“Come in. My dear, do not be offended by our talk. We have only your well-being at heart,” Audrey said.
I stumbled in and Odelia took me gentle-like by the elbow and sat me down at the table. She took the lamp from my hand and rested it on the floor. I stared at the angry red flame, and felt my cheeks take on a similar glow.
“Deogol, that means ‘secret’ does it not?”
“Indeed, it does, Audrey,” I said, pulling my gaze away from the light and onto her smiling face. Odelia sat next to me and stroked my arm.
“Calm now sweet thing and let our dear Audrey speak with you.”
I un-tensed my muscles a bit and let Odelia continue to massage my hands and wrist. Audrey narrowed her eyes and stared hard into mine.
“Did you never wonder why he was so called?”
“Mam said it was because she didn’t know she was with him until he was nearly out.”
“A charming answer,” Audrey said, “but I believe she named him because she knew he was to be Meek.”
“Highly possible since he possessed great meekness right from outing.”
“He had the gift of Tech?”
“The what?”
“Did you not notice that ability in your bro?” Odelia asked and kneaded my flesh more forcibly.
“Well, yeah, I guess so. He could fix and make the comps do stuff I could not.”
She ceased her rubbings and both she and Audrey exchanged a look of all knowing.
“That is what they want. This new generation that has the ability to figure out the innards of these machines that grow ever dated and soon will become obsolete.”
I scratched my noggin and tried to make sense of what Audrey said.
“Have they not Techs of their own?”
“Rumour has it, my dear, that they have left. And without those to do their bidding and provide all comfort, they must and indeed it would seem, have found an alternative.”
I let what she said sink in fast. My tiny brain squirmed with all the info and I rubbed my eyes and shook my head in an attempt to make sense of it all. A churning in my innards caused me to gulp and fear more for my bro than I had done before.
“I caught Deogol yearning after an image of a place the Agros sent to his comp. They are goodly indeed at charm and deceit and may have such ways of persuading the Meeks to do their bidding.”
“That is a possibility. If they do succeed and advance their tech to outstrip ours, then we are all in grave danger.”
“How so?” I said.
Audrey closed her eyes, clasped her hands and put them underneath her chin. She took in a sigh, parted her fingers and looked at Odelia and myself.
“We have something they want.”
“You Ladies do?”
“Not only us, Adara. All. You know what I mean I think?”
I was about to shake my head and declare that I did not, but then I remembered what the Agros prized more than anything else.
“They want our reserve of seeds.”
The light from the lamp on the floor flickered and went out.
Audrey sat back in her chair and tucked her hair behind her ears.
“Most likely. And if they do succeed in obtaining said grain, we are all as good as dead. I see why the Agros need the Meeks. To decipher the codes where the seeds are kept.”
Now I knew nowt about the politics of my home. And if I am truthful, cared even less about the eyesore that was commonly known as the Seedhoardplace. But Audrey’s words gave me cause for great concern.
I wiped my face and said, “Now it makes all sense that the Agros came to ransack Cityplace. And the Woodsfolk camp.”
“Soon they will come for us.”
I raised myself up and slapped the table hard.
“They must be stopped.”
“You are not the only one to wish that,” Audrey said.
“Who else?”
Audrey took a sigh and looked at her fingers. I sensed there was much she did not want to reveal. Odelia tapped the table and from the look on her face, I assumed she wished severely to blab.
“Who else?” I said again and stood. Odelia, unable to keep the words from leaping out of her mouth, spoke.
“Others with a like mind. Others that wish to remain obscure so that that they have a chance to save us from the ever domineering Agros and their supporters.”
“Odelia, hush. Adara does not need to know such…”
“I believe she does,” Odelia said and stood facing me. “The others, and there are many, are out there gaining Agro info by means of infiltration and observation.”
“What? That does not sound like much of a plan,” I said. “An attack upon all Agros would serve us better than that.”
Audrey waved her hand to suggest we sit back down. We did and said Lady continued in a hushed voice. “Sometimes stealth has more power than force.”
“I know little of the ways of spying, good Lady. I am to be a backpacker when of ready age. I know only fist and clobber. If I succeed in my mission then I will not have to wait the one last orbit before I reach eighteen and be welcomed as a S.A.N.T.”
Despite my rising anger, I could not help but let my mouth mimic Audrey’s when she gave me a heartfelt grin, took my hands in hers and gazed deep into my eyes. “I am sure you will be successful my dear, but until that time, your path will take a darker turn.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“The hour is late. I have kept you from repose long enough. Know that I do not keep info from you to annoy. Only, to protect.”
“This I do believe,” I said and was overcome with a vastly yawn.
“There now, I have kept you awake when you should be snuggled and soundly asleep. Come my dear and I will show you to a place of rest.”
I stood, and then to my utmost startliness, fell to a heap upon the floor.
“Goodness, you are all to pieces from what has occurred. The day you described to me has been more than one lifetime’s events.”
“Here, let me assist you to the cushions, as I fear you will not make it through the door to another place,” Odelia said, and I let her help me up and guide me to the squishy squares that I had been so comfy upon before. I laid my head down and that was that.
***
Everything vibrated. I lifted my sleep weary lids and saw Audrey standing over me, a look of deep concern about her face. She was lighting candles despite the approach of dawn, and just when she had lit the last one, they all went out as a gust of wind from an opened door rushed into the room. Odelia ran in with a look of fearfulness upon her perfect countenance. Now quite, quite awake, I stood and rubbed the sleep gunk from my eyes.
“Audrey, male voices have been heard outside the wall. Voices and bangs that would infer a gathering of Manlymen, or worse.”
“It would seem that you have been followed my dear. Pity. We must hide you.”
“What? Nah, too risky, we should go.”
“Where to? We may be surrounded. No, you will stay in secret for a while. There is more I should discuss with you.”
“If that is your wish I cannot say no,” I said. “You have been the very kindest there could be.”
“A pleasure, my dear, a pleasure.”
Over Audrey’s shoulder, I saw Wirt enter. I waved to him and noticed his face was all sad and downcast. He was carrying our things. On closer inspection, I observed that our clothes had been washed and that my Synthbag had been opened. There is a light upon the left strap that appears yellow when someone, not the owner, has had their mitts inside. I grabbed said sac from Wirt’s tightly grip and surveyed the innermost parts of my bag.
“Do not concern yourself, Adara. I gave instructions for your Synthbag to be replenished of goodies in readiness for your eventual departure. Is everything in order?”
“And then some. How did you come about obtaining Fruitles? I have not seen said product for many an earth spin,” I said and laid the newly-filled thing onto the ground before my feet.
“We have our contacts. Now we must whisk you away to a place of concealment before the threat outside becomes a danger within.”
“How did they find us Audrey? Were our guests followed? Or has someone spilled the beans of our whereabouts when out delivering?” Odelia said.
“Unlikely. Are we not cautious beyond cautiousness?”
“We are, but…”
“Do not contemplate the notion that one of our Ladies has been indiscrete.” Odelia bowed her head and I saw a frown come and go on Audrey’s brow. A loud explosion blasted outside and for a moment, I could not hear. All fell to the ground and Lady after Lady came scurrying in. I crawled to where Wirt was crouching behind a large cushion, and took his hand. He pulled me close and I felt a tear or two drop upon my neck. Another whoosh-bang! And another. A window smashed to smithereens and Audrey stood.
“No time for fear and fright inside. We must whisk away our beloved things. You know the drill. Hide the animals and seedlings, then yourselves in the bunker under the bathhouse. Then, when all is quiet, return back here quicker than a whistle blow.
I watched the Ladies swish their way out of the Meetinghouse and met eyes with Audrey. She beckoned me to join her and I stood, dragging Wirt behind me like an unwilling bub at firstdayatlearningplace. Before we reached her, another thunderous bang shook the entire room. We staggered and fell to the ground, covering our heads with our arms, as bits of hard outside stuff landed upon our prostrate selves.
No sooner had the shaking stopped, than another whiz-bang explosion stirred up more dirt and rubble and sent it blasting throughout the space. I curled up small and felt Wirt press against my back. And through the fear and crashing noise, Audrey’s soothing voice was heard. “Be not too startled and fretful, my dear ones. Although these bombings seem quite harsh, they are but testers sent to flush us out in panic. We will stay our ground. These shocks are not meant to kill or maim. My guess is that our assailants are not Agro but Woodsfolk males, come for retribution. I am saddened that they have come so close to our haven.”
I raised my head and through the dustiness saw Audrey wiping grime from one of the overturned candlesticks. She caught my stare and smiled.
“You see? No real damage done. Come, bring Wirt with you and let us abide underneath this rather staunch table until they that wage this pretend war have tired. Although near, they cannot know where the entrance is, otherwise, they would surely have swarmed inside.”
I got to my knees and uncurled Wirt from his ball-like position, and then with him grasped most firmly to my waist, crouched down under the table with Audrey. She embraced us both and there we stayed, hands over ears for what seemed like two lifetimes, until the bangs and crashes ceased.
Chapter Eleven
More Questions Than Answers
We waited long, listening for sounds of voices from outside. Shouts gruff and male came to our ears and I caught a note of deep frustration as bits of garbled words filtered in.
“Ye said ye knew...Wa? Cannae be here... They’d be out if they were... Right, try the next place.” The mutterings and slashing noises faded and I let out a long sigh.
The sound of wood scraping on wood caused us to turn our attention to the door. It opened stiffly spreading dust and grit before it, and in walked Odelia, carrying two kittles in her hand, followed by the other Ladies. They slow-stepped behind her, with pets and foodstuffs held tightly in their arms. She walked to where we hid and said, “All noise and male stench has gone.”
“As I hoped, they had no real clue as to where the entrance lay.”
“I recognised a voice,” Wirt said. “Sure it was Aiken.”
“Aiken, that name resounds familiar.”
“He is the one we no longer see fit to entertain,” Odelia said.
We squiggled ourselves free from underneath the table and Audrey held out her arms. Odelia fell upon her chest and the kittles spilled onto the floor and sought out a hiding place behind a cushion.
“He is of a mean distemper and was the cause of severing all links with your tribe Wirt.”
“What did he do?”
“This, this is what he did, Adara,” Odelia said and pulled up the sleeve on her left arm. I sucked in air and Wirt averted his eyes at the sight of a deep ragged scar that snaked its way around the whole of her upper arm. “I am no longer able to perform my duties. Males do not want a scarred Lady to give them massage and sweet words. It is only thanks to Audrey’s kindness that I have a home to call my own.”
“And always will my dear. Enough, we must put right what has been overturned. I would have you and Wirt come with me. Odelia too. I wish to see for myself how far those males penetrated our defences.”
We left the dishevelled Meeting place and went into the courtyard. Audrey shook her head at the sight of seedlings unearthed from their beds. She stooped down and pushed one or two back into the soil then sighed. “There is much to fix and I have prickle upon my flesh from what has occurred.”
“It is our fault. Nay, it is all mine. I was not cautious enough.”
“I fear Wirt is right. It may be that we were followed. I did not think to cover our tracks, so swift was our departure from his home camp.”
“Do not blame yourselves. We are always on alert here. To be frank, it was just a matter of time before someone sought us out. We have one or two enemies that would reap revenge for past deeds. Do not ask who or what, secrets are our most precious friends.”
“Secrets seem to be all that I have to go on. The more I move the more I am bogged down by them.”
“Dear Adara, do not lament so. Life itself is fragmented. Consider your plight a challenge to be overcome. Too much knowledge too soon can be a danger.”
“How so?”
“What we don’t know won’t harm us.”
“Eh?”
“An old saying, but an apt one. Come let us to the entrance and assess the damage done.”
As we walked to the place a haughty wind blew round us causing a shiver to shimmy down our backs. Odelia twitched then shrugged and probed the bushiness with her foot. Audrey set to parting the greenery and squeezed through the gap we’d come through. I peered too but became distracted by Wirt’s pained face. A surge of compassion washed inside of me at the sight of his distraughtness. I shook off my gloom and took his hands in mine.
“Come, Wirt, time for blame and guiltiness is past. What is done is done and we must continue on.”
“Aye, ye say right. But I have such a liking for the Ladies that I cannot forgive myself for causing such havoc.”
“You are not alone in that blame. Let us do what we can to help.”
“Aye, we at least can do that.”
He smiled at me and took a sigh to clear his doom-laden thoughts. Audrey emerged with pobbles of stuff attached to her tunic and as she walked towards us, Odelia picked off the prickly seed pods.
“Panic, most severely over my dears. The entrance is intact. They had no clue. They may try our other lairs, but will find them empty and so grow tired of encountering failure, and go home. Look not so sad, dearest Wirt, all is now well and as before.”
“Except that we should go,” I said.
“Ah, yes, you must. Although it grieves me to be parted from you when we have just met. I have a liking for you, ‘bird catcher.’”
I felt a modest lump gather in my throat and pressed the fingers she put into my hand with affection. Odelia linked arms with Wirt and said, “We must gather your belongings and make up a picnic of tasties to fortify your travels.”
“Good, Odelia, take young Wirt with you. I would have one or two more words with Adara.” They left and Audrey took my arm. “We will walk slow to the place I must now show you,” she said and pointed to the far end of the courtyard. “The blue building to the right of the Bathhouse is where we must go.” But go we did not. A look of disquiet spread across her features and she drew me close and whispered, “I will advise you on one thing only, be not trustful of those that
seem above trust. Take no one as you find them and listen to your judgement, whether or not it seems appropriate.”
“That was more like three bits of advice,” I said and we smirked.
Much chattering and sadly laughter broke our close musing and I waved to Odelia, Wirt and several of the Ladies as they approached us from the Meetinghouse carrying my Synthbag and another pouch bulging with goodies. I took my special sack from the hand of the childcarrying one and hoisted it over my arm. It felt good and right nestled between my shoulder blades again. Wirt held the kittle that I had fondled the day before and I took it from him. I raised the furry thing to my face and breathed in its perfume smell and listened for the last time to its juddery purr.
“Let the goodbyes be swift lest we are all overcome,” Audrey said and one by one Wirt and myself embraced the Ladies all. I handed the sweet kittle back to Odelia and turned to Audrey.
“Time to go.”
“Indeed. Come my dears,” Audrey said and led us to the cabin at the farthest end of the courtyard. The Ladies called after us to have a safe and successful journey and just for a moment, I wished that I did not have to leave.
We stopped at the entrance to the small hut, Audrey opened the door and we went inside. To my amazement, and Wirt’s, it was not a room at all but a communications station. Shelves jutted out of all four walls and upon them were comps and phone portals. In the middle on top of a large metal table stood a huge telescreen with images of an unfamiliar place. Wirt let out a tiny yelp and I confess to a slight gasp myself. I had never seen so much tech before, not even in the great library in Cityplace.
“Ye can see into that territory?”
“Yes Wirt, we can.”
“Is that the Beyondness?”
“It is.”
“Can you see more? Can ye see our camps?”
“No Wirt. Just the edge of that forsaken land.”
I leant close to the screen and felt Wirt’s hand on my shoulder as he peered over it to peruse the scene before us. The image was fuzzy and all I could make out was a flat and dusty terrain. Audrey fiddled with a knobby thing at the side, and the picture cleared a bit. There was nowt much there that I could see except for broken and discarded lumps of metal. I turned to face Wirt. He shook his head and stepped back.
Echoes from the Lost Ones Page 8