Scoga and the Island in the Waters of TIme: Part 8

Scoga and the Island in the Waters of Time

Part 8 : Your Worst Nightmare

The guard looked pale. “W-w-what did you say?” he stammered. Zoltzen and Makar began laughing. You know, that evil, shrieking laugh that always goes with bad guys. We dragged them down to the village. As we neared the chief's house, people began to peer out of the windows and doorways as we passed. Chief Chakunga himself came out. “What does this mean?” he asked, “why are you laughing?” The elders paused in their cackling. Zoltzen spoke. “Chakunga, your father, the venerable chief, was an ally of the Numeri, the people across the strait. They got goods from the raids, he got money. He shared the money with us. After he died, we took on his responsibility, and his money. After several years of haggling, we are finally finished. Prepare for your worst nightmare!” And he and Makar began shrieking again. “Chief, they had us bound to trees. They were discussing something out of our earshot when we slipped our bonds,” Scoga said. The chief mulled it over. “Gather all the guards and have them stationed around both villages. Whatever it is, we at least be protected.” Men and women hurried off in all directions. Chakunga then turned to Scoga and I. “Scoga, Fire-hair, run to the other village and warn them. Here is a message telling their leader what to do. Hurry!”

We jogged down the path to the other village. “We will spend the night a few miles ahead. There is a Nintùl Ôghi with food, and a place to sleep,” said Scoga. After a while we slowed to a walk. On and on we hiked, until, at dusk, we came to the place where we would sleep. It was a small hut, with one side open to the winds, and a Nintùl Ôghi dug into the bank of a icy cold pool nearby. The pool reflected the gray twilight, with the first stars twinkling near a crescent moon. “If I only had my camera,” I thought. Then I heard a “Darn it!” and turned around. Scoga was trying to light a fire with flint and steel. “It must have rained not long ago. There is no dry tinder!” I fished around in the pack and brought up a hand full of dry pine needles. “Here,” I said, “These should work. They probably fell in sometime while we were bound to those trees.” He flicked the flint and steel and a spark caught to the pine needles. Soon we had a nice little fire. In its dancing and flickering light I saw the stone hut was actually three huge slabs of granite and a thinner slab for a roof. It was a miniature stonehenge. When we had eaten I curled up in a mossy corner. I fell asleep to the sounds of Scoga restlessly twisting and turning on his bed of soft brown oak leaves.

There really isn't much to say about the rest of our journey, besides the fact that it was exhausting. At long last we traipsed into the other village. For the last half hour, we had trudged not through forest, but through pleasantly rolling fields of barley and maize. Scoga apparently knew his way around, and led my through the door of a large hall. Inside, dappling rays of sun filtered in through the windows. But it wasn't time for resting. We made our way to the back of the hall, where sat a bookish young man. He was reading through some papers and muttering. “Mr. Bernhart wants full reimbursement for his cow that was sold to the Mr. Hokbakle. I wonder why... Oh, hello Scoga,” the man said, “What can I do for you?” “Please, Mr. Shunpike–” “Call me Alfie, please,” interrupted Mr. Shunpike.” Scoga couldn't hold back a giggle on that one. “Yes, Mr. Alfie sir, there is some grave news from Chief Chakunga.”

After Mr. Shunpike (or rather, Alfie) had read the letter, he at once began sending people hither and thither. “Go find all the farmers and bring them into the town! We may have a raid coming soon!” he shouted to a crowd of people, attracted by all the fuss. They looked frightened and scattered in avery direction to find the farmers. Alfie turned to me. “So, you must be the boy that washed up on the east end of the island.” “Yes, sir, I've been going around with Scoga ever since.” “When are you going to leave?” I still hadn't thought about that yet. “I don't know yet,” I shrugged. After eating a hasty lunch, Scoga and I departed. “Don't get into any more trouble!” yelled Alfie, as we passed the gates. “The raiders may be here already!”