Читать книгу The Ice People 47 - Is There Anybody Out There? - Margit Sandemo - Страница 9

Chapter 4

Then they reached the top. Right before them lay the wide expanse where the wind whispered and whistled so sadly.

From where they stood they couldn’t see the little depression in the valley that Typhoon had mentioned. All they could see was the glacier, mighty and white.

The snowstorm had subsided considerably, which improved the visibility. But there was nothing to actually break the whiteness: the glacier seemed to merge with the sky, for the mountains on the opposite side were not visible.

They felt pathetically small and very sad.

“Take us to the flowery valley,” said Marco tiredly to Typhoon. “That’s the only thing we have left to go on.”

“I would be more than happy to do so. But we’ve already searched there. And below the ice sheet. We found nothing.”

Discouraged, they began to cross the ice.

“Do you think Nataniel has stayed inside the mountain?” Tova asked Marco in a very low voice so that Ellen wouldn’t hear.

“I’m afraid so,” he answered, just as quietly. “In which case it has completely closed around him. But then I don’t understand how he managed to defeat Tengel the Evil. Out here!”

“Shira might have done it,” said Tova, which wasn’t much consolation.

“Look!” Halkatla shouted. “Look up there! What is it?”

They could just discern some dark clouds approaching the snowy air. The shadows grew bigger and bigger. The group stood motionless just staring at them.

“Black angels,” whispered Gabriel. “And so many of them! Help!”

“All twenty, I think,” said Trond.

No one had had a chance to say another word before the gigantic creatures landed on the ice before them. Everyone greeted one another politely, for that sort of thing didn’t happen every day, especially not for the Ice People – that much they understood. They waited to see what the next move would be from the new arrivals.

One of the tall, black-winged men bowed deeply before Marco and said: “The valley is free, we can travel in it once more. All of you, and the chosen one in particular, have pleased our master greatly. Don’t ask any questions, just follow us right away!”

A few minutes later the black angels stopped in their tracks. They circled an elevation in the ice, which most resembled a molehill in the frozen expanse.

Ellen understood immediately. With a wail she sank to her knees and began brushing off the snow with agitated movements.

She was greatly assisted by the others. Nataniel was unearthed in no time.

Marco, who was on his knees, straightened up and asked the black angels: “Is it too late?”

They didn’t answer. They just waved humans, demons and spirits away with authority. Then they pointed their right hands at the frozen figure, making the air flash and spark so that the humans were forced to turn away.

“It’s not too late,” said one of the angels, turning to Ellen. “It was for your sake, Lady, that our lord bade us find the dying one. For he was as good as dead. He had three alarming injuries on his arm. There is nothing we can do about them. But he is abundantly endowed with special gifts. As well as being of our blood. Our lord has mercy on you both, you have suffered greatly. Take good care of him!”

“We will,” said Ellen with tears of joy.

The black angels concluded their work.

“We’ll see you again one day,” said one of them, and then they took off from the ice with a roaring boom.

“Did you hear what they said?” asked Gabriel, his eyes beaming. “We’ll see them again!”

Marco nodded. His face was very pale and stern-looking.

Nataniel, on the other hand, had regained his colour. He stretched, opened his eyes and smiled at Ellen, hampered by the pain in his arm.

They got him to his feet and gave him some clothes. Several of the living humans were rather scantily dressed by this time.

“Let’s get out of this cursed valley,” Tova muttered.

The only one who objected was Nataniel himself.

“Let’s first get hold of whatever we can of the treasure of the Ice People! Let’s go to Sunniva’s place.”

So they did. But it was merely an empty meadow. There were no tracks to find in the newly fallen snow, no flat stone with directions on how to get to the stairs leading to the catacombs and the Great Abyss.

Nataniel took a deep breath.

“Then we’ll have to assume that the treasure is gone.”

“Well, it served its purpose well,” said Marco. “But since we’re here anyway, I think I’ll summon some of our friends.”

They immediately knew to whom he was referring. No one was surprised to see Ulvhedin and Lilit heading towards them in the light, snowy mist.

“I know what you want,” said the beautiful Lilit, smiling bitterly. “It’s good to see you again, by the way, you’ve done a good job. Ulvhedin, let’s get started right away.”

Whereupon a ceremony was initiated of which they didn’t understand a word, but that didn’t matter because they understood its purpose all the better.

“It’s my responsibility,” Lilit explained. “And Ulvhedin was born with the ability to conjure. He’s done this before.”

Strange words echoed off the rocks as Lilit and Ulvhedin exorcised the bog men from the Valley of the Ice People, forcing them to go far away, deeper into the ground where they really belonged. Lilit locked all their paths leading up to the human world, and all engravings on flat rocks and stones were erased. As Lilit so acidly said: “If people dig too far down, they have only themselves to blame. The bog men have to live somewhere, too!”

The conjuration was over; the place was cleansed.

Lilit half-turned from the group of humans and animals while still addressing them. “And now I believe we are to receive a visit ...”

Into the meadow emerged all those who had taken part in the battle from the very beginning. The Taran-gais, who greeted Orin and Vassar like long-lost sons, and all the ancestors of the Ice People. The horrible female demons, the abandoned ones ...

Their joy at meeting again was great.

Of course, it was greatest for Tiili and her mother and brother. For a long time, many tears were shed and there were many clumsy attempts to explain what had happened before they could continue. But as had been agreed earlier, Dida and Targenor were never told exactly what Tiili had had to endure. Neither of them would have been able to bear knowing about her seven-century wait in fear and terror and the deepest loneliness.

Halkatla threw herself at Rune and kissed him intensely. He was terribly shy and muttered something about it being nice to see her again.

Lilit hadn’t had time until now to greet her son Tamlin and the nineteen night demons who had been held captive in the Great Abyss. She made up for that and hugged them one after the other. Ingrid did the same with her five demons, perhaps with more intimacy and emotion. Tengel the Good and Sol and Heike were there and wished luck to Nataniel and the object of his desire, and Benedikte, who was much closer to the present day, embraced Tova, her grandson’s daughter, and welcomed Ian into the family.

There was quite a bit of commotion for a while.

Then Lilit raised her hand and asked for silence. She had something to say.

Several of them were completely dazzled by her unique and dangerous beauty.

“Our master, who has come to earth this year, would like to meet all of you. All of you participated in the battle that ended so well. But some of you are terribly tired and horribly cold. So he’s going to keep this meeting short. Our ruler, whom I have known since the time of Eden, will then leave you time for rest and contemplation. He will return on the shortest night of the year to meet you properly. That is a good night, suitable for all the things that humans don’t believe ought to awaken. We will all meet then, on the mountain above old Gråstensholm, because Linden Avenue doesn’t have enough space for everyone.”

“In that bewitched place?” Gabriel asked excitedly.

“Exactly. There is a lot that needs to be straightened out and planned and prepared. For various reasons we will be meeting there and not at the Demon’s Mountain.”

She slowly extended her arm in a dignified gesture. “My friends ... please make room for our lord.”

There they were again! The black angels. But this time they were escorting their master, Lucifer, who came in great majesty, gliding across the meadow towards the big, dumbfounded group.

He was so huge! So ... overwhelming, not just because of his unusual height but mostly because of the utter sense of authority he emitted. In his true form he was more glorious to look at than any human child could possibly imagine, and the light in his eyes was almost unbearable. Lucifer was pitch black, glistening black like coal. He was stately, so mighty that it brought tears to your eyes. This was truly one of the archangels! The supreme one, the outcast, the fallen one.

All the demons prostrated themselves in reverence.

God, thought Tova. God! I knew it! It was Marco they had been following, the prince of the black halls!

She felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. But she didn’t have a chance to analyse it properly for Lucifer raised his hand. Smiling, he spoke with a soft, melodic voice that purred in one’s ears: “You are cold, my chosen friends. From this very moment you will no longer have to freeze.”

He made a sweeping gesture with his arm and they watched all the snow on the ground melt; they felt a summery, pleasant warmth spread over them as the snowy weather retreated. He bade them sit down, and took on a more human size for their sake.

It was wonderful to have a chance to rest one’s feet after all that sliding around on the ice of the glacier. It was wonderful to feel the heat from the earth seep through one’s clothes and thaw out one’s body. Tova sensed that she must be careful not to fall asleep: there was a great danger that she might. It was clear as day that Nataniel was dead tired and in pain.

But Lucifer still stood there surrounded by all his black angels. Tova noticed that none of them were wolves now. There was no need for them anymore, so they could assume their proper forms again.

The erstwhile angel of light waited with a cunning smile on his lips. What a creature! Tova thought, greatly impressed. Even in human form, his air of authority was crushing.

But at the same time her heart trembled.

She cast a very quick glance about her. Everyone was there – except for one group. The fifteen stray demons that Tengel the Evil had hurled out into empty space.

Lucifer directed his fascinating eyes at Tova. He smiled. “We’ll be sure to get them back.”

Help! One had better watch one’s thoughts!

But the rest of the group of stray demons, the so-called Trond demons, sighed with relief.

The mighty angel extended his arm towards Rune and called him to him.

“I have always said that my men did a terrible job with you, Rune, my friend from the Garden of Eden. So now you can decide whether you want to be one thing or the other. In your case, human or root.”

There was no doubt for Rune this time: “Human, please!”

“And how would you like to look?”

“I don’t want to look different from the rest. I’ve had quite enough of that.”

“But Rune! You don’t wish to be an ordinary human, do you?”

He thought for a moment. “No ... probably I don’t.”

“That’s what I thought. Well, I’ll try to come up with something nice-looking based on your resources. I think the result will be quite pleasant.”

Halkatla stood next to Rune, blushing with eagerness.

“May ... may I say something, great Lord?”

“Be my guest!”

“I am happy for Rune. But I just want to say that as far as I’m concerned, I don’t care how he looks. I came to care for him just the way he was.”

Rune couldn’t hold back a huge smile of radiant joy and surprise.

“Your words are kind,” said Lucifer. “But I think you had better step aside, young lady, or you may risk being thrown into the bargain and turning into a root. And that would be a shame, wouldn’t it, especially now?”

That reminded Tova of a risqué story that had always made her laugh. About the old woman who lamented her loneliness in her little house in the woods. She had only a cat and she would sigh to it, saying: “If only you had been a handsome young prince and I a beautiful young woman!” Now it just so happened that there was a fairy nearby. She felt sorry for the lonely little woman and fulfilled her wish. They were both transformed into beautiful young people, and the young lady couldn’t get enough of her prince. She fell head over heels in love with him. Whereupon he said: “Well, I guess now you’re sorry you had me spayed!”

So Tova truly understood why Halkatla didn’t wish to become a root now!

Tova was laughing so hard at the old joke that she had to turn away from the group. When she turned back again a handsome young man stood in Rune’s place. He still had Rune’s colouring and features, but his appearance was much improved. Everything that had been crooked and misshapen about him had been smoothed out. He was anything but ordinary in appearance! And Halkatla was wildly enthusiastic, though also a bit shy about this new transformation that had taken place. Was it possible for the brave Halkatla to become insecure? Yes, why not? After all the bullying she had endured during her short life on earth.

Tova wished her well.

Rune looked down at his well-shaped hands in astonishment, and Ellen gave him a small pocket mirror. He lit up like the sun when he saw how handsome he was now.

“Thank you,” he said warmly to Lucifer. “Once I am properly acquainted with this stranger I think I’ll get on very well with him.”

Gabriel sighed, smiling. “I guess I don’t have to fulfil my promise to you now? About fetching soil from Ceylon for you?”

Rune thought for a moment. “No, thank you, Gabriel! That is very kind of you, but I definitely won’t be eating soil from now on.”

Everyone laughed a little.

Then Rune placed his hands around Halkatla’s face and looked her deeply in the eyes. She lit up at his gaze. No words needed to be said between them.

Tova stifled a sigh. She couldn’t help feeling a little let down. Not that she was envious of Rune, far from it, but she, too, wouldn’t have minded ...

She pulled herself together and listened to Lucifer’s words.

“You have all helped me in my battle against my final enemy. You have eliminated Tan-ghil the Evil, who posed such a tremendous threat to my kingdom after he drank from the spring of evil and was promised eternal life and complete power over the world. That power does not belong to him.”

Tova shuddered. She didn’t like what he was saying but she focused on concealing her thoughts.

Meanwhile she met Nataniel’s gaze. He seemed somewhat perplexed and overwhelmed.

Lucifer continued. “So I have decided to reward you by allowing you to choose where you would like to go after your death. Many of you already reside in the dimensions of the dead. I offer you, regardless of whether you are living or dead members of the Ice People, the opportunity to live on in the black halls forever.”

It grew very quiet. Then Nataniel spoke in a strained tone: “We thank you, great Lord, for your generous offer. Please allow us a little time to think about it first, it is a little overwhelming for us now and we can’t quite grasp the scope of it yet.”

“I understand. But I’m assuming that all of you who are demons led by Lilit and Typhoon will join us?”

“Of course,” said Typhoon, and all the others agreed. “It has long been our wish and our longing.”

“Excellent! Rune and Halkatla! You will automatically be included in my group and in my halls.”

Both of them gasped, as though they were about to say something but didn’t dare. They looked at one another searchingly.

It was Halkatla who was brave enough to break the silence. It was strange for Tova and the others to see the irreverent and courageous witch fall on her knees in adoration of Lucifer.

“Honourable Lord ... please don’t misunderstand my hesitation. I remain forever your most grateful subject, but ...”

“Yes, Halkatla!” he said, as though he found it amusing. “Speak your mind!”

She looked up, somewhat pitiful in her uneasiness. “I would so much have liked to remain in the world of the living a little while longer. It seems so enticing with all its imperfections. That which is perfect can wait perhaps? Just a little longer?”

Lucifer scrutinized her. “I don’t believe that you belong with down-to-earth ordinary humans in this century. But, as you wish! You will have a month. Until midsummer night. From then on I want you with me.”

“That would be an honour for me. But ... forgive me for being so straightforward but ... may Rune also stay here for a month?”

“That depends on whether or not he wants to.”

Rune laughed: a friendly, open laugh that showed dazzlingly white teeth. “With my new appearance there is nothing I would like more, my Lord! I have to try it out on humans!”

“Not on the ladies, thank you very much,” said Halkatla quickly, looping her arm under his with the smile of a tiger.

“That’s settled, then,” said Lucifer, who seemed to be in high spirits. “As true humans – keep that in mind. After that we’ll be counting on you.”

“Of course,” said Rune.

Tova had listened to this conversation holding her breath. She was terribly afraid of revealing her own thoughts.

Lucifer turned to the group. “Sarmik, leader of the Taran-gais, what have you chosen to do?”

Sarmik found the question difficult as well, but for different reasons than Tova’s. “We would, of course, like to go to the black halls, Master ...”

Tova could tell that he was about to add a “but” and was holding it back.

But Lucifer was observant. “Yes, Sarmik?”

The Taran-gai pulled himself together. “Master, we don’t know where our four spirits stand. They have helped us so much ...”

“I understand your problem. Let me have a word with them and perhaps we can make a compromise. A collaboration of sorts. There is room for everyone.”

Sarmik gave a sigh of relief. “In which case, we remain your loyal servants, Lord.”

Lucifer placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Good! Now the living must be allowed to return to their homes, they have been absent for a long time now. And Marco here will fairly and squarely begin on his next mission: to prepare the way in the human world. I assume the rest of you will assist him,” he said, casting a stern and transparent glance at Tova. “We will all see one another on midsummer night above Gråstensholm. Marco will have prepared for my arrival, I’m quite certain.”

He beckoned all the non-earthly creatures to him, with the exception of Rune and Halkatla. As the humans looked around in confusion, they found themselves alone with the strange couple. Ellen, Tova, Tiili, Marco, Nataniel, Ian and Gabriel ...

Seven living people and two that really didn’t properly belong anywhere. They were the only ones left. Of all of them, Nataniel was alarmingly worn down.

Halkatla led the way, very chatty, while the more sombre-minded Rune walked by her side. The others clumsily began to make their way as well, but they couldn’t really collect their thoughts properly.

“Should we see if we can go back the same way?” Marco asked. His friends’ silence made him feel ill-at-ease. “I’d like to recover the motorbike.”

Nataniel pulled himself together. “Yes, of course! And the car! And whatever else we may have lost along the way!”

Tova, Gabriel and Ellen walked at the back. They looked at Marco who was walking ahead of them. He was now carrying Tiili in his arms, where she rested safe and sound.

At first the three of them walked silently in the clear, cold spring air. They no longer noticed their surroundings, they didn’t see the liberated valley. Their thoughts were preoccupied with other things.

Things that were heavy and difficult to absorb.

Then Gabriel said thoughtfully: “We’ve been manipulated! Used in a way.”

“Yes,” replied Tova. She felt completely empty inside.

Now that the whole ordeal was over, they felt a sense of fatigue creeping over them. But it wasn’t an entirely normal sense of fatigue – they felt it was much deeper than that.

The fatigue of disappointment. The feeling of having been betrayed.

Ellen, who had had a different kind of upbringing from the others, said quietly: “I want to speak with God about this. I must.”

Her two friends didn’t respond. Gabriel just swallowed hard. Never before had he felt so unsure.