The Python of Caspia by Michael Green

Author:Michael Green [Green, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781950593002
Published: 2019-03-09T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Drinks on the Wall

Andy held out the crossbow and quiver. Slyn, the spider, stepped forward with a jittery gait and reached for his weapon.

Andy grimaced, his fingers clenching. An armored lobster had given him the crossbow, quiver, and winch a few minutes ago, specifically for the ceremony. Andy recalled the guards hesitating at the order to arm him.

Slyn leered with eight burning, faceted eyes.

“How’s that bump on your head?” Andy asked before lunging forward in a mock attack.

Slyn flinched, but then grabbed the crossbow, his low voice gurgling with frustration. Andy didn’t let go, instead, he leaned in and whispered to the beast, “Tell me the name of your Master, and I won’t humiliate you again.”

Just as Andy was doubting its ability to speak, the creature clicked in a low guttural voice.

Andy glanced up at the stands ringing the plaza. They were filled with pupils from the hall, and a handful of brutox, but the most alarming presence was the tentacled monster he had seen in the optometrist’s office.

“Dr. Ropt?” Andy asked. “Is that his name?”

Slyn glanced at the stands. He gulped, before nodding and tugging at the weapon.

Andy released and watched Slyn raise the crossbow aloft, as if he hadn’t accepted it in an apology. The brutox rattled their weapons, but the Caspians were silent.

“Don’t you want these?” Andy asked, un-shouldering the quiver and holding up the winch.

Slyn snatched them and, after a moment of glory, his eyes bulged with realization. He shuffled off to Ropt, who was sitting on a raised platform next to Pythia. Both Pythia and Ropt were surrounded by their guards. Andy sensed that Slyn was telling on him. The human audience grumbled confusedly.

Andy expected one of the Masters to rise and give a speech on peace and cooperation, but both were distracted by Slyn.

Tell the teacher—go on.

The Ropt creature stood and leaned forward. Andy felt him staring.

Annoyed at the rude, unbroken stare, Andy felt glib. “Don’t be confused, Doctor, we’ve spoken before,” he said.

Ropt’s tentacles twisted for a moment. He raised a clawed arm, and the brutox surrounding the plaza leveled their weapons.

My mouth will get me killed.

Andy crouched and looked for an unguarded exit to the plaza.

Pythia called out, “Stay, you monsters! The boy is safe here!”

Her guards faced off against the brutox. It looked like fighting might break out.

If Letty wasn’t in the booth with Pythia and Ropt, Andy thought they might try to escape in the chaos of a skirmish.

If I had only waited till now—there’s no way the guards will let me near her, not after our escape attempt.

Andy bent, his limbs surged with the need to make a move. Pythia and the Ropt creature were arguing. He couldn’t make out what they were saying, but they were in a heated debate.

Andy flinched towards the booth, but the guards turned on him in a flash. He reached for the marble but saw that Pythia and Ropt had come to an agreement.

The guards noticed as well, and both sides put up their arms.

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