Open Mouthed
Quite a few secs went by and I heard nowt. No skull smashing sound that would turn my brain to squish. No noise that would send a shock wave coursing through my bod to burst my vitals. Nowt, nadder, not a thing.
I opened my eyes and saw Brother Dominic staring at the floor. The sonic gun pushed down between his belt and robe. I gulped and he lifted his gaze.
“Don’t look so perplexed. Or for that matter, relieved. I haven’t forgot that I am to kill you. I just thought I’d have a little fun first.”
He bent over Eadgard and Sister Gabriel and shoved them close together. He positioned their heads in such a way as to make them look as if they were about to kiss, then stood and faced me. He pulled the weapon from his belt, held it up and pointed it at my noggin.
“I will arrange your corpse on top of that Clonie filth when I am done. As for that irregular youth, Wirt, whom you choose to call friend, I will place him on top of you. Thus making a sandwich out of freak.”
His words and actions sent coldness around my innards. A cold that burned. I became as vexed as I had in the Nearlyman camp and felt a fury rise within. I directed my stare and thoughts upon Brother Dominic and Jude. I partook of the biggest breath I could, and made a sound low and hard. So deep and sonorous that the windows began to rattle.
Brother Dominic looked around, screwed his faced up in pain and dropped the ultrasonic gun. It crashed to the floor splitting in two. He clasped his hands to the sides of his head and opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
I let forth a final surge of guttural resonance that sent him shooting backwards to the end of the corridor. He hit the wall and fell splat onto the ground. I heard behind and above my head a similar thud and guessed that it was from the slumping of Brother Jude. I stopped and breathed as normal, before taking in more air.
This time, it was a sweet lungful and I let my voice cry out a tune of softness and calm. I did not know what, if any effect it might have upon the stricken, but it felt good to let my voice ring in purity instead of filth.
Walking amongst limp arms and legs, I crouched down and touched cold face after cold face. When I came upon Eadgard and Sister Gabriel, I pushed them both onto their backs. I lingered by Eadgard’s mouth, let my ear listen for sounds of his breathing, but heard nowt. I rose, wiped my eyes and stood straight and strong. I looked over the bods that lay so still on the floor and paused.
Then, I took a breath and sang until my throat could take no more.
Bent double from the effort I sank to my knees and buried my head in my hands. For the first time in my life, I prayed. To the Greenman, the Onegreatbeing and the BabyCheesus. I prayed for Marcellus, Wirt, Eadgard, Sister Gabriel, and all those that lay near to death, to breathe and live again.
When I’d done, I lifted my head. No one moved. I leant over Eadgard. To my wonder and delight, I saw his face take on a colour more suited to life than death. Turning to Sister Gabriel, I noted that she too had a pinkness where before was only pallor.
I rose and stepped between bod after bod and witnessed the same glow appear upon the dull skin of all that lay unconscious. When I came to Wirt and Marcellus, I almost let out a girlygig shriek as their lids began to flutter. One by one I witnessed the lifeless open their eyes take in air and slowly get to their feet. Some retched up dryness, some wobbled and shook their heads as if to dispel something stuck inside. Then all stood straight.
I saw them through a haze of bafflement, for I did not know just what had occurred. My mouth felt all scratchy and dry, but there was a cleanness of taste instead of bitter bile. I rubbed my eyes and blinked a bit and saw the floored folk slowly come to life.
They moved their arms first, raising one then the other high above their heads. Shoulders wriggled and faces contorted in pain then relief as blood flowed with a quicker force than before. My head tingled as my wits were restored. It felt as if a clammy hand had been lifted from my brain and the world and what I must do became clear once more.
I stared at the dazed monks, nuns and other folk and they too lost their look of dumb. I saw them twitch, turn and babble to themselves, then at each other, until a low murmur swept throughout the risen. I’d not heard such noise in all the time of our stay.
The silence that had been became a roar of thanks that turned to anger, as more became aware that something wrong had occurred. It was a sound of defiance that caused a swell in my chest. I smiled at Eadgard and he gave me a thumbs-up sign. He stared into Sister Gabriel’s eyes, she squeezed his forearm and nodded to the others. Eadgard, protector that he was, went amongst the folk checking for injuries and chatting to one and all.
I approached Sister Gabriel. “Sister, what has been and gone here?”
“An underhandedness of high proportion, my dear.”
I folded my arms and cocked my head to one side. Although glad at her rejuvenation, Brother Dominic’s words of her duplicity lingered in my nonce. “Indeed, a deception of the highest order, of which I am told you were to have contributed?”
Sister Gabriel sighed and looked to the ceiling, then gave me one of her piecing stares. “Listen not to the words of those who are so devious.”
I was about to ask her to clarify, but my attention was drawn away from said nun by the sight of Wirt and Marcellus walking towards us. I could not help hugging both to my chest. Neither pulled away and it was Eadgard who finally parted our reunion by saying, “We were all sitting in the place of eating when we heard Brother Dominic chant the word ‘Abbot.’ Then all went black, until I heard you call to me.”
He took my hand and we partook of a relief-filled grin. From the corner of my eye, I saw the newly risen folk approach, all eagerly chatting as though they had been asleep for many moons. They stopped in a huddle before me and their banter ceased.
A young grey-robed monk stepped forward and bowed. “You are a wonder. May I take it upon myself, Brother Francis, to give you thanks for restoring us all to rightfulness?”
“Thanks accepted with the grace given. However, I did nothing to aid your recovery other than.”
“Other than what?”
I lowered my eyes. “Other than pray.”
“We are relieved to be free from the seeming spell we have been
under since our arrival.”
“Which was when?” Eadgard said.
“That I cannot say. I am guessing some goodly time and then some.”
A hand touched my elbow. I turned and saw Marcellus. “Adara, where Brother Dominic?”
I pointed at the far wall. “He lies senseless at the end of this corridor. He aimed that sound weapon at me on full potential and I felt a compulsion to prevent him from using it,” I said and chin gestured to where said thing lay. Sister Gabriel hurried to where it was, picked it up and pushed the two separate pieces together. It clicked, and I swear the thing was all restored.
“How you do this?”
“I used my voice. Brother Jude, although a baddy, as it turns out, schooled me well.”
“Now you are the weapon I think, my dear,” Sister Gabriel said and peered at the deadly object. “This he kept a secret. But not the dope he put into the food to keep everyone placid.”
“I knew it must be drugs. All this while here and not knowing why or what we are about.”
“The Abbot. Why I had almost forgot about him. He was the reason for our visit,” Eadgard said.
“And the reason we are all here. He must be found. Without his guidance we are as nothing,” Brother Francis said.
The assembled folk lowered their heads and I felt a waft of hopelessness spread amongst us all. I looked to my friends, but each one shook their head, except for Sister Gabriel. “Although I do not know for sure. I believe I have an inkling as to where Brother Dominic and Jude may have secreted him.”
“When the time is right, Sister Gabriel,” Eadgard said and bent close to her. “I would have words with you concerning your involvement in all this chicanery.”
“My dear, set your mind at ease. I never was a part of their plot. When mention of spies abounded our conversation, it was I who should have come clean. I work for those who wish to prevent the Agros and Scientists from completing their intent.”
“Which is?” I said and sidled up close to her.
“Ah, now if we knew that, then all would be quite different,” she said and pulled off her face and neck covering. Eadgard’s eyes widened at the sight of sister Gabriel’s long red hair falling all a-bouncy around her shoulders, quite changing her outward appearance from shifty to sultry. Those gathered around us put their hands to their mouths and stepped back.
“Ye are a Lady,” Wirt cried, grabbed one of her hands and held it up to show us all. “See? See her perfect fingers? I would guesstimate she has not a blotch or blemish or nowt about her bod that would show her to be as we are.”
“What a perceptive creature you are, dear, Wirt. A Lady, you are half right. But those that look at the floor right now not knowing what to think, may like to understand that we Ladies are more than the sum of our parts.”
“More hidden things. More confusion. We not know what to think,” Marcellus said and turned away. Eadgard wiped his face with his hand and blinked.
“The finding of the Abbot must be our next priority,” he said.
“For sure, my dears, Brother Dominic knows his whereabouts. Adara, you must rise him from his stupor.”
“This I will try to do, Sister Gabriel, or whoever you are, but I am all concerned that if I waken one then the other will also rise.”
Marcellus stepped forward. “We make sure treacherous monk not move,” he said and marched off towards the staircase where Brother Jude lay.
The non-holy folk came forward. A large male wearing a black skirt not unlike those worn by the Manlys in Wirt’s camp, addressed us. “Yer man there is brave, but I reckon could do wi a hand. My nam is Bestanden and I and the other males wi keep yer large pal company,” he said and with a wave to the others joined Marcellus.
Wirt took my hand. “So, Adara, shall we go to Dominic?”
“A better plan I cannot think of,” I said and Wirt, Eadgard and the not quite Sister Gabriel followed me to where he lay sprawled out upon the floor as if a great wind had knocked him over. The monks and nuns that remained in the corridor scuttled over and stood droop-eyed opposite his prostrate form.
“It may be best if you do not linger here. We are not certain of Adara’s powers and your safety is of the utmost importance.”
“Sister Gabriel is right, although, she is not actually a nun,” Eadgard said and folded his arms. He stared at her all squinty-like and she lowered her head. “Exactly who are you?”
Wirt raised his hand bub-fashion and said, “She is a Lady and her name is, wait I’ll have it in sec.” He folded his arms and stared with deep intent into the fake Sister’s eyes. She stared back and let her mouth turn up at one end as if to suggest Wirt would have a bother to complete his task. “Kendra. That is yer name.” She clapped.
The holy ones stared wide-eyed and forlorn at Kendra. Eadgard sighed and spoke, “This must be a moment of befuddlement beyond any you have encountered.”
They nodded.
“May I suggest you all go to the library and there familiarize yourselves with the findings Sister Gabriel, I mean, Kendra, has unearthed?”
They did not move.
“Really, it would be best if you went,” Eadgard said and flicked his fingers in the direction of the library.
They remained still.
Eadgard folded his arms.
“Why do you not go?”
The god believers looked at one another and Brother Francis said, “But sir, the lost books are forbidden to us. We may only read them on the direct instructions of our Brother Abbot.”
Kendra pushed her thick hair behind her ears, blinked a slow blink of composure and walked over to where the nuns and monks stood; their eyes lowered, their heads glum-hanging, and said, “My dears, your Brother Abbot is quite out of it. He has not given a direct order for many, many moons. Go, look through the banned books, and learn the things that all should know.”
They lifted their weary noggins and stared blankly at Kendra. She smiled, reached out and took the hand of the newbie monk. Then she placed it into the hand of a juve nun that stood next to him. “Clasp onto one another for support, my dears and do what must be one. The more who know the truth, the better for all.”
“You speak wisdom,” Brother Francis said. “Come, brothers and sisters, let us learn that which will make us strong.”
The holies blinked and shuffled their feet, then took each other by the hand and strode towards the library.
Kendra folded her arms and gave a goodly sigh. “Ah, they will be much tested with regards to their faith.”
I also gave out a cheek-filled blow of air. “That they will and no mistake. What little faith I had in anything became as nowt when I set my eyes on those revealing pages.”
Eadgard turned to me with lowered brow and thin lips. “Come, Adara, it is time to rouse Brother Dominic and find the Abbot.”
“And when we do?”
He took both my hands in his and said, “When we do, your true mission will begin.”