Chapter 186: A Terrible Rebel

Chapter 186: A Terrible Rebel

Wait!

The stone slid back out again. Yes?

The news of Requbars impending demise had suddenly made me less keen on my hideaway holiday home. It was fine for a visit, but I wouldnt want to be buried alive here. I wasnt looking for that kind of long term commitment.

Not that I entirely believed his claims, either. Men are always showing off in front of each other, exaggerating to make themselves look cool. The number of women theyve slept with, the amount of money they earn, their intention to destroy an entire city and murder thousands of peoplejust boys being boys.

You seem like you know this city. I was wondering if you could fill me in about how things are in Requabar. Ive only just arrived here myself. Im Colin, by the way. There was a time when introducing myself to someone would have set my teeth on edge and broken me out in a cold sweat. How far had I come that I was now able to hold a perfectly normal conversation with a homicidal maniac.

Only just arrived and already banged up in the highest security cell in the city? He chuckled to himself. Well, well. You must have done something pretty bad to catch their attention so quick.

I didnt do anything. I sounded a little defensive. They think Im somebody Im not. Now I sounded evasive.Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)

Well whoever this other chap is, I hope hes out there making a nuisance of himself. He chuckled some more. For someone about to commit mass murder, he was in a very good mood. The names Schneed. Baker by trade, now a full-time advocator for mens rights Even though we were separated by a wall and all I could see was his mouth and occasionally an eye, I could sense him puffing out his chest with pride. Not that Im saying women dont deserve some rights, too. Just that we should have more than them. Only fair.

I didnt see how that was fair, but I wasnt going to argue with him. I might even vote for him if he went up for election.

So is it all women thatre the problem?

No, some of them are quite nice, said Schneed very gallantly. Its the ones in the palace that cause all the bad feelings. Theyre the ones who have to be stopped. Of course, no woman can be truly trusted, but the Queens the one whos making life miserable for us. Do this, do that, nag, nag, nag. And when its something we want to do, oh no, that can wait. I mean, its only fair we should get to make some of the decisions. Just the little ones. But no, she refuses to listen. Thats why we have to resort to extreme measure. If you push a man into a corner, hes going to come out fighting.

There was a blur of movement in front of the hole and some hard breathing. It was hard to tell, but I think he was doing some shadow boxing.

What did they put you in here for? I asked him. If you dont mind me asking.

No, no, I dont mind. Im what you call a freedom fighter. Or a terrorist, if youre on the other side of it. Not a pleasant thing, hurting people just to make a point, but what can you do? Cant say Id recommend it other than as a last resort, but when you run out of options, its the innocent who have to suffer. Sad but thats just the way it is.

I couldnt really see the logic of what he was saying, but he was so genial in the way he justified murder and mayhem it was hard to take issue with him. He was a surprisingly jolly terrorist.

So thats what youre rebelling against? The women being in charge?

Oh no, not just that. Well, its a big part of it, of course, but it doesnt really matter whos in chargewhoever it is, theyre bound to turn mad from the power. Mistreat the people, embezzle money from the treasury, make a few people they dont like disappear. Who wouldnt if they had the chance? But, you know, spread it around. Mistreat everyone equally, thats all. Dont just pick on one group. That kind of prejudice isnt right, is it, Marv?

I know, but thats the thing about womenthey may have the muscle and the fighting skills, and sure, their threshold for pain is way beyond anything we could withstand, but up here there was a pause which I assumed was for him to tap his head not the smartest. They have no idea how we do it.

Somehow I doubted the jailers would keep putting them in the same cells if there was an easy way out. Even if they didnt know how they were doing it, no one would keep making the same mistake over and over. Not unless they had an ulterior motive.

Are you saying you found a way to leave your cell and make it back into the city without them ever being able to figure out how you did it?

Thats right.

And how do you do it? I didnt expect him to tell me but thought Id ask anyway.

Well, I think I can trust you, even though you dont have much of a beard. Youre still one of us. Heres the thing. We spent so much time in here over the years, we slowly took the place apart. Look.

He began removing stones from the wall one by one. They slipped out like he was taking apart a puzzle, each piece perfectly made to fit with the others. Before long there was a large hole in the wall.

See? Its that simple. And then we put it all back together. You wouldnt even know it was possible. Solid as a rock. He banged the side of the opening with his fist. Nothing moved.

I banged it on my side. It did feel completely stable. Impressive.

He smiled at me. Now that I could see his face clearly he looked even less like a terrorist. He had a large round face, a trim white beard and a heavy walrus moustache. There was nothing very terrifying about him.

Of course, he continued, no point being able to take the walls apart if youve got nowhere to go, which is the other mistake the little darlings made putting us in here. He raised his eyebrows and paused.

Which is? I asked, taking the bait.

Were so deep down, were right close to the rat tunnels. You go through this wall back here and youre into a network of tunnels the like of which, ooh, like a maze it is, couldnt find your way out even if you had a map.

Then wouldnt you just get lost in there?

Oh, we know it well enough to get to our base. Weve got a super secret hiding place theyve been trying to find for years. Never even came close.

He seemed very open about telling me all this. I would have thought if he wanted to keep his rebel base super secret, telling a complete stranger about it probably wasnt such a good idea.

Take down the wall, pop through the other side, put the wall back. Gone. He grinned at me. Its that easy. Aint that right, Marv? He moved aside to address his buddy who was sitting against the far wall.

Which was when I realised something wasnt quite right. Marv, for a start, was very clearly a woman.