The man looked up from where he was doing something to the carcass of the tiger-spider. He grinned, genial and unbothered, "I'm Jahangir, nice to meet you. What's your name, kid?" the man said.
"I'm Alex," I stuttered, eyes still glued to what he was doing.
His face was bearded, with a thick, dark curled mane framing his high-browed and golden-skinned forehead. His nose was broader than mine, high-bridged but crooked, shaped like an Outside statue that had been chipped. His left eyebrow had a jagged scar cutting right through it, making him look fiercer. He looked foreign.
I blinked, wondering if that was even a name. Je-haaa-gear, what a weird name. Odd. Maybe he was from Outside.
Still blinking, I watched as Je-haa-geer grunted, heaving the spider up and sliding something beneath it. His movements were fast, efficient, like he'd done this a hundred times. Then, he grabbed the ropes, tying them into loops, and then he put them on like it was a jacket. The man pulled the rope and soon had the spider-beast slung across his back.
"Let's be off to the base," Je-haa-gear said.
"The base?" I was still wary of the man, not sure that I should go anywhere with him. Although I didn't really have anywhere else to go.
"Yeah, it's where I live with my friends," he explained, already striding off back the way he'd come.
We ducked and weaved through many passages, rough and unsteady, lined with sharp rocks, some pitch-dark like the one I had hidden in. I was struggling to keep up with his long strides, even though he was laden by the beast. Je-haa-gear didn't need to look back to tell if I was with him or not. Whenever I fell too far behind, he would slow his steps, never mentioning my weakness, only silently waiting for me to catch up.
I stumbled on after him, my eyes darting here and there as we walked, weary of running into another monster, or even into one of the Priz gangs.
Finally, after what seemed like hours but was probably only thirty minutes or so, Je-haa-gear stopped.
I was confused. I looked around me. This dark, dank corridor was exactly the same as the twenty others we'd gone through. Why were we stopping?
Was he going to turn on me? Was I finally going to get shanked? I knew I shouldn't have followed a stranger, no matter if he saved me! I took a stumbling step back, ready to bolt.
Then, Je-haa-gear surprised me; he moved the rock on the left and suddenly, light spilled out into the cavern, soft, blue crystal-glow.
He stepped through, and I followed.
What I saw looked like a dream: a huge cavern, full of hustle and bustle, men moving here and there, some toting arms full of gear, women mending clothes, children chasing each other between the fires.
But what struck me wasn't the noise or the numbers. It was the order. The most surprising thing was, no one was fighting, scrambling to snatch food, shouting or trying to get one up on someone. I saw a man handing rolls out to anyone who crossed his path: family, strangers, it didn't matter. His basket was emptying fast, but he looked unbothered, almost cheerful, as if generosity itself was worth more than the food.
My stomach rumbled, and I heard a quiet rumbling laugh. I looked around and there was Je-haa-gear, relieved of his large burden, and to my alarm, surrounded by what looked to be about ten people!
Before I could run, one of the men was stepping forward, and I realised it was the bread man. When he extended the basket toward me, my hesitation forgotten, I grabbed as many rolls as my arms could fit. I don't know when I would have the chance again.
"Whoa! Slow down, champ, there's plenty more where that came from. Don't hoard-" before the guy could finish his sentence, Je-haa-gear put his hand on his shoulder.
Then, he reached out and grabbed the basket from his hands, then he held it out to me. "Here, Alex, take it. A gift for your first day with us. It'll taste better with some meat, though."
He tilted his head to where some of the guys were carrying off the spider-tiger, heading in the direction of the cooking fires.
I watched in disbelief, a suspicious itching in my eyes at his unassuming kindness. Without waiting for my response, Je-haa-gear turned to another man.
This one was almost as tall as Je-haa-gear, big and hulking like a bear. They talked as they started walking.
I quickly piled the loaves into my basket and followed, counting them discreetly. Twenty-seven. I had twenty-seven rolls of bread in my hands! Ja-ha-gear had walked a few feet ahead by the time I looked up I rushed after him, not keen to be separated from the one person I knew.
"So, James, how are the food stocks holding up?" Je-haa-gear asked, "I know we have a hunt planned in a few days, but if you need more to tide people over then, let me know, I'll head out and catch something more. How is your wife? Melissa was treating her, last I heard?"
"She's well, Jang, thanks ta Melissa. Food's well stocked, but Melissa was talkin' about missing some herbs, ya'll have to ask her."
"I will," Je-haa-gear, no Jang nodded, expression solemn, but not grim. As they walked, people started noticing Jang, and everywhere they were met with smiles, waves, offers of food, and hospitality. Jang stopped to talk with many of them, some coming up to him, and others he approached. I watched him carefully. He knew all their names. The children ran up to him and tugged at his hand, begging him to play.
He ruffled a little girl's hair as she clung to him and promised to come to tell her a bedtime story later. She pouted, but he leaned down to whisper something to her. Whatever it was, it stilled her. She looked at me, her big brown eyes wide and full of pity. I clutched my basket closer, suppressing the need to count the loaves again.
Finally, we reached the fire pits. They were at the very back of the cavern, and wonder of wonders, there was actually a light breeze here. This cavern has a route leading to the gate!
Most places I'd been to in the underground were damp, dank and full of monsters; this place was practically Outside in comparison.
Soon, Jang gestured to one of the small, round rocks, covered in beast fur, that surrounded the pits. He sat down beside me, and soon a kindly old woman brought an earthen bowl full of fresh stew.
"Let's eat," Jang declared, and sat down to eat. I noticed that each bowl had a new loaf of bread. Jang ripped into it carefully, dipping it in the stew and eating it with surprisingly small and delicate bites. I put my basket of rolls down and dug into my own food, keeping one eye on Jang. My first bite of the bread was heaven. Soft, pillowy, smooth, I had never had anything like it. It was even salted!
I had only had a similar one once, when I was five and my pop got a reward from the gang boss for ratting out the traitor in our midst. Later, the man's brother took revenge, and he died. My mum went to another. I was too scrawny for gang work, and so I had been shoved out. With only the clothes on my back and a handful of rock tools my mum smuggled me, I had had a hard time surviving in the wilds of the cave.
I eagerly wolfed down half the bread and then dipped a bit in the stew, like Jang. My mouth was on fire! I hacked and coughed, choking on the too-flavourful, spicy mouthful. My throat stung, my heart pounded, and I gasped for breath.
Jang had set down his bowl, and his huge fists were pounding on my back, "Alex! Alex, are you alright? Grace, bring some water!" I heard him yell as I nearly coughed out my lungs.
I survived spider-tigers, lion-grouts, and wolvers, but I was gonna die by stew! What a pathetic way to go. Soon, a cup of water was handed to me, my bowl abandoned next to my seat as I gulped the fresh, sweet liquid like it would restore me to life.
Soon, I was able to sit up, my breath smoother and my eyes watering. I was red all over from the humiliation. I looked at the bowl in betrayal. I thought it would be delicious, like the bread. Instead, it was some sort of devil liquid.
"It burns!" I complained to Jang, tears springing in my eyes, my gaze accusatory.
Jang looked to be holding back a smile. "I'm sorry, Alex, Grace must have given you stew from my personal pot. I like my food spicy. In Lahore, this would barely count as spicy. I'll get you some from the communal pot."
"No, no, need, I'll stick with the bread, thanks, " I muttered, still wary.
"Alright, you can have some next time." Jang agreed.
I blinked at the quick acquiescence and cautiously sat back in his seat. They ate the rest of the meal quietly, my eyes darting around while he munched on the still delicious bread.
After eating, Jang said, "Follow me, Alex, it's nearly nighttime, let's get you squared off." With that, he started walking, strides long and purposeful. Alex followed quickly, picking up his basket as he went. "In the morning, we'll discuss your skills and what you wanna do in the future."
Then Jang looked him straight in the eyes, his gaze intense, yet calm and authoritative, "If you want to stay here, you are welcome."
To be continued...