by Dale Furse
Sam, taking up the same position, received his immunisation.
‘We all set to go now?’ he asked Kale.
‘Physician Cay-reace,’ Fellder said. ‘I must return to my duties.’
‘Thank you, Fellder,’ said Cay-reace. ‘I’ll see you tonight.’
‘Tonight?’ asked Mekie.
‘Yes. We are meeting at Dar-Seldra’s house.’
‘Could you—’
Cay-reace interrupted her. ‘Could I let your mother know you are all right? Yes. In fact, once I’ve organised my team, I’ll be reporting everything to Tanat.’
Mekie threw her arms around him. ‘Thank-you, Uncle.’
He pecked her on the top of her head, and said, ‘Nell needs you. Go.’
‘Thanks, mate,’ Sam said. He and Mekie followed Kale out and made their way to the skark park.
Standing in the skark, Sam said, ‘Where’s all the stuff Cay-reace had sent over?’
‘It is in another skark,’ Kale said. ‘Both will travel together.’
Sam had travelled in skarks many times but he never tired of covering great distances within seconds. Figuring the right amount of time had passed, he readied himself to stand and see Grarlon for the first time.
A thunderous blast lit the cabin and reverberated through his body. Mekie screamed as her body flew out of the seat. The skark must have lost the wormhole because it pitched in all directions. Sam held on but his hands cramped and lost their grip. He fell against Kale, who was already on his way out of his seat.
They smashed against each other and the walls, floor and ceiling as blast upon blast rammed the skark. Sam tried his best to protect Mekie, but the forces were so strong it wrenched her out of his arms time after time. Finally, the bombardment stopped and they were all wedged against the wall. Mekie hadn’t screamed again but her face was white and her eyes bulged with fear.
‘We’re crashing,’ Kale said.
He was right. The skark stopped dead with a crack and they collapsed onto the opposite wall. The last thing Sam saw were stars through the gaping crevice above him. Whether they were real or from within his head, he didn’t know.
He heard a moan, close. Another moan, closer this time. So close it sounded like it came from his chest. It did. He had moaned, which meant, he was alive. Ignoring the aches and pains throughout his body, he opened his eyes and yep. Stars. He sat up. Mekie lay still beside him and Kale beside her.
Sam gently shook Mekie’s shoulders. ‘Mekie. Wake up.’
‘What happened?’ Kale groaned, as he sat up and held his head. ‘Uh. That’s right. Are you all right?’ he asked Sam.
Sam nodded and gazed down at Mekie.
Placing two sharp-nailed fingers on her neck, Kale said, ‘We’d better get her out of here. Whoever attacked us will come looking.’
Sam swung up through the crack and hung his arms and as much of his body down as he could. ‘Lift her to me.’ Thankful Kale was far stronger than his frame looked, Sam soon had his arms wrapped under her armpits. Kale sprang through the hole before Sam had time to lift her completely free.
‘Hurry,’ Kale said, and pointed to the sky. ‘Stons.’
With no time to linger, Sam took the head end of Mekie, Kale took the other, and they ran into the forest. When he thought they had gone far enough, Sam said, ‘Stop here.’
As soon as Mekie was safe on the ground, Kale went about examining her. ‘Did you see any sign of the other skark,’ he asked Sam.
‘Nope. What do you reckon those stons are doing here?’
‘It looked like they were waiting for us. Varlor’s been planning all this for a long time. Stons would take over five years to cover the distance between Corl and Grarlon.’ Kale stopped what he was doing and looked around. ‘I think this is Grarlon.’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
‘WE NEED TO GET TO HIGHER GROUND,’ KALE said. ‘I should be able to see the palace if we are on Grarlon.’
He bent over Mekie and slapped her cheek. ‘Mekie,’ he shouted.
She groaned. ‘Uh.’ Her eyes opened. ‘Where am I?’
‘That’s one way to wake her, mate,’ Sam laughed. He bent down over Mekie. ‘We think we’re on Grarlon but we have to make sure.’ He pulled her up by her arms. ‘Are you okay? Can you walk?’
She nodded. ‘I think so.’ She took a step. ‘Ouch.’
‘What’s wrong?’ Sam said.
‘I hurt. That’s what’s wrong. I’m sorry. But yes, I can walk.’
‘Thank goodness,’ Sam said. ‘Whose bright idea was it to come with Kale?’
Mekie hit him. ‘It was yours.’
‘Ah, yeah. Sorry about that.’
‘We’d better go,’ Kale said, pointing the way.
They traipsed for some time before Kale spotted a hill and once they were at the top, they could see the palace towering over the city below about a half days walk away. The trees and grasses between them and it were black and smoking from a recent fire.
‘We need to hurry,’ Kale said. ‘Whoever is flying those stons could have burned all that.’
‘Why don’t you just take us there?’ Sam said, but Kale’s confused expression had him adding, ‘You know. With your bracelet.’
Kale held out his forearm. ‘It is damaged.’
‘Oh, Kale,’ Mekie said. ‘That must hurt.’
Sam nearly choked. The king and queen of understatement. The bracelet was crushed, and worse still, so was his wrist. ‘Your wrist must hurt like hell.’
‘It is painful,’ Kale said, twisting the joint.
Sure he could hear crunching bones, Sam grimaced. ‘Don’t do that.’ He faced the palace. ‘Okay, let’s go; and be careful what you touch down there,’ Sam said. ‘Some of it’s still burning.’
Half way down the hill, bird-like creatures dive-bombed them. One smashed Sam’s shoulder. ‘They’re attacking us.’
‘Run,’ Mekie screeched and headed back up the hill. Sam and Kale followed.
The birds kept crashing into them. Sam willed his aching legs to go faster. ‘Go,’ he shouted, as one knocked him off his feet.
Mekie slowed and, looking over her shoulder, screamed, ‘Sam.’
‘Keep going,’ Sam called back.
‘Get up,’ Kale growled, passing Sam and Mekie.
Sam grimaced as he stood up. Anybody’d think he fell down on purpose.
Kale disappeared behind the other side of the hill. A bird hit Mekie in the middle of her back.
‘Oomph,’ she gasped, falling forward. The bird, more like a miniature cousin to a flying pig, collapsed at her feet.
Sam helped Mekie up but kept his eye on the bird. ‘The stupid thing broke its own neck.’
Mekie leaned over it and stroked its head.
‘Come on, Mek. It’s well and truly dead,’ Sam said, hauling her away by her arm.
She shook her arm away and tears trickled down her face. ‘It wasn’t attacking us, it was escaping from something. I felt its fading fear as it died.’
Sam glanced at her and frowned. He shot a glance over his shoulder. What were they escaping from? ‘Faster,’ he ordered Mekie. Whatever it was, he didn’t want to meet it.
Coming over the rise, Sam had to duck another flying object. On its heels, another flew past him and a dull thud sounded behind. He turned. A bird fell.
‘Stop it, Kale,’ Mekie yelled, pushing him to the ground with her.
Dropping beside them, Sam said, ‘You don’t have to throw rocks at them, they’re not attacking us; they’re running from something.’ He felt in his pocket and pulled out Nell’s twai and poked it in front of Kale’s face. ‘Call Nell and tell her what’s going on.’
Sam crawled back up the hill and peered over the top. Behind the birds flew great winged creatures blowing fire over the city. They were headed his way. Sam shook his head. Dragons? Bloody hell, what next? The closest dragon’s flames engulfed what was left of the flora, felling the birds caught in the heat by the dozens. It paused only long
enough to eat some of its kills. More dragons caught up to the leader. Sam scurried back to Mekie and Kale.
‘We have to get out of here,’ he said. ‘Dragons are coming.’
An Eldorap appeared above them. Mekie let out a cry.
Kale jumped up. ‘Nell!’
Something about the Eldorap told Sam Kale was right. It was Nell. Huh. So she’d done it. Sam jumped to his feet.
‘Quickly.’ It was her voice. ‘There’s a cave in the side of the hill.’
Keeping low, Sam Kale and Mekie followed her. Once they were all inside the cave, a rock rolled across the entrance.
‘That’s a bit heavier than a coconut. Nice,’ Sam said, eyeing Nell up and down. ‘But I’m not too sure about your different look.’
‘Ha, ha. Kale, why didn’t you just take them to the palace?’
Kale held out his arm.
‘Oh, I see,’ Nell said. ‘What did Cay-reace say?’
Kale held out the box Cay-reace had given him. ‘You don’t have the virus but you do have pneumonia. Everything is labelled in here. There’s medicine for you to take and although the physician thinks you are immune, he has advised that you also take the immunisation against the virus. There are also five doses of antiviral antidote but Cay-reace and his team are making more.’
‘You can tell me about that later.’ She took the box. ‘I can’t take you all at once but you’ll be safe here for a while.’ She disappeared and the cave went dark.
‘I can’t see,’ Mekie said.
Sam realised Nell’s Eldorap form had lit the cave. Now, that was a pretty neat trick. ‘It’s okay, sweetie. I’m right here.’ He felt around him and put his arm around her.
An instant later, Nell returned with a lamp. ‘Sorry about that,’ she said, and vanished again.
***
When Nell returned to the palace, the dragons had moved on and Kandar and Haast were giving the antidotes to the two surviving Grarls. Nell’s mind clouded as she stared at the empty space where her father’s bed had been. She bit her cheek as new tears flooded her eyes and mixed with her anger. With a shake of her head, she swallowed them back down. No. She didn’t have time to mourn her father, she would do that later. First, she had to find Varlor and make him pay for what he had done…and he would pay dearly.
Focusing on Haast, she frowned. She hoped he had forgiven her for not telling him about Deesc because she really liked him.
She blinked. The movement put her body in motion and she limped over to Kandar and Haast. How could he think she didn’t want to save Deesc? She loved him more than life itself. They were discussing the dragons.
‘What about them?’ she asked Kandar.
‘They are not of Grarlon?’ he said.
‘What do you—’
‘Nell,’ Haast said. ‘Please. Let me apologise for my behaviour first.’
‘Okay. Go ahead and apologise then.’
He lowered his eyes to the floor. ‘I understand how you feel. I had no right to keep Deesc’s condition from you even though he told me too. He’s the one who blocked you. I know he is stubborn and would do all he could not to endanger us. I also know you have done your best to care for him. Thank you.’
Nell glanced at Deesc’s sleeping form. Hadn’t Haast given her love the antidote?
‘I did and he is gaining strength. Let him sleep for now.’ He stepped toward her, his arms out. ‘Do you forgive me?’
Sucking in her cheeks, Nell narrowed her eyes at him for a second. ‘Oh, okay. I forgive you.’ She stepped into his arms for a quick hug. ‘Now, what did you mean the dragons aren’t from Grarlon?’ She directed her question at Kandar as well.
‘Haast said they were from a planet not far from Grarlon. The Grarl explorers found them eons ago and only had time to send some information before the dragons consumed them. From that time all travel to that planet was prohibited.’
‘That is correct,’ Haast said. ‘What we need to know is how they came to be on Grarlon. By all reports, they burn everything in their path, eating what they can as they go. Their preferred food is sentient life forms.’
‘They don’t look too smart,’ Nell said. ‘How would they know who or what is sentient or not?’
Haast smiled. ‘I assumed that the moment they started throwing fire across the city not long after I tried to contact them. Their previous efforts were focused on the palace.’
‘Oh,’ Nell said. ‘They were trying to find you and probably others like you.’
He nodded.
‘I think I know why they’ve stopped trying to get you. They’ve got their eyes on Sam, Kale and Mekie.’
‘Why hasn’t Kale come here?’ Kandar said.
‘Their skark was attacked as they approached Grarlon. They’re okay, but Kale’s bracelet is broken. I’ve hidden them in a cave, but we’d better go get them. I would have brought them with me but I’m not sure how I’m travelling by myself yet so I didn’t want to risk trying to carry someone else.’
‘Who attacked them?’ asked Kandar.
Nell raised a shoulder and offered him an apologetic look. ‘I didn’t ask.’
‘I am glad you didn’t try to bring them here,’ said Haast. ‘You are not strong enough yet.’
‘I’ll show you where they are.’ Nell moved to shift.
‘No,’ Haast exclaimed. ‘I would rather you didn’t do that in my presence.’ He closed his eyes and spoke to Kandar. ‘I know where they are.’
Nell frowned. He could have asked permission to read her mind. Eldoraps thought they were so superior to everyone else. She peered at Haast. Maybe they are.
Kandar hurried to the bench and back to Nell. ‘Before we go, you need to take your medications.’ He touched her neck with a cylinder. ‘This is the immunisation.’ He pressed another cylinder into her flesh. ‘And this one is medication for your chest infection.’
He rested his hand on Haast’s shoulder and they disappeared.
Nell rushed to Deesc. ‘Deesc?’ she whispered.
He groaned and opened his eyes. They were clear and focused.
Falling on him, Nell said, ‘Oh, Deesc. You’re okay.’
‘I am, beautiful. Hop off me so I can breathe.’
Nell jumped back. ‘I’m sorry.’ He laughed. It was the most wonderful sound Nell had ever heard.
‘Help me up,’ he said.
Nell did, but the moment he sat up, he fell back. Nell’s heart jumped. Checking him, she was glad to see he had just fainted. It must have been the sudden movement upright. She washed him with a cold cloth and waited, talking quietly about anything she could think of.
He soon stirred and, resting his head in his hand, he said, ‘That was a strange experience. There was intermittent blackness then nothing, until I heard a voice that seemed, to my ear, to come from a great distance away.’
‘Yeah. That’s called fainting. You are not ready to hop up. We’ll go slowly for a while, I think, and later, we’ll start propping you up with pillows. Right now, I better check on the Grarls. You rest.’
His eyes flashed, ready to argue, but Nell’s warning glare had him sighing. ‘Yes, nurse.’
‘Good boy,’ Nell said, patting him on his head.
The Grarls were sleeping peacefully so she decided not to wake them. As soon as one stirred, though, she would ask her questions. Content the little girl was no longer feverish, she returned to Deesc, collecting a clean pillow on the way.
‘Ready to start?’ she asked. Deesc nodded and she lifted his head, pushing the pillow underneath. ‘We’ll start with one then build up from there. Are you okay?’
He smiled, and said, ‘Now tell me what I have missed.’
She relayed everything that had happened since his illness but when it came to telling him about her father, she couldn’t say the words.
He pulled her forward and held her close to his chest. His heart thumped in her ears as he said, ‘I see and I feel your pain, my beautiful betrothed.’
‘Oh, Deesc
,’ she whispered, and let her tears flow freely. After some time, they eased and she sniffed. ‘How will I tell everyone I failed?’
‘You didn’t fail. Don’t let me hear you say that again. Your father would be…is proud of you. He is still here, my love.’ He pressed a finger to her heart. ‘Trust me when I say, he is with your mother and both are watching over you.’
Nell wanted to believe that more than anything in the universe, but there was a hole in her heart that nothing would ever fill. She sighed and sat up. His face wasn’t pale. ‘Do you want to try another pillow?’
He smiled. ‘Yes.’
With her forearms under his arms, she helped him sit up more. He rested his head on her shoulder as she made room for the second pillow. ‘Okay?’ she said.
‘Mmm. Head’s a bit light, but it will settle down.’
They chatted for some time and Nell voiced her concern for Kandar and Haast. They still hadn’t returned with Sam, Mekie and Kale.
Deesc concentrated on sensing them.
‘A visitor approaches the castle,’ he said.
‘What sort of visitor? Friendly?’
‘I’m not sure. However, I do sense he is anxious. A Grarl, I believe.’
Nell leapt to her feet. ‘Shut your eyes,’ she said to Deesc, before addressing all her patients. ‘Pretend you’re all sick.’ She hurried to the foyer without thinking about her sore knee. It wasn’t until she stopped behind one of the front doors that she realised, it didn’t hurt. Her knee was better.
Deesc had said, he was anxious but he wasn’t there yet. Less than a minute later, whoever was there banged the knocker three times in quick succession. Nell wondered if she should open a door. Huh. Deesc’s woozy head might be wrong. It might be Varlor. Surely, even a sick Grarl would just transport inside. Before she had made up her mind, whoever was on the other side of the doors pushed the one she was behind in with such force she had to jump out of the way, as it crashed to the foyer floor.
A Grarl stepped over the threshold. With his fur singed all over, it was hard to tell what colour he was under the soot. Nell guessed brown or red, and white.
‘Who here is alive?’ he demanded.