Stranger, p.10
Stranger, page 10
“Yes?” Billy was breathing heavily.
“Nothing. I’ll arrive soon.”
The Clan’s archers had a rhythm. They fired volleys of arrows while the wagons were pushed forward, then moved up and did it again. Explosive bombs sailed over their heads and landed on the settlement’s defenses. Gunfire from the Feds’ outer perimeter began to decline.
“What’s that noise?” Pete Watson asked Dutch Malley. They were part of the crew firing bombs from a catapult.
“Sounds like a swarm of bees.”
“WHAAAHOOOOM.” A giant bat-like creature screamed across the sky. As it passed overhead, its shadow covered an entire platoon. It had a mottled appearance, a beak-like nose and two oval holes looked like black, sunken eyes. It continued to scream like a banshee from Hell.
All fighting stopped.
Clan and Fed fighters stared at the thing in the sky. “What the hell is that?” Pete Watson’s jaw sagged open.
The Bird-that-Soars raised its main airbrakes, which made it look as though it had flapped its wings. It swept over them again, its two staring eyes ever larger. Its landing struts unfolded, just like the talons of a bird of prey ready to stoop.
The Bird-that-Soars passed low over the foundry and rolled into a banking turn. As it came back, its engines grew louder as its thrust vector nozzles rotated forward to reduce its velocity. It came to a hover, howling its ungodly song. Slowly, ever so slowly, it descended on the foundry. Dust swirled and rose in a billowing cloud.
Billy ran from the foundry, waving his arms to get attention. “Get inside. Get in the building, do it now. Get under cover.” He knew that the downdraft from the Bird-that-Soars would be fierce. “Captain Kerr, get everyone inside now.” he said. “Use force if necessary but get everyone in the building before the flying machine arrives.”
No one had to be told twice. The rush for the door started. Most had fled at the sight of the sky monster. Once inside the foundry, they huddled together amid sooty machinery festooned with cobwebs. Some had been caught by the wind from the Bird-that-Soars in the scramble to get inside and been knocked to the ground. The injured moaned; others swore steadily like they were chanting a mantra. Those who were convinced it was a monster from Hell crossed themselves and prayed loudly, invoking the names of their favorite Saints.
The Bird-that-Soars hung a hundred feet above the foundry on its eastern side. As it hovered, its biocomputer acquired images of the iron melting equipment’s lifting points. Its lifting grapples rattled down.
“The flying machine belongs to my friends. It will save us,” Billy called. “Guard captains, get your men under control.”
Inside the cavernous foundry building, amongst the gloom and black machinery, the guard captains looked at each other, faces long and uncertain. They said nothing.
“The flying machine has come to take the iron melting equipment to Defiance.” Billy raised his voice, so all could hear him.
A crowd gathered around him, silent and sullen.
“It will not hurt you.”
They had been attacked by Clan soldiers; bombarded by explosives; and now, a flying monster hung over their heads. Fear filled the air with its rank smell. It was common knowledge Billy would kill them if they disobeyed his orders; they’d seen him do it many times.
At the far end of the foundry, the flying machine’s screaming engines grew louder. Something clattered and clanged. Machinery screeched. The furnace jerked upwards to disappear through the opening in the foundry’s roof. Black clouds of dust roiled out between the grimy steel columns, spreading rapidly, and filling the air, making it difficult to see.
The noise from the flying machine increased briefly to a shriek then faded. At the eastside of the building, the noise sighed down in volume and pitch.
The crowd grew still, quiet, listening.
Silence fell.
“Guards,” Billy called. “Assemble everyone by the east door of the foundry. Now.” His voice cracked. “You will ride in the flying machine back to Defiance.”
For a moment silence reigned.
All at once it seemed that everyone tried to speak. Voices babbled loudly. The civilians, exhausted, dirty, some wounded and most frightened, were on the edge of panic. Many screamed their fears.
“Silence,” Kerr yelled. “Silence.”
BOOM. Kerr fired his gun over their heads.
The crowd froze, silent.
“Quiet, damn it,” Kerr yelled. “Be quiet. Listen to Billy Potato.” He climbed on top of a workbench. “Has he ever misled you? Has he ever deserted you? Hasn’t he fought alongside you and risked his life for you?” Downward chops of Kerr’s fist marked time with his words. “Why would he deceive you now? He hasn’t and won’t. Listen to him and do what he says.” He glared at a sea of pale faces. “If you don’t, then by God, you’ll answer to me,” Kerr’s voice echoed off the metal walls. His face was red and grim. He reached for another gun and cocked it.
It was as though he’d dared the crowd to challenge him. None did. There was a fragile measure of order, but just below the surface, panic still simmered.
Billy clambered awkwardly in his strangely disjointed fashion up onto the workbench next to Kerr. Billy was almost hidden beneath his ever-present cloak and wide-brimmed hat. He seemed tiny next to Kerr’s height and muscular build.
“Thank you, Captain Kerr.” Billy gave his caricature of a smile and glanced from side to side. “The flying machine is here to help us. It belongs to my friends. It will take the iron melting equipment to Defiance. I will ride in the flying machine.” He paused. “You will come with me. It has much room.” Billy gave his version of a smile. “It is quite safe.”
There was a hiss as the crowd drew a collective breath. “Between here and Defiance are Clan soldiers, so it will be much safer to come with me in the flying machine.” Billy turned and looked at Kerr. “Right, Captain Kerr?”
“Yes,” Kerr said without hesitation. “All my guards are going, too.” He glared at the crowd.
There was a murmur of nervous voices.
“Remember, if you stay,” Kerr said. “The Clan soldiers will come and get you and you will die at their hands.”
The crowd stirred.
Billy held up his hands and got an uneasy silence. “Good,” he said. “The flying machine is outside the east door.”
Many in the restive crowd averted his gaze.
“It is ready for you,” Billy said. “It has room for all. Bring only what you can carry in your hands—nothing more. I shall go first.” He jumped down from the workbench. “Follow me.” He marched toward the door.
The crowd parted fluidly before him without a word.
Outside, the Bird-that-Soars sat perched on its ungainly struts, looking away from the building. At its rear, a ramp extended like a giant metallic tongue between the two openings of its engines. Suspended beneath its wings was the iron-casting equipment, almost like a mother hen protecting her chicks. The circular openings on each side of the ramp softly crackled and pinged.
At the base of the textured metal ramp, Billy turned and beckoned for them to follow. He marched up the ramp, past the two engine openings at the rear of the craft, toward its doors.
He could hear people start to talk. He kept moving. He stopped when he reached the top.
Billy looked back. Captain Kerr’s men herded the civilians out the foundry’s door. They had stopped at the bottom of the ramp and stared at him. Billy beckoned that they should come. He turned and walked inside where he stopped to listen.
Yes, I can hear their footsteps—they are coming.
Inside, the open compartment stretched for about two hundred feet and was thirty-five feet wide. The ceiling, twelve feet high, was strongly reinforced with curved beams and fitted with glowing orange light panels. The textured metal floor glittered and had flush-fitting metal loops set at regular intervals. Bright green webbing hung from its walls. At the far end, the wall was bare of webbing and had two metal doors. In between the two doors was a large square panel of a dull, gray material that looked like textured glass.
It took a quarter-hour until the last person entered the Bird-that-Soars. Some were afraid to enter the belly of the sky monster and fled—more willing to take their chances with the Clan soldiers. Others, more curious, tried to go further into the Bird-that-Soars, but no door would open for them. Some came out of a sense of duty or fear of Captain Kerr; others had to be prodded on board. Some sat huddled, almost catatonic. Some—not all of them children—sucked their thumbs.
The compartment resonated with babies crying, moans of the wounded, and the near hysterical chatter of those who had more fear than curiosity. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, unwashed bodies, vomit, and voided bowels.
“These will now close.” Billy pointed to the clamshell doors at the rear of the flying machine. “Soon, we’ll leave. The trip to Defiance will take ten minutes.” As he spoke, the doors folded in and closed with a metallic clunk. Fans began to blow, bringing fresh air. The stench lessened.
A high-pitched whine started. It rapidly increased in pitch and volume—more felt than heard. There was a rumble and a loud clunk. The noise increased further. The flying machine made a lurch, tilted slightly, and began to vibrate gently.
Chapter Twenty
When Chris saw the strange flying monster arrive, she wanted to bang her head on the wall and wake up to find it was only a bad dream. The sight of a strange apparition hovering like a hawk over the old foundry with its unending scream was like nothing she’d ever heard before. Finally, it disappeared behind a blackened hulk of a building, its sound fading as though it were gone.
“You, Watson,” Chris said. “Go and find out what’s happening in there. Don’t pick a fight just find out what they’re doing. Got it?”
“Me?” Watson wrinkled his nose as though he smelled something bad. “My platoon’s on the catapults—”
“Move it, Watson,” Chris yelled. “Don’t give me any crap.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Watson’s voice was sullen. The squad leader mounted slowly and gestured without enthusiasm for his men to get on their horses. They trotted toward the settlement in the wide line they used when scouting hostile territory.
The squad rode around the perimeter but saw no one. As they rounded the eastside of the foundry, Watson saw it. Before them was the flying monster, huge and close. “Whoa.” Watson reined his horse to an abrupt halt. “I don’t like this one bit.”
The strange flying machine was still and silent. At its front were two oval openings that stared like black, bottomless eyes. The mass of the machine hunched over spindly legs, like a raptor about to devour its prey.
“We’ve seen enough.” Watson looked around as though he was being watched. “It’s time to go back.” He gave a signal and the squad executed a turn around the corner. Once out of the monster’s sight, they spurred their horses into a gallop and raced back.
Watson reined his lathered mount to a halt.
Chris stepped up. “Did you see any Fed guards?”
“No, ma’am.” Watson’s eyes were wide. “We had to leave. The flying monster saw us. We’re lucky to get back alive.” He was flushed and breathing hard.
“Did you go completely around the settlement?” Chris asked. She already knew the answer because the squad had returned in the same direction they had left. “Well?”
“No, ma’am. When we got to the eastside of the foundry, the monster was there. Its eyes, it was watching us—”
“Yeah, yeah,” Chris said. They were afraid. Crap, she thought. I better send a larger force. “Doaks, take two platoons in there,” she said. “Don’t attack the flying monster. Just find out where the Fed troops are hiding.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Doaks guided the platoons through the broken gate and picked their way into the deserted settlement. Guns lay scattered on the ground as though thrown carelessly away. Everywhere, buildings had roofs burned out and doors off their hinges.
“Sheesh,” Doaks said. “It’s kinda spooky.” The streets were deserted, silent. “Let’s go that way.” He pointed toward the hulking black building that dominated the Fed settlement. It was in the opposite direction to that which Watson had taken.
As they approached the east end of the black building, several people ran off. When they reached its corner, the scream of the flying machine started, only this time it was louder.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Doaks yelled over the rising sound. The Horse Soldiers pivoted and galloped back to the west entrance. As Doaks slowed to pick his way through the entrance, he glanced over his shoulder. The flying machine was slowly rising from behind the building.
“Omigod, it’s coming after us,” Doaks yelled.
He flogged his horse with his crop. “Move it, dammit, move it.” It took but a moment for the mounted men to break free of the shattered entrance, their horses’ hooves pounding the turf.
To Doaks the flying machine looked as though it were a giant primeval bat whose eyes saw everything, and it soon caught up with him.
Some of Doaks’s squads even reached the main contingent of Clan soldiers. Order evaporated as the flying monster approached. When it passed overhead, a powerful wind struck, knocking both man and beast to the ground. The group of men and horses directly under the flying monster were tossed around like autumn leaves, scattering them in all directions.
On the forward wall of the ship, the gray panel glowed into luminescence. It coalesced into a detailed image of the land below. “Look,” someone said. “It’s the foundry.”
The panel showed a picture from a viewpoint high above. A group of Clan soldiers appeared on the screen. They were riding hard. Without warning or reason, they began to fall to the ground and tumble around. As the Clan soldiers got up, they scattered in all directions.
The guards near the screen raised a weak cheer.
The view screen soon captivated the passengers. Land seemed to pass across the screen at an incredible rate as it followed the highway. When it showed the Maumee River, they saw that the bridge was missing a section. The view screen became a source of entertainment to those sitting near it—except to those who were still afraid. A few recognized some of the dwellings on the screen.
“Er, excuse me, Mr. Potato.” Captain Kerr quietly tugged Billy’s sleeve. “Just who’re these friends of yours? I’ve seen a lot of the civilized world. But this here flying machine is something else. I’ve even been to St. Louis and seen the miraculous Great Arch. Even there, I never saw a flying machine. My folks told me about flying machines from the times before the Collapse. I always thought they were just tales of magic.” Kerr paused. “Just who are these friends, sir?”
“My friends come from the same place as me.” Billy hesitated. He realized that the trip would be over before he could give an explanation. “It’s a long way from here. It’s not even in this country. It is a place not affected by the Collapse. We saw signs the Collapse had taken place. We did not know what it was and came here to find out.” Billy said. “I never realized my coming here would cause trouble with your neighbors.”
The engine pitch started to drop.
“We’re almost there.” Billy glanced at the people huddled on the floor of the cargo compartment. They were dirty and many bore wounds. Less than half the guards stationed at Perrysburg were on the Bird-that-Soars. These people had suffered in the siege.
“I did not know the iron melting equipment would cause trouble, but it is needed. I don’t have time to explain more. We must get ready for our arrival.”
“Arrival?” Kerr cocked his head. “Where?”
“Defiance,” Billy said. “We’ll be there in a moment.”
“Right,” Kerr said.
Everyone knew that it took a day to go from Perrysburg to Defiance by wagon. Whatever this flying machine was, it just didn’t bump and bang enough for something moving fast.
“When we get to Defiance, put guards around the iron melting equipment. Send a courier into the city and inform the people the flying machine is not dangerous to them.” Billy glanced at the screen. It showed an empty meadow. “Captain Kerr, your questions will have to wait.”
A clunk and a bump vibrated the cargo hold. The high-pitched whine faded into silence. The passengers became quiet. The doors sighed, clunked, and swung open. In the west were buildings and to the north was a broken-down factory.
Kerr stared at the distant city. “Why,” he said. “That looks a lot like Defiance. It can’t be …”
“Captain Kerr.” Billy’s voice was harsh.
“It is Defiance.” Kerr had difficulty breathing. “Yes, sir?”
“Give your orders.” Billy’s face was impassive. “Get everyone out quickly. My friends cannot wait.”
“Yes, right away.” Kerr shook his head. He pointed to a Fed guard. “You, you’re in charge of getting these people out of here.”
“Me?” The Fed guard’s eyebrows went up.
“Move it.” Kerr’s voice had a hard edge.
The disheveled survivors of Perrysburg straggled into Defiance. The townspeople watched silently from the doorways of the old red brick buildings. It was as though the survivors were something strange, touched. The news of a Clan raid on Perrysburg was ominous, particularly to the older citizens. The appearance of the flying apparition was even stranger.
The Bird-that-Soars unloaded the iron melting equipment at the derelict General Motors’ foundry. Once free of its burden, it rose fifty feet off the ground and moved to the northeast, away from the city, looking like an ungainly bird. Once across the wide Maumee River, it roared fiercely and climbed in an almost vertical direction. In a matter of seconds, it disappeared from sight.
In the quiet hours just before dawn, Billy watched the Bird-that-Soars return with a huge bundle of iron and steel structural members salvaged from Perrysburg. It was material needed to build the framework that would hold the molds. Once the ship deposited its load on the ground, it rose high into the sky and vanished. It was time to get back to work.
