Across the Face of the World (40 page)

'No!' said Leith quickly. 'Hal's often this way. He sees things so clearly, and never thinks he's wrong about anything.' The bitter words touched the Hermit's heart.

'Very well, then,' the blue-robed man said, squatting down and placing a hand on Leith's shoulder. 'As I said, I have foreseen things about you. The first was in a dream, one that came to me in the late night watches about a week ago. I saw you standing naked at the edge of a vast abyss, a captive of cruel men. Other captives stood to your left and right. Your captors threw them into the chasm, one after another.'

'And what happened to me?' Leith said anxiously, unsure whether he believed what he was being told.

'I did not see. I believe that what will happen to you depends on your remembering the message I have for you.' The Hermit lowered his voice. 'Here is the message: "The only way out is to cling to the fire.'"

Leith waited expectantly, but the Hermit had evidently finished.

'Thank you very much,' he said politely. There didn't seem anything else to say. His face reddened as the Hermit's piercing eyes rested on him. He made to stand up.

'I have had more than one vision concerning you,' the Hermit said, pressing down on Leith's shoulder. 'Do you want to hear more?'

Leith nodded.

'This one is much simpler. It is a word that came to me two afternoons ago as I walked the paths of my forest. As I meditated on the dreams and visions I had seen, your face came clearly to me and a voice spoke, saying: "When the flame comes within reach, tell the faithful one: Grasp it without doubt, for only in this fashion will the fire become your servant.'"

'Is that it?'

'That's all I was given to tell you.'

Leith pursed his lips. There was an arrogance about the words of this fellow, an unshakable conviction that what he said was right. A dreamer of dreams, a hearer of voices - someone who in the prosaic northlands of Firanes would most likely be made fun of, like Hal had been.

Yet he sounded so certain of himself!

'You don't believe me.' A statement, not a question.

Leith shrugged his shoulders.

'Very well then, youngster without faith. Here are two signs to confirm the words I have spoken. Before tomorrow is through you will be soaked to the skin. Only you; none of the others. I feel sorry for you - you'll get very cold. Secondly, within two days you will have the opportunity to tell someone your secret.'

'What secret?' Leith interrupted, puzzled.

'You know something about one of your companions, know¬ledge you could use to your own advantage, and you don't know what to do about it. Do you understand me? Don't say yes unless you know what I mean.'

An image of Farr and Wira arguing came into Leith's mind. He thought of Stella, of her brother who was a hopeless drunkard, of what she would say if she knew about Wira.

'Yes,' Leith said thoughtfully, 'I know what you mean.'

'Good! Within two days you will be convinced of the truth of my words.'

'But how do you know these things?' Leith wanted to know. 'Whose is the voice you hear?'

'I told you; I hear the voice of the Most High. I have shut myself away from the flesh, and thus it is easy for me to inhabit the Realm of Fire. 1 have lived twenty years in this cave, dedicated to listening for His voice.' The man's eyes misted over. 'He can be heard in many places: in the trees as they talk with the wind, in the movements of animals, in the rhythms of the seasons. Sometimes, when I have fasted and prayed and gone without sleep for many days, He speaks directly to my mind. Such were the words He gave me concerning you.'

Leith nodded, astonished that a man living in a cave a thou¬sand miles or more from Loulea would have a message just for him.

But what did it mean? He asked the Hermit to explain the prophecies for him, but the man in the blue robe said he did not know. Leith could not tell whether he told the truth - but why would such an obviously holy man lie? And, more to the point, why had Hal, who always spoke of the Most High, resisted the words so strongly? It was not Hal who had been the subject of the prophecies! It had been so totally out of character for him to speak as he had done. He was sure the others felt the same way: Hal had shamed them all.

Then, as though reading his mind, the Hermit questioned Leith about his family. It was clear from the questions that the man regarded Hal with a high degree of suspicion, even going so far as suggesting that the cripple was motivated by jealousy.

'Jealous of what?' Leith said. If only you knew, he thought. I've spent my whole life being jealous of him.

The blue-robed stranger drew himself up to his full height.

'I see a high and lofty destiny for you,' he proclaimed, eyes blazing with passion. 'This I prophesy: you will rule over men; yes, and even kingdoms will obey your voice. Your deeds will inspire others now and in the ages to come. You have been summoned from your own land for such a time as this.' He lowered his voice for a moment, and his eyes lost their intensity. 'Perhaps your brother, who undoubtedly has foresight, if only in a small measure, sees something of this, and is jealous of what he will never attain.'

'Are you certain of this? A high destiny?'

'I am sure,' the Hermit replied, breathing heavily in the after¬math of prophecy. 'Though it takes me by surprise as much as it does you.'

That night Leith could not sleep.

He had left the Hermit in the main cavern and had found his friends sleeping in several small alcoves near the rear of Bandits' Cave. Hal lay alone in one alcove, nestled on a smooth rock bench, his bedding neat as always. Leith's bedding had been laid out on another bench a few feet away. As Leith entered the small cave, he realised that Hal was not asleep, but he said nothing as he scrunched his blankets into a less uncomfortable position.

The Hermit had taken him by surprise. He had not known how to react as the stranger had given him words of prophecy, nor did he know how to deal with them. The words ran again and again through his mind. A high and lofty destiny. Rule over men and over kingdoms.

Inspire others. High and lofty! This will show them all.

His ruminations were disturbed by movement on the shelf beside him. Hal, who obviously couldn't sleep either, was rising. That's unusual! I've never known Hal to do anything other than sleep deeply. As Hal left the sleeping chamber, Leith rose and followed quietly.

The cripple went directly to the Hermit's room, finding it unerr¬ingly although it was almost completely dark in the unfamiliar caves under the hill. Following at a distance, Leith kept bumping into things, taking the skin off his right knee at one point. Surely Hal must know I am following him, Leith wondered. Surely he must hear me.

Cautiously he peered into the small chamber in which the Hermit slept. Hal stood over the sleeping man.

Do I shout a warning.7 What is my brother going to do to him?

Then Hal began to speak slowly, quietly, clearly, deliberately.

'You have disobeyed the Most High,' came Hal's voice. 'The prophecy you gave to Leith tonight was given for your benefit, not his, to guide your steps, not his. It was a clear signal to you that the Hermit of Bandits' Cave was to serve the instrument of the Most High, not be that instrument himself. The prophecy was to be kept from him until the appointed time. Because of your disobe¬dience, he has heard it too soon, and it will be too great a burden for him to carry. He will suffer doubt, and others will suffer because of it.' He took a deep, shuddering breath, as though he was in pain. 'Now you have ruined the plan, and have made it difficult, if not impossible, for the child to fulfil his calling.'

The figure in the bed made no response. He must still be asleep, Leith thought.

'You were supposed to accompany Leith on his journey into the heart of Faltha. You were to be his guide, his teacher. He would have learned from you the things which, in his pride, he will not learn from me. Armed with the prophetic words you have been given, you would have served as his protector. But tonight you have exposed the roots of your own pride, and they run deep. You are not fit to teach him. The Most High must now find another teacher.

Beware! Your own soul lies in mortal peril.

'Therefore the Most High requires a hard task of you, teaching you by experience what you would not learn by humility. You will look after the Haufuth and nurse him back to health, restoring his strength and his hope. Know this: the Haufuth started on this journey carrying a great responsibility alone. He knew that unless he acted swiftly and with prudence, all of Faltha might be lost. However, he has since surrendered responsibility and leadership to those who appear swifter, stronger or wiser than he. Now he feels he has no place in our Company, and he believes he is a hindrance to our journey.

'Listen closely, Eremos, for I have a question for you. Are you prepared to do anything for the Most High?'

Without indicating that he was in any way awake, the Hermit nodded his head.

'Anything? You are quick with your answer! Nevertheless, let it be as you say.'

The crippled youth stretched out his right hand and took the hand of the Hermit. As their hands clasped, a line of blue fire spread slowly from Hal's arm to his hand, then to the hand and arm of the Hermit. For a moment both men were swathed in a pale blue light, outlining a pair of shadowy wings on the back of the cripple. Then the fire faded. Hal withdrew his hand, and the Hermit fell from his cot to the floor, gasping for breath.

'Bring him to Instruere when he is well again,' said Hal quietly, and turned to leave.

Stunned at what he had seen and heard, Leith ducked away from the door and stumbled blindly back to his room. When he finally found his way there, Hal lay fast asleep in his corner.

Leith gazed on the peaceful form of his brother. Hal! Hal! his mind screamed. What are you?

'Something has happened! Something is wrong with the Hermit!' Perdu came running from the cave, nearly knocking over Hal in his haste. 'Come quickly!'

'What's the matter?' Kurr asked.

'The Hermit is lying on the floor, breathing faintly and in a high fever,' Perdu explained. 'I fear he might be dying.'

The Company, followed by the Fodhram, rushed into the cave where the Hermit lay. Spasms racked the man's frame, his hands were pale and clammy and he was sweating profusely. Hal and Stella rushed off to get cloths and cold water.

An hour later his condition had deteriorated. His heart was beating too fast, the clamminess had spread and his back arched in convulsions. No one had any doubt the Hermit would die.

Hal looked up from the pale, golden-framed face and turned to the others. 'I have never seen this kind of sickness before,' he said. 'Is there any among you who have heard of such a thing?'

Leith wanted to cry out: Hal! This is your doing! You have cursed him with this sickness! But he could not speak the words of betrayal, even if his brother had been proved evil.

No one spoke; the horror and helplessness of death was upon them. Finally Perdu stood and came over to where the Hermit lay, then beckoned for the Haufuth to follow.

Together they bent over the man. 'Do you remember the plague of black flies back when Clyma was the King in Rammr?'

'I wasn't born when Clyma was King,' the Haufuth replied quietly.

'Neither was I!' Perdu admitted. 'But surely you have heard about it? Black flies throughout Firanes, dark clouds covering the sky like smoke from forest fires - then the clouds came down to the towns and cities, biting the King in his court and the baby in his cradle. One after another the people took sick and died. My father told me that people in Mjolkbridge came down with a high fever within hours of being bitten, just like this Hermit here. I've been trying to remember what this reminded me of. What do you think?'

The Haufuth sighed. 'Why do you ask me? Surely Kurr would remember it?'

'I've heard about it, of course,' the old farmer said shortly, 'but I wasn't living in Firanes at the time. Now, in the name of the Most High, if you know anything about this plague, please tell us!'

Perdu turned to the Fodhram. 'Didn't you say that Withwestwa Wood has seen a mild winter?'

'Milder than usual,' came the reply. No one was smiling now, not even the Fodhram.

'And what colour clothing does this Hermit wear? Does he always wear blue robes?'

'How would I know?' said the Fodhram leader. 'I've never seen his wardrobe!'

'Have you ever seen him in anything else?'

The Fodhram thought hard. 'No.'

'I thought not. These flies, so the stories go, were most strongly attracted to anything coloured blue.'

The others waited quietly as Perdu thought.

'Turn him over on to his back,' the Fenni man commanded.

'But that might kill him!' Leith protested.

'He'll die if we do nothing! I need to see if he has any bites. Black fly bites are very distinctive

- if they get infected, a large carbuncle will develop around the wound. Like those!' he said, as they turned the Hermit over.

Leith gasped as he saw the festering sores. How had the Hermit received such bites?

'They are infected black fly bites,' Perdu pronounced. 'Now, we must work fast! The only salve I know for black fly bite is to make a poultice from the bark of the tamarack tree.'

'The tamarack?' Shabby exclaimed. 'There's a grove a half-hour or so along the Southern Run.

But for all I know they could be buried under the snow!'

'You'll have to go and find out,' said his leader.

'Please hurry,' the Haufuth urged. 'He may not have much time remaining.'

Within the hour Shabby had returned, clearly having run all the way. Leith could only imagine the effort this Fodhram must have expended as he ran through the snow. His legs shook with exhaus¬tion as he emptied the contents of his knapsack in front of the Haufuth.

The big headman set to work making a poultice. He called Hal over to help, and together they crushed the tamarack bark. Immediately a brisk, earthy fragrance filled the cavern, the sharp¬ness setting Leith coughing and bringing tears to everyone's eyes. The bark was placed in a light cloth wrapping to form a bag, which was drawn closed by string.