Nigma (The Waifs of Duldred Book 3)

by Ana Salote

  ‘They are,’ said Clair.

  ‘Did I meet them?’

  ‘No, you didn’t. They are the Inigma and Inigpa of the Kith.’

  Oy put three fingers between his brows and closed his eyes.

  ‘The whats?’ said Gritty.

  ‘The shepherds of the Kith,’ said Clair. ‘They look after the children there. They never leave it themselves. They are special people.’

  Oy opened his eyes. Clair put her hand on his shoulder. ‘You are named after your grandfather. Would you like to know your real name?’

  Lil interrupted. ‘Real names are important. It’s not for anyone to dish ’em out. His grandparents should be the ones to tell him his name.’

  ‘You’re right,’ said Clair. ‘That’s how it should be.’

  ‘I wonder what it is?’ said Gritty. ‘Funny, I can’t imagine you as anything but Oy, Oy.’

  ‘You have no imagination,’ said Lil.

  Alas got up and went to sit by himself. Oy followed him. Alas shook his hair over his eyes and kept his face turned away.

  ‘This has set you thinking about your ma,’ said Oy.

  ‘I can’t hide anything from you can I?’ Alas rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand. ‘I’m no friend to you. You’ve had news like this and all I can feel is envy.’

  ‘Both our mothers are dead,’ said Oy.

  ‘I know, but you had nothing to do with killing yours.’

  ‘That’s a wrong thought,’ said Oy.

  ‘It don’t stop me having it,’ said Alas. ‘You got a proper name, too. Lil says names are important and I’m stuck with a catastrophe and an illness for mine.’

  Oy patted Alas’s arm. ‘You could change your name. You don’t have to be stuck with it. What would you like us to call you?’

  Alas straightened up. ‘My name is all I’ve got from my mother.’ He brushed his hair back and smiled. ‘I’m over it. I saw your grandfather when I went to the Kith you know. I can see how you might grow into a man like that, though I doubt you’ll match him for height. I’m happy for you, Oy.’

  ‘I know you are,’ said Oy.

  ‘And you’re happy for yourself aren’t you?’

  ‘I don’t know how to name the feelings I got,’ said Oy. ‘Just now my insides dropped like I was falling down the Akwon again. I don’t say I’m happy exactly, I’m too...’

  ‘Stonished,’ said Alas.

  ‘More than that,’ said Oy.

  Oy spent a lot of time talking with the healers. They discussed the needs of the Chee and wished for the medicines of Nondula. Oy had brought powders with him from Nondula. He shared them with the healers.

  Alas and Gritty watched from a distance. ‘He fits right in don’t he?’ said Gritty. ‘I don’t know why I didn’t see it before.’

  ‘His colouring ain’t right,’ said Alas.

  ‘He was never fed right,’ said Gritty. ‘He’s not far off Clair’s hair and eye colour, and Adar says he’s got Coryne’s brow and his ma’s chin’

  ‘We won’t rush him to leave,’ said Alas. ‘Let him be with his people.’

  But Oy was the one who said it was time to go. He counted up his day marks. Every mark meant one less dose of Linnet’s medicine. He imagined the bottles draining down and then the spaces on the shelves where the bottles had been. He packed his bag.

  Clair filled their bellies and bags with bread. Oris told them the safest way to approach the ridge and they left with short goodbyes because long ones didn’t help anyone.

  Next day they reached the top of the ridge. The view was astounding. The storm wall reached half way up the sky. It stretched around the horizon like a standing sea. They spent a long time looking.

  ‘We passed through that,’ said Gritty in amazement.

  Between the mountain ridge where they stood and the storm wall was a mazy country of rock formations and dry valleys. The rock was the yellow of cinder toffee.

  ‘There it is,’ said Lil. ‘The Cracnazy. Craicanmar is its heart.’

  ‘Let’s see the map again,’ said Alas.

  Oy spread the map in the dust. It would take a day to get off the mountain. There was a river to cross, but Clair said it was wadeable. Then Lil would take over and sound the way to Craicanmar.

  11 Yeheva Camp

  The floor of the Cheelah Gorge was sculpted by water in a swirling pathway with stairways and humps that would have been waterfalls and islands before the Felluns stole the river. As Gertie jumped boulders and climbed the dry falls she became stronger and more agile, but she could not keep up with Ferralee. There was no effort in Ferralee’s speed, just a springy power in every step. As they moved through the immense yellow chasm Ferralee was always a small figure far ahead. Yehvo stayed back with Gertie. At intervals Ferralee waited for them to catch up. They could see her in the distance bouncing on the balls of her feet and leaning sideways in a stretch.

  ‘She hates me for slowing you down don’t she?’ said Gertie.

  ‘Not hate,’ said Yehvo. ‘Just hot energy with nowhere to go. Wait a bit and we’ll teach her a lesson. When did we last eat and drink?’

  ‘Yesternoon,’ said Gertie, sticking her tongue out. ‘My mouth is dry as wood ash.’

  ‘This is what we used to call the thirsty leg,’ said Yehvo. ‘There’s no water this side of Yeheva but I see something that will do just as well.’

  Yehvo pointed to some fallen boulders with a flash of green showing between them. Gritty followed Yehvo over the rocks. Behind the boulders was a clump of cacti. ‘Narlun,’ said Yehvo. ‘Don’t touch the fruit. It will turn your head into a blister. Break a spine near the base then put your mouth to it and suck.’ Gritty copied Yehvo. The liquid was cool and quenching.

  ‘So good,’ said Gertie.

  ‘Now break a piece of flesh and use the thorn to split it and scrape out the jelly.’

  ‘Shouldn’t we fetch Ferralee?’ said Gertie.

  Yehvo climbed onto a boulder. ‘She’s gone,’ she said.

  They stayed a while eating and drinking and then they went on. The gorge twisted and turned many times before they caught up with Ferralee who was hungry, thirsty and bored. ‘What have you been doing?’ she said.

  ‘Dining,’ said Yehvo. She offered Ferralee a wedge of cactus. It was a shame, she said, that Ferralee had missed out on the narlun water. She was welcome to go back of course. At the speed she walked it wouldn’t take long, but then again, going so fast she might miss the spot. Yehvo continued to hold out the cactus. For some moments the women engaged in an eye war. Then Ferralee snatched the cactus and Yehvo turned away with a half smile.

  After that Gertie walked as fast as she could and Ferralee walked as slowly as she could bear and somehow the three of them stayed together. Before long they found more narlun. Ferralee drank and they used the hollow spines to siphon a few drops of juice into their flasks.

  As they walkedYehvo remarked on the smallest changes to the landscape and told tales of her childhood. She spoke of hard and hungry freedom, and of capture and families split and slavery and more hunger. Gertie was thrown back on her own memories. ‘Ain’t that just the pattern?’ said Gertie. ‘From one manner of starving to another.’

  ‘The Nonduls fed you well enough didn’t they?’ said Ferralee.

  ‘They did but I never expected such luck. It ain’t the common lot of my people.’

  ‘Nor ours,’ said Yehvo. ‘And that’s why we’re here, to take back our water, our food and our freedom.’

  The gorge twisted again and a new view opened up. Their path split around an island of rock that was almost the height of the gorge itself.

  ‘Yeheva Rock,’ said Yehvo. ‘What do you think of that, Gertie?’

  ‘It’s big,’ said Gertie.

  ‘It’s home,’ said Yehvo. ‘I was born on top of it, as were all my known foremothers. Longback, when the waters still swirled around it, it was safer than any fort.’ Yehvo fell into a thoughtful silence.

  Ferralee grew twit
chy. ‘If you’ve done reminiscing I’d like to get on.’

  ‘I haven’t,’ said Yehvo. ‘I can’t pass this close without a visit.’ She raised her eyes and tilted her head back.

  ‘You want to go up there?’ said Ferralee.

  ‘I’m an old woman, Ferralee. I won’t get this chance again.’

  ‘It’s a sentimental waste of time.’

  Gertie’s mouth was full of words she dare not say, but somehow the words got past the fear. ‘It ain’t a waste to Yehvo,’ she said. ‘She’s got as much right to sentiment as... as other folks have to anger.’ Ferralee drew a quick breath, but before she could answer Gertie turned to Yehvo. ‘How do we get up there?’

  ‘On the path,’ said Yehvo.

  ‘I don’t see no path.’

  ‘It’s hid to start with, then it follows that line. It’s not how it looks. It’s wide enough for an ass in places and never less than the width of my hand.’

  Gertie looked at Yehvo’s small brown hand. ‘Oh,’ she said.

  ‘Oh.’ Ferralee laughed. ‘Come on then. Let’s climb a sheer rock to look at some old cave. Will you lead, Gertie?’ Gertie bowed her head.

  ‘Don’t listen to her,’ said Yehvo. ‘I was making this trip soon as I could walk. There’s nothing to it. If you start to wobble just lean on me.’

  Yehvo led, and though the path was narrow in places Gertie managed the worst parts by facing into the wall and holding on with both hands. The path zig-zagged upwards steeply, then it levelled and widened. ‘Not far now,’ said Yehvo.

  Gertie risked a look down. ‘I’m glad for that,’ she said.

  Yehvo stopped in front of her. The path had disappeared. In its place a few worn stones sloped towards the chasm. ‘Looks like the land’s slipped here,’ said Yehvo. ‘Go careful.’ She moved quickly across the gap. ‘Come on, Gertie. It’s only a few steps.’

  Gertie’s hands spidered over the rock searching for a better grip. ‘My knees have gone,’ said Gertie.

  Ferralee waited impatiently behind. ‘Don’t be silly,’ she said. ‘Those stones are wide as dinner plates.’

  Gertie glanced down. ‘Really, I can’t do it.’

  ‘Come back here,’ Ferralee snapped. ‘I’ll carry you.’

  ‘What! No,’ said Gertie.

  Yehvo laughed. ‘Now this is something.’

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ said Ferralee. ‘Come to me.’

  ‘Go to her,’ said Yehvo. ‘She knows what she’s doing.’

  Gertie edged back to where the ledge was wider. ‘If you had learned to walk there would be no need for this,’ said Ferralee ‘Stand with your back to me and your legs apart.’ Ferralee ducked between Gertie’s legs and straightened. Somehow Gertie found herself on Ferralee’s shoulders. Ferralee rocked her head. ‘Don’t cling to my hair like that. Trust me. Relax. Don’t lean in or you’ll kill us both.’

  ‘No, I can’t. Let me down,’ Gertie pleaded.

  ‘Take three deep breaths.’

  Gertie breathed.

  ‘Centre yourself.’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘Oh, never mind. Close your eyes.’

  Gertie squeezedher eyes shut. There was movement beneath her. And then she was tipping forwards, but only because Ferralee was lowering her on the other side.

  ‘What a fuss,’ said Ferralee, walking on.

  Yehvo gave a long whistle of appreciation. ‘That’s one to tell your children, Gert.’

  Gertie looked back at the awful drop. ‘How? Who does things like that?’

  Yehvo let Ferralee pull ahead before she dropped her voice and answered. ‘She does. No one else could or would. That’s why I brought her and why we must keep her with us.’

  ‘Why is she still with us do you think when she don’t like us and she don’t believe in what we’re doing?’ said Gertie.

  ‘In Fellund she had as good a life as any Chee could expect. She had all the food and comfort she wanted, she had power and was storing up wealth for herself, but she was still a slave and she knew it. Living well on the outside is no good when you’re dead on the inside. At least she’s alive now. She’s not battling with us, she’s battling with herself. We’ll see whether freedom or comfort wins with her.’

  They caught up with Ferralee in a maze of outcrops that led away from the cliff edge. Yehvo nodded towards a rock shelf. ‘Home. Yeheva manch, where I was born.’

  As they neared the manch they were surprised to hear a familiar sound: Chee voices competing to be heard.

  ‘I thought the Felluns had cleared all our folk from these parts,’ said Yehvo.

  The voices grew louder as they reached the rock shelf and dipped under it. On the other side was a cavern like a giant clam lit with torches and lined with talking faces.

  The people nearest to the entrance greeted them. ‘You can stay the night but then you’d best go on,’ they said. ‘We’re full here. There’s not enough food as it is. We can’t wait much longer.’

  ‘What are you waiting for?’ said Ferralee.

  ‘For Yehvo of course,’ a woman answered..

  Yehvo stepped out from behind Ferralee. ‘How did you know I was coming?’ she said.

  ‘You’re Yehvo!’ The news spread around the cavern. Yehvo was quickly surrounded. A young girl pushed through the crowd. ‘Grandma!’ she shouted.

  ‘Jefee?’ said Yehvo. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘I’m rebelling. Let me through. She’s my grandma.’ Jefee took Yehvo’s hand. They were ushered to the middle of the cavern. A torch was thrust into Yehvo’s hands. Expectant faces waited for her to speak. Yehvo bent to Jeffee. ‘What’s it all about?’ she said in a low voice.

  ‘You started it,’ said Jefee. ‘You ordered rebel camps to form along the gorge and wait for your signal. More rebels are arriving every day.’

  ‘I’ve been saying that for years. What’s made them listen now?’

  ‘I don’t know but they’re waiting for you to speak.’

  Yehvo looked at the hopeful faces all around her. She gathered her thoughts and lofted the torch.

  ‘My heart is full. I have waited all my life for you to hear me and to join with me. There has never been a better time to rebel. The Felluns are fighting among themselves. The guard is weakened. Full Felluns are dying out. Thinbloods make up the numbers. One more thing is needed, a sign of freedom so clear and strong that all our people will be moved to break their bonds. I am going now to do this deed. With me are Ferralee, the diva from the fort, and Gertie, a special child from beyond the storm wall. Remember their names; you’ll be pleased to tell your children about them one day.’

  ‘How long must we wait?’ said a man.

  Yehvo looked at her hands then raised her head. ‘No more than twelve days,’ she said.

  Many voices begged for more detail. When Yehvo refused to give it the Chee filled in the gaps themselves. While the people talked Yehvo questioned Jefee.

  ‘There’s a lot to tell,’ said Jefee, ‘and much of it concerns you Ferralee, ma’am.’

  ‘Tell it but stick to the facts,’ said Ferralee.

  ‘Well, starting at the beginning, the day you left we went to morning drill as usual but you weren’t there. Don’t be offended but at first we thought, good, we’ll have some fun instead and we didn’t tell anyone. Next day Bom’s cousin, Bligerine, comes along. She says you’ve gone on a trip to see your sick mother and she put Elfee in charge till you got back. Straight off the top of her head Elfee told Bligerine you didn’t have a mother let alone a sick one. Her story was that you planned your escape a long time ago. You left wearing all your gold – it was a wonder you could walk for the weight of it. She said you and Yehvo were leading a rebellion. You were going to build your own palace, Ferralee, and make yourself Queen. She said anyone could tell from the way you looked and acted that you were practising to be Queen. Bligerine agreed with that. She said you were a haughty piece and needed bringing down. She went off to report it and now
there’s a bounty on both of you.’

  ‘I will kill her,’ said Ferralee.

  ‘Elfee, ma’am? Yes ma’am. I wanted to when I saw her standing there with your stick in her hand and fire in her eyes. It hit us then that we were looking at the new diva. Everything changed from day one. She said the Felluns could hardly see so what was the point of working hard. There was more gossip than drills and the wildest stories got the most gavelars. We liked it at first then she started making new rules about how we should treat her. When the sun went down it was time for us to listen to her. No one else was allowed to speak till she had finished and sometimes she didn’t stop till the sun was coming up again. By the end of the week not one of us, ma’am, didn’t wish you back.

  ‘She started selling her tales to the Felluns. She’d come back shaking her head so we could see her earrings flash. She had mirrors everywhere so she could admire herself. Nothing like you ma’am; you’re far more beautiful but you make nothing of it. She started a new tale that Grittee and Lil had joined up with you. Have they?’

  Yehvo shook her head.

  Jefee went on. ‘Then the terrorgations started. I knew I was a target being Yehvo’s granddaughter and Grittee’s friend. That’s when I got out, and here I am now.’

  ‘And I am proud and pleased to see you child,’ said Yehvo. She smiled wryly. ‘It looks like there’s no going back, Ferralee, whether you want to or not.’

  ‘I will go back if only to break my stick over Elfee’s head,’ said Ferralee.

  Jefee was smiling at Gertie. ‘You’re Grittee’s sister aren’t you? You’re just like she said. I can see there’s a fearsome lot going on behind your forehead. Grittee thought I was silly so goodness knows what you’ll make of me. I hardly dare speak to you. Oh well, take me or leave me. How did you travel? What a trip I had. I came on a meatboat far as Junkadrift. It stank, and see where the carnate has burned holes in my dress. I’ve been walking since. Then I came upon the rock and knew it from Grandma’s tales. Then this man spotted me and...’

  ‘And here you are,’ Ferralee interrupted.

  Jefee spoke a lot of nonsense but she made Gertie laugh. Gertie realised she hadn’t laughed in a long time.