Read The Space Between for Free Online Page B

than air." He nodded
in satisfaction. That idea had been doing the rounds recently in
Tab Cavern. "Has to be it."
    "What?" Meledrin still had her bow drawn.
Thankfully it was pointing the other way. It was pointed at the
first colorful figure but Keeble didn't think it would have much
effect.
    The ground was moving in a nonstop dance
now. Keeble was having trouble staying on his feet, and he could
hardly even hear himself speak over the hum of giant wings, the
crackle of fire, and the clamor of battle.
    "A gas that's lighter than air — hydrogen
for instance. That could alleviate some of the weight problems.
Though probably not enough, really." He started his calculations
again, working on the presumption that the canisters were filled
with hydrogen and the people inside either breathed the hydrogen —
would that make them lighter than they appeared as well? — or
carried oxygen tanks somewhere in their brightly colored armor.
    He turned and continued to cut while he
thought. He swung his multi-tool with calm urgency, taking out
great chunks of wood with each powerful blow.
    A fire erupted nearby.
    After a flurry of strokes Keeble finally
opened up a hole large enough to crawl through. He turned once more
to look at Meledrin and was just in time to see her loose her first
arrow.
    The long shaft hit one of the strangers on
the base of the neck and bounced away harmlessly. A second shaft
hit the same place a moment later. And a third.
    Keeble liked the idea but didn't think it'd
work. "I don't think you'll weaken the armor like that," he
said.
    All she'd managed to do was
draw the strangers' attention, which Keeble didn't think was such a good idea.
Three of the figures swiveled slowly in their direction. The armor
screeched in protest.
    For a moment Keeble
wondered what to do. Explosions were toppling trees all around
Grovely with casual efficiency. Attacking
from above: what an advantage.
    "Shoot the bat," he shouted to Meledrin. He
was about to say 'shoot the bird' as well, in case she was confused
by the changing names. But, she shifted targets almost instantly,
letting fly with deadly accuracy towards the huge bat's head. She
hit an eye once, twice, eliciting screams from the wounded
creature, then aimed lower, at it's exposed neck. The first shaft
bounced away, but the second bit deeply.
    Keeble grunted. "Huh. Just might work." It
wouldn't work if she weren't given more time. With another grunt
and a shake of his head, he raced towards the nearest of the
armored figures.
    "Stupid bloody dwarf." He dropped his
shoulder and barged through the first of the figures. It fell to
the ground and squirmed like an overturned tortoise.
    Keeble might well have used the same tactics
for the next target, but his shoulder was numbed from the
collision. "That armor is bloody heavy. It explains why they're so
slow," he said, as he swung his axe one-handed. The tool almost
shuddered from his grasp when he made contact with an armored
chest. "But it also makes them hard to hurt." And it affected the
calculations that were running through his mind. The Song was still
dancing around in his skull and he fitted his new sums in with
it.
    "I wonder if there are more armored people
in that middle cylinder." It was impossible to tell.
    For the next swing he reversed the tool in
his hand and attacked a knee with the sledge. There was a loud
crack and a hiss of air, but apparently no other result. Help for
his victim was arriving, though at a slow, plodding rate. Keeble
looked around and noticed that most of the armored figures, all
painted the same colors, were pointing bulbous arms in his
direction.
    "Weapons." He darted to the side. He gasped.
The hair on his arm stood on end as an almost-visible beam of power
passed close by. "Whistler's Mother. That felt like
electricity."
    More of the bats were nearing the clearing,
presumably coming to drop off their passengers.
    "Get into the tree, Meledrin," Keeble
shouted. The woman had run out of arrows