A Song of Spiders

Chapter 16 - The Flood

They woke, washed and ate then crept out passed Charlie. He was lying on his back and snoring loudly. Once back at the quay, they took the second skiff and Dex began to move them back they way they came. 

‘We have to make sure Charlie gets this back, it’d not be fair to pay back his kindness by stealing his boat.’ said Karma.

‘We will make sure he gets it back.’ said Rachel.

Dex took out Jack and said ‘OK, can you direct us back to the Time Tours offices? You can still do normal phone stuff, right?’

Jack's eyes glowed and it answered ‘Aye laddie, I can, follow this tunnel, then take the third right.’

'No. We have to help the other Roamers first. The church will be planning to kill them all.' said Rachel.

'How can we help them though? Tommy and his men will easily find and catch us down here.' said Dex.

'Exactly, that is step one of the plan. We wander about until they find us. Hopefully, step two will simply present itself, because I have no ideas.'said Rachel grimly.

Dex and Karma exchanged a worried look.

They set out. They had been travelling a while when suddenly there were shouts all around. Rifles pointed at them from all around the pool of light their mobiles made. Then they heard a familiar voice.

‘Caught us a few rats, eh men?’ It was Tommy.

They were tied up and gagged then thrown into the men's skiff. They said little, just brought them back to Dubh Linn and dumped them in Tommy's large room. He crouched down beside Karma, not looking at Rachel who was staring angrily at him. He said quietly,

‘You got away from me once, but it didn’t last long did it? I’m a great rat catcher so I am and the cat likes to play with its prey sometimes.’ Karma tried to kick him, but missed.

‘You’re thinking I betrayed you all, am I right?’ Karma nodded vigorously, still gagged.

He raised his voice slightly ‘Well, what you do not understand is I have responsibilities that you tour guides for fat tourists have no idea of.’ He stood and turned away from her. He spoke looking out over the small Dubh Linn community, just visible in the torchlight.

‘Our people Karma have been forgiven for our sins. Soon, we will be allowed to re-enter Chthonic society up above. That is all I've ever wanted for our people. Our people Karma, have you forgotten us? While you've been up there swanning around, we've been down here. It’s like being buried alive. This is the only way to arise again. There had to be sacrifices. So what if I gave them Cabot and the others? In less than an hour they will be on the road to redemption and re-education. Our people will be free again Karma.’

‘No Tommy.’ said Minnie. ‘The tea-leaves reveal the truth. I've seen a great flood, and an ark.’ She was standing calmly in the corner, looking into a saucer of tea leaves and turning it in the firelight.

‘Stop your talk woman, your leaves have not got us out of this. We will be free again. I'm going to meet Cabot, the church will arrest him when he turns up. Then the bargain is made. We will be able to feel the sun on our back again, like human beings.’ He stood and stormed out. They heard him shouting to his men that they were leaving.

After all was quiet again, Minnie rose and calmly walked towards Rachel. She took out a small sharp knife as she did so. She crouched down beside her and tapped the knife on her hand. ‘I'll gut you all like fish if you don't do exactly what I say. Do we have a deal?’ They all looked at her and nodded. Minnie called for two other women who came up and also drew long knives from under their long skirts. Minnie cut off their bindings on their feet and hands, then their mouths. They all sat up in the floor warily watching her.