Chapter 5: The escape
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Last updated
After following the thief, Tak’Oba reached a village. Welcomed by Dermo, the friend of Tak’Oba’s dead dean, he notices that one of the counselors has been hurt by some sort of claws. The exact same one as Selos, his Catmeleon. Is this place safe for Tak’Oba ?
Dermo escorted Tak'Oba to a place where he could rest.
The young Ecleray put down his belongings and sat down on a chair made of wicker and ivy.
He began to rock on the chair, as he used to do as a child.
It was the first time he had tasted a little comfort since the beginning of his adventure. But how could he perfectly rest after what he saw?
“Why would one of Dermo's advisors steal this book? Was Dermo involved?"
Whatever the case, the scratch marks on the counselor's legs left no room for doubt.
She is the thief.
"I have to be discreet," thought Tak'Oba.
"Selos already had to protect me. Without her, I’d probably have met the same fate as my elders. If this Ecleray is also responsible for this killing, I must be very careful.
But most of all, I have to find this book, get it back, and figure out what's going on here."
Tak'Oba felt something on his back. He jumped up from his chair to turn around. Nothing. Yet he felt a presence. He moved his hand forward as if trying to touch what seemed invisible. But it did not meet any obstacles.
"Well, they decided to take me in and to keep me alive, I have to take advantage of that."
Tak'Oba went out after dark.
He passed some of the villagers and pretended to go for a walk. He thought of Selos, who had stayed at the entrance of the village.
He went to her and made her understand that she had to leave.
"Trust me Selos,” Tak’Oba said, holding the catmeleon face in his hands.
As his partner walked away, Tak’Oba resumed his stroll.
The village of Guja was typical of Ecleray architecture. As he walked, Tak'Oba discovered new spaces created under the huge red roots. Dwellings, rooms for reflection and study, a school, and a garden of Mwahindoes that would soon become young Eclerays.
This color, rather rare in the lands where he is native, gave the city additional energy and warmth. As he turned down an alley, Tak'Oba heard a familiar voice.
He looked behind him, made sure no one was watching him, and then stepped in. The voice seemed to come from one of the houses in front of him.
He crept along the trunk that served as the base of the house and turned his head in the direction of the voice.
It was Dermo's. In front of him stood the counselor. "Give it to me," said Dermo in a calm voice.
The Ecleray handed him the book that she was holding in her hands.
"Go.", ordered Dermo. She turned and walked away slowly, with her chin down.
Dermo advanced to the wall, turning his back to Tak'Oba. He bent down and opened a chest to slip the book in.
He had just closed it when a villager came in.
"Dermo, his catmeleon is gone!"
"Did Tak'Oba leave with it?"
"I don't think so. Some villagers passed him as he was going to his mount."
"Look for him, I'll tell the other counselors."
Tak'Oba smiled. His plan had worked.
He slipped into the dean's mansion and slowly made his way to the chest.
Outside he could feel the village begin to stir.
He opened the safe with ease. In a culture where theft is not common, security is quite low. There it was. The object of truth. Finally within reach
A mixture of excitement and anxiety animated his sap.
He took the object and removed it from its habitat.
He finally had it.
The answers he had been seeking since the tragic death of his family could be here. In this simple book. Truth had never been so close.
A voice startled him and chilled him.
"You're smart for such a young Ecleray," Dermo said calmly.
But I can't let you look at that book. You've already gone too far."
Tak'Oba slowly stood up and hugged the book to his body.
His last physical confrontation had left marks on him. This time would be different.
Dermo grabbed the lantern from his belt and began to raise it to Tak'Oba.
It was no longer time for discussion and the young Ecleray understood this.
He threw himself at Dermo and knocked him backward with his shoulder.
The surprised dean didn't have time to get up before a fist came down on his face. Tak'Oba felt exhilarated from releasing the pent-up anger inside of him. But all of this was so new for him that he instantly felt bad striking a fellow Ecleray.
Tak'Oba looked up and saw that everyone around had stopped. He left Dermo and ran to one of the red roots. He jumped on it and kept running.
Behind him, the other Eclerays chased him.
He jumped from root to root, almost losing his balance.
But he could not be caught, everything was at stake: his quest, the truth, and certainly his life. He looked desperately for Selos.
A hand caught his ankle and he fell forward.
He turned and with his free foot struck a powerful blow to the head of the villager.
He ran again, glanced to the right, then to the left.
There!
He could see her. Selos was there, hidden in a bush.
Without thinking, he jumped from the giant root and landed on the soft ground of the village. The young Ecleray rushed toward his partner.
He barely had time to get on her back when she reared up and started to run.
In a strange burst of lucidity, Tak'Oba made his mount understand that they were not going in the right direction. "I don't know why, but I feel we have to go that way.
"Trust me, it'll work," he said.
In a place Tak’Oba never visited, how could he be so sure of the direction to go?
