C. T. Suddeth

Lord of the Caves Part 28

As the two guards hurled spears, Oh-see-rah shouted, “You know the drill!”

The two spears bounced off the alligator’s neck as it leapt, landing just in front of a paling stake.

Oh-see-rah and the other warriors lit torches as the womenfolk loaded their spear throwers. The two guards scurried inside.

The alligator gripped the paling stake with its teeth and yanked it out of the ground.

“Get in position,” Oh-see-rah screamed.

Including Oh-see-rah, the warriors formed a semi-circle only a few steps away from the lunging crocodile.

A moment later, the womenfolk stationed themselves behind the warriors.

“Count of three,” yelled Oh-see-rah. “One!”

WHOOOOOAN! The alligator roared as it invaded the cave.

“Two!” yelled Oh-see-rah.

The alligator raced straight at Oh-see-rah. He gazed right into its deadly eyes.

“Three!” yelled Oh-see-rah.

The warriors flung torches at the alligator and knelt on the ground. The torches slammed into the alligator’s head. It thrashed its head back and forth, torches flying in all directions, warriors ducking.

His knees buried in sand, Oh-see-rah pulled his knife out and shouted, “Spears!”

Oh-see-rah waited with bated breath—either his plans and drilling worked, or he would be dead in moments.

Spear after spear flew over Oh-see-rah’s head, all of them hitting its head and chest.

WHOOOOOAN! The alligator slowed but kept charging.

Oh-see-rah gritted his teeth and prepared for death. He whispered, “Dark Lady, I come to thee.”

The womenfolk fled into the cave to guard their offspring as the warriors maintained their line.

WHOOOOOAN! The alligator opened its jaws and headed for Oh-see-rah.

He held his knife before him—it was all he could do. He was close enough to smell its fetid breath.

Lol-non and the Boy stood right behind Oh-see-rah. He wanted to tell them to save themselves, but he didn’t have time.

Two tiny flaming spears soared over Oh-see-rah’s head, each blazing spear landing in one of the alligator’s nostrils.

Smoke pouring from its nostrils, the alligator, slid to a halt.

Oh-see-rah jumped backwards, bumping into Lol-non and the Boy.

The alligator pivoted in the sand.

Fearing its tail, Oh-see-rah swept up Lol-non and the Boy in his arms and jumped backward.

The tail swung around. Folks screamed.

Sand slammed into Oh-see-rah’s face. Lol-non and the Boy had stuck their faces onto his shoulder so they could see. Oh-see-rah could barely see anything, but the alligator had fled. “Guards, make sure the alligator is gone!” he shouted.

Both guards hurried out of the cave as Oh-see-rah stood, Lol-non and the Boy still in his arms. “Anyone hurt?”

No replies. That was a blessing from the Lords and Ladies. The guards soon returned shaking their heads.

Oh-see-rah marched to the Big Flat Stone and stood Lol-non and the Boy on it.

Standing behind them he yelled, “Hail our wee heroes! They saved us from the alligator’s jaws!”

A mighty shout arose, “Hooray Lol-non! Hooray Boy!”

Lol-non and the Boy raised their stubby arms in victory.

TO BE CONTINUED

Copyright 2021 Charles Suddeth