The Search for Gram Read Free Page B

wonder if you got credit for the formation when Olympos went into the black hole.” The Terrans had accidentally set off a black hole generator that had consumed the Psiclopes’ home planet during the Drakul War. Steropes’ tone of voice indicated it was still a sore subject with him.
    “I don’t know,” repeated Calvin. “The symbol might have appeared then…but then again, it might have appeared any other time in the last six months too.”
    “The only things I have ever seen that looked like those symbols are two of the ancient Zodiac symbols. The reason I said ‘not really’ was that I don’t see how the ancient Terran Zodiac would be relevant to something from the Progenitors.”
    “Progenitors?” asked Captain Nightsong, walking up with a tray of food. “Is that a rod from the Progenitors?”
    “Yes,” replied Calvin. He felt reluctant to hand the rod over to the Aesir, so he held the rod where the alien could see it, instead.
    “Let me guess,” said Captain Nightsong. “A gate appeared as you were transiting a known system, and you went through it. You found a system that had all the planets in a line, and you were met by some sort of computer avatar from the Progenitors, a civilization that disappeared long ago. The avatar gave you the rod and told you to look for a certain type of rock formation. Is that what happened?”
    “Yes,” said Calvin. “How did you know?”
    “I have seen two of those rods previously. In both cases, that is how they were acquired.”
    “What happens when you complete the task or quest, or whatever the hell it is?” asked Calvin.
    “I don’t know. Both of the people who had them previously died before accomplishing the task. May I hold it?”
    Calvin handed him the rod, feeling a little better about him.
    “Only two symbols?” Nightsong asked. “You must have just received it.”
    “We’ve been kind of busy fighting the Drakuls since the avatar gave it to me. I was hoping to go around and get some more of the symbols, but I’m going to have to put it off to come help you.”
    The Aesir gave Calvin a wry smile. “In that case, you should try not to get killed. I have wondered about the reward for completing the quest for a very long time.”
    Calvin snorted. “As if I needed a better reason.” He shook his head and then said, “Hey, I’ve been thinking about what you said on the planet, and there are a couple of things that puzzled me.”
    “I’d be happy to answer your questions if they help you accomplish your task,” said Captain Nightsong. “What are they?”
    “First, you mentioned something about putting a life essence into the swords Wayland made. How does that work? Were the people he took them from willing participants, or does your culture condone stealing peoples’ souls?”
    “Neither, actually,” replied the Aesir, “although the full answer is much more complicated. Wayland didn’t just retire to your planet; he fled there when our people found out he was experimenting with stealing peoples’ life forces. What he was doing was against our laws and our beliefs, and it shocked all of us who knew him. When his experiments were discovered, he fled to your planet to hide. He would have been fine, but he spoke too freely about his sword. When he said it was ‘forged for a giant,’ it was. He had acquired it as booty in one of our wars against the frost giants.”
    “Frost giants?” asked Calvin.
    “Yes, the Jotunn are a historical enemy of ours and the likely cause of our current troubles. When the first of our ships disappeared, we thought it was due to a giant attack. The frost giants live on a number of planets that are generally too cold for us and spend most of their time fighting amongst themselves. Every millennia or so, a leader will arise who is strong enough to unite them, and they will make war on one of their neighbors. Unfortunately, that neighbor is usually us. They haven’t been heard from in about 1,400 years so we