"There's more to this than meets the eye," I announced. "Let me try something before we do anything drastic. Zen, don't move!"
Tentatively, I slowly reached out and gently grasped one of the lizard’s front claws. It peered down at my hand and then back at me. I tried to project feelings of calmness and safety and was awarded with thoughts of gratitude, mixed with uncertainty.
Thank you for not killing me. The words distinctively and surprisingly registered themselves in my brain.
‘My god, you're telepathic!’ I mentally exclaimed.
Yes. It’s how we communicate.
‘How is it possible?’ I asked.
By using emotions that you transcribe into words, this remarkable creature claimed.
‘Amazing! So it was you terrifying us earlier? Why?’
You invaded our territory. This is the our only defence.
‘We weren't invading,’ I protested, ‘only investigating the disappearance of three of our number. We had no idea you were even here’.
This is our home, I was told. You were invading.
‘We didn't know. I apologise.’
You attacked me.
‘You attacked us first,’ I countered.
Point taken. What are you going to do now?
‘That's up to you. What do you know about the missing three?’
I didn't see them. I have no idea where they are.
‘Why should I believe you?’ I questioned.
And why should I trust you? The shaggy one looks ready to bite my head off. What is it, by the way?
‘He’s a wolf. Don't make any sudden movements,’ I advised.
As if I could.
My mental conversation was suddenly interrupted by an impatient Thorn. "Stephen, what's going on?" she asked. "All you’re doing is staring at this lizard thing. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I reassured her, dispelling the remnants of my previous dialogue from my mind and releasing my hold on the scaly claw. "This lizard and I were talking, that’s all."
"You were what?" Balis exclaimed, disbelievingly.
"As strange as it may seem," I announced, standing upright, "our friend here is telepathic and quite intelligent."
"You're barmy!" Nix proclaimed, shaking his head. "A talking lizard? Ridiculous!"
"Sorry, but it's true," I insisted. "We had quite a conversation."
"You're serious, aren't you?" Quina confided, staring at me.
"Very," I insisted. "I know it sounds incredible but I swear it's the truth."
"And what does this …… lizard thing know about the three miners?" Balis demanded.
"Nothing," I shrugged. "It says it hasn't seen them."
"And you believe it?" Thorn questioned, sceptically.
"I do," I announced. "You can hide behind words, but it's hard to falsify emotions."
"But it killed those miners!" Balis insisted.
"We don't know they're dead," I argued. "And besides, look at it! Lizards don't have teeth. How is it supposed to kill anyone? Are you telling me you believe that it could kill you?"
"Well, no, I suppose," Balis reluctantly agreed. "For one thing, it's just not big enough. I’d be thoroughly ashamed of myself if I let it kill me."
"What happened then?" Trix enquired.
"We'll have to keep exploring," I shrugged. "Give me a few minutes with our friend here. I want to find out everything I can from him."
"Be careful, beloved," Thorn urged, putting a restraining hand on my arm. "We don't know anything about this …… beast."
"And that's why I have to investigate further," I declared, taking her hand and kissing her fingers. "Put it down to my insatiable curiosity, eh?"
Chapter 8
I knelt down again and reclaimed the lizard’s claw. ‘Now, where were we?’ I asked.
I have no idea. I do not know what you want.
‘First of all, could you tell me what you call yourself? My name is Stephen.’
We are the Rogul. We have no individual names. Why should we? We all know each other.
‘An interesting philosophy," I commented. "I take it that you frightened the other miners when they were here?’
We had to. They were invading.
‘Yes, you’ve said that before, but I'm here to tell you that they weren't invading at all. They were simply increasing their tunnels to dig for metals with no intention of destroying your homes. In fact, if you look at it from another angle, they were actually enlarging your homes.’
I fail to follow your logic.
‘It's simple really,’ I explained. ‘I can't believe you live in solid rock, therefore the digging of longer tunnels gives you further space to build more homes. That's true, isn't it?’
When you look at it that way, I suppose you are right. I have to admit that we do now have more space to build than previously. Can you swear that these diggers are not out to destroy us?
‘I believe I can safely swear to that,’ I assured my conversational partner. ‘After all, up until now, they had no knowledge of your existence, but now that they do, they can be extra careful about where they put their tunnels. Actually, you could do very well together. They need the metals and you need the space. A partnership would be in order and very fruitful for both parties.’
Interesting. I can foresee the benefits of co-operation. Provided I can believe you, of course.
‘You can see into my mind,’ I pointed out. ‘Do you see any deceit there at all?’
No, none. I'm forced to believe you. What do you want to do next?
‘The main purpose of our trip is to find those three missing miners. And, of course, if you'd agree to stop frightening the others, I'm sure we can come to some arrangement about future digging. Perhaps we could offer you food, or something else, in exchange for being in your territory?’
Food would be most welcome. Down here sustenance is somewhat hard to find. In return, perhaps we can point you towards likely metal seams?
‘It would be appreciated, I'm sure,’ I pronounced. ‘Yes, this could work out very well between your two races.’
I have communicated with the rest of my species and they are in agreement. Now, if you please, remove the shaggy one from my body. It is eyeing me in a very unsettling manner.
‘Of course,’ I agreed, ‘but first, do you really have no idea where our three missing companions are?’
No, but, in the spirit of our new found accord, I could act as your guide. There are dangers in this underground world.
‘Thank you for your consideration,’ I said, bowing my head. ‘I accept your offer with gratitude. One last thing, however. I know you have no use for names, but unfortunately we need them to differentiate between ourselves. Do you mind if I give you one?’
An odd request, but proceed. I have no objections. What name will you use?
‘This may be a delicate question and I mean no offence,’ I stammered a little, ‘but it makes a difference to the name. Are you male or female?’ I perceived a small flash of humor before I received my answer.
I lay eggs.
‘Ah, that settles the question then. Perhaps I could call you ‘Liz’? It's short for ‘Elizabeth’.’
And short for ‘lizard’, I have no doubt. I can see into your thoughts, you know.
‘You don't mind?’ Again, I caught a whiff of humor.
Why should I? A name is simply words and I have no need for words. I accept ‘Liz’. Now, please remove that heavy footed wolf of yours. I am finding it difficult to breathe.
‘Apologies,’ I reiterated. ‘His name is Zen.’
He is very agile. I didn't believe that anything could catch me. I admit to reluctant admiration for his abilities.
‘Yes, he is remarkable. I'll let him know,’ I replied, waving a hand at Trix to remove Zen. ‘We have food with us. If you wish, we could share with you to seal our pact.’
That would be most satisfactory.
I sighed with relief and stood up. Liz also gained her feet and sh
ook herself.
"What happened?" Balis demanded. "What did that reptile say?"
"Okay, I'll give you a quick rundown," I began. "I've named her ‘Liz’ and she has agreed to act as a guide to find the missing miners. Furthermore, she's contracted to liaise with her people and the dwarfs. There will be no more mental attacks and, in exchange for food, they will show you the best places to dig for metals. I promised her some food right now to seal the deal, so we might as well have a bite ourselves."
"I can't believe it," Nix exclaimed, staring at me in amazement. "How do you do it? You've just forged a bond with another race. You won't stop until the whole world lives in peace and harmony, will you?"
"I look forward to that day," I grimaced, "but I can't see it happening in my lifetime."
"Well, you're a hero to me," Thorn said, rushing into my arms and kissing me soundly. "Nobody else could have achieved what you just did."
"You flatter me, beloved," I told her, hugging her tightly. "Anyone could have done it."
"Well, not quite anyone," Quina murmured, peering at me intently. "I think it took a very special person."
"Enough of this maudlin soppiness," Nix declared. "Didn't you mention something about food?"
Trix laughed, and we all sat down to share a meal. We offered various titbits to Liz, being unsure about what she preferred to eat, but she wasn't finicky, and she devoured most of what we presented to her. She seemed quite comfortable in our presence, although she still eyed Zen rather warily.
Chapter 9
After we had all finished eating, Liz painstakingly groomed her claws and then, gesturing with her head, invited us to follow her. We did so, although our progress was rather weird. Liz would dash off in a flurry of legs and tail and then become immobile, waiting for us to catch up. She seemed incapable of walking slowly and her speed was astonishing. I marvelled that Zen had been able to pin her down at all. She guided us through several stretches of tunnel and connected turnings until Zen gave a soft growl and sniffed the air. We stopped expectantly, hands on weapons. Liz vanished ahead of us and then returned. She went up to me and held out her foot. I crouched down and took her claw in my hand.
I have found your missing companions.
‘And?’
I’m afraid they appear to be deceased.
‘Are you sure?’
Quite sure.
‘Could you show me?’
This way.
I straightened and waved to my companions. "Liz has found the miners," I told them sadly.
"They're not alive, are they?" Balis said softly.
"No," I agreed, shaking my head.
"Let's go see," he announced. "I'll have to make arrangements to bring them back." Solemnly, we followed Liz who led us to where the three miners were sprawled on the ground.
"What did this?" Thorn murmured, observing the deep slash marks in the bodies.
"Hard to say," Nix grunted, examining the wounds in detail. "I'd say that some sort of a weapon was used. The cuts are too clean to have been made by a claw. That certainly rules out Liz’s people. There's somebody else down here. Someone nasty."
"They weren't killed here," I commented, looking around.
"How do you know that?" Trix asked curiously.
"No blood puddles," I answered, pointing at the ground. "If they'd been killed at this spot, there'd be blood everywhere. No, they were dragged here from somewhere else, probably from where we'd seen those abandon picks and shovels earlier on." I turned to Quina.
"Can your sister shed any light on this, do you think?" I questioned hopefully.
Quina shook her head regretfully. "I can't contact Mirrella as such anymore," she informed me. "I've tried. She left me a message saying that she was moving on to other realms but would leave part of herself behind to keep her informed about what I was doing." Quina shrugged sorrowfully. "Apparently that's what happens in personal spiritual exploration. There's always something new to discover that allows the personality to enrich itself with fresh adventures." She sighed. "I'll miss her. But we'll always be in touch, only not in the same way as before."
"So it's up to us, then," Thorn murmured.
"The Sexy Seven?" Trix grinned.
"I'm afraid so," I agreed. "Just like old times." I bent down and placed a finger on Liz’s back.
‘Have you any idea who did this?’ I asked.
Perhaps. We are not alone in these tunnels. We have occasionally come across Night Things.
‘Night Things?’
They are bipedal life forms as you are, only smaller. Very fierce and aggressive. We avoid them wherever possible. They appear to live deeper in the earth. It is unusual to find them here.
‘So it's possible that these Night Things killed the three?’
Highly likely. They are the only ones with weapons that we have come across apart from yourselves. It is a very disturbing development. Perhaps the tunnelling has aggravated them.
‘What would you suggest is our next move?’
I would counsel that we continue our exploration. We need more information concerning the movements of the Night Things. Their presence in this area is making me uneasy.
I broke off contact with Liz and informed the others of our conversation.
"What do you all think?" I asked. "Liz suggests we keep going. "
"I don't like leaving a job half done," Nix commented. "I suppose we’d better continue for little bit longer anyway, just to see was going on." Thorn and Trix agreed with Nix’s statement and Quina also nodded her assent.
I regarded Balis. "What do you want to do with your compatriots?" I queried, indicating the bodies. "I imagine you’ll want to report this to the King."
"All in good time," he announced. "I think we should first find out was happening with these Night Things."
"Don't you want to see to their burial?" I asked, somewhat taken aback by his seemingly callous attitude.
"I can see you don't quite understand our beliefs on death," he explained, solemnly. "We’re a very religious and fatalistic race underneath all of our pragmatism. It's not surprising after all, living as we do with the possibility of deadly cave-ins every day. It is our conviction that the spirit defines the person, not the outward physical vehicle. Once the spirit has departed, what's left is simply an inoperative organic machine. We regard it with respect, but it’s not the personality we knew, so we treat it accordingly. We’re sad, of course, but we don’t mourn and don’t hold elaborate funerals. Why should we? The person isn’t really dead after all, just absent. We don’t have a cult of the dead as other races do."
"As you said, practical but religious," Quina said softly.
Balis knelt beside each of the bodies and rearranged their limbs as the rest of us stood in respectful silence. "Sleep well, my brothers," Balis murmured, "and happy voyaging to the next Reality. I'll do what I can to prevent further instances of this."
Chapter 10
Having agreed to continue our exploration, we allowed Zen take the lead once more. Liz came next (but at a cautious distance), followed by Balis, Thorn, Nix, Trix and Quina. I was last in line. We were progressing along quite nicely until Zen suddenly stopped, gave a warning bark and bolted forward. I heard a grinding sound overhead and looked up to see splintered cracks appearing in the rocky ceiling. Someone tackled me around the waist and propelled me backwards just as an avalanche of boulders crashed to the floor, exactly where I had just been standing. The noise was horrendous and choking dust filled the air. I coughed to clear my lungs and felt the weight of a body on top of me. After I had blinked my vision clear once again, I discovered Quina sprawled across my person.
"Are you hurt?" she asked anxiously.
"I don’t think so," I replied. "Of course, I'm being crushed, but apart from that I think I'm fine."
"I don't weigh that much," she protested, smiling down at me. I looked over her shoulder to the pile of stone blocking our progress and separating us from the rest of the group.
&
nbsp; "I believe I owe you my life," I commented, looking back at her. "If not for you, I'd probably be buried under that lot."
"Sorry about the tackle," she said, "but I had to get you out of the way as quickly as possible. I didn't know what else to do."
"That was good enough," I told her in gratitude. "Thank you."
"My pleasure," she remarked, pushing herself upright and pulling me to my feet. We dusted ourselves down and looked resignedly at the packed stone wall in front of us.
"I hope the others are safe," Quina said. "What do you think we should do?"
"Well, I'd say our first task is to see if we can open up a hole in this debris," I announced, kicking at one of the stones. "All we need is enough space to wriggle through. We'll start at the top and see what happens." I began to climb up the stones but was halted by Quina’s hand on my arm.
"Before we go any further, Stephen," she murmured, "there's something I'd like to say."
"Yes?" I asked, looking back at her.
She glanced down at her feet and flushed a little. "This is rather difficult for me," she began, "and I don't know if it's the right time to be doing it, and I can't keep it inside anymore."
I looked at her expectantly. She seemed uncertain of herself – an unusual attitude for her. I wondered at what she wanted to say. It was obviously something deeply personal and I waited patiently for her to accumulate and order her thoughts. She peered up at me and stared intently into my eyes.
"Before I first met you, I had resigned myself to spending the rest of my life alone," she told me in a soft voice. "But then you and your group of friends came into my life and made me realise how empty my existence had been. I felt reborn." She lowered her eyes again and shuffled her feet. "I know this is starting to sound mawkish and soppy, but it's how I feel. You saved me from myself, Stephen, and I'll be forever grateful. Having been so close to death just now, I want you to know my thoughts in case something else happens to us. We might not be so lucky the next time."
"Thank you for that, Quina," I murmured. "But I didn't do all that much. You're a remarkable person and always would have been, regardless of whether I had turned up or not."
Night Things (10) (The Underground Kingdom) Page 3
