Infinity Ring 05 - Cave of Wonders (14 page)

They proceeded slowly, eyes on the vegetation. There had been tigers in here. Lions. As they reached the far side of the menagerie, they heard a blowing sound ahead of them. Something shook the bushes. Riq and Abi stopped in the path, and both held perfectly still as a black bear lumbered into view.

It looked at them, lifting its nose into the air, nostrils flaring. Then its ears went back flat against its head, and the blowing sound it made got louder. Its teeth clacked together as it swung its head low, back and forth.

“What do we do?” Riq whispered without taking his eyes off it.

“I don’t know,” Abi said. “It is blocking our exit.”

Riq let his gaze leave the bear a moment to look for another way out. He noticed a second-story balcony running the length of one of the menagerie’s walls. If they could somehow get up there, they could escape. Riq looked closer, and noticed a tree growing up against the wall that appeared to come within reach of the balcony.

“Abi,” he whispered. “What if we climb that tree?”

Abi’s eyes widened. “I have never in my life climbed a tree.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” Riq said. “I think I remember somewhere that you’re not supposed to turn your back on a bear.”

“Rather like the caliph,” Abi said, managing a smile.

“Right. So let’s back away from the caliph’s bear toward that tree.”

“Lead the way,” Abi said.

Riq slid one foot backward, then the other, inching away from the bear. Abi followed. The bear watched them without moving, still blowing and clacking. As the distance grew between the animal and them, Riq took larger and larger steps, gaining confidence. But that feeling was short-lived as the bear decided to lope toward them a few paces.

“Stay calm,” Abi said. “It is not charging us.”

“Don’t make eye contact.” That was something else Riq remembered from somewhere. Probably a nature show he’d watched with his grandma. “They perceive it as a challenge.”

“Also like the caliph,” Abi said, but without the smile.

A few steps later, Riq reached the tree. He didn’t know what kind it was, but it had branches low enough to reach, and that was all that mattered.

“Abi,” he said. “You go up first.”

“No,” he said. “You go. I may need you to pull me up.”

Riq hesitated, but decided that if this was Abi’s first time climbing a tree, it would be easier to pull him than push him. He reached up to the nearest branch, still facing the bear as fully as he could. The bark felt smooth in his hands.

“Here I go.” In one smooth motion, Riq turned, kicked against the trunk, and pulled himself up onto the branch. He swung one of his legs over it and sat upright, feet dangling to either side. Then he lifted his knees, one at a time, and got his feet under him. He braced himself against the trunk. “Okay, Abi. I can help you now.”

Abi darted a look up at him. Then the Hystorian stretched his hands toward the branch, only barely managing to reach it. Through the leaves, Riq watched the bear getting closer, ears still back, head still swinging.

“Use the trunk like I did,” Riq said.

Abi adjusted his grip on the branch, and then kicked at the trunk, but his shoes just scraped it, and he ended up doing a little bicycle pedal in the air, hanging from the branch. The bear circled around the tree, watching him.

“Try again,” Riq said. “Kick higher.”

Abi made another leap, and this time it worked. He managed to get his chest up onto the branch, his elbows hanging over it, the rest of him dangling. His face was red, his cheeks puffing with his heavy breathing.

Riq bent down and grabbed his robes. “Don’t let go. Try to lift your leg up so I can grab it.”

Abi grunted and swung his leg. Riq bent down and snatched for it, but couldn’t reach it.

“Higher,” he said. The bear came closer. “Higher, Abi.”

The Hystorian let out a low rumble that turned to a growl, then a roar as he closed his eyes and heaved his leg up. Riq managed to snag Abi’s pants, and after that it was easy enough to pull his leg up over the branch and help him stand up.

They both looked down at the bear. It circled around the base of the tree, sniffing, and then it stood up on its hind legs, front claws raking the trunk.

“Oh,” Riq said with a sinking feeling. “That’s right. Bears climb trees.”

R
IQ PERCHED
on the branch, which was now bouncing and creaking under his and Abi’s combined weight. The black bear below them had dug its claws into the bark of the tree, and had started climbing after them.

“You are right,” Abi said. “They
do
climb trees.”

“Let’s go!” Riq reached for the next branch and climbed higher.

It was easier now, because they could use the other branches like steps on a ladder. Abi was able to keep up on his own, but he was already out of breath. The bear, on the other hand, did not seem to be slowing down at all.

Riq made it to the branch closest to the balcony’s wooden railing. He reached out with one of his hands while holding on to the tree with the other, and grabbed it. Then he pushed off of the tree and pulled himself across the space between them, his toes landing right on the ledge. After that, it was easy to climb over the railing. He just didn’t know if it would be easy for Abi.

He turned back to the Hystorian and reached out his hand. “Hurry! The bear is —”

“Thank you.” Abi’s knuckles were white as he inched along the branch toward Riq. “But I am trying very hard not to think about what the bear is doing or wants to do.”

“Right,” Riq said. “Sorry.” But the bear was getting really close. And those claws looked long and mean.

“All right,” Abi said. “I think I am ready.”

“I’m here.” Riq reached out farther.

Abi stretched and grasped Riq’s hand like they were about to arm wrestle. It was a bit sweaty, and Riq hoped he could hold on.

“On your count,” Riq said.

The bear was only one branch below Abi now.

Abi nodded and exhaled. “All right. On three. One. Two. THREE!”

Abi jumped toward the balcony. Riq yanked on his arm, and the Hystorian crossed the gap, landing on the ledge. But a second later, his toes slipped.

“Abi!” Riq still held on to him, and it felt like something tore in his shoulder as the Hystorian’s weight almost pulled him over the railing. Riq cried out as searing pain shot up and down his arm. But he refused to let go. He would not let go.

“Come on.” Riq spoke through gritted teeth. “You gotta help me here.”

The Hystorian dangled as the bear reached the tree branch where they had just been. It beat the branch with its paw, sending little chips of wood flying. Could it make the jump?

Riq’s grip began to fail. “Abi, come on, man.”

“I . . . am trying,” the Hystorian said. “I just . . . need to . . . grab the railing.”

Riq braced himself for the pain, propped one foot against the railing, and pushed backward, lifting Abi a little bit higher. The pain in his shoulder got so bad he worried he might black out.

“There!” Abi got his other hand on to the railing. With Riq still pulling, he heaved himself over the railing, bent at the waist. From there, he simply tumbled onto the balcony, and Riq went down with him. He fell onto his back, and lay there for a moment. The pain had eased up in his shoulder a bit, but it flared again as soon as he tried to move it.

“The bear does not seem inclined to make the jump,” Abi said.

Riq looked up, grimacing. The Hystorian was right. The bear had stayed where it was, just watching them. They’d escaped. He dropped his head back down.

“You are injured,” Abi said.

“My shoulder,” Riq said.

“May I?” Abi knelt down beside him and gently felt Riq’s entire side, his arm, and then his shoulder.

Riq winced.

“It is dislocated,” Abi said. “But I can put it back.”

“Do it,” Riq said.

“It will hurt,” Abi said. “But then it will feel better.”

Riq lifted up his good arm and bit down hard on the sleeve of his coat. He closed his eyes, and he nodded.

Abi took Riq’s arm in a very firm grip, and then knelt on Riq’s shoulder. The pain burst white-hot, blinding. Riq felt like his whole side was twisting up in a spasm, then he felt a popping. And then the pain was gone. Abi released him.

“There,” he said.

“Th —” Riq’s voice came out a croak. “Thank you.”

“No,” Abi said. “Thank you. You didn’t let me go.”

Riq sat up, blinking, testing his shoulder. It was still incredibly tender, but he no longer felt the same stabbing pain. He staggered to his feet.

“Right,” he said. “Now, let’s go find the vizier.”

Abi led them from room to room, each time scouting a bit ahead for any sign of the palace guards. So far, they hadn’t seen anyone else. The place seemed deserted.

“I don’t get it,” Riq said. “Where is everybody?”

“I don’t know,” Abi said. “But the vizier will be with the caliph. The SQ is too close to victory to let him out of their sight now. They won’t risk anything going wrong.”

“So where is the caliph?” Riq asked.

Abi smiled, as if a realization had dawned on him. “Like the bear, he will go where he feels safe. Follow me.”

The Hystorian moved forward without any hesitation, and Riq fell in step with him. They took a few turns, and ended up in a familiar place, just a room away from the garden where they had met the caliph the first time.

“Are you serious?” Riq said. “He’s here? When the Mongols are about to take the city?”

Abi nodded. “He’ll have everyone in there with him. His family. His guards. But like the bear, he feels threatened and may charge.”

“So how do we get to the vizier?”

Abi’s wide smile returned. “We get the vizier to come to us. Just follow my lead.”

He lifted his head high and strode ahead. Riq did the same, and they entered the garden.

It looked just as it had days earlier, except more armed guards blocked their way. Lots more. They formed a wall around the caliph’s tent in the middle of the garden. As Riq stood there, a frightened-looking servant dashed up and spritzed him with that same rose water from before. Riq couldn’t believe it. This whole thing seemed insane.

“What is the meaning of —” The vizier trundled toward them from inside the ring of guards, but stopped short when he saw them. “How did — ?”

“The SQ is not the only organization with spies and allies,” Abi said. “Our forces are here, too. Some, even in this very garden.”

The vizier’s mouth opened, and he glanced over both shoulders.

“I just wanted to give you fair warning,” Abi said. “We’re coming for you.”

Abi turned around and walked away. Riq watched the vizier’s reaction turn from fear to anger. The SQ agent actually began to tremble.

“Come!” Abi called to Riq, and Riq followed after the Hystorian. “Walk calmly,” Abi whispered. “But be ready to run. In a moment, the vizier will recover from the surprise.”

A moment later, they heard the vizier shout behind them, “SEIZE THOSE TWO!”

“Now we run,” Abi said.

They sprinted forward, racing through the palace. Riq got completely disoriented, but Abi seemed to know exactly where he was going, so Riq just stuck closely to him. A backward glance revealed four guards and the vizier charging after them.

“Do you have a plan?” Riq asked, panting hard.

“I am making one,” Abi said. “For now, keep running.”

Riq decided he better start thinking about a plan of his own. There was no way they could handle four guards and the vizier, just the two of them.

They rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. It was a dead end. Abi frowned at the wall as if it were simply a fact he disagreed with. “This should not be here.”

“It’s here,” Riq said. “Let’s go.” They ran back, retracing their footsteps, and entered into a long, narrow room, coming face-to-face with the vizier and his guards.

“If you have so many behind you” — the vizier wheezed as he spoke — “then why do you run?” He turned to the guards. “Take them.”

But just then, something growled behind the guards, low and menacing. They all turned to look at the same time, and between them, Riq saw a tiger. It was huge. Twice as big as the bear had been. Its whole face lifted in a snarl, exposing its fangs, and it held its body low to the ground, stalking forward, ready to pounce.