Six

Well, as far as it had gone so far, my fears for this forest were unfounded. But I still couldn't shake the suspicion that something was going to happen. Okay, I know that's a tad vague, but it's all I had. Believe me, I found it as irritating as you must be now. That nagging feeling of ever-impending doom was, or is, most... disconcerting. If something was going to happen, why didn't it just do so and get it over and done with? That way we could all get on with our lives.

Providing we still had them, of course.

Rats! I really should stop doing that. Honestly, I was spooking myself far more than the looming trees and hair-brushing branches ever were. I had been feeling jittery ever since we had passed from the daylight of the plains into the twilight of the woods -- though 'Twilight of the Gods' sprang to mind as well -- hmmm, I suppose I'd better ask you pardon the unintended immodesty and egotism that could be read into that -- sorry.

We still walked along the banks of the stream, partaking occasionally of its clear and refreshing waters. But now, particularly, my nerves were on edge as every rustle, every snapping of a dry twig, portended another ambush. There were times when I practically felt my heart had leapt to my ears, never mind my throat. Kieran, on the other hand, wasn't perturbed in the slightest -- or if he was, he was doing a fine job of concealing it.

By this point we had given up trying to keep track of the time yet we didn't feel tired in any way. True, my muscles ached but it was definitely not as bad as I had expected it to be. We had eaten and drunk but I hadn't -- and I can't speak for Kieran here -- been feeling hungry or thirsty at the time. It almost felt purely mechanical, as if, somehow, the normal sensations I should be experiencing had been put on hold, in suspended animation... just like Time had in this place. It was only a theory -- and not a particularly good one at that -- or a useful one, even -- but I didn't exactly have the equipment I needed to carry out a proper analysis of the situation, so it would have to remain just that. Musing on this, I considered proposing the notion to Kieran but there was a strong likelihood that I could -- and would -- befuddle -- and ultimately bore -- him with technicalities and details -- I was definitely prone to doing that. So, I kept my idea to myself. I wouldn't have had much time to elucidate upon it anyway, because at that moment, we entered the glade.

I was struck dumb by the sight that lay before us. Since I didn't hear a sound from Kieran, I assumed he had been similarly affected. The contrast between where we stood and the vision in front of us couldn't have been more striking if Caravaggio himself had drawn it. I'll describe it as best I can, but you'll pardon me if I say that words fall way short of fully capturing the wonder -- both awesome and awful -- that we saw there.

Think of a giant cookie cutter and then imagine it on top of this pastry forest. All natural, of course, but a perfect circle nonetheless. And it wasn't large. Humongous, vast and immense would get lost in it, however. In quantifiable terms, it looked as if at least two football stadia -- laid end to end -- could be quite comfortably inscribed by that circle. The stream flowed, straight and true, in towards the centre where it bifurcated, running off in two similar sized branches with a perfect forty-five degree angle between them, dividing the clearing in three, before it flowed out and beyond. I suppose that from the air, this would look like some giant CND symbol. The floor of the glade was carpeted with downy soft grass, brimming with lush vitality and verdancy. Or at least it was near to us and, more or less, to the centre of this woodland roundel. But once it got near the central 'line', the grass lost the lustre of emerald and became shadowed spectres of their former selves. The trees as well at this point also changed with startling rapidity -- no gradual darkening of colour, just green to black in simple but blatant demarcation. Standing there, it felt like a very selective 'scorched earth' policy had been enacted. The waters of forked stream also changed; the left branch running black and slow, as if clogged with silt whilst the right one ran clear and fast, brighter and quicker than before the divergence, as if in a hurry to leave. And in the middle of this glade of duality, a tree extruded from the earth, proud -- if not erect -- in its twisted, blackened state. There was a definite sense of unease emanating from this... this... sly and sneering icon of death, gnarled as it was in gnostic mystery and mockery.

Okay, this may not sound the most shocking or dumb-striking of sights but, as I keep saying, you weren't there. And I did say that words couldn't adequately encapsulate it. Couldn't instil the same sense of amazement at the eldritch spectacle we had walked in upon. I can only apologise for this.

Kieran started to walk out into the clearing but I put my arm out to stop him. He turned questioningly. "We should be cautious," I advised, "we don't exactly know what might be out there. This could be a trap."

He looked towards the tree and then back at me. "Rav, anything could be a trap. You said that we came to find a tree. So here it is -- the most likely candidate we have seen. Let's go. I can't see anything wrong or suspicious here." He turned away.

"That's specious reasoning and you know it, Andy," I retorted. "Just because you can't see something, doesn't mean it's not there. You've read and seen enough to know that. Just think of the Jem'Hadar and their personal cloaks. Invisibility spells. Pressure pads with delayed action fireballs. Sleep powder or spores in the air. Myconids, giant ants or a rampaging water elemental, even."

I think that my words may have annoyed him a tad, as he rounded on me. "You have way too overactive an imagination, mate. Besides, if someone or something was going to do anything, they've had ample opportunity to pick us off before now. Don't you think they'd've already done something?"

"I suppose," I muttered.

"If something happens, it happens. I can't see how, besides keeping our wits about us, we can do anything about it. Just what do propose we do if a water elemental, or whatever, does decide to leap out at us? Do you have a hammer or other blunt instrument about you? Or some fire-wielding powers you haven't told me about?"

"I have the fork."

"You still have that?" he asked somewhat incredulously. I nodded lamely.

"Well, it will have to do now, won't it?" he replied, grinning as he did so.

That infectious smile of his did it again. Smirking and trying to put on a straight face, I said, "Kieran Anders, are you mocking me?"

"Me? Mock you? I would never!" His blue-grey eyes sparkled somewhat devilishly.

"I suppose you're right."

"Of course, I am."

"You know, that ego of yours is gonna get you in trouble one of these days."

"Promises, promises." He laughed.

"You are infuriating."

"Why, thank you."

I gave up at this point. But it was a magic of sorts. His bright spirits had dispelled, to a certain extent, the gloom that had come to rest on my shoulders. We both knew we had to be careful, there was little point in me saying what I did but he was right. There wasn't much we could do if we were beset by anything. We had no equipment to do anything. No weapons, no scrolls, no guardian spirits to defend us. It was quite pathetic really.

So we set out across the affected greensward, following the edge of the stream with our eyes peeled for the least sign of danger although internally I questioned the wisdom of taking the most exposed path. But what was done, was done. Where Kieran led, I followed. It's a wonder I managed to keep walking in a straight line with my eyes continually darting hither and thither lest we fall prey to something.

But the closer we got to the centre, the less frequent my sideways glances grew. I only had eyes for one thing. And it was in front of us. A warped figure that warped the senses when I tried to focus on it directly. I had to periodically shake my head to keep my eyes from watering. As much from the lingering smell of something burnt as the tree itself.

There was now little doubt in my mind that this was the tree that we were supposed to find. Although the setting didn't bear exact resemblance to what I had dreamed -- though was it really a 'dream' or a 'premonition'? -- the feelings being elicited in me were all the proof I needed. I was excitedly scared, anxiously expectant and despondently hopeful, all at the same time. Could this be the end of whatever? Or just the start? I had already suffered through one case of over-before-it-starts-it is, would my nerves handle another one? This may sound like a maelstrom of melodramatic thought -- and I can't honestly deny that -- but that's just the way my mind works. I am a very screwy person.

And Kieran was with me at the moment of discovery. So that requirement was fulfilled at least.

We got to the point where the stream forked and stopped. The tree itself was still some way off and passage was somewhat barred by the presence of the dancing waters. I was forced to wrinkle my nose at the stench of woodsmoke that hung in a faint pall about this area. Each step now taken, now that we had crossed the boundary, brought the sound of a crunch or crackle as the brittle, blackened blades snapped beneath our thankfully shod feet.

"What now?" I whispered.

"Why are you whispering?"

"I dunno, actually," I said, resuming normal volume, "it just seemed appropriate."

"You're strange."

"No more so than you, m'lord."

"Touché." Silence.

I looked at him expectantly. "So what are we going to do?"

"Get to that tree."

"Simple as that?"

"Yup."

"How, might I ask, are we gonna accomplish that?"

"Um." He pondered this for a moment. "I thought you'd have come up with some way. You're the ideas man."

"As always," I said, as I looked around for inspiration.

"We could wade through," he suggested.

I stared at the rushing waters and then back at his face. "Get serious, Andy. Who knows where you'd end up."

"On the other side, silly."

"Of the world, perhaps. Of this stream?" I shook my head.

"Okay then, clever dick. What do you suggest in your infinite wisdom?"

"Give me a moment." Then, after some more careful consideration of the situation and resources at hand, 'Jump."

"How is that any less stupid an idea than mine? You cannot be serious?"

I resisted the glaring temptation to make an issue of his John McEnroe impression. Kieran saw, however, the smile on my face at the thought.

"What are you smirking at?"

"Nothing. Really. But as to being serious, I am." Unfortunately, he didn't look convinced. I sighed. "Look. The only other alternative as I see it is to approach from the other side, as in ford the main stream where its slower and then attempt to cross the muck over there," I told him, pointing as I did so. "Now, I don't know about you, but I don't find that a particularly appealing prospect." He cast about, trying to find some flaw in what I had said.

"I don't think we have much choice, do we?" For once, he sounded resigned.

"Don't worry. If you look closely, you'll see it's not that wide across. The speed of the water makes it look more daunting than it actually is."

He looked critically at the stream before turning back to me. "Okay then. But you go first."

"Fair enough. But it's only seven or eight feet. Ten max. A running jump should comfortably clear it."

"For you perhaps. I've only got short legs, remember."

"Oops, sorry. Nevertheless-'

"You first. Just in case."

"All right then." I backed off to what I considered a suitable distance, ran to the edge and leapt. It was an ungainly jump, given the softness of the bank at the point of flight, causing an unsteady landing about a foot away from the edge. I turned back towards Kieran. "Taa-daa!' I announced, probably with a little too much glee. I looked down to my trouser cuffs. "Not even splashed. How many points for that?"

"Five! That was a terrible landing," Kieran called back.

"Biased judge." He laughed. "Your turn. I'll be marking for style and technical merit."

His answer was to head back, a little further than I had done, and then run full tilt towards me. It almost seemed as if he was going to attempt to run across the water itself but he sprung, launching himself into the air. I drew a sharp intake of air for his leap seemed to have given him more vertical than horizontal distance and he was in danger of falling short of the intended target. I dashed forward in the hopes of being able to do something.

Thankfully, though, I had misjudged. He landed safely -- and somewhat better than I had done. "That was fun," he grinned.

"I thought you weren't quite gonna make it there for a moment."

"I wasn't worried for a microsecond."

"Then you prob- no never, mind. Let's have a look at what we've got here."

We stepped up to the dead tree for a closer examination -- me with a touch of apprehension for it definitely seemed more menacing close-to. The upper branches -- the few that still remained, anyway -- grabbed for the sky over our heads, distorted and writhing like a gorgon's hair. I half expected eyes to open in the trunk and here's me without my mirrored shield. The bark was covered in some fine black powder which served to obscure the patterns and designs that seemed to wrap around the base of the tree. Deep lines scored the broad burnt bole but as to what was depicted was anyone's guess. Only parts were visible and they seemed to form some sort of frieze -- an arm holding a sword, a crowned head, a group of people in robes, a key, a pyramid -- a jumbled set of images that I ever did see. But I wasn't going to figure it out like that. I'd need at least a couple of sets of brushes and a change of clothes.

Kieran had also crouched down to take a look at the etchings. "Reminds me a bit of those pictures on Egyptian palaces and pyramids, eh Rav?"

"Yup. Only these are far cruder and more stylised."

"I never took you for an art critic," Kieran joked.

"Oh you know me, jack of all trades. Science doesn't pay that well, you know."

Kieran resumed standing, stretching his legs. "So what do we do now?"

I joined him. "Don't ask me. I thought all would be explained when we got here."

"Weren't we supposed to find something here? Some chains or something?"

Alarm bells started ringing. Was he guessing wildly or acting under other information. And if so, what was that and why hadn't he told me? Okay, I know that sounds a bit hypocritical since I hadn't exactly told him everything about what I saw in my head but that's because I didn't really believe it myself. Plus, he would have thought me more of a madman than he already did. Well then, I guess the same could apply to him, which was actually my next thought -- and what tempered my reaction to his question. I shrugged.

I drew a deep breath and instantly regretted it, as the acrid stench filled my sinuses. Coughing vainly to expel the malodorous taste, I found myself doubled over spluttering. And came eye to eye with a symbol I hadn't noticed before -- a broad-headed arrow pointing downwards. For some reason, instinct followed its direction and noticed...

"Hey Rav!"

I slowly dragged myself upright, tearing vision away from the base and moved to stand beside Kieran on the other side of the tree. "Yes?"

He pointed, out to the right hand side of the clearing. "Someone's watching us," he said simply.

I followed the outstretched digit into the shadows of woodland. There was nothing discernible there. I turned away saying, "You must be mistaken, Andy. It's probably just the play of light on some saplings or something."

"Yeah, but probably isn't definitely."

My shoulders sagged upon hearing this. "I know that. Gee, who's being paranoid now?"

"I never said you were paranoid." He cracked a smile. "Just insane."

"Very funny."

"But seriously, I am sure that someone is watching us from the bushes over there." He paused -- like he was debating whether or not to say what he was thinking. He did -- I presume. "I do have better eyesight, you know."

"Whatever."

"Fine then. I'm gonna go and have a look for myself. You can stay here examining this hulk if you like."

"You know very well that I wouldn't let you do a silly thing like that. If something were to happen to you... I mightn't be able to come to your aid quickly enough. If there is someone there, we'll go together."

"Always the voice of reason, eh?"

"Well someone has to be when you're around. Besides I think I'd found something before you disturbed me with your shout."

"What is it?" he inquired, his usual level of simmering exuberance returning to his voice.

"Come and have a look. If there is anyone out there, well then, we're just going to have to keep them waiting a bit longer." So saying, I led him back round to where I had spotted the arrow. "See there -- and you should with your superior sight -- there's a hole in the bottom of the trunk and the earth is curved a tad."

"So? It could be just an animal burrow." An evil grin crept across his lips. "Possibly even a spider's nest." He laughed wickedly as I jumped back, shivering in more or less abject terror. Glaring daggers at the reprobate, I uttered through gritted teeth, "You just had to go and do that, didn't you? You know how I feel about any kind of creepy-crawly." I trembled at the thought once more. "You're a wicked, wicked child."

"Sticks and stones, Rav. Besides it was hilarious. You should have seen the look upon your face. It was classic. Anyway, there's nothing wrong with what I said. It could quite possibly be-'

"Don't even say it!' I spat. "Arachnophobia is no laughing matter, Andy."

"My actions would seem to suggest otherwise."

"I was gonna put my hand in and see. But now, you're gonna have to do it."

"Me?" he objected. "I don't like insects any more than you do. Anyway, why does anyone have to put anything anywhere?"

"I'm not entirely sure but I think there's something in there that will benefit us."

"How so?"

"What? How do I know it's there or how do I know it'll benefit us?"

"Well, both but let's start with the first one."

"Dunno. Call it intuition. Call it prescience. Call it déjà vu, whatever. I just have this feeling."

"Go on then."

"Huh?"

"You're the one with the feeling. I wouldn't wish to deny you the honour of finding whatever it is that may or may not be there." He grandiosely swept the way to the hole.

"Okay then, I will. But on your head be it if I collapse in cataleptic shock." I knelt down before the tree, soiling a brand new pair of trousers with charred earth, and tentatively reached into the forbidding darkness. My mind's eye saw malevolent octets of eyes and the jaws of gleaming fangs. Skin tingled with the rasp of a forked tongue -- there was that serpent again -- and I steeled my nerves for the barest touch. And then my extended fingers trailed the edge of some sort of material, snatched at it and withdrew with an alacrity that surprised even me -- and I was the one -- however nominally -- in control.

Kieran peered curiously over my shoulder at the small blue velvet pouch that now dangled from still-shaking fingers. "You okay mate?"

"Yeah, no thanks to you."

He looked genuinely abashed at the vehemence in my quavering tone. "I'm really sorry Rav. Really I am. I didn't realise it affected you so badly."

"Yeah, well it does." My nerves were gradually returning to normal and I could no longer feel my heart leaping. "Let's not mention it again, please."

"Sure thing, mate."

With deliberate slowness, like I wasn't sure of my feet, I stood up, resting one hand against the tree for support. I didn't care about the soot anymore. Hefting the bag gently indicated that there were a couple of small objects contained within. "What do you think's in here then Andy?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Why don't you-'

Thwack!

I fell to the ground, landing heavily on a bruise sustained the last time this happened. Suffice to say, I was not best pleased. Something had hit the tree with substantial force to jar my hand free, thus sending me crashing. Again.

As I shakily got back to my feet, Kieran sneaked a sly peek around the tree to see exactly what it was that had sent me tumbling so ungraciously. His face returned a pensive verdict. "Um, I don't mean to alarm you..."

"But?"

"But someone has shot an arrow in our general direction."

"An arrow?"

"You know, long pointy stick with feathers at one end."

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a reply." Then a thought struck me -- like the arrow would have, had the tree not intervened so stalwartly. "Hang on, an arrow was fired from the edge of the clearing and there was still sufficient force to knock me to the ground? That is a very powerful weapon, even if it is a longbow."

"Made of trusty English yew?"

"Ha ha. This is no time for witticisms."

"Well pardon me for breathing."

Another arrow flew out, to land quivering in the earth, scant inches from where we were stood. We both looked at it stunned for a moment and then into each other's faces, which it is safe to say, were more than marginally worried.

"Warning shot?" I nodded grimly. "This isn't what I signed up for this morning, you know."

"Somehow, I think that point is rather moot now." It was his turn to nod grimly.

"Do you think we should make a run for it?" I asked -- a mite foolishly, I know.

"I don't think we'd make it very far. Besides, where have we got to run to? If they've been following us without alerting us to their presence, then they obviously know the woods better than we do and could pick us off like flies."

"I don't think I care much for your simile."

"Ditto," he returned, albeit with a rather forced smile.

"So what are we gonna do then?" I asked, ducking involuntarily as another shaft hit the opposite side of the tree.

Which was quickly followed by another arrow. And then another. All striking the tree. And dislodging small clouds of black dust, which soon found new resting place on our clothes.

So there we were, trying to remain in the shadow of this defensive pincushion we had found and very glad for the fact that, whoever this mysterious archer was, they were loathe to move from their firing position. Shots rang out periodically to remind us of their continual presence -- as if I could really forget that there was another person out there who apparently wanted to cut short my existence. Some hit the tree, others impacted into the loose topsoil around us. Suppressive fire, it would seem.

"What about that bag you found? Maybe there's something in there that could help us out."

"Crikey, I'd quite forgotten." Which I had, in the midst of this new predicament. I'd shoved it hastily into my pocket when getting up from the ground. Rather distantly, I reached down to extract it from my dusty jacket. "Ouch!" I exclaimed, withdrawing the hand fairly sharpish, whereupon a drop or two of blood fell to earth. Thankfully, no skeletons felt the desire to break their seals of rest -- sorry, vague mythological reference there.

"Other pocket it would seem."

Muttering minor invectives whilst seeking to dull the pain by sucking on the wounded victim -- and yes, such a feat is possible, if rather mumbled -- I withdrew the velvet bag of deepest blue. Slowly I made to loosen the golden tasselled drawstring that cinched it tightly shut. The folds gently parted and fell open slightly, so I peered inside to see-

Thwack!

I nearly fainted dead away. Not one inch above my head, another arrow reverberated softly in the woodwork. Only this one came from right in front of us! So two assailants now in line of opposition. Surely we were done for now. Our gooses weren't just cooked but carved and on their way to gastronomic heaven as well.

Until Kieran poked me in the arm, having read the small note that had been wrapped around the shaft of this latest fright. With short, ragged breaths, I read it. It said, 'Run along the left fork. Someone is waiting. You will be covered.'

"What do you think?"

"I say go for it," he replied.

"Could be a trick. We could end up fertilising this glade."

"Better to die trying than to cower here like... like... cowards!" he declared.

"That's such a cliché."

"I know. But you might as well go with what works."

"And that's another."

"Are you gonna stand there all day babbling or are we actually gonna try and escape from here?"

"Affirmative." I stowed the pouch for later perusal once again. "On three. One..."

"Just go!" And we started running. Running towards the woodland edge along the banks of viscous stream of turgid yuck. And to our great surprise, we didn't end up pinned to earth like some kind of stuck bug.

But we did hear the sound of arrows cutting through the air, sometimes hitting wood, sometimes earth or leaf. But not our flesh.

And in the blink of an eye -- a fairly long one, mind you -- we found ourselves panting in the relative safety of the forest again. Unaccustomed as we both were to such bursts of exertion, the sprint was taking its toll on our under-exercised physiques.

But we weren't out of the woods yet. The density of the trees -- even such starkly bare and dead ones as these -- would deflect the probabilities of us being hit, but there was still a fair chance of a well aimed shaft flying straight and true to us.

So we stumbled along, aching muscles fighting our progress -- though mine more than Kieran's I would imagine. Soon we reached the outer perimeter of this forest and emerged once more into the bright sunlight of the open plains.

Where a lady with a pistol crossbow stood waiting. And waddya know? It was loaded.