After the Apocalypse: A Young Adult

Coming of Age Post-Apocalyptic

Survival Thriller: The Kim and Kaya
Chronicles Scott W Kimak
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 AFTER THE APOCALYPSE
THE KIM AND KAYA CHRONICLES
By
Scott W. Kimak
 CONTENTS

Chapter 1 – Kim and Kaya

Chapter 2 – The Man
Chapter 3 – The Shelter
Chapter 4 – Disagreement
Chapter 5 – Discontent
Chapter 6 – The Brigg
Chapter 7 – A Knock at the Door
Chapter 8 – The Trial
Chapter 9 – The Plan
Chapter 10 – Jailbreak from Hell
Chapter 11 – The Last Chapter
 Kim and Kaya

The axe sliced through the air with a sharp, whistling sound, its
gleaming blade leaving a trail of severed hair and strips of skin
floating in its wake. Lucky for the fiend, it ducked just in time,
absorbing no serious damage. Kimberly’s breath hitched in her
throat as a surge of adrenaline coursed through her body, causing
her to instinctively try to back-pedal, her eyes widening in fear.
Undeterred, the little monster lunged forward, its razor-sharp
teeth sinking into the soft flesh of Kimberly’s thigh. She stifled a
scream as her chest tightened, pulled in her axe, lifted it high above
her head, and brought the handle's butt down on the creature's
skull. The crack of bones and a whimpering cry filled the air as the
little monster crumpled like a marionette with severed strings, its
lifeless form collapsing onto the ground.
Sweat dripping from her brow, Kim darted her eyes to the left
and shouted, “Kaya, come here, girl."
The German Shepherd raised and tilted its head, jowls and
teeth dripping with blood from the two other monstrosities it had
killed. Obedient to its master, the dog left the remains and quickly
trotted to Kimberly, paws kicking up dust with each determined step.
“You poor little baby,” the teen replied as she skimmed her
fingers through the soft fur on Kaya's head. “Look how nasty those
vile beasts made you look. You need a bath.”
The eighty-pound Shepherd wagged its tail in agreement,
spraying droplets of blood around her. Without hesitation, she began
to lick the wound on Kimberly's leg.
“It's okay, baby. It's only a scratch. I'll take care of it.”
The brown-haired girl tore the bottom of her already tattered
shirt, revealing ripped abdominals that would make any fitness
trainer envious. With nimble fingers, she quickly wrapped the
material around her leg, covering the wound, and secured it tightly
with a deft knot.
“See, all better.”
Kaya turned her gaze toward Kimberly, her eyes wide and
attentive, her ears perked up as if attuned to her every word. She
tilted her head first to the right, then to the left, before continuing to
sniff and lick the covered wound, displaying her unwavering concern.
“No, Kaya,” Kimberly sternly commanded as she picked up her
backpack and started to leave the battlefield. “We need to get back
to the shelter before it gets dark… Well, I should say darker. The sky
really isn’t light anymore. You know, my parents said before the Last
War the sky was clear and blue. The sun was so bright you couldn't
look at it, or it would hurt your eyes. Can you imagine that, baby?”
"Woof," Kaya responded in a high-pitched tone.
Reaching down, Kimberly scratched the dog’s mop of short,
dark hair. “Oh, I know what you’re thinking. I promised you we
would find some other dogs. Yes, I’m sure we’ll find others one day.
I know you’re lonely being the only dog at the shelter, but don’t you
worry, I’ll find you some friends.”
They continued walking through the dusty landscape, feet
and paws, causing little puffs of brown smoke with every step. The
gnarled surface was cracked and wrinkled like an old woman’s face,
small lines zigging and zagging in every direction. The sky was
covered in dark foreboding clouds, blocking any sunshine and
denying nature its right to flourish. A few scarce weeds and bugs
seemed to be the only thing Kimberly had seen on her last two
adventures. This third trip into the apocalyptic world was no
different.
“Is this all that’s left?” Kimberly asked more to herself than
her faithful pet. “I don’t know why Mom and Dad are so worried. We
haven’t seen anything dangerous. The only thing that has tried to
hurt us are those mutated rats, possums, or whatever they were.
Besides, they know I can handle myself. Dad trained me in the
martial arts ever since I could walk.”
 “Woof,” Kaya barked in response, her head tilting to the side,
her ears momentarily flattening against her head.
“See, you agree. They need to stop treating me like a baby.
I’m going to be eighteen soon, and then nobody can boss me
around.”
“Woof.”
As the sun gradually descended, its dying rays succumbing to
the encroaching darkness, the sky transformed into an eerie expanse
of jet black. Kimberly quickened her pace, her shapely, tan legs
began to ache from the workout, and her muscles strained as her
feet pounded the uneven ground. Kaya trotted at her side, loyal
protector and closest friend.
I shouldn’t have stayed out so late, Kimberly thought. If I’m
late for dinner, they’ll know I snuck away.
A flicker of defiance kindled within her, fueled by the
frustration of being under constant surveillance.
“You know what, Kaya? --- Screw them! I’m almost an adult,
and they can’t tell me what to do anymore.”
Her words had barely left her lips when a shadow
materialized in the distance, casting an ominous silhouette against
the dying light. An involuntary tremor coursed through her body,
causing her lower lip to quiver with trepidation.
 The Man

“Crap,” Kimberly mumbled under her breath as the shadow took

the form of a man. A gust of wind ruffled his hair, a mix of brown
strands with a tinge of gray stood atop his muscular frame. Piercing
blue eyes stared at the young woman as they surrounded a slightly
larger than average nose. As she looked at him, she couldn’t help
but notice the small scars on his chin and left cheek. Kimberly
thought, why does he still scare the hell out of me? He’s the kindest,
most loving person in the shelter, but when he gets mad, it’s like he
changes into something else. It terrifies me when he looks like that.
The man stood with his arms crossed, dressed in his cammis,
staring at Kimberly with blazing eyes.
As the teenager drew within a few yards of the man, she said,
“Hi, Dad.”
“What were you thinking?” the man shouted, red-faced with
furrowed eyebrows.
“Dad, I’m almost eighteen years old. I’m not a little girl
anymore,” Kimberly fired back.
“I don’t care if you were thirty years old. It’s dangerous out
here.”
“No, it isn’t. The radioactive tests came back negative six
months ago. The Colonel has run three more tests since then, and
they all came back good. Why are we still locked up underground?
I’ve been there my whole life. Most of the younger ones have too,
and they’re fed up. We need to get out and explore.”
Kimberly noticed her father’s stern look start to soften. His
arms unfolded from his chest, and in a much softer tone, he said, “I
know it’s hard. Your mom and I have spent half our lives down
there, and believe me, we want out just as bad as you do.”
 “Then stand up to the Colonel. He’ll listen to you.”
“Sweetheart, --- I agree with the Colonel.”
“What?”
“We have to be careful. We don’t know what’s out here.”
“And we’ll never find out if we don’t explore.”
“We will, but we’ll go out in armed groups, not one little girl
by herself.”
“Kaya was with me,” Kimberly proudly declared as she rubbed
her faithful companion on the head.
“Hmph, that dog wouldn’t hurt a flea. --- Wait a minute,” the
man said as he scrutinized the animal more closely. “That’s blood on
his mouth! --- “Your leg, what happened?” he blurted as he dropped
to one knee to inspect the bandage.
“Dad, it’s okay. It was some rats or possums, or something
like that. When I get to the shelter, I’ll have Dr. Spulek take a look at
it.”
The dark look returned to her father’s face.
“This is why you shouldn’t be out here! If anything ever
happened to you, I don’t know what I would do. I’d probably go
insane.”
“I’m fine. I killed one of the creatures, and Kaya took out the
other two. If we’re going to be afraid of a bunch of vermin, then
we’ll never rebuild this world.”
The man was about to say something, but he held back his
tongue and instead took a deep breath.
“Okay, I’ll talk to the Colonel tomorrow, but right now, we
need to get back before anyone notices we’re missing. If the Colonel
found out, we’ll lose any say in the matter.”
Kimberly’s cheeks blossomed as she crushed her father with a
bear hug and said, “I love you, dad.”
Father, daughter, and fearless companion continued their trek
through utter darkness for another two hundred yards until they
reached the abandoned building. The structure had been decrepit
and old long before the apocalypse. No one would have expected a
military shelter to be hiding a hundred feet below its surface.
 The trio worked their way around to the back of the building,
searching for the dusty man-hole cover. With the aid of a steel bar,
Kimberly and her father lifted the lid, grunting under the weight, and
shifted it aside. Kim possessed a special harness and rope, designed
for lowering Kaya into the sewer first. Once the faithful companion
was safely in place, she and her father clambered down the ladder,
their boots sloshing in the mucky water.
Turning on their flashlights, they moved along the tunnel wall
until they reached a hidden panel. This secret exit was the back-up
plan to get everyone into the sewer and drainage systems if an
enemy breached the front entrance.
As they entered the door and closed the panel behind them,
Kimberly asked, “By the way, how did you know I was gone? I was
only out there for a couple of hours.”
“Nick told me.”
“That son-of-a---.”
“He was worried. You know that boy is crazy about you.”
“I know, Dad,” she sighed. “And it’s really annoying.”
They started moving down the stairwells and changed their
tones to whispers.
“He’s not so bad. He’s a good soldier and fairly bright. Not as
smart as you are, but then again, who is? You should cut him some
slack.”
Kimberly rolled her eyes.
“You only say that because he’s the only boy my age.”
“Well, your mom and I do want grandkids one day.”
“Ewe, that’s so gross,” Kimberly squealed with a puckered
face. “He’s like a brother to me.”
“Okay, I’m just saying you don’t have to be so hard on him all
the time.”
“I’m not hard on him,” Kimberly replied with a mischievous
grin.
Their conversation came to an abrupt halt as the faint ring of
metal meeting metal echoed from a few flights beneath them.
Kimberly’s dad brought his finger to his lips and pointed down the
stairwell. There was something beneath them heading up the stairs.
 The Shelter

“Kim? Major? Is that you?” a voice whispered from below.

“Nick, yes, it’s us,” Kimberly replied as they continued down
the stairs.
When they reached the boy, Major Wessek flashed the
lightbulb in Nick’s face and sternly asked, “What are you doing here,
private? If the Colonel sees you left your post, we’ll all be in trouble.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but the two of you were gone for a long time,
and I was getting worried.”
“So, you were worried about the --- two of us?”
“Uh --- yes, sir.”
Major Wessek turned back toward Kimberly, shined the light
on his face, and gave her a wink.
“Let’s get back inside before someone notices,” Kimberly
stated as she exhaled and shook her head.
The group stealthily crept down the remaining steps and
moved toward the door. Major Wessek silently grabbed the handle,
opened the door a crack, and peeked inside.
“The coast is clear,” he whispered.
The trio entered and quietly closed the door behind them.
The bright lights filled the room, and Kimberly squinted, shielding
her eyes with one hand as she waited for them to adjust. She could
hear the massive air filtration systems lined up along the far back
wall, humming away like an approaching storm. The machines had
run efficiently for the last eighteen years, with minor repairs and
replacement parts keeping the beasts working at their steady pace.
In front of them, rows upon rows of shelves were stretched to
the ceiling. Cobwebs draped like ethereal veils, and dust settled like
a forgotten secret on most of the platforms. The vast majority of the
shelves were empty, a wasteland of abandoned space. Only a small
section on one of the bottom rows held any sign of sustenance, the
meager food supplies a somber reminder of their precarious
existence.
Kaya wined and looked at her master.
“I know, sweetie, I’m hungry too.”
“Speaking of hunger,” Major Wessek added. “We need to
hurry up and get to dinner. Your mom will be worried sick. Go see
the doctor about that wound and hurry home.” Turning toward Nick,
he forcefully said, “Private, don’t ever leave your post again.”
Nick snapped to attention and responded, “Yes, sir.”
“Dad, give me a minute, and I’ll be right there.”
Major Wessek gave his daughter a smile, which she returned
with a frown, and then he walked away, his footsteps echoing down
the corridor.
Kim waited until her father rounded the corner and was out of
sight. Then she spun around and planted her fist into Nick’s
shoulder.
“You idiot! You weren’t supposed to tell anyone where I was.”
“With mesmerized eyes, Nick replied, “I was worried that
something had happened to you.”
“We were fine!”
“You don’t look fine. What happened to your leg?” Nick asked
as he reached down to try to check the bandage.
Kimberly shoved her hands into the boy’s shoulders, pushing
him back so hard he nearly fell. She yelled, “Leave me alone! I’m not
a little girl anymore!”
Nick jumped forward, his face stopping only a few inches
from the girl, veins pulsing on his forehead. He screamed back,
“Then stop acting like one; you spoiled little brat!”
Kimberly stood motionless. Her shoulders dropped as she
stared into his dark brown eyes. She bit her lip as it started to
tremble, and without a word, turned and walked away.
What the hell was that? She thought as she left the room and
started walking down the long hallway toward the main assembly
hall. She looked at Kaya, who walked at her side, and asked her
faithful friend, “What just happened?”
Kaya gave a little yelp in response and continued walking.
Nick has never been mad at me. I’ve picked on him for years,
and he’s never fought back. If he had a tail, it would be squeezed
firmly between his legs like Kaya does when I’m mad at her. That’s
the first time he’s ever responded that way ---- and it made me feel
different. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I think I liked it. It reminds
me of my dad. My mom is a strong independent woman that no one
would dream of crossing. Dad lets her get her way whenever she
wants, but when he gets mad --- look out. There’s a darkness in
him, but it’s also a strength. I’ve seen him get that look when he’s
training the other soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. There’s no such
thing as losing for him. It’s crazy, but I think that’s what I just saw in
Nick’s eyes. Those big, moist, brown eyes ----. Wait a minute! What
am I thinking?
Kimberly violently shook her head as if she was trying to
expel the thoughts from her mind. She started humming a tune to
distract her from thinking about Nick, but oddly she couldn’t stop
seeing his eyes or the tiny dimple in his chin. Kim had teased him
about that dimple for years, telling him it looked like a gunshot
wound. Now, she imagined touching that dimple and reaching her
fingers upward toward his lips. What am I thinking? --- Another
shake of the head and a louder hum left her mouth.
She continued her tune as she entered the B.A.S. station.
Doctor Spulek was in his office going over some paperwork, and the
man jumped out of his seat as Kimberly entered, sprinting and
nearly tripping to meet the young woman.
“Kaya, sit. Stay here, girl.”
“Hi Doc, how have you been?” Kimberly asked with a big
smile as she moved forward and shook Doctor Spulek’s hand.
“Oh, yes -- I’m doing great. I don’t get many patients. Uh ---
It’s so good to see you. I can’t believe how much you’ve grown. I
still remember the day I delivered you. It seems like it was just
yesterday.”
 “That was almost eighteen years ago,” Kimberly replied as she
rolled her eyes.
“Wow, eighteen, I can’t believe it.”
“Unfortunately, neither can my parents.”
“Well, that’s just parents being parents.”
“I guess.”
“So, I see you have a bandage wrapped around your leg.
What happened?”
“I got bit by a rat in the back storage room,” Kimberly lied.
“Oh my, you’re going to need some shots for that. Let me
have a look.”
Twenty minutes later, Kimberly emerged from the examination
room, her gait slightly altered due to the bandaged leg. As she
passed through the main assembly hall and entered the barracks,
several soldiers smiled or waved in her direction. She noticed that
most of the men were staring at her longer than normal. Why are
they looking at me? Do I have a zit on my face or something?
Ignoring their lingering eyes, she approached the end of the
room. Her family’s private living quarters were just ahead, next to
the Colonel’s room.
I can’t wait to see mom. These feelings I’m having about Nick
are so strange. I need to tell her, so she can tell me what to do.
With a hop in her step, she reached the door to her family’s
quarters, eager to share her conflicted feelings. However, as she
swung the door open, her excitement came to an abrupt halt, as she
heard the Colonel’s raised voice as he lashed out at her parents.
Hearing Kimberly enter, the old man turned and stared daggers at
her.
 Disagreement

"There you are!" The Colonel's voice thundered across the room,
slicing through the air like a sharp blade. He marched towards
Kimberly, his footsteps echoing with authority. His face contorted
with anger, a crimson flush creeping up from his neck to his bald,
perspiration-drenched scalp. The intensity in his eyes was like a
wildfire on the brink of consuming everything in its path. “You’re the
one putting these crazy thoughts in your parents’ heads, aren’t
you?”
Kimberly snapped to attention, her spine straightening
instinctively as if drawn by an invisible force. With a calm resolve in
her voice, she mustered the courage to speak. "I haven't uttered a
single word that could be deemed as crazy, sir."
The Colonel’s face turned beet-red, his rage intensifying further.
“Oh, you think you’re so smart. Everyone talking about how you’re
some kind of genius. Maybe, you think that you should be the one in
charge.”
Keeping straight-faced, Kimberly replied, “Are you offering me a
promotion, sir?”
If the Colonel’s face was red earlier, now, it seemed like every
blood vessel exploded. Moving his wrinkled nose within an inch of
Kimberly’s, he screamed as his spittle flew onto her cheeks, “Are you
mocking me, soldier?”
“No, sir.”
The Colonel pulled back, chest heaving, eyes bulging so hard that
the crow’s feet around them seemed to stretch and smooth out, as if
sculpted by an invisible hand armed with Botox injections.
Kimberly could feel the spit on her face and badly wanted to raise
her hand and wipe it away. --- But that would be a mistake. Seeing
that the old man’s tomato-colored head was ready to explode, her
best bet was to stand at attention.
The Colonel started to relax. He exhaled, and Kimberly could
smell a stench like urine after you’ve eaten an entire bag of
asparagus. The crimson hue slowly faded from his face, allowing his
weathered features to regain some semblance of their former state.
In a much more composed tone, he spoke, his voice tinged with
weariness. “It’s dangerous out there. We don’t know what survived,
and I’m not going to risk my people. I’ve protected them for
nineteen years, and it’s my responsibility to keep them alive. I’m not
taking any chances until I know for sure.”
“Sir, may I speak freely,” Kimberly asked.
“I’ll probably regret it but go ahead.”
“We only have one month of food left.”
“You don’t think I know that? Actually, I’m making the
announcement tomorrow. We’ll have to ration the food.”
Kimberly’s jaw dropped, and she heard the moan of dismay from
her parents. She darted a quick glance at them, their expressions
mirroring her own disbelief, before turning her gaze back at the
Colonel.
“Sir, we’re already rationing the food.”
“Then we’ll have to ration them more. Don’t worry. Everything is
going to be okay,” the Colonel said with a smile as he pivoted on his
heels and left the room.
For several seconds Kimberly and her family stood dumbfounded,
their minds grappling with the enormity of what had just transpired.
Then as if ignited by a shared flame, they erupted in a cacophony of
voices, their words colliding in the air.
“Honey, this is crazy,” Kim’s mom said to her husband.
“Dad, he doesn’t know what he’s saying. Everyone has tightened
their belts to the limit. It’s so bad you can hear their stomachs
growling in the Mess Hall during mealtime. It’s almost comical, but
the soldiers are getting frustrated. They complain about it every day
and wonder why we’re not heading to the surface. They’ll revolt if
we cut the rations even farther.”
 “I know. Several of the men have privately complained to me,”
Major Wessek replied.
“Then we need to do something,” Mrs. Wessek interjected. “The
Colonel said the people are his responsibility, but they’re also our
responsibility. We can’t let everything we’ve built fall apart.”
“I agree,” Kimberly said.
“Wait just a minute. What exactly are you two talking about?”
“Maybe it’s time for a new leader around here,” Kimberly’s mom
replied.
“Keep your voice down,” Jacob said, and then he lowered his
tone. “You’re talking about mutiny.”
“Dad, you’ve always said that the needs of the many outweigh
the needs of the few or the one.”
“That’s a quote from an old movie.”
“Maybe, but it’s true,” Kimberly stated. “The soldiers are
suffering, and they need someone that isn’t afraid. The Colonel has
gone soft in his old age and doesn’t want to take any risks. But if he
doesn’t, we’ll all die down here.”
“I’m not committing mutiny. --- I’ll talk to him again and work
things out.”
“When?” Kimberly impatiently asked.
“Mija, if your dad said he’ll talk to him, then he’ll talk to him.
Now, let’s sit down and eat dinner before it gets cold, --- and you
can tell me why you’re limping.”
Crap, she noticed.
*****
The next morning, Kim awoke with heavy eyelids. Between
thinking about Nick, the Colonel, and the discomfort in her leg, she
had a restless night. However, the new day caused much of the pain
in her leg to dissipate, and her limp had practically vanished.
“Come on, girl, let’s get some breakfast,” she mumbled to Kaya
as she kissed the Shepherd on her nose. “I never got a chance to
talk to Mom about Nick last night, but with Dad at his morning
workout, now would be the perfect time for some girl-talk.”
Kimberly dragged her feet to the kitchen and was surprised to
see that her mom was nowhere in sight. That’s weird. Mom is always
up before me.
“Mom,” she called as she walked toward her parents’ bedroom.
Silence greeted her, its eerie stillness amplifying her growing
unease. She entered the room, her eyes darting towards the
adjoining bathroom in a futile search for any signs of her mother.
The emptiness echoed back at her, accentuating the hollowness of
the space.
“Kaya, this is really strange.”
The dog answered back with a short howl.
That’s when Kimberly noticed her dad’s workout clothes lying on
the bed. He never misses a morning workout. What’s going on?
The urgency of the situation propelled her into action. Kimberly
quickly dressed into her army fatigues and rushed out of the
apartment, her footsteps heavy with a mix of concern and
uncertainty. She turned left and went to the Colonel’s quarters,
knocking on the door --- but silence echoed back at her, a haunting
response that intensified her growing sense of dread.
Just then, Nick flew into the hallway out of breath with eyes as
big as saucers.
“Kim, are you okay?” he blurted.
“I’m fine. Have you seen my parents?”
“I thought you knew. --- They’re both in the brig. --- They’re
under arrest for treason.”
 Discontent

“Sir, you can’t do this,” Kimberly complained, her voice trembling.

“I can do whatever I want!” the Colonel yelled from across his
desk as Kim stood at attention. “I’m the one in charge around here,
not your parents and not you! Do you understand, private?”
“Yes, sir, but ---”
“But nothing. You’re dismissed.”
Infuriated, Kimberly spun on her heels and stomped out of the
Colonel’s office. Her fingers clenched into fists and repeatedly
opened as she marched down the dimly lit hallway, turned left, and
stormed into the barracks. A hundred eyes turned in her direction.
She felt their uncomfortable stares and wondered, are they looking
at me because of what happened to my parents, or do they find me
attractive? I hope it’s the former since most of them are old enough
to be my dad.
“Kimberly,” Nick shouted from his bunk bed as he noticed the girl
approaching.
“Nick,” Kim squealed for a split-second as she observed the
young man, momentarily forgetting her parents’ plight. Catching
herself, she quickly snapped her smile closed and put on a serious
face.
“What did the Colonel say?” Nick asked.
“He won’t release them, and he wouldn’t even listen to anything
I had to say.”
“Then he’s a fool. You’re the smartest person in here. Has he
forgotten everything you’ve done for this place? If it weren’t for your
new invention, the air filtration system would have stopped working
a year ago.”
“Nick’s right,” a deep voice spoke from behind Kim.
 Kim spun around to see Sgt. Lawson and a dozen other soldiers
closing in on her and Nick, their expressions reflecting a mix of
sympathy and admiration.
“I can’t believe the Colonel did that to your parents,” the
Sergeant continued. “If it weren’t for you and your parents, this
place would have fallen apart a long time ago.”
“I agree,” several other soldiers simultaneously chimed in while
others nodded their heads with approval.
Kimberly had always liked Sergeant Lawson. He was a burly no-
nonsense man, loved by the people and reviled by the Colonel
whenever possible. The Sergeant was short, only a few inches taller
than Kim, but his body was almost twice as thick as most men. Not
that he was out of shape, food shortages had prevented an ounce of
fat from creeping onto his muscular frame. The man was just big-
boned and had a big, deep, baritone voice to match. He wasn’t the
brightest individual, but the Colonel had no right to ridicule and
overlook his every chance at promotion over the last nineteen years.
Kimberly wasn’t sure, but she surmised the Colonel could be jealous
of the man’s popularity with the people.
“Thank you for your support. I truly appreciate it, but words
won’t help my family. We have to convince the Colonel that he’s
wrong.”
“That won’t be easy,” the sergeant replied. “The man is stubborn
as a mule.”
“What’s a mule?” Nick asked.
“It doesn’t matter. It was an animal from the old days,” the
sergeant replied. “What matters is when the man sets his mind,
there is no changing it.”
“We have to change it. I know my parents would never do
anything to disrespect the chain of command.”
“Were you able to speak with them?” Nick asked.
“No, he refused to let me see them.”
“That’s not right,” Sergeant Lawson declared. “As a minor, you’re
entitled to see them.”
“Attention!” the blaring shout came from the far side of the room.
 Everyone quickly turned in that direction and snapped into
position. Kimberly could see that Captain Gonzalez was the one that
had shouted the command. She had never cared for the captain. His
eyes had a hungry stare to them every time he looked at her. The
man was tall, maybe a few inches taller than her dad. His body was
plump, --- too plump for someone that’s rationing their food. The
captain’s nose was flat and wide, smashed between two puffy
cheeks. His lips were thin and lifeless. For as long as Kim could
remember, she had never seen the man smile. Her mother didn’t
trust him and warned Kimberly to avoid him whenever possible.
“Fall in!” the captain shouted.
Without delay, everyone rushed to the far end of the room and
formed lines. Just as they finished, the Colonel entered. Kim
remembered idolizing the man when she was a child. Back then, he
was rugged and robust, brimming with confidence. Now, as she saw
the man approach, she observed a different persona. He looked
broken and frail, dragging his feet along the floor almost as if he was
resisting each step. Suddenly, he snapped to life, his pace quicker
and surer, but Kimberly could swear she saw something strange
about his eyes. What was that? Did his eyes turn completely black
for a second?
The Colonel came to a halt, his gaze moving across the crowd,
but Kimberly noticed he stopped before meeting her eyes and
quickly looked the other way. The man cleared his throat and spoke
loud and clear, “Together, we have faced enormous challenges over
the last nineteen years. During this time, we have worked together
as a team to defeat any obstacle. Teamwork is the key to our
survival, and when some of us try to go against the team and
destroy what we’ve built, I cannot allow that to happen. That is why
Major and Captain Wessek will be tried for treason tomorrow.”
A gasp filled the room as most of the soldiers started to grumble
their discontent. Kimberly started to speak, but the Sergeant cut her
off, raising his hand and signaling her to stop. Sergeant Lawson
looked back toward the Colonel and said, “Sir, permission to speak
freely?”
 The Colonel’s eyes sent imaginary darts flying toward the
Sergeant as he grudgingly replied, “Permission granted.”
“I have two requests. According to protocol 43, minors have the
right to speak with their parents if they are imprisoned. I request
that Private Wessek have the right to see Major and Captain
Wessek.”
“Uh --- granted, and what is your second question?”
“Sir, according to protocol 46, three officers must preside over
the trial. Besides yourself, who will be the other two officers?”
“Captain Gonzalez will be the only one assisting me.”
Kimberly stumbled forward, her stomach twisting. She wasn’t the
only one. Almost every soldier stepped out of their ranks, furious at
the Colonel’s words. None of them had any respect for Captain
Gonzalez, and they didn’t hold back their words of disapproval.
“Get back into line!” the Colonel screamed.
No one listened as they continued their protests.
“Captain, shoot the first person that disobeys my orders!” the
Colonel yelled.
Gonzalez pulled his sidearm and pointed it toward the crowd,
“Line back up, or I’ll shoot!”
After a few grumbles, the soldiers filed back into their places, all
except Kimberly. Defiantly, she remained outside the ranks,
breathing heavily with clenched fists. The Colonel ignored her and
started to exit the room with Captain Gonzalez slowly backing away,
his weapon pointing toward the rest of the soldiers.
Just before he reached the exit, Kimberly could swear she saw an
unnatural twitch in the Colonel’s shoulders. The man spun around
and said, “Oh, I almost forgot. ---- Starting tomorrow, rations will be
cut in half.”
With those cruel words hanging in the air, the Colonel and
Captain left, their departure leaving the room engulfed in stunned
silence.
 The Brigg

Nick was the first one to break the silence, “The man’s insane.”
“It doesn’t make any sense,” Sgt. Lawson added. “He can see
how all of us are at the point of revolting. Why would he push us
even further?”
The soldiers, sensing the gravity of the situation, instinctively
formed a tight circle around Kimberly and Sergeant Lawson. Their
gazes, filled with a mixture of confusion and apprehension, fixated
on the two figures in the center, hoping they could shed some light
on the Colonel’s actions.
“Did anyone notice something strange about the Colonel’s eyes
or the way he moved?” Kimberly asked.
The only answer the girl received was shoulder shrugs and head
shakes of negativity.
“Why, what did you see?” Sergeant Lawson asked.
“I’m not sure, but something seems off.”
“Do you think he’s taking drugs?” Nick asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m just imagining things.”
“Well, his actions don’t seem rational,” the Sergeant said. “We
should have the doctor look him over. If he finds something wrong,
then it would warrant removing him from command.”
“That’s a good idea,” Kimberly replied. “I’m going to see my
parents and find out what’s happening.”
“Okay, let’s meet back here in one hour,” the Sergeant said.
Kimberly turned and started to leave when Nick jumped up next
to her and said, “I’ll go with you.”
The girl slammed her feet into the ground like a red light had
suddenly appeared, and was about to lash back at him with, “I don’t
need a babysitter,” when she noticed those beautiful eyes and cute
dimple. I need to scream. There’s no time for this romantic crap! My
parents are in trouble, and the whole community is falling apart! But
no words left her lips. Instead, she just gave Nick a frustrated look
and continued to walk toward the Brig. Silently, Nick accompanied
her step for step.
Maybe, I’m the one going crazy, not the Colonel. Come to think
of it, all these strange feelings about Nick, and the hallucinations
about the Colonel, came after I returned from the surface. Is it
possible I breathed something in, or the bite from that creature is
causing all of this? --- No, that can’t be. The Doc checked me out,
and everything was okay. And I don’t care what anyone else saw. ---
I know what I saw. I didn’t imagine it. The Colonel’s eyes did turn
black. But how is that possible? Come on, Kim, use that big brain
everyone says you have and figure this out. ---What if? --- You
know, why am I keeping this to myself? My parents always say two
heads are better than one.
“Nick, I’m going to tell you something, and it might sound crazy.”
“Nothing lately would surprise me.”
“This might. I’m certain that before the Colonel’s speech, I saw
his eyes turn completely black, and before he left, there was a twitch
in his neck that was really odd.”
“I didn’t notice that,” Nick said with furrowed eyebrows.
“Yeah, nobody did, but I’m telling you, I saw it,” Kim said with a
tinge of annoyance. “And it wasn’t my imagination.”
“Okay, okay, I believe you, but what does it mean?”
“The Colonel has been to the surface more times than I have.
What if he was infected by some kind of parasite, and that’s why
he’s acting so strange.”
“It sounds like one of those old movies that your dad has, where
the creature bursts out of the person’s stomach.”
“Yeah, but this isn’t a movie.”
“I’m sure the Doc will be able to detect something.”
“But what if the Colonel won’t let Dr. Spulek check him?”
“I don’t know,” Nick replied. “But we’ll worry about that when the
time comes.”
 “You know me. I’m a problem solver, and I don’t like not having a
solution for everything.”
“Yeah, I know, but sometimes you have to have some faith.”
Kim didn’t like that response. Faith is something that lately feels
like it has abandoned me. How has everything turned so upside
down in such a short amount of time?
Finally, the entrance to the Brig came into view. Captain Gonzalez
stood guard at the door with an annoying grin on his face. I really
hate that man.
As they approached, Kimberly said, “I’m here to see my parents.”
“I’ll let you see them, but not this little boy,” the captain said as
he pointed at Nick and snickered.
Kim could see that Nick was about to explode, so she laid a hand
on his arm, smiled, and said, “It’s fine. I’ll meet you in the Barracks
in one hour.”
Nick nodded toward the girl, gave the captain a hard stare,
turned, and walked away.
“Playing with boys when you could be with a man,” Captain
Gonzalez said with a smirk.
“I don’t see any men around here,” Kimberly responded as she
looked directly at the captain.
The smile left his lips, and his nose scrunched into a scowl.
“You forget who decides your parents’ fate,” the captain coldly
said.
Inside, Kim felt like she was about to go nuclear. Images of her
fists pounding down on the man entered her mind, but outwardly
she calmly asked, “Can you please open the door?”
Reluctantly, Captain Gonzalez unlocked and gave the door a
push. Kim brushed past the man and entered the Brig. It was a
small room with only two cells. The government had never expected
any insubordination, and so far, this was the first time they had used
the rooms. Immediately, she rushed to the metal bars. Her parents
jumped up and met her, grabbing her arms and kissing her hands.
“Are you okay?” her mom asked.
“I’m fine. What about you two?” Kimberly sobbed.
 “We’re good,” her father answered as he moved a strand of hair
from Kim’s left eye.
“What happened?” Kim asked.
“That morning, both of us decided to visit the Colonel,” Mrs.
Wessek said. “I’ve known the man for almost twenty years, and he’s
always been stubborn, but I’ve never known him to be so
unreasonable. He wouldn’t listen to a word we had to say and
started ranting and raving about us being insubordinate. That’s
when I lost my temper and told him that maybe it was time for him
to retire.”
“Oh, I’m sure he liked that,” Kimberly laughed.
“He went ballistic and pulled his gun on us,” Mr. Wessek
interrupted.
“And then he called for Captain Gonzalez,” Mrs. Wessek added.
“He told the man to put us in here. We tried to reason with him, but
it was useless. He had a crazed look on his face and was almost
foaming at the mouth. I’ve never seen him act so strange.”
“Mom and Dad, I know this is a crazy question, but did you
notice anything different about his eyes or the way his body
moved?”
The couple looked at each other and simultaneously responded,
“No, why?”
“I swear there is something wrong with him. We’re trying to get
Dr. Spulek to check him out.”
“He’s probably just stressed. I’m sure this will all blow over, and
he’ll let us out soon,” Kim’s father said.
“Dad --- you don’t know.”
“Know what, Mija?” Kim’s mom asked.
“You’re both being tried for treason tomorrow.”
Mr. and Mrs. Wessek exchanged shocked looks.
 A Knock at the Door

After leaving the Brig, Kim trudged wearily to the Barracks, her
footsteps heavy with disappointment. As she entered, she spotted
Sergeant Lawson standing amidst a group of soldiers in quiet
discussion. The sergeant relayed the bad news to Kim about his
conversation with Dr. Spulek, explaining that the man had performed
the Colonel’s annual check-up last week and found him in superb
condition. There were no grounds for another examination, and Dr.
Spulek could only offer to keep an eye on the Colonel and look for
any changes in his demeanor.
Kimberly shuffled back to her apartment with her chin on her
chest and her eyes filled with water. Nick tried to console her, but it
just made her angrier. She shouted, “Leave me alone!” and pushed
his hands away. As she approached her home, she regretted her
words and wondered if Nick’s touch would have been just the right
thing to assuage her stress levels.
Kim opened the door, and the melancholy look on her face
evaporated. Instead, it was replaced by a huge smile when Kaya
rushed up to her with her tail wagging.
Dropping to her knees, the young girl ferociously clamped her
arms around her best friend and whispered, “I missed you so much.”
Kaya snuggled her snout into Kimberly’s shoulder. The soft fur
tickled Kim’s neck, and the dog’s heartbeat thumped against her
chest. Tears burst from her eyes like a broken dam. Her body shook,
letting all the stress from the last two days force its way to the
surface. Rocking back and forth, she clutched onto Kaya like an
infant to a stuffed animal, trying to find comfort and escape her
sadness.
 “Baby, what do I do? Kim sobbed. “I feel like everything is falling
apart, and there’s nothing I can do to change it.”
Kaya gave a slight whine, so Kimberly separated from the animal
and looked her in the eyes. She continued running her fingers
through the thick fur on the dog’s neck and said, “I’m so worried
about my parents. What’s going to happen to them?”
Kaya’s only reply was her tongue as she started licking the tears
from Kim’s face.
“Ugh, that’s gross. I’m glad I brushed your teeth and bathed you
last night. Otherwise, you might be spreading germs from those rats
you killed.”
Kaya’s mouth opened and closed twice as if she mimicked a bark,
but no sound left her throat.
“Are you trying to talk to me? --- Maybe you have the solution to
this mess I’m in.”
Kaya yelped twice.
Kim decided the best thing to relieve her stress was a warm
shower and, after that, some Tai Chi practice to clear her mind. She
filled Kaya’s food dish, patted her back, and headed toward the
bathroom. She undressed, stepped into the shower, and turned on
the faucet. The warm water felt like Heaven as it ran down her back
and shoulders, willing away the knots that had accumulated beneath
her skin.
Her mind wandered to happier days from her childhood when she
and Nick would play hide-and-go-seek in the Assembly Hall or
convince the younger children to play tricks on their parents. Her
schoolwork was the only stress back then, but she enjoyed the
challenge and devoured everything she read. By the time she was
fourteen, she had surpassed her teachers and started experimenting
with new inventions. By her sixteenth birthday, the mechanics and
top engineers came to her with their problems. Running her fingers
through her hair, she thought, Yeah, yeah, you’re so smart. If that’s
the truth, why can’t I figure out how to help Mom and Dad?
Turning off the shower, she immediately heard Kaya barking from
the other room and a loud banging on her front door. Quickly, she
wrapped herself in a towel, tiptoed across the bathroom floor, careful
not to slip, and opened the door. The barking and pounding were
much louder. What’s going on? Maybe it’s Nick with good news about
my parents.
Kim rushed across the carpet floor with a broad grin from ear to
ear. She fumbled with the lock but finally unlocked the knob and
yanked open the door. Her stretched lips and exposed white teeth
quickly closed and pinched into a frown.
“Ooh, nice and wet. Just the way a woman should be,” Captain
Gonzalez slurred with raised eyebrows.
“What do you want?”
“You,” the captain belched.
“You’re drunk. Get out of here!” Kim yelled as she tried to close
the door.
However, the man’s reflexes proved too quick, and he shoved the
door with both hands, ripping it away from Kim’s grip and slamming
it against the wall. Kaya stood on her toes, retracted her lips, bared
her fangs, and let out a deep growl.
The captain took one unsteady step and stopped as he saw
Kaya’s aggressive manner.
“Oh, --- we can’t have that beast stop our love-making,” the
captain slurred as he pulled out his gun and pointed it toward the
dog.
Kimberly had watched her dad teach the other soldiers Kung Fu
for as long as she could remember. Sometimes he moved so fast
that it was nearly impossible to follow the movement. The scary
thing was, he told her he was slowing down the techniques or the
students wouldn’t be able to learn. Unfortunately, she wasn’t blessed
with his incredible speed. Nevertheless, today quickness wouldn’t be
necessary. The alcohol would take care of that.
Wasted out of his mind, the captain fumbled as he tried to pull
the gun from his holster, and it was all the time Kimberly would
need. As he raised the gun toward Kaya, she easily covered the
distance and knocked the weapon from his limp hand.
The gun slid harmlessly across the floor, but Captain Gonzalez
paid it no heed. Instead, he looked back toward Kim, his eyes
focusing on her cleavage partially revealed above the towel around
Another random document with
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 I cannot explain to you in this place how this gas is formed by
plants. It would be a good plan for you to study up this subject, for it
is quite curious, and very interesting. The gas is fatal to animal life.
Neither man, beast, or bird can breathe it for even a short time and
live. But the gas is heavier than the common air, and sinks in it. In
this valley, as I have said, it extended only about two feet above the
ground, and a man’s lungs were above it, so he could not inhale it.
On horseback of course he was far above it. But low animals, and
birds that alighted on the ground at once fell victims to it.
This led to an examination of the Upas tree stories, and most of
them were found to be fables. Grass and flowers do grow around
these trees in most places; birds sport upon their branches, and
lizards run up and down unhurt; and it is possible to remain under
them without injury of any kind.
But it is true that the juice of the upas is a powerful poison. The
savages use it as a weapon to kill their enemies in war, and to slay
the wild beasts. They dip the points of their spears and arrows in the
poisonous sap. An animal dies in five or six minutes after being
struck with one of these poisoned weapons. They take great
precautions in collecting the sap, so terrible is their fear of this tree.
On some plants the blossoms are so small they can scarcely be
seen by the naked eye, and on others they are of enormous
proportions.
An African flower, the Aristolochia, has a large and curiously
shaped blossom. It is shaped like a helmet with flaring edges, and
the opening is so large that it will admit the head of a man, and can
be worn as a hat.
The flowers of the Victoria Regia, which are shaped very much like
those of our water lily, are a yard in circumference.
But the giant of blossoms is the Rafflesia Arnoldi. This is a long
name, but the flower can bear it very well.
 RAFFLESIA ARNOLDI.

It grows in the islands of Java and Sumatra, and the buds and
blossoms seem to be pretty much all there is of the plant. And quite
enough too. The full blown flower is a yard wide. Each of its five
petals is a foot long, and they stand at about the distance of a foot
from each other. In the centre there is a deep honey-cup, which is
capable of holding a dozen pints of fluid. The whole weighs fifteen
pounds. The central cup is violet and red, and the petals are of a
brilliant orange color, so that it makes a gorgeous display indeed.
But this flower, so magnificent in size and color, has such a
disagreeable smell, that after having satisfied your curiosity by
looking at its gigantic blossom, you will be glad to get away from its
neighborhood.
From the bark of a tree, the Cinchona, we get one of our most
useful and powerful medicines. The bark is known under the name of
Peruvian bark, and there are several preparations from it—quinine
being the one most generally used. It is a valuable medicine
everywhere, but is especially so in the hot countries where it grows,
for very malignant fevers prevail in those localities. It got its name,
Cinchona, from the first European who used it. The Countess
Chinchon of Spain, while living in Peru was attacked by one of the
terrible fevers of the country, and was near dying, when she heard
that in such fevers the natives cured themselves with the bark of a
tree. She tried it, and recovered; and, after she got well, she took
pains to make known the virtues of this bark, and gave away great
quantities of it. It is now a very important article of export from Peru,
and a source of great wealth.
There are other barks of plants and trees used in medicine. A
great many are useful as dyes. The inner bark of a species of oak
furnishes us with corks. Some trees have aromatic barks. The black
birch of our own woods is highly spiced. Of some the flavor is so
pleasant that they are used as spices. Cinnamon bark, for instance,
which, of course, you know all about.
So you see that even in the bark of vegetables there are pleasant
things stored away, and wonderful secrets, if we choose to take the
trouble to get at them.
The fragrance of a plant, if it has any, we expect to find in its
blossoms. But this quality is not confined to the flowers. It is found
sometimes in the leaves, occasionally in the bark, and very
frequently in the fruit. We are familiar with the fragrance of
strawberries, raspberries, peaches, grapes, bananas, lemons, and
oranges; and many others might be named. In fact nearly all eatable
fruits have some sort of a pleasant odor, though in some it is very
faint.
Sometimes the fragrance is in the nuts. There are but few
examples of this. The Black Walnut has an agreeable smell. The
most famous of fragrant nuts is the Nutmeg, with which we are all
familiar in the spice-boxes. But perhaps you don’t know how
beautifully it looks growing upon the tree. So we will break off a
branch for you to look at.
 BRANCH OF A NUTMEG TREE.

This nut ripens under the hot sun of India. Not only is the nut itself
fragrant, but the second coat of its envelope, or shell, that you see in
the picture, also has a pleasing perfume of its own, entirely distinct
from its nut. This you are also familiar with in the spice box, broken
up into thin yellow chips, and called Mace.
No more delicious fragrance can be found than that of a South
American bean, the Vanilla.
As for leaves, you can think of a great many fragrant kinds in a few
minutes, not only green-house plants, like some of the geraniums,
but many of the weeds of the fields.
Some vegetables produce very remarkable fruits.
 FRUIT OF THE BREAD FRUIT TREE, REDUCED IN SIZE.
A species of fig-tree bears loaves of bread! It is quite a large tree,
about forty feet high, and has wide spreading branches, thickly
covered with very large leaves. It bears fruit abundantly, and during
eight months of the year, there is always some ripe fruit to be found
on the boughs.
This fruit is round; is larger than a child’s head; weighs three or
four pounds, and is rough and hairy on the outside.
The thick green rind encloses a pulp, which is as white as wheat
bread, and, when cooked, tastes very much like it, and is equally
nourishing. To prepare it to be eaten, it is cut into thick slices, and
laid upon a gridiron over a bed of hot coals. In a few minutes the
“bread” is ready.
Thus the natives of the countries where this fruit grows have bread
for eight months of the year with very little trouble. If they did not
have this kind they would not have any bread at all, for wheat and
rye will not grow there.
But they want bread the rest of the year too. So they take
advantage of the time when the fruit is most abundant, and, from that
which they do not want for immediate use, they prepare a paste that
can be kept a long time without turning sour. And, during the four
months the tree is without ripe fruit, they live upon this preparation.
Tapioca is the singular production of a vegetable root. It is singular
because, though wholesome and nutritious as food, it is produced
from a strong poison. It is prepared as follows by native women.
Roots of the manioc plant are gathered, and bruised into pulp with
a wooden pestle. This pulp is wrapped in a net made of lily leaves.
This is stuck upon a fork, and a heavy weight tied to the bottom of
the net so as to press it tightly to squeeze out the manioc juice. A
calabash receives the juice, which is very poisonous. Arrows and
spear heads are dipped into it to make them certainly fatal. While
this is going on the liquid is all the time depositing a white, starch-like
substance in the bottom of the calabash. When all of this that the
poisonous liquid contains is deposited, the juice is poured off, and
the white substance is passed through clear water, and becomes
tapioca.
 A FOREST OF MANGROVES.
When we are in the tropics we must not forget to visit the
Mangroves. These trees grow thickly together in the ocean mud near
the shore, and are very queer specimens of the vegetable world. To
look at them from a little distance you would hardly know whether
they were trees, or fishes, or sea-serpents. Their upper branches
and trunks are like the first, their lower branches covered with
oysters and other shell-fish appear like the second; and their long
curiously twisted roots, standing partly out of the water, seem like the
third. Sometimes, in passing over wet and swampy places, men walk
on these roots. In such a case, a naked savage gets along much
more easily than an European, with his boots and clothes, and
perhaps a heavy gun.
But there is a strange thing about this tree, apart from its
uncommon growth. And that is the way that its seeds germinate. We
put a seed into the ground, and when it sends up its little stalk and
leaves we say it has germinated or sprouted. Now the mangrove
seeds germinate on the branches, in the fruit. The seed sends forth
the little stalk which grows up there until it is a foot long. This stalk is
shaped like a pointed club and is quite heavy. When it is ready to fall,
it goes plump down through the leaves and branches of the tree,
sharp end downwards, and sticks itself firmly upright in the mud at
the bottom of the water. And, after some time, it thrusts itself above
the surface, and grows into a comical mangrove tree.
If you will study the marvels of vegetable life you will find strange
things of which I have said nothing.
Many wonderful plants grow high up in the air on the branches of
trees; and many very curious ones thrive only in the water.
 BRON AND KRUGE.

Old King Rhine sat upon his rocky

throne among the reeds. He had
given his kingly word that for three
months his river, the Rhine, should
not overflow its banks, and that there
should be no manner of tempest
upon its waters. The old gentleman
was sad and gloomy. A month had
passed since he gave this promise,
and all that time he had had nothing
to do. This was hard upon him, for
he had led a very busy life. Many an
army had he helped across his river,
and many a one had he broken to
pieces with floods, and tempests. KING RHINE.
Christians and savages, knights and
nobles, and men of low degree had
fought upon his banks. Men had built castles, and he had swept
them away, or crumbled them into ruins. And, sometimes, he had
helped beautify them, and spread grass and flowers all around them.
And he had occupied himself in many other ways.
And now there was nothing for him to do. He looked up and down
the length of the stream. The waters were still and blue, and vessels
glided over them, and the little boats rocked gaily on the swelling
waves. At the wharves of the cities men were busy loading and
unloading the ships, and all rejoiced in the pleasant and prosperous
season. On the hill-sides the vineyards were as full of grapes as ever
they could be, and the vines found their way up the very walls of the
ruined castles, and hung their purple clusters on the loosened
stones.
 It was very pretty, and the old king took pleasure in it, but he
always liked to have something going on that was not quite in the
ordinary way.
Suddenly he remembered that there were other creatures under
his care besides men. There were Nixies, and Fairies, and Gnomes,
and Dwarfs, and Undines, and Elves, and Sylphs, and Peris, and
Nymphs, and Dryads, and Giants.

A RHINE VINEYARD.
Giants! Here was something for him to attend to! There were not a
great many giants left on the banks of the Rhine, but the few that
were there were capable of doing a great deal of mischief; and king
Rhine had been hearing bad reports of them for a long time. But he
had been so busy with men and their affairs that he had neglected
looking after anything else. It was high time that these giants were
taught better manners.
 But who was to teach them? Who should he employ to subdue
these giants, who were as tall as oak trees? Men could do nothing
against them. Since the death of Jack the Giant-Killer no man had
ever been known to conquer a giant.
In his perplexity he summoned a wise woman, who lived on the
highest peak of the highest mountain on the river, and who always
gave wise counsel; but would never leave her rocky home except
when some one was in great need of good advice. She came to the
king at his bidding and this is what she said:
“Good dwarfs can conquer bad giants.”
Not another word would she utter. She made this same answer to
every question the king put to her, until, finally, he flew into a rage,
and shook his reedy sceptre at her. Whereupon this wise woman
disappeared.
The king spent several days thinking about this matter. He could
not fight the giants himself, for that would be beneath the dignity of a
king. As for what the wise woman had said about the dwarfs, that
was ridiculous. A little creature, scarcely a foot high, to conquer a
mighty giant! But, after considering the matter a good while, it did not
seem quite so absurd. He recalled to mind something the gnomes
had done some years before.
Now a gnome is as small a being as a dwarf, and his home is
under the ground, so that he seldom sees the light of day.
Consequently he is not as bright and quick-witted as a dwarf. And
yet a few of these creatures had first astonished all the civilized
nations on the globe, and then set them all to quarreling. In order to
make you understand how this was I must go back for a minute to
the world before the Flood.
 THE GNOMES AT WORK.
A long time before the Flood, before man was created, the world
was inhabited by beasts, fishes, and reptiles of enormous size; very
much larger than any at present upon the earth. We know this
because parts of the skeletons of these animals have been found in
various places; and the learned men of different countries have
written a great deal about them.
Now it happened that some years before this trouble had arisen
between King Rhine and the giants, and before his talk with the wise
woman, some gnomes while digging in a cave for gold, found buried
in the earth the skeleton of an immense head. Astonished at this
sight they determined to let gold hunting alone for a while, and to see
if they could not find the rest of the animal to which the head
belonged. They worked carefully and industriously for many months
with their little picks and spades, and, finally they laid bare the whole
skeleton of a monstrous creature of the very queerest shape the
gnomes had ever seen. I say the whole of it, but there were a few
bones wanting here and there, for which the gnomes searched in
vain in the earth around the spot where the creature lay.
This animal measured thirty-three feet in length. It was shaped
somewhat like a great lizard, but it had the back-bone of a fish, and
the fins of a dolphin, with the head and teeth of a crocodile. But what
eyes it must have had while living! The gnomes amused themselves
by crawling in and out of the sockets! The ball of the eye must have
been as large as a man’s head!
When the gnomes had finished this great piece of work they did
not know what to do with the huge creature they had found. It was of
no use to them, and, after they had taken a few of the smallest
bones for drum-sticks, they would have nothing more to do with it.
After a time, the sight of this terrible, fleshless monster was hateful to
them, and they could not move it away.
In this dilemma they went to King Rhine to know what it was best
to do with this fruit of their long labors. He told them they had been
very foolish gnomes to spend so much time on a thing that was of no
use to anybody, and that ought to be covered up from the sight of
men. He advised them to put all the earth and stones back again,
and bury the horrid creature.
The gnomes could not make up their minds to do this, and they
moved out of the cave into another part of the same mountain, and
left the lizard in possession of their old home.
Soon after a wood-cutter, being caught in a storm, took refuge in
this cave; and the sight of this gigantic skeleton frightened him more
than the storm. He ran to his village with the wonderful news. A very
learned man who lived there, hearing the story, went to look at the
skeleton, and was filled with astonishment, for he had never even
imagined such an animal.
He immediately wrote a book about it.
And then old Rhine found that, in this case, the gnomes were
wiser than their king. For, so far from this creature they had dug out
of the ground being of no account, it caused a greater stir than
anything that had happened in his kingdom since the last army had
been driven across the river a good many years ago. People flocked
from all quarters to the cave, and business was lively the whole
length of the river.
Learned men came from every country in the civilized world. And
each one wrote a book about the lizard-fish. But the worst of it was
that no two of them agreed as to what it was. They disputed so long,
and so earnestly over this skeleton that, at last, the unlearned took
up the quarrel, each country feeling bound to support its own learned
men. And in this way the governments were drawn into the dispute,
and there had liked to have been a war over the old bones. Letters of
instruction to Consuls were flying about, and there was a great
examination into treaties; when, all at once, it became known that
the learned men all agreed that the animal was the Ichthyosaurus,
and that the last one had died thousands of years ago. So the war
was happily averted.
Then the dispute was as to who had first found out this fact, but
this was amicably settled by the discovery that all the learned men
had found it out at precisely the same time.
During all this the gnomes had worked away in their new home at
their own affairs, and knew nothing of the great commotion they had
caused. But king Rhine nodded his old head, and said to himself;
“The gnomes are a very little people, but they have managed to set
the whole world by the ears.”
He recalled all this now, and thought perhaps the wise woman
meant what she said about the dwarfs and giants.
He despatched a trusty messenger to a colony of dwarfs who lived
in a large ruined castle. These dwarfs, or Kobolds, as they are called
in that part of the country, sleep all day, and do their work at night.
Therefore the king chose an owl, venerable with age and wisdom, for
his messenger. He was to travel in the night-time, and rest in the
day.
On the second night, quite early, the owl arrived at the castle. He
flew quietly into the ruin, so as not to frighten the dwarfs, but he
found they had already gone. He was afraid he was too late; and that
they had all dispersed to perform their several duties; but, hearing a
great noise outside, on the opposite wall from that he had entered,
he flew up into a narrow window where there was no glass, and
looked solemnly down, with his great staring eyes, upon a very
merry scene.
 THE KOBOLDS.
The little kobolds were having a frolic before they separated for the
night’s adventures. They were chiefly employed in running up and
down the wall, chasing lizards, though some were dancing on the
grass at the foot of the castle, and others were swinging on the
vines, and gathering grapes. They were making such a hubbub that
the owl thought he had better wait for them to get quiet before
attempting to make himself heard.
He soon noticed that there were three dwarfs who took no part in
the fun, and these sat upon the root of a tree near the castle talking
very earnestly together. The owl knew something of the habits of the
kobolds, and he supposed this trio to be the Council, chosen yearly
by the colony. It was the business of the Council to assign to each
dwarf his nightly task, and the affairs of the colony were mainly
placed in its hands.
While the three are holding counsel together, and the owl is
waiting, I will tell you something about these dwarfs.
They were generally larger than Fairies, although some of them
were very small indeed.
There were three or four kinds of these little people, all called
dwarfs, although there was a great difference in their characters, and
labors. Some were wicked, and thought only of doing spiteful tricks;
some were lazy drones, some mingled publicly with men, and
became kings’ fools; some would never show themselves to human
beings; and some were gnomes and worked underground.
The kobolds were the brightest, and most industrious of all the
dwarfs, and were famed for being good-tempered and obliging.
Every night these little creatures were busy in the fields, and the
stables, and the kitchens of the neighborhood. They never quarrelled
among themselves, and they gave nobody any trouble. Hence they
were spoken of as the Peaceful People.
Sometimes field laborers, on going out in the morning to weed, or
to reap, would find the work already done. A poor farmer’s wife
coming into her kitchen in the morning to make the fire would find the
wood all cut, and laid in order, and a pail of water brought from the
spring. Sometimes the little people would go into the dining room,
and wash the glasses, and clean the silver. Occasionally they would
go to work, and drive all the mice and spiders out of a house. They
washed dishes, and cleaned vegetables, and made themselves
useful about the house in every possible way. All they required in
return was a little food. A bowl of milk, or some nice fresh bread, was
set upon the kitchen table, and that was supper enough for a kobold.
Some of them preferred to work in
stables. They would curry the
horses; comb out their manes; shake
down straw for the litters, and clean
the stables. But this is hard work,
and the little things would get very
tired. So the coachmen, and the
farmers used to tie knots in the
manes of the horses to afford resting
places for the kobolds. They would
sit in these to rest their weary limbs
and often take a little nap there to
refresh themselves.
They visited the sheep in the fold,
or on the hill-sides, and kept the
fleeces white and clean.
TAKING A REST.
There were many other things the
kobolds did, but I have told enough
to give you an idea of the busy, and helpful life they led; and will now
return to the colony that lived in the old castle.
The owl looked down and watched the frolic of the dwarfs for
nearly an hour. Then one of the three dwarfs, who formed the
Council, blew a shrill blast upon a whistle. At this signal the whole
colony gathered into a group in front of the Council. Now all were
quiet, and the owl knew this was his time to speak, for the tasks of
the night were to be given out, and as each one received his
commission, he would go away.
The owl flapped his wings, and they all looked up. Some of them
had seen him before, and knew him to be one of the king’s
messengers. So they invited him to a seat on a rock near them, and
listened with respectful attention while he told them of the bad
behavior of the giants, and of the advice of the wise woman. He took
good care not to tell them that the king at first thought this advice
ridiculous, but made it appear that his majesty relied upon the good
dwarfs to conquer the giants, and to make them behave peaceably.
The method of accomplishing this he left entirely to their wisdom.
It was a very flattering speech, and the owl looked so grave while
delivering his message that the dwarfs believed every word of it.
Never in all the history of kobolds had anything like this happened.
The giants were the beings that the dwarfs feared more than any
other creatures, and they took very good care always to keep out of
their way. And now their king thought them capable of vanquishing
these gigantic enemies! The whole colony became at once puffed up
with pride and vanity, and clamored to the Council to lead them forth
immediately to fight the giants.
Two of the members of the Council had their wits completely
carried away by the enthusiasm of the colony, and waved their hats,
and shouted, “On to the giants!” But the third member sat quiet until
all the company had shouted themselves hoarse, and were still once
more. Then he said:
“My friends, we can never conquer the giants in an open fight. One
of these huge creatures could crush a dozen of us at a time with one
foot, and a giant’s club would knock our whole colony higher than a
kite. Moreover we know nothing about fighting. The kobolds have
been peaceable people from the beginning of time, and all warfare is
distasteful to us. The giants are big and strong, but everybody knows
they have not much wit, while our small heads are full of brains. The
giants do nothing but mischief, and any fool can do that. But we
spend our time in work that requires intelligence and skill. The king
has honored us by selecting us to punish the giants for their bad
behavior, and I feel sure we can conquer them; but we must do it by
using our brains, and not with weapons of war.”
The name of the dwarf who thus spoke, was Bron, and he was
looked upon by the whole colony as the brightest wit among them.
So they listened attentively to all he had to say. But they were not in
the humor for following this good advice. The king evidently
expected them to fight the giants, and fight them they would.
They sent a message back to the king that they were going forth to
battle, and, in three days, would bring to him, as a trophy, the head
of Kruge, the chief giant.
The dwarfs now consulted as to a plan of action. It was agreed
that they should, in a body, march upon the stronghold of Kruge,
surprise him while asleep, and tie him down, fast and firm, with a
great number of small cords. Then they would cut off his head.
If Kruge was killed, or submitted to them, the remaining giants
were as good as conquered, for they all depended upon Kruge.
The kobolds sharpened their little swords that had only been used
for cutting twigs, and strings. They made bows and arrows, and
gathered sharp sticks, and armed themselves with brooms, and
hoes, and spades, and reaping-hooks. They organized companies,
and drilled, and marched, and counter-marched all night long; and
enjoyed it immensely. They slept soundly the next day; and by night,
they were ready for action.
They marched gaily forth in four bands of a hundred each. The
first band was assigned to Bron. He did not approve of the
expedition any more than at first, and his heart was sad, for he
thought his tribe was marching to certain death. But, as they were
determined to fight, he resolved to go with them, and do his best. It
was better to die with them than to live alone.
Kruge lived a long distance from the castle, and, as the dwarfs had
to rest most of the day, it was late in the second night when they
drew near the great cave where the giant dwelt. Fortune favored
them, for Kruge lay outside of the cave stretched upon the ground
fast asleep. He did not hear the delicate footfalls of the tiny creatures
who had come to him with such evil intent, and they could easily tie
him down without awaking him. But the dwarfs saw that their small
cords would avail nothing when the giant did awake. He would snap
them in a minute. And the probability was that as soon as they
commenced sawing at his throat to cut his head off he would wake