“Then that is where we must go. You will use the thingy that nullifies their weapons?”
“I will.” Deogol marched towards the spiral stairs like a trained Backpacker. The other Meeks followed and I would have to, but Kendra held up a hand to stop me. Wirt and Brennus saw her gesture and came over.
“This may not go well, my dears. We do not know what or who is up there. We have only these Meeks word for it. One Meek has already betrayed us to them. It could be a trap.”
Her words brought back Deogol’s lapse. I looked to where he stood at the bottom of the staircase and he turned around. I swear I saw a narrowing of his eyes as he glanced in my direction.
“Ye talk some sense. Sorry a thousand times, Adara, but Kendra may be right.”
“I may not yet be a ‘dult, but I’m no dunce, Brennus. Kendra makes a goodly point. We must be ready for anything,” I said and strode towards the Meeks. Doubt took hold of my eyes and water brimmed around them. I did not want the kiddles to see the plops of tears that were about to drip-drop down my face and so expose my mistrust about my bro-bro. More so now, what with their pally looks to me and hints at who knows what. I brushed my hand across my eyes and my bro hurried towards me.
“Where are the others?”
“Behind me, I think. We had a quickly chit-chat about strategy.”
“Come up with anything of use?”
“Nah. Just to do whatever we can.”
“Not such a bad plan at that, Sis.”
I looked at his smirking face and could not at that moment believe that behind his ruddy cheeks and those big blue eyes, lay a mind ready to double-cross his big sis. The one and only sib that but a few moons ago, had shown him how to throw a lefty punch.
Then, like a slash across my cheek, I remembered the cryptic words Ryce said, “Meeks are fashioned, not miracles.” I shook my head to dispel the dead Carnie’s lies. I would not let his contrived utterances turn me against my bro. I smiled and ruffled Deogol’s thick fair hair. He brushed my hand away and let his forehead wrinkle. He stared over my shoulder, raised one eyebrow and went back to the Meeks.
Another cryptic face gesture that sent a wave of unease through my bod. I turned to see Wirt, Kendra and Brennus approach. They stood next to me. Stillman waved to us to join him. He held up his clever stick device, pointed one end to the trap door and pressed something or other.
There came a noise, not unlike that of a bub expressing digested food from its rear, and I half expected to be covered with said plop, but instead, a light shone into our faces.
“Stay where you are, or we shoot,” a male voice said all shaky with fright.
“Take your best shot, cowards,” Deogol said and aimed the square block Esme had called a ‘stingbangbang’ at the entrance. A low hum came from it, then a loud shriek from more than one guard, and down came a whole pile of Agro weapons.
Esme picked one up. “It makes them glow all hot. The filthy males cannot hold onto them.”
“But we can. And with this,” Deogol said and held up the stingbangbang device, “we can change the setting to our own specifications.” He waved his hands across the fallen weaponry. “Arm yourselves and let us advance!”
The Meeks grabbed a gun each. Brennus and Kendra took the only two remaining ones. I looked at Wirt who shrugged his shoulders and said, “I’ll stay with Brennus. Ye with Kendra?”
“Only thing to do. Wait, though.” I took off my Synthbag, poked around, took out my two remaining vombombs and gave one to Wirt. “At least we can take a couple down.” He took it from me then touched my hand with a tenderness that I had forgot he owned.
“Keep behind, we do nae know what awaits us up there,” Brennus said.
Kendra gave me a wink and Wirt and I pushed through the huddled together Meeks.
“Fire and thwack at anything that moves, my dear, it is our only chance,” Kendra said.
Wirt joined Brennus on the first rung of the staircase. They paused, raised their weapons and ran straight up. I turned to Deogol, he put his hand on my arm and squeezed.
“Keep to the rear. Keep as safe as you can bro.”
He nodded and let me go. Then Kendra and I sped after Wirt and Brennus up the spiral staircase.
Chapter Fifteen
A Bloody Battle Ensues
Young ‘uns are slithery folk.
Before we reached the top of the stairs, the Meeks had managed to wriggle their way up and past us. We older types could do nowt except follow their lead. I was impressed with their vigour and bravery to be sure. The staircase wound round and round, and as we neared the top, I confess to feeling somewhat dizzy. I did not look down in case I felt the wobbles and continued on up.
The Meeks stopped ‘bruptly before a square hatch. It was open and a small metal ladder hung down. It grew quiet, except for the sound of heavy breathing. I wondered why the kiddles paused so rigid-like and pushed my way through Brennus and Wirt.
“What gives, bro?”
Deogol shrugged, grabbed onto a rung of the ladder and climbed up it and through the opening. The Meeks followed all quick-like and I thought it best if I did too. The kiddles blocked the inside of the entrance, so I could not see past their squished together bods. I stood on tiptoe upon the upper rung, and peered over their heads.
Before my eyes was a three-sided room. It was black and dimly lit by strips of white light that slashed across the walls and ceiling giving the place a look of menace. Facing us, were Agro guards. They stood in a line brandishing metal bars and wooden sticks. The Meeks, small soldiers holding big guns, looked like effigies of their future selves, all grown up, but with the faces of bubs. I almost smiled, and would have if it were not for the sight of Eadgard.
Stepping off the ladder, I eased my way through the Meeks and saw through a gap in the line of guards, the figure of my friend kneeling on the floor in the middle of the room. The guards parted and stood against either wall. I felt Wirt’s hand on my shoulder. He leant forward and I did too.
Eadgard’s head was bent and his hands were tied behind his back. His trusty Leatherman poised at his neck, held by Hacket, who, on seeing us, smiled.
“Filthy Agro scum,” Kendra said and squidged past us and into the room.
Hacket grabbed onto Eadgard's hair and pulled back his head.
“One more step and I will cut his throat.”
Our friend’s face was bloody and bruised, his right eye swollen and puffy. I clenched my fists and almost let rip a sound of fury, despite my lethargy doubts about my vocal strength. But I held back. The space was small and I could not be sure that if I did sing, the noise would not ricochet off the triangular walls and tapered ceiling. I cursed under my breath instead and clutched onto the vombomb.
“We have weapons bigger and more powerful than that simple knife. We will fire and kill you all before you have a chance to use it,” Deogol said.
“Such large words from so small a frame. Empty, though, I fear. You may destroy us all in a flash, but I will have cut deep into this Backpacker’s flesh. A slash is as quick as the pressing of a button.”
Deogol raised the gun, but Kendra reached out and slapped it down.
“Lower your weapon, little one. The life of this trusted male is of utmost importance to me…to us all.”
My bro did as Kendra said and held the gun by his side. She stepped forward, stood before Hacket and Eadgard, and held out her hand. “Now you give me that knife and we shall talk.”
He shook his head and pressed the blade closer to Eadgard’s neck.
“Give you the only thing that stands between those guards death and mine? I think not,” he said and dragged Eadgard back by the hair. He let out a faint cry and Kendra darted forward. At the same time, I thrust myself to the front of the Meeks and threw my grenade. It hit Hacket square on the chest, giving Kendra enough time to snatch the blade from his hand. Hacket looked to me, clutched his belly, then sank to the floor and spewed out the contents of his stomach.
; A roar swished through the chamber and the Agro guards hurtled towards the Meeks. They waved their makeshift weapons in the air, hacking and carving at nowt but empty space. The Meeks stood transfixed by their flamboyant gesturing, and it was indeed a distraction, for I, Kendra, Wirt and Brennus, stood dumbfounded by their play-acting. I tore my gaze away from the charade and saw two guards grab onto Eadgard.
I tried to alert the others to Eadgard’s fate. I tried to yell at the Meeks to move, but the guards fell upon them, slashing into sinew and bone before the young ‘uns had the wits to open fire. My friends dived in and began to wrestle with the Agro guards. I looked for Eadgard amongst the mayhem and caught sight of his limp body being dragged out of the hatch and down the steps.
Then I summoned up what little strength I had left, and blundered into the fight. I thwacked a guard that was about to brain my bro. Deogol nodded his head. A look of mean filled his eyes and he let out a mighty yell, “Now!”
As one, the Meeks raised their stolen weapons and opened fire.
A series of orange pulsating lights emerged from every gun. They shot around the room, then targeted each and every Agro guard. Said scum watched helpless as the beams of light struck their chests with a loud bang and exploded. The guards threw away their weapons, and slapped at their on fire clothes. I had to duck sharpish to avoid being injured by the flying lumps of metal and wood.
Smoke plumed around us and through the fog I saw Agro after Agro fall in a smouldering heap at our feet. The air filled with the sweet scent of burnt skin. My ears rang with the booms from the guns and the screams from those that had been hit.
When quiet had descended and the haze gone, I looked around. The Meeks that still stood, shook. Some had tears in their eyes, others grinned. Esme lay on the floor, bleeding from a wound on her thigh. Stillman crouched and held onto his left arm, which I guessed was broken, and Deogol had one hand over his right eye. Blood oozed between his fingers and I rushed to his side.
“Let me see.” I tried to prise his paws away from his face, but he wouldn’t let me. He turned and dropped the gun he held in his other hand.
“Adara, where is Eadgard?” Kendra said.
Wirt came to her side and gazed at me all expectant-like. I shook my head and saw Brennus stride over to Hacket. He picked up a gun and held it to the puking head of said male. “Where hae they taken Eadgard? Answer ye filthy Agro.”
Hacket did not respond and Brennus gave him a cuff around the head. He lifted it and groaned.
“Ye know where our friend is? Tell or I’ll get Adara to plant another of her hurl bombs at ye.”
Hacket retched a few times more, wiped his soiled mouth and said, “My guess is to the medi-centre,” then he resumed his dry puking.
Wirt, Kendra and I stepped away from him. The sound of moaning filled the room and my aching head. Kiddles, all broken, bloody and bruised, lay or squatted around the place. The sight of these injured Meeks caused a pain to spread across my chest. I turned to my friends.
“We must find this medi-centre and Eadgard. We must take all that are injured there too. I am overwhelmed at how brave these young ‘uns were.”
“Brave indeed, my dear, for ones so close to juvenescence.”
I felt a soft tap in the middle of my back and turned to see Elita. I stared at her face for a moment then looked away.
“May we interrupt?” she said and led me to an unoccupied corner of the room.
“Glad to see you are not harmed,” I said, unable to look her in the eye.
“We not injured, Adara, many are. We must go to med place, have them fixed.”
She moved her head and I followed her gaze to where the Meeks slumped against the wall or each other.
“You know where it is?”
“No,” she said and hung her head.
How could I be mad at her for not knowing? But I was, or maybe at myself for not being able to do more. Then perhaps I was just vexed at the state of things, either way, my annoyance was a thing to be avoided lest it caused me to pause and over think the situation.
She sniffed and I thought my muscles would never relax. I sighed deeply and saw Kendra and Wirt walk amongst the kiddles, wiping faces, strapping up smashed arms and legs, speaking soothing words; comforting as best they could. I felt as useless as a Wolfie without teeth.
“Wha about this creature?” Brennus said and prodded Hacket with the side of the pistol. “He must know where the medi-centre is.”
I walked over to said Agro and stared into his eyes. “You know where the med place is?”
He blinked slowly.
“Well? Do you?”
He licked his lips. “Of course…but I will not…tell you,” he said and brought forth a plenitude of bile.
“Monster, tae let these young ‘uns suffer. Monster!” Brennus said and shoved the gagging Hacket to the edge of the hatch. The Agro’s feet jutted over the rim and he wobbled. Brennus clung onto the back of Hacket’s shirt and held him so that he did not fall out of the opening. I stood by his side and tried not to look down at the sheer drop.
“Tell or I’ll throw ye down.”
Hacket tried to wriggle free. “I’ll never tell.”
Brennus released his grip on him, and he fell.
His bod made a heavy splat when it hit solid. Brennus stepped back. Kendra and Wirt joined me. They looked down and both grimaced. I held onto Wirt and Kendra’s shoulders and followed their gaze. Hacket lay sprawled out, face down on the metal steps, a pool of blood seeping from a wound to his head.
“If he lives, he will tell us where the med place is,” Brennus said and climbed down the small ladder onto the spiral staircase to where Hackett lay.
“Let us hope the wretch still maintains, my dears.”
Brennus knelt on one knee and put a finger to Hacket’s neck.
“He lives. I will need help carrying him to ground level.”
We looked at Wirt. He rolled his eyes, then joined Brennus on the stair. I went to my bro-bro, who was sitting next to Esme. She leant against his shoulder, pale and shivering. I was glad to see that his eye had stopped bleeding. I knelt and looked at his older than old face. Esme lifted her head and managed a tiny smile. Deogol sighed.
I touched his cheek. “Do not be so sad, we won the battle.”
“We did?”
“Look around, all the guards are dead.”
“There are more. More that wish to hurt us. There are the others.”
“What? What others?”
“He means those that stormed the place. Folk like you and me. The ones the Agros fear so much. They will come. They will harm us.”
“Not so. They are here to free you I’m sure.”
A great noise of many folk shouting caused us all to rise to our feet. I ran to the hatch and saw a mass of Woodsfolk enter the silo chamber. Behind them a dozen or so Ladies and about the same amount of folk dressed in grey baggy jumpsuits. I figured they must be Techs, what with their lack of dress sense and all. They stopped by the staircase and Brennus addressed them.
“Wha took ye so long? I was a-feared ye had all been done in.”
“Nay laddie, we are made of sterner stuff.”
That was a voice I recognised.
Aiken.
He wore a dirty patch over his left eye and was dressed in what I assumed was battle gear, black pelt and long black kilt. He and the rest carried huge wooden clubs stained with red. Wirt ran back up the stairs and as far to the rear of the room as was possible to do so. I walked to where he stood biting his nails, a look of fear upon his face.
“I thought him dead and gone after ye did yer singing.”
“I told you that some would still prevail. Brennus did.”
“Do ye think he will be angry with us?”
“Might be.”
I turned back to see the Meeks huddled together in the centre of the room. Kendra went from kiddle to kiddle and tried to soothe their fears. “No, no my little ones, these are good folk come to
regain power for the land. Come to free one and all from the evil Agro supremacy.”
There was a bang and the silo shuddered. The Meeks let forth a wail and sank to the floor, hands over their heads. I rushed to the hatch to see what was what.
More insurgents piled into the silo. I saw black smoke from outside follow them in. Aiken ran to the opening of the building. A sooty male staggered past him and he slammed the door shut. Another boom shook the place.
“They have destroyed the crops,” the dirt-faced Tech said.
Aiken grabbed hold of the coughing ‘dult. “Wha? Wha are ye saying?”
“The fields are all ablaze.”
All of the crops gone? My head swirled with the info. What would we eat? Sure the silo had grain, enough perhaps for the coming winter, but after that? And sure, there is seed, but it has to be planted, it has to grow. Until that time what do we eat?
I shivered as I contemplated a world without food. Another great famine like before. Only this time with so few remaining, I feared we all would perish. A heaviness tugged at my arms and legs and I bent forward as a wave of nausea swept throughout my bod.
A loud explosion blasted open the door. More smoke filled the place. I stood upright and peered into the chaos, but I could not see clearly. Voices shouting, names being called and a general clattering of feet on concrete as folk ran hither and thither, spread around the building.
The noise and haze befuddled my nonce so much so, that I was unsure if I stood or crouched. A hand grabbed mine and Kendra shouted into my ringing ears, “Agros. We don’t know how many are left. We must leave. Help me gather the Meeks and their weapons. It is our only chance.”
I wiped my stinging eyes and saw Wirt standing as if in a trance. Kendra touched his shoulder and he moved his head slowly to look at her. “We need your strength.”
He stared at her then at me, and hit his forehead with his palm.
“Ye have it, ye have it,” he said and straightened.
I patted him on the back and Kendra took his hand. We went to where the Meeks still crouched, and I squatted next to Deogol. “We must leave. You and the others need to gather your weapons to use against the massing Agros.”
A Silence Heard Page 13