Gabe’s throat tightened as the hair on his arm rose. He’d never seen such a man before up close. He wasn’t even sure if he was a man.
With a firm and well-spoken tone, unlike what Gabe had heard from him before, the man said, “I am Gunther, the gamma trainer. And you must be Gabe.” His eyes slid to the workbench behind them and landed on Squawk. “I’d like to see your dragon. I’ve heard much about him.”
“That might not be a very good idea.” Gabe’s voice cracked. “He’s uneasy around strangers.”
“I wasn’t asking.” Gunther approached, smoothly and easily. He stood a little shorter than Gabe, but his girth made him seem much bigger. His hairy arms looked as big as three of Gabe’s legs. “I train all of the gammas, except the dragons. The Dominion is very particular the ones who work with the dragons. But they have no problem letting a mutant like me handle the other beasts and gammas.” He reached for Squawk. The dragon opened his jaws and hissed.
“You should back off,” Gabe warned. Adrenaline surged through his body.
Gunther pinned the dragon down on the table with his oversized hand. “I’ll be fine. I’ve trained more gammas than you’d imagine. The ones that won’t cooperate, I’ll kill.” Gunther’s fingers inspected Squawk’s neck and teeth. “Your dragon is sleeker than the others. The glands under his neck bulge. See the incisions? I imagine the Dominion tried to remove them. So, it’s true that this dragon spits flame? I believe it.” His nostrils flared as he sniffed. “His breath smells like char. At least there is a hint of it. It’s possible they removed the glands. Your dragon might not be able to produce the fire anymore. That would make him too dangerous.”
Gabe’s anger fired. “They clipped his wings and took his flight. Probably, you did it.”
“No, not me. You would have known. You have a connection to the dragon, don’t you? I’ve been right next door the entire time.”
“I don’t know that.”
“Surely you heard me, banging my pipe on the cages. I do that to startle the Dominion. But you took it one step further, Gabe. You climbed into the vent to take a look for yourself. Very bold.” Gunther unfolded one of Squawk’s wings and eyeballed it. “I heard you. I smell you. Nothing escapes my attention. It was your inquisitiveness that made me more curious about you.” He played with a flap of membrane on the dragon’s wing. “They really went to great effort to paralyze your little dragon. He’ll still make a good show though. I can tell. He’s an alpha gamma.”
Inching out from behind Gabe, Rann asked, “What does that mean?”
“You are a fair young lady. I heard about the ear. Do you have it? I can sew it back on.” Gunther chuckled. “The Count did the same thing to my arms, but I reattached these old hairy things.” He wiggled his arms. “Hah, I’m only jesting. I was born like this. I was raised in a cage like an animal too for the longest time. No one wanted to teach me to speak, which retarded my development. It didn’t help that I was ugly either.” He removed his hands from Squawk. “But, enough about me. You asked about an alpha.”
Gabe picked up Squawk and moved to the other side of the table.
“An alpha gamma,” Gunther continued, “is the pack leader. Dragons are pack hunters. That’s what makes them so intriguing. They are smart and small at the moment. They are very dangerous in a larger group. They are deadlier than a pack of wild gamma dogs. Their scales thicken as they grow. The teeth get bigger and sharper. They are quick.”
“I thought the gamers controlled them?”
Gunther tossed his head back. “Hah!” He moved over to the dragon cages. “Once the dragons go on the hunt, they have minds of their own. Yes, the gamers are bonded with the reptiles, but they have little control over them. The dragons are too big.” He tapped Hoss’s cage with his knuckles. “They are bigger here in the Burg and more dangerous. You see, Gabe. You had a smaller cage in Newton, which inhibits their growth, but the bigger the cage, the bigger the dragon.”
“You mean like the one I saw in your den?”
“Heh-heh, you got a glimpse of that tail eh? Yes, you’ll get a closer look soon enough.” Gunther removed a comb from his back pocket. He combed the hair on his arms as he studied the caged dragons. “They are marvelous creatures. I envy those who bond with them. It’s a true gift. But it’s a bittersweet one too. It’s very rare that a dragon lives to be bigger than one like Hoss, even with a strong gamer and trainer. The Dominion thinks they are great for entertainment, but too much of a threat to be kept at bigger sizes. That’s why we have the Dragon Games. They’re the Dominion’s humane way of killing them and other things. And if it doesn’t happen in the arena, I do it for them.”
CHAPTER 52
The Dominion always lies.
Gabe listened to Gunther, while at the same time wondered why the gamma trainer was opening up so much. Aside from the mutant man’s avid interest in the dragons, he couldn’t make much more sense of it. Gunther had a commanding presence. His apish arms looked powerful enough to tear Gabe’s arms from his sockets. His unnatural bulk flexed with every move. Yet, Gunther was strangely amiable as he rambled on.
“The coliseum is unlike anything you’ve ever seen, once the crowd gathers. It will set your blood on fire. The dragon’s a big part of the show, but not the only part, as you will get to see firsthand. Consider yourself very lucky, and please, don’t try any foolish stunts. They will catch you.”
“I won’t.” Gabe’s eyes drifted to Rann. “We won’t.”
“It’s good to have a mate.” Gunther combed his arm. “I’ve had a few in my lifetime. I know, you might find that surprising with me in this hideous form, but many women find it quite appealing. But alas, it is a miserable world, and blissful moments are short-lived. Sometimes, I wish I were an animal, a simple beast without knowledge of what is really going on.”
“You mean, like us,” Gabe said.
Gunther’s eyes brightened. “Oh-ho, you know far more than most. You’ve consorted with the Count. Many never even see the man, aside from his appearances in the arena, which make for a grand spectacle. No, you should relish what you know. It can give you power if you use it well. I have knowledge of the gammas. It gives me sway, or else I would have been killed long ago.”
“Wouldn’t the Blood Law protect you?” Gabe said.
“Psssh! I’m not a pure blood. I’m tainted. The same rules don’t apply to me as they do for you. Trust me. I’m an anomaly in this darkly clad region.” He put away his comb. “Now, it’s time to make preparations for tomorrow. You have a big day ahead.”
Gabe and Rann looked at each other.
“Am I to understand that Clovis didn’t tell you?” Gunther asked.
“Tell us what?”
“You’ll be training with the gamers tomorrow. It’s only three days until the Dragon Games begin. You didn’t know that?”
“I knew they were soon. I just didn’t know when.”
“The citizens are giddy. You didn’t notice.”
“We’ve been preoccupied,” Rann said.
“Nevertheless, the gamers are coming. You’ll have the displeasure of getting acquainted with them. They are a very froward lot, and I delight in avoiding them. Every time I speak with them, I feel an overwhelming urge to pull their arms off and beat them with their own limbs. They are very competitive, and most certainly, they won’t care for you or your dragon.”
An animal’s snarl carried out of Gunther’s den and into Gabe’s.
“Sounds like someone is hungry. Carry on. I’ll see you when I see you.” Gunther strolled into his den and closed the door behind him.
“That was weird.” Gabe rubbed his forearms.
“Those arms,” Rann said, staring at the door. “He was combing them. I’ve never seen that before. But he did have some charm about him. Do you think he’s trying to help us?”
“No, I think he’s just nosey.” Gabe watched Squawk climb up to the top level of the cages. The dragon spread his wings and squawked.
&n
bsp; “What’s he doing?” Rann asked.
“I think he’s testing his wings. Squawk, I don’t think you can—”
Squawk jumped from the cages with a fierce beating of wings. Like a chicken, he floated quickly to the ground, making a hard landing. The dragon let out an angry shriek.
Rann covered her ears. The shrill sound was amplified in the closed quarters. “Make him stop!”
Wincing, Gabe focused on calming his dragon. The scaled beast’s fury carried into Gabe’s heart. He felt himself snorting. Dropping to one knee, he picked up the dragon. Tears were in the corner of his eyes. Anger burned inside him. It was his and Squawks combined. It was building.
“Gabe.” Rann backed away. “Are you okay?”
“What do you mean?” Gabe said in dark voice that didn’t sound like his own. It was guttural and savage. His chest heaved. He watched Rann’s eyes widen.
The tunnel door popped open. Tim marched into the room with his club ready. “What in the hell did I just hear? My ears are ringing.” His eyes landed on Gabe. He titled his head and arched a brow. “You’d better turn that stare down, Gabe, or I’m going to turn your face upside down.”
Gabe put Squawk in his cage and closed the door. He wasn’t sure what happened or what he was feeling. “Uh, sorry. Squawk got upset I think. Um, Gunther came in here. He just left. I thought you should know.”
“Gunther and Gabel, huh.” Tim lowered his club. “Oh, you two will make a fine pair.” He yelled down the tunnel. “Hey, Williams, get your fat butt in here!” A heavyset Blue Guard hustled inside. He was out of breath. “Gunther paid them a visit. Report this to Clovis.”
Williams nodded his deeply dimpled double chin. His eyes soaked in the dragons in the cages.
“Get going, Williams. You got a peek in the den. We’re square now,” Tim said. Williams walked backward into the tunnel, still fixated on the dragons. “As for you two, don’t let that shrieking happen again.” He fingered his ear. “Ever!” He closed them inside.
“Gabe, what just happened to you?” Rann said with awe. “Your voice. Your eyes. It made my heart flutter, but in a bad way.”
“I don’t know.” Gabe looked at Squawk. “I don’t know.”
CHAPTER 53
Gabe and Rann finished cleaning up the den. He was inspecting the metal lockers against the wall with all of the dragon gear inside. They were wide enough to sit in. The colorful dragonry gloves hung on hooks. The gamers’ sashes were on the back pegs. He felt the blue cotton fabric. It was a little slippery but had some grip.
Rann grabbed a helmet from the top shelf of the next locker over. The plastic helmet was painted with a golden dragon face. It covered her face. A plastic shield hid her eyes. “What’s this for?”
“The gamers’ assistants wear them. Usually, it’s a dragon hunter. At least it was in Newton. I’m not sure what they do here.”
She took off the helmet. “Ow! That hurt my ear.” She adjusted the bandage on her ear as she put the helmet back up. “Should I even call it an ear if it’s gone?”
“Earhole?”
“That just sounds weird. Do you really think Gunther could sew it back on?”
Gabe shrugged. He wasn’t much for talking. His body was drained since Squawk’s fit. He’d felt every bit of it as if he was in the dragon’s body. The empathy they shared was unrivaled by anything he’d experienced in the past. Their bond was stronger.
Rann sat down in the locker beside his. “I’m a little worried about you.”
“Really, why?”
“That unsettling moment a couple of hours ago was just…bizarre. It was as if the dragon was controlling you, and you weren’t controlling him. You looked like a wild thing.”
“Like Gunther?”
“Worse.”
Gabe’s jaw dropped.
“I’m teasing.” She nudged him. “But that wouldn’t be so bad. There is something about his muscular arms that I like. They really make yours look puny.”
“Well, I guess that’s because I’m a puny human, and he’s a hair mutant.”
“Do you really think he was raised in a cage?”
“I don’t care.” Gabe stood up as the tunnel door opened. Tim waited.
“Come on, you two.” Tim escorted them outside the coliseum. He gave them a bag of food as he always did. There were more painted signs and banners hanging from all of the buildings. Many citizens were camped out on the building’s stairs. Their ear-raking cajoling sang old-time songs about black and gold.
At the bottom of the steps, Tim said, “Be back at the flats well before curfew. Don’t make me look for you.” He walked away into the crowd.
“Huh, I guess we don’t have to go straight home today.” Rann hooked her arm in Gabe’s. “Let’s take a walk, Gabe. I know there’s nothing new to see, but I’m in the mood for a stroll.”
Gabe wasn’t about to tell her no after all that she’d been through, even though he wasn’t in the mood. “Okay, lead the way.”
She took him to the food plaza where they could watch the livestock that thrived near the barns. Chickens, goats, and pigs were ample on the other side of the razor-wire-topped fence. Farmers scuttled in and out of the barns, tossing seed on the ground or carrying buckets from one shed to another. Their backs were hunched. Black bags hung under their eyes. “I bet the Dominion eats like the, well, the Dominion every day. They get the eggs and the chickens, I’ve heard. Have you ever had either one?”
“No.” Gabe reflected on the last meal he had with Saul before he was killed. It was the best good moment in his life. They’d eaten like the Dominion that day. He could still taste the warm bread and meat in his mouth. They watched for the longest time. Pigs waddled in a mudhole. The breeze brought an awful stench from the barns. “Ew. Can we go now?”
Covering her nose, Rann nodded.
Together, they made their way around the city. A man with a deep tan and a mop of graying black hair piled up on his head approached. He spoke in the richest voice. “You need to go to the show. Have you seen the show, young man and young lady? The show begins at the museum. Don’t miss it.” He pointed down the street. “Just follow the green signs at the end of the corners. That’s where the real people meet.”
“I don’t see any green signs.” Rann’s head moved like it was on a swivel. “What green signs?”
The strange man ambled away, vanishing into a nearby alley.
“Want me to go after him?” Gabe said.
“No, we can find it.”
“We’ve been everywhere.”
“We haven’t been everywhere. We’ve only seen what we’ve seen. There are plenty of buildings we haven’t been in, and we haven’t exactly gone through the back streets and alleys. Of course, that’s not such a good idea, according to Tim, but maybe he’s just saying that.”
“Good point, Rann, but I’m a little tired. I’m worried about tomorrow.” Gabe started walking in the direction the man had pointed. “I just got Squawk back and now this. I need more time with him. And the gamers, what will they be like? I need to prepare.”
“You can’t prepare in the flats. All you can do is stare at the walls of your cove. No, Gabe, I say we find that museum. It has to be here somewhere.” Something caught Rann’s eye. “Look.”
A woman in an army-green jacket sat on a nearby corner, rocking back and forth.
“That’s not very green,” Gabe said, “and it’s not a sign either.” They stood behind the mumbling woman. Rann tugged on his arm. There was another woman in a green shirt, down the block on the opposite corner. Gabe surveyed the area. He didn’t see anything else that was green that stood out like a sign, but he found the woman peculiar. They moved toward her. The woman had patches and insignias on her jacket that had little meaning to Gabe, like so many other things he’d seen in the compound.
“There’s another.” Rann led him across the street. A dust-coated motor vehicle with big rubber tires almost hit them. It didn’t have a top. It was loaded wi
th crates of chickens and heading toward the main gate of the compound. “What do you call that? A chicken wagon?”
They found five more people in green clothing that blended in with the crowd but seemed a little out of the ordinary. There wasn’t anyone like them around. The last one stood at the end of a back street, bouncing a small green ball on the sidewalk. The man seemed to tip his chin down the narrow street. Gabe and Rann slipped into the alley. Passing by waste bin after waste bin while shielding their noses, they made it halfway down the street. Out of the shadows and nooks, a wave of people in army green converged on them. Gabe was struck in the back of the head with a bottle. He started bleeding. Rann screamed.
CHAPTER 54
Back at the flats, Gabe sat inside his cove, rubbing the bumps on his head. The motley gang in army green had beaten the crap out of him and Rann. They both had lumps to show for it. Their food was gone too. It seemed that was all that the gang wanted, their food and possessions. As the sun set, Rann came back to his cove. She had a wrapped-up protein bar in her hand and gave it to him.
“Where’d you get this?”
“I’ve been saving up.” She sat inside the shed with him. “Gee, Gabe, we just got robbed. I feel so stupid.”
“Well, it was your idea.”
“Shut up, and eat your food. I’m trying to make it right.”
“You don’t have to. Besides, I’m not very hungry now, but I’ll save it for later.” He tossed the bar back into his cove. “I guess we wait until tomorrow.”
Rann put her gentle fingers on the top of his forehead. “You’ve really got a lump right there. This time I’m sorry and I’m thankful too. I think they’d have done worse if you hadn’t been so fierce. When you hit that one in the face, they all ran. There must have been at least six of them.”
“Eight.”
She clasped his hands in hers. “Well, you’re my hero. I am disappointed, though. I really thought there was a museum. It sounded exciting.”
Flight from the Dominion (The Gamma Earth Cycle Book 2) Page 16