Journey to the Heart of Luna - Andy Frankham-Allen [47]
Annabelle lifted her head. She had yet to visit the nearby Selenite village, but K’chuk had shown her how to recognise when she was near one. There were telltale signs in the strata of the tunnel walls, signs only the Selenites knew. She had known, immediately, that the village ahead was home to a queen. Not all Selenite colonies were run by queens, most of them were led by the same breed of enhanced Selenite as K’chuk, but throughout the sub-lunar catacombs there were a few queens, all of whom were well protected. The Selenite approaching her was one such queen. The red, almost-translucent nature of her skin was the first indication, and the enlarged postpetiole, standing out like some over-inflated balloon at the rear of her body was the confirmation.
“What the devil happened?”
Annabelle looked to Bedford, who was slowly rising to his feet. The anger she had felt towards him was no longer there, and he looked at her with an almost embarrassed countenance. He reached down to help her to her feet.
“Miss Somerset, I really ought to apologise. I have no idea why I said those things.”
For her own part, Annabelle had no idea why she had responded so violently to his accusations about her role with the Russians. Certainly she had no love for them, and what they put her through to ensure the co-operation of her uncle…But she had been through much worse and had always refrained from such outpourings of hatred.
“It is nothing, Lieutenant. I believe none of us were acting ourselves. Save, perhaps, for Mister Stevenson.”
Annabelle turned to where she believed Stevenson to be, but he was not there. She looked back. The three men, Bedford, Platt and Miller, were now once again on their feet. Looking around, perplexed and perhaps a little fearful of the red Selenite before them, but most definitely present.
“Lieutenant Bedford, where is Mister Stevenson?”
“He is over…” Bedford stopped, glancing around the tunnel. As far as the eye could see there was no sign of Stevenson. “He was here but moments ago.”
Annabelle agreed. From the moment of the fight to now, barely a few seconds had passed. Surely not enough time for Stevenson to run away. She looked to the queen, and bowed her head politely. “Perhaps you can tell us what happened?”
The queen did not immediately respond, instead she just stood there, seemingly looking down on the humans. Then she spoke, her English more fluid than K’chuk’s ever was. “Come, follow me to safety. Drobates inhabit walls.”
“Drobates?” Bedford asked. Annabelle merely shook her head. It was not a name she had heard before.
The queen walked away. Before turning the corner she looked back at them once, then continued on, her retinue of drones following her. Bedford approached Annabelle.
“Miss Somerset, what is going on?”
“I confess that I do not know, Lieutenant. But I suggest we follow her, as ordered.”
“Ordered?”
“Yes. She is a queen, and she’s offering us her protection.”
Bedford was incredulous, but he soon pulled himself together and turned to his remaining men. “We have an audience with royalty, look sharp there,” he said, and led the way after the Selenites. Annabelle took up the rear. She looked around one final time before following.
Stevenson could not have simply vanished. It was impossible.
Chapter Seven
An Audience with Q’theletockus
1.
“I SIMPLY do not have a definitive answer, Miss Somerset,” Lieutenant Bedford said, which were the exact words Annabelle had expected to hear. “I can only assume it was a case of mountain sickness.”
Annabelle frowned. This was a phrase new to her. “Mountain sickness?”
“An analogy, for clearly we have climbed no mountains this day. Mountain sickness refers to the effects of breathing the rarefied air of great heights, although in this case I am referring to