The Sleeping Army Awakes

Part 22 Chasing boys and dodging Skidges

Stepa and Greta were disappointed that they had missed out on their usual goodbye hugs from the boys, but having read the boys' unblocked minds, they were not particularly surprised at their hasty departure down the hill to finish their beloved project. The two girls both recognised that Fish-sub was Slepý Bobek's and Bláznivý Marek's real love, and that any romantic notions that the girls held, would take second place, until the sub was finished but they also knew that annoying though the state of affairs was; neither of them could respect the boys, if they hadn't finished what they had started.

Having said that, the girls were curious about their rival for the boy's affections, so by silent agreement, they followed the boys, to see what the fuss was all about. But they were taking a chance, because it was a violation just to be near that area. 

Over halfway down the hill from the school, the girls had to avoid the same pair of roving Skidges that had attacked the boys, flying from the direction of the boathouse. They heard the buzz of the rotors, dived into into some tall grass, pulled the long wet strands on top of themselves and lay there as motionless as possible.

The strategy of diving down into the wet green blades, meant that their bodies would present, an atypical thermal outline of a human to the Skidges. The sophisticated Skidge targeting software, would interpret the images from the infra red sensors as possible remnants of spontaneous methane burning and therefore not worthy of further investigation.

The Skidges flitted around like large humming birds, seeking the best bloom to drink from, but they had a far darker purpose than thirst. They constantly changed the angle of incidence for their sensors, so that they could get a firm position for the target and send the coordinates to the second pair. But having done that and already having exhausted their supply of ceramic pellets they quickly left.

The Skidges always worked in formations of two pairs, following each other a few minutes apart, So that if the first pair ran our of ammunition then the second pair could mop up what the first pair couldn't. Stepa and Greta knew that when the first pair left they still had to be vigilant and keep low down for when the second pair turned up. They crawled forward cautiously through the grass until they reached the rushes, trying to stay as low to the ground as possible, not even caring how much mud and chlorophyll accumulated on their patchwork dresses.

The Skidges were merely on automatic patrol, albeit one programmed without any regard to the territory that they were supposed to be guarding. Kelp had modified, or more accurately, interfered with their patrols to allow them to stalk game. The boys had also been accurate that he had accidentally pressed control W, or at least, the sweating joint of mouflon had been resting on the control key, when he had inadvertently pressed "w" reaching for another jar of cider.  

"How is it that those boys always get through without trouble?" Greta asked telepathically, unaware that Slepý Bobek and Bláznivý Marek had been forced to dive for cover and that they had both been shot at, narrowly escaping injury.

"Perhaps Bobičku and Marku are so small that Skidges can't see them?" Stepa speculated mischievously.

"I don't think so... Skidges can see very small things." Greta countered, taking the comment more seriously than it had been meant. "I think that old Sacha does something to old Kelp."

"With her cider?" Stepa thought conspiratorially "And other things!"

This last statement was heavily laced with innuendo but although Stepa had been accurate about the cider; she was totally wrong about the salacious "other things" because Sacha had never had anything other than contempt for Kelp. The only thing that the two had in common was that they drank too much. Old Kelp was drunk and as usual had finished off a whole jar of Sacha's finest cider, his bribe ironically to ensure that the Skidges left the kids alone, and he was eating  his lunch of grilled mouflon. He currently sat snoring in front of his monitors.