Terry Pratchett - The Long War

Nathan asked, “Scientists?”

“Biologists. Actually up here to study the trolls, so they say. One of them was the one who called for help; I let him go. The rest—”

“And ‘secured’?” Maggie asked sharply. “What do you mean by that?”

Sally grinned evilly. “The trolls were captured here for some kind of ‘experiment’ in cross-breeding with other humanoids. Unsurprisingly they resisted and stepped away, heading due West, which led to a chase, and a male and two females being shot dead—at least that number, I didn’t see it all. Left behind one orphaned cub. I’m sure you’re aware of the furore around our treatment of the trolls just now—”

“That doesn’t sanction some kind of vigilante action by you, whoever you are,” Mac said thickly.

Sally just smiled. “Oh, nobody’s dead. They’re not exactly comfortable, but nobody’s dead . Unlike those trolls. And by the way if your crew try to apprehend me I’ll step out of here faster than you can say ‘beam me up’.”

Maggie was all too aware that for all Sally’s self-confidence the slightest evidence of a threat from her would bring down the lightning from the Franklin . On the other hand Maggie needed to get a hold of this situation—and, as she thought she recognized this woman, she saw a way.

“OK,” she said now. “I’ve no intention of trying to apprehend you—umm, Sally . We’re not out here to be a police force. For all I know, these characters deserved whatever you dished out. However I would advise you at the least to put aside those weapons on your back. Let’s just calm tensions here. And then I suggest that you and I stroll over to that clump of woods, where the bodies are, and have a little parley. Get this situation resolved.”

Sally hesitated. Then she nodded, dumped her weapons, and the two walked towards the woods, leaving Mac and Nathan to sample a little more much-brewed coffee.

“Of course, I know who you are,” Maggie said quickly, seeking to put Sally off her stride.

“You do?”

“Sure. You’re the woman who stepped out of the Mark Twain with Joshua Valienté. News gets around.” More specifically, she had cropped up in Maggie’s briefings as a well-known rogue element—and, yes, suspected vigilante—out in the Long Earth. “Sally Linsay, right? That’s at least one of the names you’re known by.”

Sally shrugged. “And I know about you, Captain Margaret Dianne Kauffman. Oh, it wasn’t hard to find out about your military career—anybody concerned about Long Earth politics knows all about the Franklin and its officers and the rest of the fleet and their galumphing Starfleet-type mission. Actually I’m kind of glad it was you who showed up; you’re evidently one of the less stupid of the Captain Kirks running around out here.”

“Thanks.”

Sally eyed Maggie shrewdly. “Listen—since you’re here. And since you’re evidently not some military-issue psycho.”

“Praise indeed.”

“I do believe in serendipity. Grabbing opportunities. There’s an idea I’ve been playing with, about law-enforcement.”

“That’s not our role, strictly speaking…” Somehow Maggie was back on the defensive. “What are you talking about?”

“You may be less stupid than your peers, but what a dumb mission you’re engaged in. It really is like bloody Star Trek —a handful of ships patrolling an infinity of worlds. Look, if you want to manage the Long Earth then you have to get holistic.”

“I’ve no idea what you’re suggesting.”

“I’m suggesting you need an ally that’s spread as wide as the Long Earth itself.” She looked directly at Maggie. “I’m talking about trolls.”

That took Maggie totally by surprise. “ What? ”

“Use the trolls. Take a couple on your ship, even. Look, they are, or were, being used all over the Long Earth already, wherever people want a friendly hand. Why not the military too? They have an extensive communications system, coupled to a huge folk memory—”

“The long call.”

“Yes. Not to mention being somewhat physically intimidating.”

This was too much for Maggie to take in. It occurred to her that her mission had evolved a hell of a way from that tough-love speech by the President, to this . On the other hand maybe she should be making some kind of response to this business of the trolls. “I’ll need to think about it… Why would you want this?”

Sally shrugged. “I’m on the trolls’ side. How better to protect them than to have them work with the soldiers? Also, maybe it will help them learn to trust us again…”

They reached the clump of forest. Maggie followed Sally into the shade, where they found two dead trolls—the third Sally mentioned had presumably left a corpse off on some stepwise world—and a live juvenile still trying to cuddle up to one of the bodies.

“You say you have these scientist characters stashed somewhere near by.”

“You’ll find them. You better had, in fact, before the other trolls get here.”

“What other trolls?”

Sally gave her a knowing look. “At twilight, young though it is, this orphaned cub will attempt to join in with the long call. That will summon other trolls. And when they turn up—look, trolls are comparatively merciful. More than most human parents would be. But they are protective of their cubs.”

“Point taken.”

They began to walk back to the fire.

“Listen,” Sally said now, apparently on impulse. “There’s something else. Since I believe you have the right stuff, Captain Maggie, take a look at this.” She rummaged under a small heap of gear, and pulled out a piece of shining tech.

It was a tube encrusted with keypads, vaguely resembling some kind of musical instrument, but technologically advanced. It was like an ocarina redesigned by Einstein, Maggie thought.

“This is a troll-call.”

“A what?”

“Call it a two-way translation device for talking with trolls. I’m pretty good at it by now, I can call for help, or to signal danger. I mean, our language is nothing like theirs—this is just a prototype—and you can’t get across much more than basic concepts. But for now it’s the best we can do. With a few trolls on your ship, and one of these …”

“How do I get hold of one?”

“Oh, it’s not for sale,” said Sally. “But I could get one for you from the manufacturer.”

“Who is the manufacturer?” asked Maggie.

Sally just smiled.

Maggie took a leap into the dark. “OK—get me one. That way I keep my options open. And I will consider what you’ve said.”

“Good.”

“How will I find you?… Oh. You’ll find me, right?”

“You’re getting the hang of this.”

Any dirigible crew, when on the ground, were routinely wired up and monitored; Maggie’s officers had of course overheard every word.

Nathan Boss thought they should have apprehended Sally Linsay, or at least tried to.

And Joe Mackenzie thought she was crazy even to be thinking about taking trolls on board.

“I don’t know, Mac. We do need new ways of working out here. I’ve learned that much in the past month. I mean, she’s right, once you are more than ten steps from the Datum, it’s like interstellar space. You can’t control the Long Earth like it was some occupied city in a war zone. Or even Datum New York. Freedom’s a mess, isn’t it? Listen, Mac—do some research for me. Find me some troll experts…”

The Gold Dust and its accompanying fleet crept through the Low Earths, the last couple of dozen stepwise worlds before the Datum. The skies were pretty crowded over these relatively heavily developed worlds, and as the ships were stepped through collisions were a real threat. In the last few worlds they actually had to follow a scout on the ground, who would step forward, check out the route, and then come back when the way was clear.