* * *
Treston swerved back and forth avoiding other traffic as he pushed forward along the congested roadway. The entire army was in a retreat, approaching a rout. PalaHar was anxious to get back to the command center after hearing of General DinChizki sustaining a major concussion in a bombing raid, also being informed that most of the general’s staff had been killed.
Things were chaotic on the road. A few armored units were struggling north against a reckless tide of men and machines retreating south. Leadership was almost nonexistent, what with the constant shelling and strafing. If something wasn’t done soon, all would be lost.
Slamming the quarter-deuce into all-wheel drive, Treston abandoned the road, attempting to make his way through the debris-filled fields. Alynnou sat in the front next to Treston, grimly watching for dangers ahead, shouting out as she saw them. PalaHar sat behind Treston, giving direction when necessary.
Ishtar sat beside PalaHar, sickly-faced and panic-stricken. Just that morning, for the first time in her life, she had become the perpetrator of death, causing it in a most gruesome way. It wasn’t like anything she imagined. Their camp was overrun by a commando unit bent on capturing the general and his staff. How they knew he was there was a mystery.
Ishtar froze, her automatic rifle in hand as a commando charged her. It was Alynnou’s shouting that spurred the girl to action. She pulled the trigger. The rifle went off in one long ‘blu-u-urrp!’ emptying the bullet clip. Ishtar watched in horror as her attacker’s head disappeared in a crimson cloud, the man’s body crashing into the girl, knocking her to the ground, spattering blood and gore all over Ishtar’s face and uniform, the evidence of that collision still visible as the auto bounced through the field.
It felt like ages before Treston reached the wide valley plain. Hidden in a massive whiteout stood the hills to the south from which PalaHar and DinChizki had discussed the ensuing battle.
PalaHar tapped Treston on the shoulder and pointed toward the hills. “See there, about two miles? We’ll set our command post up there.”
Treston pressed the accelerator to gain speed for an uphill climb. The bank was too steep, forcing him to stop and back down to level ground. He searched for another way to go. Spotting a narrow ravine that cut its way up through the impassable grade, he shoved the machine into gear and let go the clutch. They had moved little more than thirty feet when a mortar round exploded near them, flipping the quarter-deuce over, throwing Treston from the machine.
Treston picked himself up and limped back toward the autocar. He had been thrown twenty feet, but was only bruised and shaken. Alynnou appeared to be all right as she hustled around to offer help. PalaHar was holding his arm but, other than that, seemed to be unhurt. Ishtar was another story. The girl was on the ground screaming in pain, her knees doubled up under her with both hands gripping her head, rocking back and forth in agony.
Treston shouted to Alynnou. “Check on the general!” as he hurried over to Ishtar. Getting close, Treston could instantly see something was terribly wrong. The snow was covered in blood, with more dripping from the girl’s face. Bending down, he took a close look pulling Ishtar’s hands away from her head. A chunk of jagged metal had smashed into the left side of Ishtar’s face, severing an ear, ripping away a large chunk of her scalp and crushing her jaw.
Ishtar began to gag. Treston reached into her mouth, pulling out several broken teeth along with pieces of torn flesh. He tried to speak reassuringly to her, but Ishtar was already going into shock. “She has to be carried!” He shouted over his shoulder.
“I can’t help you!” Alynnou shouted back as she busied herself assisting PalaHar who was injured worse than Treston had believed.
With a grunt, he picked up the now unconscious Ishtar, putting her over his shoulder. “Up that ravine!” he shouted, leading the way.
Missiles of every sort rained down on the retreating army. Treston concluded it would only be a matter of time before they were hit and killed. His mind raced back to another day when things appeared as hopeless. It was a day not so different from this one, except the wild men from the north were attacking with spears and swords. He remembered the flaming bags of oil as they smashed all around, incinerating many of his men. What was it he did to keep from panicking that day? Treston pondered a moment. ‘Oh, yes’ now he remembered. His mother’s lullaby! That was it!
Treston began to belt out the little song. “Listen my little child and here me sing a love song for only your ears. The winter winds howl and darkness creeps close, but the hearth fire makes it cozy in here.”
He sang the second verse. “A man went a walking to the song a bird. He wandered far and lost sight of his home. He fell into danger from a trove of old trolls, who tried to frighten him clear to his bones.”
As he continued to sing, Treston could feel his muscles relax. Reaching the last verse, he belted out the words. “So my child, please listen and learn from me, please, from the Lord of Distress do not quail. When you see him out walking to the song of a bird, keep your distance from him and prevail.”
He was soon up the rise, Alynnou close behind, she assisting the general. Treston began the lullaby again. At least it kept his spirits up. He was hoping it was doing the same for the others.
They had managed about a fourth of a mile when Alynnou shouted for Treston to stop. He lay the unconscious Ishtar down in the snow and went over to the general. PalaHar’s breathing was shallow and raspy. Speaking through pale lips, the general apologized, “I’m sorry, Colonel, but I just can’t keep up.”
Treston smiled. “That’s all right, Sir. Just lay back and rest.” He pulled at PalaHar’s coat. “Let me take a look-see.”
Alynnou watched over Treston’s shoulder as he lifted the general’s shirt. Several ugly puncture wounds covered his chest. Alynnou quickly turned away, pretending to busy herself with other things. Tears ran down her cheeks as she hummed Treston’s little song.
PalaHar could see the concern on Treston’s face. “I guess we’ve had a rough day today, right, Colonel?”
Treston nodded, attempting to return the general’s smile. “The weather’s been hotter than expected, Sir. We’ll rest here a bit. Maybe I can get us some help.”
He started to get up, but PalaHar grabbed his leg. “Colonel, get the child to safety...” Then looking at Alynnou, whose back was still to him, he requested, “Take care of my girl for me. She’s too precious to lose, you know.”
“Yes, Sir. I’ll take care of ‘em. Won’t leave ‘em behind.”
Treston looked up to see the first of the enemy armor entering the valley floor. “General…?” He saw PalaHar close his eyes and let out a breath. “Yes, Sir, I’ll take care of ‘em.”
Shaking Alynnou’s arm, Treston shouted, “We’ve gotta go!” He went back to Ishtar, picked her up and began to leave. Turning around, he found Alynnou cradling the general in her arms. She looked at Treston and shook her head. “I can’t leave him! I won’t leave him!”
Treston became desperate. “We can’t carry them both! We gotta go! Now!”
“You take the girl...” Alynnou turned back to the general. “I can’t leave him here! You go...”
For the first time in his life, Treston disobeyed his own counsel, ‘What good will it do, staying to help a companion if you both die? There are times when you have to leave the others behind.’
Walking back, Treston lay Ishtar down beside PalaHar. He sat on one knee and took Alynnou’s arm, peering into her troubled face. “We shall face the dragon together.” He drew his sidearm, checking it, and then smiled. “God’s will...”