Fistfuls of Gold
The Trap Sequel
His arms were pinned to his sides. Pete struggled against the grip. The lasso! The rope had drifted over his head and snapped around him, the rough weave digging into his skin. He tried to lift his hands to pull back at the rope, but something held him fast.
Not rope. Hands. Strong arms and hands wound tightly around him forcing his arms into his body. His feet scrambled against the force dragging him across the ground. His eyes fought to open, but he couldn't manage more than meager slits against the pain.
Hammers struck against his head as if he were the anvil. Chisels dug into his eyes. His chest roared like the forge powering it all.
His mouth was muzzled making him gag. Fabric. A ball of something forced into his mouth and tied around his head.
Heat rose up all around him. His lungs heaved but the coughs were mangled in the gag.
He couldn't breathe. Couldn't speak. Couldn't even scream when his eyes swelled with panic as the hole drew nearer to his dancing feet.
He dug in. Tried to turn. Tried to fight. The simian arms tightened. The smell of musky ape assaulted his nose tainting what little air he could snatch into his tortured lungs. Urko! Urko was throwing him back into the pit. Back into the forgotten world buried in time he had barely escaped. He couldn't go back. He wouldn't!
He fought with a frantic fury. Fear, anger, grit rose up and swirled through every sinew. He struggled against a formidable strength that pushed him ever close to the pit. His curses, choked by the gag, were further blocked by the roar in his ears.
"Pete, Pete! Stop. Stop fighting!"
NEVER! Pete threw himself back against the ape that carried him inexorably toward the widening hole in front of him. His eyes widened trying not to allow the horror to explode, fracturing whatever resistance remained as his heart slammed against him in its own desperate need to escape.
The hole was all that remained before him but still he was shoved over that space and released. He tilted into it just as he was able to turn, his hands suddenly free to face his attacker, to grapple back into the light of the above-ground world, cursed though it may be. He wouldn't be thrown back into that trap of his lost world filled with the miasma of fetid air and gorilla paws squeezing his throat. He reached out but his motion jerked to a painful halt as his pupils expanded as dark as the hole, every sense shocked into paralysis.
Not Urko. Galen…my god. Galen.
Pete fell. Fell with no mercy into the blackness.
Four days prior
Alan struggled to readjust Pete's weight against him as another cough tore through him. The chimpanzee's head, tinted with gray, lifted enough to peer over Galen's shoulder but then ignored them.
"Sorry," Pete murmured as he fought to find his feet making it that much more difficult for Virdon to hold him erect.
"I see," the doctor spoke over the mumbled words. "How long?"
"Well," Galen glanced back briefly before resuming his conversation, "the cough started two days ago but the fever has grown worse since yesterday, Dr. Giatro."
"Were you seeking treatment or disposal?" the elder chimp sniffed as he knocked his knuckles together.
Alan stiffened his back, pulling Pete closer to him. To his consternation, Pete didn't react at all, his head rolling against his friend's shoulder, but he had been slipping in and out of semi-consciousness for the last two hours as they traveled into the village. Galen's mouth moved soundlessly for several heart-rending seconds before stuttering, "Tr-tr-treatment! Of course, I want treatment. What kind of question is that! Are you a veterinarian or not?"
"Dr. Giatro, I saw you had visitors," a young, female voice interrupted. "I thought perhaps I could help. What do you need me to do?" A perky chimpanzee hurried through the open door into the waiting area of the clinic, bumping against Alan causing him to scramble to regrip his junior officer whose knees had buckled when they were jostled. She said nothing to the humans but stopped next to Galen with a warm smile, her eyes dropping coyly. "Welcome. I'm Korit. I hope to go to university one day and become a doctor. I help here in the clinic."
"Mind your place, girl. Don't even know what this fellow wants." The doctor turned a hard eye toward Galen. "Well?"
Galen heard Alan moving behind him and Pete's harsh breathing as another series of coughs erupted. His dark-haired friend had grown steadily worse as they hurried away from the old city running from any pursuit Urko's troops might offer. Zako, Urko's Captain, had pretended to shoot them as Urko ordered but none of them had faith in that subterfuge holding. He only hoped that the gorilla leader was as sick as Burke from breathing the bad air while they were trapped in what Pete had called a subway station. Pete had refused to delay their retreat, insisting he could keep up with the blistering pace Alan had set. The colonel insisted that they needed to be miles away when Urko discovered that three lifeless bodies were not left behind in the ruins. The major continued to deny he needed help even though his skin was hot beyond the touch of the sun, his muscles quivering with chills, and his cough too painful to hear any longer.
Pete's friend took a breath as he stared at his furred hands then pulled his eyes up to take charge. This was a small village after all. Galen could sound important when needed. "My name is Afentis." He did his best to sound firm when what he wanted was to get Pete under some blankets in a warm bed. "My servant, Arros, has taken ill. His fever and cough have grown worse over the last two days. I want him treated. My other servant, Piras," the chimp waved absently behind him toward Alan as the female stepped closer to him, "will follow your instructions regarding his care. Can you manage that?"
"Dr. Giatro is the best in the Prefecture," the female laid her hand on Galen's arm with a reassuring pat. "Horses, cows, goats. Even humans. Apes come from miles away to see him. I've helped with humans before. There is space in the stables for the other one."
"Hush, Korit. Don't presume to tell your elders what to do." Galen sniffed at the suggestion regarding his age with the girl only somewhat younger than him. Giatro ignored them both. The veterinarian pointed toward a draped doorway. "Lay him on that cot. Let me see what can be done."
Alan nodded toward the doctor. "C'mon, Arros. Let's get you settled."
"Cows and goats?" Pete mumbled as his feet dragged, needing his commanding officer's support. "You brought me to a cow and goat doctor? I'd find you a real one if it was you." He tried to open his eyes as Alan laid him on the cot but couldn't manage more than a brief, half-lidded attempt.
"Only the best for you, my friend," Virdon draped the thin blanket, little more than a sack cloth, over Burke's legs.
"Was he exposed to a contagion?" The gruff doctor quickly lit an oil lamp setting it on a table next to the cot. He parted Burke's eyelids with his fingers causing Pete to jump.
"Be still for the doctor," Galen crooned softly patting Pete's leg. He and Alan exchanged quick looks as the chimpanzee revealed the agreed upon story, only part of the truth.
"I gather artifacts to sell to collectors. We were in one of the ancient cities and Arros wandered a little too far and became lost in a decaying structure. The air was dirty, and I fear he spent too much time breathing it in. He developed the cough you hear followed by fever. I have given him feverfew tea, but his symptoms have become worse."
"Hmph, he did damage to his throat looking at these bruises. Those injuries may be impeding the respiration as well. You would do well to keep your beast under better management, Afentis." Although the need to hide their identities and Urko's pursuit was critical, Alan was pleased the doctor was doing a thorough examination. Gave him reassurance that the treatments would extend beyond sticking them both in the barn and hoping for the best.
The older chimpanzee lifted the homespun, blue shirt and placed a bell-shaped metal cylinder against Pete's bare chest, the chimp listening through the narrow end. 'Great. The modern ape's stethoscope,' the young astronaut thought sullenly. The doctor wrinkled his nose at the number of contusions and abrasions on his patient's torso that bespoke of much more than "dirty air".
"Be a good boy and sit up," Giatro interrupted Pete's caustic meanderings. Burke scowled but a hard look from Virdon made him swallow the retort with another cough. Alan helped pull Pete upright as the doctor lifted the shirt and rested his listening device on his back. The movement caused a lengthy coughing jag.
"Let me help," Korit offered, pushing herself next to Galen with a smile. She provided a wooden cup filled with water to the dark-haired human who nodded his thanks as he drained it.
"Slowly or you'll be making a mess," the doctor snapped. "Korit, start an infusion using the blue container with the gold lid. You, human…."
"Piras," Galen corrected.
"…get two of the buckets and go into the woods and bring back fresh water from the stream. Closer than the town well."
"We passed it coming in," Alan nodded.
"The fever needs to come down."
"What do I need to do?" Galen asked.
"Do you have a place to stay? Of course you don't," the doctor groused watching his visitor's expression. "Settle yourself into the guest room. Korit will show you. You can chop vegetables since I'm guessing I have to feed you dinner as well. Does your beast need to be tied in place? Is he housetrained?" Giatro planted his fists against his hips.
"Don't need this!" Pete jerked, intending to get off the cot with his eyes headed out the door before Alan held him down with a hissed, "Hush. Be still, Major." Burke groaned at the direct order and fell back onto the cot.
"Tied? No! Of course not!" Galen moved between Pete and the doctor resting his own hand on his friend's shoulder. "He is an excellent servant."
"Good. I'd rather treat him here instead of the drafty barn. Saves me a long walk. Just needed to know if he was well behaved enough to stay indoors. Get moving. All of you. Korit, join me in the apothecary." The doctor stomped from the room muttering as he disappeared into a hallway.
"He means well," Korit shrugged with a fluttering of her eyes at the handsome chimpanzee. "The buckets are in the kitchen next to the water basin," she waved absently toward Alan then slipped her arm along the crook of Galen's elbow. "Let me show you to your room, Afentis." She tugged him along as Galen threw a helpless look at this friends over his shoulder before he vanished.
"You said you go into the ruined cities? Do you sell the artifacts you find in THE City? Central City? I would do anything to see it. I will see it. Some day. I will find a way." Pete huffed a laugh as the girl's voice faded down the hallway, Galen's feeble attempts to answer overrun by another declaration of determination of the dreams of a young ape hoping to break away from the small hamlet of her home.
"Gal…uh, the boss sure draws the little hummingbirds like he was coated in nectar. I better add break-up lines to his education." Pete tried to rise to one elbow but fell back in exhaustion at the attempt.
Alan sat on the side of the cot after grabbing another blanket from a shelf in the room. He rolled it and placed it under Pete's shoulders hoping to provide some elevation just as another coughing fit shook his body. "I think that one has designs for a means to an end with an elbow as an escort rather than a consort. With his background, I imagine he is familiar with how to avoid the girl looking to marry up," he clucked his tongue. "Methinks the apes ain't as evolved as away from humans as they like to think. I'll be back, Pete. Get some rest."
"Well, check the corral in case my behavior deteriorates while you're gone."
"What you? Cause trouble in my absence?" Alan's half-grin lit his face as he tapped Pete's arm, rose from the cot, squared his shoulders, and started out.
"Hey, Alan," Pete whispered causing his blond friend to pause with his hand on the curtained drape. "Be careful, huh? You know they're gonna be on our trail soon."
"Try to get some sleep. I'll be back before you know it."
Pete listened as Alan's steps treaded away and then a door closed. He could hear Galen's voice responding to something the young chimpanzee was saying. The cling and clang of pottery must be Giatro mixing something dastardly for him to drink. Wrapping the thin blanket around his shoulders as chills shook him, he stared at the ceiling attempting to make contingency plans in case an urgent exit was needed but his eyes slipped closed as gray settled around him. It would be several days before he knowingly opened them again.
xXxXx
The chimpanzee frowned as he dipped his hands in the basin of water next to the cot scrubbing the greenish paste from his fingers. The young female, Korit, handed him a clean towel.
"How badly do you want to save him?" Dr. Giatro asked without preamble. Galen who had been observing anxiously from the draped doorway stepped forward. Alan held his place, his shoulder leaning against the wall where his eyes were fixed on Pete's pale face.
"Whatever it takes," Galen's voice was firm.
"Hmm," the veterinarian narrowed his eyes as he stared at the chimp. "Brave words for a vagabond. And how would you pay what I am owed, A-fen-tis?"
Galen fought against the fear rising into his throat as the doctor dragged out the syllables of his assumed name. Alan dropped his crossed arms to his sides, stiffening into his full height, the servile human shoved aside for the commander. Both had heard the increasingly common gossip of a garrison on alert for a renegade ape and his two dangerous humans sought by Chief Urko himself. Talk of a reward highlighted the rumors. Neither assumed that Giatro had not considered the possibility.
"I am well-traveled, and my wares sought by the affluent," Afentis entered the conversation with a sniff. "Trained servants are expensive to replace, and I have little time for schooling a new one. Keep this one alive. Do you need a down payment?" Galen bluffed, reaching for a pouch near empty of coin within his pocket.
Giatro waved at the gesture. "Bear in mind, I expect compensation whether he survives or not. At the moment, the 'or not' has the stronger hold. What I've done is not working." The veterinarian stood, giving Alan a brief glance before turning his attention to his ape master. "You arrived two days ago, and the sounds or better said, the lack of sounds, in his lungs have grown worse, and the fever remains high."
"Pneumonia," Alan whispered. "Damn, what can we do?"
Giatro kept his eyes on Afentis, speaking as if the human had remained silent as expected. "A few miles outside of town, on the way to one of the human villages, a field is blooming. The golden flowers including the stem and roots can be used to make an infusion that might work."
"Tell me where," Alan demanded, his eyes returning to Pete whose labored breathing continued in fits and starts. The doctor, agitated by the impudence, turned his body to stand next to the human.
"Piras, is it? This is a matter to be decided by your Master." The doctor returned his gaze to Galen, although he answered Alan's question. "Northwest from here. There is an obvious road to follow. It is used frequently by the gorilla soldiers. The garrison, you see, is next to the open field."
"No," Korit breathed, grabbing Afentis's arm. She quickly turned away from Giatro's scowl at her interruption. "You can't let your servant go there. Lieutenant Stratis oversees the garrison, and he would do anything to be in Chief Urko's favor to bring him to Central City. He arrests every stray human he sees and would have you in his cells soon after. No human is worth that risk."
Galen gave the girl a weak smile before giving the only response he would consider. "We will do whatever is necessary to save P…Arros's life."
Alan took a silent breath as he felt Galen's worried hand rest just below his elbow. His blue eyes flashed with determination. "How much do you need?"
"Hmph," the older chimpanzee grunted. "Korit, bring that sack beneath my cutting table in the apothecary. Give it to Piras." Giatro gave a hard push into Alan's chest with a bent finger. "Fill it and return quickly. You may take a cutting tool, although to avoid delays, it would be wise to avoid allowing the gorillas to see that in your hand. I expect it to take you the rest of the day."
Korit returned with a tan-colored sack, stained from use gathering other wild growing plants. Alan took the sack and turned to leave.
"Piras," the doctor stopped him with a meaningful stare at Arros, his skin unnaturally pale, his breaths shallow, his chest barely rising. "I suggest you run."
xXxXx
Not for the first time, Alan shook his head at his foolishness. Taking his example from his errant junior officer, he had raced from the clinic without stopping to consider what he might need to complete his mission. He left without a waterskin and then ran near the entire distance until he neared the garrison. Once the walls of the structure, complete with a light-messaging heliograph atop one of its buildings, came into view, he skirted through the underbrush to pass the base of Urko's gorillas in the region. Of course, the field he needed was on the far side. Fortunately, he saw no guards stationed along the rooftops or walls to observe the road.
Virdon swallowed what little spit remained in his parched mouth as he added another handful of the golden flowers into the half-full bag. He recognized the plant from the poppy family and certainly hoped the doctor's assessment of its useful properties had evolved through the centuries into something stronger than those from his time. Pete desperately needed antibiotics but since Alan had no access to a pharmacy, he kept his back bent low and the curved blade with a wooden handle held discretely as he yanked the plants from their nesting spots and cut away the straggling roots to free them from the ground.
"You. Human. Give me those flowers." An authoritative voice for all its high pitch caused Alan to twirl with a curse. A gorilla, a child, certainly no more than six or seven years of age, stood with arms crossed a few yards from him. Alan took a quick look at the garrison but saw no other signs of scrutiny. Only one duo of troopers on horseback had exited the gates since he arrived. Alan had lain in the field for at least ten minutes after they rode past his position.
Prior to the boy's arrival, the only other "civilian" he had seen was a female ape dressed in a dark brown skirt and bright yellow shawl similar to what Korit was wearing earlier. He had dropped to his stomach, his chin resting on his hand wishing for binoculars to improve his visibility. He could think of no reason for the young chimpanzee to follow him. The traveler had not come to the field but had entered the garrison. Annoyance at the thought of being supervised chilled to agony that she might betray him in a misguided attempt to protect Afentis from his humans. If it was even Korit. Alan dug faster as soon as he felt it was safe to show himself again.
"I spoke to you," the boy slapped his hands against his sides in a huff. "I want those."
Alan's tongue darted along his dry lips but found no relief. If anything, he and Burke had learned that in this world they found themselves thrust into, an ape of any age posed a significant risk and with Pete's current need, he could not permit any further delay—especially arrest. He attempted what he hoped was a disarming smile. The child tilted his head as confusion crossed his features causing Alan to smile a bit more. He assumed the young gorilla had never had a human fail to follow his commands.
"You need flowers?" Alan asked gently.
"Ummm, yes," the gorilla took a few steps toward the man. He pointed at the blossoms held in Alan's hand saying, "I need them for my mother."
"I see. I can't give these to you, son. I need these for my friend. He is very sick, and the doctor wants them to help him get better."
The boy smacked his lips as he considered this. He finally looked at the man. "My mother is very sick. She likes flowers. I wanted her to have them in a vase by her bed. But they can make her well?"
"I am sure her doctor is doing everything he can and giving her what she needs. And I do think you giving her a vase of flowers will make her feel better. But don't you think that she would love the flowers even more if you picked them yourself?"
The child studied the ground, his brow creased before he straightened his shoulders with another pronouncement. "Humans don't have friends."
"I do," Alan's words were as firm as the boy's, "and I need to take these to help him."
The gorilla peered over his shoulder in the direction of the garrison. Alan quickly eyed his surroundings determining the distance to finding cover knowing he could not outrun a horse if the boy called for help. He was surprised when a soft voice asked, "Are you worried about your friend?"
"Yes."
"And you want him to be all better?"
"Very much so."
"But I am worried about my mother. She needs those flowers if they can make her better, too." The plea in the child's tone was heart-breaking.
"I'll tell you what," Alan moved forward to stand next to the boy but stopped himself from the impulse to place a hand on his slim shoulder. "I will help you pick some flowers for your mother, and you can help me gather more for my friend. I think they both need to get well."
Brown simian eyes studied Alan's blue ones. The boy appeared puzzled at first as he worked through the words of this odd human. The serious look on such a young face made Alan hold his breath as he waited. "I think you are right, human. I want my mother to get all better, and I approve of your friend getting better, too. We will pick flowers together."
xXxXx
Almost two days had passed since Alan returned with the golden flowers. Dr. Giatro made tea from the flowers and leaves which was cautiously drizzled into Pete's mouth, paste from the stems and roots that coated his chest. Despite the efforts, Pete remained lost to them, his body raging with fever, air barely making the ragged journey into his lungs.
Galen sat next to the cot laying damp cloths infused with scented water, another concoction enforced by the doctor, over his throat and wiping his face. Alan spent most of his time completing menial chores assigned by the doctor to barter for Pete's care and slept next to his cot to follow the pain-staking steps through the night. He had gone into the town to gather ordered supplies leaving Galen to worry alone.
The chimpanzee thought his friend's fever had come down, at least he told himself that it had. He couldn't, wouldn't, allow his original thought when he witnessed Pete and Urko fall into the pit followed by the dust filled crash of the wall sealing them in to take hold. Alan had refused to accept his words that Pete was dead then. Galen now refused to consider that his pronouncement had only been delayed.
Galen startled, almost knocking the basin of water to the floor, when a hand rested on his shoulder.
"I am sorry, Afentis. I did call you," Korit apologized, her deep brown eyes filled with worry and a hint of urgency. Galen patted her hand, scolding himself for being so lost in his concern for Pete that he hadn't heard her enter. "You need to come with me." Her hand moved from his shoulder to his arm and tugged him upward. Galen resisted, his eyes returning to his human friend who remained oblivious to the tension around him.
"I must care for Arros until Piras returns from Giatro's errands and fresh water from the community well. He will…."
"It is important." Korit grabbed at the rags in the basin and laid them in place on the human's body. "These will take some time to dry out. You must come. Please."
Galen considered the underlying need projected in the girl's plea. It did sound as if this was not another request for stories about Central City and all the fine things he could show her in that faraway place. He gently knuckled Pete's chest as he rose. "All right. You shall have my full attention for the next few minutes. Piras should be back soon."
The chimpanzee was surprised at the strength of the pull the younger ape placed on his arm. She maneuvered him out of the clinic through the back door and shuttled him into the sturdily built stable where a horse and two cows took up temporary residence in the stalls while being attended by Dr. Giatro. His surprise turned to a flash of anger as she yanked his backpack from behind a row of hay bales and began to place it on his back.
"Lieutenant Stratis. He heard that the doctor was treating a human. A human not owned by anyone in town. I told you he wants to make a name for himself with Urko. He will not care to listen to the how or why of what brought you here. He will take your servants and hold you until Urko's soldiers come to investigate. Here is a map." She thrust a piece of parchment into his palm. "I left you food and spare clothing. I will come tonight then we can travel to the City together."
Galen shook his confused head, staring at the paper crumpled in his hand. "Why would I walk into Urko's lair if you think I have reason to run from him? And leave my fr…servants behind."
"Do you not see!" Korit shoved herself into his arms, burying her head against his shoulder. "Stratis will be satisfied with capturing the stray humans. He will not look for an ape. And without the humans to mark your passage, you can safely return to the City. We can go, just the two of us. And with me as your companion, no one will look at you at all. You will be safe."
"Korit," Galen took her by both shoulders and positioned her a step away only to be caught in her tear-filled eyes. He chewed at his cheek as he scrambled to find words. He remained lost in that quagmire when Alan burst into the barn.
"Afentis!" The commander quickly took in the scene of Galen and the girl which only increased his own urgency. "Word leaked out among the humans. They warned me. The garrison. The gorillas. They're coming. We need to grab Arros and get away. Now."
"NO!" The young chimpanzee shoved Alan hard enough to knock him back. "You should protect your master, not place him in danger! He's coming with me. I will hide him. Take the other one and go while you can!"
"Korit," Galen returned his attention to the girl, one arm held out begging Alan to wait. "It is I who must protect my…servants. I will not sacrifice them to save myself. I will go to your hiding place," he stated, holding out the map still clenched in his fist. "If you truly wish to help me, you will help all of us. Please bring the medicine Arros needs when it is safe. Come, Piras." Galen spun, grabbing Alan's arm. The pair ran toward the clinic leaving a sobbing Korit in their wake.
Alan hit the door first. His momentum stopped along with his heart causing Galen to crash into his back, the force he needed to start both in motion again. Giatro was dragging a gagged Pete along the hallway as his friend struggled against the ape arms wrapped around his torso. Traitor! The doctor who was meant to help his friend had decided to give them over to the apes. Virdon masked his fury and rushed to release Burke from yet another ape threat.
"Hurry you fools! Into the apothecary. Urko's troops are on their way," Giatro stormed, his bellows forcing both Alan and Galen to a standstill. "I know who you are, Galen," the doctor directed his ire toward the open-mouthed chimpanzee. "I met you at your parent's home when you were a university student. You had no time for an old animal doctor. Ignored me completely. Glad to see you grew up since then." He shook his head as the pair seemed locked in the moment. "Once I saw you were willing to risk your lives for him, I was willing to risk mine for you. Move!" he jerked his head toward the open door at the end of the hallway.
Seeing Pete's fight awakened by his restraints, Galen interceded. "Let me take him. He knows I would never harm him." The young chimpanzee reached out to remove the gag stuffed in his friend's mouth.
"No," Giatro admonished. "He is not fully conscious. His fight is instinctual. He cannot control his shouts in his delirium. Now go!"
Alan led the way into the preparation room, shocked to discover an open hole dropping into a concealed basement.
"We all have secrets," the elder ape admitted as he gestured for Alan to descend to the dirt floor about six feet below.
"Pete, Pete! Stop. Stop fighting!" Galen used an authoritative command with poor results as he dragged Burke into the room. The dark-haired human seemed to find renewed strength as his eyes widened, his feet scrambling to halt the approach to the dark hole. Galen forced him to the opening and released him toward Alan's outstretched arms.
Pete managed to spin as he flailed toward Galen attempting to stop his plummet into the chasm. The harried ape felt as if a knife was thrust into his gut as the terror in his friend's expressive brown eyes exploded across his features.
"Down!" Giatro gave Galen no time to think as he shoved him into the hole, closed the hatchway then dragged a cart over it.
"Pete. Pete. I've got you," Galen heard Alan croon in the dark. Glancing up, he assumed a rug must have been used to further camouflage the cellar entrance since no hint of the doorway was revealed from below. He only hoped that no hint was given away from above. "Be still, buddy. It's me and Galen. The gorillas can't find us if we stay quiet. Can you stay quiet so I can get this thing off of you?"
Galen waved his arms until he bumped into someone's side. Based on the heat radiating from his touch, he knew it was the younger man. "We are all going to sit and wait Pete," he heard Alan's softly spoken words continue as he guided all of them down.
"Lean back, Pete," Galen added when his free arm found the walls with wood beam supports. The ape slipped his hand around his friend's waist and pulled him to his side. His other hand knuckled gently against the human's bare chest. "You have to stay calm."
The younger man continued to struggle until Alan knelt in front of him, holding both shoulders. "Pete, you have to promise. You have to promise to stay quiet. None of us can make another sound. I want to get this gag off you but not at the risk of our lives. Do you understand?"
Galen felt Pete's head bob. Knowing Alan couldn't see the gesture in the dark, the ape ordered, "Take it off, Alan. Take it off now." Relieved, he heard Pete spit the offensive rag out as soon as Alan untied it.
All heads jerked upwards as a door crashed open above.
"They're here," Alan hissed. "Not another sound."
"The door to my clinic may be open but that doesn't give you the authority to crash through it, Stratus," a belligerent Giatro thundered.
"My troopers may have been a bit exuberant, Giatro, but you should have told me you were treating a stray human. I have warned you before. Go ahead. Search the premises."
"Warned me? You mean expect me to let a living creature go without care? You know me better."
"Turn it over to me now and we will overlook your forgetfulness."
"Due to my skills, my patient recovered and is gone. As you should be. Your troops are making a mess."
"Where?"
"How should I know where? He came. I treated him. He left."
"There were two of them, Giatro. Do you deny it?"
"Gorillas," Giatro huffed. "What is to deny? I take care of the sick and injured and when they are well, they leave."
"There are no humans here, Lieutenant," a new voice announced.
"Search the barn. Water the horses from the trough Thanks to the good veterinarian's skills, we are going hunting."
"Yes, sir." Muffled sounds of boots sounded just before the door opened and closed.
"Give the horses some grain before you go," Giatro gruffed. "I do not want them back here exhausted from overuse. What is your concern about two stray humans anyway?"
"My concern is Chief Urko wants them and that is concern enough for me. Should be for you, too." The stern admonition carried clearly into the cellar before the door slammed shut.
"Stay still," Virdon whispered.
"Trap," Burke murmured with a shudder. Comforting squeezes came from both sides as Pete's friends embraced him in the dark. The young human stuffed the crook of his elbow against his mouth to stifle a burst of coughing. All eyes stared upward toward the insubstantial doorway of their concealment.
Pete was stretched as tight as a tension wire between Alan and Galen. The chimp's muscled arm rested across Pete's shoulders, his fingertips knocking worriedly on Virdon's. Unable to see in the darkened room, the stifling heat and lack of air flow made Alan break out in a sweat, at least that's what he told himself. Virdon licked at his dry lips when he felt his young friend slump against him, unconscious again. Alan stopped himself from checking Pete's forehead. He knew the fever remained and the conditions of the cellar were of no help. The gorillas finding them would be even less.
Galen's fingers tugged at Virdon's shoulder, a warning his simian ears had detected movement above them. Moments later, Alan heard the cart rolling followed by a sliver of light framing the hatchway as the rug was removed. The creaking of the hinges caused Pete to stir, and they all stared up into the wriggling snout of Dr. Giatro.
"Since I seem to be stuck with you, might as well come up." The chimpanzee maneuvered a wooden ladder into the hole.
Galen held on to Pete as Alan jumped up to guide it to the floor.
"Looks like I missed some things. Wanna tell me what happened while I was lost in the Land of Nod?" Pete asked as he squinted into the suddenly bright light of the apothecary.
"No, Pete," Galen said with a gentle smile. "You were not lost. Alan and I never left you." The chimpanzee then turned distressed eyes toward their agreed upon leader. "Oh, Alan. Pete is still delirious. He doesn't know where we are."
xXxXx
"Not what I had in mind when you said, 'Let's eat.'" Pete sneered at the bowl of oat-mashed gruel while the others at the table piled baked zucchini with onions and peppers on their plates.
"You are allowed one slice of bread—thin slice of bread," Giatro waved his fork at his patient.
"Were you born cruel, or did you have a rough childhood?" Pete's disgruntled face forced Alan to rub his mouth with the back of his hand to hide his grin.
"Truly wonderful, Giatro," Galen complimented as another full bite disappeared. "You are…."
"Dr. Giatro? Are you home?" called a familiar voice after a quick knock at the door. Galen responded with a slump to his shoulders as Korit peeked into the kitchen, finding the four seated at the square table. "Afentis. You are here," her voice brightened. "I was hoping to find you."
Galen turned away but seeing Pete and Alan drop their eyes from him caused him to flip in his chair to scowl at the girl. "Why? You plan to send the garrison back to drag me away?" You could have killed all of us including Giatro. You realize that, don't you? Did they promise you a trip to Central City for your cooperation?"
Korit stalled in her approach toward the chimpanzee, her eyes wide. "I...I...No! Do you think I told the garrison about you? I would not betray you to them. You haven't done anything except be overly kind to your humans. I wanted to help…."
"If not you, who? Are you blaming Giatro. No one else knew we were here," Galen's harsh accusation made Korit blink rapidly, tears welling.
"I think I know," Giatro laid a hand on Galen's arm. All eyes stared at him. "When we stepped outside after the search, Stratus asked me about the yellow flowers. It seems, his son saw a human gathering them in the fields and said they were for a sick friend."
"His son?" Alan winced. The veterinarian nodded.
"His wife is the reason he wants to be assigned to Central City. We have only a traveling doctor here."
"For apes, you mean," Pete scoffed quietly. He winced when Galen stomped on his toes.
"He wanted to know if the treatment I used might help her. It was a difficult question for a gorilla to ask. He frowns on thinking anything that applies to a human would be used on an ape. Her illness has become chronic, and he wants her closer to the newest treatments available."
"And finding Urko's missing fugitives might achieve that goal," Galen stated knowingly.
"But they are not here," Giatro took a bite of his food. "Are they?"
"Why I would hope not!" Galen drew his head back with a mischievous grin.
"I don't know. I would like to meet such an interesting ape," Korit sighed wistfully. "I think they would have wonderful adventures to share."
"And plenty of gruel," Pete murmured, tipping his spoon so that a thick stream plopped back into his bowl.
"With a thin slice of bread," Alan grinned before tucking in.
~ The End ~