“Maybe so,” said Guthrum. “But six hours is what’s allowed, so if any of the other men wish to have a ‘lie-in’ they’re fully entided to it.” He gestured towards the cooking area. “I see you’ve been busy. What’s for breakfast?”
“Same as yesterday.”
“And just as delicious, I hope?”
“Naturally.”
“Morning already?” said Tostig, poking his head out of a second tent. The sound of his voice quickly brought Thegn and Thorsson to their doors too, and within moments everyone had risen.
Straight after breakfast Snaebjorn began preparing the mules for the day’s journey, first roping them together in a line, and then loading them up, one by one. He was checking the inventory when Thegn came over and offered to assist. Snaebjorn politely refused, saying it was probably simpler for him to do it himself. Thegn persisted, however, and was finally allowed to help with the ‘tying off’ of each completed load.
“I suppose you’ll need to learn this sooner or later,” Snaebjorn conceded. “So hold the mule steady and watch while I show you. This section of rope in my left hand is called the standing part.”
“Standing part,” repeated Thegn. “Right.”
“Now you take the other section, make a loop, pass it round the standing part and twist, like so. Then you pull the loose end through until you have the correct tension, and tie it off. See?”
After a second demonstration Thegn said he thought he’d got the hang of it and attempted to tie a load himself. Snaebjorn said the result was passable but he’d prefer to re-tie it, if Thegn didn’t object. When they moved on to the next mule Snaebjorn did the tying off. And again with the one after that. In the meantime, Thegn stood watching in silence. Eventually the last mule was given its load, at which point Tostig wandered over.
“I see you’ve found yourself a helpmeet,” he remarked.
“I didn’t find him,” Snaebjorn answered. “He found me.”
“I’ve been learning the ropes,” said Thegn. “It’s been most interesting.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“And it reminded me of a question I’ve been meaning to ask.”
“Which is?”
“Well, I was wondering if these mules have any idea what’s in store for them.”
“Of course not,” said Tostig. “Why should they have?”
“It’s just that they seem very quiet.”
“That’s a good sign, not a bad one. You don’t want excitable mules on a journey like ours.”
“But look how reluctant they were to come into this gorge. If it hadn’t been for Snaebjorn’s superb handling, we’d practically have had to drag them along. It struck me that they might create problems for us later. When they begin to realise.”
“They won’t give us any problems,” said Tostig. “I’ve been dealing with mules for a good few years now and I can assure you they have no comprehension beyond the daily round of work, food and rest. They’ve no inkling whatsoever of our destination. All that business at the beginning of the gorge was merely the shadows making them jumpy. Everyone knows they don’t like the dark. Look at them now they’ve got used to it: they’re as placid as anything. Don’t worry, Thegn. So long as we don’t overburden them, they’ll be fine.”
“Oh well, I bow to your better judgment,” Thegn replied. “I hope you don’t mind my raising the subject?”
“Of course not. It’s always better to speak out if you have any doubts. Now I’m quite pleased that you and Snaebjorn have managed to team up so effectively because I want the pair of you to lead the way this morning. Guthrum and I checked the ground ahead briefly last night and it looks reasonable, so whenever you’re ready.”
“We’re ready now,” said Snaebjorn.
“All fed?”
“Yes.”
“All packed?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent,” said Tostig. “I really don’t know what we’d do without you, Snaebjorn.”
A short while later the party moved off, keeping in strict single file. Snaebjorn was at the fore. Carrying a weighty pack on his shoulders, he now took the role of pathfinder, with Thegn and the mule train following close behind. Next came Thorsson, then Tostig and finally Guthrum in the rear. The gorge continued to deepen, and as it did the light became yet more dim. The dry walls towered above them on either side, occasionally letting fall a shower of broken rock flakes, but for the most part appearing quite substantial. From time to time, Thorsson would stop and record their supposed position in his logbook. (The land being untried and therefore uncharted, his conclusions were based mainly on guesswork. Even so, they had enabled him and Tostig to begin work on a basic map whose details they augmented each evening as the expedition progressed.) While Thorsson made his notes, the two men behind him paused to take stock of their situation. Sometimes a brief exchange would ensue if a question arose concerning some difficult terrain, or the timing of the next rest break, but generally each would remain silent with his own thoughts as he waited to resume again, the only sound being the echoed jingling of bells from somewhere ahead. No sooner had Thorsson put his book away than the three of them would be off again, always maintaining single file, and gradually catching up with the mules.
§
“Did you notice yesterday?” said Tostig. “When we were looking across at Johns and his companions. Did you notice the very blueness of the scree?”
“Actually I did,” replied Guthrum.
“And you assumed it was a trick of the light?”
“Yes.”
“So did I,” Tostig concurred. “That was why I didn’t mention it at the time. But now I’m beginning to think it’s indigenous to this land we’re in. Several times today I’ve seen the same blueish colour occurring in the rock strata. Most extraordinary.”
It was evening, and the two of them had again embarked on a brief stroll forward of the encampment. Now they stood dwarfed below soaring heights, while night advanced slowly upon them.
“Maybe we could collect a few geological samples on our return journey,” suggested Guthrum.
“Yes, that’s what I have in mind,” said Tostig. “Obviously we must not be distracted from our main purpose by the prospect of undiscovered minerals and so forth. On the other hand, a small rock or two shouldn’t add much to our burden.”
“Not if they’re packed correctly.”
“We’ll get Snaebjorn to do it; he’s the expert. Oh, by the way, I happened to overhear your conversation with him this morning. He mentioned the two stars on your cap.”
“He did, yes.”
“Tell me something. Does Snaebjorn have pretensions of leadership?”
“Not as far as I know.”
“Then why the reference?”
“It’s simply that he and I go back a long way,” said Guthrum. “We were engaged in a form of light-hearted rivalry and no more.”
“I see.”
“Snaebjorn meant nothing by it, I assure you.”
“Good.” A few moments passed while Tostig stood silent amidst the encroaching gloom. Then, in a brighter tone, he turned and spoke again. “Guthrum,” he said. “You remain my trusted Number Two.”
“Thank you, sir,” came the reply.
Almost immediately they were hailed by a third voice, coming from some distance behind them. “I’m afraid I can’t see you!”
“Just here!” called Guthrum.
“Ah, thank you!” returned the voice, and a minute later Thegn emerged from the darkness.
“Something wrong?” asked Tostig.
“Oh, no,” said Thegn. “Sorry if I alarmed you, but all the tents are up, supper’s on, and there was nothing left to do; so I took the liberty of wandering along to find the ‘forward party’.”
Guthrum cast a quick glance at Tostig, then proceeded to gaze solemnly at the ground. Meanwhile, a faint smile crossed Tostig’s face.