Free A Silence Heard by Nicola McDonagh Page A

cams.”
    “I do not know how.” Eadgard leant closer to him. The male sank to his knees.
    “Do me no further harm. I cannot do as you ask, I cannot.”
    “Do so quickly. We cannot be observed.”
    “I cannot. I do not know how!”
    With a shove from his boot, Eadgard kicked the guard forward, and the trembling Agro scum sprawled out, blubbing like a newbie. He raised his foot over the male’s head, but before he could make contact with his skull, Kendra approached holding out a black rectangle. “Wait. I still have the communications console from the ‘Play Area’.”
    Eadgard placed his foot on the ground and the guard curled up like a womb bub. Kendra lifted the com, tip-tapped it and the red dots of light on the cams went out.
    “There, all fixed.”
    “Why did you not use this device before?”
    “Because, my dear, I wanted to show this Agro slime that we are not to be taken lightly.” She walked over to Alfred and glared at him so hard that he looked away as if burned by the sun. “I wanted him, and all those that are spying on us right now, to see the strength we have.”
    Marcellus pinned Alfred’s arms behind his back and he let out a yelp. Eadgard pulled the prostrate guard from the floor and pushed him towards Wirt, who pointed a gun at the Agro’s head. The puny male began to weep and Eadgard walked away, a look of loathing on his face. He stood by one of the cubicles, turned his head and looked into the window. His eyes narrowed and he peered closer.
    I thought him daft since all I could see was gloom.
    “Hey! Hey! Over here. I think I see something,” he said and beckoned us to join him. Kendra and I sped to his side, whilst Wirt and Marcellus pushed and prodded the Agro males before them. Eadgard had his nose squished against the glass causing a mist to form from his heavy breathing. He wiped the moisture away and near stuck his eyeballs to the glass so intensely did he stare through it. We all except for Alfred, and the Agros, crept nearer and looked into the darkened room behind.
    We all jumped back.
    Out from the unlitness, a face appeared.
    Then another, and another, and another.
    As light filled the cubicles we saw more and more young ‘uns and bubs alike, staring back at us.
    Their hands pressed upon the panes.
    Their eyes wide, their mouths open.

Chapter Eight
    Kiddles

    “Meeks,” Kendra said. “We have found them.”
    She pulled her gaze away from their woeful faces and wiped her eyes and cheeks with shaking fingers. “Wirt, Marcellus, Adara, take a goodly look and see if your kin are amongst these sad countenances.”
    The thought that I was separated from my bro-bro by a thin pane of glass filled me with such thrill that I almost fainted.
    “Ah, Adara, my dear, you have become quite pale. Do not falter now. Go, go to the windows search for that which you came for.”
    I did not move.
    “Come, let me help.” Kendra took my hand and led me close to the window. I glanced over my shoulder and smiled a weak smile at my two friends. They too had the look of pallid and both took in a mighty lungful of air. Wirt let go his hostage and so too did Marcellus. Alfred and the Agro scum tried to flee, but Eadgard grabbed them by the shoulder and dragged them to their knees. They let out an “Oomph” as he pushed both their heads down.
    “Keep looking at the floor and do not move unless I tell you. Failure to comply with my wishes will result in your deaths. Nod if you understand.”
    They did most vigorously. Eadgard stood between them and slapped a hand against each of their bare necks. “Go, search for your kin. I will keep a check on the filth beneath me.”
    “Will do forthwith,” Wirt said and handed Eadgard the gun he’d used to keep the Agro guards in line. He wiped his face. “I am most overcome with quiver. Ye too?”
    Marcellus straightened his back and twisted his neck to one side until it cracked. “We do not quiver, but we too moved by thought of seeing lost now