The Last Warrior of Ertansha

The Last Warrior of Ertansha

by

Richard S. Wiggins, Jr.

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY:

TreasureLine Publishing on Smashwords

The Last Warrior of Ertansha

Copyright © 2010 by Richard S. Wiggins, Jr.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

* * * * *

This book is dedicated to my sister-in-law, Linda Boulanger.  She has kept the writing spark burning in me even as I have attempted to snuff it out over the years.  More importantly, she is a rock of faith my family has clung to during many crises we have faced.  She has mentored and nurtured my faith, guiding me to a power and happiness I didn't know was possible.  She is now doing the same with my writing.  I am very excited.

I would like to thank my loving wife, Bobbi.  Without her, this book would never have been and would still be just an old manuscript sitting in my file cabinet.  I love you more than life itself.

* * * * *

THE Last Warrior of ertansha

* * * * *

Chapter 1

Music, a driving disco tune, met Ben even before he stepped through the door to the discotheque. Before entering, he knew exactly what he would see. Carol and Ed would have center stage. No other couple could move as fluidly as they, and this was their favorite song. Frank and Linda would probably be sitting this one out. Frank always felt self conscious around Ed. Of course, that was easy enough to do. At 6’, Ed packed his 210 pounds like a Greek god. His coal black hair accentuated his sky blue eyes, and everyone always commented on his rugged chin. Frank by comparison wasn’t much physically. He had typically brown hair and blue eyes. The pudge trying to fall over his belt made him appear shorter than 5’10".

In the business world, however, Frank was a lion. Financially, he would go far. For that reason, his sex pistol wife, Linda, had latched onto him. Thinking of Linda, Ben had to smile. She had an absolutely stunning body covering her 5’3" frame, and her twinkling blue eyes and blond hair always suggested the wildest imaginings.

Ben entered the disco and stopped at the door to let his eyes adjust to the lighting, survey the crowd, and to let the beat of the music flow through his body. As his eyes scanned the crowd, his hips started keeping time with the bass. Just as the music stopped, he spotted the table where his friends were.

John, Liza, Greg, and Sue were here, too. That meant the entire gang was here tonight. As Ben eased through the crowd, a slow song started. As one, the people at his destination rose and made their way to the dance floor. Ben reached the table and sank into a chair facing the dance floor.

If ever there was a nondescript couple, it was John and Liza. Each was average height, with average brown hair, brown eyes, and dispositions. To each other, however, they were special, unique, magnificent, and for that Ben admired them more than any of his other friends.

Greg and Sue were a picture of contrast. Greg, at 5’8", looked like a small Ed, whom Greg idolized, with red hair and green eyes. Sue was a thin gangly woman and stood three inches taller than Greg. They were, however, in amorous love.

Ben’s eyes slowed their lackadaisical scan across the dance floor and rested on Carol as they always did. At 5’9" she had a slim athletic body with absolutely beautiful legs ending at a firm, rounded bottom. Her breasts seemed to defy gravity.

As she and Ed glided across the floor, Carol saw Ben and gave him the cold smile she reserved only for him. Ben’s warm innocent smile greeted hers, and as always it made her furious.

How dare he act the innocent all the time, Carol thought angrily. He was the only man who could really get under her skin. He never seemed to take anything seriously, not even her hate. He had no ambition or drive except when it came to competing in sports. He had graduated from high school at the top of the class and from college on the Dean’s List, but now he contented himself with working as a manual laborer at a refinery. He made a decent living, but it was a nowhere job. The worst thing was his happiness. He enjoyed all the free time he had. She hated him for not working hard to get ahead, but she hated him most for his independence and pride. He never needed anyone. You could tell just by the way he carried his chin just a little too high or the way he scoffed away belittling remarks not wishing to stoop to someone else’s level.

Carol knew that lean man who stood one inch taller the Ed wasn’t better than anyone else; she would tell herself that over and over. Then when she would almost be convinced, Ben would trounce Ed at tennis, beat him at chess, or cut Ed to pieces verbally when he tried to make Ben the brunt of some joke. Of course, Ben didn’t pick on Ed. He would take on all comers. He didn’t always win, but his record was very impressive. He always lost with grace, too.

Suddenly Carol realized the song had ended, and everyone had started for their seats except she and Ed who continued to dance.

Why are we still dancing? she whispered.

You didn’t seem to want to stop, Ed laughed as he let go of her and guided her to their seats. When they reached the table he saw Ben for the first time. His smile widened wickedly.

How’s it going… he began as the band started a hard rock tune.

Back in a minute, Ben smiled and left Ed with his mouth open.

Ed sat down, the dim light hiding the red creeping up the back of his neck. His eyes narrowed as he watched Ben ask Christy, a local girl, to dance.

Rude bastard, Carol said angrily. Her derogatory comment snapped Ed out of his spell and he turned to the table smiling. Everyone was looking past him to the dance floor where Ben was rock-n-rolling with Christy. Ben did a forward double spin, then a back double spin, then did a combination of hip and body movements followed by a slow drop and sudden jump that sent him high in the air where he did a double back spin. The music changed tempo and he settled into a hip swinging step in time with the bass.

God, he can sure dance provocatively, Linda said.

Yeah, Frank agreed, He can sure swing those hips.

The dance ended and Ben returned to the table after seating Christy.

We’ll return in fifteen minutes, the lead singer announced as Ben sat down.

Greg tells me you guys are going on a weekend hiking trip, Ben said to Ed.

That’s right, Ed said. We’ll be leaving in the morning. We’re going to hike up to the cabin and do some easy mountain climbing.

Sounds like it ought to be a blast.

Ed grinned widely. Now he’d spring his little trap and watch Ben squirm.

Say, why don’t you come along. Of course, it will be all couples except you, unless you find a date, but… He let the sentence end.

I’d love to go, chimed Ben. Pioneers always had a scout, and you wouldn’t go on a long trip without a spare tire. After all, one of the others might go flat. He let his gaze drift slowly by Carol and winked at Liza. She giggled and grasped John’s leg a little tighter.

John laughed and said, He’s right, but this is one tire we won’t have to worry about. Everyone laughed except for Ed who could only force a weak smile. Ben had outwitted him again.

Ben stood up and put on his jacket.

You’ll have to excuse me, but I had better pack a few things. I’d sure hate to see the spare go flat when it’s needed most. As he walked away, he heard each man tease the other. When he got outside, he paused to stare at the star-sprinkled sky. As always, the sight robbed him of his breath, and he felt a great emptiness, like he wasn’t really where he belonged.

Inside, Carol whispered to Ed, Why did you invite Ben?

Hell, I didn’t think he’d go. I was just trying to rile him, Ed glared at her.

What the hell are you worried about? You know he won’t bother you. He’ll probably avoid you like the plague, Ed seethed.

I know, Carol replied. The inflection in her voice didn’t escape Ed, and he stared at her quizzically. The band started up again, and the couples exchanged partners for the dance.

* * * * *

Chapter 2

Ben tested the edge of his survival knife, smiled with satisfaction, and slipped it into his boot sheath. If there was one thing he detested, it was a dull knife. Suddenly a horn honked. Ben checked his baggy army pants once more; pocket knife, two feet of cord, butane lighter and flint match, toilet paper, small first aid kit, and belted on his small hunting knife and stone. He hefted his pack over one shoulder and left his small house, locking the door behind him. If anyone needed in, he or she would certainly know where the hidden key was. Hell, even Carol used it once, he smiled inwardly. He dogtrotted to the van already packed with gear and people and squeezed his belongings and body in.

Thank God it would only be an hour in this sardine can, Ben thought. Suddenly the sardine next to him squirmed her fanny enticingly against his, and he turned to see Linda’s wistful eyes upon him. Well, well, maybe the hour wouldn’t be too boring. She had been trying to get into his pants for quite some time, but he wasn’t letting her because he liked Frank too much. Besides, he didn’t want her to compare him to Ed whom she had been bedding not infrequently lately. That was why Carol had used his oft offered key at last. He grinned as he sneaked a pinch on Linda’s firm butt. Yes, Carol had come over to make Ed jealous, but the wine and soft music… She had left wondering. Since then, she had been not only ice towards Ben, but dry ice. The grin spread. Ol’ Ed was one tire he sure wouldn’t mind replacing.

The drive finally ended with both Ben and Linda quite warm. Everyone climbed into their packs and the group started for the cabin, a small A-frame at the end of a six mile hike up a steep trail of switchbacks.

I’ll have a fire going for you kind folks when you get to the cabin, Ben said in his best mountain man accent. Without waiting for a reply, he started up the trail ahead of the others at a brisk walk.

That damn mule will keep that pace up till he reaches the cabin, Frank said with grudging admiration.

I doubt that, Carol laughed. He’ll just stay far enough ahead to stay out of sight.

Suddenly Frank became serious.

You’re wrong about that, Carol. I’ve hunted with him before. He doesn’t know what the word tired is. He walked me to a frazzle once, then took my loaded pack, strapped it to his and kept up such a grueling pace that I really feared that I’d die of a heart attack. He only stopped because he saw that I couldn’t keep up with him. During our rest breaks, he would strip off the packs and take off some where and return fifteen minutes later, strap on both packs again and off we’d go until I gave out again. Frank paused and looked up the trail. That is a man born out of time and place. He is always on the go, striving, searching, and never finding. He’s got a business mind that shames mine, but he doesn’t use it because it doesn’t interest him. Ours is a business age, though, and deep down he knows it and regrets it. He doesn’t mind helping out a friend now and again, though. Frank stopped there and blushed sheepishly knowing he had said too much already. Everyone stared at him intently.

Finally Ed said, Let’s get started. If there was one thing he didn’t need it was a sermon on what a grand guy Ben was. If he had to list his friends Ben would certainly be one and if he had to name his enemies, well, he would probably put Ben there too. No, he couldn’t put Ben there, but he knew that Ben was his fiercest competitor. Well, no, that wasn’t exactly true. He was Ben’s fiercest competitor since in everything except sheer strength Ben always won. Suddenly a quieting thought came to Ed, what if he wasn’t even a competitor to Ben. What if he was only a pawn used by Ben to further his own prowess. What if…and he stared at Carol intently.

Carol felt Ed’s stare and looked at him questioningly. He seemed to be trying to penetrate to her very essence. Did he suspect… No, he couldn’t. Ben would never tell a soul, and she certainly never did. Not after that night. She wouldn’t admit to anyone, not even herself, what she had felt that night. It had seemed that all of her girlhood dreams had reached fulfillment. She tried to return her beau’s gaze, but she couldn’t, and her eyes fell to her feet as she started up the trail. The tension generated by the two crept silently through the group and the hike began in an electric silence. Nearly a mile ahead, Ben strode along whistling to himself. He loved striding out with the weight of a pack on his shoulders. It always made him feel free. He answered to no one and no one answered to him. He listened to a couple of squirrels chattering in a pine ahead of him. Birds sang around him seeming to pick up the tune of the ditty he whistled, or was he whistling to their song? It didn’t matter, everything seemed happy and in place.

Suddenly his ancient dread came over him. Would he never find where he truly belonged? Here he found that he could almost feel at home, but not completely, especially since…Ben looked back. He picked up his pace. He would get to the cabin well ahead of the others so he could bustle around and get things ready for them. The work should drive any moody thoughts from his mind.

Something flitted at the corner of his eye. Ben turned and saw a squirrel scampering down a pine. It saw him at the same instant and stopped. Ben dug his pack of cashews out of his pants and threw a nut in the squirrel’s direction. It thanked him with a scathing chatter then continued down the tree. Ben laughed.

"So much for being a Good Samaritan in the