So, she had a choice to make. A path to the right and a path to the left. Both were identical, but the tap, tap, tapping drew her to the right-hand path, and it agreed with her instincts. That way was north and that was the way that they wanted to go, so she turned, faced that direction and waited.
When the breeze arrived, she realised what she was waiting for. The air that blew into her face smelled clean and, if not quite fresh, at least it was not at all stale.
‘Wist,’ she shouted. ‘If you can hear me, head north.’ Then she shouted out the same to Sevika in her tongue. She waited a few seconds for a reply, and with none forthcoming, she took a step forwards.
As before, she reached out with both her hands and found the walls. Then she took a few steps forward, probing the ground with her feet each time. She thought about reaching out with her mind, trying to see if she could find her companions, but her mind felt too stretched to control it.
Tap, tap, tap…
So, on she went, one faltering footstep at a time. She could imagine the rough surface that surrounded her. It would be almost identical to the one above. The only part she had difficulty visualising were the odd spokes of rock that might be above her head. Everything else seemed…natural, but those spires had looked formed by hand.
As she walked, a light blossomed at the end of the tunnel - a gentle, warm, ochre glow that filled her heart with hope. When she was half-way to the light, she stopped. Silhouettes moved about out there. At first, she thought it might be her friends, but there were too many of them.
But what was to be gained by waiting here?
‘Nothing,’ she said aloud and walked on.
20 - Run Silent, Run Deep
They gathered there in the light of the fires. One large watch-fire, and several torches were scattered around the walls of the large chamber. All her companions were there; Wist, Haumea and even Sevika. None of them were restrained, or harmed in any way, but they were surrounded by masses of the strangest looking creatures.
More swung down from the openings far above their heads using beams of volcanic rock like tree limbs, to navigate their way to the floor. The speed at which they moved through the air astounded the girl from Mashesh, but on the floor, these things looked awkward.
Aviti glanced at Wist, but his attention was focussed on one of these black and white creatures; the grey one with a black face. This creature stood a few inches taller than the dozen others around him. The others appeared to be waiting for him to speak or act.
As Aviti’s eyes became accustomed to the light, she noticed that what she had assumed to be fur on these beings was just skin colourations. None of them wore any clothes.
Wist approached the largest grey one, which only came up to his chest.
‘Hello,’ said the creature, in a formal, haltering voice. The voice was deeper than Aviti had expected from such a diminutive creature. ‘I am Lar’
Then he extended his open hands to Wist, palms up, side by side, as if he wanted Wist to bind them together. Just like the Heirns did in Tapasya when praying; when asking for Wist’s blessing. Wist repeated the gesture, but he looked ashamed as he did.
‘Hello Lar, I am Wist. These are my friends: Aviti, the Giantess Haumea, and the Intoli Sevika.’
Lar nodded, but his coal-black eyes lingered on Sevika. Then Lar dropped his arms to his side. The finger on his right hand grazed the ground as it swung back and forth. Then he turned from Wist and said, ‘Please come with me. You are starving and you are tired. Whatever you need, wherever you must go, you must eat and you must rest.’
Aviti was now too weary to disagree, and too confused to argue, so she nodded. The energy from the lights had gone from her, leaving her hollow.
One of the lighter skinned creatures, who had just arrived, extended a hand to her, but she shook her head. The motion made the room spin and a hand grasped her arm before she toppled once more. As she blinked the dizziness away, she saw the look of concern on the new comer’s peculiar small features.
‘I am fine,’ Aviti lied, but she did not remove the supporting hand.
‘I am Kloss,’ came the reply. This voice was higher and gentler than Lar’s had been. ‘Let me help you.’
‘Yes,’ said Aviti. Whatever grace the lights had given her vanished, and a fresh wave of fatigue swept through her body. The leaden ache returned to her legs and arms, and her head began to throb.
‘We have not had visitors from above in many, many years,’ said Kloss. ‘Please, come this way.’ Kloss pointed her elongated arms to the far side of this large chamber. ‘It is not far and I can carry you if you require?’
Aviti said, ‘No, no thank you.’ Even the effort of speaking made her nauseous. Through bleary eyes, she saw Wist and Haumea heading off, and she assumed that Sevika must still be there somewhere. So, she let herself be led past the huge central fire. For such a large fire, it generated no smoke or heat, but she was too tired to care. Aviti could hear the other one, Lar, talking to Wist and Haumea, but they were out of earshot. The lolloping stride of Kloss and her fellows allowed them to keep pace with Aviti and the others, but it looked uncomfortable.
‘You do not walk often, do you?’ Aviti asked.
Kloss chuckled. ‘No. We Hylob do not walk great distances. We are most at home amongst the Spires, where we can use our most powerful asset to their full potential.’ She swung her overlong arms out in front of her and extended the fingers to their maximum span. Kloss’ fingers were at least an inch longer than hers were, and their pale, inner surface looked calloused and worn.
They left the large chamber behind and walked into a winding tunnel. At first, Aviti thought that the walls glowed, but then she noticed the small bars sticking out from the walls. As they approached them, they changed colour from red, through orange, to a bright yellowish white. Then, after they passed, they dimmed once more, returning to a dull red glow.
‘The fire,’ Aviti muttered. ‘It was not real, was it?’
‘No,’ confirmed Kloss. ‘We normally use it to keep any of the mountain dwellers from venturing too far from their home. We can alter the illusion to fill the cave.’
‘They were terrified of you. Or this place.’
Kloss laughed again. ‘We have a few other simple tricks that we use to help.’
‘But you do not harm them?’
‘No. We simply turn them away, but the way out is not as simple as the way in.’
‘It never is,’ said Wist, surprising Aviti. He took her other arm and she did not protest.
‘We need to reach the Dhuma,’ said Wist as they walked.
‘The Dhuma?’ said the Hylob, her head bobbing along to her strange gait.
‘I’m not sure what you would call it. It is where the Intoli imprisoned the Waren – the animate darkness.’
Kloss shook her small head. ‘I do not know what these things are that you speak of.’
Wist’s voice hardened as he went on. ‘They have blotted out the sun in the sky. We must reach the Dhuma.’
‘I know of the Intoli. They appear in our midst at times, but... never do they speak to us. Once you have rested you may speak with Molock and the council. Perhaps they will have the answers that you need?’
Before Wist could reply Aviti said, ‘I cannot go on.’ Then her legs went from under her. Wist grunted as he and Kloss took her weight.
‘Quickly,’ said Kloss. ‘We can take her to my doocot.’
Nobody spoke as they passed through one corridor and then another. Aviti allowed her head to loll back so she could stare at the lights peppered around this place. They danced before her, making swirling patterns of stars in her mind. The black spindles of rock merged and overlapped like the arms of dancing men and woman, locked in an eternal frolic.
-*-
When she woke, she could still see lights, but they were dim and close to her.
‘She wakens,’ said a voice.
‘Aviti,’ Haumea whispered. ‘Here, drink this.’ Aviti coug
hed as the gelid water hit her throat, forcing her to sit.
‘I am sorry. I should have given you more warning, but you need to drink, you have been too long without.’
Aviti tried to talk, but her throat would not obey her commands, so she did as Haumea bid her and took some more water. So as not to bring it all back up again, she took small sip after small sip, giving the water time to go down.
When it reached her stomach, she feared that she might regurgitate it, but Haumea was there once more. The Giantess handed her a piece of matted, greenish bread, which she devoured. Its mild, minty flavour calmed her and despite being quite dry, she swallowed it all. As her stomach calmed down, she took some more water and then some more of the bread.
When she had eaten and drunk as much as she could manage, weariness overcame her and she lay down and slept once more. She repeated this process three more times before she was able to rise from the bed.
Aviti bumped her head on the domed ceiling, which curved down to the floor beside her cot. Rubbing at her head, she found that her hair had gained some length and she felt the compulsion to cut it away again, but she resisted it for now. Her legs trembled, prompting Haumea to ask, ‘Do you require assistance?’
Each time Aviti had woken, Haumea had been beside her. ‘No,’ said Aviti. ‘I am fine. Where are Wist and Sevika?’
‘Wist has been exploring this place, when he has not been by your side. I think he feels responsible for your... collapse.’
‘I think I can claim responsibility for that myself,’ said Aviti, taking more of the pale-green bread that Kloss offered her. She nibbled on the edges of it and sipped water from a stone bowl. It was made from the same dark pock-marked rock that surrounded them, but its edges were smooth. Small points of light danced on the dark surface of the water inside it, sparkling like stars on the ocean.
‘Would you like to walk?’ Kloss inquired.
‘Yes, I think I have been stuck in here long enough,’ Aviti said. Then she added, ‘I am sorry. You have a lovely home and I am truly thankful for the care you have given me.’ Unsure how to conclude, she bowed as deeply as she could manage. In return, the Hylob smiled, showing Aviti her narrow, ragged teeth.
‘Come then,’ she said. ‘I shall show you the Spires.’
Aviti shrugged and Haumea took her arm, although this time it was the gentle hand of friendship, as well as a walking aid. ‘Thank you,’ she said to Haumea and the Giantess smiled as well.
They stepped out of the cramped living space into a much larger chamber. Haumea unfurled herself and then placed her staff before her, butt end into the dusty stone floor.
A few Hylobs bustled about their business, moving in and out of other living spaces that were moulded or cut into this hemispherical cavern. These doocots, as Kloss named them, spread up and around the walls, reaching to the top of the semi-spherical cave. The Hylobs used the poles of rock that spread out above them to navigate between levels. Aviti watched in awe as they used both their hands and feet to facilitate their movement.
Aviti stopped for a breath and a drink as they reached a tunnel that led out of the common area. She leaned against the harsh black rock, its solidity helping her to maintain her balance. As she gulped down some water, she let her other hand explore the rock. She traced the ridges and sharp edges until she came to a smooth cylinder.
When she looked down, she realised she was grasping one of the bars that provided light to this subterranean labyrinth. She jerked her hand away, dropping her waterskin as she did so. Then, she placed her hand back on the glowing stick. Instead of scorching her fingers, it was as cold as metal.
‘Our Agniraz make them from the lava which flows miles below us,’ said Kloss. ‘They travel for many cakra to get what they need. Sometimes it is scores upon scores of cakra before they return.’
‘Cakra?’ said Aviti.
Kloss stared at her, trying to grasp what the Overlander’s question was.
‘I think it is how they measure time,’ replied Haumea.
Kloss’ eyes darted between Aviti and the Giantess, trying hard to comprehend.
‘How?’ asked Aviti. She also did not follow the Giantess’ train of thought.
‘These light sticks glow bright for a time and then they fade as they Hylobs finish their day. They stay dim until the Hylobs rise from their rest, when they brighten once more.’
‘So, you do not see the Sun at all? Not ever.’
‘We know of the Sun, of course,’ said Kloss, sounding annoyed with the question. ‘But we do not need it.’
Aviti let go of the bar and stooped to retrieve her waterskin.
‘Let us move on,’ said the Hylob, perking up, so they walked on into the outgoing passage at a gentle pace. It allowed Aviti to study the structure of the tunnel and the careful placement of the glowing sticks that lit their way.
This passage split a few times and Aviti could see the connecting rock poles that allowed the Hylobs to move through the upper levels of this place. She saw a few smaller Hylobs, children she presumed, scuttling from level to level, with reckless abandon. The lights shimmered as the youngsters gambolled past. Rather than just lightening and then darkening, they burst with a cacophony of colours.
Aviti and Haumea stopped to share a laugh with one group, as they darted out to see them and then darted away when the intruders caught them looking.
Soon they moved on, entering tunnels that connected living areas. Some of these areas were wide open, and one even had a pool in the centre that a few darker skinned Hylobs sat around chatting.
They stopped often, allowing Aviti to rest and take on some more water. After one such break, they entered a long tunnel that had no side passages or living areas. The lights in this tunnel were less random here, the glowing rods were all aligned into lines that wove in and out above their heads; two lines undulating back and forth.
‘Nearly there,’ said Kloss. ‘Nearly there.’
Aviti could see the tension and anticipation building in the Hylob. Kloss even leapt up and touched one of the lights, causing it to dazzle Aviti and Haumea.
‘I am sorry,’ said Kloss. ‘I am acting like a youngster. We should not play with the lights. It reduces their lives.’
Aviti smiled anyway.
‘Ah, here we are, here we are,’ said Kloss as she jumped in the air once more. She stood at the end of the tunnel, in a glowing opening. As Haumea and Aviti approached her, Kloss sprang away, darting into the chamber beyond.
Haumea gasped when she entered the mammoth hall, and when Aviti moved around her, she could see why.
‘The Spires,’ shouted Kloss from somewhere in amongst the multi-coloured spokes above their heads. Her voice mingled with the laughter and chatter of other Hylobs that swung amongst the heights. Each time one of them touched a pole, it flickered with radiant colours.
The effect of their play mesmerised Aviti.
Then Haumea walked over to the centre of the circular chamber. There, a large collection of these poles, the Spires, were thrust into the floor, reaching all the way to the ceiling. Haumea caressed one of them and gasped once more as the dull rock sent waves of pink and red flowing. When these pulses met the lines that radiated outwards, like spokes from a wheel, the red and pink lights modulated the other colours to make rainbow bursts that were soon lost in the heights.
‘I have never seen anything of its like,’ said the Giantess.
‘No,’ said Aviti.
The Giantess flicked her index finger at a different Spire and sent a pulse of verdant green to play in the heights. Then she stepped towards the mass of poles. Together they looked like a severe vision of a tree, with all of its branches bent to point in straight, unyielding lines. Aviti reached her hand out to touch it, but when she was only inches away, she stopped.
‘What is wrong Aviti?’ said Haumea.
‘I…’ she began, and then she grasped the nearest Spire and held her breath. Then she laughed with pure relief as a ray the colour of t
he burnt sands of Tapasya shot upwards and burst amongst the horizontal branches. There were excited squeals from the Hylobs as they chased the colours through the heights.
‘See,’ said Haumea as she put an arm around Aviti. ‘What were you worried about?
‘Nothing,’ said Aviti, but she could not bring herself to look the Giantess in the eyes.
There was a thump as Kloss landed beside them. ‘It is a wonder,’ said Aviti to Kloss and the Hylob beamed in appreciation.
‘It is made from stone,’ said Haumea with a hint of amazement.
‘No,’ said Kloss, sounding stern. ‘It was not made. It has always been here. Even before we were. Its roots reach down to the core of the earth.’
‘It is true,’ said Wist, appearing around the side of one of the Spires. ’This was not made. Not by mortal hands at any rate.’
‘Touch it again,’ he said to Aviti. She hesitated again, but then she thrust her hand onto the cold stone once more. Again, it came alive with the glowing colours of the Great Desert of Tapasya. Then Wist placed his hand above Aviti’s and the Spires went dark.
There were screams from above and Kloss shrieked. Wist withdrew his hand and the Spires came alive again.
‘Do not do that again,’ warned Kloss. Her face wrinkled as she glowered at Wist.
‘Sorry,’ said Wist, showing the palms of his hands to the Hylob. ‘I had thought that blood might pour out of the ceiling.’ He laughed and then shrugged. ‘Sorry,’ he said once more.
‘Do you know where Sevika is?’ Aviti asked. ‘I have not seen her yet.’
‘She’s wandering the corridors,’ said Wist.
‘Wandering? Why?’
‘I think she’s seeking the way to the Dhuma.’
‘But I thought she could sense it, she seemed so sure.’
‘Since we have descended from the surface, she can still sense it, but she cannot find the path.’
‘But if she cannot, then how can we get there?’ asked Haumea.
‘We must see Molock,’ said Wist to Kloss. ‘You have put this off for long enough. Aviti has recovered. Take us to him, now.’
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