The Healer

by Kevin Hensley

  “Aside from the roof, the house seems to be in relatively good condition,” Ponder said.

  Snapper tapped on the wall. “It’s all brick and concrete. I wonder why they didn’t come back and bulldoze these walls.”

  “Perhaps as an example,” Ponder mused. “I apologize. That was an insensitive thing to say.”

  “It’s fine. You’re probably right.”

  Dreamer lay against Snapper’s side. “Are you alright being here?”

  “Yes. I’m fine. Besides, it’s only temporary. We’ll hunker down here until those birds pass by.”

  None of them said a word for a long time. Dreamer curled up on the floor and closed her eyes. Snapper tried to sleep for a while but eventually got up and walked into his father’s bedroom.

  Dad, he thought. I messed up. But I’ve still got them. Ponder and Mauler are here with me.

  “Was this your father’s room?”

  Snapper glanced to the side as Dreamer came up next to him.

  “Yes, it was. I’m surprised you have to ask,” he said.

  “There is nothing to identify in here,” she replied. “No remains of possessions. No war decorations, photo frames, anything to indicate that anyone even lived here.”

  “No. He wouldn’t keep any of that. He was a minimalist. This place was purely functional. We used it for a shelter, pretty much like we’re doing right now.” He paused. “It’s funny that Ponder and Mauler are hiding out in it now. Sometimes it’s like my dad knew ahead of time what was going to happen. He always acted like the pigs were going to come for him any day and I’d be left alone.”

  “I think you’re doing exactly what he would have done if he were still here,” Dreamer said.

  “I don’t know. I think he’d have wanted me to be in school and for them to stay safely underground. If I’d kept you out of it, we wouldn’t be in this situation at all.”

  “That’s what Caper would say. But you should know by now, what your father wanted for you and what he would have done himself are wildly different.”

  Snapper turned to her. “Now I know I’ve told you too much if you’re starting to understand it all better than I do. Where’s the fun for you if there are no more secrets?”

  She took a step closer. “Well, I don’t know everything just yet.”

  “No? What’s still missing?”

  Dreamer smiled. “I don’t know what you’re going to do right now, for example.”

  He kissed her. In their moment of physical connection, their minds touched. Snapper found his mind’s eye racing across the plains at blinding speed. A voice that was not his nor hers whispered in his ear.

  Guard her. Learn from her. Run with her. Anywhere. Everywhere. With her by your side, you can do all you imagine and more. Your tormentors will not stand a chance.

  Mauler’s snarl jerked them back to reality and they ran back into the living room. The hair on Mauler’s back stood on end and he pointed through the open ceiling.

  “They passed over and circled back around!” Mauler shouted. “Be ready!”

  Chapter 69

  Snapper braced himself and looked up, waiting for their pursuers to pass by again. Mauler picked up a fallen beam and held it in both hands like a club. Dreamer pulled Ponder into the safety of the group.

  The four birds flew over the house again, lower. Everyone except Mauler burst into laughter.

  “They are yellow.” Ponder chuckled. “Four yellow birds.”

  “Finally some good news,” said Snapper. He ran into the yard and waved a hoof in the air.

  The four birds circled gently, descending to the ground next to Snapper. Dreamer joined them. Mauler watched from the doorway, his utter confusion evident on his face.

  “It’s alright, Mauler!” Dreamer called out to him. “It’s the Flaxer family. They’re friendly.”

  Mauler dropped the wooden beam but stayed wary. Dreamer and Snapper returned to the house, each of them carrying two canaries on their backs.

  “How did you know to look for us?” Snapper asked.

  Mrs. Flaxer hopped side to side on Dreamer’s shoulders, more nervous than usual. “I got away from University without being seen,” she said in her typical breathless manner. “When they came out with Caper and Boxer, I flew to the mountains as fast as I could to get help. Reverend Specter wouldn’t let anyone interfere. He said it was a ‘lawful arrest.’ Only my husband and sons would come back with me. We saw you leaving the Tooth & Claw building and I knew you must have used the secret exit. We lost track of you during the night and we’ve been trying to catch up with you since.”

  “We are very happy you are here,” said Ponder. “We must plan our next move, but we are at something of a loss.”

  “Well, we want to help,” said one of the Flaxer boys.

  Mr. Flaxer approached Ponder. “We believe you’re really the prophet of the Goddess. We helped Caper get you free because of that faith. And we’ll do anything we can to make sure you do… whatever it is you’ve been sent to do.” His eyes traveled along the trailing ropes to the metal hooks stuck in Ponder’s body. “Don’t those hurt?”

  “Not anymore. What hurt was when Professor Caper tried to remove them. I could not stand it. So they remain there. I used it as a reminder of what he rescued me from, whenever I began to resent his keeping me underground.”

  “We could put those ropes to use,” said Mrs. Flaxer. “Maybe… we can carry you?”

  Ponder paused. “I could not ask that of you. I am far too heavy.”

  The canary shook her head. “You weren’t heavy at all when we carried you down the mountain. We think you have some way of augmenting our strength when you are in command.”

  Dreamer twisted her head to look back at Mrs. Flaxer. “When she’s in command? You mean to say…”

  “Oh yes, dear. Ponder, when we were carrying you, we could hear your thoughts. We flew exactly as you wished us to. And it was no burden at all.”

  Ponder’s eyes briefly flashed with that violet glow. “I cannot believe it. I was exerting my power on your family without realizing it.” She audibly fumbled for a moment before managing to speak again. “No. It could be incredibly dangerous for you. I appreciate what the Flaxer family has done for me, but having you carry me around is too much.”

  Mauler cleared his throat. “Ponder. If we have to fight, I need both arms.”

  “Good point,” said Snapper. “If there is trouble, they could just zip you out of harm’s way. The rest of us are able to defend ourselves.”

  “And it would give you an opportunity to practice and sharpen your abilities,” Dreamer added. “I think we should give it a try.”

  Mr. Flaxer fixed Ponder with his firm stare. “It would be an honor to my family to help you, Ponder. We would be doing the will of Optera.”

  Ponder let out a long sigh. “Alright. For now. If our situation gets dangerous for you, promise me you will leave me if you have to. I cannot bear people taking risks on my behalf.”

  Mrs. Flaxer nodded. “We will. Don’t worry about us, dear. You have a much higher purpose to serve, even if you don’t know the way just yet.” She fluttered off Dreamer’s back and used her tiny orange feet to grasp the frayed rope anchored to the back of Ponder’s head. Her husband took the one in the small of her back and each son took a wing.

  With a unified effort, they lifted her to hover six inches off the floor.

  “This is amazing,” Ponder said in awe. “Alright, I am going to try to, uh, take command.” Her eyes turned bright purple again.

  The glow spread to the eyes of the four birds. In unison they turned and brought her over to the doorway, where Mauler stood. He raised his head and smiled at her. Their eyes were level, her wooden beak very close to his flat face. He touched his forehead to hers. “Are you happy, Ponder?”

  “So very happy, Mauler. It feels as though I can move on my own.”

  Snapper beamed. “Look at that. It’s about time something went our way.”

/>   Dreamer nudged him. “This is great, but we shouldn’t hang around here much longer. Someone else might be out there looking for us. Someone who doesn’t want to help out.”

  “You’re right. We should keep moving. But we need some direction. We won’t be able to bust Caper and Boxer out of that city unless we have a really good plan. And we don’t have a lot of friendly places to go.”

  “Maybe we should go to the quarry after all,” Dreamer said. “My dad was friends with Boxer. He might know what to do or know someone who can help us.”

  Snapper nodded. “That’s a good idea. But I’m not sure how we’re going to get into the quarry. We can’t get past the guards on the top of the wall.”

  “You forgot the train.”

  “Oh, yeah, the…” Snapper trailed off as Dreamer’s words stirred something in his memory. “The train. Everyone, we’re headed to the railroad.”

  Chapter 70

  Berger knew he was supposed to be paying attention, but nothing interesting ever happened at this job. He sprawled in his chair, occasionally glancing out the window of the guard shack while a pair of muscular bull terriers hauled cargo and guided passengers on and off the train.

  For what must have been the fiftieth time that day, he idly read the wanted poster pinned to a corkboard beside the door. The “Mauler” he’d watched escaping from the HoundBlood tournament a while back. A wooden bird. Two sheep, one of which he’d wrestled with at Boxer’s gym. He glanced down at the day’s Chugg Report spread out across his desk, with the same four fugitives noted.

  He touched the Tooth & Claw medallion hanging from his neck. He had hated reading about Boxer’s arrest. He was sure his gym coach had had something to do with the Mauler’s escape—all the students knew—but there was nothing he could do about it.

  A sharp rapping sound startled him. “Yoo-hoo! Hello in there! Sir?”

  Berger slowly looked to his left. On the outside windowsill, a pair of canaries were hopping up and down and pecking the glass pane.

  One of them took off as soon as he laid eyes on them. “It’s OK!” the departing one shouted. “He’s alone in there!”

  “What the…?” Berger grumbled as he laboriously stood from his chair. His posture was no less slouched than when he was sitting at his desk.

  He shuffled out onto the grass and cornered the other canary. “What’s going on out here?”

  “Hello, sir!” the little bird said. “I was wondering if you could help us.”

  She was far too cheerful for Berger’s liking. He sighed. “With what?”

  “Hi, Berger.”

  The old dog turned. To his surprise, he saw the same sheep from the wanted poster. He reflexively looked all around him. “You’re Snapper. I recognize you.”

  “Did you hear about what happened to Boxer?”

  “I did. He’s been arrested, and now you’re in trouble with the law too. What do you want with me?”

  Snapper pointed. Berger looked over to the guard shack. Mauler stepped around from behind it, head held low.

  “It’s really him!” Berger sputtered. “Boxer’s been hiding him all this time?”

  “Yes. And we’re on the run, trying to figure out how to spring Boxer loose. Can you help us get into the quarry? We need to meet with Shiver.”

  Berger glanced at the train again. The two terriers were absorbed in their task. “There could be a way. Get out of sight for a minute. I’ll be back.”

  He returned to the guard shack and let himself into a back room containing packaging and discarded pieces of luggage. He selected two large bags and a steamer trunk, which he dragged around behind the shack.

  “There you go,” he said. “Hurry up, if you want to catch that train.”

  Chapter 71

  “Drop those right around back there.”

  Snapper and Dreamer held their breath and did their best not to make a sound. There was a jolt and a loud WHUMPF as the bag was dropped on the ground.

  “Thanks a lot for the assist, boys,” Berger’s gruff voice said. “Let’s all go home.”

  The footsteps of the dogs faded away. A minute of silence crawled by.

  “They’re gone,” came the voice of Mrs. Flaxer. “You can come out now.”

  Dreamer pushed the zipper until she’d made a gap large enough for herself and Snapper to slide out.

  Snapper looked down at the dirt around his hooves. It was very fine and surprisingly red. A few hundred yards in front of him, he saw the ravine lined with construction equipment. Beyond, the sun hung over the ocean.

  He noticed they were at the back end of a row of buildings made of large bricks. This particular building was the largest on this side of the street and the only one with glass windows. The edge of the roof was adorned with bird-like gargoyles.

  Mauler pushed his way out of the big trunk. He shook his tangled coat and went to open the other bag. Pulling Ponder free, he stood her up on the ground. The four Flaxers, having flown over the wall, perched on the brick ledge above them.

  “It worked.” Dreamer let out a sigh of relief. “Berger smuggled us into the quarry.”

  Snapper was still looking at the building shielding them from being seen from the street. “What’s this?”

  Dreamer came close to him. “This is the church. It’s a good place to hide while I go talk to my dad. The guard dogs never go in there.”

  “No one inside will tell on us?”

  She shook her head. “People go in there to hide all the time. No one asks questions.”

  Snapper sighed. “Alright. Are you going now?”

  “Yes. I’ll bring him to the church. It’s safer than having us all go to my house.”

  “Be careful,” said Mrs. Flaxer. “We’ve been seeing wanted posters with a picture of the four of you. They’ll be looking for you.”

  Snapper leaned even closer to Dreamer. “Should I go with you?”

  “No, city sheep stick out here. You’re more likely to get caught than I am.”

  “I don’t like the idea of sending you alone.”

  “I will be able to tell if she is in distress,” Ponder said.

  Dreamer kissed Snapper’s cheek. “I’ll be fine. And if I’m not, you’ll know. You all go inside. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Chapter 72

  A drooling quarry dog passed too close for comfort. Dreamer pressed herself against a wall, keeping in the shade between buildings as much as possible. She was not afraid. All she had to do was wait for the dog to pass. Each of them had a particular beat; she’d learned them over the years.

  She felt an odd buzzing at the edges of her perception. She realized it was Ponder’s probing curiosity. Satisfied that a mental connection had been made, she did her best to send calm, confident thoughts to her friends.

  Dreamer made it to her father’s house without incident and slipped in quietly through the tattered curtain serving as their back door. There, in the middle of the one-room building, her father lay on his back on his favorite beaten-up cushion on the floor. His hooves moved in the air and he writhed back and forth in a fitful dream, mumbling.

  She tapped her hoof lightly on the brick wall. “Dad, I’m home,” she called out. He didn’t respond. She knew better than to get too close while he was having a war dream. “Dad?”

  With a sigh, she tiptoed to the front corner toward a stack of pillows. As she had done many times before, she picked one up and threw it onto his chest. As she’d expected, he awoke with a start and scrambled off of his cushion, his eyes darting around frantically. She kept her distance until he got his bearings.

  Breathing heavily, Shiver blinked. Finally his eyes focused on her. “Dreamer? What are you doing here? Wait a second—your face! What happened to your scars? You told me something was going to be different about you, but—”

  “I’ll explain when we have time. I came home because I need some help, Dad.”

  His brow knotted up. “Girl, I read some real interesting things in the paper
this morning. What have you gotten yourself into?”

  Dreamer took a second to take a breath and steady herself. Talking to her father was never easy. “The pigs came—wait, the paper? Let me see it. I’ll tell you what’s true and what isn’t. How about that?”

  He jerked his head towards the table next to his sleeping space. Dreamer picked up the Chugg Report and scanned the front page.

  “‘Fugitives escape University, seven dead.’” Dreamer read through the first few paragraphs. “OK, well… first of all, there was nothing ‘routine’ or ‘standard’ about the way they did things. And I didn’t ‘cooperate.’ They raided my school, beat my professor to a pulp, and drugged me for information.”

  “Drugged you? Why would you know anything about those missing freaks?”

  “They’re not freaks, Dad. They’re my friends.”

  “What is going on at your school?”

  “I’m thinking. They must have painted me in a positive light in the article so I’d think I was safe. So I’d do something like… come home. Dad, we have to leave.”

  “We’re not going anywhere.” Shiver’s nostrils flared.

  “We have to go to the church. I’ll explain everything then.”

  “Not happening. You’re not leaving this house. I was a fool to send you off. I thought you’d be safer away from here, but you’re getting mixed up in bird nonsense and now you’re back in the pigs’ crosshairs. I’m done with this.”

  Dreamer got right in her father’s face, her hooves digging into the dirt floor in a mixture of fear and anger. “This is so much more important than just my safety, Dad. I’ve got two friends hiding at the church who need our help. Their being here at all is… a miracle. My professor understands that. So does Boxer. And now they’re in the pig city because they believe it. If you won’t help us out for me, Dad, do it for Boxer.”

  Shiver paused. Dreamer knew she had won. Her father hated being defied, but he was a fighter at heart. He held the most respect for people who had the courage to stand up to him. He sighed. “You’re my daughter all right.”

  “Will you please come to the church, Dad?”