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Chapter 21
Okay. So there I was, facing certain death. The sligs had me outnumbered and surrounded, not to mention they had guns pointed directly at my head. I didn’t know how in the world they had gotten up here, but I supposed that I would in now way find out. Hell, I’d be lucky to get a word in.
Then, one slig seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He lowered his gun. By now I was shaking so badly that I didn’t realize this as some kind of good sign. Instead, I fell to my knees and started to babble and beg for mercy. I can remember snippets of what I said, but I don’t think any of it would be particularly … constructive. It detracts, you might say, from the eloquence I try to keep in my story.
But the point is, the sligs were no longer pointing guns at me. In fact, they were making welcoming gestures, as if I were some expected guest making a long overdue appearance at a gathering.
The sligs all gathered around me, as if they were little kids expecting a story. One slig, a particularly wiry one, at that, stepped forward, and put out his hand. I cringed away, on instinct, but when no blow came, I looked up.
“Hi!” He said simply. “Boy, are we glad to see you!”
I was more confused than ever. But they were sligs, and my inner slave was brought back to the surface.
“Before I show you around, I must apologize,” began the slig, who helped me stand up and put an arm around my shoulder to steady me. “Our welcome was most inhospitable. We have our guns constantly on the ready in case a slig from the enemy camp manages to find his way here.”
My head was swimming. “Enemy camp? You mean those tents outside?”
The slig nodded. It just occurred to me that this slig, nor any of the others, were wearing masks. I hadn’t ever seen a slig without a mask on, so I didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t all that ugly. “Yes. We’ve been trying to think up a way to destroy their camp, as they have invaded our sanctum and driven us here. The few of us they didn’t squash first, that is.” He bowed his head, obviously remembering a long lost companion.
“But where are my manners!” he shouted suddenly, brightening up. “I haven’t introduced myself! I’m Benedict, and I am the Top Slig in this party.”
He went on to explain that they were sligs who managed to escape from their slig barracks at a young age, and therefore they were allowed to grow up into their own peaceful nature. The mechanical pants and guns they used were pilfered from the slig camp down below; they all agreed it made moving easier, and the guns made fine weapons. However, they had (thankfully, I thought) never had their nurturing nature beaten from them, and could hardly bring themselves to fight intruders. The sligs that came in were careless about any stealth they may have been expected to have, and among all sligs in the area, it was common knowledge that a mudokon renegade known as Dan T. was on the loose.
And these guys knew that I was that mudokon. Even with the name wrong. They knew of my escape from Tastee Treets, but nothing more.
“Wait a minute,” I said. This made no sense! “There were sligs who saw me shot and killed! My body was missing an arm, and it sank to the bottom of the river outside of Tastee Treets.”
Benedict sighed. “The sligs sent to capture you never made it back to the glukkon offices. It was assumed you killed them, and then got away. They were given your location by a small tribe of mudokons that you had encountered soon after your escape. From what I hear, a mud by the name of Ryan was tortured into divulging the information.” Benedict said the word tortured with a definite tinge of anger, and I knew instantly that I could trust his word.
But had I met a mudokon named Ryan? I didn’t think so. I’d figure it out later. For now, though …
“Okay then, Benedict,” I started, “what are you so excited to see me for?”
Benedict’s eyes shone, and he spoke in a hurried way, as if I would interrupt him or call him crazy for making such a proposition.
“We are going to sneak out to the top of the valley and knock as many boulders as possible down the side to crush the tents and kill the invaders!”
I took three seconds to think
[VISION]
I was sitting in Orion’s hut, listening to him speak.
“Your fourth trial will be in Theaw. Your physical strength will be key here, as boulders fill the land, slowing your progress.”
[VISION]
of a response when I decided I would help.
“I know for a fact that there are enough boulders relatively nearby. But I have a small question to ask of you ….”
Benedict, possibly afraid I would decline to help if he refused to answer, was suddenly attentive. “Go on.”
I reached up and scratched the back of my head, just under the base of my feathers. “Are there any … peculiar totem poles around here? I was hoping to find one for my quest, and—”
Benedict looked suddenly relieved. “Oh, sure! We have two of them, in fact! Come down back, I’ll show you!”
I thanked him and followed Benedict down a corridor in the back of the cavern that I hadn’t noticed sooner, most likely because it was concealed by the flickering shadows caused by the torchlight.
As we walked, I tried to remember if I ever met a mudokon named Ryan. I mean, the muds weren’t from Oblim, because Patch and Nine would’ve both sent me some kind of message. So, it was Rotag. But, who did I know from—
ORION!
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