Eritopia

A Brief Sanctuary

As Martin reached the bank he scrambled out of the boat and heaved it onto the grass. Tom ushered the others up and they all moved upstream. Tom and Martin carried the boat between them. After a few minutes they came to a path that led away from the river up a slope. There were fences and hedges and signs of habitation. They picked their way between them. As they moved past a wall Martin said, 'This is our family patch,' then realised the others couldn't see over the wall. 'I don't suppose?' he asked Tom.

'No.'

The others were silent. They were tired and the talk meant nothing to them. The men led them along another path, downhill again, so they seemed to be heading back to the river.

'Not far now,' Tom said.

Soon they saw some low, shallow-roofed buildings. They shuffled past. It was getting near dusk and lights glowed in some of the huts. At one stage Martin lost his grip on the back of the boat and it thudded on the ground. Someone shouted in a nearby shed, but no one emerged. Martin raised a hand in apology and picked the boat up again. They moved on around a corner. There was a building a little further away from the others. Tom headed to it.

'We're here,' Martin whispered. Tom undid a lock on the door and pushed it open. Dry hinges squealed in protest.

'You go in, we'll put the boat back in place.' Tom said.

Not-Bear, Map and Jod went in.

In contrast to its surroundings, inside the hut it was warm and welcoming. A light from a small lamp shone in the corner. There was a flickering stove by one of the longer walls, which Jod headed straight to. 'I'm freezing,' he said.

Not-Bear looked around. He noticed a low bed in a far corner, and next to it a pile of clothes and a row of boots. The walls of the hut were bare, and the light from the lamp cast shadows into the corners. He watched Jod huddle in front of the stove, rubbing his hands together. Map settled next to him. Behind the stove there was a metal pipe leading up to the roof. Not-Bear recognised it as a chimney, like the ones they had seen in the quarries. Next to that were some cooking utensils on a box, and a couple of pans hanging on the wall. There was a pot on top of the stove, with steam coming from it. Not-Bear went over to join his friends.

The door opened again, and Tom Tall and Martin came back in.

'That's done,' said Tom. 'Good, I'm glad you're enjoying the fire.'

Martin stayed by the door while Tom went over to the bed and sat on it. 'Now,' he began. 'What would you like to know?'

The others looked at each other. 'Can we trust you?' was Not-Bear's first question, which earned him a dig in the ribs from Jod.

'What?' he protested.

'He means to say, thank you for helping us get across the river, and welcoming us into your home,' Jod said.

'I hope you'll learn to trust us,' said Tom. 'Martin, we need some more wood for the stove, there's some at the side of the hut, would you mind?'

Martin left and the draught from the door made the fire stutter.

'Alright then,' Not-Bear was not going to be deflected. 'How did you find us?'

Martin returned and the stove guttered again. The flames flared as more wood went on.

'We didn't find you, exactly.' We heard someone was coming across the Outside. We looked out for you.'

'We?'

'A few friends and I have been watching the river. I assumed, luckily as it happened, that you'd come from the hills and not across the open plain for all to see. I also hoped Map would be with you and was sure he knew about the bridge. As you may gather, we have met before.'

Map nodded. Jod opened his mouth to say something, but Not-Bear continued.

'Who are these friends?'

'We are from the Brotherhood, a group of like-minded people who are working against the King for better justice in the city. Most of us are youngsters, the older ones seem to have lost their voices. Martin is our latest recruit.'

Martin interrupted. 'Tom heard me arguing with my father when I was working with him back in the summer. I've never fitted in with my family. My brother works for the council, my father wanted me to work there too. But I don't like the secrecy and the way they do things. I don't care for the King or his antics either. Tom invited me to one of the Brotherhood meetings. After that I wanted to help in any way I could.'

'Martin was looking out over the river, too, from his vantage point on the allotment.'

'Allotment?' said Not-Bear.

'The "patch" he mentioned earlier. We walked past it on our way here. Some of the citizens grow crops in them for their families. And other things.' He looked at Martin. 'Anyway, Martin thought he saw smoke in the distance a few days ago.'

'That must have been us at the quarry,' Map said. 'I told you it was dangerous to light a fire.'

'Well, it was a good thing, because Martin alerted us. That's when we began looking in earnest and, well, here you are! Seriously though, we are only a small number, but there are others outside the City who sense change is coming.'

'Change?' said Not-Bear.

'Yes. There is a prophecy.'

Jod looked at Map, who looked at Not-Bear, who glanced back.

'I don't suppose you know what that is,' said Tom.

Map was about to jump up, but Not-Bear put a paw on his back and stopped him.

'Go on,' the wolf said.

Tom Tall explained that a dark stranger, Melos, had recently appeared in the Palace. 'Since then the King has become obsessed with a prophecy. He believes it predicts an end to his power and a change to the established ways. Many of us have known about a prophecy for ages, but it says nothing about the King. This other interpretation must have come to Barnabas through the stranger.'

'Barnabas has been ruining the lives of his citizens for as long as anyone can remember. What small profits and resources any of them make face heavy taxes and forced donations to the City Fund. Money which goes straight into the pockets of the King's corrupt friends and businessmen. That's why most of the population prefer to barter goods and services instead of using coin.

'Then there are the hated Royal security force, the Guardia. Their heavy-handed discipline and levels of corruption are equal to any of the King's circle. Now that this Melos is in favour at the Palace the situation has grown worse. No one knows where he comes from or what his motives are, but the King had fallen under his spell. Even the Guardia dance to his tune. The rise in beatings and imprisonments since he arrived are evidence of that. Who knows how many they hold in the cells beneath the Palace now? Peaceful demonstrations in the city are quelled with force. Some of the Council workers are also upset with the new regime.'

Tom Tall's voice went quiet. 'In the taverns and on street corners, news of a coming invasion are rife. There is also talk of another Great Battle.'

'What do you want us to do?' said Not-Bear. He still had many unanswered questions. The prophecy Jod told him had no mention of any battles, Kings or the like. And how did Tom know they would arrive, and why? Where did he get his information from? 

'Do we have to fight the King?' he asked.

'No. No!' Tom said. 'At least, not yet. First you must meet the Brothers.'