The Blind Gods
Copyright© 2025 by Wau
Chapter 83: Among the stars
The Xeno stepped back, in a disturbingly human-like way.
“ME LOVE YOU,” signed Andreï in Stellar Tongue.
And the Xeno stepped back again to move away.
“It’s impossible for it to speak Stellar Tongue, Captain,” said Konrad, staring at the Xeno. “It was discovered at the other end of the universe only a few hundred years ago.” “Konrad, the last time I saw one of this species, it spoke it perfectly.”
The Xeno, now at a safe distance, turned around and fled quickly. They relaxed. Andreï made a report to the Alecto and proposed to follow the Xeno’s trail.
“We’re armed and ready. I think the nerve center of these Xenos is right on the other side of the planet. If we can be prepared, it will help us. Let’s move.”
They advanced beneath the hard-beating star. In the distance, a gas giant rose into the sky, filling a third of it. With a bit of luck, its rings would soon provide some shade.
“Captain,” said Konrad, pressing the matter again. “You speak of a Xeno like this one, the one who traveled with the Saint of the Xenos-but it wouldn’t be the first time two different species looked alike to our eyes.”
“I keep an open mind, Konrad.”
“My theory,” said Pallas, “is that a group of humans came here to rescue Garen Antor. They may have wandered, like us, from planet to planet and brought back a specimen to the HS-not necessarily willingly. Many Xenos survive in the vacuum of space and travel by clinging to the outside of ships.”
“If that’s the case, we’re wasting our time tracking these Xenos here, on this primitive planet.”
“Keep an open mind, Konrad.”
At last, the ring began to eclipse the sun. By the mathematical arcana of orbital trajectories, the occultation quickened, and night fell suddenly on their path. Konrad had barely said, “finally, some cool air,” when they were shoved by great invisible shields. Their pupils had not yet adapted to the darkness, and the force rolled them several meters-where something else rose from the ground. When the sun suddenly reappeared, between two rings, they saw they were inside a large wooden cage whose floor was strewn with grass and excrement. Around the cage stood about ten stick-insect-like Xenos, upright and motionless.
Momoko and Margret shouldered their rifles.
“Captain Andreï, we’re ready to fire on your command.”
“That seems a bit excessive. Stay alert.”
The sun vanished again, and the cage began to move-the Xenos were carrying it.
“Excuse my bluntness, Captain, but this is INSANITY! Come on, Geneva, tell him! What’s next? They throw us in a big pot and eat us?” shouted Konrad.
“When we’re in the pot, we’ll see,” said Andreï.
“The bindings of this cage are made of flexible wood. Probably a hunting tool, judging by the droppings on the floor. One blast from a discharger and we’re free,” said Geneva.
“Very well. Pallas, send a report on our situation and tell the Alecto to enter orbit and follow us closely. I’d like your opinion on their mental resistance.”
“They’re Xenos, so those are complex interventions,” said Pallas, “but I can undoubtedly influence their emotions-to frighten them, if they’re capable of fear.”
Andreï leaned against one side of the cage.
“I know what you’re thinking ... You’re thinking every minute counts. That these Xenos are sentients from a pre-medieval era who will bring nothing to our mission. That we must absolutely keep doing something-but what? I feel the same. I have no next step. Yes, perhaps, somewhere in the worlds of Multitude, there are other sentient species of interplanetary or interstellar type. Perhaps even the Blind Gods exist somewhere. If that’s the case, there may be a trace of them here. Because, whether you like it or not, there’s a mysterious link-though we try to deny it-between the Xeno I saw in Francisco’s orbit and these ones. Let’s wait. You’ve all had a year of training in handling Xeno contact and emergency situations. We’re going to put all that into practice.”
And so the cage was jostled for two hours before reaching a strange heap of large dry branches gathered into a spectacular tipi. The Xenos pulled them aside to reveal what seemed to be a great rectangular carved stone. The stone was as tall as a good-sized house and twice as wide.
“Geneva, record everything,” murmured the Captain, impressed.
The carvings depicted geometric creatures gathered around a great triangle, and stars were falling from them to illuminate the stick-insect Xenos. The stars formed a message in Stellar Tongue:
ME PROTECT YOU
YOU PROTECT ME
The geometric creatures. No one said a word, but everyone was thinking of the Blind Gods.
The cage was harnessed onto the stone with sturdy ties and wedged in place with large rough rocks.
Then, amid smoke whose cold wisps drifted into the cage, the stone began to rise-and sped silently along a stone pathway carved into the ground, overgrown with grass and small animals. Not a sound.
“Magnetic levitation by superconductivity?” asked Geneva.
“So much for the primitives and their giant stewpot,” commented Andreï toward Konrad.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.