Reclamation

It couldn't be. The Realm could not really have been moved. It was not possible. There could not have really been Nameless Powers who walked the world and created their people. They could not have really sent their Servant, who understood how to move the world to get it away from…Eric stared at the robed figures in their bare silver room. To get it away from these people in their ships.

"If this is true, though, Technician," the black-robed man with the mutilated hand was saying, "your name will be remembered in every chapel on every ship on every day of worship. You and Basq will have brought us home."

It's nothing! The Words are just lies and air and a way to maintain power! There were no Nameless! There can't be! Because if there were…

If there were, I've sinned. I went over the World's Wall and I led the Vi…the Aunorante Sangh back to the Realm…

Have to get out of here.

"Adu!" he called to the bridge. "Get us out, head anywhere, break the limits and go!"

"I can't."

"What!" Eric staggered down the corridor to the bridge. Adu sat motionless in its chair, watching the screens.

"This ship has been placed under a quarantine lock."

"Quarantine lock?" Eric repeated, trying to force his mind to understand. He knew the term, but his mind wouldn't define it for him.

"Standard precaution built into space traffic hardware and software, so that in case of a computer or biological virus the ship can be held in isolation. While the quarantine is active, the docking bolts will not release the U-Kenai."

They'd be coming for him. Now. At once. They were on their way. They'd been waiting for him.

"They won't have me."

And what am I going to do to stop them? I can barely stand up.

"They won't have me," he repeated through clenched teeth. "Adu, find a way to override the quarantine."

"It will take…"

"I know. Release the beacon and get going on the lock." Eric returned to the common room.

No time for hesitation. He was under siege. He had to buy all the time he could and worry about any damage he did if he survived that long. He hit the seal for the door and tore out the wires in the lock. Ignoring the sting on his palms, he jammed the manual bolt home. He dashed across the common room and sealed both cabin doors.

Make them hunt.

He lifted the hatch under the view wall and climbed down the ladder to the drive room. Dizziness made the walls sway drunkenly as he reached up to shut the hatch and slide the locking bolts shut.

Make them dig.

The drive room was sterile, brightly lit, and cramped. Most of the room was taken up by the curved, ceramic drive housings with their meters and input terminals and warning labels. Heat exhaust and fuel intake pipes ran fore and aft overhead, or rammed themselves into the floor like pillars. Anybody who wanted to take him here would practically have to get up close enough to lay hands on him. If they get that close…Eric flexed his hands. There was some strength left. Some. It'd be enough. The Vitae were little creatures. Sorry, pale, flabby little creatures.

The Vitae were the Aunorante Sangh, no matter what name they had bestowed on the People.

Nameless Powers preserve and forgive. I didn't know. I didn't know. How could I know?

He'd led them to the Realm. To the Temples and the Kings. To his family. To Lady Fire.

I didn't know. I didn't know.

The compartment walls were thick, shielded, insulated and shielded again. He couldn't hear anything. He raised his hand to his translator disk to hail the bridge, but stopped. The Vitae could trace that signal straight to him. He pressed himself into the corner. No way out from here, but only one way in. When they came for him, he would see them before they saw him. It was his only advantage. It would have to be enough.

I am Teacher Hand. I am dena Enemy of the Aunorante Sangh. They will know that. They will not forget that.

I will not forget it again.

I didn't know. I didn't know.