The Redmadafa

by Gary Foshee

  speckled the skyline—long vines checker-boarded their sides coiling down to the ground below. The barbed vines moved back and

  forth ever so slightly by the raspy gusts causing Caboose to scratch his neck and feel afraid. Deep within the narrows and muffled by the vines, demonic sounds ricocheted off the terraced wal s.

  Caboose closed the distance between himself and Urium. As

  he did, he stepped on the back of Urium’s foot, causing Urium

  to trip.

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  THE REDMADAFA

  “Is everything alright?” asked Urium.

  “Yep. Just fine,” responded Caboose, his eyes roaming about.

  A sick feeling grumbled in the pit of his stomach and it was

  not hunger bugs. All he could think of was long hairy arms, teeth, and claws ripping his flesh to pieces. Even the vines seemed to

  claw and scratch at his head. They wrapped around his throat and strangled him, or so he thought. Jumpy, he whispered, “I don’t

  like this place, it gives me the creeps.”

  Urium pulled his sword and sliced it through the air and

  then returned it. Two pieces of something disintegrated instantly.

  “What was that?” Caboose jolted his head around at the

  sound of Urium’s sword.

  “Nothing,” said Urium, jumping and acting like he was going

  to draw his sword. “Did you hear something?”

  Something fluttered behind him again. Caboose spun around.

  Urium drew his sword and sliced it to the right and to the left.

  Four more pieces went up in flames. He leaned on his sword rest-

  ing it against the ground as if nothing had happened. Caboose

  spun back around and gave him a scorned look. He examined

  the ground—nothing, nothing but dirt, rocks, and footprints. He

  made a face and nodded, “So that’s how it’s ‘gonna be?”

  Urium turned and smiled. Caboose was literal y transform-

  ing before his eyes. It made him proud. It made him feel like a

  father teaching a son lessons about life. He loved the responsibility His Majesty entrusted to him. Serving the people of the circle was a privilege and a command he carried out with great honor.

  He also knew all celestial beings will be judged by the people they serve. It was in his best interest to serve with great diligence.

  High above them, on a ledge covered in thick ivy, a dark

  creature jumped. It glided through the air and landed behind

  Caboose making a loud “Crunching” sound in the rocks.

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  Caboose spun around chopping his arms in all directions

  yelling—his tail swept Urium right off his feet landing him face first in the dirt.

  “Hang on there, big guy. I’m on your side,” spoke a soft but

  robust voice with arms raised to defend against the mighty Kung

  Fu warrior standing fearlessly before her.

  Urium stood up and dusted off his chest and knees. “Frost, I

  suspected you were in the area. “What are you doing here?” asked Urium.

  Caboose didn’t move. His hands were still poised ready to

  attack. Urium walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. “It’s

  alright, she’s on our side.”

  A lengthy sigh came from deep within. He lowered his hands

  and gave a quivered nod.

  “Seven sent me. He said you might need some help in here.”

  She leaned forward close to Caboose’s ear and whispered, “This

  place is infested with crawlers. They’re everywhere.”

  His knees startled to buckle but somehow he found the

  strength to maintain his composure.

  Frost held out her hand. “I’m Cadiamarmegus. But you can

  call me Frost,” she winked, with an icy gaze. “And you must be

  Caboose.”

  Caboose reached out and shook her hand. He leaned forward

  trying to maintain a straight face as her firm handshake crushed every bone in his hand. “Nice t-to meet you.” stuttered Caboose.

  He dropped his hand and stretched it out when she looked away.

  “I could’ve used you days ago,” suggested Urium. “We were

  tracked by trol s in the tunnels, almost eaten by gargoyles in

  the gorge and then we were attacked by ragooles, howlers, and

  Magondreas.” He scanned the ledges and walked around in a

  circle.

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  “You’re not the only one in this valley that needs help you

  know. I’ve been busy,” she responded, turning her back to them.

  She paced down the path and then looked up. “Besides, what are

  you doing here? We’re not supposed to be here,” she whispered,

  loudly.

  Urium unsheathed his sword. “Seven. Seven told me too.”

  Up ahead the path zigzagged through a maze of stone stee-

  ples sagging against a rapid decline. Large boulders rested on

  jagged terraces as if they had been strategical y placed. From

  deep within, a low gargling breath exhaled thrusting the vines

  toward the entrance. Frost threw Urium her sword and pulled

  out a whip, it was a long single cord inset with icy shards that glowed blue.

  They backed up and encircled Caboose.

  “What is it?” yelled Caboose, as the wind ripped past his ears

  and small rocks crashed all around.

  The ground vibrated.

  “They’re here,” yelled Frost. She vaulted through the air,

  tucked mid-air and bounced off the ground cutting several crawl-

  ers in half. With her elbow, foot, and fist, she smashed, kicked, and uppercutted several others high into the air, splattering them against the wal s. She whipped the icy cord over her head several times and then cracked it in the air. The shards broke off and

  snapped out small wings from their sides before rocketing into

  the hoard of crawlers pressing in, instantly turning them into ice.

  With the next crack, the small shards exploded, sending small

  sonic booms rushing throughout the canyon.

  Urium connected the ends of the swords, which glimmered

  brightly in the dark canyon, and twirled them in front of him.

  The wal s and vines turned black with crawlers oozing out from

  their holes. They scaled down surrounding him.

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  Caboose punched, jabbed, and bobbed, dodging long hairy

  arms and fangs sweeping inches above his head. Urium spread

  his wings and rose off the ground. With one giant spin, he twirled round and round killing hundreds instantly.

  “Urium!” yelled Frost. Urium landed back on the ground,

  sliced two more in half and kicked another one plunging it into

  the crowd. He gave a quick glance in her direction.

  Frost threw her head up toward the vines.

  Urium understood.

  “Hold this,” he said, handing his swords to Caboose.

  Caboose looked down at the bright rods glowing in his hands

  and twirled them around. The rods rotated around hitting Urium

  in the back of his head cutting off a chunk of his hair.

  “Hey,” yelled Urium grabbing his head. “That’s my head.”

  “Sorry,” replied Caboose, with a puzzled look plastered across

  his face.

  Frost inhaled deeply. She puckered her lips and, moving her

  head side-to-side, blew a thick stream of ice crystals into the air.

  The crystals weaved through the forest of dangling vines form-

  ing long icicles overhead. Urium thrus
t his hands toward the icy daggers, unleashing a force field breaking them off at their base.

  The icy torpedoes hurtled through the air down the canyon and

  up the wal s piercing hundreds more, toppling the long-legged

  spiny creatures off the wal s and ledges. They fell down crushing hundreds on the floor below.

  “Take him to the drop!” yelled Frost. “I’ll meet you there.”

  She retired her whip and raised her hands. A blue shock wave

  pulsed from her feet to her hands and then rippled down the path disintegrating hundreds more. But, their frugal efforts barely put a dent in the thousands that continued to circle them. She ran

  over and looked down the steep trail winding down the canyon.

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  She raised her hands again; a massive tidal wave rip-curled down the steep alleyway and hooked around the bend all the way to the bottom, instantly covering the trail in a thick layer of ice.

  She looked at Urium. “Wel , what are you waiting for?”

  Urium grabbed Caboose and dove for the ice.

  Struggling to maintain his balance, Caboose slid down the

  cold steep chute full of rocky obstacles. Raining down from

  above, large boulders crashed, shattering the ice into hundreds of pieces. Urium raised his hands and disintegrated many of them

  causing large dust clouds to explode in the air—an onslaught of

  tiny pebbles pelted them in the aftermath.

  They cornered high off the wall coming out of the first turn.

  Caboose shot into the air, flipped over and ended up face-first on his bel y, staring down a large boulder that had fallen in the middle of the trail. Trying desperately to maneuver his body from

  side to side, at the last second, he used his tail to punch off the side just missing the rock. Urium, tucked safely behind Caboose, didn’t see the rock until it was too late. He lowered his head and crashed through the middle. Trying to regain his senses, he spun around dueling with the crawlers skating close behind.

  Caboose washed out at the bottom and slid over the cliff.

  Urium dug his sword in the ice and kicked right at the last

  moment.

  The crawlers, sliding close behind, spewed webbing trying to

  catch themselves, but the sticky strings wouldn’t hold on the ice: they all tumbled over the cliff and disappeared.

  “Caboose!” yelled Urium. He jumped up and slid over to the

  cliff ledge. Dangling safely a few feet below, lie Caboose on his side, tangled in a trap of smel y grass. He rolled his head and

  looked up.

  Urium grabbed his tail and pulled him up.

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  Dr. Gary Warren Foshee

  The trail ended at a cliff overlooking a dead sea. Caboose stood as far back from the ledge as possible and stretched his neck to its fullest extent. He glanced down over the ledge causing his breath to catch in the back of his throat; the cliff was way too high to see the bottom clearly—his bel y turned upside down and his body

  went limp with dizziness.

  “I don’t feel so good,” he responded holding his head.

  “Do you see that ledge way down there? That’s Dead

  Man’s Drop.”

  Caboose stretched his neck again and squinted his eyes. The

  sea was grey and heaving restlessly. “I don’t see anything. I think we’d better turn around.”

  Frost landed at the bottom and sealed the opening with a

  thick layer of ice. She walked over and stood off the ledge on

  the air.

  Caboose looked at her with disgust.

  “That should hold them for awhile. Nice working with you

  again Urium, but, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go, something is happening on the boarders of Guma.”

  “Thanks Frost. I owe you big time for this one.”

  “I know,” she wisecracked. “Besides, sharpening my skil s on

  slow deadbeat crawlers is my favorite past-time activity anyway.”

  They looked at each other and laughed.

  “Nice meeting you Caboose. Follow Seven’s orders and every-

  thing should be alright.” She spread her wings and disappeared

  into the clouds leaving a small trail of ice crystals in her wake.

  Should, thought Caboose. That’s great. That’s just great. He shook his head and mumbled, “Should be alright.”

  Urium held out his hand and pointed again. “Look, do you

  see the opening to the cave.”

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  THE REDMADAFA

  Caboose looked and reluctantly replied, “Yeah, I think so,

  still processing the word ‘Should.’”

  “Now follow the shore line to the left about five thunder beast

  tails.”

  “I see it. Too bad we don’t have a rope, looks like we’ll have

  to turn around.”

  Caboose looked down at Urium’s hand slipping into his

  pocket. Before he could pull it out, Caboose, sarcastical y

  exclaimed, “Let me guess. You just happen to have…some dragon

  rope in your pocket.”

  Surprised, Urium answered, “You’re good. It’s actual y dragon

  intestines. They’re a lot lighter to carry and stretch much further than rope.”

  Oh, well excuse me, thought Caboose. “Great. Say, you don’t

  happen to have my Papa and a secret portal back home in your

  pocket do you?”

  Urium rolled his eyes and shook his head. He reached in and

  pulled out an old brown cloth and opened it up. He pulled out

  the intestine, tied it around a rock and threw it over. It fell down about fifty feet and stopped.

  Caboose looked over the ledge and smiled. Now they would

  have to find another way for sure. “It’s too short. See, we need to turn around and look for another way down.”

  “Just grab it with your hands and wrap your tail and one of

  your legs around it. It will stretch down and drop you off at the ledge.”

  Caboose didn’t say anything. He stood still searching for an

  excuse.

  “I can’t swim,” he answered, after several seconds.

  Urium, ful y aware of what was happening responded, “All

  grunters can swim.”

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  “Wel , this grunter can’t swim. My short leg, it pul s me under.

  I can’t swim I tell you.”

  “Seven didn’t say anything about swimming.”

  Caboose snarled and searched for something to comeback

  with. “I…I—”

  “Come on, we have to hurry, we’re running out of time.”

  Urium held Caboose with one hand, looked over the ledge

  and gave one last encouraging word. “In a few days, you will be at the Sea Throne and will be reunited with your Papa.”

  Caboose, with eyes closed, reached one leg back and felt for

  the cliff’s face.

  “Don’t worry Caboose I have…”

  “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.” Caboose slipped. His

  hands smoked and burned as he slid down the intestine out of

  control. Quickly approaching from the bottom, enormous spikes

  raced upward at him.

  Urium dove off the cliff and spread his wings. “Hang on

  Caboose, don’t let go.”

  Caboose tried not to look down at the rocky spikes reaching

  up for him. Urium tucked his wings and spiraled off the ledge.

  The wind ruffled through his wings slicking his hair straight back and making his eyes water. He passed Caboose in mid air and

  spun his body around upright, parallel to the cliff face. Amazingly Caboose started to slow…slow…slow until final y coming to a

  complete stop just
above the ledge.

  “You can step down now Caboose,” said Urium, already

  standing securely on the ledge.

  Caboose opened his eyes, looked down and peeled his fin-

  gers off the intestine—he looked at Urium secretly wanting to

  strangle him. Caboose walked over to the edge of the cliff. This time they were about forty feet from the water. Off to his right, 208

  THE REDMADAFA

  being pounded by the waves, was a deep cave covered with sea-

  weed and bones.

  “11:35, great. We have ten extra minutes to spare,” said

  Urium.

  “What do we do now?” asked Caboose.

  “Let me see. Seven said: ‘ Stand aloof, at Dead Man’s Drop,’

  check. ‘Quarter ‘til noon, whistle the tune.’ He tilted his head up at the sky, in exactly seven minutes and 25 seconds I will whistle the tune.” ‘ A ripple, a wave, out of the cave,’ I guess w e wait until we see something come out of the cave. ‘C ount to three, anchors away.’ When you see the wave, count to three and jump.”

  “Jump! Are you crazy? I’m not jumping…from this ledge…

  into that water…at whatever is coming out of that cave!”

  As Caboose stood sulking, four horns appeared over the

  water. He looked at Urium and asked, “Do you see that? What

  are those?”

  “The Augur is showing you a sign. The four horns will break

  down the wal s of Thunder Juice Town and scatter its people.”

  Four craftsmen then appeared standing beside the horns,

  “Who are they?”

  “The horns will scatter Thunder Juice Town so that no one

  will raise their heads, but the craftsmen will terrify and cast down the horns. The horns are the nations who lift up their horns and come against Thunder Juice Town.”

  “Get ready its almost time.” Urium puckered his lips and

  whistled the tune. They both eased over the ledge scanning the

  water and the mouth of the cave.

  They waited.

  Above them, icing down the bluff, a crawler descended, des-

  perately wanting to appease his ferocious hunger bug pangs. The

  crawler maneuvered over them and raised his fangs and front

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  Dr. Gary Warren Foshee

  legs. Deep within the cave the water rippled. Suddenly, a wave

  torpedoed through the tunnel and exploded out of the cave into

  the sea.

  Urium counted to three, looked at Caboose and said,

  “Forgive me.”