The storm gradually blew itself out, whatever destruction it left behind was little compared to that meted out by Lepus. Not only had Karson followed his Lord’s command to the letter, he had actually enjoyed himself whilst doing so. Where once there had been a small, pathetic, yet still functioning village, there now was little left but blasted earth.
There was no need to land their craft and search for any survivors, when Karson wiped something from the face of the earth, he took pride and pleasure in his work and ensured that not even the most minute of traces remained.
*
“So, what now?” asked Kalum, unselfconsciously stuffing his face with food. His manners had never been gently refined via the loving touch of his parents, and as such he seemed more wild beast than young boy.
“I think we need to get you off this planet, as quickly as possible,” said the big Tauran, merely toying with his food, Kalum’s antics having robbed him of his hunger.
“Leave? Why?” asked Kalum, both showing the masticated contents of his mouth, and liberally spraying crumbs onto the table in front of him.
“The reason?” Hyas replied, “I would have thought that obvious, son. Lepus is still out there and he will scour this land in his search for you. We need to get you somewhere safe, and quickly.”
“But I live here!” Kalum whined , his fear of the unknown evident.
“Not any more,” retorted Hyas, his manner now gravely serious, “by showing his hand, Lepus has taken that option away from you.”
“My things,” mumbled Kalum, his food temporarily forgotten, “I need to get my things.”
“Very well, we will get your precious belongings,” Hyas agreed, rising from the table, “but once we have done so, we leave.”
*
“Isn’t it about time you came clean?” asked Karson, watching Lepus as he scurried around the control room.
“How many times do we have to go over this?” Lepus said in a time-worn voice.
“Even after all these years, with me doing your bidding, do you still have no confidence in me?” queried Karson petulantly.
It was a game they seemed to play after every dirty deed carried out by the brutish man. Lepus had been waiting for the question. He was ready with his standard responses and knew that soon enough that Karson would give in.
“Very well,” he said, “let’s play your little game, but in order for things to go quickly, I’m going to answer everything all at once.”
Karson’s brow furrowed, he was not one hundred per cent sure that Lepus really intended to insult his intelligence. Ninety nine per cent was not enough for him to release his rage and smash the smirk deep into the horrible little man’s face, but he was getting closer.
“We are looking for one of my family heirlooms, one that my brother stole. No, you don’t need to know exactly what it is. Yes, with it in my possession I can once and for all prove my claim as heir to the House. Hyas is working for other interested parties and yes, you will be richly rewarded when all of this is over. Does that about take care of everything?”
It took a huge effort for Karson’s hand to remain calmly by his side and not instead to draw the pistol holstered at his belt. The answers as usual were unsatisfying, but Karson had done too much in Lepus’ name, to be able to reinsert himself into normal society. In fact, the only way he could have the wealth and position he craved and felt he deserved, was to go through with Lepus’ plan.
He knew that there was much more to this than Lepus would ever explain and once again he realised that he had no other choice, but to accept his predicament.
With a disgruntled snort, he turned away, so that he missed the calculating glance Lepus shot at him. When this is done, thought Lepus, then Karson will be just so much excess baggage. It would have to be done carefully, but Karson was one problem that would just have to go away.
*
“It’s just over this hill,” said Kalum excitedly, “look you can see the smoke rising from the chimneys of the village.”
“Wait,” cautioned Hyas, restraining Kalum with a firm hand, “something’s not right!”
Kalum shook off his hand and started a shambling run up the hill, Hyas quickly catching him and pulling him back.
“I said wait, boy!” he snapped, Kalum cowering away as if expecting to be beaten, then, calming himself Hyas continued more softly, “That’s not wood smoke Kalum, trust me.”
After a long and cautious crawl, they finally reached the top of the incline and looked down on what remained of Kalum’s village. Where before there had been houses, livestock, at least some kind of industrious activity, now there was nothing, literally.
The ground was scorched, no tree nor blade of grass remained. Charred wooden fingers poked timidly skyward, smoke rising sullenly. Here and there stone had remained for resilient and vague outlines of buildings could still be seen. Whatever had happened here, it had been cataclysmic.
“No lightning strike did this,” gasped Kalum as he stumbled forward, “my mother, her friends, the village, all gone!”
“Lepus!” was all that Hyas said, the word spat angrily from between his teeth.
“Why?” asked Kalum, staring awe struck at the decimation before him.
“He was looking for you,” replied Hyas, watching the boy for any reaction.
“M-m-me?” stammered Kalum, the fact that anyone would do this just to get rid of a deformed village boy incomprehensible to him.
“Yes, you,” stated Hyas, “now do you see why we have to get out of here?”
“Yes and no”, answered Kalum, staring wildly about, “I know we have to leave, but I don’t understand any of the rest of it.”
“All will be explained in due time,” said Hyas, taking the boy’s arm and beginning to lead him back to the safety of the underbrush, “but right now, we need to move.”
It was then the Tauran heard the sound he had been dreading, that of the type of vessel no-one on this world could own.
“Run!” he roared, shoving Kalum towards the safety of the tree line and drawing his axe.
*
“There’s the whelp!” snarled Karson, aiming his flyer directly for the village and the defiant Tauran.
He pushed one of his men out of the way and grabbed the controls, this time he would make certain of them, personally. Aiming the craft’s weapons directly at Hyas he fired, the twin beams of energy striking the huge man unerringly. Hyas’ arm was burnt away by the raw power of the first strike, the second glancing across his hip as he fell. His axe span harmlessly away and he lay there, bleeding.
Kalum ran back towards him, trying to turn the big Tauran over, but his weight made it impossible. Helplessly he watched as Hyas’ blood pooled all around him, soaking Kalum’s rude clothing as he desperately tried to staunch it.
Footsteps crunched nearby and Kalum raised his tear-stained face to look into the eyes of a murderer.
“There’s no point in crying over him,” growled Karson, drawing his pistol and aiming at Kalum, “not when you’ll shortly be joining him down there on the ground.”
Something came over Kalum and he stood over Hyas’ body, defiantly defending his only friend.
“I won’t let you!” he squeaked, his voice betraying his fear.
Karson flung his head back and roared with laughter, “You … won’t… let… me?” he gasped, “Now that’s a good one.”
“But,” he said, his voice turning businesslike and deadly serious “enough of the humour, it’s time to die boy. Now just hand it over and I can be on my way.”
“Hand what over?” asked Kalum, now completely confused.
“Don’t play games with me!” barked Karson, “The family heirloom, the thing that your Uncle Lepus wants!”
“My uncle?” he had thought his family dead with the destruction of the village, but now he found out that he had an uncle, and not only that, but one that wanted him killed.
“Yes, yes,” spat Karson, “no time for family reunions, just give me whatever it was that your father wanted you to look after for him.”
Comprehension dawned on Kalum’s face and involuntarily his hand strayed to the front of his tunic and the belt, still hidden by his ragged cloak.
“Steady, boy!” warned Karson threateningly.
“It’s just his belt,” Kalum said perplexedly, “why would anyone want it?”
“Show it to me!” commanded Karson, leaning closer, a strange look on his face.
Carefully Kalum peeled the cloth away from his battered belt, the one his father had left with him, to give back on his return. The one with the strangely indented buckle, the leather around it all scuffed and worn.
As it came into view, he heard a sharp intake of breath and then two vicious cracks from a pistol. He squeezed his eyes shut, expecting to feel the impact of the rounds in his body, but nothing happened. At last, he found the courage to open his eyes and what he saw there before him, shocked him to his very bones. Both of Karson’s companions lay sprawled in undignified death and the vicious killer knelt on one knee in front of Kalum, his head bowed.
After a brief pause, he looked directly into Kalum’s eyes, tears streaming down his face, and said in total reverence, “My Lord!”
*
Karson had wanted to leave Hyas where he was, but Kalum had insisted, revelling in his new found power. Between them they had ripped clothing from the dead bodies and used it to bind the Tauran’s wounds. Together they had half carried, half dragged Hyas back to Karson’s flyer, the groans from the injured man at least testifying that his grasp on life had still not been totally released. There was no doubting though that Hyas was close to death and needed medical attention urgently.
It was impossible to take them back to Lepus’ vessel and that meant they had to find the Tauran’s craft. Mercilessly, Karson had roused the half-dead Hyas and managed to convince him to release the location of his ship. At first Hyas had steadfastly refused, but then Karson had shown him something and the Tauran had relented. No matter how hard he tried, Kalum could not see past the hunched form of Karson to see what it was, but miraculously it had worked. Even now, they were speeding towards the Tauran’s vessel, skimming dangerously close to the surrounding treetops and hugging the contours of the land where they could.
Apart from explaining the urgency of their flight, Karson would say no more. He believed that they had a slight window of opportunity, whilst Lepus still thought him loyal, in which to affect their escape. He had irritatedly snapped at Kalum, before apologising in a gentler fashion and asking that he be allowed to do his job.
Kalum now sat in one of the chairs in the cabin of the flyer, gazing back at Hyas’ body slumped in and strapped to another of the seats. It had been a strange day and things promised to get even stranger still.
*
Lepus knew that he had been betrayed, yet even now could hardly believe it, certainly not of the cold-blooded and hate-filled man who had stood by his side. He had never questioned the sketchy and ill-detailed history of the man who had become Karson, having rescued him from death in one of the Church’s jumped-up heresy trials.
A grateful brute had religiously followed each and every one of Lepus’ orders, in fact had seemed to relish taking the spiteful noble’s whims just that little bit further. So what had happened, how had the worthless boy got through to the murderous animal? Had he answered some deep protective streak within the man? Not possible, the only way that Karson could have or even would have changed his allegiance was for money or power. That was it! He had seen the ragged cloth, its mangled holes and the ill-shaped thing that was his brother’s boy and had put two and two together. Even now he would be plotting the ransom, either directly from Lepus or a Church determined to protect herself.
Satisfied that he had worked out the ex-monster’s motivation, Lepus called for his new second-in-command, giving orders for his craft to take up a stationary position, just off-planet. Whatever happened, Karson would have to try and get past him, and when he did Lepus would pay him exactly what he deserved.
