CHAPTER THIRTEEN
They had chosen the tunnel for no reason other than it led in the opposite direction to the one Kerry and the Drongs had apparently taken. That the soldier had fled into it and then hastily retreated did not concern them. It had not appealed to him simply because once he was inside it he had realised all of a sudden he was alone and under the circumstances he faced that was not how he wanted to be. At the very least he wanted to be with his co-conspirators so that if caught he would not suffer by himself. The thought of the punishment he would be subjected to would make even the hardiest of Drongs shrink away and seek out fellow misery.
As Gabrysia and Fallon and Venki, followed by Jordon with his quick short little steps, entered the tunnel they came across the two Drong soldiers who had been overpowered earlier. They sat leaning against the wall of the tunnel, hands and feet bound with strips of rag, and with handkerchiefs tied across their mouths to prevent their crying out for help. When they saw the Leaf Children approach they straightened their shoulders and drew their knees into their chests, their expressions wide and cautious.
Venki had gone up to the nearer of the two and putting his hand on his shoulder grinned and asked: “So how does it feel to be tied up, eh?” Then he stepped back a pace and his grin vanished. “Well, get used to it. With a bit of luck your comrades won’t be back for some time. And you can try to imagine what it was like for me for such a long time.”
Then without looking at the others he had set off down the passageway at an eager pace that momentarily left them lagging behind.
That had been a good thirty minutes ago and since then the foursome had walked a long way through the twisting and turning tunnel that one minute curved in a wide arc and the next stretched before them in a dead straight direction with no end in sight. More than once they had thought of retracing their steps and trying another of the passages that led off the main chamber. But each time one of them had convinced the others it would be better to continue a while longer. There was also the possibility that Kerry had returned to the cavern and found the bound soldiers and was now on his way in hot pursuit. So on they went along the tunnel that seemed to lead nowhere.
There had not been much conversation and while Fallon had tried to get Venki to talk about his past and his captivity he had not been able to learn a great deal. Only that he had been in charge of the Leaf Children in the forest before Gabrysia had taken his place. He would not elaborate on how long he had been there or where he had come from. He mentioned Jason by description rather than by name and told of previous encounters with the Drongs who were then led by the same Kerry. However, for some reason Fallon could not understand Venki was no longer talkative and appeared to have retreated into himself. He continued to lead the way, which did not seem to bother Gabrysia, but his manner had become very serious. Finally Fallon put it down to his urgent wish to be away from the underground world which held only bad memories for him.
This was something he could readily sympathise with. He himself could not wait to be rid of the place and back in the forest with the family of Leaf Children and the singing trees and laughter and clear bright sunshine beaming from the blue sky with an occasional fluffy cloud scudding overhead.
Fallon gave an audible sigh and Gabrysia asked: “Are you alright Fallon? You sound tired. Should we rest for a while?”
He shook his head and replied: “We have to keep going. We’re committed now. We have to follow this tunnel and see where it takes us. We can’t go back.” He quickened his step and caught up to Venki again while Gabrysia remained further back with Jordon who plodded on obediently and without complaint despite the difficulty he was now experiencing in keeping up with the others. His head was low and he was breathing heavily. Perspiration glistened on his forehead.
Gabrysia rested her arm around Jordon’s neck and bent to speak encouragement in his ear but just as she did there was a cry from ahead of them. When she looked up she saw Fallon disappearing into a hole in the floor of then tunnel.
“Help!” he shouted as his head vanished from sight.
Gabrysia and Jordon rushed ahead. When they reached the hole they saw Fallon’s hands clinging desperately to the lip of the opening. His face looked back at them and in a pleading voice he whispered: “Be careful. Don’t get too close to the edge.”
As she peered over the side Gabrysia could see nothing. There was no light and all she could make out were Fallon’s upturned face and shoulders. Beyond his waist all was black.
“Where’s Venki?” she enquired. “What happened to him?”
“I don’t know. He went in beside me but wasn’t able to grab the side.”
From below in the dark Venki’s voice called up: “I’m alright. It’s not far down. You can let go Fallon. I can see you’re only a few feet out of reach. Let go. There’s something down here.”
“I don’t think I have any choice,” Fallon answered. “I can’t hold on. I’m losing my grip.” and with that his fingers let go and he disappeared from sight.
“Fallon! Fallon! Fallon!” Gabrysia called down.
“I’m ok,” came the reply. Then: “Wait there. Wait a wile.”
“What’s down there? What can you see?” Jordon was standing close to Gabrysia’s side and she had to hold him back from leaning over the hold precariously.
Almost a minute passed before Venki called up: “Gabrysia. Can you and Jordon come down? Can you do it?”
“Don’t jump,” called Fallon. “Can you lower yourself and Jordon down? Check the edges. See if they are firm enough.”
“They are. It looks like there is a stone border around the sides. It’s like it’s a trap of some sort. I’m sure of it.”
“Right. Well try to lower Jordon first. We can see out even if you can’t see in. if you can lower him in we can catch him. It’s only about three meters down. Try it.”
Gabrysia did not have to coax Jordon to the hole. He was only too willing to climb overt the edge with Gabrysia holding onto his forearms as he lay on his stomach and dropped his legs behind him. Before she could offer any advice he was dangling into the hole, his little hands holding the stone rim. Then he dropped.
“We’ve got him,” called Venki. “Almost missed but we’ve got him. Now you.”
Gabrysia by instinct bent her legs at the knees as her feet hit the ground, cushioning her landing so she did not hurt herself. She staggered slightly but was quickly up with the help of a hand under her armpit from Fallon.
“Where are we?” she asked. “Why did you get us down here? How are we going to get back out? I can’t see a thing but it must be at least three or four meters to the top.” Gabrysia looked up where a square of light shone, much larger from below that from beside it.
“Look,” said Fallon. “Look over there,” and he pointed to his right and almost directly behind where Gabrysia stood. It was still very dark in the hole but Gabrysia was becoming accustomed to the gloom and when she turned she could see a shape about ten meters away. As she looked harder she slowly realised what it was. Venki and Jordon were standing beside a rock carving.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Come and see,” said Fallon and together they walked over to where their companions stood. When they were together Gabrysia exclained: “My god. It’s Torpah.”
Before them the image rose out of the earth showing the upper part of a bird, not any bird, but exactly like Torpah from the forest. The shape, the piercing eyes even in the dingy darkness, the bearing of the bird; all were unmistakable. The lower portion was buried in the hard surface of the room’s floor, but there was no doubt it was the likeness of Torpah.
“It’s fantastic,” said Fallon. “I don’t know what it can mean but that is Torpah. Do you agree?”
“Yes,” was all Gabrysia could say and she continued to stare at the carving. It rose easily two meters and if the rest of the body was below the ground they stood on the entire sculpture would measure at least five meters in height.
“What’s it doing here?” Jordon asked. “Why would anyone build a statue of Torpah? And right down here anyway?”
“He’s right,” said Venki. Of course Torpah was no ordinary bird and the children knew there was a great deal more to him that the mere affection and regard they held for him. But they had never imagined anyone would carve a sculpture in his honour, and certainly the location of the image was mystifying to say the least.
“Well whatever the reason there has to be one,” offered Fallon. “He’s here after all. We’re all agreed that it’s Torpah. I guess what we have to find out now, or try to find out, is what he is doing down here. It can’t be a mistake so there has to be a purpose.”
By now the four children could see quite well having been in the darkness some minutes and they looked at one another each searching for an answer.
“Maybe it’s a sign,” said Gabrysia.
“Oh what? And by whom?” asked Venki.
“I don’t know,” replied Gabrysia. “I just think I could be a sign of some sort. Why else would it be here?”
“If it is a sign then there has to be a message. But there doesn’t appear to be anything.”
“There are not even any other tunnels,” said Jordon. “Only this hole and the statue.”
“I hope we can find something,” Gabrysia said again. “Because we can’t get out the same way we came in.”
“There must be another way then,” said Fallon. “No-one goes to the trouble of making something like this and throws it in a pit and forgets about it. And that’s the other question we haven’t looked at yet. Who made it?”
The others did not respond.
Fallon went on: “We didn’t and I don’t think the Drongs would, or could. Who does that leave?”
Again no-one answered.
Finally Venki spoke. “I think we should find a way out of here as quickly as we can. We can worry about the who when we are not trapped in a dark hole with nowhere to go.”
It did not take the children long to discover there were no obvious escape routes from the pit. But that did not deter them as they knew that in the subterranean world seldom did anything easily betray its secret. And everything seemed to have hidden secrets. So after a visual examination of their close surroundings they set about a physical search. What they were looking for with their hands were concealed buttons, plungers, cracks that might hide levers.
After they had been searching for a time, without success, Venki stood beside the statue of Torpah scratching his head. There had to be something. Otherwise it did not make sense. He leaned against a protruding upper portion of a wing and sniffed exasperatedly. Dust was clogging his nostrils causing him some annoyance and he looked around at the unrevealing walls. Torpah’s eyes showed specks of light. Venki looked away but then turned back and closely studied one of the eyes again. It should not have reflected any light at all if it was stone. Particularly down in the hole. They must be glass, thought Venki, and stretched to see more clearly. It was too far away to tell so he pulled himself up on the wing, clamping his feet against the bird’s underbelly to help. Carefully he reached up to feel an eye. It was smooth like glass.
“What are you doing?” asked Fallon who had stopped his searching to watch.
Venki did not reply. Instead he pushed the eye with his thumb.
“What is it?” Gabrysia joined in. “What have you found Venki?”
“I don’t know,” he said and swung himself further around in front of Torpah. Again he reached u-p and pressed the other eye.
Still nothing happened.
Then the sculpture began to separate half a meter from the ground, slowly and silently swinging open to reveal yet another rope ladder descending into a massive expanse of light far below. So bright it was that when the children peered down they had to squint.
“I don’t believe this,” said Venki. “I just don’t believe it.”
“It’s not the first time we have come across this sort of surprise,” said Gabrysia. “We’ve seen other things in other parts of this place, but I have to admit each time they are more surprising.”
As the children continued to look they could see the ladder made from thick rope with solid wooden stepping panels hung heavily and was so long it dissolved in the bright light many meters below. Even from what they could see it was evident the ladder must have been at least a hundred meters long, perhaps more. The light from below brightened the hole they were in and the children looked at each other without saying a word.
A minute passed and Gabrysia said: “We have to. There’s no other way.”
“I know,” agreed Fallon. “But it’s so deep. Fall from that and you’re dead for sure.” Then he added: “You’re right though. We have to do it. Venki?”
Venki was still staring into the shining opening. He drew his eyes away reluctantly and said: “Yes. Yes, we must.”
“I’ll go first,” said Fallon. “Maybe you next Venki and then Jordon. Gabrysia, you come last.” He looked at Jordon. “Jordon, you must be very careful. Do not hurry and take each rung very slowly. Whatever you do, don’t look down. Just go as slowly as you can until your feet hit the bottom. OK?”
“Alright,” said the youngster but there as clearly a worried note in his voice.
Tentatively Fallon climbed into the opening and eased himself onto the ladder. Rigid, it did not sway at all and he gripped the top rung, tightly wrapping his fingers around the wood. With a last look up he began his gradual descent.
Venki was next, followed by Jordon who did exactly as he had been told and then Gabrysia. They did not talk. Nor did they look down. Slowly, and very cautiously, they lowered themselves ten meters, twenty, fifty, a hundred. The bright light actually waned as they got lower and it became warmer but none of the children noticed as they concentrated totally on the wooden rungs of the ladder.
Fallon stepped down but his foot did not land on a narrow cross piece. He had stepped onto hard earth and was down. For the first time in nearly a quarter of an hour he looked around. He blinked and did not move. A minute later Venki almost stepped on him. Then Jordon and finally Gabrysia. Together they stood and gaped at what they saw.
Before them was a world of green and blue and a range of colours that was dazzling. They were standing on the brink of a landscape that stretched to a far horizon and which showed grass, trees, flowers and a silently flowing river that snaked its way between towering banks on either side.
“My god,” Fallon exclaimed.
From where they were a gentle slope entered the valley and a small grey animal bounded across in front of them and disappeared into a row of thicket near a large tree whose leaves rustled in a slight breeze.
“My god,” repeated Fallon. “My dear god.”
The scene could have been lifted from a picture book, given life and dropped into place so that it looked constant yet fresh and new. The grass was an unspoiled green and thick. It spread across the hills and valleys like a giant quilt. The trees stood straight and strong with their leaves rustling in their millions or drooping heavy with moisture laden veins. Bright yellow blooms clustered around their base, low to the ground, while in the open violet, red and blue flowers turned their faces upward and opened themselves to their plentiful world.
At the foot of high banks rimmed with reeds the river strolled leisurely from the foot of the hill where the children stood to the horizon where blue met green. It was wide and dark except at the bends where ripples chased one another to add a glitter of silver to the surface, and where the breeze dipped lower to flick light sprays into the air where they held a moment and then were extinguished. A plain brown bird burst fro the branches of a tree quite near with an urgent weep, weep followed soon after by a hoi, hoi, hoi further away in the direction the bird flew.
The entire panorama was one of peace, life and beauty. The contrast with the underground world the children had emerged from was almost unimaginable. Whereas the maze of tunnels and dungeons was lifeless and depressing the view before them was alive and bountiful.
A third time Fallon invoked the Maker: “God in heaven. It’s magnificent.”
Time passed as the children absorbed the vitality of the world before them. After some minutes they began gesturing, pointing things out to one another, their faces beaming and arcing from one side to the other as something new and exciting was spotted, identified and commented on. But they did not venture into the valley as still they were wary. Their experiences had shown that behind every pillar, around every bend and with each new development, something awaited them. Not always pleasant but always unexpected. So while they laughed, and in the case of young Jordon jumped in the air with glee as a horse sauntered from behind a clump of bushes, they remained in the mouth of the yawning cave looking out on the valley. When they had quieted Fallon asked what they had all been wondering: “So, what do we do now?”
It was a question that had been repeated many times in the past days and no matter who had posed it the answer was inevitably one of consensus. So it was this time, and after a brief discussion it was decided they should explore the land down to the edge of the river at its nearest point. If all went well they would then consider whether to go further.
The walk to the river bank went without incident though it took longer than they expected. It seemed that no matter how long they walked the river got no nearer. Perhaps it was because they stopped often to gather flowers, pick up stones which bore coloured glass and substances that shone like gold and silver, or to once again marvel at the range of wildlife.
Two hours after they set out they arrived at the river, and once again their first impression had been incorrect. The water was calm at the edge as they looked down on it from atop the bank, but in the middle it raced along surprisingly fast and the eddies they had seen from a distance were in fact quite busy white water lapping around rocks and whirling about as it tumbled on. The children searched the rim of the high embankment until they found a path that wound its way down the side to a sandy tract at the bottom. Once down the children had to raise their voices to be heard over the loud murmuring of the flowing river.
“Look at the fish,” shouted Jordon. “Over there. It’s a big one. And there. Here, here, too.” The river teemed with them and shoals swam up and down the edge, lazily seeking food and flashing their scaly sides through the surface.
“I’m hungry,” said Jordon, reminding the group that they had not eaten for a long time. They had been preoccupied with captivity and escape for so long they had not even thought of food. But now that they were free and had stopped running they realised just how hungry they were.
Within minutes they had caught sufficient numbers of the fish to silence the grumbling of their stomachs, and they were neatly spread out on the sand, no longer flipping their tails and jerking their heads with fixed but somehow frightened looks in their eyes. Actually they had been easy to catch as they cruised sluggishly along almost completely unconcerned as the children waded into the water. It was only when hands began to close around their bulging bodies that they sensed danger but by then it was too late. Some in fact were hoisted out of the water but tossed back with only the larger, obviously older, ones being kept and thrown ashore.
Four now lay still in the sun while the children remained in the river with the shallow water gently caressing their knees. It was cool and refreshing and they stood for a moment longer drinking in the tranquillity, breathing in new life and for the first time in days relaxing. Then they walked to the sand and collected some dry drift wood and fallen branches and began building a pyramid shaped pile out of the twigs. Once it was alight larger sticks would be added and the fish would be skewered and held over the flames. But first the fire had to be started and the children concentrated their efforts on rubbing two sticks together as rapidly as they could.
However they soon came to the realisation that this was not a simple thing to do. The wood seemed different to that in the forest somehow. Each tried his hand at the rubbing but all they manufactured was much sweat and two smooth sticks.
Fallon was the last to try, his second attempt, but felt he was wasting his time and sat back on his haunches, his arms hanging limp in front of him. He tossed the sticks aside, picked up a grey stone and juggled it in the air a few times before throwing it away frustrated. As it ricocheted off a large rock a spark flew. He stared ahead for a few seconds and then heaved himself and retrieved the discarded stone. Returning to the heavier rock he bent and brought his hand sharply across it at an angle. Another spark cracked between the two surfaces.
Less than five minutes later the heap of twigs was burning and the children were standing around with satisfied expressions.
“I thought we would have to resort to eating them raw,” said Gabrysia.
“Ughhh,” commented Jordon and screwed up his face. “No way. I’d rather starve.”
“Well we don’t have to now.” Fallon gazed at the growing flames. “When that gets going a bit more we can put those thicker branches on and start cooking.”
Still later as the four fish hung over the fire Fallon joked: “At least our two fire sticks weren’t wasted altogether. We didn’t start a fire with them but they ended up smooth and shiny and make perfect skewers.”
It was a feast they would remember long after the fish had been reduced to brittle skeletons. The fire died down to embers that flared and crackled while the children sprawled on the sand and soaked up the warm rays of the sun. Muscles loosened their knots and limp limbs seemed to sink into the clean soft sand as their bodies took on the weight of satisfaction. The four Leaf Children drifted into their separate dreams of worlds totally different from the one they now occupied. Deeply they slept.