by Shane Mason
‘Okay now let’s act out the possibilities,’ Lexington announced as she peered up from writing in her notebook.
...as a tool to re-run what they had just played.
Argus leant into Antavahni.
‘There’s more?’
‘By running over recent events they stop what has afflicted mankind.’
‘Uh yeah, what’s that then?’
‘Sympathetic resonance.’
‘Sympa - What?’
‘The holding on to experience. It gums up the mind, ages people. By running over recent events it helps their mind digest experience so that their soul can communicate freely with their mind.’
Argus frowned at Antavahni.
Armed with her notebook Lexington said to Melaleuca, ‘I should like to re-run the bit where your mum told you private things.’
‘No more re-runs,’ Melaleuca said flatly.
Confused Lexington became as cross as her gentle face could manage. ‘But we always re-run. It’s how we come up with, well, how we come up with all the stuff we come up with.’
‘Lex.’
‘Am I the only one who has forgotten our parents disappeared with no explanation?’
Ari grabbed Lexington’s arm and squeezed it. ‘It’s okay Lex. Just wait and listen.’
He motioned to Melaleuca.
‘It is time I tell you what Mum said. She said that if they were not back within a day that it may be months before they return and that someone would come for us and to trust.’
‘Why didn’t you just tell us?’ Lexington said exasperated.
‘Wait,’ Melaleuca motioned, ‘there’s more. She also said the key was to keep moving forward. Think as little as possible. Just keep moving forward.’
She stopped and let her words hang in the air for them to dwell on.
‘That is why today...there is no re-runs. We will follow Antavahni to where-ever he takes us.’
The boys accepted this with little questioning though Lexington looked upset.
‘But all my questions…..and…and you held this from us.’
Melaleuca shuffled across to her. Her sharp face gazed into Lexington’s soft round face.
‘Think and analyse while we move,’ she commanded and then as soft as Melaleuca could manage, added, ‘I know you can do it. If anyone has the brains to work out how to do it, then you do Lexington.’
Melaleuca stood, a commander of pre-adult years. She knew that before them lay the unknown and that wherever their parents were now they could not help them. She felt this to be true.
‘Antavahni. You will now explain,’ Melaleuca said.
‘Ahem,’ Lexington said clearing her throat. ‘I would still like some answers still.’ She directed her question at Antavahni staring past Melaleuca.
Antavahni knelt before them and with a gentle voice and a shimmering face, said, ‘No answers will be provided for you. It is for you to now work this out. Many trials will accost you. Through all this you must remain who you have been. Change for no one but yourselves. You must solve this for yourself. No one will help you. You will be on your own yet you will have each other.’
Quixote became distracted and looking at Argus said, ‘What did happen to your face?’
‘I’m just younger now, that’s all.’
Antavahni grabbed Quixote’s head and turned it back to him and said, ‘Imp. Did you hear me?’
‘Yup.’
Argus snorted in sarcasm.
‘50,000 years alive and that’s your wisdom.’
‘50,000? That’s impossible,’ Lexington said.
Antavahni stiffened and stared harshly at Argus.
Argus shrugged, caring little. ‘Won’t happen again.’
Quixote smirked and pointed at Antavahni while looking at Lexington. ‘Anything is possible.’
Lexington frowned at him.
‘In play you can imagine anything. Reality, however, is garbed with the laws of physics.’
Melaleuca squeezed the back of her own neck, making a “tsk” noise.
‘Mmm…yes. About that. Mum did say something more.’
‘What,’ Lexington asked. ‘What else did she say?’
‘She said, keep moving forward...and keep playing. That playing was most important of all.’
‘What? That makes no sense at all. This is real. We should act like it is real.’
‘I don’t understand it but I trust if we move forward it will become clear. Use your brain to work it out. But we will follow her instructions.’ Lexington put her hand to her chest, feeling the medallion under her clothes.
‘Well I have a secret as well.’
‘Oh,’ Melaleuca said, surprised.
Lexington so wanted to tell but the feel of the medallion reminded her it was a secret. Lexington moved her head in a slight glib nod and made a little “humph” noise, turned and walked away. What other choice lay before them? Stuck out in the middle of nowhere - even more nowhere than their home - she knew that they had to stick together. She really wanted to talk to her inner voice but she could not. Not yet anyway. Not in front of the others.
Lexington marched back to Melaleuca, standing resolute before her.
‘I will move forward but I will keep on asking questions. I will not stop until all of this makes sense.’ She cocked her head at Antavahni, moisture from the air making her long hair hang limp, and causing her skull and forehead to look larger than normal. ‘Why have you bought us here?’
‘Oh Lexington,’ Melaleuca said. ‘Isn’t it obvious? So we would have no other choice other than to follow him.’
Antavahni nodded at Argus and Argus threw back a tarpaulin, producing the cousin’s packs. He gathered four hooded cloaks and handed them to the cousins as well. The material felt rough and though it looked thin and hung light, it contained considerable loft.
‘We must move. Follow,’ said Antavahni.
He pushed himself off with his walking stick and headed toward the gentle slope.
They picked their way across the plain toward the mountains and by late afternoon the ground started sloping upwards, though higher up it became steeper and steeper and steeper until all the sparse vegetation gave way to dull gray rocks. Above this at a neck-craning height, the mountaintops could just be seen. Sharp, blue snow-covered rocks poked out through the swirling clouds.
With the vast plain behind them Melaleuca felt like an infinitesimal speck. She did a quick check of the others, noting how ragged Lexington looked. She was not the hardiest of them when it came to physical exertion.
‘It will be night soon. Shall we find some cover?’ Ari said.
‘Press on,’ Antavahni said in a weak voice. ‘It will be dark where we are going.’
Out in the lead Argus spied something off to his left and he wandered over to inspect it. Half buried and half sticking out lay a weather-worn sign, the words on it barely visible. Squinting he read it.
‘None return that venture these mountains. Turn back or leave a will……’
The rest of the words he could not make out.
‘What is it?’ Ari called.
Argus looked up to tell him but caught sight of Antavahni glaring at him unimpressed.
‘Nothing,’ Argus replied and returned to leading the way, although Melaleuca could tell Argus did not like what he saw.
As the light faded to grey they had only climbed half way up the slope. The cloud wrapped mountain loomed large and its immenseness overshadowed them like a menacing bulk. High up through the clouds, flashes of lightening hurled back and forth and thunder boomed. It sounded miles off though its foreboding bass rent an unwelcome sensation.
Ari pointed to the angry looking clouds.
‘Are we going into a storm?’ he said raising his voice.
Lexington pulled out her notebook and after scanning it said, ‘This mountain must have a route through it.’
Bedraggled scarecrow hair falling around his impish face, Quixote made scary ghost noises and then gi
ggled.
‘A secret tunnel, but to where?’
Melaleuca patted Quixote on the back. He’s the nuttiest of us all, yet...
‘...little dampens you. Even in hell you’d make the devil laugh.’
Lexington scoffed at this. ‘No such place exists except in myth and legend. It’s a people invention. I would hardly call this the time for joking. I mean look where...where...where we are.’
‘Lexington. Easy. You know Quixote means well,’ Ari said. ‘Even you use your imagination to work things out.’
‘Yes. But for things that matter, not silly games,’ she said in great frustration. ‘Look at us! I’m freezing. We’ve never wandered this far from home before. Every game we played, no matter what the outcome we could still go home. There is no home now. It’s gone and so have our parents! And we still have no clue what is going on.’
Where Ari and Quixote seemed ready to accept, she grew frustrated. With every step and each passing moment questions nipped at her mind.
‘Where are we? Where are we going?’ Lexington said bending down to untangle her leg from a bush. ‘Does this place even have a name?’
‘In my tongue it is Arawac - the Long White Cloud Mountains,’ Antavahni said, staring up at them, his eyes filling with longing.
‘I think they’re beautiful,’ Ari said. ‘It's like the earth is not afraid to show how it feels. In fact...’ He paused, puzzled and then nodded with certainty. ‘It hides a secret.’
Antavahni smiled pleased with Ari. ‘You are an earth-son. That was my role as well.’ He paused as if to say more, but instead carried on forward. ‘Keep moving. Nearly there.’
‘Urrggghhh,’ Lexington said in protest.
The ground got coarser and muddier and the temperature dropped, slowing down their rate of climb. Melaleuca let her mind go blank and concentrated on moving forward and listening to her instincts. They churned in the cold, and out of the encroaching night nagging fingers of doubt prodded her, threatening to swamp her. She squeezed her eyes shut and forced her feelings to sink deep into her mind, past all the images and feelings of fear and doubt. Like Ari she sensed this land had a deep feeling imbued into it though its evocative emptiness made her feel hollow inside. Deep in her inner vision she found the comforting sight of her parents and in an instant, she knew this was a sign they headed in the right direction. Confident once more she opened her eyes and checked on her cousins again.
Ari trudged on and a cheerful Quixote bounced alongside him. Despite the rugged terrain he still managed to defy gravity and dodge most of the bushes and holes.
Lexington struggled forward, her patience wearing thinner and thinner. ‘Is there another way?’ she said exhausted. ‘At this rate.....’ she puffed and sat down, ‘...I...won’t make it. And look!’ She wiped the perspiration off her forehead. ‘I’m sweating but I’m cold!’
Antavahni reached inside his plant cloak and produced a handful of leaves. ‘Here eat,’ he said offering it to them.
They each bit into it and warmth flooded their mouth and spread through their bodies.
‘Ari. Quixote. Walk on ahead,’ Antavahni said to them, his voice sounding thinner than before. ‘It should not be far. Follow your feelings Ari.’
Ari and Quixote nodded.
‘Hurry,’ Antavahni said. ‘The effects will only last a short time.’
The boys sprinted off like a fire had been lit under them and charged up-hill with Ari in the lead. They negotiated their way past the grabby plants and over runnels and slippery mud. Boulders wedged deep in the earth almost stopped them, so they started to edge around them.
Ari tried to sense what Antavahni had told him to feel for, though before he could feel anything he heard low guttural voices coming from up ahead. He ducked down, pulling Quixote with him.
‘Who else could be up here?’ Ari said.
‘Giants?’
Ari cuffed him around the head in jest.
In the faint light he could see large footsteps in the mud.
‘Oh. Maybe you are right,’ Ari said and flicked his red torch on.
Spread out footprints started from behind them and then converged into a single file and trailed forward between two large rocks.
‘Let’s see,’ Quixote said and clambered onto one of the rocks.
Ari went to yell ‘stop,’ but dared not lest whoever made the footprints hear him. Instead he followed Quixote.
They crawled on their bellies to the edge of the rock and peered over. About forty men gathered in a small hollow in front of a low cave, forming a single file.
‘Those are the same men that attacked us,’ Quixote said.
He grabbed a small stone and hurled it at them with all his might. It sailed over the single file and smacked the man waiting next to crouch down. Ari grabbed Quixote’s arm and held him down, wanting to yell at him.
Chapter 5 - Escape from the Beach
The man could not see the boys so he turned and pushed the person behind him and a scuffle broke out. They fought amongst themselves like wild dogs, and Quixote held up another rock to throw, though Ari latched onto his arm.
‘Look,’ he said.
Two men broke away from the rear and headed back downhill between the rocks.
‘We have to warn the others. Come on.’
Quixote stood to attention and placed one hand on his hip, puffing his chest out. ‘Or stop them.’
The two men emerged from between the rocks and Quixote hurled the rock in his hand at them with all his might. Ari traced the rock’s arc in the low light and his heart sunk.
***
The Kockoroc cruised high in the sky and once again stared down to the small party. High winds buffeted it, making flying difficult.
***
‘Something does not feel right,’ Melaleuca said wrapping her arms around herself to stop the gnawing cold.
Lexington shivered beside her and Melaleuca knew she wanted to question why she felt that, though luckily the cold held her tongue at bay.
‘Go Argus,’ Antavahni said. ‘Look for them.’
Argus hauled both pistols out and started up hill.
Antavahni moaned as if forgetting something. ‘Oh dear. Powers weakening. How could I have missed it?’
‘Missed what?’ Melaleuca asked.
‘The Ori are close by. We must hide you,’ he said in a panic. His hand twitched and his fingers jingled about in a rhythm as if sending a semaphore message.
‘W...w...who are the Ori?’ Lexington asked.
Out of the darkening sky Melaleuca heard the Kockoroc’s great wing beat slowing down and then saw the faint outline of it swoop over them and head uphill. Argus cried out in pain and within seconds he tumbled back down the hill and sprawled in front of the girls. The Kockoroc stood over him squawking and jabbing its beak closer and closer to his face. Argus kicked out and hit it in the head. It pulled back and uttered a whimpering sound.
‘You hurt it,’ Lexington said, rushing to the Kockoroc to check its feathered head.
‘That bloody thing could have killed me.’
Lexington inspected the Kockoroc closer. ‘There is no blood on it. What a strange thing to say. It’s not bleeding.’
Argus threw his eyes back in disgust.
The wind rippled across the Kockoroc’s feathers and Lexington nestled herself into them to warm up.
Argus hauled himself to his feet, and trying to sneak back uphill, ran into the encroaching darkness. The Kockoroc reared up, emitting a raucous cry. It spun around, spread its wings and flew up hill. Argus cried out and then cursed the Kockoroc and yelled for it to put him down. His voice trailed up into the air, along with the sound of flapping wings. He let out a cry as he fell to the ground with a splodge.
‘It’s a bloody menace,’ Argus said and fired a shot at it.
The Kockoroc swooped overhead again and soared uphill.
‘Don’t ask me how I know,’ Melaleuca said, earning an eye roll from Lexington. ‘But it has go
ne to get Ari and Quixote.’
Blood curdling screams like a man being torn to pieces, echoed down the slope, and apart from the distant rumbling of thunder silence followed.
Far off, Quixote’s voice yelped and whooped like he was swinging from tree to tree, and even Ari shouted with excitement. Their voices got louder and louder until out of the charcoal grey the Kockoroc swooped down with the boys clutched in its talons. With a great flapping of wings it gently placed them on the ground.
‘You should have seen it,’ Quixote said waving his arms around. ‘The eagle knocked the men over flat and then just pecked them like crazy. What a noise they made.’
Ari shoved him.
‘Yeah. Because you threw stones at them.’
‘Quixote, again,’ Lexington said.
‘So! They’re the ones that attacked our house.’
‘What? Are you sure?’ Lexington said.
‘Yes,’ Ari replied. ‘They were squeezing into a cave of some sort. Judging from the footprints I would say there were at least a hundred of them.’
Melaleuca turned on Antavahni. ‘You nearly walked us into them.’
‘They didn’t know of us,’ Ari said. ‘Except the two Quixote threw stones at. And they are now dead.’
Antavahni took in the information.
‘Must hurry. Am growing weaker. Must get you across the border. Go now, downhill. Make for the coast. Stay silent.’
Antavahni flicked his hand toward the Kockoroc. It squawked and then flew off into the night.
‘Why not get the eagle to fly us out of here?’ Quixote asked.
‘You might be spotted,’ Antavahni said.
‘By who? It’s nearly dark.’
Antavahni ignored him.
Melaleuca shivered though felt her anger rise. She needed answers. ‘Who are the Ori? Are those the men that attacked us?’
Antavahni leant in closer to her and his wide brimmed eyes gave off a dull luminescent glow. ‘Move. You will work it out in time.’
