Eight out of Twenty
Ruhaks, there were exactly twenty of them, went on patrol to far glaciers. After what Dammar managed to do today, he strengthened the patrols, he was afraid that the Fremen would retaliate immediately – either with a diversion or even with a full-scale assault. And his fear was not misplaced – they were hiding in shadows before, but now the Fremen knew whom to find and how to do it. And now, in the middle of a small pit, back-to-back, only eight of them were going round, eight out of twenty survivors...
They were breathing heavily, they slowly retreated, bristling with their trademark cleavers. They had been pressed so suddenly that they even didn’t have enough time to get their equipment, and now the cleavers, which were more like a part of their uniform than a true weapon, were the only things they had.
- So what? Do you see them?
- Quiet... they are here, I think I’ve seen a shadow...
- You think? – sneer could be easily seen here, - I’ve counted four.
- Hoku, you psycho, you like it?
- Another two-three of us die and they’ll go openly, that’s gonna be interesting...
- Shut up, all of you, two are flanking us from the canyon, we must break through. Counting to three! Ready? One...
They’ve heard falling rocks.
- It’s too late to count!
- 5 o’clock!
- I see.
- Rish, Zarook – you cover Hoku and me, all the rest scatter, there’s only four of them, we take those near the canyon. Go, go...
And all the eight scattered around, leaving a dusty trail.
It began.
Blue eyes went out of the darkness, there was indeed four of the Fremen, but after a mere second there was only seven Harkonnen left. One of the Fremen, with a good slide, slit the throat of the fallen ruhak, from chest to chin, but the jags of his crysknife caught the helmet of the slain soldier. The Fremen twitched his hand again, but it was too late, something burned his back, his throat filled with blood, and the tip of the cleaver burst through his ribs and chest. Now there were three... against six... an agonizing cry went from the other side of the pit, along with the clanking of heavy armor...
- Ivor!
- Yes!
A slim ruhak of athletic build, who was running close to the canyon, suddenly stopped, tucked up his legs and caught the Fremen’s hand, and pulled him.
The trick was successful, and the attacker lost his balance for a second, even though he managed to punch the Harkonnen, the time was already lost... He could see how Hoku was rushing from Ivor’s back with his cleaver above his head, and then... blood, darkness, he fell down.
- Another one!!! - cried Rish, standing close to the couple with the dead one, and then jumped into the darkness, Zaruk followed him, and one could only hear some rustling and blunt hits for a short while.
- Stand up, you hear me? Go, I’ll catch up. – quickly said Hoku, pulling Ivor’s sleeve.
- What!? You’re talking to me?
Hoku was not listening, for blue eyes were quickly moving towards him...
- That’s gonna be interesting.
Attack – block, another one – dodge, counterattack, the Fremen left himself undefended, attack – hit, his breath is messed, one step forward, the crysknife clumsily scratched the armor, the cleaver whistled through the air... But something suddenly knocked the Fremen down and he fell with a slashed clavicle.
- Don’t tell me what to do. Never!
- I’ve almost got him...
- Silence! Someone...
A hit followed, so strong that Hoku fainted for a moment, he fell to the ground and touched his jaw – it was broken.
- F-fuсk! *
Something was ringing in his head, he slowly turned and saw Ivor who struggled for his life, hardly avoiding the lightning-fast attacks. Ivor could only retreat.
Hoku tried to rise up but his legs failed him.
Suddenly the Fremen rushed away, and in time, a torrent of bullets ran through the sand right where he was standing. Some voices came through the canyon, several soldiers in Harkonnen uniform ran out, someone turned on the spotlight. The light fell on the Fremen.
- Stillgar? – Ivor didn’t hide his surprise.
The Fremen stood quietly, his breath was calm, he stood for another second, looking at Hoku, then at Ivor, and then vanished without a trace in the shadows out of the spotlight’s reach.
