Fire and Ice

Crane stood at the window of the hall, staring out over the treetop kingdom. Domes made from wooden frames and covered in a variety of leaves and vines stretched as far as he could see. Small rough streets were strewn over the canopy in a myriad of avenues reaching from the central palace which he now stood within. He marvelled at the expanse of the outpost and was struck by the similarities of this new village, with its hand built domes to the structured colonies that he had seen across the universe. The size and structure of the colony, still bore the same characteristics to most newly built colonies that he had seen and he wondered briefly if it had been modelled on the original colony. His thoughts wandered to the colonists that had come to this planet and he wondered what had happened to them and their technology and cast a sideways glance toward his captors. Had they anything to do with their disappearance or that of the holy mission and where was the equipment? The light touched the trees and he gazed in peaceful contemplation as the rays from the sun seemed to sing as they touched the canopy and glistened with the daily dew. He watched as birds flew over the tops of the trees and circled high in the air above the village. He could briefly make out the raised voices from behind him, but in his stupor remained transfixed by the jungle outside the window.

“Where are our colleagues?” demanded Aston James, trying to keep control of his voice as he attempted to reason with the heavy set woman in small animal skins who was at this moment perched on the edge of the large throne in the centre of the room.

The large set woman sat in her high back throne and smiled at the Reverend calmly. “You are intruders in the jungle” she replied simply pointing at him as she spoke. “It is you who shall answer to me”

“We came here in peace” reiterated James

“We did not ask you”

“Nevertheless” continued James, “we were requested”

“I do not believe you” stated Lady Theye, “I rule this world completely” she tugged at the leash in her hand slightly and the small furry creature which sat on her shoulder leapt to attention and ran down her arm and sat firmly on the arm of the throne. Lady Theye turned her attention to the creature and she stared into the animal’s eyes, stroking under its chin as she spoke, “everything which happens, happens at my bequest. There is nothing which happens without my knowledge...isn’t that right my baby” she purred

“That may be my Lady” said James patiently, “but somebody under your command seems to require our assistance”

“Do not think you are the first ones to travel here with this story” she said suddenly, “we have had similar visitors with such tales”

“Father Dominica” whispered James to himself.

“I shall tell you, as I told him. We are the people of the trees, we need no assistance” she rose from her throne and crossed to the window and joined Crane as he stared over the kingdom following his gaze as the sun caressed the canopy, “as the great God Gonosz wakes, we; the people shall be his devout servants in his great scheme, we as one”

“Gonosz does not exist” said James calmly, “there is but one God”

Theye spun around to face him, her eyes burning with anger “do not blaspheme!” she snapped. James stepped back involuntarily under the intensity of her gaze.

“Forgive me” he apologised lowering his head, “I meant no harm”

“Who are they?” asked Crane suddenly gazing out of the window into the street below at the slow collection of people which weaved its way through the tree lined avenues.

Lady Theye turned her attention outside and followed his gaze to the street below the palace window. The subtle procession walked slowly beneath the shadow of the citadel, all trailed by simple vines and bound by the textile strength of the creepers. The men and women all wore simple clothing and dirt and grazes covered their faces and bodies. Men flanked the procession as they walked, each warrior holding a spear which towered over their heads and occasionally stabbed at the people as they walked. “They are nothing, they are of the grass, insignificant worms” Theye remarked dismissing the file as it shuffled through along the path.

“They are people” said Crane calmly still watching the procession as it stumbled through the streets.

“They are not your concern” dismissed Theye as she moved back to her throne, “simply workers or less”

“They look more like slaves” commented Crane, averting his gaze from the people below and toward her as she nodded in agreement. “But they are just like you!” he snapped and moved into the centre of the room. “They are Humans…the humans we have come to help”

“They are nothing” reaffirmed Theye, “They are beneath us. Which is why we sit here upon high, gazing down at their worthlessness” she settled in her chair again and looked at the fawning form of the Chamberlain as he entered the room. “Your time has ended” she dismissed, “I wish to be alone” she waved in the direction of the men and beckoned toward the door.

“No” said Crane simply

“I beg your pardon?” asked Theye curiously.

“I’m sorry, but no” repeated Crane, “I was sent here with a mission to find the lost colony and assist them” he paused and took a step toward the throne, “I still intend to do this”

“I know of no colony only we the people of the free, and we seek no assistance” sighed Theye, “be gone!”

“You are the colony!” snapped Crane, “or at least what’s left of them! Don’t you get it; you are originally from Earth!”

“Where are you taking us?” demanded Darby as she was thrust along a winding corridor.

“Be silent!” snapped the guard as he thrust a hand firmly into her back. She stumbled forward and placed a hand against the fern crusted walls, steadying her balance as a sharp pain coursed along her spine from his hand. She regained her footing and continued down the corridor watching the back of Dev Wheler as he walked before her, and her mind went back to that moment in the jungle when they had been ambushed. The four ponies had stopped while Captain Crane and the Reverend had taken readings from the instruments on the head of the vehicles. As they discussed their position, she remembered as long thick vines had dropped from the tree canopy above their heads and a series of figures slid down quickly into their party. It had happened so fast; it had seemed like a dream, or a nightmare. Semi-naked men and women with spears and knives raining down on them from the branches and disabling them quickly, knocking them from their steeds and stripping them of any equipment. It had been so quick, so organised. Then…walking through the jungle until they had come to a series of vines which they were forced up in a large manually operated elevator and high into the canopy. She remembered as they were paraded before a huge woman and ordered into a breeding programme with her warriors.

“Dev” she whispered urgently under her breath. “Dev!”, he looked around at her and frowned. “We need to escape” she breathed. He shook his head and continued to follow the corridor ignoring her words as they moved out the building and into the streets above the ground. Her hand ran along the railing which spanned the walkways of the canopy and gazed over the edge of the street and down to the ground far below. She leant forward again, “we need to get away” she whispered urgently again, “I have no intention of mating with anyone on this planet, let alone being placed in a breeding programme” the words were forced out through her teeth as she spoke.

“Be silent!” snapped the warrior at her rear and thrust the end of the spear roughly into her back. She felt a pang of anger coarse through her body as the pain from the point of the spear jabbed her firmly in her spine.

“I’m not going” whispered Wheler shaking his head, glancing over his shoulder toward the warrior, “we’ve no hope”

“Then I’ll go without you” said Darby firmly.

“You can’t…it’s suicide”

“It’s suicide staying” she whispered back stopping dead in her tracks and staring at her colleague, her hand tightening around the circular vine wrapped around the railing. “I’m not going to hang around like a piece of meat for somebody’s pleasure”

“Move!” ordered the warrior as Darby stopped on the walkway, his spear tight in his grip.

“You with me?” asked Darby again. Wheler shook his head and moved along the walkway away from his colleague.

“I said move!” snapped the warrior as he thrust his spear forward again. Gripping the vine tight in her grip, Darby hauled herself over the edge of the railing and pushed out into beyond. She felt a rush of exhilaration as she felt the air rush past her as she plummeted toward the jungle floor, her hand trailing over the rough vine.

“Do you not know your history?” snapped Crane, not willing to let to matter drop. “How you came from Earth…how you settled here…”

Lady Theye waved away his words, “I have heard the litany…we all have” her words echoed around the hall as she spoke, “how our forefathers came to this world from beyond the stars and fell to this place. They were welcomed by Gonosz as his great protectors as he entered the everlasting sleep…and so the people scattered across the lands. To the jungle, the grasslands, the swamps, the sea and the mountains for far and wide did we travel, and under the protection of the Lords Ignis and Glacies we would serve until his awakening” Theye stood to her full height and crossed to the window and gazed across the canopy. “Now the Lords are heralding his return and we the people of the trees shall be ready. We shall cleanse the world of the lesser people until only we survive for his command” she turned and stared toward the two men and waved toward them, “take them” she ordered, “I have decided that I shall take you both as my husbands. We shall mate and have many strong children”.

Warriors filed in and forced Crane and James out of the hall at the end of their weapons. Lady Theye crossed to her throne and took her place, “It is done?” she asked the Chamberlain softly.

“Yes my Lady” he cooed, bowing deeply in her presence.

“Is he here?”

“My Lady” replied the Chamberlain and clapped his hands sharply. The doors were slowly opened at the end of the room, which had only seconds before witnessed the ejection of Crane and James through the opening and in through the gaping hole of the doorway walked a fragile elderly man.

“You have done well” she smiled as she spoke, “you shall be well rewarded”. Theye sat and waved him forward from the shadows of the doorway.

“I have betrayed my people, I seek nothing” he said from the darkness.

“Come” she urged gently, “you have served me well…and will be granted with a position which deserves your obedience”

“I had that position” he said and moved slowly out of the shadows and into the light, “I only wish my life” he said sadly refusing to be drawn to her eyes.

“Shuran…” she began.

“I no longer have that name” he said with regret, “that was my old name” he shook his head sadly as he spoke and gazed at the floor, “I have betrayed my own people for my life…”

“And our God” breathed Theye.

Shuran ignored her and continued, “I sold my soul to your servitude and I wish no further part in this” he waved about the palace as he spoke, “my people are dead because of me”

“And the children?” asked Theye.

Shuran sighed heavily and felt the tears welling in his eyes, “they are unaware of their presence” he said, “they shall undergo their journey to the mountains”

“And the watcher?”

“Is undetected…” replied Shuran, “I have faith…we will not be betrayed”. The teacher turned and slowly stalked toward the door, his head falling into his chest as he walked with a heavy weight pressing down on his heart. “May I seek forgiveness” he said softly to himself as he strode from the hall.

Her hands were red from the pressure of the vine and deep cuts ran over her palms. She winched as she flexed her fingers as she attempted to circulate feeling back into her hands. Cadet Darby knelt in the rough foliage of the jungle floor and gazed upward at the village high above her head. Her senses span with the confusion as she watched as the sun streamed through the canopy, and within her mind she could hear a soft gentle whisper urging her to release herself. She looked at her wounds and the pain brought her back to the jungle and she regained herself, looking around at the small empty copse. She could hear shouting from the walkway in the trees and grimaced as she forced herself to her feet, pulling her hands into her body. The pain which ran through her hands matched the ache in her legs where she had crashed on the ground. Darby wrapped her arms around her body, placing her hands under the safety of her sides as she looked at the winding vine which she had glided down. Leaves lay strewn around her feet from the vine as it snaked high above to the connecting walkway and the jungle seemed to enclose around her as she stood for a moment in awe at the scenery of the village from this vantage point. She became aware that the shouting from above her was getting louder and the noise motivated her legs into action. She glanced around her position again searching for any potential escape routes, and her eyes drifted over the large trunks of the trees which spanned the area and held the village in place. Various bushes and plants held enough cover for her to hide as her senses alerted her to the oncoming noise of the warriors.

She thrust a path through the foliage and allowed thorns and bramble to cut and claw at her skin and uniform as she forced herself into the undergrowth. Branches reached for her as she ran and clawed at her clothing as the sound of the ensuing chase echoed in her ears. She stumbled as the pain from her hands battled with the ache in her legs and her muscles screamed as she forced herself forward. The jungle seemed to close in around her as she moved slowly through the foliage…until…she crashed into a large copse. Cadet Darby stood and gazed about her in amazement for a moment…staring into the darkness. In the shadows of the canopy, she could see through the dwindling light the outline of rising buildings and they rose from the ground. Domed buildings, worn and tattered from time lay discarded around the abandoned copse and attentively Darby stepped slowly forward, her eyes flicking over the buildings outlines. A singular large dome rose from the forest floor and reached into the jungle like a majestic giant in this alien environment. Several smaller domes flanked the main building like ducklings huddling around their mother for protection, and Darby breathed heavily under their scrutiny.

Her steps cracked on the ground beneath her feet as she moved quietly through the ancient buildings, her eyes dancing over the rusting exterior of the domes. Her voice whispered through the trees as she moved, “The colony…”