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.I thought I’d cracked my skull, and there was something wrong with my pelvis.I couldn’t move.The bison was on its side, with all the loose contents of the cab piled up around me.I knew that if only I could get to the controls, I’d be able to right the bison and set off again.But when I tried to move - the pain! Then wonderful oblivion.When I came to my senses, the truck was no longer on its side.It was upright again - and I wasn’t where I’d been, in the cab.I was stretched out in the corridor, something soft cradling my head.Then the truck started up and roared off up the side of the ravine, the motion wracking me with pain.I was delirious.I didn’t know what the hell was happening.I cried out for the truck to stop, but I couldn’t make myself heard over the noise of the engine.When I regained consciousness again, night was falling.I’d been out for hours.The truck was moving, but along a flat surface that didn’t cause me pain.I tried to look down the length of my body, into the cab, and as I did so the driver turned in his seat and peered down at me.I knew it was Codey.Spacers never lose that look.He was short and thickset, crop-headed.I reckoned he was about seventy - Codey’s age - and though his body looked younger, that of someone half his age, his face was old and lined, as if he’d lived through a hundred years of hardship.I passed out again.When I came to, I thought I’d dreamed of Codey.The truck was stopped, its engine ticking in the silence.Then the side door opened and Codey, wearing old Fleet regulation silvers, climbed up and knelt beside me.He held an injector.He told me not to worry, that he was going to take me to the ship, where he had a rejuvenation pod.My pelvis was broken, but I’d soon be okay.He placed the cold nozzle to my bicep and plunged.I felt nothing as he lifted me and carried me from the bison, across to the ship.He eased me down long corridors, into a chamber I recognised as an astrodome - the glass all covered and cloaked with creepers - and lay me in the rejuvenation pod.As I slipped into sleep, he stared down at me.He looked worried and unsure.Yesterday, I awoke feeling.well, rejuvenated.The pelvis was fine.Codey assisted me from the pod and led me to a small room containing a bunk, told me to make myself at home.The first thing I did was to hurry out to the truck and root around among its tumbled contents until I found the container, then carried it back to my new quarters.Codey watched me closely, asked me what it was.I didn’t tell him.I remembered what Fr Rogers had said about him, that he thought Codey had flipped.And that was then.For the past thirty years he’d lived up here, alone.When I looked into his face I saw the consequence of that ordeal in his eyes.Codey’s Valley.Mark’s day, 16th, St Cyprian’s month.Early this morning I left my cabin, went out to the truck and armed myself.If the story Father Rogers had told me in the monastery garden was true, about Codey and the Slarque.I remained outside the ship, trying to admire the beauty of the valley.Later, Codey came out carrying a pre-heated tray of food.He offered it to me and said that he’d grown the vegetables in his own garden.I sat on the ramp and ate, Codey watching me.He seemed nervous, avoided eye contact.He’d not known human company in thirty years.We’d hardly spoken until that point.Codey hadn’t seemed curious about me or why I was here, and I hadn’t worked out the best way to go about verifying Father Rogers’ story.I said that Rogers had told me about the crash-landing.I recorded the following dialogue:CODEY : Rogers? He survived? He made it to Apollinaire?SAM : He made it.He’s still there—CODEY : I didn’t give him a chance of surviving.They monitored him as far as the next valley down, then lost him—SAM: They?CODEY : The Slarque, who else? Didn’t Rogers tell you they were in contact with me?SAM : Yes - yes, he did.I didn’t know whether to believe him.Are you.are you still in contact?CODEY: They’re in contact with me.You don’t believe me, girl?SAM : I.I don’t know—CODEY : How the hell you think I found you, ten klicks down the next valley? They read your presence.SAM : They can read my mind?CODEY : Well, let’s just say that they’re sympathetic to your thoughts, shall we?SAM : Then they know why I’m here?CODEY : Of course.SAM : So.If they’re in contact with you, you’ll know why I’m here.(Codey stood up suddenly and strode off, as if I’d angered him.He stood with his back to me, his head in his hands.I thought he was sobbing.When he turned around, he was grinning.insanely.)CODEY : They told me.They told me why you’re here!SAM :.They did’?CODEY : They don’t want your help.They don’t want to be saved.They have no wish to leave Tartarus.They belong here.This is their home.They believe that only if they die with their planet will their souls be saved.SAM : But.but we can offer them a habitat identical to Tartarus - practically unbounded freedom—CODEY : Their religious beliefs would not allow them to leave.It’d be an act of disgrace in the eyes of their forefathers if they fled the planet now.SAM : They.they have a religion? But I thought they were animals.CODEY : They might have devolved, but they’re still intelligent.Their kind have worshipped the supernova for generations.They await the day of glory with hope.SAM : And you?CODEY : I.I belong here, too.I couldn’t live among humans again.I belong with the Slarque.SAM : Why? Why do they tolerateyou? One.one of them killed my husband—CODEY : I performed a service for them, thirty years ago, the first of two such.In return they keep me company.in my head.and sometimes bring me food.SAM : Thirty years ago.? You gave them the prisoner?CODEY : They commanded me to do it! If I’d refused.Don’t you see, they would have taken me or Rogers.I had no choice, don’t you understand?SAM : My God.Three years ago.my husband? Did you.?CODEY : I.please.I was monitoring your broadcasts, the footage you beamed to Apollinaire.You were out of range of the Slarque up here, and they were desperate.I had to do it, don’t you see? If not.they would have taken me.SAM : But why? Why? If they bring you food, then why do they need humans?Codey broke down then.He fled sobbing up the ramp and into the ship.I didn’t know whether to go after him, comfort him, try to learn the truth.In the event I remained where I was, too emotionally drained to make a move.It’s evening now.I’ve locked myself in my cabin.I don’t trust Codey - and I don’t trust the Slarque.I’m armed and ready, but I don’t know if I can keep awake all night.* * * *Oh my God.Oh, Jesus.I don’t believe it.I can’t—He must have overridden the locking system, got in during the night as I slept.But how did he know? The Slarque, of course.If they read my mind, knew my secret.I didn’t tell you, Hunter.I wanted it to be a surprise.I wanted you to be there when Freya was growing up.I wanted you to see her develop from birth, to share with you her infancy, her growth, to cherish her with you.Two and a half years ago, Hunter, I gave birth to our daughter.Immediately I had her suspended.For the past two years I’ve carried her everywhere I’ve been, in a stasis container.When we were reunited, we would cease the suspension, watch our daughter grow.Last night, Codey stole Freya.Took the stasis container.I’m so sorry, Hunter.I’m so.I’ve got to think straight.Codey took his crawler and headed up the valley to the next one.I can see the tracks in the grass.I’m going to follow him in my truck.I’m going to get our daughter back.I’ll leave this recording here, for when you come.Forgive me, Hunter.Please, forgive me
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