The Collapsing Tunnel - Chapter 19

 

19 – Ana / Shaatka – Clearing the Path

The natural vent to the surface is tighter than the tunnels Ana is used to. Moving as silently as she can, wearing only body paint and silk, she leads the way. The rough stones provide her with easy handholds and steps, but her unstrung bow is tightly strapped against her back. Shaatka follows her. The body paint and silks are in the same pattern, but she carries a wider variety of arrows than Ana. Both have blunt, small-game tips, perfect for disabling someone, and hard-tipped bodkins for piercing armor, if they really need them. But Shaatka also has her razor-sharp hunting tips. They both hope to use only the blunts, but they are also prepared for the worst. The cool, fresh air blows down on Ana. She knows she is getting close to the opening. There’s light. It’s daylight. “We’ll have to wear eye shades. It’s daytime.” She whispers down. Shaatka nods and pulls them from her small pouch, placing them over her eyes. When Shaatka asked for volunteers to find Mosek, she happily agreed. Sitting and waiting is annoying. Getting, moving, doing. These things feel better.

 As she gets to the edge of the vent, she stops and motions for Shaatka to do the same. Ana listens. She doesn’t hear anything. Even with the eyeshades, it is bright outside. She pulls herself up, glances around, and sees a shadowy bush. She moves quickly into the shadow while staying low to the ground. When Shaatka exits the hole, Ana motions for her to join her.

Their mottled grey-and-green body paint and colored silks blend well with the mountainside. From the shadow, they watch and wait. Outside of the mountain is unfamiliar to them, so they both take a moment listening to the natural sounds, the wind blowing the branches, and the birds in the trees.

They both string their bows. Using hand signals, Ana motions to a large cluster of rocks. They stay low and move stealthily. Once there, they look for signs of travel, roads, or openings. Shaatka softly taps a stone with the tips of her fingers, then points down the side of the mountain. A road winds down, but doesn’t go above them, so there must be a tunnel into the mountain. Ana points to another stand of trees, from where they might have a better view.

As they get into position, they hear a voice in Durask yell. “Stop!” They freeze and realize that the voice is on the road facing into a tunnel. “Who are you, where did you come from, and where are you going?”

They both patiently watch, with their bows in their hands.