The Fourth Man

Hunting

Hunting

"You can try it then," Exo offered up the stone to Thomas. Now he held it up beneath the dim electric light the others could see that it indeed was shaped in the same star-like way as the keyholes in the deep set heavy doors.

Thomas took the stone in his hand. It was surprisingly heavy, and it weighed down Thomas's palm. He walked nervously toward the door furthest away. The others followed behind him, peering over Thomas's shoulder.

He placed his palm on the cool metal, and moved it down and brushed his hand over the keyhole. He used the stone and pushed it into the hole, it fitted perfectly. Strangely nothing seemed to happen, and the six boys stood and waited. Quaker stepped forward and pushed the door; and inched forward.

"It's heavy," said Quaker breathlessly

"Sorry," Nerpato, moved beside him and together they forced the door open.

They stood before a single ladder, leading straight up.

"I think I know where this goes," Thomas piped up, "I fell down one of these, it leads up the cliff."

"Then we might find something up there," Jonathan started up the ladder "Maybe the Fourth Man."

"Let's be honest," Siggy stated "We're lost, I think getting out, not finding the Fourth Man is our priority."

"Not for us," Nerpato nodded at Jonathan heading up the ladder "The Fourth man is our priority, we have reason to believe-"

"That he can help us save Farland?" Siggy cut in "That's what everyone seems to be saying, but I can't see what from."

"Well," said Nerpato "It all has to do with Code Eighty-Six, something that happened hundreds of years ago."

"Yeah, but we don't know what that is," said Thomas "I heard something about 'The Eight Conspiracies' too."

"More things no-one knows?" asked Siggy

"Well-" Thomas was cut off by a shout from the top of the ladder, it was Jonathan

"Hurry up here guys, I think you should see this."

One-by-one they climbed the ladder, until all six were stood in the long sticky-seed grass Thomas had found himself in earlier.

"So what is it?" asked Siggy, noting the landscape, mainly dominated by a vast pine tree forest.

"Over there," Jonathan pointed into the centre of the forest. There was a large column of smoke billowing up through the trees.

"Smoke means fire, and fire means people," Jonathan told them "And they could give us an incline to what's going on here."

"I agree, it's a good plan," admitted Exo. The others all agreed too.

The sun had began to set by now, and it wasn't as hot as it had been earlier in the day, they made good progress though, and reached the tree line before nightfall.

"I think we should stop soon," said Quaker, "And camp somewhere for the night."

"And set up a watch system, I'm not tired so you can all get some sleep first," said Nerpato "I'll take first watch."

They decided to camp by the base of the first pine tree, and each pulled their coats around them as blankets, as Exo constructed a small fire.

"Has anyone brought any food?" asked Thomas "I'm starving."

It turned out only Quaker and Exo had, and it was barley enough to go round everyone.

"Look," said Nerpato "I've done some hunting before, I can use some wood to set up a few traps and catch some game- if there are any in this forest. I just need someone to come with me."

"I'll go," Quaker offered

"Ok, we can set the traps now, and we will have something for breakfast tomorrow."

"Ok," said Siggy "You go now, I'm not tired so I can keep watch for a bit."

Quaker and Nerpato advanced through the forest, constantly heading away from their campsite. Nerpato had taken a long burning stick of wood, and held it in front of him now for light.

"So where are you from?" Quaker asked Nerpato

"The mainland," Nerpato answered "Worked at the harbour, tending to the ships that docked there."

"Cool."

"Not really, it's boring and long hours, and I hardly get enough wage to live on."

"You live by yourself?"

"Yeah, I'm an orphan, worked at the harbour for years."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it's hardly your fault. It's Quaker isn't it? What's your story?"

"Me? My dad's a gardener on Fontaine Island, and I went to Further Farland when the head judge came looking for two local lads to help him in a job. It was really well paid, and I snapped it up straight away, I knew Exo from the village I lived in too. Anyway we found out we had to help Siggy find the Fourth Man, it was a matter of life and death apparently."

"So I've heard, Jonathan's dad died suspiciously as he seemed to be about to search for the Fourth Man."

"Really?"

"Yeah, there's too many people who think something bad's going to happen to make it a coincidence."

"I agree," Quaker admitted "We best crack on then?"

"Yeah."

"So what are we doing?"

"Come on, I'll show you."

After making three simple leg traps Quaker and Nerpato placed them strategically around a small pond, the only fresh water access they had seen in the area. If animals wanted water, they were bound to come here. What comforted them was the fact that fresh game tracks were left in the mud.

By now the stick had burned down, so they had no light.

"So then," said Quaker "How do we find our way back?"

"Stars," said Nerpato simply "I noticed as the sun set our camp was East of here. That star there is the far left of the Guidi Constellation, and that means that it's due East."

"Cool, are you an astronomer as well as a born hunter now?"

"No," Nerpato laughed "I've just picked up a lot from working with all the old men at the harbour."

They proceeded East, and soon the light of the fire came back into view.

"Well, that was either a lucky guess, or your star knowledge is good," Quaker chuckled

"Thanks."

As they approached the campsite something dark and quick flashes across them.

"What the hell was that?" Quaker whispered

"I don't know," Nerpato replied equally as quietly, the two boys were frozen to the spot.

"It must be gone," Quaker stepped forward as a hand descended on his shoulder, and he fell to his feet under it's immense grip.