“Is there no way to go back?” Keita interjected.
“Through the portal? Nope,” Noor replied, and he thought Keita appeared crestfallen.
“I should have said I don’t know,” he added. “Maybe you can go back through. Maybe when you die again.”
“Or, maybe then you’d move on to some other hellhole,” Aswad said in disgust.
“Maybe,” Noor replied. “Don’t kill the messenger. Come. We must press on. The woods are a world onto their own. One so vast you could be led to believe it has no end.
“Keep your voices low. The further south we travel, the safer we should be, but you never know. There can always be danger lurking in the shadows.”
They followed his lead.
“Where is it you’re going to if you don’t mind my asking?” Keita said.
“At first, to meet with some friends,” Noor said.
“Friends, eh?” Keita asked.
“Yes,” Noor replied.
“I like the sound of that,” Keita said.
“Same here,” Aswad said. “It would be nice to meet another welcoming face.”
“I understand,” Noor replied. “Considering your entrance was at the foot of the devil’s door, but a brighter world does exist beyond that.”
“Devil’s door? What do you mean this time?” Keita asked. “You mean the portal again, or the Shetani? Do you know who I mean?”
“I know who you mean,” Noor replied. “They are called by that name too where I am from.”
“And, where might that be?” Keita asked.
“Kemet,” Noor replied.
“The north,” Aswad said. “You are from the north.”
“I am,” Noor replied.
“And, I’m guessing you are southerners?” Noor added.
“Not as far south as you might believe,” Aswad replied.
“I see,” said Noor.
“And, where is home for you here?” Ossouna interjected.
“Beyond the great river,” Noor replied.
They continued to move with haste.
“Why did you ask me about the Shetani?” Noor inquired.
“They are out to get us,” Keita replied. “Well, at least three of them were. They are what drove us into the forest.”
“They’re out to get everyone,” Noor said.
“Is that so?” Aswad asked.
“It is,” Noor replied.
“Why? I wonder,” said Aswad.
“Not sure,” Noor said. “Depends on who you ask. I’d say the best person to ask is one of them.”
“’Tis impossible,” Ossouna interjected. “They communicate with no one but themselves. They are said to not even be men, but rather spirits. That is if you believe any of those shaman stories.”
“They’re men,” Noor said. “Crazy men, but definitely men.”
“I never had any reason to think much of this or take it seriously before, but . . . well, according to our folklore, they can move between the underworld and from where we came,” Ossouna said. “How can any normal man do that?”
“I don’t know,” Noor replied. “I don’t have all the answers. What I know is they look and act the part of flesh and blood, or like mere men here.”
“And, where we are from too. Why do you say they’re crazy?” Aswad asked.
“Their beliefs. Rituals. Their practices,” Noor replied.
“Like what?” Aswad asked.
“The Shetani are nature worshippers, and we are not,” Noor said. “For them, that is our unpardonable crime for which we all deserve to die.”
“I’m not sure I follow you,” Aswad said.
“They’re extremists,” Noor replied. “Or, so I’ve heard. Let them learn that you’ve clear-cut what they think is too much of the forest, and they just might wage an all-out war against you. They’d get pretty ferocious when all that you’re doing is trying to make some more breathing space to live, or so legend has it.”
“I see,” Aswad said.
“So, don’t think they have something just against you. They drive everyone into the forest knowing very well what’s here,” Noor said.
The men listened.
“Their feelings about us is about what you’d have for say a disease,” he added. “Give them half a chance, and rest assured they’ll kill us all.”
“Back home, they were aloof. I never had reason to think they are as bad as you described,” Aswad said.
“That was there. This is here,” Noor said. “Back there, they just observe things, or so I’ve been told.”
The men listened.
“A good thing is you’ll probably never see one again for probably quite some time. Not after where I’m taking you,” Noor said.
“And, where is that again?” Ossouna asked.
“In time, you will see,” Noor replied. “Keep up the pace. This place is said to have ears.”
The woods seemed to go on forever like there was no end to it.
In time they began to grow weary.
“Not much further now,” Noor said, and they collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
“Stop,” Keita said. “Something moves out there.”
Noor looked up and ahead. “Don’t let it trouble your mind,” he said. He made a short sharp whistle, and what caught their attention came toward them.
A wolf now could be seen.
Four more arrived, apparently out of nowhere, in short order.
“Do not be alarmed,” Noor said. “They patrol these parts for us.”
The three watched the animals gather around Noor and his wolf. He stroked and ran his hands along their fur like one may do to a domesticated animal.
“They are our friends,” he said.
“Wolves are your friends?” Ossouna asked.
“These are,” Noor replied.
“They’re beautiful,” Keita said.
“Aren’t they?” Noor replied.
“Yes,” Keita said. “I’ve seen wolves before, but none quite like these.”
He was used to seeing a species known as the golden wolf. It was common to the territory from which they had come.
“I know what you mean,” Noor said. “Yes, these are a bit larger with a nicer coat and altogether prettier, I’d say, than the more slender ones I assume you’re referring to.”
“Right,” Keita said.
“You are truly a crazy one, Noor,” they heard, and a figure appeared from out of the bushes.
“Perhaps,” Noor replied.
“You are,” the fellow insisted. Mbou was his name. “Went out on your own again, did you?” he asked.
Noor said nothing.
“And, how far did you get this time?”
“As far as where men are butchered for meat,” he replied.
“Madness,” Mbou returned. “That’s a ways off from here to go on such a warm day. You’re a beast.”
Noor smiled.
“Your curiosity and courage will be your undoing, Noor. You’ve been warned a thousand times.”
Noor said nothing.
“Impressive,
