Watching Yute
Page 15
Their serene little smiles gave Cipriana more than enough of a hint to guess from. “Oh, I suppose it’s some kind of anniv-… hmm.. could it be six months?” Cheryl smiled wider, and nodded as Cassidy added a little more squeeze to the hold. “It seems like just yesterday we were all having to deal with the three month… and the one month… and the one week..” Cipriana smirked at the couple.
“Cip, Cip, Cippy,” Cassidy said soft and low. “You must get over this jealousy. I’ve told you time and again, you’ve simply missed your chance with me.” Cheryl turned a little to plant a little kiss on Cassidy’s cheek.
Cipriana smiled with a tolerant sigh. “One day I’ll learn to move on, I suppose. Until then, I can just be mildly nauseated by you two, just like everyone else.”
“Hrmph!” Cheryl stomped with mock indignance. “We don’t have to stand here and take this!”
“Shall we lie across her lap and take this?”
“No, no, that would just lead her on.”
“Quite, quite. We can’t go breaking the poor lass’ heart like-“
Cipriana’s quiet but firm voice interrupted. “You two bimbos are dismissed. I insist.”
“Bimbos?”
“Who taught her such language?”
“I think we need to go hurt Jim.”
“Quite. I for one think of myself more as a trollop.”
“I have another word for you, but it’s not the kind of thing one says in public.”
Cipriana sighed a sigh that began to border on irritation. “If I tell you I’m planning something for your six month anniversary, will you leave me alone?”
“Oh?” That shut them up. “Whatcha planning, aunty Cip?” Cheryl asked meekly.
“It’s a surprise. One that can be quickly un-planned if you two don’t let me have some quiet.” Cipriana felt like she was negotiating with children. She hadn’t planned anything, but it was a fair enough idea to plan something, and got their attention enough to slow down the gibberish. “Now off to the mess with you. Maybe ‘uncle Alan’ has a cookie for you.”
They took the suggestion and went to check on the state of the cookie ‘industry’. Jim was taking out yet another batch, nearly dropping them when Cassidy snuck up and jabbed his upper arm.
“Cass! What the hell?!” Jim shook the cookie tray carefully to un-bunch the cookies that had jerked mostly to one side.
“That’s your penance for proliferating the ‘B’ word about me!” Cassidy said, nabbing a fresh cookie.
Jim rubbed his arm, looking to Cheryl to save him. She merely smiled contentedly. “What ‘B’ w..” Jim clued in. “Oh. Uhm, I didn’t mean to! Honest! But the way you two act together, it’s not entirely unwarranted.”
“Fuck…! Hot!” Cassidy juggled her stolen cookie after trying to take a bite.
“You’re de-evolving into one of the stupid greedy apes, I see.”
“Shu-uf!” she responded, mouth crammed full of the cookie, still a bit hot to be eaten comfortably, much less in one bite.
Cheryl grabbed a cookie, and blew on it a bit to cool it. “And for the record, I prefer ‘trollop’.” Cassidy grunted with disapproval for teaching Jim new words, and snatched the cookie from Cheryl, walking off. Cheryl snatched another, and followed. “Thanks Jim! We’ve gotta go play with tourists!”
“Sure, now that you’ve eaten half their cookies.”
The tour chopper touched town, slowed its rotors, and eventually unloaded a typical tour group. Some families, some couples, some students, some random miscellany. Often, some people were very quiet, stricken by the scenery, or the heat. A couple Aguei men seemed particularly quiet. This wasn’t terribly unusual. Many Aguei saw the Yute ruins almost like a holy land of sorts, remains of a lost history.
As usual, Cheryl led, and talked about the different little stops. The notes she once used were now firmly committed to memory. Cassidy had long lost interest in doing the tours, but Cheryl really enjoyed dealing with the people, and Cassidy was happier following her around, doing the tour, than sitting somewhere waiting for Cheryl to come back.
The guards at the north door by the main hall were Karl and Marcus. While Cheryl did her little speech about the statue, Cassidy, eyes on the group still, lingered near Marcus. “Hey,” she said in a quiet tone, “what are you doing on morning shift? Did you get sick of Cip during the afternoons?”
It was then that Cassidy noticed Marcus had an unusual focused look on his face, watching the crowd intently. “Be on your toes, “ he said, just loud enough for Karl to hear as well, “the ghost smells something funny. Doesn’t like it.”
“What?” Cassidy said, puzzled, mirroring Karl’s expression.
“I don’t know. The ghost doesn’t seem to know either. Just look sharp.”
Things progressed as normal, and Cheryl invited the children closer to touch the statue, as had become a regular part of the tour.
“Now!” One of the quiet Aguei men pulled a grenade out of his pocket, and the other did the same. They both ran towards the exit, one grenade tossed into the tour group, the other one towards the doorway with Cassidy, Marcus and Karl as they got close.
Cassidy threw herself on the grenade, and counted the last few seconds of her life. Somewhere in the direction of the statue, she heard Cheryl yelling to the tourists, “Get clear of it! GO, GO, GO!”
While she was waiting to die, Cassidy saw Karl and Marcus run past her. Marcus caught the one Aguei man under the chin with the dull end of his spear, tossing him on his back, coughing. Karl got into bit of a struggle with his opponent, both grabbing the spear handle. Karl pushed him against the nearby wall. Karl released the spear to get his hands free, and dealt the man a grievous right hook. Knockout.
“Good one!” Marcus congratulated, holding the sharp end of his spear to the neck of his own downed foe.
How many seconds was that? Felt like more than five… While Cassidy tried to remember how many seconds had passed during the fight, and realized many more seconds were passing still. She looked forward to the tour group. They were also notably not blown up.
“Cassie!” Cheryl ran over, and knelt by Cassidy. “Cassie, are you hurt?!” She was on the verge of crying.
“She’s fine.” Marcus said assuredly. “Cassidy, you can get up. It’s fine.”
Cassidy got up slow and careful, revealing the grenade. Cheryl’s jaw dropped. “You…? How…. How the hell do you dare to be a hero?!”
“Seemed like a good idea at the time.” Cassidy said, as Cheryl grabbed her tight.
“It’s alright, everyone!” Marcus said to the tour group. Some of the group started applauding, and eventually, they all were. Marcus turned to Karl, Cassidy and Cheryl, and spoke kindly. “He doesn’t like cameras, what the heck made you think he’d put up with grenades?”
Cheryl wasn’t hearing anyone but Cassidy at this point, not that Cassidy was saying anything.
Marcus, still holding his captive at spear-point, spoke to Karl. “Karl, tell the front door guards to come in and help, then get back to the post, tell Cipriana to call in a chopper that can take out two prisoners to Yute central. Then get some rope, and come back here with four more troops. Got it?”
“Front door troops here, Cip calls chopper, rope, four troops. Got it, Sir.”
“Right. Go. Quick.”
Karl ran off, and was heard hollering to the people out front. Marcus looked at the grenade on the floor, then over to the statue. He waved it a little friendly salute. “Much obliged.”
The tourists were guided out by Cassidy and Cheryl. Cheryl was rattled and quiet.
Cheryl asked Cassidy quietly, “Trade places, please?” Cheryl didn’t feel like leading, and was far more comfortable in the rear guard position, keeping en eye on everyone, especially Cassidy.
“Sure, hon.” They shared a discrete hug, and Cassidy took point ahead of the tourists. “Kay, folks! Let’s step it up a bit. Right now we just need to sort everything out, get everyone away and safe.”
Before long, five soldiers came running up with Karl in the lead, carrying a coil of rope. As he got closer, he called out to Cassidy without breaking stride. “You good?”
“Yeah, yeah, go.” Cassidy called back.
The five ran past the tourists. A boy was heard to say, “Cool. Ma, look!” as he pointed at the soldiers. It didn’t seem so cool to Cassidy. Suddenly this military unit was forced to be a bit military. It wasn’t nice at all. She glanced back through the group at Cheryl. She looked afraid. Face devoid of colour, almost nauseous. Cassidy called out loud to everyone, “Doin’ OK?” but she was looking at Cheryl.
Cheryl nodded meekly, ignored by the various tourist calling positive replies to Cassidy. Ahead, Cipriana was approaching, walking. Her aura of peace was a little weakened, but very welcome. “Cassidy.” she said in her usual tone, taking pace beside Cassidy.
Cassidy’s voice sounded calm but cautious. “Hey Cip. Karl got you up to speed?”
“Yes. We have two helicopters incoming. One’s for the tourists, the other is bringing Colonel Calvert, and will take out the prisoners. The civilian helicopter is going to be a different one than the one that brought them here. The original one is being inspected for bombs and other threats at Yute central. This group is likely to be interviewed as well.”
“Are you going to the temple, Cip?”
“Not anymore. I was just coming to see about getting the tourists out, but I see you and Cheryl beat me to it. I’ll go with you to the helipad from here, and wait for Calvert.”
“Kay. Good stuff. Hey, can you do me a favour, and go back and talk to Cheryl for me? She’s kind of shaken up.”
Cipriana nodded. “Alright.” Cipriana had considered just taking over point, but just went along with Cassidy’s initial suggestion. She walked around the tourists, and got walking beside Cheryl. “How are you?” Cipriana said calmly.
Cheryl stopped walking, as did Cipriana, letting the group migrate away. “My girlfriend threw herself on a godddam grenade, Cip.” Cheryl was trembling slightly, eyes trying hard not to cry.
“She’s alright, Cheryl. She’s right up there, doing her duty. She’s fine.”
“Yeah, well.. that doesn’t make me feel better.” The two of them continued walking, now with a bit of space between them and the group.
Cipriana put her hand on Cheryl’s shoulder for a moment. “She was trying to save people. But this isn’t about logic, is it?”
“Sure as hell isn’t.” Cheryl muttered bitterly. She looked at Cipriana with an apologetic expression. Cipriana’s trademark soft smile told her not to worry.
When they arrived at the helipad, the civilian helicopter was already cooling its rotors, preparing to take its passengers.
Many of them wanted to shake hands with Cheryl or Cassidy, thanking them for their heroics. Some wanted them to pass on the sentiment to “those men guarding the door”. Cassidy did her best to seem professional, and upright, while Cheryl just tried to keep herself together.
The door closed, and they got clear. Cipriana scanned the sky for the other expected chopper. As the tourists made their liftoff, Cassidy went to hold Cheryl, but even held, Cheryl beat on Cassidy with her fists. “You stupid… A grenade! What the fuck…!?”
Cassidy held her tighter. With her head over Cheryl's shoulder she saw Cipriana doing her best to not overhear anything. Cassidy nuzzled in, her face half buried in Cheryl’s hair. “Hon, it was what I had to do. It turned out okay.”
“Well, you could have done something else. I grabbed the grenade near me and threw it to the other end of the statue!”
“You what?”
“I figured if I blew up the statue’s butt, the Grand Elder would understand, given the situation!”
Cassidy burst into giggles. “Oh, Cheryl, did I ever mention I love you?”
Cheryl squeezed back. “You’re still in trouble. If it happens again, throw it somewhere!”
“I didn’t have a giant stone dog’s ass handy. If I threw it down the stairs, or into a corner of the hall, it could have hurt someone.”
“You’re someone too. Should have bowled it into that gap between the two front doors.” Cheryl was now just pouting.
“I couldn’t take the chance. Not much time to think, either,”
“Yeah. Well, you’re in trouble.”
“I’ll make it up to you,”
“Hell yes, you will.”
“There they are.” Cipriana called to them, pointing at an approaching dark spot in the sky. The Colonel’s helicopter landed and the Colonel hopped off, along with two subordinate soldiers armed with standard rifles. The typical minor sand storm washed across them all.
“Sir.” Cipriana saluted, so Cassidy and Cheryl followed suit.
The Colonel saluted back. “Where’s Major Douglas?”
“He’s at the temple. I’ll take you there if you like, Sir.”
“Yes, ah...” Colonel Calvert looked around. “You people need to get a jeep.”
The group of six headed back to the temple. Cipriana, Cheryl, and Cassidy in front, The Colonel and his two troops behind. Just a bit past the stump, they ran into Karl, who was leading the same group of four others, transporting the two prisoners. The prisoners had their hands tied tightly behind their backs, a line tied to that, each held by one of the outpost men. The two others followed ready with spears.
“Karl.” Cipriana greeted.
“Hi Cip. I take it the ride’s here.”
“Yes, go ahead. They’ll relieve you of the prisoners when you get there.”
“Hold on,” Colonel Calvert jumped in, “Take my boys with you. Call me crazy, but I’d feel better of these fellows were under tighter guard than just pointy sticks.”
Cipriana shrugged. “So be it, Sir.” Calvert’s two armed men joined Karl’s group which continued to the helipad, leaving Cipriana, Cassidy, Cheryl and Calvert to continue onto the temple.
After a bit of distance was put between the two groups, Cipriana spoke, perhaps only to herself. “It’s just as well. Karl’s group is perfectly capable, but I don’t think anyone would relish firearms in the temple.”
Cassidy couldn’t help but wonder if guns would suffer the same malfunction in the temple as watches, cameras and grenades. A growing part of her wanted to know why the hell this effect happened, but the current situation, not to mention the lack of a giant hole in her body, made her willing to let the issue slide for now. It didn’t seem to bother anyone else too much.
When they arrived at the temple, the doorways were again guarded as normal. Cipriana just nodded at the southeast guards as the group passed through. Cassidy took a peek down the little trench. Yeah, it would have been a good place to toss the grenade. Up the second set of stairs, they found no one guarding the north door. Karl of course, was at the helipad by now.
“Marcus?” Cipriana’s gentle voice carried very well in the large hall.
“Just collecting nasty little easter eggs.” Marcus’ voice came back, and everyone looked to see him walking out from behind one of the statue’s rear paws. “Where in blazes did those two get grenades?” Marcus looked up from his two ‘eggs’ he had in hand. “Oh! Hey there, Colonel.” Marcus kept walking, past them, headed for the stairs down. “I’d salute, but I got my hands full.”
“Major?” Colonel Calvert followed behind Marcus, and the ladies followed them as well. “So they were duds? Replicas?”
“Nope.” By this time, Marcus had made it to the front steps. He turned to Cassidy. “Leftenent Cassidy, you’ve got a good arm on you, don’t you? Wanna see how far out that way you can throw these? Aim high.” He pointed out across the ruins, and repeated. “Aim high.”
Cassidy didn’t get the point so much, but took one of the
grenades, and reared back, hurtling it in a high, powerful arc.
“What’s the point of th-“ Colonel Calvert was interrupted when the grenade exploded in the sky.
“Shit!” Cassidy voiced the sentiments of nearly everyone around.
Marcus handed her the other one. “Alright, again, just like that.” Cassidy, a little afraid that the grenade could go off any second, tossed it without delay. Her haste made the throw a little sloppier, but it still exploded high enough as to not even damage the ruins below.
“What the hell just happened here?” The Colonel was looking around, expecting to find a rifleman aimed at the sky.
“Just disposing of them safely.” Marcus said. “If you want, we can go pick up the pieces to have them checked out. I really don’t think taking them away live would have been all that wise.”
Colonel Calvert was confused. “Were the pins not pulled earlier?”
“They sure were.” Cassidy testified.
Marcus pointed at the north door. “He just doesn’t put up with that kind of nonsense.”
The Colonel looked at Marcus strangely. “What? The statue?”
Marcus ignored the silly question, and went on with important issues. “Those men kind of fit the description of potential Aguei Rights Activists, but it doesn’t make sense that they’d attack inside the temple.”
“A.R.A.? If they are, it’s often a futile effort to guess the motives of those kinds of nuts,” The Colonel said, “but either way, it looks like more security is needed around here. More security than an honour guard with pointy sticks.”
Marcus grunted. “Well, let’s talk to the Grand Elder about this before we go making any drastic changes. For the time being, I want to suspend the tours.”
The Colonel was soon ready to bring in a legion of troops to sweep the area and set up enhanced security right on the spot, but Grand Elder Armil was quick to put a stop on that motion when contacted from the base.
“I will come.” He said through the terminal. Marcus nodded, pleased. The Colonel was less easy with the idea, but knew that Armil’s authority was absolute when it came to the ruins and the temple.