Chapter Fifteen–ON THE EDGE

 

 

Ari and Yu slumped to the ground and panted in great heaving gasps. The slope of the hill was the only thing that kept the cave from filling in completely. More than half an hour passed before their breathing returned to normal. They regained themselves enough to think.

"Where’s Face?" Ari asked.

Yu shrugged. "Maybe he's deeper inside."

They both knew he could have been crushed before he ever reached the cave. The unspeakable possibility was weightier than the mountain of rock blocking their escape.

Ari helped Yu stand. "Can you walk?"

"I can manage, Ari. We have a bigger problem. Notice how thin the air is in here. The rocks trapped some good air, but it won't take long before we use it up. Poisonous gas must have been forced in here too."

"Some luck." Ari looked deep into the undiminished blackness.

"We've got to find another way out, Ari. We'll never dig out of here."

"You're right as usual, my friend."

It was getting harder and harder to breathe. Ari returned from his search. "Yu, I think the only way out is to dig. We've got to at least try."

Yu nodded and the two began a frantic effort. Each movement was a struggle. As they both realized that they were not making any progress Yu and Ari both sat back gasping, weakened by the attempt.

Resting painfully on the sharp edge of despair, Ari called, "Face! Are you here? Hello, Face!"

Although he did not hear Ari's cry for help, Face was returning from his explorations. His synthetic body glowed from an opening toward the back of the cave. Overcome by their need to consciously force air into their lungs, Ari and Yu never noticed him.

When Face appeared in the pitch black at the back of the cave, his glow was their only seed of light.

"Good," Ari's voice was weak, "If nothing else, we can use you as a light source."

"Harrumph, my dear fellow, you should always be illuminated by me. Even a flicker of my intelligence could light your way."

Face knew from the thin whisper of Ari's voice that he needed the reassurance of their usual verbal jousts even more than he needed air. He saw that his friends were losing consciousness. Face announced his news, heralding their salvation, "I found a small opening at the back of the cave."

Ari and Yu tried desperately to get up. They slumped back, breathing hard. Their chests heaved, every breath difficult, every movement an effort. A deep final sleep pulled at their eyelids.

Ari's head jerked toward his chest. Faces's flat monotone tried to revive him. "Follow me Yu!"

Face turned up the frequency of his pulsed energies. In a small way, the shield of energy sparked Yu’s strength.

Face helped Yu to her feet and lent his shoulder for support as they both carried Ari. Five minutes later they were outside breathing in great delicious drinks of fresh air. A gentle breeze wafted away the last remnants of dust. The sounds of the forest celebrated their joy at being alive.

"Nice work, Face," gasped Yu. "Wait until we almost die and then find the exit."

Like coming back from a profound sleep, Ari was arising, glazed eyes opened, but not looking. That overwhelming feeling was back again but stronger, transcending, eclipsing him from the inside out. Unable to move Ari’s new thoughts were vanquishing old, making him immune to his fears. Again, this transformation was fleeting, although prolonged and amplified, Ari was back.

“Ari, are you OK,” panted Yu.

“Something odd is happening to me. I feel I’m changing from within, but I don’t feel that way now. Maybe the lack of oxygen,” Ari replied quickly.

As Ari and Yu traded wry grins, a familiar voice reverberated. "How soon we forget a deed well done." Face innocently stated this as an observation of fact. His superiority was something he took for granted. He didn't need to lord it over them.

“O-believe me Face, thanks for saving our lives,” Ari sincerely stated.

Although the anti-gravity suits had removed all the dust, Ari's and Yu's facial features were covered in dust. The bright white ash molded to their flesh like masks.

"What a pleasure to have a synthesized body that is always clean!" Face placed his hands on their faces, “a rebirth by cleansing will take care of these.”

After a momentarily renewal of energy, the brotherhood set themselves back on the retched path. Their minds were struggling as much as there bodies as they walked over the obliterated landscape. Rubble crunched underfoot like crusted crystalline snow. As they walked Ari again felt something growing inside him, he felt different yet the same. His inner being had changed somehow but not enough to challenge or change his deposition, but somehow he knew by accepting this fate a sacrificial door must close thus forcing another ambiguous door to open.

Ari hated to separate from Face again so soon, but he knew it was best. "Go on ahead and find the best route."

Face salaamed with mock obsequiousness. "As you wish, master."

The dust was blowing away to the south, clearing their way. Ari considered stopping to rest, but he knew the sooner they got to Yutanius the sooner they would be safe from the Ancient One's contrived accidents. They pressed on into the afternoon, their legs leaden, their eyes still stung by dust. Yu's injured ankle pained their progress.

They were glad when Face appeared again. "You two look good in your dust-covered faces. It makes you look tough, like me."

"I already thanked you for getting us out of the cave, Face. Don't push your luck," Ari bristled.

Face ignored this. "The best route is through the forest."

They pressed on, boosted by Face's stream of wise cracks. In the distance they could see thick forest. They knew that just beyond it lay Yutanius and safety.

Face saw that Ari was struggling to support Yu. "Here, let me carry her."

Ari welcomed the offer, but somehow could not accept. He knew he had nothing to prove to Face or Yu, but could not let go of his burden. "I'm all right."

Ari knew they'd make the city in another two hours. Soon they'd be out of this rocky high country and on the last leg through the forest into Yutanius. He encouraged Yu, whose limp was worsening. "Come on, Yu. We're almost there. Pick up the pace."

Yu could only smile wanly. "Sure, Ari. Sure. I'll dance into town.”

They struggled through to late afternoon. An hour walk from Yutanius, Ari saw something behind them. Pale-Green smoke drifted along at ground level at the pace of a fast-walking man. "Look!"

The three stood on top of a ledge. The Ancient Ones were directly in front of them, cutting off their path.

Yu turned to his friends. "They're desperate. They don't care about faking an accident now. They mean to get us."

Ari looped Yu's arm over his shoulder and took off as fast as he could. Every time he dared look back, the green mist was gaining. They were at the crest of a ridge when it happened. They had come to a ledge. Beyond it was blue sky and in the distance Yutanius. Nothing else. Ari stepped to the edge. It looked at least 244 meters down to the forest canopy. He turned to see the green mist, now only four meters away, advancing toward them.

Face yelled, “jump!” Ari grabbed Yu and helped her to the edge. Together they jumped then sailed out into empty space.