A look of panic passed over Benedict’s avian features, but Levi nodded to him reassuringly.
A small form, its colors muted in the deep twilight, passed through the opening and into the alley. Natividad froze upon seeing Benedict. The two birds stood upon the cracked asphalt staring at each other.
“Benedict,” Natividad finally said, “I am so glad to see you.”
The two Parrots moved together and rubbed their beaks and the sides of their faces against each other.
“I am sorry, Natividad,” Benedict murmured. “I am so sorry.”
“I am just glad you are alive,” Natividad responded.
“Why the big scene?” Yoda asked in a low whisper. “I mean you already told the little fellow that Benedict was alive.”
“For birds, seeing is literally believing,” Levi explained.
“Levi is correct,” Natividad agreed, stepping back from his once-lost friend and toward the three dogs. “I wanted to believe what Levi had told us, but…”
“But the word of a Raptor cannot be turned by that of a mere dog?” Levi suggested. “A groundling?”
Natividad did not reply, merely nodded.
Yoda snorted in derision.
“What about the others?” Levi asked without any trace of rancor or recrimination in his voice. “What about Christobal?”
“Christobal always believed, even before you came to us, but that is because he believes with his heart,” Natividad explained. “Even the iron words of a Raptor cannot break the bonds of the heart, but Christobal is very old.”
“He told the others?” Levi asked.
“Yes, he did,” Natividad confirmed.
“And?”
Natividad shook his head. “He told them quietly, softly, so nothing of it would reach the ears of the Raptors. They all wanted to believe – just as I wanted to – but, well, when Raptors speak, we must listen.”
Yoda started to make some sharp retort about ‘bird brains’ but Levi cut him short.
“I thought as much might be true, Natividad,” Levi said. “That is why it was important Benedict accompany us tonight.”
“I was here last night too,” Natividad said.
“Yeah, we…” Yoda started to explain with gusto.
“We had another situation arise,” Levi cut in, “else we would have done this then.”
“Do you know yet how you will free us from the Birds of Prey?” Natividad asked.
Levi shook his head. “One step at a time.”
“And this is that first step?” Natividad asked.
“Before we can break the bonds that hold your tribe in thrall, we must weaken them,” Levi explained. “As I told Benedict before we came here, the reason why the Raptors’ hold upon you is so strong is because you feel they are better than you, more powerful than you, better birds than are you.”
“But they are more powerful,” Natividad protested.
“They are only six and there are dozens of you,” Levi pointed out. “And yet none of you ever fought back.”
“Benedict did,” Natividad countered.
Benedict moved his friend’s side and leaned gently against him. “No, I did not fight…I merely ran away. I was…I was a coward.”
“Benedict could not overcome his basic instincts which told him the Raptors were above all of you, that all of you were naturally below the Raptors,” Levi explained. “It is that deeply ingrained sense of inferiority that feeds the fear you feel, and it is that fear which forges so strongly the chains all of you wear.”
“Chains?” Yoda whispered to Sunny.
“The chains are a metaphor,” Sunny whispered back.
“I hate metaphors.”
“That is why Benedict accompanied us,” Levi said. “So the other Parrots can see for themselves that the Raptors lied, that the Raptors are not the demigods they have set themselves up to be. By seeing Benedict they will know their enslavers have talons of clay.”
“More metaphors?” Yoda sighed into Sunny’s ear.
The Golden Retriever nodded.
The Pomeranian sighed again.
“But how can we do that?” Natividad questioned. “They cannot fly out of the aerie, nor could I possibly lead them all down the way I came – the Raptors would surely notice and the way is not safe because of the weakness of the wooden struts I passed.”
“We’re going up,” Levi announced.
Benedict backed away. “No, I…”
“No, no, it is impossible,” Natividad protested. “The Raptors will see us.”
“They are not all here at the moment,” Levi explained. “At least two, perhaps more, are on guard around our house because they think Benedict is still inside and are awaiting a chance to assassinate him. The ones remaining here will be stretched thin trying to keep watch on everyone.”
“But Benedict might be noticed,” Natividad said.
“Will any of the Parrots give him away if they see him?” Levi asked.
Natividad considered the situation for a moment, then said: “No, none of them would do that. Some resent Benedict abandoning us as he did, but none would betray him to the Birds of Prey, no matter how great their fear.”
Levi looked to Benedict.
The little Parrot trembled as he thought of once again entering the lair of the Birds of Prey, but he stepped forward.
Levi nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Yoda and Sunny.
“We don’t like it anymore this time than we did last time,” Sunny said.
“Aside from those loony Raptors, you told us yourself that the place is falling apart,” Yoda added. “What if that stage collapses? If you weren’t crushed like a bug, how would you get out.”
“There’s no use fretting about it,” Levi said. “The Parrots need to see Benedict with their own eyes, and this is the only way to do it.”
Neither dog was pleased with Levi’s decision, but they knew he was right. Being right – at least most of the time – was one of the Dachshund-mix’s more infuriating traits.
“As before, I need the two of you to keep watch,” Levi said. “Yoda, if you see any Raptors leaving the aerie, run a short distance down the alley and bark; Sunny, if you see any of those watchers return to the aerie you do the same.”
“But…” they started to protest.
“The Raptors will not think twice about hearing a dog bark in the night,” Levi explained, “but I will recognize your voices.”
“All right then,” Sunny agreed grudgingly. “Just go in, show Benedict around, then come right back out – no swashbuckling, no heroics of any kind.”
Levi grinned. “You know me.”
“All too well, old friend,” Sunny replied without the slightest trace of a smile. “That’s why I’m warning you.”
“Heard and understood,” Levi acknowledged.
Sunny looked doubtful, and Yoda did his best to put a stern glare on his little foxy face.
Levi turned to the birds. “Let’s do it.”
And the trio vanished into the stygian theater.
Chapter Eighteen
As Levi’s eyes adjusted to the gloom, he frowned at the state of the wooden supports under the stage. When the theater had closed for good all maintenance had stopped, but, beyond that, mold, water seepage and malicious insects had done irreparable harm. Early on, Levi had come to the conclusion that the Vogue Theatre would likely never reopen, despite all promises, but now he wondered how much longer it would stand.
As they left the groaning and creaking struts behind, the two Parrots fluttered up to the top edge of one of the seats along the aisle. As Levi made his way up the shadowy passage, they leaped into the gloom and alighted upon chair after chair. At the lobby entrance they joined Levi on the ground.
“No one noticed you sneak away?” Levi asked.
“No, Christobal is telling stories,” Natividad said. “He often does that when twilight settles upon us.”
“I’m surprised Ripper allows it,” Levi said.
“He holds Christobal in disdain for clinging to the past, but he allows it because it keeps everyone calm,” Natividad explained.
“Old stories,” Benedict murmured. “But they are just stories.”
“You never have understood, Benedict,” Natividad said. “That has always been a problem with you. One day, the responsibility of telling the old stories will fall to you.”
Benedict shook his head. “Stories have no value, accomplish no purpose other than to make us yearn for what we cannot have, what we will never have.”
“The storyteller must believe, so that we can all believe.”
“Let’s go on up,” Levi said. “Once we start up those stairs, no talking. Understand?”
Both Parrots indicated they did.
Levi squeezed through the opening in the door, then mounted the stairs on stealthy paws. He oozed into the projection room, followed closely by the two birds. The red diode still emitted a baleful glare, and Levi shivered as he recalled the blood from the night before. They paused beneath the passage which led into the aerie.
Levi sniffed the black air but for once there was little his marvelous nose could tell him. The spaces beyond were heavy with the scents of Parrots and Raptors but that was to be expected; what was not expected, however, was the faint whiff of fish, indicating the likelihood of a visitation by an Osprey, whose viande du jour usually came from the sea. But this trace scent was very slight, an indication that it either came from Ripper’s presence a couple of days earlier or that he was some distance from the opening. Either way, it was not a sign of immediate danger.
Levi leaped silently into the opening, careful to make sure his tags did not clink against each other. He was joined by the Parrots who made only faint whispery sounds as they fluttered their wings. The trio started down the passage into the aerie.
The darkness lightened, but just a bit, as they came to the upper section of the theater where the Parrots roosted, the last gleaming of dusk filtering in through the opening in the ceiling and mixing with the stray glare of a faraway streetlamp.
Christobal’s rich voice floated through the dusty air, the words flowing with the fluency and easy rhythm that accompanies an oft-told tale. Following the voice, Levi saw the Parrots ranged about their leader, perched upon beams, crates and other items of storage that had found their way into oblivion over the last five decades. The birds seemed deeper shade amongst the already deep shadows; many of them leaned close to each other, as if sharing a gentle remembrance.
After a few minutes the last words trailed into silence and the gathering began to break up. Levi did not see any of the Raptors about but he did not find that surprising – the Birds of Prey might be confident in the continual self-enslavement of the Parrots, but they would not place themselves in a position where their captives could be tempted to fight back. Levi knew from experience that even a whipped cur would bite if fear could be overwhelmed by opportunity and desperation.
Levi eased down from the opening walking cautiously among the curious Parrots. They started to murmur at the singular sight of a dog in their aerie but they were instantly and covertly silenced by Natividad and Levi’s own whispered warnings. Seeing two of their own kind with the Dachshund-mix helped greatly to soothe any nervousness they felt.
Then they recognized the second Parrot, the one who stood closest to the dog, his head carried low.
“Benedict,” someone breathed.
The young Parrot’s name was whispered so softly by the flock that it seemed nothing more than a sigh, a gentle evening breeze that rose and fell like shallow breaths.
Even though the birds all wanted to assure themselves of the return of the prodigal Parrot, they also knew it was important to not create a situation that would be investigated by the Birds of Prey. Accordingly, they moved in just far enough, just long enough to see the truth, then moved back to their roosts.
Christobal and a few of the tribe’s elders stayed close.
“As I told all of you, and now you see for yourselves, Ripper lied to us about Benedict,” Christobal said softly. “Here is Benedict, just as I said.”
“The Birds of Prey are not what you think,” Levi told the leaders of the tribe. He had not intended so long a stay, just long enough to get in and get out; nor had he planned any communication with the Parrots, but this was an opportunity he could not let escape. “The Raptors have no power over you but what you give them.”
“Why should we listen to you?” one of the Parrots demanded. “You are a dog, a groundling. You have no right to speak ill of birds that can soar so high, who have talons that make our own seem crude and clumsy in comparison.”
“Yes, you must not disparage those sent to rule us,” another bird agreed. “They are cruel and bring pain, but they are our masters.”
“You have no right to speak here, groundling!” a third Parrot claimed, her voice a bit louder than the others.
“Silence!” Christobal commanded, and though his voice never rose above a whisper it struck to each bird’s heart, commanding respect and obedience. “He has every right to speak to us here in our home for he is the emissary of Quetzalcoatl.”
A shocked silence fell upon the assembled.
“Long have we prayed to the Great Spirit for deliverance from our enslavement,” Christobal continued. “Levi has been sent to help us.”
“But…a dog?” someone whispered.
“The Great Spirit of the Sky moves in ways we cannot hope to understand,” the old leader said. “We have known for a long time that the evil represented by Ripper and his Birds of Prey are a force we cannot fight on our own. Because of that sense of defeat we make excuses why we do not fight them; from those excuses, it is but a short hop to rationalizing that we should not fight them. Levi has been sent by Quetzalcoatl to prove to us that we can fight them.”
“But, Christobal, it is futile to resist,” an old Parrot murmured in a voice tremulous and weak. “It is always futile to resist.”
“No,” Levi said in a gently confident tone. “Resistance is never futile.”
The little Dachshund-mix saw the gaze of every Parrot trained upon him, even those who had previously spoken against him. It was not about him, he knew, but his words. All the Parrots’ lives, both young and old, in all their years of solitude and seclusion, in their decades of exile in this dry and sere land far from the lush jungles of their ancestors, they had never before heard anyone utter words of hope, to tell them this life was not their fate.
“Resistance is never futile,” he repeated. “The Birds of Prey know this is true, and that is why they lied to you about Benedict. Ripper lied because he fears you. Only with lies can he hope to keep you in line, submissive, enslaved. You see for yourselves that your friend is alive; your own eyes exposes Ripper’s lie, but that is not the biggest lie.” He looked about, made sure the gaze of every twilit bird was focused on him. “The biggest lie is the one you tell yourselves, that the Birds of Prey are better than you, that you are inferior. If that were true why would they have to lie to you?”
The elder Parrot who had previously challenged Levi stepped forward and demanded: “Tell us, dog, are you truly sent by Quetzalcoatl, great spirit of the sky, as Christobal claims?”
“I have no idea,” Levi admitted. “All I know is that when your friend fled this place and the terror of the Raptors, he could have ended up anywhere in Chula Vista, or Gyre’s talons could have ripped his flesh. He didn’t, though. Guided by a spirit’s wing or aided by dumb luck, he happened to find his way to me and my friends, to the home of perhaps the only animals who could, and would, defend him against the predations of the Hawk sent to kill him, who would care for him and give him sanctuary even though it meant putting into peril our own lives and those around us. If you believe those situations and events can happen without intervention by some higher power, whether you want to call it Quetzalcoatl, as you birds do, or Anubis, as is the way of dogs, then you are welcome to that disbelief. As for me,
I find it much easier to believe that nothing happens without a purpose.”
The questioning Parrot backed away, silent, his head low.
“You are our savior,” another Parrot said in rapturous wonder.
Levi sighed and shook his head. “I am not your savior. I am just a dog, just a dog who wants to help.”
The silence of the night was broken by the abrupt sound of barking. Levi stiffened, cocked his head and listened intently.
Sunny was barking furiously.
And Yoda was yapping for all he was worth.
Both dogs were barking their warnings.
The roar and whoosh of flapping wings sounded at the open space in the roof, two Hawks and an Osprey swooping in from out the darkness from the sides. Levi realized with an almost-physical shock that the three Raptors had been very close the whole time, their scents all but lost in the thick avian atmosphere. Moments after the deadly trio revealed themselves, two other Hawks, the ones who had stood sentinel over the house on Fifth Avenue, soared from out the purple night, alighting on jagged beams. Together, they blocked any possible hope for the Parrots to escape the aerie. Leaving his soldiers to guard the exit, Ripper spread his wings and descended, the smaller birds scrambling to get out of his way, terrified of beak and talons; he came to rest atop an old steamer trunk, glaring down at Levi.
The Parrots who had been near Levi backed quickly away, all but Benedict, Christobal and Natividad.
“So, the cowardly Parrot returns to his death,” Ripper drawled with glee. “And he brought his little doggie friend. Fish is my usual forte, Levi, but for you I will make an exception…and I’m sure my soldiers will enjoy immensely tearing the flesh from your bones. Even if not to their taste, it sill still be…yes, a very teachable moment.”
Levi glanced to the Hawks guarding the way out, saw that Vortex, Swoop and Clutch refused to look at him. All three knew they would not be alive now had Levi not extended to them a mercy they had never afforded anyone else, a mercy they had not deserved. Levi believed the quality of mercy was never strained, but, at the moment, it looked as if he would pay a price for that belief.
A Flight of Raptors (Paws & Claws Book 2) Page 16