Step on the Sun

by Doug Plamping

  Sandspour looked in disbelief at Frank. “How can you tell that?”

  Amy showed Sandspour how to look through the binoculars. “You focus the picture by turning this knob. Try it both ways.”

  “Oh, I see them. We call those animals, ‘horses’,” said Sandspour, giving the Galactic word. “How could you not know that word? You’re not from a planet that speaks Galactic are you? Has to be, your grammar is terrible. These ‘binoculars’, did I say it right?” Sandspour waited for someone to nod, “are great! Yes, they are bandits, probably the same group. They’ll see us soon. Amy! Your coat!”

  She looked at her coat, not knowing what Sandspour wanted. “What about my coat?”

  “They’ll see the yellow soon. Hide behind the tent and take it off. Same for you Frank, hide that blue coat. You stand out too much.” Sandspour had pulled out a hood from his jacket and was putting it on. She guessed that he was hiding his red hair and beard.

  Amy left Simon’s staff by the wall and grabbed her backpack and took it behind the tent. She pulled out a grey hoodie, and put it over her yellow jacket. Frank, seeing what Amy was doing, pulled a black sweater out of his backpack and put it over his jacket.

  Amy, thinking that she’d better be ready to run, pushed her red pillow inside the backpack and closed it up. As she came out from behind the tent, Amy crouched to keep the stone wall between her and the bandits. She sat behind the wall with Sandspour and Paul. “Paul, your camos are a good idea, we all need to wear them next time.” Paul just nodded, and then smiled saying, “But, you’ll have to hide that red pillow of yours, it’s like a great big flag!” Amy ignored him; she’d already taken care of that.

  Sandspour was carefully looking over the wall, using the binoculars to watch the bandits. Occasionally, he’d take them from his eyes and look at the binoculars in awe. “So Amy, where are you three traveling to?”

  “Our guide, Simon, taught us a route to this planet using the pillars, yellow domes, and archways.”

  “Moon,” said Frank.

  “Moon! Great Island One, from here we were instructed to follow the valley to the west to find the village of Ravinesedge. Simon said the people were friendly, and we were to arrange to stay there, using Simon’s name, and practice our Galactic. Simon wanted us to stay until we sounded like locals and could look local.”

  Paul took back the binoculars and watched the bandits.

  Sandspour was watching the bandits as he answered, “I don’t know this Simon, but he gave good advice. However, if you go west through the valley you will run into these bandits. We can hide and let them pass by. Even if they see the tent, it will not be worth their effort to climb the hill. Where will you go after you learn Galactic?”

  Amy looked over at Paul for advice. Paul answered the unspoken question in English, “He’s protected us here; we should trust him.”

  Amy looked to Frank. “I agree,” Frank responded, in English too.

  Sandspour was watching their exchanges with interest. Amy looked at him intently. “Sandspour, the task we have been given is to travel to Quenlac Three and return this staff and Simon’s journals.”

  Sandspour looked surprised, “Ha! Quenlac Three is just a myth! A fable about a planet of wealth and abundance, where Wayfarers live, and there are fruit and herbs that can cure any illness. I’m afraid you are the victims of a cruel joke. No one knows how to find Quenlac Three. If it exists, the sequence is unknown.”

  “We know!” Amy said with certainty. “We have the route to get there, and the sequences.”

  Sandspour pondered this. “Amy, whose staff is that?”

  Amy replied firmly, “It’s Simon’s. He asked me to return it to Quenlac Three before he died.”

  “Amy, do you know that’s a Master Wayfarer’s staff?” Sandspour asked.

  She looked at the staff. “Yes. Simon started our training as apprentice Wayfarers and told us that we would complete our training on Quenlac Three.”

  Sandspour was silent for a time. “Amy, Paul, Frank, I believe you. You must not tell anyone else about Quenlac Three. If some people found out you knew the route, they would force you to tell them. You should not tell anyone about being apprentice Wayfarers either.”

  “Sandspour, why not tell people we’re being trained as Wayfarers?” asked Paul. “Simon didn’t say it was a problem.”

  “Because Wayfarers can only come from Quenlac Three!” Sandspour returned to watching the bandits.

  The bandits were below them, and continued to head down the valley. They watched the bandits through gaps in the heather. Amy saw a bandit wearing a grey cloak and hood, on a black horse, suddenly stop and without even looking up the hill, point directly at where they were hiding.

  “Evil’s breath!” whispered Paul, “He must be psychic.”

  Frank mused, “We really have to learn how to swear in Galactic.”

  “I’m happy without learning that! ‘Evil’s breath’ is good enough for me,” answered Amy. “What are they doing?”

  The other bandits milled about, trying to see what the bandit was pointing at. They saw the tent, and the bandit in the grey cloak seemed to be telling them to go up the hill. Reluctantly, the bandits dismounted and started to lead their horses up the hill towards them.

  Paul grunted, “There’s your answer. It will take the bandits 10 minutes to reach us. With the horses they can’t come straight up the hill. Sandspour, what do we do?”

  Sandspour answered, as he grabbed his sword and a leather pack out of the tent, “We run. You can hide in the hills, or come with me to warn Ravinesedge. What will you do?”

  “We’ll come with you,” Amy stated “but we’ll need to bring our backpacks.” After she answered, she realized that she should have checked with Paul and Frank first.

  “Good. You’re younger than me; you can keep up.” Sandspour started up the hill, no longer trying to hide. “If we cut across the top of the hills we’ll reach the Village’s sentry before the bandits do.” As they all stood up, the bandits saw them, shouting to each other, and started to climb faster.

  Conversation stopped as they ran up the hill. Amy was having trouble keeping up with Sandspour and was wondering how old he really was. Once they reached the top, Sandspour set a jogging pace; in the lighter gravity, Amy found it easy to keep up. Amy could hear Paul and Frank behind her, their feet making crushing sounds in the heather. Sandspour came to a downward slope and slowed down. He moved alongside her. “Amy, how were you going to pay for your tutoring in Ravinesedge?”

  Amy thought, 'Pay?' Simon hadn’t said anything about paying. “We have some coins that belonged to Simon.” She pulled out a pouch from a side pocket of her backpack and carefully showed Sandspour; she didn’t want to lose any in the heather.

  Sandspour took a quick look and nodded for her to put them away. “That’s not enough. You’ll have to trade for it.”

  “Trade what?” Amy asked while keeping her eyes on her footing.

  Sandspour laughed, “Those binoculars! Once the villagers use them they are going to want to keep the binoculars. You could trade the binoculars for an entire week of tutoring and board. Save your money.”

  Frank added, “Amy, we can do without the binoculars on this trip, we only have the journey back, and Simon said there should be no problems.”

  “And bandits aren’t a problem?!” Paul said rhetorically.

  At that point, they started up the next hill, and everyone saved their breath for the climb. Amy noted that Paul and Frank were not breathing as heavily as she was, and took the time to give them an exasperated look. All she got back in return were smiles.

  Paul asked Sandspour, “The one wearing the grey cloak and hood, and riding a black horse. Was he the leader?”

  Sandspour answered reluctantly, “The villagers would say he was one of the Evil Ones. They do no killing themselves nor do they take any loot. The villagers would say that the Evil Ones encourage the bandits and slavers, bribe them with promises o
f gold, gems, and information, and appear and disappear as they please. It is not good for Ravinesedge that one of the Evil Ones is here.”

  After moving behind the crest of the next hill, Sandspour stopped to look back. They watched the bandits come over the top of the first hill, following their trail.

  Sandspour informed them, “They’re catching up. I need to go warn the sentry. The Evil One will have told the bandits where the sentry is hiding. You need to go to the village,” Sandspour pointed, “that way. Warn the guard at the gate that there is an Evil One, and bandits. Tell them it is a message from me. Don’t say where you come from or where you are going. Many travelers keep that secret. Go down that path and just keep following it downhill until you reach the village.” Sandspour ran off across the heather, taking the binoculars, before Amy could answer.

  She looked at Paul and Frank, “Can we outrun horses?”

  Paul shook his head. “No. If we hear them behind us, we’ll have to hide. Let’s hope that the village is close!”

  Paul led them down the path, holding his staff horizontally at his side, keeping the pace at a jog so they wouldn’t lose control on the rough downward path. In the lighter gravity Amy found it easy, there was less shock on her legs and ankles. When they reached the bottom of the hill, she saw that the path joined a gravel trail. Paul followed the trail downhill. Frank was behind Amy.

  In a few minutes the village was in sight, and Amy couldn’t hear horses yet. There was a small wooden gate in a low wall that went around the village. A man, sitting on a log next to the gate, saw them coming and stood up. He was wearing a brown tunic, tied at the waist, and pants. On his feet he had heavy sandals with what looked like spikes underneath. Leaning against the wall was a sword and shield, which the man now picked up as he moved towards the gate.

  She yelled at Paul, “Slow down, you’re scaring him.” The man relaxed slightly when he saw them slow down, but continued towards the gate where he stopped. “Let me go ahead, I’ll pass on the message.” Paul stopped so Amy could go ahead.

  “Sandspour of Oupavok One sent us,” Amy yelled. “We’re to warn you that an Evil One and some bandits are coming up the valley. Sandspour of Oupavok One has gone to warn the sentry.” Amy didn’t need to shout any more, she was now close enough to talk, which was good, as she needed to catch her breath.

  The man at the gate reached up to a rope alongside the gate. He yanked at it and a bell sounded, repeating every time he yanked at the rope. “Stay there,” he said, pointing his sword at her.

  So much for gratitude!

  Paul said quietly, “If they don’t let us inside we’re in trouble. If we hear horses, run into the trees and hide. If we get caught in the open we’re dead meat!”

  Chapter 17 – Shelter at Ravinesedge

  Amy took a few deep breaths. Paul and Frank were catching their breath as well, she was happy to see. Men were running down a narrow street towards the open gate. Most were carrying bows and arrows, others swords or axes. After a number of them arrived at the gate, the guard repeated what Amy had said, pointing in her direction.

  A young man, Amy guessed about 20, came over from the group at the gate. He was dressed in a similar brown tunic and pants as the guard, but just had leather sandals on his feet. He carried a heavy bow, almost as tall as he was, a leather guard on his forearm and hand, and a quiver full of arrows on his back. “Who are you, and where do you come from?”

  Amy answered for all of them, “We are travelers. We met Sandspour of Oupavok One and he sent us with the message. We were told to come to this village by our guide Simon.”

  The young man raised an eyebrow when she used Simon’s name. “Sandspour of Oupavok One I know, but Simon I do not know.” Amy could see that he was about to ask another question. A sound of someone blowing a horn interrupted the young man, it sounded just like the movies. Amy heard two long blasts and two short ones. “It seems that you tell the truth; that is the warning from our sentry that bandits are coming up the valley. Come inside the gate. As we do not know you, you must stay where I put you.”

  “Let’s go then.” Amy was anxious to get behind the wall. It didn’t look that high, but being caught in the open would be far worse. They followed him through the gate, past the first buildings and into a narrow gap, a passageway, between two buildings.

  “You must surrender your weapons,” said the young man, looking at Paul and Frank.

  Paul answered, “We have no weapons, only short knives like this one.” Paul slowly took out his belt knife, and keeping it on his open palm, showed it to the young man. The young man looked at Paul’s backpack, clearly thinking that it was big enough to hide a sword. Paul took his backpack off and put it on the ground in front of him. “You are welcome to search our packs.”

  At that point, the alarm bell sounded again. Amy could tell that the young man was hesitant to leave them, but nodded decisively, saying, “If you leave this place we will consider you enemies, and kill you. Stay here.”

  Frank grumbled to the young man’s back, “We heard you the first time.”

  Amy heard the gate slam shut, and the villagers shouting and spreading out along the wall. Then there was only muttering, like a crowd in a stadium waiting for a game to start. Amy then heard horses and shouts from a distance, probably the bandits, but she couldn’t understand what they were saying. Then there was shouting from the villagers on the wall, most of which she didn’t understand either. From the tone it was likely swearing, something Simon hadn’t taught them. Amy heard the twang of bow strings a couple of times. The shouting from the bandits and the villagers died down as Amy heard the sound of horses riding away. “Paul?”

  “Sounds like they’re gone. Could be a trick. While we’re stuck here let’s talk about weapons. Everyone here seems to think we’re stupid for not having weapons. I’m thinking they’re right. We’re too inexperienced to do this; we should have gone to the government.”

  Amy answered harshly, “You promised Simon to return the staff. After we return the staff, you’re free of your promise, and free to go to your government. I thought we agreed on that?”

  Frank tried to break this impasse. He held his staff in front of him. “We have staffs. If we knew how to use them to defend ourselves it would be good. Movies have people fighting with staffs, but they have lots of padding.”

  Paul stopped arguing for now, responding, “Good idea. We have to carry a staff anyway, so learning to use them as weapons makes sense. A staff isn’t going to stop an arrow, and can a staff stop a sword?” Paul looked Amy in the eyes. “I agreed to keep my promise, but I don’t have to like it!”

  Amy didn’t respond, but knew Paul would bring this up again. She changed the subject back to weapons. “I don’t see why we can’t carry sidearms; I’ve told you that I’m an expert shot.”

  Paul dismissed the suggestion. “Simon said we needed to blend in. We can’t blend in carrying Earth style weapons.”

  Amy decided to leave it alone for now.

  The villagers on the wall were quiet now, and they waited for someone to come back to get them. Amy must have dozed; she jumped when she became aware of someone standing next to her. The young man was back.

  The young man walked past her to face Paul and Frank. “Until we hear the all clear you are to stay here.” From the tone, that was a message sent by someone else.

  Amy asked, “What would you recommend that we carry as weapons when we travel?”

  He thought for a second, “I’m guessing that neither of you has ever used a bow or a sword. Learning how to fight with your staffs might be the best. A man with a staff can beat a man with a sword because of the longer reach of the staff, but neither a staff nor a sword can beat a bow. You just have to stay out of range, or behind something.”

  Amy felt her cheeks grow hot at being ignored, hearing his emphasis on men fighting, and how he wanted to talk to Paul and Frank, and not to her! She interrupted, “While we’re waiting, why don’t you in
troduce yourself?”

  The young man’s head came up with a snap, and he blushed with embarrassment. “Yes, my apologies. With the Evil One and bandits coming, things happened quickly. My name is Firstlight of Ravinesedge; it was good of you to bring the warning to the village.”

  “My name is Amy Elizabeth La Reine of the nation of the United States of America on planet Earth. I am the leader of this group.” She wanted to make that point! Amy saw the surprise on Firstlight’s face, quickly disguised. “We appreciate you bringing us into the village.”

  Frank was next. “I am Frank Bristol Wiseman, from the nation of Canada on Earth. I add thanks for sheltering us.”

  “My name is Paul Augustine Fortezza, from the nation of Italy on Earth. We appreciate your advice on weapons. We have a lot to learn about your planet, and we need to learn Galactic to assist us in our travels.”

  A group of men and women came along the street, stopping at the end of the passageway. Amy heard Sandspour’s voice, “Here they are. These are the ones that helped me and provided these ‘binoculars’ as they call them. Hello, Amy Elizabeth La Reine; you and your friends can come out now.”

  Amy grabbed Simon’s staff and put on her backpack; the lower gravity made it easy. She led Paul and Frank back onto the street and into the crowd of people. They were treating them as heroes now that Sandspour was speaking up for them. “Amy Elizabeth La Reine, how are you?”

  “I and my friends are well, Sandspour of Oupavok One. We've been treated with courtesy. Is the sentry all right?”

  “Yes. I reached him in time. We sounded the alarm and then hid from the Evil One. We watched them until they went back over the pass. The sentry was impressed with your binoculars.” Sandspour had a big smile on his face.

  She smiled back, understanding his hint. They might trade the binoculars for a few days’ board, plus tutoring in Galactic. “Now we are here we would like to arrange for lodging and tutoring in Galactic.”

  “Good idea. Let’s take you up to the Temple to make that request of the village elders. Follow me.” Sandspour led off up the street, and they followed him.