Chapter 3
Janol ran after the screaming Tusfern towards the entrance of the cave. There was enough light from the entrance and from Tusfern’s wand for him to see. He stumbled out into the light, almost tripping over a rock and immediately felt foolish.
“Who is she?” he asked, his heart banging in his chest.
“How come she isn’t dead?” Tusfern replied back. There was a look of terror in his eyes.
“Is she dead?”
“No, she moved.”
“I know and I’ve never seen anyone so black before.” Janol stared towards the entrance of the cave. Nothing was following them.
“Come on, let’s go back in!” Tusfern suggested.
Janol stopped. “This isn’t some sort of elaborate practical joke is it?”
Tusfern stared back in incomprehension, then his expression changed and he shook his head. “Shit no, I’m as scared as you are. Anyway, how would I know anyone would be here to play a prank on? And you suggested where to do the cave.”
Janol suddenly realised how stupid his question was. Who would want to be trapped inside a cave for the sake of a joke? “Okay then, let’s go back.”
Tusfern looked at Janol, his eyes still wide with fear and nodded. “You go first,” he said.
Janol edged his way back into the cave Tusfern followed him. The shadows cast by the light from Tusfern’s wand looked eerie and seemed to dance around more than they should have. They tiptoed towards the back of the cave. Janol peered around the corner and there sitting on the shelf was the woman. Breath normally, he calmed himself, she was just an ordinary woman who had become trapped.
She was holding her head in her hands. Slung over one shoulder was a small backpack. Her hair was straight and shoulder length. She looked at the two of them and smiled. Tusfern nervously nudged Janol forward.
“Hello,” Janol muttered nervously walking slowly towards the woman. “Who are you and how come you’re in this cave? And how come you’re still alive? And what the shit’s going on?” He felt strangely guilty about swearing in front of a woman.
The stranger said something slowly in a language neither of the youths understood. Janol and Tusfern looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. Different languages were not something Janol was familiar with. Different accents and dialects were things he had come across. Strangers occasionally used strange words that needed explaining and travellers from Zedix were sometimes nearly incomprehensible when they talked fast but he had never heard anyone speak a completely different language.
“Hello,” Janol tried again.
“What’s your name?” Tusfern asked.
“Hi,” Janol tried unable to think of an alternative greeting.
The stranger started speaking in the same strange tongue. Her speech was peppered with strange sounds though the odd word seemed familiar.
From the tone Janol, guessed that she was asking as many questions as they were. She pointed to herself and said “Onnil.”
Must be her name Janol thought. He pointed to himself and said “Janol,” and then to Tusfern and said “Tusfern.” Onnil nodded, pointed to them each in turn and repeated their names. Janol motioned to Onnil to follow him. She tried to stand up but had difficulty. Janol steadied her; she was cold to the touch. “She’ll need something to eat,” he said to Tusfern.
Tusfern walked outside. Janol followed, helping Onnil who did not appear to be able to walk unaided. Janol helped her to sit down at the mouth of the cave. The three near-strangers shared most of their remaining food. Onnil ate hungrily as Janol watched in silence having exhausted all possible questions, knowing that there was no way of getting them answered.
Onnil looked even more unusual in the twilight. Nobody had skin so dark. Her eyes and hair were as dark as her skin, nearly black. She was fairly tall about the same height as Janol was, around 1.75 metres.
“What do we do?” Tusfern asked.
“We stay here, either that or travel back in the dark.”
“Suppose so,” Tusfern replied.
“I think one of us should always stay awake,” Janol suggested, looking at Onnil. “There’s been too much strange stuff happening. I’ll go on first watch.”
“Keep the fire going and wake me up in the early hours,” Tusfern replied grabbing his sleeping mat and putting it near the entrance of the cave.
Surprisingly, Onnil slept as well. Janol sat and stared at her, going over the events in his mind; he could make no sense of them. Eventually he found himself beginning to fall asleep, so he woke Tusfern. He lay on his mat still trying to make sense of the day’s events until he fell asleep.
Janol was woken by someone shaking him. He was a bit groggy at first as his mind tried to remember the events of the previous evening. He had met Tusfern, there was a cave and then they had found … Onnil! He sat bolt upright and saw Onnil smiling back at him. He waved to her nervously not knowing what else to do. She gave him an even bigger smile and waved back. Janol looked at Tusfern who just shrugged his shoulders as if to say, ‘I don’t know what’s going on.’
“What time is it?” Janol asked.
“Mid-morning, you looked like you were never going to wake up,” Tusfern replied.
They breakfasted mostly in silence, all aspects of possible conversations having been exhausted.
“I’m going back into the cave to see if there was anything else of interest.” Tusfern said. Janol watched as Tusfern carefully walked into the cave.
Janol had no interest in going back in; the cave spooked him. He sat on the damp hillside.
“Rock,” he said pointing to a nearby rock.
“Rock,” Onnil replied.
“Hand,” Janol said, using his right hand to point to his left.
“Hand,” Onnil replied, copying him.
“We may as well try and get you basic Comspeak,” Janol said. “Face …”
Janol spent the next few minutes pointing to everything he could see, naming it and then Onnil would repeat it. By the time Tusfern re-emerged, he had moved onto basic adjectives.
“Nothing else of interest in there,” Tusfern remarked. “How are you getting on with our strange stranger?”
“Surprisingly well. She’s picking up Comspeak very fast,” Janol replied. “Extremely fast in fact.”
“What are we going to do with her? She can’t travel with me.”
“I suppose I could take her back to our farm. My parents will be mad, picking up strangers and the like. Unless she decides that she wants to do something else …” Janol replied unsure. “But then how would we know what she wants? We can’t just abandon her.”
Tusfern looked relieved at that decision. “I suppose we’d better head back to civilisation. Where are you from? I originally come from Hutil, that’s about a hundred kilometres west of here.”
“Do you want to come back with us?” Janol asked Tusfern. “I’m from near Gritol, not far that way,” Janol nodded in the vague direction of the town. “Keep us company at least until there.”
“Can’t say I’m not tempted, but no. Your parents …”
“Don’t worry about them.”
“But if you come home with two extra people …”
Janol was relieved, he’d made the offer and Tusfern had understood the awkwardness of the situation. “So, what are you going to do?” he asked.
“Head back home. Somehow illegal landscaping has lost its appeal.”
“Come on Onnil, we’re heading back.”
Onnil had spent the last few minutes lying down, eyes shut as if trying to soak up as much of the red sunlight as possible. She sat up and looked at the two of them and once she saw them standing, she seemed to understand and stood beside them.
“I wonder where she’s from,” Tusfern commented.
“I hope it’s not Zedix.”
“My guess is Emchoo.”
Janol shrugged his shoulders in reply.
“Who is she?” he asked, his heart banging in his chest.
“How come she isn’t dead?” Tusfern replied back. There was a look of terror in his eyes.
“Is she dead?”
“No, she moved.”
“I know and I’ve never seen anyone so black before.” Janol stared towards the entrance of the cave. Nothing was following them.
“Come on, let’s go back in!” Tusfern suggested.
Janol stopped. “This isn’t some sort of elaborate practical joke is it?”
Tusfern stared back in incomprehension, then his expression changed and he shook his head. “Shit no, I’m as scared as you are. Anyway, how would I know anyone would be here to play a prank on? And you suggested where to do the cave.”
Janol suddenly realised how stupid his question was. Who would want to be trapped inside a cave for the sake of a joke? “Okay then, let’s go back.”
Tusfern looked at Janol, his eyes still wide with fear and nodded. “You go first,” he said.
Janol edged his way back into the cave Tusfern followed him. The shadows cast by the light from Tusfern’s wand looked eerie and seemed to dance around more than they should have. They tiptoed towards the back of the cave. Janol peered around the corner and there sitting on the shelf was the woman. Breath normally, he calmed himself, she was just an ordinary woman who had become trapped.
She was holding her head in her hands. Slung over one shoulder was a small backpack. Her hair was straight and shoulder length. She looked at the two of them and smiled. Tusfern nervously nudged Janol forward.
“Hello,” Janol muttered nervously walking slowly towards the woman. “Who are you and how come you’re in this cave? And how come you’re still alive? And what the shit’s going on?” He felt strangely guilty about swearing in front of a woman.
The stranger said something slowly in a language neither of the youths understood. Janol and Tusfern looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. Different languages were not something Janol was familiar with. Different accents and dialects were things he had come across. Strangers occasionally used strange words that needed explaining and travellers from Zedix were sometimes nearly incomprehensible when they talked fast but he had never heard anyone speak a completely different language.
“Hello,” Janol tried again.
“What’s your name?” Tusfern asked.
“Hi,” Janol tried unable to think of an alternative greeting.
The stranger started speaking in the same strange tongue. Her speech was peppered with strange sounds though the odd word seemed familiar.
From the tone Janol, guessed that she was asking as many questions as they were. She pointed to herself and said “Onnil.”
Must be her name Janol thought. He pointed to himself and said “Janol,” and then to Tusfern and said “Tusfern.” Onnil nodded, pointed to them each in turn and repeated their names. Janol motioned to Onnil to follow him. She tried to stand up but had difficulty. Janol steadied her; she was cold to the touch. “She’ll need something to eat,” he said to Tusfern.
Tusfern walked outside. Janol followed, helping Onnil who did not appear to be able to walk unaided. Janol helped her to sit down at the mouth of the cave. The three near-strangers shared most of their remaining food. Onnil ate hungrily as Janol watched in silence having exhausted all possible questions, knowing that there was no way of getting them answered.
Onnil looked even more unusual in the twilight. Nobody had skin so dark. Her eyes and hair were as dark as her skin, nearly black. She was fairly tall about the same height as Janol was, around 1.75 metres.
“What do we do?” Tusfern asked.
“We stay here, either that or travel back in the dark.”
“Suppose so,” Tusfern replied.
“I think one of us should always stay awake,” Janol suggested, looking at Onnil. “There’s been too much strange stuff happening. I’ll go on first watch.”
“Keep the fire going and wake me up in the early hours,” Tusfern replied grabbing his sleeping mat and putting it near the entrance of the cave.
Surprisingly, Onnil slept as well. Janol sat and stared at her, going over the events in his mind; he could make no sense of them. Eventually he found himself beginning to fall asleep, so he woke Tusfern. He lay on his mat still trying to make sense of the day’s events until he fell asleep.
Janol was woken by someone shaking him. He was a bit groggy at first as his mind tried to remember the events of the previous evening. He had met Tusfern, there was a cave and then they had found … Onnil! He sat bolt upright and saw Onnil smiling back at him. He waved to her nervously not knowing what else to do. She gave him an even bigger smile and waved back. Janol looked at Tusfern who just shrugged his shoulders as if to say, ‘I don’t know what’s going on.’
“What time is it?” Janol asked.
“Mid-morning, you looked like you were never going to wake up,” Tusfern replied.
They breakfasted mostly in silence, all aspects of possible conversations having been exhausted.
“I’m going back into the cave to see if there was anything else of interest.” Tusfern said. Janol watched as Tusfern carefully walked into the cave.
Janol had no interest in going back in; the cave spooked him. He sat on the damp hillside.
“Rock,” he said pointing to a nearby rock.
“Rock,” Onnil replied.
“Hand,” Janol said, using his right hand to point to his left.
“Hand,” Onnil replied, copying him.
“We may as well try and get you basic Comspeak,” Janol said. “Face …”
Janol spent the next few minutes pointing to everything he could see, naming it and then Onnil would repeat it. By the time Tusfern re-emerged, he had moved onto basic adjectives.
“Nothing else of interest in there,” Tusfern remarked. “How are you getting on with our strange stranger?”
“Surprisingly well. She’s picking up Comspeak very fast,” Janol replied. “Extremely fast in fact.”
“What are we going to do with her? She can’t travel with me.”
“I suppose I could take her back to our farm. My parents will be mad, picking up strangers and the like. Unless she decides that she wants to do something else …” Janol replied unsure. “But then how would we know what she wants? We can’t just abandon her.”
Tusfern looked relieved at that decision. “I suppose we’d better head back to civilisation. Where are you from? I originally come from Hutil, that’s about a hundred kilometres west of here.”
“Do you want to come back with us?” Janol asked Tusfern. “I’m from near Gritol, not far that way,” Janol nodded in the vague direction of the town. “Keep us company at least until there.”
“Can’t say I’m not tempted, but no. Your parents …”
“Don’t worry about them.”
“But if you come home with two extra people …”
Janol was relieved, he’d made the offer and Tusfern had understood the awkwardness of the situation. “So, what are you going to do?” he asked.
“Head back home. Somehow illegal landscaping has lost its appeal.”
“Come on Onnil, we’re heading back.”
Onnil had spent the last few minutes lying down, eyes shut as if trying to soak up as much of the red sunlight as possible. She sat up and looked at the two of them and once she saw them standing, she seemed to understand and stood beside them.
“I wonder where she’s from,” Tusfern commented.
“I hope it’s not Zedix.”
“My guess is Emchoo.”
Janol shrugged his shoulders in reply.
It took most of Fourday to travel back to a road; they walked along in the direction of Gritol. Onnil pointed to mundane things and asked “What’s that?” or “What’s that called?” to which the answer would be something like ‘a thistle’ or ‘grass’. She would then repeat it to herself, getting the pronunciation correct and then would be silent until she asked the next question.
One of the old alcohol powered buses that provided basic transport between the towns and cities of Wyive drove past. Janol flagged it down, paid for three fares to Gritol, they climbed in and sat near the back.
The four other passengers all nudged each other and stared at Onnil. Janol originally thought that it was the just the colour of her skin that made her unusual but it was at this point he became aware of her unusual clothes. She wore a thick coat, presumably for travelling, which she currently had folded across her knees. She also wore a pair of trousers and a shirt. Both were made out of extremely fine cotton. Underneath she wore a one-piece outfit, a light shade of blue and made of a material Janol had never seen before. Later when he got the chance to examine it more closely Janol discovered that the blue material was extremely strong and soft to the touch. Her clothes were of such a higher quality than the loose fitting, drab trousers, shirts and leggings Janol was used to.
They disembarked at Gritol.
“It’s too late for me to get home,” Janol explained watching the bus drive away, “and I don’t fancy camping out near here. People can get annoyed if you do. It’s always somebody’s land.”
“I’ve got enough money for a couple of rooms in one of the inns,” Tusfern offered.
“Look, take what I’ve got left and to pay for …”
“Don’t be daft,” Tusfern interrupted. “If she’s going home with you, then you’ll pay for her in far more ways than this. It’s my treat.”
Janol shrugged his shoulders. He wasn’t going to argue.
“Two rooms should be enough,” Tusfern continued. “You and me can share. Which inn do you recommend?”
One of the old alcohol powered buses that provided basic transport between the towns and cities of Wyive drove past. Janol flagged it down, paid for three fares to Gritol, they climbed in and sat near the back.
The four other passengers all nudged each other and stared at Onnil. Janol originally thought that it was the just the colour of her skin that made her unusual but it was at this point he became aware of her unusual clothes. She wore a thick coat, presumably for travelling, which she currently had folded across her knees. She also wore a pair of trousers and a shirt. Both were made out of extremely fine cotton. Underneath she wore a one-piece outfit, a light shade of blue and made of a material Janol had never seen before. Later when he got the chance to examine it more closely Janol discovered that the blue material was extremely strong and soft to the touch. Her clothes were of such a higher quality than the loose fitting, drab trousers, shirts and leggings Janol was used to.
They disembarked at Gritol.
“It’s too late for me to get home,” Janol explained watching the bus drive away, “and I don’t fancy camping out near here. People can get annoyed if you do. It’s always somebody’s land.”
“I’ve got enough money for a couple of rooms in one of the inns,” Tusfern offered.
“Look, take what I’ve got left and to pay for …”
“Don’t be daft,” Tusfern interrupted. “If she’s going home with you, then you’ll pay for her in far more ways than this. It’s my treat.”
Janol shrugged his shoulders. He wasn’t going to argue.
“Two rooms should be enough,” Tusfern continued. “You and me can share. Which inn do you recommend?”
The next morning Janol got up, dressed and then knocked on the door to Onnil’s room. “See you at breakfast,” he said. There was no reply.
Tusfern was already tucking into the buffet style breakfast when Janol arrived downstairs. Janol heaped fried eggs and strips of fried meat onto a plate and joined him. He deliberately avoided the potatoes.
“You’ll have to give me directions to your farm,” Tusfern said. “I’ll come by and do some free landscaping once I’ve got …” he paused. “Anyway, when I do, I’ll want some answers about Onnil.”
Janol just nodded. He finished his mouthful. “Winter’s the best time, there are fewer crops in the fields. Right if you head west …”
Onnil appeared fifteen minutes later. “Hello,” she said. “I eat too?”
Janol got up and got her a plate, “Potatoes?” he asked pointing to the first dish.
“Yes!” she replied with a slight accent.
Janol put a scoop of potatoes onto her plate. At least she wasn’t allergic to potatoes, so she would be able to stay at his farm. He moved onto the next dish. “Eggs?”
“Yes.”
“Fried or boiled?”
Janol watched Onnil as she hungrily finished her plate.
“How long do you really think she was in there?” Tusfern asked staring at Onnil as she went up for seconds.
Janol just shrugged his shoulders. “Years if her appetite’s anything to go by!”
Janol was aware of them getting further strange looks as they left the inn.
“You got enough money?” Janol asked.
“No problems. Don’t forget our deal.”
“Certainly not. The buses stop in the central square,” Janol replied. “I’m going to walk home. I’ll see you sometime over the winter.”
“Oh I’m looking forward to some explanations,” Tusfern replied, and with that he walked towards the square.
Onnil started to follow, “Stop! You’re coming with me,” Janol half-shouted. Onnil turned, nodded and walked back.
“Come on, this way,” Janol said taking the road towards his farm. Onnil walked beside him. “Where go?” she asked.
Janol found himself talking aimlessly about all sorts of nonsense all the way home. Onnil was a good listener and a good learner. Towards the end of the journey, Onnil was able to form simple sentences in Comspeak.
It was late in the afternoon when they finally reached the farm. The first person they met was Prayoir who ran back into the house shouting, “Mum, Janol’s back and he’s got a new girlfriend and she’s a funny colour.”
Janol’s mother went straight into fuss mode with questions and comments like. “Who’s this?”, “Oh she must stay for a few days.” and “Greta, set an extra place at the table.”
That evening at mealtime, Janol told his story. About how he met Tusfern, the cave and how they found Onnil. His parents and sisters kept quiet throughout his story, Janol was aware that Prayoir just stared at Onnil.
“Well, I suppose she could stay in Greta’s room,” his father said once Janol had finished adding, “for the moment.”
Greta being Greta then took a strop, “I’m not having any strange woman in my room. We don’t know anything about her.”
“GRETA,” came the retort, “we have a guest, I will not tolerate that sort of behaviour. Go to your room immediately.”
Greta stormed off nearly crying but managed to mouth ‘Janol’ and ‘Onnil’ repeatedly to Janol from the door, remarking on the vague similarity of the names.
“Oh, and respect her privacy,” Janol’s father shouted after Greta.
Onnil looked disturbed and spoke slowly in Comspeak, “I do not want cause problem. I go now.”
Janol’s mother was having none of it. “No, you will stay. We do not throw guests out. If you can help me about the house, you will earn your keep. Prayoir, why don’t you show our guest upstairs?”
This left Janol alone with his parents and they continued to ask questions but Janol had no more information to give.
“Well, see what you can find out about her. We don’t throw strangers out but we know nothing about her,” his father eventually finished with.
Janol nodded.
Tusfern was already tucking into the buffet style breakfast when Janol arrived downstairs. Janol heaped fried eggs and strips of fried meat onto a plate and joined him. He deliberately avoided the potatoes.
“You’ll have to give me directions to your farm,” Tusfern said. “I’ll come by and do some free landscaping once I’ve got …” he paused. “Anyway, when I do, I’ll want some answers about Onnil.”
Janol just nodded. He finished his mouthful. “Winter’s the best time, there are fewer crops in the fields. Right if you head west …”
Onnil appeared fifteen minutes later. “Hello,” she said. “I eat too?”
Janol got up and got her a plate, “Potatoes?” he asked pointing to the first dish.
“Yes!” she replied with a slight accent.
Janol put a scoop of potatoes onto her plate. At least she wasn’t allergic to potatoes, so she would be able to stay at his farm. He moved onto the next dish. “Eggs?”
“Yes.”
“Fried or boiled?”
Janol watched Onnil as she hungrily finished her plate.
“How long do you really think she was in there?” Tusfern asked staring at Onnil as she went up for seconds.
Janol just shrugged his shoulders. “Years if her appetite’s anything to go by!”
Janol was aware of them getting further strange looks as they left the inn.
“You got enough money?” Janol asked.
“No problems. Don’t forget our deal.”
“Certainly not. The buses stop in the central square,” Janol replied. “I’m going to walk home. I’ll see you sometime over the winter.”
“Oh I’m looking forward to some explanations,” Tusfern replied, and with that he walked towards the square.
Onnil started to follow, “Stop! You’re coming with me,” Janol half-shouted. Onnil turned, nodded and walked back.
“Come on, this way,” Janol said taking the road towards his farm. Onnil walked beside him. “Where go?” she asked.
Janol found himself talking aimlessly about all sorts of nonsense all the way home. Onnil was a good listener and a good learner. Towards the end of the journey, Onnil was able to form simple sentences in Comspeak.
It was late in the afternoon when they finally reached the farm. The first person they met was Prayoir who ran back into the house shouting, “Mum, Janol’s back and he’s got a new girlfriend and she’s a funny colour.”
Janol’s mother went straight into fuss mode with questions and comments like. “Who’s this?”, “Oh she must stay for a few days.” and “Greta, set an extra place at the table.”
That evening at mealtime, Janol told his story. About how he met Tusfern, the cave and how they found Onnil. His parents and sisters kept quiet throughout his story, Janol was aware that Prayoir just stared at Onnil.
“Well, I suppose she could stay in Greta’s room,” his father said once Janol had finished adding, “for the moment.”
Greta being Greta then took a strop, “I’m not having any strange woman in my room. We don’t know anything about her.”
“GRETA,” came the retort, “we have a guest, I will not tolerate that sort of behaviour. Go to your room immediately.”
Greta stormed off nearly crying but managed to mouth ‘Janol’ and ‘Onnil’ repeatedly to Janol from the door, remarking on the vague similarity of the names.
“Oh, and respect her privacy,” Janol’s father shouted after Greta.
Onnil looked disturbed and spoke slowly in Comspeak, “I do not want cause problem. I go now.”
Janol’s mother was having none of it. “No, you will stay. We do not throw guests out. If you can help me about the house, you will earn your keep. Prayoir, why don’t you show our guest upstairs?”
This left Janol alone with his parents and they continued to ask questions but Janol had no more information to give.
“Well, see what you can find out about her. We don’t throw strangers out but we know nothing about her,” his father eventually finished with.
Janol nodded.
Direct links to the book on amazon - just click below and the link will open in a new window
Kindle UK
Paperback UK
Kindle .com
Paperback .com
Kindle UK
Paperback UK
Kindle .com
Paperback .com