Pagewalker (29 page)

It’s hard to kiss and smile at the same time
so we took turns with each. Just standing for what felt like an
eternity we rested on each other’s forehead. Words would only spoil
what we were feeling then. There are no words in any language to
say how either of us felt to a close degree. I could hear her
sniff. I did too. Not very sexy, but crying isn’t sexy is it? I
stood back and leaned down a bit, making us eye level. I wiped the
tears from her face with my thumb and lifted her gaze to mine with
my fingers on her chin. She smiled. We hugged again, neither of us
knowing what to say. Not in some poetic way, like we need the first
words to be deep. Just that we truly were so speechless. Some
relationships are put to a test, be it assembling flat pack
furniture, surviving Christmas with in-laws or playing Mario Kart.
None of these problems will affect us again. We both knew this. I
took the plunge to say the first words but was interrupted by a sad
whelp below my feet.

“Tessa!” I cheered. She bounced up on her
hind legs, her front paws reaching up to my chest. She jumped up
like a child wanting to be held so I lifted her up onto my hip like
an overgrown toddler. She licked my face franticly. At first out of
affection but after a while I realised it was the blood on my face.
Beginning to crush and becoming cold. I wiped the slabbers away and
set her down. She had licked the remaining blood from her face.
Only red specks still lingered between her eyes and on the back of
her head, which she could not reach.

I chuckled and signed in relief as the
realisation dawned on me. “She was the wolf wasn’t she?” I
sniggered.

“Yup!” Smiled Sarah. “Careful she will lick
you to death now!” I laughed nervously but it only look a glance
over to Garrets lifeless body to remind me that Northland was
changing Tessa. Maybe not for the best as I had hoped. There was a
much stronger primal instinct emerging in her now.

Oisin had begun to move the bodies of the
Luchorpán from the camp. I turned to see him pulling Garret by the
legs and set him beside Abe.

“What are you doing Oisin?” I asked,

“They may have been liars, thieves and
tricksters in life Chris, but in death they are nothing but father
and son.” He replied solemnly. Words fell heavy and hard in his
tone. The gravity of the situation fell on my shoulders too then.
After all of this, playing me for a fool, leading Sarah and I down
opposite paths fo their own gain with the will to kill us both.
This was for the love a father had for a son. I know my own father
would do anything to protect me. Maybe he wouldn’t show it a lot
but I know there is a deep bond and love between parents and
children. None stronger than in the hearts of Luchorpán.

Oisin had gathered some things from the
wagon. A shovel and some rope. He had torn some of the Tarp from
the tent and rolled both Garret and Abe together in it. He then
proceeded to tie the two together. Tight. The pair of small bodies
looked almost human sized when rolled up together and bound in a
shammy leather.

“What are you doing?” I sad, walking over to
Oisin. Sarah still gripping my hand tight.

“Wait, stay here babe.” She said to me and
pulled me back.

“Don’t worry yourselves, we have got this.
You two, um, re-unite.” He coughed nervously, “we have much to
discuss. I just did not think it was respectful to leave them lying
here while we spoke. I would hope someone does the same for me some
day.” He turned and began digging a hole. Sarah and I sat back by
the fire. Tessa had curled close to the flame and rolled onto her
back. Soaking up the warmth as she lay there. We cuddled close
together. I couldn’t get enough of her. Couldn’t hold her tight
enough. She wrapped her arms around my stomach and I had my arms
over her shoulders, kissing the top of her head and breathing in
her sweet and beautiful smell. The way I do in bed at night as she
drifts off to sleep in my arms. We kissed and just held each other
for the longest time before we spoke again. It felt so good to hear
her voice once again. I just wanted to listen to how she had
survived.

I turned to her with a guilty look on my
face, “I'm really sorry this happened love, I swear I had no
idea!”

“I know babe, its ok, I know you had no clue,
sure your thick as champ any way” Giggeling she tickled my sides
and leant in for another hug. Leaning close into me me said, “It
was fucking mental though eh?”

I could only chuckle, she really has a poetic
way with words.

“So you were brought here because you made
some changes to my story?”

“Yup.”

“And you just woke up in the water here?”

“Yup.”

“The same place as me then eh? Did you walk
up to the beach and then up the stairs of the clif?”

“Yup, it reminded me or white rocks near
portrush you know?” She said reminiscently. She seemed too calm
about it all in my opinion.

“Jesus that’s what I thought too! I swear,
you an me babe, in sync!” I squeezed her again.

“I know love, thats probably why I married
you like.”

“So what then? I couldn’t have been to far
behind you, where did you go”

“Well when I made it to the top of the cliff
I didn’t exactly look down!” She elbowed me, “Why did you make it
so high? You know I’m scared of heights!”

“Well I didn’t exactly think it was possible
to bring you for a pic-nic here like love.”

“I know but still, Jesus wept, talk about
shakey legs. When I made it to the top I saw the standing stones
and made my way up there for a better look. I was scared as hell at
first but you know me, I just get on with it like.”

I agreed, she really does,

“So then what?” I enquired farther.

“Well, I saw the Rebels Rest from there,
here, you know that’s like an old RA bar on the Falls road
right?”

“Yea babe I know, must have just been in my
mind or something.”

“Yea, maybe” She glossed over, “Any way, I
saw the bar and was going to start making my way there when I saw
this crazy looking homeless guy walking towards me so I started
walking off in the other direction. He was following me and to be
honest, I was getting a bit freaked out so I started running
towards the tree line, hoping I could loose him there...AGH!” She
exclaimed as she pulled he hand away from mine. I must have been
tightening my grip as I listened to her story. Worried for her. I
know, if anyone, she doesn’t need protecting, but I'm a husband and
always want to take on that role when I can.

“Sorry love, go on.” I said is I placed my
hand back on her lap for her to continue the story.

“Aye, so I made it to the tree line and was crouching
behind a felled tree and bushes when I heard Garrets voice. He
introduced himself and told me about Abe and we were going to make
our way to Renir where I would meet you!”

“How did they know I would come after you?” I asked.
Sarah' eyes opened wide, her whole body went rigid and she sat back
shocked.

“Excuse me?” she said harshly, “And why
wouldn’t you?” With a tone sharper than razors and harder than
nails.

“No I don’t mean it like that, I meant how
would they know I would go to Renir, oh wait, aye I suppose, sneaky
wee shits and all that?”

“Yea,” She coughed in laughter. Her mood
calming to her normal self again.

“So on our way to Renir, Garret told me all
about that crazy man, Turns out they had met before in a forest
somewhere and he had tried to steel all the jewels or money or
whatever.”

“Yea I know the story, its not true” I
interrupted.

“Well I know that now numb nuts! I didn’t
know then though did I?”

“Yea, suppose not.” I embarrassingly
conceded. “So what then?”

“We made our way into Renir. Garret got wind
we were being followed, we were turning to leave the city when a
fight broke out. I was awful people were screaming and I saw
someone murder a guard in cold blood. Stabbed him in the eye then
ran off like a coward. It was so scary, such a dangerous place!” I
sat in silence. Telling her it was me would not make things better,
something should be kept to yourself. My throat was now dry but I
asked her to continue on none the less.

“We managed to get away before any more
fighting broke out and used the commotion to slip out the gates
without being followed. We headed south east. We travelled for a
full day and night but ended up lost. Garret denied it but I know
we were. That's when we came across the circus. They were
travelling to Sáann, We were just in the wrong place at the wrong
time. Well, you know the rest.” She said resting her head back onto
my shoulder. Oisin had finished burying the two luchorpán and
joined us by the fire. Sarah continues with her story.

“After Oisin had set me free we played
through the plan. He would make it look like I had escaped but I
was to follow behind the kart. If I were to get in any trouble I
was to simply cough and he would come and get me.”

Oisin interrupted. “You see I heard a sound
from behind the wagon. Like a grown or a cough. I assumed it was
Sarah but when I made my way of the Wagon I found you and Abe. Out
of instinct I knocked you both out and bundled you into the cage. I
couldn’t risk explaining everything to you then. You would not have
believed me.” He said with a hopeful look and raised eyebrows. I
agreed and let Sarah continue.

“Well I was not far behind I must have been
on the other side of the wagon when this happened. As soon as the
wheels started turning I heard something running up to me. Tessa
had found me in the bog. She was excited as anything! You know how
she is?” I nodded and patted her sleeping belly and rubbed her fur
as she panted by the firelight. “Yea, I can imagine” I said.

“Well I knew then that you were in the wagon.
You and those two. I started after you all and struggled to keep
up. I had to stop for a while to catch my breath. I must have
fallen asleep for a moment because when I looked for you all again
you were pulling up here in the middle of these pyramids. I had to
move as fast as I could to get to you in time!” We both sighed at
the same time, both of us thinking of what could have happened if
she were any later. “Just as well you did” I said as I kissed her
again and again.

For hours we talked on and on about the
different roads we had taken. How we almost met at the rebels Rest,
or in Renir, or at the circus we missed each other by a matter of
hours! The coincidences were so many. We were all so thankful for
the way fate worked out. The night was lightening and morning
followed the sound of birds in the distance. No birds roosted here.
The temples had nowhere to perch or rest.

Finally the subject came up about returning
home. I hadn’t really thought about it, but now that we stood here
in the shadow to three monolithic, giant ruins. With magic Rich in
the air, I was unsure.

“Oisin, you said you wanted to travel home to
our world with us? Why?” I asked him, Sarah was sleeping on my
shoulder.

He turned his head and smiled to me, “I want
to be someone else.” He replied. I knew this. The reason I wrote in
the first place. “Oh, yea, that’s right” I said nervously. “Oisin,
mate, I know you wont believe me when I say this but, that’s the
reason I created Northland. A place where I would not be judged.
Where I would be accepted and I could escape from the life I lived
at home when I was a teenager.” I meant it all in the metaphorical
sense of course, just lucky it turned into the literal.

He nodded and looked sad “My name has been
dirtied here Chris, There is no life left for me.” Sarah raised her
head and looked at me. “Sorry love didn’t mean to wake you” I
said,

“I’ve been awake for a while love,” She said
rubbing her eyes. “You see I was thinking, You created this place
right? so, What's to stop you from telling Oisin’s story?” The two
of us sat strait up and looked at Sarah like children awaiting a
story from grandma.

“huh?” Oisin huffed.

“Well the prophecies you speak of are all
from Chris’ imigination. Like he knew there would be a woman with
tattoos who would save him. Even before he came here? So his
writing is like, Holy here yea?” We all nodded as she continued,
both starting to click on. “Well if Chris were to tell Your story
once we arrived home then You name would be an important name
spoken by the creator instead of just some con man that Abe and
Garret told the world you where?” She sat back and folded her arms
like a master chess player moving 5 steps ahead to Checkmate.

I couldn’t do anything but laugh. She was so
right. Jesus, I am glad I found her when I did. Or she found me,
she saved me. As usual.

“That could work, but what story would you
tell?” Oisin asked.

“The truth.” I replied. The story you told me
about your adventured before you met Garret in the forest that
evening?” I said clapping my hands in excitement.

“Yes that’s could work,” Oisin said as he
stood. “We need to get you home. The sooner you clear my name the
sooner I can continue with my life!” He said standing and beginning
to gather more things from the wagon. Bottles of potions, dried
herbs, book with old writing. He mixed and ground things together
muttering words over them. We had all the time in the world. We
were in no rush to return. I didn't know when or even if I would be
back here so I wanted to use the time to explore. Sarah and I
discussed the areas we wanted to visit but we were worried about
approaching the subject with Oisin. He was so desperate to clear
his name and have a fresh start. Eventually we decided we just had
to talk to him about our plans, reassure him and make sure
everything was ok.

That evening we raised the subject over
dinner. Cooked fish for Tessa and I, and berries for Oisin and
Sarah.

“Oisin, we have something we need to tell
you.” I said