traps already without triggering them. That’s probably better for my purposes—
There’s suddenly a tiny squeak and an exclamation of surprise. It’s followed by a bone-rattling, furious scream as one dragon steps on the wrong plank, it treacherously swivels under him, and sends him falling down in the dark depths. The scream stops abruptly when he hits the first beam. He hits many more on the way down.
I’m impressed. It was Dolly who suggested that particular trap.
Oh, Dolly. Even now, the thought of her is like a dagger in my heart.
Cruel Ancestors, why did I have to be a fake slayer?
The other dragons stand still for a little while, realizing that of course the treasure has some security measures in place. That should reassure them about the value of the things here.
Still they keep coming. They fill the entire upper level, numbering in the hundreds. Hundreds of dark, menacing creatures dead-set on collecting a hoard.
When they see the necklace, and then realize that is all the gold there is, the fight should be spectacular. I will be safe here in the tiny hut, keeping ready to start the final part of my plan if any one of them were to survive.
Still they come down, slower now, wary about the traps we placed, testing every plank and every beam before they trust it with their weight.
I think they’re all inside now. I can’t make them out clearly. They’re shadowy creatures, radiating danger and menace even in their weakened form. The fight, when it breaks out, will be unspeakably fierce.
I look around the little hut. It’s mostly made to keep me out of sight. If there will be hundreds of desperate dragons fighting to the death in the Factory, the thin timber walls won’t keep me safe. I didn’t actually expect there to be this many of them.
For the first time in years, I feel nervous about a fight. This could get uglier than I’d ever want.
But it’s done now. I can’t stop it.
I will allow them to descend to the midpoint, when they’re halfway down. Then I will carefully pull the fur covering away and they will see the gold necklace at the very bottom.
And then, the Ancestors will decide—
“Brank’ox!”
I freeze. That bright voice…
“Brank’oooox! Are you down there?”
The dragons have frozen in place, just like me.
A small figure is climbing down from the door level, a roundish human in a fur coat that’s far too long.
For a moment, my mind is completely empty. Then it fills with a stark, numbing horror.
Dolly is here.
In the middle of the dragons. Hundreds of them. In the dark, she can’t see them.
But they can see her.
And she’s alone.
36
- Dolly -
The door is open, and I march right in.
It shouldn’t have been open. If Brank’ox is here, he’s asleep at this hour and should have made sure that it’s both closed and securely locked. Has he become sloppy? Or is it that he’s not here anymore?
A nasty little barb hits my heart. I was looking forward to seeing him again. Really looking forward to it. If he’s not here, then I don’t know what I’ll do. Weep my eyes out again, probably.
But I’ll make sure. In this cold, he’ll sleep in the hut a ways down there.
I make my way over to the primitive stairs the guys made for me. In the dark I have to be careful. I’ve climbed up and down here dozens of times, but there could be slippery ice now, with the freezing weather.
“Brank’ox!” I call, just so he knows I’m coming. “Are you down there?”
There’s no reply.
The Factory is different than I remember it. Of course, I’ve rarely seen it in the dark, but still it’s a little weird. Menacing, almost. As if…
My skin creeps. I stop and slowly turn around to look behind me.
Right into a scaly chest.
Over it, a beautiful face. With yellow eyes staring deep into me from three feet away.
That’s a dragon.
A scream forces its way out of my throat, sheer primal fear taking hold of me.
Now there’s movement all around. Big, dark shadows fill the Factory, silently moving, slithering around on the alien construction.
Hundreds of them.
All coming for me.
Clawed hands reach out towards me, and I retreat, falling on my butt.
I fumble with my backpack, but my fingers won’t obey, and I drop the whole pack. It falls many levels down before it lands deep down there.
“Stay away from me,” I warn the dragons, but I’m close to panic and it doesn’t sound convincing.