Chapter 37: A Strange Disappearance

Hill and Bilblox quickly returned to Naomi and Resuza. The girls had hunkered down in a makeshift snow cave and were well camouflaged. Despite knowing the exact location where they parted company, it still took Hill and Bilblox several minutes to come upon them. But even then, they only found them when Naomi let out a cry and abruptly stood up.

As they approached, it became clear that Naomi had been crying. Resuza had as well.

“What happened?” Hill asked.

“Nothing,” Naomi quickly replied. “And that’s the problem. Nothing ever happened for years and years and years.”

Hill looked at Resuza. Her face was white and looked cold. She shook her head, warning Hill not to pursue this conversation any further.

“Enough,” Bilblox interjected. “I don’t care what’s goin’ on. We gotta get some shelter. We’ll die out here in the next few hours if we don’t find some place away from the wind.”

He turned to Naomi. “You know a place nearby, don’t you?”

Naomi stared questioningly into Bilbox’s eyes, as if she was unclear what he meant.

“Yes,” she finally replied. “I know of a place. It’s very protected and we’ll be safe there.”

“Do we have to cross the moat?” Hill asked.

Naomi shook her head. “It’s on this side. We can’t attempt a crossing today. Not enough time.”

“Let’s go,” replied Bilblox.

Naomi turned right and began blazing a path that ran parallel to the Petrified Forest and directly into the wind. Bilblox followed immediately behind, as did Resuza. Hill, on the hand, held back at first. Something about this scene felt wrong to him. There were conversations going on that he didn’t understand. They were conducted in glances and nods, and he had no idea what was about to happen. All his instincts, however, told him to beware.

And yet, what choice did he have? Bilblox was right – to stay exposed to the weather meant death. Hill made his choice. He pressed a hand against his coat pocket to confirm the Pen was still there, and he ran to catch up to the other three. As he ran, he thought of Bilblox again and wondered what had happened while Bilblox was in Dragoonya captivity. Truth be told, he had the same question about Naomi.

They pressed onward for what seemed like a very long time. The sun wavered just above the polar horizon for a half-hour, and then quickly retreated. Darkness fell upon the arctic and quickly grew deeper. And worst of all, the wind grew in ferocity as Hill, Bilblox, Resuza and Naomi trudged onward. To Resuza, it felt like they had been walking for days. Her body ached from head to toe. Even her eyelashes felt heavy. Ice, covered each individual strand, but the effort it would take to wipe off the ice seemed too much, and so Resuza kept walking, barely able to see, hoping for relief.

Naomi led the way steadily, as if she knew exactly where she was going. Bilblox and Resuza followed closely behind, while Hill brought up the rear. It was difficult to tell how much time had passed when Naomi stopped at the base of what appeared to be a small cliff. Above them, the exposed rock swirled with snow. Neither Hill, Resuza nor Bilblox could see anything resembling a cave. “What now?” shouted Bilblox. Naomi kept walking towards the cliff face; at the last minute, she turned sideways and then disappeared into the rock. Resuza started after her immediately, realizing that her sister had found a narrow passageway in the cliff. It was so narrow that it was impossible to enter by walking forward. The only way to enter was by turning and walking sideways. Resuza entered the passageway and caught only a glimpse of Naomi about ten feet in front of her.

Just outside, Hill looked at Bilblox.

“It looks like they’re going straight into the cliff,” said Hill. “No offense, but you should probably go first. Just in case you can’t make it and you need someone to pull you out.”

Bilblox nodded.

“Listen,” said Bilblox, “About the Pen...”

“Not now,” said Hill. “Get inside first.”

Bilblox shrugged, walked over to the opening, turned sideways, sucked in his stomach and pushed his way into the narrow passage. It was a tight fit, but he knew he’d make it as long as it didn’t get any narrower. Hill followed Bilblox through the passageway. Hill had always been somewhat claustrophobic – and this was almost unbearable for him. Hill’s chest seized up and he tried to stop thinking that about the stone walls pushing against his body from both sides. Sweat appeared on his face and gathered along his scalp. By the time the passageway ended and he stumbled into the large cave, Hill was breathing heavily. He sunk to his knees to gather himself.

Resuza ran to his side. “Are you OK?”

Hill nodded, but it took several minutes before he could say anything. In that time, he sat on the cold stone floor and took in his surroundings. The cave was large and stretched for hundreds of feet in every direction. The ceiling was relatively low compared to the width and length of the cave. It was perhaps thirty feet tall and covered in a sheen of thick ice. The supplies that Bilblox had with him apparently included a number of candles, because the others had already lit half a dozen of them and placed them in a wide circle. The flickering light reflected off the ice-covered ceiling and walls and caused the cave to look brighter than Hill thought possible.

Naomi grinned. “There’s no heat, but it will work for the next few hours,” she said. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

Resuza nodded. “You did great,” she said with a smile.

It took several minutes for everyone to settle down on the floor comfortably. Bilblox dug into his bag of supplies and handed out several heavy fur cloaks. They were all exhausted and lay on the floor of the cave in silence. Hill vowed not to fall asleep and as his eyes grew heavy, he told himself he would just rest for a moment; but soon he fell into a heavy sleep. He awoke some time later with a start. He lay in place, listening, before moving or talking. A vague premonition unsettled him and he sat up. The candles still burned, but they were almost out, and the light had retreated to a small circle around their group.

A crack, like someone stepping on thin ice, echoed in the distance. Hill reached into his shirt pocket for his Pen. It was there. He lay there motionless for several more minutes, but heard nothing. One by one, the candles began to burn out. Hill sat up.

There was another crack.

Hill took the Pen out of his pocket and unscrewed it. Then, as quickly as he could, he grabbed the last candle, which was still flickering weakly, and placed the upper chamber of the Pen over the candle. A flame leapt from the candle into the barrel of the Pen and, like that, the Pen was lit like a small burner on a gas stove. Hill screwed the Pen back together. It was armed. Hill looked around nervously. Resuza and Naomi were still lying on the ground asleep. Bilblox, however, was sitting up and staring at him with a curious look on his face.

“Hill,” whispered Bilblox.

“Yes?” whispered Hill.

“There is one thing you must always remember about me,” said Bilblox. “I am always loyal to my true friends. Please remember that.” Hill furrowed his eyebrows, in a look of confusion. Then Bilblox whistled – a loud piercing whistle that echoed through the cave. Moments later, Hill heard the sound of several bodies charging through the darkness, rushing toward him.

Betrayal.

Hill didn’t hesitate. He whipped out the Pen and pressed the emerald embedded on the top of the device. Hill pressed as hard as he could. There was a loud click. A second later, a raging blast of fire exploded from the tip of the Pen and surged across the cave. Yellow and red flames exploded like fireworks. Hill shielded his eyes and half-expected to be burned to a crisp. Suddenly men were screaming, a putrid burning smell filled the air, and the entire cave was illuminated in a brilliant light. Small fires were burning everywhere. Several men were rolling on the ground, trying to extinguish the flames that covered them. Bilblox, Naomi, and Resuza were on their feet shouting at one another. A large number of Dragoonya soldiers, perhaps fifty in number, surrounded them. Most were armed with crossbows and Cossack cavalry rifles. Hill prepared to use the Pen again, and had almost pressed the button, when he heard a familiar voice call out...”

“Don’t!”

Hill looked – it was Kiril. He stepped forward slowly, making no sudden moves.

“I have another two hundred men outside,” said Kiril. “You can’t fight your way out of this cave. Please be sensible.”

Hill looked at Bilblox for a quick moment. His face was a mask, but he thought he detected the tint of shame on the longshoreman’s face.

“Give me the Pen,” said Kiril calmly.

Hill did nothing.

“We don’t have time for games,” said Kiril. “I’ll count to three.”

Again Hill looked at Bilblox. He was mouthing something. Hill couldn’t quite make out the words. Meanwhile, Kiril had begun his count.

“One,” said Kiril.

Hill looked at Kiril.

“Two,” said Kiril.

Hill looked back at Bilblox and this time he could make out what Bilblox was saying: Give me the Pen.

“Three,” said Kiril.

Hill spun quickly and tossed the Pen in a high arc towards Bilblox. Several Dragoonya soldiers lunged forward just as the Pen landed in Bilblox’s outstretched hand. Bilblox moved his fingers quickly and the Pen began to whirl, spinning and flickering in a mesmerizing dance across his fingertips. Bilblox moved the Pen so quickly through his fingers that it took everyone several seconds to realize the Pen had vanished into thin air.