CHAPTER ONE
Dawn. Time was counted in heartbeats as the adversaries faced each other, the dwellers of darkness and the lover of light, no mercy would be shown and bloody death would greet the new day.
The cool stare of the San wavered as he looked deep into the red orbs of the Cuc. Fearful of the terrible heat of the twin suns yet unwilling to provoke an attack, the San motioned to his group to edge around their adversary. Sensing the strategy, the monstrous form lazily swung its massive bulk across the intended path and waited. It was one of the few living creatures on the burnt out planet that was capable of withstanding the terrible heat of the sister stars. It could endure the discomfort of direct sunlight if it provided the additional entertainment of watching the sensitive San fry.
Realising that a direct attack was inevitable the San gathered his strength and lunged at the towering form, on his cue the others of his group sprang into action. Several razor sharp axes met their mark, slashing a ragged line across the great neck and down the Cuc's side. Black liquid oozed from the wound, dribbling across the thick scales that armoured the Cuc's hide. Taken off guard the Cuc squealed its protest, a surprisingly high pitched sound from a creature so large. It lashed out at its main attacker, the hooked claw swinging through the air to be parried by the axe's head.
With a neat side step, the leading San completed his stroke by burying the axe deep into the soft pad of the foot. Furious, the Cuc shook its leg trying desperately to free itself from the weapon, in doing so it snatched the axe from the grip of the San, throwing him a considerable distance across the rough ground. The others backed off and re-grouped. The lead San gasped as his sensitive night skin was sandpapered off his back by the rocky surface, allowing blood to seep and sting down his spine. Climbing quickly to his feet he motioned to the others to draw the Cuc towards the rocky outcrop of the mountain range.
By now the day was beginning to brighten with a searing light. Protective inner lids closed across the Sans eyes eliminating much of the glare, but they could feel their skin tingling with the heat. The Cuc meanwhile had finally managed to free its foot from the axe and was limping towards them, hissing its rage, intent on finishing off its enemies. The group of San, turned as one and ran. Squealing shrilly the Cuc followed, its speed considerably impaired by the injuries it had already sustained. The San were racing not only the Cuc, but also the life threatening heat of day. Without the protection of the shaded mountains, they would die, burned by the fierce sister suns. The cool of the mountain outcrops seemed frustratingly near, teasing them with their promise of safety. The stifling heat of day was already beginning to thicken the atmosphere, snatching the very breath from their lips. Looking up, the lead San could see that they were only a short distance from their mountain haven. Being careful not to let the Cuc become disinterested with them he slowed the pace slightly.
Finally the cool shade of the first of the strewn rocks, gave a welcome reward for their efforts. They did not rest, for the Cuc was relentlessly following, furious as it saw its foes disappearing into the rocks.
The change in temperature of the shade had revitalised the San and they split up, nimbly clambering over the rocky surface, instinctively keeping out of the harsh light. The Cuc began to slow, uncertain if it should follow, the San were smaller and surefooted in this mountain terrain, and a truce had been called. The vast mountain range that circled the Northern half of the planet belonged to the San, the flat plains that stretched to the equator, was the Cucs. No creature not even the Cuc could survive the terrible heat that lay South of the Equator. If a member of either race found the other within their borders then and only then would an attack be provoked. It wasn't just war, it was survival. Food was scarce, the planet was dying and only one race could survive. This Cuc had been content to let the group of San die in the heat of the day and then feast on the remains. However, the San had struck the first blow injuring not only its hide, but also this particular Cuc's pride and it intended to make its enemy pay dearly for that indignity.
The Cuc stopped and sniffed the air. The San had disappeared. It swivelled it's head, searching for a scent. Fear gripped its heart, it had not realised it had followed the San so far up the mountain side and now it had managed to get itself jammed in a narrow gorge. It began to run backwards, panic overtaking what little sense it had. The great body quivered as it reversed over a small circle of stones not noticing the opening between them. As the Cuc's sensitive and unprotected belly skimmed across the hole a San struck from his hiding place, thrusting a sword deep into the creature. Screaming in agony the Cuc ran back even faster and succeeded in ripping its own belly open. Staggering, it backed a few more feet before ramming its hind quarters into the canyon wall. Another San leapt onto its head, thrusting a dagger deep into one crimson eye. Hissing and scrabbling with its claws against the dirt, it writhed in spasmodic bursts. Finally it collapsed, the blunt nosed, shovel shaped head thumping into the ground, blood trickling from its nostrils and gurgling through its teeth. As the massive flanks heaved and sighed it's dying eyes saw the hated San standing together, their leader watching from the hole in the ground. It tried to squeal its fury but only succeeded in choking on its own blood. It shuddered and lay still.
Out on the plain each sibling from the Cuc's nest stopped in their tracks. Each one new that their nest mate lived no more, each one new that the killers were the San. They raised their heads and hissed in fury, the truce had been broken.
The leading San grinned. At least they would not return empty handed, judging by the size of the Cuc there would be more than enough meat to feed their families tonight. He watched while the others butchered the carcase with practised skill and took as much meat as they could carry. Once their gory task was completed he lifted his share of the meat and nodding to the others, they turned to go. "Would you like some help?" the enquiry echoed in the lead San's head. He turned to see a figure emerge from a rock shadow. The cloak that covered newcomer's body was pulled back and he removed the hood and mask that enveloped his head, protecting the skin from the searing heat.
"Curmer," thought the lead San in jubilation as he laid down the meat and grasped the newcomer's arms in greeting, "I'm glad you are here, now you can help us bring back this food."
"Not so loud Remruc, " answered Curmer mentally blocking some of the force of his brother's greeting. "first I must see to your wounds or do you want to be scarred for the rest of your life?" Curmer firmly pushed Remruc back against the shadow of the rock and deftly applied healing salve to the raw flesh of his open wounds. Remruc growled as the salve stung his skin but soon it's cooling properties began to relieve his pain.
"How did you know where we were?"
"You forget brother that I am a healer and more sensitive to the pain of others, and besides, you scream like a Cuc when your injured, a mind numb Lemath could find you blind folded." Remruc smiled and the others of his group shook their heads in mock disdain.
"I must try to control my output in future" he thought to himself. It was to be expected that Curmer could sense him so easily being his brother, but it would be bad if an enemy could hear him too. The San rose and hefted the meat into bundles. Curmer waited as Remruc took a cloak, hood and mask from a pack attached to his belt and put them on.
Remruc grinned and gingerly wriggled until the weight of the pack rested on the least skinned portion of his sensitive back. With an anxious glance at the ferocious Suns they set off, instinctively staying in the shadows. "The Cuc are coming further North" thought Remruc, "We met this one only ten sharr from our range." Curmer paused and looked at his brother,
"The Cuc grow fat and strong on the carcases littering this world. They are many in number. Perhaps it will not be long before they wish to feed on us." Remruc grimaced and motioned for his brother to continue. If that was the case then his people would have nowhere left to hide.
Once the San had been a nomadic race of humanoids roaming the planet's surface guarding their various tribal tracks of land jealously. When the Sun Emur had changed from burning gold to blood red, so to had their life changed. They had become almost nocturnal, travelling in the cool of night. They soon learned that they must not be caught in the open in the full force of Rume and Emur's cruel heat and radiation.
They travelled less and finally settled in a range of mountains that spanned the Northern circumference of the planet, they called these mountains the Sanlands. For generations they had lived in these ranges, still guarding family strongholds with vicious intensity. The San were divided, but they still thrived. Thrived that is until the sickness. A mysterious illness was sweeping through the San with horrifying results. Every family, cut off from each other, struggled to combat the disease, each thinking the other clans had somehow caused the plague. As a result, the race known as the San were nearing extinction. Food had always been difficult to come by, now it was nearly impossible to find anything to hunt. There were not enough workers strong enough to tend the crops and so they died. The animals could not be brought water. They died. Any food to supplement the meagre diet scratched from small gardens and pets had to be caught on Surn's burning plains. This meant risking an encounter with the Cuc. The San and Cuc had never competed before. They treated each other with the respect that hunters and scavengers deserve. Each served a purpose, but now the Cuc were finding that they were becoming prey, and they were not pleased. They had moved far to the south almost to the equator. No other living being on Surn could stand that intense heat. There they waited and multiplied, now this plague had spread among the San, weakening them and the Cuc were returning.
Remruc and Curmer paused at the summit taking the opportunity to scan the territory of their neighbours. Two of their group automatically scouted the surrounding area, a standard search formation. This was the closest border area, it had moved frequently in the past when one family would become more powerful than the other, as a result both sides normally kept sentries posted along its length. Remruc and Curmer's clan had been stricken with the sickness and could no longer guard their borders. They lived in the constant fear of invasion, alert for the first conquering soldiers to stroll across. But none had come.
Remruc shaded his eyes from the Suns and gazed across the red crags, wavering in a shroud of heat. They dipped and twisted across the border tearing at the sky with clawed peaks of purple and gold. Burning and smouldering like the spines of a great dragon wallowing under the skies. There was a single pinnacle of red, orange rock that towered above the rest. That was the lookout for the Nemn, the neighbouring tribe. It was unmanned. Remruc set his jaw grimly and wondered if perhaps, contrary to his clans belief, that they too had the sickness. That would explain the lack of attention they were paying to their borders.
The back of his hand began to burn as the relentless heat of Rume and Emur baked his skin. He signalled for the scouts to return to the main group and they turned to descend into the Indigo depths of a deep chasm that slashed itself into the very heart of the mountain range. Now they were shaded from most of the glare from the sky and they paused as their eyes changed from day vision to sensitive night vision, glowing with a cold blue iridescence. As they journeyed down through the monochromatic chasm, the temperature also began to change cooling to a more comfortable degree. Moisture now dared to exist, darkening the porous rock with its presence, giving plant life an excuse to cling desperately to the surrounding walls.
Finally the gorge narrowed to a point and before the travellers began their final descent they scanned the area cautious of being followed by the Nemn. Ahead of them two great shelves of rock a millennium ago had strained against each other fighting to win supremacy, until one had collapsed and crumbled leaving the victor to rise above and overlap as the planet's mantle edged ever onward on its journey. Between them a narrow opening to a cave had been formed. It appeared to be a nothing more than a small cleft precariously placed between the warring shelves of rock. At least, a casual observer may think that the case. However, if time was taken to study the rocky walls, they would be surprised to see the chipped and gouged granite where massive excavations had been conducted. The walls were skilfully sculptured into natural supporting beams. This was the main entrance of an artificially dug tunnel, a tunnel that led to the subterranean city of the Chai clan. Remruc and Curmer descended into the inky depths, moving by instinct as even their night vision was useless. The floor dropped at a gradual angle, seeming to go on for miles before it finally levelled out. It was at this point that a wall of rocks blocked the way. To an unknowledgeable stranger, it would seem a dead end, but to the Chai, the narrow, hidden stairwells to the left and right were the last means of defence against intruders. The stairs opened out in a funnel shape and at the top they expanded onto a well light rocky platform. Here Remruc and Curmer waited for their patrol to be checked by the entrance guards. They all knew each other, but the formalities had to be followed, there must be no risk of infiltration by the neighbouring tribe. Once acknowledgements had been made Remruc and Curmer were free to descend into their subterranean home.
The city of the Chai had been hewn by generations out of the heart of the mountain. It had once been and underground cavern carved by a long gone lake of modest size. Now it sprawled into the distance, its buildings cut out of solid rock. The structural architecture took on strange aesthetic forms, as the constructors had followed the grain and flaws in the rocks themselves. The winding streets and alleys seemed to follow no set pattern but meandered where they pleased between the dwellings. Shafts of light beamed down through bore holes in the ceiling. These holes had been laboriously drilled directly to the surface angling every so often to lessen the strain on the roof. At each angle in the hole, a polished plate of metal was placed which acted like a mirror reflecting the light from above down to the heart of the mountain. It was the surface entrance to one of these bore holes that Remruc had wedged himself into to hide from the Cuc. The holes themselves had to be wide enough to allow the San to clean and polish the reflecting mirrors. This maintenance was generally done at night, for although the intensity of the heat and light on the metal surface could be tolerated in the early morning or late evening, by midday it was phenomenal. It was this heat that warmed the cavern above the sub-zero temperature to a comfortable degree. The bore holes also served the double purpose of ventilation. Torches on pillared stands solved the problems of night lighting, blackening the walls with their tarry smoke.
Once Remruc and Curmer's clan had been healthy and thriving, the streets full of jostling crowds going about their business, laughing, cajoling, bargaining furiously with market sellers pedalling their wares. There was once life in their city. Now there was only silence. The patrol’s footsteps echoed hollowly against the walls, their boots crunching on the gravel pavements. As they passed a dwelling they glanced through the opening. Sitting on the mats were three children. In the corner lay the covered corpses of their parents. All of them had famine in their eyes and one of the boys had the fever of the sickness. The girl looked up with pleading eyes. Curmer smiled and gave her his share of the meat. At least they would not die of hunger. Remruc clenched his jaw in frustration, wishing that his patrol had brought more food for his starving people. He pulled his brother away. It was a familiar sight now in his city, no family had been spared the sickness. There were too many corpses now to even merit a decent ceremony to send the life essence into the voids as the people found it hard enough to take the bodies to the pit.
