Noma spat at the marauder, snarling, evidently quite happy to see him dead. Kit covered his eyes.
“Crap… That thunder. I’ve never heard anything so loud.” Falo stuck a finger in his ear and wiggled it.
Wisp waited for the ringing in her ears to fade. Maybe using a rifle in a room with stone walls is a bad idea. She swallowed a few times until sound returned to normal with a popping sensation. Her mouth opened, but before she could deny having magic and explain bullets, she changed her mind. If these people understood what really happened, they might steal Dad’s gun. That would leave her pretty much helpless, so she let them continue believing in magic.
“Get the keys,” rasped Juliana.
Keeping the rifle pointed at the door, Wisp hurried over to the dead marauder and squatted beside him. Not wanting to waste the time untying the cord, she one-handed the rifle while pulling her knife and cutting keys loose from his belt. After sheathing the blade, she picked up the keyring and walked over to crouch in front of Falo’s cage.
“You’re right. I have black magic. You promised to carry Dad to the Mother Shrine. If you lied, I’ll do the magic on you.”
High Ground
-28-
Wisp stared at Falo with no emotion on her face. She sent monsters to the Other Place. If this man betrayed Dad, she wouldn’t feel bad about doing the same to him.
“Right. No problem kid.” He smiled. “A deal’s a deal.”
She fumbled the keyring past four keys too large for the haven. The other fifteen all looked more or less the same. “Which one is it?”
“Try them all,” said Falo.
Wisp checked them one after the next until the cage opened. Falo scrambled out, wrapped her in a huge hug, and kissed her on top of the head. Once he put her down, she cut the twine holding that key to the ring and left it in the door so she didn’t waste time trying a known key on the other cages. Falo grabbed the side of his former cage and pulled himself upright, stretching and moaning.
“So good to stand up again. Ugh…”
She went to Noma next, but couldn’t reach the keyhole, since the bottom of the hanging cage wound up even with her eyes.
“Come on… hurry up before more of them find us,” said Juliana, bouncing and making the haven sway.
Noma reached for the keys. “Give me the keyring.”
“I got it,” said Falo. “You keep your magic ready in case more of them marauders show up.”
She didn’t hand him the keyring, but didn’t put up much resistance when he took it from her.
Falo tried the first key on Noma’s cage. “Easier to do from outside. And you’re shaking.”
The third key worked, and he helped the woman climb down to stand on the floor. She rushed over to Kit’s cage and grabbed him through the bars. He burst into tears again, clinging to his mother’s arms. Falo unlocked the door, and the boy leapt out into Noma’s embrace, still sobbing. Noma fell to pieces as well, sinking to her knees and crying all over him.
Wisp got sad for a little while before a nasty spike of jealousy welled up. She whirled away so they couldn’t see her scowling. That boy had a mother who hadn’t gone to the Other Place. He got to hug a warm body instead of a crusty, dry shrine. She hadn’t known what a woman’s voice sounded like until a week ago. She hadn’t even known what a woman really looked like until then either. And Noma had rather large chest pillows.
Wisp padded over to stand by Dad’s cell, wallowing in jealousy and anger. Why had Mother been taken to the Other Place? At least she had some time with Dad. Mother, she’d never even met. Falo went around trying keys in cages. The groans of metal hinges and weary people filled in the room behind her. She refused to cry, but couldn’t feel happy. The louder Kit sobbed or yelled “Mama,” the more she wanted to go far away from them. Watching the marauder terrify the boy had made her furious, but as much pity as she’d had for him then, now that he had his mother back, she only found jealousy―toxic jealousy that made her want to lash out, but she couldn’t blame that boy for what happened to her mother. She had to get away from them so the tiny voice ceased mocking her for not having a mother.
Wisp sank to kneel by the cell, her head pressed against the bars. She stared at Dad, no longer sure what to do with herself.
Eleven men and women, plus one small boy, eventually gathered around her.
“You have my thanks,” said Daz. “I’m sorry if I was a little testy before.”
“Thank you.” Julianna bowed.
Noma tried to say something, but wound up crying more than forming words. Despite the blubbing, she looked quite happy.
Kit grinned at her. “Thanks for helping Mama.”
“And one more to go.” Falo walked up beside Wisp and stuck one of the big keys into the cell door, which worked on the first try. “Heh. Second cell, second key. At least that one was easy.”
Wisp leaned away so he could pull the barred door open. The metal cried out with a harsh scrape that made everyone cringe.
Falo wrapped Dad in the blanket, and picked him up over his shoulder. “Okay, where’s this guy gotta go?”
“To the Mother Shrine,” said Wisp.
“Great. Umm. Need a little more detail.”
She looked up at him, but cringed away, hating the sight of Dad being carried like a dead tree. “It’s in our cabin.”
“You know how to get there?” asked Falo.
“Yes… and I have Mother to help.”
“Oh yeah,” yelled Daz from the fireplace room. “Everyone, check this out!”
The other captives filed down the corridor one by one, Noma still carrying her son.
Wisp went last, right behind Falo. She kept staring at the floor so she didn’t have to look at Dad’s rigid body.
Daz held up a pair of big swords, cheering. “This room’s full of weapons. I suggest everyone arm themselves. We may be outta the cages, but we’re not free yet. The marauders ain’t gonna let us walk out.”
Murmurs of agreement came from everyone except Noma, who trembled. Juliana and the quiet woman with the black shirt both pushed past Daz, eager to grab a weapon.
“Not you.” Daz put a hand on Noma’s shoulder. “You watch the kids.”
“Better idea,” said Falo. “Instead of just fighting our way out, we get the hell rid of them. Wipe out all the marauders. There aren’t that many of ’em. If we sneak away or kill only enough to get out the gate, the rest’ll only wind up taking us all over again… or grabbin’ other people.”
The silent woman emerged from the back room with two swords, one long, one short. Her shirt and baggy black pants looked in far better shape than the rags the other captives wore. She swatted the longer blade against her boots, a similar style to Dad’s, knocking crud off the blade. “The marauders will be mostly in their beds at this hour. I will go first and take as many as I can while they sleep.”
“That’s suicide, hon,” said Daz. “Don’t go alone.”
“My name is Alina, not ‘hon,’ and I have spent twenty years learning the art of silence.”
“You ain’t that old.” Olim scratched his head. “I’m twenty.”
Alina smiled. “I started when I was seven.”
“Girl looks good for near thirty.” Daz chuckled.
“Alina,” said Wisp. “There is a hole behind us. I walked through a room with many beds. They may be in there.”
“Take that one with you. She’s sneaky, too.” Tavin patted Wisp on the head. “Made it in here alone.”
“Her”―Alina glanced at the rifle―“magic is not quiet.”
Other captives emerged from the door in the fireplace room carrying bows, axes, and swords. A few had even put on thick leather vests.
Wisp looked up at Alina. She knows what a gun is, but she didn’t try to take it. “I can go with you, but I will stay quiet unless I have no choice.”
“All right.” Alina looked back toward the cage room. “Where’s that hole?”
“Well I suppose
you’re down to watching one kid.” Daz nudged Noma toward the couch. “Stay here with the boy.”
Falo put Dad on the floor behind the sofa. “Sorry, pops. You gotta wait here, too. Can’t carry you and fight.”
Wisp scowled at him, but he had a point. “The way up is back where the havens are.”
“That guy already pulled his share,” said Olim. “Last count, he sent five of ’em to the next world.”
Quiet tears ran down Wisp’s face at the thought of how hard Dad must’ve fought to get back to her.
“I wanna fight,” said Kit.
“No.” Noma squeezed him until he gurgled. “You’re only nine. Children do not fight.”
“Everyone should stay down here and be quiet until you hear signs of alarm… or this girl’s magic. If you alert the marauders before I’m ready, you threaten my life.”
She’s creepy. Wisp stood still, turning her head to watch Alina walk by. The woman showed no emotion at all, and spoke with a toneless voice that reminded her of a story she’d read about robots.
“Be careful.” Falo patted her on the head, then went into the doorway in search of a weapon.
Wisp trailed after Alina into the room of cages. The woman walked straight to the hole, and gripped the shelf as if preparing to climb.
“That’s it,” said Wisp.
“Follow me, but be quiet. Show me where that room is, and then wait outside. Don’t fire unless I am overwhelmed.” Alina looked her in the eye, her face still blank. “Do you understand?”
Wisp gulped, more unsettled by this woman than any of the marauders. “Yes.”
Alina gathered her light brown hair up into a knot at the back of her head, then climbed without another word.
She’s halfway to the Other Place. Wisp shouldered the rifle, and climbed the shelf to the room full of junk. Alina seized her wrist when she put her hand on the upper floor, hauling her up and out of the hole with one arm like she weighed nothing. Wisp froze in panic, expecting an attack, but the woman merely set her on her feet.
They stared at each other in silence.
Wisp opened her mouth to speak, but closed it when a soft snarling noise came from the hallway outside. Instead, she whispered, “They sound like Dad when they sleep.”
Alina stooped close, her lips almost touching Wisp’s ear. “Some of them sleep now. Others are awake outside. Do not make any sound.”
She nodded.
The woman slid her longer sword into a sheath she’d also taken from the room and gripped the smaller blade in her right hand. Wisp nodded toward the stack of boxes and led the way around it. She pointed at the door connecting to the room with the mattresses and stinky buckets.
Alina grasped the backpack and tugged her away from the door. Wisp readied her rifle, but kept it pointed down to the side. The woman approached the door, listened for a moment, and eased it open enough to peek. A few seconds of tense quiet passed before she pushed the door in the rest of the way. Snores and wheezy breaths got louder. Alina disappeared into the room. Alone, Wisp didn’t know what to do with herself. She stood there fidgeting for a ten count before deciding to creep up to the door and look.
Only four marauders occupied the room, despite there being about twenty rotten mattresses. Alina snuck up to the nearest man, hovered by him for a second or two, then grabbed his mouth and nose with her left hand and raised the blade at his neck. Wisp looked away, cringing at the squish of a sword meeting flesh. The noise repeated a few times before the gentle creak of floorboards told her Alina moved to the next sleeping person.
Wisp huddled against the doorjamb, not wanting to watch. At least moonlight didn’t offer much detail except the silhouette of a woman moving from bed to bed. Two of the men died without any noticeable reaction. Two murmured and flailed, but didn’t make enough noise to draw attention from the outside.
“Kid,” whispered Alina, walking back over. Finally, a hint of emotion showed on her face―concern. “Wow. Wasn’t expecting you to be so squeamish.”
“What is squeamish?”
“You didn’t watch. I thought a kid who could shoot a man without flinching wouldn’t mind a little blood.”
“Umm.” She glanced down at the moonlight glinting off the rifle. “It’s different. He was about to hurt me. They’re sleeping.”
“Ahh, one of those.” Alina poked her in the forehead. “You’re little yet. Sometimes people need to do… uncomfortable things for a good reason. Any of those men would’ve killed us.”
“I know. It doesn’t bother me that you sent monsters to the Other Place. I just didn’t want to watch.”
“So.” Alina folded her arms, bloody shortsword gleaming. “Where’d you get a FAL?”
“I’m sorry. What?”
“The rifle.”
“Oh.” Wisp’s lip quivered, hearing Dad’s voice in her head. “Fabric national three-oh-eight. It’s Dad’s.”
Alina stifled a laugh. “Close enough.” She patted Wisp’s cheek twice. “It’s yours now, kiddo. Your dad doesn’t own anything anymore.”
Had this woman not been so unsettling, Wisp would’ve glared. Instead, she stared down at the floor, worried and sad.
“Okay, kid. Since you’ve got a cannon, I want you to get up on that big ol’ hut outside.”
“Huh?”
Alina put an arm around her back and guided her to the other side of the room where a window looked out over the cluster of scrap metal huts. “See the big one in the back?”
“Yes. I was looking at it before. I thought Dad might have been in there because it’s the biggest.”
Alina sighed. “It’s the best spot for you. All the way in back out of sight, and the highest place except up on the wall… but the wall’s too obvious. A sniper wants high ground. Get up on the roof with that rifle, lay on your belly, and wait for all hell to break loose. Then shoot as many of them as you can… just try not to hit any friendlies.”
“Sniper?”
“Someone with a rifle who shoots from far away.” She pushed Wisp closer to the window. “Come on. I’m gonna go door to door.”
Alina jumped out the window.
“Hey,” said a man to her left.
She pulled the longer sword off her belt and spun into a flurry. Metal clanked against metal. A man let out a roar of anger, which turned to pain. Wisp leaned out the window right as Alina swiped her longer blade across the throat of the man who had been guarding the concrete stairs. He collapsed over backward, gurgling.
Other marauders in the distance, and on the wall, started walking closer. A few shouted.
“Now!” said Alina. “Go!”
Wisp leapt out of the window and ran to the left down the sidewalk in front of the buildings until she hit a dead end by the compound’s outer wall, then darted to the right into a narrow space passing behind the big metal cabin. An old bathtub and a pushcart piled together with a mess of other junk beside the structure made climbing easy. As Alina suggested, she flattened herself out on her belly and crawled to the edge of the roof.
Evidently, Daz and the others heard the ruckus, as they came spilling out of the door by the concrete stairs. Wisp flicked the scope into position, but couldn’t see much with it in the dark. The marauders had several barrel fires going in the compound, but the Moon gave off more light. Alina ducked into a nearby hut. A man’s muffled gurgle followed soon after.
Marauders charged at the former captives, shouting and roaring war cries.
Wisp pushed the scope aside and took aim at a marauder with a huge sword running in. She tracked him until he stopped moving sideways, and squeezed the trigger a second after he nearly took Tavin’s head clean off. The rifle jolted her, but she only slid a few inches down the angled roof.
The marauders all froze at the loud rifle blast. A spurt of blood flew from the man’s left shoulder. He slumped over, clutching the wound. Tavin finished him off with a sword before the man could recover. Wisp scooted back to the roof edge and surveyed the line of c
onfused Marauders. One man wore a bulky black armored vest as thick as her thighs and a helmet like a cage for his face. She thought of that boy slicing at the marauder’s leather armor and not hurting him. Hoping her bullets would work better on the armor than the captives’ swords, she aimed at him and fired. Puffs of white foam exploded from his chest. He flailed and dropped motionless.
That’s not armor… it’s a… pillow.
At the second thunderous bang, the marauders snapped out of their daze and resumed charging at the captives. Another large man advanced on Juliana, swinging a giant piece of engine on a chain around over his head. Wisp aimed and fired too fast to be accurate, nailing him in the hip. He hit the ground screaming while his engine-on-a-chain sailed into the air and came down on top of one of the male captives, smashing his leg. The man crumpled in place, holding his shin and howling in agony. Juliana raised her axe and swung for the shrieking marauder’s head. Wisp looked aside before it hit.
Daz ran into the fray, spinning and swinging a sword at any marauder who got too close. Alina ambushed another man emerging from a cabin in front of Wisp, thrusting her blades into his back as he tried to charge forward toward the former captives.
Wisp tried to find another target, but the marauders had mingled into the people she’d freed, and everyone swarmed around too much to get a clear shot at the monsters without hitting a person. A deep bellow came from inside the large cabin, vibrating the corrugated metal beneath her. Alina spun to face her with a worried expression that fell a hair shy of fear.
“Oh, that’s not good,” said Alina, backing away.
At the repetitious clanking of metal, Wisp grasped the edge of the roof and pulled herself forward a few inches so she could peek down. She stared at the top of a man’s helmet: round, black, and shiny, with a picture of a bird above the words ‘Harley Davidson.’ Metal plates covered his chest, back, arms, and legs, all of different colors, turning him into a walking, clanging, scrap heap. The word ‘stop’ in a red patch hung at the center of his back, and his right forearm read ‘one way.’ He carried a metal pipe taller than Alina with two enormous axe blades on one end. A slow, steady noise came from him, part laugh, part growl.
The Forest Beyond the Earth Page 25
