Free Ebook - The Conflicting Companionships

Home   

Chapter 2

             Jeff yawned as Laur entered the submarine.  Laur’s body now steamed although he had only stayed outside for 12 minutes.

            “You’re early today, Laur,” greeted Jeff.

            “Len’s been damaged, Al’s the new leader, Gen’s jealous, and I’m hot,” summarized Laur.

            “Hold it!  What do you mean?”

During breakfast, Laur related events to Jeff.  As Laur concluded, Al was outside hollering, “Laur! Jeff!”

Laur and Jeff, both sensing danger, briefly glanced at each other and then rushed to the latch of the sub.  Jeff, the more ambitious of the two, climbed out first.

Al blurted, “Gen's disappeared.  I know something must be troubling him because he wouldn't walk out on an integral meeting like that.”  Gen had been Al’s favourite brother and the thought of existing without Gen tormented him.

“It hasn't even been an hour since held gone.  We were travelling together outside the rendezvous. Maybe he's in his cave,” suggested Laur.

“No use.  We've already tried it.  Len thinks Gen's gone for good and he's absolutely outraged.”

One month passed and gossip about the loss of the Prominent Gen flared through Dragland as swiftly as germs. The entire Dragland searched for Gen, but Gen's immediate family remained the most solicitous. Len denied it, but he worried too.

After the second day from Gen's disappearance, Laur at last disclosed to Al that Gen had envied him.  Al reacted eerily.

After a week, Al unexpectedly found a note from Gen.  It assured he was unscathed, but neglected to report his location.

After two months from the uncanny disappearance of Gen, Al finally frankly related to Len the reason for Gen's departure.

Len listened intently in his resting position and clung onto every detail.  After Al had finished his account, he went outside to let Len cogitate on matters.

Len had never been able to concentrate effortlessly, as he was easily distracted.  This occasion was similar.  Hence, he closed his eyelids and concentrated as best he could.  After living 40 thousand years, however he possessed a potency unknown even to him.  Since he had received two damages so far, he was more puissant than drags twice his age.

Len recalled every location of which he knew and attempted to surmise to which one Gen would most likely go.  Although Len was inept at concentrating, he was a master at thinking; that is, whenever he could concentrate.  Even prior to his six thousandth birthday, he had had the ability to ponder over abstractions.  It was a grandiose accomplishment for a drag.  Len now still engaged in the best mode of thinking possible.  Outside Len's den, however, no one dared to bother him because Al had spread the news that Len was in the process of staid contemplating.

After sequestering himself thinking for two days, Len still struggled with the issue.  He continued, therefore, to eliminate and add possibilities as if evaluating an algebraic problem.

Suddenly, he opened his eyelids and beheld his own den, which appeared like a dungeon.  A thought then hit him so hard he almost fell off his bed.  It was amazing what opening one's eyes would do.  He finally realized Gen had journeyed to the Lead Utensils' Dungeon.  This shock was followed by a stentorian gasp and then a thump: Len had toppled.

Al’s sensitive hearing had allowed him to hear Len’s collapse.  Thus, he hurtled in, appalled to see the fallen Len.

With his sonorous voice, Al called for Jeff and Laur.  (Laur had now become Al's private doctor.) Jeff and Laur were neophytes in medicine, but with their scientific background and through cooperation, they attempted to recover Len.  They realized Len's injury was paltry, and it took them only under one minute to revive him.  Jeff then carefully manipulated Len into a more commodious resting position while Laur cleaned up the mess created.

By now, everyone had crowded around the three.  They all applauded when Laur and Jeff had finished.  Then, Jeff led Al, Bern, and Jen to one side, while Laur led Clor to another, leaving the service drags staring at Len, as if he were something they had never seen before.

Jeff said to his audience, “Everyone inhale and exhale.  Calm down.  By getting 'damaged,' as you say, Len gains power—he doesn't lose it.”

Jeff's audience was convinced, but they asked questions.  Laur had also elucidated the circumstance to Clor.  Even after the mob had gradually disbanded, however, Len still remained unconscious.

In Jen's cavern, Bern supervised Ju while descanting upon the wicks with Jen.  Jen began, “I've lived 48 thousand years--two thousand years less than Len, but I haven't learned less than he.  I know I haven't told this to any of my sons or daughters, but I'm going to relate this to you.”

“I've got my own preponderance in my own way.  My father gave me a precious gem visible only to me.  No one could take it away from me because he had attached it to me.  I now safeguard it in a secret location, but I don't have it with me now.  Not many creatures can control it, but I can because I'm able to see it.  Well, that's a secret of mine I Just wanted to confide in you, but something else has distressed me since I had found out about it. “

Bern had listened intently, but now she questioned inquisitively, “And what's that?”  Even with her superior sagacity, Bern remained ignorant as to at what Jen was hinting.  Bern was often capable of surmising correctly, but the problem simply stymied her this time.

After a long pause, Jen finally spoke.  Jen divulged to Bern what had occupied Len's mind a few hours ago:  she told Bern about the Lead Utensils.  As Bern listened, she hid her emotions, but felt uneasy inside.  Soon, she snapped out of her state of memorization and whispered, “Take my word for it.  I won't mention this conversation to a sole drag.”

Jen nodded in approval and took over watching Ju.

Just as Bern left Jen's cavern, she recalled something she had forgotten to say, so she flew in again.

Jen, surprised at Bern's quick return, asked, “What's the matter?”

Bern turned to Ju and coaxed, “Fly along, now.  Go to your cave.”

Ju docilely adhered to Bern's instructions. To Jen, she said, “Recline in your resting position, Mother.”

Jen remonstrated, “Tell me right now.  What is it?”

“Well, I don't know how to start.  Last night, I couldn't think, so I concentrated harder.  Soon, I came up with a solution.  I would go up to Rentorshe, Belleemo, Shorkapor, Blentar, Regorland, and Egorland.  I kept in close touch with them since they left you.  They each have a family now.”  Ren was age 28 100; Bel age 28 600; Shork age 28 300; Blen age 28 200; Re age 28 400; and E age 28 500. They were named “The Six.”

Bern continued, “I feel I have to seek their aid in case you guys at home base need reinforcements.  Anyways, I've been in this part of Dragland too long.  I must report to my other friends.  Don't worry. I'll come back.”

The tidings chagrined Jen, but she consented, “All right, if you must go, you may go.”

“I've already told Al, and he'll announce it in the major assembly tomorrow.  The assembly will concern the drags who will combat the wicks.”  Bern paused, and then said, “I hope you'll take care.  Take charge of everything while I'm gone. I won't be at the assembly, though.  I'm going before it starts, so on my behalf, wish everyone farewell for me.”

“I will.  I will.” Jen blinked twice, fighting away the tears, and bade farewell to Bern.  Jen smiled at Bern as Bern flew slowly out of her cavern.

* * * * * * * * * *

Jeff and Laur returned to their sub after taking care of Len.  Just as Jeff had shut the ledge, Laur asked in a friendly way, “Do you have the ability to do more things?”

Jeff looked up and replied, “Yes, I do.  Why do you ask?”

The two fed the animals as they talked.  They usually fed the animals twice a day at regular intervals.

Laur said, “I was doing some thinking and—“

Jeff lost his composure and dropped everything.  He was seized by a paroxysm of laughter that hurt his stomach.  Finally, he regained his poise and chuckled, “You?  Think?”

Laur had been serious, so he was almost offended by the remark, but Jeff was valid.  It was unusual for him to think; he usually talked.

Seeing Laur’s wan face, Jeff could only pity the unfortunate soul, so he ceased laughing and continued feeding the animals.  Jeff expected Laur to say something, and he soon did.  “According to my predictions, Al will soon call a general meeting.  Before he does, though, I want to tell him—so that he can tell the other drags—that we'll be manufacturing weapons for ourselves and training ourselves.”

“I don7t understand.”

“It's actually simple.  Since the drags have so much faculty, we must try to have as much of it as they do.  We'll create our own power.”

“I have to hand it to you,” Jeff praised sincerely.

When they finished feeding, they set out to report the news, as both were positive Al would announce a meeting.  After they were completely ready, Jeff said, “Let's go!”

Since Jeff was ambitious, he flew with alacrity; Laur was more modest, so he took his time.  Jeff squalled repeatedly, “Come on!” but Laur ignored him.  He sagged back and nonchalantly strode into Al’s cavern.

As Laur and Jeff entered, darkness filled their eyes.  Neither spoke as they wandered aimlessly through Al's cave.  It resembled an endless course, as if they were travelling through a maze.  Laur and Jeff almost lost contact with one another, but Jeff's keen eyesight enabled him to find Laur.  It was now Jeff and Laur against the darkness.

Suddenly, Laur remembered he had brought a miniature flashlight.  He reached into his coat, but was shocked when he realized he had mislaid it.  “Lost my flashlight,” he muttered, partially to Jeff.

“You must have dropped it.”

All of a sudden, a rubber ball ricocheted off the ground and directly into Jeff's hands.  It was gigantic compared to Jeff.  “It might be one of Ju’s baubles,” he whispered discreetly.  “She might be able to get us out.”

Laur deprecated pessimistically, “I don't think we’ll ever get out.”  By now, they had both adapted to the darkness, so Jeff stepped forward and called, “Julie!  This is Jeff!  We're trapped!  Please get us out.”

            Ju was, in fact, outside, and she planned to rescue her friends:  she flew to where Laur and Jeff were and carried them outside.  Exultation lit Laur's features and his eyes twinkled as he felt the mellow light.  Laur thanked Ju and            asked, “Do you know where Al is?  We wanted to look for him.”

“Yes, I do!  Yes, I do!” Ju exclaimed.  “He’s with Len, in Len's dungeon.”

“We've got to thank you once more, Ju.  We'll see you around at dinnertime,” Laur said.  Then Jeff and he headed for their destination.

Jelbleendo, Moranchee, and Gishor, meanwhile, were bound for a meeting conducted by Len, the one of which Laur and Jeff were uninformed.  The three were friends with Len's father but had also retained a close relationship with Len and Clor.  They, too, had aided Len in the first wicks' raid.

Since they would despise to perturb Len's family, they now huddled around Clor's doorstep.  They had wives, but their children had all vacated them, so they understood how long it would require to fly to the cave’s aperture with only two drags living in it.  Just as Jel had suspected, Clor’s wife greeted them with a warm welcome.  “Well, what do you know.  It's The Three.”

Jel, Mor, and Gish were known as “The Three” because by combining their fire power, they could lift objects.  Other drags were designated other numbers, but they were the sole combination of three who could lift objects.  Clor's wife invited the trio in, and they gladly followed her.  Clor was all smiles as they entered.  “What makes you guys come?”

It was question deserving no answer, but Mor replied, “We came here to ask of Len. How's it going for him?”

“It's been tough,” answered Clor.  “He's been damaged again.  It's been several hours since the attack, but he hasn't awaken yet.”

“Tough break,” said Gish.

“We—we drags, that is—should all be one now.  Yoked together.  As a unit, anything can be done, but now with Len damaged, and the wicks coming, the future looks pretty blunt,” said Clor.

“If there's life, there's hope,” proclaimed the three in unison.  They then said goodbye and departed.

Al sat silently beside his father.  Two hours had elapsed since Laur had revived Len.  Al attentively contemplated Len's facial features.  Watching Len ebb away, seeing Len's acumen weaken evoked immense discomfort in him.  One reason he loved Len so much was that Len was effervescent, always adulating him.  Len's sickness made the rest of the world immaterial to him.

He currently found himself, however, in a precarious position.  Although he had promised Bern to convoke an assembly, his present sulking disposition dissuaded him from doing so.

Suddenly, he heard Laur's raucous voice beckoning him.  He immediately flew outside to meet with Laur and Jeff.  “My father hasn't recovered yet, and two entire hours have elapsed.”  Then he paused, seeming to ruminate upon the matter.  He then inquired, “Is Len"s condition really grave?”

“Mediocre business.  The fastest he’11 be able to recover will be tomorrow.  Now calm down.  Take a breather,” appeased Laur.

Al stolidly transpired.

“We're here because we wish to ask you if you're calling a meeting,” Jeff added.

“Yes.  In fact, I was hoping to call a general assembly tomorrow.  Can you help me spread the news?” asked Al.

“Of course, but we want you to avow tomorrow that we'll be manufacturing weapons for everyone.  Tell them that if they're interested, come to see Laur and myself.”

“Why, congratulations!  Yes, we do need some manufacturers around here.  In fact, we've never had to use any imported products in the past either.”

“Never?” asked Jeff.

“Never,” replied Al firmly.  “Remember to spread the news and I'll do my job.  But if you don't…”

The joke soothed everybody's nerves; everyone chuckled.  Jeff and Laur then returned to their sub as it had become overly hot for them.

* * * * * * * * * *

As the crowd stood in Len's home, Al signalled them to hush.  Al, shining with prowess, stood on a lofty platform.  This morning, he would deliver an impromptu speech because he had been too engrossed to prepare one last night.

When all was settled, Al began. “It’s comforting to see all of you here.  This assembly is important, but not lengthy.  First, I would like to announce Jeff and Laur will now manufacture weapons for us.  You may ask them about the details later.  Second, if you'd like to know about Len's condition, I can tell you he's regained consciousness.  He'll continue to rest, so I'll still be in charge here.”

“I regret to report to you the other piece of news, but Bernice has left us—in search of reinforcements against the wicks.  We must unify ourselves, and it's my duty to keep us as a unit.”

“As you all may have heard, the wicks have declared war on us.  To stop this combat as quickly as possible, and to prevent others from arising, we must prepare adequately.  Nothing should stop Good!”

Al’s unprepared speech was extraordinarily effective although the audience mourned over Bern's departure.  Just as Al finished, the audience commended his eloquent speech by politely bowing their heads.  Drags paid homage to others by bowing their heads for a few seconds.  If they really honoured that drag, they would prolong their tribute.  In this instance, they bowed their heads for five minutes, until they disbanded into groups of three or four.

After spotting Clor and The Three, Al leisurely descended.  He flew above everybody's heads until he had reached his guests.  As he approached, he smiled cordially.

“Articulate speech.  Very impressive,” eulogized Jel lavishly.

Al grinned.  “I have something that I'd like to do.  I'd like to appoint you four as captains.  I hope you'll accept the positions.”

They were all honoured and accepted the request.  Thus, Al began his leadership campaign by appointing Clor as Head Chief, Jel as Main Commander, Mor as Chief Officer, and Gish as Order Ruler. Tantamount in rank and in calibre to each other, they acted as the cardinal leaders after Al because Jen lacked power.  Al construed to the leaders their obligations.  Among their most crucial responsibilities was to reduce each other’s weaknesses so to balance their strengths.

By now, almost everyone had returned home to rethink the issue.  After Al had finished talking with the leaders, the leaders took action immediately.  Their initial task was to try and each gather a drag who cerebrated fulsomely, since Al preferred five thinkers for strategic purposes.  Besides being lieutenants, The Three and Clor had to overlook a certain locality, on which they concentrated to fortify.  This would hopefully solidify Dragland's defence as a whole.  Thus, Jel headed upward, Mor downward, Gish forward, and Clor backward.

Al prescribed a time limit of ten minutes for them to search for a thinker.  Hearing this, everyone dashed out as soon as Al had dismissed them.

All of the drags, except Clor, faced misadventure because only he persisted earnestly.  He soon found a cunning, witty drag named Zion, who was on the roster as one of the one hundred cleverest savants.  Al really liked Zi due to his alertness, positive attitude, and staid work ethic.

When Zi arrived, Al examined him with some reflex questions, to which Zi responded favourably.  He attained a score of eight thousand out of eight thousand—one hundred percent.  The score will appear in the Record Book, Al thought.  After further consideration and discourse with his leaders, Al accepted Zi as an advisor and made him a badge that asserted, “I am The.”

Zi inaugurated to devise strategic plans to conquer the wicks.  He perceived problems from different angles, which often increased his efficiency in conquering problems.  His eruditeness impressed others because he had lived for merely 25 thousand years.  Al believed, however, some chemistry was still devoid among his captains.  He concluded one thinker only would be insufficient, so he would need at least one more crafty drag.

Al and his leaders soon held numerous meetings because merely a bit more than a month remained before the wicks’ arrival.  They all agreed most tasks progressed too sluggishly.  For instance, they urgently needed to earnestly rectify their military paraphernalia and bases, and in order to accomplish that, they had to add another drag to their conglomeration of leaders.  Once again, Al, relying primarily on Clor and Zi, ordered a quick search to find an intelligent drag, perhaps one even smarter than Zi.

Meanwhile, Len's entire home kept extremely busy.  This continuous work was attributed mainly to Al’s unfaltering leadership, though.

Since Len and some of his friends were too busy to work at their occupation anymore, they had hired new drags to manage the scrolls and records.  One record, they noticed, belonged to Zi.  He had laboured non-stop for 12 hours training troops.  His premeditation contained such natural logic that no one could find any faults with them, as he had immersed a tremendous amount of effort and energy into them.

Jen had also investigated Zi.  Jen had asked him for a different perspective on the war, and he had responded well.  Jen, therefore, had felt slightly more confident of the drags situation, and was joyful to have one of the most durable prospects assisting them.

Within days, Clor and Jel had hunted down another genius, John-Carlo.  When Al looked at John's history, he realized how shrewd John was.  John, older and wiser than Zi, and had been named as the sagest drag of the century.  He was 22 thousand years old—6 thousand older than Al.

As a result, Clor synchronously trained Fel and Zi within two days.  When Clor worked with Len at the archives in the past, his primary task was to train new workers.  He always did a thorough job, as drags easily understood his explanations.

Jel toiled on a defensive assignment, also only allowed two days; he ensured Len's home would be sturdy and safe.  The task was irksome—considering Len's home was more than a hundred thousand years old.  This meant objects sometimes disassembled without warning, thus debilitating the entire bastion of the cave.

Mor, engaging in an offensive assignment, was granted three days.  He marked all the places where the drags could strike the wicks.  He deduced thoughtfully, and did not commit any slovenly errors.  His meticulousness suit him to the job.  Thus, his precise calculations and sustained efforts would likely allow the offence of the drags to gain an advantage over the offence of the wicks.

Gish dealt with the injuries and repairs they would need to remedy if they lost any equipment or drags.  Al granted him an unspecified amount of time to devote to this because the breadth of his stint was so broad.  He gathered as much medicine and repairing materials as possible, but finding medicine posed difficulties.

Besides that, Al insisted that Gish seek an escape route.  If the drags were outnumbered, or if they lost, they would still have shelter.  Of course, they did not know Jen was also engaging in such a task.

Jen, too, engaged in work, as she tried to analyze the weaknesses in Al.  Afterwards, she realized only 39 days remained until trouble would arrive, so it was time for her to act.  Ten thousand years ago, she, Len, and two of her daughters had cryptically constructed an escape route directly under Len's den.  Only Len, and her seventieth and seventy-first children, Stilldaboo and Cridakoo, knew about it.  Her two children were now aged 30 100 and 30 000 respectively.

She had heard that the two now had thirty children combined.  Their eldest one was even older than Ju.  That was why the ramifications of the drags' relations were so intricate.  Most organized mothers would have a record book showing who bore whom, but Jen was too lazy.  She loved all her daughters and sons, but she felt it was too much hassle to keep records.

Currently, she inspected the escape route once more.  She resolved she would soon search for Still and Cri.  Jen unfortunately did not know to where they had migrated.  With their help, however, perhaps she could ameliorate its quality and condition.  This time when the wicks assaulted, she wanted adequate preparation, unlike the previous attack.

The escape route actually consisted of a colossal tunnel containing garnered aliment that could support more than two trillion drags for two years.  Candle-like Structures within the tunnels illuminated the surroundings.  In addition, ten wuiums—lilliputian, colourless creatures almost invisible to the naked eye—inhabited the escape route.

When Jen entered Al’s cavern, he sat idle, with nothing to do.  She paid this visit to notify him of her departure.

Currently, Jen accosted him, saying, “You've done a mighty fine job, and I hope you keep it up when I'm gone.  It won't be long before the wicks attack, so be canny.  Take assiduous measures against them and don't underestimate them.”

“Where are you going?” asked Al, a bit scared.  First it was Gen, then Bern, and now Jen.

Jen smiled.  “Don't worry.  I'll be leaving tomorrow, but keep it a secret.  Remember:  forever be cautious.”  With that, she flew to Len's dungeon, leaving Al behind.

Len had partially recovered from his second breakdown and was resting as Jen flew in.  When Len opened his eyelids, he saw a fatigued drag flying above him.  “I'm more powerful now.  I can see you're embarking on a long journey, just as Bern had.  You're going to look for Still and Cri and see if you can re-build the escape route.  But before that, you're probably going to pay a visit to that gem you told me about.  So I guess you’re here to let me know,” prognosticated Len.

“That was amazing!  You're one hundred percent correct.  Now, I guess, this is goodbye for us for now?”

“You betcha.  I'll take care of Al.  You just relish in your trip.  I must not detain you now, so I wish you luck.”

“Thanks.  I'm leaving tomorrow but I'll be back, though.  I'll be back.” With that, Jen, feeling slight discomfort, flew out.

* * * * * * * * * *

After Jen had left, Al went over to Jeff and Laur's sub.  He needed to relax from all the labour he had performed by resting in a cool environment.  Al asked for permission to enter the sub before slipping in.  The latch, however, was barely large enough for him to pass through.

In the sub, Laur madly forged tools, while Jeff repaired.

“You two will soon be our best handymen.  Any new gadgets lately?”

Jeff ignored Al's questions, and instead, uttered some of his own.  “How's t he outside world?  You must be pretty busy, or else, you'd come in here more frequently.”

“My mo-“ Al wanted to talk about Jen, but remembered his promise.  “My, do you ever say a lot!  Well, I've got some new assistants.  You should meet them some time.  Also, I've obtained these two brains to work for me.  It's been eventful outside.  Have you guys gotten anything going?”

Suddenly, Laur appeared as if he had seen Al for the first' time that evening.  He ignored his question too and delivered his own.  “Have you noticed it's getting warmer these days?  The submarine is having less impact on the heat.  It must be boiling even more outside, though.”

Al responded, “Yes.  That's one of the reasons I came in here.  To cool down and take a rest.  If you compare the outside to here, it's much cooler here.  To say the truth, that's my main motive for coming in.  But I'll have to go back up in a few minutes to manage everything.  I've taken nearly the entire day off.  Now, back to my original question.  Have you guys started anything?”

Laur and Jeff stared blankly into Al’s eyes and, in a baffled tone, asked in unison, “Pardon?”

* * * * * * * * * *

As soon as Al had left, Jeff spoke again.  “You're right, Laur.  I was unaware of what you were saying until you mentioned it.  For once, I can't find any fault with any of your statements.”

“You can’t, can you?  Of Course you can't.  Don't be rid!” exclaimed Laur.

“What do you mean by ‘rid’?” asked Jeff, choosing his words with discretion.

“I purport it’s surd, prop, pet.”

“Never mind.  I'm beginning to sweat a bit, even in here.  Is there anything we can do to crank up the air-conditioning?”

“Not according to my standards.  We've already turned the air-conditioning to full blast.  I've attempted to stop all the air from escaping, but I could try again.”

“Yeah, go try again.  The animals could get killed if the heat keeps pounding.  You can do it!”

“Sure, sure.  Sure, Jeff.  I do all the work, while you just sit back and relax.  Great plan.  I wonder who thought of a scheme like that?  Never mind.  I'll figure it out myself.  Will you get off my case?  Just lay off, will you?”

“Laur, you're making it difficult for me.  Now stop it.”

“I'll stop, all right.  Boy, will I ever.  Yes, I'll stop.”  With that, Laur stomped to the latch and slipped out.

Next

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved by the owners of endlex.com   

Contact   Disclaimer  Privacy Policy