[Demonworld #2] The Pig Devils Read online

  The crowd parted and formed a ring around the two. Didi looked up at Sevrik, said, “Why should I stay here any longer? I have already proven my innocence.”

  “Didi, how could you?” Sevrik hissed at him, leaning close. He whispered, “This was our chance to come out! To show Haven what we’ve done, to make them accept it!”

  “Sevrik, my good friend, in the demon’s world, only the common man can walk about in the day. Only the slaves can enjoy the sunshine and the light.”

  “But... but, Didi…”

  Didi backed away slowly, and as he turned away he said, “Don’t you know, friend? Our kind can never leave the shadows.”

  * * *

  Yarek Clash hopped down from the ledge, surprisingly graceful despite the cast on one leg. He stood over Wodan, dwarfing him. Their black cloaks stood out against the more common white and gray. Yarek glanced down at the serial numbers on Wodan’s dungeon sweater, his macabre joke.

  Wodan did not turn away from his piercing gaze. “They’re calling you the Champion of Haven.”

  Yarek nodded slowly. “And they’re calling you... the Exile.”

  Wodan nodded. Mistaking this for his cue, a Guardian strode forward awkwardly, said, “Former citizen Romana Wodan Kyner! The Senate has decreed that you be stripped of your Traditional and Family name and of all the benefits of citizenship. You are to be-”

  “Get out of here!” Sevrik bellowed. “He already knows that, fool! Get out!” The Guardians backed away. “I’m going to take him to the beach myself. Go!” The Guardians saluted quickly, then ran. Sevrik went up to a waiting jeep and said to the driver, “Take a walk.”

  Wodan had not taken his eyes off Yarek the entire time.

  “What will you do, Yarek?”

  “Prepare for the next invasion.”

  “Concentrate on repelling demonic invaders. Don’t worry about the Ugly.”

  “Why’s that?” said Yarek, furrowing his brow.

  “Because I’m going to wipe them off the face of the earth.”

  Yarek’s mouth opened slowly.

  “I’m just kidding,” said Wodan. “Lighten up.”

  Yarek smiled slightly, said, “You’re... alright.”

  Sevrik started the jeep. Wodan and Yarek climbed in. They rode through a pass in the mountains. Suddenly Yarek pointed at a low, wide ledge, and said, “Wodan! Is that-”

  “It is,” said Wodan.

  Yarek looked down at Wodan. That ledge was the site of the first battle with the Ugly. Strange, the boy seemed so small...

  “What will you do, Wodan?” said Sevrik.

  “I’d like to find that man Childriss,” said Wodan. “I’d like to see a certain cave in the valley, where I was originally exiled. I’d like to kill all the Ugly. But, really... I’m just going to try to survive. I don’t know, Sevrik. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  “You know,” said Sevrik, fumbling. “Didi said... he said something, to me... I mean, your... your cancer, maybe it’s... I dunno, some kind of... like, a special-”

  “No,” said Wodan. “I’m normal, Sevrik. Just another human, doomed to die like any other.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Leave

  The three stood on the beach and looked at the corpse of the great red dragon. Birds covered the curved mantle at the top of its head, and danced and squawked along its long, twisted back. A broken wing rose and fell along the waves, peaceful, slow. The sun was high and bright, cool in a blue sky.

  Wodan was filled with a terrible longing. Felt his jaw ache, and fought against it. He pushed the image of Mama from his mind. He slowly released his breath.

  He realized that Yarek had been staring down at him for a long time. Wodan turned to him slowly and looked up at him.

  “Yarek, I... admire you, too,” Wodan said suddenly.

  Yarek stepped back, mouth open. His eyes burned. Sevrik and Wodan walked ahead.

  “This little boat,” said Sevrik, pointing. “It’s a good little vessel. My Reavers put some beacons in Sunport, across the ocean. The boat’s controlled by computer, it’ll take you all the way there... and then sink itself. There’s a backpack... food, water... stuff like that...”

  Sevrik stopped suddenly. Keeping his eyes off Wodan, he raised his voice awkwardly and said, “Now, the Senate wanted you to have only your Personal name and the clothes on your back. But I figured I’d give you a couple of presents, you know...”

  He produced a small bag and opened it. Coins of gold and silver glittered inside, and a few gems sparkled in the light. “Payment... for services rendered to Haven, I guess. You can use these, you know... barter, negotiating, and such...” He thrust the bag into Wodan’s gut, and released it. He would not look at Wodan.

  He pulled the submachine gun from his side, said, “Watch how I break this down.” He took the gun apart, put it together. Broke it apart again, slower. He put the pieces in a slim case, then handed it to Wodan. “You can use this for negotiations, too, I reckon.”

  “Thank you,” said Wodan.

  Sevrik stood, then finally looked Wodan full in the face. His soul was tortured. Breathing heavily, eyebrows quivering. “I... Wodan... so... sorry...”

  Wodan felt his heart tearing apart again, face burning. “Don’t,” he forced out. “Just shut up, old man. Alright?” He ground his jaw into his skull, blinked, and swallowed the terrible feeling.

  Sevrik turned away and watched the sea. Wodan turned, saw Yarek watching in the distance, dark and immobile, cloak shivering in the wind.

  Wodan walked toward the sea. Dropped the bag and case into the boat, pushed the small boat into the water, then climbed in himself. The boat coughed and jumped as it started. Wodan felt a cool spray as it hopped its first tiny wave.

  Wodan watched the pair on the beach. Shrinking, falling away. He was filled with an overwhelming hope, waved at them, and Yarek was the first to wave back, and Wodan smiled, real and true, and let the tears come through, and he shook with the hope of it all. Then he turned ahead, crying so hard, and he was rising with the waves, climbing. The sea stretched out before him and continued on forever, wide as the world and full of infinite possibilities, but was never as great as the rending joy in his heart.

  To be continued in

  Demonworld Book Three:

  The Floyd Street Massacre

  Appendix 1a

  Cast of Characters

  Haven, the Island City

  Brad - From the Charou-chek tribe, a flatland people of the wasteland who regularly sacrifice humans to a devil called Tower of Skulls. Helped Wodan escape from the Ugly. Has been in over seventy-five fistfights in his life.

  Tristema Brown - Fallen Third Force Guardian Colonel who brought the Seaver incident to a timely conclusion.

  William Childriss - The sacrificial lamb, the outcast angel. Takes upon his shoulders a great sin, and goes to a lonely place.

  Gunhilde Clash - Wife of Sevrik Clash. She’s no trophy wife; has a solid head on her shoulders and a warm heart in her torso.

  Mevrik Clash - Daughter of Sevrik Clash, younger sister of Yarek. She is a Guardian Air Pilot with clearance to fly the XYZ Series Attack Eagle Gunship, fastest armored helicopter in the Guardian arsenal. Only one pilot is required to fly it, and it has ports for gunmen on either side.

  Sevrik Clash - Aging Head of Guard of Haven, answerable to the Senate. Founder of the Resurrected Order of Reavers. One of the three men who worked to change the value system of Haven.

  Yarek Clash - Son of Sevrik Clash, older brother of Mevrik. Commander of the first class of the Resurrected Order of Reavers, a covert ops Main Force Guardian unit. He is thirty years old.

  Seloid Cramer - Secretary to Prime Minister Aegis Vachs. Has dedicated his life to his job as few people ever do.

  Iduna Deira - Professor of political philosophy at the University, sole female among those who died in the Exile Incident.

  Didi - Elder scientist, Head of the Department of Science (DoS), founder an
d Head of the Department of Research (DoR). Has been charged with the crime of tampering with the unborn, with trial pending. One of the three men who sought to change the value system of Haven.

  The Dove - Terrorist responsible for the Telarius Chemical plant bombing, the Clearily Bank bombing, and the Andover Manufacturing office bombing. Always writes to online and hardcopy news sources to claim responsibility. Claims that all civilizations have a Dove figure who, at the height of civilization’s decadence, brings the elements of nature back into balance. “And He will never stop! until the corruption at the heart of Haven is burnt away, like, inthe sterilyzing heat of the wasteland!” - from a letter sent by the Dove to various media sources after the Andover bombing.

  Agmar Epemi - A former wanderer of the wasteland. Has been to many of the port cities on the northern coast, has been as far east as the fringes of Imperial San Ktari, as far south as the cold, vast mountainscapes of Srila, and so far west that he came to lands where there were no civilizations at all.

  Founding Fathers – Six hundred years ago, these legendary men from diverse walks of life led many families out of the brutality of the wasteland and secretly established the island city of Haven. The modern liberal Running Wind Party claim that the Founders believed the state was a tool that could be used to enrich the lives of its citizens. The modern conservative Stone Warren Party claim that the Founders escaped from religious persecution in the wasteland so that they and their people could practice their own traditional beliefs. Others think that the Founders believed the state was a parasite - necessary, but still a parasite - and that it should remain weak so that more vigorous aspects of society could blossom. Many statues, paintings, and relics of these men are on display in the Memory House, which is the first floor of the Ministerial Palace.

  Girardo - Famous television private detective whose show played from 577-582 FH, but is still shown in reruns. Girardo was a very nice older man who often bumbled about, always one step behind the game, until the last scene when he would inevitably “get his man.” Often butted heads with hard-nosed Guardian Lieutenant Burt Barker, who hated it when Girardo stumbled and knocked over things at the crime scene and revealed clues missed by official investigators. Some of the more popular episodes include “Girardo and the Case of the Ivory Phoenix,” “Girardo and the Murders at San Reale,” and “Girardo and the Cult of the Sanguinarious Dysfunctionalum,” the latter of which was a two-part episode. Fans prefer episodes from the first three seasons, before the actor who played Girardo became overweight.

  Saul Hargis - Young University student who was singled out by Professor Korliss Matri for special tutoring. Though his body died in the Exile Incident, his brain lives on in the body of a demon called Blindness.

  Mercule Hermann – A biologist and medical doctor who worked for the DoS Incubators, the Makers of Mothers. Died in the Exile Incident.

  Cyrus Jebediah - Leader of the Jebedian Branch, lived with several families on the coast beyond the Northern Reaches. Had his own views on the exciting apocalyptic bits from the Holy Series.

  Salem Jules - Elderly laborer of odd jobs who died in the Exile Incident. Body was host to a number of ailments, the worst of which was damage to his liver from living too hard at the bottom of the barrel.

  Darel Juniorswerth - Young student at the University, specializes in computer science. Works as a hacker for the Chaos Consortium, but not on Thursdays cause he has chess club and it’s not fair if he has to miss that when it’s not like Luumis isn’t out all the time doing something.

  Mama Kyner AKA Ruby Eulabelle Kyner - Wife of Walter “Dick” Kyner and mother of Wodan. Has worked in and managed many of her husband’s businesses, and is now a nurse in the northern laborers section. A firm believer in the power of optimism. Has two daughters who are nine and twelve years older than Wodan. She loves her son very, very much!

  Papa Kyner AKA Richard Walter Kyner - Called “Dick” Kyner by many of his employees, this man has owned numerous grocery stores, general stores, farm supply stations, a small coal distribution plant, has worked in several used automobile lots (all of which he left in an angry huff), and even worked as a preacher teaching lessons from the Holy Series in the northern laborers sector. In his younger days he was filled with a sort of brooding drive, not unlike ambition, which often aroused him to anger. He was very hard on his son Romana Wodan in those days. Has since calmed down in his old age.

  Romana Wodan Kyner - Young citizen of Haven and lone survivor of the Exile Incident. Called Wodi by family and friends. Very amiable and sensitive. A loner who enjoys working on art projects.

  A note on names: All Havenders have three names. The first is called their Traditional Name, and is usually taken from a historical character from the time of the Founding Fathers of Haven. The second is called their Personal Name. It is either made-up or taken from a story, and is meant for common use by the individual. The third is the Family Name, passed through the patriarchal line. Going by one’s Traditional or Personal Name goes in and out of fashion.

  Luumis Lamsang - Young student of the University, member of the Chaos Consortium.

  Korliss Matri - Elder professor of the University, specializes in mytho-philosophy. One of the three men who tried to change the value system of Haven.

  Maxil - Former slave of Filius Bilch, wealthiest merchant in Sunport. Has a razor-sharp wit and even sharper tongue. Was beyond fed up with the brutes and dullards of the wasteland. Haven is just the place for him!

  Michonardo - Leader of the Chaos Consortium, an older kid who’s been in the University for years. Is constantly in a state of hilarious inebriation. He scored unbelievably high in many standardized intelligence tests. Lives under pressures that people like you and I cannot understand.

  Nicholas - Leader of a terrorist cell. Wears a hat that, he says, represents his royal gift-giving nature. Could he be the Dove?!

  Rachek - From the Tii’ipi tribe, a mountain-dwelling people of the wasteland who constantly move to avoid a demon called Blood Skies. Suffered many cruel indignities at the hands of the Ugly before her escape, and is now making the best of her time in civilization.

  Peter Remus - Conservative Judge and ex-Guardian who died during the Exile Incident. Was going to receive the Stone Warren Party’s official endorsement to run for Prime Minister in 592 FH.

  Rudy Seaver – A man who refused to pay taxes. He was audited with extreme prejudice.

  Carlo Sytem - Third Force Guardian undercover investigator and bodyguard of Nicholas, a terrorist.

  Tomasino - Young conservative Senator who might be running against Aegis Vachs in 592 FH. To have any chance of winning, he needs the official endorsement of the Stone Warren Party, rival to Vachs’s Running Wind. To run as a member of any party other than the big two is to admit defeat before the race has even begun.

  Tomkins - Giant male tabby owned by Wodan. Answers to Tom, Big Tom, Old Tom, Sad Tom, and Tim-Tam-Tom. Currently staying with Walter and Ruby Kyner.

  Shem Udo - Secundus of Guard of Haven, answerable to the Prime Minister. Commands all Third Force Guardians, called so because they compose a third of Haven’s Guard. A man of few words. He doesn’t consider Aegis Vachs his boss, he considers him a friend.

  Aegis Vachs - Prime Minister of Haven, head of the Running Wind Party. Has served eleven years of his twelve-year term, and plans to run for a second term. Previously served as Senate Voice. A man of many words, each more wordily than the last. He doesn’t consider Shem Udo an employee, he considers him a lackey.

  Chipper Vachs - Wife of the Prime Minister. Is now leading the Soften Your Heart campaign, a movement whose ultimate goal is to censor “certain excesses” that have been allowed in heavy metal music. In the meantime, she is content to have parental advisory warnings placed on album covers. Works closely with ex-Entertainer Sven Bewards, a wealthy artist whose web site advocates censorship by artists for artists, “so that the government won’t have to do the work for us.” An essay they wrote together
states that “video game players are aurally bombasted by the same speed metal that soldier-killers listen to before they go on a hunt-and-destroy spree amongst human prey. It makes one pity one’s race.” Together, they are developing a philosophy called Prudism. In her past, Chipper actually worked with conservatives on the Pants On program, and the anti-drug campaign Just Say Never. If this information were ever found out by her current liberal peers, her career would be destroyed.

  Marlon Ziello - Young Guardian who died in the Exile Incident. Was picked out by Sevrik Clash for special training.

  Appendix 1b

  Cast of Characters

  Pontius, the Wasteland City

  Agamemno - Protagonist of a well-known wasteland story. Proved true the Forefathers’ saying, “There is no substitute for competence.”

  Barkus - Leader of the Right Arm of the Ugly, middle child of an Ugly who was once its Head. Hacked off part of his face into the shape of a smile in order to gain his position. Lost much of his vitality and charisma due to his defeat in the mountain passes of Haven.

  Boris the Living Scar - Head of the Ugly, youngest child of an Ugly who was also once the Head. Carries a strange bundle under his robes. He is quite handsome.

  Edwar Bruner - Manic-depressive man who refused to join the Smiths gang and copy designs passed down from the Ancients. He wants to create something new.

  Fortunata – A semi-classy prostitute and slave of the Ugly. Plays the character Figurina in the well-known story of Agamemno. She is not happy with the life that fate has given her.

  The Hands - Awe inspiring dealers of death who protect the Head of the Ugly. Possibly the most dangerous individual humans in the entire world. Their training is intense; many who have tried have died, their skulls smashed to greasy bits or insides eaten through with acid. They cover their entire bodies in black so that no one will know who they are. One is a master of combat, the other is a master of poison, stealth, and assassination.