Onio (13 page)

Onio
slapped his forehead in disgust. “Oh Melody, I am very sorry! Of course, you
don’t know our ways…stay here. I’ll be right back!”

He
walked away leaving Mel alone again. Her cheeks burned with humiliation. She
was used to taking a shower every day and being able to wipe after using the
toilet. It had been days now…she felt—knew—she probably smelled like a sewer.

Onio
returned with a torch and pressed a small bundle of woven pads into her hands.
They were moist and smelled slightly medicinal. “What are these?” she asked.

Onio
grinned in the dim light. “These are our cleaning cloths,” he replied. “Come,
follow me.” Taking her hand, they walked further into the tunnel. As they
walked, Onio said, “These passageways were built many, many centuries ago by
what some call the Worm, or Ant-people. It is truly a marvel of construction.”
He stopped and, looking down at her, asked, “Do you smell the air, Mel?”

Mel
sniffed and shrugged. “Sure, it’s good,” she replied.

Onio
smiled. “It is pure, fresh and constantly in flow, Mel,” he replied. “It is
said that these tunnels were built by the ancients during the time of the great
lizards…that those people were somehow able to bore through solid rock in order
to stay safe from the elements and the beasts that roamed the land during that
era.”

He
lifted his nose and drew in a deep breath. “It is also rumored that visitors
from other stars came to visit this planet. They saw that the people here were
in dire need of protection, so they used beams of light and sound to create
this place as a sanctuary from harm.” He shrugged. “However it came about, the
creatures who built these tunnels had bodily needs, much like ours, I think.
They built way-stations for disposing of waste, so the tunnels would remain
clean…we are going to one now.”

Mel
realized that she had taken the fresh air for granted. Now that she thought
about it, she understood that an almost constant current of air ruffled her
hair like the windy fingers of a playful breeze. She marveled at the ingenuity
of the ancient builders…whoever they were.

They
had walked for about a half mile when Onio stopped. In front of them stood a
large slab of flat rock that he studied for a few moments. Then he wedged his
fingers into a cleft and pulled. Mel didn’t know if the rock door was on wheels
or suspended within some sort of pulley system, but after a second, it rumbled
aside to reveal an enclosure.

Much
like an outhouse, there was a stone bench with a hole cut through the middle of
it. Mel felt the air change from warm to cool and realized that the hole opened
over a vast, high cliff. Looking through it, Mel saw the ground far below. Snow
swirled in crystal eddies in the air and fog danced and writhed in the
treetops.

Onio
said, “Use the cloth to clean your body, and then use the same cloth after you
are finished with your personal business. You will feel refreshed until we
reach the hot waters. Then, we will all be able to bathe properly.” He eyed her
and the hole in the stone bench. “Don’t fall through, Mel,” he grinned. “It is
a long way down.”

He
rolled the large slab of rock closed and Mel peered into the hole again. She
felt a moment’s vertigo and then turned her back on the bench and peeled her
clothes off. Shivering, she wiped a woven grass pad over her skin. It felt
strange at first. The pads were cold and made her flesh tingle. Within seconds
though, her skin was pink and clean. She sniffed under her arms and smiled at
the fresh smell of herbs.

She
hoisted herself onto the bench and tried not to think too much about where she
was perched as she relieved herself. Afterwards, she used the same cloth, and
then let it fall through the hole to the ground below. Feeling better than she
had for days, Mel used another cloth to clean her clothes. Getting dressed, she
smiled with pleasure. Whoever made the herbal wipes would make a fortune, she
knew, on the open market. The clothing she wore had not been laundered for days,
yet the woven pads had removed grass, blood and sweat stains from the material
like magic.

Eyeing
the pad for a moment, she shrugged and stroked it over her hair. It only took a
couple of passes and she ran her fingers through hair that suddenly gleamed and
shimmered with good health. She pulled the strands into a long braid, and tied
it in place with a strip of material torn from the bottom of her shirt.

Calling
out, Mel said, “Onio, I’m done.”

Instantly,
the door opened and the young sasq smiled at her as she walked out into the tunnel.
“Mel,” he said. “Those doors will open for you. I don’t know, exactly, how they
work, but one doesn’t need to be big to open and close the way-station doors.
Just find a finger-hold and pull, all right?”

Mel
nodded, smiling. “Your cleaning cloths are wonderful, Onio,” she said. “What
are they made of?”

Onio
shrugged and responded, “Magic water. Only the elders know the recipe, and that
is a closely guarded secret. The waters are used in healing, cleaning, aiding
fertility, and sometimes are even used in weaponry. We will use this same water
when we bury the young warrior, Rising Sun.”

Onio
heard a distant shout. Turning once more to the young woman, Onio said, “We are
missed. It’s time to go back. We will have a short funeral for our fallen
brother, and then resume our journey.”

Chapter 15

They
gathered around the prone body of their fallen brethren. Rising Sun’s brother,
Big Rock, sang a song,

“The
river waters flow, the rising orbs set

The
aged stag makes way for the new

All
living things in time are death met

Their
life’s song ring true….”

Mel’s
eyes stung. She recalled the young warrior’s gaze as he offered water to Onio.
It was a look of curiosity, excitement and the hope of friendship. It was
acceptance of who and what Onio was, despite their differences. Now the sasquatch
lay cold and still.

One
of the medics lay a blanket over Rising Sun’s body. The covering was made of
the same material as the cleaning cloths. Tanah looked to Big Rock, who nodded.
She then accepted a flask of liquid from the medic and splashed it over the
shroud. Immediately, smoke started rising and fingers of blue, red and orange
fire felt their way over the warrior’s body. Silently, the sasq moved away and
began preparations to depart. The funeral was over.

Onio
took her hand and said, “Come, Mel. We are leaving now.”

Mel
followed and picked up Onio’s leather sack. He raised an eyebrow. “Let me help,
okay?” she asked. She was beginning to feel like a sack of bricks, useless and
inert. Seeing that none of the queen’s warriors donned the saddle, Mel thought
that the sasq would be walking for a while, rather than running. Mel wanted to
be useful…for once.

Onio
studied her face and said, “Yes, that would be fine, Mel. But let me take the
furs… they’re heavy.”

Onio
was right. Mel had only been holding the bag for a few moments and already her
arm ached. She set the bag down and watched as Onio tied two rolled furs around
his waist. Picking the bag up again, Mel sighed with relief. She glanced at the
makeshift funeral pyre and gasped.

The
blanket was intact and unburnt, but the body underneath it seemed to be gone.
As she watched, one of the queen’s medics rolled the blanket up and placed it
within his kit. Big Rock stood nearby, watching. When the medic backed away,
the warrior put his brother’s hide sack on the floor where the body had been.
Bowing once in tribute, the sasq moved away and stood with the others. Tanah
stood at the head of the line. She looked at Big Rock and spoke, “We share your
grief today, brother. Rising Sun was like family to me, and he will be missed.”

Big
Rock bowed his head in gratitude. The queen continued, “We will make our way to
the moon pools. There we will rest, bathe and make ready for our meeting with
the high lords. As you know, there are hazards along the many miles of our
journey. Please be wary….” She glanced at Mel and continued, “and don’t
hesitate to call out if you sense an enemy. I have no wish to explain the death
of another sasq to my husband, the king.”

Mel
stared at Wolf in surprise. He had apparently told Tanah about the small woman’s
newfound abilities. He stared back, as if to say, “Of course I would use every
advantage to keep Onio safe.”

“I
want to maintain speed. We are already almost two days behind schedule. Every
day that passes….” Tanah paused and drew in a deep breath. “It is important
that we get help as quickly as possible,” she concluded. “Let’s go!”

The
column of sasq moved down the tunnel. Mel found herself wedged between Wolf,
who strode ahead of her, and Onio, who took up the rear. She noticed that
Thunderbolt walked in front of Wolf and wondered if that was by design. The
dog, Smiles, walked by Mel’s side, grinning up at her in companionable joy.

They
moved swiftly, but not so fast that Mel could not see the terrain around them.
The torches showed the contours of the tunnels, and now that she knew the
passageways were man—or sasq, or alien—made, she gaped in awe. There were
square cuts, ventilation shafts, and sharp angles in the solid stone. Occasionally,
a window or portal opened to the sky outside and Mel felt the cool, fresh air
rush into the mountain’s interior. Onio was right…this truly was a marvel of
construction.

Once
or twice, the sasq stopped and waited in tense anticipation while the forward
scouts moved ahead of them, or held their noses up into the air. The first time
it happened was a false alarm, but the second time sent the sasq warriors into
a defensive huddle, with queen Tanah and Mel in the middle.

Mel
stared around in alarm, while Onio held her down on her knees with one large
hand on her shoulder blades. Tanah looked at her and asked, “Do you hear it?”
Mel shook her head but then she felt what the sasq heard through the stone
floor under her feet.

A
rhythmic pounding echoed through the tunnel chambers. Mel could not fathom what
might make such a noise but the queen glared in anger. A few minutes passed and
then the sasq warriors relaxed. They moved away so their queen could rise to
her feet and stared at her with confused and frightened eyes.

Tanah
looked almost as confused as they did. “The soldiers follow us,” she stated. “I
have no idea how they knew we were taking this path, or even if they are aware
that we walk within these mountains…almost under their wings.” She stared at
each of them in turn. “If the small human soldiers know about our fields of
travel, then our mission is compromised. If that is the case…,” she flushed
with fear and rage, “it means that there is a traitor in our midst.”

The
sasq warriors recoiled, and Mel saw Onio turn to stare at Thunderbolt in
appraisal. Two Horses’s son looked just as shaken and enraged as the other sasquatches
though. He shook his long spear and growled in fear.

“Wolf…Black
Pony…attend me, please,” the queen ordered. The sasq and Tanah walked away.
Onio took Mel’s hand and they moved toward the far wall. Food and water was
passed around and Onio used soul song to ask, “Mel…do you sense anything? Do
you think a spy walks among us?”

Mel
shook her head. “If there is a spy here, he knows how to shield his thoughts,
Onio,” she answered. “Onio,” she asked, “was it a helicopter?”

Onio
nodded. “Yes, one of the soldiers’ black birds. They fly over these mountains
often, but not usually during the winter months. That is why Tanah worries now.”

The
queen and her escorts returned and Tanah took water and a piece of meat.
Drinking deeply, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and addressed
her warriors again. “Wolf and Black Pony think there is nothing to worry about.
Even if the soldiers tried to find us within these walls we could out-run them.
It seems more likely that they are just flying overhead and have no idea that
we are even here.”

She
took another deep draught of water and added. “We leave in a few moments…the
time it takes to strap on the saddle. We must hurry, I think. Even if the
soldiers are unaware of our presence, the fact that they travel at this time of
year is cause for alarm. We move out, now!”

Onio
said, “Climb on my back, Mel, and give me the sack.” Mel did not argue and within
moments, the troop of sasq was jogging briskly down unfamiliar passageways.
They jogged for miles, sometimes climbing, other times turning abruptly and
traversing staircases chiseled into the stone.

Suddenly
a gust of warm, damp wind caressed Mel’s face. She could feel a subliminal
pulsing in the air currents as well. Rounding a bend Mel saw a vast cavern. A
series of pools bubbled and steamed in the cool air. Two waterfalls poured into
the largest of the pools and painted the walls with rainbows of color. It was
one of the most beautiful places Mel had ever seen.

The
sasq grinned and put their sacks down, stretching. They had arrived at the moon
pools. One by one, the warriors waded into the water, laughing and shouting
with pleasure. Tanah gestured to Mel and together they walked around the falls,
away from the males. The pool in front of them was egg shaped and as green as
jade.