Freedom Omnibus Read online

  “We’ve also discovered that there were other parties . . .

  landed here. We haven’t made contact but if anyone does, send your buddy back here for assistance.

  Don’t lead anybody here. Not even other Terrans.” He paused to let that warning sink in. “We’ll be safe sticking together with folks we’ve already got to know on the trek here. We’ll integrate anyone who wants to but I think they ought to be vetted first.” There were murmurs of agreement there.

  “No more aliens “ a voice said.

  “That’s a no-go,” Mitford said sternly, glaring in the direction of the comment. “I make that plain right here and now. I don’t know where you were on Barevi, but I learned that some of the aliens got lust as many smarts as I do.” He jerked his thumb against his chest.

  “And some have skills I don’t. We get to make a fresh start on this planet so let’s leave that sort of crap behind us. Huh?” He had a wide murmur of support for that suggestion.

  “For those of you who don’t know, it was the Deskis who found the caves for us. I doubt we Terrans could have done it. They climb like the spiders they resemble only they’re humanoid like us, and I don’t want to hear them called spiders any more. Hear me? Well, hear me good. They were ripped away from their planet same as we were. So we treat them the same as we treat one of us - because they are one of us.

  Have I made that point clear enough?” The response he got was vociferous from most, which reassured Kris. She tried to spot those who were reluctant to grasp that announcement.

  “A Deski carried May Framble’s kid on the trek and never made a single complaint. - The look on Mitford’s face chided those who had bitched. “So remember, they’re in this, too, and pulling their own weight what weight there is of them. The Rugarians are part of us, too, by the sample principle. They accounted for more of our catch than human hunters did.” He grinned. “Crack slingshotters!

  “Another thing we gotta get straight like right now!” He pointed downwards to emphasize the immediacy.

  “Any nasty individual caught stealing someone else’s ration bars or in possession of more than a fair share - loses any he or she has on him or her and does latrine duty for a month. Understand?” He glared around the fire and up at the ledges. “We don’t have much to steal but this colony isn’t going to tolerate any pilfering. Not nohow, no way!’ He sliced both hands across his body to indicate the finality of that statement. “You all got that straight?”

  “Who made you boss, Mitford?” a male voice demanded irritably.

  “You did!” Mitford jerked out his chin and glared in the direction.

  Kris thought the voice sounded like the same one that had protested including aliens. She wondered if it was Arnie the weasel-faced but on second thought, Arnie wouldn’t have the guts to speak up about anything. He was the kind to go behind your back. And steal a sleeping girl’s ration.

  “You want the job? Have it!” He made as if to leave the bonfire.

  There was immediate loud and vehement protest from human voices and, Kris was glad to hear, a waving of arms and hands from the Deskis and Rugarians.

  “I’ve had years of knowing how to get even more illassorted bunches of bods working together than you possibly could, buddy-‘ and Mitford’s tone made that noun a dirty epithet, “so unless you can beat my twenty-seven years - fifteen of them as a master sergeant - close your mouth hole. Anybody else got some complaints about how I run this chicken-shit outfit? No? Well, that shows you’ve some sense upstairs.

  I don’t like the assignment any more than you do. But I took it on and I’ll see it through until we know what’s what on this planet. So listen up now.

  “We’ve got a base camp but we need to check out the area so we don’t get any surprises. We weren’t the only ones dropped, you know, and some might like to move into our own choice piece of suburban development.” That provoked some laughter. “Not much, right now. and his pause suggested that he had many improvements in mind, so there were a few groans. “But we’ll do well-if we’re let alone. So, two points . . .” and he held up his fingers, “first, we have sentries with their eyes open round the clock, even if we weren’t issued one.

  Second, when you hear me or a sentry bawling RED ALERT,” and he cupped his hands round his mouth and roared the phrase, the sounds reverberating even as the people nearest him flinched back, with sheepish grins, “you come running as fast as you can, knives ready for action.

  Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, my friends,” and his expression became very solemn. “We lost out back on Earth but you may be damned sure I don’t intend to lose out here. When we were dropped on that field, we got liberated again and I intend to stay that way and alive!

  So, any time you hear RED ALERT, whaddya do?” He cocked his head, hand to his ear - “We come running, Daddy,” the wit from the shadows beyond the fire yelled.

  “You better believe it! We also got to stay healthy so that means latrines, and they need digging where we haven’t found long drop holes.

  And throw in some sand every time you go. Keeps the smell down. We need hunters out every morning and we need volunteers to try foods and others to cook “em. I talked to a lot of you on the way here but now I need to know which of you have specialist training, like medics or chemistry or even survival courses. Everyone’s going to work at something here to make this go. And I don’t want any bitching about takilig your turn at the dirty jobs. You’ll be rotated. Now, you individuals with special training that I haven’t had a chance to talk to, come to this side of the fire when this meeting’s over.

  You hunters, get your assignments from this Rugarian - he calls himself Slav - and he’s got the best throwing arm I’ve seen since Lou Gehrig “Sarge, you weren’t born when Lou Gehrig pitched -“ some wit yelled.

  “Nope, but I sure saw enough footage on him in his prime. So hunters with Slav. I’ll need more scouting parties tomorrow, so if you want some exercise .

  and there were guffaws at that, “. . . see Zainal here.”

  “You trusting that Cat?”

  “Until hell freezes over,” Mitford said in a tone that brooked absolutely no argument. “He got dumped here just like the rest of us and I’m not brave enough to ask him why.

  Again a ripple of surprise but Mitford went on. “I want twenty individuals to make another run to get more grain lemme see a few hands before I volunteer you.” The hands were raised, far more than twenty.

  “Now, one last thing. There’re more males than females. Some of our women got raped by the Catteni. We’re humans! No-one bothers a woman in this camp. -, At the first mention of rape, Patti Sue moaned and tried to burrow into Kris. She was trembling all over as Kris put a protective and reassuring arm about her.

  “What about a gal raping one of us?” the same wit called, and got snarling reactions from the women nearest him.

  “If that kinda rape’s inevitable, relax and enjoy it buddy,” a woman’s voice called out, a distinctly bitter and contemptuous edge to her words.

  “I’ll personally stake out any man forcing a woman,” Mitford said, holding up his big and capable hands. “The same goes for any female dick-teasing.” He paused a beat and then gave a wry grin, “That is, if anyone has any energy for anything after a long day here.”

  “You see, Patti Sue,” Kris murmured soothingly, patting the nervous hands clenching and unclenching on her arm, “and he means it.

  “He can mean it, but what if “No what-ifs, Patti Sue,” Kris said as firmly as she could. But Mitford’s call for explorers would give her the freedom to leave this clinging vine tomorrow and do something more noteworthy than gutting squatters.

  “You heard and he means it.” Patti continued to moan, despite her earlier promise not to “Now, I’ll listen to intelligent questions, preferably ones I can answer,” Mitford said. “I’ll keep an open office but if I’m busy, talk to Bass here. Zainal, you just got appointed our alien liaison man, only because you speak bette
r Barevi than I do.

  Dowdall - stand up there, and you, too, Murphy. They’re acting as corporals. Got any complaints? Bring “em to them. I assure you they’ll be looked into and remedied . . . if humanly possible.” “Sergeant Mitford?” A man called, standing up so he could be seen, “any ideas why we got dumped here?”

  “Zainal says Cattenis do this to settle some planets.

  They come back at intervals to see if anyone’s still alive and breathing.”

  “00 “Then we won’t get off?”

  “I didn’t say that,” and Mitford’s voice was grim.

  “But they have to land to take a look-see, don’t they?

  There’s no guarantee it’s them’ll take off in the ship, is there?” That comment brought a lot of hopeful murmurs and muffled remarks.

  “And one good reason to be friendly to the one Catteni we got on our side,” Mitford went on. “Any other questions?”

  “Then who’s farming this planet?”

  “Good question and I don’t know the answer.”

  “Does the Cat?” “Our Catteni ally,” and Mitford paused to be sure everyone caught his use of the full name, “does not, as his knowledge of this planet is almost as spotty as ours - except he’d heard that some of the indigenous specimens are dangerous. Outside of this camp, you keep your eyes and ears open. Or live long enough to tell us what you saw or heard.”

  “Gee thanks, Sarge,” and a ripple of laughter ran through the crowd.

  “Everyone’s in remarkably good spirits,” Kris said to Greene.

  “Amazing how a full belly improves your outlook.

  “Some bastard stole Patti Sue’s rations,” she added.

  “Doesn’t surprise me,” Greene replied in a low voice.

  “We can get her more. Or should you keep them safe for her?”

  “After what Mitford said about having more than my fair share? Thank you no.” “Ooops! Hmmm. Well, I don’t think she’ll lose “em again.

  Maybe you should trade buddies with Sandy.”

  “A thought,” Kris replied, knowing even as she spoke that she’d be conscience stricken if she did.

  “Why should I saddle her with Patti?”

  “She’s one tough lady and will watch out for the girl,” Jay said. “And someone’s going to have to watch for her because she’s sure one nervous kid.” Kris sighed.

  Decisions, decisions. But she wasn’t going to be tied by Patti Sue to the cave and not get some “exercise’. And she’d survived on her own on Barevi, so she was confident she could be useful as a scout or food hunter here on wherever they were.

  She cupped her hands to her mouth before she could think twice.

  “Hey, Sarge, does this planet have a name?” Mitford looked up, trying to see her in the darkness beyond the firelight.

  “Bjornsen? Zainal, you guys name your planets?” Zainal stepped into the firelight. “Only numbers,” he said in Barevi, shrugging.

  “What about “Bounty”? Like in Mutiny on the “ a woman called.

  “Alcatraz?”

  “Be positive - El Dorado.” The exchange of names and opinions stirred an uproar which Mitford let go on for a while before he held up his hand.

  “Murphy found some sort of chalk. He’ll put it by the cave entrance and those of you who can write - “ there were laughs, “can put up your choice of name. We’ll settle the matter tomorrow right here,” and he pointed to the fire, “when we issue tomorrow’s progress report.

  Got me?”

  “Gotcha!” was bellowed back at Mitford from every corner and the word bounced about the ravine.

  “OK then. Sentries, take your positions. You’ll be relieved at first moonrise. Dis-MISSED!” Despite the military order, Mitford was grinning as he stepped back from the fire and into the darkness beyond it.

  “C’mon, Patti Sue,” Kris said, rising to her feet. “I want to find Sandy and see where she’s sleeping. That way you’ll know who to go to tomorrow.” Patti Sue was clutching her arm again. “Tomorrow?

  You’ll be going? Where? You can’t leave me!”

  “Honey, I can and I will,” Kris said. “You’ll be all right. You heard Mitford. No-one’s going to mess with you.

  “But supposing “Shut up, Patti Sue,” Kris said firmly, giving the girl a shake. “I can’t babysit you every minute of the day.”

  “Oh,” and Patti sank back in on herself.

  “Now, Miss Patti,” Greene said in a soothing voice, making no move towards the frightened girl, “you will be safe. Sandy and I are supposed to inventory the supplies we’ve got and what’s been brought in. We may have to use the walls for our records but I got some of the chalk Murphy found and you can be our secretary. Is that what you did on Earth?”

  “Secretary?” Patti’s voice took on a little substance.

  “Yes, I was a secretary. A good one but “You’ve just been promoted to the job here,” said Greene so kindly that Kris could have kissed him.

  “You heard Mitford - we all have skills that he can use, Patti Sue,” she said and, with one hand around the girl’s waist, eased her along the ledge to the entrance.

  “We’ll just find Sandy. We’d better move along now or we might miss her. She’s good people.

  “But you’re my buddy,” Patti Sue said in a quavering tone.

  “Yes, I was,” Kris’s conscience forced her to say, “for the trek, but that’s over and we’re here. Besides, Sandy’s a good cook and it’s a smart idea to be on the right side of the cooks, you know. Now let’s find her.” They did, grilling the last of the day’s catch.

  “Sentries get what’s left over,” she said, taking in Patti Sue’s terror-stricken face and smiling reassuringly. “Patti Sue, you just sit here, right by me. . .” and she physically manhandled Patti Sue into the space she wanted her in. “You go on now, Kris, so Patti Sue and I can get acquainted.” Give the woman her due, Kris thought, she didn’t even blanch at the idea of having Patti Sue hanging on to her.

  As Kris hastily departed, Greene on her heels, she heard Sandy telling the girl that she had a daughter about Patti’s age and where she had come from on Earth.

  “You can’t be saddled with that one any longer,” Jay said as they made their way down to the bonfire.

  “”And there’s no discharge in the war”,” Kris chanted out, resorting to Kipling.

  “Huh?”

  “Nemmind. Can you see Sarge or Zainal?”

  “Beyond the fire, I think - -“ It was an easier climb down than up, so she realized that wider, better steps had been carved out of the cliffside at some point during that day.

  They had to wait their turn to speak to Mitford as there were no lack of volunteers for the scouting and hunting parties. Maybe another day Kris could go to the caves to see the stores with her own eyes.

  “Got room for me on a scouting party tomorrow, Sarge?” Kris asked when he looked around and saw her. When he spotted Greene behind her, he scowled. “Oh, I left Patti Sue with Sandy but I’ve got survival skills “Yeah, you did well on Barevi,” Mitford said but she thought, for a moment, that he had other plans for her.

  “The skills’re good anywhere. . .in the universe.

  and she grinned. “Sides I had a good rest today, gutting beasties.”

  Mitford hesitated until he saw Zainal watching him.

  “Go with our ally. You’re safer with him.”

  “I am?”

  “You better believe it.” That came out as a growl.

  “Rendezvous at last moonset. Same cave? Good, Zainal’ll know where to find you.” He started to turn to those waiting behind her.

  “Sarge, someone stole Patti’s rations while she slept.” Mitford nodded to Jay Greene. “Mark a package with her name then, Greene, and keep it in stores. At best, she’ll get used to dealing with a male again. Next?” And he looked beyond them to others waiting patiently for his attention. Kris and Jay moved off.

  “I don’t know if that was an insult or not,” Ja
y murmured drolly.

  “Well, I’ll know it’s safer in your care and she’ll get fed.”

  “Patti Sue’ll always get fed,” Jay said cryptically.

  to her, then she stretched out and there was space left for Sandy, at least, and probably someone else. Because her noise would keep everyone awake, Kris leaned over and, shaking the woman, suggested that she turn on her side. Sleepily the woman complied, and then Patti sighed deeply in appreciation as she made herself as comfortable as possible.

  Not that Kris needed any help getting to sleep. She didn’t even turn once - that she remembered.

  Kris collected Patti Sue from Sandy, trying to ignore the look in the girl’s eyes which suggested that she had doubted that Kris would return for her. Sandy asked which cave they were stashed in and she’d just change her bedroll into it.

  Kris escorted Patti to the water containers for a drink, and then to the latrine cave and showed her how to take care of that basic problem before they retired.

  There was one woman fast asleep and snoring along the inside wall.

  So Kris directed Patti Sue to lie next io6

  Chapter Five

  The panorama from the top of the cliff was breathtaking - and Kris needed to get her breath back after the climb Zainal had led his squad on. Before them stretched, in a westerly direction - as far as the eye could see - the large neat fields, punctuated by streams that glistened as sparkling ribbons in the morning sun. Some of the fields were occupied by grazers whose form was difficult to decipher at this distance. Off to the south there was a huge body of water but whether it was an ocean or a lake could not be ascertained.

  This party had also been told to hunt and Zainal had said tersely that it was best to hunt farther from the camp. To this, all the experienced hunters agreed. There was little grumbling from the humans about the Catteni - or none after they’d been on their way an hour for he set them a bruising pace, and sheer human perversity required the eight members of her species to keep up with Slav, the Rugarian and the two Deskis, Zewe and Kuskus - or that was what their names sounded like.