Ice-Age 26

[Guest guest]

ICE-AGE

By Andy Savage

http://www.andysav.free-online.co.uk/rugby.htm

 

Previous chapters at:uniquethings/

 

Chapter 26

Dave could hear the dogs panting. He knew there was a sleigh ready and waiting to whisk him and Simon far away from this nightmare, but he also knew that it might lead him somewhere even worse.

Not only was the thought of seeing his child captured again too horrendous to stomach, the thought of Simon being orphaned, and left at the mercy of this evil place, was even worse. Dave looked pleadingly at Device, " You can’t force me to fight, " he said.

Device gazed down at Simon. There seemed to be just a hint of sorrow in his eyes, " This is a big chance, Dave, " he said, " We can take this city. We can make it a good place for us to live. "

" You’ll never get away from here by yourself, " said Kier, " Your best bet is to stay and fight with us. "

" Fight for what? " responded Dave, " A city that makes slaves out of children? "

" But we will put an end to all that! " promised Kier, " We’ll put an end to all the crap stuff that goes on here! "

" Listen to Kier, " urged Big Barry, " We’re sick of the way this show is run. Now is our chance to change it. "

" And we have to strike now! " said Device, " While Herod is out of the city! "

Dave closed his eyes a moment. He could taste Herod’s ugly breath in his face, feel his strong hands around his neck and hear his pitiless laugh. He shuddered, " How on earth did someone like Herod ever end up in command of this city? " he asked, " And how did Linda ever end up being married to him? "

" Quite simple, " began Kier, " Herod’s ruthless. He killed and murdered his way to the top. He even killed his own father! That’s what attracted Kerry to him I suppose. "

" So just how long then have you been one of his buddies? " asked Dave.

" He’s not my buddy, " replied Kier, " He’s my younger brother! "

Dave was dumbfounded, " What? "

Kier smiled, " Yes! And my older brother is Jakey, and my twin sister is Tina! "

" It’s a family show! " guffawed Barry.

" And you’re making plans to kill them all? " said Dave.

Kier nodded, " They’re twisted! " he said.

" They’re not the only ones! " muttered Dave.

" They are the ones who took your boy, Dave, " said Device, " Now’s your opportunity to get revenge! "

" It was Tina who lifted your little lad, you know, " said Big Barry, " We can set her aside for you to deal with personally, if you like. "

There was nothing that Dave wanted to do more than make Tina pay for what she had done to his son. He licked his lips.

Kier winked at Simon, " Hungry? " he asked.

" Yes! " replied the boy with great enthusiasm.

Big Barry chuckled and opened up one of the surrounding cardboard boxes, " Spaghetti hoops! " he announced, pulling out five tins.

Device quickly produced a tin opener and the fruity smell of tomato sauce soon filled the air. Some of the dogs started to sniff.

" I’m not hungry, " said Dave.

" You should eat, " said Kier, offering him a tin, " You’ll need the energy! "

Dave shook his head, " I don’t want any, " he said, pushing it away. He then had to listen as the other three men and his son began to eat.

While Linda lay decaying in the crate, they stood around her and hungrily used their hands to shovel the red spaghetti hoops down their ravenous throats.

Barry took a particularly generous mouthful and then eyed Dave, " Are you sure you don’t want some? " he asked, with orange, sticky lumps dribbling down his chin.

Dave turned white and had to struggle to keep himself from vomiting.

" Are you all right, Dave? " asked Device.

" Excuse me, " said Big Barry, already at the bottom of his tin, " But either I’ve farted or she’s starting to pong in there! " He lifted up the lid of the crate and closed it over Linda’s swollen face. As it went down, Dave realised that he would never see her again. It felt like a huge part of his own past had been buried with her.

" Look, Dave, the thing is we’re badly outnumbered, " said Device, " We thought more people would want to join us. "

" Maybe that says something about you! " said Dave scathingly.

" Maybe it does, " replied Device, putting his hand on Dave’s shoulder, " But can we count you in? "

Dave stared at him. The last thing he wanted to get involved in was a gun fight. He was scared and was not too proud to admit it. He hated Kier, he despised Device and he did not trust Big Barry.

Dave’s main priority was, and always had been, Simon. He had to decide what was the best choice for his son; to take the dog sleigh and make a run for it to god knows where, or to stay in the city and go to war with Herod’s vicious gang. He looked into Simon’s innocent eyes, then glared at Device, " Count me in! " he said.