The Valley

by William Meikle

  Jake rolled and came up with the heavy pistol pointing straight at the scorpion. But it wasn’t paying him any attention. It had already started to chop the Englishman up, taking him apart at waist and neck. It neatly snipped off the head which rolled and came to rest at Jake’s feet, eyes staring accusingly, mouth still opening and closing as if trying to speak.

  Jake kicked the head away.

  The scorpion had the Squire’s torso in one claw and one of his legs in another. It dragged itself backward through the hole it had made in the floor.

  It’s going to take him up to the cave.

  Jake suddenly got an idea.

  Probably the worst one I ever had, but Mama Stratford always told me I ain’t had no smarts since they first skelped my ass.

  He ran from the cabin to the storeroom and stuffed three barrels of powder into the burlap sack. He had to drop the Walker to do it, and looked ruefully at the pistol.

  Just when I need you most, I ain’t gonna be able to take you.

  He dragged the sack behind him back to the main cabin. The scorpion had just emerged from the crawlspace, carrying the bloody parts of the squire aloft. Jake drew his saber and leapt onto its back. He almost lost his balance but was able to stick the saber through one of the shell ridges and hold on. The tall tail swayed less than a foot from Jake’s head, but it was as if the beast did not even realize he was there. He dragged the sack up beside him and held on.

  The scorpion carried him up towards the mine.

  43

  The claw came down towards Frank’s groin. It opened… and closed on a small stone spear that came from Frank’s left side. Another spear flew and bored a hole in the top of the shell.

  Frank rolled away. More pain flared at his shoulder.

  The cave uphill from them was filled with the small people. They looked at Pat with something that looked like reverence.

  It’s the clothes.

  They think the Pastor has come back from the dead.

  And maybe he has.

  Pat hacked from left to right with the axe, too busy to look around. A large barbed tail swung over his head, getting ready to strike. Two of the small people leapt onto it, holding tight as it swung, not letting go even as it dashed their bodies against the rock. More of the little people ran forward to Pat’s side. They thrust spears at anything that moved in the tunnel.

  Their actions gave Pat some breathing room. He took the tail off a scorpion with one mighty slice, then split another down the middle. When he kicked that one down into the tunnel the remainder of the scorpions scuttled away, down into the darkness.

  Frank leant back against the tunnel wall and sucked air until he felt he could move without puking.

  Pat stayed at the side-tunnel entrance, legs splayed, axe raised. The little people crowded around him, stroking the duster and the cassock underneath.

  Well, the Pastor wanted to bring religion to the heathen.

  It sure looks like he’s managed it.

  Frank loaded the pistol with the last of his cartridges.

  Far down in the depths of the cave the clacking started up again.

  They’re coming back.

  Come on Jake.

  Where in Hell are you?

  44

  Jake was in his own personal hell. They had long since left daylight behind. Now he bounced, with an unsure grip, on the back of the giant scorpion. They sped along a pitch-black tunnel. Somewhere, not far enough away, a barbed tail hung, ready to strike at the merest provocation.

  It felt like they had been in darkness for hours. Jake’s arm felt stiff and sore, cramping badly where it gripped tight at the burlap sack. He had the other arm locked stiff, gripping with all his strength at the hilt of the saber.

  The scorpion moved with a scuttling, rolling gait that shook pieces of the Squire’s innards free with each jolt. A long rope of slimy gut fell across Jake’s face and slid away. Blood spattered, and no matter how much Jake tried, some of it got in his mouth causing him to gag and choke.

  I ain’t so sure those promises are worth it George.

  Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he saw light in the distance ahead.

  Just as he started to celebrate, he saw a muzzle flash and a second later a shot rang out. The ball hit the scorpion less than six inches from Jake’s hand. Pieces of shell and gore splashed over his hand and the smell got much worse.

  “It’s me, Jake,” he shouted. “Let it through.”

  Jake let go of the saber and rolled away. The scorpion stopped, momentarily confused, then moved forward again.

  As Jake looked up he saw Frank move to one side to let the beast pass. Behind Frank, Pat did the same.

  And so did a large group of the little people.

  Just like Pat.

  Leave him alone for a minute and he makes a crowd of new friends.

  The beast went down the tunnel with the remaining pieces of the Squire. A loud clacking came up from below.

  Jake tried to ignore the crowd of little people who now fawned over Pat.

  I’ll think about that later.

  He dragged the burlap sack over to the cave mouth and pulled out the fuse wire.

  “Did they all go down?”

  Frank shrugged. Jake saw that the man was in some pain. He sat down hard and slumped against the wall. Even in the dim light from the lamps he looked white as a sheet. His voice came as a throaty whisper.

  “All the ones we saw went down into the hole. What’s the plan?”

  “We light the fuses, throw the powder down the hole and get the hell out of here,” Jake said, smiling grimly.

  For the second time, Pat contradicted Jake.

  “That ain’t gonna work Jake,” the big man said softly.

  “Of course it’ll work Pat. I got three barrels of powder here. You know how big a bang that’ll make?”

  Pat shook his head.

  “We ain’t got any way of knowing how big that cave is. There could be thousands of them things down there. We gotta close this entrance.”

  Jake put the barrels down.

  “Pat. I’ve always looked after you. Trust me on this one.”

  Pat shook his head again.

  “Ain’t gonna happen Jake. We gotta do right by these folks here, and by the folks out in our world. We gotta bring this whole tunnel down at both ends.”

  “Well you see Pat…” Jake began.

  Frank interrupted him.

  “Listen to Pat, Jake. He’s right. And you know it.”

  I know it. Don’t mean I gotta be happy about it.

  Jake sighed.

  “We’ve got a problem. We’ve only got about ten minutes of fuse. We won’t get back down below in time.”

  Pat smiled a big lazy smile.

  “Ain’t no problem at all Jake. I’ll stay here and make sure the job gets done at this end. You and Frank git down to the Creek and take care of that end. When you hear this end blow, you can blow your end, and the job’s done.”

  “Ain’t gonna happen. I ain’t leaving you here Pat.”

  “And I ain’t going back down the tunnel, so what you gonna do? Shoot me?”

  The little people picked up on the aggression between the two men and crowded round Pat. Jake suddenly found himself confronted by a forest of small spears pointed aggressively in his direction.

  Frank laughed.

  “Looks like the big man has the upper hand Jake.”

  Jake looked at Pat.

  “I can’t leave you big man. You’re the only friend I’ve got left.”

  Pat softened.

  “Somebody’s gotta tell the families what happened to the rest of them. You’ve got to tell your family about George. You gotta git Jake. And git quick. Them beasts will be a-crawling back up here any minute now, and we’ll have to hold them until you’re ready at the bottom end.”

  “Pat. Please?” Jake felt tears come and wiped them away angrily.

  “I’ll be fine Jake,” the big man said, looking at
the little people. “All this time you looked after me. Now I’ll be looking after these folks. I done remembered everything you taught me. I want to do this.”

  I was right.

  He has changed.

  He’s become his own man.

  Jake put out a hand and Pat shook it.

  “I’ll be gitting. You remember how the powder works?”

  Pat replied in a perfect mimicry of Jake’s own words.

  “You put a length of fuse in the end, light it, and run like buggery.”

  He handed Pat the length of fuse and clapped him on the shoulder.

  “Good luck big man. Take care of your folks.”

  Pat nodded.

  “And you yours Jake. Now git, while the gitting’s good.”

  Jake turned back to Frank.

  “It’s just you and me then Greyback.”

  Frank coughed, but didn’t get up.

  “I figured I’d just sit here for a while.”

  Frank opened his jacket. Making sure Pat’s view was obscured he showed Jake a shirt seeped with blood. There was enough for it to be pooling on the ground around his thighs.

  “I made a promise too,” Frank said. “To look after the big man. I figure I’ll stay and make sure he keeps out of trouble.”

  He put out a hand.

  “Been a pleasure Jake.”

  Jake shook the offered hand.

  “You’re a good man Frank Collins.”

  Frank coughed, and blood came up.

  “I’m working on it.”

  Jake rose. He had one last look at Pat. The little people were crowded around him, three deep.

  “You sure about this Pat?”

  “More sure than I’ve ever been. Git going Jake, before I start crying.”

  The old Pat would’ve been crying long ago.

  Jake lifted one of the oil lamps, turned, and ran down the tunnel

  45

  “You okay Frank?” Pat asked after the light from Jake’s lamp faded down into the distance.

  Frank nodded. He was glad of the extra darkness. Pat wouldn’t be able to see the amount of blood he’d lost.

  “Bring those barrels over to me big fella. I’ll get the fuses in and ready.”

  Pat dropped the sack at Frank’s feet, handed him the length of fuse, and went back to stand guard at the cave-mouth. Frank reached for the sack. Something else inside him tore. Pain flared through the left side of his body.

  Ain’t going nowhere anytime soon Frank. Best get used to the idea.

  He felt weak and dizzy. His vision came and went, darkness growing at the corners. But he had enough strength left to get three fuses into the barrels.

  “How long you want them set for Pat?”

  “Three minutes at most,” Pat said. “That’s enough time for us to run back up top I reckon.”

  Run? I can’t hardly stand.

  He set the fuses short, no more than thirty seconds, and laid the barrels down beside him.

  Jake had only been gone five minutes. They needed to give him at least twenty to get down to the Creek and back to the shaft with some powder.

  If we are given the time.

  Down in the pit the clacking came louder, and along it, the now familiar rustling.

  Here they come.

  The small people threw a volley of spears down the shaft. The scurrying got louder. A wave of scorpions tried to force their way out of the pit.

  Pat and the small people joined them in battle.

  46

  Jake ran down through the cave as fast as he dared. Several times he tripped, almost fell, but somehow managed to keep his balance. His mind was full of images, of Pat being torn apart by giant claws, of Frank foaming at the mouth as a poison barb was pulled from his chest.

  No. I won’t be letting that happen anytime soon.

  He burst out into daylight like all the hounds of hell were at his ass and slid down the hill to the storeroom.

  Two minutes later he was on his way back up to the shaft, a barrel of powder under each arm and the loaded Walker pistol shoved inside his belt.

  47

  Pat swung the axe with a ferocity Frank had never seen before.

  He has become a force of nature himself. Every bit a creature of the valley, as much as the big cat, or the wolves.

  Bizarrely the small people started to sing, a chant that Frank nearly recognized.

  And so I should. It is the song the Pastor sang at the end.

  The small people didn’t form any words, but Pat picked up on the tune and soon the cave resounded and echoed with his booming song.

  Then let our songs abound, and every tear be dry,

  We're marching through Immanuel's ground, to fairer worlds on high.

  We're marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion.

  We're marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God.

  Tens of the Scorpions fell beneath the axe. But more came on, filling the cave-mouth.

  Something fell to the floor at Pat’s feet and scurried into the darkness. But not before Frank saw what it was.

  The first of the young have hatched.

  The small ones had seen it. They stamped their feet in time with their chanting, killing the hatchlings that had fallen.

  Then they surprised Frank. Ten of them left Pat’s side. At first he thought they were going to flee. But they had other ideas.

  The small people leapt headlong into the cavern, stabbing at the scorpions even as the clacking claws dismembered them.

  The press of the scorpions grew less and once more they retreated to the depths. Pat was left with twenty of more of the small people, standing in a pool of gore, broken shell, claws and dismembered limbs.

  “Time you were going Pat,” Frank said softly. Blood bubbled at his lips.

  Pat was at his side in seconds. Frank saw, not entirely surprised, that Pat’s beard was going to grow in gray.

  “Set the fuses Frank,” Pat said. “Let’s get you outta here.”

  Frank managed to smile.

  “It’s my turn to help you big man.”

  He showed Pat the extent of his bleeding.

  “I’m a goner. Take your people and get out of here.”

  The old Pat would have wept and pleaded.

  Not this one.

  Pat nodded.

  “How long do we have?”

  “Let’s just say, I think you should run.”

  Pat looked around at the small people. They still fawned over him. They looked like they would fight to the death to save him.

  “I’m gonna bring the Lord’s word to these heathen,” Pat said. “I’m gonna give them some old time religion.”

  I think you already have big fella.

  Frank coughed and blood came up.

  “Best get going big man. I don’t have long left here, and you don’t want to be anywhere near when I light the fuse. You’ll be in the dark for a bit. I’m gonna need the lamp.”

  Pat nodded.

  “Jake was right. You’re a good man Frank Collins. I’ll be praying for you.”

  A second later he was gone into the darkness, the small people padding along silently beside him.

  Silence fell.

  Well this is a good plan Frank Collins.

  Strangely he felt at peace.

  I found the solitude I was looking for.

  The clacking resumed in the cavern below. Frank removed one of the side panels from the lamp, exposing the flame. Even that act brought lancing pain in his side. He pulled the barrel and the lamp close as the scuttling noise came from below.

  48

  Jake was breathing heavily by the time he arrived at the shaft. He placed the barrels on the ground at the entrance and bent double, sucking up air. He had just about relaxed when he heard rocks fall somewhere close by. He got the Walker out just as a huge scorpion clambered up the hill towards him. It carried what looked like half of a horse above its head.

  Jake was standing directly between it and the sh
aft.

  He rolled to one side just as the tail swung towards him, but the beast looked more intent on taking the food back up the slope. Another scorpion followed the first, this one carrying the other half of the horse.

  Jake saw an immediate problem. Neither beast was going to make it through the narrow shaft carrying such a large slab of meat. They blocked the entrance.

  And I can’t get at the fuses.

  49

  The scorpions came up out of the cavern in a rush. And it wasn’t just the large ones. The cave floor was quickly covered with the newly hatched young, a swarm of them, homing in on Frank like ants to a honey-pot.

  Frank waited till the last possible second. A large scorpion closed its claw around his torso.

  At the last, it wasn’t Pat or Jake that came to his mind. It was the boys he’d left on the field of Shiloh.

  Break out the rum lads, I’m coming home.

  Frank lit the fuse.

  50

  Jake moved as soon as he heard the rumble from above. He rolled twenty yards down the slope, turned and fired.

  The pistol kicked like a mule. It threw Jake backward down the rest of the hill so he didn’t see the immediate results.

  But his shot had hit the powder.

  The concussion of the explosion deafened him and set his head ringing. When he stood up it was just in time to see the mine collapse in on itself. A giant claw waved feebly in the air before being crushed under the rock fall. The explosion set off a landslide high above and Jake had to retreat fast as mud, earth and rock fell in a long slide, covering the shaft in tons of rubble.

  51

  Jake walked out of Ruby Creek ten minutes later. He carried a pair of saddlebags; one side heavy with food, the other with the small bag he’s found where Mother would never find it.

  Far out in the lake something large splashed.

  Jake gave the water a wide berth and set his gaze on the long trek out of the valley.