Pagewalker (27 page)

“Yes, we had stopped, Sarah had convinced
Oisin’s good side to let us out to relive ourselves of the stale
stagnant water we had to drink. Oisin may be a terrible human being
but his personality is split. He created another persona to help
him stay strong and survive in prison. His good nature is still in
there too and can be flattered and manipulated rather easily with
the reasoning of a beautiful woman.” He sniggered. I got it. Sarah
has a way of making people do whatever she wants, better yet, them
think it was their idea!

“And then what?”

“Well, its simple really. One minute she had
crouched behind the reeds in the bog, the next she had gone.” He
clapped his hands at the end of the sentence to signify a magical
disappearance.

“Gone?” I asked “Like just disappeared?”

“Aye, just into thin air. Oisin lost it then.
Screaming at himself in argument. Have you ever seem a man hit
himself square between the yes? Well it’s disturbing, funny as
hell, but disturbing!” He chuckled for a moment but after reading
my expression he coughed nervously and carried on.

“She must have slipped into the fog. We had
gone slightly off course, I heard Oisin trying to convince himself
not to go through the Fog, but after Sarah disappeared we headed
into the thick of it. It was only a matter of hours before we hears
whispering and a growl. Then we came across you two.” He pointed at
his father and myself.

“The two of us? Don’t you mean the….” I
looked around nervously, “Three….of…” I trailed off my sentence
into a mumble as panic set in. Tessa. How had I not noticed her not
here? Where had she gone? I shuffled from corner to corner of the
wagon. I whistled and called her but Garret and Abe both pulled me
to the ground. I am a big, lad but the two luchorpán managed to
hold me down with ease. I kicked, screamed and thrashed all around
like a child throwing a tantrum. My temper, is without a doubt my
biggest flaw. I can see no advantage of losing control when sober,
but when my emotions spill over the cooking pot I have no control
and use my fists before my brain. The Luchorpán’s held me down
until I could fight no more. I just sobbed. This was the lowest I
had felt and the most alone. Tessa and Sarah both gone. How could I
have absolutely no control in a world created in my own
imagination? I should have written about super powers and so much
more! Instead I am a helpless, overweight, whelp stuck in the back
of a moving caged kart.

A voice came from the front. Oisin was
muttering to himself again but stopped long enough to reach back
and lift the flap looking into his prisoners.

“Not long now you three, then this will all
be over. We are nearly there. All will become clear soon.”

I had no idea what he meant by that but while
he was holding open the flap I could see the Brotherhood alters up
ahead as clear as day. Massive structures standing tall enough to
literally have their heads in the clouds. When I mentally conjured
them for Dertrid’s Deed I had never imagined them so large. I got
Goosebumps from even the slightest glimpse of them. As we
approached closer and closer I kept getting a sense of unease. Not
just for the obvious reasons but the feeling you get when sitting
alone in a darkened room. The feeling of being watched. The way
your heart stops for a millisecond when you look in the mirror
after splashing water in your face or brushing your teeth. The
dread of someone being behind you but when you look you are still
alone. I felt as though I was being watched. Abe and Garret were
speaking in a language I did not understand to each other. It was
not them. I couldn’t hear the distinctive sound of Tessa’s
footsteps or collar so I knew it was not her but I most certainly
felt something watching me.

By that evening we had reached the centre of
the pyramids. Oisin had pulled the Sheet cover of the cage. It was
made of mix and matched animal skins, sewn together to create one
giant blanket. With it gone it left us exposed. The enclosure
seemed larger when the tarp was overhead but suddenly I felt
claustrophobic. Its’ hard to explain the feeling of being in such
an open space, surrounded by three massive triangular structures
and to be trapped in a small caged platform. The rain had started
to fall gently and the reason for the Sheet being removed was
clear. Oisin had pulled and spread it over an A-frame made from
twigs and sticks. He was crouched over some kindling attempting to
start a small fire. I looked at Garret and Abe who were both still
speaking an unknown tongue but seemed to be pulling and working
something by the corner in which they sat.

“What are you two up to?” I whispered still
keeping an Eye on Oisin.

“Shhhh, we nearly have some splinters free to
pick these locks.” Abe said. Garret was still trying to pull up
some chipped wood from the base of the Kart. “Keep an eye out,” He
whispered back at me,

“I can help, I’m probably stronger than you
both so I could pull it free?” I shuffled over to the corner trying
not to make any noise. I kept my stare trained on Oisin. Luckily he
was turned to the side. His face hidden behind the animal skin
sheets. All that could be seen was his legs sticking towards the
flames and his arms holding a stick with some form of meat on the
end of it. I worried slightly what the mystery meat was and hoped
it wasn’t something I knew but for the first time I was relieved to
smell bacon I could not eat. They seam to eat it a lot here don’t
they? Well it is my fantasy land after all I suppose?

I made my way to the corner, Garret and Abe
moved slightly out of the way to let me get a grip on the split
plant. I managed to wrap my fingers around it and pull up. The wood
split and tire like a cheese string. A long and thin strand came
off in my hand. It looked like a cartoon stake in a vampire episode
of Scooby doo, but much sharper than I anticipated. I cut the palm
of my hand on it as I passed it to Garret. He smiled and patted me
on the back.

“Good stuff son!” Abe whispered, “We will be
out of here in no time!” he said as he turned to help Garret with
the lock they were picking.

“Christopher, I hope you are awake” bellowed
a voice from the fire.

“Of course he is, its pissing down and
freezing”

“Who asked you?”

“No one but..”

“For God sake, just shut up for once,” Oisin
was arguing with himself again. I tapped the Luchorpáns on the back
to signal that Oisin was on his feet now. They huddled together and
shuffled to the far side of the cage. Oisin made his way around the
back, and began to open the door. “Don’t try anything, you midget
little spit ants!” He said as he pointed his thin dirk or dagger at
them. Drawing circles over their heads with one eye still closed.
Aiming at their faces.

“Come on Christopher, I think it is time we
had a talk” He said to me.

I was ready for the end now. I had managed to
pick another splinter of wood with my fingers. I walked on my dirt
and blood stained knees to the door, leaving the splinter by the
feet of Abe as I passed him. I could not see but I heard him fall
forward to pick it up. He coughed to try and distract from his true
intentions. I sat on the edge of the wagon and Oisin helped me
down. He tied my hands behind my back and led me towards the fire.
Looking over my shoulder I could see Garret and Abe both bowing
their heads towards me and then turning to work the lock of the
cage.

My back now to them I hoped they could escape
in time to save me. I knew I would have to keep Oisin talking to
me, or himself, long enough to give them time. I was led to the
fire where two seats sat under what looked like a large piece cut
from the same animal skin sheet. A plate of bacon cubes, ham,
mashed potatoes and thick buttered bread was sitting beside each
chair. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Neither could my stomach, who
decided to join the conversation with murmurs and blurts loud
enough to be heard over the crackling and snapping of the fire. I
sat after Oisin had turned and loosened my hands. I rubbed my
wrists and caught Oisin eyes.

“Sorry bout that boyo, had to make it look
real!” Confused I slowly sat down. Not moving my eyes from his. I
couldn’t work out what side of him I was talking to. The good side
or the crazy side. I played along, hoping to stall him longer.

“Make it look real? How so?” I asked,

“Well, I wanted those two scum to think you
were my prisoner also!” He smiled at me.

“Sorry? Oisin, what the hell is going on?” I
sat forward with my elbows on my knees, trying to position myself
so I could see the wagon from my perch. Oisin simply smiled.

“Christopher, Chris. Do you mind if I call
you Chris?”

“No, go ahead”

“Well Chris, I believe you have been looking
for me? I have most certainly been looking for you!” He said,
leaning forward to match my pose. Then continued. “You see, I think
you have been lead astray about me, many stories plague my name
here in Northland. I have been seeking you to help me clear
them.”

“Me? What could I do to change peoples minds,
your a thief, con-man and now a bloody murderer. What’s to stop me
from taking you down right now?” My voice rose to a growl but Oisin
did not look worried, he simply looked both ways while lowering his
hands in front of him, like pushing down an invisible box.

“no no no, you’ve got it wrong” he
replied

“Well, not all wrong?” came the other
voice,

“Ok, some of its true”

,He was about to spiral into another argument
with himself until I stopped him quickly. “Oisin, I have had just
about enough bloody mystery and questions. Where the hell is my God
damn WIFE AND FUCKING DOG?” I was standing now. I don’t know how,
but, well, I was. My voice rose as the sentence progressed.

“On their way hopefully” He said without
looking up. He reached over to his plate and started eating some of
the bacon cubes on top of some bread. It caught me of guard.

“Wait, what?” I said sitting again now.

“On their way, ye deaf bastard!” I couldn’t
believe what I was hearing.

“Oisin you really have to help me out here. I
have no idea what the fuck you are talking about. I’m getting
really sick of all this.” I really was, but I was also confused
about how at ease I was around Oisin. The man I had been hunting
for days with the intention of choking the life out of his when I
caught up. Although now I am here sitting under a tent with a fire
lit eating bacon break and potato. “You are going to have to fill
me in” I sarcasticly and nervously chuckled.

“Well let me start from the beginning” he
said and I could feel the start of a story coming on. The curtain
was rising on the new tale and I had my snacks, which tasted great,
to ease me into it.

“My name is Oisin O’Finn. I am a descendant
of the great Kain Finn of Renir. My family have been trying to set
the wrong of Northland right for years. I travel alone and help
those I find in need. I ask no payment but do not turn away charity
or donations, obviously. I have always found the homes of others
very welcoming. The people of Northland are truly the most kind and
generous of all folk. For years I wondered from town to village,
sharing stories, knowledge, medicine and aid to those who need it.
Until I stumbled across a trio of Luchorpán one evening in the
forests south of the Dirty Peaks.”

“Let me stop you there mate, I’ve read the
book, I Page-walked and saw exactly what happened. Don’t waste your
breath!”

Oisin looked dejected, “Yes you have read the
book written by Garret, you have only seen HIS truth, not mine.” He
raised a finger in the air and swatted that comment away from his
lips. “Please entertain my story Chris, let me have my say, I have
waited so long for you to cross my path again. I did not recognise
you the first day you arrived on the hill. I wish I had met you to
explain then but alas the fates worked against me there. As I was
saying, I stumbled across A trio of Luchorpán. I saw that they were
scared but one was not. I had just come from Aondor. I had
travelled with a man there who wrote tales for King Dertrid of
Shann. We had travelled the eastern shores of Northland together
and had many adventures. I had visited the dwarf king Penla and
feasted in the dwarf city. I had many riches from games of chance
and bets. When I stumbled across the Trio dancing I was exhausted.
I wanted nothing more than rest and sleep. I offered to pay for
shelter but they all scarpered. All save one. A cocky upstart
called Garret. He had greed in his eyes and saw me an an easy
target. He ensnared me and wove a web of lies to the people in the
village telling them tales of a monster in the forest they were to
capture if they left gold for it. For days he had me locked in a
cage. Each day stealing more and more of my coin. A week passed
without anyone coming to the clearing In which I was imprisoned. He
had alerted his father and they had paid bribed guards and
officials in Renir to take me to jail under false charges. I was a
simple wonderer with only my word to back me up. When I was found
Garret had placed the gold by the tent I was in. I was supposedly
caught red handed. The story spread like wildfire. My name was
dragged through he dirt and I was an embarrassment to my ancestors.
The truth haunted me until I heard whispers in the prison of the
land changing. Prophecies being told by little folk of the crater,
coming to Northland in the shape of a man. Travelling from a
different time and space!”

He was looking at the stars, reaching his
hands outward as if trying to catch the moon in his hands like a
butterfly. For a moment he stopped. He has spoken so fast that the
break in the story brought me back to reality for a while. I could
see a glisten of tears in his eyes. The re-telling of this story
was bringing up emotions he had suppressed. Tears had begun to fall
from his eyes as he continued to stare at the moon in his hands. He
blinked and looked down at me slowly, as though he had forgotten
what he was about to say.