Chapter Nine
The seven Leaf Children were bunched at the opening of the small alcove in the chamber of specimens. They had been standing together fir some minutes without moving. Their eyes had not shifted from the two figures in the rear of the alcove which stared vacantly back at them with fixed lifeless smiles. Jason, Simon, Porky, Josh and Jordon had joined Nikko and Danielle from the cavern above after Danielle had scaled the ladder and told them to hurry down.
As they emerged from the column supporting the petrified tree one by one they gasped at the hanging cages and their contents. A warning call by Nikko brought them slowly to the bottom of the stone steps they reluctantly descended with turning heads and gaping mouths. But once they faced the alcove the winder of the cages evaporated and they stared in awe and fear at the two human statues gathering dust before them.
There was no doubting they were human. There was also no doubt they were Leaf Children. This was obvious by their dress and general appearance. None of the rescue party recognized either so it was estimated they had been preserved below the surface for some considerable time. Yet there seemed to be no deterioration in the skin. To the contrary if not for the dust the children appeared remarkably fresh, as though they were placed there earlier in the day.
The very thought was repulsive to Nikko. The word placed caught in his throat and he felt sick to his stomach. That somebody could regard a human as a collection item was inconceivable. What could possible have such little regard for life as to place a human among the many animal and reptile and bird specimens hung about the chamber. The fact that they had been in some way preserved left Nikko with an aching hollow feeling deep in his gut. Bile percolated into the reaches of his throat, forced up by anger, and he had to turn away before it overflowed.
As he hastily moved to one side Josh, ever inquisitive, asked: “How did they do it? How did they make them like that?”
It was Simon who responded with a chastising: “For god’s sake Josh. Who cares? There are two Leaf Children there in front of us who have been collected like specimen butterflies, mounted and put on display. It doesn’t matter how it was done. The point is it has and it’s disgusting.”
Josh wanted to defend his query but recognized the inadequacy of anything he might have said. Instead, he dropped his head and mumbled simply: “I know. I’m sorry.”
Porky was not so easily put off. He too regarded those responsible as less than human and said as much, but he was also interested in what had been done to the two children.
“And I’m going to have a look,” he said and strode into the alcove and over to the figures. He stood squarely in front of them and looked deep into the blank eyes. The boy’s were wide and incredibly still shone with a moistness that for a brief moment gave the hint of an expression. However it was an artificial gleam and on closer examination they stared at a distant point, far away in time. The girl’s stare was fixed on another point, but equally distant from the reality of the cave.
“There’s nothing there,” said Porky. “Absolutely nothing. The body is as good as new but the soul has gone. They are only outer shells with nothing inside.”
He stood looking them up and down. Then he reached out and touched the girl lightly on the face. The dust pales his finger tips and flaked to the floor. He caressed her hair, sending a shower of powder over his wrist. He moved across to the boy and placed his hand on the upper arm. He held it there for a few seconds and then turned to look at the others behind him.
“Somehow their flesh is warm,” he said quietly. He looked back into the boy’s eyes and then the girl’s. “If I didn’t know better I’d say they were alive. Comatose or in a deep trance. But alive.”
The others joined him in the small alcove and more dust fell to the floor as one after another they felt the limbs and faces of the figures. Nikko remained outside and watched. Young Jordon noticed his absence and turned to watch him, alone in the opening framed by the hanging cages and with the stone staircase rising behind him. He walked over and looking up asked plaintively: “What are we going to do Nikko?”
Nikko cleared his throat before replying. When he did his words were husky and there was a tremor in his voice. “I’m not sure Jordon. I don’t know any more. Before this I planned to go on exploring these tunnels and caves in the hope of finding Gabrysia and Fallon.” He paused. “I really expected to find them safe and sound. Probably held by the Drongs but alright just the same. But I’m not sure any more. I am afraid. I’m afraid of what might have happened to them.”
“What do you think has happened to them Nikko?” the little boy asked. “Do you think they might be dead? Like these two?”
Nikko looked down at the youngster and put a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t know. I hope not. I do hope they are alright Jordon. But even if they are I think time might be running out for them. I think they are in mortal danger and we have to find them before it is too late.”
Together they stood outside the alcove watching the others inside. It was Jason who turned and called: “What are you doing there Nikko? Why don’t you come in and have a look? We might learn something.”
“No,” answered Nikko. “I don’t have to. I’ve learned all I need from where I am.”
“What do you mean?” asked Jason.
“Nikko says Gabrysia and Fallon could be dead too, or if they’re not they might be soon if we don’t find them,” said Jordon. “He says we have to find them soon or it might be too late.”
The others all turned and it was Simon who said: “He’s right. We have to go on looking. The more time we spend here the longer it will be before we find them.”
Slowly they all walked out of the alcove and crowded around Nikko and Jordon.
“Where to?” asked Josh.
Nikko looked at each of them in turn. “Those two children in there are proof that we are not up against the Drongs only. Whoever is down here is not someone any of us have come across before. They are special. And they are dangerous. So before we go any further we have to decide one thing. Do we go on and risk ending up like them?” He pointed to the figures.
Before anyone answered he went on: “All along we have assumed the Drongs had Fallon. We know they took Gabrysia. We saw that. WE did not see Fallon taken. He simply disappeared and we assumed it was the Drongs. I am not certain any longer. The Drongs have not been responsible for anything we’ve seen so far. It’s all too advanced. If that’s so, there is someone else down here. And they collect things. Even humans. This place is a museum. There is no doubt about that.”
“I will be honest with you,” he continued. “I am afraid. I am afraid we might not find Gabrysia and Fallon, and I am afraid of what we’ll find if we do.”
“But we have to keep looking,” Danielle said.
“I think we have to,” said Nikko. “But we all have to decide. We have to examine what we face and then we all have to agree. This is not for me to decide alone. It concerns each and every one of us. Each of us faces the unknown. So each must make up his own mind.”
“I’ve said what I think,” said Danielle. “We have no choice.”
The others agreed and it was decided they would not put the two children in the alcove out of their minds, if they could, and concentrate on finding another way out of the cavern. Once again it was a matter of checking the walls for hidden devices that would open passageways. It was becoming a routine for the group and they had the procedure down to a tee. They fanned out and searched high and low, mindful of the animals hanging above their heads but with keen eyes scrutinizing every crack and crevice.
They were in the process of doing this when there was a scraping sound from the rear of the stone steps. They had not reached that area and had purposely left it to last as there was only a narrow gap between it and the wall of the cavern. Having not long before been considering the dangers that confronted them, they were alert almost to the point of being jittery. As soon as each heard the sound he looked to the others and as one they raced back to the foot of the staircase.
“Quick,” said Jason. “In here,” and they huddled together in the corner next to the stairs and directly below the dais supporting the column.
“Shhhh,” said Nikko.
There was a lull and then the scraping sound was repeated. A few more seconds passed and the group heard footsteps on the other side of the staircase. They continued around to the front and then one by one rose above them. The children pressed their backs against the stone and held their breaths as the footsteps rose to the top.
From the dais they heard a muttering but the only words that were audible were “….already down.”
They waited half a minute, a minute, two minutes. Finally the footsteps began to descend.
“Let’s grab him,” whispered Porky.
“There’s only one and it has to be a Drong,” added Josh in support.
Nikko nodded and pointed to the twins. He then motioned for them not tlo tackle the suspect where they were. Instead, he indicated, they should wait until he had reached the floor of the save and headed back behind the staircase. Then Porky should go around to the left and Josh should hurry in the opposite direction. That was they would surprise him on the blind side from the front as well as from the rear. Simon and Jason would back up Porky and he and Danielle would be behind Josh. Jordon was to remain where they were. They all nodded.
The footsteps ended at the base of the staircase and there was a moment before they moved off again to the right in the direction from which they had originated.
“Now,” said Nikko.
Porky, Simon and Jason moved off silently to the left and Josh, Nikko and Danielle to the right, careful to make sure the Drong, or whoever it was, could not see them coming from behind.
Josh could see nothing and urgently waved the other two on. Almost running they rounded the side of the staircase and saw a Drong soldier almost at the point of turning the corner into the narrow gap. As they saw him he saw them and stopped in his tracks momentarily before spinning and running out of sight.
“Now Porky,” Nikko shouted and with Josh and Danielle sprinted for the corner. Before they reached it they heard a scream and a scuffling sound. As they rounded the bend they saw Porky, Jason and Simon piled on top of the struggling Drong. He was trying to call for help and Jason had his hand firmly clamped over his mouth and only muffled burbling escaped.
“Hold him,” said Simon.
“I am,” answered Jason. “I’m trying to keep him quiet.”
“Here, I’ve got his arms. You keep hold of his legs,” said Porky.
The Drong continued to fight on his back but once the other three Leaf Children added their weight all resistance vanished and he lay still, looking up at them with opaque, scared eyes.
“It’s a Drong,” said Josh. “I knew it.”
“Of course it is,” panted Jason. “Where the hell did he come from?”
Simon tore off his jacket and began ripping it into strips. “Hold him,” he said. “In a minute I will have a gag We can cover his mouth and then question him. We should ties his hands also.”
This done the Leaf Children releases their grip and stood back as the Drong struggled into a sitting position with flickering and obviously frightened eyes.
“Well, well, well,” said Josh. “What do we have here? I do believe it is a Drong soldier.”
“I think you are right,” Porky said. “He’s not much of a soldier though. More of a green cadet I’d say. Stomping around like that. Not very smart of him was it?”
The Drong strained to free his hands and tried to stand but Porky quickly shoved him in the chest and he lost balance, toppling over onto his side.
“That’s enough,” said Nikko and put his hand under the arm of the bound Drong. He helped him to his feet gently but firmly and forced him against the wall. “We’re not going to hurt him. What we want is information.”
The Drong soldier was questioned from all sides. Every one of the Leaf Children fired queries at him and there were a number of times when Nikko had to intervene and insist they were put to him one at a time. The Drong was reticent at first to even concede he was a Drong but he soon realised there was no point in denying it. There was no doubting it as not only did he look like one of the unkempt band Jason soon recognised him as one of the soldiers he had seen in the forest a few days before. So it was reluctantly that he admitted who he was. Once that had been accomplished he was more forthcoming with information.
The children learned that there were about forty Drongs camped in the underground base led by Kerry. They had been there for more than a year and had become accustomed to the unusual life style. Not all of them were happy with it but they felt there was no alternative. The Leader had insisted they settle there rather than above ground in another part of the forest or the jungle. He had argued they were safer from intruders and until now he had been right. So the rest had gone along with him on that basis as well as out of fear. It seemed the Drongs were afraid of Kerry and his unpredictable moods which sometimes erupted and resulted in a bashing for one or more of his underlings as he liked to refer to them.
The children also learned that there were two captives being held. Gabrysia was certainly one. The other was a boy and from the description it appeared that it could well be Fallon. There was a sigh of relief from the group at this encouraging news.
The most vital information the soldier gave them was that so far there had been no inkling that their defence had been penetrated. They had apparently entered through the secret openings completely undetected. When pressed as to why he had been wandering around the specimen cave the soldier was vague and muttered something about “just checking”.
Simon was not satisfied with the explanation and pressed harder. “What do you mean, just checking?”
“I was just making sure everything in here was alright, that’s all.” the Drong replied.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” asked Simon.
“No reason.”
“So why check?”
“No reason,” the Drong said again.
“Were you planning to go outside?”
“No. We’re not allowed to do that on our own. We have to go out in groups only.”
“Why?” asked Nikko.
“Kerry says,” the Drong hesitated. “He says it is safer that way.”
Nikko turned to the others. “That makes sense. On their own they might be caught. In numbers they could probably defend themselves.” Then he faced the soldier again and asked matter of factly: “Why did Kerry tell you to check out the tree?”
“To see if they were telling the true….” He stopped in the middle of the word. Realising what he had said he dropped his eyes and then lifted them again and looked around the group.
“To see if who was telling the truth?” asked Nikko is a low voice. “Gabrysia? What did she say?”
The soldier did not answer. Defiantly he kept his mouth closed. Finally he said: “I just came here to check things out. I was told to do the rounds. I’m not going to say any more.”
“OK,” said Jason. “I think you’re right. We’re not going to get any further information out of you, so now we’ll just make sure you don’t make any trouble for us.”
He walked a few paces away and looked up at the hanging cages. Without turning his head he called over his shoulder: “Nikko, what about the one with the huge black beast in it? I think we can get him in there. That would keep him out of the way and he would have company.”
“Yes,” said Nikko. “But that one nearer the dais would be easier. And there is a little more room in it for him with that snake or whatever kind of reptile it is. What do you think Danielle?”
Danielle looked at the cages. “Ummm,” she drawled. “It doesn’t really matter does it? He’ll be in there only for a day or two. It we’re lucky. If I had to choose I’d say the snake.”
“OK. The snake cage it is then. Come on fellows give us a hand to get him up there.”
The soldier flattened himself against the wall. He looked at Nikko then at Danielle and back to Nikko. “You wouldn’t,” he said.
He was pulled away from the wall by Porky and Josh and pushed a few paces down the gap. When they had reached the turn the soldier spun around: “Listen,” he said. “If I tell you, you have to promise not to put me in that cage.”
“That depends,” said Jason. “It depends on what you tell us. If it’s not what we want to hear you can count on a few days up there for sure.”
“Alright,” said the Drong. “Alright. Kerry sent me here to make sure the tree was down and that it was covered on the outside. That’s all.”
“What made Kerry give you the order?”
“The Leafy said something about a search party, you probably, finding the openings under the rocks. Then the girl said you knew about the tree too.”
“And the tree is more important than the rocks?” Nikko asked. “Why?”
The soldier hesitated. But when Jason glanced up at the cages he went on: “It is only through the tree you can get here.”
“And here,” asked Nikko, “is the only way inside. Right?”
“It’s the main passage, yes,” the Drong answered. “Look. Please. I can’t tell you any more. He’d kill me if he knew I told you this much. Just let me go. I won’t say anything. Don’t put me up there. I’ll go outside and hide in the jungle. But please, let me go.”
Simon bent down and picked up the remnants of his jacket. Handing the tatters to Porky he said: “Take these and our friend here over in the corner there and tie his legs. Josh, give him a hand please. Then come back here. I think we’d better all have a talk about what we’re going to do.”
The twins hauled the Drong over to the far wall and roughly forced him to the ground. He did not struggle as his feet were bound and the knots on his hands behind his back checked to make sure they were secure. Only then did Porky and Josh leave him alone and return to the group.
Jason was in mid-sentence as they approached. “…leave him here. And we can’t take him with us. He would have to be watched constantly and he could cause a lot of trouble.”
“He could do the same out there,” said Simon. “How do we know there are not more openings? He could easily climb back in and warn the others.”
“He’s right Jason,” Danielle said. “Letting his loose outside could be much worse than keeping him with us. At least down here we know where he is. Up there, who knows?”
Josh broke in. “I gather you’re trying to decide whether to release him up top or hold him with us. I say it’s too dangerous to let him go. But why not do as we threatened? Put him in one of the cages. Those things won’t hurt him. They’re all dead.”
“And that way,” added Porky, “he can’t do any harm at all. And we’ll always know where he is. I go along with Josh.”
“So do I,” said Simon. “It makes the most sense. What do you think Nikko?”
Nikko thought for a moment. Then he glanced at the Drong sitting in the corner watching them anxiously. He could not hear what they were saying, but he knew he was the subject of their conversation. “I don’t see any alternative,” said Nikko. “We can’t take the risk of letting him go.”
“Right,” said Josh. “Let’s do it then.”
“Before we do,” said Nikko. “there is one more question we need an answer for. Josh, you and Porky bring him back here please.”
When the Drong was standing before them again Nikko spoke to him slowly and clearly. “You know we’ve been trying to decide what to do with you. Some want you put outside. Others say I should lock you in one of those cages. It could help you if you answer one final question.”
The Drong nodded solemnly and waited. He hoped his fate lay outside in the Dead Place. He would be off into the jungle in no time at all. The further away he was from the base the better.
“My question is double barrelled,” said Nikko. “I want you to tell us how you got in here, and then I want you to draw a map in the ground of the tunnel network.”
The Drong was unsure of how to respond, If he refused he would probably end up in one of the cages and that was not something he relished. The thought of spending any time cooped up with one of the creatures kept as specimens was horrifying. On the other hand, if he told all he knew there was no guarantee he would be freed. But there was the possibility and he decided to grab any straws that seemed to be offered. After all, for all he knew the Leaf Children could be captured and refuse to say anything about him. The options were possible escape and time in a cage in the specimen cave.
He looked Nikko squarely in the eyes. “I’ll tell you how to get out of here, but you’ll have to promise to let me go or I won’t draw the map.”
“No promise,” said Nikko, and untied the Drong. “You’re in no position to try to bargain. Now give us the information. We haven’t got time to waste.”
The Grong did nothing for a time and then walked over to the wall directly below the middle of the dais. He reached out and thumped it with his fist and stood back as a section opened inwards as a secret bookcase would revealing an opening about a meter wide. Inside another staircase led down and away from them. And nearing the top of the stairs were four Drong soldiers.
“Look out,” called Jason. “Drongs.”
But instead of retreating further into the cave Jason launched himself at the oncoming Drongs with a piercing yell that took them by surprise. Taking their lead from him Porky and Josh followed suit and rushed down the steps grabbing hold of two of them. The three Leaf Children and three of the Drongs tumbled down the staircase and landed in a heap at the bottom. A cloud of dust billowed around them as they rolled to and fro clasped in one another’s arms. The scuffle was so intense it was impossible to see who was who, who was on top one minute and pinned the next.
Meanwhile the remaining Drong did not know what to do. He stood his ground unsure of whether to go down or to continue up. Simple mathematics won a his brain registered that ahead of him there were four Leaf Children while below escape more likely lay. Just as he was adding up his chances Simon and Nikko were working on the same question. And as the Drong wheeled and took his first step down the staircase, Simon and Nikko descended their first. It was a race to the bottom.
As the Drong reached the last step he looked over his shoulder to see how far behind his pursuers were. They were at least ten paces away and he would probably have easily managed to lose them in the underworld tunnel network that was so familiar to him but not to them had it not been for one of the other Drongs and Porky rolling into his path. They collided with his legs at ankle height. Their momentum barring progress the inevitable happened, and he dropped in a heap to be smothered by Porky and two of the Drong’s comrades, one having freed himself from Jason.
In a remarkably short time Porky was jerked to his feet, held in very firm hands by two soldiers. His right arm was pushed high up his back which pained him and his breath was cut off by a forearm across his windpipe. As he choked he heard one of the Drongs shout: “Stop. Get back. Back, or we’ll break his arm.”
Jason was standing by himself to the right of Porky. Simon, Josh who had scrambled to his feet, and Nikko were directly in front. They were not able to go to Porky’s aid. They were forced to stand where they were, helpless, unable to even take a pace forward lest it provoke the Drongs.
The soldier who had been held above shook himself loose from Danielle and leapt down the steps two at a time, joining his comrades. He glared at Porky and Nikko. “Right,” he said. “Stay exactly where you are. Not a move or he gets it.” He turned to his friends and said: “They were going to put me in one of the cages. They forced me to show them the opening. But I wouldn’t give them any more information. No matter what they did.”
The other Drongs remained silent. Finally the one holding Porky around the throat instructed his colleague next to him: “Get the small one up there. Quick. Bring him down here.”
Jordon was dragged down the steps, quickly followed by Danielle.
“Over here. To me,” called the Drong behind Porky. When Jordon was next to him he suddenly released his arm from Porky’s neck and shoved him forward. In the same movement he grabbed Jordon in a similar hold with his left arm.
“Back,” he cried as Nikko advanced. “Get back. Don’t try anything stupid or he’ll be sorry.” He took two steps back, pulling a struggling Jordon with him and called his comrades to his side. Then he told the Leaf Children: “Al of you. Get back up the steps into the cave. When you’re there, stay there.”
“You,” he motioned to the Drong who had been captured earlier. “You go with them and when they’re out close the opening.”
“Not without him,” said Nikko pointing a finger at Jordon. “Let him go. He’s just a kid.”
“No,” said the Drong. “He’s coming with us. He’s our hostage. Don’t try to follow us or he’ll get hurt. Now, get going.”
Reluctantly as they had no alternative the six Leaf Children moved back up the staircase. When they reached the top they stopped.
“Out,” demanded the Drong accompanying them. “Look, get out here,” and he impatiently marched ahead of them into the narrow gap.
“Now,” called Jason and sprang at the Drong knocking him against the wall. Josh and Porky immediately joined him and pinned the Drong’s arms. Nikko turned back to the staircase with the words in his throat, ready to barter an exchange. But they never came out. The cave below him was empty. The Drongs had disappeared. And so had Jordon.
“They’re damn good and that’s all there is to it.” Later the Leaf Children were regrouped at the foot of the staircase in the empty cave. The sides were sheer, even and bore no signs of having been tampered with, though there were occasional light patches. The floor, while dusty, was level and almost perfectly square like a scrupulously measured room. The children may have absorbed these interesting aspects had it not been for more pressing and personal matters at hand. One was being alluded to by Simon.
“It’s no good making excuses,” he said. “We had the numbers, the high ground and the element of surprise. And we still lost. That means they are very, very good.”
“Let’s not praise them too much,” retaliated Jason. “If you go on much more Simon we’ll have to wonder whose side you are on.”
“Just what does that mean?” bristled Simon. “Are you accusing me of something?”
“Of course I’m not. Just stop telling us they are better than we are.”
“They showed us Jason. I’m trying to point out that we are up against a pretty good team. I think we have more of a battle on our hands than we bargained for.”
There was no time for further arguing or comments because Danielle gave a cry of alarm. “Arghh.” She clasped a hand to one eye, the whole of that side of her face smeared with a bright yellow liquid.
“Danielle, what’s the matter? What happened?” asked Nikko. Then whap, something struck him on the back of the head. He slapped his hand top the spot and as he drew it away he saw his fingers too were stained bright yellow.
“Take that Leafie,” the voice came from above and to the right of them, and when they looked up they saw two Drongs crouched in an opening half way up one wall of the cave. “How do you like that, eh? Here’s another one,” and with that the Drong let loose another arrow which narrowly missed Josh.
The Leaf Children backed off to the opposite side of the cave where they were out of range as two more arrows spilled their dye on the ground well wide of the intended marks. For a short time there was a stalemate of sorts. The Drongs in the upper level looked down in annoyance and the six Leaf Children stayed where they were and pondered their next move.
Nikko it was who started their impromptu plan in motion. There were only two Drongs, he said, which meant the other two had gone elsewhere taking Jordon with them. The logical conclusion was they had gone for help. Reinforcements could be expected to return and that did not augur well. The options before them were to retreat up the stairs again, which would not really solve their problem as they would soon be back where they started at that rate, or find another way out. And that posed problems as well. There was no need this time to have to search for hidden tunnels. Three of them led from the cave and were large and well lit. But which one?
None of them had seen where the Drongs and Jordon went. They could have taken any of the tunnels, and if the Leaf Children chose the same one the chances were they would soon meet head on with reinforcements coming back. There was no point asking the soldier in their charge. Since his recapture earlier he had shut his mouth tightly and refused to open it. He had become a definite liability. He was no help and one of the group, Porky, had to concentrate on keeping him under control even though his hands were retied behind his back.
The question of staying where they were and fighting it out was obviously not considered at all. That would plainly be foolhardy. So the only option which remained was which tunnel to take. This reasoning took very few minutes and while they spoke softly of it the Drongs in the opening above taunted them and once or twice fired more harmless arrows.
“Ig