10 Angst of the Silent Man

The Flight of the Armada

Book 10: The Angst of the Silent Man

By

Jay Michael Jones

Smashwords edition

copyright 2014 by Jay Michael Jones

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To Dau

Table of Contents

Chapter 100 Shaken City

Chapter 101 Angst of the Silent Man

Chapter 102 Children of the New Age

Chapter 103 Generation

Chapter 104 My Reflection Speaks Back

Chapter 105 First Mission

Chapter 106 Goal

Chapter 107 Starlight

Chapter 108 Brief Candle

Chapter 109 Trouble with a Debt

Chapter 110 Creature of Habit

Chapter 111 Dau

Chapter 112 Stock Answer

Character List

Glossary

Ships of the Armada

Timeline of the saga so far

Other books by the author

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Chapter 100: Shaken City

Stuart! Stuart, look at this! Carrol called from the Great Room’s monitor area.

The excitement in her voice was not unexpected; Carrol was fond of athletic contests and baseball always held a fascination for her. She and Laureen had been hosting World Series parties in the Great Room all ginta, and the first two parties were successful. The other Thuringi liked parties and liked to relax together, even though they were not especially enthusiastic about the game of baseball. They were slowly trickling into the room after finishing chores, but few cared to arrive during the pre-game broadcast. They liked the game, not talking about the game.

Has the World Series begun? Stuart asked from down the hall in the boys’ bedroom, struggling to put shoes on the uncooperative Orion. The child thought it was a great game to play with his father but Stuart was not amused. Orion, you are being a great pain today. The anxiety in Carrol’s tone at her next words made both of them snap to attention.

No, it can’t! There is an earthquake there – we must do something!

Stuart carried his youngest child into the Great Room and saw the news coverage. Word! Who is on patrol?

Leel and Bador are in Northern Canada checking on Ossili activity.

"Bring them in. Pack relief supplies into the Shanaugh Special, and you and Sandan can take an emergency team to aid victims. Brent and Triton can take the Isador into the bay, and Echo and Blair and I will join Leel and Bador in the search for survivors."

What about me? Gareth asked.

Yes, you should join us and bring whatever tools might be appropriate. None of us should wear uniforms, but bring pistols as a precaution against lawlessness. Lauren, you and the children should watch the monitor and keep us apprised of developments.

What about the rest of the crew?

We still need a compliment here on the island for defense in case the Ossili realize the bulk of us are in California. Call the compliment to the Great Hall to take up positions along Goat Ridge. Quickly now; let’s move!

The damage was much more extensive than their usual rescue efforts, which were largely conducted in remote areas difficult to reach for most Earthian teams. Brent and Triton rushed up a street in the Marina district, horrified at the destruction they saw. That horror magnified when Triton realized an entire block of two-story homes should have been three-story homes. Brent reported the situation to Stuart over the com.

We are trying to pull people from the damaged houses, but there is so much damage! We are but pebbles on the shoreline of destruction.

Eh! This is terrible. An upper roadway has crashed down upon a lower passage and vehicles are trapped, Stuart replied. Do you need additional help?

The water mains are broken. Send over Gareth and perhaps he can help rig some sort of pump system to send water from the bay to the fires onshore.

Bador, take Gareth and see what you can do.

At your word, Your Majesty.

Sandan was drawn to a section were only a four-foot opening remained between the levels. The body of a red Olds Cutlass could just be seen through the small space, and he felt a strong urge to act, as if following an order. There, Your Majesty. We must go there, he intoned. Stuart agreed, believing the Thuringi colonel had a logistical or tactical reason for choosing that spot.

Sandan’s great strength was called upon heavily as he helped move chunks of broken concrete from crushed cars. Because of their size, however, neither he nor Stuart nor Leel could squeeze into the tight spaces as well as Echo or Carrol could. As the men did the hefty work, the women crawled into the compressed areas. Carrol checked for vital signs while Echo concentrated on working on extraction.

Stuart and Leel lent a hand to a group of people aiding others in the next section over, but Sandan stayed with the red Cutlass. He shoved a block of rebar-embedded concrete over just enough to give Echo the space to crawl into what was left of a broken passenger’s-side window. She reached in and said, It is going to be all right; my fellows and I are here to help you.

Carrol? Oh God, is that Carrol? a trembling voice in the dark interior asked.

N- no, my name is Echo, the startled young Thuringi replied.

But…but you’re Thuringi, right?

Yes, how did you know? Echo asked as she played a hand torch around the interior. It illuminated the wide eyes of a black woman peering up, trying to remain calm as she lay across the passenger seat with a bleeding head wound.

Only a Thuringi says ‘my fellows and I’ like an English lord, Debbie Woods replied shakily.

Let me see if Carrol can wriggle in to check you over. We will get you out, my lady, I promise you that.

I’m less scared than I was a few minutes ago, Debbie said. I know you’ll do your best.

Echo backed out, and Carrol squeezed in. Placing a hand on Debbie’s hip, she concentrated for a moment. You’ve a gash across your brow but I do not sense a concussion. It is very fortunate you leaned this way.

I had a water bottle that was rolling across the seat. I reached over to grab it and the whole car started shaking so hard I couldn’t straighten up. The next thing I knew the whole car just squashed down around me. I thought I was in an accident. I didn’t even know there was an earthquake until I started feeling around with my free hand. I was lucky.

Echo and Sandan studied the situation. The car sat tightly wedged under the overpass. The tires were blown out and the vehicle rested on the axles and rims, while the top of the Cutlass was crushed down to the dashboard and headrests. If Debbie had not chosen that moment to reach for the water bottle, she would have certainly been killed.

We need to get her out of there quickly; there may be aftershocks that will complete the destruction, Sandan murmured to Echo. He indicated the car in front of Debbie’s. That fellow is done for, and the car over has a child in the rear seat who has survived. I shall work on extracting the child. Turn your pistol to a high degree and see if you can cut away our friend’s door. He took out his own lazer pistol and adjusted it. He briefly gave her a demonstration before clambering his way over to the other car.

Echo nodded and addressed the problem of the Cutlass. The Thuringi lazer pistol was a versatile instrument, able to simply stun an adversary or cut through common steel according to the setting. Echo adjusted her pistol and tested it against the front panel of the car. It made a jagged cut, for she was unfamiliar with that particular skill.

Where are her legs, in what position are they? she asked Carrol, who had finished her Arda-powered evaluation.

They are tucked close to the seat; she must have drawn them up instinctively in the crash.

Then I should have enough leeway to cut away this door. Come out now and I’ll cut.

Carrol patted Debbie’s arm. Stay as calm as possible, Debbie. I won’t be far away. Echo is going to cut you out of there.

Anything’s better than being a sardine in an Olds.

Carrol squeezed Debbie’s hand and continued to hold it.

Echo’s lazer cut into the twisted metal, and the cutting made a high-pitched whine. It was far more difficult than she supposed it would be, but there was no time to spend in practice. The pistol jerked so hard she had to hold it with both hands. She was concerned an errant jerk could cut on past the metal and into the injured woman’s flesh, so she braced herself into what space she could find and continued cutting.

Small pebbles and dust continued to trickle from above, increasing her urgency. She heard Carrol’s voice over the whine.

Once the door is off we will try to help pull you out.

Echo finished with the hinge side of the door but rubble prevented the door from pulling away. She struggled to pitch the shattered pieces of concrete over the edge of the concrete railing, but she was able to with a strong sense of satisfaction. Once the door was clear, Carrol had to move aside so Echo could cut through the jammed latch. They seized the door and it broke away and down, clearing the undercarriage enough that they could draw Debbie out of her metal prison. Two cars over, they heard Sandan utter a juicy Thuringi oath as an abrupt metal-on-metal screech rent the air.

Are you all right? Carrol asked.

Yes, Sandan answered shortly. Echo, I need a smaller frame over here.

She crawled through the gaps to reach the car while Carrol helped Debbie out.

Oh thank God, freedom and fresh air, Debbie gasped. The enormity of what she endured hit her, and she shook with emotion. Carrol held her in comfort. Other rescue vehicles and volunteers were on the scene extracting other survivors and victims.

Echo was able to crawl into the back seat of the car and unbuckle the trembling six-year-old from his jammed seat belt. She passed the boy out to Sandan and squeezed out behind him.

Are you folks okay? Are there any other people trapped in there? yelled a voice from the edge of the roadway.

We’ve a child who has survived but no others made it, Sandan called back. I see no other vehicles in this area with anyone alive. The rescue team pulled the boy out into the open, where light from car headlights shined on the crushed roadway to aid in the search. A fireman took the boy from Echo, who jumped down the short distance from the concrete rail to the ground. Sandan eased his way through the opening after them.

It’s a miracle that lady wasn’t hurt. Are you certain no one with the boy survived?

Yes, Sandan said. I am a licensed medical, and they were beyond pain and breath.

The fireman tilted his head slightly to the side in thought. ‘Beyond pain and breath.’ That’s a phrase I’ve never heard before, but… but it’s a good one.

It is an apt phrase for loss, Sandan agreed. Are there other problem areas? He unfolded his long legs and jumped to the ground. The fireman stared at the eight-foot-tall wall of muscle, and nodded.

Yeah, we … uh, that way, he stammered with a gesture to the area behind Debbie’s car.

Sandan strode in that direction, Echo on his heels.

Carrol and Debbie leaned against a pickup, Debbie wrapped in a fire department rescue blanket. Her black shoulder-length straight-ironed hair was still neatly coiffed but her hands shook as she clutched the blanket around her dark running suit. I never, Debbie sighed. Did California fall off into the sea for real this time?

No, but Brent tells me the Marina area is in terrible shape. Perhaps I can take you to your home, or is there another place you’d prefer?

My brother! Oh my God, Ben lives near the Marina area – but he was going to the ball game early! I have no idea where he’d be.

Lauren? What is the situation at the stadium? Carrol asked into her com.

The stadium trembled but everyone there is unharmed, Laureen replied. Is Debbie all right?

I am now, Debbie said.

That’s good news we need to hear! You might want to go to the Marina, Carrol. It’s really bad over there.

Perhaps you would like to go with me and wait for your brother, Debbie?

Yes! Yes, maybe I can help too.

It was dark enough and with the power out in most of the city, Carrol could fly the ship above the darkened streets undetected. Debbie used the view screen to guide Carrol to her brother’s apartment building. Wait wait, there it is! Wow, it’s still standing. Not very well, but it’s something.

Carrol contacted Brent on the com. How goes your end of things, Brent?

The constabulary has decided there are too many helpful people, and has ordered all civilians to stop in the rescue effort! Triton and I pointed out that we are large and strong but we were turned away as if we were fingerling cadets. Uff!

Where are you now?

Why, helping where there are no constables, of course. He gave her the address, several blocks away from Carrol and Debbie.

We are looking for Debbie’s brother Ben. His building is still standing but there is a very large crack along one side, and brickwork has fallen onto the walkway.

We will make our way to you as soon as we dip into this broken hydrant. Word, I am drying out at a hazardous speed.

Get wet and get over here, then. There is no need to harm you too.

Carrol could not rest the ship on any roof, so finding a street level place to hide it was a problem. She finally had to simply park it in an unfenced back yard as near to the apartments as she could, and she and Debbie set out on foot.

I had just finished up at work and decided to get into my casual duds and go to the game after all; you know, I’m an A’s fan and Ben is all about the Giants. We were able to get tickets and we called it the Woods Series. I still can’t believe this has happened. I can’t believe I got out of that car in one piece! Look at me – not a scratch!

Carrol wondered if it was better to admit that the Arda power of healing in Carrol’s possession had stopped the bleeding cut, repaired a fractured femur and healed a damaged vertebra in Debbie’s neck, or to say nothing and let Debbie attribute it all to a miracle. Repairing the bones was one matter, but surrounding weakened tissue or bones which Carrol determined as serviceable now, could fail later. Debbie needed to be aware of the situation. Can you keep another secret about the Thuringi, Debbie?

Of course I can, you know I can!

There is one Thuringi among our people so far, who has the ability to effect physical repairs on the injured. There are limits to what this person can do. Too much work at once can be seriously or even lethally debilitating, so we do not announce her gift to the world.

She said nothing further, and Debbie pondered her words. You. Are. Amazing.

You must go to a hospital as soon as you can but I cannot go with you; too many questions, you see. As it stands, there are likely to be rescue units who may wonder at your miraculous escape and will ask you questions.

It’s a miracle, Debbie said decisively. Some people came up with a blowtorch of some kind I guess because I couldn’t see for sure, and cut me out of the car. I got out on my own steam and a friend gave me a lift home. And I’ll be believed, too, because that’s exactly what happened and people always believe a superior court judge.

Carrol hugged Debbie with one arm as they walked. Les told Stuart you beat his score on the lawing test, and said he was proud of you and annoyed with himself at the same time.

The Bar Exam, Debbie corrected with a smile.

Ah yes. Thuringa has no lawyers, and our supreme judge is Stuart. The only bar a Thuringi examines is the one in a cantina.

They came upon a group of people gathered on the sidewalk in deep discussion of the day’s events. They varied in their state of dress, but most of them were casually attired, having been done with the day’s work and ready to watch the baseball game or relax at home.

Ben! Debbie called out. Bennie!

Oh for God’s sake, it’s Deb! One of the men left the crowd and embraced her tenderly. His dark skin and Giants tee shirt were coated with mortar dust, and his khaki slacks bore a small tear on one knee, but Ben Woods was otherwise unharmed. I didn’t expect to see you! Thank God you’re all right! I’m surprised you found a place to park, the roads are all crazy. I think I tore the shit out of the oil pan getting back here.

Yeah, Debbie agreed. The roads are all crazy.

The street was illuminated by the red-orange glow of fires which had broken out in another neighborhood. The street crowd watched it with growing discomfort. We can’t go back into our homes; the cops said it’s too dangerous. But if we don’t, it could all get burned if it comes this way, one of the residents commented to Carrol.

I have lost most of my personal possessions in similar circumstances, she told him. But they are only things, and in the end a living being can replace mere things. Perhaps –

Carrinkle! Brent’s voice over the com she wore over her collarbone made them jump in alarm. Where are you? I see a crowd.

There was no mistaking the two towering figures down at the corner, their wet shoulder-length hair plastered to their heads and long coats covering their websuits. Carrol went to them and did a quick health evaluation as Brent quickly explained.

When we came ashore we immediately smelled burning. At first we set about removing rubble but our hands were less for the task.

You’ve cuts all over your hands, she murmured as she healed.

We covered seven blocks, pulling people out of danger or helping calm jagged nerves, Triton said. Father turned off gas valves – I would have never thought to do such a thing. We were not the only ones; many people came out to help others. It was thrilling, really.

Ah, but we were all amateurs. The Thuringi in me chaffed at being turned away but the realist in me knew we could do more damage than not. Where is Stuart?

He and Echo and Sandan are helping people trapped in the freeway damage.

Brent nodded. That is the right place for them, where muscle is needed most. Bador and Gareth are doing their part as well.

Which is what?

Never fear, my dear princess! Your good Gareth fashioned a connection to a damaged water line and they helped put out some fires. It’s funny, but Bador said Gareth’s demeanor was so commanding and so in-charge, when Bador said yes, colonel at one of Gareth’s orders, the American Naradi naturally assumed he was an off-duty military man. Ha! They are still in the thick of it. He smiled at a sight over Carrol’s shoulder. Well now! I recall that lovely face! Let me see; you attended Michael’s school in the day, didn’t you? Don’t tell me now… you bribed my king with chocolate… Woods! You are named after a forest!

I’m Debbie Woods, yes, she laughed as she went around Carrol to hug him. I remember you, Brent.

I am proven unforgettable. But oh, what is the situation here?

We can’t get back into my brother’s apartment; the authorities said the building might come down on us. Nobody in this area feels it’s safe to try but we would like to get a few essential things out that we need. A change of clothes, medicines, money or credit cards for hotels, that sort of thing.

Carrol stepped aside to answer the com, which she had turned down. When she was finished, she turned back to Debbie, who had just introduced Ben to Brent. Ben Woods stood awestricken at the tall Caucasian force of nature with the strange slits on the sides of his neck and webbed fingers on his hands. Brent casually adjusted his coat collar up around his neck.

Carrol said, Laureen tells me Liz French invited you and your brother to stay with her in Livermore. They sustained no damage and said they would love to host you for as long as necessary.

I wouldn’t turn that down for a second, Debbie said with relief. I can get a rental car and drive to work, if I had to. Livermore’s at least on the same side of the Bay as Oakland.

What is that, a walkie-talkie or something? Ben asked curiously. Or a portable phone of some kind?

Yes, it’s a powerful walkie-talkie, Carrol replied.

Walkie talkie! Oh, wait until I tell Erich about that. He will howl at such a phrase, Triton chuckled.

Gather at Gareth’s location, Stuart’s voice said over the com. They still need muscle over there, and we have done all we can here.

What… what are you doing all the way over here? Ben asked Debbie. I thought you couldn’t make it to the game.

I had to leave my car on the freeway, she replied carefully. Carrol and her friends gave me a ride to look for you.

Echo’s slender figure eased in and out of openings the other scouts could not dream of entering, and she proved invaluable to the team. She did not hesitate to shimmy into a broken window or doorway with nothing but a rope tied around her waist and the confidence that Sandan or Stuart would be able to pull her out in an emergency. She got into Ben Woods’ apartment and quickly gathered items he listed as necessary. Echo stuffed everything into a pillowcase and after a struggle, brought it out. Moments after she emerged, a squad car appeared at the end of the street. Ben hid the pillowcase behind Sandan’s broad frame until the squad car passed by.

Over the car’s loudspeaker a voice said, Shelters have been set up at designated safe locations. Please go to them and do not attempt to go back into your homes. Trespassers will be arrested.

Trespassing into one’s own home, Sandan murmured. What strange times these are.

We will take you to the bay and Brent will ferry you to its southern end, where Liz will get you and take you wherever you wish, Stuart told Debbie and Ben. We will join Gareth and Leel and continue to do what we can here.

It’s like the Justice League, Ben whispered to himself when he saw the Isador. Here’s Aquaman, and any minute now the Batmobile ought to show up.

When the others joined Gareth, they found him in the midst of officers pouring over a set of utility maps. As Bador said, his calm assured presence gave him the mask of command, and the officers listened respectfully to him. When he saw Stuart’s group, he gestured to them and told the officers, Our team has accomplished many successful missions in our time. Perhaps we can best serve handling the heavy hoses.

With that, the Thuringi were given access to the rescue effort and they eagerly took on the challenge. For hours they helped move the heavy hoses that pumped water from the bay by the fireboat Phoenix. When muscle was required to move rubble or carry the injured, the Thuringi did their part. When the fires were under control and they accomplished as much as they could unobtrusively, the Thuringi returned to home.

Debbie was able to return to her home after city inspectors evaluated it as a safe structure. Ben Woods was completely flummoxed by the timeline of events once he learned of her rescue. "So you were driving down the 880 freeway when it collapsed into a pancake, but you didn’t get a hair out of place. Then your friends from Thuringa showed up and just happened to have a blowtorch to cut the door off a freakin’ Oldsmobile. Then you somehow made it clear over to the other side of the San Francisco Bay to my place despite the roads being all gnarled up, before Aquaman gave us a ride down south to meet up with your friend Liz. And the ride was in a little personal submarine. I don’t get it, Debs. You have some really odd friends. I mean I’m grateful you have them, but – damn."

Don’t think too hard about it, Debbie suggested. The Thuringi are totally cool people who are off the charts. Just be glad we’re here and alive and able to start again.

Oh, I’m not complaining. I just wish I had one of those little submarines. I could zot all over the Bay area to my photo shoots.

I’ll ask, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. Brent’s got a lot more going on than helping a fashion photographer get fab shots.

Tell me about it! That boy is so fine.

That boy, Debbie thought in amusement, is about six times your age, little brother.

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Chapter 101: Angst of the Silent Man

Marshall Sheridan was the subject of close scrutiny by the intellectual community. His obviously gifted mind was a wonderland for the music world and a challenge for teachers. During his early school days, he was taken to psychiatrists and analysts, each of whom had a pet theory as to the inner workings of his mind. Everything from repressed trauma of childbirth to reincarnation of past lives was suggested as the explanation for his kindergarten test answers, and none was acceptable as a decisive conclusion. Marty grew tired of taking Rorschach tests since every time he described an inkblot, it detailed the destruction of Thuringa.

I see bears and deer with wings leaping into a stream while flames leap from branch to branch overhead. They cannot escape. (Flying deer?) No, the deer don’t fly. They just have wings.

These are shirts flapping in the breeze on a clothes line. There is a unicorn waiting in the field below, with many other unicorns. (What are they waiting for?) To leave. They are waiting to leave.

These are mountains. There is a woman who did not leave when it was time to go. She hid away until everyone left. She had animals to tend and no family to worry about. (Why is everyone leaving? What happened?) I don’t know. Something terrible. (What happened to the woman?) She died. She was with her favorite animals at the end and she was at peace.

This was a vegetable farm, and these are falling rocks that are exploding all around. The whole valley is destroyed. These are distant hills in the background but they are bare now. All the trees are gone.

He did not know why he answered that way; he only knew that it was what he saw in his mind.

This is the street where I was shot. On this side is the musical hall where people used to watch plays and concerts. On that side is the medical center where I died. This remark startled the interviewer into remaining silent as Marty continued. The path is gone. I am alone. I should have gone but I was distracted. I wanted to help, you see, but I am less than smoke. He refused to describe any more, and no force on Earth could change his decision about it.

Your son is describing the kind of trauma that most children his age and upbringing don’t usually experience, Mrs. Sheridan. Are you certain he’s never seen anything like what he’s describing?

Well, I can’t be certain what he’s seen lately, but he was describing similar things when he was just a little boy and I know for a fact that he was never exposed to anything like it. I asked his grandparents and they swear they don’t recognize any of it, either. Marshall isn’t the kind to just go in and turn on a TV and watch a show without permission. Our other kids might, but he’s never been an avid television viewer.

The more he expressed himself musically, the fewer problems he had dealing with everyday life. The higher in class rank and more challenging the class work, the easier time he had in school and the better he got along with his parents. Once free of compulsory school at age eleven, he threw himself fully into music and had the world by the tail. After the meeting with Curtis Garrison at the Sheldon School anniversary party,