Fire and Ice

Crane spat out the food from his mouth his stood angrily, “What do you mean!” he raged as pieces of chewed meat fell onto the platters which stared up from the table. His hands swept over the top of the table and pushed several plates to the floor, watching them crash across the floor with a loud noise which echoed across the room leaving an awkward stain on the banquet. Slices and joint as of meat bounced across the leaved encrusted floor and leaving diners shuffling uncomfortably in their seats. “This is human flesh!”

Lady Theye laughed at his outrage, “oh darling!” she grinned heartily as she spoke, breaking several smiles across the table, “this isn’t human meat”

“Then what is it?” asked Crane pausing uncertainly from his rage.

“This is less than human, these are the scum of our planet” she smiled as she took another bite of the joint of meat on her hand, “they were given the choice to join us and they refused” she chewed the meat in her mouth and looked at Crane through narrowed eyes, “they were given the choice” she repeated and tore another chunk of meat away from the bone with her teeth, “and now in their death, they feed my people”

“You’re sick” commented Crane quietly looking around the table before raising his voice, “you all are!”

“The sick are the weak” said Lady Theye, “we are the strong”

“And what of the weak, are they made into food as well?”

“Not all” smiled Lady Theye, “after all we do not wish to catch their ailments do we”

Captain Crane felt the bile rise in his stomach as he stared over the various cuts of meat. He imagined legs, arms, rump and breast, marinated in juices as the meat stared at him from platters of leaf and fruit. “This is disgusting” he stormed as he thundered toward the door.

“You are mistaken” said Lady Theye, “we are survivors”, Crane paused in the doorway and turned to face her as she continued, “meat is rare on this planet, the strong will prey on the weak. That is the law of survival captain, and we are the strong. We hunt the other tribes, as they hunt us. The strong survive by virtue not by privilege” Crane stood and met her gaze for a moment before pushing open the doors and forging a path into the corridor.

“My Lady” oozed the Chamberlain, “should I detain him?”

“No” said Lady Theye eventually staring thoughtfully out into the corridor beyond the banqueting hall. “He came here of his own free will, that means he wants something from us, we shall wait for him to calm down. He shall come back to us” she turned to face the Chamberlain, “place a guard on his companion, do not grant him access” The Chamberlain bowed low and backed away out of the throne room, “wait, you are my most trusted servant Chamberlain, it is my wish that you guard the other”

“As you wish my Lady” he fawned leaving her to retake her place at the table.

“My friends!” she called over the hall as she raised her hands in the air, her face breaking into a smile, “enjoy!” She reached over a platter of fruit and grasped at a large joint of meat, grasping the protruding bone and lifting it into the air. She raised the meat to her mouth and tore a large chunk off with her teeth and chewed absently as the juices dripped down her chin as she gazed at the closed doors of the hall.

Reverend James sat staring into the fire and let the warmth wash over his body, warming his hands and his soul as the flames leapt into the air. He was mesmerised by the colours of the flame as it licked the wood on the small hand built fire. The shadows cast by the flame danced across the small clearing of the copse. He gazed across the small group he had inherited with Cadet Joanne Darby and three children. The night had drawn in quicker than he thought it would and the skeleton of the ship cast an ominous shadow across the whole camp. Two of the children sat close to the fire whispering to each other, while the other child sat on the edge of the camp silently brooding and staring into the forest. He watched the children for a moment as he pushed several berries around a flat sheet of metal scavenged from the dominating form of the hulk behind them. He placed another berry in his mouth and rolled it around over his tongue as his eyes drifted onto the restless form of Cadet Darby. She lay on the dusty floor close to the fire and James watched as the flame caused a warm glow across her face, enhancing her natural beauty and highlighting her features as the shadows danced over her. He smiled as he watched while she slept and carefully examined her leg with his eyes. He felt a heavy regret in his heart as the material was stained with her blood and through the remnants of the tight uniform the evidence of her trauma stared accusingly at him. He lowered his head and shovelled a few more berries into his mouth and cast his vision into the flames. He watched for a few moments as the flame danced in the make-shift hearth and played over the vines as the fire licked over the fuel. His eyes were drawn to the older boy and he sighed heavily and stood, carefully picking his way over the copse to the edge of the camp where he sat brooding and staring out into the forest.

“Aston James” said the priest quietly as he took a seat on a small rock. The boy glanced at him and returned his gaze to the forest. “Thoryn, isn’t it” commented Reverend James. The boy still refused to answer, but nodded a silent reply to the priest’s comment. “Are you alright?“, again the boy refused to speak, but instead simply sat staring into the distance. “Nobody’s blaming you” James said softly.

“Why should they!” snapped Thoryn.

“You have got a tongue then” laughed James.

“Of course I have!” snapped the boy again, before thrusting his tongue between his lips in the direction of Reverend James.

“I was beginning to wonder” murmured James smirking.

“Why would they blame me!” demanded Thoryn.

“I don’t know” started James, “you’re the oldest, your responsible for their safety, isn’t that what you think?” Thoryn fell silent and nodded, avoiding his gaze and restarted his vigil of the jungle. “It’s not easy is it?” offered James, “being the man”

“How would you know old one!”

“Believe it or not, I do know how you are feeling”

“How is that?” countered Thoryn

“You’re scared, you don’t know what’s happening and you feel the others are looking up at you”

“I am Thoryn!” declared the boy defiantly, “I fear nothing!”

“Enough” said James gently, “everybody fears something” he placed a hand on the boys shoulder as he spoke, “you, me...there comes a time in everyone’s life when the hardest thing to do is admit when you’re scared. Whether it’s the hidden danger in the shadows, falling from a great height, fire, spiders or love, admitting feelings of the heart to yourself or someone can be one of the greatest fears of all, the feeling of rejection. We all have our own demons to face, all have our fears stand up to. It is alright to be scared”

“But the others...”

“The others are as scared as you” James smiled at the boy as he spoke and nodded.

“I was scared” admitted Thoryn, tears welling up in the shadows of his eyes, “I did not know what to do”

“That’s all right” said James gently, “we don’t always have courage and we don’t always have to be brave”

“How do you do it?” asked Thoryn.

James laughed, “That’s it son, I don’t. I’m just as scared as you”

“But you stood up to the Beilal. You had courage”

“Having courage isn’t about standing up against the monsters, it’s about being scared, but doing what has to be done anyway”

Thoryn looked at the floor thoughtfully, “I think I understand” he said eventually. Reverend James smiled and nodded, standing and returning to the fire.

“That was nice” commented Darby. Reverend James jumped slightly and turned to face her.

“I thought you were asleep” he said smiling.

“I know” she replied, “the pain” she indicated at her leg as she struggled onto her arm as she lay.

“How is it?” asked James

“I just hope I can ride again” she said laughing as the pain increased and the tears welled in her eyes.

“Joanne” he looked at her sadly, struggling to find the right words.

“It hurts” she said simply fighting back the tears, “I can’t describe the feeling, but there is something else”

“And that is?”

“The voices...” she admitted, “they are getting stronger, I can hear them in my head when I sleep” James stood and knelt by her taking her hands in his and stared into her blue eyes, searching for hope. “Whatever is going through my body, its taking away the pain from my leg” she tried to fake a smile, struggling through the pain. They sat for a moment in silence and she watched the Reverend as he plucked a stick from the ground and stabbed it at the flames. “Who’s Julie?” she asked eventually.

Reverend James looked up from the flames at her, “I..” he struggled with his words as they died in his throat.

“I heard you call her name when you were attacked” explained Darby.

“Ah, yes” James shuffled uncomfortably under her scrutiny, “she was someone very dear to me” he admitted and fell silent staring into the fire away from her gaze.

“Your wife?”

“Dear me no!” exclaimed James, “not that I didn’t want her to be” he looked up at Darby and smiled, “Julie was an amazing woman I knew many years ago and someone who I wronged very badly”

“Tell me” requested Darby, her eyes not leaving the holy man as he spoke.

“It was many years ago, when I was still in the military” he explained, “there was this fellow cadet...Julie” he smiled as he cast his mind back, “we talked, we laughed, we learned together and grew close. She was my everything, she motivated me to become a better person than I was and it was because of her I pushed myself harder than I ever had before. I wanted her to be proud of me, I wanted to be her hero, I wanted her love. I became driven to the point of obsession, I wanted so much to prove to her that I was the one, I could provide for her and protect her. I passed graduation and was promoted to the officer ranks and held my first command, with her as part of my troop” he sighed and stared into the fire, “I pushed myself harder and harder and became more driven. I never realised that my desire to prove myself was pushing us further apart. I became rash and reckless, pushing myself and my team further into danger as I tried to be her hero. I was so blind, and being so young didn’t realise the folly of my actions. Our relationship strained, then on a mission to a quiet community it pretty much came to an end. It should have been a simple peace-keeping mission, quick guard duty, then out. But I still had goals and desire to prove myself and I thought I could go in guns blazing and sort out all the problems in the colony”

“What happened?” pushed Darby gently.

“On the third night, there was a ceasefire between colonist forces and we descended over the colony to attempt further negotiations. As we came in over the colony They were celebrating their festival of the dead and paying homage to the departed. I mistook their fireworks for military fire and ordered an attack. My crew refused and I took to the guns, opening fire upon the crowds. In the crowd were innocent people, women, children and the old all gathered to pay tribute to their own losses. I was disgraced, my fuel to prove myself was my own personal downfall. I left the military and became self-obsessed, drowning in my own pity. Then I found the church and God” he raised his hands and looked down at his habit, “the rest you may say is history”

“And Julie?” Darby asked.

“She died on that night, friendly fire they said” admitted James sadly, “I never stopped loving her. She lives here...” he tapped the side of his head and smiled, “and here” he placed a hand over his chest and closed his eyes. They sat in an awkward silence for a moment, James stabbing the fire with the large stick and Darby staring uncomfortably at him, almost wishing she had never asked the question. “That was the past” he said eventually, “I cannot alter what has happened, but I can shape the future...my own future and hope that I may one day find that love again”

Darby blushed as he stared at her, “We should get some rest” she said quickly looking around at the children.

“Yes” agreed James, “we’ve a big day tomorrow, hopefully it’ll be all over soon”

“I hope so” replied Darby, “I’ve had enough of all of this now” she waved around at the surrounding forest and lowered herself onto the floor of the copse gently.

“It will be alright” said James as he gripped her hand tightly, “I promise”

Cadet Darby nodded, but struggled to find the ability to smile at his promise and replied simply, “thank you”

The Chamberlain followed Crane for a while, careful to keep his distance between them. He stopped and rested his hand against the bamboo cane wall and peered around the bend in the corridor and watched as Crane paused and stared out of the crudely cut window over the canopy. The Chamberlain watched patiently as Crane leant against the roughly cut timber and peered over the rooftops. His patience soon was replaced by a nagging boredom as he realised Crane had no intention of visiting his colleague. He glanced behind him at the guard who stood respectfully behind him. “Guard!” whispered the Chamberlain, “watch this one” he ordered, “do not lose him or you will answer to Lady Theye” the guard nodded and took his position by the bend in the corridor and watched the lamenting captain.

The Chamberlain felt a reluctance to leave his quarry, but there was something bothering him at the back of his mind about the other prisoner. He stalked quickly along the corridors of the palace until he stood in the corridor by the room which held Reverend Brown. A guard stood rigidly outside the door, his spear gripped tightly in his hand and his eyes fixed firmly on the opposite wall. He approached the guard and removed the heavy golden chain from his neck and held it out in the palms of his hands before his body toward the guard. “You see this” he exclaimed, thrusting the chain out before his body. The guard looked down at the jewellery, his eyes fixing on the gems and metal which shone in his face, “it is a symbol of my power” declared the Chamberlain, “it signifies my wealth. Let me pass and you may have it” the guard continued to look at the necklace but never moved from his position, his hand trailing over the surface of the thick chain, fingers tracing the lines of the jewels as they crossed the surface of the cold metal. “My wealth and my family are yours!” snapped the Chamberlain, “if you wish”

“Your position” said the guard looking at the old man.

“Is not mine to give!” he snapped back.

“I give you my daughter and my wealth, now step aside!” The guard nodded and took the chain from the old man and stared greedily into the golden surface.

“Do what you wish” sneered the guard as he turned away from the door, his hands running over the chain.

“As you say” grinned the Chamberlain as he stepped quietly behind the guard and pulled a small object from his robes. The metal of the sharp blade glinted in the flame lit corridor and flashed through the air, plunging deep into the guards back. The man struggled and collapsed to the floor, his arms flailing as the blade twisted in his back, cutting through his spine and severing muscles and nerve endings. The guard slumped to his knees, coughing plumes of blood into the air as he gasped desperately for life. The Chamberlain smiled and pulled the knife from the guards back and put his arm around the man’s forehead. The leant close to the guard’s ear and smiled whispering softly as the man struggled to cling onto life, “fool!” he spat as the blade sliced through the soft pink flesh of the guards throat, revealing a deep crimson gash. The Chamberlain pulled the guards head back and listened as the blood seeped through the open wound and stained his naked torso. A smile crossed his face as the struggles subsided in his hands, “as though I would ever give my fortune to the likes of you” he sneered as the man died in his hands. He released his grip on the man’s head and allowed the body to slump to the floor and looked toward the barred door of the prison cell and imagined the figure of Reverend Brown inside.

He pushed at the barrier to the room and stepped tentatively inside, his eyes locking on the figure kneeling in the centre of the circular room. He was on his knees facing away from the door with his head bowed slightly toward the floor and his hands closed around each other, fingers entwined in silent prayer. “You!” snapped the Chamberlain as he padded softly across the palm leaves which sprawled over the floor. Reverend Brown remained calm and continued with his silent lament, his mouth speaking unheard words and his lips moving in time with the prayer, “I said you!” yelled the Chamberlain, his voice echoing off the bamboo lined room. The large priest shuffled on his knees, but remained in position with his head bowed slightly and ignored the remarks from the elderly man. “You will answer when I speak to you!“, the Chamberlain lashed out at the Reverend’s back as he snapped angrily.

Reverend Brown turned sharply and grasped the Chamberlain’s hand as it hit his back. His thick fingers curled around the old man’s wrist and he threw the Chamberlain to the ground and towered over his frail body and glared down as he writhed unexpectedly on the floor. “Forgive me Father, for I have sinned” smiled Reverend Brown as he stood over the old man, “Lead me not into temptation as I forgive those who trespass against me...” he sneered as he bent close to the Chamberlain’s face, “tell me Chamberlain, do you believe in God?” he asked as he raised his hand to the old man.

Reverend Aston James smiled at the back of Cadet Darby as she lay on the floor and turned away from him. The floor was hard, but the fire was warm and despite their surroundings, he felt the safest he had since his arrival on this planet. He looked around the campsite and the sleeping children and smiled. They are the future he thought to himself as the fires of the ship warmed their small bodies, “get some rest” he said absently knowing Darby was still awake, “we’ve a big day tomorrow”

“I know” she said softly, “goodnight”

He smiled as he words warmed through his clothing and soaked his soul, “our journey will be long and the children will find it hard”, he lowered himself to the dusty floor from the large piece of twisted metal he sat on.

“The children?” exclaimed Darby turning suddenly, winching as the pain from her leg bit into her body.

“Yes” blinked James, “they will find it as difficult as we shall”

“What do you mean, the children? You can’t bring them, it’s too dangerous”

“They must come” said James calmly.

“No!” said Darby firmly, “it will be to dangerous for them” she repeated, “we have no idea what to expect”

“Or where we are going” said James as he stared into the flames avoiding her eye contact, “we must take the children with us. They will be safer with us, than here”

“But we can’t” she implored.

“We have to” replied James, “consider the facts” he paused as he finally met her angry gaze, “the children will be safer under our protection, they know the way...”

“So does the equipment on the Ponies” interrupted Darby.

“But the children have the local knowledge” countered James, “and what if the planet is breaking up? We will need immediate assistance and if my beacon does reach my craft, then they can be collected at the same time as we are”

“If we make it! If the planet breaks up!” If we find the place! If your call is answered! If! If! If!, that’s all I’m hearing...if!” stormed Darby.

“Yes...if” answered James calmly, “we all need hope, and we all have our roles to play” he looked at the children, “even the young. They must come with us for their our sake and ours”

Darby glared at James as he lowered himself to the floor and closed his eyes, “I used to think if was the most powerful word in the English language” she said to herself as all around her the sounds of the jungle were over-powering.

“We need the children as much as they us” said James as he turned away from Cadet Darby, “now rest, we start early”

Father Brown looked down at the figure on the floor at his feet, “well old man, do you believe in god?” he sneered as he placed a large foot on his throat. “Are you willing to meet your maker?“. The tension in the room between the two men rose as the Chamberlain lay helplessly at the feet of the priest.

“You are a holy man” gasped the Chamberlain desperately, “you would not take a life”

“Are you sure?” asked Brown carefully regarding the forlorn old man, “since my arrival on this planet, my faith has been severely tested. I have seen sacrifice and murder all around me. I have witnessed the death of my ward, I have seen men and women slaughtered in the name of your gods...and you ask if I would take a life?” he smiled cruelly as he spoke, “it is true, I am a man of the cloth, but has my faith been compromised to such an extent I would commit the ultimate sin” The Chamberlain looked into the eyes of the priest as anger was replaced by rage and a flash of red swept over his gaze. Father Brown could feel the tug of the planet on his soul as he gazed down at the Chamberlain, “Choose” he growled.

“Hungry...” the voice in her head continued to growl as Cadet Darby stared across the quiet campsite. “Feed me” She looked at Reverend James and felt a surge of anger wash over her as she thought of their conversation concerning the children. He was right, she knew it but still she couldn’t help feeling they were leading the children into danger. “You are” whispered the voice in her head as the thoughts danced across her mind.

“Leave me alone” she growled softly as her hands pressed the against her temple.

“Hungry” it whispered. She could feel the hunger gnawing in the pit of her stomach as the voice grew louder. “Feed me, I must be fed!”

“No!” she snapped out loud, her eyes flicking over the sleeping children before resting on the resting figure of the priest. She could feel conflicting emotions as she stared at his sleeping form.

“He looks good doesn’t he” whispered the lingering voice in her head. “Almost too good...imagine how he would taste”

“Leave me” she cried forcing back the tears welling in her eyes.

“That skin, tanned and soft. It would just peel off the body. Smell the sweet scent from his body, it oozes to us, it speaks to us. Feed me”

“I won’t let you harm him” she warned.

“You can’t stop me, I am you” sneered the voice, “and I hunger for his body” Cadet Darby licked her lips as she sat up, her eyes still locked on Aston James, her pupils dilating as her eyes wandered over his body. “Imagine your mouth running across his body, touching his flesh, tasting his fluids” she could feel her body changing as the voice goaded her, “drink his blood and bathe in the glow of your desire”. She looked at her hands as her nails grew before her eyes, turning rough short nails into sharp talons. Hair sprouted over the back of her hands and ran along her forearm as the voice grew louder in her head, growling in her mind. “Look at him” it urged as she felt a power sweep over her body as wounds healed and hunger grew. “Look at him!” it screamed, “feed me, feed us!”

Cadet Darby stood and gazed down at the sleeping figure beside the fire. She watched as the shadows played over his body and snarled as a sliver of saliva spilled down her chin. “Hungry” she drooled as she stepped closer to the fire, “feed me!”