Victims of Nimbo Read online

  “Come inside, sire,” Sarah said. “It won’t take long to grill steaks for you.”

  The two men entered the little house, and as Sarah scurried about preparing food for their guests, she listened to Goél talk with Abbey, mostly about their last adventure. From time to time she turned to glance at the young man. He said nothing. He appeared worried, and she wondered about his relationship with Goél.

  The steaks were cooked very quickly, and the two men ate hungrily. When they had finished, Sarah set out the remains of the chocolate pie, and Abbey served large cups of steaming tea.

  Finally Goél leaned back and nodded. “That was as fine a meal as I can remember. You girls are both marvelous cooks.”

  “It was good indeed,” Teanor said. “I thank you.”

  Goél turned his eyes on Teanor and studied him a moment or two. Then he turned back to Sarah and Abbey. “Where are the boys?”

  “Oh, they went out on a hunting trip,” Sarah said. “They may not be back for a time.”

  “I wish they were here,” Goél said quietly. Then he said, “Teanor’s people are called the Cloud People.”

  “What a wonderful name! Why are they called that, Teanor?” Sarah asked.

  The young man smiled. “We live in high places.”

  “The Cloud People,” Goél said, “were on good terms with their neighbors the Earth Dwellers until recent years. Some time ago, however, things began to change. Since I must go now, perhaps you could tell them about it, Teanor. The Dark Lord is at work, and I am needed in another place. I thank you again.”

  When the farewells had been said and their leader was gone, the young man Teanor sat up straight in his chair. “What Goél told you is true. As my father has told me, at one time our people and the Earth Dwellers were friendly. But a few years ago their chief, whose name is Maroni, fell under the influence of a high priest called Nomus. He is an evil man and demands human sacrifices for their god, Nimbo.”

  “Human sacrifices!” Sarah exclaimed. “How terrible!”

  “It is evil indeed!” Teanor said. “They trap our young men and make slaves out of them. They trap women and children and sacrifice them to their god.”

  Sarah liked the young man. He seemed earnest and sincere. “So you came to Goél for help?”

  “Yes. Our king, Celevorn, has sent me for help. We need fierce warriors to overcome the Earth Dwellers. And we had heard of Goél’s servants the Seven Sleepers.”

  “It will be an honor to help your people.”

  Teanor said, “My own brother is a captive of the Earth Dwellers. I must save him. How long before the warriors return?”

  “I’m not sure. Perhaps two or three days, but I hope not that long.”

  “Then, alas, I cannot wait for them. I must return in the morning and do what I can.”

  Sarah did not argue but showed Teanor a place to sleep in Dave’s room.

  All night long she tossed and turned. She was concerned with Teanor’s plight and also for some reason was still angry with the boys for having left. Still, she knew that this was not their fault. They had no way of knowing this emergency would come.

  Finally she drifted off to sleep, but she awoke early, still thinking of what to do.

  She woke up Abbey. “Wake up, Abbey!” she said, standing over Abbey’s cot and shaking her shoulder.

  “What—what is it? What time is it?”

  “Abbey, we’ve got to help Teanor.”

  “Well, of course we will. We’ve already agreed on that. Did you wake me up to tell me that?”

  “Get up. We’ve got to talk.”

  Abbey arose reluctantly, and the two girls dressed. Dawn was beginning to break as they went into the kitchen and began to prepare a quick breakfast. When it was ready, Sarah went to Dave’s room and knocked on the door. “Teanor, are you awake?”

  “Yes.” The door opened. The young man was fully dressed and seemed ready to leave. He even had his knapsack on his back.

  “Come and have breakfast before you go.”

  “I am in a great hurry.”

  “You have time to eat, and, besides, I have something to tell you.”

  Teanor hesitated but then nodded. “Very well,” he said.

  Sarah led the young man to the table, where they set a good breakfast before him, and the three sat down to eat.

  When Teanor was finished, he said, “I thank you for the meal, but I must hurry.”

  “But you came to get help, and you haven’t yet received it.”

  “I know,” he said sadly. “But I cannot even sleep for thinking about our poor people.”

  “Teanor, I have news for you. Abbey and I have decided to accompany you on your return home.”

  For a moment there was total silence, and then Teanor exclaimed, “What good would that do?”

  “But didn’t you come to get help?”

  “I came to get warriors! I cannot put my trust in females!”

  Ordinarily such words as these would have caused an argument, but Sarah understood Teanor’s position.

  “You don’t understand,” she said. “Josh and the others will join us as soon as they return.”

  “They would never be able to find my home.”

  “Yes, they would. I’ve thought it all out carefully. We’ll leave them a note and a map. The three of us can go on together, and as soon as they get back, they can follow.”

  But Teanor shook his head firmly. “That is not why I came. I do not need females. I need men.”

  This caused Sarah’s pride to rise up. “You may be surprised to find out what we can do.” She did not want to boast about her own accomplishments, but she felt that she was being challenged.

  Teanor studied the two girls, then got up. “I thank you for the food, but I must return.”

  “Give us half an hour, and we’ll be ready,” Sarah said quickly.

  Teanor hesitated. “All right,” he said. “But I will not have time to wait longer for you. And if you cannot keep up, you must return.”

  The two girls immediately got their backpacks and began to throw their gear together. They put on their best traveling boots and wore their swords at their sides. Sarah, of course, carried her bow and a quiver of excellent arrows. Then she wrote a note for the boys.

  Finally, at her urging, Teanor drew a map leading to the home of the Cloud People.

  “It is a difficult journey and full of danger. I still am not certain they can find their way.”

  “They can find us.” Sarah nodded confidently. “Now we’re ready.”

  He gave a shrug. “Follow me if you wish,” he said. “But I will never put my life in the hands of females.”

  Sarah smiled. “We’ll see if we can’t change your mind.”

  3

  Danger in the Forest

  Sarah wiped her face, for perspiration was running down her cheeks. Her legs were trembling with weakness, but she tried to let nothing of this show in her expression. Glancing over at Abbey, Sarah saw that she was in even worse condition. The younger girl’s face was pale, and she was obviously gasping for breath.

  “It’s all right, Abbey. We’ll have to stop pretty soon. We can’t walk all night.” The sun was almost hidden now, and darkness was falling.

  “I think he could!” Abbey shot a resentful glance at Teanor, who tramped along far ahead of them. He seemed to be absolutely tireless.

  Both girls had determined that they would not lag behind, but both groaned with relief when at last he turned and called back, “We shall camp here for the night.”

  Trying to conceal her gasping for breath, Sarah said, “It looks like a good spot.”

  Looking around, he said, “We will make the fire in this place. I will get the wood, and you will cook.”

  As Teanor moved away into the thickening darkness, Abbey snapped, “He’s certainly bossy!”

  “Yes, he is.” Sarah slipped off the backpack and rubbed her shoulders where the straps had cut in. Then she put it down against a t
ree and began to unpack it, saying, “I don’t see why we can’t just eat a cold supper tonight. I’m too tired to cook, but don’t tell him that.”

  Teanor was back soon, carrying dry wood, and soon the yellow blaze of the fire he kindled was pushing the shadows back. Once he had made the fire, he sat down and watched the girls prepare the food.

  They had brought steaks, and as Sarah cooked them, she said, “This is the last fresh meat we’ll have unless we shoot something.”

  Teanor did not answer. He was staring into the fire and seemed unaware of their presence. He shook himself only when Abbey said, “The meal’s ready.” Then he reached out and took the tin plate from her and said, “I suppose you can eat with me this time.”

  “What do you mean eat with you? Where else would we eat?” Sarah asked.

  “Females do not eat with men.”

  “What are you talking about?” Abbey asked. “‘Females do not eat with men.’ Of course, women eat with men.”

  “That may be your way, but it is not the way of the Cloud People.” The young man bit into his steak at once and ate hungrily. He did not bother to say thank you, a discourtesy that Sarah noticed with disapproval. Finally, when he had finished eating and had slaked his thirst at the small stream that ran close by, he said, “We will leave at dawn. Come.”

  “Come where?” Sarah asked in bewilderment.

  “We must climb the tree, of course.”

  “Climb the tree!” Abbey exclaimed. “What in the world for?”

  “To avoid danger! Don’t tell me you’re thinking of sleeping here on the earth!”

  “But that’s what we always do!” Sarah exclaimed.

  “You’re fools then! What if a lion comes along, or a bear? Or an Earth Dweller? What would you do?”

  Sarah stared at the young man, then shook her head. “I’m not sleeping in any tree, and that’s final!”

  “Neither am I,” Abbey said. “We have our blankets, and we’re going to sleep right by this fire.”

  “Do as you please,” Teanor said. Without another word, he turned and leaped up to catch a lower branch.

  Sarah was amazed at how quickly he shinnied far up into the tree with all the agility of a monkey.

  “Well,” she said softly, sitting back down by the fire and reaching for her blanket. “What do you think of Teanor?”

  “I don’t like him,” Abbey said. “He has no thought-fulness about him at all. He didn’t once stop today and ask us if we were all right. He didn’t say ten words.”

  “I guess he’s worried—both about his people and about his brother. Sounds like a bad situation.” Sarah’s muscles ached. She unrolled her blanket and climbed into it.

  Abbey did the same, but for a time both girls lay awake.

  The fire crackled and slowly settled into a bed of red coals that sent out a warm glow.

  “You know,” Abbey said sleepily, “I keep thinking maybe we should have waited, Sarah.”

  “Waited for what?”

  “Waited for the boys to come back.”

  “Oh, we’re all right. They can follow later.”

  Abbey, however, despite her fatigue, seemed concerned. “I’m truly worried about it, Sarah. Somehow I think Goél would expect us to all go together. We always have.”

  “No. We haven’t always. I remember the time you ran off to the World of the Underground without us.”

  There was silence except for the crackling of the fire. Then Abbey said, “And I’ve been thinking about that time. I was too hasty. I got myself into a great deal of trouble because I did that.”

  “It’s different this time.”

  “I don’t think it is. And I wish we had waited for them.”

  “But just think,” Sarah said. “If we could bring peace between these two tribes all by ourselves, that would show the boys something, wouldn’t it?”

  “I suppose so, but it sounds like peacemaking is going to be quite a job. Good night, Sarah.”

  Sarah fell asleep almost at once as soon as she said good night.

  It seemed that she had barely dropped off, however, when she heard Teanor saying, “Well, I see you’re still here. Get up. We must get on the trail.”

  Sarah sat up abruptly. It was still pitch dark. “Why, it’s the middle of the night!” she exclaimed.

  “It will be light in an hour. We can cover several miles by that time.”

  Sarah and Abbey struggled out of their blankets. They groped around in the darkness and repacked their gear. They all ate some trail mix, and soon the girls were stumbling after their guide.

  The second day turned out to be worse than the first, although neither Sarah nor Abbey would have admitted it.

  Teanor did not look back often. He stopped once at midmorning and again at noon to eat a little trail mix but said little. He seemed troubled and even uncomfortable.

  Once Abbey said, “Sarah, I’m starting to think he’s just shy with girls.”

  “No, I don’t think so,” Sarah said slowly. She had been thinking about Teanor’s behavior. “I think it’s that we don’t even count to him. Didn’t you hear what he said about the Cloud People women not eating with the men?”

  “I heard him. It doesn’t sound like a place I’d like to live.”

  “Well, we won’t have to live there,” Sarah said wearily. “Right now I’m just hoping we get there.”

  When they had traveled hard for two days and one morning, Teanor said, “From here on, the way is very dangerous.” There was a frown on his face, and he fingered the knife at his belt. It was the only weapon he carried, except for a staff.

  “Why is it dangerous?” Sarah asked.

  “Because this is the land of the Earth Dwellers.”

  “Why do you call them Earth Dwellers?” Abbey was looking curiously around at the terrain. It seemed rather wild. Trees towered high, and the way through them looked difficult.

  “Because they dwell on earth,” Teanor said impatiently.

  Sarah could not help smiling. “Well, of course. Earth Dwellers would dwell on earth.”

  “Yes. Why in the world did I ask?” Abbey asked.

  “Come. And keep your eyes open.”

  The forest grew thick, and the briars tore at the girls’ clothes. Somehow Teanor was able to slip through the brambles, but both girls suffered rents in their clothing.

  From time to time they passed through open places, where the blue sky was clear overhead. At other times they traveled through thick forest in which the trees practically blotted out the sky and the sun.

  “I’ve never seen forest any thicker than this,” Sarah muttered. She stopped to free her ankle from a thorny vine that had wound around it. She winced and said, “The briars are going to tear our clothes to pieces.”

  Abbey seemed too tired to say much. She devoted all her strength to keeping up with Teanor. “I hope we get to these Cloud People pretty soon,” she gasped.

  Now they emerged into a small field. Here the sky was clear overhead, and almost in the middle of the field Sarah saw a beautiful flowering shrub growing. “Look at that!” she exclaimed. “That’s the most beautiful bush I’ve seen for a long time!”

  “It is beautiful,” Abbey said. “I’m going to pluck one of those blossoms. I never saw color like that.”

  Abbey started toward the shrub. The bush was well over seven feet tall. It spread out in all directions, and its blooms were a mix of pink, crimson, and even a lovely bluish shade. Abbey loved flowers, and she probably planned to put one of those blue blossoms in her hair.

  But Teanor was yelling. He had been well ahead of them, but now he was running with all his might back toward Abbey, who had almost reached the flowering bush.

  Abbey stopped to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

  Teanor did not answer. He continued running toward her at top speed. His head was down, and his legs churned. When he was about ten feet away, he threw himself at her in a headlong dive.

  Sarah screamed, “What’s wrong
?” But then she saw something that she could not believe. The beautiful plant suddenly let loose what appeared to be a tiny arrow. It flew through the air so quickly that she got only a glimpse of it, but she heard Teanor cry out as it struck him.

  “Teanor, what is it?”

  “Get out of here!” he yelled. He rolled over, yanked Abbey to her feet, and started running again, pulling her along.

  Sarah too, frightened by his behavior, ran as hard as she could. When they got to the line of trees, Teanor stopped. He held out his arm. “It got me! That’s an arrow tree. Why did you even get near it?”

  “I—I thought the blossoms were beautiful,” Abbey said. She was staring at the slender shaft that had struck Teanor’s forearm. It was about the length of a pencil, and the tip was still buried in his flesh.

  “What is that?” Sarah cried out.

  “It’s a poison barb. It’s got to come out—and quick!” he said.

  Sarah swallowed hard. “I’ll help you.” She reached out to help, and Teanor jerked his arm back.

  “No! There’s a barb in there. If it stays in, I’ll die. But you can’t just pull it out.”

  “Then, how do we get it out?”

  “Push it through,” he said. His face was pale and perspiration was gathering on his brow. “Quickly! I can already feel the effects of the poison. Push it through and cut off the barb.”

  Sarah stared at him for only a second longer, but she could see with her own eyes that he was weakening. Quickly she grasped his arm and said, “Abbey, hold his arm still.” She waited until Abbey had taken Teanor’s wrist, then grasping the shaft, she took a deep breath. I’ve got to do this quickly, she thought. She gave one hard push.

  Teanor slumped to the ground. But the barb was out.

  Sarah whipped her knife from its sheath, cut off the barb, then with a swift movement pulled the shaft free.

  Teanor’s eyes were closed. “I’m going to be very sick,” he whispered. “We must get to safety.”

  “I’ve got some ointment in my bag,” Abbey said. “Let me put it on your arm.”

  Teanor lay still while the two girls treated the ugly wound and bound it. Then he struggled to his feet. “We’ve got to get out of here at once. If the Earth Dwellers catch us here, it will be death.”