Tor looked back at the beautiful valley rapidly getting smaller as they climbed. He would've loved to have stayed there without any people to bother him. But he knew the valley was locked in deep snow in winter and from the places where trees had been stripped from the hillsides, knew that something godlike powerful was at work for those tall, sturdy trees to be torn up like that. He didn't know what it was, but it seemed to be something that the gods did in the wintertime. Tor wouldn't want to be there when it happened. In his sleep?

And,Tsen didn't want to be where they were now. He nickered where the trail had been swept away by some great force recently. Perhaps the same one affecting the trees below him. Tor tried to keep him calm by reassuring him with soft words of encouragement and patting his shoulder and neck as he struggled. Always staying on the downward side. Although if Tsen slipped, there was no way that he could hold them both from sliding down the mountain. Chills ran down his back every time Tsen faltered. 

Shin was easily keeping up and exploring for more bird nests and marmots as they made their way upward to the highest pass of the whole journey. Tor's lungs drew in cold air and burned as he began to struggle losing strength in his legs the higher they got. His thoughts turned to the old man and how he seemed in tune with the mountains. Something that Tor wanted to leave behind and get home. There was really nothing for him to eat up in these barren slopes except sheep and Ibex that were hard to reach but good to eat. He had to pass on them now and eat from what he was carrying.

With such an early start, they reached that high pass in midmorning. The sky was  so clear that Tor seemed to be able to see forever. Where he was going, two more passes that day, and well beyond that, beyond the mountains to lands far below and far distant. It was almost godlike up here, but deadly if one stayed too long. There was no firewood for fire. No grass for Tsen to eat. Nothing to make shelter with. Just a beautiful place to linger for a little while, and then, head down and into the trees where one could live. Very few did at these altitudes. Winters were just too harsh.

Below was another lake. This one was smaller and well above the tree line, barren and rocky along its banks. So crystal clear that he could almost see the bottom from the top of the pass. Once again, the journey down was treacherous with slippery shale that made Tsen so nervous and frightened. Tor trying to keep him from losing his grip on the mountain. He would have let Tsen go if he didn't need him where he was going. It was selfish of him to keep the horse captive, but they were partners now and he doubted if Tsen would leave even if he insisted. The same with Shin. They were partners, a team, now. Facing the unknown together. Much better than Tor walking all alone.

Reaching the lake and looking into it, Tor could see massive trout swimming about. He wished he could stay and catch some, but there wasn't time. And then, as he was rounding the edge of the lake to reach the point where the trail would move upward again to the next pass, he saw one swimming very close to the water's edge. Tor stopped Tsen by holding his arm across the horse's chest and reached for an arrow from his quiver.

The fish swam languidly as if not noticing his close presence. Tor raised his bow pulled back, aimed correctly from experience with underwater fish and struck the fish right behind its gills. He then ran towards the bank and caught the thrashing trout just before it was about to wiggle into deep, ice cold water and be gone. Tor did not want to lose an arrow or the fish. He breathed a sigh of relief when he stepped in knee-deep, grabbed the arrow and dragged his catch up on the bank.

Tor found a level spot nearby. From his pack, quickly made a small fire and cooked part of the substantial fish. The rest, he threw to Shin who gobbled it up like he was starving. A welcome treat after all the exertion scouting in the morning. Tsen nickered and shuddered, shaking his head occasionally while Tor finished eating, eager to get down off these infernal mountains and some fresh green grass to eat.

Tor left the head and the guts of the fish for the vultures and eagles that were seen flying on the thermals in an ever vigilant search for food. Once again, they soon were up and over the next pass, and then, another, until they came down out of the mountains to the very large lake that Tor knew by name, Lake Geneve. People lived there. Strange people in small groups who herded sheep. He would avoid them if he could.

Copyright 2020 © Ronald W. Hull

3/29/20