CHAPTER SIXTEEN
They had searched every passageway they knew. They went up and down the same tunnels two or three times but the result was always the same. The Leafies had simply disappeared. Vanished.
They had rechecked the lookout tree and the hollow boulders in the Dead Place but the security locks were still in place so they could not have got out that way. Inescapably they came to the conclusion that the leaf Children were hiding somewhere in the network. But where? They had searched everywhere except the dark unknown passages and there was no way they could have gone in there. So they had to be hiding in one of the places they had already looked.
Kerry was frustrated and angry. For the last two days he had pressed his soldiers harder than ever before and with his temper fraying more almost by the hour the atmosphere in the camp was tense. Resentment had set in and if he was not careful rebellion would take over, he knew it was risky but he could not help himself. He had been outsmarted and his fellow Drongs knew it. Worse, he had been unable to regain control of the situation. That was more than his pride could bear.
He sat brooding on his rock chair in the Drong base. The soldiers were out searching the tunnels yet again and the other Drongs grouped around the walls of the huge cavern listlessly doing minor chores that they had done only the day before and which didn’t really require their attention again so soon. They did them just the same because at least Kerry knew it was better than leaving their to them own devices and more importantly to dwell on their own thoughts.
Suddenly he called out loudly: “Get those three in here again. I want to talk to them.”
One group near to an opening in the corner stopped what they were doing and walked slowly to the passage.
“Quickly,” bawled Kerry. “Move it.”
When they returned they were escorting the three guards who had conspired in the escape of Gabrysia and Fallon. Their hands were bound in front and they were dirtier and grimier than even the most unkempt of the other Drongs. They were marched in front of Kerry and left standing alone, their heads bent avoiding his fierce glare.
“Look at me,” he commanded. Reluctantly they did as they were told. Their eyes were red around the rims and they were clearly afraid.
Since they had been caught, literally having run around a corner in one of the tunnels straight into the arms of the party led by Kerry, they had been kept tied up in the cave where Venki had spent his imprisonment. They had been questioned severely a number of times, and while at first they maintained they had been unwittingly overpowered, they in the end had to admit their complicity in the Leafies’ escape. Kerry had screamed at them and swore they would pay for their disloyalty.
“Well, traitors,” said Kerry. Now he stood up and walked two paces closer to the soldiers so they could actually feel the spittle from his mouth as he sneeringly asked: “Are you able to come with anything useful yet?”
The three did not reply. They dropped their head lower.
“Look at me I said,” yelled Kerry and shoved one of them in the chest. “I asked you a question. Answer me.”
The ringleader cleared his throat and stammered: “No. we’ve told you everything.”
“You’ve told me nothing traitor,” said Kerry. “All you’ve told me is how you betrayed us to those Leafies. You admitted your guilt that’s all. I want to know where they went.”
“We don’t know. We didn’t see them,” said the soldier.
“Oh yes, that’s right. You ran away first. You’re not only traitors you’re cowards too.”
“They threatened us.”
“Threatened to hand you over you mean. You didn’t even try to help the two comrades you turned on. You left them tied up. You ran away like scared rabbits. Thinking only of yourselves.”
Kerry turned his back on them and walked to his chair. Then he wheeled around and shouted again: “Where are they?”
“I don’t know,” the soldier called back. “I don’t know. Maybe they got out and have gone back to their forest. I didn’t see them.”
Kerry stood glaring at the trio. After a time he sat down and said quietly: “Well, we’ll just have to see won’t we?” He paused. Then: “That’s what we’ll do. We’ll go to the Leafies’ camp and see for ourselves.”
He sat thinking and then called to the other Drongs who had watched the scene. “Take them back to their cell. Go and bring the searchers in. and get ready. We’re going to the forest.”
An hour later Kerry and a group of twenty Drongs set out from their base he had had to decide how many should accompany him and how many should remain behind to continue the search of the network and guard the base against possible attack. Of his total force of forty-two, including himself, he had already lost four. The three traitors and one who had been captured by the Leafies. That left thirty-eight. Kerry reckoned he would need the larger force, but he still needed to leave behind a sound contingent. The number to go to the forest he decided at twenty-one. Seventeen would stay behind. It was the best balance he could strike. So with a stern warning to the rear guard he moved off.
They went down the winding tunnels into the museum, up the stone steps to the cave above. From there they climbed up through the tree, along more passageways and finally up the rope ladders to the hollow boulders. Activating the mechanism they watched one of the boulders glide sideways and the brilliant rays of the sun stream through the opening. With a final caution for silence and care Kerry led his band out of the subterranean gloom into the dazzling glare of the Dead Place.
Once outside, and with the boulder back in place, the Drongs stood in a bunch surveying the desolate landscape. It was nearing noon so the sun was directly overhead and the sudden power of the heat bore down on their shoulders. Reflexes hunched tunics high around necks and watering eyes adjusted to the sharp contrast. The Dead Place stretched far in all directions, but to the left was the dark outline of the jungle. In between, the heat haze shimmered off rocks and hills.
Kerry breathed deeply and stood looking at the jungle. Then he quickly glanced in the other directions before addressing his comrades. “So far so good. Now here’s what we’re going to do.”
His plan was simple, to a point. They would cross the desert as fast as they could, rest briefly on the edge of the jungle, and then make their way straight to the forest, stopping for nothing unless they had to. That would probably take the rest of the day, he figured, so they would stay hidden in the trees until morning.
“At dawn we will attach,” he said. “They won’t be expecting us so it shouldn’t be difficult. The fools will most likely still be asleep.”
He looked around his band. They seemed pleased to be out in the open again and he realised that he still needed to exert influence over them.
“Anyone who disobeys an order is in trouble,” he said firmly. “There will be no second chances. He’ll be tied to a tree and left. Permanently.” He paused. “Understand?”
There was a mumbled acceptance and Kerry after a hard look at each said: “Right. Let’s go.”
As they trudged through the steamy wet jungle the Drongs did not talk. If they had they would certainly not have complained for each of them, despite their tunics becoming saturated and their bodies glistening with sweat, relished the change from the drab dry underground world they had been confined to. Most of them over the last few days had come to regard the maze as a prison of sorts and now they were in a sense free. Even if it was not for long they were intent on making the most of being outside. Kerry was no different in his thoughts. He slashed at bushes and brushed aside the large sodden leaves in his path, uncaring of the noise it made. His vigour was also born of freedom and while he would have never admitted it, the caves and tunnels were not his first choice of where to live. If he was able to choose he would be in the forest, or at least the jungle, daily exploring the country. He would like to hunt and even though animals and birds were seldom seen, he knew they were there, just timidly hiding and living their own untroubled existence.
He well remembered the time when he had lived in the forest,. The memory was vivid despite it being a long time ago. Then he had been part of the Leaf family. All the Drongs had. It was before Gabrysia, even before the dark Venki. In fact he had once been their leader,. He had had the necklace with the stone. He had held the position for an all-too-brief time. His leadership had been questioned and he had been voted out.
He smashed a leaf out of his way at the thought of how stupid the Leafies had been. He had brought strength to the family and even then had based his rule on fear. However, he and the coterie of tough supporters he had gathered around him had been replaced by a committee who believed in what he regarded as softness. The meek had indeed inherited the forest. He had been told he could stay. But he would have had to accept the weakness of the family and change his ways. He was not prepared to do that so had left with his gang.
At first they had roamed in other parts of the forest, then they moved deep into the jungle, and finally they had decided to explore the barren Dead Place. By chance they had stumbled on the entrance to the caves and had lived there ever since. They had many times tried to retake the forest camp but had been beaten back on each occasion. “Not this time though,” Kerry said to himself. “This time we’ll take it and I’ll keep it.”
An hour before darkness fell the Drongs left the jungle and entered the forest. It was still quite dense but the going was much easier now that they were out of the thick grass and heavy foliage.
Kerry signalled a halt and motioned everyone to silence. They squatted near a thicket of trees and Kerry said: “We’ll camp just inside the jungle for the night. Then at daw we’ll move off. The camp is about a half hour from here. We’ll take it before they’re up and about.”
They moved back into the undergrowth and cleared a patch so they could bed down. There would be no fire allowed and they knew the night would be long and cold so they stayed in one group close together. It was some time before they slept but not one word was spoken. Their thoughts were concentrated on what the morrow would bring.
Unaware of the threat on their doorstep the Leaf Children in the trees not far away were also getting ready for the night. Since Nikko and Jason and the others had left life had gone on much the same as it always did. But nothing had been heard and the children were becoming worried. They discussed it nightly, but David, the boy Nikko had given the necklace to, had recommended they wait a bit longer before they decided on any plan of action. At a meeting this night it was agreed that if no news was received by the end of the following day a second search party would set out the next morning,. Having reached that decision the Leaf Children retired to their tree chambers to sleep.
The moon crept across the heaven, bathing the land below in a muted silver glow, and the stars gleamed undimmed by clouds. Many sounds filtered through the forest and the jungle but neither the Leaf Children nor the Drongs heard them.
But as the stars retreated and the moon waned the sounds of the jungle were interrupted by a course: “Get up. Come on. Up,” as Kerry kicked awake his soldiers. In minutes the sleep had been roughly rubbed from their eyes, equipment had been checked and the Drongs were ready.
“Move out,” commanded Kerry and they left the jungle and began threading their way among the tall trees of the forest.
The sun was still to brim the horizon when they arrived on the outskirts of the Leaf Children’s camp. It was quiet. There was no movement and there were no lookouts. Trouble had not been expected.
They would enter the five trees which they knew housed the main meeting and sleeping chambers. The leaders would be there. Once they were taken the rest of the Leaf family would have to accept defeat and the camp would be theirs. Four to each tree would be more than enough given the element of surprise was on their side.
The only difficulty, or rather the main one because Kerry was certainly not complacent, was that the target trees stood in the very centre of the camp. This naturally meant the Drongs had to pass the other trees, without a sound, open the doors, climb the ropes and get into the rooms, completely unnoticed. If there were any guards, just one would do it, or if a single Leaf child rose early and ventured outside, the alarm would be sounded and the trapdoors and windows would be locked. If that happened, the Drong attack would be ended before it started. Unless they controlled the trees they controlled nothing. This was what Kerry impressed on his soldiers as they scanned the camp. The first rays of the morning sun struck the tree tops and gradually began to creep towards the ground.
“Now,” said Kerry and the Drongs sprinted in five teams to the cluster of trees, there were no lookouts,. No Leaf child rose early. When they reached the bases of the trees the soldiers stopped. At a sign from Kerry the teams entered the tree trunks simultaneously. They did not scamper up the rope ladders too quickly, concerned not only about the speed but also for silence. When they reached the trapdoors to the chambers they listened closely and hearing no sounds inside cautiously pushed them up a few inches and peered inside.
Kerry had chosen the biggest of the trees and as he now looked into the chamber he saw he had been right. It was the headquarters and inside, against the far wall, were the shelves lined with toys. Through a small gap between the trapdoor and the floor he could only see parts of the two other walls and they too had toys stacked high against them. Gradually he lifted the trapdoor higher.
He whispered to a soldier on the ladder behind him to stay where he was and only follow when called. He intended to capture the headquarters alone if he could. He poked his head through the opening and saw on the floor behind him six children asleep. They were lying on straw matting beds and covered by light squares of green material. They did not stir as he raised the trapdoor higher and climbed through. Crouching, he silently closed the opening in the floor and watched the sleeping children, he counted four boys and two girls.
Kerry carefully approached them and examined each. He did not recognise any of the faces, but he did see that one of the boys was wearing the necklace with the red stone. An awkward smirk crossed his face as he pulled from his breeches a stubby baton with a rope threaded in a loop through one end which also had finger grooves cut into it. He gripped it firmly and bent down beside the boy.
The boy rolled over onto his back, nudging Kerry’s knee as he did so, and sleepily opened his eyes. He reacted quickly as soon as he saw the Drong, but he was too slow. Kerry leapt onto his stomach and pinned his neck to the floor with the baton, momentarily cutting off his air.
The boy choked as Kerry hissed: “Quiet! Don’t say a word of I’ll press harder.” The boy’s fingers tightened around Kerry’s wrists but he knew he was powerless to throw him off.
“Now,” said Kerry. “Wake the others. Carefully. Don’t shout or try anything smart. Just get them up.”
The boy coughed a rasping: “Wake up, Wake up all of you.” And the other five children one by one opened their eyes. They jumped to their feet but Kerry said very slowly: “Don’t make a sound any of you or your friend here is in trouble. Get over here where I can see all of you.”
When they were standing in front of him he ordered: “Right. Now tie each other up. Hands and legs.” Indicating one of the girls he barked: “You. Come over here and tie his legs and hands. Quickly, and tie them tightly. No tricks. Understand?”
The girl did as she was told. Like the others she used ropes and strips of material that were piled in a box in the corner. Then she bound the feet and hands of the last of the other four children, the boy on the floor had his hands stretched out over his head but the others all had their hands tied behind their backs.
“Get over there with the rest,” Kerry told the girl. “All of you sit against that wall.” Then he eased himself off the boy and told him to roll onto his stomach. When he did he retied his hands behind his back and then bound the girl in the same manner.
“Well,” he said breathing heavily. “You’re not much you lot. One against six and you still lost.” He moved back to the trapdoor and lifted it. “OK,” he called down. “Come up. The place is ours.”
A few minutes later Kerry led the boy with the necklace out through one of the windows into a platform across two branches high above the ground. At the top of his voice he shouted: “Alarm! Alarm! Wake up! Hey! Hey! Hey!”
Windows in the other trees cracked open and Leaf Children poured out onto the platforms.
He noticed that with the four other target trees only Drong soldiers emerged. He smiled and again shouted: “You are beaten Leafies. I, Kerry, have captured your camp. Leave your weapons where they are and get down onto the ground. Do as I say or your friend here is in real trouble. And so are the others we have,” and he pushed the boy to the edge of the platform, he tugged the necklace from the boy’s neck and holding it aloft added: “I’m in charge. The trees are mine.”
The Leaf Children were herded into a single group in the middle of the camp directly below the tree where Kerry remained with the bound boy. His other captives, along with all but one from each of the other occupied trees, were released and ordered out with the mass of children.
Kerry stood on the platform and lectured the Leaf Children for ten minutes on what he termed their misbehaviour and bad judgement in opposing him and his fellow Drongs. They were errors which he assured them they were going to regret.
“Starting now,” he said, “you are going to learn some respect.” He and the other Drongs were to be called sir and their orders were to be carried out without question. Any deviation would result in severe punishment, not only for the child who was disobedient, but for all of them. If one stepped out of line they all suffered.
Fear, thought Kerry. Fear is the way to exert control. If you make a person afraid of you he will do whatever you tell him. And the greatest fear is to be punished for something you did not do. It makes a person watch his neighbour very closely. At its ultimate it actually breeds reluctant but useful sympathisers. It had worked before and it would work now, he thought.
Kerry was excited at his victory and the prospects for the future. To heck with Gabrysia and the others who had escaped in the tunnels. They did not matter any more. When they returned to the forest, as they must sooner or later, there would be nothing they could do. The trees were his. There was no way he was going to be kicked out again. From now on everything would be the way he wanted it.