The Wanderers of the Water-Realm (53 page)

Z3*554 apparently noticed the young witch’s interest and he offered an explanation using mouth-speak, so the entire party could understand his words without difficultly.

“You are mystified by what you see --- Young Seer --- So allow me to enlighten you. Human creatures reproduce their kind by way of the womb --- But we the Hix are hatched from eggs that are laid by certain of our people. The red cylinders, that have caught your attention, are these very receptacles of life which are resting in their incubation chambers --- They will develop in the warmth, that percolates through the green canopy, for the space of two hundred darkenings --- And when each breaks open --- Another of our race will enter this world and see the light of the five suns for the first time.”

The witch paused for a few moments’in order to digest this surprising piece of information, and then she asked two further questions.

“Are all of your kind incubated beneath this single canopy and how are your children raised to adulthood?”Their ponderous guide slowed down and conducted them into a short side-passage that was closed off by a door made from the strongest Thoa-wood.

He unbolted the door, flinging it wide and motioned them to enter and they gasped at the sight that met their eyes. The chamber was about one hundred paces in circumference and completely occupied by a seething mass of small hairless creatures that mewed pitiably as they chewed upon the flesh of the freshly husked Thoa-nuts strewn around the chamber in profusion. Only their heavy jaws and stout limbs enabled the newcomers to recognize them as the young of the Hixian’race.

“This will answer your questions. You are now standing inside one of the many rearing centres serving the reproductive needs of our various tribes. Even so, a few isolated Hixian’ Clans still reproduce their young by warming their eggs in the light of the five suns during day-time --- And protecting both the eggs and the young from the cold by the heat of their own bodies during the hours of darkness.”

“You are the first humans to view a Hixian’ rearing chamber since Rose Littlewood visited this very complex, many cycles ago.”

“How do they survive such conditions?” Myra enquired. “And what happens to the weak and sickly?”

“They die and their bodies become food for the remainder --- Only the strong and fit are welcomed as warriors in the fighting ranks of our clans --- And this is as it should be --- for only the strong can survive the hardships of life in the cruel wilderness that lies beyond the green canopy.”

Z3*554 led them back to the main passageway and they plunged ever deeper into the heart of the strange complex. After about half an hour’s steady progress, the passageway began to angle downwards and the green glow from the canopy suddenly disappeared. The travellers realized that the passageway had given way to a long tunnel that plunged ever downwards into the solid rock upon which the Hixian’breeding complex stood. A few lamps were suspended from the ceiling and the newcomers had to advance carefully to avoid tripping up in the semi-darkness.

The little group had progressed for about a mile when they found their way barred by an enormously heavy door that was constructed from huge blocks of Thoa-timber.

Z3*554 then turned and addressed all of the travellers in the common Water-Realm tongue.

“Beyond this door lies the current quarters of the Hixian’ Prime -- I can accompany you no further -- But I will remain here and await your return should the leadership see fit to spare your lives -- I council you to act with humility -- Yet hold nothing back from those who dwell beyond this point for they greatly respect straightforward honesty -- Do as I advise and you may stand some chance of accomplishing your mission!”

Their huge guide turned and faced the massive door and Myra winced as she caught the back-wash of the immensely powerful mental signal that Z3*554 projected through the timberwork. The door slowly opened and the three travellers stepped nervously over the threshold.

The chamber they entered was roomy and adequately lit by the many lamps hanging from its ceiling of rough hewn rock. The walls where likewise unadorned, but the harshness of the bare stone was relieved the some degree by the many skilfully worked tapestries that hung at intervals around the subterranean chamber, an artistic touch that seemed somewhat at odds with the generally austere appearance of the rest of the complex.

Yet it was the six strange figures, who were seated upon a row of stools at the far end of the chamber, who immediately dominated the newcomer’s attention.

The creatures were definitely members of the Hixian’ race for their bodily appearance displayed all of the common characteristics of their species, but they were much smaller in stature than any of the Hix who had escorted the travellers to ‘The Heart of Emerald’ and their heads appeared to be much larger in relation to the remainder of their bodies.

Two of the creatures were of an advanced age and their skin was wrinkled and hung in folds from their lean bodies, but one of their number was far younger in age and rising from his seat, he clearly addressed the newcomers in the common Water-Realm tongue.

“My greetings to you, who are visiting us from another reality,” He said, in a voice that was completely devoid of emotion. “My identifier is ‘Prime Three’ and I am the nominal head of this small group of natural leaders, whose task it is to order the affairs of the majority of the vast Hixian’ race. We are informed that you have been charged by the Dark Priests to seek peace terms on their behalf.”

He pointed towards Myra.

“Speak and we will listen!”

The young witch’s mind was in turmoil, but she forced herself to remain calm and in a quiet voice she began to speak. She stated her belief that the Priests were quite sincere in their wish to restore peace to the Water-Realm and were prepared to surrender both territory and vast wealth in order to bring this about.

“How many of your finest warriors have been slain by the fire weapons of the Priest’s overseers?” She asked. “And would not the return of peace relieve the Hixian’ clans of the heavy burden of supporting this terrible conflict?”

Prime Three listened silently to her words, and then he released a high-pitched hiss, which the wisewoman knew to be the Hixian’ equivalent of a burst of mirthful laughter.

“Young Seer, your words suggest that our inroads into the human lands are creating difficulties for the Dark Priests!”

He loosed yet another loud mirthful hiss.

“Perhaps their human subjects are not so easily controlled through superstition and fear, when an even greater object of terror begins to threaten their very existence ---- Perhaps an escalation of the conflict would serve our ends far better than allowing the priests a period of peace in which to regain their strength?”

The Hixian’ leader concentrated his almost mesmeric gaze upon the face of the young wisewoman.

“We are currently considering the wisdom of launching most of our forces at the weak border separating the Saxmen lands, from the settled principalities that lie beyond Holy Ptah. Tell me young witch -- How long would it take before the Water-Realm relapsed into anarchy -- If our offensive succeeded in reaching the Great Life River and putting an end to the movement of water-borne trade upon which human civilization depends?”

The wisewoman met Prime Three’s gaze. “You paint a grim picture.” She replied without flinching. “We know well enough that a great misfortune would befall humanity if the great river no longer carried its burden of commerce. But an even greater calamity would fall upon the Hix, if some priestly scientist in Holy Ptah, discovered a way of destroying this great incubator and the installations where you rear your young in such vast numbers. Is the present bout of murderous warfare to continue until both the Hix and the Dark Priests go down into mutual ruin? Perhaps your disagreements can be settled by….”

The young witch’s mind was suddenly buffeted by the outpouring of mental anger issuing from the minds of all the Hixian’s present and she pressed the palms of her hands against her head in a futile attempt to block out the burning pain piercing her temples. George fell groaning upon his knees, but Darryl managed to ignore the pain and he stepped forward and supported his twin sister in his arms.

The torrent of anger that had sprung from the creature’s minds and which seemed to last for an eternity, ceased as suddenly as it had begun.

Prime Three stood up and stretched out his arms towards the newcomers, and they began to feel a soothing warmth sweeping over them as the effects of the terrible outpouring of mental energy began to dissipate.

“Forgive us, we had assumed that the Dark Priests had explained the nature of the bitter rift that has long existed between those malevolent beings and we of the Hixian’ race. The suggestion that we might find it in our own interest to negotiate a peace with our dark enemies inadvertently caused us to release the torrent of mental anger causing you so much pain.”

He pointed towards a door that was set into the wall at the far end of the chamber.

“A comfortable ante-room as been prepared for you and there you will find ample food, drink and comfortable bedding material. Rest, and when you return to this chamber, we will attemp to resolve the age old enmity that has existed between the priests and ourselves ---- I bid you to retire and take your rest!”

A huge attendant entered the chamber and led the three travellers into a small side room where a table was laden with a selection of welcome provisions. Freshly split Thoa-nuts, dried edible fungi and a wide variety of other foodstuffs. The travellers were hungry and they fell upon the refreshments with a will, but only after each item had been carefully tested with George’s poison seeking spoon.

A pile of narr skins lay in a corner of the resting room and the trio wrapped themselves up in the comfortable material and despite the gravity of their situation, they quickly fell fast asleep.

The travellers were awakened by the same attendant re-entering the chamber carrying a steaming platter of newly cooked do-fowl.

“Eat your fill!”

The huge attendant invited, using the common Water-Realm tongue.

“And I will return presently to conduct you back into the presence of the Hixian’ Prime.”

The newcomers immediately cast off the sleeping material and relieved themselves into a wooden tub that had obviously been provided for that purpose. Afterwards, they ate their fill of the do-fowl and then prepared to resume their negotiations with the Prime.

The attendant conducted them back into the council chamber and the three newcomers noticed at once that changes had been made whilst they had slept. A comfortably upholstered couch had been placed in the centre of the room and the same six Hixian’ Councillors were now seated in a semi-circle around the couch that had obviously been procured for their comfort.

“Be seated.” Prime Three commanded. “And I will aid our discussions by relating to you the origins of the deep division’s lying between the Dark Priests and ourselves.

Once -- Long ago, this entire reality was a young and pristine world, where rolling plains of purple moss stretched from horizon to horizon; a vista broken only by isolated groves of wild Thoa trees. Within the shelter of these groves lived the ancestors of our Hixian’ race, simple creatures who dwelt in small family groups, who browsed upon herbs and collected the wild Thoa-nuts that fell to the ground in plentiful quantities whenever the wind blew strongly.