Chapter 6, Part I

Ehoti nudged Inusha, waking him from a much-needed sleep. "They are here."

Inusha looked up to see Gerate entering the seating area with a weary expression on his face, Desidu following closely behind him. Even without asking, Inusha could tell that something had gone terribly wrong. Quickly, he moved over to allow the leader a seat.

Gerate sighed, holding his head in his hands. Never before had Inusha seen him in such a state of worry – Gerate, the fearless rebel whose ferocious determination had convinced them all to come. Where was Sahure?

"What happened? Where is Sahure?" Ehoti looked anxious too at seeing his leader in such a state.

"Sahure was captured as we crossed the airfield. I do not think anyone saw us in the excitement, but his capture will lead them to suspect a few friends tagging alongside. They will reinforce all the guard at the throne room and lower levels."

"We cannot keep going with the original plan, comrades. Already we have seen reinforcements sent to the airfield."

"But we cannot give up now!" Ehoti whispered furiously. "I have not come all this way to run away like a frightened rabbit – surely there must be some way we can adapt the mission-"

"We can." Desidu looked at Ehoti solemnly. "But the only way we can do so is to use-" He paused.

"Strike X." Gerate finished, ignoring Inusha's horrified face. "Ehoti, Desidu and I already discussed this. I know we agreed to never use such a measure, but we cannot get to the throne room without it! You know we cannot!"

Ehoti sighed, closing his eyes. "I know, I know. They are the enemy, a foe to be conquered. But I just wish-"

"No!" Inusha looked at his friends angrily. "We agreed not to use it, ever! How can we rightfully assassinate the dictator in the name of truth, when we kill innocent men on the way? This is wrong!"

"Then what do you propose we do? Navigate through dense security forces in these outfits?" Gerate pointed to Inusha's tar-stained clothes. "The security down here may be lax, but you know very well that they will not allow a stranger without a uniform to enter the throne room. This is the only way we can complete our mission!"

"Our mission is not as important as the truth!" Inusha whispered fiercely. "You are getting your priorities wrong!"

Desidu shook his head. "Our mission is the truth. Once the dictator is dead, we can share the truth with everyone, without persecution. We can abolish Querilon, save the captives, and free the people!"

"But we send dead men to instant consummation in flames-"

"Would you rather half the guards in the palace go to flames, or the rest of Netopia?" Gerate was beginning to get angry as well. "Do not think that you are the only one whose heart breaks at the thought of killing uninvolved men, men with families. I have a family – I know the heartbreak they would experience if I died!" He calmed down somewhat, looking pleadingly at Inusha.

"But Lova's death illustrated plainly that sharing the truth in Netopia is no longer possible! He sacrificed his life for nothing. Would you do the same?" Turning his attention from Inusha, he began to explain the plan to his comrades.

"We will go as high as we can before we use the explosives and weapons. Remember, a single shot is all it takes to send the whole realm of Netopia after us, so if you shoot – you cannot stop."

Inusha felt horrible. What was he to do? Would it be right to forsake his companions and his alliance to their cause for a few moral qualms? They were experienced veterans of the truth – it would be foolish to presume that he knew more than they did. Still…

"I will go." He looked quietly at the other rebels, fighting back his feelings. "Lead the way, Gerate."

*****

The Vehimar had disappeared.

It did not make sense, Reshnu thought as he stood in the forest, vainly searching for signs of his predators. A moment ago he was surrounded by Vehimar. But the next moment, they vanished without a trace. What frightened them into leaving?

He looked all around him, waiting for an evil smile to protrude from the shadows of the dead trees. It almost felt like a dream, but Reshnu could see where the ground was slightly indented from the monster's feet. They had been here. And they had left.

Reshnu heard a crash as something fell to the forest floor a distance away, followed by several rough voices. It could not be the Vehimar – they did not talk or move. The noise and voices sounded like men –but he was not going to let himself be seen.

Quickly, Reshnu hid behind a large bush, hoping the top of his head was covered by the overgrowth. He peered from the side as the sound of footfalls grew louder and closer, intermingled with coarse voices and cursings.

"I say Cata, I am tired of walking! We have not taken a single rest since yesterday!"

A commanding voice, which Reshnu supposed to be Cata's, responded. "Quit your complaining, or you will be left behind! You will have plenty of time to rest after we deal with the Veti!"

Reshnu gasped. The Veti were the tribe he was trying to find! How did these people know about them, and why were they going to them? Reshnu was just about to burst from his hiding and confront the strangers when another voice broke in.

"We need rest, Cata. If we do not, chances are that we will die of fatigue in this wretched forest! Besides, even you must feel exhausted."

The voice of Cata shot back some intelligible retort mixed with a few curses, but the sound of tramping feet stopped. He heard a few more groans as heavy packs were thrown to the ground and weapons clattered on the rocks. For a moment conversation lulled as the guards ate and drank from their packs.

"Why are we going to kill these people anyway?"

Kill them? Kill these beautiful creatures that glowed with light? Kill the relatives of his rescuer? It could not be!

Cata closed his pack and pushed his weapon to the side, leaning back against a large rock. "They are anti-governmental fiends, that's what. They completely isolate themselves from the outside world, living in this tiny community without modern-day conveniences. I don't know why, and I don't care – the sooner they're out of our hair, the better!"

"Why do they have to live so far away, anyhow?" The grumbling voice continued. "It is impossible to get supplies from Netopia City where they're at."

"Oh, they never go to Netopia City. They produce their own supplies."

Another guard closed his water tankard and stretched. "Seems a shame to kill people like that – besides, they can't be hurting the government if they never go near it."

"But they refuse to submit to the dictator, and they set a bad example to the rest of the population. All who see will be indoctrinated."

Someone laughed. "But no one sees them – no one even knows about them! I think the dictator's guards just have nothing to do, and so they make up assignments to fill their time."

Cata's voice grew taut. "Idiot! That alone could have had you chained in a dirty cell – do not speak against the military again!"

The conversation turned to other subjects, but Reshnu was too focused on what he had just heard to care. They were going to kill the Veti because they did not like Netopia? Why did they not like Netopia? He needed to save them, but how? He did not know where they lived-

But the guards did. They were on their way to kill the tribe, which meant they had to know the way through the forest. That was it, then! He would simply rest until they began to move again, and then he would follow closely behind!

With this thought in his head, Reshnu crawled away from the guards into the forest, settling himself behind an overgrown patch of shrubbery. He would wait.

*****

"We have finished gathering the supplies, Yive. All of us are ready for the trip."

Yive nodded in satisfaction at the Veti he placed in charge. "As usual you prove faithful, Hasner. Where are the four other scouts?"

"Having a quick meal before we leave. Rations on the trail are not as bountiful as the feasts at home, they argue, so they stuff themselves before they leave." He laughed. "I have greater worries than a slightly empty stomach, however. So I refrained from filling my belly too much."

Yive laughed as well, patting Hasner on the back. "A wise motion – your friends may wish they had used the same discretion a few hours into the climbing. But you said you have worries, my friend. What are they?"

Hasner sighed. "I do not know, Yive. I feel as if something unexpected was going to happen on this scouting voyage – something that will change our future, our destiny. But who can tell what it might be? Surely you, even as Elder of the community, must sometimes feel such things?"

"I have, Hasner. It is the fate of the mortal race of men to experience such feelings. For we cannot predict the future, and our feeble minds revolt at the thought. Still, they are simply feelings, and feelings cannot change what is yet to come. It is only Him who destines us for good or for bad, in His timing."

Hasner smiled. "Of course, Elder Yive. I do not believe the feelings to be of any real consequence to our trip. Nevertheless, they do way one's heart down. But I will try to ignore them. Ah, here they come!"

The two Veti turned as the remainder of their party returned from their feasting, lugging their overladen packs filled with food. Yive knew each one well – he had picked these out to mentor and train in the ways of the Great One, hoping one could be his successor to ruling the community.

He led the way through the camp to the edge of the forest, stopping at the foot of the steep slope to speak some final words of advice.

"You all know our purpose – to see how far the evils of Netopia have spread. We are not going to enter any settlement outside our own, nor will we eat the food of the defiled Netopian race." Here he looked sternly at his followers. "We are called to be separate, and even a morsel of food would bring us closer to the defilement, entrenching us in darkness.

Are there any questions?" Yive stood tall and looked at each one of the men. Of course there were not – they had grown to know each other better than they knew themselves. These were men he could count on – men he could trust. He turned to the slope.

"Follow me!"