The Cave of Nine Bears (Chronicles of a Magi)

by Gene Curtis

  Steve squatted, smiled and said, “Let’s surround them.” He drew a crude diagram in the dirt with his finger. “I can ride a motorcycle and so can James. I don’t know about Nick.”

  Nick nodded, “I used to ride a mini-bike; it can’t be that much different.”

  James said, “Same basic principles, but bigger and heavier.”

  Steve continued, “We approach from three different angles.” He drew lines in the dirt. “They won’t know how many we are and would never think we’d attack with just three. That’ll create enough of a diversion for Mark to get close enough to blow the sunstone. Mark, you can watch and make your move from the cave entrance where you rescued us. What do ya think?”

  Mark thought a moment, “I can’t think of anything any better just yet. It’s a plan, but I won’t be able to rescue everyone when they figure out what’s going on. We need more soldiers. I can remanifest back to the mountain and get help.”

  Nick slapped his forehead, “I’m such an idiot. I’ve got a locator beacon.” He took out the flint knife that was the key to the time machine. “They’ve got to be monitoring for this.”

  Mark said, “Just the same, I’ve got to notify them.” He closed his eyes and disappeared.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  Calling for Reinforcements

  At The Seventh Mountain, a map displayed on the screen of the locator monitor and it beeped. It was showing a dot in the western United States. Mrs. Shadowitz tapped the screen and zoomed in. “Northeast Arizona,” she said to Mr. Diefenderfer and Mr. Young. She zoomed in a little closer and closed her eyes. A moment later she said, “I’ve got them,” and waved her hand in front of her. An image of what she was seeing appeared over the table. It showed an army of people surrounding the area and more popping in every second. “Gather everyone you can and get to this site quickly or they don’t stand a chance.” She zoomed in closer and saw the group amid the hogans. “Where’s Mark?” No sooner had she spoken than Mark came running into The Oasis and up to the stage.

  He saw the image that Mrs. Shadowitz was projecting over the table. “Good, you’ve seen our situation. Can you zoom out a little?” She zoomed out and he continued. “The sunstone is in a cave approximately here. I’ve got the charges set and it’s ready to blow. We just need to get someone close enough with a detonator. Nick has one and I have one. LeOmi has one, but Ruby has her at another location. Her staff is located in a cave approximately here.” He pointed. “The plan is Steve, James and Nick are going to approach, here, here and here, on motorcycles to create a diversion. Hopefully, Nick or I can get close enough to use a detonator. What I need is a show of force along the top of the mountains.” He pointed again. “That’ll confuse them long enough for me to get within range. When the sunstone blows, I’m going for LeOmi’s staff. I don’t know how long that’ll take so you’ll need to improvise.”

  Mrs. Shadowitz asked, “Why don’t you just bring them back to the mountain and we can get the staff later, once things have quieted down?”

  “I don’t think we’ll get a better chance at the sunstone. Once they find the charges, they’ll know we’re willing to destroy it. And Ruby has LeOmi; we’ve got to rescue her.”

  “Well, I agree. I just had to make sure. Everyone is already being gathered.” Mrs. Shadowitz stood. “We’ll be there by the time you need us.”

  Mark left, heading back outside.

  Back at the mud huts, a vehicle was approaching and kicking up a cloud of dust in its wake. A few minutes later, he saw it was a flatbed wrecker with four motocross bikes on the back. When it stopped the driver got out and Mark recognized him; it was the Hopi chief that had been in the healing ward last year. Mark approached and greeted him. “Hello sir, I didn’t get your name last year, but I want to thank you for being there and for what you did.”

  The chief smiled, “I am Yellow Bear and it is I that am honored to be of service to the staff bearer. I’m just sorry that I can’t call an army of warriors to your aid on such short notice.” He produced a signet from his pocket. “I took this in battle some years back. It may help get you close enough to do what you need to do.”

  Mark examined the ring; it bore the Neo-Phylum crest and had five bands and an agate stone on either side. It was the signet of a top level Neo-Phylum, likely one of their top leaders. He handed it to his dad. The others weren’t old enough to have acquired the rank it indicated. “This might help.”

  Steve examined it and put it on.

  They unloaded the bikes and Honaw brought up his.

  Mark said, “Mrs. Shadowitz is bringing help. They will appear on the top of the mountains and that’ll add to the illusion that they’re surrounded. She’s watching what’s happening here and said she’d have the troops here in time.”

  James said, “Hold on just a second. What if something goes wrong and they can’t get here in time?”

  Nick said, “We’re just creating a diversion and then getting out of Dodge.”

  Mark assured them, “It’ll work, even if they don’t show up in time. Someone just needs to get close enough to blow the sunstone. Just draw them away from the entrance so I can get there.”

  James looked down and shook his head. “I don’t know little brother. The exit strategy is a bit flimsy. “

  Steve shrugged, “I’ve been a part of tactics like this many times; they work most of the time. Worst-case scenario, some or all of us get KIA. So you’ve got to ask yourself if that possibility is worth the risk. I’ve done this sort of thing for a lot less at stake.”

  Honaw added, “So did Yellow Hair, but he had more soldiers.”

  Steve rebutted, “Yeah, but Sitting Bull knew he was there and Custer wasn’t there for a hit-and-run op. Custer also didn’t realize what he was up against. We do.”

  James said, “Look at us; we’re just three kids and two adults making a stand against thousands.”

  Mark answered, “David and Goliath, Gideon, Samson, Joan of Arc... Age doesn’t matter; it’s the determination to do what’s right that matters. Either you’re in or you’re not. Quit whining.”

  “Of course I’m in! I was just saying...”

  Mark looked at the others in turn, “Let’s get this thing done; mount up. Draw them away from the cave so I can get close then get out. Nick, use your ring, I’ll be listening.”

  When the four were heading out, Mark closed his eyes and remanifested to the rock outcrop in front of the Cave of Nine Bears.

  Honaw led the bikes across the hardpan desert toward the mountains. Once they were well away from the mud huts a group of a dozen or more men appeared about a quarter mile ahead in their path. They slowed on approach and the men looked like they were going to attack until one of them saw the ring on Steve’s finger. They parted and let the bikes pass.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  Air Support

  Mark used his binoculars to scan the area below. More Neo-Phylum were popping in by the second. He spotted the dust trail the motocross bikes were kicking up about ten miles away. He turned to look at the entrance of the Cave of Singing Badger. There were a woman and a man standing there. He steadied the binoculars on the side of the rock he was leaning against and saw that it was Ruby and the man that Nageed had possessed. Ruby was holding the hair of another woman, forcing her head low. Was it LeOmi? It looked like it could be, and it looked like her hands might be bound behind her back. Why doesn’t she remanifest? She’d only have to deal with Ruby then. What else is going on here?

  Ruby pointed toward the dirt bike dust clouds and said something to Nageed. Mark turned his binoculars toward what she was pointing at and saw her troops moving to block the bikes. He used his communicator ring, “Nick, they’ve spotted you and they’re moving to intercept.”

  * * *

  James was still leading the pack when a group of men wielding swords appeared in front of them, blocking their path. Instead of veering to the side, James gunned the engine and brought the front wheel up into the air ju
st before colliding with the man most directly in his path. The man ducked low and his body acted as a ramp sending James and the bike into the air. James removed two MAC-10 submachine guns from Aaron’s Grasp, spun in his seat while airborne and let loose on the six men directly behind and below. They went down.

  Steve veered left and another group appeared in front of him. He pulled an MP-7 submachine gun from Aaron’s Grasp and made short work of them.

  Nick and Honaw veered right to avoid the group James had contended with and fell in behind him. Steve fell in behind them and they continued forward full throttle. Thirty seconds later another larger group, maybe fifty in all, appeared in their path. James locked the brakes and just before coming to a complete stop, gunned the engine and spun the bike in an arc throwing a shower of fast moving debris toward the group with the back wheel.

  Nick came to a halt and fired his lightning bolt weapon toward the left side of the group. Several went down.

  Steve stopped and tossed a hand grenade to the back of the group and fired the few remaining rounds that were left in the magazine. The grenade exploded.

  James took the rest with his guns.

  James and Steve reloaded and the group continued toward the mountain.

  A couple of minutes passed and Nick heard a voice from his ring radio say, “Mark, Nick, this is Morning Dove; how do you copy?”

  Nick grinned, “Loud and clear!”

  “Roger, Nick. Can you mark your position?”

  Nick fired his lightning gun. Steve, James and Honaw looked at him. He pointed up and yelled, “Air support!” They all stopped.

  “I’ve got you. Doves, let’s dust them off, fifty AGL spread one hundred.”

  A minute later, eight F-22 Raptors sliced the air silently fifty feet above ground level, each trailing a rooster tail behind. Three seconds after they passed the sonic boom hit along with the roar of the jet engines. The mass of Neo-Phylum started running in circles looking for places to hide.

  Chenoa said, “That should have cleared a path for you boys. Have fun. We’ll stay in the area. Let us know if we can be of any more assistance. Doves, angels twenty and orbit.”

  Steve called, “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get in as close as we can and take cover.”

  CHAPTER FORTY

  Help Starts to Arrive

  Mark closed his eyes and entered Spirit Sight. He had to check closer to see what LeOmi’s situation was; he had to help her if he could. His spirit hovered low and to the side of the opening. LeOmi’s hands were indeed bound behind her back and she looked like she had been drugged. Well, that explains why she hasn’t remanifested. He looked behind them and there were six muscular men standing there, two by two, shoulder to shoulder and three rows deep. Their spirits were hovering above them, which meant they were using Tactical Sight—not good. Even if LeOmi had tried to remanifest they’d likely see her spirit leave and latch on to her so they’d go with her when she left. If he entered the cave, they’d definitely see him. He had to draw them away, but how?

  When he opened his eyes, Mrs. Shadowitz was standing beside him. Mr. Diefenderfer and Mr. Young were standing behind her.

  She said, “It’s a good thing that it was us that showed up here otherwise you could have been in a world of hurt.”

  Mark looked down, “Yes ma’am. I had to check on LeOmi. Ruby has her in the mouth of the cave.” He pointed.

  Mr. Young asked, “What’s her tactical situation?”

  “Her hands are bound behind her back and it looks like she’s been doped. There are six soldiers standing behind her that you can’t see until you’re right up on them.”

  Mr. Diefenderfer said, “Perhaps there’s... another way in.”

  “Yes sir, there is. There’s a chimney right above the sunstone about a half a mile behind them.”

  “Surprise attack,” said Mrs. Shadowitz. “What do you think, Mark?”

  “It won’t be much of a surprise; they’re using Tactical Sight.”

  “We just have... to divert their... attention for a... second or two. Did Steve get... that RPG he... ordered?”

  “Mark,” said Mrs. Shadowitz, “call Nick and see if Steve brought it with him.”

  * * *

  James pointed to a large outcrop of tall rocks and started heading that way. Honaw turned and headed back the way they’d come. James, Nick and Steve arrived at the rocks and stopped.

  Steve said, “I guess Honaw thought better about being here. This looks like a defendable position as long as they don’t have artillery.” They dropped the bikes and scrambled between the stones.

  Nick used his radio ring, “Mark, we’re in a defendable position about a half a mile from the base of the mountain.”

  Mark asked, “Does Steve have his RPG with him?”

  Nick turned to Steve, “RPG?”

  Steve grinned and nodded, “With six anti-personnel rounds and two tank rounds. Got a target?” He took the gun out of Aaron’s Grasp along with a sling of grenades and laid them on the ground.

  Nick said into the ring, “Yes, with eight rounds.”

  “Great! The target is near the mouth of the cave where the sunstone is but wait for my signal. Ruby is holding LeOmi there. We’re mounting a rescue.”

  Nick pulled his binoculars out and looked.

  Mark’s voice said, “Chenoa, are your birds armed?”

  “We’re packing: JDAMS and guns.”

  “Great! Can you keep them off of Nick?”

  Chenoa’s voice said, “Nick, signal your position.”

  Nick used his utility tool’s shiny surface to reflect sunlight toward the sky.

  “Got ya and... marked. Doves, dosey doe, stagger by five, let’s dance.”

  Mark’s voice asked, “Nick, have you got a signal on the detonator?”

  Nick checked and answered, “I’m showing one bar.”

  “If you can, get a little closer, just in case I can’t blow it.”

  “I’ll do what I can, but it’s going to be dicey down here.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  Rescuing LeOmi

  Mark held his arms out and said, “Let’s go.”

  In the sunstone room, he checked the charges; they were still in place and he had a strong signal on his detonator. Mrs. Shadowitz pulled a Thompson submachine gun from Aaron’s Grasp. Mr. Diefenderfer took out a blowgun and fitted it with a dart. Mr. Young took out a slingshot and asked Mark, “May I get a couple of bug bombs from you?”

  Mrs. Shadowitz said, “Mark, your katana should be able to slice through the chain on LeOmi’s handcuffs. When the opportunity arises, would you mind taking care of that detail? The plan is to get rid of Nageed with a bug bomb, tranquilize Ruby with a dart and I’ll take out the guards.” She patted the Thompson.

  “I didn’t know you carried that.”

  She smiled, “Kind of puts going to the principal’s office in a new light doesn’t it?”

  They jogged up the passage until they came to the turn leading to the exit. Mark used his ring, “Nick, can you signal Steve to fire, but be careful not to hit LeOmi. We just need their attention diverted for a second.”

  “Sure, I haven’t been able to move yet... here comes the first one.”

  Mark heard a jet roar past the opening of the cave along with a one-second chatter of its guns. That was followed by an explosion above the cave’s opening. Steve had hit his target.

  Mark and his team stepped around the turn and sure enough about a hundred feet away their attention had been directed toward the action outside. Mr. Young fired the slingshot at Nageed and he went down. Ruby turned to look just as Mr. Diefenderfer shot at her with the blowgun. She knocked the dart away with her sword and started toward the group until her hand, which was still locked in LeOmi’s hair, stopped her. As soon as she let go of her hair, LeOmi sprang into action with a reverse roundhouse kick to Ruby’s back. The blow was evidently well placed since Ruby arched her back and grabbed the area of the left kidney. The guards
turned toward the group. Mrs. Shadowitz shouted, “LeOmi, duck!” and a long tat-a-tat burst from her Thompson dropped the guards.

  Mark ran to LeOmi while Ruby was still stunned from the kick, “Turn around; I’ll cut your cuffs and we can get out of here.”

  LeOmi turned and held her wrists back away from her body as far as she could. The blow from Mark’s katana pulled her back a step and she yelled, “Yeow,” but the chain holding the cuffs together was severed. She immediately pulled her blade from Aaron’s Grasp in an upswing that split Ruby’s nose straight up the middle. Ruby had been a tad late in her attempt to parry LeOmi’s blade, but her reprise and thrust was quick; LeOmi barely dodged the blade. The fight was on.

  Mr. Diefenderfer poised to fire another dart and when he did Ruby’s blade knocked it aside again. Mrs. Shadowitz took aim and Ruby sidestepped to place LeOmi between her and the gun. Mrs. Shadowitz repositioned but Ruby kept LeOmi between them. Mark swung at Ruby and she parried easily, but LeOmi managed to cut Ruby across her belly.

  LeOmi said with a tone of hostility in her voice, “I’ve got this! You’re out of your league. Get out and I’ll follow.” Her attack against her sister became ferocious and Ruby began backing out of the opening.

  Mark triple clicked the button on the detonator and double-checked to see if the armed indicator had activated. It hadn’t, in fact the detonator looked like it was dead. He checked the on-off switch and it was in the on position. He flipped it back and forth; nothing happened.

  * * *

  Nick watched the first jet pass strafing the ground between him and the mountain and then nose up into the sky. Steve fired just after it passed. All the Neo-Phylum he could see hit the dirt. He used the opportunity to run to another small outcrop about fifty feet away. The detonator still showed one bar. About five minutes after the first jet passed another strafed an area closer to the mountain. After it veered off, he ran to another outcrop. Two more times and he had three bars. That’s when he heard Mark’s voice, “Nick, my detonator is dead! Can you blow it?”