In the beginning, the world was at war. Pollution had threatened the planet and caused the extinction of many species. Countries began fighting for the few resources that were still available, and eventually armies began to do battle, at first with traditional weaponry, then, as resentment and jealousy heated up, the biological and chemical weapons were employed. Finally, when it became apparent that biological weapons didn’t actually observe political boundaries, the nuclear warheads were employed, and the war was over.
Nobody won.
The result of using nuclear weapons became apparent as the remaining threads of society were forced to leave the shelter of their cities to escape the terrible diseases that had been spread there. Nuclear winter set in. The cold killed refugees as effectively as the toxins in the cities, and only the hardy few succeeded in making their way out to settle in the wilds.
Shelters were set up for the rich and powerful, and one particular shelter was built for a group of scientists who were fighting to combat the terrible effects of the war and clean up the ruined earth. This particular facility had been designated as a storage facility for housing the accumulated knowledge of the human race, as well as a laboratory for continuing research to ameliorate the effects of the war that ended with the death of society as we know it. However, we’ve been warned throughout our lives of the problems of putting all our eggs in one basket.
Time passed.
In the underground fastness of the mountain hideout, scientists labored to build the machinery that would save the earth. They felt secure in the knowledge that their refuge was secure and that they were hidden. No one knows what actually happened. Maybe someone gave the shelter away to the enemy, or maybe it was a lucky strike, but one last barrage of artillery caused a catastrophic event that collapsed much of the cavern complex, killing many and causing much of their work to be lost.
Time passed again, as it does, and a new, kinder civilization grew out of the old, based more on the mind and its abilities than force of arms. Much technology had been lost to them, but slowly they began to regroup.
Out in the countryside, winter continued and the few who survived outside the shelters grew hardy and strong, forming small societies of their own. Gradually, under the cover of winter, the earth began to heal.
Time passed.
The peculiar greenish tinge to the sky told Jensen that he’d need to seek shelter very soon or risk being caught in the rapidly worsening weather. Already the gusting winds were making his forward progress tricky, and he pulled his furs closer to his body as a brief flurry of rain bit into his exposed face. The needles of icy cold against his flesh promised misery if he couldn’t find somewhere to wait it out.
The wind was seriously slowing him down now, blasting against him as he stumbled upwards on the rocky trail, desperately seeking a crevice or hollow where he could ride out the storm, covered in his weatherproof blanket.
He’d been trailing a fat goat, preparing to bring it down and haul it home to his yurt. Winter would be with them again soon, as evidenced by this storm. While it was always cold these days, once the snows and the ice-storms began in earnest, there would be little hunting possible, and the clan would need to rely on what they had stored during the warmer season.
A particularly virulent gust of wind took him off his feet and sent him stumbling into one of the rocks that marked the upward trail. He clung to it, looking around to see if there was anything that would afford him shelter, then sighed and began to climb again.
He should have been more alert. He realized that later. He should’ve concentrated less on his cold, windy misery and listened harder for extraneous sounds. But the buffeting wind and the icy needles of rain that stung his cheeks and soaked his beard were the distraction that prevented him from realizing that he was about to be attacked until it was far too late.
A vivid streak of lightning forked across the rapidly darkening sky and revealed an assailant immediately in front of him. He had his surujin ready and poised to throw when a second, unseen enemy struck him from behind and he fell onto the rocky path.
He was kicked and beaten and heard one of the bandits say that they should slit his throat. But in the end, his attackers didn’t bother. He was stripped of his furs, his warm clothing, and his backpack and dragged along over the stony ground to finally end up flung down a cleft in the rocks that he’d missed earlier and left to die of exposure. From there he tumbled into what might well have been a mineshaft in the years before the world had ended.
He’d retained consciousness long enough to strike one side of the shaft, but as he felt his shoulder separate from contact with the rough wall, his awareness faded. By the time he landed at the bottom of the hole he was deeply unconscious.
Jared was checking the passageways for stray kids out playing when he came across the man, or to be precise, when the man fell out of the sky to land on the ground in front of him, accompanied by assorted gravel, stones and dirt. For a moment he stood, shocked by the stranger’s sudden appearance but soon realized that the person in front of him was hurt, possibly very badly hurt.
The storm had by now reached its fullest potential and raged above, sending further debris into the shaft to land on and around the unconscious being that lay before him. It was evident that the man needed help, but Jared's first need was to get him out of that passageway, because it was on the lowest level and that would soon be flooded. If they didn't get to him in time the chances of his survival would be nil.
Making up his mind, he turned and ran back to the stairway that had been cut into the rock so many years ago and up to the entrance of his creche, calling for Lisa, the head healer, as he went. By the time he found her, the alarm was sounding, indicating that lockdown was imminent, and he puffed and panted as he explained about the stranger he'd discovered. Instantly she left off bandaging the minor cut that she was treating on one of the kitchen staff and called to a couple of nearby students to leave what they were doing and follow her with a stretcher.
The corridor was already ankle deep in water by the time they got back to where the man lay, and the wind was howling above them so fiercely that they couldn't hear each other speak above the noise. They didn't have time to be careful. They loaded their patient up onto the stretcher and hurried back the way they'd come, hoping to make it with their burden before lockdown left them outside to fend for themselves until the storm was over.
They almost didn't make it. They were scrambling through the passageway, knee deep in water by the time they reached the stairs, and the klaxon sounded to announce the lockdown just as they stumbled up the stairs and back into the warmth of the sick bay.
The three young men made their burden as comfortable as possible in his present situation, grateful for the fact that he was still unconscious. Lisa settled herself into the lotus position and began the breathing and meditation she would need in order to scry within him and see exactly what damage had been caused, and what steps she would have to take in order to repair him.
The others had left after settling the man on a pallet in one of the alcoves cut into the rock, but Jared, who was training to become a healer himself, seated himself beside Lisa and did his best to emulate her posture and breathing.
For Jared, time seemed to slow down, the sound of the cooks clattering pots in the cafeteria faded, and he found himself in a state where he could focus completely on the young man who was lying so still. He could see the cuts and bruises that scattered across his torso glowing ugly and brown in his vision. The abrasions on his feet and legs were brighter, and as he looked deeper, categorizing the injuries, he shuddered. The separated shoulder made his vision swoop in and out, a throbbing orange which caused his inner sight to grey around the edges in sympathy for the pain the poor man must be feeling.
He was about to withdraw his sight after one last long look at the face, handsome under the grime and the bruises, even covered in hair as it currently was. But then, looking deeper he noticed the base of his skull. The depression fracture he could see now—the hurt to the man's head shining ugly and red. He caught his breath and wondered how he hadn't noticed it straight away. He crawled forward, still in his trance, was going to do what he could to heal the wound, but then he caught a wisp of a thought.
It was hazy, unfocused, but he knew that it was coming from his patient. He would have known that even without seeing it shimmer within his sleeping mind.
What...? Where...?He leaned forward, laid a hand on the other's chest, and sent a soothing thought back to him.
You're safe now. You're with me.Who?Jared. I'm Jared.That appeared to be enough for the other, who seemed to sink back into deeper unconsciousness at that.
He would have done something more, although he had no idea what, but just at that moment Lisa opened her eyes and frowned at him. “What are you doing?”
It was enough to jolt him back into the present, although he could still see the injuries that defaced the other’s beauty.
“Lisa, I can see the hurts that he has. It worked for me. It’s the first time ever, but I can see them.” He felt as though he was gabbling, trying to make her understand that he wasn’t just meddling, that he actually had it in him to become a real healer.
“Oh, really?” Her expression changed, and she looked solemn once more, her eyes focused on the patient, who was stirring a little. “Tell me what you saw.”
“I can still see them,” he said. “Lots of superficial bruises and scrapes. The long cut on his right leg needs to be fixed, and his shoulder is dislocated.”
She nodded as he catalogued the injuries. “Anything else?”
“His head is the worst. He’s got a fracture at the back of his head that needs to be fixed first. If we don’t repair it, he'll die, I think." Jared stared at her face, trying to decide if he was right, and if she was pleased. Finally, after a long pause, she nodded.
"Good, Jared. Very good indeed. Yes, the depressed fracture has caused bleeding, and we'll work on that first. The rest don't need the same level of intervention." She took a deep breath and held out a hand to Jared. "Come on. You can help me heal it. This kind of injury is very draining for one person to heal. If you're as strong as I think you are, then we can do it together and both come out of the healing still able to work on his shoulder." She paused and looked at the mess of his left arm. "I imagine he'll be very happy about that," she said, dryly. "It looks incredibly painful."
Jared felt tears start and blinked hastily, not wanting to appear weak in front of his teacher. When she moved around to their patient’s other side and held out her hands, he took them in his own and sank back into his meditative state, preparing to give Lisa his strength in the difficult task she was about to undertake.
Slowly, the young man’s skull began to draw back into its proper shape, and he felt a rush of satisfaction as his strength began to ebb. He would have moved back but a sound from Lisa froze him.
Hold still. The hard part is just beginning. We must stop the bleeding before it harms him irreparably.Suitably chastened as he realized there was more work to do, he watched, entranced as the ruptured blood vessels drew together, knitting so that the slow seepage of blood was halted. The young man stirred as Lisa withdrew from his head, but other than a faint moan, he didn't show any real effects of their delicate surgery.
"Now we'll reduce that dislocated shoulder, and tidy it up a little," she announced, releasing Jared and moving to stand beside him once more. "Hold him for me."
There was a crunch and a pop as she manipulated the limb, straightening it and placing it alongside his body. "We'll take down some of the swelling, and he'll be much more comfortable," she said, and Jared, exhausted now, could only watch and admire as she repaired strained tendons and healed blood vessels.
When she finally stepped back and went to sit in her chair, she looked grey, her usual rich chocolate coloring stripped away by the effort she had expended. Jared was exhausted too, but he went over to her medicine cabinet and poured her a glass of the cordial she needed.
She nodded her thanks. "Go and rest," she told him. "He'll wake in a few hours, and he'll need you then."
"He spoke to me, before," said Jared.
"He did? When?"
"Before we healed him. He sent me thoughts, wanted to know who I was. I just told him I was Jared." She raised her eyebrows at that.
"That isn't usual. You should have told me sooner." She didn't say anything further and after a moment, Jared went to lie down, intending to rest for just a moment, but within seconds he was asleep.
Jared was woken at dawn to attend the change of duty ceremony. Lisa was going off duty for the next ten-day, and one of Jared's favorite people was coming in to take over. He felt exhausted and washed his face in cold water to alleviate the gummy eyed appearance, so that he would at least give the impression of being alert. He skidded into the main cave just in time to say goodbye to Lisa and wish her a happy ten-day, and then greet Samantha, the incoming medic.
Hugging Sam 'hello'—something he would never dare do to Lisa—he brought her up to speed about the single patient they had in the sick bay. She had already been briefed by Lisa, who had told her about the rescue and the repairs to the broken body of their patient.
"So, I hear you have graduated from just scrying to actually healing," said Sam with a smile.
"I helped," murmured Jared, suddenly feeling bashful. "He spoke to me, mind to mind. I had to make sure he was fine after that."
"He spoke to you?" Samantha gave him a sudden look as though she too could see inside his head, read his thoughts.
"Yeah. Not much. He was pretty out of it." Jared was blushing now and trying really hard to shut down this discussion. It was something he was hoping wouldn't come up again. Mindspeak was such an unusual occurrence, and in the past it had only been known in rare, mated pairs. As Sam explained that to him, he quickly tried to cover, blushing dark red. "It was mainly wanting to know where he was so it can’t be that. He lost consciousness before I could tell him. I think he was panicking."
"Well, we should probably go and take a look at him then, don't you think?" Sam flashed him a knowing smile and turned to lead the way back to the sick bay.
When they reached the man’s bedside, he was awake and huge, thickly fringed, green eyes fastened onto Jared and followed him as he approached.
"Jared, darling, you know he's an outsider, don't you?" Samantha gave Jared a smile. "He won't be easy to civilize."
Gazing down at him, Jared attempted to discern the man's features from within the bushy beard he was sporting. "I guess the first thing we need to do is get rid of the facial fungus. He'll look much better without it. He's healing well. We didn't have the energy last night to heal all the cuts and bruises. The head injury was really bad. It took us both to fix it." There was pride in his voice, and he almost missed her next words.
"I'll leave him with you, Jared. Your first patient as a real healer. Be careful," she said. "Outsiders are unpredictable." Indeed, their patient's eyes looked panicky as Jared began to take his vitals.
His first ever solo patient! Lisa would never have given him that kind of responsibility! Jared smiled at his patient, belly fluttering with the heady sense of accomplishment. "Hey, good morning. How are you feeling?"
When the man just looked up at him, his brow furrowed, Jared bit his lip and frowned, trying to think what to do. Finally, he patted his own chest and announced “Jared,” and then pointed to the man in the bed. It didn’t take long for him to get the message, and eventually the other man murmured “Jensen,” in a deep, pleasant voice.
“Hi, Jensen.” Jared held out his hand and waited. With a lopsided smile Jensen took hold of it, but then paused, unsure what to do next. It had worked the previous night, so Jared tried once again.
You’re safe now. How do you feel?For a moment, Jensen looked around, trying to see who was talking to him, but seemed after a minute to realize that it was Jared.
Where am I? Where is this place?This is one of the caverns of The People. That would have to do, thought Jared. He wasn’t really sure how to explain things any better. Maybe Sam would be able to give him some pointers. Right now, he was just going to try and get the guy up and functioning.
Are you hungry? Come on, we'll show you the bathroom, and I'll find you some clothes.Jensen got out of bed somewhat shakily and followed Jared to where Sam was tending to one of the children, who seemed to have a runny nose. "We're going to go find Jensen some clothes and then we'll both have breakfast."
"Excellent," she said. "Little Jack here has apparently stuffed seven pieces of macaroni up one nostril. I've managed to retrieve four of them, but I'm afraid that I'm going to have to use my energy to remove the others. I may be in trance for a while, so when you come back can you see if anyone is waiting for assistance? Oh, and send Ty to me if you see him, please.” She turned back to her small patient and then turned back to him again. “I almost forgot; I got this out of the locker for you."
She held out the depilatory lotion as she was speaking, and Jared thanked her profusely before moving on with his companion. Jensen followed quietly, eyes darting from side to side as he checked for signs of danger.
As they made their way to the bathing area, Jared gathered together towels and underwear for his charge, then requested one of the housekeepers to find some jeans and a shirt for Jensen.
The newcomer was delighted by the bathroom. There was no other way to describe his reaction. He had a little trouble understanding the flushing toilet, but soon caught on and flushed it several times just to watch the water run away. He embraced the idea of a warm shower with gusto and although his first instinct led him to taste the soap, Jared was soon able to demonstrate its use. It was with difficulty that he was persuaded to come out from under the hot water once he seemed to be sufficiently clean.
He allowed Jared to apply the depilatory lotion to his face, unsure but trusting, and when his beard shriveled away in handfuls, he was at first horrified and ran to crouch behind one of the towel racks. However, by that time it was too late and the beard was gone, leaving a smooth, handsome face with the most ferocious scowl Jared had ever seen. He didn't know whether to fall in love or run for his life. In the end he kept a wary distance from him while lusting after the beautiful man he'd helped uncover.
Jensen seemed to know what a toothbrush was all about, and truthfully his teeth were as white and perfect as the rest of him. The toothpaste was evidently unfamiliar to him, but he took to cleaning his teeth happily, and when he found that the toothpaste frothed up and foamed all over his face, he actually cracked a smile for the first time since the loss of his beard.
By the time they were washed and dressed and on their way into breakfast, Jensen seemed to have forgiven Jared, at least for the time being, although he did keep rubbing his face with his hand.
Breakfast was interesting. It was apparent that Jensen had never seen sausages or bacon before, although he recognized the eggs. They ate in companionable silence after Jensen had been assured that everyone was eating the same stuff as was on his plate. He was definitely a fan of bacon by the end of the meal and wanted to know what animal it came from. Jared, of course, didn't know, because the meat that The People ate was all synthetically produced in the laboratories. He resolved to take Jensen there later and let him decide.
The storm was still raging outside, and despite the vastness of the mountain above them, it could still be heard howling down the air shafts. To Jared it was nothing new, but Jensen was visibly shaken and demanded to know if it was his presence that had annoyed the gods. Samantha, who had come to check him over and make sure he was healing properly was reassuring.
"One day the people will be freed to go back out into the sunshine. The sky will be blue once more and there will be peace from the storms," she murmured.
As Jared translated for her, Jensen became agitated.
The sky has never been blue, he thought vehemently.
Sometimes it's grey. Sometimes it's black. It's just the way it is."Once, a long time ago, when The People still lived above ground in the cities, and the sun still shone, the sky was blue." Samantha smiled at the two young men. "Our legends say that we'll be free when that time comes again, but that first there are tasks that must be completed."
Jensen shook his head, apparently angry at her words.
I have lived up there. There's no such thing as blue sky. There is no 'sun'.Jared put his hand on Jensen's shoulder.
It's okay. It's all legends. You're safe down here.It seemed that Jensen was about to protest, but then he gave a sigh and subsided. Jared was about to say something about living on the surface, but there was a sudden crash and the whole ground shook. There were several further crashes, and people screaming. Jensen and Jared clung to each other as they were thrown off their feet, and then the lights went out.
It was completely and utterly black when Jared opened his eyes. He could hear faint moaning from somewhere in the distance, and closer to him he could hear Jensen's voice saying something incomprehensible that sounded more angry than afraid. He fumbled in his pocket for a light-rod and felt a flood of relief that it hadn't broken in the quake.
The flare when he activated it made his eyes water, but as the light settled and became steadier, he could finally see the extent of the catastrophe. Part of the back wall of the cave had fallen away, demolishing much of the serving area of the kitchen, and there were huge boulders and debris all over the creche, extending into the hospital area. Sam lay silent, blood oozing from her scalp to coat her golden hair, and his heart was in his mouth as he crawled over to lay a hand on her.
Jensen followed him.
Is she dead?Not yet, but she's in critical condition. I'm going to need to try and help her or she will be. He fumbled for a second light-rod and held it out to Jensen, showing him how it activated and how to turn it off when he wasn't using it. Nodding, Jensen took it and after a moment or so made his way over to where the huge pile of rubble might conceal people who needed assistance.
Still utterly confused about where he was or who these people were, Jensen was determined to do everything he could to help. Clearly, they had some magic healing power that he didn’t have time to wrap his head around, and he didn’t want to think about how the strangely compelling young healer was able to communicate with him inside his mind. He had no idea how to help with the female healer, but he could see many other ways that he could contribute. He set to work.
Already several others were attacking the rocks, slowly clearing the space. One man had found a body and was gently tending to it, rolling the person—a young woman—onto a stretcher for removal to the hospital. Unable to do more than gesture, he indicated that he would assist in the cleanup.
The work was back breaking, and several more people had already been found in the rubble when Jensen paused to go looking for water and possibly something to eat. Armed with a jug of water and a couple of sandwiches he went to find Jared.
As he made his way into the sick bay, he could see that Jared was busy, his hands on a youngster who had been brought to him. Jared’s eyes were closed, and his face was grey with effort. Samantha herself was sitting up, drinking from a steaming mug. She didn't look much more lively.
Making his way into the room, he called Jared, and when his friend finally opened his eyes, offered him the refreshments he'd brought.
You should probably take a break, he thought, and Jared smiled at him gratefully. He still didn’t understand this mind-speaking thing, but it was certainly convenient. He wondered how it worked, since he’d never been able to do it before, but he would take it. It was giving him an opportunity to settle into this strange place when without it he’d be helpless.
Once this is all done I'll need to sleep for a week, was Jared’s response as he tore into the sandwich as if he was starving.
They're going to get the lights going shortly, but apparently a rock hit one of the power coils, and they have to clear out the rubble before it becomes operational again. They'll send our other healer, Tahmoh, over just as soon as he can get through to us, but for now it's just me and Sam. Jake was helping but he's tapped out now. Jared indicated the young man who was lying, snoring, beside Sam.
There seemed to be nothing further he could do to help in the sick bay, so Jensen took himself off back to where the others were still clearing away rocks and stones. Setting to work at a point along the cave from where the others were working, he began to make his way through the mess once more. It was backbreaking, and he was glad that he was fit and strong enough to help, although in a way he wished he was back out in the cold and stormy outside world. He was amazed at himself that he wasn't having a panic attack over the quake and subsequent destruction. He thought that he might well have the attack once the work was finished and he had a minute to think about things rather than merely reacting.
As he labored, he became aware of a dim light coming from somewhere beyond the pile of rubble he was clearing. He redoubled his efforts and soon had made a space large enough for him to get through if he crouched. Shoving his torso and his light-rod through, he could see that beyond where he was working a wall had collapsed, revealing a passageway leading downwards, and that there was a light source somewhere within.
Looking around himself, he discovered that most of the workers who had been clearing away the debris had given up and gone to find refreshments. It seemed that there were no further casualties. Nodding to himself, he decided that he wouldn't be missed. Armed with his shovel and the rope he'd been using to haul away the larger rocks, he climbed through the opening he'd made and set about exploring what was beyond.
The ground was rocky, uneven, and covered in pebbles and stones that hurt his bare feet. Never had he longed more for the sturdy boots his mother had crafted for him when he first began scouting for the clan. If he actually decided to come this way again, he'd be bringing a broom and hopefully have foot coverings. Jared had ordered shoes for him, but since they were coming from one of the other caves in the complex, he wasn't even sure if they were on their way since everyone was still locked down, and the storm could still be heard screaming overhead. Who knew what had befallen the other caves because of the ‘quake?
The light was growing stronger and led him eventually to a shaft from which the lambent rays were pulsing. The rock walls prevented him from going any further, so after a few minutes pondering, he decided that down was definitely the next step to take. He looked around for something to tie his rope to, in order to belay himself down to find where the light was coming from, but nothing seemed to be safe, and regretfully he decided to go back and find Jared.
Itching to explore further, he made his way back to the main cave and went to find his friend.
He found Jared just waking up from a snooze that seemed to have put a little more color in his cheeks. The injured were all sleeping on pallets, save for one ominously shrouded presence in the corner beside the door. A very stern looking man came over to check on Jared as Jensen watched, and Jared yawned, stretched, and evidently told him that he felt fine. As the man eyed Jensen a little dubiously, Jared caught his hand and told the man—apparently this was the healer Tahmoh that he’d mentioned earlier—what had happened to Jensen. Tahmoh smiled, and Jensen blinked at the way the smile illuminated Tahmoh's face. He found himself smiling back, feeling suddenly validated.
As Jared got the go ahead to take a break, he towed Jensen with him, explaining how Tahmoh had come to help by breaking the lockdown protocol, and that he was in fact the head of the healers. They were in the kitchen before Jensen could respond, and Jared was loading a plate with huge amounts of food, much to Jensen's amusement. He helped himself to a much more modest selection and made his way after Jared to sit at a table not far from the rubble that still littered the cave.
The main lights had come back on, much to Jensen's relief, and Jared reminded him that he needed to shut off the light-rod, explaining how to charge it up against future emergencies. They both dug into their meals then, and it was a while before Jensen was able to start telling him about the tunnel and the shaft that he'd found.
Their meal finished, Jensen began to tell Jared about his discovery, hopeful that he'd be a willing partner in exploring what might be down the hole. He was excited to prove to this strange community that he was a good hunter, and that he could help keep them safe even though he couldn’t yet actually communicate with most of them. He would protect Jared of course. Jared had been the one to help him when he was injured. At first, Jared seemed to want to bring Tahmoh into the discovery, but Jensen was vehement that he wanted to go right then, and Tahmoh was too busy with the injured. It wasn't such a hard sell. Jared was increasingly becoming excited about Jensen's discovery, and finally Jensen's enthusiasm won out and Jared agreed to at least go and check out the shaft before going to tell the authorities of its existence.
Priding himself on being able to keep Tahmoh away from his initial exploration, Jensen mentally congratulated himself. He would be able to regain the face that he’d lost by allowing himself to be so terribly wounded and at the same time he could get to know Jared better. There was something about Jared. Jensen couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Now that the main lights were back on, the faint light from behind the wall of rocks was almost imperceptible, and it would likely be a while before more was cleared, since all the casualties were now accounted for, and the rescue squad were by and large taking it easy and resting their weary muscles. The two of them collected a few items that Jensen thought might prove useful, including a broom to sweep away the rubble and protect his feet and then after checking to ensure nobody was watching them, they squeezed through the opening and made their way back towards the light.
It didn't take more than a couple of minutes for them to reach the hole, and both of them knelt to check if they could see anything that might be dangerous.
I'm gonna go down there and see if I can find anything. If a dragon gets me, don't hang around. Rush back and fill up that hole, okay? Jensen had tied the rope around his chest ready and now climbed to sit with his legs dangling over the edge of the shaft. Jared laughed.
If it eats you, it'll probably eat me too. You don't think you're the only one that gets to explore, do you? I wanna see what's down there, too. He lowered Jensen down the hole, and Jensen left him looking around for a solid piece of rock to drive a spike into. He smiled to himself. Jared may be a cave dweller, but he appeared to be as brave as any of Jensen’s contemporaries were when facing the unknown.
As Jensen reached the bottom of the shaft, the light was much stronger, and beneath his feet he could feel a faint throbbing. There was a tunnel that continued for a few more feet, curving around just enough to obscure his view. He began to hurry along the passageway, which seemed to be much smoother than the downward shaft, almost like molten glass in some parts. At last, he rounded the bend and stopped short, gaping in wonder at the sight before him.
The light seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. The glow was warm and somehow made him feel good, almost like the way he felt after an exercise session to develop his arms and shoulders. He stepped forward and stood entranced at the walls around him. The opening through which he'd come was ragged at the edges, as though something had broken through in times gone by. There were no pieces of shattered masonry to indicate that's what had happened, but the cave itself was smooth, again almost as if made of glass, and on its shiny surface he could see pictures, as though some artist had begun to paint a story that continued on not only the walls but also the ceiling for the length of the room.
There were trees and scenes of the world topside, and what looked like animals, although he'd never seen anything like them before. There was what looked like a geographic orientation device. He'd seen one of those before, once, when old Jim from the clan had shown him how it worked. It didn't matter how you twisted and turned, the needle in it always pointed in the same direction.
He'd have loved to have such a tool. It would be so helpful in finding his way back to the clan, but alas he didn't think that returning was even a possibility anymore.
His eyes were drawn to a machine somewhat like the orientation meter. He stood staring at it for some time, and he could swear that it was moving, slowly, very slowly. There were pointers, and one of them seemed to creep around to rest in a different spot whenever he looked away. It was a powerful magic, he thought, and wondered just what it was and what it would do.
He could see other, similar images, but for whatever reason this was the one that held his attention. He was staring at it, focusing all his attention on it in an effort to catch the pointer moving around the face of the object, and so he didn't notice when Jared arrived and suddenly laid his hand on Jensen's shoulder.
He thought that he might have jumped as high as one of the mountain goats that were his principal food source when he was out hunting.
Skies above! Jensen’s thought was filled with awe.
Watch. He pointed to the drawing while trying not to take his eyes off it.
I'm pretty sure that the needles on this thing are slowly sweeping around in a circle. Jared shook his head.
I don't see how they possibly can be, was his thought.
It's just a painting, isn't it? He stroked his fingers over the image, which felt a little as if it were vibrating under his touch.
I have no idea what it is. Jensen reached to touch the item in turn, his hand reaching to touch the center of the dial but withdrew it very quickly when a vaguely unpleasant tingle shot through his finger, accompanied by a crackling spark
I was kind of hoping you'd know and be able to tell me. Jared yelped as Jensen was flung back a little by the flash.
I know what it looks like, he thought, frowning.
It's an old-fashioned timepiece from before. I've seen one in Elder Sheppard's laboratory. He gave an airy wave of his hand towards the structure.
You see, the needles going round somehow tell what time of the day it is. I'm not sure how it works, but we could go and see Elder Sheppard...Not now! Jensen was impatient.
I found it. I want to study it before we let other people in on the secret. Look at this. He indicated another circular image.
I've seen one of these before. It shows you how to find your way. We called it an orientation device. I'd love to have one.Oh, yeah. Jared nodded, sagely.
I've used one of those before. It's called a compass, and it always points to the old city of Nyark, I believe.Have you been there? To Nyark? Jensen was excited, although a little worried about Jared, since he’d been taught from childhood that the cities were places to avoid or you would fall sick with the flux.
Is it a very long way from here?No, I haven't. It's much too far to travel. I have to stay here and heal people. Once I pass my tests, and I'm a fully fledged healer, then I can go on my first journey, although I don't know that I would like to be topside for any length of time. Too many terrible things outside.I'm not scared. I lived on the outside all of my life ‘til now. Jensen's attention had apparently wandered to a chart showing a number of different locations, but he suddenly turned to the clock again.
See there! It moved. It did. That needle was pointing to the way in before and now it's up in the air!Jensen watched as Jared gave the thing careful scrutiny, and smiled as he saw him nod. He knew that the sneaky thing had moved. He could certainly tell that the needle had swung around 45 degrees. He shook his head. It couldn’t fool him.
We need to think about this, Jared suddenly announced.
There's a power here that I don't really understand. It's the same power that produces the lights and warmth for the complex, but I don't know how it's made or where it comes from. All I know is that it can be dangerous, and it needs to be handled very carefully. It can kill without the respect it deserves. We should go and find out what we need to stay safe Jared paused, gave Jensen a look that made him shiver.
I don't want anything awful to happen to you when I've only just found you.At first, Jensen was reluctant to leave, but Jared's words, the emotion pouring off him, ignited a warmth deep in his belly, and he thought for a moment, then nodded.
You're right. We should find ways to protect ourselves from this power. I don't want anything bad to happen to you either.Making their way out of the cave felt strange to Jensen, and there was a pull almost as though the cave itself didn't want him to leave. Jared didn't seem to be affected by it, but it was with a great effort that Jensen reluctantly climbed back up the rope that Jared had anchored to the rocky floor above.
Back up on the lip of the hole from which they'd just emerged, Jensen stood staring at Jared, one eyebrow raised as he appraised him.
He felt odd, loose limbed and dry mouthed as he stood gazing at Jared. The hairs on his back and arms prickled as though they were being stroked with the same ghostly energy he'd experienced from the clock, and he felt a fluttering low in his belly, as if there were snakes coiling and twisting inside him.
Jared was gazing at him, too, intense as he lifted a hand to run over his chest. Jensen spoke, his voice harsh as he met that gaze.
“Jared,” he whispered, and his voice was low, almost as though he was afraid to be heard. He didn’t say anything else, merely standing wide-eyed and shaking as Jared’s fingers slid over the taut cotton of his shirt. His eyes were fixed on Jared, and all of a sudden, he moaned and reached to press Jared's hand against him, feeling himself grow, his hand trembling.
Jared seemed a little confused as well, and as Jensen watched him, still frozen, he appeared to give himself a shake. He pulled away, flapped his hands uselessly and reached to coil the rope they'd been using, dropping it onto the rocky ground beside the spike that anchored it.
We should go back, Jared announced.
Sleep now, then in the morning go and visit the scientists if we can.Jensen nodded and turned, still feeling shocky but aware of Jared's gaze on his back as if it were burning through his clothes to brand him.
Master Post | Part 2 | Part 3
