by Marc Lindsay
“What do we do? They’re getting away from us!” Selene asked.
“We follow!” Jason yelled, dropping the horn as took off in pursuit. The rest of the group followed close behind.
They arrived at the park’s centre only to find them literally frozen in time, presumably in their positions prior to the blowing of the Gjallarhorn.
“What now? Why are they just standing there?” Jason asked as he looked around, trying to locate his mother.
“I don’t think any of us has the answer. This is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” Ulysses replied. Jason wasn’t listening to his mentor as something had caught his eye. Without explanation, Jason made his way through the frozen crowd, followed closely by Selene and Ulysses. They eventually caught up with Jason who was now standing in front of his mother. Helen was like the rest of the township, frozen in time at the moment of the ceremony. She was staring up at the sky, a peaceful expression on her face. Jason reached out to touch her shoulder then recoiled at the stone-like texture of her skin.
“She’s my rock, you know,” Jason said quietly. Ursula and Ms Jax arrived. “She tells everyone that I’m hers, but she’s the strong one. Hardworking, caring, intelligent and honest. I’m so proud of her raising a kid on her own, especially one like me. Do you think she knows how I feel about her?” Ursula came up behind him placing a hand on his shoulder.
“As a parent who cares deeply for their child, it’s easy to recognise those traits in another. She knows how you feel Jason,” Ursula replied.
“How much time is left before the blood moon is gone?” Jason asked, not taking his eyes from his mother.
“Two minutes left,” Selene said uncomfortably, looking at her watch.
“Why won’t they change back?” Jason fumed.
“Because we’re holding the horn and we want our army,” a voice growled. The group spun to find Strix and Onyx who were now holding the horn.
“Ah, for shit sake, really? You’re going to pull this now?” Jason raged as he took a pace towards them.
“I wouldn’t if I were you, or Onyx will smash the horn and leave your mummy and the town frozen forever,” Strix ordered.
“So I’m meant to just stand here and do nothing while you change them all into mindless beasts?” Jason barked.
“Oh don’t worry, we’ll have their minds. They won’t miss them at all,” Onyx said with a smirk. Jason roared and charged the pair.
“No!” Onyx yelled and raised the Gjallarhorn above his head, preparing to smash it.
From the moment Onyx and Strix arrived with the Gjallerhorn announcing their intentions, Ursula had slunk into the darkness, slowly manoeuvring her way around behind the pair. When Jason saw the mercenaries, he completely lost control and charged the pair, murder in his eyes. Onyx made the mistake of raising the horn up high and away from the rampaging Jason, providing Ursula the opportunity to fire a grappling hook from her high powered air compression gun.
With their attention diverted, the grappling hook struck its target, coiling around it tight. Onyx barely had time to register his predicament when Ursula hit the reverse switch. A tiny motor within the gun ripped the horn from Onyx’s grasp and reeled the Gjallarhorn in. At the same time Jason crossed the distance towards the mercenaries. He could see Onyx lose his grip on their prize. A smile escaped his face as he changed form into reinforced steel, leaping at his target and firing off a massive grey fist into the jaw of Onyx. The mineral comprised alien was out cold before he hit the ground. As quick as she was, by the time Strix realised what had happened, Ms Jax and Ulysses were standing either side of her pinning her arms firm. She struggled to get loose, her efforts in vain. Ms Jax raised a hand towards Strix, her index finger flexed. She then flicked her finger into the temple of the avian warrior. The power released knocked her unconscious. Ursula, now with the Gjallarhorn in hand, tossed it to Ulysses who caught it mid-air.
“We have thirty seconds left,” Selene cried.
“Here, blow it one more time Jason. I have a gut feeling about this,” Ulysses said, throwing the horn to Jason. He wasted no time raising the horn to his lips and gave it everything he had.
The moment the music emerged from the horn, a strong wind started to pick up in and around the park, swirling like a vortex. Jason, Selene and the others ran for cover as the wind whipped around them, threatening to snatch them all within its embrace. From the safety of the library entrance they watched as the wind swirled around the town’s people, who appeared untouched and immoveable like statues. On the wind, debris was flying around, torn clothing, broken timber and canvas from the marques and stages that were destroyed during the battle. None of it appeared to be injuring the people at the centre of the vortex. The wind and debris eventually moved at such a high speed that nothing within could be seen.
“What do we do?” Jason yelled as he struggled to be heard over the top of the noise.
“There’s nothing we can do, we have to let this play out,” Ulysses replied sympathetically. They all watched, matching looks of apprehension on their tired faces. The fate of the town and its people literally resting on the Gods.
The centre of town was now a blur of colours, the sound of the winds like the moaning of the dead. Then at the height of its intensity, explosions of light appeared to be going off within the centre. It literally appeared as if a storm cloud was hovering in the centre of town. The bursts of light were like lightning strikes, followed by an earth shattering explosion. It was so loud that it set off shop and car alarms all through town. The wind had now stopped and was replaced with a jet black mist that was slowly dispersing into the night sky, once again lit by a normal pale moon.
Jason and the others raced from the safety of their shelter as the last of the mist evaporated. The people of Perigord appeared, unharmed and fully clothed. The stalls, marques and stages were as they were prior to the battle. An applause rippled through the crowd, followed by cheers and general good-natured enthusiasm. People praised the visual light show of the Harvest Moon. Jason led the others through the crowd as he looked for his mother. The town’s people appeared to be acting normal as if nothing unusual had been happening. Ulysses mysteriously departed from the group giving Ms Jax the thumbs up signal before leaving. Jason continued on until he found Helen, grateful that she was now clothed like the rest of the town. As he approached, he broke into a run and picked her up in a bear hug. Helen seemed surprised at first, but like any mother was happily overwhelmed to have her teenage son show his affection unashamedly in a public venue.
“What was that for?” Helen asked curiously. “Not that I’m complaining,” she added. Jason placed Helen down carefully.
“That was for bringing us to Perigord, and this,” Jason said, leaning over and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Is for being you,” he added with a twinkle in his eye. Helen looked at him strangely.
“Did I miss something?” Helen said.
“No, not at all,” Jason replied.
Epilogue
Those that had been pivotal in the salvation of Perigord were sitting around the table of the library staff room, talking. Ulysses, Ms Jax, Ursula and holding hands at the far end, Jason and Selene. Everyone was sipping on tea and despite the fatigue, lumps and bruisers, they wore the smiles only those that have achieved something truly special wear.
“Selene, I have to know, where did you get the bow and quiver full of arrows?” Ulysses enquired. Selene suddenly became all serious as she thought carefully over her answer, glancing at the bow and quiver at her feet.
“Do you remember when you all left me near the front door?” she said. “Yeah, it wouldn’t open,” Jason replied. Everyone at the table was listening carefully.
“I was crouched low near the door thinking, what am I gonna do, when the door cracked open. A brilliant pure white light spilled out,” Selene said.
“What happened then?” Jason asked enthralled in her story.
“I couldn’t help myself. I walked thro
ugh the door, almost in a trance towards the statue,” Selene said.
“What statue?” Jason asked impatiently.
“The statue of Artemis,” Ulysses interrupted.
“That’s right,” Selene said. “How did you know?” she added. Ulysses didn’t reply.
“Well, I approached Artemis. She looked beautiful, striking a pose with her bow. I was standing directly in front of her, then the next thing I remember I was back outside, the bow in my hand and the quiver of arrows on my back,” Selene added.
“That’s incredible!” Ursula said.
“Too right, she now has a weapon and she saves the day,” Jason commented. Selene suddenly realised that Ulysses was staring at her strangely. Feeling uncomfortable, she retrieved the bow and quiver that now lay at her feet and handed them across to Ulysses.
“I’m sorry, I should have given them back to you sooner,” she said. Ulysses shook his head and gave her a sad smile.
“It’s yours now,” he replied.
“I don’t understand,” Selene said.
“For whatever reason, the library has named you as its champion” Ulysses said.
“That’s fantastic! What an honour!” Selene said, gushing at the news.
“Yes, yes it is,” Ulysses replied, less than enthusiastic. No one noticed his attitude change except for Ms Jax who decided not to brooch the subject there.
“What about Ms Gaia?” Ursula asked. Ulysses was glad to have a change of subject.
“When I went to retrieve Ms Gaia from the woods, all I could find was this,” Ulysses said as he pulled a vial from his pocket and shook the contents for everyone to see. Inside was a course black powder.
“What is it?” Jason asked.
“I don’t know and neither does Greymeade,” Ulysses replied. “But this was all that was there where her body had been,” he added.
“And if anyone wants to know, we currently have Onyx and Strix detained within the library. One they can’t possibly escape from,” Ms Jax interjected. This particular news was well received from everyone.
Ulysses tapped the side of his tea cup with a spoon as he stood and faced his companions.
“Quiet please,” Ulysses said only to be drowned out by their applause and cheering. Temporarily giving in to their adulation, Ulysses stood there and waited them out.
“I’d like to make a toast,” Ulysses declared. “On behalf of the citizens of Perigord, thank you for your determination and unwavering fighting spirit. And from me thank you for your friendship and loyalty,” Ulysses said soberly. “To the employees of earth’s finest library,” Ulysses added and raised his cup to the room. The other members present returned the gesture.
“Hear, hear,” they replied and everyone drank.
The party only lasted a short while. Fatigue was their enemy in the wee hours of the morning. Ursula literally dragged Jason and Selene out the front door. As they made their way home. They stopped briefly at the statue of Artemis, whose pose was now of her standing with hands on hips looking ethereal and heroic. They left shortly after as Ulysses and Ms Jax watched them go.
“They’re good people,” Ulysses said.
“Amongst the finest I’ve ever met,” Ms Jax replied. They made their way slowly down the staircase.
“I’ve think it’s time we turned in as well,” Ulysses said when he noticed the doorway into the library’s inner sanctum was open.
“Unusual,” Ulysses muttered. Upon entering, there was an image of the Perigord Park blown up with crystal clarity.
“Greymeade, where and when is this location?” Ulysses asked. Text at the bottom of the image appeared. ‘S/E position Perigord Park 0330h this morning’.
“That was twenty minutes ago,” Ulysses said. “Greymeade, why are you showing us this image?” Ulysses added. The image began to zoom in on a tree located at the bottom left hand side. Standing at the base of the tree was a robed figure, its hood partially pulled back. Ulysses strained to see the face.
“Greymeade, zoom in and highlight the robed figure,” Ulysses requested quietly. The image was altered in the manner asked.
“I don’t believe it,” Ulysses whispered, as both he and Ms Jax stared at the blown up image of Heinrich Perigord.
“He’s back,” Ulysses said.
About the Author
Born in 1972, Katherine, NT, Australia. Married with three children I have always loved to read in particular fantasy fiction. My favourite authors include JRR Tolkien, Robert E Howard, Stephen King, Raymond E Feist and the awesome Matthew Reilly. Growing up I was always a bit of a geek, in particular my love of comics and horror movies, something that has stayed with me well into my “mature years”.
I was a soldier in the Australian Defence Force for nearly 20 years, having served on operations in Rwanda and East Timor, and later an instructor at the School of Infantry. I’m a qualified cinema graphic make-up artist, having trained under Oscar winner Peter Frampton. I had high aspirations of being the next Tom Savini. I enjoy keeping fit, reading and annoying my kids.
I still love cheesy B grade movies in particular anything with zombies and I love hanging out with my brothers every chance I get, both of whom are successful writers in their own respective fields.
Writing Perigord has been an immensely satisfying journey and one that has yet to reach its final destination.
