“Maybe you should try the predator,” he said softly. “I think one is coming up behind us.”
“I think I am getting through,” whispered Bakhai. “I am not sure. but let me try a bit longer.”
Bakhai started making clicks again and Mistake screamed as the web surged like an ocean wave. Rejji heard clicks similar to Bakhai’s coming from above his head as the web swayed with the movement of something very large. More clicks came from behind the Fakarans and Rejji closed his eyes as he thought about the painful death the trolls had described. He could picture the two tyriks closing in on them, one from above and one from behind. His body started shaking uncontrollably and he bit his lip helplessly.
Rejji screamed as he felt the first touch from behind him as the thing seized his arms. He heard a hysterical scream from Mistake and a groan from Bakhai. Something tore his sword out of its sheath and his teeth drew blood from his lower lip as his body shuddered uncontrollably. He felt things roaming all over his body, from his feet to his head. The next instant, he was pulled back and felt his head moved freely. His arms were held fast from behind, but he could now see the web a pace in front of him.
“Do not seek to fight us or we will leave you to the tyriks,” a deep voice said from behind him.
Rejji almost swooned at the sound of a human voice, as his body fell limp and was only supported by whoever was holding him. His head spun for a moment and he exhaled a long held breath in a sigh. Slowly his body stopped quaking, although tremors still raced through it. It seemed like a great effort for Rejji to turn his head, but he saw that Bakhai and Mistake were still beside him and he could see hands holding them up, human hands. He tried to move and realized that his legs were like rubber, incapable of supporting his body.
The people holding the Fakarans dragged them several dozen paces away from the web and Rejji tried to focus on the sticky trap that had snared them. It was monstrous in size and Rejji could not see the top of it, but he saw part of the massive tyrik that called it home. The people who had dragged them away from the web gently lowered the Fakarans to the trail and Rejji stared upwards at them. He was somewhat relieved to see that they were human. In fact, they looked little different than any other person, except they were dressed only in loincloths and carried spears.
He watched as two men reached down and lifted Bakhai, who appeared to be unconscious. The men carried Bakhai and disappeared down the trail. Rejji tried to rise and object, but his muscles refused to obey and one of the men held a spear to Rejji’s chest and shook his head. One of the jungle dwellers approached Rejji and stared down at him. He was taller than the others and appeared to be dwelling on some issue as he gazed at Rejji.
“I am Mobi,” the man said. “You two will be coming to our village. If you try to fight, you will be killed. If you try to flee, you will be killed. Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” Rejji and Mistake said in unison.
“What have you done with Bakhai?” continued Rejji. “He is not well.”
“You will not speak unless told to,” Mobi commanded. “Stand up.”
Rejji tested his rubber legs and found them capable of standing. He rose and extended a hand to Mistake to help her rise. Both of the Fakarans were wobbly on their feet and the group of jungle dwellers stood and stared at them.
“Follow,” Mobi said bluntly as he turned to follow the path Bakhai had disappeared down.
Rejji took Mistake’s hand and they followed Mobi. The rest of the jungle dwellers fell in behind the Fakarans. Mobi walked slowly at first, constantly looking over his shoulder at the Fakarans. When Rejji’s legs felt stronger and less wobbly, Mobi increased his speed as if he had sensed the Fakarans’ regenerated use of their limbs. Gradually, Mobi increased speed until the group was moving at a rather swift pace down the trail. The jungle darkened as night claimed the land, but the group continued walking. They walked for hours and Rejji felt the weariness of the day setting in as his feet scuffed along the trail. Mistake almost tripped twice, but Rejji had been able to help her keep her balance. Finally, Rejji’s arm tugged as Mistake halted in the trail.
“I cannot continue,” she complained. “I need rest.”
Rejji turned his head and saw that the group following them had spread across the trail and had their spears lowered. Mobi stopped and returned to stare at Mistake.
“Why do you stop?” frowned Mobi.
“We have traveled far this day,” answered Rejji. “Our bodies have no more to give. We stumble and will fall soon. We need rest.”
“There is no resting here,” scowled Mobi as he waved forward one of the rear guards. “Lygrim quickly,” he ordered.
The jungle warrior nodded and dashed into the foliage as Mobi scanned the towering trees around the party. Within moments, the jungle warrior returned with two large purple fruits and handed one to each of the Fakarans.
“Eat this,” ordered Mobi as the warrior returned to the rear of the procession. “It will give you energy to walk. We must continue.”
Mobi turned and started walking slowly as Rejji bit into the fruit. It was very moist and almost sickeningly sweet, but Rejji felt the energy pulse though his body. He took Mistake’s hand and started walking after Mobi as he ate more of the fruit. Rejji felt surprisingly stronger with each bite and again Mobi picked up the pace as if being able to sense the new strength of his captives.
It was almost morning when they came to a deep river gorge. They followed the gorge downstream for an hour until they came to a long, narrow bridge over the gorge. Mobi turned and separated Rejji’s hand from Mistake’s. He then started across the narrow bridge. Rejji let Mistake go first and then stepped onto the wooden slats. There were two ropes strung for handholds and Rejji kept his hands on them at all times. The bridge swayed with each step and when he was out over the water, Rejji looked down. He felt queasiness in his stomach as he saw the churning water far below him racing towards the waterfall off to his right. A mist rose from the waterfall and towered almost to the height of the bridge. Rejji could see the early rays of the sun trying to penetrate the mist.
Rejji tore his eyes from the view below and focused on the narrow wooden slats as he continued across the bridge. He felt exhilaration as he stepped off the bridge and felt solid ground under his feet again. Mobi halted a little ways beyond the bridge to allow the rest of the party to catch up. Rejji was scanning the jungle while they waited and his eyes locked on a towering pyramid through the trees. Before he could dwell on it, Mobi started walking again and Rejji followed.
The trail wound through the jungle for a few minutes and then they emerged into a village. People lined the streets and stared as Rejji and Mistake passed by. Mobi led the procession down the long street and into a massive, cultivated square with flowerbeds and paths and stately trees. Across the square, the street continued as far as Rejji could see. To the right of the square was the large pyramid that Rejji had seen through the trees, but Mobi turned to the left. They headed towards the long stone building that occupied the fourth side of the square. The stone building stood out from the surrounding wooden homes and Mobi marched them up the steps to a large wooden door and they entered the building.
Mobi led them down a long hall and then turned at an intersecting hallway that was lined with doors. He stopped a third of the way down the hallway and two of the men behind Rejji stepped forward and opened two doors, one on each side of the hallway.