City of Ruin - Mark Charan Newton [23]
‘You mean you don’t actually know what the hell they are,’ Jeryd observed dryly.
‘You might say that.’ The commander’s gaze settled on some deep distance. ‘Tineag’l has suffered a genocide at the hands of these Okun. Mass culls were involved - whole towns and villages simply cleared out. Over a hundred thousand people have gone missing, and the rest were slaughtered. I was out there with a band of my soldiers on an investigative mission that turned into a rescue operation. It wasn’t a pretty sight, finding the corpses, seeing the trails of blood all across the snow. People were just taken from the safety of their own homes.’ Brynd shook his head. ‘As for what did this -these new creatures? Well, I suspect they arrived by crossing the ice sheets - but where from originally, I’m afraid I cannot be more specific. One garuda scout reported getting sight of some sort of gateway up in the far north, but that claim needs re-examining. It sounds ridiculous, but they’re like crustaceans, and stand taller than any normal man. From what we’ve witnessed, they’re vicious fighters, totally ruthless, and they’re massing on the southern shores of the gulf waiting to launch a raid over here. Although I hesitate to ever label an entire race as evil ... I mean, we’re just judging them from one perspective, seeing only the threatening aspects of an alien species armed and on a mission of conquest. They ought not to be defined simply by their appearance - although there are many in our world who would.’
‘Talk to me about racism,’ muttered Jeryd, contemplating this inherent understanding between an albino and a rumel.
‘We’ve two prisoners in our possession, which I’ve not yet had dissected because they’re still breathing though unconscious. I hope to learn more from them, perhaps detect some weakness in their structure. It’s probably best you see them, too?’
‘Sure.’
There followed a swift walk through security checks – Brynd waved them both on through, the guards snapping smartly back to attention. A brief nod to a couple more standing by a metal door, and it was swiftly opened.
The holding cell beyond was lined with metal sheeting, with a stone-tile floor and a barred window that seemed to suck the cold air right through it. The room was utterly vacant apart from the two creatures, and Jeryd could scarcely believe what he was seeing. Nanzi gasped and pressed herself back against the wall, putting as much distance between herself and the strange creatures as possible.
A new race. A new species. It seemed unbelievable, but here they were in all their exo-skeletal glory.
‘I’m not sure how their physiognomy can be described in any clearer way than giant black crustaceans,’ Brynd remarked, strolling casually around one of their resting forms. ‘Seven foot tall, they’re almost insectile, with a head, thorax, abdomen, and glistening textured shell. Also noteworthy is that an acidic scent lingers around them consistently.’
Right now the two Okun lay hunched up and lifeless, in some sort of dormant state. Their equivalent to ankles were bound firmly by metal chains.
‘Are these . . . things likely to attack Villiren soon?’ Jeryd enquired, staring at the Okun.
The commander’s brow scrunched up as he considered Jeryd’s question. ‘I honestly couldn’t tell you. We understand so very little about their culture, their tactics, or even their motives. Whatever they want with us, whatever they kill our people for, it’s nothing that registers with my understanding.’
‘You paint a pretty picture, commander,’ Jeryd said.
‘It’s all relative I suppose,’ Nanzi announced suddenly. Jeryd turned with interest for what advice his new aide might offer. ‘I mean, one man’s murderer is another’s freedom fighter, so they say. But the thing is, we all look at it from a given point of view, don’t we, and so evil really is evil – and at the same time isn’t at all.’
She was certainly articulate, if the concept a little abstract. Wasn’t afraid to have something to say, this one. Jeryd found himself liking her more and more. He stared down once again at the dormant