by S. S. Segran
Mariah lifted Kody’s unconscious form and got him to stand by leaning him against her. Taking his arm and slinging it around her neck, she half-walked, half-dragged her friend out. Tegan tried to do the same with Jag, but Jag had bulked up with his training so she opted to simply tow him by his hands.
The two Elders in the building watched the fire with unreadable expressions. Their eyes landed upon Hutar and Akol. Akol still had Hutar restrained but didn’t look like he could hold out for much longer.
Tayoka strode toward them. Hutar saw him coming. He stopped his struggling and turned his face away angrily. The Elder gazed down at him, embitterment written on his face. He went down on one knee and looked Hutar in the eyes. “You have brought shame to your community, Hutar. Your father would have been utterly disappointed—and heartbroken.”
He reached for the dark blue crystal hanging around the youth’s neck and ripped it off. Grabbing him by the collar, he dragged Hutar out of the burning building.
48
Taking a quick glance at the heavens as twilight finally fell upon the forest, Akira tucked her wings by her sides and dove through the clouds that hovered above Ayen’et. She vanished for a few moments before shooting out from the bottom.
Spreading her wings, she leveled off to a glide as the mining site came into view. What caught the eagle’s eye was the large, roofed-over shed at the center. Curious, Akira flew lower. She didn’t notice a man with auburn hair in a black coat gazing up at her as he headed to the shed, astonished at her proximity to the ground.
The sound of machines at work in the mine, muffled due to the depth at which they operated, stood in stark contrast to the quiet, tranquil environment of the forest. The smell of fumes from the vehicles and equipment was an alien intrusion to the pristine atmosphere.
As she glided past the shed, Akira observed a few massive vehicles that weren’t in operation parked underneath. She did one loop of the hundred-foot outbuilding and returned to where she’d started.
Still flying low, she peeled past a steel building on her right—the only steel structure in the area—and flew by a larger building beside it. Several men sat on benches and tables in an open space between the large edifice and another one with a large red cross on the front. They were too engaged in their conversation to take notice of the majestic bird swooping by.
Passing the building with the cross, Akira came to the final structure next to it with light spilling out of glass windows. The eagle peeked in and saw a few men, some in a line holding trays, others sitting and eating meals.
Banking into a turn, she flew by yet another building. This one took up the whole right side of the mining operation. Some workers trudged into it wearily as though they might fall asleep on their feet.
The eagle made another left turn and located a wide tunnel opening on her right. She would have headed in if the sight of the five large cauldrons mounted on a raised platform hadn’t caught her attention. She flapped once to gain some height and peered down into the vats. The vats were fifteen feet in diameter and ten feet deep, holding what appeared to be crushed black rocks.
As Akira flew around them to take a proper look, a small group of dirt-covered miners exited the tunnel and noticed her circling. They stared in awe, grinning hugely.
Deciding to give the men something to remember, she shot up into the sky and hovered for a moment before doing a one-eighty and rocketing back down toward them. At the last moment she opened her wings and soared by the miners with a screech, so close that they would have felt the powerful buffet of wind. They whooped in amazement as they watched the eagle fly around the vehicle shed and out of view.
Satisfied with her task, the eagle soared past the back of the steel building into the tree line. She lighted on a spruce behind the benches and tables, observing the men who were still sitting and chatting.
In the Elders’ assembly neyra, Nageau, Saiyu, Ashack and Tayoka were gathered around the small fire pit, conversing softly as Tikina sat in a corner at a table with a quill and a scroll in front of her.
Every once in a while her hand would move to draw as she collected information on the mining operation’s layout through Akira’s eyes. With the eagle circling overhead, no one could ever fathom that she was part of a reconnaissance mission.
Still holding onto the mindlink with the eagle, Tikina looked around, wondering where Tyse was. The Elder had guided the lynx to the mountain earlier; she would need the animal’s eyes for exploration at ground level.
Where are you, my elusive friend? Tikina thought. She flew Akira behind the buildings again, trying to scout out the wandering rascal. Suddenly a head popped out of the bushes right below her, nose twitching as it sniffed the air, followed by a short, silver-golden body.
There you are! Tikina landed Akira in front of the lynx, startling the feline. The moment both animals made eye contact, Tikina released her link with the bird and jumped into Tyse. She watched as Akira flew away from the mining site.
Tyse blinked once as Tikina readjusted herself to connect with the lynx’s senses. Once she’d established a steady link, she guided the animal toward the steel building. The lynx scented around, picking up an odd, unfamiliar smell. A creature had marked the place as its territory, but Tikina had no clue what kind of animal it was.
As Tyse sniffed around the back of the building, a disconnected, angry bray startled her so horribly that, despite Tikina’s strong link, she hissed and retreated into the trees, ears pinned back. Tikina gently urged Tyse out again and steered the lynx away from the deep, roar-like barks that came from within the steel building.
Wanting to get a closer look at the vats, Tikina directed the thick-furred cat in their direction. The lynx prowled around the dark metallic cauldrons, keeping her belly low as she weaved in and out under the platforms.
A worker shuffled out of the mining tunnel and stopped short when he saw her, unsure whether he should be amazed or worried that the cat might disrupt the refining process in the vats. In the end, he decided the latter and shooed Tyse away, but wisely kept his distance from the wild animal.
Tyse bounded back and watched him walk away from the tunnel before slipping into it herself. The sound of machines was painfully loud to her ears but Tikina held the lynx steady. Tyse skulked over metal tracks, sniffing this and that and taking in the layout of the tunnel.
A couple of the men yelled out when they spotted her. The cat’s ears twitched. A few of the workers looked delighted at the sight of a wild creature this close, but others grabbed shovels and chased her away. Tyse scooted off, making a turn into the open storage area where spare tools were kept.
She halted in front of the door that lay at the far end, head cocked to one side. Tikina sensed an overpowering emotion come over her as the lynx mewled up at the door. There was the faintest trace of familiar odors, and she knew right away that this was where Rikèq, Aydar, Keno and Breyas had been held captive during their imprisonment. With a heavy heart, she turned Tyse around and left the tunnel.
Beside the mouth of the shaft lay another tunnel, but this one carried no scent of recent use. Tyse only went a few yards in before Tikina decided it wasn’t worth the time. She led the lynx directly back to where she had linked with the animal. As she rounded the shed, the door of the steel building was thrown open and four massive, canine-shaped creatures stepped out, hackles already raised.
Tyse recoiled as Tikina stared at the creatures in terror. With short fur as black as night and ivory teeth so long they curved down slightly from their elongated upper jaws, they resembled eldritch beasts. When their hungry, blood-lusting eyes landed on the lynx, they snarled and gave chase.
Tikina let Tyse’s flight instinct take over. The cat hightailed back to the entrance of the disused tunnel and scampered in. She could hear the beasts snapping their jaws behind her, much too close for comfort. She sped down the tunnel, jumping over some collapsed wooden beams and rubble, and spied a turnoff at one side of the tunnel. Without givin
g it a second thought, the lynx sprinted through and found herself stumbling down the side of the mountain. She flailed until her claws hooked into the dirt. Using her momentum, she propelled herself to safety, not looking back until she reached the bottom.
Once at the foot of Ayen’et, the cat flopped down by a tree, panting hard. Tikina could hear the faint but irritated howls of the beasts she had left behind.
This will not be as easy as we had hoped.
Taking a final look at the mountain, the Elder released her mindlink with Tyse. She returned to herself and regarded the parchment on the table before her. The map of the mining site was accurate enough. She lifted it and joined the other Elders by the fire. They acknowledged her, giving her their full attention.
“There is much preparation to be done,” she said, showing them the map.
Nageau took the parchment from her and examined it, then nodded. “Let us get started.”
49
It was midmorning and the community had quickly congregated in the village square. They muttered amongst themselves, wondering why the Elders had called for the gathering in haste. The Elders stood in front of the assemblage, surveying the crowd. Calm as they seemed, there was urgency in the air around them and the villagers could feel it.
Jag, Tegan, Aari, Mariah and Kody sat at the very front with Akol, who would quietly translate for the friends once the Elders started their address.
“My friends,” Nageau said. “There are a couple of matters that we must speak off. Firstly, I presume some of you may have heard about an incident that occurred two nights ago, and some of you may have even seen the burnt-down hall at the edge of the village. I do not wish to dwell on those details right now, but yes, despicable and shameful acts were committed by some of our youth. We will be dealing with them soon enough.”
He glanced down at the friends, noting the bruises some of them wore. “There is something I would also like to add,” he continued. “That same night the old community hall burned down, the Elders’ water supply was found to have been poisoned with the contaminant that has made many of our kin devastatingly ill.”
A gasp rose from the crowd.
“Do we know who is responsible for this atrocious act?” one man demanded.
The Elders had agreed beforehand that they would not be pointing fingers at Hutar and his comrades just yet, not with bigger issues at hand. “It does not matter,” Nageau answered. “The act was done. We know who they are and they will be dealt with later. What is important is that none of the Elders consumed the poison—because our guests warned us in time, thus saving our lives.” He motioned to the friends with a sweep of his hand.
The villagers peered over each other’s heads to look at the group. Their faces expressed their gratitude. The friends would have rather ducked out of view, but they sat tall and dipped their heads at the Elders. Murmurs of praise flowed through the crowd and Akol smiled as he told the friends what the community was saying about them.
Saiyu spoke next. “The next matter that we must discuss is one of utmost importance, so please listen carefully . . .”
The community was informed in detail about the mining operation that sat atop Ayen’et. The Elders had done a good deal of exploration, and had even worked out a plan throughout the night to end their quandary.
“Small wonder they seem tired,” Akol mused under his breath so only the friends could hear.
“We are not a warlike people, but our hand has been forced,” Nageau said, studying the villagers’ expressions. “Now we must stand up if we are to protect our community and our loved ones.”
“We will need twenty volunteers,” Tayoka told the crowd. “We have planned for a mission that requires more stealth than force. If you are skilled in this area, you are welcome to join us.”
Far more than twenty villagers put up their hands, resolve painted on their faces. This was their home; their people who were dying. They would not stand for it.
The Elders were evidently warmed by the large show of hands, but they had deemed that only twenty could join them. They handpicked the volunteers from those eager to take part. Once they’d counted off the exact number needed, Ashack said, “To those who have been chosen: Meet us at the temple once you have had your midday meals. There we will discuss the plan in further detail and prepare you for what is to come.”
* * *
Ajajdif sat with the mining engineer in his office. It was lunch time but he would not eat until he knew how his operation was coming along. Since speaking with the Boss, he had driven his crew harder than ever before.
“Progress report,” he said brusquely, tossing and catching a stress ball painted blue and green, like the Earth.
LeChamps checked his tablet. “We’ll be back on schedule in the next two or three days if everything keeps running smoothly. I really do think we’ll have the required amount needed by the end of four weeks.”
“Lovely.” Ajajdif squeezed the small foam orb. “Can I suppose that we’ll be out of here in the next month?”
“More likely than not,” LeChamps replied with a smile.
“Good.”
“We’re going to need those leaching chemicals soon, though. We’re running out of them pretty fast.”
“I spoke with HQ a couple days ago; they said they’d send a bird in with what we need.”
“A couple days ago? Shouldn’t they have already arrived, then?”
Ajajdif stood and went to pick up an eight-inch crystal sculpture of the Russian priest Rasputin from a shelf. He held it in his palm, looking at it with a pang of nostalgia. “I got an email from Adrian yesterday,” he said. “He mentioned that there had been some kind of mix-up with the pilot’s schedule, but the cargo should arrive sometime tomorrow morning. I want you to tell your foreman to have a crew ready when the plane comes so they can unload everything ASAP.”
“Will do.”
Ajajdif put the crystal sculpture back and grabbed his coat. “Have you had lunch yet?”
“Nope. I was planning to after this.”
“Well, I’m heading to the mess hall, so let’s go.” Ajajdif waited for the mining engineer to step out of his office before closing the door and locking it.
* * *
Aari, Jag, Mariah, Tegan and Kody were sprawled side by side facing the river on the opposite bank from the community square. The villagers had dispersed soon after the meeting had ended, though some lingered to speak with the Elders or express thanks to the friends for saving the Council. A few of the youths tried to worm out of them what had happened in the old community hall but Akol, who was translating, ushered them away good-naturedly.
Aari leaned back on his elbows and stared into the distance. In a faraway voice he asked, “What did you guys think of today’s gathering?”
“Too many big things are happening at once,” Tegan answered. “Hutar’s attack, the illness, the recent loss of villagers, our training, and now this plan to infiltrate and shut down the mining site. It’s a lot to take in.”
“I’d like to be part of the plan, actually,” Kody said from where he lay on his back beside Tegan. “I mean, in a way, they’re kind of like our people now. And we’ve been training with our abilities. Maybe we could lend a hand.”
“We haven’t even been training for a month, Kody,” Mariah said. “Yeah, the Elders have said we’re progressing well, what can we do, really? We’re just a bunch of kids.”
“Just a bunch of kids with powers,” Kody cackled.
“They’re not exactly powers, remember? More like innate skills.”
“It doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, we have it. And I’d really like to put them to the test.”
“I don’t think we’ll be allowed to go,” Aari said. “Besides, the Elders have picked their twenty volunteers already.”
“Thanks, killjoy,” Kody grumbled.
“Am I really a killjoy for stating a fact, or are you just a sourpuss?”
“The second one,” Mariah teased.
Her mirth faded shortly. “I’m still kind of in shock that not everyone in this valley is as nice as we thought.”
“There are always a few rotten apples in the basket,” Tegan said, huffing out a sigh. “Rotten apples that look so good on the outside.”
Aari snorted. “You’re such a girl.” That earned him a hard smack on the head. “Oy!”
Jag flopped back. “Mmph. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m itching to train. This is the third day we haven’t been able to because the Elders are so busy.”
“Let’s spar,” Tegan said suddenly.
“What?”
“Yeah, we can’t really progress with our ability training, but we can practice the defense techniques we’ve been taught.”
Jag bolted to his feet, beaming. “Alright. Let’s go, you and me.”
Tegan hooted in delight as the pair moved away and squared off. Mariah, now left between Aari and Kody, asked, “You guys up for a match?”
“Sure.” Aari got up, brushing himself off. “You coming, Kode-man?
“Just call me when she beats you,” Kody answered, and closed his eyes for a short snooze.
* * *
Farther up the valley, the Elders rested on divans in the temple as they waited for their twenty volunteers to arrive. Tayoka was absently using his foot to rock the top of a box full of gadgets that Magèo had brought to them for the mission. Without intending to, he tipped the box too far and some of the gadgets toppled out.
The other Elders looked over and Tayoka shot them a sheepish grin as he hastily collected the devices. Among the things he gathered were several fibrous coils that the villagers referred to as active vines. They were capable of binding an adversary’s hands or legs much like handcuffs, except the coils would self-activate upon contact.
Once Tayoka had put the items back in the box, he returned to the divan. The Elders had decided that each of them was to lead a group of four on Ayen’et. Nageau and his team would coordinate the attack from a vantage point up on the mountaintop. Ashack and his group would enter through the abandoned tunnel, while Saiyu’s team would approach from the east, near the beasts’ building. Tayoka was to lead his team from the north and take position at the edge of the mountain behind what Tikina had described as the building where food was served to the miners. Finally, Tikina herself would be stationed behind the largest building—the workers’ barracks—at the eastern edge of the site, with her group.