Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen: Disaster
Kiya was awed. She had heard of the cataracts, the impassable torrents that separated the valley from the outside world, but she had never seen one before and was astonished by the power of the crashing waves.
“We can never sail through that!” she cried.
“This is where our plan is tested,” said Ana. She directed the felucca to the shore and the four of them disembarked and pulled the boat out of the water.
There was a sandy path running around the rapids. All four of them took hold of the rope attached to the front of the felucca and pulled it along the path. It was heavy work and Kiya was conscious of the fact that, despite her efforts, she was the weakest of the team.
Beyond the cataract was calmer water. The felucca was refloated and the journey continued. Kiya looked behind and saw that the other two boats had also managed to circumvent the rapids and were following closely.
The valley was becoming narrower. There was no longer verdant land on either side of the river, but scrub flanked by looming cliffs. Not only the landscape but also the nature of the river had changed, its agitated water seemed less peaceful and friendly. Kiya felt that she was already in a foreign country.
Ana announced that it was time for lunch and Yidini handed around bread, dates and cheese. They all drank from a communal jar of beer.
“We should have provisions enough to last the journey,” said Ana, indicating the sacks, barrels and chests piled in the boat, “We also have mirrors, beads and other trinkets with which to bribe the natives into giving us hospitality. This expedition is important to me, upon its success rests my reputation as a suitable future queen.”
The afternoon passed slowly. Yidini cast a fishing line over the side of the boat. He caught one small fish, which he battered to death and which lay in the bottom of the boat staring up with a reproachful eye.
Ahead of them, Kiya heard the distant roar of a second cataract. As they drew near she saw that it was more imposing than the first. Some of the rocks embedded within the maelstrom were large enough to form islands topped with vegetation.
Once more the felucca was beached upon the shore but this time it was more difficult to negotiate the way around. The ground was steeper and the path along which they had to drag the boat was a mere goat track.
Kiya looked more closely at the huge, flat-topped boulders of granite, which rose from the foaming waters. Through a veil of spray she could see that some of the stunted, twisted trees that grew upon them were of unknown species. She supposed they must have developed from seeds washed down from Nubia.
“Pull harder, Kiya,” shouted Ana and Kiya concentrated on the task of hauling the boat over the ruts and rocks of the path. At one point the track narrowed so much that the boat was in danger of toppling into the river. Yidini and his soldier manhandled the boat itself and left Ana and Kiya to pull upon the rope.
It was exhausting work and by the time they had skirted the rapids Kiya felt as if she could drag the boat no further.
“We will launch the boat from here,” said Ana, who looked as worn out as Kiya felt. Yidini glanced back at the cataract and said something but Ana shook her head. “We have dragged this boat far enough.”
Behind them the other two boats caught up and their crews stood waiting while Ana’s boat was pushed into the water and Kiya and the others scrambled aboard. The sail was unfurled and the boat sped across the water away from the cataract.
Kiya looked behind and saw that the other two boats had followed and all were sailing up river angled to the wind. She lay back and relaxed, hoping that her tired muscles would have recovered by the time they arrived at the next obstacle.
When they reached the centre of the river, Kiya felt the boat beneath her judder to a halt as it was caught in a strong current. She sat up, a presentiment of disaster clutching at her. The boat’s straining sail was unable to counteract the force of the water and she felt the boat being drawn downstream.
She turned to shout to the others to head back to shore but she saw that both the other boats were also in difficulty. Helplessly all three were swept towards the sharp rocks and boiling waters of the cataract.
The last boat of the little fleet was the first to hit the rocks. Kiya heard screams as it toppled over, shredding into splintered wood and hurling men into the water.
The next boat was swept around an island and out of sight.
Kiya clung desperately to the side of her felucca as they were the last boat to hit the turbulence. Spray blinded her and she closed her eyes. The sound of swirling, crashing water filled her ears and the boat was tossed from side to side like a piece of flotsam. She felt a jolt and opened her eyes.
The felucca had hit an island. The soldier in charge of the doomed craft was holding on to the branch of a tree, which was growing down close to the water. With desperate strength he was trying to prevent the boat being swept away.
“Quick, get ashore,” Ana called out. Yidini helped her out, then followed, leaving Kiya to grab her spear and scramble ashore on her own.
The old soldier flung himself onto the rock and held out a hand to the man in the boat. The man struggled to grasp the reaching hand but he failed and seconds later gave a cry of despair as the boat was swept away with him in it. Yidini knelt on the ground and buried his face in his hands.
“He prays to the gods that his men might be safe,” Ana said.
Kiya stared down the river where the last of the soldiers had disappeared and joined her prayers to those of Yidini.
“Do you think there is any hope?” she asked Ana, and felt tears prickle in her eyes at the cruel waste of so many young lives.
Ana shook her head. “Most Cretans can swim so there is a chance that some might survive, but I doubt it. The waters of the cataract will pound their bodies to pulp.”
“Are you not sad to lose your men?” asked Kiya, astounded by the Princess’s calm acceptance of the tragedy.
Ana shrugged. “Indeed, it is unfortunate, but we will soon be joining them in the afterlife for I can see no way off this island.”
Kiya looked around and saw that they were trapped. On either side of the island the roaring waters formed an impenetrable barrier to the shore. There were some trees, clinging with shallow roots to their precarious perch, but they bore no fruit that might sustain life.
“Perhaps we could catch fish?” she suggested.
“What fish could live in such waters?” said Ana. “Our only hope is that some of our soldiers might survive the disaster and bring help. Although how anyone could reach us in the centre of a cataract is another problem.”
Yidini said something and drew his sword.
“He accuses you of bringing bad luck on the expedition,” said Ana. Kiya stared in fear at the angry soldier. Ana laughed. “He also intends to cut branches to make a bed for us to sleep on.”
Kiya watched the old soldier hack at the trees and was grateful it was not her neck he was after. As soon as there were branches enough on the ground they lay down. Kiya would rather have lain on bare rock than on such a prickly and uneven bed but the exhaustion of the journey overcame her and she slept.