by West, Shay
What is happening?
Forka took a place at the end of the line and threw buckets of water on the bunkhouse, sweat dripping from his body as the heat from the fire intensified.
“It’s no use. It’s too big,” Robert said as he gulped air into his lungs.
Forka ordered everyone to step back. They stood and watched the building burn, the walls crumbling, sending sparks flying toward the sky.
“Wait, you can’t go! It’s what they want!”
Forka turned to see a woman grabbing the arm of a young man who was desperately trying to leave.
“Where do you think you’re going, Protector?” Forka asked, throwing as much sarcasm into the last word as he could.
“I don’t have to answer to you.”
“I’m your General, young man.”
“You’re not my General. We haven’t had one of those since the last time you left.”
Forka ignored the insult. “Why are you abandoning your post?”
“I’m tired of fighting, that’s why. Every day it’s the same thing. The enemy comes in, burns some buildings, takes some food. They come in small groups, never attacking in the same place, just coming and going so quickly that we can’t keep up.”
“Wait, did you say ‘every day’?”
“Yeah, every day.”
“How is that possible? Even at their worst, the enemy never attacked more than a few times a month.”
“Well, they attack all the time now, and I don’t want to do this anymore.”
“Where will you go? You’re worse off by yourself than with the other Protectors.”
The young man barked laughter. “You come back here after being gone for who knows how many years and you think you can just order everyone around? You don’t know what it’s been like.”
“It can’t be that different. You chose to be a Protector. You don’t get to turn your back on your duty just because of one little fight.”
“Why not? It’s not like I’m the first.”
“What do you mean you’re not the first?” Forka asked slowly, a knot forming in his stomach.
“I’ve lost count of the other Protectors who have left. You wanna know the worst part? They end up joining the enemy. I bet some of the defectors were the ones that attacked us today.”
Forka shook his head. “That’s not possible. The Protectors I knew would rather die than join the enemy.”
“Times have changed. No one wants to work day in and day out with nothing to show for it,” the young man said as he walked away.
Forka let the Protector leave, too stunned to stop him.
“He’s right, you know.”
He turned to face Mistress Foster. Her hair had come undone from its accustomed braid and stuck to her sweaty face.
“What’s happened here?” he asked, uncertain that he wanted to hear the answer.
“When you left the last time, people sort of gave up on that ideal life. No one was here to do the weekly sermons that filled the Jhinn with hope, and you took the best fighters with you. The enemy joined forces and outnumbered us. Life just got too hard.”
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” Forka turned from her, unable to meet her eyes.
It’s all my fault.
He spoke to several others in the camp and got the same story. The combined forces of the Horde and the Cowboys had been too much for the Jhinn and their dwindling Protectors to handle.
“What I don’t understand is why they wouldn’t just destroy the Jhinn. These attacks seem more like they are toying with them,” Forka said to Robert.
“Don’t you see? If they kill all of the Jhinn, they lose their source of food and entertainment.”
“So the Jhinn are doomed to live a life of torment?”
“If the stories are accurate, most of the Jhinn will end up joining forces with the enemy.”
Forka growled. “We have to do something. Whip these Protectors into shape. They can’t simply run at the slightest hint of trouble.”
“I suppose I could hold a sermon later today. Perhaps hearing the Good Word will give them a sense of hope.”
“I think it’s going to take more than that, my friend. The Jhinn can’t fight the Horde and the Cowboys and the Mekans. But I have a plan to take care of the Horde and the Cowboys once and for all.”
EARTH
“YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND, SIR.”
Forka grinned at Robert. The two, along with the Kromin, were making their way through the thick forest of the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
“At least we have a plan. And your sermon was exactly what the people needed.”
“Do you really think it helped? So few even came to the service.”
“But those who did will spread the word. The people left with smiles. I have a feeling they haven’t had much to smile about lately.”
“Are you really sure this is going to work?”
“No. But what else can we do? Everyone on this planet will be killed unless we do something. I can’t just sit by and let the Jhinn be destroyed by the Horde and the Cowboys when we may be able to help.”
“I still say we should have brought more men,” Robert said.
“This is a covert mission. It will be easier with just the three of us.”
As they traveled, Forka reflected back on the past few days they had spent with the Jhinn. After hearing about the dire circumstances the Jhinn camp faced, Forka had gone forward with the plan to tell them the truth about everything. He had hoped the news would bring them together, give them something to rally behind, keep them from running to the enemy.
It hadn’t worked exactly as planned. All but a handful of Protectors had left the encampment, refusing to believe the ludicrous story he had told them. Many of the Jhinn had also left the encampment soon after Forka had told them about the Mekans, most hoping they could make it to another settlement far away from the Horde and the Cowboys, there to live their lives in peace.
Robert had wanted to take the remaining Jhinn to the portal to prove that the story was true, but Forka had refused. Putting his plan into motion was more important than ever.
--We are getting close--
Forka stopped his horse. He reached down and patted her neck, smiling as she tossed her head much as her momma used to do.
“So what are you going to call her?” Robert asked.
“You know better than that. This time I really mean to keep this one nameless.”
Forka led them deeper into the woods and found a sheltered area to set up camp. He hobbled his new mare and untied his pack from the saddle. Robert gathered wood for a small fire, placing it in a natural depression in the ground. The clone had already set up its bedroll and was staring off into space with no expression on its face. Once Robert had the fire going, Forka called the clone over.
“Let’s go over the plan one more time while it’s still light.”
***
Forka’s breath came in puffs that condensed in the chill air. Though it was barely fall, winter usually came earlier to the mountains than to the plains. The moon was nearly full and that helped to light their way through the thick woods. He signaled to the others to crouch low and wait while he scouted ahead. His nose detected the scent of wood smoke. He knew the enemy camp wouldn’t be far away.
He crept silently to the edge of the trees and hit the ground face down as a sentry walked right in front of him. He held his breath, certain the man was going to glance down and see the top of his head shining in the moonlight.
The sentry belched and grunted, angling off away from where Forka lay face-down in the dirt. The General grunted in disgust when he heard the man begin to sing and unzip his trousers. The man was clearly inebriated. As soon as he finished, the sentry moved on, still singing some nonsensical song. Forka watched him, glad that the enemy was complacent enough to let their sentries get drunk. Though they were rivals, Forka was still angry that someone on guard duty would drink to excess and put those he was supposed to
be watching in danger.
Sticking to the shadows, Forka crept closer to the enemy camp, eager to communicate with the clone as to the location of Samson and Wild Bill. He hoped they were still alive and in charge of the camp. He would have no hope of picking new leaders out of the crowd of people.
Forka’s skin crawled the closer he got to the tents and wagons. They were scattered haphazardly, leaving them vulnerable to attack. There were no dogs that he could see. He knew Samson and Wild Bill had enormous dogs that would bark if anyone or anything got close to camp. The only thing he could hear was the occasional snore coming from underneath the wagons or nearby tents.
They’re not afraid.
It was the only thing that made sense. The camp was surrounded by trees and tall grass rather than being cleared so no one could sneak up, and was protected only by drunken sentries. The enemy had grown fat and happy stealing from the Jhinn. Their numbers were so great that they knew they weren’t in danger.
Forka grinned. If anyone had been around to see the look in his icy blue eyes, they would have run in the opposite direction. He moved around camp, taking care not to be overconfident. All it would take would be one person spotting him lurking about and his plan would fail. In the past, the leaders of the enemy camp would have had their tents situated in the center, with the rest of the tents surrounding them. He hoped that hadn’t changed.
There were two large tents near the middle of the camp. Forka watched them for a time, hoping Samson or Wild Bill would emerge and confirm his suspicions. He didn’t want to risk capturing whoever used those tents if they weren’t the leaders of the group.
I’m running out of time.
Praying his luck would hold, Forka walked into the camp like he belonged, hoping that if anyone else was wandering around at this late hour, they would think he was one of them. He stumbled toward the two tents, ears straining to hear the slightest sound, hoping that anyone who saw him would think him drunk. Forka moved to the back of the largest tent, lifting the flap carefully. Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness inside the tent, he saw tangled limbs covered by a bear skin. He guessed there were at least three people under the skin, if not more. One of the bodies moved, pulling the covering from their faces. Forka closed the flap quickly after seeing Samson’s face.
A quick peek in the neighboring tent showed him the face of Wild Bill, his body also tangled in the arms of several women. Forka opened his mind to the clone, telling him – and Robert, by extension - where he was and to get there as quickly as they could. He reminded the clone to bring the rope and the potato sacks.
The fifteen minutes he waited for the others to arrive were the longest of his life. His eyes roamed the darkness for anyone who might be up in the middle of the night.
Forka hissed as he heard commotion from inside Samson’s tent. Some, if not all, of the girls were giggling. He ducked back behind the tent as the front flap opened. Three women emerged, stumbling and laughing as they made their way through the camp in the nude, squealing as the frigid air hit their bare skin. Just as they disappeared from view, he heard someone else approaching.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted Robert and the clone creeping toward him.
“Samson is alone. There’s no better time than now. There are women with Wild Bill. We need to do this as quietly as possible.”
Robert nodded, slipping into Protector mode with ease. He used his mind to indicate that he and the clone would be handling Wild Bill while the General would take care of Samson. He handed Forka some rope and a sack before disappearing into the tent where Wild Bill and his women slept.
Forka hurried into Samson’s tent, eager to be gone before the women returned. He pulled a knife from a sheath on his leg and crept to the sleeping man. He took a deep breath and jumped on Samson’s back, forcing his face into the pillow. He leaned in close.
“Feel that?” he said as he pressed the knife into the soft flesh of Samson’s throat. “Stop moving or I bury it to the hilt.”
Samson stopped moving, though his breath came in gasps.
“Put your hands behind your back. Now.”
The leader of the Horde did as he was ordered. Forka wrapped the rope around his hands, taking the knife from Samson’s neck to tie the knot. He grabbed a piece of cloth and shoved it in the man’s mouth before covering his head with the sack.
“Get to your feet.”
Forka heaved the big man off the bed, shoving him through the tent flap. He was surprised to see Robert and the clone standing with Wild Bill trussed in the same manner as Samson.
“What took you so long?” Robert asked.
“What do you mean? I expected to be done long before you. You had more people to apprehend.”
Robert pointed to the clone. “I didn’t do anything. It did something to them. I don’t know...like this.” Robert pinched Forka on both sides of his neck.
“And what did that do?”
“Dropped them like a sack of oats.”
--There’s nothing magical about what I did. If one pinches the blood vessels and nerves in that area, it causes paralyzing pain followed by unconsciousness--
“It would have been nice of you to tell us about this neat trick of yours.” Forka narrowed his gaze. “Is there any way you can do that to the Mekans?”
--They are not a life form so I don’t see how that’s possible--
Forka sighed. “Well, I had to ask. Let’s get these two to the portal.”
He shoved Samson into a slow walk. Since Samson couldn’t see where he stepped, it was slow going. Samson kept tripping and swaying to the left or right, most likely from the copious amounts of alcohol still in his system. He was forced to step gingerly due to lack of shoes and each step became more apprehensive.
The horses were where they had left them, heads hanging in slumber. Forka’s mare perked up as soon as she heard the sound of his footsteps. He gave her a quick scratch.
“Let’s get them on the horses,” Forka ordered.
With much shoving and pushing, Forka, Robert, and the clone managed to heave Samson and Wild Bill onto the spare horses. Forka took the reins of Samson’s horse while Robert took those of Wild Bill’s. The group made their way through the mountains and down to the plains. The sun was peeking above the horizon as they descended, bathing the world in a pale golden glow.
Forka couldn’t help but see the world as it would look once the Mekans were finished with it. Instead of flowing waves of prairie grasses, there would be huge crevasses and smoldering piles of dirt and debris. The Jhinn would put up a valiant fight, but they, too, would be wiped away.
Is there any point in fighting?
For the first time, Forka felt every bit the old man he knew he was. He was weary down to his bones. Maybe it would be more merciful to just leave the Jhinn to their fate instead of getting their hopes up that there could be a way to beat the machines.
Why not take them away?
Forka held his breath as the glimmer of an idea took shape. He knew the Kromins had ships they could take from world to world. They had used them to bring weapons to Astra to help in the fight. Perhaps they could use the ships to evacuate the Jhinn.
--Can you bring your ships here?--
--Yes. Why would you need our ships?--
--I was thinking of taking the Jhinn away from here, taking them somewhere safe--
--That wouldn’t be possible. The only world they can survive on is one like this one--
--What do you mean ‘one like this one’?--
--A world with conditions like this planet. The same gaseous composition to the atmosphere, gravity, temperature, food and water--
--What about taking them through the portal to another world?--
--There is no world far enough away for that. The Mekans will continue their scourge until there is nothing left--
The finality of the statement sent shivers down Forka’s spine. His chest constricted and his heart raced. He felt trapped, unable to see a way
out. He and his Chosen had been in situations before that had seemed impossible to find a way out of, and yet they had managed every time. His Chosen had the unique ability to assess a situation and find the flaws, holes, anything they could use to their advantage.
The Mekan threat seemed to be the only exception to that rule.
The sun had neared its zenith by the time they reached the gully. They took the horses down slowly and dismounted in front of the portal cave. Forka ripped the sacks off the heads of Wild Bill and Samson. Both men blinked against the sudden brightness.
“We’re going to take your gags out. No one will hear you all the way out here, even if you decide to scream,” Forka said.
“You have some cojones, I’ll give you that.” Samson turned to the side and spit.
“Call it what you will. When I get out of these bindings, I’m going to kill him myself. Him, and all those prissy people who still think the world has anything good to offer,” Wild Bill growled.
“You won’t get out of those ropes unless I let you go. Pray I don’t leave you out here to get eaten by coyotes,” Forka said.
He entered the cave that contained the portal and stopped to let his eyes adjust. He wished he’d thought to bring torches to light the way. The others followed, Samson and Wild Bill fighting every step of the way. Forka and Robert shoved the two roughly to their knees in front of the wall that housed the portal. The two moved to stand in front of the men who had wreaked so much havoc in their lives and the lives if the Jhinn. The men who led their people to pillage and rape and murder, taught the young ones born in their camp to hate everything good and pure in the world, to turn their backs on the idea of a divine creator and the eternal consequences their behavior would have on their souls.
“We could have killed you. It would have been easy, really. But unfortunately, we need your help more than we need you dead. And we also need you to leave the Jhinn alone. There’s something coming that affects all of us,” Forka said.
“What are you talking ab—” Samson began.