The Serpent of Eridor (3 page)

Alex set off across the clearing, wondering why he was taking orders from someone weighing about two hundred times less than his body weight. Sense of fun? Limited other options?

‘Logic,' said Skoodle. ‘If I make the decisions we don't mess around.'

‘It's a real pain that you can read my thoughts,' said Alex.

Keeko tilted her head to one side, looking at him, frowning. ‘Then block them.'

‘How?'

Ikara sighed. ‘Takes a while. We'll teach you once the boat's safe.'

On the track the trees grew close together, choking out nearly all light. They travelled up the shadowy green tunnel of leaves, plunging into deep gloom.

‘Walk louder,' said Skoodle.

‘Can't. Moss underfoot. Why?'

‘I'm spooked by all the creepy, slithering, snapping sounds from the jungle around us. If you made more noise I wouldn't be able to hear them.'

‘The animals would still be there.'

‘Not if I pretend they aren't.'

After a steep climb they emerged on to a long strip of sun-drenched grass. Several mango trees stood at the edges of the clearing, their branches heavy with ripe golden fruit. Alongside the grass ran the wide waters of a river. Downstream to the left the river ran over a waterfall, crashing with a muffled roar to the earth far below.

‘This is so cool,' said Alex. ‘That river looks great for swimming.'

‘If it weren't for the crocodiles it would be. Not many, but it only takes one,' said Ikara.

As Alex gazed around, part of a shadow detached itself from the edge of the trees. It solidified into a huge golden-haired bear, brilliant eyes fixed on the newcomers. It reared eight feet into the air, razor claws unsheathed, teeth a row of ivory daggers.

Alex's heart began pounding as if trying to escape on its own. Yet his legs, jellified, failed to move.
Fool,
he thought.
At any minute I might be shredded. Perhaps they're wrong that he's friendly.

‘I don't do wrong,' said Ikara. ‘I respected the petness of that rodent. I didn't eat the rat: Tariq won't eat you.'

‘Yes, but look at the size of him.'

Ikara coiled herself into a neat stack. ‘He's one of my closest friends although, astonishingly – despite the resemblance between us – not family. So I know exactly how big and powerful he is, also how fast he can swim. Any further Tariq facts needed, don't hesitate to ask.'

The bear dropped to all fours and shambled across the grass. Alex started backing away, palms damp, heart drumming a tattoo of fear.
Useless
, he thought.
The bear would outrun or outclimb any human.

‘Put me down,' hissed Skoodle. ‘Fear has got to my gut.'

Alex placed him on the ground. Skoodle rushed to hide behind a nearby bush. A small splatting sound followed a second later.

Close enough for Alex to smell bear fur, Tariq halted. In a deep and resonant voice he said, ‘Hi.'

‘Five,' replied Keeko, offering him her paw.

‘One,' said Ikara, holding up her tail. ‘This is Alex. From the sea. He needs a boat dragged up the beach. Will you do it?'

Tariq looked Alex full in the face. He was even more terrifying up close. A creature of the jungle, unpredictable, savage, with vicious teeth bared.
Smile or grimace
? Alex wondered. At any second he could find out the hard way.

‘You're frightened of me,' Tariq said, sounding amused. ‘Don't be. I'll help you.'

‘Thanks,' replied Alex, trying hard to envisage Tariq as something less scary, like a monster wave – but surf didn't have claws, enormous muscles or teeth.

‘Told you he'd help,' crowed Keeko, doing cartwheels across the glade.

‘Actually, it was me who said that,' hissed Ikara.

Keeko did a flick-flack, landing neatly. ‘Whatever. Still clever.'

‘Do you like hamsters?' Skoodle asked Tariq, poking his head round the bush.

‘Absolutely. For lunch,' replied Ikara.

‘Any friend of Ikara's or Keeko's is mine too,' said Tariq, sitting down. ‘Besides, I don't eat rodents. I'd rather have a banana.'

‘I don't know whether to be relieved or insulted,' replied Skoodle, wandering into the open.

‘Choose both,' replied Keeko.

Ikara looked at her thoughtfully. ‘Economy of emotion not your forte, furry face?'

‘Possibly not.'

‘It'll soon be dark. We'd better sort your boat out now in case there's a storm later,' said Tariq.

‘Perfect idea,' said Keeko, jumping on to Tariq's back. Ikara curled herself round Tariq's leg then, in a shimmer of green and gold, slithered up to curl round his neck and torso.

Tariq looked at Alex. ‘Piggyback?'

Alex looked at the bear-snake-monkey combo. In an odd way he wanted to join them, feel the thrill of riding a bear. His fear levels were falling, but not low enough to ride. ‘Thanks,' he said. ‘I'll walk. It's good for me.'

‘Taxi,' shouted Skoodle.

Alex reached down and scooped him up.

‘Shoulder, not pocket.'

‘Like a pirate's parrot,' said Alex. ‘A human's hamster.'

‘Or a rodent's ride. Let's keep perspective.'

After the central clearing on the lighter, more open track, Keeko launched herself into some low-hanging trees. She threw a large knobbly orange fruit at Alex. It looked like a misshapen grapefruit. Curiously, he held it to his nose. It smelled fabulous – a cross between a pineapple and a mango. ‘Is it safe to eat?'

‘Of course.'

Alex peeled it, passing two segments to Skoodle – who crammed both in his mouth at once.

‘Instant balloon,' said Ikara. ‘More of a meal that way.'

Skoodle swallowed quickly, as Alex shoved him back into his pocket.

‘Joke,' said Ikara. ‘Although, actually, not very funny for me. I'm starving.'

She slithered off the path, reappearing about a minute later with her mouth full. ‘Delicious,' she said, voice muffled as she swallowed. ‘But it would've been even more terrific with a fruit garnish in its mouth.'

‘You're winding me up,' said Alex.

‘Snake kebab,' Skoodle called up from his pocket. ‘Reptile on toast. Serpent burger. Curried snake. Overgrown-worm nuggets.'

‘Insignificant fur ball: hardly even a snake snack,' replied Ikara. ‘If I tried to eat you I'd choke on all the acid in your heart.'

After three of Keeko's fruits Alex was beginning to feel full for the first time in twenty-four hours. Life didn't seem so awful when he was neither starving nor about to vomit. They hadn't drowned. They'd made friends with talking animals: bizarre, but great. Also, because of the tides, they'd made it to Eridor.
Life could be a lot worse
, he reasoned.

‘Optimism. I thought it couldn't get worse,' groaned Skoodle.

‘Just did, 'cause you started talking,' said Ikara. ‘Silence is considered to be a great attribute in a rat.'

‘Hamster, ignorant worm.'

*

Once on the beach Alex untied the bow rope, retying it around the great bear's waist. On all fours, Tariq dragged the dead weight up the beach, Keeko riding on his back, bombarding him with unnecessary advice. Within minutes he had pulled the boat out of the sea's reach.

Alex refastened the rope to a huge palm. ‘Nothing but a hurricane or tsunami could shift it now.'

‘It just shows what real muscle can do.' Skoodle hopped on to the rope to have a better look. ‘Knots look okay. At least you got that right.'

A glorious sunset in shades of brilliant orange, burnt umber and blood red lit the sky as they finished. The jungle seemed impenetrably dark in contrast. Alex almost wished that his hard board bed was back on the water's edge, not quite so close to the black expanse filled with ominous noises.

‘You go to the river clearing with Ikara,' Keeko told Tariq. ‘I'll sleep next to the boat. Alex and Skoodle don't know the ways of the jungle.'

‘I'd feel a lot safer,' admitted Alex.

Skoodle snorted. ‘What? Being protected by a monkey?'

‘She may be small but she's no fluff-ball,' said Ikara. ‘If something attacks, you'll see a whole new side of her.'

‘The word “attacks” is not reassuring,' said Skoodle. ‘If anything happens we'll yell for Tariq.'

‘Thought transference covers greater distances than speech, even hamster yell, so use that,' said Tariq. ‘See you in the morning.' He set off into the inky depths with Ikara wound casually round his neck like a scarf.

Over the next hour Keeko taught the others how to block their thoughts. ‘You think the words
Non sprugguli
while envisaging a huge breaking wave. But no sun. No clouds. No fish. Only sky, surf, water.'

Since Keeko had said “No sun”, Alex found it difficult not to keep seeing the sun in his mind. Finally he got the picture fixed, with only a bit of sunlight.

Non sprugguli. How's that?

Not great
.

Alex rearranged his vision mentally, blocked the sun with a storm cloud, and then recalled that no clouds were allowed.

Any better?

Needs work.

After about twenty minutes of practice Keeko's face finally remained blank in answer to Alex's mental questions. Unblocking proved easier. ‘
Sprugguli on
', with the same mental image, took only four attempts. Skoodle cracked both with two attempts.

‘Easier for you,' said Alex, watching Keeko and Skoodle sitting on the sand opposite each other, toe to toe. ‘Less imagination.'

‘But more skill, intelligence, genetic ability, willingness to listen – shall I go on?' asked Skoodle.

‘You can, but I'm going to bed. Do carry on talking to yourself if you want,' replied Alex.

‘Nope. I'm shattered too,' said Skoodle, trotting across to the boat.

‘Sand will be better. I'll sleep out here,' said Keeko. She scrabbled around making a comfortable hollow then lay down, curling her tail round her body. ‘Sleep well,' she called.

‘No chance,' said Skoodle. ‘Bet I'll be awake all night.'

Alex lifted Skoodle over the side of the boat then pulled the tarpaulin over their heads. Almost instantly both fell into a deep sleep, such that only the dead could rival.

A loud bang rocketed Alex back to consciousness, ripping him out of his dreams. His mental processes were still foggy from sleep, made worse by dehydration.

His eyes jerked open. Completely useless. His brain cells showed nothing on the vision front. He lay entombed in complete darkness, apparently buried alive.

Confused, aching, his mouth tasting as if his tongue had been dragged through a pigsty, he desperately tried to work out where he could be. It could be anywhere horrendously uncomfortable and stiflingly hot. The crash came again, this time closer to his feet. An attack. By whom? Why?

‘You awake?' asked Keeko, from above him.

With the sound of her voice, yesterday's experiences flooded back: Eridor, his new friends, the lifeboat. Suddenly, the hardness underneath him and the pitch black made sense.

‘Yes,' Alex mumbled, through dry lips.

‘It's been ages since the sun rose,' continued Keeko. ‘I've been gathering your breakfast.'

Alex shoved back a corner of the tarpaulin to reveal a clear sunny day, already hot despite being relatively early. The deep blue sky hung cloudless above the stunning vista of the jungle.

Grape-sized red fruit had been thrown on to the tarpaulin, splattering juice and seeds in a sticky explosion. The fantastic smell brought a sharp pang of hunger, made worse by the food being a squashed inedible mulch.

Keeko sat balanced at the top end of the bow rope, laughing. ‘Fentice fruit. It was breakfast, then it broke, fast. Hungry?'

‘What do you think?' replied Alex, not bothering to keep the fatigue out of his voice. ‘Starving. Thirsty. Looking forward to a chunk of barbecued monkey.'

‘OK. Tiny hint taken. But don't go into the jungle while I'm gone. Or if you do, stick to the paths.'

Flinging herself into the trees Keeko swung rapidly up the jungle path, her brown and red furry body soon swallowed by the dense green jungle foliage.

‘I hope she hurries back,' Alex said to Skoodle, sitting down on the sand. He ripped the top off an emergency water bottle and glugged most of it down in one go.

‘She'll probably forget. I expect we won't see her till lunchtime,' said Skoodle, long brown whiskers trembling in irritation. ‘Although she could be quite quick if she wanted. Monkeys can travel up to thirty-five mph.'

‘How do you know?'

‘I've walked across a lot of your books.'

‘Have you always understood English?' asked Alex, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand.

‘Of course.'

Holding the bottle for Skoodle, Alex clumsily tipped it down his tiny chest, soaking his cream fur. ‘Fascinating. Hamsters can raise their eyebrows.'

‘Dull. So can humans.' Sitting up on his back legs Skoodle began to brush the front of his chest, frowning.

‘Do other animals in England understand speech?' asked Alex.

‘The clever ones do. Naturally, animals such as chickens can't. Cats understand pretty much everything. In fact, I once knew a cat who could read Greek.'

‘Oh, come on.'

Skoodle rubbed a wet paw on Alex's jeans. ‘Actually, it's true. Minty could also read Latin.'

‘I believe you about that. What's ridiculous is that you knew this Minty creature. Cats and hamsters don't get on.'

‘You are,' replied Skoodle coldly, ‘confusing me with a mouse.'

‘You come from the same family, don't you?'

‘There is no mouse that I'd call cousin. We're about as closely related as you and the average smelly gorilla.'

‘Don't you be rude about my Uncle Gus,' replied Alex, grinning. ‘He may be hairy, odour-challenged and eat bananas, but he's a fine guy to be with if you can understand his grunts.'

Skoodle made an L sign on his forehead, turned his back and started picking sand out of his tail. Oozing sweat from every pore, Alex lay down in the shade to wait.

Before long Keeko returned with food, arms laden as she ran. The three sat on the warm white sand, listening to the chorus of parrots in the jungle behind them, munching fentice fruit.

Once they were stuffed they made their way up the hill to Tariq's place. As they entered the clearing a feeling of being in the presence of evil, passed over Alex, rapidly evaporating. Ikara lay sunbathing on the grass.

‘Busy?' asked Alex.

Green eyes flecked with gold swivelled round to fix on him. ‘Don't knock it. Power snoozing. We cold-blooders need a sun blast at times.'

Skoodle's body had gone rigid. Alex stuffed a finger under Skoodle's nose, blocking his nostrils. As the hamster opened his mouth to breathe, Alex removed his finger and crammed more fentice into his mouth.

‘Eat. Chill out. It's OK to be friends with a snake.'

‘Eating's okay,' mumbled Skoodle. ‘It's the thought of being eaten that I find less relaxing.'

‘Then stand away from the snake. Go buddy up with the bear.'

Tariq was lying stretched out on his back on a patch of thick grass, huge arm across his eyes. He looked perfectly content in the caress of the sun's warmth. Thoughts unblocked, Alex wondered if he was asleep.

‘Asleep?' asked Keeko. ‘We'll soon fix that.'

Shinning up a nearby tree, she picked a handful of nuts. Taking aim, she pelted the bear with them.

‘Stop, Keeko,' Tariq said, not moving a millimetre.

Ignoring him, Keeko continued the barrage. Tariq picked up a nut and threw it hard. It pinged off the monkey's chest.

‘That hurt. I'll get you.'

Swinging through the branches above their heads Keeko flung herself on to Tariq, kicking and punching. Tariq play-wrestled back, pushing her fists away, groaning in overacted agony.

‘Great. A fight,' shouted Skoodle, mimicking Keeko's every move, ducking the phantom blows from Tariq. ‘Right hook. Unlucky. Slug with the left.'

Wrapping his arms round his face, Tariq called out, ‘Get her off. She'll hurt me.'

Keeko bared her long teeth and bit him.

‘Not funny.' Tariq stood up, grabbed Keeko by her feet and dangled her upside down – the other paw holding her upper spine to stop her twisting to bite him.

Still acting as if he were Keeko, Skoodle was forced into a handstand. ‘Crisis,' he said. ‘Bad vibes.'

Keeko punched and kicked at Tariq, hitting only air, hanging screeching and wriggling.

‘No more biting or fighting. Pax?' asked Tariq.

‘Fat chance.'

Boxing the breeze Keeko fought on, not one paw finding bear flesh. Skoodle gave up, righted himself and changed sides, imitating Tariq waiting.

Finally Keeko hung limply. ‘Pax,' came a small voice.

‘Good.'

Tariq tossed her up into the air in a broad arc, catching her in a hug.

‘Not happy, though. Don't think you can get round me by being nice,' she said, baring her teeth.

Tariq growled loudly.

‘But that'll work,' she replied with a smile.

Wearing Keeko on his chest like a small furry bib Tariq asked, ‘What news from the beach?'

Before anyone had time to answer, a blast of wind ripped through the clearing. Jungle birds were flung out of the trees in a shrieking, multicoloured blizzard. Black clouds scudded across the sun as the temperature plummeted.

The wind dropped, leaving an unnatural stillness in the polar air.

‘The news is… ' thundered a voice, filling the clearing. It seemed to come from everywhere but nowhere. It paused ominously. For several seconds everyone froze, petrified. The suspense was agonising. Skoodle disappeared into Alex's pocket.

Into the terrified silence the voice spoke again. ‘Alex will die.'

Time seemed to stop. The glade was silent. Alex's heart was pumping fast as he struggled to work out if this could really be happening.

Tariq stood up, handing Keeko to Alex. ‘Virida, O Powerful One. For what reason do you make such a dreadful statement?'

A deafening clap of thunder answered him. In the same instant a column of swirling blue smoke rose from the centre of the clearing. Within seconds it towered as high as the treetops, spitting red, green and orange sparks. Alex sat transfixed, terrified by a force powerful enough to control nature.

‘Because, O Stupid One, the Weston boy must bear the sins of his parents. They wronged me deeply. For that he shall pay.'

‘Such is not justice,' replied Tariq, facing the column without flinching. ‘The parents commit the crime, yet the son is to be punished?'

The column of smoke rose higher, swelling thicker. ‘You question my judgement? Be careful, or those who defend him may also die.'

‘The deeper laws of Eridor do not permit such injustice,' said Tariq, taking a step closer to the swirling smoke, apparently unmoved by the fear that paralysed the rest of them. ‘It's against Core Justice.'

‘A death for a death is permitted,' spat out the voice. ‘Blood has been shed by the Westons. The evil in them is embedded in the kinfolk also. The boy must be eliminated. I have spoken.'

The wind whipped up again, bending trees, snapping vines, tearing branches off bushes. Flattened by the force Alex grabbed on to a tree, arms scraped by branches hurtling past, Keeko clinging to him. He caught Ikara as she blew towards him in a bruised tangle. Holding the tree with one arm he clung to Ikara until she wriggled up his chest, wrapped herself around the tree and anchored all three of them.

Only Tariq stood unmoved, his great weight and courage fixing him to the spot. The column started to fall as the cascade of smoke turned in on itself. Within moments, the pillar stood at barely half its peak height.

‘Wait, Virida,' growled Tariq. ‘Is there anything you would accept other than the life of such a miserable creature?'

The wind dropped. The column halted, hanging swirling in the air, internal lights sparking. The centre glowed red, a poker of heat straight through the smoke's heart. The whole column pulsated as if a life force beat within it.

Seconds passed. Sparks spitting and hissing were the only sounds in the terrifying silence. Then the voice came again. ‘There is a price I would accept.'

‘Name it.'

‘The Sapphire of Akan. Bring it to me and Alex goes free. Fail and you all die with him. Unless you speak now, you have all agreed.' With not even half a second's pause to allow an answer, Virida swept on. ‘The pact is made. You are bound by its terms.'

The column started to fall once more.

‘Stop, Virida.'

The column paused, centre glowing darker, pulsating heat. Red sparks like long nails rained on to the ground, scorching moss, setting tufts of grass alight.

I hope he knows what he's doing
, thought Alex, mind blocked.
The column looks as reasonable and as safe as the core of a nuclear reactor
.

Tariq's face remained expressionless. ‘Where can we find the crystal?'

‘Ask Zorrin.'

‘No one knows where to find him, except the elemental wizards,' replied Tariq.

‘Tough.' The column began to shrink again.

‘If you help us we have more chance of getting the sapphire for you. If we die finding him we're only a pile of corpses, no use to you.'

The column quietened, apparently thinking. ‘Try the Single Redwood. Zorrin sometimes goes there.'

A wild gust of wind swept the smoke straight up into the sky where it hung for a moment, then vanished in an explosion of purple and red sparks. The black clouds slid away from the face of the sun, yet the atmosphere remained icy.

Alex frowned at the space where the column had been, stunned. Could this be possible? Had he really been condemned to death? Who would have this much power, even controlling the weather? In a cold sweat he let go of Ikara's tail as she unwound herself from the tree. He pulled himself to sitting.

Keeko's sobs broke the horrendous silence. ‘We're all to die. Nothing can save us.'