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A Time of Danger:
By Markus Thyme
The
folk were still hunkering in the tunnels at first light after the crash when the
alarm came. Bruce the Elder was summoned to the listening post.
“What
see you?” he intoned toward the small opening.
A
shadow came over the opening. “I see one large flyer above the
meadow.”
“What
else?”
“Naught
else, elder.”
“Keep
the watch. I await your word.”
“Aye,
elder.”
A
moment later, the shadow reappeared. “It comes down, elder. — A
ramp comes out.”
The
elder held his tongue.
Finally
the watcher said, “They come out.”
“How
many?”
“There
be many, many, elder.”
Bruce
the Elder turned to a runner.
“Move all women and young to the main hall. All men except healers are to
guard the south entrance. Stand by with bows and long knives. Go now.”
The
runner turned and ran down the tunnel.
“What
do they now, watcher?”
“They
go to the ruined flyer. They walk about. They peer at the earth and
ruin.”
“Nothing
else?”
“Naught,
elder.”
“Keep
the watch then.”
Later
the shadow reappeared.
The
watcher said, “They stand in a group and look about.”
“How
do they act?”
“I
know not. They but look about.”
“Make
sure they see you not.”
“Aye,
elder.”
“How
many of them?”
‘The
same, many, many.”
“More
than us?”
“I
think not.”
“Be
you fearful?”
“For
my children and mate. Naught for myself.”
“Keep
the watch then.”
A
few minutes later the watcher said, “A small group, count two hands of
fingers walk to the wood.”
“Watch
them closely, but lose not your attention of the others.”
“Aye
elder.”
Bruce
turned to another runner. “Tell the guard to prepare.”
The
runner turned and ran down the tunnel.
Later,
the watcher said, “They return to the flyer.”
“All?”
“Yes,
elder, all. They enter the flyer.”
“Make
sure none be behind.”
“I
do elder. None be behind. They all enter.”
“What
now?”
“The
ramp lifts.”
“Watch
for tricks.”
“Aye,
elder.”
A
few moments later the watcher reported, “The flyer rises.”
“Aye,”
said Bruce. “Keep the watch.”
The
watcher keep low as the flyer rose and circled slowly over the area. He did not
move. The flyer circled for almost an hour. Finally it turned, rose high, and
moved to the southeast, toward the flood plains. It picked up speed as it went.
“It
is a dot in the sky now, elder,” said the watcher.
Bruce
the Elder heaved a sigh and his shoulders sagged as he released some of the
tension from his tired old body.
“Good,”
he said. “Keep the watch yet, lest they return.”
“Aye,
elder.”
Bruce
turned to his aid. “Mayhap we have evaded a deadly shaft for now.”
“Mayhap,
elder.”
“Still,
I fear this will forever change the order of things.”
“You
fear they will do this again?”
“Lest
we know the why of it, we must expect it.”
“Then
we must guard against it.”
“Aye.
I fear we have been asleep. We have grown careless.”
“Now
we are awake, elder.”
“Say
this not to the grieving ones, but the end could yet be good.”
“Good
out of this, elder?”
“Mayhap.
We have been awakened. Mayhap it be a time for change. Mayhap we need to test
our strength and wit. Mayhap we need to look to act more boldly.”
“I
strive to understand, elder.”
“You
have been to the ruins of
“Aye,
elder.”
“Once,
men like us built that place and lived there. Men walked the earth unafraid.
Men ruled the earth. Men did not live in tunnels, hunted and hounded like
rodents.”
“Aye,
elder,” said Matthew sadly. “I know the ancient chronicles. I
learned them as a lad from my father.”
Bruce
looked firmly and solemnly at Matthew.
“We
will speak more of this later. Now, we have duties to attend. Let us go now, to
the main hall, I would speak to the folk.”
“Aye,
elder.”
*****
In the main hall, the folk
were gathered around the grieving families, offering what comfort they could.
There were about 200 dwellers of this South Tunnel complex. An equal number
occupied the North tunnel complex a few miles away. Bruce went to a stone stage
set against one wall and waited. In a short time, all had turned to hear him.
“Friends, we are sore
wounded by the slaying of nine of our own folk. We are in needs of grieving and
that we must do, without delay. As always, we must see to the burials this
night before the morrow’s dawn. We must do this duty when we cannot be
seen from the air.
“We must remain ever
vigilant. We know not the plotting of the evil invaders and we must be
prepared. Some of us, those not related to the slain must be watchful and
ready. To that purpose, I would ask that all children remain in the main hall
with those women who can care for them. You must be ready to flee through the
escape tunnels. I would also ask watchers to keep watch on the hills above and
in the near forest. We must watch and plan.
“Even as we hide from
these evil ones, we must consider what next to do. While this be not a time for
reckless actions, I think it be a time for thought and controlled anger. We
have been passive beyond reason and our reward is more slain folk. I would ask
that all set their minds to thinking in a new way. Let us consider being more
bold. Let us consider how we might learn the true strength of our enemy. Le us
consider taking risk to protect our own. For now, we have duties to perform.
Let us go about them.”
*****
Even as Bruce spoke to the
folk,
He
knew where to seek them. He knew of the place where the invaders kept some of
the folk as slaves and worse. He knew the tales, perhaps true, of the raising
of the folk for meat. With luck, he might learn the truth of that and escape.
He might not! Whatever fate awaited him, he would extract some satisfaction of
his own. He made ready to avenge his brother and Janet. He put many bolts into
his pack before he slipped out of the tunnels and into the forest.
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