Zoltan and Vivian:A Short Fantasy Adventure by Lyndon Hardy

Author:Lyndon Hardy [Hardy, Lyndon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Magic, Quest, Sorcery, Wizard, Adventure, Alchemy, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780999132074
Amazon: B0CH5H8QR2
Goodreads: 198425333
Publisher: Bartizan Press
Published: 2023-09-01T06:00:00+00:00

Under Attack

VIVIAN WAS surprised to see some of the women jump up and climb the ladders to the barricade catwalk. The younger children, acting as porters, handed them blowguns and pouches of darts. They began firing as rapidly as had the men.

One of the defenders put a spyglass through a small opening in the barrier and called out what he saw. “Four outriggers with pontoons on both sides. Four rowers in each. They all are wearing vests made of tree bark and have woven headgear with slits for the eyes.”

“Stop wasting darts on protected targets,” Guru shouted. “Try the hurlers, but only with stones that weigh the same as each other.”

Six older men struggled to pull what looked to Vivian like catapults into position midway between the ali’i and the tall fence. They had skids instead of wheels and long, palm trunk throwing arms ending in woven-frond baskets. Taut ropes made of vines twisted around each of the crank axles. Older boys ran to a rock pile near the throne. Each strained and lifted one of the large stones. Duckwalking, they brought the missiles to the war machines.

“Fire the calibration shot,” Guru commanded. “Use your knife to notch how far you turn the handle.”

The throwing arm of the center-most catapult was cranked back to horizontal, and the stone placed into the basket. Guru nodded to fire, and the pockmarked rock of scoria rock sailed skyward in a low arch.

“An overshoot,” the spotter cried. “Hurry, they are getting close.”

“Half as much crank,” Guru said. “Fire another.”

Vivian’s eyes widened. She sucked in her breath. As a child she had read of the great battles of the past, but this was real. This was now. She was experiencing it.

In sequence, more stones hurled into the air, with each one requiring an adjustment of the tension. Finally, the spotter shouted, “A hit! The lead canoe has burst in twain. And the three others following are abreast of each other. On my mark, they will be the same distance away as the one that is broken.”

While the three catapults were reloaded, the attackers reversed direction and began to retreat. Those who had been on the boat that was hit submerged, but when they resurfaced for air, the attack upon them continued.

The next volley hit two of the swimmers, one on the head and another in the middle of his back. Both stopped moving and began to sink. Those remaining in the water swam desperately to reach another of the boats, but the remaining rowers were reversing oars to vacate the lagoon.

After the last canoe had retreated with the swimmers trailing after, the islanders broke out cheering. “Akamai, Akamai,” some of the younger men started to chant. “Never will we be defeated.” The men and women on the catwalk hugged and kissed. The older ones on the sand broke into spontaneous dancing.

Like a strong narcotic, the ecstasy of victory spread through everyone. Vivian felt herself swept up in the feeling of celebration as she watched. With arms wrapped around one another, the villagers converged into one large mass.

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