Haydn of Mars (32 page)

It rained, and the first night the rain turned to snow.
 
For a while the snow turned red with blood, and then the snow melted with rising temperatures, carrying the blood into the ground with it.
 
The F'rar attacked and we held, attacked again and we barely held.
 
Our positions in the hills closed in.
 
But there were just too many of them.
 
By the morning of the second day the F'rar held the high ground to the north and east, and our battle line had been squeezed to the middle of the field, with scant reserves to the west and south.

“They're doing to us what we were going to do to them,” Xarr observed.

“Yes,” I concurred.
 
“We'll be surrounded before long.”

He gave me an estimate of our strength: nearly half dead and wounded.

“It's their damned airships–”

I said nothing, and then said, “Continue to do your best.”

It was true that their airships, as much as their numerical superiority, had made the difference.
 
From the safety of the sky they had strafed and bombed us, and we had no recourse but luck.
 
We had managed to bring down two of the five with random fire, but the other three had learned to avoid this peril by flying higher, out of range.
 
They were depleting our forces more efficiently than the F'rar ground attacks.

By the end of the second day we were surrounded, with only one quarter of our strength remaining.

It was a starlit night.
 
We lit no fires, because the F'rar airships would use them as night targets. There was sporadic fire, but a kind of truce imposed by darkness had taken effect.
  
The smell from the many F'rar cook fires wafted over our hungry and tired fighters like a pall.
 
I walked through our gloomy camp trying to impart a cheer I did not feel myself.
 
I then joined Jamie in Xarr's tent.

“It occurs to me that they can afford not to fight tonight, because they know that tomorrow they will end it,” I said.

Xarr concurred.
 
“There is nothing more we can do.
 
They have only to tighten the noose, whenever they want.”

Jamie stared gloomily at the ground.
 
I noticed that his paws were shaking.

“Come now, Jamie,” I said, forcing myself to sound hearty.
 
“You don't fear death, do you?”

“Do you?” he said, looking up at me.
 
He looked like a haunted man.

“Of course I do.
 
I fear for my litter more than myself.
 
And I fear for my people.”

He nodded, trembling, and looked at the ground again.
 
“I fear only one thing, my lady – that the legitimate Queen of Mars will not be returned to the throne.”

Patiently waiting out this scene, Xarr said to me, “At first light, they will commence attacks from the air.
 
Then they will make a final charge.”

“Yes,” I answered.

“And, of course, they will put us to the sword.”

“That will be F'rar's way.”

“She may...want to take you alive, my Queen.
 
That would not be pleasant.
 
If you would prefer...”
 
He brushed the hilt of his sword with his claws, not looking away.

“It would be better for all of us, I think.
 
Thank you, general.”

“And you, Jamie?” Xarr asked, trying to lighten his voice in grim jest.
 
“Would you like me to run you through too, like a chicken on a spit?”

Jamie ignored him, continuing to stare at the ground.

Xarr mused, “It is a quick end for such a long enterprise.”

“If it must end, let it end with us fighting for what is just.”

We stood silent, lost in our own thoughts.

Dawn rose, glorious yellow and pink, and, as Xarr had predicted, their airships went to work on us.
 
We had retreated into a tight little force, less than a thousand within a circle of fortifications.
 
For them, it was like dropping stones into a barrel.
 
They went about their work with élan.

Near midday, I watched as Frane's army made ready to overrun us.
 
I could see her, a far spot of brilliant red, redder than blood, moving her troops into position.
 
The airships circled above, ready to attack like killing hawks–

And then, in the hush before this final assault, there was a sound below and beyond all other sounds: a deep droning that grew and grew in the west.
 
The airships overhead pulled up and away.
 
And then, as if by magic, I saw one of them give a cough, there was a puff of smoke and it dropped like a dead bird to the ground between us and the F'rar army.
 
The other two fled to the east – and then a massive black machine soared overhead, sleek as a bird, screaming an anger which roared against the sky.
 
It followed the remaining two F'rar machines, dropping them from their perches in the clouds.
 
We saw two bursts of black smoke where the airships had been and then the gargantuan bird turned and began to drop scorching swaths of fire on the F'rar lines.

There was chaos in front of us.
 
I shouted, “Charge them!” and our small and tired army, suddenly energized and filled with hope, climbed our barricades and made for the scattered F'rar ranks.

Behind us I heard a war cry.
 
I turned in wonder to see rank upon rank of reinforcements, well armed and disciplined, rushing to join us.
 
At their head was the pirate Pelltier, who swept up beside me on his horse, smiling hugely.
 
“Girly!” he shouted, doffing his cap, and then he rode by, pulling his sword from its sheath and wading into the chaotic mass of F'rar.
 
I spurred my mount and followed.

The giant airship drew away after decimating the enemy lines, and left the rest of it to us on the ground.
 
We made quick work of them.
 
I saw a bright patch of red in the middle of the fray, and made my way steadily toward it, fighting as I went.

When I reached it I found Frane's blood red cloak hanging empty on a spear mounted tight in the ground.

“Frane!” I shouted.
 
“Show yourself, usurper!”

Around me, the battle wound down.
 
Xarr rode up with an exultant, flushed look on his old face.

“It was a miracle!” he cried.

“Even better than one.
 
It was the Science Guild.”
 
I gave him orders for organizing prisoners, of which there were hundreds, if not thousands.
 
“Remember,” I reminded him, “put no one to the sword.”

Then I rode to the rear to find, as I expected, my friend Newton.

He had landed his monstrous black flying machine in the valley behind our lines, and was studying its back end, which was composed of two huge round ports.

“Now you know what we do in our cellars,” he greeted me, smiling.
 
He pointed to the west, where a second flying ship lay nestled beside a third.
 

I embraced him, with an enthusiasm that startled him.
 
“You saved us.
 
You saved the monarchy!”

“I heard about Talon's weapon at Burroughs, and Kerl and Jeffrey,” he said, unsmiling.
 
“I only wish we had arrived sooner.”

“What's done is done.”

“You are with kit?” he asked, the amused, ironic tone returning to his voice.
 
“This is what I hear.”

“I am.”

“Is Frane captured?”

“No.
 
But we will hunt her like a dog.”

He snorted.
 
“Apt.
 
What will you do now?”

“March on Wells.”

“There is no need.
 
Wells is free of the F'rar.
 
There is celebration in the streets as we speak.”

My head was reeling from the events of the last hours.
 
“How did you get Pelltier to help?”

Newton smiled.
 
“I asked!
 
He is a rogue, but a steadfast and true one.
 
He believes in what you are doing.
 
The rest, for him, was easy.
 
He has raised armies before, when necessary.
 
And besides, he likes you.”

I laughed.
 
“The last time I saw him, he offered to buy me from Jeffrey for his whorehouse.”

Newton answered, “He has a whorehouse, Haydn.
 
But he meant to buy you for his
wife
.”

I said nothing, and then we both laughed.

I was stunned by the events that had taken place on the very eve of our destruction.
 
Now, a kind of ennui set in.
 
It had much to do with the litter I bore, I knew.
 
When the adrenaline was needed for battle, the body supplied it; but now that the battle was won, my kits took all my energy, leaving little for me.

I was carried into Wells in triumph, and the sight of the old city caused tears to come to my eyes.
 
Though its skyline had been altered by the F'rar destruction, its heart had not, and the people welcomed me back with what a fool might call love.
 
Whatever it was – relief, patriotism, nostalgia for the past – I knew I had much work to do, and that it must be done quickly.

A week after my return, when the celebrations had died down, I called Newton, Xarr and Jamie to counsel and put the question to them:

“How long must I rule until I can reinstate the republic?”

Jamie blurted: “It is impossible for you to even think about it at this point!
 
There are still minor rebellions in some of the outlying cities.
 
The people would fear another coup.
 
Frankly, so do I!”

Xarr said, “These so-called rebellions are little more than local disturbances over disruption of services and trade.
 
They were caused as much by the F'rar as by the rebellion against them.
 
A few local leaders have been jailed over the... let us say, vociferousness of their protest.
 
These protests are diminishing.
 
I would counsel a cautious approach to reinstatement of the republic at this point, but only because I am a cautious man.
 
Too much change in too little time can be disruptive in itself.”

Newton said, choosing his words carefully, “You already know my opinion, my lady.
 
The republic cannot return too soon for me.”

I noted his ironic smile and the twinkle in his eye as I answered.
 
“I tend to agree with Newton.
 
Whatever the consequences, the republic should be reinstated with all speed.”

Jamie, much agitated, said, “Can I counsel that my Queen wait until the new council chambers are completed in the spring?
 
It is only five weeks away.
 
You will have your kits by then, and the people will be used to new ideas again.
 
It will take months just to organize elections, after the chaos the F'rar imposed.
 
And speaking of the F'rar...”

“They will be represented in the new government,” I announced simply.

Jamie was startled, and so, I saw, was Xarr.
 
Only Newton retained his bemused look.

“That is impossible!” Jamie protested.
 
That declaration alone would cause renewed fighting in the streets!”

“They must be represented,” I answered, “or there will never be stability.
 
They are the largest and most powerful clan on Mars, too large to ignore.
 
The leaders of their recent usurpation, including and especially Frane, must be caught and brought to justice, but after that the F'rar must be represented.”

“It was the mistake your father made!” Jamie began bitterly.

“We will not make the mistake this time of allowing one group to dominate the Assembly.
 
I am working on safeguards to prevent this.”
 

I noted the broadening of Newton's wry smile.
 
We had already had many talks about this, and I looked forward to many more.
 
“You must realize, Jamie, and you too, Xarr, that great scientific changes are coming.
 
We must be ready for them, and institute them for the good of our people.
 
As Newton has informed you, our planet may be slowly losing its atmosphere.
 
For this reason alone we need unity, to combat it.
  
The republic I envision is not the one that was so recently overthrown.
 
It will be stronger, and even more representative.”