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THE STORYTELLER

LEHNIG@KLSTORYTELLER.COM

CASSANDRA PART 6

Morning came and the three men left in an un-ceremonial quiet. They walked their horses in quiet up to the rim of the canyon. They mounted and rode along an old road that followed the canyon lip. It wasn't like Samson to ride in the light in such an exposed way and it disturbed Benning and Raul. Both men kept their eyes pealed for any movement or structure that might be a springboard to ambush. Hours went by in the humid heat and the bug invested air. Samson pulled up and gestured to drop down over the edge of the canyon. Raul looked at the depth of the canyon at this point in the river with awe. What amount of water could cause this great cut in the earth? They dropped, maneuvering the cutbacks and dangerously narrow pathways on horseback and on foot, leading their steeds for over three hours and a mile down to the river. The gentle flowing green of the river and the tree thick banks were indeed a relief to the men. The air was cool and the relief from the heat and dangerous descent caused the Bennings, both, to beg a rest. Samson pointed to a Sycamore and the men dismounted and walked their horses to the shaded area that Samson indicated. They allowed the horses to drink from the river and tied them where they could craze.

Raul took their canteens and filled them while the old man collected wood for a fire. Samson went to his horse and pulled an odd shaped and long barreled rifle from its holster and opened up a saddlebag. He pulled out a long bundle, unwrapping it he held a gleaming silver telescopic gun sight, which he attached to the rifle. A turn handle was pushed into a hole on the right side of the shell chamber. He reached into his vest pocket removing three large shells and loaded the magazine. The Bennings both looked at him in wonder.

" Three in the breech, one in the pipe…I only need three… we've been followed by no-gooders and I intend to gain the bounty of their belongings without the nuisance of the bastards being attached. Keep working like you don't know. They're to high up to bushwhack us."

Samson found a branch and broke it to a configuration that satisfied him. He sat on a rock out in the open and set the stick in the dirt in front of him. The long rifle barrel was set into the 'y' of the branch. Samson adjusted his hat and sighted the gun. There wasn't the loud retort expected by the Bennings, instead a great deep whoosh emitted from the chamber exhaust. Samson cleared the chamber and ratcheted a new shell into place. He sighted again and pulled the trigger another whoosh expelled form the rifle. Clearing the smoking chamber once more he ratcheted in the last shell. Without any hurry he turned to the men.

"Their horses will want water so gather them as they come down."

Samson sighted the last shot and fired. He stared into the lens for a long time then rose and sauntered over to the tree and sat down. The men stared up the canyon wall with interest. There was no use asking Samson if he hit the men. That would be a given. They covered their eyes hoping for a sight of the horses. A shot rang out behind them. Both Raul and his old man hit the dirt and turned their heads up from under their arms to see Samson walking toward them carrying a small deer over his shoulders.

"Those cartridges are filled with highly compressed hydrogen with a minute igniter charge… Geek thing. Old man you've seen them before. Get up off the dirt. Raul will you prep this I'm starving."

Both men stood calmly dusting themselves off. Raul did what he was asked while Samson built a fire. Benning just stared at the canyon wall.

" How high up…half mile? More?" Benning asked, mostly to himself. " Half a freakin'mile.

Just then he saw the three horses running down the cliff face. Benning waved them down and grabbed the reins. He led them over to drink and looked through the tack.

" Blankets, rifles, canteens, good tent, some electronic shit."

" Let me see the electronic gear.!" Samson reached his arm out. Benning walked the equipment over and handed it to Samson. He walked back to the horses. A large purse hung from the Arab bred. Benning motioned his son over to look at its contents.

"Hmm! This is either Geek or Elite gear…this is a global positioning device." Samson commented.

Raul turned and grunted the question.

" Space birds overhead, you bounce a signal off them and it tells you where you are. This one is a warm body locator. Has a carbon dioxide element." Both men had a blank look "…breath from any man or animal…points the way. This will be handy. I don't like those damn cats."

Just then a loud screech came from up the cliff face.

"They'll stay busy up there…we don't need to worry tonight."

" Samson there is a great deal of gold here." Benning poured some of the small ingots into his hand. " I have never seen so much…maybe ten kilost. Someone really wants us dead." Benning sat next to Samson. He sat the purse down on the ground in front of him.

Raul walked over and looked at the bag. Samson seemed uninterested as he fidgeted with the electronic gear.

" Could be Elite or Barons." Raul muttered nervously.

Samson looked at them both and grinned. Raul make supper there is a few parsnips growing behind the tree there." He pointed." Boil them up. As for the gold …that’s good we need it." He went back to the devices.

The Benning did not move.

" Relax…everyone wants to kill me all the time …keeps you sharp. It is a good thing. Now let's get supper on. I'm starving! "

***

Keely looked through the binoculars that Cassandra gave her. That’s Neo- Berlin we usually take a wide berth. These lot are crazy xenos" She turned to Cassandra.

" How many people?" Cassandra muttered.

" I don't know…a few thousand. Stone wall city. Pretty modern got electric from a 'chine that turns a wheel off a waterfall. They got crappers and drinking water in pipes. Men bivouac at the north end, women compound here in the south." Keely climbed down from her high perch and mounted her Bay.

" Give me your thoughts?" Cassandra whispered the order.

" Lot of fire power…canon, horse mounted fighters. Some of those we killed back there were outcasts…those that lost the faith, gave up on Oding and Thors"

" These are the worst of men My Lady." Beth rode up and opined her thoughts.

Cassandra stared at the little blond and smiled. She liked her strength. Keely 's face went white and turned her horse between the girl and Cassandra.

" Keely my dear. I could kill you both and all in the blink of an eye. I have decided not to do that. You may die during our adventures, by snake, spider- crab, by bear or by tooth cats… but not by my tender and caring hands." The women did not miss the sarcasm." I have a need for sisters and my travel with you seems to have created a bond. I was made to have women want to be me, ironically, I find I need to be you. I am a genius, a monster and a terror for those that oppose me. Because of you I know the burden and need of companions, it sucks and was not in my plans but life is change…so fucking relax. If I am going to kill you I'll let you know… or you would just be dead and all worries gone…save what heaven's Angels will heap on you. Beth I want your thoughts since you all know mine. Oh…" Cassandra looked on the fear whitened face of her second. "Was I thinking to kill Beth because of her insolence?"

Keely answered. " Yes, My Lady! I know you can kill us but it was the way you were thinking to do it."

"Sorry…it did cross my…inventive mind…old habits die hard. They are just thoughts."

A shaken Beth spoke with strength adding to Cassandra's admiration." This was my village…they believe that they will create the Fourth Wright. They found a stack of rotting books all in pieces and took it for a sign from Oding. They call themselves Nassias. It's a military base. Women are used as breeders, menials and pleasure objects. We were never treated badly…not really rape. Women are raised with the idea that men protect and provide for women; and women provided pleasure and comfort for males. The men spend their time learning as much of the old ways as they can glean from the rotting books. They spend a great deal of resources looking for these artifacts, these books. The ones they find that do not serve their religion are taken as tricks from Looky and are destroyed in bonfires… They seek books on science, math, engineering and ancient Germain history. Physical strength and endurance are considered paramount. Games are played once a moon, the losers die. I was not born here. The Father, their leader, took me into his house. "

" The women are allowed to learn?" Cassandra asked.

" Yes, we can help in any matter that furthers the prosperity of the village and the faith… but if we worked beside men we could be… 'had' at any time. There is no marriage. Children were the responsibility of the women." Beth trailed off.

" I don't like them… these Nassies. Am I to believe that only blondes are allowed? I have studied the society these bastards are…bastardizing. I don't like being unwelcome, Beth. We will kill all the men and absorb the women into our fold." Cassandra had climbed up on the rock with the lens staring at the walls.

All the women had dismounted and were circling Beth and Keely buzzing their concerns. Cassandra heard the gripes she ignored them. She climbed down and leaned against the rock. We are going to camp here. And we will make ourselves known. Some of these Nassies will come out to see who is here and I will kill them. We will mount them on crosses within view of the walls. I read about an ancient nation, a huge village of people that thought as these do …or model themselves after. They were a scourge. These men are a disease. My plan has changed, I will move in, kill all the men and blow up everything. I've let you all have fun now it's my turn."

"My Lady? Could we save the machines? They could be useful." Keely asked firmly.

"I will do my best… I will find their leaders and kill them later. They may have information we could use. You all will rest with one eye open. Beth you will hear their thoughts as they near, I have switched on a dormant aspect of your minds, you and Kelly …stay awake! I'm about to have a little bloody fun. Feed me, my dear Keely, I have work to do and I will need the energy."

The women shuddered. Cutting off dicks is easily justified but this was a dreadful goddess who delivered death at her whim.

" Relax my girls, we need supplies and munitions…we will get that and create a safe base of operations. A home for awhile. The weather will soon lock us in. We will not lack for meat…I can call in big cat and Bears. I need a safe and quiet place to dream my lover… Samson."

" I saw him… an ancient dark, short, strong, dangerous, arrogant, and celibate. He is pissed that you arouse him." Beth spoke.

Keely made a bark of disapproval.

"Keely you can 'see' too…cut the shit. I do arouse the little monster it pisses him off and gets me off. Fuck him if he can’t take a joke."

" He's coming for you…I has decided to kill you and default on his contracts. My Lady, can he kill you?" Keely almost whimpered.

" I don't plan to make it easy. He has to mate with me first."

" Is he a god?" Beth asked.

" He is a killing priest. A dark shadowy angel and the most dangerous man on this world."

Keely spoke" What of the children?"

"Are you speaking of an issue between Samson and myself? Have you changed the subject?"

Keely did not flinch.

"You all don't strike me as maternal. I don't know of children, I was born like this. I personally think we should ring their necks, as soon as they are born, so they don't have to endure this shit hole of a world." Cassandra did not change her expression. The women knew this was important and were afraid.

"And does Our Lady mind if the women we save …who are not warriors, tend to the children. A longer view may be needed. We could train the boys to be both fierce and kind. The girls to be nurturing and fearsome." Keely spoke softly and with respect.

" Seems a paradox and I enjoy paradoxes. I will do my best to not kill these women and children. Keep them out of my way. They must be made strong by the spring or they will be left behind."

The women, in good spirits, started to set up camp. A fire was set and in all twenty-three women sat in a ring around the fire. Some rangers had returned and were brought up to speed on their new champion and her abilities. The giggling was annoying to Cassandra but she allowed it. They ate and sang their exploits and hope for a brighter future.

Cassandra prepared herself and wrapped herself in gun and knife.
" I will come with you My Lady."

"No!"

"I demand the right." Beth disappeared. A knife appeared at Cassandra's neck. Beth was on her back in a blur of movement.

Cassandra laughed. " Little sister you have hid this ability from your friends."

In a blink Cassandra was standing ten feet away with a nick on her neck. Blood trickled from the wound. Beth stood up from the ground then jumped, flew through the air aiming her boots at Cassandra's chest. Cassandra grabbed her mid-flight and set her on the ground …hard.

" Military growthy tanks…I thought… files indicated that all of you were eliminated. I smelled it on you. The swill we floated in never quite leaves our skin. What an awful embarrassment to the Elite we are. You, sweet innocent Beth, lied to me. You are near to fifty years old…seen and done a lot of crap, I'll bet? You must be the last."

Beth sat and stared at Cassandra with adoration in her eyes.

Cassandra continued. "Titanium reinforced bones, redundant organ and vascular system, nano-mechanically assisted lungs, enhanced endrocine and immune system, enhanced nervous system, hyper- muscular output."

"There were twelve, six men and six women I killed them and all the monsters who made us. I am the anomaly like you. I was made just to see if I could be made. I was made to be your little sister.… I knew you would come and I waited all these years. I did put up with a lot of crap. All those things in me are in you. You are so much more. I waited for the opportunity to test you and kill you, if I could, but I am in awe. You are a terrifying and perfect goddess. I pledge myself to you. Kill me or let me live. Should you allow my life, I am your warrior priest, servant and your sister. I am, to my death, pleased that I could find one to serve."

"Well…we'll swap family stories later but for now, come my terrifying little sister, warrior priest, lets go do what we do best."

"They made you and me or most of you and me over a hundred years ago." Beth continued.

"I know…I killed them for that. They did not know I, we, were aware all that time. But it served me to manipulate all they thought they were doing to me. They used bits of me to make you. In a odd time twisted sense, little sister, you are my daughter. I arose from the tanks when I believed the time was right."

Beth Stared at Cassandra. " you were aware, awake all that time?"

"Yes, my aware fetus was created long before the Change. The Elite found me and I was grown to state of a pre-pubescence and I waited . I am much older than the time of change. Yet my fifth birthday has yet to arrive." Cassandra turned and had her back to an astonished Beth.

They chose to run to the city walls. The horses would be too slow.

The women who stood guard watched the city in the light of the two half moons. The other women intoxicated by the dream of the goddess and the booze found in the dead men's booty, fought sleep and climbed the rock to watch. The night lit up in concussive explosions and high rising clouds of fire and smoke. The scouts were indeed hung on crosses shadowed in the distance. Screams and gunfire filled the whole of the night. The women yelled their excitement as each explosion rocked the village. And then it was still and they fell asleep where they lay. The guards waited agitated and afraid. They now had two goddesses, fearsome and beautiful. Here was the seed of dread or paradise.

END PART 6THE STORYTELLER

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