Alliance

by Andrew Stride

  “I arrived here with the forest, you can’t have missed that!”

  “You came out of the forest?”

  “That’s what I said, didn’t I. Look, the human isn’t going to last long out in the desert on its own.”

  “If you’re meant to be helping him, you haven’t done a particularly good job so far, now have you?”

  Boroc resisted the urge to tear her off a strip.

  “This man arrived with you?”

  “No. It’s from the planet of dirt. Earth.”

  “You expect me to believe that?”

  “I don’t care what you believe. Just get me out of this hole, so I can finish my job.”

  “I’m not buying it. You’re going nowhere.”

  “We’re meant to be on the same side now and this human from Earth was rambling on about some message and how he was sent here to help. Don’t ask me how though, he can barely help himself.”

  The female was silent and then almost to herself. “It was prophesied.”

  “The longer you keep me here the more likely his mission is to fail, the Squalvolvans will see to that.”

  “Why you?”

  “I was a commander in the Zolt army and our job was to cleanse this planet of your kind. I have a reputation for getting the job done.”

  “You speak frankly. So why have you gone from killing us, to helping us?”

  “After my death, I was given a second chance and my eyes were opened to the fact that we share a common enemy.”

  “You died?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “It’s an unbelievable story. This common enemy you speak of, it is these Squalvolvans?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  Boroc explained that the Squalvolvans were a Shamozolt creation and it was likely that they were now being controlled by the Formless Ones. Undeniable perhaps, since the Formless Ones were a race of invisible beings that could manipulate any living form and use it to do their bidding. A procedure that Boroc had experienced first-hand.

  “The Formless Ones caused my death and my rebirth was partly down to the Lumsulu. At least I think it was. A lot happened that day and I thought I’d taken my last breath.”

  “The Lumsulu? We’ve heard of them. So you come with some credentials.”

  “I’m not your average Shamozolt if that’s what you thought.”

  “This man, we need to find him.”

  “Finally!”

  The human pulled on the rope and the platform began to ascend.

  “Wait a minute, what about me?”

  Boroc thumped the stone wall in anger. “You’ll regret this, human. The Formless Ones will use the Squalvolvans to finish the job we started. The obliteration of your race on this planet, is that what you want?”

  “I don’t trust you, Shamozolt, but if your story checks out, then maybe that buys you a ticket out of here. I’ll have some food sent down to you shortly.”

  The food was a long time coming and Boroc had kicked the wall in a number of places, hoping to find a weakness, but without success. Boroc thought back to what this chamber might have been used for. There was no way the humans had built it. A smelting chimney, perhaps.

  The humans had been busy and made use of the equipment the Shamozolts had left behind and dug themselves in deep.

  Boroc suddenly got the chills, because this round illuminated space reminded him of his encounters with the Formless Ones and he instinctively reached for his dagger, but it wasn’t there. Something didn’t feel right and the light from the lamp was throwing shadows that Boroc was interpreting as those of the shadowy spectres from his nightmares.

  Boroc’s back was up against the wall and he squeezed his eyes shut in the hope of clearing his vision, only now he could hear their whispers. They wanted him back and there was the promise of so much.

  Someone or something was calling his name. “Boroc, Boroc.” He put his hands over his ears but this didn’t help.

  “Open your eyes, Boroc, there’s a way out for you.”

  “A way out,” whispered Boroc.

  “That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

  Boroc opened one eye a crack and was relieved to see that he was still in the circular room.

  “That’s it, can you see us?”

  In the middle of the room was a strange shimmering light, a lick of flame that danced a few inches off the ground.

  “Don’t be afraid, come forward, bathe in the flame and you will be free of this place.”

  Boroc was sweating and shaking and he felt the pull of this otherworldly force as if something inside of him was already a part of it.

  The flame grew brighter and expanded and Boroc knew this was his doing; he was giving himself to them willingly. It was easy, too easy and Boroc felt vulnerable, but he was more aware now and stronger for it. If he succumbed, he knew he would pay for it, so was he so weak that he couldn’t resist?

  “No,” yelled Boroc. “I am not weak. I will not bend to your ways.”

  “Come now, Boroc, you remember what it was like working with us. How invincible you felt?”

  Through gritted teeth. “I remember how you double-crossed me. Left me to die and then used me. I am free and I will stay that way.”

  “A part of you will always be ours. You can feel it, so why resist?”

  Boroc clenched his fists. “I will defeat you.”

  “That’s it Boroc, we feel your anger and it brings us warmth.”

  Boroc’s could hear the blood pumping through his veins and see a dark vapour rising from his body, which was being pulled into the flame. They were feeding off of his anger, drawing the life-force from his body.

  He could see what was happening, but did he have the strength to stop it? Somehow he had to stop his surge of anger and as he thought about this, an image of a Lumsulu came into his mind. Boroc was sure that this was the one they called Qwamma and it was this Lumsulu that had assisted him once before.

  Boroc wasn’t sure how to explain what happened next, except that the flame in the centre of the room lost its smooth silkiness and became jagged. The voice in his head faltered and this all happened in a matter of seconds and the room returned to its normal state.

  Exhausted, Boroc slid down the wall and only after a good few minutes was he able to pick himself up again. Looking into the centre of the room, there was no evidence to suggest that anything out of the ordinary had occurred. Boroc knew what the Formless Ones were capable of and had he stepped into the flame, he would have been free of this place, but serving them again would only end badly.

  He was left wondering why they needed him when they already had a regenerating army of Squalvolvans. Maybe they would rather he was on their side and not helping the humans. The only good thing about the current arrangement was that when he closed his eyes, he slept and didn’t relive the same nightmare each night.

  He recalled their suggestion to him, the idea that all he needed to do was step into the flame and he would be free of this place. Would it have been that easy and if so, could there be a connection between the flame and the fires they’d encountered? If these fires were some sort of portal, then this might explain how the Squalvolvans were moving around so quickly.

  There was a sound above him and he looked up to see the light descending and this time there was a bundle beneath it. The food he’d been promised had finally arrived and he pulled it down towards him. He could have easily leapt for the rope, but they would have probably cut it rather than risk him making it to the top. No, he would have to bide his time.

  He was confident that his release was imminent because these humans wouldn’t survive the Squalvolvans without him.

  Boroc eyed the food suspiciously and despite his anger, he ate and within an hour the drugs had taken effect.

  Chapter Eleven

  Fugitives

  Another flash of lightning confirmed they hadn’t imagined the shadowy figures and they could see their torch beams criss-crossing the pebble
beach as if they were looking for something.

  It was obvious what they were looking for and just when they thought things couldn’t get any worse, the lighthouse beam stopped its normal pattern and was now focused on them.

  They turned and ran, but the lighthouse beam was tracking them and there wasn’t a lot they could do about it. The beach offered little in the way of cover and for the first time, it felt that even Laja was struggling to keep it together.

  They passed a couple of small boats and kept running until Laja spotted a larger vessel where they could escape the worst of the wind and get out of the spotlight. It was a fishing boat and the bright beam of light that was still on them, revealed a heavily barnacled hull, a mid-blue paint job and in bold script, the name, ‘Sea Sprite’. They huddled in the shadows and watched the light that had been tracking them, move off over the rolling waves and then back up the beach.

  “I guess they must have found the pickup,” said Clom.

  “It’s not the pickup we need to worry about, it’s ourselves,” said Joeum.

  Lim was still griping Miar’s diary. “Do you think they know about Miar’s cave?” asked Lim.

  “Perhaps,” said Laja thoughtfully.

  “Isn’t that where we should be heading?”

  “I think not and anyway the cave is up that way.” Laja nodded in the direction of the shadowy figures. Laja spied another boat off to their left. “Quickly, follow me.”

  The lighthouse beam was still searching for them and they were safely behind the next boat before it realised they’d broken cover. They had to keep moving and the whole experience reminded Joeum of a film he’d once seen, when a group of soldiers were escaping a prison camp and dodging a searchlight.

  There were only so many boats on the beach, but Laja reckoned they didn’t have long to wait,

  “Wait for what?”

  “Morning.”

  “What difference is that going to make?” asked Lim.

  Laja explained that the human race might be brainwashed, but there was only so much the Formless Ones could do outside of the norm and get away with. What was happening here now, may be witnessed by a few, but as always, the few would be ridiculed to a point that in the end, they would doubt what they had seen themselves.

  The wind was dropping even as Laja was explaining and it seemed that he might be right. They covered more of the beach and settled behind the bulk of another old fishing boat and hoped this would be their final resting place in this game of cat and mouse.

  The predawn light was breaking through the angry storm clouds and the lighthouse had resumed its regular duties.

  “Is that it? We did it,” said Clom.

  “Hardly,” said Joeum. “We survived the night that’s all.”

  “Are we heading to the sea cave now?” asked Lim.

  “No. I don’t think Miar was suggesting for us to go there.”

  “But she spoke so much about it. She could be held up in there waiting for us.”

  “I think that unlikely. Think about it logically. The cave was merely a place that worked for the Aquatics, so that they might make themselves known to Miar and to go there we would only be walking into a trap.”

  “So if Miar isn’t in the sea cave, where is she?”

  “If we can locate the portal, then I think we’ll find Miar.”

  The weather had calmed considerably. There was no sign of the shadowy figures and while they sat there waiting for sunrise, Laja wanted to take another look at what Miar had written. She spoke about taking David to a portal and if she was meeting him here in this village then it couldn’t be far away.

  “What are you looking for, Laja?” asked Clom.

  “A clue, of course.”

  “What about that dead policeman and all the activity along the beach? We are hardly going to be able to walk around freely,” said Joeum.

  “I don’t think we’re going to encounter much more in the way of resistance until we get close to our objective. It would cause too much disruption to the illusion that the people here, call life.”

  They sat there until the sun left the horizon and Laja stood up and surveyed the beach. There were signs that things were returning to normal, which included an elderly resident walking a dog and someone down near the surf, jogging. It was only them that looked a little out of place.

  “What do you think?” asked Joeum.

  “If we’re going to get anywhere near the portal, then we have to get this right and to do that, we need to blend in.”

  “Isn’t that why we’re all dressed up in Frank’s clothes,” said Clom.

  “I think we’re dressed for the wrong season.”

  Laja suggested that they head down to the water’s edge and make out they were a group of mad tourists, while he headed into town to see what he could pick up.

  “Role your trousers up and take those shirts off.”

  “It ain’t that warm,” complained Clom.

  “We’re meant to be mad tourists, remember?” said Lim.

  “Mad, not insane!”

  Laja didn’t hang around to hear more of Clom’s complaining and they watched him disappear towards the town centre. Lim unbuttoned his shirt, but kept it on and was walking towards the surf with Clom right behind him.

  “You aren’t really going in, are you?” asked Clom.

  “We’re meant to be blending in.”

  “Can you see anyone else making a fool of themselves?”

  “I don’t care what people think. If it keeps those Formless Ones off our backs.”

  “Lim’s right,” said Joeum. “So get those shoes off and start paddling.”

  Clom grumbled but did as he was told and the three of them braved the water together. The sun was shining, but it wasn’t radiating much warmth. It was still a bit early and they hoped Laja wasn’t going to be too long.

  A good half an hour went by before Laja reappeared and he was carrying a couple of shopping bags.

  Clom was shivering. “Are you satisfied? Do we look mad enough to you?”

  “Yes, quite mad,” replied Laja and he took a large beach towel out of one of the bags and handed it to Clom.

  “There’s footwear and clothes in the other bag,” said Laja.

  They dried themselves and started rummaging through the bags.

  “What are these?” asked Clom.

  “Trainers,” replied Joeum. “Used to have a pair, years ago,” he said, enthusiastically.

  Seeing them again brought back some fond memories and together they escaped Frank’s hand-me-downs and put on their new kit.

  “People actually wear this stuff?” complained Clom.

  It was unlikely that they were going to need Frank’s old clothes again, but they held onto them away and felt ready to head into town. They may have been dressed for the season now, but they were still feeling nervous about meeting anyone, since the last person they’d spoken to had dropped dead in front of them. They tried to look casual, seeing that they weren’t the only ones using the path. More dog walkers and people running. Why was everyone running? Laja explained that it was a fitness thing and apparently it was very popular. No kidding. Up ahead, a dog and its owner were headed their way and looked set to be their first encounter of the day, but they were overtaken by a jogger who passed them and nodded, good morning.

  The dog owner was having trouble holding onto the dog, as it was really pulling on its leash and seemed eager to reach them. They could hear it panting and when it was only a few metres away, it barked, making Clom jump.

  “Don’t worry he won’t bite you, he’s all talk and no action,” said the young woman.

  “What is it?” asked Clom.

  The young woman looked a bit surprised and then laughed. “Oh, he’s a Yorkshire terrier, his name is Skip.”

  Skip seemed in a hurry to get somewhere and dragged its owner off down the path.

  “Weird,” said Clom.

  There was a sign up ahead, pointing off to their right. The
sign said, ‘crazy golf’.

  “That sounds a bit crazy,” laughed Clom. “Are you sure this place is for real?”

  “You haven’t heard the best bit,” said Laja.

  “Oh, and what’s that?”

  “I’d like you and Joeum to remain here and play crazy golf.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “I am. As I’ve already said, I want us to blend in and that will mean splitting up for a while.”

  They waited together until the little hut beside the course opened up. Joeum and Clom were given their putters and balls, while Laja bought some hot drinks. The drink was hot through the paper cup and Lim took a careful sip of the dark liquid.

  “Wow what is this stuff?” he asked, a little loud and excitedly.

  Lim’s reaction raised the eyebrows of the man in the hut and Clom smiled.

  Still smiling. “We’re meant to be blending in don’t forget. We don’t want people thinking were aliens or something.”

  “That will do, Clom,” said Joeum. “It’s hot chocolate.”

  “This is hot chocolate? It’s Miar’s favourite,” Lim took another sip.

  “Keep your voice down.”

  Laja gave Joeum some money in case they needed to buy anything else and they parted ways and arranged to regroup in about an hour.

  It wasn’t long before Laja and Lim came to their first shop and Lim was surprised at the vibrancy of the items on sale. You didn’t even have to go inside the shop, as there was so much on display outside and what a display it was. Inflatable items hung in abundance, along with clothing and brightly coloured beach towels. In fact, everything you could possibly want for a day on the beach.

  The inside of the shop was just as colourful. It was crammed with stuff and Lim didn’t know what to look at first. He could have been in here all day but could see Laja was at the till. He purchased a few additional items, a few baseball caps, and some cheap shades.

  Once outside, Laja robbed another bank, courtesy of the hole in the wall. They then entered another shop selling almost identical items to the one they’d just left. Lim browsed and was drawn to a swivel stand full of colourful photos.