A Silence Heard Read online

“Not a TTI?”

  “One and the same,” he said and rummaged around in the inside pocket of his right trouser leg. “I keep it in the lead-lined pouch so it cannot be detected.” He handed it to Kendra as if it was a most precious prize; laying the blade across his forearm. She took it and held it before her eyes.

  “This is a rare specimen and no mistake,” she said and fondled the thing as though it were the limb of a newborn bub. She pulled out many metal utensils from the scissor-shaped thing and I was super impressed at the gadgets and whatnots that emerged. She stopped, slowly dragged out a fierce double-edged mini saw, and handed it back to him.

  “A fitting choice. Diamond-edged,” he said, knelt at Oswald’s side and moved the serrated blade across his wrist.

  Wirt put his fingers in his ears and closed his eyes. Marcellus, Kendra and myself looked on, half in wonder and half in disgust, as Eadgard sliced into his flesh. There was a splattering of much blood before he was done, but he was done quicker than I expected. His multi-knife was wondrous indeed.

  “I will rinse these paws before we leave. May I suggest that both Adara and Kendra attire themselves appropriately?”

  I looked down at my blanket and at Kendra’s flimsy robe, and smiled.

  “Goodly advice that I will follow directly.”

  “Come, let us to your room and dress. I will bring clothes suitable for flight,” Kendra said and dragged her Synthbag from underneath the bed. Arm in arm we left the gruesome scene to change and make ready for our escape.

  Chapter Seven

  The Labs

  Aptly dressed in pantaloons, shirt and thick wool-like coat, Kendra and I secured our Synthbags across our shoulders, and re-entered the blood-bath room. Alfred was sitting on the bed, a hand over his left eye, whilst Marcellus and Wirt dragged the handless corpse of Oswald into the area of bathing. Eadgard dried the Agros severed mitts and wrapped them in a towel. He looked at us and engaged Kendra in a charm-filled stare.

  “Glad to see you both attired in fitting garb. We do not know what to expect when we leave this place of comfort.”

  She brushed both hands down the front of her garment slow and sensuous like. Eadgard’s eyes followed where her fingers touched and both exchanged looks of lust. All well and good, but not appropriate in this situation of scare. I felt compelled to end their flirtiness with a loudl “Harumph” closely followed by an obvious cough. Eadgard looked away, rolled his shoulders, made his neck click and turned his attention to the entrance to the bathing area, where Marcellus and Wirt stood.

  My sweetie goggle-gaped at me and despite my huffiness at the unsuitable conduct I witnessed; I gave into longing for kissiness. He lowered his lids and spoke in a husky voice, “Prefer to see in dress of blue, but new clothes suit well.” I gave him a soppy grin.

  This time, Kendra cleared her throat.

  “Ye’d think with all that is occurring, yer minds would focus more on our mission instead of pash,” Wirt said. He folded his arms, shook his head all slow-like and added a tut–tut by way of emphasising his point.

  Although peeved at his calling me to shame, I acknowledged his intent to bring me back to the here and now. So, attempted to free my mind from thoughts of romance. “I will do my utmost to secure our escape should I be called to do so.”

  “If ye keep focus.”

  “I can and will, Wirt.” I said, but an image of Marcellus with his arms around me filled my noggin. Here we go again, Aamlet syndrome.

  Eadgard said and pointed at the still living Agro. “Time to end matters of the personal nature. Let us depart. Marcellus, would you be so kind as to take charge of Alfred and see that he does not cause danger to our escape?”

  “Yes, will do most gladly,” he said and without a glance in my direction, marched over to the bed where the Agro sat all cringy-like.

  “I shall help ye. In case yer mind wanders off to other things,” Wirt said and gave me a raised eyebrow stare. Not being used to such hostility from my best-as friend, I returned his gesture with slit eyes. Then felt a sudden surge of guilt and attempted to rectify my mean by shrugging to suggest it was of no matter and we were still close.

  Marcellus cleared his throat. “Assistance gratefully accepted.”

  He yanked Alfred from the bed, pulled his hand away from his bruised eye and pushed him forward. Wirt followed him out of the room, as did Eadgard, carrying Oswald’s hands. He signalled for Kendra and myself to leave. We did most gladly, for I was sick of the stench of fresh blood that filled the place.

  The entrance room did not look the same as before. It appeared garish and vulgar and I was keen to be free of it. Eadgard walked to the where we’d entered. He slid his hand across the wall, feeling for something that could be the switch to open it, and turned to Alfred.

  “Are we to expect guards or personnel behind these walls?”

  Alfred gave a nose sigh and looked to the ceiling. “And I should tell you because?”

  Wirt stepped in front of him and leant close to his smirking face. “If ye do not, Marcellus will extract your nads with his teeth.”

  “Not with teeth. With thumb and forefinger,” Marcellus said and mimed the action for all to see.

  “You really are quite a violent lot.” Alfred shrugged. “No, guards are not required at the entrance to the ‘Play Area’.”

  Eadgard looked at the smugmush as if he were a bark beetle. “I see. Notwithstanding, I would ask all to make ready for some kind of attack. Just in case this Agro is not being altogether honest.”

  We braced ourselves by standing straight and sticking out our chests. Eadgard unwrapped one of Oswald’s severed hands and pressed it against the wall. Nowt. He took the other and did the same. Nowt. “Alfred, why is this not working?”

  “How should I know?” he said and mock-yawned.

  Marcellus gave him a fist to the kidneys and he doubled up in pain.

  “Give right answer, or we tear off more than nads.”

  Alfred sucked in air and gulped. “Not in the… right, place.”

  “Show me where the right place is.”

  He did not move. Marcellus pushed the Agro, who stumbled then stood by the wall and pointed at a hard to see bump level with Eadgard’s chin. He blinked and sought out more air. “There. Press the middle of his palm onto that.”

  Eadgard shoved him out of the way and into Marcellus chest. He pushed him forward, grabbed his right arm and Wirt gripped onto the other. Alfred struggled to free himself, but my pals just held on harder until he stopped.

  Lifting Oswald’s dismembered paw against the indent, Eadgard stepped back. The wall gasped open to reveal a dimly lit white tunnel. He placed the hand back into the towel and entered. “Kendra, Adara, follow me. Stay close behind.”

  Kendra nudged me and we both stepped into the corridor. I heard Alfred say, “Must you be so rough?” and over my shoulder saw Marcellus and Wirt push Alfred so hard that he fell. Wirt kicked his butt and he stood. Too quickly, for he banged his head on the ceiling. Which was so low that Marcellus had to hunch himself up to avoid an injury to his noggin.

  As we moved, bright lights came on making me squint. I walked all nervous-like down the passageway, not knowing whether Alfred was truth telling about their being no guards. I could not help but look left and right in case an invisible opening appeared in the wall, and Agro scum jumped out.

  The corridor came to an end and Eadgard halted in front of a black wall. We gathered around him and he pulled Alfred forward. “Where does this lead?”

  Alfred folded his arms and said nowt.

  “Say truth, or we hurt,” Marcellus said and slapped the back of Alfred’s noggin.

  The Agro flared his nostrils. “I’m sure you would delight in torturing me, Clonie.” Marcellus wrapped his long fingers around Alfred’s upper arm and squeezed. “But there is no need. At the other side of this doorway are the Labs.”

  “So?”

  “Of course, the Labs, my dears. The labs, Adara.”


  “Yeah, so?”

  “All will be revealed,” she said and walked past me to where Alfred stood in the grip of Marcellus’s mighty hand.

  “Tell me, exactly what kind of experiments do you do here?”

  “How should I know? I’m management. I sign papers and delegate. I’m not a scientist.”

  Marcellus dug his nails into The Agro’s flesh. “If you lie, we will…”

  “I’m not lying.” Alfred pulled his arm away, rubbed his biceps and continued, “We have labs for all kinds of things. GM foodstuffs mainly. But also, more technical things of which I have little understanding.”

  “That I believe,” Eadgard said. “Will guards be there?”

  Alfred let the corner of his mouth slant upwards. “Oh yes, plenty.”

  We gave each other a worried look. Eadgard took a deep breath. “Right. Marcellus, grab Alfred in as rough a manner as you see fit. He is to be our shield. Wirt, Kendra, have you any sort of weapon upon your person?”

  “Nay, just my fists.”

  “I have a puke grenade.”

  “And Adara?”

  “I too have said small bomb. If there are but few, we may stand a chance.”

  “And I have my Leatherman. We must hope that this Agro of rank will be of worth to those beyond that door and we will have a safe passage. Prepare yourselves.” He pressed Oswald’s hand against the not quite visible lump in the wall. It parted and we stood and stared at the scene before our eyes.

  It was a long oblong room barely lit by many small, round recessed ceiling lights. Several surveillance cams hung in regular intervals between them. The floor was a dull brown.

  When I lifted my eyes to peruse further, I noticed that a series of windowed cubicles lined either wall. I counted at least twenty-five such places to the left and to the right. I could not see into them clearly for they emitted but a faint glow, barely revealing shadows that resembled some sort of folk.

  There was an eerie silence that filled the place and I felt a shiver pass though me. Followed perhaps by that telempathy again. For I was sure I heard faint noises. Firstly from inside my noggin, then as I cocked my ear to murmurs most def without. There were sounds coming from inside the strange half-glassed dwellings. Muffled voices, crashes, bangs, whooshes and all other manner of low din seeped out.

  We paused at the entrance, anxious and unnerved. I looked to Eadgard. He straightened, poked his head inside and the place blazed with light.

  The cubicles went black.

  Eadgard stepped back, fingered his trouser pocket for his Leatherman, and drew the knife. Behind him, I saw two Agro guards leap from chairs that rested against the nearest cubicle. They fumbled for their weapons that lay on the ground. But before they could pick them up, Marcellus dragged Alfred in front of him. His right arm tightly wrapped around the Agro’s neck. “Put weapons down, or he dies.”

  The guards looked at each other, at Marcellus, then at the rest of us.

  “I’d do it if I were you, my dears,” Kendra said and held out her puke bomb. I did the same with mine and we stepped into the room. The Agros carefully placed their guns onto the ground.

  “On your knees,” Eadgard said to the guards and swung his blade in front of their noses. “Hands behind your heads.”

  They did as they were told and thunked down hard onto the polished floor. Wirt walked over, pushed them flat so that they fell spread-eagled, and picked up their guns.

  I noticed a movement at the back of the room and saw two more guards holding long, black tube-like weapons. One let a slow grin spread across his bearded face. The other, smooth of skin, took a step towards us. Except for the whiskers on one of them, they looked exactly like the outside guards we met when first we came to this vile place. Not being sure that my friends had noticed their sinister presence, I stood in front of Eadgard and pointed. “There. Do you see? Wirt, Eadgard, look. Do you see them?”

  “I see them,” he said.

  The whiskered guard aimed at my chest.

  “Down!”

  I ducked.

  From my squatting position, I lifted my head and saw Eadgard throw his Leatherman. The blade hit and stuck smack in the middle of the bearded ones throat. Red squirted from the wound. For a moment, I wondered if the guard realised that he had received a fateful blow, as he stood unwavering. But then he screwed up his face, grabbed at his neck and slumped to the ground.

  Eadgard let out a yell, hurtled forward and smashed into the other guard’s stomach. He fell splat onto his back and Eadgard sat on his chest.

  From my hunched up position I could not see what happened next, but I heard something snap.

  I lifted my gaze and saw Eadgard stand. He kicked the limp body he had straddled away from him. Then he went over to the dead as dead guard, flipped him over with his foot and pulled out the knife. He wiped the blade on his trouser leg and winked at me.

  “Ye are a whiz-bang with that knife of yer’s,” Wirt said. He gave me his hand and I let him pull me up.

  Wiping his brow, Eadgard walked over to the other two Agro guards, who remained face-down on the floor and grabbed one of them by his shirt collar. He yanked him to his feet. “Disarm the cams.” The guard gulped. Eadgard pressed two fingers into the side of his neck and he choked. “You, get up.” The other guard did and quickly too. “Disarm the cams or your friend will join the others.”

  The male shook his head and said, “I have not the power to do this.”

  Eadgard gave his prisoner a swift jab in the throat and down he went. He stared at the remaining guard. “Disarm the cams.”

  “I do not know how.” Eadgard leant closer to him. The male sank to his knees.

  “Do me no further harm. I cannot do as you ask, I cannot.”

  “Do so quickly. We cannot be observed.”

  “I cannot. I do not know how!”

  With a shove from his boot, Eadgard kicked the guard forward, and the trembling Agro scum sprawled out, blubbing like a newbie. He raised his foot over the male’s head, but before he could make contact with his skull, Kendra approached holding out a black rectangle. “Wait. I still have the communications console from the ‘Play Area’.”

  Eadgard placed his foot on the ground and the guard curled up like a womb bub. Kendra lifted the com, tip-tapped it and the red dots of light on the cams went out.

  “There, all fixed.”

  “Why did you not use this device before?”

  “Because, my dear, I wanted to show this Agro slime that we are not to be taken lightly.” She walked over to Alfred and glared at him so hard that he looked away as if burned by the sun. “I wanted him, and all those that are spying on us right now, to see the strength we have.”

  Marcellus pinned Alfred’s arms behind his back and he let out a yelp. Eadgard pulled the prostrate guard from the floor and pushed him towards Wirt, who pointed a gun at the Agro’s head. The puny male began to weep and Eadgard walked away, a look of loathing on his face. He stood by one of the cubicles, turned his head and looked into the window. His eyes narrowed and he peered closer.

  I thought him daft since all I could see was gloom.

  “Hey! Hey! Over here. I think I see something,” he said and beckoned us to join him. Kendra and I sped to his side, whilst Wirt and Marcellus pushed and prodded the Agro males before them. Eadgard had his nose squished against the glass causing a mist to form from his heavy breathing. He wiped the moisture away and near stuck his eyeballs to the glass so intensely did he stare through it. We all except for Alfred, and the Agros, crept nearer and looked into the darkened room behind.

  We all jumped back.

  Out from the unlitness, a face appeared.

  Then another, and another, and another.

  As light filled the cubicles we saw more and more young ‘uns and bubs alike, staring back at us.

  Their hands pressed upon the panes.

  Their eyes wide, their mouths open.

  Chapter Eight

  Kiddles


  “Meeks,” Kendra said. “We have found them.”

  She pulled her gaze away from their woeful faces and wiped her eyes and cheeks with shaking fingers. “Wirt, Marcellus, Adara, take a goodly look and see if your kin are amongst these sad countenances.”

  The thought that I was separated from my bro-bro by a thin pane of glass filled me with such thrill that I almost fainted.

  “Ah, Adara, my dear, you have become quite pale. Do not falter now. Go, go to the windows search for that which you came for.”

  I did not move.

  “Come, let me help.” Kendra took my hand and led me close to the window. I glanced over my shoulder and smiled a weak smile at my two friends. They too had the look of pallid and both took in a mighty lungful of air. Wirt let go his hostage and so too did Marcellus. Alfred and the Agro scum tried to flee, but Eadgard grabbed them by the shoulder and dragged them to their knees. They let out an “Oomph” as he pushed both their heads down.

  “Keep looking at the floor and do not move unless I tell you. Failure to comply with my wishes will result in your deaths. Nod if you understand.”

  They did most vigorously. Eadgard stood between them and slapped a hand against each of their bare necks. “Go, search for your kin. I will keep a check on the filth beneath me.”

  “Will do forthwith,” Wirt said and handed Eadgard the gun he’d used to keep the Agro guards in line. He wiped his face. “I am most overcome with quiver. Ye too?”

  Marcellus straightened his back and twisted his neck to one side until it cracked. “We do not quiver, but we too moved by thought of seeing lost now found,” he said and walked slowly over to where I stood with Kendra. Wirt followed behind, chewing on his forefinger to stave off the crybubs that threatened to shake his entire bod.

  I held out my free hand and Wirt took it. His palm was hot and wet and I felt him tremble. He blew out air and removed his soggy finger from his mouth, then turned to Marcellus. “Ready?”

  “Ready,” he said and stared into my eyes.

  I smiled a bit and stared back, and despite my knee wobbles, said all bold-like, “Let us all look together and keep each other propped up with our nearness.”