ahead and they eventually become a speck in
the distance and then are gone.
I weigh my options
. I don’t want to encounter
whatever it is that the horsemen were running from
and decide to find another trail down the hill. For the
better of two hours I pick my way back down the hill.
I eventually come out at the far side of the field where
the second rider had disappeared. My horse is uneasy
and I know he wants to keep moving. I move forward
but the woods are ominous and I am afraid of what
lurks there.
I decide to keep going and listen to the rustling of the
trees. I’m thankful that it’s still daylight but the
shadow of the forest makes it seem almost like dusk.
The desert was a formidable enemy but I prefer the
expanses of boiling sand to the darkness of this forest.
The further we ride along the forest the thicker the
undergrowth becomes. Jast picks his way carefully
over tree roots, stones and sidesteps bogs of dark
water.
Somewhere in the woods I hear a shrieking howl. I
wonder if it’s a wolf but I have never heard one howl
like that. I can feel the wind whispering through the
trees and think I can see the glow of eyes from deep
in the woods. I search the trees looking for
movement but it is quiet. The quiet is more
frightening than the sound of the forest. There are
dark things beyond the trees and I have a sense the
watchful eyes of the dead are everywhere.
I find my knife inside a saddlebag and clip the sheath
to my belt. Taking the long blade out I hold the knife
across the saddle. I notice the horses that are carved
on the ivory handle are glowing and seem to move on
their own. This is a blade of the otherworld and seems
to have a life unto itself.
Despite the blackness of night, I see shadows dancing
in the woods, out of the corner of my eye. I keep my
eyes ahead and do not allow myself to look. June
used to say if you can feel evil you better not look for
the source because your eyes will find something you
don’t want to see.
A piercing howl erupts from nowhere and it turns into
a high pitched scream. The scream is so loud that it
echoes in the forest. Then the faint sound of chanting
mingles with the screams. I am chilled to the bone
despite the warm temperature. It is going to be a long
night and I need to find a safe place to hide.
A chorus of chanting voices echo in a furious tempo.
From the bowels of the forest I see a dark figure
walking. The overlong arms pull aside branches and
the glowing eyes have seen me. I urge Jast into a
gallop. Branches lash my face as we pick up speed
and my face is bleeding. The ride is rough and I
almost am unseated as the horse jumps a log across
the trail. I grab a handful of mane and managed to
stay on.
The trail grows narrow and we have to slow to a walk
to make our way through the brush. I glance into the
forest and it is flickering with light. I dismount and
walk off the trail toward a hill that borders the forest.
I turn my attentions to the sheer rock wall that is
covered with brambles. We walk along the wall and
it is solid as far as I can see.
I must find shelter quickly and I stop for a moment
and close my mind. I clear my mind and allow all
thoughts to leave. I imagine that I am standing in
front of an opening in the cliff. I can feel heat being
radiated off the rock and then my hand pushes
inward. The rock shifts and I lead my horse into a
small cave. The cave is dark and smells of musty
earth. I refuse to think of spiders or snakes and make
my to the far back wall.
The cave is dark and I don’t dare light a fire and draw
attention to us. I can hear the steady chanting grow
louder and blood curdling screams make me feel sick
to my stomach. It seems that madness had erupted in
the forest and the dark reality of this place is chilling.
I eventually take the saddle off of Jast and put my
sleeping bag against the cave wall. Once I am seated
on the sleeping bag I search the saddlebags for food.
I can feel the knife
the distance and then are gone.
I weigh my options
. I don’t want to encounter
whatever it is that the horsemen were running from
and decide to find another trail down the hill. For the
better of two hours I pick my way back down the hill.
I eventually come out at the far side of the field where
the second rider had disappeared. My horse is uneasy
and I know he wants to keep moving. I move forward
but the woods are ominous and I am afraid of what
lurks there.
I decide to keep going and listen to the rustling of the
trees. I’m thankful that it’s still daylight but the
shadow of the forest makes it seem almost like dusk.
The desert was a formidable enemy but I prefer the
expanses of boiling sand to the darkness of this forest.
The further we ride along the forest the thicker the
undergrowth becomes. Jast picks his way carefully
over tree roots, stones and sidesteps bogs of dark
water.
Somewhere in the woods I hear a shrieking howl. I
wonder if it’s a wolf but I have never heard one howl
like that. I can feel the wind whispering through the
trees and think I can see the glow of eyes from deep
in the woods. I search the trees looking for
movement but it is quiet. The quiet is more
frightening than the sound of the forest. There are
dark things beyond the trees and I have a sense the
watchful eyes of the dead are everywhere.
I find my knife inside a saddlebag and clip the sheath
to my belt. Taking the long blade out I hold the knife
across the saddle. I notice the horses that are carved
on the ivory handle are glowing and seem to move on
their own. This is a blade of the otherworld and seems
to have a life unto itself.
Despite the blackness of night, I see shadows dancing
in the woods, out of the corner of my eye. I keep my
eyes ahead and do not allow myself to look. June
used to say if you can feel evil you better not look for
the source because your eyes will find something you
don’t want to see.
A piercing howl erupts from nowhere and it turns into
a high pitched scream. The scream is so loud that it
echoes in the forest. Then the faint sound of chanting
mingles with the screams. I am chilled to the bone
despite the warm temperature. It is going to be a long
night and I need to find a safe place to hide.
A chorus of chanting voices echo in a furious tempo.
From the bowels of the forest I see a dark figure
walking. The overlong arms pull aside branches and
the glowing eyes have seen me. I urge Jast into a
gallop. Branches lash my face as we pick up speed
and my face is bleeding. The ride is rough and I
almost am unseated as the horse jumps a log across
the trail. I grab a handful of mane and managed to
stay on.
The trail grows narrow and we have to slow to a walk
to make our way through the brush. I glance into the
forest and it is flickering with light. I dismount and
walk off the trail toward a hill that borders the forest.
I turn my attentions to the sheer rock wall that is
covered with brambles. We walk along the wall and
it is solid as far as I can see.
I must find shelter quickly and I stop for a moment
and close my mind. I clear my mind and allow all
thoughts to leave. I imagine that I am standing in
front of an opening in the cliff. I can feel heat being
radiated off the rock and then my hand pushes
inward. The rock shifts and I lead my horse into a
small cave. The cave is dark and smells of musty
earth. I refuse to think of spiders or snakes and make
my to the far back wall.
The cave is dark and I don’t dare light a fire and draw
attention to us. I can hear the steady chanting grow
louder and blood curdling screams make me feel sick
to my stomach. It seems that madness had erupted in
the forest and the dark reality of this place is chilling.
I eventually take the saddle off of Jast and put my
sleeping bag against the cave wall. Once I am seated
on the sleeping bag I search the saddlebags for food.
I can feel the knife
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