The Chasm, Chapter 9: Where the devil are you, Henry?
by Diannek

When we last left the school teachers, Patricia and Adele, they had hiked up a long and winding backroad with Henry, their faithful guide and servant.  The women stood waiting in the rain at a spot where the road appeared to fork.  Henry had gone on to explore one fork while Patricia checked out the other. Adele stayed  at the fork with their belongings.  Patricia returned to find Adele waiting impatiently and shivering in the rain, but Henry had not yet returned.

-Well, then, I guess that makes our decision a little easier. We'll have to take this path, now won't we? So then, let's pack up and continue on.  If we go quickly, maybe we can catch up with Henry. He can't have gotten very far.

Patricia hoisted her daypack and looked over at Adele, who was fumbling into hers as well.

-Would you mind carrying the food bag to start, Adele?  I'm still a little winded and you've had a better rest than me.

-Oh, I don't mind, Patricia.  No, not at all. 

Adele sniffed once and picked up the bag.  It was becoming rather light in weight.  Their water was nearly gone, the little rolls were quite stale, and the apples appeared to be quite bruised and unappetizing. Those meager rations plus a few foil-wrapped biscuits that were probably nothing but crumbs, and some assorted teabags, were all that was left. 

The sky was starting to lighten somewhat and an eerie ground fog appeared as they began walking down the trail that Henry had taken just a short time before. The rain stopped falling but the path was slippery with mud and ruts. It made for very slow-going. Adele stayed close to Patricia and watched her steps as they carefully picked their way down what appeared to be a gently sloping, but seldom-used roadbed of two tracks. They walked on that way for quite some time.

-Can you see very far ahead, Patricia? I can't see much of anything from here.

-Yes, I can understand that. You've probably gotten an excellent view of the back of my jacket but not much else. I certainly hope you don't tread on my feet. That would be most unfortunate, now, don't you think.

-Oh, sorry. Don't mean to get too close. I just can't see too well and don't want to lose my grip.

-Actually, Adele, to answer your other question, I do believe the trail seems to be widening just a little. And it might be flattening out some too. Could be just my imagination, though. Do you want to stop for a moment?

-Yes, please.

-I think I see a good place for a rest, just up ahead. There's a boulder we could sit on just beside the road over there. Do you see it? Patricia moved off at a quicker pace.

The two women moved toward the rocky outcropping at the edge of the road and as they did, they heard a slight rustling in the bushes beside it. Both women stopped in their tracks and Adele gasped.

-Did you hear that, Patricia? 

-Yes, I did. Shush now. Don't want to startle anything.

Patricia edged forward with Adele directly behind her. The underbrush beside the rock was taller than the surrounding ground cover. At one time a tree had grown up beside the boulder. Now all that remained was the broken stump and a snag. And Henry.

- Oh, my God, Henry! What's happened?

Patricia stooped over and lightly touched Henry's body, which was slumped, face down, alongside the rotted stump. Then she shook him and began yelling:  Henry, Henry, are you all right?

Henry twitched ever so slightly.

-Adele, help me. I think he's alive. Grab hold of him and let's turn him over. Adele stood rooted in place, unable to move.

-But Patricia, are you sure we should be moving him. What if he's really hurt?

Patricia gave her an exasperated look.

-Okay, then, why don't you just pick up the telephone and call the ambulance. We'll wait.

-Oh, all right then, as you say. Don't get your knickers in such a twist.

Adele scrambled over and together the teachers grabbed onto Henry's shoulders and turned him over. As they did, his eyelids fluttered. They couldn't see any obvious damage, no bumps or bleeding. His boots were muddy, as were theirs, and his clothes were rumpled and untidy with the leaves and litter around him. It appeared that he might have just lied down and taken a nap, for all they knew.

-Henry, for Pete's sake, wake up. Whatever has happened to you? We've been worried sick about you, and here you are, sleeping. Henry, Henry…

Henry took his time coming back to the land of the living. Eventually, he got his bearings and rubbed his eyes.

-Oh, hello, he said. Thank God, it's you two. I thought it was the others, come back to get me.

-Whatever do you mean, Henry? Adele said in her most aggrieved tone of voice. You left us and wandered down this path. You were supposed to come back and tell us what you saw. Instead, you've apparently chosen to take a short sleep. Whatever were you thinking, Henry? Are you all right?

Henry looked at the teachers for a long time before speaking.  Then he looked around the stump and over his shoulders.  He shivered slightly and then he said, -Oh, yes, now I remember. It was dark and I was walking along the muddy path. I wasn't sure where next to go and then I spotted this stump and made my way over to it.  Then -- and with this, he shuddered again and once more looked behind him -- I thought I heard something. I stopped and stood very still, but I didn't hear it again, so I started up once more toward this stump. That's when I saw it.

-Saw what, Henry?

-I don't know. It was, I don't know, sort of white and large, and it moved slowly, but it was coming right at me. I turned and started to run, and then…then…well, that's all I remember.

-Whatever was it, Henry?

-I don't know, ma'am. It was dark and I couldn't see very well. I couldn't make it out and thought I should just leave it be and get away from here. That's what I thought.

-Well, Henry, was it a man or an animal. Could you tell?

-No, ma'am. I didn't have time. But I remember one thing, it didn't say anything. And it was moving, slowly, and the twigs snapped as it moved. I was backing away, and I think I tripped on something. Yes, that's right. I do remember that. I tripped and tried to catch myself and, maybe I fell. Yes, I guess I must have fallen. He shook his head and reached over for his hat, which was lying beside him, next to the stump.

-Well, Patricia, what do you make of that?

-Humph. I don't know exactly. An animal, maybe. Something, maybe a big sheep. They're sort of nosy, you know.

-As if you'd know anything about sheep, you old goat.

-Now, Adele, don't get surly. I'm just thinking out loud.

The teachers hunkered down beside Henry. They passed round a bottle of water and each had a biscuit to go along with it. As they sat and drank, they heard a twig snap and turned in the direction of the noise, which seemed to be coming from on down the path. Out of the mist came a whitish shape, moving slowly towards them.

-That's it again, Henry whispered, his voice shaking slightly. Coming right to us.

-That's no sheep, Adele muttered, as the form drew nearer. I think it's a man.

As the form drew nearer, they saw him raise a hand as if in greeting. It was a man all right, tall and slender, slightly stooped, looking older than he probably was, and dressed in a long, tightly woven garment, perhaps to protect him from the elements.

-Hello, there. Don't be afraid, he said, as he approached. I saw you fall and I've been watching you to make sure it was safe. I thought you were part of a patrol. Now I see who you are -- you're the school teachers, yes?

-Yes, that's right. How did you know?

-Oh, we've heard the talk. The patrols are out looking for you.

-Humph, I'm not surprised. And who are you, might I ask?

-You can call me John, ma'am. I live up here with… -- they call us the hill people. We are resisters too, but we do not participate in the present difficulties. We do not approve of the war and believe that there are betters ways to solve problems, but nobody listens to us, so we hide up here until things change. They always do, you know.

-Nice to meet you, John. I'm Patricia and this is Adele and Henry. He's with us now and in a great deal of difficulty too, I might add, on account of us. We'll be passing through, if you don't mind. Perhaps you can give us some directions. Then we'll be on our way.

-Yes, I can give you directions, but it's not safe for you on this path, especially during the daylight. Would you accompany me to my home? Please. I have a proposition for you.

John looked at the three for some moments. Henry stirred and began to gather up his things.

-Well, ladies, it appears as though we've been invited to join this man. Where are your manners? Shall we carry on now, as you say.

The teachers stood and the three of them followed John away from the track and up into the hillside along a barely discernible path. As the hillside grew steeper, more rocks and boulders appeared. Old snaggy trees grew from between crevices, and the underbrush became dense in places. The ground grew firmer, making the walking a little easier, but the climb became harder as they grew closer to the steep and rocky hills high above the pastureland.

-It's just a little ways more, John said, as they stopped for a moment to catch their breath.

-We've made a temporary home in the caves. He pointed vaguely toward the rocky hills above them. In the old days, people came here when there was trouble.

They worked their way around a huge boulder and then came to what appeared to be a small doorway carved out of the stone. The earth around it was flattened and smooth, so as to resemble a small courtyard.

-Come, he said.

The three followed him into the cave. It was a large room, quite dark at first, but then towards the back, they could see a flickering light. It was another small room, farther back into the cave, and it was lighted by candles. They could make out a small crude table with benches on either side. Boxes were stacked against the walls, and in the back, were what looked like pallets, with coverlets on them.

-I'm back, John said, softly. Don't be afraid. I've brought someone to help us.

The three stopped in the doorway as they heard someone moaning from deep inside the cave. They watched as John retreated into the darkest corner of the cave and knelt beside the pallet. He struck a match and lit a small candle and then another. That's when they saw her, lying on the coverlet.

John turned to the three. This is my wife, Joanna, he said.

Henry, ever the gentleman, removed his hat and bowed ever so lightly.

-And I'm Henry, he said.  This is Patricia and Adele. As he spoke, they could see the woman turn towards them. Her eyes widened at the sight of the two women, and she smiled.

-Is Joanna ill? Patricia asked in a small voice.

-Well, yes, in a way. You see, she's going to have a baby any time now, and nobody can help us. We had to leave town before she had the baby. She's too weak to travel and the doctor won't come up here.

-Oh Cricky, whispered Adele to Patricia. Now we're in for it. Patricia gave Adele a nudge to silence her.

-And so what is your proposition then? Patricia asked.

-If you help my wife I'll guide you to safety. I know the way through the chasm. A few of us do. That's how we survive, going back and forth between the two sides. It's dangerous, but I can help you get away, but first you must help my wife.

(Go to Chapter 10)

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