Part 3.
Half an arn later Janek was back at the house with two men. When he walked into the living room where he had left Crais he found it empty. Had the former Peacekeeper Captain already abandoned their cause before it had even begun? He was on the point on leaving the room to look for him when Crais appeared in the doorway.
"Good evening, gentlemen," he said in a quiet voice, his presence commanding.
The other two men jumped up from their seats, "Janek, are you out of your mind? That's a Peacekeeper!"
"Former Peacekeeper," said Crais smoothly.
"Once a Peacekeeper always a Peacekeeper," said one of the men vehemently.
"You have had dealing with other Peacekeepers," asked Crais.
"No, but they say…"
"It's true what they say," said Crais, "and you should be wary of them but I'm not a Peacekeeper anymore and I believe you have a situation on your hands which might acquire my assistance. Am I right?"
"How do we know we can trust you not to bring any more Peacekeepers down to the planet?"
"You don't. I can only give you my word that I am the only one here. You will have to trust me in the same way that I have to trust you. Who assures me that one of you is not a member of the band of marauders waiting to attack?"
The men turned red in the face, "Janek, we don't have to come here to be insulted…"
Crais walked further into the room and sat in the only chair that faced the door and windows, "I believe you, gentlemen. Now, will you sit down and then we can discuss the plan."
With reluctance the other two men sat down while Janek busied himself with refreshments. He looked at his friends and saw they looked at Crais with suspicion. Now he could understand what Crais had meant and he remembered that he had mistrusted the man at first as well and that it had been mainly because of the uniform Crais wore but that he had begun to trust the man when he started talking to him. Crais' words had given him hope and what they now needed was someone who could lead them. Crais was trained for it. He brought the drinks to the table, passed them around and sat down himself. He looked at Crais and noticed that the man was still heavily perspiring but had not made any move to loosen his collar.
Crais had waited until Janek sat down, "Janek tells me that you had been able to escape Shang'ar when it fell?" Both men nodded. Crais continued, "Can you tell me what happened?"
One of the men became their spokesman, introduced himself as Zenek and the other as Valek, and told Crais the same story he had heard Janek recount to him earlier in the evening. Crais listened carefully as if he had heard the story for the first time, not once interrupting Zenek. When he had finished Crais asked, "When they brought the machine out of the forest how far was it away from the city?"
"About 500 paces."
"When it was spewing fireballs over the walls did you notice with which intervals?"
"Well, we weren't actually timing…"
"Did you notice or not?"
"Well, it didn't seem to be continuous. Maybe with an interval of a microt… but what does have this have to do with…"
"If it wasn't continuous there might be a hope of jamming the controls if we can get close enough," interrupted Crais, "Do you have any idea where they took the other people?"
"We assume it was north of Shang'ar, they walked in that direction."
"What lies to the north of Shang'ar?" The men looked at him questioningly. "I mean is it open country or are there mountains to the north? You must understand I'm not familiar with your country yet."
"The plains are to the north, the mountains are south from here."
Crais smiled, "That could be to our advantage in the long run. Janek tells me that there are rumours that they might come further south. How substantial are these rumours?"
"We've had people coming from further north with stories that two cities after Shang'ar have already been taken. The last one is only two weekens away from here."
"Any more cities between here and the last one they took?"
"No, that's why we think that this city is the next one they are going to attack."
Crais stroked his goatee in thought, "How far away was the second City from Shag'ar?"
"About three weekens."
"And when did they attack it?"
"About five and a half weekens after Shang'ar."
"And the next city?"
Finally Zenek saw where Crais' questioning was leading him, "The distance was about the same but they didn't attack until nearly nine and a half weekens after the last. That was almost 9 weekens ago."
Crais had already calculated the intervals between attacks, "If they are going to attack it will be within a weeken and a half, possibly a weeken." When he saw the puzzled look on their faces he explained, "Looking at the distances involved and the intervals of the attacks it is quite obvious what they are doing. After they attacked Shang'ar they had a big booty, people and goods I presume, so the main force stayed behind while part of their force brought the booty north to their stronghold and came back to join the main force.
They then proceeded to the next city where, I assume, the same tactics of the standard three days option was used. This time they did not have to transport people, only goods. The main force stayed behind while the smaller force was meeting up with the Collectors, which must have proceeded a little past Shang'ar. The same tactic is deployed for the next city. Only it takes the Collectors a little longer to catch up with them. They have probably two forces of those, one waiting near the last ransacked city and one, which will then proceed to take it to their stronghold.
So, by my calculations they would have moved the smaller force two weekens to the north, make the pass to the next group who will meet up with the Collectors and comes back to the main force, two weekens go by while they join the main force and the Collectors joins up with the last group of Collectors. They wait until the closest group of Collectors is back to join up with the main force, which will take four weekens, then they will move to this city while they leave the small group of Collectors again behind near the last city they have ransacked, which is only two weekens away from the last city. Since the last city was ransacked about 9 weekens ago it will give us about a weeken to prepare. Hopefully they are not going to change their tactics."
Valek had already shut down when Crais started to explain it in numbers, the others had some problems following the equations but trusted Crais enough to make the right calculations, "That doesn't give us much time."
"No," said Crais, "We haven't but it is better than nothing. Valek and Zenek, tomorrow or tonight if possible, try and get as many men together who are still willing to fight. We don't want martyrs. Janek and I will survey the area tomorrow and see what their best attack-vantage might be. Then tomorrow night we come back here and see if we can work out a plan. If they haven't changed their attack-plans it might work in our advantage. See you tomorrow gentlemen?"
After Valek and Zelek had left, Janek walked back to the living room and found Crais holding his head in his hands and he was worried that Crais might have found a flaw in his thinking and was now having second thoughts. "Bialar," he asked tentatively, "Is it the plan…"
When Crais looked up he seemed flustered, "Is it always this warm on this planet at night?"
"No, tonight is quite a cold evening. It is normally warmer. Why?"
Crais wanted to shout in frustration, why had he agreed to help Janek and his men? At least a whole more weeken on a planet, which considered this temperature cool? He remembered the herbs given to him by the healer and started to pat his pockets.
"I am a Sebecean. We don't… like the temperature this high. Could you boil me some water and drop some of the herbs the healer has given to me in it?"
Janek was confused until he remembered the healer's words and went swiftly into the kitchen with the herbs to do as Crais had asked.
Crais leant back in chair and closed his eyes. He tried to relax, to bring his temperature down and ease the pounding in his head. His mouth was half open to cool the air entering his lungs. His hand moved to the collar of his uniform and started to loosen it.
He was startled when Janek said to him from the doorway, "Why do you wear such heavy garments if you don't like the heat?"
"It's the only ones I have," admitted Crais softly, "And they carry the tools of my trade in them."
"Since we are of almost similar build, I could give you some of mine to wear while you are here," said Janek.
"It would be appreciated," said Crais. When Janek handed him the brew to drink, he let it cool before drinking it. At first he didn't notice anything different but after about half an arn he could feel his temperature go down. It was still a little higher than normal but at least it was tolerable now. The pounding in his head seemed to diminish slightly.
It was logical that he stayed the night at Janek's. He informed Talyn that he would be on the planet a little while longer than anticipated but that the youngster wasn't to worry. Talyn beeped in panic for a while but Crais managed to put him at ease. He would stay in touch with him regularly but his presence was wanted here for the moment.
Half an arn later Janek was back at the house with two men. When he walked into the living room where he had left Crais he found it empty. Had the former Peacekeeper Captain already abandoned their cause before it had even begun? He was on the point on leaving the room to look for him when Crais appeared in the doorway.
"Good evening, gentlemen," he said in a quiet voice, his presence commanding.
The other two men jumped up from their seats, "Janek, are you out of your mind? That's a Peacekeeper!"
"Former Peacekeeper," said Crais smoothly.
"Once a Peacekeeper always a Peacekeeper," said one of the men vehemently.
"You have had dealing with other Peacekeepers," asked Crais.
"No, but they say…"
"It's true what they say," said Crais, "and you should be wary of them but I'm not a Peacekeeper anymore and I believe you have a situation on your hands which might acquire my assistance. Am I right?"
"How do we know we can trust you not to bring any more Peacekeepers down to the planet?"
"You don't. I can only give you my word that I am the only one here. You will have to trust me in the same way that I have to trust you. Who assures me that one of you is not a member of the band of marauders waiting to attack?"
The men turned red in the face, "Janek, we don't have to come here to be insulted…"
Crais walked further into the room and sat in the only chair that faced the door and windows, "I believe you, gentlemen. Now, will you sit down and then we can discuss the plan."
With reluctance the other two men sat down while Janek busied himself with refreshments. He looked at his friends and saw they looked at Crais with suspicion. Now he could understand what Crais had meant and he remembered that he had mistrusted the man at first as well and that it had been mainly because of the uniform Crais wore but that he had begun to trust the man when he started talking to him. Crais' words had given him hope and what they now needed was someone who could lead them. Crais was trained for it. He brought the drinks to the table, passed them around and sat down himself. He looked at Crais and noticed that the man was still heavily perspiring but had not made any move to loosen his collar.
Crais had waited until Janek sat down, "Janek tells me that you had been able to escape Shang'ar when it fell?" Both men nodded. Crais continued, "Can you tell me what happened?"
One of the men became their spokesman, introduced himself as Zenek and the other as Valek, and told Crais the same story he had heard Janek recount to him earlier in the evening. Crais listened carefully as if he had heard the story for the first time, not once interrupting Zenek. When he had finished Crais asked, "When they brought the machine out of the forest how far was it away from the city?"
"About 500 paces."
"When it was spewing fireballs over the walls did you notice with which intervals?"
"Well, we weren't actually timing…"
"Did you notice or not?"
"Well, it didn't seem to be continuous. Maybe with an interval of a microt… but what does have this have to do with…"
"If it wasn't continuous there might be a hope of jamming the controls if we can get close enough," interrupted Crais, "Do you have any idea where they took the other people?"
"We assume it was north of Shang'ar, they walked in that direction."
"What lies to the north of Shang'ar?" The men looked at him questioningly. "I mean is it open country or are there mountains to the north? You must understand I'm not familiar with your country yet."
"The plains are to the north, the mountains are south from here."
Crais smiled, "That could be to our advantage in the long run. Janek tells me that there are rumours that they might come further south. How substantial are these rumours?"
"We've had people coming from further north with stories that two cities after Shang'ar have already been taken. The last one is only two weekens away from here."
"Any more cities between here and the last one they took?"
"No, that's why we think that this city is the next one they are going to attack."
Crais stroked his goatee in thought, "How far away was the second City from Shag'ar?"
"About three weekens."
"And when did they attack it?"
"About five and a half weekens after Shang'ar."
"And the next city?"
Finally Zenek saw where Crais' questioning was leading him, "The distance was about the same but they didn't attack until nearly nine and a half weekens after the last. That was almost 9 weekens ago."
Crais had already calculated the intervals between attacks, "If they are going to attack it will be within a weeken and a half, possibly a weeken." When he saw the puzzled look on their faces he explained, "Looking at the distances involved and the intervals of the attacks it is quite obvious what they are doing. After they attacked Shang'ar they had a big booty, people and goods I presume, so the main force stayed behind while part of their force brought the booty north to their stronghold and came back to join the main force.
They then proceeded to the next city where, I assume, the same tactics of the standard three days option was used. This time they did not have to transport people, only goods. The main force stayed behind while the smaller force was meeting up with the Collectors, which must have proceeded a little past Shang'ar. The same tactic is deployed for the next city. Only it takes the Collectors a little longer to catch up with them. They have probably two forces of those, one waiting near the last ransacked city and one, which will then proceed to take it to their stronghold.
So, by my calculations they would have moved the smaller force two weekens to the north, make the pass to the next group who will meet up with the Collectors and comes back to the main force, two weekens go by while they join the main force and the Collectors joins up with the last group of Collectors. They wait until the closest group of Collectors is back to join up with the main force, which will take four weekens, then they will move to this city while they leave the small group of Collectors again behind near the last city they have ransacked, which is only two weekens away from the last city. Since the last city was ransacked about 9 weekens ago it will give us about a weeken to prepare. Hopefully they are not going to change their tactics."
Valek had already shut down when Crais started to explain it in numbers, the others had some problems following the equations but trusted Crais enough to make the right calculations, "That doesn't give us much time."
"No," said Crais, "We haven't but it is better than nothing. Valek and Zenek, tomorrow or tonight if possible, try and get as many men together who are still willing to fight. We don't want martyrs. Janek and I will survey the area tomorrow and see what their best attack-vantage might be. Then tomorrow night we come back here and see if we can work out a plan. If they haven't changed their attack-plans it might work in our advantage. See you tomorrow gentlemen?"
After Valek and Zelek had left, Janek walked back to the living room and found Crais holding his head in his hands and he was worried that Crais might have found a flaw in his thinking and was now having second thoughts. "Bialar," he asked tentatively, "Is it the plan…"
When Crais looked up he seemed flustered, "Is it always this warm on this planet at night?"
"No, tonight is quite a cold evening. It is normally warmer. Why?"
Crais wanted to shout in frustration, why had he agreed to help Janek and his men? At least a whole more weeken on a planet, which considered this temperature cool? He remembered the herbs given to him by the healer and started to pat his pockets.
"I am a Sebecean. We don't… like the temperature this high. Could you boil me some water and drop some of the herbs the healer has given to me in it?"
Janek was confused until he remembered the healer's words and went swiftly into the kitchen with the herbs to do as Crais had asked.
Crais leant back in chair and closed his eyes. He tried to relax, to bring his temperature down and ease the pounding in his head. His mouth was half open to cool the air entering his lungs. His hand moved to the collar of his uniform and started to loosen it.
He was startled when Janek said to him from the doorway, "Why do you wear such heavy garments if you don't like the heat?"
"It's the only ones I have," admitted Crais softly, "And they carry the tools of my trade in them."
"Since we are of almost similar build, I could give you some of mine to wear while you are here," said Janek.
"It would be appreciated," said Crais. When Janek handed him the brew to drink, he let it cool before drinking it. At first he didn't notice anything different but after about half an arn he could feel his temperature go down. It was still a little higher than normal but at least it was tolerable now. The pounding in his head seemed to diminish slightly.
It was logical that he stayed the night at Janek's. He informed Talyn that he would be on the planet a little while longer than anticipated but that the youngster wasn't to worry. Talyn beeped in panic for a while but Crais managed to put him at ease. He would stay in touch with him regularly but his presence was wanted here for the moment.