ISOF

by Pete Townsend

  Taken completely by surprise, Ben didn’t have a chance to take evasive action and now stood covered in a fine dusting of dirt. Sneezing violently, he tried to wipe his nose with one hand whilst desperately trying to wipe the dust from his face with the other hand.

  ‘Did you see that?’ laughed the pebble-dashed voice. ‘Classic!’

  ‘Quite a stunt,’ wheezed the third, gravelly voice in agreement.

  As Ben still tried vainly to clear the dust from his face, Noj, Trep and Mak scoured the rock faces for the source of voices.

  ‘Some sort of audible mirage,’ commented Trep. ‘There’s nothing to see apart from a pile of old rocks.’

  ‘Old?’ thundered a voice. ‘Old you say?’

  Trep looked around to identify the source of the voice but the echoes made it impossible to locate where the sound was coming from.

  ‘You refer to old in a disparaging manner,’ thundered the voice again. ‘Whereas, you should really use the term with reverence you know,’ it continued.

  ‘Er, where are you exactly?’ asked Trep looking directly into the clear sky.

  Ben, who was also scouring the amphitheatre for the source of the voices, was almost certain he saw the tree roots twitch above the cavern mouth. He picked up a small stone and was just about to launch it in the direction of the cavern when the voice thundered again.

  ‘That, young man, is an ill-considered action and one that I cordially suggest you refrain from carrying out.’

  Ben smiled. He hadn’t intended to throw the stone anywhere but the suggestion that he might have confirmed his suspicion. He pointed at the two bulging pieces of granite above the cavernous mouth.

  ‘My apologies,’ said Ben towards the cavern. ‘I had no intention of throwing the stone but simply wanted to cause a reaction, which it did.’

  ‘Good grief,’ muttered Trep. ‘Ben actually used his initiative for once. Wonders will never cease.’

  Ignoring the sarcastic comment, Ben looked directly at the two granite pieces that, if you squinted, might be described as eyes.

  ‘Are you where I think you are?’ enquired Ben in as polite a voice as he could manage.

  ‘I think,’ replied the cavernous mouth. ‘That it is highly unlikely I would be anywhere else considering both the physical and practical constraints on my being anywhere else.’

  ‘Isn’t saying the same thing twice in the same sentence called something like taught or some such word?’ frowned Ben.

  ‘If’ answered the cavernous voice, ‘by any chance you are referring to tautology, technically, you are correct. However, if you are attempting to teach me grammar, you will find I have forgotten far more than you will ever know,’ continued the voice haughtily.

  ‘Nobody bothered to teach me any ‘ologies’’ said the gravelly voice.

  Ben looked around the rock faces to see where the gravelly voice had come from. Just over his right shoulder, a scattering of small stones tumbled from a tiny ridge that arched over a protruding chunk of rock. As Ben looked more intently at the rock face, he noticed that slightly to the left of the first rocky protrusion a second, lopsided chunk of rock looked out over the amphitheatre. Almost below the eyes sat a large, square piece of granite with several smaller bits haphazardly decorating the surface. Above these stone features sat a row of seedy looking gorse bushes, which overhung one side of the rock face. Without warning two jet-black birds flew out of the gorse causing a torrent of dust to cascade down the face of the rock.

  ‘Pfffp!’ sounded the rock face as a small crevice appeared below piece of square granite.

  ‘Trouble with your roots again?’ asked the cavernous mouth.

  ‘Excuse me,’ interrupted Ben before the voices could continue. ‘Wouldn’t it be polite to introduce yourselves rather than ignore our presence?’

  Ben heard a noise similar to stones tumbling down a scree slope. Looking to his left he smiled. Staring down at him was an almost identifiable face outlined with what looked like molten lava that had solidified mid-flow. The droopy, lava formed eyebrows appeared to twitch.

  ‘If,’ began the droopy mouth, ‘you are expecting the other two to display any form of cordiality, then you will have a long wait.’ The drooping face grimaced. ‘In fact,’ the face continued. ‘Those two seem to consider everyone else beneath them.’

  ‘Well, laughed Ben. ‘Most of us are.’

  ‘Quite right too,’ said the cavernous mouth. ‘It is right and proper that people know their place.’

  ‘Huh!’ wheezed the drooping face, emitting a small cloud of dust.

  ‘Someone is having a sulk,’ rattled the pebble-dashed voice.

  ‘Huh!’ repeated the drooping face as a second cloud of dust hit the air.

  ‘Definitely a slight downturn in the humour department,’ thundered the cavernous mouth with a hint of a chuckle.

  The four travellers felt like an uninvited audience in a quarry for unstable rocks.

  Ben frowned.

  ‘Haven’t you got some cousins in America?’ asked Ben mischievously.

  ‘Cousins?’ replied the cavernous mouth. ‘As far as I am aware, we are rather unique.’

  ‘You’re telling me,’ mumbled Ben.

  ‘Speak up, speak up,’ said the pebble-dashed voice. ‘No use mumbling boy, if you want to be heard then say it loud.’ The over-large granite nose seemed to wrinkle in disgust. ‘And loud is something that some heads, in particular, rather excel.’

  ‘Huh!’ replied the cavernous mouth.

  ‘Oh, nothing at all,’ sniggered the pebble-dashed voice. ‘Simply making a comment about these soft human forms who have so kindly come to visit us.’

  ‘You’re about as subtle as a house brick,’ snapped the cavernous mouth.

  ‘House brick?’ spat the pebble-dashed voice angrily. ‘How dare you insult me by comparing me to a pre-cast form of immature rubble.’

  ‘Excuse me,’ shouted Ben as the cavernous voice belched dust. ‘I mentioned cousins as in Mount Rushmore?’

  An eerie silence filled the rocky amphitheatre. Ben looked at each of the faces. ‘You know,’ he said hesitantly. ‘Er, Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln?’ A polite cough from Noj disturbed the continuing silence.

  ‘Ben, I’m not so sure that…’

  The lava-like lips of the drooping face wobbled as a gust of dusty air passed through them at speed. ‘I’m utterly bored,’ rasped the drooping face. ‘Just satisfy big mouth’s curiosity as to what you’re doing here and where you’re heading and then be off with you.’

  ‘Ahem,’ coughed the cavernous mouth. ‘I am quite capable of asking these soft forms a range of pertinent questions, which will enable me to ascertain their precise motive for being here.’

  ‘Phut!’ spat the pebble-dashed voice. ‘Little wonder you need such a big mouth for such big words.’

  ‘And for keeping his special…’ began the droopy face.

  ‘Quiet!’ stormed the cavernous mouth. ‘Just shut your rubble.’

  The droopy face drooped even further. ‘There’s no need to be quite so rude. And just because I haven’t got a…’

  ‘Shut up,’ thundered the cavernous mouth. While his voice still reverberated around the rocks, the cavernous voice looked down and, in a condescending voice, directed his question at Ben. ‘Would you be so kind and enlighten us as to the nature of your visit and where you are bound?’

  ‘We were directed here by Leonard,’ began Ben.

  ‘He’s an interfering old fool,’ snapped the pebble-dashed voice angrily. ‘Forever sticking his nose into matters that do not concern him.’

  ‘Well,’ replied Ben. ‘I found him very helpful and full of hospitality, even if his barbeque contraption did explode,’ he added, mumbling the last few words. The cavernous voice appeared to tilt his face slightly and then an odd, gurgling sound began to echo around the amphitheatre.

  ‘That,’ gurgled the cavernous mouth, ‘has got to be the funniest thing I’ve heard for a l
ong while.’ Without warning the gurgling noise turned into a gale of laughter. The cavernous mouth opened wide as the laughter roared through the air. Ben clamped his hands over his ears. The other three quickly followed suit as the laughter pounded at their ears. Trep looked at the cavernous mouth saw something glint deep inside the mouth. He quickly nudged Noj. Nodding at the mouth, Trep tried to indicate what he’d seen.

  ‘What?’ mouthed Noj.

  Trep leaned over and prised Noj’s hand away from his ear. ‘Inside his mouth.’ he shouted. ‘Remember what Leonard said.’

  Noj, wincing at volume of noise, immediately gestured for Ben and Trep to climb towards the cavern mouth. As they cautiously began their ascent, Noj motioned for Mak to make a diversion by tossing stones into the air close to the other two rock faces.

  ‘Hey!’ exclaimed the pebble-dashed voice. ‘What are you lot up to? Be careful with those stones.’

  ‘I wondered,’ asked Noj politely. ‘Whether you could tell us what lies beyond this rocky outcrop?’

  ‘In a hurry to go somewhere are we?’ enquired the droopy face as its lava eyes watched the stones being tossed in the air.

  The eyes of the cavernous mouth looked inquisitively at Noj. ‘What do you want to know for and what is happening on my face?’

  ‘Two of those soft forms are climbing towards your mouth,’ replied the droopy face as it continued to watch the hypnotic rhythm of the stones in the air.

  ‘What, why, hey, get off,’ blustered the cavernous mouth. ‘What’s going on?’

  Ben and Trep continued slowly climbing towards the cavernous mouth. Fragments of rock fell as they struggled to find a grip on the rock face.

  ‘I know what they’re after,’ called the pebble-dashed voice. ‘And you won’t like it one little bit,’ it continued.

  ‘What are they after?’ rumbled the cavernous mouth. Suddenly the tree roots twitched violently and the deeply gouged eyes narrowed menacingly. ‘Don’t even think about it,’ roared the voice.

  Just as the cavernous mouth roared, Ben made a grab for the gnarled edge of the opening. Aware that one of the soft forms had managed to grasp its rocky lip, the lower edge of the mouth started to move upwards, leaving Ben dangling by his fingertips.

  ‘Trep,’ shouted Ben. ‘Do something.’

  ‘I am,’ squealed Trep. ‘I’m holding on for dear life!’

  An avalanche of small rocks began to tumble out of the cavernous mouth, causing Trep to squeal even louder. At the same time, the mouth continued to close with Ben scrabbling to gain some extra purchase with his feet.

  ‘Anybody?’ yelled Ben, his feet thrashing wildly for any sort of grip.

  Suddenly, above the deafening noise of grinding and tumbling stone, a flash of bright light scorched the air and the sound of splintering rock made everyone look towards the cavernous mouth.

  Directly between the two deep gouges of the stone face a third, almost as deep, gouge had appeared. Standing below was Noj, his walking stick pointing directly at the stone face, as flashes of blue light played around the tip. For a split second, the cavernous mouth stopped its closing motion, momentarily stunned at the sudden impact between its eyes. Instantly, Ben clambered into the cavernous opening, thankful to give his aching hands and arms a rest. Standing in the opening, he looked down at Noj and gestured towards the walking stick. Without hesitation, Noj hurled Trep’s walking stick at Ben. Instinctively, he caught the walking stick and, wedging one end at the base of the opening, he forced the walking stick upright. Turning towards the cavernous interior, Ben was confronted with rows of stalactites and stalagmites lining each side of the cavernous mouth.

  ‘Don’t just stand there!’ shouted Trep. ‘Find what sparkled and get out of there. I can’t guarantee the walking stick is going to hold for long.’

  Startled by Trep, Ben quickly looked around but couldn’t see anything that had even a hint of a sparkle.

  ‘I can’t see anything,’ he called over his shoulder.

  ‘No wonder,’ called Trep. ‘You’re blocking the light. Move to one side.’

  Taking a step to his left, Ben caught the briefest glimpse of a reflection towards the rear of the cavern. As he stepped forward the floor began to tremble causing him to lose his balance. A split second later a huge groan filled the cavern, steadily building in volume until Ben felt his head was going to explode.

  With his hands firmly over his ears and shuffling awkwardly on his knees and elbows, he reached the rear of the cavern. Immediately in front of his face, about the same size as his fist, hung an uncut diamond, firmly wedged between two stalactites. Not giving a second thought, Ben turned onto his back and began to kick at the diamond. Fortunately, the rear of the cavern was small enough for him to just about reach the diamond and get sufficient force behind each kick.

  Without warning the intensity of the groaning increased dramatically. The ground shook violently as Ben tried to dislodge the diamond. Even with his fingers dug firmly into his ears, the groaning seemed to torture every bone and muscle in his body. Sweat poured down his face as he kicked desperately at the diamond. Just when he thought his body couldn’t take any more punishment, a blast of cold, gritty air hit him. Ben closed his eyes as the grit began to scratch at his face. Almost instantly, a second more fierce blast of air and grit hit him and then a third.

  Ben, his legs feeling as if they were on fire, gave a last kick at the diamond. He kicked again and suddenly realised that he was kicking at space. Opening his eyes for a brief moment he saw the diamond lying close to his arm. Scooping up the diamond he scrabbled towards the edge of the cavernous mouth just as another blast of air and grit hit him. The violence of the blast tumbled him over and over until he lay at the edge of the mouth. Before he had time to react a final blast hit him and Ben felt himself hurled into the air. Even though he knew that gravity would exact its revenge and throw him down to earth, Ben couldn’t help thinking that the cavernous mouth had actually coughed him out. With a smile on his face, Ben felt his arms fly above his head and the diamond tumble out of his grasp. His cape billowed open allowing the precious book to tumble earthwards too. Ben screwed his eyes shut and tensed his body waiting for the hard ground to make a violent impression on him.

  Instead of a harsh landing, Ben felt himself suddenly enveloped in a soft cloud-like substance. For the first time in ages he was comfortable, wrapped in a warm softness that reminded him of being at home in bed. Just as he was about to allow his body to luxuriate in the velvet embrace, someone grabbed his arms and tugged him upright.

  Blinking in the sunlight, he looked first at Noj, who still held Ben’s hands, and then at the large bubble that had shot out of the book as it hit the ground.

  ‘Wow!’ exclaimed Ben in admiration. ‘An air bag, cool!’

  ‘Whatever,’ snapped Noj. ‘Grab the book quickly. We need to get out of here right now.’

  Ben looked up at the rock faces. Each face appeared creased with anger as splinters of stone shot out of their mouths. Somehow, Trep had managed to scramble and tumble down the rock face and now sat looking totally bewildered on the ground.

  ‘Trep!’ yelled Ben. ‘Shift yourself, quickly.’

  Trep struggled to his feet just as his walking stick finally submitted to the grinding force of the cavernous mouth. Splinters of wood joined the stone shards flying through the air. The noise startled Trep into movement as he dashed across the amphitheatre to join Ben.

  ‘Waste of a damn fine walking stick,’ he muttered angrily.

  ‘All in a good cause,’ shouted Ben as he tugged at Trep’s arm. ‘Let’s get out of here fast.’

  ‘What about that thing you prised out of the cavernous mouth,’ yelled Trep, running as fast as he could to keep up with Ben.

  ‘Mak’s got it,’ replied Ben breathlessly. ‘Look.’

  Both Noj and Mak sheltered anxiously within a narrow gap in the rock wall. The shards of stone continued to rain down around them but this time accompanied by a sand storm
that picked up the pieces and hurled them violently earthwards. Noj beckoned at them urgently.

  ‘Come on,’ he yelled above the noise. ‘This way.’

  All four ran through the narrow gap as the rock faces continued to demonstrate their anger.

  The narrow walls twisted and turned, sometimes appearing wide and other times almost touching, impeding their escape. After what seemed an age, they suddenly emerged, bruised and breathless, into bright sunlight while a groaning stone storm raged just behind them.

  ‘It’s stopped raining out here,’ observed Mak, gasping for air as he craned his neck towards the sky.

  ‘Precisely,’ agreed Noj. ‘But what is the one cloud you can see on the horizon?’

  In the distance, a cloud of dark fingers hovered menacingly, appearing like a stain on an otherwise serene sky.

  ‘How did they know where we would be heading?’ asked Trep incredulously.

  ‘No idea,’ replied Noj. ‘But you have to admire their persistence.’

  ‘Admiration or annoyance?’ asked Ben as he gazed at the dark smudge of Whispers.

  ‘Whatever you think,’ said Mak handing Ben the uncut diamond. ‘You’d better look after this.’

  ‘What am I expected to do with this?’ replied Ben turning the diamond over in his hands.

  Noj shook his head, looking from the diamond to the Whispers and back. ‘That can wait,’ he said flatly. ‘What we need to concentrate on is how to get to that ridge of mountains over there and avoid the Whispers at the same time.’ He nodded at the book that Ben held in his hands. ‘Anything in there that might help us?’ he asked hopefully.