JORR (Jim Able: Offworld Book 7) by Ed Charlton (ebook reader ink .txt) 📗

happy that you have achieved at least part of what you set out to.”

Tella’s heart went out to Jim and Tamric. “I promise to remain. I will serve as Larc’s bodyguard until the danger of invasion has passed. And you will allow my message to reach those who need to hear it.”

“Agreed.”

Larc smiled. His mother turned and pressed a button under the edge of her desk. The doors flew open at both ends of the lab. Three armored soldiers entered from each direction. Tella could see the infrared visors down across their snouts.

“Keep your hands where they can be seen!” shouted one of them.

Tella raised its arms, aware that the color its hands had taken up from the lab coat largely faded as it did so.

“Take him to a lockup until we work out the details of his employment,” called the professor.

Tella stood and said quietly, “I would prefer if you did not assume that I am male...or female, for I am neither. Please refer to me as ‘it’ rather than as ‘him’ or ‘her.’”

“Really?” she said, looking Tella up and down. “How interesting.”

As the Neraffan was escorted from the lab, Larc called, “See you later, Tella!”

Chapter Eight

The girl was spreading mud on her arms. Jim felt cold in his stomach as he watched layers and layers of mud stroked up and down her arms. He knew he could not stop her.

“Jim?”

It was not the girl’s voice: hers had been low, sultry, and mysterious. The voice was a young man’s.

“Jim?”

What is that pain?

All thought of the girl, her arms, and her voice had gone. It was dark. It was cold. Jim’s pain seemed to come from all over.

“Jim, at last! You’re awake. How do you feel?”

“Like shit. Who are you?”

“Tamric. It’s Tamric, Jim.”

“Tamric?”

The name sounded familiar, but he couldn’t quite remember. There was a concerned young face leaning over him.

“How much do you remember, Jim?”

“About what?”

Jim watched the young man’s eyes searching his face.

“Do you remember me?”

“I guess so...Give me a minute.”

Jim closed his eyes and tried to think.

Tamric? Where is he from? He isn’t from Earth...

“Do you remember where we are?”

“Not exactly.”

Jim looked around a small room. It looked like it had been patched together from driftwood and building rubble. The ceiling was made from long planks stuffed with scraps of paper and cloth.

“I don’t remember this...place.”

“No, don’t worry; you wouldn’t. You were unconscious when we brought you here.”

“Who’s ‘we’?”

“Darl and I. Darl is a Gul who helped...is helping us.”

“A what?”

In a sickening wave, Jim’s memory came back, and he sat up.

“Oh shit! What happened?”

“What do you remember last?”

Tamric had taken Jim’s arms to steady him and was studying his face again.

“I...remember we were walking along the river...toward the base. We’d seen a flier take off...”

Jim shook his head and, then, wished he hadn’t. “Ouch! What the hell happened to my neck?”

“Move slowly. Better yet, lie down again.”

Jim lay back, breathing hard. The pain was coming from more than his neck: his back was burning, his legs felt bruised and twisted, and his fingers stung like he had been slamming them in a door.

“Tell me. Tell me what happened.”

“We were attacked. What it was, I still don’t know. It was big and aggressive, and it nearly killed us both. It knocked me aside and went after you. I think it had been following us along the footpath at the river’s old bank. Do you remember us taking the path?”

“No.”

“I only managed to get it off you with a couple of rifle shots. I didn’t kill it even then. We’re both lucky to be here.”

“Are you injured?”

“Some. I’m bruised a bit. As I said, it knocked me aside. You took the worst of it. Your struggle with it gave me time to get the rifle from my pack.”

“Just my luck.”

“I’m glad you’re awake. You’ve been a bit feverish in your sleep.”

“How clean are my wounds?”

“I’ve done my best. We’ve run out of antimicrobials. We can’t afford another misadventure like this.”

“I’ll drink to that.”

“You need to eat something. And...”

“And what?”

“We need to move from here as soon as you can get up.”

“Where is ‘here’?”

“The home of Darl. He helped me carry you here. But it isn’t safe for him to have us around.”

“Are we still near the base?”

“Quite close. He has a stream here, with clean water. It’s amazing, Jim!”

“Amazing...”

***

Jim passed out the first time he tried to get up. The second time, he felt the blood drain from his head, and his muscles shook for several minutes, but he stayed conscious. After he had eaten some of the protein bars, he felt more stable.

Tamric had a deeply blackened eye and cheek, and one shoulder seemed to be stiffening. Jim suspected that Tamric had not given himself as much care as he had given Jim.

“Where is this Darl?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know where he goes. He hasn’t been here for a while. I suspect he has dealings with the troops on the outskirts of the base.”

“Can we trust him?”

“I think so. He’s a little simple. I don’t think he likes the authorities. He understands we’re up to something they won’t like. He thinks it’s a game.”

“This is dangerous. You don’t know what he’s saying to people.”

“I know. That’s why we need to leave as soon as we can.”

***

In the cold, early hours of the morning, Jim and Tamric set off from Darl’s cabin, without Jim ever meeting their host. He argued with Tamric and insisted that they leave some of the protein bars as a gift.

Jim found it hard going. Tamric went in front, wearing the helmet, which bore several dents and scratches, and his rifle slung over his arm. Jim knew that keeping the rifles hidden in their packs had been a good idea when they were arrested, but they should have had them out and ready once they were on their own again. He berated himself quietly, feeling he deserved at least some of the pain that jolted up from each step.

As they walked, Jim realized what Tamric