by Lisa Chitty
They gathered their things and carried on with Sasket still leading and Randall, James and Abi trailing behind. The way was now starting to get more difficult. They had turned off the main track some time ago and were now travelling through much denser undergrowth and trees. The path was almost non existent and Sasket was having to hack a path through for them all and was struggling to get the horse through. The trees were so dense that they couldn’t see the sky and it was much darker to the point where they could barely see. For the next several hours they made slow progress. Eventually Sasket stopped and turned to the others. He had hardly spoken since Steve had been turned into a mouse, and James, Randall and Abi hadn’t felt inclined to speak to him.
‘According to the map that Caston gave us there’s a small clearing coming up. It’s getting late and I suggest it as an ideal place to stop and make our camp for the night.’ Sasket waited for them to consider his proposal.
‘Let me see the map,’ Randall requested. Sasket passed it to him and James and Abi gathered round Randall to look at the map and see where the clearing was. After Sasket pointed out where they were, they could see that they weren’t far from the clearing. It was also the last place they would be able to stop before they got to where the oak tree was. Randall folded the map back up and passed it back to Sasket. ‘Fine, looks good to us. Lead on.’
A short while later they were making camp for the night in the clearing. As they got everything out, James, Randall and Abi realised that Sasket had brought two tents with him. ‘Why have we got two tents when we can all just pile into the one?’ Randall asked. ‘It’ll also be quicker if we only have to erect one tent.’
Sasket looked up from where he was making a fire. ‘One is for Abi to sleep in, and other is for the rest of us. A lady shouldn’t be made to sleep with a group of men.’
‘Abi doesn’t mind, she did it the first night we were here!’ Randall protested.
‘Yeah, but I didn’t exactly have a choice in the matter! We did only have one tent, remember?’ Abi reminded Randall.
‘So you do mind? I’m sorry, I thought you were ok with all of us just piling in together. It was certainly warmer!’ Randall looked at Abi with a faint expression of surprise.
Abi smiled. ‘Yes, it was quite cosy wasn’t it! But no, I don’t actually mind about sharing, so…
‘There is one tent for Abi, and the other for the rest of us!’ Sasket interrupted them. ‘That’s how it will be!’
Randall and Abi turned and regarded Sasket with surprise. Since Randall’s rough treatment of him, Sasket had been very subdued, so for him to interrupt and lay down the law surprised them.
‘We don’t have to do as you say,’ Randall answered back.
‘It’s not a case of doing what I say, it’s doing what’s right,’ Sasket retaliated.
James turned to Randall. ‘Sasket is correct. Abi should have space of her own. It’s not fair to make her bed down with us.’
Randall sighed. ‘I guess there‘s some truth in that, but I do hate letting Sasket know that he’s right!’
‘Don’t I get a say in this?’ Abi protested. ‘After all I am the one everyone is discussing like I’m not even here!’
Randall groaned slightly and rolled his eyes. ‘Please don’t start now, Abi. I’m getting tired! Let’s just do it Sasket’s way, for a bit of peace if nothing else!’
‘Fine!’ Abi agreed. ‘But I won’t be alone, because I’m taking Steve in with me tonight!’
James and Randall laughed but Sasket didn’t look happy. ‘What if he turns back overnight?’
‘I’ll just cross that bridge if I come to it,’ Abi replied before walking off and settling her things in the tent reserved specifically for her.
They prepared a hot meal which was eaten around the fire. Not being sure of what they could give Steve, Abi continued feeding him pieces of bread and pastry, which he seemed happy with. As things were still strained between them all it wasn’t long before it was decided to call it a night. Abi had made a small nest in the corner of her tent for Steve out of some spare items of clothing and she placed him in this now. ‘You can sleep here tonight,’ Abi told him. ‘I know mice are meant to be nocturnal, but if you could try and remain quiet through the night that would be great.’ She gave him a gentle stoke before settling down for the night.
Abi was woken in the morning by a ticklish feeling on her face. She reached up to brush whatever it was away and her hand connected with something soft and furry. Before she could stop herself she sat up abruptly and cried out. Abi looked down and saw a small, white mouse running for cover. ‘Oh god!’ she groaned. ‘I forgot I was sharing with a mouse.’ However it was too late. The others had heard her cry and James was soon at the entrance to her tent. ‘What’s wrong?! What’s happened? Are you alright?’ James’s concern for Abi was apparent.
‘James, I’m so sorry!’ Abi replied sheepishly. ‘Steve woke me up and I’d temporarily forgotten that he was a mouse!’
‘So when you found something small and furry in your tent you panicked?’ James asked, faintly amused.
‘Something like that,’ Abi agreed. ‘But now I’ve got to find him. When I cried out, he ran off. Steve, were are you?’ she called out.
Abi caught a movement out of the corner of her eye and spotted the mouse cowering in the corner. She went over to pick him up. ‘I’m sorry,’ she told him as she gently stroked him. ‘I’d forgotten what had happened to you.’
James joined Abi in stroking the mouse. ‘You poor thing,’ he said. ‘Still stuck as a mouse.’ James then looked at Abi. ‘Hopefully it won’t be for much longer.’ Then James left and went back to his own tent to sort himself out for the day ahead.
After a quick breakfast they struck camp and continued on their way, with Sasket leading and Steve safely ensconced in the pouch on Abi’s belt. They knew that they weren’t far away from their goal and they were all eager to get to their destination. However the path they had been following the previous day had practically disappeared and they were now having to try and hack their way through the undergrowth. It was very slow going, especially trying to get the pack horse through, but they couldn’t abandon the animal and all their supplies in the middle of the forest.
They were starting to get frustrated and annoyed with one another for no reason when James called out. ‘Look! The trees are thinning out and I can see the sky a little bit.’
They all looked up and realised James was right, they were getting closer. In fact, they were nearly there. They renewed their efforts to reach their destination and a short while later they were standing in the clearing. It was empty apart from the oak tree in the middle. It was massive. If they had all joined hands and tried to stretch round its trunk the hands of the people on either end wouldn’t have met. It was truly an awesome sight and they were all mesmerised by it.
It was James who broke into everyone’s thoughts. ‘Shall we have something to eat and then see how we get to what it’s hiding.’
It didn’t seem a bad idea so they ate and sat regarding the tree. It seemed impenetrable and none of them could come up with any ideas as to how they were going to get under it.
‘We could start digging close to the base of its roots and see what we find,’ suggested Randall. ‘After all, Caston did say that this tree grew over the weapons and armour.’
‘Go on then,’ said James. ‘Start digging and if looks like you’re on to something I’ll join you!’
Randall gave James a filthy look but got up and went to fetch the spade that Sasket had thought to bring along. He marched up to the tree and attempted to plunge the spade down into the earth. However, nothing happened. The spade didn’t penetrate the ground at all. Randall tried again, but got the same result. He tried in various places round the tree but couldn’t make a mark in the ground. Eventually he threw the spade down in frustration. ‘Right, that was useless. Who’s next for a bright idea. James? Abi?’
James shrugged. ‘Don’t look at m
e. I don’t have a clue about looking for buried treasure. Abi, got any ideas?’
Abi rose to her feet and went over to the tree. She wasn’t at all sure how they could get under or even into the middle of the oak tree so that they could retrieve their armour and weapons. She placed one hand on the trunk and began to walk round it keeping the contact with one hand. Steve was once again perched on Abi’s shoulder and he seemed as intrigued by the tree as she was. About half way round Abi stopped but still with her hand on the trunk. She didn’t have a clue what she was going to do. Then she felt the mouse move down her arm. Where she had stopped, her hand was just below a small hole and it seemed that Steve was heading straight for this hole. Before Abi could react, the mouse had run straight down her arm and into the tree. ‘No!’ Abi cried out. ‘Steve, come back!’
James and Randall came running at Abi’s cry. ‘What’s happened? Where’s Steve?’ Randall questioned Abi.
‘I’m sorry., Abi replied. ‘I didn’t realise what he was going to do until it was too late. He’s inside the tree.’
James and Randall both looked horrified. They were failing miserably to get to the items that Theldon said that they must, and now they had lost Steve. It didn’t seem that things could get any worse, but of course they did. They began to feel a slight tremor beneath their feet which got stronger.
‘Earthquake!’ James cried. He grabbed Abi’s hand and pulled her after him to the edge of the clearing. Randall ran after them. Sasket had also run away from the middle of the clearing and now they all turned and looked back at the oak tree in the centre of the glade so they were able to see the tree reveal its secrets. A split appeared right down the centre of the trunk from top to bottom. Then, very slowly, the two sides of the tree began to open outwards revealing a hollow centre to the tree. The gap got wider and wider, and then everything went still and into the gap stepped Steve, but back in his human form.
They all stood stunned for a moment and then Randall decided to make a comment. ‘Nice attire, Steve. That cloth really suits you!’
Steve flushed and then looked down at what he had wrapped himself in. ‘Yeah, laugh all you want, but I am naked under this. So if you could get me some clothes I’d appreciate it!’
Abi had to suppress her laughter as she did as Steve asked. As she handed him some clothes to put on, she gave him a brief hug. ‘It’s good to have you back again,’ she told him softly.
Steve smiled gently back at Abi before replying. ‘It’s good to be back again. But thanks for looking after me whilst I was, er, incapacitated!’ He then took the clothes from Abi and disappeared back inside the tree. When he reappeared fully dressed he beckoned everyone over to him. ‘Right, are you guys going to come with me and see what goodies are hidden inside?’
‘You bet!’ stated Randall and they all went forward to where Steve was standing, to see what was to be found in the depths of the tree.
Chapter 8
James, Randall, Steve and Abi found themselves in a massive hollow chamber that was completely empty. The inside was just one large area and when they looked up they couldn’t see anything. It was so large and gloomy inside that the roof was shrouded in darkness.
‘So, Steve. What have we got in here?’ Randall asked.
‘I haven’t really looked,’ Steve replied. ‘After I crawled in here, I ran down to the base as I felt myself becoming human again. I found this cloth and wrapped it round myself, then I saw a glow coming from where you guys came in. I went over pressed my hand to the area and the tree split open. So, I don’t really know.’ Steve shrugged.
‘What was it like being a mouse?’ James was regarding Steve curiously.
Steve looked at James and gave a small shudder. ‘I really wouldn’t recommend it. Being that small I felt I was going to be attacked by something and eaten. Also, whilst I was still me, I was sort of the mouse as well, and I felt what a mouse would feel.’
‘What, you mean you wanted to find a wheel and run round aimlessly on it?’ Randall interrupted.
‘No, you pillock!’ was Steve’s response. ‘Just that I should be hiding during the day, and searching for food at night. That sort of thing.’
Randall looked at Steve suggestively. ‘It can’t have been all that bad. After all you had Abi carry you around all the time you were a mouse and you got to share a tent with her. Alone!’
Steve reddened slightly and scratched the back of his head. ‘I was just a mouse mate. You’ve got to remember that!’
Abi was smiling and about to say something when she looked across at James and caught a strange expression on his face. It appeared to be a mixture of hatred and jealousy. She was puzzled by this and felt a distraction was in order so she turned and began walking across the large empty area. ‘Well, we can’t just stand around here all day. We…’
‘Abi! Stop!’ Steve interrupted her.
‘What?’ She turned to face him confused about what she had done for Steve to cry out and stop her.
‘Just walk back towards me, and everyone remain silent,’ Steve requested.
Abi was puzzled by Steve’s instructions but did as he asked. As she walked back to join them she was listening quite hard and because of this caught the change in sound that Steve must have done.
‘There!’ Steve cried. ‘Did you hear that?’ he asked them all.
‘Yes!’ was the emphatic reply from the others. Abi was wearing short boots with a slight heel and as she had crossed the space the sound of her footsteps had changed from walking on solid ground to something hollow underneath.
‘It’s hollow. There must be another room below this one. Let’s look and see if we can find our way into it.’ James made the first move and was on his knees brushing the dirt away. The rest of them joined him and it wasn’t long before they had cleared all the debris away and revealed a wooden trapdoor. After a struggle it was opened and the four of them leaned down and looked into the space below but apart from the beginnings of a ladder, they could see nothing in the darkness.
‘We need some light,’ was Randall’s rather obvious statement. ‘I suppose we’d better see if Sasket has anything that we can use.’ Randall didn’t look very happy about having to ask anything of Sasket. Whilst they had been in here, Sasket had remained outside on the edge of the clearing, not even venturing towards the tree.
‘Randall, wait.’ Steve laid a hand on Randall’s arm to prevent him getting up. ‘Before you do go and speak to him, you need to think about how you treated him, all of you.’ Steve looked round to take in James and Abi in his disapproval. ‘You weren’t very nice to him, and Randall, what on earth did you think you were doing, pinning him up against a tree?!’ Steve looked at him with an expression of amazement.
Randall had the grace to look slightly embarrassed as did James and Abi. ‘We didn’t know what had happened to you and it looked like it was Sasket’s fault.’ Randall tried to justify his actions. ‘He might be on our side but it’s the four of us first and foremost. We have to look out for each other. I was just doing what I thought best at the time.’
Steve dropped his hand from Randall’s arm. ‘Fair enough I suppose. But you might want to think about apologising to him.’ Steve shrugged, leaving the decision up to Randall, and got up. ‘Let’s go and get some light!’
They went out and over to where Sasket was waiting for them. He seemed dismayed to see them empty handed. ‘Did you not find anything within the tree?’ he asked them.
‘Not yet,’ James replied. ‘But we think we know where it all is. We just need some light. Do you have anything?’
Sasket nodded and opened one of the packs on the horse. He withdrew some flint and tinder. ‘Go and get some thick branches. We’ll make torches out of them and then they’ll light your way.’
They did as he asked and it wasn’t long before they had all the light they needed and they headed back to the tree. As they reached the entrance Randall turned back to where Sasket was still standing. ‘Aren’t you coming with us?
It’s alright you know, I’m not going to attack you again, and, er, I’m sorry I did the first time.’
Sasket smiled at Randall’s apology. ‘It’s alright,’ he said. ‘You were upset over what had happened to your friend. But that’s not the reason I’m not coming with you. This is a sacred place, and whatever is inside is just intended for the four of you. I’m only your guide to get you here.’
‘Well, if you’re sure…’
‘I’m sure!’
Randall turned round and joined the others where they were waiting at the entrance for him. As he reached them, they turned and went inside. Then, with the help of the torches they descended into the chamber below. It wasn’t as large as the area above, but it was impressive in how it was made. The ceiling and walls of the space had been created by the roots of the mighty oak that towered above them. They had all knotted and twisted together, making a completely solid, impenetrable cavern, which explained how come Randall had been unable to dig his way in.
However it was what was in the centre of this area that attracted and held their attention. Three mannequins stood side by side each dressed in armour, with swords and short daggers attached to belts around the waist. Then there were shields at the feet of them, each one with a different emblem emblazoned upon them.
From the symbols on the shield it was east to tell which set of armour belonged to whom. On Randall’s, there was a picture of a very large man, The Giant. On Steve’s there was a mouse, The Rodent. James had a complex geometric design in black and white on his, symbolising The Strategist.
Each man went over to their own armour to admire it whilst Abi sat back on the bottom rung of the ladder and watched. There was nothing else in the underground chamber and she began to wonder why she was there.
It was James who was the first to speak. ‘Well it all looks very nice, but I hope I’m not expected to wear it. I’m not fighting anyone!’
‘Maybe it’s intended for defence,’ Abi called from where she sat.
