Codi clambered up the back of the Rex. It didn’t seem to mind. Codi wrapped his arms around her waist.
She could feel him wheezing into her back.
“Awesome, right?” she said and stiffled a giggle. She held up her her palm for her skinphone.
“Say bite me,” she said and took a selfie of her and Codi.
“Seriously?” Codi said. “You’re sending that to your friends?”
“Why not? Did I not get my best side?”
Codi rolled his eyes. “How about you call for help on that thing?”
She shook her head. “Had zero Q-NET reception since we arrived. But the moment I do, all my friends are going to die.”
“I thought we were going to die,” Codi said. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
They both giggled.
“I’m going to need therapy for the rest of my life,” she said.
“Five minutes of therapy ain’t going to fix you,” Codi said.
“Five minutes?”
“Maybe ten. That’s how long we probably got left to live.”
Bron set the Rex to continue along the dark tunnels. Ten minutes later they approached the light at the end of the tunnel. Two Vanguards stood in their way. When they heard the snorts of the Rexes, the Vanguards ignited their Makhairas.
Bron selected the command to charge.
“Ready, Codi?”
“Do it.”
She hit charge and their Rex roared. It broke into a run and swept the Vanguards aside. A moment later they were out amongst the endless rows of seating.
A group of people screamed as Bron’s Rex headbutted them. She clung onto its neck for dear life as the rampage begun.
CHAPTER 71 - GLAW’S SPEECH
Glaw stepped up to a large honey bee shaped drone-camera as it hovered at shoulder height. He grabbed the drone and rubbed his itching snout on its lens.
Not even a hint of honey.
The drone raised its stinger and whipped it around. It jabbed Glaw’s snout. Glaw yelped and let it wriggle free. It buzzed angrily around him. He swiped at it until he noticed his face appear on giant screens around the Colosseum.
Got your attention. Now for the plan...
“I demand the right of a final word.”
He stared out into the audience and took a deep breath. He let it out.
“I’m a lucky guy,” he said. “My ex-wife Blodwyn actually thinks about sex. She thinks about sex all the time. Only, not with me. No, I’m joking.”
“Glaw?” Dax yelled. “Why the hell are you joking around?”
“My girlfriend thinks of sex as performance art. To get lucky I have to sell ‘x’ amount of tickets. No, I’m joking. If I sell all the tickets I get to... watch.”
He looked at his wrist. “Sorry, I meant to say, I get a watch. A wrist watch.”
He held up his wrist.
“This one, in fact,” he said. “It’s kind of a special watch. It’s got a big hand, little hand. Neither work. Too much wrist action, apparently. Got a date on it as well. Batteries don’t work, on the watch, not the girlfriend. Though hers don’t, either.
“So, when all three line up, big hand, with the little hand, with the date, then it’s accurate exactly twice a year. About the same number of times I get lucky.”
Dax shook his head. “Laugh it up, scuzzball,” Dax said, “and see us all die.”
“My girlfriend’s in the audience tonight,” Glaw said. He put his paw up to his eye and peered at the crowd. “Where are you honey? Stand up and wave so everyone can see you, Mom. I’m joking... We split up.”
“Is he actually pausing for laughter?” Dax asked Myf. “What’s with the stand-up comedy routine?”
“I don’t know what he’s got cooking,” Myf said, “but he’s half genius, half buffoon, and half dead between the ears. Take your pick which one we’re seeing right now.”
She scanned the crowd. Glaw held everyone’s attention in the palm of his hands.
Dax shook his head again and sighed. “Get ready.”
“For what?” Myf asked.
“I’m not sure, but I get the feeling whatever it is, it’s going to happen with no warning.”
Myf nodded and shouted, “You’re dying out there, Glaw.”
“I’m just joking around of course,” Glaw said. “My friend, Myf, she’s my co-pilot. A big hand for Myf everyone...”
The Colosseum remained silent. Myf felt her skin burn. Until a ripple of clapping sounded from the Polars. Followed by spontaneous ripples from the crowd.
“So, Myf accused me not so long ago of turning everything important into a joke,” Glaw said. “Even Death. And as we all know, death is no joke, right? So, when I’m about to die, why do I turn everything into a joke?”
The audience glanced at each other as if reading his mind and finding no answers. Only questions.
“My answer to that is this: when you’ve seen as much as the universe as I have. Seen as many terrible things. You realize the universe takes everything from us.
“Our dignity. Our hopes and dreams. Even, our loved ones. To survive, the universe makes you do terrible things. And with each terrible thing we do, each time, the universe strips off pieces of your soul. Eventually...”
A tear formed in the corner of Glaw’s eye. “Eventually, there’s nothing left. Except maybe one thing. A tiny spark of defiance. I think they call it a sense of humor. That’s it. That’s what they leave us with after they strip away everything we have.
“Why do I joke around? Because I have nothing left, but also one other thing...” Glaw said and put a hand up to one ear as if listening for something. He nodded to himself and smiled.
The sound of a low rumble shook the ground. A small dust cloud swirled across the arena seating.
“And also to give my new friend Codi Doone a chance to sneak out of here,” Glaw said. “To unlock the stable gates, and unleash hell on you scuzzballs...”
The sound grew louder. Someone screamed in the audience. A loud roar gripped the Colosseum. Glaw turned to see a rampaging herd of T.Rex stomping through the audience.
The Vanguard sentries in the arena fled.
Glaw whipped his arm through the air and swatted the drone-camera. He turned to Dax and said, “Time to get out of here, people.”
CHAPTER 72 - ESCAPE
“Follow me,” Fyre shouted and headed for the tunnels.
She led Dax and Myf to the temple. Inside, they were met by the high priest Sacerdos Enid. He and Fyre held hands.
“My eternal thanks to you, Sacerdos Enid,” she said, “and to the Brethren.”
“It will all be for nothing if we do not get you to safety,” Sacerdos said and looked over Fyre’s shoulder at Dax.
“So this is the one from my prophecy?” Sacerdos asked. “The one with the power to destroy us all?”
“Prophecy?” Dax asked.
Sacerdos studied Fyre’s eyes. “You’ve not told him.”
“There wasn’t time.”
“Our fate is in his hands. He must know what he faces. He must know what he sacrifices. Why he must die.”
“Priest, why are you helping us?” Dax asked.
“The blood on my hands is a stain on my soul,” he said. “I was forced to summon salvation for my people, and greeted only madness.”
“Can you tell me of the fate of the missing passengers and crew of Hermes?”
“No, Zen Dax, I cannot speak of it,” Sacerdos said and held his head in shame. “But I can show you.”
Dax’s eyes widened.
“But first you must promise not to seek vengeance,” Sacerdos said.
Dax felt the priest’s eyes bore deep into him. He felt him turning over old memories and casting them aside as he searched Dax’s soul. “If you are to learn of your wife and son’s fate, Zen Dax,” Sacerdos said, “swear on their lives to relinquish vengeance.”
Dax swallowed hard and nodded. “Show me everything. Show me this prophecy and I promise
I’ll spare the lives of every Vanguard who keeps out of my way.”
Glaw bounded into the temple with Bron and Codi under his arms. He dropped Bron and rubbed his bulging belly. “Did somebody prophesize lunch? I’m starving.”
Sacerdos snorted. “Indeed, you are wasting away.”
Glaw stopped and thrust his snout into the priest’s face. “Hey, body-shamer, more to love. Got it?”
Sacerdos narrowed his red eyes. “There is little time. Follow me, Glaw Brynmore.”
“Now you’re talking. You have those little pancakes with maple syrup?” Glaw asked as he trailed over Sacerdos and Fyre. “And Ursu goat butter.”
They descended the spiral staircase into the underground caverns. As they crossed the bridge, Glaw mused about T.Rex bacon. “Can’t compete with Ursu salmon, I realize that, but when am I ever that lucky?”
“Glaw, let me down,” Codi said and struggled free.
“I’m not exactly sure of local time,” Glaw said. “Maybe we should just lump breakfast, lunch and dinner into one. What do you say, Myf?
Myf turned on Glaw. “Enough!”
Glaw swallowed hard. “Can I have your share? You know, as a starter dish.”
Myf glared at Glaw and then walked ahead.
“What?” Glaw roared. “I eat when I’m nervous. Any objections, put them on a Q-NET mail. Send it to Uranus.”
Myf put her fingers in her ears. “That joke was old before you were born.”
“Not old,” Glaw said. “Not old. Classic! Vintage. Authentic. Like me.”
Glaw was soon left behind as he stood on the bridge and admired the huge stalactites above him and the fast flowing river beneath.
“Good fishing?” he said and admired his echo. “He-el-o-o-o-o!”
A minute later he heard a scream that cut through him like a knife.
He’d heard that scream only once before in his life and it curdled his blood.
“Myf?”
CHAPTER 73 - AGATHA
Glaw sprinted across a courtyard and into another, larger cavern. A narrow metallic platform crossed a dark abyss below.
At the entrance he found two Vanguard sentries with their necks snapped. If it wasn’t for their uniforms, he wouldn’t be able to recognize them as Vanguard. Their flesh had been stripped from their bodies. Their bones were covered in bite marks.
He stared into the darkness of the cavern and swallowed hard. “Myf?”
There was no sound.
Inside, he found Bron and Codi clutching a human woman. She wore expensive clothes, but seemed ashamed. Turning her face away from them. Hiding in the shadows of flaming torches.
“Aunt Agatha,” Codi said and reached out to her. “It’s me. Codi. And Bron.”
She slapped away his hand. “Keep away.”
Bron pulled Codi back. “Look,” she said. “Her face.”
In the dim glow of the torches, something seemed to crawl beneath her skin.
“What happened to you, Aunt Agatha?” Codi asked.
“Leave me,” she said and made deep, sucking noises. “While I can still control it.”
“We can’t leave you,” Bron said. “Whatever you contracted, we can find a cure.”
“The only cure,” Agatha said, “is death by fire.”
“I can’t leave you,” Codi said. “I can’t be alone. I love you.”
Agatha turned slowly toward Codi. Her eyes bulged out of their sockets. Dangling from their stalks. Through her wafer thin skin, her skull protruded.
As she sat up straight, her skin stretched impossibly thin over her bones. Her ribs seemed to pulsate up and down as if someone was playing them like individual piano keys. Or they were straining to burst through her skin.
An oily substance seemed to leak from her eyes, her ears and her pores. It collect in pools on the stone floor. Whispers of smoke rose up off the floor.
Glaw felt his appetite vanish. “Seen more flesh on a gutted salmon,” Glaw said. “She’s a total bonehead.”
Bron shot Glaw a look.
“What?” he said.
Agatha rasped. “Love this, Codi?” Agatha asked.
Codi wept and nodded. He touched her arm. He cried out and pulled back his hand. He held out his palm. It seemed like it had been burned by acid.
“If you love me,” Agatha said, “kill me.”
“I can’t,” Codi cried.
Agatha sniffed at the air. She looked at Glaw’s stomach and sighed. Blisters and boils leaked pus from Agatha’s tongue as she ran it over her receding gums.
“I’m so hungry,” Agatha said. “Come closer, Codi.”
Codi stepped forward. Agatha’s head snapped back. Her jaw extended by inches and jutted out sharp fangs. She leapt at Codi.
Glaw threw himself between Codi and Bron. He slapped Agatha away with the back of one paw. She crumpled into a heap against a wall.
Glaw dragged Codi backwards.
Agatha slid up the wall and stumbled forward.
Glaw grabbed a flaming torch from the wall and thrust it at Agatha.
Flames engulfed her. She screamed as her flesh melted from her bones. “Codi,” she cried and reached out.
Bron kicked out at Agatha and sent her toppling over the side of the platform. The human fireball plunged into the dark abyss.
Glaw dragged Codi away.
“No,” Codi cried and collapsed to the floor.
“Listen, kid,” Glaw shouted, “you can grieve later. But right now, we got ten thousand others just like her. What’s the betting they’re all just as hungry?”
CHAPTER 74 - BONEHEADS
“I got to find Myf,” Glaw said, “and I can’t leave you two behind.”
Bron held Codi’s face between her hands. “We’re with you, Glaw, right Codi?”
Codi couldn’t meet her gaze and avoided Glaw’s. He sighed and nodded.
Glaw collected three flaming torches off the walls and handed one each to Bron and Codi.
“Them boneheads get close,” Glaw said, “torch them.”
“Glaw, don’t call them boneheads,” Bron snapped. “They’re innocent people.”
“Innocent people don’t try to eat my flesh,” Glaw said. “Ready?”
Bron and Codi nodded.
Glaw led Codi and Bron off the platform. They turned a corner and ran into a horde of howling boneheads. They limped as if their muscles had wasted away. Their skin shone with a pale blue translucent hue. Something under their skin seemed to be crawling across their bones. Clawing its way through their bodies as if trying to find a way out.
When the horde saw Glaw, their heads snapped back and their jaws jutted out. They limped their way, guided by eyes dangling from stalks.
“The only way is through the boneheads,” Glaw said. “Stick close.”
The horde reached out for Codi and Bron. Glaw shoved the boneheads aside and dove deeper into the horde.
“Myf?” he cried. “Myf, where are you?”
Beating back the horde, Glaw ran until he found Fyre surrounded by a dozen boneheads. She held a flaming torch in each hand and swirled around in a tight circle.
Fyre used the flames to keep them at bay. Whenever one adventurous bonehead got too close, she stabbed it in the eye socket with the sharpened end of the torch. It crumpled and dropped to the floor.
Glaw smashed his torch over a bonehead, crushing its skull.
“Seen Myf?” Glaw asked.
Fyre shook her head. “She went ahead with Dax.”
“Where to?”
“He ran after someone he recognized.”
“A bonehead?”
Fyre sneered at Glaw. “They are still part human.”
“That’s what worries me,” Glaw said.
He cleared a path through the boneheads. Fyre, Bron and Codi followed closely behind.
They found Dax cradling a bonehead woman in his arms. Tears rolled down his face.
“Watch out, buddy,” Glaw shouted. “She’ll snack on your neck.”
What?” Glaw asked.
“That woman,” Fyre whispered, “she’s Dax’s wife.”
CHAPTER 75 - ANGIE
“Angie, I’m so sorry,” Dax said and buried his head against her breast.
She rasped as she stroked his head. She lifted his face to hers.
“Save Ben.”
“Is he here on Vanguard?”
“No,” she croaked, “Ben is--”
She convulsed as something crawled under her skin. It crawled up inside her neck and into her skull. Her eyes rolled back in her head.
Her head snapped back. Her jaw jutted out. Fangs protruded and dripped a dark oil. Her eyes popped open.
“Hungry,” she said and grabbed the back of Dax’s neck, pulling him to her fangs.
Fyre leapt at Angie and plunged the sharp end of the flaming torch through Angie’s forehead.
“No,” Dax shouted and shoved Fyre aside. “We could have found a cure.”
“There is no cure,” Fyre said.
“What do you know about this?” Dax demanded.
“We must find the high priest,” she said. “He can explain.”
“Where is he?” Dax asked.
“He took Myf to the laboratory.”
“A lab?” Glaw shouted. “What kind of lab?”
“Hurry,” Fyre said, “there isn’t much time.
Dax took a torch from Fyre and stooped over Angie’s body.
Forgive me, my love...
He caressed her body with the flames of the torch. He stood back and watched her burn while Glaw fought back the boneheads.
I swear I will find Ben. Find a cure.
“Can’t hold them off any longer, buddy,” Glaw shouted and grabbed Dax’s shoulder, shoving him into the space he’d made in the horde.
They fought through the horde until they came to the end of the cavern and a pair of steel doors. Glaw hammered on the doors, but they remained shut.
“We’re trapped,” Glaw shouted.
Fyre found a console by the side of the door. “I have access.”
It scanned her retina, but the doors remained shut. “They revoked my access.”
Valiant (Jurassic War Universe Book 1) Page 33
