The Destiny of Amalah

by Thandi Ryan

  They ventured south west to Hamah and then to the Lebanon, where they dined on Kebbeh which was made from mince or fish and then mixed with wheat, onions and spices and then made into a cake and fried and Yabrak, a kind of meatball that was absolutely delicious.

  They left Lebanon and returned back to Syria stopping an Damascus where they stayed among the Aramaen’s, a Semitic bedouin people. They listened to the languages of Aramaic and Hebrew and picked up a phrase and words here and there.

  They travelled north eastwards going through the towns and villages until they reached Al-Haskahwhich bordered Mesopotamia now known as Iraq. Once again they found themselves in a whole new world when they crossed the border. They experienced new food, new culture, new people and language and new scenery.

  One week they were in a sandy desert and the next, they were crossing arable dry land and another in fertile land and soil. They found Mesopotamia a hard but thrilling nation to ride through and were glad that they had had the chance to see and experience that amazing land. On they went to Persia now Iran, then onto Azerbaijan and across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan.

  They ventured a small fraction of the harsh lands of Afghanistan and finally made their way to what is now Pakistan. There they travelled through the blistering heat, sight seeing and living among the people. They could not believe that once again their view of the world was so radically different from what they had experienced so far.

  They travelled through much of India sampling a variety of foods that were rich and spicy, or sweet and sour, they ate rice, which had only recently been utilised and drank various milk drinks that the different communities made. They saw the temples and buildings that been recently built and learnt about Hinduism, they came across the Didas which were the writings of their religion and lived among settlers and herders.

  When they felt it time to move on again, they encountered the nomads, who treated the six as kindred spirits; at times they would travel with the nomads who would travel between the north and south of India or east to west on the way to Nepal; enjoying their company and knowledge and picking up new skills in living off the land.

  At one stage they got caught in a Monsoon and ended up in a tree shelter for more than two weeks. They travelled their new world through the hot pelting rain and watched the ground below as it became sodden and then flooded and they watched as the animals fled from the growing water either onto the trees like them or out of the region and they wondered if the animals would be able to outrun the rain.

  When the monsoon was finally over they climbed out of the tree house that they had taken shelter in with utter relief. They had been cooped up for two weeks and even though they all loved each other dearly, it was too claustrophobic and cramping for all of them and certain peoples nerves were beginning to get slightly frayed.

  Their travels through India had shown them new uses for iron, beautiful white pottery that was then painted black, exquisite temples, long buried and now being unearthed as ruins and treasure. They also discovered a new material being used among the people – wool and they marvelled at the beginnings of hydrology and the architecture, which was beyond its years.

  India was unlike anywhere else they had been, there were so many small yet separate communities that lived separate but close knit lives. They hunted and gathered in the great forests and they explored the land, and once again the friends caught up with the nomads.

  The nomads and the six taught each other more of their hunting skills that made life easier when they were living off the land. They saw the megalithic tombs made of stone called topikals and saw glamorous and elegant art works like the Sarcophagi and Cists. They were amazed by the wildlife and became excited when they saw their first Bengal tiger.

  The six of them had lived so much in the last few months, they had seen and experienced more in the last few months than they had in their entire lives and at times, it was too much for them, so they took to resting for one or two days to recharge themselves.

  The six of them had changed dramatically in that period – they had grown up, they had broadened their horizons, evolved spiritually, mentally and emotionally and their physical appearance had also changed. They were all darker from travelling in the summer months and had become slimmer and more muscular as it had been hard work travelling the way they had travelled.

  They had lost weight and gained muscles as they hacked their way through the lands; Rakan, Kalon and Rufus were now much taller and leaner. Ellora was still small but she had still grown and she too was also lean but Waldon and Kenaz had become taller, broader, much more muscular and much, much, stronger; than when they had first started the journey.

  They spent the last night in India in Meerut with the nomads that they had befriended, and they sat around an enormous bonfire, feeding on buffalo and listening to their stories and songs and jokes. They sat under the beautiful night sky and watched the full moon and stars illuminate what would be otherwise a dense black sky. The friends went to bed just before midnight and rose early in the morning, and when they had washed and eaten breakfast, they packed very quickly and were ready to go on their travels once again; this time, they were heading to Nepal.

  It was Nepal that truly challenged the young and intrepid travellers, they had now left India with some of the nomads who belonged to the Newari people and who were returning home to Nepal. The six and the Newari’s rode hard for two days and two nights until they reached Silgarhi in the west.

  They arrived on a summer’s morning and once there, some of the Newari left them and continued on their way home. The friends fed and watered the horses and then went about catching their own food. Kenaz and Waldon collected wood for a fire while Rakan and Rufus stayed at the camp tending to the horses and preparing the ground and Kalon and Ellora went with the Newari to hunt for food because both of them were skilled and talented archers. An hour later, they were sat around the fire eating buffalo meat again and drinking black sweet tea, talking and enjoying the moment.

  The six were in high spirits that morning when they arrived in the heart of Nepal, this was one of the places that they had all wanted to see and now that they were here they were glad to see that their expectations had been more than met. From where they were, they could see a few peaks of the majestic Himalayas but that was only a fraction of what was to come.

  As soon as the six and the Newari were fed and rested they resumed their travels once again. They did not spend long at Silgarhi and later they walked around the villages and rode from city to city and when they were done, they headed east to Annapurna and marvelled even more at their new destination.

  They rode along the Gokyo Lake and caught fish from it; they cooked them over a fire with some of the herbs and spices that they had collected on their travels and ate them in the open air. It was in Annapurna where they caught their first true glimpse of the Himalayas in the village of Karkineta.

  There they stood, six young travellers all friends on the high green hills, viewing the snow and ice capped mountains. It was truly breathtaking and there were no words for how they felt or what they thought of the sight of the truly splendid mountains and so they all stood there in silence; each of them staring at them knowing that no words could express or encapsulate the vision before them. When each of them had had their turn they turned around in silence and walked away. Kalon was the last to turn his back on the mountains and when he did he vowed to return there again.

  They spent two weeks in Annapurna exploring the city and villages and everything they had to offer and living among the people. To all of them Nepal was a magical and spiritual place and everywhere they ventured exceeded their expectations. From Annapurna they headed south to the Mahabarat Range, they passed through the dense forests filled with a range of gargantuan trees, they were the tallest they had ever seen and to them, the trees seemed to reach to the sky.

  They marvelled at the pine trees that filled the air with their distinctive scent and they saw beautiful rhododendro
ns that blossomed in pink and yellow and red. The six friends witnessed the wild animals in their natural habitat; they rose just before sunrise and watched as the wild creatures sneaked around, climbed trees and they also watched as horned rhinos, tigers, buffalos and hog deer’s rose and hunted and fed themselves and their young, so that they would have enough food to survive the day.

  They laughed when they saw baby tigers play fight and roll around in the muddy ground as their parents lazed around and they had a birds-eye view of the world in the forest, of everything that was alive and beautiful about nature.

  They continued to trek throughout the ever changing Mahabarat range and when they had passed through the forests and the valleys they came to the mountains, which proved a difficult journey for them and the horses; but to the six young friends it was a trial run, for they all intended to climb Qomolangma – the mountain you now call Everest, and eventually arrive in Tibet.

  On their journey through the mountains they gauged what they would and would not need and then gauged what they could and could not take; they all knew that their horses would not be able to make the journey with them but they wondered what they would do with them in the meantime.

  As the six grew closer to Qomolangma, they planned their route in even more detail from the crude maps that they had; they thought about how they would make their journey and how long it would take them – and if it was even possible.

  When they left Mahabarat, they wondered through the picturesque villages, which were home to beautiful scenery and spectacular gorges of the Solu region and from there; they went onto the gentle lands of Bhaktapur and then to Nagarkot. It was at Nagarkot where the climate changed dramatically and from that time onwards, the now cold climate and thin air made life more difficult for the six and the further north they travelled; the more the thin air and cold exacerbated things for them.

  The clothing they had been wearing throughout their journey was becoming more and more inadequate as they went on and so they and the one remaining Newari, who had stayed with them as their guide, delved into their sacks and rearranged their clothing. They put all the summer clothes they had, along with their soft leather shoes at the bottom of their packs and with the exception of the winter clothes that they were wearing, packed their winter clothes and shoes onto the top of the sacks that they had been carrying with them. Once they had organised themselves, they went to Arun Valley following the river north; following the flowing water, which was surrounded by hills and dense forest on either side that ran for miles.

  By day they travelled along the small broken path of the river which only gave enough room for one traveller and one horse, making them walk and ride in single file. By night they took refuge in the forests or on the hills. They finally made their way to Chamlong – the place they would rest before they dared to take on and conquer Qomolangma.

  The next few weeks saw the six friends plan and prepare in even more detail and hunt for what they would need. They also spent time running around and doing even more physical exercise than they had been doing throughout their journey. They took advice from Gangay, the Newari who had remained with them to guide them to – but not through –Qomolangma.

  He advised them reluctantly and ambivalently because he knew that the venture was treacherous and would almost inevitably, end in certain death for one or all of the six, but he also knew that regardless of his advice – they would venture to Qomolangma anyway.

  On the eve before the seven were to separate, they sat in an unused home around a camp fire, that was now being used to keep them warm rather than provide them with light. Gangay was determined to speak one last time and he hoped that this time, they would see reason.

  ‘Friends, we have travelled together for many weeks now and I know that you are skilled travellers but I must ask you again: are you sure you wish to do this – take on Qomolangma?’ Gangay asked, extremely worried.

  ‘No,’ replied Kalon. ‘But I know if I don’t do this now, I may never and I will always wonder.’

  ‘The weather and terrain are extremely harsh and unforgiving not to mention perilous; many have tried to conquer Qomolangma before you and none have ever succeeded or ever returned. No doubt they died a cold and lonely – and probably very brutal – death?’

  ‘There are six of us,’ Rakan began, trying to reassure Gangay, but the Newari man just stared at Rakan his expression clearly saying: “so what.” ‘We are all strong and healthy and we can all live off the land as well as each other.’

  ‘Perhaps,’ said Gangay, still not convinced and sounding even more pessimistic as he spoke. ‘But living off the land is one thing young friends, but living off mountains is quite another. Do not expect to find any living animals or plant life to survive on.’

  ‘We have food with us,’ Waldon said.

  ‘I hate to sound as though I bear bad tidings on your journey, but I am concerned for you – for your lives. Do you have enough food to last you until you reach the other side of Qomo?’

  ‘No,’ Replied Rakan. ‘We will find it though,’ he said firmly.

  ‘I hope you do,’ Gangay said, instinctively shaking his head. ‘I truly wish you would reconsider.’

  ‘We made a pact. Where one goes, all of us go. We stick together no matter what,’ Kenaz said.

  ‘Let us hope it is not in death,’ Gangay replied grimly. ‘What did your parents and your sister, the Empress say when you told them of your intentions to climb Qomo?’ he asked looking at all six friends. None of them answered and their unanimous silence spoke volumes to Gangay. ‘You did not tell them of your intentions did you?’ he said, gazing at each and every one of them again.

  ‘No we did not,’ Rakan said evenly.

  ‘And why not?’ Gangay asked, but once again his question was met with stony silence. ‘Because you know that they never would have let you undertake such a venture had they known of your plan to embark on such a journey of insanity!’

  ‘Perhaps,’ Rufus said evenly.

  ‘Not perhaps, definitely,’ Gangay said; ‘and you all know it.’

  For some reason, knowing that their parents and the Empress did not know of their plans made Gangay feel even more uneasy and he was surprised that it was even possible to do so.

  ‘I beg you, please reconsider,’ he urged them.

  The thoughts of them venturing Qomolangma while their parents were oblivious scared him and scared him immensely; he would have to send word to the Empress in Amalah. Gangay’s mind was racing, and a hundred thoughts at once were running through his head and Ellora’s voice suddenly silenced them.

  ‘Do not send riders to Amalah Gangay – please,’ she said, smiling warmly at him and taking hold of his hand.

  ‘How did you …’ he said startled.

  ‘Do not worry,’ she said calmly her voice suddenly soothing him. ‘We promise to meet you and our horses four months from now on the other side of Qomolangma just before sunset,’ she said warmly and calmly. Gangay could feels her words continue to sooth him and her voice somehow washed over him. ‘Let us not spend our last night arguing or worrying and suffering vexation.’

  Gangay wanted to say more but he was feeling deeply affected by Ellora’s voice and somehow, he suddenly felt their confidence, it came over him like a wave and washed through him and with it, his need to talk disappeared.

  ‘I wish you all a safe and good journey and I will see you all at the other side of Qomo in four months,’ he said sincerely.

  Waldon swiftly and easily changed the subject and the six friends and Gangay spent their last night in Chamlong making the very final preparations, such as re-packing and planning what they would do on the first day and then they spent the evening talking before they put out the now dying fire and went to sleep for the night.

  The next morning the friends rose well before sunrise, they washed and dressed and sat down to eat a heavy breakfast and when they had done so, they gathered their belongings that were in the thick waterproof sacks an
d said their farewells to Gangay.

  ‘Remember,’ Ellora said. ‘We will meet you and the horses at the other side of Qomo. Take care of them,’ she said softly.

  ‘I promise,’ he said resolutely.

  ‘Take care of yourself too,’ she said sweetly.

  ‘I will,’ he said and the two of them hugged and he spoke to her one last time. ‘Take care of yourself princess,’ said Gangay before he turned to the five boys who said their farewells too. ‘Good journey my friends. I will keep your horses safe and well until we meet on the other side of Qomo. Remember, before you get to Qomo and the point where you begin to climb, stay low in the mountains and take as much shelter as you can get.’

  ‘We will,’ Rakan said nodding his head, to indicate that he was heeding Gangay’s advice, before breaking into a smile.

  The final farewells were said and the six watched as Gangay headed east with their horses and the sacks that they did not need, they watched until he was out of sight and then they turned to each other, exchanging looks between themselves all slightly amused by their own and each others appearance.

  They were all dressed from head to toe in many layers of clothes ranging from silk to cotton, and wool to fur, and other types of camel skins and each of them had their hands covered in makeshift gloves and clothes that reached halfway up to their forearms.

  They carried iron poles with sharp points at the end which they would use to pick, hack and grip through the snow, ice and mountains. They each had heavy sacks strapped to their backs and they groaned slightly when they were first attached but now with their excitement and adrenaline pumping the bags seemed to feel lighter than before.

  The six took one last look east in Gangay’s direction who was now out of sight and they all instinctively and simultaneously turned and headed towards Qomolangma.