“Dalera offers a truly fortunate defense,” Teyla interjected. “For as long as you work together and use the Shields, you will always have the power to fend off the worst Wraith depravations.”
“Then the Citadel must pay us for the blackwater you used.” The man’s glare moved from Teyla and Yann to McKay. “But you will not steal from us any further.” He crossed his arms belligerently. “You will not destroy the cliff holding back the last of our blackwater.”
“So,” Major Sheppard replied with a weary expression. “Where would you like us to take you when the Wraith resume their attack? East wall, maybe? Or would you rather just stay here sitting on your hoard of black gold?”
The Nemst townsfolk looked unsure. “What of Dalera’s Weapon?”
“The things specifically used to power it…died.”
“I don’t know if anyone’s noticed,” McKay said, staring out across the countryside. “But I can’t see any sign of the Wraith. Y’ know?” A confident smile crossed his face, and he eyed his collection of now dull Shields. “I think we really did make them turn tail and leave. It may not be necessary to blow up the remains of the cliff after all.”
Aiden clamped his jaw shut. Just once, couldn’t the scientist get with the program and see what was happening around him? Another few minutes and the townspeople might have been forced to concede that to survive the Wraith in the long term, they had to follow Dalera’s plan to protect the Citadel. And that meant working together and being willing to employ every resource they had, including their oil. Sure, it was great that they wouldn’t have to use it now, but right at this moment, that wasn’t the point.
Teyla, too, pursed her lips, while Sheppard just shot McKay an incredulous look. “Thank you, Rodney.”
The scientist’s supercilious smirk faded into uncertainty. “Well, isn’t that a good thing?”
“Yes,” Teyla replied, her biting tone leaving no room for doubt. “Truly wonderful.”
“What do you think?” The Major turned to Teyla. “Are they likely to be hanging around?” He’d obviously abandoned the attempt to get the townsfolk to consider anything other than themselves.
The golden light from the afternoon sun failed to take the edge off Teyla’s tightly drawn features. Still glaring at McKay, she replied, “The Wraith do not linger when they are finished, but travel swiftly to the next world. I believe Dalera will be safe once more — until the next culling generations from now.”
“You know,” McKay said. “I stood on this same spot the night before last, watching the Wraith Darts zooming around like they owned the place.”
“Which they did,” Teyla reminded him.
“Oh, I don’t know.” McKay seemed suddenly aware of the resentful Nemst townsfolk. “While you were all safe and snug inside the Citadel, your engineers didn’t hesitate to put their lives on the line implementing my plan.”
“And where are those men now?” snapped the guy who’d been doing all the complaining. “One of them was my cousin, and he has not returned.” His eyes narrowed and turned cunning. “Why is it that you alone survived?”
McKay took a step back. “Hey! That’s not true. What about the rest of the team who readjusted the length of boom across the channel? They’re still around… Aren’t they?”
“Indeed they are,” Yann interceded. “Your cousin assists in the rebuilding of the East wall. Come, I will take you to him.”
“What need do we have of this wall now that the Wraith have left? We need the men back here, to rebuild Nemst!”
“And who will provide the necessary payment for this rebuilding?”
The argument continued on the walk to the inn, and Aiden let out a soft sigh.
McKay waited until the Dalerans were out of earshot before saying, “Although those crashed Darts successfully collapsed most of the hill, the bottom of the cliff where Ford and I inserted the C-4 is still intact. I set the charges to go off remotely, but unless I detonate it soon, the flow won’t nearly be sufficient to sustain the blaze.”
“I do not think it will be necessary,” Teyla said.
“Seriously? You really, truly don’t think the Wraith will be coming back?”
“No,” Teyla replied in a barely civil voice. “I no longer sense their nearness.”
Visibly slumping in relief, McKay let out a long sigh. “Okay. Do you realize I haven’t eaten since—?”
“McKay!”
The scientist appeared taken back by the edge in the Major’s voice. “What?”
“Maybe you hadn’t noticed, but the good citizens of Dalera don’t appear to be tossing flowers at us, thanking us for saving their collective butts from the Wraith.”
Scratching his chin, McKay replied. “Yes, I had noticed some reticence in their attitude. I mean, the nerve of that guy, blaming me for surviving the death of…” His voice trailed off and he swallowed. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe we should quietly make our exit stage left.”
With a shake of her head, Teyla turned and walked ahead of them.
Chapter Twenty-three
The dark, cold place inside of Teyla had vanished as if it had never existed. Although she had not been able to sense the Wraith when they had first arrived on this world, she had nevertheless felt a vague disquiet that had also now vanished. Perhaps that was due to Major Sheppard’s killing the young Queens.
Now, with the certain departure of the Wraith would come even more recriminations. In the minds of the Dalerans, the Wraith attacked only when people strayed from Dalera’s laws. First they came in small numbers, to test the faith of Dalera’s followers. They had not attacked in full measure until strangers using Wraithcraft had arrived; strangers who did not worship Dalera, nor were they truly of Atlantis. Indeed, strangers who had decried the Daleran beliefs and worked to change them. Then and only then had the Wraith plundered what the Dalerans would nostalgically call their once peaceful world.
Such cynicism had been foreign to Teyla until recently, but she now recognized that what set the Dalerans apart from other planets in the Pegasus Galaxy was their isolation. With no knowledge of the Wraith cullings elsewhere, they would most likely fall back on their beliefs.
Teyla had indicated to the Nemst townspeople that they should return to the Citadel first. It took longer than expected for the transport to recycle, and she was considering the wisdom of waiting, when the lights warned that someone was returning.
The doors folded back to reveal Lisera, Yann, and several Shield-bearing warriors. Peryn, who was now wearing a warrior’s uniform, was also with them. The look of unhappiness on all of their faces was clear.
“Our people owe you a debt of gratitude that we are unable to pay,” Yann said, stepping out of the transport.
“See?” McKay tossed a smug smile in Teyla’s direction.
“Rodney.” Major Sheppard’s eyebrows lowered warningly. “Let the man finish.”
Yann averted his eyes for an instant, then turned back to them. “Nevertheless I would suggest it is best that you depart Dalera and not return.”
“Excuse me?” McKay demanded. He turned around and raised his hands in the air. “This is the thanks we get for — Ow!” The scientist’s left leg buckled. He shot an accusing stare at Major Sheppard and limped around in a circle, favoring his left foot. “What the hell was that for?”
Ignoring him, Yann continued, “We were hard pressed to prevent many of the Nemst villagers, and indeed many from other villages, from returning here to punish you for bringing the curse of the Wraith upon us.”
“We brought the curse?” McKay was indignant. “Of all the insane—”
“Dr McKay,” Teyla warned him, “My boot is far heavier than Major Sheppard’s. And unlike the Major, I do not hold my blows.”
“We should not delay,” Yann continued, gesturing for them to step into the transport. “While the warriors have sworn fealty to me as the first Gene, several hundred Genes are now known. We believe the number may eventually exceed a thousand.”