Blood Red Road

by Moira Young

  They must of bin busy breedin, he says. He shoots me a grin, but I can tell this is worse than he especkted.

  The night rings with the screams of the hellwurms an our shouts. The air’s filled with the filthy smell of ’em an the crackle an smoke of the fire.

  I keep firin. Dip the arrow, nock, let fly, hit. Dip, nock, let fly, hit.

  Around me, everybody else is doin the same. Em an Tommo run around stuffin arrows into our bottles but, no matter how many wurms we shoot, more keep comin.

  There’s too many, says Epona. We ain’t gonna do it.

  I’m gittin low on arrows, I says.

  Me too, says Ash.

  More arrows here, Emmi! I yell.

  That’s it! she cries. There ain’t no more!

  Jack grabs my arm as I’m about to fire. By the silvery white light of the moon, I can see his face is all streaked with smoke from the fires.

  Git outta here, he says. Take Emmi an Tommo. Ash an Epona’ll cover you.

  My heart stops. There’s a roarin in my ears. You want us to go? I says.

  He nods. Ike an me’ll stay, he says.

  No, I says.

  I pull myself free. I grab twig bundles, shove ’em into the fire. They catch light an I launch ’em at the wurms. More screams as they burst into flame. Beside me, Jack keeps on shootin his bow.

  If you leave now, he says, at least you got a chance of findin yer brother.

  Ferget it, I says.

  I snatch my bow agin an start firin.

  Use the torches if they git too close! yells Ike. Don’t waste yer arrows!

  I look around. The hellwurms is closin in. Closer an closer they come. Some slither along the ground, some walk upright, their heads swayin. They won’t try to cross the fire ring, but once it starts to die down, that’ll be it.

  Jack pulls the bow outta my hand. If you don’t do this, he says, everythin you bin through to find yer brother counts fer nuthin.

  I stare at him. I feel like my throat’s closin up. Leave him. Leave Ike. But I gotta find Lugh. I’m so close to findin him.

  You know I’m right, he says.

  Okay, I says. We’ll go.

  Saba! yells Ash. Behind you!

  I whirl around.

  One wurm, bigger’n the rest, darts forwards through a dyin section of the fire ring. Jack grabs my arm an goes to yank me back but the wurm’s claw flashes out. A hot pain slashes through my right shoulder. I cry out.

  A blast rings out an the wurm’s head explodes in a million pieces. Putrid flesh an blood splatter down on me like rain. I look over my shoulder. Ike’s holdin his bolt shooter. He gives me a little salute.

  You all right? says Jack.

  I close my mind to the pain. Like I used to do in Hopetown.

  I’m fine, I says.

  Time to go, he says. He grabs up a torch in each hand an lights ’em. Ash! he yells. Epona! C’mere!

  They start to run over to us.

  The ground rumbles. We all stagger an I grab onto Jack to keep from fallin.

  The wurms stop. They raise their heads. Then they scatter.

  Jest like that. They scuttle an slither across the lakebed an disappear back down inside the cracks.

  They’re gone. An all that’s left is the smolderin corpses of hunnerds of hellwurms.

  We stand inside our circle of dyin fire an stare. There ain’t a sound but the hiss of the embers. Nobody moves. It’s like we’re all holdin our breath. Like we cain’t believe our own eyes.

  Then, Yee ha! Ash yells. Her an Epona jump around, punchin their bows in the air. Did you see that, Jack? Hey Ike! Did you see them bastards go? They grab Emmi’s an Tommo’s hands an whirl them around in circles.

  Somehow it don’t seem right, them celebratin an makin lots of noise. I dunno why, but it don’t.

  I look at Jack. His jaw’s set. A little nerve jumps in his cheek.

  What is it? I says.

  We didn’t scare ’em off, he says. They was gittin the better of us.

  Well, if we didn’t scare ’em off, I says, what did?

  Ike moves over to stand beside us. Him an Jack stare out over the lake.

  The earth shakes agin. This time louder an longer.

  Dammit, Jack, I says, tell me what yer thinkin.

  Epona an Ash stop their celebrations. They come over, with Tommo an Emmi, an we all draw in close together.

  Emmi slips her hand into mine. What’s goin on, Saba?

  Some people say the hellwurms got a master, says Ike.

  There’s another rumble.

  A master? says Emmi. What does that mean?

  What it means, says Jack, is there’s somethin down there so big an bad, even the hellwurms run when they hear it comin.

  I let that little fact sink in. Then, If runnin’s good enough fer hellwurms, I says, it’s good enough fer me.

  An me, says Jack.

  We stare at each other a split second. Then, at the ezzack same time, we yell, Run!

  We all scramble, grab whatever weapon’s closest, start to run fer it. Ash an Epona take off fast, with Emmi an Tommo. But before I can take more’n a couple of steps, there’s a almighty roar. The ground heaves. It lifts. It splits open at my feet. I’m slidin down into a giant crack. I scrabble wildly. I cain’t stop myself.

  Jack’s there in a flash. He grabs my hands an yanks me out. I lie on the ground, pantin. My heart’s goin like a hammer.

  Thanks, I says, it jest about had me there. I—

  Suddenly a long tail whips up from the crack. It wraps around my ankles an pulls me in.

  Jack dives. Grabs hold of my hands agin. He’s laid on the ground on his belly, hangin on fer dear life. Ike! he yells. I need you here!

  Ike throws hisself down beside Jack. Now they each got one of my hands.

  I feel like I’m bein slowly ripped in half. The tail pullin me down, Jack an Ike pullin me up.

  I cry out. I stare into their faces. Their eyes is desperate, their faces strainin with the effort. My hands start to slip outta theirs.

  Jest then, Ash an Epona appear above me at th’edge of the crack, their crossbows loaded. They aim down an fire past me. There’s a high pitched scream an the tail loosens. Jest a bit, jest fer a moment. Ike an Jack heave me up an out.

  Go! Go! Go! yells Ike. He scoops Emmi into his arms an takes off at a fast run, headin north. Epona, Ash an Tommo’s right behind him. I snatch my crossbow but only got time to scoop up one arrow. Then Jack an me sprint after ’em.

  There’s a angry roar behind us. I glance back.

  A giant hellwurm’s jest crawled outta the crack. It stands up on its hind legs. It’s twice the size of th’other ones, at least thirty foot high, with a long lizard tail.

  Ohmigawd, I says. I’m still runnin but I slow down a bit to look back.

  The hellwurm’s catched our scent.

  It’s followin us! I says.

  Jack takes my hand an we run faster. I shoot another look over my shoulder.

  It’s gainin on us! I says.

  Jack stops runnin. Stops dead. Without a word, he turns around an starts walkin back towards the hellwurm. He’s headed fer it an it’s headed fer him.

  Jack holds Ike’s shooter in his hand. He must of picked it up without me noticin. As he walks, he loads it with quick jerky movements.

  Jack! I shout. What the hell d’you think yer doin?

  I’m sick of this bastard! he yells.

  Jack! Don’t be so crazy!

  He keeps on walkin.

  Jack! I scream. Don’t!

  He stops. Lifts the shooter. Takes aim. He waits till the hellwurm’s twenny paces away. Then he fires.

  The shot slashes the hellwurm’s arm. It roars, but keeps on comin. Jack fumbles fer the pouch with the bolts while he keeps one eye on the hellwurm.

  I can see he ain’t got time to reload. An he ain’t got his crossbow. He must of dropped it earlier. I start runnin towards him.

  The hellwurm’s on top of him. It rears up to
its full height. It lashes out, swipes at him. Jack’s thrown into the air, like Emmi’s peg doll. He lands with a heavy thump on the ground. He don’t move.

  The red hot races through my blood. I throw down my crossbow as I run. Hold my one last arrow in my hand. The hellwurm leans over Jack. It lifts its claws, ready to swipe at him agin.

  I don’t even slow down. I run around behind it an right up its back. I wrap my legs an arms around its stinkin neck an I squeeze with every bit of strength in my body.

  It roars with fury. Turns itself in circles, round an round, its great claws flailin at me, tryin to pick me off, shake me off. Somehow I hang on. I raise the arrow up high an then, with all my strength, plunge it into the left eyehole. It goes in hard. Deep. I pull it out an jab it into the right eyehole.

  The hellwurm bellows in pain. I leap from its back as it crashes to the ground. It pulls itself up agin. It near crushes Jack unnerfoot as it struggles to stay upright. Its tail lashes out an sends Jack skiddin.

  It staggers this way, then that. Then it’s gone. Disappeared down a big crack in the lakebed.

  I watch it fall, roarin an clawin at the air, hittin the sides as it plunges down down, deep down into the earth to die.

  Jack! I yell. I run to where he’s lyin so still on the ground. I throw myself beside him, turn him over.

  He ain’t breathin. He’s most awful pale. His eyes is closed. I run my hands over his legs, his arms, his neck to check if anythin’s broke. They seem okay.

  Jack! I pat his face. Jack! I tilt his head back, pinch his nose an blow into his mouth. I check fer his chest risin. I blow agin.

  His lips twitch. He’s smilin.

  I jump to my feet. Gawdammit Jack, I says, what’re you playin at?

  He opens one eye. Yer kissin technique could do with a bit of work, he says.

  I thought you was dead, you bastard! I was tryin to save yer life! Although why I should save a snake like you, I got no idea!

  I was winded, he says, not dyin. You should learn to tell the difference. He pulls hisself up to sit. Shakes his head an groans. I sure hit that ground hard, he says.

  Not hard enough, I says.

  What happened to the wurm?

  Dead, I says.

  He grunts. Closes his eyes.

  Don’t thank me or nuthin, I says.

  Thanks, he says. I make that two to you now. One fer the cellblock an one fer this. An it’s two to me. Pullin you outta the river an pullin you outta that crack jest now.

  I ain’t playin yer stupid game, Jack, I says. Git up.

  He opens one eye. In fairness, he says, Ike did help to pull you out, so that should probly only count fer half. He holds out his hand to me. All right, help me up. But go easy.

  I yank him as hard as I can. A hot pain shoots across my right shoulder. I gasp. It feels like it’s on fire. I bin so set on savin myself an savin Jack, I ain’t even felt it till now.

  You got slashed, he says. I fergot all about it. Let me take a look.

  He reaches out. I slap his hand away.

  Leave me be, I says, I’m fine.

  Don’t be so damn stubborn, he says. C’mere.

  Go to hell, I says. I head back across the lakebed in the direction th’others took, collectin my crossbow on the way. I walk fast an I don’t look back. I ain’t waitin fer him.

  Behind me, he starts to sing.

  I’ve climbed the high mountains an sailed the wide seas

  Fair faces a-plenty I’ve gazed on

  But with one glance, her beauty sent me to my knees,

  O hard-hearted Annie I never shall please.

  I’ve roved an I’ve rambled all o’er the wide world

  And kisses a-plenty I’ve tasted

  But it’s her wine-sweet lips that I’m still dreaming of

  O hard-hearted Annie, cruel Annie my love.

  I’ve loved many women an wooed many girls

  And many soft arms have embraced me

  If only she’d lie with me one fleeting night

  With hard-hearted Annie I’d die of delight.

  Oh many fine beauties did beg me to stay

  But none until Annie did snare me

  Though she hurts me an shuns me an makes my heart bleed

  My hard-hearted Annie I never shall leave.

  I don’t think most people ’ud feel like singin jest after they’d fought off hunnerds of hellwurms. But Jack ain’t most people. I should know that by now.

  He’s got a strong voice. It carries over the lake, clear as if he’s walkin right beside me. The tune ain’t bad. An he’s a fair singer. But after he’s sung it through once he goes back to the beginnin an starts all over agin. Pretty soon I ain’t jest sick of the tune an his voice, I’m also sick of hearin about hard-hearted Annie.

  What a stupid song.

  I mean, what kinda fool ’ud put up with a woman that troublesome?

  I dare a look at my shoulder while I walk. I ease my shirt away, slow an careful. Dried blood sticks to the cloth, pulls at the wound. I bite my lip so’s I don’t cry out. Jack’s still somewhere behind me. Don’t let him hear. Only one tear in the skin, but it looks deep enough. It’s throbbin somethin fierce.

  But the pain ain’t no worse’n what I used to feel after a rough fight in the Cage. I tell myself that, over an over. That’s the way to keep it unner control. I jest need to do what I did then. Cut my brain off from what my body’s feelin. Make myself believe it’s happenin to somebody else.

  Think of somethin else.

  Think of Lugh. Think how he looked the last time I seen him. Thrown over the back of a horse, wrists an ankles tied, like a beast.

  They killed my father. They stole my brother.

  It’s the anger that keeps me goin.

  I feel its heat in my belly. All through me.

  Heat.

  So hot.

  Soon’s I catch up with Emmi an th’others, I’ll bathe my shoulder an pack it with … with bark. That’s it, I’ll pack it with … what was it now?

  My feet’s so heavy. Like I got somethin tied to the end of my legs. Need to keep goin. Gotta git to … where am I goin agin? Oh yeah. To Lugh, that’s it. But I’m jest gonna hafta … sit. Jest fer a moment.

  I sink down.

  It’s night. It should be cool but I’m sweatin like billy-o. I go to wipe my forehead with my sleeve but my arm … cain’t lift it. Now I remember. My shoulder. Must be … infected.

  Gotta find Lugh.

  I’m jest so … tired. Must … lie … down …

  I’m five year old. It’s a sunny day. I’m on the shore at Silverlake. I’m by myself. A breeze lifts my hair. The lake water laps softly. I’m crouched down, pilin up flat stones, all white, one on top of th’other. I count as I go.

  One, two, three, four, five, six, seven!

  A shadow falls over me. I look up. It’s Pa. Like he used to be when I was a kid. Before Ma died. Thick black hair, smilin eyes, strong, handsome.

  Seven, Pa! Look at that!

  He hunkers down beside me. Takes my hand.

  They’re gonna need you, Saba, he says. Lugh an Emmi. There’ll be others too, many others, who will look to you, an you’ll hafta stand alone. Don’t give in to fear. Be strong, like I know you are. An never give up, d’you unnerstand, never. No matter what happens.

  I smile at him.

  I won’t, I says. I ain’t no quitter, Pa.

  That’s my girl, he says. Then he’s gone. Jest like that. Disappeared.

  Pa! I jump to my feet. Where are you, Pa? Come back!

  His voice echoes, drifts away, gittin softer an softer. That’s my girl, my girl, my girl.

  Pa! I look around, frantic to find him. But he’s gone. Silverlake is dry. The ground unner my feet an as far as I can see is parched an cracked.

  Darkness. Voices. Angry. Shoutin. I cain’t hear the words though.

  Then it all stops.

  A flash of white light. An Epona stands there. Alone. Darkness all around her.
r />   There’s only the sound of my heart. Beat, beat, beat.

  Epona looks over her shoulder, like she sees somethin behind her. She turns back agin. She sees me. She nods.

  An it all happens slowly. So slow, I can see the blink of her eyelids. I can see her lips move as she takes in a breath.

  Beat, beat, beat goes my heart.

  She starts to run towards me. She throws her arms wide open an lifts her face up. She leaps.

  A flash of white light.

  An the world smashes into a million pieces.

  Jack! I think she’s awake! Emmi’s voice.

  There’s a dull throb in my right shoulder. I hear the crackle of a fire. Somebody kneels beside me. Lays a hand on my forehead. It’s callused, cool. Nice on my warm skin.

  Slowly I open my eyes. I’m lookin up at rock. I frown.

  It’s a cave, says Jack.

  I turn my head to look at him. In the flicker of the firelight, his silver moon eyes glitter. His skin gleams. He’s beautiful.

  Welcome back, he says.

  I lift my hand an touch his cheek. It’s warm. Rough with stubble.

  Jack, I says.

  He goes still. He puts my hand back down on the blanket. I’ll git you a drink, he says an disappears.

  Emmi? I says.

  I’m here! She grabs my hand an kisses it, over an over.

  Hey Emmi, I says. C’mon now, I’m fine.

  I was afeared you’d die, she says. You had a fever. You was shoutin out, callin fer Pa.

  Was I? Em … I was havin the strangest dreams.

  Jack’s back. Here you go, he says. He puts his arm around my shoulders an raises me up. I wince.

  Sorry, he says. He holds a cup to my mouth an I drink. It’s bitter an I make a face. Willow bark, he says. It brings down the fever. I brewed it myself.

  He makes me drink the cup dry before he lets me stop.

  My right shoulder’s wrapped tight in a strip of ripped shirt. How bad is it? I says.

  A lot better’n it was, he says. We cleaned you up an put a poultice on to draw out th’infection. That wurm slashed you deep. It needs stitchin, but we had to wait till it’s clean.

  You bin out fer two days, says Emmi.