Awaken (26 page)

“
Talbert!” Beanie says again
and I watch disbelievingly as the ugly creature drops his knife and
turns to him, totally disregarding me!

“
Really Beanie? Wot is so
important that you ‘ave to interrupt me eh? Wot? Cain’t ya see I
‘ave business with the ducky ‘ere? Wot ‘ave I told ya ‘bout
interruptin’ me eh?”

Beanie looks terrified at Talbert’s
outburst but he points tentatively with one of his purplish fingers
and we both look in the intended direction. Shocked I see Talbert’s
men now kneeling down on the ground, Finn and Tater holding their
own knives on them! But that ain’t all we see. Talbert finds
himself looking down the barrel of another shooter, only this one
is held steadily by none other than Jax!

What the hell is Jax doing
here?

“
If I were you freak show
I’d take the girl up on her offer and walk away with your lives
‘cause it’s a damn better offer then you will get from
me.”

Unlike me, Talbert don’t show any sign
of surprise at Jax’s unexpected presence. He merely looks from Jax
to me then back to Jax and then, surprisingly, gives a little bow
and puts his knife back into his sheath. Shockingly he smiles at us
like he never just threatened my life!

“
Looks like I ‘ave been
outsmarted now ‘aven’t I. But we are not simple chaps are we
Beanie. We know when the jig is up an when to walk away. Come along
boys....our little adventure is over.”

The two on the ground don’t need to be
told twice, they scramble to their feet and scurry away like rats
to disappear in amongst the dark ruins. Talbert however takes his
time, ambling away from us and whistling cheerfully into the wind.
He don’t even bother to look back at us, not the least bit
concerned we might just shoot him in the back! Beanie follows but
he ain’t so casual. He don’t take his eyes off of us, still
laughing maniacally though, ‘til they too disappear into the
darkness of the rusted bones. We stand there for a bit, the four of
us, sweeping the area making sure they ain’t gonna double back on
us and try to attack again. I don’t even notice I’m holding my
breath ‘til it comes out in one big sigh of relief. It was
over!

“
Jax!” Tater’s yell startles
me so fierce that I nearly drop my shooter. “My dear boy...I have
never been so relieved to see anyone in my life!” He does his
strange little clap then smacks Jax on the back so hard he causes
him to stumble.

“
I must admit I truly did
see my life flash before my eyes but your timely arrival and
ensuing heroics have certainly saved the day! Just like one of my
tales! As a matter of fact this will indeed become one of my tales
and one of my finest to be sure!”

Don’t know why Tater was gushing on
so...I had had everything under control. We hadn’t needed no saving
by Jax. And what the hell was he doing here anyways? Last I seen of
him he couldn’t wait to be rid of us. Why had he followed us? I
ignore Taters withering comment of ‘Hmph! Stupid empty ruins
indeed! Famous last words,” wanting more to know why Jax was here
but before I can ask anything Finn’s tortured question of “Cat?”
draws my attention.

“
She’s okay Finn, no need to
fuss. Got herself caught in a little trap is all.” The boys face
sags with relief at hearing his beast was in no immediate
danger.

“
We need to go get her but
we’re gonna all have to stick together. I don’t trust those
creatures, not one little bit. Finn, Tater follow me with the nags,
I ain’t leaving them behind for the taking. Jax, since you’re here
you can make yourself useful and bring up the rear, watch our
backs. I got a feeling we ain’t seen the last of those
crazies.”

Cat is just as I left her and at seeing
her lying there, hurt, Finn runs to her and wraps his arms round
her furry neck. She rubs her head against the boy, mewling a little
but don’t resist none when I go to work on prying the teeth of the
trap open with my knife. I release it enough so as Finn can pull
her paw out. The steel teeth had broken the skin some and her fur
was matted with blood. Gingerly I probe her paw a bit but I can
tell there ain’t no bones broken. Her injuries can easily be
treated with some maloe leaves, I think. Lucky for her the trap had
been meant for a much smaller animal. She gets to her feet and
takes a few test steps. She limps some but at least it looks like
she is still able to walk. She limps to Finn and starts licking his
face and the boys laughter is tinged with relief.

“
Enough with the reunion
people... we have to move. It’s going to be dark soon and I don’t
want to be in crazy territory when the sun goes down.”

Jax is right. We’d best move, get
through the city as quick as we can. My questions at Jax’s presence
were going to have to wait.

The city is still as quiet and calm as
when we first entered it but I know now that there are indeed eyes
watching our progress, and it weren’t no ghosts. We walk single
file, me at point, Finn and Tater following with Winnie and the
horses and Jax bringing up the rear. We cain’t see them but
occasionally Cat would catch a scent and raise her head and snarl
at the darkened building husks. They were there all right,
following us, just waiting for their chance. I keep my shooter in
my hand, ready and waiting for the slightest movement. Sometimes we
walk for a bit and Cat don’t seem to sense them no more and I think
they have finally given up. But then I hear the faint laughter
coming out of the dark ruins or a low singsong ‘lovely ducky’ and I
know they are torturing us. It’s like some game to them and I
cain’t help but wonder how many other poor souls had been stalked
through this place of death, frightened and terrified. I grip my
shooter tighter and keep walking, trying to see into the ever
growing shadows. I don’t want to think about what would happen if
we were trapped in here after dark. Those crazy bastards knew this
city like the back of their hand, I reckon. They would truly have
the advantage over us in the darkness.

We walk ‘til the sun is nuthin but a
red glow settling over the city but still we ain’t through it. My
worst fears are coming true...we’re going to be in here after dark.
I peer ahead, trying to see if there is any end to this stretch of
road but all I see is a seemingly endless line of iron skeletons,
hiding places for our pursuers. I stop walking and Finn brings up
short behind me. He is quickly joined by Tater and Jax. Jax don’t
take his ever searching eyes off of the ruins ‘round us but his
question is directed at me.

“
Why are you stopping?
What’s wrong?”

“
We ain’t gonna make it
through before dark,” I say. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to be
traveling this road after nightfall. We’re too exposed. Maybe we
should take shelter in one of the ruins...you know get some walls
‘round us so they cain’t jump us unawares.”

He still don’t look at me but he shakes
his head, disagreeing with me.

“
No we can’t risk it. There
isn’t anywhere we can hide that they won’t find us.”

“
I don’t think they’re
following us no more Jax,” says Finn. “I ain’t heard ‘em for a
while now and Cat she ain’t been growling...I think they gave up.
And sides I think Cat needs to rest...she’s limping real
bad.”

“
No we aren’t stopping
Finn...now keep moving!” Jax snapping at Finn just reminds me that
I had already done so earlier in the day and it adds to my
agitation.

“
That wasn’t called for Jax,
there ain’t no need to yell at the boy...besides, I agree with him.
And who made you boss anyways? Nobody asked for you to follow us
and get involved in this! We were doing fine on our own.....we
didn’t need your help!” I say.

“
You didn’t need my help?
You didn’t need....?” he breaks off like his surprise is too much
to even express. “Well excuse me for saving your miserable hides
back there! If it weren’t for me you’d all be carved up like
roasted hogs right about now,” he says, finally looking at me, even
if it was just a stone cold glare. I shake my head in disbelief at
his words. That’s what he thinks? He actually thinks he saved
us?

“
If it weren’t for you we
wouldn’t be in this predicament in the first place!” I say
angrily.” You were the one who dragged us off to your gods forsaken
village and then drove us out to travel unprepared through this
awful place!”

“
Ahem…actually Tara it was
you who insisted we go through…”

“
Shut up Tater!” I snap at
the half man but I don’t bother to look his way, my anger stays
focused on Jax.

“
And what the hell you doing
following us anyways? You wanted us as far away from your precious
villagers and yourself as soon as possible but then you followed
us! You ask me I think you’re as bat shite crazy as the rest of ‘em
here!” I know I’m yelling and it probably wasn’t the smartest
thing, but I cain’t help myself.

“
Er...perhaps this is not
the appropriate time for this conversation…” Tater interjects again
nervously but Jax merely brushes past him, almost knocking him
over, to come stare down his nose at me. But he don’t scare me none
with his frosty glare.

“
I followed you because as
much as it irks me to admit it, I am in your debt. Since I always
repay my debts I have decided to make sure you make it safely to
Littlepass...all of you. Then I will no longer owe you anything and
what you decide after that is up to you. You can all run off and
get yourselves captured by the Army or killed by the Prezedant or
whatever, but I, at least will have a clear conscience.”

Shizen...I cain’t believe he just said
that! He really don’t give a damn what happens to any of us! His
only reason for following after us was so he could have a clear
conscience? He truly was a mule turd of the worst kind. All the
anger and bitterness I’ve been feeling ever since he kicked us out
of Gray Valley comes bubbling up.

“
We don’t need your help
Jax!” I say coldly. “And if there’s any imagined debt you think you
owe me then as of this moment I release you from it. You don’t owe
me nuthin, so get! Go! We don’t need or want you with
us!”

“
Tara!” Finn objects to my
words and I can tell I’m scaring him but I don’t care.

“
We don’t need him
Finn....we’re fine on our own! ’Sides we ain’t had nuthin but
trouble ever since we met him!” I say to the boy but my eyes don’t
leave the object of my anger.

“
Stop your squabbling, the
both of you!” I ain’t ever heard Tater so angry and to hear that
booming voice come out of that little body is real surprising.
Whatever Jax was about to say dies on his lips as we both turn to
the little man in astonishment.

“
What the hell is wrong with
you two? Don’t you think we have much more pressing matters than
your exasperation with each other! In case you two halfwits haven’t
noticed the sun has gone down...we are standing in the middle of
the road in pitch black and you two have been making so much noise
that a herd of elephants could sneak up on us and we would never
hear them. Now I for one do not wish to be captured again by that
foul smelling, putrid little gang of degenerates so make a
decision! What are we doing? Moving on or making camp but decide at
least!”

As much as I wanted to yell more at the
moron standing in front of me, Tater was right. And I hadn’t even
noticed the sun had finally set. This was not good. We needed to
make a decision...and fast! We ain’t given a chance to decide
though before that maniacal laughter starts up again sending chills
down my spine. We had dropped our guard and no doubt the crazies
had taken advantage to sneak up on us. Stupid! Stupid! Angry at
myself for being distracted, I make a call.

“
Head for that building on
the right....if we can get....”

Thunk! At first I cain’t tell where the
noise has come from and I spin ‘round frantically. What was that?
Then I see Jax’s wide eyed look of stunned confusion as blood
starts seeping from the side of his head. He raises his hand and
touches his temple where the rock had hit him, wobbles a bit then
falls hard to his knees. He loses his grip on his shooter as he
needs both hands to hold himself up from sprawling in the dirt. A
whizzing sound past my right ear warns me that I am pretty close to
meeting Jax’s fate, so I duck. They were attacking us with rocks?
What the hell?

“
Finn, Tater, get behind
that wall now!” I yell heading for Jax, who by now has lost his
battle with consciousness and is out cold on the ground. Grabbing
his arms I start dragging him but don’t get no more than two paces
when I hear Finns panicked cry of “Let me go!”

My heart leaps into my throat as I see
the boy kicking and struggling against Beanie who has him pulled
tight to his chest with one arm, trying to drag him off. Cat makes
a run for the boy, her growling louder than the boys screaming but
from out of nowhere it seems two more of the creatures appear
holding long, wickedly sharp pointed weapons. She tries to get past
them but they’re quick and one of them manages to jab her in her
side. She howls in pain but don’t give up...she goes after the boy
again, but they block her at every turn.

“
Sorry Jax,” I mutter as I
drop him back in the dirt, abandoning him for now. I frantically
pull my shooter knowing it’s the only hope of saving Finn, but by
now the horses and mule are panicked and running in front of me,
blocking my view! Where are they? I can still hear his screaming
but I cain’t see him! I dodge between the animals just in time to
see the Beanie creature dragging him into one of the ruins. My
panic is almost overwhelming. I have to get to him ‘cause I somehow
know if Beanie manages to get him deep into that maze of ruins I
won’t stand a chance in hell of finding him again!