"Good point," I consented. "Okay troops, double time!"
"What?" Thorn asked.
"Sorry," I apologised. "Another human saying."
"Well, stop it," she complained. "You're hard enough to understand as it is."
"That's no way to talk to your beloved bed partner," Nix criticised.
"He's not ……. anything what you said!" Thorn declared, flustered.
"Not yet, anyway," Nix smirked. "But keep trying, my dear. You've made a total hash of it so far, but I'm still hopeful. One day you may get it right."
"Nix!" I warned, waving an accusing finger at him. "Behave yourself! Stop tormenting Thorn! We don’t have the time right now."
"But she makes it so easy," Nix objected. "She's a tormenter’s dream. I barely have to do any work at all to get her going."
"That doesn't make it right," I sternly lectured. "Anyway, we have to find Fink."
"You spoil all my fun," he grumbled. "Very well, let's track down the Law."
We made our way back along the tunnel and emerged into the Elder’s room. Luckily, he hadn't returned as yet, so we hurried out the back door and went to find Fink. When we told him our news, he stared at us in utter disbelief, even after we’d shown him the weapons and the plans we had taken.
"You’ve all gone mad!" he emphatically stated.
"That's why we want you to come along and see for yourself," Thorn urged. "I realise it takes a lot of believing, but, honestly, it's the truth."
"But it’s so incredible!" Fink spluttered. "An Elder! Starting a war! It defies imagination!"
"I hope you're not calling me a liar," Thorn suggested, her voice sharper than a diamond edge. "That wouldn't be a very wise thing to do."
"No, of course not," Fink hastily amended. "I believe you. Really. But you have to admit that it takes a little time to become accustomed to the idea."
"That it does," I agreed. "So, are you coming or not?"
"Lead the way," Fink proclaimed.
With one more added to our group, we returned to the Elder’s house and travelled the length of the tunnel once again. Skirting the still opened floor trap we’d nearly blundered into, we arrived at the site of the accumulated weapons.
"So you weren't just telling tales," Fink breathed in awe, surveying the racks of deadly items.
"Of course we weren't," Thorn said in exasperation. "Did you think we went around saying those sorts of things for fun? What do you take us for?"
"Don't answer that," Nix advised Fink. "You'll be taking your life into your hands."
"Pipe down, you horrible wombat," Thorn told him. "Nobody wants an opinion from a ratbag like you."
"Wombat?" Fink asked, curiously.
"It's a land animal of Stephen’s," Nix explained. "Apparently, it's fat and hairy and not very bright. A lot like Arugohumna, in fact." Before Thorn could open her mouth to swear at Nix, I stepped in and informed Fink that we were thinking of going to the Elders with our accusation.
"It's the next obvious step," he agreed. "All of this has to be brought to their attention immediately."
"We want you to come with us," I urged. "We'll need your backing."
"You've got it," he announced, straightening up. "This is a threat to the whole community and I'll do anything to stop it."
"I knew we could count on you," I told him. "Thanks."
He brushed aside my gratitude with a wave of his hand. "Any citizen would do the same," he commented. "This is the most serious threat to peace there’s ever been and we have to do everything possible to sort it out."
"Let's go then," I advised. "Our next stop will be the Council Chambers."
"We might have to wait for Arugohumna," Nix insinuated, smirking. "Aren't wombats notoriously slow?"
"Your mother is such a smart individual, Nix," Thorn coolly declared. "How did she ever end up giving birth to someone as dumb as you? Were you dropped on your head as a baby, or something? It's astonishing you're still alive, considering the wealth of uninformed and ignorant statements you continually make. Why you haven't been squashed like a bug before this is amazing." She sighed, regretfully. "Ah well, I suppose it’s up to me, then. Remind me to take you apart later on when I have the time."
"You?" Nix mocked, hands on hip. "You're going to take me apart, are you? Arugohumna sweetheart, don't make me laugh. I mean, you're cute and everything, to a certain degree anyway, but really ……. "
"Do those two always carry on like this?" Fink whispered to me.
"I'm afraid so," I informed him. "Tracy’s not here, so Thorn takes it out on Nix. Likewise, Nix’s sisters are at home so he practices on Thorn."
"You have my profoundest sympathy," Fink said.
"And I appreciate it," I replied, with a smile.
Chapter 19
And so began the most hazardous part of our mission – explaining to the Council of Elders why one of their numbers happened to be a megalomaniac and a traitor. I noticed in passing that our suspect was conspicuously missing from the grouping of Elders sitting at the bench. Idly, I wondered where he’d gone. Had he somehow become aware that we’d stumbled upon his secret and he’d done a runner? Or perhaps simply a coincidence that he was somewhere else at this time? Or maybe, heaven forbid, this was the planned zero hour and he’d gone to alert the invasion force? Not that it mattered because, unless we convinced the remainder of the Elders, nothing was going to be done about it.
Thorn, Nix and I began relating our story. The initial signs weren’t encouraging and I had the distinct impression that we were being listened to out of sheer politeness and nothing else. However, when we produced the purloined weapons and maps, and were unequivocally backed by Fink's testimony, the Elders’ attitude changed to one of urgent, excited belief.
"Incredible though your statements are," one of the Elders said, "we find ourselves forced to take your side. That one of our number would stoop to such measures ……… !" He gave a small self-deprecating smile. "It appears we’ve been less than vigilant about regulating ourselves and have had too haughty a notion about our status in the community. This humbles us and, although it's a bitter medicine to swallow, it's something that must be learned. Now, what shall we do about this? I notice that our compatriot is missing. Does anyone know where he is?"
A mass shaking of heads greeted his statement, so the Elder addressed Fink. "Assemble your guards and find the missing suspect," he was told. "When you do, bring him before us to answer these charges."
"At your command," Fink replied, saluting. He turned on his heel and marched out of the room, motioning us to follow. Once outside, he called us together. "Where do you propose we look first?" he asked. "He could be anywhere."
"I vote for the tunnel," Trix announced. "It's the most likely place to go, and it links to the dissident camp."
"That makes sense," Nix agreed, thoughtfully.
"You're forgetting our strongest weapon," I reminded them.
"And that is?" Fink questioned.
"Zenith’s marvellous nose," I replied, pointing to Trix’s pet who was busily sniffing at Fink's shoes. "Let's give him something to smell that belongs to our suspect, and just stand back."
"Of course!" Thorn exclaimed, happily. "Zenith can track him!”
“He can?” Fink said, doubtfully.
“You haven’t fully seen him in action yet,” Nix explained. "He's incredible!"
"Okay," Fink surrendered. "I don't have an alternative suggestion, anyway. Let's go, and on the way I’ll alert the guards to search the settlement in case he isn’t in the tunnel."
We were soon at the Elder’s house and borrowed a set of his clothes for our bloodhound, sorry, bloodwolf, to sniff. Trix held the clothing under Zenith’s nose and whispered, "Seek, Zenith! That's a good boy! Find him for your Mommy! Go, my darling! Seek!"
Zenith snuffled among the clothes for a few moments, then put his nose to the ground and wandered around the room in a random pattern. Everyone held their breath as he roamed here and
there until he finally chose a path and began moving purposefully toward the tunnel.
"So, our fugitive is in the tunnel after all," Thorn declared, as we follow behind Zenith.
"Not necessarily," Nix announced. "Zenith could be following an old trail. We won't know until we come to the end."
"I'm fairly sure that he'd be following the freshest scent," I told everyone. "Zenith is one clever wolf and I think he knows we want to catch our man, but we'll see. Everyone keep their eyes open."
"Well, naturally," Nix commented, rolling his eyes. "Otherwise we'd be bumping into things, now wouldn't we?"
"Don't be such a Clever Cat," I criticised. "You know very well what I mean."
"Yes, Nix, leave Stephen alone," Thorn commanded. "It's not his fault he can't speak properly."
"You see what I have to put up with?" I confided to Fink. "I'm surrounded by ratbags, day and night. What's a person to do?"
"I see your dilemma," Fink replied, grinning, "but far be it from me to give you any advice. Some problems have to be handled personally."
"And in Thorn's case," Nix cheekily interjected, "the more personal handling the better."
"Nix!" Thorn threatened. "I've already warned you about those sorts of comments! Don't make me come over there!"
Nix made a rude noise. "Yeah, yeah, I've heard all this before, you know," he scoffed, yawning, "and you're not scaring anyone, Arugohumna. You're all talk, although you do have the ability to bore people to death with all your yakking. And with that in mind, I freely offer my surrender. Take me captive, O Beauteous One, and I’ll be your slave for life."
Nix’s outrageous oratory made us all smile as we hurried after Zenith who was practically sprinting along at this stage. "If we're on the right track," I panted, "then our quarry must be just ahead. Zenith seems to think so, anyway. Be ready."
Everyone nodded agreement, not sparing the breath to answer. We passed the stash of weapons and rounded a curve in the wall. Suddenly, Zenith made a ninety degree turn into a side tunnel that we hadn't previously bothered to explore. We dashed after him and came face to face with the alleged would-be ruler. He stood on our side of a chasm, grasping a lever of some description protruding from the wall.
"Welcome!" he chortled. "Glad you could make it. I've been waiting for you."
We stumbled to a halt and stood regarding the bedraggled figure. He certainly looked the worse for wear. His clothing was torn; there was dirt on his face and his hair was askew.
"Give yourself up!" Fink commanded.
"Oh, I don't think so," he giggled insanely. "I have a surprise for you all, prepared especially for visitors like yourself. Anyway," he stated loudly, "I am your king! Bow before me!"
"You're not my king," Thorn declared, resolutely. "In fact, no one here recognises your authority. Do yourself a favor and come with us."
"I am your king!" he screamed, furiously jumping up and down. "And once my legions of sommubants attack, I'll be the rightful monarch of you all!"
"He's mad!" Nix whispered to me.
"Well, duh!" I murmured back. "Tell me something that I don't know."
"Duh?" Nix questioned. "What's this ‘duh’?"
"I'll tell you later," I cautioned. "What worries me is what that lever he’s holding is going to do."
"You mean this lever," our favorite megalomaniac gloated, overhearing me. "I'm glad you asked. What it’s going to do is to bury you all alive under a massive pile of rocks. Won't that be fun?" He giggled again.
"This is seriously creepy," Trix announced, "and not to mention extremely dangerous. Do we make a run for it?"
"I guess that option is better than nothing," Nix commented. "But will it would be enough to save our skins?"
While we were debating the pros and cons of immediate flight, Zenith had been creeping slowly towards our enthralled and tittering listener. His attention had been riveted on us and hadn’t seen Zenith’s stealthy approach. Neither had I until, out of the corner of my eye, I saw this grey blur pounce at our adversary and heard him squeal in shock. He stumbled frantically backwards with Zenith’s jaws clamped around his throat until, with a final shriek of terror, he disappeared into the crevasse, with Zenith still firmly attached.
Chapter 20
"Zenith!" screamed Trix in anguish, running towards the crevasse. We followed her and peered over the edge into the blackness. I couldn't see the bottom.
"No!" Trix whispered, vainly peering downwards. "Zenith!" she yelled, frantically. There was no sound in reply. Trix looked up at me, her eyes brimming. "It can't be!" she said, shaking her head. "It just can't be!"
I crouched down and put my arms around her. "He saved us, honey," I consoled. "He stayed brave to the very end. You should be proud of him."
"But he's gone!" Trix wailed, burying herself against me and beginning to sob. "I'll never see him again!"
"I know, sweetie," I said, trying my best to comfort her. "I know. But you’ll always have his memory. We all will. He died protecting us because that's what he was born to do. He was Loyalty personified and a great friend, but I'm sure he wouldn't want you to be too sad. Remember all the good times you had together and keep those in your heart."
Watched over by my sorrowing cohorts, I held Trix until the majority of her grief had passed, then released her. She dried her eyes on her sleeves, looked down into the chasm one last time and whispered, "Goodbye, my beautiful friend. Thank you for everything. I'm going to miss you so much. I’ll never forget you." Almost in answer to her words, a faint bark echoed up from the depths.
"Zenith?" Trix said, disbelieving. She whirled around to face me. "Did you hear that?" she excitedly exclaimed. "He's alive! Zenith is alive!"
"It certainly appears that way," Nix said solemnly, peering down into the depths. "But how are we going to get him out?"
"We'll fly him out," Thorn declared adamantly. "All we need are some torches. The crevasse appears wide enough to accommodate us. Stephen and I should be enough to do it."
Trix clutched desperately at Thorn. "Please bring him back for me," she pleaded.
"We'll certainly try our best," Thorn reassured her.
"I think I saw some torches in the weapon piles," Fink remarked. "I'll go get them."
In a few moments, the rescue mission was underway. The torches were lit and Thorn and I carefully flew down into the darkness. There were ledges everywhere and it would have been a fairly safe assumption that Zenith had landed on one of them. Thorn and I went deeper, holding the torches in front of us to provide a basic light. After a few nerve racking minutes, we were rewarded by the sight of a tail-wagging Zenith. He had indeed alighted on a ledge, on top of the ill-fated, and very dead, Elder, who had fortuitously cushioned Zenith’s landing. Or, more than likely, Zenith had planned it that way. There was a bit of blood on Zenith’s scalp where he must have collided with a rock, explaining why he hadn’t answered Trix the first few times.
Thorn and I set down on either side of an ecstatic Zenith who commence to liberally lick us all over. "Okay you, calm down!" I ordered. "We're going for a little ride. Don't wriggle around too much or you'll we’ll drop you. Ready?"
And so, combining our efforts, Thorn and I took Zenith on his very first flight. He appeared to enjoy himself, looking around interestedly at his surroundings as we neared the top. He was met by an overjoyed Trix who cuddled him in a frantic hug, delightedly rubbing her face against his fur.
"You naughty boy!" she scolded, weeping tears of joy. "You scared Mommy half to death! Don’t ever do that again, do you hear me?" Zenith responded in a licking orgy of mammoth proportions until Trix, almost sopping wet, forced him to stop.
"What do we do about you-know-who?" Nix asked, indicating the crevasse with his thumb.
"I'd say it's a fitting memorial for a traitor," Thorn replied. "We'll leave it up to the Elders. Let's report in."
"Good idea," Fink agreed. "This whole thing needs to be wrapped up."
Chapter 21
&nbs
p; And that's what we did. Fink proudly returned the stolen money and the Elders listened to our story in rapt silence and commended us all. They even praised Zenith for his bravery and selfless sacrifice and declared him an official hero. As a reward, they gave him free and unfettered access all the butcher shops in the city. To general laughter, Zenith wagged his tail furiously at their statement, almost as if he understood what they were saying. And maybe he did. Who knows? He was certainly a very clever wolf. Fink was given the job of collecting and storing the weapons. The Elders decided to leave their disgraced companion’s body where it lay. His reward would be total oblivion, denied the dignity of a funeral or even a tombstone. Thorn, Trix, Nix and I shrugged off the praise that showered over us, but it was pleasing to hear it all the same. After a few pseudo insults directed at Thorn, Nix set out for home and Thorn, Trix, Zenith and I did the same thing. We were swarmed over by a much relieved Tracey who took us to task for once again putting ourselves into danger.
"You lot will be the death of me," she rebuked, embracing each of us in turn. "You juggle with your lives every time you get together. I'm becoming old before my time."
"Nonsense!" I told her. "You never change. You’re still as gorgeous as ever."
"You flattering rogue," she simpered, batting her eyelashes. Then she sighed. "We still have this problem, don't we?" she said, sadly. "Stephen, what are we going to do about it?"
"I just don't know," I said, heavily. "We’ll have to sit down and discuss it. Maybe we'll come up with something but, at this stage, I can't see any way around it."
That certainly put a damper on our celebration. Thorn, Tracy, Trix and I sat around in a gloomy circle. Zenith wandered off, not particularly interested in our emotional quagmire, and who could blame him?
"Let's put our cards on the table," Thorn began. She looked at me earnestly. "Stephen, I love you. I can't deny it and I don't want to keep my feelings bottled up inside any more."
Zenith (4) (The Underground Kingdom) Page 7
