Ice-Age chapter 11

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ICE-AGE

by Andy Savage

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

 

 

 

Chapter 11

 

Linda scowled at Device, " So just where on earth did you spring from? " she

barked, pulling off her bedraggled balaklava, " You were nowhere in sight a

minute ago, then you suddenly leap out with a shooter and start spraying

bullets all over the place! "

" I've just saved your life, you stupid bag, " Device retorted with a look of

contempt.

" You didn't save my life, you slime ball! You were only concerned about

saving Dave! You didn't even shoot any of the dogs around me, you were

hoping they would finish me off, weren't you? " growled Linda.

" You're talking out your arse! " Device answered back, and then, with a

particularly poisonous smile, he said, " But maybe I should've let them have

you, you ungrateful slag! "

Dave was getting annoyed, " All right you two, give it a rest! " he ordered,

" We've not got time for this. I want to get the tent set up. I can't go on

any further today. "

Linda started to shake and shiver, " Oh God, Dave, hold me, " she said in a

quaking voice, " I suddenly don't feel very well. "

Dave hugged her and kissed her forehead, then gasped, " You're absolutely

freezing cold, Linda! " He looked at Device, " She's in shock! We need to get

her somewhere warm! We must get the tent up quick! "

" We don't need to get the tent up, " responded Device, still frowning. He

gazed down at his boots as if in two minds about something, and then licked

the corner of his mouth, " I've got a food hole near here. You can rest in

that. Wait here a minute, " he said, and he quickly marched up to the top of

the verge towards the sled.

Dave was delighted at the prospect of soon being inside a shelter, but

Linda huffed angrily, and snarled, " That bastard set us up all along! "

" What do you mean? " Dave asked, but he could guess what she was going to

say.

" It's obvious! Device purposely set those dogs on us! " insisted Linda, " He

made us come here, where he happens to have a hideaway somewhere nearby, and

a pack of wild dogs just happens to be waiting in ambush for us, and then he

pops out just in time to save you! "

" But he saved both of us! " said Dave, giving Linda a squeeze.

" Come on! He only meant to save you! He's practically admitted that he

wanted the dogs to kill me! "

" No, I'm sure you've got it wrong, Linda. Why would he go to such elaborate

lengths to kill you? I think it would be almost impossible to try and set

that up! " replied Dave, " Look, he's got a gun, I mean, if he wanted you dead

he'd just shoot you! "

" But he wants you to think he's some kind of hero, doesn't he! Not the

cold blooded murderer that he really is! He's out to kill me, Dave, and I'm

scared! We've got to get away from him, as soon as possible. "

Dave shook his head, " No, you're getting paranoid, Linda! I'm sure it's

just a coincidence that it happened here, and a lucky coincidence at that,

for us. He's saved my life twice, and now that he's got a gun, we want him

on our side, don't we? "

Linda didn't look at all convinced, " He fired a lot of bullets just now, "

she said, " Where did he get them from? No one's got bullets any more. They

cost a fortune. They're big, big currency league. He's not some small time

rabbit trapper, Dave. Not if he deals in bullets. It wouldn't surprise me in

the least if he deals in people as well! "

" You're going way over the top, Linda! " said Dave, but he too had worrying

doubts about his saviour, " Look, he's coming back now, please don't say

anything to him! "

" I don't know if I'll be able to quite manage to do that! "

Device drew the sled down the slope towards Dave and Linda, but stopped

about halfway, where he beckoned the pair to come up to him.

" What's the stupid jerk up to now? " Linda hissed hatefully.

Dave clasped her hand tightly, " Come on, he probably needs some help. "

" He needs an arrow through the head! "

As the pair hobbled their way up the verge, Device lifted up a large,

square, solid slab of snow, revealing the entrance of a small cave carved

into the bank.

" Wow! " exclaimed Dave, on reaching the site, " How did you ever discover

this? "

" This is my food hole, " replied Device.

Linda didn't look impressed, " So when all those dogs were biting lumps out

of us, you were tucked up in here, were you? " she said.

" I came out at noon, as I arranged, " Device answered.

Dave stared at the endless stacks of boxes around every bit of wall inside

the cramped cavern. Some on the floor were open and were full of tins of

baked beans, " Didn't you hear all the noise? " he asked.

" No, " said Device.

" You utter liar! " said Linda, " You must have! You were sitting right

underneath it all! " " I was resting. I heard no noise. I went outside at

noon. I saw the dogs. I got my gun. I shot the dogs. Now here we are. That's

the truth. Take it or leave it. I don't care which. "

" So where did you get the bullets from? " asked Linda accusingly.

" That's my business, " said Device.

" And is it your business to have me ripped apart! " screamed Linda.

" You're mad! " said Device, " I saved you. You owe me. "

Dave put his hand firmly on Linda's shoulder, " You're exhausted and so am

I, " he said, " Now let's go inside. I need to lie down. We can talk about

everything later. "

" I have to bury these dogs, " said Device, " They might attract attention. "

Dave nodded his head, then led Linda into the cave, " We'll be all right, "

he said.

" Don't leave me alone, " said Linda, clutching Dave's arm.

" I'll be gone a while, so I'm closing the hatch, " said Device, and with a

wicked grin he pushed the block of snow over the entrance, shutting out the

light from the outside world.