Valley Of Shadow #2

fog. It was a dream, totally unreal. The fog was darkening and then. quite suddenly, there was nothing at all. * * * * .

There was no wayto tell howlong he had been unconscious.

It could have been hours or only a few minutes. but a pain in his chest and a throbbing head drove all thought of time from his mind. It was hard to breathe and he started gasping for air. McCoyshook his head to clear the last remnants of fog; the movementsent a sharp pain through his temple. Finally, his mind cleared and memorymade him open his eyes. What he found was not encouraging. He was on his feet - or, more correctly, being held uprgiht by a strap that encir~ c1ed his chest and a large tree. They had taken his shirt and a trail of blood ran down his chest, probably from a cut where he'd been hit. His hands were tied tightly behind the trunk, its rough bark cutting savagely into his naked back and arms. Someof the pressure on his lungs was relieved by standing erect, but it was still uncomfortable. It only took a momentto assess his condition and now he turned his attention to the two figures before him. Klingons. The one standing at his side was the one who had tackled him earlier, and directly before him was a young curly-headed commanderwho seemed to be waiting for recognition.

"Well, Earthling, we have relieved you of your command. II

The Klingon was assuming that he was in charge. II I'ma... II careful "...afraid you have me at a dTsadvantage." They didn't seem to knowSpock was with them. McCoycouldn't reveal he was a doctor. Not even K1ingons would believe that a medical man would be in charge

of a-geological survey. . "You're looking for tri"thium, aren't you. II It was a statement, not a question, and there was no use denyingit; every instrument had been preset. "That's obvious, isn't it?" The young man smil ed as he nodded. "Where is the Enterprise and when will it return?" That was what he really wanted to know...and McCoydearly wished he didn't know the answers. The Klingon seemed to accept his silence for the moment. .

"Are there any others in your party?" He just stared at the man. The less said the better. "Have you found the tril ithium?" 511ence . "I suggest you talk willingly." There was something in the young man's voice. A warning? A plea for cooperation? Whatever it was, McCoydidn't like it. A third K1ingon came from the direction of camp and snapped to attention before his leader. "CommanderKopel. Wehave found six bedrolls in the earthers' camp, although one of them does not appear to have been used. II The one called

Kopel spun back around to face with yoU?" McCoysilently blessed Spock for being neat, presence this early might only convince Kopel that else around.oosomewhere. "1'11. .let you worry about

man? Is there someone else

17.

McCoy. "Another but to deny his there was someone that. II

The blow came without warning. McCoyfelt the cut bleeding again but was more surprised than hurt. All through the questioning, the Klingon beside him had remained silent, yet now he glared at the doctor with open loathing. "You will answer the questions. All of them." McCoymight have been able to reason with Kopel, but this man was different. The lieutenant took a step back, drawing a long metal instrument from his belt. It was held out to the commander, but the young man wouldn't take it. McCoydidn't like the quick look of sympathy he received. Kopel turned back to his lieutenant, his voice almost a whisper. "You do it, Keck." "Is that an order...sir?" The commander's eyes flashed. "Yes, damnit, it's an orderl" Kopel moveda few steps away, as if by doing so he would not be a part of what might happen. WhenMcCoylooked back at Keck he found the man smiling up at him. "Now,about the Enterprise. Whenwill it return and from which quadrant?" The wand was being waved back and forth in front of him. He couldn't take his eyes off it. It was a thin metal rod about a foot long with a handle on one end and a small round ball on the other. Searching his mind, McCoycould find no reference to anything like it. This was something to fear, he was sure of that, but what kind of threat was he facing? The Klingon noticed his fascination and guessed the unasked question. "It's a modified disruptor. The principle is the same as' our weapons, except this has a pinpoint beamand 1imited range. Its field of d1sruption is five to ten centimeters from the tip; anything closer or further away is not affected." A hand caressed the shaft affectionately. "Placed correctly on the body, it can be quite persuasive." The realization of what that thing could do to him brought a surge of panic. Cellular destruction, internal hemorrhage, tissue disruption. Whole organs would be destroyed if contact was repeated or prolonged. McCoystrained against his bonds, but it was useless. If only Spock No, he couldn't wish for Spock. If the Vulcan returned now, he would only be killed. McCoylooked hopefully to Kopel as a last resort, but the young man was unable to meet his eyes. Keck's voice was low and menacing as he leveled the wand waist high. "Whenwill your ship return?" McCoykept his silence. Slowly the disruptor moved toward him and he was powerless to stop it. Closer and closer the ball came until, finally, it touched his skin. The jerk of his body was invo1untary...but nothing happened. Looking up, he found Keck smiling with obvious enjoyment. "It's not activated.. .yet. This won't be quick or easy for you. I can destroy you bit by bit with this little beauty. You'll beg to tell me what I want to knowbefore I'm finished There are certain areas " Keck was intent on explaining exactly howhe planned to proceed, and after a few words, McC~rdidn't want to hear anymore. He closed 18.

his mind to the voice

and

concentrated on the little

ball that was

slowly moving up towards the center of his body. Inch by maddening

inch, the wand traveled up; past his stomach, pausing briefly over his heart, then moving up along his throat. It came to rest under his chin; the pressure behind it f0rced his head up and back into the bark of the tree. Again, the questions. McCoyheld no illusions about his ability to withstand what was going to happen to him. He didn't want to go through this, but he couldn't just give up without trying. Keck would get his answers eventually, he knew that. But something within him -pride, maybe -- wouldn't make it easy for the K1ingon.

"Ta1k to me, Commander. I assure you, I am well-versed in human physio10gy. It will take you a long time to die." God help him, there was nothing he could say. McCoyfelt the

ball retracing

its path downwardwith agonizing slowness.

He

fixed

his gaze on a blue bird that had come to rest in the branches above him as his body tensed, waiting. The bird preened itself under a ray of sun filtering through the leaves. Then bird, tree and sky erupted in searing pain. A frightened ribbon-tailed blue bird flew out of the forest, seeking a quieter spot.

* * * * Spock paused on an outcropping of rock. All day he had searched the rugged terrain for some sign of tri1ithium, but had uncovered only small uranium deposits. His eyes scanned the mountain that rose on the other side of a shallow gorge. Wind had .eroded caves and strange shapes into the softer parts of its surface. Tomorrowhe would investigate them; there was no time today. Only three hours of light remained and areas on these slopes still needed to be checked. He sat, trying to convince himself that his tricorder needed adjustment...but he welcomedthe rest. Concentration was difficult; in fact, all day he had been pushing and that was highly unusual. A blue bird flew by and he allowed himself a momentof se1frighteous anger. It was a good example of protective coloration, but his observation had only upset McCoy. Whydid humans, especially that one, have such reverence for beauty? As he watched, the bird dipped and soared, uSing the air currents to maximize efficiency. He could not understand the doctor's reaction; what more could he have seen? Spock tried to see the bird through humaneyes, but it still appealed only to his scientific curiosity. What had McCoysaid? 'You don't have to think.' Illogical, but he would attempt it. Placing himself in a mild trance, he emptied his mind, then sought the bird. A pattern of loops and turns traced across his eyes. As the creature glided above him, for an instant the wing was silhouetted black against the yellow sun. A melodious song drifted downover him. It was an unusual sensation. Turning, he looked back across the valley. He could see to the gently curved horizon. The blue-green valley, the light blue meadowand the yellow hills. Far beyond was an emerald sea and the darkening sky of approaching night. It was beautiful. He sat, simply accepting, when something else came to his open mind. The man on the hill that . morning was not the McCoyhe thought . 19.

he knew. They had played their game for years, but this time it was not a game. Without warning, Spock had been confronted by a sensitivity that he never knewexisted, and. the change came so suddenly that he had not recognized it. Only nowcould he see the desperate need for help behind the doctor's anger...help that had not been given. Somehow,the doctor blamed himself for the deaths on Bolsa and guilt had stripped away the mask of cynicism. What had Miranda said? "How can one so full of the love of life as you, Dr. McCoy,condemnhimself to look upon suffering and disease for the rest of his 1ife?" She was blind yet had seen the physician more clearly than any of them. A decision had to be made. Spock liked the doctor, but had always considered him a danger. Jim had the good judgment to accept him as he was, but McCoywas always probing the Vulcan defenses, trying to get inside. Their relationship was a series of superficial battles, but today McCoyhad indicated a need for something deeper, a more personal sharing. The doctor accused him of not caring and had challenged him to deny it. Spock had been invited to share McCoy's feelings; but . instead

· j

he had wal ked away, not realizing

how much was being offered.

The opportunity might still be there but it would mean admitting that he did care, and he was reluctant to allow the doctor closer. He would have to be willing to share certain parts of himself in exchange for McCoy's confidence. Of one thing he was certain. If he let this chance go by without acknowledgement, McCoywould never open up to him again. There were depths to this man that he never suspected and Spock wanted' the opportunity to explore them. The survey could wait. McCoycould not. It might already be too late. Slinging the tricorder strap over hi~ shoulder,. Spock climbed down .from the mountain. He crossed a stream that separated cliffs from forest and moved into the wooded shade. . The wind rose abruptly, ..pushing its way through the boughs above him and sending a shower of leaves cascading to the valley floor. Rays of sun filtering through the swaying branches caught the. shiny leaves turning them into a rain of silver reflections. Beauty was real. WhenSpock reached the edge of the camp, it took only a glance to see the dead and to notice that McCoywas not amongthem. Flattening against a tree, he drew his phaser and took a tricorder scan. There was heavy interference, but he could ma.l<e:outa life form in one of the shelters and perhaps another some distance beyondo He moved quietly toward the shelter, but before he could reach it, a Klingon emerged. There was no choice; the phaser hummedand the alien fell. The tent was a shambles. Someequipment was missing and the rest was scattered, but there was no McCoy. Checking the tricorder, he left the shelter and set off toward the ether reading. If it proved to be there were questions .~nother Klingen, he must be captured.consciDus to be answered. Spock was changing the phaser setting to 'light stun' when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something blue on the ground. Moving quickly, he snatched it up. .

-

McCoy'sjersey.

.

Spock had taken only a few more.steps when he saw him. For a second he could not move. The doctor was tied to a large tree, the limp body held firmly by a strap around his chest. He crushed the blue shirt in a steel grip as he fought down the emotions within. ..

20.

Moving quickly to the tree, Spock gently raised McCoy's head to feel for a carotid pulse as his eyes scanned the body for injury. There were no marks or bruises on the doctor, only a bleeding cut at his temple. His fingers probed deeply into the throat. McCoy's pulse was weak and rapid. Setting his phaser on the narrowest beam possible, Spock went behind the tree and cut McCoy's hands free. Then, supporting the doctor, the last bond was severed and the unconscious man lowered carefully to the ground. Spock knelt beside him and gently removed the remnants of cord embedded in McCoy's wrists. The doctor's hands were like ice and his entire body covered with clammy perspiration. But there was no time to help him now; the Klingons would return. He lifted McCoyover his shoulder and started back toward the mountains. The tricorder registered no life forms but its readings were erratic, so he retraced what had been a safe path earlier. The forest was no longer a place of beauty and he was anxious to be out of it. After a while he reached the "base of the mountains and the stream that separated them from the forest. He looked up at the cliffs and peaks. The climb would be hazardous, and the sun was low in the sky. He should proceed at once, but the doctor was still unconscious and that worried him. As he lowered McCoy, Spock found that he still clutched the jersey. Strange; he did not remember bringing it along. The rapid pulse was weaker, and blood flowed freely from the cut head and wrists. For a moment, he sat back to review what little he knew about medicine. This was McCoy's world, not his. The continued bleeding bothered him. A lack of clotting and low temperature could indicate extreme blood loss, but the visible wounds would not account for it. There was another possible explanation. Gently, he placed his hand on the doctor's mid-section and felt rigid muscles protecting some injury beneath. Internal hemorrhage. He was unsure how to proceed. If McCoywas conscious, he might be able to tell him. ..

..........

- -

--

21.

Dipping the shirt into the shallow stream, Spock carefully bathed the doctor's face. After a few minutes McCoy's eyes opened. Eyes that usually sparkled were nowdull and unfocused. "Doctor McCoy,can you hear me?" McCoyfocused on his face, but before either of them could speak, his body contorted in pain and pulled away from Spock tn retch on the ground. There was no satisfaction to knowthat his diagnosis was correct. McCoywas vomiting blood. Whenthe heaving stopped, Spock rolled him onto his back and wiped his lips. "Can you tell me what happened?" McCoy's voice was dry and hardly above a whisper. "K1...K1ingons ...kil1ed the others...wanted...ship..." For a momentthe whisper was silenced by a spasm of cain. "...water." Water would be the worst thing for him. "I hardly think it wise." "Please, Spock...litt1e won't hurt." Again Spock placed the shirt in the water and brought it to the ashen face, but only a small amount of liquid was squeezed into McCoy's mouth. "Thanks." "Wewill move on when you have had time to rest." The eyes widened, their blue dominating a pale face. "No! When they find me gone, they'll knowyou're here. You've got to go now." McCoytried to rise but the sudden movementtore a sharp cry from his throat. "lie still. Youmust rest first; your injuries are serious." The doctor reached out and grabbed his arm. "listen to me, Spock. Youcan't take me with you. I...I'm torn apart and no amount of rest is going to change that." Spock gently pulled his arm free and McCoydid not resist. There was no resistance left. The strength was draining from the human. If the doctor were Vulcan there were certain disciplines that might give him a chance. Or if a Vulcan guided his mind through the healing techniques It was the way healers helped those unable to help themselves, but Spock had never attempted such a contact, nor was he sure it was possible with a human. There was no acceptable alternative; he had to try it. Slowly he reached a hand toward the doctor's face. McCoywould have to consent to this. "Doctor, I can help you But McCoysaw the approaching touch an~ weakly brushed it aside. The refusal shook Spock. "Youmust allow this. There is no other way for your survival." "Or for both our deaths." A weak smile crept over blue lips. "It wou1d take too long. The K1ingons wou1d have us both." The smile quickly vanished as a new wave of nausea surged through McCoy's body. Again, the ground was soaked with blood. Spock held the trembling head and shoulders, waiting for the seizure to pass as his mind searched for a way out of this for both of them. Whenthe spasm subsided he bent over a face that seemed paperthin. "I am taking you with me." McCoy's voir.e was weak, but not without a certain irony. "Be logical; I wouldn't last an hour with you bouncing me around. Even if I did, I'll be dead long before the ship returns. Youthink I don't knowthat? I'm hurt too badly. Hemorrhaging." A great gentleness 22.