Bentwhistle the Dragon Box

by Paul Cude

  Almost exactly the same thoughts were running through Gee Tee's mind. He knew, of course, that there was little choice but to kill the dragon Casey. For a start he was far too dangerous to keep alive, but also there was nowhere to hold him, and he'd seen far too much of what was going on here to be regarded as anything less than a massive risk. A tinge of guilt and sadness ran through him at all this. Guilt because he was primarily responsible for getting her into it... well, the leader part anyway. And sadness for the gruesome act which she had clearly not wanted to commit, but had done so anyway. He didn't doubt that she would be a fine leader, but worried that she herself would pay a high price much further down the line.

  Looking down at the blade of the laminium dagger in her hands, she watched as tiny streams of green blood dribbled down it towards the tip. She'd never killed before. Never even thought about it before today. When Peter had described his battle with the evil dragon Manson on the Astroturf, she'd wondered what she would have done had she been in his position, considered the moment when he'd thrust the deadly looking icicle into what was supposedly Manson's weak spot. It hadn't turned out to be, but Peter hadn't known that. When he'd spoken about it all, she'd just assumed she would have done the same thing, with hardly a thought. But it had all played on her mind for days afterwards. Normally so sure of herself, she worried that she wouldn't have been able to do it, that she would have frozen at the last minute. Well, now she knew for sure. There was no turning back. She could kill if she had to. It felt horrible but... she could do it. Wiping the thick green blood off the shiny blade with the bottom of her T-shirt, she tucked the dagger back in place, and turned to face everyone.

  Taibul, Sam, Emma and Angela were all comforting each other as best they could and had moved away from the rest of the group. The dragons stood straight and tall. Everyone looked as Richie turned around.

  "Whether you agree with me or not... it had to be done. All we can do now is move on. We need to act on everything he told us if we're to stand any sort of chance. You've elected me as your leader, and as such I've come up with what I feel is the best way to deal with the situation. We will take two forces up to London. When we get there, I will lead one with the aim of saving the king and the council, seeing what help we can pick up on the way. YOU, master mantra maker," she stated, pointing at Gee Tee, "will lead the other. Your task will be to get the telepathic crystal nodes working so that we can spread the word across the planet and coordinate our efforts."

  Both Gee Tee and Flash were surprised in equal measures. Gee Tee, because the last thing he felt qualified to do was lead anybody, especially given that he wasn't a people or dragon person and always much preferred his own company. Half thinking that this was Richie's revenge for him putting her in that position, he dismissed that almost immediately, knowing that she was only doing what she thought best. Flash's surprise was because he hadn't been chosen to lead the other group. Of everyone here, he was easily the most qualified, knew London like the back of his hand and had already proved his worth many times over today. I mean... he'd saved her life when Casey was about to finish her off, hadn't he? So why on earth hadn't she chosen him?

  Looking across at Flash, as she knew he would, the ex-Crimson Guard was having trouble processing the fact that he hadn't been asked to lead. It was time to, quite literally, ask the world of him.

  "Flash! Step forward," she commanded. He did so straight away, not knowing what was going to happen next. Keeping her voice strong, resolute, calm, but with just a hint of emotion, she spoke loudly enough for all to hear. "Your skills and experience have gone far in helping us achieve this small victory today. You saved my life, and countless others too. My respect, admiration and love for you is beyond measure."

  Flash could hardly believe what he was hearing.

  'Where on earth,' he thought, 'is this going?'

  "And so it pains me," Richie continued, "to make this request of you. And yes, it is a request. You should feel free to turn it down, and know that it's not something I ask lightly. I believe you are the only one qualified and able to see it through, and ultimately think that its success is the key to returning the planet to some sort of normality."

  Listening intently, Flash chided himself for believing briefly that Richie hadn't trusted him. From her words, it looked as though she trusted him only too well.

  "Our deceased friend here described the army of nagas at Manson's disposal as titanic. I find it difficult to comprehend. But if it is as big as he described, then a dragon force a thousand times bigger than ours would have trouble defeating it. There seems to me to be only one way to counter this: to take away the threat hanging over their heads, and in doing so, stop them from working for Manson."

  Now he understood. She was going to send him back to Antarctica. A cold shiver of fear ran up his back and arms at the very thought of returning. He'd had nightmares about his time there since returning. Not every night, but a few times a week. He'd wake up screaming, covered in sweat, his back burning with pain. And while the pain had subsided a little, the images that swam in and around his subconscious were as clear and frightening as ever. If there was one place on the whole of the planet that he never wanted to see again... IT WAS THERE!

  "So you see, while you may have thought that I didn't trust you enough to lead the other London group, I actually need you to do something far more important... far more dangerous! And it's something I know you don't want to do because of your previous experience there. But it is precisely that experience that makes you the perfect dragon for the job. No one else knows what you do. No one else can make the rescue of the naga king work. So my mission for you, should you choose to accept it, is to make your way to Antarctica with all haste, via the latest monorail test borehole in Northern France, gathering help along the way if at all possible, and free the naga king from his icy hellhole. Hopefully, once this is achieved, the naga king will have some way to warn his race and can nullify that part of Manson's plan."

  Richie made no mention of Peter's grandfather Fredric, but didn't doubt for one second that if Flash made it as far as the bleak, icy prison, he would go to great lengths to try and free him as well.

  "So... what do you say?"

  She made a compelling case, Flash thought, and knew that what they were trying to achieve would be almost impossible without somehow removing the naga threat. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't think of another way of doing that. And having been there already, he most certainly was the best dragon for the job. He just wished he wasn't. Reluctantly he nodded.

  "I'm in," he declared.

  "Thank you," replied Richie. "What do you need?"

  Looking around at the meagre force gathered before them, ideally he needed an army about fifty times bigger than what there was here. Knowing that the more dragons he took from here, the less chance the groups in London would have, he felt unsure of what to do. But he knew he couldn't go alone.

  'Hmmm,' he thought. 'Those healing dragons were fantastic, with their work of the highest standard. Yes, one of them would do fine.' And with that, he proceeded to tell Richie what he needed.

  And so it was decided. There really wasn't much else to do. A phone call later (the signal boosted by some of Tank's mantra magic) and Yoyo was in, promising to be ready for Flash's arrival in Australia. He also alluded to something special that would help them in their quest to free the naga king. For Flash, it was just the boost he needed to know that Yoyo and whoever he could round up would be accompanying them. As well as that, one of the healers who'd assisted Flash in saving Tank agreed immediately to go to Antarctica, almost certainly not realising the full implications of the mission. With time of the essence, that's all there really was to it. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, Janice came running up to him. From her side, she pulled out Fu-ts'ang and offered it to him.

  "You should take him," she whispered. "It sounds dangerous where you're going."

  Flash smiled at the kind offer, both considering it and
dismissing it in an instant.

  "It will be downright dangerous where I'm going, but I think you should stick with it. I get the sense that it rather likes you. And besides, its most potent ability is the cold that its imbued with. There's too much cold where I'm going, so its effect may be nullified. Keep it, use it, let it protect you. I mean what I said about it liking you."

  "I know," answered Janice. "Good luck," she whispered, not knowing what else to say.

  "You too," added Flash, before turning and climbing up onto the healer dragon's back. But as he did so, something rather important occurred to him. Climbing back down, he strolled purposefully over to Richie. Leaning down slightly, he whispered delicately in her ear. For a moment, a rueful look crossed her freckled face. Flash pulled back. Richie stood on tiptoes, and kissed him gently on the cheek. Smiling, he turned and started to walk back towards the local healer that was his lift, not before a lumbering giant in the shape of Tank appeared right in front of him.

  "I'm sorry you have to go back."

  Flash nodded.

  "It has to be me... for obvious reasons."

  "I know," replied Tank, sadly, knowing full well just how much Flash hated and feared that place.

  Reaching out, Flash clasped Tank's shoulder in a sign of friendship. Tank returned the gesture. Both stood silent, aware that they might never see the other again.

  "Before you go, there's something you need to know," ventured Tank.

  "I know my friend. I feel the same way too."

  "Good," said Tank smiling. "Because it's not that. Well... it is, but there's something else. Something relevant to the mission."

  "Go on," added Flash.

  "The chains that hold the prisoners... Fredric and the naga king. They're unbreakable!"

  Flash's face turned to stone.

  "But all is not lost. Gee Tee and I have known for some time, and we've developed a mantra that will turn the chains into their most prominent base element... LAMINIUM!"

  On hearing this, Flash's eyes took on the form of dinner plates, they were so wide. Leaning in close to his friend, Tank whispered the mantra to him. Flash's eidetic memory stored it safely away, knowing just how important it might be.

  Again they stood in silence, until Flash whispered a heartfelt,

  "Thank you, and good luck."

  Tank nodded a silent reply, wishing his friend all the luck in the world, because he'd probably need it where he was going.

  It was just at this point that Gee Tee noticed a thick bulge in the bottom of his Traveller's Bag of Capacity. Curious, he opened up the top and stuck in his giant, prehistoric head.

  'Oh my!' he thought. Whipping his head out, with the speed of a hissing viper, the old dragon shouted across the market place,

  "FLASH... HOLD ON A SECOND!"

  About to hop onto his healer friend again, to start their epic journey to Australia, Flash obligingly turned and headed back towards the master mantra maker. Meanwhile Richie looked on, a little cross at yet another interruption, knowing that time was everything and even the odd second or two might make a difference in what they were trying to achieve. Striding over to the point where Flash and Gee Tee met, she was joined by Tank and Janice.

  "I think we need to get a move on," she barked, at no one in particular.

  Gee Tee's large, scaly head turned to one side, swivelling to look at her.

  "Patience, little one," he whispered, more than a little patronisingly.

  She was just about to snap and bark something very rude back at him, when out of the magical, seemingly bottomless bag he'd been carting around with him, he pulled a very old and scruffy looking pair of boots, dangling them right in front of everyone's faces.

  Looking over at Tank, Richie turned one of her fingers around and around by her ear, trying to indicate that the old shopkeeper had finally, once and for all, lost the plot. In return, Tank held up his palm to stop her. Gee Tee had effectively saved them all today, and although Richie had officially been put in charge, it seemed at least prudent to hear the master mantra maker out. It was Janice that piped up first.

  "Surely he's better off with the trainers he's wearing?"

  "I couldn't agree more," chipped in Richie, so that only she and Tank could hear, well... supposedly. Gee Tee gave her a look.

  "You've got to be kidding me!" exclaimed Flash in excitement. "Are those really what I think they are?"

  With the others looking on, more than a little puzzled, the old shopkeeper nodded in response to Flash's question.

  "Amazing!" declared Flash. "I've only ever heard about them. Never seen a pair. Always wanted to though."

  Richie shook her head.

  "As your leader," she demanded, "can somebody please tell me what on earth is going on?"

  "Boots of Fleeting... child!" announced Gee Tee, thrusting the worn and ropey boots in her face.

  Flash laughed.

  "Never heard of them."

  "It's said that you could cover leagues in a simple step," announced Tank.

  Flash and Gee Tee nodded in agreement.

  "So what is it you're trying to tell me?"

  "With those," said Flash, referring to the boots, "I'll be in Australia in no time at all."

  "Really?" questioned Richie sceptically.

  "Yep," replied Flash. "If I get the healer to get me above ground, I can put these on and it won't be long at all."

  "Okay... if you say so."

  Gee Tee handed over the boots, looking ever so pleased with himself. Flash tied the laces together and then hung them around his neck as he headed back towards the healer. After a quick discussion to tell him the change in plan, once again the former Crimson Guard leapt onto the back of the dragon. With a brief nod and a wave, the two dragons, one in human form hitching a ride and the other with a magnificent yellow and blue crisscrossing the scales of his entire body, took to the air. Circling once, they headed south across the city, flying dangerously low above the rooftops.

  More than one of the group on the ground wondered if they'd ever see Flash again.

  48 If The Shoe (Or Boot) Fits...

  'If anything, they look a little on the small side,' thought Flash, placing the boots on the ground after waving goodbye to Stinging Threat, the healer dragon who'd given him a lift to the edge of a desolate field on the outskirts of Salisbridge. Nagging doubts poked at his mind. If the boots were too small, how would he get them on? And if he couldn't get them on, how would he get to Australia? Automatically his training pushed the very real concerns to one side, those and his thoughts for the dragons... no, beings (as the humans were his friends as well, particularly given how well they'd just fought against overwhelming odds) that he'd just left behind underground, as he slipped off the borrowed trainers he'd been wearing.

  Pulling back the tongue and making sure the laces were as loose as possible, carefully he edged his giant, sockless foot into the right boot while both his vision, and more importantly his brain, told him that it couldn't possibly fit into such a small space. As his toes disappeared from sight he felt a prickly, tingling sensation, right at the very tips of them. More than a little perturbed, he continued pushing his foot, which to his pleasant surprise was becoming more and more enveloped in the raggedy old boot. A moment later his heel slipped down the back of the shiny worn leather, producing a tiny little mushroom cloud of dust when it thudded down on the insole. Surprised at quite how comfortable his foot felt, tentatively he tugged on the laces, pulling them as tight as he dared, the fear of snapping them right at the front of his mind. With a double bow tied tight, he followed exactly the same process with the left boot. Standing up after he'd put them both on felt like walking on air.

  Leaving the discarded trainers in a heap, he turned and faced the direction he needed to travel in. Just by looking into the distance, he could feel the power of the boots welling up, threatening to spill out, ready to be unleashed at his command. With his destination firmly set in his thoughts... he took a very small step
. Instantly he was inundated with blurred lines of colour, that even his finely tuned and highly evolved dragons senses couldn't keep up with. What felt like a tornado whipped at his clothes, causing them all to flap like the wings of a demented seagull. A cold chill washed over him, gone as quickly as it had arrived, replaced instead by sheer exhilaration. Effectively, the world around him stopped. Momentarily he wobbled, thinking it was a side effect of travelling with the boots. It wasn't. He was perched precariously on top of some huge rocks, calm waves brushing gently at their base. In one small step, he'd reached the Dorset coastline. There, right in front of him, was the English Channel. Knowing exactly where he was, if he'd attempted that journey in a car it would have taken well over an hour to get there.

  'These boots are amazing!' he thought, as he lifted up his left foot and took the biggest stride he could. Again the sights and sounds all washed over him, as in an instant the English Channel was but a memory, with the French countryside closing in all around him on all sides. Australia was getting closer and closer by the second.

  49 Are We There Yet?

  With Flash disappearing off into the distance on the back of the magnificent healer dragon, Richie knew it was time for a decision. She also knew that it was her everyone was looking to, to make it.

  'Oh to go back a few hours and be just a blissfully unaware human,' she thought, trying hard to compose herself. 'Two objectives, two forces, both going to the same city.' It made sense to stick together, at least until they reached the outskirts of London. Then they could split up, with a view to achieving their separate goals... re-establishing communications for the dragon world via the telepathic node system, and attempting to either rescue, reinforce or defend the king, depending on the situation. Unfortunately, with power to the monorail cut off, she was at a loss as to just how to get to London, short of heading back above ground which might prove a bit tricky with a small force of dragons in tow, especially given that, no doubt, their enemies would be watching and waiting there too.