Last Wild Boy (12 page)

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It was hours before Dr. Ueland returned to the office, and even then, it was just to bring Nora and Mabon some dinner and some pillows and blankets so they could rest for the night. He was gone almost as quickly as he'd arrived. He popped in again the next morning to bring them some breakfast and a few things to keep for their lunch later on, but wasn't able to stay then either. It wasn't until late that night that he entered again. This time he had someone with him — a thin, elderly outsider dressed in a brown homespun cloak and tunic. His legs were bare and his feet were shod in leather sandals. He had long white hair that curtained his watery eyes and fell all about his leathery face, which broke into a grin when he saw Mabon and Nora.

“Mabon, Nora,” Dr. Ueland said, “I'd like you to meet Aesop, the leader of the old ones.”

“So happy to meet you both,” Aesop said. “The good Dr. Ueland has told me all about you.” Lucky wagged his tail and jumped up on the old man. “And who is this?”

Nora thought it was a good sign that the dog immediately took to this lively old man. “That's Lucky,” she said.

“He's certainly lived up to his name so far,” Aesop said, patting Lucky's head. “You two are lucky to have made it this far, with the rangers combing the woods for you.” He walked over to where Adam was lying in his basket and bent down to get a better look at the child. “This must be Adam.” He tickled Adam's toes. “You're the cause of great excitement throughout our happy little valley, little one. You'll be well taken care of there.”

Aesop sat down to rest and had a bite to eat while Nora and Mabon packed up their belongings. Dr. Ueland had brought them some supplies for the trip to the valley of the old ones, and they'd accepted them gratefully and packed them up as well.

When they were ready to set off, Dr. Ueland poked his head out the door, and, when he was convinced the coast was clear, led them back across the hall, down the service stairs, and through the maze of dimly lit corridors to Emergency Gate Three. He stopped before he opened the gate for them.

“Safe travels, my friends,” he told them. He turned to Mabon and Nora and that stern look travelled back across his face like a thundercloud rolling in. “Protect that boy, no matter what the cost. His life is worth more than all of ours combined.”

Nora thought she noticed Dr. Ueland and Aesop share an almost imperceptible nod.

“I'll send a pigeon to let you know that we've arrived safely,” Aesop told Dr. Ueland.

“Please do,” said Dr. Ueland. “I'll be in touch again soon.”

Dr. Ueland unlocked the gate, and the group of travellers disappeared into the night.

C
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Nora and Mabon followed Aesop for hours through the dense
forest, stopping occasionally to tend to Adam, eat, or rest. Just as the sun started rising in what Nora now recognized as the east, they reached a large field. Here and there in the distance she could make out the remains of ruined offices and apartment buildings
.

Aesop stopped and turned to them. “From here on, there's an extra danger.” He pointed to a rusty old sign at the edge of the field with a picture of a skull and crossbones on it. “There are many unexploded land mines in this area, left over from the ancient wars,” he explained. “They're very dangerous and very unpredictable. Stay close to me at all times and follow in my footsteps exactly. You'll need to carry the dog, Mabon. And stay close together.”

“All right,” Nora said. “We will.”

Aesop led them up a path and then turned suddenly to the left. Nora wondered how close they had come to stepping on
land mines. They continued to zigzag through the field, slowly making their way to the other side. When they reached the edge of the field, Aesop pulled back a branch, and they stepped into a majestic pine forest whose interior reminded Nora of the pillared cathedral dedicated to the Mother Goddess.

The trees grew in parallel rows and Nora concluded that they had been intentionally planted this way. More and more light defined the woods as they walked, and Nora was astonished at the natural beauty and variety of the plants and flowers that grew up from the springy carpet of brown pine needles. The ground rose slowly and steadily upward, but the light and the pine-sweet air helped increase their speed, and they covered the ground quickly.

Before the hour was out, their surroundings abruptly changed again. They left the pine forest and travelled across a section of barren ground that was littered with rocks and the scattered debris from broken concrete buildings. Gradually they approached the remains of a more intact cluster of damaged stone buildings, which loomed above them like forgotten giants. Every few feet they passed painted wooden signs showing rangers being blown apart by explosions. At the top in red letters were the words:

Nora moved closer to Aesop and wondered if such grave dangers existed everywhere in the wild, or just in pockets like this one. It was hard to believe that wars so long past could still have such an effect on the land around them.

“We'll have to be particularly careful now,” said Aesop, slowing down. “The rest of the way is riddled with landmines.” He turned to Nora and looked at her apologetically. “I'm sorry, Nora, but for the rest of the journey, you'll need to be blindfolded.” He ripped a narrow strip of cloth from the base of his tattered cape and held it up to her.

“Why do I have to cover my eyes?” Nora asked. She looked up at Mabon, who appeared just as alarmed as she was.

“You may have rescued Adam, but you're still an insider,” Aesop explained. “We don't know anything about you, and we can't be sure that you haven't been sent by Blanchefleur in some secret insider plot to find us and terminate us. Forgive me, but the insiders have never given us any reason to trust them, so even though you appear to be different from the others of your kind, we have to take precautions.”

“That's crazy!” Nora said, the gold flecks flashing in her eyes. “We've walked most of the way here in darkness, and we've been marching through a maze of minefields for hours. I have no idea where we are. And I'm certainly no insider spy.”

“She's speaking the truth,” Mabon said. “I've been travelling with her for days. There's no way she's anything but what she says she is.”

“I'm sorry,” Aesop said, looking genuinely pained. He held the blindfold up to Nora again. “But if we are to go any farther, you must cover your eyes.”

Nora looked across her shoulder at Mabon. He nodded. “It will be all right,” he said. “I won't let anything happen to you or to Adam.”

In spite of Mabon's reassurance, Nora shuddered as Aesop tied the rough cloth across her eyes.

“You'll have to spin around a few times,” Aesop directed, “so you don't know which direction we're heading in.”

Nora put Adam's basket down, and then followed Aesop's instructions. When she'd finished spinning, she was dizzy and unsteady on her feet. She tried to take a few steps forward, but stumbled and just barely managed to catch herself. “This is stupid,” she said. “I can't walk like this. I'll trip and set off a landmine and kill us all.”

“Here,” Mabon said, lifting Adam's basket and placing its handle in her palm. “Take this in one hand. I'll hold your other hand and guide you…if that's okay?”

Nora didn't answer at first, and Mabon was glad she couldn't see the crimson stain that he could feel creeping into his cheeks.

“Okay,” she said finally. She held out her hand and Mabon took it.

Nora's hand was smaller than Mabon had expected, and much softer. It reminded him of the smooth leather gloves he'd worn when he was a ranger. He held it tightly, but took care not to squeeze too hard. “Don't worry,” he said. “I won't let you fall.”

Aesop led Mabon and Nora on a walk that took much longer than Nora had anticipated. After several minutes, Adam began to squirm in his basket, causing it to shake in Nora's hand. As she fought to keep it steady, Nora realized how cramped and tired the muscles of her arms and shoulders had become. Her back ached. Her feet were sore. She was about to give up and ask for a break when Aesop's voice came from ahead of her.

“We're almost there. Watch yourself, now. In a moment you'll be climbing down a wooden ladder and into an underground passage.” His voice cracked asthmatically. “Stay still until I open the hatch, Mabon.”

“Is the ladder okay?” came Mabon's voice. “The steps don't look safe…”

“It'd better be. We use it all the time. But there's always a chance of it breaking, so hang on, everyone!” He started to chuckle, but it quickly turned into a coughing fit. Once he had regained control of his breathing, he continued. “I'll go first and light a torch. Mabon, you pass the dog down and then follow, and Nora will pass Adam to you, then come down last. Nora, I'm sorry, but you'll have to use both hands to climb. We won't be able to guide you.”

Nora heard some commotion as Aesop climbed down the ladder, and then a small yip from Lucky as he was passed down. She felt Mabon let go of her hand.

“Don't worry,” he whispered to her. “I'll be there to catch you if you fall.”

Nora heard Mabon's heavy steps down the ladder and then the sound of his feet crunching against the gravel below.

“Okay!” he called up. “You can pass Adam down now.”

Nora bent down shakily and slowly lowered Adam's basket to the place she thought the hatch would be. She felt it bump against the ground lightly.

“A little to the left!” Mabon's voice came from below.

Nora slid the basket to the left, and felt the ground cut out from underneath it. She gasped for a moment as the weight of the basket pulled her down, but then felt the basket being supported from below.

“I've got him!” Mabon called.

Nora let go of the basket and waited for Mabon to put it down.

“Okay,” Mabon called. “Now it's your turn. Take a small step to your left, and then reach your foot down behind you.”

Nora followed Mabon's directions and found the hole where the top of the hatch was. She searched below with her left foot for a few moments before she found the top rung. She bent down and braced herself against the side of the hole with her arms, then stepped down with her right foot. She carefully made her way down the ladder toward Mabon.

“That's it!” he called to her. “You're doing great.”

The blindfold made Nora feel unsteady as she descended into the hatch. She caught a whiff of damp earth and burning oil, and it reminded her of the church basement where she'd hidden with Adam. She suddenly felt trapped, and she stopped moving and clung to the ladder in a panic.

“It's okay,” Mabon's voice came, smooth and reassuring. “You're almost there. You can do this.”

“I can't!” shouted Nora.

“Yes you can,” said Mabon. “I won't let you fall. Just take two more steps and I'll be able to grab you.”

Nora closed her eyes under the blindfold and focused on the sound of Mabon's voice. She gripped the rung of the ladder tightly with her hands and slowly shifted her left foot down, searching for the next rung. She found it, and stepped down gingerly. She followed with her right foot, and then repeated the motion one more time.

Suddenly she felt two strong hands on her waist. Mabon had reached up and grasped her, and she loosened her grip on the ladder so he could lift her down. She felt herself float through midair, and suddenly there was solid ground beneath her feet.

“There,” said Mabon letting her go. “You're safe now.”

“Good job,” said Aesop. “The worst is over now. It's not much farther.”

Nora felt Mabon place Adam's basket in her left hand and then take her right in his own.

They left the rougher section of the tunnel and moved onto a solid floor. Nora could hear their footsteps echoing down the corridor ahead of them. The hallway smelled of concrete, as if they were in the basement of a building. They walked what seemed a long way and then came to a set of stairs that led upward. “Be careful,” Mabon whispered as he led her up. These stairs were solid and wide, and Nora didn't have trouble climbing them. When they reached the top, she could feel a cool breeze. The air was fresh and she could smell delicious cooking scents, which made her realize how hungry she was.

Mabon gasped.

“What is it?” Nora asked. “Can someone take this blindfold off now?”

“Yes,” said Aesop. “We can uncover your eyes now.”

Mabon untied the strip of cloth and pulled it from Nora's eyes. She was immediately blinded by the bright afternoon sun. She blinked until her eyes adjusted, then took a look around. What she saw amazed her.

They had exited onto a grassy terrace on the side of a small cliff, one of many dozens of terraces connected by narrow paths that ran all around the west bank of a lush green valley. Below them was a beautiful village nestled beside a sparkling blue lake. The verdant land was divided into many fenced-in orchards of fruit trees, which were separated by vast fields of grain and massive vegetable gardens. A dozen or so cows and goats grazed lazily in a pasture beside the fields. There were stables and other outbuildings, small huts scattered here and there, and the remains of a larger building built up against the side of the cliff below her. All around the valley rim, dozens of elderly outsiders worked with wooden-handled hoes or smaller metal gardening tools, planting and weeding the vegetable beds.

“Welcome to Happy Valley,” Aesop said, grinning and disappearing down the narrow path.

Nora picked Adam up out of the basket and held him close while Lucky skirted her heels excitedly. She turned to smile at Mabon. For the second time since she'd escaped the church basement, she felt a great surge of hope, a rush of almost pure joy. Adam must have sensed her relief, as she felt him gurgle with
happiness as well. He seemed to be laughing, and soon both
Mabon and Nora had joined him. They stood there a long time, the hopeful young woman and her child, the lucky dog, and the joyful, free young man.