TO THE SHORES OF TRIPLE, LEE! - Ray Gun Revival

“TO THE SHORES OF TRIPLE, LEE!” by A.M. Stickel
“Let me have a look.” Sure enough, the
viewer was focused on the naked sacrifice’s
glassy belly, and it showed movement of a
tiny body within.
“That’s barbaric. Why would they sacrifice
her?” I gasped.
“We’ll find out after we rescue her.”
“Just how are we supposed to accomplish
such a rescue?”
“Greenie, leave that to me.” Then he blew
the whistle. When the shield went up high
enough, we dumped everything out of the
sledge, and he called to the surprised faces
within, “Sorry we can’t stay to chat. Enjoy the
chow. We gotta run along now.” The shield
slammed down.
The next thing I knew we were in the center
of the makeshift sacrificial grounds ready to
load up the struggling Dryl lovely and thereby
convince unbelievers of her Great Invisible’s
omnipotence.
Lee proved remarkably fluent in Drylspeak,
and finally succeeded in calming down
the would-be sacrifice. Finally realizing we
wouldn’t turn her over to the nonexistent
mercy of her own kind, she agreed to come
along peacefully, sworn on both her honor
and by her Divine Protector to behave.
Arriving back at Camp Alpha, Lee whistled
up the wall and went in alone, leaving me
with the transparent lady. I tried not to stare,
but she eyed me boldly as if she could see
my insides. Shame for the prejudices most
recently acquired from my time in the hole
made me blush. Compared to me, she was
brave, even if for the wrong reason.
Finally, Mama Alpha blanked her shields
for our prisoner long enough for me to hustle
her inside. She seemed to enjoy riding on
the sledge. We brought out a translation unit
so that the Dryl-speak could be turned into
Terran for the curious troops. She answered
our questions as patiently as had Lee.
“You’ve asked who I am. I was a warrior
princess of the Dryl until I was given to an
E-Lur prince as an experiment in peacemaking.
No, our names are not important. More
important is that, despite our differences, we
found love. The child I carry is our child. Dryl
science made him possible. Most E-Lurians,
however, still refuse to be one with the Dryl.
Those Dryl who feel the same killed my child’s
father. I heard the call of the Great Invisible
to join my prince. Even though this night
Ray Gun Revival – August 1, 2006 Issue 03
Pg.
I escaped, I have lost the will to live. If you
choose to save my child by providing a host
mother, then you might yet accomplish what
his father and I have failed to do. Have you a
candidate?”
Wolfie came forward and put her hand on
the princess’s shoulder. She didn’t need to say
anything. They just looked at each other and
nodded. Reston followed his bride, for once
not twitching nervously, but standing tall
and proud. Lee motioned to one of several
anxious medics.
“Medic, prepare three for light gating,”
ordered Lee.
“Sir, yes Sir.” said the medic, helping the
Dryl princess from the sledge.
She gazed at us, one by one, as she was led
away, saving me for last. I felt a ripple of understanding
sweep through me that needed
no translation.
Later, when I asked Lee about his familiarity
with the Dryl language, he winked and
answered, “Why not ask my grandma some
day?”
I stood at attention and saluted him,
singing the song he most loved to hear, “Sir,
yes Sir!”
And that, Your Majesty, is how you came
to be raised in the crèche like me, and why
I was chosen to take you to visit your other
two home worlds, since now you’re of age.
Seems like only yesterday I was eighteen,
myself. Inside I still feel eighteen. I think High
Commander Lee does too.
A.M. Stickel
This ~3550-word story was previously
published in DEEP MAGIC in 2 parts (in Sept.
& Oct. of 2005) as a winner of their cover
art writing challenge contest. Among other
publishing ventures, Anne is the managing
copyeditor for RAY GUN REVIVAL, Assistant
Editor (and contributing artist and author) of
BLACK PETALS, and a nonfiction contributor to
SURREAL.