“What if I told you I’m incapable of tolerating my own heart?” ― Virginia Woolf
Nathan and Whitney remained next to Kyle’s side throughout the confrontation between Mana and Cato. Kyle laid motionless in his unconscious state. The repeated blows to his head that he endured initially from the pantars and then from Cato’s assault were too traumatic for any child. In the presence of his injury Kyle’s inspiring play throughout the contest as well as his ability to outwit Cato fueled by desperation was nonetheless remarkable. The children knelt on either side of their fallen cousin. Whitney held Kyle’s hand as Nathan anxiously leaned over his face. Shortly after the pantars left the cavern Cato, ever-scheming, gained a renewed sense of confidence with the removal of his most impending threat to his life. “Small-minded creatures one and all,” the assembly of animals had not taken their attention off from Cato. “It’s this very same gentle nature in all of you that enabled me to enslave you in the first place. I never would have spared you as you have done for me. The strong assail the weak, that is the law that I uphold.”
“Your strength, as you understand it, is a shallow pool,” Mana responded, “The threat of one cannot defeat the will of all just as a raindrop cannot overcome the sea.”
“Dominance, that is what rules,” Cato smugly countered.
“You forced these other creatures to labor for you by tricking them, threatening them and removing their spirit to be free. Just because you subdued them does not make you their ruler.”
“I showed them a different understanding. I showed them that the best way to exist is to eliminate weakness. If you cannot be strong,” Cato announced boldly surveying the faces of the gathered animals, “you will be subjected to the command of another. I take what I can.”
“These animals don’t respect you,” Whitney expressed looking upon Cato for the first time, “As your own son said, he felt sad for you. Where is the strength in that?”
“You pretend to be who you are. That is your disguise,” Mana offered. “In your lair I found the dye from the black walnuts that you cover yourself in. That–,” Mana explained gesturing to Cato’s appearance, “is not your skin’s natural color. Once upon a time when you were crawling around in the dark you stumbled on the bones of the strange creatures who died in one of the caves. I believe that the fire that lit their tomb still burned and that fire along with the other material that you found struck your curiosity.”
“You are wrong I found them when they were dying. I stole their fire and I waited many days for them to finally die. They were weak. They were disgusting when they howled their death song,” Cato said.
Mana spoke, “You say that they were weak and disgusting, yet you brought the things they had in the cave with you. You were so enraptured with these mysterious creatures that you attempted to make their identity your own. These people wore clothes of black. Their emblem on their metal and on their clothing, the black orb, you made your own, Mana paused looking at Whitney, “symbol?” Whitney nodded in agreement. “Your plan to control all that you encountered was based on your understanding of these foreign beings who you claim were weak. It is lost on you that the creature that you found so disgusting is the same who you impersonate.”
“Their power was great, but they were weak,” Cato corrected alarmed by Mana’s revelation. “You realized their power as you carried the flag that the little one spoke of. The flag that appears after a well-fought game–the sign of the victor.”
“Their power was great?” Mana countered, “The child made up the story about the flag. I carried in the material I found in an enclosed,” Mana looked to Whitney for the explanation.
“A box, um, a crate,” Whitney offered.
“The child and I found something that you overlooked in the cave.”
“Nonsense, I brought everything that species had.”
“That’s as much to say as you control all the animals in our world.”
“That’s right and if I don’t now, I will when my plan is fulfilled. Everything wants to be told what to do, they just want to think that it was their intention all along. I am the most powerful beast to lead them. Zeborg and his bats will bring me more of this kind. They are small and weak. I can force my will easily upon them.” Mana looked at Nathan until she had his attention. She signaled to him. Nathan understood Mana’s mind.
“Zeborg and his bats won’t be helping you anymore,” Nathan explained producing Zeborg’s pendant that Cato had collected from the chief of the bodies in Spirit’s Cave, “He and all the bats were crushed under a rock slide,” Nathan concluded throwing the pendant at Cato’s feet.
“You made yourself appear powerful based on lies, by introducing the unknown to the other creatures in order to confuse them,” Mana continued, “I think you were the one who was afraid, and like the lizard who changes his color to adapt to his environment you tried to make yourself look different than you are. You are only one creature like all the rest of us, no stronger. A leader does not use threats against his followers. All creatures follow those who help them.” Mana concluded.
“You have only caused me a set-back, I will reestablish my control over these pitiful minions.”
“If you step forth from this darkness that you chose to make your domain, you will be the prey of all the animals whose freedom you stole. They will be waiting for you if you try. You will never upset the balance again.” Mana concluded. At that moment the remaining animals howled, growled, roared, and screeched in wild unison producing a riotous commotion that startled the children. The noise they produced climbed the high ceiling of the great cavern producing an amplified raucous support for Mana’s judgement. Cato understood that he had been defeated despite his inability to admit defeat. He smiled indignantly at the jury before he slowly walked to his throne and sat like the tyrant who has nothing to rule.
“Mana, Kyle won’t move,” Nathan urged sensing that the confrontation with Cato had concluded. Mana turned her attention to Kyle. He laid motionless except for the faint rising of his chest indicating that he was breathing. “We have to get him out of here!”
Whitney cautioned, “Moving him may hurt him further.”
“Whitney, we can’t leave him here with him,” Nathan expressed motioning toward Cato.
“Why, I’ll keep a good eye on him for you. I like the little creature’s tenacity, even if he is a weakling.”
“You’re right Nathan, we have to get him out of here,” Whitney concluded reminded of Cato’s presence.
“I carry him for you liddle onesss,” Shadow offered.
“That is kind Shadow, but he must be kept as still as possible,” Mana explained. Shadow’s feelings were hurt.
“I be care, carelesss, no careful,”
“I be careful,” Cato ridiculed his son. The giant sloth slowly ambled near Cato’s stone chair along with several of the pasas who participated in the soccer match. They offered along with the joining camelots a sign of enforcement. “Aren’t we the terrifying army,” Cato’s derision had no end.
Knowing that Cato no longer posed a threat, Mana turned her concern to the immobile child, “I am not sure how we can safely move him.”
A distant voice suddenly spoke to Nathan reminding him of his ingenuity to construct the raft in what seemed like a lifetime ago, “Mana, do you have another pole like the one that you carried the flag on?” Nathan excitedly inquired indicating to the pole that Mana still gripped in her hand.
“Yes, we know where there is another one,” Mana indicated.
“What are you thinking Nathan?” Whitney inquired.
“We can make a cot to carry Kyle on with the two poles and the flag, I mean the blanket that is attached to Mana’s pole.”
“A stretcher Nathan, yes, I think that will work!” Whitney exclaimed, “Although the robe used as a flag might be too thin to carry his weight, but we cold use the saddle blankets Mana.” Mana confirmed Whitney’s reference to the saddle blankets located near the crate in Spirit’s Cave.
Nathan returned his attention to Shadow who could not conceal his embarrassment, “That way Shadow, you can help carry Kyle out of here and we can get out of this terrible cave once and for all. That is if you and Mana will help us again?”
“Me help Naton’sss pal. SSShadow not like dark land. I not visssit you father eva again,” Shadow offered glaring at Cato.
“Oh, the agony,” Cato countered sarcastically. The assembled animals glared at him.
“Whitney, take Shadow to the place where we found the pole, I will remain here with the other animals and your cousins,” Whitney acknowledged Mana’s wisdom of remaining with Cato even though her memory of the ghastly cave still loomed prominently. She reached for Shadow’s hand.
“Come on Shadow, I need your help,” Shadow and Whitney exited the cavern to travel to the Spirit’s Cave in order to get the other pole that laid next to the crate along with the saddle blankets. Cato was intensely interested in the pole as well as the flag that Mana and Whitney had discovered. Mana sensed his curiosity.
“Your delight in watching the humans suffer along with your eagerness to collect their treasures were the reasons why you overlooked these items. When our ability to observe is hindered by desire we limit the scope of our understanding. That is what happened to you,” Mana implied looking at Cato seated in his stone throne. Cato was subdued by Mana’s discovery more than her analysis of his mistake.
“You sure are determined to ruin a good thing aren’t you Mana?” he replied mocking the matron.
Mana altered her attention to Kyle, “Nathan, please get some water that is kept in the hollow pumpkins over near the pile. You can wet Kyle’s lips and clean him. The cool water might bring him some relief.” Nathan left Kyle and Hairy, who had crawled to Kyle’s side, to get the water as Mana had requested. He lifted a large pumpkin full of water with both his hands. He labored to return to Kyle resting the pumpkin against his chest. He placed the pumpkin on the cavern floor next to Kyle. Nathan cupped his hands and dipped them into the open part of the pumpkin. He carefully poured droplets of water on Kyle’s lips. He then used the remaining water to cool Kyle’s face. Nathan was a study in concentration so as not to cause his cousin further discomfort. Cato was bewildered as he watched the child’s concern.
“This thing that these little ones do is such a waste of time. It is the same action that allowed me to control the pantars. They are each so devoted to their kind. It is such a weakness,” Cato expressed.
“They call it love,” Mana conveyed, “I have marveled at their fidelity to each other. You claim that it is their weakness. You fail to recognize how much they have accomplished because of their devotion to each other.”
“I don’t get it at all,” Cato exclaimed.
“Perhaps you will when you are left here all alone,” expressed Mana.
Whitney and Shadow took a while to return with the other pole. Shadow carried three saddle blankets. Shadow was amazed as he expressed,
“Wi-tne hasss little sssun that help usss find thessse thingsss. I could sssee my buddy when ssshe pointed the little sssun at me,”
“Yes Shadow,” Mana agreed, “She is a wonder.”
“How is he?” Whitney inquired gesturing to Kyle.
“The same,” Nathan pined.
“How do we make this stretcher?” Mana asked.
“We will lay the two poles next to each other about this distance apart,” Nathan explained as he placed the pole that Whitney had brought on the ground next to Kyle. He gestured to Mana to place the pole with the saddle cloth next to the other pole. “We will keep the poles this far apart,” Nathan repeated displaying the width between the two poles. “Now we will tie two of the blankets by their corners to the poles. We have to use strong knots,” Nathan looked at Whitney, “the blankets must not come untied.”
“I had Shadow bring an extra one to use as a pillow so he can be more comfortable,” “That’s a great thought,” Nathan responded complimenting Whitney. Shadow and Mana marveled at the children’s ingenuity. Cato too watched with interest. “Shadow, because you are so strong, I need you to tighten the knot as I make it like this,” Nathan indicated encouraging Shadow. “Whitney, you and Mana can tie the other blanket to the other end of the poles. We will tie the two blankets together where they meet in the middle. Remember it is important that they are as tight as possible,” Nathan concluded. The four companions worked to complete their task as Nathan had instructed while the captivated audience of animals curiously watched. Soon the stretcher was complete. Nathan had Shadow retrieve three pumpkins from the pile. He placed the three pumpkins in the blankets. “Shadow, you come here at this end and Mana you go to the other end. Together you will lift the poles so we can see if they will hold the weight of the pumpkins. I figure that the three pumpkins together are about the same weight as Kyle,” Nathan said inspecting the stretcher.
Shadow and Mana lifted the poles as Nathan had demonstrated. The pumpkins sagged in the blankets, but the stretcher held. “Do you two mind if you walk around for practice?” Nathan asked. Shadow looked at Mana for approval. Mana nodded encouraging Shadow to follow her as she held the two poles. They walked around the great cavern moving in unison.
“I think we’re ready Nathan,” Whitney spoke appearing encouraged.
“Me too,” Nathan concluded.
“Mana and Shadow, come back, we’re ready,” Whitney urged. After they returned with the stretcher and unloaded the pumpkins. Mana and Shadow carefully lifted and placed Kyle’s body in the stretcher as Whitney placed the other blanket under his head.
Nathan spoke, “We’re ready to go.” Mana looked at Shadow before they lifted the stretcher with Kyle in it. Mana raised her finger indicating for the group to wait. She turned to the other animals surrounding Cato.
“We are leaving now. You will accompany us if you like until we reach the land where you make your lives.” Mana looked at each of the creatures. “You may be fearful after spending so much time here, but that will soon pass when you are greeted by the light of the great sun.” Mana addressed Cato for the final time, “We leave you now to the world that you created for yourself. One day when your torches finally burn out and the great fire no longer has anything to burn you will be left in darkness. This world of black that you used to make others fear you will be your sole company, that and the reptiles that lurk in the shadows. I can only imagine what will happen when there are no more shadows.” “I have my Ssshadow father, you can’t have it,” Shadow concluded. Mana and Shadow hoisted the stretcher. Hairy whined as he sat next to the place where Kyle had laid.
“Nathan?” Whitney expressed pointing at the little creature. Nathan shook his head in agreement.
“You seem to like Kyle, you might as well come along for the ride,” Nathan said as he lifted the small creature resting it on Kyle’s thighs, “You keep an eye on him, okay?”
Nathan walked towards the entrance to the great cavern. Mana and Shadow followed carrying the stretcher. Whitney walked next to the stretcher while the assembly of animals followed, refugees being led to their freedom. After all of the troop had departed Cato still sat in his stone throne. He slouched as he looked smugly at the entrance where the last of the animals departed. He surveyed the empty great cavern. Whatever thoughts he had were never shared