One great, “Yeuk” rang out from one and all.
The fem said, “But, but, but…” then turned to the rest. “What to do?”
They scratched their heads, opened their mouths, but no one spoke.
“Do as I suggest, you are best at home than out there where all is chaos. All is filth.”
The folk did not move. They stared at Santy with a look of hopelessness. She sighed.
“Would you feel more secure if a S.A.N.T. or two accompanied you?”
“Oh yes,” the mam fem said.
“Addy, the perimeter fence is not far. Are you able to take Lilith to it?”
“Most def.,” I said and grabbed her from Dreng. She growled. I tightened her tethers to shut her up.
“Oh let’s go. At least we can remain unsullied from the dust and dirt.” The ma turned around, gave us a look as if to suggest that we could do with a wash and said, “This Agro thing is most irritating.”
“That it is,” Santy said. She touched my shoulder. “When you have deposited that scum, go straight back to Goldenagehomes. There is not much we can do without info. I will be quick.”
I nodded.
“Come, Dreng, let us deposit these frightened folk.”
All turned around and walked away.
“Right, Praisebee/Carnie, move.”
Lilith did and we marched to the north border fences. I was puzzled as to why the Praisebee said nowt, what with her being so vocal all other times. “What do you know of the Agro onslaught?”
“Not a thing.”
“Liar.”
“Perhaps, but I will not spill. Not to you.”
“Yeah, well, it is of no matter. We have won the battle and you and yours have lost. We will find Deogol.”
Lilith let out a great guffaw. “Believe what you will. Know this, though, amongst the rubble and here and there, I planted boom things to terrify and scare.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, this and that. Nice little Meek, your bro.”
She chortled again.
I let the back of my hand make contact with her cheek and she stopped laughing.
We arrived at the fence without further discourse. I saw many S.A.N.T.S. gathered at the guard huts. I waved to them. “Hey, hey, prisoner here. A Praisebee in cahoots with the mayor. Santy sent me. She took my bro. We need her to spill about his whereabouts,” I said and prodded her. She stumbled, but was stopped from falling by a border guard. He took her by the restraint and pulled her towards the hut. He pushed her inside the wooden cabin and before he closed the door I saw S.A.N.T.S. and guards swarm around Lilith like flies on a dead thing.
I caught her eye. She snorted and shouted out, “I will be rewarded for what I have done. They will come for me. I gave them something special.” A guard thwacked her. She fell to the floor.
Turning to the guard that remained outside, I said, “What will they do with her?”
“Interrogate and find out what she knows.”
“What, all of them?”
“She may be more willing to give out when encompassed by so many of the enemy.”
“Goodly plan.”
“We have word that Carnies disguised as Agros may yet arrive, we must be well informed of their strategy. She knows what is what.”
Although I was fearful for my bro, I did not think that more scuffles were to come.
“But, I thought the battle won?”
He raised his eyebrow by way of response.
Chapter Twenty-Six
More Bangs And Booms
My journey back to Goldenagehome should have been quick, but the words that Lilith said about devices and boomings, played upon my mind like a kiddle on a swingbar. I changed my direction and headed back to Centralplaza.
All was still and quiet, except for a wind that swished around the buildings. I looked to where Santy and Dreng had gone with the other folk. There came a gut-churning explosion. A great plume of smoke appeared from the far end of town. Two more bangs, more smoke, then the sound of many cries and wailings.
I raced towards the noise and saw folk stumble from their dwellings, cut and bloody. I ran amongst them asking where Santy and Dreng were, but they did not respond. So I shouted until my throat closed over.
More dust and blood-covered folk emerged. They stumbled past me as I made my way to a building, not unlike Puritytowers, only smaller. The glass was gone. It looked like a massive metal skeleton. Residents tumbled out from the open doorways and behind them, I glimpsed Dreng carrying Santy. I legged it quick. “Santy! Santy!”
“Hush now lassie. She is broken and needs help. As do the others.”
Santy twitched her lids. “Santy it’s me, Adara.”
“Put me down.”
Dreng gently lowered her to the floor. I knelt beside her.
“Are you badly injured?”
“Might be this time, but help me to stand and let us go back to your Grangran, where it is safe. The others must come too.”
We helped her to her feet and between us we half carried, half dragged her towards Goldenagehomes. We paused. I shouted to the stumbling folk, “Follow us to a safe place. Do not dawdle, or question, just follow and quickly.” Without waiting for a reply, we walked on.
“Ye have a voice of authority upon ye. See how they tramp behind us without question?”
I looked and indeed, they did march behind. It took a longly time to get to Goldenagehomes. Orva was astounded when she opened the gate and saw the many wounded we brought with us. “Ah, Breanna, no,” she said and called over to a S.A.N.T. guard. He and Dreng supported Santy. She was out of it.
Her head was slumped against her chest, her left arm hung down as if all the bones had been removed. Blood soaked her right trouser leg and it took all of my self-control not to fling my arms around her. They carried her away and Orva touched my arm. “All these folk, what occurred? I heard a distant booming and was anxious.”
“We found Lilith, but not Deogol. She was planting bombs as it turned out. She is with the border guards now.”
Orva winced, then looked over my shoulder at the straggly bombed-out residents. “There must be near a hundred folk. Not too badly damaged by the looks of things. Bring them in.”
I beckoned to the sad-faced, they limped behind me and we went inside. I moved folk out of the way so that the injured could be laid down. The floor was hard and cold. I could not bring myself to let these casualties that included bubs, to sit upon it.
I looked around the room for something to use as cushions. I was raging inside thinking about Deogol’s safety and when I saw Drysi standing in the corner surrounded by her bags, I marched over. “Got anything we could use to put on the ground so those that are sick do not have to feel the coldness of the stone beneath them?”
“Nope. All this stuff is mine. I won’t have it sullied by blood and filth.”
Grabbing a large carryall that was propped against the wall, I turned to leave, but was prevented from doing so. I felt my hair being pulled and swung the bag around. It caught Drysi in the stomach. She crumpled to the floor gasping for breath. Her ma and da fluttered round her like ants on some sweetie crumbs.
I left them to it. I opened the bag and pulled out skirts, tunics and some softly blankies, then placed them on the ground. “Rest where you can.” They did and I went in search of my Greatgrangran.
She sat alone by the window. I waved. She looked past me and said, “Have you seen Deogol? He said he needed a plop and went to the poop room.”
“He is gone.”
“Where?”
“Don’t know. The fem Praisebee took him.”
“Where to?”
“Lilith won’t say, not yet anyway.”
“He must be found. You must search for him and bring him back.”
“Duh, I know!” I shouted too loudly for tears gathered at Grangran’s eyes. I wrapped my arms around her and together we let out our grief in stuttering gasps.
“Santy is badl
y injured too.”
Grangran let me go. “How bad?”
I did not answer.
“I must go to her. Bad enough when I lost your ma and before her, your granma. I do not think I could take to lose another of mine before I succumb to the loss of life.”
“Don’t take on so, Santy is in the Medicentre. We’ll go together, eh?”
She nodded and with her hand in mine we walked as quickly as her aged legs would let us to the healing place.
Once inside I clocked a nursey standing by a table in front of the rows and rows of beds all shielded by sky blue drapes. I could not see my Santy through them. “Where is Breanna?” I said.
The nursey pointed at a cubicle at the back of the room. “Last one on the right. Oh hello Amranwen, are you well?”
“Yes, yes, I’ve come to see my young ‘un,” Grangran said and trundled off quicker than a beetle exposed from underneath a rock. I legged it after her and we stopped by the closed curtains of Santy’s cubical.
I paused, then opened the hangings. How ill she looked. All scratched, with her face swelled up on one side. I placed my hand on her forehead. It was clammy. Grangran pushed me aside, I backed out, thinking it best to let her have time with her own granbub.
I stood a little away by another cubical, closed my eyes and heard a faint tune coming from said place. Opening my lids, I slid my hands between the drapes and peeked inside.
Elijah was sitting on the bed humming softly. He smiled and opened his mouth to let me hear the song in full. I do not know why, but the tune he sang soothed me. He stood, took my fingers, and led me to Santy. “Can I pray for your loved one?” I nodded, so too Grangran. He knelt beside her bed, then sang again. It was a sweet melody, full of long notes that made me think of summer evenings, of my ma and da, before they died. I listened for a few secs then joined in.
When the air was filled with our sweet melody, as one, we ceased. Elijah stood, put his fingers to his forehead, chest and either shoulder, then said, “Lord protect this woman and keep her from harm. Bathe her in your glorious light and make her whole once more.”
I thought the words quite pretty, although some I did not get the meaning of straight away. He closed his eyes did the finger thingy stuff again, then stared at Santy’s face. It twitched.
“Santy? Santy, can you hear me?”
“Addy?”
“Yep, me.”
Her eyes parted just enough for her to recognise my gob. I touched her cheek and she said, “Ow.”
“Praisethelord,” Elijah said and at that moment in time, I did too.
Leaning in close to my Santy, I put my hand on hers. She blinked and said all woozy-like, “Deogol is gone? I did not dream it?”
“Nope, you did not. Yep, he is took.”
She tried to lift herself but could not. She bit her lip with the effort then sank back.
“Ah, Breanna,” Grangran said and stroked her cheek. “Little Dustcloud.”
Santy flinched. Grangran turned away. “Find him. Find Deogol.”
“Gladly, if I knew where I was to look.”
With a huge effort, Santy raised herself. To my amazement, Elijah sat on the bed, supporting her whilst she spoke. “It must be that Agros have him. You must go to them. Bring him back.”
“Again, gladly, if I knew where to look.”
Santy squinted. “Dreng has told me that the City is on high alert after these last skirmishes. None shall enter or leave.”
“But Deogol must be found.”
“Indeed, he must and soon. We do not know for sure what has become of him, but there are rumours and guesses enough for a trail of sorts to be followed.”
“Then I will go. There is talk of more raids to come, all guards and S.A.N.T.S are needed here to protect folk.”
“Are you ready do you think?”
“I am Santy.”
Elijah shook his head. “They will not let you leave. Too much at stake. I heard them talking.”
“Don’t care. I need to find Deogol. No one shall stop me.”
“That’s my brave Addy.”
Elijah furrowed his brow. “Well, if you are to go I may be able to help.”
“Spill.”
“I know a thing or two about entering and exiting without being noticed.”
“That you do Praisebee. Give more info.”
Elijah carefully let Santy’s head rest on the pillow and stood. “A diversion must be put into place.”
“Like what?”
“Go with your grangran.”
“But I must find Deogol, how will that help?”
“I believe she is resourceful. If they will not let you out, then she may be of use in creating a diversion.”
“Oh, I can do that all right,” Grangran said and tapped her nose.
Santy smiled, then frowned in pain. “Go on young Praisebee, you have more to tell.”
“I have info about outside that may help Adara.”
“About those that abide there?”
“And beyond. We used it to skirt the dangers when sent to storm your city.” Elijah looked around to make sure no one was looking, then hoisted up his tunic. Around his sunken chest was a bandage-like thing and I thought that he had a wound, but he did not. He quickly unwound the cloth and laid it on the bed.
In the middle was a disc sewn onto the fabric. He unpicked a stitch or two, and pulled it free. “Take this,” he said and handed it to me. “Try to memorise all you can. Once in the Wilderness, you must stay in the thick of it. Wolfies abide, also other folk that may try to harm you. Folk that live by instinct and are ruled by their senses. You know, hormones and stuff.”
“Wise words young Praisebee. Addy,” Santy said and beckoned for me to lean close. “Be invisible like your Synthbag. Find your bro. Gain more knowledge from what he has given you. I will send forth a message that may help. Be on your guard at all times.” She squeezed my hand.
“No need to fret Santy. I will find Deogol and bring him back.”
“I know you will.” She let go and a nursey nudged me out of the way.
“You must leave now. Let us tend to your kin.”
I took Greatgrangran’s hand and we walked away.
“May I come too?” Elijah said.
“Suppose.”
He gave me a look that sent a churn throughout my gut. At once sad and terrifying, it left me quite out of sorts. I had to look away before I succumbed to a leg tremble. I felt a moonpull twinge. The reddiness was pulsing most nastily. I needed to change my sponge. “Wait for me by the exit, I need to ablush,” I said and dived through the door with the stick figure fem on it.
Once inside I let loose my bowels. Then I removed my blood-soaked swab and replaced it with a fresh one. The sanity bins were not working. Neither was the hygiene spray, so I just opened the throwaway box and shoved my soiled stuff in. Water flowed though so I was able to wash. I looked at my reflection in the mirror above the sink. An older, wearier face looked back.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
A Diversiona
I met Grangran and Elijah by the way-out door. Neither was talking and I sensed an aura of tense about them. With a, “Let’s go,” we left the Medicentre and headed back to the communal room.
Elijah sighed three times, causing me to wonder more about his part in all of this. “What happened in the tunnels Elijah?” He looked to the floor. “How did you escape?”
“I am no Agro. I was caught up in the frenzy below that is all.”
I took a deeply breath not knowing for sure whether he could be trusted.
We continued our tramp back to the main quarter in silence.
When we arrived, the place was full of weary looking folk. They sat, or stood as if rocks had been placed upon their shoulders. All slumped or sagged. All gave off a vibe of gloom.
Even Meilyr looked down of face as he went amongst them offering kind words and bits of grub. He was gentle, a goodly sort for sure. I saw Orva chatting to one of the injured and
waved to her.
Greatgrangran sighed. “Get me when you are ready. That oldie gent knows a thing or two. I’ll have a confab with him. The gate was opened. I will find out who is responsible.” She wandered off to sit with said oldie male at the far side of the room.
“Good meet with your Santy?” Orva said.
“Yep. She will be well. I am to find my bro, since you all are needed here. But with the place being on lockdown, it might prove a problem. Elijah gave me this,” I showed her the infodisc.
She flared her nostrils and looked at him. “Did he now? Come, you can play it on my portacomp,” she said and led us to the back of the place, where it was less crowded. She gave a stern look to the bods that sat at a table, they left swiftly.
We sat, she pulled out a small compdevice from her leg pouch, and slipped in the disc. I watched image after image of the place called the Wilderness.
“Wow. That’s where the Woodsfolk live?”
“Yep. And the Wolfies, and other folk,” Elijah said.
“Other?”
“Not a threat.”
“Woodsfolk are?”
“They have their own ways, best to keep clear. Best to be vigilant in case Carnies roam too.”
I gulped. Orva touched my hand. “Do not be too a-feared. I have seen how you handle yourself when danger is present. You are strong and fearless, you will prevail. Besides, there are always those who are amongst the brush and bramble to assist.”
“Hope so. Hope I can save my bro.”
“You will.”
Elijah scratched his thin red hair, looked at something that stuck in his fingernail and said, “What will happen to Lilith?”
“If she survives the interrogation and gives out the info we need, she will be held with the other Agro prisoners.”
“She is no Agro.”
“She is now. Now that she sided with them.”
He could not make eye contact with me and fidgeted with his wide belt. I leant close to him. Orva narrowed her eyes. Elijah’s pale skin became whiter. “Maybe you need to be interrogated. We are moving all the prisoners to the Decontamination Place. It is solid and will make a goodly jail for them until we decide what is best for their future.”
Whisper Gatherers Page 18