Posted by Ian on June 30, 2001 at 09:20:51:
2: Cutter's Story.
At that precise moment in another place far, far away......
Bathed in an orange glow, the birthing maid lifted the still child up to the light and promptly slapped him on his rump whereup with a startled wriggle he began to cry loudly signalling his arrival unto the world of Man. Lying on the bed, dressed in a sweat stained white shift, the young woman lifted her head from the comfort of her husband's arm and smiled wearily as her newborn son danced an upside down dance.
"Aaaaaahhh my dearest child, you have been blessed with a fine son by the Great Earth Mother." smiled the old woman with relief as she carefully wrapped him in a warm blanket and handed the tiny bundle to the proud parents who whispered and cooed happily," My, my...look how quiet, settled and inquisitive he is. It seems your son is blessed of calm spirit Tam. It bodes well fer when he becomes an adult he will not be one for rash or spontaneous deeds but who is measured and thoughtful of manner throughout his life I think." she smiled, enjoying watching the forging of the bloodline.
"Well now then, I think t'would be wise fer me to toddle off before yer soft lullaby sends this old woman and her weary bones to sleep as well !!" she chuckled, getting to her feet with a soft grunt and slipping on her shawl that hung on the hook behind the oak bedroom door. Wrapping it around her she picked up her bag and turned for a last look at the family lit by candle-light.
"Now ye have a son safe and sound, have ye chosen a name fer him yet ?" she asked, standing in the half-light of the open door where well-wishers stood beyond waiting to greet the new-born.
Brushing a fine whisp of blonde hair from his first-child's brow, the proud father nodded. "Aye Gwen, we have decided to name him after his great Grandfather," he smiled, reaching down to grasp his wife's hand,"........our son shall be called Cutter."
*
Beneath a twilight canopy of emerging starlight, the old man leant on his lantern staff and turned his wizened and worn face to the young boy standing by his side as they stood on the small rise looking out across the land of the Delta Blue at the dying of another day.
"Heed my words well son of Tam for their meaning shall become known to you one day." he said softly, the sound of his voice drifting away on the northern breeze as it swept over the pale grasslands below. Staring intently into the distance the silent boy gave a brief nod as he considered his teachers words.
"I shall Sir, when the time comes." he replied quietly, watching as a black cloak of keening fisherhawks winged their way towards the range of snow-topped mountains silhouetted in the distance, heading home after a days hunting and feasting.
Resting a boney hand on his shoulder, the old man raised his face to the darkening sky and closed his eyes," And when you reach adulthood and must make your own way in life that time shall come my young explorer to be," he began, savouring the rich smell of nature as he breathed deep and long, "Remember, though the land of Man stretches far and wide not many have returned from exploring the unknown beyond the known and those that have tell tales of lands filled with creatures and people's that belong in the darkest of nightmares. Those that wish to explore such places should be wary indeed."
The old man smiled as he felt the faint gasp and shiver of the twelve year old boy, his brightest pupil and one who seemed destined for greater things rather than living out his life in their village at the mouth of the great Delta river. Though the boy was still young, he sensed in him a kindred spirit tainted by the same wanderlust that had flowed through his own veins at such an early age for its whisper had led him in his youth to journey far and wide to such places, discovering the rich abundance of life that lay beyond the scribed boundries hidden in travellers scrolls stacked high upon a shelf gathering dust in his study.
It was in his study that he had found this son of Tam one day, oblivious to the outside world with his nose in a parchment written by one the great beast-skinners that lived harsh lives trading wares with the scavenger tribes in the Northern Territory.
*
Memories....
An invisible draught flickered the candle-flame as Cutter knelt on the oak hewn chair and traced the route of the great Delta river through barren floodplains, valleys and outcrops until the tip of his finger reached its end where nothing beyond was drawn or written.
Impatiently brushing back his long blonde hair, the nine year old boy picked up the Mapmakers magic glass and hunched further over the desk as he stared at the map in rapt fascination. As he travelled over the yellow and faded deerskin, he whispered of well known places and names where the opague light fell, beginning with his own village and continuing north along the winding river....
"Tradersedge, Piketown, Deepdale, Ferryhill, PortIsle, Blackstone......."
In another opened scroll to his right, his gaze fell on a short spindly passage written long ago,
"Let those that bare witness to this testimony from I, Edgar son of Ellis, skinner and only mapmaker of the whitewater clan, born unto this world in the village of Fisherslodge on the western shore of the great river Delta know that what is written here is bold and true.
Throughout our travels the land of man stretches as far as the eye can see with great gatherings of people both fair and dark building communities upon this sacred soil where traders can barter their wares for the coin, lodgings or food. These gatherings are most all set near the life giving waters of the Delta that winds its way north through the badlands until it reaches the plateau that lie's beneath the shadow of the Blackstone mountians which line the known hinterland like silent guardians keeping out those that dwell beyond their summit. Only those that are brave or foolish would be wise to tread such an unknown path...."
"Only those that are brave or foolish." Cutter murmured to himself, "Only the brave...."
What did lie beyond ?
Like many of his age, he had sat round a crackling campfire at the setting of the sun listening to stories told by the elders who would only speak of such things in a breathless whisper whilst looking with mock fear over their shoulder. Many a time beneath the glittering tail of a travelling star he and his friends had gasped, shrieked and shivered with fright, imagining great ugly giants with hunched shoulders, bristling beards and crooked teeth that lived in deep woodland thickets or of enchanted spirits that took flight with butterfly wings or even those strange looking goblins that whistled while they worked.
Were these tales true ?
Though most his own age thought him lacking in brains to think such a thing, with each tale told he found himself drawn to finding out. Even Feon, lovely, shy, winsome Feon with her beguiling smile that made him turn funny inside had doubted his sanity as they both had lain under the spread of an aged oak and he had told her of his dreams and the yearning to explore.
Still sucking a thoughtful tooth, Cutter looked up blankly at the sound of a soft click to find Garrent, his teacher watching him quietly in the doorway with a slight smile on his face.
After a moments surprise and an expressive "OH", Cutter dropped the instrument, jumped down from the chair onto his feet and began to quickly clear away the clutter on the old man's desk whilst trying to think of an excuse for he knew he shouldn't of dallied after having left the basket of goose eggs his Mother had told him to take to his teacher for an errand.
Standing on tip-toe, he looked over his shoulder apologetically as he stuffed the scrolls untidily back on their shelves, dropping one or two in his haste.
"Er, I er....didn't mean to pry Sir. I was just...just, eggs, geese, goose eggs.....OW," he stuttered, pointing in all directions before bending down and banging his head on the table overhang as he chased the ellusive parchment. Standing up, he winced as he rubbed the back of his head feeling the beginnings of a bump starting to throb.
The old man had turned silently and closed his door.
*
Smiling at the memory Garrent looked down at the boy.
"There will be time enough to discuss such things Cutter but fer now let us make haste home or else yer Mother will have my hide fer keeping you out so late. Come, let us be off." he said making his way down the stone path towards the village.
Silhouetted against the twilight Cutter paused, looking over his shoulder he stared into the distance.
"Sir..."
His teacher stopped and turned.
"Yes Cutter ?" he replied.
"One day I shall explore the unknown beyond the known and return...."
*
Part 3: Feon - soon.
Ian
| |
| User ID: | |
| Password: | |
| E-Mail: |
|
| Subject: |
|
| Comments: | |
|
Link_URL: | |
| Link Title: | |
| Image_URL: |
|