Strange Creatures of Dr. Korbo (10 page)

Dave's face reddened. “Don't tell me what to do, Josh!”

“Well, somebody needs to!”

The two got into an argument. Josh knew everyone was listening, but no one jumped in to help settle it.

Finally Dave said, “Josh, I'm handling this, and I've already thought about it. Look ahead there. See that?”

Josh looked. He had been walking with Gus in the middle of the procession, and the trees were thick. Dave, at the front, had seen what Josh could not. It looked like a conical mountain.

Dave said with satisfaction, “
That's
where we're going to camp.”

“Doesn't look like there're any trees on it,” Josh muttered.

“But there'll be some
caves
in it. And it's not more than a mile away from here. So come on, Josh. Let's move.”

Josh gave up and went back to walk with Sarah. He said, “Dave says we're going to camp at that little mountain up ahead. Says there will probably be caves in it.”

“I'm glad he's thinking. We do need to stop early. We need time to care for the babies and feed them and get something cooked for ourselves. We have to gather firewood. It all takes a while.”

 

“That was a beautiful poem, Gustavian,” Meta said. “I never had a poem written to me before.”

“Oh, I expect you'll have a lot of them.” Then Gus said, “I like it when you use my whole name. I never cared much for Gus, but my full handle's too much for most people.”

“Do you know any more poems?”

“Oh, sure.” Gus began at once to spout verses.

 

The travelers left the thick forest and started across a field that was dotted with smaller trees. There was much wild grain growing there, and Josh made a note of that. “We'll come back and get grain and make mush again,” he told Sarah.

There was no longer any need to walk single file, so Gus and Meta and the other Sleepers came up, and all formed a ragged line going across the field.

“That's sure a funny hill. The only one around here like it,” Josh muttered. For some reason, an uncomfortable feeling came over him, and he said, “Dave, I think we'd better take this slow. Why don't we leave the babies and the girls here and go take a look at that hill?”

“Oh, don't be an old woman! It's just a hill.”

Reluctantly Josh continued to walk toward the conical mound. Then, strangely, he noticed that the grass up ahead, now chest high, was moving. But there was no breeze. What was moving it?

Suddenly Gus let out a wild cry. “Look out!” he yelled. “Meta, get back! Everybody, get back! Take the babies back!”

“What is it, Gus?” Josh cried. He felt helpless holding Susie in his arms. Now was no time to fight.

“Here, let me take Susie,” Sarah said quickly. “You go help Gus.”

Josh deposited the baby in Sarah's free arm and then ran to join Gus, drawing his sword as he went. When he got closer to Gus's position, he saw Meta standing with horror in her eyes.

“What is it?”

“It's ants—giant ants!” she cried.

Josh yelled, “Get back! Take the babies back!” He then ran forward and almost dropped his sword at what he saw.

Gus was facing a monstrous ant. It was at least six feet tall, bright red, and was evidently a vicious insect. Gus demolished the creature with a single sweep of his sword, but others were coming through the tall grass, snapping their huge jaws as they came.

Now Josh understood. The great conical mound was an anthill. “Get the babies away!” he screamed again as he took his place beside Gus. Their swords flashed, and ants fell. But there were always more.

“We've got to hold them off, Gus—until they get the babies away.”

 

Sarah, not Dave, quickly organized the retreat, and they rushed
the infants back into the safety of the woods. “Meta,” she said, “watch the babies.” Then she cried to the rest, “Come, everybody! We've got to help Josh and Gus.”

All the boys rushed back with her, their swords gleaming in the sun, to join Gus and Josh. For a while the battle was intense. The insects had skinny necks, and one good blow would decapitate them, but they kept coming. And coming. Sarah's arm grew tired from drawing her bow.

 

Josh stood firm in the line of battle. He had no time to think. It was just
slash slash slash
until finally the attack appeared to be over. The ants began to fall back.

But suddenly there was a cry behind him, and Josh whirled. The last ant had fastened its jaws on Dave's left forearm. Like a flash, Josh ran forward and brought his sword down on the ant's thin neck. The insect fell to the ground.

Dave stood staring at his torn arm. “He got me,” he gasped.

“We've got to get that washed out, quick,” Josh said. “In case there was some kind of poison in the bite.”

By the time they were back to the shelter of the trees, Dave's face was pale as paper. He dropped to the ground, gasping, “It burns like fire!”

“Quick! Somebody bring a canteen of water,” Gus said. “This kind of ant—the normalsized ones—they do carry poison.”

Dave lay with his eyes closed and his lips pressed tightly together as Abbey cleansed the ragged wound.

Josh tried to be comforting. “Don't worry, Dave. You'll be all right.”

“I guess you'll have to be the leader now. I can't do

a thing,” Dave whispered.

Josh looked up, and his eyes met Sarah's. His jaw tightened. “Don't worry, Dave. It's all right. We'll take care of you. And Goél won't let us down.”

D
ave has me worried,” Josh said softly. He glanced down at the sleeping boy. “That arm's getting infected.”

Sarah nodded. “I know. I wish we had a doctor. And how many times have we wished that since we've been in Nuworld? But maybe Gus and Meta can help. Both of them are pretty good with herbs.”

“Is that where they've gone? To find some herbs?”

“Yes,” she said. “They left about two hours ago.”

“And I'll bet Gus had some cheerful remark to make about the whole situation.”

“He said Dave will probably die if he doesn't find a certain plant. But I don't think he was just being his usual pessimistic self, Josh. I think he's really worried.”

Dave was sleeping fitfully. His face was pale, and he was feverish. Abbey had cleansed the wound as well as she could, while wishing they had some miracle drug. But, of course, nothing like that was available in Nuworld.

“Where's Reb gone?”

“Out hunting,” Sarah said. “I hope he gets something. I'm getting a little tired of goat's milk and mush. Though the babies don't seem to mind.”

Josh said, “Let's take a walk. Then it'll be about time to change their diapers.”

Sarah suddenly giggled. She quickly covered her

mouth with a hand, but Josh had heard her.

“What are you laughing about? I don't see anything very funny in any of this.”

“Oh, it's just that if they ever write the story of the Seven Sleepers, this won't sound very heroic.”

“What won't?”

“I mean, here we are, the great Seven Sleepers that are celebrated in song all over Nuworld, and we're going to change diapers for eight babies.”

Josh could not help smiling. “I'm just glad for the hot sun every day—it dries diapers fast.”

Suddenly Sarah put her hand on Josh's arm. “You're more like your old self, Josh. It was wonderful the way you organized us after Dave got hurt . . . found us a place to hide . . . took care of Dave . . .”

Josh knew he was blushing, and he hated that. He always had. He said, “Wonder if I'll ever stop blushing. I feel like a fool.”

“I hope you never do, Josh.” Sarah smiled. “I think it's cute.”

Josh opened his mouth, then shut it quickly and shrugged. “A leader's not supposed to be cute.”

Sarah laughed. “I don't see why a leader can't be cute and brave at the same time.”

For the first time since the defeat that had put him in such a state of discouragement, Josh suddenly felt warm and confident. “You know what?” he said quietly, his eyes fixed on her.

“What?”

“You do know how to cheer up a guy.”

Sarah grinned. “Well, you can cheer me up when I get depressed. And both of us can cheer up Gus.”

“Sometimes I think that's all an act he puts on. I don't think Gus is really gloomy at all. When you get
right down to it, he's all talk. When I get down, he's able to cheer me up.”

“He cheers up Meta too—with that awful poetry of his.”

“Isn't it terrible?” Josh shook his head.

“She doesn't think so.”

“I guess not.”

They had reached the edge of the clearing now. Josh was keeping an eye out for any sort of awful monster when all of a sudden he heard a most unusual sound.

“What
is
that?” he asked.

“I don't know, but it sounds like . . . like a
horse
running.”

Both stood there tensely, listening. The Sleepers had not seen any horses in this territory, but this sounded like nothing other than a horse running at full gallop.

Suddenly Reb Jackson burst from the trees on the other side of the clearing. But Reb was not alone. He was astride the most beautiful fourlegged creature that Josh had ever seen.

“A unicorn!” Sarah cried out. “How beautiful it is!”

They stared at the approaching animal. It was snow white. It had a long white mane that flowed as it galloped toward them. But beautiful as the unicorn was, the most spectacular aspect about the creature was the long, twisted horn that grew from its forehead.

“Whoa up, boy!” Reb said. He slipped off the unicorn's back and clung to its silky mane. He patted the animal fondly, saying, “How about this for a mount?” His eyes were dancing.

“Reb, wherever did you find him?”

“Why, there's a whole herd of them about two miles farther along. Lots of open pasture down that
way.” He patted the unicorn again and said, “And you're a smart one too, aren't you, Flash?”

“Is that his name? Flash?” Sarah asked. She put out her hand. The horn looked terribly dangerous when the unicorn turned to her. But his lips drew back, and the beautiful animal nibbled at her hand.

“Oh, I wish I had an apple to give you! You're so beautiful.”

“Flash is the name I call him, and he runs like one, too.”

“How did you find him?”

Reb shrugged. “Just walked in on 'em.” He stroked the unicorn's sleek side. “And when they all saw me, they didn't run like wild horses would. They walked right toward me. At first I was afraid they'd try to run me through with those horns. But they were just curious.”

Flash reached over and nibbled at Reb's shoulder. Reb threw an arm around him and cried, “He's the best thing I've ever ridden. Better than an eagle. And he almost seems to know what I'm saying. I can't get over it!”

By this time, the other Sleepers came running and stood in a circle around the beautiful animal. Now everyone was there except Dave and Gus and Meta and the babies.

Reb answered their questions as quickly as he could. And, as he'd said, the unicorn with the bright brown eyes almost seemed to be listening and understanding what he was saying.

“They're sure the friendliest
wild
animals I've ever seen.”

Abbey stroked Flash's nose. “He's so beautiful! How many more are there?”

“There must be twenty or thirty. This one seemed to be the leader.”

“I'd sure like to see that herd,” Josh said enviously.

“Come on, then. I'll take you. I know where they are.”

“Someone will have to stay here and look after Dave and the babies,” Josh said. “Let's take turns.”

So the Sleepers went in shifts to visit the herd of unicorns. They were greeted by the animals enthusiastically. “Wild horses don't want anybody up on their backs,” Reb said, “but these unicorns, they love it when you ride them. These critters are like dogs—they like people.”

Sarah climbed onto the back of a beautiful palomino mare. “Come on, girl. Let's see what you can do.” At the touch of her heels, the mare shot away. The gait was easy, but the unicorn took off in an explosion of speed. Sarah hung onto the mane and leaned forward like a jockey.

Josh mounted a black stallion and rode up beside her.

She grinned at him. “Oh, Josh, this is as much fun as riding eagles.”

He yelled back, “They're the fastest thing on four legs I've ever seen. Even faster than a cheetah.”

It was a wonderful day for the Sleepers. Everyone except Dave had a chance to ride. That night when they gathered back in the cave that Josh had found, they talked excitedly about the herd of unicorns.

“Of all the strange critters we've seen out here,” Reb said, “these take the cake. They could win a race against any horse back in Oldworld. I never saw such speed.”

Jake agreed, then said, “They're strong too. Wonder what they use that horn for? Defense?”

“Probably. They could do considerable damage with their horns if they took a notion. That thing's a foot and a half long and has a needle point on it.”

“It's a good thing they're not mean,” Abbey said. “They're so gentle and friendly.”

“One thing's sure,” Josh said. “They're not creatures that Dr. Korbo engineered. They're just sort of a mutant, maybe—like some of the other things we've seen.”

“That's right,” Sarah agreed quickly. “Nothing Dr. Korbo has made has been gentle like this. That wicked man has to be a servant of the Dark Lord.”

They sat around talking for a while, and then Reb had an idea. “I'm wondering if we couldn't ride these unicorns out of here. It'd sure beat walking.”