Cassandra 8

THE STORYTELLER

CASSANDRA 8

Boss walked in the door and quickly scanned through room. There were two filthy men sitting very close to each at a table next to the huge circular fire pit that dominated the center of the room. They gave a quick eye to the tall stranger and went back to their conversation. To the back of the room there was a large table with eight men, playing cards, a women who appeared to be the dealer, stared directly into his eyes. All eight men turned to look at him. The woman shifted slightly and Boss threw back the side of his coat to reveal his sidearm. She smiled at him and continued the game.

The Boss walked over to the bar and asked the Innkeeper for whatever alcoholic beverage they sold. The man poured him what looked to be a reasonably clear amber lager. He put a small gold nugget down. The Innkeeper weighed it on a scale that sat on the bar and wrote out a chit and slipped it back to the Boss. He looked at it and nodded. He sipped the lager and was so surprised by the rich flavor that he about dropped the mug.

"I'm good at it aren't I?"

The Boss turned his handsome features around and a tall round man with a handle bar mustache and long flowing hair grinned. He gestured for Boss to come and sit at a table with him. He waved to the Barkeep. A pitcher was delivered with another mug.

"Your friends are not as comfortable." He poured a drink. " They should be tired of the wilderness my men are sitting with them at their camp right now." The big man shifted his four hundred pounds and grinned. He poured himself a mug.

" You have my people?" Boss asked not showing any emotion. This is a game and one he had better win.

"You misunderstand…I sent my men to go get them. It is your people that acted in an unfriendly manner. Now…Did I say they were together? My men are in your camp, your people, including an attractive woman, are hiding in a cave taking shots at my men. They are quite good."

"Is there a reason for them to be so suspicious of your men?" Boss took another sip.

"How do you know I didn't poison your drink?"

"I took a chance that when I entered this fine town, that shines like a diamond in a goats ass, that the person or persons who kept order here would be interested in three people dressed and armed in our unusual manner." Boss smiled.

"That these same people who run this lovely burg, shining, as it were, in the manner you so quaintly stated, would find some reason not to kill you and by keeping you alive would find some profit in befriending these three people?" The big man gulped down the whole mug. "I grow hops."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You have never tasted anything like this have you?"

Boss took another drink and smiled. "No my new friend…I never have. It is wonderful. It looks like beer but it's better… wonderful."

"I found the recipe for beer locked in an old safe. It was buried in a mine. The recipe, actually it was a book, on how to brew beer, keg and store it… Hops was the key. I didn't know what it was. I researched and found out and went on a quest, don't grin-it offends me- I was a smaller man then. I found some wild hops, a plant, and began growing the plant myself. Now in that very same mine I brewed and stored thousands of gallons of this stuff. I sell it throughout this region."

"You could be looking for a business partner? You think I may have connections- elsewhere- that will allow you to expand your business. How many men did you send after my people?" The Boss leaned forward. The fat man leaned back in response.

"Six."

"I'm very sorry. I hope you weren't very attached to them."

The door opened and Hawk and Snake stepped into the bar with their guns drawn. The two men at the fire pit stood up and died from two shots through the forehead from Snake. The woman at the card table put her hands out in front of her and the men in front of her didn't even flinch. Hawk and Snake positioned themselves to have a clear shot at anyone in the room.

"I take it they are dead?" He squeezed his eyes shut. "It's a part of the risk associated with their jobs. I let myself become too involved with my employees. It is a philosophic weakness of mine." He poured another mug full and drank it. " The two you killed over there were not mine. They came into town a week ago -boorish and odorous. You have done me a service. Who knows-perhaps the men I sent were in league with these two and I sent them to you? I call that efficient."

Boss made a flick with his finger and Hawk was going through the dead men's pockets.

"Locator…miniature. Communicators in their belts… High energy discharge weapons disguised as revolvers." Hawk turned their heads and looked at their scalps, he then pulled down the pants of one of the men.

"What in the name of propriety is he doing?" The fat man asked

Hawk prodded the butt cheek and stood up. He waved in a hurried manner. Boss stood up and yelled. "Everyone outside in a hurry if you want to live. "He ran out with Hawk and Snake. They stood around the corner of the storefront across the street. All the people in the tavern joined them.

The Inn blew up. The explosion was oddly contained with a deep whoop sound. All that was solid turned to dust furled out in sphere twice the size of the Inn- collapsed and fell to the ground. A huge wind blew in all directions breaking a few windows and blowing odds and ends down the street end over end. When the blast wind subsided there was an empty lot between the Outfitters and the Laundry.

"I have been divested." The fat man turning to the Boss asked. "Would you have any idea against whom I should vent my anger."

The woman dealer walked up to the two men and let down her golden hair shaking out the dust. She turned to the fat man.

"Well my darling, that was a Limited Quantum Spacial Explosion a LQSED made by Eliters. I don't think we were their targets. "She turned to the three strangers "Hello to the three of you. I'm sorry my husband did not make you welcome. He has become content and as such- kinder and should have seen a problem coming. He was once quite good. The men you killed were despicable and I'm glad they are gone. These men here" she pointed to the odd bunch with whom she was playing cards." are friends… brewers. Pleases don't shoot them. It takes a long time to train people to be competent. My man has become introspective in his middle years- great ideas with no way to implement the concepts…it is very frustrating to him. He becomes cruel when he is frustrated."

"Liz, we were doing very well and I’m sure that we would have made a deal. After this be assured I will be my old self again." The fat man wiped his sweat and dirt covered jowls with a bandanna.

'Fine my Darling. In spite of the setback, the arrival of, shall we say, self serving Elite with a flexible agenda may yet be fruitful." She put her hand out to Boss who took it and smiled. "I am Elizabeth Fantoun this enormous but lovable man is my husband Jonathan Fantoun."

"I am called Boss, the woman is Hawk, the big man is Snake. We are glad to meet you. I think we are honor bound to do business due to the disappearance of your Tavern. If we survive our quest we have a market for your beer that will tax your ability to supply."

''Well, that is good news and a problem that we will look forward to…Tis said that when God closes one door another is opened."

"My husband was a Warrior Monk… his celibacy was compromised quite thoroughly by me. I believe the letting go of material things only frees us. Right my love? "

"But I did love the Tavern… it was modeled after an authentic Bratskeller." The fat man sighed.

Boss turned to Snake and nodded.

"Eliter or Barons or a combination." Snake reported "There was a morphine pump installed in that one's butt. That usually indicates Baron assassins. The bombs were implanted in the back of their skulls. Hawk's bullet got one- the other was activated but the quick timer was damaged. I didn't know how much time we had but it wasn't long. They were after us, Boss"

Boss smiled at Hawk" Did you sense the bombs?"

Felt something! Hawk was scanning in all directions with her gun up. "There are more we need to leave. Hopped up assassins that shoot straight bother me."

"Let's all retire to the Bat Cave, sorry …reference to an old comic book I found its location in the safe. I have made extensive living quarters in the cave. Beautiful if I do say so."

Elizabeth took her husbands arm. "My husband is a wonderful designer and inventor. You will find our home complex and astonishing. The town is a ruse."

***

Samson mounted his horse in the morning haze and started through the gap. The others looked at each other and wondered what was about to happen. They mounted anyway they had already made the choice to go with Samson and that was that.

They traveled for over four hours through a winding tight canyon with walls that went straight up over a hundred feet. Raul could touch each wall, with his outstretched hands, making a game of it. He seemed altogether unaffected by the closeness, while his Dad fidgeted in his saddle making clearing noises in his throat. Just when Bennings was about to burst under claustrophobic stress, the canyon opened up into a long widening alluvial drop into a small valley with huge mountain peaks on both sides.

"My God, Boss how high are those?" Raul blurted, covering his eyes as he stared at the snow topped peaks.

"Shut up you fool. We want to get through this valley without drawing any attention to ourselves." Samson growled.

"How high?" Raul whispered.

"And from what?" Bennings added.

"About twenty thousand feet on both sides. There is only one way out of the valley and that is straight ahead and if we get out alive we will be lucky." Samson kept looking to the sky clearly unconcerned with mountain peaks.

"Whats got you antsy Boss?" Bennings asked as he too perused the sky." Those Geeks got those flying space nasties here?"

"No. Both of you keep a look keen for anything that looks like a bird."

Both nodded and did as they were told.

The way was difficult the loose soil was hard on the horses and a hard rain began to fall. Thunder and lightening roared as Samson got more agitated. He rushed all of them ahead screaming and cursing. Raul felt a movement under his feet and turned to see a wall of water pouring through the cleft of the canyon they had recently passed through. He yelled at Samson who waved them into a pass upwards, invisible until you came upon it. The water slammed into them and they fought and struggled to get up the canyon wall above the flood. Samson got himself to a safe shelf, first, and secured his horse. Bennings was hauled up out of breath by his horse. He cooed loving comments and patted the horse's neck. Raul was pulling at his mounts reigns doing what he could to urge the terrified beast to safety. The animal was frightened out of its poor mind and froze up dangerously throwing its front hooves about in anger and fear. It reared up and lost its footing and fell backwards into the torrent. Raul's hand was wrapped in the reign and he, tied to the drowning horse, followed into the rushing black. Samson, without hesitation jumped in after Raul. Bennings could do nothing but stand and wait. Staring into the rushing dark waters begging any god who would listen to save his family. An hour passed and Bennings had sadly resigned himself to his loss. The woe was as if a great weight held him down. The sky and he competed for how many tears could be shed. He rocked back and forth in grief, frozen and empty. Another hour passed and a voice above him called him a pussy and a wimp for crying. Bennings pushed his horse out of the way to see Raul and Samson coming down from above.

When Raul approached his father Bennings jumped up and held him to him so tight that Raul couldn't breathe.

"Ok, Dad you're not a pussy. Let go of me."

"Too many close calls Raul…work on it! Or I'll kill you." Samson went to check his horse. "There is a cave above we will be safe. Raul, you lost a horse and that might be our undoing. But you are also fleet of foot maybe…just maybe."

Samson pushed them on up the canyon sides and into a cave.

Samson barked. "Raul start a fire well back in the cave and get a meal on. We surly snuck up on no one, for all the racket, but we should show a little respect. The drowned horse may have helped our cause. Both of you put on some dry gear and get some rest. I'll take the first watch. We may be visited -keep your guns close by.

Raul made a pretty good meal. Samson sat back away from the cave entrance and just squatted- waiting. Bennings asked if he and Raul could sleep for a bit. Samson grunted still keeping his face looking out into the moon-less night.

Raul didn't sleep he watched Samson's unflinching back for hours until he heard a loud flapping like heavy sheets in the wind. Samson stood up and waved Raul down with his hand behind his back. Raul did as the gesture suggested wondering how Samson knew he was awake. The flapping got louder and not six feet in front of Samson, on the shadowed ledge alit a huge creature. It's leather-like wings spread twenty feet or more. It came down in a kind of squat and still was seven feet tall towering over the shorter frame of Samson. The monster pulled in its wings with a crisp plopping noise and a great beaked head lowered to Samson's eye level. All Raul could see where very human like golden-irised eyes fixed on the little man. At first Raul feared the creature would gobble his uncle up, instead, the winged monstrosity began to make throaty noises that Samson returned. They seemed to talk for over an hour when with a blast of dust and air the creature was gone.

Samson turned to Raul and smiled.

"Thanks for watching my back but I promise you it was the front that was in danger. We are safe for now lets get a few hours sleep. I'm glad your Dad could sleep through that he's jittery enough."

"Screw you!" Bennings growled and turned over. "Explain that thing, out there, in the morning."

Dawn came early enough. The rain had subsided and the sun- rays streaked the morning sky. Samson reminded them, with a rough scolding, that the morning was half over. The mountains around them kept the canyon in twilight most of the time. He hurried them along and they started down to the valley floor, last night a watery rage, this morning a calm shallow and clear flowing river.

"What was that flying thing!" Bennings asked as he watched the empty skies.

"Long story?" Samson hedged.

Raul laughed, "We have time…I hope."

"What you saw was what was once called a Thunderbird. They are an ancient race that survived the Change. They ride the great thermals in front of storms. The storms are more violent now than before the Change and created an ideal living situation for them. All that was needed was high enough mountains to built aeries. You are looking at the highest mountains in the world. This valley is a secret it is as narrow at one end as the other is. We are going to run into huge herds of great bison."

"I caught site of them this morning. Even at the distance the beasts were, what, eight feet at the shoulder- five-thousand pounds?" Raul added.

"Young ones…the older ones will go five ton."

"That thing, that obviously eats big cows, was talking to you." Bennings pushed.

"They are intelligent and vicious predators. They have a complex sense of honor and ethics. Disputes are usually settled with blood."

"They don't write it down?" Raul chuckled.

"They forget nothing…and there is an Elder with a beef, so to speak, with me." Samson rode on quietly for awhile.

"Jesus, Joseph and Moses boss…Don't you think we should know about these disagreement?" Bennings pulled up in front of Samson's horse.

Samson drew his gun so fast that Bennings fell of his horse. He picked himself up and dusted off. " Ok, I remember never get in front of you or someone could die. Sorry Boss. I just was a bit worried about whether we were going to be bird food or not." Bennings mounted his horse and shook his head in disgust.

Samson smiled. Raul noted it again. His Unc never seemed to be in such good spirits.

The last time I was here I was picked up as a curiosity and flown to an aerie village. I convinced the one you saw that I was smart enough not to eat. Even though I was smart enough not to eat -was I smart enough to have sport with. A sport I would not survive. Then they would eat me anyway. There is some ethical distinction. One- is that I am an enemy and the other is I am made welcome to play a game with them that would honor me but one I wouldn't live through. 'Waste not, Want not' is another of there beliefs. Instead my friend taught me their language and that, to the more religious Brringss- as they call themselves, is a sin. It is a great transgression to teach another species the holy language. My being here split the tribes. One side on this side" Samson pointed to the right peaks, "The other over on this side."

"Do they eat the Bison?" Raul asked.

"…Or what ever delicacies pass through their valley. They screech when they dive down on their victims. It's actually a whole line of insults meant to terrorize the intended with fear." Samson turned and smiled. " Lineage slander- threats to body orifices -comparisons to swine like creatures they eat when there is nothing else- insults related to body odor…If you knew you would laugh and spoil the moment."

"That's us huh? You got some kind of a plan?" Raul spoke as he stared into the clear skies.

Samson kept quiet for the next few hours. They rode on listening and watching saying nothing.

"Dismount fast and into those rocks." Samson flew off his horse and headed toward an outcropping. "Let my horse lead yours out of danger…we are in for a fight."

PART 9

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