The Twelve Commandments

by Jeff Elkins

  “We are all glad you survived the attack,” Hyoi said. “Bashi and I feared you were lost. We’re sorry we were not present to help. Bose sent a squad of Mardocks to attack us in Midian while he came after you and Chris. I apologize that we couldn’t break away.”

  “I’m going to skin that asshole,” Bashi said, picking up the blue knife again.

  “Skinning happens after lunch,” a warm voice said behind Jose. The kind woman the voice belonged to sat a bowl of steaming red soup and a plate with a grilled-cheese sandwich in front of Jose.

  Jose looked up with a smile. “Hi,” he said.

  The woman extended her hand. “Hello Jose,” she said. “We’ve never been formally introduced. My name is Imani Douglas.”

  Jose took her hand with both of his. “Jose,” he said.

  “Jose Gracanjo,” she replied with a smile. “It’s an honor. Now eat, because you’ve got work to do.”

  Jose turned, grabbed half of the grilled-cheese, dipped it in the soup, and took a big bite. The soup burned the roof of his mouth, but he didn’t care. It was rich and tangy and felt warm all the way to his stomach. He took another bite and then a third, barely pausing to breath.

  “Anyone else need more to eat?” Imani asked with a laugh.

  “I’ll take another coffee, ma’am,” Moose said politely.

  “Not ma’am,” Imani said pointing to the token over the bar. “Call me Imani. We’re family.”

  Moose smiled and nodded as Imani filled her mug.

  “I’ll take more coffee too,” Squirrel said holding out his cup. As Imani filled it, Squirrel added, “You know, if Chris really doesn’t want to live here after we bring his dumb ass back, there are lots of places in DC where you could open up shop.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Imani said just before leaving to help a customer at the counter.

  “So Jose,” Hyoi said. “Before you came, we were discussing the rescue attempt.”

  “Okay,” Jose said, his mouth stuffed with the last bite of sandwich.

  “You better slow down, kid,” Squirrel said. “You gonna choke.”

  “Bose and the Riptride are holding Chris at Fort Carroll,” Hyoi said pointing to the diagram in the middle of the table.

  “Hyoi and I were checking it out from our side this morning,” Bashi said. “They have a guard spread out across the wall, two standing over the entrance, and two guarding Chris at the other end.”

  “I thought they’d be with the army at Druid Hill?” Jose said as he sipped the soup.

  “The park is a great place for an army to camp, but not so great to hold a hostage. Too many troops. Too much coming and going. Too hard to track everything,” Bashi said. “Better to isolate the captive in a place where you can see everyone coming from away.”

  “What’s Fort Carroll?” Jose said as he placed his spoon in the empty bowl and sat back.

  “It’s an island in the Patapsco River,” Hyoi explained. “It was constructed almost two hundred years ago for the defense of your city. It’s been abandoned for close to a hundred years.”

  “Now it’s more a forest than a fort,” Bashi said. “It’s a smart play. There’s no way to sneak up on him.”

  “I thought they’d be on your side of the Veil,” Jose said.

  “They don’t want to face us there,” Moose said.

  “Why?” Jose asked.

  “Because we’re stronger and faster on their side, just like they are on ours,” Squirrel said. He leaned forward and looked at the map. “Let’s do it this way,” he said pointing at the map as he talked. “You two purple-eyed freaks can attack the front door. Jose and Moose and me will move to the center of the island in Midian and then cross when they are holding you off at the gate. I crack some ribs. Moose does her shit, and Jose cuts off another head or two. And wham, we’re golden.”

  “That won’t work,” Hyoi said.

  “What the fuck do you know about it you robot-talking piece of shit? I should send your ass back to whatever hell you come from right now,” Squirrel said.

  “Easy, Squirrel,” Moose said. “Kill them after we have Chris.”

  “Come for me first, stretch,” Bashi said with a smile. “I’ll save a spot on my dance card for you.”

  “Done, bitch,” Squirrel replied.

  “Like he was saying,” Moose said, “It won’t work because the island is man-made. Doesn’t exist on your side, does it?”

  “Nope,” said Bashi. “It’s just a river. So if you try to jump in the middle of the fort you are going to end up underground.”

  “It really is a brilliant move by Bose,” Hyoi said. “I can’t think of a more strategic position.”

  “Shut the fuck up, Bose-worshiper,” Squirrel said. “We don’t need to hear that shit.”

  “So what are we going to do?” Jose said. He felt discouraged. How were the five of them supposed to attack a whole fort by themselves? He wished Chris were here. Chris always had a plan.

  “I’ve got an idea,” said Moose. “Here’s what Bose knows. He’s expecting you two,” she said pointing at Bashi and Hyoi. “And he’s been around long enough to know that we team up on invading forces when we have to, so he’ll probably expect us. You’re our wild card, little man,” she said to Jose. “You took out two of his men, but he’s also seen you run. If he doesn’t see you engage in the battle right away, he may think you are just going to hang back.”

  “Okay,” Jose said.

  “I don’t know that your logic will hold,” Hyoi said. “But we will accept it for the moment.”

  “So the key for all of us is going to be keeping the fight on the wall. He doesn’t want to fight in forest of weeds in the middle of the fort, and neither do we,” Moose said.

  “Sure,” Bashi said.

  “So we come up the stairs,” she said. “You break off and go right. Moose and I will go left. We’ll force them to break into two groups to take us on. While we fight, Jose can make a break through the middle, come up the stairs here, and free Chris. Then the two of them can attack our crews from the behind. We’ll wipe them all out and they’ll never see it coming.” She leaned back, proud of herself.

  “Better than anything I’ve got,” Bashi said.

  “Damn straight,” Squirrel said.

  “There are a lot of variables to consider,” Hyoi said. “We’ve only watched them through scopes on shore. We don’t know what surprises Bose has planned.”

  “Why you got to be the fucking negative Nancy all the time man,” Squirrel said.

  “I know, right?” Bashi agreed.

  “Shut the fuck up,” Squirrel said.

  “So now all we need to do is steal a boat,” Moose said.

  “No stealing needed,” Imani interrupted from behind Bashi. She filled all the mugs on the table and handed Jose a giant glass of water. “I’ve got a friend who has one,” she said. “It’s not big, but it will get you out there.”

  “Great,” Bashi said. “So let’s do this.”

  Squirrel and Moose stood and stretched.

  “I’ll get our weapons,” Hyoi said to Bashi, and he left for the bar.

  “Hey,” Bashi said to Jose. “I’ve got a surprise for you. Remind me when we are on the boat.”

  Jose took a large drink of water. “Okay,” he said. Then the stood and stretched. “Thanks everyone for coming,” he said.

  “Anything for my little man,” Moose said, rubbing his head.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Jose wasn’t sure if it was fear of the impending battle or the rocking of the small boat that was making him sick. Jose suspected that the small fishing boat that Imani’s friend had lent them was intended to be used on a quiet still lake, not the rough waters of the Patapsco.

  The boat was designed to hold a maximum of three people: one at the stern, one at the bow, and one in the middle working the oars. They had been forced to cram all five of them into the small space. Squirrel, the largest of the crew, manned the oars. Bashi sa
t on the back of the boat. Hyoi took the front seat. Jose sat between Bashi and Squirrel in the back, while Moose was in the front between Squirrel and Hyoi. The scene reminded Jose of a painting he had once seen of Washington crossing the Delaware. People piled on top of people, hoping not to tip the boat over.

  Everyone in the boat except Jose watched Fort Carroll with intense scrutiny. After a few minutes of rowing, blurred shapes came into view.

  “I count thirteen along the wall and two with Chris,” Moose said.

  “That is correct,” Hyoi replied.

  “What kind are we dealing with?” Squirrel asked. As the rower, his back was to the fort.

  “It’s hard to tell,” Moose said. “They look like they’re wearing armor,” Moose said.

  “Probably because they heard I’m coming,” Squirrel said with a laugh.

  “The shadow armor is the standard uniform of the Riptride,” Hyoi said. “They are the elite force of the commander of Midian’s Second Legion, currently headed by Commander Azo. There are never more than fifteen. Positions are held until death. When a position becomes available, there is a large competition held to fill the vacancy. It is a glorious event.”

  “Wow. That is so fucking fascinating,” Squirrel said sarcastically. “Super happy I know that before I rip their damn heads off with my bear hands.”

  “Anything we need to know about the armor?” Moose asked.

  “It was designed to repel the claws of Mardocks,” Hyoi said. “The alloy is very rare. It attaches in seven different-”

  “What he means to say,” Bashi interrupted, “is ‘no.’ Against Gracanjo fighting hand to hand, it’s more decorative.”

  Jose didn’t join in the conversation. He didn’t want to see the fort. Instead, he focused all his attention on the Key Bridge that loomed to their left. Jose had driven over it a few times with his mom. He knew from going over it that it was tall, but looking up from its base gave him a different perspective. It made him feel small and worthless, just like Carl had said. Jose sighed. He wished he were brave enough to look at the fort like the others. He feared that if he did, he’d jump in the water and swim away.

  “Can you see Chris?” Squirrel asked.

  “Not anymore,” Moose said. “We’re too close. I thought I made him out of the far side. Looked like they had him strung up.”

  “Fenwick,” Bashi said with a quiet laugh.

  “This fucking funny to you,” Squirrel said.

  “No,” Bashi said. “No it’s not.”

  “Please remember,” Hyoi explained, “that we are all very old by your standards and there is a limited number of us so we have encountered one another-”

  “Yeah,” Moose said. “We get it. You’re all the best of friends. What about weapons? What are they carrying?”

  “They will each bear the Riptride broadsword. Potentially, they will also carry the Riptride shield to this battle as it is defensive by nature.”

  Jose thought back to the feel of the blade in his hand and the ease at which it cut through the neck of the Conculos. “They’re really sharp,” he said.

  “Well,” Squirrel said as he pulled on the oars. “Guess I won’t let them touch me with it then.” He winked at Jose and smiled.

  “Hey, kid,” Bashi said with a smile.

  “What’s up?” Jose replied.

  “I said I had a surprise for you,” Bashi said.

  “I like surprises,” Jose said.

  Bashi reached into his right pocket and produced two black gloves. Both gloves were missing their fingers, which Jose thought was weird. How would they keep his hands warm with no fingers?

  “Try them on,” Bashi said.

  Jose shrugged and pulled the right one on his hand. It fit perfectly. “Like they were made for me,” Jose said.

  “They were,” Bashi said with a smile. “I called a favor in with a friend.”

  “Cool,” Jose said. “Thanks.”

  “When you’re about to jump into a fight,” Bashi said. “Put them on and make a fist. You’re going to love it.”

  Jose laughed. “Alright,” he said as he took the gloves off and tucked them into his back pocket. “Thanks.”

  “You got it,” Bashi said.

  “Ain’t nobody ever give me any damn gifts,” Squirrel grumbled.

  “And remember,” Bashi said. “Keep your cool. Discipline and self-control are the key. Lean on your training.”

  Jose bit his bottom lip and nodded.

  “Just do your job and everything is going to be fine,” Moose said. “Stay behind me on the wall. Then when I tell you, cut across the middle of the fort, get to Chris, and let him loose.”

  “I will,” Jose replied.

  Hearing the plan again made Jose feel more secure. He decided to venture a glance at the fort. They were less than twenty yards away. Two of the armored Conculos watched them from the walls. Their swords were sheathed on their backs. With their left arms they held long black shields that stretched from their knees to their shoulders.

  A third appeared on the wall. Although Jose didn’t recognize his face because of the black helmet, he recognized the voice. It had been haunting his nightmares since the day at the cathedral. “Did you bring me what I asked for?” Bose called.

  Squirrel stopped rowing and turned to look at Bose. “Oh we’ve got something for you, bitch,” Squirrel called. “Why don’t you come down off that wall and I’ll give it to you.”

  Bose removed his helmet and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. “Hyoi,” he said. “Please tell me you didn’t come here empty handed. Surely you spoke reason to this group.”

  “I’ve brought the same gift for you that I brought the last time,” Hyoi called.

  “My man,” Squirrel said with a smile. “Look at you talking shit.”

  Hyoi turned and flashed a smile.

  “It didn’t have to be this way,” Bose said. “I didn’t want a battle.”

  “Bose-ee,” Bashi called.

  “Exile,” Bose replied.

  “Here is what’s going to happen,” Bashi said. There was a tone of authority in his voice Jose hadn’t heard before. “We are going to dock. And then we are going to join you on the wall. We will not be touched until we’ve ascended the stairs.”

  Bose laughed.

  “Antinese. Balamack,” Bashi called.

  The other two Conculos on the wall responded in unison, “Sir.”

  “You both remember the battle of the Western Plain? When I came to your rescue even though you should have been lost to us,” Bashi said.

  “Each of us owes you a great deal, sir,” the one on the right said.

  “You can dock and ascend,” Bose said. “But we will not provide you any mercy or respect beyond that.”

  “I expect nothing less,” Bashi called. “Row us to the dock,” he said to Squirrel.

  Squirrel laughed and began working the oars again.

  “Who in the fuck are you?” Moose said with confusion.

  “Just a footnote in a long history,” Bashi said with a grin.

  The dock was a small arched opening that led to the bottom floor of the fort. The floor of the fort was stone. The entryway opened into the fort’s courtyard. The space was a small forest of waist-high weeds. To the left was a staircase large enough to hold one person at a time.

  “I’ll go up first,” Bashi said. “They won’t attack until I signal.” Before ascending the stairs he removed his two swords from his belt. “Don’t let them take you alive,” he said as he walked into the light coming from the top of the stairs. Moose, Squirrel, and Hyoi followed him up. Hyoi with his sword drawn.

  Jose paused at the bottom of the stairs. Rather than following them, he walked to the entrance of the courtyard. It was a circle. At the far end of the fort there was a large building that looked like old barracks. Chris was still suspended with his arms and legs outstretched, but he was no longer upside-down. His head was slumped. He looked unconscious. Jose worried he was dead. He a
ssumed there were matching stairs on the other side of the fort. The courtyard was less than a football field in length. Even though it was heavily overgrown, Jose was sure he could clear it in no time. Satisfied with the task ahead, Jose ascended the stairs.

  When he arrived at the top of the wall, the battle was already raging. Hyoi and Bashi were fighting with six Conculos on the left. The two warriors worked in concert, pushing the black armored Conculos back one step at a time. Moose and Squirrel fought six armored Conculos on the right. While Bashi had been right about the armor not hindering the Gracanjo’s attack, he was mistaken that it was mostly decorative. Jose watched as the Conculos were able to stand their ground against Moose and Squirrel’s powerful blows. The Conculos’ armor dented with each pounding, but it allowed the Conculos to withstand blows that would have normally killed them.

  Bose and one other Conculos had positioned themselves next to Chris. They were keeping a tight eye on the battle raging on either side of the fort.

  There was a scream to the left. Jose turned to see a powerful front kick from Hyoi that sent a Conculos flying off the side of the wall and into the river.

  The Conculos standing with Bose ran toward to take the fallen soldier’s place in the fight.

  “Now?” Jose called.

  Moose ducked under a sword swipe and delivered a strong uppercut to an attacking Conculos who stumbled backward as a result. “Not yet,” she yelled.

  Jose’s heart jumped as a sword strike came a hair’s width from the side of Squirrel’s neck. Grabbing the attacker by the back of the wrist with his right hand, Squirrel pounded on the breastplate of the attacker with his left first. The Conculos fell on his back, but before Squirrel could take advantage of the position, another member of the Riptride stepped in front of his fallen team member, backing Squirrel off with a downward strike that caused the Gracanjo to step back.

  Jose turned to watch the other side. Bashi and Hyoi had pushed their attackers back fifteen more yards. The two warriors moved in perfect harmony, blocking attacks and returning blows. Jose watched in awe as Hyoi deflected a strike from and opponent who then received a blow to the helmet from one of Bashi’s swords. Hyoi pounded the attacker with a blow to the Conculos’ shoulder that caused the warrior to fall to his knee. As Hyoi dealt with the next attacker, Bashi finished the kneeling one off with a tight roundhouse to the back of the Conculos’ head.