by Paul G Mann
shipmates from under the rock and shale.
He began to trot along the cliff top towards the human survivors counting two women and six men, seven had been killed by the Hunki, but at least they hadn’t ended up on the Hunki dinner plates like so many had before them. The ravine edge began to slope down towards level open ground slowing his trot to a more cautious walk as the footing became a bit more perilous. He reached the bottom ahead of the walking humans who he noted with a certain amount of disgust were completely unaware of his presence until he almost stood in front of them.
To be fair to them they were out on their feet, dirty from the dust the landside had caused, dishevelled and if he assumed right by their appearance dehydrated despite the fact they had a river running near them.
‘My God man,’ a woman at the back of the bunch said as they neared, ‘did you cause that?’
‘Yes,’ he replied matter of factly, ‘I saw that overhang on the way to Riggers Cove, I hoped it would buy us some time.’
‘It did that alright,’ a man in front of him said, ‘I never saw anything climb up that cliff like you, only a goat has that sure footing, in fact I think that’s what your name should be from now on,’ he smiled.
‘Friend,’ Fred said in a quiet voice full of menace. ‘If you ever call me a goat again I promise to take this knife,’ he unsheathed the steel blade and brandished it under the man’s nose, ‘and take the head off your shoulders leaving your body ready for the Hunki.’
‘Sorry Fred,’ he gulped, ‘I mean no disrespect, the only other animal that can climb like that is a wolf; would you take exception if when I retell this tale I called you wolf?’
Fred thought for moment, he had always disliked the name Alfred and suffered Fred as nothing had ever given cause to replace it. Wolf had a ring to it that he liked. ‘Wolf it is,’ he replied, ‘but careful in the telling, I don’t want too much attention, attention is dangerous.’
‘Sorry Fred, erm Wolf,’ he smiled, ‘but what happened today even without a little exaggeration will go down in folklore and tell it I will to anyone who will listen in the hovels we live in. To think the Hunki can be killed gives me hope and I think it will to others.’
‘Well friend you won’t be telling anyone anything if you don’t get away from here,’ he said changing the subject. ‘The Hunki will be back, there is more than one ship of theirs in these parts so I suggest you head for the trees. Clean yourselves up and get on your way as soon as you can.’
‘You’re not coming with us?’ a female voice asked.
‘No,’ he replied, ‘I’m off to find my companion; providing you keep to the trees and listen out for Rippers you should be safe enough. Try and find another village or town to settle in before winter comes along and I hope to see you all soon.’
He left them heading north while he went in search of Liz; she was only an hour or two ahead of him and knowing her she would leave an easy trail for him. He thought over the day’s events as he trotted to the tree line. Wolf the man had called him, Wolf a name that rolled easy of the tongue and one to hopefully strike fear in to the judges. Wolf, ‘yes’ he thought with a rueful smile, a name he knew he was going to like.
End