Island of the Gods

by C. M. Kane

  After a moments quick deliberation she smiled sweetly at him. ‘I agree. But,’ she added. ‘When I do come up with the solutions, you’ll give me your help without mentioning or hinting at what you and I are doing to anyone with-out my permission, until it’s either over, or I’m dead. Do I have your word?’ She held out her arm in the warrior style.

  Clever girl, he thought. If he agreed then she had just ruined any plans he may have had of talking to her father or to the authorities, if he was so inclined, which he wasn’t. She probably knew that, but was being both strategic and logical, covering all her bases just as he’d taught her-apparently too well. He leant forward, grasping her arm just below her elbow as she took hold of his in a warrior’s pledge. ‘Agreed.’ He was positive there was no way she would be able to think her way out of this.

  But this is Tae, his inner voice whispered. And he couldn’t help the shameful urge that this young woman would prove him wrong, and finally, he would get to feel like a warrior again.

  Brohan picked up his coffee and took a mouthful, a thoughtful expression on his face. ‘You do realise that even if by some miracle you overcome all the obstacles and actually manage to free Loki, he may be so angry at having been confined in the first place that he’ll be just as likely to kill you on the spot as listen to anything you have to say. He’s a god, Tae, and gods seem to think very little of their subjects.’

  She shrugged. ‘I’ll take that risk. So, what’s first? Weapons?’ She looked into the living area at the training equipment expectantly.

  He took another mouthful of coffee and pushed away from the counter eyeing her in a critical manner. ‘Okay, outside. I want you jogging, not sprinting, you need endurance in your legs.’ He frowned in thought for a moment before continuing. ‘ I remember Jason telling me you jog out and back to the Snell’s farm twice a week, so at least I know you’re reasonably fit, that’s around two kilometres each way if my memory serves me correctly, so stick to the pace you normally use for that. At least it gives us a starting point. Unfortunately there’s simply no way I can get you ready to go up against a trained warrior, you’re simply nowhere near good enough. I definitely don’t want you to have any false expectations or take any unnecessary risks that might get you killed, so we’re going to rely on fitness.’

  Tae cast him a withering look. ‘Please, don’t hold back your feelings on my account will you. I’d really hate to misinterpret them.’

  Brohan raised an eyebrow at her. ‘Trust me, Tae, you can’t out-fight them, that means your only chance is to outrun them.’

  CHAPTER 5

  ‘From the time you’re dropped off you’ll have six hours of safety until you can either kill or be killed. As you know, you’re not allowed to team up with any other prisoner. That will get you targeted by a hunter immediately.’

  Tae nodded her understanding and continued listening intently.

  ‘The six hours reprieve is designed to let everyone get their bearings. It also allows them to arm themselves with whatever they can fashion into a useable weapon, beyond their own knife that they’re allowed to bring with them. They can also begin stalking their first potential victim if they’ve already picked out someone they see as weak, this also happens frequently so you’ll have to remember to look as fierce as possible at the initiation.’

  Tae took a deep breath but remained quiet.

  ‘With the pace you’ll be setting water will be crucial, but I think I might be able to get you around that … at least partially. From now on you’ll have to increase your food intake as much as possible, this is very important because your body is going to need it for all the extra exercise you’ll now be doing. Once on the Island all you‘ll have is a litre of water and two protein bars that you’ll be given before your final initiation. Once they’re gone you’ll be going hungry until you reach Loki, and trust me, with-out food you’ll find that your strength and endurance will fade rapidly.’ He paused, looking at her critically once more. ‘We’re lucky in one respect though, with all your jogging you’re already reasonably fit for a novice, but remember, after thirty-four hours you’re going to have hunters on your tail very quickly if you haven’t killed anyone.’

  Tae nodded, trying to concentrate fully on every word Brohan spoke, she was loathe to let him see the spike of fear she had felt at the mention of the hunters and killing.

  ‘At the moment,’ he continued, ‘we have thirteen days until the Gathering where everyone of age announces which caste they desire to join, but where they can also announce their wish to enter the Island. The castes will take another seven days minimum before they decide who they will accept - that is law. If you announce your intentions at the Gathering then the WLE, and whoever your new friends are, will have no choice but to wait the additional time. The other young adults at the gathering will have to be told their final selections at the same time as you, it won’t matter that Island candidates are automatically accepted.’

  Brohan rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he continued to mull things over. Tae realised that this additional time was going to be very important for her. Every last hour she had to devote to training was now vital, because the more Brohan could teach her, the better her chances of success would be.

  ‘They are going to automatically query why someone like you would choose such a path ‘he continued. ‘If you’re being watched, as I suspect you are, they will probably have no idea of what you’re up to, but they will be suspicious. Like me they will wonder what you could possibly hope to achieve in there. If you can, think of a believable motive for your actions, a rumour that we can spread around after the Gathering to convince anyone who may be watching that you’re harmless. This is important!

  ‘Okay’ she said automatically, she was in total awe with how quickly Brohan was coming up with a workable plan, she listened avidly as he continued.

  ‘Due to the procedures that follow the towns gathering you will effectively have thirty days in total from now in which to prepare. On the thirty-first day you will be escorted to the WLE Headquarters where all new participants have their names officially registered. It is also where you will present the weapon you have chosen to bring, as is your traditional right. You’ll also be given a surface scan for hidden weapons and food of any kind.

  If anyone has failed to bring a weapon of their own they’ll be given a cheap generic knife, and believe me when I say, that’s something you really don’t want, so find yourself something tough and sharp to take in with you. After the scan each person is then provided with a bottle of water and two protein bars, all in a small black pack. All participants wear their own clothes, which is an advantage for us.’

  ‘Advantage? How so?’ she asked in immediate interest.

  Brohan scowled at the interruption. ‘You will be sewing some heavy plastic into the lining of your coat. Less fortunate people often do this to ward off the cold and moisture, so it’s a common occurrence. When they find the plastic in the scan - and they will - they’ll ask about it. It’s imperative that you act innocent and say it’s just waterproofing.’

  He paused again. ‘Actually you should have some excuse ready, like how your father was already selling off your belongings at home and this was the only coat you had left. That happens a lot more than you might think’ he said.

  ‘Once on the Island you’ll be able to strip the lining off and tie it in place on the branches of a tree or bush as soon as you stop of an evening. As you rest overnight the plastic should collect water for you for your next day from the condensation that forms on the leaves. It probably won’t be enough if you can’t find a stream, but it will keep you alive and moving, and that’s what we need. Luckily we only need you to last five or so days, so I’m hoping it’ll be enough. I will also be expecting you to have no more than six hours rest at most from the time you stop. That is also all what you will be having from now on so that you’re body and mind is already conditioned for it when you get on the Island. Now go,’ he said abruptly. ‘I wan
t a continuous steady pace for an hour, and then you may stop and come see me for more instructions. From this moment on I want you jogging everywhere you go. Now get moving.’

  Tae leapt up and went out the front door at a jog. She wasn’t sure what she had thought Brohan would teach her, but running definitely wasn’t it. Still, his reasons were valid … sort of.

  Her pride still smarted at his ‘nowhere near good enough’ remark. So much for all those vaunted skills she thought she had going on. Still she’d signed on for this of her own free will, so, if it was running he wanted, it was running he’d get. She realised with relief that running, unlike fighting, left her open to thinking, and she had some major problems to work out, along with some serious time restraints in which to solve them.

  By the time she returned home that afternoon she was exhausted, her jogging had been reduced to an exhausted shuffle. Brohan had her either running or practicing knife fighting skills all day. During her breaks she was expected to eat a piece of fresh fruit, and afterward she would study different races of beings that might be sent to the Island to hunt her. While she rested she would link herself to the WLE’s mainframe, courtesy of the old com-watch Brohan had given her. This way if someone happened to track the link back to its source they wouldn’t see it as unusual for an aged warrior to be showing interest in his old duties.

  At first she had enjoyed the brief respites, but after a while the never-ending supply of snacks had her ready to vomit. He’d kept this up from the time she had started, around 8:30 am, until the time her school was due to get out at 4 pm. Jog for an hour, the next hour was then spent eating, fighting, and learning, then back to jogging again. That was her day, jog, eat, fight, and learn. Over and over and over.

  She finished yet another thirty minutes of study and looked up to find the warrior training equipment laid out neatly on the training field. Her drying sweat made her t-shirt and shorts stick to her uncomfortably. She stood up and looked around tiredly, patiently waiting to see if she would be joining the class as usual.

  Brohan turned, looked at her for a moment then said, ‘Make sure you eat a good amount of protein tonight. I also want you to start watching the Island every night for at least an hour, preferably more. I want you to scan through the victims and watch their tactics. I want you to learn from their mistakes. More importantly you will need to look at the scenery closely. You need to learn the topography of the Island as much as you can, so you have a sense of it before you arrive. I will see you the same time tomorrow.’

  That she would not be attending school for the final twelve days was a given. The next two days of school had already been cancelled anyway due to Miss Bayfour’s death. School meant nothing to her now, all that was left was her training.

  After that loomed the ever-present spectre of the Island.

  CHAPTER 6

  When she arrived home she stumbled straight into the bathroom and stripped off her filthy clothes. She had never felt so exhausted in her life, her legs ached, her hands hurt, and just to top it off she felt vaguely nauseated. She threw the dirty clothes into the washer, put on some eye covers and stepped into the chem shower. Closing the door behind her she automatically braced her arms straight out and stood with her legs apart. Within ten seconds the chemical Draveculanis Phentonal or Drav as it was more commonly known, enveloped her in a warm mist. Tae usually enjoyed having a chem shower, it was safe and cheap, you simply stepped into the shower which emitted a fine mist for ten seconds and you were clean, simple. Drav, which was imported from the Vampires’ home world Salernis, would remove any dirt, sweat, grease, flaking skin and germs before harmlessly dissipating back into the atmosphere. You would be left totally cleansed with only an odd smell of dried mint clinging to you.

  The only drawback was that you had to stand with arms and legs akimbo so it could penetrate everywhere. It could also irritate the eyes and throat to those sensitive to it, so most people simply put some eye patches on and held their breath. But for the first time in her life Tae thought she would have been more than happy to kill for a warm shower. She could only imagine how wonderful it would feel to have warm water spraying all over her aching body. The evac pump started its process of clearing the mist away before expelling it harmlessly outside, where it would break down quickly into the atmosphere. Tae took off the eye patches and stepped out. Clean again and minty fresh she thought, then winced at a twinge in her thigh. She trudged back to her room again where she dressed, this time in a pair of worn slacks and a clean t-shirt. She strapped on the old com-watch Brohan had given her before she left, smiling ruefully at the fact that she now actually had one.

  It was only a few weeks ago on their seventeenth birthday, that Jason had received his very first com-watch. Tae remembered eyeing it with unadulterated envy. Her mother had held to a more hopeful route with her. She had received a beautiful green synsilk dress that matched her eyes, as well as some new bras and panties. She had her own suspicions as to why her mother had splurged and bought her the matching dress and underwear set, and unfortunately all she did was reinforce her feelings that her mother had always wanted a girlie girl.

  She felt like she had failed her by being a tomboy who had no interest in boys or dating. Still, she supposed she could wear the dress to the Gathering or on a date, if anyone were to ever ask her out. She could still remember how uncomfortable she’d felt as she tried to smile happily at the thoughtful gift, but lying had never been her forte, she usually just blurted out what-ever was on her mind. It had been worth it to her though when she saw how pleased her mother had been at her enthusiasm. Still not wanting to ruin her mother’s happiness, she had then endured her scrutiny and talks of boys, flirting and dates. After all, it wasn’t as if any boy has even come near me! But she hadn’t said that aloud, she just smiled and nodded at her mother and tried to look interested so she’d be happy.

  Jason had once told her that the boys at school were a little scared of her. He had tried to explain that no boy liked a girl who could beat the snot out of him if he did something wrong, boys – or men as Jason referred to himself - were the ones who wanted to be able to protect their girlfriend, not the other way around. Tae had thought that explanation was patently ridiculous, surely a boy, or man, would be happy that his woman was strong and independent, and that she could take care of herself? What the boys had thought of her hadn’t worried her to begin with. But recently things had started to change in her, she’d felt something growing inside, a vague compelling neediness that both frightened and intrigued her.

  She plodded wearily into the kitchen. It was after five and her father would be home in a couple of hours. Now that her mother was gone, would he expect her to prepare meals for him and do the housekeeping? She quickly decided she would do it anyway. It would only be for the remaining time before she left for the Island, and it would keep him quiet. She prepared a quick meal and set the timer on their cooker before sitting back down at the table again. There, she thought, nothing for him to whinge about. Now it’s time for me to get down to business, first on the agenda, figuring out how the hell to negate the vid-ball that will be broadcasting my where-abouts to everyone. Then finding a way to stop these ever present Nanites, because they ll be doing the same, even if something happens to the vid-ball.

  She spent the next hour and a bit flicking through the display projected in front of her by her com-watch. She searched everything she could find on vid-balls and nanites. After reaching a couple of desperate conclusions, she switched to the hardest problem, how to get rid of the volcanic rock that encompassed the ship. She thought the ship’s force field wouldn’t be a problem, and fortunately she could probably take out the vid-ball by trapping it in her coat and smashing it with the nearest rock, crude but do-able. The nanites and volcanic rock were a whole different ball game. She did have an idea about the nanites, a last-ditch thought saved for if everything else failed, one that frightened her to death, but one she would nevertheless use if necessary.

/>   The cooker clicked on just as her father staggered through the back door. She quickly switched off the com watch and looked over at him. If anything he seemed even more drunk than usual, the smell of mead was overwhelming. Damn, did he fall into a vat the stuff? She wrinkled her nose in distaste at the smell that was rolling off him in waves. Jumping up she began taking out the plates and cutlery as he lurched to the table and sat in his usual chair, he watched quietly as she went about putting the coffee on and setting their places. The cooker clicked off and she took out the steaming container, setting it on the table with a large serving spoon. They settled down in silence to eat. Edible - barely - was possibly the best she could say about her concoction. Her father peered at it intently for a moment before grunting and eating what he had put on his plate.

  Well. Hi there dad, how are you? Me? I hear you ask? Well, it seems I have to make my way past a group of rabid humans and warriors, all intent on ending my life as quickly as possible. Then I have to find a way through thirty odd metres of volcanic rock to release a trapped god. A god who may be so pissed off at being trapped in the first place that he’ll probably kill me before I can even open my mouth to ask anything of him. Apart from that I’m just hunky-dory, but thanks ever so much for asking. She fumed silently, while focussing on swallowing each mouthful of her dinner without snapping. She started thinking over her own more pressing problems again, deciding it was easier to ignore him in return. When they had finished eating she gathered the plates and took them to the sink.