‘It’s happened to a lot of strong men before her, and she being such a young lady. It’s terribly sad, I don’t blame her. We should be blaming ourselves for not spotting the danger signs earlier.’
‘My mother reckons Holly must have been “exposed” to it when that nasty lying Duma kidnapped her.’
‘I thought that myself. That dirty, cheating Duma’s got so much to answer for.’
‘You’re right there, Naz.’
They walked on in silence, each lost in their seething contempt for Duma, the bringer of all their problems. Crossing the flat expanse of dust and sand of the plateau, they followed the signs Carter had left for them. They reached the lower slopes as darkness fell, the fire from the Guards’ camp was visible from leagues away, guiding them to the pass. They climbed quickly, without need for caution, only for speed. Naz stopped to catch his breath for a moment, trying to gauge the distance in the darkness.
‘Not far, Vin,’ he called over his shoulder.
The night was suddenly split by a flash of intense light above the ridge. The cracking sounds racing across the clear thin air, then echoed back into the distance.
‘Whoa, look at that, Naz!’ he said, pointing to the ridgeline.
Naz turned back in time to see the fading glow on the ridge above the Guards’ camp, dim again to darkness.
‘Don’t let that be what I think it is,’ said Naz.
‘It’s gotta be someone going through a Gateway, and that someone would only be Holly.’
‘That’s what I’m afraid of. It looks like our troubles have started all over again, Vin.’
‘Only this time it’s much worse. Them crazy apes are already in the Alps, and Holly’s heading straight for them. If those apes get their hands on the Crystal, we can say goodbye to the swimming pool… and the pie shop… and the…’
‘We can say goodbye to life as we know it, Vin. They’ll burn and kill everything they can find on this side of the border.’
A look of dread passed between them and they both broke into a run for the camp. Approaching the start of the pass, the night was lit again by another flash of light.
‘That must be someone going after her,’ Naz called. ‘Hurry, we have to get through the same tunnel before they close that Gateway.’
They both started to sprint for the Guards’ camp.
‘STOP… WAIT… DON’T CLOSE IT!’ Naz yelled through the night.
By the time he reached the camp, he was gasping for air and having difficulty speaking.
They found the Guards taking a defensive line around the Gateway, in case anything unexpected came back through.
‘Guards! It’s me, Naz, and Vin’s with me. Who just went through?’
‘It was Carter. He said Holly has taken the Crystal, is that right?’
‘I’m afraid so. Listen, The Boss has mobilised all the Guards. They’re going to be stationed all along the border. There’ll be a lot of reinforcements coming here to support you.’
‘How did she take it?’
‘We don’t have time to discuss it now, the others will fill you in when they get here.’
‘You should know, Carter said he thought he’d been attacked. He said he was close to catching Holly when some kind of lightning bolt went off inside his mind and then a thunderclap. He said it felt like his head had exploded. That’s how he described it. We made him some tea with the moss he carried and he seemed to get a lot better.’
‘We are going after him, get a message back to The Boss.’
‘Hadn’t you better wait for support?’
‘No time to wait, we’ve got to help Carter. Who knows what he’s heading into?’
‘We’ll come with you, we can…’
‘No, you need to secure this border, make sure nothing breaks through here.’
‘Okay, we’ll close it as soon as you’re through.’
Naz and Vin nodded their goodbyes and covering their eyes against the initial flash, then stepped across the border once more. The light quickly died when the guards on the other side lifted the black stone away, collapsing the Gateway.
‘Back again, Vin, let’s change,’ said Naz. They quickly shifted into their Snow Bear forms, the burst of strength and enormous increase in size giving them a surge of confidence in the darkness. Their white heavy fur easily blended into the snow-covered surroundings. They hoisted their sacks of supplies onto their backs and Vin picked up his staff that he’d made for himself. They saw it was already getting close to a new dawn. The eastern sky lightened to highlight the silhouettes of the high mountain peaks to the east.
‘Only one way they’d go in this terrain,’ said Vin.
‘Yep, south it is. Come on, Vin, I’ll lead.’
Scrambling down the snow field, they quickly found the tracks where Carter had descended and then another set of tracks coming in from the right, showing where Carter had picked up Holly’s trail. Ominously, a little further down the snow field, all tracks were mixed after what looked like an army had ridden over them. Naz studied the impressions in the snow, trying to make sense of the jumbled mess.
‘Looks like apes came through from the east but missed Holly’s trail on the first pass. You see they carried on for a while over there,’ he said, pointing to the west. ‘Then they doubled back further down the slope, where they did pick up her trail, down there. We may see them on the mountain face once the sun’s up,’ said Naz.
‘Pity they hadn’t missed them and just kept going.’
‘They are definitely searching, which means they must know someone is here.’
‘Maybe they saw the flash of light in the dark?’
‘Hmmm… maybe,’ said Naz.
‘At least they make following them easy.’
‘Come on, Vin, let’s go find Holly and Carter.’
They stepped up their pace following the trail and stepped up their vigilance, knowing the apes were not that far ahead.
7
Chapter Seven
The Chase
HOLLY THREW CAUTION to the wind. Her only thought was to get to the Southern border as quickly as possible. She ran all night, watching the sun rise slowly behind the mountain tops to the far east. Stopping for a moment, she was fascinated by the shadow of the mountain peaks racing across the valley floor far below. The outline between night and day rushed eastwards, leaving the lands bathed in a warm orange glow, soon to be replaced by a stark whiteness once the sun cleared the mountain range.
She ran south again, all her senses on alert for the smallest difference in scent around her. By the middle of the morning, she had come low enough to step out of the snow field for the first time. She felt her confidence rise, knowing her trail would no longer be so easy to follow, and her fur would blend much better into the greyness of the rock face.
Believing that anyone following her through the snow would think she’d take the quickest route south, she decided to turn west, keeping to the upper slopes. She continued her easy run, alert for any sign of danger. When the sun was high overhead, Holly slowed to a steady walk, deciding to seek shade and rest through the hottest part of the day. She came upon an overhanging ledge. Jumping down, the cool air and cold stone brought welcome relief. Following the ledge, she could hear the sounds of running water where the snow melt dropped off the upper ledge into a small depression, creating a crystal-clear pool of ice cold water. Holly drank greedily, satisfying her thirst from one of the last pools before the full force of winter came to freeze the land under a blanket of solid ice. She saw that the pool seeped over the edge and ran down the mountainside.
Holly rested with her back against the cool ledge wall, recovering her strength. In her drowsiness, as her eyes were becoming heavy and falling, she was shocked awake by a noise in the far distance. Immediately alert, keeping low to the ground, she moved cautiously forward. Nearing the edge where the water ran over the lip of the ledge, her eyes followed the line of the stream down the rock face. She could make out terraces of once
cultivated land, now abandoned. Holly realised the town must be nestled in the lower slopes, just out of sight.
A shudder ran through her at memories of being taken there by the Mountain Lions. Remembering Duma, locking her in the room with the enormous table, locked up day after day. And every time he came to speak to her, he’d torment her by showing her the box with the beautiful Crystal and promising it would be hers, but then always taking it away from her. Slowly driving her mad with anger, until she spent all her days waiting for him to arrive with the box again. Always promising but never giving. But it was hers now, and Duma would never take it back. She was too strong for even him to try to take it.
She heard another noise, a cry in the far distance, just caught on the wind as it swirled around her. She dropped to the ground, scanning the slopes but unable to see any movement. It sounded like someone was crying out for help. Her mind was spinning in confusion.
Should I go down to see? Maybe someone needs my help?
But Carter said that the townspeople had all run away, crossing to the Southlands when the apes had arrived.
Maybe someone had been forgotten, left behind in the rush to leave?
Maybe I should go and see, maybe I could help?
She debated with herself, the thoughts and arguments going around and around in ever diminishing circles. Unable to walk away from the cries for help but also nervous to delay her escape.
I can’t go into the town with my Crystal. Someone may take it from me.
Maybe I should go around and just carry on south?
The uncertainty about what to do made her very nervous and confused.
The Crystal is the most important thing, I must get it home, she thought.
At that moment, the wind brought another cry to her, seemingly louder this time.
Someone really is in trouble down there.
The fear of losing the Crystal made her freeze with indecision. She lay close to the edge, looking down, but could see no signs of life or of what was happening.
I can’t run away from someone who needs help, but it’s too dangerous for me now.
I’ll wait until it’s dark, then creep down and see what’s happening. I’m good at seeing in the dark, she told herself.
Holly scanned the mountainsides around her. Everything looked quiet. Checking the sun over her shoulder, she realised the valley would soon be thrown into shadow. She settled down to watch and wait for the coming sunset. The wind direction changed, blowing away any further cries of distress. Everything now seemed quiet below her.
Maybe I should move on?
No, that would be wrong, especially if someone was trapped, like I’d been. But it’s so dangerous.
The arguments carried on in her mind, the uncertainty of what really was the best thing to do.
I’ll just wait for a little while, until the sun goes down, but I’d best hide my Crystal, in case anyone finds me when I’m resting.
Looking in the pool, she saw a large flat stone at the bottom. Perfect, she thought. She placed the Crystal under the stone, out of sight, then placed another stone in the sack around her neck.
Better mark it for later, she told herself. She pushed three stones together to form a triangle, and then placed another on top to form a pyramid. I won’t miss that, she thought with satisfaction.
Holly settled down to rest, waiting for the sun to pass behind the western alps. She couldn’t stop herself drifting off into an exhausted, nightmare-filled sleep, of people calling her, chasing her, and again burying her under snow. Unable to move and once more locked in her cell under the ice, she tried screaming, but no one could hear her.
*
She awoke with a start, her eyes shooting open, wide with fear. She could see nothing she recognised. Unable for a moment to remember where she was, she felt the panic rising, her mind groggy from the sun-induced sleep.
The Crystal, where’s my Crystal? she panicked.
Was that me shouting? Did anyone hear me? Did it come from someone else?
Her mind, badly dehydrated, was unable to concentrate nor make sense of her surroundings. Taking deep breaths to calm herself, the memories came slowly flooding back.
The pool, I hid it! she remembered, a sense of relief washing over her.
She saw ice already forming on the top of the water. Breaking through the thin surface sheet, she lapped at the freezing cold mountain stream beneath, numbing her brain again, but at least slackening her raging thirst. Reaching into the water and under the stone, she felt the warmth of the Crystal in her paw and felt a wave of relief and happiness surge through her.
Then she heard it, another scream but much louder and much more intense. This was a scream of pain, a cry for help, and a plea for release all in the one piercing sound rushing towards her. Holly turned her head to find the source.
At that moment, she made up her mind. Unable to stop herself, but at the same time fighting to overcome her own fear, she crept slowly down the slope of loose rock. She followed the last of the running stream toward the deserted town that stood alone on the edge of the plateau, without light, empty without hope, except for one lone voice crying out into the darkness.
With the coming night came the returning cold, with a vengeance. It won’t take long, and then I just have to follow the stream back, she thought.
*
Carter had no trouble following Holly’s trail. The overpowering smell of rotting ape meant he could have followed it with his eyes closed. The snow trail was churned up from where the apes had charged down the mountain after her. Carter was by now very afraid for Holly. He remembered the time Kerri had been pursued by a single ape, which had very nearly got the better of him. If Kerri hadn’t come back to save him, he wasn’t sure he would have walked away from the encounter. The only response to a gang of crazed apes would be to run, and run fast.
The snow line soon approached, where he saw the ape’s trail descending the mountain, heading south. But after a few moments, Carter noticed something odd. The intense smell of ape no longer had Holly’s scent mixed in with it.
He stopped running and slowly doubled back the way he came. Just after the end of the snow line he found it. Veering off to the right, there was Holly’s trail going west. The apes had missed it in their mad charge to catch her.
Good girl! he thought. He had a surge of hope, I’m going to get to her first. He followed her west, but also slowly downward, towards a widening ledge where Holly’s scent was scattered around the rock face in many directions. What was she doing? She stopped! he realised.
He found the scent of her on rocks that had been swept aside, where the ground had been smoothed flat with her paw. This is where she lay down and rested.
The trail led to the pool of water where she drank, and the stones she’d moved into a pyramid. Why move stones into a mound? She’s marking it! He could see nothing of any value, except the pool of water for drinking. He looked around in confusion. Taking a wide circle around the area, he picked up Holly’s scent again, this time heading down the rock face. Then he recognised where he was. Down below were the terraces that sat above the town. This is where the cats brought him after kidnapping him from his family. The town was now silent and in total darkness. Holly’s trail led directly towards it.
Why go there, Holly? he thought, it’s far too dangerous.
He remembered the screams of torment coming from the town when he’d passed with Naz and Vin. He had the feeling there was something very evil lurking there.
Why would Holly want to come back here? Maybe she’d left something when she was imprisoned? The questions kept going around in his mind.
Carter took a deep breath, resigning himself to the task ahead. He had no choice, he would have to follow Holly’s trail. He kept low crossing over the edge so as not to be seen if anyone was watching below. Slowly and cautiously, conscious of making no noise and wary of every sound, Carter descended the rock face towards the town. All his senses were on full alert. Getting
closer, he could hear the sounds of roof timbers creaking. Windows and doors left open when the houses were abandoned, now slammed shut or banged open when they were caught in the icy wind. His fur tingled with anticipation and terror.
Something hit him like a blow to the face. He caught the nauseous smell of apes on the wind. They were very near. His nose was filled with their stench. His throat constricted, he felt close to vomiting. Carter crouched down into a doorway, trying to hide himself in the darkest shadows of the pitch-black night, wanting to disappear from here. He felt very afraid and very alone.
*
Holly crept silently through the town. The wind catching a door made her physically jump. All her senses were on edge, trying to pick up the faintest smell that she recognised. It all seemed such a long time ago since she was last here. From the furthest reaches of her mind, she could still see herself, innocent of the greed and corruption in the world. She remembered her imprisonment in Duma’s house, with only Carter beside her to protect her. She vividly remembered the smell of Duma’s stinking breath, decayed and rotting, but still whispering sweet promises to her of gifts and magic and returning home to her Mom. Memories of the terrible days of sitting there alone came rushing back, of crying for her lost life with her family and friends. Lost times of chasing Kerri along the riverbank, of dancing with the boys in the meeting place, twirls and spins, watching the hems of her dress and petticoats rise higher like a spinning top as she spun faster and faster. It was only last summer, but it seemed like a different lifetime in her memory.
Holly stopped, the faintest smell of something she recognised touched her. Duma! It’s him.
The unmistakable foul smell of Duma was here. The one responsible for her life being destroyed. The one who’d dragged her away from her own world and turned her into someone who now only cared for holding onto an object that would give her neither food nor drink nor happiness, and that she knew would one day likely lead to her death.
Holly crept deeper into the deserted town, following the foul smell until she reached the central square. She recognised the Town Hall, where she’d been brought when she first arrived. A macabre fascination urged her on, just to see again the place of her corruption, the place where it had all begun.
Lost Lands Page 13
