Dwellers of the New World Chapter Eight ( PT 9 ) More Questions

Poor Varden nearly choked on his fish, when Si revealed that his father was Gregor, even though he had a feeling the conversation was heading that way, it still came as a shock.

The boy had so many questions to ask, he hardly knew where to start. “If you're a man Si, how come you look the way you do?”

Varden's companion stood up, taking a stick that leant against the alcove, he stoked the flames that flickered and cast shadows. “I was born deformed, my father hated the sight of me from the moment I was born.”

As Varden chewed some fish, he put the rest of the meal down, wiping his greasy lips on the back of his hand and enquired. “So what about the lumps on your skin?”

Si glared at the warts, feeling sick at the sight of them. He shook his head. “I don't know about them, I contracted some kind of skin disease later in life.” Then he remembered the pool and smiled. “But the water in this cave and tunnel, seem to have a healing effect on them.”

Varden thought about the euphoria he had experienced when going through the tunnel, his eyes suddenly dilating with excitement. “Could you take me through that water again? I felt so alive when we swam.”

Si grinned, walking towards the pool. “You could swim in the water on your own now, you do not need me with you.”

The boy felt nervous at the thought of going alone. “I don't trust myself down there, my mind seems to wander to the shells on the tunnel wall, their radiance hypnotic, compelling me to not want to leave...a boy could drown down there.”

Smiling, Varden's companion gestured with his hands. “The water here is kind of irresistible, isn't it? I suppose I've become used to it. Sometimes I just bathe in the pool and let the water wash over me.”

Changing the subject, Varden wanted to ask another question that was on his mind. “Tell me...why would your mother want to stay with such an evil man as Gregor?”

Si frowned, turning and pacing the cave, feeling edgy at the interrogation. He stuttered slightly. “My...my mother was kid...kidnapped and take...taken to his cave. She...she was brutally pressured to do his bidding, he would force himself on her, threatening to kill her.”

Gesturing with his hands, he continued. “Occasionally mother would try to escape, but he always found her, knowing the caves and the forest so well.”

Tears filled Si's eyes as he proceeded. “After giving birth to me, it was clear that leaving wasn't an option...it was exactly what my father wanted.”

The boy felt sorry for Si, he couldn't imagine what he'd been through, probably much worse than the doom chamber.

There was a silence between the two companions, the only sound, came from the alcove, a breeze winding its way down through the vent blew the flames, the sound reminded the boy of the doom chamber when the wind whistled through the cracks in the ceiling.

Speaking once again, Varden announced...”I'm going to have to leave, it sounds like a wind is picking up and I need to meet some friends.”

The boy paused, then declared. “I would really like to be your friend and come back and see you. I think we could help each other, if that's okay with you?”

Si never answered straight away, but paced the cave, thinking to himself.

“What's wrong friend?” enquired Varden.

Moving in closer to the boy, Si looked worried. “Please...you must not tell anyone I'm here, or of my cave, if you do it will surely get back to my father, then I'll become his prisoner again.”

The boy understood his concerns. “I promise...I won't tell anyone, but I'd still like to come back and see you.”

“I would be more than happy to have you as a friend, you can tell me more about yourself, I would love to hear your story...I've been a long time on my own. You come back here whenever you want.” Touching the boy on the shoulder, he looked more serious. “Only please be careful... you understand?”

Varden said he understood, realising the seriousness of what his companion was saying.

Wandering over to the entrance the boy had come through, Si spoke, gesturing with his hands. “You must knock five times on the boulder in the wall, then I'll know it's you and let you through...okay?”

The boy motioned in accordance, as his companion pulled the rock from out the wall, checking to make sure the coast was clear. “Now be very careful...I cannot stress enough, get off the beach as quickly as you can.”

Walking up to his new found friend, the boy gave him a hug, long drooping arms came around the boy, as tears filled Si's eyes, it made him feel tired as he lifted Varden through the opening. After a fond farewell, he replaced the boulder, deciding to have a sleep.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Nine ( Pt 1 ) Family Friends | ABCtales