by R. W. Ridley
He propped the paint gun on his shoulder and made his way across the deck to something that resembled a drawbridge. He lowered it. It connected with a thin expanse of deck that reached out into the thick of the canopy.
“Drawbridges help you put space between yourself and whatever’s chasing you.”
“You’ve had things chase you up here?”
“Occasionally. Not long back I met up with one of them purple fellas on the west side deck. Chased me all the way to the south side. Drawbridge slowed him up enough.”
“Enough for what?” I asked.
“For me to set up my defenses. Climbed up in the tree and dropped down on him when he made his way over. Had his head removed before he knew what hit him.”
I rubbed my neck.
“Burned his body to ashes.”
“And his head?” Tyrone asked.
“Damned thing crawled away.”
A chill zoomed up my spine. “Crawled away?”
Bostic chuckled. “Surprised the hell out of me, too. Hiked up on its spider-leg hairdo and crawled right off the side of the deck and into the branches below. Moved like a cat.”
He led us over the tree bridge to the next deck. It was slightly smaller, but just as sturdy. We continued down the web of bridges and platforms until we could hear Wes’ voice. We couldn’t make out what he was saying, but it was definitely him.
Bostic turned to us. “You see how loud you all are?” He motioned for us to move to the nearest railing on the deck. “Let me show you why that’s fool behavior,” he said peering down at the ground.
Tyrone and I stuck our heads over the railing and spotted Wes and Ajax. The others weren’t anywhere to be seen.
“There,” Bostic said pointing to a patch of ground twenty feet or so past Wes.
Tyrone and I looked at it carefully.
“There what?” I asked.
“Wait for it,” Bostic said.
And we did. A minute passed and I was just about to ask Bostic what we were supposed to be seeing when the patch of ground moved.
“Holy...” Tyrone said jumping back.
I stood motionless and watched as something underneath the top layer of soil moved ever so slightly toward Wes.
“It’s scouting out your round-bellied friend there,” Bostic said.
I yelled at Wes. He turned but couldn’t tell which direction my voice was coming from. He didn’t even think to look up.
“Shhh,” Bostic said. “More noise ain’t a prudent course of action.”
I looked for a way down. “Where’s a ladder?”
“What for?” Bostic asked.
“I’ve got to help my friend.”
“There ain’t no need,” Bostic said.
“What are you crazy?” I asked. “That thing’s right there on his heels.”
“I told you it’s just scouting your friend out. These things bring all hell when they’re ready to attack. Starts with a sour milk smell that hits you in the back of your throat and almost makes you puke. Then twenty or thirty of those bastards move so fast through the ground it feels like an earth quake. Once you figure out what’s really happening, it’s too late. They rise up out of the ground and start tearing the flesh from your bones.”
“So we’re just supposed to stand here while that thing is so close to Ajax and Wes?”
“I done the same thing with you.”
“What?” Tyrone asked.
“I stood for a full five minutes on that platform back there while one was scouting you two out.”
Tyrone and I looked at each other. We were both frightened and outraged at same time.
“Don’t get all fiery on me. They got a habit of peeking their heads out of the ground ever so slightly when they’re scouting. It’s a perfect opportunity to peg them with...” He stopped and pressed the butt of the paintball gun against his shoulder.
I turned and saw what he was aiming at. There was a white round knob sticking out of the ground where we had last seen the ground move. It could have passed for a medium-sized rock.
Bostic took a deep breath and let it out before firing a paintball at the white knob.
A splash of neon paint exploded on the knob. We heard a horrendous screeching sound, and the ground churned.
Startled, Wes and Ajax moved back slowly while staring at the moving ground.
Bostic whooped and hollered. “Dead center! How do you like that?”
Wes turned and looked up in our direction. “Who’s there? What’s going on?”
“Just painting some Banshees,” Bostic said with a snort and a laugh.
“It’s us, Wes,” I said.
“Oz?”
“Yeah, stay put. I’ll be right down to explain.”
“Them things are quick as cats,” Bostic said. “Surprises me every time I see them moving so fast.”
“Mister,” I said, “if you weren’t bigger than three of me, I’d slap you down faster than those Banshee worms move. You put my friends in danger with that stunt.”
“Son,” Bostic said, “Mind your p’s or else I’ll give you your chance to get froggy with me. I just bought your friends some time. That scout’ll go back to the others with that green dot, and they’re going to reassess your defenses. They’ll still come at you, but they’re going to have to come up with a different strategy all together thanks to me.”
I searched the tree for a way down, and found that the branches below were spaced perfectly for an easy descent. I stepped out on the first branch and said, “Still don’t appreciate you firing off at those things without warning.”
“Taking the time to warn your friends and neighbors when it comes to these things will get you and them killed.”
***
Getting Gordy up the tree was no easy task. There was no elevator to hoist him up. It took the help of everyone to carefully pass him from branch to branch until Ariabod could use his long reach to pull him up. Gordy screamed in agony the whole way.
Once he was up, we all gathered around him on the platform.
“Boy looks done in,” Bostic said.
“Who the hell are you?” Wes asked.
Bostic glared at him. “I’m the proprietor of this here treeway.”
“His name is Bostic,” I said. “And don’t bother introducing yourselves because he knows everyone’s name already.”
Gordy coughed and groaned.
“We’ve got to get him out of this chill,” Lou said.
“Did you find shelter?” Wes asked Tyrone and me.
“They found me,” Bostic said. “I can provide shelter. Ain’t free though. You all will have to earn your keep.”
“How?” April asked.
“I’m in need of food most of all. You help me on a hunt or two, and we’ll call it even.”
Without telling the others what it was that Bostic intended to hunt, I agreed. Had I told them we would be going after the creepy-crawlies that took over this world, they may have hesitated. Gordy didn’t have time for that.
Bostic lifted Gordy up and draped him over his shoulder. “I’ll carry him as far as I can, but I’m most likely going to have to switch off with one of you at some point.”
“How far can it be?” Wes asked.
Bostic thought the question over. “Close to two miles,” he said.
“In the trees?” Wes nearly laughed at the notion.
“Something wrong with that?”
“It’s just hard to believe there’s two miles worth of treeway ahead of us.”
“There ain’t,” Bostic said, heading for the bridge expanse to the next platform. “There’s a hell of a lot more than that.”
We walked and I explained what I knew about the Banshee worms. Bostic shouted out corrections to my description as needed. When we reached a platform that had three different bridge connections to it, Bostic set Gordy down and stretched out his back.
“Can’t lug the kid no further. Someone else’s turn.”
Wes picked Gordy up a
nd, with less ease than Bostic, put him over his shoulder. Wes was breathing heavily just from the effort. I had my doubts that he would make it across the next expanse of bridge, but I didn’t say anything. I got the idea he was trying to let Bostic know we could take care of our own.
“It’s three platforms away,” Bostic said. “It’s going to be fun getting to the last one.”
“What do you mean?” Lou asked.
“You’ll see.”
We continued on and to my surprise Wes carried Gordy until we got to the next-to-last platform. He was spent. As he stepped off the bridge, his foot caught on a warped piece of wood and he almost dropped Gordy as he struggled to keep his feet. Luckily Ajax steadied him.
“Whew!” Wes said. “My legs have near give out.”
Bostic smiled. “Luckily you won’t need them for this next crossing.” He pointed to a pair of thick cables that were connected to the tree and stretched out as far as the eye could see into the canopy.
“You think we’re tightrope walkers?” Wes asked.
Bostic reached up to a strap attached to the tree by a hook and pulled it forward. It moved easily across one of the cables. “This here pulley will do the work for you. Strap yourself into this harness and just let gravity do its work.”
“A zip line,” April said.
“Exactly,” Bostic said. “This cable is for going.” He slapped the other cable with his hand. “And this one’s for coming back. I got three harnesses. The third one over will have a rope on his harness. Once you’re across the way, secure the other two harnesses to the pulley and yank on the rope. I’ll pull the harnesses back with the rope, and we’ll send the next three.”
“Why in the hell didn’t your folks just build a bridge to the platform like all the others?” Wes asked.
“Security,” Bostic said. “It’s our base of operations. Needs to be difficult to get to.”
“Is it safe?” April asked.
“Safer than traveling on the ground.” He handed the harness to Wes. “You’ll go first, big hoss. We’ll harness the dog in behind you.” Pointing at Tyrone he said, “Angry fella, you’ll be the third one to go over.”
“I ain’t angry.”
“Ok then, happy fella. It don’t make a damn to me, just get harnessed up.”
Tyrone did as requested while I helped Bostic get Kimball in a rig. The hefty German Shepherd wasn’t very pleased with the contraption. He fought us most of the way, but we finally got him in it.
Wes was standing on the edge of the platform ready to go. Bostic connected Kimball’s harness to the second pulley and tried to help Tyrone.
Tyrone moved away from him. “I can do it myself.”
Bostic stepped back with hands in the air. “Fine.”
Wes looked over the edge of the platform. “How far up are we?”
“Not too far,” Bostic said. “Twenty-five feet. Maybe thirty.”
“Looks higher.”
“Everyone says that right before their first zip line,” Bostic said.
“I’m ready,” Tyrone said.
“Okay, Wes, I know it don’t look like it, but that cable runs at a decline. All you gotta do is give yourself a little push off the deck and gravity will take over.”
He nodded, took a deep breath, and then pushed himself off the platform. An involuntary squeal leapt out his mouth as he did indeed zoom across the cable.
“Let’s get your pooch on his way,” Bostic said to me.
I pushed Kimball to the edge of the platform by his rear. He pushed back against me and whined. “It’s all right, Kimball. I swear.”
Bostic wrapped his hand around Kimball’s harness and picked him up off the ground. “Don’t ask him for his damn permission. Just send him on his way.” With that Kimball yelped as he was gently tossed past the platform. He squirmed and kicked when he first started to glide out into the open, but it wasn’t long before he calmed down and almost seemed to enjoy the ride.
“You’re up, happy,” Bostic said. “Remember, just a little push...”
Tyrone was off the side of the platform before Bostic could say another word.
Bostic shook his head. “Someone should really explain the difference between angry and happy to that boy.”
I ran to the corner of the platform to watch them go. I got the chills when Wes disappeared into the canopy. It was as if he’d disappeared into the mouth of a cave. It wasn’t long until they were all out of sight. I could only hear the faint sound of Wes giggling.
The rest of us stood on the edge of the platform and peered through the sinking fog and tree branches. We waited for some sign that they had made it across safely. We didn’t look to each other for assurance that they were okay because none of us were willing to say they were.
I scanned the ground below us. I didn’t have a choice. Banshee worms or not, I was climbing down and searching for my friends.
“Woo-hoo!”
It was Wes.
“That was awesome!”
It even sounded like Tyrone was laughing.
Bostic felt the tug on the rope and started pulling the harnesses back.
“We should send Gordy this trip,” Lou said.
“Yeah,” I said. “Ajax, too.” I turned to April. “You up for it?”
She shook her head.
“No need to be scared, sweetie,” Bostic said. “It’s safer than driving on the Interstate... you know, back when that sort of thing was done.”
“I’m not ready,” she said.
“Fine,” I said. “Lou?”
“Are you kidding?” she asked. “I’m dying to do this.”
I patted Ajax on the back. “How about you?”
Ajax nodded his huge head and flashed his trademark gorilla smile.
“Will the harness fit him?” I asked Bostic.
“Hell, kid if it’ll fit me, it’ll fit him.”
I nodded even though I had my doubts. I honestly didn’t think it would do the job until I saw Ajax disappear into the fog on the zip line. He groaned in agony the whole way. We knew they had made it to the other side by the sound of Lou’s madcap shrieking. I had the sense that given the opportunity she would gladly do it all over again.
Once Bostic had pulled back the empty harnesses, he approached Ariabod with one. The giant gorilla sneered and let out a growl. Bostic stepped back. “Is there a nice way to ask him not to break me in half?”
I smiled. “He’s just a little moody. My guess is he’s just telling you to get it over with.”
Bostic hesitated and then bent down next to the great ape. “Sure wish that was more than a guess.” With shaky hands, he quickly assembled the harness into position and fastened it around Ariabod’s waist. Once he heard the clasp click, he stumbled back and wiped off his brow. “Quick enough for you?”
Ariabod moved to the edge of the platform without acknowledging the question.
I held out the remaining harness to April. “No choice now. Time to go.”
She stared at the harness and then shook her head. “I can’t. I won’t.”
“You have to,” I said.
“I don’t. I’ll climb down and walk. Let me walk.” She wiped a tear away.
“You don’t want to do that,” Bostic said.
“I do too. Those worm things won’t get me. They don’t even know we’re here. We’ve been in the trees for hours. They’re probably back at our old camp. It won’t take me very long to run from here to there.”
“The Banshees are here,” Bostic said. “You can count on that.”
“What makes you so sure?” She asked.
“Because this is their feeding grounds. There are hundreds of those things underneath this ground. Maybe thousands.”
Her face went ghost white. “Thousands?”
“Is that true?” I asked in disbelief.
“Why would I lie about a thing like that?”
I looked at him dumbfounded. “The better question is why would you bring us here?”
“You could have told us,” I said.
“Would it have made a difference?”
I shook my head. “No. It’s just the right thing to do.”
He nodded. “I screwed up then, but I promise you as long as you stick to the trees you’re safe.”
I thought about what he said. “I guess.”
He smiled. “Doesn’t change our current situation.”
I held the harness out to April again. “Put this on.”
“But...”
“I’ll knock you out if I have to, April. I’m not kidding.”
She slowly reached out and took the harness from me. She stared at it for a second and then ran to the edge of the platform. She cocked her arm back and was prepared to toss the harness to the ground below when a black flash yanked her back. It was Ariabod. He tossed her to her back, lumbered over her and let out a hair-curling roar. April fainted dead away.
“Well,” Bostic said, “that’s one way to do it.” He hooked April up to the harness and connected it to the zip line. “You’re first, Oz. I’ll send the girl after you.”
I hooked up to the zip line and jumped out into the open air. I felt my body drop for just a split second and then my stomach dropped even deeper as gravity pulled me down the zip line. At first, I gasped and struggled to catch a clean breath, but once I settled into the gliding motion, I felt a smile form on my face. I found myself hoping I would never reach the other side.
But I did. I broke through the fog and soared past some sturdy overhanging branches, missing getting struck in the face by mere inches. I peered ahead and saw the silhouettes of the others waiting to catch me. My foot hit the deck and Lou bear-hugged me as I slowed to a stop. She held the hug a beat or two longer than necessary. I didn’t mind. In fact, I was disappointed when she let go.
April woke up half way across the zip line and let out a horrible ear-piercing screech that lasted until Tyrone and Wes brought her to a gentle stop on the deck of the new platform. I didn’t take time to notice the shelter until Ariabod arrived.
It was not your average treehouse. It wasn’t even your average house, period. It was practically a castle in the sky.
