by Steve Simons
Jo pushes with all her might with the good leg and what grip she can get with her arms. It is just enough that now she can just touch the Club. Gently and slowly, Jo eases her fingers over the handle end of the club. Jo pulls and as she expected there is resistance, as the spikes dig into the mossy ground. The club does move slightly though and it is enough for Jo to get a better grasp of the club.
The arm restraining Jo move slightly, actually moving her closer to the club. Jo seizes the opportunity and with the newly gained slack, Jo is able to lift the club. Although not able to lift it fully, it is enough to clear the bulk of moss and the Club moves a little more freely towards her. Jo gets the club into the best position she can and breathing in heavily, she braces herself for what is to come next. With all her might, Jo swings the club heavily down on the Grobs arm. It moves, in the desired direction, but only by a little. Jo decides to change tactics and moves the club so that the she is pushing upwards into the bottom of the arm. The moment the spikes at the end engage with the arm,there is some movement, but only slight. Jo finds it awkward to do, but she pushes harder and harder and suddenly the pain is too much for the Grob, its arm moves away and frees Jo. As quickly as she can, Jo pushes herself away from the Grob and concentrates on trying to get herself up. The pain from her ankle reminds her that she had been injured. She tests it out in terms of the amount of pain and comes to the decision that it is probably only a bruise. With that Jo slowly launches herself in the direction of Ella.
The two Fusas who had broken ranks are nearly with Ella now. They call out and Ella stops, turns and heads towards them. Jo figures out that her best option is to head back towards the line of Fusas, that way Ella and two Fusas will catch up with her.
The group of four are soon safe behind the Fusa line. Whilst the battle rages on around them, they feel somewhat safer being this side of it. Other Fusas have joined them, one is attending to Ella and one to Jo and her injuries. As some green paste is rubbed into Jo's bruises, it both hurts and relieves. There is soothing coolness, once the rubbing has stopped.
Jo can hear the Fusas questioning Ella as she tells them what had happened to her. Ella's story is a little patchy in places as she was kept most of the time under the cloth that she is glad to have dispensed with. Whilst Ella, like Jo is covered in bruises, this was not at the hands of the Grobs, but more through tripping and falling all the time, when being moved around, the Grobs were not very good at being escorts by all accounts.
When Ella has finished answering the barrage of questions, she is keen to find out what manner of person rescued her. The Fusas, now quite used to having Jo around are quite surprised at Ella's request and simply answer, “Why that is Jo-Menzies of course. Important has been she in rescue of you.”
Jo still hurting, has a great feeling of satisfaction that her efforts have been so recognised. She could have so easily just been treated as one of the Fusa army.
~~0~~0~~0~~
Chapter 15 – The Journey home
The Fusas had insisted that Jo travel on the biggest Cut-Tager that they could find, furthermore, that she would have her own Fusa escort, to make sure that she was comfortable and didn't fall off.
Jo had felt really guilty, as all she had were bruises. Some of the Fusas had far worse injuries, but Barse insisted and when Barse insists you do not stand in his way.
The journey back to the Fusas home, whilst long, seemed somewhat more comfortable. The fact that the Fusa army were travelling so much slower than on their way down, made this better.
When the returning Fusas reached the familiar hill, the Fusas waiting there had such a party arranged that no sooner had the Fusas and Jo dismounted from their Cut-Tagers, the party started.
Jo carried away with all the celebration at their success at having finally rescued Ella, completely forgot about going back home. It was the next day, in the cool morning light that Jo remembered why she had come to this hill in the first place. Being amongst a group of sleeping Fusas, Jo thought she would be able to slip away unnoticed.
Jo eases herself up slowly and quietly and limps up the hill. She nearly reaches the top, when she hears the familiar booming voice of Barse, “Surely you were not going to leave without saying goodbye to your good friends Barse and Ella-Wies-An-Fusa ?”
Jo turns and there are the smiling faces of Barse and Ella. Ella has her arms held in front of her, as if expecting a hug.
Felling somewhat embarrassed, having not been properly introduced and all that, yet feeling that somehow she had quite a connection to this brave Fusa, Jo limps forward and does not disappoint Ella. The hug was that of two old friends and Ella says, “Can not thank enough you, for determination and skill that have shown you in rescue of me. Always friend of Fusas be you Jo-Menzies and especially to me.”
Not usually being short of words Barse, pats Jo on the back and says, “Same holds from me Jo-Menzies.”
As Ella and Jo separate, Ella adds, “Please return and see again us one light time?”
Jo replies, “Thank you both for your kindness and if I can, I will return to see you one day. If you ever find your way to my side of the hill, come and find me also. I would dearly love to know how you are.”
Barse barks out some instructions to a couple of Fusas and they are quickly by Jo's side. Barse says, “Help you to your side, will these Fusas. Live long and happy Jo-Menzies. For return of my Ella I thank you greatly.”
“Thank you and good bye.” says Jo with a tear in her eye, as she turns and with the Fusas help, she climbs the last part of the hill.
On the flat above the place of the Fusas, Jo can make out two sets of bushes, she does not know why but she is drawn towards the clump to the right. Jo and Fusas enter the clump of bushes and it is like an island of moss surrounded by bushes, but across to the right the bushes they look somewhat strange, as if something can be faintly seen to the other side of them. Jo lets the Fusas help her to the edge of these bushes and insists on going the last part on her own. She says her goodbyes and heads straight for the bushes. As she steps into them the feel of ground changes, it is much more solid and is sloping upwards. Jo turns and waves a final time to the Fusas and steps further in, the familiar blackness comes over her, as if she is stepping from day, straight into night. The ground continues to be hard, with something long and wispy touching her legs, it is grass, grass. After a short interval, it starts to get lighter, not the full light of day, but more like that of early morning.
There before Jo are the familiar sights of the path that had lead her her and there in the distance, Jo can see the roof of her house. Home, she is home.
~~ The End ~~
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