Whisper Gatherers (23 page)

Orva winced, then looked over my shoulder at the straggly bombed-out residents. “There must be near a hundred folk. Not too badly damaged by the looks of things. Bring them in.”

I beckoned to the sad-faced, they limped behind me and we went inside. I moved folk out of the way so that the injured could be laid down. The floor was hard and cold. I could not bring myself to let these casualties that included bubs, to sit upon it.

I looked around the room for something to use as cushions. I was raging inside thinking about Deogol’s safety and when I saw Drysi standing in the corner surrounded by her bags, I marched over. “Got anything we could use to put on the ground so those that are sick do not have to feel the coldness of the stone beneath them?”

“Nope. All this stuff is mine. I won’t have it sullied by blood and filth.”

Grabbing a large carryall that was propped against the wall, I turned to leave, but was prevented from doing so. I felt my hair being pulled and swung the bag around. It caught Drysi in the stomach. She crumpled to the floor gasping for breath. Her ma and da fluttered round her like ants on some sweetie crumbs.

I left them to it. I opened the bag and pulled out skirts, tunics and some softly blankies, then placed them on the ground. “Rest where you can.” They did and I went in search of my Greatgrangran.

She sat alone by the window. I waved. She looked past me and said, “Have you seen Deogol? He said he needed a plop and went to the poop room.”

“He is gone.”

“Where?”

“Don’t know. The fem Praisebee took him.”

“Where to?”

“Lilith won’t say, not yet anyway.”

“He must be found. You must search for him and bring him back.”

“Duh, I know!” I shouted too loudly for tears gathered at Grangran’s eyes. I wrapped my arms around her and together we let out our grief in stuttering gasps.

“Santy is badly injured too.”

Grangran let me go. “How bad?”

I did not answer.

“I must go to her. Bad enough when I lost your ma and before her, your granma. I do not think I could take to lose another of mine before I succumb to the loss of life.”

“Don’t take on so, Santy is in the Medicentre. We’ll go together, eh?”

She nodded and with her hand in mine we walked as quickly as her aged legs would let us to the healing place.

Once inside I clocked a nursey standing by a table in front of the rows and rows of beds all shielded by sky blue drapes. I could not see my Santy through them. “Where is Breanna?” I said.

The nursey pointed at a cubicle at the back of the room. “Last one on the right. Oh hello Amranwen, are you well?”

“Yes, yes, I’ve come to see my young ‘un,” Grangran said and trundled off quicker than a beetle exposed from underneath a rock. I legged it after her and we stopped by the closed curtains of Santy’s cubical.

I paused, then opened the hangings. How ill she looked. All scratched, with her face swelled up on one side. I placed my hand on her forehead. It was clammy. Grangran pushed me aside, I backed out, thinking it best to let her have time with her own granbub.

I stood a little away by another cubical, closed my eyes and heard a faint tune coming from said place. Opening my lids, I slid my hands between the drapes and peeked inside.

Elijah was sitting on the bed humming softly. He smiled and opened his mouth to let me hear the song in full. I do not know why, but the tune he sang soothed me. He stood, took my fingers, and led me to Santy. “Can I pray for your loved one?” I nodded, so too Grangran. He knelt beside her bed, then sang again. It was a sweet melody, full of long notes that made me think of summer evenings, of my ma and da, before they died. I listened for a few secs then joined in.

When the air was filled with our sweet melody, as one, we ceased. Elijah stood, put his fingers to his forehead, chest and either shoulder, then said, “Lord protect this woman and keep her from harm. Bathe her in your glorious light and make her whole once more.”

I thought the words quite pretty, although some I did not get the meaning of straight away. He closed his eyes did the finger thingy stuff again, then stared at Santy’s face. It twitched.

“Santy? Santy, can you hear me?”

“Addy?”

“Yep, me.”

Her eyes parted just enough for her to recognise my gob. I touched her cheek and she said, “Ow.”

“Praisethelord,” Elijah said and at that moment in time, I did too.

Leaning in close to my Santy, I put my hand on hers. She blinked and said all woozy-like, “Deogol is gone? I did not dream it?”

“Nope, you did not. Yep, he is took.”

She tried to lift herself but could not. She bit her lip with the effort then sank back.

“Ah, Breanna,” Grangran said and stroked her cheek. “Little Dustcloud.”

Santy flinched. Grangran turned away. “Find him. Find Deogol.”

“Gladly, if I knew where I was to look.”

With a huge effort, Santy raised herself. To my amazement, Elijah sat on the bed, supporting her whilst she spoke. “It must be that Agros have him. You must go to them. Bring him back.”

“Again, gladly, if I knew where to look.”

Santy squinted. “Dreng has told me that the City is on high alert after these last skirmishes. None shall enter or leave.”

“But Deogol must be found.”

“Indeed, he must and soon. We do not know for sure what has become of him, but there are rumours and guesses enough for a trail of sorts to be followed.”

“Then I will go. There is talk of more raids to come, all guards and S.A.N.T.S are needed here to protect folk.”

“Are you ready do you think?”

“I am Santy.”

Elijah shook his head. “They will not let you leave. Too much at stake. I heard them talking.”

“Don’t care. I need to find Deogol. No one shall stop me.”

“That’s my brave Addy.”

Elijah furrowed his brow. “Well, if you are to go I may be able to help.”

“Spill.”

“I know a thing or two about entering and exiting without being noticed.”

“That you do Praisebee. Give more info.”

Elijah carefully let Santy’s head rest on the pillow and stood. “A diversion must be put into place.”

“Like what?”

“Go with your grangran.”

“But I must find Deogol, how will that help?”

“I believe she is resourceful. If they will not let you out, then she may be of use in creating a diversion.”

“Oh, I can do that all right,” Grangran said and tapped her nose.

Santy smiled, then frowned in pain. “Go on young Praisebee, you have more to tell.”

“I have info about outside that may help Adara.”

“About those that abide there?”

“And beyond. We used it to skirt the dangers when sent to storm your city.” Elijah looked around to make sure no one was looking, then hoisted up his tunic. Around his sunken chest was a bandage-like thing and I thought that he had a wound, but he did not. He quickly unwound the cloth and laid it on the bed.

In the middle was a disc sewn onto the fabric. He unpicked a stitch or two, and pulled it free. “Take this,” he said and handed it to me. “Try to memorise all you can. Once in the Wilderness, you must stay in the thick of it. Wolfies abide, also other folk that may try to harm you. Folk that live by instinct and are ruled by their senses. You know, hormones and stuff.”

“Wise words young Praisebee. Addy,” Santy said and beckoned for me to lean close. “Be invisible like your Synthbag. Find your bro. Gain more knowledge from what he has given you. I will send forth a message that may help. Be on your guard at all times.” She squeezed my hand.

“No need to fret Santy. I will find Deogol and bring him back.”

“I know you will.” She let go and a nursey nudged me out of the way.

“You must leave now. Let us tend to your kin.”

I took Greatgrangran’s hand and we walked away.

“May I come too?” Elijah said.

“Suppose.”

He gave me a look that sent a churn throughout my gut. At once sad and terrifying, it left me quite out of sorts. I had to look away before I succumbed to a leg tremble. I felt a moonpull twinge. The reddiness was pulsing most nastily. I needed to change my sponge. “Wait for me by the exit, I need to ablush,” I said and dived through the door with the stick figure fem on it.

Once inside I let loose my bowels. Then I removed my blood-soaked swab and replaced it with a fresh one. The sanity bins were not working. Neither was the hygiene spray, so I just opened the throwaway box and shoved my soiled stuff in. Water flowed though so I was able to wash. I looked at my reflection in the mirror above the sink. An older, wearier face looked back.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

A Diversiona

I met Grangran and Elijah by the way-out door. Neither was talking and I sensed an aura of tense about them. With a, “Let’s go,” we left the Medicentre and headed back to the communal room.

Elijah sighed three times, causing me to wonder more about his part in all of this. “What happened in the tunnels Elijah?” He looked to the floor. “How did you escape?”

“I am no Agro. I was caught up in the frenzy below that is all.”

I took a deeply breath not knowing for sure whether he could be trusted.

We continued our tramp back to the main quarter in silence.

When we arrived, the place was full of weary looking folk. They sat, or stood as if rocks had been placed upon their shoulders. All slumped or sagged. All gave off a vibe of gloom.

Even Meilyr looked down of face as he went amongst them offering kind words and bits of grub. He was gentle, a goodly sort for sure. I saw Orva chatting to one of the injured and waved to her.

Greatgrangran sighed. “Get me when you are ready. That oldie gent knows a thing or two. I’ll have a confab with him. The gate was opened. I will find out who is responsible.” She wandered off to sit with said oldie male at the far side of the room.

“Good meet with your Santy?” Orva said.

“Yep. She will be well. I am to find my bro, since you all are needed here. But with the place being on lockdown, it might prove a problem. Elijah gave me this,” I showed her the infodisc.

She flared her nostrils and looked at him. “Did he now? Come, you can play it on my portacomp,” she said and led us to the back of the place, where it was less crowded. She gave a stern look to the bods that sat at a table, they left swiftly.

We sat, she pulled out a small compdevice from her leg pouch, and slipped in the disc. I watched image after image of the place called the Wilderness.

“Wow. That’s where the Woodsfolk live?”

“Yep. And the Wolfies, and other folk,” Elijah said.

“Other?”

“Not a threat.”

“Woodsfolk are?”

“They have their own ways, best to keep clear. Best to be vigilant in case Carnies roam too.”

I gulped. Orva touched my hand. “Do not be too a-feared. I have seen how you handle yourself when danger is present. You are strong and fearless, you will prevail. Besides, there are always those who are amongst the brush and bramble to assist.”

“Hope so. Hope I can save my bro.”

“You will.”

Elijah scratched his thin red hair, looked at something that stuck in his fingernail and said, “What will happen to Lilith?”

“If she survives the interrogation and gives out the info we need, she will be held with the other Agro prisoners.”

“She is no Agro.”

“She is now. Now that she sided with them.”

He could not make eye contact with me and fidgeted with his wide belt. I leant close to him. Orva narrowed her eyes. Elijah’s pale skin became whiter. “Maybe you need to be interrogated. We are moving all the prisoners to the Decontamination Place. It is solid and will make a goodly jail for them until we decide what is best for their future.”

Touching Elijah on the arm, I said all low-like, “Spill now. You do not want to go to that building, not for all the seeds in what is left of this land.” Elijah blinked slowly and wiped his face with both hands. Orva folded her arms and gave him a dark look that made me shiver.

“Lilith had a device. I caught her talking to someone on it. She hit me hard. When I woke, Agros, or Carnies, or whoever they are, were there laying explosives. She was eating cake and choc, taunting me with the delicacies. She told them to leave me, then left. Everything went boom. I ran after them dodging bangs and bits of rubble. When we got to the outside, I caught up with her. She didn’t say anything. We fled here. She kept mumbling things about the mayor and how when we were safe she would do such dreadful things to me if I blabbed, that I swore I would not tell of her part in planning the Praisebee diversion with the mayor. That is it, that is all.”

“That is enough,” Orva said. “You will be treated well. Better than the other prisoners. You will come with me.”

“What? No, Orva, you cannot take him to the Decontamination place, you cannot. He gave me the disc, he has been of help.” I stood in front of the trembling Praisebee.

“Do not concern yourself with these matters. He will be treated well enough. He is not a threat, but he knows Lilith and he knows more than he remembers.”

Elijah looked to me, but I could do nowt except shrug. He did the finger to head and shoulder thingy again.

Orva called to Dreng. “Take him with the others. He has been helpful and will be again. Not so much a prisoner as an informer. Accommodate him accordingly.”

“Dreng, wait a sec,” I said and indicated that he follow me to a distance away from the others. When far enough away so as not to be heard, I said, “He is not a threat, he is good. Treat him well, you can see that he has suffered.”

“Aye, that is clear. Ye need not concern yerself for his well-being lassie.”

“But still. He is an innocent.”

Dreng twisted his mouth and rubbed his chin. “Perhaps. I will see to it myself that he comes to nay harm. All I can do. Try to focus on yer mission, not the fate of one who is caught up in something wrong.”

“You are right. You are Woodsfolk are you not?”

“Aye, that I am.”

“What must I fear from them?”

His eyes opened wide. “Nowt. We are peaceful and friendly. Oh wait, except, stay clear of the Nearly camp. It is deep into the woods, ye should have nay cause to wander that far in.”