Eventually, all sank to the floor or steps. They huddled together, mumbling, biting their nails. I turned to help the others free those still jammed in the doorway. Brychan knelt on the floor. He called to those who were in a flesh pile. One by one they answered him. “All alive, but I think some badly injured. Although it would be best not to move them without medi help, under the circumstances we have no choice. We will begin with those on top.”
Brychan gestured for me to assist. He gently pulled the arm of a ‘dult. The male gasped and fell back into his arms. With the assistance of the other helpers, we made a hominid chain, passing the injured folk one to the other until they reached the ground. Once there, Santy and some other fems, attended to them as best they could with water and soothers.
The rescue became difficult the nearer to the bottom of the pile. We pulled out eight folk that were not too badly harmed, but underneath were four ‘dults face down. Brychan bent low and put his fingers on the neck of one of the two fems that lay motionless. “A faint pulse.” He tried the others. “All alive, just.
Santy came over and held out an oxytube. “Give them a gulp on this. It should help to revive them somewhat.”
Brychan took it. With my assistance, he placed the cup-like mask over face after face and pumped oxygen into their mouths. It had the desired effect and they began to breathe more easily. Santy aided Brychan in peeling off the stuck together bods until we came to the last one. A male teen I knew. He was sprawled out flat, his head to one side, squashed against the floor. His nose, flattened, oozed blood. I squatted beside him. “Hrypa?” I said it a few times more. On the sixth, “Hrypa?” his eyes flickered open.
“Let me tend to him,” Santy said. She took a lightstick from her special kit, shone it into his eyes, across his face, highlighting bruises and cuts on his cheek and jaw. Then she gently pressed her fingers across his bod, put her ear to his chest. “I hear fluid in his lungs. I am no doc or nursey, but have dealt with a similar injury when stationed in the Clonie Zone during their last war with the Agros. I will need light, a sharp needle and as many Steriwipes as you can gather.”
I went amongst the seated and procured all the items Santy requested. The sharp needle came from Brychan. He confessed to a pastime of threadweaving and had in his pockets a soft, real cotton purse full of different sized needles.
I said nowt about such a thing being the leisure pursuit of fems, thanked him and handed the pointy sticks to Santy. She chose the biggest one with the sharpest tip, sprayed it with an antiviral spray, and to the gathered horror of one and all, shoved it between his ribs. There was a brief hissing sound then some thin red liquid trickled out. Santy sat back. Hypra coughed.
“Give him a sec to take in some air, then we can lift him.”
As Hypra breathed in, I saw his ashen features take on a more ruddy look. Brychan, Santy, and two of the helper ‘dults, lifted his limp bod and placed it next to Deogol. I took his hand and despite my ill feelings towards him, squeezed it. He managed to press his fingers in mine. In a faint voice, he said, “Thanks, Adara.”
“Not me, it’s Santy that saved you.”
“Then thanks to your Santy.”
Wow, that was the first time since knowing him, that I’d heard him speak in a whisper, never ming give out a, “Ta,” to someone. He must be sickly indeed. I smiled at him and let go. He grimaced, went stiff for a sec, then relaxed.
“Are you in much pain?”
“More than I am used to. Will the Firstaiders be here soon?”
“Erm, well…”
“Yes, I’m sure they will. Maybe a bit late, though, but they will be here. You rest now,” Santy said and led me away. “Tell them lies, Addy. It serves no purpose to scare them any more than they already are. Hope can keep folk alive. Now we must get those than can walk to the Auditorium.”
She took a glowlamp from her pocket, tapped it on the floor and held it above her head. It shone bright and lit up in a halo around her head. For a moment, she looked like a pic I had seen of what the Praisebees called an angel. “The exit is clear, but the injured are littered around the floor. To avoid any more casualties, I would strongly suggest that folk walk slowly in single file to the door. Myself, Brychan, Adara, and the three kind males that assisted in the rescue, will stand in a line holding up torches for you to see your way out. Once in the open, make your way carefully and quickly to the Auditorium. If any decide to make a run for the exit, I will personally take them down. Are we all agreed?”
There came a low murmur of, “Yes, yep. Suppose so.” Santy pointed to the exit. I stood by it, a torch held high to illuminate the gap. Next Brychan and the other helpers stood at various points to form a line of dim illumination. It was an eerie sight in this half-light to see folk rise and slowly walk in file to the doorway. They looked like Deogol did when he sleepwalked to his comp. All was quiet except for the fizzing sound that came from the glowsticks, and the sighs of relief that fell from the mouths of residents as they passed through the exit.
When all but the stricken had left, Santy waved to us to gather together. “Thanks for your services. Would you be happy to stay here with the injured that cannot walk?”
“I will stay,” Brychan said. He stared at the other ‘dult helpers. They nodded.
“Addy, we will see who can travel and take them with us to the Auditorium. Once there, we will procure a Firstaider and their Crisiscar to fetch the others.”
We went to the injured and those that could, stood. We aided them to the front doorway, where they sat waiting for our return. It was goodly indeed that only three bods were unable to make the journey. One was a ‘dult fem, one Hrypa, and the other?
“What of Deogol?”
“I will waken him,” Santy said. She took me by the arm to where he lay. “The effects of the drug may well be fading from his bloodstream. I will give him a booster. That should revive him enough.”
“If not?”
“Then we carry him. I will not leave him alone.”
“Do what you must.”
Santy took a hypo from her kit and a small phial. She put the needle in, sucked out a goodly quantity of fluid, stuck it into his neck and pushed it all in. It took but a sec for a reaction to occur. Deogol snapped open his eyes, jerked up his head and stared wildly around him.
Santy took his hand. “Deogol, look at me.” He did and blubbed. Santy held him until he stopped, then helped him to his feet. He leant against her, his head pressed into her bosom. I gave out a heavy sigh of relief and together we walked towards the exit.
Chapter Twenty
Cityplace In Chaos
The injured rose slowly. I offered my arm to a shaky looking fem. She took it and along with the other residents, we left the building.
It was dark. Darker than it had ever been in Cityplace. The infoboards that cast a bright, constantly changing light, were black. The huge, high walkway lamps, out too. Although it was scary, quite probably dangerous, I took the opportunity of said darkness, to look up at the sky. The storm had passed and it was clear.
The moon shone down and not for the first time in my life upon this planet, I saw her round-mouthed face look down in shock at what was below. Then I saw them. The stars. All twinkly and clustered into geometric shapes that changed into outlines of long dead creatures that once roamed this blighted earth. I felt a nudge in my lower back.
“Not the time or place for stargazing. Do you not hear the rumblings ahead?”
“Nah, too busy witnessing the wonders of the universe.”
“Not so great when we are in mortal danger. Step up the pace if you can,” Santy said and walked ahead of me, still clutching onto my bro.
I looked to the fem that hung onto my forearm. “Can you go any faster? Santy thinks there may be Agro threat.” She nodded. We travelled less slowly until we reached the central square. What a sight.
The place was dimly lit with outdoor glowlamps that were stuck into the ground around the main walking area. Hundre
ds of Citydwellers milled about like lost bumbles, holding torches and bags. They swarmed around the plaza tripping and bumping into anything that was unfortunate enough to get in their way. Some ran for a bit, stopped, looked around, ran somewhere else, then stopped. I’d seen dragonflies move in a more coherent pattern than these folk.
The noise they made was dreadful. It was a whining sound like someone had opened the door to a whole room full of hungry bubs, but the sound came from ‘dults not young ‘uns. I looked at their down-turned mouths and wet faces, and felt ashamed of my fellow dwellers. I shook my head. I could not believe that a fracas with the Agros would turn out well for us.
We pushed through the lamenting lot and made our way up the steps to the Auditorium, which were strewn with prone bods either blubbing, moaning, or just sitting staring at nowt. Deogol had recovered enough to be able to walk unassisted. He even managed to open the door to the makeshift healingplace.
The scene inside was no better than out. Except it was quieter. Due no doubt to the soothers being liberally administered by doc and nursey alike. They went from bod to bod with pills, water, cushions and blankies. My eyes could not keep up with the speed at which injections were freely given to any who requested them. Typical of Cityfolk to take the easy option. I doubted if half the injured needed such consolation and merely chose to have the meds just because they could.
“Doc!” Santy called. She called a few times more until a slender ‘dult approached wearing the telltale white all-in-one suit of a chief medic. “These folk have been hurt during the evacuation of Purityitowers. They have been jammed in a doorway and may have injuries unseen. Also, a Firstaider and their mobile is needed at the block. Two remain, too injured to travel. One most severely, I had to drain his left lung.”
The doc brushed his hair from his forehead and blinked. “What? Yes, of course. Take them to the nursey on the stage. As for the Firstaiders, they are out somewhere in the square. Perhaps, Adara, that is you is it not?”
“Yep, me all right.”
“A privilege to meet you,” he said and held out his hand. I shook it. “If you could go find one, I’m sure they would listen to you and go help those at Puritytowers. I’m afraid with so much confusion and bewilderment, their services are required almost everywhere.”
“Shall do. Back in a sec. Deogol?”
“What?” my bro said, unable to look me in the face.
“Will you remain with Santy and not run away?”
“Yep, too tired and limp to go anywhere anyway.”
I gave his elbow a squeeze before going out to the square.
My glowlamp stuttered. I was thankful that the templights cast enough brightness for me to see my way around. Folk were huddled in the doorways of the food allocation buildings, which would have been open if things were as they should be.
I wandered the square in search of the Firstaiders. I spied the yellow and red striped suited medi-folk by the fountain, tending to a mum-to-be. I tapped the smaller of the two on the shoulder, she turned. Her brow was furrowed and specks of moisture clung to her eyelashes, upper lip and chin. “What?” she said, her voice all quivery.
“Sorry to be a bother, my name’s…”
“Adara. Catcher of Birds.”
“Just call me Adara.”
“Hey Edwyn, the girly Adara is here.”
A stumpy male with face hair, looked at me all wide of eye, gave the sitting preggie fem a soother. “Wow, it is too. Adara, Catcher of Birds.”
“It really is just, Adara.”
They stood and stared at me like I was a stuffed, died-out beastie, then grinned. I sighed. “I was wondering if you could go in your Crisiscart to Puritytowers? Two badly injured folk could use your services. The doc inside said you would,” I added to give more weight to my request. They raised their eyebrows and shrugged. “Well? Folk are in need of your assistance. Now.”
“Well ‘spose we could. To be frank, most of these lot are just confused. The hurt ones are indoors,” Edwyn said. “Come on Arla, let’s go.”
The Firstaiders shook my hand. Edwyn did not let go and lifted my mitt towards his face. “Look Arla, she really does have six fingers on each hand. I thought it was a jest, but no. Look.” She did. I yanked my mutant hand free.
“Folk need your assistance.”
“Oh yep, sorry got a bit preoccupied with your fingers.”
“Right, so you are now going to the sick that need healing, right?”
“Right,” Edwyn said. Both he and Arla walked to their vehicle parked at the bottom of the Auditorium stairs. Arla reached inside the square truck and a red light on top lit up. It spun and sent out flashes of blood coloured light around the square. They got in and sat. Edwyn fired up the motor by pressing a big button on the front of the dashboard. The vehicle made a soft humming noise as he steered it forward.
It was a quickly contraption for sure and I wondered how long it would be before all the seven municipal leckie mobiles ran out of juice; what with the power all but gone. The Firstaiders waved to me as they shot past. I waved back and made my way to the Auditorium.
I entered the building and looked around for my bro and Santy Breanna. She was assisting the doc in doling out meds to the sick. Deogol was standing at the back of the stage by the curfew button. I remembered Lilith and Elijah. The secret tunnels beneath the City. My tum churned, my heart thudded. I was glad when I spotted Santy. I went to her.
“Luck with the Firstaiders?”
“Yep, seemed glad to go and treat deserving cases. Those outside are perturbed nothing more.”
“We are lucky indeed. Folk here are not so sick or sore that a bit of med or rest will not cure.”
“Then why do you look so concerned?”
“If the Agros do come back, fiercer than before, then we are as good as dead. Folk are not apt for battle. The City S.A.N.T.S are small in number. Word has gone out for backup. We must wait and see if they will arrive in time.”
“About that, could we not use the secret chambers below to hide one and all till the Agros leave?”
“A plan I had considered too. If it comes to that, as a last resort we will.”
“Why so hesitant?”
“S.A.N.T.S. have been using the tunnels for many orbits to have free access to Cityplace and beyond, without the Agros knowledge. The more that know of their existence, the more chance that Agros will find out.”
“The thought of Agros under the City is a scary thing for sure. Maybe they won’t come back.”
Santy took my hand and pressed it to her mouth. “Little Addy, you are a buoyant soul to be sure. Look to your bro, see that he comes to no harm.”
She pushed me towards the stage and I went up the steps. Deogol looked up as I approached. “They will come back.”
“How so certain? Do you know things and will not tell? If you can help us defeat them Deogol, then spill.”
He raised the corner of his mouth and snickered. “Defeat the Agros? Us? Nice jest Sis. Look at them. Feeble as newbies. Agros will strike. Cityplace will be no more.”
“Really?”
“Fact Sis, fact.”
I stared at his face. The Deogol I knew was missing from his kiddle features. A dark, older countenance looked at me now. I could not stand to see him so hurt and angry. I came across all mumsy in the extreme. I could not help but hug my bro. He resisted at first, but my hold was stronger than his struggles. He gave in to my affection and wrapped his arms around my waist. “You are kin, my only bro. I will not let the Agros take you.”
“You cannot stop them.”
“Can and will, end of.”
Deogol pulled away. “Hope so, when it comes to that.”
“Up to you bro.”
“Is it, though?”
I was about say, “What do you mean?” but my words were cut short by Orva entering the building announcing that Agros were almost at the City boundaries. I grabbed Deogol and we sped down the stairs straight to Santy Breanna.
Santy left and I saw the Firstaiders, Brychan, Hypra, and the others from Puritytowers enter. I put my arm around Deogol, who did not object. Together we walked to the side window by the exit and looked out. Santy and Orva were going amongst the confused folk, steering them towards the Auditorium. I strained my ears to listen for Agro action and heard the sound of many feet stomping. I hugged my bro closer, hoping that those on the outside would soon come in.
They did, quickly, without fuss. I saw several City S.A.N.T.S. send folk towards the entrance. Brychan took it upon himself to usher them to a space inside, attempting to keep a semblance of calm throughout the place. When all had entered, Santy came to us. “Once the doors are shut you will be safe enough. You have some training Addy so I am relying on you to help protect as best you can. Orva and Dreng will be by your side. Make your bro stay within. More will come.”
“Are you not staying then?”
“No, Addy. I will defend outside where I am needed most.”
“No Santy,” Deogol said and grabbed her wrists. “No, stay with us. You have not been a S.A.N.T. for many orbits, you cannot fight the way you used to.”
Santy Breanna stiffened and sucked in her cheeks. “Deogol, a S.A.N.T. is never out of training. I am older it is true, but just as strong and capable as I ever was.”
“Please do not go, please.”
“Calm now little earwig, Addy will take care of you.”
She prised his fingers away, kissed his forehead and touched my cheek. “Be strong,” she said and went outside.
Whisper Gatherers Page 13