by Tim Chaffey
“Deks said the next river town is about a two-week journey and that we’d be able to take a boat from there to Iri Geshem,” Aterre said, leaning closer to be heard. “So let’s be sure to buy items that won’t spoil in that time.”
“Less fruit and more grain. I like that.” Noah stepped along quickly, his energy fueled by the bustle around them.
A shadow from one of the taller buildings fell across them, and Noah glanced up. Upper windows were curtained closed, while a few customers in the dim interior of the ground level sipped their beverages with sullen focus. Just the feel of the place seemed dirty. He guessed this was one of the taverns Deks had warned them of and looked at it with curiosity. What would make men choose to spend their time in such a place?
Deks’s other warnings came back to him, and he placed a hand on the edge of the cart and peered inside. “Let’s also keep an eye on the wagon at all times.”
Aterre looked back at the place they had just passed. “I agree.”
They stopped at two fruit stands to purchase a few fresh items before searching out a grain merchant on the next street over. Before long, Noah and Aterre had purchased their provisions and made their way toward the southern edge of town.
The buildings here were smaller and farther apart, though there were still quite a few people hurrying about their business in the street. Noah led Taht around a woman leading three young children — the eldest looked no more than 20 — then had to yank the animal to a halt to avoid an old man who stepped right in front of him, one shaky hand extended. “Excuse me, boys. Might you have time to help out an old man?”
Touched by the wavery voice, Noah looked the man over. He was probably in his seventh century. His back was slightly hunched, and he shifted on his feet as if trying to regain as much of his former height as possible. His face was speckled with tiny darker brown spots, like spice sprinkled over flatbread.
“I’m sorry to trouble you lads, but my cart broke down on my way from the market, and I was wondering if you might be able to help me.” Although narrowed by the steady sloping of aging eyelids and wrinkles, his deep eyes held concern as he shifted his gaze between Noah and Aterre.
They silently sought each other’s council, and Aterre gave a slight bob.
“Of course we will help. How far away is it?”
The man pointed a shaky finger back over his shoulder. Next to one of the more established buildings on the road Noah and Aterre had just traversed, Noah could see a cart tipped forward and listing to one side. Several crates had fallen and lay beside it in the grass. A grey-coated nuzzler stood beside the upset load, looking dejected. As the three headed to the cart, the old man pushed his hat farther back on his head. “It’s kind of you boys to go out of your way to help a stranger.”
Aterre scanned the man’s face. “We don’t mind at all. You asked the right people. Noah here is great with carpentry. He should have you on your way in no time.”
“And Aterre is good at volunteering other’s services.”
The man grinned. “Well, I’m Ebal. Here, let me tie up your animal next to mine while you get started.”
Noah dropped on all fours and examined the bottom of the small wooden wagon. “Looks like this support is badly splintered. It’s going to need something to hold it together.” Noah stood and scanned his surroundings. “Aterre, stay with our things.” Noah fumbled around in their cart before finding a small axe. “I’ll be back soon.”
Noah jogged toward a large grove of trees several hundred cubits beyond the edge of town. Noting that the sun’s power had already begun its waning, he quickly searched the ground for a fallen branch that could make a suitable repair. Before long, he spotted a large piece that, with some minor fashioning, would probably work.
Rushing back to the wagons, he held it against the broken wood, eyeballing the new piece and figuring out how to shape it. Noah glanced at the old man. “This shouldn’t take too long.” Noah quickly cut the wood to the appropriate length and chipped away a few rough edges to approximate the form of the original piece before it broke. “Aterre, can you come help me attach this?”
“Of course.”
When Aterre joined him, Noah slipped under the cart while Aterre supported its weight from the outside. After some time of steady work, punctuated by Aterre’s grunts and Noah’s occasional instructions, the cart stood evenly once again.
Standing back, Noah admired their work. “That should get you home at least.”
“Home? That would get me across the earth and back if I so chose. I’m indebted to you both.”
Noah dismissed that comment with a wave of his hand. “It felt good to be able to construct something again. I have to admit I enjoyed it.”
“Evenfeast.” Ebal inserted the word suddenly.
“What?” asked Aterre.
“Let me buy it for you. See that place across the street with the lamps inside? They have the best meals in town. I’m a regular when my stomach can handle it. Go in there and tell them to fix you up a plate and to place it on my account. Show ’em this.” He handed over his carved armband as a token. “I’ll be inside in a moment and will join you both.”
Aterre slowly accepted the offered talisman and led the way across the street. He ducked through the doorway and Noah quickly followed.
“Hello, travelers. What can I get for you?” A tall woman sidled over to them and ran a finger down Aterre’s arm, her eyes flirtatiously following the line her finger traced before returning to his face.
Aterre’s look never changed, and Noah couldn’t decide if he was amused or unaffected by her forward manner. He cut in. “We’re here as Ebal’s guest” — he pointed to the armband that dangled from Aterre’s grasp — “and we’d like something to eat. Please.”
“Right this way.” She led them toward the center of the room to one of a dozen or so tables in the establishment. As they followed her, Noah noticed that about half of them were full with what looked like contented townspeople. “Have a seat. I’ll bring out your meals in a moment.”
Waiting until she was a little farther away, Noah leaned across the table and spoke in low tones. “It’s impossible to see our cart from here.” He glanced at the window. “I know that it’s still fairly light, but Deks’s warning makes me nervous.”
“I thought of that. Anyone could just walk by and take something.”
Noah stood quickly. “I’ll check on Ebal and make sure our things are safe.”
“Good idea.”
Noah hurried to the door. Taht stood at the hitching post, but the contents of their wagon were not as they had left them. “Aterre!” Noah motioned to him, and he quickly scrambled over. “Look.”
They bolted out the door and ran to the cart. Everything had been ransacked. Clothing and other items were strewn all over not just the back, but the ground as well. A barrel of malids had been shoved roughly aside. Several of the round fruit had rolled around the floor of the cart, coming to rest against whatever pile of clothing or food stopped their progress.
“That happened so fast!” Noah slammed a fist against the side board, causing Taht to flinch. “Sorry, girl.” He turned to Aterre, who had started to put things back in their places.
“Some of our food is gone. And your axe. It looks like they made off with my extra tunic.” Aterre narrowed his eyes. “Deks wasn’t kidding. We were only in there for a few moments. I don’t see how someone had the time.”
“Unless that someone had been able to look at our things while I was fixing his cart,” Noah said slowly.
“Ebal? But he’s — no, you’re right. Why else would he be gone? At least he only got a few things.”
Noah jerked his head as a thought hit him, and he frantically searched around for the puzzle safe Darge had made. It lay askew under an overturned basket. Noah snatched it up and with fast-moving thumbs, he flipped the pieces to their right places in order to open the lid. His stomach clenched. “Gone. All of our money is gone. I just have the small
amount I always carry.” He shook his head. “I don’t understand. Only you and I know how to open this.”
Aterre grinned and slapped him on the back. “I have our money. I pulled it from the box when you went to get the wood to fix his cart. I didn’t suspect Ebal, but just thought it would be best to be safe.”
Noah exhaled, too relieved to be annoyed by his friend’s highhandedness. “That was good thinking.”
Unhitching Taht, Aterre took the lead rope. “What do you say we get out of here?”
Noah walked beside him. “I’m thinking evenfeast on the go is sounding pretty good.”
Chapter 9
They followed the dusty trail as it passed over low rolling hills. A handful of trees on the side of the road provided intermittent shade from the late afternoon sun. At first, pastures and fields filled the countryside marked by an occasional dwelling. Noah recognized all of the crops but two.
Eventually, the road forked, just as Deks had told them it would, and they stayed on the trail closest to the river, which soon narrowed to a single lane as it descended into a forest. The evergreen trees grew tall and straight, and their sharp, resinous scent filled the air. A variety of birds flitted through the treetops. Noah only caught a glimpse of them as they darted from perch to perch.
“We’d better let Taht get a drink here,” Noah said as they approached a small stream that meandered through a shallow channel.
“I need one too,” Aterre said. “This dry air is making me thirsty.”
Noah let the animal drink as long as she wanted. He bent down, scooped some water with both hands, and after an initial taste, he gulped it down. “Oh, that’s so good.”
Aterre leaned his face to the stream and sucked up a mouthful.
“Did Taht teach you to drink like that?”
Aterre grinned. “You should try it.”
As he bent in for more, Noah pushed Aterre’s head into the creek and chuckled as his friend came up sputtering and gasping.
Aterre coughed several times, trying to clear his throat. When he finally caught his breath, he threw a handful of water at Noah, who lunged to one side, scooping up another round and hurling it at Aterre. Having now received two barrages in the face, Aterre launched a full out attack. By the time Noah called for truce, they were both half-drenched and laughing.
Noah leaned back to catch his breath. “How much farther do you want to walk tonight?”
“Let’s try to find a place to camp before dark.” Aterre wiped his face with his robe. He looked around. “I wonder how much longer we’ll be in this forest. It’ll grow dark sooner in here.”
“Well, let’s press on and see if we can find the end before nightfall.” After filling their leather containers, Noah stood and guided Taht slowly across the stream while Aterre braced the cart. “Easy, girl. Nice and steady.”
On the other side of the brook, the damp ground rose sharply. Noah looped Taht’s lead rope in the harness and joined Aterre in pushing the wagon from the back, guiding it away from the mushiest portions of bank. Upon reaching the top, Noah stood up straight and studied the trail ahead. “No end in sight yet.”
“That’s what I was thinking.” Aterre sighed. “Well, we may as well keep going.”
They continued through the still forest, each taking brief rests in the wagon from time to time. As the light became fainter, the noises picked up. The squawks, chirps, and sporadic cries led the men into a game of guessing what sort of animal made each sound.
The woodland eventually thinned. Noah spotted two large birds soaring above the canopy. He watched as they flew straight ahead and then dropped. “Look.” He pointed up. “It’s either a clearing, or we’ve made it to the end of the forest.”
“I think we’ve finally made it,” Aterre said. “Just in time. Let’s go.”
“C’mon Taht,” Noah said as he stroked the creature’s neck. “Just a little farther tonight.”
With renewed energy, they made their way to the edge of the forest. A flock circled in the sky ahead, and Noah heard screeches coming from the far side of a small hill.
“I’ve never seen so many tarocs in one place. What’s going on?” Aterre asked, concern etched across his face.
“I’m not sure. Something huge must’ve died. Let’s check it out.” He ordered his obedient animal to stop and tied her to a mature tree before following Aterre to investigate.
The squawking increased as Noah and Aterre crept up the hill on their hands and knees. When they reached the top, Noah pushed some long grass out of his way.
“I’ve never —” Aterre broke off, shaking his head.
It took a few moments for Noah to realize what he was looking at. More than two dozen tarocs clambered over a huge carcass splayed out in the field. Countless flies buzzed about, adding to the cacophony. The creature’s long neck was ripped open about halfway between its body and its seemingly undersized head. The tail, which Noah estimated to be at least 20 cubits long, stretched to the bottom of the hill, where the clearing gave way to more forest.
Aterre stood on his knees to get a better look. “I’ve never been so close to such a large creature before.”
Noah let out a low whistle. “My father called them earth shakers because the ground seemed to move whenever the larger ones walked. I used to see them occasionally come to the river’s edge for a drink when I was younger, but I don’t know if any were that big. What do you suppose happened to this one?”
“Tarocs don’t kill large animals; they only eat them after they’re dead. I think it was attacked by something pretty large.” He pointed to the exposed rib cage. “Look at how those bones are broken. There’s no way birds did that.”
“Right.” Noah looked up and saw a few more tarocs join the circle above them. “We shouldn’t linger.”
“While you get Taht, I want to get a closer look.”
“You want to get closer to that smelly thing?”
Aterre shrugged. “Guess my curiosity is stronger than the stench at least for now.”
Noah turned and hurried down the hill, the cries of the boisterous birds filling his ears, and the carnage lying on the other side of the ridge fresh in his mind. He had seen seared muscles and the inner workings of animals lying loose on the outside of the livestock they had sacrificed. But somehow on this grand scale, in this setting, it unnerved him. He shook his head, trying to clear the uneasiness of what he felt. Violent. The word suddenly came to him. That’s the difference between the deaths I’ve seen and this. Even though he had not witnessed the final moments of this towering creature, everything about the scene said violence: from the splintered branches and saplings surrounding the clearing, to the prodigious amount of dried blood under the neck, to the large missing hunks of flesh where the thighs joined the hips, to the contorted way the body lay now.
Noah reached Taht, untied her, and then slowly led her up the hill, giving wide berth to the feeding frenzy to his left. Even with the distance, Taht’s feet danced nervously as they passed, and she tugged at the rope, eyes rolling. He could not have taken her closer to the mountain of a carcass even if he wanted to. Ahead and to his right, he noticed more broken branches and a pathway of small broken trees leading into where the clearing became woods again.
Aterre rushed over, brandishing something sharp over his head. “Look at this. I found it lying close to the carcass.”
Noah took the dagger-shaped object and turned it over in his hands. It was nearly a span in length. He pointed at some blood and a small chunk of flesh at its thicker end. “Is this a tooth?”
Aterre nodded excitedly. “I think so. But I don’t want to find out what it’s from. Let’s get out of here.”
“I agree.” Noah urged Taht to pick up the pace but suddenly stopped after a few steps. “Look at that. Those branches are split at least ten cubits up. Whatever broke them was pretty tall.”
“You aren’t kidding.” Aterre pointed to his feet.
Noah did a double-take. Aterre was
standing inside a shallow depression in the ground that was unmistakably a giant footprint, about a cubit and a span in length. Three long toes pointed toward the trail of the broken branches. Fear gripped Noah. “That’s a footprint.”
“Exactly. It went that way, and I don’t want to be here if it comes back.”
“Me neither. Thankfully our trail is straight ahead and not that way.” Noah motioned to the broken branches. “C’mon Taht.”
Noah handed Aterre the tooth and then drove his beast forward at a quickened pace. Entering the forest again, they found themselves in much darker surroundings. The light of the setting sun was evident in the distance, but did little to help them see much as the shadows of the forest merged with the deepness of the evening. As they pressed on, the noise of the tarocs grew quieter while the typical forest sounds increased. He felt more secure with the familiar sounds.
Aterre held up the tooth again. “Can you believe the size of this thing?”
“I can’t imagine. You could make a knife out of that.”
“That’s a great.”
A blood-curdling roar cut him off, and in an instant the forest grew silent, with the exception of a slight echo, which alone had the courage to mimic the terrifying sound. Noah stared wide-eyed at Aterre as they both instinctively grabbed tighter onto Taht to keep her from scampering. Unexpectedly, dozens of flying creatures bolted from their perches in the trees. The clatter of shaking branches above bombarded his ears. Noah hitched a thumb over his right shoulder. “It came from that direction, but it sounded far away.”
“I don’t care how far away it is, it’s not far enough. Move.”
Another roar filled the air, and then a new sound registered in Noah’s mind. Footsteps. Massive footsteps. And their rumbles were getting louder. Noah kept his voice low. “It’s coming back.”
Taht let out a several nervous snorts, and hitched her back legs like she was getting ready to flee. Noah spoke to her soothingly as he tightened his grip on her rope.
Aterre rubbed her neck behind the tall bony protrusions at the top of her head as they hurried away from the approaching danger. “C’mon girl, steady now.” He paused briefly and looked back down the trail. “I think it’s heading for the dead earth shaker.”
