Into the Stone Land

Into the Stone Land Read Free Page A

Book: Into the Stone Land Read Free
Author: Robert Stanek
Tags: Ebook, book
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necessary, to reach the deep. The journey was as important as the destination itself, and that was something Tall was certain the builders of the monstrous tower and wall did not understand.
    The tower was a desecration. The wall, a blight. He spat and shook a fist in the air. Angry, he made his way back to Keene, using his arms and mostly dragging his legs. He chewed light root for Keene before eating some of the root himself. By mid-day, he found he was unable to keep his eyes open and so he slept. He awoke near dusk, weak and feverish. He used what remained of the light to prepare for the night, filling his container in the deep pool, spreading the stinging, and seeing to Keene’s needs, though Keene so far had not regained consciousness. As the twilight faded, he applied the gritty to help mask his man scent from all that flew, crawled, hopped, and walked. The last of the gritty he applied to what little of Keene’s face wasn’t covered in mud.
    The night was long and cool, and Tall awoke shivering just as the moon was rising. By moonlight, he checked his surroundings to ensure no manner of beast was lurking in wait for him as he dragged himself down to the edge of the pool. He used the thick, moist mud to cake his scrapes and wounds before filling his container and drinking deeply. As he gulped down something thick and slimy with the wet, he started gagging and choking.
    Reaching in with his fingers, he gripped the plump sucker and ripped it out of his mouth before it could attach its rows of tiny, sharp teeth. The repulsive creature thrashed about between his fingers as he flung it out into the pool.
    â€œOnly fools drink what they cannot see,” a soft voice told him.
    Tall wished his hand gripped his staff and not mud as he spun around on his backside. The mud made his turn easy, but his hands balled into fists found only empty air. He quieted his breathing, focused on the darkness.
    The night was still. Except for a few infrequent croaks, the bulls and their queens were quiet. He heard a swarm of buzzers not far off but paid them little attention. Mud and gritty protected him from them.
    Feeling certain he was alone and only hearing things, Tall made his way back to Keene’s side. Foolishly, he dragged himself straight through his protective circle. The touch of the stinging brought instant fire to the exposed areas of his flesh. He winced and moaned and shivered all at once. The one aid was to cover the affected areas with mud and he did so, applying the mud liberally.
    Sleep found him sometime later and so did fever. Some hours later he sensed the arrival of dawn. He did not greet the day, however, for it seemed to him that he had only just lain down. It took a full day’s sun and the arrival of buzzers to get him to stir.
    Keene had turned over and the swarm was feasting on his exposed back. Tall set upon them with his staff, spinning the long stretch of arbor in his hand and striking out into the heart of the swarm. Angry, he began shouting as he jabbed and thrust. The ends of the staff stabbed, exploding in and through the blood-filled creatures. The long edge struck and batted buzzers up and away. Some landed far out in the pool; others deep in the weed-grass.
    The heavy scent of blood brought a new swarm. As nothing could mask so close a man scent amidst a feeding frenzy, many of these set upon Tall, and for a time it was all he could do to keep them away. When he finally broke the swarm with his staff and turned back to Keene he was greeted by a most bizarre sight. Hatchlings were everywhere, crawling over the ground and Keene as they fed on buzzers. They seemed to be protecting Keene, but more likely their bellies were empty and the bloated, blood-filled buzzers seemed easy meals.
    It was only as the swarms scattered that Tall realized he was standing. Staff in hand, he turned toward the deep pool where a pair of bulls were battling over mating rights. Not far off a queen watched,

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