Trekmaster. James B. Johnson

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СКАЧАТЬ with the sons of many other noblemen, he crossed the great plain. He climbed T. Bear Ridge, fought his way through the gorge called Devil’s Dip. surmounted Big Bear Ridge and spoke with the mysterious inhabitants. His account follows.

      —from Thornton Shepherd:

      It was the mountain training my father gave me which gifted me with the techniques and abilities to climb the ridges. Out of many, I alone survived. And talked to the people, or whatever they are, over there. And they gave me a stone, this thing the kingdom was named after. They seemed to actually understand me. And I got some of the concepts they expressed. One day, I would return for study and leisure to communicate further. My observations of the Webbines are attached on separate sheets. (NOT FOUND: perhaps my father was updating these pages when he passed on? Solomon Shepherd)

      But going back there may be a bit difficult for there are other kingdoms now encroaching upon my territory and I must prepare the army and make arrangements. Fools. Civilization is returning, and so must wars? I have heard that all over this vast continent, at least on this west side of the great divide provided by the two Bear ridges, that other towns and villages are growing and joining, becoming feudal kingdoms of which I’ve read from books of Olde Earthe. I foresee that these next years shall be trying to our people. Fortunate that we’ve built a fine kingdom, a strong people, and common goals. (Save those pesky priests.) Personal tragedy aside, I still look at the stone, the badge of office won, and become calm again and am able to plan. I see that the future holds much, and should be accounted for in any actions I take as King.

      —from Solomon Shepherd:

      ...but my father insisted, else the people and particularly the army would not follow me. I used the landmarks he told me of: the spire atop Teddy Bear ridge called The Finger of God, and the peak dwarfing Big Bear ridge, seen by few men only. (INSERT NOTE: this latter peak has since been named Forty-K. TJ Shepherd) And when I returned with my stone, he was dead in battle. How could I forgive myself for not being there? Only Felicia could console me. Now I understand. I face the same problem my ancestors did: I must commit my sons, one of which I hope will master the Trek as I did. But so many have died making the Trek. Should I not consider ordering it ended? My advisors counsel against it. Not knowing what to do, I asked one of my sons, Thomas Jefferson, for his opinion. “Opinions are like assholes, father,” he told me. “Everybody’s got one. Yet it seems to me that there is value within the doing,” he said enigmatically, and I saw this was true. Did not taking the Trek make me a better, more understanding man? Perhaps. But to balance this off with the death of one’s fine sons? TJ seemed to have a grasp of man’s inner nature. But the hordes press in upon us and our isolated little kingdom. And TJ is a fine warrior already—those in the army who personally know him idolize him. He is one of them more than one of us, the royalty. Thinking upon it, I realize that TJ recognized the value of the Trek, not just in personal terms to those who have conquered it, but in importance to the people of Crimson Sapphire. We are the most stable and strongest community that I am aware of now. And for that reason, and our natural wealth of tillable soil, others clamor on our borders. The entire continent is seething with battle. Armies and raiders are all about and it takes much of our energy and production to maintain safe borders. It is draining us. Unfortunately, this is giving the Church new life; that entity is resurging in importance, political importance. They want to return to the days of church domination. Hang infidels, nonbelievers, and blasphemers (being “Jerked for Jesus” they call it, an old SowestAm tradition, they claim). What with the external threats to the integrity of Crimson Sapphire (I’m beginning to sound like an officious monarch, part of the bureaucracy—TJ will fix that when I see him next. If.), I believe the crown is temporarily safe from the priesthood for they need warriors to protect the kingdom they wish to manage.

      —from Felicia Shepherd:

      My husband, the King Solomon Shepherd Rex, died in battle before he completed his obligatory entries. Currently, the army suffers my rule, for is there another option in this time of crisis?

      It saddened me to send my three young sons across the plains to the mountains and chilling ridges to those strange peoples whom I read about in these pages. Odds are against any returning. But the eldest. Thomas, shows promise. Stonewall Jackson has a slim chance. But the youngest, Theodore Roosevelt, though the most agile of the three, is not sufficiently cunning, I fear, to complete the Trek. What will I do should none live through it? Am I up to handling the crown? But my money is on Thomas. The rogue. Many young ladies about Crimson Sapphire will miss his presence, even though he was most of the time with the troops and fighting. Even as a child, he was a fighter. Tossed off pneumonia and other illness. Frankly, he was a hardheaded little rascal whom I called Rowdy. The other two? Fine sons, aye, that they were. (Were? A mother knows.) I sent them off with nary a tear. They took my heart with them; for you see, I knew I’d never see them again. Is this a job for a mother? To bear sons to die? But go they did, for the kingdom my husband was trying to save, and for our heritage. I had no choice. The more I write, the more confident I become that Thomas shall return. I shall have one son left to me. (Should The Good Lord be Willing and Give Blessings.) Thomas is a natural leader of men and an expert swordsman. Expert with almost any weapon. Though he does not seem to be growing into a philosopher-king like the other Shepherds, he is worth reckoning. Our land needs men, leaders and fighters and builders like Thomas. It can do without a philosopher-king for a generation or two.

      I find I ramble. There are matters of the realm to attend to.

      Respectfully signed and submitted,

      Felicia Shepherd, Queen Regent.

      Addendum: The men from the stars have arrived. Thank God they landed on our countryside, and not that of some others. Oh, I do so wish Thomas would return from the Trek. FS.

      Mike knew that after his father had finished the Trek, he had conquered the planet of Bear Ridge. That simple—ignoring the twenty or so years it took. Possibly the richest entry was not here in the log: that of Thomas Jefferson Shepherd. He was irritated and relieved at the same time. Relieved so that he would not have to read how tough things had been for his father and thus have to empathize some with the old bastard. And irritated because he wanted to know what the King had gone through. How did his father complete the Trek? Did he go only to the top of the first ridge? Or did he continue and cross the gorge and climb the second ridge and reach the home of those mysterious inhabitants? Mike felt somehow cheated.

      “Michale?”

      Visions of ridges, volcanic remains, monstrous jigsaws of ruined terrain, snarves, ice, burning gas, bleeding fingers, dead Trekkers, and mysterious inhabitants faded. He looked up sharply. “Mother. Hello.”

      Gwen had come into the sitting room. “Your grandmother’s entries always fascinate me,” she said, “more from what she doesn’t write in them than what she logs.”

      “After all, she is a Shepherd,” Michale said and immediately regretted his caustic tongue. He saw that his mother understood. “Where is father’s book? His pages?”

      Gwen shrugged. “He is still working on them.”

      “Naaah,” Mike stretched the sound out. “It’s been many years, mother. And one as fond of administrative matters as he is would not fail to accomplish so sacred a duty.”

      “Michale, sometimes I think you are part volv the way your tongue flickers and hisses.”

      “Mmm sorree,” he mimicked himself when he was a child.

      She smiled at the memory. “I’ll tell you about the Trek—what little I know.”

      He looked questioningly at her.

      “Yes, he does not confide totally СКАЧАТЬ