Beyond Hyperspace Book 4 - P.J.Lawton (win 10 ebook reader TXT) 📗

The Searcher’s Quest

The undertaking was inherently dangerous so only the best and brightest were selected. Some returned with astonishing tales to tell, some never returned. So was the lot that befell the selected ones, the Searchers.

Searchers were village members that secretly journeyed to the outer zones. None really knew what perils awaited them there.

Over the past sixty Cycles, twenty Searchers had ventured forth. None had been successful. The mission was to discover a cure for the dreaded Sickness or to locate other supplies of Life Force. Their task was simply known as The Searcher’s Quest. If and when the quest was completed the people could be liberated from the grasp of an evil tyrant, The Leader.

***

Upon reaching the age of ascension on the Eighteenth Cycle a village member was given a secret tribal name and informed of his position within the tribe society. The elders had selected his tribal name, Jonas the Seeker.

Jonas was pleased with his name. Since early childhood he had been a seeker of knowledge. One of his dreams was to become a village scholar. To accomplish this he spent every available hour striving to learn the Story. With no reading or writing allowed, the Story was a verbal record of the history. The Story Holder was an honored position within the tribe.

However, all his plans changed at the conclusion of his ascension ceremony. Along with his name, the elders had also selected him to be the next ‘Searcher’. He was overjoyed at the honor.

Along with his other dreams, Jonas had secretly yearned to be like his father, Seth the Master. Seth had been the tribes greatest Searcher and had made five walkabouts. On one long walkabout he journeyed to the very edge of the uncharted zone. His last walkabout, the last by any Searcher, had been almost four Cycles ago. His plan had been to cross the Big River and enter the uncharted zone. Unfortunately, he never returned.

***

As the sun sneaked over the horizon Jonas resumed his journey. Walking along, his thoughts returned to a time almost ten days previous when he had made the decision to begin his quest. Perhaps it had been the fear and desperation etched on the faces the tribal members. It had started just before dawn.

The Enforcers entered the village just at daybreak and within minutes had pushed all the villagers out into the damp square. The lead Enforcer stepped up on the well housing. Without preamble he shouted.

“Citizens of Zone One, hear me. The Leader is very disappointed with your latest tribute. The food and grain production was fifteen percent less than last Period. That is completely unacceptable. The next Period ends in fourteen days. You will be expected to supply your normal quota, plus the fifteen percent short from last Period and a ten percent penalty.”

Loud groans and murmurs escaped from the chilled villagers. Due to the drought production was down, way down and hunger was ever present.

The lead enforcer continued. “As you all know, the Leader is a benevolent person. To show his kindness you will not be punished and will receive your normal Life Force ration. But understand, if you fail you then will have to decide who will or will not live. That is all, return to your duties, it is the time for work hours!”

In groups of twos and threes the villages stumbled back to their lodgings to gather their tools. Walking slowly, most had only one thing on their mind, Life Force. Without the Periodic Life Force ration they would die. The quota must be met!

Jonas had seen and heard enough. Within the hour his quest began.


***

Strolling along, Jonas let his mind shift from his current mission back to how the Story began. It had all started with the Flash. Flash survivors remembered seeing gigantic brilliant bursts lighting the sky as the invaders from space attacked. Then the sickness came!

For many Cycles people got very ill and scores died. No one seemed to know why the invaders never landed to complete Terra’s destruction. Some said they changed their minds, other said something miraculous happened and the invaders were defeated. In the end it didn’t matter. The damage was too great. Those with the means soon departed to the stars. But for those having no choice, within a few Cycles the ancients and all their wondrous technology was gone!

After about twenty-five Cycles the first Leader came with the Enforcers and the Life Force. That was over one-hundred Cycles ago. For the promise of loyalty and hard work the Leader would provide this life saving medicine to all. Most villages were happy to comply. Gradually over time people began to get better. Most believed the sickness could be prevented as long as they received the Periodic Life Force rations.

Along with better health and conditions came an increased workload. The villages were tasked to provide ever-increasing tributes. The burden had gotten almost to immense for the tribe to bear. That’s when the Searcher’s Quest began.


***

Almost three full days later Jonas stood on a high bluff overlooking a large river. It was at least as wide as his home village and had a very fast dangerous current. This had to be the Big River and the other side must to be the uncharted zone.

In the far distance on the other side of the river he could see what once must have been a great city. He headed in its general direction until darkness overtook him.

At first light he rapidly moved down to the river’s edge. He was truly astonished. On the far bank sat the large empty city. There were no signs of movement. The really amazing thing was the silence. Listening closely he could hear only an eerie hollow sound as the wind whistled through the tall deserted buildings.

To his right downstream was the ruin of a long bridge. Jonas edged forward for a better look. Suddenly the bank gave way beneath him and with a surprised shout he tumbled into the swift coldness of the powerful water.

The current was really fast. He had never been much of a swimmer and fought hard to return to the surface. In desperation he reached out and grabbed one of the metal cables. It was all he could do to hang on and several times almost lost his grip. Suddenly from the bank a rope landed across the cable in front of him. Looking about he saw a figure standing there in the bright sunlight. He couldn’t get a good look but could hear shouting.

“Hurry! Grab the rope and I’ll pull you in.”

Three minutes later his heaving thoroughly soaked body lay on the bank of the river. Another two minutes and he was able to get his breath back enough to sit up and thank his rescuer. Was he ever surprised? It was a young girl perhaps a Cycle or two younger than him and very pretty.

“Just what did you think you were doing,” she asked? “That was a pretty stupid thing to do.”

“Well, I was looking for a way across the water but I hadn’t planned on going for a swim, at least not yet.”

“You were going to cross the river? Are you crazy? Nobody crosses the river.”

Putting a touch of self-importance into his voice Jonas said. “Look, I am Jonas the Seeker and I’m a Searcher! I’ve come a long way taking almost thirteen days getting here. I spent the last two Periods studying and planning this walkabout.” Pointing across the water the he continued. “That has to be one of the cities of the ancients and there must be some wondrous things there for the taking.” He noticed that the girl was watching with a curious look. After a few seconds she spoke.

“You appear to be talking my language but I really don’t understand what you’re saying. What are Periods and walkabouts? What exactly is a Searcher and what are the ancients?”

It was his turn to stare at her. Didn’t she know anything? Maybe she was dense or something.

Tossing Jonas a rough cloth with which to dry she said. “Okay, why don’t we start over? My name is Talla. Tell me where you’re from and why you are here.”

For the next hour Jonas told her his story. At the end he told her of his fathers last walkabout and how he believed that his father had crossed the river to explore the city. His plan was to follow.

“You say your father crossed over to the city? I can probably explain why he never returned. Nobody, except one, that has crossed the river has ever returned. The one fortunate enough to return was my father. He and two other men were sent to explore the ruins. They had seen nothing alarming during the crossing and separated to explore. After a short time they were attacked by dozens of creatures more animal than human. The other two were quickly captured before my father even knew of the danger. He was barely able to fight his way back to the boat and escape. All the way back across the river he could hear their screams.” With a shudder she stopped talking.

“But why were they killed? Surely they meant no harm.”

My father believes that the weak, old and unknowing are used to provide sustenance for the young and strong. I’m sorry but if your father went there...”

She didn’t have to finish; Jonas realized what she meant. He just couldn’t or didn’t want to believe it.

***

A short time later she led Jonas to the camp of her people. Several minutes from the river they walked over a small rise. Jonas was amazed at what he saw there. Beautifully colored wagons pulled by marvelous horses. He stood in awe. Only Enforcers had horses! All around the campsite were large herds of cattle and sheep. He had never seen so many animals.

Talla said her people were called Gypsies or Travelers. They wandered up and down the land along the river. In the summer they would move north and when the cold winds came they moved south. It looked to be a simple happy life.

That evening during dinner Jonas was asked to retell his story. After he finished there was a few moments of silence. Finally Talla’s father, Rios, spoke.

“That’s an interesting story but I wasn’t able to understand all you were saying. First of all, it appears that your people’s existence depends on this Life Force. What exactly is it?”

Suddenly realization dawned on him! His pack had gone down the river with all his life force supply. He was going to die unless these nice folks would share with him.

However, now Jason was a little confused. “I’m not sure I understand. Life Force is the white powder, the medicine we must take every seven days to keep from getting the sickness. The Enforcers working for the Leader provide it. You may not call it Life Force but surely you have something like it? How do you all survive?”

After a few seconds Rios spoke. “We have nothing like what