The Vulgus Chronicles

Vulgus Chronicles - Chapter 7

7

Manny nearly fell off the chair, and pain shot through his stumps as his fragmented femurs hit the floor hard. He shuffled as quickly as he could to the cabinet in the corner. He yanked the door open and pulled himself inside. They had worked out this and other hidey-holes should the Global Alliance make an unexpected visit. There wouldn't be anything he could do if they peeked inside, but at least he wouldn't be obvious.

More vigorous banging.

Cookie peeked around the towel hung on the back door's window. Two Global Alliance soldiers stood there bearing rifles, but looking more annoyed than on the ready. Soldiers often banged on the front door, while others waited near the back for anyone trying to escape, suggesting guilt for something. The one nearest the door turned the knob and pushed his way in.

"What seems to be the problem," Cookie said in her most courteous tone.

"Came to investigate shots fired by a patrol last night," the soldier bearing sergeant's stripes said. He stepped in and looked around. "You know anything about that?"

"Why no," Cookie said. "I mean, I heard the shots right outside. There was a pack of dogs barking and howling. But by the time I went to look, it was all over. A couple of soldiers were looking around, but they went away when the dogs scattered."

More banging at the front door.

"Doogan, go let them in," the sergeant directed the other soldier. "Look around."

Doogan complied, coming in and heading down the hall.

The sergeant scanned the kitchen focusing on the obvious. "What's all this?"

"Those are," she hesitated, "those are old games the boys at this school used to play with way back when. Dweasel found them, and he loves to take 'em apart and play with the pieces. He's always making some kind of mess."

Manny peeked out of a knothole that he'd knocked out for just such an occasion. His attention was riveted on happenings in the kitchen, but he couldn't help but notice the stench of rat urine emanating from the subtle breeze wafting from a hole in the wall.

"That's your name, Dweasel?" the sergeant said, looking at him.

Dweasel said nothing in return, just stared at the floor.

"What's wrong with you? Are you hiding something?" The sergeant approached in an intimidating way.

"He's special needs! He doesn't communicate like you and me," Cookie said.

"What's your name?" the sergeant asked.

Dweasel turned away a little and continued looking at the floor.

The sergeant whacked Dweasel in the back of the head causing his grimy hair to stand up. Dweasel cowered but said nothing.

"He's special needs! You don't need to do that," Cookie said.

"Shut up, old lady," the sergeant said.

Manny trembled in anger. His damn legs! If he still had them, he'd go into a rage and kill each of these soldiers by whatever means he could. Again, adrenaline coursed through his body as if what played in his mind was happening for real.

Footsteps could be heard on the second floor overhead, along with the banging of doors.

Although Cookie had cleaned the kitchen of blood during the night, the soldier named Doogan came back from the hall holding bloody towels found in the parlor. There wasn't much blood on them as the chili powder had been so effective on Manny's wounds.