Blue Fire and Ice (27 page)

‘I’ll be back this time in eight days,’ said Shift.

They said their goodbyes and watched the bus wheel around and head back to Home. No one moved until it had disappeared beyond the dark cutting. Then, securing their packs, they set off east along the river, to find a path into the mountains.

*

The undergrowth was sparse, and the ground easy for the sledge to travel. It was rocky, but they were small, scattered rocks and the thick tyres Copper had put on the sledge rolled comfortably over them. The ascent was still gentle and Miniver showed no signs of difficulty in pulling her load.

It had taken them more than two hours, skirting the mountain along the bank of the river, to find a place where the trees thinned and the rocks didn’t bar their way. They found a cleft in the rocks, a scar in the hillside that ran slowly upward and into the heart of the mountains. It wasn’t really a trail, just a slash in the surface of the mountain where the trees didn’t grow and the rocks hadn’t pushed their way up through the soil. It was just wide enough for the sledge and for the travellers to walk two abreast. Crimson and Brian walked in front, the rotund Beadle working hard to keep pace. Behind them came Aunt Mag and Copper, then Miniver and the sledge, with Dot walking next to the bear. Since the bridge, the young Myrmidot hadn’t left the bear’s side. At the rear, playing his harmonica, came Grunge.

They had stopped to catch their breath and eat their first meal of the journey another two hours after finding the trail. No one had wanted to stop once they started upward. It seemed too soon after feeling that they had found a way into the mountain. At a point where the trail widened into a large circle, they halted and drew some food from their packs.

As the companions sat on rocks scattered at the edge of the circle, they looked back along the path they had travelled. They were surprised at how high they had already climbed.

The hills and trees had long since hidden Bourne Bridge from view, but between the trees they caught glimpses of the Salvation River far beneath them. Beyond that stretched the gentle green hills and valleys of the Land.

Grunge walked to the edge of the circle and looked down on the countryside that stretched away before them.

‘That’ll still be Muddlemarsh,’ said Copper, coming up behind him. Copper ate another bite of his sandwich and admired the forested hills below. ‘We must have travelled seven or eight kilometres east from the bridge before starting upward.’

‘From Muddlemarsh, the High Mountains seemed like a foreign place, a different land. But they’re not, are they?’ Grunge said, his voice soft and thoughtful. Copper just nodded in agreement.

From his pocket, Grunge took out his harmonica. He put it to his mouth and played four notes, low on the scale. He paused and then played the same four notes again. He took the harmonica from his lips and gave Copper a grin. ‘I’m still learning,’ he said. ‘But that’s the first time I’ve ever played the same notes twice; you know, exactly the same.’

Grunge walked back to the others. Still looking across the forests and hills below, Copper heard Grunge blow his harmonica again. The wind whisked the music away before Copper could be sure but he could’ve sworn that Grunge had found a fifth note.

They finished their meal and throughout the afternoon, in the warm late-summer sun, they continued to make their way up the mountain. It became apparent as they followed the smoother terrain that they would have to change their course. They had gradually turned due north, following the easier ground, and the snowfield lay to the north-east.

Brian found the afternoon trek easier than the morning’s. For some reason, Crimson had slowed. She had talked occasionally when they had first set out, but since they had stopped to eat she had been silent. Casting surreptitious glances at her, Brian could see the tension in her face and a strained look in her eyes. She seemed to be focusing all her efforts on fighting something. Until the incident at Farrow’s farm, Brian had though Crimson very un-Muddle-like. She seemed steadier, with more common sense than he expected from Muddles. Since the farm, he still saw her as different, but now he felt uneasy about the difference.

He put his hand into his pocket and took out his compass. The quivering needle had swung slightly from the last time he looked. Now it pointed slightly west of north. They’d have to turn east or they would be heading away from their destination.

‘Crimson, I think we need to turn eastward.’

Crimson didn’t respond. She kept on her course, eyes fixed dead ahead.

‘Crimson!’ This time Brian’s voice was louder and sharper. Crimson turned to Brian, but her eyes looked straight through him.

Crimson was aware that someone spoke her name but she couldn’t find the source of the voice. It had been calling her all day and it took all her strength and concentration to keep walking and not give in to the urge to wander in search of the voice calling to her. At the same time, the terrible weariness was still with her and she could feel the strength draining from her limbs. And again the voice called. This time it seemed close, more substantial. She concentrated all her will on blocking it out. It called to her again, close now and familiar.

It took her a moment to realise that it was Brian who had called her name. Relief rushed through her. Brian saw her eyes relax and the strain leave her face. For the first time that day, Crimson smiled.

‘Brian …’ He could hear the relief in her voice. ‘Yes, Brian?’

‘Ah … umm … I think we should stop and talk to the others. We’re heading in the wrong direction.’

‘Whatever you think is best, Brian.’

That was definitely not like Crimson, he thought.

The travellers stopped, taking the opportunity to drink some water and sit. They sat in a circle as Brian showed them the compass.

‘Do you have that map you drew, Grunge?’ asked Aunt Mag.

Grunge took the map from his pack and spread it open on the ground in front of them. It was a very simple sketch he had made based on the map from the library.

‘We left the river about here.’ He pointed to a spot not far from Bourne Bridge. ‘I think we should be about here.’ He pointed to another spot slightly north-east of where they had left the river. ‘The snowfield with the blue ice is over here.’ If the travellers had been standing in the centre of a clock, the snowfield would be between one and two o’clock. ‘From Bourne Bridge to the snowfield is about fifty kilometres, I think.’

‘We’ve already done about fifteen or so today and there’s still about three hours of daylight left. We should do more than eighteen today. We’ll make it in less than three days,’ said Brian.

Copper grimaced. ‘I think this is the easy part, Brian. We might do eighteen today and maybe even eighteen tomorrow. But I have the feeling that the closer we get to the snowfield, the slower it will be. Particularly with the sledge. Girth said four days, but they didn’t have the sledge.’

Miniver gave a gruff growl. It didn’t take a Muddle to understand what she was saying.

‘Yes, Miniver, I know they didn’t have you, either,’ laughed Copper.

Aunt Mag studied the map and looked at her companions. ‘And now Brian says we’re headed westward. It was fine following the easy ground when we had to go north, but I think we should leave that path and head east. We might not be able to further on.’

Crimson nodded and for the first time that day she gave her opinion. ‘I think Aunt Mag is right. We should continue on and look for a place to strike east. If we don’t find a good path in half an hour, we turn east anyway.’ Crimson faced Miniver. ‘Miniver?’

Miniver tossed her great head and uttered a long growl. ‘Don’t worry about me. At least I’m using four legs. If east is where we need to go I don’t see the sense in not going that way.’

‘Thank you, Miniver,’ said Crimson.

‘But maybe this is a trail,’ argued Grunge. ‘Maybe this is the way that Girth went. Perhaps it swings east further on.’

‘There’s sense in that,’ said Copper.

Brian remembered Sticks back at the Common. ‘Are you standing and saying again, Grunge?’

Crimson and Grunge shot Brian a surprised look. Grunge’s wry smile was his only answer.

‘Dot, everyone else here has had their say. What do you think?’

Dot was startled by Aunt Mag’s question. She was just a young girl. Why would her opinion matter?

‘I – I …’ She stopped, unsure of herself. Timidly, she looked at the faces of her companions. Like back at the bus, when Miniver appeared, she couldn’t see any mockery or any of the others dismissing her because she was just a young girl, but she just didn’t have enough faith in herself to believe what she saw. ‘Whatever,’ was all she said and she retreated behind Miniver.

Aunt Mag gave a little sigh. ‘Well, I vote we do as Crimson suggests.’

It was unanimous.

They shouldered their packs and were about to move on when Copper spoke.

‘Look, I didn’t want to say anything, because I thought it was just my imagination. But ever since we entered the High Mountains, I’ve had the strangest feeling.’ He stopped, trying to find the right words. ‘It’s hard to describe, but … it’s like a weight on me. There’s something oppressive here.’

The others looked at Copper. There was a pause.

‘Actually, Copper, now that you mention it, I’ve been feeling something pretty much the same,’ Brian admitted.

‘And me,’ said Aunt Mag. ‘But I thought it was my foolishness.’

‘I’m not sure,’ said Dot. ‘You know, I’m pretty much always feeling…’ She didn’t finish.

Miniver gave a long, low growl. ‘There is something else here. It doesn’t threaten me. It’s just here.’

Grunge nodded at the bear. ‘I agree. There is something here. It’s not … not oppressive, though. More like something is always near. It’s like there’s someone walking next to me I can’t see.’

Crimson remained mute. They looked at her, waiting. Finally, she spoke, her voice weary and lacking spirit.

‘I feel as Grunge and Miniver do. But I feel something else. Something constantly in my head. It doesn’t say anything, but it … it calls to me. At times it would shut out everything else if I didn’t fight it. Constantly.’

The companions looked at the snow-capped peaks ahead. There was more than they had dreamed of in the High Mountains.

They went on. And the further they went, the more it became obvious that the ground they followed was a rift in the mountain. On either side of them, the ground rose steeply. It would be hard going if they had to climb the hills to the east.

‘That’s a troubled young girl. What possessed you to bring her?’

Aunt Mag was walking beside Copper. She knew she wasn’t being tactful but she was used to speaking her mind.

Copper raised his eyebrows at the question. He didn’t take offence. He was just surprised at Aunt Mag’s bluntness.

‘She’s the best apprentice I’ve ever had. She’s a natural engineer. And she’s tough and she doesn’t give up.’

‘Seems to me she just did,’ said Aunt Mag.

‘You’re right,’ conceded Copper. ‘But I was talking about her abilities.’

‘Is that what she is to you, Copper? Someone useful?’

‘No.’ Copper didn’t speak for a minute. ‘No, that’s not all she is. But I don’t think it’s right to discuss her feelings behind her back, either. Her work is out there for everyone to see, so anything to do with that is OK to talk about. Her feelings …’ Copper took a deep breath. ‘Her feelings belong to her. They’re not mine to talk about.’

‘You’re right. Forgive me, Copper. I’m used to speaking my mind and having my way where young ones are concerned. And though she’s nearly a young woman, she’s a child inside. I’m worried about her, that’s all.’

‘No need to apologise, Aunt Mag. Why don’t you talk to her? She might tell you what troubles her.’

‘Perhaps I will, though I think she’s already found someone to talk to.’

They glanced back at the young apprentice. Dot was walking next to Miniver, holding onto her harness, and they could hear the steady murmur of her voice.

Brian checked his watch. The half-hour they’d agreed was up and they hadn’t found a place to turn eastward. They would have to attempt the steep hills next to them. He came to a halt and once again the companions came together. By now, the mountain on either side was considerably higher and steeper than it had been when they stopped for their midday meal. Their trail had gradually become a deep ravine. From where they stood it was four or five hundred metres to the top of the eastern cliff. For most of the way they would have to scramble using their hands and feet. The ground, at least, was solid; grass and rock embedded in the soil all the way to the top. Miniver would be able to get some purchase with strong, sharp claws.

The sun was very low behind them by the time they finally made it to the top. It had been a hard climb and all were tired and most had small cuts on their hands and knees from the sharp rocks. Even Miniver was exhausted. She pulled the sledge over the lip of the cliff and lay prone on the rocky ground.

‘We’d better find a place to camp for the night,’ said Grunge after a few minutes. Slowly, they stood and looked around. They had reached a small plateau that spread eastward, then rose and merged with the mountain about a kilometre away. Grunge could see the light reflecting from the water of a small stream trickling down the rocks on the distant slope.

Crimson had also spotted the stream. ‘There,’ she pointed. ‘There’s water and the shelter of the mountain.’

Wearily they rose and made their way to the other side of the plateau. The ground was flat and had a thin layer of grass covering the hard surface. They could make out the cliff top a couple of hundred metres above them. The cliff face was sheer rock, rising straight up from the plateau. It would be impossible to scale.

‘Let’s worry about it tomorrow,’ said Aunt Mag. ‘We can’t do anything about it now and we need to make camp before it gets too dark to see.’

They made their camp at the base of the cliff. Copper and Dot assembled the tent they had brought. Crimson, Brian and Miniver collected wood and made a fire within a circle of stones, while Grunge and Aunt Mag took the food from the packs and prepared their simple meal.