Chapter Seven
“Petrified or not, it is a tree alright,” said Simon.
The seven children were gathered around the trunk having either already felt the hard surface or now doing so. It was like a solid rock pillar extending from the floor of the cave to the ceiling. Blunt branches stuck out from the sides and of course there were no leaves.
How a tree could have survived, let alone once thrived, in the underground environment the children could not imagine. There was no water and there was nothing to suggest there ever had been. There were no dry channels in the floor and everywhere else they looked there was hard dry stone. Nothing remotely suggesting moisture of any kind.
“I don’t understand how this tree could ever have grown here,” said Nikko. “There is no water and nor is there any light. Well, not enough to sustain a tree like this.”
“There must have been once,” said Simon. Like the others he knew ell enough that to survive and prosper plant life required ample water and light. Without either a plant withered and died. Naturally there were some unique varieties which flourished in water without a great deal of ultra violet light, such as jungle undergrowth. And there were some specimens which managed to live in amazingly arid climates. But no matter how small the quantity of light or water the fact remained there was some. Here in this underground cave there was none.
“There had to have been some at one time or another in the distant past,” Simon repeated. “This tree is petrified which means it is hundreds of years old. It also means that there could have been water down here then. Everything is completely different now naturally.”
“The only other explanation is that the tree does not belong here,” said Josh. “That it was brought here from somewhere else.”
“Don’t be dense,” said Simon. “That’s impossible. How could anyone transport a solid rock tree of this size down here? It’s absurd.”
“Agreed,” Nikko said. “We have no way of knowing hat this place was like a century or more ago. These tunnels could have been underground rivers for all we know.”
“Maybe it’s a magic tree like the one we saw before,” said Jordon. “Maybe if we wait around a while it will disappear too.”
“Feel it brat,” said Jason, grabbing Jordon’s arm and pulling him to the tree. “Does that feel like a mirage to you? It is solid rock. We could stand here and watch it for another hundred years and it wouldn’t go away.”
Jason snickered at the youngster’s embarrassment. “Next thing you will suggest is that it is the same tree we saw up there and that miraculously it dropped down through the earth into this cave, pulled the ground in over its head and hid from us.” He looked around the group waiting for them to join in the amusement at Jordon’s expense.
It was Porky who spoke first. “Leave him alone Jason. He’s only a kid. And anyway with the things we have seen so far I for one would not be too surprised if something like that did happen. After all, we have found a man-made underground camp hidden under rocks that are empty and flip open at the pull of a lever. Why shouldn’t a tree do the same thing? Maybe there is another lever around here somewhere and if you pull it the tree will pop up out of the save and stand on the outside.” He went on: “At least that would explain how the tree was there one minute and gone the next.”
“Alright, alright,” said Nikko. “Let’s not fight among ourselves. Jason, try to be a little more tolerant of Jordon. Porky’s right. He is too young to understand some things. But I agree, it is most unlikely that there is a secret handle somewhere that would activate this tree and send it up through the ceiling. It is too big and heavy for that. It would require enormous weight and power to even lift it off the ground. It’ll just have to remain a mystery for now.”
What they had to concentrate on, said Nikko, was finding out if there was another tunnel which would lead them to discovering who or what occupied the underground network, and hopefully Gabrysia and Fallon.
They scattered and examined all the walls, high and low. Within a few minutes Danielle had located an opening. It was about three meters from the ground and in an alcove. On the ground was a flat rock that looked like a stepping stone as to get into the opening would not have been possible without it. No other openings were discovered.
“We’ve got no choice,” said Simon. “We have to go in and see where it leads. There is no other way out of here so it is either that or we go back the way we came. What’s the decision Nikko? Do we go in or not?”
Nikko nodded. “We go in. We have no alternative if we are to continue our search for the others. But please, let’s be careful.”
Nikko as to go first with Josh bringing up the rear. Porky cupped his hands so that Nikko could stand on them and be heaved up onto the stepping rock. From there he would be able to crawl into the opening.
“Hup one, two, three,” said Porky and lifted Nikko into the air. Either Porky was stronger than he thought or Nikko was lighter than he guessed, for Nikko was tossed at least a meter higher that the top of the stepping stone. The result was he landed with a heavy thump, firmly on his heels.
All of a sudden the entire wall containing the alcove, the stepping stone and the opening rumbled sideways.
“Jump,” cried Simon. “Nikko, jump off.”
Nikko clung to the moving wall and turned around to see where he should leap to. But he stayed where he was and thrust out his arm pointing to the left of the children. “Look,” he yelled. “Look at the tree.”
The others followed the direction of his outstretched arm and were stunned at what they saw. The tree was rising from the ground of the cave atop another stone column and disappearing into the ceiling.
“I told you. I told you,” screamed Jordon tugging at Jason’s elbow. “I told you it was the magic tree we saw before.”
The children stood wide-eyed as the tree steadily climbed up out of the cave until in its stead stood a round stone column. The tree had disappeared through the roof of the save. The moment it vanished the cave wall that had rolled sideways, taking Nikko and the stepping stone with it, came to a jolting halt. What it had uncovered was a large tunnel wide enough for three or even four children to walk side by side and at least three meters high.
“Good heavens,” breathed Danielle. “What have we stumbled on here? Who invented these things? And why?” She paused, still gazing at the place where the wall had been. “There is no question. The Drongs could not have done this. We are up against something of far greater power and awesome knowledge.”
Nikko quickly jumped down of the stone and ran to join the others in the centre of the cave.
“That must be it,” said Josh. “That has to be the tree we caw from the top of that hill.”
“And this is where it went to,” joined Porky. “No wonder we couldn’t find it. It was below us. It was down here underground. I wonder how it works. I mean, how the tree goes up and down. And the wall go backwards and forwards like that. I thought those rocks were pretty good but this is fantastic. Have you ever seen anything like it? Just fantastic.”
“Porky,” said Simon. “”Calm down. And stop running around like that.” Porky was half way round the stone column for the second time and was preparing to head for the tunnel when Nikko caught him by the arm.
“Porky,” he said. “Porky. Stop for a minute. You are not thinking. Remember where we are. You’re right, the tree an d that sliding wall are fantastic. But Danielle is right too. Someone made them. Someone much, much cleverer that we are. And we don’t know yet if they are friendly or not. So I think it would be best if we assume for the time being that they are not friendly. We could be in great danger. This is their home and we have come in uninvited.”
Porky stopped and stared an Nikko. Then in turn he looked from one of the Leaf Children to the other. All at once he realized what Nikko was saying. They really could be in grave danger.
“What should we do then?” he asked. “We can’t leave now. We have to try to find out how these things work. And there might be more fantastic things in another part of this place. We can’t just go.”
Nikko still had hold of his arm. Gradually he loosened his grip and then gently he put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Listen Porky,” he said softly, “I agree these things we’ve seen are wonderful and we rally should spend time investigating them. There is a lot we could learn. But the time is not right. Maybe we can do that later. For now we have something more important to do. We have to try to find Gabrysia and Fallon. They could be suffering this very minute. We’ve come this far and we have to go on.” He patted Porky’s shoulder. “I know you want to find them and make sure they are safe. Don’t you?”
Porky dropped his head and relaxed his tense shoulders. “You’re right. Of course I want to help Gabrysia and Fallon. Wherever they are. I’m sorry. These things are just so incredible. I have never imagined anything like them.”
“None of us has,” said Jason, “but there’s a time and a place for everything. This is not the time to try to fathom out how they work. This is searching time and I say we go on. Straight away.”
Everyone nodded their agreement and with a final squeeze of Porky’s arm Nikko headed for the tunnel entrance and looked down the long bright passageway. They were about to enter it when behind them from the direction in which they had come upon the case there was a loud roar. Then suddenly another roar. More frightening which made the children turn in fear.
“What on earth was that?” Danielle asked. “Where did it come……” She was cut short by a third roar that was louder than the first two and which brought goose bumps to the back of the children’s necks.
“Run,” called out Jason. “Run. Down the tunnel quickly. Come on. Run for your lives.”
The children turned and ran as fast as they could along the tunnel. The roars continued louder and louder. On they raced, looking behind them but not seeing anything as the horrible roars echoed around them.
Suddenly there was a scream, and little Jordon who had been keeping up with the six other children despite his size, catapulted heels over head and landed in a heap against the hard rock wall.
“Help!” he cried. “Help me! Help me!”
Josh stopped in his tracks. In a single swift movement he bent down and hauled Jordon over his shoulder and was off again. The others too had paused and now the group sped as a team along the passageway. On they ran until their lungs felt hot and their legs grew tired. The roars continued behind them and the children thought the tunnel would never end.
Just as that fear entered Nikko’s mind the passageway stopped. Abruptly. The children were lucky not to fall to their deaths for the end of the tunnel was a shear cliff at the edge of a huge cavern.
For some seconds they stood gasping for breath, gazing at the drop. But then behind there was another almighty roar.
“What are we going to do?” cried Jordon. “We are going to die. We’re all going to be eaten,” and he started to bawl loudly.
“Over here,” called Danielle. “There’s a ledge. It’s our only chance. Quickly.”
The ledge was very narrow. So narrow the children would never have attempted it normally. But these were not normal times. Another urgent roar, closer than before, and the children knew what they had to do.
With Danielle leading they stepped on to the narrow sill one by one. With a twenty meter drop below them they moved along the ledge, pressing their bodies to the wall. They moved step after step, feeling their way with their toes, too scared to look down.
Simon was bringing up the rear and was only about four meters along when he shouted: “Oh my god! Move! Move!”
The others looked back and there standing on the edge of the cliff was a giant black animal. It stood easily two meters high and was jet black. Its eyes were huge and bright green and they glistened as the animal started at them. A green tongue lolled out of its mouth and saliva dripped onto the earth in front of it. Its tail, long and thick, switched back and forth, up and down. Its head swiveled around and then the eyes glared at them again. It gave two deafening roars and took a threatening step towards the narrow ledge.
“Hurry,” screamed Simon. “Move. Quicker. Quicker.”
The animal put one paw on the ledge. It withdrew it and tried the other front paw. This too it pulled back. Then it gave another frightening roar and stood looking after the children, the whole time its tail flicking angrily behind.
“I don’t think it can follow,” called Danielle. “The ledge is to narrow. It wants to but is angry because it can’t.”
“Keep moving,” said Simon. “Get further away.”
“We can’t,” Nikko yelled back. “We’ve gone as far as we can. There’s no more ledge left.”
Danielle had stopped at the very edge with Nikko close by, followed by Jordon holding onto his breeches and whimpering. Then came Jason, Josh and Porky. Finally Simon joined them. The seven children clung desperately to the face of the cavern still afraid to look down and fearful of not watching behind to make sure the beast was not following them.
It wasn’t. It sat, like a cat waiting to a mouse to emerge from, a hole or from, behind some bushes. One false move and it pounces, rapidly ending the life of the errant rodent.
“What is it?” asked Josh.
“I don’t know,” Porky answered. “But whatever it is I don’t like it one bit. It look like it could eat us all for dinner and still be hungry. Look at the size of t.”
“We’re trapped,” cried Jordon. “We’re going to die.”
“Hush Jordon,” Nikko said. “We’re not going to die. We’re safe where we are. See, it can’t follow us.”
That was true enough, but the youngster was alert enough to reply: “But we can’t go back either. We’re stuck here,”
“He’s right Nikko,” Jason said. “We might be safe now but we can’t stay here forever.”
“Everyone look around,” Nikko said. “See if there is any way we can move from here. But for goodness sake be careful. Don’t move quickly and watch what you are doing.”
They had temporarily escaped the beast but he did not want anyone panicking or slipping off the ledge accidentally. The drop to the ground far below, littered with ugly sharp be rocks, would certainly fatal.
The ledge they were perched on was less than a meter wide. Fortunately it was solid rock and did not crumble. Fortunately also the cave’s wall was at a slight angle so the children were able to lean against it and, if careful, should not topple off. It, too, was solid with no flaky pieces. As Jason said, they were safe for the time being. But they would soon have top find a way or down.
“There’s nothing around that can help us,” said Danielle. “The only was out is the way we came.”
“Well, we’re not going that way,” Josh added quickly. “It would be suicide.”
Nikko cautioned not to panic and suggested they all try to sit on the ledge with their backs against the wall to rest. So with extreme care, one by one they turned around and lowered themselves so they were sitting with their legs dangling over the side. Jordon was last and had to be coerced and aided by Nikko and Jason together.
Constant glances made certain the beast stayed where it was and did not advance onto the ledge. Luckily for the children the animal decided the shelf was not wide enough for its body and remained crouched glaring with it huge green eyes and switching its tail from side to side.
“OK,” said Jason. “Where do we go from here?”
“There’s nowhere we can go,” Porky said. “With that thing back there watching us and waiting for any opportunity to grab us we can’t escape by that route. Certainly we can’t jump or climb down to the cave floor. And without wings we can’t fly up to the ceiling. Nor that that would do us any good anyway. There’s no opening up there either. So it looks like we are stuck here.”
“We can’t just stay put here,” said Jason. “We have to find a way off this ledge and away from that animal.”
“I don’t know,” said Nikko. “I just don’t know. Let’s think.”
Revising all options Nikko was frustrated. The others were right when they said the group could not retreat along the ledge with the beast at the other end. Looking down he also agreed it was out of the question to try to climb to the cave floor. It was too far down and there were no apparent hand or foot holes. Anyway, the rock face was too steep. Upwards was the reverse of down. A continuation of the rock face that led nowhere. There seemed no answer to their predicament.
Nikko looked at the others sitting silently. Danielle on his right seemed in control of her emotions and he was impressed with the way she was handling the situation. In fact, he realized that of his six companions she had from the start displayed the most commonsense. He remembered Jason’s laughing comment back in the forest when he had described as “just a girl”. He now acknowledged that his remark did not do her justice. She had strength and could be relied on.
On his other side young Jordon was cowering, plainly in shock and fear. He would have to be watched. The youngster should never have been allowed to join the search party, and reflecting Nikko believed it would have been better to waste time earlier and escort him back from the jungle to the trees. But then everyone had twenty-twenty hindsight, he reminded himself. It was no comfort. The problem was with them and they would have to make sure Jordon did not caused too much trouble in the testing time that lay before them.
Jason was Jason. Strong-willed and impulsive but a good ally to have in tricky circumstances. If he kept a tight rein on him Jason would be a good right arm.
If Jason was the right arm in terms of physical reliability then Simon was certainly the left. He was bright and logical and had showed himself to be willing to accept responsibility. He also demonstrated a loyalty that was important.
That left Porky and Josh. For Nikko they had started on the journey as a humorous duo. Comedy in stereo. Porky had been the laugh getter and Josh the straight man who parroted the wit. But with the various incidents and developments had come a certain differentiation which indicated that Josh was the sensible of the two. Not that {Porky was unreliable or untrustworthy. Nikko had no doubt that the amusing overweight boy would be a tough team member. It was just that so far it seemed Josh was more likely to respond quicker and more intelligently to events as they occurred.
So overall, Nikko was confident that his six companion ns could present a fairly strong force to be reckoned with should they have to confront a serious problem. And right now they had what Nikko considered a serious problem. Nor far from them was a wild beast that gave every indication of being most awkward. Added to that was the difficulty that they themselves were in a geographically precarious position. It was not an enviable situation to be in. To say the least. A rock and a hard place – absolutely.
Nikko faced Danielle. Raising his eyebrows he asked: “Any ideas?”
“NO,” she answered matter-of-factly. “I wish I could offer something, but I don’t have a single suggestion. We’re in a tight spot I think.”
“You can say that again.”
Despondence settled over them like a cloud. There seemed nothing to add to the crisp comments offered. There were no ideas on how to extricate themselves from their situation and it was certainly a situation that nobody would have wished to find themselves in.
Minutes passed. The children say carefully, balanced on the narrow ledge with their legs hanging over the edge and the backs of their heads rested against the stone wall behind. The animal at the edge of the cliff continued to watch them through angry eyes. It no longer roared, but its tail was ever active as though it had an impatient motor which controlled it alone. The impression it gave was that it was confident that sooner or later its prey would have to come within reach. And when it did nothing would save it from, the drooping jaws and massive teeth.
“We have to do something,” said Jason. “We can’t go on sitting here like idiots. That thing back there is just waiting for us to walk over to it and surrender. What are we going to do?”
“What do you suggest?” Josh asked.
“I don’t know precisely. But we have to get away from here somehow.”
“But how? It’s all very well to say we have to get away. We all agree with you on that. But how do we do it?”
“I said I don’t know Josh. Don’t start picking. Think of something instead.”
“If you can’t think of a way out of this how do you expect me to? Why don’t you do some constructive thinking yourself instead of attacking me?”
“I am not attacking you. I am simply saying we have to do something. Don’t be so sensitive.”
“I’m not being sensitive. But lay of me.”
“Alright, alright, alright” said Nikko. “Don’t start arguing among yourselves. That won’t do any good.”
“All I’m saying,” said Jason, “is that we have to come up with some way of getting down off this ledge and away from that beast.”
“And all I’m saying,” said Josh, “is that I don’t have the answer. I wish I did, but I don’t.”
“Right,” said Nikko. “That’s understood then. No more bickering.” He went on: “Simon, what do you think?”
Simon had been listening to the exchange without looking at either Jason or Josh. He kept his head bent but his expression clearly showed he found the confrontation unnecessary and a waste of time.
“I think we are all starting to get a bit edgy,” he said. “No doubt the animal can sense that. If it hasn’t already it soon will.” He continued: “Logically there looks to be no way out. Back is out of the question, we can’t go any further, up is impossible, and down scares the daylights out of me. But having said that down is the only way.”
“Down?” said Porky. “You mean climb down that cliff? That’s nearly twenty meters. How can we get down?”
“I don’t have the how Porky. I am just saying that it seems to be the where.”
“OK,” said Nikko. “If we assume for the moment that down is our only way what are the means we should consider?”
It was quickly decided they could not jump. It was too high and if they weren’t more seriously injured legs at least would be broken. And that would be just as inconvenient. No ropes meant they could not abseil down the incline. Again it was too high to think of lowering each other one at a time. A human chain, also, was not possible. They looked at one another with blank expressions.
Down was ruled out.
“Why don’t we try to drive the beast away?” said Danielle. “That is one thing we have not considered.”
“Off you go,” said Jason. “You go first. Wave your hands around and tell it to shoo. I’m sure it will do as you order it.” He paused and then said. “Come on Danielle. Just how do you think we are going to make the thing go away?”
“We have our bows and arrows Jason. Maybe we could make it leave with those.”
“It’s worth a try,” said Simon. “Maybe if we all shoot at it it will go away.”
“Let’s do it then. But only one of us first. We don’t want to waste all our arrows.”
Simon was the nearest and was one of the forest’s best archers. So it was decided he should fire a few arrows at the beast to see what reaction he got.
“Aim for the eyes,” said Nikko. “If you hit it anywhere else it will do no good. The thing will probably not even feel it. But if you hit it in the eyes the dye might blind it.”
Simon removed an arrow from his quiver and slowly fitted the feathered end against the thin string. He lowered the shaft against the bow and let it drop slowly to rest on his thumb knuckle. Aiming it at a point a meter above the animal’s head he stretched the string taught and brought the arrow with its ball of red dye down until it pointed directly at the right glistening eye of the beast. Releasing his breath steadily he held his aim. When all of his breath had been silently expelled he opened his fingers holding the string and let loose the arrow.
It flew straight and struck the beast squarely in the right eye. It made a dull plop sound and as the ball hit it burst and red dye splashed all over the animal’s face. It gave a sort of growl and sprang to its feet shaking its head violently.
“You hit it,” cried Porky. “Right in the eye. Great shot.”
The animal was not blinded however and after growling menacingly and continuing to shake its head backwards and forwards which apparently dislodged most if not all the red dye it stood and stared at the children. Then it took a step forward and placed one paw on the narrow ledge.
“Quick,” Josh shouted. “Shoot again. Hit him again.”
Simon took another arrow from his quiver and this time with more urgency fitted it into position. He took aim and fired. The arrow struck the beast a glancing blow on the side of the head. It did nothing but add to its anger and after withdrawing its paw temporarily it stepped forward again.
A third shot by Simon hit it again in the right eye. It roared and shook its head tremendously. So violently it began to stagger. With one paw still on the ledge and continuing to shake its head the beast started to lose its balance and topple sideways to the left and the brink of the cliff.
Almost immediately it realized what was happening and tried to step back to the wider area of ground. But Simon had taken out a fourth arrow and was aiming carefully at the beast’s wide eyes. This time his target was momentarily motionless and Simon held his breath as he let the arrow fly. It was a perfect shot and struck the beast in the other eye.
Instinctively it lifted its head and bellowed. Then it shook its head sharply left and right. As it reached the furthest point to the right its huge body jack-knifed and with its front paw a few centimeters off the ground the animal started to collapse. It was obvious to all what was happening, not least the animal itself.
It tried putting its raised paw back on the ledge. However, it was no longer in the same position and the paw thumped down with the animal’s full weight behind it on the very edge where it gave way and the beast crashed down, slid to the left and finally rolled over the cliff, plummeting to the craggy rocks below. As it fell it roared loudly and its body twisted grotesquely trying in vain to right itself. The sound it made when it hit the bottom was a sickeningly dull thud followed by complete silence.
High above the children stared down at the black shape sprawled in a misshapen form across the rocks. Blood was already running from the beast’s nostrils and mouth, and from the distance separating them to the children it was not red but black. It oozed over the rocks staining them in a growing patch.
“Thank heavens,” sighed Danielle. “We’re safe. Great shooting Simon. You’ve saved our lives.”
Simon was still kneeling on one knee on the ledge looking sideways over the cliff. He had not moved since loosing his fourth and last arrow and he was shaking slightly. He said nothing but lifted his gaze and stared over his shoulder at Danielle for a long time. Finally he dropped to both knees. His back was hunched and his head hung limply very low. His eyes were watering and his mouth was a mere grimaced slit.
Falteringly he said: “I was…terrified…absolutely terrified. That was my…last arrow….and if…..I had missed…” He trailed off and shook his head slowly from side to side.
Porky gently laid his hand in the middle of Simon’s back. “Come on,” he said. “It’s over now. It’s gone and it’s thanks to you that we are all safe. You were fantastic.” He rubbed his friend’s shoulder blades and added: “I would not have had the courage to stand my ground. Let alone try to shoot straight.”
The others all agreed. It had been an example of confidence, strength and above all reliability under stress.
“You were great Si,” said Josh. “Great.”
“As Porky said, I don’t think any of us could have done the same,” added Danielle. “I think I can speak for all of us when I say how grateful we are. You really have saved us from a horrible situation.”
Nikko could clearly sense the feelings of comradeship among the group and immediately felt a little out of it himself. For the first time since they had left the camp in search of Gabrysia he again felt he was an outsider. He would not feel comfortable showing the same degree of sentiment so he merely gave a half wave of his hand and called: “Thanks Simon.”
Jordon was leaning forward over the edge with his mouth hanging open. In the silence that followed their congratulations of Simon, Jordon suddenly gulped and with wide eyes beamed: “Look at it down there. It’s dead. Smashed on those rocks. See the stuff leaking from its head. I thought we were going to be eaten alive.”
“Well, you’re not going to be,” said Danielle leaning over and gently pulling the youngster back from the edge. “We’re all safe and we can now get off this ledge.”
“Right,” said Porky. “Let’s get the heck out of here.” With that the line of children inched their way back to the entrance of the tunnel and the edge of the cliff.
“So far so good,” said Porky again. “Where to from here? I reckon we have no alternative but to go back to the scared tree.”
“That sounds appropriate,” joined in Josh. “Scared kids to a scared tree.” He paused. “But what then