The Devil's Nebula by Eric Brown

Author:Eric Brown
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Space Opera, Smugglers, Fiction, Science Fiction, Human-Alien Encounters, Adventure, Life on Other Planets, Space Colonies, General
ISBN: 9781781080238
Publisher: Abaddon
Published: 2012-05-28T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

THERE WAS AN air of excitement and anticipation among the fissure people, such as Maatja had never experienced before. Everyone was talking about the starship coming from the Expansion and what this might mean for World. Jaar, the eldest of her group of friends, held forth as if he were an Elder-in-waiting and declared that as the first humans to experience the Weird, it would be the duty of their people to go forth into the human Expansion and spread the good word.

Privately, Maatja thought this unlikely. The Weird were powerful enough to spread the ‘good word,’ or to enslave humans across the galaxy, without the help of her people.

But she said nothing, merely smiled to herself as Jaar went on self-importantly.

At midday, with the giant sun directly overhead and everyone seeking the shade, Maatja saw her parents leave their hut and hurry to that of the Elders, Leah and Rahn. They were greeted with solemn hugs at the door and stepped inside.

Maatja left her patch of shade beside the family hut and slipped behind the huts, running parallel with the jungle until she came to the Elders’ hut.

She crouched beside the wall, found a split in the weave and peeped through.

Her parents were sitting cross-legged before Leah and Rahn, and they were all eating dried phar.

Rahn was speaking; Maatja strained to hear his words. “...what the Weird want from us, but I do know in my heart of hearts that we are here to do their bidding. They saved us when we came to World, fed us and showed us the ways of this strange place.”

Her parents raised gourds of liquid, murmured ritual thanks, and drank.

Leah said, “It is my time of Passing very soon. I will go to serve the Weird.”

Maatja stared through the weave and saw her father smile. “I will be there already, Leah.”

Maatja’s heart jumped into her throat and she felt a pounding pulse at her temple.

Her mother gripped her father’s hand. “We are so proud,” she murmured.

“To be one of the Chosen,” Leah said, “is an honour not accorded to everyone.”

Her father said, “But why me?”

Rahn smiled. “I can only assume that you have exhibited qualities the Weird deem worthy,” he said. “Loyalty and bravery, diligence and insight. You are a worthy Chosen One.”

Maatja felt tears spring to her eyes. Her throat felt sore with the effort of suppressing her sobs.

“Have you prepared?” Rahn asked.

Her father said, “All that remains is to tell Maatja and Hahta.”

There was a pause, then Leah said, “Maatja is a singular girl.”

“We love her, but...” Her mother hesitated. “But she is not like the others. She spends time alone, in the jungle.”

Rahn said, “We know. We have observed her. We know that she has contact with the Outcasts. Yesterday we sent a tracker to follow her, hoping that she might lead us to their dwelling place. But the boy she was with was too fleet.”

From the expression on her mother’s face, she clearly had no knowledge of this. Her father reached out and took her hand, consolingly.

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