Echoes from the Lost Ones (7 page)

Wirt nodded his head and came over to where I stood. He took my hand and squeezed it gently and I smiled a soppy smile. Andswaru and Meghan wrapped their strong arms around us both and huggled until we coughed.

“Away with ye now before I change my mind. Ye know where to go?”

“Aye, Mam.”

“You do? Where?”

“To the Ladies. They have a liking for me remember? Once, when all were a-bed, they smuggled me out and took me to their dwelling. I spent many secs supping things lush.”

“Son, ye are full of surprise for sure.”

“That he is. So be it. To the Ladies, we shall go. It has been an honour to meet Wirt’s mam,” I said and bowed. She placed a hand upon my crown and I felt a pull as if my grey stuff was being lifted from its proper place. Then all was calm again.

“She will be yer pal son. Stay with this lassie.”

“I shall Mam.”

With those words, we left the women-folk and ventured back into the forest.

Chapter Seven

Deeper Into The Forest

Wirt took us deeper into the scrub and shrub. Gigantic ferns and thick-stemmed brambles stretched before us like a huge green, unwelcoming mat. The ancient plants towered all around us, and if I did not know better, I would have thought us shrunk to the size of a beetle and cast into this world of giant foliage by the hand of a bub. I looked to the sky for some sense of space and light, but saw only a canopy of leaves that blocked out the light.

A thick mist rose from the moist ground and I pulled my Synthowool cape tight around my shoulders. The fog swirled around my legs and upwards until I could barely see in front of me. I peered into the haze and could just make out Wirt as he shoved his way through the clinging greenery. I took a tentative step but came to an abrupt halt.

Something landed on my neck and bit down hard. I plucked off the squishy thing and flung it to the floor. I put my finger to the spot and felt a large round bulge. It prickled most violently and I scratched and scratched until I saw blood upon my hand. I took off my Synthbag, pulled out a Mediswab and held it against the wound until the cool took away the burning itch. I placed my bag back from whence it came, and hastened after the ever-diminishing figure of my friend.

A high-pitched buzzing sound filled my ears and I waved my hands around my head to disperse a cloud of near invisible gnats that billowed around it. Wirt was far ahead and I did not relish the notion of lingering amongst these bloodthirsty flies, so raced forward into the darkness swatting at anything that flew into my path.

“Wirt? Are you there? Wirt?”

“Aye. I’m here. Where are ye?”

“Right behind you, I hope,” I said and stumbled again.

“Keep going straight ahead. I’ll stop for a bit until ye reach me.”

I picked up my feet and continued on, moving in exaggerated high-kneed steps so that I would not fall prey to the bits and bobs that lay in wait ready to topple me.

The darkness persisted, making it near impossible to see my way. I halted and remembered that I had packed a source of artificial light. I reached down inside my leg coverings to the strapped on Bri-lite, pulled it out and was just about to press the switch when Wirt appeared from amidst the gloom. He stopped me from turning on said torch by grabbing my arm and shaking a finger at my face.

“We must proceed in stealthiness. The Ladies are sought after by many a Manlyman and Agro alike. If we are detected, they would surely do us harm. And I would not lead them to the Wenchstead. It is a hidden place and for good reason.”

I acquiesced and put my torch away, though not without uneasiness. For I heard much cracking of branchlets, not broken by familiar feet.

“There are sounds that would indicate threat,” I said.

“Do not take fright so quick. Most of what ye hear is but the snap and tumble of rotted branches falling to the ground and landing on stones and such like.”

I gave him a stare suggesting disbelief.

“If Agro or kin were a-following us, they would not be so indiscreet as to allow our ears to discern their presence.”

“Goodly point. Yet there is a tug in my belly that will not go.”

“That is a sign of one who knows the ways of stealth. I think ye will make a fine S.A.N.T.”

My Santy Breanna’s face flashed through my mind and I recalled with pride her brave stance against the latest Agro onslaught at Cityplace. She was fierce and tough. I felt a lump swell in the back of my throat and lowered my gaze.

“Ye look to the ground with a sad mouth. What gives, Adara?”

I sniffed and brought my eyes to meet Wirt’s. He looked at me with a gentleness that Santy used to and I felt a tug of homesick.

“I have let my Santy down.”

“How so?”

“I have veered from my mission to find my bro. My tum churns with the notion that the filthy Agros who took him will cause him suffering. That because of my lack of purpose, he will come to great harm.”

Wirt touched my arm and the coldness in my chest and belly waned.

“Nay, Adara, ye have no reason for shame on this account. Ye were took just like your bro. Fret no more. We will find him when the threat to our safety has lessened.”

His words were soothing to be sure and dispelled the morbid images that hung heavy in my head. I took courage from what he said and blinked away the tears that crept from my eyes.

“The darkness looms ever more, Wirt. I cannot see that much so as to grasp our given direction. And I fear that if not Agro or Woodsfolk, then Wolfies may be a-following.”

“No Wolfies on this path.”

“Why so sure?”

“Look,” he said, bent down, plucked a flower from a low growing shrub, and held it up to my face. “This is of a sight familiar?”

I peered at the green and yellow plant and sighed a relief-filled sigh. “Wolfbane.”

“As far as the eye can glimpse.”

“Which is not far in this murky atmosphere.”

“The Ladies planted it especial-like to keep the nasty fangy things away.” “Therefore, we are all safe.”

“From Wolfies to be sure, but not from…”

“Manlymen or Agros.”

“Is right. Do not look so forlorn. We are closer than a suckling on its mother’s teat. Come.”

“I would feel safer if I could take your hand. You would allow it?”

“It is yers for as long ye need it,” he said and offered me his grubby mitt. I placed mine in his and he wrapped his fingers around all six of mine and thusly entwined, we made our way forward.

He moved smoothly through the scratchety foliage and uneven ground. I tromped beside him trying not to fall. When I did succumb to gravity pull and ended up upon my rump, Wirt offered me his back.

“I’ll carry ye for a bit. Until the ground levels.”

I gladly jumped up. “Hang on,” he said and I wrapped my arms around his neck. He wobbled, then found his strength and stood tall. I marvelled at his newfound brawn and relaxed into the warmth of his shoulder blades. My movement caused him to loose footing and he tottered uncertain-like upon his feet.

“Maybe it would be best if you set me down.”

“Nay.”

“But…”

“Just hold on,” he said and tried to take a step. I thought I heard him moan.
 

“You are yet well?”

“Aye.” I heard him gasp and loosened my hold on his neck. He bent forward and I felt myself slide towards his bot.

“Maybe you should let me go?”

“Nay. I can manage,” he said, then his knees gave way and down we both went into the mud and mulch.

I had never tasted rotting leaves. I pulled the slimy things from my mouth and hoped I would never again have cause to swallow such pungent sludge. I spat out as much as I could, then ran my finger around the inside of my mouth. I turned to Wirt. He too was gauging bits of twig and moss from his gob. He looked at me, picked a wodge of something brown from my hair and grinned.

“Mebbe, ye can go the rest of the way on foot?”

“Goodly plan.”

Wirt stood, shook himself so that all the nasty bugs and bleck fell off, and then offered me his hand. I took it and he pulled me up.

“Ready to continue?”

“That I am. I would be done with this wood,” I said and brushed away some maggoty things that clung to my ankles.

“Then follow me, but stay close.”

Wirt strode off and I hurried after, taking care not to relive my recent encounter with the mushy earth. We trod on, pushing foliage and fern from our path until the forest thinned and we came to a small clearing. There were many dead trees lying in rows on the floor as if someone had hacked them down.

“Is this area used by your folk for logging purposes?”

“Nay, we are not allowed to take from these parts. The Ladies have domain.”
 

“Of this forsaken landscape? They are most welcome to it. Those prone logs will be a chore to clamber. I confess to being more than weary as it is.”

“Do not fret, Adara. We are close. The Ladies abode lies just beyond the seventh fallen tree directly ahead.”

I opened my eyes wide to let in all the tiny light that shone and could just make out a vast wall of thick brambles and the like.

“Good it is not far, for I am soggy in parts I would rather not be.”

“Take my hand then and let us tramp quick.”

I did and we trod speedily to a great log. Wirt leapt onto said stump and hoisted me up beside him and so we went on climbing and jumping up and over fallen tree after fallen tree, until we came to the high, dense, spiky hedge. It was full of knotted stems with long dagger-like spikes and I pricked my finger when I tried to put my hand through. Wirt shook his head and cocked his ear to towards the sky.

“What is it?”

“Ssshh. Do ye hear that?”

I listened and heard a scrunching noise. I put my hand to my mouth and held my breath. The sound again, only nearer. Wirt pulled me away from the brambles. A hoolet cried it’s sadly song and I jumped. Wirt pressed a finger to my lips then pointed to the wall of thorn and spike. The hoolet cried again and Wirt cupped his hands, pressed both thumblings together and put his pursed up mouth against them. He blew and out came the best hoolet scream I’d heard issue from anything other than the birdie itself. He did it two times more and the veggie wall parted.

Chapter Eight

All Cosy In The Wenchstead

A Lady dressed in a blue skirt and tunic with a shroud of lightest white cotton, stepped out from the underbrush and walked in our direction. A small, sly smile spread unperturbed across her well-washed face. She had long straight black hair with such a sheen that I swear if I were to look directly at it, I would see my own reflection staring back. Her eyes were large, and almost as dark as her hair, and her skin was the colour of melted choc. There was not a wrinkle or blotch anywhere and I thought she was the most beautiful fem I had ever seen.

She took Wirt’s hands in hers and twirled him round until he gasped for air. Then embraced him with as much affection as if he were her own big bub. Wirt pulled free and gestured towards myself. I limply waved and grinned a grin of mortification. Glad the dimness hid my deep red skin. She glanced me up and down and nodded her head. Then he and me and she scrambled through the thicket wall and out into a bright, light clearing.

There were at least a dozen colourfully painted small log cabins all in a row, with a larger dwelling to the far corner opposite the entrance we came in by. All had roofs made from sun panels not unlike those we have in Cityplace. I was impressed that they owned such tech so far from the hub of civilisation. Round solar-powered lights attached to the outside walls of their abodes, illuminated the quadrant and shed such a soft glow that I thought I was watching a vid.

There were traces of artistry too. Each front door had its own craftily crafted gold-like knocker in the shape of leaves. I turned my wonder-filled head this way and that and saw in the centre of the complex raised soily beds full of flowers, veg and fruit bushes. Then to my further amazement and joyousness, a host of real live pets tumbling and jumping amidst the muck and dead leaves that swirled around our feet.

“You have bunnybuns and pupples and…”

“And chikkles and kittlekits. But they are elsewhere.”

I stared open-mouthed at the sight of animals that bore no trace of the usual Clonie defects or disease-ridden abnormalities. When I had come across such beasties in vids or mags, they had a sorry appearance and were firmly from the past. To my knowledge, which is quite limited, no such creatures exist in thisdayandage. Yet here they were. I clasped both hands against my cheeks and blinked in disbelief.

The Lady chuckled, clapped twice and within a bubs gasp, other Ladies appeared from behind the closed doors. I had never seen such human perfection. These fems had none of the misshapenness that afflicts us paltry hominids. I stared down at my stumpy six fingered mitts, then at their slender five-digited hands and felt quite roly-poly. Even Wirt, with his fine features and long leggy-legs, had the Woodsfolk curse of shortthumbs.

“Ladies, Ladies all, come gather, welcome our dear friend Wirt and his somewhat sturdy companion. Who’s name I do not know, and do not want to if she would rather not give it. My name, dear treasure, is Audrey.”

Well named. A noble strength was present in her demeanour all rightly. I felt giddy surrounded by such comeliness and stuttered out my name expecting the usual cries of expectation. But no, not a thing occurred. Instead, the divinely creaturelings embraced me one by one and uttered their own epithets.

“Well now, let us all to the meeting house and partake of refreshment together. Walk with me stranger and inform me of the threat you are most assuredly fleeing from.”

Audrey entwined her arm in mine and I inhaled a whiff of her odour, an aroma that caused my nose to twitch with delight. It was as if I was surrounded by flowers all in bloom. I breathed in her perfume and let Audrey guide me towards a large wooden house adorned with garlands of wolf bane. I turned my head to see Wirt all but drowned by a sea of waftly Ladies eager to caress his cheek and face. Such was the atmosphere of merry, that for the first time since leaving Cityplace, I actually felt at ease.