The Land of the Dead: Book Four of the Oz Chronicles Read Free Page B

Kimball. The two were joined by Ariabod and they all headed toward the store. I took a step toward the Myrmidon and studied its battered body. I heard footsteps approaching. I turned to see Wes standing behind me.
    “Dead?” he asked standing at what he deemed to be a safe distance while craning his neck to get a better look.
    “So far,” I said.
    “Any more out there?”
    I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
    “Why don’t you think so?”
    “Hunch. I get the feeling they’re not built for going solo. I’m guessing there were more of them, but Ariabod disposed of them somehow. If there were others, they’d be here by now.”
    He scratched his stubbly check. “You got these things figured out pretty quick.”
    “Not that hard.” I squatted and stared at the corpse. “You don’t want me here do you, Wes?”
    “What?” I could feel him staring at me. “Son, I will kick your ass from here to China if you say something like that again.”
    “It’s okay. I get it. I’m putting everyone in danger.”
    “Is this about me going off before?”
    I didn’t answer.
    “Look here, this is a hard life, Oz. I ain’t always going to be… positive about this path we’ve chosen. I got weak. That’s all.” I heard him sniffle. “You’re my family, you and the others. I’d just as soon lay down my own life than see you leave us again. And Miss Lou… She’d go stark raving mad. I can’t have that.”
    I stood and turned. I saw a tear slide down his fat cheek.
    He cleared his throat. “I need you, boy.”
    I smiled and we headed back to the store.
    ***
     
    “Three took out after us,” Tyrone said. “Ariabod and Jambo, the other gorilla, held them off for a while… and then Jambo… they got him, but he took one out. Broke that sucker’s neck. We outran them, or at least we thought we did. They caught up to us a few miles back. Attacked us while we were sleeping. Ariabod done one in, and April and me took off. Ended up here.”
    “The other apes?” I asked.
    Ariabod signed while Lou interpreted.
    “He says they’re out there. Waiting.”
    “Waiting for what?” Gordy asked.
    Ariabod signed.
    “War… something,” Lou said.
    The gorilla signed again.
    Frustrated, she said, “Signing faster doesn’t help. It’s war… something. That’s the best I can do.”
    “Unless the rest of it is ‘War ain’t happening,’ I don’t want to hear it anyway,” Gordy said.
    “Where’s Archie?” April asked. She was sipping away on an energy drink.
    “Didn’t make it,” Gordy said.
    I shot him a look. “We don’t know that for sure.” I tried to give April a reassuring smile.
    “Those giant bad guys in black armor say different,” Gordy said.
    “Could be the Keeper died for all we know,” I said. “Nothing more.”
    “I don’t understand,” April said, lip trembling, shoulders shaking.
    “Whenever awarrior …,” Gordy started.
    “Creyshaw,” I said.
    “Fine, Creyshaw. Whenever a Creyshaw fails and a Storyteller is captured by the Destroyers, a new race of Destroyers comes forward.”
    “From where?” April asked.
    “From the North Pole, Never Never Land, Atlantis, who knows.”
    “Some of them also come forward if the Keeper dies,” I said.
    “Maybe,” Gordy said.
    “Bobby said…” I started.
    “Bobby said. Bobby said. Bobby had half the sense of a brainless bat,” Gordy responded.
    “Y’all are doing a lot of yapping about stuff that don’t matter a lick,” Wes said. “We need to rest up and get ready to move out in the morning.”
    “It’s near morning now,” I said.
    Wes looked out the window. “We still got a couple of hours.”
    “I can’t sleep,” Lou said.
    “You’re on watch then,” Wes said. “Unless someone else wants to volunteer, I’ll take watch with her.”
    “I…” Was all I was able to say before Wes cut me off.
    “Not you. We need you raring to go.” He scanned the others. No one volunteered. “Me it is then.” He started for the