The Purple River

by Shane Cogan

  Kassobra rubbed the drops away from her eyes. She rubbed her arms. She brushed one large thorn away and saw her blood fall to the ground. It’s the blue thorns! She ran faster. Kassobra looked behind at Samarth. His foot is bleeding badly. He must have hit something before. ‘We need to find water and fast. It’s our only hope. Mud cats are relentless,’ he said as he mumbled the words, his breathing heavier now. ‘Save your energy. No talking. Faster! Run for your kingdom!’ she said. He smiled. The Eappi was flying low just above their heads. It let off a shriek to the main guide. He followed its call and turned to the left. They ran over a jagged rock ledge, down a ravine and across some thorny bushes. The Edaark swooped down from a tree and picked up the prince before dropping him close to Kassobra. She fell back at the large creature’s presence. ‘Faster. I sense a clearing up ahead,’ she shouted. Samarth stumbled to the back of the group. The Edaark shadowed the prince. Kassobra sprinted up beside the Sloua and glanced to her side. I can hear the hissing getting closer. They are coming at us from all angles. The pack was behaving like a pack. Her left foot slammed a rock. The Nasp and Sasa passed her out. She let out a shout. Find your inner energy. The Sloua had stopped and was hissing and moving its head frantically. Samarth jumped over a jagged rock, catching the side of it with one foot. Stumbling, he felt the mud cats snapping at his heels. Find that lost energy and move faster. Run for your life. Kassobra could see one mud cat to her left. So close. It was within touching distance. Those yellow eyes. Its murmuring was getting louder. The Eappi had reached the ledge. It looked around and shook its whiskers rapidly and vanished over the side. The other creatures followed on foot. Kassobra, reaching the same spot leapt forward. Samarth reached the ledge, holding his leg just as the fastest mud cat had caught his left foot. He screamed as he felt its mouth locking on to his bloody foot. They were falling and fast. Darkness surrounded them and there were screams - animal ones and human ones. They all continued to fall.

  ******

  Aluum held her body and brushed the moisture away. She tried to open her eyes and felt them rolling inside. She was curled in a ball inside the shelter. Small stones with points were scattered on the floor. She pulled the green leaf over her body. All she could see in her mind was the dead snake and its death. She had shouted at the bird to stop. It was wrong. Her mind was wandering, as her body began to shake violently. She turned to her side as the daylight caught the right hand side of her body, its partial light exposing her dirt, sweat and blood. Aluum tried to rub it away, but her hand fell back down. She continued to shake violently. She saw the snake again. Its yellow eyes. Those eyes. Its eyes. Her eyes. I sensed the snake was a woman like me. It was carrying something inside of it. But what? Aluum screamed as she rolled over to her side, gripping herself tightly. Where are you now, guide, when I need you? She tried to open her eyes in the hope that the bird had brought some food. She forced her left eye to open, the faint light again meeting her slight gaze. It revealed no food or the bird. She tried to reach for her foot. That is where the snake had bitten me. The creature was trying to do the same thing to her that they were doing to the snake. She closed her eyes and felt its liquid fall and drop from its corners. Her eyes opened some more. Her lips began to move rapidly as she rolled around on the ground.

  Aluum dragged herself along the ground. She screamed with each movement. These are new sounds, new movements, new senses. She heard its noise, a familiar whistle. My first valuable lesson, the guide had said. It was life. Without it, we could not survive, it had told me. What is that noise? The sound was closer now. She dragged her body towards its beat. She felt the stones pull against her stomach and chest as she moved towards it. Move some more. I know that noise. She arched her head towards the regular noise. She focused her face upwards and opened her mouth. It fell in. The nectar. The life, as the voice had told me. I need it and it has found me. Water. It continued to fall from the rock’s cracks above her. She drank it and moved a hand to gather more drops and wash her face. Her face focused on the falling water. She screamed more after turning and hitting a sharp rock, its sharp pointy side jabbing into her back. She looked at her foot. It’s larger than the other foot. Was the snake inside my foot? Or whatever was inside its belly was now inside me, because why I am larger now? She dragged herself back to her sleeping area. ‘What is that feeling?’ she half shouted out. With her eyes closed, she crossed her arms on her chest and rocked forcefully and passed out.

  The creature came to her, its yellow eyes swirling. They moved in a circular motion as it encircled its victim. There was no bird attacking it, Aluum could see. She watched as it glided around her faster and faster, its eyes never leaving her. She could see the snake and hear its movements and hissing. It’s coming from it tongue. I feel no pain. She looked down and saw that her feet were both the same size. No blood. She was standing in a field. Around her, grass swayed and hit her in the face - the ends different from its body. Almost like a pointy head. She reached out and touched one and pulled it off. She rubbed it between her hands and pulled them apart, its contents falling from her hands and to the ground. And lots of them - small brown and light in colour. She blew the rest of them from her hand. Some flew away in the breeze while others hit the ground, bouncing off her feet on the way down. She walked through its dense layers. I cannot see the snake, but I hear its hiss and feel its presence. I am no longer afraid of the creature. Just like the kingfisher, I feel the snake is bringing me somewhere new…and safe. She closed her eyes and focused on the image of the large field and listened to the wind as it blew through the field, touching on each grain and stem. Each letting off a new sound to Aluum. Its music. It sung her name. She opened her eyes.

  The field was gone. She was standing at the water’s edge. It’s a different place than before. Aluum caught the shadows move around her. There are others around me. Other beings like me. I feel you. But cleaner looking and with items covering their bodies. She folded her arms around her body and chest and walked towards the beings. Aluum looked around for the snake. ‘Did it bring me here, through that field?’ she asked as she looked at the sky for the first time. It was different. I can see it clearly. There was no grey. No clouds. A new colour. Like my eyes. She walked towards the other beings. They came together and looked at Aluum as she moved towards them. They were standing at the water’s shore. Its small waves touching her feet as she walked slowly towards them. They look familiar. A small animal ran towards the beings. I’ve not seen such a creature before. It sat beside them. It too seemed to focus on Aluum as she moved towards them. She kept her arms crossed in front of her, her head looking at the ground. I feel no urge to look at these strange beings. Yet, I feel no fear. They moved out and formed a semi-circle as Aluum came closer. Five and the animal. The tall one. Her eyes like mine. Her body similar to my own. Aluum’s head was focused now on the group. The tall woman was now close to Aluum and reached out her hand to touch Aluum. She touched her face and slowly moved her hand around on her face. It feels so warm. And she released it gently. Aluum smiled. It’s the first time such being has touched me. It felt good. It felt almost familiar, yet distant. Aluum moved to the rest of the group. They touched her, just like the tall woman. One hand each. Almost taking turns. And with each touch done, they smiled. Aluum smiled back. I want to talk, but the silence is all that is required. She looked down as the small animal was licking her feet. It looked up, its tail wagging. She let out a new noise. Aluum thought she heard the small animal make a sound, the same sound, over and over. She looked around at the others and see that they were talking to each other, but in whispers and not with her. She could not make out their words, but it was a different tongue to hers. Then the tall woman spoke. She could hear them all now, but could not understand them. However, she understood as the tall woman waved her arms for Aluum to follow her.

  C H A P T E R 42

  Moonrats

  As she walked, she kicked at the small stones on the pathway. The sides of her boots and legs got s
ome scratches but she did not make a sound. Her mind was focused on the mission ahead. There could be no distractions and hardly any interaction with others up here. Those fools on the Collective will regret their weakness. And they will have no contact with him. She thought back to his presence. ‘He had only come to me. I am the chosen one,’ she said out loud. She looked around and caught a bird flying off a nearby tree. Zirva laughed. Up here, this was my domain. My rules and my kingdom. She stopped to take a breath and looked out below. ‘The skies were kind this morning,’ she whispered. She perched her body on a ledge and looked at the horizon. ‘Our planet,’ she said. Despite its small population and land mass, it was a land like no other. Except for the dead zone. My tribes lost lands, destroyed by them. She bowed her head in silence. She recalled what he had told her. I am prepared for his calling. It will be the birth for new people. A new planet of new ideas and new rulers. I believed in him and the ruler of the underworld. The Balor, my leader, my love.

  Zirva glanced around her. There was no one else. Few of anything ventured up here. And no tribes live up so high on Glow Mt. She looked down again at the valleys below. Its green lush terrain. The lakes dotted here and there. Mere specks of shaded blue from my vantage point, yet, they are so many. Up here, I have a view of my imminent new planet. The habitable part of the planet; the area that he wants now. She straightened her body, her arms outstretched to her sides. Arcing her head backwards and closing her eyes. ‘The Balor will rule this land again. Finally, we can destroy those Tarracullan tribes,’ she said with her face becoming tighter on the mention of the tribe’s name… ‘who preach their justice and equality for all. No more. We shall not be ruled by zealots! And by a minority,’ she said. Her voice did not echo below. She held her hands towards the skies, but with her eyes open and looking below she continued. ‘With the return of the Balor, I will be its new spiritual leader. And with it, a new realm of the underworld will come to pass. The crystal clock will chime its direction and the mercury liquid our new resource. We shall return. The tribe of the Yarracullan and our army, which they destroyed, will arise again. We…,’ she spun around. Was that a broken branch under a foot? She stopped her words and practise and looked around slowly. There was no one there. Yet, the sound was from the area and terrain. Few animals lived up here so high. Perhaps it was a bird. She turned to face the great valley below and started speaking again. She turned around. Again, the same noise and with it, a shuffle. She reached around for her stick and pressed its hinge. Its metal sprung out. The sun caught the blade, as it cast a silver shadow along her face. It sprung to life. Zirva walked slowly towards where the noise came from.

  She looked around. ‘What creature dares to come up here in my presence?’ she shouted out. She waited for a response. Zirva turned the stick in her hand around and slapped the bush with its arm. The dark coloured wood struck the bush with force, as its seeds shattered to the ground. Hard berries landed on the ground. She walked around to the back of the bush. No one. Nothing. She slapped the bush a few more times. Just more unripe berries falling. Zirva landed her boot on them and squeezed hard till its juices started to flow from under her foot. Her face jerked a twitch as she forced the foot with more pressure on the berries. The noise again. She saw the creature’s tail as it ran out from under the bush. It glanced up at the woman in the black cloak, her hand bowed. The creature stopped and starred up at her. It shuffled its head and its long snout moved its lips rapidly to let out a sharp low noise. Before Zirva had any time to inspect the creature anymore, it was gone. ‘I hate moonrats,’ said Zirva as she turned away from the running animal. It sniffed the air once more in her direction and vanished under a rock. Zirva moved away from the bush and pulled her boot off the berries. He inhaled deep as he watched her clean the boot on some rough grass. Did she see me? His eyes and mouth closed, but he sensed the woman retreat from the bush. He held his breath longer, and slowly opened his eyes wide to see the woman move away from the looking ledge. Such darkness. Her eyes, her entire aura, are black. He shifted his body slightly from the hiding place. I fear another crunch noise if I move my tiny body. She would hear me. But I need to check to see if she has gone, and tell the others. The sun caught his face as he slowly shuffled his body. And wriggled like a snake. I need to leave the base of the bush in case she glances back. He closed his eyes and saw the image of the woman.

  He took a deep breath and backed out of the bush. He wriggled some more. He felt the bright sunshine moving up his feet and legs, as he came out of the bush. His feet, knees, legs, stomach…he moved and wriggled some more. I am stuck in a tight spot, but I just need to push a little more. He cupped his hands and pushed on the ground, thorns catching his hands. My clothes probably resemble the bush mud. He navigated his way out from under the bush. He stood up and brushed himself down. Bits of mud and squashed berries fell to the ground, the white stripes of his shirt now red with stains. He mumbled a few words and shook his head to shake off the rest of the dirt. He glanced around to see where he had emerged. Too late. He caught the glare from the silver blade as it landed with one clean blow. He felt it slice straight across his neck. The blood spurted out and flowed down his stained shirt. Its whiteness replaced with his red, flowing blood. He fell to his knees and grabbed his throat, staring into her face as the blade returned to her hand. Swift with impact. Almost like the old martial arts move. He tried to scream. She has cut my voice box. Those dark eyes. Expressionless. There would be no message sent now. She smiled as he fell over and saw the mud mixing with his fresh blood. Zirva picked up his body and dragged it to the ledge. Looking down, she flicked the body over the edge. She watched as it turned into a speck of an image as it rolled downwards, falling. The impact would remove any trace of her blade’s damage. ‘They send but a mere boy to find me. Pathetic,’ she whispered as she pulled the hood up over her head as the sun withdrew and the peak’s shadow covered her frame. The whistle from her mouth greeted each step as she followed the small path along the ledge.

  C H A P T E R 43

  Fire

  Vufus poured over the big book in the great palace library. His mind racing to the planet’s history, what just happened and where his parents were now. He looked away from the book and into blank space. I miss them. Where are they now? Is there a life after all of this? I feel sad, yet somehow different. But this new sadness could wait. The King asked me to seek some information and that was what I need to do. He looked back at the book and turned a few more pages, scanning the words. But I am not sure what needs be to found. The King was vague. There are also rumours going around the palace that he is was going mad. He turned to another chapter and noted its title and year. Why? I asked them, but no one had answered me. I also asked the King why no tears or sadness had come after I had learned about my parent’s death at the hands of the Kelpie. ‘We do not do sadness, post death. These are things we discuss together when we are alive and with the living, he told me,’ Vufus whispered in the great library. He looked around, but there were only a few others at the entrance working.

  He turned another few pages and then sneezed as he turned a few more. Then he heard them fall onto each other. It had symbols on one page, with a description on the other page. He homed in one symbol. It is like a big X, but with a smaller X’s in each corner and small circles at the end of each point. He touched it and read out the name of the symbol and expected the symbol to move. It obliged. ‘Curatis,’ he said softly. He watched as it turned the opposite page into words and diagrams.

  Each time he passed his middle finger over the words, as he read them, more words appeared. Again, he looked over his shoulder and returned to the book. It’s as if they are secret words, they vanish when I move my finger to the next sentence and page. On and on, the words and descriptions formed for him to read. He focused on each word and each story. Use the Atis method of close memorisation. Each page. He closed his eyes and touched his forehead with the palm of his right hand. They will remain in my mind. Word for word.
He continued to read, his face changing colour as he read on. He glanced around again. He read faster and in silence. With each page, he cemented the information in his mind. He glanced again at the cover of the book. Can this really be true? The symbol vanished from the page. The words stopped. The page returned to its normal pattern of codes and numbers. I now know the information that the King needs. He felt his heartbeat increase as he got up to leave the great library. He closed the book tight and returned it to the desk with other assorted books, its title now on full display. ‘The Dark Journey of the Naiads and the Balor,’ it said. I need to find the King and fast.

  ******

  I am really happy with this new me. He looked again the mirror. I like what I see. It gives the impression of wisdom. ‘If my people have a problem with this new look, they need to deal with it,’ he whispered at the mirror, leaving steam in the middle. There was a knock at the door and he heard a voice. A friendly one. He pulled on his long robe and reached his hands over his head to pull the hood up. Wrong one. I don’t need it anymore. He patted the right side of this robe, its red and black stripes merging into a symbol as he stroke it more. He patted his hand again against the crest before opening the door.

  ‘King Fareth….but,’ Vufus said. He looked around and again at the door. ‘It is me, my little friend, please come in,’ he said. Fareth closed the door behind the boy, resulting in a slight breeze, as it caught hold off the King’s robe and shook all his clothes. ‘What have you done?’ asked the boy. The King put a finger to his lips and asked the boy to follow him. ‘It is but a calculating plan. Watch and see how an Atisian political circle behave and evolve. Enough now of my shaved head. Did you find that book and memorise it?’ he asked Vufus. The boy’s neck was arched slightly as he continued to stare at the King’s bald head. I’ve never seen a royal with a shaved head before. Should I say something? ‘No need. Your expression at the door said it all,’ he said. The King reminded him about the book, as he caught Vufus starring at his head again. ‘The passage in the book and the symbol?’ he asked the boy. ‘How did you read my…never mind,’ he said as he shook his head and looked around the room. ‘Yes. I have learned of its meaning and the owner of the symbol and…,’ he paused as he looked again at the King’s head. Fareth motioned his hands for the boy to continue, the light from the terrace catching them both on the face, as the sun emerged from behind some clouds. They moved out of the direct light and away from the window. ‘Yes. And the power of the symbol. I think,’ said Vufus. The King put his arm around the boy and asked him to follow.