1899- Journey to Mars

“What? What could be worse?”

“Johnathan Conklin’s clones,” Billy admitted.

“Come again?”

“The enemy had at least two of him, and where there’s two, there’s probably a hundred more.”

“The Ripper,” Ekka said.

Around them the grating metal had ceased. The end of one steel tentacle hung over the viewscreen. The Argent was no longer being herded—she was held.

[ 38 ]

The space station continued to grow in size. Where the sun reflected off of raw steel it became burnished gold.

“You’d have thought they would have painted it,” Ian said.

“Right,” Billy replied.

The station reminded Billy of photographs he had seen of the Orient. A series of pagodas rose upward from a broad base in step-pyramid fashion, a clear indication of architectural design over functionality. The roof arch of each succeeding level resembled a broad, hand-carved beam that tapered at the end, and all along it dangled what appeared to be tassels, but were, Billy knew, individual singleships. There were thousands of them.

“What are we looking at?” Ian asked.

“An island in the sea,” John Carter replied. “But since there are few islands in this ocean, if you want one you have to make it.”

“But why?” Ian pressed.

Avinash Rathmandu floated up from below. He spoke in a quiet, gentle voice. “Because, my good friends, the man which controls the heavens controls the Earth below. It was written in the Vedas, it is written even in our Christian Bible. Any man who would do such a thing would make himself a god. It is, therefore, most important that you realize you are dealing with a madman.”

“Yes,” Billy agreed. “But how many?”

“There is only enough room at the top of the mountain for one,” Avi said.

“He’s right,” Carter said.

“Good to know,” Billy said. “Captain Carter, go below, gather arms and distribute them to everyone. You’ll find the lockers in the cargo bay, opposite the main hatch. If they are to board us, we must defend ourselves. And ask Bixie if she’s got any magic up her sleeve for this type of thing. All to assemble at the main hatch.”

“Aye sir,” Carter said, and launched himself to the hatch.

Billy abandoned the weapons console and popped the latch on a hidden compartment beneath the yoke. He reached in and pulled out a gunbelt with two Colt revolvers in their holsters. After checking the loads of each, he popped the cylinders back into place.

Pat Garrett emerged onto the bridge. “What’s happening now.”

“You ready to do some shooting, Pat?”

Garrett smiled. “I was born ready.”

“Good. Where have you been, anyway?” Billy asked.

“I needed a drink of something strong. Come to find out you had some whiskey stashed in the galley. Good stuff, too.”

“Had, apparently. A fellah never knows when he’ll need a Chinese Fire Dragon.”

“I’m not sure what that means, and I’m not certain I want to know, either.”

“Good,” Billy replied. “Let’s get down to the cargo bay. When they open it, we’ll be waiting for them.”

“Who will we be waiting for, do you think?” Ekka asked.