by Tod Eten
Another twenty minutes passed and still no one had found the symbol and by now all of them were getting nervous.
‘Wait’ Gagan said stopping the others. ‘Aya told us that there was a hole in the middle of this symbol is that correct.’
‘Yes’ Aiden said ‘we are meant to place this in it’ he said showing them the stone small disc that Aya had given him.
‘Well instead of looking for the symbol why don’t we feel for the hole, if we run our fingers along each line like this’ and with that Gagan slowly dragged his finger along a line of inscriptions ‘we should be able to feel if there is a hole there.’
‘Good idea Gagan’ Aiden smiled ‘all of you do as Gagan just said’ and once more they all set to work inspecting the chamber.
‘Here!’ Seth shouted excitedly barely a few minutes later minutes later.
Aiden went over to him and sure enough saw the image that Aya had drawn for them inscribed on the wall where Seth pointed, in the middle of which was a small round hole. Aiden took out the disk that Aya had given him and carefully inserted it into the hole. A few seconds later there was a sound of stone grating on stone that came from the alter where a small section slid open revealing a small compartment. Aiden bent down and using his torch looked inside.
‘It’s empty!’ Aiden said in alarm.
‘What!’ Seth exclaimed.
‘It can’t be’ Gagan said bending down to look for himself and carefully feeling the inside of the compartment with his hand. ‘But how can it be empty’ Gagan said standing once more. ‘Aya said that the key would be there why isn’t it there?’ Gagan said in frustration as the others took it in turns to examine the compartment for themselves.
‘Gagan what would this key look like do you think?’ Aiden said remembering something.
‘How would I know’ Gagan said moodily
‘What do the ancient symbols look like?’ Aiden pressed him.
‘There were lots of symbols Aiden, what do you mean?’ Gagan said not sure what Aiden was getting at.
‘Yes but what did they look like? The really old ones that is, the first symbols?’
‘Well lots of things, a spiral, a hand, and eye, lots of things like that why?’ Gagan said still unsure.
‘Yes but was there one for a key?’ Aiden asked.
‘Well’ Gagan looked thoughtful ‘the only thing that springs to mind is an ancient Egyptian symbol’
‘The Ankh right’ Aiden said interrupting him excitedly.
‘Yes that’s right it was considered the key of life by the Egyptians’ Gagan continued.
'That is an ankh yes?' Aiden pointed to the symbol Aya had drawn.
'Yes' Gagan frowned.
‘I know where the key is!’ Aiden said in triumph ‘It’s on a chain around Silenus’s neck. He has already taken the key from here!’
‘You are joking! You mean we have to go back there again’ Seth said feeling uneasy.
‘Yes we have no choice’ Aiden said and noticed how the others avoided looking at each other. ‘Come on guys you were under some sort of spell back there it wasn’t you’
‘That’s easy for you to say! You weren’t involved in any of it’ Gagan said accusingly.
‘And what does that mean’ Hoshi said giving Gagan a fierce look.
‘I mean’ Gagan said blushing not knowing what to say.
‘You find me so repulsive do you’ Hoshi continued hotly.
‘No, no, I, I think you are beautiful!’ Gagan stammered and blushed even more on realising what he had just said.
‘OK OK we don’t have time for this, Aya said we need that key and with or without you I aim to get it’ and Aiden his mind made up made his way out of the chamber.
By the time they reached Silenus’s home it was already late in the afternoon. Aiden carefully opened his front door as quietly as possible, half expecting the old man to be wide awake waiting for them. On entering they were all relieved to hear rythmic snores of Silenus and saw that he was still fast asleep exactly where they had left him. With the others remaining at the door Aiden wearily made his way over to Silenus. Then as gingerly as he could he removed the chain from around the old mans neck. Aiden had nearly got the ankh when Silenus suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed hold of Aiden’s arm with grip of iron. Aidens heart nearly jumped out of his mouth as Silenus ‘s eyes focused on Aidens face.
‘You!’ Silenus exclaimed, ‘you will find your lost love the moment that you lose her!’ Silenus said mysteriously and then fell back asleep snoring loudly once more.
With huge relief Aiden now managed to remove the necklace together with Ankh from around the old man’s neck. Then Aiden together with the others almost ran back the whole way to where they had parked the minibus, such was their haste to be away from that place and its strange inhabitant.
When they met up once more with Aya and the rest of the group they were greeted as returning heros with hugs, kisses and congratulations from the rest of the group.
‘Did you get it’ Aya said immediately coming up to Aiden.
‘I think so’ Aiden said showing her the Ankh he had stolen from Selinus.
Aya took the Ankh and looked at it carefully. For a moment Aiden had the horrible feeling that Aya was going to tell him that it was not the key and that they would all have to go back. But Aya then smiled ‘I knew you would do it’ and with that gave Aiden a quick kiss on the cheek.
‘We had better be on our way’ Aya told the group, ‘I think it best not to be around when Silenus does eventually wake up’
With Aaron back at the wheel they drove on into the late afternoon sun. Aiden gazed out of the window at the country side thinking over what Silenus had said to him trying to make some sense of it. As he looked at the hills and mountains that they drove beside he could not help having a feeling of déjà vu, It felt so much like he had been here before.
They had travelled no more than fifteen miles when the minibus engine suddenly spluttered died and they came to a standstill. Aaron tried to start the engine a few times but with no success.
‘Whats happened?’ Seth asked.
‘It just died on me’ Aaron replied with a shrug.
Soon Aaron, Seth, and Demitri were crowded around the engine experimentally prodding this and pulling that and asking Long, who was now at the wheel, to turn the ignition every time they tried something new. But the result was always the same the engine turning over but not starting. Meanwhile the rest of the party sat around idly watching them. All that was except for Aya who stood on the road looking back the way they had just come, as if she was watching out for something. Aya after some time suddenly turned and made her way quickly over to where Aiden was seated on the grass by the side of the road.
‘We must start moving Silenus is awake and he now follows us’ Aya said quietly to Aiden with urgency in her voice. ‘We have to find some shelter where we can protect ourselves’ she continued saying looking up at the mountains behind them.
‘What about the minibus?’ Aiden said.
‘We do not have much time and the minibus will be of little use in protecting us’ Aya said shaking her head.
‘But where can we go?’ Aiden said also looking up at the mountains as Aya still did. ‘You mean up there?’ he pointed.
‘Yes maybe there we can find somewhere safe where we can defend ourselves better’ Aya nodded.
‘Defend ourselves?’ Aiden was now getting worried.
‘Silenus has sent his pets after us, they can be unpleasant’ Aya said with a frown.
‘Unpleasant right’ Aiden said not wishing to know anymore the memories of the Pricolici that had attacked them in Hungary still too fresh in his mind.
‘Everyone!’ Aiden said getting to his feet, ‘Demitri, Seth, Aaron all of you we have to get going’
‘What are you talking about my friend the engine she is kaput no!’ Demitri shouted back from the front of the minibus.
‘Demitri we have to get going Aya said that Selinus i
s awake and has sent some of his pets after us’ Aiden said grabbing everyone’s attention. ‘Please all of you take only what you need we will head up there and find somewhere where we can defend ourselves better ‘ Aiden pointed towards the mountains. The group as one looked at where Aiden was pointing and then looked at each other. Without needing to be told a second time they quickly gathered the provisions that they felt were important and set off up towards the mountains. It seemed the others, like Aiden had not forgotten the Pricolici either!
At first the going was easy and they managed to cover a lot of ground the minibus and road long since vanished in the forest behind them. But slowly the slope became steeper and the going much harder until they emerged from the forest at the foot of the mountains that stretched, a great barrier across their path. Aiden looking at the mountains and had the same feeling of déjà vu that he had had earlier but this time much stronger. The shape of the mountains, the way the forest swept along beneath them. It was as if he had known this place all his life, but yet he had never been here before. In fact he had never even been to Turkey before!
They now started climbing carefully up the mountain slope before them trying not to slip on the many boulders and loose pebbles that littered the surface. The adults had to take particular care of the children who were finding it especially tricky. They had been scrambling up the mountain side for over thirty minutes and the forest was a good distance below them when they heard a high pitched sound similar to the laugh a hyena would make. They all stopped and looked back at the forest below but could see nothing. The call was answered by another similar high pitched laugh from somewhere else in the forest then another and another.
‘We must move’ Aya said urgently ‘we must get up there’ she said pointing to a ridge line several hundred feet above them.
Aiden looking about him suddenly had a powerful feeling that they should all be heading across the mountain not up. ‘We should go across that way’ Aiden said pointing along to his right. ‘Don’t ask me why but I just know we should be heading that way’ Aiden insisted.
‘Are you sure Aiden?’ Aya said looking at him strangely.
‘Yes’ Aiden replied now certain. Aya nodded and the group began to traverse across the mountain face and not up as they had been doing. At least this was much easier and they now covered much more ground, but even so the high pitch laughter from the forest seemed to be drawing ever closer. Suddenly little Skyla gave a cry as she slipped on some loose shingle and falling on her back she began sliding down the slope slowly gathering speed. Bridget screamed in fear as she saw her daughter sliding away from her down towards the forest below. Before anyone could do anything Elden launched himself through the air landing on his front he slid down the slope after the girl. He soon caught up with Sklya and grabbing her with both his outstretched hands he then dug his toes into the side of the mountain making them act as brakes, which seemed to have no affect at first. Then slowly as his feet managed to get some purchase on the slope the two of them slowly came to a stop some thirty feet below the main group. Taking off their backpacks Aiden, Seth and Long made their way carefully down the slope and slowly helped Elden and the shaken Skyla back up to the main group where her mother waited anxiously for her. When they finally got back to the group Bridget gave Skyla a big hug tears running down her face only to hear the high pitched laughter from their pursuers again, now even nearer than before.
‘Let’s get moving’ Aiden said and they set off once more.
They travelled another 100 feet across the mountainside when the group miraculously stumbled upon a path that went zigzagging up the side of the mountain towards the ridge line that Aya had pointed to earlier. Following the path they were able to quickly climb back up the slope and soon reached the mountain ridge where they were met by the solid rock face of the mountain that stretched away in either direction. The path they were on continued along beside the rock face and seeing no other alternative they continued to follow it. Again the high pitched laughter once more rent the air and this time they saw in the distance down by the tree line first one then two then more and more shapes emerge. There must have been twenty or more of the creatures which though they moved on two legs and looked human leapt and sprang up the slope in pursuit of them more like mountain goats. Aiden could see that like goats they were covered in dark brown hair and had goat like legs but they had arms, hands and heads like that of a man, however out of the top of their heads each of them had a set of dangerous looking rams horns.
‘Satyrs’ Aya said to Aiden as the travellers redoubled their efforts along the path.
Chapter 14 - Refuge
Aiden could feel his heart pounding in his chest for he knew that it would not take long for those creatures to catch them. There was suddenly a shout from Seth who was leading the group, he pointed to a cave entrance into which the path now lead. Without hesitating they all quickly entered the cave. The men immediately shook off their back packs and moved to the cave entrance to defend the group. Gagan looking at the floor of the cave started picking up the rocks that were littered about the floor and stated making a pile of them near the entrance. The others realising what Gagan was doing did the same with everyone in the party now gathering rocks to use as weapons against their pursuers. All except Aiden that was whose sense of déjà vu was now stronger than ever. Without knowing why Aiden made his way to the back wall of the cave and ran his hands over its smooth surface. Not sure what he was looking for Aiden kept on touching and feeling the cave wall making his way from one side of the cave to the other. Just as he was nearly finished he felt a patch of dirt come loose from the wall at his touch. He quickly scraped away the dirt revealing a hole in the wall just large enough for his hand to go through. Without hesitating he put his hand into the hole which was much deeper than Aiden had thought it would be. His had almost put the full length of his arm into the hole when his hand felt some kind of lever. Aiden grasped the lever and instinctively twisting and pulling at the same time. The lever moved with hardly any resistance. There then followed a low rumbling noise and a faint vertical crack grew in the solid wall beside Aiden and then slowly, like a great door, the wall swung open inwards revealing another dark space beyond.
‘Quickly everyone in there’ Aiden heard Aya say, who had been watching what Aiden had been doing all along. The others seeing the newly formed door quickly did as Aya had instructed following her through the door. The space beyond was definitely not natural. Their flash lights revealing the smooth straight walls of a large chamber some fifteen feet in height an twenty across with four arched passage ways leading out of it.
‘Look we should be able to close and bar this door’ Gagan said shining his torch at what looked like a some kind of metal bar that was fixed to the other side of the wall and looked as if could be slid across when the door was closed.
‘Quick help me shut the door’ Gagan cried and with the help of Aaron and Seth they slowly swung the great rock door shut again. Then Aaron with a grunt managed to slide the large bar across the door barring it from being opened.
‘My poor heart’ Demitri said slumping down on the floor next to the door ‘I am getting to old for this’
‘What is this place?’ Hoshi asked in awe looking around.
‘It used to be the home of one of the Neteru’ Aya answered, you will see it better if you all turn off your torches I think’
Knowing better than to argue they all did as Aya had requested.
When the last torch was turned out they were all plunged into darkness but then slowly the walls began to glow, gradually getting brighter until the chamber was flooded with a gentle golden light as were the passages beyond.
‘It is a type of fungus that comes from Nibiru’ Aya said in explanation to their unasked question.
‘A Neteru home you say!’ Gagan gave an excited whistle all thoughts of their pursuers gone from his head.
Just then they heard some muffled thuds coming from the other side of the doo
r.
‘They are trying to break through’ Faith said in alarm.
‘Can they break through?’ Bridget said clutching Skyla close to her.
‘No we are safe here there is much more than just rock protecting us’ Aya assured Bridget.
‘Ha then our friends will be getting very bad headaches yes’ Demitri said slapping his knee in amusement.
‘But we are also stuck here’ Faith pointed out spoiling Demitri’s joke.
‘They will eventually go away I am sure’ Demitri shrugged.
‘Well as we are here we might as well explore, right!’ Gagan pleaded desperate to take a look around this alien home.
‘Yes but we must all stay together and I will lead. There is no knowing what traps the old owner of this place may have set’ Aya warned.
The first two side passages they followed led to what must have been storerooms. One was full of large earthen ware jars that on closer inspection seemed to be filled with pulses and grains and some judging from the smell that may have once contained wine that had long since turned to vinegar and then evaporated. The other storeroom was full of chopped wood.
The remaining two passages led into the same large hall which had a great fireplace at one end around which colourful rugs and large comfortable looking cushions were scattered about the floor. At the other end was a long table with benches on either side. Leading from the hall were two more passage ways one lead to a large kitchen which had yet another fireplace with work surfaces and cupboards seemingly cut out of the rock itself. The other passage way lead deeper into the mountain with many doors leading off each side of it that opened onto what had to be bedrooms as each room contained what looked to be a mattress and the same cushions and rugs as were in the hall. The last door off the passageway led to a large bathroom where there were sinks of smooth polished rock with stone Dragon head taps. When Gagan put his hands under the taps as if by magic cold water began to pour out of the of the dragons mouth. Connected to this room there were another two rooms one had what looked like simple toilets not much more than holes in the ground each one separated from the other by walls of semi transparent crystal. The final room was a large shower area of polished marble the first part of this room looked like the changing area and was separated from the shower area by the same semi transparent crystal that they had seen in the toilets.