The Cursed Sun

Before making our way to the camp, we waited for setting of the sun. It would be better to work in the dark and free of Mutan interference. Finally, with the arrival of twilight, we left. Vinc traveled with us while the rest of his men rode away to a safer destination closer to the Wasteland. His mood hadn't improved, but at least this time he rode in a sullen silence instead of speaking. Using a borrowed horse, Kalam led our little group with considerable skill, picking the best route to travel without being seen. Above, the moon was nothing but a sliver, cloaking our movements in darkness. But the closer we progressed to the silo, the lighter the horizon became. It was still night, so I was reminded of my escape from the valley when the Mutans had blocked our exit, keeping the area lit with massive fires.

  My worst fear was true. Reaching the crest of a hill, I saw countless bonfires grouped around two high hills. It was the Mutans, laying siege to the remnants of the local Mujadeen. I motioned for the others to stop and dismount. After pulling myself down from the back of my horse, I got down on my belly and crawled forward. Once I was at the very top of the hill, I stopped to watch. I was soon joined by the others.

  “There must be thousands of those cursed creatures down there,” I said as I watched the flickering flames.

  “Aye,” Vinc said. “I never imagined they were such a force. We must give up this foolish errand and return to the Council.”

  Suvan, who was keeping her distance from Vinc, said, “I'm sure we could reach one of this hills if we really tried. Most of the Mutan interest seems centered around those walls. What do you think, Mikel?”

  “You'll be throwing your life away,” Vinc said. His tone was almost pleading. He really was deeply in love with Suvan. Not that I could blame him.

  “We can only try,” I said with little conviction. I really wasn't looking forward to taking the risk, but I did not want Vinc proven right either. But if this missile was as powerful as claimed, then it would be necessary to destroy it before it could be used. Such a hellish device had already caused enough damage. The Ancients could not control their own impulses for destruction, how could we hope to do so?

  “Let's get going,” Suvan said impatiently. Without a further word, she slid down the hill and disappeared into the gloom below.

  Before joining her, I first pulled the lengths of rope off of my horse. After a friendly handshake with Kalam and a glare from Vinc, I clambered down the slope of the hill. At the bottom I found Suvan waiting for me.

  “Vinc is such a bore,” she whispered in my ear. “I'm sorry.” She then kissed me lightly on the cheek before walking away.

  Even though I was about to face death, I now felt happier than I had ever felt before. I also felt like a fool for having falling in love with such a woman. She was mischievous, clever and completely unpredictable, but I would do anything for her. I ran to catch up to Suvan and took her by the arm. We were soon holding hands, making me feel younger than my years.

  Treading carefully, our heads held low, we came to the first line of bonfires without any of the enemy seeing us. Apparently the Mutans had no watch or patrols to guard against attack. Since they had already destroyed the local Mujadeen army, perhaps they felt secure in their numbers. There was nothing left here for them to fear.

  From our vantage point all I could see were sleeping Mutans, their dark bodies huddled together around the blazing fires. But still, this was no time to be incautious; it would only take one mistake, and we would be killed. Pushing aside my fear, we went on. But the further we went, the tighter Suvan's clasp became. By the quake of her hand, I could tell she was feeling as frightened as I was. The chill of the desert night seemed even colder than before, causing my neck to prickle with unease. But on we went, every fire we passed yet another bridge to cross.

  When we reached the halfway point, the number of Mutans increased dramatically. They were now practically littering the ground, sleeping with ever-present muttering and twitching as if suffering from some terrible nightmare. Their evil smell was now thick in the air, making my nostrils recoil in disgust. At this point Suvan's grip was like a vice, the nails biting hard into the palm of my hand. We moved more cautiously than ever here, stepping quietly and gently over the sleeping Mutans. Every step was torture, knowing it would only take one little mistake to awaken the wrath of these terrible creatures.

  In such circumstances, time has a way of moving at a glacial crawl. A normal minute is a fleeting thing, but now every second was like molasses. It seemed like hours when we finally reached the last ring of bonfires. It was here that the Mutans were thickest. There was hardly anywhere to step now that the ground was nearly solid-black with the shadows thrown by the reposed bodies of these malicious beasts. But here and there, Suvan still found a place to step, guiding me through this dangerous maze of breathing Mutans.

  So intent was I on our progress that I nearly missed a movement to our left. I suddenly stopped, causing Suvan to almost lose the grip of my hand. Around a blazing fire, some fifty yards away, was a ring of sleeping Mutans, their bodies forming a protective wall. Inside this wall of evil flesh there was a little white tent where a human was pacing back and forth as if deep in thought. It was Tahn.

  As soon as Suvan saw what I was looking at, she let out a choked-off gasp.

  Even though I shouldn't be, I was still surprised myself. It only made sense that Tahn would oversee the march of his army of mutations, but to see him out of the city still came as a shock to my senses. My intuition had been correct – Tahn was not only the creator of these foul beasts, but like a general, he was leading them against humanity. This was a worse crime than anything the Mujadeen had ever done.

  But why was he here? I suddenly remembered the message I was carrying – Than had read it when I was knocked out by that foul drug. He was here for the missile too!

  Suvan’s hand dropped from mine. Straddling a Mutan, she had already notched an arrow into her bow.

  “Don’t!” I whispered urgently.

  “But I can get him from here,” she shot back.

  “If you miss or don’t kill him right away, then he’ll have a chance to give the alarm. We won’t have a chance,” I warned her, hoping she could keep her natural impulsiveness under control.

  Our hushed words still weren’t quite enough. The Mutan under her feet rolled on his side, his back resting against Suvan's calf. After some hesitation, she slowly slid the arrow back into her quiver.

  Letting out a sigh of relief, I glanced once more at Tahn, wishing I could somehow extinguish his life. Without him, the Mutans would have no direction or force. They would have no choice but to break apart and return to their warrens in the City of the Wasteland. But to kill him here would also end my own life. With a shake of my head, I returned my attention to making my way to the hill beyond.

  Chapter 31