Ice-Age Chaper 3

[Guest guest]

Ice-Age

By Andy Savage

 

 

 

Chapter 3

 

There was the smell and crackle of a warm, reassuring fire somewhere close

outside and the soothing sound of a soft, distant voice. Dave mumbled and

slowly opened his hazy eyes. He couldn't focus on anything at first. He

didn't have a clue where he was, or how he had got there. Somebody's face

was in front of him, but he couldn't recognise who it was. He couldn't even

remember his own name.

" Hello.........hello, " repeated the quiet voice near his ear.

Dave looked blankly to his side, " Where am I? " he whispered.

" Safe, " came the reply.

" I don't understand.... " said Dave, confused.

" Don't worry. "

Dave gazed around wide eyed. He found himself naked, enveloped in a tight,

tatty, warm sleeping bag, inside a small, round, dirty, white tent. There

was a dim, white glow coming through the domed sides of the tent. It was

night time. A feeling of vulnerability crept over him. Dave remembered that

he usually found the night beautiful. The carpet of snow that covered

everything always made it bright enough to see from horizon to horizon.

Unlike day time, there was no need for sunglasses, no monstrous yellow star

to bedazzle you. But this night was eerie and threatening. More flashes of

memory started to shoot through his mind, and his breathing rate increased

rapidly.

" Calm down, " said the stranger, " Do you want some water? "

Dave turned his head and looked directly at his companion. He recognised him

now. It was the ginger Samaritan, who had come to his aid, kneeling beside

him. Dave stared at him for a while, recalling fully now what had happened.

He felt embarrassed, and blushed, realising that he must have fainted, and

had his clothes removed by this man. He knew that was the least of his

worries, and that he had far more urgent matters to deal with. He looked

into the stranger's dark eyes, " My son, " he said hopefully, " Did you see my

son? "

" I only saw you. "

" No, you must have seen him, you must have. "

" I'm sorry. "

" Oh God, " sighed Dave, closing his eyes, " We were attacked. They took him. I

don't know where he is. He's only ten. "

" You've been badly hurt. There's knife wounds in your chest and back. I've

stitched them for you. You were lucky they weren't too deep. You'd be dead. "

" I have to find my son. Where are my things? " Dave tried to get out of the

sleeping bag, but was stopped by waves of pain.

" Don't get up, " said the man, jumping to his feet and putting his hand on

Dave's shoulder, " You're in no fit state. Just look at you. You're black and

blue. Lie down or you'll open up your cuts. All your clothes are on the

floor next to you, look. Lie back down now, come on, "

Dave had little choice but to do as he was told, he had come close to

fainting again.

" Tell me about your son, " said the stranger, " What's his name? "

" Simon, " said Dave, carefully settling on his back again, making sure he was

well covered, and remembering his manners he added, " And my name's Dave. "

" Device, " said the mysterious nurse, sitting down on the floor.

" Eh? "

The stranger frowned knowingly, " My name is Device. "

" Device? That's an unusual name. "

" I like it. "

" Is it your real name or just a nickname? "

" It's my only name. "

Dave nodded, realising it might be a touchy subject, " Are you a doctor? " he

asked.

" No. But I know the basics. "

There was another surge of pain through Dave's head, " Oh Lord, " he cried,

clutching his hair.

" You should be OK. You'll be stiff tomorrow. You won't be able to move. But

you'll live. "

" I only care about my son, " said Dave, " How long have I been here? "

Device paused for a couple of seconds, " I got to you 'round about noon. Took

about an hour to carry you here. You'd passed out, I'm glad you don't weigh

much! " He looked thoughtfully at his wrist watch, " I make it nine o'clock,

but it could be an hour either way. "

Dave was amazed, " Have I been here all that time? " he said.

Device nodded.

" Hell, I can't believe what's happened, " said Dave, " By the way, where are

we exactly? "

" In my tent. About a mile south from where I found you. "

" South? " queried Dave, remembering he wanted to the follow the dog sleigh

tracks north.

" I was on my way back here when I found you. "

" Then you must have seen the dog sleighs with my son? "

" No. I didn't. I only saw the tracks. "

" But you must have heard them? "

" Nope. "

" Oh, God. I wish I'd been killed. " said Dave.

" No you don't! Be glad you're not! So who attacked you, Dave? "

" We were on the way back to our new food hole. We only moved in there a week

ago, so we're still learning our way around. I don't know this area, we

lived a few miles away before. I took Simon out because it was so sunny.

It's been so long since we saw the sun. It was so stupid of me. " Dave

sniffed and wiped his nose on his hairy forearm, " I didn't even see them

coming. They were all in white. They came out of nowhere so fast. They had

dog sleighs, a whole gang of them, maybe six or seven, I don't know. I think

one was a woman. She was so evil. You just couldn't see them. "

" Who was their leader? " asked Device.

" I really don't know. It all happened so quickly. They were all yelling and

screaming. I was hit to the ground. Someone held me down while someone else

beat me with a bat. Simon shouted for help but there was nothing I could do.

I saw one of them waving a knife. I thought they were going to kill me. "

" And they kidnapped your son? "

" They took him. They grabbed him from me. Some madman who was screaming. He

carried him off in a sleigh. They were so quick. I got knocked over and

kicked and stabbed and God knows what. They just left me for dead and then

they were gone. "

Device nodded and chewed on his thumb nail, " He'll still be alive, " he said

knowingly, " Do you want to get him back?. "

" Of course I do. I won't rest until I do, but surely it's all so hopeless

now? "

" It's never hopeless. Sometimes what you think is hard turns out to be

easy. "

" Do you think so? I wish I could believe that. I don't even know where to

start. They could have taken him anywhere by now. And I'm stuck here barely

able to move. "

" I don't think he's far away. We've still got time to get him back. "

Dave raised his snowy eyebrows in surprise, " We've still got time? Don't you

mean I've still got time? "

Device looked straight into Dave's eyes, " I was once like you, Dave. I was

once left to die. I know what it's like. Somebody came and helped me. That

meant something to me. Now let me help you. "

Dave could see that Device was serious. It was a lifeline. He still didn't

trust Device, but he did feel just a grain of sand happier, " I don't know

what to say. Thanks, " he said gratefully.

" I will help you get Simon back, " promised Device. Then, with a hint of

menace, he smiled, " For a price. "