“Yep, I would like to wash before we go any further. All this dirt must be causing some kind of germ warfare on our bods.”
I did not know who said those words, but they caused a commotion that spread through the crowd. Cries of, “If the Agros don’t get us, disease will.”
“Another plague will be on us before we can do anything to prevent it!”
Orva looked to me and rolled her eyes, then turned to the almost panic-ridded lot. “May I have your attention? Please, could you listen?” The high-pitched murmuring and shuffling stopped. “Do not be fearful of the muck that is attached to you. I assure you it will wash off and all will be no worse for it being there. So, please, no more lamentations. Agros may be upon us in a heartbeat. We must go now. Follow me, keep my pace, then we should reach Goldenagehome in good time. Those with glowsticks keep them held high. Right?”
There came a mass of hissing sounds as many pulled on the cord that lit their glowsticks. Orva waved and pointed forward. “Off we go,” she said and we marched. Both she and Dreng keeping the rhythm of our steps. “One, two, three, four. One, two, three four.” On we tramped mimicking their counting. Across the Centralplaza, past the border guards, through Citypark, until we reached the outskirts of Cityplace.
“All halt!”
All did.
“I must ask you to be quite silent. I will enter first and state our situation. When all is ready I shall call you forth. Please do not enter until told. These oldies are of advancing years, a shock such as this may cause unnecessary harm.”
A general whisper of consent wafted through the line of folk. Orva walked over to the entrance gates of Goldenagehome. She pressed the entrancecom and a crackly voice said, “What? Who’s there?”
Orva put her mouth close to the com device. “Orva, from the Special Army of the New Territories.”
“What does a S.A.N.T. want all the way out here?”
“The City is in trouble. Agro assault. We have been evacuated from the place.”
“Are we to leave too?”
“Well, no.”
“Then what do you want?”
“We have evacuated to here.”
“What?”
“Will you let us in?”
“I don’t think so young ‘un.”
“May I talk with someone in authority?”
“You are.”
“I mean, a staffy or med personnel?”
“Go away.” The com crackled then went silent.
“That went well,” I said.
Standing straight, Orva turned to us. “Okay then. Did anyone hear or recognise the oldie I spoke to?” No response. “Fine. Adara, your Greatgrangran is here is she not?”
“Yep.”
“Maybe you could try and get her to come speak with me?”
“I’ll try,” I said and pressed the com button. Nowt. I tried a few times more. An angry voice spurted out.
“Why haven’t you gone?”
“Oh, hi, hi, my name’s Adara.”
“Catcher of Birds?”
Huffin’ hell, not again. “Yes.”
“The girlie in the square?”
“Yep.”
“You’re going to bring us meat aren’t you?”
I was about to say something noble, like, “No huffin’ way,” and “do not ask again,” when Orva poked me in the arm.”
“Say yes.”
“What? No, nadder. I will not bring the birdies for these mean, Carnie-like oldies. I won’t.”
Orva let out a huge sigh and Dreng put his hand over his mouth to stifle a snigger.
“Lie. To get us in.”
“Oh, right. Will do.” I leant nearer the com. “Well, if you let us in, I might just call forth the birdies.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
There was a muffled bit of chat, then the com crackled and the oldie spoke, “Just you.”
“What? No. It has to be all or I won’t come in. No meat for you.”
Another pause followed by quiet convo.
“You’re a sly one.”
Orva poked me again. “Call forth your relative.”
“Can you get my grangran, please?”
“Amranwen? I’ll see if she’s available.”
This time, Orva patted me on the back instead of poking it. “Good work.”
Whilst we waited by the gates, I took a quick peek around. I’d never been here. As far as I knew only oldies abided. The staff came and went, and folk like my grangran, pretty much got on with things until they expired. I looked around, up and along the high concrete wall that enclosed the place, and let out a longly sigh.
What a fortress it was. The only way in or out was through one large, metal gate that we stood behind. I put my hand on it and shook. It was firm all right. Thick and solid. I was glad, for it would take quite a blast in order for it to tumble. I’d always wondered what lay behind these high, impenetrable walls. My guess was that they were constructed on the single storey side to best suit the stiff-leggedness of those that lived there.
Folk began to fidget and whine. Orva folded her arms, my bro yawned. The com cackled to life. I heard the voice of my grangran. “Addler, they say you are here with many Cityfolk?”
“Yep.”
“Agro assault in full swing then?”
“Pretty much.”
“How many outside?”
“More than five hundred.”
“Yikes. More will come no doubt?”
“Possibly.”
“Well, I’ll let you in, but if there’s any trouble we will expunge one and all.”
“We will be goodly I promise.” I turned and gave the thumbs up sign. They all cheered. Then I put my ear back to the com.
“I said, are you going to call forth meat?”
“I’d really rather not given the situation we are in.”
“Ah now, that’s a shame. I ate it once when I was a kiddle. A birdybird fell at my feet all dead. Ma picked it up and brought it in. We didn’t know what to do with it so she accessed some info from bygonedays site, which mentioned it should be cooked, so she put it in the waveoven.”
I shuddered. “What did it taste like?”
“Plop. I don’t think she cooked it right or something, it exploded in the device and she scraped the bits off. It stank too.”
“Always enjoy your tales Grangran, can we come in now?”
“What? Oh yes, but not in one great glob.”
“Rightly so.”
Orva turned to the gathered Cityfolk. “Families, get into groups. I will allow twenty at a time to enter. When you do, abide by the criteria meted out to you by those that reside here. Do not question, or otherwise annoy the residents, if you do we will be forced to leave. Be ready.”
There was a mass murmuring and shuffling of position. Then when it appeared that folk were ready, Orva pressed the com button. “We are primed for entry.” The huge gate made an unimpressive click sound and both massive doors swung inwards.
What a great place. No wonder the oldies didn’t want to share. There was a long curved gravel path lit by sunken solar lights that led to the main entrance. A bright orange sign that said, ‘Goldenaghomes’ flashed above the glass-panelled wooden door. On either side of the walkway were small ball-shaped bushes that gave off a fresh, grass-like scent. To the left and right of the main building, which had a long sloping red roof, were row after row of goodly sized abodes. They were of wooden construction with similar angled tops, and were adorned with solar panels that looked like they were directly connected to the huts. No doubt to give them individual power.
Greatgran Amranwen emerged from the entrance and greeted us on the metal ramp that took over from the pathway. Behind her stood two tall oldie males holding walking canes like weapons. A not so ancient fem appeared from inside, and came over to us. “Right then, these folk can stuff themselves in our communal area. The building you are staring at. There’s foodprepfacilities, places to plop and wash. A
lso vidscreens and comgames, so the young ‘uns can amuse themselves and not cause trouble.”
“Many thanks for sharing your splendid home with us,” Orva said and gestured towards the folk still tramping through the gates.
“Those Agros are nowt but trouble. You S.A.N.T.S. had better send them off quick.”
“We will do our best. How many can you take in the Medicentre?”
“You have wounded?”
“Yes, several.”
“Oh, well, I see. Not sure about that.”
“The mayor himself is transporting some of the more severely injured.”
“Oh, the mayor? Well, I think we can accommodate those unfortunate enough to have come a cropper. The centre is behind this place. Access is via the pathway on the right.”
“I will stay outside to await the arrival of the others with your directions,” Orva said and stood to one side.
The not-so-old fem peered at the throng and smacked her lips together. “Right. You may enter,” she said gesturing towards the entrance. The two oldie males stood either side of the door. Dreng nodded and family after family moved towards the door. The oldie males held their sticks across the entrance. They lifted and dropped them like an automated barrier each time a bod walked in.
I stood with Deogol and Orva, watching folk pile into the spacious building. I did not recognise many of those that passed by, except for Drysi and Hrypa. He was bandaged up, but looked much better than the last time I saw him. Pretty much recovered, judging by the way he was not shouting and hanging onto his ma like a bub. I caught his eye, but he quickly turned away without uttering a word. What a weakling. Ungrateful Wolfie.
Drysi, her dress all torn and mucky, pushed her way through the crowd. She faced me. “I need to use the cleansingplace right away. Look at me, I’m filthy, I can’t bear it. Who knows what kinds of germs or killer bugs I have inhaled. I could get sick and die.”
If only, I thought. “Hi, Drysi, ‘fraid it’s not up to me to decide who gets firsties on that kind of thing.”
“Who does?”
I shrugged. She let out a, “Fffffsh,” and strode into the building. Greatgrangran took my arm and led me away. Deogol stayed put by Orva’s side.
“How bad is it?”
“Very and then some. I reckon it has only just begun.”
“Could the Agros come here?”
“Hard to say. We don’t know how many there are.”
“I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.”
“’Sppose.”
There was a loud honk. I guessed it was the mayor. I glanced down the path and saw said male’s limo and the Firstaiders vehicle glide up towards us. Mayor Eldwyn got out. Grangran greeted him with, “How goes it in the square?”
“More explosions. No sign of Agro as yet. Nothing else to report.”
Orva shook his hand. “The Medicentre is to the right behind this place where all are safely stashed.”
“Good, good. Edwyn, Arla, take the sick there.”
The Firstaiders poked their heads from their vehicle and nodded. Then they drove slowly to the place Orva pointed at. The mayor brushed past me as if I no longer existed and entered the communal place, closely followed by the fem and male oldies. Grangran took my hand. “All we can do is wait. Come inside. You look like you are need of some some grub.”
“Nah, you take Deogol. I’ll stay here. Keep a look out.”
“That may be difficult when the gate is shut.”
The thing closed with a mighty bang and it did indeed block the view. Not that I could see much of anything, except darkness and dirt tracks. Greatgrangran went to Deogol, who was standing next to Dreng at the foot of the entrance slope. She touched his elbow and led him indoors. Just like that.
Orva tilted her head in the direction of the door. “Go in Adara, I’ll stay with Dreng and keep a lookout.”
“Nah, rather be outside. Don’t relish the notion of snuggling up to those crybubs inside.”
“Everyone is scared. They should be.”
“Are you?”
“Yep.”
“Gulp, then.”
“We are as safe here as anywhere in all of Cityplace. How those that remain will cope, I do not know. But there may be severe casualties before the moon is done with us.”
I looked up at the sky. Clouds obscured the pretty stars and all was black. Except for the flash of bright light, that shot up from the direction of Centralplaza. A low boom accompanied the second burst of light. A louder bang caused folk to spill out into the courtyard.
“It’s started,” the mayor said and went back inside. Everyone followed.
I shivered.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The Blabbermouth Is Revealed
Orva took a shortcomdevice from her legpouch and tapped many buttons. She shook the thing, lifted it to her ear, said, “Hi, hi. Breanna?” several times then put it back.
“I’ll gae to the square, see what’s what,” Dreng said.
Orva stayed him with a forefinger command, “No. Our orders are to remain here and protect as best we can in case they make it this far.”
“All the same.”
“Go inside and calm folk. That is what we must do for the best.”
He opened his gob, closed it then plodded up the slope into the building.
“Will they come?”
“It depends on your Santy and the others.”
I walked to the gate and put my head against it. It was cool. My noggin throbbed. The coldness of the steel soothed it somewhat. Then I thought the thrumming inside my nonce had escaped. For there came a faint pounding that sounded as if it were coming from the base of the metal barrier. I lifted my head away, knelt down and pressed my ear to the ground. The thudding became louder and higher up.
“Is someone knocking?” Orva said and came up beside me. She too listened. “Folk outside.”
“What if they are Agros?”
Orva pressed the entrancecom. It buzzed and a voice said. “Praise the lord! Will you let us in?” I recognised that nasal voice. Lilith. I turned to Orva. She narrowed her eyes.
“Thought they were done for. Oh well, best give them sanctuary,” she said with a look quite guilt-filled. Coughing loudly, she nodded in the direction of the gate. “I’ll just go and…” without finishing her sentence, she raced indoors. A few secs passed and the gate opened revealing the two Praisebees I’d been locked up with.
“Let us in quick. They are hot on our heels,” Lilith said rushing past me. Elijah limped through. The gate slammed shut. He was hard to look at. Thinner than any I had ever seen. The skin on his face was stretched so tight that I feared the bones would split through and show themselves. His clothes tattered, filth ridden, hung from his emaciated bod like a bub dressed in ‘dult attire. I held out my hand and he stared at it with dead eyes.
“Elijah? It is Adara. Do you recall who I am?”
He lifted his gaze and blinked. “They left us alone in that place.”
“Come, let us go inside.” I reached for his arm, but he recoiled in fear.
“No, never going indoors again.” He sank to the ground and covered his face with his hands.
I noticed his fingernails were bloody and torn as if he had been scratching a hard surface for quite some time. One digit appeared much shorter than the rest. I knelt beside him, took off my Synthbag, pulled out a bottle of water and a ricerusk. I broke the disc in half, remembering how he reacted to food and drink the last time, and touched his fingers. Yeuk. Dead man’s hand. Cold, bony and damp.
He lowered his mitts. I offered him the goodies. He snatched the stuff from my grip and I had to pull the water away from his parched lips when he gulped too fast. He took the hint and nibbled but a tiny piece of rusk before taking another bite. I gave him the water and he sipped it slow.
“How did you escape?”
“Agro troops, or whatever they are, found us and took us with them to the surface. All is bad back there. May the Lo
rd have mercy on their souls.”
“How did you know to come here?”
“Fem S.A.N.T. saw us and bundled us away from the onslaught. She told us where to go. Good job Lilith was of sound mind to take it all in. I was confused so.”
“Santy I bet. Who wins?”
“No one. Wars such as these can never be won. Know this,” he said and gestured for me to lean in, I did. “They are close behind. I heard their breath on my neck. Felt their words of hatred in my ears and mouth.”
I did not know what to make of his food-starved babble, so just helped him to his feet. I walked with him to the entrance, but he refused top go in. “I will linger here. I would rather die in the open.”
“You won’t die. At least not just yet.”
“Really?”
I heard something, not unlike foot stamping and looked to the main gate. I gasped. It was open. Before my disbelieving eyes, four helmeted Agros marched up the pathway. I grabbed Elijah and pulled him inside. “Danger!” I cried.
Swifter than a shooting star, Orva and Dreng flew to the door and pressed themselves against it. A forest of faces turned to me. “Agros! Agros are here!”
Folk scattered.
Urged on by Orva, I helped Elijah hobble through the mayhem to sit in a chair. After taking it from a perfectly healthy juve by kicking his shins until he budged. The sound of heavy pounding caused folk to scream and scuttle to the nearest wall. They fell to the ground and hid behind tables or vidscreens. How they thought that would help I don’t know. I pushed over chairs, through huddled bods in search of Deogol. I did not find him, but caught sight of Greatgrangran slumped over a small table underneath a window at the far end of the great high-ceilinged room. I raced to her and put my hand on her head. She gave a faint moan and I heard a high-pitched chuckle.
Looking up, I saw Lilith. She was standing next to the mayor, a piece of bread in one hand and a great hunk of cheese in the other. Where she procured such a rarity from I did not know. Milk curd being only issued once an orbit and not in such sizable chunks. I headed towards them. “Deogol, have you seen him?” The mayor scuttled sideways by way of response.
Whisper Gatherers Page 15
