The Adventures Of Miniator -- Chapter 8 The Plan
By Chris Whitley
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Chapter 8) The Plan
When Swing had finished his story, there was a silence. Miniator was deep in thought for awhile....
'Have you thought where you would like to go, Swing, and what you will do.'
'No, only to leave this island... I need a little time to think, if you will give me that time.'
'That is no problem... please stay with us here, when you are ready to leave we will take you wherever you want to go. Come let me show you to your room, we can talk again tomorrow, when things are maybe a little clearer.'
Miniator showed him to one of the rooms, which was very comfortable, then to his further amazement, how the lights worked, and where he could wash himself, and clean his clothes, and how he could talk to the computer (or the man in the window, as Swing called it), if he needed anything more. He then bid him goodnight and left him.
Swing had his best night's sleep for two years, and awoke refreshed. The computer asked him if he was hungry, and what he would like to eat.
'What do you have?' asked Swing.
'What would you like?' asked the computer again.
'Well,' said Swing. 'I haven't eaten beacon and eggs for two years...'
'With tomatoes, and maybe tea and toast?' asked the computer.
'Yes, please!' the very thought made his mouth water.'
'Five minutes in the kitchen, Sir?'
'Five minutes...? very well.'
When he entered the kitchen the smell of the food overwhelmed him. Miniator was sat waiting for him before a perfectly set table, complete with a pure white tablecloth, and an assortment of condiments. Swing concentrated on the food while Miniator, between bites, spoke of a plan he said had come to him last night while thinking about Swing's tale.
'Your story, Swing, I found very interesting, but very violent... The deceit and motives of the life you describe and have lived is very alien to Toolian thought. You see, on Toolia we have no offensive weapons…' Swing stopped eating for a moment to listen. 'But we have many defensive weapons. Toolians are a very old civilisation, who have learned to overcome conflicts. For hundreds of thousands of years they have had no wars. Ever since they fist developed a technology we call Larynx, a more primitive version of the one that I have in my suit, which allowed everyone to know what everyone else is thinking and feeling... which can also be used for language translation. So people slowly began to stop being deceitful, as there was not point... And slowly over thousands of years they developed a new and stronger empathy for each other and all beings. They began to solve their problems by honest, and peaceful ways.
'But as they began to explore the universe, for they are an extremely curious race... and hungry for knowledge, they encountered worlds and travellers who were very aggressive and dangerous. So they put their minds to creating and developing evermore defensive means to subdue these violent encounters.
'So, Swing, before we go through with this plan, I want to show you how these defensive weapons work, so you know what to expect, and how to use them. We could spend a couple of more days here, if you are in agreement.
'This Black Dog, may still have your Captain Bird, or know where he is... I would like to help you find him if possible, and as for the treasure... I know it was stolen repeatedly from one by the other again and again, and then by this Black Dog. But I think it would be put to better use by making sure you are secure in your future. So I will try to help you get it back, also...'
Black Dog was making his nightly tour of the battlements of Safe Nest, making sure the men were lively and not sleeping on duty. He could see the watchtower was manned, and both men waved their hands when they saw him. Two ships lay alongside the small harbour; the Sparrow, and the York. Black Dog saw there were also alert guards onboard them.
It won't be long now, he thought to himself. I've been very patient... I have made the most of my cards in hand, my assets, and the final piece has now fallen into place. He made his way across the harbour and took the stairs down to a lower level, which was the dungeon, treasury, and armoury... two guards acknowledged him, and opened a heavy metal gate for him to pass, and ignited a lantern for him to take. He walked down a narrow dark passage until he came to another metal grid to his left. He raised the lantern to expose a figure lying suspended in an hammock.
'Captain Bird, Sir, I have news for you...'
'The prone figure moved a little, then replied, 'So give it, and then leave me in peace, for your person repels me...'
'Repels you does it...? Well, Mr Bird perhaps my news will repel you more...'
'I doubt it! I can't imagine anything coming from a messenger of your calibre could be more repelling.'
'Then try this. I have received correspondence, that states I will indeed be welcomed with open arms in New Orleans and will receive a handsome reward from the French governor, for the capture of the notorious pirate, Captain Bird... So Mr Bird, We sail tomorrow!'
The captive made no reply.
'Any talk against me at your trail, Captain, will result in a return visit to that little island where your poor son, Swing, is still perhaps marooned... it wouldn't take long to find him.'
Again this brought no response. Black Dog lowered the lantern, and said, 'Then sleep well, until tomorrow,' He returned the way he had come with an echoing sinister laugh.
Black Dog made his way back to his quarters in the centre of the stockade of Safe Nest. He was about to retire to his bed when he heard a commotion of voices; screams and shouts, and then an ear-splitting whooshing sound and pistol shots. There were flashes of coloured light at the window. He looked out and saw clouds of silver dust swirling around, it was lit with explosions of colour. The few figures he could make-out were running or hiding their faces, some on their knees with their hands covering their faces. He took up two more pistols and made for the door. His mind was in turmoil, he had been in battle several times, but had never witness anything like this! He couldn't imagine what was happening. As he got outside he grabbed the arm of one of his men running past him. 'What is it?' Black Dog shouted into the terrified face of the man. 'A dragon...! a monstrous dragon, Captain!' At that moment Miniator at his full size appeared hoovering vaguely among the swirling, blinding dust roaring as he had never heard roared in his life! Black Dog staggered backwards in fear, and aimed and tried to fire his pistol at the creature, but the pistol didn't work, nothing moved, he tried with the second, it was also useless... He looked at the mechanism and saw, to his disbelief, that where there should be metal was now wood, and where there should be wood was now metal... He threw the pistol and ran back to the steps and down into the lower level. The two guards were already poised with their muskets with a look of horror on their faces. They had been under orders never to leave their post, after hearing the commotion they were now expecting the enemy.
Black Dog ordered them to open the heavy metal gate then made them lock it behind him. They continuously looked at him strangely, because his clothes, and body was now multicoloured. They asked what was happening... but he couldn't find the words.... They saw the horror on his face that only stared back to the way he had come.
'Who is attacking, Captain?
He ignored the question, but finally said, 'No matter what happens we must defend this gate, it's our only chance! Show me your muskets.' He took one from the man nearest to him and checked it over. It seemed in order.
He lit a lantern and ordered one of the men to follow him to the armoury, there they broke-out many weapons and a lot of ammunition, then carried everything back to the gate and began loading the weapons. From here they could see the bottom of the steps leading down and so took up their stance and waited.
Above ground the chaos continued, the men were fleeing wherever they could, dropping from the walls of the stockade and running into the woods, their weapons, rendered useless had been discarded. Many were running through the space where the gate to the stockade had simply disappeared. They saw the horrific dragon flying around, roaring, and somehow spraying silver dust into the tornado that surrounded him. A strange giant object continuously changing its shape spun in a circle around and around and above the stockade, with a multitude of shooting lights firing down and lighting-up the running, and hiding men. Everything in the stockade had changed colour; the walls of the stockade, the surrounding trees, the water of the river, the ships in the harbour, and even the men were multicoloured like rainbows. The hoovering object give-out deafening blasts of noise, and a thundering voice boomed out over and over the words, 'BLACK DOG, BLACK DOG!'
Down below, the three men heard the chaos, they heard Black Dog's name being called. The two guards looked to each other, and then to Black Dog. All were now lost for words... all realized whatever was happening above was not of this world...
Suddenly, a cloud of smoke came down the steps, all three men readied themselves and their weapons. From the smoke came a tall figure covered from head to toe in a silver metal suit like a knight of old. All three men discharged their weapons. But to no avail the figure continued to walk towards them. The three picked up more of the readied muskets and aimed again. But the figure point something small and black in his right hand towards them, and a light shot out and surrounded all three men rendering their weapons useless. They threw them to the ground and ran back down in the passage. The figure pointed the small black object in his hand and fired the light into the lock of the gate, then simply opened it, and continued his pursuit of the men. He stopped at the cell of the captain. Who was stood looking fearfully out through the metal bars. Then the figure raised his black object and opened the lock, The figure then spoke in a loud strange voice 'Have no fear, Sir, follow me.' Then continued his slow pursuit with the captain behind him.
The figure came to the end of the passage and to another iron gate, which was the treasury... He simply used his black little object of light to open the gate , and there he found the three men huddled in one corner among the hoards of treasure….
Saying in his booming voice and pointing at the guards, 'You two men leave this place...' The men quickly scrambled to their feet and shuffled past him cringing. Black Dog made to follow them, but the metal figure put out his arm blocking his way, and said, 'Not you!'
'Please;' said Black Dog, 'I have gold and jewels here….'
'Yes, you scoundrel, you have.. where is the casket, you greedily stole from this man which you have shamefully and falsely inprisoned?' he said looking to the Captain.
'Here, Sir, please take it, said Black Dog, almost in tears, and pointing to the casket he had stored.'
'No, You take it... carry it up above!'
The figure and the Captain walked behind the struggling Black Dog, who was both lifting and then dragging the heavy casket before them, until he finally managed to make the top of the stairs. Straightening-up and breathing heavily he looked around the now silent stockade. The was a new ship moored in the harbour; a fine looking schooner, flying a flag with a dragon's head.
'Don't even think about making a run for it, you scourge, or I will set my dragon on you.' said the silver figure. 'Now where is the key to the casket!'
Black Dog took the key from around his neck.
'Open it!'
Black dog opened the casket with shaking hands. There was the Captain's hoard, and the parchment declaring the Captains pardon. Which the figure now handed to the captain, saying, 'yours, Sir!' The captain took it, giving the figure a puzzled smile. The figure then said to Black Dog, 'Your deceitful deeds have caused much misery to this man and one other. At which the figure raised the silver helmet from his face. The captain and Black Dog gasped, but with different emotions.
'You!' gasped Black Dog.
'My son! gasped the Captain, putting his hand to Swing Blood's shoulder.
'Please,' said Black Dog, 'I spared your life...!'
'Ahh! Don't tempt me, you scoundrel! But for the promise I made to the Captain's true rescuer, I will not follow my own instinct for revenge... So I give you two minutes to disappear from my sight, Now go!' Black Dog fled into the black night.
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