Read Online The Protectors by Ryan King - Free Book Online

Finally, I go and sit down near Grandpa and Mother, leaning back against the side of his wheelchair and burrowing under the edge of the blanket in his lap.
    I dream I'm in the goat field and it's a beautiful day. The goats and dogs are all around me and I'm the only human in sight. Worriedly I search the perimeter for the Protectors or other girls, but I am alone and it's gettin g dark. A familiar sound makes me squint through the dim light. A faint growl. Soon all the dogs take up the warning. I look for the threat, but see none and notice the dogs have surrounded me and the goats. They are growling at us. A dog leaps on a baby goat and tears its throat out and I yell for him stop. The goats are in a panic now bleating and screaming in fear and pain as the dogs attack from all directions. Suddenly it is quiet and all the goats are dead. I am surrounded by a ring of hungry dogs with glowing eyes. Turning, I look for a way out as they stalk forward. I scream as the dogs leap and bear me to the ground.
    Someone i s shaking my shoulder. Awaking with a start I realize the music is much louder. There is also activity in the shop. Small groups of women are leaving together carrying their makeshift weapons.
    "It's time," says Mother her hand resting on my shoulder. Her hand moves from my shoulder to my cheek and she smiles so tenderly at me. Then she is gone.
    "Where's Mother going?" I ask.
    "The women have selected your mother to be in charge of the east section of the perimeter," Grandpa explains. "That's right behind the Shrieker House and the route they might try to escape."
    "Where's my sector?"
    "You'll stay with me."
    "But I want to fight too," I protest and search around for a weapon.
    "Oh, we'll fight, but you're going to help me first."
    "Help with what?"
    Instead of answering he pulls the blanket off his lap. I notice he is wearing the thick leather caps over his stumps that he uses whenever the wheelchair is impractical. I also see a strange contraption in his lap. He picks up a heavy round circular metal object that is somehow familiar.
    "An al ternator, only smaller," he says. "You'll remember I said it creates electricity and that's what we need to set it off."
    I didn't have to ask what was going to be set off. A chill runs down my back, but I take the proffered object from his hands. Two wires run from the alternator to the back of a small plastic device with an antenna sticking up that fits in Grandpa's hand.
    "When I say, you stick that under one arm and turn the hand crank on the end like your life depends on it."
    We stare out at the Shrieker House silently for long pregnant minutes. "I guess that's long enough," Grandpa sighs. "Start cranking, Teal."
    It i s awkward and difficult. The crank doesn't want to turn and I almost drop the alternator, but once it gets going it is easier to crank. Soon I can feel the wheel inside the metal casing spinning with a hiss.
    Grandpa ho lds up the device in his hand and closes his eyes. I can see his lips moving. He opens them again. "No one likes a coward," he says and presses the side of the plastic device. A light brightens the face of it and a small bell noise sounds. Grandpa lets go of the device and lays it in his lap.
    For nearly a seco nd nothing happened. Then we see the inside of the Shrieker House grow brighter before the front windows blow outwards spewing fire and glass. A deep roar soon follows along with a rumble in the ground.
    "That's it," says Grandpa. "No turning back now." He pulls thick leather gloves on his hands and hops down out of the wheelchair. He moves over to a corner of the shop and hands me a heavy cudgel.
    "What about you?"
    Grandpa shakes his head. "I need my hands free. Besides, once I get a hold of 'em, I won't need anything else. Come on, follow me."
    As we exit the front of the bridal shop, I hear screams from inside the Shrieker House. Smoke and flames billow up from the top of the house and incredibly the loud music is still playing on