The Fire and The Storm - The Nexus of Kellaran #2 novel Chapter 25

Part 5

Over the next week; the twins finished their education on general knowledge, then began reviewing it again from the beginning. They announced that they could detect Alilia’s unborn baby’s mind psionicly, though no others could yet, and independently confirmed Yzell’s judgment that it would be a girl. And, throwing darts became their favorite pastime.

They’d started out playing the game conventionally according to Finitran rules; throwing from a standstill, from behind a line at the standard distance from the standard dartboard, throwing five darts each per turn, and counting points to 100. On the first day, most of their darts failed to reach the board, though they played with the lightest darts available.

Their first modification was to run up to the line and throw while running, with a motion like throwing a light javelin. Then they replaced the board with a target of their own design; a wide plank with a crude picture of a humanoid on it. They only counted points if they hit it in the throat, groin, or eyes, and by the fourth day they were doing so consistently. Then they drew a face on a dried pumpkin, tied it on a rope, and set it to swinging before they threw at it. By the end of the week they had designed an obstacle course through the small trees at the edge of the little valley behind the house, with faces painted on the trees for targets, and they ran through the trees while throwing 15 darts each of various sizes at 30 targets. Then they stopped competing with each other, and ran the course together, practicing providing covering fire for each other. They played in silence, without a word or a laugh or a yell until they were finished. To those watching, the activity seemed very little like playing a game, and very much like dedicated military training.

At dinner on Eighthday of the following week, Mark voiced some concerns. “Listen kids, over the last few days there’s been a change in you. You seem a little grim much of the time, and you don’t smile as much. Would you care to tell us what’s bothering you?”

The twins exchanged a glance and a burst of thought before Reggie answered. “We realized a while ago that everything in life has to do with the demons that are coming here. We’re here so you and the other adults would have the time to have more children before they get here. No one needs to work much to get their necessities here, and all the real work that gets done is all getting ready for the demons. Researching spells to fight the demons, building defenses to fight the demons, everyone training together to fight the demons.

“And I realized that I used to have a memory about the demons, but I forgot it. I just remembered that I used to have it. It took me a while to remember where I got it, then I got it again. And of course Helemia knows everything I know.”

He went back to eating like the matter was settled.

“So you’ve been upset because of this memory of the demons?” Mark pressed.

“Upset isn’t really the right word.” Helemia told him. “It’s just that now we know what we’re truly facing. I think most people here don’t really understand what it’ll be like.”

Like her brother, she went back to eating, and seemed to assume the subject was dealt with.

“Maybe you’d better give me the memory.” Mark told them.

“I’m sure you don’t want it.” Reggie replied. “It’s not very nice. I wish I hadn’t remembered about it.”

Mark considered them both for a moment, then firmly instructed; “Son, give me the memory.”

Reggie looked at him, and shrugged.

Mark slapped his hands onto his forehead and screamed, which sounded strange in his exceptionally deep voice.

“Love!” Talia called in worried surprise as she sprang from her chair to go to him.