Tough Love
I could tell from the leftover wet on his cheek that Wirt was in pain, inside and out. There was a small bruise on the side of his full pink mouth and a deep graze on the side of his neck. His red wrap skirt was the wrong way round and the scratch marks on his calve and knees did not come from the greenery with spikes where I’d found him on his hands and knees. On seeing me, he stood.
“We must to camp or the elders will become wary of our absence.”
“You shake with hurt. Let me ease the signs of struggle before we leave,” I said and set my Synthbag on a moss-covered rock. Wirt let his head hang down and I was overcome with mumsly concern. “Come, sit and I’ll swipe a Mediswab across the wounds. The healing is quicker than the ravaging. It is a pity that I only have treatment for the surface aches.”
“Not so,” he said, sat down next to me and took my hand. His grip was soft and warm and as gentle as a bubs kiss. I squeezed lighter than I’m used to and carefully placed the Mediswabs across the red marks on his legs.
“What they did...”
“Let us not speak of it.”
“So many kinds of wrong has happened here Wirt.”
“I must not think of it. I must not.”
I watched him squeeze his eyes tight shut and breathe in hard. He did a better than good job at preventing the shakes to overthrow his body and despite his delicate ways, I thought him the bravest and strongest male I had ever known.
“You should maybe let Brennus in on what those Thugbulls did.”
“The first time, I did so.”
“The first? How many more since?”
“Eight, no, nine.”
“He would not have this stop?”
“He would not have this voiced.”
“Coward.”
“Nay, careful.”
“They will not reach manliness this way.”
“They already have.”
I stood and turned from him, not wanting him to see the anger in my face. I wiped away a tear and breathed in a deep lungful of cold air. “Tomorrow I shall bring meat and more.”
“Ye are deep with feeling.”
“I am deep with rage.”
“Empty it. I have, long ago. Ye see,” Wirt said and held up his graceful hands. “They gave me perk. To keep my silence. I am the only Nearly let to puff-puff upon the baccy that blanks things out. Plus, the Ladies when they come to rub the tired and sore limbs of the Manlymen and tell their make believe tales, they make pet of me.”
“Clean nails and befuddlement cannot make up for their digression.”
“In one year I will be a Manlyman and then I’ll leave.”
In one year, I thought, this makeshift male will be as nothing. I had a scheme brewing in my nonce. “Are you fit to travel?”
“With yer care, I am.”
I offered Wirt my arm and he pulled himself upright. I made a smile and swished his skirt to face the right way and to my discomfort and joy, Wirt wrapped his arm around my middle and huggled me close. Now, if any other uninvited teen had done this to me, I would have ripped his nads from their resting place and flung them to the raptors. Instead, I did the same to him, and cozied thus, we walked back.
Just before the entrance, Wirt and I dropped arms. He strode in first then I slightly behind. The Nearlymen were all-abed and only Brennus and the greybeard Aiken were still awake, sitting and supping something hot. Wirt approached them and they sent their focus to the floor.
Cowards. Cowards all.
“Safely returned as was bid,” Wirt said.
“Job done well. Retire. Go quick,” Brennus said without lifting his gaze. Wirt bowed and left. “Catcher of birds, sit one sec more. Will ye try some grog?”
“I do not partake.” A lie. I have and dare say will again, but my mistrust for these males ran deeper than the lake at Ness.
“Then sit. I will have words or two.”
“Speak. I have no relish of squatting in your midst.”
“Understood.” He raised his giant head and stared full into my eyes. I gazed back not intending for one jiffy to allow him a win. “Ye were found a distance from yer land. Aiken here, so taken with yer status, omitted to discover yer purpose.”
“I quest for my bro-bro, taken by the Agros.”
“So, they have reached as far as that? We have heard rumours that Cityplace is under siege from the Agros. Is this true?”
“It is.”
“What drove them to set upon ye in such a manner?”
“To free the Praisebee rebels that were incarcerated. And, as it turned out, to filch my bro. Santy Breanna and other Specials took a stance against them and they sent forth troops, or rather, Carnies, to put us in our place. The whole city was in lockdown when I left.”
“Then how did ye escape?”
“Diversion set up by a S.A.N.T. and my grangran to fool the perimeter guards. One gave me a tip off and I headed into the forest before I was missed.”
“Why here?
“Not sure. I gleaned not much info from the guard. He just sent me deep into your province as quick as that. With a vague suggestion that I would glean more when I neared the end to this wood. I dare say he wished to have me gone before the Agros observed my lack of presence.”
Brennus rose to his feet and loomed over me as if to strike. I held my position, ready to kick at his delicate area.
“Sent here? For what purpose?”
“That he did not declare.”
“What did he say?”
“That answers would be forthcoming.”
“Nay more?”
“Nope.”
“Ye are yet of youth. To be travelling alone is not without question.”
“I have years enough to clear me for solo duties. And I am well trained from my Santy Breanna.”
“A S.A.N.T. gave ye school?”
“For many a moon and sun. Twelve to be exact.”
“And how old when ye started?”
“Five and three-quarters.”
Aiken wolfed down his grog and stifled a mild “Ha, ha, ha.” Brennus changed his look of threat to one of kindred and slapped me on the shoulder. Sending my camouflaged Synthbag to the floor. I quickly scooped it up before they got a glimpse. Everyone, despite their choice of dwelling, knows about the goodies contained within and I did not want to be severed from their comfort.
“Very well, little warrior, very well. To bed and rest for tomorrow ye will be sorely set to test. We will feast upon the meat ye provide for many a long day.”
I did not like the last part of his speech. It indicated my stay would not be brief. “I cannot give vent that much. I am bound to limit the numbers lest there be no more to dine upon.” Brennus did not respond. “If I were to annihilate too many birdybirds that would mean extinction, and extinction means…no more meat. Ever.”
“We shall see. There are more than enough to go round in these parts. Our kin have not had taste of flesh since before my coming out. The Agros have slimmed our rations too. Nay so long past, a gaggle of Agro brutes swarmed into the women-folk’s camp and set about smacking and slapping. My own comfort mate was gashed about the head and legs. When word reached our ears we fled quick as quick to find all manner of tears and sighs, our homes all broken and soiled. Kiddles and old ‘uns shivering in fear as they washed away the blood from their wounds. The women fought back as best they could, but they have no proper weapons and young ‘uns were took.”
“Yep, sounds about right. Agros only attack those least able to defend themselves. The cutting back of foodstuffs is a coward’s way to weaken those they wish to overcome. Provisions have dwindled in Cityplace too, and when I left all means of power had been severed.”
“I cannot say how ye and yers will manage, but if me and mine are to survive their nefarious scheming, we have to live by our wits and yer talent. I think ye will be staying long. Ye will bring a swarm of relief to our plagued peoples.”
Not on your turgid waste, I wanted to shout for all to hear, but all I did was grunt in way of acquiescence. But then an image of Deogol flashed into my noggin and I blurted out, “And yet, I must retrieve my stolen bro.”
“There will be time for that and more. Do not fret for yer lost one. There is feeling in the wind that those that have been took are not damaged.”
“This is something feasible?”
“Word from those who know would say it is.”
“Then I must take your side of things as truth.”
“Good. All is set. The cot up high where the ladder rests is to be yer space whilst ye are here. Sleep without thoughts,” he said and bowed.
I gave a curt nod and headed towards the ladder. I do not like the highness of things especially when I can see no enclosure to stop a drop. I scanned the sleeping teens all wrapped up like babybubs and climbed the long, long ladder. The highest place I’d ever been was the middle of an info board in the main plaza, and then I’d taken an antivertigo pill. This ascent was more than four times that height and my legs wobbled all the while.
The platform reached, I wiped my brow and tried to not look down. The bed to my relief was secured with massive clamps. I gave it a goodly shake to make sure it was safe, then climbed between the Flexisheets and relaxed a little as they moulded into shape around my body. I breathed in deeply, closed my eyes and opened them again. Thoughts of sleep in this shifty place sent a wave of hot and cold up and down my spine.
I moved my head to the side and looked down the rungs of the ladder for signs of teen. All was clear. I did not doubt that Brennus meant me no harm, but I feared that once he was dream-filled, my safety would be in jeopardy. I vowed to stay awake lest a creepy Nearly ascended and fiddled with my bits whilst I slept. I stared at the hole in the roof, at the swirling smoke and embers that drifted through and felt my lids grow heavy. I lifted them half way but gravity had other ideas. They fluttered briefly, and then fell.