Starship Fall by Eric Brown Page A

bad, this far underground.
    “Yes,” I answered, confused. “What’s wrong?”
    “We’re on our way–” She went on, but static masked her words.
    “Maddie?”
    “Kee contacted us... explained what was happening. She was distraught. Apparently Hawk overheard her talking to you. When he found out that Carlotta was going to the cavern with you... he told Kee that he had to follow her. He told her that he suspected something–”
    “ Suspected?” I said.
    “Kee didn’t say what.”
    I shook my head. “I don’t see...” I began, befuddled by the surreal exchange.
    “I don’t understand either,” Maddie said. “Anyway, Hawk’s heading your way in a bison. We’re following with Kee.” She stared out at me. “Where’s Carlotta?”
    I told her.
    “Oh, Christ, David. Listen, we’ll soon be with you–” The picture broke up and Maddie vanished. I tried to return the call, but to no avail.
    I lay down, staring at the roof of the cavern, at the dancing shadows cast by the bonfires. I thought through what had happened so far, what was happening now – and the fact that Hawk was making his way here. I considered what Kee had told me, and my rationality reeled.
    Later, perhaps an hour later, a combination of exhaustion and the heat down there conspired to send me to sleep, and I have no idea how long I was out... Hours, at least, for I awoke to see Hawk striding into the sacred cavern followed by a host of concerned Ashentay, like children milling at the legs of a giant.
    He stood just inside the threshold and stared at the long-house.
    I stumbled to my feet and waved at him.
    He glanced across the chamber at me, then back to the long-house. His expression was an odd combination of fear and awe, and only later did I come to understand why.
    I rubbed my eyes and stumbled towards him; he strode past me, intent on the long-house. He was muttering something under his breath, like a man deranged, and I thought I caught, “Surely... surely not, after so long?”
    He stopped at the foot of the ramp, staring up, and called out, “Is it really you in there?”
    Blood pounded in my head, misting my vision. I stared at the long-house and saw the tall figure of the elder emerge. He stood at the top of the ramp, staring down at Hawk.
    “Hawksworth,” said the being behind the mask.
    “You were always one for the grand gesture,” Hawk said, “the theatrics. Well, you’ve had your time–”
    The elder reached up and removed the ornate face-mask that covered his head, and I saw that he was not an Ashentay at all, but a human, a balding, long-faced man in his late fifties.
    He stared down at Hawk with bright blue eyes and said, “I’ve found my place at last, Hawksworth. I know where I belong.”
    Hawk sneered. “A bolt hole, a hiding place.”
    “No, Hawksworth,” Grainger said with what seemed like infinite patience, “my rightful place in the universe, providing a service to a wise race.”
    “That’s all over, Grainger, You’ve had your period of reprieve. I’ve come for you…”
    Grainger laughed. “Hawksworth, listen to me. You fail. You don’t leave here with me. I know. You see, I’ve seen how things work out, I’ve looked upon my destiny.”
    “Your destiny,” Hawk said, “is that you’re going to pay for what you did to me back then…” He stopped as Grainger stepped forward and came down the ramp. I thought at first that, despite his fine words, Grainger was about to give himself up. I should have known, though; I should have recalled what Kee had said she had seen in her vision, but the truth was that Kee’s warning was the last thing on my mind as I watched the drama unfold.
    Grainger came to the foot of the ramp and faced Hawk, two big men confronting each other as everyone else, the stretcher-bearers and the other Ashentay and myself, looked on. Then Hawk moved, as if to reach out and take Grainger’s arm – and Grainger’s reaction was lightning fast. In a swift underarm