Yesterday Son by A. C. Crispin Read Free Book Online

bumped into him.
    “I’m picking up something on my tricorder.” The [49] Vulcan’s tone of voice, usually so matter-of-fact, betrayed excitement.
    McCoy narrowed his eyes, scanning the ridge ahead of him. With a wordless exclamation, he pushed Spock out of his way and moved unerringly to a portion of the rocky wall. Running his hands over its ice-rimed surface, he turned his head to address the others. “I think this is where we came through the atavachron!”
    The Vulcan was beside him in a few running steps. “You are correct, Doctor. That means that the cave is—” Spock broke off, conscious of an irrational dread. He did not want to look for the cave. Confused, he shook his head, feelings flooding his mind ... fear ... hate ... anger . ... He gasped, swayed, put both his hands to his head, no longer aware of his companions, feeling only those alien emotions. Alien! They came from outside his own mind ... an invasion. As his knees began to buckle from the assault, he marshalled himself and began to fight back.
    Power! It was strong, but ... the mind rules ... my mind rules. ... Mine! The link snapped, and he was free, to find Kirk and McCoy holding his arms. Slowly his vision cleared, and he saw a dark opening in the rocks some distance away that he recognized. As he stared, a figure darted from behind a boulder and ran for the cave.
    Somehow he had shaken off Kirk and McCoy, and was running himself, faster than he’d ever moved in his life. He could hear the others as they came pelting after him. Spock had nearly reached the cave opening when a rock caught him in the shoulder. He staggered, nearly fell, then Kirk and McCoy were beside him and they were all staring at the being that crouched, back against the cliff wall.
    It was humanoid, but so swathed in furs that it was impossible to tell more. Spock stepped forward, and a snarl came from the recesses of the hood. The sound was not human.
    [50] It’s Zarabeth, thought McCoy. Too tall for a child. She’s gone mad with the loneliness. As he stepped in front of the Vulcan, opening his mouth to speak reassuringly, the ragged figure moved with the speed of desperation, and a good-sized rock caught the Doctor in the midsection. McCoy gasped and fell. Kirk leaped forward, saw the flash of a knife, lashed out with his foot, and heard the weapon ring against the wall. Hands fastened themselves around his throat. The Captain flung himself backward, one knee coming up viciously, felt his assailant twist to avoid the blow, and the steely fingers loosened. He dug his thumbs into the pressure points in the wrists, and when they slipped, rolled free, air scorching his throat. He struck out, trying to push away completely, felt teeth sink into his wrist, and then the creature sagged half on top of him, limp.
    Spock released his hand from the junction of neck and shoulder, as the Captain scrambled up, rubbing his throat. “Bones all right?” he croaked, and saw McCoy staggering toward them, medical tricorder ready. They stood back as the Doctor ran his scanner over the mound of skins, then looked up. “Humanoid ... Vulcan ... and something else. Help me turn him over.”
    The concealing hood fell back, to reveal the face, bearded, with long dark hair tied back. The face on the cave wall, but older, that of a man in his mid-twenties. McCoy sat back on his heels, staring. “Looks like we miscalculated a bit. ... But better late than never, I suppose.” He looked up at Spock, then back again at his unconscious patient. “The racial characteristics are unmistakable, aren’t they?”

Chapter VI
    Kirk couldn’t see Spock’s face, but the Vulcan sounded dazed, hesitant. “Perhaps we’d better move ... him ... into the cave. It will be warm there. ...”
    The Captain waited for a second, but the other didn’t move, so he nodded to McCoy and the two of them carried the limp form into the cave. Kirk recognized the interior from the pictures, but his attention was mostly