Chapter 34 Torin
TORIN
My sight was gone, my head roared. My movements were grasping and slow, struggling as I lay near-dead in the dirt. M’skin felt hot, I was confused, what had happened — where was I?
I got a hand under m’shoulder and with a shakin’ arm lifted my back up.
Then I sat, my elbows on m’knees, lookin’ around dazedly.
The world had slowed, and roared, and was thick with dust and smoke.
I wiped m’forearm across my eyes, shakin’ m’head tae clear it.
I yanked on my ears. There was a black ring smokin’ on the lawn where the thing had burst.
I turned tae look behind me. The horses had gone mad in their paddock, racin’, kickin’ up gravel, runnin’ along the far fence, turnin’, goin’ the other way, turnin’ again, a frantic race, tryin’ tae get away.
The rumblin’ of their hooves on the ground vibrated the earth, their frantic breaths filled the air.
Risin’ dust caused me tae cough up dirt. I spit intae the grass.
Och nae.
I was confused. The thick air made it difficult tae see.
Where was Alexandria?
I lumbered tae m’feet and staggered tae the rail on the porch, findin’ m’self standin’, swayin’, lookin’ up at the house. A window had a crack webbed across the glass, but the house held. I couldna believe twas still in one piece.
But twas empty, the landscape was silent — stillness after a storm except for the small bang of the door as it shifted on a loose hinge.
Clutchin’ the rail, I slowly heaved m’self up the stair. Dude walked up and rubbed on my leg. I forced out a question, “Did ye see which way they went, cat?”
My voice sounded gruff and hoarse. He opened his mouth but I couldna hear him.
At the top step I looked out over the lawn. I hadna seen anything, I dinna ken how they left or which way they went. I called, weakly, “Alexandria! Alexandria!” I fumbled with the door handle and pushed m’way inside. “Alexandria!”
The house was dead still, just a soft, steady rumble fillin’ my ears. Night threw all the rooms intae shadowed darkness.
I looked from room tae room for any sign of her, tae make certain she wasna here but unconscious.
She was dragged away. But I had tae be sure.
I couldna remember how tae turn on the lights.
I stared at the lamp, confused by the blast, forgettin’ the lesson on turnin’ it on.
The house remained dark. I peered intae each room, looking around without a flame.
But found nothing troubling in the front rooms.
I continued down the hall tae find the door tae the cellar standin’ open. Had I checked it tae make certain nae one was there?
I looked down the steps intae the gaping darkness but couldna remember how tae turn the light on.
I hadna checked.
This had been a terrible, shameful error.
I slowly climbed the stair tae the second floor lookin’ in all the rooms and found in her closet the signs of a struggle. Her belongings strewn about.
She had been taken — I had a vessel. I could follow her and rescue her, but I had nae idea where she was.
I was verra thirsty. I needed tae drink something while I thought this through.
I crossed tae the sink in the small garderobe and twisted it on. My hands shook from the near death blast. They were filthy, I rubbed them vigorously in the water, allowin’ the cold water tae go from muddy tae clear, then drank from my palms.
When I had quenched my thirst, I rested my palms on the edge of the sink, closed my eyes, and tried tae calm my breaths.
Och nae, what would I do?
I raised m’eyes tae look in the glass in the dim light, and what I saw there in m’face was unsettling — dark shadows and anguish under a thick layer of soot and dirt.
I pulled a cloth off a bar on the wall, ran it under the water, and briskly toweled off m’face, until I could almost bear tae look m’self in the eyes.
I had lost Alexandria.
My wife was gone.
Taken by men, I dinna ken where.
I relieved m’self in the toilet and then Dude walked in and began tae meow. I heard him, faintly.
“Ye lookin’ for Alexandria? I am as well.”
I exhaled.
Twas fully night now. I needed tae consider where tae go. I returned downstairs and went out the back door tae check on the horses.
A light blazed on when I stepped from the house, and the horses approached when I drew close tae the fence as if they wanted my assurances that twould be alright.
I spoke tae them in soothing tones. “I ken twas frightening, I am glad ye are well, I am sorry that ye were frightened,” and filled their trough with fresh water.
They seemed tae be forgetting the explosion from earlier. I petted Cathbarr. “Ye ken if ye can sleep, ye ought tae rest, we are headed tae a battle. Once I find Alexandria, we will go tae war.” The horse nuzzled against my cheek.
I left their tack piled so I could gather it easily when twas time tae go.
I slowly returned tae the kitchen. There was a dim light burning, I couldna find another tae brighten the room the way Alexandria would. I slumped down intae a chair, pulled the vessel from m’pocket, and placed it on the table.
Twas working, but I couldna make out the numbers in the dim light.
I scrubbed my hands up and down on my face, I was havin’ trouble thinking clearly. I needed tae ken where tae go.
This was too dangerous.
Where had she been taken?
I had only seen the men in a flash, but they looked modern tae my eyes.
Dude jumped on the table, trilling, and lookin’ at me pointedly.
“Ye hungry, Dude?”
He blinked and nudged my arm with his head.
I went tae the cold box, opening the door, the light blaring, causing my eyes tae sting. I found a beer bottle and after some fumblin’ figured out how tae open it by twistin’ the cap and yankin’ it clear. “Dude, tis not for ye, tis for me.”
I drank from the beer then searched for good cat food, findin’ a package with sliced beef.
I put it on the counter, used a knife tae stab the package and sliced it open.
Dude’s expression was cross.
“It might not be yer favorite, Dude, but ye need tae ken, ye eat when ye are near food. Ye canna put it off for a better time, ye might miss that next meal.”
I peeled off a slice for Dude and laid it at his paws on the table. “Eat up.”
I leaned against the counter and watched him eat, staring at the vessel.
I could wait tae return tae the Uncles and Max tae fight the battle, I had a time travel device, twould still go as planned.
But what of Alexandria? How would I find her?
She was gone — then I heard a verra far away voice, “Torin!”