by Tod Eten
‘You know Esel, Zeki and Esma of course’ Zafer said rubbing his sons head.
‘And this is my wife Rana and my son Tahir’ Onan said proudly his arm around his young wife’s slender waist as she carried their baby son.
‘Come let us rest, it will take a while before we can go anywhere’ Zafer said looking at the people waiting to follow the path.
They moved themselves to the edge of the mountain valley and sat down in the shade where they had a beautiful panoramic view of the plains below them which shimmered in the heat of the sun. Everyone was glad of the rest and they made themselves as comfortable as possible. The women gathered around Rana and her son and made a fuss of the little baby who seemed more interested in sleep.
Zafer and Onan took it in turns to tell them about their journey in to the mountains and confirmed the fact that most modern technology had now stopped working especially anything connected with computers. As Aiden and the others had correctly guessed the older cars still worked only so long as they did not rely on any computer systems. Zafer then told them how, because most of the modern technology had stopped working there had been terrible consequences for the whole world. For without the modern technology that man had grown used to everything had fallen apart. There had been food shortages in the cities because no food could be delivered. Businesses collapsed almost overnight and the stock markets around the world had stopped working as had the banks and now he said it looked like there would be a war that could drag in most of the countries of the world. Aiden and his friends listened in silence as Zafer told them one dreadful thing after another each of them wondering what had become of the world they had once known.
‘Bad people are coming’ Sklya said suddenly interrupting them pointing at the valley below where approaching from either side of the valley came two great armies. There were tanks, trucks, jeeps and armoured vehicles of every description in both armies that threw up a cloud of dust as they sped towards each other. The rumble and roar of their engines soon shattering the stillness of the mountains. Both armies came to an ominous halt facing each other about a mile apart.
‘Are they going to fight?’ Zaher said but no one answered all eyes focused on the scene below.
‘The armies of the East and the West’ Aya muttered under her breath. ‘We don’t have much time we need to go now!’ Aya said to them all.
Without questioning they all picked up their things and set off towards the path that the other people had followed up the mountain. Aiden transfixed by the scene below remained behind and watched as two armies sat facing each other like medieval knights waiting for battle. Finally two jeeps one from each army emerged from their respective ranks and drove towards each other meeting in the middle. Aiden watched as a number of people got out from each vehicle and started talking together. They were too far away for Aiden to see what they were doing but it was obvious they were holding some kind of talks. Aiden still absorbed by the scene remained where he was, watching the discussions unfold. The men now took out binoculars and started scanning the mountains they even seemed to be looking straight at him at one point. Aiden then watched as the discussions came to an end and the two groups got back into their respective jeeps and sped off back to their own armies. All was quiet again for a for several minutes and then as one all the engines roared back into life. Aiden watched as the vehicles of both armies wheeled about now facing in his direction and started moving across the plain towards him. Aiden watched as first one puff of smoke emerged from the gun turret of a tank then another puff of smoke from another tank. It looked like all the tanks were firing their guns. A few seconds later the first shell exploded some way below Aiden on the mountain side and then there were more explosions all around the noise deafening him. Aiden finally coming to his senses turned and fled for his life the ground trembling with the explosions. He made for the path which the others were now already making their way up. Why the hell were they firing at them what had they done Aiden wondered as the bombardment suddenly ceased. Aiden caught up with the rest of the group who were hurrying up the path as fast as they could. They followed the path as it climbed up and around the mountain. Looking back Aiden could no longer see their enemies, but the roar of their engines could still be heard on the plains below.They soon met up with the tail end of the people who had gone ahead of them and now moving more slowly they continued along the path for another half mile where they emerged out into a opening twenty paces wide that ran across their route on the other side of which was an even smaller path that cut between two mountains.
‘We are here’ Gagan said excitedly.
Aiden looked up to where Gagan was looking at and saw the twin peaks of the mountain that Aya had pointed out to them a day ago rising high above him. But Aiden could not share in Gagan’s joy for he knew that they had enemies not far behind, heavily armed enemies at that! Aiden realised that he would have to remain here and do the best he could to somehow stop anyone from following and his mind made up he stopped at the entrance to the final path and turned to face their pursuers.
‘What are you doing Aiden?’ Gagan asked.
‘I have to somehow stop them’ Aiden answered having no idea how he would manage this.
‘They have guns!’ Gagan said stating the obvious.
‘It’s OK you go on ahead and see if there is any way we can stop them further up’ Aiden ordered.
‘We are not going anywhere!’ Aya said, who had quietly retraced her steps back down to them.
‘Definitely not, you claimed all the glory last time remember it is our turn now’ Seth added who was behind Aya grinning, and behind him came the others.
‘It’s no good us all putting ourselves in danger!’ Aiden said in exasperation.
‘Aiden is right, Aaron and Elden take your families and follow Zaher. They will need your help’ Aya said cutting off any protest from the two men. ‘Demitri you too take your family and go and you to Gagan, take Hoshi with you and as Aiden said see if there is a way to stop them further up the path’
‘Alas I fear it is too late for them to do that’ Hanif’s voice said. Aiden whirled about his bow and arrow at the ready only to see Hanif standing at the mouth of the path opposite them together with a group of his soldiers all of whom had their guns trained on Aiden and his friends.
‘You have caused me much trouble’ Hanif said with a strange look in his eyes, ‘what manner of evil are you exactly?’
‘We are not evil, we are just normal people’ Aya answered.
‘Ah this is not what you are! Normal people do not do what you have done. My men you sucked the life out of them. No you are not normal people’ Hanif said a slight tremble in his voice.
‘Hanif please let us be we do not want any trouble’ Aiden said trying to calm the man.
‘Trouble’ Hanif spat ‘you kill most of my men and you say that you do not want any trouble!’
‘We did not kill your men’ Aiden said truthfully.
‘But then how is that you escaped unharmed, why were you not killed the same as my men?’ Hanif said trying to keep himself calm. ‘No you are in league with the devil this I know’ Hanif said raising his gun.
‘Hanif! No matter what you or your men do, you know that I will kill you’ Aiden said indicating his bow and arrow.
Hanif paused and looked at Aiden and his bow and arrow ‘Yes I am sure you can kill me with that but I have no fear of death for I am the sword of Allah’ Hanif said proudly holding his head up high.
‘I think you should listen to the young man’ Rafferty said standing up from his hiding place behind a rock gun in hand. Everyone turned and stared at this new arrival. ‘Now why don’t you all put your weapons down no need for anyone to get hurt now is there’ Rafferty continued and at a signal from him a dozen or more heavily armed and camouflaged soldiers emerged from their hiding places on either side of them.
Hanif’s soldiers quickly retrained their guns on Rafferty’s men.
‘Who are you?’ Hani
f demanded looking at Rafferty.
‘My name is Rafferty and these people’ Rafferty pointed at Aya and the group ‘have some information that I need. So please tell your men to put their weapons down, we have you out gunned as you can see’ Rafferty said calmly waving his free hand at his men.
‘And if we do not?’ Hanif said defiantly.
‘Well’ Rafferty shrugged.
‘I must tell you Mr Rafferty that both myself and my men are not afraid of death’ Hanif said staring squarely back at Rafferty.
Aiden instincts warned him that something bad was going to happen and his eyes went straight to one of Hanif’s men whose frightened expression told him all he needed to know. The man his fear getting the better of him squeezed just a little too hard on his trigger finger firing a single shot. In response Rafferty’s soldiers immediately returned fire. Soon bullets where flying in all directions. For Aiden time once again stood still. He watched as Rafferty with a curse threw himself back behind his rock and then saw the same man who had accidently fired his gun being knocked backwards as bullets tore through his chest. Then with horror Aiden watched as Aya, who was standing beside him was spun off her feet as if she had been struck by an invisible fist. She spun completely round in a full circle and then crashed to the rocky floor with a thud. Aiden letting out a cry going down on his knees beside Aya fearing the worst and was met with her still and lifeless body. Time for Aiden now stopped. His anguish over Aya’s death rapidly turned to anger then rage. Like a dam bursting in his mind the rage filled him, consumed him. Suddenly he was calm and still. He saw how his friends had thrown themselves to the floor while the two groups of soldiers fired indiscriminately at each other. Many of Hanif’s men were already dead or injured the superior training of Rafferty’s men paying off. Aiden now slowly stood the bow in his hand shining bright and he began firing arrows. The first arrow hit one of Rafferty’s men the impact sending the soldier flying backwards through the air. He then shot another arrow and another and both Hanif’s and Rafferty’s men alike were sent flying. Both groups quickly realised that it was now Aiden who posed the greatest danger and they turned their fire on him. But to Aiden it felt like he was fighting against statues. He easily avoided the bullets that were fired at him and dropping his bow after he had spent his last arrow Aiden took his sword which flamed like the sun at his touch and he set about his enemies in a storm of blows that none could defend against. Aiden cut through what remained of Hanif’s men and then in a single leap sprang for the men standing beside Rafferty. So the blood letting continued then suddenly Aiden was in another place, a much darker place.
It was night and the only light there was came from the glowing lava flows that ran from the volcanos on either side of the plain and the lightening that arced in between the black clouds overhead. In front of him was a vast army who shouted and taunted him while behind him stood his own army watching him expectantly and awaiting his orders. He laughed out loud not because he was nervous, but because he was joyous! He lived for battle and war and the stronger the opponent the better and this was by far his strongest opponent he had faced so far. For this was the mighty Ouranos the world eater and his army of Mititu, the Dead ones. He laughed again in eager anticipation at the battle ahead for he was Marduk and none had ever beaten him in battle.
The blare of horns from Ouranos’s army signalled the start of the battle as a mass of figures charged towards him and his troops. Ah the pets he thought to himself as he watched the creatures leaping and bounding towards him bristling with horns, fangs and claws. He gave the signal for his own pets to be released. A moment later a wave of his own creatures streamed past him. Specially bred for speed and agility his pets were trained to first incapacitate their targets and then go in for the kill. The two lines of creatures crashed into each other gouging and tearing at one another in a mad frenzy. He laughed once more and was glad as he felt the blood lust rising inside of him and he strode forward to meet his enemy. He slashed his way through the battling animals killing all that stood in his way be they the enemies pets or his own and then he met with Oranous’s Mititu. The Dead Ones were trained only to fight and kill or be killed. Dressed in Rock Armour and armed with sword and shield they were a match for most, but not Marduk who with a single swipe of his sword could cut down ten or more of them as if he were harvesting plants. The more he killed the more the battle fever took him and the more death did he deal out to his enemy. Steadily did he carve his way through the ranks of Mititu sending rank upon rank of them flying their bodies broken and quartered until finally he could see his target Ouranos the world eater, a huge colossus of a figure. Ouranos was double his own height and size and he wielded Shadu Napalu, a great long handled war hammer that only Ouranos could lift.
‘I have come to eat the World Eater’ he shouted in challenge and Ouranos roared back in anger swinging the Shadu Napalu at him. But Marduk easily dodged the attack. He knew that Oranous was powerful and one blow from that great hammer of his would spell his doom. But Ouranos was also slow, far too slow! The world eater was no match for Marduk and he laughed at the knowledge. Ouranos seeming to sense his thoughts swung his hammer again but Marduk easily rolled under the swing and rising quickly sliced through the black armour covering the giant’s left side. Ouranos gave a another roar this time of pain as once more he swung his hammer. But Marduk easily twisted out of the way and once more cut through the black armour this time on the giants left side. Ouranos now backed away from Murduk his hammer at the ready sizing up his enemy. Marduk feigned an attack towards the giant’s right side and as he had wanted Ouranos swung his hammer in defence. But Murduk twisted the other way at the last moment, going to the giants left side. Before Ouranos had a chance to bring his hammer around Marduk like a surgeon sliced through the back of Ouranos’s right knee, severing his ligaments. Ouranos's leg crumple under his great weight leaving him down on one knee his great hammer now more a crutch than a weapon. Without pause Murduk with a single sweep of his sword sliced clean through the back of the giant’s neck, a few moments later Ouranos’s massive head fell from his shoulders. Marduk roared in celebration at his victory and now set about the rest of Ouranos’s army that still remained alive.
How long he had been fighting for he did not know, but now he was standing still. Marduk simply had nothing left to attack even though he was still ready to fight and kill some more. But nothing moved so all he was able to do was stand there. Slowly the battle rage fell from his eyes and his normal senses began to return. He looked in puzzlement at his blood soaked hands slowly recalling the events of the battle he had been in. Looking around he could see he was surrounded by a sea of dead, nothing was left standing, nothing was left living! Not only were none of the enemy left alive but also none of his own army were left alive either. Then with dawning horror he started to remember what had happened. He looked down and saw that which he dreaded most the broken body of his sister impaled on the end of his sword. He Marduk had killed them, not just the enemy but all of them! He had cut down his own brothers and sisters as he had cut down Ouranos and his Mititu. In his blood frenzy none had been safe and all had been killed. Finally realising the full horror of what he had done he turned his face to the sky and gave a howl of anguish that had never been heard before nor would ever be heard again on that world and he fell to his knees tears streaming down his face and he swore an oath that he would never again raise his sword.
‘Aiden, Aiden are you alright’ It was Faith who was gently rubbing his shoulder.
Aiden as if waking from a dream looked up and saw Faith through tear stained eyes from where he was curled up on the floor like a baby. Slowly and unsteadily Aiden picked himself up off the ground with Faith trying to help him and soon he felt other hands gently helping him to his feet.
‘What happened?’ Aiden asked trying to compose himself.
‘You killed them Aiden, most of them anyway. It was incredible I have never seen anything like it, it was as if you were not human
but some kind of, I don’t know what!’ Seth said to murmured agreement from the others. Aiden looked around now and saw the bodies of both Hanif’s and Rafferty’s men strewn all around. Then he remembered Aya and it suddenly felt like a spear had gone through his heart.
‘Aya?’ Aiden asked looking around for her but she was no where to be seen.
‘Aaron has taken her up with the others’ Faith said
‘Is she?’ Aiden said leaving the question unasked.
‘I am sorry Aiden’ Faith said gently rubbing Aiden’s arm in answer tears running down her face.
‘What do you want us to do with these two’ Demitri said gruffly pointing at Hanif and Rafferty
Aiden looked at the two who now cowered in the dirt near by hiding their faces from Aiden’s gaze.
‘I will kill them myself for what they have done’ Demitri spat in anger.
‘Please spare me’ Hanif begged ‘I did not know, how could I have known?’
‘I did not mean any of this to happen’ Rafferty said also pleading.
For Aiden it seemed that yet another door had opened in his mind by the sight of these two pitiful men. Aiden now understood, he had once been called Marduk the most powerful and feared warrior amongst the Anunnaki. But after the battle with Ouranos he had vowed to forever turn his back on the ways of the warrior. He had eventually joined with the Neteru as their beliefs about peace best suited the vow he had made and together with them he had come to earth to find a better way of life and to atone for the deaths of his brothers and sisters murdered by his own hand. Infact he wanted to atone for all the living things that had met their end by his hands. Marduk from that day on had devoted his life to knowledge, learning and peace. He had remained within the walls of the great Neteru city of Atu Lamadu. There he stayed when the Demos claimed dominion over man and there he still remained when the Neteru battled the Demos. For he had vowed never again to take up his sword again. At the next awakening he remembered how the Anunnaki had attacked his beautiful city, how he had only just managed to escape Atu Lamadu before the city was sent crashing beneath the waves. The other Neteru had then begged him once more take up his sword and help them battle the Anunnaki. But he had refused to break his solemn vow. So it would have remained if had not been for a beautiful fair haired Neteru with dark green eyes who had sought him out and pleaded with him. She had told him how she herself had made mistakes, how she had once become one of the Demos but had repented and turned her back on those ways. But mostly she told him what would happen to humans if the Anunnaki were to prevail and that it was his duty, vow or no vow to protect them. For the humans were innocent and the innocent must be protected. So it was that she had convinced him and he had agreed to break his solemn oath and once more did he pick up his great sword and strode forth at the battle of Shuhadaku Thazu. A last battle which was going badly for the Neteru. But when the Anunnaki saw the burning sword of Marduk great was their fear and their confidence did falter. The Anunnaki fell before his wrath until none were left alive.