Adventures on RV Traveler (Free Trader Series Book 3) (3 page)

5 – Stream of Pain

They followed the clear trail for two turns. On the third turn, they approached the series of streams that the River Crook fed. The boulders that Brandt had moved were to the sides. It was comforting to see.

Brandt waded into the stream on the crossing he originally forged.

When he was knee deep, the water started churning around him. Bronwyn’s scream pierced the air. G-War stood, hackles up, ready to fight. Brandt pranced, then dipped as if he was going to fall. Braden jumped from Max and ran to the water’s edge. He had his blaster in his hand ready to take on the unseen enemy.

A croc surged from the shallows straight for him.

His new skill with the blaster helped him deliver a short, quick-killing shot.

Micah had her blaster out, but she remained in the cart. If she got out, the children would follow.

Skirill swooped back, flying low over the water.
‘Fish. Cold-water Crocs.’

Brandt bolted forward as Bronwyn continued to scream.

‘Skirill! To me!’
the ‘cat called out. Braden shot a second croc, then a third.

Brandt stopped on the shore, his lower legs bleeding from where the skin was mostly gone. His legs shook as he struggled to stand. Two crocs dashed from the water, skimming the ground as they drove straight at him. He wasn’t ready to be croc food. With one wide sweep of his head, he knocked both crocs aside. With a quick lunge forward, he speared one of the two with the point of his horn.

He turned to face the second croc, recovered and readied to rush. Maybe it was his fellow dangling ingloriously from the King’s horn or the fact that alone, he couldn’t hurt the Aurochs, but the croc turned tail and bolted back into the water.

Skirill flared, then hovered beside Brandt. With a graceful leap, G-War launched through the air and landed on Skirill’s back. The Hawkoid dipped, then dropped until he bounced off the ground. With a couple hops and hearty flapping of his wings, he was airborne again, carrying the ‘cat across the stream.

G-War jumped into the air, twisted, and landed on his feet beside Speckles. He faced the stream, ready to fight.

Braden backed up to give himself more room. “What’s going to happen, G?” he asked, hoping for insight into the battle ahead.

‘Be ready, they come.’

Micah waved to Skirill. She held up her pouch which carried their supply of numbweed. He had to get it to Bronwyn, who knew what to do.

But the little girl continued to scream. The horses were upset and pranced. Braden smacked Max’s flank to move him away from the stream. Speckles started to move too, but Micah grabbed the reins and steadied him. Her blaster was cradled at her elbow as she fought to keep the cart steady.

The crocs surged from the stream. Braden had never considered them intelligent, but this attack looked coordinated. They came on a wide front, side by side. Two attacked him while the others raced past.

He shot one then the other, then the first one again to make sure it was dead. He turned as Speckles reared back on his hind legs, two crocs in front of him.

Aadi tried his focused thunderclap on two others, but they continued forward, unaffected.

G-War couldn’t fight the crocs. He was running in front of them, making himself a target so they would chase him instead of going after the cart, Micah, and the children. Speckles' front hooves crashed down, glancing off one of the crocs. Braden shot the other as it launched itself toward the horse’s back legs. Micah had lost the reins while shooting at two crocs trying to get behind the cart. They ran by quickly, but when they stopped to turn, she dropped them both.

Three were chasing the ‘cat, and at a straight run, they were faster. G-War didn’t run straight. Skirill was watching, telling the ‘cat which way to turn. The crocs missed, racing past. Skirill flew in a tight circle, the pouch still hanging from one claw.

Brandt bolted back across the stream. By running, nothing could stop him. Bronwyn finally stopped screaming. She hung on to the King’s head, whimpering and crying.

Brandt raced toward Speckles and stomped the life out of the remaining croc.

Braden shot one, then two, and finally the third that had gone after G-War.

Skirill screeched a warning. Braden turned to see another wave of crocs break from the foam of the stream and race toward them.

Braden was ready. With one adjustment and a long trigger pull, Braden threw a line of fire across all of the crocs, who screamed in pain as the flames washed over them.

Some emerged, charred, blind, but pushed forward. Brandt made short work of them. Micah shot the rest.

The stream flowed on, clear, sparkling.

Skirill dropped Micah’s pouch on Brandt’s head, in front of Bronwyn. She watched it hit, balance for a heartbeat, then slide off, falling to the ground. She remained flat, holding on.

Micah checked the twins. They were crying, but okay. G-War jumped into the cart to help comfort them. With a final hug, Micah climbed out and walked past the crocs, shooting each once, with a longer shot than was necessary.

Just to make sure. There were twenty-five carcasses when she finished.

Braden finally put his blaster away.

“Just like the Bat-Ravens,” he said grimly. “Bronwyn. Come on down. Let’s look at you.”

Brandt bowed his head until Braden could help the little girl from him. She resisted, until she collapsed into Braden’s arms. Brandt laid down. His lower legs were a mess, the skin shredded from thousands of tiny bites. Micah hurried to him, picked up her pouch, and started to apply numbweed. She nodded to Braden, who took the little girl to the cart. He pulled out their full supply of numbweed and returned to Brandt, helping to ease his pain and start the healing.

Aadi floated close to the stream and watched. If anything returned, then at least he could give warning. It bothered him that he couldn’t help the companions fight this terrible enemy.

“What the crap was that?” Micah finally asked. Her adrenaline surge passed as she worked on Brandt’s legs.

“An old enemy, fighting in a new way. I suspect the Amazonian War has taken a turn for the worse.” Braden stood by the cart, dangling one arm inside so he could touch one of the children. G-War purred loudly, trying to comfort the three of them. Bronwyn was curled tightly in a ball, hugging herself and rocking.

“What did you hear that has bothered you like this?” he asked, knowing that she wouldn’t answer.

“The fish that bite. The crocs that attack. Even Brandt wasn’t safe. This merry band of evil tries to stop us from civilizing this world. I won’t have it!” Braden proclaimed. “Ess, can you see that school of terror fish?”

Skirill leapt from his perch and winged toward the stream. He flew toward River Crook, then back south toward the Amazon.

‘Yesss,’
he said in his thought voice, thinking as he talked.
‘I can see them. The school is swimming toward the rainforest. Crocs are with them, shepherding the fish, as humans do with sheep or pigs.’
Skirill flew back and looked at the water in each of the streams between the caravan and River Crook. They were clear.

“Brandt, can you walk?” Braden asked. The great beast stood in answer and stomped, shaking the ground. The numbweed was working. “Let’s get across all the streams now, while the fish and crocs are gone.”

They readied themselves quickly. The cart was full of unhappiness, but Micah cooed to them while G-War purred his loudest.

Aadi swam through the air over the stream, watching closely for any sign that the fish or crocs had returned. He positioned himself over the water to the south where he could give warning if anything swam past. Brandt snorted and pranced, fighting his fear of the stream. It took Skirill and Aadi’s assurances that the fish and crocs were gone before he ran, full speed across.

Braden stayed as Micah urged Speckles forward, slapping the reins on his rump to get him to move faster. He trotted into the water, then stopped for a drink. Micah was shocked and slapped the reins against his back. He looked up, confused. Fear started to grip Micah. And then a small hand appeared on her shaking arm. Bronwyn’s puffy red eyes looked up at her.

“It’s okay. C’mon, Speckles. Get us to the other side,” she said calmly. The horse pulled hard and the cart bounced across the stream. When they were on the bank, Micah let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Braden spurred Max forward and they trotted across the stream. He stopped at the other side and turned so Max could drink, since Aadi told them it was clear.

They followed this routine across the remaining streams.

Ax and ‘Tesh held themselves up, each with their arms wrapped around their mother’s legs.

Braden looked at Brandt’s injuries. Running through the stream had washed away most of the numbweed. If they hadn’t applied it, he may not have been able to walk. It was worth it. And now the wounds were clean. When they applied more numbweed, he would be back to his old self.

They continued to River Crook where the people were happy to see them. Unfortunately, the caravan wasn’t the only thing attacked by the crocs and the mutie fish.

6 – River Crook

Crabby was first to offer his hand. “You are a welcome sight! We ain’t seen no one in ages! The last were a group from Westerly that walked here, then went back home.” Crabby looked closely, eyes wide when he saw Brandt’s injuries. He waved over a young man who showed the King of the Aurochs a place near the trees where he’d be in the shade and could lie down on a soft bed of thick grass.

Bronwyn took the numbweed and the twins to treat Brandt’s wounds.

‘Joining us has not been kind to you,’
Braden told the King over their mindlink.

‘I feel like a calf again, my friends. You have given us hope and a new life where we matter. These scratches are nothing,’
he said in his booming thought voice.

Ax and ‘Tesh attempted to climb on Brandt’s head while Bronwyn looked at each of his legs, applying a thorough coating of numbweed to the fish bites and shredded skin. Micah watched as her son was wrist deep into the Aurochs’ nostril as he attempted to climb up the King’s face.

‘I think that’s enough, you two. Let Brandt rest,’
she told them both. It didn’t change anything they were doing, so she picked them up and bodily carried them away. Braden took one of the squirmers from Micah before resuming his conversation with Crabby.

“Looks like you met the Menace, what we call sharkfish,” Crabby said. He shook his head as he looked at them. “We lost two before we figgered what was going on. They show up outta nowhere. If the crocs don’t get you, the sharkfish will.”

Yellowfin ran toward them from a field, lightening their sober moods.

“We’ve taken to posting a watch at the next bend. When he sees them coming, he screams and everyone gets away from the water. The banks here protect us. The crocs can’t climb them without exposing their underbellies. Roasted croc tail tastes pretty good, by the way.” He didn’t smile as he wasn’t trying to be funny. They were fighting for their very existence.

Braden and Micah saw the villagers of River Crook winning. They still fished. Their fields were growing. They hunted. And they killed those who would hunt them.

“We’re sorry that you lost two people to the Menace,” Micah said for both of them. Braden nodded and hung his head.

“They lived well and they died free. We have a future and we’ll do what we got to. Come, lemme show you the progress we’ve made…”

When Crabby finished the tour, Braden led him back to the cart. With little fanfare, Braden handed Crabby two of the saw blades. The Old Tech steel glistened in the daylight. Crabby, for once, was at a loss for words. With these, buildings would go up in no time.

The thirteen villagers of River Crook celebrated the caravan’s arrival. All creatures great and small were welcomed with equal joy. They traded little things and finally, with Micah’s encouragement, Braden shared his stock of sweetened pork. This was the hit of the celebration.

Braden watched longingly as the last bits were devoured. Micah squeezed his hand in sympathy.

River Crook was going to be a good village, well placed to support trade. Braden and Micah believed the loss of twenty-five crocs would delay new attacks on the village. For this, they were grateful. Twenty-five crocs was a big haul. The village had managed to kill a total of five over the last six moons.

The companions stayed four turns of the sun until Brandt’s scabs were set and he could walk without pain. Bronwyn remained with the animal companions, avoiding contact with other humans. Once Brandt was ready to go, he coaxed Bronwyn onto his neck. The others saddled up and headed out.

When they were on the road and it was just them, Braden had to know.
‘During the croc and sharkfish attack, what did you hear?’
Bronwyn shook her head, but the King’s great voice spoke to her that it was time. They could discuss it. It would make her feel better and they would know more. Knowing the enemy was the first step in being able to defeat them. That was how they had removed the Bat-Raven threat.

‘Thousands of voices screaming for blood. Sharp teeth ripping into my soul. The croc masters saw Micah. They know her as the chopper. She killed two of them with her sword. They all know this. They rally behind it.

‘They were waiting for us. Amazonians told them to wait for us at the stream. These Amazonians are different from Akhmiyar and my other friends. They are smaller, with hands, not claws, more like us than the Amazonians. I will always have nightmares because of them, I know it!’
Bronwyn buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

G-War jumped on Brandt’s face and climbed to the top of his head where he could be close to Bronwyn. He sat close and looked at her. She stopped crying and reached out a small hand to ruffle his ears.

‘Here’s what they look like,’
G-War added, taking the image from Bronwyn’s mind and sharing it with the companions’ via their mindlink.

Braden opened his neural implant and shared the picture with Holly. Braden was surprised that Holly did not have an instantaneous response. He told the human to wait.

‘Holly’s looking into it,’
was what he shared with the others. Micah squinted her eyes at him. She was used to quick answers from the neural implant. She opened hers and told Holly to share the answer with both of them, knowing that the hologram did whatever the President told him to do.

‘Thank you for being so brave,’
Micah told Bronwyn while she waited.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to ride in the cart with Ax and ‘Tesh?’

The little girl shook her head. The view from atop the King’s head was incomparable.

Braden and Micah each stopped talking as information rolled through the Old Tech windows before their eyes. Holly analyzed the images of the new Amazonians and determined that these were the ancients’ original creations, part human from Earth and part lizard from Vii. Holly suspected these creatures had learned a way to cheat death.

It was the original Lizard Men’s responsibility to increase the population of the Amazonians to do work in the rainforest that the humans couldn’t.

These ancient mutants had improved as they could control the crocs. Whether they did it with Old Tech or with an ability like the mindlink, Holly didn’t care to guess. All that mattered was that these old creatures were dangerous. They were probably the ones who had started the Amazonian War, creating internal strife so they could take over. Then they could lead the remaining warriors against humanity.

But why now? Braden assumed it was because of New Sanctuary and the reintroduction of the Old Tech. Even if Braden and Micah hadn't traveled through the rainforest, the Amazonian War was probably inevitable. Although the ancient Lizard Men may have moved up their timeline because of the human discoveries, the end result was going to be the same. The ancient mutants sought to regain control.

‘We need the ancients on our side. Holly, we have to go to RV Traveler. The ancients from Cygnus VI have to help us fight these mutie Amazonians. Just like every other battle we’ve fought, we have to win this one.’