Dan smiled to himself. He poured on some more water to ensure that the stone stayed afloat. Bracing himself within the rope, holding tight onto the handles and pushing his heels into the indents he leant slightly forward and to the left. The stone accelerated forward curving left. Dan leant back slightly testing the braking and leant right. The stone turned right. He leant right some more and tested how tight the stone would turn. At the edge of his hearing he could hear some more ‘Whalla! Whallas!’ but only on the edge of hearing as he was concentrating hard, but having more fun than he’d had since he’d arrived.
Dan leant forward still in the tight right turn. The stone accelerated to the point where he started to get dizzy. Now he leant back almost to a level plain and leant left dramatically shifting the stone into a wide left arc across the enclosure. He had to brace himself hard into the stone to maintain control but this was like carving on an endless wave. To test that, he completed two figure of eights and then came to what he hoped looked like a skidding stop within a foot of the wall in front of Jez. Dan was panting for breath but beaming like a child with a new favourite toy.
“Well?” he said looking up at Jez.
Jez just said “Was, was that… surfing?”
“You bet, man. You’re so lucky having these. It’s like being on an endless wave. I could ride these all day. Do you have any tricks you could show me?”
“No!” Jez said far too abruptly. “I mean no I don’t. In fact I think you will be showing me tricks. Whatever they are?”
“By the Gardener’s graces, Dan, I’ve never seen anything like it!” said Cunac. “Our ride to the HuñuyPacha Punku will be much more exciting. I’m going to try some of that.”
“No you’re not,” said Cauca. “We’re using a two-seater and I’m driving!”
10.1Plans afoot
Cauca and Cunac made it safely to the Punku even though Cunac was wearing Cauca down trying to persuade him to try some of Dan’s moves. ‘Principle of boring’ was Cunac’s final remark as they stowed the stone in a bunker at the Punku.
“You’ve been doing too much meditating, Cunac. It's addled your brain.”
They made their way across a stone walkway to the Punku that lead to HuñuyPacha. The doorway to the other realm was about 100 feet across and 50 feet high. It was one of the larger Punku across all of DiPacha. The Punku was marked by two marble pillars, one at each side. The marble came from HuñuyPacha and was carved with images of a four-legged creature leaping up the columns of marble. Spanning the 100 feet was a thin line of shimmering silver laid over a lattice of charcoal black rock from the Black mountains of HuñuyPacha. It was the lightest rock beside TuyTuy but unlike TuyTuy it was ridiculously strong and stiff. The HuñuyPachans had learned how to work and control the black rock over the generations. They could now refine it into blades that could not be seen by the naked eye when side on and were as clear as glass when face on. Yet when the shafts of the knives were held with a firm warm hand the blades became strong and stiff. Strong enough to cut cleanly through any rock yet found. When the shafts of the knives were not held the blades would go limp as a feather in the wind.
These knives allowed the HuñuyPacha stonemasons to carve the most intricate carvings in the marble columns that stood proudly either side or the Punku, just as they did at all fifteen of the main gates to HuñuyPacha from the other Pacha realms.
As the two approached the Punku in the still cool air of Pachamama they began to feel the warm breeze from HuñuyPacha filtering through the Punku.
“Are you ready?” Asked Cauca.
“As ever, but I can never get used to this bit,” replied Cunac. “Ah! For the Gardener’s Sake, I forgot my shrouple. It always helps take the edge off. That's all,” said Cunac almost guiltily.
“You’ve had so much shrouple recently you’ve got no edge left, Cunac. You should be able to roll through.”
“You see me laughing, Cauca! No? That’s because that was not funny!”
Cauca got the impression he had hit a bit of a sore spot. He wasn’t sure whether to poke it again to see how sore it was or not. He decided not to poke. “Let’s go then.”
The two stepped toward the Punku in unison. The closer they got to the Punku barrier the more the shimmer changed from what had looked like a heat haze into a view of the realm beyond. HuñuyPacha was coming into focus. One step closer and shapes could be seen through the haze. The final step and the sucking sensation started.
Cunac saw his right-hand stretch out forever in front of him, then his left knee as his step continued across the frontier between realms. As his momentum continued to carry his six foot plump bulk through his stomach shot forward. Then just as suddenly he snapped back to his normal shape. Hands the right size and every part where it should be. At least after a quick pat down, he was sure of that. Now it was the battle not to throw up. Cunac hated travelling through the Punku and he was absolutely sure that the sweet smelling smoke had protected the five hippies from the experience. He longed to try the smoke but they had none left. Once be had control of all Pacha Realms he would be able to get whatever he wanted he thought and smiled to himself. He felt better. It was a sign that he was blessed and needed to succeed with his plan but he also knew that until all the pieces of the puzzle were in place he needed to keep the plan to himself and his acolytes. That was his mission here, not to represent the Uma of Pachamama, although he needed to maintain appearances. Especially as the Uma’s Principal was his travel companion. They were here early to listen for signs that other Pacha Realms had identified anomalous emissions or worse WaytaPata. Nothing was showing on the neural-net yet. But that meant nothing, The Guild of The Punku had kept their information secure so far. Others could have too.
“Cunac!” yelled Cauca for a third time.
“Uh yeah”
“You okay? Either you’re suffering more than normal, you really do need some shrouple or you have already imbibed enough to meditate spontaneously. Whichever it is I need your attention and that stall over there is offering Pachamaman shrouple.”
“I was meditating, but do not need shrouple to do so,” said Cunac rather tersely. “For good measure, the tower and the return trip I will just go a get a flask though. I’ll be back shortly.”
As he returned Cunac and Cauca moved away from the Pachamama Punku and the bazaar and into Hatun-Llaqta. Cauca had persuaded Cunac to explore with him so he could see the many wonders he had wanted to see in person for a long time. The city was built from the local marble and almost impossibly strong black rock. The buildings in the city defied belief. Tall and elegantly slender with suspended walkways that gave you vertigo to just look at them. Intricate carvings covered almost every surface and everything was polished to a shine. The city was nothing like the single storey mud brick buildings of Millham.
Soon they reached the river Kawsay that ran around the eastern edge of the city and Cauca found a fresh water fountain and took a long drink. Cunac had his shrouple and now Cauca had his fresh water, both were relaxing now. A little further up the river they could see one of the legendary bridges. Looking at the bridge from the side it did just look like a black spider’s web, thin strands of black rock stretching out across the river from marble pillars that stood tall and proud on each bank. Once in front of the bridge the track was laid with marble and for all intent it appeared to be floating above the river so thin were the strands of rock supporting it. Cauca tentatively walked across the bridge which drew stares from the locals who were crossing without thought. Cunac swore on his bottle of shrouple he would not be setting foot on the bridge.
The pair eventually finished exploring and headed back toward the centre of the city and the Punku circle to find the local Uma and introduce themselves. Cunac taking the odd gulp of shrouple to prepare himself for the bridge and the tower at the centre of the circle.
Reaching the Punku circle again they entered Pachamama tower that stood next to their home Punku and headed up the one flight of stairs th
at lead to the bridge which was anchored to the top of the tower and would take them across to the HuñuyPacha Tower at the centre. Cunac stood stock still in front of the bridges marble walkway which stretched out over the void. Looking left and right he could see all the other Pachan towers in the circle and each with its own bridge that all converged on the central tower. He knew the tower and bridges had all been there for generations, hanging in the air, just suspended on these thin strands of black rock. The fact that it had been there so long was as worrying as that fact it was there at all.
“It reminds me of a spider’s web with a wasp up-ended in the middle. I half expect to see a giant fifteen feet long HuñuyPachan spider run along one of the bridges and start wrapping up the tower in her web.”
“Keep your peace Cauca!” half yelled Cunac, his voice faltering.
“Not scared of spiders are you?”
“No, just falling.” Cunac said and took a final gulp of shrouple before stepping out onto the walkway that would take them across the gap to the centre and to meet Uma Glau.
The bridges and tower always gave the Uma of HuñuyPacha a distinct advantage in any negotiation. Guests were always terrified that the thin black rock holding up the tonnes of marble they were within would snap. The marble and occupants would then coming crashing the thirty feet back to the ground. It typified the HuñuyPachan mind-set according to Cauca.
Uma Glau was the newest, youngest and most powerful Uma having inherited the privilege from her late father who'd passed a cycle ago. This was the first gathering of all Uma from DiPacha, she would host. At around twenty-three cycles, Glau was approaching one generation old with many young bachelors attempting to court her. However, as her father's daughter, she was no pushover and knew exactly what she wanted. A man with a keen brain, independent. Someone who would challenge and inspire her. Not a doting fool. Too many of the men who had come her way assumed she wanted to be romanced or thought they could control her to become the new Da and eventually Uma of HuñuyPacha. No man had tried to get to know her or be her equal. Yet. And being Glau's equal would not be easy.
Glau was just over five foot one hand tall with dark shoulder length hair, deep brown eyes, a dark complexion and of slender build. Yet she was athletic and strong with a stronger will. Her stature meant she was often underestimated and she used this to her advantage.
Right now she had an over confident, slightly creepy and possibly slightly drunk Listener from Pachamama in front of her offering his condolences for the loss of her father. She decided she had seen enough of him. And there certainly was plenty to see.
“Listener Cunac. Thank you for your kind words. As you have arrived early for the gathering of DiPacha I can only assume that you have important business at the Listener tower. I do not want to detain you.” Glau saw a slight smile, almost imperceptible, on the corner of Principal Cauca’s mouth. He may be more interesting, she thought. “Please give my respects to Listener Johns when you see him, my dear Cunac. I will see you at the gathering in ten days.” Cauca’s smile had grown a little.
“Why, um… thank you, Uma. I am grateful for the opportunity to greet you in person and offer my condolences. Cau—”
“Principal Cauca, I understand that this is only your second gathering. Did you have the chance for a tour of the Palace on your previous visit?”
Cunac was dumbstruck. He was not used to being interrupted.
“Cunac, do not let me detain you from Listener business. I cannot have my guest, the Principal of Pachamama, bored while you are busy with your fellow Listeners.”
Cunac just turned and left. There was nothing more to say or do.
“Principal Cauca. Now we are alone please do tell me, have you seen this tower before, been to the top to see the view? It’s quite spectacular. You can see all across the woods to the foothills of the Cranial Mountains where the implants are forged. And why are you here ten days early?”
Principal Cauca smiled quietly to Uma Glau. Partly to play for time as he was completely wrong-footed by the swift and clinical dismissal of Cunac, who would be fuming, and the honey trap this young woman had just sprung on him. He took careful note of this, she may be new to the role of Uma but something told him she would be formidable.
“Uma Glau…”
“Glau please, Cauca, if I may call you that?” She too had noticed the considered response. Cauca was not easily ruffled.
“You may, Glau… As I was saying we are here early because my first gathering was all business. I had no time to visit your beautiful city and palace. If I get the chance I would love to take a TuyTuy rock and visit the mountains and forges. Your offer to see the view would be a fantastic start. You can show me your Pacha from a view surely only birds and the Uma can ever see!”
Oooh, he was good thought, Glau. No one arrived ten days early for a gathering without another reason and he had evaded her early questioning with subtle skill. Maybe he had deserved the view, it might wrong foot him.
Glau led Cauca out of the entrance chamber at the foot of the Hatun-Llaqta Tower and to the staircase that ran around the inside of the outer wall and up to the roof. The view was indeed stupendous. Cauca had never seen so far into the distance without being up the side of a mountain and looking back across a plain. He struggled to hold his composure and not succumb to dizziness, especially as looking down through the web of bridges to the ground below the tower made him feel as if he were floating or that the marble tower was floating in mid-air.
Glau tried, but could not wrong foot him and the more time they spent together the more she realised she would not. Glau had dismissed the creepy old Listener. He was the soft target to question. He would have sung for a drink she was sure. She cursed herself for her vanity. That should not happen again. She had been so naïve, her father would not have made that error. Tomorrow was another day and if there was no advantage talking to Cauca she may as well enjoy his company. He was not like any Pachamaman she had met before. He interested her.
Cunac left the Hatun-Llaqta Tower absolutely flabbergasted at how he, HE, had been dismissed. No Listener should ever get treated like that and certainly not by some whippet of a girl who had just become Uma. Who did she think she was? She was going to earn no respect from any Listener, Principal or other Uma with such an arrogant attitude. Maybe she couldn’t help it? She was from HuñuyPacha after all!
As Cunac crossed the bridge to the Pachamama Tower he thought of the speech his son had given almost a cycle ago, when the revelations of WaytaPata had begun to surface. He had recorded it on the neural-net in his personal log and replaying it now gave him strength and focus.
“The history in the neural-net and the teachings we have heard within these our sacred walls tell of a time when all people across DiPacha had the joy of life due to the plenty and bounty of the Garden. Now life for all is hard. People struggle and strive. We have been given the sacred duty to help guide and maintain our fellow Pachans until we have the opportunity to guide them back to the Garden. For the benefit of all and the Glory of the Listeners. For it will be our Garden and we can resume the responsibility of and authority for the Garden Realm. Our rightful home… According to the legends that is!”
He went down the stairs from the bridge and walked on the firm ground, from which he could not fall off, and around the outside of the Punku circle to the Listener tower. It was the next one around from the Pachamama tower so did not take long. When he got to the tower he went quietly through the door avoiding anyone that may see him. But no one was there, the gathering was still ten days away and there were not as many Listeners as Pachans after all. He was glad of that as he craved peace to meditate.
Unlike the other towers, the Listener tower had two levels below ground. The chambers below were for secret relics and meditation. Cunac knew exactly where he wanted to go and pulling out the flask of shrouple, he went there to meditate on Sarenen’s speech. Cunac was slightly concerned that the Master had become the apprentice.
; When he awoke much of the day had passed and the sun was beginning to set, but now he knew what he needed to do. Sarenen had given him the answer, Sarenen was the answer. He contacted him through telelink and summoned him to HuñuyPacha. Sarenen was going to lead the Pachans to WaytaPata, but it was going to take cycles of careful guiding to mark the way. Some people may need to be moved aside to clear the path, possibly even other Listeners, if they were not true believers.
10.2Returning home
Cunac was very careful that Cauca and Sarenen did not meet on HuñuyPacha. He had no intention of having to answer any awkward questions. Cauca was fiercely loyal to Da’Cince and Pachamama.
The gathering was uneventful but Cauca had had the best official trip he had ever had. In fact, there had been days he had not worked and had had free time to enjoy visiting the places Glau had suggested. She had even joined him on two occasions which he’d enjoyed immensely.
The trip back through the Punku to Pachamama was much as it was on the way, except Cunac was properly medicated this time. When they arrived back at the bunkers Dan was there to meet them. Da’Cince had heard of his prowess on the TuyTuy stones and he himself had reassigned Dan as an apprentice wrangler, which had made Dan very happy.
Cunac made his excuses and went home saying he wanted to see his family and meditate, Cauca suspected that this was code for sleep. Before he could do the same Cauca knew he had to report to Da’Cince, although there wasn't anything particular to report. Musing on that point though, he realised that was the outcome they had prayed for. Maybe he needed some rest too? His mind was tired from all he’d seen and heard. He was still confused about Glau. She was not at all as he had found the HuñuyPachans on previous visits. Yes, she had a sharp political mind but also charming and good company. However, he was a way off trusting her.
Cauca entered the workshop to see Illary before seeing the Uma. He wanted to ensure he wasn't surprised by anything that may have been happening in his absence.
Disconnected (Connected series Book 1) Page 16
