Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens (10 page)

“She was, but she ran off to play while I talked to Noah. I haven’t seen her since.”

Rayna snorted. For a moment I thought she was going to suggest leaving without finding Lizzie, but then she shook her head and paced off. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s go ask Noah.”

Noah hadn’t seen her either and a frantic search started. We combed all the compartments and woke a lot of annoyed kids but there was no sign of the kid we were wanting.

“We can’t wait any longer, Jesse,” Rayna said at least. “We’ve got to go.”

“We’ll keep looking while you’re away,” Noah assured me. “You’ll see her tomorrow.”

I nodded to him. “Thanks,” I said, then I followed Rayna as she set off. But with every step my heart grew heavier.

We’d lost Lizzie.

Rayna and I walked at the head of the army with Cody, Percy grumbling behind us. I don’t think he liked us. Then again, I don’t think he liked anyone.

I could see why Rayna had picked Cody to lead the army. Everything was thought out in meticulous detail. The main bunch walked along the road together, not quite in step but at least ordered. About twenty others were constantly darting away from the main body and down side streets, scouting ahead and behind and to the sides to see if there were any chickens about. The one time that there was one nearby we got about ten minutes’ notice and managed to hide in the abandoned Sainsbury’s, where Cody instructed everyone to take a bit of a break and rest. Then, once it was well gone, we started walking again. And we gained more people every so often as groups that Noah had placed in what he called ‘outposts’ came trickling in to join him. I was very happy that he was on our side. I would have hated to be against him.

As we passed near Union Street I looked up, a bit worried that the Brotherhood of the Egg would notice us and tell the chickens. I was hoping that once the chickens were defeated they’d see the error of their ways, but they were still a threat in the meantime. It was pretty hard to hide over one hundred kids walking down a dual carriageway. It seemed that we were lucky, though, as I couldn’t see a single flash of white. Thinking about them just made me think of Lizzie and
I started worrying again.

Eventually, by a pretty roundabout route, we arrived at the Aberdeen Market, going in the side entrance on Market Street. It was a big place and mostly underground, which made it perfectly suited to our needs. Shops sprawled in several directions, usually places that looked slightly shady or tacky. Or both. The only place there that was of any interest was one of those odd shops that seem to try and sell everything. It had a few useful tools that the Train Station Gang had lifted, but apart from that we’d left it well alone.

Something occurred to me, though. Something that Glen had said about these being real chickens that we faced. If that was true then there might be something in there that I could use against them. But it was only a hunch.

I went into the weird shop and found what I was looking for. I quickly pocketed it and came out again just as Noah’s group arrived.

Cody’s army had already taken up most of the upstairs of the market, his people sprawled everywhere. At a glance I could see that they’d taken up some pretty good defensive positions as well, places where they could watch the door and have a good angle of attack if needed. Noah was the first through the door and from the look on his face he could see what Cody had done as well. I thought for a second that he was going to turn back and take everyone with him, but he squared his shoulders and walked calmly into the building. I was impressed. Cody’s army outnumbered our guys by about ten to three.

Cody had obviously been watching as well because he appeared a moment later, walking towards the doors. “You must be Noah,” he said, holding out his
hand. Noah glanced at it then shook it abruptly. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Noah replied, then turned and made sure that there was no one left outside. The Train Station Gang hung around for a moment. They bunched together in a group and looked warily at Cody’s army. I saw Sam clench his hands into fists. Noah returned and locked gazes with Cody. Tension hung thick in the air. It wouldn’t take much for it to snap and calamity to strike.

Rayna saw it too. With a smile she hurried towards them. “Noah, there you are. Did you get here all right?”

He nodded, then turned away from Cody. I saw everyone relax a bit and I let out a breath I hadn’t even known I was holding. “Yeah, it wasn’t too much trouble. We came as quickly as we could. So when are we doing this?”

“Yes, I’d like to know that as well, Ambassador. Or are we just going to hang out all day?” Cody drawled.

Rayna gave Cody a look. If glares were lasers she could have taken on the chickens by herself with that stare.

“We’re waiting for other groups to join us then we’re moving out at night. Until then yes, we’re just ‘hanging out.’ So find somewhere to sit and just relax.”

Cody’s army settled back into their seats and the Train Station Gang, at a nod from Noah, spread out as well. Soon they’d settled down and a murmur of conversation filled the building. But it wasn’t quite as relaxed as Rayna had hoped. The two groups kept to themselves and eyed each other suspiciously.

Throughout the course of the day more groups trickled in, usually between five and fifteen people. I was surprised that there were that many groups still around in Aberdeen. The fact that Rayna had been able
to reach them all and convince them to join her was more surprising still. These smaller bands would sometimes mingle with one or other of the groups already there, but this did little to lighten the atmosphere.

“Worried?” I asked Rayna at one point. She looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Well they don’t seem to be getting along that well.”

She sniffed haughtily and stalked away. “They don’t have to like each other, they just have to do this,” she called over her shoulder.

Eventually night began to fall. I watched as the light behind the glass doors to the outside slowly grew grey and then dwindled to black. Finally, Rayna began to call people together. Everyone crowded around where they could and I was uncomfortably aware that they had separated into three groups. Those who were with Cody seemed to be on the left while those with Noah took the right. The rest hung around uncomfortably in the middle.

“You all know what we’re here to do,” Rayna shouted out over the hubbub, quieting the crowd. “Here’s the plan. We’ll leave here tonight and make our way towards where the chickens’ signal tower is. Before it gets light we’ll hide in houses near them. Then some of us will sneak round the back with sledgehammers and other tools. The rest of you will attack from the front. The front group are to cause as much chaos as possible, attracting the attention of the chickens. While they’re distracted, the second group will destroy their power source, rendering them defenceless.

“This could be the end of the control that the chickens have over us, the fear they make us live in.
Finally we will be able to walk the streets out in the open. You know the plan. We can do this!”

There was a faint ragged cheer but it died after a second.

“Can I just say that I really hate this plan?” Cody said loudly.

Rayna crossed her arms and stared him down. “Noted. But what else are we supposed to do?”

Cody got up from the chair that he’d been sitting in. Instantly all of his followers did as well, gathering behind him. Noah frowned and then he and the Train Station Gang went to stand behind the Ambassador. Some of the other groups followed him but most kept to the side, watching the development warily. Cody was smiling widely, as if this was all going the way he wanted.

“I’m not saying that taking the chickens down isn’t important, I’m just saying that the plan is dumb. We should take time to think about this.”

“You’ve had three days to think of something better.” Rayna advanced on him, her eyes blazing. “This is all we can do. There’s nothing else. So this is what we do. Tonight. We take the chickens down.”

“Stop, misbelievers!”

The voice rang out from behind me and I turned to see Egbert standing there, the Brotherhood of the Egg clustered around him. They must have got in from the Union Street entrance, which wouldn’t have been guarded. Cody must have believed no other kids would risk being on Union Street. He’d been wrong.

Egbert paced forward, a huge grin on his face, his cult streaming along in his wake. Against our dirty clothes their robes seemed to shine even whiter, despite the ugly mess of feathers. “We are the Brotherhood
of the Egg. A little bird told us that you were plotting against our lawful masters and we have come here to stop you.”

My stomach froze into a solid block of ice and I quickly scanned the group. There, hiding near the back, was Lizzie. She was still dressed in the clothes we’d given her and she was looking uncertain.

Both Cody and Noah turned away, the tension rising between them in the face of this new threat. “What’s this?” Noah asked me.

I stepped forward. “Let me handle this,” I told them. They glanced at each other again then nodded in unison.

“Noble Brotherhood,” I called, stepping forward and spreading my arms. “What is the matter?”

“You seek to act against our masters in fowl play, Stranger. We cannot allow that.”

“What are they talking about? Who are they?” I heard Noah mutter to Rayna.

“They’re a group that worship the chickens and seem to communicate in puns. Jesse can get along with them pretty well.”

I heard the sound of him burying his face in his hands. “Of course he can.”

I ignored him and focused on trying to convince the Brotherhood.

“But why? If they are as mighty as you say, what does it matter if we ruffle their feathers?”

Egbert took another step towards me, trying to stand on tiptoe so that he could look me in my eye. I crossed my arms and smirked, glad to finally have the height advantage.

“It’s an insult. It will not stand. You said you were on the side of the birds. Were you lying?”

“I said that the chickens were the masters because they were the mightiest around. If we can defeat them or even threaten them then why should I worship them?”

The Brotherhood were so surprised at that line of reasoning that they almost forgot to flap and say ‘The chickens are our masters!’ I pressed on before Egbert could think of a comeback.

“A true master shelters his people and would never do them harm. Could the same really be said for our chicken masters?”

“They do look after us and give us corn. More so than others, who have abandoned us. Like the adults.” Egbert practically spat the last part and I felt suddenly sorry for them. On some level we were all missing our parents and during the first few months no one had coped well with their sudden disappearance. I could almost see the way that Egbert and his followers had turned to the chickens for support. Almost. But that didn’t make what they were doing right.

“We all miss our parents. But are the birds any better?”

Egbert stamped his foot and faced me squarely. “Yes.”

“Don’t you see?” Noah yelled at him. “The chickens don’t care for you. They’ll betray you.”

The group looked at him blankly. I thought about it for a moment then translated.

“He says that they’ll peck you in the back.”

The Brotherhood were looking at each other and muttering. Egbert could see it and tried to get them back on his side.

“Don’t be fooled, followers. The chickens are there for us. They will take us under their wing.”

I knew I was getting through to them because only
about half of them did the stupid mutter and flap thing. The rest just looked at him blankly.

“Why should we listen to you?” I demanded, abruptly switching tack. “You don’t even know what to call them.”

“What?”

“They aren’t chickens. They’re either hens or roosters. If you don’t even know what they’re properly called then why should we believe anything that you have to say?” Everyone looked confused when I said that.

Time to finish up.

“Look, how about this?” I stepped forward, past Egbert, towards the crowd, holding my hands wide. “I want to believe in the chickens as well. Think of this as a test of faith. If we act against the birds and nothing happens then we’ll know we were wrong and we’ll accept the rightful consequences. If not, if we really do harm them, then there’s no reason to follow them, is there?”

This caused more muttering. I stepped back. I didn’t like having Egbert behind me. I looked at them in satisfaction. I probably wasn’t going to be able to change their minds, but hopefully I’d said enough to make them go away and not interfere.

“It doesn’t matter,” Egbert said. “It is already too late for you.”

Oh man. That really didn’t sound good. “What do you mean?” I asked him.

He grinned at me. “We already contacted our masters before we came here. They are on their way.”

I looked at him blankly for a moment then turned to our assembled army.

“Everyone run!” I screamed. “THE CHICKENS ARE
COMING!”

They ran, pushing past one another in desperation to get to the exit. The first few shimmied their way passed the wedged boards and ran out into the street, scattering in all directions. I don’t know where they were going, but they were fast.

Just not fast enough.

I heard a few screams, abruptly cut off and ending in metallic clacking sounds. Suddenly the flow of people reversed. “They’re outside already!” someone yelled.

Then the Brotherhood of the Egg began to act. Even with the doubts I might have managed to sow in a few of their minds they weren’t going to ignore any orders that they had been given in front of their masters. They all joined hands and started shoving, pushing everyone back towards the doors where the chickens were waiting. They began clucking as they did so, while Egbert stood at their head and crowed.

The Brotherhood were outnumbered but they were working together, almost as if they’d practised. They managed to cut us off and box us in, forcing us back one step at a time. The first few people were shoved out through the doors and I heard a few more sounds of gigantic chickens plucking up their prey.

We would have been doomed if it wasn’t for Egbert’s ego. After a moment he snapped out a command and the Brotherhood stopped. We strained against them but they held fast. Egbert, meanwhile, was making his way through the crowd in the direction of the door. He went outside.

“Oh great masters, see this offering we give to you.” I turned, fighting against the crowd, and jumped up on a nearby table to get a good view of what was happening. I could see Egbert standing there, his robes glowing in
the sunlight. He was standing outside and before him were the two gleaming legs of a giant chicken. “Take these rebels and let us….”