Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 08:38:58 +0000
From: Jack Smith <js_mas@hotmail.com>
Subject: New Beginnings 9

     WEEK NINE - THE EXPEDITION


     FIRSTDAY

     Progress along the lake side was slow.  The forest grew
tightly packed to the winter high-water mark of the lake,
leaving no possible access.  The same mixture of plant types
that we saw beside the road since exiting the tunnel.  From
the high water mark to the low grew a different variety of
plants.  Some appeared to be newly growing saplings of
"strappy" tree types present in the mature forest, seemingly
attempting to conquer this newly available territory.  Their
repeated failure to do so was demonstrated by the presence
of numerous larger, dead trunks.  But there also were plants
that were growing new shoots from seemingly dead old trunks,
as if the life of some of the plants withdrew inside for
safety during winter, then shot forth again when the water
dropped and the days became drier and warmer.  The ground
was covered with the smelly remains of rotting water weed,
attesting to the equal failure of the water plants to
conquer this in between territory.  This was very different
to our river, maybe because the winter floods washed away
anything that spread out onto the flood plain during summer.
As one moved closer to the lake the size of the saplings
decreased, the exposed water weed was fresher and a little
less smelly, and the number of the "permanent" plants
diminished.  This was our path, for though the soil was
sticky mud, the relative freedom from larger plant life made
riding easier.  I wasn't sure that the wheels of the carts
would manage the mud.
     The view across the lake appeared infinite, with the
green of the water grass seeming joining the grey of the sky
in the distance.  The good news was that we didn't see any
signs of dangerous animals.  I knew that with the bow of Hi-
Tui and the sword of Yue-Sin we would be safe, but this did
not immediately remove the anxiety.  Boredom eventually did,
though.  The horses found the sticky mud of the lake
difficult to traverse and from time to time we found
ourselves winding in amongst the various stages of new
growth sprouting from the drier land further from the lake.
     Siesta found us seemingly no further advanced.  Having
found somewhat of a clearing augmented with the vicious
swings of the guard's machetes our bedding was laid out and
we resigned ourselves to lunch and sleep within the stench
of rotting vegetation and the cacophony of insects that had
enveloped our whole day's journey.  One of the guards was
developing quite a rash from all his bites and Father
applied a salve that he had brought with him to try to
provide some relief from the itch.  I found that getting
completely under my blanket, killing any insects that had
found their way under with me, then lying perfectly still so
that the edges of the blanket were not disturbed allowed me
a reasonably peaceful, if stuffy, rest.  People the size of
Hi-Tui though were unable to use similar strategies, as was
indicated by the darkness that had appeared under his eyes
by the time we were heading off again.
     So it was no surprise to hear our cheers erupt when,
after another tedious stage, we once again came upon a
formed road, this one leaving the lake as ours had entered.
Father let the horses drink and eat their fill of the
succulent water grass then indicated for us to set off at a
canter to get as far away as possible from the lake and its
insect population by night.  Once away from the flood plain
the road was surrounded by dense forest, taller and of even
greater variety than we had experienced.  Though the trees
continued to maintain what appeared to be a respectful
distance from the road, their branches did not, and the
visibility was quite dim under overhanging boughs of the
unfamiliar trees.  It felt like we were back in the tunnel.
Nervous of what might be hidden in this unknown land we
camped in the middle of the road with guards stationed on
all four sides during the night and fires lit either end.
Despite this I slept well.


     SECONDAY

     Yue-Sin reported that the guards had not seen anything
move within sight of the fires, though noises were heard
amongst the trees.  No one was keen to linger over breakfast
in this almost subterranean gloom and we were soon mounted
and proceeding at pace again.  It was difficult to assess
the terrain either side of us.  We could have been following
a valley or travelling over a broad plain so effectively did
the thick bush contain us.  Slowly though, as our road
steadily climbed, the stature of the trees, that wild
mixture of strappy red and multi-limbed green, began to
diminish.  Spaces appeared amongst the dense wall of trunks,
then stunted trunks appeared amongst the spaces, finally
leaving our way travelling through irregular boulders
covered in mauve moss with tuffs of dull grass struggling
between, high bare walls either side.  Finally we arrived at
the saddle.  Looking back one gazed across the verdure of
the forest we had traversed to a distant hint of green lake.
Ahead the road descended into the valley of a young stream,
wild and unkempt.
     Father said.  "This is it, we are on the right road.  I
did not ride this far up the valley, but I recognise it's
wild nature.  It is further to the lake than the King said,
but before long we will find our goal."  With which he waved
the group forward and downward.
     The walls rose on either side as we descended.  The
stream, fed by countless rivulets from the rising mountains
on either side, grew in volume and vitality, thrashing
within its bed like a wild youth on his first tryst.  Or so
I imagined, for I knew my first tryst had been wild.  This
brought me to observe Yue-Sin, who was leading at this
stage.  His stocky, powerful figure borne upon a placid
brown mare.  He was not noted for his horsemanship.
Contemplating how I missed his ribald comments, his massive
chest and ready arse, I also observed around me the others I
"knew".  Hi-Tui riding at my side, handsome face vacant, as
if he had separated his internal world from the external.  I
had last seen his massive lizlion on the night of the party
in front of the tunnel mouth.  This seemed an age ago,
thought the count only numbered in days.  Father.  Powerful
figure on his mighty steed, Trugo.  Strong jaw set, eyes
lost to contemplation.  Of the last time he was here?  We
had slept without privacy since we had entered the tunnel.
I missed the pleasure of sleeping in his arms, nestled into
the curve of his hairy body with his thick dick tucked into
the crack of my backside.
     Then my thoughts slipped to those who were not here.  I
had been happy that Wi-Su had stayed behind, away from
Father's ill humour, to maintain order in the camp and get
things ready for the next leg of the journey.  With my new
fame Father seemed to have forgotten Wi-Su somewhat, and was
generally in better spirits.  I felt some hope, but also
knew that Father never forgot and rarely forgave.  Wi-Su
would probably already be underway, as after it was clear
that with active machete work a way could be cleared through
the new growth of saplings that bordered the lake a guard
had been dispatched with a message to commence the
construction of the "road".   I looked forward to seeing
him, even though it had to be from a distance.  His learned
face and thick moustache that I longed to have tickle my
face.  And his companion, my faithful Do-Si.  Humorous and
honest, well formed of body if not of face, cheeky round
cheeks waggling in invitation of invasion.
     I had not had any sexual release since that liaison
with Do-Si while we were exploring days before and found
even the movement of the saddle under me to be quite
stimulating, and my dick was often squashed stiffly into the
pommel of my sloping saddle as we continued downhill.  So
little time ago I had never experienced sex, now I felt its
lack!  Hunger interrupted these reveries, and I looked to
Father to see if we were going to stop.  He, however, was
concentrating on our path, keenly examining the valley wall
on our right, and was giving no indication of taking a
break.   I pushed Kito a little and was soon by his side.
"Are we close, Father?"
     "I believe we are, my son.  It is some time since I was
here, but little things are triggering my memory.  See that
rock.  It looks like the head of a buffoon, no?  I remember
it.  Soon we will be coming to the clearing where we can
camp."
     As the road dropped and the stream broadened, foliage
was again reasserting its place.  The road stayed close to
the stream, that continued a rocky path, but on its far side
low bushes densely covered the ground before it rose to its
rocky heights.  The bushes were different to any I had
known.  Small red-green leaves on complicated, thorny
branches, with little yellow flowers sprinkled throughout.
Some grew on the road side of the river, but they were more
scattered as the ground was rockier.  Then there appeared on
our right, in the distance, a patch of brilliant green.  It
grew as we approached to be a side valley with its own
stream of clear, bubbling water running over rounded stones.
Its banks were richly covered in lush grass.  The horses
neighed in hunger as they had seen little to eat over the
last day.  Even disciplined Trugo dropped his head to take a
succulent mouthful before Father had dismounted.
     Men were assigned to care for the horses, to prepare
food, and to set up tents.  The valley was not long, but was
broad.  It was hard to imagine how this little stream could
have carved such a grand route for itself.  The head of the
valley ended in a sheer rock wall, with a small waterfall
dropping down from a hanging valley, similar to though a
miniature of what I had seen during the time exploring with
Wi-Su.  Father showed me the ladder that was behind this
waterfall, made of a unknown material that must be ancient
but appeared new.  It clung tightly to the wall and headed
straight up.
     "It is the little valley up there that hides the hut
Father found.   The only entry is this ladder, the last
section of which can be pulled up leaving oneself in an
impregnable position.   As long as one has food the lower
valley is a wonderful place to camp.  The grass under the
floor of the tent makes one feel that one is sleeping on the
best of mattresses.  Eating the grass horses become frisky
and sleek. I would like to try to take some back with us to
see if it will grow at home.  I remember feeling as well as
I have ever have felt after spending a few days here.  It is
a place of good magic."
     "I'm reminded of the valley that contains the black
substance.  The grass on the elevated area also did not
appear like any other grass.  Does this area have a heated
pool?"
     "In fact it does," Father laughed.  It was good to see
his smile.  Arriving here seemed to have drained away all
his tension, and he had become once again the Father I knew
and loved.  "But it is up there," he said, indicating up the
ladder.   "This afternoon, after we have slept, we can
explore it in privacy."  The latter was said with a warm
showing of teeth.  "Now let us return for some food and
sleep."
     There had proved to be a lot of dry wood under the
shrubs of the valley proper, so it had not taken long for
cooking fires to be made.  We had stoves and oil, but it was
wise to conserve our resources if other options were
available.  A couple of siedens had shown themselves earlier
in the day to the fast bow of Hi-Tui, and therefore we had
the pleasure of eating fresh meat cooked over hot coals this
lunch.  It was delicious, and for the first time in days my
stomach felt truly satisfied.  Our tent had been set up
facing up valley, allowing us privacy and an uninterrupted
view of the stringy waterfall.  We didn't undress, not
wishing to release the smell of many days without washing,
but tucked into the crook of Father's embracing body I felt
I was sleeping in a perfumed heaven.  The grass as Father
had said formed a bed so springy and soft that our sleeping
mats served no purpose, and its aroma filled the tent as if
we had entered the shop of a herbalist.  Truly I slept like
one drugged, going out like a candle after kissing Father
and wishing him good repose.

     The climb up the ladder was not as difficult as it
should have been.  Something about the material of the
ladder gave a spring to the up going step so that one rose
seemingly with minimal effort.  I had been worried for
Father, having noticed how he had suffered on other climbs,
but when he climbed over the top he wasn't even breathing
heavily.  He showed me how to lift the top section of the
ladder, and left it up, which left a gap of some twenty
paces from what was now the ladder top to the cliff top.
Certainly our privacy was secured.
     This upland valley was only a small, somewhat ovoid
bowl, with one end missing where it met the cliff.  Grass,
the same as below, covered its floor and filled the air with
its heavenly scent.  For the first time I saw the hut I had
heard so much about.  It was unimpressive.  Small, low,
located beside the stream..  But then realising that it must
carry centuries on its back I wondered how it existed at
all.  Its walls looked like simple stone, its roof of some
smooth substance.  Windows spotted its walls, but the glass
did not allow any inside vision.  A single door was in the
cliff-facing wall.  Yet it all looked like it had been built
yesterday.  No moss marred its stonework, no mud stained its
roof.  It was no ordinary structure.
     Behind was the pool, seemingly the source of the
stream, but how the water entered the pool was not obvious.
The pool was very similar to that I had been introduced to
by Wi-Su.  Its walls were smooth and regular, formed as a
square.  Steps lead down into its faintly steaming water,
clear as the mountain stream that it birthed.  In an instant
our clothes were off and we were immersed in the medicinal
bath.  Father had brought a bar of hard soap and began a
washing process similar to my first day of manhood.  His
strong hands exploring my body thrilled after so many days
of abstinence, but he was careful not to take things to far.
Unlike that first day the soap was then handed to me and I
mimicked the cleansing I had just received, with time spent
on his furry nipples and butt, as well as his lizlion, more
rigid than usual.
     That this man was threatening the life of my "father"
was forgotten.  That the physical love of a father for his
son was sinful was not in my thoughts.  He was simply
Father, the man I loved with my whole being.  My heart
boiled over as our lips met in a kiss as passionate as I had
known and our hands wildly explored and stimulated.  After
an age of this Father said, "You have grown so, my son.  I
think it will now be safe.  I would like to make love to you
for the first time."
     I only nodded in silent longing.  We moved to the
shallower water of the steps and soap was liberally and
lovingly applied to my arse and his dick.  I then embraced
Father with my legs around his belly, and he, keeping his
pole rigid and vertical with one hand, used the other arm,
with my help, to slowly lower me onto it.  I had known Hi-
Tui, so I knew what size could feel like.  This entry though
was so slow it seemed no more difficult than the time I had
tried with Yu-Sin, and with ease I eventually was sitting
flat on his lap, feeling very full.  We moved back into the
water, our mouths fused.  Father sat on the lowest step, and
with his two thick arms he moved my body up and down to the
rhythm of a slow fucking.
     My dick was rubbing up and down on his furry belly,
made slippery by the magical properties of this water, and
soon I felt the sensation rising in me, more powerful than
anything I had experienced before.  And every stroke took it
one step higher till I was screaming in the ecstasy of
orgasm in a voice I had never known.  But the pumping
continued.  Father felt like he had become a piece of wood
inside me, harder than I had ever known him, even in sleep.
Now the usual focus of sensation had subsided I focused more
on the new, of having someone inside me.  It was difficult
to describe, but it gave a sense of completeness, of being
possessed fully, that was intoxicating.  Soon I found the
sensation rising in me again, slower and more powerful.
Father seemed to sense this and his tempo picked up, and
before long we were screaming a duet to the lord of
pleasure.
     Breathing heavily we remained still other than lips
that softly nuzzled each other's.  I could feel Father's
dick shrinking within me, leaving me with a sense of loss
when it popped out to freedom.  If someone had asked me
about Wi-Su at that moment I would have looked at him
blankly.  Wi-Su?  My being was full of Father, my love and
reverence for this mighty man.  Amazement that he could love
me so much.  Me, newly a man, in reality only a fledgling.
My arms held onto him as tightly as they could, just as his
embraced me.
     Eventually he spoke.  "There is a magic in this water,
as there is in that of the valley of the black substance.  I
did not dare to suggest this when we were there, though I
truly desired it, for the attention our expression of love
would have attracted.  Every part of me becomes young again,
even my saggy dick.  My joints feel loose and free, my
muscles strong.  And my love feels like the love of a young
man, boundless and overpowering.  I love you so much, Cavon.
You are my life!"
     "And I you, Father."
     This of course provoked a renewed frenzy of kissing,
which in turn had my dick entering his arse, though
detouring via of his mouth.  Father did not get so hard
again, but his mass still comfortably filled my hand as I
milked it in time with my fucking, feeling its spasms
synchronised with those of the muscles that were milking me,
our voices again exploding in a grunting duet.
     Finally, seemingly satisfied, we walked hand in hand
across the verdant valley, like the first people created
naked in the world, to the door of the little hut.  It
opened into a small room containing only a single bed; a
right angle bench set into one corner that supported a small
box-like object with a glassed front and handle and two
brown circular shapes on its upper surface and some empty
space; a seat; a small table; and what appeared to be a
small box dotted with a few jewel like projections that
occupied an otherwise empty corner of the room.  Everything
looking like it had been placed there for the first time
yesterday, free of dust and decay.  I looked at Father,
standing there in all his naked beauty, and realised
something was very strange.  We had walked maybe thirty
paces from the pool.  Father's soft fur had been bedraggled
and wet just a moment before, his hair lying flat on his
scalp.  Now all was dry, curly and neatly groomed.  I was
dry also, hair to toes.  Father was correct.  There was
magic in this little hut.  Though I didn't know if I was
going to be able to unlock it for there seemed nowhere for
it to hide, other than maybe the bejewelled box.
     "What do you think?" Father asked.
     "We are dry!"
     "Yes, that is a consistent miracle.  You arrive here
with clothes and body drenched from flooding rain and the
moment you enter everything is dry.  It is what makes me
believe that this place is still alive even though it
appears asleep.  It was on that little table that Father
found a stack of sheets of a paper like substance containing
drawings of many of the things you know of as his "ideas".
The writing was in letters I have never seen, nor he though
he came from a foreign land, though very uniform and
consistent, but the pictures were clear enough to be
understood without words.  And in this little drawer in the
body of the bed was where he found his magic weapon.  It is
opened by pushing this little indent here," which triggered
the opening of a small, empty drawer at one end of the bed.
     My eyes continued to roam the little room, my mind
feverish with activity.  Soon it was leading me to open
every cupboard, look under and into everything.  But there
was nothing.
     "Father took everything that could be taken.  In that
tall cupboard there he said that there had been clothes of a
strange material that had kept him warm and dry and survived
a number of years before showing signs of wear.  In these
cupboards were some plates and cups, and this drawer
contained metallic implements, seemingly for eating though
they were very different from the sticks we use.  There is
nothing left to find.  It is why I know we will not find
another magic weapon.  There is nothing left, as you have
just confirmed.  Unless you find some secret nook that has
escaped detection this hut is as bare as a field workers
purse.  Yet it still has magic, and that box.  Father said
that he tried to take the box as well, but though he could
not see anything securing it, nor anyway to open it, it
would not move.  He said that he tried to shift it with a
mallet, but that it was impervious."
     My eyes expressed incredulity, as it had appeared quite
delicate when I had touched it, its sides giving way
slightly to my cautious touch.
     Father just lifted his eyebrows and nodded in agreement
to my silent question.  "What he didn't find, he said, was
any writing implements or other article of learning.  No
books.  No money."
     My mind reeled.  I could feel the magic, like a humming
in my brain.  I just had to find a way to touch it, to bring
it to life.  Father, who had so filled me only a short time
before, though present in body, may as well have not have
been there.  Thoughts raced trying to think of ways of
solving this riddle.  One thing I knew I had to do was sleep
here.
     Father replied to my question.  "My son, can I ask you
to sleep with me tonight.  I will leave tomorrow with the
bulk of the guards.  You can sleep here after that.  But I
want you in my arms tonight."
     Seeing the hurt in his eyes, something he rarely
showed, my whirling ideas ground to a halt.  "Of course,
Father," I said, embracing his broad chest.  "I was being
thoughtless.  There is just so much magic here.  I am keen
to start the `work' my Father set me."
     My forehead was now at the level of his eyes, so he had
to lift himself on toes to plant a loving kiss on my
forehead.  My lizlion rose in passion.  "Let's return to the
pool.  With its help I think I will be capable of one more
round before we descend," he said as his lips explored my
face, moving from my forehead and finally settling on my
mouth.

     This time I turned the handle that lowered the
uppermost section of the ladder.  Another oddity this.  The
handle was attached to a cylindrical structure, and one
logically assumed that the ladder entered this and rolled
around an internal rod.  But when the ladder was extruded it
was firmly rigid, not having any hint of ability to bend.
It crawled over the ground like a living thing until it came
to the cliff edge, then this unbendable object bent upwards
to form an elevation before bending again to go straight
down over the edge of the cliff, its two leading projections
linking neatly into those of the rest of the ladder that
waited for it.  It all seemed quite impossible, but I had
seen it with my eyes, and saw it numerous times as I
repeatedly wound it in and out in fascination.
     When I had done this enough times that I could no
longer bear Father's growing smile I left the ladder in the
down position and went to negotiate the mounting for the
descent.  This worried me a little.  Getting off had been
easy on climbing as the extension of the ladder above the
cliff edge allowed one to have one's feet at the same level
as the cliff top and with forward momentum it was simple to
step off and ahead onto solid ground beside the stream.
Stepping down, having only one foot on solid ground while
the other searched around behind, pushed by the water of a
freshly falling stream, looking for a rung suspended over a
drop of some 150 paces at least, made me feel quite dizzy.
     Father noted my nervousness and offered.  "Something I
learnt by accident when I was here.  Father and I camped in
the valley below, and every day came up to explore the hut.
We were here for a week, and every day we must have come up
and down this ladder maybe 30 times.  Remember, we were
alone, and had no one to look after our horses.  Anyway,
with such frequency and my youth I became very casual about
the descent of this ladder, as it seemed that my feet always
found a rung when I stepped out to go down.  Until one time,
holding with only one hand I jumped out with both feet at
the same time, but did not find the rung.  I thought my time
was up as I felt my body start to fall.  In panic my wildly
exploring legs found nothing solid to support them as I
continued to fall.  Eventually my foot found a rung, and my
body gently came to a stop.  Too gently.
     "My panic abated feeling myself secure, and I looked
up.  I felt I had been falling for some time, but the top of
the cliff was not so far away.  Then I realised that I had
felt no movement of air as I "fell", and that my single
handed grip had been maintained with ease and without any
damage to my hand.  I stood for a while, then worked up the
courage to experiment.  With two hands ready to grip the
vertical supports I let both feet drop into space, to find
that I descended effortlessly at a comfortable rate, with no
sensation of movement under my curled fingers.  As the
ground came to meet me I prepared my legs for the shock of
contact, but none occurred.  My feet were steady on the
ground, but it was if I had not stopped.  So after that
every time I descended I just put one hand on the ladder and
stepped out.  I didn't tell you before we came up that there
is no need to step on the rungs going up either.  Just push
off on the first and you will rise without further effort
till you reach the top, though you can stop at any moment by
putting a foot on a rung.  And another thing, did you notice
that despite that this ladder is behind a waterfall, no
water wets you on the way up, even as you break through the
stream at the very top."
     Listening to Father narrative I found my thoughts
replaying the ascent.  Father had let me go first, so I had
not seen his mode of ascent.  It would explain why he had
dismounted seemingly having made no exertion whatsoever.
And I had been so focussed and excited that I had not
noticed the water I had broken through at the top of the
climb, let alone that it had not wet me.  But it was there.
The top section of the ladder plunged straight into the
falling water before clinging to the cliff face behind it.
     Seeing me continue to hesitate Father stepped around
me, nonchalantly grasped the ladder with one hand and spun
his body around to face the ladder as he stepped into space.
He waved with his free hand as he slowly descended before
disappearing through the stream.  My fear was still too
great to contemplate this.  My right hand forming a death
grip on the vertical rail I reached around with my left to
grab a rung before tentatively exploring with my left foot
to find a rung.  This was achieved with ease.  When both
feet were firmly planted I tentatively took my first step
down, into the stream.  But I did not feel the water.  My
body enmeshed in the cascade was quite dry.  Finding courage
in this miracle I bravely stepped one foot backward into
space, then hopped down with the other ready to place the
first on a rung if needed.  But there was no sense of
movement.  The ladder did not seem to be going past me,
though when I looked forward to the cliff I could see that
its face was moving upwards, and when I looked past my feet
to the ground I could see that it was approaching at quite a
speed.  I braced myself for landing, but there was none.  I
was on the ground, but there had been no sensation.
     What my face expressed must have been quite comical for
Father, who had stepped aside a little to allow room for my
arrival, was laughing out loud.  I had never seen such joy
on his face before, as he held his belly as if it hurt.  I
found a smile creeping, and was soon laughing with him.
     When he managed a little sobriety he said, "Try it
again.  Just put your foot on the first step and push."
     I did, and I rose smoothly to the top without further
effort.  I stepped down and I arrived just as smoothly at
the bottom.  Amazed and puzzled, having ascended and
descended maybe a dozen times I walked by his side back to
the camp, the smell of roasting meat drawing attention to my
stomach and the low light of a closing day.  How long had we
spent making love?  It had not seemed all afternoon.  We had
taken siesta late, but could that explain it?
     Hi-Tui's bow had again brought meat into the camp.
Searching with greater stealth than was possible in a convoy
he had found a grouping of an unfamiliar animal further
downstream.  It was the size of maybe 3 chickens, had four
legs and a stocky body.  Hi-Tui said that it could move
quite swiftly, belaying its stocky body and short legs, but
seemingly had no intelligence.  If a noise was made it
deftly disappeared into cover, but if he managed to remain
quiet he could pick off one after another with his arrows
without causing any alarm to those that grazed on the water
weeds that grew around a pond that formed down stream a way.
He had only taken enough to provide meat for the camp for
the night, assuming he could return at any time for fresh
supplies.
     The meat proved to be delicious.  Yue-Sin dined with us
again, on Father's request.
     After eating, Father announced, "Tomorrow we will
return to join the bulk of the expedition.  The road should
now be cut through the new growth by the lake and we will
direct the carts to our new camp.  Yue-Sin, I would like you
to return with me to organise the guards.  Hi-Tui, who has
little organisational ability, will stay to supervise the
two guards and the field workers who will remain to care for
all."
     I knew that Father was flattering Yue-Sin so that he
would accept this arrangement without disappointment.  I
could see in his lips that were struggling not to turn down
under his moustache that he had hoped to remain with me.  He
couldn't say no to whatever Father said, but I thought it
was kind of Father to make it easier for him.
     "Of course, my Lord."  He then paused, obviously
wishing to continue but knowing he had to be invited before
he could do so.
     "Yes, Yue-Sin," said Father.
     "May I ask a favour?"
     Father simply nodded.
     "Could I borrow Lord Cavon for a short time?  I have
been without relief for many days now."
     Father smiled.  "That is up to my Son, not me.  What do
you think, my Son?"
     "I think it is possible," I replied, using my
expression to tell Father that I wasn't sure I had anything
left after our time in the pool.
     "There is your answer, Yue-Sin.  Now, I'll take a quick
walk to settle my meal.  Don't be too long," he finished,
knowingly.
     As soon as the flap of the tent had dropped Yue-Sin was
on me, kissing, taking off my clothes, sucking and
exploring.  "I've missed this," he moaned.
     Father lived up to his word, and was not gone long.  I
was still busy fucking Yue-Sin when he lifted the tent flap
and entered, waving me to continue as he stood and watched.
By the heat in his eyes I think Father's rapid return had
been intentional, so he could enjoy watching his son fuck
his ex-lover.  And I suspect, by the fright he showed when
he got up and saw Father after we finished, Yue-Sin had not
noticed Father's entry.
     That night as we cuddled together to sleep, Father
murmured, "Can you guess the reason I asked Hi-Tui to stay?"
     "I assume it is not so I can enjoy his large dick?"
     "No.  But I would still be interested to see that
wonder.  I will have to organise it.  The reason is that I
know that Hi-Tui is an intelligent man.  He may be able to
help you unravel the mystery of the hut.  Yue-Sin, for all
his loyalty and ability, is not intelligent in this way.  He
would be of no help."
     "You are wise in all you do, Father."
     "Not so wise, but sometimes practical."
     I snuggled into his furry warmth, kissed him good night
and rolled into our usual sleeping position.

     THIRDAY

     I demonstrated to Hi-Tui the secrets of the ladder.
His eyes opened wide in amazement.  It took quite a few
times before he was able to use the ladder without fear.
They remained wide as I demonstrated how the ladder could be
wound up, following the ladder's up and down movements with
matching up and down movements of his head.  Then his eyes
became knowing as I suggested that we undress and swim in
the pool, widening again on entering the water at the
wonderful sensation that it gave.  He had not spoken till
this point, and though his dick was sticking out as rigidly
as the knives on the wheels of a battle chariot, on
experiencing this final miracle he spoke rather than acted.
     "Where does all this magic come from, Cavon?"
     "We assume it comes from a mighty race who preceded us.
It is possible we are their descendants."
     "But they must be more mighty than The One to leave
behind such miracles."
     "They were mighty, but you know that no one is more
mighty than The One."
     "Yes, my Lord," suddenly slipping back into formality
in fear that he had blasphemed.
     "No, your question was just, Hi-Tui.  There is no
reason to fear."
     "Thankyou, Cavon.  Though I don't think I could have
been that frightened.  Look at my lizlion.  It has not
shifted."
     "No, it hasn't.  And it looks as mighty as ever.  And
feels it also!"
     "Yours makes a much bigger mouthful than it did on our
first time.  You have grown, Cavon, in more ways than one."
This was all said through a mouth full of my dick, and came
out rather sloppy.
     As did my response, my mind distracted by the pleasure
his mouth was giving.  "What do you mean."
     "Mean?" he slurped out.  He let my dick go for long
enough to answer.  "I am sucking the mighty lizlion of a
Hero.  Before it was only the lizlion of the son of the
Lord.  How can you ask `What do you mean?' ?"
     "Thankyou, Hi-Tui."  This was again rather strained as
he had only let me alone for a moment.
     Conversation now ceased as we gave ourselves to
pleasure.  This was only the second time we had been able to
fully relax alone in each other's company, and we took full
advantage to get to know each other better.  It felt
wonderful running my hands over his smooth skin, made
slippery by the magical water.  His kiss was more free this
time, more confident and more loving.  My mouth drew growls
of pleasure from him as it sucked on his nipples, as I
groaned as he tongued my dick and arse.  This time he did
not tempt himself in anyway that could lead to the damage he
had caused on our first tryst.  To finish he had me stand in
front of him and fuck his mouth as his hand pulled his own
member to completion.  It seemed he did not like things to
go on too long.  And once again, as soon as he had cum, he
became all business, wanting to put on his clothes and be
shown the hut.
     I suggested that he wait till we entered to dress.
Filled with the warmth of our love making his coldness
wounded.  I wanted to watch his powerful form walk naked.  I
wanted to cuddle up to him.  He would have none of it.  I
persuaded him to wait until we had entered the hut,
explaining he would understand the reason on entering, and
so gained the brief pleasure of watching him move over the
fragrant grass as he strode to the hut.  Hi-Tui, as clearly
uncomfortable with his nudity as he had been passionate
about it only a short time previously, made his reluctance
clear in the hunch of his shoulders and the rigidity of his
face, but I managed to enjoy watching his dick and balls wag
around as he walked, the movement of muscles under his
padded skin, his thick chest.  It was a shame that the
distance was so short.  On entering the hut Hi-Tui
understood my reason for waiting to dress, but would delay
no longer.  Even the wonder of the magic did not slow him.
I would have remained naked as I had with Father the
previous afternoon, but with Hi-Tui dressed I felt exposed,
so likewise I dressed.
     A tour of the hut took but a few moments.  I explained
that I hoped to understand the magic of this hut, and if he
would like to that I would greatly appreciate his help. I
then took to examining the jewel-studded box in the corner.
Seated on the floor at my side Hi-Tui carefully reached out
to touch the box.  He ran his hand over its surface, feeling
its flexibility to pressure.  Then he touched its jewels
individually and when there was no response in combinations.
Nothing happened.  The box remained inert.  Frustrated he
rose and went to examine the cupboard on the bench of what I
had labelled the kitchen, while I remained observing the
box.  I repeated all of Hi-Tui's actions to the same result,
then gave myself to contemplating the box, trying to let my
mind empty in the hope that something would enter.
     Hi-Tui managed to get the little cupboard open but
achieved little else, so gave up and advised me that he was
going hunting to get meat for lunch.  I nodded absently
absorbed in my task.  I believed that I could feel something
touching my mind, whispering around when I managed to
achieve a state of complete emptiness, but by the time that
Hi-Tui returned to advise that lunch was almost ready I had
nothing to show for my time.
     I asked Hi-Tui to join me for lunch, which he willing
did.  He had once again managed to catch one of the same
type of animal that he had hunted the previous day.  All had
been waiting in the same location as the day previously.  I
suggested that there must not be any predators in this area
for them to be so lacking in fear.  "To our luck," he
replied, lifting a thigh of the most recent catch and
sinking his teeth into it signalling the commencement of the
meal.
     Hi-Tui appeared disappointed when I advised him that I
was going to sleep in the bed of the hut during siesta.  The
distance that had appeared post lovemaking had dissipated.
I invited him to join me but he said that the bed was too
narrow for one of his size, let alone for both of us.  He
walked me to the ladder and bowed me goodbye.  Now inured to
its novelty I "climbed" the ladder without attention,
thinking only of what I would find in the hut.  It was the
first time I was entering alone, and I was nervous.  I tried
to put that aside as I entered and lay on the bed, covering
myself with a blanket I had brought with me.  The bed had
appeared hard and I had expected an uncomfortable sleep, but
with my head on the elevation at one end of the bed that I
assumed served as a pillow I was surprised at the level of
comfort of what seemed a very simple structure.  Without
changing shape the surface of the bed, hard to casual touch,
seemed to mould itself to my body so that my weight was
spread equally on every point, as if I was lying on a mound
of magical feathers.  The impression was that I was
floating, so much that I sat up in fright thinking that I
had moved off the bed.  I sat on the edge for a bit, feeling
its reassuring hardness cutting into my buttocks, before
risking lying down once again.  And once again I had the
sensation that I was floating.  With a finger I pushed
against the surface of the bed.  It was still hard and
resilient, but on letting my arm rest on its surface it was
if the surface was no longer there.
     Experimenting with this phenomenon occupied some time,
but eventually I did sleep.  To find that I dreamt.  Images
of fantastic things, unimaginable things, large objects
flying in the sky, towers taller than a thousand people,
many things that I had no words to describe.  Light
appearing magically from ceilings, from balls, from boxes,
without flame, without heat.  And behind it all was a voice,
speaking clearly as if explaining, but in a language I had
never heard, though I thought that I should be able to
understand.  I awoke with this voice spattering in my head
like winter rain, yet could not remember any of the sounds
that I assumed were words.  I woke feeling tired,
unrefreshed.
     When Hi-Tui joined me and I explained what I had
experienced he suggested that the hut was talking to me.
     "How can a hut talk?" I asked reasonably.
     "How can one make a little jump and climb a cliff that
must be 200 people tall?"
     "I take your meaning.  But I've had enough for now.  My
head feels full of filsal.  Maybe we could go for a ride.
I'm sure my archery lessons are overdue!  My limbs ache from
doing nothing."
     "With pleasure.  We can collect some meat for dinner as
well, but this animal provides no sport so we'll have to
find something else to aim at."
     Kito welcomed me.  During this trip he had become
accustomed to being with me from morning to night, and he
seemed as if he was letting me know that he felt my absence.
Though it was only the previous day that I had dismounted
him, it felt good to get back into his saddle and feel his
powerful form moving under me.  I allowed him to stretch out
a little, leaving Hi-Tui, his bulk slowing his horse,
chasing to catch up.  The stream, still rough and fast,
thrashing around the many rough boulders that formed its
bed, continued in parallel the road, heading downwards.  The
bushes remained the same.  Some of my irritation dissipated
by this mad gallop I urged Kito to slow, to allow Hi-Tui to
catch up.
     He did not take long to join my side, though his horse
was blowing somewhat.  In a hushed voice he warned that the
pool where he had found his recent catches was just around
the next corner.  We dismounted and Hi-Tui gave me a
crossbow to use.
     "This can be used lying down, so is good in situations
needing stealth.  I'll let you do the shooting - one animal
should be enough for our dinner tonight."
     On rounding the corner we dropped and proceed further
in a squat-walk.  A pool, trapped by a higher barrier of
boulders and surrounded by a flat area grassed in a reddish
water weed, came into view.  As did the animals, sedately
chomping on the grass.  In winter the water would have
topped the barrier and the whole grassed area would be under
water.
     We edged our way down the embankment a little to a
point where we could take comfortable aim at the grazing
animals.  Unfamiliar with the cross bow my first bolt went
astray, but it mattered little as the animal I had aimed for
made no attempt at movement.  As quietly as I could I loaded
another bolt and fired again.  With the same result as the
first.  Hi-Tui whispered to me that I had to look along the
length of the bow and line up the siting point at the far
end with the target.  At this distance there was no need to
allow for the arrow to drop.  With this advice the next bolt
hit true, taking the animal through its short neck.  We
stood and went to pick it up, causing the surviving animals
to sprint into the water to hide.  The skin of the dead
animal was rough and red, not pleasant to touch.
     Hi-Tui gutted the animal and bundled it into a bag
brought along for this purpose.  Deciding that there was
nothing further worthy of firing arrows we decided to
continue downstream.  Gradually as our altitude dropped the
scrub was replaced once again with trees, though on this
side of the divide the many limbed green leaved trees were
absent, and the more usual strappy red leaved trees seemed
more normal, more like we knew at home.  Not wanting to make
too much of an uphill ride for our horses we did not
continue for too long, turning the horses' heads for a more
leisurely return trip.
     "What could have happened to a race so powerful that
the magic they created still functions I don't know how many
years after they have disappeared," asked Hi-Tui.
     "That is a question I have asked myself, that Father
and I have discussed, that Wi-Su and I have discussed, Hi-
Tui, but there is no way to come to an answer.  We don't
have any information to even make a guess.  In the dreams I
had while I slept in the hut I saw many strange things.
Wondrous things.   Objects that were flying, large objects.
Buildings tall beyond belief.  People, not looking too
different from us but wearing clothes of materials unknown,
floating in the air.  You were correct.  I think the hut was
talking to me.  But what it was trying to tell me I don't
know.  I should sleep there again tonight."
     "No.  You sleep with me tonight.  Lord Srotyr may be
back tomorrow.  Never again will I have a chance to sleep
with you by my side.  And besides, you are so dark under the
eyes you look like you haven't slept for a week.  The sleep
you had in the hut drained you rather than rested you."
     "Okay.  But we can go up for a bath before bed.  That
will freshen me up."
     "A good idea," said Hi-Tui, smiling warmly.  "Something
else too.  You mentioned Wi-Su.  Have you thought of
anything?"
     "No.  My mind has been on other things.  Have you any
ideas?"
     "One, not much good maybe."
     "Tell me."
     "Well, what I thought was this.  Lord Srotyr has
indicated that you may be staying behind when we return.  I
will organise it that I will be at the rear of the group
returning through the tunnel, with Wi-Su by my side.  He can
slowly slip further behind until he is no longer visible,
then he can turn and return to join up with you here."
     "But what will happen when I return?  He can't live
here.  There is no food."
     "I don't know. I said it was not much good."
     "Still, it will allow a little more time before he has
to face Father's wrath, or maybe he can continue down the
way we were going.  This road must lead to KingsTown.  He
can disappear there."
     "Yes, that is it.  It will buy time and give some
further options," agreed Hi-Tui.
     "Though it will make it even more difficult for him to
return to New-Town.  Father is not likely to forget his
intention, but if Wi-Su disappears he will not need to
fabricate something to persecute, he will be able to use the
law of desertion."
     "So maybe it isn't good."
     "I have not thought of any other.  Please, Hi-Tui, when
the party returns try to talk to Wi-Su to see if he has had
any ideas."
     "Of course."
     Silence fell between us for the rest of the return
trip.  On arrival we handed the horses over to the field
worker who was responsible for their care, and made our way
to the ladder.  The water again refreshed, so that by the
time we were sitting down to roasted meat and rice I was
feeling much more alert.
     "Hi-Tui, what do you make of our religion with this new
knowledge we have discovered?" I asked.
     "I didn't think it made any difference to our beliefs.
Should it?"
     "Well, where does The One fit in when there is a race
so powerful that it can carve holes through mountains and
make us fly through the air?"
     "But don't you think that The One came from these
people?  We call him The One, but could he not be a race,
rather than an individual.  This powerful race could have
ascended to the clouds, leaving us behind to find our way.
Maybe we were poor slaves of this race, and we were left
behind because we were so unimportant, left behind to
worship our departed masters.  Maybe it is The One who is
talking to you in your dreams!"
     "That is an interesting idea.  The One and this race
may be the same thing!  The One has been talking to me.  You
are very wise, Hi-Tui."
     "Thankyou Cavon.  Not so wise.  Besides, it is only an
idea."
     "Yes, it is only an idea.  But as Wi-Su would say, it
is an idea that fits in with the known facts, so it is worth
accepting as truth until something proves it otherwise."

     That night I cuddled into Hi-Tui's large form.  We made
love slowly, taking each other in the mouth, or at least me
taking what I could of him.  Hi-Tui then rolled away to
leave me to sleep alone, but at some time during the night
he returned and I awoke cradled in his thick arms.


     FORDAY

     Hi-Tui was a difficult man to love.  I so enjoyed
touching his massive dick, but when he was in the mood to
allow me it became hard, and when hard he wanted to make
love, and after this he didn't want me near.  Any closeness
tended to lead to lovemaking, followed by rejection.  When I
complained he apologised sincerely, but said he had always
been the same.  He became hot quickly, and could not prevent
it, and after climax the sensation of closeness turned to
bile and there was nothing he wouldn't do to get away.  I
ordered him this morning to stay with me, but he was so
uncomfortable, and it was so unpleasant embracing this man
that had withdrawn so into himself that holding him was not
dissimilar to holding a piece of wood, that I let him rise
and dress to organise breakfast.  He wouldn't even kiss me
before going out.
     After he had gone I rolled back under my blanket and
contemplated what could have made him so.  I arrived at no
useful conclusion, so turned to think of Wi-Su.  I was
looking forward to seeing him, deeply anxious about his
future.  It was up to me to protect him, which would mean
that I would have to stand up to Father.  But even if I did
I could not see how this would change the outcome.  I don't
believe that I could overcome his prejudice, and probably
the more I tried the greater his hatred would become, as it
would confirm his belief that Wi-Su had taken his place my
heart.  Which in a way he had, though this was not really
true.  They both held a place, and it seemed which ever I
was with at the time assumed the greater place.
     This was also leading nowhere, so I dressed and went
outside.  It was raining, fine mist rain, for the first time
for many days.  The grass seemed to spring up under the
effects of the water, forming a cushion underfoot so
resilient that one felt one was walking on air.  Today I
would again take my siesta repose in the hut, but till then
I thought it best to try to put down on paper what I could
remember of the previous day's dreams.  I should have done
it immediately, but had not given it a thought.  Maybe the
exhaustion I had felt had diverted my thoughts, but also I
had not considered that I maybe have been listening to the
mind of The One.
     After lunch Hi-Tui joined me on the trip up to the
hanging valley and accompanied me to the hut.  I encouraged
him to experiment with the bed, and he was likewise amazed.
But even with this magic he wouldn't stay with me, rather he
would only sleep a short time before coming to wake me, so I
could descend and have some restful sleep.  Despite a
morning of inactivity I managed to sleep quickly on being
left in the hut.  The dreams came quickly also, but they
were different today.  There were no fantastic images,
rather I was talking to Hi-Tui and he was asking me the
names of things.  We walked in a forest, then we were
climbing a hill, then we were in a town.  It was in the
latter that he began to ask a lot of questions.  Strangely
my dream self did not think that this was unusual.  When I
had given a name to every physical object imaginable Hi-Tui
asked me about emotions, concepts, ideas, using round about
ways and actions to explain what he wanted to know.  It
seemed he did not know the words.
     I awoke to the noise of the door being thrown open and
Hi-Tui screaming out in anguish, "Are you alright?"
     "Yes, I'm fine," I replied, puzzled.  "I was dreaming
of you, and you were asking me lots of questions."
     Hi-Tui let out a loud sigh.  "I've been fighting with
that door for I don't know how long.  It wouldn't let me in.
Then suddenly it sprung open without me touching it!"
     "It would seem that The One did not want you to wake
me."
     "So it would seem.  You seem better than yesterday."
     "I am.  Not so tired, though I feel it would be good to
sleep some more.  The things I dreamt about were normal
things, of our world.  You were asking me names of
everything."
     "Maybe The One is trying to learn our language.  Though
I would have thought The One would know all languages.
Come, let's go back to the tent."
     "That is an interesting idea.  If one was trying to
learn a language one would ask someone who knew the language
to name objects.  Could it be that The One was trying to
teach me the language of the Gods yesterday, and I couldn't
understand?"
     "We are talking of The One in very irreverent terms.
Will we not be punished?" ask Hi-Tui.
     "Or maybe it wasn't that I couldn't understand the
words, but I didn't know what the things were that were
being named," I continued as if Hi-Tui had not spoken, "and
that is why it tired my brain so much."
     "Won't we be punished?" Hi-Tui repeated.
     "Oh, sorry Hi-Tui.  I don't know.  I think The One is
treating us to something very special.  I believe he wants
us to think, to delve below the surface.  He left me with
good feelings today."
     We dropped down the cliff and crossed the springy grass
back to the tent.  Wanting the feel of his arms around me
more than sexual release I resisted the temptation to
explore his body, rather I gave myself to the comfort of his
embrace and fell into a dreamless sleep.

     SIXDAY

     Father arrived during the morning.  He greeted me
formally as was appropriate, but was keen to return to the
hanging valley.  He surprised me by inviting Yu-Sin to join
us.  I desperately tried to get a glimpse of Wi-Su, without
it being obvious, but saw no sign of him.  Father was quick
into the pool, I following.  Yu-Sin hung back, seemingly not
confident when his superiors were together, but Father
encouraged him to undress and join us.  Father began
caressing Yu-Sin, indicating for me to do the same.  Yu-
Sin's hands went to our dicks, taking one in each.  With the
magic of the water Father was soon quite hard and he
position Yu-Sin on the steps so he could fuck him.  Once in
he took his time, setting a slow rhythm, then indicated for
me to come behind and enter him.  So I found myself playing
counter point.
     Satisfied, refreshed by the water from the fatigue of
days of hard travelling, Father relaxed back in the water
and, after ordering Yu-Sin to leave asked me what I had
discovered in his absence.  I told him about the first day,
where I had dreamt but not understood anything, the second
day where our language seemed to have been explored, and of
what happened on the third day.
     "Yesterday I again dreamt of Hi-Tui, but this dream
seemed more normal.  We rode, we hunted, we made love.  Then
you arrived and ordered Hi-Tui to return to his post.  We
dined with Mother, drank some rice wine and sang some songs
before retiring."
     "You didn't make love with me?" Father asked.  The
angry glint was in his eye again.
     "No.  We didn't.  But I felt so safe and wanted in your
arms that I knew this was my proper place, one I never
wanted to leave."  I was relieved to see the glitter fade
and return to post orgasmic dullness.  I knew that the
glitter wouldn't have faded if I had told him what I had
truly dreamt, that it was Wi-Su, not himself, who had taken
prominence in the dream.  That it was Wi-Su who had dined
with Mother and I and Wi-Su who had held me in his arms.  Hi-
Tui suggested that maybe The One has been talking to me in
these dreams, but I wonder if the last contradicts this.
The first two seemed to have a purpose, but yesterday did
not.  I wonder what will happen today?"
     "We will sleep together in the hut.  I will test out
the comfort of this bed that you eulogise.  We will lunch
then return."

     We decided to sleep dressed.  It seemed more proper if
we were going to be in the presence of The One.  But on this
bed in which one felt like one was floating on air I found
myself getting so excited with Father's arms encircling me
that I was unable to sleep.  It was bizarre how Father's arm
could go right under me but, though I could feel its
pressure, it did not form a lump, and Father reported that
my weight leaning on it was not uncomfortable.  I begin
first to take his fingers into my mouth, then I turned and
we were kissing.  The end result was that we slept naked and
spent, a dreamless, restful repose.
     I worried about this.  Was The One upset by our
display?  Angry that a father should love his son in a
physical manner?  Would our punishment be that he would
never talk to me again?  I tried to put these thoughts aside
as I sparred with Yu-Sin and Do-Si.  It was good to feel
again a sword in my hand.  There had been no one to spar
with during the time Father had been away.  Father joined in
as well.  I had never sparred with Father, and now
appreciated why he had a reputation as a master swordsman.
As well as a strength that made his sword seem no more that
a twig, he had a subtly and guile that kept you constantly
off balance.  I fought hard, as if my life depended on it,
with so much concentration on the fight that I did not
notice the horrible grey colour Father had become before I
got my first touch.
     Yu-Sin noted though, and diplomatically replaced Father
with himself as if my touch had been a signal for a
changeover.  Father lay on the grass, breathing heavily.  I
wanted to run to him, to hold him, to help, but knew I could
not do so as it would make his weakness public.  The role of
aide fell to Do-Si, who provided a damp cloth for his brow
and a glass of cold stream water and a cup of strong rice
wine.  By the time I called a halt, fatigued and breathing
heavily from my struggle with Yu-Sin, Father appeared much
better.  It was only then that honour would allow me to go
to him.  I suggested that we bathe before dinner, hoping
that the water would provide him with some needed healing.
     That night I expected to sleep well, physically
fatigued by the sparring and relaxed by our time in the
pool, embracing but not making love.  Instead my sleep was
broken with evil dreams, making me think that in truth The
One was angry.

     GODDAY

     Father was disturbed also, and suggested before dawn
that we dress and put on our armour.  Yu-Sin helped, then
under Father's order, without sound and without light,
organised all the guard into their armour, and even armed
the field workers.  It is what saved our lives.
     We were lined up against the back wall of the valley, a
row of guards in front, Father, Yu-Sin and I behind, with
field workers and Wi-Su behind again, when the first flaming
arrow lit an arc through the sky and by chance landed on a
tent, setting it aflame and lighting the scene.  Blood
curdling yells then filled the air and dark shadows charged
into the camp slashing and setting tents alight with flaming
brands.  It was not until the first few fell to the well-
placed arrows of Hi-Tui that they realised that all was not
going to plan.
     Father gave the order to stand.  We had the advantage.
We were still in darkness, they were lit by the flames of
the fires they had lit.  I also took a bow, as did Father
and a number of other guards who were proficient, taking a
step behind the row of swordsmen for protection.  Arrows
then rained down on the invaders, many of whom fell dead or
wounded.  Still they seemed very numerous when they
determined the direction of their persecutors and charged
towards us.  Bows were dropped and swords again lifted in
readiness, except by Hi-Tui who kept up a deadly fire at the
approaching silhouettes.
     And then they were upon us.  Light must have been
increasing for it was possible to make out their forms even
when not backlit by the flames, so all was not the chaos it
could have been.  I could not believe that my first
attacker, a big man with a big sword, tried the `blow from
the sky".  It did not seem quite so simple when the result
of a wrong calculation would be death, but I managed to get
my sword up in time.  The reduced friction of metal on metal
compared to wood almost caught me but I managed to get far
enough to the side to undertake the counterblow, slashing
first at his arms.  The sharpness of my new blade, driven
with the force of fear, severed one cleanly and cut the
other grievously, distracting him so much that I had no
trouble slashing his throat on the return stroke.  I did not
have time to gloat though as I turned to find two more on
me.
     Time slowed as I parried one blade, to give me time
enough to think that my death was upon me as the blade of
the other lifted to strike while my blade was still trapped
by the first.  I was in the first movement of trying to
dodge the blow when it was curtailed by an arrow sprouting
blood from his throat.  Not allowing distraction I dealt
quickly with the first, who was unskilled, before allowing
myself to glance in the direction from which the arrow
arrived.  Father and Yu-Sin were forming a guard in front of
Hi-Tui who was letting flow a constant stream of arrows.
     I had suddenly found myself in a little space.  I
looked around to see where I could help.  Men were locked in
combat all around, nearly all one to one.  With Hi-Tui I
thought things would quickly turn in our favour when an
arrow dug into the ground at my feet.  They had archers too!
But this proved to be child's play for Hi-Tui.  I found the
enemy archers, shadows in the new light of dawn, in time to
see them fall one after another like dominos. Hi-Tui's sharp
eyes had also spotted them, though not soon enough as
evidenced by our men lying on the ground pierced by arrows.
I then felt my heart leap to my throat as I saw Do-Si,
trying to protect Wi-Su, struggling with a number of
attackers, a fellow guardsman dead on the ground beside him.
     Without thought I screamed and charged like a madman.
The first attacker lost his head before he had time to turn,
the second had time to slash at me as I tried to clear my
sword from his fellow.  I stepped out of his sword's path
and, freeing my sword at the same time, managed to bat it to
the ground, leaving him defenceless to an upward cut.  Then
on to the third who was about to put an end to Wi-Su.  My
desperate slash caught the upper arm of the attacker,
distracting him enough that Wi-Su managed to parry the blow
that had been about to finish him.  That spelt his end as he
had nothing with which to fend my second stroke.  Then on to
Do-Si, whose assailant was more skilled, but not enough to
ward off even for a moment two skilled swordsmen.
     Our eyes meeting in the joy of victory, blood dripping
from our swords, Do-Si and I lifted our voices as we charged
at a knot of fighting men.  Sensing victory Yu-Sin's deep
voice also lifted with ours, his heavy paces seemingly
shaking the ground as he left his defence of Hi-Tui, jumping
over a straggle of bodies, to join us.  This was enough to
shatter the courage of our attackers, and those that could
broke into a run.  Father, in his battle voice, commanded
for all to charge and to let none escape.  Wings took to my
feet as I leapt to the chase, finding myself easily catching
those fleeing, ending a life with a running jab as if using
a joust, then sprinting after the rest.  Later I became
aware that Hi-Tui had also joined the chase, letting fly
arrows as he ran, till the only remaining enemy was one who
was very fleet of foot and almost out the other side of the
camp.
     Father yelled that he wanted him down, but not dead, to
which Hi-Tui responded by neatly dropping him with an arrow
in his buttock.  He tried to put an end to himself but was
easily stopped by a guard who, having flown to cover the
distance, landed a powerful kick to the hand that was
thrusting a knife towards his heart.
     A mighty cheer erupted spontaneously from our throats.
Of victory, of gratitude to The One, of battle lust that
still raced in our veins.  When our voices were spent Father
ordered that all of our attackers that lived be brought
before him.  The guards, aided by field workers, quickly
responded to Yu-Sin's relayed order.  Soon a row of 8 men,
hands and feet tied, where bullied to their feet in front of
Father.  All were non-descript.  Their clothes varied from
new and well cared to almost rags.  There was no mark of
allegiance on any.  Father approached the first in the row.
     "Who sent you?" he barked.
     The man just shook his head in refusal.  At a nod from
Father the guard holding him pushed him forward, his roped
feet causing him to stumble.  Yu-Sin lifted his sword and
cleanly decapitated him as he fell.  Father had stepped
aside to avoid the spouting blood and rolling head.
     He asked the next, "Who sent you?"
     The response to refusal was not so clean this time.
First a hand was severed and the question asked again.  The
screaming man was unable to pay heed to the question,
wracked by the pain of his arm.  Yu-Sin ignored this and
used his dagger to slip open the man's clothes, indicating
for the guard to pull them off.  With two guards now
supporting him so as he could not fall and one holding the
rope so he could not kick, the man was presented naked to Yu-
Sin.  Yu-Sin squatted in front of him and, with little
strokes, slowly inflicted a deep cut the length of his dick,
opening it like a fish.  Father again asked the question,
but the man was beyond responding.  Yu-Sin continued his
dissection, slowly separating the dick from the body, then
the balls from their pouch, before inserting the knife low
into the belly and lifting upwards until he had pierced the
chest and the heart.  The screaming then stopped and the
guards let the body fall to the ground.
     Not surprisingly the next in line started sprouting all
he knew, having details filled in by others in the line,
without any further questions being asked.  This was not
enough to spare them, of course, but their deaths were quick
and clean, as had been the first.
     The information gained was that they were a group of
mercenaries who had been hired by the Prince to perform the
deed that they had attempted.  Which was to kill us all and
bury us so that there was no trace of our presence, and
report back to the Prince that the job was complete.
     Father had not watched the executions.  As soon as he
had the information he wanted he signalled for Yu-Sin to
proceed then called for me and all the free guards to
accompany him.  He quickly toured the area of battle to look
after our own wounded.  Those he felt had no chance he
ordered to be mercifully killed, those who might survive
were carried to our tent, that had survived without damage,
to be treated.  I helped mix herbs and medicines into
boiling water, cleaned wounds and applied bandages.  The
sharp intakes of pain (none would cry out!) as the
astringent balm touched raw flesh tore my heart.
     We had lost half our force!  Most of the casualties had
been amongst the field workers.  Though they had been armed
they did not have the skill to defend themselves, and only 5
of 11 had survived, 2 of those wounded.  Twenty guards had
survived, which spoke well of the training they had received
from Wi-Su.  Many of those who had fell had died from arrow
rather than sword wounds.  They had held their own.  Our
attackers had been quite a large band - 73 bodies were piled
to one side of the grassed area.  All dead for the offer of
money!
     The wounded tended, Father ordered all who could stand
to gather in front of our fallen.  He offered a prayer of
thanks to The One for our survival and commended the souls
of those fallen to His care.  This led into an impromptu
sermon on the topic of avarice.  How greed led to death.
     After breakfast all participated in the digging of a
common grave in the thick earth of the stream bank, this
being the only area free of rock other than the grassed area
of the camp.  Our fallen were placed in positions of repose
in the hole and the prayer of the dead recited by all.  Our
enemies were placed in carts and taken down stream, further
than our hunting ground, and dumped unceremoniously into a
deep pond.  They would feed whatever wildlife savoured the
taste of human flesh.
     After everything had been completed and another round
of the wounded had been made, Father called a council of Yu-
Sin, Hi-Tui and I.  He asked what we thought.  Yu-Sin
repeated something that one of the field workers had
overheard during the battle.  One of the enemy had been
attacking a guard by the name of Wo-Ni, and Wo-Ni had said,
"Leave me, I am your spy!"  But then he had fallen with an
arrow in his throat before the enemy fighter had time to
respond.  Fortunately for the field worker Hi-Tui must have
spotted the target, for before he could lift his sword to
attack the field worker he fell to one of Hi-Tui's red
feathered arrows.
     "Who is Wo-Ni?" asked Father.
     "Wo-Ni is a new guard," replied Yu-Sin.  "He had
recently arrived from KingsTown, his wife dying soon after
he arrived.  He proved adept with a sword, but I didn't wish
to leave him at home where I could not watch him so I
ordered him to join the expedition."
     "Was it he who's friend was convicted of stealing the
purse of Tie-Je's?" I asked,.
     "That was he.  I interviewed him at your
recommendation.  He presented as a honest man."
     "With a treacherous heart," said Father.  "That
explains why they knew our camp layout so well.  He
presumably communicated with them secretly.  It also
explains how the Prince knew we were here.  Now, Cavon, what
would you think must be our next step?"
     "I think we must head home and make sure all is safe
there.  If he attacked us here he could have also organised
some kind of coup of NewTown once news of your death had
been received.  He may still attempt this, even if he has no
news."
     "What do you think, Yu-Sin?"
     "If we have one spy in the guard, how many more must
there be in the town.  We must make all haste to return!"
     Hi-Tui nodded in agreement, but added, "My Lord.  If we
have the Prince against us we are going to have a difficult
life.  The King is ill, may soon die.  With a new King who
wants you dead it will not take him long to make up an
excuse to remove you.  Lord Cavon seems to be making some
kind of progress in this magical hut in the valley above.
Maybe he should stay behind and continue to investigate.
What he discovers may make a difference to our future."
     "What do you say, Cavon?" asked Father.
     "It has only been dreams and there has been nothing for
a day now, but it has been different.  Hi-Tui thinks that
The One may be trying to talk with me.  If he is it would
seem he has forgotten our language.  But it could take many
days, and we don't have many days."
     "No.  We don't have any days.  We must leave in the
morning.  But Cavon could stay.  It is unlikely that anyone
will return here, and even if they did you could stay up in
the valley with the ladder rolled up and be perfectly safe.
Just a guard to look after you - that Do-Si seems competent
and you are friendly with him."
     Hi-Tui and Yu-Sin nodded in agreement.
     "After siesta I want everything packed into the carts.
Space must be left for the wounded who cannot ride.  First
we sleep.  Good repose."
     "Good repose my Lords," Yu-Sin and Hi-Tui replied in
unison.
     My sleep was haunted by visions of fire and blood,
images of the battle transmuting into horrific forms.  I
awoke unrefreshed, generally sore.  Father also was out of
sorts, curt.  After he was satisfied that the carts were
loaded ready for departure he suggested that we take time to
bathe.  Soaking in the magical water leeched away the pain
from my sore muscles, but did not ease my anxious thoughts,
or take the creases from Father's brow.  It did loosen his
tongue a little though.
     "Our future may be difficult," he started.  "As Hi-Tui
was wise enough to say, being in conflict with the Prince is
not a recipe for a peaceful life.  I am sorry that my birth
may inflict danger on the life of you and your mother.  It
would seem that the Prince has discovered that secret, and
maybe the reason for which we are here.  If that is the case
he won't rest until I and all my heirs are no longer a
threat to him, or he himself is dead."
     I had no answer to this, it was this scenario that had
gloomed my afternoon, made worse by a fine rain that made
preparations for the morning departure more tedious.  I
cuddled into his wet, furry chest seeking strength and
reassurance.  There was none to be found, but he held me
tight.  This helped a little.  We soaked up the magic of the
water before returning to ground level for a meal and sleep.