Ceephay Queen by Joel Shepherd

Author:Joel Shepherd [Shepherd, Joel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Amazon: B09WV5XP2Q
Goodreads: 60718938
Published: 2022-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

Erik followed Leechee along the mountain path, pulling up his hood as the wind gusted cold across the rippling grasses, and the leaden skies turned an ominous, iron grey. Ahead, the incline dropped away on left toward a mountain lake, a pool of clear water surrounded by conifers. The path descended, seeking its way beneath high rocky walls that loomed on the right, before rising again in the distance, after passing through the lakeside trees, and climbing the far ridge.

Thunder grumbled, and Erik wondered what they'd do if it turned into a full-fledged thunderstorm. Conventional wisdom said never stand beneath trees with lightning around, but surely trees were better than standing exposed on these grassy slopes. The clouds now lowered upon the ridgetop to the right, hard cliffs rising into thick mist.

Leechee led him into the trees, which at least provided some shelter from the strengthening wind. Thick trunks groaned as they swayed, as though in pain, and the darkening day grew darker still.

Leechee held up a hand, slowing nearly to a halt. Erik peered past his pack, not seeing anything ahead but trees. Leechee did not attempt to unhitch his rifle from the pack, so he didn't think whatever it was was dangerous. They walked ahead slowly, and Erik heard voices past the groaning trees. Men, talking.

Leechee resumed his normal pace. The trail emerged into a clearing on the forested slope, where a stream would flow when it rained, into the lake downhill. In the clearing were tents, and some heavy equipment -- a generator, some powerpacks, a couple of recharging powersuits. Some men were amongst the trees, two of them digging with more powersuits, actuators whining as they thudded enormous shovels into the dirt about a tree. A trench was forming. Around some of the other trees, Erik could see more trenches.

Truffle hunters, he realised. Blue truffles grew beneath these trees, if you knew where to look. In the Triumph Mountains in particular, rare blue truffles grew amongst the roots. Problem was, you had to cut the roots to get them, usually killing the tree. It was legal in some of the bigger forests, which could afford to lose the odd tree, but the Triumph Mountains were a Homeworld Protected Region, and killing trees in an HPR was illegal. These big comber trees took centuries to grow, and were very selective where they grew.

Between the tents, a chain was rattling. A tochiwani, Erik saw as they walked -- 'land alligator' in some old Earth language. It was as big as a pony, thick shoulders and compact head, savaging a bone with sharp teeth. They were native to New Horizon, and their smell for truffles was still better than the most advanced technology. This one had surely smelled the new arrivals, but was more interested in its bone. Erik was glad.

One of the men saw them, and stopped work. Others looked, and did the same.

"Hey guys," called Leechee. "Looks like a heck of a storm, huh?"

"Sure does," one called back.

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