Campfire Road

Friend of My Enemy

Jake's mind in numb to the grandness of Paradise City long before they reach the Northpoint Exit.

Jake is grateful to see Sunshine waiting with the other horses and a donkey.

Cawkay demands of the attendant, "Zouts eeporet."

The small blond man frowns at him, "Northpoint Skinwalker has not returned.
"His fryker said he'll be down months, maybe years, unless they locate a better feed source.
"We're on our own until then."

Cawkay nods his little hairy head and jumps up onto Sunshine's neck, "Ake, oo tire. I riv. Oou ide bitch."

Jake frowns up at him, "Funny your swearing is crystal clear."
He's too tired to argue so he gets in the saddle.

Aleister gets on the donkey and pets her mane, "How they treating you, Papua?"

The attendant points, "Take the exit to the river.
"Jaywake is waiting to put you out.

"Just remember not to stop or be loud in the red zone."

Cawkay does nothing, but Sunshine moves as if commanded.

They race a similar tunnel cave as the lower East side, but it's curved at an upward slope that seems about as much as a horse can handle at full speed.

The run lasts about ten minutes, then without doing anything Cawkay slows the animals and speaks ideas into Jake's thoughts.

'Keep your eyes calm and don' touch anything.
"Quiet is best.
"The red zone is a great place for silently praying for life.'

They travel a rocky path lined with flowing white water a foot wide on each side.
It winds through mounts and walls of red glowing mushrooms of many sizes.
The air is thick, warm and smells faintly of nitrous oxide.
Cawkay keeps the pace a fast walk and never stops.

Five minutes and they cross a shallow river into a cave opening, more like an arch doorway.

Beyond it, the walls open up to a vastness Jake has no reference to.
Masses of mushrooms, rock, crystals, water, mineral drops and wonders he has no words for, create a valley of epic beauty beyond the cliffs they've come out on.

Aleister sounds smug, "Welcome to Northpoint.
"We'd offer you a tour, but there is no place known that is more deadly to our kind."

Jake asks, "Whose is it?"

Aleister admits, "I've never even heard rumor.
"It's enemy territory.
"Witches got us this passage."

Cawkay snickers, then whistles and a head bigger than Jake's living room pops up from the cliff.

The giant's happy green eyes light up, "Ooo. A grumble.

"Oh, 'suse me. I'm Jaywake.

"Are you Jake Walker?"

Jake feels terrified as he realizes he's looking at a child, "I think so."

The child stands up and the cliff only comes up to his elbows, "Cool. Heramite said you'd be by and that I could ask you stuff."

The giant child sets a box with strap on the cliff as Aleister observes, "Normally, the porter is not allowed to talk to travelers."

Jaywake opens the top of the box as he points, "Heramite says Jake Walker should be treated as a fryker. Werid, huh?

"Horses ride in here.
"You can, too, if high up scares you."

Aleister urges his donkey and she jumps over the two foot edge into the mass of straw.
He moves to the back, "I prefer the box.
"Don't like the pocket ride."