by Craig Zerf
‘One morning, when the Orc opened the pen, I stuck this in his eye. The three of us made a run for it.’ He frowned as he spoke. ‘The strange thing is, no one else made a break. They just stood there, eyes blank. Like cows waiting for the Judas goat. I don’t get it. Anyway, it took us two weeks to get here. I must admit, when we first saw you we thought that our lives were over.’
‘No,’ said Kob. ‘Your lives have just begun. Well done, you are a brave man and now you and your family are safe. We shall make the wall by late tomorrow.’
Tears started to flow unbidden down Gareth’s face. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said as he dashed them away with the back of his hand. ‘It’s just that I have been so scared the past few weeks.’
‘There is no need to apologize,’ said Kob. ‘True bravery is the ability to perform even though you are scared half to death. But now you can relax. Come,’ he continued. ‘Let us prepare for the journey to your new lives.’
Chapter 38
Tad massaged his right knee and grimaced. Arthritis.
‘I’m getting old,’ he said to himself as he poured a half mug of a concoction that Gogo had made for him. He wasn’t exactly sure what it contained but he knew some of the ingredients were ginger, flax seed oils, fish oil and willow bark. One thing that he did know – it tasted awful. But it did seem to help ease the stiffness and the pain. She had also given him a bottle of pepper oil to rub into the joint and he did so at least twice a day.
There was a loud knocking on his front door. He cursed, rolled his pants leg down and hobbled to the door, favoring his knee as he did so.
The banging continued without abating. Not frantic, merely loud and constant.
‘Settle down,’ he yelled. ‘I’m coming.’ He yanked the front door open. ‘What?’
‘Hell, if I’d known that you’d become such a cantankerous old dude I wouldn’t have come back.’
‘Nathaniel?’
‘The one and only,’ said the marine as he went down on one knee and hugged his friend.
‘I knew that you would come back,’ said Tad. ‘But I must admit I was starting to lose faith.’
‘How long has it been?’ Asked Nathaniel.
‘Twelve years and some months,’ answered The Little Big Man. ‘I’m getting on to sixty years old.’
Nathaniel stood up and looked at his friend. A flash of concern crossed his face but he hid it quickly with a smile.
However, Tad noticed the fleeting expression. ‘I know,’ he said. ‘I look like crap.’
Nathaniel didn’t deny Tad’s observation, he merely shrugged.
‘I didn’t get any of your postcards,’ quipped Tad. ‘I assume that you did write?’
‘Of course I did,’ said Nathaniel. ‘Maybe they got lost, even though I made sure to address them to, cantankerous old dude, earth.’
The Little Big Man laughed, then his face got serious. ‘It hasn’t been an easy twelve years,’ continued Tad. ‘The first few were constant battles, defending the new wall. We have had to change the way that we live merely to ensure our survival, all that we do is farm for food and watch the wall. Little time for art and introspection. Our children learn how to survive – not how to live.
We don’t have the strength to go on the offensive and, as a result, the rubber heads have subjugated humanity to such an extent that the humans on their side of the wall are treated as little more than dray animals. Mere beasts of burden. Worse than slaves. They are being starved and beaten to death while we cower behind the wall eking out our survival like craven cowards.’ Tad took a deep breath. ‘Well, whatever. How are you? Where have you been?’
Before Nathaniel could answer, a young woman of about twenty years old walked into the room. She was small with long, thick auburn hair and hazel eyes. She stood with her hands on her hips and looked at Nathaniel, one eyebrow raised. ‘Hey, dad,’ she addressed Tad as she took in the sight of the tall, well built, dark haired man standing in the doorway. ‘Who is this and why are you making him stand on the threshold instead of inviting him in?’
Tad turned to the woman. ‘Oh, Stephanie,’ he said. ‘This is…’
But Nathaniel shook his head almost imperceptibly before The Little Big Man could say who he was and Tad had to change his introduction. ‘This is…an old friend of mine. He lives over at Land’s End. Fishing. Haven’t seen him for years.’
Stephanie curtsied. ‘Welcome, dad’s friend,’ she said with a grin. ‘I’m Stephanie. My older sister Clare, is with friends. Please come in, I shall fix a snack and something to drink. I apologize for my father’s manners; he gets confused due to his exceptional old age.’
Both Tad and Nathaniel laughed and followed Stephanie to the sitting room.
When Stephanie had left the room to fix food and drink, Tad turned to Nathaniel. ‘Why the secrecy?’ He asked.
‘I don’t want everyone to know that I am back,’ answered Nathaniel. ‘I have plans and they require a certain amount of secrecy.’
‘Who can I tell?’ Enquired Tad.
‘Aside from you, Kob, Sam, Roo and Cha-rek. After that we shall see.’
Tad shook his head sadly. ‘Roo has gone,’ he said.
‘How?’
‘He got old,’ answered Tad. ‘He was almost eighty. He just wore out. Went to bed, never woke up. I’m sorry.’
‘And the rest?’
‘Sam is well, the walking people flourish under his leadership. Cha-rek has handed over the reins of his leadership to Grim-son, the wing commander. I made Kob general of our army. He is the same. I give him orders, he ignores them, we muddle along.’
Stephanie came in carrying a tray. On it was an array of smoked meats and cheese and two flagons of apple cider. She placed them on the small table in the center of the sitting area and then she sat on one of the chairs and studied Nathaniel with undisguised curiosity.
The men continued talking, small talk. Weather, crops, how many cattle the humans had. After a while Tad asked his daughter to go and fetch Kob and send a messenger to find Sam and Grim-son.
She stood up and prepared to leave, putting on her coat and scarf. Before she left she turned to Nathaniel. ‘I know who you are,’ she said. ‘I mean, I would be stupid not to, after all, you are the most famous person that ever lived. There’s like, hundreds of paintings of you and dad has told me what you look like about a thousand times. He always said that you would come back,’ she continued. ‘That’s why he wouldn’t accept the title of king and he kept your crown and axe on the wall at the meeting hall.’
Tad looked shocked but Nathaniel simply laughed. ‘You’re a bright young girl,’ he said. ‘Do me a favor, don’t tell anyone, okay?’
Stephanie nodded. ‘Lips are sealed,’ she grinned. ‘But just one thing – I’m not that young.’
The Forever Man laughed again. ‘I was king of the Picts thousands of years ago, my sweet girl,’ he said. ‘Trust me; everyone is young compared to me.’
‘Off you go, now,’ said Tad, his expression showing his slight embarrassment at the fact that his daughter was flirting with The Forever Man.
Stephanie left with a flick of her hips as she closed the door.
‘Right,’ said Tad. ‘Now, tell me exactly where you’ve been and why.’
So Nathaniel told the Little Big Man about Fulcrum, his training and a general précis of the last twelve years.
As he finished, Kob arrived with Stephanie and he had to tell his story again. Stephanie sat and listened, her face filled with wonder. Kob reacted as he always did, with seemingly bored indifference.
Next Sam and Grim-son arrived. Fortunately, as Tad had already heard the story twice now, he told it on Nathaniel’s behalf, only stopping every now and then to enquire about a detail that he had forgotten.
Next, Kob told Nathaniel about the plight of the humans under the control of the rubber heads, repeating stories that he had heard from human refugees that he had saved. He also told Nathaniel about Milly, her role as supreme human and her
casual cruelness that she hid under a thin veil of concern and caring.
The Forever Man’s face was like stone when he heard what Milly had turned into. ‘The last time that we met,’ he said. ‘I knew that she had lost the plot. I should have done something about it then. Instead I took the coward’s way out and simply left.’
‘What else could you have done?’ Asked Tad. ‘You could hardly kill someone that you saved as a little girl and cared for all that time.’
‘There are always excuses to be weak,’ said Nathaniel. ‘And so often they are dressed up as reasons of humanity. The fact remains, if I had killed her then I would have saved much suffering.’
‘But at what cost to yourself?’ Asked Stephanie. ‘To your humanity.’ The Forever Man turned his gaze onto the young woman and the power in his dark green eyes crackled across her and seemed to flay her very soul. She shrank back and, for a brief moment, she was almost overcome with a deep primeval terror.
But then the marine’s expression changed and with it, his eyes lightened in color and he reined the power of his emotions in. ‘I cannot afford myself the luxury of thinking about my humanity,’ said Nathaniel, his voice a harsh whisper. ‘After all, I am barely human. I am The Forever Man. I am Alpha. I am Omega. I am the lever that shall move the world.’
Stephanie said nothing as she struggled to draw breath and steady her shattered nerves. She remembered her father telling her of the authority that The Forever Man exuded. The simple visceral power that emanated from him in waves, unstoppable and undeniable. But this was the first time that she had felt it directed at her and her reaction was a blend of fear, respect and pure unadulterated desire.
Tad stood up. ‘Right, people. It’s late. We all need our rest, particularly me. We shall meet early tomorrow, here over breakfast, and plan our next moves. Remember, the king would prefer his return to remain a secret for now, so no talking.’
Everyone got to their feet, Kob, Sam and Grim-son shook hands with Nathaniel and left.
Stephanie went to make up a bed in the spare room for Nathaniel and they all said their goodnights and retired for the evening.
Chapter 38
‘I need to go into rubber head territory,’ said Nathaniel as they all sat around the breakfast table. ‘I have learned a lot in the last twelve years but I need to try out my knowledge in a practical way. Theoretically, I can travel almost instantly along ley lines and between standing stones by manipulation of the pulse light.’
‘Hold on,’ interrupted Tad. ‘What are ley lines?’
‘Long story,’ answered Nathaniel. ‘But basically they are lines of power that connect the stone circles, standing stones, cathedrals, places like that. You can’t see them but they are there, take my word for it.’
‘Fair enough,’ conceded Tad. ‘Go on.’
‘Thanks. I need to do a bit of travelling, check out where all of the rubber head troops are concentrated, where most of the humans are. I have the inkling of a plan but I need to firm it up.’
‘Right then,’ said Tad. ‘We’ll get ready.’
Nathaniel shook his head. ‘I’m going alone.’
‘No way,’ argued Tad.
‘I’ll be safer alone,’ insisted Nathaniel. ‘I’ll be undercover so there won’t be much danger.’
‘It isn’t possible,’ interjected Kob. ‘No humans are allowed to walk free. They are chained and under constant supervision. Even the indoor slaves are shackled so they cannot walk quickly let alone run. Also, you do not look like a slave; they are thin, sickly, almost dead on their feet.’
‘I won’t be a slave,’ argued Nathaniel. ‘I’ll be an Orc.’
No one spoke for a few seconds.
Eventually Tad said. ‘Huh?’
The marine laughed. ‘I shall be an Orc.’
‘How?’ Asked Kob. ‘And please don’t say make up and some sort of disguise.’
Nathaniel laughed again at the absurdity of Kob’s statement. ‘No disguise,’ he said. ‘I simply do this.’
Lights spun and crackled around the marine, spinning and coalescing as they became brighter and brighter and, in front of everyone, the Forever Man’s features slowly morphed into those of a full grown Orc.
There was a stunned silence apart from Grim-son who fell backwards off his chair in surprise.
‘How the…what…are you?’ Stammered Tad. ‘Have you glamoured us?’
The Orc that was Nathaniel shook his head. ‘No,’ he answered in Nathaniel’s voice. ‘Nothing as crude as that. Glamoring doesn’t work if you physically touch the person. If I had glamoured you then you would perceive me to be an Orc but if you actually prodded me you would feel soft human skin and flesh. Glamouring is simply a disguise. However, I am not disguised. I am an Orc.’
Kob leaned forward, poked Nathaniel in the chest. And then nodded. ‘This is an Orc,’ he said.
‘How do you do it?’ Asked Tad.
‘You got twelve years spare for me to explain?’ Quipped Nathaniel.
‘Fine,’ retorted the Little Big Man. ‘I’ll just accept it. But can you change back now please?’
And the Orc was gone, replaced with The Forever Man.
‘I will go with you,’ stated Kob.
‘No need,’ argued Nathaniel. ‘My disguise is enough to stay out of trouble.’
Kob shook his head. ‘You look like an Orc but you do not act like an Orc. You do not know any of the customs, the correct way to conduct yourself. You will come across as…odd.’
‘Odd?’ Queried Nathaniel.
Kob nodded. ‘You talk too much. You do not stand still. You are always casting your gaze about, searching, questioning with a look. You fidget. To other Orcs you would seem…simple. Not fully mentally formed. Odd. I shall go with, to instruct you on how to behave like a fully formed adult as opposed to a callow hatchling.’
‘Okay,’ agreed Nathaniel. ‘Point taken. The two of us need to leave as soon as.’
Kob stood up. ‘I am ready.’
‘Hold on, friend,’ said Nathaniel. ‘I need to get some supplies together. I need a sword, can’t take my axe, it’s too recognizable.’
‘Fine,’ said Kob. ‘Pack, I will wait outside.’
Nathaniel chuckled. ‘I’ll be a few minutes.’
It didn’t take long for Tad and Stephanie to organize Nathaniel a pack and a broadsword.
Stephanie handed the shoulder pack to The Forever Man. ‘Dried meat, preserved fruit, some herbs, salt, a piece waxed cloth and some furs,’ she said.
‘My thanks, not so young girl,’ said Nathaniel with a wink.
Stephanie blushed. ‘Be careful,’ she said. ‘Stay safe.’
Nathaniel shook hands with Sam and Grim-son as he walked out of the door. Then, once again he hugged Tad. ‘I won’t be that long,’ he said. ‘I hope to be back in a week or so. I want you to ready the army, tell them it’s some sort of exercise or something, but make sure that they are ready.’
‘I shall,’ assured Tad. ‘As will I have your crown and your axe waiting.’
And then, without fanfare or acknowledgement from his subjects, The Forever Man set off once more to plan war against the Fair-Folk and their minions.
Chapter 39
‘If we run into Orcs or goblins I shall call you Nat,’ said Kob.
‘Why?’ Asked Nathaniel.
‘Because that will be your Orc name. Nat.’
‘Aren’t any Orcs called Nathaniel?’
Kob shook his head. ‘Orc names, three letters only. No more, no less. Kob, Nat, Bak, Gon. Three letters.’
‘Why is that?’ Enquired Nathaniel.
‘Because,’ answered Kob.
The marine knew better than to ask for more detail. He knew that Kob was not being obtuse or deliberately imperceptive. The Orc genuinely considered “Because” to be an acceptable answer to a question. He saw no reason to enquire any further of the subject, it simply happened “because”. To dwell further on it would be an unnecessary waste of time and energy
.
It was refreshing in its simplicity and Nathaniel wished that he could embrace that way of thinking for a while. It would provide a rest from his almost unconscious quest for knowledge, for reason, for the rationale behind both thought and deed. But he was doomed to question everything. And the more that he learned the more that he questioned.
‘Oh well,’ he thought to himself. ‘We can’t all be happy with an explanation that baldly states, “The reason that it happens is because it happens”.
The two friends continued running in silence, jogging at a comfortable pace that they could keep up all day with ease. Nathaniel had not changed into an Orc yet. Although it took little power it did make him feel uncomfortable. Like he was wearing an ill fitted suit.
Nathaniel had told Kob that they needed to get a few miles from the wall and into some secluded spot before he conducted any experiments with travel along the ley lines. He wasn’t sure exactly what would happen when he invoked the power and he didn’t want to attract unnecessary attention to himself.
After four hours of running Nathaniel called a stop. ‘Here,’ he said. He pointed south-east. ‘This is a ley line. It stretches from the stone circle at Tomnavarie to the Yeavering Battle Stone outside of Northumberland.’
‘I’ll take your word for it,’ said Kob.
‘Good. Now look, you stand over there,’ Nathaniel gestured towards a large boulder. ‘Stand behind it, I’m not sure how much energy the whole process gives off. I don’t want you to get hurt.’
Kob shambled over to the boulder and leant against it. ‘I’ll be fine,’ he said.
Nathaniel shrugged and then stood still and concentrated his mind. He felt for the power, separating it into its component parts, weaving it into the ley line and then pushing it towards his goal destination, the Yeavering Battle Stone.
He made the connection and then allowed it to take him. It was like jumping into a fast moving river. A shock of cold, a feeling of speed, a split second of disorientation. Then he was there.
Kob saw very little. A swelling of light, a vibration in the air and a soft crackle. And The Forever Man disappeared.
