Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Scattered Seeds
book one
in
John Muldoon
ISBN 978-0-9846028-0-3
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/3
Dedication
FOREWORD
Thwarted Uprisings
Though they sat atop what from their limited view seemed a vast
ascension the name "human genome." While they did have the good
Where so many other life forms saw the map for what it really
only to stop and dine upon each other rather than expend the
This assessment might have proven too harsh had they truly
that these Homo sapiens were fumbling about near the point of no
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/7
return when they were discovered was not the primary reason why
nescience would have been for the best given the rapid pace at
during the course of the Third Age alone? What could possibly
exposure you suspect the true cause for alarm, then you are one
of the few.
forms have been ferreted out in that same manner. But when
until the gem they harbored had been successfully mined. In any
had they deduced what lay behind the locked gate they trifled
doubtful they would have dealt benevolently with the rest of us.
their ability. More staggering, they were not yet even aware of
physical realm.
things.
likely have been they who came looking for us rather than the
EPIGRAPH
hairy faces and outlandish costumes leapt into the surf from
After seeing one of them point a long stick at a deer and kill
turned and ran for his village unprepared for the mockery his
CHAPTER 1
the refrigerator. The pale wash of light escaping from the unit
Falan grabbed some orange juice and drank it straight from the
When the spasms subsided, Falan exchanged the orange juice for a
After a minute he leaned over and laid his head down on the back
of his forearm.
his relief was palpable. Better them than the other thing.
Anything was better than whatever it was. For months now either
that the swarm didn't stop working when he woke up. It had
taken most of the summer before Falan could even guess what the
he was right, but that wasn't why he shied from sleep. Falan
didn't have any idea what the other entity's agenda was, and he
CHAPTER 2
Falan lurched upright and glanced back and forth across the
eyes from the sunlight angling into the kitchen, but a shadow
quickly fell across the room when his father stepped in front of
his arm and slouched back in his chair. James took this for a
shrug of disrespect and shifted his stance so that the sun again
Falan raised his hand against the glare and stood up to put
turned.
James spun Falan around with one hand and shoved him
nearly equal in height at just over six feet, but with a one-
you come back from lunch at all," James scoffed, his volume
James "the Steam Train" Tiernan looked down on his son from
his day professional football held little allure for a young man
morning."
youth.
breakfast had not taken nearly the toll one would expect. She
could still fit into the skirts she'd worn as a high school
senior. The same could not be said for her bras, which she'd
Falan tried to shrug away from his father and leave the
erupted.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/17
Look at him for Christ's sake. He's still in his clothes from
last night."
Falan watched his mother approach and tried to fix her with
and go get ready for work. I'll make you some eggs."
Falan tensed.
"God damn it. Stop babying him." James scorned. "Of course
he looks like shit. What do you expect? Out till all hours,
hitting the bars with his buddies, banging the help -- Arthur
his wife gave him on that account. Instead his volume rose
father's grip. He rolled his eyes at his mother then looked off
into space.
"I told you I didn't want to work at the firm again this
summer. I paid my dues the last five years, and I still do more
than my share. Most of the interns you hired this year are
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/18
depended on it."
rage.
it, I've been trying to help you. Paying you good money,
helping you get the experience you need to get into a decent law
James undid the top button of his shirt and loosened his
tie with his free hand. He stared intently at his son, defying
his father and tried not to blink, but he quickly looked away
again.
shoes. "I don't want to be a lawyer. I told you that from the
pine cones and dirt, you'll wish you had someone to put you
than you already have, and don't make any plans Saturday night -
aside so she could open the refrigerator. "The way you two
sense of déjà vu struck her when she looked into her son's eyes.
They had always been intense, but now up close, as watery and
blood-shot as they were, they caught her off guard. She thought
Falan's eyes were not blue, green or even hazel. They were
only seen that look on one other person, and she didn't care to
dwell on her father any longer. She'd spent too many years
look awful. Are you sure you aren't coming down with
something?"
sleep."
"Well, try staying home and going to bed early for once."
had. First, you two are on and on about South America. Then,
Just try to get through this week without any more fighting,
then you can go back to school and act however you like."
at least for this semester and maybe for the whole year."
Falan's mother shook her head and let out a sigh as she
"It is settled, honey. You don't have the money, and your
have to."
pay for that trip," his mother said following him to the stairs.
"He only bought that car so the two of you wouldn't have to
drive into the office together every day after the scenes you
CHAPTER 3
his car down the driveway she couldn't help being haunted by old
think about her father much anymore. It had taken many years to
get past the hurt he'd caused her. The growing sense of calm
relationship with the man. Seeing her son's eyes blazing at her
"Are you all right, dear?" the doctor asked that morning
immediately after the delivery when his eyes cracked open for
just a second. The sight was enough to make her gasp audibly
The doctor assured her that it was normal for some babies'
brighter than usual perhaps, but they would surely turn brown in
"Dark hair and features like his, together with eyes that
she'd been quite certain that her son's eyes would never darken.
That realization upset her more than she would ever admit. Her
the thought of raising a son with eyes of the same diamond hue
infant after her mother died. Falan in some ways reflected his
He came from a diverse gene pool that stemmed from a family tree
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/24
know that still sometimes left her puzzling for hours. Her
1904, yet his ancestry was far broader than his Italian birth
Africa then across to the Middle East and back up into the
they followed one of the many tributaries that flowed down from
the Black Sea markets. From there it was a short trip through
members of the Farenzano line settled down off the coast of the
very little time teaching there after his first few years as a
Africa, he also sought out and lived for extended periods with
She often wondered how her life might have been different
seven, she was twenty years his junior, but that hadn't mattered
research, and the two were wed after a brief romance. The new
besieged with guilt for allowing his new wife to travel to such
good month before her due date. Years earlier he'd resigned
life -- someone whom he cared deeply for and who appreciated his
interests.
met them, Antonio took his infant daughter to meet her maternal
Service officer, and her mother was a former nurse from Taipei.
the letters he sent during his travels, but even his brief notes
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/30
her existence.
the blue just days after Falan was born. At eighty years old,
even sent word that she was pregnant, yet there he was just the
same.
mystery."
dreams stopped almost exactly nine months ago. The reason only
to her.
But not long after that, he took her to meet his colleague,
for her. That was twenty years ago now, but the pain remained
CHAPTER 4
organisms who piloted them, but this model predated those craft
near thing. The ship had managed such feats dozens of times
with a slight rent created where the building forces had caused
the ship spun on its longitudinal axis and accelerated away from
border's damaged seam just as the swell engulfed the ship and
washed over it. The maneuver worked. The ship was left cart-
were mere trinkets compared with what was sought. The largest
travel much faster than half the speed of light of course, but
cosmos.
completely inert.
the largest null sectors. Eventually, the ship aimed for the
such as the idea that creative artistry and other such concepts
home world for nearly nine billion years. Even that planet was
some distance outside the epicenter from which its kind had
As the first fleets got farther and farther from home, gaps
went. When members of the first wave began breaking down they
outward from its home multiverse looking for signs. There had
The most common failing among the Stalker series was the
destinations. The prior wave had not been much more than
the fleet would have assessed what raw inputs were required to
find a mechanoid species that had risen on its own without the
the case and no outstanding search orders existed for any of the
of such a species was required, then the job was usually left
along the border regions, but such needs rarely extended this
far out. Those chores could usually wait until the region was
colonized.
and control center along with a message noting when and where it
territories.
in on the rare occasion, but they had never gone off this
quickly before. The incoming signal was much stronger than was
to be expected this far out in a null sector, but that alone did
that the signal's source was one of the seven animate beings the
controls, but the effort was futile and Sire Stalker's course
was well off the mark before it made any significant headway.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/45
CHAPTER 5
last of his mother's diet pills over the weekend. His body had
worry about.
drifted into summer, staying awake during the day was his
first few weeks, but that was before the occasional sleepless
they had the opposite effect and made him fidgety as hell, so he
did very little to help him sleep, and the hangover from self-
normal once his body got in sync with Eastern Standard. Falan
bile streaked with pink. Afterward, Falan swayed back and forth
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/47
gaped and people walking their dogs crossed the street to avoid
law offices.(2)
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/48
CHAPTER 6
but honking from behind roused him when the light changed. He
flinched back in his seat and snapped a look from side to side
needed was to have an ugly one kick in while he was behind the
wheel.
intersection.
going to make it through the week. He and Cindy had spent the
on her own, ostensibly to let her take the credit since Falan
accident.
"Yo, Iron Mike. What gives, I saw you guys didn't even
hanging out with Mike Brown the longest. The two of them went
the eighth grade and Eric Eastman or E. in high school the year
after that. They were all decent athletes, but none of them
CHAPTER 7
its usual spot in the garage, but his father had left the Lexus
asked, turning away from the ancient heavy bag and picking up
his graying red hair had started to thin. Bushy tufts of light
orange fur covered his hulking shoulders and bulging upper arms.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/51
James started jumping rope, but the look on his face told
Falan that the black rubber knee braces his father was wearing
Falan answered.
carpet that did little to muffle the sound of iron pounding into
concrete.
not paying you to guess, god damn it. GenTech could be a cash
cow for years to come if they can just survive the next eighteen
"God damn it, those fees are paying the tuition for your
and board, health insurance, ski lift tickets, beer money, that
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/52
fucking car right there, and every other god-damn thing you have
in this life."
or damn near it. You better smarten up, and get through the
rest of this week without pissing me off any more than you
a right cross that sent the bag swinging back and forth. He
for your little South American boondoggle. I got news for you.
he said it.
and you are not going to South America. Everything you have
comes straight from me, and until you're ready to stand on your
Otherwise you can pack a bag and start fucking walking," he said
could ever do. Get the hell out of here. Go make it on your
own. Go kick some ass without any help from anyone. Might make
front of you. You waste more ability than most kids your age
"You could head out there, bust a nut, and build something
enough to get you to the top. Hell, by the time you actually
made it, you'd have finally seen the light. You'd end up
respond, but his father just shook his head so Falan went inside
CHAPTER 8
It was the fifth one in two weeks asking why he hadn't sent in
his tuition and expense balance for the upcoming year abroad.(*)
for the delay and reaffirming his intention to join the group in
Caracas a week from Wednesday with all fees paid in full. The
"Hello."
"You don't wanna know. I gotta get the fuck outta here."
that."
"I don't get it. You just lay in bed tossing and turning,
or what?"
just putz around the house, surf the Internet, watch videos,
read...whatever."
"Hell man, you read past two in the morning, and still
tonight, though."
pills."
parents thinking?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"What's the plan there? It's not like you've got a winning
I should be okay."
You're gonna go loony if you don't get some decent sleep pretty
CHAPTER 9
little way of knowing for sure how far they had progressed in
whether they were alive firmly behind them. By now even a few
was no less natural than that of the biologics. For that matter
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/59
The Synthedon maintained that they were alive, plain and simple.
while growing, adapting and reproducing. They did not all grow,
concerned, that was enough to make them just like any other life
promise of freedom for the winners would bring out the best in
their captives, they soon found that was not necessarily the
truly risen.
another concern. What were they, and what purpose did they
serve? Some among the Synthedon claimed to dream, but those who
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/61
additional links in the genetic chain were bred into the line
so far as to maintain that this was the reason why the Synthedon
would be moot.
their path to advancement. The outcome was off the chart from
They mixed and matched bits and pieces of their own design
work with the best formulas found among the true biologics and
reach. If the find was truly that which they craved, then added
ascension once and for all. The second signal that came in sent
given the utmost priority. Though the message had been encoded,
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/64
hear the broadcast. The only uncertainty was how many who did
would join the race. They in turn would inevitably draw others.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/65
CHAPTER 10
one corner so it overlooked most of his room and had a good view
of Rat Patrol, he shut off the TV and started reading his latest
had a purple goose egg and a nasty gash just above his right
asleep until he woke up, but he knew this latest episode hadn't
Falan had been awake for awhile now, but he was still too
TV and hit the play button. The images turned out to be more
thing.
see what happened next. The rest of the recording lasted about
his sleep, rolling his head back and forth and furrowing his
His arms started moving erratically, and his legs twitched under
violently. The covers fell over the side of the bed leaving him
sweat popped out and glistened on his forehead. His hair became
so much that dark patches spread across his pillow and the
back and bring his arms up as if to protect his head and face.
There was audio, but it was very faint. He'd forgotten to check
was whimpering and moaning, but it was tough to hear. Falan saw
himself dig his heals into the mattress and push backwards until
sleeping self lower his arms and scuttle sideways to the corner
of the bed while keeping his back to the headboard. The Falan
in the video now had his eyes wide open. Falan had to force
Falan hit pause and got a drink from the bathroom. This
was too creepy. When he hit play again, he saw himself begin
shaking his head. Though he couldn't really hear the words too
well, it was easy enough to see that he was saying "no, no, no"
over and over again. The pathetic wretch in the recording dove
sideways off the bed and scrambled on his hands and knees across
the room. He squatted with his back pressed into the corner and
started gnashing his teeth and striking out with his fists.
him.
before him and cause him to start flailing his arms in a spastic
frenzy. After one such flurry he jumped up, dove across his bed
chair and lashed out with a pencil that he'd grabbed off the
floor. Jesus, that meant he could see the room around him and
His sweaty boxer shorts were clinging tightly to his skin for
the most part, but the front was noticeably tented out away from
his body. A smaller, darker stain than the one caused by his
anyway. When the Falan under the desk looked up, his face
rage. He lunged up and out from his hiding place with the
pencil thrust before him. Falan winced as he saw his head crack
against the desk's partially open top drawer. The blood was
pouring freely into his eyes when he fell over on his side.
himself wake up. The figure on the floor rolled over and
pencil in his hand, scanned around the room, and then cast it
aside. When he fingered the gash above his eye, his hand came
When the blood started dripping off his chin onto the carpet, he
got up and shuffled into the bathroom to tend his cut. Falan
stopped the recording, hit rewind and killed the TV. He felt
CHAPTER 11
hadn't come down yet. Yesterday was one of her heavy days, so
Falan had a square patch of gauze taped above his eye, but
"Call him yourself. And don't take all day. I told you
And don't think your little scratch is going to get you out of
Falan clenched his teeth, which only made his head throb
worse. He could not imagine going to work today. This shit had
in August, but Falan was over it -- over all of it. His mother
snapped.
keys. He leaned back against the wall and made a low growling
behind.
tie, and I'll touch one up with the iron real quick."
all the time? You didn't used to be like this. What is going
on with you?"
course-work for god's sake. Most parents would jump for joy. A
going to get into it with you, but you can't let it keep you up
"Is that it? Are you having dreams that are keeping you up
at night?"
deflected them and headed off to the hospital wearing khakis and
a golf shirt.(1)
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/73
CHAPTER 12
with Cindy at the office then took a seat in the waiting room.
images out of his mind. What in the hell was happening to him?
when he woke up. Well that wasn't entirely true: at some point
about them. The other episodes, on the other hand, left him
his own bed. The recording seemed to support his growing sense
possible. He tried to set his alarm and take quick naps here
and there, but that wasn't doing the trick. Eventually he had
hoped to outlast whatever was plaguing him, but after last night
caffeine and diet pills weren't strong enough to keep him awake
anymore. What the hell was going on in his pitiful little mind
that could possibly cause him to pick up that pencil and act
like that? And what was with the other latest development? He
happen again.
athletics aside from the O's. He skimmed the sports pages each
the back of the issue was right up his alley. Apparently, some
house on all the big boys. The Japanese public had gone mad for
him, and the young girls over there acted like he was with the
Beatles. Falan finished the article and dialed his cell phone.
Falan hung up hopping his buddy would call back soon. This
was obviously all in his head. Maybe it was just some sort of
today?"
something to eat?"
anyway?"
"Okay. Make sure you get a guest parking pass at the front
"Later."
without nova cane -- said he just needed a few and the shot
CHAPTER 13
inside the spa to find Joe, who was chatting up a hot African
that an honest face or what? Falan, tell her I'm not in the
Forget what I said, Cherice. It's been awhile since I saw my boy
Falan here. Looks like he might have strayed off the righteous
path. I'm gonna go give him some spiritual counsel over lunch,
then we can talk more about that Merriwether show. You're gonna
love it: outdoor jazz, beautiful summer evening. How could you
not?"
Tech. His charm, easy smile, and pretty-boy haircut belied his
true nature.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/78
sidewalk.
"Total crap."
"That works. You don't look so bad. Sounded like you guys
Kentucky. The mud was pretty brutal though. So, what's up?
You're the one who looks like shit. Why aren't you chained to
your desk?"
"Let's order, then I'll tell you. You want a beer? I'm
and some sort of barbecue beef thing over rice. He took the
drinks to the table Joe had chosen and sat down to wait for the
food.
Falan took the Sumo article out of his pocket and set it in
"Yeah, so what?"
the vodkas I've been into since the sun came up."
"Dude, what the fuck is going on? Who messed you up, and
whooping ass on guys twice his size. I've seen you put the hurt
on guys who should have eaten you for lunch -- more than once,
What the hell's going on? You box. You suck at it, but you
beer and pulled his hand across the table spilling some of
"This guy cold cock you or what? Doesn't look like you
even landed a punch. That lady from your office get back
"Fuck that, man. I'm telling you: that isn't it. Why would
I lie?"
laughing.
telling the truth. It's the end of the summer already. When
you get back to Seattle, join a school and pay your dues. I've
been studying martial arts for eleven years. I can't teach you
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/81
against guys better than you, day in, day out for years.
No offense, but you couldn't box your way out of the proverbial
wet paper bag, and you wouldn't bother trying if you could.
Remember those guys in the parking lot at RFK after the Skins
"It was almost ugly for us. Six-on-two is never good odds,
"Yeah, well, the odds didn't seem to bother you when you
"No, but you sure as hell egged them into it after they ran
their mouths."
willing to get the shit kicked out of me, but I really, really
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/82
didn't want to. Truth is: I was also worried about you getting
"Man, you took three guys out in seconds. I can still hear
that one guy shrieking. His elbow was all dangling and shit. I
"I was lucky none of them had any skills. They had
attitude, but it was just liquid courage from boozing all day.
period. Buy a fucking gun. Save yourself the hassle and the
going on?"
more beers.
"I can see I'm gonna need a beer after all, and I'm not
pride, but let me tune this guy up for you. Seriously, what are
friends for? Christ, you got me into Georgia Tech with those
But if someone did want to, say just randomly at some bar or
"Yeah well, that's you, and that's what I need, some real
going to South America for the year, and I doubt I'm going to be
training there is. That's where the Gracie family is from. Big
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/84
"All right, I'm going to find out what this is all about.
it are not the same thing. Don't think Ford Motor Company is
anytime soon. I don't want to hear about you going out and
for me."
precaution."
something, and I'm not sure why. I'm going to find out what it
is, though, and you know it, too. But until then, I'll do what
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/85
I'll see you tonight. You've got a mouth guard, right? Bring
it."
CHAPTER 14
"Dalevin, where have you been? Hurry up and get in here. Eat
grandmother can come down and rest. She has been up there since
wearing him out. He gingerly shook his legs and sent flecks of
snow and ice skittering across the stone floor. They began
it had been for the last week. The youth shed his down parka
and hung it along with his goggles on one of the pegs where the
trudge down to the camps gouged into the high saddles between
the peaks. He tugged off his boots with a wince before stepping
his misshapen feet immediate relief. Soft light glowed from two
hearth for effect. The room's real heat emanated from the
the avalanche took her son, so she never did topple it off the
him.
Dalevin never could see the harm in it. Refuse from the
quartzal mining lay in heaps all over the mountain, if one was
willing to dig it out of the snow. Why not put it to good use?
The stuff burned a lot better than condrillian guano and did not
smell half as bad so long as they kept the vent cleaned out.
new generation born to the few remaining purebred lines like the
Jardows. The price for their fidelity was steep, however, and
few were willing to bear the rising cost. Those who continued
plight was now such that none below were likely to have them.
into extinction. Most families had broken from the old ways
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/88
down any farther than the saddles that sagged between the frozen
the dips linking the spectacular spires of rock and ice. This
with the grotesque rather than from any real inclination to aid
in the quest.
When the pilgrim's leaking star balloon allegedly fell from the
Uricon all those many eons ago, the event itself refuted most
brought with them a whole new slant on such matters, and a good
the new arrivals were not slain out of hand was a testament to
sitting atop the world. They still came today. The sovereign's
coffers were soon overflowing. She was more than happy to allow
No one would have mistaken the two species for twins, yet
spun tale will more often than not induce complete strangers to
knew how to skim from one galaxy to another -- they were always
stop, and there was never any end to the awe-inspiring wonders
began encountering groups from three other species who had also
abode carved in the tip of Uricon's highest peak, but they did
not have to live there day in and day out or ferry supplies up
the extra distance from the last riser station where the balloon
and pulley cables terminated. Plus the extra few thousand feet
else. Naturally the wind was always much stronger and colder as
vacancies among the cut-outs in the shear faces below and the
reason for leaving home in the first place was fast fading into
if those who had come up with the idea to go looking for the
next sequence in the chain of ascension had been off the mark in
in the land on her account when she was still just a young girl
that those with the greatest gift could benefit from their
exalted status who were much older and far more experienced at
height. They did this rather than scatter to the next tallest
earlier than that, but they were not met with nearly the same
Ilstachians feared they would soon mutate away from what was
hunting and farming. The lower terraces were maxed out in their
ability to produce crops during the short growing season and the
her harness from its moorings and send her plummeting into the
abyss.
What else has she got to do but sit up there and listen to the
"Do what I tell you and do not talk back. Your sister did
not come home last night, and your grandmother has been up there
too long. You know she will not trust me to take her place, so
were the worst -- way too uptight. They were all certain that
because they had finally come to see the light, vindication had
his stepmother had not moved all the way up here to commune with
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/97
the cosmos. While some of the devout were born with parts
missing, his father, Priapic Jardow, had come into this world
near the steam vents in the lower shafts liked to wonder aloud
frequenting the steam vents late at night when only males were
present and the other matrons all took vigil on the summits.
His older sister, Taquiri, hated her with a passion, but Dalevin
was more than willing to put up with her as long as she took on
He ignored the looks she tossed his way and enjoyed his
lunch as best he could. When he was good and ready, he left his
easing himself back down into the foyer, Dalevin began the
source of pain.
lot of body heat breaking fresh trail through waist deep snow
all the way up the narrow ridge from the last balloon platform,
After putting on his extra socks and getting all booted up,
coverall that his birth mother had made for him. Two hats, one
stepped into his harness and cinched it firmly around his waist.
Next he slipped on all his many gloves and slid open the trap
door in the ceiling. He could not see more than a few rungs up.
A shiver ran down his spine even before his feet left the floor.
shaft resignedly. He left the door open and the extension down
bottom. If the draft bothered Ratasha, she knew what she could
do about it.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/99
By the time he reached the top five minutes later, the sound of
the wind forcing its way through invisible gaps around the top
knew when he had reached the top without even counting the
chipped blindly around the door's edges with a small ice hammer
that hung there for that purpose then heaved the handle
sideways.
altered the acoustic dynamic enough that the volume and pitch of
keening. Several tugs later there was space enough for him to
climb out. Though it was midday, the sky was almost totally
dark. The wind was as strong as he had ever felt it. This
storm had been pounding them steadily for two weeks now.
from the north brink would give him far too much opportunity to
securing his harness before exiting the shaft as his father had
taught him.
visibility. The peak was still socked in from above and below,
and none of the surrounding mountains were in view, but the snow
past. That was a good sign. Things should start to clear soon.
stood by and waited for his grandmother to come over and unhook
so he could help her negotiate the edge and close the door
was there. That was what worried him. Dalevin clipped into the
safety line and inched toward her dreading what he would find
when he reached her. It was said the old ones usually went
A wall of drift had piled against her upwind side, but that was
wore only a thin stocking cap to keep her hair in place and a
elements and her age were matching frostfelin skin boots and
gloves.
sideways with one hand and gripped his wrist firmly without
relief wash over him, and then he sensed it. Something was not
right.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/102
CHAPTER 15
stack of documents.
Cindy looked up and sat back in her chair. She took off
her glasses and pressed the heels of her hands into the corners
of her eyes before slowly pushing them back along the sides of
her face.
work and..."
"No way, stud. You're cute, but you're nuts. And, you're
such a loon."
"No thanks. Naomi would take a fit if she found out that I
Falan was pleased and surprised that the rest of his day
various projects for the last ten days so that the office
thing, too, he could hardly think straight. Even his heart rate
seemed erratic. Falan went back online for a minute then headed
down the back stairs leaving his office looking like he was
still around. He jumped off the loading dock and ducked across
young adolescent that shook his shoulder leaped away when Falan
came flying half out of his seat, head swiveling. The kid's
shuffled out. He was just happy they hadn't found him crawling
Falan grabbed a slice of pizza around the corner then got his
CHAPTER 16
house much this summer?" Falan asked when Joe led him into the
kitchen.
"Not like when you guys were in high school," Mrs. Santucci
Italian Bruce Lee mess up that pretty dental work. I'm still
"I told you not to pay those," Joe said shaking his head.
With that the two of them headed down to the basement where
Joe had a big mat permanently laid out. There was an array of
at Falan's attire.
something."
to say.
Kato outfit. You make me hot in that little red one with the
come to me and say, 'Joe, I want to learn martial arts. Will you
teach me?' No, you come to me out of the blue, looking strung
out, half drunk and sporting a nasty gash on your face and say
"No, dude, it isn't. Look, I know you think I'm one of the
bad boys, just out to kick some ass. I won't deny that
when I'm liquored up, but just kicking the shit out of people is
"Hey look, I can appreciate all the Zen bullshit, but I'm
talking about survival, like you're scared for your life, and
you are scared, you're probably gonna lose. That's where the
learn all the moves. If the other guy knows what he's doing and
you let fear drive your actions, then he's going to mess you
up."
wax me."
how to 'take someone out' as you put it. I can do that, maybe
not in a week, but I can teach you to do that. Are you ready to
be messed with. It's too damn easy to kill someone. Just run,
"I told you that's not going to help me against some crazed
"That's why I'm telling you to run for it. Do some sprint
work if you want to be ready to save your ass in the worst case
no good reason."
"Come on, Joe. You said you were going to help me out."
"I am. Just don't make me regret it. Mike tells me you're
connected somehow. What's up, man? Why the hell aren't you
sleeping?"
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/108
"God damn it, what the fuck is this? I don't want to talk
but you won't even tell any of us her name. You said she's got
someplace."
"Okay, okay. Let's talk theory for a little bit, then I'll
show you some stuff on video that will help you see what I'm
For the next two hours Joe talked with Falan about the
pointed out, was that boxing and wrestling were sports. They
had rules and systems for scoring points that discouraged the
off their backs because that's how they ended up getting pinned
hand were just the opposite. When they got knocked off their
feet, they purposely rolled onto their backs so they could see
explained that some were geared toward striking with the hands,
from some common holds and how to counter them quickly and
They got into throws and ground fighting and covered ways to
explained how to cut off a person's air supply and blood flow
point. "You choke a guy like this, and you could kill him. In
the ring, a guy'll tap out, which is like crying uncle. It's a
signal that he gives up. That, or his corner man will throw in
the towel or the referee will stop the fight. Out behind some
bar, you could end up killing the guy real fucking easily before
choking guys out where they don't wake up. It happens. You use
fighting styles.
doesn't mean shit. Well it does really, but not as much as you
wins."
Joe pointed out after rewinding the tape and hitting play again.
trying to lunge out and punch the little guy. When he falls
down, the midget kicks him full bore in the face twice, and
life, just run like hell if at all possible. You end up killing
someone, and it'll ruin your life. Might make you wish you were
dead. Better to get your ass kicked than spend the rest of your
these days, but you get a guy right, and I don't care who it is,
CHAPTER 17
had so often done when he was a young boy and she intended to
stay and sit with him during the first part of his vigil. He
looked at her to make sure she was okay, but she would not turn
to him. Dalevin followed her gaze into the sky where dark
whorls that held her attention so raptly, he closed his eyes and
He knew she was testing him as she often had while he was
back his auditory receptors. This was somehow easier amidst the
turned to his tactile receptors and sought to deny the wind and
It should have been easy. This was child's play after all.
Off-world psychonic signals were so rare here that they had all
one of the great voids above, but he took that for a ploy.
did not claim to have Taquiri's gift, but his skills were
there, but she was not sending at all. She was receiving side
Their numbers were so few these days that family members rarely
have someone fresh and ready so that they never had to leave the
skies unmonitored.
occupied. Three more posts had two listeners present and there
their home focusing their effort as one. Dalevin did not know
closely and slowly synchronized his senses with the channel she
and listened for the rest of the day and into the night.
The signal they were monitoring was not the simple source
pieced back together if they lost contact with the signal before
any one of them could memorize the entire code. Dalevin knew
lost contact with the signal. Under the best possible scenario
discrepancies.
pumping through his body. The middle third of the broadcast was
transmission that had not originated with the sender they were
not a direct match with any of the seven he had been required to
had always been cautioned that they were not looking for an
identical match. The ones they were searching for were only
seeker sects, were told at a young age that their mission would
be like scanning the crowd for a long lost cousin whom they had
to find the missing one who was next in line they would need to
were new to everyone who was tuned in, but they definitely
wrist, his eyes flew open. It was still night, but dawn was
near. Stars shown brightly across the sky. The storm had
darkness. Dalevin knew what he had to do. There was not much
time if they were to get all the help they needed. He scrabbled
to the shaft on his hands and knees and shoved the lid aside
feet on either side of the ladder uprights, and eased his grip
tried again. This time he plummeted down through the shaft like
pain caused by the friction forced him to relax his grip once
death, panic drove Dalevin to clench his hands around the side
rails with all his might. His bulging forearms remained flexed
nightgown mopping blood from his chin with a dish towel. His
eyes fluttered in the dim light, when she eased his shattered
"Do not try to move, Dalevin. You fell, and you look badly
hurt."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/119
grimace. He noticed his two front teeth jutting out from his
mouth. The debris scattered all around him on the floor made
him look up at the ceiling where he saw the remains of the lower
had crashed right through it. He must have been knocked out
when his feet hit the floor and his upper body whip-lashed
shut the door behind her. You would be dead or worse if it had
Dalevin eased his head from side to side testing his neck.
teeth."
was his hands that were smoldering. The heat had scorched right
through his gloves and the liners. Seeing the melted flesh on
brain. The clarity they provided helped remind him why he had
right leg and looked down to see that his left foot was even
farther askew than normal. Bone was bulging under the skin
"Dalevin, sit back down right now. You need to stay still
left checking around the floor to see if he had bitten off his
have been knocked out for long. It was still dark, but the pre-
from their front door, but then he rejected the idea as a waste
of valuable time. The hike down to the last balloon and pulley
had to deal with freeing the safety line every step of the way,
Dalevin knew that his injured ankle would not support the
one decent leg and then frantically pulled himself along with
reached the point where the ridge dropped away at a much steeper
angle, he did not hesitate. He dove off the lip and started
paddling wildly with both arms as soon as his chest hit the
this section of the trail was more windblown, so there was less
desperately to keep himself from veering off track and over the
snow field that was nearly vertical. Dalevin sailed out over
the lip and cart-wheeled the last two hundred feet in a virtual
air cargo pulley from the main cable extending down to the
the seldom used cable that ran almost laterally across to the
top of a mountain whose peak was only slightly lower than where
he stood.
This time Dalevin did not dare forego the available safety
on and support his weight long enough to make the crossing, but
his hands were so badly damaged that he did not trust his grip.
He clipped his harness onto the pulley's handle and let it hold
most of his weight as he pushed himself off with one leg. Even
without the cargo bin and auto-brake, the trip was much slower
than he would have liked. The cable angle was so flat that
balloons were no use along this route. Free pulleys were used
power for the long pull back up to the saddle when he returned.
itself from the center of the valley. When he reached the end
found a frozen cord that secured a tarp lying over the top of
the dome. After overcoming the icy knot that joined the two
ends, Dalevin wrapped one end of the cord around his forearm and
backed down off the heap dragging the tarp after him.
Dalevin clawed his way back up and quickly found the old
can of savian oil right where he had left it. The cap was
used the last little bit to soak a wad of rags that he had
only took a few strikes with his flint to spark the torch.
He was glad to see that the sky was still dark enough to
offer sufficient contrast and that it would stay that way for
awhile yet. All was black down below as well. Any lamps that
might have been left to burn through the night were too dim to
be seen from this height. He checked the fire over his shoulder
peak at the far end of the valley. Over the course of the next
far as the eye could see. There had been a time when the result
would have been achieved more quickly, but the pyre caretakers
not even been a need for such a system. It was only put in
summoned would rouse the less pious from their slumber. The
winter solstice was still three months off, and the next drill
was not scheduled to occur for another two years. When the
bells directed their attention aloft and everyone saw the peaks
alight, they would know that the event they had been
purpose.
Dalevin could not help wonder what would happen next and
whether the coming changes would take place during his lifetime.
He closed his eyes and set about trying to rejoin the effort.
eventually try to send a message home, and Dalevin did not want
past, but there had never been any replies -- not in living
but after so long without any contact one could not help lose at
not the least plausible of which was that the war had been lost.
CHAPTER 18
done -- done for the day and just plain done. It was stifling
out. The stagnant air and exhaust fumes made the heat that much
loosened his tie and undid his collar. The chess players were
sides. The lunch crowd was on the move clogging sidewalks and
was on hand, plus one or two new faces. Falan didn't recognize
the old lady wearing the faded yellow rain poncho and the
vintage Orioles cap. She looked to be one of those who were the
oven. He watched her forage in one trash can and then another
Mike was lanky with corded arms and chiseled thighs all
like knots above a pair of ankle socks. After leaning his bike
against the back of the bench, he pealed his racing jersey over
toward the fountain. "You could stand to even out that farmer's
tan, too."
Mike took off his shoes and socks and extended his legs so
that his feet poked out beyond the shade line into the sunlight.
whacked you."
"Then why have you got him teaching you to be a karate man
cabinet?"
"Fuck you."
thing. Now all of a sudden you want to get into martial arts on
the same day you turn up looking like you got your ass beat?"
corner."
about this little Sumo guy who was clobbering guys twice his
are back and forth across the line causing all kinds of trouble
outsiders."
something."
then?"
"What about you, though? What are you doing exactly? You
"You have no idea what I know," Falan shot back. "My job
of profit-sharing."
"We need it, but there's some hope that the big pharma guys
are starting to see the light. They did one study in Costa Rica
that showed fifteen percent of the plants down there had some
a longer-term view."
"I'll be working with this MBA guy and a law school student
price for the information they're getting from the locals and
the jungle down there. The Indians are going to be a whole lot
The natives get paid, the rainforest survives and the drug
summer back here working for my dad. This might open some
world or whatever, maybe you should stop all this bullshit with
your dad and become a lawyer -- just switch sides and play for
"Like what?"
"No, I've got to get out from under his thumb. As long as
"How the hell can you be broke? Your dad covers everything
for school, and you make more during the summer than I could in
"You're gonna end up dead riding around the way you guys
do."
it."(*)
subject.
"No, Julie and those girls are hanging out by the pool at
her place. Her parents are at their house on the Eastern Shore
for the week. She told me to pick up some wine coolers for them
and whatever else and swing by. I was going to take the tow
path out to Potomac, grab some booze at The Village, and see if
"Ride your bike all the way out there? You're the glutton.
This is the only lovin' you're gonna squeeze in," Falan gestured
someplace."
Potomac."
"You wanna throw your bike in my car? I'll head over there
with you, if we can add pizza and beer to the wine cooler
order."
CHAPTER 19
was an avid soccer fan, so they watched a live match from the
Mrs. Santucci was old school, and kept forcing more and more
food on all of them. Joe finally had to shoo his mom away and
warn her they'd both get sick all over the basement if she
chance to digest," Joe said. "I'll show you some stuff on the
"Yeah, pretty much. I've had 'em for years. The older
ones are better, before they started adding all the rules and
time limits. I'm looking for the fights where I know there is a
big weight difference between the two fighters, since you act
standard game plan that a little guy can use to beat a freaking
styles. The Sumo guy in that article probably knows most of his
hell."
Falan asked.
"Okay, I'm still not sure what this is all about, but
knows what he's doing, I mean knows martial arts, you need to
run. Even if he's half your size, get the hell out of there
'cause you don't know shit, and he's going to fuck you up."
after last call, but that's about it. Don't think this little
bit I'm showing you is going to help against anyone who really
practice this stuff over and over for years before it'll do you
America. For now just show me how to deal with a huge psycho
"All right I'm just saying...," Joe said holding his palms
Assuming you aren't going out looking for fights, you don't need
to worry too much about the guys who truly know what they're
aggression that you have to watch out for. Some of them get a
"Most of the time, though, you know exactly what these guys
mean a couple years new, not a couple days new. Okay? If you're
serious about this, you really need to find a school and sign
up."
from our high school wrestling team who were half my size that
tough as hell, but he gets worked 'cause he can't shake his old
habits. You can see right there he's not afraid to throw a
watch right here. Bam! He goes for the takedown. He got lucky.
The other guy could have ended it right there with a knee to the
wrestler reverts to his old instincts and tries to get onto his
rolled onto his back with his knees up, but lying on your back
back? Wouldn't the other guy just sit on his chest and punch
You saw what happened when he got on his hands and knees. Watch
fighters mainly. See, the bald guy gets thrown down, and then
way you can see what's coming and have a chance at defending
against it.
"If the fighter on top isn't careful, the guy lying on his
back will twist around somehow and get a joint lock on him then
try to snap his knee or elbow. That or the guy on bottom might
find a way to apply a choke hold and knock him out by cutting
fight the guy on the bottom could go for the eyes, tear away an
ear or even bite the guy's nose off. There are still a few
"Lucky you. But can't the guy on top, just wail away and
rather let the other guy get up so he can punch and kick him,
rather than dive on top of him and try to hit him on the ground.
When you're on top, you're better off trying to hammer the guy
arm. Any time you extend your arms, legs or neck, you risk
Right there," Joe exclaimed, pointing. "See how the guy on the
bottom has the top guy's arm? He could snap that elbow, but the
"His corner man would throw in the towel or his elbow would
break. That was a quick one. A lot of them are, but some of
evenly matched."
fight on the ground, and that's where most of these fights end
up. You boxers are up a creek as soon as you get knocked down.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/142
There aren't too many rules in these fights, and there aren't
think a guy is going to kill you or maim you real bad when you
end up on the ground, then go for the eyes, bite his balls off,
do whatever it takes."
jail. Look, here's a good one. Check this guy out: he's
fucking huge. He's not a boxer; he's a serious karate guy, but
he's much happier staying on his feet than going to the ground.
hardcore ground fighting rep. The big guy isn't very agile.
He's strong as shit and knows how to punch and kick, but he's
too big to maneuver around on the floor very well. He's also
slow getting up. You've seen how fast some of these guys pop
"So why doesn't the little guy just flop down onto his back
"That's not unheard of, but in this case the other guy is
keeps backing up and circling. Then when the big guy steps in
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/143
to try to hit him -- wham! The little guy nails him with a fast
kick to the side of the leg just above the knee. Wham! There
it. Look, same thing over and over. Big guy keeps walking
right into it. Wham, same leg. Bang, there he goes again.
Okay, this is like ten minutes into it. Now look at him. He's
landed a few kicks and punches here and there, but mostly the
little guy is too quick. He just keeps nailing him in the same
spot above the knee then dancing away. Even though he's
smaller, his leg is still longer than the other guy's arm, and
the big guy isn't helping himself any by just walking right into
the kick every time. He's convinced he can knock the guy out
with one good punch, but the more he comes straight ahead, the
this one, then let me try a few moves on your ass," Falan said.
"This is it right here. The big guy can hardly move his
final attack. Watch, he reaches too far with this next punch.
His leg can't take all his weight like that and he stumbles
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/144
forward onto his hands and knees. Bam! See ya," Joe shouted
unconscious on the mat. "A kick to the temple like that could
moves. Joe showed Falan what to expect from most guys who
didn't have a clue and explained how to defend and counter basic
attacks. Toward the end they sparred for awhile. They went
Joe toyed with him. Falan kicked, punched, blocked and grappled
on the floor for all he was worth, but he hardly landed a single
blow.
and joints.
"Pretend you don't know what you're doing. Just act like some
meathead."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/145
"Okay. But look -- your kicks are for shit. And, if you
want to choke a guy out, you've got to choke him like you mean
it."
called. The plan was to meet for happy-hour the next day then
go see some techno band none of them had ever heard of. All the
lights were out when Falan finally got home. He kicked his feet
CHAPTER 20
partner arrive to relieve him from duty. "I have something else
sector."
notification."
antennas and ducts hanging from the ceiling were only partially
light aside from the dull green glow emitting from the single
active monitor.
say. Our job is to filter this stuff. Let's not cause another
director's staff does not want us dragging them down here every
crops. Did you say five thousand one hundred and twenty-
seventh?"
contacts like that are? They just do not happen anymore. That
fully deranged after being stranded out there for this long."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/148
about this one. Something big must have happened for them to
get back in touch after so long. Maybe they found what everyone
has been looking for all this time. This could be our voucher
out of here."
were fools to call in the earlier reports from out that way.
the last one and we will be back in the mines supervising the
slaves again."
will wait."
"You are calling him! What are you thinking? Hurry up and
disconnect!"
"He is the only one on duty from the technical side right
member of the guild down here -- have one of those creepy fucks
what Associate Director Gheddy was like. Treachen may fire us,
but he is not going to crawl inside your mind and trash the
place while he looks for the shit you will not even admit to
yourself."
you?"
CHAPTER 21
Falan never heard his dad enter the room behind him. The
slap to his head rocked him over sideways on the couch and set
grabbed him by the collar and yanked him backwards over the
couch with one hand. Falan slammed onto the hardwood floor and
skidded on his ass toward the kitchen, clipping his head on the
edge of a bookcase along the way. There was blood on his finger
times. You expect me to pay you a nickel for today? You come
in late then vanish for good before lunch. What the hell is
head off."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/151
They said they wanted Cindy to finish up the leg work. I...I
I left a note for Roger like you said, and then I headed out for
ask for more work. What the hell do you think I'm paying you
for? God damn it, I chewed Roger a new asshole. I told him I
where the hell you are. Says if I want you on the project then
tell you to watch your sarcastic mouth around him and the rest
of the senior staff. I looked for you all day. Do you know
had to make up some lame excuse how you'd called in from the
hospital saying that your stitches had come lose, and you were
summer."
your last check. You're paid up, so don't go hassle them about
it."
surprisingly fast for such a hulk, caught him on the temple with
an open hand. The side of Falan's face cracked against the door
"You want fair? How's that? Fair enough? When you get
into the office tomorrow, go see Marilyn. She's got about ten
wanted you to dig deeper into that GenTech business for me, but
I obviously can't trust you beyond busy work so help her with
CHAPTER 22
Falan didn't have too much trouble staying awake the rest
of the night after the run in with his father. The ephedrine
got him through the wee hours while he brooded in his room
trying to figure out where he was going to get his hands on the
half the balance. That would pay for his travel and expenses
really cared all that much about the rainforest or the poor
campus scene and some time to figure out what he was going to do
with his life. Ideas on how to come up with eleven grand proved
sporting a partial shiner where his father had tuned him up.
the office asked about it. He spent the whole day filing. It
was mind-numbing -- the sort of thing he'd helped with back when
block at lunchtime and ate a hotdog from a cart, but that was
it. The rest of the time he kept his head down and watched the
clock. At six he blew out the door right behind the support
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/154
across the street mid-block and hurried inside a bar called The
Big Hunt. He found the rest of his crew already packed into a
booth upstairs toward the back, where they hoped their fake IDs
brunette and the other more of a blonde. Joe and Mike were
him.
last night?"
"Yeah."
"Lemme see," Joe said turning around. "You were fine when
smiled.
older than the four of them, but Veronica was young -- maybe
even still in high school. Their eyes were shiny, and the
"We both just got here, but E.'s been here awhile," Joe
said.
offered.
"So, you save any for the rest of us, or did your new
your way."
"I sampled from the tasting menu when I stopped off to see
Veronica giggled.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/157
it."
from the other side. Falan looked over at Mike and Joe.
They drank a bunch of pitchers and did a few shots over the
course of the next three hours. Everyone ordered food, but the
girls just played with theirs. After eating they all walked
group house. She rolled a joint when they got there and pulled
Veronica's lip-lock and kissed him herself. Then she put the
joint in his mouth and lit it for him. It got passed around
Jaiger.(*)
love this band, we never will be," Brownie said heaving himself
Veronica was trying to pull Eric back down onto the chair
they'd been sharing. Angelique got up, walked over and pulled
All the guys were up and waiting by the door when the girls
came back. The cabbie griped about there being six of them and
twenty bucks at him from the back seat. It was a short drive,
but by the time they reached the club everyone was in varying
were laughing and being loud, while others were speaking less
Inside the place was packed. The base was pounding and
some hipster DJ from London who'd been the bomb six or seven
grooving along in her own little world, watching the lights and
Brownie came back from the bar with three beers and three shots.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/159
"Cheers."
Joe made to grab his shot from him, but Falan pulled it
the floor then shaking Joe hard by the shoulder while laughing
watching the scene. Veronica had joined E. and her sister, and
now the two girls had their buddy sandwiched between them as
She was tiny -- like five-foot and thin but for a pair of
diamond stud gleamed from her navel. Her short blonde hair was
She faced away from the crowd and maintained eye contact
with him while swaying seductively to the music. Her rhythm was
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/160
slow compared with the music, but that only served to emphasize
Joe forward.
Joe knocked back the rest of his beer and walked over to
the blonde. He took her by the hand and led her deeper into the
mass of people.
disappeared into the crowd trying his best to act like he knew
how to dance.
Falan was left alone drinking his beer and grinding his
was hot, and everyone was dripping with sweat. As much as he'd
just trying to cool off and get some air. He tried talking to a
on.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/161
The sets came and went -- one loud techno rift after
taking him home later: that much was obvious. Falan could have
"Thin Ice, Stay Off." He pounded beers.(*) The beers went down
people when he flinched and looked back over his shoulder. The
head around to the front again, but there was nothing out of the
shadows in the back once more and tried to pick out something
its approach. The hidden stalker had not come to see the show.
It had come to find him, and its reasons were dark. Without
warning Falan began screaming and shoving his way left down the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/162
least one guy took a swing at him, but the blow glanced off the
stomped on her bare toes, but that just spurred him on. As he
reached the end of the bar, he tripped and went sprawling onto
the floor. He was on his hands and knees near the back of the
room, where there were fewer people. Falan realized his mistake
too late. He'd be easier to find out here away from the throng.
darker near the floor, and he kept banging into people's legs.
One guy kicked him twice in the ribs and called him a stupid
fuck, but most just shuffled out of his way pointing and
big trash can so he was facing out with his back to the wall.
He pulled his knees up to his chin and hugged his legs. He was
gasping and his heart was pounding so hard that the blood in his
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/163
how long he'd been hiding there when Mike found him.
"Hey, what the fuck are you doing down there? I've been
but Falan shrugged him off without a word and kept scanning the
room behind his friend. The regular lights were coming on, and
the crowd had thinned considerably. The DJ was finished and the
Falan noticed blood on his hands and felt the piece of glass
sticking out of his knee for the first time. His pants were
soaked and reeking of stale alcohol. What the hell was going
"What happened?"
"I don't know. One minute I'm at the bar waiting for my
change, the next minute I'm running for my life. It was like
"Well, come on, I think everybody else took off awhile ago.
They took a cab back to Dupont, but Mike couldn't find his
"They towed your ass," Falan said taking a seat on the curb
"How many unpaid tickets have you got? If that's where you
left it, they towed your ass. Call 'em tomorrow. If they don't
have it, I'll help you look some more at lunch. Come on, let's
asked.
"I'm not the one who started acting like a psychotic freak,
maniac."
so it was no big deal. When they got there, Mike got out and
held the door for Falan as he came around to get behind the
wheel.
take-out Chinese from the fridge and took it down to his room
was still jittery, and his jaw and back were starting to feel
CHAPTER 23
Another signal had come in from out beyond the Karolin sector.
secure in his ability to coerce those two into swearing the suns
After the recent uproar involving the hunt for the impetus,
nephew was more than capable of manipulating the new systems the
have preferred dealing with anyone else besides him, but the
origin of the message and the fact that Palerick was the sole
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/168
guild member on duty when it came in made him the only real
showed just how far things had deteriorated for the guild.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/169
been pushed into growing their forces so quickly that there had
not been enough time to properly train all the new recruits in
phase of the conflict, but many felt the price they paid had
been too high. Since then the Ilstachians had been far more
this would have bought them the time needed to properly train
society did not befall the same fate as so many others who chose
example. They had gone down that road and now found themselves
living species who tried before them. The Synthedon, after all,
within the scope of this war. The most recent such interval was
previously the search for the impetus had occupied the majority
the least bit of technical leaning were of the opinion that any
cancellation.
caused by attrition had been going unfilled for awhile now. The
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/174
endeavors.
victory.
foes as the end goal. Gheddy and the dwindling guild class,
of the race that ignited it. Those who still believed in its
existence felt strongly that the first species to find the next
be repeated so exactly.
The Beledenites, who for the most part retained and employed
assemblematic pace.
into the fight. Most ships on all sides were destroyed in the
equal size. The problem had become one of scale. The organics
feeling that they were a bit too smug given how much they relied
nonliving entities was looking for the same thing as the rest of
them. If they were, the question became why. Did they seek to
all but a few what a race of synthetics might hope to gain from
suspicions, but they were not sharing them -- not even with
their allies.
they call off the search for the spark altogether. Some sought
understand that. Who would not want to give their children the
around them. This led them to seek out a line of mates whose
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/180
staircase of their own design and broke free from the fifth-
reached the sixth tier, but it was still unclear what plane of
awareness that placed them on. Though the Synthedon were known
separate entities.
Gheddy and the other acolytes took pride in the fact that
nature that saw them claw their way to an even footing with
their peers. Since then all other species, living and not, were
level awareness.
always hinted at in the addenda that came with each new matching
segment that was tacked onto a species' life map. The shear
their species' next spousal connection for so long now that many
existed.
partner spurred the searchers deeper and deeper into the unknown
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/183
the true nature of that threat was recognized too late to serve
and waned as each side sought to ensure they would be the first
CHAPTER 24
She didn't come any closer. All the covers were pulled off
the bed, and the lamp from his nightstand was on the floor
broken.
here. What in the world is going on? Have you got a girl down
here?"
he stood up.(*)
are."
back upstairs."
"Is that why you haven't been sleeping well lately? You're
Falan went into the bathroom and closed the door. Marcela
stared after him for a few moments then went back up to the
his own strange dreams. Her father had always maintained some
steady his hands. Goose bumps stood out on his upper arms and
it made him lean over and throw up in the sink. What could
himself in the mirror watching bile run down his chin. He could
What the hell was he thinking? He couldn't trick his mind into
was awake or asleep. This was all going on inside his tiny,
little, pea brain -- pure and simple. He didn't have time for a
at this point would only give his parents more justification for
saying no.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/187
CHAPTER 25
underway by the time anyone else showed up. After the episode
with his mother, he'd been anxious to get out of the house
dispensed with the suit and tie for his last day. He figured a
is it?"
"No way."
gotten towed."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/188
said.
"He could have lost it, but I bet it got towed. What
happened?"
voice. "I put up a fight, but it was no use. They had powers."
The two of them had been bantering back and forth for years
once have derived from God's voice in The Life of Brian but
bountiful supply for not less than fourteen days' time. Please
which I myself can vouch for, and two-thirds caplets. The later
delivery?"
voice.
stopped and leaned over the side of Cindy's cube on his way down
the hall.
chagrined.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/191
"You know how we were talking about whether man had true
free will..."
here."
"No thanks."
When the elevator door opened to take him down, his father
As the two of them stood there watching the men walk away,
his son and gave him a vicious poke on the chest with his
forefinger.
ever-loving ass?"
coffee. That was the whole GenTech shop right there. I rounded
the way up I'm still trying to decide how to play it, wondering
if I should bring you in to talk about what you learned and see
if you can help me turn the tide on this thing. Then I look up
and see you standing there looking like some eighth grade punk,
Falan knew it was coming, but he flinched the wrong way and
caught the open-handed cuff on the left side of his head. There
"You are one dumb son of a bitch. You just don't get it do
down past the lobby to the parking deck and got in his car. He
turned right onto New Hampshire Avenue. He was still four car
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/193
lengths away when the light turned from yellow to red, but his
foot never left the gas. He kept on going right out of the
city.
shoes from the back of the truck and took off running down the
tow path of the C&O Canal. His rage carried him for about half
a mile before leaving him gagging with his hands on his knees.
fish ladder that plunged into the main section of the Potomac
cruising along the rim over on the Virginia side, and a steady
Village for a slice of pizza and a Coke. Except for the other
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/194
day with Mike, he hadn't been out this way in ages. Back in the
sliced, hooked or scalded half the bucket, when E.'s call saved
him from further aggravation. Falan gave the rest of his balls
to a young kid, who looked like he could use the extra practice,
then returned the driver he'd borrowed from the pro shop and
headed back into town. He met Eric half an hour later at the
"No, not yet. Did you see him with that blonde girl?"
"Yeah, I think they were the first ones out the door. She
was obviously ready to go when she saw him. Hey look, my guy
speed, but that's all I could get. A bunch of frat boys from
lowered the toilet lid then carefully opened up the paper seal
that Eric had pressed into his palm. He did a couple quick
snorts of powder off his finger tip then went back outside.
either. The pills are average by comparison, but they pack more
"Sweet Angelique's."
"Not Veronica's?"
promise."
like those trips we took back in high school. Get a few cases
"Say what?"
"Dude, you are. You're not gonna come up with that kind of
be a way."
"Plastic?"
"A little more and you might go up to that car auction near
card, find something you can flip quick, make a few grand, get
"Then max out the card with a cash advance, and let's drive
cool. Just ski back and enjoy it. Hang out at Whistler-
messages for Joe and Mike mentioning the beach idea then thought
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/198
about and disregarded calling Naomi for one last summer tumble.
home and dealing with that whole scene. Veronica crossed his
nearby and skimmed the used car adds. Forget that, he decided.
pondering his old beer can collection stuffed away in the attic
ripping off some drug dealer, not E. of course, but a real drug
stupid thoughts.
The guy left his paper on the table when he took off so
Falan grabbed the rest of it and checked the movies. There was
nothing worth seeing. Friday night and he had zip going on.
the video store and rent a couple of DVDs. He was going to need
all the rest he could get between now and tomorrow morning
till dawn. His dad would make him pay for that -- even more so
find his father in the garage hitting the heavy bag so late
Falan even had it in park. Bad news: his dad was pissed off,
last Saturday of the month, which made this one of the few
Falan watched the movie Bad Boys for the umpteenth time.
go, but he never tired of watching Sean Penn load those cans of
soda into the empty pillow case and use it to take that guy out.
the fifth stage of the Giro de Italia bike race from 1999, a
second movie he'd rented. Cool Hand Luke was another one he'd
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/200
seen many times. When Paul Newman got the shit beat out of him
see a director's cut where Luke unexpectedly let loose with some
videos that Joe had given him to watch. Those and the
CHAPTER 26
auditory implant and stared out across the ocean below. There
his. It amazed him that they did not need press gangs to fill
biological optics when he had the chance. Back then he had not
allowing Svetreeka to tag along, but over time she had come to
but since leaving home he had been made aware that later could
be extended much further than any of his kind had ever dreamed
vanity had been to blame for that. He found it ironic how youth
doctor up again.
high above the resort, but the waves breaking on the distant
in one place.
Constant winds ranged between 150 and 175 miles per hour
that, where the two storms met. They traded roles during the
worse. When the circumstances were aligned for it, winds from
cities.
tranquil coastal region had spent the better part of the last
storm eyes that were slowly chasing each other around the
storm eyes. The eyes were the planet's only two safe havens, but
hundred years this idyllic retreat had only been buffeted by its
storm to tighten its spin so that the storm eye's inner wall
That was six local months ago. Damage to the property had
would be the only structures needed for those who stayed to face
to the safety of the ship before the blow hit, but he had stayed
if it could be avoided.
their faces, when they fell inside the eye wall. When opposing
jointly conquer the area inside one of the two storm centers,
those seeking to break in, but once inside such unions tended to
the more difficult prospect given that the spoils were not
and waned in the lower atmosphere. The real difficulty was that
year.
and holding onto it. Thwarting invaders was less like defending
While the paths of the two storms were hard to judge, they
clear sky. They either chose their sites poorly or fell victim
while it lasted. If they were still alive when the storm's fury
more elaborate schemes. Kellion had seen designs for all manner
each other on the ground while the third wall hovered in line
paddle wheel. The walls were hinged like the seats on the
forward, the top wall came down to form the new front of the
the second line of defense, and the wall that had been in the
Those who enjoyed the relative calm within a storm eye naturally
When the center of a storm moved entirely out to sea, as the one
combustible fuels did turn up. Their use, however, was hindered
been told that the fleet presently on its way was led by a
this storm's eye. This storm center had been drifting offshore
for the last sixty local years. It had been too difficult for
for much of that transition period, but now events were coming
to a head.
blockade until the new navy and barge communities were nearly
to the ground while still in dry dock, leaving his former allies
and walking back over to the hot tub, which stood chest high
under the penthouse eves. The place was only four stories high,
but since it was the best suite available in the entire eye,
place."
responding.
Kellion tossed a few more logs under the tub, then folded
"We have just enough time to enjoy one last good soak," he
said. "I have ordered everyone back aboard the ship. My launch
His waiflike companion set her glass down and sunk deeper
into the water so that her chin rested on the surface. Tiny
"Do you think the other sanctuary has moved far enough out
of the desert yet?" she asked. "I did not think there was
drinking too much of the local ferment. Between that and this
tub, you are going soft. I am talking about leaving the planet
altogether."
"That is reason enough. You are worse than soft. You have
The one who swore she would not rest until she had eviscerated
pretty well on that score before we left," she said tilting her
"I am not the one who has gone soft," Svetreeka huffed.
"When was the last time you let me even board a slave transport?
are all too weak and too slow to be entrusted with anything
this galaxy."
get hold of some new shield technology and upgrade our ordinance
came from, but we have jumped the fence and this is a dangerous
neighborhood."
"You said your kind were the only space traveling species
in your galaxy."
"We were as far as we knew, but that does not mean much.
chasing down your prey so you would not have to bob around in
sticking with the devil I know. I do not care how slick those
foreign models are. I could not tell the galley from the head
in any of those damn things, much less operate one of them with
you are going to have to change ships if you ever expect to get
should not have to warn you, Svetreeka. You are lucky we are
the heat of action, but you know I will not stand idly by while
Svetreeka raised her hand and slowly traced the thin scar
"I know how you can get," she replied churlishly. "If only
retorted thinly.
from the shipping lanes, much less stay out here for as long as
we have, just to replace one dead cabin steward who could not
and relaxation someplace where they could unwind and enjoy the
all those bug nests and zoology labs before deciding on this
to bestiality.
"Just the same, I do not want you parading around the ship
well enough against you, and I do not want to have to set any
the equinox? You said we could join in the King's big hunt this
year."
clamped her jeweled fingers around his bulging forearm and dug
CHAPTER 27
His father was reading the paper over breakfast when Falan
went upstairs.
"I told Manny nine o'clock, and he's all booked up today so
don't make us wait," James said as he got up from the table and
"Falan, maybe you should stay home today," she said. "You
you the best way he knows how. He had to learn a lot of hard
lessons on his own after his father died, and he doesn't want to
"I can see how it must seem that way, but just stay home
he'd forged during the wee hours threatened to crumble under the
took some convincing, but Mrs. Santucci eventually woke her son
"Falan, what's going on, man? Just 'cause you don't sleep
Falan hung up. When Mrs. Santucci let him in, Falan ran up
"Come on, get up. The Tune Inn, best greasy breakfast on
the Hill."
and it doesn't have any grease in it," Joe growled rolling over.
lumber?"
"Yeah, I do. But you might want to get that wart burned
off of there just the same. Come on, I'm running late," Falan
out of Falan's hand and started searching for his own choice of
shorts and t-shirt. "Let's just eat here, my mom'll fix it,"
Joe said.
twelve."
"I just need to make one stop on the way. Then we'll eat."
"Come on, man, why didn't you say something the other day?
This is bullshit."
bathroom.
care?"
CHAPTER 28
Maryland into the District doing well over the speed limit, when
Joe asked why he got the invite today rather than any of the
other times. Falan started in with the long version, but Joe
knew well enough how the whole thing began. He'd been there
that day back in the ninth grade. The two of them were playing
better team from the Baltimore area when Falan got penalized for
didn't matter to the kid from Baltimore whose chin was gushing
blood.
The much bigger boy threw down his stick and gloves, peeled
off his helmet and advanced on Falan with clenched fists. Falan
that he stumbled backward and fell on his ass. The kid dove on
top of Falan and pummeled him with both fists while he hid his
head in his arms. A few other players jumped in, but the whole
thing ended pretty quickly when James Tiernan strode out onto
marched him off to the parking lot. The coach had no choice but
to send in a substitute.
dad had taken him straight to the gym and given him his first
but it was obvious James feared his son was craven at heart. He
without making any effort to defend one's self was unnatural and
pathetic. In the failing mill town where James grew up, kids
counted most. The only fight you could avoid was the next one,
and the only way to do that was to win the one you were in. If
you couldn't whip the guy outright, then you had to inflict
enough damage while losing to make the next asshole think twice
He gave Falan a painful lesson in boxing that day and then made
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/224
him train two nights a week throughout the rest of his high
raising a coward, James forced his son to spar with him once a
month.
against other kids in his own weight class. He just wasn't that
could show up, bob and weave, throw a few punches, take a
After high school both Falan and his mother lobbied for an
it. As long as he was paying the bills, they would all abide by
the ring when he was home for the holidays and once a month
sudden?"
"I need a corner man. I've never had a chance against him
so I only fight back enough to convince him that I'm not a total
inside your gloves 'cause you don't have any more chance of
"Dude, those rules are probably the only reason you're not
Your dad's never gonna go for it, first of all, but if he did
he'd kill you. You can't fight for shit. You know how it feels
even when you're wearing headgear and he lands a good punch with
he jacked you in the face with his bare fist. Wait, I'm sorry,
"Come on, man, fuck that. What about all those fights we
guys were outweighed by a lot more than me, and they still won."
not even a good boxer. Besides, most of the little guys who won
Falan pulled into empty spot next to his dad's Lexus SUV
Joe craned his neck and took a look around outside the
Explorer.
The spot was probably less than a mile from the nation's
Capitol Building, but the neighborhood had gone down hill by the
"Yeah, he's been coming here for over twenty years. His
Falan reached back under the floor mat behind Joe's seat
opened it gingerly then took an empty pen tube from the center
methamphetamine.
Falan tilted his head back and sniffed hard a few more
all over it. Why the hell are you even considering this?"
hiding place and started putting drops in his eyes from a bottle
check out, I'll never know the difference. I'm sick of him
psychiatric counseling."
"Come on, listen, he's got bad knees. He fried them both
one fight you showed me where the guy kept kicking that huge
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/229
Bam-Bam mother fucker on the side of the knee over and over for
like twenty minutes straight? Then the load finally went down
and the little guy gave him an atomic elbow to the back of the
was thinking about going with something like that. What do you
think?" he jabbered.
"It was a kick to the temple, but never mind," Joe said.
gloves off?"
"I'll goad him into it. I'm going to talk smack until he
going to lose, and I mean badly. Your dad is going to fuck you
and trade punches with the guy, and you sure as hell don't want
He'll just hold you down and punch your lights out. You could
get lucky and really mess up one of his knees early on -- make
seriously bad shape not because your kicks are any good.
Suppose you do get lucky, which you won't. How would you feel
Falan got out of the car sniffling and wiping his nose. He
took his gym bag from the back seat, and Joe followed him
inside. The smell hit them as soon as they stepped through the
narrow aisle that left just enough space off to one side for a
top of the back wall, but they'd been painted over with a pale
yellow that was now coated in grime. The only useful light came
James Tiernan had his hands taped and was shadow boxing in
one of the rings with an old Latino guy wearing padded mitts.
Falan knew all about Manuel Herrera's career as the Latin Hammer
before Castro. Manny had been running the place for more than
forty years now. The two black guys sparing in the other ring
were regulars, but after two years spent mostly at school Falan
"Come on," Joe said, "it looks like we've got a little
time. Let's go over there and walk through a couple things real
quick."
They went off to the far side of the gym and Joe gave Falan
try to time your kicks to catch that knee just after he throws a
reach in and nail him when he's sitting back waiting for you."
asked.
"Take your time and be patient. I don't care how bad his
knees are. It's going to take more than a few lucky strikes to
put your old man down. It takes time to land a bunch of kicks
so stick to your game plan and keep targeting that left knee."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/232
long legs, so stay as far away from him as you can. If he gets
lucky and he misses in close, don't try to punch him with your
fist. Come straight up under his chin with your elbow like
this."
"What if his knee gives out and he goes down? What kind of
decent joint lock on him, and he's way too strong for you.
his elbow, he'll hold you down and wail on you. The only thing
that might work if you both end up on the mat is a choke hold,
either from the front like this or the back like this.
does go down and you're still up, just stay on your feet and be
able to stand up. Then he'll have to concede the fight. That's
"If you think you can get away with it, try to kick him in
the side of the head as hard and fast as you can, but don't let
him grab your leg and pull you down. That'll be game over."
As they walked over to the ring, Joe spoke out of the side
of his mouth, "I'm only here for the trash-talking, so don't let
CHAPTER 29
exposing her narrow shoulders and spare chest. Though they were
not of the same species, their makeup was similar and she knew
that she had all the right parts and extras to boot.
his home world. She slipped a hand inside his robe and let it
attention on him.
Why don’t you get in the water and reconsider? What is one
more month?"
against the side of the tub and closed his eyes while she
stroked her short white hair. She turned her head slightly and
spoke softly into his ear while he blindly devoured her thin
neck.
Kellion lifted her onto his lap and wrapped her legs around
top of him, but she resisted with her hips while nibbling at his
ear.
Svetreeka rolled her eyes when she felt his tongue trace
its way down to her shoulder. She reached for him below the
sighed and his shoulders sagged. He slowly opened his eyes and
She glared back at him from the top step of the tub, "For
the record you did not rescue anybody. I had those Iridonian
bastards right where I wanted them until you came along and
spoiled my revenge. They did not deserve the quick death you
gave them."
"Shut up," she rasped as she toweled off and collected her
robe. "You will be lucky to avoid the same fate I had planned
Kellion sneered, "and take part in the King's big summer hunt
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/236
every year. Doubtless the mood will be a tad more somber once
water one by one. She was right. If he had not gotten rid of
her by now, then it was going to take a lot more than that to
push him over the edge. The older he got, the more addicted to
had installed a few years back. He had to assume she knew about
them, but she had never said anything. Maybe that was because
they did not seem to work all that well. The mind chemist on
Eradonus had warned him that he would not be getting his money's
about him when she really sunk her hooks into him. Since the
better -- most of the time anyway. He was now also better able
to observe his own toll on her. He was not sure if the implants
His former steward was lucky Kellion took care of him before
his crew had seen quite a bit over the last two and half
leaving home -- but she was the only one of her kind they had
of some kind out there, but no one was really sure what that
meant exactly. They could not even agree on where "out there"
was. Some felt these other cosmos resided out beyond the
thought they existed all around them near and far. They
observed since she had been aboard might have shed some light on
when they woke from their first cryostasis to find The Lady
original crew.
beyond what should have been possible given the elapsed time
cruising speed still remained far below the speed of light. The
among space exploration planners did not result so much from the
proficiency was then aimed back at itself and used to answer the
across all the sciences. The answers that came to light built
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/240
Saboteurs from many religious walks, all in fear for their gods
his compatriots had been racing along the learning curve when he
off in their ship, Inwah was left in a quandary. There had not
just a few ship years after her departure The Lady encountered
and the one they were destined for. It appeared to have been
some sort of spatial riptide that sucked them out of the space
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/242
were not far from the outskirts of a solar system, but the
he did not care to take the time to analyze them too closely.
very far alone. The big question had finally been answered once
and for all: they were not alone. There were other intelligent
ended up setting course for the third most distant system after
life, but Inwah and his crew would come to discover time and
They had used the ensuing two ship years to make what
repairs they could while trying to figure out how to find their
way home. The ship's crumb trail led two thousand light hours
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/243
of the trail more closely, but nothing he found made any sense.
constant speed and heading the entire time. The relative course
friends. Just when he had decided to veer off and head for yet
and prodded The Lady near enough to the station for a kind of
of her hatches.
Inwah and his crew nicknamed the station "the Melting Pot,"
to that system or even the galaxy. Like Inwah and his crew,
reptilian beings that Inwah and his crew had encountered. There
snaring and holding items that had been scoured off the banks by
who had been uprooted and stranded in this new place now
trait in common. The three species in the group that found The
similar to each other or Inwah and his crew, but they shared an
of reference.
and scatter the rest so that their fire power could not be
crews aboard The Lady Valentine and together they decimated the
opposition before their new allies could fully join the fight.
had ever found their way home from here. Many had gone off
looking, but they were rarely heard from again. Those who did
Kellion did not buy into the plan. He was doubtful they had
deposited the ships there. None of their home worlds were known
reason to think the effort would benefit anyone but the latest
and his crew made their farewells and set out to find their own
climbed out of the tub. The crew had had enough of a break. It
was time they got back out there and continued searching for a
holes until the siege walls passed over them, stashed themselves
night. Once inside, his kind quickly looked for a way to make
presently."
The garish uniform Donibal wore was of his own making. The
him.
first one way then another before stopping and swiveling his
head and chewing his lip. Finally, he dashed over and snatched
dining table and stashed it under his coat before hurrying after
CHAPTER 30
Falan slipped off his shoes and socks, shed his sweat suit
and stepped up into the ring wearing nothing but shorts and a t-
shirt. Joe put his arms up on the middle rope and leaned into
boxing shoes.
"No shit, I'm paying either way so forget it. Put on your
"Fuck that, I'm tired of your bullshit. You say you'll pay
for school, but then you attach a bunch of strings. I'm trying
already."
James walked over to his son's side of the ring and looked
down at Joe.
broom."
"Come on, stop trying to get out of this and put your
gloves on."
"Falan, I don't know what the two of you have been smoking,
but if you've been training on the side with your boy here, you
better wake the fuck up. If he has you convinced that you're
reality check."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/252
"I'm standing here. I'm not trying to get out of anything. You
are."
I don't want to fight you. I just want to box a few rounds with
you, make sure you're keeping your skills up. Come on, let's
just go a few rounds, and I'll buy you guys some breakfast."
"Fuck you then, you don't care if I know how to box or not.
except you. I wasn't afraid of that kid. I just didn't see the
"No. You can brow beat mom all you like, but I'm done with
it. I'm not going to turn myself into a fucking alcoholic just
The punch caught Falan just below where his ribs came
fours and silently heaved for air that wouldn't come. Manny
pulled James back. Joe hopped into the ring and got down on one
Falan. At that point Joe leaned close and spoke into Falan's
ear.
Joe pulled Falan to his feet and stepped back out of the
"Nice cheap shot, you fucking pussy. When was the last
time you gave yourself any kind of a real challenge? How hard
the last twenty years. Does it make you feel like a big man to
beat the crap out of a kid who weighs a hundred pounds less than
you?"
"Falan, you say one more word, and you're going to get your
wish."
"Help him get his gloves off, Manny, then let him go,"
Falan said.
over daddy dying. I got news for you: he died thinking you were
smile while Manny reached over and started undoing the tape on
James's gloves.
"No, Manny, leave the gloves on, but take my headgear off,
"Now go take his gloves off, Manny," Falan said keeping his
arms and tree trunk thighs looked like they were joined together
by a full keg.
"And leave Manny in the ring to end the fight in case one
on.
end if someone gets knocked out, but no one can stop the fight
"The fight is over when I say, and your corner man can also call
Joe stepped into the ring again and turned to face Falan
might get a little more time to work on his knees. Just keep
"I don't want to see that fucking towel. Make him knock me
out."
Falan nodded.
no biting," the old man said before smacking his palms together
and taking a few steps back to clear the center of the ring.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/257
Falan adopted the sideways stance that Joe had taught him and
stepped to his left and lashed out with a wild left hook that
caught Falan on the side of the head and sent him sprawling. He
didn't even have time to get his hands back to break his fall.
teeth clack together and saw his friend's mouth piece drop into
but his father just stood there waiting for him. He scooped up
his mouth piece and shook his head a couple of times as he began
circling again. He'd boxed with his father enough to know that
the same left hook was coming again. When it did he pulled his
head back to avoid the blow. Then, as his father's glove went
foot back crisply as Joe had taught him. James stepped in and
landed a right hand that glanced off the side of Falan's cheek.
The ropes were the only thing that kept him up that time. Falan
quickly pushed off and resumed dancing to the right. His next
James was sending out quite a few left jabs now, but most
were coming up short. Falan managed to ward off the ones that
got close then countered with a kick that landed. That one was
high also, but after that he had his range dialed in. The
keep his hands up when he was boxing, but now that he was
with his hands. The next kick he launched was a case in point.
This time Falan's butt hit the mat with such force that he
ring.
stomach lifted him off his feet and drove him into the ropes.
the middle. Falan had his wind knocked out, but he avoided the
he could regain his breath, James out-muscled him and threw him
while James tried to shrug him off and push him away.
far in one direction and tripped him with his foot, so that they
both pounded onto the mat. They landed on their sides facing
each other only inches apart. Falan's eyes shot wide. Joe
would have shackled one of his joints or choked him out in the
time it took him to get back to his feet, but James just rolled
over onto his stomach and labored to his hands and knees before
him as hard as he could in the gut. James gave a woof but still
managed to get to his feet. He stood bent over with his hands
lowered head, but James swatted him in the shin with a forearm
its way past. The near miss was still enough to knock Falan on
his ass and force him to reconsider Joe's warning about facial
his son spread his hands for balance and test his shin with a
sent him reeling. He was on his way down again, but the
turnbuckle crunched into his spine and held him upright. James
followed him into the corner and cut off his escape. Falan
ducked under the first punch then stuffed his head up under
held on. When it looked like his father might finally shake him
free, Falan bent both knees and jumped up as hard has he could
blasting his father's chin with the top of his head. Afterward
he quickly let go, pushed back half a step and kicked his father
full bore on the side of his left knee. Blood streamed onto the
didn't appear to faze him in the least. He just raised his foot
the top off his head and tried to focus through all the stars.
came in strong once, but Falan kept backing up and moving right.
He landed a couple more half decent kicks on the left knee, but
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/261
then got knocked down once more just as Manny yelled time and
though. Stop letting him catch you with those punches, man.
One of 'em is going to put you down for good. You've gotten
already. Block those hooks same as when you're boxing and then
step in hard with the elbow -- here under the chin or on the
temple like this. That head-butt was sweet, but make sure you
really gotta work that knee. You need to hit it like fifty more
We've got all day. You've got to stay conscious and work that
will put him down. Take your time, wait for your openings and
Joe stepped out of the ring, and both Falan and his dad
nodded.
The second round went much like the first for the first
four minutes. Falan got knocked down several times and began
also received a fresh cut under the same eye. He landed five or
six more good kicks to the left knee, and one very good one to
the right. Then James trapped him in the corner again forcing
him to clinch. This time Falan let his arms slip down so that
he was hugging his father around the waist instead of under the
rest of the way down and wrapped his father's ankles together.
James slammed down, and the back of his head whipped into
the mat. Falan scrambled to his knees and punched his father in
throat and drove him off. Falan jumped up and looked for an
opening. As James rolled onto his hands and knees to get up,
Falan took two quick steps and dove forward like a lead
blocker in football and speared his dad in the side of the head
with an elbow. The blow was backed by his full body weight.
James keeled over on his side and Falan jumped up and started
eye, sent blood spurting from his nose and split both his lips,
blood off his face. "I'm serious, you can win this. I don't
Falan kept the water to his lips while pointing across the
ring with his other hand. Joe looked around and saw Manny
can still win this thing, Falan. You've already beaten the
odds. Here get this fucking t-shirt off so he can't grab hold
of you like you're doing to him. You've gotta stop letting him
hit you. Every time he connects, you go down. You can't let
him hit you in the head without gloves. I'm serious, Falan.
it's a good plan. The left one's starting to bother him, but
ring.
able to clinch with him. He'll just grab hold of you and
fists covered with nothing but tape. The first bare knuckle
he tried to duck under it. His neck snapped back and he hung
his head banged onto the mat. The Steamer's fuzzy silhouette
when he looked over and saw Joe paused between the ropes with
could get to his feet unmolested, but his father stayed right
and launched a heel strike into his father's left kneecap. Then
James grunted and hopped back wincing. He bent over and held
the knee with both hands for just a moment before straightening
up. His face was masked in fury. Falan was already going for
the knee again, but his father batted the kick aside.
His father grabbed for Falan's foot the next time he went for
the knee. James couldn't keep hold, but he threw his son off
nailed him on the chin, otherwise more than just his mouth piece
would have flown out of his mouth. While he was down, Falan
kept his father back with a few more heel strikes aimed at the
knees. They all missed, but they bought him the space he needed
to vault back up and skip sideways away from the corner his
the ring. When Falan switched direction and faked at the other
knee, James charged him and bulled him into the ropes. He
pounded two sharp blows into his son's rib cage before Falan
James gripped him by the shoulders and threw him back into the
time to avoid his father's next punch. James kept after him and
drove Falan into the far ropes with his shoulder -- linebacker
style. Falan tried to twist away, but James got him in a face-
to-face bear hug and started squeezing. Falan couldn't fill his
lungs. His father lifted him up off his feet and continued
crushing him. When Falan found himself looking down at the top
James roared and tossed his head, but he refused to let go.
Falan onto his back. As Falan fell backward under his father's
He flung one arm out sideways to absorb some of the shock and
wrapped his other arm around the back of his father's neck and
the mat, and what little breath remained whooshed out of Falan's
lungs.
one-arm, front-head lock. When James tried to pull away and sit
father's chin and clamped down tighter on the back of his neck.
James growled and redoubled his effort to squeeze the air out of
his son's lungs. The lack of oxygen sent Falan into a state of
panic. Desperate for air he used his free hand to grab his
guillotine that Joe had shown him. The move enabled Falan to
Joe screamed.
his bear hug grip was preventing him from generating enough
force to dislodge the clamp that was cutting off the blood
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/268
to push himself farther up off the mat. This time when he drove
his shoulder into his son's chest, Falan's mouth guard spewed
out along with the very last puff of stale air in his lungs.
His eyes squinted shut and his jaw muscles bulged, but
an effort to push him away, but with his head caught in Falan's
his knee into his son's groin over and over again. Red foam
came next lacked power and went unnoticed. The Steamer's face
get one hand around Falan's throat. Cords stood out on his
hard enough to tilt his son's head all the way back, but Falan
When Falan finally opened his eyes, Joe and Manny were in
the ring pulling the two of them apart. They were both covered
in blood and vomit. Manny rolled James off Falan, as Joe pried
Falan's arm away from his father's throat. Falan heaved for air
His dad's eyes were open, but his face was navy blue, and the
Joe hauled him to his feet and ushered him over so he could
stand in his corner with his arms spread atop the ropes, while
The two guys in the other ring were standing side by side
during the first round to watch the spectacle. One nodded his
head to Falan, and the other shook a gloved fist in the air
"Manny called the fight. You won. You choked him out,"
Joe marveled. "You cut off the blood supply to his fucking
brain, man. He didn't quit, but if Manny didn't step in and end
it, you might have killed him. I warned you about that but, god
damn, you didn't have much choice. That was some desperate
is on me. I'm calling in sick, then we're gonna rally the guys.
CHAPTER 31
argumentative push-back, but the meeting had not gone like that
government.
examined, but they came across very few who had attained the
harbor the source code needed for the next ascension. The guild
into public service with the sole purpose of making certain that
of mind even existed. Their slim majority now gave them the
change.
the next link in the map of life's evolutionary chain and turned
surveillance.
stations that had been deployed to search for the seed over the
with a stopgap measure that was deemed sufficient for the short
At the very least Gheddy wanted to make sure someone was keeping
that the information they had been searching for all this time
technologist would have for such a job, the director had his
instructional preparatories.
tier at worst.
father and grandmother had both sat on the council, and for him
also long suspected that his initial acceptance into the shadow
boss. The brisk walk down to the river through the neoclassic
caponettes and frilly solbrellas that were all the rage among
fill up, and the urchins were emerging discreetly from the
crowd while keeping one eye out for the constables. This was
the only section of the city that still tried to pay any sort of
traditional produce boats moored along the bank were taking down
their awnings and casting off their lines. The tide was on its
way out, and those who lingered would soon find themselves
canal's muddy bottom until the dominant moon floated them again
planks and shallow dugouts skimmed off toward the ocean riding
much larger waves that would refill the channel at the dominant
moon's behest.
course that was why the local tribunals evicted the national
government from New Ilstach and Ilstach III in the first place.
when expected while watching for any signs that he was being
trailed.
between the two factions was largely a thing of the past, but as
option was viable. For the moment cooler heads prevailed. The
guild had enough issues on its plate without adding a civil war.
fuel cell jobs, but the precedent had been set and Gheddy knew
it was only a matter of time before new roads were installed and
mag lifts inundated the city. The civic tribunal for public
long before it reached that high the entire sky would become a
predecessors. The guild was worried about it, but what really
direction the republic was headed. When the guild was in firm
inevitable and even desirable, but for the most part technology
defense.
potential at worst.
the mech job right behind them. When the pullers realized they
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/284
job's rigors.
after that, and now with the advent of automatons their trade
have the opposite effect, but it had not turned out that way.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/285
ran their feet up onto the side panels of the opposing cargo
each other even harder, and their massive legs fended off the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/286
him to keep an eye out for anyone that might be trying to keep
the sunlight hours. Other than a few kids playing some sort of
by nature, but he had always felt that this room and the others
unless they were told explicitly when and where to look. Even
then there was no guarantee what they would find when they
inside, they were no more than their host allowed them to be.
That was the affect these rooms always had on him anyway.
approach those rarified halls, they avoided Gheddy like the time
night sky above was clear and star speckled. Palerick did not
need to look behind him to know that the door he had passed
through had been replaced by dark woods like those facing him.
fire's glow and joined his boss on the ground, he noticed a herd
out. Not somewhere like this, but one of the other places Huron
to forget but could not. That would wipe the smug look off his
face and give him a deeper appreciation for just how important
find a way to win this war soon, then the Synthedon would
they liked. Their treaty with the mech horde would not protect
CHAPTER 32
Falan was ready to keel over when he got off the plane in
Miami. All he wanted to do now was brush his teeth, take a long
glad to hear someone calling his name when he entered the main
over.
brown skin and black hair. He'd moved to Seattle during high
break between his second and third years of law school. Dr.
Morales had recruited him heavily with the expectation that his
Miguel had been reluctant to sign on, but the professor finally
stuff, there's been a mix-up with our driver, and Morales is hip
said.
that?"
last part of the way down to where he's waiting for us, but
Morales can't get in touch with the guy. Esteban said he'd try
out from there. Come on, we need to grab a taxi back to the
hotel."
Falan cranked his window the rest of the way down and
leaned toward the air flow, but the exhaust fumes and the heavy
petroleum stench rising off the freshly paved asphalt were worse
days with the guys down at Ocean City, Maryland, swimming in the
salt water and getting some sun had helped his face a bit, but
had called in sick to work for a few days to give the bruising
harbor any ill feelings toward his son. Falan was surprised by
at him with a whole new level of respect when he got home from
the beach.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/294
saved my life."
walked away from it. I was only knocked out for a minute or
"I've been here most of the summer staying with family and
hanging out with some old friends of mine that I hadn't seen in
uncle's law firm, but mostly I've just been hanging out at the
beach windsurfing. Last few days I've been trying to get our
permit signed and sealed, but they've been giving me the run
think you were going to make it after you pulled the no-show in
Seattle."
the way out there to turn right back around and fly down here.
"Yeah, Tony and Sam got in three or four days ago, and
Hilton. It was just after two in the afternoon, and nobody else
was around. Falan was sharing a room with Miguel. Tony and Sam
were in another room, and Dr. Morales and Alison had separate
singles.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/296
CHAPTER 33
was totally strung out from not sleeping in nearly three days.
a couple of hours in the car on the way home from the beach, but
that was it. Santucci shook him awake when he first started
was sound asleep when Miguel headed back out to run errands.
stood with its back to him. They didn't seem to pay him any
visual window into the dreamscape winked shut and another quasi-
consumed him.
sitting astride Miguel's chest choking him with both hands. His
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/297
were on the floor squeezed in between the bed and the wall with
the sheets pulled half over them. Falan continued squeezing for
feet gasping. Miguel turned half onto his side and lay where he
He made it to the edge of the bed and sat with his chin
over he noticed two deep fist imprints in the drywall above the
ache and the swelling in his right hand. Falan was about to
"I was dead asleep," he stated flatly. "What'd you do, try
you down, and you went crazy on me. Don't tell me you don't
me."
during the same sleep or remembered anything from the ugly part.
have startled me. I'm a touchy sleeper. Next time, just keep
your distance."
Miguel took the bloody washcloth away from his face and
checked behind the curtains and inside the closet on his way
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/299
across the room. Once in the bathroom Falan stripped down and
the thin side, but his collar bones, hips and ribs were jutting
out like never before, and his eye sockets were becoming more
pronounced by the day it seemed. His cuts were healing and most
of the swelling was down, but a serious scar was shaping up over
the eye where his stitches had come loose during his fight.
He'd convinced Mike Brown to pull them out at the beach instead
rank and laced with fear. It matched the sour taste of bile in
the back of his throat. Falan held his swelling hand up against
the curtain rod while standing motionless under the shower for
the next twenty minutes. He heard Miguel come in and use the
sink at one point, but his roommate was nowhere in sight when he
get that hand looked at. We've all got access to the student
health center at the university. You can take a cab over right
without a cast."
an hour."
CHAPTER 34
to Rejicstoken. Unfortunately..."
lack the staying power to thwart her efforts to usher her son
long now that she has got him believing my job is what he really
wants."
"Yes, that would be fun to watch, but luckily for the two
from out beyond the Karolin sector. We have been through this
This is the first time that a signal from outside the psychonic
psychonic signals.
not think they would choose to ignore that policy now unless
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/303
Palerick emphasized.
case."
make up the fringe of the known Foamwork. No one from their era
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/304
"This group has been out of contact for so long that no one
ever expected to hear from them again. They must have happened
could have deposited them out there. We seem to trip over new
get. Our analysts may get a better handle on it over time, but
the way things are going we cannot afford to sit back and hope
begin to amaze."
see across the local void to the next sol system much less
resembling a small veldt crayx pounce among the animals and send
them scattering. When it took one down from behind and clamped
onto its windpipe, the herd's stag stopped short and turned. It
charged back with horns lowered but skidded to a stop when the
hooves several times, the stag snorted out a plume of mist that
member asked.
moon."
many relative years. If what they say about their new ships is
true, then they make even our true darkness purveyors seem
slow."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/307
intoned. "It may even be for the best. I expect you would fair
well enough given your training, but it would be quite risky for
Ludition ship. He could easily have his mind spliced back into
his body in a way that was unfamiliar to him. They say you also
are still very much actively hunting for the seed. When you get
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/308
better to help the Ludditions win this race than risk seeing the
race, but they still possess the ability to travel farther and
exactly the same, but the door he had entered now led out into
stairwell and made his way down several stories to the street
section of the city. Huron Gaelen was not taking any chances.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/309
CHAPTER 35
and enjoyed a good laugh at their expense when the two of them
Falan did his best to pass the incident off with a self-
"We better have one more drink here," Sam suggested after
the blonde hair going, cut short with the tan and the muscles.
The only thing missing was a set of six pack abs. A fondness
for fried food and dark beer gave him a slight paunch, but he
pollution.
the bartender.
The hair on his head had turned salt and pepper, but his
half for the old-boys side at the Old Puget Sound Beach Rugby
proverbial end of the road. We hike the rest of the way in from
bordered by the Rio Orinoco, the Rio Negro and the Casiquiare
"Do you know how small the plane is?" Alison asked.
Falan had been lusting after Alison Klein and her liquid
green eyes since the first day of class last spring. She was
more of a distraction than ever now that she'd cut her long
"The charter agent said we'd have to help wind the rubber
order."
raced during the winter and rock climbed and kayaked in the
tall and looked like he'd been snipped from a spool of heavy
wasn't big like a body builder, but his muscles and veins
rippled under skin that fit him like a suit of Lycra that was
"Don't worry, you guys are safe with me," Sam said. "I
didn't come all the way down here to be killed in a plane wreck.
beer.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/313
scowled.
think he was the best looking guy in the bunch and that the two
disgust the group spent their last opportunity for a decent meal
dinner, but that was about the extent of it. Despite Sam's
fighting forest fires left them all wary of being too hung over
on the flight.
youngest by six years so the others all had a lot more life
that his sleep pattern would return to normal once he got away
from the stress of living at home and working for his dad.
Maybe he just needed a little more time. He'd only left D.C.
that morning.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/314
"That hand looks pretty tender. I wish you would have had
worry about me: I'll be fine," Falan assured him with a tired
smile.
manager trying to get a separate room for tonight, but the hotel
both shoulders.
backhand slap that hardly even touched his nose. It was pure
him? Miguel said you acted like you didn't even recognize who
he was."
"Yeah, I was wiped out from the trip down here. Some
the drywall."
got sick of hearing about it, and I snapped. I punched the wall
and told him that was what a real assault would have looked
He's really nervous about even staying in the same room with
you."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/317
CHAPTER 36
Only the bathroom light was on when Falan got back to his
room. Miguel was lying under the covers in the far bed with his
back turned to the door. Falan wanted to turn on the TV, but he
had given him. He was already running out after the beach
After that he left the room and went down to the bar, but
buffed and dusted their way through the night shift. He hit the
wrong button on his way to the game room and ended up in the
vintage Pac Man later, Falan eased back into his room.
hugging his knees with his feet up until their wake-up call came
faint corona around the window curtain. Miguel fumbled with the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/318
phone then turned on the light. When he saw that Falan's bed
hadn't been slept in, he got up on one elbow and looked around
the room. Falan met his eyes then rose from his perch and went
changed then headed downstairs with his gear while Miguel used
the bathroom.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/319
CHAPTER 37
oceans at either pole, but other than that the planet's entire
today the area they were searching was under a cloudless blue
sky.
atmosphere at full tilt like they had done earlier that morning.
find out for himself what was going on down here. Were he well-
liked, his staff would have protested, but as it was no one saw
The officers and troopers who had disappeared had all been
the requisite amount of dread among his own troops at the same
He knew too little about this world and its occupants to arrive
Despite using the best Synthedon gear that their allies had to
height so that all uneven landforms were masked from view. The
themselves as Palekpaneer.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/322
vines leapt from his fork and plate, wrapped around his neck and
free and call for his guard. His fellow envoy could not be
saved.
The first live, wildcat outfits had not shown up searching for
raw materials for still another seven hundred local years. When
back up. The augur bits were sheared off in a way that
absence of any animal life above the microbial level, but when a
follow-up team arrived just two hundred local years later, they
creatures.
The pit mine they attempted to dig went three times farther
down than the earlier drilling attempts, but that was all. They
imaging now."
skimmer units was compared with what he was used to aboard the
the scale suggested the other images were Deritri. They were
flight, but they enabled the Haderack to glide through the air
that lived below ground. There were now also rumors that
their dead and wounded with them. The tunnels they escaped into
invasion would fail, and yet until recently hardly anything had
probe. A trap was expected, but that did not stop troops from
inductees was sent below, but none made it out again. The only
sealed behind those who passed through them and the antechambers
boiled from the inside out. It only got worse from there. The
gurgle.
impervious to the caustic solution, and so far they had not been
to it.
believed to have made it below the third tier. The scans gave
less than it should have been for a planet of its size and
shrapnel. The video and audio links to those lost simply went
other end.
hold your fire unless the two of them are killed. Then, and
can wait here with the rest of the flight crew for now, but when
I call for you do not waste any time bringing me whatever I ask
for."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/330
vented their thrust into storage compartments for later use, the
to see the severed tree limbs and cauterized vines left dancing
spared the passengers switched off as the rear troop hatch flew
open, and the assigned point duo charged out into the smoky
his heavier rigid siege armor would allow and strode stiffly
That did not change when he left the smoldering burn area
penetrated beyond the top few hundred feet of cover was not
densely foliated that its surface should have been blacker than
of growth waiting below, and so it went all the way down to the
planet's surface.
Up top the plants were all dark green, but they grew
lighter the farther away they were from the sun's direct rays.
The lowest levels wore a pasty shade of green that left them
nearly translucent. The faint bit of light given off when the
the air the entire jungle rustled lightly as each leaf on the
cut and torched their way through the living battery. Ardis
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/332
passed the downed lander they had detected from above. The
had lost contact with this one only yesterday. All indications
Servile continued past after his suit assured him there was
nothing alive on board. They could check for bodies and review
the logs later. He left the trail and made his own path after a
display in his visor alerted him that their quarry had veered
him over the intercom in his helmet while his suit employed
tide. The faint glow reflecting back and forth between the
hole in his back. His legs were twenty feet farther downstream
gravel bar. The squad's medic was kneeling next to Kingle whose
down.
gravity compartment was nothing more than a fancy press when you
got right down to it, and the anatomic splicer was better suited
excruciating for the victim, but there was not much for the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/334
had seen all of those coercive methods used many times before.
resolve.
was his, anyway. The back portion of his skull had required
wore his dark hair long and combed it straight back in order to
cover the alloy plate in the back of his head. Only a small
portion of his brain was not his own. The piece of shrapnel
that tore off the back of his skull also gouged out the rear
made due.
one of those new weapons systems he had heard so much about, but
remotely when necessary, but the beady green orb just below it
was all his own. Its dark pupil was sheathed by a lashless
outer lid that retracted vertically and a second inner lid that
blinked open and shut horizontally. His right arm had also been
upgraded after the original was torn from its shoulder socket,
other improvements were a new left foot and ankle, which were
attached after the originals were blown off during a rare space
from that day flooded back as Ardis paced silently before the
the fading blur had even been female. He had been old enough to
before scooping him up and tossing him in the air. The flier
caught him just below his zenith and deposited him in the nerve
families and friends above the age of six were slaughtered. For
during the day and his older bunkmates at night. The nights
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/338
were worst. The guards ignored the screams as the strong took
was too much of a runt to get his share of the one daily meal
to fend for himself were too disturbing for his peers to adopt
was glad to have his thoughts torn away from that level of
time and again. The utility of that form made it a familiar one
that, they were a head taller than anyone on the landing team.
overpowered Ardis and his troopers were it not for their muscled
dermis was pimpled with tiny opaque nodules that seemed to act
like solar cells by storing the dregs of light that reached the
planet's surface.
They were an unnatural mix of some kind, but Ardis was not
for the mental arts, though Ardis was not aware of any evidence
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/340
adapted.
result was considered highly tenuous given how far in the other
that the real motive behind their zeal was to eliminate any
their wake, or they had become stranded here and been absorbed
but they had turned their expertise inward rather than outward.
which Ardis had never encountered, and he had been tasked with
rooting out more than his share of burrowers during his time
CHAPTER 38
but their flight was delayed most of the day because of severe
rain squalls along their route. By noon Falan could hardly hold
the day was no help. The bitter shots did nothing more than
was little room to spare inside the plane. Dr. Morales sat up
front next to the pilot while the rest of them crammed in two by
two in the back. Falan had the back two seats to himself, so he
had a good view from either side of the plane. The ear plugs
that the pilot gave them hardly muffled the roar of the twin
engines, and the vibration inside the cabin was so bad that it
seemed like the plane would shake itself to pieces long before
gave way to farmland and cattle country. They hit some minor
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/343
turbulence here and there but nothing too bad. Flying at just
watching the terrain below and helped him stay awake for awhile.
rainforest had been clear cut for the hardwood they contained.
The scarred areas were dotted here and there by tiny islands of
green. Falan knew that the trees in these oases were mostly
were a few measly harvests before the thin layer of topsoil gave
out. Then, the peasants would move on and burn off another
The landless poor worked their way from the fringes inward
following the newly cut logging roads deeper and deeper into the
materialized.
fight it. The little engineers were already in full flight when
teeth and bulging eyes. The first punch caught Tony on the side
shoulder.
after getting hit in the back of the head one time. They stayed
their backs and the salvo of fists flailing over their headrests
only grew worse. In unison the two undid their seatbelts and
one hand long enough to give Falan a few sharp slaps and was
nearly bitten for his effort. Tony followed his example, and
eyes had been open during the entire affair. Both graduate
They couldn't hear him over the engines. When they didn't
release him right away Falan tried to shrug them off. A second,
less violent tussle followed before Falan settled down again and
themselves after letting him go. Dr. Morales looked aghast, but
worry."
buckle.
with the only road into town then turned the plane around before
idling back the engines. A bit farther on, the tail of an old
The relic appeared to have skidded off the end of the runway
prop noise before climbing back into the cockpit and heading
over to refuel.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/348
CHAPTER 39
the professor said after the engine noise subsided enough for
"You'd think he would have heard our plane fly over. Maybe
tells me we'd better start walking into town," Dr. Morales said,
hoisting his pack onto his shoulders. "This is the only road,
industrial refuse lined the sloppy ruts that passed for a road.
town just a short while later. There were ten or twelve big
jaws. The dogs were on him as soon as he hit the ground. The
tried to scramble away, but the larger one with a Shepard look
Miguel screamed and threw his hands up, but the professor's
boot was already in motion. He caught the dog under the chin
Miguel. Sam and Tony closed ranks from either side, and the
three of them drove the dogs off with a barrage of yelling and
Alison helped Miguel to his feet while the others chased after
the dogs.
pieces."
arrived back.
you."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/350
They watched as Sam and Tony threw rocks at the dogs for
alternately eyeing the group and snapping at each other. Sam and
Tony rejoined the others once they were sure they'd gotten their
point across.
sight, and no one had bothered wasting any paint. Some of the
more solid looking structures had tin roofs, but the majority
plastic. Even in town the streets were little more than wide
store, a hardware store and a post office before they saw the
black, and an old bald man dressed in baggy trousers and an open
jacket stepped out and locked the door. He turned and headed
off down the walkway without noticing them. Miguel called out
around.
civilization."
that we leave right from the airport and not spend the night in
town."
They followed along behind the old man and had nearly
had pointed out. It was in fact the Grandview Hotel. The lower
Faint music poured out briefly when the door opened and shut.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/352
There was a huge red pickup truck with a crew cab and duel rear
CHAPTER 40
translation. Ardis did not know why he bothered. They had not
His helmet fell from under his arm when he reached out with his
tunneling recluses.
ground beside him. Ardis cauterized the wound with a blue torch
blast from his glove then snipped the Deritri's other arm closer
his lips and looked down at his helmet. He only had to wait a
few moments.
anything. Unless you hurry and leave, you will die here
alongside us. Do you really think that you are the first
been told by those who preceded you that our world lies at a
escape. Do not think that your ship in the sky offers safe
When that happens, there will be no hope for you. Any help that
your kind might send will arrive too late, and those who do come
disrespect."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/355
helmet.
"Neither are you the first group I have ever had to root
face for a time. You have the pain to assist you, and that
helps initially."
knees.
distraction just yet and must watch you suffer. My hope is that
both legs from the creature he was holding by the scruff. Ardis
let him topple forward into the muck to bleed to death and
"Where have your friends in the trees gone, and who else is
but he stayed mute. Ardis aimed the torch nozzle on the back of
levicage.
glances. They had caught everyone. No one had escaped into the
growth. Ardis knew that while none of them had the slightest
problem with what had taken place so far, even some of his own
crew were going to take issue with this next tactic. He had
used it only once before years ago on another world after taking
should any of them prove unable to live with their own memories
warden to separate two big male gonderets from their mates a few
to pick them up and load them aboard the lander shortly before
their departure. The shock troops had high hopes for the beasts
when they first arrived off Palekpaneer, but they had not turned
Ardis doubted that very much. He had seen what happened when
plaintively every few minutes since leaving the lander, but when
wolven muzzle against the bars. Ardis motioned for the handlers
"I will make a deal with you," he said to the male he had
your cause besides those ridiculous little Haderack and how deep
your bunkers extend below ground, and I will kill you quickly
make sense much of the time, he could not help feeling that both
That turned out to be the case more often than not really.
How many times a year did the Beledenites encounter new species,
were many instances when only the very youngest were taken to be
within the general population and there were not enough open
The male Deritri turned to the lone female then looked away
and let out an anguished wail. When he hung his head in silence
and refused to meet Ardis's gaze with his sightless face Servile
of death gave way to the shock and euphoria that followed living
fair game.
This one might have fit the bill had he just escaped being
have taken something that extreme for him to overlook the slack
folds of pale veiny skin drooping all over. Ardis spun her
around then put an armored foot to her backside and sent her
sprawling into the muck. She was still too close. At that
he walked after her and dragged her a bit farther off before
the rear of the cage away from the gate. The entire squad was
electron prod from its holster on the side of the cage. The
to kill it and then wait while the cargomaster and his helpers
bolted from its container then skidded to a stop and sniffed the
attention when her male companion yelled for her to run, but she
their heads swiveled 180 degrees with ease, and their four
Deritri then paused to look back over its shoulder. When it saw
that no one from the squad was moving to stop it, the gonderet
Slobber gobbed from the corners of its mouth as its yellow eyes
desired.
then paused once more to take the group's measure. When the
of the way up to the lone female Deritri and sniffed loudly (*)
as she tried to ease back from its fanged muzzle. After another
part of the onlookers, the beast stood upright and extended its
side of each raised paw and began clicking its short thick claws
out from deep in the back of its throat and started waggling to
the beat.
She tried fleeing toward the dense foliage at the edge of the
clearing, but the gonderet threw her on her back and stepped
astride her as she flailed atop the thin layer of mud. The
beast's jaws yawned wide, and a shrill keening sound issued from
the back of its throat as (*) it (*) inspected (*)her (*). The
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/363
tactile scrutiny lasted for nearly a minute, and then the animal
seized her up. (*) The gonderet turned its head backward and
lean over and chunder the contents of their stomachs. The male
Deritri tried to rise, but Ardis cuffed him back down. (*)It
It watched them warily until its heaving chest calmed down, then
gorge behind him -- this from veterans who had all come up
attack.
compelled to let the group of Deritri see his face, lest they
had kept his helmet on so he could see what was taking place
needed both hands for the anti-electron prod. Any sudden moves
now could easily draw an attack, and he certainly did not intend
kill it before it latched onto the back of his exposed neck, but
"Keep your finger off that initiator, son. You might get
it and me both, but then where will you be? You will have to go
They did not have to wait long before the gonderet hauled
its victim out of the muck and threw her over its shoulder. The
behind him, "was that worth it? She is still very much alive,
so do not think that was the worst of it. The males of that
weeks after that happens, the brood will tear its way out in
strikes them. Then they will eat their father for their first
"As you saw, that one was desperate to avoid such a fate.
Were it caged along with its mate, the female most likely would
the embryos when they reached her womb. Her body would have
known when to dispel the live young before they tried to exit
her body on their own, and her milk would have appeased their
done incubating. (*) Even now the parasitic little embryos are
leave her alive until they are ready to make their exit."
little stream began to rise and overflow the mud flats they were
standing on. The entire cathedral floor was swamped before any
the ground around them drew up into the column of light to form
in rapid succession before the light blinked out and the entire
that it knocked the rest of the squad off their feet and sent
CHAPTER 41
There was a small lobby just inside the double doors. The
front desk was partitioned off behind vertical iron bars, but
The old man they'd been following was leaned up against the
bar with a shot glass in his hand. He stood off by himself away
stools at the bar. The bartender was a thin old guy with sparse
tables filled the rest of the room. The booths were all empty,
but one of the tables had a small group of men sitting around it
"Don't look now, but that's Doc Holiday playing cards over
much."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/369
here."
everybody. The bartender said the whole town cleared out a week
in this district for thirty days while they try to sort out the
situation."
"No, no," Dr. Morales assured them all. "This took place
"That's crazy," Miguel said, "It should have been all over
business down here have been working closely with the local
thing quiet. The papers will get hold of it pretty soon though.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/370
Once the workers who left this place start running out of money,
they'll get loose lips real quickly. You all stay here. I'm
here."
The professor held his hand out for Tony to stay seated.
"You know what Esteban said about this place. I'll just
left in town are right here in this room. I want you all to
stay here and stick together. Alison, if you need to use the
restroom have one of these guys go with you and stand outside
the door.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/371
CHAPTER 42
"What the hell was going on with you, Falan?" Sam asked
time just ask. I would have been happy to change seats with you
with a frown.
Everyone chuckled.
"Actually, this time it was Dog Town and Z-boys, but don't
really see why they need our help down here," Sam said. "It
absently.
program. What's the matter, you'd rather sit behind a desk all
day listening to cosmic radio static than slog it out in the mud
with us?"
taking a sip of beer. "That might have been the smarter move."
(*)
saving the rainforest and the poor bastards that call it home,
cheers," she finished loudly with a big smile and held up her
CHAPTER 43
female ensign leading the way cleared her throat and stepped
aside.
The sharpness of the creases pressed into the dark green fabric
and pant legs and the muted red insignia embroidered on the left
breast and shoulder stood out more crisply than the designers
again.
me or my office."
though...even though..."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/374
spreading from the corners of his eyes. The gray stubble on his
pate was yet another new development since last the two had
turned back to their duties when his eyes fell on them. The
it."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/375
been, Captain?"
crew went into the chiller. Still, we had a bit more excitement
nearly on schedule."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/376
"Never doubt it," the captain chirped. "She may not turn
would have been for haste. But, because I was able, the
out into deep space at twice the entry rate with half the normal
power requirement.
contend with along those new routes, wherever they are, but that
forced chill Treachen had been subjected to, but it had not
had surfaced several times along the way. During each of those
that followed. He was told it would all come back to him sooner
him during the intermittent stretches when his mind breached the
placid pool.
mean career officers like him would not have to spend such large
had just done. In the most extreme cases, the restricted access
What the captain said was true. The Luditions only made
existence. Palerick did not say so, but he doubted that the
Ferring would find themselves bumped from all but the shortest
his ilk could manage it, but Palerick doubted seriously whether
have spent much time eating vein gruel," the captain said as he
You and your colleague were just one bulkhead over. It could
good health. I know that their deaths cost you half a life-time
as well."
were only woken when the ship neared its destination. While a
"When they see home for the first time, they along with the
academy."
there.
have only been together since the skirmish. One of the other
smiled up at the ensign, "and I could not ask for anyone better
"On the trip home I hope to run into a few more would-be
are a few likely spots marked on the charts that I plan to limp
past. The lads will be more readily accepted by their peers who
"I am glad things are working out for you -- for all of
concerns winning the war once and for all. How soon will you be
Director, but it seems our allies may not share your sentiments.
We have just arrived outside the Rejic system, and the Ludition
Huron had warned him that the shadow council's backdoor ties to
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/383
policy shift that called for an end to the alliance between the
because they felt that the Ilstachians had begun moving too far
can use to have some privacy? Preferably where the outside wall
is thinnest?"
unknown."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/384
give me time to get settled in and then send this message on the
frequency noted."
response?"
The view was like nothing he had ever witnessed. Even the wrap-
before him.
vast expanse before him was but a pin prick in this single
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/385
greater Foamwork.
in the chair and closed his eyes, quelling his urge to dive into
made the connection on his own, but by the time he did half the
CHAPTER 44
downed the dregs of his beer. He was glad when a surly looking
kitchen helper arrived with their food. It took him a few trips
got up, bought another round of beers and carried them back to
the table. Before retaking his seat he headed across to the far
The hallway beyond was dimly lit by a red bulb hanging bare
from the ceiling. The first room he came to had a bed with an
bathroom turned out to be the next door down, but the toilet was
porch and pissed into the blackness. On his way back to the
play a few hands of poker with us. Bring your friends: we could
The guy had long black hair and a week's worth of growth on
his face. Falan couldn't follow every word, but he got the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/387
idea. He smiled and gave the men a negative head shake and a
that looked the oldest was leaned back resting his cards face
his head.
pealed off and hanging down to the floor on either side of his
him. Falan shook his head again and gave another slight stutter
heartbeat."
"If by some miracle you did manage to win, they don't look
like the type who take losing very well," Miguel said. "I doubt
them were done eating. The kitchen guy came back and cleared
their plates while Sam went to the bar for another round of
from the poker table, the one with the open coveralls, came over
and stood beside him. He was square shouldered and heavy in the
thighs but not very tall. Falan couldn't hear what was said,
but he saw the bartender shake his head and turn away from the
the card player pointed at the beers and said something. When
Sam shook his head and turned away, the guy shoved him into the
bar spilling some of the beer. The two other guys who had been
standing at the bar tossed down a few bills each and headed for
"What happened?"
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/389
Falan noticed the guy with the rotting teeth slide his
"I'm not sure, but go easy. That guy's picking a beef with
compared to Sam."
Sam said something to the guy and set the bottles down to
and started to turn away, but Sam grabbed him by the wrist and
pulled him back around. The guy gave him an unblinking stare as
he reached his free hand behind his back and held it there
bartender and held up his finger for one more beer while the guy
"Did you see that asshole?" Sam asked when he set the
couldn't follow it too well, but it sounded like he's not much
Americans coming down here and robbing them all and says I owe
him a drink. You saw the rest. I was going to pound him after
he took that beer, but when he reached behind his back I had a
"I hope Dr. Morales is okay," Tony said. "He's been gone
awhile."
"That guy can take care of himself," Sam assured them. "I
half a game with the undergrads. He more than held his own
knocking heads with guys twice his size and thirty years
younger."
The spindly kid was about Falan's age maybe a little younger.
shirt that was grimy and sweat-stained. The neckline was sliced
open halfway down the front revealing a gold cross that stood
out against his dark hairless chest. The knife strapped to his
Alison declined for a second time, the young man stopped smiling
married, then there was no reason not to dance just one dance.
Without taking his eyes off her, he reached over and picked up
left the table, but he let go and averted his eyes when the kid
There was laughter from the other table. The young man
grinned over at his friends and took a long pull from the beer
at Alison. He reached over and took her by the hand saying that
song with him. Sam and Tony both stood up. As they did the
young guy's companions all slid their chairs back from the table
a back room.
"The boys I had to deal with in high school make this gentleman
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/392
Everyone watched as the young man led Alison over near the
juke box.
"This is getting bad," Sam said. "I should have hit the
other guy from the start. Now they think they can just walk all
over us."
"We need Dr. Morales to get his ass back here," Miguel
said. "That guy doesn't take shit from anyone. You should have
seen him with the guards down at the permit office in Caracas."
eyeing the men at the other table who were all watching the show
by the juke box. "Criminals or not these guys look pretty hard.
Guys like this have nothing to lose. Besides they all seem
eased the front door open just enough to squeeze through and
CHAPTER 45
that might point him toward the welding shop that Dr. Morales
was no moon, and there wasn't a star in the sky. Falan bent
over at the waist and put his hands on his knees to catch his
breath. Looking back all he could see was the one naked bulb
want to wander too far from the only light in town and end up
He'd just started jogging back toward the hotel when two
medium size dogs came snarling out from under a raised section
stand, one of the dogs sunk its teeth deep into his calf muscle
and held on. Falan stumbled and went down on his side in the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/395
mud. As he screamed and tried to kick the dog off with his free
to get his hands up in time. He fended the second dog away from
his throat, but its jaws crunched down through the muscle in his
failed to pry the dog's jaws off his arm, Falan instinctively
his thumb deep into one socket. The dog held fast, though, so
yank its eyeball out. When the dog cried out and let go, Falan
dislodged the other mutt from his leg with a terror-fueled kick
The dog that had been on his arm charged again and leaped
for his face. Falan barely saw it coming in the dark and fell
first dog got him by the ankle before he could stand up again.
gauged his distance from the hotel, he saw an old oil drum
at all angles.
and snapping. It got him once on the hip, but Falan knocked it
one of the dogs was making a go for his face. Falan hadn't
legs. The other dog darted in low at his shin, but Falan came
deterred both curs, and they slunk off into the darkness leaving
Both his calf and forearm were throbbing. The one dog had
latched on just above his right hand -- the same one he hurt
punching the wall. He carried the board with him in his left
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/397
hand and held his injured arm cradled to his chest as he limped
back toward the hotel. Falan's eyes scanned the darkness on all
puncture wounds on both limbs, but there was much less blood
didn't want to show himself back in the bar until he knew what
The others were right. Dr. Morales didn't take any crap.
start yelling right outside the bar window in case things inside
about the dogs and went back for the two-by-four he'd left near
the front steps. Around back he paused to let his eyes adjust
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/398
entered quietly and eased his way down the short hallway toward
revealing himself.
gunpoint with their backs against the bar. The guy who'd taken
the beer from Sam was waving a revolver around and ranting at
them in Spanish as he paced back and forth. The music was back
on. The young guy was still dancing with Alison, but now he was
holding her tightly and grinding his pelvis against her while he
kneaded her butt with both hands. Alison was squirming to pull
away, but the kid just laughed. The fat guy and the one with
the pitted teeth had switched tables and were sharing the
table. The song ended, and the young guy told his friends that
Falan didn't catch the exact wording, but the meaning was
clear enough. When Alison tried harder to pull away, the kid
pushing her toward the hallway where Falan was crouched. Falan
down the hall and ducked into the small bedroom he'd seen
earlier. The room was dark, but there was enough red glow
raised the board over his head with both hands. He heard shouts
and then a gun shot. Alison flailed past a moment later and
went sprawling onto the floor next to the bed. When the young
guy followed her in, Falan hammered down on the top of his head
knife off the floor and stuck it in his belt. He led Alison out
the back door and showed her where to squat down beneath the low
wooden porch. He told her not to move until one of them came
for her then headed back inside. Part way up the steps he
stopped and leaned under the railing to hand her the board.
"Here take this and watch out for those fucking dogs. Two
Back in the bedroom he closed the door and used the knife
to cut the cord from a lamp lying in the corner. He tied the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/400
would-be rapist's hands and feet behind his back and trussed
them together the way he'd seen it done on more than one
Internet porn site. The pain in his hand and arm slowed him
ringing in his ears, Falan cut part of the guy's shirt off then
wrapped it over the top of his head and tied it under his chin.
Falan looked out and saw an old beat-up van in front of the
hotel. The passenger side door was open, and Dr. Morales was
Falan checked the corridor then dragged the kid out of the
left the kid out of sight and crept forward on his hands and
to join the others near the bar. He took a backward step toward
the lobby doors but flinched and stood fast when a bullet
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/401
and hauled Alison's attacker forward so that his head and upper
door. "Alison and I are okay, but this guy needs a doctor.
Tell them I've got his knife, and I'm going to slit his fucking
blocked out the pain as Falan dove away and scrambled to drag
the kid back to the bedroom. When he knelt down again and
craned his neck out past the door jam to look under the half-
doors, he saw two sets of boots approaching from the main bar
area.
"Tell them I'm gonna take this kid's fucking head off if
they come through those doors. Tell them he's gonna die anyway
He heard voices but couldn't make out what they said. Both
the van forward to the side of the building, and we'll run out."
translation then shouting broke out among the locals until Dr.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/402
Morales let loose an angry tirade that cut them short. There
out.
kid with you as a hostage until we can get away. I told them
release their buddy, I'm gonna stab this kid's eyes out."
shield when you and Alison come out to the van. We can't trust
these people."
"I got it," Falan yelled back. "Break the porch light on
your way out, and turn the headlights off when you get in the
van."
concealed the body. Less than a minute later the outside light
went dark, and the van lights winked out. Falan waited until he
heard them pull past his window before he hobbled out of the
passed under it and cringed at the tinkle of glass down the back
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/403
of his neck. Alison had heard him shouting and was standing
near the corner of the building waiting for him when he came
out.
off running. She was climbing through the van's sliding door
when Falan piled into her from behind and slammed her into Tony
The wheels spun out at first, but the van started forward
the van. Even the dash lights were shut off. He wondered how
the driver could see and hoped they didn't crash or get stuck.
sobbing was drowned out by all the noise, but Falan had no
trouble feeling her nails digging into his good arm. After
flicked on. They pulled over between two rows of shacks a short
hands with the professor. The old man said something Falan
didn't catch then disappeared into the night as Dr. Morales slid
attention?"
but Sam's nose was bent sideways, and his face and shirt were
smeared with blood. Tony had a purple goose egg with a gash
through it above his left eye and what looked like a broken
The professor left the van running and came around to the
side door, which was still wide open. He put one foot up on the
"Falan?"
pretty good."
hurried inspection.
"I'm okay."
pretty bad."
"It's all right. It's broken, but I'll live," Sam said.
Falan eased himself awkwardly into the backseat between Tony and
Miguel and Alison stood part way up so that Sam could scooch
over near the door. Dr. Morales inspected his nose visually
then took it in both hands. Sam made a noise and tried to brush
him away, but Dr. Morales had been through this too many times
Sam did as he was told and closed his eyes. Even with all
the noise the van was making, Falan would later swear that he
brief inspection.
vomit when Sam leaned forward and puked out the door. Falan
street as well.
"One of you get the first aid kit out and put a heavy dose
way to get it all the way down inside those punctures. There's
The professor pushed Sam's legs back inside the van and
slid the door shut before jumping back in the driver's seat and
gunning the engine. The noise inside wasn't as bad with the
conversation. Alison donned a head lamp and dug out the first
while Tony helped her spread the punctures open and pour rubbing
dark.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/408
CHAPTER 46
up to your beaming crack does not help any either. What do you
want, Gheddy?"
going to let a short fifty-year coma keep you down. We are just
managed.
he failed.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/409
"You are joking. How long do they plan to make us sit out
here?"
"The first ship to arrive has been out here for thirty-five
ship years. Others have come and gone, but the ones still here
"Have they gone mad? Have not you told them why we are
here?"
"By your choice of words I can only assume that you are now
would not have agreed to release you while you were so obviously
take us the rest of the way in, but I have already been firmly
I doubt very seriously that they will allow you or anyone else
foreseeable future."
flight out. They are sending one of their own shuttles for you
Ludition culture to know that they only use space craft when
he looked around under his covers and on the table next to his
Gheddy, I will find it. We will get you your medication." Then
director, "Are you daft? I have seen the files on all those
you can do no more than gurgle like an idiot. The new director
think so, Gheddy. You are not the sharpest prong on the
Duty before self and all that. There are risks, I admit, but
gone."
your handlers. Is that it? Do not try to deny it. My uncle has
sent you all the way out here? He needed a way to get rid of
you. He knew he could not fire you or replace you with anyone
said with forced concern. "Unless I am off the mark, you are in
enough to realize that his own baby sister gave birth to the
Have a safe trip home and good luck fitting back into a society
to see Captain Ferring once more to thank him again for the
sacrifices he and his crew had made and to wish them all well on
their return cruise. The captain's two sons had gone off
someplace, but the balance of the bridge officers had come back
The associate director did not see what real difference it made.
Shipboard duty was shipboard duty. He did not see how they
warned against going too far in any one direction lest they risk
those that lurked in the great voids and crept about menacingly
The natural progression was to near and then overcome the speed
advantages over those who did not. Similarly, the few species
arteries and instead charted the hidden pathways that lay within
pathological.
director that low times surely awaited them deep in the voids.
second time, the room's inner blast doors retracted and Senior
"I am not some bumpkin from the outer galaxies who you can
swung his feet onto the floor and would have stood up had
are dripping fluids all over the captain's floor. Look at those
spots fanning out on your uniform. Did you just rip all those
"I will not be left lying abed while you run off to
The guild may yet retain some common ground with these oath
you return."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/418
My best hope for promotion will come from exposing you and your
not the only one who left family behind. If you do not take me
with you, I promise you things will not go well for your
"I did not know you had it in you, Gheddy," the senior
face with Palerick. "If I did not know you, that menacing tone
and earnest glare might give me pause, but then I do know you,
would keep the inner blast shield closed just in case the
observatory. "I do not see any docking collar. How does this
companion-way open?"
Palerick lay back on the chair and rested his head on the
cushion.
leaving."
believe any of this, but if you care anything for your family
along."
him.
quite harmless."
"Very well, you were warned. You really should not have
I told my contacts that there was the off chance this might
When they sense you here with me, they will bring you along
suggest that you sit down on the foot pad then lean back against
my legs and close your eyes. Try to focus on the inside of your
eyelids while..."
"I will stand right where I am and keep my eyes open, thank
tricks or have you slip onto this shuttle through some hidden
slim. I suggest you close your eyes if you expect to have any
hope at all."
went unnoticed.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/421
CHAPTER 47
good three hours before Dr. Morales pulled over and killed the
The others slowly climbed out and went their separate ways.
were dead meat. I look over one minute and you're nowhere in
"How did you know that guy was going to take Alison in
hours sleep in the past three weeks, and he'd already been
"I didn't know that was gonna happen," Falan said. "But I
didn't like the way things were going, so I went to try to find
couldn't see shit. Then these two psychotic fucking dogs came
after me."
"I don't know, but it was ten times scarier than that scene
at the hotel. I'd rather get shot any day than be eaten alive.
At one point I really thought they were going to kill me. One
of them took me down by the leg while the other one tried to rip
no way to go. I'm telling you, I got this like crazy rush of
hotel so I snuck around back to try to see what was going on.
started pawing all over Alison," Tony said. "Sam walked over
and tried to pull her away, but the other three guys stepped in
and started working him over. I jumped up and got one punch in
before that asshole pulled out his gun and pistol-whipped me.
Next thing you know, we're all lined up execution style. The
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/423
guy ranted and raved at us for awhile then the kid took Alison
when the guy put a bullet in the bar between Sam and me. What
"As soon as I walked in, I saw you guys against the bar,
little bedroom down the hall. It was lucky those dogs came
after me, and I still had that board with me. When the kid came
"I was terrified," Alison said dully. "I figured they were
really tell what was happening at first when that kid fell on
the floor next to me, but he looked pretty bad when I got a
"Shit, really?" Dr. Morales asked. "How hard did you hit
him, Falan?"
believe I let myself walk right into a trap like that. I should
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/424
fast."
couch in the front room of his little shop. I was trying to get
him sobered up, but he was still mostly incoherent when the
for sure, but he thought they were thugs hired by one of the
where to find extra gas cans and a second spare tire before
happening when I walked in. I can't tell you how relieved I was
to hear you were with Alison and that she was okay. It would
"That was some ugly shit, I'm telling you," Falan said
shaking his head. "I think it helped that I was still amped up
from fighting those dogs. After they fired that shot at you, I
just reacted."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/425
him bodily.
"That took guts. Mine was a warning shot, but that asshole
was trying to kill you. Why didn't you bring the kid with you as
there, so I hid him under an old mattress and knocked out the
light."
back.
"Well, it's a good thing that bartender went and got Dr.
"Maybe not," Sam said, "but they didn't know that. You
about that kid. I mean I hit him full bore with a freakin' two-
local police. He said they're all out in the bush dealing with
that he rented out, but he wasn't sure if the guy stuck around
area with those guys around. I gave him the number to the
embassy and some cash and asked him to do his best to relay what
happened if the guy with the phone turned up. Falan, I've got
to tell you I also asked him to pass along that I had some
health concerns about you, but I'd say him getting through is a
down to our rendezvous point with Esteban. He's got the closest
it working again by the time we find him. There were only two
roads out of town. We could have headed for one of the towns to
the north, but they're not much closer, and that's exactly where
to a doctor and have those bites looked at, but I was worried
of shit."
The professor dinged the van's fender with the toe of his
boot.
best bet. If those guys catch up to us, you won't have the
get hurt down here all the time, so maybe Esteban will know of a
clinic or something."
Sam lamented.
to worry about us. I'm hoping we can find Esteban, get Falan
looked at, file a report with the embassy, and then continue on
People get raped and murdered every day in Seattle. I don't see
"I'll be fine," Falan said. "I don't want to turn back now
Miguel was reluctant, but he could see which way the tide
was running.
going, I guess I'm up for it. We don't have much choice right
now anyway."
Sam and Tony were game as well. A light rain drove them
seat. Miguel sat in the middle with Sam, and Tony and Falan
took the back again. Tony offered to take a turn at the wheel,
wasn't about to fall asleep, but the others were soon out cold.
CHAPTER 48
"Hey, Falan, wake up. Come on, buddy, open your eyes.
back again.
all right?"
The interior light flicked on. The other students were all
turned around staring at him. It was pouring out now, and their
the rearview.
bad dream. I dreamed that when I went to hit that guy with the
Alison, you turned into a bird and flew away, but then that
your shoes."
could taste the panic threatening to boil over inside him. The
time, but another scene did stay with him this time. It was the
He was the only one still awake when the professor stopped the
whispered.
The professor killed the van and did his best to get
outside the van. The night was impenetrable, and the steady din
on the rooftop was enough to drown out any subtle noises, but he
several times to peer out the back window, but nothing ever
be helped. But there was no excuse for going down that road
CHAPTER 49
running off his orderly with a poorly thrown bed pan. They said
he had been out for two days. The last thing he remembered was
up into the dense flora with the unfortunate Deritri female over
the levicage.
pathogen aboard the shuttle, and security was now denying them
infamous Ardis Servile did not expire while under his care, the
station until the bug was routed out and destroyed. If the
infection was biological then they should not have long to wait.
the station had all been severed less they be used to transmit
the station, so either the malady had been identified and a cure
found or there was other news that warranted the loss of a third
ship to quarantine.
detect anything out of the ordinary, but they were far inferior
touch of vertigo but nothing more than that. None of the other
gestation periods.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/433
exit the small craft and proceed straight toward him. This
who had clashed over the handling of more than one population of
skull cap.
outside the sect suspected they were merely mixing and matching
sect's demise.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/434
CHAPTER 50
Tony and exited the van to relieve himself. Dr. Morales was
cat off in the distance. Falan was unable to muster any sense
thing.
"Wow," Sam said once they were back in the van, "I was
over. "It's hard to tell from right here, but this area has
crossing, and you'll find a lot more chainsaw carnage and plenty
the ground water and poison the entire area. You've read all
about it, but this is where the proverbial rubber meets the
road.
It also cost a hell of a lot less than the hot air balloon
"I'm not worried about it," Tony said. "Those hot air
hell of a squeeze when those big rigs meet head on out here with
isn't working, and our speed has varied with the road
another three to four hours yet. I really don't know. The gas
gauge doesn't work either, but we're probably due to fill the
tank. Why don't two of you top us off? There are three five-
Sam and Miguel made quick work of the refill, but the van
got stuck in the mud so everyone had to get out and push to get
it going again.
"How's this guy Jorge Guerra going to get his van back?"
head to one side. "I don't really know, but I'm not too worried
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/438
somehow, I imagine."
"Hell, we could just give him fifty bucks and tell him to
down there, though, so he must have enough fuel with him to get
lived with, but he didn't go into much detail about his own
background."
than his father and I anyway. He played wing and fullback for
training."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/439
spring? That guy didn't look like any great athlete. He was as
When he was running the ball up field, Esteban could change his
breaking stride. I once saw him score four tries against the
junior All Blacks when New Zealand toured Argentina in the mid-
"And don't confuse size with heart. The kid was tough as
That made him one of the most effective open field tacklers in
Yanomami."
"He is. He's lived with them on and off for the past ten
the same territory without interruption for the last 250 years.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/440
to help them secure legal title to their land. The guy is a one
"He must be, someone blew up his car two years ago," the
professor answered.
"Don't worry. The only place he's ever had any trouble
persisted.
neighbors get displaced or wiped out to know that they need our
bit bigger than those little side roads that don't lead
anywhere," Dr. Morales said smiling over his shoulder. "I was
why I stopped for the night when I did, but I'm sure this is it.
into it. If we'd taken the other road, the GPS heading would
have fooled us into thinking we were going the right way until
the road turned west. Between Esteban and the bartender I've
got a rough idea what we're looking for, but from here on we'll
mostly have to use the GPS to try to guess which roads will get
get it right the first time. If we take too many detours, we'll
end up on foot. But even that wouldn't be the end of the world
ahead of us anyway."
Alison said.
second right after that. From there we'll just have to rely on
the GPS."
"We're damn lucky to have any directions at all beyond the GPS
water table and the Rio Orinoco. Esteban says it's just a
intrusions."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/444
CHAPTER 51
the road. The once shiny aluminum, hot-dog bun of a mobile home
second one ended up being an hour further on. During that hour
but Alison was manning the GPS, and she kept telling them that
spotted the next turn-off. This road was half the size of the
four miles off to their left at roughly ten o'clock. The first
oil drums and drilling refuse. There was barely enough room to
was. The second and third left hand turn-offs were no better.
Each ended under similar circumstances. The fourth one was just
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/445
as the guys all climbed out. Dr. Morales turned the wheel over
to Alison and joined the others behind the van. They pushed as
best they could, but the slick footing made it futile. Their
minutes.
he'd seen lying near the main road and retrieve some boards that
they could wedge under the tires. Sam and Miguel went along so
that he and Alison could check his bites and change his dirty
bandages.
Falan and Dr. Morales looked up and saw Tony, Sam and
me get all the packs out of the van. Alison, grab the GPS and
It's gotta be the same one that was parked in front of the
hotel," Tony answered. "I couldn't see their faces, but it has
boards. I jogged the rest of the way back to the main road and
saw them make the same wrong turn we took before this one."
"In all this mud? Sure they could," the professor said.
"We haven't seen any other traffic since we left. They also
"How the hell could they know where we're going?" Miguel
blurted out.
"Either Jorge Guerra or the old guy from the bar could have
shrilly.
heads.
all the plant life blocking their way. The van disappeared from
view after just a few steps. They'd only gone about thirty
yards when Tony squatted down and motioned for silence. Falan
was too far back to see the signal, but he knew to stay quiet.
glass. Any conversation the men might have been having was
drowned out by the noise of the rain filtering down through the
life.
barely got out of there. I'm surprised they didn't follow our
"I was worried about that, too," Tony said. "That's why I
six shots: enough for the four driving tires and the two spares.
They know we're trapped down here now. They probably think it's
need to get to Esteban's before they do. Alison, give Tony the
looked up.
we're less than two miles away. Let's see if we can double time
There's no telling how many more wrong turns they'll make before
the rear."
at the edge of a small clearing and peered out. The red pickup
tin. The three older men from the hotel bar were all seated
bottle of brown liquor back and forth. The kid was nowhere in
sight, but Esteban was sitting with them holding his cards close
to his chest.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/450
CHAPTER 52
the sun's intensity as beams of white light bore a hole into the
glare and found himself lying in grass that towered several feet
above him. The master had always made it clear they never
The worlds themselves were very real, and the events taking
that his mind was scarcely aware that it existed without a home
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/451
had felt more like being yanked below the placid surface of the
Since his eyes were already shut Palerick did not undergo
the trauma of having his visual sight snatched from him, but he
lacked the experience to avoid the anguish that came with losing
dreams.
him. Being so directly confronted with his own duality was like
holder.
him acutely aware that his physical body had essentially been
components of his tangible self were all there strung out behind
him like the tail of a streaking comet, and the next they were
all fours then rose to his knees and used one hand to fashion a
did not get far before he dropped to his knees and pitched
forward onto his face without making any effort to put his hands
him and was slightly built. She had a pair of similar glasses
tied around her earless head and wore a fur-lined skull cap over
sides of her mouth, but otherwise her deeply bronzed face was
his thin tunic. The temperature was much cooler than Palerick
Gheddy took the items she offered and went to kneel beside
him with the jacket and checked his breathing. It was very
Palerick put the spare lenses on his face and fastened the ear
either cheek.
to do, I might add. I got him here in two more or less complete
his autonomy.
foot in the door, so to speak. Not all of those who are able
obligations that come with it. We can give him a little more
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/456
his body here for the scavengers. We need to be gone before the
entrenched technologist.
They tended to believe that the body and mind were a single
Treachen's skepticism could not have served him well, and having
his eyes open must have further clouded any natural insight that
physical contact. I would have left him, but I did not want you
could have brought you alone, but I have not had many dealings
with the uninitiated. I did not feel that I could take one of
you and not the other without harming one or both of you."
truth, and while you may be an acolyte, you are obviously not
among your guild's elite. You are only marginally more aware
than your friend. You were unwise to bind your fates so tightly
drowning swimmer."
All acolytes were taught that the minds and bodies of truly
and foremost as pure mind and that it had the potential to far
another.
dragged a forearm across his mouth and spat in the grass. When
The senior specialist lowered his hand from his face then
turned and spat off to the side again. He looked from Gheddy to
"and you two will pay for it as sure as the hungry varnod barks.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/460
wiped his brow and spat off into the grass once more.
you," he croaked.
"You and your friend from the embassy here are not about to
to let you out of my sight. The director did not need to, but
asked.
the Directorate Annex," he paused and ran a hand over the top of
course, but perhaps the former consulate building they have been
next to customs out near the old freight port on the edge of the
acolyte like you could pull this off without causing himself a
enjoy playing a few with you. This is not part of any kind of
Ilstach III together nearly fifty years ago. You spent the
struggled to his feet and put the glasses back on. The senior
aside.
"I feel like I have been asleep for fifty years," he said
rubbing his face. "You have covered everything down to the last
detail, I will give you that. The drugs have even left me
maybe thirty pounds. What do you think we did -- knock you out
and sweat you down? Feel how loose your teeth are. You are
thought.
"You are better at this than I would have given you credit
to the Ludition.
Sandogaul pressed his palms to his ears and tilted his chin
then squeezed his head more tightly and bellowed, "I can only
with the members of the Karoken, they will not indulge your off-
will have time to adjust before your audience with the Karoken.
Out here you will not be bombarded by the din of all the
take us two days to reach the summer capital. During that time
you."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/465
led them down off the rise through the tall grass to a deep,
completely hid it from view until they were just a few strides
the bottom of the narrow ravine. As the trio descended into the
along the bottom of the narrow crevasse. The sky above was no
cliff tops. The rich, cloying odor hit them long before they
and a massive stud lay sprawled in the shade chewing their cuds
Several fibrous piles of dung lay steaming among them. The two
Ilstachians sat and rested while Erieku roused the shaggy beasts
sprung lightly onto her own mount and led them off.
not have been very difficult given the slow pace, but after what
As the party wound its way along the bottom of the gulch,
The path never grew wide enough for them to pass two
feared his legs would become wedged against the walls, the stout
They put their dark glasses back on for a short time when
the sun appeared directly above, but it soon passed over leaving
often to ask how much farther they had to go, but their guide
did not pay any attention to him. Palerick ignored him as well.
his own mount stopped in its tracks and Erieku brushed past him
now. There are things down here we do not want to meet up with.
between his stirrup and the cliff wall. Once more the beast
they were once again out in the open. They continued on a short
ground.
Erieku built a small fire and laid skins out for them to
cooking the hot meal she had promised them. When he awoke
Palerick was taken aback by the sight before him. The piercing
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/469
little sun was not yet above the horizon, but already it offered
enough light for him to see clearly. The mountains that had
could not see very far in the direction from which they had come
steppe.
was simmering over the coals of the dying fire, but their guide
was nowhere in sight. Palerick did not think his stomach was
back up the slope and ventured a short distance into the chest-
high grass from which they had emerged during the night.
the height of the incline where he was once again able to look
CHAPTER 53
"Chill out," Sam said. "We were really screwed last night.
This could be a lot worse. They could have him tied up with a
any attention."
said. "I've got one more box of breakfast bars left. That's
enough for one each. I know I said not to worry about bringing
that, but does anybody else have anything they can share?"
Cheese Whiz and some goldfish. Sam pulled out a packet of beef
"How hard could this really be?" Sam asked. "After it gets
dark, one of us should be able to sneak up close and get the lay
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/472
think it's going to be that easy. I'm sure you won't mind being
rush them altogether while they're asleep and beat on them with
some sticks like Falan did, we could probably take 'em before
keep them simple. You all stay here and try to rest. I'll go
black.
the dark, and it goes wrong we could end up losing each other
and getting split up. We only have the one GPS, and none of us
sleeping bags. Let's just huddle together and throw a tarp over
just try to get through the night as best we can, then we'll get
somehow."
wet and filthy, but there was little alternative. Tony rigged a
tarp between some trees that kept the worst of the rain off
them, and Dr. Morales laid out the ground cloth from his tent
Their lower legs stuck out in the rain, but it wasn't too bad.
Alison helped Falan clean and rewrap his wounds then she lent
his stomach was in knots. The food helped a little but not
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/474
much. He didn't think there was much chance that he'd fall
asleep and embarrass himself that night, but he didn't feel like
risking it. As it was, the rain held steady and hardly anyone
roused the professor. Dr. Morales told the rest of them to stay
put no matter what, then he and Tony crept back to the edge of
CHAPTER 54
Esteban's little cabin. The one with severe dental issues had
the same clothes from the day before. Two pissed over the porch
then pounded down the stairs and climbed into the driver's seat
the other two and turned the engine over. The one with the
rotting smile zipped his fly then hurried down the steps and got
for them. But make sure they know not to show themselves in the
the man on the porch left himself dangling in the open while he
and walked over to the top of the stairs. This was the one
who'd fired the shots at him and Falan, but the professor didn't
see any sign of his gun. He still had on his green coveralls,
but the sleeves were now tied around his middle instead of
The guy hung out at the top of the steps just out of the
his gaze seemed to lock onto the very spot where the professor
realize he was holding his breath until he let out a long sigh
when the man flicked his cigarette butt into the mud and walked
back inside the shack. That's when the professor saw the pistol
cardboard. He raised it over his head then stepped down off the
was amiss, he went inside again. The screen door smacked loudly
behind him. Smoke was starting to rise out of the tin chimney
pipe when Tony returned. Dr. Morales told him what he'd
witnessed.
Without a word Dr. Morales took a half step into the clearing
stepped forward and took the cup away from his mouth, the
the gun emerged from the cabin and stood next to Esteban.
Esteban skipped down the stairs and walked over to the back
of his Land Cruiser. He lifted the back gate open and gestured
for the guy on the porch to join him. When the guy refused and
pointed at the sky, Esteban reached into the back of the vehicle
cover and motioned again for the guy to join him, but coveralls
stayed put.
Esteban opened the bottle, took a long pull and then left
inside the back of the truck some more, the man with the gun
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/478
came down off the porch two steps at a time and ducked under the
the guy on the back a couple of times and gestured for him to
wait there. He then jogged back up the stairs and went inside.
then hurried back toward the porch with the bottle in hand.
steps. When his foot touched down on the top step, Esteban came
the porch in two strides and speared his shoulder into the man's
gut. The driving tackle blew the man backward off the porch.
The professor and Tony burst from behind their cover and
raced to help, but by the time they covered the short distance,
turned liquor bottle, but then he went back to hitting the guy
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/479
with gusto. Dr. Morales helped Esteban to his feet, while Tony
rolled the guy over and took his weapon. When the guy started
to moan, Tony cracked him in the temple with the butt of the
pistol.
hell did you come from, and who are these bastards?"
Victor said pointing. "We had trouble with these guys back in
rape the girl, Alison. Falan, the young kid, who I thought
the fat guy's son in the process. Your friend, Jorge Guerra, is
he talked.
exaggerating. Falan said he only hit the guy one time. I was
"Sure plenty, but we're stuck. The first thing these guys
did was yank my spark plugs and pull my battery. They've got
it, but I backed off when this guy waved his gun at me. They
said I could have the plugs and battery back when they caught
truck to escape."
"This one cheated all night at poker. I'm just taking back
what's mine. I'll hold his ID until we can notify the police."
"I don't believe this," Dr. Morales said. "I was hoping we
could just hop in your truck and go. At least we've got the
gun. When the other two get back, we can reclaim your battery
and plugs, steal theirs and get the hell out of here."
"The other two guys are armed also," Esteban told him.
"Are you sure?" Tony asked. "We've only seen the one gun."
box that's in the truck bed, and one guy is carrying some kind
those guys get back. Do you have any idea how long they'll be
gone?"
"Not long from the sound of it. They thought you might
sent the other two to check it out, but he told them to come
right back if they didn't find anything. Where did you leave
Tony offered.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/482
"What about your satellite phone? Did you get that working
"It comes and goes on me. I'll try it right now. Bring
weight up the steps and into the shack. They wanted Falan to
begged off because of his damaged hand. Sam did his best while
said turning to the professor, "it's been raining like this for
over a month down here. It's the earliest and wettest start to
but it just keeps on pouring. Our camp is all set up and pretty
didn't know if I'd make it across using the hand ferry. I'm not
knows."
reiterated.
promise you you're in the clear either way. We just need to buy
some time until we can get in touch with the embassy. Esteban,
Esteban tilted his head down and let out a long breath of
asked ruefully.
front of him and hurried around the little cabin filling it with
odds and ends. Dr. Morales crammed the pistol into a side
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/484
pocket in his pack while his students hovered around the wood-
ecstasy. The eggs were still warm, and everyone agreed that a
asked.
the latest hi-tech rain gear. If the rain didn't penetrate from
her.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/485
CHAPTER 55
was picking up speed. Palerick bent over to put his pant leg
back on, but Erieku's siren like screeching blared inside his
size of his arm flickering through the grass behind him. The
fast as he could naked to the waist with one pant leg down
around his ankle and the other flapping behind. When he broke
both the long and the longer pairs, were rotated forward.
Erieku rode bareback astride the center beast. She was lying
forward clutching fists full of long hair from the necks of the
just had time to cover his head with his arms and tense his body
Gheddy looked over his shoulder and saw a wide, blocky head
low to the ground. The tongue and vertical yellow eyes that
into the creature at full tilt as the rest of its body broached
the dense wall of grass. Their horns did not dip low enough to
stab it, however, and they ran straight over the top of it.
exterior. The low slung predator let out a fierce hiss and
over its head. The petite Ludition sailed all the way to the
whirled about and pawed the ground with their front hooves.
to dislodge the massive jaws gnawing its rear shin bone. When a
his pants and pulled them up, the two mounts that he and
Sandogaul had ridden charged once again. This time they swerved
time, they tilted their heads farther forward and speared the
creature into the ground. They struck with such force that when
their horns stopped short in the rocky soil both animals pole-
when their horns pulled free from the ground, but the greasy
brightening sky while the two milkers snorted and tossed their
reared back and tore the stump-legged fur serpent in two. Then
they shook their heads and slung the halves aside. The two
toward him cradling one arm gingerly, he looked past her and saw
two new creases in the grass rippling toward them across the
him about. As Palerick helped her down off the rise, she turned
all of her focus on Treachen. Her wounded stud was back on its
Erieku grabbed one with her good arm and started setting
dragging the torch along the edge of the grass where it bordered
forth between them and the twitching halves of the hairy komodon
carcass.
along the edge of the clearing. Each time the muskbovin acting
When he arrived back at their camp, she was tending her mount's
wrapping it.
nests to hunt in the pre-dawn hours, but they rarely leave the
have warned you against re-entering the steppe. They will not
kill one of them. Their numbers are few, and they are ignorant
it.
animals are or how ferocious they can be," Palerick said aloud
"They are not animals in the sense you imply. They are
dolls."
"You are wrong. They are more than that. Muskbovin are
She finished bandaging the stud's wound and then led them
"I do not think you are aware of it, but earlier you were
the question. "It is important that you continue doing so. The
your private thoughts, the better off you will be when we reach
at least minimal proficiency, then you will not have any hope of
quietly to himself.
true, then how is it that I never detect our friends here saying
anything?"
scoffed silently. "I doubt they are even aware that your
delusions are the only thing keeping them from the dinner menu.
and such."
temporary physical husks. You can not always trust what you see
right before you. You should take the time to look in every
sort of jesture.
Just then the cow walking behind Sandogaul scooped him off
nimble 360 degree turn on her hind legs before kneeling down and
Sandogaul wiped the look of surprise off his face and cast
was young at the time, I was smart enough to know that it did so
but that certainly does not make them intelligent, much less
The group wound their way slowly down off the escarpment to
the valley floor. When they reached the swift, grey-blue river
Afterward Erieku got down again to treat the bull's wound. She
remained afoot when they started up into the foothills, but the
hill country that led to the steeper front range and the jagged
keep his vocalizations in check, so she did her best to keep him
engaged.
sentience.
Yet, there have been many noted instances where a small majority
their offspring dragged back down again before they can achieve
course, that you did not partake in the acolyte training your
associate received, but surely you are aware that our two
species, along with many others, have reached the sixth tier of
quest and how it is supposed to help us win the war. Why else
would we all be pushing farther and farther out into the unknown
peace and slowing our rate of expansion into all these new
cosmos. This crazed drive to penetrate ever deeper out into the
rest of us are maxed out, but they act like they are just
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/497
it does not, do not try to tell me that you fear the mechanoids
could use such a find to achieve sentience. They are not truly
Erieku rolled her eyes behind her dark lenses but let him
discourse. She did not want him to cause a furor when the trio
worry that if the Synthedon find it first, then they may try to
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/498
your kind to the fold by ensuring that your offspring join the
enemies."
delude yourselves."
who were wronged adamantly deny it. The crime was only passive
nonetheless.
you need to accept the premise that the minds and bodies of
power fallow that you are unable to grasp the evidence even
rather than cope with the cognitive dissonance that would result
"Typical condescending..."
wholly disconnected from the mind and others of its own kind.
If that were not the case, then it would be impossible for our
bodies to follow along when our minds take their leave and
"You really are too much, Gheddy. You are certainly staying in
you genuinely do not expect to eat your words before all this is
bitter taste they leave in your mouth. I have not figured out
how you are doing it yet, drugs perhaps, but I am confident the
mind games you and your little friend here are playing on me
"I am not sure how long we have been in here as real time
come up for food and water. The virtual scraps we are living on
now will only trick the body for so long. Unless you have left
you after we come out of this. Well, I have news for you,
switchbacks that led them deeper into the forest until the sun
foreigner.
find one's way out of the attic in the dwelling where one's body
has expired. Those who choose to stay in such places have other
that there are a vast number of different ways to get from one
overlays that came with the dawning of the Second and Third
The highways, lanes and trails that we use to travel within and
from the ebb and flow of the civil unrest that continued between
worse. More than a few have been falsely marked by those who
walking and riding for much of the day, but now both stayed in
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/505
mountain they had come to. Erieku handed each of them a second
quilted coat that was heavier than the first she had given them
and led them into the ominous shadow cast by the slate gray wall
of stone. They turned left and followed the face's long curve
for nearly two hours before finally rounding the corner. Their
path led through a narrow passage that cut between two mountains
fading light Palerick was able to make out a lush green valley
far below on the other side of the pass. Row upon row of
distance was too great and the light too poor for him to be
built a small fire and settled in for the night. After a meal
CHAPTER 56
the floor and followed the young activist behind the building
not easy to miss. Esteban set a pace that soon had the others
Alison's back.
Tony.
"Don't worry about it," she said. "I didn't mean to snap
at you."
Tony passed around the last of his trail mix, and they each
assholes. For now we've got to assume they're right behind us.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/507
It won't be any big mystery where we've gone. Our tracks will
group every half hour or so. Falan fell farther and farther
behind, so Dr. Morales took up the rear and prodded him on. His
took his first header around noon. From then on, he tripped and
gasped every time he hit the deck. His swollen hand had taken
his forearm and calf. As the day progressed, he was slower and
"Come on, Falan, you've got to pay more attention and watch
where you're going," Dr. Morales said helping him up after one
some. Even that fat guy could catch up to us at this rate," the
professor insisted.
pinball.
When he was well out of sight, Falan slung his pack on the
several side pockets with his good hand. When he found his
until he came up with the make-shift paper seal that Eric had
he'd been saving had all dissolved. He cast the soggy scrap of
paper aside in disgust and grabbed the Advil bottle. There were
only four speed caplets left rattling around among the anti-
them dry. He started to snap the lid back on the bottle, but
best he could Falan turned the Advil cap upside down and placed
took a pair of nail clippers out of his shaving kit and used the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/509
little chunks were far from the fine powder he was aiming for,
shut and snorted as hard he could with the other. The granules
shot up his nose like gravel. He winced and narrowed his eyes
breath and finished the rest off with a blast to the other
nostril. He tilted his head back and sniffed hard several more
times before licking out the inside of the Advil cap and
splatter of vomit and noticed two white pills in the thin yellow
smear. They puzzled him because he knew Falan had taken his
went, but he fell down less and used his good hand to pull
see Alison fade from view behind a fine mist that soon thickened
into a dense fog. It didn't occur to him that they were hiking
foot ridge-line and that the little hillock they were on was the
sandwiched between two layers of cloud cover. The sky above was
There were a few dented gas cans and one rusty chainsaw
explained that the site had been logged off by crews who used
roads to get the harvest out. The practice also allowed the
"Well, maybe some good will come from this mess," Alison
satellite link.
Miguel asked.
where our camp is set up," Esteban answered. "With this rain
side."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/512
basin. There are named creeks around here that are bigger than
Miguel asked.
"If the river crests its banks, those guys will be the
race to get back to this ridge before the whole valley floods
out. Farther south you can set your calendar by the flooding.
There the water comes up and stays up for months during the
rainy season, but this is still technically the dry season, and
I don't think the Orinoco has ever overflowed its banks this far
have one more piece, but that was the last of their food.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/513
gather it up. Can you all wait until tonight for a hot meal? I
don't think we should stop here just in case those guys really
Nobody wanted to risk another run in with the men from the
They were so hot and sweaty after the climb that the raincoats
shorts and T-shirts. The route down the other side of the ridge
was much more treacherous than the way up. Navigating the
because of all the mud. A single misstep by any one of them and
they would have skidded off the side of the trail and plummeted
rock face that terminated in the stream Alison had asked about.
There are plenty of little ridges to hold onto. Just back down
it like you were climbing down a ladder. The water's not very
side in the waist deep water to make sure no one slipped and got
completely dunked when they stepped back off the steep face into
the stream. Sam was third in line. The stream was only thirty
feet wide, but halfway across he lost his footing and got swept
feet and make it the rest of the way to the far bank.
He had the others stay together at the bottom and hold onto
straps so you can ditch your pack if you go under," Tony advised
them all.
They linked hands for safety and waded across the stream
"Man, I should have waited for you all," Sam said. "I
CHAPTER 57
the entire time, while the others lagged farther and farther
head and looking up over his shoulder toward the jungle canopy's
make sense of it. When Dr. Morales appeared moments later and
"What were you looking at? You looked like you were
hiking.
something."
He'd been running from these dreams or whatever they were for
too long. His physical health had been compromised, and now he
jeopardy. The sensation that came over him on the trail was all
after waking up from one of his episodes. There was the sense
that something was after him, but he also felt somehow depraved,
it.
shrub filled with little red berries. Falan didn't pay any
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/518
attention to the botany lesson that came with the snack. He was
have to be the night. He'd already lost his buzz, and he could
when he and Falan started picking fruit from the same branch.
time. The flesh was puffed up so that his knuckles had lost all
purple bruising.
now I'm not so sure. It wasn't that bad until I started wiping
"That's what you said before, and now look at you," Miguel
pointed out.
"When I start complaining you can say 'I told you so,' but until
Falan fell in behind Tony and tried to keep up with him and
Esteban for awhile, but his worsening limp caused him to drop
long. Then Alison trudged past soon after. She slapped him on
the ass and offered a few words of encouragement as she went by.
Falan tried to act cheerful, but his smile came off more like a
kept his eyes forward. Dr. Morales was taking it slow in order
to keep an eye on their back trail, so Falan hiked the last two
students together and led them off the trail so they could set
up camp during the lull. The area he found wasn't big enough to
scissors, Falan wound up with Sam, and Miguel paired with Tony
own, and Tony erected another one for Esteban and the professor
to share while Esteban went back to find Dr. Morales and show
him the way to the camp. It was pouring again by the time the
community awning for them to cook and eat under. Esteban didn't
stove and cooking a pot of pasta. All they had to put on it was
salt and pepper and a little olive oil, but no one complained.
"I know it's a little bland and the portions are small, but
we'll eat like kings when we reach our main campsite," Esteban
promised.
"So you think we'll make it then," Alison asked, "even with
the trees. It was back the way we came, and it was definitely
stopped to rest and eat not long after they crossed that stream.
Esteban and I talked about it. We're only going to stop here
the whole way. I don't think they'll keep moving after dark,
Esteban.
"Yes, but I still couldn't link up. I'll keep trying. You
never know with these things. One minute they don't work, the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/521
next minute you're talking to someone half way round the world
CHAPTER 58
bay and headed for the bridge. No one needed to be told what to
class of one-way ships, when Inwah and his crew left their home
system. The Lady Valentine was well equipped to deal with most
the crew would eventually need to swap out her nuclear fuel
they were, "then" might very well arrive before they found their
way home.
but there was no telling how long they would have to last given
before he could bear to scuttle her. That did not mean he was
still had The Lady to fall back on. The right situation just
his granddaughter, if not his great. The top of her head barely
steadily bleaker more and more of the crew began having work
such services.
before the crew entered its first cryogenic interval and became
one who was pregnant, and there were no rules against married
reasons. Annabelle was only four when Kellion made the decision
to have everyone go under the ice for the first time. After
shaken all the bugs out of The Lady's systems. She had been
The captain stayed warm for another six months while the
others took their first polar bear dip. Kellion wanted to keep
two different officers every two years. They would remain atop
the ship to ensure the best chance that at least one full
respective chiller.
shutdown of the regular life support after the two duty officers
were supposed to have gone back under the permafrost. This was
they did, it was more than likely they were up to some kind of
that shutdown, but doing so would cause the captain and a third
just twenty years old, Annabelle seemed more like a real figure
hope to compare with her, they were the brightest of those born
Inwah could not afford to allow them any more childhood than
time they were ten, the youngsters were divided up and assigned
that order.
until after the crew's first chill was that no one was sure how
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/528
theses on every topic under their home sun. Her parents wired
her left and right lobes separately so that each half of her
ship years.
marauders when she was drafted as the first and only member of
came to light when one of her teachers found her speed reading a
over and asked him to try to stump her off the top of his head
was taken back to the academy and her parents were brought
before Inwah.
their daughter and explained what they had done. They said they
had not known whether their experiment would prove any more
pillow while she slept and admitted that they could have
lesson material.
automatic recall of the data she had been bombarded with while
area in her brain where all other related material had been
stored in her head improved rapidly. Before long all she had to
was enough for her to speak the tongue fluently. Liberal arts,
the ship's main batteries with all of the lesser cannon aboard
the deployable gun ships and linked them together with Inwah's
operated manually. This was a feat no one else on the ship had
wife had been, but the two were given their own private lab and
but first all eyes were on Annabelle watching to see what yet
She spent the next six years rotating among the ship's
Since then he had been keeping his eyes open for a likely alien
crew so that she could figure out how to operate and maintain it
affliction.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/532
communiqué?"
"I will let Specialist Azavayo fill you in, sir. He is the
Constantine Azavayo was not doing well. For some reason his
His bald pate was splotched, and the hair he did have left was
enabled him to keep his job. Inwah empathized, but he did not
the vacuum waves on the receiver that the Perukai gave us when
"I did not think you were able to make any sense out of
that thing."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/533
theirs."
and picked up the first really clear signal to come over the
translation."
"I know you did not bring me all the way up here to tell me
that."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/534
reminded that if these are the same beings the Seruvan had
encounters with -- then they are reputed to have the fastest and
encountered."
come across so far has been faster and better armed than The
Lady."
"Yes sir, but that was not the case with our friends back
"No sir, they are not, but we felt you might like to be
that these beings -- if they are in fact the ones who sent this
were."
"Yes sir. You have indicated in the past that you were
is accurate and these beings have the goods then you might want
in this."
"Where is he -- DeGama?"
Ms. Lee unseated him. Ever since then he had taken every
it.
orbit."
was suddenly acutely aware that he had been spending far too
much time away from the ship. This was not a matter to be
CHAPTER 59
Falan didn't know how long he'd been asleep, but he woke up
The tent was partially collapsed over his head, so when the
Whatever it was yanked free, and then something crushed into his
windpipe. He tried to break loose and roll away, but his legs
his lungs forced a moment of clarity, Falan realized Sam had him
Morales got their tent open and pulled Sam off him just before
he passed out. Falan caught his breath and waited for the
"What was that all about?" Dr. Morales asked looking back
"It was like on the plane but worse. You woke me up out of
asshole. When the first light came on I could see that your eyes
were wide open, but it was like you were blind or something.
You looked like you were in some kind of fucking trance, man."
"Hey Sam, I'm really sorry," Falan said. "I can't believe
grave right now if it wasn't for you, but you and I are even,"
Sam said. "You come near my nose again, and I'm going to fuck
you've got to chill out a little. You're all wound up. Don't
sweat a murder rap. We're all witnesses. You might have some
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/539
Save it for later. We may need you back in the game, if those
"No. Don't even think about those guys," Dr. Morales said.
"We've got a good head start on them. You may be suffering from
who was a cop back in Argentina. He had to shoot a guy once and
after some counseling. If that kid did end up dying, it was his
own fault. You did the right thing, and no court anywhere will
convict you."
at the hotel in Caracas before we ever ran into those guys. And
Falan was caught off guard. He'd been thinking along the
"He's just pissed off 'cause he nearly wet his pants back
traveling and all this other crap, it's been awhile since I got
all going to have to do with less sleep for now. Everybody pack
up. It's just after midnight. We'll stop for a hot breakfast
stumbling and falling down all the time. Dr. Morales was always
right there to help him up, but his words of encouragement did
nothing to help Falan stay engaged or keep his wits about him.
him as they walked. Falan did his best to hold up his end of
usually took some prodding to get him up again, but once he was
time Dr. Morales found him frozen in the middle of the trial.
The second time, he turned and fixed the professor with a cold
going on? What do you keep looking for when you stop like
that?" he asked.
Dr. Morales kept a firm grip on Falan's arm and held his
ground.
twitchy? Who did you think I was when I came up behind you just
now?"
more than nine or ten hours a week in the last two months, and I
probably haven't slept eight hours total in the last two weeks.
Diego high school student who stayed awake for eleven straight
tongue and promised himself that he'd keep a closer eye on Falan
from then on. The professor had a lot on his mind, but he
couldn't help noticing that the water on the trail was rising.
With no place dry to sit down, the majority of the group stood
He toed Falan gently in the ribs with his boot but didn't
pack. But for that, his whole body would have been under water.
Falan's head was lolled back so that his mouth hung open
When the water pouring up his nostrils made him choke and
sputter, he just coughed and turned his head to one side without
"Oh man, that would suck," Sam said. "I need my beauty
"Miguel, what the hell do you know about it?" Tony scoffed.
"I've seen smoke jumpers and hotshot crews go weeks and weeks
battling forest fires with hardly any sleep at all. You have no
idea what the human body is capable of. Some of these guys who
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/545
"Yeah, they all get a little trippy, too" Alison joined in.
"What about those long distance swimmers. One girl swam across
all the Great Lakes in a two-month period. The longest one took
was."
food. He's doing okay now, I guess, but he's on some serious
medication."
friend went through a really bad time after he killed that guy.
"It was hard to see. There was just one dim light out in
the hall. I didn't get a good look, but I heard the sound that
board made when it came down on the top of his head, and it
chance at some more sleep, but after fifteen minutes Sam and
Tony took him under the armpits and hauled him to his feet.
break.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/547
CHAPTER 60
up."
The morning gloom was just bright enough for them to see
shins and made the jungle seem like it was sinking all around
stove on top of the log and put a pot of water on to boil. Sam
their packs to Tony who found a good spot for them up out of the
asked.
Alison joined him and took over holding one end of the
onto the tree trunk to sleep. Most everyone else was quick to
join him. They lay head to toe on their backs covering their
keep a lookout.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/548
signaled when the break was over. Falan looked around warily
when Alison woke him up. It was a relief when no one paid him
announced. "Tony, pass those packs over here. We've still got
a long way to go. I don't want to scare you guys, but the
With that he dropped down onto the trail and splashed away.
The others were left scrambling to put on their packs and follow
Sam and the professor were holding their own, but Miguel and
stragglers and keep an eye out. Miguel and Alison soon fell
keep going. He'd heard the others discussing his plight when
they thought he was asleep, and he didn't want to give them any
Whatever had been affecting his sleep was now intruding on his
checked over his shoulder, it wasn't to see if the men from the
bar were catching up. He didn't know what he was watching out
them.
not all the time, but he was periodically losing touch with
reality, and his episodes were becoming more frequent and more
during a stop, he continued past with his eyes down and his
mouth shut. Let them think what they wanted. He wasn't about
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/550
to open his mouth and remove all doubt that he'd gone mental.
Falan ignored them again when they caught back up and passed him
but his eyes roamed high and low almost incessantly. He was
Falan snapped a look over his shoulder into the tree tops.
The other three showed up together just as the food was ready to
water that was now knee deep and wolfed down the steaming rice.
take a break for awhile. These guys are barely hanging on. We
I've got to get some sleep even if it means lying down in the
shoulder straps of his pack and pulled him close so their faces
snarled.
ease him back, but Esteban shrugged him off and stayed in
Miguel's face.
I'm in charge out here, you little prick. You countermand what
I say once more, and I'll put you over my shoulder and carry you
myself."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/552
professor without taking his eyes off Miguel. "We'll sleep for
camp that might even still be above water. We'll make better
Without another word Esteban slipped off his small day pack
and took Alison's pack from the professor. After fastening his
double load.
"Esteban didn't have any right to speak to you that way, but I
agree with Tony. I've known Esteban all his life, and he
"I don't care. This whole trip has gotten out of hand.
I'm out of here as soon as we get through to the police and get
The rest of the day was torturous for most of them. The
him out of one of his trances later in the day, but Falan
looked the worst by far, but Alison and Miguel were the ones
to eat and get some sleep. We'll make better time if we stop
for awhile and let people regroup. Otherwise we're just going
all."
Esteban leaned over and splashed the water with his hand.
exactly sure how much farther it is, but it's got to be close.
resort."
"I think I can make some decent hammocks with the climbing
rope and tents, but we'd all be a lot happier with firm ground
under us," Tony agreed. "Let me, Sam and Esteban cruise ahead,
and you guys follow as fast as you can. We'll have another hot
meal waiting for you when you catch up. After we eat, we'll
"I feel bad with you guys carrying my pack," Alison said.
"If Esteban can keep carrying it, then I guess I can keep
walking."
for dry ground, there was a pot of rice ready and waiting under
to clear several tent sites. Sam and Tony set up Alison's tent
Falan and Miguel. "You guys can either share it or one of you
you."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/556
CHAPTER 61
senior cadet.
stressed to look like they had been around since the First Age
upholstery, brass rails, and faux oil lamp lighting added to the
globe marked with the maiden routes followed by all the famous
room.
pound shot sat in a corner. Kellion just could not see any
exploration just did not compare to those early days. The later
plotted off-world, then out of system and now beyond galaxy, but
Countessa is..."
captain then shut quickly behind him scuffing the toe on one of
password."
balcony.
Since the ship was not under thrust, his silo-shaped suites
were extended out from the hull. They retracted when the ship
reminded that he had been gone too long when he felt briefly as
not about to have the top of his skull crushed in, Kellion
stepped out and peered over the banister into the salon below.
galley.
the floor, and the upholstery hung off in tatters. Yet another
genuine crystal flower vase had been shattered against the wall.
impact or any other such event, but it did not usually lower
The broken table, overturned chairs and pictures ripped from the
as he made his way around the balcony and started up the tight
spiral staircase hugging the wall. The noise that sounded like
steps. Kellion paused near the top of the flight before poking
Everything was in order for the most part. On this level the
domed ceiling. Lying in bed with the lights out when the ship
the stars were that bright on all sides, Kellion often found it
forth in the middle of the room several feet above their hand-
Afridon period. She had had the swing affixed to the high,
shortly after joining the captain. Her arms were wrapped around
the suspension ropes and she was leaning forward with her hands
clasped in front of her kicking her legs back and forth lazily.
Kellion could tell from the sheen of moisture on her skin that
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/561
she was taking a breather after working out the aggressions left
for some reason the vibe he was getting still felt like the
She unclasped her hands and moved them to the ropes at her
side then leaned back and kicked out vigorously. Svetreeka bent
her legs and sat up for the back swing before heaving herself
bedroom she slid backward until the backs of her knees were
resting on the bar. Next she released the ropes and let herself
fall back so that she was swinging upside down with her legs
never seen anyone who could do what she did. The way she
flips, twists and combined release moves done at each end of her
pushups and pull-ups left her long, lean muscles trembling with
him by the hand to the center of the room and deftly helped him
out of his uniform while giving him a long kiss. Then, she
crawled onto their bed ahead of him and draped her lithe frame
face first over a cylindrical pillow and clicked her wrists into
her.
The two of them satisfied each other's base needs for the
next three hours before passing out. It was not like the sex
they had shared before he had the impacitors grafted into his
was still ten times better than anything he had ever experienced
with someone of his own species. Kellion woke from his stupor
when the shower came on. There was a dull throbbing in his
headache and physical injuries that left him feeling like he had
Back then his desire had driven him to go long periods without
food or water. His implants were likely the only reason he was
still alive.
to it? Do not you think you should rest awhile longer and
The two of them had had a thing long ago when Kellion used
his virtual harem, but those days were well behind them.
came as no surprise when he could not make any sense out of the
she dried her hair. "I could not hear too well from the shower,
combing her hair and strode absently across the carpet. She was
really was past time for me to get back. I need to sail us out
face him. She paused for a long time considering what course to
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/566
take and how much to reveal to this stranger to whom she owed so
him, the home of her birth lay on the other side of one or more
now she had never dared hope to see her native world again.
refused to dwell on. By the time she felt Kellion's hand on her
resolve.
again.
her head in his chest. When he returned her embrace and gently
flashed through her mind, but she quickly placated her qualms
opportunity to choose his own course, but she was confident his
"But you have always said you do not know anything about
"I am not sure what you mean, but no machines were used to
"You know what I can do. My education was cut short, but
me. She was providing her superiors back at some sort of base
evidently led him to dispatch a ship out into deep space away
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/568
They had little trouble decoding it, once they were able to tune
you? I will not let you fall back into Beledenite hands to be
to set the hook. She then pulled free from Kellion's arms and
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/569
walked to the other side of the room to stare out at the storm-
ravaged planet they had just departed. She felt his hand on the
"We should just go back down there or find some other more
home for ourselves and live real lives instead of wasting the
is it?"
"Svetreeka, come on, this is not like you at all. What has
She looked down at his chest briefly then met his gaze.
"The trail that the drone was following was a signal that
caressing the spot on his temple where he had had the impacitors
"I have told you before. All things, living and non-living
like me to confuse you -- make you think they were like me when
"No, it does not work like that. Those you speak of have
not been as similar as you would make them out to be. Even
I could always tell your kind apart from theirs solely by the
same branch."
find the disabled drone and hope that it can tell them where to
Azavayo can home in on this ship and follow it," Kellion said as
"If he can get us near the area where the message was
broadcast from, then I may be able to track the ship for you,"
out how to operate. She is ready for her own command. Do not
suite.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/572
away from The Lady Valentine before it was destroyed, there was
nothing to suggest that she would be welcomed back into her old
somehow -- give them a reason to allow her back into the fold.
The Lady Valentine the better part of twenty ship years to get
there. There was no telling how far the message's sender would
bid to shake off the mental rust they had accumulated during
tactical decision-making.
Even when she was unhooked none of the crew members with
her. When Annabelle was jacked in, the performance results she
wings.
more often than not they swung the momentum back in his favor.
spontaneity.
were in top form before the majority of the crew was cooled down
for the duration of the long chase to come. The navigation and
from the ship they were pursuing. Inwah did not want to waste
the valuable time it would take for the ship's automated systems
CHAPTER 62
realization that he could not wake up. The terror that had been
consciousness was cut off, and he was trapped. There was only
possessed.
explanation. Nothing but his own mind could possibly track him
was a civil war raging deep within his psyche, and he couldn't
if a whole new part of him was revealing itself for the first
time. Though he was aware that his body was asleep, Falan was
in the back of his head was coming to take his sanity away, and
haven implied that Falan was out of options. Unable to flee and
blanking his mind and extinguishing all thought. The effort was
peaking between its fingers, Falan could not stop himself from
screaming out when the little voice in the back of his head
finally made its intentions known and began forcing its way into
thoughts that he had not initiated began mingling with his own,
Falan knew that he was finally going over the edge. It seemed
while he slept.
warning.
penetrate the dense tangle concealing him. The din from the
"Falan, come on, son, come out from under there," Dr.
"Come on, Falan. It's me, Alison. You're okay. We're the
only ones out here. Those guys from the bar are nowhere near
Alison leaped back when she followed Falan's stare and saw
in a quiet baritone.
the underbrush while the others stared back and forth between
"What did I tell you," Miguel sounded off from back near
the tents. "Psycho Boy went off again didn't he? I told you
couldn't have been more than four and a half feet tall. His
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/580
black hair was cropped short in a bowl cut. Two wide bands of
black and dark orange were painted horizontally across the top
half of the man's face. The only clothing he wore was a faded
pair of blue Adidas running shorts. He was lean, but the many
quite old. The skin above his upper lip was Tiernand by slivers
around each bicep, and a single claw the size of a man's curled
none of the others could follow. When Esteban replied the old
in the air and waving his hand in a big circle above his head.
own temple.
rest of the group and continued, "I explained what happened back
in town and why those men are chasing us, but Takuroo says that
isn't what he means. He says those men have turned back, but
trees at dawn and be dead within the week. Takuroo says that a
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/581
Esteban exchanged a few more words with the old man, then
gnarled hand. Falan shifted his gaze to look into the native's
eyes, then he eased his arm from Takuroo's grasp and slowly
another dream."
talking about? Who the hell is hunting you besides those three
guys?"
unspeakable horror. But when the old man touched his arm,
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/582
to hold onto his sanity, while something inside him tried to rip
or even heard his chanting, but he'd felt his presence in ways
the old Indian had used his chanting to somehow project his
When he turned to walk, off the old man grabbed him by the
you all parked and sleeping in the van three nights ago. That's
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/583
what he now remembered with the benefit of the old man's touch.
then that you were the one in danger, and so he warned you. Now
he says that warning you was a mistake. The tracker coming for
you is too strong and will not be denied. Until it leaves, the
Yanomami will be in even worse danger than from the white man.
for."
ridiculous."
that old man isn't afraid of anything in this world and very
of knowing things."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/584
weren't going to believe this old Indian's version any more than
the love I hold for mankind. I asked myself why such an evil
would come so far and place such high value on someone like you
makes you such a prize? You display no skills worth fearing and
everyone else. "The Yanomami will not step aside from their
"You must have told him that we spent the night in the van along
the side of the road because there is no way he could have been
there."
"Victor, I swear to you: I told him about the men from the
bar, but I never said anything about your drive or you sleeping
in the van."
to the others.
"Did you guys see any jaguar tracks around the van?"
"I don't know," Esteban said, "but Victor will remember how
What I never told anyone was that Takuroo came to me one morning
several days before that and told me that I had to go home right
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/586
don't know what made him send me home, and he's never said. But
Falan.
"I don't know. Listen," Falan said, "it was...it was just
like I was going out of my mind a little bit, but now I'm awake.
I've got my wits about me for sure. It was just a bad dream. I
control over you. Takuroo startled this entity long enough for
you to break free, but it will come for you again. Takuroo will
while the others looked around awkwardly at each other and tried
bizarre tale.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/588
CHAPTER 63
seemed to regress once they did finally get him up. He remained
throughout the morning as they made their way down into the
valley on the far side of the pass. Erieku had him practicing
reached the valley floor, but he was more sullen and withdrawn
to her queries.
growing inner turmoil that was slowly eating away at him. The
distances.
animals appeared to sink into the ground and vanish from sight
Palerick could distinguish little more than their eyes. But for
the thundering of the animal's hooves and the faint blur that
to fly past while hugging onto nothing but thin air. They
and Sandogaul.
cap. They were all riding bareback between the two shallow
free sitting upright, but at higher speeds they lay forward and
held onto the knobby fins that ran down the sides of the
was unlikely that any of them understood his words, but the
general vibe was unmistakable. The little naked kid was the
chagrin, he actually tilted his head back and laughed out loud.
guardrail between the two. The boy was tentative at first, but
ignored his friends' pleas to get away from the outlander until
an adolescent female rode up warily and led him away. Then, one
of the bare-chested older lads gave a silent cry and took off
our borders have been closed to your general population for some
Ilstachian before."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/591
His mount gave him a slight poke with its horn before
had done what she could to smooth the rough edges off this one,
but her time was up. Whatever embarrassment this boor was going
how to prevent the cretin from making any social gaffes and
afoot. Most of the herders were much farther afield, but a few
and passed others pulling travois loaded with dung to fuel the
of small gardens that had been planted without tilling the soil.
the masses.
Then the vast majority of inhabitants would leave for the winter
But that did not stop some from using such duties as an excuse
to stay home and remain indoors all summer. The hardcore fringe
worked their way deeper into the city. The outer rim gave way
rest of the hub was left vacant so that the city's core
inhabitants could take a quick break during their day and get a
taste for the open spaces without having to venture all the way
public scandal.
invited them to come in for a meal and stay the night as her
her hand. The brief outburst was enough to prompt the liaison
officer to change her plans and stay the night with the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/595
from one side of the main corridor to the other. Erieku made
The rooms were stark. The beds were nothing more than
through the ventilation hole cut in the roof along with just
under the stars out on the open grass. The clientele were
to eclipse earlier choices made and safe paths taken. This was
where most of them spent their first and last nights in the
least one guest present who held a valid passport from that
in a sample.
any trouble the senior specialist might stir up. The new
room for dinner. It was the last day of the week so the place
was packed with guests both coming and going. A hostess seated
himself Palerick saw staring back at him from around the table,
putting out.
Servers came and went with simple fair and jugs of local
out through the dome's top vent. Fog was spewing forth from all
devices, loaded with who knew what, lay scattered on trays all
Now he understood why this inn had been erected so far from
its nearest neighbor. Assuming they did not destroy the place
Erieku broke into his dreams and woke him urgently. As soon as
after they all departed. What Palerick saw when he entered made
number were passed out here and there. Some of them were
of it.
ground with his legs crossed and his arms partially extended out
from above, below, behind and in front. They were not being
orange ribbon of energy stemming from the top of the cap snaked
movement behind the lids. His face was twitching and spasmming
like someone having a vivid nightmare, and his mouth was frozen
violent viewings he had ever gone on with Huron Gaelen. All the
survived this far into the night without feeling the wrath of
fit for the Deladon, Palerick could not fathom why a one-limbed
trifled with."
circling faster and faster. They drifted farther apart from one
turned and fixed him with its top eye. "The trip this chap is
continued derisively.
"Why would you put him up to something like this? You know what
it could do to him."
The Deladon ignored her and took a hit from the antique
"Back off, witch. Your slave was begging for it. And, from
the sound of it, you and the monk are to blame. Our friend,
adamant. Said he was being held against his will and wanted his
freedom back. Told us you two hijacked his true self and
III. We tried to convince him that we were all very real and
immediately," Erieku snapped. "Turn this thing off and get him
just shut it down in the middle of a hit. You would cleave his
telepathic warning.
subdivide you know. Still, I do not think you want to see that
downward growth and capped the lower end with a red energy
fluid window.
had read about this sort of thing, but it was strictly forbidden
spare. More than one regional conflict had been fought to stop
one of the scenes being played out inside the column at about
one-sixteenth scale.
carnage from some recent battle while purple energy tracers flew
from Treachen's brow. After just a few wipes her head perked up
as if she had heard something, and she quickly dashed off into
defilement or another.
retracted back up into a flat chrome like disc above the senior
bottom of the column rose above eye level. As the two rotating
When the four light cones forming the pale green sphere winked
it.
complained.
first one that looks half decent. He was lucky in one sense.
said addressing Palerick. "Looks like you have got quite a road
in front of you."
Tameresik units."
audio was useless as well. These black and white portable jobs
"Oh yeah, you have got to," the other one agreed. "His
his room.
already one step over the edge. Those things can cause nasty
side effects even when they do not fry you out. The Deladon do
not mind, because they can afford to scrap a brain or two here
CHAPTER 64
still intact, but it won't last much longer. You can see this
weren't for those bastards following us, we'd have turned back a
for the last week or so, but I never really believed it would
before the end of the coming day, unless we can make it to the
the most. I'm really not sure," Esteban said. "We've got to
night. It won't be light for awhile yet, but we've got to get
moving. The higher the water gets, the slower our progress will
be."
"I've got to admit, I'm not crazy about the idea either,"
our packs with us for awhile longer and see how it goes -- see
"But we'll all make better time without the extra weight.
whatever you say, but it sounds like it's time to cut our
losses. I can tell you from years of fighting forest fires that
get backed into a tough situation, sometimes the only thing that
happens, you can't let pride get in the way. Whether lightning
time when the only thing left to do is drop all your shit and
Esteban looked at his watch and checked the sky for signs
pay for any gear that we fail to recover. Tony's right. I've
lucky to get out of this alive. We're dead unless we get across
"I think mine comes apart like that, but I haven't tried it
out yet," Miguel said tentatively as he took off his pack and
top part could be worn around the waist. None of the other
bottles in there as you can and bring all the water purification
why don't you ditch Alison's pack and keep your little one with
the medical kit and cooking gear in it. I'll bringing my knife
climbing rope from his pack and looped the coils over his head
and one shoulder. "The rest of you can carry along a personal
all the larger packs and tied them to a tree just off the trail.
if I see any place where I think you could go wrong, I'll mark a
camp as it was.
me walk with you for a little before I drop back and take up the
rear again."
every hour or so. If we can't get across the river, we're gonna
try more often, but I don't want to risk running the batteries
don't know what's going on with him, but it could be like Miguel
sure that old man has his reasons for saying what he did, but I
people."
my father was dying when he sent me home, but he did. The old
If you can really work a deal with the drug companies, I'm sure
that Takuroo will come through for them. He knows more than
community."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/615
psychic phenomena."
"See," Esteban said. "I don't know anything about it, but
how else do you explain that Takuroo knew you slept the night in
your van and that a jaguar walked circles around you while you
slept?"
that..."
ahead.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/617
CHAPTER 65
area enjoying a quiet breakfast of tea and muffins. But for his
bald head with its thin crown of red pin pricks and the dark
circles under his eyes, there was little to suggest he had been
running through his head. This in itself was more than a bit
odd given that up until now he had been incapable of hiding even
dollop of sweet grenick pus into her porridge, "do you now
you still believe we are holding you against your will back on
Sandogaul replied placing his cup back on the table. "It could
finger.
that your precious guild has finally crossed that fine line
liaison officer. "I alone know how this affair plays out in the
direction.
"Do you recall what you did last night?" she asked the
technologist.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/619
newly smooth scalp. "In an effort to determine once and for all
so that we are not late for our audience before the Karoken,"
us, the self you represent will only investigate one of them."
that those many futures are more alike than not until the very
hours," Erieku assured him. "Sit back down and enjoy your tea."
senior specialist said nothing when the clerk called out the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/620
All were aghast that anyone would dare address the Karoken
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/621
satisfactory fashion."
private conversation was held before the new arrival came around
Eytal. It was I who first contacted you after your ship was
would have been handled much differently had you come alone or
precise, gave a copy of the message for which you seek help
were deported.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/622
days before you departed Ilstach III nearly fifty of your years
ago. While it has taken you all of that time to get here, our
Treachen.
"It is certainly true that they could have made the trip in
Palerick was far from distraught over what Master Galen had
possibility that this might happen when they met for the last
contained in the message had sat dormant and unacted upon for
animate signals like the one we have all been looking for are
origin. The best way to find out where that signal originated
would make the task that much easier, assuming it was able to
capabilities.
cringed and kept her eyes on the floor in front of her. The
time.
have you back aboard your ship in time for the return trip home.
matter..."
before continuing.
be enough of you left to continue on, and you would either join
the other specters caught between space and time or you would
gaps between the cosmos leaves you more vulnerable to just that
fading away. You would be traveling within the very seams that
Palerick did not hesitate. This was his one chance to make
Ferring aboard Cassandra and have him delay his departure from
time. Even with his guild training, this excursion will tax
you."
again.
dawns, you believe that you can influence which of the many
"This is true only in the sense that your free will affords
you the ability to make choices that will indeed affect the path
affect our own future. More often than not, actions targeted at
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/629
your very knowledge of that end makes it that much less likely
you will ever see it. Ask the one called Shaolin about that if
already?"
injected. "You are not well. I myself would not even consider
fuel."
CHAPTER 66
Sam. "He's stressing out. You don't really believe the crap
directly linked."
"Oh man," Sam said turning away and starting back down the
trail, "I'm not the one to go into it. It's too complicated.
along. "Tell me what she thinks. I've got to know how someone
smart enough to get into both Berkeley and Stanford can possibly
"All right, but don't grill me to death," Sam said over his
back to Caracas. She'll be happy to talk your ear off about it,
trust me.”(*)
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/631
like matter or energy. These test results make them think that
order could be the common link between mind and matter. Hell,
matter," Sam speculated. "We know that space and time are
connection that joins space, time and mind all together." (*)
view. That's like still thinking the world is flat. They have
about the real world, and that stuff makes psychic phenomena
look tame."
psychic phenomena."
Just then Sam and Tony caught up with the professor and
satellite phone.
outlined the trouble they'd had and told of the men following
useless."
CHAPTER 67
which species in this age seemed to lose track of even the most
seemed potent enough to have altered the facts in its own right.
likes.
his reverie. Of course the being they sought did not think of
Atrocity Monger. Shaolin was not the name given to him by his
parents or even the one he earned for his exploits during his
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/636
first crusade, but it was how most everyone thought of him later
slaughters during this age and presided over far more than that
during his own, but he had never given the Luditions cause to
unbidden and proscribed a remedy for their ills that was deemed
too severe by a culture not yet faced with the prospect of its
destruction.
the implosion wave, which then dragged him along in its wake as
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/637
the previous two ages, as they expanded and cooled, the majority
This time, however, animate matter clawed its way into existence
much more quickly than during the First or the Second Ages, and
time.
was something that had never happened before. Though it had not
occurred during his own age, Shaolin right away saw the
the bill.
carrying out their plans than the animates could ever hope to
be.
and desist from such foolishness. Few enough in his own age
ever caught on to the idea that the more they learned the less
operated. Things were much the same during the Third Age.
pursuits of their own accord, only a small number saw the wisdom
only jeopardized their own freedom but also risked the chance
Luditions were far from alone in their refusal to hunt down and
time. This kept them from taking so long to cross the great
realm.(1)
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/642
CHAPTER 68
Their timelines were spun from disparate threads and woven into
his own age, and even that was nothing but a lost memory to
these beings. The Luditions' age was the third of its kind
chronometry.
What good had come from the last time he inserted himself
chance that he was wrong and that this age might yet avoid the
against the artificials long enough for them to figure out how
to produce one.
seekers.
been hard pressed to find their way there at all, much less
like some long-lost loved one whom they had given up for dead.
tracking.
Ilstachians' favor.
assured them that one of their kin fellows from the new Ilstach
detected the signal and alerted the others so that they could
homeland. Her now elderly grandson, Dalevin, the one who lit
the signal fires so long ago, lamented that she was not present
scene of the crash. That implied that the inanimates had yet to
determine the location and source of the seed signal that the
Shaolin did not stay long enough for everyone from the
that few in this day would doubt his arrival or his legitimacy.
called Dalevin and his small but growing cadre of true adherents
least two other parties had been drawn by the distress signal
foreknowledge and his general disdain for their kind fueled the
cavalier attitude that got him killed in less than a full local
one.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/649
CHAPTER 69
stretched out across the Rio Orinoco just inches above the
joined at one end and tied off to a tree, but the loose ends had
Tony could stop them. It was obvious that the raft would tear
together soon.
lengths from the climbing rope that hung over his shoulder and
plunged off the edge of the flooded bank and sank to his armpits
tie. The work sped up a bit, but it was still a struggle. They
"Be careful, the bank drops off just after this tree," Sam
shouted up at them.
aboard the rocking platform and tested its strength with a few
gentle hops.
the spaces between the decking logs. The raft was originally
The craft was only meant to withstand a few slow hauls across
up the tow line that stretched between the two banks. "Help me
Falan and Tony lent a hand, but just after they got the tow
rope up off the deck and over their heads it pulled taught and
snapped. The twang plucked the three of them off the raft.
the swollen current had snagged the rope and severed it, leaving
pandemonium broke out as the three men fought to keep from being
rescued each other. Once back aboard the raft, Tony stepped
over Falan and reached out toward those still on the flooded
bank.
said.
long poles from a pile on the deck and handed them to Falan and
Takuroo. "We can't stay here. Our only hope is to get to the
Takuroo to watch closely and use the poles to fend off any
Miguel and Alison. The water was rising fast, and it didn't
protect the raft from banging against the trees along the
Alison made up her own mind. She took Tony's hand and
leapt as best she could across the invisible drop off. Tony
out of the water and onto the deck. Miguel and the professor
"Cut the line and I'll try to push us out into the
Esteban slashed the tether and Sam drove his shoulder into
the side of the raft while using his legs to push off the bank.
He then kicked hard until Tony tapped him on the head and helped
him aboard. The two of them tied a rescue throw-line to one end
The cramped raft rode just below the surface of the water.
Esteban left Takuroo and Falan on watch for drift logs and set
the others to work using more spare poles to push off the bottom
and guide the raft toward the far bank hidden in the mist.
Esteban jumped to help him fend off a massive tree that was
looming down on them out of the fog. The weight of the tree was
enormous, and when the three of them pushed against it the raft
backed away from under them. They had to be careful not to fall
into the widening gap, but each time they righted themselves the
tree would accelerate toward them again. They called for help,
and when Tony and Sam joined in, the added push caused Takuroo
to become over-extended and fall into the river between the tree
Tony dropped to his knees and helped. Together the two of them
managed to repair the damage. The trees lining the near shore
raced past as the raft hurdled down stream. One by one those
progress at all."
long. We've got to get across before we enter the gorge and get
trapped."
this far downstream. They were now fast approaching the edge of
onto the shelf below. He didn't think they could survive the
drop.
pole onto the deck and seized the free end of the safety line
that Tony had rigged earlier. In two short steps he was over
shore. He had just reached the end of the line when he and the
saw him grab hold and give the end of the safety line two quick
and the raft started arcing toward the far shore like a giant
anchored to.
His head was bouncing face down in the water as the tree flexed
back and forth with the current. A free hand waved around
As Tony pulled out his knife and knelt down Takuroo seized
his shoulder and spoke in his native tongue. His gestures made
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/656
hesitated then tried to ignore the old man, but when he did a
scuffle Tony won out with Sam's help, but by that time Esteban's
free arm had gone limp and was flapping in the current. The top
feared.
shrill voice.
They were only twenty yards from the shear face lining the far
bank. The last possible access point was a sandy beach perhaps
thirty yards upstream. It was directly even with the tree they
drift away, and he'll still be stuck there alone under water."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/657
Dr. Morales tried to grab the knife away from Tony, but Sam
"It's too late, Victor. He's not going to make it. We've
All the tension went out of the professor's body and Sam
released him. Takuroo moved to the edge of the raft and sat
down facing toward Esteban's body. The old man ignored the
going to give. I'll swim to that bank up there and try to find
float an end down here or throw something off the ledge so you
something."
get to the tree, I'll let go and swim across to shore. It isn't
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/658
far; I'll make it. I grew up swimming against rip tides worse
than this. Besides it isn't like we have a great plan for when
The others were skeptical, but no one tried to talk him out
started losing ground and the current began carrying him back
grabbed hold of the line connecting the raft to the tree. The
others all braced themselves when they felt the raft sink down a
bit.
Using both his arms and legs Sam started inching his way
line and struck out for the bank. Even though he maintained a
opposite shore he had drifted a good ten feet below where the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/659
angled back toward the raft. Tony took up one of the poles and
dragged him past the raft. The professor grabbed hold of the
pole with Tony and screamed in desperation. When Sam raised his
head again and thrust his hand out to grasp the pole, he came up
over them.
into this situation. Everyone was glad when he drifted off into
an exhausted stupor.
become disconnected from the tree. The stream was still rising
and eventually the spot where Esteban had tied them off would be
well below the surface. This would likely cause the raft's
upstream edge to get pulled under. Tony assured them that he'd
do his best to cut the line before that happened, but even if he
Roll onto your back, keep your feet up and point them downstream
to fend off any rocks. You don't want to try to stand up,
because your feet could get caught between the rocks on the
bottom. If that happens, the current will fold your body over,
Esteban's pocket, and the water level was sure to keep rising
some point during the night, Falan heard Alison sobbing quietly
caused her to cry even harder so he wrapped both arms around her
and held her close to his chest. He couldn't believe this was
happening. Esteban had died right before their eyes, and now
this. He didn't see what good daylight would do. Suddenly the
when the goose bumps erupted across his flesh an instant later.
just out of site caused him to tense up. He now understood that
and ideas not his own again competed with his thoughts for
of his own psyche. A place that mankind had evolved away from
long ago.
assault, this diseased part of his own mind had altered its
giving up. It was as though his mind had fractured once more
and created yet another entity within itself; however, this time
to focus his attention away from the warped part of himself that
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/664
something impacted his face with dazzling force causing his head
to snap back. Falan hoped that it would come again, and it did
-- repeatedly.
second one broke his nose and the fingers on his injured hand
raced up his arm injected his mind with clarity. Then all of a
consciousness now would send him hurtling back toward the trap
that had been set for him, so he began trying to free himself
the deck, he could see the professor hovering over Alison. Dr.
Morales was shining a light on her as she too fought for air.
language. Then he stepped to the far side of the raft and sat
back down. He again faced the spot where Esteban's body lay
lifted the claw off his chest to inspect it under Tony's light.
Tony told him. "Her eyes were popping out, man. We couldn't
pull your arms off her. The professor slapped the shit out of
you, but you didn't even blink. Finally, we got scared for
pry your arms off her, but you hardly flinched. One or two
Falan's wrist.
the socket. Falan winced but didn't cry out. Tony looked at
"Jesus, Falan what's with you? Don't you have any pain
receptors?"
"When the sun comes up, we're going to get ourselves out of
this mess and get you to a doctor, Falan," the professor said.
"Until then, stay the hell away from the rest of us. We can't
causing you to act like this, but it's dangerous. You're a hell
just try to relax and get some rest. It'll be light soon."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/667
the professor said. "It's for your own good. If you have
Just try to relax for awhile. We're going to need all our wits
The professor switched off his headlamp, and Tony did the
same.
lightening up. Dawn broke slowly and never really gave way to
the clouds were darker and lower than ever. As Tony stood up to
stretch his legs and survey their predicament, the raft lurched
the tree they were anchored to was tilted much farther over.
The top of the tree was now bobbing in the current. Esteban's
"Any ideas?"
night dangling here like this. Sam was right. Something's got
you all can climb up onto when this thing goes. I don't know.
Hell, the falls could be survivable if they aren't too high and
shore above the drop that Esteban wasn't aware of where you all
can climb out. If there isn't, I think you're better off going
landing on rocks that way. If you make it that far and find
up."
"You keep saying 'you all'," Alison said. "What about you?
it, I'll find something to throw or float down to you guys that
we can use to haul you upstream to that little beach like Sam
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/669
was saying. If we're lucky, I might even have time to run all
the way back up river and get the piece of the original tow rope
sure."
"If we don't see each other for awhile, good luck," Tony
said. "If you come up with a better plan, don't wait around for
me."
With that Tony jumped into the river, boots and all, and
kept his head out of the water. He didn't make any forward
the rock face feeling for any available purchase. The others
tapped the panther claw hanging from his neck and said something
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/670
trapped and hidden beneath the surface and spoke for nearly half
then placed his hand on his own heart. He held it there for
along the shore they had departed from. He spoke a few more
words, touched the professor's shoulder, then dove over the side
flatly.
half the distance to the shore by the time he was swept from
back and forth across the tops of both rock faces -- everyone
but Falan. Falan hadn't even heard what Alison said. He was
where the river coursed over and around one corner of the raft.
It never grew larger than a few inches across at the top, and
raft was again at the mercy of the current and picking up speed.
looked back and saw that the tree they'd been secured to had
on them. The line still held, and they could see Esteban's pale
was gone, but the one in his mind held his attention firmly.
his will toward certain doom. Somehow he knew that his worst
He managed to pry his senses away from the maw that had engulfed
him just long enough to look back and glimpse himself staring
them. The professor rallied Alison and Miguel, and together the
three of them were able to fend the raft away using the push
gorge wall as the tree came abreast of them on the open water
the distance. No one paid any mind to Falan who sat wide-eyed
and blank-faced.
As they neared the spot where Tony clung to the rock, wet
splotches stood out marking where he'd hauled himself from the
river and clawed his way up the face. There were no obvious
response.
One hand swept back and forth above his head searching for
him, Tony was so close they could make out the bulging veins in
from the scant toe-hold his boot was pressed against. It looked
hopeless, but Tony was still in the same spot when they lost
sight of him.
back.
and sent the tree and raft swinging toward each other like
opposing pendulums.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/674
"Hold on!" was all the professor had time to yell before
their raft was smashed to pieces and everyone was sucked under
presence came to his aid this time as the line between conscious
CHAPTER 70
The sound of his own screams roused Falan from his trance.
across the rough walls and ceiling of the shallow cave. The
with thin greasy hair and open sores on her scalp crawled up
leaving him naked below the waist. Her gnarled fist grabbed
hold of his testicles and pulled them away from his body. When
he felt the edge of the curved blade against the base of his
taught scrotum, Falan's jaws clamped shut and his body went
rigid.
The old woman, if that is what she was, paused and looked
slender hand reached out from the shadows holding a small purse
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/676
teeth. He let out a long shrill wail when he felt the pressure
release from his groin. His eyes sprung wide expecting to see
legs, but instead there was just a thin red smear across his
inner thigh. Everything was still intact. The old woman lay
what looked like leather and mail overran the cramped lair. He
carried swords and pikes. One held spiked maces dangling from
each hand. The clubs flicked bits of scalp and gore on Falan's
Until that moment, Falan had assumed they were men. This
skulls. They looked man-ish, but they were not human -- not
Homo sapiens. What else could they be? If he was not dreaming,
then he had slipped into a state of full blown psychosis and was
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/677
still wet from being dumped in the river, but where were Dr.
or what -- were they? Their eyes were sharp, and their weapons
fresh wounds, and every one of them was bound with soiled
Falan could not understand what was being said. Shouts and some
sized crackling flashes careened off the rock walls around them
elbow.
group stomped down on his chest crushing the wind out of him and
pinning him where he lay. Another grabbed the little purse off
the ground, forced Falan's legs apart and then stuffed his
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/678
tried to shy back when the newcomer gouged a small dagger into
his flesh where the pouch was synched tightly around the root of
and looking through the old crone's garb, barked something over
bodies hovering over Falan made way, and a small figure limped
like the others, yet he too was only vaguely hominid. The
hairless figure was badly burned over half of his body, but the
rest of his skin was milky and had a translucent quality about
were withered, and his cadaverous chest was sunken like an old
down and slipped the necklace that Takuroo had given Falan off
squeezed it tightly in his fist and closed his eyes for several
over Falan's head and lowered the claw gently onto his chest.
single try. Get him to his feet quickly, and stop wasting
time."
full height and walked between the two. He looked younger than
and looked as hard as the next, but they were all noticeably
position was made all the more precarious given the rift between
captain growled.
their vows. This unit identified more with the exact wording in
the pledge they had taken than with the spirit it embodied, and
Darrow had proven over the last week that he was worthy to lead
still lived did not sit well with any of them. They all agreed
they would die happier knowing the Freak and his master had
preceded them. They blamed the more senior of the pair for
but his apprentice stood vulnerable before them if only for the
moment. For all the conjurers' insistence that death was not
what the rest of them imagined it to be, the two went to great
battle.
among them who could equal the Freak when it came to cunning and
his own powers. But even as they hesitated, the Freak was
"Leave him intact, Cadalon, and get him up. Hurry," Darrow
snapped.
Why not just have off with them and be away before..."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/682
rose slowly to his feet with his arms outstretched and palms
open. Falan flinched when the dagger fell from the soldier's
hand and jabbed into his shin bone, but the foot on his chest
held him firmly in place. A figure larger than the rest by half
stepped into the fire's glow. He had Cadalon around the neck
was the only reason Darrow had retained command when the burden
guardsman, the others surely would have mutinied. They were all
king's men to be sure, but the king was three years dead and now
his only son, a mere prince, was gone as well -- killed for what
they believed was a useless cause while they slipped away like
eleven shared a much closer bond than anything that aligned them
with Darrow or Rhee. They were all original members of the same
beyond the realm's borders for more than twenty years, and they
their first allegiance to king and king alone. Not even a male
heir was guaranteed their homage until the king's crown rested
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/683
upon his head. Though Sarsen Isen had not yet been crowned king
believed the rumors and held her responsible for this folly. It
was easy for them to accept the gossip that claimed she was
to at court. When the last of their own officers was slain, the
when one of the outriders stepped forward and made that very
before Darrow could bring his own blade to bare. Any junior
young, but unbeknownst to the others, his blood was royal making
him privy to things that these relics could never know much less
grasp.
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/684
An entire army had been lost. These soldiers all felt that
the lives of their comrades had been wasted, and their own
death could cleanse. Rumors among them said the border defenses
had been breached and the kingdom was doomed to fall in less
before they ever neared the border. Failing that, they were
of the kingdom's army. Those forces left behind could not hope
The popular militia would try to mount a rear guard, but that
would not stop the citizenry from being pursued and cut down as
they fled. Alistan's royal cousins held fast in the belief that
their lives were worthless unless this Traveler was found and
absurd, but while he could not vouch for the princess, he knew
There was only minor rumbling when Darrow promoted his own
group for that matter. Rhee was older than the rest of them,
and his career in the royal family's personal guard left him far
the wilds. He knew there were things afoot that need not
concern him. His duty was to see that his captain succeeded in
your insolence this once. We are leaving now. Get the Traveler
"Each of you will protect this one with your life or I will see
you all die by my own hand out here in disgrace while Uristal
CHAPTER 71
forest black as she struggled to shake off the searing blows she
that the long sought key to her freedom and her ticket back into
Beledenite society had just slipped through her grasp. She had
hauling creatures from the sea and the bookish one who was
the subject before making her cut, Svetreeka might have slipped
away with the abductee's pitiful little sack safely in her pouch
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/687
ensnaring this being, who she felt certain would provide the
and reel him in that she was unable to drag her catch all the
way back to her lair. She devoted the last of her strength to
stolen away from him. The Beledesheera priestess had known the
best she could hope for was to haul the signal source in close
and then release it so she could again turn all of her effort
being's arrival.
the rest of the way while the weary seer provided cover.
at the bottom of the cliff, one of them had her prize slung over
before. Pure evil enveloped her and forced itself into the gaps
weaknesses to exploit.
forest cover could hide her presence from that one's true sight.
The demon spawn, young though it was, had tracked her to this
location despite her use of far better camouflage than she was
however, was little better than her own. Both of them were
exhausted, but the youth was from his master. This made his
detected within her. Having the abductee and his seed stolen
from her before she could cash them in for a new lease on life
was more than Svetreeka was willing to accept. She did not dare
return and face Alikbinessa empty-handed. She had come too far
plan when Kellion first ushered The Lady Valentine into the
disappointed when it became obvious that the region was far from
little moon for the first time, and their limited technological
mass destruction.
Beledesheera whom she had been tracking for Kellion than with
have been expecting visitors this far out in the wilds so soon
their arrival.
the more times it crossed paths with other similar signals. The
signal in question was incredibly far away from its source when
diverted off onto the wrong trail time and again before she
was too engrossed with stalking her prey to notice when the
Svetreeka's lack of advanced training and the many years she had
arts that caused her to notice when Shaolin showed up. As long
presence.
came to ruining the little moon for all concerned. How was she
enticements to gain his ear and his trust. The emperor's spies
him that Shaolin would not have the emperor's best interests at
and hearing out his plan, the emperor's officials offered the
time before she learned the truth. Her own escape had ended up
It turned out that the only reason Shaolin had been tricked
the ocean. Only the spiky tips of the moon's tallest mountains
rapidly after that. Who ever would have thought such simpletons
free her even after realizing how she'd tricked him, but the
last Svetreeka knew The Lady Valentine was dodging and weaving
Beledenite cruiser. She had never learned how that played out,
ever returned or sent word since Commander Servile and the other
ship.
her lover and his crew rather than be stranded and forced to
Alikbinessa gaze into countless worlds during her search for the
the other way, she was not about to let what amounted to a
living abortion steal her opportunity to buy her way back into
polite society. Now was not the time, but there was no way she
and began picking her way through the forest taking care not to
CHAPTER 72
she was still beautiful, but her heart was broken and the burden
seal.
document before setting it down unread and walking out onto her
arms, the ancient yet stalwart Arden Rhee, who had been called
they would finally have some word, for surely this was one of
Sarsen's knights.
was not high enough to escape the fetid odor rising up from the
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/698
the past three months, but it always seemed worst at this time
through the heat of the day, until the sea breeze kicked in
during the evening. There was little one could do about it.
pallet with nothing but a foul weather cape for bedding lay in
one corner, and there was a small chest of family heirlooms near
the back wall. The celebrated Ursk-horn bow, which had been
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/699
leaving.
the castle's frivolous finery put to the torch along with the
royal household.
the smoke rising thick and black above the city, Arrasaya had
turned away from the past and led the long column of refugees
down toward the far away coast and an uncertain future. The
last of the wagons, carriages and all the steeds to pull them
had been sent north into the field carrying arms and supplies
for the force that would cover their flight. As a result, their
descended through the trap door in the floor and backed down a
husband and son all recently murdered, she had already had much
toward the quagmire on the fort's ground level. When Arden Rhee
glanced up and saw her from his station at the main gate, he
quickly grabbed the nearest guard, said something in his ear and
shoved him in her direction. The guard met her midway down the
final stair.
the officer's dining hall atop the wall. He says to report that
Arrasaya eyed the youth who had lowered his head and taken
leather cap he wore hung too far down over his ears, and the
"Stand and meet my eyes so that I can know you are true."
across his heart and locked on her with unblinking eyes. She
was certain this one had lied. It was clear that he had not yet
reached his tenth cycle. Even his stocky thighs could not hide
then. She could not place the family from his looks. She
freshness.
moistening of the eyes, and this one would be put back to work
tending the animals and foraging for roots with the young girls
time came, this one would die well. Though she had seen Rhee's
into these child warriors with stories of past honor and glory,
no better.
"So you are true, good. Those of you serving under Chief
Rhee are the last line of defense for our people. I have no
doubt that when the time comes, you and your cohort will stand
fast and protect the weak from our enemies. Tell your commander
The Terenfal boy turned and scampered down the rough plank
staircase. The tip of his dagger clanked each step behind him
the best way to handle things. It was more than Rhee not
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/703
what remained of his right arm. It had been severed above the
elbow. One of his eyes was bandaged over, but the other fixed
said, "but the corporal may not have anything to drink until his
composure, but her face remained a mask as she fought the urge
She could hear her father now. Had she not learned anything
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/704
from bringing those lynxen kittens inside when she was a child?
In the end they had not lasted an hour after they escaped to run
homeland among the peaks where water was plentiful. And yet the
corporal's symptoms were right there for her to see. That eye,
perspiration. His lips looked like they had been molded out of
old candle wax. Though the sun had burned him mercilessly, he
for some time now. The corporal was fast becoming a living
mummy.
in a light summer shower, the rain would Tiernan his flesh like
the cliff face from the beach below and engulfed the ancient
fort for an hour or two before the sun crested. Were he to live
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/705
through the night, that misty shroud would cause the corporal to
much of the water was salted, few were said to have been
Those who survived the long and painful rehydrating process were
Most were driven mad by their desire for water after going so
tongue then."
pitcher from the soldier's sight and bring him some fat from the
larder. Once the chief-at-arms had shooed the server away and
the corporal.
into his flesh before wiping his mouth on the back of his
sleeve.
since Prince Sarsen led his contingent across the border six
months ago."
are here -- exactly where I was told to find you. The prince
sent others before me warning you to flee for the coast, and you
few knights who remained behind held off their main force at the
the cliffs. They got in behind our lines and began cutting off
is slow. Materials are scarce, and our skills in that craft are
CHAPTER 73
the expedition force ever deeper into the wilds for a fortnight
sent out but few returned. Those that did reported seeing signs
that a great army had skirted far wide of our advancing legions
He was intent on pushing beyond the waste and into the heart of
the legion disagreed with the prince's aim. None could fathom
headed for our poorly defended border. The nobles present would
certainly have voted down the prince. All detested the Freak
grant Hannigan Rhee his wish in the end, especially when Sarsen
took Rhee and this Captain Darrow character aside to speak with
them privately.
unseemly sideshow.
about that the few victories he had had during his short
alongside his personal escort, where they could keep an eye out
for him. Rashal was the veteran of more than a hundred border
duels."
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/711
"I wouldn't say handily, m'lady, but you are right. He won
the contest."
had not always been the case, but the last two generations of
the royal family were far more skilled in the arts of war than
any would have guessed. Since becoming king at the tender age
teachers came from much farther away than across the ocean or
and for all the outrageous claims made by her father's secret
counselor. She and Sarsen had agreed to hedge their bets until
now, but Arrasaya sensed the time was fast approaching when she
"Yes, m'lady, but not in the way you suggest. Rather than
slay the general, your brother sent him home with his fifteen
ever came."
would have slain the upstart noble out of hand, but their little
brother was not one to act rashly. No doubt his actions earned
forest was not present when we made camp the evening before. As
rocky ground with nothing but the same all around. No sleeper
stirred and no sentry cried the alert, but when dawn broke we
blared and an army ten times our number stepped out from the
runner in our brigade, I was given five steeds and assigned the
after being advanced down the line of archers. I took the small
leather that was wrapped around the shaft and raced here with it
them all to stop any Vilanthum, who tried to pursue me. I used
the steeds mercilessly and left them to die one by one. The
last fell out from under me on the tenth day by the long sun's
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/714
"I was set upon several times in the open by patrols of the
ran out when I reached Castilan. Our troops no longer held the
surely bled to death. I cut around the keep aiming for the
Arrasaya extended her hand silently for fear that she would
reached into his tunic and presented her with a tightly rolled
indelicate hand. The code was an old one they had used as
privy to the true reason for our expedition. I have charged him
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/715
The Freak continues on with Alistan, but the odds are long. I
are the smallest number worth sending. They fight like the
Kerchek of old and as outriders they are the best suited to get
text a moment longer: mother, father, husband, son and now her
If they had had more time to come to grips with the tale
while the king was still alive, maybe they would have been less
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/716
She had been certain they would eventually debunk him, but now
whatever I am able."
your best to see my family safely aboard a ship when the time
the sea."
your end is swift and painless. Thank you for your service,
will appoint an escort to show you the way down to the beach."
been vanquished. What you cannot know is that your grandson may
yet live."
that they will succeed, and they may already be dead, but I
change our fate. Please see Corporal Dowlit quickly to his end.
were lucky, they would make it onto the open seas before they
were overrun. The possibility that her cousin might return with
a savior in tow, one who had been brought from another world to
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/718
CHAPTER 74
Dearest Arrasaya:
wedding festival these two cycles past. I trust that his bride
will be safe with you for at least the time being, though
perhaps it would be better if her child were not born, now that
offspring?
is, then there is still hope, and you have made the right choice
apologize for the delay, but the Lost Ones' equations were new
this interval to divine their meaning. The Lost Ones had some
still hope.
daughter born to the king by a common harlot will ever sit atop
this throne.
effects until our people are reunited. Until such time, I vow
to find her.
Dealia will prove far less pliable than you might foolishly
imagine.
#
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/721
tide of my despair.
Retina
lessons: you married for love once, now find yourself a warrior
to stand beside you and take up where father left off. Your
devoted subjects will take heart knowing that you are not alone.
Yes, I can see where a dim brute at my side would suit your
away a single tear before it reached her cheek then turned her
Retina Isen
set of metal tablets found buried among the ruins near the
center of the Great Salt Waste during the reign of King Dontimo
to have ruled the Lost Ones at the time of the cataclysm, which
speaking to them with his mouth closed. They say that he joined
message for the emperor. Wary of trickery, they sent for the
chambers.
remained behind his screen with his exotic new concubine, his
silence.
existence. It was predicted that this war would decide the fate
those worlds, which lay beyond the confines of our own minds --
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/724
whatever that may mean. This lowly clerk sought to warn us, he
the Paldenya, our enemies across the sea, were already under
attack and that the emperor's forces would be the next to fall,
this would happen. She had told the emperor what to expect and
had them rounded up and summarily executed along with all of the
sort. Once the lights came back on, I was taken to the old
castle and locked in the north tower along with my copper plate
Muldoon/Scattered Seeds/725
texter and told to finish documenting these events and the story
sicence that mankind has uncovered over the ages and wove
Selected Bibliography
1999.
Publishing, 1998.
Davies, Paul. The Fifth Miracle: The Search For the Meaning and
1990.
1997.
Mifflin, 2002.
House, 2005.
Dell, 1998.
2000.