Dwellers of the New World Chapter Eight ( Pt 7 ) In Deep Water

A blanket of darkness encompassed the boy, as he plunged down into the deep water, no longer able to see anything he panicked, fearful of the unknown.

Not having experienced the like of this eerie underground cave pool before, he was too frightened to go any further, so rose back up to the surface.

The creature returned, wondering why the boy wasn't behind him. “Why do you not follow?” he questioned, in his deep throat voice, seeming like he was desperate to be somewhere.

“I ain't going down there,” said Varden. “Can't even see me hand in front of me, It's pitch black, there could be anything down there, I could be eaten.”

The creature seemed surprised at the boy's reaction, but understood that although he himself was used to this place, obviously the boy wasn't. “You...boy climb on my back, put legs around my waist and arms around my neck, I carry you through tunnel.”

Varden thought about the warts and the oozing pus, but then noticed that the warts had seemed to close up in the water. “All right...but are you sure this is safe? I don't want to drown,” he said as he clambered on the creatures back, feeling the lumps and bumps on its skin.

“You safe with me, I move through these caves all the time. Just hold on tight...okay?”

The boy nodded and nervously took some deep breaths, before once again being submerged in the depths of the black water.

Varden was surprised at how agile and effortlessly the creature moved underwater. On land he floundered, his long arms causing his upper body to be slightly bent over and his back hunched, but here he glided swiftly, skilfully with ease.

Cautiously holding on tight, Varden could feel the creature weaving its way between rocks, the silence deafening with the pressure of the water, his ears felt strange, almost claustrophobic, but still there wasn't anything the boy could do now, but keep hoping that wherever they were going, it wouldn't take too long.

After a short time, the water seemed to be having a calming affect, Varden felt more alive than ever before, his eyes dilating in the darkness, any body pain and the scratches on his back had vanished.

As they entered a tunnel, Varden could see strange small lights, they flickered in the gloom. Moving closer, the boy observed they were strange, luminous shells that radiated, clinging to the walls, a bit like the ones in the entrance to the cave he'd walked into earlier, but these glowed like a rainbow and changed colour as he touched them.

The boy became hypnotized by this delicate spectacle, it was as if the lights were dancing, putting on a show just for him, until finally the water became shallower and their heads were above water, but still in darkness.

Varden climbed off the creatures back, once more able to breathe and still feeling euphoric from his experience. “This place is mysterious, where are we?” the boy asked, the water now up to his knees.

“I will explain all later. ” The stranger took Varden's hand, leading him up to a dead end in the tunnel. The only sound that could be heard, was the water running down the walls, from somewhere above.Moving towards the far end of the tunnel, the creature told the boy to stay where he was. Varden did as he was told, still staring back at the way they'd come, the lights still luminous in the shallow water.

Then Varden turned in astonishment, the creature moved a large bolder from the end of the tunnel, the boy rubbed his eyes, as daylight entered. For a moment Varden was lost for words.

“Come...see boy.” Varden's companion gestured him over.

The boy again waded through the water, feeling cold and shivery. Looking out of the hole, they seemed to have travelled to another part of the cliff face, but the fog was still thick and Varden couldn't make out where they were.

“We shall climb out of here and over rocks to sea, then we swim to place I want to show you.”

Although the hole wasn't that far off the ground, it was quite steep and they would have to scramble over rocks and boulders. Varden didn't know whether he would be able to manage the decent, some of the rocks had sharp edges and some were smooth and wet, it looked dangerous, with the sea crashing the large boulders.

“You must be mad...I ain't about to climb down there, it's too slippery, I'll be dead before I reach the ocean.”

Again the creature suggested the boy climb on his back, he would carry him over the rocks.

Varden looked at him in astonishment. “You really think you can carry me and not slip? You must be mad.”

The creature seemed amused at the lack of trust the boy had in him. “You'll be safe...no worries, I make many trips along this way, trust Si, I will not let you get hurt.”

“Ah!” said Varden, “so Si's your name, I was wondering when you were going to tell me.”

“Yes Si's my name...what's your name?” The creature enquired.

“My name's Varden and I'll trust you with my life, but I hope you are right, there are a lot of people depending on me.

The boy once more climbed on to the creatures back, as they made their way out of the cliff face, to descend down, across to the sea.

Again Varden was impressed at how agile the creature was, as he clambered over the huge boulders, not once slipping, but managing to support him, while maintaining his own balance.

Soon they reached the edge of the rocks, the creature did not hesitate, but simply dived into the cold waves, having no fear at all. Varden held on tight.

The boy had never been in the ocean before, the water tasted strange, not like the river water, it had a unusual flavour to it. As they rounded the rocks, the creature stopped swimming and held on to a boulder.

Varden took the opportunity to ask Si about the strange nature of the sea. “What is that taste, the sea holds, It's makes me feel sick.”

Si sniggered in a kindly way, but was amazed the boy didn't know. “That my friend is salt...have you never swallowed salt before?”

The boy just stared at the creature, not really understanding. “No...I've never swallowed salt, but then I've never been in the ocean before, so it ain't hardly surprising.”

Varden wanted to know where they were going, he was getting hungry, and he was so cold. “When you going to show me what we're here for? I've had enough of all this mystery. I just want to get back to the cave and warm up, get some food in me belly.”

“You impatient boy...not far now just around that next rock we reach bay, then you see.”

Once more the creature set off. As they rounded another set of rocks, Varden could hear shouting and the sound of men singing, but he couldn't see anything through the fog. He wondered where the creature had brought him.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Eight ( Pt 8 ) Revelations | ABCtales