Survival Spiral. Book 1 Killer Girls. Chapter 1. Hung Judgement

Transcription

1 Survival Spiral Book 1 Killer Girls Chapter 1 Hung Judgement A single flag stood just to the left of the judge's bench. The head of a dragon was visible in the folds and the outstretched wings of what could have been a condor floated over the court as the flag stirred. The bird never alighted, it was always represented soaring, high in the sky, hovering over its people, protecting them. All rise! ordered the court clerk. His Eminence Inquisitor Williamiahdeen. Conversation ceased instantly, sentences were left half finished and coughs halted in mid air. The sound of shuffling feet raked the floor, then came the mighty heave of 100 or more bodies as they all straightened up in a single movement in the crowded courtroom. A deathly silence followed as everyone held their breath. All eyes were fixed on the door at the rear of the court. The door swung open and a guard in a tan and brown uniform filled the frame. He had to turn slightly sideways to pass through the gap. He was a tower of a man, over 6' 6. What astounded all those in the court room was, not only his size, but also the way he moved. His agility defied belief for a man of his stature. His muscles stood out under his uniform, making the cloth appear almost transparent. Rather than disguising the power, the uniform accentuated every ripple of every muscle as these propelled him forward with unparalleled grace. He carried a small stun pistol on his belt, but few people paid attention to it his presence was quite enough to deter anyone from contemplating any form of opposition. Everyone in the courtroom held their breath not a single person inhaled or exhaled. The great Inquisitor stepped forward, indifferent to the scene before his eyes. He was dwarfed by the guard, who walked in front of him, partially obstructing their view. Four steps lead up to the bench. As he reached the first, the only sound was that of the Inquisitor's black wooden shoes as he slowly and deliberately climbed to the top. It was not until he reached the fourth step that he became visible to everyone in the courtroom. In spite of his standing and his air of humble superiority the impression he gave was unpretentious. Despite his position and the power he wielded, this very meekness endeared him to his people instantly. His deep, penetrating gaze was reputed to read the subconscious and one s innermost thoughts. His very modesty led people to open up their souls to him. When he looked into your eyes, it felt as if he saw things that not even the object of his inspection was aware of. He wore a white wig over his dark hair, which contrasted oddly with his face, youthful, though polished hard by fate and experience. In his robes of red velvet, edged in white ermine and depicting a series of mythological birds of prey, he could have been a bishop in a Caravaggio Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 1

2 painting. Over the robes, around his neck, hung a large, round, gold insignia on a blue ribbon. At the heart of the insignia, the scales of justice were represented. His eyes, a brilliant green, beamed out into the courtroom as he took the measure of everyone present. Although his glance fell on each face for no more than a second, every man and woman in the courtroom felt his eyes bore through them as if they were transparent. Each and every one knew he was being judged. No one dared to blink. Then with a sudden sweep of his hands, he lifted the back of his robes and sat down, his eyes still probing the soul of everyone present. He picked up the golden gavel and pounded it on the metal base, making doubly sure that no one in the room doubted his authority. The crash of metal on metal resounded around the room like thunder reverberating around an angry sky. Even those who had been present in his court before were startled by the impact, but they restrained the spontaneous reaction to the shock. No one dared show any reaction in front of the great Inquisitor, lest he see them as frail of spirit. All sit! shouted the court clerk. As soon as everyone was seated, which took no more than an instant, the clerk announced The case of the Exalted State of Cimmeria vs. Amilcare Decerno. The Inquisitor nodded his head at the clerk, who had remained standing. Bring in the accused! he ordered the guards at the rear of the courtroom. The door opened and a heavyset man with a slight limp walked in, head held high, his dark eyes seeking the green eyes of the Inquisitor, as if in defiance. He had a long, thin face, which contrasted strangely with his stocky figure. He was not fat, quite the opposite, he was fit and muscular. His hair was cropped short, cut by a mechanical razor; his ears were elongated framing the long face; his cheek bones were high, causing his cheeks to sink in; his nose was long and angular and his nostrils were square rather than round. His lips too were long and narrow; they merged into the hollow of his cheeks. He walked up to a small bench facing the platform where the Inquisitor waited, and sat down with a guard on each side. His hands were untethered, yet he held them together, his long fingers wrapped around them. The supplication in the gesture was not reflected in the defiant way he held his head. He continued to look up, staring the Inquisitor directly in the eye. Williamiahdeen did not flinch. It was as if the two men were staring each other down. This battle of wills was the spectacle that every single person there wanted to witness. They were not there to follow the court's proceedings. There were reporters present, but they too were uninterested in the verdict or judgement of the great Inquisitor. Everyone wanted to see how the great man would deal with one who had previously thwarted him. The defiant stare was the act of a very brave or very foolish man and something that no one understood, as the Inquisitor held the power to mete out the severest of punishment in such cases of provocation and insolence. Mr. Decerno, growled the Inquisitor. I see you are still without Counsel. Yes, I am, your Eminence. Did I not order you to obtain one? Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 2

3 You did, your Eminence, but as I told you before, I do not need one. The Inquisitor stared straight at him, questioning the man's resolve to attend his court without representation. For the first time since he had entered the courtroom, the prisoner looked down at his hands. This is the drama the crowd wanted to experience. Would he submit to the judge's will? was the question on everyone's mind. Decerno did not hesitate, he raised his head high, looked the Inquisitor in the eye once again and said pragmatically, Your Eminence, I have already told you that I committed the crime I have been accused of. Yes, so you did, the judge responded with impatience. You need not remind me. I have all your case notes here. I keep all case notes. There is one common theme to each and every one of them. He paused, You know what that is Mr. Decerno, don't you? Yes, your Eminence, I do. Then, Mr. Decerno, why are you defying me? There was no reply from the man on the small bench. If you think you can bring about a stalemate, Mr. Decerno, then you have misjudged me entirely. I simply will not allow it. It is prohibited in my court. You will submit to this court. The Inquisitor shifted slightly in his seat and leant back, his robes falling open. He said in an uncharacteristically mild tone, There's a reason for everything Mr. Decerno, as a policeman you know that. Nothing occurs without a reason. You admitted to murdering the deceased in cold blood. You risk the worst possible punishment, yet you offer not the slightest hint of an excuse for your crime. Do you not think that you are perhaps being too hard on yourself? Your Eminence, I expect nothing but the harshest of punishment, which I fully deserve. Are you mocking me, Mr. Decerno? he asked anger creeping into his voice. Do you think that you should pass judgement on yourself? Do you think it's so easy? Decerno's gaze finally fell to the floor in front of him. The Inquisitor rose. His eyes were blazing and his mouth tense. He unbuckled the insignia with the scales of justice and threw off his robe, the symbol of his power, in a gesture that clearly stated that he did not need it. His stature alone was enough to leave no doubt about his authority in anyone's mind. He stepped down and stood directly in front of Decerno. There was no humility in Williamiahdeen now, only contempt for this man, who refused to do as advised and even worse, as ordered by the court of his authority. The accused had to strain his neck to restore eye contact with Williamiahdeen. Your father was the greatest Inquisitor of our age and he would have been outraged at your actions. A note of conciliation could be discerned in his voice, What would your father say if he could see you now? Decerno did not look up. Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 3

4 Some deeds cannot be forgiven, hence the punishment. Some accept it, but many others do not. Some seek forgiveness and others do not. Decerno maintained his silence. His head bent down in a gesture of either humility or shame, Williamiahdeen could not be sure which. What are you seeking, Mr. Decerno? Decerno raised his head, staring straight into the eyes of the Inquisitor as if to leave no doubt about his meaning, Punishment. There is no excuse for murder. Do you think you have justified it by accepting punishment, Chief Inspector Decerno?" Williamiahdeen walked back to his bench and picked up a large volume which had been there when the hearing began. It had been left open at page 463. He turned around and carried it over to Decerno. Here take this! He commanded. Decerno placed the heavy book in front of him, on his knees. Now read me the passage I have underlined in red, Mr Decerno. Decerno read, In Exalted State vs. Calabieri, Decerno ruled that punishment can only be meted out in relation to the gravity of the crime and the circumstances that gave rise to it. Unless both of these are taken into account, it is not possible to judge a man appropriately and it can lead to an unjust sentence or one that is likely to be proven incorrect with time. Now go to page 467 and read the underlined section there, ordered Williamiahdeen. Decerno turned the pages and found the section: When the accused accepts his punishment without remorse, no punishment, however severe, will be commensurate or just. Do you realise what you are looking at, Mr. Decerno? But before Decerno had a chance to respond, Read on! he barked. For punishment is of no effect unless the guilty party genuinely regrets what he has done, for this must come from within. The most effective prison cell is the heart that feels the pain of its victim. Decerno's voice was calm and controlled. There was no sign of emotion. Now, Chief Inspector Decerno, did you love your father? Yes, I did your Eminence. He was man of the heart, was he not? Yes, he was, your Eminence. Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 4

5 What about your heart, Mr Decerno? Decerno handed the big book back to the Inquisitor. Williamiahdeen closed it and took it back to his bench, where he put it down, showing the utmost reverence for the volume. He turned around to face Decerno. Either you are ashamed of your crime or you are protecting someone. He raised the volume of his voice intimidatingly, Not only that, you defy this court by refusing to reveal your motive for the killing. The Inquisitor looked up at everyone in the court room. There was anger in his face, but there was no sign of humiliation, for he was not admitting defeat. Chief Inspector, look at this from my point of view. You were a detective. The best, I am told. The son of the Great Inquisitor Massimiliano Decerno. Massimiliano a great man and a great name and what is more, carrying the surname Decerno, meaning judge. You have good blood in you. Righteous blood. You had a flawless record. You solved crimes others could not. So what drove you to commit this one? There was complete silence from the detective, who seemed resigned to his fate. Look at me, when I speak to you, snapped Williamiahdeen. Decerno raised his head and met the gaze of the Inquisitor, I am sorry Your Eminence. Your father's murder was never solved. To this day, we do not know who was behind the suicide bombers that killed him. It is a well known fact that you began investigating the murder of your father as soon as you were incorporated into the police force, in spite of the fact that initially you were ordered not to. It was only when you proved to be such a brilliant detective and also because you were the son of the Great Inquisitor Decerno that you were allowed to continue with the investigation. Is this killing linked to your father's murder? Decerno stared at the Inquisitor, but Williamiahdeen could tell the man was not listening to him anymore. His eyes were glazed and unfocussed. The judge decided to try a very different approach. So, tell me Chief Inspector, is it true you believe in reincarnation? Decerno was clearly taken aback by the question. What, what makes you ask that, Your Eminence? he blurted out. If you had a lawyer representing you, he would demand the question be stricken from the record as he would rightly claim it has no bearing on the case. After all, there is no such thing as reincarnation. That is true, it does not, but Decerno hesitated, I mean, he was about to say more, but the Inquisitor cut him short. Of course it does not. The mere mention of reincarnation in a courtroom is heresy in itself. It's so Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 5

6 preposterous that my credibility as an Inquisitor will undoubtedly be brought into question. Our Attorney General, the Honourable Mazen Criquette, he glanced over to where Criquette normally sat in the court, "may well question my logic or even take me off the case." The wrinkled face glared back at him unblinkingly, making no attempt to conceal his displeasure. Reincarnation has nothing to do with it, I assure you, Your Eminence, affirmed Decerno. His initial confidence had now changed to uncertainty. Fear was evident in the tone of his voice. But you see, I believe it does. Whether there is such a thing as reincarnation or not is irrelevant. What matters is what you believe and what motivates you. Man has always killed his fellow man for his beliefs. You only have to look at the role religion has played in intolerance, hatred and war. Sometimes those beliefs are so strong that people make the ultimate sacrifice with their own lives. Why should you be any different? I am not like that, Your Eminence, objected Decerno with feeling. Of course not, you think you're above that. Your crime was committed for a higher purpose, a justifiable one, wouldn't you say? I have owned up to my crime and I will willingly accept my punishment. What more can you ask of me? Remorse! the Inquisitor shouted. Decerno gaze dropped to the ground again, then as if realising his error, he looked back up at the judge. You must recall your superior Chief Ernesto Brambilla. Decerno nodded his head in agreement. Inquisitor Agnicio sentenced him to Infernity Prison for killing his top five lieutenants without finding out the motive behind the killings. Do you recall how it ended for Chief Brambilla? Decerno nodded his head again. Will you tell us, Chief Inspector? Can you at least do that for me? It's public record, you won't be giving any secrets away. Inquisitor Williamiahdeen looked fleetingly at the crowd in the courtroom. He caught sight of Luciana Brambilla, daughter of the deceased Chief of Police. Every eye in the room followed the direction of his glance, there was no mistake, he had spotted her. He had committed the murders to get himself into Infernity Prison. He thought it was the only way he could carry on with the investigation into what had happened to his daughter. What happened to him while he was there? Tell me that at least, Chief Inspector. Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 6

7 He was murdered, muttered Decerno. That's how you'll end up. You know the story. The perpetrators, who drove him to commit those murders were discovered in any case. So you see, he died for nothing. He glanced at Brambilla's daughter again, as if he were asking forgiveness for his line of questioning. Do you see similarities here? Chief Inspector. The cases may seem similar on the surface, but I assure you, Your Eminence, they are not. Your father was brutally murdered, Chief Inspector, when you were still a little boy. For two reasons it would have been easier for you had he not been killed. First you must obviously have missed your father terribly while growing up. Decerno was looking at the ground again. And second, everyone expected you to fill the void your father left behind. It must have been a struggle for you, Chief Inspector. Decerno looked up at the Inquisitor, bewildered. You see, Chief Inspector, I know what it s like to live in the shadow of your father. He hesitated momentarily, there was complete and utter silence in the court, as if death itself had taken over and stilled all souls therein, not a sound could be heard. You see there are people in Cimmeria, who openly believe in reincarnation, others are not sure and then there are the civil servants, police, judges, lawyers, doctors and scientists who do not, for a moment, believe in it. I had the misfortune to be born at the precise moment your father was murdered. It fuelled the belief that his spirit occupied my body just at the moment that life flowed into it. I too have been living in the shadow of a murdered man. We have a lot in common; we are expected to be like him. I could be murdered, just because of who I am supposed to be. Williamiahdeen paused. Decerno s expression of bewilderment changed to one of supplication he was desperate for the Inquisitor to alter his line of questioning. So you see, as his only son, you have been trying to fill the void your father left behind. My father left no void, protested Decerno. Oh yes, I forgot you believe in reincarnation. He's right here in this courtroom. Is he not? He is, he paused and took a deep breath, in spirit of course, your Eminence. Why don't you just call me, Father? There was a sudden, sharp intake of breath by all present in the courtroom. This was far beyond anything they had expected. This was heresy. It was inconceivable that the great Inquisitor Williamiahdeen would be so foolish or so brazen as to cross such a line. No! Chief Inspector Decerno uttered the word with such feeling that for a moment the Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 7

8 attention of the courtroom was diverted from the Inquisitor. No? No? Am I not your father or should I not admit to it? Which is it?" Williamiahdeen glanced again at the faces in the courtroom. They had taken on a ghostly aspect as if they had seen death and had been transformed by it. Their eyes stared in shock, their mouths hung open and even their cheeks appeared suddenly hollow. His gaze moved over to Decerno. He looked terrorised as if death was about to engulf him and he was helpless to prevent it. It was forbidden for people in Williamiahdeen's position to believe in reincarnation and far more serious to promulgate its fantasy. The mere insinuation that he was Amilcare Decerno father, even in spirit, was absurd. It could be enough to unseat him from the bench. But he held great power and even if he himself had intimated that it might be so, it would be very unwise for anyone to accuse him of such heresy. Who were you trying to protect, son? he demanded. Decerno was lost for words. Williamiahdeen carried on, unheeding, ignoring the look of horror on the accused face. Your victim Greeney Mahold, was he trying to kill your father again? He was, started Decerno, unable to hold back the words. No, no, he was not. It took all his might to get those last four words out. He was endeavouring to regain his composure, to overcome his shock at what the Inquisitor had suggested. One thing was glaringly obvious for all those in the court on that day to see. It had never occurred to Decerno that he would find himself in the position of denying that he had contemplated that Williamiahdeen was indeed the reembodiment of his father. Chief Inspector, the court needs to hear the truth. Decerno had not yet regained his former self confidence. I ask myself why a man of your lineage would sink so low? You could have reported your suspicions to one of my bodyguards. He looked to his right, where Stella Salvata, his permanent bodyguard, stood. She had entered the courtroom unannounced a few moments before he came in with Lt. Warren. He addressed Decerno again. You took the law into your own hands, something your father would have disowned you for. You violated his honour, his trust, his name, his memory. No, no, I did not! protested Decerno vehemently. Your Eminence, he added almost as an after thought. You are a contradiction, Chief Inspector. On the one hand you conform to authority, yet on the other you flaunt it. How can you explain that? You must have rationalised it to yourself, why is it so difficult to rationalise it to me? You may even find I am sympathetic to your case. Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 8

9 I have already said, repeated Decerno like a broken record, I admit to the murder of Greeney Mahold and I expect the full brunt of the law to fall on me as it would on anyone else, Your Eminence. Very well, but you will not get your way, of that you can be sure. I will do everything I can to obstruct you. In your position as Chief Inspector, you had the liberty to pursue your investigation, now your hands will be tied and you will languish in prison without any further recourse to pursue this madness. I will see to it. Decerno once again lowered his gaze. Williamiahdeen looked around the courtroom, the white, shocked faces were beginning to return to normality. Some people tried to avoid eye contact lest he fathom what they were thinking, lest he deem their thoughts to be heretical to the Exalted State of Cimmeria, even if they had never entertained the slightest notion of anything minutely unacceptable to the State. He turned his attention back to Amilcare Decerno, as he stared, humiliated, at the floor at his feet. This case is far from closed. Sooner or later I will find out the motive, with or without your collaboration. He walked back calmly to his bench. Put his robes back on and sat down again. Court adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m.! announced Williamiahdeen. He picked up his gavel. His fingers held it very tightly. He swung it down hard, but it did not land squarely on the base plate, bouncing off to the side and hitting the wooden desk. It was a reminder of his disappointment, his inability to solve this case as he would like. Immediately the court clerk shouted, All rise. Back in his chambers, Williamiahdeen took off his robes and wig and threw them onto the couch opposite his desk. Normally he would have hung them up in the closet at the far end of his office. He was highly organised. He kept to a fixed routine. Everything had to be done according to his rules. He did not like anything to be out of place. Lt. Warren looked at him in surprise. There was a firm knock on the door. Warren opened it. It was Mazen Criquette, the Attorney General. Warren let him in. The lines in his face were like deep trenches; his skin was grey and rough as leather. He was taller than Williamiahdeen, but thinner. His footsteps were deliberate, his feet heavy. His large moustache had turned completely white as had his eyebrows and he had lost almost all of his hair. His eyes were deep set, but in spite of the dark recesses, they shone like two stars out of the gloom of his face. What the hell was that all about? demanded Criquette as he came up to Williamiahdeen s desk. The Inquisitor looked at him without a word. You promised me no more outrageous stunts. How could you bring up this thing about reincarnation? You of all people? What were you thinking? Do you want to unleash forces beyond our control, as you did with the case of the prostitute clones? You may have affirmed the myth, that maybe; just maybe, you are the reincarnation of Decerno after all. Bloody Hell! muttered Criquette in frustration, He was one of our best police detectives. He was hot on the trail of the terrorists, who killed his father. Do Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 9

10 you know something you haven't told me? No, I don't. the Inquisitor replied emphatically, his annoyance showing. With all due respect Mazen, it was ill advised that he was investigating the case. He was far too emotionally involved. You know as well as I do that no one else would take the case. We knew he could not be corrupted precisely because of the family link. Criquette paused, every damned investigator in this case, has either withdrawn or ended up dead in mysterious circumstances. He looked around the room as if to vent his frustration. Maybe Decerno knew he was about to be killed, so he took the offensive. Maybe, maybe not, responded Williamiahdeen. I couldn't figure out what was going on in his head or his heart. Killing one man is not the answer. There s more, much more, but what? Damn him! Well, he sure as hell will do us no good in prison, muttered Criquette. Whatever prison we send him to, said Williamiahdeen, I am sure someone will try to kill him. I will take up this investigation myself, Mazen. I aim to get to the bottom of it. You ll be their next target in that case, warned Criquette. I imagine I am already, responded Williamiahdeen. Then Decerno should count himself lucky. With this Criquette turned on his heel and left the room. Williamiahdeen was clearly troubled. I need some air, he declared to Warren. The guard started to retrieve his court robes from the couch, No, leave it! he ordered gently. I will take care of it later. He left his office, accompanied by Warren, who took out his internal communication device and announced. His Eminence Williamiahdeen is going out. Get the escort ready! Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 10

11 Chapter 2 Revelation Two years earlier It was Williamiahdeen s Revelation Day. His 16 th birthday was a solemn, sombre affair filled with recitals about commitment, responsibility and determination. There was no party, no fun, no laughter. On reaching this crucial age in Cimmeria children became adults and were taken out of their subterranean world for the very first time, in order to see the hostile environment on the surface. This was the Holostrophy, where irradiated dust clouds circled the Earth, fallout from the meteor that had struck the world a millennium earlier and which had ignited nuclear waste stores and set off stockpiles of nuclear weapons the world over. Williamiahdeen s childhood was about to come to an abrupt end. His father led him through a brightly lit corridor three meters wide. Williamiahdeen's apprehension grew with each step. In order to calm his nerves, he fired up Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in his mind, da da da daaa, da dada da daaa. The music reached a crescendo, flooding his brain. He closed his eyes. He could feel his forehead palpate as the blood rushed to it. His head started to rock from side to side. The hall was sufficiently wide and straight for him to walk with his eyes closed. He had done it many times before in similar, endless pathways which criss crossed their underground world. Beethoven's notes filtered down to his shoulders, then he felt them begin to pulsate through his body. It gave him the sensation of walking on air. He imagined he was no longer in the long, bare corridor, but in some far off land with the sun shining, the flowers in bloom, the bees buzzing, the sound of children squealing with delight, women laughing and men joking in the background. This scene was etched in his brain from one of the many films he had seen of planet Earth before the Holostrophy. He held onto the vision, opening his eyes momentarily to check he was not on a collision course with the wall. He was on track. He closed them again and kept moving along swaying his head from side to side in tune with the da da da daaaaaa of Beethoven. He sensed his father had stopped. He opened his eyes and halted. He was two meters from a sliding black glass doors. The symphony was silenced. The doors slid open as his father placed his hand on the biometric reader that controlled them. They went through. They were in a small changing room with a low ceiling. It was stark and cold with no decoration whatsoever on the walls. A notice board hung on the wall opposite, instructions written in large, black, upper case letters on a white background. Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 11

12 IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY YOUR SUIT MUST BE INSPECTED FOR DEFECTS BEFORE USE. FIRST PUT ON THE AIR BREATHING APARATUS AND COMPLETE ALL CONNECTIONS. PLACE BOTH LEGS IN THE SUIT. TURN ON YOUR AIR SUPPLY AND PUT ON THE MASK. ADJUST HEADGEAR. PLACE BOTH ARMS INSIDE THE SUIT AND CLOSE ZIPPER AND ZIPPER FLAP. IN ORDER FOR YOUR SUIT TO BE FULLY FUNCTIONAL CHECK THAT ZIPPER AND FLAPS ARE COMPLETELY CLOSED, THAT THE VIEW WINDOW IS SEALED AND AIR LINE CONNECTIONS ARE TIGHT. Will had already been trained in the use of the malleable suit in preparation for this momentous day. The suit was made of a pliable carbon compound that moulded perfectly to the human form. It was light yet extremely strong and offered protection from radiation, heat and cold. The all in one suit covered him from head to toe. It was designed to protect humans from the residual radioactivity still on the surface. The head piece incorporated an elastic face mask that could be opened or removed in case the integral air filtering system stopped working. His father inspected his protective gear before they exited the changing room and took a lift 1,500 meters up to the surface Just before the doors opened, Williamiahdeen took a deep breath then stepped out. A gale force 9 wind struck him head on. He had to fight against it to move forward. He was forced to look down at the ground as he walked, bent over, at an angle. For a second he considered asking his father, if they could postpone his Revelation Day, but knew the answer would be no. He glanced to his right and his father too was leaning into the wind, but with his head held up straight. The mask gave him some protection but the full force of the wind was striking him squarely in the face. Will forced his neck muscles to lift his head. He looked up. There before him stood a Flying Yellow Bear. The sight of him made Williamiahdeen stop in his tracks. He had seen pictures of them, even films of them flying over Cimmeria. They looked like imaginary creatures, something from a fairy tale. To finally see a real one was a fantasy come true. The bear was even more magnificent in reality. He was covered with golden yellow fur and looked like a huge polar bear. He had dark eyes and a bluish black snout. Williamiahdeen s heart started to race. He hesitated. His father noticed his son had stopped, turned and waved him on. C mon, Will, urged his father, using the diminutive of Williamiahdeen, With trepidation Will edged closer. His father reached the bear and patted him on the back of the Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 12

13 head. The bear nudged his father with his snout. When Will caught up, he stood there in awe of the great beast. His father motioned him to stroke the creature. He did so gently and carefully. The bear had thick fur, but unlike a polar bear, the fur was hollow inside, similar to the feathers of a bird. He was so mesmerised by the bear that he failed to notice what the surface was like. He had been waiting all his life for this moment, but the sight of the bear had overwhelmed his senses. This is Flybbie, his father announced. He's yours. He was snapped out of his reverie when his father suddenly swept him up into his arms and placed him on the back of the flying bear. Before he could object, the bear started moving. Hang on, Son! his father shouted over the wind. He looked frantically for something to hold onto, found a harness strapped to the bear's neck and wrapped his fingers around it, digging into the leather and clinging onto the massive shoulders of the great animal. His heart thumped in his chest so hard it hurt. For a moment he stopped breathing, his jaw dropped open and his mouth went completely dry. He gulped in some air, but his breaths came in rapid staccato succession. His eyes opened so wide that his eyelids disappeared completely. He felt the muscles of the bear flexing under his slight body, carrying him as if he were a feather. He tried to blink, but his eyes stayed wide open with fright; his erratic breathing made it impossible for him to make any sound at all. He tried in vain to scream, but he could no longer do what came naturally. He was consumed with fear, but at the same time he felt an exhilaration that he had never before experienced. The bear was galloping on all four legs, when suddenly he raised his forelegs transforming himself into a bipedal creature. As his front legs rose, they opened out and turned into wings and he started to flap them, faster and faster. They ascended rapidly toward the sky. The wind buffeted and pushed them about as if the huge bear were a tiny insect. Will needed all his strength to hang on. He finally succeeded in closing his eyes. His vocal chords came to life and he screamed a sound that was torn from his throat even Will wasn t sure if he was screaming from fear or with pure exhilaration and joy. The scream disappeared into the wind. They continued their bumpy climb and Will coaxed himself into opening his eyes again. He looked down but could see only a vague outline of the earth below. In front of him he saw nothing but a grey haze. As their elevation increased the ride became smoother. He knew they were flying fast, but he had no sense of speed. It was as if he were being propelled upwards on a rocket in slow motion. They rose higher and higher into the greyness, on a flight that seemed to defy gravity When the outline of the earth below them had completely vanished from view, the bear levelled out. They were surrounded by a grey emptiness as if they were in a vacuum. The void gave him Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 13

14 no reference point with which to judge the distance they were travelling. The bear's wings were now flapping slowly and rhythmically. They were slicing through the sky effortlessly. Will loosened his grip on the harness. He felt himself relax, but the exhilaration did not disappear. He had never experienced anything remotely like this. He said to himself over and over again, Wait till I tell my friends about this. Eventually the bear began to descend slowly. Will tightened his grip again. Out of the greyness began to emerge a vast expanse of pale blue. As they lost height, the intensity of the blue grew stronger. They were flying over a large body of water stretching as far as he could see into the distance. The light was stronger here, although it was still heavily filtered by the radiation ring encircling the Earth. As they came closer to the water, the colour changed to a dull green. The waves sloshed back and forth without cresting. As they flew lower still he noticed that the waves were swelling to a great height. Then, before he had a chance to wonder why the bear was getting so close to the water, Flybbie brought his wings right back and wrapped them around him holding him firmly in place. Once again his heart started to pound as if it would burst. They crashed into the sea. He held his breath and tried to get out of the grip of the bears' wings, but he was completely immobilised. He was a good swimmer and he was sure, if the bear were to release him, he could swim. As he felt Flybbie dragging him down he was sure he was going to drown. It crossed his mind that his father had told him very little of what he was to expect on this, his revelation day. Just then the bear dropped his wings to his sides and they turned into fins propelling him through the water. Will realized that they were not only moving through the water, but also going deeper and deeper. The pressure on his ears was becoming unbearable. A crushing headache had invaded his head and left him feeling nauseous. His whole body suddenly felt as heavy as lead. He looked up above him. The grey greenish light was fading to dark green. Then Will looked down and it was as dark as night. Was he supposed to let go? Perhaps the bear did not realise he was still on his back. It's now or never he thought to himself and released the harness, which had kept him safely straddling the bear's back, while in flight. As the bear moved away from him he tried to propel himself upwards, but the water held him down. The surface appeared to be as far away as the moon, unreachable from the depths of the sea. He was swinging his arms and kicking his legs furiously. He knew that he was in grave danger of running out of air before he reached the top. The bear doubled back and pushed against Will's face mask with his snout. His lungs were about to exhaust all the oxygen he had sucked into them before they plunged into the water. He was panicking and fighting desperately to reach the open air above. The bear kept on pressing his nose against the boy s mask. Will felt confused and disoriented. He was already quite dizzy. He was not sure if he was going up, sideways or just spinning around. He could not understand why the bear was pushing against his mask. His head felt as if it were about to explode. He needed air now. The Bear opened his mouth and out of it Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 14

15 protruded a white slimy tube. Bubbles starting emanating from it like soap suds. There were thousands of them. Suddenly the bubbles stopped. Will watched them float upwards in slow motion. Tiny transparent air filled clouds rising effortlessly to the surface where he wanted to be. Why was the bear taunting him? He yanked his mask open and blew a tiny amount of air out of his mouth. A few bubbles formed and were carried up. He watched them until they disappeared into the vacuum above. The surface was still far beyond his reach. Will started hallucinating. He imagined himself straddling the bear's back and the animal shooting up like a rocket on a mission to outer space, but this time he would have an air tank with him. Gravity would no longer imprison him, instead he would float freely in infinity. But he was not in control and the feeling was not pleasant, he felt like a piece of space debris stuck in an orbit, from which he could not extricate himself, going round and round a far off planet forever. Tiny bright sparks began exploding in his head. Suddenly the sparks turned into vultures, vultures that sensed death welcoming them to feast on their next meal. Millions of bubbles were still coming out of the tube extending from the bear's mouth and he was still pushing the tube against Will s face. He fought against the monsters that had invaded his head and in a lucid moment, Will looked into the bear's eyes. They seemed full of compassion, but he could not read the bear's thoughts. Is he trying to drown me or help me? Will held his mouth tightly shut, lest it open against his will and release the last, minute quantity of oxygen still in his lungs. He was trying with all his might to stop doing what his instincts told him to do. Suck in air, boy! Do it now! The water surrounding him reminded him of one of his father s swimming lessons, but it was as unreal as the vultures. He was 5 years old, in the municipal pool surrounded by 20 other boys his age. They were all underwater observing him, but they were breathing normally as if the water were air. They had come to witness the feat he was about to attempt. His father's stern face was in front of him. The bear had disappeared. In his place was a great white shark, with wings instead of fins, nudging him on the back of his head with its snout. No one but Will seemed to notice the shark. His father was instructing him, Keep your mouth shut. Don't breathe in through your nose! You do and your lungs will fill with water and you cannot breathe water. That's how you drown. Now down you go. Let's see if you can beat 90 seconds this time round. He managed 95 seconds. Will knew instinctively that this time he had already been under for a lot longer. His lungs were bigger now, but they could not hold out much longer. His arms stopped flailing about, his legs stopped kicking. He was floating, focusing all his attention on the minuscule amount of oxygen still in his lungs. He felt himself sinking. It was no use. He was going to lose the fight. He pictured himself descending deeper, until he could hold out no more, then he would inhale water, filling his lungs and choking the life out of him for good. He would float imperceptibly and slowly to the surface, as if he had all the time in the Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 15

16 world to reach his destination. In death he would accomplish what he had failed to do in life. In one last ditch effort he wrapped both hands around the bear's head and tried to pull the mighty beast upwards with him, but it was too little, too late. Against his will his mouth opened involuntarily and in that instant as Will recognized the proximity of death, the bear jammed the tube into his mouth and blew the air of life into him. The boy felt an excruciating, sharp pain in his chest as his lungs filled with a combination of air and water. The lifeline had been literally staring him in the face as if truth were always blatantly evident. He sputtered and choked as water and air came rushing out of his nostrils and mouth simultaneously. He forced out the air tube, cleared his mouth of water then carefully moved toward it, sealed his lips around it and inhaled deeply. Pure air blasted into his lungs filling them until they were about to burst. The bear pulled away from him slightly and the tube came out of the boy's mouth. Will closed his eyes momentarily. He held his breath. His dizziness began to ease. The oxygen acted as an instant cure all for all that ailed him, as if someone had administered an anti hallucinogenic drug. He exhaled through his mouth, then reached for the tube with his right hand, slid it between his lips and inhaled as the bear let the air pass from his own lungs into Will's. He kept his mouth firmly wrapped around the bear's extended windpipe and exhaled the relief so tangible that once again he gulped for air. As he sucked life back into his body through the bear's protruding windpipe he realised that the great beast had gills just below the folds of his fin like forearms. The gills opened and closed steadily. The bear was making oxygen for both of them. Flybbie started to propel himself forward through the water. The sudden forward movement pushed Will's body against the bear's underbelly. He clung onto the back of his head with both hands, keeping his lips welded to the tube. He wrapped his legs around the bear to afford him a better grip. They were in perfect harmony. They formed an ergonomically shaped torpedo slicing through the water at break neck speed. Will sensed again a mix of apprehension and exhilaration coursing through his body. Will s nose was jammed against the bear's snout creating a barrier between his eyes. He could see nothing of where they were going or where they had been, but he could clearly see the bear's eyes. He tried to catch Flybbie s attention, but he was concentrating on where they were going. Where were they going? Will had no idea. This was not a fair ground ride on a roller coaster. It was clear to Will that there had to be a serious purpose to it. Suddenly what his father had said just before he lifted Will onto Flybbie's back, registered with Will in full force. Son, you're 16 today and I can do nothing to prolong your childhood. Every day, from now on life will be a challenge. Nothing will ever be the same again. May you be man enough to cope. When Will first saw Flybbie he thought that this day was to be an adventure; a day filled with new experiences and fun. He understood that adulthood was upon him, but he had not expected Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 16

17 the passage to be so abrupt, so terrifying. Like all children in Cimmeria he was kept below ground to avoid the dangers on the surface. It had not occurred to him that he would have to face them head on so suddenly, or that he would have to learn to deal with them on his own. The bear suddenly veered to left and Will nearly lost contact with the breathing tube. Thoughts about coming of age were cast out. He had to concentrate on his breathing. He was terrified of running out of oxygen again. The water was rushing past at such speed that everything was a blur. He was vaguely aware that they were racing past fish of all sorts, shapes and sizes and of a myriad of colours. But Will s eyes were unable to give them form. Seeing them in two dimensions made them whiz past like dark misshapen blobs retreating into the distance. In order to regain his 3D vision, he tried to disengage himself from the bear's snout, but it was impossible. The force of the water on the back of his head kept it fixed in place. In any case he feared that should he succeed in dislodging himself, he would lose his connection to the air tube. Eventually everything around him blended into a hazy collage of colour: yellows, reds, blues and greys. Suddenly the bear swerved again this time sharply to the right. Will's legs lost their grip and dangled down, floating, no longer attached to Flybbie. He tried to look down and with his right eye he saw, with horror, the shape of a great white shark, racing up toward them. Will tried to wrap his legs around Flybbie, but the bear turned abruptly to the left and dived down. He shook his head from side to side vigorously and with the help of his fins violently threw Will off him. The boy was now totally defenceless. He looked around desperately and saw Flybbie racing toward the shark, who was undeterred by the challenger. The massive predator turned slightly to take Flybbie face on. This caused him to lose a fraction of his momentum, but it was enough for Flybbie to dodge him, swim over his head and sink his teeth into the shark's dorsal fin. Instead of trying to shake Flybbie off, the shark turned and continued on his path toward Will. The boy was overcome with such fear, that he could neither move nor think. As the shark came closer, he saw Flybbie frantically ripping at the dorsal fin. Blood was pouring out, but the shark kept coming. Finally, Will started to swim upwards because it was the fastest way he could go, but it was a pitiful attempt as the shark with an imperceptible flick of his tail fin altered his path to intercept him. They were on a collision course and there was nothing Will could do about it. The shark was within seconds of reaching him and Will decided that he would prefer to drown than be ripped apart by this vicious unflinching beast. As if he had no choice Will opened his mouth to take in as much water as he could, but no sooner had he swallowed what seemed like vast amounts of liquid, Will regretted his decision and retched. The air still in his lungs tried to expel the water, but it was fruitless. Death by drowning was not instantaneous it was taking forever. He kept his eyes fixed on the shark and despite the horrible death that was so close, he was mesmerised by the approaching spectacle as if he were an observer and not the shark's next Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 17

18 meal. Flybbie was still wrestling with the implacable dorsal fin. The shark was within reach and opened his mouth wide in anticipation. At that moment Flybbie ripped the fin off the shark's back. All Will could see was a dazzling ring of jagged white teeth. The shark lunged at him and its jaw snapped shut. Will felt nothing. He heard nothing. He saw no more. There was no struggle, no fight to resist death. Was this what it was like, life after death? Just nothing? A tap on his mouth reawakened Will s earthly senses. Had he been dreaming? He opened his eyes expecting to discover some sort of celestial paradise, but staring him in the face was Flybbie with the tube still sticking out of his throat. He could not believe what he was seeing. He looked around in wonder turning his head brought back the dizziness, but his vision was still intact and out of the corner of one eye he could see the shark spinning slowly down to the depths of the ocean in a deathly spiral, leaving a trail of blood that should have been Will s. The boy languidly grasped the tube as if he had all the time in the world to recover and put it back into his mouth. The bear blew more air into him and once again he felt the searing pain rip through his chest as the air flushed the water out of his lungs through his nose. He released the tube, exhaled, grabbed the life support again and inhaled. He held onto Flybbie and the bear took off. The bear seemed tireless. His movements were constant and fast. But Will was suddenly overcome with exhaustion. HIs breathing eventually became more relaxed and natural, but his arms and legs were aching and beginning to feel slightly numb. He closed his eyes momentarily then snapped them opened again. Will was trying desperately to stay awake but each time his eyes stayed shut a bit longer until eventually they opened no more. Will was fast asleep. Will s father, Sharefdeen, had recognised, early on, that his son would make a good Inquisitor for he had a talent for reasoning and conceptualising far beyond that of his peers. On his twelfth birthday Williamiahdeen's father announced that he was to begin his training, four years ahead of the norm. Will was offered no alternative. In Cimmeria people had no choice about their career. They did not enjoy the luxury of time to contemplate options of any sort. Decisions were made for them. They were even told when to have children. Will had been raised in the underground cities that formed the earthlings Cimmeria. They lived inside earth itself protected from the nuclear radiation which had been frying the earth s surface since 2076, when the great Holostrophy occurred, nearly annihilating the planet and making the human race an endangered species. In 2076 a large asteroid, similar to the one that contributed to the wiping out of the dinosaurs 65 million years earlier, struck Earth turning it into a hell. By then natural resources had been severely depleted. Renewable energy was insufficient. The world population had grown to an unsustainable level of more than 21 billion. Food was heavily rationed and corruption was rife. The divide between the super rich and the very poor was at previously unknown levels. All known reserves of oil, coal, uranium and plutonium were fully depleted. Life on earth was Zane Ryan, 2010 Killer Girls 18