One Car And The Road
Stories similar to this that you might like too.
The road was a long, straight thing. It stretched out into the distance to where it disappeared in the haze of heat and dust that swirled around us on all sides. I wasn’t sure how far we’d come since leaving the city behind but my feet were sore from walking for so many hours; they ached with every step.
My legs felt as if someone had poured hot coals down them and then wrapped me up like a mummy in bandages.
There weren’t any trees or bushes along the way – just dusty plains stretching off into the horizon until there was nothing more than an endless sea of sand dunes beyond. Every now and again, a lone camel would wander by.
They didn’t seem bothered about our presence at all, wandering past without even looking twice. We saw one group of three camels carrying several men who were sitting cross-legged atop their backs. One man rode alongside each camel holding reins attached to chains that hung between two metal rings welded onto either side of its neck.
These ropes allowed the camels to be controlled when needed, allowing them to turn left or right depending on what direction they wanted to go in.
“How are you doing?” asked Tariq. “You look tired.” He glanced over his shoulder towards us before continuing. “I’m sorry for not stopping sooner – we’ve been moving quickly ever since we got away from those soldiers. But I don’t want to stop here because this is too close to the border.
If anyone sees us, we’ll have no choice but to fight. Not only do we need to keep ourselves hidden, but also the horses too,” he added, pointing back at the pack animals tied up beside us. “We can rest once we reach the desert.”
“Why’s that?” I asked.
Tariq looked down at me and smiled. “Because the desert is empty. No people will see us there. Even if someone does pass by, they won’t know what we’re doing unless they happen to glance our way. All they might notice is a few strange men riding across the sands on horseback.”
He turned back ahead and continued to walk forward. I followed him, trying to take deep breaths as my lungs burned.
As we walked further down the road, the sun began to set slowly behind us. Its rays shone through the clouds, turning everything orange. When it finally hit the ground below, the sky took on a bright pink hue that made me feel dizzy.
After another hour or so, Tariq stopped suddenly and pointed ahead.
“There!” he said excitedly. He jumped down from his horse and ran over to the other side of the road. He held his hand up to signal for us to wait while he went to investigate something. A moment later, he came running back towards us.
“Follow me,” he ordered.
We mounted our horses and followed after him. As we did so, Tariq called out to us. “Be careful! Don’t get too close to the edge.”
The sand dune before us rose high above the ground. It was steep and jagged, rising sharply upwards. At first, I thought it must have been some sort of natural formation caused by erosion. But then I noticed there were footprints leading up to it from both sides of the road.
Some of these prints belonged to small children, others to adults. There seemed to be hundreds of different sets of tracks going up the slope.
What caught my attention most though was that there were dozens upon dozens of animal tracks too. I couldn’t tell exactly what kind of creatures had left their marks, but they appeared to be quite large. Their feet and hooves had crushed the sand beneath them, making indentations on the surface.
“Who lives here?” I asked Tariq quietly.
He shook his head. “No one. This place is sacred to the locals. They believe it’s the home of the gods themselves.”
“And why is that?”
“They say the god of death himself walks among us. That he comes here to collect souls that are ready to leave this world.”
“Are you serious? You mean…the dead really live here?”
Tariq nodded. “Yes. Once a person dies, they become part of the earth. In fact, this whole area is considered holy land. People come here to pray, hoping to make peace with whatever deity they worship.”
“But how can they possibly think that the God of Death actually exists?”
Tariq shrugged. “It doesn’t matter whether or not he truly exists. What matters is that they believe in him. After all, believing in something makes it real. Whether or not the belief itself is true has no bearing whatsoever.”
He climbed back up onto his horse and beckoned for us to follow. We did so, heading deeper into the desert. The farther we rode along the road, the more desolate the terrain became. Soon enough, the mountains surrounding us disappeared completely, leaving nothing but endless stretches of sand and rocks.
After an hour or two of walking, Tariq stopped again. He dismounted and motioned for us to do likewise. Then he led us off to the side of the road where we found a small cave entrance. He reached inside and pulled out a torch, which lit immediately when he touched it to the wall.
“This is as far as we go,” he told us. “From now onwards, we’ll be camping outside. The last thing we want to do right now attracts any unwanted attention.”
We followed him inside the small opening and waited until he’d finished lighting the torches lining the walls. By the time he returned, we were already sitting around a fire pit.
“Now, let’s eat,” he announced.
Once we were settled, Tariq produced several metal containers filled with food. While he cooked it, we sat together and ate. For once, I didn’t mind eating. My hunger outweighed my fear of being alone in the middle of nowhere.
When dinner was done, Tariq gave each of us a portion of meat and bread. He also handed out water skins and instructed us to drink only sparingly.
“We don’t need to worry about dehydration yet,” he explained. “Not until tomorrow night. Until then, we should conserve every drop of water we’ve got.”
I gulped down a mouthful of food and washed it down with some water. The meal tasted surprisingly good, even though it wasn’t anything fancy. It reminded me of the meals I used to enjoy at home.
While we were finishing up our supper, Tariq stood up. His eyes scanned the darkness beyond the firelight.
“You know, I’m surprised none of those bandits have tried to sneak up on us tonight,” he remarked.
“Why would they bother?” I replied. “If they’re planning to attack us, wouldn’t they prefer doing so during the day? When they could take advantage of the cover of the shadows?”
Tariq shook his head. “Bandits aren’t stupid like you seem to think. They know better than anyone else just how dangerous this place can be. And if they wanted to attack us, they’d have attacked long ago. Instead, they chose to lay low until the sun goes down.”
I frowned. “Is that possible?”
“Of course it is. Anybody who knows what they’re doing will avoid attacking someone while they sleep. Even if they manage to get close enough to strike, they won’t risk getting spotted. Sooner or later, they’ll lose patience and try again.”
“Then why haven’t they struck?”
“Because they know we’re stronger than them. They know that even if they managed to kill us, their chances of escaping alive after taking on three people would be slim to none. If they had any brains, they’d run away instead.”
“So, what exactly are we going to do tomorrow night?”
“Nothing much. Just stay awake and keep watch.”
“What for?”
“Just in case.”
I sighed. “That sounds boring.”
“Well, you can always rest if you feel tired. But remember: we don’t want to fall asleep. Not unless you’re absolutely certain there’s no danger nearby.”
“Okay.”
As soon as Tariq left, I crawled over to my bedroll. I tossed aside my blanket and rolled myself up inside my sleeping bag. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. All I could hear was the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. Despite its constant presence, it never ceased to amaze me how soothing it sounded.
The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. I stretched my arms above my head and yawned loudly. As usual, Tariq was standing beside the campfire, watching me with a smile on his face.
“Good morning!” he exclaimed cheerfully. “How do you feel today?”
“Like I slept well.”
Tariq nodded. “And you look healthy too! You must really be making progress with your training.”
“Thanks.”
He gestured toward the tent. “Go ahead and get dressed. I’ll prepare breakfast for us.”
I thanked him and went inside. Once I’d changed into something clean, I joined Tariq by the fire. He placed a large pot atop the flames and began stirring it vigorously. Soon, the aroma of eggs and bacon wafted through the air.
“Did you catch all these fish yesterday?” I asked.
“Yep. We’ll probably finish off everything before sunset.”
I took a seat beside him and watched as he continued cooking.
“It looks delicious,” I said.
“Thank you.”
After eating, we packed up our things and headed back toward the cave entrance. On the way, I collected several branches and sticks from the forest floor.
“Where did you learn to build fires like that?”
“My father taught me when I was little. Back then, he used to bring me camping almost every weekend.”
I smiled. “Sounds fun.”
“Yeah, it was. Unfortunately, he passed away two years ago.”
I winced. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t worry about it. At least now I have time to spend with you.”
I laughed. “You mean me, right? Because I’m not sure I see the resemblance.”
“Ha ha! Don’t be silly. Of course, I meant you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. That’s why I brought you here. To show you how much I care.”
“Wow.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…”
Tariq stared intently at me. “Are you okay?”
“No, I’m fine.”
His expression softened. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not really.”
“All right… Well, let’s go check out the cave first.”
We walked along the path leading to the mouth of the cave. The ground beneath our feet sloped downward gradually, which made it easy to navigate. It also allowed us to make good time without having to stop often. In less than an hour, we reached the opening and gazed into the depths of the cavernous interior.
“This is amazing!” I gasped.
“Isn’t it?” Tariq replied excitedly. “Look at all those stalactites hanging down from the ceiling! There must be thousands of them!”
“They look so cool.”
“Indeed. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
“Me neither.”
“Come on, let’s start exploring.”
“Okay.”
Together, we stepped inside the cave. Our footsteps echoed eerily against the stone walls. For some reason, the echo seemed louder than usual. After walking for a few minutes, I realized why.
“Hey, Tariq?”
“Hmm?”
“There aren’t any bats flying around anymore.”
“Huh?”
“Remember how I told you that there were lots of them earlier?”
“Yes, but—”
Suddenly, Tariq froze. His eyes widened. Then he turned around and sprinted back outside.
“Wait! What’s wrong?!”
He didn’t reply. Instead, he ran past me and disappeared into the shadows of the forest. I hurried after him. When I caught up, I saw him crouching in front of the cave entrance.
“Tariq, what’s going on?” I whispered.
He looked up at me and grinned. “Can you guess where they are?”
“Bats?”
“That’s right! They’re hiding behind the rocks near the edge of the forest.”
“Why would they be there?”
Tariq pointed into the woods. “Because that’s their home!”
I frowned. “But isn’t it dangerous for them to live there?”
“Of course it is. But that doesn’t matter. These creatures have been living here since long before humans came to this land. And even though we might think we know better, nature always finds ways to adapt to its surroundings. That’s one thing I admire about animals—they can survive anywhere.”
“So, what are we supposed to do?”
“Well, I thought maybe we could help them find somewhere safer. If they move out of the forest, they won’t need to worry about being attacked by predators or hunters.”
“And how exactly are we going to convince them to leave?”
“Simple. We just ask them nicely.”
“Oh-oh.”
“Trust me, I know what I’m doing. Come on.”
“Fine.”
The next morning, we returned to the cave. As soon as I entered the darkness beyond the entrance, my skin started tingling. A strange sensation crept over me, making the hairs on my arms stand straight up. My pulse quickened. It felt like something was watching me.
“Is anyone else feeling weird?”
“Yes,” Tariq said quietly. He grabbed hold of my hand and squeezed tight.
“It’s probably nothing,” I murmured. “Just nerves.”
As I spoke, I glanced around the dark interior. Nothing appeared to be moving. I couldn’t sense any presence nearby. Still, I remained alert.
“Let’s keep looking anyway.”
We continued deeper into the cave until we reached a large pool of water. This time, I noticed that the light coming from above had changed. It no longer shone through the holes in the roof. Instead, it illuminated the entire chamber.
“Now this is impressive,” Tariq said. He knelt beside the pool and peered into the crystal clear waters. “See how deep it goes? You’d never believe it if you hadn’t seen it with your own eyes.”
“Yeah, I bet.”
“And the way it reflects everything around it makes the whole place seem bigger than it actually is. Like magic.”
“Wow.”
“Yep, pretty magical, huh?”
“You don’t say.”
After taking a closer look at the pool, I asked Tariq, “What’s under the surface?”
“How should I know?” he replied. “Maybe there’s a huge monster lurking underneath, waiting to pounce on us.”
“No, seriously. How far does it go?”
“I dunno.”
“Then how do you know it’s not dangerous?”
“This pool hasn’t killed anybody yet.”
“True enough.”
“Besides, it wouldn’t kill us. The only thing that could hurt us is our fear of the unknown.”
“Thank goodness for that.”
“Anyway, I think it’s safe to assume that whatever lives beneath the water has adapted to life here. So, we’ll just wait and see what happens when we dive in.”
“Good idea.”
A while later, Tariq climbed onto a rock and jumped into the pool. Instantly, his body sank below the surface. I watched him disappear into the depths. After a few seconds, he resurfaced again. He swam to the side and sat down.
“Didn’t take you very long,” I commented.
“I’ve got good lungs,” he replied.
I laughed. “I suppose so.”
“Anyhow, now that we’re all wet, let’s get dried off. I brought some towels along.”
“Great.”
While Tariq went to fetch the towels, I stood motionless and stared into the pool. Then I remembered something. “Hey, Tariq. Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Do you really think these bats will come back?”
“Who knows? Maybe they didn’t want to leave their home after all. And who am I to tell them otherwise?”
“Right.”
I turned toward the pool once more. Slowly, I walked forward. I placed one foot on the rocky floor. With each step, I took care not to slip. Finally, I stepped into the water.
There was absolutely no resistance. No chill. Not even an ounce of discomfort. Just smooth, cool liquid flowing gently across my feet.
“Tariq!” I called out. “Come join me! It feels great.”
He splashed through the shallow water and joined me near the edge. Together, we leaned against the wall and enjoyed the refreshing sensation of the warm spring. Soon, we were both laughing loudly.
“This is awesome,” Tariq said.
“Definitely.”
“So, how about it?” he added. “Want to give it a try?”
“Not sure. What if I fall in?”
“Don’t worry—you won’t.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay then.”
I tried standing upright. Once I gained confidence, I began walking slowly. At first, I kept my head low, but eventually, I raised it high. When I looked ahead, the water came right up to my waist. In fact, it seemed as though I might have been able to walk on top of it.
“Oh man, this is amazing,” I exclaimed. “The water feels like silk.”
“That’s because it is.”
“But what would happen if I fell in?”
“Nothing. You can trust me.”
“Thanks.”
I took another step. My legs felt strong. They moved without hesitation or fear. As I advanced further, I realized the water was getting deeper. I stopped and lowered myself to the ground.
“Well done, Jayden,” Tariq congratulated. “I knew you could do it.”
“It wasn’t easy.”
“Of course, it wasn’t. But you did it anyway.”
I smiled. “You’re right. I’m glad I gave it a shot.”
I stayed still for several minutes before deciding to continue. By the time I finished, I was completely drenched. Still, I couldn’t stop smiling.
“Let’s dry ourselves off and get going,” Tariq suggested. “I think we’ve explored every inch of this cavern.”
We gathered our things and headed back to where we had left the horses. We tied them together and set off again. This time, however, I made sure to keep a close eye on the path ahead. I also avoided looking directly at the ceiling. I wanted to avoid any sudden surprises.
The End