Chapter 19 – D.O.S (Dave Our Souls)

*NOTE – Well, here we are at Chapter 19. There's not much to say about this one, so just enjoy – THANK YOU!*

Dave and I stood rooted to the spot. Neither of us knew what was going to happen next. The pack of Wolvarks jeered and sniggered as we stood in silence. The leader still waited for me to answer the question he'd asked. A few moments passed in silence, with a couple of coughs from the group. Then, it clicked. I knew what to do. I opened my mouth slowly and began to speak.

"My gun was taken from me." I told them. "By that man over there." A few of the Wolvarks turned to look at the non-existent figure I pointed towards. The leader also turned, and then commanded most of the others to investigate. He allocated just one to stay behind and guard me and Dave. Once the others had left, the leader allowed us to sit on a decrepit bench by a tree, then he too departed. The guard leaned up against a dilapidated building, scarcely taking his eyes away from us. I whispered to Dave under my breath.

"Dave," I said, "Stand up."

"Why?" the puzzled Mudokon replied.

"Just do it." I assured him. He stood and the Wolvark guard shouted.

"Sit down, NOW" he said, clearly in a temper. But still Dave stood. The guard began to walk towards us. Dave had a fearful look on his face. Within a couple of seconds, the guard stood right in front of Dave.

"What do you think you're doing, huh?" The Wolvark said. I slowly got to my feet behind him. He continued to yell at Dave, when I jumped on the Wolvark. I placed one hand over his mouth so that he couldn't call for help. Then, I yanked his weapon away from him.

"Now…" I said into the Wolvark's ear, "When they come back, you tell them we're long gone." I pointed off into the distance downriver. "And tell them we went that way."

The Wolvark struggled to break free but nodded in agreement. I released him and he fell to the floor, breathing heavily and shaking with fear. Dave and I bolted away in the opposite direction. But we were too late.

The Wolvarks were returning from their fool's errand. Within an instant, we were cornered. The pack closed in and once again the leader stepped forward. I pushed Dave away behind a bush before they could see him.

"Well, Slig," said the Wolvark. "I'm impressed. You've got a gun now." There was an uproar of laughter from the crowd. I caught a glimpse of Dave in the bushes and nodded. The Mudokon nodded back and stood up, backing against a rock wall in total silence. I prayed that he'd understood what I wanted him to do. A wave of relief flooded through me when he clasped his four-fingered paws together and held them in front of his face. And with that, Dave began to chant.

At first, it seemed he wasn't getting anywhere. But sure enough, small, twinkling blue particles materialized around his head. They began to drift slowly towards the Wolvark leader. They circled his head and he shook violently, but only for a split second. He looked up at me, his eyes now glowing blue. The Wolvark leader had been possessed.

"Let him go," the leader said in a trance. The other Wolvarks seemed puzzled by the sudden change of attitude displayed by the leader. "Did you hear what I said?" He repeated loudly. "RELEASE HIM!" The Wolvarks obeyed, and the group separated to let me pass through. I walked out of the circle of guards and went around to the rock wall that Dave was stood against. I grabbed his arm and pulled him away. The particles around the Wolvark leader's head depleted as he regained control of himself. But before he could do anything more, Dave and I were gone.

An hour or so later, we sat by a rock at the side of the Mongo River. The water was calm and tranquil, the air cool and refreshing. We were safe, not to mention relieved. The sun had begun to set already, and we had managed to poach a few fish to eat for our afternoon meal.

"Well Dave, you did it." I laughed, patting my partner on the back.

"Oh, it was nothing really," he replied modestly. "I wouldn't have known if you hadn't have signaled to me."

"Well, guess it's just down to teamwork, then." I said, and leaned back on the ground with my hands behind my head. We had done it. We'd escaped the danger of the vicious Wolvarks. Together. I looked on as Dave bit into a piece of fish, and smiled at him. I thought to myself in that moment. I wasn't just saving Abe here. I was saving them all. Every single Mudokon, no matter how unimportant. And as Dave finished off his fish, I realised something. They were saving me, too.