Return Of The Fontalo
by Linda Rigsbee
Chapter 29
As Donte’s group approached the rock structures, Fyfe and his troops caught up with them and split in two groups to surround the rocks. Donte was certain that the captain wouldn’t leave the rocks. He knew the elevation gave him an advantage. He didn’t want Andras. He wanted Donte. Andras was merely his method of getting Donte to come to him.
Captain Pacilio didn’t know about Donte’s ability to sense the presence of people. What no one there knew was that Donte and Andras could relate much the way Donte could with Celyn. Donte didn’t need to track the captain. He knew where he was.
As Donte had experienced Chiku’s fever, he could feel Andras’ fear. It wasn’t an overwhelming fear. Andras knew that daddy would come after them. On the other hand, Andras had watched the captain kill Beier. Would a child of five be afraid that he would kill his father as well, or would he think his daddy was invincible? For Andras’ sake Donte hoped the latter was the case.
The captain rode a winding trail through the rock formations, always working higher. Donte followed at a careful distance. He didn’t want to frighten the captain into doing anything harmful to Andras. Eventually the captain would have to stop. The terrain was getting bad enough that they would be forced to walk before long.
When the captain’s progress slowed substantially, Donte was certain he was on foot. After a while they found the captain’s equine. They tied theirs behind it and proceeded up the rough trail. The captain wasn’t used to physical exercise, so they soon began to gain on him.
When Donte sensed that the captain had stopped, he stopped as well. Ahead of them were several spires of rocks, each at a different elevation. The captain was at the base of them.
Donte felt a sudden surge of panic. He felt claustrophobic. What was the captain doing to Andras? Donte looked at Quade.
“He’s up there between those spires. He’s doing something to Andras. I’m going to climb up this way and try to get above him. You two come in from below, but wait until I’m there.” He tossed Beier’s weapon to Neirin. “If I don’t get him…”
Neirin nodded.
Donte worked his way through the rocks, ever aware of the captain’s position. What was he doing? Donte moved faster. A rock gave under his feet and he nearly fell. He had to be more careful, even if it meant a little more time. He could do Andras no good lying at the bottom of a ravine.
Andras’ panic gave Donte more determination. He finally found a place where he could look down on the captain. Andras was nowhere in sight, but he could feel his presence. He was down there somewhere with the captain and he was terrified.
Donte worked down closer to the captain without giving away his position. Quade and Neirin were coming up on the captain from below. They were almost in position when the captain spotted them. He pulled his gun and shot twice at them.
“Send Donte in alone,” the captain yelled, “or I’ll kill the kid.”
Donte moved closer and stood on a large rock, gathering his balance before he leaped. He pulled out his laser and set it on stun. He didn’t want to kill the captain before he discovered where Andras was. He poised for a moment and then leaped, landing on his feet beside the captain.
“Drop the gun,” he said to the captain. “I promise you I won’t miss.”
The captain slowly turned, still holding his gun. “Where did you come from?”
“Drop the gun,” Donte repeated.
The captain’s grin was cold. “You won’t kill me. You would never find your son.”
“I’m not going to tell you again. I don’t have to kill you, but I can stop you from firing your gun, and it isn’t going to be pleasant.”
The captain lowered his gaze to the weapon in Donte’s hand. Concern wiped the smile off his face. He dropped the gun and stepped back.
Donte had the captain backed up to the edge of a cliff. He wasn’t going anywhere. “Now,” Donte said. “Where is Andras?”
The evil grin returned. “I buried him…alive.”
Donte’s heart made an uncomfortable lurch. He could feel Andras’ presence. He was alive, but terrified.
Neirin’s voice spoke behind Donte. “I’ve got him covered, Donte.”
The captain laughed. “It won’t do you any good to kill me. You still won’t know where he is.”
Without warning, Donte kicked him in the groin.
The captain fell to his knees, screaming as he cradled his vitals. He cursed Donte fervently after every agonized gasp of air.
Donte looked at him. “There are worse things than dying; now where is Andras.”
“You’re wasting your breath. This is one time you won’t win you insolent…” He groaned again.
Donte wasn’t about to kick him again. The captain expected it this time and he’d probably catch Donte’s foot and dump him. He aimed the weapon at the captain and fired.
The shock sent the captain plunging to the ground face first. There wasn’t much time. Andras was getting weaker. Donte looked around for disturbed ground. He wouldn’t have had time or equipment to bury Andras. He could sense Andras’ presence, but he couldn’t place him precisely.
“Andras!” Donte called, but got no answer.
The captain pushed away from the ground and stood. “You idiot. He can’t answer you.”
“What do you want?” Donte asked. “Why would you hurt an innocent child? What do you expect to gain?”
The captain gave him a painful grin. “I want to see you defeated the way you did me. I’ve taken away the most important thing to you – you’re little mutant offspring. You’ve been all over the news and on the front of every magazine. Everywhere I look; there you are, holding him. People are drooling over you and that mutt as if you were human. You’re not. We should know. We created you. They look at you as though you merely have a pig kidney. That’s not the same as altering your genetics. Someone with a pig kidney doesn’t pass it on to their offspring. The more you mix, the more animal genes you have. We told you not to mix. You think you’re better than humans, but without the genetics we gave you, what would you be? You couldn’t have even followed me. You don’t have to be super intelligent when you can use your nose to smell a trail. It was the alteration of your genetics that made you able to leap so far and land on your feet. Humans can’t do that. You’re not human. You’re an animal – worse, because you disobeyed us – you’re a mix of animals.”
“You’re insane.” Donte’s concern over Andras was much greater than anything the captain had to say. He could no longer feel Andras’ presence. He must be unconscious or…. The captain wasn’t going to reveal the hiding spot. The captain was going to stand there and drone on about their genetics while Andras died. Donte lifted his laser and aimed it at the captain’s chest. “One last chance. Where is Andras?”
The captain smirked. “Buried – like any animal. He doesn’t need a funeral.”
Donte fired again, hitting the captain in the chest.
The captain staggered back and lost his footing; plunging over the cliff. He screamed all the way down.
Donte stared at the empty space in shocked silence. The captain had won, but it was Andras who had lost. Donte felt a sudden surge of determination. He would not lose another child like this. He couldn’t give up on Andras. Panic welled up in his chest and he released it in a long-agonized scream.
“A-n-d-r-a-s!”
Andras wouldn’t be able to hear or respond.
Donte fought back a sob. THINK! He couldn’t sense where Andras was, but he had a human brain. Where could Andras be? If only he had brought Celyn with him. But he hadn’t, and he couldn’t go back and leave Andras at the shelter where he would have been safe, either. Andras had to be somewhere close. Buried…did the captain actually bury him? Donte broke out in a cold sweat. Had the Captain thrown him over the cliff?
He moved to the edge of the cliff and looked down. Only the Captain’s body was visible. Buried…how? The captain had no equipment and there was little soil here, only rocks…ROCKS! Donte turned and looked around. There were rock piles everywhere. Which one?
“Take the rocks off these piles,” he said to Quade and Neirin. They instantly complied, each taking a pile.
Donte began on a large pile. The first thing he saw as he got close to the pile was a rock that had moisture on it. The rock had recently been moved. He began tossing rocks aside. “Over here,” he called as he worked.
Neirin and Quade joined him and the rock pile quickly became smaller. Quade was the one who spotted Andras first. “Here he is,” He called in an urgent voice. “Help me get him out.”
Donte and Neirin focused their attention on the side of the pile where Quade had been working, tossing rocks aside. Quade reached down and grabbed Andras’ jacket, pulling him out of the hole. Andras was limp and gray. How long had it been since Donte had felt his presence?
Quade placed Andras on the ground on his back and began examining him. “He still has a heartbeat. It’s weak, but it’s there. He’s not breathing on his own.” As he spoke, Quade pulled Andras’ head back and placed his mouth over his little nose and mouth. He gave him a quick breath of air, then another.
Andras’ chest lifted with each puff. Donte stood over them, feeling helpless to do anything but pray. Neirin watched with obvious trepidation.
Suddenly Andras coughed. Quade rolled him on his side as he took a long gasp of air. Again, he coughed.
Donte’s heart raced as Andras took breath after gasping breath. “Daddy!” he finally cried.
Donte dropped to his knees beside Andras. “I’m right here Andras.”
Andras lifted his arms in invitation and Donte took him into his arms. He held him close, careful to give him room to breath.
“I knew you would come, Daddy.”
Donte sat on his feet, rocking Andras in his arms and kissing his gritty little cheek. “I love you, Andras.” That was all he could say before tears choked his throat to the point that he could barely breathe. Tears ran down his cheeks unchecked.
Finally, Donte stood with Andras in his arms. “Let’s go back to the house.”
He tapped his medallion, momentarily surprised when Nieke answered instead of Beier. Beier wasn’t ever going to answer again. Donte choked back tears.
***
Jason and the police had arrived shortly after Donte and his group left. They were looking for the captain. Nieke tried to focus her attention on the questions an officer was asking, but when the medics took a gurney from the ambulance and started toward Beier’s body, she turned her attention to them.
Tabia had covered Beier’s body with a blanket and remained with him as Donte had asked.
“Leave him there until Donte gets back,” Nieke said to the medics.
They paused and looked at the officer. The policeman looked at Nieke. “We can’t leave him here like this. He will need to be examined.”
Nieke shook her head. “No. We will take care of our own.”
“This is a crime scene,” the officer insisted.
She wished Donte would arrive and tell them what to do. It had been a long time since they heard the two shots. Was Neirin alive? What about Quade? Donte would survive. He survived everything. Had they rescued Andras?
Once again, she felt the shame of her failure to prevent the attack. Beier had died because she had let the killer walk right by her. It could as easily have been Neirin who had been killed.
Beier’s medallion buzzed. Nieke stared at the blanket covering him for a moment. Who in their group didn’t know that Beier was dead?
Nieke tapped her medallion twice to receive Beier’s call. When she answered, she heard Donte’s tearful voice. His words were a jumble of emotional statements - something about Andras and someone being dead. Her first thought was that it might be Neirin. That was followed by the fear that it might be Andras.
Neirin spoke, his voice composed. “We have Andras. He’s alright. The captain is dead. We’re on our way back.”
Rianne put a hand to her forehead and released a relieved sigh.
“The police are here,” Nieke said to Neirin. “They want to take Beier.”
“Absolutely not,” Donte said in a barely composed voice. “Tell them to wait until we return.”
Reinforced by Donte’s instructions, she felt confident. “Donte wants you to wait until he gets here.”
One of the medics looked at the officer. “Who is this Donte?”
Jason answered as he joined them. “I’m sure you’ve seen him on the news. He’s the highest in command on Purlieu. I suggest you wait until he arrives, as he asked. The deceased man is Donte’s friend and assistant.” His gaze shifted to the officer. “Purlieu won the law suit. That was why Captain Pacilio came here. He lost his mind along with everything else. Apparently, he wanted to get revenge on Donte. When he heard the verdict, he ran out of the courthouse and grabbed the first vehicle he saw, which happened to belong to me. When I called my parents and heard what happened, I called for help. I rode in one of the patrol cars."
Jason shook his head. "I forgot the keys in my car. I never do that." He turned and went into the house with his parents while Nieke remained in the yard with Rianne, Petra and Akira.
They were still talking to the officer when Donte, Andras, Neirin and Quade rode into the yard. Donte dismounted and lifted Andras out of the saddle. Rianne hurried to them and hugged them both. Donte handed Andras to Rianne and said something. She stood to the side with both children as Donte approached Beier.
Tabia stepped back, giving Donte room to work with Beier. No one approached Donte as he went through his ritual. Those who knew the custom of Bergen regarding the preparation of the body of a leader for a funeral knew that it wasn’t proper to interrupt. Everyone else present seemed to sense it. Certainly, the fact that Donte was in uniform made it look official.
Donte stopped beside the blanket and lowered his head. He stood that way for a while before he kneeled beside Beier and bowed his head again. Finally, he pulled the blanket back, exposing Beier’s head and upper torso. He straightened Beier’s head and placed his hands over his chest. Donte sat looking down at him for a long time, tears running down his cheeks.
Nieke looked away, tears burning her eyes as well. Rianne and the children stood at attention, not moving throughout the ritual – not even Andras.
A humming sound brought their attention to the sky as a shuttle came down and lit in the field. It slowly moved toward them and finally lowered completely to the ground. On the side, in large letters, was the single word; Azar.
Four men in light green uniforms emerged from the shuttle carrying a simple stretcher made of two poles and a blanket. Donte stood and they bowed to him. He tipped his head toward them in a gesture of respect. Next Donte squatted, sliding one arm under Beier’s neck and one under his knees. He reverently lifted Beier and placed him on the stretcher. He said goodbye in the language of Bergen and pulled the blanket over Beier’s head. He stood erect and watched as the men carried Beier to the shuttle. Only when the shuttle lifted from the ground and left the area did Donte turn to Rianne. She went to him, hugging him.
Surrounded by his family, Donte finally broke down and cried. Rianne comforted him with hugs, but didn’t say any of the expected things when a friend died. She merely accepted his expression of grief. Donte and Beier had known each other for little more than a decade, but in that time, they had built a kind of friendship that was difficult to replace. Beier had defended Donte’s family to his death. Beier would have considered it an honorable death. Without a doubt, Donte did. Beier had never officially held an office, but he was being given a ceremony reserved for someone in high office.
Rianne gave Donte a handkerchief so he could wipe his eyes and blow his nose. Finally, in control of his emotions, he left his family and joined the group of officers standing with Jason. He was ready to answer Oriel's questions.
Donte didn’t know why people thought he was such a good leader. This was one reason. He could separate personal from business, giving each their allotted time. Captain Pacilio was the only person Nieke had ever seen who didn’t at least respect Donte – well, maybe Chait.
Jason held out a hand to Donte. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Donte nodded. “Thank you. It was everyone’s loss.”
That was true. Donte wasn’t the only one who would miss Beier.
***
Donte was in no emotional condition to rejoice at the news from Jason, but he stood quietly and tried to focus his attention on what Jason was saying.
“You have probably guessed that we won the case,” Jason said. “The court agreed that the three spaceships have been abandoned by Fontalo and are now the property of Purlieu. In addition, since Purlieu would not benefit from a monetary settlement, Fontalo must pay Purlieu by relinquishing one of their existing spaceships…Purlieu’s choice. Since you represent Purlieu, Donte, it will be your choice. It was also the decision of the court that Fontalo has no rights to anything they left on Purlieu. They have been ordered not go within a specified distance of Purlieu without permission. Of course, having lost the case, Fontalo must pay all legal fees and costs.”
Donte nodded. He knew Jason expected some kind of positive reaction, but he still felt numb from grief over Beier and the near loss of Andras. “Thank you. I know you have worked hard for this and I appreciate it.”
“Jason,” Lovita scolded him. “Give him a chance to catch his breath. He just lost a dear friend.”
Donte forced a smile. “Actually, I’m feeling a little sick to my stomach. Perhaps we could talk about the case later.” He turned to one of the officers. “The Premier Infantry is standing guard over the body of Captain Pacilio.”
Quade placed a hand on Donte’s shoulder and looked at the officer. “I can guide you there and give you an account of what happened. His death was an accident.”
The officer nodded. “We have a chopper on the way with investigators. We appreciate your help.” He looked at Donte. “We may want to talk to you later.”
The day was beginning to catch up with Donte and he wanted nothing more than to be alone with Rianne and his children. As if she read his thoughts, Rianne came to his side and slipped her hand into his.
“Why don’t we go in and sit down for a while? I think the children could use a little time with you right now.”
Jason glanced at Rianne and his mother. When his attention came back to Donte, he looked embarrassed. “Of course. What was I thinking? Maybe some coffee or something hot to drink would help. It’s a little cool out here, isn’t it?”
Inside, Donte declined the hot drink and went to their room with Rianne and the children. There he told Rianne what the captain had done - but not all he had said.
Rianne placed a hand over her mouth, tears coming to her eyes. She hugged Andras close. “How could anyone do such a thing? And he dared call us animals?” She held Andras close. “Oh sweetie, Mommy is so sorry. Are you feeling all right now?”
Andras nodded, comforted in his mother’s arms. Feeling all right had to be a relative term.
Neirin watched Quade get into the chopper with the investigators. He waited until the chopper was in the air before turning to the officer. He explained what happened and answered a few questions. By the time they finished, the chopper had returned and dropped off Quade. The officer left and Neirin and Quade went into the house.
Quade looked at the McKillum’s. “I’m sorry for all the drama we brought on you.”
Jason looked at his parents with a surprised expression. “You didn’t cause this.”
Neirin shook his head. “No, we didn’t cause it, but if we hadn’t been here, it wouldn’t have happened on your property.”
Lovita came in with a tray of hot drinks. “Exactly what did happen? All we know is that Captain Pacilio took Andras. Donte wouldn’t say anything. He simply went to his room with Rianne and the children.”
Neirin looked at Quade. “Is Andras going to be all right?”
Quade nodded. “Yes, physically. I don’t know how it will affect him emotionally, though. I imagine Donte wanted to tell Rianne privately. Donte is still pretty shook-up, but I think they can handle it together.”
Lovita sat the tray of drinks on the coffee table and sat down. “I suppose being kidnapped is something difficult to get over.”
Neirin shook his head. “Kidnapping would be bad enough, but being buried alive…” He described what had happened, not leaving out the things the captain had told Donte.”
Lovita looked at her husband. “I know he’s dead and there is nothing more they can do to him, but it seems unfair that no one will be punished. That poor child.” She shook her head. “Why did Captain Pacilio think that Mascots were not human simply because they have a few animal genes?”
Neirin shrugged. “I think the bigger question is why he thought it was all right to bury an animal alive? He wanted to hurt Donte in a way one sick human wants to hurt another. That would imply that he believed Donte was human. In fact, I think he believed Donte was superior to him. He must have been humiliated, considering his claim that Donte was an animal.”
Quade sighed. “I don’t understand the human mind.”
Neirin jerked his head up and looked at Quade. Surely, he wouldn’t joke about something like that at a time like this.
Quade looked at him a moment before realizing how it sounded. He looked at Jason. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to be funny. Don’t you feel that way sometimes?”
Jason smiled and nodded. “I certainly do. I think all humans feel that way at times like this. It’s difficult to understand that kind of cruelty.”
Neirin sat his cup on the coffee table. “Speaking of human emotions, I think Nieke must be feeling pretty low about now. It wasn’t her fault, but she is blaming herself.” He stood. “I think I’ll go give her a shoulder to lean on.”
Lovita smiled. “It isn’t surprising to me that you can inject a few animal genes into humans and come up with better people.”
Neirin stopped and looked down at her. “What a nice thing to say.”
John nodded. “What an insightful thing to think.”
Neirin found Nieke leaning against the guest house, staring up at the night sky. He stopped beside her and followed her gaze. “It isn’t as beautiful as the view from Purlieu, is it?”
She shook her head. “Too much light. Remember how we could see the city lights from space when we approached Oriel?”
He nodded. “I remember.”
She was silent a long time. Finally, she looked up at him. “I betrayed them – all of them. Poor little Andras most of all.”
“No. You didn’t betray anyone. Sometimes things don’t work out like we want them to. That’s the way life is. You were where you were supposed to be, doing what you were supposed to be doing. You can’t win them all.”
She suddenly started to cry. “When he hit you and you fell, I wanted to go to you first, but I had to check on Beier.”
He took her into his arms. “Of course, you did. I would have done the same thing.”
She snuggled against him. “I love you.”
He was silent a moment. He’d like to think it was the real thing, not simply the fact that she was feeling vulnerable. He kissed the top of her head and gathered her long soft hair into his hands. He loved the feel of her and the smell of her hair. He loved everything about her.
She pulled back and looked up at his face. “I kept thinking about you, afraid you would be harmed. I wasn’t thinking about Donte. I was thinking about you.”
She circled his neck with her arms and drew his lips down to hers. She kissed him, long and invitingly. Finally, she drew back. “I’m trying to tell you I love you. I want to be with you always…if you still want me.”
He drew her back into his arms and kissed her lips. “I still want you, Nieke, but what about your career?”
“I don’t want to end up like Captain Shea or Cheska. Purlieu needs a communications specialist. I’d have to travel, but…”
“Travel sounds nice…as long as it’s on Purlieu.”
She smiled. “Sometimes I would have to work on our spaceships.”
He nodded. “That’s doable.”
They stood looking at each other for a few minutes.
She gave him a shy smile. “I’ve been thinking about the vows I’d like to make to you.”
He took her hands. “I already know what I want to say.” He hesitated. “Are you sure?”
“Oh yes. I’m positive.”
“Tonight?” He asked hopefully.
“Tonight,” She answered with a satisfied sigh.
Soft Science Fiction
