THE LIGHT OF A'LEST

CHAPTER 5

     Zander said, "Screw it," as he leaped off the fourth or fifth rung of the ladder and slammed into the ground with a thud. The urge to take off towards the couple he had seen and leave Gus to whatever fate he deserved was almost impossible to ignore. A fitting end for dragging him up here in the middle of the night. He padded off several steps before glancing back at the animal. He knew! Somehow, Gus had known what he would find up here. Zander approached the animal and cautiously untied his leather reins from the sentry's post. Very cautiously. After all, his fingers still throbbed from their last meeting. Gus just stood there, oblivious and implacable to his newfound freedom, absently chewing away at whatever bits of grass he could find. Zander smacked him on the rear. "Go home, warn Appy!" he demanded in a hasty voice. Gus barely winced as the blow landed. He ceased his foraging for only a moment before casting a resentful eye at Zander. To Zander's surprise, he began lumbering down the hill.

     As Zander ran along the narrow path that ringed the edge of the cliff, a pressing fear arose to the forefront of his mind. What am I going to say? Something like, 'Run for your life!' Or 'Help!' Either would probably work, but he did not have the foggiest idea what to say after that. This confusion was, in part, his own fault. He had had scant interactions with the people of Tia since the disappearance of his father. He recalled one of the memories from his past as he ran.

     "You throw stones like a girl!" The ruddy-faced, chubby kid wailed and shook his fist in anger before kicking him in the gut. A voice rose from behind his attacker.

    "Don't mind him none, Ban. My pa says his father left him cause his mum dabbles in witchery. Ain't that right... Zander!" A creeping smile spread over the taller boy's face as he placed his arm over the portly kid and tried to console him. Both boys were cackling at him as he lay in the dirt, doing his best to fight back his rising tears.

     "Look, Zander! I see him!" Wiping away a well of tears, Zander looked to where the chubby kid pointed. "Never mind, seems your pa's forgotten all about you!" The boy's laughter resumed even louder now.

     As Zander's mind parted with the past, the sting of that memory clung ever tighter to his chest. It draped over him like a wet blanket. Bearing down on him with a relentless weight. It was only a single memory, but it was far from the only one he hid deep down. This was partly why he never ventured far from home, and as far as he could tell, the people of Tia had not missed him. To them he was nothing. No one. The forgotten son of a man no one even remembered, least of all him. They'll probably think I am lying. A completely understandable position if he was any judge. His entire childhood was comprised of dodging one cruelty or another. He too would think they were lying or about to play some trick on him. The boy wearing the black tunic with jet-black hair looked up, puzzled, tapping the girl's arm gently and gesturing towards the newcomer. 

     "He's dead," the boy screamed.

     "What?" replied the girl with brown hair and brown eyes. She was dressed in the most beautiful black and purple dress Zander had ever seen. She scoffed as she looked him over, and only then did he realize what was so interesting about him. In his hurry, he had left home dressed in rags. Fantastic, they must think I am a crazy person.

     Kara just stood there, her mouth hanging open. For a moment she thought Keko had planned this, and that maybe she and her uncle had woefully misplaced their trust in Keko's honor. The boy before them was in a panic. She knew he was saying something, but it was hard to make out given his state. Positioning himself before her and the newcomer, Keko raised an arm and placed it on the frantic boy's shoulder. "Calm down, man. What's happening?" The boy looked like he was about to fall over. "Take a breath," Keko added.

     "Gus found him," he gasped.

     "Who's Gus? Found who?" Keko looked around as if to locate anyone else who might be approaching.