Last Wild Boy (19 page)

Mabon nodded.

C
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Alice hurried along the hallway toward the control room. She
flattened her palm against the identifier and waited for the door to open. Alice had been inside the mysterious room within the manor home a few times as a child, but her mother had been increasingly private about it in recent years. Blanchefleur never mentioned it — that is, until she'd invited Alice in this morning — and there was an unspoken understanding that Alice would never ask about it. All Alice could remember about it was the flicker of the viewers and controls and the old-fashioned metal microphones on heavy bases.

The door slid open and Alice stepped inside. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. The room was silent, aside from the muted audio leaking from around Blanchefleur's earphones.

“What's happened so far?” Alice asked, her voice faltering
slightly.

“They rangers have gone into the valley. We have the old ones hemmed in.”

“Are the old ones cooperating?”

“There has been considerable resistance up to this point, far more than what we would have expected from a sad group of old outsiders. It looks like somebody, perhaps that cleaner, or your Nora, has been acting the general. But that's over now and I don't anticipate further problems.” Blanchefleur looked at her daughter intently for a moment before continuing. “You can listen to the audio feed from the rangers' control devices, but it's rather gory. Perhaps I'd better just relay the important details to you.”

“Do we know what's happened to everyone in the valley?” asked Alice. She was worried about Nora, but didn't want to admit it to her mother.

“There have been some casualties on both sides, but so far I don't have any news of Nora or the boy.”

“I'd better listen, then,” said Alice, her voice determined but
breaking ever so slightly at the mention of Nora's name. “It's
time I grew up.”

“If you wish,” Blanchefleur said, nodding in approval. She
removed her headset and switched on the control room speakers.

Alice was overwhelmed by the feed. Nothing could have prepared her for what she was hearing. She had stepped inside the minds of the rangers. She heard blood roaring through their frenzied bodies, the cries of pain and of war, the impact of sharpened steel butchering flesh and bone. She screamed for her mother to turn off the audio.

Blanchefleur rose, hit the mute button, and then put her arms around her daughter. “I was the one who ordered this. It's my duty to witness the horror I've created. I'll do the listening. Go back and be with your little girl. I'll call you if there's news of Nora or the boy.”

Alice nodded, then left the room without a word.

C
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As Aesop, Mabon, Nora, Adam, and Lucky made their way across the valley, doing their best to avoid the rangers, all they found
was death and destruction. Everywhere they went, buildings
were burning down and men were dying. Most of the bodies they passed belonged to old ones, but there were a several rangers who had been bested as well. A few times along the way, they'd been surprised by rangers, but they'd managed to take their enemies down and continue on.

When they reached the top of the cliff, they threw their weapons down and stopped to survey the valley below. Thick black smoke was pluming up from several buildings, darkening the sky. The crops had already been burnt down, and all that was left of the fields were scorched squares of earth and some smouldering embers. There were a few frightened cows and chickens roaming around, but otherwise the valley seemed eerily quiet.

“Where is everyone?” Adam asked. “What happened to all the rangers?”

“They're probably inside the main building, searching it,” said Mabon.

“For what?” Adam asked.

“For you,” said Nora, reaching out to wipe a smudge of ash from his face. “And it won't be long before they realize you're not there. We have to get out of here.”

Mabon walked over to the edge of the cliff, and looked down over the precipice.

“It looks clear down there,” he said. “We should go now, while we still have a chance.”

Nora nodded.

Mabon turned to Aesop. “Come with us, my friend,” he said, placing his hand on the old man's shoulder. “There's nothing left for you here.”

Aesop shook his head sadly. “I can't,” he said. “I'm far too old to be traipsing off into the wilderness with you. I'd only slow you down and put you in danger if I did.” He looked out over the destruction below. Tears filled his cloudy eyes, and he didn't try to hold them back as they rolled down his wrinkled face. “This is my home. It's the only place I've ever truly lived. And it's where I will die.”

Mabon nodded and wrapped his arms around the old man, pulling him into a deep bear hug. “Thank you,” he said. “For everything you've done. You are my friend, my teacher, and my father.” When he pulled away, his eyes were rimmed with red and his lashes were wet with tears.

Mabon turned, picked up the coil of rope, and carried it over to a large tree next to the edge of the cliff. He wrapped one end around it several times, and then fastened it with a strong knot. He pulled on it as hard as he could to make sure it was secure, then picked up the other end of the rope and dropped it over the edge of the cliff.

“I'll go down first,” he said, picking up his bow and quiver and draping them over his shoulder. “I want to make sure the area below is clear before you two follow. When it's safe for you to come down, I'll whistle three times to let you know. Adam should come next, and Nora, you come last.”

“Okay,” Nora said, pulling him into a tight embrace and craning to kiss his cheek. “Be careful.”

“I'll take Lucky down with me,” Mabon said, scooping the dog up and tucking him under his arm. “Nora, you'll need to throw our packs down before you come. Just make sure Adam is clear of the rope before you do.” He leaned down to give Nora one last kiss, and then took hold of the rope and stepped carefully over the edge of the cliff.

Nora, Adam, and Aesop watched as Mabon made his way down the cliff face, using his one free arm to anchor himself on the rope while he searched for footholds with his feet. His journey was slow, but he made it down safely. When he reached the bottom, he put Lucky down and disappeared into the forest, the dog on his heels.

After what seemed like an eternity, Mabon still hadn't returned. Nora stared down at the edge of the forest, willing him to appear. Her heart was racing and she could feel the panic taking hold of her. “Something's wrong,” she finally announced. “I'm going down after him. Adam, you stay here with Aesop. Don't come down until I give you the signal.”

“Are you sure that's wise?” Aesop asked. “What if something happens to you?”

“Then you'll need to get Adam out of here,” said Nora. “Please, Aesop,” she pleaded. “I have to help Mabon.”

“All right,” said Aesop. “Just be careful.”

Nora leaned down and kissed Aesop's leathery cheek. “Thank you,” was all she managed to say. She pulled Adam into a hug and squeezed him as hard as she could. “I'll see you again in a few minutes,” she said. She kissed his head and breathed in his warm citrus smell, just like she had when he was a baby. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Mom,” Adam said, hugging her tight.

Nora reached down for the rope and grasped it tightly, then shimmied herself over the edge of the cliff.

Adam and Aesop watched as Nora picked her way down the rocky face, gripping the rope with all her strength as she did so. Suddenly there were the sounds of running feet behind them and a ranger shouted, “There he is!” Aesop and Adam turned around to see two rangers racing up the hill toward them.

“Quick, grab the bombs!” Aesop cried. Adam ran over to the tree where Mabon had left extra arrows and a few of the remaining glass bombs beside their supplies and retrieved the gasoline jars while Aesop fumbled through his cloak pocket for a match. He found one and struck it against a rock just as Adam returned with two jars. Aesop took one of the bombs and lit the fuse, then threw it with all his might at the approaching rangers.

The bomb hit the ground and exploded in front of the ranger closest to them, sending him flying backwards. They watched as his burning, lifeless body rolled back down the hill toward the valley.

“What's happening up there?!” Nora screamed from halfway down the cliff, desperately trying to clamber back up.

“It's the rangers!” Adam called, handing Aesop the second bomb.

Aesop lit the fuse and threw the bomb at the remaining ranger, but it missed and exploded in front of the attacker instead. The flames fanned out across the dry hillside and blocked the ranger's way, and he had to step back to avoid them.

“You have to go, Adam!” Aesop said scrambling to grab anything he could use as a weapon. Adam looked at the old man and hesitated. “Now!” screamed Aesop.

Aesop's order kicked Adam into gear. He raced over to the
packs, grabbed them both, and dragged them to the edge of the cliff.

“Watch out, Mom!” he yelled down to her. He pushed the bags over the side of the cliff, as far away from his mother as he could.
They bounced off the cliff face as they fell and landed on the
ground below with two thuds.

When Adam turned back around, Aesop was standing in front of him, holding a pitchfork, and the ranger was bearing down on them.

“Get out of here!” Aesop cried.

Adam grabbed the rope and was about to slip over the cliff when the ranger reached Aesop. Aesop stabbed the pitchfork at the ranger, but the ranger easily deked out of the way and got hold of the long wooden handle with one of his strong hands. He tried to wrench it out of Aesop's grasp, but the old man's strength surprised him. They ended up in a tug of war, with Aesop pulling and stabbing while the ranger tried to grab hold of the fork with his other hand. The ranger finally won out, and he threw Aesop
off the fork with one strong sweep. Aesop landed heavily, his
head cracking against a large rock with a sickening thud.

“Your turn, wild boy,” the ranger said, turning to Adam with a cruel smile. He took a step toward the boy, holding the pitchfork out in front of him menacingly.

Adam leapt out of the way, toward the spot where he'd left his bow and quiver. He scrambled across the ground on his hands
and feet, trying to make it to his weapon, but the ranger was
on him before he could get there. The ranger kicked him down, and he fell to the ground face first. He rolled over just in time to see the ranger rearing back with the pitchfork, ready to strike.

“No!” came Nora's desperate voice from behind the ranger.
She'd managed to climb back up over the top of the ledge, and was running toward the ranger as fast as she could.

The ranger turned toward Nora in surprise. She lunged at him with all her strength and knocked him over. The pitchfork went flying from his hands and landed a few feet away.

“Run, Adam!” Nora screamed as she wrestled with the ranger. The ranger overpowered her easily, and pinned her to the ground.

“You take one step, boy, and I'll slit your mother's throat,” said the ranger, pulling a long knife out from his boot.

“Adam, go!” Nora said. She kneed the ranger as hard as she could and he winced in pain.

Adam didn't hesitate. He reached behind him, grabbed his bow and an arrow from his quiver, and fired as quickly as he could. The arrow caught the ranger in the shoulder and the man howled in pain.

The ranger stood up and charged toward Adam, his knife at the ready. Adam fired again, and this time he hit the ranger straight in the chest. The ranger staggered backward and then fell, landing hard on the rocky ground. This time he didn't get up.

“Are you okay, Adam?” Nora asked, running over to him and inspecting him for wounds.

“I'm fine,” Adam said. “But Aesop…”

They looked over to where the old man lay on the ground, still and silent. Nora went over to him and gently touched his wrinkled face. His eyes fluttered open and he gazed serenely up at her. Nora lifted his head and shoulders into her lap. He coughed, cleared his throat, and spoke in a choking voice. “Did you get him?” he asked.

“We got him,” said Nora.

“Good,” he said, smiling. “Now get that boy of ours out of here, and go find Mabon.”

“I can't leave you like this,” said Nora, reaching down to hold his hand.

“I'm already dead,” said Aesop. “Don't make this all for nothing.” He coughed once more and winked at Nora.

“You've been a great friend to all of us,” Nora said, bending to kiss his forehead.

“Thank you, Aesop,” said Adam, reaching down to hold his
other hand. “I'll make you proud. I promise.”

Aesop moved his eyes from one to the other. A look of peace and happiness filled his old face and his eyes focused somewhere far away. A moment later, he was gone.