Blazing Centaurs, page 15
The bag lay next to an old beer bottle (there’s always one), its drawstrings waving listlessly in the currents and the mouth hanging wide open. A little of the contents had spilled out already. Revka blinked. She peered closer. “What the hay?” she muttered to herself.
Gingerly, she scooped up the bag and pulled it out of the water. It was a little one, fitting easily in the palm of her hand. She shook a little water off it, then peeked inside. No, it wasn’t her imagination after all.
Back on the shore, Iyarra craned her head. “Did you find it?” she asked. “What’s in the bag?”
Revka didn’t answer right away. She studied the bag’s contents. There wasn’t much, maybe a handful, if that, but that was enough.
Reaching in, she gingerly extracted a pinch of gold dust and let it trickle through her fingers back into the bag.
* * * * *
“There they are,” said Maisie as the girls returned to the worksite. She got up and stretched herself. “Y’all have a good walk?”
Revka nodded. “Pretty decent, yeah.”
“Scenic,” added Iyarra.
“Well, that’s fine.” She nudged Tommy with her hoof. “All right, folks, let’s get back to it. Gotta see about covering them walls.”
A stack of wide, wooden planks had been hauled to the site. The afternoon was spent cutting them to size and nailing them into place, all along the outside. They divided into two groups. Maisie and Iyarra started on one wall, Tom and Gabby on another. The centaurs would get the plank into position and nail the bottom and middle points, then Revka would come along with a ladder and take care of the top. It went pretty quickly that way. By the end of the day, they had most of the walls covered, even if Revka was sore from having to haul the ladder back and forth.
“Good day’s work, people,” said Harry as the team got ready to head back to town. “Also, just to let you know, I’m bringin’ some temporaries in tomorrow. Humans, mostly. Time to put the roof on the thing. No reflection on y’all, but they really are better for scramblin’ up there with the ladders and whatnot.”
“No objection here, boss,” said Maisie. “They can have it, for all I care. Ain’t that right, fellas?”
“No kidding,” Tommy said. “Keep my hooves on the ground, you know?”
“Yep,” added Gabby.
“All right. Well, that’s all. Meet at the warehouse tomorrow so we can haul the roofing stuff over. See you then.”
* * * * *
The evening went by quietly. There was a fight at Mactingle’s again, but tame compared to the one the night before. Revka told some of her favorite stories, which went over well with the rest of the group. The girls headed back to the inn in good spirits and made an early night of it.
Revka dreamed of a river of gold flowing through an otherwise empty landscape. Then it wasn’t a river anymore, but the vein inside a giant monster. The dying beast lay on the ground as its body turned to stone. Revka stood on top of the stone. The golden river returned, and she could see where it flowed.
Later, when she woke up, she tried to remember what she had seen, but it wouldn’t come back at all.
Chapter Sixteen
THE GIRLS WERE UP at the crack of dawn, just in time to catch the last bit of evening coolness burning away. The crew met at the warehouse, where another group was waiting for them. Half a dozen humans were lounging around a cart loaded with supplies. Revka went over to Maisie and nodded her head toward the other humans. “Those the roof guys?”
“Ayup,” she said. “They’re kinda the resident specialists around here, if you see what I mean.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah,” said Tom. “They like, just do roofs and that’s it.”
“Well, not just roofs,” said Maisie. “I mean, any kinda ladder work, but yeah, mostly roofs.”
Revka gazed over at the other cart. The crew was leaning against the cart, generally doing a lot of nothing. Occasionally, one of them would say something, but mostly they kept to themselves and silently waited. “Friendly bunch.”
Tommy laughed. “Yeah, they ain’t exactly much on talk. I’ve tried to, like, be sociable at ’em before, but it weren’t any use. These guys, they even give Gabby a run for his money. Ain’t that right, Gabby?”
“Ayup.”
A few minutes later, Harry came out of the office. He had a brief word with one of the roof guys, then signaled for everyone to head out.
Once they got to the site, the roofing crew went straight to work. Without a word, they started unloading their cart, pulling out lumber, tools, and several collapsible ladders. By the time Revka and the others had unloaded their cart, the roofers already had their ladders up and were building supports. The six men scrambled all over the building, up and down the ladders, like ants over a half-empty bag of potato chips.
“Wow,” Iyarra exclaimed.
“Tell me about it,” agreed Revka. “These guys mean business.”
“OK, enough gawking,” said Harry. “Y’all can work on the office building while they’re doing that. Revka, you OK to roof it?”
She looked at the small, squat building and nodded. “Yeah, that shouldn't be a problem.”
“Great. It’s all yours. Get to it, people.”
The morning passed quickly, the office being pretty far along and not much more than a glorified shed in any case. During lunch, the two groups ate their lunch separately, the roofers clustered inside the almost completely covered warehouse. By the time the day was done, the building sported a brand-new, hammered-tin roof, and the crew had packed and left, all without saying a word to anybody.
Revka watched them go. “Well, I can’t fault their work, but I have to admit I feel a little…”
“Slighted? Yeah.” Maisie turned to the girls. “To tell the truth, I don’t think they like centaurs much.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah,” said Iyarra. “You get humans like that, sometimes.”
“Well, huh. But they seem OK with working for y’all.” Revka gave the centaurs a puzzled look.
Tom rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah, they like our money all right. They charge enough, too, from what I’ve heard. Probably got paid more today than we will for yesterday and today.”
“What, for real?”
Maisie nodded. “Yup. No kidding. They know they can put a roof on a place way faster than we can, so they can pretty much charge what they damn well please. Nice racket, if you can get it.”
“You don’t say.” Revka looked thoughtful, then turned to Iyarra. “Say, I wonder where we could pick up a ladder around here?”
Before Iyarra could answer, Harry came strolling up. “All right, folks, day’s over. Everybody head back. Iyarra and Revka? When we get back, step into the office real quick. Boss wants to talk to you. Everybody else, that’s all for today. Good work.”
It has been previously noted that “the boss wants to see you” is one of the three most terror-inducing phrases in any known language (the others being “How bad could it be?” and “Hey, watch this”). This is irrational and frankly unnecessary. Most bosses have to communicate with their employees on a regular basis and discuss all manner of issues, good and bad, but somehow, logic flies out the window when those words hit the ear. The brain kicks into panicked overdrive, scrambling through every possible misstep over the last six months. This reaction, irrational though it may be, is one of the great fundamental constants found among intelligent life forms. Even in distant worlds where the inhabitants have long since shed their corporeal forms, entities composed of pure intellect will frantically speculate about whether they’ve spent too much time on their enrichment chamber breaks, or looking at humorous cat pictures on the collective mind net (the presence of cats is also a fundamental constant of intelligent life, even on those worlds where feline life would not theoretically be sustainable. No one knows why).
The girls looked at each other in surprise. “Did he say what it was about?” said Revka, giving the time-honored response.
Harry shook his head. “Nope. Just mentioned he wanted to talk to you after work today. He didn’t seem angry or anything, if it helps.”
Iyarra’s ears, which had lain flat at the news, untensed a little. She turned to the other centaurs. “Does he often talk to you guys?”
The crew shook their heads. “I don’t believe I’ve ever had two words with the guy,” said Maisie.
“He told me to watch where I was going, once,” said Tommy. “Dunno if that helps.”
Gabby just shook his head. “Nope.”
“Well, huh.”
Maisie smiled and patted Iyarra on the back. “Don’t worry, if y’all get fired, the first round’s on me tonight. Kay?”
“Oh, good,” said Revka. “A win-win.”
* * * * *
The sun was just beginning to sink below the mountains, when the crew trucked back into town. Revka and Iyarra broke off from the rest, promising to meet up at Mactingle’s later.
The offices at T&F Mercantile were pretty quiet. A few workers were finishing up the business of the day. The girls were shown to an office in the back corner of the building, where G Findswater was in discussion with another centaur.
“Yes, all right. Just let me know when that shipment comes in, will you? If they’re not on the next wagon train, there will be hell to pay.”
“Yessir.”
“All right, that’s all.” The other centaur left, and the girls were ushered in. Findswater looked blankly at them for a moment. One might imagine him to be mentally filing through the day’s business. He brightened. “Ah, yes. The two ladies from before. Please sit down.”
The girls sat, Revka on a short stool put there for human visitors. She folded her hands on her lap, looking across the desk at the centaur. “You, ah, sent for us, sir?”
“That’s right, yes. Mr. Fleet and the others have been talking, and I understand that you have agreed to help us with our little problem.”
“Your prob—? Oh, you mean the people who have been running around, dressing up as a monster and causing trouble.”
“The cult, yes.”
“Cult?” The girls exchanged glances. “You don’t say,” said Revka. “Er, we didn’t know it was a cult.”
“Oh yes,” said Findswater. “I’m afraid I don’t know much about it myself, but some of the others on the committee assure me it’s been around for quite a long time. I believe Miss Roe once mentioned that it is some sort of secret society started a long time ago, possibly almost as old as the town itself. I find that rather unlikely. It seems they worship some sort of monster or something. I guess that’s what that costume is all about. Anyway, it’s pretty obvious they’re a dangerous lot, so we really ought to do something about them.”
“I see. So, er, do we have a plan?”
“Indeed. I think we’d like to go back into the cave.”
“The cave? Which cave?”
“The one you tried to explore when you first came here.”
“Oh, geez, that one? The freaky tunnel one with the mon…oh, I see.”
“Correct. Now that we know that the monster was a fake, we should like to have another look at it. We were thinking tonight, in fact. We’ll meet here at midnight. I hope that we can count on you two?”
“I…” Revka looked over to Iyarra, who just shrugged. “I guess,” she said. “I mean, we’ve been there and all that, sure, but I mean it’s just a big tunnel, after all. Do you really need us?”
“Well, we’re using a small group. We want to limit this to a few people we can trust. We can trust you, yes?” He peered over his spectacles.
“Well, sure, but—”
“It’s just that we’ve got to be back to work in the morning,” Iyarra supplied. “May not be at our best if we’ve been running around all night.”
“Well then,” said Findswater, “I suggest you go and get some rest now.”
* * * * *
“Well, how do you like that?” Revka heaved a sigh as they walked away from the warehouse.
“So, what do we do?” Iyarra trotted alongside. The sun had set behind the mountains, and the Red Valley nightlife was just rolling up its sleeves preparatory to some serious roistering.
“I dunno. Do you think we should tip them off?”
“Uhm, might be a good idea. I mean, if we’re really working for Eris and all, only…”
“What?”
“How do we? I mean, we don’t have any contact information for any of them, do we?”
“Oof. Yeah, that is a problem. Well, maybe we could, I dunno, run out there real quick?”
Iyarra snorted. “I beg your pardon? Run out to the place that’s an hour away, in the dark, and get back again so we can do it again in a few hours?”
“Okay, forget that. Uhm, think, think, think…we don’t know any of the people in the group, do we? I mean like their actual names or anything?”
“Well, there was that one guy, Phil.”
“Oh yeah, Grumpy. Don’t know his last name, though, do we?”
“Don’t believe so, no.”
“Well, that’s no good. Can’t just go door to door like, ‘Hi, anyone here in a secret society and named Phil?’ Can’t see it working.”
Iyarra snapped her fingers. “Oh!”
“What?”
“We do know someone.”
“Do we?
“Oh, yes.”
* * * * *
“Well hello, girls!” Patsy beamed as she ushered the girls into the lounge. “So good to see you again. Just come right on through.” She escorted them through the lounge and into the kitchen, away from prying ears. “I don’t think there’s a meeting tonight,” she said. “I mean, unless y’all ain’t here on business?” She gave a knowing grin.
Revka shook her head. “Look, we have to get a message to the group. It’s kind of important. Is there a way to do that?”
“Oh!” Patsy furrowed her brow. “Well, I could pass the message on to Madam. I suppose she could get the word to them, maybe. That’s probably y’all’s best bet if it’s urgent.”
“Okay. Great. Will you please let her know to tell them that there is a group going out to explore the cave tonight around midnight? It’s the one where we first saw the beast. They’ll know what we mean. Just…make sure they don’t find anything, right? Or anyone.”
Patsy nodded. “All right,” she said. “I’ll go right up and take care of it.” She patted each girl on the arm. “You just head on out, and I’ll make sure she gets the message.” She escorted the girls back out of the kitchen, down the hall, and through the lounge. “All right, ladies,” she trilled, “thank you both for coming by, hope to see you again soon.”
Outside, the girls began the walk back to the main road. “What do you think?” asked Iyarra.
“Dunno.” Revka shrugged. “Maybe it’ll work. I hope so. In any case, it’s out of our hands now, unless you have any other ideas?”
“Sorry, nothing, no.”
“All right.” Revka took a deep breath. “Then I suggest we head over and let the gang know we weren’t fired, grab a quick bite, and get some sleep. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night.”
* * * * *
Midnight.
A crescent moon hovered over the valley. Iyarra and Revka approached the offices of T&F Mercantile. A few others, all centaurs, were milling around in front of the building and talking in low whispers. One of them saw the two approach and came forward to intercept them.
“Hello ladies,” Fleet drawled. “Thank you for joining us this evening. Do you have everything you need?”
“I guess?” Revka shrugged. “Couple torches, flint and tinder, that sort of thing.”
“Also brought some snacks.” Iyarra fished out a paper bag, holding it up.
“Uh-huh.” Mr. Fleet smiled. “Well, that’s all very nice, but I was referring to weapons and such. You got any?”
“Oh. Er,” Revka patted her belt pouches. “Don’t think I have anything heavy on me, no.”
“We didn’t think people used weapons around here,” supplied Iyarra. “Code of the… Well, you know.”
“Oh, that.” Mr. Fleet chuckled. “Well, it’s true enough we observe a certain etiquette when it comes to fighting in these parts, but as this is an…unofficial sort of thing, I think we can set the rules aside. Have you got anything at all?”
“Well,” said Iyarra, “I think I have my small daggers in my bag. Hang on.” She rummaged about and took out two thin, sharp stilettos. “Revka, you need one?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind.” Revka took the proffered weapon and tucked it carefully in her belt. “Okay, we’re good.”
“Fine, fine.” Mr. Fleet rubbed his hands together. “Well now, let’s be on our way, everyone. Make sure your glow lamps are open. Does everyone have a posse buddy?” There was a chorus of yesses. “All right. Let’s get moving.”
Revka hoisted herself onto Iyarra’s back and gave the centauress a pat. “Ready.”
Iyarra nodded and fell into line behind the others. A procession of dim, blue lights snaked its way out of the town and into the surrounding darkness. Up ahead, the mountains were a jagged line of black against the star-filled sky.
Chapter Seventeen
THE POSSE SNAKED A silent path across the desert night. There was little enough moonlight, so the stars were in full force, blanketing the cloudless sky above them. There was no sound but the tread of hoof upon ground and the occasional snatch of conversation. After the heat of the day, the coolness that came with night was welcome. Really, if it weren’t for the all-pervading feeling of terror, it would have been quite nice.
As they made their way across the empty desertscape, Revka tried to reason with Fleet. “So, this cave. It’s the same one we were in before. Right?”
Mr. Fleet nodded. “That’s right, yes.”
