The doors hissed apart. Both Antonin and Catharina jumped. Something that Catharina had touched had caused the doors to open. Catharina touched the strange pattern by the top of one side. The doors hissed shut. Another push, and the sprang open again. A thrumming sound began, coming from somewhere beneath the floor. After a moment there as a hiss like a dragon expiring, and the thrumming sound stopped. With a glance at each other as if to say “I don’t know, do you?” The two moved to the door. It was not far to the ground. Catharina wondered now if it was actually a good idea to leave the relative safety of their steel wagon with all its strength.
“Antonin, we must stay together. We must not get separated in this strange place. It seems that we have immobilized this ancient wagon. We should search forward in its light. Do you think?” She added with some uncertainty.
“Yes.” Replied Antonin. He took Catharina’s hand and stepped to the edge. They both landed lightly on their feet. Their heads were almost level with the floor of the wagon they had just left.
It was now possible to see the ground clearly. There was a lot of rubbish. Not only loose stone, and bits of wall and ceiling that had come down over the centuries, but old paper, bits of wood, strange round metal containers, and a wide assortment of unnameable objects. Catharina pointed along the wall. It was unmistakable – there was a shelter built out of timber against the wall. It was a little way ahead of them, and well lit from the lights of the wagon, but so well camouflaged that it would normally go unnoticed. It was only because they were at the same level, and very alert to danger that Catharina had seen it at all.
Carefully Antonin drew his sword. He made no sound of steel on leather as the sword slipped out of the scabbard, his fingers holding both blade and scabbard mouth. He moved quickly forward to the shelter and peered inside. Someone or something had camped there recently. There were ashes in a fireplace, and Antonin calculated that they were some days old. It looked like a permanent camp. The paper that littered the area must be from this age at least. Paper deteriorated quickly. It would not survive for centuries. So, whoever had used this place had access to a supply of paper. Most of it had strange writing on it, and looked like it had been torn from books. It had been used as bedding as well as kindling. There didn’t seem to be anybody about now, and the shelter was empty. It seemed to be purely a camp site rest area.
Antonin and Catharina walked past the shelter toward the distant portal. Even clearer now, it was very badly damaged. Much of the roof had fallen in, and only the iron rail bed was clear. In fact it had been cleaned. Piles of rubble on either side told of activity by someone in cleaning the iron track way. But long ago. There was no sign of recent activity. Only the small campsite. They moved quietly forward. Stepping over and around the rubble until they reached the remains of the cavernous portal. Looking back, the light from their strange wagon could still be seen, and although they were now some way distant, the light was still very bright.
Antonin pointed. The now familiar stairs to the surface appeared to be intact. There was just enough light in the recess to make it out.
“Let us see if we can reach the surface Antonin.” Said Catharina. They clambered up onto the main floor and went across and started up the stairs. At the first turn it became very dark as the light was blocked off complexly now. They knew now though that there was only a couple of levels to the surface. There was a glimmer of light now. “Nearly there Catharina.” Said Antonin, more for self assurance than anything.
Antonin was first out onto the surface. He stood rooted to the spot. Catharina bumped into him as he had stopped so suddenly. There was no landscape. As far as their uncomprehending eyes could see, the land was flat and devoid of even a blade of grass. Even the surrounding rails of the stairwell were gone. The ground itself had a scorched glass like surface, broken only by intermittent stumps of stone that had also been melted and twisted into fantastic shapes. There was not even a small rise or hillock all the way out to the horizon. It looked like a giant roller had moved over the world.
“Antonin, what can we do,” said Catharina. “We could not survive out there for even one day. What has happened here…” She hesitated. “We cannot even guess at.”
She continued. “We must go back to the wagon, and continue on, or go back somehow.”
They took a last look at the blasted landscape and turned back down the stairs.
The strange carriages were still sitting away down the track, and it looked like the only relatively safe haven. Antonin and Catharina started back toward it. Climbing back inside, Catharina closed the doors. They had to think about what to do. The Tharsians undoubtedly had the Key to The Great Wheel of Sara Sara. But had they been this way? Had Catharina and Antonin made a grave mistake in leaving the city? There seemed no way of knowing which direction the Tharsians had taken.
Antonin walked the length of the two carriages. Nothing but rows of seats on either side. They had been made to carry large numbers of people it seemed. There was a small room at either end. Identical controls in each. It had been in the leading room that they had found themselves when they stopped the wagons mad dash through the caverns. Clearing the dust further from the panels revealed what appeared to be very simple controls. Arrows pointing forward, and backward. A small lever that had previously been at the extent of its travel was now at the other end of its scale. This had to be a control mechanism.
“Catharina, do we go forward into the unknown, or back to the others?” Antonin asked Catharina.
“It is certain that we cannot stay here Antonin.” She replied. “No water, no food, and a campsite nearby made by who knows what – or who?”
Antonin paced up and down. It was all very well being the focus of this strange thing that Mei’An called Da'qi. Well actually she was referring to herself as having Da'qi, one who bent the very web of life about herself. She had said he also possessed this strange thing, and Catharina to a lesser degree. He could not figure out why he was singled out for this dubious honour, but it was seemingly of no use to him in this sort of situation. Perhaps he should leave the whole business up to Mei’An and Luan, and simply return to his village.
“Catharina. We return. I will get to the bottom of this business or we do not go on at all. Mei’An will have some answers for us. I want to know why you and I are possessed of this “Da'qi” as she claims. This machine got us here, it can get us back. I hope.”
Catharina smiled. Her confidence in Antonin was absolute. She was not concerned herself. She had been trained since birth to make quick decisions, and had no fears about their current situation. She was happy to go forward, or return. Although Antonin had a good point. She was more than a little curious herself about this thing Mei’An referred to as Da'qi.
“Antonin,” she said. “Let’s see if we can find out how to restart this thing.” She headed toward the end of the carriages that faced the direction that they had come from. Antonin joined her.
He stood looking at what appeared to be the controls of this strange machine. The only difference he could see was the short lever. He looked at Catharina and shrugged. He moved the lever forward one notch. There was a slight rise in the steady hum that came from below the floor. But no movement. Antonin clicked the lever up one more notch. The wagons gave a lurch and a slight squeal of metal on metal, and they could feel the whole machine rise slightly. Looking outside, the walls lit by the interior lights of the carriages, they saw the walls slipping past, almost at walking speed, back in the direction from which they had come. The brilliant front lamp was now lit, and illuminated the tunnel for as far ahead as they could see before the slight left hand curve blocked of the sight of the track.
“Catharina, do you remember where on this surface map we started from?” Asked Antonin, pointing to the map panel.
“I’m not sure, but I think it was this one.” Replied Catharina. She pointed to a spot near the edge of the map. It seemed to Antonin that it could be the one. He was not sure himself. In any cas
e, it looked like there was a long way to go, and at this speed it would take ages.
There was a loud crashing from the other end of the wagons. They both whirled about and there on the track behind them were a horde of Tharsians. The Tharsians were throwing whatever they could grab at the slowly moving wagons. It was plain they could see the occupants. Their intentions toward Antonin and Catharina were equally obvious. There were now Tharsians running alongside the wagons, beating at the doors and windows with axes and spears. Some carried huge long handled hammers. These were doing most damage and some of the glass panels were already cracking under the blows. Antonin looked at them in alarm. He could not guess at what sort of glass it was, and he wondered at the skill of the makers. They seemed safe enough at the moment though.
“We know where the Tharsians went.” Said Antonin, grinning at Catharina. “Let’s have some sport for a moment.”
Antonin drew his sword, and pointed to the short bow slung across Catharina’s back. “I’ll open the door, you give the first Tharsian his surprise.” Catharina laughed. This was more like it. She didn’t feel like running from a battle again. Together they moved to the rear most door on one side. The Tharsians could not resist following them, and did their best to crowd around the door, even while having to walk and hop to keep up with the slow moving wagons. Stumbling over debris on the tunnel floor, their howls of rage and frustration were enough to curdle the blood of mere mortals.
Antonin was poised, his hand on the door release. Catharina stood back in the centre of the wagon, a dozen arrows held in an arm guard and one ready nocked and the bow drawn out full. She held steady. The giant green hide Tharsians, their cavernous mouths wide as they howled and roared, were so excited at the prospect of a quick meal they were fighting each other to get to the door and break it down.
Antonin hit the release and the doors sprung open. Even as they opened Catharina let fly a rain of arrows. Faster than the eye could follow she placed an arrow, drew and released. Every one finding a mark in the hide of the monsters. The howls of rage changed to howls of pain as those trying to enter the door fell back into those behind. Antonin hit the door control again and the doors snapped shut. A Tharsian was caught by the arm in the door. It was being dragged along the tunnel floor, it’s arm caught fast and facing backwards. It tried to free it’s arm, but unable to stand to get leverage, all it could do was scream in rage. The Tharsians seemed to have no language, needing none it seemed. However it was obvious that they could appreciate the situation. The pack keeping up with the wagon made no attempt to free their fellow, but were apparently highly amused at its predicament. It also served to keep the others away from the door.
“Antonin,” called Catharina above the din. “Open the door then shut it immediately.” Antonin glanced at Catharina, again poised with drawn bow. He snapped open the door and the Tharsian died in a hail of arrows as it fell away. In the moment that the door was open, two others died as well. Catharina was almost dancing on the spot she was so pleased with herself. Her face was lit by a grin so wide Antonin thought her face would hurt. There were still Tharsians crowding along the tunnel and there were more running from away back down the tunnel to join those already by the wagons.
“It’s been a fun moment Catharina, but I really think we should depart with a little more haste. The din these monsters make is really too much.”
Antonin’s smile was nearly as wide as Catharina's.”
“Yes, we certainly know which way the Tharsians took now. This is more than just a raiding party. See back there.” She pointed away along the tunnel. “There is Mordos himself. You see his banner there in that crowd?”
Antonin looked closely. The brilliant crimson banner of Mordos, king and leader of all Tharsians could be seen at the head of a squad that was rapidly gaining on the wagons, although still some way distant.
“Time to go I think.” Said Antonin. The pair raced back to the forward control room. The way ahead was clear, except for one Tharsian who had somehow managed to climb up the front of the wagon, and was now clinging precariously to the window frame. It cried out with a shriek as Antonin lunged at it with his sword and fell directly onto the steel rail. The wagons glided over it without a pause, it’s dying cry cut off as it was crushed beneath the wagons. Antonin reached forward for the control lever. “Hold on Catharina.” He yelled, and slammed the lever all the way forward.
The carriages gave a groan as the humming sound rose to an almost inaudible whistle in the space of a heart beat. They leapt ahead down the tunnel at such a speed that it was all Antonin could do to hold on. In the space that it had taken to draw a breath they had gone from walking pace to a speed that left everything behind in a blur of motion. Gradually they became accustomed to the motion.
“Antonin,” said Catharina, some exasperation in her voice. “I wish you would stop doing that. Ease the control back before you injure us both and wreck the carriages.”
Antonin grinned sheepishly as he slid the control back to half way. The scene outside settled into a steady flicker as they passed along the tunnel.
“We should watch for useful signs,” said Catharina, staring ahead. “We will need to come this way again I think.”
They both kept an eye on the small green light on the control panel as it crept across the map, and settled down to watch ahead.
There was little to see. Occasionally they sped past another of the huge caverns where the stairs led to the surface. Each of these was marked on the map panel and it wasn’t long before they both began to recognise features that they saw, with markers on the map. They had no idea what lay on the surface. Neither had ever travelled beyond the Star Field Plain. They were a very long way from there now. They did not want to stop the wagons to investigate. That could come later.
There were no signs of life in any of the caverns. They seemed to have remained unused for as long as they had been there. The people who had built them were long gone. Antonin could not understand why the whole complex seemed to have remained unused. He would ask Mei’An. If anyone knew she would, and it would be just one more question for her. Tiring of the unchanging deadness, Antonin suggested they increase speed. He was hungry in any case. A return to the inn with their news and a good meal would be welcome. Maybe The Trader would be back. It was impossible to tell what the hour was, or how long they had travelled but Antonin’s stomach told him it had been some time. Gradually this time, he moved the control lever full forward again. It hurt their eyes to look ahead. The onrushing walls seemed to be narrowing in to crush them as they sped forward. Catharina concentrated on the map panel while Antonin studied the other panels near the control lever. Some appeared to be indicators of the state of the machine, and there were switches and levers whose nature he could not fathom. At this speed he was not going to try to find out. Such speed. He couldn’t believe it. Indeed it was making him feel ill. He had never travelled faster than a horse could gallop of course, and had often envied the birds their speed. Now he was not so sure. From the look on Catharina’s face, she felt much the same.
“Are we close to our starting point yet Catharina?” Antonin said in a slightly strangled voice.
“I think so, yes.” She replied, with a glance at the controls. That was all Antonin needed. He slid the lever all the way back to the first quarter position. The wagons rapidly lost speed and settled to a speed that seemed quite sedate compared to moments before. Suddenly they entered a huge cavern. In the bright light they could see rails leading off into tunnels in many directions. There were many raised platforms, and stairs to the surface in many places. The walls could only be seen in the dim distance. Huge pillars held up the roof, high above them. Within moments they were back in the tunnel. Antonin noted the position on the map indicating where they had just been. Many lines radiated out from that point. He scratched a mark next to it. “We may need this reference.” He said aloud.
His stomach rumbled loudly, Catharina laughed. “I could use a meal myself.�
�� She said. “The next cavern should be the one we left from. Let us hope the Morgoth warriors are not still there to welcome us back.”
Antonin slid the control lever nearly all the way back. Once again they were travelling at little more than walking speed. A cavern entrance loomed ahead. This was different than others that they had traversed. The strange bright lights were all lit. The cavern was like daylight. There was no doubt that this was where they had left from. The bodies of a dozen Morgoth warriors lay on the platform still. Written into the dust on the glass of the control room where they had first hidden were the words “the inn”.
So their friends had come looking after all and dealt with the Morgoth.
Antonin was happy. They had discovered how to control the travelling machines, and most importantly had learnt the whereabouts of the Tharsian pack that possessed the keystone and that Mordos led them.
Antonin stopped the carriages. The wagons settled onto the track with a slight sigh. Together they stepped onto the platform. They could not see any way of closing the wagon door behind them and it didn’t close itself this time, as it had done previously. Well, nothing could be done but to leave it open. Cautiously they mounted the stairs and came out into the huge empty hall, empty of all but more bodies. The Morgoth had left many warriors behind.
It was dark outside, and when they stepped out they saw it was very late. There were very few lights on, and a waning moon lit empty streets in all directions. Only the mournful howl of a dog in the distance gave any indication of life at all.
Quickly Antonin and Catharina trotted back to The Inn of the Blind Man.
“It must be early morning.” Whispered Catharina, glancing at the moon. “See where The Maiden sails. Almost dawn I would say. We travelled far I think, in that strange machine.”
The innkeepers dog barked half heartedly as they stepped into the yard. The shadows in the yard were deep, the night inky black against the weak light of the moon. Catharina led the way to the back of the inn. She was about to climb the stairs when she felt a sword point at her back. Slowly she turned her head to face the holder of the sword. Her face was now lit by the weak moon. She heard the sigh of expelled breath and tensed for the sword thrust she thought was coming. Instead the sword dropped away. Antonin growled with a savage snarl. His sword was out. “Who dares raise a sword against my friend dies by mine. Show yourself, or you die in the dark as you deserve.” His sword glittered in the moonlight, the tip moving in small circles. Catharina relaxed like a cat relaxes, stepping back a pace almost on tip toe.
The Dragons of Sara Sara Page 20