Chapter Fifty-Six

Sengul

The five of them made it into Adoy’s little cave just as the sun went down.  To make enough room for all of them, Ares pushed the huge boulder that blocked off the middle of the cave to the far end where it would be easiest for the beasts to get in should they venture up this far.  It looked they might do just that.  All of them felt the watchful eyes of the animals surrounding them and heard their hungry snarls in the distance.  Bathed in a thick layer of sweat the God of war plopped down on the dirt floor and swiped a huge hand across his forehead.  His wounds re-opened while he pushed the heavy stone he looked down to see Ichor dripping from his flank.  The small task of pushing the stone had taken more out of him than he would have thought.  At least that end of the cave was safe from attack.  The boulder pushed up nearly flush with the wide entrance at the other end.

“You all right?”  Ares looked up to see Daniel crouched over him.

“I’m fine,” he groused through labored breath.  “Don’t worry Jackson; I’ll do my best not to die before you find a way to save my Daughter.”

“Yeah, about that.”  Daniel said in a low voice and crouched down to be closer to his Father in-law.  “You heard me back there, my thoughts.”

“You know I did.”

“So that means the compound is wearing off, right?”

Ares felt the breath in his lungs hitch in his chest and he began to cough heartily before he could answer.  Specks of Ichor tainted saliva flew from his parched lips.  “I suppose it does.”  Jackson’s next query was going to be that anytime now Ares and Nicholas should start show signs of getting better.  He didn’t feel any better.  “Why did the vortex collapse?”

“Yeah, I’d like to hear your theories on that too.”  Jack said as he ducked down to squeeze into the small corridor Ares made by moving the boulder.

“I don’t know.”  Daniel admitted as he wondered how they had managed to open it at all from the other side if Calla was sleeping.  Perhaps Athena or Amy had made the attempt and they just weren’t strong enough to accomplish the task.  It was that theory that Daniel put forth for all of them to hear.  If that were the case then they would make another attempt soon.

“You don’t think its possible Sam’s learned how to open it?”  Jack asked as he rubbed the stubble on his chin.

“Could be, I guess.”  Daniel mused, “But up until a few days ago we didn’t know such a thing even existed right under our feet.  It’s not likely Sam or any of the others have figured out to work it just yet.  Even if they did, then the same is true and they will try again very soon.  We just have to wait it out and be ready when the opportunity comes.”  To that end, it would be better if they had a straight shot to the other side of the mountain but now there was a huge stone blocking the path.  They would have to make the climb up and over the ledge and scramble down the other side.  Daniel was amazed Ares and Nick managed to make the climb up the small mountainside then made the sharp descent to the precipice.  Getting back up and over wasn’t going to be any small accomplishment for either of them.  There was no space to push the boulder aside and make a hasty exit.  “No matter what we have to be ready to move.”

“Move…yeah.”  Jack mumbled looking around him and hoping the folks back home held off on that next attempt until sunrise Sengul time. 

“Much it is not but welcome you are.”  Adoy said with a haphazard grin on his old face.  “Tea?”

Jack nodded and gave out the same haphazard grin. “Why not?”  He made his way back to the small kitchen area of the cave with Adoy.

Daniel rummaged around in the knapsack until he came upon the inner bag of medical supplies.  Handing out two doses of antibiotics and painkillers Ares sneered at him. “Who made you Florence Nightingale?”

Clearing his throat to hold back the comment rising on his lips, he forced a smile.  “Just swallow them.”  He turned to Nick who looked worn out.  “You?”

“Stop hovering.”  Nick advised and began to peel away the bandage from his calf so he could replace it with a clean one.  “Go make tea or something.”

“Fine.”  Daniel wandered off toward the front of the cave.

End of Chapter Fifty-Six of
Golden Years
by Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling
Go to
Chapter Fifty-Seven