Chapter 8: Hollow Haven
There wasn't much fish left for breakfast the next morning; and if there was, the fish were hiding very well. After a cool drink of water, the four continued into the jungle like the day before. There wasn't much talking from anyone. Tempers were still high, and no one spoke to avoid bringing up last night's quarrel. It was cooler that day, which made the pace faster. Suddenly, to their surprise the jungle's floor sloped at an extreme angle, it was hard to tell if it was purely vertical or not. The trees that grew down the slope provided a means of going down, and it wasn't long before all made it to the bottom safely. The rest of the day was spent the same way; yet when the moon rose, neither of them thought of stopping. The half moon sat high in the sky and Yohan saw that the wolves would lift their heads and give a small howl. Yohan did not understand this ritual; it must have been an old tradition for the species of the wolf. The night looked as if it would give no surprises or dangers, like the previous night before; but in the corner of his eye, Sly spotted a little creature that had been watching them from afar. Its big green eyes were comical, yet it left a feeling of unfamiliarity of its intentions. Sly did not want to alarm anyone over this, he was sure it was just an inhabitant making sure that they would move along their way, not disturbing its territory; however, when the creature appeared closer in a tree, Sly alarmed the others.
"Hey, someone's watching us," replied Sly fearfully. "Over there in the tree." The others looked, but the creature was gone.
"This is no time for games," said Sebastian. "This is not a game."
"By the way can we stop," said Yohan.
" We've been hiking all day. I'm hungry and tired."
"We'll travel for another hour, and then we‘ll rest after that." replied Sebastian.
The group continued and the creature with the big green eyes followed them a ways off among the bushes. Sly, keeping a keen eye on the creature, decided to play a little game. As he walked, he picked up a few rocks; and whenever he spotted the creature, he tossed a stone at it. He was hoping to send the animal away; however, the creature would only dodge the projectile, returning to follow them from a different area. When Sly's game failed its desired result, he tried to inform his friends again.
"I tell you someone is following us. Go over and look in the bushes."
"Sly we see nothing and besides, "Brute said taking a deep swallow," you‘re -you're scaring Map. Isn‘t that right, young cat?"
Yohan saw the fear on Brute‘s face and rolled his eyes.
"I'm telling the truth. Go and see for yourself."
"All right if it makes you feel better," said Sebastian.
Sebastian crept over to a group of bushes and began to inspect it. "I don't see--"
When Sebastian turned around he saw his friends standing still as stone and what they were looking at took his breath away. In the tree tops appeared at least one hundred pair of big green eyeballs. They blinked at the strangers below, wondering what they should do with them, and wondering who they were. It was about five minutes before anyone spoke. Brute gathered the courage to speak.
"What do you want with us?"
"The question is what you're doing around here?" said a voice within the trees. None of the wolves were incline to tell about the silver treasure.
"Our business is our own," said Sly.
"Hopefully not the business of throwing rocks," replied another voice.
From the treetops, one of the creatures came down and walked towards them. All they saw, for the moment, were two eyeballs advancing towards them. Sebastain took a fighting stance, but the effort was pointless. The creature was very small, about twelve inches in height; it had long skinny fingers and toes. Its eyes were large and the creature had a long, hairless tail, except at the end, that it flipped from side to side as it looked upon the strangers. Around this creature's neck rested a ruffle made of leaves and jungle vine, and in his hand he wielded a stick with a pointed edge. The wolves and Yohan, not ever seeing a creature like this before, were thinking about the same question, but Yohan was the only one who addressed it.
"What are you?"
The creature looked up at the trees, pointed his stick in the air, and answered the question in a jubilant cry,
"Tarsiers!" the creature replied, as the rest of his kind gave a high pitched call. One of the wolves went to speak, but the tarsier continued.
"I am Girgan, chief of this clan. It is an honor to see the four of you. You all look weary. Please give us the pleasure of showing you our hospitality."
While Girgan was speaking, Yohan keep a look out at the tarsiers that stayed among the branches, for some reason the eyes of these small creatures hid a secret that Yohan could not deduce; and occasionally he would see a smirk that said something different than what Girgan had proposed. Yohan pulled on Sebastian's cape.
"What?" said Sebastian leaning over. "They're up to something."
The wolf thought about the warning as he stroked his whiskers. He turned his attention back to Girgan.
"This sounds very generous, but we four have been doing quite well for ourselves. Seeing a bunch of fur balls with big eyeballs coming out of nowhere leaves me and my friends worried. I think we will pass on your offer."
Girgan was insulted by the wolf's description of himself and his tribe, but he held his composure.
"It's a shame. All that food: the fruits, the sweet meats, and the desserts will go to waste. There would have been a nice warm fire for all of you to sleep by instead of the cold jungle. And yes, we were going to put on a play for you too. But if you prefer the coldness of the trees, then proceed on."
Girgan's persuasion worked. The wolves took some time to debate whether or not to trust them.
"I don't know, Sebastian," said Brute, "they seem nice to me."
"There are many things that seem nice, but are deadly. Remember the great saying: Do not be fooled by strange generosity, for it may be malice in disguise."
"I never heard of that before," said Sly. " Did you just make that up?"
"Maybe---It doesn‘t matter. All I‘m saying is that we have to be careful."
"Look, we have traveled for days in this jungle," replied Brute summing up the events.
I 'm tired and hungry. I don't know about you, but that fish was not very filling and some sweet meat will do me good."
"Good point," said Sly. " Besides if any of those fur balls get out of line, we'll just leave. They look like they can't do much harm anyway."
The wolves agreed and told Girgan the news.
"Most Excellent! Please follow us. Your food waits not far from here."
The tarsiers' village was only a mile away. The village itself was very simplistic; the area was a large flat opening that was surrounded by trees. A slope, that was nearly impossible to see in the dark, led them inside. Some of the tarsiers disappeared into the darkness.
The chief invited his guests to sit down. At the chief's command, a host of fruits and desserts were brought in front of them. Water contained in wooden bowls were brought out as well. Yohan's hunger controlled him and he gobbled everything he saw in sight, the wolves did the same. The tarsiers, who had disappeared, returned with wood to start a fire. Within moments there was a grand blaze and the warmth made the guest content. "Would you like more?" Girgan asked with widen eyes.
"Yes, the sweet meats!" said Brute giving his order.
Girgan clapped his hands to signal the entrance of the meat. The meat was cut in thin slices and it was carried on a large wooden slab. The tarsiers tossed the meat into the flame; and when it was saturated with its enticing aroma, they removed it with their sticks and gave it to the wolves. The wolves never questioned what type of meat it was, they thought it was better not to say; the meat was too tasty to put down. Two hours went by and the chief ordered more fruit and meat to appear, it kept coming in droves as if by magic until the guests were full. Yohan, Brute, Sebastian, and Sly stretched themselves out on the ground by the toasty fire. Their bellies were now full, and sleep began to pass over them. Girgan grabbed a fruit. He held it up to Brute's nose.
"More? Eat more!"
"Have mercy---no more food."
"I agree," Sebastian said picking some food from his teeth," You have done us well, Girgan. How about that play you told us about?"
"We'll handle that in the morning. We'll keep the fire burning until you all are fast asleep."
But Girgan's words were not heard. His guests were already in their slumber. The chief order the fire to be put out and the mess to be cleaned up. The chief came up to Sly and stroked his head.
"That's right, sleep my delicacies, sleep," said Girgan smiling. "Enjoy your dreams of comfort, for tomorrow you die."
As the guest slept, the tarsiers sung a lullaby that would put chills down the spines of those who heard it. They danced in a circle around the guests, and as they did they repeated this song in a wicked whisper:
Snapper-Jaw, Snapper- Jaw dinner is near.
Snapper- Jaw, Snapper- Jaw we will not fear.
We feed them and treat them with what we think is nice.
So you can feast on them like itty bitty mice.
Many beasts have you eaten and my how have you grown.
You're the greatest terror that this jungle has ever known.
Snapper- Jaw, Snapper- Jaw dinner is near.
Snapper-Jaw, Snapper-Jaw we will not fear.
The next day, the guests awoke to find that the tarsiers had prepared for the play. There was a contraption made of wood, leaves, and held together by vines that sat a few feet away from them. It looked like an animal of some kind, yet it was hard to tell because of the crude craftsmanship. Before the play would begin, the chief ordered a round of fruits to be brought out for the guest, "We wouldn't want you to get hungry," he said as he called twenty of his tribe members forward. The twenty tarsiers ran up to the wooden pile and began to straighten it out. When they had finished, a long puppet emerged. It looked like a worm, but it was too long and big for that. The puppet was built into twenty segments and in those segments were holes for the tarsiers to climb in. Suddenly the crude wooden puppet came to life. The tarsiers moved the puppet in an "S" pattern and finally the guests (and I'm sure you have too) figured out what animal it was.
"Our play is about to begin," replied Girgan. " but there are four more props that we are bringing out."
The chief clapped his hands and four wooden cutouts were placed in front of the puppet. The first looked like a kitten.
"That looks a little like me," said Yohan.
The second looked like a strong wolf built for power.
"And that one looks like me." Replied Brute raising an eyebrow.
The third cutout looked like a thin wolf and there was a blotch of yellow pigment to represent a golden eye. Sebastian caressed his jaw in deep thought.
The fourth one was a cutout of a fat wolf; because of the girth of the piece, it looked more piggish than wolfish.
"I'm not that big am I?" asked Sly.
"I don't know, looks pretty accurate to me," Sebastian said poking Sly in the side. "Ha, ha, ha very funny." Sly said swiping Sebastian hand away.
Girgan stepped forward to start the play.
"Let us begin! Let me tell you a story about the great Snapper-Jaw." The tribe repeated the name three times, and then the chief continued.
"Long ago a snake came upon a village; and hungry for food, it began to eat our ancestors. They were helpless against him. Every year the same snake would return to feed on them again, so our forefathers moved from place to place, but the snake would only follow them. One day the snake came again and the tarsiers tried a hand at diplomacy. They found out that the snake was reasonable. On that day the tarsiers and the snake made a treaty. Today the treaty is alive. The treaty states that every year we offer a meal to the snake."
The tarsiers moved the puppet around the cutouts of the guests.
"When we do he leaves us alone to live free. Today is the year of feeding."
The tarsiers opened the mouth of the puppet and clamped down on the cutout of Yohan. The kitten flinched from the sight. The cutout went into the puppet to symbolize the eating process. The tarsiers sprung from the trees to join the chief; they surrounded the guest chanting the name of the snake. The guests jumped up and tried to break through the crowd to get out. A few tarsiers were kicked into the air, but it did little to help. The chanting continued. The sound irritated the wolves. In a fit of rage, Sebastian swung his blade striking a few tarsiers. The blows were not fatal and the tribe continued their chanting. They needed to feed Snapper-Jaw, but the meals were fighting back. The tribe had a way of controlling the meal. Within the crowd the chief took a blowgun, made of bamboo, inserted a small dart and fired it at Yohan. The dart made its mark and the pain in the cat's voice put the wolves on edge. Yohan stumbled, his vision became blurred; and whatever substance was on the dart, caused him to pass out. Immediately the tribe began to pull the cat away, but Brute jumped in to protect him. He bit and swung at the tribe violently; however, his efforts were short-lived. In a tree, another tarsier shot a dart into his arm, and another went into his leg. Soon he fainted; some of the tarsiers climbed him like a mountain and celebrated.
"Sly!" cried Sebastian, " I need--"
Sly could not answer. He was taken down as well. Sebastian was alone, the chanting continued, and his anger rose. Sebastian chased the tarsiers into the trees and continued to swing his rapier to kill as many as he could. The tribe laughed and jeered him, baring their teeth like a wolf. This enraged Sebastian even further, and he took a rock and threw it into the branches. The chief shot a dart, but Sebastian blocked it with is sword. Another dart was fired, and then another, but the wolf continued to block every attempt; yet, his skill could not save him from the constant bombardment. Finally, he was struck in his arm and back. He stumbled over to the chief, his sword swayed lazily at his side. Girgan looked up to Sebastian, as David would have Goliath, made his hands into a mouth, and repeated the snake's name. Sebastian tried to raise his sword to strike the chief dead, but his arm would not respond. He stood there like an open target. Then to his left a dart was fired. It landed in his neck and the wolf dropped to his knees, yet he would not fall.
"I hope you like our play," GIrgan said loading another dart, "I got nothing against you wolf. So don't take it to heart when you get eaten."
With a last effort Sebastian raised his sword high into the air. The dart flew, the sword fell, and the wolf lost all consciousness. The tribe overtook him, and dragged him away to a place far away from the village where many had been taken before. The treaty was to be fulfilled and Snapper- Jaw waited hungry from a year's wait.