Crouching in that ditch, he had been petrified, and though he was soon comforted, that fear never really left. Even twelve years later, Leon saw how every uncertain decision, every half-finished project was at least, in part, a tiny remnant of some long-forgotten terror, urging him to keep moving and stay hidden.
That was the day Gus had given him the name Waldman, claiming it was the only word he could clearly speak. The name Leon, after Gus' grandfather, would come later. Still, that day held all his earliest memories and what lay beyond that day was an empty unknown he could never quite touch.
The light around the vision pulsed and, next, he saw the faces of doctors and strangers who helped him those first few months. The light around him grew a little more with each step he took.
On one occasion he saw his long-dead grandmother, Gus' wife Jesse, during his foster to adopt days. She was tucking him into bed, singing some long-forgotten lullaby as he drifted off to sleep.
More than a year blurred by and slowed until he was once again with Gus on the day he received Merle. He could almost feel the warmth of the puppy as Gus handed him over and told him the adoption was final. Though he could only see pictures of his past, he could almost feel the tremor in Gus’ voice as he sat there talking about Jesse, who had passed to cancer a few short months before. How he was empty without her. How she wanted to be there for the adoption more than anything in the world.
He saw the tears in the old man’s eyes along with a whiskery smile as he concluded that they were to be each other’s family going forward. Leon saw himself embrace both Gus and Merle in that moment. Light broke once more, bright with the colors of dawn. On and on the light grew as he grew.
He saw Shana and him playing as children. Witnessed him and Gus working the ranch. He treasured so many of the scenes zipping by if only he could pause a few of them or rewind and watch others once more! Then there were some he could have elected to avoid altogether. Small childhood cruelties from an insecure young man. Negligence in duties he was asked to perform. The list went on.
He picked up the pace, practically beginning to run. Yet even running, there was nothing he could do but observe every memory as he slogged forward through them all. His lungs burned within his chest and each hurtful remembrance added fuel to his fire.
Just when Leon felt the surroundings could get no brighter, everything paused. He saw Ethan lifting his Blade to sink into the trunk. Time slowed. He studied the dull silver metal. A worn bone handle peaked out beneath Ethan’s meaty fist. The cutting edge contoured back to create a form resembling a bowie knife, only with more length and less width. Though deceptive, he knew from the handful of times Gus had shown him his, that the backside tapered near the point and could cut just as well as the Blade's edge. He noticed the glint of Ben’s flashlight in the reflection along the knife’s outline. It pulsed faintly with its own light.
Leon thought he could almost recall something familiar about the Blade. Something he may have forgotten. It rested at the edge of his memory, just out of grasp. Then, the scene blossomed into a visual inferno, and he lost sight of memory.
Finally, the vision disappeared completely as Leon stumbled forward into the chilly air of a windy gray landscape.
Chapter 5
Leon’s lungs were on fire. He took short hacking breaths, gasping for air like a man pulled above water in a last moment’s reprieve from drowning. He sputtered and shook, but the pain soon gave way to an invigorating sense of euphoria. It wasn’t simply relief that he had made it through. There was something different within the very air around him!
A crisp scent on a muted breeze invigorated him with a sweet fragrance, so fresh. It was both chilly and soothing, like tasting something wonderfully new and a favorite childhood dish, all in the same moment. It was at least a partial fulfillment to the nostalgia he had only briefly felt back on the ranch.
Despite being a bit under-dressed for a mildly chilly day, Leon relished the sensation. He took a look around. It was a misty, foggy day, maybe morning? He couldn't see out very far past a few large stone pillars standing nearby.
Most of the others were there, too. Some were still sputtering, others appeared to be laid out in heaps. It looked like the bags of equipment the men had tossed into the shadowed hole of the tree were there as well, most were ripped open, their contents strewn randomly between them all.
He caught sight of Reed, slumped down on hands and knees with his back to him. Leon could see him panting as well. Shana was one of those face down in the dirt. He rushed to her side.
Reaching out to check her pulse with his right arm, he realized his manacles were gone! Her handcuffs were gone as well! He relaxed just a bit when he felt the steady rhythm of a heartbeat. Then he held his hand an inch off her face, he could feel small but even puffs of warm breath on his fingers. He still worried, but it seemed likely she was simply out cold for the time being.
Not knowing what else to do for her right then, he turned to take a look around. Chalky gray stone ruins framed the area around an immensely large tree and everyone with him. They stood in somber vigilance, like silent sentinels in some ancient open-topped courtyard.
Yet, it was the towering form of the solitary tree that beckoned for deeper scrutiny, holding him captive by its sheer size. It was similar to any one of the three trees in the glen back home, with the exception of its size. It was easily twenty feet in diameter, but without the stunted crown, it soared at least another sixty feet above them all. The difference lay in the canopy. Where the trees on the ranch resembled loblolly pines, this tree looked like something more out of a prehistoric picture book. It resembled normal trees from back home in the way a saber-tooth tiger might resemble a house cat. It was massive and broad. A gaping black hole stood open at the base of the tree’s trunk, identical to the one he entered back home.
Just then another man’s body shot out from the shadow of that hole. The person wind-milled three or four times before crashing headfirst into the dirt. He twitched and lay still.
It took Leon a second to realize that person was Ben Heegan.
Moron…serves him right!
Leon chuckled darkly at Ben’s expense before quickly refocusing his attention back on the tree. Something seemed to move within the bark and, he thought perhaps his eyes were playing tricks on him.
But no, it was no trick of the light. The hole was slowly closing! Inch by inch, scorched bark simply appeared at the base of the hole where darkness existed moments before. Mesmerized, he stood and inched forward to take a closer look. Halfway there the rate at which the hole continued to disappear, increased.
It quickly became obvious there was only time for one decision, to stay or to go. More than anything, he wished he could simply close his eyes and step back through that portal. Back to the world he knew. Back to the home he loved. Back to the security of the ranch and his grandfather. And yet, Gus’ last words rang fresh in his mind.
He glanced back over his left shoulder at Shana. She took shallow breaths, so still, so vulnerable. With every fiber of his being, he wanted to take that step forward. But in the end, it was never even a question he could entertain. He wouldn't leave someone he disliked alone in such circumstances, much less Shana Weidner!
He stepped closer and stopped a mere foot or two from the tree. Just as he resigned himself to watch the last of his hope for an easy return home transform itself into a solid wall of charcoal-stained bark, a massive gray body of fur and claws came shooting through the narrowly closing gap. It collided with him and together they rocketed backward, down onto the ground.
When Leon managed to untangle himself from four fury limbs, a cold nose, and a wet tongue, his chest shook in mirth. He shouted in joy and dove back into that fury embrace.
As if encouraged by the greeting, Merle licked him all the more vigorously.
“I wouldn’t have stopped you. Wouldn’t have blamed you either. But just out of curiosity, what made you stop?” A voice spoke from behind.
He swung around to his right. Not five feet away a brown-haired man sat panting on the ground. He recognized him as the one man who had informed him about Merle back on the ranch.
He ignored the question. “What happened to your glasses?”
“They were gone when I got here. Funny thing though, I don’t seem to need them anymore. In a weird way, it makes sense now though, when I see how well your dog is doing.” Sure enough, Merle’s back leg didn’t seem to be bothering him at all. In fact, he bounced and bobbed like a young pup.
Leon tried to ignore yet another impossibility. Instead, he reached down to give the man a hand up. “I’m Leon. You have my thanks for what you did for my dog and my grandfather.”
The man looked down. “I’m sorry I couldn’t have done more at the time. That wasn’t what I signed up for at any rate. I’m Dr. Cooper Schultz.”
“Doctor?”
“Veterinarian to be specific, but I do what I can for these animals as well.” He pointed to the men spread out around them.
The moment of camaraderie ended before it ever really started. Around them, Leon heard the sound of men stirring. He saw Shana's slumped form moving and rushed back to her side. Reed, despite being a bit grouchy in general, was there in a moment as well. Between the two of them, they helped her to sit up and gain her bearings.
If it wasn’t clear before, it quickly became obvious that Cooper was the team’s medic. He slowly made his way around the large group, checking men’s vitals and giving encouragement where needed.
It didn’t take him long to make his way over to Shana. He gave her a thorough check-over before deeming her perfectly fit for duty. By then, Ben was on his knees, weakly calling out for a status on everyone’s condition.
As Ben’s orders grew more demanding, Leon took in the frazzled state of Shana, she could barely stand on her own. A simmering rage boiled over in his mind. He reached down, grabbed Merle’s collar, and handed him to Reed. “Hold him tight, would you?”
# # #
Leaving the meager shelter of his small circle, he walked up behind Ben, “Mr. Heegan, you mind turning around?”
Rising on shaky legs, Ben turned “What can’t—”
Leon tried to somehow conjure up his electric current once more, but when it didn't come, he went ahead without its added power. He first struck with a left hook to the right side of Ben’s face. “That’s for shooting my dog.”
A man Ben’s size may have been able to shake off that type of blow from a guy Leon's stature under normal circumstances, but Ben was still wobbly. The impact sent him right back on his butt. Even so, to his credit, he rose halfway up in no time.
Leon immediately pressed the point, not waiting for an invitation. He wasn’t exactly built to handle trouble, but that didn’t mean his grandfather hadn’t taught him how to throw a punch. Gus was nothing if not thorough in every lesson he ever gave.
Just as Ben managed to find his feet once more, Leon snapped forward with a left jab. Ben’s head snapped back and his nose trickled blood. He didn’t stop there though. Punches were meant to be thrown in bunches, and Leon quickly finished the combination, curling his right foot to follow through with a massive right hook that caught Ben in the jaw, just below his left temple. “That’s for having my grandfather pistol-whipped!”
Ben staggered back into a low crouch but didn’t quite go down again. A few of his men jumped forward to put an end to things, but Ben waved them all off. Leon could distantly hear Merle barking mercilessly somewhere behind him, but it all faded to background noise.
Ben quickly recovered and managed to get his arms up into a fighting stance, waiting on Leon to make his move.
Leon’s adrenaline surged. He bounced on the tips of his toes. Another combination would be the expected response. Instead, Leon stepped forward and snapped his leg up in a lighting fast kick.
“This is for Sha…” Everything came to a screeching halt. His leg stopped in midair, a bit shy of the Heegan family jewels. Ben lifted Leon's foot clear of its intended target. He held it high, trapped in a vice-like grip between his hands, and Leon had to hop to keep his balance. He made a tsk-tsk sound between his teeth and grinned a bloody grin back at Leon. “I appreciate spunk kid, but that’s not exactly fighting fair.” Then his smile disappeared. “For future reference, don’t start what you can’t finish!”
With that, he flipped Leon around by the leg. A sharp grunt of pain was all Leon had time to convey before finding himself flat on his back. Then, Ben was there above him, mercilessly tenderizing his ribs with the blunt end of a black combat boot. Leon felt only agony as his torso was worked over like a professional soccer ball.
Mercifully, the beating only lasted a few seconds, until Reed’s voice broke through the pain, “…I said enough, Heegan. He’s learned his lesson! Anymore, and I’ll let his buddy here loose!”
Merle practically foamed at the mouth as he continued to fight against his collar.
Ben's foot stopped a few inches from Leon's face. He gave a wicked chuckle as he stormed off and Merle eventually calmed down. Shana and Reed helped him into a sitting position. Leon grimaced, though he was fairly certain nothing was broken but his pride.
He snuck a peek back over to where their designated leader stood. He studied the man a bit harder. Ben wore a black T-shirt. He threw his arms around with animation, barking orders at men who rifled through gear. That's when he caught a glimpse of dark ink. The word ‘RANGER’ hung in bold letters above three black lightning bolts. He closed his eyes and smacked his forehead.
Reed broke the awkward silence. “Well, it was a nice try, but I don't think you'll be alpha dog anytime soon.”
Shana chimed in, “It’s not like you didn’t get a few good shots in…”
Cooper’s head popped up over her shoulder. “She’s right kid, that’s the closest I’ve ever come to seeing Ben give an apology. He must feel pretty bad about how things escalated back at the ranch.” He shrugged. “You just took things a little too far is all.”
Shana glanced back at him with a huff. “Well, I for one wish he had been able to take his foot just a bit further.” They all laughed, and Shana gave Leon a wink. He found he didn’t hurt quite so bad afterward.
Ben soon finished barking orders to his men and returned focus on Reed. “You, Reed, how did you manage to smuggle that knife through the tree?”
“What do you mean?” Reed reached down and unsheathed his Blade.
“Our guns, our equipment, your manacles, nearly everything with metal. It’s all simply gone. In addition, two of my men didn’t make it through that nightmare." Ben gave an involuntary shiver, and Leon understood what the man felt. Even though some good memories surfaced in that trip through the void in the tree, he wouldn't be rehashing them for anyone, they were just too personal and the hurts they exposed too raw.
Ben continued, "All we have left are a few bags of gold coins and a silver whiskey flask. So, let me ask you again, how did you manage to bring your knife across?”
Leon was also puzzled. He had to agree, the missing metal was a mystery.
“I’ve got no idea,” Reed responded.
Ben took a step forward, and Reed shifted back, holding his Blade firmly in a guarded stance like he might just be someone who knew how to use it.
“As I said, I have no idea why my Blade made it through, but I’m kind of attached to it.”
Ben smirked. “Fine. Keep your secret and your little knife, for now, but I’m going to get to the bottom of this eventually.” As an aside to the men standing around, “I’m starting to like these kids, they have grit!” The men all chuckled at his joke, but Leon couldn’t help noticing his eyes weren’t smiling.
A few minutes later, Ben called to get everyone's attention. He walked over to the tree and addressed the group at large, “Okay, men, circle up.
"Here’s the bottom line. We knew there would likely be challenges once we got here. I have no doubt we’ll find Jones and Jefferson waiti
ng for us earth-side with some hot steaks and cold drinks.”
The men laughed a bit uncomfortably at Ben’s effort to soften the blow of their disappearance.
“The way I see it, we have three critical challenges to our current mission, but I’ll keep this simple so even our civilians can understand.”
He held up a finger. “First, we have very little usable equipment. It appears most metal objects,” he gave Reed a pointed look, “have been lost. We do have food and clothing. So, go ahead and pass out the jackets and such. I can already see the little lady shivering, not that I mind. But let’s get her something warm anyway.” He winked at Shana.
His men had themselves another laugh at her expense. For Shana’s part, she folded her arms over her chest and developed a sudden interest in one of the branches up above, pretending not to notice the remark. Leon’s blood boiled again.
“Second, I think it might be safe to say our portal was a one-way ticket. We will need to find an alternate extraction route.” The charcoal impact to the bark continued to spread and the green needle-like leaves in the canopy above were already turning yellow.
“This leads to the third and final challenge. This mission’s core objective will now be modified. Priority is no longer to establish a headquarters. We are now on RECON, until such a time as we are able to secure passage back for the whole team. No one will be left behind while they are still breathing. That even includes our little slugger over there. Understood?”
Everyone nodded their assent “Cooper and I will stay back to finish sorting the gear with the kids. The rest of you, suit up and head out in two teams of two. I want eyes around the perimeter of these ruins. Let’s see if we can find one of the sister trees to this big girl right here.” He patted the black bark and as he did flakes crumbled between his fingers.
A Choice of Blades: The Blade Remnant, Book One Page 6