by Eric S Kim
Sidsum rapidly shook his head. “Whatever gave you that idea?”
Lionel ordered Cliff and Hector to investigate the RV even further. The two Blackjacks entered the RV through the shattered windshield. Sidsum didn’t even attempt to flee.
Lionel asked him, “Tell me the truth, or else my teammates and I won’t let you leave. Why are you here?”
Sidsum lowered his head for a moment before standing as if he tried to keep his pride from deteriorating. “Do you promise not to tell anyone?”
“I can’t be too certain of that.”
“Alright, then. I stole from something from the caves. It used to belong to something down there. And now, it’s mine.”
“What did you steal?”
“A very special item.”
Cliff and Hector exited the RV. And this time, Hector left with something besides a vulture in his hands. He showed Lionel a sword in a metal scabbard. Preston couldn’t keep his eyes away from it. It held a beautiful appearance. The markings on the scabbard seemed almost exotic with a traditional medieval flair in certain sections. But on the other hand, Preston also understood what it could have really been.
A piece of Varivorian Artillery. A weapon from the forgotten generation when dragon riders used it to their advantage.
Lionel grabbed the scabbard and studied it in silence. After being carefully entranced by the markings on the scabbard, he slowly pulled the hilt and slid the sword halfway out of it. The sword had still been spotless and even shiny. The smooth skin on the blade was a partial demonstration of a painstaking process during its construction. Preston had mixed feelings. Even if the weapon was considered dangerous, it was also absolutely beautiful. Nobody would deny its elegant features even if its true purpose no longer had a reputation today.
Lionel asked the vulture, “How were you able to steal this?”
Sidsum ruffled his feathers. “I had a few tricks in mind when I did it.”
“Are you sure you’re not a dragon?”
“If I was, I’d be long gone after this.”
“This…thing you stole it from. Did he used to be a man called Artyom Trutnev?”
Sidsum didn’t blink. “You know a lot more than I realize.”
“Where are these caves? Can you find them again?”
Sidsum backed away. “No way. I’m not going back in there! If they find out I’m back, they’ll kill me!”
“But that is exactly why we’re here. We’re searching for the rest of this.”
Sidsum gasped. “What do you want with them?”
“We are taking them away from Artyom and sending them to Orange County. Our Chairman wants them.”
“Go ahead. Take them. I have no business with humans, anyway.”
“We need you. We have to find these caves. You will be our guide.”
Sidsum squawked. “I’d rather not.”
Lionel narrowed his eyes. “You do as we say, or your next trip will be to Alaska. I hope you like the taste of moss and moldy cheese.”
Sidsum started to pace in a circle on the hood. “So it’s come to this? My life will come to an end because these Blackjack bozos want to pay that wretched piece of filth a visit?”
Jerome sounded impatient when he asked, “Are you going to help us or not?”
Sidsum flapped his wings aggressively. “Oh, it’s a tough decision. If I just left this RV earlier, then I’d be free. But on the other hand, it does sound like this mission is very important to you.”
His voice grew stern when he said to Lionel, “If I he catches me in those caves, will you do the right thing and end my life? I would rather die than to be consumed by him.”
Lionel showed no signs of an irritated gentleman. “That is a promise.”
Without warning, Sidsum jumped up and charged at Jerome. But the vulture didn’t attack. Instead, he forced Jerome to abruptly raised his arm as if to fend himself from an attack. Sidsum landed right on Jerome’s arm and made him the honorary figure.
“I shall require a good night’s rest. I’m sure your arm will do. It’s quite sturdy. You won’t mind if I fall asleep, will you?”
But Jerome shook him right off and made him shriek as he landed on the grass.
Jerome checked for claw marks on his bare arm. “If we can’t sleep, then neither can you.”
Sidsum pecked at Jerome’s shoe. “There’s no need to be violent towards an innocent bird like me.”
Lionel didn’t waste any more time. He asked Nick, “Can you find anything else on radar?”
Nick replied, “No, we’re safe for now.”
With that in mind, Lionel ordered Sidsum to show them the way to Artyom’s caves.
Sidsum flew up and shouted, “Just follow me!”
He flew away from the group. The Blackjacks kept the RV abandoned as they followed the vulture from behind. Sidsum landed on a low-hanging branch and waited for the Blackjacks to catch up. This would be a new pattern in the journey. He flew further away and landed on another branch to wait for the humans to catch up to him. Meanwhile, Lionel kept the Varivorian sword and scabbard close and never let go.
FOURTEEN
3:18 AM
The Blackjack Troopers always stayed cautious. They followed Sidsum while checking for familiar creatures in the darkness. A faint creaking noise caused by the wind made Preston inspect everything above him. He almost expected another Kreto Vetril waiting for its next meal. But instead, only more pine trees towered above him and his teammates. Preston wiped off the sweat from his forehead and tried to fight off his paranoia.
The troopers had to quicken their pace as Sidsum informed them that they would reach the caves very soon. They had enough time to attach their flashlights onto their weapons. Exploring an underground lair finally permitted them to keep their weapons out of their holsters and firmly in their hands. Lionel attached the sword’s scabbard onto his belt in order to keep it safe. The addon gave him the proper appearance of a Nevinoth Rider. With the information provided by Jerome, Preston would never expect his own captain to alter his exterior with just one simple act. Lionel could have possessed the appropriate body and mind if he had truly embraced his true passion once more. Preston caught Jerome’s somber expression for a brief moment before both young men turned away and focused on the path in front of them.
Sidsum led the Blackjacks deeper into the forest. The Kreto Vetril had become nonexistent. Instead, another new tree had been spotted in the wilderness. These trees were taller and thicker than the average pine tree. They could have easily been mistaken as the giant sequoia trees from Sierra Nevada. Each of them stood far apart from each other, perhaps a few hundred yards away. Their barks had been painted light brown without wrinkles. They each only had five or six branches on their top halves.
Preston asked, “Does anyone know what they’re called?”
Lionel from the front of the line gave a straightforward response. “They’re called Devidlow Trees. This forest is the only place where these trees exist.”
“They’re so big, man. They’re like the giant redwoods’ second cousin or something.”
Nick laughed. “Now that’s a good comparison.”
Lionel called out to Sidsum. “Are we almost there?”
The flashlights revealed Sidsum still waiting on top of one of the Devidlow Tree’s branches. “We’re already here. This is where we stop. I remember the exact spot in which I made my escape.”
There were no hills or cliffs that stood near this particular area. Sidsum and the Blackjacks were in the middle of a partially flat terrain with even more trees to produce a repetitive landscape.
Lionel stood beneath Sidsum and asked, “Where is the cave?”
Sidsum took flight and landed on the visible roots of the Devidlow Tree. “I’m standing right next to it.”
He did indeed tell the truth. He pointed his wing at a small crevice located between the roots. Lionel crouched down and examined the crevice in silence.
“We didn’t bring
any rope. Is there another way to get down there?”
Sidsum replied, “You don’t have to use any rope. You have to make your descent by climbing down the roots. Don’t underestimate these trees. Their roots can reach the very bottom. But with this one, this leads to a narrow cave. You’ll be fine.”
Lionel took that information with only an ounce of skepticism. He was the first to climb down the hole. Preston and Jerome took a peek. A few of the roots on the Devidlow Tree acted as a ladder. It had become easy to climb down the roots, which had been entangled around each other. Sidsum and the other Blackjacks followed Lionel in the descent. One by one, they entered the crevice and climbed down the gigantic roots. Enough space between the dirt walls and the roots had been created for an ordinary human being. The Blackjacks carried their weapons behind their backs and took their time. They had to be careful to avoid any slips on the surface.
Preston constantly gazed at the darkness below him. So far, the flashlights only revealed the roots and the dirt-filled walls. There would be no carnivorous plant that could attack without a warning. Relieved for now, Preston continued to climb down the roots. To his surprise, they had been sturdy without a slippery surface, practically easy to grab on to with his hands. He almost lost his footing, but he managed to keep a firm grip on the roots. He took deep breaths and ignored the dirt from above that landed on his shirt and cap.
When Sidsum and the Blackjacks finally reached the bottom, another narrow passageway connected to the previous one had become the solitary path to push forward.
Sidsum flew in front of them and stopped from a distance. “This way. It’ll take a little while for us to make it to the other end.”
Lionel led his teammates away from the roots and deeper into the darkness. They remained attentive to anything that would cause at least a bit of suspicion. Anything could attack them in the most unexpected ways imaginable. Preston stayed behind Lionel and Jerome as the group followed Sidsum across the dirt passageway.
3:43 AM
The air had grown much colder since the start of the journey through the narrow corridor. Preston could feel his legs shivering at the exposure. He was the only one in the squad wearing shorts. He didn’t expect this mission to last well into the early morning, and he was seldom convinced of the conditions that surrounded Green Brigalvic. But as a Blackjack, he didn’t feel the need to protest against a trivial dilemma. The low temperatures would be the least concern, especially when the imminent encounter between the Blackjacks and Artyom Trutnev would soon be nearing its certainty.
Lionel whispered to his teammates, “We’re approaching the end.”
Sidsum had stopped his flight right at the edge of the passageway. “We are now in the caves.”
His statement proved to be accurate. The Blackjacks had exited the passageway and were transferred to the caves underneath Green Brigalvic. The caves were enormous. The height and width of this particular cavity exceeded a typical measurement of an ordinary cave. Stalactites and stalagmites were plentiful in every direction. And as a bonus, a collection of glowing crystals were scattered all over the cave and acted as a reliable source of light. Green and blue had become the primary colors for the illumination.
Sidsum pointed out something else. “You see that in the corner? That’s how far the Devidlow Tree can grow.”
He referred to the roots that poked out of the ceiling and reached the floor. There must have been over a dozen of them that touched the ground and inundated it with its parts.
Victoria asked, “What about those crystals?”
Sidsum gave further details. “They’re called Lepkris. They always glow in the dark.”
Lionel turned off his flashlight. “Where to now?”
Sidsum flapped his wings. “Artyom is this way.”
The rest of the group deactivated their flashlights and entered the caves. They watched their step as the ground even had tiny sharp stalagmites that could pierce their foot for being unaware. They wandered past the Devidlow roots and delved deeper into the other chambers of the cave.
4:46 AM
The scenery became too familiar after an hour. Everything appeared to be the same, just like the trees from the outside. The stalactites and stalagmites became the most repetitive features, while the Lepkris crystals and the Devidlow roots at least varied in terms of shapes and sizes. In regard to the creatures that roamed in the caverns, they were nonexistent. The footsteps were the only sounds as they produced a mild echo after each step. Preston and the others had barely said anything since the beginning. The echoes were already a hint that being silent in the caves would assist them in their assignment. Anything living here would most likely lack an awareness to this intrusion.
Preston had grown entranced by the dual colors that illuminated this place. The Lepkris crystals added a more heavenly coloration from within. The image of an almost alien landscape kept the cave away from its usual features. These crystals were an automatic interest. Preston felt like a kid who wanted to bring these crystals home and illuminate his own bedroom. Blue and green had never acted as an attraction towards the new world until now.
Sidsum took a dive and landed near Lionel’s feet. He whispered, “Stay down. He could be anywhere.”
The Blackjacks crouched down and hid behind various stalagmites.
Preston could hear Lionel whisper, “Is this where he likes to sleep?”
To which Sidsum replied, “I can’t really tell. All I know is that I found the sword in this area. I’ll show you.”
The Blackjacks followed the vulture as he took a short walk before jumping on a flat stalagmite.
“It’s over there.”
The Blackjacks took a peek behind a wall. In the far corner, an enormous part of the cave included what could have represented a home for Artyom Trutnev’s standards. Grass had grown on the ground with an almost perfectly green surface. On the walls stood a wooden desk infected with frayed parts due to a lengthy period of use. Several lanterns had been placed in different parts of the area, giving this particular place a radiant appearance considered more appropriate for human eyes. The roots of a Devidlow tree had reached the bottom of the corner. From his point of view, Preston couldn’t find a single bed in this part of the cave. Absolutely no indication that Artyom would sleep here.
Preston heard Lionel whisper to Sidsum, “What does he really look like?”
“Like a nightmare straight from the mind of a tortured painter.”
“How did he end up that way?”
Sidsum stepped closer. “I don’t know. But I have a feeling it has something to do with the water around here. I have heard some very strange things about a stream in this forest. If anyone drinks from it, they can change into something that deserves to burn to death.”
Lionel slowly rubbed his chin with the back of his index finger. “I can’t imagine how he’d be able to live like the way you described it.”
“All he has to do is hide from everyone else. If he is so determined to keep these Varivorian things out of the public eye, then he’ll do it even when he’s completely changed.”
Nick pointed at something on the other side of the corner. “There they are.”
The Varivorian Artillery had been gathered on the rusty wooden table. They were compiled as a variety of both medieval and modern constructions. They included swords, scythes, spears, crossbows, and war hammers. They were arranged neatly aside from one another while leaning against the wall. In addition, a large black storage box lay alongside the table. It must have been made of thick aluminum since Preston had seen that particular box before a few days ago. The box would most likely be used as a way to store these weapons and hide them from intruders. Preston started to wonder why Artyom decided to act very careless by leaving these weapons out in the open.
Preston counted the Varivorian Artillery in his mind. Artyom had been taking care of sixteen weapons while residing in these caves. From a far distance, they appeared to be rather ordinary in terms of the
ir features. Despite the observation, Preston found himself in an almost hypnotic state. The artillery would be the ones that he had remembered in his childhood. The tales that had been told to him had now been confirmed as authentic items hidden in the northeast corner of California. He had to snap out of his trance as he almost forgot to breathe. Just staring at the weapons on the wooden table made him tremble thanks to his childhood fears.
Jerome whispered to Lionel, “So how do we do this?”
Lionel placed his assault rifle on the floor. “We just take them. We put them in that box and bring them out of the caves. I’m going to need four volunteers. The rest of you keep a sharp lookout. Artyom could be hiding and we wouldn’t even know it.”
The younger Blackjacks didn’t say anything.
Woodrow was the first to volunteer. “It’s only a rational choice when the opponents are closing in.”
Hector joined in. “I’m with you as well.”
Kurt was the last to join in.
Lionel ordered the other Blackjacks to stay here and act quickly if Artyom had arrived to cease their operation. Preston, Jerome, Cliff, Nick, Victoria, Bryce, Sabrina, Rebecca, Oswald, and Elliott stayed behind. They circled around the open room and had their backs turned on Lionel and the volunteers as they pushed forward. They crept past the Devidlow roots before checking for Artyom’s body all around the open room. Preston leaned against the wall and switched his perspective between the distant parts of the cave and his teammates in a regular fashion. Everyone stood on the green grass. Preston checked his FAMAS to confirm if he indeed had a full magazine attached to it. If the mutated Russian did emerge from the darkness, the young Blackjack would most likely be the first to ensure a quick execution.
Lionel, Woodrow, Hector, and Kurt had reached the table. They no longer spoke in whispers. With the lack of a mutated human in their midst, they had grown more confident in their objective. Lionel and Woodrow made good use of their meticulous movements. Kurt opened the storage box. At a quick but unfrenetic pace, Lionel and Woodrow grabbed two of the artillery and handed them to Kurt and Hector, both of whom placed them in the open box. The Blackjacks relied on a slow and steady rhythm in spite of their doubts.
