Midnight Agency, Season Two by Ken Hoover

Author:Ken Hoover [Hoover, Ken]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ken Hoover
Published: 2021-11-02T06:00:00+00:00

Four

Mingan inspected the perimeter of the rocky cavern while the others chatted. The only exits were through the narrow passage that had brought them here or to climb a steep pile of rocks to a hole in the ceiling, which served as a skylight. There were no hidden passages, no secret tunnels, and that was satisfactory to Mingan. He could guard two exits. He gave Driskill a nod of approval.

“It would appear we will be staying here tonight,” Driskill said. “Thank you, Porter, for guiding us this far.”

“My pleasure,” the little man said.

Porter pushed up his round spectacles and offered a humble grin. With an iron poker, he prodded the firewood burning inside a ring of rocks. An iron kettle hung from a tripod set over the flames, and Mingan smelled the earthy aroma of hominy with spices and vegetables. The campfire had been going for some time.

“The smoke doesn’t attract attention?” Mingan asked as he watched the ashen gray smoke exiting through the skylight, about twelve feet above them.

“No. The petrabeasts will not get too close to the fiery web, so they keep their distance. This is one of the safest places in the badlands.”

Mingan wasn’t so sure about that, but the team had few options. The sun was setting and soon the malpaís would become more dangerous.

“There is a legend among my people that a Lord of Chaos once ruled this desert, a god of destruction and death, known as the Great Serpent,” Goyan said, sitting cross-legged and smoking a cigarette. “When a rival passed through his territory, the two met in battle. Their war lasted for months, but the Great Serpent was slain at last and his body fell to earth where it has burned ever since. This is how the malpaís came to be.”

There was a long silence after her story.

“That’s kinda gross,” Kory said. “If it’s true, we’re crawling around inside this god’s corpse like little bugs.”

“The old stories explain how places came to be. You may believe them if you wish,” Goyan said.

“Is it still alive, Goyan?” Carlos asked, his eyes wide and fearful.

“No,” Goyan said. “Nor do I wish for it. Should he return, our mountains would be in great peril.”

“Some gods can’t be killed,” Kory said. “They fester.”

Driskill tapped his cane against the rocky ground. “Our commander believes he has found a way to kill a death god. He hopes to fashion weapons. If he is correct, we could return here, just to be sure.”

Goyan nodded. “My people would be grateful.”

Kory chewed on a stick of carneseca from her pack. The jerky was red and spotted with chile seeds. She offered some to Carlos, but the kid refused.

Too anxious to eat, thought Mingan.

“More for me, then,” she said, smacking her lips.

Mingan squatted beside Carlos and felt the wound in his side rip a little. He winced until he found his balance. “You’re safe here, kid. There’s no fire to worry about,” he said softly, so no one else could hear. “Rest while you can.

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