“Welcome back, Dreadnought,” I said. “Welcome as well your companion.
“He is named Indefatigable and is the Area Commander. That is Floyd with the beard, the other is Jim.”
Indefatigable did not shake hands but instead hit his closed right fist against his chest with an echoing thud. We did the same since it never hurts to learn the local customs.
“Why did you come here?” Indefatigable asked in a most cold and quizzical manner. I took slight umbrage.
“You might say we came to save your companion from certain death by the firing squad-your thanks are appreciated.”
“If you had not come he would not have fired and have been condemned to death.”
“Good point. But I do remember that he fired because of a group decision. Are you part of that group?”
I saw now that Indefatigable’s brusque manner was a cover-up for the fact that he was very nervous. He chewed his lower lip and his eyes flicked from one to the other of us. He even looked down at the fake dog which barked. Finally, with great reluctance he spoke.
“I cannot answer that. But I have been instructed to take you to those who may answer your question. Now-you must answer my question. Why did you come here?”
“No point in keeping it a secret. We came here to find those who blew up a certain building and stole from it-and from us-an object of great importance.”
This news seemed to relax him a bit. He stopped the lip chewing and Dreadnought almost smiled; leaned forward to whisper something in his companion’s ear. They both nodded, then remembered where they were and snapped into a military brace.
“You will come with us,” Indefatigable said, making it sound like an order.
“Perhaps,” I said. I hate orders. “But you must tell us first -will it be dangerous?”
“We are born into danger; we leave it only when we die.”
It sounded like a quotation of some kind-particularly since Dreadnought’s lips moved along with his.
“Yes, well, that is a pretty general philosophical statement. But I was speaking specifically about like right now.”
“You will be protected,” he answered, trying to control the sneer at our feeble physiques and his obvious superiority.
“Oh, thank you,” Floyd said with eye-popping sincerity. “With that kind of reassurance of course we will go with you. Isn’t that right, Jim?”
“Absolutely, Floyd. With their protection we need not feel insecure.” He could eat them-and a dozen more-for breakfast, but there was no point in bragging.
We reached for our packs but Indefatigable stopped us. “You bring nothing. No weapons. You must trust us.”
Floyd shrugged agreement since he was always armed. “At least some water first,” I said. Picking up my canteen and drinking a bit. Palming a number of small bombs as I put it back. “And of course our companion, our pet dog goes with us.
Fido played its role by barking, sticking out its tongue and panting. Then overplayed its role by lifting its hind leg on my pack. Though this bit of canine ham acting may have convinced our new militaristic mates, because they nodded agreement.
“We must cover your eyes,” Dreadnought said, pulling out two black scarves. “So you do not discover the secret of the entrance to Shelter.”
“If you mean the slab of rock under the polpettone trees that swings open, you can forget the blindfolds.”
“How do you know this!”
“Just say that we do. Now-do we go with you?”
They looked stricken by my revelation, stepped aside and conversed in quick whispers. Returned reluctantly, all scowls again.
“You will come. Quickly.”
We dogtrotted, including the dog, to the grove, then followed Dreadnought down the ladder into the tunnel beneath the slab. Fido barked, and when I looked up launched itself down at me. I caught it, then dropped it. Looked gloomily into the darkness as Indefatigable closed the lid.
I just hoped that we had made the right decision because my days were still running out. Going underground like this was a little too reminiscent of the grave. ‘
And it would be my grave if I didn’t get the antidote in time.