Magnus Mills - Explorers of the New Century

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Alone at the far side of the river, Thegn secured his line and sat down to rest. He had succeeded only by accident, having lost his footing whilst perched on a boulder halfway across. From there he’d been swept along by the current before suddenly pulling up short when the rope ran out. He had then remained suspended in midstream for a full minute until being released again, eventually casting up battered and bruised on a stony shoal. Only good fortune had prevented him from plunging over the falls, and only after a further struggle had he managed to reach the opposite bank. Now he sat at the top of a low cliff, wet through and temporarily isolated from his comrades. A weak attempt to call in their direction brought no reply, and he in turn heard nothing from them. After a while, however, there came three tugs on the line. Standing up, he repeated the two tugs he had given earlier. The three tugs came again and at once he began hauling, bringing in first his own original line, then the extra length that had been added to it. Finally he drew towards him a much thicker, heavier rope. This he fastened to a rock before signalling with another two tugs. The rope was then pulled tight from the other end, so that it hung like a bridge across the river. The sight of it caused a thin smile to cross Thegn’s lips. After another brief rest he began making his way back to where he’d started, hand over hand along the rope, his feet dangling above the churning waters. The return journey took a minute or so. When at last he came in view of the other four men, they were gathered together in a group examining some object which, on seeing him, they immediately hid away. He swung the final few yards towards them and dropped to the ground.

“Ah, Thegn,” said Tostig. “You’re just in time to help us with the mules. It’s going to be a long job conveying them all to the opposite side so we’d better get started directly.” He glanced into the chasm. “I suppose it’s a blessing that the visibility is so poor; otherwise they would be certain to panic. Now is this rope quite secure at the other end?”

Thegn assured him that it was, and then Thorsson was asked to bring up the first mule from the camp at Lintel Rock. Meanwhile, Thegn was sent back along the ropeway with a secondary line. The moment Thorsson arrived with the mule, Snaebjorn seized it by one ear and forced it to the ground. Quickly it was trussed up and rendered immobile, then slung under the rope and hauled across the river. Guthrum had joined Thegn on the far bank and was charged with leading each mule away. The process of moving them one by one was necessarily slow, but after a couple of hours the men had succeeded in getting all ten mules transferred. Next came the packs containing the food supplies, followed by the tents and the rest of the equipment. The last items to be brought over were the recently filled water canisters. By now Thegn had made the crossing several times in order to assist the operation at both ends, and was at present working alone with Snaebjorn on the southern bank. As the canisters were dispatched, he commented that it would really have made more sense to replenish them on the new side of the river, rather than the old.

“As if it’s any of your business,” said Snaebjorn.

“What do you mean?” asked Thegn.

“Simply that you have a marked tendency to pry. A trait that has not passed unnoticed.”

“By whom?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Without another word, Snaebjorn took to the ropeway and began making his way along it. Thegn followed close behind. When they reached the opposite bank, Tostig, Guthrum and Thorsson were waiting for them. The majority of equipment had been moved further inland so that a new camp could be established. Nearby, however, there still remained three packing cases. These had been placed side by side in a row, and a lamp hung from a pole above them.

“Is that everything now?” enquired Tostig.

“Yes,” replied Snaebjorn. “I’ve checked the whole site and it’s quite clear.”

“Very good, Snaebjorn. You’ve done a first-class piece of work. Maybe you could begin preparing supper?”

“Right you are.”

As Snaebjorn turned and headed for the shadows, Thegn made to follow him.

“Just a moment, Thegn,” said Tostig.

“Sir?”

“Come and stand before me, please.”

Thegn complied.

“Is something the matter?” he asked.

“We have yet to discover.” Tostig paused and regarded Thegn for a long moment before continuing. “Thegn, it has been brought to my notice that you keep amongst your belongings a copy of the Ship’s Manual.”

“Ah,” replied Thegn.

“A brief search has confirmed the fact.”

“Yes. It would.”

“Are you not aware that this contravenes regulations; that you may have put the ship and its company in peril; and that therefore you have placed yourself under suspicion of conspiracy?”

“No, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“Ignorance of the regulations is no excuse,” said Tostig. “I’m afraid your case will have to be heard by a tribunal. This will be convened at once. Your judges will be Guthrum, Thorsson and myself.”

At a given signal, the three senior figures moved into the circle of light and sat down on the packing cases, the lamp shining above their heads. Then Tostig declared that the tribunal was in session.

“Incidentally,” he added. “You may wish to know that it was Snaebjorn who denounced you.”

“Yes,” said Thegn. “I guessed it might have been.”

After a short consultation with his colleagues, Tostig produced the manual from his pocket and held it before him.

“Firstly,” he began. “How did you come to lay your hands on this?”

“I borrowed it,” Thegn answered.

“Without seeking permission?”

“I didn’t think I needed permission.”

“Why not?”

“Well, because…” Thegn hesitated. “Because it belongs to my uncle.”

“And it didn’t occur to you that your ‘uncle’ might object?”

“No, it didn’t.”

“Or that it could have fallen into the wrong hands?”

“But there’s nobody here except us.”

“That makes no difference,” said Tostig. “The ship is our only lifeline back to civilisation; consequently, the manual must stay with the ship. To bring it inland suggests an ulterior motive. Were you planning, for example, to take command of the vessel on our return journey, so that you could claim credit for the success of the expedition?”

“Of course not.”

“Can you prove that you weren’t?”

“No.”

“Were you working under instruction from another agency?”

“Again no.”

“Not Johns?”

“Certainly not Johns.”

“Then who?”

“Nobody.”

“So why did you borrow the manual?”

“It’s only a copy.”

“Nevertheless…”

“Dammit, I was just trying to show some interest!” cried Thegn suddenly, his eyes ablaze. “I merely wanted to further my knowledge of this marvellous enterprise we’re involved in! To study it in every aspect; to understand it in all its detail; and to be there when we plant the flag at our destination! The Agreed Furthest Point! Even the name of it spells adventure! No one has ever been there before and it’s the opportunity of a lifetime! I know I wasn’t your first choice, but I’ve done all I can to be a useful member of the team! I’ve hardly slept for weeks and today I risked my neck finding a way across the river! Yet despite my good deeds, my hard work and my attention to duty, I find myself accused of conspiracy! I tell you it’s simply not fair!”

In the moments that followed Thegn’s outburst, the only sound came from the relentless waters cascading below. All else was quiet. During the past hour the night had deepened, intensifying the glow of the lamplight against the surrounding gloom. The three members of the tribunal said nothing, but sat gazing into the darkness with their arms folded. Thegn, meanwhile, remained standing where he was, and glared balefully at his inquisitors. Not until another minute had elapsed did Tostig break the silence.