Fourth Vector Ch. 12

Jack looked over to Greg who carried just the same sense of bewilderment on his face as Jack felt internally. Knowing the precarious situation they found themselves in, Jack tried to buy some time.

"I need all of theMuthada to stand your ground right now," ordered Jack. "I need to consult with my forces before we do anything further."

The warrior then nodded, no doubt finding the request reasonable. "Of course, clan chief. You can call for us when you're ready. If you need anything, my name is Abel."

Jack waved Greg over to a private spot several feet away along with Captain Bucknell. "Captain, keep an eye on them. I'm not sure what to expect but if they show any signs of hostility, you have freedom to respond in kind."

Bucknell nodded. "Yes, sir, we'll keep an eye on them."

"What do you think of this?" Jack asked Greg as Bucknell walked back to theMuthada warriors. "There seems a bit too good to be true, right?"

"Too good to me, Jack," said Greg. "I'm still not convinced this isn't some elaborate hoax on their part. Maybe it's part of the plan for them? Lull us into their camp, convince us of some fantastical story while they call in the other clans to finish all of us off? The longer we're off the safety of the plateau, the more time it gives the rest of the clans to act against us."

"I don't disagree with you, and we need to get back soon," said Jack. "But part of me worries about letting them come with us."

"Letting them come with us? To the plateau? No way, Jack," said Greg while shaking his head. "That could be part of their plan too! Get on the plateau and attack us when our backs are turned dealing with their countrymen."

"Neither option gives me a good feeling about this, Greg. I don't know what to think. Their story seems to check out, but I don't trust them any further than I can throw them. I'm almost tempted to make them wait here and see if they get attacked by the others."

Greg's lips twisted to one side. "It's not a bad idea but we don't have a ton of time here to make a decision."

To make matters worse, theMuthada warrior, Abel, came closer to Jack and Greg. He was carefully shadowed by Bucknell on his walk over. From behind Abel, there were signs of tension forming in the camp of theMuthada.

"Clan chief, I must let you know that our scouts have spotted a column ofCethusa warriors heading in our direction," said Abel while bowing his head to Jack.

"Cethusa?" asked Jack. "Another clan I take it?"

Abel nodded. "Yes, clan chief. TheCethusa are one of the new arrivals from yesterday, and their position is on the north side of your plateau. They had their own blood alliance with Adulis, but that will now be dissolved."

"Will they know that theMuthada have switched sides?" asked Jack.

Abel shook his head. "I doubt that, clan chief. Even though such things are common in Andalucia, we'll have an element of surprise when they find out the old clan chief is dead."

Jack nodded. "Where are they coming from?"

Abel pointed in the direction from where Jack's attack originally started. "They're coming down that pass. You can see them now if you look."

Jack turned to where he was pointing and saw the cloud of dust being thrown up by the trampling of several hundred feet in the same direction. It was the same split pass that they pushed forward across to launch the attack on theMuthada, and now Jack found himself in the reverse position from this morning.

"What do you want to do? We can't trust them just yet?" whispered Greg to his side. "This could be a trap!"

"I agree," said Jack before turning back to Abel. "How many warriors do you have that are still standing?"

"About a hundred and thirty, clan chief," answered Abel. "We've taken grave losses in the fight with your men."

"Arrange them in front of us along your first defensive perimeter," said Jack. "We'll need to move quickly before theCethusa get here. My men will be directly behind you since our rifles have more range. Will you need long to get your warriors assembled?"

Abel shook his head and then gave a whistle, low and long. "Not at all, clan chief. We'll be there shortly."

Around them, theMuthada gathered together in a large circle as Abel issued Jack's orders and then moved as a group to the defensive line that Jack outlined.

"This should work out well. We can keep an eye on them and see if they'll attack their own countrymen," said Jack to Greg quietly. "This will give them a chance to prove their worth."

Greg spit onto the ground. "As long as they don't turn around to attack us as soon as theCethusa are close. That would be just our luck."

Jack watched as two defensive lines were organized as the dust cloud in front of them grew larger. Abel organized theMuthada into a semi-circle defending the entrance to the lower plain while Greg set up the marines several paces behind them. It was largely a scene of confusion on the Javan side as the individual marines wondered out loud how this new fight would go and whether theMuthada would prove to be trustworthy.

"Remember, don't be afraid to put a bullet between their shoulder blades if they try to turn on us," said Greg to a marine that was standing directly in front of Jack. It was quiet enough to not draw the attention of theMuthada, most of whom were busy notching their first arrows and preparing to receive theCethusa, who were now charging head first down the ridge.

"Don't fire too early yet, boys," roared Greg to the marines. "Let them get closer. Be sure of your shot before you take it!"

Within the next two moments, two things happened of direct importance. The first was that theMuthada, who had been kneeling against the sandy terrain, stood as one body, their bows aimed toward the sky. Abel gave the order and an audibletwang sound filled the air as over a hundred arrows soon entered the sky. Those arrows raced toward the front lines of theCethusa who soon stopped a good fifty yards from the front lines. It was only once theCethusa had stopped that their front ranks were devastated by the first volley from theMuthada.

A good portion of the attackingCethusa fell as the first casualties of the battle but it wasn't enough to prevent them from letting loose their first volley, seeing the betrayal of their countrymen. TheMuthada absorbed the arrows as expected, with some ten warriors falling to the ground to never rise again.

"All right, they've proven themselves for now," yelled out Jack. "Let's show this new clan what Javan firepower can do! Fire at will, marines!"

"Give them some lead, boys," echoed Greg as all along the line, the NT-12 rifles roared once more into the now stationaryCethusa line.

The effect was momentous. Much more devastating than the first volley from theMuthada, theCethusa fell in literal droves as their line wavered, and their warriors started to panic. More arrows soon filled the air as theCethusa continued to be rankled without mercy from the two very different weapons. Gaps started to appear in their front lines, and bodies began to pile on top of each other. What started as a quick attack coming down from the ridge soon mirrored the earlier attack of the Javans just a half hour earlier.

"They're starting to break!" yelled Greg above the roar of the gunfire.

In the back lines of theCethusa, men could be seen rushing away from the front lines toward the mountain pass as the tides of battle turned against them. In the front, the number of dead had created a haphazard defensive position for those left standing, but it soon crumbled under the sustained fire. The longer the fight went on, the more gaps appeared in the line.

All too soon, theCethusa ran out of steam and completely broke. TheMuthada let loose one more volley that largely struck the backs of the retreating clan as they charged back up the ridge. While the marines held their positions, theMuthada chased after the brokenCethusa, taking an opportunity to kill the wounded still languishing near the front lines. Several of them even pushed onward, intent on chasing theCethusa all the way back to their camp.

"Cease-fire," yelled out Jack as he rushed forward while waving his arms. "Stop the killing! I order you to stand your ground now!"

His words had an immediate effect. TheMuthada that were within earshot froze in their places, many of them dropping back to the same prostrate position as when Jack killed the clan chief. Those all the way in the front seemed to notice that their brethren weren't following behind them anymore, quickly stopping the pursuit and dropping to the ground in deference. All turned their attention to Jack to await further orders.

It was a bewildering sight for him. He was used to receiving respect from his men, but the kind of deference that theMuthada now showed was taking it to a new level. Their respect was instantaneous, and their obedience to his orders seemed to be absolute so far. Could he continue to trust them? Would they continue toearn that trust?

"I'd say they put up a good show," said Greg, who happened to join his side a few moments later. "If they are still trying to deceive us then this is one convincing performance."

"I'm getting a gut feeling on them that this is the real deal, Greg. I think this whole issue with becoming the new clan chief is real."

Greg started to chuckle. "Remind me to kill the next clan chief we run across. I could use my own clan. These guys look like they'd run through fire if you told them to."

"That's what makes them so deadly as an enemy," said Jack before pointing at the remainingMuthada. "How many of them were there when we got here several days ago? Over five hundred warriors? There's a little more than a hundred left now. They just keep attacking and attacking. I'm glad to have them on our side, but if this is the way the Andalucians treat battle, we need to get off this island and soon."

"After we get Kat though, right?" asked Greg. "We're not going to leave her here."

"No, we're not," said Jack firmly. "But perhaps our new allies can teach us a thing or two about Andalucian power politics."

Greg laughed. "Wait until the rest of the group gets a load of all of them coming up the plateau. They'll be scared out of their wits for a moment until they find out what's happened."

Jack chuckled along with him. "Send a squad back with notice for Abigail and the rest of the platoons. No reason to scare them when we get back."

-------

Even with advanced warning, the reception back on top of the plateau was entirely expected.

"I can't say this doesn't make me uneasy, Jack," said Abigail with arms crossed as she watched a good portion of theMuthada separate into their own camp on the other side of the plateau. The majority of the women went about setting up their tents, a surprisingly easy task for how complex they looked. It enabled them to pack up and move within a few moment's notice and also easily explained how theNumratha were able to get out ahead of them before they reached their camp several days ago.

"It makes me a little nervous as well," said Jack with a comforting hand on her back. "However, they've shown their worth so far. They fought back the attacking clan ofCethusa warriors, and they've obeyed every order I've given."

"And what if that's part of the plan?" she asked. Her expression turned to worry. "Perhaps this is a trick?"

"Greg suggested the same thing," said Jack. "Yet, they have brought their entire clan with them. The majority are innocents. I hardly doubt if they were up to no good they would've brought their families with them."

Abigail's mouth twitched. "Still though. I don't like it."

"We'll keep them separated, Abigail. For now, I'm posting warriors on both entrances to the plateau to join the guard of marines. With our reinforcements, we're now up to a hundred and twenty-eight men, more warriors than the entireMuthada. If they tried anything, the marines are under strict orders not to hold back to secure the integrity of our group."

Abigail nodded slowly, saying no more. It was obvious by the look on her face she wasn't entirely convinced, not that Jack blamed her. Asking her to now trust an enemy who had so recently been trying to kill them was a tall order. Their good behavior was the only shred of trust Jack was willing to grant them, and so far, they hadn't disappointed him.

It was even rather curious to watch them as they erected a new camp at the top of the plateau, reminding Jack that they were still humans too. He watched an oblivious husband and wife bicker over something in their native tongue while a small mass of children ran about between their legs, playing their own version of tag. A small part of him inside was thankful they hadn't had to kill them all. Perhaps there was hope yet for the Andalucian clans?

Even still, what was left of theMuthada was still haunted by the specter of slavery. As normal signs of humanity filled the camp, the dark side of bondage took over in the background as slaves rushed about doing the most menial of tasks, all marked by the small metal clasp around their neck that indicated their position at the bottom of Andalucian society.

"Terrible, isn't it? The slaves, I mean," said a feminine voice to his side.

Jack looked over to see Vera watching him, her gaze alternating between two nearby slaves who were hauling possessions for one of theMuthada families.

"It is," agreed Jack. "Just when I was starting to think the Andalucians may not be so different from us, I get a reminder of their societies' plight. It really is awful to watch."

"It's even more awful to experience it firsthand," said Vera quietly.

Jack wrapped an arm protectively around her shoulder. "Are you holding up okay? I realize it must be a lot to ask of you to have them so close to us now."

Vera shook her head. "I've put it behind me. Some reminders of that experience get to me at times, but I've moved on. It's a life I wouldn't wish on anyone."

"And yet it seems to have persisted here of all places," said Jack. "I don't know how or why but the longer we stay here on this wretched island, the more I can understand the misery here. Even if there was no slavery, it would still be terrible here."

"The only constant in Andalucia is warfare, Jack. The clans are always fighting each other. If it wasn't you right now, it would be someone else."

"That's of little comfort at the moment," said Jack with a slight chuckle. "Especially as I find myself a clan chief seemingly at the drop of a hat."

"Or the drop of the last chief," teased Vera. "Even still, it's not something to take much pride in. It's a legacy of shame more than anything."

"All the more reason for us to finish our mission and get out of here," said Jack. "I never asked to be chief of theMuthada. I think it may give us an opportunity to learn more about them and perhaps find a way out of our current predicament, but beyond that, I don't see much value. They can pick a new chief when I'm gone."

Vera shook her head. "I don't think it works like that, Jack. From what I remember when I was here, your chiefdom survives as long as you do. As long as you're alive, these people will consider you their leader."

"It's a lot to digest right now," said Jack with total honesty. "I'm sure half the group thinks I'm nuts for letting them up here. Not that I trust them fully either, but if there's a way we can use this to our advantage, I'm going to take it."

"I trust you," said Vera quietly as her eyes sought his. "You've never led me astray in the entire time that I've known you."

"All two months at that?" he teased.

Vera started to giggle. "Still. There's something inside me that tells me I can trust you. That Ishould trust you. As someone who usually goes by her gut feeling, I'm going to continue to listen to my instincts."

"I hope for both of our sakes then that your trust in me is justified," said Jack with a laugh.

She squeezed him tight. "Me too!"

As Vera slipped away, Jack spotted Abel on his way back to the new camp from his position on the front line. Since it was close to midday, his headgear covered a good portion of his face, and Jack could only tell it was him by recognizing his earlier clothing. He studied the Andalucian warrior for a few moments before he decided to walk over. Abel had dark-olive colored skin and brown eyes, carrying lighter features than most of theMuthada. As soon as he saw Jack approaching, he sunk to the ground in a kneel.

"Greetings, clan chief," said Abel in a formal tone.

"Abel, please rise," said Jack while waving at the man. "Do you always greet your chiefs in such a manner?"

Abel used a hand to push off the ground. "It is Andalucian custom, clan chief. We treat our chiefs with the utmost respect by showing our deference."

"It seems I have much to learn about your culture," said Jack. "Do you mind if I walk with you for a bit?"

Abel shook his head. "I'd be honored, clan chief. I was just about to go back to my tent to get more water." He waved a small container in front of him, completely empty of its contents.

"Abel, I'll be frank with you. I don't have much experience with your lands or with your people. I still have many questions, and unfortunately, this isn't the best learning environment for that."

"It's been noticed already," said Abel with a small smile. "There have been many within theMuthada who are eager to know more about their new clan chief."

"As I am eager to find out about them. For that reason, I'd like to ask your help in that matter."

"My help? In what regard?"

"In teaching me about your people and your ways. I'm not sure how long we'll be in your country, but I do think it's important that I reach a level of understanding with your people. Would you be my teacher in that regard?" asked Jack.

Abel nodded eagerly. "It would be my privilege, clan chief. Wow," he said while holding a hand to his breast.

"What is the matter?"

"I'm just not used to having such exultation as I feel right now," he said with a smile. "Adulis and I didn't see eye to eye much. He was still family, but more distant in relation, and there had been some bad blood between my father and his. That didn't put me very close to his inner circle so this is quite the change in position for me."

"For not being too trusted by him, you seemed well familiar with the battlefield when we engaged theCethusa. Your men seemed to trust you."

"I have trained as a warrior all my life, clan chief," said Abel. "There aren't many others in the entireMuthada that are a better shot than I. Even though Adulis didn't like me, it didn't mean I don't command a certain degree of respect in wartime."

"So you're something like a general to the clan?" asked Jack.

Abel winced. "General? No. I know that of which you speak, but the only generals in Andalucia are the clan chiefs. Clan chiefs have the power of life and death over their clan so there's not much room for any additional forms of authority such as a general."

"What about Bathal? He seemed to have some authority over who met with Adulis when I first entered your camp."

"True," said Abel with a nod of his head. "But Bathal was first cousin to Adulis and granted extra privileges for his competency. He only carried out the will of the clan chief. You can say that being in the inner circle of a clan chief is one of the greatest positions in the entire clan, but even then, you are still nothing more than an advisor."