Hours of Songs

Chapter 6: Greybeard

“Pierre, it's dark here I think we---" trembles Lim.

“Shhh…" I quickly silence him. We are not alone.

The crackle of fire deep within the cave we successfully entered resounds off the cave walls. The light is a few steps ahead. However, the cause of the fire is in question.

“I think there's someone or people here," I whisper as softly as possible.

Lim freezes. Then, leans against the cold cave wall by the entrance and slowly plumps down to the stony ground.

It is tough to leave the pasture. There was no immediate danger. However, those are our kidnappers making us drink something abnormal. We are being poisoned and there is no way out.

I stare in frustration at our predicament of being in a compromising situation whereby people from the pasture could rush in at us from the cave opening at any moment, while the person or people within the cave where the source of the fire is could easily attack us from any given angle. We are foreign to this cave. We are foreign to this mountain in general.

Sitting down with Lim on the dried mud, I take a deep breath as the cave wall serves as a backrest. Lim and I let our legs stretch across the floor. We have been wandering around the forest, which took up our energy. We might need to replenish our energy through rest since food is not an option, at present. I am hungry, while Lim is filled with lake water.

“Do you hear the crackle? It's fire," my right-hand forms a cup around Lim's right ear. This would enable him to concentrate the sound in one direction.

Lim suppresses his voice. He simply shakes his head. He hears nothing.

I stare at Lim and then shift my head to stare inside the cave that is right behind him. The disbelief I feel is unfathomable. He must have poor hearing.

Lim is sweating despite the coldness of the wall. He tries to speak as softly as possible, “I wouldn't have come here if it weren't for you."

Lim looks like he regrets being in this compromising position with me.

“The fire broke out in the pasture without anyone starting a fire, it's less safe there," I remind Lim. “You have to get out of the smoke anyway. So far, this is the furthest we have gone."

Lim nods.

“Are you ready to venture into the cave? Maybe, someone there could help us. If they want to attack us, we can run out sprinting as fast as we can. Besides, we'll be more in trouble if we live in this mountain oblivious to our purpose here. This isn't home, remember?"

Lim looks like he wants to get out of this cave and go back to the pasture. The pasture probably has the fire put out by now. Still a teenager in high school, I expect his head to still be in indecision at times.

I get up, while Lim sits. I venture deeper toward the cave. Something tells me this is safe.

There are no guards here, compared with the guards guarding the tent where Bear Cane operates. However, I am worried that President Bear's men might be on the lookout for trespassers.

As I venture in without Lim, I hear footsteps behind me rushing to follow.

Lim and I walk further into the cave. The path turns narrower and narrower. This makes me question the possibility of sprinting out given that there are two of us from our position. Moreover, Lim is slow and blocks my path from behind.

We walk closer to the crackling noise that grows louder and was once soft when we were by the entrance.

My steps quicken in and so are Lim's.

From behind me, Lim screams, “AAAHHH!"

Someone is with Lim.

I turn to see an old tall skinny man's left hand lying resting on Lim's shoulder. Lim is trembling in agony.

My hands reach for the sharpened branch inside my pocket. It now points at the old man.

The old man does not move. He just glances at Lim's back and my face.

“What are you doing here and using a weapon against me in my own home?" the old man questions us in a strong and stern voice.

My posture immediately stands even more upright. It used to be more bent towards him.

“Your home?" I ask, moving the stick slightly away from his face.

“My home," he repeats, hands folded and nodding.

Due to his defensiveness about the home intrusion, I ascertain that he is not one of President Bear Cane's men.

“Sorry, Sir. I am Pierre," I try to calm things down.

The old man puts his hand down and off Lim's shoulder. Trembling, Lim still refuses to turn toward the old man.

“Okay, Pierre. What are you doing here?" the old man repeats.

I stand at ease and point to Lim.

“This is Lim. I just arrived in this unknown land. We are both trying to escape. He has been here longer than I have been. However, this is his first time deciphering a way out," I explain.

The old man opens his mouth. It is an “ah". However, there is no sound.

“Come inside," he instructs, motioning us to turn and move forward where we intended to head to, with his hand.

“Where exactly?" I turn behind me and gesture toward the narrow path.

“Walk in and turn to the first right opening you see."

“Lim, follow us," I instruct.

* * *

By the fire in the center of the cavern, the old man asks us to explain how we found his cave.

Sitting crossed-legged, I explain.

“We came across this cave during our journey in the forest. Lim was tired and I was hungry. I still am hungry, Sir. When we saw the cave, we entered."

He nods.

“No one has found my cave," the old man looks at us sternly.

His white shirt is stained with forest dirt.

“I do not meet people," he continues. “How did you walk to this area?"

“It was at random," I answer.

“Yeah," consents Lim.

“Are you both hungry?" asks the old man.

“No", “Yes", said Lim and I at the same time. Still not hungry because of the lake water's magic, Lim waves his hands and shakes his head repeatedly.

The old man turns into a look of realization. His expression is now warmer to me, while more hostile to Lim.

“I can show you where the lake water is located," the old man offers Lim.

“We actually came from there. It's by the pasture. It is on fire. Pierre told me that being here is better than being there."

“Did Pierre not tell me that you are tired? You can rest here, while I bring Pierre with me."

“Alright, thanks," says Lim.

The old man turns to me.

“There is food. I will bring it to you. However, you must follow me. No one will force you to come with me."

I immediately get up.

“May I know your name, Sir?"

“First, walk in the direction that you were headed with Lim," the old man commands. “Hurry up."

It is pitch black. Behind me is a torch that the old man carries. Back in university, we were taught to decipher the pathway of the darkness.

For all I know, I am walking right into a trap. I need to ask the old man some questions.

The fire's crackle sound gets softer as I enter deeper into the cave.

“Walk until I say stop," threatens the old man, suddenly fierce.