by Don P. Bick
Chapter 5
No trees disrupted the view. Camran stood on a rocky ledge that seemed to overlook the entire world. They had been climbing the mountain for some five or six hours, pausing only briefly to rest. Once they reached the spot where they were now sitting they decided to eat and enjoy the view for a few minutes before continuing on.
Within a couple of hours after the decision was made to climb the mountain, the three sent word to Captain Nepturos that they would be gone for perhaps as long as several days. They had no idea how long the climb would take or how long they would need to stay once they got there. They needed to satisfy the many questions running through their minds.
Before leaving they went into town to the market place and purchased enough supplies to last a week or more on the mountain. They brought along bed rolls and extra clothing, as well as a pen and ink to write down notes. Camran found a shop that carried small blank books. He purchased one so that he could keep a written record of their travels and write down the entire Oracle, if possible, provided it wasn't too long.
While purchasing their supplies they had also been lucky in another respect. Twil found a pair of binoculars in one of the booths at the market. They were made out of a hardwood and were adjustable in the same way binoculars were on Earth. He used them as they stood on the ledge looking out over the bay below.
Camran could see a long way out to sea. Giant lotus flowers rose up in the water in every direction he looked, for as far as the magnification of the glasses could reach. There were countless thousands of them. The Neptunians had quite a task. Just finding someone out in that vast expanse of water seemed impossible to Camran. The captain had explained how the tips of the petals would change color up to a month in advance of an arrival, so they knew when the flower would be opening with an occupant inside. The Neptunians constantly patrolled the seas watching and studying the petals. The captain had also told him, just as any gardener gets to know the plants in his garden, the flowers in the sea were the plants of his people. Over time they had become familiar with the different plants and areas of their garden, in the same way any gardener does.
Camran had been watching a ship go out of the bay with the binoculars. Slowly the ship made its way out among the lotus flowers. There was a slight breeze for a change and the sails were full of the sea air. The ship was making much better time with the small wind than they had made the day before under man power alone. Camran learned the seamen were not able to allow the ship to sit still in the water for very long, due to the danger posed by the large fish. That was why they had to row the boats so they could keep them moving. It was also why the captain was impatient with him the morning he was trying to get him to jump into the net from the flower. He didn't want the ship sitting under the flower any longer than was necessary.
After eating they started up the mountain once again. They were almost to the point where they were supposed to traverse around toward the west side, according to the map the Ruler of the Waters had given them. The Ruler had explained the last time he had ventured up these slopes was as a young man, a long time ago, so the map would not be as accurate as he would have liked it to be. So far the trio found it had been quite accurate, in spite of the amount of time since the Ruler last made the trip up the mountainside.
The three reached the tree with the double trunk growing at an angle over the rocky ledge. The Ruler had hoped it was still there after all this time. It was a guide he had used when making the long journey up to the cave entrance. Here they began to work their way around to the left, toward the west side of the mountain. They had been climbing up the south side. There were no paths to follow so they constantly had to work their way around trees and rocky outcrops. It didn’t appear as though any other people ever climbed up this mountain, which seemed a little strange considering the magnificent views. The going was slow. Camran didn't mind because the scenery was beautiful, and he wasn't quite sure he was ready to read the Oracle just yet anyway. There was no urgent need to rush.
Soon they lost sight of the bay as they made their way onto a plateau. Some time later they were in a dense forest with trees so large and closely spaced they were no longer able to see out to sea at all. Before long they came to a large creek of crystal clear water. A little ways up the creek a waterfall cascaded down the mountainside, beginning some three to four hundred feet above them. The pool that was formed below the falls was deep and clear. Here they decided to stop for a longer rest, and to wash and cool off in the water. The days were so long Camran was going to try and get a little sleep while they were stopped. He wasn't used to the time frame of this world yet. It was only around midday he guessed, but already at least a day of earth time had passed since he had gotten up that morning.
The three stripped off their clothes and dove into the cool waters of the pool. Already tired from the journey up the mountainside it didn't take long before they were exhausted and left the water. Within minutes after drying off and putting on some dry clean clothes, Camran was fast asleep lying in the tall grass. Unbeknownst to him, Twil and Bran took turns at watch over their newly found friend and companion while he slept, each taking their turn at getting some rest as well.
Camran awakened to the smell of cooking. Bran was leaning over an open fire stirring the contents of one of the two small pots in front of him. It smelled like stew. His sleep had been deep and without dreams. He felt alive and refreshed after his long nap. It was still just as light and warm out as it had been when he went to sleep. If he didn't know better he would have thought he had just slept for a few minutes.
The pan Bran was using to make the stew was actually made of thick glass with a special coating of tree sap and rock dust on the bottom. Bran explained to him that the sap from some of the trees was fire proof and used on many household items. The coating contributed to a hotter pan and an even distribution of heat. They were heavy to carry, which was why they carried only the smaller ones compared to the ones most commonly used in the home. They each carried one of the glass pans in their packs so they were able to prepare up to three different things at one time.
"I thought we could use a good meal before we climb the rest of the way," stated Bran as he heaped a large portion of the stew onto a plate and handed it to Camran.
"I think I would wait until he tries it first," joked Twil, loading his plate with a double serving. "If he doesn't start rolling on the ground with a stomach ache when he's finished, then we can eat," he continued, as Bran reached out to take the plate from him. Before Bran's fingers had come near the plate Twil was several feet away. Camran barely saw him move he was so fast. They all laughed and began to eat. The three were becoming very close, even in the short time they had known each other. Although none of them knew what lay ahead, they somehow knew they needed each other in order to succeed. The stew was delicious even though it did not have any meat in it, thought Camran, eating a second helping.
"How much longer do you think it will take to reach the cave entrance?" asked Camran. "We haven't really come far up this mountain, considering how large it is."
"According to the map, the double tree was almost halfway to the cave. If all goes well we should be there before nightfall, allowing for one more major resting period," spoke up Bran.
They finished eating, cleaned and repacked their things, and once more started off across the plateau toward the west side of the mountain.
In late afternoon they came out of the forest into a rocky area. There they changed course and began a steeper ascent up the mountainside. A short while later they stopped to rest at a point where there was an unobstructed view overlooking the sea. Way off in the distance Camran could make out what appeared to be white water. He got out the binoculars to take a look. Astonished at what he saw he handed the binoculars to Bran. After Bran, Twil put the glasses to his eyes.
"It's the Island Fracture," commented Twil.
Camran took back the glasses and looked again. Two giant waterfalls faced each other
out in the middle of the sea. The falls continued in both directions for as far as they could see. Twil explained the Island Fracture completely surrounds Lotus Isle as well as the Isle of Flowers, which they were on. There was no passage or any way across those falls, at least none that anyone knew. Neither did anyone know how high they were because it was impossible to get very close without being sucked into the turbulent waters and over the falls. In the past, more than one ship had met their fate in that manner.
There weren't any lotus flowers growing close to those falls, either. It was as though they understood the danger the falls presented.
Another short nap, a bite to eat, and they were on their way. The path grew steadily steeper, although they were hardly very far up the mountain compared to its height. Camran wondered how long it would take to climb to the very top. He was sure the view alone would be worth the effort.
The air began to grow heavy and soon raindrops started to fall. It wasn't a very hard rain, but looking up Camran could not believe there were no clouds in the sky! The short rain was refreshing and cool on their sweating bodies so they didn't bother to stop. As the evening began to turn into night Twil pointed out a large outcropping of rock above them. That was where the cave entrance was supposed to be.
By the time they made it to the ledge it was almost dark. There they set up camp under an overhang of rock, in a recessed area along the cliff. The overhang would afford them some protection against the weather should the rain start up again or the wind pick up during the night. The temperature began to drop significantly as daylight faded from the sky.
Bran fixed dinner while Twil and Camran set up shelter for their bed rolls. They were tired from the day long hike, which would have equaled around three days on Earth. Other than having a bad heart back on Earth Camran had always been in good physical shape. Now his heart was strong and healthy once again. He felt young and vigorous, like he used to be when he was in his early twenties.
Camran was asleep almost as soon as he lay down.
A gentle breeze moved across the face of the mountain as he prepared to enter the cave. An icy chill went up his spine as he peered into the darkness beyond the opening. An unseen force was pushing him forward; a malevolent evil seemed to pervade the air around him. He tried to turn and run. But his body wouldn't respond. “Where were Bran and Twil?” he asked himself. He felt alone and afraid. A force from behind pushed him into the darkness. He was falling. Laughter, evil laughter filled the black void around him, echoing off the rock. He kept falling, so deep in panic he was completely unaware of his screams. Screams of stark terror erupted from his lungs over and over as he fell. Something grabbed on to him on the way down. It was too dark to see what it was. He struggled against those cold clutching hands. Something hit his face and he bolted into a sitting position, finally able to shake the terror of the nightmare. Bran had a hold of the front of his shirt. He was shaking him, had also slapped his face to bring him out of the dream.
"You were screaming in your sleep," said Bran, concern on his face. "Are you all right?"
"Yes. Yes, I think so," gasped Camran as his heart began to slow a little. "Another nightmare with the evil laughter and the cave," Camran offered by way of explanation, glancing fearfully over at the cave's entrance. The other two nodded their understanding.
It was still the middle of the night. Camran knew he wouldn't be able to sleep anymore so he crawled out of the bed roll and went to sit by the fire. He was unable, even in the warmth of the fire, to shake the chills he felt pulse throughout his body.
Apparently Camran's screams had an effect on Bran and Twil as well. Neither of them returned to sleep the rest of the night either. They sat around the fire without saying much to one another. Each was lost in thought at what they would find after entering the cave. The dawn of morning light was a long time in coming.