The Rebellion of The Angels, page 10
The drizzle was getting stronger and perhaps for this reason neither Experience nor Youth heard, even with their sensitive auditory sense, the repeated footsteps of the demons that caused the breakdown of the mountains, but thanks to the random air current, the wind changed from Southwest to West causing the strong drops to fall against the bodies of the small sleeping group...
Experience was the first to wake up very scared and when this happened, then yes, she heard the repeated footsteps of the demons that had left the neighbouring mountains behind, and moved along the path that joined them.
—Come on, get up, we must leave as soon as possible. The demons reached us —Experience explained, after observing from her hiding place the enemy troops approaching, opening puddles of water to the rhythm of their trot. Immediately, Youth and Rahab packed their few belongings following Experience who, hiding, moved between the rocks in the opposite direction to the demons, because these young women had, in addition to a very developed sense of smell, a quick glance capable of detecting certain movements even at a distance.
In the desperate attempt to leave the mountains behind and, with them, the demons, the small group was descending until they reached the surface, and then they could run more easily despite the vegetation that abounded but at a low height, while the rain did not stop. But the demons, who did not rest, continued their furtive pursuit, since the natural smell that the skin of an angel, of Experience and Youth, emanated did not help them to get rid of them.
The morning advanced to the weary and dizzy rhythm of the situation, and with the copious rain as an eyewitness of the persecution that, thanks to the dark storm, seemed to develop in the evening and not in the morning as it really happened.
However, suddenly, that column of demons that so brutally ran looking for the small female group as if they were their prey, stopped abruptly where, on the sides of the road, small young mountains raised. Then they grouped until they were all stuck together, looking at each other without understanding what was happening. They seemed confused and did nothing but mutter to themselves as if telling each other off in a low voice, because apparently the same smell that Experience and Youth emanated now came from other directions. Then, many of them started arguing with each other until one, tired of wasting time, began to run uphill through one of the mountains that rested on the sides, leaving the initial path that Experience, Youth and Rahab really took, and as some companions followed him, the rest of the demons did the same.
Without knowing that the demons had branched off from the road they took, reason why they continued running without interruptions and with something more than their tongues outside, the small group moved among the brambles that grew in a region where the land fell further, at the foot of a wide river, which had many forks, all protected by abundant vegetation of all kinds that originated on its banks.
Then, Experience lowered her trot for a few moments and with great effort she recognized a series of continuous constructions made of wood, which she could see despite the abundant vegetation on the banks of that wide river.
—It looks like a pier. Hurry up! —Experience exclaimed.
—I do not agree to go there, it could be a base of demons —Youth thought, without abandoning her trot and fundamentally to disagree with her friend with whom, due to the argument they had, she rarely spoke.
—If you want, you can run in another direction! —Experience suggested, before the angry face of Youth, who would always stay by her friend side, without hesitation.
The small group reached the area of the pier, and as they approached walking among the thick and dry vegetation that grew on the banks of the river, they began to nod as if looking for someone, but they could only see some sheds, which were missing pieces of wood that were part of their roofs or walls.
—¡It seems abandoned! —Rahab exclaimed, and as she got a little closer to the banks of the river...
—I think we find our salvation —Youth thought, as she recognized four wooden canoes that looked young and anxious to be used. Reason why she approached them and when she was doing so...
—Where are you going, young lady? Nobody taught you not to get into someone else's property... —An old man threatened her with a knife, whose tip shone as if it was silver and as if the absent sun illuminated it.
—I have taught it to her, sir, but the stubborn girl still does not learn manners —Experience intervened without even drawing her sword, as if something or someone were telling her that this abandoned—looking man was not what he was trying to be. Youth, who was between the canoes and their owner, turned around and looked furious at Experience, drawing her sword and intimidating the poor man in that way, who trembled and threw his knife to the ground.
—Youth, put that weapon away right now. Behave like an adult. You will not earn more than being punished when we return home —Experience said, referring to the Celestial Kingdom—. Do not worry, sir, we will not hurt you —Experience said, approaching Youth as the nearest reeds behind them moved in a slight and crunchy way.
—What is wrong? —Rahab asked.
—The presence of friends always comforts the soul —Experience said, and Rahab did not hesitate to continue her interrogation—. Friends, what friends? —Wrinkling her eyebrow as if wondering if those two girls were crazy.
—Those who are... —Youth remained apparently thoughtful—. ...over there... —She assured later, pointing to the tall reeds at her back.
—Where? —Rahab said worried because she could not see anything.
When suddenly…
—Hello... here... here we are... —They heard, as Peace appeared, and later the others that were part of the group of four angels that God sent to Earth to protect, until then secretly, Experience and Youth. Light, Love and Compassion were there, and all of them were part of those twelve angels closest to God, known as his disciples.
—I am afraid we do not have much time. We managed to distract the enemies that were chasing you but surely they will continue their initial path when they no longer smell our aroma nor find our footprints —Light said as she approached.
Unlike Peace, who had brown hair and almond—coloured eyes, Light was as blond as the sun and her eyes were as clear as spring water; although both experienced the same age, and barely escaped the adolescence of any human.
—How did you find us? Why did our Father send you? —Youth asked.
—Because he knew you would be in trouble. He led us as close as possible to you —Love explained, who, like Compassion, was only a few years older than their angel sisters.
—I do not understand anything, but I do not want any problems with anyone —The owner of those lands interrupted seriously and annoyed—. Now, come with me, I think we can help each other, if what you need are boats to move along the river —The man continued.
—To each other? I do not understand —Youth said.
—You will be the crew of my great masterpiece. With the help of some workers I hired some time ago, I have built a caravel that I keep in that shed... —And he pointed to an old construction firmer and larger than the others.
—I am sorry to disappoint you, but in no way we can use a caravel or a large ship. In that case, not only our life but also yours would be in danger if you were discovered by the enemy —Experience explained.
—The enemy…? —The man exclaimed without understanding.
—It is long to explain and we do not have much time —Experience said.
—But you could lend us your canoes —Light thought.
—I have already asked for them —Youth said to Light, who was looking at her in a bad way, before the look of Peace, who seemed to ask for tranquillity so that there would not be arguments, while Experience was sorry about Youth´s acts and words.
—I would not lend you the oar —The angry man said to Youth—. On the other hand, you can take the canoes and return them when you can —He finished looking at Light, before the sadness of Youth, who seemed sorry for everything she had said and done.
—Are you really lending us your canoes? —Experience asked.
—Sure, and I repeat, you can return them when you can and want.
—We thank you from the bottom of my heart, and do not lose hope that one day you will have a large crew for your great work, your caravel, and you will become a great captain — Experience said, before the man's long smile.
—We must hurry up —Compassion said, untying the strong ropes that tied the canoes to a kind of small wooden dock.
Then, with the exception of the man, they all set to work, and shortly after they occupied three different canoes; Experience, Youth and Rahab in the first one; Light and Peace in another, and Love and Compassion in the third, while a fourth was resting in the pier.
Within minutes, the young women and their canoes moved towards the centre of the river, looking for the strongest currents that would allow them to work less with the oars, and while they left with hurry, they waved their hands at the man who helped them, and he greeted them too.
Chapter VI
Does an angel die?
The three canoes were already sailing upriver. Their crew seemed quiet. Maybe they knew, thanks to their developed senses that the demons were far away. They only heard the conversation of the trees on the banks of the river, where the waves broke, although these broke harder against the canoes that sailed along the centre of the river, perhaps to be as far as possible from both sides, before an enemy attack; and for their safety, the three canoes were advancing in single file and not one next to the other, to give less target to enemy arrows or projectiles.
It was early in the afternoon when Youth remembered her stomach, or perhaps it shouted for her to remember... Then, the young woman who was sailing in the first line occupying the same canoe as Experience and Rahab took a sandwich out of her rucksack and while she rowed, from time to time she took a bite of the aforementioned sandwich. Light and Peace advanced behind them, and when they saw from their canoe what Youth was doing, Light suggested aloud:
—We could all eat, couldn´t we?
Experience, who occupied the front part of her canoe, turned around and when she saw Youth trying to put all the sandwich in her mouth, making a gesture that meant “I am hungry” she said:
—We will let the current push us; we will eat in the canoes.
Then, they all stopped rowing, and taking their sandwiches out of their rucksack they began to eat, and the canoes were driven by the current; only then they could pay attention to the landscape; the trees grew in abundance on the banks of the river and they extended into the forest, while they could see how the path twisted ahead, and beyond gentle hills appeared.
—Luckily, we will arrive at the town tomorrow night —Experience said.
—And what do you suggest doing tonight? —Peace asked from the second canoe.
—If the moon and the stars allow us, we will sail for a few hours until we find a safe place to rest.
—I hope we find one! —Love said from the third canoe, being heard only by his companion, Compassion, because they had not found a safe place yet. Only trees and more trees belonging to different forests, favourable places for the appearance of the enemy, especially if the intention was to rest at night. It would be necessary to take guards.
Later and with their renewed energies after finishing their quick lunch, they continued their journey with hurry when they took their oars again. It was a clear afternoon. The air was bright and the sun illuminated their profiles.
The path that they had to travel along the river was tortuous and at times, the rapids would shake the canoes even without carrying a risk. Shortly after, the rapids appeared more frequently and more abruptly, but the river was still calm and the canoes were not in danger.
They travelled through an area of the river on whose banks, large rocks belonging to the young hills, appeared, hills that they could see in the distance. And while they were advancing, they observed those rocks which grew inside the river in some cases, and which seemed to be the river´s side walls.
—If these rocks extend for several more miles, until the night reaches us, we will have found a good refuge to rest for a few hours —Experience thought. The same rocks that emerged from the water were so high, that between them they could hide the boats, and their crew could sleep in them without having to disembark.
Suddenly the sun went down the West, while the path was still framed by the rocks on both sides, and apparently it would extend that way for a few more miles.
The night was born serene and starry, and the full moon accompanied, with her look, those boats that continued their quiet trip along the river.
They sailed for a few more hours until the early morning matured. Even in that region of the river there were large rocky lateral walls, which in some cases offered shelters and even wide platforms that were built naturally by the rocks.
—¡The region of the river where the rocks grow ends here! —Light said.
—¡We will take refuge here! —Experience ordered, rowing her canoe to the East with Youth, followed by Light and Peace, and finally by Love and Compassion.
Moving with the canoes among the high rocks that grew inside the river was not an easy task, because they had to change constantly the direction not to hit those rocks and faced the high waves that broke there, since the river became fast—flowing in that place, perhaps because it was close to its mouth in the sea.
Then, while in the different canoes some tried to keep the boats balanced, others made wide knots to thick ropes, which they used to tie the canoes to the rocks, and in that way they could hide and rest for a few hours; thus, shortly after, the group slept curling up in their respective canoes under the brightness of the full moon and the stars, in the serene night.
Hours later the twilight of dawn set, accompanied by the song of the birds and the sound of the waves that crashed against the hidden boats, until finally they broke against the rocky walls.
The morning was blooming grey. It was cloudy and the rain was coming. Until then, none of the crew of those boats had awakened, not even their guardian angels that also rested in the pockets of their respective jackets.
But suddenly, as if even without seeing each other they had agreed, the six guardian angels left the pockets of their respective masters and mistresses and floating in the air like butterflies perhaps, they changed from transparent, which indicated the close presence of natural humans, to red, which indicated in this case the presence of demons... Experience could hear the very slight buzzing that her guardian angel made and she woke up suddenly as if escaping from a nightmare, calling Youth, who almost lost an oar in the water. When she saw that the others were also waking up, Experience gestured for them to be quiet, but with the exception of Rahab, everyone had their guardian angels fluttering over their noses.
Instinctively, everyone looked at the closest rocky platforms behind them, finding nothing significant. Because of that, they began to look desperately in all the other directions, because the demons could approach among the rocks, and they could not notice that.
They were trapped in a labyrinth of rocks within the river, and any decision they made to escape could lead to a confrontation with their enemies.
—Untie the canoes —Experience ordered in a low voice.
—But where will we go? —Light asked in the same way.
—We will leave this refuge from where we entered. Prepare your weapons —Experience said, and while some of them kept the canoes balanced, others finished untying them. The guardian angels were still red, but it was not known yet if the demons were close to them or not...
Once untied, the canoes took the same road they came by, with the difference that only one crew member was rowing this time, since the other one was keeping guard in the front of their canoes, to face the enemy if they appeared. The only one who received help with rowing was Experience, since Rahab was with her and Youth.
Slowly, with great precaution, they left behind that hiding place. Those who had to drive the boats through the rocks made hardworking manoeuvres, avoiding possible falls, since the wind blew strong from the East, and the river became tortuous as if anticipating a possible storm.
Shortly before leaving the area of rocks that grew in and near the banks of the river, and thanks to the fact that they were not so high and were more separated from each other, Light saw and expressed:
—¡There they are, on the rocky platforms in front! —She said in a low voice, referring to their enemies, located in the formations that nature made on the other side of the river.
—Prepare your bows and arrows —Youth ordered, and Light and Compassion, from the other two boats raised their weapons.
—You must do it in a quick and accurate way —Experience said.
—No one must escape —Peace agreed.
—Or we will not have even a momentary rest —Love completed.
And as soon as they got even closer to the last rocks that grew inside the river, and that were much lower than those originated on its shores, Youth, Light and Compassion shot unexpected and accurate arrows, knocking down some of the demon enemies that were prowling on the rocky platforms in front... But quickly they were involved in an unexpected battle. Although they could quickly reload their bows and knocked three other enemies down, of which the rest, also archers, shot at Experience´s group who was in charge of her boat and had to perform fast and dangerous manoeuvres as well as Peace and Love; as soon as they could, they stood on the canoes, drawing their swords to destroy, thanks to their quick reflexes, every arrow that wanted to pierce their bodies.
