Authors: Doug Backus
“That is quite a story Duffy
. The other way out that you speak of, it is where you fell into this tunnel?”
“Precisely, i
t took me just under two hours to walk to this place in the dark, while injured. So I figure we can make it in just over an hour without those obstacles.”
“And by taking this way we
can avoid Phanthus at the other end of the tunnel,” Palto said, already formulating a plan.
Duffy looked confused
. “Well, if you want to I suppose. I was thinking more of a surprise attack.”
Palto laughed
. “I have no doubt that’s what you were thinking Duffy, but Phanthus I think, will have to wait for another day.”
Duffy looked disappointed
, but didn’t argue with Palto. “Are you sure of the amount of time it took you to get here Duffy?”
“Well, I was not myself, that is for sure, but it will be close to that time frame.”
“Very well, I will go down the tunnel to see if I can find what you speak of,” Palto said walking closer to the wall to await the next ball of flames.
“
If you find my hatchet then you will find the tunnel. It will be stuck into the wall directly below it. I marked it of course, in case that was the only way out,” Duffy boasted.
“You are indeed the Brawltug I heard of Alaster O’Dufaigh. Who else could have fought through so many tribu
lations and still kept his head? You are a true warrior.”
Duffy stood proudly; h
e would tell many people this story. Palto, the leader of the Pegapires, considered him the best warrior of all time.
As the flames in the tunnel disappeared
, Palto nodded a goodbye to Duffy as he ran through the Wall of Solace and down the tunnel, hoping to avoid the next fiery breath of Phanthus.
Mary and Deo were not at all impressed with their new companion, but Deke simply would not listen to reason, so the four set off through the swamps. Mary insisted on leading the way and Deke did not argue. He knew Mary did not trust Torrell, and he himself had his doubts.
They had been walking for about two hours and had managed to cover significant ground when Mary turned to the north and began to lead them down the bank of a creek.
Torrell, who had walked in silence for the majority of the journey, suddenly stopped.
“This creek will only lead us further into the swamp and further into danger. If we head to the west we can reach the outer edge of the swamp and avoid, for the most part, any of the creatures that live within it.”
Mary turned to Torrell. “Oh, you would like that wouldn’t you? If we head west, we will have to walk right through the core of the Phit territory. The bushes and trees may have changed in my absence but I remember this creek and it leads us out of the swamps.”
“Any direction will eventually lead us out of the swamps
, but the faster the better, and your way is the longest and most dangerous,” Torrell said looking toward Mary.
“My way," Mary yelled, “does not include getting att
acked by thousands of Phits. You speak of all these creatures that lie within the swamps. I have seen none of them. I have seen where the Phit camps lie and I do not wish to come even close to them. That is why I am taking the long route.”
“Just because you have not seen something does not mean it doesn’t exist. You need to trust me. If we encounter a Tetagorous, who live in the very heart of this swamp
, you will wish you were fighting an entire battalion of Phits instead. And that is where this creek is leading us.”
“Okay you two, enou
gh. Deo, have you heard of this creature that Torrell speaks of?”
“I cannot say that I have.”
“And is it true Torrell, what Mary says in regards to walking into the very heart of Phit territory should we walk to the west?” Deke asked.
“It is, but I know many ways around and through their camps that will allow us to pass without being detected.”
“And what is this Tetagorous you speak of?”
“Well to start with they will eat only that which is dead
, so rest assured when it sees you it will try to kill you, and it has two ways of doing that. The Tetagorous has a unique way of controlling air. It will suck it right from your lungs and slowly suffocate you, which would be the best way to go, or it will enjoy watching you suffer a slow death by playing on your fears. The latter method is its favorite. You see, the Tetagorous can use air currents to entrap you, making escape impossible. It will then play on your worst fears by controlling your mind. It makes you relive over and over what you fear the most. Every time you relive your fear, it will only get worse. It may last days or even a week, but it will continue until eventually your heart explodes with fear. Then it will feast on your flesh and build its home with your bones.”
“It sounds perfectly awful!
” Deke said looking around to make sure the beast was nowhere in the vicinity.
“Do not fear Deke. It rarely leaves the heart of the swamp
, but even when it does, you would not see it before it was too late. When it moves at its fastest, it cannot be seen with the naked eye. Once it ensnares you, it will reveal itself as whatever you fear the most. If the mere sight of that doesn’t stop your heart, well then, I have already explained what will happen.”
“And how would you know this
, if you cannot see it until you are captured. Have you escaped a Tetagorous attack?” Deo questioned.
“Not quite
, but nearly. It was almost a year ago when I stumbled across a horrible smell while walking through this very swamp. At the time I had no idea where I was. As I came over the crest of a hill, I saw a building that I would later come to know as the home of a Tetagorous. Bones with rotting meat stood in the form of its rustic house.”
“Outside of the house a Brawltug was trapped
inside a swirling shaft of air. It almost looked as if a mini twister had landed over the top of him. I was moving in to help when the Tetagorous appeared out of nowhere. It appeared as a Cawlaway. I was barely able to contain my own fears. The Brawltug began to scream and scream. With each hour that passed the screaming became louder and louder. At first the Brawltug was screaming at the mere sight of the Cawlaway, which is a most dreadful bird, thought to be extinct on Rhol. Then out of nowhere other people started appearing around the Cawlaway. The beast was projecting images of a most horrific attack on what appeared to be the Brawltug’s family. Their bodies were being ripped to shreds at the hands of this beast. The Brawltug was screaming about his brother and sister and other family members as they appeared in front of the Cawlaway just to be torn apart over and over again. I could see that it was clearly an illusion that the Tetagorous was projecting, but the Brawltug did not know the difference. The screaming stopped after the third rendition of the attack. The Brawltug`s body went stiff and he just fell with a thud to the ground. I won’t repeat what happened next, but based on what I have just told you, you can imagine.”
“And what did the actual beast look like?” Deke asked.
“That’s just it. It looked like a Cawlaway, but the Tetagorous can look like anything.”
“What does that mean?” Deo asked.
Mary, unable to contain herself, interrupted before Torrell could speak. “Oh come now, this is just a legend. I have heard of something similar, but with a different name from Kiran and not even she believed it to be true. What she means, is that it can look like anything and that it will appear before you as what you fear the most. But nobody knows what the Tetagorous actually looks like. Right, Torrell?”
“Right!
”
“She is beginning to lose herself
, Deke, believing in myths. I have been here and I can tell you first hand that we will not make it through the Phit camps. It will take a little longer this way but it will be much safer and in that respect faster because we won’t have to fight any Phits,” Mary pleaded.
“
Torrell, how did you know it was not an actual Cawlaway?” Deke asked.
“Well first off, a Cawlaway, even if they still existed, could not proje
ct illusions of actual events, but that is not the only reason. Just for a second it looked toward me and it changed, it changed into what I fear the most. I have no idea why it didn’t give chase when I ran. I would learn much later on, as I got to know these swamps more and more, what in fact I had just witnessed.”
“And what is it you fear the most
Torrell?” Mary asked while glaring deeply into her eyes.
Torrell
hesitated and slightly stuttered as she spoke. “It does not m-m-matter what I fear the most. What matters is getting out of these swamps.”
Mary just smiled back at her.
Deke was sure of it now. Torrell was losing her mind. It was too much. “We will follow the creek,” Deke said.
Torrell
became enraged at hearing this and began to fidget. “You are making a mistake. You will listen to me, Deke Brolin,” she shrieked.
“Calm down
Torrell, it will be alright.”
“It is not alright, you, you, you are g
-g-going to die, d-die, all of y-you,” Torrell screamed.
Deke could clearly see
Torrell was becoming unglued and knew that Mary and Deo had made the same observations as he watched them slowly moving in behind her.
“
Torrell, just relax,” Deke begged as she moved slowly toward him. She was giggling while she sang what sounded almost like a broken poem in a high uneven voice.
“How many tears have people shed?
When their souls break
When their thoughts turn dead
I guess it’s no one’s fault
Evil is strong
No wonder faith goes wrong
Down by the Blackpool
Where evil rules
Don’t ever go swimming
B
y the Blackpool.”
Deke slowly backed away as she moved closer to him. He should have never allowed her to come with them. He was a fool. He fell backward, losing his footing and Torrell lunged at him.
He tried fighting her off
, but she was mad with anger and as strong as an ox. Deo and Mary grabbed her and pulled her off, throwing her to the ground. Deke quickly got up, and while Mary and Deo held her down, he bound her arms and legs with a nearby vine. She just laughed hysterically, her eyes bulging from her head as she continued to sing.
“Every now and then
Your souls become one
You’re on top of life
There is no need to run
It can last for years
Or it can turn in a day
But the dark will come
No matter how much you pray.”
“She is mad; she has become a Pintante. I have never seen one so close. What a horrible way to go, and it will soon be my fate,” Mary cried.
Deke put his arm around Mary’s shoulder and tried to comfort her. “We will find a way to help you Mary.”
“Shut her up! I can’t stand that rhyme. Make her be quiet,” Mary cried aloud.
“Down by the Blackpool
Where evil rules
Don’t ever go swimming
By the Blackpool
”
“Torrell, please calm down or we will be forced to leave you here,” Deke begged.
“What? You’re actually thinking of bri
nging her with us!” Mary yelled.
“Mary, we can’t just leave her tied up here
with no way to fend for herself,” Deke said.
“It will never happen
Everybody tells themselves
But it will
Faith, no dark will always rule.”
“Shut her up! Shut her up! I can’t take it!” Mary screamed uncontrollably.
“With hate and rage, your soul will fill
If only you had listened
When I told you, you fool
Don’t ever go swimming
By the Blackpool.”
‘
Torrell, please!” Deke yelled.
At this she suddenly stopped and looked at Mary smiling. Her teeth were beginning to turn black which made her smile appear all the more evil. Perhaps realizing this
, she closed her mouth and turned to Deke.
“I am sorry, my mind ….I can’t think…I can’t…. don’t leave m
e here. Help me please. Help me,” Torrell begged.
“Deo, what should we do?” Deke asked.
“There is nothing we can do for her Deke. If she is not already Pintante she will be soon. For now, let us leave her where she is and get some sleep. It has been a long day.”