Argle puffs out his chest and tries to hide his excitement. "Y-Yes, I would be honored to help you, cousin. I will not shame you, and I will not shame my family even if it costs me my life."
"I believe you. Now lead the way back to your hut, for there is much to do."
Anxiety grips Akelou as he slowly walks back to Argle's home. Argle's joy fades as he realizes he has never left his mother's side for more than a few days. Argle knows she will be sad, and he dreads looking at her face when he says goodbye. Once they reach the hut, they quietly climb through the floor and see Leotie sitting up, with Half Moon by her side.
"Gave up on me, did you?" she says to Akelou.
"Sorry I was not here when your fever broke, but I gathered some stems of the Siow plant to help with your healing."
Leotie turns over, exposing her wounds. Akelou chews on the green plants and covers her wounds with the healing paste. Leotie moans as the paste seeps into her lesions soothing her pain. Half Moon looks into Akelou's eyes and knows he has made his decision. She looks up at her son, and a tear falls onto the wooden floor. She gets up, and without a word she climbs into her and Broken Wrist's room. Argle watches her leave and tries to build up the courage to say something, but he cannot. Akelou lies next to Leotie and falls asleep.
The next morning, Leotie wakes early. She gets up and limps around the hut with her blankets wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Half Moon is already up and gives her some food to help with her strength.
"I patched and washed your clothes as best as I could, dear. The bloodstains were deep."
"Thank you. I am indebted to your family for all you have done."
Half Moon helps her dress. "You owe us nothing. Just take good care of my son."
Leotie looks at Half Moon, surprised. "Your son?"
"Yes, I believe that Akelou has asked him to accompany you on your quest."
"If this is true, I will protect him with my life as you have helped save mine."
"I thank you for those words. You bring comfort to my heavy heart."
Half Moon makes Leotie some honey tea before returning to her room. Akelou wakes and sees that the sun will soon rise. He notices Leotie and decides it is time to ask her about the journey.
"Leotie, can you ride?" She nods her head and kisses Akelou on the cheek before climbing down the ladder. Akelou climbs into Half Moon's room. "I will keep him safe, but I cannot promise you will see him again."
Half Moon hugs Akelou, "I will bring him to you." Akelou agrees and leaves the hut. On the ground he see Argle talking to Tib.
"Argle, your mother waits for you." Argle looks at Akelou and slowly climbs to his mother. When he gets into the hut she is waiting for him.
"Come here, son. There is something I have to show you. I knew this day would come." She unwraps a dusty blanket. "These were your father's. I removed them from his body as we fled the city." Half Moon unwraps Black Claw's helmet and false claws. "Take these and leave with your cousin...find your way in this world and do not look back." Tears trickle down her cheeks. Argle hugs his mother, but she does not have the strength to look at him.
"I will always love you, mother."
"I know, son...now go...I will be fine." Argle turns and walks out of the room, leaving Half Moon crying on the floor. He sees Broken Wrist standing in the middle of the hut with a spear. Broken Wrist walks up to him.
"I was not the father you wanted, and I loved the father you lost like a brother. I will protect her as long as I draw breath." He breaks the spear across his leg. "This was the spear that took your father's life. I have kept it all this time, not knowing what to do with it." He hands Argle the bloodstained spear tip and Argle stares at it in his hand. How strange it is that something so simple as a chiseled stone could change so many lives. "This is the only thing I have to give you from your father." Broken Wrist steps aside, letting Argle pass.
"I have always taken my anger at not having a father out on you. I am sorry for that, and I know you would have been a good father if you were given a chance," Argle says as he passes Broken Wrist.
"I do have a son, Argle, and I am proud of who he has become."
Argle looks back and ties the spear tip to his helmet. He looks straight in Broken Wrist’s eyes and says, "Please take care of her and tell her I love her," he turns and walks to the ladder and disappears, leaving Broken Wrist standing alone and holding the end of a broken spear.
On the ground, Akelou helps Leotie mount her horse. "We will travel slowly as you gather your strength." Akelou turns at the sound of scratching against a tree. He looks at Argle in his father's armor.
"We travel west and do not stop until dark. You can scout our path from the trees." Argle agrees and jumps into the canopy of the forest. Akelou moves the horses, and Tib rides with Leotie, massaging her back. He looks back at the hut and sees Half Moon looking out at him. He raises his hand to her and sees Broken Wrist embrace her from behind.
With every sunrise, Leotie's health improves, and Argle proves to be a valuable scout. The Forest has begun to change as they approach its western borders. The trees and plant life are thinner and more spread out.
"The map says we should be leaving the forest tomorrow and arriving at the base of the Whispering Canyons. It says we must follow this path or be lost in the maze of carved rock," Akelou reads to the others.
Argle has been eating the last of his forest nuts and gets up, "I will get to the base of the canyons first and scout our position. We should re-supply our water and food for the canyons."
"I agree. Tib, in the early morning, take Akima and fill our water bladders by the stream we passed earlier. We will leave the horses behind in the forest. They will not survive the trip through the canyons."
The four companions lie down to rest. Akelou falls into a deep sleep. He sees a strange race of men, a long-toothed dog, and eyes staring at him in the darkness. He tries to look deeper into the darkness, but it grows blacker, and then a deep echo shakes him and a blazing light wakes him.
Akelou gets to his feet, looking around and seeing that Tib and Argle are already gone. He starts to break down camp when Leotie wakes.
"How do you feel today, Leotie?"
"Well enough," she says stretching her arms. They pack up the camp and share some honey tea that Half Moon gave them. Tib comes back into camp with the replenished water bladders. The group mounts the horses and ride west. The wind blows harder and harder, slowing their travel. The forest is opening up, and the ground has become dry and arid, with stones that clank against the horses' hooves.
Ahead of them, an earthly light grows, and the forest disappears. Leotie points upward, and Akelou sees Argle floating toward them from a distant tree.
"I have seen the canyons and found the path you showed us. Follow me." They follow Argle and come to the eastern edge of the canyons. They look out at the canyons and are overwhelmed with its beauty. Akelou stands on the cliff and looks to the northwest.
"What can you see, Akelou?" Leotie asks.
"I can see the outline of the tower and a rising mist beyond it, a three, to four-day journey."
Akelou takes out a pouch, grabbing some dirt from the rocky cliff.
"If we succeed in our quest, I will open a door back here. Once we are safe, we will get the horses and travel back to the Noshota swamps." He grabs Akima, putting the horse's head against his.
"Take care of Leotie's horse, my friend, but do not wander too far, for we will return." Akima snips at his master's ears as Akelou removes his reins. Akima turns with Leotie's horse, and together they run into the forest. Akelou takes out the map and leads them into the canyons.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
After traveling for three days, Akelou and his companions are exhausted and painfully sunburned. They have fought a continuous howling wind that whistles against the sun-baked rock of the canyons. The wind is filled with small grains of sand that pelt the skin and cling to fur. There is little shelter in this arid landscape to shi
eld them from the elements. The canyon crosswinds make starting a fire difficult, so the four travelers sleep together at night, huddled and shivering in the cold.
The sun has set as they settle into a small cove to rest. They take out what rations they have and eat in silence. Leotie is in charge of their water supply that has become dangerously low. The wind sucks the moisture from the air, blistering their skin and cracking their parched lips. Akelou is exhausted, and he tries to shut his eyes to sleep, but he can only hear the howling of the canyons. The world goes dark, and soon the sound of the wind becomes distant. A stabbing in his ribs wakes him. He opens his eyes and hears Leotie's voice.
"Akelou, the wind has stopped. Listen," she says, licking dust from her lips. Akelou lifts his ear and hears only a hint of the canyon winds.
The others wake up, and from underneath the Ga-Taga furs they bask in the quiet, smiling at one another in relief. Akelou removes the fur. "Why is it so dark? There should be a good moon tonight, and I cannot see any stars."
Argle walks out into the path and sniffs the air. "What do you smell, Argle?" asks Leotie.
"There is water in the air." Argle looks up into the darkness and sees a flash inside the dense clouds above. Following the burst of light, a loud crack of thunder echoes in the canyons.
"A storm is above us, a nasty thunder cracker. We should find better shelter from the storm."
Akelou looks around, "There is none better to find, Argle. We will have to wait out the storm here," argues Akelou.
The rain starts to fall, and it comes down hard. After refilling their water supply, Akelou and his friends rush to protect themselves from the rain. Leotie looks down at her feet and notices a stream of rapidly moving water.
"Where does all of this water lead to?" she yells out to the others in a shivering voice.
Suddenly, Argle's ears shoot up, and he turns, lifting the furs and looking down the dark path behind them. He takes a few steps and stares into the darkness. "RUN! CLIMB THE WALLS!" he yells as loudly as he can, pushing them toward the side of the canyons. They all try to climb the slippery wall, but the falling water pushes them back. Their hands and arms begin to cramp from the cold. Then a sound like the stampeding Ga-Taga echoes in the narrow canyons. Akelou looks back, and between lightning flashes, he sees a mountain of water rushing towards them. He grabs Tib and Leotie and prepares for the wave to hit them. Argle, jumping as high as he can, climbs up the rock and avoids the tilting water.
The canyon river sweeps them into its grip. Akelou clenches his fists tightly as the cold water strikes his body. The water's power forces them against the rocky floor and cuts into Akelou's wet, wrinkled flesh. Tib and Leotie cling onto Akelou's neck trying to stay above the surging water. They fight the river, bouncing off the walls and defend against whatever the water sweeps up.
Akelou looks up and sees Argle jumping onto something ahead of them. In another flash of light he sees something splash into the water. Akelou focuses his acute eyesight on what fell and sees a petrified tree racing toward them. Akelou reaches out his hand, grabbing a hold of the wood and pulling Leotie and Tib onto the log raft. They desperately hold onto the tree, trying to regain what strength they can. The current grows and the walls of the canyons close in around them. Akelou hears an unnatural echoing and sees a hole carved into the side of the canyon. Water from the rain is being sucked into this hole eroded by eons of flooding. Time and water has smoothed the canyon walls. The flood water twists through the hole and out the side of the canyon walls. With a flash of lightning Akelou sees the open sky further inside the opening and the dim silhouette of the tower being pounded by rain beyond the edge of the canyons. He turns to Leotie and grabs her hand. She is exhausted, and her pale face is covered with wet hair. There is fear in her eyes, for she senses what is coming. Akelou begins to hear the crashing water ahead and knows they do not have much time. A shadow passes above, and Akelou sees the outline of Argle floating to the rim of the hole.
"Hang on!" Akelou yells, hoping Leotie hears his voice. Akelou sees the edge of the hole and the water tunneling down and out the side of the canyon. He pulls Leotie and Tib onto the top of the racing log. He knows he has only moments until they are cast into the abyss. Akelou sees the approaching horizon and, knowing what he must do, he lets all of his power build in his chest. His necklace burns and his wrist goes cold. He remembers back to the cliff above the jungle. He sees himself with his arms stretched and his vision around him.
He opens his eyes and sees the golden light rising from the winged tattoos on his arms, chest and back. Leotie and Tib hug Akelou for their lives. He opens his mouth and raises his arms into the air. From his mouth the deafening screech of the Wa-Hone shakes the canyon walls, and water explodes around them. The golden light of his vision fills the cave as they race to the edge of the falls. Akelou jumps from the log and thrusts his arms. The golden wings of his vision shoot them out over the edge of the waterfall and into the night. He feels the cold wind under his arms as he glides across the storm-filled sky. The deafening crash of the water behind them fades and they soar into the night toward the shadowy tower. A golden trail of light flows from Akelou's arms and necklace as he soars downwards. Argle glides below him with his underbelly flapping in the wind.
Akelou is blinded by the rain and wind that crash against his face. He opens his arms and spreads his fingers, opening his golden feathers that capture the wind, slowing their decent as they come to the wall of the tower. Argle hits the wall with great force, bouncing and skidding down its side. His claws spark as he tries to grip the slippery rock. Akelou lifts his legs toward the tower's walls and sees talons of light around his feet ready for the impact. The talons strike the wall, digging into the rock and stopping them from sliding into a furious river at the tower's base. Argle climbs over to Akelou, struggling to grapple the tower.
"Where now, Akelou? We can't stay out here much longer," Argle yells over the rain and water below.
Akelou looks down and sees the river that runs around the base of the tower. He knows from studying the map that the entrance to the tunnel is down by the water's edge somewhere. He points to the river, and they start to climb downwards.
"Argle, you must search for the opening. Your vision is the sharpest! It will be a small tunnel near the water's edge!"
Argle takes off, exploring for the entrance and leaving Akelou hanging onto the side of the tower while Tib and Leotie dangle from his back above the water. Akelou looks back through the pouring rain to see the massive waterfall exploding from the canyon walls. The sloping edge of the canyon stretches in both directions as far as his eyes can see.
"Ouch!" Akelou hears Leotie yell.
Akelou looks down and sees only darkness. Waiting again for the lightning, he sees a flash followed by a deep crack that shakes the tower. Akelou opens his hands, and he, Tib and Leotie slip down the side of the tower. The lightning comes again, and he sees Argle waving at them from below. Akelou slides down to Argle, "Did you find the entrance?" Argle gives him an awkward look and nods his head. "Then take us to it."
Argle leads them to a flat area on the tower. He points down at the river, which is now dangerously close. Akelou sees the entrance and knows why Argle gave him a look. The entrance is just below the surface of the turbulent water.
Leotie taps Akelou on the shoulder, and in her face he sees her desperation. Realizing that both she and Tib will not survive much longer without shelter, he notices a massive boulder above them. Akelou knows that boulder is their only chance. He closes his eyes and thinks about his stepmother and father. He imagines them back at the hut of his youth as slaves-a master whipping his father in the fields, and his mother hunched over a fire, broken and consumed with sorrow. He uses these thoughts to fuel the power that grows inside him, and his bracelet starts to shine. Akelou opens his eyes. His eyes are consumed with light and he strikes the side of the tower with all of his might. His fist slams against the rock, and sparks explode from the impact.
A shock wave races toward the boulder. The others watch the boulder starts to shake, swaying back and forth before falling with a crash against the tower in front of the entrance. The water flows around the boulder, exposing the tunnel below. Akelou signals for them to jump. They all leap for the tunnel and roll onto the hard tunnel floor.
"MOVE!" Argle yells pushing them deeper into the cave. The pressure of the water has forced the boulder forward, slamming it through the entrance. The boulder emerges, now the size of the tunnel, and it continues to race toward them. They run deeper into the tunnel. Akelou picks up Tib whose markings are flashing violently. Akelou looks back and sees that the boulder is moving closer and the tunnel is shrinking.
"JUMP!" he yells at the top of his voice. They all jump into a bend in the tunnel. The boulder slams into the tunnel wall, collapsing the ceiling behind them. They all lie on the floor exhausted and panting for breath in complete darkness.
"We will sleep here until we have the strength to move." Akelou takes out a vial that Mia-Koda gave him. "Take a small drink of this. It will help warm your body as you sleep." Everyone takes a small chug from the vial and quickly falls asleep. They lie on top of each other, soaked, bruised, and shivering from cold.
---
Near the eastern rim of the Whispering Canyons, a large group of Daboon has gathered. They sit in a circle, surrounding a pile of satchels filled with sand from the black shores. The powerful storm that passed overhead three days earlier has made the Daboon overly agitated. Their fur is coated with a sandy paste that irritates their skin and eyes. There has not been such a gathering of Daboon like this since the ancient days of their first master.
Grumblings have started between some Daboon in the group. They have been waiting in the cold for something they do not know or understand. They were gathered by Un-Ra, who bears the helmet of Si-Imab. He can sense the Daboons' growing frustration and impatience. He has promised them a new life free from hunger and isolation. He told the leaders of the scattered packs that his master would grant them great power. They have followed him blindly over great distances and endured many hardships and near starvation. If they go much longer without a kill or a purpose, they will begin to turn on each other and fall into chaos-and Un-Ra knows this. The second largest Daboon, whom Un-Ra named Ve-Na, has been walking among the small groups of Daboon and fueling a rebellion.
The New World (The Last Delar) Page 20
