Ice-Age 8

[Guest guest]

ICEAGE

by Andy Savage

http://www.andysav.free-online.co.uk/zine.htm

 

 

 

 

Chapter 8

 

Linda leapt up leaving a furious looking, half-dressed Device flat on his

back in the snow. She threw down her bat and ran over to Dave, with clouds

of white breath blowing from her fevered mouth. She smiled excitedly, her

sapphire eyes sparkling like stars in ripples of water, " Dave! Oh Dave! How

marvellous! I hardly recognised you, darling! What's happened to your hair?

And what on earth are you doing here? " she babbled gleefully.

Dave could barely believe it. His heart was chasing its tail, " Come here! "

he called, holding out his open arms jubilantly.

Linda shook her long, flowing, black hair out of her face and flung herself

up against him. Dave whooped with delight and he pair hugged each other

tightly, " It's so good to see you! " enthused Dave, " Mmm....and you're so

warm! "

Device cursed and hastily picked himself off the freezing ground. He glared

wrathfully at Linda, " So just who the hell are you? " he snapped.

Dave was scared of what Device might do next, " It's all right, Device, " he

assured, " This is Linda. She's an old friend of mine, and I can't tell you

how happy I am to see her! "

Device looked homicidal, " Well I'm bloody not happy! " he said shaking with

disgust and brushing bits of ice off his shorts.

" Look, Device, is that your name? " opened Linda, turning for a second to

Dave, who nodded, " Look, I'm really sorry. "

" Get stuffed! " retorted Device.

" Listen, let's all go inside, " said Dave, hoping he could calm things down,

" My feet are like icebergs! "

" My arse is like an iceberg! " barked Device, retrieving his own base ball

bat from the ground. He pointed it angrily at Linda, " And she can explain

why she just tried to kill us both. "

Dave led Linda by the hand into tent. He was frightened for her, though she

was showing no sign of fear. He was shocked and amazed by what had happened.

He was also embarrassed at the unwholesome smell of unwashed underwear that

greeted them. Device followed them in, but he stayed by the door, openly

displaying an outrageously venomous grimace.

Linda looked apologetically at Dave's companion, " I hope I haven't hurt

you, have I? " she asked.

" You stupid bitch, " Device hissed.

" Are you hungry, Linda? " asked Dave quickly, still holding her hand, " Do

you want something to eat or drink? "

" No she does not! " snarled Device, scowling at the woman in revulsion. Dave

noticed a mark above Device's left eye which was starting to swell, but he

didn't dare mention it.

Device stared harshly at Linda, " Where are the others? " he demanded.

" I can assure you that I am on my own, " she answered.

" You filthy slag! You must think I'm stupid! "

" I do realise that you're rather upset, sweetie, but I'd prefer not to be

spoken to in that manner! "

Dave was startled by Device's continued outbursts. He put his arm around

Linda, " Come on, Device, I know you're pissed off right now, but really, I

know her very well, " he said.

Device drew a deep breath, shrugged and tightly closed and reopened his

eyes, " Then why did she just try to kill us? "

Linda pressed closer to Dave and nestled her rosy face against his

shoulder, " How was I possibly to know it was you, Dave? I didn't think I'd

ever see you again. "

Dave gently stroked her hair, and reflected how she smelt as good as she

did nine years ago, " So what were you doing out there, Linda? " he asked.

" I know it's terribly awful, but it's a dog eat dog world, you know. "

" So you were out to kill us and rob us! " said Device, with a self-satisfied

smirk.

" It most certainly wasn't my intention to kill you, " Linda insisted, " But I

admit I did mean to rob you, I'm sorry. "

" You will be, " said Device, repeatedly slapping his bat into his hand.

" But where are your things? Where are you living? Where have you been? "

Dave questioned.

" I don't have a thing in the world. I was robbed myself. I was so

desperate. "

" You're lying! " said Device, " It's obvious she's lying! I say we kill her

now! "

" Put a sock in it, Device! " shouted Dave, getting annoyed.

" Dave, it's ok. The poor dear's entitled to be angry. I did hit him hard, "

said Linda. She pursed her lips and glanced around the little tent. Dave

could see her brain ticking over, " Where's Simon? " she asked.

This brought Dave abruptly back down to earth, and the pain must have shown

in his eyes.

" Oh God, don't tell me he's...... " started Linda.

" He's not dead, " interrupted Dave, " At least, I hope he's not dead. Look,

I'll make us a drink.... "

" I'll make it, " said Device, " After I'm sure there's no one else out

there. "

" You'd better sit down, Linda, " said Dave. They sat on his sleeping bag.

Device took a pan off the floor and went outside to the fire. While he was

gone, Dave told Linda all about the attack, how Simon had been taken, and

how Device had come to his aid.

" Oh, Dave, I'm so sorry. I've often thought of you both so many times, "

Linda whispered with tears rolling down her blushing cheeks, and she lent

forward and kissed Dave tenderly on the lips.

A gush of glacial air signalled Device's return with the pan filled with

hot water, " Find yourselves some cups, " he said, " There's a jar of coffee

somewhere. "

" Dave has told me everything that has happened, " said Linda, " I have to

say, it's very noble of you to help him like this. And I want to help too. "

" Forget it, " said Device.

Linda gazed into Dave's eyes, " You will take me with you, won't you? " she

said.

Dave smiled. He was so glad Linda was here. He didn't care about the

circumstances. She was somebody that he still felt close to, and he was

comforted by her presence. He remembered how he had always found her

intriguing. Sometimes great fun to be with, other times quite dangerous, but

never dull. He had always liked her, both as a friend and for her looks. And

right now, she looked more beautiful to him than she had ever done, " I'd be

delighted if you'd join us, " he answered.

" We don't need her, " Device insisted, " She'll slow us down. We can't trust

her. I don't want her in my tent. "

Dave stared determinedly at Device, and in a low, authoritative voice he

said, " I trust you. Now I'm asking you to trust me. I want Linda to come

with us. "

Device sighed heavily and his eyes settled on the small hole in the tent

wall cut by the arrow which Linda had fired, " Then let's pray we don't wake

up in the morning with our throats cut, " he said coldly.