Chapter Eight - The Catacombs of Oguta
Pacing the floors of his chambers, Miafra could sense the presence of the three interlopers, and did not like it one bit. He said, “Where are they? What are they up to? They must be destroyed!” He continued pacing the floor, his annoyance so clearly visible. “Why have I not heard anything from my governors? They are getting too comfortable in their favoured positions. I think it’s time they realised that failure brings severe repercussions.” A wry smile cracked across his lips. “Lest they become fat and lazy, I will make an example on one… “They must learn that I do not, will not accept second best.”
It was not long before Miafra carried out his threat; he simply beheaded the first governor who reported to him of no progress in apprehending the Outlanders. As Miafra sat back, sinking into his grand throne, drinking from a goblet of red wine, he gloated, “That will get results.”
By the time Kakuri and Nott had reached the bottom of the hill, Wot was well ahead of them. Forging on, blazing a trail, he disappeared into the distance.
“The conversation he had with that Stone seems to have affected him quite radically,” said Nott. “I wish I knew what he said to it. And why on earth is he rushing so much? We should be proceeding with caution, to avoid Miafra’s eyes and ears... Look, I can’t even see him now!” he complained.
“I am sure he has good reason,” said Kakuri. “When we catch up with him, in Oguta, I am in no doubt that he will enlighten us to why.”
As Kakuri and Nott progressed at their leisurely pace, the hilly terrain gradually gave way to rolling pastures, golden knee-high grasses dotted with exotic wild flowers (though still drained of much of their original colour). There were some settlements, here and there, which they cautiously bypassed. It was from one of these settlements, that a person spotted the fast moving Wot. A man walking his dog (it had a hump on its back not dissimilar to a camel’s), seeing Wot bulldozing his way through the grass, stooped down, hushing his unique animal. It was only after Wot had disappeared into the distance, did he stand up and continue on his way. Several minutes later, as Kakuri and Nott came into view, he ducked down again.
“Did you see that?” said Nott.
“Did I see what?” Kakuri asked him. From his place of concealment, the man knew he had seen him. He crouched lower.
“I don’t know... I thought I saw something, someone. Whatever it was, I can’t see it now, it’s gone. But I did see something, I am sure of it.”
“Come on,” said Kakuri, walking on ahead of him. “It was nothing, your imagination is getting the better of you,” Despite her words of denial, the man had seen them, and it would not be long until Miafra heard about it.
Being so engrossed with making his way to the Catacombs of Oguta, Wot was oblivious to the fact that he might be have been seen. As he hurried along, blazing the trail, his thoughts drifted back to the Fabled Crest, and the conversation he had with the Stone. He had tried to put on a human face to their story, to make it personal. Yes, Kakuri had already recited the whole story to the Stone, but he felt it was not enough. He told it about the hurt of the people, how they were suffering under the despot, Miafra, how they would only suffer more if he were to remain in power. It was at this point the enormity of their situation struck home, and he wondered would they ever return to the quiet lives they had enjoyed, before. Miafra might win, and all their efforts in vain. He felt so useless; he wanted to do something tangible, something concrete to help everyone. Then it came to him, a feeling, telling him, whispering to him, when they reached Oguta this would finally happen. This was why he had forged ahead of the others – he wanted to kick-ass.
Approaching the outskirts of the settlement, Wot slowed down, waiting for the others to catch up. He was calm now, his thoughts collected.
Oguta was small, a few nondescript houses surrounding a rather unkempt green area. To one side, down a short track, he could see the shimmer of water – Lake Oguta.
“So, we meet again,” said Nott, when he finally caught up with his steamrolling friend.
“Sorry for steaming off like that” Wot answered, “but I had some thinking to do… I needed to do it alone.”
“Hmm,” he replied, dryly.
“I am feeling all the better for it, how. Can I explain?”
“Yeah, go on.”
“You see,” explained Wot, “when I was talking to that Stone, everything we have been through – and indeed facing – got to me. I felt so tired, tired of hiding. I wanted to do something, something concrete to stop the madman, Miafra. It was at that point I felt, realised, somehow knew that it was here, in Oguta this would happen, and it scared me...”
“You are a big lummox,” said Nott.
“ A lummox?”
“Yeah, a big soft lummox!” Nott replied, laughing.
Changing the subject, Kakuri asked, “So, where do we find this amulet of yours?”
“That is a very interesting question,” said Nott. “I only wish I had the answer.”
“I think I know where it can be found.” said Wot. Kakuri and Nott watched him with interest. “As I was walking along, back there, one of my poems came to me. I wrote it down. Let me recite it.” Withdrawing his little book, he began reading the poem…
“A jewel, a chain,
Make a temporary claim,
On the land encircled by water,
There you will find,
A door that is signed,
There enter but do not falter.”
“Look into the lake,” said Wot, pointing down the short track. “See that island?” They nodded. “That is our destination.”
“That’s good enough for me,” said Nott. “Though, there is one small detail still pending.”
“What is it?” asked Wot, surprised that he had said such a thing.
“We don’t have a boat.”
“With a settlement so close to the lake,” Wot replied, “that should be the least of our worries. Come on, there has be one around here somewhere.”
Despite searching the entire area, they were unable to find anything faintly resembling a boat. To be so close to a body of water, without even one boat being in evidence, baffled them no end.
“So near and yet so far,” said Kakuri, thinking their search was in vain.
His frustrations resurfacing, Wot said, “Perhaps it’s shallow! Perhaps we can wade across to the island.” With that, he stepped into the cold, dark water.
The water of the lake was dark, very dark, exceptionally. As well as being incredibly dark, the water had a strange consistency to it. Ignoring it, Wot continued his way into the lake. As he proceeded further into the waters, he noticed something strange happening. His feet were disappearing from sight. “How odd!” he said. He carried on walking into the lake; no trick of the light was going to put him off that easily, especially with so much at stake. It was only when his legs were submerged up to the thighs that he noticed an even stranger thing happening – he was not going down any deeper! The water, the gooey black water was supporting his weight, in a wobbly sort of way that is. Steadying himself with his hands, he began walking in the water, and doing quite a good job of it at that.
It was an undignified way of crossing the lake, but it worked. Looking back to shore, waving to Kakuri and Nott who had not yet noticed his discovery, he shouted. “Look! It’s okay, I am walking on water!”
“Walking on water?” Nott asked incredulously, thinking his friend was losing some marbles.
“Yes,” Wot replied. Thinking about it some more, he added, “I am walking in the water, to be precise. Come on… we don’t need a boat!”
Although their friend’s eccentric behaviour puzzled Kakuri and Nott, they took his advice and cautiously entered the lake. Their apprehension was understandable, especially so when their limbs started to disappear beneath the inky fluids. However, when those very same liquids began to support them, and they began walking in water, smiles of approval appeared on
their faces.
“This is a very odd experience,” said Nott, as he followed his two friends further in to the lake.
“I feel like I am walking in a dream,” said Kakuri.
“Or moving through jelly,” suggested Nott.
“Jelly?” Wot asked. “I could do with a plateful right now!”
“Take your mind off your stomach and concentrate on the job in hand,” said Nott. “You are the leader, so act like one.”
Setting their sights on the small island at the centre of the lake, the band of three began walking to it, with Wot trying to forget about jelly, and the others wondering what unexpected surprises might be lurking there, waiting for them.
Arriving at their destination, solid ground, the three friends made their way up small, pebbly beach the black, where the gelatinous waters, dripping in large inky splashes, left them (and their clothes) perfectly dry.
“That’s a neat trick!” exclaimed Nott.
Reconnoitring the island, Wot was surprised at how small actually it. As islands go, this one, no more than fifty by thirty feet, was tiny. Despite it being so small, the island had an impressive building upon it. The structure, built of a fine stone of an unusual light, apricot colour, was rectangular. There were no windows, not even one. There were, however, two imposing pillars, one on either side of the imposing stone door. Circumnavigating the building, the band of three, searched, to see if there were any more features of interest. Having seen nothing, they returned to the imposing stone door at the front of the structure, wondering how they might gain access.
“No hope of knocking this down, then?” Wot grumbled. “I can’t even see a keyhole, assuming we had a key to insert, in the first place.”
“Look!” said Kakuri, rubbing the door. “There is some writing under this grime.” The two lads came closer. “I think I can make it out,” she said. “It says, only the Dead lie here, seek ye the Dead?”
Looking at each other, then at the door, they replied, “No we do not. It’s the Amulet of Oxmosis we are seeking.” At that, the door opened slightly, as if beckoning them in. They pushed at the door, trying to open it further. It was heavy, extremely heavy. Pushing, pushing, the band of three slowly but surely managed to open the heavy stone door, gingerly entering the Realm of the Dead. No sooner had they passed through the entrance, the door banged shut behind them, sending them jumping with fright.
Because there were no windows, the friends found themselves in complete, or very near to it. You see, a small glimmer of light on a wall beckoned them on.
“Thank God for that,” said Nott. “I don’t like the dark.”
This shining beacon was in fact an oil lamp. Being the tallest, Wot took charge of it. Being so small it offered little light, and the shadows it cast, shivering and shaking as they moved did little to make Nott feel any better. Under its faint glow, they followed the passageway until it turned left, leading them down a stairway cut out of the same solid rock as the building. The steps were smooth, as if worn over the passage of time. Stooping, lowering his head under the low ceiling of the stairwell, Wot believed it not intended for people as tall as he did.
It was also quiet, eerily quiet; they heard nothing except for the sound of their own breathing and careful footsteps, footsteps that led them down, down to a room carved out of the same apricot coloured stone as the building. Spotting two more lamps upon the wall, Kakuri put them to good use, offering them to Wot and Nott.
“Look,” said Wot, there’s an opening on that wall!” There was indeed an opening. On the far wall, a roughly hewed hole awaited them.
Stepping through the hole, the three friends faced a quandary, tunnels – and so many of them – heading off in all directions. They had no idea which one to pick.
“Well, so far so good,” Nott laughed nervously, “and not a ghost to be seen anywhere.”
“To save time I think we should split up,” suggested Wot. “Does anyone have a preference of tunnel?” Kakuri and Nott indeed had a preference, the very same tunnel their large friend chose. Secretly, Wot was happy they did, for it was a very scary pace to be alone.
Without anyone saying so, they decided to go down the tunnel directly in front of them. This tunnel, like all the tunnels, was haphazard by way of construction, as if with no real thought as to its final layout.
As they progressed along the tunnel, they came across many hewn-out openings, little caves at each side. Looking into these openings, they found it difficult to see if anything was inside. The job-in-hand, urging them on, pressed them to go further. After passing so many of these little caves, they finally reached the end of the tunnel. Curiosity getting the better of him, Wot said, “This is the last little cave. I’m going in, to see what’s inside.”
Ever since his abrupt departure from the hill – and the Stone of Directions – Wot had been acting out of character, taking unnecessary chances, this was yet another example of his changed manner. Wot fully believed that he taking the initiative. His two friends, however, saw it as recklessness. Oblivious to their feelings Wot tentatively stepped into the small cave. Kakuri and Nott watched from the outside.
“It’s wonderful in here,” said Wot. “It’s a little house, of sorts.” Stepping closer, Kakuri and Nott tried to get a better look. Strolling around the little cave, Wot said, “It’s laid out like a tiny one-roomed house…” He peered further into the darkness, his lamp lighting up its furthermost recesses. His face suddenly dropping, seeing the true nature of the little cave he was in, Wot sombrely said, “It’s a house alright – a house for the dead!” On hearing this, Kakuri and Nott stepped back a few paces. Wot continued, he said, “There are the remains of a whole family in here. There are even the remains of a baby… This is so sad.”
Although Kakuri and Nott were apprehensive as to what their friend had found, they were also curious. Stepping forward, the cautiously entered the cave-like structure. It was indeed a tomb, a family tomb, which had for some reason unknown, been set up to give the appearance of a house. It had a table, chairs, cupboards, and even a fireplace. However, the likeness to a house ended with the two bodies, lying side-by-side, in stone receptacles carved into the wall of the cave.
“I think these are the parents,” said Wot, pointing to them. “And these smaller ones,” he pointed to three others, “are the children.”
“What is that up there?” Nott whispered, pointing above.
Looking into it, a smaller receptacle above the others, he replied, “This one is the baby.”
“That’s terrible!” said Kakuri. “What happened to them?”
“Who knows… life must have been hard back then.”
They moved closer, inspecting the bodies, each wrapped in layers of cloth, lying cold and still in the rock, resting in peace together for all eternity. It took them a while to get over their sadness, seeing such a thing. Before they left Kakuri paused to say a short prayer for all of the departed souls therein. Having done that, they returned to the beginning of the tunnel, and tried another one.
The band of three saw the same type of scene in all of the remaining tunnels, little caves containing dead families therein. The only exception to this was very last little cave in the very last tunnel they tried. The last little cave, being larger, of a much grander scale, differed from all the others they had seen before it. On entering it, the first thing the travellers noticed was the increased height of the ceiling – a good twelve feet in height. Another difference being that this little cave contained only the one body, resting in a freestanding stone receptacle in the centre of the floor.
“Why is this one so different?” asked Kakuri. “Look at it, the body,” she said. “He was tall, very tall. And why isn’t it wrapped in cloths?” Approaching closer, she inspected the deceased in detail. It had more akin to a dusty statue that a corpse. It was a pale grey in colour, dressed in armour like a knight of old. From the waist down a large sword rested upon its legs, its hands grasping it fi
rmly. Then they saw it, reposing, resting around its neck, secured on an ornate golden coloured chain was the Amulet of Oxmosis itself!
Looking, staring in wondrous excitement at what they had found, they could hardly believe their luck. The talisman was a large, ornately carved pendant, golden, unlike anything they had ever laid eyes upon before. Set in its very centre was a large blood red gemstone of indescribable beauty; so dark it almost appeared black, surrounded by three smaller but similarly striking red gemstones.
Finding the amulet – and so unexpectedly – excited them no end, but the tall, grey figure upon it was resting it worried them...
“Do we just take it?” Kakuri asked the others.
“It won’t be that easy, I am sure of it,” Nott replied. “And, remember, the words on the Stone of Directions… beware of the danger; not the ghosts of the dead but of the spirit who guards. This statue could be the spirit who guards!”
Still feeling impatient by their slow progress, Wot said, “As far as I am concerned this,” he waved a hand casually over the statue, “is not a body – or even a spirit.” Having said that, to prove his point, he touched the statue. It was hard and cold to the touch. “See?” he said. “It’s cold as ice. It is just a statue, no more, no less. We have more things to be concerned about than this!” Leaning over the statue, he attempted to remove the amulet and chain from around its neck. However, the touch of his finger triggered a sound, a loud hissing sound. He jumped back in fright.
Egging him on, wanting to get it over and done with, Nott, said, “Go on, try it again, but this time be more careful.”
Trying for a second time to secure the amulet and chain, Wot extended his hand over the statue until he ever so carefully touched the talisman. As before, a sudden hissing noise warned him off. He jumped back even more frightened than before. The hissing sound was a good deal louder this time, and it did not stop. “What’s happening?” he asked. “What have I done? “How can I stop it?” All that he was able to do was watch helplessly, as the noise grew louder and louder.
The figure, the statue began moving, slowly at first, as if it was awakening from a tremendously long sleep. Its head turning slowly, slowly, towards the person who had dared awaken, its eyelids opening sleepily, sleepily, revealed a bright shining whiteness where the eyes should have been. Wot was petrified when he saw this, so too were the others. Sitting upon its plinth, the statue, the menacing figure, pulling itself free from the stone, stepped onto the floor, in all of its height. Staring up, straining their necks, trying to see its face, yet trying to avoid its shiny bright stare, Wot, Nott and the beautiful Kakuri feared its next move.
Wielding its enormous sword with both hands, the statue lifted it high above its head, where the gleaming blade remained motionless... Suddenly the deadly instrument came crashing down, aiming for Wot. Moving faster than at any time previous, he ran for his life. Regrouping to one side of the little cave, Wot, Nott and Kakuri feared for their lives. The statue, the exceptionally tall figure before them, raising its sword for a second time, sent it hurtling towards the three pitiful figures before it. They ran, ran as fast as their legs would carry them.
The statue, the guard of the amulet had very hostile intentions indeed. Lifting its sword, it turned towards the band of three, again. This time, however, they were ready for it, and they wasted no time in avoiding its menace. Apart from the powerful and tremendously fast swing of its blade, the menacing figure was quite slow in movement. This gave them some breathing space in which to think. The band of three were on the wrong side of the little cave, far from its entrance. If they were to have any hope of surviving, they had to make it across to the other side.
Taking the initiative, Wot said, “I will divert its attention. Get across to the far side, when I am doing it.”
Kakuri and Nott instantly agreed to this suggestion. Standing in readiness, they awaited the diversion.
Shouting up at the figure, the statue that had come to life, Wot called it all the insulting names he could think of, and then some. He did not stop shouting until his little ruse had begun to work. Enraged, the figure lunged at Wot. Seeing their opportunity, Kakuri and Nott slipped silently away.
This act of bravery, however, put Wot in a dangerous position. He was now the sole object of the creature’s attention, and that was bad. Wot is a big man, but he looked so small, there, in front of his opponent, trying to avoid his dangerous clutches and even more dangerous sword.
Lifting its gleaming blade high above its head, the figure, hissing, hissing, made ready to strike.
“You great big bully,” shouted Nott, from his safe distance to one side of the little cave. Insults were all he could think of, all he could do. Continuing, he said, “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size? If Umahia was here he would sort you out, yep, the Grand Mystic, and the rightful one at that, would knock you down a peg or two.” The figure stopping dead in its tracks lowered its sword. Turning to face Nott, it said, “The Grand Mystic? He sent you?” There, it had spoken, though hissing would better describe it.
“Yes, he has,” Nott replied. “He asked us to help the people of Onisha, and to help him the Emperor….”
The hissing speech (this time much louder) cut Nott off, saying, “The Emperor should not be, must not be… he has no place in Onisha.” The figure, quiet for a moment, hissing again, said, “You are seeking the assistance of the amulet, the Amulet of Oxmosis?”
“Yes, we must have it if we are to have any hope of defeating Miafra,” said Kakuri, butting in. “Will you give it to us?”
The hissing speech continued, though now so low they found it difficult to hear, “What was that?” Nott asked.
“You cannot have it,” the figure repeated, louder. On hearing this, their jaws dropped in disbelief.
“I am the minder of the amulet,” the figure continued. “No one can own it. However, you can make use of it...for a time. Before I entrust it to you, though, know you this… You can make use of its powers three times, and three times only, after which you must return it to me. If you do not do this, it is my eternal duty to track you down and destroy you.” On that ominous note, he removed the amulet and chain from his person, handing it to Wot. Accepting it, he placed it around his neck. The tall figure (they never did get his name), returning to the centre of the little cave, lay down on its plinth and once again resembled a pale, dusty statue.
“Phew, am I glad that’s over!” said Wot.
“You are? It was me he was about ready to slice in two!” said Nott.
Interrupting them, Kakuri said, “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
Retracing their steps, the band of three arrived at the stone door. Seeing it closed, Nott groaned, “It’s still closed!”
Turning to Wot, Kakuri said, “Can you open it?”
“Give me a minute,” he replied. “I’ll see what I can do.” A minute later, he recited the following…
“Oh place of the dead,
We are finished right now,
Will return what we have borrowed.
Please open the door,
Of this we do plead,
To continue our mission unfettered.
The grating, grinding sound that accompanied the opening of the door, earlier, began again. The door opening for a second time flooded the dark interior with natural light. Abandoning their lamps, exiting the building, Wot, Nott and Kakuri, filling their lungs with fresh, clean air, were so happy to be outside once again.
Feeling the pull of the mainland, the three companions stepped into the inky black waters.