The young experimental Triads are made up of the smallest
primate tribe of Humans – Oscar and Kashayla; the smallest canine pack of
Kiiote – six, pack leaders Qap and Xurf; and the smallest camelid herd of
Yown’Hoo – a prime eleven, Dao-hi the Herd mother. On nursery farms and ranches
away from the TC cities, Humans have tended young Yown’Hoo and Kiiote in secret
for decades, allowing the two warring people to reproduce and grow far from their
home worlds.
“We had nearly fallen into stagnation when we
encountered the Kiiote.”
“And we into internecine war when we encountered the
Yown’Hoo.”
“Yown’Hoo and
Kiiote have been defending themselves for a thousand revolutions of our Sun.”
“Together, we
might do something none of us alone might have done…a destiny that included
Yown’Hoo, Kiiote, and Human.” (2/19/2015)
"So there are no aspects of your war with the Kiiote
that you find humorous?" Shayla asked, incredulous.
Lt. Retired held up a hand for silence, then gave me another
signal that clearly meant "slow down". I did, moving forward as the
ferry slid across the slow-moving water. Shayla whispered, "Is this still
the Mississippi?"
"Rum River."
"What?" Shayla said. Lt. Retired made a chopping
motion. I could practically feel her bristle like a Kiiote in heat. She hated
when anyone cut her off. I figured it was because she held her personal advice
in higher regard than the rest of us did.
"I'll have you..." she began as the night lit up
in brilliant fire outside the truck.
Lieutenant Retired moved faster than I’ve ever seen him move
– in the short time we’d known him. Before I knew it, he was practically in my
lap and had grabbed the wheel from me, swerving on the road as another ball of
fire blossomed right where we’d been.
Shayla screamed, “We’re under attack!”
I would have slapped her if my hands weren’t being crushed
on the steering wheel by Retired’s hands as he drove. “Floor it,” he said.
I floored it. The truck surged ahead, whipping around a
corner. For a moment, I could see the river clearly ahead, as if we were going
to drive into it. “Retired, what are you doing?”
He turned and shouted to the group – right into my face, “Hang
on!” I tried to let up on the gas, but realized he had his foot over mine, too.
“You’re going to crash us over the edge – that’s your solution?”
“Shut up kid. I have to concentrate! When I go back to my
seat, just keep driving!”
“Over the edge of the cliff and into the river?”
He turned again, this time grinning wildly, “Things are
always more complicated than they appear. Just do it – or I’ll kill you after
you screw things up and just do it myself. I’d rather have you on my...”
He jumped back to his seat, put on his seatbelt and braced
his arms against the dashboard. Another curve in the road was rushing up at us,
clear in the radar and sonar screen that was the windshield. I could do what he
said or die.
It looked for all the world like if I did what he said, we
WOULD die!
I said, “Either way!”, floored the accelerator and jerked
the wheel to the left, following the curve. Everyone in back screamed. A fireball
blossomed in front of where we’d have been flying if I’d followed Retired’s
order. I leaned on the accelerator as we came out onto a straightaway, flying
along a road that was remarkably smooth and in one piece.
From Retired’s side of the truck, I heard him say, “The boy
can think for himself.” He turned to me and said, “Keep heading straight. On
your right, just after we cross a wooden bridge, you’ll see the remains of a
mansion, veer right and up the drive and stop in front of it when I say to.”
I nodded, plowing through the night, following the sonar and
radar traces alongside the road from me as we drove through a bombed out
cluster of buildings. After a few moments, I saw a pair of torches flickering
in the night ahead. “What do I do...”
“Don’t stop. Whatever you do.” I nodded and kept on. The
truck lit up the bridge structure behind the torches. Even in the strange
imagery of sonar and radar, the bridge looked like it was about to collapse.
“Is it going to hold up under the truck?”
“Leave that part to me.”
Shayla and the Herd Mother said at the same time, “What’s
going on up there?”
“We’re a little busy right now, but as soon as we survive
driving over this rickety old bridge, I’ll come back and tell you.”
“What rickety old...”
Suddenly, machine gun fire spanged off of us. “Humans!” I
shouted...
