Whisper Gatherers Read online

  “I don’t know. We got separated when everyone fell to the floor all gasping for breath. Good job I came out with my oxymask. I was going to leave it behind, I haven’t needed it for ages now, but you know what? Something in my bones told me to take it with me.”

  “Goodly good for you Grangran.”

  She squinted in the direction of the stage, where the Praisebees still stood, and tutted loudly. “Foolish zealots. What do they want do you think?”

  I had an inkling from what they said before letting off the gas bomb, but I did not want to disturb Greatgrangran, so I threw her a whopper instead. “Don’t know. Maybe they just want to convert us to the ways of the BabyCheesus.”

  “Oh, I don’t believe in all that holierthanthou stuff. I believe in what I see before me, not in mythical if’s and what’s. I’d sooner pray to the Greenman than a long dead bub from who knows where. Besides, they are not real believers. I’ve not heard of the Praisebees courting violence and advocating the consumption of meat. Plah! They are nothing more than Carnies out to hoodwink.”

  Despite the unpleasant predicament we were in, I could not help but snicker at Grangran’s take on things. She may be an oldie but she was no mushbrainer. The Carnies were about and no mistake. They’d just latched onto a few extremists to gain access into Cityplace. Yep, they were shifty and then some.

  I looked at the recovering folk and searched the room for Santy Breanna. There were too many bods all staggering about for me to see anything clearly. I would have called her name, but there would be no point. What with all the moaning, crying, and the chief Praisebee banging on about this and that, I doubt my voice would have been heard.

  The noisiness ended quite ‘bruptly when the curfew chime sounded. Everyone became still, quiet as a stuffed moocow on display. I looked towards the stage area. One of the Praisbee guards shoved a pointy stick into the sheriff’s back, by way of forcing him to ring said alarm again. When he shook his head, the guard twisted one of his arms so high up his back that I thought it would snap in two. Sheriff Fychan rang the bell. The main Praisbee raised his hands in the air. The others that remained banging their heads, stood and joined him on the stage, blood dripping from their open wounds.

  “Good folk of Cityplace, please, be seated.”

  Like kiddles in class, we did.

  He walked to the front of the platform. “Good citizens, allow me first to apologise for the necessity to use a mild force in order to attain your full attention. The bombs and the substances they contained are harmless irritants only, they will have no lasting damage.”

  He stopped and gestured to a male and fem that were not head damaged. They stepped out from the line of red splattered Praisbees, and stood either side of him. “My name is Daniel. Together with my friends Elijah and Lilith, we come to share our faith. To talk about the dead rising. The last great sign of the end of all things. That and the outing of the Auger.”

  A general murmuring swept around the room. I hunched myself up as best I could in the stiff chair.

  “I am sure that you will have many questions. When you have heard me out, I will be glad indeed to answer them as best I can.”

  Greatgrangran shuffled her feet and tugged my arm. I leant in close to her. She whispered, “Look to the far left of the room.”

  I did and saw Santy Breanna with one of the boarder guards. She was gesticulating to someone at the opposite end of the chamber. I turned my head in the direction she pointed, and there by the back exit, two S.A.N.T.S stood in full battle dress. I hid my grin behind my hand. These Praisebee/Carnies had better be quick with their explanations before the S.A.N.T.S let rip and brought them to their knees. I put my arm around Greatgrangran. She chuckled like a bub with a chocopop.

  “Dear beloved, folk of Cityplace, we are here to tell you the news. To help you to let God into your bosoms and go to the great heavenplace above with a pure heart and soul. Become one of us. God will open up the pearlygates and you shall reside forever in the kingdom of heaven. Praise the Lord!” His voice swelled on the last sentence. All the other followers repeated it several times. “The dead have risen. Soon there will be a storm. A raging wind and violent shuddering that will destroy us all. Let us give you the chance to save your souls, to find the Adara, who will bring the birdybirds to us. Then we shall feast on forgotten flesh. So it was told, so shall it be, so shall…”

  Thankfully, Daniel did not finish his somewhat repetitive speech. A rope was flung around his, Elijah’s, and Lilith’s chest, pinning their arms to their sides. The next instant, they were flat on the floor, The S.A.N.T.S I had seen but a moment before, were standing over them.

  Santy Breanna leapt onto the stage, grabbed the guard that had made Sheriff Fychan press the curfew chime, and held a knife to his throat. Before the other Prasiebee muscle could intervene, the fem S.A.N.T. kicked the back of his knees bringing him down with a thud. She pressed her foot upon his neck so that he could not move. An enormous cheer spread around the place. As one bod, we all stood and shrieked until our throats became hoarse.

  The other followers backed away, but were prevented from fleeing the scene by the male S.A.N.T. who let rip a restraining cord that swished around their bods and held them fast in a huddled glob. Daniel writhed in his bondage and spat out some sort of profanity about worshiping false idols. Santy Breanna cuffed the Praisebee guard then pushed him down next to the prostrate Cheesus disciples.

  She stood tall and addressed the arena, “All clear I think. Safe again. Dreng and Orva are to thank for scuppering these zealots misguided intentions. It is goodly indeed to know that these brave soldiers of the Special Army of the New Territories, are within a bub’s breath of our home and in a sec, can be here when trouble begins.”

  Another cheer caused said S.A.N.T.S to wave to the crowd. They lifted Daniel, Lilith, and Elijah, and pushed them to the front of the stage. Santy walked up to them and pulled Daniel to face the auditorium.

  We sat down all calm as if we were about to see an entertainment. Santy spoke, “I believe these so-called Praisebees, are not what they seem. All this chat of meat and the like, has given them away. They are Carnies, not believers in the BabyCheesus. What we do with these folk and how they shall be punished, is up to the sheriff and law enforcers of our city. But I dare say a night in the filth hole and a trip to the Decontamination place will be a start.”

  Yet another cheer. Santy Breanna was a goodly speaker indeed. “However, they came here because of rumours.” No cheer this time, just a shuffling of feet. “These rumours spread fast and far. Such goss must cease. If these misguided ones heard so much whilst only moving on foot, then you can be sure those with eyes and ears in every part of this sad land, will have heard also. Agros could use this info against us. They could fuel our fears and make us do who knows what.”

  Sheriff Fychan, supporting his left arm with his right hand, approached Santy. “Fine and noble words Breanna, but fact is fact. These ‘rumours’ may not be mere fabrication. I heard the sound, as did we all. The Praisbees, or Carnies in disguise, are misguided but they are right. We do have an Adara, I know you put it about that she was wrongly named, but was she? What about the eerie noises last moonrise? The dead are rising, talking. That can mean only one thing.”

  His last words were drowned out by several girlygig shrieks, quickly joined and made more piercing, by most of the crowd shouting and yelling. I put my hand over my ears. Greatgrangran stuffed her fingers down her hearing holes. Santy Breanna waved her hands to indicate all should cease their bellyaching, and after a sec or two, all did. Someone shouted out, “We are doomed. We must contact the Agros and ask for their help.”

  “When have the Agros ever helped us?” Santy said.

  There was a general muttering of, “Well, never,” then all went quiet again.

  The sheriff spoke, “The Agros are the least of our worries. The Lost Ones are restless, they have come to claim their interest. Kiddles are going missing. Meeks are took.”


  “That is myth.”

  “Is it Breanna?”

  “Yes. It is. Oh, I know the teachings of the OneGreatProvider and the stuff about one day folk paying for the comfort and joy he gave us.”

  “By the taking of as many now that were saved then. Famine will reign where once was bounty. An Auger will rise and end the hunger. But not before many have died.”

  A massive gasp ripped through the place and even the bound Praisebees gave over to wide-eye. Voices called out for sacrifices to soothe the founder of Cityplace. Greatgrangran got quite animated when a young ‘un said, “Let him have the oldies.”

  I felt as heavy as if I’d eaten our entire stock of oatleys in one sitting, and mumbled so no one could hear, “It wasn’t the dead it was me calling to the birdybirds.”

  “What? What did you say, Adara?”

  Finally, Grangran got my name right, I thought. Then I thought, oops.

  “Have you been practising your namegift?”

  “Well, maybe.”

  Greatgran Amranwen stood, and impressively for one of her age, stepped up onto her chair. She waved her arms around. Santy Breanna called for hush and all turned to Grangran. I tried to say something but she ‘shushed’ me to silence. “You fools. You’ll believe in all sorts of silliness that’s for sure. Dead rising, my saggy butt. There were never any ghosties about. It was Ad…”

  “Amranwen, Granmam, quiet!” Santy yelled and raced down the stairs towards her.

  “Don’t tell me to shush girly. As I was saying, no ghosties in Cityplace, just Adara, singing to the birdies.”

  HUFFIN’ HELL!

  Chapter Six

  Saved By The Seat Of My Pantaloons.

  Santy stopped at the bottom of the stage area. Greatgrangran smiled, held her hand out for me to take so that I could help her down. She huffed and puffed with the effort then sat back on her seat as though nowt had happened. Sheriff Fychan looked at Santy then at me. “What have you to do with all this young ‘un?”

  I shrugged, made a twirling motion with my forefinger next to my head and pointed at Grangran. Unfortunately for me, she noticed.

  “You impudent little aphid. Trying to suggest that I’m not all there in the brain section.”

  She stood and I hoped that she would not try to climb onto her seat again. I was deep in face red as it was. “I’ll tell you what she has to do with all of this. You stay where you are Breanna. Glad you are defending Adler, but the truth must out if these halfwits are to cease their grip on these ghost and ghoulie tales. Stand up girly.” I did not so she gave me a sharp poke in the ribs with her bony fingers.

  “Ow, that hurts.”

  “Good, now stand.”

  I did. I swear my skin was the colour of the setting sun. I stared at the stage and saw Sheriff Fychan’s face turn a dark shade of purple. “Tell all you know olddame.”

  “I have a name young ‘un. I would suggest you use it when addressing one of my advancing years and experience.”

  “Apologies Amranwen, please continue.”

  “Little Adwela.”

  “Adara.”

  “Of course it is. Little Adara is the cause of said nighttime noises that have given all such a scare. She has been singing to the birdybirds as her namegift impels her to do.”

  Santy put her hand over her face and I felt my shoulders droop. Daniel and the other pretend Praisebees began to snicker. Sheriff Fychan tugged on their bonds until they stopped. A mumbling, grumbling rolled throughout the gathered and I picked out one or two phrases that I’d rather have not heard.

  “Catcher of Birds.”

  “Meat Bringer. She can serve us.”

  “My ‘nuncle’s a Carnie, hiding out near the Woodsfolk camp. In with the Agros he is. When I give him this info I can barter with him and get that 3D replicator I saw in a tech mag.”

  “I’ll get her to bring down all the birybirds. We can have a right real feast. Why should the Carnies have all the fun?”

  “We can sell her to the Agros. Then we’ll never go without.”

  So it continued. My head buzzed with talk of how folk could use me for their ill-gotten gains. The hubbub grew. The hundreds of Citydwellers that had sat so placid throughout this ordeal, rose as one and moved in on Greatgrangran and myself.

  Before I could grab her and rush to safety, the mass of greedy folk had surrounded us. I began to wonder whether the Carnie’s gas bomb was fuelled with some kind of mind-bending drug to make these sissy’s crave flesh so. I called to Santy and thought I heard her call back, but I couldn’t be sure such was the din coming from the throats of my potential attackers.

  “What’s going on? Get your silly selves away from me and mine,” Grangran said and started swatting folk with her niknakbag.

  I took a defensive stance. Jabbed out at those that tried to grab me. Santy trained me well. I was goodly indeed when up against a scrap. Only two full moons ago I defeated all and sundry at the somewhat illegal ‘Rough House Games.’ However, then unlike now, my assailants attacked individually, not on mass. I felt many hands grip onto my arms, legs and shoulders. Before I could protest at the outrage of it all, I was lifted up into the air and carried towards the exit.

  I wriggled and they flipped me over so that I saw the floor instead of the ceiling. I was jiggled about so much that my innards spun and tumbled, for a sec I thought that I would barf. Then I heard a familiar voice say, “Put her down or by the OneGreatProvider, I and the other S.A.N.T.S. will rope you like the Praisebees.”

  “You can try if you like,” someone said. I heard a dull thud, then I was dropped.

  However, I did not fall flat on my face, as two outstretched arms caught me before I hit the ground. Meilyr held me close. I wrapped my arms around him and almost shed a tear. “Quickly, get her out of the building,” Santy said. I lifted my head and saw her thwack and wallop folk after folk that tried to yank me from the staffnursy’s grip. Yep, that gas contained something nasty all right. These placid dwellers were out for blood.

  Meilyr let me down, holding onto me with one arm whilst striking out with the other each time a hand reached towards my bod. I kicked, spat and clawed at anyone who came near. But they were as if possessed by the very phantoms they believed had risen. Despite mine, Santy’s, and Meilyr’s best efforts, I was ripped away from his protective grip.

  Hauled backwards by the belt with astonishing speed, I thought I would take off. The Cityfolk swarmed after. Orva appeared from who knows where, gave me a thumbs up sign, then turned and fired a barrage of small pellets at the advancing mob. They fell to the ground, hands over their head, yelling as if they had been smacked with a tree trunk. We came to a halt. A strong arm swivelled me around, hauled me up and onto their shoulders. I looked down at the upturned face smiling at me. “Ta.” Dreng gave me a wink and ran full pelt up the steps.

  Orva followed close behind, pushing the Headteach and the sheriff to the ground. Then she pressed a button that I thought would activate the curfew bell, but to my surprise, saw a door open at the back of the stage. Dreng put me down and whispered in my ear, “Run as fast as you can. We will be right behind ye. Don’t stop until ye reach the end wall.” He pushed me. I did as he said and ran into the dark space.

  It was too dim for me to get a clear look at where I was. I stretched my arms out to the side and touched wall. It was a corridor that led to somewhere. I wondered briefly, why it was there, and if the sheriff knew about it. All thoughts on the matter ceased when I heard raised voices behind me. More than two. I ran faster, hands before my face so that I didn’t come a cropper on something ahead, then came to an abrupt halt when they hit something hard.

  “Adara? Are ye well?”

  “Yep.”

  “Stay where ye are.”

  “Not likely to do otherwise.”

  “Of course. I am lighting a gas tube, so do not be alarmed at the strange noise ye are about to hear.”

  A crackling, hissing sound filled the space and the dimness dimi
nished. Through the hazy glow, I saw Dreng, Orva and two more shadowy figures. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. There before them were not only the S.A.N.T.S. but two of the Carnie/Praisebees.

  “What the huffin’ heck are they doing here?”

  “Followed us through. Although I do not know how they managed to free themselves.”

  “We prayed to Cheesus. He came to our aid.”

  “He did not. Lilith carries a small blade with her at all times. She managed to wriggle it free, I stooped down, picked it up and she cut her bonds then mine. We were not noticed because of the disruption taking place.”

  Lilith gave Elijah a somewhat less than Christian look and sucked in her cheeks. Elijah bowed. Orva cuffed him about the noggin. “You should not be here. You are trouble. I cannot send you back, as much as I wish to. We cannot let you be found and blab about this not-so-secret passage. You will have to come with us.”

  “Which is where?”

  “Ah, now that would be telling, Adara. It is enough ye know that we are taking ye to a safe place until all this hoo-ha blows over.”

  “Will it?”

  “Who knows? Not even the Greenman himself would attempt to second guess the strange ways of folk in Cityplace.”

  Dreng’s accent was oddly indeed. Clearly he was not from here.

  “Dreng, you are not a born-and-bred Citydweller?”

  “Well spotted Adara. Nay I am a Woodsfolk firstly. S.A.N.T. second and last.”

  Wow! A Woodsmale. They have a reputation for being tough and smelly. I sniffed and took in my own fear stink. He did not exude anything nasty. Perhaps that came from the S.A.N.T. training.

  “Enough chat. Dreng, activate the unlocking device.”

  He pulled out a small round black box and pressed it with his thumb. A whirring noise gave over to a clanking sound. The dead-end before us became a long narrow tunnel that dipped sharply downwards. “I’ll gae first to light the way. Orva wi bring the rear. Adara, wi follow me. The rest gae in single file behind her. This is a steep incline, slippery in parts. Be wary. Tread careful. If ye fall, we wi not be able to save ye, so acute is the drop.”