RIDERS OF TUATHA by Bert McKenzie Copyright 2010
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any real person alive or dead is coincidental and unintentional.
CHAPTER XX
Dave was still shaking as he drove through the gates. He was firm in his resolve, and the thought of possible fame and fortune did much to quiet his nerves. But he was still frightened by the thought of what he was about to do. Herman Blanc could be a terrifying little man when he grew angry. And he did have money and friends in high places. Dave would have to be very careful about what he did and how he did it.
As he rounded the curve, two men dressed in the oddest looking clothing stepped out from the trees, waving their hands like they needed assistance. He remembered the fantasy fair that was being held this weekend and guessed they were part of it. Dave braked the car and pulled up between them. "Aren't you a little far from the fair? What's the problem?" he asked.
Scott drew his sword, pointing it in the open window. "We need a ride," he said. The weapon coupled with the odd appearance of the two in such a remote location set off alarms in the scientist's head. He stomped on the gas pedal as he ducked away from the golden blade. The car screeched forward, knocking one of the would be assailants into the ditch. Scott quickly got back to his feet to see their best chance speeding away down the street. Then he spotted Akuta, clinging to the roof of the rapidly departing car.
Dave was congratulating himself on his quick thinking and fast reflexes as he slowed the vehicle to a more normal speed. He would call the police when he got home and report the incident. If the man had a gun, it might have been a different story. But with a sword, an ambush like that was almost laughable. As he smiled to himself, his thoughts were suddenly interrupted. An arm holding a silver dagger plunged in through the open window, placing the blade against his neck. A voice came to him seemingly from out of nowhere. "You must halt this wagon now or I shall cut your throat." As if to emphasize the point, the blade pressed more firmly against his skin. The arm bounced and vibrated with the movement of the car, but the dagger never seemed to vary in its pressure.
The scientist stepped firmly on the brake, hoping to dislodge his unwanted passenger, but the holder of the dagger must have expected such a move. He somehow managed to hold on to the roof of the car and applied more pressure on the knife to counteract the inertial force, causing the blade to nick the skin and draw blood. Dave gasped in pain and fear. As the car stopped on the deserted road, the door was yanked open and the scientist was roughly jerked out of the vehicle. The tall, blond man in the unusual costume slammed him against the side of the Toyota and placed the dagger point again at his throat.
They stood next to the car and waited. In a few minutes, two other men rode up on the back of a unicorn. Dave stared in amazement. The animal did not appear to be a circus trick. Rather, the long, golden horn seemed to be actually growing from the center of the beast's forehead.
"Thanks," Scott said as he dropped to the ground. "We'll be okay from here." Firebrand, still carrying Alex, turned and headed back toward the group of trees. "Now, you're going to take us back inside that fence," Scott said, pointing toward the institution in the distance.
"What are you, crazy?" the scientist asked. "I can't get you in without security clearance."
Akuta pushed the sharp point of his dagger against the man's throat, jabbing him. "You shall find a way to take us there or you shall die here and now, and we shall go there on our own without your assistance," he told his captive.
"Look, if you want money, take my wallet," the man argued. "There isn't anything in the institute that will do you any good."
"You have our king," Akuta said. "You shall take us to him now or die. And if he is harmed you may die anyway."
"Your king?" Dave said. "You're not . . ." Just then a breeze lifted Akuta's hair revealing his left ear. "My God!" the scientist breathed.
"Quit stalling," Scott growled.
"Okay, okay," Dave finally said, still in a state of shock. "I'll take you to him." He turned slowly to the still open door. Scott pushed past him and climbed into the back seat, while Akuta twisted the scientist's arm behind his back so he couldn't get away. Akuta then climbed into the vehicle, sitting in the front passenger seat and pulling the man in after him.
"Now take this wagon back to the fortress," Akuta instructed, releasing the man but keeping his dagger pressed firmly against the scientist's ribs.
"The security guard isn't going to let me in with two strangers in the car," Dave said as he started the engine and pulled off the side of the road to make a U-turn.
"My lord, get down to the floor and cover yourself with your cape," Akuta told Scott who did as instructed.
"But, he'll see you," Scott said to his friend.
"I think not," Akuta replied. "I am very good at being overlooked when I try. As a child I always triumphed at 'Search for Who is Hidden.'"
"Will you answer a question?" the scientist said as he drove slowly back down the road. "Where are you from?"
"They're from Tuatha," Scott said. "It's a different world from ours."
"Then you aren't one of them," Dave asked.
"He is human, but he is one with us now," Akuta replied.
"Did you come in a ship?" the man questioned.
"No, we came on unicorns," Akuta said. It sounded so funny that Scott had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. The scientist kept quiet, not really understanding the answer. "Now I shall ask you a question," Akuta said, addressing their driver. "Is our king well?"
"I guess so," Dave responded.
"What do you mean, you guess so?" Scott demanded.
"He was still unconscious when I last saw him, but he was alive. But the head of the institute was planning to euthanize him and perform an autopsy."
"What are these words?" Akuta asked as he heard Scott draw in a sharp breath.
"They're going to kill him," Scott said.
The car was approaching the gate. Scott dropped to the floor of the back seat. "Alert not this guard or you shall forfeit your life," Akuta said, giving the scientist a sharp jab in the ribs for emphasis.
The car slowed to a halt at the gate. The security guard walked up to the window and bent down to look in. "Did you forget something, Dr. Strahan?" the man asked. The question sounded so casual and unconcerned. Dave couldn't believe he didn't react to the tall blond sitting next to him. The scientist glanced over and was surprised to see an empty seat beside him, yet he could still feel the prick of the dagger in his side.
"Speak to him," a voice said in his ear. He looked up at the security guard. The man acted like he hadn't heard a thing.
"Yes, I forgot my cigarettes." The guard gave a laugh but the scientist only looked blankly back at him. Dave waved as the gate swung open, and drove on into the complex.
"But you don't smoke," the security man said quietly to the retreating car, then walked into the small guard booth and picked up the phone.
As Dave turned off the ignition, Scott sat up in the back seat. Akuta was again sitting in the front passenger seat. "Get out very slowly," he told the scientist. They all piled out of the car and into the parking lot. "Now, where is our king?" Akuta asked.
"Inside," Dave said and started toward the building.
"No tricks," Scott said. "My friend won't hesitate to use his weapon."
They walked up to the side door and the doctor unlocked it and led them inside. The interior of the building was constructed from painted cement blocks and had a faintly medicinal smell. The pale yellow walls and dark green tile floor with hanging fluorescent light fixtures looked extremely institutional. The two friends followed closely behind the scientist as he led them down the narrow corridor, past countless closed doors. They finally came to a closed off section marked with a big red sign that read, "Isolation Unit." The man pushed open the double doors and entered yet another hallway. Scott and Akuta followed him.
"I smell blood," Akuta wind whispered to Scott.
"Tuathan?" Scott asked him.
"What?" the scientist responded.
"I think so," Akuta replied only to Scott's ears.
"He's in there," the man said, pointing to a large steel door. He began to turn a metal wheel that released the pressure seal on the isolation room. The man then grasped a bar and began to pull the door open. "You'd better let me go in first," he said as he started to step through the door.
Akuta pulled him back. "He is our king," he told the human and entered the room. Scott followed closely on his heels. The room was a large, round chamber, the walls, floor and ceiling all constructed of smooth stainless steel. At the far side, opposite the door was a small bundle draped in a white cloth. Scott and Akuta raced to it.
The big metal door clanged shut behind them. Too late they realized they were trapped. Akuta reached down and yanked away the white cloth to reveal a pudgy, balding little man. He looked up at the two of them, terror etched on his face.
"So you were going to go public with my discovery?" The doctor in the rumpled brown suit was sitting behind his big, leather covered desk in his opulent office. Dave Strahan was standing in the center of the room, two security men stationed on either side of him. "Did you really think our security was so lax that you could just call up the press and have them drop in for a visit?" The man in the center of the room made no reply. "Well," the one behind the desk asked.
"But I've brought you another," Dave finally responded.
"Another what?" Blanc asked dispassionately.
"Another alien. The two men I tricked into entering the isolation chamber. One of them is an alien. They're searching for the first one," the scientist explained.
"Only one of them is an alien?" the man behind the desk asked, visibly perking up. "What about the other one?"
"He's human, I think," Dave replied.
"Humans and aliens working together?" The director of the institute was obviously shocked and surprised. "This is an interesting development. It makes my original alien much more expendable, but it also raises questions of a covert conspiracy." He looked at the security men. "Take him away and lock him up someplace." As the three men left the room, he picked up the phone and called the main switchboard. "Place a call to General Armond at the Pentagon," he instructed.
"You have but to tell us how to find this place," Rood argued.
"I will show you. That's the deal; take it or leave it," Jennifer replied.
"You understand this not," Melcot explained. "We are on no simple journey for women to enjoy. We are going to war."
"Scott said you would tell us how to find the place. He said nothing about you traveling with us," Rood persisted.
She was beginning to lose her resolve. Fortunately, Jennifer was not alone. "It is you who understand this not, my lord," Rowana said as she approached her mate. "We understand the concept of war as well as you. We women are not seeking a pleasant outing. We are seeking to defend our world and our king, fighting beside those we love."
"This is not reasonable," Clive argued.
"And why is it not?" Ellenia came back at him. She had not been anointed with the chrism so Jennifer was unable to understand her. But the tone in her voice was unmistakable, as was the look that Clive gave in response. He obviously did not wish to cross his mate in this matter.
"My lady, you of all these females, I thought would surely understand your place," Rood said to the pale skinned cousin of the king.
"My place?" Ellenia sputtered.
"You have no right to talk with my lady in such a way," Clive said angrily.
"Your lady?" Rowana exclaimed. "Is she your property, my lord?"
"Yes, of course," Clive said.
"That does it," Jennifer shouted. "You said you're going to war, but with whom? It looks like each other."
In the midst of this battle, Caseldra burst into the conference room. "My father has done it!" she said excitedly. "He has balanced the spell that reopens a gateway between our worlds. But we must ride now. The gateway shall open at noon."
"Come with me," Rowana said as she grabbed Jennifer's hand. They left the room and headed down a winding corridor while the rest of the group quickly dispersed.
A short time later, the guard was being assembled in the courtyard. This time warriors from every tower delegation were joining the ranks. The core unit was still made up of the palace guard, and everyone was under the command of Rood and his men. As they assembled in rank and file, mounted on horseback, a small gate opened on the east side of the white tower. >From it issued a long line of armor clad mounted warriors. As they approached the front of the assemblage Rood, Melcot and Clive stopped their preparations to openly stare. At the head of the new delegation rode Rowana, her red hair flowing behind her in the breeze. At her side was Jennifer, similarly garbed in short tunic and chain mail. Behind them came Caseldra, Ellenia and a large contingent of palace women.
"What means this?" Melcot asked as he looked up at his mate.
She sat erectly on the back of a large white horse. "Would you deny me my right to defend my king and country, lord?" she asked frigidly. Melcot turned meekly to look to Rood for a solution.
"Noon quickly approaches, my lord," Caseldra called from her position behind Jennifer.
Rood looked at them in a moment of indecision. He then glanced to where Melcot and Clive were standing. Giving them his lopsided, devil-may-care smile, he leaped to the back of a cream-colored stallion. "Let us ride!" he shouted and charged up the lane toward the mountain gate. Several of his palace guard followed behind him. Next came the women and then the remainder of the palace guard and the combined army. They galloped through the gate, up the winding path and on toward the high plains that were wedged into a cleft in the mountain range.
As the group headed out of the rocky pass and onto the green pasture land of the plateau, Rood brought them to a halt. He looked about, but the unicorns were nowhere in sight. As he paused, wondering what they were going to do, Caseldra rode up to join him. "We are not to use the previous gate, my lord," she said. "Father has balanced the spell to open a larger one that shall hold us all. There." She pointed to a small group of trees halfway across the plateau.
"I see nothing special," he replied.
"We are to ride through the trees," she instructed.
Meanwhile, Rowana rode a little distance from the troops and gave a soft whistle. A tall, silver horned unicorn stepped out from behind a large boulder. She dismounted and slowly approached it. "Your leader is in the other land," she explained. "He is helping to free our king. Are you willing to join us to aid him in this quest?" The animal nodded its long, graceful neck.
"We must go!" Rood called and headed off toward the small grove at a gallop. Rowana quickly climbed back onto her horse and rejoined the army as they moved out to follow their leader. She looked over her shoulder as she rode to see an enormous herd of white unicorns galloping alongside of the mounted elves, everyone heading toward the trees.
"Are you going to kill me?" the fat little man asked.
Akuta grabbed him by his collar and lifted him up from the floor with one hand. "Where is our king?" he growled angrily.
The little man whimpered. "Don't kill me, please."
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Scott demanded as Akuta dropped the frightened man.
"I'm Dr. Emile Sorenson. I work here," he whined.
"Why are you in this room?" Akuta asked.
"Dr. Blanc put me in here. He said I was a traitor because I didn't want him to kill the alien."
"Kill the alien?" Scott asked in alarm.
"He wanted it euthanized so we could dissect it," the man said.
"We've got to get out of here," Scott said as he pounded on the door.
"This metal is very hot," Akuta told him as they examined the walls. "It must be filled with iron."
"Stainless steel," Dr. Sorenson told them. "There is no way out unless someone opens the door from the outside." Just them a mechanical whine started up somewhere in the ceiling. "Oh no, the pumps!" the doctor said. "They're pumping out the air! We won't be able to breathe!" Already Scott could feel the change in pressure. Akuta grabbed at his ears and dropped to his knees on the hard floor. Scott's lungs began to ache, and he felt dizzy and nauseous. The two humans fell to the floor, gasping for what wasn't there. Scott rolled over to look at his friend. Akuta was kneeling calmly, evidently falling into a meditative trance. Scott hoped he wouldn't suffer. Then everything faded away.
Dr. Blanc stood by as the metal door was unsealed and pulled open. The air sighed as the disparate pressures quickly equalized themselves. He and his two security men stepped into the room. They found two men on the floor, unconscious. One was Dr. Sorenson, but the other was a stranger. A quick examination showed him to be human. The doctor looked around and then gave his men instructions to tie up the two unconscious prisoners. Evidently Dr. Strahan had lied to him about there being another alien. He turned and left the room, heading down the hall to the surgical theater.