The Keepers (4) - The Mountain

Chapter 4

The Mountain

We ran for the rest of the day and when night fell we slowed to a walk. Tol led us to a farm he knew but there was nobody to be seen even in the clear moonlight. Everyone had left and sought more distance from the Marauders. But there were horses. Horses are not so common in our lands as they are less useful than oxen but some kept them for hauling carts to more distant markets.

“I know the owners and they will understand if we borrow their horses to serve the needs of the Keep.” With that he went to a shed and was soon back with halters which he then took to a house paddock where half a dozen horses were grazing. He was back soon enough leading four horses.

“I hope you fellows can ride.” Con and Jot could both ride but I had ever ridden a horse. It took a little time for me to learn to mount and to use the halter but the horses were all very calm and it was not long before we were off. At first we just took it easy so I could get the feel for it but gradually Tol picked up the pace.

We rode through the night and into the dawn. As the sun cleared the horizon the mountain loomed clear before us.

“I’m afraid this is where things will get a little tricky.” We had pulled up beside Tol who was rubbing his chin and looking a bit indecisive.

“This path now leads only to the Keep road. We have to decide whether we think we might be ahead of them and so go on with the horses or we have to leave them and cut across the fields. And these fields are not so easy – we’re above the rice lands now and mostly it is teak and rubber plantations and no way to know for sure which way we are going.

“What are the chances we are ahead of them I wonder”. That was Con. He looked less worried but no less at a loss. “What do you two think?”

Jot said nothing. I thought about it and lines of an old children’s versing came to mind:

“when haste is needed speed is king

So fly my children fly and sing”

I ventured: we could prepare a diversion – one of us could go to the east a bit and head for the road – then if there’s any sign of them he could make a lot of noise and take off. We’d hear the noise – we’d know they were east of us. And I have this. I held up an old carved whistle that was one of the little treasures I had packed.

“Wonderful! But who’s the bait?” asked Jot.

“Well, once you fellows are on the road you won’t needs me and I reckon I’m the fastest on horse or foot. If you don’t hear the whistle then it means I’m on the road heading to where I expect to meet you. If you hear lots of short frantic whistling I suggest you give up because it means there’ll be no way we can get ahead of them”

And so we walked our horses northward towards the road until Tol stopped and raised his hand in parting.

“You fellows mark my words – if you hear a long whistle you ride like mad for the Keep.”

We mounted and Tol headed off to the east and north. The rest of us followed the path north looking intently into the trees and along the path.

It was not long before we could see the road ahead marked by a few houses and some huge teak trees. There were no signs of people so we kept on going.

“I wonder where Tol has got to.” Said Con and just as the words were out there was one long loud whistle that sounded far to close.

“Go, ride!” he yelled and we raced madly for the road. There was nobody in sight though I was struggling to hold on at the gallop the horses had broken into and wouldn’t have seen an elephant if there’d been one. Con and Jot wheeled left onto the road and I held on for dear life as my horse followed on his own accord. We raced and all I could hear was horses and all I could smell was sweat and all I could see was the road.

After a time Con slowed and we drew to a stop. My back and rear was hurting and I was drenched in the sweat of my horse. The horses were all snorting and puffing and behaving like they had had their best fun in years. We looked back down the road. Nothing.

“I hope Tol will be OK.” Said Con. “Me too.” Jot and I said together.

“Ok, you two we can’t linger – we have to make the best of it while these horses can still carry us.”

We made off up the gently sloping west road towards the keep going gently and constantly glancing back for signs of pursuit. After a while the road changed from the soft mud of the lowlands after the rains to a gravely surface that made me smile. All of the stones were like the one I’d kicked only days before. Con rode in the lead. Whenever he looked back down the road behind us I could see the worry in his face. Jot and I rode almost side by side. Every now and then he would give me some hints about making riding easier. I guess he could tell that I was suffering. Riding a horse was something every boy wanted to do but there was a cost.

The way was becoming steeper as we progressed up the mountain. There was still no sign of anyone behind us. Con stopped. As we drew up beside him he dismounted.

“I think we’ll make better time on foot. The horses have had it.”

Jot and I followed suit. We left the horses to graze on the side of the road. I was happy to be on foot again but for some time I was so sore and chafed that even the walking was no comfort. The others were ever in front of me and it was a struggle to keep up. We walked for hours, the road becoming steeper and winding back and forth as it snaked its way up the mountain. Up ahead Con and Jot stopped and looked back. I looked up at them thinking they were waiting for me but the look on their faces was enough. I turned and looked back. Like ants but clear and distinct I could see people on the road below us. There were many of them. I tried to count them. I guessed more than a hundred with at least twenty on horses in the lead. We did not have more than a few hours lead.

I turned back towards the mountain and started to run. As I ran Con and Jot turned and ran also. I could not gain on them but I did not fall further behind. We ran for at least an hour before I was shaking and faint from the effort. Just as I was about to give up they stopped and leaned on their knees breathing hard. I staggered up to them. None of us spoke. We just stood there drawing deep breaths trying to recover. Con drew a long breath, he started to speak but all he could do was cough. After a few more breaths he got it.

“We can’t rest for long. We have to reach the Keep.” We said nothing. We were far too gone and just wanted to catch our breath. As one we turned and faced the mountain. The buildings of the Keep were still not in sight. I groaned.

“How much further?” I wheezed.

“It’s another two hours of running to the gates. From there to the inner Keep is another hour of walking but if we make the gates it will be enough. Someone else can run to the inner Keep. I need a wash, breakfast and some sleep.”

We were all in agreement on that. Our breathing was easier and we looked at each other. There was a silent agreement and we turned and started off again. We paced ourselves a little easier to start with so that we could ease into a steady light run. Then we ran. I focused just on my breathing and nothing else. I let the other two lead the way and I just watched my breaths with all my awareness. In, out, in, each breath was all there was. After a while I realized that I was calm and I was not suffering from the run at all. As my awareness left my breath and fragmented to take in other things, the road, Con and Jot, the mountain, the breeze, I suddenly realized that I was laboring again and was slowing down. And my heart was now racing. Breath! That was the secret. I had to concentrate on my breath and nothing else. As I brought all of my focus back to my breath I noted that my heart immediately calmed but now I knew not to dwell on it but to let it and all but my breath pass. As I became calm I let my focus broaden a little. I realized that part of my mind was always aware of the road, my feet, my body and everything around me. By keeping my mind free of thought and focusing on one thing I could let the rest of “me” just “be”. It was a revelation. I started to smile at my discovery and there again I had lost it!. My heart rate jumped and instantly I was all over the place. What I had had was gone even though I knew that it was still there and all I had to do was BREATH.

It was harder now. Maybe I was just too tired or maybe I had let something important slip away. How ever hard I tried to focus on my breath my body kept screaming at me to stop. It soon became a battle between me and my body. My body screaming at me and I silently ignoring the protests and steeling my will to focus on my breath. The battle raged on for what seemed like hours. I was getting closer and closer to giving in to the screaming in my lungs and the knives in my legs when suddenly the others stopped.

I looked up. We were at the gate. The other two were flushed red and their breathing was coming in gasps. Jot was leaning against the huge wooden gate with both hands gasping and trying to suck in air. Con collapsed to the ground and lay there writhing in pain. He glanced over at me and then towards Jot and then back to me. He tried a few times to get out some words, though better of it and went back to his recovery.

While they recovered I examined the gate. It was impressive. The road passed through a narrow gap between sheer rock faces that were many times higher than the tallest trees. It was if a huge chunk of the mountain had been cleaved by a huge knife. The faces of the rock were smooth and bright as if cut only today. At the foot of the gap was the gate. It was at least ten times my height and fashioned form huge slabs of teak that must have taken many men weeks or months to cut. The gate posts were whole trunks of teak. The hinges were the most startling of all for they were like no hinges I had ever seen. They were smooth and bright and so perfectly shaped that I was drawn to them. I ran my hands over one of the only two in reach. It was beautiful. I looked up at the other three on this side of the gate. They were identical. I could see nothing at all to set them apart. It was totally outside my experience.

“They are from the ancient times.” Con said. He had risen and had come to stand beside me. “Aren’t they wonderful?” He then went to the side and lifted from there a bell that I had not seen. He took the striker and hit the bell three times. It rang loudly between the walls of the gate. He rang three more times and then set the bell back by the wall. Almost immediately after, another bell sounded an answering three strikes from within.

“Ah young Keepers why are you not at your evening versings?

Con and I looked up. Jot moved to join us. Con spoke to the man leaning over the top of the gate.

“Sir, we come in great haste to bring warning to the Keep. There is a very large band of marauders on their way to the Keep. They can not be more than an hour behind us. They have killed or captured all the Keepers at the cross-road hold and some villagers. You must send warning to the inner Keep with all urgency.”

I looked at Con. He was a fine young man. He had spoken well. I hoped that when I spoke I could sound so mature. I looked back up to the where the man had been but he was gone. There was a sound of a lock being turned and a bars being raised. The doors of the gate swung out towards us enough to permit us to enter one at a time. I entered last. When I got through the door there was the man who had greeted us and two others who immediately pulled the doors shut and raised two large bars into place. Finally the first Keeper stepped past us and with a very large key locked the door. He then turned towards us and raised his hands together in greeting.

“Welcome to the Keep.”