The reverse thruster tubes on the ship were almost white hot, and the lining
that protected them was beginning to give way under the intense heat. It was
nothing, however, compared to the attack the four Melchior fighters were facing
from the fleet defenses. Attacking automatically, the fleet fighters swooped and
dived and fired with deadly accuracy in and out and all around the Melchior
ships, ignoring the larger ship that had been their first challenger. They could
always take care of that later.
Even as the last of the Melchior ships was being blown to atoms, there came a
weak but steady acknowledgment code from the fleet itself to the ship, which cut
all reverse thrust and forward-thrusted to stabilize. As the reverse thrusters
cut, there was a groan and a set of horrible clanging sounds throughout the
forward area of the ship. The thrusters would be useless now.
The ship applied light forward thrust, then cut and began moving back toward the
fleet, but the fighters did not challenge it. They were already returning to
their respective ships.
In the chairs, men and women groaned, bruised and battered but otherwise all
right. The ship checked on them, then focused on Reba Koll.
We have eliminated the rear enemy and gotten the code to proceed in to the
fleet, Captain Koll, China’s voice informed her. Of all the people aboard, Koll
was the one with the experience who should have merged and been at the helm, a
fact neither China nor Star Eagle had really found appetizing but one they
hadn’t been able to deny. Curiously, Koll had adamantly refused, although she
would not explain it. Now, however, she was more than willing to give advice.
In the process, however, we burned out the rear thrusters completely. We are
proceeding in on course and schedule, but we have no way of stopping the ship.
Koll thought about the problem. Are you in contact with that big mother?
Establishing now. We have explained that we were ordered to do this by Master
System for a special project. It is torn between being puzzled at our inability
to immediately transmit the correct code and its desire to be reactivated. We
think it wants to trust us, and we will come up with something convincing to
cover ourselves. Why?
Those babies were never designed to land. They were built in space, and that’s
where they always will be. They should operate much like major interstellar
traders, I bet. That means tractor beams to manipulate and reorder cargo. Tell
it you were damaged in the fight, explain the problem, and request it hook you
with beams. It’ll be a real bump, but how much worse can it be than what we just
went through?
We have informed it of the problem. It is reactivating and reawakening its
systems now. It will be several hours before we reach the contact point at this
speed, and we dare not increase speed and hope for a tractor catch. We suggest
that everyone now move about, tend to wounds and damage as best they can, and we
will notify them when to brace. The medical robot has been dispatched to the
passenger cabin in case it is needed.
The core disengaged China from Star Eagle. It was as close to a voluntary
separation as could be attained, one based on sheer force of logic. Shifts for
human interfacers were strictly limited; if she hoped to interface again at the
critical point, she could not remain there now.
Silent Woman, Cloud Dancer, and the Chows went about checking on and seeing to
everyone else, although Cloud Dancer and one of the Chows had been pretty badly
battered. They were particularly concerned with China, now over five months
pregnant and beginning to show, but the mere fact that she’d been limp,
essentially unconscious, had protected her. Except for a few bruises where
straps had cut into her arm and shoulder, she seemed fine. Reba Koll refused all
attention. Although by far the oldest of the lot, she seemed to have neither cut
nor bruise.
We are getting a call from behind us, faint but clear, Star Eagle informed
them. I will pipe it in.
Nagy to Raven, come in. Nagy to Raven, please respond, came the faint call.
Jam him if he tries to call in to the fleet, China ordered the pilot. Can I
respond to him?
Go ahead. Use the headset, the pilot answered.
Nagy, whoever you are, this is Captain Nightingale. If you proceed after us any
farther, I will inform the fleet that you are an enemy vessel in rebellion
against Master System. Break off. You’ve lost.
There was a pause. Yeah, well, what the hell. We’re not coming hi that hornet’s
nest after you. That was pretty slick, what you pulled. You should’a died. All
our systems here insist that you’re dead now.
We’re alive, Nagy. We’re alive and we’re leaving, but don’t worry, you’ll hear
from us again.
Well, maybe, maybe not. You might con all those old fleet pilots there for a
little while, but you know that Master System will be on you before you break
orbit. So you’re gonna hide out there, a fourteen-kilometer-long spaceship? You
can get lost there, but that’s gonna be real obvious if you show up anyplace
inhabited. You’re in command—not Koll or Raven?
That is correct. You were beaten by someone you turned into a blind babymaker.
Don’t sell us short again.
Oh, I won’t. I don’t have to. You either stick Koll out that air lock, if you
can, or I’ve seen and heard the last of you, I warn you. That’s not Koll you’re
carrying, it’s something that’ll kill you all. Only we can protect you. Come
about and we will protect you and you will all survive. Anything else and you
carry your own deaths with you.
Koll gave a chuckle. Don’t pay him no mind. 1 ain’t gonna hurt any of you.
Don’t have to.
Is he telling the truth? Are you not Koll?
No, I’m not Koll, but I’m no danger to this crew. To him and his master,
Clayben, I’m death incarnate. It’s too involved to explain right now. You just
fought one hell of a fight, and you’re almost home, honey. Now all you have to
do is trust him or trust me. You can’t get all them rings without me, so think
it over good. You took a lot of risks there. You know what happens if you take
his protection. You pick now.
China didn’t have to think very far on it. One of these days one of the risks
wasn’t going to pay, but considering the alternatives, it was not something she
worried about.
We’ll be back, Nagy, count on it, China said. We’ll be back to blow your
little empire to the outer reaches of eternity, and Master System with it. You
go back there and tell them that, Nagy. You tell them—and you watch your back
and sweat a little and keep out of dark corners. I don’t need the light for
that. You made everything darkness for me. No one—not you, not Melchior, not
Earth or Master System will stop us. There’ll be no place to hide when we
return, Nagy, and we have the universe to use and prepare. We’ll be back—and
damn you all!
They slowly closed on one of the monster ships of the ancient fleet, whose great
bulk was dwarfed by the colors of massive Jupiter, which filled half the sky.
Raven and Warlock looked at each other and nodded. We’ll be back!
Hawks put his arms around Cloud Dancer and Silent Woman and hugged them before
they all had to be strapped in again. He touched the Melchior tattoos on their
faces and on his own and promised himself that one day such a design would be a
mark of honor, of revolution. It would be a long journey to that day, and he did
not know what lay ahead, but he knew one thing full well.
We’ll be back!
The Chows assisted China to her chair, beaming with pride at her will and
courage.
We’ll be back!
The one they knew as Reba Koll relaxed and flicked her strange tail, thinking.
Up until now escape had been the only motive, no risk too great to take. Against
all logic and all odds they’d come very far indeed, but there was a long way to
go. Now, nothing seemed impossible.
We’ll be back! And we’ll have five gold rings to stuff down Master System’s
infinite throat until it chokes!
For now—to the stars!
The Rings of the Master
continues with Pirates of the Thunder
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jack L. Chalker was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on December 17, 1944, but was
raised and has spent most of his life in Baltimore, Maryland. He learned to read
almost from the moment of entering school, and by working odd jobs amassed a
large book collection by the time he was in junior high school, a collection now
too large for containment in his quarters. Science fiction, history, and
geography all fascinated him early on, interests that continue.
Chalker joined the Washington Science Fiction Association in 1958 and began
publishing an amateur SF journal, Mirage, in 1960. After high school he decided
to be a trial lawyer, but money problems and the lack of a firm caused him to
switch to teaching. He holds bachelor degrees in history and English, and an
M.L.A. from Johns Hopkins University. He taught history and geography in the
Baltimore public schools between 1966 and 1978 and now makes his living as a
freelance writer. Additionally, out of the amateur journals he founded a
publishing house, The Mirage Press, Ltd., devoted to nonfiction and
bibliographic works on science fiction and fantasy. This company has produced
more than twenty books in the last nine years. His hobbies include esoteric
audio, travel, working on science-fiction convention committees, and guest
lecturing on SF to institutions such as the Smithsonian. He is an active
conservationst and National Parks supporter, and he has an intense love of
ferryboats, with the avowed goal of riding every ferry in the world. In fact, in
1978 he was married to Eva Whitley on an ancient ferryboat in midriver. They
live in the Catoctin Mountain region of western Maryland with their son, David.