Maelstrom 5
by
Yamila Abraham
Cover by Himitsu Studio
Copyright 2011 Yamila Abraham
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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“No,” Malstrum said. “They’re going towards the house. Four more just burst out.”
“So there’s seven of them moving?”
Malstrum squinted into the distance. “Yeah. Only the look-out is staying behind. And—I think—yeah. It’s our Flurry—the original one. I see his sling.” He turned to Demetri.
“We missed their ultimatum. We didn’t come like they demanded, so now they’re coming for us.”
“They’ll see the fake wagon set up at the house and think we’re in there. Should ride right into the blasts.”
Demetri concentrated. “Good. The more of these bastards dead the better. But they’re not what I care about. Let’s grab Thia and get out of here. Fuck the rest of them.”
Malstrum shifted the wagon into drive and pressed the accelerator to the floor.
“If we had some back up I’d love to take them all out.” Wind whipped the tresses of his blue hair. “As it is, we’d just get killed. This is the right move.”
He slowed as he neared the cave. Flurry no longer guarded outside. Malstrum turned off the engine and let the wagon propel itself on silent battery power. He parked and leaned close to Demetri to whisper.
“I can’t fire the solar in there. The explosion would kill Thia. Let’s just take the pistols. You stay behind me and watch my back.”
Demetri nodded. He exited the wagon with his crutch and a pistol.
Malstrum edged into the cave opening. He paused, then walked in. Demetri looked past him. The entrance to the cave was littered with gnawed bones. Malstrum pointed to a human femur with a look of disgust before stepping over it. Demetri fell paces behind. He did his best to maneuver soundlessly with the crutch.
They couldn’t see Flurry yet, but heard him. Brainbox translated the breathy words in his mind.
“See, Hyena? Even tendon can be eaten if you cook it long enough. Mm. Mmm!”
He came into view around a corner. Pillows and scraps of cloth littered the floor. Flurry squatted over a gas burner eating the remains of a human arm. His fat face was covered in grease. The trike was parked in the middle of the cave. Thia had a shackle around her neck attached to a chain anchored in the floor. She lay prone on her back, like an animal in a submissive posture.
“Cannibal pig!” Malstrum raised his pistol.
A shot rang out. Flurry gave a gurgling scream. Demetri looked past Malstrum. The monster had been shot in the face. He made hideous raspy wet screams, then was still.
Malstrum walked to Flurry while still brandishing the gun. He checked for a pulse, then dug through his pocket for keys. Thia climbed to her feet. She walked as close to Malstrum as the chain would let her.
Demetri looked down at Flurry. He’d collapsed on Spinak’s arm. The bones were dark from cooking. The forearm and most of the hand were chewed clean. Rotten fingers had bites taken out of them.
“Hey, little girl,” Malstrum said.
“Where Thistle?” She looked down and whimpered.
Malstrum unlocked the shackle around her neck. “We’re taking you to him. Don’t worry.”
Thia ran out of the cave. Demetri reached for her as she passed.
“Wait!”
Malstrum mounted the trike and revved it. He rode to Demetri.
“What are you--?”
“We need more wheels.”
Thia sat in the passenger seat of the wagon outside. She curled her body with her shoulders hunched. One knuckle was in her mouth. Demetri sat next to her.
“You alright?”
“Thistle!”
He drove as fast as the wagon could go. Malstrum trailed behind him.
In an hour’s time they parked in front of the inn. Malstrum went to the back of the wagon. He dug through the gear.
“They’re after us, Demetri.”
“Let’s get her inside and—“
“Thia!”
Thistle ran out to them. He threw his arms around Thia. The hyena clung to him with tight claws.
Malstrum moved a large bundle of stuff from the wagon to the rack in back of the trike. He latched straps around it.
“Thank you! You saved her. I didn’t think I’d ever—“
“The wagon’s yours Thistle. Go park it inside. Those fuckers are after us.”
Thistle stood with his jaw dropped. Thia had an identical expression.
Malstrum got on the trike. “Move it! Before they get close enough to see you.”
“Well—where are you—“
“We’re gone.” He started off. “Get on the train next cycle and get the hell out of here.” His tires threw up a whirlwind of dust.
Malstrum went to the tracks and rode in a straight line beside them. The town grew smaller behind them. Demetri clung to him.
“Why abandon the gear?”
“You trust me, don’t you?”
“Yeah. That’s why I didn’t stop you.”
“What do you think of going west?”
Demetri thought for a while. “You were banished from there.”
“I know. I’d have to keep a low profile.”
“That’s impossible for you.”
“I’ve got friends.”
The trike bounded over a craggy patch.
“Why do you want to do this, Malstrum?”
“I can’t protect you here.”
Demetri’s heart beat faster.
“I don’t mind it being rough. Everything’s sweet as long as I’m with you. But I can’t deal with you in danger. When you gave me that kiss and had to go away—tore me apart inside.”
Demetri swallowed. “You said you had three choices. Death, prison, or east. You picked east. If you go back west you might get locked up or put to death.”
“I don’t think they’re watching me, babe. If I stay out of trouble they probably don’t care where I go. There’s no one out there policing Secren. The only reason I got noticed in the first place is because I wrote the government letters.”