Dwellers of the New World Chapter Thirteen ( Pt 2 ) Who Goes There?

From one of the dark entrances on Wild Whistling Isle, hid a young boy crouching in the shadows, he placed his torchlight in between the rocks and watched avidly as the ship pulled up to one of the jetties. His dark skinned face was covered in dirt, with eyes that stared in expectation of fresh company, his body seemed frail as if from a lack of food, though he was full of life and wore deer skin clothes and deer skin boots. The boy was quite high up in the rock face, so was unable to see how many people were on board the new ship, even though he strained his eyes to see.

In the darkness of the tunnel came a voice calling him from somewhere in the distance. Coming to standing, he lifted the torch and started to run back along one of the many passageways, down some steps, then along another walkway that was contained within the rock. It was a maze of tunnels and steps that you could get lost in, if you didn't know your way.

“Fallow! Where are you?” Came the voice again and again echoing down the passageway.

“I'm coming Mama!” The boy shouted back, hurrying as fast as he could.

Finally he came towards another entrance where his mother was waiting for him. Kalina was tall with dark skin and long black hair that flowed down her back. She had tough leathery skin from walking naked in the Summer time, like most of her people they did not shy away from nakedness, it was quite natural though in the Winter they would cover up for warmth.

“Mama! There's a new ship docked...can we go and see who's on board?” The boy pleaded, running towards her.

His mother picked up a bundle of logs she'd been collecting for the fire to cook on. “No son...we have to return home, the fires need stoking and I need to get back to prepare the deer.”

The boy pleaded once more; his eyes sparkled in anticipation. “But Mama...couldn't I just go on my own?”

“You know better than to ask; you're too young to go off wandering too far alone, especially down to the jetties...there's bad men down there, that won't think twice about taking you to be their slave.” She paused remembering her new friend. “Any way Evelyne's looking after your baby brother, so that's another reason to get back soon.”

There were a great many deer roaming the valley that provided the people with not only food but also clothing, all parts of the animal would be used in some way and were the Islands only source of nourishment, apart from rabbits, birds and fish that came from the great rivers that were formed, from the fresh water that streamed down from the mountains. There were also goats and chickens that had been brought over from the mainland, but the people who lived there had to be good hunters, or they would starve.

The boy knew better than to argue with his mother, he picked up some logs and they started walking back along one of the many paths, where morning snow lay drifting along the banks. Fallow enjoyed jumping through the white crispness of the verge, feeling his boots sink into the dry snow as it crunched beneath his feet. Winter cobwebs left their mark on the bare branches of bushes, as thoughts of Summer were long gone, any insects would be in deep slumber.

Silvery grey clouds drifted in, threatening more snow as the day progressed. His mother pulled her hood up, as the wind gave a chill to the air. Coming to the end of another path, they reached another rock entrance. His mother lit a torch from one of the many fires that was kept going just outside the entrance, it was one of the many fire bearers, jobs to make sure the beacons burned constantly, which was a lot more difficult in Winter than the Summer.

Making their way in to the passageway, the light from the torch lit up the darkness, Fallow enjoyed watching the flames glow; glimmering in the blackness, casting their silhouettes onto the walls, as they made their way to the other end of the tunnel, a faint mumble could be heard coming from inside the next rock entrance.

Kalina stopped in her tracks straining her ears to perceive what was being said, though the wind made it difficult to hear.

“What is it Mama?” Whispered Fallow wondering why his Mother had stopped walking.

“Sh! Son...I'm trying to hear.” She said softly, placing her finger up to her mouth and telling the boy to be quiet, she rested her other hand on his shoulder.

The boy listened carefully as they got closer, realising there were voices coming from the opening next to theirs

“You think anyone heard?” Whispered one of the voices in a gruff manner.

“Nay! There ain't a soul that'll hear those moans and groans,” replied the other voice.

Just at that moment a flock of birds rose into the air, as if startled by something just beyond some trees, it broke the conversation between the two figures.

“Quick we'd better be on our way...don't want anyone getting suspicious...we'll come back tomorrow.” Replied one of the voices.

Fallow was ushered back into the cave entrance by his mother. They stood in the shadows and watched as two men appeared, making their way along one of the tracks.

The boy looked up at his Mother bewildered. “What's wrong Mama...who are those men?”

Kalina stood unsure of what was going on, but she had a feeling they were up to no good. “I don't know son...but it concerns me that maybe they're hiding something or someone. I think I need to have a word with your Papa when we get home, he'll know what to do.”

Kalina and her son waited till the men were out of sight, then went on their way.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Thirteen ( Pt 3 ) Disembarking | ABCtales