiksaan complex.”

  “No!” Yasmin said.

  Akachi’s jaw dropped. How the hell had that happened?

  “It’s my stupid fault. Serves me right for getting three hundred people killed.”

  “That was the androids, not you,” Apek said.

  “I initiated it.”

  Akachi nodded. He knew the feeling of guilt all too well.