Mother Lode

by E. Rose Sabin

  The first Peace Officer gave Lina a stern look. “Young lady, we are here to speak to the owner of this house, Mistress Sorell Cooper. Please fetch her.”

  “Mistress Cooper is not available,” Lina said, meeting his gaze. “Perhaps if you tell me what this is about, I can be of assistance.”

  Emmy Cooper pushed past the peacekeeper to confront Lina. “What do you mean, Mother Cooper is not available? Have you killed her? And where is her son Vee? I’m Vee’s wife. My husband and I live in this house. It’s ours. You’ve no right to be here.”

  “Miss,” the Peace Officer spoke again, “We demand to see Mistress Cooper or her son, Vomer Cooper.”

  “I’ve told you that Mistress Cooper is not available. Nor is her son.” Lina paused and leaned forward, her gaze fastened on the Peace Officer’s badge, which bore his name. “You should be grateful to us, Officer Thrall. We’ve occupied this house to care for the children they’ve held captive here.”

  “Held captive? They had legal custody of the children. You do not.” The officer kept his voice level. “If something has happened to Mistress Cooper and to her son, then ownership of this house and custody of the children transfers to Vomer Cooper’s wife.”

  Dr. Metheny stepped forward. “This woman may be the owner of the house, but I claim custody of the children.”

  Bryte couldn’t restrain a gasp at that claim, but the sound was swallowed up by Emmy Cooper’s shriek of “Murderers! You’ve killed Vee! I know it.”

  Motioning her to be quiet, Peace Officer Thrall asked, “On what grounds can you possibly claim custody of the children sent here to be wards of Mistress Cooper and her son and daughter-in-law?”

  “On the grounds of abandonment of those children. And abuse of the children prior to that abandonment.” Dr. Metheny spoke calmly but firmly.

  While the squad leader confronted Lina and Dr. Metheny, standing beside her, the other peacekeepers spread out to encircle the Wilcoms, Bryte, and Teddy, along with Lina and the doctor. The front door opened and another peacekeeper came in. Through the open door Bryte saw three more peacekeepers outside. She recognized the one who entered as Kirsky, the squad leader who’d played them false and let the miners escape. Kirsky went to Thrall and whispered in his ear. “You know what to do,” Thrall said. Kirsky nodded and went back outside.

  “I have men combing the grounds for clues as to the whereabouts of Mistress Cooper and her son.” Thrall fixed a gaze on Lina that reminded Bryte of a hawk eyeing a field mouse. “They’ve found what looks like a burial mound. You know anything about that?”

  A chill went through Bryte, but Lina just shrugged. “I know of a mound where we’ve buried garbage that can’t be burned. If that’s the one you’re speaking of, you won’t find anything in it but garbage and rats.”

  Bryte glanced at Teddy. He looked a bit green, and his hand clenched, then opened to rub the stump of his other arm.

  Rale stepped up directly behind Thrall and nudged him. Apparently in response, Thrall said firmly, “Regardless of what my men find, I’m authorized to place you under arrest, Miss, ah, Mueller, is it? And take you into town to face a magistrate.”

  “On what grounds?” Lina demanded. “Are you charging me and my friends with rescuing orphans from slavery and abuse that caused serious injuries and even, I’m told, death to some?”

  “The children were not enslaved. They were given a home and—”

  Dr. Metheny interrupted Emmy Cooper’s indignant declaration. “And badly abused, forced to work in the mine, starved, and beaten unmercifully for any perceived failing.”

  Emmy stiffened. “They were disciplined when necessary,” she asserted. “That’s all.”

  “Is it?” Lina turned toward her. “Do you think using a leather whip on young children is appropriate discipline?” Turning back to Officer Thrall, she said, “The older children told me that several died from the beatings and the lack of proper food. When you are searching for graves, you should look for theirs.”

  “Only one orphan died in our care,” Emmy snapped. “She came to us already ill and died of a fever. She’s buried in the Marquez cemetery. You’ll find no children buried here.”

  “Maybe not,” Lina said. “Maybe you had another way of disposing of the bodies.” It was her turn to fix the Peace Officer in charge with a hawklike glare. “There’s a pit the miners made the children use as a latrine. It’s quite deep, and the children say that lye was poured into it each week. I’m betting if you excavate it, you’ll find bones that the lye could not dissolve. It wouldn’t be an easy job—really nasty smelling, and lye burns. You’d need protective suits, but I suspect you’d find proof that children died here.”

  As Lina spoke, Emmy Cooper’s face turned pale. “That’s nonsense!” she declared. “The lye is a sanitary measure, that’s all it is.”

  One of the accompanying peacekeepers spoke up. “Sounds like she’s just trying to divert attention from that mound my men found.”

  Thrall nodded. “We’ll soon know the truth of that. In the meantime, where are the children? I want them brought in here. They are to be remanded to the care of Mistress Emmy Cooper until Vee Cooper and his mother return.”

  “I’ve told you that I’m taking charge of the children,” Dr. Metheny said. “They are all my patients, under my supervision while they recover from near starvation and injuries caused by the maltreatment they’ve received. Under Arucadian law, as a licensed physician I have the right to protect my patients and see that they receive the necessary care.”

  “You’re lying!” Rale snapped, glaring at the doctor. “You have no such right.”

  “On the contrary,” Dr. Metheny replied calmly, “I assure you, I am well versed in medical law.”

  Rale’s face reddened; he drew his knife. But before he could do or say anything, the door opened and a peacekeeper entered, bearing with him the stench of putrefaction and rot. Clumps of dirt fell from his boots as he approached Thrall and Rale. His face, smeared with sweat and mud, wore an expression of revulsion. As Thrall and Rale turned expectant looks toward him, he shook his head. “Nothing in the mound but a lot of garbage.” He shuddered and added, “And rats.”

  Bryte glanced at Lina and took note of her smug expression. Nor did she miss Teddy’s shudder. She understood. When Lina sent Teddy, Petrus, and Torby out the evening before, she’d thought it was for guard duty. Instead, they’d been given the unpleasant task of unearthing the corpses of the Coopers, replacing them with garbage from the kitchen, and probably dumping the bodies into the latrine, knowing that if children’s corpses had been thus disposed of, the miners would resist letting the peacekeepers probe that vile pit.

  The thought of that terrible task caused her to mirror Teddy’s shudder. She could never have stomached such a task. Whatever else he was, Teddy was no coward. Nor was Petrus. And what would they have done without Master Wilcom? He and his wife certainly hadn’t expected all the trouble they had involved themselves in, but they had pitched in and done what needed to be done without complaint except for Mistress Wilcom’s distress over having had to kill Mother Cooper.

  Was it all going to be for naught? The fury on Rale’s scowling face and his tight grip on the hilt of his knife warned Bryte that the miners would not concede defeat.

  Thrall put a restraining hand on Rale’s arm as he ordered his men to search the house and bring out the children when they found them. He sent the man who’d reported on the mound back outside, but the foul smell lingered behind. Kirsky and one of the miners entered in his stead. The miner was a male guard whose name Bryte hadn’t learned. Pointing to Lina, Thrall ordered Kirsky, “You and Officer Horning, take this woman prisoner.”

  “On what charge?” Lina demanded again.

  “On the charge of usurping property not your own, theft of contents of that property, and posing a danger to the populace by taking the form of a predatory animal and inflicting harm in that form on one Kester Frenkel, clerk and assistant manager of the
Marquez Palace Hotel. He has charged you with injury to his person and to the hotel’s reputation as a peaceful resort.”

  “I take it you’re referring to the clerk who was trying to throw me and my friends out despite the fact that I’d paid for one room and was trying to pay for two more,” Lina said. “The clerk who called in peacekeepers despite the fact that we’d done nothing wrong.”

  “I’m talking about the clerk with whom you interfered when he attempted to discharge his duty.”

  Lina snorted, but allowed Kirsky to place manacles around her wrists while Rale watched, smirking.

  Bryte didn’t know what Lina planned, but she did know that, had she wanted to, Lina could have used her power to render the manacles useless. That she hadn’t done so told Bryte that Lina was prepared to let the peacekeepers take her away. But why? That would leave the rest of them helpless.

  If only she could produce her blinding light at will! Bryte envied those who could call their gifts when they needed them. Even little Cara had more control over her rain-bringing than Bryte had over her light. Acute hearing she always had, but the light appeared only when she was terribly frightened or extremely angry. Though she was both at this time, the light refused to come.

  Kirsky and Horning, one on each side of Lina, grasped her arms and hustled her out the door. A few moments later the peacekeepers Thrall had sent for the children returned, shoving the children before them, threatening those that balked, using their pistols to prod Petrus and Teddy along after the younger children. Nia wept as she carried Cara, who screamed and clutched her doll to her breast when she spotted Emmy Cooper. Emmy smirked. Gretta walked slowly behind Nia, supporting Melusine, who was shaking so badly that Gretta was almost carrying her. Dr. Metheny hurried to them and gathered Melusine into his arms.

  “This girl has been seriously ill due to your maltreatment. She needs rest and—”

  “We don’t coddle the children,” Emmy Cooper broke in. “We expect them all to pull their weight. If she can’t do that, well,” she shrugged, “you can feel free to take her off our hands. But the rest of the children stay here.”

  Redheaded Erle stomped along in front of Petrus, glaring at everyone, hands doubled into fists. Fedrek trembled so badly he could scarcely walk. Fyodor wound his arm protectively around his twin. Len sniffled and wiped his nose across his shirtsleeve. Alida gazed around the crowded room with a lost and uncomprehending expression. Sabah’s pretty eyes seemed larger than ever. Filled with apprehension, they seemed to search desperately for a means of escape. Oni, limping, kept her head down as though unable to bear the sight of her former tormentors. Conlin helped Ander along, whispering to the younger boy, probably trying to comfort him. Scowling, Keely approached Emmy Cooper from behind and shoved her. Emmy whirled around and slapped Keely’s face hard enough to make her stagger. She might have fallen but Petrus caught and steadied her.

  Releasing Keely, Petrus yelled a curse and launched himself at Emmy. Thrall grabbed him away, spun him around, and boxed his ears.

  That brave but foolhardy act of rebellion could cost the two teenagers their lives. Rale, knife in hand, moved forward. Going after Petrus?

  No. With two long strides he was beside Bryte, his knife blade raised. She froze when the cold, sharp steel pressed against her throat. “This little troublemaker began it all,” he said. “Mamie and I are going to stop it right now.”

  Someone let out a loud wail and several gasped. No one moved. All eyes focused on Rale and Bryte.

  “The doctor can take the weakling and go,” Rale said. “The rest of the orphans stay right here. Bryte or one of you will tell us what’s happened to Mother Cooper and Vee. Otherwise I slit her throat.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  FIGHTING BACK

  Bryte was afraid to speak, afraid to move. She scarcely dared breathe. Any movement could cause “Mamie” to pierce her skin and sever the blood vessels beneath it. Now she feared bursting into light. Rale would not need to see to to shove that sharp blade into her neck.

  Thrall turned away to speak to Emmy Cooper, ignoring Rale’s action. He had to have seen Rale, but seemed to pretend not to. “Mistress Cooper, can you verify that all the children are here?” he asked.

  She, too, ignored Rale’s threat and busied herself counting the gathered orphans.

  Dr. Metheny, supporting Melusine, addressed Rale. “I’ll answer your question. Please don’t harm Bryte.”

  He took a deep breath and began. “The children were still in the mine when my friends and I came to this house. We spoke to Mother Cooper and were working out a plan to meet the orphans when they returned from the mine and take them for desperately needed medical care. We—Miss Mueller, Miss Bryte, young Teddy, my wife, and Master and Mistress Wilcom—had gathered in the kitchen with Mother Cooper, when Vee Cooper returned early from the mine, burst in on us, and threatened us with a gun. His mother, with no warning and without provocation, grabbed a meat cleaver and hurled it at Miss Mueller. Teddy raised his arm to protect her, and the cleaver sank into his arm. Vee Cooper fired his gun, but the bullet missed its target and went into the wall. The hole it made is still visible, if you care to look.

  “Miss Mueller shape-changed to a panther and launched herself at Vee. He dropped his gun and ran, the panther in pursuit. I rushed to Teddy’s side to apply a tourniquet and stop the bleeding. Things became very confused then, and someone, I didn’t see who, threw a knife at Mother Cooper to ward off another attack. It struck and wounded her. She fled from the house, following her son. None of us here ever saw either of them again. Miss Mueller can perhaps tell you what happened to them, but she is no longer present. When she returned to the house, she told us only that they had run into the hills. We know nothing more, so none of us can answer your question.”

  His story contained enough truth to be believable, but would they believe it? Bryte stood perfectly still, waiting to see whether Rale would accept it. No one else spoke. She guessed that Lina and Dr. Metheny must have worked out the story he’d told, but Lina couldn’t have anticipated being taken away before he told it. What else had they planned?

  Lina let the two peacekeepers take her to their motorcar and install her in the front seat. She could easily have freed herself while Kirsky left her with Horning while he went around the large vehicle. She merely waited meekly while he reached the driver’s side and slid into place behind the steering stick. He started the motor and drove the car away from the house and onto the rutted road into town.

  “Not so fierce now that you’re manacled and heading for caging, eh?” Kirsky taunted. “You can be sure your panther won’t be able to wriggle out of the cage we have ready for you.”

  Lina didn’t answer. Seated between them, she lowered her head as though afraid to speak. Remaining still while the car bumped over potholes and swayed on the uneven pavement, she bided her time, letting the distance from the house they’d left increase. Her only regret was that she had been unable to reduce the number of peacekeepers at the house by more than these two.

  She waited until the road grew smoother and the shadows of buildings played over the passing motorcar. They’d come far enough. She used her power to enlarge the manacles binding her hands just enough to allow her to slip free of them. The car slowed, giving her the opportunity she awaited.

  She freed her hands and shape-shifted. With a snarl, her panther leaped on Horning. Her claws ripped through his uniform and dug into his chest. He screamed. Kirsky lost control of the vehicle when he turned to aid his partner. The car swerved and ground to a stop. The panther’s powerful jaws first crunched the hand Kirsky put out to restrain her, then bit down on the other hand as it grabbed for the pistol he’d holstered.

  Moments later, both officers rendered helpless, Lina reverted to her human form, shoved the men from the car, and slid behind the control stick. She turned the car around and headed back toward the house to join her friends.

  Keeping a sharp eye on Rale and the knife held at
Bryte’s throat, Teddy eased back behind Petrus. Dr. Metheny’s speech had claimed everyone’s attention, and Teddy meant to take full advantage of the focus on the doctor to reach a place where he could shape-shift without being seen. Whatever he did, he couldn’t let Rale see him and react by killing Bryte. He had a plan, but he couldn’t act on it until he made certain it wouldn’t jeopardize Bryte.

  He passed behind Nia and Cara, who stood in front of her sister, pressed against Nia’s legs. Cara pulled away from Nia and slipped behind her to whisper to Teddy. “Coyote,” she said, pointing to him. “Bird.” She pointed to herself.

  He guessed that she wanted him to take his coyote form, but what did she mean by “bird”? Whatever it was, he couldn’t allow her to distract him. He had to be alert for an opportunity to act, whether as a coyote or as himself. He took a cautious step past her.

  She reached out and touched his arm, claiming his attention. As he turned toward her, she dropped her doll, extended her arms out to either side, and flapped them like a bird flapping its wings. Then they were wings, covered with reddish-brown feathers. Her body shrank; her clothes became feathers. Her legs, also feathered, ended in long, wicked talons. Her hair became a dark crest rising from a bird’s head adorned with a wide, curving, and sharply pointed beak.

  Shalkor! A smallish one, but still a powerful raptor.

  The bird cocked its head at Teddy and vaulted into the air. It soared above the crowd and swooped down on Rale, digging its powerful talons into Rale’s scalp. He screamed. Bryte pushed him away from her and grabbed the arm that held the knife, holding it away from the attacking bird.

  Teddy had already shifted. His coyote dodged through the crowded room and leapt toward Thrall just as the officer recovered from his shock and grabbed his pistol. Teddy-coyote sank his teeth into Thrall’s ankle. With a loud yell, Thrall swung his arm around and aimed the pistol at the coyote. Petrus lowered his head and dove into Thrall, knocking him to the ground and landing on him as the pistol fired. The bullet missed Teddy-coyote. Whether it struck anyone else, Teddy couldn’t tell.