Ice-Age 22

November 22, 1999

ICE-AGE

By Andy Savage

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

Previous chapters at:uniquethings/

Chapter 22

Dave was bewildered. He did not know if this was good or bad news. He glanced up at Linda questioningly, " Kerry? " he said.

Linda did not reply. She did not even acknowledge he was there. Instead, she stepped around him like he was a lump of the bear’s poo.

" Hi Tina! " she said with a little, friendly wave, " Hi Kier! "

Tina gave Linda a warm hug, " Where the hell have you been, Kerry? " she asked, " How many times are you going to run off like that? "

" I know, I’m sorry, I do make a habit of it, don’t I? " said Linda, " How’s Herod? "

" He’s not happy! He’s been out looking for you! "

" Has he? How wonderfully nice of him to worry! "

Dave started to shiver with shock. He could not string two thoughts together. He coughed and slowly picked himself back upright, " What’s on earth’s going on, Linda? " he said, " Tell these people who I am! "

Tina scowled at Dave. She was so full of hate. Dave recalled how it was hands just like hers that had snatched Simon from him. He was determined that he would not fail now, no matter what.

Tina turned to Linda, " Who the hell is he? " she asked.

Linda shrugged, " No one, " she said.

" Does he belong to you? " quizzed Tina.

" No, " said Linda.

" Linda! " said Dave, rubbing his eyes, " Tell them! "

" Why does he keep calling you Linda? " enquired Jakey.

Linda shrugged again, " God knows! He’s nothing to me! " she replied.

Dave gasped. He could not believe what he was hearing. He was completely confounded. He could not at first accept that Linda knew these people. Then he realised that all along, Linda had not only known who had taken Simon, but that she was actually also one of them. He had never felt so betrayed in his life.

Tina’s face stretched into a homicidal grin, " So I can have him? " she said, " And add him to my collection? "

" Be my guest, " replied Linda.

" Oh, you poor man! " said Jakey with a laugh, " You can forget about your crappy son now! You’ll soon be wishing Cleo ate you! "

Dave was so mad he was speechless. He shook his head and gaped at the snickering faces of Tina and her cronies, and Linda. Once again, his only hope now was Device.

Dave looked towards the fire. Device had his hands cupped around his mouth like a loudspeaker. He then shouted something, " The female is for sale! "

Linda was enraged. She kicked Dave hard on the shin and pointed wrathfully at Device " I want that bastard dead! " she screamed, " He calls himself Device! "

Dave hobbled about holding his leg, " Did you have to do that? " he said.

Kier laughed, " Nice one, Kerry! " he cheered, " Herod will be so glad you’re back! "

" Talking of Herod, " said Tina, " We’d better get back to the city. "

" Not before you kill Device! " insisted Linda.

Dave was disgusted, " I can’t believe I trusted you, Linda! " he said.

" You need teaching a lesson! " howled Tina, and she clubbed Dave on the shoulder, knocking him to his knees, " Get him tied up! " she ordered, and Jakey quickly grabbed hold of Dave and tied his hands tight behind his back.

Kier stood next to Tina, " Listen, " he began, twirling his bat around his fingers like he was bored, " I’ll take care of this Device chap, you get back to the city with Kerry and the others. And take your bloody bear with you as well! "

" Device might have a knife! " cautioned Linda, " He’s a tricky little sod! "

" Then I’ll take big Barry with me, " said Kier, " It’ll be fun! "

" I want him to die so utterly horribly! " demanded Linda.

" Your wish is my command! " said Kier, " Come on then, Barry, let’s go be utterly horrible! "

" Device! " shouted Dave, before Tina again clubbed him.

Device did not move. The flames still burned strongly. Dave could only hope that Device had an ace up his sleeve. Kier and Barry confidently trudged off towards the fire, arrogantly swinging their bats.

Tina produced a little, silver horn from her pocket and gave it a blow, " Cleo! " she called, " Come! "

Dave stared angrily at Linda, " I trusted you! " he said.

Linda just giggled whilst Jakey forced a blindfold onto Dave and then pulled him up by the hair.

" Let’s go! " said Tina. Dave could hear the grunts of the bear getting nearer.

As they marched away, Tina’s voice buzzed into Dave’s ear like a hornet, " By the time I’m through with you, you’ll be begging to die! "