(no subject)

[seymoure]

18.

Once they were in the air the Colonel began to inform them of the plan.

“Did you cover the Pellians during your classes yet?” He asked Maria.

"Pelicans? Why would they talk about pelicans?" Mickey wondered.

“Haven’t had time or occasion,” Was the reply.

The Colonel sighed, and then was caught off guard by the plane’s sudden banking maneuver.

“Since before recorded history there have been rumors that ‘there are giants in the Earth.’ The truth of that differs slightly. Those who live in the honeycomb of caverns under the surface of the planet are not giants, but have fostered those rumors as a first line of defense. Their magicians were the models for the fairies, pixies & leprechauns and such,” The leader of the Inheritors said.

He went on to tell of a race whose range of height varied from less than 1” to 3’ and physical appearance ranged from beautiful and delicate to gnarled and bestial.

“They are the Trolls and the fairy folk of myth. They are the Gnomes and pixies from legends,” Maria added.

The land of Pell has been spoken of in literature as the center of the Earth. Those of Pell were surface dwellers until the rise of Cro Magnon humans drove them back into the caves and below.

For centuries the Pellians often visited the surface to gather medicines and herbs that wouldn’t grow out of the sunlight. Their contact with this world was limited to these sorties.

Most of their history their only real enemies were the original occupants of this underground domain, the rarely seen Lava Lords. No human is known to have ever survived an encounter
with the creatures who may be silicon rather than carbon based. The Pellians were only able to drive the Lords back down to the nether regions by the use of their magicks.

Dragons, is seems come from the realm of the Lava Lords, but the Pellians were the first to domesticate them.

“In the year 1986 the Pellians drew up a peace treaty with the U.S. Government with whom they had been at odds with for years over underground atomic tests. The dragons Rugglestump
and Burnendarg were exchanged to seal that pact.

“General Thomas Cole and Brigadier General Orthanis Stonedragon (My father) were instrumental in the implementing of the terms and actuality of this peace. The Pellians have looked upon those individuals as noble and trustworthy allies on the surface,” Colonel Stonedragon said, “That is why they have fielded an army to meet us at the site of the coming battle. Retired General Cole will also be there to be our liaison,
although most Pellians a fluent in English and several other languages.”

As the plane began to shimmy in the air, the pilot’s voice came over the speaker in their section, “This vibration is normal in V.T.O.L. aircraft. We are shifting from regular flight to the Vertical Take Off and Landing mode. We should be on the ground in a couple of minutes.”

Mickey looked out the window and saw a crowd below. There looked to be about thirty individuals below.

“Not much of an army,” He thought to himself.

Jeremy leaned over to his friend and said in low tones, “They want me to change my superhero name.”

“What to?” Mickey asked.

“Alchemy Kid,” The redhead said, “Because I can change what things are.”

“Pretty cool name,” Mickey said with a bob of his head.

“Better than ‘The Spitter?’”

Mickey laughed, “Yeah, I think it really is.”

Jeremy looked back, just a bit disappointed.

“Beside,” Mickey added, “You don’t just spit anymore!”

Jeremy smiled, and blushed just a bit.

At that moment, the jet landed.

Everyone began to unbuckle their safety belts, stand and disembark.

The Captain passed them on the way out of the cockpit and went to open the door.

Everyone turned when they heard the pilot yell, “What the heck?”

Suddenly the cabin was filled with buzzing yellow figures darting everywhere, around their heads. The things moved so fast they couldn’t be made out.

Were they under attack already?

© 2005 by C. Wayne Owens