The Treasures of Shamarkand 4 -The Mechanical Labyrinth

The Treasures of Shamarkand

4 - The Mechanical Labyrinth

Copyright 2011 K.R.Columbus

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

-This is a young adult/children book that contains homosexual characters, but it can be enjoyed by everyone without care about sexual orientation. It doesn't contain sexual content or language. Only that some of the characters will be male and like each other, or have a sentimental relationship and so portraying it in a good light.-

Take your first steps towards a world without any prejudice and thank you for your time.

K.R.Columbus

Antiquarian Age Books

By K.R.Columbus

(Release dates and titles can change at any time…)

………….

(G) - Contains Gay Characters

(S) - Contains Strong Sexual Content

(M) - Contains Medium Sexual Content

(L) - Contains Light Sexual Content

(D) - Contains Disturbing Situations

(Ω) - Contains Speculative Religious Themes

-We Shall be as Gods Series- (L) - (D) - (G) - (Ω)

1st Testament - Vestigial Dream

2nd Testament - The Weaver and the Herder

3rd Testament - Shadows of Me

4th Testament - Children of Exile

5th Testament - Beyond Destiny (2012)

-Sodom’s X Duology- (M) - (D) - (Ω) - (G)

A Song for the End

The World Ends for You

Complete Duology Set (Also Available)

-Hyper Speed Inertia Series- (D) - (G)

-Yamato Trilogy-

Battle-Submarine Yamato

The Fires of Kawaita (2013)

-MAGNA MAQUINA Series- (G)

The Mall

The Greatest Machine of All

Simulation Earth (2013)

-YAKUZA RONDO Series- (M) - (D) - (G)

KUMA/GORO

-NOVELS- (Not part of a Series)

-Hall of the Mountain King- (S) - (G)

-StrayLand- (M) (2013)

-Atollon- (D) (2013)

-The Last Southern Mountain- (G) (2013)

-Young Adult Fiction-

-The Columns of the Universe Trilogy-

The Crown of Orion (2013)

-The Treasures of Shamarkand Series- (G)

Wanderers to Shamarkand

Daughter of the Gods

Carnival of Shadows

The Mechanical Labyrinth

The Mirror Tower (2012)

-Totemic Haven Series- (G)

Totemic Haven

WildChild

Father Sun, Mother Moon (2013)

-Young Adult Fiction- (Not part of a Series)

-Dirty Paws- (Winter 2012)

By K.R.Columbus

"If you’re reading this book pretty much means you like the story so far, and I'm very grateful that you’re along for the ride with Mimico and the rest of the Wanderers. I usually don’t dedicate my books to anyone, I find it a bit pointless because you end up leaving a lot of people out and well, some authors start repeating themselves. Still, I decided to dedicate this book to Natalia, Diego, and a certain reader that gets everything I put out the first half an hour it comes out; you know who you’re, and I thank you.

This marks the fourth book and the middle of the series. I finally outlined the ideas I’ve for all three remaining books; with the last one being novel length, instead of story book length, (will be around 80,000 words) so it will be as Mimico would say Freaking Epic. The Mechanical Labyrinth in particular, being the central story gets pretty dark towards the end; like most central chapters in any saga, and is almost 10,000 words longer than previous books in the series. It will all get somewhat back to normal on book 5 The Mirror Tower, and the book after The Ruins of Creation, but the last book (The Wonders of Shamarkand) will have this tone more or less.

Like always don’t get names and locations too literal, and Mimico and Durga’s side of the story is happening in a different time frame from the rest of the story, but at some point they link towards the end. I hope you enjoy it and stay with us until the end; there’re a lot of surprises in store, and welcome back to The Copper Seas."

-K.R.Columbus

Chapter 1

-Escape-

Hold on! Ghist cried as the cannonball flew past them and landed two inches away from the Sea Wanderer. We’ve to out run them!

We can't leave Jenoa, our friends are still there! Bastet cried as she ran to the wheel to try to steer the ship back to port; only to be stopped by Bolos.

No, to go back will be our end. Bolos said firmly, looking back at the ships she knew he was right but her feelings were running raw at that moment; raw and full of pain.

The water splashed very high, making waves that disturbed the simple unkept path the ship was following. Beyond they could see Jenoa being left behind, the many ships near its docks full of wooly folk looking at what was happening. Seeing the Roman ships in pursuit Bastet felt her fur stand on end as the sortie of cannonballs rained all around them. Their time was thin, she knew this, she had read enough books about war and strategy to know that the odds were completely against them.

Purron, Kabu, to me! The rest of you, try to out run them as best as you can, head west, back to the islands! Bastet commanded as she pounced back to the cabin.

She has a plan. Mushica said as she twirled on a rope line and made the ship steer to the left by moving the sail. Mew, stay close to me darling. She barked with warmth as Mew hid his face with a book.

Entering the main room in the cabin Bastet felt Kabu and Purron next to her and felt a bit reassured, and this was a good feeling. She could feel the strong pressure, the call to arms and the very pressing feeling of their time running out. At least she had Kabu and Purron with her. Bastet had to be strong for them, and those that had been left behind. She still could hear Mimico’s voice as he was taken with poor old Durga; they’d no idea what was happening to them until it was too late.

Arkos… She subvocalized as she looked at the cabin, looking for the secret compartment where she hid.

Bastet what can we do? Kabu said as he felt the Sea Wanderer shake as a cannonball destroyed part of the wooden decorations on the left side.

We’ll have to fight; we can't leave them back in Jenoa. Purron said thinking of Mimico, poor, poor Mimico.

They were taken to a slaver ship. Bastet said as she opened the compartment and saw inside their precious items; the very few stuff that they couldn’t loose at all cost.

For a slight second she looked at Mimico’s vest, it had been made by his mother and she knew it was very precious to him. A knife made by Micosh; Mimico’s father. Some of her dresses given to her by her sister. All the treasures they’d found so far were hidden here, The Ordhear, The Everspring, a pendant of power given to Mimico by a slave family and a few precious books and items they gathered in their travels. This compartment was their smuggling place, the place they knew no one could find and thinking back she felt a strong sting of pain as the images of Arkos pushing her inside came to her mind.

We need to survive this so we can save them. Durga and Mimico were taken by the slaver ship, but I’ve no idea where Arkos is. Her voice broke then as she heard shouts coming from above and her mind ran to Arkos. We won’t worry about Arkos; it’s his fault Mimico and Durga were taken.

No, can't be, I mean what did he do? Kabu asked looking at Purron that had a leather bag slung by one shoulder and was looking odd; maybe it was just the fear, maybe it was nothing at all.

He, he stole a Light Rose from the garden in Jenoa. She said, her voice raw as she saw him pushing her into the compartment, the rose still clutched in her paws.

He was just trying to protect me. She thought as her paw graced the sleek surface of the Everspring bow. She could sense the bow acknowledging her, vibrating with power as her paw touched its makings.

Maybe he didn’t mean to… I mean Arkos is mightily intelligent but some things just fly off his head, like common sense for instance. Purron said as he scratched his head. Bastet, what’re you going to do with the Everspring? We can't use it here; its powers are useless on water.

I'm going to save all of you; that’s what I'm going to do. I won't give up now; I didn’t survive all of these years just to be sold once again as a slave. I'm sick and tired of people taking my life off my paws. She said as she slung the bow from her shoulder and walked away with them following shortly behind.

Light changed from dark into intense light as she stepped in the sun. The wind could be felt playing with her black ears, making them stand tested against their power. She didn’t look at Ghist that at the moment was high up in the basket or at Mushica that was minding the lines with Mew, or even at Bolos that was taking care of the wheel as skillfully as he could. Bastet didn’t look at any of them; instead she fixed her feline eyes on the ships following them. In that moment a cannonball flew past her head, just a few inches lower and the ship would’ve been hit right in the middle.

Boar, maintain the ship on the same route for three minutes! She called as she jumped on one of the strong lines of rope holding the sails and twisted her legs in such a way that if she lost her balance she wouldn’t fall.

Bastet what’re you doing! Kabu said looking at her grip the bow and close her eyes.

Light, wind, sea, swirl, waves, heartbeat, breath… Bastet said as she took into account many things that must be taken into mind when shooting.

Bastet, we’re going to be hit. Purron said in despair as he saw all ships position themselves to take aim at The Sea Wanderer.

The world turned inside out in her mind, she could only hear the heartbeat of her life, the movement of the waves and the ship. Her concentration was strong then, it was so strong that it couldn’t be broken by the shouts and calls from her friends. She let go off the line, let her body hang upside down, being held only by her twisted legs on the lines. She gripped the bow, felt its power, felt its power shift as her mind visualized what she wanted. It was up to her, she had known because the bow itself had given her a vision upon her touch. In that instant she was one with the materials of the bow, she could feel the wood and resin twist and strain under her touch, her pull, her will.

Oh no! Incoming!!! Ghist called from above as seconds before she felt the change of air pressure in the air, in the wind, in everything around her.

At least two dozen cannonballs were heading their way, she could smell the fire, the dust and the smoke in the wind and still she was held unchanged. She raised the bow, opened her eyes and saw the sea as the sky and the sky as her foundations; somehow this made her feel good and peaceful. This was the way that she used to practice archery back in Agrest on her spare time. If you can shoot backwards or while running you can shoot anywhere and anytime; the thing is to stay focus on your target and the variants.

Kabu’s maw opened as Purron’s eyes went wide, within a minute Bastet had shot a dozen light arrows from the bow, its power making the sea swirl with little ripples of power as each arrow was released. To his surprise the arrows, even if shot at different times met at a single point in the middle and gained the same velocity to meet all the cannonballs at once. The air exploded with fire as a wall of water was raised where the cannonballs had been hit. They exploded, making the sea raise with gigantic waves being born both towards the Sea Wanderer and the pursuing ships.

Use the waves to take us away!!! Ghist shouted to Bolos that in no time had the ship positioned as the first twelve meter high wave hit them. Pup, take down the sails!

Purron and Kabu held on to lines of rope as the waves hit, it was like being in the middle of a procession of giants made entirely out of water. In no time the ship was ascending at amazing speeds. They were going so fast that they could feel the wind making their fur flap. Mushica and Mew gathered the sail.

We’re going too fast! Bolos cried, feeling the wheel wanting to spiral out of control. I need help!!!

Purron ran, skidded, and tumbled his way close to Bolos but in no time was there helping him to keep the ship from loosing control. To loose control now was to loose their lives. Kabu on his part was helping Bastet down, yet as they were going down, feeling the ship going further and further away from their pursuers Bastet felt an idea being born.

She let go of Kabu