Arnica

by I. Christie

  Arnica

  I. Christie

  beckoned to him, and he came running to her. His mother having heard his cry, came back for him. She grabbed him up and hurried back to her cart, joyful that her son chose her. Then the scene went away.

  Wetfoot looked up at E'l who was still sipping her soup. "You already know what's going to happen."

  E'l continued to smile.

  "You're just waiting, until the others get their voices back. You activated the hearthstone."

  She nodded.

  "But, what about the men? If they're left behind…"

  Gi waved a hand gently and the apprehension left Wetfoot. "As you said, your Commander will take care of that."

  Wetfoot looked at Gi, "I'm here to protect her, not Commander Montran."

  Gi looked surprised. "I don't know what your orders are."

  "Gi, I don't mean those orders…I mean fate or whatever you call it. That's why I always seem to be around when E'l is in trouble."

  Gi nodded. "It seems your fates are tied together."

  "So, I have to figure out how to get E'l back to the village, without the hunters. If the village men see the hunters they will herd all the women into the common expecting to see punishment. We can't have that type of energy. But how are we going to get all the women and girls in one place…"

  "They will feel my arrival and begin preparing for their journey," E'l whispered.

  Gi nodded. "You have completed your task in the maze."

  E'l rose and gestured for Wetfoot to do the same. The two started up a tunnel, to the light of the day.

  Chapter 17

  Tukuli's nose caught that allusive scent. Sighing when it disappeared he stood still. He knew how to move silently, instinctively knowing where to go and where to avoid, from potholes and nests, to overhanging branches and noisy leaf foliage that would give his presence away.

  Again it breezed by him. Faint and fading. Another day, he thought. He returned to their encampment. By the temperature of the air, and the sounds of the creatures around him, he knew it was nearly time when the boy he now called Diami, would return.

  If they were fortunate, he would have enough food to fill their stomach. Diami had taught him to weave baskets. What baskets Diami was able to sell, minus the percentage to the local Hostel, he purchased supplies. Tukuli was still learning but he tore many apart when the symbols or texture did not feel right. It was frustrating to Diami who thought they were fine. But they were not starving, and for the first time that Tukuli could ever remember, he was enjoying life.

  Tukuli sat on his seat that Diami found cast off in the local trash heap. They cleaned it and made some modifications to accommodate Tukuli's position while weaving. Reaching to his left, his fingers felt the reed he was looking for. It had a red 363

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  streak in the center. He knew because he could feel the color vibrate stronger than any of the others. Humming softly to himself, fingers moved through one container of reeds and leafs, to another of foliage and beads, picturing what they were to represent and where they would fit.

  Tukuli paused from his work, when he heard Diami's soft footfall. Something was wrong. He was stumbling. Putting aside his basket, Tukuli sought what may be disturbing the boy, but found nothing. He sniffed the air. Diami was frightened. The boy fell into the campsite. He was crying.

  "What is it, Diami?" he rose from his seat and felt his way to the boy's side, his confidence in knowing what was around him was gone with one thing out of place in his ordered world. He felt his way clumsily to the boy's side. The boy cried softly, unconsolingly until he fell asleep wrapped in Tukuli's arms.

  Tukuli was startled awake when the boy shivered. "Boy, what is it that disturbs you?" he asked softly. The boy only shivered and burrowed further into Tukuli's cloak.

  Tukuli sniffed the air, catching the dampness of the early morning hours. Light was still hours away. He could smell rain also. However, the air temperature was not right for rain.

  Perhaps it would pass them. He had weaved a roof for them and there were sides to their shelter, but it was not large enough to protect his supplies and they came before him.

  Tukuli sniffed again. "Fire," he whispered.

  The boy nodded. "Raiders. They were stopped but not before they destroyed the temple. They had something that made a sound that hurt my head. I could hear the stones and the cries of those in pain from the sound." He began to weep again.

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  Tukuli rocked him waiting for him to stop.

  "They…hurt my friends and now they have gone away!"

  "Well," he soothed, "you still have me Diami. If you want, you can count me as your friend."

  "Oh, Tukie," the boy wept harder.

  Tuluki felt compassion for the boy. The monks gave him odd jobs and taught him things that would help him earn a living as he got older. Most villages had orphans live in a home where they could grow up with children their own age and nurtured by those that acted as surrogate parents, but for some reason that Diami would not discuss with Tuluki, he would not live in one. Since Tuluki took that attitude about his own situation he refrained from telling Diami how to live his life.

  By midmorning, Diami was moving around. Not his usual self, and not gathering baskets to sell.

  "Diami," he called as he threaded a bead.

  "Yes, Tukie," Diami answered sadly.

  "You said they used something to knock the temple walls down?"

  "The harvester said it was one of those machines the Black Alliance is using to break into the Sacred Caves."

  "Do you believe this?" he asked the young boy, wanting him to think about something before he accepted gossip as fact. " For each ear that hears a story, a newversion to it was added. " so says his aunt. He sighed. Another life.

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  "I don't know. But I know that whatever disharmony is on this planet, it will blend eventually into the whole."

  "Yes. Exactly."

  "They're going to form work groups to rebuild the temple…"

  "They said this?"

  "It is the Way of Drou."

  "Do you want to participate, Diami?"

  "Yes. I want you too to come."

  "Then I will."

  "It will not be easy, Tukie. The temple is the Reatrate. The quarry for sacred stones is a week from here."

  "And to keep in tradition, everyone walks. I think, my friend, it's time I get out and see what is beyond our home. I know our neighbors too well. I would like to meet some new ones."

  Diami laughed. At first Tuluki was frightened by the night noises and could not sleep, so Diami told him that each noise was a friend waiting to be met. Tuluki found great peace in this approach as well as friendship with creatures that allowed him to touch them.

  "We will need to pack then. We don't have to go with the others. They will be taking up the available spaces at the Way Houses. We can sell your baskets as we go and pay our way. We have eleven here. That is more than enough. When we carry the stones, people will feed and give us shelter."

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  Diami was excited. His wisdom was beyond his years, Tuluki thought.

  Tuluki frowned. "I hope there are not a lot of people making this pilgrimage or the people along the way will become poor honoring this tradition."

  "The monks will reimburse them," Diami said as he gathered what they would need. "Queen M'Lu has always honored those that give from their hearts. You cannot lie to her," he informed Tuluki seriously.

  A blanket of sadness settled over Tuluki but he pushed it aside. He would deal with that another day. "Are you saying that from personal experience?" he teased.

  He was surprised when Diami laughed and admitted. "Yes." His tone effectively closing the subject.

  Diami settled the pack on Tuluki's back and
handed him a walking stick. They set out with the sounds of a storm heading their way. Tuluki sniffed the air doubting it would reach them that day.

  Diami set a comfortable pace. There were many on the road, from what Tuluki's ears could pick up. When asked, Diami translated for him the conversations happening around him. Most of the trip however, Tuluki retreated into his dark isolated world. In the solitude he found a place of life. He enjoyed the banter of the creatures of the sky even if he did not understand what they were saying. He was captivated by the various sounds of the wind in the surrounding trees. He knew when they past a forest or a field.

  Tuluki suddenly sniffed deeper. Next to him, Diami was having an animated conversation with another young voice. Again he took a deep breath trying to pinpoint what was bothering him about the feel of this breeze. The energy in it was stinging.

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  "Diami!" Tuluki called.

  "Yes, Tukie?" he patted his shoulder.

  "What is happening…in the air?"

  "Nothing."

  "Behind us…to the sides…in front of us?" He now felt the snapping of electricity along his arms.

  Someone further up the road hollered something.

  "What did he say?"

  "Tornado. What is that?" Diami asked.

  "A ditch…we must find a ditch with a bridge over it! Diami, that or a cellar and…"

  Suddenly he felt his arm being pulled. He stumbled along, trying to keep his feet moving under him. He could feel the sudden drop in temperature and hear the sudden silence. Then a noise in the distance began to grow in volume.

  Shouting voices were all around him. He was jostled in the crowd of scurrying people. When he stumbled a hand helped him right himself. He was guided down steps and pushed against a wall where others were also gathering. The roaring noise was buffeted.

  "Diami," he called softly.

  "Here, Tukie. They have cellars along the roads for travelers and in case someone is working in the fields when one of these things visit. We are very fortunate and blessed," Diami informed him seriously.

  "Yes."

  One of the occupants began a tale. Tukuli could not understand the words, but the rhythm was comforting and soon he fell into a light sleep.

  Chapter 18

  "Hold up, Nameer," wheezed JG. "I need to rest." Dropping her burden, she crawled by the plank and worked the harness off Nameer so he could hunt or rest.

  Exhausted, she rolled on her back and enjoyed the etchings on the ceiling of the tunnel.

  She liked the rests because the journey in the tunnel had consisted of one endless fresco depicting scenes from the lives and insights of other people who had traveled through the threshold of death.

  "Well, Master Dwarf, I have to say, this has been the most interesting of journeys I've had in a long time," she softly informed him. "Let me tell you about this scene. It has a Dwarf in this one…" and so she began recounting the story she believed was unfolding in the drawings.

  "Come and see this, Master Dwarf." She grunted as she pulled the plank under the drawing. "See there…the Dwarf is either giving or receiving something from the dog creature. Hmm. I sure hope it's not a token you have to have to cross the threshold because I don't think I have anything to pay for your way across. But then again, maybe your tales of crossing over are not like some of the one's I've heard."

  She grabbed the harness and resumed the journey, pulling the plank forward, deciding not to wait for Nameer. She sent out a tentative call for the cat wondering what 369

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  was taking him so long. Her knees, numb from having to crawl, were finally given a break when she dropped to her belly. She wiggled forward, pulled the plank, wiggled forward, and pulled the plank. As she wiggled forward again, the ground became a slide.

  Instinctively she released the plank and alone she went careening right and left and then dumped on top of a body. It was dark. Her pillow snarled.

  "Nameer!" she tried to roll off him but their new enclosure was tight. "Helga's moon."

  :There is no way out but the way we came in: was his soulful report.

  "Well, then that's the way we're gonna get out." JG felt the sides of their exit.

  They were smooth with nothing to grip onto. "Okay. Here's how we're gonna do this. I can brace myself and move up using my legs and arms. You'll have to jump in my lap and, gawds I hope you don't weight a lot. There are places where it branches this way and that…I can rest there."

  It took several attempts of getting situated then sliding back into the room before they worked out a position where JG could carry the cat's weight. Her arms and legs were tired but she had to get it done. She had no intention of dying in a shaft.

  Sweat was burning JG's eyes and her legs and arms were trembling. Nameer was her cheering section.

  :we're almost there.

  Suddenly, something dropped in her face and she nearly lost her grip.

  "Tie the leopard to the harness. I will pull him up," Jac's small voice instructed.

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  JG was too tired to argue with the small creature that Nameer would be too heavy for him, so with one hand, with Nameer's help, she did as she was told.

  "Okay, he's ready," she hoarsely called.

  Nameer rose, almost easily. Then came the harness back down.

  When JG crawled over the ledge back into the tunnel, she found Nameer helping to raise her. She fell to the floor. Every muscle in her body was quivering. Jac stepped over to her and began rubbing her arms.

  "Why aren't you with the others?" she asked curious.

  "Master Dwarf, he was my friend. I should have been the one to accompany him on his final journey. I was frightened so I didn't offer."

  "Well, Jac I'm glad you got over it," JG told him.

  "Me too. But I'm glad it was you and not me that found that shaft. I forgot about them. They're to confuse those that are not serious on this journey. We must go on now.

  The sun, see how the light is beginning to fade in the tunnel…we must be to the top as the moon climbs the sky. You go ahead and let us know if there are any more of those shafts, I will pull Master Dwarf, if you will grant me the honor."

  "How did you pull all our weight?"

  "I will tell you later. Now, I must compose a story for Master Dwarf," Jac told her kindly. He smiled at the tired off-worlder's expression, but he knew she was too exhausted to argue.

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  The appearance of the starry sky came into view. JG turned to help Jac lift the Dwarf from the plank and set his body on the elaborate stone altar. The wind was blowing hard and cold so JG wanted to hurry them along. She looked up at the stars and wished his soul peace and swift travel to his afterlife.

  Jac had something to say but whatever it was, JG could not understand. Nameer was peering down a path that seemed a better road to return by than the way they came.

  JG was agreeable to it but it was dark, and falling off a cliff was not her…suddenly she reached into her pocket and pulled out her night light.

  The three were halfway down when Jac pointed at a dark shadow in the mountain wall. "It is a hostel for those that have been to the top and need a break on the way down.

  It appears to be vacant…but…"

  JG felt the same…she did not want to take any chances. "You and Nameer wait here…"

  :There are people waiting around the building: Nameer supplied.

  "Well, that does it. Nameer said we have visitors. I would rather not have company."

  Jac nodded. "I think I have had enough adventure for this week."

  JG's acute night vision revealed a faint animal path. Nameer could see it but Jac could not. JG fastened rope from their harness around his waist, so he would not get lost.

  Nameer led the way and JG followed behind Jac. At one po
int, Nameer veered off the path and into the dense tree cover.

  "We'll spend the night in the tree," JG told Jac softly.

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  Effortlessly Nameer leaped onto a branch. JG tossed Jac up where he hung onto a branch until JG helped him up further.

  The next morning, rather than going back to the trail, JG let Nameer lead them.

  He was taking them back to his mother's land. She knew that because he was purring and sending out signals she could not translate.

  "I promised Nameer I would help him with his mother's land. Off worlders had…" she brought up sharply, pulling Jac behind a tree while Nameer leaped onto its branch. Quietly, JG helped Jac to a branch and gestured for him to climb higher.

  Touching the tree, she asked for insight.

  JG moved up the tree until she was looking over the valley. It was the one that had been contaminated. She knew that because she remembered one tree in particular that was still untouched by the contamination. It leaned at an odd angle. The valley was now green and lush with new growth. It looked like the general had sent a team. From what she could see now there were some people with weapons looking for something.

  :They are hunting: and Nameer's thoughts broke into an angry roar that nearly deafened JG.

  JG saw the hunters look up startled then yelled happily, heading in their direction.

  "They should not be hunting," Jac protested. "It is not our way. Who is hunting?"

  "Let's go see," JG told him.

  JG waited for the hunters at the crest of trees. She watched them as they warily approached her.

  "You're not from here," one of the hunters informed her.

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  "Nor are you, or you would know that hunting is not permitted," JG reported. "So, put your weapons down and don't ever come back." She smirked to herself, knowing it fell on deaf ears.

  "You got one of those midget people with you," one of the hunters noted. "They make good house pets."

  "You guys are so dull," JG told them, hearing them as they moved behind her.

  Then suddenly the air moved around her and before she could intercept it…