Echoes from the Lost Ones (12 page)

“Do not make that hissy sound at me.”

“Ahh, Adara.” Wirt dropped his hands and opened his eyes. “Ye are not used to the outsideness to be sure,” he said and fell to the ground. “Much can be kenned from smelling yer way.”

“Erm, Wirt? This dirty dustiness will surely clog your membranes if you choose to snort it up.”

“I am not sniffing, Adara. I am absorbing through my nasal skin the scents of danger. Which, to a trained snout such as mine, will be as clear as a raindrop on a blade of grass.”

I watched him bend his head close to the ground and turned mine in the direction of the oddly noise that wafted towards my ears. “Wirt,” I said.

“Hush, I am all a concentrating and find yer outbursts a distraction.”
 

“But, Wirt…”

“Hush, Adara. This is something I do well.”

“No doubt.”

“Sshhhh!”

“It’s just that…”

“Quiet, fer Mother Nature’s sake.”

“We have company.”

“Wha?” he said and stood ‘bruptly.

I shone my torch ahead into what was now full on dark, and before our open wide eyes stood a creature of substantial strangeness. Human, no doubt, but attired in the oddest way. The head utterly obscured with a black helmet that covered its ears and the back of its neck. The face hidden behind a thin grey veil with an eyelet slit so the thing could see its way around. On the arms and torso, a heavy metallic pelt, woven into a diamond shaped pattern that looked hard to puncture. Thick black bands were wound round arms and legs, holding tech like things within.

I’d seen such an outfit before. In fact, many times, and held out my hand to the stranger who was not so strange after all. Wirt inched his way behind my back and I felt his hand grab onto my belt

“Greetings,” I said. “My name is…”

“Adara. I know.”

I pulled Wirt from his place of relative safety. “This is Wirt. Or did you know that too?”

“I did. I am Eadgard.”

“And are you lucky?”
 

He removed his veil and I noticed that his skin was much the same colour as Audrey’s, but his eyes darker and rounder. He took my hand and shook it energetically. “Only when I have my spear.”

Wirt pushed me to one side and whispered, “Why do ye speak so familiar like this thing? Ye have a past with him?”

“I know him not. But his kind I am familiar with.”

“And what kind is that?”

“He is a Backpacker.”

“Special Army of the New Territories, Guardian faction,” Eadgard said.
 

“A real life S.A.N.T. ye are all that I expected and more.”

“No doubt sent by our gracious Lady to give us much needed aid,” I whispered to Wirt in order to salvage some ease.

He stared at Eadgard, who waved us towards him with an urgent hand gesture. “Quickly, come with me. The night has come upon us fast. From someone who knows this place, I urge you to follow me to safer climes. Speaking of which, please turn off your light.”

With one swift click, I did as I was instructed and replaced it inside my bag. As Wirt stood stiff, going nowhere, I was forced to shove him until he stumbled forward. I grabbed his skirt belt and he tugged it back from my steadying hand. “I hope ye know what ye is doing,” he said.

I simply shrugged and Eadgard called to us.

“You must keep close to me at all times. Do not stray. Do not wander off to relieve yourselves. If you must, then we all go together and keep watch. There are things here that cannot be seen, but can be felt and not always at the time. Do you understand?”

“All but the last part,” I said.

“Venom of sorts. At least, we think that’s what it is. A creature invisible that either burrows into our flesh at a rate so quick we cannot stop it. Or, a thing that latches itself onto our parts and strikes when least we expect. Either way, it leaves us dead or wishing that we were.”

“I think I’ll be waiting for a place of greater safety before I release,” Wirt said and gripped my shoulder.

Eadgard walked to where we stood. He reached out and touched the sleeve of my dress, then shook his head and stepped back. “Adara, your dress is far from suited to this terrain. Do you have other garments?”

I looked down at my torn and flimsy frock. The small holes and rips obtained from clambering along the tunnel had become larger. In places, there was more flesh than fabric on view. I tried to pull together a vast rip that let my thigh through, but failed.

“I do indeed have more suitable attire.”

“Good. When we are at a safer place, you must change your garb to something more fitting.”

“That I will gladly do, for in this flimsiness I do feel more at risk than I should.”

As if to rub said vulnerability in, a low deep growl grew from out of the unnerving darkness. I looked down at my stomach and waited to see if the noise was just an empty tummy grumble. It was not. The growl became a snarl of such magnitude that I near jumped with fright. Wirt let out an “Eh? Wha was that?” and almost drew blood so tightly did he force his fingers into my skin. The growl again, joined by another.

“Wolfies?”
 

“Yes, no doubt. But not as you know them. Bigger, hungrier and faster than those once-owned you will be familiar with. Out here are strewn the outcast Clonies of every type of creature.”

I held my breath and felt Wirt press himself closer into my side. Becoming somewhat relieved by the sight of Eadgard’s shadowy shape as he moved nearer. And more than a little grateful that he came to stand next to us, for I could think of no other more suited to saving our lives, if it came to that. The snarls continued, gaining in volume with every sec that passed.

We stood in the dark not able even to see our own limbs if we were to lift them to our faces. I turned my head skywards and saw nowt, no moon and no stars. I heard Wirt take a gulp and I too felt a dryness creep up my throat. I remembered the last encounter with Wolfies had been in daylight and with some sort of diversion for us to make our escape. Out here in pitchy blackness, I feared for us all and shuffled nearer to Eadgard.

“Shhh! Quickly stand back to back in a circle and do not move, or make a sound. Do not turn on a torch or any source of light. The darkness now is our only protector. These hounds, although fierce to be sure, are about as bright as a black hole and will only attack when they see movement. Again I urge you to be as still as still and quiet as quiet. Now let me feel your hands.”
 

The grumbling, rumbling noise grew louder and I smelled a pungent wetness waft across my face. The darkness seemed to thicken around us and I saw red dots appear here and there. They winked and burned and I knew they were the soulless eyes of the Cloniewolves that Eadgard had described. A dagger-like voice slashed into our ears.

“Heel! Heel, you rawbone jackals. Heel!”

A whip crack sound echoed round us and the burning flecks disappeared. I felt both Wirt’s and Eadgard’s hands relax in mine. A different smell spiralled up towards my nasal passages. A sweet and sickly aroma like something gone rotten.

“Strangers here, we tell. We leave all to mercy of houndlings, have ourselves goodly feed. Meat scarce to come by, we here not particular where it comes from. All better when fresh.”

“Quiet, Marcellus. Stand back, shine our light.”

“But Orsin...”

“Do as we say. Or Vea will hear of this.”

The stinky pong diminished and I heard a sparkly crackle sound. Then a light as bright as two suns, or so it seemed in the blackness of our surrounding, splashed before our eyes. I held my hand across my face and blinked until my vision made sense of such illumination. I gave out a greatly gasp and let instinct propel me backwards at the sight that came into view.

A group of four human-like things stood before us. At least half a metre taller, and wider round the shoulders. They wore half-masks on their faces, coloured red with a fake hooked nose that resembled that of a beak from a hawk. Only their mouths were visible and they too were stained red.

They were dressed in tattered furry pelts held together by what looked like giant teeth and carried huge black whips in their claw-like mitts. The fire stick, that the one called Marcellus clutched, spitter-spattered out tongues of sulphurous flames that landed on the ground and continued to burn around our feet.

“One we recognise. We sniffed this one before. Quiet, noharm type, keeps to safe parts. These two smalluns. These we not know.”

“Orsin, grab them, make them squeal,” a larger than the other two things said. It held out its long nailed hands and made a motion as if it were tearing at our flesh. Wirt pressed himself against my arm and I did the same to Eadgard, who was not a- quivering at all. The one called Orsin made a hiss whistle through his large white teeth and out lurched three of the meanest looking Wolfies I had ever seen. Their heads where huge and framed with a brown matted mane that extended down their necks. Each one showed us their mighty fangs before crouching ready to pounce.

“Halt,” Eadgard said and stepped forward. To my surprise and relief, they did. “My friends and I are not here to harm or injure. Merely to make our way through your domain as quickly as we are able,” he said and spread wide his arms in a gesture of compliance.

“Only those with purpose tramp through Beyondess. We thinking thoughts that you may be conspiring with Agros,” Orsin said and cracked his massive whip.

“Never. I’d split my head in two rather than collude with those cold-hearted tricksters,” Wirt said and clenched his fists. I hadn’t expected such bluster from this delicate male. His voice went all a-savage as he continued his tirade on the farming guild. “Those lessthanmen are to blame for all our woes and grief. They keep honest folk afeard with chat of looming famine and give us only dregs. Barely enough to keep us well. Then they take our strongest men and turn them into drudges. Nay to mention what they’d do if we did nay comply with their…”

“Enough! You speak and chittle-chat more than a fem in moon pull,” Orsin said and the other two began to giggle gaggle and stomp their great feet. The ground shook from their efforts and I almost lost my balance. Wirt folded his arms and stood as tall as he was able. I swelled with pride as if a bubs of my own had won first prize in a wrestle contest.

“You distract with talk, lissom male. We turn instead to this prime fem and sniff out truth like dog in heat.”

“You’ll do no such thing, you lumbering lug,” I said and adopted the stance of readiness in order to do battle. Big as he was, I was not going to allow this freakish creature to lay a nose or anything else on my bod. Orsin lurched towards me with a look of hate as intense as any I have seen on a ‘dult, but just before he could grab, Eadgard stepped between us.

“No more of this. As I explained before, we are not your enemy. This young fem and her companion are on a mission and must not be delayed.”

“How did ye know that?”

“Now is not the time for explanations, Wirt. Now is the time for leaving and continuing on our way.”

“A mission. What kind of mission sends juves into Beyondness?”

“I am not at liberty to divulge such things.”

“If you want to walk away with feet still attached to ankles, reveal all,” Orsin said and the other three giants stepped forward, along with the slavering Wolfies who bared their teeth and growled.

“They are to go beyond the Beyondness. To the place high up.”

“We are?” I said and turned to Wirt who shook his head and moved in closer. “I was to inform you when we arrived at a safe vicinity.”

“Enough whispers between. Talk or lose some flesh.”

“No talk so we can slice juicy meat from soft bits. Long time since we eat such delicacy,” Marcellus said and grinned a nasty grin.

“No need for threats, their ultimate aim is to find the place where her bro and other Meeks have been taken.”

Marcellus stepped back. “Our sis got took. We recall day well. She said she heard birdybird call name. Off she ran fast and fierce. We looked but she was gone.”

“Keep such info inwards. These feebles need not know our business,” Orsin said.
 

“Likewise,” I blurted out. Orsin growled lower than the Wolfies that prowled round his feet.

“Cross not, tiny fem, or we let loose wild ones.”

“All this talk is keeping us from our purpose.”
 

Orsin stepped in closer. “Your tale has likeness to our own. I would hear more. You come to our place of living. Do not fear Wolfies, they ours to command.”

“A kindly offer, to be sure. But Adara, myself and Wirt must continue on.”

“We not asking, we telling. Marcellus, take rear. We will escort humans. Walk!” Orsin commanded and I was all but ready to stay put, when I felt the hot breath of a Wolfie on my ankle. Eadgard opened his mouth to speak, but was jabbed in the back with Orsin’s whip. He turned to us and shrugged.

“We must do as we are told. I see no way out.”

“I am more than willing to trudge on, just to be free of these Cloniewolves.”
 

“Quiet. Keep walking,” Marcellus said and off we tramped to who knows where.

Chapter Thirteen

The Clonie Zone

The fizzing light sticks the Clonies held, cast a flickering light that made their shadows stretch out before them like long staccato cut-out puppets. I had seen such amusements when the Wanderers came to town. They set up a white cloth thing, shone a big round light behind it and set about making magic shapes with all manner of props and stuff. I was just a bub and thought it grand. This was not so much. This was all a-scary and for the first time since I began my journey, I wished I had not.

The further we walked the more unpleasant the surroundings became. What little I could see made me uneasy in the extreme. The flat ground became more uneven as we continued on, with lumps and bumps not formed from the dirt and ash that made up the soil in this place. The mounds I felt were rigid and brittle and jutted up from the earth in gruesome shapes that could well have been the leftovers from a Carnie feast.

I stepped upon something hard and it crunched beneath my feet. I glanced down and saw what looked like a broken arm, minus the skin and other living tissue. Shuddering, I took a step back and cracked something else. This time, I did not look down but carried on walking, trying not flinch each time I made contact with something dead. I noticed that when Wirt splintered a bone, he put both hands to his face and gave out little high-pitched squeaky noises that made Eadgard turn around and glare a disapproving glare at him. Wirt caught his eye, coughed all manly like and trod as close to me as a blind kittle to its mother.