The Enemy Within

Chapter 18

Grisell was assisting her father with his breakfast. He was feeling a bit under the weather again this morning when she heard the fire alarm. She ignored it, thinking there was probably a fire in the kitchen. It would quickly be put out. Fires in the kitchen happened on occasion. She continued feeding her parent his porridge.

'Chief!' One of her guards came running in. 'The ladies quarter is on fire! Come quick!'

Grisell left the bowl on the table and rushed out. She gasped. It was no small fire that could quickly be put out. The fire was raging like an inferno. The entire Dalmahoy property was about to burn to the ground.

'Get my father out!' She shouted to the guard. 'Take him to the medical shelter.'

The fire alarm continued blaring. Grisell was thankful, they had had emergency preparation trainings a few times a year. At least the young and able among the clan were standing in formation, awaiting her instructions. There were over eighty men and women, waiting for her leadership.

Thank heavens they had an abundance of salt water waiting to be desalinated. 'Open up the pipeline,' She called out. She calmly organized her clan. 'The first twenty of you, gather your pales. Wet down the women's quarters,' she spoke with urgency, but calmly. She instructed further. 'Next thirty, wet down our gardens. Soak them up well! The next twenty, water down every building and every structure of ours. I want ten of you to guide all the women and children down to our safety bunker. The remainder of you follow me to save our livestock. On your horses! Hurry!'

Grisell led from the front. She was on the mare, Swale. All the livestock were being led down to the beach. There were whistles and loud cajoling, from the men trying to lead the livestock to safety. The animals were starting to panic and move in different directions. Some rushed back into their wooden structure, fearing the blazing fire that was enveloping them from all directions.

Everybody got to work with military precision, each team had a leader, coordinating their teams with urgency. There were shouts and loud voices barking orders from all directions, trying to manage the fire.

'Chief! One of the men rode up close to her. 'The ladies are saying a woman from DeMartino camp started this fire. Witnesses saw her throwing a fire torch on the wooden beam. Grisell was stunned at the length Sorcha went to, to take revenge. Could she be this hateful and irresponsible to cause this much risk to the lives of humans and their livestock!

'Send two of our generals; have her detained. I want her tied down. I will deal with her when I have this fire under control!' She looked up and saw some of the horses were rushing back to their stable, immune to the fact that it was blazing.

'Come with me,' she shouted to two men, 'let's get those horses down to the beach!'

'Chief!' One of them screamed. 'It's too dangerous. The beam is about to fall!'

Grisell looked at the burning beam, if it fell it would roast her horses alive. 'Let's go quickly,' she rushed forward, patting her horse's neck gently. 'We can do this Swale,' she whispered in her ear. 'I know you are scared, but I won't let you burn. Hurry Swale!'

As if sensing her urgent command, Swale picked up speed, keeping her head down she sprinted into the stable. The two men were right behind Grisell. 'Keep to the left and right. I shall draw them out from the back.'

'Chief, don't go further in,' one of them shouted. The beams are falling fast at the back!' Grisell ducked as a piece of beam fell above her. She extended her hand out protectively. It tapped her shoulder, she quickly ducked and it fell to the floor. Grisell shouted loudly to the horses, pushing them with her horse. They moved forward, sensing safety was outside.
'Move with them,' Grisell shouted across to the men. 'Guide them out.' At the corner of her eye, Grisell spotted a foal, hiding at the back, terrified of the flames and the heat. At the same time Swale observed the foal and started to move to the back. 'Swale no! It's too dangerous! But the horse lifted her two front legs, and neighed with determination. Two beams fell at the entrance. Grisell wondered if she could make it through without getting singed. She jumped off Swale, rushed to the foal and picked her up. 'I got you. I got you,' she whispered calmly. The flames were dangerously hot now. Grisell was drenched to her skin in perspiration. Could she make it out of there! Should she abandon the foal? Should she climb back on Swale? Would the both of them be able to get out through the obstructed entrance, without serious injuries?