by P. C. Cast
“A clean-out? They really mean to kill all the males they can find?”
“Yes. The idea sickens me,” Sol said.
“What are you going to do?”
He sighed. “I’m going to pray that we are dealing with a handful of rogue males, and that you and your team killed most of them yesterday.”
“And if the night screaming and the ambushes don’t stop?”
“Then I’m very much afraid I’m going to be responsible for the annihilation of the Earth Walker males.”
Nik put his hand on his father’s shoulder. “You won’t be responsible for it. It’ll be the will of the Tribe.”
“I’m Leader of this Tribe, Nik. That makes it my responsibility.” They’d come to the lift. Waiting within were Wilkes and his Shepherd, Odin, who exchanged greetings with Laru.
“There you are, Nik. Good day, Sol,” Wilkes said.
“Good day to you as well, Wilkes. Odin is looking in excellent flesh,” Sol said, shaking the tall man’s hand.
“Thank you, Sun Priest. He is indeed.”
“Good to see you, Wilkes.” Nik shook his hand and gave Odin a friendly pat.
“The rest of the team’s already at the dock. Thought I’d wait for you,” Wilkes said. “I assumed you were seeing to O’Bryan?”
“We were,” Sol answered for Nik. “And he’s doing well.”
“Glad to hear it. Ready, Nik?”
“I am,” Nik said.
“Son, I’ll say my good-bye to you here,” Sol said. “I must lead the Sunrise Celebration, and then Cyril needs me with the Council to discuss the Scratcher issue further.” He pulled Nik into a tight hug. “Stay safe, son. Return home soon.”
Nik returned his father’s hug. “I love you, Father.”
“And I you, Nikolas.” With a nod to Wilkes, Sol and his Laru strode off in the direction of the Council nest.
“The Scratcher thing is weird, isn’t it?” Wilkes said conversationally as the lift lowered.
“Yep. Weird,” Nik said, hoping his shortness would stop Wilkes’s questions.
“They really set up an ambush?”
Nik stifled a sigh. “Yes.”
“I had no idea they were that smart,” Wilkes said.
Nik shrugged dismissively. “Apparently they are.”
“Smart and mean. That’s a dangerous combination. A lot like my last mate.” Wilkes chuckled and elbowed Nik.
Nik mentally leaped at the change of subject. “You and Ethan have called it quits?”
“No! I say my last mate because I think he’ll be the death of me. If I called it quits with him, I know he’d kill me.” Wilkes laughed good-naturedly, and Nik joined him—glad that the lift had made it to the forest floor and that they’d left the talk of Scratchers behind, even if just temporarily.
“So, what’s the plan for the team?” Nik asked while they made their way through the forest, heading downhill toward Farm Island and the mighty river they would follow to the ruins of the great city they called Port.
“It’s going to be a good trip. Sheena and Crystal discovered a building in the southwest, right on the waterfront, that we’ve never had access to before.”
“Right on the waterfront?” Nik said. The Tribe had been foraging in the city for uncounted generations. They tried to stay as close as possible to the escape path provided by the wide waterway, known formally as the Willum River, and less formally but more morbidly as the Killum River. But as the winters passed and the decades rolled on, the Tribe had had to forage farther and farther inside the dead city, which meant fewer and fewer foraging parties had been allowed to go out, as Port City was Skin Stealer territory, and far too dangerous to justify risking the loss of life for pots or pans, mirrors or chains. “A find near the Killum is unusual. How’d it happen?”
“Apparently what we’ve long believed was just another mound of vines and rot was in truth a long metal building that had, until two days ago at the end of their reconnoitering, been so completely covered that no one bothered to look too closely at it.”
“What changed?” Nik said.
“Looks like that big thunderstorm that passed through a few nights ago caused a section of the roof to cave in—almost like a lightning strike. The opening isn’t large, but it’s viewable from the river. The girls checked it out. They said inside is a wealth of steel cables, chains, and even some glass.”
“Sounds too good to be true,” Nik said, feeling a crawling under his skin.
“Well, it’s happened before. Remember back about ten winters? That team, led—if memory serves me correctly—by Monroe’s father, found a way inside the stone station by the train tracks. Damn place had been sealed up for as long as anyone could remember, and then one day—there it was—a fallen wall that opened to a king’s hoard of mirrors and pots and pans.”
“Yeah, I remember. My mother got one of the mirrors. Sol still treasures it,” Nik said.
“And all that was just sitting there, practically in spitting distance of the river. Looks like this time the find will be even better—especially as it seems it’s exactly what we need for building more nests,” Wilkes said.
“Sounds promising.” Nik shook off his sense of foreboding. The ruined city was a living being—one that changed, grew, died, and was reborn over and over. It was a good thing that the reconnaissance team had found what the Tribe needed so close to the river. It meant easy in—easy out—and less danger.
“Yes it does!” Wilkes smiled, obviously in high spirits. “We shouldn’t even need the full moon light to paddle by tonight. I predict we’ll be back in time for sundown and celebrations.”
“I like your prediction,” Nik said.
“Doesn’t look like we’ll need your observation skills, but don’t worry. I’m still glad you’re coming along. Hey, maybe we’ll spot some game from the river and you can give us all a demonstration of your vast skill as a marksman. Tonight we bring home metal and glass and fresh meat,” Wilkes said. “I’m telling you—this is a blessed mission.”
“I’ll do my best for you,” Nik said, feeling foolish for the trepidation he’d been feeling. He knew his dark mood was more about O’Bryan, the lost pup, and the mysterious girl than Wilkes’s foraging team. With an effort he mentally shook himself. He’d get his head on right and be a real part of this mission—and he’d decide what to do about everything else afterward.
* * *
The launching dock was near the base of the Farm Island Bridge. As Nik and Wilkes jogged down the final part of the sloping hill, the team was facing east and opening their arms to the newly risen sun.
“Ah, good. We’re in time to soak in the dawn. That’s always a good beginning to a foraging trip,” Wilkes said.
He and Nik quickly joined them, raising their faces and arms to the clean, golden light of a new day. Nik breathed in deeply, allowing the power of the sun’s rays to burn away the last of the sense of foreboding that had been haunting him since he’d entered the grove with the desecrated deer. Delicate frond patterns lifted just beneath the bare skin of his arms as warmth filled him, giving him a much needed jolt of energy.
“’Morning, Nik,” Winston said. “Sorry to hear about your cousin.”
“Thanks,” Nik said, giving Winston’s Shepherd, Star, a quick pat.
“How’s he doing?” Winston asked.
“Holding his own,” Nik said. “I appreciate you asking.”
“Hey there, Nik! Glad you and your crossbow are joining us.” Monroe clapped him on the back and his pure black Shepherd, Viper, greeted him with a friendly sniff.
“My crossbow and I are glad to be with you, too, Monroe,” Nik said. “Though from what Wilkes has told me it looks like this is an easy in, easy out mission.”
“That’s what we’re counting on,” Sheena said. “Hi, Nik.”
“Nice to see you, Sheena, and you, too, Crystal. Your Shepherds are looking good.” Nik paused, really looking at Captain and Grace, who were sprawled together on the
dock. “Grace looks particularly good.”
Crystal’s smile was joyous. “She should.”
“That’s right. She definitely should. She’s carrying the future within her.” Sheena gave Crystal a quick, intimate kiss, and then tossed a provisions pack into their kayak.
“Grace is pregnant?” Nik said.
“Don’t fret, Nik,” Crystal said, patting him on the cheek in a surprisingly motherly fashion. “It’s still early enough that there’s no harm in her coming with us.”
“No harm at all,” Wilkes agreed. “And fertility brings good luck.”
“Does Sol know?” Nik asked. It was hard for him to believe that his father would give permission for a pregnant canine, even one in the early stages of pregnancy, to join a mission that had such potential for danger.
“Well, no. Not yet. Sheena and I thought we’d announce after—” Sheena began, but Thaddeus’s sarcasm bit off her words.
“Nikolas, it’s only you who feels like they have to tell your daddy everything.”
The group fell silent, watching Nik and waiting for his response. It was no secret that Thaddeus had spent the past two weeks on latrine digging duty because of his behavior on Nik’s tracking mission. Up until that moment, Nik hadn’t been sure how many Tribe members had been aware that he had had rather more to do with Thaddeus’s punishment than was supposed to be general knowledge.
Nik schooled his face into an expression of amusement. “I haven’t seen much of you lately, Thaddeus. Oh, that’s right. It’s because you’ve been busy digging shit holes.”
“Because of your mouth, you bast—”
“Enough!” Wilkes stepped between the two men. “I won’t have dissension on this mission. You two bury what’s bad between you until we’re back, or I’ll leave you both behind.”
Nik make himself relax. He smiled at Wilkes. “I don’t have any problem with that. I’m here to help. That’s all.”
“Thaddeus?” Wilkes asked pointedly.
“I’ve been on five other foraging missions. Odysseus and I will do our job, like we always do. You need something tracked—we’ll do it. No need for Sol’s boy to change that,” Thaddeus said.
“Good. Then let’s finish loading the kayaks and move out,” Wilkes said.
Thaddeus walked past Nik, calling to his Terrier, Odysseus, and motioning for him to get into his kayak. As he brushed a little too closely by Nik, he spoke under his breath. “This isn’t over between us.”
Nik met his eyes and smiled humorlessly. “Good to know,” he said in the same low voice.
“Nik, you’ll be riding with Sheena and Crystal,” Wilkes called from the dock. “They have the most room in their kayak.”
“That’s fine with us.” Sheena grinned at Nik. “We’ll make him do most the paddling.”
“No problem. You two are so light, it’ll be like floating on water,” Nik said, grinning back at her.
Nik decided to ignore the still scowling Thaddeus, thinking, let the team see what a pain in the ass he is. Maybe he’ll manage to piss off Wilkes enough that he’ll earn another two weeks on latrine digging duty. The thought had Nik smiling and whistling as he helped the women finish loading their kayak. It might, after all, be a successful mission in more ways than one.
28
The six kayaks were loaded in short order and buoyant litters were secured to the aft of each small boat, all ready to be filled with the much anticipated spoils of their mission. Then Wilkes called them to huddle around the map he unrolled on a big, flat boulder dockside.
“One last time so that we’re all clear—we follow the Willum all the way through Port City to the southwest waterfront. That means we have to pass all of the bridges, so stay alert and aware. Remember, what you don’t see around those hulks is worse than what you do see. So, the find is just before these islands, here.” Wilkes pointed at a spot on the map that showed a teardrop-shaped grouping of small islands centered in the river. “On the western bank.” Wilkes’s gaze flicked to Sheena. “You said there’s a spot nearby to beach the kayaks?”
“Yeah, simple. It’s right about there.” Sheena pressed her finger to a place on the map.
“And it was a short climb to the opening of the building. You can see it from the river,” Crystal added.
“Should be easy to hook towlines around the metal and pull it to the water, load ’em, and off we go,” Sheena said as she and her mate smiled at each other.
“I like the way that sounds,” Wilkes said. “Questions?”
Nik almost kept his mouth shut, but his father’s words niggled at his conscience, goading him to speak up. “Sheena, you said you could see the opening from the river?”
“Yep. Even though it’s still pretty choked by vines and such. We might not have noticed it at all if it hadn’t been for the glass.”
“Glass?” Nik asked.
“Yeah, it musta got caught in the vines when the roof collapsed and it just happened to catch the sunlight as we paddled past,” Crystal said. “That’s why we didn’t see it the other days. How many times do you think we passed that spot before the thing winked at us?” she asked her mate.
Sheena lifted a slim shoulder. “Lots. It was a real blessing that the Sun led us to it.”
Except for Nik, the team nodded and smiled.
“Did you have another question, Nik?” Wilkes said.
“No. No, that was my question. I just think it’s odd. It’s been ten winters or more since there has been a substantial find so close to the river, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, well, looks like we’re getting lucky,” Wilkes said with an easy smile.
“Like the girls said, the Sun blessed them. Shouldn’t be hard for the Sun Priest’s boy to accept that,” Thaddeus said with a caustic smile.
“Oh, I don’t have any problem accepting blessings from the Sun,” Nik said. “If they are blessings.”
“What are you trying to do—chase ghosts again?” Thaddeus’s eyes glinted with malice.
“Nope, Thaddeus. I’m just trying to do my job—same as you. I’m here to shoot things and observe. There’s nothing I’m allowed to shoot right now, so I’m observing.”
“Well, let’s hope observing is all you have to do until we return to the Tribe, loaded with metal,” Wilkes said.
“And glass,” Crystal added. “I spotted an almost perfectly round piece—totally uncracked. I’m going to bring it back and use it as a window for our new nest.”
Sheena slipped her hand in Crystal’s. “Our new spacious nest. I cannot wait until we don’t have to crowd into that tiny bachelor’s nest anymore. After all, we’ll have pups soon!”
“And on that blessed note, let’s launch,” Wilkes said.
The six gleaming wooden kayaks skimmed easily over the waters of the Willum, slicing through the current like a hot dagger through a bucket of lard. The canines settled comfortably on the ballast mats. Soon they were dozing in the warm morning sunlight.
Nik was glad he’d been teamed with Sheena and Crystal. He liked them. They’d been mates for several winters and, unlike Wilkes and Ethan, rarely argued. Plus, they were half the weight of the men, even taking into account towing their big Shepherds, both of whom were currently snoring loudly.
“Pups, huh?” Nik called from his position in the rear of the boat as the three of them paddled. “That is good news. Captain and Grace will make a fine-looking litter of pups.”
“We’re so excited!” Crystal said.
“You’d think she’s giving birth,” Sheena said, sending Crystal a warm smile over her shoulder.
“Oh, don’t pretend like you’re not as excited as I am. She cried when Captain and Grace mated,” Crystal said.
“Happy tears,” Sheena agreed. “I admit it. I might as well. I’ll cry again when they’re born.”
“Congratulations. I’m truly happy for you,” Nik said. “And it’s a good thing that more pups are on their way with how fast we’re growing.”
“Don’t
you mean it’s a good thing that more pups are on their way so that you have another chance at one choosing you?” Thaddeus called out.
“There’s no reason for that kind of comment,” Sheena said, skewering Thaddeus with a dark look.
“No worries,” Nik said, laughing with forced humor. “Plus, the truth is that I’d be honored if a pup from your Captain and Grace chose me.”
Thaddeus’s snort carried across the water. “You’d be honored if any pup chose you—even a ghost.”
Nik looked at Thaddeus. He was glaring at him maliciously as he scratched at his arms and, in general, looked grumpy and uncomfortable. Well it’s hot. The idiot shouldn’t be wearing that long-sleeved tunic. But before Nik could open his mouth to tell Thaddeus he needed to cool off—literally and figuratively—Crystal spoke.
“Nik, let’s put some muscle in it and show the rest of the boys the way,” she said, frowning at Thaddeus. “And the company will be more pleasant than it is right here.”
“Wilkes, do you mind if we forge ahead?” Sheena called.
“No, but stay in sight, and let us catch you before we pass the Triangle Bridge. You two know the waters better than all of us combined, and that’s a pretty dicey section of the river.”
“Will do!”
The three of them set to paddling and their kayak shot forward, easily leaving the heavier boats behind.
“I can’t stand that arrogant ass,” Sheena said.
“Yeah, if it wasn’t for his Terrier’s excellent nose, he wouldn’t have any status with the Tribe at all,” Crystal agreed.
“It’s maddening, isn’t it?” Sheena said.
“That he’s an ass? Yep,” Nik said.
“Well, yes, but what I meant was that it’s maddening that he was chosen by a canine—even if it is a Terrier and not a Shepherd—and you haven’t been,” Sheena said.
Unused to anyone besides O’Bryan speaking so frankly about such a touchy subject, Nik stayed silent, searching for words.
“Sheena, hon, Nik doesn’t want to talk about that,” Crystal told her mate gently.