Victims of Nimbo (2 page)

“I mean there are some dangerous beasts over there. You girls don’t need to be going. It’s too dangerous.”

Abbey flushed, and Sarah felt her own face redden. They had been through many adventures together with Josh and the other boys. And now suddenly some place was “too dangerous.”

“‘Too dangerous’? Let me remind you, Josh Adams,” Sarah flared up, “that I was the one who saved you from that wild boar! If I hadn’t put an arrow into him, he would have killed you.”

“No, he wouldn’t have,” Josh said.

He knows very well that I saved his life
, Sarah thought.

“You two girls have gotten impossible to live with,” he said sternly. “We’re going to go away and give you some time to think. Maybe you can get into a better humor.”

As soon as Josh left, Sarah slammed down a pan of biscuits on the table, jarring it. “Too dangerous! I like that!”

“Who do they think they are?” Abbey asked. She didn’t care much about hunting, but likely the thought of being deliberately left out was irritating. “Boys—who needs them?”

     The rest of the day was tense, for the girls would speak only in short sentences. All the boys could see that they were ruffled.

Once Wash whispered, “Why don’t you break down and be generous, Josh? The trip’ll be fun for them. They’ll be all right.”

But Josh Adams, who usually was quite amiable, was also stubborn. “No, they need time to get over whatever it is that’s eating them. We’ll give them a couple of days.”

At dawn the next morning, when the boys got up, they found no one to cook breakfast for them. Wash did the best he could, but as they sat down to eat, he admitted, “Afraid I’m not the cook Abbey is—or Sarah.”

“It’s all right, Wash,” Josh said. “It’s good enough.” Actually he was already regretting his decision. But he did not want to back down, so after breakfast he said, “All right. Let’s go.”

     Both Sarah and Abbey heard the door slam, but it
was Sarah who said, “Well, they’re gone. And good riddance.” She snuggled back under the warm covers and muttered, “Boys—who needs them? We can get along without them very well.”

W
ell, I hope they’re enjoying themselves!” Sarah crossed the kitchen and poked a fork into a steak that was frying in the pan. There were two of them, tender and juicy, and the aroma of the cooking meat smelled good.

“I hope they’re eating half-cooked meat and getting indigestion,” she muttered.

Abbey entered and came to the stove. “What’d you say, Sarah? Ooh, that looks good!”

“Yes, they’re nice and tender. And we’re going to have baked potatoes with fresh butter. And I’ve made a chocolate pie—Josh’s favorite. But he won’t get any of it.”

“What is it you were saying when I came in?”

“I was saying I hope the boys eat half-cooked meat and get indigestion.”

Abbey laughed at that. “You’re really annoyed at Josh, aren’t you?”

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“Oh,
I
feel a little better this morning. I was cross enough yesterday. But I guess we were all upset and tired, and our nerves were a bit tight.”

Sarah removed the steaks and put them on individual plates. “These are done,” she said. “If you’ll get the potatoes, we can eat.”

The two sat down to a delicious meal.

Abbey asked at one point, “Do you miss being back in OldWorld, Sarah? You never talk much about those times anymore.”

Sarah chewed thoughtfully on a small bite of steak. Finally she nodded. “I guess I do. Of course I miss my folks.”

“I do, too,” Abbey said sadly. “Sometimes at night I wake up and just cry about it.”

“Do you do that? So do I!” Sarah exclaimed. “I wonder if any of the boys feel that way.”

“They’d never tell if they did.” Abbey nodded wisely. “You know how boys are. They think it’s a shame to shed a tear.”

It had been a beautiful day. The sun was almost down now, and its last rays came through the window as the girls talked. Sarah could hear the frogs croaking down in the small river close by. Then abruptly the noise stopped, and both girls sat a little straighter.

“Something scared those frogs,” Abbey said.

Both girls rose at once and picked up their swords. There were no guns in NuWorld, only swords, spears, and bows. Fortunately, the Sleepers had become fairly expert in all of them, for they were in a world of dangerous beasts never seen before on the earth. The nuclear war had done strange things to genetics. In NuWorld there were even creatures much like dragons.

Sarah opened the door and stepped outside. She saw two figures emerge from the woods, and she focused on them sharply. She was always suspicious of strangers, because there was special danger in this world for the followers of Goél.

“Who is it, Sarah?” Abbey asked from behind her.

Sarah did not answer for a moment, and then she cried out, “Goél!”

The two figures came forward at once. The taller was wearing a light gray robe with a hood over his head. Now he pushed it back. His features were strong, and most noticeable were the eyes. They seemed to glow, and their directness would have startled many people.

“Well, daughter, I’m glad to have found you.”

He took Sarah’s hands for a moment, and she felt the confidence that always came with meeting Goél.

Then he turned to greet Abbey. “Abigail, you’re looking very well indeed!”

Abbey blushed. Everyone, including Goél, was aware that she thought too much of her appearance. She’d had to learn that outward beauty was not as important as what lay in the heart. However, she was obviously glad to see him.

He took both her hands in one of his and squeezed them.

“I’m so glad to see you, sire,” she said brightly. “You came just in time to eat.”

Goél smiled, and this made him look much younger. He was deeply tanned, and his teeth were very white against the darkness of his skin. “I always manage to come at suppertime. But first, let me introduce my companion.” He turned to the young man who stood beside him. “This is Teanor. Teanor, you have heard of the Seven Sleepers. This is Sarah. And this is Abigail.”

Teanor was a slight young man, not a great deal taller than Sarah. He was very trim and fit, though, and his tan was even darker than that of Goél. He had light brown hair, cut short, and his eyes were deep-set and inquisitive. “I have heard of the Seven Sleepers,” he murmured.

“Come inside, sire,” Sarah said. “It won’t take long to grill steaks for you.”

The two men entered the little house, and as Sarah scurried about preparing food for their guests, she listened to Goél talk with Abbey, mostly about their last adventure. From time to time she turned to glance at the young man. He said nothing. He appeared worried, and she wondered about his relationship with Goél.

The steaks were cooked very quickly, and the two men ate hungrily. When they had finished, Sarah set out the remains of the chocolate pie, and Abbey served large cups of steaming tea.

Finally Goél leaned back and nodded. “That was as fine a meal as I can remember. You girls are both marvelous cooks.”

“It was good indeed,” Teanor said. “I thank you.”

Goél turned his eyes on Teanor and studied him a moment or two. Then he turned back to Sarah and Abbey. “Where are the boys?”

“Oh, they went out on a hunting trip,” Sarah said. “They may not be back for a time.”

“I wish they were here,” Goél said quietly. Then he said, “Teanor’s people are called the Cloud People.”

“What a wonderful name! Why are they called that, Teanor?” Sarah asked.

The young man smiled. “We live in high places.”

“The Cloud People,” Goél said, “were on good terms with their neighbors the Earth Dwellers until recent years. Some time ago, however, things began to change. Since I must go now, perhaps you could tell them about it, Teanor. The Dark Lord is at work, and I am needed in another place. I thank you again.”

When the farewells had been said and their leader was gone, the young man Teanor sat up straight in his
chair. “What Goél told you is true. As my father has told me, at one time our people and the Earth Dwellers were friendly. But a few years ago their chief, whose name is Maroni, fell under the influence of a high priest called Nomus. He is an evil man and demands human sacrifices for their god, Nimbo.”

“Human sacrifices!” Sarah exclaimed. “How terrible!”

“It is evil indeed!” Teanor said. “They trap our young men and make slaves out of them. They trap women and children and sacrifice them to their god.”

Sarah liked the young man. He seemed earnest and sincere. “So you came to Goél for help?”

“Yes. Our king, Celevorn, has sent me for help. We need fierce warriors to overcome the Earth Dwellers. And we had heard of Goél’s servants the Seven Sleepers.”

“It will be an honor to help your people.”

Teanor said, “My own brother is a captive of the Earth Dwellers. I must save him. How long before the warriors return?”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps two or three days, but I hope not that long.”

“Then, alas, I cannot wait for them. I must return in the morning and do what I can.”

Sarah did not argue but showed Teanor a place to sleep in Dave’s room.

All night long she tossed and turned. She was concerned with Teanor’s plight and also for some reason was still angry with the boys for having left. Still, she knew that this was not their fault. They had no way of knowing this emergency would come.

Finally she drifted off to sleep, but she awoke early, still thinking of what to do.

She woke up Abbey. “Wake up, Abbey!” she said, standing over Abbey’s cot and shaking her shoulder.

“What—what is it? What time is it?”

“Abbey, we’ve got to help Teanor.”

“Well, of course we will. We’ve already agreed on that. Did you wake me up to tell me that?”

“Get up. We’ve got to talk.”

Abbey arose reluctantly, and the two girls dressed. Dawn was beginning to break as they went into the kitchen and began to prepare a quick breakfast. When it was ready, Sarah went to Dave’s room and knocked on the door. “Teanor, are you awake?”

“Yes.” The door opened. The young man was fully dressed and seemed ready to leave. He even had his knapsack on his back.

“Come and have breakfast before you go.”

“I am in a great hurry.”

“You have time to eat, and, besides, I have something to tell you.”

Teanor hesitated but then nodded. “Very well,” he said.

Sarah led the young man to the table, where they set a good breakfast before him, and the three sat down to eat.

When Teanor was finished, he said, “I thank you for the meal, but I must hurry.”

“But you came to get help, and you haven’t yet received it.”

“I know,” he said sadly. “But I cannot even sleep for thinking about our poor people.”

“Teanor, I have news for you. Abbey and I have decided to accompany you on your return home.”

For a moment there was total silence, and then Teanor exclaimed, “What good would that do?”

“But didn’t you come to get help?”

“I came to get
warriors!
I cannot put my trust in females!”

Ordinarily such words as these would have caused an argument, but Sarah understood Teanor’s position.

“You don’t understand,” she said. “Josh and the others will join us as soon as they return.”

“They would never be able to find my home.”

“Yes, they would. I’ve thought it all out carefully. We’ll leave them a note and a map. The three of us can go on together, and as soon as they get back, they can follow.”

But Teanor shook his head firmly. “That is not why I came. I do not need females. I need men.”

This caused Sarah’s pride to rise up. “You may be surprised to find out what we can do.” She did not want to boast about her own accomplishments, but she felt that she was being challenged.

Teanor studied the two girls, then got up. “I thank you for the food, but I must return.”

“Give us half an hour, and we’ll be ready,” Sarah said quickly.

Teanor hesitated. “All right,” he said. “But I will not have time to wait longer for you. And if you cannot keep up, you must return.”

The two girls immediately got their backpacks and began to throw their gear together. They put on their best traveling boots and wore their swords at their sides. Sarah, of course, carried her bow and a quiver of excellent arrows. Then she wrote a note for the boys.

Finally, at her urging, Teanor drew a map leading to the home of the Cloud People.

“It is a difficult journey and full of danger. I still am not certain they can find their way.”

“They can find us.” Sarah nodded confidently. “Now we’re ready.”

He gave a shrug. “Follow me if you wish,” he said. “But I will never put my life in the hands of females.”

Sarah smiled. “We’ll see if we can’t change your mind.”

S
arah wiped her face, for perspiration was running down her cheeks. Her legs were trembling with weakness, but she tried to let nothing of this show in her expression. Glancing over at Abbey, Sarah saw that she was in even worse condition. The younger girl’s face was pale, and she was obviously gasping for breath.