James Barclay - Beyond the Mists of Katura

‘I’m here, Ulysan. I’ve got your hands. Did you breathe?’

‘I did. I think I did.’

‘Good, Ulysan. You’re not lost. You’re not in the dark.’

Ulysan stared at him. ‘It’s not dark?’

‘No. Come back to me. Remember where you are. Do you remember?’

‘I’m stuck. . I’m stuck in a crack and I can’t move. Auum, help me!’

Ulysan’s fingers began to scrabble again and Auum tightened his grip.

‘Feel that, Ulysan. That’s me. I’m here with you. Yniss is here with you. You are in a crack but you aren’t stuck. I want you to listen to my voice and do what I ask. Can you do that for me?’

‘I can try.’

‘That’s all anyone can ever ask.’

‘Auum? Is Ellarn dead?’

‘Yes, Ulysan. Ellarn is dead and safe in Shorth’s embrace.’

Ulysan wept, his cheek against the rock face and his tears frosting on his cheeks.

‘But you aren’t, Ulysan. And I am going to help you get out of here. You trust me, don’t you?’

Ulysan tried to nod but it was little more than a twitch of his neck. ‘I’m cold. It’s cold in here.’

‘Then let me help you. Warmth and food are close by, but you have to trust me and do as I ask.’

‘Don’t let me die in here.’

Auum felt shivers course up and down his body. Ulysan’s quiet words tore into his soul and he had to force himself to focus on the practical or he’d be weeping too and they’d both be lost.

‘I am not going to let you die. I will never let you die. Shall we get out of here?’

‘Yes.’

It was a whisper of quiet affirmation, almost lost in the whistle of the wind, but it was all Auum needed to hear.

‘Good, Ulysan, good. Now listen closely and we’ll be warm in no time. The first thing you have to do is push yourself back to free your chest and shoulders. Just a very little, just very gently. You can do it and I’ll be watching.’

‘I’ll fall,’ said Ulysan.

‘No, you won’t,’ said Auum. ‘Brace with your back and legs and slide ever so slowly, just a little. I can tell you when to stop if you like.’

‘I can’t.’

‘You are Ulysan. You can do anything.’

‘I couldn’t save Ellarn.’

Tears sprang into Auum’s eyes. After so long Ulysan’s pain had not died; the guilt remained, waiting to rise and bite him when he was at his most vulnerable.

‘Nothing could have saved Ellarn. It wasn’t your fault.’

‘He was so close and I couldn’t reach him.’

‘I know. And I know you loved him and you will always miss him. Keep him in your heart and know he is safe. We will pray for him when we reach the top. But right now you have to move back for me, just a little bit, Ulysan. I’ll keep hold of your hands, and when I squeeze, you can stop.’

Ulysan was quiet for a time and his body calmed. His breathing became a little more regular.

‘Don’t let me fall.’

‘Never, my brother, never.’

Ulysan relaxed and his body slipped too fast. His back came away from the wall and his feet slithered on the rock. His hands jerked from Auum’s grip. He screamed like a child. Auum let himself slide. He was slimmer and quicker than Ulysan, who was scrabbling to stop himself again. Auum grabbed his hands as his body angled back over the vertical.

Auum roared with pain as he jammed his feet hard, one up one down, against the walls of the fissure and pressed his back as hard as he could into the rock surface. Ulysan’s weight carried them both on. Auum pushed harder, feeling his jacket snag and tear. He ground to halt with his arms and head over the drop, hanging on to Ulysan, who was dangling in space.

‘Ulysan, stop swinging your legs!’

‘I’m going to fall!’ he cried. ‘Don’t let me fall.’

‘I’ve got you,’ said Auum. ‘But you must stop moving. I’ve got you. Ulysan, look at me. Look at me!’

Auum had him, but he couldn’t say for how long. His feet were dragging by fractions and he couldn’t keep the pressure of his back on the wall for long with Ulysan’s weight on his arms and shoulders. Ulysan was gasping in shallow breaths, still trying to get his feet on to the wall. But he’d forgotten everything he’d ever learned about climbing and all he did was weaken Auum’s grip.

‘Ulysan! I am your Arch and your friend. Look at me, see my eyes.’

Ulysan looked up, and Auum saw all the pain of his memories etched on his face. Tears had streaked the dust on his cheeks and his eyes were wide and terrified.

‘It’ll be just like before only it’ll be me this time.’ Ulysan wailed a cry that echoed up and down the fissure. ‘It’ll be me!’

‘No, it won’t, because I’ve got you. Ulysan, keep looking at me. Tell me what happened before. Did you die?’

‘No,’ said Ulysan, and a flicker of hope entered his eyes. ‘I held on and I was saved.’

‘You held on and you were saved,’ said Auum, holding Ulysan’s gaze. ‘And you’re holding on now and you’ll be saved now too. Yniss is watching over us. He is saving you for greater tasks ahead.’

‘Like saving your sorry hide?’

‘Exactly that, and you can’t do that hanging there.’ Auum’s feet slipped a little more and Ulysan dropped an inch. He whimpered. ‘And now it’s time to put you right. Are you with me?’

‘I can’t get my feet right.’

‘That’s because you’re facing the wall. Turn your body out a quarter and brace a foot against each wall. I’ve still got you.’

‘Don’t let me go.’

‘If I do that, you won’t be able to save my sorry hide. You owe me.’

Ulysan actually smiled, and Auum thought they might get out of this alive. The big TaiGethen turned his body and Auum braced himself while Ulysan jammed his feet against the walls. The relief through Auum’s arms was more welcome than he would ever admit; he’d been closer to letting go than he thought.

‘You did it! You did it, Ulysan! You’re halfway there.’

Auum could see the control return to his friend’s body. Ulysan moved his legs to get better purchase and his arms moved reflexively.

‘Good, you’re ready,’ said Auum. ‘I’m going to let your left arm go, and you’re going to get it on the wall above your left leg. Can you do that?’

‘Yes,’ said Ulysan.

‘All right then,’ said Auum. ‘I’m releasing my grip in three, two, one, now.’

Ulysan’s hand slapped against the rock and he pressed his palm in hard. He jerked on his right hand and Auum placed it against the rock and let go. Ulysan steadied and looked up, down at his body and the drop below, and up at Auum.

‘I did it,’ he breathed.

‘Yes, you did. You can do anything; you’re Ulysan. And now I want you to follow me into the angle and do exactly as I say when I say it. Can you do that?’

Ulysan looked up at the tightening of the walls and the slight angle to the new incline. He swallowed hard.

‘Don’t let me get stuck in there.’

‘Follow me.’ Auum began to inch backwards, watching Ulysan all the way. ‘The wall is angling above your head. The moment you feel it touch, tip your head away and bend at the waist. . now. That’s it. Pause there.’

Ulysan was gasping again, his hands groping for the next grip point but his legs rock steady.

‘You’re doing fine, Ulysan. You’re almost there. Now, move your legs up, keep your body where it is and push very gently. Reach your arms ahead and try to flatten out.’

Auum watched Ulysan come forward inch by grinding inch. His body was tight in the crack and his head rubbed the walls, his ears bending over closed.

‘It’s so close,’ said Ulysan, a note of panic entering his voice again. ‘It’s getting tighter. I’m sticking, Auum.’