An Island for a Cloud

6.2 How to do the right thing

Patz didn't know how much time had passed. For all he knew it could have been a day or several already. He was chest deep in the mud and what kept him alive this far was the stick he threw across the mud pool when he realized that he was doomed to sink into the deep. The stick was pressed firmly underneath his armpits. Initially, Patz tried to gather all his strength and pull himself up, but this only caused him to sink further and he was growing more and more desperate. He tried to shout for help, but soon gave up realizing the futility of it. Nobody ever came here.

This was a lonely place and in his current state, Patz was willing to believe in all the stories he has ever heard about the swamp. It was said it likes setting traps. Where one passes safely, the other gets swallowed without a trace. More than anything it hurt him to think that he would die here without ever having a real chance to save Ziya. If he could spare a hand, he would have probably punched himself for being so foolish earlier. Given the circumstances he was in, this was not an option.

He whispered all the prayers he knew to Lady Ekara - the Blind Seer, Mother of Flizers and the Eternal Flame. He was tired. Very tired. It was getting dark and he had difficulties keeping his eyelids open. Everything around him looked quiet and peaceful, yet he was fighting a losing battle. He cried rivers, fearful and upset. His eyes were puffy and blurred his view. He did not see right away something moving in the distance. Initially he thought it was only his imagination. After a while the shapes began looking more familiar.

They almost looked like Flizers.

That puzzled Patz, as this certainly could not be the case. Then he thought he recognized Zatz.

"Good old, Zatz!", he thought. Then he thought he recognized another figure that looked surprisingly like Klatz. "Even in my death, he just wouldn't let me be! He is coming for me!" Patz thought more annoyed than scarred. The swamp went up to his chin and he could no longer feel his arms. He did not feel two pair of hands grabbing him on both sides and pulling him up.

"You have almost ripped out his arm, you blockhead!" cried Zatz and pushed Klatz aside. He kneeled down before his friend who was lying before them unmoving.

"Then he should be thankful I didn't pull him up by his ears!" replied Klatz, folding his arms in front of his chest. His eyes shot daggers at the motionless Flizer before them.

"Help me carry him over there," said Zatz motioning his head towards a green inviting patch by a large rock. Klatz didn't make any attempt to move.

"That's a swamp trap," he just replied. Zatz opened his mouth to argue then thought better of it.

"How do you know?" he asked instead.

"I just know", Klatz mumbled back. He looked around until his gaze fell on another patch of grass and he indicated with his head to go that way. Zatz looked incredulously from one patch to another. Both looked just the same to him. After giving his patch of grass a last look, he decided to just follow Klatz's lead. He was relieved that at least Klatz helped him carry Patz, albeit letting Zatz grab the muddy lower part of it, of course. As soon as they reached the spot, Klatz let Patz's body fall with a thud. Zatz chose not to comment, barely containing his dislike for Klatz.

"I told you to go back. Why didn't you? Patz and I don't need you. We can find Ziya on our own," Zatz said sternly when they were about to settle for the night.

"As if I would entrust the life of my sister to a bunch of dimwits like you two!" Klatz replied.

Zatz rolled his eyes and turned his back on Klatz. He lowered himself on the grass beside Patz who was barely breathing. Zatz shot Klatz a warning look and covered his friend protectively with one arm. Under his watch, no harm will come to Patz, he thought.