The New World: A Step Backward

by Skrzynski, Andy

  Thoruk scanned the group again. "What's the biggest weakness?"

  Stormulka spoke up. "The unknown surrounding Zolokt's monsters and their atmospheric controls. Hopefully, Foxuk can shed more light on these matters when he returns."

  The white-haired professor lifted his trembling hand off the table. "Flying muclones might be a problem, since they won't be deterred by the creek, wall, or other structures. We'll need to be prepared for them."

  Thoruk nodded. "Excellent point. Let's warn the archers and remaining villagers to be alert for that possibility. Mercy, anything troubling you?"

  "What if the enemy gets inside the village? Will we be able to protect the women and children who volunteer? We can't allow any of them to be captured and enslaved — or worse."

  Thoruk peered at her. "We WON'T let that happen! I, personally, will keep a keen eye toward the grounds within the complex and assure there will be help as needed."

  He looked at the others. "And you two, how do you feel?"

  Wolfuk perked up. "It's a solid plan. I'll do my part to hit them ahead of the battle and be back to join the fight."

  Protuk stood and glanced at each one in the room as he spoke. "I've poured through the details over and over again. It's a well-thought-out strategy with a couple of warts, but it's the best, given our circumstances. We will put an end to these savages forever!"

  Thoruk shook Protuk's hand and hugged him. "Great job my friend."

  Gritting his teeth, Thoruk turned to the rest. "The Skalags and Scargiles are going to rue the day they messed with Ukkiville. They awoke a sleeping beast, and we won't stop until our cursed enemy is dismembered limb by limb!"

  He took a deep breath. "Now let's get prepared."

  As his visitors dispersed, Intellulka tapped him on the shoulder. "Protuk and I need a moment with you and Wolfuk — alone. It's very important."

  Oh no. Thoruk scrunched his face. "Why didn't you speak out during the meeting?"

  "This isn't something for all to hear."

  "Okay, give me a second." He walked to Mercivil and Stormulka. "I have to talk with Intellulka and Protuk. I'm not sure how long it will take, but I'll catch up with you afterward."

  He shut the door and returned to the dining room. "What is it? Why the privacy?"

  Protuk squinted. "Do you recall the day your father died?"

  "Of course, but he didn't just die; he was murdered."

  The Master of Arms sighed. "Yes, by Zolokt's nephew. Remember when your father spoke to me alone?"

  "Mmm — yes."

  "Well, that's what this is about. Your father and Intellulka had a secret they shared with me that night. I promised Odinuk not to inform you until the time was right. After a lengthy debate yesterday, Intellulka and I decided that now is the time. You and Wolfuk need to be aware of its existence given the importance of the upcoming battle."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Tree Droppings

  Monday ~ August 19, 2075 ~ 1:30 pm

  Stormulka snapped the stallion's reins. “Yawww, come on, Lightning, pull!" When the broad steed lunged forward, its bulging muscles twitched as it dragged a pine toward Ukkiville's wall. With the leather straps in one hand, Stormulka waved the other at a couple of volunteers. "Blister and Dawdler, come help me raise this log. We've got to pick up the pace!"

  Near 3:00 pm, after securing three more pines to complete one side of a corner, Stormulka guided Lightning toward another felled tree.

  "Aaah!" A sharp shrill filled the air, and the spooked stallion reared high, pawing at the sky.

  What on earth? Stormulka dropped the reins and whirled as the steed broke free and bolted.

  His pulse quickened as his intense gaze settled on a young man who seemed to float off the ground while flailing wildly near an oak in the distance. Stormulka's heart froze for a moment. Oh no, it's Cougivil!

  As the horrified lad groped at the lengthy spike protruding through his gut, blood streamed from the wound and his mouth. He gasped. "Storm, help me!"

  Stormulka grimaced. "I'M COMING, COUGIVIL!" He unsheathed his sword and raced toward the victim. As he neared and scanned for an attacker, he spotted a fuzzy, dark blob peeking from behind the tree's trunk.

  A man and woman joined him as he slid to a halt. Blazes, what is that? A gigantic, black creature, with barbed bristles surrounding its body, clung to the bark with eight spindly legs.

  Deafened by the clicking noise of two large, snapping pincers extending from the sides of the monster's stubby, beak-like mouth, Stormulka cupped his palms over his ears. Above the beast's menacing chompers jutted a four-foot lance, firmly implanted into Cougivil.

  While Stormulka inched forward, the hideous being with a massive, round abdomen and smaller fore-section slowly climbed the tree, lifting its prey in retreat. Stormulka quickly pivoted to his companions. "I need this!" He snatched a javelin from the woman's hand, and in one motion, spun and heaved the spear toward the atrocious assailant.

  The predator shrieked when the sharp blade penetrated its crusty shell just behind the head. As it tumbled to the ground, its legs whipped aimlessly. Stormulka charged with his sword held high, then sliced the honed edge through the gruesome creature's neck. With his helpless friend still impaled, the heinous head tumbled, slinging gray streams across the ground.

  Stormulka rushed to the young lad's side and placed a finger across the jugular — no pulse. He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, but the ear-shattering clicking jolted him again as if the source was right next to him. An icy chill scattered goose bumps along his arms. He shot a glimpse at the oozing head beside him — no movement. A snap of his glare to the right, then to the left — nothing.

  "Storm, watch out! There's another one above you!"

  Stormulka quickly glanced upward. Two tenacious pincers snapped inches from his face. Adrenalin exploded through his veins as a barbed claw slashed his back.

  "Ahhh!" He gritted his teeth, clenched the sword, and swiped the blade in the direction of the black, eight-legged beast, larger than the one he just killed. A pincer and part of a leg sailed through the air. He rolled and leapt to his feet, swinging his weapon at the spider as it dangled from a huge web strung among the branches.

  The deadly assailant raised its long spike, primed to attack. Whistling overhead, something struck the monster's abdomen. Slimy globs erupted everywhere, coating Stormulka's hair. He jumped aside, wiped the stinky gunk from his face, and looked up. An arrow pierced the predator's front-section, immediately followed by another, striking the savage fiend between the eyes.

  Twitching, the lifeless being swayed at the end of an extended web.

  Stormulka whirled and found Mercivil with two arrows positioned across her bow. She furrowed her brow. "What in the world is that thing?"

  "I don't know. Maybe a giant spider, but nothing like I've seen before with that weird lance. They must be muclones." He pointed to the decapitated tangle of legs. "This one killed Cougivil, and the other might have attacked more if you hadn't arrived." He ground his teeth. I'm going to kill Zolokt myself!

  Mercivil ran to his side. "I heard the scream all the way from Intellulka's and came as quick as I could. Oooh, let me look at your wound."

  "Not now, I'll have Doc take care of the scratch later."

  A logger yelled. "It's moving!" Stormulka pivoted and heard the familiar ear-piercing clatter, but at a higher pitch and much faster, as if several pincers were snapping. The thin membrane of the headless beast's abdomen expanded and contracted as if something was trying to emerge.

  A woman drew her sword. "It's still alive, kill it!" She lifted her weapon.

  Mercivil raised her arm. "No! Don't puncture..." Too late.

  The young lady thrust the point into the huge, black sphere. When she retracted the blade, small, spindly legs swiftly emerged from the opening. More appeared, tugging at the gash's edge until they ripped it apart. Suddenly, several little spider-like creatures scurried out of their shredded mother's sac, s
cattering in all directions.

  Stormulka's eyes bulged. "Hurry, don't let them escape! Kill them!" He sliced an offspring in half as workers chased the others.

  Grabbing two arrows at a time, Mercivil fired rapidly, occasionally hitting one but often striking two of the eight-legged devils. She zeroed in on a creepy crawler scaling a maple and pegged it to the trunk.

  Stormulka and the others kept slashing, whacking, and smashing until all motion from the cursed critters ceased. He cautiously surveyed the scene. Each of the 20 or so baby monsters was transformed to a grotesque splotch of mangled legs.

  He turned toward Mercivil. "We finally squashed them all. I'm going to get Protuk to scout the trees and the rest of the village. Then I'll have Intellulka examine these grisly abominations. Will you take Cougivil to Doc's and console his family?"

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Visitors from Texas

  Monday ~ September 23, 2075 ~ 10:00 am

  More than a month had passed since Mercivil attended the battle discussion with Thoruk and the others. Where did the time go? It's been so hectic; I can't believe the fighter jets are about to arrive.

  "Whoa." She tugged Midnight's reins, slowing the wagon as it approached the park's southern edge that cool morning. Accompanied by 10 chattering children and a 17-year-old babysitter, Mercivil was prepared to provide a warm welcome to their Texas guests.

  Intellulka pulled alongside in his buckboard. Situated near the northern end of the weathered airstrip, repaired a week earlier, they waited. The kids piled out and ran across the grassy grounds, laughing and chasing the season's last surviving insects.

  When the youngsters were a safe distance away, Mercivil turned to her old teacher. "With all the preparations lately, we haven't had much time to talk. It's good to have a chance to chat. How have you been doing?"

  "Not bad. With Thoruk having so much to do, he hasn't bugged me in awhile. That can be good, but it also gets boring when he's not around to antagonize me."

  "Well, I'll stop by once in awhile, and we'll play cards whenever I get a break."

  "That sounds great, but don't let it keep you from doing stuff you need to do."

  "Don't worry, it won't. I'll stop by tomorrow morning, and we'll play cribbage."

  "Fantastic! I get tired of beating Thoruk all the time. I need a real challenge."

  Mercivil looked around to check on the kids, then faced Intellulka. "Hey, on another subject, I'm glad we haven't found any more killer spiders!"

  "You and me both! That long spear made for a deadly creature."

  A shudder shot through Mercivil. "How did they grow that gruesome lance?"

  The elderly scientist's ever-cloudy eyes shifted to and fro. "My best guess is that Zolokt spliced the spider's DNA structure with a portion of a marlin's genes to create its sword-like snout."

  After discussing muclones for another 40 minutes, Mercivil cocked her head. "What is that high-pitched sound — sort of a shrill, whistling noise?"

  Like a spry teenager, Intellulka practically leapt off the wagon. "Turbine engines — it's them, come on!"

  While she and her spirited, old friend hurried toward the landing area, the children sprinted, screaming all the way. The pilots must have seen them; both aircrafts tipped their wings as they approached.

  With eyes bulging, the youngsters stopped dead in their tracks, not sure what to make of the huge, roaring mechanical beasts descending from the sky. Terrified, the smaller ones raced back and clung to their babysitter. After a few seconds of soothing, the kids tentatively cheered and jumped up and down.

  Mercivil continued forward with her mouth wide open. Blazes, those things are gigantic! How can they float in the air? Eager to meet the visitors after watching the planes touch down with a screech and puff of smoke from the wheels, she hurried toward the closest jet when the engines shut down. Intellulka strode toward the other.

  After the glass shield retracted, Mercivil approached and greeted the aviator as soon as his foot touched ground. "Hello, I'm Mercivil."

  When the pilot popped a hard shell off his head, lengthy, auburn hair tumbled over his shoulders. He's a WOMAN! As a female, who was challenged in her role of protector and warrior, she still wasn't anticipating a woman flier. Most of the history books she read about aviators included pictures of men pilots. The surprise must have been etched on her face.

  Holding an unusual maroon and white headgear that exhibited odd lettering on each side, the aviator spoke with an unusual twang. "I see that expression a lot. For some reason nobody's expecting a female with long hair to hop out of a fighter jet." She put her arm around Mercivil. "I don't know why they're surprised. We women tackle the toughest jobs all the time." Still trying to decipher the drawn-out, southern inflections, Mercivil chuckled.

  The charming guest stepped back and extended her hand to Mercivil. "Hi, I'm Amelia Drake."

  Mercivil recognized the surname from her readings about Texas. She stared at Amelia. "You're not...?"

  "Yes, sort of. I'm married to the grandson of John Drake, the author. My husband, Howard Drake, is the other pilot."

  Mercivil beamed. "I really enjoyed the story of how your state prepared itself ahead of WAP in the book, How Texas..."

  "Survived the World Annihilation Period." She and the beautiful visitor finished the sentence together and laughed. Hitting it off immediately, Mercivil became enthralled with her newfound companion.

  "Please call me Mercy; all my friends do." As the others ambled from the second plane, Mercivil hollered. "Intellulka, you won't believe who I've got here!"

  When the parties converged, she grabbed her new friend's hand. "This is Amelia Drake."

  Amelia pointed to the other pilot lugging headgear similar to Amelia's, but orange and white with different, equally strange lettering. "Mercy, this handsome man is my husband, Howard Drake."

  Mercivil stuck her hand out. "Hello, I'm excited to meet you."

  Howard replied in a thick, southern drawl. "I'm thrilled to meet you too." He looked at Amelia, then Mercivil. "I see y'all hit it off already."

  Chuckling, Mercivil peered at Amelia. "Yes, we're best buddies." Her companion laughed.

  Mercivil teased Intellulka. "Do you know who Howard is?"

  The professor tilted his head, appearing puzzled.

  "You know — John Drake? The author? You're standing next to his grandson!"

  "Oooh." His face flushed bright red.

  Mercivil wrapped her arm around her favorite mentor's back and looked at Amelia. "I'd like to introduce my dear friend, Intellulka."

  Amelia's eyes sparkled. "For real? Intellulka?" She walked up to him and gave him a tight hug, then leaned back, still clutching his shoulders. "Your name is known state-wide. When the Texas Freedom Defenders' delegation returned home after your conference in Old Iowa several years ago, they shared your story in a Texas publication. I reread it before the trip."

  She didn't take a breath as she continued. "Ukkiville gained distinction, following that gathering with you and the three young adventurers. The amazing portrayal of your village's struggles after WAP, and how the three families united as one, spread like wildfire across the state.

  "Texans admire your bravery in staving off Skalag raids to protect your way of life. Your story is legendary, and children all over Texas read it as a sign of hope that freedom can survive under any condition, when people are willing to fight for it."

  Shocked, Mercivil peeked at Intellulka who raised his eyebrows and shrugged. She whirled toward Amelia. "We do love our professor here in Ukkiville but never imagined so many from far away also hold our teacher in such high esteem." She spun around to him. "Stunning, you're famous! Maybe Thoruk will treat you with a bit more respect."

  The old tutor snickered. "I doubt it." He looked at Amelia. "During your stay I'd be happy to spend an afternoon to enlighten you about the specifics of the delegation meeting."

  Amelia's voice lifted to a higher pitch. "That's a wonderful i
dea!"

  The whole discussion aroused a few of Mercivil's fondest memories. What a great trip — exploring all those territories — the best moments ever with Thoruk and Storm. It would never have happened if not for Intellulka. She gazed into his eyes and smiled.

  Howard turned to the professor. "Thoruk, isn't he your leader?"

  "Yes, he is, but it doesn't deter him from teasing me whenever he's in the vicinity." The canny teacher chuckled. "We mutually snipe at each other for pleasure. Unfortunately, he usually wins."

  He peered at the pilot. "Thoruk is a marvelous, young man with a quick wit, and he's an excellent leader. He'd defend anybody in trouble, at peril to his own life."

  Howard's brow rose. "I can't wait to meet him."

  Mercivil looked at the children. "What do you have to say?"

  In high-pitched voices, they all yelled. "Welcome to Ukkiville!"

  Amelia responded with a huge smile. "Thank you very much. Y'all sure are gorgeous children. I look forward to meeting each of you." She squeezed Mercivil's palm.

  A young, curly-haired boy tugged on Howard's pant leg. "Sir, are you from the Ward family?" Confused, the pilot turned to Mercivil, who glanced at the lad. "No, names in Texas are different than ours, sweetie. I'll explain it to you later."

  Mercivil gently pulled on Amelia's sleeve. "There will be plenty of time to talk. Let's get your bags. We'll take you to the cabin." When her new friend opened the plane's storage compartment and started to grab a bag, Mercivil reached in and snatched it. "Let me help."

  "Thank you. Why don't you carry these two, and I'll handle the rest."

  After loading the luggage onto the wagons, Mercivil turned to face the southern edge of Wolverine Forest and waved both arms overhead. Two horseback riders quickly emerged, galloping hard toward her and the rest of the party. She looked at her guests. "Sentries will be posted by the planes throughout your visit. You need not worry."

  Mercivil hopped aboard her buckboard, and once Amelia and half of the kids settled in, she guided Midnight toward the visitor's accommodations. Behind her the snorts of Intellulka's horse, Angelina, broke through the constant murmur of children's whispers as the mare towed the others.