Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Puppethead War #3

< < Issue 2
Welcome, readers, to instalment number 3, in which we witness Mitch's attempts at action and suspense; and where for the first time we will focus only on Daiv.  Next time, the focus will be on Talon.

THURSDAY

Hints of winter's chill nipped at the riders' goat-hair coats, but there were weeks of autumn left in these mountains. Daiv was the last to join the group on the ridge, where a clearing offered view of the boatman's alcove.

'Isn't there supposed to –' he began, but another rider shook his head. The man was called Roran, and Roran lifted lightly on his mount's reins to turn back. The fourth, Hemroj, followed him, leaving the boy alone with Mr Sasket.

No one would have expected to see darkness behind the hut's windows, or the solitary boat that slouched on the pebbled beach. The boatmen, from what Daiv had heard, were of a courteous and inviting nature. Whoever drew the night shift kept a fire lit to assist travellers, whether they approached via the beaten path or took a shortcut like the montiger riders had. There were also supposed to be more boats tied up to the little pier in case of emergency.

Daiv looked to the old man at his left. Mr Sasket glanced back to the boy before taking the same route down to the shore. The riders congregated outside the empty building and Daiv soon joined them as Roran spoke in a hushed tone.

'Something is going on,' he began, 'but don't make any assumptions.'

Darrin Sasket nodded. 'I think we should sleep here for the night and take the boat in the morning.'

'I'll keep an eye out for anything from the east,' Roran continued. 'Hem can take the second watch. For all we know, they could've just been held up.'

FRIDAY

This was the next morning and Daiv stood quickly, bleary eyes and fuzzy memories, to the sound of the door creaking. Within a second everything returned: yet again he was behind the others.

I'm just a lazy teenage boy.

Daiv emerged into a streaming multicoloured light as the sun eked over the slopes behind him. The three adults were down by the water, having already floated the boat.

'Oh good, you're up,' said Hemroj. He waved for Daiv to join them, then began to speak, probably repeating himself for the boy's sake.

'Neither of us heard or saw activity from the direction of the village,' he said. He pointed to the east. 'I think it's best that we all go in the boat. If we move slowly enough...'

'How will we defend ourselves if the puppetheads attack?'

Hem appeared to be insulted. He pointed behind Mr Sasket and behind the boat, where – Daiv took a quick glance – three crossbows were piled together.

'We take the crossbows from the hut and fire at anything that moves.'

This did not stop Daiv's uncertainty for the venture.

'The last time I went on the lake was when Ferran was taken.'

Darrin butted in. 'From what I was told, you three weren't being very careful.'

The boy picked up a crossbow and pointed it at the ocean, trying to get a feel for how to aim it, but Hem snatched the weapon from his hands.

'We'll take turns, you can row first.'

Together the group climbed aboard. As it was essentially a wooden dinghy, Daiv didn't have too much trouble getting them away from the beach, but by the time the village itself came into view, he registered a sinking feeling in his gut. The feeling had also reached Hem and Roran – their eyes darted between the water and each other almost constantly.

This was the first time Daiv had seen the village on the lake, but he was fairly sure that the buildings – bumping together lazily on leather and wood pontoons – shouldn't have been smouldering.

Hem hissed through gritted teeth. 'Get us over there now.'

'I'm going as fast as I can!'

Hem took his eyes off the water and leant backward, passing the crossbow to the boy. Daiv grabbed it and moved forward so the man could take the oars.

A wailing cry rang out across the water, startling everyone but Darrin.  A crow flew straight past the boat and continued away from the wreck. Darrin pressed on the end of Daiv's crossbow; he had whipped it up to aim at the bird.

'Keep steady and focus on the water.'

Hem's rowing had taken them in closer. Not all of what they could see was burnt, but the expected hubbub generally associated with a population centre was replaced by eerie silence. They approached a small pier.

Darrin spoke first. 'Stay here, I've got to look around.'

The old man climbed out and the others quickly realigned to stop boat from tipping. In the shuffle Daiv dropped his crossbow and the weapon bounced off the side into the water, making a deep splash. He turned to the others and grinned stiffly.

'Sorry.'

Roran shushed him and sidled closer to the bow. He pointed out past Daiv's left ear to the source of his concern, a wave lapping at the side of a building not far away.

There was a shift in the air, like something had changed.

Suddenly a cephalopod arm the size of a tree erupted from the water and a parrot-like screech made those in the boat cover their ears. Before they could move, the arm came down on the boat, wrenching the two halves apart like a saw. Hemroj was thrown from the back of the boat, still clutching onto one of the oars, while Daiv flew forward and hit his head.

Amongst the remnants of their craft Roran swam towards Daiv's dazed body. He managed to negotiate the boy around one of the struts that held the pontoons. Heart beating wildly, Roran climbed onto the pier and went for Daiv's arms.

'Wha... huh...' The boy came to, both riders dripping water and slime onto the wood. As one they looked back to the water but Hem hadn't made it any closer.

Daiv yelled to him. Beneath the water the dark shape of the monster changed course.

It seemed that Hem was fast enough, swimming several lengths of the now sunken boat in an instant, but when he was less than a metre from the outstretched arms of his fellow riders, he disappeared.

Once more there was calm, but this time it was broken by four more arms of the monster springing from the water.

'Run!' said Roran. Daiv and the older man bolted down the wooden slats. They reached the larger wharf just as the creature smashed the pier. Roran grabbed the boy's collar to steer him away from the heaving mass of splinters as they dived into a large building.

Inside they could still feel the slight rocking of the pontoons caused by the disturbance. They each took a side of the doorway, glancing out at the ruined water. The creature had retreated beneath the surface, but, Daiv thought, it would only be a matter of time until something tried to attack them up here.

Roran breathed deeply.  'I take it that was a puppethead?'

'No doubt.' Daiv sniffed the air. 'What is this place for?'

'Man oh man,' Roran said, eyes widening as he turned to look behind them.

The reek was coming from the back of the room. Resting on the wall was the massive bulk of one of the monsters, now lying still. To either side were limp human bodies, each holding a crossbow of their own.

'That's a big one,' said Daiv, shaking from either the cold or fright.

'We're late to the party.' Roran waved a hand to clear the air and coughed.

'Maybe some villagers are still alive,' Daiv said.

'What do you mean?'

Daiv looked back out at the lake. 'For the sake of Hem, I'm hoping they still take prisoners.'

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