Journey to the Heart of Luna - Andy Frankham-Allen [44]
Stevenson nodded. “Perhaps, sir, but if we need to reach the Sovereign by the surface, then…”
“We will fair no less worse either way without oxygen.”
Bedford was not entirely sure he liked this new side of Stevenson. Since leaving the ship the young man had proven himself to be a very reliable and resourceful seaman, without doubt officer material. A fact of which Bedford was to inform Captain Folkard upon returning to the Sovereign, but now that Stevenson was taking to questioning decisions made by his commanding officer…Bad enough that Miller was proving his lack of suitably to be serving on the Sovereign. Perhaps the captain would like this new aspect of Stevenson more than he. It would not be the first time they had disagreed on how to command a ship and its crew, although the captain leaving an away team to fend for itself without even waiting on a report was a new development.
Something to which Bedford would be drawing Folkard’s attention once he returned to his ship.
Miss Somerset was still taking point on their journey, now with Platt by her side. Not that she needed protecting. For such a young lady, she seemed remarkably strong-willed and resourceful. A credit to her uncle. Bedford had to confess, if only to himself, that he was most impressed by her.
“Miss Somerset, if you would continue your story I would be most grateful. Clearly something untoward transpired.”
“Oh, indeed, Lieutenant. At first it seemed the Russians were quite trustworthy. Tereshkov was on the verge of a great discovery, although he was a little reticent to explain the exact nature of this discovery. Even now I am unsure as to what it is. He did take my uncle into his confidence, but Uncle Cyrus and I were parted before he had a chance to fully explain things to me. Regardless, from talking to the Selenites I have learned that there is something they consider holy at the heart of Luna itself, an ancient…uh, relic of some kind. I believe it is for this that Tereshkov is searching.”
“A relic?” Bedford rubbed his chin. “What interest could the Russian okhrana have in a relic? I can understand how such a thing could hold the interest of a scientist like your uncle, but the okhrana?”
“I have pondered this, too, Lieutenant, and I can only infer that it is some force of power hitherto unknown to man.”
“Then we must not allow the Russians to get their hands on it.” There was no question about his mission now, Bedford decided. Before it was simply to rescue Miss Somerset, and then find another way to return to the Sovereign. Now…now it was different.
“Listen up,” he said, addressing his men, “I’m afraid, Mister Miller, you will have to come to terms with your role in this mission a lot quicker. Our primary mission now is to end the Russian presence on Luna. Whatever this relic is, it must not fall into Russian hands. The safety of the British Empire may depend on it.”
“But, sir, we are only a few men.”
Bedford regarded Stevenson. The young man did not appear to be afraid, and yet he seemed to be speaking like a coward all of a sudden. “I am certain that Captain Folkard will be heading into the heart of the Russian presence on Luna, so we will not be alone,” he said, with a tone that spoke of more certainty then he felt. In truth he had little faith in the captain right now, but regardless of his feelings, the away team needed to have that faith intact. “Indeed, we will see to it that the Russians undergo a two-pronged attack. Miss Somerset, I trust you know your way back to the Russian camp?”
Miss Somerset gathered herself together. There was no questioning in her eyes. “I do, Lieutenant. However, I agree with Mister Stevenson. We are but few; we will need some sort of assistance.”
“And just where do you propose we find such assistance?”
“There is a Selenite village nearby, if we…”
Miss Somerset stopped, as a distant sound echoed up the tunnel. It was an eerie, stridulous sound. More of