The New World (The Last Delar) (27 page)

"Akelou, the wind has stopped.  Listen," she says, licking dust from her lips.  Akelou lifts his ear and hears only a hint of the canyon winds.

The others wake up, and from underneath the Ga-Taga furs they bask in the quiet, smiling at one another in relief.  Akelou removes the fur.  "Why is it so dark? There should be a good moon tonight, and I cannot see any stars."

Argle walks out into the path and sniffs the air.  "What do you smell, Argle?" asks Leotie.

"There is water in the air." Argle looks up into the darkness and sees a flash inside the dense clouds above.  Following the burst of light, a loud crack of thunder echoes in the canyons.

"A storm is above us, a nasty thunder cracker.  We should find better shelter from the storm."

Akelou looks around, "There is none better to find, Argle.  We will have to wait out the storm here," argues Akelou.

The rain starts to fall, and it comes down hard.  After refilling their water supply, Akelou and his friends rush to protect themselves from the rain.  Leotie looks down at her feet and notices a stream of rapidly moving water.

"Where does all of this water lead to?" she yells out to the others in a shivering voice.

Suddenly, Argle's ears shoot up, and he turns, lifting the furs and looking down the dark path behind them.  He takes a few steps and stares into the darkness.  "RUN! CLIMB THE WALLS!" he yells as loudly as he can, pushing them toward the side of the canyons.  They all try to climb the slippery wall, but the falling water pushes them back.  Their hands and arms begin to cramp from the cold.  Then a sound like the stampeding Ga-Taga echoes in the narrow canyons.  Akelou looks back, and between lightning flashes, he sees a mountain of water rushing towards them.  He grabs Tib and Leotie and prepares for the wave to hit them.  Argle, jumping as high as he can, climbs up the rock and avoids the tilting water.

The canyon river sweeps them into its grip.  Akelou clenches his fists tightly as the cold water strikes his body.  The water's power forces them against the rocky floor and cuts into Akelou's wet, wrinkled flesh.  Tib and Leotie cling onto Akelou's neck trying to stay above the surging water.  They fight the river, bouncing off the walls and defend against whatever the water sweeps up.

Akelou looks up and sees Argle jumping onto something ahead of them.  In another flash of light he sees something splash into the water.  Akelou focuses his acute eyesight on what fell and sees a petrified tree racing toward them.  Akelou reaches out his hand, grabbing a hold of the wood and pulling Leotie and Tib onto the log raft.  They desperately hold onto the tree, trying to regain what strength they can.  The current grows and the walls of the canyons close in around them.  Akelou hears an unnatural echoing and sees a hole carved into the side of the canyon. Water from the rain is being sucked into this hole eroded by eons of flooding. Time and water has smoothed the canyon walls. The flood water twists through the hole and out the side of the canyon walls.  With a flash of lightning Akelou sees the open sky further inside the opening and the dim silhouette of the tower being pounded by rain beyond the edge of the canyons. He turns to Leotie and grabs her hand.  She is exhausted, and her pale face is covered with wet hair.  There is fear in her eyes, for she senses what is coming.  Akelou begins to hear the crashing water ahead and knows they do not have much time.  A shadow passes above, and Akelou sees the outline of Argle floating to the rim of the hole.

"Hang on!" Akelou yells, hoping Leotie hears his voice.  Akelou sees the edge of the hole and the water tunneling down and out the side of the canyon.  He pulls Leotie and Tib onto the top of the racing log.  He knows he has only moments until they are cast into the abyss.  Akelou sees the approaching horizon and, knowing what he must do, he lets all of his power build in his chest.  His necklace burns and his wrist goes cold.  He remembers back to the cliff above the jungle.  He sees himself with his arms stretched and his vision around him.

He opens his eyes and sees the golden light rising from the winged tattoos on his arms, chest and back.  Leotie and Tib hug Akelou for their lives.  He opens his mouth and raises his arms into the air.  From his mouth the deafening screech of the Wa-Hone shakes the canyon walls, and water explodes around them.  The golden light of his vision fills the cave as they race to the edge of the falls. Akelou jumps from the log and thrusts his arms. The golden wings of his vision shoot them out over the edge of the waterfall and into the night.  He feels the cold wind under his arms as he glides across the storm-filled sky.  The deafening crash of the water behind them fades and they soar into the night toward the shadowy tower.  A golden trail of light flows from Akelou's arms and necklace as he soars downwards.  Argle glides below him with his underbelly flapping in the wind.

Akelou is blinded by the rain and wind that crash against his face.  He opens his arms and spreads his fingers, opening his golden feathers that capture the wind, slowing their decent as they come to the wall of the tower.  Argle hits the wall with great force, bouncing and skidding down its side. His claws spark as he tries to grip the slippery rock.  Akelou lifts his legs toward the tower's walls and sees talons of light around his feet ready for the impact.  The talons strike the wall, digging into the rock and stopping them from sliding into a furious river at the tower's base.  Argle climbs over to Akelou, struggling to grapple the tower.

"Where now, Akelou? We can't stay out here much longer," Argle yells over the rain and water below.

Akelou looks down and sees the river that runs around the base of the tower.  He knows from studying the map that the entrance to the tunnel is down by the water's edge somewhere.  He points to the river, and they start to climb downwards.

"Argle, you must search for the opening.  Your vision is the sharpest! It will be a small tunnel near the water's edge!"

Argle takes off, exploring for the entrance and leaving Akelou hanging onto the side of the tower while Tib and Leotie dangle from his back above the water.  Akelou looks back through the pouring rain to see the massive waterfall exploding from the canyon walls.  The sloping edge of the canyon stretches in both directions as far as his eyes can see.

"Ouch!" Akelou hears Leotie yell.

Akelou looks down and sees only darkness.  Waiting again for the lightning, he sees a flash followed by a deep crack that shakes the tower.  Akelou opens his hands, and he, Tib and Leotie slip down the side of the tower.  The lightning comes again, and he sees Argle waving at them from below.  Akelou slides down to Argle, "Did you find the entrance?" Argle gives him an awkward look and nods his head.  "Then take us to it."

Argle leads them to a flat area on the tower.  He points down at the river, which is now dangerously close.  Akelou sees the entrance and knows why Argle gave him a look.  The entrance is just below the surface of the turbulent water.

Leotie taps Akelou on the shoulder, and in her face he sees her desperation.  Realizing that both she and Tib will not survive much longer without shelter, he notices a massive boulder above them.  Akelou knows that boulder is their only chance.  He closes his eyes and thinks about his stepmother and father.  He imagines them back at the hut of his youth as slaves-a master whipping his father in the fields, and his mother hunched over a fire, broken and consumed with sorrow.  He uses these thoughts to fuel the power that grows inside him, and his bracelet starts to shine.  Akelou opens his eyes. His eyes are consumed with light and he strikes the side of the tower with all of his might.  His fist slams against the rock, and sparks explode from the impact.  A shock wave races toward the boulder.  The others watch the boulder starts to shake, swaying back and forth before falling with a crash against the tower in front of the entrance.  The water flows around the boulder, exposing the tunnel below.  Akelou signals for them to jump.  They all leap for the tunnel and roll onto the hard tunnel floor.

"MOVE!" Argle yells pushing them deeper into the cave.  The pressure of the water has forced the boulder forward, slamming it through the entrance.  The boulder emerges, now the size of the tunnel, and it continues to race toward them.  They run deeper into the tunnel. Akelou picks up Tib whose markings are flashing violently.  Akelou looks back and sees that the boulder is moving closer and the tunnel is shrinking.

"JUMP!" he yells at the top of his voice.  They all jump into a bend in the tunnel. The boulder slams into the tunnel wall, collapsing the ceiling behind them.  They all lie on the floor exhausted and panting for breath in complete darkness.

"We will sleep here until we have the strength to move." Akelou takes out a vial that Mia-Koda gave him.  "Take a small drink of this.  It will help warm your body as you sleep." Everyone takes a small chug from the vial and quickly falls asleep.  They lie on top of each other, soaked, bruised, and shivering from cold.

---

Near the eastern rim of the Whispering Canyons, a large group of Daboon has gathered.  They sit in a circle, surrounding a pile of satchels filled with sand from the black shores.  The powerful storm that passed overhead three days earlier has made the Daboon overly agitated.  Their fur is coated with a sandy paste that irritates their skin and eyes.  There has not been such a gathering of Daboon like this since the ancient days of their first master.

Grumblings have started between some Daboon in the group.  They have been waiting in the cold for something they do not know or understand.  They were gathered by Un-Ra, who bears the helmet of Si-Imab.  He can sense the Daboons' growing frustration and impatience.  He has promised them a new life free from hunger and isolation.  He told the leaders of the scattered packs that his master would grant them great power.  They have followed him blindly over great distances and endured many hardships and near starvation.  If they go much longer without a kill or a purpose, they will begin to turn on each other and fall into chaos-and Un-Ra knows this. The second largest Daboon, whom Un-Ra named Ve-Na, has been walking among the small groups of Daboon and fueling a rebellion.

"There is no great lord who would give us power.  Un-Ra is no great leader. He has brought us here under trickery.  He means kill us and feast on ar bones and steal our magical black sand."

Although most Daboon cannot understand Ve-Na's poor speech, they feed on his forceful tone.  Un-Ra senses this and he looks down at the Daboon atop a formation of rocks.  He stands tall and roars out to his mutinous brethren.  "I hear whispers of doubt from those I bring.  I offer great power and fresh meat to these fool beasts that I rescued from starvation, yet they whisper like sheep against my back.  My Lord will walk among us soon, and with him will come all things."

Ve-Na walks up to the cluster of rocks, followed closely by the rest of the Daboon.  "He lies my brothers, there is no powerful lord.  Ave we not suffered enough doing what the mighty Un-Ra commands like we ar slaves.  Many of us die on this long journey.  If we fight together we can beat him." The Daboon behind Ve-Na growl and slam their arms against the ground in agreement.

Un-Ra continues, "Do not blaspheme our Lord in front of me, worm.  Our great Lord does not betray his followers.  He will grant all that he has promised, but you must prove your loyalty to him if you want to be rewarded.  It's your lack of faith that keeps him away.  Did I not bring you to the black shores where the great sand was collected? Was it not I who brought you to the hut in the trees where we feasted on the flesh of man and soft fur? The dark Lord showed me the path to these gifts-"

"Curse you Un-Ra and curse the dark lord," growls Ve-Na, as he picks up dirt, tossing it at Un-Ra and challenging him before all the Daboon.

Un-Ra jumps down from the rocks, landing beside Ve-Na and tossing mud in his face.  "I will show the rest of the Daboon what happens to blasphemers."

"Your confusing tongue will taste good," Ver-Na says as he and Un-Ra circle each other.

They both wave their arms at each other in a display of their dominance.  Un-Ra arches his back and shows Ve-Na his long powerful quills.  He begins to contract his back muscles, and his quills click loudly.  Ve-Na does the same, rattling his quills together in an effort to show Un-Ra his strength.

All the Daboon in the small herd now rattle their quills, which fuels the energy and aggression in all of them.  Un-Ra attacks first, lunging at Ve-Na.  They growl as they attack, exposing their teeth and brandishing their claws, trying to rip each other apart.  Another Daboon jumps toward Un-Ra from inside the crowd, but Un-Ra turns and shoots quills from his back at the attacking Daboon.  The Daboon falls to the ground shaking as the toxins seep into his bloodstream.  Un-Ra tosses Ve-Na to the ground and races toward the wounded Daboon, ripping at him with his teeth.  Ve-Na tries to help the fallen Daboon, but Un-Ra is too powerful.  Un-Ra grips his jaws around the fallen beast's throat, and the Daboon around them roar with excitement as they hear Un-Ra snap his neck.  Un-Ra turns back to Ve-Na with blood dripping from his mouth.  He roars loudly with the other Daboon, and in a bloodthirsty frenzy the Daboon begin to beat and molest the slain beast, ripping his body apart and feasting on the fresh meat.  Ve-Na tries to flee, but the surrounding Daboon push him back into the pit toward the fight.

"Help me you fools.  He will destroy you all," Ve-Na calls out in desperation.

Un-Ra starts to move toward Ve-Na, when a loud bellowing echoes above them.  The Daboon stop roaring and gaze up to the sky.  Un-Ra looks back and sees the Hornbill perched on the rocks where he once stood.

"The dark Lord is upon us.  You will now witness his true power," Un-Ra yells and bows before his master.

A wall of darkness erupts around the herd of Daboon trapping them where they stand. Some of the Daboon bow, like Un-Ra, toward the rocks.  Others try to scatter, but are trapped by a wall of darkness.  Some curl up in fear, exposing their quills for protection, and others try to attack the darkness.  A black hand, formed from the darkness, grabs Ve-Na, and he screams in pain. Claws of darkness pierce his flesh.  The Daboon watch and bob their heads up and down, submissive to the darkness.  The hand slams Ve-Na to the ground, breaking his body. Un-Nabus walks out from inside the darkness and stands beside Un-Ra, and the rest of the Daboon bow.