Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 08:38:58 +0000
From: Jack Smith <js_mas@hotmail.com>
Subject: New Beginnings 8

     WEEK EIGHT - THE EXPEDITION


     SECONDAY


     Rather than being an adventure the Expedition was
proving to be routine to the point of humdrum.  The only
thing that had changed in the seven days of travelling was
that a new tree type was now prominent amongst the whintox
and miscal of the valley slopes.  Having caught up with the
bulk of the group on GodDay our pace had slowed somewhat.
My detailed observation had become an exercise in detailed
boredom, though it was with a sense of relief that Wi-Su was
able to disappear into the crowd and Father returned to
being closer to his normal self.  He once again began to
treat me with his normal affection and warmth, to talk with
me as we rode, educating and discussing, and when we were
sleeping embracing and loving me with the intensity to which
I had been accustomed.  I welcomed this.  Father organised
that our tent was set up apart from the bulk, which formed
almost a little village each time we stopped.  With field
workers to cook and wash, guardsmen to sit around and gripe
as well as to help with tent erection and wood collection,
we formed a group of some fifty souls.  In truth I wondered
what we were likely to meet that would need so much
manpower, but Father would give nothing away and just said
it was precautionary.
     With the distraction of the large group, with someone
seemingly always coming to ask for advice as we rode along,
Father also became less possessive of me, allowing me to
mingle more.  On one occasion I had managed to ride side by
side with Do-Si.  He was his usual cheerful self.
     "Good morning m'Lord.  It is nice to have your company
once again."  This latter was said somewhat cheekily and was
followed with, after a careful check that no one was in
earshot, a quiet, "Though my arse sure misses you."
     "Thankyou, Do-Si.  I miss you also.  You can probably
imagine that now I share a tent with Father that not a lot
of "activity" is available to me."
     "Now, m'Lord, I'm not going to say that I am missing
out on "activity", as you put it.  This Wi-Su has proved to
not be such a bad old stick.  With no one to watch on he has
become quite amorous.  He likes to hug, to kiss.  He won't
put my little lizlion in his mouth but his loving is not bad
otherwise.  He ain't rough, neither, not like that first day
in the pool.  He's even taken to sleeping with me in his
arms by his side so I don't have to sleep no more in the
draughty foyer, though I do have to sneak back before
daylight so we ain't caught."
     "I'm pleased, Do-Si.  I thought it might have been a
front for my sake, especially after what you told me.  His
heart seems very gentle, which doesn't fit with that rough
fa‡ade he was presenting."  I hoped that the pain that Do-
Si's narration caused me was hidden from my voice.  I was
missing Wi-Su very much, but speaking to Do-Si was as close
as I dared approach.  Even with the greater number of
distractions that Father had to tolerate in the large group
I felt that he never truly let me out of his sight.
     This scrutiny of all I did puzzled me.  Father had
always encouraged me to have sex with others, still gave me
opportunities to make love with Yue-Sin, but anything that
referred to Wi-Su triggered such caustic comments that I
rapidly leant to not make any reference to the town
engineer, and to very pointedly avoid all contact with him.
I wondered what Wi-Su was thinking of this, as I was sure
that he would not suspect the origin of Father's treatment
of him.  I hoped his position would not be in jeopardy on
our return.
     "Yeh, he's a real strong lover.  Not every night, mind
you, but when he does he goes on forever.  He loves me like
a woman, not like other men treat me.  Other's just want to
cum and get as far away as they can, as if I could cause
them damage.  Not Wi-Su.  Even after he cums, which takes
forever, he stays in me and holds me tight."
     "Does he talk about me, Do-Si?"
     "Does he talk about you!  Never stops.  Always he is
saying that he must remember to tell you this, that he wants
to show you something, to ask your opinion.  He has a very
high respect for you, m'Lord.  Almost as much as me, and I
love you more than anyone in the world."
     "Thankyou Do-Si."

     In the afternoon of the SeconDay of the second week of
the Expedition we arrived at the tunnel mouth.  The opening
was perfectly symmetrical, an arch without fault, taller
than three men.  How this could have been cut from solid
rock evaded me.  The ancient one's might and power was
overwhelming.  But where did they go?  Were they the people
of The One, who left the planet after they tired of its
pleasures?  Father ordered camp to be set up a little
distance away from the entrance, and for a roof to be
erected over one of the carts that from the beginning of the
trip had not been touched.  When it was protected from the
light summer rain the cover was removed, revealing its
cargo.  Torches, in numbers that almost overflowed the
capacity of the sides of the cart.  Father decided that the
first entry would not be until the following day, so as it
could be observed if anything entered or left the tunnel.
     With the rest of the afternoon free Father and I
explored the immediate surrounds.  The river still flowed,
slimmer, younger than I knew it, but still too wide to
comfortably cross.  The permanent road entered the tunnel,
leaving light for dark.  The tunnel was cut into a large
sheer wall of rock, a cliff that had run on our left hand
for almost all of our last day of travel.  Upstream was
flood plain and bush, but the cliff stopped soon after.
Lizrabs were present in their usual abundance, and it
appeared that lizlions existed in great numbers for the
barricade of skins left from the transformation of lizrab
from its larval state had been scattered into near non-
existence.  I suggested we climb up to see what was above
the tunnel, but Father said that it was too high and far.
     "But if something goes wrong we may need to return by
another way than the tunnel," I said, explaining my
thoughts.
     "Hm," was all he said in reply.
     The valley wall was quite high at this point, higher
than it had appeared anywhere else on our way, but it did
not look as though it would be difficult to climb.  Carts
and horses would not be able to follow, which would make it
an escape route of last resort, but not one that should be
ignored.  However, he did not seem in any mood to discuss
it, so I left the topic as it was, a planted seed.  And
turned my attention to other things.  The tree that now
dominated the bush was taller than whintox and its long
strappy leaves formed a broader umbrella, tinged a deeper
red.  A few miscal still survived at the fringe, but looked
sickly and pallid, leaves dragging on the ground instead of
being sprightly lifted.  Whintox was nowhere to be seen.
Nothing was in flower, and I'm sure it was cooler.
     That night a party was thrown in honour of the success
of the first stage of the expedition.  A pig was slaughtered
and placed on a skewer over a pit of coals, vegetables were
roasted, rice wine opened.  After eating there was dancing
and story telling, Father starting this with a long telling
of the tale of Xen-Li and the giant lizlion.  I think he was
trying to instil courage into the men, who felt themselves a
long way from home and about to face unknown danger.  Hi-Tui
took advantage of the general distraction, especially of
Father, to lead me away in the darkness outside the edge of
camp.  His first word was a kiss, passionate and long,
followed by a quick disrobing and rapid sex.  It appeared he
was releasing the pent sexual energy stored during the
entire journey in one rapid explosion.  Having been sometime
without seeing or feeling it, I again found myself amazed by
the size of his lizlion, its commanding presence.  Once his
composure was recovered he began to talk.
     "Sorry my love," was how he began.  "That has been
awaiting you for a long time, and it is too dangerous to
spend much time."
     "I understand," I replied.
     "Thankyou.  But there's something even more important
than this in my motive for pulling you aside."  He stopped,
cocking an ear at the silence over the camp, obviously
feeling fear at being discovered talking with me.  Then
Father's voice came again, and he relaxed.  "I think your
friend Wi-Su is in some danger.  I don't know what you have
with him nor what he has done to upset the Lord, but your
father has clearly indicated to myself and Yue-Sin that on
our return home Wi-Su is to be taken into custody."
     "Custody.  What for?" I almost cried out.
     "Lord Srotyr has given no reason.  But he talks of Wi-
Su as he would talk of a murderer."
     "I see.  But he has not given any indication that he
will do anything prior to our return."
     "No.  I think he wants his building ability available
in case of need.  There is no one else with us who could
replace him in this."
     "Okay.  Thankyou Hi-Tui.  Where do you stand in this?"
     "I think that is clear, my Lord, otherwise I would not
be telling you this.  I have known Wi-Su for many years.  He
is a honourable and good man.  I can't think of anything he
would do that was wrong enough to deserve the punishment
that appears to be awaiting him."
     "Other than winning the love of his only son," I said
quietly.
     Hi-Tui whistled softly.  "Yep, that would do it."
     I hastily continued, "Not that I don't love you, Hi-
Tui, or Yue-Sin."
     "No, Cavon, I understand.  You love us, but Lord Srotyr
knows that it is the love of sex, of life.  He knows he
holds first place in your affection.  Did you tell him what
you feel for Wi-Su?"
     "No.  Apparently I didn't need to.  Wi-Su is such a
good, intelligent man.  And he doesn't love me like my
Father does, he loves me like a true father, like you love
your daughter."
     "That is probably what the Lord does not like.  Having
his sin highlighted in such a way."
     "Sin?" I asked.
     "I have touched this before, but bowed to my superior.
Generally though it is considered a sin to love one's
children in a physical sense."
     "But Wi-Su doesn't know about Father and I!"
     "No.  It would not even enter his head.  But guilt is a
powerful thing, and those suffering sometimes know that all
know of their wrongdoing.  But let's get back before we have
been noticed."
     We had comfortably recovered our positions at the back
of the group before Father reached the climax of his story.
Seemingly not noticing that I had been absent he joined me
as music started up and the men began to dance.  "Shall we
retire and leave the men to their pleasures.  They will be
more relaxed feeling that their activities are not being
scrutinised?"
     "Of course."  But my heart was truly heavy.  I felt the
need for time alone, to absorb this new information.  Was
what Hi-Tui told me true?  If it was or wasn't its content
was treasonous.  But my knowledge of Hi-Tui was that he was
a man without jealousy, a man who cared for his fellow
beings.  I suspect that what he told me was true, and was
said with the only intention of helping save Wi-Su.  "That
would be wonderful."
     Father was a little drunk, and keen on making love.
Distracted as I was I could not let him feel any difference
in me, so I did my best to switch off and capture my feeling
of old.  Not that it was too difficult, as his powerful,
hairy body drew a response from me that was beyond reason.
I found myself kissing with abandon, running fingers through
his fur, nipping his nipples, sucking on his balls and
taking his rice wine softened lizlion into my mouth.  On his
part he did the same, seemingly exploring my whole body with
his mouth then kneeling and asking me to soften his arse
with my tongue before fucking him.  It was our first fuck
since he had returned from his trip, and his moaning and
exclamations complemented the sensation my matured dick felt
in his arse.  I assume he believed that the noise of the
party would cover our activity.  Despite having cum in Hi-
Tui's mouth I managed to cum twice more, though the second
was achieved remembering Wi-Su kneeling in front of me
pushing his dick into the mouth of Do-Si.  Afterwards, held
in Father's arms with his regular breathing fanning my neck,
I lay awake wondering what I was going to do.

     THIRDAY

     A small group of four were to be the first to enter the
tunnel.  Father had insisted that Wi-Su, with his maturity
and understanding of rocks, was to the leader of this four.
They were to enter on foot, armed, each with a torch and a
sword.  Father sent me away, saying that he did not want me
near the tunnel mouth if something dangerous was to come
out.  He told me to pick someone and explore above the cave
as I had suggested the previous day.  I was worried for Wi-
Su.  I had no doubt the ancient one's had built this tunnel,
and that they were not a danger any longer, but what if a
giant lizlion had taken up residence in its depths and did
not appreciate being disturbed.  Four did not seem enough to
offer a defence, and with my new knowledge I suspected that
Father hoped he would rid himself of Wi-Su without having to
do anything active.  I had no option but to obey, so I
decided that I had to make the best of it, assume that Wi-Su
was going to survive, and try to achieve something from this
opportunity to get out of Father's hearing.  I decided on Do-
Si, being the one who had closest contact with Wi-Su, but
giving the reasons that he was young, fit, agile, and a good
swordsman who would be able to defend me well if necessary.
Father approved of my logic, and showed no concern that I
would spend my time away fucking Do-Si, even though he well
knew his proclivity from first hand experience.
     We rode until we were a fair distance from camp and the
cliff had become a broken slope, tethered the horses near a
small stream with water and feed, then climbed up.  The
valley wall was quite steep as well as heavily wooded, and
soon our only knowledge of direction was up and down.  We
could have moved a hundred or a thousand paces laterally
from where the horses waited.  All was the same.  With no
sign of any change in our surrounds I called a halt when we
came across a broad rock ledge that provided a place to sit
and rest.  My fitness, that had increased rapidly with my
walks with Wi-Su, had fallen away again after so many days a
horse, and my legs were experiencing once again the familiar
trembling.
     Do-Si laughed as he watched his own trembling legs,
then with his familiar twinkle asked if I didn't think there
was something better we could be doing than exhausting
ourselves climbing this never ending hill.
     "There could be," I replied, "but I think I might need
a moment to recover to enjoy it."
     "Granted.  One moment."
     Then he was on me, releasing his pent up emotion for
me.  When we had finished, resting in each others arms, face
to face, mouths all but touching, I commenced the first step
in my attempt to save Wi-Su.  To bring Do-Si on board to
help.
     "Do-Si," I began.
     "Yes, my love," he murmured.
     "I have something to say that must remain a secret,
guarded with your life."
     "I hold many secrets in my heart, my love.  But yours
I'll keep extra safe."
     "I know you have a soft spot for Lord Srotyr ."
     "I don't know about a soft spot, m'Lord," he
interrupted, becoming seemingly serious.  "Unless you want
to call my horny arse a soft spot!"
     "Good.  I suppose your arse is a soft spot, but not the
type I was referring to.  What I am to tell you is
treasonous."
     "Can a Lord utter treason?"
     "I am not the Lord, only his son.  His son can utter
treason.  Father has decided that he wants Wi-Su dead," I
continued bluntly.
     An indrawn breath of surprised was Do-Si's response to
this statement.  "So that is why he was sent into the
tunnel?"
     Do-Si impressed me.  He was more perspicacious than I
thought.  "Exactly.  And if he survives this he will be set
other dangerous tasks, and if he survives all these he will
be imprisoned and tried on his return home."
     "But what has he done to deserve this?"
     Here I hesitated.  Not so much for fear of expressing
my emotion for Wi-Su, but rather for the deeper origins of
Father's wrath.  I decided not to enter into these, to stay
with something simple.
     "Do-Si, I love Wi-Su."
     "Really," he expressed, wide eyed.  Then with his
sparkle and grin, "More'n me?"
     "Different to you.  I love him as a father.  And that
is the problem.  My Father, Lord Srotyr, is jealous of this
love."
     "You told him?!"
     "No, but he could see it on his arrival in the valley.
I didn't think of hiding it.  Though I never said anything."
     "That is terrible.  But don't you love your father?
And why tell me?"
     "I do love Father.  But he is the Lord, which makes
everything different.  I love him I think more than most
sons love their fathers, but he doesn't see that.  And I am
telling you because I want you to help Wi-Su escape his
fate.  Stay by his side to protect him.  You are a good
swordsman, and you know he is very weak.  And stay in
contact with me so we can find a way to help him escape.  I
assume Father will think that anytime we spend apart from
the group will be for the purpose of making love.  He will
think this is natural, and will not think we are
conspiring."
     "Of course.  I feel like you.  I love Wi-Su like a
father also, not that he treats me like a father," he said,
emphasising his ever-present twinkle.  "Shall I tell him?"
     "Yes.  He already suspects, and he keeps as far away
from Father as is possible in a group of this size.  But he
needs to know how serious is his position.  Tell him not to
run away though as Father will use this as an excuse to have
him killed.  We will have to come up with something that
will allow his escape safely."
     "He'll feel fear.  I can use your name when I tell him.
This will make him more confident."
     "Yes, use my name.  But tell him not to talk to anyone
other than yourself, and if necessary, Hi-Tui."
     "Why Hi-Tui?  He is very loyal to the Lord."
     "He is.  But it was also he who told me of the danger
Wi-Su was in."
     "Hi-Tui.  He has the biggest dick I have seen and
felt."
     "So you know Hi-Tui, also?"
     "Yairs.  I do.  But only once.  Felt I was split in
two!"
     "That is something I wouldn't like to try.  But it is a
mighty implement."
     "It is.  But I prefer yours.  Speaking of which, what
chance of another run before we head back?"

     The climb down was more fatiguing than up had been.  I
can't remember having been so glad to see Kito, to have
something to carry me other than my legs.  We pushed our
horses on the way back, keen to know the fate of Wi-Su.  My
worry became relief when I saw him laughing and joking with
the men, including those who had bravely entered with him.
I learnt later, as I was not able to approach him, that no
danger of any kind had been met.  They had been given 4
torches to bear, two lit before entry, two to be lit when
the first two were burning low, to mark the time to return.
It happened that the second two died well before coming
close to the exit of the tunnel, even though they had walked
quicker on their return.  Wi-Su had kept his head and
managed to walk a straight line to lead the group back into
the light.  He had become a bit of a hero, so it seemed that
Father's dirty game had played against him.

     FIFDAY


     Everyone was well rested in preparation for the entry.
Wi-Su had reported that the road within the tunnel was no
different to that outside, so everyone was lined up outside
in the formation that Father wished to traverse the tunnel.
Not being sure what the horses would do in the darkness
everyone was on foot.  In front were a group of guards
without horses, behind these were an equal number of guards
each leading two horses.  In the middle were the wagons and
field workers, and in the rear more guards.  Father led in
the first group, I was in the second group, leading Kito and
Trugo.  Nervous talk wandered amongst the waiting men,
disciplined enough to stay in their spots but scraping feet
and scratching themselves.  Finally Father called out and we
started to move.  With no idea of how far we were to be
without light the minimum of torches were in use.  Two for
each segment at the front, one for each cart and two for the
group coming behind.  Despite the light thrown by the
torches we came to know a dark that I had never experienced.
A dark so intense that I am sure that my hand could be a
hairs breadth from my eyes and I would not be able to see
it.  This was frightening, and the men were hushed and
cowed.
     And we walked.  And we walked.  Nothing changed.  The
darkness, the distant walls of the tunnel, its high roof,
all smooth as if polished.  It went on and on.  Little by
little fear turned to boredom, which turned to restlessness.
Voices filled in the dark, echoing and bouncing off each
other.  It seemed like we were a group of five hundred.  And
nothing changed.  Realising that we were not going to find
an end in one stage Father called a halt.  The horses were
tied to the carts that were set up as barricades back and
front.  Small fires were made to cook, then sleeping mats
were laid out.  No one had any idea whether it was afternoon
or night outside.  All were weary.  Before we slept Father
asked what I thought.
     "There is no indication of the length of this tunnel.
The air is fresh, but I suspect that doesn't mean we are
near the end.  I think that is another mystery of the
ancients.  I think we should try to ride the horses to make
the most of the torches we have.  Already we have used more
than half."
     "Yes.  That worries me.  I didn't imagine it would be
so long.  We can't sleep for long, for even while sleeping
we must keep torches burning at both ends."

     The restart was on horseback.  We presumably moved more
quickly, but nothing around us gave any confirmation of
this.  It seem that in no time we were down to the last few
torches.  Though we travelled faster the air moving past the
torches caused them to burn down more rapidly.  The number
being used at any one time had already been cut to the
minimum needed but unless the tunnel exit appeared very soon
we were going to be in the dark.  Then one by one the
torches began to go out.  When we were down to three, which
did not give enough light for safe progress, Father called a
halt.
     "Now is time to prove your intelligence," he said to
me.  "Get us out of here!"  His voice was underscored by
fear, something I had never heard before.  I could see that
his thoughts were no longer ordered, his eyes glinted wildly
in the light of the dying torch he held.  And the other men
were much worse, fear assaulting their self-control.
Whatever was to be done had to be done rapidly.  They needed
order.
     "Okay.  Everyone is to stay perfectly still except to
move as I say," I yelled.  This got their attention.  "I'm
going to organise us so we can continue even if we have no
light.  We will be slow, but we must keep going.  This
tunnel does have an end in daylight."
     I started at the front, putting enough men side by
side, holding hands, so that the ones at each extreme were
touching opposite walls of the tunnels.  Their horses were
then secured to their belts, and a rope from the horses
secured to the horse of the first cart.  Another two carts
were then attached, then another row of men to keep things
in a straight line.  It was at this point, before everyone
had been attached, that the last two torches went out,
together.  Panic welled inside me.  How was I going to join
on the rest of the group.  Voices stared to lift, feeding my
own panic.  Then a voice called out, "SILENCE!"
     It caught me by surprise, as it was mine.  "NO ONE IS
TO MOVE OR TALK, EXCEPT IN RESPONSE TO ME."  I continued.
"Our eyes don't work anymore, so like a blind man we must
use our ears.  If everyone is talking no sense can be made
of anything."  So talking slowly, working slowly by touch,
amazed at the bravery the men showed, holding onto my
trembling nerves so as to maintain their confidence, I
managed to get everyone tied up.  I then felt my way back to
the front, tied myself to the middle man of the front group,
then again lifted my voice.
     "We will start to walk when I say, and keep to the
rhythm of my song.  Who in the middle has a good voice?"
     "Ri-Lo has a good voice," someone called, "but I don't
know if he is in the middle."
     "Ri-Lo, where are you?" I called.
     A nervous voice answered, but not loud enough to carry.
     "Speak up my man, you are with friends."
     The voice lifted a little.  "M'Lord, I truly don't
know.  I'm not last, but I don't know."
     "I think you are just past the middle cart. Now, do you
know this song?" I asked, and sang a few lines.  I had
decided to sing the same that Mother had sung for Wi-Su.
Father would not know the irony of this, but in truth I sang
it as it was long, told a good story that would get the men
involved, and because it had a good beat.
     "Yes m'Lord.  It is a good song.  The Lady writ it, did
she not?"
     "She did Ri-Lo.  Now I will start and I want you to
join in when we have started to walk.  Do you understand?"
     "Yes m'Lord," came the invisible voice, now sounding
more confident.
     "Let's go," I said, and started to sing.  After a few
erratic steps I called, "HALT!"  Now line yourselves up with
your neighbours again.  We must all start at the same time.
NO FEAR.  IT IS OUR FEAR THAT CAN MAKE US FAIL.  Walk
confidently, with normal sized steps, and in time with the
song.  This time I will count one, two three four.  On four
everyone will take the first step and I will start to sing.
OKAY.  ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!"
     This time the rhythm took and soon we were walking at a
good pace like some cumbrous beast.  Ri-Lo sang well, going
from singing the same part as me to singing the woman's part
falsetto.  A few of the other men started to join in too,
then a few more.  I had feared this, as with too many voices
I would not be heard, but their confidence was more
important so I let the swell grow and soon it seemed every
voice was lifted.  I could even hear Father's deep gravel
grinding out a rich bass.
     The song finished and all was still dark.
     "HALT!  Front row, check all your ties.  First cart,
answer."
     "Here, m'Lord," came the voice of a field worker.
     I worked my way down to column, working from memory of
the names I knew as to who was where, then announced the
recommencement of the song with one, two, three, four.  This
time we were smoothly underway.   By the sixth or seventh
repetition of the song, voice becoming hoarse and my
confidence that this tunnel in truth had in end ebbing, I
started to think of what else we could do.  I couldn't think
of anything else.  To return was too far.  I found I was now
using the confidence that had built in the men to support my
own, singing along with them rather than leading.
     I have no idea how many times that song was sung.
Maybe thirty.  At first I thought that my eyes were starting
to play tricks on me in this absolute black.  A darkness of
a different intensity seemed to be dancing in front.  Just a
spot.  But by the next repetition I was sure the spot was
getting bigger, and by the next I was sure.  I wanted to
run, but could not break the rhythm, nor could I say
anything for I didn't want to trigger a mad rush of men and
horses in this darkness.  After having journeyed so far I
didn't want anyone hurt.  No one else seemed to notice.
Later many said they had walked with their eyes closed,
saying it seemed more natural not being able to see with
them closed than open.  When I felt that everyone should
have exited the tunnel I called yet another halt.  I had to
announce we had escaped as the men started automatically to
line up ready for another stage.
     It was night, a dark night of heavy sky, but there was
no rain.  A night that I would once thought as dark as
anything could be, but it seemed bright.  My hand could be
seen as a silhouette!  I thought I could make out shadowy
trees at the edge of the road.  The men cheered, calling
praise to The One for having seen them to safety, some
calling praise in a similar tone to me for the same reason.
Father joined me at my side.
     "My son," he said, emotion cracking his voice.  "You
are a Hero!  I always knew you were special, but I didn't
know how much!"  He then lifted his voice, "Three cheers for
Lord Cavon.  The Saviour from the dark!"
     My face burnt in the cool air as the cries of the men
filled the night.  But I also knew that we were by no means
saved.  We were in territory completely unknown, and it was
still very dark.
     "THANKYOU," I called out at the first opportunity.
"SILENCE," I added before the voices had time to rise again.
"We are not safe yet.  Wi-Su."
     "Yes my Lord."  His voice was a good distance away.
     "Organise a small fire in the middle of the road to
give a little light, then with this find enough timber to
build it up and something to make new torches.  We need to
be able to see to set up a camp."
     "As good as done, my Lord."
     I then sat down.  Suddenly my legs would no longer hold
me.  I felt as if my body was going to be wracked by sobs.
Father squatted down beside me.
     "What is wrong?" he asked quietly.
     "I can do no more," I sobbed out.
     "Be strong, my son.  But you don't have to do any more.
Organising a camp in the dark is everyday work.  Leave that
to me."  With a renewed strength he stood and strode away,
shouting and organising.  I put my head between my knees.  I
must have slept, as the next thing I knew was Yue-Sin coming
to tell me that the tent was ready, and food would soon be
cooked.  I looked into his face, seeing only a vague shadow.
I touched his cheek.  In response he leant forward and
kissed me softly, first missing and hitting half cheek, half
lips, then touching squarely on my lips.
     "Come my love, the men cannot see that their Hero is
human," he said gently, then taking my arm to help me to my
feet.
     "Thankyou, Yue-Sin."   I walked stiff legged and
straight backed amongst the men, back to the tent.  I could
feel a difference in them.  Their bows were deeper, their
mumbled words sounding of reverence not previously present.
I had changed from being the son of the Lord, a young man of
unproven worth, to being something more.  Something greater.
Other than feeling rather ragged I felt no different, though
I suspected I was going to have to live up to new
expectations in future.
     I entered the shelter that Wi-Su had somehow stabilised
on the hard road to find Father seated at our small table, a
lantern lighting his book and scratching pen.  He greeted me
with, "What day do you think it is, Cavon?"
     I just stared, looking at the obvious.  He repeated his
question but I replied, "Why didn't we use lanterns?"
     "What?" he replied.
     "In the tunnel.  Why did we use torches, not lanterns?"
     "Lanterns are for use inside."
     "But how much more inside can one be than in that
tunnel?"
     "Huh.  Ah.  Well.  You know, I think you have a point."
He seemed rather abashed.
     "Lanterns burn for much longer, all one needs is a
bottle of oil to keep them going.  A lantern will burn all
night if it is large."
     "Next time I plan an expedition I will hand it to you.
But for now answer my question."  Keen to return to a safe
subject.  "What day is it?"
     "I don't know Father.  I don't know how long we were in
the tunnel.  It could have been one day. It could have been
two.  Right now I don't know if is newly dark or not far
from morning.  I know I am very tired."
     "Yes, so am I.  I guess if we soon see light we were
only in the tunnel for a day and a night, but if light is
far away we were there a day, a night and a day."
     "Or a day and a night and a day and a night."
     "That long."
     "I really don't know Father.  When morning comes we can
decide, as you suggested, if it is now SixDay night or early
on GodDay.  And when we get home if we are a day out in our
calculation we will know how long we spent in the tunnel."
     "So I'll leave a space for the day," he said, as though
half asking, and began to write.  I looked over his
shoulder, embarrassed by the exaggerated terms he used to
describe my actions.  I said as much and he replied, "To you
they may not have seemed much, but to all who watched, or
maybe that should be listened," he modified and chuckled at
his own humour, "they certainly appeared acts of a great
man.  And that included me," he finished softly.
     "Thankyou Father," was all I could think to reply.  He
wrote for a little more then food was brought.
     "Eat with us, Yue-Sin," commanded Father when Yue-Sin
had finished organising the food.  "To celebrate the new
Hero."
     "With pleasure, my Lord.  I do believe that the sky is
beginning to lighten.  I've mounted extra guards, with
frequent rotation as all are very tired.  I don't feel safe
surrounded by forest like we are.  Trees like I've never
seen all around."
     "How long do you think we were in the tunnel, Yue-Sin,"
Father asked.
     "I think two days, my Lord."
     "Hmm."
     Father then prayed a short prayer of thanks, as I
believed he thought it was GodDay morning.  We ate quickly
though not much.  Everyone was too tired.  Even the tireless
Yue-Sin, who chased his men all night to make sure they were
awake and who was still awake all day, had eyes that
constantly drooped closed.  I slept rapidly and solidly.

     ?GODDAY


     Waking to bright light I initially felt quite
disorientated.  Father was gone, as was Yue-Sin.  I arose
and contemplated our new surroundings in daylight for the
first time.  The road was the same as it was on the other
side of the tunnel, smooth, even edged, but here it was
surround by a steep wall of foliage, of types completely
unknown to me.  And many types.  Green leaves, small, some
shiny, some dull, some on tall, straight trunks, others on
small, complicated shrubs, others seeming a mixture of the
two.  Strappy red leaves like I knew, some similar to those
I knew but others growing on twisted, multi-limbed trunks.
It was so fantastic that I felt I had entered a dream world,
or the world of The One.  We had camped in a cutting through
solid rock, cut as if by a knife through lard, its floor
made up of the road and its walls of sheer rock smothered in
vegetation that thrust upwards from the small area between
rock and road.  One end of the cutting ended as the tunnel
mouth from which we had escaped, the other, our direction
for the day, faded away until it existed no more and the
road turned to parallel the downward path of a vigorous
stream in the centre of the valley.
     Initially I investigated the edges of the foliage in
awe but without fear.  Then I remembered the new animals
that Wi-Su and I had discovered in the upland plains, and
wondered what type of animals would inhabit an environment
as strange as this.  I missed Wi-Su.  This new environment
must fascinate him.  I wanted to ask him if he had come
across anything similar in his travels.  And then felt very
insecure after hearing a scurrying sound somewhere in the
depths.  Though my reason informed me that nothing large
could inhabit such a thin band of vegetation I hurriedly
returned to the relative safety of the middle of the road.
The improvised camp was on the move, sleeping gear rolled
and loaded, eating and cooking utensils cleaned and packed
away, horses being attached to carts.  Everyone seemed edgy,
wanting to move on.  I met Father returning to camp on a
cantering Trugo from the direction of the unknown road.
     "It continues like this for all the distance I rode,"
he said as he dismounted.  "All there is this dark jungle.
The stream bed is steep and all rocks, and showed no sign of
levelling out.  We must get underway and move quickly as our
resources of hay will quickly be depleted if we don't find
some pasture."
     Father seemed quite anxious which increased the inquiet
I was already feeling.  I returned to our already dismantled
tent, finding some rice that Yue-Sin had left for me.  This
reminded me that I was hungry so I delayed further
preparation until I ate.  I packed my personal possessions
into Kito's saddlebags and was ready to leave.  Not long
after the group was organised and Father led us on and down
at a pace that made our trip up river seem a GodDay outing.
It wasn't too long though before we began to get glimpses of
flatter land ahead, and the knowledge that everything this
side of the tunnel was not the same as this strange valley
reassured everyone, though if anything our pace picked up a
bit in hope of reaching it before dark.  From the changing
of the light I decided that I had woken in the middle of the
day, of whatever day this was.  GodDay or FirstDay.
     The flat land proved to be a disappointment though, and
also our path appeared to be blocked.  What appeared to be
flat land was rather a shallow lake that supported a
vigorous growth of some kind of water grass with blades
breaking the water surface.  The horses liked the grass, but
the air was alive with countless midges that seemed to have
a ravenous appetite for human blood.  This seemed strange as
we were presumably amongst the first humans who had visited
this land.  But worse than this was that the road, our path
of ease, dove straight into this lake and ceased.  The
shores of the lake were not heavily wooded like the walls of
the valley, but appeared to have foliage dense enough to
preclude the free travel of our carts.
     With Yue-Sin and Hi-Tui for protection, Father and I
rode rightward along the lake shore.  The insects did not
diminish, but we could talk without the rest of the
expedition hanging on every word.  With Yue-Sin and Hi-Tui
setting up a cordon, but out of earshot, Father said, "I
don't think we are very far from the hut for which we are
searching.  When I was with Father we did not travel any
further down the road than the hut, but he described to me
that further on there was a large, shallow lake into which
the road disappeared.  If my sense of direction is correct I
suspect that if we continue along here we will find the road
that leads to the hut, and that it will not be more than a
day's journey from there to the hut."
     "But if this is 100 paces or 10,000 paces, the carts
will not be able to negotiate this terrain," I commented.
     "I made sure that the carts we brought were
demountable, so as they could be transported if need be as
separate pieces.  If it is not too far from here to the road
everything could be carried on horse back and the carts
reassembled at the other end.  Still, if there is nothing
much greater than these saplings a path could be cut
through."
     "If it is not too far."
     "That we can investigate tomorrow.  For now I think we
have to retreat away from these wretched insects so that we
can sleep in peace tonight.  Tomorrow, you, Yue-Sin, Hu-Tui
and I will explore the bank.  If the distance is not great I
will lead you to the hut so you can start work there,
guarded by Yue-Sin, while I'll return to organise the rest
of the expedition."
     "Work?" I asked.
     "I haven't told you.  I have a surprise for you.
Though the purpose of this trip is to look for a magic
weapon for Father, I have no belief that we will achieve
this.  So I thought, to make the trip worthwhile, the real
aim would be to allow you the opportunity to study the
contents of the hut.  If anyone can work them out it will be
you.  They were pure mystery to me.  All were magical in
appearance, but none did anything, as if dead.  Maybe you
can find a way to wake them, and find some advantage for us
in this difficult time we will be facing."
     "Difficult time?" I again echoed.
     "I truly don't believe Father has much longer to live.
Whether it is poison or ill health, soon we will have a new
King.  And with my half brother as King life will not be
easy."