Shadows Beyond

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Throughout the day, they carefully rationed the remaining water and took it in turns to exercise as best they could in the limited available space. Emtani noticed that each time Zeff stood he moved a little more easily. The targrease was doing an excellent job and Emtani treated both his leg and Tagg’s hands again.

She very much hoped they would leave before too long. They had no food and their water was gone. The dogs had stopped barking. Emtani assumed the Rooters had enticed them back and she hoped they were not making their way down the rocky cliff.

Unwillingly, she had put on the wedded wristlet. Never having worn any jewellery, it felt strange, but she supposed she would get used to it.

Late into the afternoon, Zeff stood. ‘Time to go.’

‘Are you sure you can make it?’ Tagg asked.

‘Definitely!’ Zeff set his jaw defiantly.

Tagg had already coiled the rope away ready for the next person who might happen upon the cave and need a quick exit. He examined the loop fastened into the rock wall. ‘We should come back and fix this,’ he said to Zeff. ‘It might not hold again.’

Zeff did not reply. It did not look as if he cared.

‘All right?’ Tagg asked Emtani.

‘I be ready.’

He looked at Zeff, concerned, but Zeff’s expression left them in no doubt, they were leaving. Tagg took the lead. Zeff followed and Emtani brought up the rear. Their stomachs noisily protested lack of food, but adrenalin kept their energy levels high.

All Emtani’s fears about being spotted by the Rooters shrivelled into insignificance as soon as she was on their so-called path. At best it could be described as hazardous. The inside edge butted against the uncompromising cliff wall while a sheer drop fell away from the other side of the path, which quickly changed from alarmingly narrow to terrifyingly narrow. Gripping the occasional crack in the rocky cliff to help maintain her balance, she made her way down as best she could.

There were times when the path seemed to peter out altogether. Then Tagg tried to help Zeff, who obstinately refused. He leant on rocks as much as possible to keep the weight off his bad leg, but mostly he had to use both feet. Emtani noticed how much this took out of him, and his determination to keep going and lack of complaint earned a grudging respect from her.

As the sun finally dropped behind the rocky outcrop, they were plunged into darkness with only a weak moon for light. Beads of perspiration broke out on Emtani’s brow, but Zeff had been correct, the path was easier to negotiate now. Carefully, she edged her way along, grateful for her sturdy boots.

Down, down, down they climbed, sometimes tripping, often stumbling but always downwards until, eventually, Emtani heard a noise she recognised. Having lived all her life by a river, the sound of water lapping against the bank was comforting.

When they finally reached the river, the path widened enough for Tagg to walk alongside Zeff, who now accepted help without complaint. He leant heavily upon his brother as they walked along the river edge until they came to something that looked like a small jetty sticking out into the water.

‘We wait here,’ Zeff said wearily, sinking to the ground.

‘Be this where passengers supposed to wait?’ Emtani asked. It did not look like it.

‘We’re not waiting for a passenger boat,’ Zeff said. ‘We’ll hitch a ride on a cargo boat.’

All her life, Emtani had watched cargo boats going downriver towards the City with unseen cargo that her imagination turned into miracles of manufacture. To know she was about to ride on one was thrilling although, not wanting to look too much the country-girl, she did her best to hide the fact.