Echoes from the Lost Ones

by Nicola McDonagh

  Walking amongst limp arms and legs, I crouched down and touched cold face after cold face. When I came upon Eadgard and Sister Gabriel, I pushed them both onto their backs. I lingered by Eadgard’s mouth, let my ear listen for sounds of his breathing, but heard nowt. I rose, wiped my eyes and stood straight and strong. I looked over the bods that lay so still on the floor and paused.

  Then, I took a breath and sang until my throat could take no more.

  Bent double from the effort I sank to my knees and buried my head in my hands. For the first time in my life, I prayed. To the Greenman, the Onegreatbeing and the BabyCheesus. I prayed for Marcellus, Wirt, Eadgard, Sister Gabriel, and all those that lay near to death, to breathe and live again.

  When I’d done, I lifted my head. No one moved. I leant over Eadgard. To my wonder and delight, I saw his face take on a colour more suited to life than death. Turning to Sister Gabriel, I noted that she too had a pinkness where before was only pallor.

  I rose and stepped between bod after bod and witnessed the same glow appear upon the dull skin of all that lay unconscious. When I came to Wirt and Marcellus, I almost let out a girlygig shriek as their lids began to flutter. One by one I witnessed the lifeless open their eyes take in air and slowly get to their feet. Some retched up dryness, some wobbled and shook their heads as if to dispel something stuck inside. Then all stood straight.

  I saw them through a haze of bafflement, for I did not know just what had occurred. My mouth felt all scratchy and dry, but there was a cleanness of taste instead of bitter bile. I rubbed my eyes and blinked a bit and saw the floored folk slowly come to life.

  They moved their arms first, raising one then the other high above their heads. Shoulders wriggled and faces contorted in pain then relief as blood flowed with a quicker force than before. My head tingled as my wits were restored. It felt as if a clammy hand had been lifted from my brain and the world and what I must do became clear once more.

  I stared at the dazed monks, nuns and other folk and they too lost their look of dumb. I saw them twitch, turn and babble to themselves, then at each other, until a low murmur swept throughout the risen. I’d not heard such noise in all the time of our stay.

  The silence that had been became a roar of thanks that turned to anger, as more became aware that something wrong had occurred. It was a sound of defiance that caused a swell in my chest. I smiled at Eadgard and he gave me a thumbs-up sign. He stared into Sister Gabriel’s eyes, she squeezed his forearm and nodded to the others. Eadgard, protector that he was, went amongst the folk checking for injuries and chatting to one and all.

  I approached Sister Gabriel. “Sister, what has been and gone here?”

  “An underhandedness of high proportion, my dear.”

  I folded my arms and cocked my head to one side. Although glad at her rejuvenation, Brother Dominic’s words of her duplicity lingered in my nonce. “Indeed, a deception of the highest order, of which I am told you were to have contributed?”

  Sister Gabriel sighed and looked to the ceiling, then gave me one of her piecing stares. “Listen not to the words of those who are so devious.”

  I was about to ask her to clarify, but my attention was drawn away from said nun by the sight of Wirt and Marcellus walking towards us. I could not help hugging both to my chest. Neither pulled away and it was Eadgard who finally parted our reunion by saying, “We were all sitting in the place of eating when we heard Brother Dominic chant the word ‘Abbot.’ Then all went black, until I heard you call to me.”

  He took my hand and we partook of a relief-filled grin. From the corner of my eye, I saw the newly risen folk approach, all eagerly chatting as though they had been asleep for many moons. They stopped in a huddle before me and their banter ceased.

  A young grey-robed monk stepped forward and bowed. “You are a wonder. May I take it upon myself, Brother Francis, to give you thanks for restoring us all to rightfulness?”

  “Thanks accepted with the grace given. However, I did nothing to aid your recovery other than.”

  “Other than what?”

  I lowered my eyes. “Other than pray.”

  “We are relieved to be free from the seeming spell we have been

  under since our arrival.”

  “Which was when?” Eadgard said.

  “That I cannot say. I am guessing some goodly time and then some.”

  A hand touched my elbow. I turned and saw Marcellus. “Adara, where Brother Dominic?”

  I pointed at the far wall. “He lies senseless at the end of this corridor. He aimed that sound weapon at me on full potential and I felt a compulsion to prevent him from using it,” I said and chin gestured to where said thing lay. Sister Gabriel hurried to where it was, picked it up and pushed the two separate pieces together. It clicked, and I swear the thing was all restored.

  “How you do this?”

  “I used my voice. Brother Jude, although a baddy, as it turns out, schooled me well.”

  “Now you are the weapon I think, my dear,” Sister Gabriel said and peered at the deadly object. “This he kept a secret. But not the dope he put into the food to keep everyone placid.”

  “I knew it must be drugs. All this while here and not knowing why or what we are about.”

  “The Abbot. Why I had almost forgot about him. He was the reason for our visit,” Eadgard said.

  “And the reason we are all here. He must be found. Without his guidance we are as nothing,” Brother Francis said.

  The assembled folk lowered their heads and I felt a waft of hopelessness spread amongst us all. I looked to my friends, but each one shook their head, except for Sister Gabriel. “Although I do not know for sure. I believe I have an inkling as to where Brother Dominic and Jude may have secreted him.”

  “When the time is right, Sister Gabriel,” Eadgard said and bent close to her. “I would have words with you concerning your involvement in all this chicanery.”

  “My dear, set your mind at ease. I never was a part of their plot. When mention of spies abounded our conversation, it was I who should have come clean. I work for those who wish to prevent the Agros and Scientists from completing their intent.”

  “Which is?” I said and sidled up close to her.

  “Ah, now if we knew that, then all would be quite different,” she said and pulled off her face and neck covering. Eadgard’s eyes widened at the sight of sister Gabriel’s long red hair falling all a-bouncy around her shoulders, quite changing her outward appearance from shifty to sultry. Those gathered around us put their hands to their mouths and stepped back.

  “Ye are a Lady,” Wirt cried, grabbed one of her hands and held it up to show us all. “See? See her perfect fingers? I would guesstimate she has not a blotch or blemish or nowt about her bod that would show her to be as we are.”

  “What a perceptive creature you are, dear, Wirt. A Lady, you are half right. But those that look at the floor right now not knowing what to think, may like to understand that we Ladies are more than the sum of our parts.”

  “More hidden things. More confusion. We not know what to think,” Marcellus said and turned away. Eadgard wiped his face with his hand and blinked.

  “The finding of the Abbot must be our next priority,” he said.

  “For sure, my dears, Brother Dominic knows his whereabouts. Adara, you must rise him from his stupor.”

  “This I will try to do, Sister Gabriel, or whoever you are, but I am all concerned that if I waken one then the other will also rise.”

  Marcellus stepped forward. “We make sure treacherous monk not move,” he said and marched off towards the staircase where Brother Jude lay.

  The non-holy folk came forward. A large male wearing a black skirt not unlike those worn by the Manlys in Wirt’s camp, addressed us. “Yer man there is brave, but I reckon could do wi a hand. My nam is Bestanden and I and the other males wi keep yer large pal company,” he said and with a wave to the others joined Marcellus.

  Wirt took my hand. “So, Adar
a, shall we go to Dominic?”

  “A better plan I cannot think of,” I said and Wirt, Eadgard and the not quite Sister Gabriel followed me to where he lay sprawled out upon the floor as if a great wind had knocked him over. The monks and nuns that remained in the corridor scuttled over and stood droop-eyed opposite his prostrate form.

  “It may be best if you do not linger here. We are not certain of Adara’s powers and your safety is of the utmost importance.”

  “Sister Gabriel is right, although, she is not actually a nun,” Eadgard said and folded his arms. He stared at her all squinty-like and she lowered her head. “Exactly who are you?”

  Wirt raised his hand bub-fashion and said, “She is a Lady and her name is, wait I’ll have it in sec.” He folded his arms and stared with deep intent into the fake Sister’s eyes. She stared back and let her mouth turn up at one end as if to suggest Wirt would have a bother to complete his task. “Kendra. That is yer name.” She clapped.

  The holy ones stared wide-eyed and forlorn at Kendra. Eadgard sighed and spoke, “This must be a moment of befuddlement beyond any you have encountered.”

  They nodded.

  “May I suggest you all go to the library and there familiarize yourselves with the findings Sister Gabriel, I mean, Kendra, has unearthed?”

  They did not move.

  “Really, it would be best if you went,” Eadgard said and flicked his fingers in the direction of the library.

  They remained still.

  Eadgard folded his arms.

  “Why do you not go?”

  The god believers looked at one another and Brother Francis said, “But sir, the lost books are forbidden to us. We may only read them on the direct instructions of our Brother Abbot.”

  Kendra pushed her thick hair behind her ears, blinked a slow blink of composure and walked over to where the nuns and monks stood; their eyes lowered, their heads glum-hanging, and said, “My dears, your Brother Abbot is quite out of it. He has not given a direct order for many, many moons. Go, look through the banned books, and learn the things that all should know.”

  They lifted their weary noggins and stared blankly at Kendra. She smiled, reached out and took the hand of the newbie monk. Then she placed it into the hand of a juve nun that stood next to him. “Clasp onto one another for support, my dears and do what must be one. The more who know the truth, the better for all.”

  “You speak wisdom,” Brother Francis said. “Come, brothers and sisters, let us learn that which will make us strong.”

  The holies blinked and shuffled their feet, then took each other by the hand and strode towards the library.

  Kendra folded her arms and gave a goodly sigh. “Ah, they will be much tested with regards to their faith.”

  I also gave out a cheek-filled blow of air. “That they will and no mistake. What little faith I had in anything became as nowt when I set my eyes on those revealing pages.”

  Eadgard turned to me with lowered brow and thin lips. “Come, Adara, it is time to rouse Brother Dominic and find the Abbot.”

  “And when we do?”

  He took both my hands in his and said, “When we do, your true mission will begin.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The Abbot

  What mission other than to save my bro? I asked Eadgard more than once on the way to awaken the traitor, but he merely smiled and patted my head. “Ah, you have time to fully comprehend on our next journey. Now you must make that scoundrel talk. Although, by the look of him, it will be a tall task.”

  My friend was right. Brother Dominic did indeed look somewhat bereft of life. If that was the case then all hope of discovering the whereabouts of the Abbot and saving my bro and the other Meeks would be lost. I clenched my fists in vexation, bent low and stared at Brother Dominic’s pale as a ghostowl face. I sighed and saw the fake monk’s eyelid twitch. Quick as a scatter bug, I crouched by his motionless bod, leant close to his ear and gave forth a whispered tune. Quiet, so only he could hear. The melody was oddly indeed and I was glad the others were far enough away so that they could not discern the spooky notes that issued from my slightly parted gob.

  I paused and stood.

  No further movement.

  His once ruddy cheeks were white. His lips tinged with blue and his thick, long beard clumped with globs of blood. He did not give out an aura of alive so I poked his thigh with my foot. Brother Dominic’s mouth opened and I heard him suck in oxy. He then let rip a gasp so ghastly that all stepped back.

  I bumped into something solid and turned. “Marcellus,” I said all high like. He grinned and we exchanged an eye-to-eye look. My stomach flumphed and for the briefest of secs, I forgot about the monk and the Abbot. With a great effort, I pulled my girly gaze away from him and back onto Brother Dominic. He coughed, lifted himself onto one elbow, then fell down with a grunt of great magnitude.

  Kendra stepped forward and pointed at the injured Agro. “Help him to his feet, my dears, so that we can question him as to the whereabouts of the Abbot.”

  Eadgard strode to where Dominic lay and gestured for Marcellus to follow. My Clonie friend touched my elbow and I felt a tingle sweep up my arm and neck. He joined Eadgard and the two males each took an arm of the Brother and yanked him into a standing position. His head lolled between his outstretched arms and his knees buckled. Kendra stood before him, lifted his noggin, peered into his eyes and said, “Tell us where the Abbot is, Brother Dominic.”

  He managed a husky laugh. “I’m no brother.”

  “You are not that is for certain.”

  The Agro squinted and blinked. He gazed at Kendra as though seeing her for the first time. Indeed, he had not looked upon her since she had revealed her true form. “You are no nun. What kind of deception has occurred?”

  “Tell us, who are you?” Kendra said. He said nowt. She pulled on his scalp hair and he flinched. “Name yourself Agro scum.” He did not. Kendra gripped on tighter. “Wirt,” my friend hurried to her side, “can you name him?”

  He grinned and put his hand against Brother Dominic’s chest, causing him to lift his gaze. Wirt looked to the ceiling then straight into the Agro’s eyes and said, “Ryce. Powerful.”

  “Indeed, his moniker suits him, my dears. But it is not an Agro name.”

  “Carnie,” I said and shuddered at the thought of those meat-eating collaborators. I recalled the time they came to Cityplace to fool us with fakery and mind jests, whilst Agros took our Meeks.

  Kendra spat. “Carnie scum.” She let go of Ryce's head and shouted into his ear, “Where is the Abbot?”

  He did not reply.

  Eadgard looked to Marcellus and nodded. They let go of Ryce’s arms, he collapsed onto the ground. Coughing and breathing heavily, he lifted himself slowly and stood all wobble-legged. I marched over and prodded his shoulder. “Tell us where the Abbot is so that he can give me what I need.”

  “Which is?” he said and folded his arms.

  I could not answer. I had no clue.

  Ryce snickered wetly. It was an unpleasant noise like the sound of nose glop just after a sneeze. I stared at said protuberance and noticed that his beard looked different. He chortled again and as his shoulders shook, I swear I saw a wad of hair fall loose from said face covering.

  “Do not worry Adara, the Abbot knows all and will reveal all. When we find him. Now tell us where he is,” Eadgard said and loomed over Ryce.

  “And if I don’t?”

  Marcellus grabbed the counterfeit holy man by the shoulders. He pulled him close and said, “Tell what friends ask, or we pull heart from chest.” Ryce gulped, closed his eyes, then opened them.

  “Big words Clonie, but I have no fear of you or what you say that you can do. I know that you will not kill me. You need me.”

  Marcellus thinned his lips and glowered. “We not kill, but we hurt,” he said and punched Ryce hard in the lower parts. Ryce doubled over. Marcellus stood behind him and grabbed hold of his smacked nads.

 
He wailed like a sickly bub and said through gasps, “I will take you to the Abbot. Remove your clenched fingers from my most private area.”

  Marcellus let him go. He straightened slowly, puffing out air from his downturned mouth. Marcellus wiped his hand on his troos and stood by my side.

  “Move,” Eadgard said and gave Ryce a nudge in the ribs. The Agro spy rubbed his side and walked all shakily towards the main corridor, with my Backpacker comrade close behind.

  Wirt grabbed my left hand, Marcellus took my right, and with both of my friends by my side, we followed. Kendra hurried past us to Eadgard, and thusly we marched through the long passageway to the place of sitting down, and entered.

  It was strange to see the room empty and without the goodly smell of well prepared food. Although I now knew that the grub was tainted, my mouth began to water just from being there. Ryce stopped at the counter where we had loaded our plates and ran his fingers around the metal front. It had round studs jutting out from it that formed a series of small triangles. He paused at one of the shapes, situated to the right hand side, and pressed the top nodule. A scraping sound ensued. To our amazed eyes the entire counter leftover food and all, moved backwards to reveal a hole in the floor with a spiral stone staircase leading down to who knows where. Ryce bent low over the gap, clapped his hands and the dark cavernous pit lit up.

  “The Abbot is down there?” Eadgard said and peered in.

  “He is.”

  We gathered around the opening and stared at the broken and moss encrusted staircase. Ryce moved away and began to pick dried blood from his beard. When more hair came loose, he tried to conceal the suspish of it by rubbing the whiskers upon his tunic. I glared at him and he caught my eye. He quickly pointed at the opening. “The steps are somewhat precarious. I suggest you tread carefully lest you fall. I have revealed all. Now I will be on my way.”

  He turned as if to flee, but Eadgard grasped him by the string around his waist and pulled him to the edge of the shaft. “Oh, we will be as cautious as a birdybird on the lower branch of a tree,” he said and poked him in the shoulder blades. “After you Ryce.”