Chapter 2

An awkward silence hung around the dinner table. The lamps' flickering light cast shadows on teh wood. Tarquin winced at every clink of a fork hitting the ceramic plates. Gweneth had out done herself tonight, roast chicken so soft and delicate that just slid down the throat., surrounded by boiled carrots which melted in one's mouth. Gweneth had even made a walnut salad with dressing. This scared Tarquin. The tension in the air was tangible and though Charlie desperately wanted to crack a joke, she kept her head down and made a great show of cutting and chewing her food. Gweneth continued to glower and attacked a chickenleg with such ferocity, it seemed like the poor fowl had done her some wrong in the past. Tarquin cleared his throat nervuosly, hoping to catch his mtoher's attention. Gweneth scowled at her vegetables and stabbed a carrot. Charlie looked up, frightened, didn't Tarquin see what a bad mood Gwen was in? Tarquin's jaw twitched and hsi mouth look determined. He cleared his throat again, louder this time. Charlie's eyes widened, that fool! She stared at Tarquin and made miniscule shaking movements with her head. Tarquin looked at Charlie and she made a face, trying to tell him to shut up. Tarquin mouthed the word 'sorry' and turned back to Gweneth. Charlie narrowed her eyes and imagined Tarquin's skin melting off his face. She aimed a kick at him under the table but hit the table leg instead. Charlie stifled a yelp by biting her lip so hard it started to bleed. Gweneth took no notice as she was too engrossed in shredding her lettuce into non-existant pieces. Tarquin grimaced and faked a cough so horrendous he was sure Gwen had no choice but to pay attention to him. Gweneth so abruptly set down her knife and fork that it sent a tremor down the table.

"Yes! Tarquin! Do you want to say something?" Gweneth said forcefully, finally looking up. Tarquin gulped and put down his knife and frok, surprised to find his palms were sweating.

"Er yeah, Gwe - mother. Well you see - er - over the past few - er - months - er - I've been working at Dave's - er - I mean - er - the carpenter work shop - er - I am really enojoying - er- my work there and - er - I've found - er - I've got some - er - skill with wood - er - not bragging of course... " Charlie rolled her eyes; Tarquin was rambling.

"Get to the point Tarq!" She butted in. Tarquin shot a look at his sister before saying nervously,

"Well I've built a boat, a canoe actually, and I plan on taking it upstream to the Nimsay Falls." Gweneth's face hardened suddenly. She lowered her gaze to the table. Charlie crnikled her eyebrows in confusion. She didn't understand what the problem was. No one moved and for a few long minutes all taht could be heard was the chirping of crickets outisde the window. Finally Gwen whispered,

"Why didn't you ask my permission?"

Tarquin hesisitated and said,

"I was afraid you'd forbid me from making it..."

"So you go behind my back, knwoing how I felt?"

Tarquin flinched as if Gwen had slapped him.

"Technically I guess, but - "

"But nothign. How could you do something like that Tarquin?" Gweneth looked up and Charlie was startled to see hurt and pain on her face. Charlie felt she was missing something.

"I don't understand," Charlie state boldly, "it's just a canoe." Tarquin and Gweneth ignored Charlie completely.

"It's been 14 years mother."

"14, 6, or 20, it doesn't make a difference!"

"14 years since what?" chipped in Charlie.

"Isn't it time to move on?" Tarquin asked.

"Moving on doesn't include making the same mistakes!" Gweneth cried incredulously.

"Who made what mistake?" Charlie demanded.

"I would be going the totally opposite direction!:

"I don't care! I don't want you near that river!"

"What about the river?: Charlie yelled!

"You're being irrational!" Tarquin yelled!

"I'm the mother! I'm allowed to be irrational!" Gweneth yelled!

Crash!

Tarquin and Gweneth stopped and stared; Charlie had stood up on her chair and thrown her plate on the taboe, shattering it into a hundred pieces. Charlie knew she would pay for such rudeness later, but she was too angry for being kept in the dark that all shefocused on was getting answers.

"Now will someone tell me what's going on?"

Tarquin sat back in his chair sullenly and crossed his arms. "Ask Gwen," he muttered darkly. Charlie turned to their mother adn asked,

"Mother, what's so terrible about the river? What happened 14 years ago?"

Gweneth groaned and put her head in her hands. She could feel a headachecoming along and her throat was sore. "Darling," she started, "you know how I told you your father died?"

Charlie slowly nodded her head; she was confused. What did that have to do with anything? "You said he had a bad heart."

Gweneth looked up, her eyes shining. "I lied," she said, ehr voice full of emotion, When I was pregnant with you, Tarquin was just 2 years old, your father wanted to explore the Gepi. He said he was gonig to be the one to find out where the Gepi flowed to. he said he would be back in time to see me give birth to his second child. He said he would be alright. The fifth day of spring, yoru father set out on the Gepi. AndI waited, I waited until summer was gone! I even waited until I had you, but thenI knew. The Gepi had claimed his life and he wasn't coming back." Gweneth stood up at that and said powerfully, "I won't let it claim another one of my loved one's lives! Tarquin, you are forbidden to take out you... abomination onto that accursed river!"

Gweneth turned and strode out of the room. Charlie sat down, stunned. She glanced over at Tarquin, his face was as readable as stone.

"Why didn't she tell me the truth?: Charlie asked quietly. Tarquin didn't look up.

"She didn't want you to grow up fearing the Gepi," he answered.

"Like she does?"

Tarquin jerked his head up, shocked at the bitterness in Charlie's voice. "She loves you Charlie, she didn't want you to go through that kind of pain."

Charlie huffed but didn't reply. Together they collected the dishes in silence and went to bed without saying goodnight.

***

Tarquin couldn't fall asleep. He tossed and turned and even tried counting sheep, feeling ridiculous because usually he scorned such methods. He knew he had to obey his mother's wishes but he couldn't. He ahd always ben attracted to the Gepi, and when a huge falled cedar was delivered to Dave's, Tarquin could already see the canoe, fully carved, in the wood. From then on, an expedition to the famed Nimsay Falls was formed in his head. Only one person had ever been to the Falls and that was Mrs. Chappell's late husband. Tarquin had spent a lot of time with Mr. Chappell when he was sick and Mr. Chappell had described to him a beautiful place that one cuold nver imagine but could only see for themselves. Once he had died, Mrs. Chappell moved in with her married daughter and Tarquin made it hsi business to see that Mrs. Chappell was happy. He felt it wa shis duty and found exuses to visit her regularly. Perhaps it would be best if he stayed because who else would keep the cranky old lady occupied? Tarquin sighed and turned his head to look out of the window. A luminous crescent moon peeked through the braches of a tree outside, casting a strong light, giving the edges of the leaves a silver shine. The starts winked cheekily as there were no clouds to cover them. A hint of a breezee stirred the air, bringing a cool crisp smell of mint into Tarquin's room. It was a beautifulnight, a perfect night. Tarquin breathed in the fresh scent and a blast of energy flew down his spine! Tarquin threw off his blanket, there was a time for sleeping but this was not it! When will there be a more perfect opportunity to start his journey, he thought. A doubt crept into his mind, but Tarquin quashed it; he was meant to do this! He could feel it in his bones! Tarquin's heart, his very soul even, was pushing him to do this. The crickets' serenade grew louder with every passing moment; even nature knew he was destined for this. He had to leave Manzi! He had to leave tonight! Tarquin's fingers sought out the familiar knot of wood but instead of tracing it, he dug his nails into a groove and pulled upwards. The board of wood came free easily and Tarquin removed it entirely without making a sound. There was a large hollow space underneath the floor that Tarquin had made by simply digging and excavating dirt. Tarquin reached in a groped blindly for a moment before his fingers clasped a leather strip. Tarquin smiled in the dark and heaved up the object. It was a multipurpose pack Tarquin had created for the journey. Inside it were supplies for the journey that he had collected over a long time. The contents were a long coil of rope, a tinder box, a water flask, a blanket, a knife, cooking utensils, fishing rod and line, and a grappling hook. There was also a small container of dried meat and another of salt. Once Tarquin had gone through his mental checklist, he reached down into his secret store cupboard again. This time he drew out a beautiful yew bow. Mr. Chappell had given it to him just before he died and told him that was what he used to hunt food when he had travelled up to the Falls. Tarquin had reasured it and handled it as if it was made of glass. Sometimes if he had time, Tarquin qould practice shootnig at a crude target drawn on parchment. He would tack it to a tree in a secluded glade out of town. Tarquin had become quite good at archery, but he knew he was going to have a lot more difficulty when the targets actually moved. Tarquin also had to learn how to make his own arrows and fletch them. Once Tarquin had gotten the hang of making arrows, he couldn't stop and so as a result, had a couple dozen of them stored in his pack. Tarquin shouldered the heavy leather sack, picked up his bow, took one last glance around his room and was grateful that he never took time to personalize it otherwise saying goodbye would have been a sorry affair. Tarquin inhaled the mint one last time and crept out his door, feeling ready for adventure.

Tarquin tiptoed quietly down the hall towards the kitchen. He stole a glance towards his mother's room and regretted that they couldn't have a proper farewell, but Tarquin knew in his heart that it was for the best. He continued, slowly and quietly, to make his way out. Just as Tarquin rounded a corner, another being crashed right into him! Tarquin jumped backwards, wincing at the noice of metal crashing from within his pack. He rounded on the other midnight creeper, ready to fight to the death if he had to, but it was none other than Charlie!

"What are you doing?" Charlie hissed at him, still holding her hand to her chest, hoping to slow down her racing heart.

"I'm going to the Nimsay Falls Charlie, tonight," Tarquin whispered back.

"But Gwen said you were forbidden! She could disown you if you went without her permission!"

"I know," said Tarquin quietly, "but I have to go Charlie! I could never be happy just staying here in Manzi."

Charlie looked at him somberly. "So you'll abandon us just like Father?"

"No!" Tarquin's vioce rose but he stopped himself. He set his arms on Charlie's shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. "It's always been my dream to go to the Nimsay Falls Charlie. I just want to go and see it and then come back. That's all! Don't ever think for a second that I'm leaving you!" Charlieturned her head but Tarquin gently took her face and turned it back to him. "Please understand Charlie, I need to do this." Tarquin's eyes pleaded silently and Charlie couldn't help but give in. SHe nodded her head and slowly embraced her brother. Charlie hugged him tightly and whispered in his ear, "stay safe." Tarquin smiled and released his sister before saying,

"I'm always safe."

Charlie turned to go back to her room but Tarquin caught her arm. "Wait Charlie, why were you up anyway?"

Charlie froze like a rabbit caughtin the path of a fox. She faltered but managed to stammer out, "I - I - I heard you c-coming down the h-hall of course!" Charlie laughed nervously then pulled away. She hurried to her room and closed the door quickly. Tarquin smiled and shook his head; he was going to miss her.

When Taquin stepped out of his kitchen door and into the fresh night air, he felt like a new person. There was only thing left for him to do: collect his canoe. Tarquin had been walking jauntily, his head held high, but he stopped at this thougt. Here there might be a problem; the canoe was still stored at Dave's. Bother, Tarquin thought.