Chapter Nine

1.

“ODD, THIS,” KAPLAN SAID, lifting another gear onto the central spar. “It’s at once beautiful and yet incredibly ordinary, almost dull. And I don’t just mean owing to however long it’s been here.”

“I’m not one for ascetics. No, that one first.”

Kaplan looked to where Stone was pointing. “You’re sure?” He took Stone’s answering look as a definite yes. The disgust in his expression was almost comical.

Nodding, Kaplan moved over to the gear indicated and picked it up. He’d questioned Stone for the hell of it; didn’t truly doubt him. Kaplan had lost his uncertainty that they would fix this thing, and that Stone would be the hero of the moment once again. He’d find whatever they were looking for because either Stone had the luck of the demonic or something else was guiding him…or them, or even the mission. The idea of an unknown outside influence both excited and terrified him.

The cogs varied in size from very small to quite large, but size didn’t necessarily account for weight. Some of the smallest were the most heavy, which made no sense when judged purely on weight or thickness. He and Stone had already agreed the various weights had to be according to density and materials.

He set about fixing it and then frowned. He hated to ask but needed to, if only because of the monotony of the work. Besides, this next bit truly puzzled him. “Are you sure, Stone? If I put these in as you’ve specified, that leaves a gear on the upper part of the differential housing without contact with other gears.”

“I have noticed. While it’s peculiar, I’m surmising there must be a reason for it.”

Or the professor had miscalculated and Kaplan was currently breaking his back, putting gears into position, for no motive; those thoughts were part hopeful because if that were true then his thoughts of something out there directing their course was then less likely. He had no time to waste arguing. For a time he worked in silence, but as he began to sweat, the silence, broken only by instructions from Stone, began to make him nervous.

Was the room getting warmer? He doubted it. His perspiring was most likely down to exertion only. He’d no idea why Stevenson had become so ill. There was something very…oppressive about this room, though, and it wasn’t helped by what he was wearing. He stripped off his jacket with an apology to Stone and rolled up his sleeves. The perspiration on his forehead he could wipe away, but the breathing mask made it extremely uncomfortable around his face. When his discomfort grew to a point where he wanted to cast it away, he spoke as a distraction.

“What do you think we can call this? I’m not sure orrery fits.”

“Why?” Nathaniel actually sounded semi-interested.

“Well, a tellurion shows the Earth and Luna revolving around the Sun. Earth’s moon rotating around the Earth and—”

“I’m quite aware,” Nathaniel said, sounding amused.

“Quite. A lunarium shows Luna’s complex motions as it revolves around Earth. A grand orrery shows orbital period and rotation rate.”

“Your point?” He could hear Nathaniel growing bored now.

“This I believe will indeed work like a grand orrery.”

“I would have thought Wollf would be more qualified to make that assumption.”

“Possibly. Call it a hunch if you like.”

“Not something I would have thought of you approving.”

Kaplan looked over, surprised when both he and Stone smiled. “An unusual occurrence I grant you, but these are unusual circumstances. There is something of which I’m more sure, though.” He lifted a larger gear and after struggling to balance it, managed to slot it into place. “Many orreries aren’t built to scale. That’s another difference.”

He had Stone on that one.

“You believe…?”

Kaplan took a break and watched the gears ticking over in the professor’s brain as he stared at the machine that was coming together.

“You may be right,” Stone said.

“I’m sure I am. I know just enough of our Solar System to work out that this part is to scale.” Kaplan indicated what they had worked out were the Earth, the Sun, and Jupiter. “It applies that the rest is also.” He almost laughed. “Do you know I could use your pocket watch, Stone, and create a simple orrery showing the Sun in the centre. Place Earth on the minute hand, and Jupiter on the hour.”

“Twelve revolutions of Earth around the Sun, for every one of Jupiter,” Stone said. “That is imperfect and would not maintain accuracy.”

“Spoilsport,” Kaplan replied.

Stone frowned as well as smiled at him perhaps to show his annoyance wasn’t real, pausing in his calculations, but then his smile slipped away. His frown did not. The very fact that neither of them had time to waste meant Stone’s action of staring at him caught Kaplan’s attention.

“What’s wrong?”

“I could ask the same of you. Tell me, Kaplan, how are you feeling?”

“A little…giddy, actually. I must be short of breath from straining to repair this thing.”

Stone stared at him a moment longer. “Yes, that must be it.”

Kaplan dusted off his hands. He didn’t look as bad as Stone, but none of them were looking pretty. “What’s next?”

2.

“I’M NOT A MILITARY man. Ya can’t keep me outta there. Ya can’t keep me from looking out for Nate.”

“I’m hardly trying to do that.”

Bedford could have fooled him. Tally glanced at Stevenson who was sitting on the floor, back against the wall, knees bent, elbows on knees. He seemed much recovered, but if Bedford should keep anyone out of that there room beyond it was the young able seaman. He sure wasn’t looking very able-bodied. When he saw Stevenson had his head lowered, and his eyes closed, Tally took Bedford by apparent surprise by grabbing him by the elbow and pulling him a little way along the corridor.

“Ya been in there. Ain’t ya seen?”

He expected the usual military bluster, a set stiff upper lip. Tally didn’t like seeing Bedford turn pale. The man was already sweating. Tally began to suspect they were all starting to be affected by whatever the feck was in there. He didn’t like the thought of Nate being so close. He didn’t like what he’d noticed was happening to Marcus. He… Well, he rather liked the guy. Not in the way he cared for Nate, but theirs was an easy friendship. Had been from the start.

“Of course I have.” Bedford shrugged off his hand, which was when Tally realised he’d still had hold of him.

The two men stared at each other. All sorts of unkind thoughts went through Tally’s mind, but at the end of the day, Bedford wasn’t the one he was mad at. He didn’t know who to be mad at, precisely, and that made his Irish blood simmer over.

“I don’t envy ya blokes being in charge. Not always. Some a’ya are a bunch of gobshites, but some a’ya… Well, don’t figure there’s a need to finish this little speech. I still wanna check on Nate.”

“And the more you delay him, the longer both men will be in there.”

Ah…hell if Bedford weren’t talking sense ’n’ all. Even so… “One of us has to go in. It’s time.”

Bedford nodded. “Yes it is, and like before I’ll go.”

3.

“BEDFORD, HAVE YOU NOTICED?”

Bedford had struggled to drag himself down there for another check and so this time he was late. He had been dreading the moment Stone would ask the same thing Tally had but he’d expected it. “Yes. It’s why I’ve kept the others out of here.” Keeping Tally, especially Tally, and Stevenson from coming down had taken too much of his energy but he had done it, although he’d very much wanted to send someone—anyone—else in his place. Tally had seen the changes in Kaplan but the last three visits had been Bedford’s. He didn’t know what Tally would say if he could see Kaplan now.

He looked at Stone feeling a little shamefaced, certain the professor could see it, not sure if his disgrace came in thoughts of self-preservation or allowing another man to grow sick before his very eyes. “At first I was concerned…”

“That the cavern was the cause and that I might too be affected.”

“Yes. But you seem to be fine.”

“Apparently so. Therefore it is proximity to the…machine, if that is indeed what this is, or it is a consequence of coming into direct contact.”

“I made that supposition.”

“Yet you did nothing to stop it.”

Although Stone projected no hint of reproach into his voice, Bedford felt it. He shuddered to think how fast Stevenson might have succumbed had he been able to touch that thing. “What are you saying, Stone? That you want me to call this off?” He looked at the professor rather than at Kaplan, but Stone stared intently at the researcher.

“No. This is too important. I just…” A frown came over Stone’s face, and he reached up to touch that space on his forehead as if he was surprised by his own reaction. “I cannot say this sits easy with me.”

“Or with me.” For all the attention Stone paid him, Bedford might not have bothered speaking, but he was glad the situation made Stone uneasy. There was a hint of the man Bedford had once known.

“I…don’t want to do this. Kaplan is a good man. Perhaps…if we stop now…” Stone’s frown grew more pensive.

That statement he definitely had no need to finish. “What then? It may already be too late for him, or he’ll finish in time and we can do something to reverse whatever is happening. Stone, you cannot take over from him. You are more important to the mission than he is.”

“I understand that and had no intention of taking over.”

Stone sounded very undecided about that, so much so Bedford was a little taken aback, his feelings towards the man once more wavering, though he was glad the professor understood his was a more important position on board Sovereign.

“I’m just not used to…ordering men to die.”

“Nor should anyone be, ever. But it comes with my job, Stone, so let me carry it if I must. Anyway, we cannot be sure. We don’t know things are too late for him.”

Bedford turned to look across at the mineralogist. He’d grown thinner since he’d begun working, although that hardly seemed possible. His cheekbones stood out starkly. His skin had taken on a bluish tone that was all too easy to recognise.

“You don’t suppose…” Bedford looked at Stone hoping he’d fill in the blanks.

“That he’s turning into something like Vladimir Tereshkov did on Luna?”

Something hideous, inhuman and very like a Drobate? Yes. Bedford couldn’t dismiss that notion entirely.

Stone shrugged. “You can speculate as well as I can. You’d better get back; we have work to do. It will likely go faster with fewer interruptions. There’s no need to keep checking on us.”

“Stone…” Bedford suppressed a sigh. “Nathaniel.” He removed his gun and as inconspicuously as possible, handed it over. When Stone looked at him, Bedford said. “Take it. Just as a precaution. Should something go seriously wrong with Kaplan, one of us may have to shoot him, and I’d rather you had some form of protection on you.”

For a moment he believed the professor would refuse, but then he took hold of the pistol, setting it aside hidden from Kaplan’s view but safely within reach.

“I’ll skip some of the checks but one of us will be down again soon to see how you progress.” He turned away and hurried out.

4.

EARLIER, KAPLAN HAD SEEMED imbibed with energy. Too much so and that had given Nathaniel cause for concern. Had he known then that it was the first sign of something wrong, would he have stopped this?

He didn’t know, and didn’t want to waste time wondering. Still, Kaplan deserved his concern. Some believed even God should be brought to task for the bad things that happened in life. Nathaniel had acted more directly, but if not Kaplan then…who?

This is why I didn’t bring Arnaud.

How had he known? Was that Kaskuu at work? Had Kaskuu protected the other man because he meant something to Nathaniel, or because he was more important to the mission? And if not Kaskuu then perhaps one of the other Watchers…? They were scattered throughout the Solar System; were they protecting Nathaniel?

All good and very exasperating questions.

“Sssss-stone?”

Kaplan had just completed the last of a set of tasks Nathaniel had asked of him, but he’d taken longer to do it this time.

“Kaplan, are you all right?” The question was superfluous. Kaplan was obviously far from all right, but Nathaniel needed a sense of whether the man would last.

“I’m…fine.” Kaplan sounded as if he were gasping. He wiped his forearm across his brow. “Just…give me a minute and I’ll be ready.” Despite the reassurance, he swayed on his feet. “This mask is just so…stifling.” He lifted a hand to his face, the action widening Nathaniel’s gaze and bringing him to his feet.

He opened his mouth to shout a warning, but he was too late. Kaplan wrenched the mask free, and took a breath.

Nathaniel stood frozen, waiting for Kaplan to keel over and die. He imagined all kinds of things. Kaplan writhing on the ground, clawing at his throat, turning purple and blue, maybe frothing at the mouth. Kaplan did none of these things.

The man turned to face him, and smiled. “That’s better,” Kaplan said. “Splendid. So, old chap, what do you want me to do next?”

5.

“YOU NEED TO EAT SOMETHING…Nathaniel.”

The hesitation came as Erasmus lowered his voice, although he’d already spoken softly. Nathaniel heard but his attention was so riveted on Kaplan that for a moment he ignored him. He was also aware of Erasmus looking at the mineralogist, but still made no move until Erasmus tugged on his arm.

“Nathaniel, please. You must take nourishment.”

“And what of Kaplan?” Nathaniel asked looking at Erasmus. The able seaman returned the look from under his brow, gaze darting away with an almost guilty look. Clearly Kaplan wasn’t a subject he wanted to discuss, and Nathaniel couldn’t blame him after all he’d been through on Luna.

It was good of Erasmus to come in here at all, spoke well of the man’s friendship. He directed his gaze again at Kaplan. He now had no doubt this was why he’d wanted to bring Fenn. Not that he wanted to put Jack Fenn in Kaplan’s place either. He’d rather put someone he didn’t know, which wasn’t any better, though… Nathaniel laughed inwardly aware the reaction was very human. He’d needed someone capable and Fenn would have probably been able to repair this thing even faster than Kaplan. He had that kind of instinctive skill. Kaplan understood the mechanics but lacked that innate intuition. He was intelligent, sort of…harmless, and companionable; had a few quirks but overall would fall into the category of a “nice chap”. Nathaniel would have chosen Fenn over Kaplan and had chosen Kaplan over Arnaud. He would have chosen Kaplan over Erasmus too, and Tally, so what did that say about his emotions?

He was too tired to tell, and yes, he supposed he was hungry, empty anyway. Erasmus was right, he should take sustenance, but he was not the only one. He doubted he could entice the researcher away from the task to eat or drink if he tried. He was very aware of time spinning out and minutes ticking by, so that self-interest in the mission also stayed his hand. He didn’t want food even for himself, but he took it anyway and made a show of popping a morsel into his mouth. He did take a drink to chase it down with more desire than he had for the food.

“Commander Bedford wants me to return to the cutter. He’d like Tally to go with me if I could convince him, though you’re probably the only one who can do that.” Again Erasmus gave Kaplan that quick glance, swift look away consideration. “I said I’d let you know.”

“Sent you in rather than come himself?” Nathaniel couldn’t stop the small smile that twisted his lips.

“I insisted…as much as I could. I implied it was better for us all that he not try to do it all himself.”

“Quite.”

Erasmus didn’t have to explain that Bedford would react rather like a captain remaining on a sinking ship. He’d be the last to leave rather than leave a man behind, about which they were going to have to exchange words.

“Professor… Nathaniel…” Erasmus reached out and placed a hand on his forearm. As Nathaniel had rolled back a sleeve that meant his touch came into contact with skin, but neither man pulled away. Erasmus waited until Nathaniel met his gaze. “I have to ask. When you didn’t want me here…” Erasmus broke off and instead of making it a question, what came out of his mouth was statement. “You knew. I don’t know how, but instinctively you knew. I think…I think I sensed then you wanted to tell me but didn’t know how to make sense of it all. You didn’t want me doing this because you knew it would adversely affect anyone who came into contact with it. I want to…thank you, but…” Again, Erasmus’s gaze drifted over to Kaplan. He swallowed, the movement in his throat very clear. “I do thank you. I mean, I was so sick I couldn’t have helped anyway, but had I known…” More shaking of his head interrupted the flow. “I’d like to be brave again. I’d like to say I’d sacrifice myself for a greater good. I would.”

His whole demeanour said he just didn’t know if that was something he was capable of any more. After a few seconds, Erasmus looked back. His hand still lay on Nathaniel’s arm.

“However important this thing is, don’t overstay. The commander will try dragging you out of here and please, I pray you not to fight him. When it’s time to go, you must leave. However important this find is, you are more important than it. I know that.”

“Important?” Nathaniel held Erasmus’ gaze, wondering if the man flushed from the heat in the cave or his words.

“T-to the mission. You’ve been part of it from the start. You mean too much to the mission. To…all of us.”

Nathaniel patted Erasmus’ hand and then let his fingers linger there. “Don’t worry, Erasmus. I have no intention of dying here. Now tell Bedford to pop back in when he has a moment. Tell Tally I said he’s to stay out.”

Erasmus nodded, drawing back, removing his hand at the last. He looked back once before hurrying off.

If Erasmus did so thinking he’d never see Nathaniel again he was very much mistaken. The work had progressed expediently. Only now did Kaplan appear to be slowing, but as the repairs were almost complete, Nathaniel supposed it was no matter.

He watched, waiting, while Kaplan completed the last of his current instructions. Bedford chose that moment to enter the cavern.

One glance at Kaplan and Bedford was unable to hide his shock and disgust. He instantly rearranged his expression and marched across, but his shoulders were hunched and the look in his eyes gave away his inner pain.

“Not so happy with your decision now, hmm?”

“Steady on, Stone. I said I was capable of ordering men to their deaths. I didn’t say I was happy about it.”

“No. Of course not.” Nathaniel looked back at Kaplan. In truth he was finding it extremely difficult to look away from him. He was as much…mesmerised by the changes in Kaplan as he was in the outcome of these endeavours. Also horrified.

While it was true Kaplan’s skin had taken on the bluish cast of a Drobate, he looked nothing like one of them or even the form Tereshkov had acquired during his time on Luna. He was becoming something other.

Was his skull changing shape? Possibly, but not in quite the exaggerated way of a Drobate, more like the daguerreotype Quintana had shown Nathaniel after returning from Greenore Gulch. A result of over-exposure to jothrick. Perhaps the grand orrery was made from some derivative of that genet? Perhaps, if there had been enough time that change would occur, but they were nearly finished and in any case, Nathaniel was sure he stood watching a man dying.

Should that be me?

The thought came from nowhere and he didn’t have time to indulge it. No-one else could have deciphered the code to obtain the instructions in the time allotted. Working this way, with Kaplan following his orders, had definitely meant for faster progress. Kaplan had slogged away at the task, and only slowed on occasion. Work had gone even faster since he’d removed his mask.

The first time Bedford had come in and seen that… To call his expression a look of horror did not do it justice. Even Nathaniel felt sick, and it was one thing he didn’t want Tally seeing. Of all the changes he could see going on outside of the man, what changes had taken place inside to turn him into this?

Kaplan had a corpse-like appearance, the bluish tone of a Drobate mingling with the stark constriction of his skin over sharp angles of bone.

Nathaniel thought of the dragon. Were Kaplan’s bones calcifying?

The man didn’t seem to be in pain, and Nathaniel couldn’t understand why. No man should look like that without pleading for mercy.

“Is he done?” Bedford was staring at the mechanism, a better view than Kaplan to be certain.

“Almost.” Nathaniel looked back at his translation as Kaplan fitted two more spokes. He ordered Kaplan to fit the final gear.

Both he and Bedford took a step back out of the circle in anticipation of something happening. Nothing did.

6.

MARCUS PUSHED ONE OF the spokes, frowning when it refused to move. This wasn’t…right.

He looked around at the other two men in bewilderment. “Why?”

The tall man gave him such a look Marcus almost flinched back. Who was he? Nate. Another man with them called him Nate. That was an abbreviated form of…of…Nathaniel. Nathaniel Stone. Why had he forgotten that? Why was the professor angry with him? If not anger…what was he seeing in the man’s eyes? Marcus wanted to help him. That’s all he’d been trying to do, to help.

He turned his gaze back to the column of gears and the motionless pieces of wire projecting from the central mechanism.

“Maybe…” Marcus didn’t know what to suggest. He needed to make this right. After all his work this should move. “Maybe it won’t…” Won’t… Wouldn’t… What? He couldn’t remember. He’d been moving the…the…the wires. Yes, the wires, but some of the spokes had disintegrated, were missing. The spokes and the balls that represented the planets. “Maybe it needs all the parts.”

“What’s he talking about?” the other man demanded.

Bed…something. Marcus shook his head, but couldn’t complete the name. He became lost in the puzzle of the man’s unknown identity. He stared at the tall man who was speaking. The tall man called Stone.

“Some of the more delicate pieces are missing, but it should still spin. The central gears are fine and they should move.” Stone’s gaze swept the cavern, before looking back at the papers in his hands. “Maybe I’m missing something, some way to turn it on.”

“We’re out of time, Stone.”

Time?

Thoughts followed, disjointed, overlapping. Marcus fought to remember. If it just weren’t so hot in here. If he could just breathe without having to wear…

Marcus paused in running a hand over his face. His mask was missing. He’d removed it. He was on Jupiter without his breathing apparatus yet still alive. That was impossible. “S-Stone?” He looked over at the professor, trying to tamp down his rising panic. “W-What’s h-happening to m-me?”

The two men stopped their conversation and looked at him. It was the taller man… Marcus struggled to remember his name although he’d known it a moment ago. The taller man… Nate was the one to walk towards him.

“Doctor Kaplan… Marcus. I need you to look for something, a switch, a cog, something out of alignment that will make this operate.”

The man’s words made sense and yet…did not.

“The spokes, Kaplan. They need to move.”

He could do that. Reaching up, Marcus gave one a push. It moved a short way then came to a stop as it caught up with the other gears.

“No,” Nate said. “That’s not what I…”

Marcus had already pushed another. The gears clicked together, engaged.

“Yes!” Nathaniel said. “Keep going. Push all that you can.”

Marcus didn’t need telling. This was a simple enough task. He began pushing at the wires and as he moved them, the cogs clicked into place. Slowly, they began moving.

As they did, they began to vibrate and squeal. Such noise.

Marcus stopped to put his hands over his ears, aware the two men were shouting at him. One thing came through. He had to continue. Tears starting to stream down his face, Marcus reached for the next spoke and pushed.

7.

THE SOUND WAS SO GREAT Bedford expected something spectacular to happen. There was nothing magical about the screeching, grinding gears, or the machinery beginning to spin and shake in the spinning, particles flaking off and falling in a shower of corrosion. The machine worked for almost a full cycle then stopped. The sudden silence was almost as deafening as the racket it had produced.

It sat dead, as good as a rusty heap.

Nothing could come of this. Kaplan had risked his life for nothing.

A great tick of a sound filled the cavern. The orrery began to pivot. Kaplan had the sense to step back but one of the spokes still caught him and sent him flying to the edge of the circle. Bedford rushed over to him, winching when he reached down to help the man to his feet and felt the thin structure of his skeleton. Beneath his touch, Kaplan flinched. Had he hurt him with a simple grab to his shoulder?

Taking greater care, he put his hands under Kaplan’s arms and helped him to stand. Kaplan leaned into him as if he was too weak, and Bedford’s first instinct was to push the man away. Thoughts of Annabelle passed through his mind, the emotions of shame and frustration following. Annabelle would be the first to help a man in distress, even at the risk of infection. Bedford took hold of Kaplan, again. Together they turned to watch the orrery revolve.

It ground and clanked its way through two more turns. As it did, the central spindle began to split. Something was emerging but the cavern was shaking so much, they faced a real threat of being pitched to the ground. Small rocks began to separate from the roof and rain down. Bedford put an arm under one of Kaplan’s shoulders, flung one of the man’s arms about his neck. Kaplan seemed to have the sense of what he was about because he turned, fighting to propel himself towards the entrance. Once there, Bedford turned back, shouting for Stone.

The professor waved to him but he stood watching the orrery. So too, did Bedford. They were so close to…he knew not what, but time was running out and the area was growing dangerous. Kaplan cried out as Bedford stumbled into the wall, although Bedford took most of the brunt of the collision in order to protect him. He opened his mouth to shout another warning to Stone and realised the orrery had stopped turning. The middle had opened and something had appeared in the midst of the column. Even as he watched the cavern filled with a rainbow of multi-coloured lights. Projected right there in the cavern was a view of the Solar System such as he’d never seen before.

Bedford stood stunned by the view, aware he was looking at something in miniature that so few would even comprehend. He wanted to stand there for hours just looking at it, picking out the planets that he knew of, making new discoveries.

There was no time…and the cavern still shook.

The realisation had only just sunk in when part of the side wall caved in. A long claw appeared in the gap left behind and then withdrew. Bedford didn’t question what he was seeing.

“Stone!”

“I know!”

Nathaniel made a grab for something in the midst of the column. The magical light display vanished. Whatever Nathaniel had grabbed he brought with him, stuffing it into his pack with his papers, flinging that across his body and grabbing for Kaplan’s breathing apparatus in passing. Behind him, the wall continued to rupture. Bedford didn’t wait to catch his first sight of a dragon. He turned and dragged Kaplan along at his side.

8.

HALFWAY THROUGH THE TUNNEL Nathaniel made Bedford stop while he put the breathing mask back on Kaplan. The researcher tried to struggle, and Nathaniel didn’t even know if it was necessary or it would cause the man more harm, but he wasn’t going to spare the time to argue. He forced the mask onto Kaplan who gave up fighting after another abortive attempt. Then he pushed Bedford ahead.

One glance back revealed the tunnel collapsing. Maybe that was a good thing—would act as a barrier between them and the dragon—but only if they stayed ahead of the collapse. As soon as the tunnel was wide enough, he took Kaplan’s other arm, and he and Bedford as good as carried the man between them. No mean achievement—the position meant Nathaniel had to bend awkwardly owing to his height.

“Was that?” Bedford asked puffing.

“Yes.”

“An actual…”

“Yes.”

“A dragon?”

“Yes.”

“What do you think drew it?”

“The orrery working or the sound. For all I know maybe the dragons are supposed to protect this thing.”

Bedford gave him a frightened look. “If that’s true…”

Nathaniel nodded. He too was thinking of Sovereign and their chances of escape.

“Can’t believe I’ve been that close to a dragon.”

“Trust me. That’s as close as you ever want to be.” They reached the entrance to find Tally and Stevenson. “I can’t believe you stayed,” Nathaniel snapped.

“Scolding me, eh? Yer gobshite. Where’d yer think I’d be?” Tally’s gaze slid sideways. The smile slithered off his face as he took in Kaplan’s appearance. Stevenson moved in to take over Nathaniel’s task of half carrying the man when Tally pushed him aside. “Give him here. Hang on ta me, Marcus.” Tally’s resolute tone wavered. “What the feck ’ave yer done to yerself?” He sounded half choked.

When he bent, Nathaniel expected Tally to throw the man over his shoulder, but instead he lifted him gently. Even so, Kaplan groaned. No matter how gentle Tally was, Kaplan was going to find the journey back uncomfortable. Tally turned with the man in his arms. “Light as a feather,” he said, imparting the news that he could carry him and that he didn’t like Kaplan’s chances all in that one sentence. A second passed in which Tally just stared at him. “Let’s be out of here.”

There wasn’t much left for them to carry and they abandoned everything not strictly necessary. They had a long trip to the surface and were going to have to do most of it at a run.

An hour later, they stopped to catch their breath although that meant gasping in the metallic tasting air and using up precious reserves.

Nathaniel was about to push Bedford into moving, but he followed the commander’s gaze and knew they’d stopped mostly to give Kaplan a break. Tally had carried him in his arms for as long as he could but had eventually had to carry him like a sack of spuds. Being jiggled on Tally’s shoulder was no fun for the man; might be doing any and all kinds of damage to his skeletal structure or even his organs.

“Bedford, are you sure…?” Nathaniel spoke quietly, hoping Tally didn’t hear. He didn’t want to say it, but had to. “Should we take him back?”

Bedford looked at him and he anticipated an objection, even anger, but Bedford understood. “Do you think he’s contagious?”

Nathaniel considered. “No. I believe having actual contact with the machinery has caused this; otherwise the same thing should have happened to me. But I cannot say for certain.” He didn’t add that Kaplan was slowing them down. He didn’t have to state the obvious to Bedford, and at heart he didn’t want to leave Kaplan on Jupiter. He wouldn’t have chosen to do such a thing to any man, and the memory of being lost here was too sharp. If Kaplan was dying, let him do it on the ship, but all options had to be considered. “I’m more worried about our air supply and whether the cutter or even Sovereign is waiting.”

As to that all they could do was hope.

9.

THEOBALD STARED OUT OF the viewing port. He had no idea what had got the dragon beasts so riled up but they were definitely moving closer. The only thing that seemed to currently offer any level of protection was the area in which Sovereign hovered.

“Seems like Fontaine was right. They don’t like this quieter zone. Keep us from drifting, Barry.”

“Aye, sir.”

While Theobald was worried about the ship, he was more concerned about the cutter. Owing to the dragons drawing nearer, it had returned to the ship once, but only to bring about a third of the team back to the ship, and then because the crewman who had dislocated his arm was complaining of additional pain, which meant he required medical treatment after all.

He ruminated over the message that Bedford was extending the mission for a very important reason. He’d “requested” an additional six hours. Seeing as by the time Theobald gave the order, relayed it back to the cutter, and someone took the message far enough into Jupiter to inform Bedford, Theobald’s acceptance or rejection was moot.

As the time approached he’d sent the cutter back into position. A while ago more of the team had returned, but apparently five remained inside Jupiter’s core.

Theobald set his jaw in a hard line. Assignments by their very nature could run over time, but Bedford had better have a damn good reason. He didn’t like the way these creatures were growing bolder; tried to think of a cause. Was it something to do with whatever it was Bedford had found below?

“Sir? The area around the cutter is becoming quite crowded, sir.”

Theobald snapped to, peering out. The sky indeed appeared to be full of flying reptiles.

“Bees protecting the hive,” he murmured. He was growing ever certain that his supposition was right and that something in the core of the planet had disturbed them. Whatever Bedford was up to suddenly had his attention. “Keep watch, gentlemen. If need be we’ll move in to try to protect the cutter. Order them to remain unless they are in immediate danger. And alert the gun crew we may be in for some action.” He straightened his back, clasping his hands at the base of his spine. “I really don’t want to fight these beasties unless we have to.” Under his breath, he added, “And pray the others emerge soon.”

They had passed Bedford’s deadline ten minutes ago, but Theobald would wait as long as they were able.

Come on, Bedford. Where are you?