Chapter 13
Descent
During the initial stages of the descent Sleet could find no time for conversation, even though, as they had exited the cave up above them, his mind had been buzzing with questions. Questions that demanded urgent attention. The rocky ledge, however, was frighteningly narrow and, at times, precipitously steep, and Sleet required complete concentration and all of his nerve in order to keep placing one foot in front of the other as he clung onto the rock face to his right hand side. As he descended gradually, keeping one eye on his footing and one on Perry’s back ahead of him, his lungs continued their acclimatisation with the dense air that surrounded him - almost by the minute it was becoming less and less of an issue. Very soon, he suspected, he would not be conscious of it at all. He marvelled at his body’s ability to adapt as quickly as it had - not half an hour ago he had been prostrate on the floor of the cave and, seemingly, choking to death. Every so often from up ahead came the harsh hacking of the Shadow creature as it continued to expel the air of Earth from its own lungs, evidence that the transitional process was, if anything, more troublesome to them than it was to Human beings. Sleet chided himself now for his earlier reaction. He’d almost lost consciousness altogether - left himself at the complete mercy of the beasts and the unfathomable whims of Sean Perry. If only he’d begun to gulp down the gloopy substance as soon as he had fallen through the portal (as, presumably, Perry had) he would have been in much better shape, much more quickly. Still, he thought, it was pointless castigating himself now. Hindsight was a wonderful thing, after all, and it was not as if he wasn’t at the mercy of these creatures anyway, whether he was fighting fit or not.
He slipped suddenly, cursing under his breath, as his foot lost grip on some loose scree which was sent skidding off the narrow ledge into space. He clawed at the rock-face behind him, momentarily desperate for purchase, grazing his palm in doing so, before he re-established his footing, breathing deeply, his heart pounding in his chest.
Perry turned to consider him. “You alright?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Sleet grimaced back, “of course I am. I’ve only been kidnapped by monsters and a raving psychopath and whisked off to an alien world which has air as thick as soup. In what way could I possibly not be ‘alright’?”
“Good.” Perry replied and, as if nothing Sleet had said had even registered with him, he turned about and continued the descent. Sleet mumbled an expletive which made him feel only slightly better, before carrying on himself. He started to take greater strides, this time ensuring, however, that each foot was very firmly planted before he committed his entire weight to it and, in this fashion, he found that he made better progress. The path itself was, for all its precipitous nature, well formed and, if great hulking creatures like the one than stalked up ahead of him could make their way along it on foot (and claw) then he certainly could. After a little while longer, though, he glanced up in an attempt to spy out what lay immediately ahead. He instantly wished he hadn’t bothered for, just a little way down the track before them, the path had almost totally disintegrated - only the barest hint of ledge remaining. The remainder of the track had, apparently, slipped away, leaving a bite-size gouge in the cliff face. He experienced a sudden sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach and took some deep breaths to quell his fear, quite sure that there wouldn’t be a toilet anywhere nearby. There were two other things that he was instantly very certain of: the first being that there was no way on Earth (or wherever the hell he was, he corrected himself) that he was going to be able to inch his way across that impossibly thin ledge whilst glued to the rock-face like some Hollywood stuntman. Nor was he going to launch himself into space in some lunatic attempt to jump across the gap - especially as he could well be a few thousand feet above ground level. The only thing in which he found consolation at that moment was the fact that he doubted very much that Perry was either willing or able to do any of those things either.
“What happens now, then?” he said to Perry’s back.
“Oh,” Perry replied, without turning around this time but with a smile that Sleet could detect regardless, “this is where we are going to need just a little assistance.”
You bastard, he thought, you’re enjoying every miserable moment of this, aren’t you? “What the hell’s that meant to mean?” he growled.
“Just watch. And don’t get over-excited.”
Over-excited! Sleet mused. If matters were in his own hands he could quite happily throttle Perry.
They continued to edge towards the gap in the pathway and then, without warning, the hulking beast that was leading them literally dropped off the edge of the track and into the abyss. It happened so quickly that Sleet almost missed it altogether. He peered downwards to follow the plummeting descent of the creature and was totally unsurprised when, at a certain point far below them, it appeared to just hang there and then, with increasing rapidity, it began to soar back up towards them, its wings beating rhythmically, its massive bulk appearing almost streamlined as it loomed closer. It rose upwards until it was once more level with the track and proceeded to float there as if in exultation, seemingly exhilarated by its impromptu exhibition. After a few moments had passed, during which the pair of them could only stand and marvel at the prowess of the beast, it glided towards them, or, more specifically, towards Perry and, with a delicacy that Sleet would never have expected, the creature clasped him in its arms, his face pressed against its leathery chest, and lifted him off his feet. Then it swung away and glided the few meters along the cliff where it carefully deposited Perry back on his feet on the opposite side of the gap.
Perry turned towards him, his arms held aloft, “It’s as simple as that!” he stated. “Now it’s your turn.”
Sleet backed away. “Whoa...if you think for one minute that I’m going to put myself in the hands of that monster,” he gestured towards the Shadow that was ominously flying back towards him, “you can think again!”
Perry laughed, “Sleet, come on. What choice have you really got? Just get on with it and we can get down from this place.”
“Down to what?” Sleet shouted back at him.
Perry chuckled to himself. “All in good time, Sleet. Why don’t we take things one step at a time for now, huh?”
Sleet grimaced. He was fully aware that, in reality, he genuinely had no choice whatsoever. He had been bereft of any capability to make any meaningful decision since he had stepped into the blackness of that hangar and had been confronted by the unconscious forms of Helen and Moira - held, suspended there, by the creatures. There was no way that he was ever going to jeopardise the safety of either one of them. He knew it; Perry knew it, and hence the creatures knew it. Case closed.
He took a deep breath and allowed his muscles to relax as much as he was able to do so. The beast swam through the air towards him, its black in black eyes seemingly fixed intently upon him. At least they’re not glowing bright red, he thought, eager for any consolation as the monster’s muscle-bound forearms opened out to welcome him into its embrace. He closed his eyes tightly shut, mumbled “get on with it.” And then he found the creatures claws close around his upper arms, firm but not tight - not threatening. Then he was lifted off the ground and, as this happened, was drawn close to the chest of the beast where it was impossible not to inhale its strong musky odour. He sensed their movement but remained resolute and kept his eyes closed. The last thing he could afford to do was look down and end up having some kind of panic attack. The creature might drop him like a stone if he started to struggle for all he knew.
“Here you are,” said Perry, obviously close by. And then Sleet felt another pair of hands upon him - Perry, ensuring that he was brought to rest in a safe position, hopefully! Then he felt the ground once more beneath the soles of his boots and opened his eyes at the same time as the creature released its grip and backed away from him, out into the open air, where it preceded to utter a series of monosyllabic gargles before dropping away once more in a series of swirls and twists, apparently exercising itself with its aerobatics. Sleet stumbled briefly, unbalanced by peering down the face of the cliff. Perry clutched hold of him, “steady now! It gets a bit easier from here on - the path gets a bit wider too, thankfully.”
Sleet didn’t shrug Perry off, like he might have done under normal circumstances. A little dependency was a small price to pay whilst he familiarised himself with this place. He looked downwards once again, concentrating this time not upon the beast that was turning cartwheels in the air far below, but on that purple canopy that covered the ground beneath them for as far as he could see in any direction - apart, that was, from occasional glimpses through the mist of the sharply upthrust mountain in the very far distance. “What is that, down there?” he asked, “a forest?”
“Yes,” Perry replied, “after a fashion. Nothing here quite fits any Earthly description that you might have for it, you’ll soon realise that. It’s all very...different.”
“Like the air, you mean?”
“Yes. It’s a miracle really, don’t you think? That we can actually survive here. Maybe it’s a million to one shot and we’re just incredibly lucky.”
“Lucky!” Sleet scoffed, “I’m not exactly feeling too lucky at the moment.”
Perry stared him in the eye and Sleet realised that, for the first time in a long time, that twitch at the corner of his eye had ceased its anxious fluttering. “You wanted this though Sleet, you know you did. You wanted to find out what was behind all this - why your Shadow creatures covet you so. And that’s what you’re here to find out, isn’t it?”
Perry released his grip upon Sleet’s arm, leaving him to stand there in silent contemplation of the vista before him. The myriad shades of pink and purple that painted themselves across the sky were mesmerising in and of themselves, yet it was that glittering string of jewels that passed overhead in a never-ending procession that was the show stopper. “What exactly is that?” he asked, pointing up at it.
“Well,” Perry began hesitantly, “it’s not exactly my field of expertise, but I suspect that it’s a ring, encircling the planet. You know? Like the rings of Saturn? The Mur-muri believe that each one of those sparkling rocks embodies the soul of an ancestor. That that’s where they end up after they die - to look down upon their people for the rest of eternity. Poetic, but hardly likely, I think!”
“Who are the Mur-muri?” Sleet asked.
Perry barked out a laugh. “Your Shadows, Sleet! Your nightmare monsters! They are neither of those things. They are Mur-muri, a proud and honourable people, and this is their land.” he swept his arm around to encompass the totality of the panorama before them.
Mur-muri. Sleet turned the name over in his head, allowed it to trickle from his lips. “I’m not convinced about the proud and honourable bit, I’m afraid, Perry,” he said, “I’ve seen too much of what they’re capable of for that.”
“Out of necessity, Sleet,” Perry responded with conviction, “and desperation. They have done nothing that they didn’t feel compelled to do in order to ensure the survival of their species. Humans have never been any different, have they? Just look at all the extinct species that mankind has been responsible for, and ask yourself how many of those were absolutely necessary.”
“I think you’ve got things a little out of proportion, Perry. Don’t try and justify the murder that these creatures have committed. I’ve seen it too many times with my own eyes. I can never forgive them for...”
“The death of your brother,” Perry interjected, “that’s what it comes down to in reality, Sleet, isn’t it. Thousands could die, but when it happens to someone close, that’s when it gets personal. It’s inevitable. Yet you feel compelled to enact the pretense that you’re on some kind of moral crusade! Why don’t you admit it, Sleet? They killed your brother and you want to exact revenge. What’s so wrong with that, anyway? It’s perfectly understandable human nature.”
Sleet turned away and began trudging down the track once more, unconcerned as to whether Perry was in front of him or behind him. “That’s only part of it, Perry. You wouldn’t understand. Now shall we get down off here, or what?”
Whilst Perry appeared to be in a more receptive mood, however, Sleet decided to try and turn the conversation towards a subject closer to his heart, something that had been weighing heavily upon him since he had regained his senses in this place. “What about Helen and Moira, Perry. I need to know that they are safe. We had an agreement, didn’t we?”
“They’re fine, Sleet, I’m sure of it,” Perry replied, “like I just told you, the Mur-muri are an honourable people. It was you that they were interested in. The two women were merely...a means to an end, you understand?”
“Oh, I understand alright! But how can you be sure? How do you know that they’re not still being held against their will back there?”
Perry sighed. “Because, for better or for worse, Sleet, as I’ve told you before, I am inextricably linked to these creatures - they are inside my head. They know everything that I know, but it works both ways. There intentions were centred completely upon yourself. As soon as you submitted to their wishes, they had no further interest in the girls - and no use for them, either.”
“What about how they have used others, then. We’ve both seen it, Perry. Seen how they can literally suck the life out of a person - you can’t deny that, can you?”
“I’m not trying to deny it,” the frustration was evident in his voice, “but again, out of necessity - not some insane purpose to quell all human life! They are creatures of power, Sleet, not shackled by the trappings of science and warfare like us. All they want to do is exist. What they have taken from us was necessary for their continued survival. They would not last long over on our side if they didn’t drink of our essence. The human soul is a very real and palpable thing to them, Sleet. What does that say for the science of mankind, eh? It’s simply beyond us, the understanding of our own true nature. But them...they’re so different...it’s beautiful.”
Sleet remained focused upon putting one foot in front of the other. It was true that the path was widening out somewhat, increasing the rapidity of their descent. “Drinking of our essence! Have you heard yourself, Perry? Is that what you really think our worth is - as sustenance for these monsters?”
“I’m not judge and jury, Sleet. I’m not trying to tell you what’s right and what’s wrong. I’m just telling you the facts, is all. It might not be pleasant to hear, but that’s the reality of it, and there’s nothing that you or I can do to change that. I’m fed up of trying to get you to understand that I’m not even in control of my own actions most of the time.”
Sleet snorted in disgust, “that’s handy, isn’t it?”
“I’m doing my best to help you, Sleet. If you’d only try and comprehend that, then everything might go a little easier.”
“I just need to know that they’re safe, that’s all. If anything has happened to them, either of them, then I may as well just step off the edge of this path right now. I made a promise to myself that nobody else would suffer because of me and I don’t care whether you, or they,” he waved his hand out expansively into the void at his left hand side, “know it.”
“All I can tell you, Sleet, is that I am quite sure about their intentions. They do not lie, or deceive - those are human traits, inconceivable to the mur-muri, entirely beyond them. The girls have served their purpose and have been released.”
Sleet was distracted then by the shape of the beast, the Mur-muri, as it swooped up past the ledge before turning to hover in the air in contemplation of them. It beat it’s wings furiously, a gesture which Sleet could only interpret as dissatisfaction of the progress they were making.
“It’s no good getting in a strop,” Sleet shouted at it, “I’m not about to start jogging.” The creature merely continued to glare at him.
“It would be well not to antagonise Uvall,” Perry said from behind him, “there are quicker ways of getting down from here, as you’ve already experienced. I’d take the fact that you’re being allowed to walk down as a complement.”
Sleet imagined the creature taking hold of him once more and plummeting downwards at the speed he had witnessed the beast travelling. “Okay, okay, we’ll try and pick up the pace a bit!” In truth, he was in no hurry to find out was was at the bottom of this immense cliff and that had been reflected in his progress. He had traversed equally rough, if not quite so dramatic, terrain before, and was easily capable of doubling his pace if he needed to.
The beast gargled at him, ominously, before twisting about and, once more, flying off into the distance.
“Uvall?” Sleet queried, “where did you come up with a name like that?”
“Are you being intentionally dense, Sleet?” Perry growled back, “that’s his actual name, or at least it’s what it sounds like in my head. And it’s not his entire name - just the beginning of it. Uvall-vu-zee-something or other. It’s ingrained in here somewhere,” he said, tapping his forehead, “clear as crystal when he summons me, but that’s all I can remember of it at the moment. And so it’s Uvall for short.”
“Is he the one that did it?”
“Did what?” Perry was only momentarily puzzled, “ohhh, your brother! No, he didn’t. That one is dead. Killed by others, in London.”
Sleet instantly recalled that night down by the docks. Some kind of gangland rendezvous gone horribly awry due to the sudden arrival of a demonic beast that had dropped out of the sky into their midst. Sleet had crouched concealed in the shadows, a spectator on that occasion. Too many men with too much firepower present for his liking. And for the Shadow as well - for once, it appeared to have bitten off more than it could chew. Sleet had had to beat a hasty retreat, sure that he had been spotted by a figure within one of the vehicles. They had tracked him through the Docklands, he was sure of it. He had made his way home that night by a particularly circuitous route.
“Oh.” was all that he said, unwilling to reveal his presence that night to Perry, for reasons he could not even explain to himself. He was also unable, just at the moment, to decide whether he felt relief that that particular creature was dead, or regret that he had not personally been responsible for its demise. He would have to deal with that another time, he thought, as loose gravel once more caused him to slip and grab onto the rock face at his side for stability. He cursed as he did so. His hands would be red raw by the time he got down from here.
The temperature was neither warm nor cold and there was no wind that he could feel upon his face. He coughed to clear his throat - the dust that they stirred up from the track was obviously capable of making its way through this thick air and into his throat. This reminded him that he’d had nothing to eat or drink since early afternoon. He remembered his mobile phone and reached into his jacket pocket. I may not be able to get pizza delivered, but at least it might tell me how long I’ve been here. When he withdrew it, however, it’s display was totally blank, and no amount of turning it off or on had any effect. Either the battery was drained, or else it had been frazzled when he had come through the portal.
“Are you trying to make a phone call?” Perry laughed from behind him.
“Just trying to see what the time is,” Sleet said. “I hope you’ve got some kind of plan for eating and drinking before too long. I’m thirsty and hungry, not to mention tired.”
“After all you’ve been through in the past, Sleet? I’m surprised that you’re not more resilient.”
Sleet glanced over his shoulder to scowl at Perry. “What do you know of my past?”
“I thought I mentioned when we first met? I’ve got quite a knack for finding people - and for finding out about them. I probably know more about you than you think!”
“Don’t be too sure, Perry.” he replied, “every one's got their little secrets, you know.”
Perry just chuckled at that and Sleet decided that he would prefer to travel in silence for a while. Perry seemed to be more receptive at times and able to provide him with pertinent information but, inevitably, any prolonged conversation tended to spiral towards petty bickering eventually. The concepts which Perry had allowed the creatures to fill his head with were unacceptable to Sleet. There was no way that he was about to start commiserating with these monsters or try to reach any understanding with them. And it was very obvious that Perry was too far gone to realise that he was merely a tool, a pawn which they had used as a part in whatever game they were playing. Unfortunately, Sleet was only to aware that they had a part for him to play as well. If he knew for certain that Helen and Moira were truly free then he would do all that he could to ensure that they did not have their way with him. Unfortunately, however, he was far from convinced by Perry. The guy was quite obviously totally unhinged and hence there was no reason to believe a single word that he uttered. Sleet returned his focus to the purple vegetation that they appeared to be rapidly approaching now. It was difficult to tell at distance, but Sleet couldn’t make out any individual leaves. It seemed rather that the canopy was formed by massive over-lapping fronds. As he studied them he ascertained that they appeared to sprout up in clusters, presumably from a trunk below, before densely intermingling with the fronds from neighbouring clusters. There were no birds or sounds of wildlife that he could detect, although he was sure that the air density could well have a lot to do with that. Even when talking to Perry it still felt as if his ears were full of water, resulting in a dull echo-like effect. The path had become reasonably wide now, almost broad enough for the two of them to walk abreast. Sleet preferred, however, to remain in front - although he knew full well that his destiny was far from in his own hands he was quite happy to take small comforts wherever he could find them.
Looking ahead, Sleet at first thought that the track was coming to an abrupt end. His stomach lurched - momentary panic setting in at the thought of being man-handled by the creature once again, even though there was no longer a dizzying drop to contend with. What was below them now was actually another track or rather, he soon realised, the same track, which turned back on itself in order to reach the cliff base before it meandered off into the dense purple foliage. It was only now - now that the descent was virtually over, that he allowed himself to consider what might lie ahead. The dangers of a precarious cliff edge were, at least, very tangible. The jungle that they were descending towards now appeared dark and foreboding - Sleet could already imagine the claustrophobia creeping up on him.
Oh, Helen, he thought, Moira. I hope to God you’re okay. Whatever happened next, he needed desperately to believe that they were both safe.
He slipped suddenly, cursing under his breath, as his foot lost grip on some loose scree which was sent skidding off the narrow ledge into space. He clawed at the rock-face behind him, momentarily desperate for purchase, grazing his palm in doing so, before he re-established his footing, breathing deeply, his heart pounding in his chest.
Perry turned to consider him. “You alright?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Sleet grimaced back, “of course I am. I’ve only been kidnapped by monsters and a raving psychopath and whisked off to an alien world which has air as thick as soup. In what way could I possibly not be ‘alright’?”
“Good.” Perry replied and, as if nothing Sleet had said had even registered with him, he turned about and continued the descent. Sleet mumbled an expletive which made him feel only slightly better, before carrying on himself. He started to take greater strides, this time ensuring, however, that each foot was very firmly planted before he committed his entire weight to it and, in this fashion, he found that he made better progress. The path itself was, for all its precipitous nature, well formed and, if great hulking creatures like the one than stalked up ahead of him could make their way along it on foot (and claw) then he certainly could. After a little while longer, though, he glanced up in an attempt to spy out what lay immediately ahead. He instantly wished he hadn’t bothered for, just a little way down the track before them, the path had almost totally disintegrated - only the barest hint of ledge remaining. The remainder of the track had, apparently, slipped away, leaving a bite-size gouge in the cliff face. He experienced a sudden sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach and took some deep breaths to quell his fear, quite sure that there wouldn’t be a toilet anywhere nearby. There were two other things that he was instantly very certain of: the first being that there was no way on Earth (or wherever the hell he was, he corrected himself) that he was going to be able to inch his way across that impossibly thin ledge whilst glued to the rock-face like some Hollywood stuntman. Nor was he going to launch himself into space in some lunatic attempt to jump across the gap - especially as he could well be a few thousand feet above ground level. The only thing in which he found consolation at that moment was the fact that he doubted very much that Perry was either willing or able to do any of those things either.
“What happens now, then?” he said to Perry’s back.
“Oh,” Perry replied, without turning around this time but with a smile that Sleet could detect regardless, “this is where we are going to need just a little assistance.”
You bastard, he thought, you’re enjoying every miserable moment of this, aren’t you? “What the hell’s that meant to mean?” he growled.
“Just watch. And don’t get over-excited.”
Over-excited! Sleet mused. If matters were in his own hands he could quite happily throttle Perry.
They continued to edge towards the gap in the pathway and then, without warning, the hulking beast that was leading them literally dropped off the edge of the track and into the abyss. It happened so quickly that Sleet almost missed it altogether. He peered downwards to follow the plummeting descent of the creature and was totally unsurprised when, at a certain point far below them, it appeared to just hang there and then, with increasing rapidity, it began to soar back up towards them, its wings beating rhythmically, its massive bulk appearing almost streamlined as it loomed closer. It rose upwards until it was once more level with the track and proceeded to float there as if in exultation, seemingly exhilarated by its impromptu exhibition. After a few moments had passed, during which the pair of them could only stand and marvel at the prowess of the beast, it glided towards them, or, more specifically, towards Perry and, with a delicacy that Sleet would never have expected, the creature clasped him in its arms, his face pressed against its leathery chest, and lifted him off his feet. Then it swung away and glided the few meters along the cliff where it carefully deposited Perry back on his feet on the opposite side of the gap.
Perry turned towards him, his arms held aloft, “It’s as simple as that!” he stated. “Now it’s your turn.”
Sleet backed away. “Whoa...if you think for one minute that I’m going to put myself in the hands of that monster,” he gestured towards the Shadow that was ominously flying back towards him, “you can think again!”
Perry laughed, “Sleet, come on. What choice have you really got? Just get on with it and we can get down from this place.”
“Down to what?” Sleet shouted back at him.
Perry chuckled to himself. “All in good time, Sleet. Why don’t we take things one step at a time for now, huh?”
Sleet grimaced. He was fully aware that, in reality, he genuinely had no choice whatsoever. He had been bereft of any capability to make any meaningful decision since he had stepped into the blackness of that hangar and had been confronted by the unconscious forms of Helen and Moira - held, suspended there, by the creatures. There was no way that he was ever going to jeopardise the safety of either one of them. He knew it; Perry knew it, and hence the creatures knew it. Case closed.
He took a deep breath and allowed his muscles to relax as much as he was able to do so. The beast swam through the air towards him, its black in black eyes seemingly fixed intently upon him. At least they’re not glowing bright red, he thought, eager for any consolation as the monster’s muscle-bound forearms opened out to welcome him into its embrace. He closed his eyes tightly shut, mumbled “get on with it.” And then he found the creatures claws close around his upper arms, firm but not tight - not threatening. Then he was lifted off the ground and, as this happened, was drawn close to the chest of the beast where it was impossible not to inhale its strong musky odour. He sensed their movement but remained resolute and kept his eyes closed. The last thing he could afford to do was look down and end up having some kind of panic attack. The creature might drop him like a stone if he started to struggle for all he knew.
“Here you are,” said Perry, obviously close by. And then Sleet felt another pair of hands upon him - Perry, ensuring that he was brought to rest in a safe position, hopefully! Then he felt the ground once more beneath the soles of his boots and opened his eyes at the same time as the creature released its grip and backed away from him, out into the open air, where it preceded to utter a series of monosyllabic gargles before dropping away once more in a series of swirls and twists, apparently exercising itself with its aerobatics. Sleet stumbled briefly, unbalanced by peering down the face of the cliff. Perry clutched hold of him, “steady now! It gets a bit easier from here on - the path gets a bit wider too, thankfully.”
Sleet didn’t shrug Perry off, like he might have done under normal circumstances. A little dependency was a small price to pay whilst he familiarised himself with this place. He looked downwards once again, concentrating this time not upon the beast that was turning cartwheels in the air far below, but on that purple canopy that covered the ground beneath them for as far as he could see in any direction - apart, that was, from occasional glimpses through the mist of the sharply upthrust mountain in the very far distance. “What is that, down there?” he asked, “a forest?”
“Yes,” Perry replied, “after a fashion. Nothing here quite fits any Earthly description that you might have for it, you’ll soon realise that. It’s all very...different.”
“Like the air, you mean?”
“Yes. It’s a miracle really, don’t you think? That we can actually survive here. Maybe it’s a million to one shot and we’re just incredibly lucky.”
“Lucky!” Sleet scoffed, “I’m not exactly feeling too lucky at the moment.”
Perry stared him in the eye and Sleet realised that, for the first time in a long time, that twitch at the corner of his eye had ceased its anxious fluttering. “You wanted this though Sleet, you know you did. You wanted to find out what was behind all this - why your Shadow creatures covet you so. And that’s what you’re here to find out, isn’t it?”
Perry released his grip upon Sleet’s arm, leaving him to stand there in silent contemplation of the vista before him. The myriad shades of pink and purple that painted themselves across the sky were mesmerising in and of themselves, yet it was that glittering string of jewels that passed overhead in a never-ending procession that was the show stopper. “What exactly is that?” he asked, pointing up at it.
“Well,” Perry began hesitantly, “it’s not exactly my field of expertise, but I suspect that it’s a ring, encircling the planet. You know? Like the rings of Saturn? The Mur-muri believe that each one of those sparkling rocks embodies the soul of an ancestor. That that’s where they end up after they die - to look down upon their people for the rest of eternity. Poetic, but hardly likely, I think!”
“Who are the Mur-muri?” Sleet asked.
Perry barked out a laugh. “Your Shadows, Sleet! Your nightmare monsters! They are neither of those things. They are Mur-muri, a proud and honourable people, and this is their land.” he swept his arm around to encompass the totality of the panorama before them.
Mur-muri. Sleet turned the name over in his head, allowed it to trickle from his lips. “I’m not convinced about the proud and honourable bit, I’m afraid, Perry,” he said, “I’ve seen too much of what they’re capable of for that.”
“Out of necessity, Sleet,” Perry responded with conviction, “and desperation. They have done nothing that they didn’t feel compelled to do in order to ensure the survival of their species. Humans have never been any different, have they? Just look at all the extinct species that mankind has been responsible for, and ask yourself how many of those were absolutely necessary.”
“I think you’ve got things a little out of proportion, Perry. Don’t try and justify the murder that these creatures have committed. I’ve seen it too many times with my own eyes. I can never forgive them for...”
“The death of your brother,” Perry interjected, “that’s what it comes down to in reality, Sleet, isn’t it. Thousands could die, but when it happens to someone close, that’s when it gets personal. It’s inevitable. Yet you feel compelled to enact the pretense that you’re on some kind of moral crusade! Why don’t you admit it, Sleet? They killed your brother and you want to exact revenge. What’s so wrong with that, anyway? It’s perfectly understandable human nature.”
Sleet turned away and began trudging down the track once more, unconcerned as to whether Perry was in front of him or behind him. “That’s only part of it, Perry. You wouldn’t understand. Now shall we get down off here, or what?”
Whilst Perry appeared to be in a more receptive mood, however, Sleet decided to try and turn the conversation towards a subject closer to his heart, something that had been weighing heavily upon him since he had regained his senses in this place. “What about Helen and Moira, Perry. I need to know that they are safe. We had an agreement, didn’t we?”
“They’re fine, Sleet, I’m sure of it,” Perry replied, “like I just told you, the Mur-muri are an honourable people. It was you that they were interested in. The two women were merely...a means to an end, you understand?”
“Oh, I understand alright! But how can you be sure? How do you know that they’re not still being held against their will back there?”
Perry sighed. “Because, for better or for worse, Sleet, as I’ve told you before, I am inextricably linked to these creatures - they are inside my head. They know everything that I know, but it works both ways. There intentions were centred completely upon yourself. As soon as you submitted to their wishes, they had no further interest in the girls - and no use for them, either.”
“What about how they have used others, then. We’ve both seen it, Perry. Seen how they can literally suck the life out of a person - you can’t deny that, can you?”
“I’m not trying to deny it,” the frustration was evident in his voice, “but again, out of necessity - not some insane purpose to quell all human life! They are creatures of power, Sleet, not shackled by the trappings of science and warfare like us. All they want to do is exist. What they have taken from us was necessary for their continued survival. They would not last long over on our side if they didn’t drink of our essence. The human soul is a very real and palpable thing to them, Sleet. What does that say for the science of mankind, eh? It’s simply beyond us, the understanding of our own true nature. But them...they’re so different...it’s beautiful.”
Sleet remained focused upon putting one foot in front of the other. It was true that the path was widening out somewhat, increasing the rapidity of their descent. “Drinking of our essence! Have you heard yourself, Perry? Is that what you really think our worth is - as sustenance for these monsters?”
“I’m not judge and jury, Sleet. I’m not trying to tell you what’s right and what’s wrong. I’m just telling you the facts, is all. It might not be pleasant to hear, but that’s the reality of it, and there’s nothing that you or I can do to change that. I’m fed up of trying to get you to understand that I’m not even in control of my own actions most of the time.”
Sleet snorted in disgust, “that’s handy, isn’t it?”
“I’m doing my best to help you, Sleet. If you’d only try and comprehend that, then everything might go a little easier.”
“I just need to know that they’re safe, that’s all. If anything has happened to them, either of them, then I may as well just step off the edge of this path right now. I made a promise to myself that nobody else would suffer because of me and I don’t care whether you, or they,” he waved his hand out expansively into the void at his left hand side, “know it.”
“All I can tell you, Sleet, is that I am quite sure about their intentions. They do not lie, or deceive - those are human traits, inconceivable to the mur-muri, entirely beyond them. The girls have served their purpose and have been released.”
Sleet was distracted then by the shape of the beast, the Mur-muri, as it swooped up past the ledge before turning to hover in the air in contemplation of them. It beat it’s wings furiously, a gesture which Sleet could only interpret as dissatisfaction of the progress they were making.
“It’s no good getting in a strop,” Sleet shouted at it, “I’m not about to start jogging.” The creature merely continued to glare at him.
“It would be well not to antagonise Uvall,” Perry said from behind him, “there are quicker ways of getting down from here, as you’ve already experienced. I’d take the fact that you’re being allowed to walk down as a complement.”
Sleet imagined the creature taking hold of him once more and plummeting downwards at the speed he had witnessed the beast travelling. “Okay, okay, we’ll try and pick up the pace a bit!” In truth, he was in no hurry to find out was was at the bottom of this immense cliff and that had been reflected in his progress. He had traversed equally rough, if not quite so dramatic, terrain before, and was easily capable of doubling his pace if he needed to.
The beast gargled at him, ominously, before twisting about and, once more, flying off into the distance.
“Uvall?” Sleet queried, “where did you come up with a name like that?”
“Are you being intentionally dense, Sleet?” Perry growled back, “that’s his actual name, or at least it’s what it sounds like in my head. And it’s not his entire name - just the beginning of it. Uvall-vu-zee-something or other. It’s ingrained in here somewhere,” he said, tapping his forehead, “clear as crystal when he summons me, but that’s all I can remember of it at the moment. And so it’s Uvall for short.”
“Is he the one that did it?”
“Did what?” Perry was only momentarily puzzled, “ohhh, your brother! No, he didn’t. That one is dead. Killed by others, in London.”
Sleet instantly recalled that night down by the docks. Some kind of gangland rendezvous gone horribly awry due to the sudden arrival of a demonic beast that had dropped out of the sky into their midst. Sleet had crouched concealed in the shadows, a spectator on that occasion. Too many men with too much firepower present for his liking. And for the Shadow as well - for once, it appeared to have bitten off more than it could chew. Sleet had had to beat a hasty retreat, sure that he had been spotted by a figure within one of the vehicles. They had tracked him through the Docklands, he was sure of it. He had made his way home that night by a particularly circuitous route.
“Oh.” was all that he said, unwilling to reveal his presence that night to Perry, for reasons he could not even explain to himself. He was also unable, just at the moment, to decide whether he felt relief that that particular creature was dead, or regret that he had not personally been responsible for its demise. He would have to deal with that another time, he thought, as loose gravel once more caused him to slip and grab onto the rock face at his side for stability. He cursed as he did so. His hands would be red raw by the time he got down from here.
The temperature was neither warm nor cold and there was no wind that he could feel upon his face. He coughed to clear his throat - the dust that they stirred up from the track was obviously capable of making its way through this thick air and into his throat. This reminded him that he’d had nothing to eat or drink since early afternoon. He remembered his mobile phone and reached into his jacket pocket. I may not be able to get pizza delivered, but at least it might tell me how long I’ve been here. When he withdrew it, however, it’s display was totally blank, and no amount of turning it off or on had any effect. Either the battery was drained, or else it had been frazzled when he had come through the portal.
“Are you trying to make a phone call?” Perry laughed from behind him.
“Just trying to see what the time is,” Sleet said. “I hope you’ve got some kind of plan for eating and drinking before too long. I’m thirsty and hungry, not to mention tired.”
“After all you’ve been through in the past, Sleet? I’m surprised that you’re not more resilient.”
Sleet glanced over his shoulder to scowl at Perry. “What do you know of my past?”
“I thought I mentioned when we first met? I’ve got quite a knack for finding people - and for finding out about them. I probably know more about you than you think!”
“Don’t be too sure, Perry.” he replied, “every one's got their little secrets, you know.”
Perry just chuckled at that and Sleet decided that he would prefer to travel in silence for a while. Perry seemed to be more receptive at times and able to provide him with pertinent information but, inevitably, any prolonged conversation tended to spiral towards petty bickering eventually. The concepts which Perry had allowed the creatures to fill his head with were unacceptable to Sleet. There was no way that he was about to start commiserating with these monsters or try to reach any understanding with them. And it was very obvious that Perry was too far gone to realise that he was merely a tool, a pawn which they had used as a part in whatever game they were playing. Unfortunately, Sleet was only to aware that they had a part for him to play as well. If he knew for certain that Helen and Moira were truly free then he would do all that he could to ensure that they did not have their way with him. Unfortunately, however, he was far from convinced by Perry. The guy was quite obviously totally unhinged and hence there was no reason to believe a single word that he uttered. Sleet returned his focus to the purple vegetation that they appeared to be rapidly approaching now. It was difficult to tell at distance, but Sleet couldn’t make out any individual leaves. It seemed rather that the canopy was formed by massive over-lapping fronds. As he studied them he ascertained that they appeared to sprout up in clusters, presumably from a trunk below, before densely intermingling with the fronds from neighbouring clusters. There were no birds or sounds of wildlife that he could detect, although he was sure that the air density could well have a lot to do with that. Even when talking to Perry it still felt as if his ears were full of water, resulting in a dull echo-like effect. The path had become reasonably wide now, almost broad enough for the two of them to walk abreast. Sleet preferred, however, to remain in front - although he knew full well that his destiny was far from in his own hands he was quite happy to take small comforts wherever he could find them.
Looking ahead, Sleet at first thought that the track was coming to an abrupt end. His stomach lurched - momentary panic setting in at the thought of being man-handled by the creature once again, even though there was no longer a dizzying drop to contend with. What was below them now was actually another track or rather, he soon realised, the same track, which turned back on itself in order to reach the cliff base before it meandered off into the dense purple foliage. It was only now - now that the descent was virtually over, that he allowed himself to consider what might lie ahead. The dangers of a precarious cliff edge were, at least, very tangible. The jungle that they were descending towards now appeared dark and foreboding - Sleet could already imagine the claustrophobia creeping up on him.
Oh, Helen, he thought, Moira. I hope to God you’re okay. Whatever happened next, he needed desperately to believe that they were both safe.