Zen stepped forward and bowed before speaking. “Toksu and I were captured. Luckily, Enapay and his reinforcements came back to rescue us.” Zen looked profoundly serious when he addressed Ohitekah, which she found funny. Zen seemed out of place, yet the others regarded him as if he were royalty. The young man intrigued her.
“I have vital information concerning the raiders we need to discuss immediately,” Zen said, a trace of impatience in his tone.
Ohitekah nodded slowly before addressing Neva. “I do hope you have a good story to tell us as we sit to eat our morning meal.”
She touched her hollow belly. “If you provide the food, I will provide the story.”
“Then we'll eat at once,” Ohitekah said to the entire group. “We have much to talk about, it seems.”
THE SPIRIT ROOM WAS ILLUMINATED by various lamps on the walls and the circular bonfire raging in the center. The head table was full of cooked meats, breads, and vegetables. Zen noticed this morning's feast looked just as elaborate as their evening meal and felt immediately famished at the sight of it.
Neva managed to tell her story in between the three loaded plates of pork and exotic vegetables she consumed, each in a matter of minutes. Chief Ohitekah and a dozen Elders remained attentive and conveyed their sorrow as Neva described her tragedies.
She spoke of her true love's untimely death and how she married a scoundrel for his money. Her voice trembled when she recounted how she learned of her new husband's betrayal, and that the man called Geller had taken her son across the ocean.
The chief's wife, sitting at her husband's side, was especially sensitive to Neva's plight. She even got up from her seat to embrace their guest. Neva accepted the gesture with reluctant eyes. Zen's urgency concerning the Iberian cannons evaporated as he listened to Neva recount her struggles in Francia. She had proven to be a capable warrior, but Zen was reminded of his own mother when Neva described her emotions at having her son taken. His own mother's strength may have been silent, but it was firm. Neva was similarly indomitable.
Her tale turned to Agrios and having been imprisoned by Cheng. The Elders in the Spirit Room cheered with enthusiasm as she described her showdown with Jaarg. She went into every detail leading up to putting that final bullet through Cheng's champion, and it was easy to see the warrior's pride in her eyes while she boasted of her victory.
The chief assured her that the Nabeho would help. Neva's eyes welled up with tears, and she continued eating in silence.
“What did you learn at the Oraibi village?” Ohitekah asked Zen directly.
“Cheng is a disgraced Xian military leader,” Zen replied. “I saw about three hundred men in the town.”
Ohitekah's eyebrows arched. “Maybe the rest of his forces are spread out elsewhere?”
Zen nodded. “Perhaps. I discovered Cheng was in possession of twenty Iberian cannons. They were hidden in a storage building.”
“Which I blew up,” Enapay added before he took a hearty bite from a loaf of buttered bread.
“Blew up?” Ohitekah's worried face melted away. He gave Enapay a quick slap on the back. “You destroyed their weapons?”
“He did,” Zen answered for him. “However, we cannot be sure it was their only armory.”
Itan had been silent all morning, but the bold military leader finally spoke up. “Zenjiro is right. We can't assume all of Cheng's weapons were destroyed. He might have more stored elsewhere. Or he can get replacements.”
Ohitekah was silent for a moment before asking Zen, “What do you believe will be Cheng's next move?”
Zen put down his spoon. “My initial thought is that he will assemble his entire army. If only half of his forces are local, it could take days to complete. If he does have any functioning cannons left, he will use them. If not, he will employ his ground forces to volley other types of explosives over your wall.”
“Without artillery, his offensive would be foolish,” Ohitekah said with a smirk. “Even if they were to approach in vehicles, they would have to get close enough to launch their explosives at us, leaving them vulnerable to our defensive gunfire from our towers and wall.”
Neva stopped eating and spoke up. “Cheng is crazy. If attacking your fortress without heavy artillery is suicide, I would say Cheng is mad enough to do it.”
Ohitekah thought for a moment. “Zenjiro, what do you think?”
Zen mulled over Neva's insight. “Cheng has followed Xian strategy thus far, and logic tells me he will continue to do so. But Neva is right. He is, without a doubt, insane.”
“Is he bold enough to blindly attack my walls without the cannons?” Ohitekah asked.
Neva looked at the chief's wife at the head of the table across from her. “Yes. My victory disgraced him. Cheng is coming soon.”
Ohitekah turned to Toksu. “What do you believe?”
Toksu replied, “I believe he would lead his men to certain death to appease his ego and thirst for blood.”
Battle strategy and Zen's gut feeling were at odds; it was difficult to predict the actions of a madman. “Cheng is capable of acting irrationally. Neva did dishonor him in front of his men. We should prepare for the worst.”
Ohitekah got up from his chair, and his voice filled up the entire Spirit Hall. “We will fortify our defenses immediately. If Cheng does decide to attack, he and his men will meet certain death.”
The entire chamber erupted in a war cry, and Zen watched the chief's wife discreetly escort Neva out.
NIGHT WAS ABOUT TO GIVE way to morning.
Chief Ohitekah's wife, Winona, arranged to help Neva gather the supplies she needed. She also brought a healer to properly care for her thigh wound. Toksu secured an old recumbent roadster for her. Neva appreciated the Nabeho for supplying water and coal to last her several hundred miles before needing more fuel. Enapay handed her a map of central and southern Agrios.
Neva's belly was full, and her strength had returned. Her muscles were soothed by the hot bath she'd taken the night before. The new billowy white shirt and tan leggings Winona gave her were clean and comfortable. She wore her brown jacket to protect her from the wind, and she was eager to get going.
Enapay, Toksu, and Zen stood next to Neva's roadster when she got to the main gates. Thousands of Nabeho warriors bustled all around them, readying their fortress for invasion. The humid air was filled with a familiar mix of anxiety and fervor. The sun's light would be creeping into in the sky in a couple of hours, and she wanted to leave before dawn.
“You know where to begin?” Enapay asked while he checked her roadster's main boiler one final time.
Neva held up her new map. She noticed this was a more recent version than the one she left with the raiders. New roads crisscrossed through Agrios, and they gave her more alternatives than she originally thought.
“I will backtrack east for a little bit, but head south. I have a hunch Geller's caravan might be heading for the southern border crossing over into Mexihco.”
Toksu gave her a solemn look. “Be careful.”
“I will be.” Neva climbed into her vehicle. The old car was built for speed and lay close to the ground, but it looked sturdy enough.
“I can take one more scouting flight if you want, just to make sure the way is safe,” Enapay offered.
He'd taken the Dragonfly up twice already in the last three hours, surveilling the way ahead, for which Neva was thankful. She secretly wanted to ask for Enapay's help again, as the Dragonfly could cover more ground than the steam car, but she understood his duty to protect his village was his priority.
The engine started with a few sputters but grew into a full roar seconds later. She eased up on the regulator and allowed the engine to idle. The small smokestack in the rear rhythmically blew small clouds of steam.
“I pray for your victory as you continue your quest,” Zen said, raising his voice above the engine.
The foreign boy remained as much of a mystery to Neva now as when she had first met him; it was a pit
y she wouldn't get the opportunity to know him better. “I hope the same for you.”
She admitted there was a sliver of desire to stay and help the Nabeho. It was the old soldier in her longing for battle. But Marcel needed her, and the trail was getting colder with each passing minute.
One of the Nabeho guards signaled for the main gates to open. The interior steel portcullis slid upwards with a heavy clanking of metal chains, and the exterior gate drew open.
With one final wave of her hand, Neva stepped on the throttle pedal and powered her roadster through the open gates and outside the safety of the natives' wall.
ZEN HELD HIS NERIGAWA UP to the lantern and stared at the golden dragonfly emblem. He prayed silently to his ancestors before putting the armor back on the wooden table. He considered taking a nap since the small hogan had no windows to let the morning's early light in. A soft knock at the door made him jump. Zen opened it and let Enapay in.
Enapay pulled a wooden chair up to the table and sat down. “I know this place is small, but it's better than a prison cell.”
“Yes. Much better. How are the preparations coming along?”
“The chief has tripled the number of guards on the village walls,” Enapay replied. “My body wants to sleep, but I keep finding more work to be done.”
Zen's own eyelids felt heavy. “My body yearns for sleep as well. I think I might give in for once,” he said. “You should do the same.”
The blue stone around Zen's neck emitted no light or heat since he had escaped from the raiders. Zen had wondered if it glowed because of Neva, but she was long gone now. He felt lost and spiritually off course. His body was weary, and his strength and faith both wavered. It took effort to maintain piety.
Enapay broke the silence. “Listen, you don't have to do this. This isn't your fight. You've already stuck your neck out more than once for my people.”
The need for sleep was overwhelming. “I am here for a reason,” Zen said more to himself than to Enapay. “Ohitekah made me a member of your tribe, remember? We are practically brothers.” He smiled, which became a yawn. “After we defeat the raiders, I will get my weapons back. I cannot lose my sword.”
“It's that important to you?”
Zen nodded. “To my people, the sword is the embodiment of the soul.” His eyes blinked with fatigue. “Like the sacred spear that hangs in your War Room.”
Enapay stood up. “Get some rest. I doubt Cheng will attack in broad daylight. I might go back up one more time in the Dragonfly.”
Without another word, Enapay left the one-room cabin and shut the door. Zen turned down the lantern's light on the table and finally allowed his body to swim in the sea of sleep.
CHENG LEFT HIS PALACE WEARING what remained of his old Xian armor. The leather chest piece and thick faded gauntlets and greaves seemed molded to his body, and he wallowed in the feeling of invincibility he felt while wearing them. When he swaggered out into his town's main square, he felt reborn.
The modified locomobile sat idling; Igor stood proudly next to the hulking vehicle. Cheng pursed his lips as he inspected the new plating fastened onto the exterior, which gave the transport an ominous and imposing presence. The vehicle seemed to be heavy and solid enough to smash open the Nabeho's gates. The angry iron bull blew smoke from its two rear chimneys.
“Excellent work.”
Cheng walked around to the front of the transport where Igor had added two thick metal plates to serve as a menacing wedge. The best part, however, was how the boy's katana jutted straight out from the deadly nose of the transport, welded to the metal exactly as he requested.
“I do hope he sees this,” Cheng whispered. “It will be the ultimate insult.”
Igor smiled, satisfied with himself. “We've loaded all our supplies and men on the other transports. They stand ready to follow you.”
NEVA'S ROADSTER CHUGGED WITH STEADY rhythm. Although her body demanded sleep, she denied it. She had lost precious time. Every time she felt herself dozing off, she would imagine her terrified son calling out to her. She intended not only to save her boy, but she swore to the fading stars in the sky that she would put a bullet through Geller's head.
With only a hint of orange light from above, the dusty highway seemed like a dream. Something far in the distance broke her trance. She eased up on the throttle until her roadster slowed to a crawl.
Neva squinted her eyes to focus her vision. She wondered if she was delusional from exhaustion. Something metallic was moving towards her and kicking up clouds of dust in its wake. It was little more than a speck, but she couldn't help feeling something bad was heading her way. She pulled a red lever and killed her engine.
The warm wind blew eastward. Neva closed her eyes. She hoped her hearing would somehow become more acute with the lack of sight. At first it sounded like the thunder of an approaching storm, but the rumbling was too constant and mechanical.
Neva got out of the car. She watched the tiny object grow on the horizon. The dark foreboding creeping through her made her shiver, and now she was sure of what she was seeing and hearing. She jumped back into her roadster and revved the steam engine.
With a slight grunt, she turned the steering wheel hard right, bringing her vehicle around and streaming west.
Back to the Nabeho village.
THE LAST BELL ZEN REMEMBERED hearing was during a funeral for his fellow Kanze soldiers. It was a glorious and somber ceremony. His clansmen had died good deaths on the battlefield, thus bringing glory and honor to their families. The monks had been gently ringing brass bells as they sang their traditional songs.
The bell clanging violently from outside his hogan reverberated in his head and yanked him from sleep's heavy arms. When he jumped to his feet and hesitated for a moment, he wondered if he was still at his comrades' funeral. The panicked shouts that followed snapped him fully awake, and he knew it was time.
There was an ancient Nihon ritual always performed when a warrior methodically put on his armor in preparation for battle. This wasn't the time for such formalities. He threw on his nerigawa, tying the chords connecting the rigid breast and back pieces firmly against his body. In a controlled rush, he slid on his boots and gauntlets. Without thinking, he reached for his sword, but instead found the plain leather belt Enapay had given him.
When he swung open the door, he watched the Nabeho warriors, men and women, rush to take their positions with weapons in hand. A young brave inside one of the tall towers within the fortress yanked a long rope with all of his might, rocking the massive bell back and forth with a violent clangor. All the homes shut and locked their doors and shutters. Weaponless, Zen sprinted towards the main gates.
The interior gate was guarded by no less than thirty men, and Zen saw the entire wall lined with armed warriors. He ran around the deep trench the Nabeho had dug earlier and climbed up a steep wooden stairway to the parapet. He hurried across the narrow walkway to one of the towers adjacent to the main gates. Chief Ohitekah and Itan were already inside, surrounded by their fellow warriors. They watched the Dragonfly in the distance.
“Enapay signaled that the raiders are coming.” Itan readied his rifle. “Everyone is in position.”
The Dragonfly sped towards them, and something below it caught Zen's eyes. He strained to see it at first, but the steam flowing from the rear stack of the car left no doubt that it was Neva's roadster.
It seemed to take hours, but the airship came within shouting distance before slowing down. Enapay carefully guided the hovering Dragonfly right alongside the tower.
“Neva must have seen the raiders on the highway,” Enapay said over the whirring of his propellers. “When I was doing a quick patrol, I thought maybe hidden raiders were shooting at me. Hell, it was Neva trying to get my attention.” He turned to Zen. “You coming on board?”
Zen climbed to the ledge of the tower, grabbed onto the lip of the roof with one hand, and reached down towards where his holster should have been with the other. Chief O
hitekah came forward and handed Zen his own spear. The wooden weapon was light, but the jagged steel blade looked menacing.
Ohitekah stepped away after Zen took a firm hold of the weapon. “Ahak, Sike, and Lena will ride Enapay's cloud-hugger as well.”
Zen recognized the two approaching male braves, but he hesitated when he saw Lena. She slung her rifle over her shoulder and cast a scowl in Zen's direction. The four of them leaped from the tower and landed in the Dragonfly.
Itan raised his gun high. “Rain death upon those dogs!”
Enapay nodded. “We will.”
The chief looked down, and Zen followed his gaze to see Neva's roadster reach the entrance. “Open the gates!” Ohitekah commanded.
The clanking of chains followed as the exterior and interior gates slid upwards. Neva looked up at the airship before driving the vehicle into the safety of the Nabeho stronghold. The heavy iron gates crashed closed once more. Enapay pulled his goggles over his eyes and thrust the Dragonfly higher up into the air. Zen clutched onto the railing with one hand and grabbed his belly with the other. His stomach felt as if it was in his throat. Enapay let out a war cry and spun the ship's wooden steering wheel. He commanded the airship to roll right and tumble away from the fortress.
When the Dragonfly leveled out, Zen and the others took their positions behind its four protected gunner stations. The braves slid their rifles through the slits in the metal shields, but Zen had only the chief's spear.
“Here.” Enapay tossed Zen his rifle. “You seemed to shoot pretty well with this before.”
Zen smiled as he held the gun in his hands. The airship picked up speed. Far out in the distance in front of him, he watched the whirlwind of desert sand being kicked up from Cheng's speeding army.
“I still have one of those bombs left,” Enapay shouted over the din of the airship's propellers. “We'll save it for when the time is right.”