Apes Chapter 1

The City of Men and Apes

Raging Madness

Season One

Jimmy Loong

April 2017

Adaptation of the Planet of the Apes

Continued on 31^st Jan 2020. Hope it works this round.

Renewed on 1^st April 2020.

Done on 5^th of April 2020

Prelude

The world was never the same when a series of plagues infected the population of Man, and diminished the count to almost a quarter of its numbers than before the cures were discovered. It was not the initial plague that decimated the population then although a sizeable died but the recurring of the evolved virus brought on the final countdown after a lapse of twenty years.  The mankind survivors moved to the new cities while some were abandoned.

Once such city then gave a simple name as the City Seven or popularly known as the City held a population of under a hundred thousand and yet it housed more than five times the numbers. The numbers came from the humans who were mentioned in their numbers and then there were the servants. The later was the not so intelligent breed and were once known in their natural habitat as apes or monkeys. The new breed of apes ranged from the huge gorillas to the smaller chimpanzees. It was the later who was deemed to be the perfect servants of Man although the huge gorillas did well for heavy works. The surviving creatures were bred in ten breeding centers within the City. From a mere five thousand in the initial batch, they were artificially bred to ten times that numbers. The newborns were then sent for the microchip insertion and given the needed stimulus to be servants.

What Man lack in skills and will to do, the servants were trained to do so. They were the housekeepers to walking the pets and children, cleaning and the menial works of carrying the baggage. The stronger ones which were the gorillas were retained to do the heavier works like maintenance or construction. Their welfare was never considered for they were servants. In some other time, era, they were alike to slaves. Like the slaves, the end of their servitudes was never revealed nor were their deaths. No cared to ask for they were servants. Their motto was to serve and obey for mankind.

Unknown to the Man, the apes were undergoing an evolution in their build-up and over the generations, the servants had become more mindful of their tasks. If the true capacity of Man’s mind was never used beyond a tenth of it, then the apes may have done more than that during the evolution. They became more intelligent in their learning but they also learned hot hide it.

And from there the evolution was to become a new revolution.

That was not recorded for all to know.

Is the truth ever true?

Hopefully he will wake up from it.

Despair the defeated will crawl

The joyous victors cheered in their steps

And no one sees the death and maimed

For none cared

The defeated anxious to save their own

The victor needs no reminder

Yet in every war this is repeated

Just like the mind reprocessing 

Just that the memories did not come around

We are all retards to the woes of war.

Jimmy Loong, May 31^st 2017

1.

The designated cruiser used by the Enforcement Division was a vehicle powered by the electrical power source below the rear of it. It gave the three-wheeler a power drive at over ninety miles an hour but give the design of the roads, the vehicle could do at best was fifty miles before it was considered as reckless. The cruiser was shaped like an elongated beetle with the front shell, its glass cover that displayed the single driver to the rear single passenger seating. The glass cover opened like the cockpit of the vintage flying vehicle. One the side of the vehicle was mounted the twin headlamps that lighted up the path ahead. At the rear of the vehicle, the shell was the powered generator set that powered the engine and supporting it was then the twin huge tires. The vehicle had mounted twin cannons on the left side which makes it a deadlier unit on patrol.

The call came ten minutes ago.

“Major One. You are needed at Alpha Square. Homicide death.”

That was all for Senior Officer Lanceston to hear before he pressed on the pedal to accelerate the vehicle into the marker of pass the maximum limit. He handled the vehicle with utmost calmness while they overtook the slower ones and sped on the open stretches. The lanes for the moving vehicles were stacked in multi high levels that snaked around the taller inhabitant structure that reached close to the clouds. The lanes were built wide allowing for six vehicles to travel in a row and it was all one-way traffic to avoid any collision from oncoming traffic. The lanes were interwoven with turns to stop at the allotted stops. Despite the precautions taken, there were cases of collisions of vehicles that cross or overlap the lanes. To ensure the safety of the adjacent inhabited structures, the side of the lanes were reinforced with metal barriers that may stop a skidding vehicle. Most times, it does but there were some cases where it failed to do so, and the vehicle will slam into the inhabited structures and caused some casualties there.

If the casualties were servants, the news on it was scant but the crashes have rarely avoided the human inhabitants with its cramped living conditions. The news flash of these accidents will be broadcast for days and then the pockets of dissatisfaction will spread out with a small group of mobs asserting their strength on the Enforcement Division.

Senior Officer Lanceston or Lance to his friends was a senior officer of the Enforcement Division which governed the handling of major crimes including homicides. He was one of the five in the district there over a fifty-mile radius, considering that there were twenty thousand residents and fifty thousand over servants. The city five districts covered over three hundred miles in radius. The area outside the city was the barren landscape and home to the outcasts and frontier dwellers.

Senior Officer Lanceston; Abraham Lincoln Lanceston, was the only son of General Oliver Lanceston who died during the ending days of the Dividing War. His name was taken from an icon of freedom of the ancient days. His father's final words to him were never giving up on the battle for freedom.

Senior Officer Lanceston was then in his late thirties and having served for over ten years as an Enforcer and before that, he was in the same unit as his father, the Marauders Unit of the Enforcement Division. The Marauder's role was to hunt for the major criminals but the year of peace soon made him drifted to the enforcing tasks. He was not a tall figure but his slim figure gave him that appearance. He enhanced his physical state with a constant workout with his servant, the gorilla named Bud by him. Bud grew with him since birth and they been good pals. His uniform was a blue overall with the matching waist-length jacket that held three stripes from the left shoulder to downwards to the hem. His overall was tucked into the knee-length strapped boots where a dagger was tucked into the right boot. He did not have any headgear for he preferred to wear a head bandana over his clean-shaven head.

“Judd, how far are we?” Lance voiced over the communication.

“Around the corner and we shall be there.” Officer Molly or Molleen Callen replied. She was a female officer who was fewer among the ones who qualified for Major Crimes.  She was what may be considered as petite build but her peers have regretted that assumption when they lost to her in the physical bout. She was proficient in the skills of hand fighting. She was dressed like him but her jacket held only two stripes.

“We will stop here.” Lance applied the brakes when they reached the corner, and the vehicle drifted to the right on the sudden stop command. The front single wheel was wider than the two rear ones to allow for stability in the fast drive but it was not designed for sharp turns. The vehicle lurched on the stop and then it came to a complete standstill on the curb. The glass cover slides back and Lance stepped out.

“What the? You could have told me beforehand.” Molly screamed at Lance. He was always one to act on his own instincts. “So, your brain telling you that the killer may be here.”

“I just know, Mol.” Lance looked at the towering inhabited structure from the ground level. It was by his estimate at over a hundred levels from the ground up.  He had been lived with the different apes since young and he knew their behavior well. If a servant was on the run when on the ground level it would head for the higher points and from there it was able to see for any pursuing foes.

“Station confirmed it’s a servant,” Molly replied after she replaced the communication unit with the Main Station. “We got a runaway.”

Lance stood there on the curb and looked to his surroundings. The new city landscapes have not changed much but due to the denser population in the area, the newer structures were added to the existing building with connecting corridors or upper levels of buildings like branches of the tree, and the extension reinforced to support the structures. With the new improvement, the sunlight from the sun was blocked by the overhanging structures giving the surface level a dark sullen environment. The use of none carbon emission alleviated the breathable conditions, but it was offset by lack of sunlight.

“Lance, the suspect is on the run,” Mol called out. “Heading our….”

Lance saw the fleeing shadow and knew that he was to do his part then as the Enforcer. He reached inside the vehicle to retrieve his pack. It was a narrow case which he opened by removing the zippered front. He reached in and took the double set of metallic vambrace with a few notches on the topside. He reached in for the attachment to the vambrace. He locked on the unit there on his right arm. It looked like four long tubes on the unit with each tube holding a mini mounted dart. Each of those darts contained enough serum to knock down a raging chimpanzee or two darts for the gorillas. He was not keen to kill them unless he has to. He took out another unit that resembled a rounded shield that was attached to his left arm. That was to protect him in case of a physical fight. He then reached in for the last piece there.

The item was two feet length metallic baton with a round knob top.

Lance aimed it at the third level of the wall on the inhabited structure and pressed the lever on the baton. The knob top shot out towards the wall trailed by the metal wire. It hit the wall and the knob opened upon impact to form a six-point talon that caught onto the wall. Once the talons formed a hold their Lance was hoisted towards the wall. Just before he reached it Lance pressed the lever to release the talons and it reformed back into the knob along with the wire. By then he had swung the baton aiming at another upper level. With three throws, Lance was at the connecting corridor seven levels up that was adjoining the two buildings. He crouched there on the landing of the corridor and lowered his baton which had then retracted back. He tucked the baton to his back on the special housing there.

“Hello, there my miscreant runner.”

The servant had crouched there on its four limbs at the other end of the corridor. It was getting ready to jump as if it was in its instinct to do so but it hesitated. It heard the command by another human master and was responding to the command of Man which was surgically implanted into its brain. Its right paw went up to the side of the head and started hitting it. It was confusing and then sneered at the man. It was the sign of aggression rarely seen then but there were instances of such behavior which a sharp retort will bring it down.

“Down!” Lance shouted. The servant toned down but the look was still aggressive. Lance was to move than at the runner when the shot came from above him. The runner went down with the headshot. Not many could do that and fewer were issued high-velocity rifles. He turned to look at the source of the shot. It was from the adjacent building

“Too bad we miss you again, Lance.” The voice belonged to the shooter who had lowered the rifle. The shooter laid down the rifle and pulled at the left-handed glove. The shooter then reached for the base cap that wore the opposite direction. On the cap was the logo of the shooter was the rifle with the scope.

“Bernice, you could have shot it in the arms. Why kill it?”

“Lance, it’s a servant.”

Tweet...tweet as we make it to the 2nd Half of 2020

2020 had been a tough nut to crack with the epidemic literally wiping out the world off its arse but with the rest of the year, we will recover. I had to admit the lockdown for over two months was good to me in terms of writing but once the coming weeks since we resumed normal life, the pressure of life flooded in like the torrential rains.

And like the weather, I am on the drought now. I learned that in the realm of creative writing, it like sex, you stopped and you lose pace. The juices (pardon the sex-pression here) just go dry. I have not penned (or was it being penned. Oh,,,, sounds like S&M) for a month, with my focus on other matters..... I have not a single tale, to begin with. Ziltch in the mind.... just staring at the screen, with a thousand words done and then the fingers clenched.

Dinna worry, I have in the archive some other new tales. Today, I have posted up the last of Deep Seas (an adventure I took in mid 2010's) and soon after I am releasing the new tale; APES and Man. It was inspired by PLANET OF THE APES of the 70's with a different flavor to it. 

In the mid-2010's I was on a hormone fused mood and did a number of tales like DEEP SEAs, Lone Ranger, and others but I had to re-write some to get the cohesion of characters and plot. I was embarrassed at what was there ie the unfinished tales, and the weak finishing of some (i read them all again).

I had penned again to complete it. Or redo the endings. I do apologize for them. I had no editor and it was all posted upon completion. Recently, I got some new software to assist me in tracking and also organize my thoughts. No more diving into the deep end of the pool and learn to swim. There is a challenge in me to complete the tales to its proper ending. I just don't want the loose endings or unfinished ones like the earlier DEEP SEAS and Lone Ranger.

Anyway onto better things, like all droughts, the weather will change and the rain will come. And I will be filling up the tales again. Meanwhile do enjoy the current offerings.

And above all, take care and stay safe.

Deep Seas Chapter 32 ( The final chapter )

32.

Surface

“Man the guns!” Captain Arthur called out to the men. “We have a surface battle now.”

Captain Arthur saw the Mother Dragon had surfaced and there was also the smaller Dragon ship. Senior Captain Cheng Ha had also climbed out on the deck of the Mother Dragon. He was accompanied by Lady Jan.

“Fire the harpoons.” The three footer harpoons from the sponson on the center section fired off at the Sea King. The six harpoons shot off in an arc and hit the Sea King on its hull.

“Return fire!” Captain Arthur called out to the men have set up the Lewis guns. “Fire at will.”

The two hastily set up Lewis guns roared its trajectories towards the huge enemy ship. It was not making much of an impact there.

“Dive!” Captain Arthur called out but the reply from the First Officer was distressing.

“We can’t. Our hull cannot take another dive.”

“Damn!” It was then Captain Arthur saw the explosion around the two Dragons. It was the fleet commanded by Lieutenant Galen. The fleet with only nine ships roared their cannon shots at the Dragons.

“Abandon ship!” The Captain of Sea Dragon Three called out. Two direct hits have impacted on the deck and the ship was sinking.

“Sink the Sea King.” Senior Captain Cheng Ha called out. Another salvo of the harpoons went out but then it was blocked by the soaring serpent which had surfaced. Five harpoons impacted the serpent which dived back to the sea.

“I want another shot at it.” Senior Captain Cheng Ha called out before he was shot by the Lewis machine gun. He staggered on his feet and then fell into the sea. Lady Jan had then jumped for cover behind the open hatch. She saw then the serpent soaring high from the sea depth with the Senior Captain in its jaw. The serpent was bleeding on its fins and body from the pierced harpoons. It landed on the Mother Dragon port side of the hull and swam parallel to it. The serpent movement tore at the harpoon guns there before it swam away.

“Steer the bow towards the Mother.” Captain Arthur called out to the First Officer. “If she can’t dive, then we will use her to ram the other.”

“You are a fool, Captain.” First Officer Kenneth called out. He then hollered to the others. “Abandon ship!”

“Full speed ahead!” Captain Arthur called out when the Sea King was headed for the Mother Dragon. Lady Jan saw the oncoming Sea King and she smiled.

“It’s an honor to battle you, Sea King.” Lady Jan stood up and held out her arms towards the other. She did not see the huge shark that soared up from the sea and caught her in the jaws. The huge shark at over twenty feet in length snapped the exoskeleton frame of Lady Jan like a piece of driftwood.

Captain Arthur saw the sailors jumped overboard from the Sea King. They will be fine if they get picked up by the fleet commanded by Lieutenant Galen. He stood there on the upper deck and watched the ever nearer Mother Dragon. He had seen the lady taken by the shark. It was a sad scene for he was keen to meet her.

“Guess we meet below.” Captain Arthur muttered out. The Sea King impacted on the Mother Dargon at the center. The later hull cracked and then burst apart with the Sea King over its deck. The weight of the Sea King dragged the halved hull of the Mother Dragon into the sea.

The Depth

The serpent knew its life was seeping away with the multiple wounds on its body. It had dived down deep into the sea and then felt the vibrations of the sinking ships. It turned up its body towards the sinking husks that were slowly reaching the lower depth. The two ships were broken into three major parts and the serpent saw the escaping sailors trying to swim up but the other predators were there.

It sighted the predators were the smaller breeds. It knew why the huge ones were circling above the serpent. Their kill was the serpent that had tormented the sharks and the other predators. They won’t confront the serpent earlier for it was thrice their sizes but with the wounds on the serpent, they knew their predator had become the prey.

The serpent dived further down and then reached the pit. The younger serpents saw their protector was wounded and near the end of its life. It swam upwards to meet the protector. The signs of death were on it and the call of the survival prevails. The huge serpent laid itself at the pit while the younger serpents circled over it. It was a game of waiting then.

The great serpent gave the younger ones it last loom and then the great eyes shut close for the last time. It was the signal for the younger serpents to feed on the protector. The sharks saw the feeding and swam in. It feasted on the dead serpent and also the younger ones. The seawater soon turned red with the pieces of flesh floating there. The later was taken up by the smaller predators.

What was uneventful was the collapse of the two huge hulls on the pits burying some of the predators that were caught up in the feasting. A solitary body was seen floating towards the surface then. It was untouched by the predators and soon reached the surface.

It was not long before the body was fished out from the sea surface.

“Tell the Lieutenant we found Captain Arthur. He is dead.”

Epilogue

The Surface

Lieutenant Pastor Galen stood on the podium facing the quorum who had attended his services that morning. He smiled at the two dozen parishioners there. It was a good turnout compared to the years before. The war had ended but the food supply was bearable. For the last three years, the Pastor had arranged a feast on the anniversary to celebrate the end of the Deep Sea war.

“Today we stand here to remember the day a seafaring Captain had arrived at Big Jaws. He was to assist us in the battle for our land. He served us well and buried the enemy at sea.”

“Pastor, can we skip the talks and get to the feast? My kid needs to be fed.’ Lieutenant Pastor Galen looked at Corporal Jones with his newborn. He nodded and called for the feast to be set. The two dozen parishioners rushed out and one figure stood there.

“Lord Henry, thank you for hosting the feast. Or I won’t have anyone to come for my sermon.” Lieutenant Galen greeted the other. “Jones is the exemplary sample of my sheep.”

“Excuse him, Lieutenant. He meant well. He is not one with God but his humanity.” Lord Henry then turned to leave.

“So soon, my Lordship.”

“Yes, I am here for Captain Arthur. I brought him here to fish but instead, he fought a war. And died.”

“We all die in the end, my Lordship. It’s how we are remembered by the others. We are one of the many in the sea. We feed and get fed by the others. In the end, we all go back to the sea to nourish the new ones.”

“I believe that.” Lord Henry made his way out before the Pastor asked him of the rumors that the invaders were at the sea lanes.

“No, don’t believe in it. Since the last conflict, the Far Eastern clans have not come near here.”

“I was told that the Lord Chamberlain was approached by the Senior Adviser of the Clan. They want to return to our sea go to salvage the old wreck.”

“The Mother Dragon? They can do that but we exact compensation from them for Bale and Devan.”

“It won’t happen, my Lordship.”

“And we won’t give them back the Dragon.” His Lordship took to the four-wheeled vehicle powered by the steam engine. The vehicle was driven by the Sergeant Major.

Lieutenant Galen waved to the departing Lord. He then looked to the sea.

“Good day to you, Captain Arthur. Swim in peace.”

“He will, Lieutenant. I meant Pastor.” The voice belonged to Jones who had handed in his resignation to the Army. He was the owner of the tavern at Big Jaws with his new family.

“Jones, do you missed the Army?”

“Me, Pastor?” Jones smiled. “I do at times but I won’t go back in with the saluting and the marching. I am happier here now. I got a family too.”

“And you won’t step into the sea again, as I was told.”

“Yes, Lieutenant. I am keeping my feet dry. It’s safer this way.”

“Good. Would you keep an eye on the wreck in the cavern? I heard the Clan wants to retrieve it.”

“Dinna worry. We will keep it secured there.” Jones replied. They have retrieved both the wreckages a year ago and have used it to study the design. It was from there, they have designed new submersibles.

The Depth

The new Sea King rebuilt to the same design as the original one sailed past the wreckage that its predecessor. The husk of the fallen submersibles had become a breeding place for the fishes.

And some of it were predators.

“Serpent ahead.” The call came from the bow. “It’s huge. I will guess at forty feet.”

At fifty feet length maximum growth, the sailor had curtailed the predator population. It was part of the food breeding plans.

“Signal Prince One to take it.” Captain Kenneth called out. “Haul it up and then the surface ship can take over.”

Such was the routine of the new Sea King in its original role. It sailed with three other submersibles named the Princes.

Lord Henry has invested in the new fleet with fishing ships and submersibles. He has four other submersibles but smaller in design to hunt for food in the sea. Big Jaws and Little Jaws remained the headquarter of his operations.

Unknown to the inhabitants of the island, a new fleet approaches them. It was the newly designed fleet of the Clan with the new leader on the deck of its cruiser.

“This time we will not fail.” The Senior Adviser spoke. “The fleet will destroy them all.”

The new fleet consists of ten cruisers and twelve destroyers with over a dozen troopships.

“It’s early for you to be here.” The Senior Adviser heard the remark and then he greeted his alliance leader.

“No time is too early. As no day is ever late. We will sail together, Admiral Andrei Yuri.”

“And hunt together. My fleet is double of your previous ones but we need your expertise to know the sea there. I hear the serpents are huge.”

“Huge predators they are. Happy hunting, Admiral.”

“Nazdarovya, Senior Adviser. May you prosper forever.”

Arthur II Chapter 6

6.

Lord Pendragon reached to hold onto the love he cherished. Lady Igraine sat in the tub of water to wash. She had freshened herself the evening before, scrubbing the dirt from the body and then soaking herself in the warm water. No matter how many times she scrubbed her body, she still felt the dirt inside her. She was badly treated by one named Augustus, and to have suffered some indignity was her fuel to anger.

“You are tense, Igraine.” Lord Pendragon had then reached to scrub the lady’s back with the soft fleece. “You are safe now.”

“You took your time to find me.” Lady Igraine hissed out.

“I could not find you then. I swore my mother’s soul, I searched for you. I was preoccupied then in the north but friends of mine were traveling wide and deep to locate you. When I did, I had the Augustus ransomed you out but little I was to know that they have treated as such.”

“Kill them for me.” Lady Igraine told him. “Do it for me or I will drown before your eyes.”

“Why would you do that, my love?” Lady Igraine felt the lips of her lover caressed her neck from the hairline towards her shoulder. “Let us not feel anger when we are now together.”

“I was …. Mis-treated by them. I was used as a slave. With my noble standings, I should be a hostage.  but they took me a slave to them.” Lady Igraine pushed the head away. “They are no nobles. Only….”

“They are allies of mine now. I have befriended them to lend their strength to me. They will finance my soldiers and horsemen. I will ride once more as the head of the tribes.” Lord Pendragon replied. “I will no more be the lackey of others as I was with Gorlois.”

At the mention of the name Gorlois, Lady Igraine slumped back on the tub. She knew the name well; her wedding to the man twice her age, a brute when tenderness was needed, the lady was in chains to him. She had borne him no child but she had herself fixed on his death. She dictated it with the other lover of her, fascinated with her beauty and even to the extent of sneaking into her chamber when Gorlois was away. He was unlike the other, the epitome of a lady’s need but her illicit affair was discovered. She was banished to her home village while her Lord Gorlois waged war on Pendragon. She was told that Gorlois perished in battle but when she thought rescued was near; she was spirited away by brigands. It was a torturous journey that one until she was ransomed by the Augustus. What she thought of rescue once more turned out to be a period of slavery.

“Who are the Augustus’?”

“Allies whom I befriended sometime back at Gaul. I met them when I served Rome as a mercenary. They backed me in my war against Gorlois allies.” Pendragon replied. He knew the Augustus from the nobles of Rome who had come earlier when the Hadrian wall was built then.

 The nobles had ridden north to seek him for trade and soon they became friends. He offered escort guard for the nobles who went north. Then he met one name Auric Augustus, also the distant relative of the Legatos stationed there in Britannica. Auric was not a Legionnaire but he served as a statesman. He liked the land more than his father and even wedded a local lady. He has a daughter and was soon asked to return to Rome. There he flourished but Britannica beckoned him. He had many friends there including Lord Pendragon. When the request came from his friend to ransom the lady named Igraine, he took the opportunity to return. He told his wife, then Lady Alicia Augustus of the ransom. He was surprised at his wife's refusal.

“Igraine is an enemy of mine.” Those words spat into Augustus’ face. “If you rescue her, I will leave you with our daughter.”

Auric Augustus had a hard time convincing her. Her final reply was the lady is a slave until her lover arrived. It was agreed and the deal concluded for Pendragon.  Although their camp was small during the journey, Auric told the others to keep them separated. It was a task left to Alain his overseer for the slaves.

It was a steamy evening then of heated passion but the lovers were then alerted to the attack of the camp just before dawn. Lord Pendragon was given a tent in the Augustus camp. He dressed in haste and then passed to his love, the gladius he had kept for himself. He took on the familiar long sword favored by his people. Two mercenaries approached the couple and reported to the Lord.

“Lord Pendragon, we are here to protect you.” The burly figure in the mail coat over his tunic stood before the other holding the spear and shield. “Master Augustus expressed his concern for you. And …. the lady.”

“How many and who are they?” Lord Pendragon asked.

“Not many but they could be scattered to attack the other camps.” The newly arrived warrior reported. “We killed three of them at the outer perimeter.”

Lord Pendragon reached into his tunic and withdrew the signet ring. He gave it to the warrior.

“Take this and ride east till you reached my castle. Tell them I sent you. Bring the warriors here.” Lord Pendragon then reached into his tunic and withdrew some coins. “This is for your trouble.”

“You will leave soon when they return with my men. Go with them. I will join you.” Lord Pendragon told Lady Igraine.

“I will fetch a friend. She goes with us or I won’t” Lady Igraine looked at the Lord.

“So be it. Go and fetch your friend. I do not want any trouble from you.”

Trouble was also at the Meleagant.

Master Meleagant held his gladius in his right hand while the shield was on the left. He was dressed in his toga loosely tied by the sash on the waist. He was alerted by the guards and from his earlier experiences, he slept with the weapons near him.

“Get the guards here.” Master Meleagant called out. He had the guards’ circle them and then the servants were stationed outside. He looked to his rear and saw his son missing. He looked around and saw the younger Meleagant in the fore.

“Son, step back here.” Master Meleagant called to the younger but the other ignored him. He was to step up when he saw his son charged into the dim light.

“Follow him.” Master Meleagant called out to the guards. There was some hesitant then and the Lord called out once more. Two of the guards took the task. They trailed the Meleagant to the wagons. Master Meleagant noticed his son missing. He saw then the young one was checking the horses. He sent two guards to fetch his son.

“Young Master Meleagant, please return with us.” The guards called him but Octavia ignored them. He proceeded to hold the horse. It was then the hound nearby charged into him. It was a huge one and pushed the younger Meleagant to the ground. The later reached up with his right arm to block the fangs from his face while his left arm was pushing at the creature. He struggled hard until the hound yelped in pain before it rolled off with the chest bleeding. One of mercenary had stabbed the hound below the neck.

“Get up, Young Master Meleagant.” The mercenary extended the arm to the fallen young master. He was pulled up and had to be held up then for his legs was wobbly from the attack.

“Hold onto me, Young Master Meleagant. You will be fine.” The younger man did just that and then turned aside to cough out the phlegm from his throat. He was patted on his back while he leaned over.

“Thank you…” Meleagant could not remember the names of the mercenaries; he never had to for it was his father who dealt with them. He was led back to his father and the other asked the mercenary for a name.

“Belvedere. I am the leader of the guards.” The one who replied was a tall figure with wide shoulders and his coat of mails reached his thigh only where his laced sandals reached below his knees. He held a long sword and the rounded shield but he wore no helmet leaving his long-braided hair to flow behind him down to his back. He had on a small ax in his waist belt.

“We need to gets you back to your father,” Belvedere told the younger man. “He will be worried.”

“Please don’t tell him what happened here. I saw the movement of the horses and rushed over.” Young Meleagant confessed. “I should have …”

“It’s only a hound. One of ours placed there to guard the wagon. It’s fine now.” Belvedere then looked to the other mercenary. “No one will speak of this tale from now.”

No words were required then by the Marcellus when they were led in the dim light towards the western direction by the ten mercenaries who had captured them. The attack had come as a surprise; the small detachments of guards were slaughtered even before they could resist then. The surviving slaves were rounded up and told to leave by the other eastern side.

“Scattered and run. Make no noise unless you see the Legions.” The leader of the attackers told the slaves. “If you get through, find your way to the seashores.”

Antonius Marcellus himself was roused from his bedding clad only in his loose toga looked back at his family. His wife was holding onto their three young daughters and the aging mother was trailing behind. They were all unharmed and were clothed in the loose clothing wore to bed. He mentally estimated that they were force-marched for half a Hoare (hour’s in ancient Roman). They are not far from the camp, and he could make out the calls for searches. He could alert them but the attackers have warned them that they will die if they do so.

“Stop here!” The leader of the attackers called out. The entire group of over twenty sweaty and dirty fur-coated figures stopped in their track and halting the captives.

“Let them go!” The leader called out. “We have dealt them a blow which they will remember well.”

“Wait!” One of the attackers stepped up. “We could hold them as a hostage and then get paid for their release.”

“No, we are not like them. We will let them go to warn the others for coming here.” The leader looked at the others. “We are here to get them to move on and not be pursued as outlaws in our land.”

“Nay, I say we kill them. But let me take the young girls for my tribe.” Another one spoke.

“Stay put your action or feels my wrath.” The leader voiced out. “I will not have them harmed.”

“Lawnslot, we are …” The one who spoke earlier broke the oath taken. There were to be no names mentioned.

“Silence you oaf. No names.” The leader warned the others and then turned to the captives. “Leave now while you can.”

No one dared to challenge the Ghost to a duel.

Not yet.