Bandits (12 page)

Nickel walked over to Daniel and tapped his arm. Daniel looked down and smiled at his brother, which was something he had to work harder to do lately.

Nickel’s face pinched up. “Why did God take Mom and Dad?  What did I ever do to Him?”

Daniel took a deep breath and rubbed Nickel’s head. “Nothing. He just figures we’re strong enough to survive without them now. Go help Jade.”  

He pondered over the
Old World
religion his father a
l
ways insisted they learn. His mother was a firm believer in one God, but his father wasn’t. At least until his mother died, it seemed his father wanted to carry on all the things that r
e
minded him about her, even when it came in a belief that his life didn’t uphold.

Daniel finished packing his bag. He put it on his back and grabbed the journal from his back pocket. He started to read it, flipped a couple of pages forward, and stopped cold.

“You what?”  Daniel asked his father aloud. Looking down, he read a line in the journal that noted that part of this so-called map was in Jade’s father’s trove. He let out a sigh of relief that he’d read far enough to realize that fact. Closing the journal, he put it in his pocket and then took off his backpack. He headed in the direction of Jade and the others. “Jade!” he called.

“Here! I’m downstairs.” she called back.

Daniel walked down the steep stairs leading to the room beneath. “We got a problem. Do you know where your father would hide something
extremely
important… like a treasure map?” Daniel looked around the hidden room. The walls were rock covered like the rest of the place. It was dimly lit with a wall full of arsenal in front of them.

Jade bit her lip in thought. “Hmm, let me think.” She glanced around the room. “He had me remember the secret co
m
partment, but he only showed me once though. I think he’d just built it the last time we were out here. I know it’s down here somewhere.”

Daniel took a moment to look at the weapons rack. It was secured to the wall, with each weapon in its own hook or curved shelf. The rack was made out of wood, and secured to the rock wall. Hooked knives, a few laser guns, metal poles with jagged ends, and swords of all sizes glistened in the dim light. They were arranged in an ordered fashion of rock, wood, and metal.

He turned back to look at Faulk, who was putting a
m
mun
i
tion in a service belt he’d gotten from the far wall of the cellar. On the rocky floor, Nickel was sharpening metal pieces of pipen to use in his slingshot and stuffing them in his pockets.

Jade’s lips pressed together, almost pouting as she thought. After a moment, she snapped her fingers and smiled. “Oh, I got it. There is a certain way I have to move the weapons on the rack.”

Daniel swallowed as he stared at her pursed lips with newfound but unwanted hunger, and had to work hard to
ram
the desire down.
Enough! Focus. It’s over – it never should’ve started.
“You mean the rack and weapons are the combination to a lock that is behind the wall?” Daniel took a step closer to the weapons wall to look for confirmation of his suspicions.

“Yeah. My brother Franz did this. He has a knack for locking mechanisms. Okay, uh... we have to move the laser gun to the left, then the knife down quickly. After that he, shoot…what did he do?  Oh, okay, he pushed in the mini-bomb.”  Jade stepped forward and started the combination.

Daniel watched in awe of Frankz’s skills and Jade’s memory. He stepped closer and asked, “Do you want me to help?”

Jade threw up a hand to stay him. “No. You can’t. It would set off the trap. Only someone in the bloodline can do this. Each hook or shelf I move has a
DNA
scan in it. Actually, you gotta step back, over there near Faulk and Nickel. When I push this last shelf in, it will open the door to the safe, and there is only room for one person. More than that and it will also set off the trap.”

Daniel glanced behind him to see that Faulk and Nickel had stopped their previous activities and were intently watc
h
ing them. He slowly backed up, just as Jade pushed the final shelf in. The wall opened so quickly it caught Jade off guard. She stumbled and slipped, but managed to steady herself before falling. Daniel rushed forward, and she yelled, “Stay back!”

Before he could reach her, a metal robotic arm shot out. Its large hand extended and grabbed Jade by the waist and then snatched her into the safe and closed up the wall, all in a matter of seconds. The weapons shook just slightly while they resumed their former place on the weapons wall.

“Where did she go?” Faulk demanded and came forward to lay a hand on Daniel’s shoulder.

Daniel walked closer to the wall before he replied, “Into her family’s safe. She’ll be out in a minute. Trust me, if it let her in, it will let her out.”

Nickel came and stood next to Daniel and Faulk. “Jade’s trove is definitely better than Dad’s. That robotic arm trick and the puzzle are sweet!”   

They stood watching the wall for about an hour, and then Daniel heard a slight
click
behind them. Slowly he turned and then smiled in relief, when the wall behind them opened. Another click sounded, and Jade came out holding a gold sack.

“Guys, we’ve hit pay dirt!” Jade dug in the sack and pulled out a blue and white torn map.

Daniel walked forward and took the map from her hand. “That’s it? That’s the map my father said he entrusted your father with?”

“Yeah. My father left a note for Gabe. I guess he assumed you and he would be the ones to retrieve it one day, if not your father,” Jade responded.

Daniel didn’t miss the hurt expression on her face, but he decided to ignore it. “Thanks Jade, this is all we need. Let’s finish up so we can leave.” Daniel gave the map another quizz
i
cal look and then stuffed it his pocket.

Faulk and Nickel ran up the stairs to get packed. Jade started to walk up, and Daniel followed.

Before they got to the top, Daniel pulled at Jade’s arm to stop her. “I hope you understand it was for the best that I waited to tell you about my father’s murder,” Daniel said.

She yanked her arm away from his and responded, “I don’t get you. Your father dies and you don’t even act like it. ” Shaking her head, she moved up a step, and then turned around to face him. “You know what’s for the best? You know nothing! Selfish, that’s what you are.
Friends
trust each other, and co
n
sider each other’s opinions and feelings, Daniel. You haven’t been a friend to me, and I won’t be one to you. Keep your friendship and your thoughts of what is best for me and stick them in the
you
know where!” Jade rushed up the stairs.

Daniel had a sick feeling that the Jade he thought of like a little sister, and now the one whom he was shamefully attracted to, may dislike him. He punched the wall next to him and grunted.
Screw it! It can’t be helped.
He stormed up the steps behind her.

BANDITS

When he arrived upstairs, a quick visual inventory sati
s
fied Daniel they had all they needed in order to leave safely. He grabbed his sack, snapped his cabling rope on the side, and turned to the others. “We need to be careful. My father didn’t mention who he thought was threatening him. He alluded to it being a King’s official or a Zukar. Either way, we have to make sure no one is tailing us. My father’s trove is in the sea of fire, and I don’t want anyone to see how we get to it.”

Jade adjusted her wetsuit. “Guys, we have to go through the back exit. It leads to the rock platform next to the boat.”

Faulk asked with a raised eyebrow. “Why are you pu
t
ting on a wet suit?”

“Duh. Because we’re going to get wet,” Jade responded with a smile, and turned to help Nickel pull his suit over his clothes.

Daniel grabbed a suit off the couch and threw it to Faulk, who put his pack down and dressed in the wet suit. Watching Jade, Daniel realized she was purposefully ignoring him, and a smile formed on his lips. He was familiar with her grudges. As a kid, she’d play pranks on them until they apologized for what they did to tease her – and sometimes that apology was a long time coming.

Daniel looked directly at her. “We’re all ready, Jade, so lead the way.”  

Jade returned his gaze with an angry squint. “Humph.” She put her hand on her hip and walked ahead of them to the hallway that led to the back rooms of the trove. Faulk followed behind Nickel who trailed behind Jade. Daniel pulled up the rear. The rocky walls of the hallway slanted and led them deeper within.

Jade ran her hand against the wall while walking cas
u
ally down the corridor. She came to a stop at the end of the hal
l
way. Daniel realized she was pushing in some of the jagged edges when they passed and now pushed several inward by a coordinated sequence.

She put a hand on Nickel’s chest to stop him from mo
v
ing forward and then held him steady so he wouldn’t step back. “Don’t move,” she warned. “The entrance to the cave is ope
n
ing.”  

“You sure this leads directly to the cruiser?” Faulk asked.

Jade smiled in response, “Yep, but this is only an exit. We couldn’t have come here this way. The pathway imprints the direction of our steps. We can never walk backwards, only fo
r
ward. C’mon.”

“I’m impressed. Gabe never showed me all of this,” D
a
niel replied.

She slanted a glance at him and jutted her chin out. “That’s because, Gabe… never had a reason too.”

“Hmm,” Daniel replied beaming.
Angry means she still c
a
res.

He discerned the cave had smooth walls that contrasted to the walls of the hallway. It was dim inside. Parts of it were wide open and vaulted at the ceiling. The walls around them curved in and out, making several spots come together snugly. They walked a few feet forward, and Daniel heard the closing of the door behind them. They exited the cave and squeezed through to a narrow pathway. It was immediately illuminated with a faint yellowish light, along with a bright blue light casting a ghostly glow from up above.

“Remember, guys, never step backwards, always fo
r
ward,” Jade cautioned.

Daniel slowed his steps as he waited for his eyes to a
d
just to the slight light, and followed behind Faulk. They traveled for what seemed like an hour, but they moved quickly through the corridor. Nearing the end, Daniel spied the shimmering blue and green water behind a rock framed thick glass wall at the end of the tunnel.

“So what now?” Faulk asked.

Jade smiled. “Put on your water gear, guys. The water cruiser is right there. Just a quick swim up.”

“That doesn’t look like a just quick swim.” Faulk cleared his throat. “Um, is there anything in this water I need to be concerned about? It’ll be nice to know in advance if something is going to try to eat me.”

Daniel put on his breathing mask. “Well, there are fish and other various harmless things that live in the sea. What we need to be worried about is who may be waiting for us when we get to the cruiser. Hopefully, we won’t have company.” He checked Nickel’s gear to make sure it was secured.

Jade started to push in the rocks that were built into the wall surrounding the glass barrier that held the raging sea at bay. “Everybody ready?”  

Daniel punched Faulk lightly in the arm. “Swim fast. You slow down, and we’ll leave you behind.”

Faulk winced, dragged his eyes from Jade, and then grinned at Daniel. “I can swim well. It’s one of the requirements at school.”

A series of clicking sounds came from the walls su
r
rounding them, and a solid metal wall came down behind them. The glass wall holding the water back slowly rose. Water gushed in slowly, and a wave of it filled the enclosed tunnel where they waited. Jade swam out first, and Nickel followed. Faulk hesitated briefly and then swam past him. Daniel smiled and caught up. He gained on Faulk, and kicked furiously behind him to push bubbles in Faulk’s face
.

Fish of all colors circled them, hundreds of them in var
i
ous sizes. They swam around them and through them
.
Daniel watc
h
ed Jade and Nickel swim hard through the school of fish. They reached the water cruiser and held the ladder.

He quickly followed, until something told him to check on Faulk, who was no longer beside him. Faulk was fighting fur
i
ously to catch up but was being led away by numerous fish that circled him. Daniel knew the fish would lead him to a watery death if Faulk didn’t make it through the thick school of them.
Hell! Shoulda warned him.
He frowned and shook his head.

Daniel pivoted to swim toward Faulk, who was being pulled further and further down into the depths of the sea. He tugged on the cable that hung on the side of his sack. His eyes never leaving Faulk, he grabbed the handle of the cabling and wrapped it tight around his hand. He knew the Merwin seas well, and he knew that the fish would fight for their meal now that they had him rather deep.

The fish hit against Faulk’s mask, loosening it. Hundreds of them directed their attack like swimming bullets as they pu
m
meled his body, pushing him down further and further into the murky depths of the water. Faulk grabbed the mask with one hand and smacked at the fish with the other. Small fish nipped at his hands with their teeth, and swam under and within Faulk’s mask, dislodging it from his face.

Fear raced up Daniel’s back. He didn’t know how long Faulk could hold his breath, in spite of his bragging. Faulk pumped his arm furiously as he swam and slapped the fish out of his way. He struggled as he moved through the swirl of red, gold, and blue fish. He faltered, suspended while struggling to hold his breath and punched at a large fish that aimed at his face. The school of fish bumped at him, pushed him, and bit at him all over his body as they swam in a whirlwind around him to drag him deeper. Faulk snatched his knife from his belt, then stabbed, kicked, and punched his way through the middle of the school of fish.

Daniel threw the line, hoping its hooked end would catch on Faulk’s sack. He kicked away an attacking fish that nipped at his leg.
Missed it!
Gripping cable tighter, he pulled it back and threw it again. It hit its mark and hooked onto Faulk’s pack.

Faulk began to break through the mass of swarming fish. Daniel watched as Faulk punched and kicked them off as he swam with his knife in hand. Faulk grabbed the hook and secured it on his sack. Daniel twisted and swam furiously with Faulk behind. The cable pulled and jerked. The fish struggled to keep Faulk within their grasp. They nipped at his legs, bit and pulled at his clothes.

Daniel didn’t look back. He kept swimming until his lungs ached. Pulling, fighting, and towing the line until it felt like the bones in his hand were breaking. Finally, the cable slacked, and he spied Faulk moving in powerful strokes toward him. Faulk came up next to him and tilted his head toward Daniel with a goofy grin. Faulk gave Daniel thumbs up and swam off.

Daniel watched Faulk speed off to make it to the cruiser b
e
fore him. When he got to the boat, he climbed up the ladder and held on until Faulk and Nickel pulled him up. Stepping on deck, he reached around and took off his pack and set it down.

Faulk frowned and then glanced at Daniel. “Okay, why didn’t anyone warn me about the
freakin’
fish?”

Daniel couldn’t help but laugh at the angry look on Faulk’s face. “I forgot. I take some things for granted here. You lived, didn’t you? Ha ha.”

“Not funny, man, not funny. I almost drowned. Damned fish looked harmless,” Faulk said then took off his pack and threw down his knife.

Daniel reached out to stop Faulk. “Leave on your wet suit. We’ll need it to get to my trove. The trip will be easier than it was to get to Jade’s.”

Jade walked over and dropped Nickel’s sack on Daniel’s foot. “Can’t help it if my family’s trove is better protected than yours, - Daniel.”

Daniel smiled, kicked the sack away and leaned toward her. “No. Maybe it’s because I actually know how to get into mine without the risk of death. Now it’s your turn to watch and learn, and I’ll make sure we all live. Ha hah.”

Faulk picked up the discarded sacks and moved them out of the way to stand between Jade and Daniel. “Did I miss out on a joke here?”

Jade folded her arms in front of her and turned a da
z
zling smile at Faulk while ignoring Daniel. “No joke,” she said. “I’m just sick of Daniel’s bossiness. He needs to learn the word
team
instead of trying to bully everyone.”

Faulk smiled back at her and said, “Oh, he’ll learn, but for now, I’m willing to just let him save our lives.”

Jade laughed. “Thanks for that reminder, Faulk. You’ve got a point.”

Daniel took in the exchange, and decided not to give in to his jealousy at the ease in which they got along. He walked off to make a cursory inspection of the willows surrounding the cruisers. His handheld sensor beeped, and he glanced at it to make sure no one was surrounding them. He smiled at Nickel, who also had the same thought
.

Nickel used his spyscope to study the waters beyond the covering of the willows. Daniel overheard Faulk and Jade talking about Merwin and possible dangers to other-worlders.

“Most of the animals on Merwin eat flesh, so you have to appear aggressive before you ….” Jade’s voice was drowned out by a wave splashing against the side of the boat.

“I’ll remember that. What about the people?” Faulk asked.

“Merwin-born people have gills on their necks. Everyone else is a Zukar from many different worlds. They come here and compete to join us. Our trained mercenary skills are sold to other worlds, governments or anyone with the money. Some of the jobs we go after just to add to our personal riches.”

“Everyone here is a mercenary or a thief? Like, ever
y
one?” Faulk’s voice carried over the bouncing of the boat.

“Yep, except most of the women help prep for the jobs and negotiate the money. The men are the ones who pull them off.”

Daniel walked away from their conversation and went up to the steering wheel. When he released the anchor, the water cruiser surged frontward.

Faulk caught Jade as she fell forward into his embrace when the surge caught them off guard. “Whoa! I got you, gorgeous. I’m here to catch you anytime,” Faulk’s voice dee
p
ened as he briefly tightened his arms around her.

“Thanks. I feel safer knowing that,” Jade said with a gi
g
gle as she stepped out of Faulk’s arms.

Daniel grumbled and forced himself to ignore their co
n
versation. Clearing his head, he maneuvered out of the cove and into the open sea. Next stop was the
Sea
of
Fire
and the other half of the map.
Another mess I’m left to clean up. I don’t know if I love you or hate you right now, old man
.