Nicolas had managed to drag Rue’s body from the forest. He left her to rest at the foot of the trees and went to join his mother. Nick ran to hug Rosa Lee and found her crying.
“How many?” he asked.
“It’s so hard to tell, Nick…over fifty I think,” she said, glaring at the carnage around her.
Nick shook his head in disbelief, kneeling over random bodies for signs of survivors. “Did we at least get Phyllamon? Does anyone know?” he asked, running about the corpses.
No one got the chance to answer, as the echoes of random fire suddenly startled them. They looked to the sky and found Rufus racing towards the opposite end of the clearing, shooting at something he’d found amidst the trees.
8
Phyllamon and Murlach fell to the floor in the nick of time. Red-hot beams of light pierced the body of the pod, whizzing every which way as they lay stiff on the floor. As Murlach reached into his jacket pocket for the ejection remote, a laser that passed too near burned his face.
Rufus circled round and round, blasting any untouched area. He momentarily considered hovering over top just in case Phyllamon and the little man hadn’t been killed. However, he decided against it, as he didn’t want to be directly above the pod if it blew.
Murlach continued to rummage through his pockets. All he felt was the keys for the corridors of the castle, and there were a great many of them to dig through! Desperately flustered, he began squeezing the pocket in hopes that he might trigger the ejection.
“Murlach, get us out of here!” Phyllamon roared over the noise of frenetic flames, laser fire, and melting machinery.
In a panic, Murlach squeezed his pocket with all his might. Just as he thought the end of them had come at last, the center of the pod raised and shielded itself. Then they shot straight into the sky, leaving a thunderous explosion behind them. All that remained at the scene was smoking debris and a very angry old man. Rufus spun about in the air, blasting the surrounding treetops in a cussing fit. It was all he could do, for there was no way his chair was fast enough to catch them.
9
It was now late. Rosa Lee, Nicolas, and a few other survivors gave a last look about the battle-worn town. Out of the cottages in the very center, the only ones that were still standing were either slowly burning to ashes or riddled with bullets and laser burns.
On the opposite edge of Rhameeryla, rested the biggest fire of all, for it was in one of the cottages that they decided to place the fifty-seven bodies of their neighbours. Here, there was more to burn, so the fire was correspondingly much bigger than the others. Though some wanted to dig graves, they let the idea go, knowing this was as proper a burial as any of them had time to give.
Phyllamon’s soldiers, however, was a different story. They’d left those corpses scattered about to be eaten by vultures or any vermin that crossed their paths.
Rosa Lee and Nicolas blew kisses goodbye to their home and friends and then joined Daum and Sonji, who were curiously inspecting the tank which Phyllamon had left behind. First, they figured out how to close all the open shields, keeping the frigid weather outside. Then they looked around and found cases chock-full of weapons, ammunition and explosives. Also, they discovered a great lot of freeze dried food, which they knew would be disgusting but useful nonetheless.
Daum and Rosa Lee both had experience flying ships, so they found the tank would be easy to pilot. Now that they’d made themselves the navigators, the others found spots amongst the tank’s three levels and strapped themselves in. Nicolas had sat directly behind his mother and was already nodding off from the emotionally exhausting day. Others continued crying, and the rest of them stared blankly at the innards of the ship, wondering what was to become of them:
Where would they go? Did the tank have enough power and rations to get them there? If attacked again, would they have the strength for another fight? What had happened to the others who fled earlier, and had they faired any better than them? Would they ever be able to return to Rhameeryla? And, most importantly…
WHERE IN THE BLAZES WAS ZYNATHIAN, AND WAS HE AWARE OF THEIR SITUATION?
XIII
Teshunua and Jix Return
It was nearly two weeks after the destruction of Rhameeryla. The day was chilly and clear, and the sun was shining. The great trees of the forest seemed to smile upon a returning traveler, lifting his spirits even more, as he was already in a good mood. Though he was happy to return home after six months of travel, he was mostly excited because he would soon see his family and a certain girl that he hadn’t been able to get out of his mind since he left on his voyage.
As Teshunua wove through the trees in his one-man hover (another of Zynathian’s lavish gifts), he petted Jix lightly on the head.
“Be home any minute now, bud,” he said to the hybrid cat-beast, his best friend.
Whatever cheer they’d felt to be home, left them instantly as they stumbled onto an enormous path of overrun trees. Teshunua slowed the hover, trying to figure out what could’ve plowed its way through the forest like this.
And whatever it was, why was it here? Rhameeryla is supposed to be a secret!
Teshunua sped forward, following the trail. Instinctively knowing where it would lead, he tried to prepare himself for the worst. When he came to the clearing his heart seemed to drop into the pit of his stomach. Everything before him was something out of a horrific dream. There were bodies—charred and black as could be—and all the houses (except for those bordering the town, like Asha’s) were nearly obliterated.
He hovered amidst the carnage awhile longer and then got out to inspect. Jix followed.
“Bahzee…Asha!”
He ran to their cottage and burst through the charred door, gasping as he looked about the house. Though everything was black and covered in ash, it was completely empty. The only things left were those items that Asha considered to be useless. There was furniture, a refrigerator, and a stove. However, the sculptures, firearms, and food and clothing were gone.
“Whatever it was…Asha and Bahzee must’ve escaped it, you think?”
I agree! Jix hissed in response.
“I hope this has nothing to do with Phyllamon!” Teshunua said, thinking a moment. “Jix, do me a favour and check those bodies outside and see if any are our neighbours! If so, look for survivors!”
At this, Jix flew outdoors.
Tesh darted out of the house and ran atop a large hill. Then he hurried to a giant Sequoia and touched a long, jagged piece of bark, standing aside as the hill began to quake. His home rose from a compartment in the earth with its tip towering above Rhameeryla at ninety feet.
He quickly went in and began searching. There had to be something, because he knew that Asha and Bahzee wouldn’t have left without…
“Ah!” He sighed with relief, seeing the letter atop the mantelpiece.
As he hurried to grab it, Jix flew through the open door and perched himself on the mantelpiece. He shook his head, following with a string of yowls and murmurs.
Many of our neighbours are dead! I smelled burnt, human flesh in the air and then crawled through a hole atop one of the cottages—Teshunua, there are dozens of bodies!
Teshunua swayed in shock, mouth hanging open. He backed up and began pacing the room, while Jix gave more details.
But those outdoors—beasts that I’ve never seen in these parts—they have a foul scent about them that I can’t place. They just may have come from Phyllamon’s castle! Jix said, arching his back furiously.
At this, Teshunua tore open the letter from Bahzee.
XIV
The Letters
Teshunua,
Terrible things have happened! For the last six months I’ve been avoiding Felix…he’s found out where we live! He always tries to corner me, so he can do—things! I was successful in avoiding him for a while, but just recently he’s gotten much worse. He kicked my cat when I refused to kiss him! Papa Zynnie had to do surgery and everything! This morning, Felix t
hreatened to hurt Khyeryn, and that’s when I lost it, giving him a beating that he won’t soon forget. However, I fear the repercussions.
Mom and I are getting out of here immediately, and I’m advising all the others to do the same. By the time you receive this, we’ll be at the Igloo. We’ve had no time to contact Maugrimm, so I guess our visit will just be a surprise. I need you to write a letter to Papa Zynnie, letting him know what’s happened and where to find us. I expect to see all of you soon.
— Bahzee
At the bottom of the letter there were scratch-outs and erases, and Teshunua tried to make out whatever it was that Bahzee tried to say but deemed it unnecessary. After a little straining, he thought it read:
“I miss you like nothing else, and I can’t wait to see you. Please bring yourself to me safely…I don’t know what I would do if I lost you!”
“…bring yourself to me…if I lost you!”
He was stunned at his obliviousness all this time. For two years now, he’d been hoping that Bahzee had feelings for him, but now he knew. He tucked the letter in his pocket, wondering what he would say the next time he saw her.
As he went to grab some parchment, ink, and a featherless quill, Teshunua sighed. He felt very guilty that everyone in Rhameeryla could’ve died, but knowing that Asha and Bahzee were okay was all that mattered to him. He shook his head at his humanity.
When it comes to life and death, we are all so very selfish about the ones we love…yes we are!
Teshunua now sat down and began writing:
Uncle,
Something terrible has happened. Most of Rhameeryla has been destroyed! There are bodies and discarded weaponry everywhere. And, to make matters worse, Jix just told me that many of our people are dead, burnt up inside a cottage! Don’t worry, Asha and Bahzee got out okay. They’re staying at Maugrimm’s Igloo. I’ll join them soon, as I’m leaving as we speak. Keep Jix with you. I’ll see you both when you arrive.
Your nephew,
Tesh
Teshunua rolled the letter up to a size that was as thin as a twig and then tied strings around it, attaching it to Jix’s collar.
“Jix, take this to Zynathian, and fly like the wind! But don’t come back here. Stay with him…I’ll see you both at the Igloo!”
Jix stood on his hind legs in Teshunua’s arms, nestling his soft fur up against him and murmuring.
Be safe, boy! I shall see you soon…good luck! Jix said. Then he was off.
Teshunua gave a quick walk around the house. Deciding that he didn’t need anything, he kissed one of the pillars in the middle of the parlour and bid his goodbyes for the second time in six months. He could only hope that he wouldn’t be gone as long this time. However, as he lowered the house back into the earth and made his way to the hover, Teshunua shook his head. He knew this was only a fool’s hope. Whatever it was that had happened here, it wasn’t over by a long shot.
This could take years to be resolved! he thought as he sped through the trees.
Teshunua’s assumption was slightly inaccurate. It wouldn’t merely be years before the issue was resolved. In fact, the very next time he stepped foot inside the ruins of Rhameeryla would be nearly three decades from now.
XV
Maugrimm, ‘the Cheater,’ is Cold Busted!
1
Twelve days previous to Teshunua’s less than pleasant arrival at Rhameeryla, a young woman, suffering from hypothermia, fell through the door of a strange iceberg.
“Mawg, help us with her!”
The girl was barely aware of the gigantic, muscular arms lifting her from the cold, gravel floor. Her eyelids fluttered as she fought the battle to maintain consciousness. The voices were a little farther off in the distance now, but her semi-alert mind still managed to make out the inquiries about whether or not she would live.
She felt herself being laid down amidst a relaxing source of intense heat…a fire, perhaps. As consciousness slipped further away from her, she noticed something heavy and warm being placed atop of her. Soon thereafter, she was swept away into a comfortable, quiet blackness.
**
Sing felt warmth on her face as beams of morning sunlight crept in through the icy windows. She could hear the splatter of water falling from the melting icicles, hanging over the windowsills. However, she didn’t open her eyes until one of the icicles melted away from its base and crashed into the gravel.
As her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room, Sing slowly looked about, examining her surroundings. The room was enormous, and the entrance was so big one wondered about the size of whatever it was that needed to move about this place.
It couldn’t possibly be anything human! she thought, sitting up in fascination. In addition to its incredible size, she found that the entire chamber, except its few furnishings, was encased in ice! Sing ogled every nook-and-cranny about her.
Hopping from the bed, she knelt over to touch the floor. It sparkled with little crystals, mixed in with the stones and pebbles—perhaps some form of salt, preventing the floor from becoming frosty. That’s why she hadn’t slipped. As she jogged a few paces across the floor, further assuring herself that it was trustworthy, Sing noticed a large cauldron on each side of the bed. They smoked as if their fires had gone out only moments before she’d woken. Upon a table was a large bowl with only a few spoonfuls left of what seemed to be frozen tomato soup.
It was funny, as she couldn’t remember being fed.
Behind Sing, on the far wall of the room, was a large mirror. Its face was defrosting due to the heavy blanket of sun it was receiving. She walked over and tapped it gently, breaking the thin layer of ice from its surface. Sing was curious to see how she looked after her near-death experience.
“Ugh!” she groaned, grimacing with disgust at her reflection. Wherever her skin wasn’t red and chapped, it was cracked with dried blood resting within the wounds.
She knew she’d passed out during the journey, as she couldn’t remember getting any of the cold sores. Sing did, however, recall locking onto some coordinates with the bike’s navigational system and then setting it to “self pilot.” Shortly afterward, the temperature had dropped to a frightening degree. She’d stopped and put on a pair of thick pants beneath her dress, but still decided not to turn around, knowing she needed to get as far away as possible. That was it. The events that came afterward were surely orchestrated by the hand of God, for Sing knew that she, herself, had been oblivious to all. She shuddered with unease, realizing how close she must have been to freezing to death.
I probably used all my strength just to get through the door of this place!
She then noticed flakes of dried soup on her chin and saw that some had frozen to her shawl. Sing wiped sleep out of her eyes and turned away from her horrid reflection, wanting to find a bathroom before she met her hosts. She grabbed her sack from the foot of the bed and stepped out of the chamber, tiptoeing, not wanting to wake anyone.
Forgetting how bad she had to urinate at the moment, Sing observed the majestic quality of the frozen corridor. The stones beneath her feet were paved to perfection, and the ice upon the walls and ceiling glistened as sunlight reflected off the surface. Suddenly Sing was in a world very similar to that of the fantasy stories she read.
She imagined herself as a rich queen, visiting her very own treasure mine. The immense piles of wealth sparkled as far as the eye could see. With her riches being so abundant, she was able to support entire nations of people, providing food, shelter, education…and, most of all, complete separation from the likes of Phyllamon! Yes, there would be a gigantic wall around the kingdom, and all rich people would be slightly taxed upon entering, as the proceeds would go directly to the poor of the world—of course not excluding her own contribution. All citizens would be taught to love unconditionally, to work for the mutual benefit of all mankind, and to kill any member of the Xyecah family on sight!
How beautiful her world would be!
Sing had come to the end of t
he hall and saw a door on her left. The room she entered was as beautiful as the last, but the pee feeling had come back to her, and she had no time to acknowledge it in detail. She quickly walked over and pressed a glowing green key, and watched the button become red as the shield slid briskly upward. She entered, and the shield closed behind her.
Sing was quite shocked upon entering. Again, the room was large, tiled with magnificent rocks of all shades. The toilet and washbasin appeared to be porcelain, as did the bathtub, which was so large that a small set of steps was attached to it, as it otherwise would have been impossible to get in or out. The most remarkable aspect of the room, however, was its warmth! There was no ice in this chamber at all, and if one had not already seen the outdoors, they would’ve expected it to be a summer day outside. As a bead of sweat ran down Sing’s forehead, she marveled at the talent it must’ve taken to design a room that defied natural temperature as this.
She undressed and dropped her belongings on the floor. As Sing relieved herself, she glanced to the towel rack on her left and spotted a small piece of folded paper with a happy face drawn sloppily on the back. She picked it up and read:
To the girl with the fire red hair,
Mommy and I have prepared your breakfast and will be waiting for you in the den. Just follow the rooms until you reach us—the whole place is a one large room with different twists and turns. But there’s only one floor, so you needn’t worry about getting lost. Take as long as you need to wash, as we don’t plan on going anywhere. See you soon, and I hope you’re hungry.
—Bahzee
By the way, be careful with the water. It gets hot enough to kill a person. Let the cooling fans treat it before you climb in…once the water is filled up far enough, it should take about five minutes for the fans to do their job.
The Gift of Volkeye Page 14