by R. W. Ridley
I forced myself to my feet and tried to get a sense of where I was on the treeway. My head was spinning. I was pretty sure my brain was one big chunk of ice.
Before I could decide which way to go, I heard voices in the distance. I grabbed my stuff and tossed it into the tree, quickly hiding it behind some branches. I stepped on the lowest branch and maneuvered around the tree so I couldn’t be seen by anyone traveling by.
“I don’t understand how he got away,” I heard a man say.
“I don’t know, maybe because you passed out,” the other voice said.
I saw the top of Bostic’s head as he stepped onto a bridge from one platform to the next in the distance. “No, I know that. What I want to know is why in the hell he would leave like that? He basically killed his friends because the Myrmidons ain’t what you would call a forgiving bunch.”
“He just did. What’s so hard to understand?”
“What’s hard to understand is you were sure he’d take the deal to save his friends. If he’s run off to save his own hide, then I ain’t got a deal. If I ain’t got a deal, I ain’t going to be happy.”
They stepped onto the bridge headed towards my platform. “Maybe he decided he could find them and save them without giving himself up,” April said.
“Then he’s just about the dumbest idiot fool on the planet. One kid against a camp full of Myrmidons is like a kitten taking on a pack of wolves.”
“Oz is that stupid,” April said. “Trust me.”
He stopped on my platform and turned to her. “You sure you’re being straight with me.”
She nodded with a terrified look on her face. “I swear it. I passed out like you and when I come to Oz was gone and you were taped to the bed.”
He hesitated and then continued on to the next platform. I worked my way around the trunk as they passed to keep myself hidden from view. Eventually I worked myself around to the platform and stepped back on it. I stretched my neck to see if they were still in sight. Just before disappearing onto the next walkway to the next platform, April turned and spotted me. She gave me a slight nod and smile.
I retrieved my stuff and headed in the direction they had just come from.
***
I fell to the deck of the house after unhooking from the zip line. I had virtually no strength left in my legs. It took all the strength I had left to lift myself up and stumble into the house. I moved as quickly as I could to the wood burning stove, hoping against hope that there was something still burning inside. The door screeched open, and I saw a single smoldering chunk of wood. I blew on it and let out an involuntary laugh when it burned a little brighter.
I needed something that would burn, but there was nothing in the immediate area except sacks of Bostic’s meat and kindling for the stove. The sacks? I might be able to get them to burn. I grabbed one, dumped the meat onto the floor and tore the sack into pieces. As I placed a piece of the sack into the stove, I blew on the ember. It grew brighter and brighter and the piece of canvas started to smoke. I giggled madly when it caught on fire. Quickly, I added more of the canvas sack and some pieces of wood. Before long I had a raging fire and couldn’t bring myself to get more than three feet away from the stove. I needed the heat. I craved it.
When I started to feel warm again, I shifted my attention to my next dilemma. I was hungry. A quick search of the others’ backpacks and supplies came up empty. Our food was gone. Looking back in the kitchen, I saw the piece of Myrmidon meat I had dumped on the floor. I had to admit it looked delicious. It was thick and red and, judging by the grease that had caked April and Bostic’s faces, it was probably a nice juicy piece of meat. But there was no going back if I ate it.
I spotted something under the cot and got on my hands and knees to get a better look. It was jerky. Probably the same jerky Bostic had given Gordy the other night. He had barely touched it. I pulled the plate across the floor, picked up a piece of jerky and smelled it. It did smell like spoiled ham. My stomach turned from the odor. I didn’t have the option to be picky so I closed my eyes and stuffed a piece in my mouth. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t bad. In fact, after I chewed it a few seconds, I decided it actually tasted good.
I shoved as much as I could in my mouth. I couldn’t forget that I still had friends to rescue from 200 Myrmidons. Not to mention, I would have to deal with Bostic in some way or another.
Ajax was also on my mind. He risked his life to draw the worms away from me. He had to be alive. He was Ajax. He knew what he was doing. I told myself he was going to be waiting outside the Myrmidon camp when I arrived. We would be reunited, and everything would be back to normal.
My hunger dealt with, I went back through the others’ stuff and found dry clothes. Once I was dressed, my eyes fell on the cot again, and I had to fight the urge to lie down and take a nap. I was warm, dry, and I had food in my stomach, but I was far from being at full strength.
I picked up my crossbow, arrows, and backpack and opened the door. I was a half step outside when I saw them. I was so startled I jumped back inside. Twenty climbers sat on the railing of the deck staring back at me with twice as many eyes. Their wormy heads were pulsating, but the rest of their bodies remained perfectly still.
The backpack bumped against the doorjamb, and I realized they wanted the eggs.
I was trapped. I needed to get to the zip line and there was no way they were going to let me get close. In fact, I was pretty they were going to pounce on me if I didn’t shut the door soon, so that’s just what I did. I paced back and forth trying to come up with a plan. I had to get to the others. I couldn’t fail now. We had done so much. Swimming down in that icy cold lake to get the eggs. Avoiding the guarder worm. Max and Ajax risked their lives with the screaming eggs..
The screaming eggs. That was the answer. I could use a screaming egg to distract the climbers.
I heard the crackle of the fire in the wood burning stove and a plan hit me.
I ran to the cabinets and threw open all the doors looking for the liquor. I hurled a bottle at the back door. Glass and liquor exploded all over the place. I quickly ran to the wood burning stove and opened it. With a pair of thongs, I pulled a burning log and tossed it toward the back door. Flames shot up and followed the paths of the spilled liquor.
I hurried to the front door, removed the backpack and pulled out an egg. Taking a deep breath, I pulled open the door and held out the egg to the climbers. They screamed in unison.
I stepped back and threw the egg into the expanding fire. It let out its piglet squeal. The climbers hopped off the railing and rushed inside the house. They passed by me on their way to save the egg from the fire. I picked up my backpack and crossbow and hurriedly stepped on the deck, but stopped just before I closed the door because I spotted the sacks of meat in the kitchen. They could come in handy. I ran back inside, grabbed Lou’s backpack, and filled it with Myrmidon meat. I peeked over my shoulder once to see if the climbers would turn their attention to me, but they were desperately trying to retrieve the egg from the flames.
Back on the deck, I slammed the door shut and frantically put on my harness. I was weighted down with the two backpacks and the crossbow, but I would make myself manage someway. I had to. A horrible series of screams came from inside the burning house.
I hooked onto the zip line and jumped off the deck. Before entering the lingering fog, I looked back to see if any of the climbers were coming after me. They were still inside. They most likely were going to stay inside trying to save the egg. They would burn with the egg before they gave up on saving it from the fire.
***
It was dark by the time I made it to the platform near the Myrmidon camp. The ‘X’ was easy to spot because the Myrmidons had a series of campfires going. I could make out dozens of figures milling around, but I couldn’t make out faces. I had no idea where Lou and the others were.
I heard what sounded like a step behind me and froze up. A warm breath on the back of my neck sent chills dow
n my spine. Somebody was behind me. Right behind me. At least I hoped it was somebody and not some thing.
A hoot-grunt brought a smile to my face. I turned and wrapped my arms around as much of Ajax as I could.
“You big dumb gorilla. You got away.”
Max stepped out from behind him and said, “Me, too. I got clean away. Them climbers chased me until I couldn’t run no more. Tossed the egg once it give out and quit screaming. Jubilee meat kept them away after that... I mean I took your jubilee meat to keep it safe. That’s all. Didn’t want it to go bad nor spoil your plans and such. Honest.”
“That’s all right, Max,” I said letting both backpacks drop gently to the deck. “I got more.”
“More?” Max said with his eyes open wide.
“That’s right, and if you play your cards right, you’ll get some.” I could tell by the look on his face that he was about to do his jubilee meat song so I stopped him. “No singing or dancing. Not ‘til later.”
He worked hard to contain his excitement.
I looked over the deck and could see the worms churning up the ground. Off in the distance, I could see climbers moving through the tree tops.
The ‘X’ was too far away for me to sprint. The worms would take me down before I ran fifty feet. Or would they? “The worms want the eggs right, Max?”
“They surely do.”
I handed him the pack with the eggs and told him to go the other side of the deck. The worms moved with him.
“Is there any way to hide the eggs from them so they can’t sense them?
He shook his head. “Not hardly. Them worms are fixated on eggs. Screamers most of all.”
I repeated what he said. “Screamers most of all.”
“Yep, they lose all senses and bearings when they hear a screamer. That’s why I was able to run the climbers and such off you earlier.”
I took the pack from him and pulled out an egg. “You two move to the other side of the deck and get ready to climb down.”
“What for?”
“Because what I’m about to do will buy us some time, but I don’t know how much.” I collected my crossbow and one arrow. Moving to the side of the deck facing away from the ‘X’, I loaded the arrow, picked a tree that was 50 feet away, and slammed the egg through the end of the arrow. It immediately started to scream. As quickly as I could, I aimed the crossbow and fired the arrow, sending it and the screaming egg into the trunk of a distant tree.
“Go, go, go,” I said, gathering up the packs and remaining arrows.
They scaled down the tree and dropped to the ground. Given the load I was carrying, it took longer than I would have liked for me to reach the ground.
“I’ll take one of them packs off your hands,” Max said.
I almost handed him the pack with the jubilee meat but thought better of it. Handing him the pack with the eggs, I said, “Don’t leave my sight. You hear me?”
He nodded.
We ran towards the ‘X’ with one ear on the screaming egg. As long as it was making a commotion, the worms and climbers would leave us alone.
A hundred yards away from the camp, the sound of the screamer appeared to be fading. I couldn’t be sure if it was because we were farther away or the little slime ball was dying.
My knee ached with each step I took, and I fell behind Ajax and Max. They slowed to wait on me. “Ajax, keep going. I’ll catch up.” They both started to increase their pace, but I yelled out for Max to stop. “You and the eggs are staying with me.”
He waited as I hobbled up to him. “I can carry the meat if you want to switch up.”
I chuckled. “I’m sure you will.”
“I will,” he said not getting my sarcasm.
I placed my hand on his shoulder and bent down to massage my knee. The screaming of the egg was fading even though we weren’t moving. By the time I stood up straight, I couldn’t hear it at all. “It stopped,” I said.
Max looked over his shoulder and then back at me. “It sure did.”
“That’s not good, is it?”
“It sure ain’t.”
I removed the backpack with the meat and handed it to Max. “You get your wish. Give me the other pack.”
His eyes lit up. He squirmed out of the straps of his backpack and handed it to me.
“I’m trusting you not to run off with that,” I said as we started moving towards the Myrmidons’ camp.
He was shaking with anticipation. “I’ll do my best.”
A large mass approached from my left. I got a glimpse of it before it knocked me to the ground. Bostic.
“Got you, little warrior boy.”
The backpack flew out of my hand, and I scrambled on my hands and knees trying to regain possession of it. But Bostic yanked me back and turned me over on my back. “You nearly cost me 100 head of Myrmidons,” he said carefully placing his feet over my hands and stepping down. He had me pinned.
“I thought it was 36,” I said trying to work myself free.
He grinned. “Talked them up. They want you pretty bad.”
“Let me up. You remember what happened last time we fought.”
“I remember.” He yelled over his shoulder, “Grab his legs.”
April stepped out of the darkness and knelt down, reaching out and grabbing my legs. She mouthed, I’m sorry.
“The way I figure,” Bostic said, “I got a few minutes before you go purple on me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a thinly sliced piece of meat.
Max backed away with a terrified look on his face. “Bostic is bad. Bostic is bad. He gets you hooked on the jubilee meat. Gets you hooked and takes your life.”
“This should be enough to keep that purple inside of you.” He bent down and placed his thick callused hand on my cheeks and squeezed. “Open up.”
I shook and twisted my head trying to prevent him from putting the meat in my mouth, but he was too strong. I found myself hoping the Délon in me would come out, but I couldn’t force it.
He stuffed the jubliee meat into my mouth and changed from squeezing my cheeks to massaging them. “C’mon, boy. Swallow it and it will be done. Won’t have another care in the world. I guarantee it.”
“Bad Bostic. Bostic is bad!” Max stepped forward and swung the backpack full of jubilee meat, striking Bostic in the head and knocking him out on his feet. The pack flew free of Max’s grip. The giant man remained standing for a split second and then tumbled to the ground.
April let go of my legs, and I turned immediately and spit the Myrmidon meat out. To be safe, I kept spitting until I couldn’t spit anymore.
“I’m sorry, Oz. I’m so sorry,” April said. “I had to do it. I just had to.”
“I know.” I said standing. “Just please tell me you know where the others are.”
She nodded. “They’re in cages near the back of the camp, hanging from trees. You’ll never be able to get to them.”
I smiled. “Perfect.”
She didn’t bother asking me what I meant.
Max was dancing up a storm. “I got bad Bostic. Got him with his own jubilee meat. Sweet! Sweet! Makes me want to dance on my feet!”
The ground started to rumble.
“Max, this isn’t the time to dance.”
He ignored me and continued to celebrate.
“Max!”
Tree roots, rocks, and dirt blew out of the ground behind him. A worm as big around as a tractor tire shot out from the newly formed hole and rammed into Max, throwing him forward. He flew in the air a few feet and landed on his face with a loud crunch.
I ran for him, but before I could do anything the worm chomped down on Max’s leg and dragged him back into the hole. He grabbed at the ground as he disappeared into the blackness of the hole. I told myself there was a chance that would save him.
I picked up the backpack full of jubilee meat and gave it to April. “Run as far away from here as you can! They won’t follow you as long as you hold onto the pack!”
&nbs
p; She hesitated. “Where am I supposed to go?”
“Anywhere but here. Whatever you do, don’t eat the meat. I’ll find you. I promise. Just go! Now!”
She thought about it for a second. Not eating the meat was impossible, as far as she was concerned. She turned and ran back the way she had come.
I scooped up the pack with the eggs and ran as fast as my bad leg would let me. I was able to block the pain, but the knee was still stiff.
Twenty feet from the ‘X’ I could see activity beyond the trees. Dozens of Myrmidons were milling around, eating, chatting. It appeared like a normal camp of soldiers resting after a long march or before an epic battle. And an epic battle was what they were about to get.
I saw the silhouette of Ajax next to one of the trees that made up the ‘X’. He was peering into the camp looking for the others.
“At the back of the camp,” I said as I ran toward him. “They’re in cages hanging from some trees. Go! Wait for me there!”
He roared and barreled into the camp. The Myrmidons were so surprised to see him that they didn’t react right away. They stood slowly eyeing the great gorilla as he zoomed past them.
The ground behind me cracked and domed. The worms were leaving a trail of mole-like tracks in the ground. It was impossible to tell how many were following me. I could see the shadowy outlines of climbers jumping from tree to tree.
I reached the ‘X’ and quickly pulled an egg from the backpack. The worms continued to tunnel toward me. I stepped between the trees in full view of the Myrmidons. They shifted into attack posture. One with jagged battle scars all over its armored body stepped in front of the others and released battle screech.
“Here,” I said tossing it the egg.
It caught it, sniffed it, and raised it above his head letting out a triumphant squeal. The entire group of Myrmidons responded in kind.
I aimed the crossbow and hit the egg dead center. The egg let loose its scream.
I saw the worms almost instantaneously redirect their tunneling toward the mass of Myrmidons, and I ran to my left to find my way to the back of the camp.