Squawk: Beginnings (Book #1)

by Craig Halloran

  It was a restless night. He pondered all that Mabel had said. The hard part was trying to figure out how to get Squawk to freedom. The washout pipe was the only way he could think of.

  How in the world am I going to get the dragon there unnoticed? And why do I need to wait for the dragon games? Shouldn’t I just do it now?

  Mabel had filled him in on more details before he departed. She explained that they’d make their next move on the day of the dragon games. He needed to play along until then. As much as he wanted to do it right at that moment, he agreed to the plan. He wasn’t going to disobey another time. He’d lost a father. He’d learned a lesson.

  The storm ended. The sun rose. Gabe dressed, made some tea, and woke the guard. The man sat up, yawning. He stretched his arms.

  “That was quite a storm last night,” Gabe said, handing the man a cup of tea. “Did you hear it?”

  The guard grunted.

  “I’ll begin my chores. There’s some laundry I need to wash. Some might have been left out at night. I forget.”

  The brooding man sipped. “Why are your boots wet?”

  Gabe stiffened. He knows. “Um, I scrubbed them late last night when you slept. I couldn’t sleep. That’s when I smelled the dragon dung on them.”

  “Uh-hum.” He slurped. “Get on with it, then.”

  Gabe backed out of the room. The guard had never spoken before. It shook Gabe. He knows something. I know he knows something.

  He headed outside and up the stairwell. It was very early. Hardly a soul moved in the streets. The sun hadn’t even peeked up over the hillside. Climbing to the top, he expected to see his clothes waving in the wind. They were gone. Something that felt like a hairy worm crawled in his stomach.

  Jack!

  CHAPTER 64

  Gabe had no luck tracking Jack down over the next few days. Before, he couldn’t help but spot him everywhere he went. Now he was gone. He didn’t have any doubt in his mind that the little scavenger had taken his clothes. If he wasn’t wearing them, then he sold them. Selling them would have been the smarter choice. No one would believe that Jack could acquire clothing like that.

  I’ll get him. I’ll get him.

  The clothes weren’t his biggest problem, but they were a problem. Angela would notice. She wanted him proper as he could be. Gabe would have to explain what had happened. No matter what he said, it would draw suspicion. He tried his best to put it out of his mind. It lingered like a sand crab crawling in his brain as he finished his routine errands. Just past noon, he headed back to the den.

  Garland opened up the door with his usual friendly greeting. “Well, if it isn’t the prince of the dragon dung.” He bowed. “Welcome, sire.”

  Gabe bowed back. “Your door-opening skills are a marvel, oh King of the heavy thing that swings.” He stepped inside, allowing Garland to close the door behind him. “Any news?”

  “Perhaps. I heard secret murmurings within. The sound of a dragon choking. Squawking, one might say.” He pressed his ear to the den entrance. “Hark, the squirmings have subsided. There are rumors of new games to come. I hear strangers are in our midst.”

  “You seem to know an awful lot today.”

  “Sobriety does that to me.”

  “So who are these strangers?”

  “From places far and near, I suppose.” Garland opened the main door to the den and stepped aside. “Your lizards await your cleansing scooper.”

  “Thanks, Garland. See you later.”

  Before Gabe did anything else, he searched the room. The workbench drawer had been rummaged through. Dragon droppings were on the floor. The bucket had been turned upside down in the dragon circle. It looked as if someone had sat or stood on it. Gabe cleaned it to top order every night, but whenever he came back, things were in a different mess. He blamed Malak and Jubal. If they’d been coming and going in the den, they would mess with him. They’d been matched with a new gamer too.

  I hate those guys. Angela’s little liars.

  He took Squawk out of his cage. A new energy filled him. Like a dog, the dragon licked his face. His little claws dug through Gabe’s shirt, pinching his skin. “Easy now. I’ve lost one good shirt, and I don’t need to lose another.” Squawk rattled his neck. The dragon crawled up on his shoulder. Gabe got to work cleaning the cages and feeding the dragons. Much was on his mind.

  “I don’t know when or how,” he said to Squawk, “or why even, but we’re getting out of here somehow.” He moved each dragon from a dirty cage to one he’d just cleaned. He thought about his mother. No one had even mentioned the name Grace before. He wondered why his father never had. Why was it such a secret? And he had brothers and sisters too. How many? Where in the world can they be?

  He opened up the waste bin and took a breath. No note was inside. He’d figured one was going to pop up. He dumped the foul contents inside and closed the lid. Then he rubbed Squawk’s head. “Have you seen Mandy?”

  Squawk’s head tilted from side to side in quick, birdlike movements.

  “I don’t know if that’s a yes or a no.” Gabe envisioned Mandy. Squawk did the same thing. “I don’t guess that’s very helpful.” He labored the rest of the day, thinking more about Mandy than he should have. Her body against his. The kiss. The last time he’d probably see her would be the day of the dragon games. After that, there was no telling what would happen. Life changes fast.

  He finished up by setting all of his tools and equipment in particular places. Some of them went out of sight. He tucked the bucket and shovel underneath the workbench. As far as he knew, he was the only one who cleaned the cages anymore. It will be interesting to see where everything winds up when I return tomorrow. He spread his hands out over the odds and ends of equipment. Stay.

  “Until tomorrow, Squawk.” He rubbed the dragon’s scales after he put him in the cage. “Behave yourself.” He closed the door. As he latched it, another door opened. It was the one that led to the arena corridor. Oh, great.

  The Count emerged all alone with a wry smile on her face. “Hello, Gabe.”

  He nodded.

  “Are you finished?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” The hawkish woman eased her way into the room, coming to a stop in front of Gabe. She looked him up and down. She dusted his shoulders off, touched his face, and combed her fingers through his hair. “You manage to stay pretty clean as you work.”

  “I don’t like to get my, er, these clothes dirty.”

  “I see. You do well with that.” She leaned back against the workbench. Crossing her arms, she said, “It’s time for another round of dragon games. Are you and Mandy ready?”

  “I think.”

  “You think? I need more assurance than that.”

  “Yes,” he said, scratching his shoulder. “When are they?”

  Angela’s eyes searched his own. Digging. Probing. “We are going to have a special round of games for a select crowd. It’s a unique arrangement. It will precede the games the citizens are accustomed to. Hush-hush. Understand?”

  He nodded.

  “Gabe, I want to see total domination in that arena. A real show. Just like the last time but more.” Her hand fell on her weapon. “This matters.”

  “We’ll do our best. I can’t—”

  She slapped her hand down on the workbench. Her eyes flashed. “You will! You can!” She took a breath. Her voice and expression softened. “There is an opportunity for great things. Wonderful things. For me. For you. For Mandy. We can move on out of this stink hole to a greater city. We can live as they do.” She motioned behind her. “Fresh food. Cool drinks. But you have to work with me. Trust me. I need you, and you need me. I’ve never said that to anybody. Mandy needs you too.” She reached over and clasped his hands. “We are a team. Do you remember the dragon Mollie? She and her gamer aren’t here anymore. They moved to another place. A better place. Out of the heat and constant stink. I want that. You want that—don’t you?”

  He gave a quick
nod.

  She pulled him toward the door. “Come with me.”

  CHAPTER 65

  Mandy giggled. Gabe laughed.

  They were outside in the food court that Saul had taken him to the day before he died. The agricultural arena. Plates full of hot food were stacked on the table. Chilled drinks in cans had a frost-like substance coming off of them. He’d eaten until his flat belly bulged.

  “You eat like an oxen,” Mandy said, rubbing up against him. “I like a man with a strong appetite.”

  He gulped down some of the canned soda. “I could eat all of this nonstop for days. It’s wonderful. Filling!” He let out a belch. “Sorry.”

  She hugged his arm. “You’re so funny, Gabe.”

  Her voice delighted him. There weren’t many people in the food court. The Count was there, speaking to the people who prepared the food. One was the pretty woman who’d served him and his dad. She’d also served as a judge and cast the condemning vote. He found her eyes on him from time to time, and he’d always looked away. Several members of the Blue Guard were posted there. They milled about, going from spot to spot, stoic. One of them was Harlan. He stood as far away as he ever did beside the outer support beam of the shelter. His gaze never left Gabe. Aside from that, there were some others dressed in the robes of the dominion, eating as he and Mandy did. Not a single one of the higher-ranking citizens was there.

  Mandy slathered some honey on a hunk of bread. “Open your mouth.”

  “No, really, I’m full,” he said, holding his stomach. “I don’t think I can hold another bite—ulp!”

  Mandy shoved it into his mouth. Clutching her belly, she laughed until her eyes watered.

  Wiping off his face, Gabe started laughing too. He couldn’t remember laughing so much in his life. Being with Mandy was like riding a cloud. Her smile melted his heart. Underneath the table, they held hands.

  “I want every day to be like this,” she said. “Me and you, side by side.”

  “What about Squawk?”

  “Oh, of course him too when permitted. But you are so special. When I’m with you, I feel so alive and happy. Do you feel the same?”

  “Uh, yes.”

  “I knew it. You know, we can have more of this, much more, if you can cross over.”

  Gabe looked at her, puzzled. “Huh?”

  “You don’t know what a crossover is?”

  He lifted a brow. “No.”

  “It’s a wonderful thing. In rare cases, if a citizen proves himself, he can cross over. You know, move from the life of a citizen and into the life of the dominion. Look at your Count.” Mandy’s eyes slid over to the older woman. “She pretends to be a citizen, but she’s dominion. She likes to mix it up with the people. And my father, Oscar, he’s open to it. With what is happening with me and the dragon, we can move to another place. A better place, they say. That’s what happens to gamers with talented dragons.”

  Gabe shifted away.

  Her grip tightened on his hand. “You aren’t trying to get away, are you?”

  “No.” He turned his head aside and burped. “Just gassy. Sorry.”

  “Oh, I suppose I need to get used to that, seeing how we’re going to be spending so much time together.” She batted her eyelashes at him and began nibbling on a hunk of cheese. “Besides, you don’t have any family now. You need one of your own. It’s sad that you lost yours.”

  Gabe’s shoulders sank. “I know.” His fingers toyed with a can. Mabel was alive, but there was still a lot of mystery about her. She’d talked as if she was part of a larger group of people. He hadn’t seen anyone else, though.

  Her shoulder bumped him. “Oh, don’t be sad. There is a glorious road ahead. After we win this tournament, the sky will be the limit. Not that my life is so bad, but they say there is even better out in the beyond. I’d do anything to see it.” She played footsy with him. “Anything.”

  This is too much! His breathing started to speed up. Finally, he said, “But I’ve always thought that it was forbidden.”

  “The rules always change for those who make them. One day, I’ll make the rules. You might too. Together, we can do anything.”

  “Why me? I’m sorry, but it doesn’t make any sense. My father was shamed. I’m an outcast. The dominion knows that. I don’t have anything to offer at all. I don’t even own these clothes that I’m wearing.”

  “No, but you will. And you do have something to offer. Potential.” She looked him right in the eye. “And power. The power to control a dragon.”

  He swallowed. “Huh?”

  “It’s okay, Gabe. Sure, you had me fooled in the beginning, but I’m far from stupid. I know it’s been you that’s been controlling him all along. But not everyone knows that. Just this tight little circle.”

  “So you don’t really like me, then?”

  “That’s where you couldn’t be more wrong. I liked you the moment I saw you, before I knew anything about all of this. And that first kiss, remember? I was ignorant then. Now I’m not, and my feelings haven’t changed. I’m telling you this because I trust you. I care for you, and I need you. But in addition to all of that, I don’t want to live a day without you.” She gave him a long kiss. “I mean it. You’re going to be a great man one day. I can feel it. I believe it.”

  Ignoring Harlan’s hot stare, he kissed Mandy.

  CHAPTER 67

  The next few days went by fast. Gabe languished with Mandy. Every day in the afternoon, the two of them met in the den. Though they were never alone, there was plenty of touching, hugging, and kissing. Mandy even went so far as to help him clean the cages.

  “Ew! That’s awful. You didn’t tell me it would be so awful,” she said, dumping the bucket into the waste bin. “It smells like a thousand things died down there.”

  Scrubbing down a cage, Gabe replied, “You’ll get used to it.”

  Dropping the lid shut with a bang so loud that she jumped, she said, “You telling me that you got used to that stink?”

  “No, not really.” He grinned. “I just wanted to see if you’d do it.”

  “You tricky little varmint!” Mandy threw the bucket at him. “I’m going to get you.” She jumped on top of him. Her fingers dug into his sides.

  “Stop that! Don’t tickle me!”

  Her efforts intensified. “Why, you dirty trickster? Why? You don’t like laughing?”

  Half choking and half laughing, he said, “I hate being tickled. Let’s see how you like it!” His fingers went to work.

  She squealed with shrill delight. “Quit it, Gabe! Quit it! You’ll make me pee myself!”

  Gabe erupted in laughter. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He and Mandy sat up, catching their breath. They held hands. He noticed Squawk up in the rafters, staring at them.

  Mandy peered up. “Do you think he’s jealous?”

  “No. He’s happy.”

  “Really? How do you know?”

  “If I’m happy, he’s happy. I know.” He pointed. “See? He’s smiling.”

  “That’s the ugliest smile I ever saw.” She gave a sigh. “I can’t believe I lost my own dragon. I’m ashamed of it.” Her hand tightened on his. “I hope I never lose you.”

  “You won’t.”

  “Do you promise?”

  With thoughts of his escape still lingering in the back of his mind, he had a hard time saying it, but he did. “I promise.”

  ***

  “Help me with my gauntlets, please,” Mandy said, batting her eyes.

  Gabe slipped them on her hands, untying the showy black tassels that hung from the gloves after he did so. The dragon den was filled with the dragon hunters and the gamers. Each man helped get a younger one get ready. The day had come. The moment. Or had it? This was a private tournament, but it felt like the real thing. His eyes darted around. Someone was supposed to help him escape during the tournament. There was supposed to be a signal. A sign.

  Is today going to be the day or not?

  “You’re awfully qui
et, Gabe. What is on your mind?” Mandy leaned over and whispered in his ear. “I know that you’re going to do great today. I’m just going to look great.”

  He gave her a weak smile.

  “What is wrong?” she asked.

  “I just don’t feel well. I’m not sure why.”

  Adjusting her gloves, she said, “You’ll feel better once we get out there. The charge will come on you like a bolt of lightning. I know you. You’ll respond to it.” She made a quick kiss-kiss sound. Squawk fluttered out of his cage and onto the workbench. He crawled up on Mandy’s gauntlet. “You really did train him well to like me. Help me with my ascot, please.” She fanned herself with her free hand. “It’s sweltering in here with all this silly gear on. I can hardly bear it. Oh, I long for the wind in my hair.”

  Gabe went about the business of dressing Mandy in her garb. Harlan loomed over his shoulder, crowding him. The brute looked even more terrifying with his dragon mask on. He grunted at everything Gabe did. “Okay, you’re ready.”

  The announcer entered the den and lifted his arms, silencing the rustlings and mutterings with his engaging voice. “Gamers and hunters, it is time to begin.” He wasn’t a very tall man. Narrow shouldered and big headed, he strutted through the room. With a cunning expression, he checked every dragon and every face, taking the longest look at Squawk. “We have a special audience. It’s important that you all do your best. Just like the real thing. The unexpected will happen. Does it not always?”

  The announcer moved on, eyeballing one of the new gamers, a lean boy with a shaved head and a scowl chiseled on his face. He wore gold. Malak and Jubal were assisting him. The dragon he held in his dragonry gloves was named Klaw. The dragon was big and had fought many times before. The announcer stretched his hand out toward the dragon. Klaw snapped. “Ew, hew-hew, I see Klaw is ready for another battle.” He spun on his heel. “I see you are all ready. But to one of you, I must say farewell.” He backed into the corridor. “Let the games begin, everyone. Good luck.”