After Day One

After Day One (final half)

Seventeen

Home Free

“Oliver, where the hell are we?” John said.

Just be thankful we’re out of the god-awful tunnel.

Oliver looked around at the trees, the mountains looming high above, the creek, and the cabin hidden on a hill behind the trees.

“Yes, some explaining is in order, but all in due time, all in due time,” he said and continued up the trail toward a small stream. He pointed to a fork of paths that led farther up into the mountains. “All these trails lead to our little-known pass through the mountains. We’ll find some extra supplies up there at the cabin. Fresh food, water. Maybe rest awhile, resupply, and catch our breath.”

“I’m so thankful, Oli, for your always lengthy, yet un-insightful explanation.”

“Thank you, John.”

Sage came out of the opening followed by Quinn, Sierra, and Adam. Sierra stretched her arms out wide and put her face to the sun.

“I think your sarcasm is lost on Oli right now, John,” Sage said.

Maybe we should make a run for it while we have the chance.

“Oh yes, finally!” Sierra said. “I think I would have gone mad if I would’ve had to be in there one more second.”

“That sun feels amazing,” Quinn said.

John sighed, dropped to one knee, and surveyed his companions. No one had rested since the fight in the tunnel, since they’d lost Jane. Their dirt-covered faces were pale with weariness, and their shoulders slumped from exhaustion, from carrying more than just the baggage they had on their backs.

They need a break, John.

They need to keep moving.

They need a break.

Give me a quick scan while we break then, Cam.

“We need to check our stock and see what we have left. We have a long way to go.”

John pulled a leathery meat stick out of one of his pouches and held it out for Adam.

“Here, boy. You did good in the tunnel today, Adam, yes you did. I have another scout for you, boy.”

Adam licked John’s hand and chomped down the jerky before taking off into the woods.

“Where’s Adam going?” Quinn said.

“He’s going to check ahead make sure it’s safe.”

Sierra glared at him. “It’s sick, you know. You just using him to do the dangerous stuff you don’t want to do all the time.”

“Well, I guess I’m a sick guy then.”

“Whatever,” Sierra said.

She dropped her pack and stormed over by a fresh stream that ran out of the rocks and along the trail. Quinn followed her and let Sage, John, and Oliver decide on what to do next.

“We have to keep moving,” John said.

“I understand your point, John, but we have to rest. We have to eat, and we have to restock. All things we can do at the cabin.”

You know he’s right, John.

If we rest now we might never get moving again.

“You know,” Sage said, “I can see how standing out here and discussing going to a cabin that’s only a couple hundred yards away might make sense to you two, but I’m a little lost.”

Oliver and John looked at each other and then stared after her as she turned and strutted up the trail toward the cabin.

Now I remember why I like her so much.

“Oliver, when we get up there, you have a lot of explaining to do,” John said.

“Of course, of course. I’m sure this is all a little much.” Oliver nudged John’s arm and wiggled his eyebrows up and down at him. “That Sage sure is a fiery one, isn’t she.”

“Let’s not make this more of a nightmare than it already is, Oliver.”

“I’m not sure if nightmare is the correct term, but you’re right, it has not gone exactly how we planned.”

“Who’s we, Oliver?”

Sierra came over, pack on, hair wet and pulled back, and nudged John in the ribs. “Are mommy and daddy fighting?” She reached over and grabbed something out of John’s bag. “Oh look, a choco bar, dibs!” She grabbed the bar, stuffed it in her satchel, and slowly started hiking up to the cabin.

Are you going to let her know what those are?

Not a chance.

“Oliver…”

“Got it. I’ll fetch Quinn.”

They hiked up the rocky trail, surrounded on either side by a picket fence of trees and rocky mountain wall. The cabin sat on a small hill, overlooking the stream and the entrance to the tunnel they had just come out of.

“How long have you had this cabin here, Oli?” Quinn asked.

“Oh it was here before we got here, in fact all this was. It was just forgotten about until the right people came around.”

“So it’s still waiting then?”

“Ah, very funny, John, and maybe too true.”

“Are we going to be able to, like, sleep and clean up there?” Sierra said. “I feel gross and I’m exhausted.”

Oliver raised his hand and was about to say something, but John cut him off.

“No.”

“Well, we might have a little time to freshen up,” Oliver said.

“No.”

“Of course not,” Sierra said. “Why would I think you would let us get comfortable and actually rest.”

Cabin’s clear, John, and so is the trail.

What about the tunnel?

No one’s triggered the wire you left, and from what I can tell there’s no other way here.

Good, maybe we’ll have a chance to get some distance between us.

They got to the cabin and dropped their gear in the front room. It was a cozy little cabin, one room with a small kitchen, dining area, and sitting area. A black iron stove sat in the corner on some flat, broken stones. A small ladder in the middle of the cabin led up to a sleeping loft that looked as if it had a couple sets of bunks. A door at the back of the cabin had a carving on it of a bear sitting on a toilet reading a newspaper.

Well, that’s something you don’t see every day.

I might’ve liked the original owners of this place.

You don’t like the current one, John?

I’m reserving judgment.

Quinn was rummaging through the kitchen and stopped to scan the occupants of the room.

“Where’d Sage go?”

The group stopped and looked around at each other. Oliver looked at John and shrugged his shoulders.

“Maybe she’s in the toilet,” Sierra said.

“I’m not in the toilet.” Sage came through the door and nudged past them, walking over to the kitchen counter and dropped a couple of rabbits onto it.

Damn, she’s good.

She’s not that good.

What, we’ve been out of the tunnel for all twenty minutes and she already has dinner.

Lucky.

No, she’s good, John, even you have to admit it.

Sage started skinning them and gutting them, nodding her head to John. “Want to start a fire in that tin can over there?”

“Sage, we don’t have time.”

“John, we’ll never make it on the provisions that we have left from Oli’s. If we don’t eat something, rest, and take whatever stores we can from here, we might as well go back into the tunnel and back to Tree Top.”

Told she was good.

Sierra sneered at him. “Yeah, John. I’m going to wash up and get some rest.” She went over to the door with the bear on it and headed inside.

Never again.

Keep telling yourself that.

Oliver smiled and walked over to the wood stove, where he started loading logs from a small stack on the stone tile into it.

“No worries, my friend. I’ve got a smart cabin really, solar panels, fresh spring well, compost bathroom, and this—” he gestured to the stove “—completely smokeless, this one. Pipes right into the rocks behind it.” He smiled even bigger. “Previous occupant must’ve been a bit paranoid.”

“Did you know whoever lived here, John?” Quinn said.

“Why would you ask that?”

“It just seems like something you’d do.”

“Guess there could be other smart people out there like me. I know that’s probably hard to tell from the company you’ve been around lately.”

Sage bagged up the rabbit’s innards and hung the skinned and trimmed bodies above the sink to bleed. “I think he meant paranoid, John, not smart.”

Ouch.

“Well I guess smart too, but paranoid, that’s a good word for it,” Quinn said.

Sage and Oliver burst into a nice, overdone laugh, like people who hadn’t slept for days.

“What?” Quinn said. “Did I miss something?”

“Do you remember the last four days, kid? There’s a reason people like me live alone in the woods.” John dug through his pack and grabbed a couple extra pulse magazines out of it, and then stormed toward the door. “I’m going up the trail to check it out and see what’s taking Adam so long.”

Showed them, didn’t you.

I want my lonely life back.

Sure you do.

Where’s Adam?

Cam showed him Adam’s heads-up display from the collar.

About a mile north of here.

Good, that should be far enough.

***

“Are you going to tell me what Jane died for, Oli?” Sage said.

John was still gone. The twins were sitting up in the loft, their feet dangling between the railing as they listened to Sage and Oliver. The smell of gamey rabbit and stale rosemary saturated the cabin. Oliver looked up at the twins, eyes glazing over as if his mind had flashed him a thousand memories all at once. He shook himself out of it and turned back to Sage, exhaustion changing to recognition.

“You all deserve to know what you are involved in,” he said. “Benedict, I, and a few others at the monastery that were originally tasked to take care of the children at IRIS found and built many places like this around the old country. The United States, the Five Colonies, and here in the Free, in hopes that we would be able to find our two IRIS children.”

He looked back up at the Quinn and Sierra. “You two.”

Sierra looked at him, eyes narrowed, lips tight. “There’s other places like this, other monks like you waiting for us?

“You’ve known about these two this whole time?” Sage said. “You knew about all this and didn’t think that it would be a good idea to let us know?”

“I think I know why,” Sierra said. She stopped kicking her feet and leaned her head out between the railing. “Oli, when I met Jane-I don’t know how to say it, but she could like talk to me without moving her lips. I could hear her in my head, and I think she could hear me back.” She looked at Quinn, who smiled and nodded at her with encouragement. “Quinn can hear me too.”

Oliver stood up and looked up at both of them, a huge smile of relief breaking on his face. “Yes, Sierra. Jane was a telepath. She could read minds and share simple instructions or sentences with someone.” He switched his look to Sage who shook her head and slumped back into her seat as if she were exhausted from the shock. Oliver sighed and looked back up toward the children. “You are too Sierra, in fact you have many powerful abilities that you are very much unaware of, both of you.”

Quinn stuck his head out by Sierra’s and blurted, “I broke the Sasquatch hammer,” he smiled proud and unafraid, “and I can lift really heavy things sometimes.”

Oliver laughed, looked over at Sage, and shot him a sardonic smile before getting up to stoke the fire. “You see now, Sage, this is what Jane died for. She died for these two beautiful children.”

“Just remember she died, Oli, that’s all I ask?”

The group got somber and Oliver sat back down. “Never. Never would I forget her. Or you, Sage, or John for that matter.”

The door opened just then, letting in the last shred of light from the descending sun as John came in through it. Adam squeezed between his legs and trotted over to Sierra and Quinn, as if their sole purpose had been to wait for him to get back.

John slammed the door and turned to face the room, breaking the budding tension like a sledgehammer breaking ice.

“Hi John!” Quinn said.

“What’d I miss, kid?”

“Sage is mad at Oliver for keeping us in the dark about Sierra and I being really important, and about his secret bases all over the world.”

“So I didn’t miss anything important. That’s good.”

Adam went over and sat under Sierra and Quinn’s dangling feet, head tilted, ears perked and tail wagging, thumping hard on the floor.

“What? You can’t get up here, boy?” Sierra said.

Adam barked and got up on his hind legs. He jumped up and tried to catch Quinn’s foot, but Quinn pulled it back just in time and made him miss.

And you keep saying he’s smart.

He has his moments.

“John…” Oliver started to say.

“Trail’s clear. We can go when everyone’s ready.”

Sage shook her head and went over to turn the rabbits in the fire. “We’ve already talked about this, John. We’re staying the night.”

“She’s right, John,” Sierra said.

It’s too late now anyways, John, and unless you spotted something that my brilliant self didn’t, there’s no shelter out there past this.

You know this is temporary, right?

So you keep saying.

“So what do you two geniuses have planned?”

“Four geniuses,” Quinn piped in between giggles, and he pulled his feet back from Adam again.

John looked around the room. No one was budging.

Looks like everyone’s minds are made up, John.

“I’ll take first watch.” John walked over and grabbed his bag from where he had left it earlier. “Adam. Let’s go boy.”

Adam stopped playing and turned to look at him, head cocked as if trying to decide whether he should go or stay.

“You don’t have to do this, John,” Sage said. “Rabbits are almost ready.”

“I’ll come wake you when it’s your turn.”

John won the stare down with Adam, and they were out the front door before anyone could say anything more.

Showed them again.

Shut up, Cam.

***

John snuck back into the cabin after nightfall with Adam sneaking through beside him. Adam perked his ears and trotted silently over to the table to look for scraps.

Everyone good, Cam?

Everyone’s sound asleep, John, really sound asleep.

Good. They really must’ve needed rest, eh?

Really, you’re going with that now?

Just saying.

John checked the fire and threw on another log.

“Come on, boy, time to go back up.”

You know Sage was right. You don’t have to do this.

Yes I do, Cam. It’s better this way.

They left and stalked up the rocks of the mountain behind the cabin. They got to the top of an outcrop and perched themselves under a camo sheet that John set up. John leaned up against a tree, feet kicked out, and Adam lay by his legs, both of them facing the stars that poked through the western skyline.

Adam let out a whimper and nuzzled closer to John.

“I know, boy. They’re growing on me too. You know we have to leave at some point. Maybe not now, but at some point.” He rested his head back and watched the clear sky twinkle.

It’s beautiful, isn’t it, John.

I wish you could see this through your own eyes, Cam.

This is pretty damn good for now.

Sorry I didn’t get you a Watson.

It’s okay. I’m sorry about Jane.

Me too. You got this.

I got it. Get some sleep, grumpy, you need it.

John smiled and closed his eyes, letting the night sweep over him.”

Eighteen

Tech Support

John shook Oliver awake. Sage was already up, prepping her things for the next leg of their journey. The kids came down, slow and tired, making their way into the room like zombies.

“I thought you said you would wake us for our watch,” Oliver said.

“I said I’d wake you if I needed you,” John said. “I didn’t need you.”

“John doesn’t need us when he’s got Cam. Do you, John?” Sage said.

“Aha, you would know better about that than I would, Sage.”

I so need a different partner.

Like you have better options.

I wish I did.

Liar. How’s the trail look?

No changes. Heat sigs are clear, no EM fields, should be safe and sound.

Should be.

John went over and made himself a coffee with his small contraption, while Sage passed out rations from the boxes of provisions that Oliver had stored at the cabin. John passed his coffeemaker around and let Sage and Oliver make a cup, since Oliver had provided an over-abundant supply of coffee. The three conferred with one another while the kids ate and played with Adam.

“We have about fifteen miles to go today, give or take,” John said. “I figure we’ll want to avoid Leavenworth this time around.”

“I second that,” Sage said.

Third.

John heard Adam bark, and he turned to see Sierra and Quinn playing keep-away from him with a jerky stick. Quinn turned and waved, a perfect childish smile on his face. Sierra did the same, smile and all.

Did she just smile?

Creepy, huh?

John, I don’t want to do this.

Noted already, Cam, but it’s not open for discussion.

“Oli. We’ll follow your trail for now, but once we get close enough, Adam and I are splitting off to go home.”

Sage looked at John, eyes concentrated as if she had a question to ask. She opened her mouth to say something but then turned back to her coffee and stuffing her pack.

“Very well, John. Looks like you made up your mind,” Oliver said. “I wish it was different.”

“It’s not.”

“Then we better get to it,” Oliver said, “while I still have your services.”

Sierra came over, Adam and Quinn right behind her. “So what’s the plan?”

“Hit the road hard,” Sage said. “Put as much distance between us and this rock as possible.”

Quinn nodded his head up and down in agreement. “All right, let’s do this then.” He headed out the door.

“He can be a dip sometimes.” Sierra grabbed her bag along with his and followed him out. “Plus I shouldn’t have given him any coffee.”

Adam trotted out behind them, followed by Oliver.

“Right,” Oliver said. “To the road less traveled, then.”

Sage looked back at John. Once again words were written on her face that never left her mouth.

“Not now, Sage,” John said. “Let’s get this over with, okay?” He waved his hand toward the door for her to go.

Cam.

Timer’s already on.

Good.

They got exactly a mile down the trail when the hillside erupted like a small volcano, sending everyone scattering off the trail except for Adam and John. The explosive charges John placed the night before had gone off, blowing the rock face off and burring the cabin and tunnel entrance.

Sage stood up and dusted herself off. “What the hell was that?”

Sierra and Quinn crept out of the bushes they’d thrown themselves into, an exasperated look of surprise on their faces.

“Did they find us?” Quinn said.

Sierra nodded her head. “How are we ever going to get rid of them? Jesus!”

Oliver looked at John, who walked past them and up the trail as if nothing happened.

“He’s awfully calm,” Sage said.

“Obviously he knows something we don’t,” Oliver said.

“Have to be his,” Sage said. “What an asshole.”

“So we’re not going back that way ever,” Quinn said.

Oliver wiped himself off and started back up the trail himself. “Apparently not.”

It’s the small things in life, Cam.

Or the extremely large explosions.

Yes, or that.

They crept along the trial until it came to an intersection where Oliver halted and inspected his map. Instead of following the trail straight, Oliver led them down through a thicket and into the forest until they came up to a creek bed.

“Ah, here we are,” Oliver said.

“Huh, where are we exactly, Oli?” Sage said.

“A supply depot.”

“I don’t see anything,” Sierra said. “Hey, where’s Adam and Quinn?”

“They’re over there.” John pointed to a group of boulders that looked like an old rock slide. “Inside Oliver’s cave.”

Sage searched the trees and rocks. “Sneaky.”

Sierra put her hand above her eyes to shield the glare from the sun. “I still don’t see them. All right, Q, fun and games are over, where are you?”

Quinn stood up on a group of tall rocks and waved to them. Adam jumped up beside him, barking as if urging them to follow.

“I’m over here, sis. You guys got to see this. It’s so cool!”

Sierra started hopping over to him on the boulders. “Not a good idea to go hiding when we’re being chased by crazy people, Q.”

“Aha, well done, Quinn!” Oliver started over toward him.

“How did he find that?” Sage said.

John smirked at her. “Jealous?”

“You’re a jerk.”

“I’m glad that’s finally catching on for you.”

Sage punched John in the arm before heading over to the others.

“You’re all gum drops and candy canes, aren’t you?” John said.

“I was never able to hide my true self from you, John.”

You two need to get a room. This is getting seriously disturbing.

What are you talking about?

Really, are you flashing back to high school or something?

You’re weird.

You’re weird.

John caught up to them and slid through a small separation between two giant boulders. A set of carved stairs led into a decent sized cave.

“It’s too dark to see anything in here,” Sierra said.

“John, don’t get any ideas,” Sage said.

Really gross, John. You could at least try to not to think of things like that.

Oh yeah, sorry, Cam.

A cranking noise came from the back of the cave, and a small string of lights illuminated the camp.

“Wow, nice job, Oli,” Sage said. “What do you think, John?”

“Real cozy.”

John surveyed the cave, which was lined with metal racks full of dry goods, canned goods, boxes of small packaged rations, and water. Toward the back stood a rack with some hydro cells and some regular lithium batteries being charged by wires that led to a solar panel cleverly hidden inside the boulder facing the sun. John followed the string of lights to the back of the cave where another tunnel led farther into the rock.

“Where does this go, Oli?” Quinn said.

“A small stable. Unfortunately, we only have a mule back there. She goes by the name of Esmeralda.” Oliver pointed to a dark area even farther back. “Then it leads back out to another trail on the other side of these boulders.”

At least this mule won’t try to blow us up.

I really wanted that IBEC.

“How long have you had a mule here?” Sierra said.

“A few weeks. I was supposed to get some horses two days from now, but we will have to make do with Esmeralda for now .”

“You’re just full of surprises, Oliver.”

 

“That means a lot coming from you, John.”

John followed the rest of the crew as they went through to the tunnel. Sierra and Quinn had already raced to the far back of the cave and were expertly investigating the dark cavern and Esmeralda. Sage finished stuffing her bag with food and water, and threw on a large medical vest that was full of supplies.

Quinn ran his hand along Esmeralda. “She’s so shiny, Oliver.”

“She might be a mule, but she’s one of the best.” Oliver threw a blanket on her back and then a load-bearing harness. “I’ve actually grown quite fond of her.”

“She’s so pretty,” Sierra said.

“I think she’s awesome, Oli,” Quinn said.

Sage came over to John, who was throwing some hydro cells into his pack.

“They do know that thing’s only a mule, right?”

“Beats the hell out of me.” He threw his pack over his shoulders and checked to make sure his magazines were full of pulse rounds. “You ready?”

“Always.”

Oliver finished loading the supply boxes onto Esmeralda with Sierra and Quinn’s help.

“I think that’s the last of it,” Oliver said.

Cam, how we looking?

Still clear, John, but if we keep going the way Oliver’s taking us, we're going to run right into our house.

Interesting.

More like creepy.

John checked Oliver, Quinn, and Sierra’s gear personally to make sure they had all the supplies that they needed. He went over to check Sage but turned away when she pulled her knife out and pointed it at his crotch.

“All right, Cam says the road’s clear. We have about ten more miles to go today, according to Oliver’s directions.” He whistled to Adam and headed out the back of Oliver’s secret cave, his friendly companion right on his heels. “Try to keep up, we won’t be resting again until we’ve reached Oliver’s next camp.”

“My feet are killing me,” Sierra said for the thousandth time.

Sierra and John were in the lead, with Oliver and Quinn in the middle and Sage pulling up the rear. Adam was done scouting for now and was walking back by Sage.

John let his head fall back and looked toward the sky soaking in the blueness.

Looking for divine intervention.

Or an asteroid to hit me.

“No way we’re stopping, kid,” John said, “and no way I’m carrying you, so I suggest you deal with it.”

“Like we think you’d ever go out of your way to be nice,” Sierra said.

“How much farther do we have to go, John?” Quinn said.

“Not much farther. According to the map Oliver gave us, maybe a mile or two at most.”

“Good,” Oliver said. “I think I’ve become too accustomed to carriages while in Tree Top. This walking has done me some good.” He looked at Quinn. “Always a positive out there if you search for it, eh, Q?”

Adam stopped and sniffed the air. The hair on his back raised and he growled, curling his lips up and baring his usually hidden fangs.

John, we are literally only like half a kilometer from the house, and I’m tracking four heat sigs heading there right now.

Coincidence?

Really, John?

Wishful thinking.

“I know, boy, I know,” John said. “Stinks, doesn’t it?”

“What’s wrong with Adam, John?” Sage said.

“He senses that we’re about to kill Oliver.”

Oliver’s face turned red and he cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, what was that last part?’

“Oliver…”

Quinn walked up and started petting Adam, instantly calming him down.

That’s something new.

No one but you has ever been able to do that once he’s in beast mode.

“It’s okay, boy, it’s okay,” Quinn said as he petted Adam. “Where are we, John?”

“Close to where we started, kid, too close.”

Yeah, no doubt about it, John. They’re heading to the house.

Damn it.

“Oliver, you have about sixty seconds to explain why you’ve been slowly leading us to my house.”

“What do you mean?” Oliver said.

“Oliver, you’ve been leading us to John’s house this whole time?” Sage said.

“Yes, John, one of our alternate routes is apparently very close to your property,” Oliver said. “I thought you would have realized that by now with Cam’s help.”

Oh, no he didn’t.

Yes, yes he did.

John looked at the sky and then the mountain, kicking the dirt a little.

“You knew exactly where we were going this whole time.”

Sage scooted in closer to Oliver, hand on the hilt of her knife. “Oliver, why does your secret trail lead to John’s house?”

“Like I said, easy to get disoriented out here, and I didn’t exactly remember that we would be so close.”

John, we should go.

I have to make sure Oliver isn’t setting us up before we do anything, Cam.

Well, that’s easy, I can just…

No, Cam, not this time.

Your funeral.

“Will you trust me, John? Please.”

The kids stared back and forth at the three of them, Sage posturing behind Oliver, John staring him down as if he might leap at him at any second and rip his head off.

John. Goldilocks.

Damn, damn, damn.

“We don’t have time,” John said. “They’re heading to my house, Oliver. To my house.”

John took off into the trees, Sage and Adam right behind him. Oliver and the kids stayed behind them a ways, but kept close enough not to lose sight of them. They made their way down and down, cutting through the underbrush like a wildfire. By the time they got down to the trail leading to the house, everyone but John was exhausted.

“Sage.”

“Got it, John.”

Adam froze at the base of the last hill before they had a clear shot at the house. John snapped his pulse rifle to his shoulder and flipped the safety off. Adam got onto his belly, started sneaking forward to the top of the hill, and waited. Sage took the kids and Oliver, went down the trail, and then peeled off behind a large boulder for cover. She gave John a thumbs up, and he crawled up the hill beside Adam.

How many, Cam?

Two five-man squads

Why, why did I get us into this?

You’re a bleeding heart?

Yeah, not that.

Then Adam, it was definitely Adam.

John’s house was infested with militia. They had to have gotten there in the last few minutes, because they were still unloading personnel to set up a perimeter, and unpacking large cargo boxes of equipment.

“Damn, Adam, sorry I got you into this boy.”

Adam put his paw on John’s hand and wrinkled his nose, curling his lips up to show his teeth.

“Good idea.”

He slid the un-lock on his wrist computer and keyed in a code.

It’s all yours, Cam. We only have energy for one shot at this.

Sorry, John, I know what this…

Just do it, Cam.

He turned to Adam and scratched his head. “Sorry about your bed, Adam, but we’ll get you a new one, okay?”

Adam put his paws over his eyes and whimpered. John buried his face in the dirt and waited. A loud pop came from the house, followed by a high-pitched buzzing sound, screams, and the roar of fire. Adam and John were safely hidden behind the hill, but the heat could still be felt rolling outward and over them, like ocean waves rolling up onto the beach.

John wondered what the people inside the house were thinking as they died. What was on their minds the split second before Cam activated the EMP that sent their equipment into disarray, the split second before the lasers focused from every corner of the house had sent a volcano-strength flare that enveloped the people, left his house a skeleton, and cannibalized itself until nothing was standing?

Well, shit.

John slid down the hill and ran around to where it hugged up against the back of his now blackened skeleton of a house. Adam stalked beside him as John crested the hill, his weapon trained in front of him.

Cam.

Three bodies.

Damn it reeks.

He circled around the far side of the house.

Two more, John. I have some vitals coming from that one.

Cam magnified the image so John could see one of the charred bodies trying to claw to the trees. John raised his weapon a centimeter and shot a single burst into the man’s head.

Six down, four more to go, John.

John came around the front, Adam still on his heels, and saw them creeping up in formation toward the house. Cam sighted each of them on John’s heads-up display and locked on. He squeezed the trigger smooth as a panther four times, barely moving as four bursts came from his REP Rifle. The assaulting force fell, each one with a new smoking hole where their left eye used to be.

John stalked forward like a predator, only lowering his weapon enough to see whether there was any more movement.

No more vitals, John.

Safe to bring ’em up?

Safe.

He clicked his tongue twice. Adam took off over the hill and starting barking. John went over and looked at the rig. It was military grade, high end. Militia. What were they doing here? He heard Adam barking at the others, urging them to hurry up.

Bossy dog.

Sounds like his owner.

You’re just jealous you can’t be bossy.

Adam came back over the hill with Sage, Oliver, and the twins, each of them gawking at the destruction John was capable of in just a matter of minutes.

“Anyone else getting tired of this?” Sierra said.

“Whoa, what happened here, and what’s that smell?” Quinn said.

Oliver, looking a bit green, shuffled his way through the mess. “Those young men, I would imagine.”

Sage came up and ran her fingers through the fur on Adam’s head as she made her way to John.

“You boys are always so messy.”

John didn’t take his eyes off where his house used to be. “We don’t know any better.”

“Sorry about the house, John. I know how much it meant to you.”

“No time for that now, Sage. There’ll be more coming.”

John turned and faced Oliver. He always knew the man had secrets, but now those secrets were turning his quiet world upside down.

“Oliver, I want some answers. This team isn’t normal militia, they’re too high tech, too organized. How did they find my now destroyed house, Oliver? How’d they get here so fast?”

“It’s a bit complicated.”

“Try me.”

Remember, bossy is what you’re going for.

Quinn and Sierra were sitting on the charred steps, shell shocked at the events of the last few days, and looking at Oliver as if they were wondering what was so important about them that people were dying because of it.

“I didn’t know, John. I don’t know who they are and how they got here so fast. Things seem to be moving much more quickly than anticipated.” Oliver wiped his brow and looked over at Quinn and Sierra, his face softened. “Plan a lifetime and still not enough time.”

Sage got close to Oliver and snapped her fingers in front his eyes. “Hey, don’t get lost in there, Oli. We just need cliff notes here.”

“Oh yes, sorry. Well, let’s sum it up. We rebuilt that tunnel to the old Native’s trail that led past your house just in case something like this came up. Like I said before.”

“Just in case,” Sage said. “That’s quite the emergency plan.”

“Thank you, Sage, but like I said, I hadn’t quite counted on that band of mercenaries. They must’ve been paid rather handsomely and waited until the right moment to strike. Quite good, aren’t they?”

“Oliver, stay on track. What do you have planned now?”

“John, there are things going on now that I am not aware of. I’m missing something. We have to make it to the pass and over to the monastery at Galbraith. Benedict will know much more than I.”

John, we don’t have time for this.

We never have time.

We need to go.

“If this is your cut version, cut it more.”

“Right, right,” Oliver said. “John, I need your help, along with Sage’s, to get these kids to Benedict at the monastery. It is the only place we will be safe now.”

John and Sage looked at each other. Sage raised her arms and shook her head.

“Great, at least it’s that simple,” John said.

“Never simple, John,” Oliver said. “But it would be manageable with both of your help.”

John, they wouldn’t make it two seconds without us.

They’ll have to at some point.

But not yet?

Not yet, Cam.

Great. Now we really need to go. I got APCs coming this way. Maybe fifteen minutes out.

Sage walked over and got her face so close to Oliver’s he had to lean away from her so their noses wouldn’t touch.

“Tell me why John and I should help you anymore, Oli.”

“You probably shouldn’t.”

Sage’s voice was escalating. “But it’s too late now, isn’t it, Oliver?”

“Never too late, friend.”

John stormed past Sage and Oliver and up to his ruined house.

“It is too late, you two. They’re on their way.” He stopped on the steps and turned toward the hatch in the floor of what used to be his kitchen. “I’ll get you as far as I can Oliver, for old time’s sake. Then you’re on your own.

Nineteen

Bumpy Ride

John walked into the wreckage that was his house, cleared off the rubble on the kitchen floor, and opened the door that was still hidden there.

Cam, can you link?

To dumb-dumb? I’ll try.

Of course.

“We’ll take everything we can load,” John said.

“Load? Load onto what, us and Esmeralda?” Sierra said.

“Esmeralda stays. Oli, unload her and the gear, and then get the kids over to the garage.”

John winked at Sage and lifted up his arm, swiping the top of his wrist computer again. He keyed in another code and the garage door opened, revealing a hydro-celled, armored SUV.

A smile stretched across Sage’s face. “Keys?”

“Cam.”

“Nice, I’ll take these three and start the prep.”

John, I’m linked.

Great, dump and jump. I need you helping Sage get Brutus up.

On it.

Sierra finished the chocolate bar that she had snagged from John earlier. She sneered at Sage as Quinn and Oliver followed her over to Esmeralda.

“You and John have romantic history?” she said.

“We have history.” Sage hefted a crate off the pack mule and gave it to Sierra. “Here, take this over to that.” She pointed over to John’s gun truck aptly nicknamed Brutus.

“Who made you boss?”

“Just do it, kid.”

Sierra nudged past Sage with the crate and headed over to the rig. She caught a glimpse of Quinn smiling from ear to ear and stuck her tongue out at him.

“Sweet kids you got us wrapped up in, Oli,” Sage said.

“You’ll warm up to them, I’m sure of it,” Oliver said.

“Whatever. Oli, here.” She tossed Oliver an earpiece. “Cam’s starting the systems up on her. Finish loading, and then keep the kids entertained.”

“Wait, where are you going?”

She sneered at Sierra. “To help John.”

John brought up two large cases from the control center under his house and loaded them up in the back of his rig with Sage’s help.

John, we have to go.

On it.

Now, John.

“Time to pop smoke,” he said.

Sage looked at John and raised her eyebrows.

“Driver?”

“Not you, you’re in the gun hatch.”

“Not a very lady-like place.”

“You’ve never been lady-like.”

“Isn’t that what guys like you are into?”

Oh, please stop before I throw up.

You can’t throw up, Cam.

“You know the answer to that.” He gestured to the small hatch leading to the gun turret. “Ladies first.”

Well, I sure as hell want to throw up.

Sage got behind the gun and John behind the wheel. Oliver was strapped in on the passenger side, and Sierra and Quinn were in the back.

Cam?

What do you need first, John?

Put the APCs on the HUD.

“What is all that back there?” Quinn asked.

“Really, right now, kid?”

“Just asking,” Quinn said. His eyebrows rose up to his scalp, eyes wide and twinkly. “Hey, do I get to have one of the pulse guns too?”

John looked over to Oliver, jaw set, eyes narrowed. “Oliver.”

“Right.” Oliver turned to the back seat to face Quinn. “Uh, Quinn, now’s not the best time. Maybe we should let John and Sage work, eh?” He glimpsed Sierra’s head rolling from shoulder to shoulder. “Is your sister asleep?”

“I know, right,” Quinn said.

 

“She’s totally gonna miss all the fun.”

“Uh, John, we got company,” Sage said.

“I know.” He looked to the back seat. “Hang on tight.”

John pulled up the computer pad on the middle console and slid through a couple screens until he had all the APCs on one screen. Four fast-moving, highly armed vehicles coming their way. He moved the information over to his HUD and pulled back on the driving console.

Was Sierra already sleeping?

Fast work, huh?

I wish I could sleep like that.

You do, Cam, every time I eat a choco bar from Jane.

John hit the accelerator pad below his foot, and Brutus sped backward through the trees. Sage’s eyes went wide as the militia’s

 

four HAMRRs came into view.

“John!”

“I see them, Sage.”

John pressed two buttons on his steering wheel, releasing a string of land mines that dropped and exploded as the first two HAMRRs drove over them. They went flying, tumbling over each other and crashing into the ground, turning into a smoking heap of crunched together armor. Cam lit targets in red on Sage’s HUD and she opened up with the REP cannon mounted on top of John’s rig, finishing off the wrecked vehicles.

“I only see one, John,” Sage said. “I don’t know where the other one went.”

They’re trying to cut us off, John.

I got it.

“Hang on.”

John flipped the rig around, and Sage turned herself in the gunners hatch so she was facing the rear again. Cam adjusted the targeting on her HUD so she could open fire on the approaching HAMRR.

“Oliver!” John said.

“I am well aware that you are mad at me for this predicament, John, but do you really feel that this is the appropriate time?”

“Really, Oliver?”

John pressed his palm against the dash in front of Oliver, and it opened with a hiss. A butterfly controller came out of it, with double triggers and a heads-up Halo imager. The halo screen popped up with views of their rapidly passing surroundings, including their pursuers.

“Touch the vehicle on the screen to select your target,” John said. “Cam will help you lock on and track it after that.”

John jerked the steering wheel to avoid a deep drop off and then straightened out. The sharp turn left made Oliver even paler.

“The green square over the HAMRR will turn red when the system’s ready to fire. We can only take one shot at a time, so fire fast. Shit…”

John slammed on the lock pad and slowed the vehicle down. He jerked his consol to the left and hit the accelerator again, sending the rig spinning sideways. Cam changed everyone’s HUD instantly to the new direction. The vehicle rocked as it took a direct hit from the HAMRRs more-advanced REP gun.

We’re not dead; they must want a few of us alive.

Their mistake.

“Sage!”

“I’m good, John, but the other two are just about on top of you.”

John pushed in the consol and the rig sped forward while Sage blasted at the HAMRR that was behind them, making it back off.

Cam flashed John a view of the red targeting icon flashing on Oliver’s HUD.

“Oliver, fire, damn it.”

“How would I know how to do that?” Oliver said.

“The triggers, Oliver. The damn triggers.”

“Oh, right, brilliant.”

Oliver pulled both triggers. Three mortar rounds launched from tubes on the back of the rig, making it rock slightly to both sides. The rounds raced toward the HAMRR behind them, cutting and weaving through the air, chasing their target. The explosion shook the earth behind them, and the HAMRR that had been there was instantly engulfed in an orange and black cloud of fire and smoke

Last one, John.

Cam spun Sage’s hatch to the side and targeted the last HAMRR. Sage lit it up with heavy bursts from the REP canon. Their rig lurched to the side from the HAMRR’s returning fire.

Sage ducked down below the hatch. “We won’t take much more of this,” she said. She looked over at Quinn, still smiling from ear to ear. “Jeez, kid don’t act scared on our account.”

“You’re totally awesome.”

“You’re weird.”

“Oliver, we’ll only have one good shot at this,” John said.

“The little bugger won’t turn red!”

John, we need to get closer.

John hit the stop pad again and jerked the driving console to the right, this time sending the vehicle straight for HAMRR.

“Sage?”

“I’m fine!”

She jumped back up into the hatch and started firing at the HAMRR they were jetting toward again.

John, we’re getting dangerously close.

Tell me something I don’t know.

“Oliver.”

“Almost, John.”

Two hundred meters.

John’s fingers tensed white on the steering consol. “Oliver!”

“Almost.”

Fifty meters, John!

“Oliver!” Sage and John both yelled.

The square turned red on Oliver’s HUD and he pulled the triggers. John hit the stop pad and turned the rig around, almost tipping it over.

The HAMRR lurched back up off the ground, billowing smoke and flame, and slammed into the rock walk behind it.

The firing mechanism sunk back into the consol.

“What happened?” Oliver said.

“You finally fired and blew the shit out of the bad guys,” John said.

 

John, we have another inbound.

How far?

Fifteen hundred meters.

Put it on everyone’s HUD.

“John. Are you seeing this? We have to get out of here fast,” Sage said.

“John?” Oliver said. “Is that another one?”

“What’d you think, Oli?”

“Then I have to agree with Sage. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

“Shut up, Oliver. I’m not running again today.” John slammed on the brake pad, bringing them to a halt in a cloud of dirt. “I’m tired, and I haven’t had my coffee.” He climbed out his door and walked to the back of the rig. Adam was back there, scrunched up with barely enough room for his wagging tail among the boxes. “I’m still damn hungry.”

He opened the back hatch, let Adam out, and then opened up one of the crates to get his sniper rifle. He cocked the bolt back and pulled a forearm-length round out of the bin, slammed it into the chamber, and rode the bolt forward. He stepped back to the side of Brutus, took a knee, and steadied the rifle. Adam sat beside him, tail wagging, tongue hanging out the side of his mouth, his snout almost in a smile as he waited patiently for John to fire.

“And I just had to blow my house up. I want some damn answers!”

Cam.

Not close enough yet.

Lock me in when they are.

“John, I can take them out with the REP.”

“No, Sage, I want at least one of these bastards alive.”

Cam flashed John an image of the man driving the new HAMRR and a tiny icon on his scope flashed red. He pulled the trigger twice before the HAMRR was even visible. They heard a small explosion in the distance and shortly after saw a small stream of white smoke heading toward them.

Direct hit to the driver and their hydro cells, John. They should be limping into view in a second.

The smoking HAMRR crested a small null and veered away, running into a mountain of a rock.

John went back the rig and put his long rifle away, and then loaded up with EP rounds for his assault rifle. He grabbed a small pulse gun, made sure it was ready to fire, and walked back around to the front of the rig, opening the door and tossing the handgun to Oliver.

“If I don’t come back, get these kids out of here.”

Adam whimpered and paced, nudging John with his muzzle.

“Not this time, boy. I need you to stay with Oliver and keep the twins safe okay.”

Adam barked twice and jumped through the open passenger door, right over Oliver’s lap, and back next to Quinn.

“Hey, boy, you were so good back there,” Quinn said. “Were you scared? Oh no, you weren’t, me either.”

“Sage, cover me with the REP.”

“Not a chance, John. I’m coming with you.”

“Sage…”

“John, there’s no time to argue, so deal with it.”

She’s right, John. I’m picking up vitals on at least one person in the rig.

“All right, Sage. If we’re gonna do this, let’s do it now.”

Sage jumped down, grabbed another REP rifle and chest rig from the back, and then went around to link up with John. They started away from the rig when Quinn peeked his head out the door, Adam’s right above his.

“John, Sage?” Quinn said.

“What is it, kid?” John said.

“Be safe.”

Damn he’s good.

“Oliver?”

“I’ve got it, John, but I don’t think I will need to leave.”

They headed toward the wrecked HAMRR, circling slowly toward it until they were only a few meters away. John looked over at Sage and signaled that he was ready. She signaled back that she had him covered, and he moved in, weapon to his cheek, ready to drop anyone who dared open the door. He got up beside the rig and took a knee off at an angle from the rear hatch.

“Clear,” John said.

“Clear,” Sage repeated. She glided up to him the same way he had made his way there. “Where is it?”

“Rear pouch.”

Sage unzipped a pouch on the back of his chest rig and pulled out a blister pack with a small cord twined up inside. She handed it to John and then backed away to pull security on the rig. John slung his weapon onto his back, popped open the blister pack, and lined the door of the vehicle with a thin thermal cord. He and Sage backed away a few feet, keeping their weapons trained on the rig the whole time. The rope worked fast, melting a line in the door until all that was left was a red-hot outline around a dark, empty space. John and Sage crept forward and waited. And waited. Nothing.

Cam?

I still have one vital onboard, John.

We’re going in.

John, I don’t think you should. I can’t tell what’s inside there.

Only one way then, isn’t there, Cam?

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

John signaled Sage that he was going to close in on the door. She staggered behind John slightly, and they moved in. John started inside the HAMRR and ran into what felt like a battering ram. A giant leg came straight into him, sending him flying backward. Sage glanced at John’s form flying through the air. By the time she turned back to face the oncoming assault, it was too late. A giant woman was on top of her, ripping her weapon out of her hand and tossing her to the ground. Sage wobbled to her hands and knees to get up, but the giant woman kicked her hard, sending her reeling against a tree. Sage crumpled on the ground, holding her ribs and coughing as her whole body shuddered.

Quinn gasped and Oliver gripped his gun.

“Damn,” he said.

Adam howled from the back seat and paced from door to door.

Oliver crawled over into the driver’s seat and started eyeing the controls.

“Damn again.”

“We’re not leaving them, Oliver,” Quinn said.

“Of course not, but how are we to help if I can’t figure out these damn controls?”

“I watched John driving. I think I can remember what he did.”

John’s body went flying by them and rammed into a tree behind their rig. Oliver looked over and saw the giant pick Sage up by the throat.

“No time.”

Oliver pulled the console backward and put his foot on the accelerator pad. The rig propelled backward, and John had to jump out of the way so he didn’t get hit. He looked up and glared at Oliver.

“Oops, better yet, maybe you should come up here Quinn.”

Oliver got back in the passenger seat and let Quinn get behind the wheel. Brutus rocked and they looked out at Sage, who had just been thrown over the hood and was now slithering to the ground unconscious.

John was already trying to hammer away at the iron lady, ducking and weaving, attacking her with blows that would have crushed a normal person’s bones, but she didn’t seem fazed. John came flying over to the rig again and landed on the windshield.

Oliver and Quinn looked wide eyed at each other.

“We better hurry,” Oliver said.

“Looks like you got her on the ropes, John,” Oliver said. “Just keep her distracted a moment while we get oriented here.”

John snarled at Oliver and then took off to face steroid lady again.

Quinn smiled and adjusted his seat. “Hold on, Oli. This is going to be fun.”

John, she’s AMP’ed, she can’t feel anything you’re doing right now.

Can you jump?

The giant lady came speeding toward him. He jumped to the side, making her miss, and then used her momentum to slam her into the ground. He grabbed her from the back and swung her into the HAMRR.

Damn it, she’s cyborg, John. She’s got me jammed out of the rig.

That would explain things.

Quinn hammered the accelerator down, sending Brutus leaping forward. John watched as his rig plowed into the giant lady, slamming her into the HAMRR she’d escaped from. Quinn put the gun truck in reverse and peeled away, coming to a screeching halt right before hitting a huge tree. Adam barked and paced in the back, barely keeping his balance.

“Yes, very nice, Quinn.” Oliver smiled nervously at Quinn, his hands smothering the roll bars he was hanging onto. “Thank you for not killing all of us.”

Cam, can you jump now?

Yes, but John…

Damn it, Cam, Jump.

“Oliver, Quinn. Can you hear me?”

“Cam?” Oliver said.

Quinn tensed his forehead. “Hey, it’s that voice from John’s house.”

“Both correct. Oliver, you need to go now.”

“But we can’t just leave.”

“John wants you and the kids out of here now.”

“No way,” Quinn said. He opened the door and hopped out to go over to John. Adam leapt out behind him.

“Quinn, wait. Not yet.” Oliver undid his straps and went after him.

As Quinn ran over to John, Adam went to the cyborg, barking and growling at her motionless form.

“John!”

“What’re you doing, kid? Get back in the rig.” John saw Oliver coming up behind him. “Oliver you have to go.”

John.

Why aren’t you getting them out of here?

A screeching, metal wrenching sound came from where the cyborg was buried into the HAMRR. She stood up, tearing the rig in half, and gave them a broad smile, like some flesh-eating, soul-devouring demon looking down upon fresh meat.

Damn, damn, damn!

Definitely steroids.

The cyborg scanned over all of them and then made a beeline for Quinn and Oliver.

“Run, Quinn, run!” John said.

Quinn turned to run, but he wasn’t nearly fast enough to get away. Adam howled and ran between the cyborg’s legs, trying to slow her down without getting crushed. He barked and snapped at her, biting where he could to get her to misstep, to fall, anything to give Quinn and Oliver more time to get away.

John took off at full speed and slammed himself into the cyborg, sending her flying back. He jumped on top of her, grappling with her as she stood and darted forward again toward Quinn. Adam kept on her with quick bites to her legs and arms. John grabbed, pulled, and hit everything he could think of to get her to go down, but she kept running. His arm could barely wrap around her neck as he struggled to get a hold there, to get leverage, to get anything.

It’s like she’s growing.

Her joints, John.

What’d you think I’m doing?

Can you get to her neural link?

He ripped open a box under her skin at the base of her skull and pulled everything inside out.

She’s still going. She’s too AMP’ed

John, you can’t stop her until she shuts down.

John wrenched the cyborg’s head back, making her lose her balance and finally getting her back to the ground, but he gave up all his leverage to do it. She grabbed him and tossed him sideways into a tree. Adam roared viscously at her and bit onto her wrist. She flung him away like a fly getting swatted in mid air.

Damn it. Can you hack her?

Sorry, John, there’s nothing to hack, she’s all borg right now without they cy.

John charged at her again, managing to slide under her legs and up on her back again. He fought frantically, trying to find the cyborg’s weak points.

“Oliver, shoot her!”

“But you’re too close. I can’t get a good shot.”

“Damn it, Oli just shoot.”

Oliver emptied his rounds into her torso, shredding what was left of her uniform and ripping away skin, leaving her underlayer of cybernetic-enhanced muscle exposed. She roared with pain and charged Oliver. He fired again, but it was too slow. She reached out and crumpled him with the back of her hand. John tried to jump down to help him, but his arm had gotten wedged between her cybernetic muscle and the hardware on her back.

I’m stuck, Cam.

Well, that was dumb.

Not helpful, Cam.

Quinn ran up and kicked her shin. “LEAVE THEM ALONE, BITCH.”

Adam backed him up. He was limping and bleeding, but he growled deep, rippling the fur high on his back to make himself look bigger than he really was.

John tried to wave him off. “Quinn, NO. Adam get him out of here, NOW!”

 

Adam snapped at Quinn, grabbing onto his pants legs with his teeth and tugging at him, trying to get him to run.

The cyborg turned, grinned, and stalked slowly toward Quinn.

John.

“QUINN, RUN.”

I’ll have to light us up, Cam.

Do it.

John stretched his arm behind his back and grabbed the explosive disc he had there.

Last one.

Only one we need.

Adam stood in front of Quinn growling deep and vicious, teeth barred fully, hair on his back straight up. The cyborg just laughed and kicked at him. Adam dodged and attacked the cyborg’s leg. The laughing stopped, and her expression changed from sick satisfaction to annoyance. She pulled at John, trying to get him off her back, and kicked her leg until she caught Adam, sending him flying back into the hillside. John pressed his thumb on the imprint button to start the timer on the explosive, and slammed it on her back.

Ten seconds.

John?

I know, Cam. Me too.

Nine seconds.

Quinn ran over and grabbed Oliver’s weapon.

Eight seconds.

John, he’s got Oli’s gun.

Seven seconds

“QUINN, NO!”

Six seconds.

The cyborg saw the weapon and ran toward Quinn.

Five seconds.

John, do something.

I’m trying, Cam.

Four seconds.

“QUINN, RUN DAMN IT. WE’RE GONNA BLOW.”

Three seconds.

Quinn’s eyes got wide with understanding. He dropped the gun and turned to run. The Cyborg stretched her arm out and grabbed him just before he got out of reach, bringing him up to her putrid, smiling face. John wrestled to try to detach the charged disc that was ready to blow them all to dust, but it was wedge too tight.

Two seconds. It’s too late, John.

There was a deafening scream, a hot blinding flash, and then everything went black.”

Twenty

Natives

QUINN, RUN!

John was held to the ground by giant vines from a tree.

QUINN, NO.

The more he struggled the tighter the vines got. He flexed and strained against them as they cut into his skin like razors.

QUINN, RUN, DAMN IT. WE’RE GONNA BLOW.

He saw Sierra get out of the rig as if in a daze as she watched the scene in front of her. Oliver and Sage both lay like rag dolls on the ground. Adam was clawing his way back toward a mountain with arms and legs. John tried to scream to warn her away from giant, muscle-bound robot lady that had Quinn wrapped under her arm, but nothing came out.

Sierra opened her mouth, letting out a high-pitched scream that stopped everything. Even monster lady stopped for a second, long enough that she dropped Quinn and relaxed. Cyborg lady looked at Sierra as if she made a better target then the current toys she was playing with, and ran straight for her.

Sierra opened her mouth again and her eyes glowed like orange embers. An even higher pitched scream came from her mouth, it grew in intensity until all that could be heard was a high-pitch shrill and then nothing but ringing. Sparks went flying from the two vehicles and gathered in a glowing ball of white energy above Sierra. She spread her arms out wide and then clapped her hands together. A burst of wind that sounded like a sonic boom came from her, flattening everything between her and the cyborg. The giant mismatch of machine and woman stood wobbling for a second, and then returned to her assault on Sierra. John struggled again against shadowy darkness as the blood tinged vines cut deeper into him and pulled him back into the tree.

The ball of lighting energy above her grew bigger and started crackling, sizzling, convulsing like hordes of animals trying to fight their way out of a sack. Then the ball turned solid and glowed brilliant white. A single blinding bolt of white energy shot out from the ball and straight at the giant running toward her. John watched the bolt hit the cyborg right between the eyes and freeze her in place, she lit up like a light bulb, growing brighter and brighter as the bolt flooded her with energy. The cyborg let out one last murderous cry and then ignited in a bright blue flame, until she exploded in a ball of light. John was blown free of the vines as the aftershock from Sierra flattened everything in a half-mile circle.

John opened his eyes and gasped for air. He blinked his eyes slowly to try to clear the blinding white that was all encompassing at the moment, and then held his arms up in front of him to make sure he wasn’t covered in razor sharp vines.

John?

Cam?

Pretty impressive, you having a nightmare within a nightmare.

Something tells me it wasn’t all nightmare.

I take we’re still alive and we didn’t just get a fast track to hell?

Run the systems just to make sure.

John sat up, every movement burning like trapped nerves. The world around him started coming into focus. Burnt ground, trees shredded, only black smoldering stumps left, a giant, half blown-away boulder, and two rigs blown apart down to the tires. Surprisingly, Oliver, Sage, and Quinn were alive from the looks of it, and stirring awake too.

Yes, we’re alive, John.

Damn it.

Don’t act so excited.

John panicked.

“Adam. ADAM.” He scanned in a circle, trying to locate him.

Cam.

I have him, John. He’s alive.

Cam brought up a small overlay map, showing him where they were, and pointed out Adam, who was making his way back toward them.

“Adam.” John got up and ran to the edge of the blackened ground and through some bushes, where he found Adam limping toward him, head high, tail wagging, and tongue hanging out of his mouth.

“Oh, good boy, you’re such a good boy.”

John ran to him and slid down onto his knees, hugging his big furry friend and burying his face deep in his neck.

“You are such a good boy, aren’t you. Yes you are, a very, very good boy.”

Adam licked John’s salty, sweaty face and chin, standing on his hind legs and putting his good paw up on John’s shoulder.

All right, Cam. Let’s run a sweep on everyone else and make sure we’re clear from any other surprises.

On it.

“Come on, boy, let’s go find out what the hell just happened.”

“Sierra, Sierra! Please wake up, please,” Quinn said.

Sierra opened her eyes. She was looking up directly at Quinn’s worried face. She put her hand up to her forehead and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“What are you yelling at me for, Q? My head is throbbing,” Sierra said.

John, she’s waking up.

Who? The human EMP?

Yes, Sierra is waking up.

John got up from where he was wrapping Sage’s ribs and splinting her arm with some of the medical supplies from her vest. Oliver was already bandaged. Surprisingly, he wasn’t really hurt, just a head laceration, some bruising and abrasions, but nothing more than that. Quinn and Sierra didn’t look any different than the dirt-covered kids they had been before the chase. In fact, you couldn’t tell from looking at them that anything had happened at all.

He came up and looked down at Sierra.

“Well you don’t look to happy to see me,” Sierra said.

“I’m not.”

John helped Quinn sit her up, gave her a once over, and then walked off, kicking through the scrap heaps on the ground. Oliver came over with water and a biscuit, and Adam trotted around from behind Quinn, sitting directly beside her, front leg wrapped with a compress, head high, ears perked, and tailing wagging as he took up sentinel duty for her.

“Oh, don’t worry about him for right now, Sierra,” Oliver said. “He’s just mad about his rig.”

“What about his rig?” Sierra looked sourly at him. “Last thing I remember is waking up alone and then…”

Sierra looked around, her eyes searching their surroundings as if she was expecting a monster to come barreling out of the underbrush at any minute. Her eyes got wide, as her they settled in on the charcoaled ground, the deadened trees, destroyed rigs, and the half blown-away boulder.

“Did there used to be a boulder there?”

Sage came up behind them limping, with her own water and biscuit and some jerky for all of them.

“Before you there were a lot of things here,” Sage said.

“That giant lady, I thought she was going to eat Quinn, and then me.” She hugged her brother, tears streaming down her dirt-crusted face. “What happened, how are we still alive?”

“Cyborg,” Sage said.

“What?”

Sage gestured to the darkest area on the black ground, were the cyborg had been when Sierra toasted her.

“She was a cyborg. Human with shitty black market enhancements, and AMP’ed up on steroids.” Sage sneered at Oliver. “Someone really wants you kids.”

Sierra’s forehead wrinkled, showing her growing frustration. “Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?”

“You screamed real loud and about sent us all mad,” Quinn said. “Then this big ball of light formed over you, and the REP guns blew up on the HAMRR and Brutus. Everything started crumpling and this huge bolt of electricity shot out at cyborg lady. She disintegrated, the rigs blew up, then the trees and the boulder. You pretty much fried her and everything around here but us.” Quinn smiled like one of the vendors at the circus.

Sierra was starting to understand now. “I fried John’s rig?”

Adam whimpered and lay down flat, nuzzling Sierra’s hand.

“Yes, fried, unfortunately,” Oliver said. “But let’s look on the bright side of things, we’re all safe for the time being, and in some ways closer to our objective.”

He smiled broadly at Quinn and Sierra, and then a bit more nervously at Sage.

“I’m not going over there,” she said.

“Well, you do know him best.”

“No way, you go.”

“I should really stay here with the children,” Oliver said. “And he’s a lot less likely to hit a woman.”

“Nice, Oli, real nice. Have you seen him mad?”

“You mean this isn’t mad?” Quinn said.

Sage shook her head, then shot a nervous look over at John. “Not a chance.”

“Sage, I am sure he would agree that we have to keep moving, all things considered.”

“I know, Oli, I just don’t know if he’s going to be ready for that yet.” Sage shot a nervous look over at John, who was still checking out his burnt-out rig. She looked down at Adam. “If I’m going, you’re coming with me as insurance.” Adam buried his face under his paws and whimpered.

“Not working, Adam. Come on, tough guy, let’s go.” She nudged his butt with her foot, and then they booth limped over to John.

“That’s the spirit. We’ll be right here prepping to leave,” Oliver said.

Sage rolled her eyes, took a deep breath, and set her jaw.

Sage is coming.

Can I shoot them all now?

No.

Should I really be listening to you, since you’re the reason we’re in this mess?

I thought we agreed it was Adam.

Turncoats, all of you.

Sage coughed behind him to get his attention.

“Don’t even think about it, Sage, I’m not in the mood.”

“John, no one meant for this to happen.”

“Sage, I mean it, not now.”

“John.”

Adam trotted over and sat down by him, pawing his knee with his bandaged leg. John’s expression changed, softened even, and he bent down to eye level with Adam, putting his forehead to his.

“Sage, I’ve lost my favorite hat, my house, my rig, the Militia is chasing me, we all just almost died, and Sierra, the ball of lightning fun, just about made me deaf. How did you and Oliver not mean for this to happen?”

“You’re a dick, John. I didn’t want this either.” Sage looked down at the destroyed wreck. “You two deserve each other.”

Dick?

You did say you wanted it to stick.

Oh yeah.

Sage stormed back to the group and left John and Adam lingering in the dirt. He looked over at Oliver helping get the kids get ready, and then down at Adam.

We really aren’t going to get rid of them, are we, Cam?

I knew you’d come around. Oh, and we’ve got company.

William?

Bingo.

Took him long enough.

“What’d you think, boy, should we stay?”

Adam barked and started licking John’s neck and chin. He got down and trotted, limping back to the small group.

All right, Cam, let’s get this over with.

John ripped the only good hydro battery out of his rig and walked over to the group.

“Do you know where we are, John?” Quinn said.

“Yeah, I know.”

“Well, let’s have it then,” Oliver said. “How bad off are we?”

“Pretty bad off, I’d say.” John looked over at Sage. “Wouldn’t you, Sage?”

“Depends on how bad your last card game with him was.” Sage nodded her head toward her immobile arm, and then gave John a wink. “Not really in fighting shape.”

“What is that, some kind of code?” Sierra said.

Oliver squinted his eyes at the two. “I believe we’re missing something, children.”

John pointed to the tree line past the fallen debris. They all looked up and saw about sixteen fighters coming out of the tree line. A man as tall as John’s rig used to be, with a warrior’s jaw, tanned skin, and long, braided black hair came out in front of them.

Quinn rolled his eyes and slumped to the ground. “Oh, great, probably more people who want to kill us. This is getting so old.”

Sierra’s shoulders slumped and she let out an exhausted huff as she sat down next to Quinn.

Wow, that left her speechless.

Maybe we should overwhelm her more.

Good luck with that, John.

“Ah, of course, Indians,” Oliver said. “I should have seen that coming.”

“You mean Native Americans,” the tall warrior said.

Oliver shot him a nervous smile. “Yes, Native Americans, that’s what I meant.” He turned to John, nervousness still written on his face. “Friends of yours, I hope.”

“Something like that.” John headed toward the hulking native. “Hi, Will.”

“Friends of John’s?” Sierra said. “Makes perfect sense.”

“Oh, yes, we’re old friends, aren’t we, John?” Will said.

Maybe we can get him to fix Adam.

I didn’t know you were so worried about him.

Worried? I just want someone to make him smart.

“Excellent. You are friendlies, what a stroke of luck,” Oliver said, holding out his hand. “My name is Oliver.”

Before he was close, he froze, hands hovering in the air, outstretched, waiting for a hand that didn’t come. Will’s figure blurred as Oliver focused his eyes on the men behind the tall native, men who now had their weapons trained on his chest.

“We’re not that good of friends,” Will said.

“Oh, I see. Well, if you don’t mind we’ll be on our way then,” Oliver backed away slowly, waving at them as if he were surrendering. “We have a tight schedule to keep.”

One of the men flashed the laser site on his weapon, and the other men followed suit, a flood of red dots shown on Oliver’s chest and on the ground in front of him.

Um, did you do something I don’t know about?

How could I possibly do that, Cam?

So he’s just posturing. He does know we were joking right?

He knows, Cam.

“I suggest you shut up and stop moving Oliver,” John said, He turned toward Sage and let his eyelid fall down into a wink, and then nodded his head to Will. “Listen Will, I’m sure you can see that we had no other alternative here.”

Quinn whispered to his sister, “Sierra, what’s going on?”

“Shut up, Q!”

John shot them both a look that might has well have been daggers.

“What’s going on, kid, is that John here has been warned about coming this side of the rock giant,” Will said. “He’s been warned with the threat of his life, and the lives of those he brings with him.”

He always did like to put on a show.

I think he’ll get along great with Oliver.

“You mean the giant boulder my sister blew up?”

John turned his head sharply at Quinn and glared at him. “Quinn!”

“Yeah, QUINN, way to sell me out.”

Will looked at Sierra and started walking toward her, moving his head up and down scanning her as he went. She stood up to try and back away from him, but John nodded his head warning her not to move.

Adam Growled deep, and full of warning, at Will. He was wounded, crippled even, but still ready to protect the kids if they needed.

“Easy, boy, easy,” John said. “Will, the kid really doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Head concussion from the wreck back there I think.”

Yeah, tell him, John. Easy Adam don’t get us all killed.

Will stopped in front of Sierra and moved his head from side to side, looking her over.

“I might let you live if you let me keep this one,” Will said, looking straight into Sierra’s eyes. “She would make a good squaw.”

“Oh boy, here we go,” Sage said.

Oliver shifted toward John, concern and confusion written on his face like graffiti. “A little explanation might be helpful here, John.”

“We crossed into Indian land when we passed that big rock that Will called the Rock Giant, the one Sierra just blew up. The last time Adam and I were here, I promised never to come back.”

“Adam?” Will looked toward the dog. “Is that what he named you, boy? What a terrible name. I would have picked a far better one for you and taken better care of you from the looks of it.”

Sierra kicked a plume of dirt at Will.

“Stop talking to our dog,” she spat, “I am not going to be some old man’s squaw. I’m tired, hungry, and my head is throbbing. In the past three days we’ve been beat, kidnapped, chased, shot at, blown up, lied to, and starved. I’m not doing one more thing until someone explains to me what the hell is going on!”

A splash of sparks flew from the charred wrecks behind them as Sierra plopped down on the ground, crossed her arms and legs, and glared at anyone who dared make eye contact with her.

Will bent forward with a roar of laughter, and his men followed suit.

“John, you finally found someone who will give you a run for your money.” Will headed down the small hill toward John, his arms spread wide. John smiled back, relieved, and walked to meet him.

“Yeah, she’s a real spark,” he said.

Real spark? That was horrible.

I thought it was pretty damn good.

Keep trying.

They gave each other a quick hug and a handshake, knuckle bump, back hand slap combo that confused everyone, but dropped the tension between the two groups like oxygen pouring into a locked safe.

“Why do you have to bust my ball’s about the rock giant thing all the time,” John said. “It was that damn smoke out with Bert, I would have believed anything you guys told me.”

“That’s true, but you did run naked from a giant rock because you thought you made it mad by pissing on it, and promised you and Adam would never come back.”

One word John, legendary. You’re legendary.

I thought it was a damn God.

Keep trying.

Sierra glared at him, and somehow John could feel it penetrate his layers of body armor.

Oliver leaned over toward Sage and mumbled out the side of his mouth. “Um, a bit of enlightenment might be helpful.”

Sage smirked and brushed past him, bumping him with her shoulder.

“Doesn’t feel good not knowing what you’re getting into, does it, Oli?”

“Right, I see your point. I’ll just stay here with the children then.”

“You do that, Oli.”

Quinn sat down beside Sierra, let out a long sigh, and watched John, Sage, and Will all embrace one another like old friends.

“At least it’s better than the gypsies, right?” Quinn said.

Sierra glared at him. “Not a good time, Q.”

“Yes, better than gypsies is right,” Oliver said. “Very good, Q. Way to look on the brighter side of things.”

Sierra turned her soured look toward both of them. “You two are going to make me gag.” She got up, shaking her head, and stormed over toward John and Will.

“It might best to stay here, Sierra,” Oliver said. Sierra flipped him off and kept walking. “All right, looks like it’s just us then.”

He turned around to pat Quinn on the shoulder, but he wasn’t there either. He looked up and saw Quinn following his sister, and got up to go after them.

“Damn.”

John watched Will petting Adam behind the ears, a big smile on his face until he spotted Sierra coming over with Quinn, and Oliver a bit farther behind.

“Who’s the baggage?” Will said, breaking Sage and John from their conversation.

“Just some road warriors we got roped into helping.”

“That girl sure does like to glare at you, John.”

Sage smiled as she turned to look at Sierra. “I think she might have a little crush on him, Will.”

“Oh, poor girl.”

“Poor girl? Poor me,” John said.

Will smiled and narrowed his eyes, looking at John as he stood back up. “Be careful, John, you don’t want to get fired by her laser eyes.”

John glared back, meeting his eyes without a flinch. “Yeah, right.”

“Didn’t take you for a family man, John,” Will said.

“I’m not.”

“I’m glad you’re all having a fun time,” Sierra said as she got up to them, “but would anyone like to explain this little meeting to me?”

John tried to ignore Sierra, but she slapped him hard on the arm.

I wish I could shut her down.

You could if you fed her another choco bar.

John smiled at the thought.

“What are you smiling for?” Sierra said. “Aren’t you forgetting a key element here?”

Will and Sage looked at John, stifling laughter as his smile faded.

“And what element would that be?” John said.

Sierra pointed to her and her brother. “Duh, us?” she said as Quinn and Oliver walked up behind her.

“Sorry, John, terribly impatient, that one,” Oliver said.

John looked at his motley crew and let out a deep breath. “Will, meet Sierra, Quinn, and Oliver.”

“Oliver. The monk Oliver?” Will held his hand out to Oliver.

“Yes, that’d be me.” Oliver met his hand and embraced it. “I don’t recognize you. Have we met?”

“You know each other?” Sage said.

“You might say that,” Will said. “Oliver the tunneler, the trail breaker. Oliver the mead maker.”

Recognition shown on Oliver’s face. “Aha, I see.” He smiled over at Sage. “They’ve gotten their hands on some of my mead.”

Will whistled. One of his mean dug through the satchel on his horse and produced a clear glass bottle full of golden liquid. He held it up and tossed it to Will, who in turn showed it to Sage. Oliver’s likeness came through on the label in bold black ink. Sage looked between the bottle and Oliver, who was beaming with pride.

“See?,” Oliver said.

“I do see, Oli.” She waved the bottle off. “Hide that thing, please. I can only stand one of him for now.”

Will laughed again and tossed the bottle back to his man. “A good bottle of bad decisions you make, monk.”

“Well, thank you. Thank you very much. You know, I don’t think people understand just how much goes into making a real quality bottle of the stuff.”

“Okay, okay. Oli, we know you make a good bottle of mead,” John said. “I don’t think we need to find out your whole process right now. Will, are you going to let us through?”

“Are you guys Indians?” Quinn said.

We’ll never get through here.

They’re your friends.

“Yes, young man, we are the scary Natives.” Will put his hands out in front of him and wiggled his fingers at Quinn. “Not as spooky as you pictured?”

“Way better,” Quinn said.

“Great, I’m glad we’re all becoming buddies,” Sierra said. “Are we going to actually do something here? I mean, we did almost die, and I’m sure that they aren’t the only ones trying to kill us out here.”

“If you’re looking for help with her, John, I don’t think I have any,” Will said. “But if you want to get up to the pass…”

“Yes, we do.”

“Then,” Will continued, “it’ll cost you a good story. One that sparks the imagination.”

“It’s a very long one,” Sage said.

“Even better.”

“What is he talking about?” Sierra said.

“Nothing you need to know about,” John said without taking his eyes off Will. “Oliver, can you take them over there and get them ready to move?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure that any of us is ready for a long travel yet.”

“I’m fine, Quinn’s fine, we’re all fine,” Sierra said. “So can I please have some idea of what’s going on?”

“No,” John said.

Sierra sat down on the ground again and crossed her legs and arms, stubbornness winning out over grace.

John looked at Quinn, who just shrugged his shoulder. “She’s always been like this.”

“Great help you are,” John said.

“I’m her brother, not her keeper.”

Will patted John on his shoulder.

“Good luck,” Will said. “I can only spare two horses, but that should get you to the village.” He turned and looked at Sage.

“You remember the place.”

“Sure do, we’ll be right behind you, Will.”

Cam, run everyone’s vitals again. I want to make sure they can make it.

Got it.

Sage followed William up the hill to gather the horses, while John organized the others.

“That went much better than I anticipated,” Oliver said.

“I’m glad you think so. I mean, my house is burnt, my rig fried, we’re beat to shit, and we’re on foot for the next fifteen miles,” John said. “Oh yeah, it’s going real swell, Oli.”

“I knew you’d see the upside.”

John rolled his eyes and went over to horses that Sage had come back with.

John.

Give it to me, Cam.

Adams nano doctors you bought him are already working, as you can tell.

John heard him barking and smiled, relieved when he spotted him running around Will’s men chasing whoever had the oval shaped leather rugby ball.

Worth every penny.

That’s up for argument.

John whistled loud and waved everyone up to the trail so they could leave. William’s crew teased Adam one more time with ball before getting back on their horses and riding away. Sierra and Quinn mounted the two horses and started up the trail behind Oliver and Sage with John pulling up the rear.

Go on, Cam.

Sage has it the worst, broken ribs and arm. Oliver has absolutely nothing wrong with him, but I could have sworn that he had at least a head laceration before.

What about the kids?

Nothing. Not even a scratch. It’s like they weren’t even there.

Interesting.

No, that’s just freaky. Not interesting.

Freaky doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Twenty One

No Rest For The Weary

John walked back through the small village after showing his troops to the town square. The village he remembered had grown into a complex town since he was last here. Small, snaking roads paved with river rock wound through town. The rocky road was lined with rows of wooden and stone buildings, small earthen huts, and even dome-shaped pods. Other stone paths led away from the main part of town to small residential areas, where homes ranged from large, multistory stone and log structures to small, one-bedroom cabins. Each structure had its own wind turbine or solar panel attached that was wired to small generators that powered the houses. John stood for moment, closing his eyes, breathing slow, deep breaths, and listening. He let the hum of the river, the croaking toads, and the creaking trees of the forest wash through his senses and steel his resolve.

He marched up the front steps and into the cabin where Will was waiting for him.

He’s concentrating.

He’s trying to think of how to tell us.

Oh boy, here it comes.

“I’m sorry, John, we can’t help you.”

I knew this wouldn’t work.

“You’re sorry? You can’t help me? You owe me, Will.”

“I know, but I can’t help you with this. The elders don’t want to get involved. Whatever Bert saw in the smoke, it wasn’t good.”

If you get me close enough I can make Bert see whatever we want him to see.

“You saw what was going on back there. Someone with a lot of weight behind them is coming after these kids, and we’re not even close to where we need to be.”

See, Bert’s the problem here, John. We just need to figure out how to fix that.

“What are you even involved for, John? Leave all this to Oliver and Sage. The kids will be fine.”

He’s not high enough. That’s it, John. We just need to get Bert to smoke more, maybe lace his pipe.

“I can’t. Whoever these guys are, whatever their plan is, they’ve made it personal.”

“John, I can’t…”

“You owe it to me to at least try harder.”

“All right, John, all right, You can stay here for now.” He looked around as if he were taking stalk of everything. “It’s not much, but it’ll do while I see what I can do to help you, but I’m still not making promises.”

“That’s all I can ask for.”

Are you listening to me, John?

Cam, none of that could have waited?

What? Was I interrupting something more important than securing safe lodging and food?

Will left the room, and left John to his thoughts. He looked down at Adam, who had been sitting next to him as if he had been an integral part of negotiating services with Will.

We can’t stay, Cam.

Not the way you’re trying.

“What do you think, boy?”

Adam tilted his head, barked once, and nudged at John’s legs with his nose.

“I know, I know. Go ahead, go check things out. I’m sure everyone is anxious to see how well I’ve been raising you.”

Adam stood up and put his front legs up on John’s chest, licking his face and letting out a quiet growl as if letting John know that he still loved him, and then got back down and trotted outside.

After seeing him, they’ll never let you have another dog again.

They shouldn’t have the first time.

John went over to the wash basin, splashed cold water over his face, and dried himself with a coarse towel that was hanging on the wall.

At least for the time being we’re safe, Cam. That counts for something.

Exactly why we should push harder to stay.

We can’t stay, Cam.

Just being wishful here.

I know, Cam, I know.

John walked out into the sitting room of the guesthouse. It was a solid little cabin, probably a lot nicer than what most visitors got when they came to town. John walked the main room, running his hand on the smooth log walls, and ingesting the scent of pine and cedar.

Kind of like home, huh, Cam?

Kind of.

Sorry I had to blow it.

Me too.

He traced the room, looking from wall to wall, imagining Sierra and Quinn sitting by the large stone fireplace, listening to Sage and Oliver’s stories. He rested his hand on the soft animal-hide furniture, which Will had made himself, one of the many things Will did in his spare time. The walls were dotted with beautiful scenic art Will’s wife had painted, giving the room the feeling of a comfortable family dwelling. John would have let the small group stay, maybe even leave them here, if Bert, the village seer, hadn’t said no. Now they would just be lucky to get some help over the pass.

Should we check on our wayward companions?

If that entails fresh air and campfire stories, then yes.

John walked out of the house and down the steps of the porch, sucking in another big breath of fresh cascade air.

We’re

 

lucky to stay the night. Do you think he can get them to help us?

Don’t be too hopeful.

They’re right about us, Cam, we’re too dangerous to keep here. Do you want whoever is after those kids to come and ruin this?

No.

Then we have to leave.

I hate it when you’re right.

Ditto.

Across the small river that flowed through the town was a group of wooden buildings that served as the schoolhouses. Rich playgrounds surrounded an ancient evergreen tree, and rough grass fields behind the schoolhouses were ready for soccer, rugby, and baseball. John could almost imagine the recess sounds of kids laughing and yelling for the ball, of adults whistling and trying to maintain order, and of bells chiming for the end of the game.

At the center of town was a longhouse made of huge logs, topped with a shinny copper roof. It had a small generator building beside it that housed the power provided by the river, which supplied the town with the majority of its power.

Pretty state of the art for this size of town, even one in the states.

They’ve come a long way.

Hey, maybe they have a Watson here you could barter for. Maybe a game of chance?

Cam.

You can’t tell me not to wish.

Stop wishing.

Okay.

Hearing the raucous sound of a large group laughing and clapping over by the town square, John turned to see whether he could spot the rest of his group. The town had started to gather around the huge nighttime fire that was crackling and burning to life against the sides of the giant stone fire circle. Wooden bleachers surrounded the circle that the tribe used for seating during the evening’s dramatic story sessions. He walked over and stood on the outskirts of the circle, waiting and watching. He spotted Quinn and Sierra, laughing and playing with Adam and some other children from the town.

The older men and women were already gathered, watching Oliver from the bleachers and laughing at his storytelling.

You have to admit, John, it is nice to see everyone so relaxed for a change.

I don’t have to admit anything.

Sucker.

Sage came up behind John and nudged his arm. “Big change from this morning, huh?”

“You mean Oliver being an even worse storyteller than before?”

Sage shot him a half smile, and caught herself lingering and staring into John’s eyes.

“How’s the arm?”

She held up her new leather sling and wiggled her fingers. “Almost don’t even need the sling, if it wasn’t so nice I would’ve ditched it already.”

“Good healers up here.”

“Damn good, I might let you guys finish this journey without me.”

John glared at her and they both started laughing. She held her ribs and coughed as if she had some water go down the wrong pipe.

“Ouch, don’t make me laugh like that or you will be going the rest of the way alone.”

“Almost forgot you were beat up so bad.” He pointed toward Oliver and the kids. “They got the same treatment and right now it looks like they’re doing better than they have the whole trip.”

“Bastards.”

“I think Oliver has a little more telling to do.”

Sage bumped his shoulder again with her good one. “You think.”

John took in a long, breath through his nose and let it out.

“What are you doing here, Sage?” he said.

“I thought you looked lonely.”

“Not right here, I mean here. What are you doing here mixed up in this mess?”

“Oh, you mean that here. Oli asked for my help, so I helped. Now I’m stuck in the rabbit hole. How’d you get involved?”

“I kicked a gypsy couple off my property and ended up being a babysitter.”

Sage’s head fell back and she let out a relaxed laugh while John sneered at her.

“Fuck, John, I told you not to make me laugh.”

“Serves you right.”

She punched him on his arm, and when she was done coughing, smiled at him as if she wished they had something special planned for later.

“So Quinn was telling the truth,” Sage said. “Did you really tell the wife to leave her husband’s body so you could use it as a warning?”

John’s body relaxed and he smirked, letting out a long chuckle as he thought of Quinn recanting the tale of their rescue.

“It really wasn’t as glorious as it sounds.”

“Now that’s something I haven’t seen in a while,” Sage said.

“What?”

“A genuine smile from you.” Sage got close and started inspecting his face.

“What’re you doing?”

“Checking to make sure you didn’t break anything.”

“Funny, Sage.” He smiled again and looked back at the two twins by the fire. “Did he really tell you that?”

“Oh, yeah. You became an instant hero to him after that. Doesn’t think you can do anything wrong, that one.”

Poor kid.

“That’s a dangerous position to hold.”

“Probably, but I have a feeling you won’t disappoint him,” Sage said. “So what did Will say?”

“We can stay tonight, but they’re not going to help us past that. He’s going to talk to them again to see if he can do anything to change their minds, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

“At least we can sleep easy tonight.”

“Do you ever really sleep easy, Sage?”

Sage looked at him again and gave him a wink. “You know the answer to that.”

They got caught in each other’s gaze for a second, and then she turned and walked over to the fire, taking a seat next to Sierra and Quinn to listen to some of the Fryer Oliver’s stories.

You’re hopeless, John.

Aren’t we all.

I’m not.

Oliver told stories of giants and monsters, heroes and villains, of times long past, and of myths long forgotten, carrying on the proud tradition of his order. He only stopped when dinner arrived. Stacks and stacks of vegetables, bread, fruit, and turkeys were brought and set on low tables by the fire.

Two muscle bound women that were as tall as any man cranked a large handle by the fire that was attached to a thick chain, which was hooked to a metal box under the ground. The box came up out of the ground, steam rolling off it like tendrils from a ghost. Two work-chiseled men opened it and started unloading cedar racks of cooked salmon from it, distributing the copper-colored fish to the crowd.

A group with flutes, drums, mandolins, rattles, and sticks started playing music by the fire as the tribe ate. The music went on for the rest of the night, and soon after dinner, cases of Oliver’s mead were brought out and opened. Soon after that, the dancing started.

John came up behind Oliver, who had taken up playing mandolin with the fireside musicians, and held up his clay glass full of mead. “No wonder Will knew who you were.”

“Yes, I guess I am somewhat of a celebrity here.”

“That’s what happens when you put your face on the bottle, Oli.”

“Not my idea at all, but it did boost sales for the monastery.”

“Sure, Oli, tell yourself whatever you have to.” John slapped him on his back and wandered back over to the bleachers. He climbed up to the top and sat alone, watching the fire dancers, music makers, and children playing tag in the dark, and let himself relax just enough to realize he was relaxing.

Cam?

Yes, John.

How are we doing?

So far so good. Nothing has come up since we’ve been here.

Good. I think it’s time to round up everyone.

John, let them have a little more fun.

Show ’em to me.

Cam showed John the surrounding area, and then did an overlay highlighting the twins, Oliver, and Sage in red, and showing him where everyone was at.

Okay, a little longer. We’ll give them until I find Reet.

Wow, really? Maybe you are getting a little soft.

It’s because of you.

What?

Just find Reet

 

for me, will you?

Cam highlighted Rita, Will’s wife, on his grid. He sat and soaked in the ambiance of the night for a bit longer, and then he left the fireside party to go and find Rita. He didn’t have to go far; she was waiting for him on the porch of the small cabin they were using. The obsidian haired woman, who looked much younger than Will, had caramel skin and shimmering brown eyes. She smiled when she saw him and walked to the top step to give him a hug.

“Hello, long lost brother.”

“Hi, Reet.”

 

God, Will’s wife could have been a super model before Day One.

She’s one of a kind, that’s for sure.

She’s like an exotic huntress or something.

Wow, Cam, an exotic huntress?

That’s not weird, is it?

Sure.

“Thank you again, Rita.” John bowed his head slightly.

Rita bowed her head in return. “We wouldn’t have you accept any less, John. Will and I both wish we could do more.”

“No worries, Reet. We’ll be fine. Where is the bastard anyway?”

“He’s still boxing it out with Bert. I’m sure he’ll be by in the morning.”

 

“Tell me again how he suckered the daughter of the chief into marrying him?”

“I’m not sure I really remember,” Rita said. “Might be the shaman he hired to put a spell on me.”

“That would make sense.”

John turned his head and surveyed the quiet outskirts of the town, the small glow and rumble of the town still going strong in the town square, and then turned back to Rita.

“What do you think about all this, Reet?”

“I think that Elizabeth and Adam are proud of you right now.” She smiled and stepped closer to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. “How else do you think you’ve made it this far?”

John smiled, a small pool of water forming in his eyes. He cleared his throat and blinked a couple of times, making the wetness disappear before it could pour out.

“Yeah, we’ll see when this is all said and done.”

“It’s happening exactly the way it’s supposed to, John. Don’t fight it.” She adjusted the collar of his stitched-up, sun-worn gray shirt. “You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

“You and Oliver must have been talking.”

Rita gave him a hug and then kissed him on both cheeks. “Always the skeptic, but then you wouldn’t be the man Will and I love so much if you weren’t, would you?”

“Someone has to be.”

“I better get back to the house, check on our little prince and princess.”

“With Will’s blood in them, you might not have a house to check on.”

She chuckled and waved him off. “I’ve learned not to linger away too long, that’s for sure. If you need anything else tonight, you know where to find us.”

She started down the trail and then turned her head and waved at him. “Goodnight, John.”

“Goodnight, Reet.”

Oliver, Sage, and the twins, with Adam in tow, came up the rock trail leading to the cabin, waving to Rita as they passed her.

“Decided to call it a night, huh?” John said.

“I believe that we’ve all had our fill of the party.” Oliver pointed over to Sierra and Quinn, dragging themselves up the steps, yawning, eyes heavy with sleepiness. “What’d she say about Will?”

“We won’t see him until morning.”

“Smoking out with that Bert fellow, eh?” Oliver nudged John’s arm and wiggled his eyebrows at him. “If you know what I mean.”

“No one ever knows what you mean, Oli,” Sage said.

“Well, it’s very simple. See, I was making a joke as to the fact that they’re smoking the wacky stuff instead of the seer herb they’re supposed to be smoking…”

Sage put her hand on his shoulder and interrupted him. “Oliver, we know. God, you’re a dork sometimes.”

“Oh, I see, of course. I’ll just make my room upstairs then.”

They made their way into the cabin, and Oliver headed over and up the short stairs to one of the rooms up in the loft.

“We’ll take the other room,” Sierra said. “Come on, Q, I’m beat.”

“Top bunk.” Quinn raced past her up the stairs.

Sage turned toward John and pointed to the last room on the main floor. “Room?”

“All yours. Adam and I will take the couch.”

“Are you sure?” Sage pointed to Adam gimping his way up the stairs.

“What?”

No loyalty. Aren’t you glad you at least have me?

Overly excited, Cam. Every day.

“I guess it’s just me on the couch then.”

Sage made her way to her room, looking back over her shoulder just long enough to shoot John another wink.

“You should be more careful what you wish for, then.”

Damn, she’s good.

Hold steady, John. Hold steady.

***

“John! Help us, John!”

John scanned the battlefield for his wife and son, squinting his eyes to see through the smoke and debris of the war-scarred city. He was back fighting in the cities before cease-fire.

“Elizabeth! Adam!”

“John! John, help us, we’re burning.”

John ran to where he thought the voices were coming from, but it was another dead-end alley. He searched frantically for them, turning over cars, ripping apart walls, nothing.

“Dad, please! Hurry, she’s dying!”

John ran back down the alley he was in and out to the road. The scene changed, and he was staring at his house engulfed in flames. Dark shadows that loomed behind the burning house circled toward him. The screams got louder as the dark shroud closed on him.

“Why didn’t you save us, John? Didn’t you love us enough?”

“Why couldn’t you save us, dad? We needed you. We were dying. Where were you?”

John collapsed on his knees, screaming in agony at the pain searing through him as the darkness overwhelmed him. The voices got louder and louder until all he could hear and feel was their death all around him.

“John! John! John! John…”

John woke up and grabbed whoever was wiping off his sweat-soaked forehead, whipping his gun up to their head.

John, wait.

“Bad move, asshole,” he said.

John, wait a second, easy, big guy, easy.

“Owe. God, John, go easy.” Sage took a breath and changed her voice to a whisper. “Go, easy, John, it’s okay. It’s me. Sage.”

John shook his head, trying to clear the visions of his nightmare from his mind. He blinked his eyes, open, shut, open, shut, until he was awake enough to know he was awake.

It was a nightmare, John. A nightmare. You’re safe now.

Cam.

I’m here.

“Sage?”

“I’m here, John. Everything’s okay.”

“What the hell are you doing here, Sage? I almost blew your fucking brains out.”

“Your thank you’s always did suck.”

Sage pushed her hand on his forehead, making him lie back down.

“You look like shit. Must have been a bad one. How long has it been, John?”

“None of your business.”

“You can’t go this long between dumps.”

She’s right, John. You have to get rid of those.

John set his jaw and glared at Sage. “I’m fine.” He put his gun back in his holster and sat back up. “I need some fresh air.”

“Classic John tact. Run away, it’s what you’re good at.”

“Look who’s talking.”

Sage curled her lips into a sneer. “Good luck, John. I hope you choke in your sleep.” Standing, she threw the wet cloth at him and then headed to her room.

Anyone tell you that you need a little help when it comes to relationships?

No, and don’t start either.

John grabbed his pulse rifle and headed out the door.

Twenty Two

Fight or Flight

John washed up, slipped on a new blue T-shirt, and a fresh pair of paints that he had gotten from Reet, and then met Will early in the morning at the stables to prep the horses Will had procured for them. One for each of them, and the pack mule Esmeralda, whom they’d saved from John’s house, loaded with supplies.

“It’s the best I could do, John.”

“It more than I expected, Will. Good chow, fresh water, and clean clothes, what else does a crew of rejects need.”

“Yeah right,” Will’s eyebrows scrunched together and his eyes narrowed. “Listen, are you sure you know what you’re getting into?”

John lowered his head and grimaced. “No idea, actually.”

“That’s what I thought.” Will looked at his friend and shook his head. “Listen, the elders are saying that some sort of dark spirit after those kids. They say there’s a darkness trying to tear apart anyone who tries to help them, but if they aren’t helped, the darkness will consume everyone.”

“That’s about as reassuring as a nightmare.”

“It’s probably all bullshit anyway. Sometimes Bert smokes too much spirit weed. Either way, someone with some major power is after those kids, so watch yourselves out there.”

Told you we should have laced Bert’s pipe.

“Damn monks and pipe-smoking elders, right?” John said.

They both laughed and gave each other a hug.

“I wish you luck, old friend,” Will said.

“And you too, William.”

“Hey, tell Sage and Oliver bye for me. I would stay longer, but I promised to take the kids down to fish, and if I don’t there’s no way Rita will let me live through the night.”

“Don’t sweat it. I’ll tell them, and you tell Rita thank you for me.”

Will gyrated, spanking his hands together. “I’ll tell her a couple of times.”

Gross.

We need to get some of that smoke.

Will gave him one last look, like maybe he would never see him again, and then turned and walked toward the other side of the town.

“Wake up, sleeping beauty,” John said, so close his heat and breath bounced off Oliver.

Oliver woke up, eyes open wide and bloodshot, and pushed his head back into his pillow to get some distance from John.

“What the…John? You scared the piss out of me. What is it? Is there something wrong? Are the kids okay?”

John leaned back, smiling a nice, toothy smile.

It’s the small things, Cam, always the small things.

Worth their weight in gold.

“Everyone’s fine, Oli. Time in Pleasantville’s up though. We gotta hit the road.”

“Oh, right. Fantastic,” Oliver said. “I knew they would help us over the passes.”

“Not quite. Will says the twins have some sort of bad omen chasing after them, so they won’t have anything to do with us.”

“Oh.”

John slapped Oliver hard on the shoulder. “But, Reet cleaned your stinky robe and Will procure us some horses and supplies, enough to get us as far as we need to go.” John turned and got up to leave, but then stopped short. “Oh, and you’ll be happy to know that Will’s men found Esmeralda. She’s all loaded up and ready for the trip.”

“Esmeralda! I’d almost completely forgotten. What a wonderful surprise. See, John, no bad omens here, only good ones.”

“We’ll see if those good omens help you last until tonight, Oliver.”

“What about tonight?”

“I want to know everything by tonight, or I leave you stranded on your own in the mountains, all alone with Sasquatch.”

Do you really think he’ll tell us everything?

They always do. Eventually.

John stared straight at Oliver for a minute and then headed out the door. “Get the kids up and get ’em ready to go.”

They were getting loaded up onto the horses when Sage came out, eyes tight, jaw tense, a well-rested Adam right on her heals. She looked freshly showered and had on a new set of clothes, an green T-shirt under a thick grey cloak and a pair of brown cargo pants tucked into her combat boots. She walked dangerously close to John, nudging him hard as she headed to her horse. She turned and sneered at him.

“Nice wake up.”

“Thought you’d like it.”

Oh, great, this is going to be just like high school.

You don’t know what high school’s like, Cam.

Thank God. You need to talk to her, John.

I’m done talking.

You’re a child.

You’re a child.

“What’s the holdup, Oli. You think we got all day to dilly dally?” Sage said.

She hopped up on her horse and clicked her tongue against her teeth twice, leading the horse up the road that led out of town.

“What’s gotten into her?” Sierra said.

“She and John had a fight last night.” Quinn climbed up onto his coal black horse with some help from Oliver.

Sierra scrunched her lips and eyebrows in thought. “Really? What were they fighting about?”

Adam started barking and nudging Sierra to get her to move faster, hurrying her over to her dark chocolate horse, and then barked at her more until she got mounted.

“All right, all right. Take a chill pill, Adam, jeez.” Sierra looked over at Quinn. “This conversation isn’t over, Q. I want details.”

Sierra and Oliver looked over at John, who just smiled red cloaked twins and mounted his own horse, clicking his tongue twice and following Sage down the road.

They look like two little red riding hoods.

Two little red riding pains in my ass is more like it.

Sure tough guy, sure.

On that note they left the Natives behind and headed into the mountains.

***

“Where are we going?” Quinn said.

“To Galbraith Monastery, at Old Fairhaven,” Oliver said. “It’s where I made my home after Day One. I think you and your sister will find it comfortable enough, always plenty to do around the grounds and the town there. An over abundance of food, I might add. The land and soil are second to none, plus the school system you will be attending is second to none.”

There was a short silence as Sierra and her horse, which she found was aptly named Spitfire, clopped up beside Quinn and Oliver.

“It’s not like we have much of a choice, right, Oliver?” she said. “We haven’t had much of choice on this whole adventure.”

“I guess we haven’t given you children much of a choice, have we?” Oliver said. “But there really hasn’t been much choice to give unless you wanted to stay back at Tree Top.”

Sierra huffed and clopped up behind Sage, leaving Oliver perplexed.

“You’re pretty cool, Oliver,” Quinn said.

“Thank you, Quinn. Can I ask where that came from?”

“I just wanted to tell you before you change your mind and leave us because of Sierra.”

“No worry about that. I’m afraid we are all joined at the hip for the duration.”

“Well, just in case, I think you’re really cool, and your stories are awesome.”

Oliver smiled, sat up triumphant in his saddle, and looked over at John, who grinned back at him.

“Thank you, Quinn,” Oliver said. “Did you hear that, John? I’m awesome.”

“Sure, Oliver, you’re one of a kind.”

We’ll never hear the end of it, John.

I’m sure we won’t.

Then why do you encourage it?

The small things, Cam, the small things.

Adam marched alongside them for a while until John whistled a short burst of a tune, signaling it was time to start his watch. At the end of John’s whistle, he tore off through the thick trees, years of training and instinct taking over.

You linked with Adam?

Tight as fiddle strings. As far as I can tell we’re clear for miles. Like really clear.

Maybe we’ll catch a break.

I’ll believe that when I see.

Yeah, right.

They marched on for hours along the pine-scented dirt and rock trail. Winding up and up, the trail looked as if it might take them to the clouds before they would descend into a valley, only to start going back uphill again. There were no towns or villages up here, and only very few people could be found this deep in the wood. Mostly scavengers, people who have gone a little too wild for everyone else’s taste, and who, for whatever reason, decided to live up here on their own. Luckily they hadn’t run into any of the hill people yet, and at this pace they wouldn’t.

Every once in a while they crossed a torn-up section of earth and a root-covered remnant of a concrete road, reminders that these mountains had once been the only connections from one side of the state to the other. Roads and paths that had been deserted for longer than most could remember.

They rested very little, stopping only to water the horses and refill the water bladders. The day wore on, and as the sun dipped, the wind began its steady assault down to their bare skin, penetrating the weary travelers like thin ice picks.

Damn, it’s cold.

It’s always cold up here, Cam.

Feels too cold for spring.

You don’t actually feel, Cam.

I sense how you feel, same difference.

Sure you do. Any word from Adam?

No, but I think he’d agree with me that it’s colder than usual.

Cam.

His feed’s clear, but I’ll check.

Cam brought up Adam’s vid feeds and an overlay of the countryside.

Looks like he’ll be back to us soon. Oh, and he found it. We’re actually pretty close.

Thank you, Cam.

I really don’t know what you two would do without me.

We sure as hell wouldn’t know if it was cold or not.

I hate you.

“How long until he lets us stop?” Sierra said between her chattering teeth.

“I’m not so sure that he will stop,” Oliver said.

“He’ll stop,” Sage gritted her teeth and put had her hand on her ribs, checking her splint and guarding against any movement with her arm. “He’s just waiting for the right place.”

“It’s freezing,” Quinn said. “I hope he finds someplace soon.”

Oliver looked over Sage, a mocking smile painted well on his face. “Are you doing okay? We can stop if you need to Sage.”

Sage bore down on her horse and glared at him. “I’m fine Oli, I might not heal as fast you, but I have my own tricks.”

Adam found his way back to his companions after trudging through the forest all morning to scout ahead. He’d been gone a couple of hours this time, and he was barking and spinning in circles. John threw him a piece of jerky and continued on the trail. Adam demolished it and then fell in line with the group.

“We’re almost there.”

You’ll be able to see it soon, John.

“And where would there be?” Oliver said.

“An old building that was part of the ski resort up here. Cam and Adam both say the area’s clear, so we’ll be able to start a fire and bed down there for the night.”

“Finally,” Sierra said. “I’m not sure my numb body could take much more.”

Sage brought her horse up alongside her. “Don’t worry, kid. Numbness won’t last that long once we get some heat on you.”

Sierra glared at her and pushed her horse to go a little ahead of Sage. “Duh, I know that already. I’m not a little kid.”

John laughed as Sage came up beside him. “Having fun?” he said.

She sneered at him. “Looks like you’re having more fun than me.”

“It’s nice to see someone else on the receiving end of her charming attitude.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

“Thank you.” He glanced over her and cocked his lips up into a smile. “Looks like you might have taken your sling and swath off a little soon.”

He was about to say something else, but Sage swatted his horse hard on its rear end. His horse reared up, threw him from his saddle, and then sprinted up the tail until it was out of site. John rolled onto his back in the snow and looked up from his new position at Sage as she went by with a very satisfied smile on her face.

“You’re very welcome,” she said.

Oliver and Quinn trotted their horses over and smiled down at him as they passed. “What was that about? Horse giving you a run for your money?” Oliver said.

John hollered after them. “We’re going on foot from here anyway.”

See, this is what happens when you seclude yourself. You get out of practice.

Shut up, Cam. Obviously I haven’t secluded us enough.

John guided them by foot the rest of the way, trudging through the ankle deep snow as the howling wind chapped their faces. Up and up they went, as if there were no end to the forested road snaking to meet the sky.

 

The Earth had long since taken this land back and it was hard to follow what had once been a large swath of concrete and was now a one lane road or single trail at times. Large sections were missing in places, and as they crept across smaller portions of the crumbling road they would sneak glances down through the large gaps where mountain and road had fallen into oblivion. Sneak glances down the steep rock and tree covered decent into the clouds lingering below them, hoping that the thin crust they walked on would hold a while longer.

   

They left the road and John led them onto a forested trail leading to an old lodge that he explained had been a ski resort at one point. It was one of the last in the country to stop running and was functioning up until a decade ago, when people who came up here started disappearing by the droves. It was easy to disappear in the chaos. No infrastructure, no order, no one looking except for people you didn’t want looking for you.

So people made up stories for why people disappeared. Stories of Sasquatch sightings seemed to be the favorite, people desperate for anything to blame for the massive losses. So the populace stopped going into the woods at all for fear of getting taken by the horrid Sasquatch and soon the only way to the other side was far north, far south, or in the sky. The woods, and the lodge, were slowly forgotten, except by a few.

John led them round and round until they came to an old maintenance building, where he ordered them to leave the horses and pack mule with the majority of their gear. It would be a bitter cold night for the animals, but they would survive with the food and water provided, along with the heavy blankets they had put on them to help keep them warm.

He led the rest of them on foot with what little gear he let them take to another small outbuidling that was made out of logs and cement. The windows were still intact, which was a rarity up here. Snow covered the roof, which was a good sign the building was still intact and could hold warmth from the wide stone chimney that climbed the side of the building if they could get a fire lit.

 

They settled inside, pushing rotten, moth-eaten furniture around to make space to sit by the hearth. John secured the entrances and made sure they had a well-covered exit, only one door leading in, while the others took stock of the events of the last few days. Adam curled up in front of the fireplace next to where Quinn had laid his claim for the night.

“Hey, boy,” Quinn said. “Do you think it’s true what they say about the Sasquatches that live up here?”

“Sasquatch doesn’t exist, Quinn,” Sierra said.

“They do too. If they didn’t exist, why are there so many stories about them? About how they ate up all the travelers that came up here after Day One, the ones trying to go across the mountains to hide?”

“Whatever, Quinn. You stay in your little fantasy world if you want to.”

Sierra got up and went over to her bed. Adam whimpered, pushing his body closer to Quinn.

See what finding someplace warm does to them, Cam?

You like it.

Like I’d like an ice pick in my eye.

“I believe you, Quinn,” Oliver said.

Oliver had been sitting on an old steel stool, drinking some water he had steamed by the fire.

“Don’t encourage him, Oli,” Sage said. “You’ll give the boy nightmares.”

“Really, you believe me?”

Sage rolled her eyes. “Good going, Oli.”

“I do believe you, Quinn,” Oliver said. “In fact, when I was on my second trip to the monastery, I met a man who told me a story about how he barely survived a Sasquatch.”

This is going to be good.

You ready, Cam?

What, we can’t wait and hear Oliver’s story?

You’ve heard it before.

But it’s cold out.

You can’t feel it, Cam.

But we already scanned and it’s clear.

Yes.

And you want to go out and scout anyways.

Yes.

In the freezing cold.

Yes.

Damn it.

John used this time to sneak out the back door. He waved to Sage, who nodded her head in recognition. As he slid the door shut he could just make out Oliver starting in on one of his stories and smiled.

Oliver told them of a man he ran across who had been part of a scavenger party. Early on, you see. There wasn’t much organization, and small groups would form up together and try to go it on their own. He was in one of those groups.

They were on their way to Leavenworth because word had spread that a strong free colony was flourishing there. The land in most of the coastal cities had been swallowed by water, and what was left of the peninsula had been either wiped bare or turned into wetlands. So they were heading over the pass in a small caravan of vehicles, when most everyone still had such things.

This man and his band of scavengers holed up close to where they were now, up at the main lodge. Even though people still had vehicles, few had come over the passes in a long time, and the lodge, just recently closed, had a good chance of still being intact. The scavenging party was counting on this, and hoped to find an untouched gold mine of supplies.

The light from the fire flickered violently across the room and over Oliver, making him look like a mad magician instructing his pupils as he paused to take a drink out of his flask. Sierra got up and looked out the window. In the light of the full moon a hollow looking structure stood high on the mountain’s slope. Sierra’s eyes went wide with a queasy terror.

“Is that the building up there?” she said.

John came in right at that moment and everyone in the room but Oliver jumped, Sierra let out an uncontrolled shriek, and Adam howled toward the ceiling as the gust of wind that had followed John inside whirled through the room until he slammed it outside behind the door.

He caught a ratty old pillow Sage had thrown at him and coughed from the small cloud of dust and dirt that exploded from it.

“Jeez, John, you scared the crap out of us.”

He dropped the pillow and smiled at the glare he was getting from Sage. “You have everyone scared with one of your Sasquatch stories already, Oliver?”

Adam lay back down and tried covering his eyes with his paws.

“You should cover your eyes, Adam,” John said. “You didn’t even try to help outside, and you got scared like a toddler.”

Adam rolled over halfway onto his back and nudged Quinn’s hand with his nose, and then his paws. Quinn laughed and started scratching his chest and belly.

“Don’t listen to him, boy. I think you’re brave, and I’m glad you stayed here to protect me from Sasquatch.”

“Looks like you’ve effectively turned Adam from a military Sheppard into a pushover,” Sage said.

Everyone in the room laughed. John rolled his eyes and did one last check around the room as Oliver started up his story again.

“You’re correct, Sierra, the building they sheltered in is that very building up there.

“This man’s particular group hadn’t seen anyone else yet on their trip and felt safe in just having one person pulling watch shifts at a time, but one of the watchers fell asleep, and as they slept an ancient evil crept down from the tallest peaks of the mountain to the small mound of red hot coals that the watcher had left without tending. They crept like a two-story tall Indian through the trees, and over the rocks and rivers to the tiny light that burned gold.”

Damn, he tells a good story.

You scared, Cam?

I can’t get scared.

You can’t get cold either.

“Did they eat them?”

“Sierra, shut up,” Quinn said.

Oliver smiled at the two squabbling siblings and continued his story. “The truth is the man didn’t know what happened. He woke up and saw a giant fur-covered monster, with fangs like a saber-toothed tiger and claws as long as samurai swords, stuffing his cohorts into a giant sack. He could hear their blood-curdling screams and see them struggling as the hideous creature poked and prodded the sack, laughing a deep and sickening laugh at their pain.

“So he did what I expect most humans in his predicament would do. He ran mad out of that lodge and into the woods, without so much as a bottle of water. By the time I found him, he was hardly coherent from exhaustion, hypothermia, dehydration, and starvation.

“I fed him, gave him drink, and tried to get him to leave with me, but he would not go back to the trail because he was so terrified. So I got him drunk one night until he passed out, and I hauled him myself all the way to Tree Top.

“At the time I still believed the man to be mad, but the man never changed his story, not once. It drove him to drink his life away, and he died from a knife wound after picking a fight with some other drunk. All because they told him his story was only the ravings of a crazy man.”

“Has anyone else seen the Sasquatches?” Sierra said.

“There are stories, rumors, a rare whisper on the occasion someone catches sight of something moving in the trees below them, or sees something when they’ve traveled deeper in the woods than they were supposed to.”

“Is it true what they say about them eating your insides, and using human skin for their shelters?” Quinn said.

“I imagine not but—” Oliver looked over at Sage and John, who were sitting much closer together now, and gave them a wink “—there are the stories of the missing children that always worried me.”

Quinn and Sierra’s eyes got wide, and Adam tried to cover his eyes again and whimpered.

“What children?” Sierra said.

“Most of the merchants theses days live in or near the towns they make their living in, but a small few still choose to live out in the woods. As with our good friend John here, they live deep in the woods not believing the stories of children getting snatched up by Sasquatch hunting parties in the dead of night, and taken deep in the mountains where no one can hear their screams.”

He is joking, right?

I thought you couldn’t get scared.

I can’t. I’m just curious.

Sure, Cam, sure.

“Alright then,” Oliver said. “Off to bed now.”

Sierra looked at him as if he’d just asked her to stick her hand in the fire. “Now, really?”

“Yes, now.” Oliver raised his arms above his head like an ape and charged at the twins. “Before the sasquatch comes for you!”

Sierra shrieked as Oliver tackled her and Quinn. “Oliver!”

“Get him,” Quinn said.

The two of them started on the offensive, sending Oliver onto his back and bombarding him with their tiny camp pillows. Adam growled playfully, grabbed Oliver’s robe between his teeth, and pulled on him so he couldn’t escape.

“Kill the Sasquatch.”

“Don’t let him eat the children.”

Oliver peeked out from under Quinn’s arm at John and Sage. “I might need a little help here.”

“I think you’re doing just fine, Oliver the Sasquatch. Don’t you Sage?”

“Yeah, don’t worry, Oli, you got this.”

“Wait, don’t leave me to these Sasquatch killers,” Oliver said as John and Sage made their way to the back of the room to lay out their sleeping bags.

***

“I better come and sleep by you, Quinn, just in case you have a nightmare.”

“Good idea, Sierra,” Quinn said. “That way when Sasquatch comes, I’ll make sure he takes you first.”

Sierra flicked him behind his ears with her finger, and then fetched her bedding and laid it out by Quinn.

“You’re a jerk, Q.”

“I love you too, sis.”

“Good job, Oli,” Sage said. ”Scare the kids half to death and then tell them it’s time to go to sleep.”

“I’m not scared at all,” Sierra said. She glared at Oliver. “I don’t believe in Sasquatch.”

Sierra turned over and pulled her sleeping bag over her head.

“Do the Sasquatches really eat the kids?” Quinn asked.

“No one knows, Q,” Oliver said. “The children are never seen or heard from again.”

He unpacked his bag and flung out his sleeping bag.

“So they might still be alive,” Quinn said.

“Or they might not.”

Quinn lay on his back and stared at the ceiling, gears of misadventure and fear turning in his mind. Oliver look at him one more time as if for good measure, and then tucked himself in his bag for the night.

“Goodnight, Q,” he said, “sweet Sasquatch dreams.”

John and Sage lingered awake for a little longer, making sure everyone got off to sleep okay, not counting the still not sleeping Quinn.

“First watch?” Sage said.

“Rock, scissors, paper?”

Sage grumbled to herself as she got ready for her first sweep around the perimeter.

“Who even uses dynamite anymore?”

“The same people that use a handgun to try to win Rock, Scissors, Paper,” John said.

He wrapped himself up tight in his sleeping bag and rolled over onto his side. “Enjoy your patrol. Might want to dress warm. It’s pretty cold out.”

“Jerk off,” Sage said.

She opened the door and let an extra long, cold gust of wind in as she headed outside.

Thanks for flashing dynamite to me, Cam.

Dynamite, gets them every time.

Amateurs.

“Was Oliver telling the truth about the Sasquatches, John?” Quinn said.

“I didn’t figure you’d let a story like that keep you awake.”

“But are they real?”

“I don’t know, kid. I bet there’s a lot of stuff up here that we don’t know about. It’s wild in these parts anymore, so I guess Sasquatches could be real. But don’t worry, kid, we’ll feed them Oliver first.”

Quinn laughed and petted Adam, who was still curled up next to him.

“I bet Adam would save us, wouldn’t you, boy?”

Adam rolled over into Quinn and let him rub behind his ears.

“Looks like you’ve made yourself a pretty loyal friend. He must really like you.”

“I think he does.”

“He always did have bad taste,” John said. “Now shut up so I can get to sleep.”

John caught a small smile from Quinn before the kid rolled over and pulled his sleeping bag back up over his head.

“Goodnight John,” Quinn said.

“Goodnight, kid.”

Twenty Three

Sasquatch

“Wake up, sunshine,” John said.

“It’s too early for milk, mommy,” Oliver mumbled.

Mommy?

Opening his eyes slowly, blinking a few times, and then a bit wider, Oliver sat bolt upright. “I mean, right away, of course, sorry.”

I think he’s a cute beardy man.

I don’t think cute is the word for it.

“Don’t worry, princess,” John said, “your secret’s safe with me.”

“Right, thank you.”

“Can you get the kids up and get them moving?”

“Gladly.” Oliver looked around. “Any news from the front?”

John leaned back against the wall, smiling, and took a deep breath.

“No, all clear so far. Sage’s out getting the horses ready, so you better put a move on it.”

“Brisk start this morning, I like it. Let us getting to marching then.”

“Yup, we have to get a head start on your Sasquatch friends, don’t we?”

Oliver smiled, a bit more nervous than John had anticipated.

Aren’t you chipper this morning.

That’s me, Mr. Chipper.

Ewe, that sounds kind of creepy.

“Yes, of course, funny. Sasquatches. Very good.”

 

Oliver crawled out of his sleeping bag and walked over to Sierra and Quinn, kicking their small forms to life. “No rest for the weary, up and at ’em, you lollygaggers.”

Sierra and Quinn moaned but stayed in their caves. Oliver knocked them with his foot a little harder, and then bent down and uncovered them.

“Really, Oliver?” Sierra said. “It’s still so early.”

“Yes, really. No time to waste, long day ahead of us, up with both of you.”

The twin zombies named Quinn and Sierra started moving and with no great speed finished

climbing out into the light in the matching black T-shirts and blue jeans they’d gotten from Will and Rita. They slouched on one of the benches and slugged down their breakfast before gathering up supplies and stamping out the fire.

“Why do we always have to leave so early?” Sierra said.

John finished checking out Quinn’s horse and started his inspection of Sierra and her horse, Spitfire. He nodded in approval that Sierra had everything she needed. He hadn’t been able to convince her to use a saddle, but after Quinn’s swim in the river she was at least using a set of reins.

“Because we have to.”

“That’s a brilliant answer,” she said.

Quinn looked over to Oliver and Sage. “This is going to be a long day.”

Do we always have to start off like this?

It seems to be the routine.

Ugh.

They rode for most of the morning, John in the lead and Oliver in the middle, playing his mandolin and singing old ballads of wayward travelers for Sierra and Quinn. Sage brought up the rear, and Adam ran up and down the line, checking on his companions.

“How many days is it going to take us to get to your monastery, Oliver?”

“Five days if we don’t run into trouble, Q.”

“Are we going to like it there?”

“Oh, indeed you will, Q. It was built out of the ashes of a gated town up on a mountain named Galbraith. Its white-stoned walls are strong and majestic towering over the endless ocean.”

He should be a vendor.

He is a vendor, Cam.

Oh, yeah I forgot.

Quinn saw Oliver gaze far past the trail they were on. Past the trees and stone that surrounded them. Past everything.

“You really miss it, don’t you, Oli?”

“I do, Quinn. It’s a wonderful place, and I am anxious to get back.”

Sierra came up behind them and sneered at Quinn. “Is it just a monastery? Sounds boring.”

“Monastery, and a small village. It’s become a hub for anyone traveling the coastal areas, really.” Oliver smiled proudly. “Its keeper is my master and teacher, Benedict. He will know how to help us.”

Almost as good as our place was, John.

Was.

Sorry.

Don’t worry about it, Cam. Maybe we’ll end up staying with Oli.

Don’t play with me like that John.

Sierra leaned back in her saddle and looked straight at John. “It does almost sound as good as your place was, John.”

She winked at him and then clicked her tongue, speeding her horse up past them to the front of the trail, where she couldn’t hear anyone.

Where’d that come from?

Who knows.

They get weirder by the second.

John whistled and Adam took off after her.

“Did we miss something?” Oliver said.

“Don’t worry about her, Oli,” Quinn said. “She’s almost always like that.”

“Yes, I’m starting to get a grasp on that.”

“So what’s the name of your monastery again, Oli?”

“New Fairhaven. It was the name of the last city below the mountain before it was swallowed by the ocean.”

Sage came up behind them on her way up to John. “Telling more horror stories, Oliver? One might think that you never want the boy to sleep again.”

“I wasn’t scarred last night,” Quinn said. “I was just worried about Sierra, that’s all.”

“Of course, Q. I’m sorry, I was so mistaken.”

“We’re going to need to rest soon, Sage,” Oliver said. “I know of a place a bit farther down the trail that would be suitable. Could you tell our quiet fearless leader for us?”

“I’ll try.”

Sage sped up a little to catch up to John.

“Quiet today, big fella,” Sage said.

“Something’s been tracking us.”

“I know. I can’t tell if it’s just curious or waiting to eat us.”

John looked at Sage, eyes wide. “Sasquatch,” he said.

Sage laughed, making her cough a little, so punched his arm. “I told you don’t make me laugh, this shit still hurts, John, Jesus.”

“I’m sorry, I just keep forgetting you’re not as strong as you look.”

“And here I thought you had lost all your humor when you were born.”

“Nice.”

That’s a good point, John. Maybe you were born without humor.

I evolved.

Thanks to me.

In spite of you.

“Our senses are a little high right now. It’s probably just some wolves, curious at what a rag-tag band like us is doing up here.”

“Yeah,” John said, “or wondering which one of us tastes the juiciest.”

“Look at you,” Sage said. “All worried about your new friends.”

“Worried about getting rid of them, that’s all.”

John heard the clopping stop behind him and turned to see who had stopped. Quinn sat in his saddle, tense and glaring at John.

Damn.

Damn’s right.

“Good work, John. Never disappoint, do you?”

John sighed and rubbed his temples hard with thumb and forefinger, and then pulled his hand down his road-weary face.

“Hey kid, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“You don’t have to worry, John. You’ll be rid of us soon enough, and then your life can go back to normal.”

Quinn steered his horse back toward Oli, who waved helpless back to John.

No way to sugarcoat that one, John.

Damn again.

“Sage. Can you go check on Adam and Sierra?”

“Yeah, I’m on it.”

Sage clopped off at a gallop.

John looked back at Oliver, who was talking to Quinn, trying to convince him that John wasn’t a complete asshole, when he heard Adam start howling.

John, big heat sig bearing down on Sierra and Adam right now.

Is it the wolf pack?

No, this is way different, and way bigger.

John pulled his REP rifle off his back and sped on his horse toward Sage, Sierra, and Adam.

“Climb, Oli. Climb!”

Oliver heard John yelling at him and wasted no time grabbing the reins of Quinn’s horse and leading them over to a giant boulder. Oliver jumped off the horse onto the rock and helped Quinn up after him. They climbed, higher and higher, until they were out of reach.

John got to where Sage and Sierra were. Sierra was on the ground. Sage was helping her up, and guarding her ribs, out of breath already. Adam was howling at the tree line, fur rippling along his back, lips furled up to show his blade-like fangs. John got off his horse and scanned the tree line.

What’ve we got, Cam?

Grizzly, has to be. It’s huge, John.

Are you sure it’s not a Sasquatch?

Really, now you want to be funny?

“What is it?” Sierra said.

Sage held her in close with her weak side and held her handgun pointed to the tree line with her good hand. “Don’t know, but it’s big if it’s got Adam spooked like this.”

“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have let myself get distracted, maybe Spitfire wouldn’t have gotten distracted…”

“No time for that now, kid. Get up slow and start moving back toward John, okay?”

Sierra started creeping toward John. He looked back and saw that Oliver and Quinn were safe and in a good place, so for now he only had to worry about getting Sierra and Sage to safety. He held his hand out and waved for Sierra, letting her know that he and Sage had her covered.

“We’re going to have to make our way back to Quinn and Oli,” John said. “Just stay calm and follow my lead, okay?”

Sierra nodded and kept creeping toward him. Sage got up slow, holding her ribs with her healing arm and the gun out with the other, and followed Sierra. She froze. An earthshaking growl came from the trees, making their stomachs churn and their skin prickle as if they’d just walked into a freezer.

John, now might be a good time to run.

The ground shook again as an even louder growl blew out of the trees. The trees and underbrush exploded with movement, sending debris flying toward the three of them. Two giant Grizzly bears came barreling out toward them, thick saliva hanging like vines from their cavernous, fanged mouths, their muscles rippling under their brownish red fur, like white caps on the open ocean.

Too late.

“Sage!”

“On it!”

Sage emptied her handgun at the closest grizzly, and then let it drop to the ground. She unslung her pulse rifle, adrenaline coursing through her body, and fired blasts that would have flattened an entire squad of well-armed men, but the grizzly bears barely skipped a step.

Sage grabbed Sierra and ran for the rocky peak twenty yards away that held Oliver and Quinn. John got down on one knee, pulse rifle steady and trained on the bears, as if he were waiting for an inevitable demise, but when the grizzlies got close, he threw himself in the air and shot bolts of amplified electricity surging toward the assaulting monsters at such close range he could smell the scorched fur on their backs. They roared with a horrific fury and scrambled after John as he landed behind them and sprinted into the trees. John’s shots didn’t slow them down as much as he’d hoped.

Damn, they’re fast.

They’re like evil mutant grizzlies.

He slung his rifle as he ran to a tree and jumped twelve feet in the air catching a branch and swinging forward onto a boulder as the tree burst into splinters behind him. He felt the small pinnacle he had landed on tremble under the thunderous landing of his pursuers.

We’re dead.

If you keep stopping we are. Move, old man, MOVE.

John leaped for another tree and felt his side split open and his lungs catch fire. He careened through the air, crashing through branches that felt like baseball bats pummeling his sides, and landed on the ground like a sack of bricks.

Ground feels harder than I remember.

We’re dead.

He tried to get up, but he felt daggers go through his arm, and then he was flying up into the air again. He kissed the side of the mountain with his face and slithered down to the ground.

Tenderizing me. I hope they choke on my bones.

Why can’t they choke before they eat us?

He heard the two grizzlies tussling with each other, a quick squabble over who gets first meat, then felt more daggers in his leg. He readied himself for the last blow.

I hope I pass out soon.

Bye, John.

Bye, Cam.

John…

I know, Cam. Me too.

They waited and waited, lying on the ground, blood and oxygen pouring out onto the forest floor in ample supply for the mountain. They waited, and waited, agonizing, dying slowly, waiting for the final blow.

The final blow never came. John just lay limp on the ground, feeling the warm trickle of blood leak out of his many open wounds. A roar twice as loud as what he had heard earlier shook the mountain, and he sensed that the grizzlies had stopped toying with him. The ground shook like a trampoline, and trees sounded as if they were being ripped from the earth. John thought he heard a whimper come from the grizzlies.

He forced his eyelids to open and blinked the blurriness away. He saw two massive, shaggy haired monsters tossing the grizzlies aside like scraps of garbage, and then proceed to pound on them with their fists and feet. When they were done with the grizzlies they turned and lumbered toward him. He felt his body shake with every one of their footsteps. A big hairy hand picked his hollow blood drenched body, lifting him high up into the air. He saw a sliver of blue sky peeking through the forest canopy before he closed his eyes and let everything disappear.

Twenty Four

Balder

“Hello, John.”

John blinked his eyes clear, trying to focus on where the voice was coming from. He saw a wall of white light and moved his arms as if he were swimming through air to get to it.

“Hello, handsome,” the voice said.

He drifted, floated, gliding toward the brilliant light. Closer and closer, until he could make out the naked form of the most beautiful women he had ever seen in his life.

“Elizabeth? Is that you?” he said.

“For now it is. It looks like you found more trouble than you know what to do with this time, husband of mine.”

John reached out to touch her, but his hands went through her body.

“What is this? Am I dead?”

“Not yet, sweetheart. It will take a lot more than a couple giant grizzlies to bring you down, apparently.”

“Where am I? Are you real? Where’s Adam?” John started feeling as if the air were getting sucked out of his lungs.

“There is not enough time, dear,” Elizabeth said. “We are fine, and we will be ready for you when your time comes. For now, you have to go back to your unlikely band of heroes, sweetheart.”

“But I’m not ready.” John reached for his chest, clawing at it as if he were trying to pry it open with his bare hands. “I won’t leave you again!”

“It is not your choice, darling man of mine. It will be soon enough, John.”

She started floating away from him, disappearing into a blinding light.

“Save the children, John, but beware who you trust. Not all is what it seems. I love you, husband, and we will be waiting for you. When it’s time.”

“No!”

John tried to escape his starving body and chase after her, but she was gone, and he was anchored to whatever he was lying on.

“NO!”

John sat straight up, breathing hard, his chest heaving and wet with perspiration. Every breath felt like fire, and when he moved it felt as if it took every cell in his body to make it work. He scanned his surroundings and felt even more confused.

Maybe I am dead.

You’re not dead, cupcake.

Cam?

Hi, handsome. Nice dream.

Dream?

Never mind.

His head turned side to side, eyes darting from item to item, trying to gather as much information as he could. He was in a sun-lit room. The walls were made of what looked like enormous horizontal logs, whole trees maybe. Branches grew up from the floor to the ceiling, wrapping in and out of them. Leaves and nesting material were scattered in the winding growth. Birds hopped and fluttered from branch to branch, humming and chirping. Crickets sawed their legs together, and toads croaked in dark corners, hidden from sight.

He pressed down with his fingers into the soft, feathery surface that he was on. It felt as if it were made out the same clouds that he saw outside a window. Windows. There were four of them, more or less just breaks in the branches of the tree walls. He walked his feet off the bed, and let them dangle to the floor. He wiggled his toes to make sure they worked, and then got up and walked over to the window. The room swayed back and forth, making him queasy. He hugged his sides as fire crept through his chest and stomach. His vision tunneled, and he gripped the bedside dresser with white fingertips to steady himself.

Yep, I’m totally dead.

Don’t you think death for us would be a little hotter?

Funny, Cam. Where are we?

Well, I’ve been working on that, and I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you, so I’ll let Oli tell you.

Oli?

He made his way to the window, fighting for air, and gasped. Blue sky and giant, wispy white clouds as far as he could see, the sun shining brilliantly against the blue and white canvas. John felt so close that he reached out as if he would be able to touch it.

“If I’m not dead, Cam, where am I?”

“Welcome to Igdrusil, John,” Oliver said from the doorway on the far side of the room. “Otherwise referred to as Ashtree. Not the Ashtree, of course, but an Ashtree nonetheless.”

Oliver set a small teapot on the table by the door and went over to examine John.

“Oliver?” John said. “Are we dead?”

“No, my friend. We are very much alive.”

“I don’t feel so good.”

“You do not look so good either, John.” Oliver guided him over to the bed. “Here, have a sit.”

“What happened, Oliver? Where are we? Adam!”

John’s eyes went wide and he tried to get up, but he half fell over on the bed. Oliver helped him regain his balance to sit back upright.

“Why’re you laughing at me?”

“Adam is fine, more than fine to be exact. I think he believes he has found heaven, but one thing at a time, John. Everyone is safe and no worse for wear. There will be plenty of time to answer all of your questions later, but for now you must rest. You’ve quite a bit of more healing to do.”

“Quinn, Sierra, Sage.”

“Safe, safe, and safe. Now rest, John. I have brought you something that should lift your spirits.”

“I don’t drink tea, Oliver, no matter how hard you try.”

“Not tea, John.”

Oliver went back over by the door, grabbed the kettle, and brought it over by John. The fresh-roasted aroma melted his senses at once, flooding his body with delight. Oliver took the kettle and poured the steaming black drink into an earthen cup, and handed it to John, who sipped it down, eyes closed tight, nostrils flared.

Coffee! .

You still might want to kill him after his story.

What do you know, Cam?

You’ll see.

John was still taking sips of his coffee and enjoying the sensation when the door burst open, Adam leapt in and tackled John to the bed. He just barely had time to set his coffee down before Quinn followed Adam with his own acrobatic smearing.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” John said. “Let a man get some coffee in him before you get him killed again.” John winced as they squeezed and crashed against his tenderized ribs. “I think those might be broken still.”

“They are broken,” Oliver said. “Now please, Adam, Quinn off. We talked about this.”

Sierra walked in behind them and squeezed in between the two boys to give John a hug.

“If you weren’t such a jerk, you’d probably be dead.” She rubbed her face on his white shirt, smearing snot and tears on him. “Thanks for being such a jerk, John.”

Wow.

I know, jeez.

“What is this?” Oliver said. “Has everyone decided to completely ignore me? I strictly forbid you to come here until John was feeling better!”

He pushed them away from John. “What are you two trying to do, kill him?”

“Yeah, what’re you two trying to do, kill me?” John said.

Sierra wiped her eyes with her knuckles and looked over at Quinn. They grinned at each other before tackling John again.

“Oh, Oli, calm down, it’s not our fault,” Sierra said. “Adam took off running when we were playing and bee-lined straight for here. So we followed.”

“Yeah, calm down, Oli,” Quinn said as dug his head into John’s armpit.

Ow, ow, ow, ow.

Love hurts, doesn’t it.

Very helpful observation, Cam.

“Ow.” John tried pealing them off him. “You know, being broken really does hurt, Jeez.”

“Come on now, get off him. All of you, out,” Oliver said. “Out, out, out. Out with you too, Adam.” He started prying their hands from each other’s grip and separating them from John, who was grinning between grimaces as if he were having the time of his life. “Quinn, let go, it was very nice of all of you to think of him, but this is too much too soon, please and thank you!”

John scratched behind Adam’s ears, and patted Quinn on the head as he always did when he really didn’t know what else to do.

“It’s okay, Oli,” John said. “No one spilled my coffee, so no one will die yet.” He winked at Sierra, who blushed bright red.

Sierra hugged John tight one more time and gave him a kiss on the forehead. This time his face went beat red, and he looked over at Oliver, his eyes pleading for help.

“Don’t look at me,” he said. “No one spilled your coffee, so you’re right as rain, you said.” He finished pulling the kids away. “It is your own fault for saving everyone’s life again.”

John limped his way out of bed and patted Sierra and Quinn on the shoulders. They seemed different to him, rested, cheerful, endearing even.

Crap.

See, this whole thing is your own damn fault.

Don’t think I’ve forgotten your part in this, Cam.

Crap.

“Saved everyone’s lives again, go figure,” John said. “Okay, Oliver’s right, everyone out. I need to talk to our dear monk alone.”

He gave Adam one last good pat down and then let Oliver lead them all out of the room.

“I knew it would be a bit much,” Oliver said. “I tried, I told them that you would need more time, more rest.”

John’s smile disappeared, replaced with the stern, glaring eyes of determination. “Oliver. Answers.”

Oliver gestured to the bed again and John sat.

“As I said, you’re at Ashtree, or basically the tree that connects all things. A little adaptation to a very old legend that our hosts here adopted. Fantastical creatures really.”

“Fantastical creatures?”

“Ah, you might want to take another drink of your coffee.”

John swirled his drink and sniffed at the lip of the mug, sneering over the top of it at Oliver.

Cam?

Surprisingly, it’s clean.

“Are you going to look at me like that every time I offer you something to drink?”

“Yes.”

“You are a child sometimes. I am sure Cam has told you it’s perfectly safe.”

“She has.”

“Then why are you still looking at me with such distaste?”

“I just wanted to see you squirm a bit longer.”

Oh, you’re good.

Thanks, Cam.

John winked at him and then took a long swig of his coffee, holding it in his mouth and savoring it. Oliver sighed deeply and waited until John waved his hand at him to continue.

“All right, then, are you sure you’re ready for me to continue? You’ve had enough tease from your coffee?”

“Sure, Oli. Try me.”

“When the Norsemen came here, the Natives brought them here to this giant magical tree to meet the inhabitants.”

“Giant magical tree?”

“Please. Let me finish.”

John nodded his head encouraging Oliver to continue as he went back to sipping his coffee.

“They named the inhabitants Skellring, but the local native had another name for them.”

Oliver started to say something, but John completely ignored him, distracted by the small creature that just walked in the room. He sat blinking, ears ringing, oblivious to Oliver’s voice because of the curious looking fur ball that was staring back at him. It was about four feet tall with golden fur covering its face, very much resembling a heavily bearded dwarf. Its fur puffed out from under its black velvet vest and white shirt, and out the bottom of its dark brown pants and over its feet. His eyes—the creature seemed to be male—were blue and very human, which was unnerving. It was even more unnerving when Oliver’s new furry friend smiled at John and started talking.

“You fight like you wish to die, friend of Oliver. If it were not for your unique disposition and the skill of your lady friend, you should have died.”

Oliver looked between the two, smiling from ear to ear and looking very satisfied with himself.

“As I was about to say, John, welcome to the home of the Sasquatch.” He went over and shook the Sasquatch’s hand. “And, more specifically, the home of my good friend Balder, chief of this branch.”

“You’re a Sasquatch?” John said.

Told you, unbelievable, right?

A bit of an understatement.

The little Sasquatch walked over to John and put his hand out to him.

“I am Balder, and yes, I am a Sasquatch.”

John took his hand in his own. It felt like rough pillows stretched across Balder’s palm and his fur-covered fingers, of which he had five.

“Thank you, Balder,” was all John could manage before he passed out hard onto the bed.

Oliver looked over at the tough looking Sasquatch, a forced smile stretching across his face like a showman whose magic was just exposed.

“He’s had better moments.”

“You will need those better moments on the rest of your journey to Galbraith.”

“He will be fine.” Oliver sighed, and put a hand on Balder’s shoulder as he turned to walk back to the door. “He has to be. I feel we will need his services again before the end of all this.”

Balder turned and walked with him, opening the door when they got to it and allowing the monk to go out first.

“You think more trouble is going to find you?”

“I’m sure of it Balder. Which makes our travel to Galbraith all the more urgent.”

“I’m sure that Njord will help however he can, as long as it’s help that will not expose our existence here.”

“Transport is all we need Balder, the faster we can get to the monastery the better. We will be safe once we get behind her walls, Benedict will make sure of that.”

“I hope your right old friend, for all of our sakes.”

“Me too, Balder, me too.”

Twenty Five

Ashtree

“So, sasquatch, huh, Oliver?” John said.

You need to stop passing out like a sissy, John. It’s starting to give us a bad rep.

“Afraid so.”

I’m getting too old for this shit.

“How long have you known?”

Oh, brother.

“Ever since my first time across the pass. They took me in and gave me shelter one winter after I’d almost died from an unfortunate run-in with the man from my story.”

“I thought you brought him back to Tree Top?”

Hope you’re seeing the pattern here.

Don’t trust Oliver.

Bingo.

“I did in a way, I guess. His group was attacked and he did escape. They were more marauders than scavengers. He didn’t know, of course, that sasquatches don’t kill if they don’t have to. His company was just delivered far away from here, dumped on the other side of the mountain in a brown sack.”

“So what happened?”

“I stumbled upon him and shared my fire, food, and water, and sheltered him in my camp for the night. When I woke he had left me up on that damn pass, stranded, without so much as a breadcrumb left. I carried on for a few days until I couldn’t make it, and then I collapsed, resolute in my death. I thought I was hallucinating when they came in that giant contraption of theirs.” 

“Sasquatches.”

Yeah, sasquatch, John. Honest to God sasquatches.

“Yes. Quite brilliant little fellows. They found me and nursed me back to health, and we’ve been thick as thieves ever since.”

“And the mandolin music?”

“Ah, I thought you might come to that. It is my way of saying, ‘hello, I’m passing through.’ The little folk sure do love string music and a good hymn.”

“You’re full of surprises, Oliver, but if any more of your surprises almost kill me, I’m not sure our friendship will last.”

Oliver smiled and clapped him on his shoulder.

“That’s the spirit!”

John glared at him and lay back down on the bed.

“Now, you get your rest. I have some things to tend to, and information to gather.”

“Whatever, Oliver.” 

John was almost unconscious before Oliver finished his sentence.

His dreams were filled with small furry sasquatches tinkering on machines and giant clocks, his wife giving him the same warning over and over to keep the children safe, and him drowning in pools of the blood of his loved ones. All in all, more of the same for him.

“John! John, time to wake up, buttercup.” 

John blinked his eyes open and lifted his head up off the pillow. He saw Sage’s head blocking the light, her hair pulled in a clean braid hanging over her shoulder and her ageless caramel skin stretching into a smirk on her face. She looked fresh and well fed, no more sunken lines or bags under eyes. She wore tight black shirt and cargo pants that clung to her body like second skin, leaving John’s imagination open for suggestion. He turned away from her and scanned his room, remembering where he was, and then let his head drop back onto the pillow.

“Sasquatches?”

“Sasquatches,” Sage said, “and a giant tree named by Vikings.”

“That’s a good touch.”

“I know. Half the little munchkin people are named some sort of Norse or Native American name. Damn Vikings and Indians, must have made an impression.”

“Who knew that the Vikings and Natives worked together to help protect the sasquatches?” 

“I can understand why. They’re brilliant engineers and are sitting on a pocket of more gold than you could imagine.”

“Gold?”

“Yeah, crazy, huh? Damn good fighters in that giant sasquatch suit too. I think you better get up and take a walk with me, John.”

John threw his feet over the side of the bed and wiggled his toes on the floor. 

“How long?”

“Three days.”

John rolled his head from left to right, stretching out his neck.

“What happened?” 

“You took off like an idiot thinking you were saving us and almost got yourself killed again.”

“Did it work?”

Sage raised her left eyebrow and smirked at him.

“This time it did, but one of these days your luck is going to run out, handsome.”

“Doesn’t anyone know how to say thank you around here?” 

“No.” Sage tossed him a shirt.

John slipped on some brown linen pants that had been left for him, a white T-shirt, slipped on a pair of canvas kicks, and then checked out his bundle of repaired gear from Will’s, his chest, and his REP rifle. Feeling that all was in good order he left it were it was and gestured for Sage to lead the way out of the room.

“Age before beauty,” she said.

John and Sage walked on a giant walkway that was growing out of the tree. It wound like ivy, snaking this way and that, making paths that led to different block-sized branches. John scanned along the enormous path at the amazing highway system of wooden roads and vines. Thousands of dwarf-sized sasquatches scurried around, making the giant tree look like a bustling metropolis. It was a scene that made John feel as if he had died and woke up in some living fantasy world that was anything but real.

The base and height of the tree was the same size as the volcanic mountains that it rested in between. Each branch was as big as ten full-sized trees and supplied the city of sasquatches with areas for living, eating, building, and shopping. 

I guess the branches are like the burbs, huh?

The burbs, God help us.

I wonder if they send their kids door to door to sell cookies for the soccer team?

Giant gears and wheels, well greased and tuned to perfection, turned and pulled branches and walkways, moving without so much as a sound. 

Sage pointed to the gears and cogs responsible for the ever-changing landscape. “The whole thing is full of mechanisms like that.”

“How do they power it?”

“Powers the majority of the place by itself. Every moving part creates kinetic energy that they capture and reuse.” She smiled, a mischievous look shining through her eyes. “And that’s the boring part.”

John, this place is pouring out energy. I have no idea of anyplace outside of Colorado that puts out energy like this place.

Where’s the source?

All over, it’s all over the place, John.

They stepped on a walkway and Sage pressed a button. Their part of the walkway swung away and sped toward the middle of the giant tree. They flew up to a platform, and one of the large cranks turned so that they were caught by magnetic clasp that held their sled tight, slowing them as they neared the closest walkway.

“I take it the sasquatches aren’t the dim-witted animals they have been made out to be?”

“Not even close,” Sage said. 

She looked around for a minute and spotted one of the only other tall people inhabiting the tree at this time, and started toward him. Oliver waved to them and waded through the small stream of black, gold, red, white, gray, orange, and green-furred sasquatches. He held his hands out and greeted them both with vigorous handshakes and a jovial smile. 

“They are actually brilliant machinists. Oli thinks they’ve been here since before humans even existed. Built their home in this tree and have been adding onto the city ever since.” 

Oli thinks a lot of things.

I know, but right now I’d believe him about that.

“They really started to expand by leaps and bounds when we stopped bugging them so much,” Oliver said. “Since they didn’t have to try to keep us away anymore, they built better suits and better machines to run the city.”

“This place is awesome,” John said. 

He felt as if he were a boy again and wanted to explore the new world that he found himself in, but he wasn’t a boy and he had business to finish.

“Where’s Adam? Where are the twins?” John said.

“They are all safe. We are heading to meet them now, along with the sasquatch leader, Chief Njord. He is a valiant warrior and is wise beyond the years of anyone else here. He will hear us, but it is no guarantee that he will help us.” 

“So why are the kids and Adam there?”

“He was having so much fun watching them and Adam play and wrestle with his guards that he may well try to keep them.”

When they came into the main chamber, two of the giant sasquatch suits stood guard by a set of large wooden doors. John traced the patterns carved into the doors with his eyes. Large ships with Vikings rolled over wooden waves. A group of Viking explorers traded with a group of Natives. There was a carved scene of some type of war that seemed to have mixed players on each side. In the middle was a carving of Ashtree itself and the sister mountains that surrounded it. 

The two sasquatch suits opened the door for them, and they walked into the main chamber, the heart of Ashtree. John heard a crash and heavy, thumping footsteps. He turned and saw one of the sasquatch suits playing keep-away from Adam and the kids. He heard a roar of laughter and looked a little farther down the large hall. A silver-furred sasquatch watched, his big belly rolling with laughter under a robe of fine red cloth as he sat on the edge of a wooden throne.

As they got closer, John could see the intricacies of the suits. Each leg was six feet tall easy, with whirring gears at the joints. Some sort of gold metal, hidden well under swaths of fur made up the frame and the torso. A large center section held a cockpit that housed two sasquatches working with fast hands and feet to make the legs and waist move. Above them were more gears and cranks and another small cockpit, where yet another sasquatch manned the arms and head. The precision with which the three sasquatches moved the giant suit was impressive to say the least. 

The sasquatch chief saw them and waved to Oliver, who went over and embraced the furry leader with a firm embrace.

“Mr. Njord,” Oliver said, and waved toward John and Sage, “these are my friends that I spoke to you about.”

Njord raised his arms above his head and stood on his throne, gesturing for the two to come closer. “Friends of Oliver may very well be friends of mine.” He pulled John into him and wrapped his arms around him in a big hug.

He’s a hugger?

Could be worse, Cam.

Yeah, he could be naked.

Not sure I’d be able to tell.

Njord smiled as he sat down in his large wooden chair and gestured to the sentry playing with the kids. It dropped the ball they were playing with and walked back to its post by the large main door. The kids shrugged their shoulders and continued to play with Adam. John looked over at them and eyed Quinn, who smiled and waved at him. John half waved back and turned back to Njord. 

Do you know how to address a sasquatch chief, Cam?

Let me check, uh, no.

“We do not see too many friends on the trail these days. We do not see much good these days either.” Njord shook his head and watched the kids, a look on his face as if he were watching his grandchildren play. “I am glad to see that not all the good has left your people.” 

Njord turned back to Oliver, the smile he was wearing changing to the expression someone would wear to convey news of a serious illness. “I checked, Oliver, as you asked, and we have not heard or seen anyone from Benedict’s order for many months.”

Oliver rubbed his thick red beard, his forehead rippling in deep thought for a moment. John cleared his throat, and Oliver shifted his gaze between the members of the small group.

 “Mm, most likely deep in study and training, I would suppose. The walls always need to be protected against those who would rather loot and murder than live at peace. Mix that with watching the tides of the world, and it wouldn’t take long for the order to run short on numbers.”

“Too true, I guess,” Njord said. “It was a joy to hear the scouts send word of your mandolin song, and pure luck that they got to you in time.”

He must mean you, John.

 I’m so happy the story is being twisted so that it looks like I’m the one who needed saving.

“I still feel that timing,” John said. “Thanks.”

“You are very welcome. Now, what can I do to help you?”

A small silence followed and John looked at Oliver, who shrugged his shoulders. John let out a sigh and got a bit closer to Njord. 

“I’m sure Oliver has filled you on his little mission and the heat that it’s brought.”

“He has informed me of your mission. A mission that I agree has to be complete sooner rather than later.”

“Not my mission. I plan on leaving from here and heading back home.”

Oh boy, here we go.

Cam, I’m sick of almost dying. I thought you’d be with me on this.

“From what I hear, you have nothing left to go home to, and in fact you are needed to help Oliver and these children, on which so much depends.”

John turned and looked at his small band of misfits and then turned back to the conversation.

John, don’t get us kicked out of the most fantastical place on earth, please.

“Look Njord, I don’t know what Oliver told you, but this isn’t my mess, and I’m not worried about a few militia punks. After the mess I made, they won’t worry about bothering me anymore.” He looked sternly at Oliver, and then back to Njord. “I plan on leaving tomorrow. What you guys want to do after that is your business.”

Njord laughed a hearty laugh and slapped John on the back much harder than John had expected.

Okay, he either likes you, or he’s crazy and we’re about to get roasted and eaten.

“You were right when you told me about this one, Oliver. Don’t worry, my friend, John, you do as you must, but I feel that you will change your mind by the morning. I have seen to the provisions that you asked for, Oliver.” He pulled a long, thick rope, and a brass bell clanged. The two sentries came back in the room.

“Smash and Boom will show you to the staging area we have set up. As for accompanying you, we cannot risk a full crew. We have built a life here that has little to no outside influence or insurgence for decades, and I mean to keep it that way. We can provide means of transportation only, and a small detail, but I am afraid that is all I can do for you, friend Oliver.”

“Mr. Njord, that is more than I could have ever hoped for.”

“Then I am glad for you and your band of travelers. Now, I must go and prepare for tonight’s feast. It is more than agonizing to get the chieftains from the other branches to come to the main ash for anything unless I go pick up the tiny little saps myself.”

With that he was off, and the crew was dismissed from the royal hall.

John turned to Oliver, his forehead wrinkled as he concentrated and tried to make sense of the conversation he’d just had.

“I feel like I just missed something very important, Oliver.”

Bingo.

“No worries. I will bring you up to speed before we head out tomorrow.”

Fat chance.

“I’m heading home tomorrow, Oliver.”

Njord seems to think you’ll change your mind.

“Yes, of course, that is exactly what I meant. Sage, children, time to go.”

I’m not changing my mind, Cam.

I forgot, you’re an oak.

Adam came running up to John, barking and jumping and pushing off him until John gave him some recognition. 

“Were you working hard playing keep-away from the sasquatches, boy?” John was kneeling now and buried his face in Adam’s neck, kneading his hands in Adam’s thick fur. “Yes, you’re a good boy, Adam, such a good boy.”

He stood up and looked over at the sasquatches in the two giant suits chuckling amongst themselves as they waited for him.

“What? They don’t have dogs around here?”

Oliver smiled and put his hand on John’s shoulder. “They just wonder what such a smart dog is doing with you.”

Sage and the kids rolled with laughter and started following the giants out of the main hall and into a large, open causeway. Adam got up and ran after them, walking right between the twins. 

Oliver smiled and patted John on the back. “Can’t win them all, now can we, John.”

“Exactly why I’m leaving.”

Adam might just have to stay here, I guess.

Nice try, Cam.

I just don’t want to break his little heart, that’s all.

I’m sure.

Outside on the causeway, tracks carrying metal cars of sasquatches from other parts of the ash tree were speeding in all different directions, up, down, sideways, forward and back. In the middle of the huge space was a giant crank- and gear-filled machine that looked like it ran off a mix of hydro, solar, and wind power, maintaining the movement of the mass transportation system.

This place is fantastic, even better than Disneyland.

You never went to Disneyland, Cam.

You did, so it’s like I did.

“This is awesome!” Quinn said.

Adam barked and paced between the sasquatch suits’ legs, trying to follow all the moving parts.

“You guys haven’t seen this yet?” John said.

“No, John. Our movements were somewhat limited until you met with Njord and he felt that all of us were okay,” Sage said. “It’s been loads of fun.”

“Balder took good care of you,” Oliver said. “He is the chieftain of that branch, and quite the hero among the sasquatch. It was an honor to be there.”

“You really love these little guys, don’t you, Oli?”

What’s not to love?

I like their suits.

Oliver smiled big and chuckled. “I believe they have grown on me, much like all of you have.”

“Well, that conversation’s getting awkward,” Sierra said.

“Rad, it’s totally rad,” Quinn said. “Hey, Oli, what’s that sasquatch’s name up there in the top cockpit that was playing with us?”

“Thorsgard. He’s been tasked with seeing to our provisions and travel.”

“Thorsgard.” Quinn nodded his head. “Cool.”

Sierra rolled her eyes at him. “You are such a dork.”

Quinn, Sierra, and Adam followed the two giant machines, with Oliver, Sage, and John not far behind, as they made their way across a bridge and onto another causeway that was a bit smaller. Smash and Boom waved to a couple other sasquatch suits that were rambling by. They went over two more bridges and took one of the bigger wooden swinging pads until they came to a large hangar.

“What is this place?” Quinn said.

“It is our hangar,” Thorsgard said.

Sierra looked at Thorsgard as if he hadn’t quite heard him right.

“Hangar?”

“For our hover ships.” 

The large door opened and their eyes went wide. The bay was lined with blimps, hover ships, small winged planes, things that looked like passenger carriers, and things that looked like warships. The small band gathered at the entrance, taking in all the things that were thought impossible before they had come here.

John, those are battle cruisers.

Bet they don’t let us have one of those.

“Why do you need these?” John said.

“How else do you think there are so many sasquatch sightings all over the world?”

“You guys fly those suits all over?”

“No, dummy, we have them at small outposts, and we travel to them on six-month tours.”

“What about those ones with the pulse rifles on them?” John said.

“Those are our just in case suits and ships.”

“Just in case?” Oliver said.

“Just in case humans try too hard to be humans.” The other sasquatches laughed. “You both know better than most what I talk about.”

Okay, that makes pretty good sense.

We’re definitely not getting one of those.

John and Oliver were about to ask more questions, but the two giants started walking down the middle of the hangar. Quinn and Sierra went running after them with Adam right beside them. 

“We love this place!” Quinn said.

The three adults walked slowly behind them, watching the three best friends run between the enormous suits, bouncing and squeaking as if they were in the world’s biggest toy shop.

 “I’m not sure we’re going to be able to get them to leave,” Sage said. “Why can’t they stay here, Oliver?”

“I asked Njord that already, at least until we could get to the monastery and get help so that we could travel safely, but he said this is not a place for them. I am surprised he is helping us as much as he is, considering what humans have done to the sasquatch in the past.”

Why do we always have to leave?

Not much longer, Cam. I promise.

“Awesome!” Quinn’s voice echoed from the other end of the hangar. They went to see what was going on.

“This one is totally ours,” Sierra said.

Sage walked up to her and pinched her arm.

“Ow, what was that for?”

“This is the best spirits I’ve seen you in since we met,” Sage said. “I just wanted to make sure you were real.”

“You just wanted to pinch me.”

“That too.”

Quinn turned in circles, eyes wide like a kid in a store full of free toys. “Aren’t you guys excited to fly in one of these babies?” 

Oliver and John walked around to the other side of the hover ship and saw the two sentry suits already loading boxes into the open cargo hold. The ship’s oblong hull looked like it was made of sheets of composite graphene material sealed together with gold joints. It had two broad, short wings with large rotors in the middle of each. A large cockpit on the top of the bow had multiple windows allowing the pilots to have full view of everything. More windows hung on the port and starboard sides above two large, exterior-mounted, double-barreled REP cannons.  

“Now that is a thing of beauty,” John said.

Maybe this is what Njord was talking about.

What do you mean?

He knew you wouldn’t give up a chance to fly one of these babies.

Damn.

“How do you build so much? You guys have got to be the most technological group left this side of the Rockies.”

“We had most of this before everything went to shit,” Thorsgard said. He must be the lucky spokesman to the humans for the two crews. “We manufacture the rest in our lab and factories. We even have a graphene factory in one of our sublevels.”

Quinn popped his head out from the loading ramp, followed by Adam’s furry head. He barked loudly to get the attention of the crew below.

“There’s more under the ground?” Quinn said.

“There’s more everywhere.” Thorsgard said.

“So what do we have in the way of preparation?” John said.

“Princess Sophia is fully stocked.”

John looked up at the sasquatch, a contorted look of confusion on his face. “Princess Sophia?”

Thorsgard let his head hang as he explained. “Chief Njord let his daughter name this one.”

The small group broke out into muffled chuckles while Thorsgard showed them around to the ramp.

Nice.

Princess Sophia. Has a ring to it.

Thorsgard looked down at them as he continued. “I have loaded your Big Dawg with rations, generator power, and supplies for weeks, but it should only take you a day to get to the monastery, two at most.”

Sierra looked up at Thorgard. “What’s a Big Dawg?”

“Your transport.”

“Oh.”

“Nice,” John said. “Oliver, does Benedict know we’re coming?”

“I thought you weren’t coming,” Sage said.

Damn.

They got you pegged, John.

“And miss out on flying in the Princess Sophia? No way.” 

Sap.

Tell me about it.

Oliver smiled and then continued.

“I sent word to Benedict two days ago. He will know we are coming. If there was any trouble we would have heard by now.” 

John took a deep breath in, ran his hand along the ship, and then turned to face his fire-tempered companions. “After dinner we’ll sleep down here on the ship, and then we’ll leave first thing in the morning.” He turned and walked up to the end of the ramp to talk to Quinn, Adam, and Sierra, who were racing around the passageway of the ship playing tag.

“Hey, twiddle-dumb and twiddle-dee.” He sneered at Adam. “And you. Want to come down here so we can go get you ready for tonight?”

Sage mocked John behind his back, making Sierra and Quinn giggle. John looked up at them and tried to sneer again, but all that formed on his face was a sour smile. 

“What was that?” Quinn said.

“Yeah, are you constipated, John?”

Adam jumped over, pushed his front paws up onto John’s chest, and started licking his face. He scratched behind Adam’s ears and then nudged him back down the deck. 

“NO, I’m not constipated. Just get down here, will you? We’ve got things to do.” 

I think Thorsgard’s laughing at you.

John looked up and caught the sasquatch chuckling as he said something to the other two sasquatches in his suit.

The sentries led them to the doors and put them on a transport back to their branch. It was a quiet ride, except for Adam, who was racing around the inside of the trolley-sized transport, jumping up to look out the windows and barking at every new thing he saw. 

Balder was at the docking lock waiting for them. He walked them back to the quarters they had been provided before, and stopped outside their door.

Balder turned to Oliver. “All our extra escorts are already at the great hall, Oliver. You can find your way there on your own, yes?”

“No worries, Balder, we’ll be fine.”

“Good, I have what you requested waiting in your rooms. I have to go meet with the other chieftains before the great banquet. I will see you there if we all survive each other.” Balder waved his furry hand at them and then exited the room. 

Oliver waved and then turned to his friends. “Lots of politics between the different chieftains. Balder isn’t very fond of it.”

“You do understand that the only clothes we have we’re wearing on our backs,” John said.

“I have made arrangements.”

Oliver smiled and opened the door. Four sasquatches dressed in red, green, gold, and purple robes stood in front of six different racks of clothes. An older gray furred sasquatch held out her hand and a long measuring tape extended from her palm.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“It’s no joke, John,” Oliver nudged him forward. “They are here to whip up an outfit for all of us tonight and get measurements to prepare wardrobe for our journey tomorrow.”

“My name is Skadi, and this are my sons,” the gray sasquatch said, and then bowed low. “We are the tailors to chief Balder and this branch and we are pleased to serve you.” She snapped her fingers and her sons moved forward and started pulling and pushing John and his companions into awkward positions, using the measuring tape to measure inseams, outseams, chests and waists. While they measured the younger sasquatches spouted numbers to Skadi who scratched them into a notepad.

The three sasquatches scrambled through shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, boots, ties, vests, coats and hats, holding them up in front of John and company while Skadi watched and nodded her approval or disapproval.

After some time they were each outfitted for the night, John looked down at himself in the mirror provided. Much to Skadi’s disgust he had only allowed them to dress him a black T-shirt, Grey linen pants, and a pair of kicks. Sage on the other hand was drop dead in a cream floral lace gown with a silk slip dress underneath, her hair pulled to the side in a large braid, and since no shoes fit her she choose to go barefoot.

Oliver made a few last minute adjustments and added a red bow tie to his black velvet vest and matching pants, grey long sleeve button up and leather clogs.

Have you ever scene him out of his robe?

First time.

He almost looks normal.

Weird.

Sierra was dressed in a pleated gray skirt, white button up short sleeve, and black buckle shoes and had her hair feathered out and around her shoulders. Quinn was poured into a pair of black cotton pants with a matching velvet vest over a bright red button up and wore a pair of red leather wing tip shoes.

 

“I feel like we have made art out of you yet.” Skadi laughed and clapped her hands, her three boys gathered up their things and headed out the door. “We will have the clothes that you requested waiting for you on your vessel. The clothes previously provided will do until then.”

At that she waved and whisked her company away while Oliver finished getting everyone ready to go to the great hall.

John went over to his pack and riffled through it until he found the brown, wax-paper bundle from Mrs. Trowley that Sierra had saved for him. He took a small pocket knife out, sliced through the twine rope holding the bundle together, and pulled out the gun metal grey long sleeve shirt, smiling as he slipped it on over his T-shirt.

 “Is that all you’re going to change?” Oliver said.

Adam and Quinn turned away from the grind of choosing proper attire and looked at him, both seeming to smile at the same time.

“Something wrong with that?”

Oliver smiled and shook his head. “No, John, nothing at all.”

“Good, I’ll meet you outside.” He whistled and Adam left the serious work of helping choose something nice for Quinn to follow John out the door.

John leaned against the railing of the small walkway outside their room, watching the slowing activity of Ashtree. The light faded with every minute, and soon lights were popping up here and there, like someone turning on the stars in the night sky one by one.

We so have to come back here.

You think they’ll let us?

Maybe if we come with Oliver.

I’m not sure it’s worth it then.

Funny, John, real funny. You do know that we have a few more days with him, right?

I thought that’s what you wanted.

You made the right choice.

I hope so, Cam. I really do

.

Twenty Six

Sasquatch Party

The great hall had been transformed into a sparkling forest ballroom. Njord sat on his throne at the far end of the hall at the head of a thick wooden table carved with pictures of bears, sasquatches, wolves, giant snakes, and giant birds of prey. Below them, the main floor was filled with rows of long, plain wooden tables full of chieftains in ceremonial garb and what must have been the upper-class citizens of Ashtree. 

Each table was full of shining, cooked turkeys, pheasants, and roasted rabbits, lying on beds of greens and vegetables. Wooden bowls held black berries, red berries, blue berries, all kinds of berries. Breads, pies, and plates of jam were passed around to be devoured by all who were fortunate enough to be attending. 

In the middle of the room was a giant stone hearth full of a writhing flame that had not been there earlier in the day. Above the flames an enormous wild pig turned on a giant pike, roasting and caramelizing. John and company walked forward, eyes wide, the back of their throats aching and salivating as they made their way toward Njord and his family. 

You better keep Adam close. Don’t want him embarrassing us in front of our new furry friends.

John brought himself out of his stupor and whistled for Adam, who was already wandering dangerously close to a table of fine silken sasquatches feasting on a large turkey leg. 

“Adam.” 

He’s ignoring you again.

Like that’s any different than anyone else.

“Adam, get back over here now.” Adam stopped and turned around at John’s sharp order. He whimpered and looked back and forth between John and the sasquatches, who were now teasing him with food. 

The sasquatches grunted something and Adam’s ears perked. He turned as if he’d just caught the scent of a thiever, and bolted toward the sasquatches. The sasquatches laughed and jumped up on the table, Adam right on their heels. They jumped high in the air and caught one of the dangling chandeliers that hung above them while Adam danced around and jumped up to snag them. Food was flying from the table in every direction, and the sasquatches around the table laughed and cheered the show on.

Oliver and Sage gave John a mortified look and urged him to go get Adam. John moved toward the table and saw Sierra and Quinn covering their mouths to try and stifle their laughter. 

We’re toast.

Damn it. 

Thonk, thonk, thonk. Njord used a heavy wooden gavel to strike the flat of his table and bring the crowded hall to silence. Adam jumped down from the table and headed over to John, ears flat and head low. The sasquatches dropped down and took their seats, while the sasquatches around them slapped them on their backs in support of their short adventure with the outsider. 

“Now you did it, boy. They’re probably going to try and eat you.”

Adam whimpered and pawed at John’s hand until John squatted down to rub his head while Adam licked his face. 

“John.” Sage came back over to him. “Maybe we should keep moving, huh?” She pointed to the tables around the room. “We’re kind of the focus of attention right now.”

They turned and started walking toward Njord’s table again. He looked at them and nodded toward an empty row to his left. His family lined up on the right, all brilliantly gray with sky-blue eyes just like Njord.

“Friends,” Njords voice boomed throughout the room, “family, chieftains, patrons, and—” he looked over to John and company, who had taken their seats now “—foreign dignitaries. Welcome to Ashtree!” 

A thundering clap of applause echoed in the chamber. 

“Thank you for joining us tonight on this rare but much needed celebration. It has been a long and fruitful year for us. So eat, drink, and let your coat get soaked with the friendship of your neighbors!”

A chorus of acknowledgements came from the crowd and they held their cups in the air as Njord raised his own large, earthen mug in return. He took a long pull of his foaming drink and let it back down to the table with a wet thunk. Taking up the gavel again, he hit the table with three more loud thunks. 

The crowd put their drinks to their lips and took a long pull, then took their seats and went back to the business of merriment. 

After food and drink with Njord, Oliver struck up his mandolin and plucked away with the band that was playing. The room opened up to a dance floor, which flooded with sasquatches ready to dance. So many in fact that when the dance floor was full, sasquatches danced on the tables, clanking clay mugs of ale and mead against each other in cheer. 

Sierra and Quinn started taking turns dancing with one another, Adam, and Njord’s younger children while Njord watched on with his wife. After what looked like much discussion, Njord, who must have felt it his duty to show the kids the proper way to dance in the great hall, took Sage as his first partner on the floor. 

John, had taken up purchase against one of the tables against the far wall and watched Sage as she finished dancing with Njord and started hopping tables barefooted towards him once she’d spotted him. The cream sleeveless dress she was wearing flowed around every curve in her body like liquid, hugging hips and thighs as she crossed the obstacle of sasquatches begging her to dance.

Here she comes.

Great.

Sure, act like you’re not watching her every move.

I’m sure I can’t see every move after this very fine black ale that Njord is sharing with me, from his private stock no less. 

Boy, haven’t we moved up the food chain.

“Still not a dancer, I see,” Sage said, not even the slightest out of breath as she plopped down beside him and nudged him with her shoulder.

John leaned back into her and pointed out to the crowd of young sasquatch men waving for her to come back. “You still know how to show a guy a good time.”

“Are you jealous, John?”

“What, of these little fur balls? No way,” John paused. “Not that I would ever be jealous.”

“Nice try, hotshot. Where did Adam get off to?”

“He’s over there watching Sierra and Quinn like a hawk.” He smiled and pointed to where the kids were. “Which means he is dancing with them and making a spectacle of himself.”

You’d think he had no training at all.

Well, it was Will’s training, and then yours, John.

Point taken.

He leaned his head back against the wall and watched the children dance in a circle around Adam, their heads falling backward every once in a while because they were laughing so hard.

“He’s growing quite fond of them actually.”

“I don’t think he’s the only one.”

John smiled and took a swig of his beer.

“Don’t you worry, Sage. I won’t have any problem leaving once this is all over. Adam, on the other hand, will be depressed for weeks, and that’s if I’ll even be able to get him to leave at all.”

Sage turned to him, her lips forming a sardonic smile . “What do you think is waiting for you when you leave, John? Do you think that whoever is behind this will leave you alone?”

“I don’t know, I don’t care. I do better on my own, always have. So once you, Oliver, and those two are safe at the monastery I’m taking the hover ship and I’m going home.”

“Oh, so you get the ship.”

John leaned forward, chest out, and stuck his thumb to his chest. “I figure it’s almost compensation for my house, my rig, oh, and my time.”

“Maybe a bit over compensation.”

“Ha, ha, very funny.”

Sage wrapped her arm around John’s and laid her head on his shoulder as he sunk back against the wall again. They watched the last of the party dance their way out of the great hall and into the causeways that led to the suburban branches. 

Sage and John walked Sierra, Quinn, and Adam to the hangar. They left Adam with the kids in their quarters on the ship and Oliver, who was still having a nightcap with a couple of cherry sasquatches down at the hangar entrance. Figuring everyone was safe enough, they walked back to their quarters to grab the rest of their things.

“Are you glad you got mixed up in all of this, Sage?”

“I don’t know, maybe. I guess I’ll only know if I live long enough to remember it when times are better.” She grabbed John’s arm again and leaned into him as they walked. “I’m liking my choices right now. 

John, we’re getting dangerously close to me being completely grossed out again.

She opened her door and led John inside.

“I didn’t take you for someone to take up someone else’s cause,” John said.

Don’t worry, Cam, I got this.

She winked at John and then grabbed her T-shirt and cargo pants off the bed and walked over behind the wall to change. “Like I said, Oliver can be convincing. If he had told me you were going to get involved, I would have skipped out on the whole thing.”

“Nice, I’m glad I can be this miserable for you. Makes it that much more worth it.”

She came back around the corner back to looking more like what John was used to, grabbed her go pack, and headed toward the door. John snatched up the large duffle bag that held the rest of their gear and then reached for her bag, their hands resting on each other’s for a moment before she let him take it from her. John looked as if he was going to say something, as if he was going to reach out to her and grab her, but he held his tongue, and just like that the moment was gone. 

“Uh, we better get going.”

 Sage rolled her eyes. “Yeah, we better.”

“Good.” He gestured to the door and smiled. “Ladies first.”

She narrowed her eyes at him and headed through the door. “Oh so charming, aren’t you, John?” 

See, told you, strong as an oak.

I’ve heard that before.

When they got back to the ship, they found Sierra and Quinn sound asleep in the main cabin, with Adam vigilant at their feet. Oliver and his friends were still going strong by the hangar door, shouting and laughing. 

“Who knew he could hold his liquor so well?” John said.

“Who knew that they could hold their own against him so well?”

They both laughed, the stress from the last few days leaving a little more with the passing hours.

“You want to take the cabin with the kids?” John said.

“I’m not sure Adam will make any room for me.”

John whistled and Adam came trotting out to sit on John’s foot.

“No excuses now.”

I stand corrected.

I can’t believe you doubted me.

“Such gentlemen,” Sage said. “Goodnight, boys.”

Adam barked twice and nuzzled John’s leg.

“All right, boy, all right. Let’s go get some rest before Oliver sees us and decides to come over.”

***

“Do you think they will make it without you?”

John opened his eyes and saw the blurry image of his wife surrounded by a brilliantly gold light. A white dress clung to her like milk being poured on a naked body. Her eyes were as bronze and bright as the sun that crept daily upon the world.

“Elizabeth!” 

“Checking in on you again, darling. Your heart needs to be lightened, dear. You will need to ask much of it if you are to complete your journey.”

“I don’t want a journey. I just want to be with you and Adam. I don’t want anything else.”

“It is not time for that yet, darling John.” 

She started floating away from him. He got up to chase after her, but she was moving too fast for him.

“Don’t go! I don’t want to do this anymore. What am I supposed to do?” 

“Save the children, John. They are the only hope.”

“NO! Don’t go.”

He ran to the open bay door of the cargo hold of the ship that she had just floated out of,  disappearing into the sky, and jumped to grab her. He flew out the hold and through the air, falling flat on his face on a stack of supplies below the airship. 

Morning, precious.

Thanks for warning me before I jumped off the damn ship.

I tried. You didn’t want to wake up.

I don’t think you tried hard enough.

Probably not. That’s why you need to dump.

Adam came running out with Sierra, Quinn right behind him. They stared down at him from the bay door as Adam stood barking at him.

“What are you doing down there?” Quinn said. “Were you sleep walking or something?”

John rolled onto his side to get up and let out a dull groan.

“Yeah, something like that,” he said.

“Who were you screaming for?” Sierra said.

“Screaming? I wasn’t screaming, just having a dream is all.”

Sage looked at Quinn and wiggled her finger in circles around her ear, signaling to him that John was going crazy.

Adam barked again and ran to the boarding ramp to go down to him.

“You know, I’m really thinking about leaving you with them when we get to the monastery, Adam.”

I don’t think we’ll have much of a choice. So sad. 

I know you’re real broke up about it.

Adam whined and trotted over to him, nudging him sideways with his strong body.

“Don’t listen to him, Adam,” Quinn said. “He’s just having another crazy spell.”

Crazy spell

?

There’s been talk.

It’s just for the ship. It’s all worth it for the ship.

Right.

Sierra rolled her eyes and tapped Quinn on his back. “Come on, Q, let’s go get ready to leave.” 

They walked off, and John heard them giggling at him as they left. Adam barked up at them and then whined at John.

“I’m not crazy!” John said. “And if I am going crazy it’s because of you two.”

Adam barked again.

“I know, boy, you don’t think I’m crazy, do you.”

“Ahoy down there,” Oliver said. “Are you okay?”

“Just fine, Oliver.” 

“What’s going on, Oli?” Sage said. “John having another crazy spell?”

“Man overboard,” Oliver hollered.

Sage peeked over the side of the airship and smiled.

“Thrown over the side already, and we haven’t even left port yet.”

“Funny. You’re all damn comedians. Can we just get some breakfast and get this ship in the air?”

“You’re the only one holding things up, sleeping beauty,” Sage said.

She and Oliver left the hold laughing and headed toward where the sasquatches had set up breakfast. Adam didn’t even look back at John before he raced to catch chow with the rest of the crew.

So loyal.

Sage is right. Not even in the air yet and you have a mutiny on your hands.

Hardy har, Cam. 

John got up and dusted himself off before heading back up to the ship. A couple of the workers in the bay laughed heartily as he walked by. John kicked a box their way, sending them toppling over each other.

Simple pleasures

.

You’re so mature.

On the ship they ate a quick meal. One thing that John was looking forward to was having his pack fully stocked with sasquatch chow, plenty for the rest of the trip. The ship was to be manned by a crew of five sasquatches that would fly John and the group to the base of the mountain, where they would take a couple of the sasquatches’ Big Dawg carriers to the monastery. He could drop the kids off with whoever this Benedict was, and then he could go home. 

After breakfast the sasquatches saw them off in grand fashion. Balder and Njord were there, along with a row of sasquatches in their giant suits and small sasquatch children that Sierra and Quinn had befriended while they were there.

“This is too radical!” Quinn said. 

“I’m starting to think that’s the only word you know how to say right now, Q,” Sierra said.

“What? It’s radical, isn’t it?”

Oliver came up behind him and put a hand on each of their shoulders. “It has been very radical, Quinn, but you and Sierra might want to take your seats in the passenger hold. It can be pretty bumpy going up.”

The two of them jockeyed each other over the best seat as the ship rose high over the giant Ashtree and up through the cavernous valley they were hidden in.

Oliver checked the twins’ safety harnesses and then hooked himself up. “It is truly fantastic, isn’t it?” Oliver said.

John and Sage helped the sasquatch crew with the ship while Adam trotted around, sure footed, getting attention from his new friends and distracting them from their work whenever he could. 

The clouds wisped past them as they made their steady accent. Then the upward momentum let up and they started their steady progress toward the drop off point.

 “The sky looks like it could go forever,” Sierra said.

“In a way it does,” Oliver said. “What we see is just the reaction of particles to the light of that golden sun over there.”

“Brilliant,” Quinn said.

“Science is one of the many things you will be taught by the teachers at the monastery.”

“Are you going stay there with us, Oliver?” Quinn said.

“Yes. Now that you are found and you’re safe, we can start to give you more of a normal childhood experience.” Oliver exhaled a light chuckle, a smile showing under his now overgrown beard. “Well, as normal as can be expected these days.”

Sierra unhooked herself and wandered back over to one of the windows on the port side of the ship. “Do you really think that our lives will ever be normal again, Oli?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think we’ll be safe with you, with your friend Benedict?”

Quinn unhooked and walked over beside her. Oliver looked between the children, John, and Sage. John shrugged his shoulders and whispered “good luck” to him.

Oliver shook his head and got up to be by the children. “I don’t know, Sierra. I wish I did. I believe that we will be safe. If not, at least we’ll be with Benedict. He is the wisest man I know, and I am sure he will know what to do.”

Sage and John came up behind them, the five of them along with Adam, who had his paws up on the wall as if trying to see what Sierra saw in the ever changing skyline.

“I hope you’re right, Oli,” Sierra said.

“Me too,” Sage said.

John smiled at her and felt a pang in his gut. He looked from each one of his new companions, his growing family, and felt something growing inside him, something he hadn’t felt for anyone else since Elizabeth and Adam. Love, he felt love for each of them, and it scared him to death. 

Me three.

Epilogue

Unsavory Alliance

The ship soared over the water, creating a white wash over the already violent waters. Mrs. Trowley’s face held a flat affect on the holo screen as she updated General Murdoch. The picture fizzling in and out with the turbulent movements of the hover craft.

Murdoch’s lip twitched with he spoke. “He wiped out your whole team, including the cyborg?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And your attempts to trace his movements since have been futile?”

Trowley lifted her chin up to try and loosen the tightness of her collar. “As I said to you in my report, they were more resilient than we expected.”

Murdoch leaned in close to the image of her face, making her flinched on the other side. “I am disappointed, Colonel.”

“Sir, I understand if you want my resignation.”

“No, Trowley, I may have need of your services again.” He leaned back in his chair, scratching this chin. “Do the good citizens of Tree Top suspect you?”

“I have no reason to think that they do.”

“Then stay with them, help them migrate when they evacuate the city after our little invasion. Find out where they’re going. I will contact you if I need you.”

“I won’t fail you again, sir.”

He glared at her through the screen, the cybernet behind his eyes flashing red. “No, I don’t suspect you will.”

The screen flickered out and he turned his chair to face the pilot.

“How long?”

“Fifteen minutes, sir. You can see the lights to the monastery now if you look.”

He stared out at the firefly shaped lights burning from the monastery against the deep blue night.

“Ah, Galbraith. It has been too long.” He leaned back in his chair and smiled. “Take us in slow Captain. We don’t want to spook our resident traitor now do we?”

The Captain smiled and went back to his controls. “Slow and smooth, roger that, sir.”

***

“Why didn’t you tell me they were coming?”

“We didn’t know they were coming until Charles’s man saw them coming over the water.”

“Over the water? Did anyone else see them?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Charles.” The old monk sighed heavy as they raced down the halls of the monastery, their leather sandals slapping, echoing in the night as they went. “Did he ask questions?”

“Of course he did.”

The monk paused briefly in the hall before a descending staircase. Old fingers from one hand clenched the railing while the fingers of the other dug hard into his forehead.

“Why did they have to come? Now of all times.” He regained his composure and started down the stairs. “We will have to come up with something to tell him.”

“We can make Charles understand. Surely he of all people would see this is the only way.”

The older monk glared at his accomplice “He will not. He is like Oliver. Destined to wishful thinking and soft handedness. They have no backbone for what needs to be done to heal this world.”

“Then we could…”

“No.” The monk cut him off. “Michael, I am telling you right now that we will not even think of taking his life until all other means have been exhausted.”

Michael stared past him out into the blue night.

“Do you understand me, Michael? I need you to say it.”

Michael bowed and pulled his pitch-black hood over his head. His faced flickered out of view, like candles getting extinguished in a cellar, until only his pale, snakelike lips were visible.

“As you wish.”

“We will handle it by other means.”

The two monks raced down the steps of the south entrance to the monastery, and made their way to the ocean gate. A tall monk came out of the shadows of the vines that crawled up the white walls of the city, his intent evident in his gait.

“Brothers.”

“Ah, Charles,” the older monk said. “I am glad you could join us in meeting our new guests.”

“Do we know who they are? How did they cross the ocean?”

The older monk looked at Michael, nodded, and then steered his gaze back to Charles as Michael stepped to the side of him.

“I’m sorry about this, Charles. I should have explained all this to you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Charles let out a gasp of air as Michael attacked him, like lightening striking a dry tree. Three rapid bursts with his bladed hand, and Charles fell limp to the ground, gasping for air. Michael sneered at this dark form writhing in pain and whistled a few short bursts. Four black-robed figures came out of the shadows.

“Michael! What are you doing?” the old monk said, coming back to his senses after the assault from Michael, “This is not how we handle such matters. He is still one of us.”

Michael bowed, his pale lips spreading into a thin, sinister smile. “I misunderstood, I am sorry. What would you like for us to do now, sir?”

“I would like for you to be more patient.” He shook his head in exacerbation. “It is too late now. The damage is done. Take him to the base of the tower, and do be gentle with him. We will talk of this later.”

“Of course, sir.”

He gestured to his men. They bound Charles quickly and carried him off to the base of one of the watchtowers, disappearing through the entrance.

The two monks made their way across the small rear courtyard and out the south gate.

“Why did they have to come here? This partnership is turning into a nightmare.”

“Sir,” Michael said, “we won’t have to wait long to find out.”

Two groups of soldiers dressed in military armor and fatigues flowed up from the trail that led to the water. One group took the left flank and dropped to their knees, weapons trained on the two monks. The other stayed to the right of the trail entrance, staggered weapons sighted to cover anything that might approach from the other direction.

“Easy, men, easy,” a deep, commanding voice said out of the shadows. “We’re all friends here.”

The two squads relaxed a little, but not much as the man commanding them came forward. The monks used this as their cue and hurried forward.

“I did not expect you so soon, General. May I ask the purpose of this unexpected and, might I add, ill timed visit?”

“Ill timed?” The general’s form grew larger in the dark. His broad shoulders spread like wings over his v-shaped body armor. His close-cropped silver hair shimmered in the twilight over steel blue eyes, the arrogant nose of an officer, and a chiseled grin. “Interesting choice of words. Mrs. Trowley tells me a different tale. I was hoping maybe you could enlighten me.”

The monk tensed, and he sensed Michael doing the same, preparing himself to spring at the general if given the order. He placed his hand on Michael’s arm, reassuring him that this was not the time.

“Of course I can, General Murdoch, of course ,” he said. “We are but meager monks trying to save the world for you. In fact, maybe you could help us with a few problems of our own.”

“Good, Master Benedict. Real good,” Murdoch said. “I was hoping you’d say that.”