Helix and the Arrival (19 page)

I sit up with my back against the wall of the roundhouse, waiting for Ug and Saleeka to wake. Ug is first to rise, and before he even rubs the sleep from his eyes, he says, ‘We need to get the medicine and leave for Rockfall.'

Ug's words wake Saleeka. She yawns and stretches her arms.

‘Come on, both of you. Let us leave,' says Ug.

I know he's right, but overnight I've hatched a plan in my mind: I won't be going back to Rockfall with Ug and Saleeka. I'll be staying in Fenswell with Herb and the river people. This will be my new destiny.

Just as Ug stands up to leave the roundhouse, a riverman comes to the entrance and tells us that Steevor will see us. We follow the riverman to Steevor's
roundhouse. Inside, Steevor is with another riverman, who is introduced as Andron, the chief medicine man.

‘Do you have the medicine?' asks Ug.

‘Andron has prepared it,' says Steevor.

Andron steps forward. He is holding two small pouches made from animal skin. They're small and fit in the palm of his hand.

‘First you will need to cleanse the wound. To do that, take these crushed herbs,' he says, holding up one of the pouches, ‘mix them with water and rub them on the wound. Next, scrape the wound clean with a long, sharp blade.'

The idea of scraping Ugthorn's wound with a blade makes my stomach turn, but Ug doesn't flinch as Andron tells him what needs to be done.

‘Once the wound is clean, you will need to apply this poultice to it twice a day for two days,' he says, holding up the other small pouch.

‘Is that all there is?' asks Ug.

‘This is all you need,' says Andron. ‘You should know within two days whether he is going to recover.'

Ug nods slowly, trying to beat back his worst thoughts.

‘Make haste,' says Steevor. ‘It has been a pleasure to meet you all.'

Ug and Saleeka thank Steevor and leave his roundhouse. I stand still, unmoved – there is something I need to ask Steevor. But just as I'm about to begin, I hear his deep voice.

‘Helix,' he says. ‘I was hoping to talk to you alone.'

This is it! He knows I want to stay and live like Herb! ‘I want to stay,' I say. ‘Just like Herb, I want to stay.'

‘Herb is gone,' says Steevor, in his strong, calm voice.

His words collapse onto my shoulders like an avalanche from the mountaintop. ‘What do you mean,
gone
?' I say.

‘He left last night, Helix. His time had come.'

‘What does that mean?' I say, struggling to get my words out.

‘He took a raft downriver to the open waters, where the next world awaits him.'

‘But … But why didn't he tell me?' I say.

‘Because you would have tried to stop him,' says Steevor.

‘He can't have gone. I'd only just met him … I wanted to …' I can't talk. A river is rising inside me, clouding my eyes and choking my throat.

‘He knew that the time was right, Helix. It gave him great comfort to meet you and tell you his story. You gave him the gift of completeness.'

Ug sticks his head into the roundhouse. ‘Come on,' he says. ‘We need to hurry. Every moment is precious.'

‘No. I'm staying here,' I say, clenching my fists.

Ug's jaw drops as he tries to make sense of what I've just said. Saleeka has heard what I've said, too. She also sticks her head into the roundhouse. ‘You can't stay, Helix,' she says. ‘This isn't your home.'

‘But I want it to be,' I say.

‘Helix, you were born on the mountain,' she says. ‘Your mother and father are waiting for you to return.'

‘She is right,' says Steevor, placing a hand on my shoulder. ‘One day – when the time is right – you will be welcome to return to Fenswell. For now, though, you need to go with your friends. Your place is on the mountain.'

None of what Steevor says is helping. I can't imagine how the emptiness inside me will ever be filled.

‘Come, Helix,' says Saleeka. She takes hold of my arm gently and I follow her and Ug.

We walk to the river crossing, with a number of river people following slowly behind us. I follow Ug and Saleeka, crossing the river using the tree ropes, copying their motions without thinking.

We reach the far side of the bank. Saleeka and Ug wave to the river people on the other side and they wave back. Alone, off to the side, is Kalisha. We catch each other's gaze, then I turn for the woods and begin to walk.

Ug leads the way back up the mountain to Rockfall. He keeps a fast pace, running where he can and only walking when it's slippery underfoot. Saleeka works hard to keep up. I follow behind her. None of us talk.

When we reach Cave's End, Saleeka says, ‘Stop, Ug. I need to drink.'

He looks at her impatiently, then grants her a rest.

‘What will you do when you get back?' says Saleeka to both of us. ‘Everyone will be thinking that you've returned from your Arrival hunt.'

‘I don't care anymore,' I say. ‘The Arrival doesn't prove anything about my true self.'

‘I will go straight to my father,' says Ug. ‘My Arrival is not important anymore. My only goal is to save him.'

I look at Ug. For the first time in a while we smile at each other.

‘You know what all this means?' says Saleeka.

‘What?' I say.

‘To cover up your non-Arrivals, they'll probably want to bring my marriage forward.'

‘I'd almost forgotten about your marriage,' I say.

‘You can keep forgetting about it, Helix, because when I get back I'm telling Korg that I'm not getting married. If he and Speel want to send me to the Dark Side, so be it!'

I smile at Saleeka who stands there fierce, with her short, ragged hair. No one will ever be able to tell her what's right – she will always make up her own mind.

‘I'm sorry about Herb,' she says.

‘I am sure he left proud of you,' says Ug, punching me on the shoulder, almost making me topple over.

‘Thanks, Ug,' I say. ‘Just like your dad will be proud of you when you make him better. Come on, let's go.'

I lead the way, this time, and at an even faster pace than Ug was setting before. The last part of our journey is difficult, with the gradient climbing steeply as we approach Rockfall. My leg muscles are throbbing and I can hear the sound of Ug and Saleeka panting behind me.

We reach the high woods and follow the Down Path that leads back up the mountain. Once on the Common Way, we walk along the final dusty approach towards Rockfall.

The horn sounds.

They know we're coming.

The three of us walk through Rockfall with our eyes fixed straight ahead. Folk are appearing on either side of us, curious as to why, firstly, Ug and I are walking together; secondly, why Saleeka is with us; and thirdly, why Ug and I are without an offering.

‘Helix!' I can hear Mum calling me from behind.

I turn, give her a quick wave and keep walking.

Korg and Speel are nowhere to be seen. They're probably changing into their extra thick and furry ceremonial loincloths in readiness for our Arrival.

We reach Ug's family's cave and his mother appears at the entrance. Her face is pale, as if all the blood has been drained from it. There are tired lines beneath her eyes.

‘Ug, my boy,' she says, and falls forward onto his chest, sobbing.

‘Mother,' says Ug. ‘It is all right.'

‘He's … He's … Krike says he is passing and nothing can be done.'

Ug gently removes his mother's arms from around his neck and walks into the cave. Saleeka and I follow him, while Edla stays outside with the Uglets, who are playing in the dirt.

There, exactly where he was when I last saw him, is Ug's father, the once-mighty Ugthorn. He's lying on his back with his eyes closed. His body looks flat and lifeless.

I can see the tears forming in Ug's eyes. He crouches down and places his head on his father's chest.

I look at Saleeka, but her hands are covering her face. I'm about to suggest we leave Ug alone when he lifts his head up in shock.

‘His heart … His heart still beats!'

Saleeka starts jumping on the spot. ‘Clean the wound like Andron told you, Ug.'

Ug mixes the cleansing herbs with a little water and spreads the mixture on the wound. Then, using a sharp-edged flint, he begins scraping away at the swollen white flesh on Ugthorn's side. Saleeka and I turn away in disgust, but Ug keeps going.

When he's done, Ug dips his finger into the second pouch and scoops some ointment out. It is light brown, specked with white, and thick. He applies the cream to the shiny red wound.

‘You've done what you can for now,' I say. ‘Andron said to apply it twice a day.'

Ug's mother appears with the Uglets by her side. ‘What are you doing?' she says.

‘He is still alive, Mother, but only just. We have applied some medicine to his wound to help it heal.'

‘Medicine from Krike?' she says.

‘No. It is medicine from the lowlands, made by the river people.'

I can see the look on her face. She's shocked and confused. Ug takes her aside and begins to explain our journey.

Meanwhile, I can hear a crowd gathering outside the cave.

Saleeka and I stand inside the entrance to Ug's family's cave, unsure of what awaits us outside.

Ug is still with his mother. She's calmed down after hearing about Ug crossing the river and not returning with an offering for his Arrival. She'll take any hope she can get, even if it means medicine from a strange and foreign land.

Crag the stonehack appears. ‘Speel wants to see you three.'

‘Me as well?' asks Saleeka, a little excited to be included.

‘Yes, you too,' says Crag.

Ug looks at his mother for permission to leave. She nods at him.

Crag leads the way with the three of us following.

The folk of Rockfall know that something's up. They line our path to Speel's cave, trying to see if there's an obvious reason for Speel wanting to see us. For them, this is more exciting than any boring old Arrival ceremony. We're obviously in trouble. Where are our offerings?

I pass Mum and Dad.

‘Helix, what's happening?' says Mum.

‘Where's your offering, son?' says Dad. ‘Was it too big to drag back?'

‘I'll explain later,' I say, and keep walking.

We're led to Speel's cave and shown where to sit. After spending time in the river people's roundhouses, Speel's cave feels very old-fashioned … almost primitive.

Speel is standing with his back to us and looks as if he's deep in thought. Krike is with him, sitting on the other side of the fire to us, probably leaking gas bubbles and threatening to erupt.

Speel turns around and says to Crag, ‘Wait outside.'

The massive figure of Crag turns and departs, hunching his shoulders and dragging his feet.

Speel's one small eye gazes above us so that he isn't speaking directly to our faces. ‘Word is spreading. You have returned, empty-handed, except for medicine of some kind.'

‘It is a poultice for my father,' says Ug, staring straight at Speel.

‘I must say, I am still confused. Here, sitting before me, is Krike, the keeper of medicine for our people, yet he tells me that the medicine is not his. Isn't that right, Krike?'

Krike attempts a confident nod, but the effect is somewhat ruined by the release of a
hrmph
sound from somewhere underneath his loincloth.

‘I am curious as to where this medicine has come from,' says Speel.

We sneak a sideways look at each other. Ug and Saleeka have decided on silence. I understand their reservations, but something inside me wants to be heard.

‘The medicine comes from the river people,' I say. ‘I travelled there to obtain it. Ug and Saleeka had nothing to do with it.'

Speel is smirking beneath his beard, I can tell. He examines the three of us one by one, suspicious of my claim.

‘So if you are going to punish someone,' I continue, ‘punish me.'

‘Don't worry, Helix, you will be punished,' says Speel. ‘All in good time.'

‘Then you can punish me as well,' says Saleeka, ‘because I crossed the river too, and I don't care what you think because I know it was right.'

‘And me,' says Ug. He turns to me. ‘Thank you, Helix, but it is not up to you to shoulder the blame.'

‘How wonderful!' says Speel, clapping his hands together. ‘A three-way confession!'

‘What will happen to us?' I say.

‘You will be shamed and sent to the Dark Side,' he says, curling his fingers together.

‘Do you know what?' says Saleeka. ‘There's nothing shameful about what we have done. You're the one who
should be ashamed, telling people how to live their lives and judging us the way you do!'

‘Very good, very good,' Speel says, laughing to Krike, who joins in awkwardly.

‘Where's Korg?' I say. ‘Shouldn't he be the one telling us we're banished?'

Speel's smirk disappears; he doesn't like this question. ‘I am representing Korg the Magnificent at present. My word is his.'

‘Maybe I will go and ask him for myself,' I say, standing up.

Speel laughs again. ‘You amuse me, Helix. Why would Korg want to speak with you? And even if you
tried to contact him, you would not be permitted. I have charged Tor with seeing that he is not disturbed.'

‘You're keeping him prisoner in his own cave, aren't you?'

‘Certainly not,' says Speel. ‘Korg simply needs some time alone at the moment. He is going through a phase of, let's say, deep contemplation. Every Korg's reign must come to an end at some stage, you know.'

‘You're a liar,' says Saleeka, standing up beside me.

‘You should watch your tongue, young lady. Remember, it is I who controls what is written on your family tablet.'

Ug has been silent for a long time but now he stands and talks. ‘When my father is better, he will have none of this.'

‘Yes, your father … I am sorry, Ug, but your father is in the process of passing to the heavens, onto a new, most glorious life. Nothing can be done now, can it, Krike?'

‘Y-yes. That's right. I have done all I can,' says the cave stinker.

‘You have done nothing of any use,' says Ug, looking down at Krike. ‘All you have done is practise superstition and ignorance on my father. He is no better or worse than he would have been without your help.'

Krike leans back to escape the force of Ug's words.

Speel takes a step forward. ‘I understand you are upset, Ug, so I will allow you to be with your family until your father passes.'

‘You are too kind,' says Ug, with a stony, serious face.

‘What about us?' I say.

‘You and the girl will be confined together in your family's cave until tomorrow when you will be formally banished,' says Speel. ‘Crag will keep guard at the entrance.'

Saleeka and I look at each other.

‘Crag!' calls Speel.

Crag appears.

‘Take them to the boy's cave and stand guard at the entrance.'

Crag doesn't say anything, but leads the way out of Speel's cave.

‘Send us news about your father,' I say to Ug.

‘Yes, let us know if he's improving,' says Saleeka.

‘Go! Now!' says Speel.

We leave the cave, following Crag.