1899- Journey to Mars

Ekka was nearest the Highlander, and no one noticed that she had her long-bladed knife hidden along the inside of her arm, point-up for an underhanded throw. If he moved, she would bury the knife in the hollow of the big man’s throat before he could clear the great sword. Pat stood near Guthrie, looking relaxed but ready. Billy was the most ready of all. He had already figured where his first three bullets would go. Billy said, “Not today, friend. He is with us.”

Avi said, “I owe all of you my life, and I wish no aggravation between you. Captain John Carter, I have no information of value for the Maharaja. That information was given to Billy months ago. He has what everyone seeks: The heart of the Arcadia, plucked from the wreckage at the bottom of the sea.”

John was taken aback for a moment. He faced Billy, “You have it?”

“That’s what’s powering this ship.”

“I have to take it to India. War is imminent there, and the Maharaja of Jaipur must win, for the sake of the people. It is essential. I bear you no ill will, Gostman, but our need is imperative.”

“No more than ours. We have a friend in peril and the heart of the Arcadia is the only thing that will allow us to go where he is, and save him. You can’t have it.”

“You would weigh the life of one man over the lives of millions?”

“He is my friend. Nothing outweighs that.”

John looked at Ian, then back at Billy. He sighed tiredly, “Then one of us should start the ball. I’m going to hate it when I kill you, you seem like a good man.”

Guthrie stepped between John and Billy, “Gentlemen, pardon me

for interrupting your most interesting conversation, but we are two seconds from attack.” Everyone looked at the robot.

The Argent scooted hard to the side as a powerful explosion hit the ship. “It’s the black ship!” Pat said as he looked out a window. She’s firing on us!”

Billy ran to the command post and worked the controls as another powerful blast made the spaceship groan and squeal as metal buckled. Billy pushed the levers forward and the Argent accelerated, but not fast enough to escape the black ship’s next shot.

The explosion almost rocked Billy out of his captain’s chair. Ekka slid into the co-pilots chair and said, “I will man the cannons.” She worked two spinning gears and three levers, then said, “Turn us, I am ready.”

Billy spun the Argent on a dime and they faced the oncoming black ship. Ekka pulled the triggers and the recessed Howitzer cannons on the ship’s front belched flame and four explosive shells zipped like angry bees toward their enemy.

A sickly green glow instantly surrounded the black ship and the Howitzer shells exploded harmlessly upon hitting it. Pat had been watching and said, “What the hell?”

Billy worked the controls and rocketed the Argent toward Ceylon’s mountains, where there were canyons. He said, “We’ll try to lose them in the canyons and get on our way.”

Guthrie talked as calmly as if everyone was seated at dinner, “That ship is the Kraken, built and designed by Adolph Hawken. No one really knew if it was real, but this is prima facie evidence that it is.”

“What is the green glow that stops cannon shells?” John asked.

Guthrie said, “It comes from the power source, which is rumored to be, at least partially, a portion of meteorite which broke apart in the sky five years, three months and two days ago. Witnesses across the world said the meteor glowed green. It was believed that any portions found retained the said glow. According to one paper written by Hawken, who located a portion of the meteorite, any fragment could be developed into a source of great power. He planned to develop it into an engine capable of sending a ship into space. He called the new source of power, cold-fusing. It appears he was successful.”

“Why is he attacking us?” Billy asked.

Guthrie said, “I can only surmise based on research, but Hawken also wants the power source from the Arcadia. I suspect he is after Avi, and that he doesn’t know that you, Billy, have already retrieved it. I also believe he is attacking us because he wishes to rule the skies, including everything in the ether, and to have the only spaceship extant.”

Bixie said, “Dat be an evil man in de black ship. You challenged him, Billy. He be hatin’ you for it, and he will not forgive.”

“Who are you?” Billy asked.

“Bixie Cottontree. I see tings.”

Ian said, “The lass hasn’t been wrong a single time.”

John said, “She made me a believer, and I am not turned to the supernatural arts.”

Ekka said, “She is Jamaican, I believe.” Bixie smiled at her and nodded. Ekka continued, “When I worked in the Caribbean, the power of witchcraft and supernatural things was prevalent, and I came to believe that some of the practitioners were authentic, although there were many more imposters than those with real power. The power of the strongest was in Vodou and Obeah. Which do you practice, Bixie?”

“I tell ever’ one Vodou, because most don’t be knowin’ Obeah. But dat is me, for true.”

Ekka said, “She is a seer, and more, I believe. Trust what she says.”