by Hoover, Gary
After running for a while at that near-sprint, he looked over his shoulder and could no longer see the wulferger. At that point, he turned back toward his friends.
I probably can’t keep this pace up the whole way, but I’ll go for a while more and then slow back down. Will he come back to where Nahima and Dave are? Probably. I’m only buying a little bit of time with this.
After running for what seemed a longer distance than he remembered, he saw Nahima’s car coming into view, and he could see Dave and Nahima a little beyond that.
He arrived out of breath. Nahima looked at him with a curious expression. He plopped down beside Dave, who was still asleep. “I don’t know if I did anything. He’ll probably be back soon.”
Nahima nodded, disappointed but not particularly surprised. “Just getting away in one piece is a victory,” she said.
Jeff smiled. He didn’t feel much better, but he appreciated her effort.
Then they heard a loud voice coming from the compound. “If you think you can prevent Dave from plooching on the floor, you can come in.”
Chapter 25:
The three walked tentatively toward the imposing log structure. When they were within a few feet, a hinged section opened enough to allow them to walk through. A small group of women met them there. They were dressed in simple but nicely crafted natural leather clothing – similar to those worn by the woman Dave and Jeff had encountered at Codi’s apartment.
Jeff spotted her in the group, and she smiled at him with a subtle expression that he couldn’t quite read. He felt his face flush.
A tall and strikingly beautiful woman with long, thick jet-black hair stepped forward to great them. “I’m Trina,” she said looking from Nahima to Jeff but not looking at Dave who had an uncomfortable expression and wasn’t taking his eyes off his feet. “This is Christy.” She gestured toward the woman who had kicked Jeff at Codi’s apartment. “Ceri, Jacqueline, Cathy, Danielle and Annarita,” she said pointing at each of the women as she introduced them.
Each nodded when Trina introduced them but were generally expressionless. Jeff was disappointed that Codi wasn’t with them.
“I decided to meet with you for two reasons,” Trina explained while looking directly at Jeff. “First, I was impressed with your effort to dispense with the wulferger while not hurting it, and second, we may need some help with an important task we need to deal with. Your… unique abilities may be the difference between failure and success.”
“We don’t have much time… ” Jeff began, but Trina cut him off.
“Neither do we,” she said tersely and abruptly, but then her face softened. “We have food. If you can take some time to sit with us, we can let you know what we need. It will be your decision then if you want to help us… or slink away like cowards.” She looked directly at Dave when she said the last bit.
Jeff looked at Nahima and Dave, but neither gave him any hints regarding their thoughts. He was tempted to ask about Codi directly but decided it might be better to let things play out. I need to find Codi and the locket, but if this is a dead end, I don’t want to waste time on somebody else’s crusade instead of beginning the journey to confront Pheerion Rex. It’s worth at least a little more time to try to find out what they know.
“Sure, we’ll hear you out. And there may be some ways you can help us as well.”
Chapter 26:
Trina had gone off to do something and left Cathy in charge. Cathy appeared to be in her mid-forties, older than most of the other women. She had a large frame and projected an odd combination of power and voluptuousness.
Jeff noticed that all of the women had large swords strapped to their backs with the hilts rising above their shoulders so they could be drawn quickly. Each also had a large hunting knife strapped to their hip. Trina had been the only one with a modern weapon.
“I want your absolute word that you won’t attempt any acts against any of our group. Can you assure me of that?” Cathy asked brusquely.
“Yes,” Jeff said as Nahima and Dave nodded.
“You won’t leave here alive if you do,” she added humorlessly then began walking. Jeff, Nahima and Dave followed.
A few women split of in other directions, but the main body headed into the center of the compound past a number of small, simple log structures.
Jeff tensed as a panther-like cat appeared from between two of the buildings. Many in the group noticed it but didn’t react. Jeff, Dave and Nahima looked at one another nervously but tried not to overreact.
It wasn’t running at full speed but rather was trotting along at a brisk jog. It had a mottled coat with various shades of brown, tan and black but otherwise looked very similar in size and shape to a panther or jaguar.
Annarita made a slight movement with her hand, and the animal came to a dead stop. She made another gesture and it continued more slowly toward the group and her specifically. It joined her at her side and rubbed its head against her leg as they walked. She reached down and patted it on its neck.
Cathy led them into a cabin that featured a long table with twenty chairs and nearly nothing else. The chairs had irregular organic lines. There were large candles in holders every few feet around the room, but none of them were lit. There was enough light coming through the large, glassless openings in the walls to illuminate the room.
“Do you eat bird flesh?” Danielle asked the visitors with a sneering expression.
The general unpleasantness of her manner left Jeff wondering if it was a simple question to help determine a menu or more of a challenge or test. He thought ‘yes’ might be a wrong answer, but he also didn’t want to lie or be difficult if that’s what they were planning to serve.
He looked at Nahima who shot him a slightly annoyed brief glare in response to his non-verbal buck-passing.
“I do,” she said and then looked at Jeff.
Jeff would have hoped she would have spoken for all of them, but he felt more comfortable after she had made the first move. “I’m okay with it,” he said shrugging – trying to project an image of nonchalance.”
“I love all kinds of flesh, heh, heh, heh,” Dave said with a lecherous leer directed toward Danielle.
Jeff and Nahima cringed with absolute horror. The others simply glared. Danielle’s glare was so intense Jeff half-expected lasers to shoot out and reduce Dave to cinders.
Rather than anything so dramatic, she simply turned and walked away leaving Jeff, Dave and Nahima with Cathy, Jacqueline, Annarita… and Annarita’s panther, which purred loudly at her side.
The two groups took seats at opposite sides of the long table, and there was a very noticeable and uncomfortable sustained silence.
Jeff shifted in his chair and fidgeted. He had a feeling that almost any topic of conversation he could imagine might just lead to ugliness. He wanted to know what they knew about Codi – but was following Nahima’s advice and waiting for a better time to ask.
They actually seem like an interesting group. I’d love to know more about them, but I feel like any simple question could be interpreted as an insult.
Cathy drummed a finger slowly on the table every two or three seconds, tap… tap… tap.
Jeff looked at Nahima and Dave. The lack of conversation was driving him crazy, and he hoped someone else would take the lead.
Actually, if Dave starts something, it could lead to disaster.
Tap… tap… tap…
“You mentioned you would like some help,” Jeff said. “Can you tell us what you need?”
Cathy looked at Jacqueline and Annarita. She thought for several moments before speaking, but at least she stopped the tapping during that period. “I think we’d better wait for Trina to get back before we get into that. It’s… complicated.”
That ended the conversation for several more long minutes.
The only sounds were the panther’s purring and Cathy’s tapping until…
An extremely loud rolling, rumbling, gurgling sound came from Dave’s bel
ly.
“Are we going to eat soon or what?” he asked. “I’m so hungry I could eat a strethdayer’s back-end.”
Chapter 27:
After more than thirty painfully awkward minutes, food began arriving – delivered by the group members who had drifted away earlier.
The plates and utensils were a mismatched, odd collection of metal, ceramic and plastic bits and pieces that appeared to be scavenged junk.
Is it sexist… or just ignorant that I was expecting some sort of more elegant and organic presentation?
Ceri dropped a small plastic bowl and metal fork in front of him. There were a few slices of pink root-vegetables, some green stems and a chunk of meat that looked like a slice of turkey breast in the bowl.
“This is it?!” Dave asked. “This wasn’t worth waiting for. I’ve got more food than this in my fat folds just from things that have gotten trapped over the past few days.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Cathy replied with a sour expression.
Dave sighed in frustration as nearly everyone else in the room glared at him with varying levels of displeasure.
Jeff noticed no one else was eating, and there were two plates in front of empty chairs as the servers took their seats.
That didn’t bother Dave though as he stabbed a fork into his meat and popped the whole piece in his mouth. It was small but far too large for anyone to eat in one bite.
Dave grinned as he chewed, but Jeff saw a strained expression grow as he realized it was bigger and drier than he had anticipated. He managed to swallow and then grinned again, but it was clear he was only entertaining himself. The others had expressions that varied from disgusted to disinterested, but Jeff didn’t see any that appeared amused.
Trina entered the cabin, and Dave’s grin disappeared immediately. She nodded a general greeting, but didn’t speak as she sat at one of the empty seats.
Jeff wondered if they would wait for the other absent person. He counted those present and realized everyone they had met was already there. The last plate must be for someone we haven’t met. Or maybe it’s ceremonial.
Trina began eating and everybody else followed her lead. Jeff took a bite of one of his vegetables – bland – then some of the meat – bland and dry. He found himself glad that he didn’t have more of it.
Trina looked Jeff in the eye. He paused expectantly, but she was chewing and didn’t speak immediately.
“You’re probably curious about why we need you,” she finally said and then took another bite.
Jeff nodded.
Again, she looked directly at him while she chewed.
Jeff tried to maintain a polite smile but found himself becoming increasingly annoyed that she seemed more interested in her food, which he found easy to ignore, than in explaining what she needed.
“We had something taken from us, something very precious,” she said and then took another bite.
Jeff was sure she was doing it intentionally, but he didn’t know why. He tried to control his frustration.
“Actually it’s much worse than that. After they took it, they claimed they would give it back if we helped them with something. One of our members went to great lengths…” She looked at him very pointedly and actually seemed to have lost interest in her food for the moment. “Great lengths to help them, but after she did… they refused to give back what they had stolen.” She went back to her food.
“So do you want me to help you punish them, or get it back or both?” Jeff asked.
Trina smiled. “I think a little of both would be nice… but it’s not going to be easy. They are in a well-protected cliff dwelling, but we can fill you in on those details later. Right now, I think there are some other elements of this situation we need to discuss.” Trina made a gesture toward the door, and a figure appeared.
The sun shone from behind and that made the person difficult to see, but as she moved from the doorway into the cabin, Jeff could see her more clearly.
Codi!
Chapter 28:
Nahima’s hand snapped to her gun.
“Wait! We need to talk to her,” Jeff said quietly but forcefully. As he spoke, he rested a hand on her gun arm – prepared to apply physical force if his words weren’t enough.
Not only did he desperately want to hear what Codi had to say, but also they were outnumbered and likely wouldn’t fare well if things got violent.
Codi looked directly at Nahima and opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Tears welled in her eyes, and she struggled to maintain composure.
“I’m sorry,” she finally said in a wavering voice. “I can’t express how sorry I am.” She wiped away tears and tried to regain her composure before continuing.
“He took my baby. Duanan took my baby. He told me I could have him back if I helped him. When I found out about the locket, I took it to his sister, Lucreeza, as he demanded, but when I gave it to her, she refused to give me my Berwin.” At that point, she completely broke down and sobbed uncontrollably.
Trina jumped up from her seat and wrapped an arm around Codi. As she did so, she glared at Dave. Jeff almost felt the urge to laugh. It seemed Trina blamed Dave for anything that had ever gone wrong or potentially could. Dave just sat there with a confused, ‘what did I do?’ expression.
Trina walked Codi to the empty seat, then went back to her own.
Nahima was looking at Codi, but Jeff couldn’t read her face. She didn’t appear particularly sympathetic but wasn’t overtly angry either.
Codi wouldn’t meet Nahima’s eyes. She stared fixedly at her plate with her lips quivering slightly.
“Lucreeza has a fortress carved into a cliff wall,” Trina said. “The only way in is to fly or climb the steep cliff. If anyone enters without clearance, robotic guns will open fire, and as those guns are firing, the twenty mercenaries that guard the fortress will rush to the entrance. They’re highly trained and well-armed.”
“So Lucreeza has the locket?” Jeff asked. He looked from Trina to Codi, and both nodded.
Nobody spoke as the guests ran that through their heads, and the others watched their expressions expectantly.
Then Dave began to laugh. He looked at Jeff with a huge grin. “How do you get yourself into these things? Heh, heh, heh.”
Chapter 29:
They were traveling on an overgrown path through the forest in a large, open ATV. There were two seats in the front and a large area behind that – like an oversized pick-up truck bed with bench seats ringing the area. It rolled on six huge off-road tires.
While lower-tech than many of the vehicles Jeff had seen, it was better than he expected. The group had seemed so technologically averse that he half expected they’d be travelling in horse-drawn vehicles or some variation. They had been going for about thirty minutes, and Trina had assured them it would be a short trip.
There was more than enough space for the small group in the cargo area.
Nobody spoke.
Jeff scanned the faces. Some appeared scared, others bored. Some appeared scared while feigning boredom.
I don’t feel scared. Why don’t I feel scared?
Is it because of my powers? That’s part of it, but that’s not the real reason. I feel more… frustrated? Desperate?
Trapped!
I feel like no matter what I do, there’s no end. Complete one challenge and there’s another one right behind it.
There’s not a feeling of working toward some great thing but rather just trying not to have bad things happen. I’m desperate to get the locket but not because it would be a great thing. If I don’t get it, it could be a terrible thing. In the hands of Pheerion Rex, it could be a dreadful weapon.
I’m not ‘scared’ in a traditional sense because fear is personal. Concern about personal injury or death.
Death would be an end… an escape.
Not my preferred option at this point but better than a Sisyphus-like existence.
Wait a minute. There is a positive to this. We’re
trying to save a kid… right?
No. That sounds good, but I’m lying to myself if I tell myself that’s why I’m here. The locket is my white whale. That’s why I’m here.
Sure, I want to save the kid, but if the locket wasn’t possibly there also, would I even be going?
Jeff exhaled and tried to clear his mind of such thoughts.
A large shadow crossed the vehicle, and Jeff looked up to see a black bird of prey, the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, disappear beyond some trees. Why are we in an open vehicle?
Across from him, Dave was fast asleep and drooling. Some in the group looked at him with complete disgust. Jeff looked at Nahima, and she just shook her head in response.
Wait a minute. Why am I losing sight of the real goal here? I’m trying to find my father. I’m not sure what exactly will happen then, but I have a feeling everything will be all right if I can just find him.
Jeff tried to lock his mind on that positive thought.
Chapter 30:
Trina brought them to a stop at the edge of a clearing. She signaled for the others to get out and follow her. She pointed to a huge cliff in the distance without saying anything.
Jeff took his magnifying viewer from the pouch on his belt and focused on the area at which Trina had pointed.
He could see what looked like a cave high on the sheer cliff, but it was much too regularly shaped to be a natural formation. It had a flat bottom and arched top – like a letter ‘D’ that had been rotated so the flat edge was on the bottom. It was 300 feet above the ground and 200 feet below the top of the enormous cliff.
“I just want to give you a look from here,” Trina explained. “We’ll go up above and climb down.”
“What’s that?” Jeff asked, pointing to a vehicle approaching from their right. He used his viewer to focus on it and saw it was a simple, flying vehicle similar to his jump-scoot… and a pheerion is riding it!