Chapter Thirty Nine - Sky
"Emshieh. What does it mean?"
"End. Finish. You know that."
"I do now. I didn't last night."
"You must have. You said it."
"No. And that worries me. After I drew out the lirhum spell I had no idea how to stop it. As I was sat there in panic the word emshieh came into my head, I spoke it and the spell ended."
Sheeta twisted in the saddle and looked at him.
"You spoke a Gondoan word without ever hearing it before?"
"It seems so. I just heard it in my head."
"A voice? In your head?"
"No, not a voice, don't worry, I'm not going mad. I suddenly just knew it, like I'd known it years."
"Paetsu, I think flying blood is thicker in you that we both realized. If you can remember a word then at some point someone must have taught it to you."
"I remember vaguely a very old man. I thought he was an uncle, or maybe a grandfather. You know, I can see his face now, but I just can't remember his name. My parents died when I was eight, he must have gone before then. I can only just remember him."
"I wonder if emshieh comes from him."
"I can't think where else it could have."
They were sharing a horse, riding along a muddy track, trees bowed to them on either hand, heavy with snow. The white silent winter landscape rolled smoothly away to left and right – fields, low hills, woodland, and ahead moorland. The land was rising. The day was peaceful with the deadened sound that only comes with snow. The sky above was that flat pale grey that forebodes more snow although for now it had stopped. Ahead of them Shuna sat side saddle on the broad shoulders of one of the yaoko, the second animal, tethered by a ring though its nose to the harness of the one in front, walked dozily behind, both oxen piled up high with supplies and the tent equipment. Sheeta and Pazu shared Shuna's horse.
They had woken early, entangled in each others arms. Wanting to cuddle in the deep warmth of the bed, Pazu was annoyed by Sheeta pushing him out. They had washed and dressed quickly in the dark, had bought breakfast – one more silver coin gone – and then, returning to their room, had packed and sat watching from the window as daylight came.
"Here they are!"
Sheeta bounced up, grabbing their belongings, Pazu picked up his knapsack and they went outside. In the half light of the muddy yard Shuna dismounted from his horse, the two yaoko behind him were burdened with a huge pile of sacks, boxes, carpets and tent poles.
"Good morning."
Sheeta went to him, smiling. Shuna approached. He bowed to her, then to Pazu walking behind.
"My lady, Paetsu, did you sleep well?"
"We did, thank you. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, all packed. Here, you two share my horse. I will ride one of the pack animals."
"Where's Keya?" Pazu walked to the horse.
"Gone. In the night. He came back to the tent, packed his bedding and equipment, took some food and left. I tried to stop him but he wouldn't stay."
"What did he say?"
"Nothing, nothing at all. He simply told me to keep out of his way. He was angry, but don't worry, he is my nephew, his father, my older brother will knock some sense into him. I will speak with him about Keya."
Sheeta looked at Pazu. The boy merely shrugged.
"He won't do anything stupid will he?"
"You will need to tell me what you mean by 'stupid', Paetsu."
"I assume he refuses to recognize me."
"That is my assumption."
"That means he no longer recognizes Sheeta as well."
"That is possible, but unlikely. My guess is he still sees her as his princess. He only has issues with you as prince."
"What are your laws on that?"
"It is hard to say, the royal line is so weak and diluted now they do not hold any real power any more. They mainly live as ordinary farmers. I suppose by law Keya should be obliged to recognize the royal line and if he refuses he becomes ohtrouth – outcast, and must go away. But you would need to prove your royal blood."
"Surely that is easy, the stone."
"It would appear easy, but you don't know our laws, our way of life. There are some who say the bloodline of Phom is now invalid because he was disowned. When King Thurosa sent his son away the son ceased to be royalty. But not everyone agrees, it is complicated."
"But if I bring a spell out of the stone?"
"No matter, your blood may be royal but it is disowned blood, banished blood. People might argue that you too are ohtrouth."
"Soil and sky."
"Yes, Paetsu, soil and sky. Suul ue skur.(1) You learn quickly."
"We should be going, Keya or no Keya, the daylight is short now."
"Yes. Lady Sheeta, can you ride astride?"
"No, I am still bleeding. Can you set up a side step for me?"
"Of course."
Shuna worked at the right shoulder of the horse arranging in place a wooden board held to the saddle by two straps. Sheeta lifted her skirts, Pazu assisted her up and she stepped on the board and with Pazu guiding her she swung up and then around to sit in the saddle sideways, her feet together resting on the makeshift step to the horse's right flank. As she had in the tent, she lifted her skirt and sat with her bare skin on the saddle, letting her dress hang around her. Pazu offered her the warm aviators jacket which she buttoned up, turning up the fleece lined collar.
Pazu looked at the horse, it was big and he'd never ridden before.
"Come around behind me. Put your left foot in the left stirrup, hold the saddle rim behind me, and the pommel to my left. Then bounce on your right leg two or three times to get a good boost up, climb with your left leg and swing your right leg over. You'll be sitting on his rump, behind the saddle."
Pazu did as she instructed and found it easier than he thought. It felt odd to be astride a living animal, the horse's powerful muscles moved beneath him, he felt like he would fall off. In some ways it was like being on the rattling and bucking footplate of the little Ravine mine shunting engines.
"Reach your toes forwards, get in the stirrups."
Shuna adjusted the stirrup length for Pazu while Sheeta held the reins.
"Medisha is a big horse but not stubborn or cross. He'll forgive you if annoy him a little. Just don't annoy him a lot."
"What annoys him a lot?" asked Pazu
"Being ridden. Unless it's me."
Shuna didn't smile. But the boy laughed, the man was joking, surely? When he was settled Pazu lifted the poncho that covered him.
"Under here."
Sheeta smiled and ducked sideways under the fleece lined leather, pushing her head and shoulders up into it and then putting her arms out through the slits. Her head popped out the top.
"Cozy. Just like the night in the glider."
"Yes."
Shuna made himself a space sidesaddle on one of the broad shoulders of the lead yaoko. He turned the hairy steaming animal around and with a stick, whacked it's rump to make it walk out of the yard, the tethered second animal following. Sheeta did the riding, directing the horse with rein and crop.
"Shuna!" Pazu shouted, "I need to go south out of town two or three miles to begin with. I need to collect something."
--I--
---o-o-oOo-o-o---
I I
Outside the inn, Monoghan and his partner Reese, stood at the corner of a side street, watching. They had flown here last night and been observing the few inns in town. Having seen the Gondoan man with his mountain yaks in the paddock behind this one, they had stayed here. There was no question, the boy and the girl Surun was interested in left on horseback heading south with the Gondoan hunter.
Monoghan pulled on black leather gloves and held his dark coat collar up against the freezing air. He turned and went down the street the other way, Reese at his heel. Their skidplane was by the river on the far side of town, and in it was the field radio he needed to use.
--I--
---o-o-oOo-o-o---
I I
At the tree bole where he had left the rifle, Pazu clumsily dismounted and retrieved it and the ammunition belt. He swung the belt across one shoulder bandolier style, and slipped the rifle onto his arm by its leather strap. The grey woolen blanket was soaked through, hard with ice. He threw it away. Shuna watched without comment. Gondoans did not use firearms and many distrusted the mechanical weapons. The rifle looked heavy and he knew Pazu would have his work cut out keeping such a weapon serviceable in the freezing winter weather. The grey daylight finally banished the greyer dawn. They set off.
--I--
---o-o-oOo-o-o---
I I
They had been riding two hours. Shuna was ahead and the road had been climbing steadily now into the hills. Passing traffic was sparse, a few horsemen and two farm carts. This part of Restormel was certainly quiet.
Sheeta leaned her right side against Pazu and he pressed forward against her to keep them both warm. He still felt like he might fall off, riding a horse was very odd, it was impossible to get used to it, he just tried to sway his hips in time to the heavy rolling gait of the animal's haunches, letting his lower half move but keeping his upper body upright. The high collar of her leather jacket came up above the top of the poncho and only Sheeta's nose and eyes peeped over the top. Under the poncho they were snug and warm, she held the reins and he had his arms around her waist. The only problem was her bare legs, she had pulled her thick socks up to her knees but she really needed britches or leg wrappings such as Shuna wore, but for now, with his cozy heat and familiar Pazu-smell against her, she was happy. When he spoke his breath was on her temple, his lips in her hair. The magical winter landscape was all around, her landscape – she knew winter well, Gondoa's longest season. Not far now, two or three days. She was going home, he was with her and she was in love. And he would marry her. That delicious thought kept her warm against the fiercest cold.
"I was four when my parents died," she said, "I hardly remember them, they are just faint shapes now, faint smells, ghost faces."
"They did a good job in four years. You should be proud of them."
"I am. I still love them, even though memory of them is fading."
"My mystery uncle, or grandfather, I don't know which, he must have died or left the family at about the same age for me. I remember badly hurting my arm when I was five playing with some friends. I broke it falling out of a tree. I think he must have gone before then."
"How old are you? Suddenly I've just realized I don't know how old you are or when your birthday is."
"I'm sixteen, Sheeta. My birthday is the seventh of the seventh month."
"Wait, that was when we were at Tanners wasn't it?"
"It was, the third day we were there. I was stacking barley all day and you weren't talking to me."
"I think, actually Paetsu, you weren't talking to me."
"Hm, less than a month ago. Weren't we stupid then?"
"Speak for yourself."
"And your birthday?"
"The seventh too. Of the third month."
"Well, wait a minute… that's, yes, that's exactly opposite mine. The other side of the year."(2)
"It is?"
"Hm, eight months and our birthdays are four months apart."
"I'm exactly a half year younger than you."
"Younger? Ha, I assumed you were older."
"No, do I act like it?"
"Hm, you do."
"Yes, I suppose it is funny, exactly a half year apart. Anyway, happy birthday for a month ago."
"Thank you. Have you got me a present?"
She turned to him. They were so close her face was almost touching his.
"I might have."
"What?"
"Come closer. Come and get it."
He did. And she gave it to him. Without her concentrating on riding the horse, the animal stopped. He stood and swung his neck around to chew on the dead twigs of the hedge.
"Mmm, Paetsu, no. Not here."
She spoke in muffled tones, her lips against his. His hands had lifted from her waist and one of them had undone a button of the leather jacket and slipped inside, higher, on her front, where she was curved and soft. They continued the kiss. She said no but she didn't stop him. Then she had to. Before he took her to the point where it would be too hard to say no.
"I think that's enough. This is just a late birthday present. Not our wedding night."
"Mm, sorry. I just love you, love kissing you, love touching. Yau ulve om, yau kaesu ulve, yau taeh ulve om."
"Really, you're terrible. A few days ago you were too afraid to take that first step. You knew nothing."
"And look at me now. I blame teacher."
"You are turning into a very naughty boy. And your hand is still there. Take it off. We need to catch Shuna up."
He kissed her gently one last time, gave her a final tender stroke and took his hand away.
"Just keeping you warm."
"No, actually I think you were keeping your hand warm. Oh, and by the way, your language is getting very good."
"Alright with you that is, but not much use yet for going into a hardware store for supplies."
"True. I'll do that, you stick with the bedroom talk, I think that will work. Medisha, paed-ur meh."(3)
--I--
---o-o-oOo-o-o---
I I
"So, come on then, what is telle? I missed out on it last night."
"You did, which was a pity. I don't know what Shuna's plans are for tonight, whether he will head for a Gondoan-friendly inn, or make camp. If we camp he might not make up a telle just for three people."
"We've only got one tent."
"Oh, when traveling we all sleep together."
"In one bed?"
"No, you idiot! Oh, for heaven's sake! Why did I meet such a… I don't know. You are unbelievably hopeless."
"Don't rip my head off! You said we sleep together."
"In the same tent. If a party of Gondoans are traveling, each brings their tumurh, their tent, lengths of caern, woven wall and floor covering and the puol or poles. They are very clever. Because they are all made to the same pattern, they are interchangeable. The party will select a campsite then assemble all the tumurh into one big communal construction, often of a star shape, at the ends of the points of the star each family has its bed. In the centre is the he-ayerth. I can tell you when a big group gets together around the he-ayerth after a long day and we sing songs and dance and play music and the telle is passed around. Well, it's lovely. Lots of fun."
She paused for a moment looking at the ground, when she spoke again, her voice was somber and low.
"I miss it. Paetsu, it's a wonderful life. I don't know if I could ever change and be without these people, this community, this friendship."
"I think I understand. Soil. You are of the soil."
"I am. I'm sorry. It's my life. Flying machines, industry, steam engines, motor vehicles, farm machinery. It would destroy this world."
"I know. Knowing that doesn't make me love you any less, or want to be with you any less. In fact, the opposite, I think."
"But the sky?"
"I know, the sky. We'll work something out."
but how? flying machines, industry and science here, in a land of farms and oxen and men with bows? it isn't going to work is it? something has to give. someone has to give.
"If Keya is of the soil, is Shuna of the sky?"
"You know, I don't think I know. He's an older man though, Keya is young, headstrong, a little like you. But Shuna behaves correctly. He could be accepting you simply because that's the proper thing to do. What he really thinks, I don't know."
"Do you know anyone in your village who is of the sky?"
"I do, but I'm sure they will make themselves known to you soon after you arrive."
"Are there more soil than sky people?"
"So many questions. Are you planning a fight or something?"
"Sorry. Just trying to plan ahead."
"Paetsu, there is no need to stick your head into a bees nest the day you arrive. It might take months for things to begin to happen, so don't force anything and certainly don't annoy anyone. Try not to do another Keya. Spend time getting to know people. And just be yourself. They can't fail to like you if you are just you."
Pazu looked around, looked up. A faint swishing noise, a noise he knew very well.
"Shuna!" he was almost screaming, "Get under the trees! Now! Get the yaoko out of sight! Hurry!"
Without needing to be asked, Sheeta swung Medisha off the lane and under cover of a large pine tree, she walked him into a small wood a little way. They sat, looking up, keeping still. Through the snow-thick branches they saw the skidplane, sleek and silver and very quiet. It came north, circled around twice, came lower then passed away eastwards. Pazu, his arms holding Sheeta tight, waited a full two minutes after it was lost to sight before allowing her to move.
"Paetsu, I've had enough. Those men, why won't they leave us alone? I'm sick of it!"
Pazu was more worried about how Muska's men had found them. Weeks had passed since the gunfight near the railway, how had they found them? Surely they weren't randomly sweeping the whole country? What had led them here, just two days after meeting Shuna? And Keya.
Keya. Pazu's blood ran cold. Could Keya somehow have spoken to these suited city men? It didn't seem likely, that would put Sheeta in harms way, surely he wouldn't do that?
They continued north along the hills, always rising up onto the fells, the foothills of mountains. And as they rode on, in a silent hug on Shuna's big horse, Pazu continued to look to the sky. A sky of low grey flat cloud, a sky of flying machines, of science and of men who would imprison her again. It began to snow again. The snow fell. From the sky onto the soil. Pazu didn't miss the simile, he recalled her words. He was of the sky, she of the soil. He wanted to fall on her. But that would mean turning his back on flying, on that beautiful promise of a future that library held, on everything he'd had as dreams for his whole life. Pazu continued to watch the sky, in fear.
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1- 2 April 2007
(1) Suul ue skur : soil and sky -or- soil or sky, "ue" is a shortened form of uesen, the generic connective expression (then, or, and, also, etc). The inflexion in the voice determines the exact meaning (between, for example "and" and "or").
(2) You'll recall from chapter 36 "Bleeding" that the year on this planet is eight months each of 45 days. For Pazu and Sheeta's birthdays to be four months apart would be six months in our world. Pazu's birthday is early in the seventh month, during the harvest. Sheeta's is early in the third month, in the spring.
(3) Paed-ur meh : "walk on now".
For author notes about Chapter Thirty Nine, please see my forum (click on my pen name)