Chapter 9
Kevin’s point of view
The Giant Gecko guard, flanked by two Valedron
guards, shoved me roughly back into the sleeping cavern. I shot them a glance.
I’d earned myself another three days of solitary confinement but it was over
now. Yet, I could never hold myself back. It was as if this whole Soul Creature
deal had brought back teenage, rebellious instincts.
I saw Flyer approach me. He shook his
head.
“You have to stop doing that, Kevin.”
“I can’t help it, Flyer!” I exclaimed.
“I can’t stand injustice. You know, where I come from, slavery is abolished.”
The small Valerdon slave fluttered his
wings and landed on my shoulder as I walked to our area. He liked sitting there
a lot.
“Try not to lose control. That’s how
you get killed, Kevin.” He sighed.
I didn’t retort to his persistence. He
knew from this annoying armband that I was a Soul Creature, when I was first
brought here. He should know that not much could kill me. But I didn’t feel
like arguing with him. He flew off to see some of his other friends here in the
mines, and I decided to get as much rest as I could for when we were sent back
to work. I needed the energy after being beaten up and dumped in a cold, dark
cell for three days….. or ‘suns’ as they called them.
I pondered over everything that had
happened since my capture a few weeks ago. The alien that had first talked to
me here was Flyer. He was a young Valedron, and honest too, despite being a
slave in an old mine. He told me about what not to do and to avoid. We soon
became close, but he still refused to talk about Soul Creatures or the armband.
I remembered his warning to me when we first met:
“Don’t tell them who or what you are,
Soul Creature!” he whispered urgently. “You are one of the spirit brethren, and
for that, you are the scourge of many!”
That was all he told me and shrugged
off any questions I asked.
I had noticed several things about the
culture here.
For a start, there was no racism here:
everyone was considered the same. Unfortunately, this meant that they had no
second thoughts about taking their own kind as slaves. That explained why there
were slaves of all three races as well as guards of the three races.
Another thing was that the races all
had knowledge of very advanced technology, but since resources had run out, the
most common materials here used for building and industry were wood and stone,
not metal and plastic. This reminded me of home a bit. Would this be what would
happen on Earth: the natural resources would run out eventually, forcing us
back into a lower standard of living?
The three races: they were
interesting. The Valedrons like I said before, were small, winged reptiles
–weak but agile. They had bad tempers and little self-control. Perhaps that’s
why they beat me and brought me here: they were too ferocious.
The Giant Geckos and the Small Geckos
were similar, but evolution had changed them to be quite different.
The Giant Geckos were large, robust
and strong (hence the name). They were very self-contained and were more
concerned with making sure work was completed so they didn’t have much to worry
about. Materials things were of little value to them too.
The Small Geckos were more hyperactive
than their cousins: more likely to be optimistic and cheerful. They were weaker
than Giant Geckos but stronger than Valedrons. Also, they were quite slender
and could move pretty fast too. They seemed to be attracted to bright colours.
I remember once that some of them hung around me, staring at the glowing-blue
armband. Yet, they soon ran off when they realised what it was. I really had to
talk to Flyer about it.
Anyway, they liked to sing and dance
too. They were like the party animals of their culture: music was part of their
lifestyle. They were the AJs of this solar system.
I sighed. I missed him. I missed
Brian, Leighanne, Howie, Nick, too.
And most of all……. Kristin.
Would I get home now? As a slave,
trapped in a mine?
“Kevin!” Flyer interrupted my
thoughts.
“What?” I asked, irritated.
“Come with me!” he instructed, flying
without explanation to the tunnel at the far end of the cavern.
I got up and followed. He was hovering
by the tunnel, but sat on my shoulder to rest his wings for a while as I
followed his directions.
“Left…. Now right….”
“Where are you taking me, buddy?” I
asked.
“To see some friends….. I tell you on
the way, but keep quiet!” he hissed.
He leaned closer to my ear from his
perch on my shoulder, and whispered:
“You have family, don’t you? Friends?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to ever see them again?
You want to get out of here, right?”
“Of course!”
“Listen up then. There is a resistance
among some of us slaves. So far we have failed to escape but we are always
looking for new members and fresh minds. We’ve been slaves for too long. We
want our freedom back, and to take back the lives that are rightfully ours. We
have to stop the guards and get out of this hellhole!”
I nodded, “ And you want my help?”
“Only if you want to help us. I’m
taking you to the meeting. If you prove you are truly on our side, you can join
us.”
I nodded again. There were some
questions I wanted answering first, but maybe this Resistance group could give
me more answers than Flyer could.
The meeting was held in a small
cavern, as far from the main cavern as possible. It made sense to me, though.
Less chance of being caught. Inside there was a great multitude of creatures,
of all ages and races. Three creatures were situated in the centre of the
group. One Valedron, one Small Gecko and one Giant Gecko. They were all middle
aged but seemed wise too.
A Giant Gecko, quite old, but still
appearing strong, barred our way, holding a wooden staff.
“Och, yer found ‘im, Flyer!” he
exclaimed. “Gud, gud, young’un!”
I could swear that sounded Scottish.
“Hey, Old Quinn! We’re here for the
meeting…”
“’Course, Flyer….err, you’d betta be
giv’n us the password, yer young scamp!” Quinn grinned.
“Draconis” he whispered.
Quinn led us both in.
“So this is the newcomer who decided
to throw Knartop about?” the Valedron in the centre questioned.
“Aye, tis th’ same braw beastie!”
Quinn claimed. “By th’ name o’ Kevin, I’m told.”
The three in the centre, who I was
guessing were ringleaders, nodded approvingly.
“Kevin….” The Giant Gecko leader
repeated it slowly. “Gud sound, eh, Grapper!”
The Small Gecko leader nodded, sharing
the same liking of my name. He then turned to me, “Kevin, ya are strong and
young. Ya value freedom and justice. Ya want to escape, yes?”
“I sure do!” I answered with
determination.
“As I’m sure young Flyer has told ya,
we’re da Resistance! We all have agreed to help each other escape. Yet, if ya
want to help, ya have to join us. To join us ya must prove dat ya won’t betray
us.” Grapper told me in his strange dialect.
“But Old Quinn has already given you
an example!” Flyer protested.
“Och, aye!” Quinn jumped in to defend
me too. “Bonnie lad gave Knartop what for when ‘ee tried ter whip mah ‘ead
senseless!”
“That is true, Grapper. He has
unwittingly shown worthiness for this cause already.” The Valedron agreed.
“Still, Skyir, don’t ya think it needs
more dan dat?” Grapper questioned.
Skyir looked at Grapper and then at
the Giant Gecko leader, “What do you think, Rembrandt?”
“Ah think ‘ee seems ready uh’nuff!”
Rembrandt nodded.
Grapper looked sceptical, “What if
he’s a spy, den what?”
“Then test him!” Skyir suggested.
Grapper grinned at me slyly, “What
would ya say if I asked o’ ya: ‘prove ya not a spy’?”
I stayed silent for a moment.
“I can’t prove I’m not a spy. You have
every right to be suspicious of me ‘cause I’m new. But you can learn to trust
me.”
Flyer fluttered his wings in
anxiousness. The creatures in the cavern seemed tense too as the leaders held a
brief whispered conference.
“Well done, Kevin. You can consider
yourself part of the Resistance: a member of the Dragon Faction!” Skyir
declared.
The room was filled with growls of
happiness and celebration. Yet, it was silence by a wave of Rembrandt’s scaly
hand. “Yer have ter know that yer can’t back oot from this! No goin’ back, yer
ken?”
“Oh, I ‘ken’ alright!” I replied,
assuming ‘yer ken?’ meant ‘you hear?’
My mind was on the armband now, hidden
beneath my cloak. I needed some answers.
“Wait!” I cried above the creatures in
the cavern.
The stopped and gave me their
attention.
“Before I get too involved in
anything, I want to ask some questions first!” I exclaimed.
The leaders nodded.
“Right, I have a lot to ask you, but
first of all I want to know what this means!” I demanded, pulling up my cloak
sleeve.
As soon as they saw the armband, the
entire cavern sent out wails of shock, terror and protest.
***
