The Towers of Adrala

Chapter 5 - Not for Human Hands (Part One)

Not for Human Hands

“History is not measured by any divisible sections of time. It is measured by moments, and by moments will the last days of Adrala be remembered.”

-Excerpt from the Book of Idusces

“One,” said Zook, taking hold of the man's foot.

“Two,” said Ladro, gripping the shoulders.

“Three!” they shouted together as Zook yanked the leg straight. There was a sickening grinding noise as the broken bones slid over each other and fell back into place. The man shouted in agony, but quickly fell into harsh gasping.

“You make this look too easy, mate,” said Ladro, helping Zook put together a splint, “Very lucky the best Doctor on the island got out of that nastiness in one piece.”

“Healer,” corrected Zook.

“Healer, Doctor, the only ones who the difference matters to is the bloody Board, but they're pricks aren't they all?”

Zook told the wounded man the standard don't-do-anything-that-involves-standing speech and then he and Ladro left.

“Another smile,” Ladro said with a chuckle, “I really should keep count.”

“I'm just-”

“Glad to see me alive,” Ladro finished for him, “Same goes for you, mate. Though it shouldn't take the world ending to make you smile more'n twice a day. You should try laughing sometime, endorphins y'know.”

“Cut me some slack-” Zook began when a metallic screech made them cover their ears.

“What by Judgment was that?” asked Ladro, permanent cheeriness wavering.

Why does this sound familiar? thought Zook, looking around. A low vibrating groan rose from the ground, sounding eerily like a great wounded whale. It quickly rose in volume and then the sound struck Zook.

“The supports!” Zook shouted over the noise.

“What?' Ladro shouted back.

“The supports under the island, holding it up! This is how they sound right before they-”

Zook was interrupted by another shriek cutting off the groan, followed by a grinding, crunching snap. The ground shifted and they stumbled. Zook wheeled back to keep his balance and his heel caught on something, tripping him. He looked at what made him fall and saw that a sharp ridge, about ten centimeters high, had risen from the ground. Zook followed with his eyes and saw that it snaked away beneath the encampment, dividing it quite neatly in half. There was another groan and the ground on the other side of ridge fell a few centimeters.

Half of the camp was sinking.

“Dark Ignorance...” Ladro whispered. His grin was unfailing, but humorless.

“We're sinking!”

Hearing this terrified shout was like an electric shock, Zook was back on his feet before he knew it.

“Get everyone out to safety,” he said to a bewildered Ladro, “Anyone who can walk should be carrying someone who can't.”

“Right, yes, mate,” said Ladro, still looking at the slowly rising ridge, “Good plan, but, I mean right mate, but isn't it...wasn't it enough that we were nearly exterminated, now this is...”

“Move, Ladro!” Zook shouted and the grinning man ran off. Zook ran back to the tent they had just left and began helping the man with a broken leg limp to where the ground was still. A guard was waiting for him, one of the ones that had dug him out, Karl.