“He doesn’t seem very brave for a soldier, does he?” Nelson asked Susan.
“Do you have a problem, smart ass?” Rick turned toward the scientist and glared at him, just waiting for an excuse to jump on him.
“Enough!” warned Jack. “This time will be different, Rick. It’s a different portal, as you’ll be able to verify. For starters, it’s much smaller, and in a different place, so it would probably lead to a different location.”
“That’s not good enough,” Rick insisted. He looked at Nelson again to see if he’d come up with something to say, but he remained silent. “We can’t be sure another welcoming committee won’t be waiting there for us.”
“Actually, we can. But that’s not the only thing that’s different this time. We have something I want you to see. Nelson, your turn.”
Rylan’s brother went up to the podium, oozing arrogance. Jack stepped aside as he ground his cigar stub into the floor with his foot.
“I think you’ll enjoy this, Rick. It’s a weapon, though I doubt very much that you’ve ever seen anything like it.” Nelson took a step back, bent over and opened up a cloth bag that was against the wall. He took out a towel that was wrapped around something quite heavy judging by the effort it took to lift it out. He left the bag on the floor and carefully pulled the towel off, revealing some type of cylinder. “It weighs about eighteen pounds, which is too much to be handled skillfully, although, as you’re about to see, that’s exactly its purpose.” He leaned it on the podium and turned it so they could see it from all angles. It was decorated with the same kind of strange symbols Rick remembered seeing on the activation rune on which they’d placed the seal that opened the other portal. “It’s made from an as yet unidentified material, similar to the composition of the pillars that form the portal.”
“Where did you get this?” Rick asked.
“Some really weird guy they found at the South Gate of the city had it. He was down in a crater that opened up after an explosion.”
“I’d like to talk to him,” Rick looked intently at Jack.
“We would, too, but he escaped. He was in serious condition when we found him; unconscious and with several broken bones. But then he vanished without a trace—and the only evidence he left behind was a huge hole in the wall of his hospital room.”
More questions; no explanations. Rick was starting to get fed up with not getting answers. Just then, the door to the conference room opened and he saw Jack’s driver coming in—though, oddly enough, no one had noticed him leaving. The gargantuan man had to duck so as not to hit his head on the top of the door frame. He was carrying an enormous steel beam that had to have been incredibly heavy. He set it on the floor near Nelson.
“Thank you.” Nelson turned back toward Rick. “Now we’ll do a demonstration.” He grabbed the cylinder with both hands and walked toward the beam. “We were turning it over and over for quite a long time, trying to figure out what it was, until Susan inspired us. We were astonished to discover what we had in our hands.”
“It was pure luck,” she modestly pointed out.
“In any case, we made an incredible discovery.”
The scientist furrowed his brow in an expression of complete concentration. He changed the position of his hands on the cylinder and a flash shot out from the top of it. Staring at it intently, Rick was able to make out a long, orange-colored shape that looked like the blade of a sword. It was wrapped in a thin layer of fire.
He stiffened as the painful memories invaded his mind. He jumped, instinctively bringing his hand to his chest to grab his weapon, forgetting he wasn’t carrying one. His pulse was racing. He couldn’t take his eyes off the sword.
“Easy there, soldier,” Nelson said with a smile. “Relax. Everything’s under control.” He was definitely enjoying seeing Rick losing his cool.
Susan moved in closer to Rick and took his left hand. With her other hand, she turned his face toward her, forcing him to look at her.
“Are you all right?” she asked gently.
Rick almost didn’t seem to recognize her. His eyes were unfocused; he wasn’t even aware she was holding onto him.
“Yes, I’m fine.” He blinked, then pulled away from her. He stood up and took a few steps, shaking his head. “You’re wrong,” he said to Nelson. “I most certainly have seen that weapon before. It’s the one they used to carve up the members of my expedition when we crossed the portal.” The gruesome memory of his decapitated squad crossed through his mind again, and he fought to shut out the horrific images. “And one more thing. I’d advise you not to call me soldier again.”
“Show him how it works, Nelson,” Rylan said, oblivious to the tension hanging between Rick and his brother as he approached them. “You’ll see, Rick. It’s really incredible.”
Nelson held the blade of the sword over the steel beam and then let it fall. The blade cut the beam in half like it was a stick of butter. Rick watched, trying to remain calm. He’d seem what that damnable weapon was capable of when it had split one of the tanks in his recon operation in two.
“It seems to be designed to be handled with just one hand,” Rick commented, beginning to study the sword with great interest, “judging by the size of the blade and the shape of the handle, but no one is capable of brandishing an eighteen-pound sword with just one arm.”
“That’s what I thought, too,” Rylan agreed. “They’d have to be really strong. But listen—we’ve only found one material that can stand up to the blade of the sword. Can you guess what it is?”
“Telio,” he answered without even a hint of doubt.
“Exactly,” the young scientist confirmed. “It can cut it, but it takes a ton of effort. You have to hit it with the sword a bunch of times. I think the telio has something to do with the other world. That’s why we haven’t been able to work out its secrets. It’s not exactly like the handle of the sword or the pillars of the portal, but it’s similar.”
“There’s still more surprising things about this sword.” Nelson took a step back. “Watch.”
He lifted the sword above his head, handling it this time with both hands. Then he brought it down in front of him perpendicular to the floor, stopping a few inches from it. The trajectory of the blazing blade left a yellowish trail behind it and, when Nelson withdrew the sword, a line of fire was burning, suspended in the air. Rick approached it and walked around the thin column of flames, his jaw dropping. Nelson had to step back to keep Rick from running into him when he passed by.
“That’s impressive,” he commented. “What’s it burning to feed the flames? Air?”
“We’re not sure,” admitted Rylan. “I don’t actually think it’s fire. At least, not the fire we know. It produces no heat, as you probably noticed, and it creates no sound. I believe that it’s an unknown energy of some type, a kind of light that we don’t yet understand.”
“How long does it last? It can’t keep burning there forever.”
“Not long. It’ll vanish soon. You see?” Nelson pointed at the line of fire that was losing intensity and rapidly disappearing, leaving behind no trace. “But here’s something really odd; its duration is variable. The first trials we did made us think it depended on how quickly the arc was traced in the air, which is true only in part. Its duration is also affected by how you hold the sword and, the most unbelievable thing of all, by who is holding it.”
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“What are you talking about?”
“If I draw the arc at one speed, and then you make the same movement in exactly the same way, the two lines that are formed will burn for two different amounts of time. It’s as if something in us transfers strength to the sword and, of course, everyone is different.”
“I wouldn’t want to find out what this thing can do in the hands of someone who knows how to handle it correctly,” Rick muttered to himself.
“There are two other details we discovered in our trials. Back up a little.”
Rick took a few steps back. Nelson raised the sword again and this time traced two lines in the air that cut across each other forming a large “X.” The flames burned without touching anything else, including the floor.
“This is the first thing. Watch. Rylan!”
Rylan took a cigarette lighter and moved in to stand across from his brother, about fifteen feet from him. Nelson was completely still, positioned just behind the burning “X” floating in front of him. Rylan got a running start and threw the lighter as hard as he could. It flew through the air, heading straight for his brother’s head but, when it got to the top of the flames, it bounced back and fell to the floor. Waves had formed in the spot where the invisible barrier had stopped the projectile, similar to those made by a stone that’s dropped into water. They rapidly spread through the air and then vanished. The flames dissipated shortly after that.
“Just like what we showed you before,” explained Nelson, “this type of shield has a force and a duration that depend on who is brandishing the sword, the force used to trace the mark, the way you’re holding it, and probably some other factors we don’t know about yet.”
“You said this was the first detail.” Rick was trying to mask his astonishment but it wasn’t working. “What’s the second?”
“Unfortunately we haven’t been able to replicate it. On one occasion we asked Susan to trace a line of flames with the sword to do another test and something happened that blew us away. The line of flames appeared like you just saw but when the sword stopped moving, the line of flames shot forward and blasted a hole in the wall. We haven’t been able to make that happen again.”
Rick looked at Susan.
“I don’t know how I did it,” she explained. “I must have held the sword in some bizarre way without being aware of it, or made some quick flick of the wrist or something.”
Rick pondered that for a moment.
“This is a awfully complex weapon. You should be handling it with extreme caution. It may be capable of doing all kinds of things. If it can make drawings of fire in the air and each sign contains a different use, its possibilities are limitless. Have you thought about trying to replicate the symbols that are engraved on the handle?”
“We tried the simplest ones,” said Jack, who had been standing off to the side during the exhibition, “but we haven’t been able to cause any new effects. For the more complex symbols, assuming they have some real use, we first need to get the flames to last longer. And that’s one of the reasons you’re here.”
“What do you think I can do with that thing?” asked Rick, intrigued.
“You’re the only one who’s seen someone who knows how to use it.”
“It was over in a flash. I don’t even remember what happened.”
“And you didn’t remember the sword, either, until you saw it again.” Jack’s tone was conciliatory. “Your memories are blocked by the horrible experience of seeing your team die and not being able to help them. But it’s likely that if you practice with the sword it will unblock your memory and you’ll discover something. It can’t hurt to try. Will you do it?”
“I can try.” Rick was nearly consumed with curiosity. “But I can’t promise anything.”
“Great. It will really come in handy for you to have such a formidable weapon when you cross the portal again.”
“Oh, you need to stop right there. The portal?” Rick’s whole body tensed at the thought. He thought all they wanted from him was to tell them again the little he knew about the other side. He never thought they’d expect him to go back to that place. But then again, he knew full well this was Jack’s style—leave the surprise for last. “I have no intention of going back there. You think I want to be sliced to pieces?”
“I told you this portal leads to a different place. Besides, if there’s any danger you’ll have the sword to defend yourself.”
“We need you, Rick,” pleaded Susan. “You’re the only one who’s been there.”
“You’re going, too?” Rick’s eyes were about to pop out of his head.
“Of course I’m going. This is the most important event in our history. I plan to find out what caused the Wave and find a solution.”
“No, Susan. You can’t go. You won’t find out anything if you’re all dead.”
“You have to come, Rick.” Rylan laid a hand on his arm. “You already made it back once; you’re the best there is. We need you.”
They were all totally crazy. He saw in their eyes not just the determination to go, but also a glimmer of impatience. He could see they were determined to leave as soon as possible. The worst thing was that Rick felt a curiosity not unlike theirs, a compulsion to get answers once and for all. He couldn’t rid himself of the feeling that the Wave, the portal, and all the other strange events he’d encountered while investigating the T.U.C. were closely related. He intuitively knew that traveling to that world was undoubtedly the best way to uncover the truth, but even so he couldn’t forget about the deaths of almost one hundred people. These four had only heard or read about it in a report; he had lived it.
His mind was filled with conflicting thoughts. Susan crossing the portal tipped the scales in favor of making the trip. He didn’t have time to examine his feelings in depth, but he knew he’d never forgive himself if he were to lose her, and even less if he refused to protect her after she’d asked him to. But there was still one important question left unanswered: Jack had not yet explained the reason for the trip. The rest of them could search for answers or take care of their scientific quests—he himself was succumbing to his curiosity—but Jack wasn’t like that. He had a different motive. Rick didn’t know what it was, but he knew Jack wasn’t in it for the good of humanity. He’d come to know him well enough to know he would gladly save the world—if and when he got something in return.
“Why do you want us to go back there, Jack?” Rick shook Rylan off and went up to Jack.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Jack looked at him, surprised. “The answers are there . . .”
“There’s more to it than that,” he accused. “I know there is.”
“You didn’t let me finish. Of course there’s more to it. Our survival depends on us discovering how this new technology works. You don’t think it’s used just to make swords, do you? Imagine what we can achieve. We may be able to undo the harm the Wave caused in this world. We could find a way to eradicate the Fog and perhaps even do something about the storms and climate change all over the planet.”
“I’m not biting.” Rick was beginning to raise his voice. “If you’re in this, it’s to get something out of it. I don’t believe for a minute you want to save the world. So, what, then? You’d risk our lives for a profit?”
“You don’t understand the seriousness of the situation.” Jack remained calm. He was used to dealing with Rick now. “You think I’m nothing more than a self-serving opportunist, and you’re right in part, but you’re not seeing the big picture. Our situation is terribly delicate. I suppose you may have heard talk about our problems with the Secure Zone of the North. Don’t doubt for a second that sooner or later another war with them will break out.”
“So you’re using the war in your sales pitch just like Gordon does?”
“No. Stop interrupting me and you’ll understand what I’m saying. Then, if you don’t agree, argue all you want. War will break out; it’s only a matter of time, but not for the typical reasons people like Gordon think. This time will be worse, since necessity is what’s driving them to come into our territory. We can’t take them all in, but they don’t believe that. When their zone becomes uninhabitable, they’ll come to ours, and they won’t pay attention to reason. Something is destroying the world—something we don’t understand—and the key to it lies on the other side of that portal.”
“So you claim this is to avoid a war,” said Rick, unconvinced.
“Of course. I don’t know how you think I would benefit from a war, but what I can tell you is that whatever is affecting the North will make its way here in short order, so their problem is our problem. I’m not only trying to avoid war, I’m also trying to keep us from meeting with the same fate as them.”
“I have to admit you have a convincing argument there.”
“But not convincing enough, right? It doesn’t matter; there’s more. We’ve found one more portal, but haven’t you stopped to think there might be more? I have, and I firmly believe it’s a mistake to think there are only two and both are under our control. There must be many, many more.”
“That seems logical,” conceded Rick, bothered that he hadn’t given any thought at all to something so obvious.
“I’m thrilled that we agree. Now imagine the northerners find one and cross it before we do.” Rick thought about that a moment, then raised his eyebrows at the implications. “Exactly. Can you imagine an army of northerners armed with those swords? This is a race, Rick. Sooner or later someone will discover the secrets hidden in that place and, needless to say, I want to be the first.”
Rick thought about what Jack had said. He now understood perfectly why he hadn’t shown the least bit of interest in the T.U.C. and its buildings. The way he’d made his case, it was undeniable that this was much more important. Rick felt like a total novice. This was the second time he’d argued with Jack, going in with a preconceived notion about him that either had turned out to be wrong or that Jack had been able to disguise with the most compelling of arguments. He definitely had a way with words, and Rick hated that; that, and the calm demeanor that allowed him to change Rick’s mind. At the beginning of the meeting, and especially after remembering his first trip through the portal, he had been sure there was no way he’d cajole him into to doing it all over again. Now, however, he was going to agree to do it again, and on top of that he’d be carrying with him the strange notion that he was doing it for the good of humanity.
Rick made a mental note to try to stop thinking so much. It was clear his purpose was to act.
“Fine. I’ll go.”
“I knew I could count on you,” Jack beamed, quite satisfied with the outcome. “They’ll teach you how to use your new toy. Day after tomorrow you’ll put it to use.”
