3. Medusa #3
So, this was how it was going to be.
What was it about her that he found so detestable? As a gorgon, she was used to people being standoffish, but his dislike of her was evident.
Maybe I overplayed my hand in the beginning.
Had provoking him during their first meeting been a misstep? Would it only make it harder for her to complete her mission?
He has to say it.
It was the only way to save her sisters from those men who kidnapped them.
“Good afternoon, this is Captain Erikson speaking,” came the disembodied voice from the speakers. “We’re approaching Kathmandu Airport and will be landing in about twenty minutes. Please do prepare for landing.”
As Charlotte cleared the table, Medusa and Perseus buckled themselves in.
The landing was uneventful, not as bad as she expected.
Of course, the captain had warned them that, because it was a small airport, they might have a bumpy touchdown, so she expected the worst. When the doors opened and they deplaned, she couldn’t help but gasp at the sight that greeted them.
“It’s beautiful.” She stared up in awe at the mountains surrounding them. It was similar to the mountains around her home, but there was something about this place that was different; magical, almost. “Have you ever seen anything like it?”
“Our ride is here.” Perseus nodded to the van waiting at the foot of the steps. “Let’s go.”
She trotted down the stairs after him, following him to the waiting vehicle. He seemed eager to get going, and she did her best to keep up but was winded by the time she reached his side.
“…and we’ll reach the jump off point just after sunset?”
“Yes, sir.” The guide’s eyes darted toward Medusa, and his face registered a flicker of curiosity.
“Gaurav, this is my colleague, Medusa. Medusa, Gaurav will be our guide for this trip.”
“Hello, Gaurav, it’s lovely to meet you.”
The guide bowed his head. “Good evening, madame, I hope I can make this a pleasant journey for you.” He turned to Perseus.
“All the equipment you will need for the trek is ready. Now we must travel two hours to the jump-off point. Camp has been set up for us, and I suggest you both try and sleep as much as you can as we must set off just after midnight.”
“I’m not sure I can sleep more,” she said. “But I’ll try.”
The journey was surprisingly pleasant, even if the van was cramped and the roads twisted and turned like vines.
Medusa focused on the sight of the mountains outside, which only grew more beautiful as the sun began to set.
There was barely any light left by the time the vehicle swerved into a dirt path and they reached what was likely the campsite, as several tents and tables and chairs had been set up in a clearing.
After unloading their gear from the van, Gaurav showed them to their tents, which were beside each other.
“It’s best you start putting on your jackets and pants now.
You’ll need them to keep warm through the night.
The sleeping bags should also help, make sure you zip up all the way so that your body heat won’t escape.
I’ll have dinner ready in about half an hour. ”
“I…think…I’ll go lie down first.” She took a deep breath. The van hadn’t been that far from the tent, but she felt winded from just walking over and carrying the backpack with all her gear. This bag must be heavier than I thought.
Perseus’s eyes narrowed at her. “Are you alright?”
“Me? Never better.” She waved him away and then slipped into her tent, dragging her backpack inside. It was small and cozy, and the window flap was half open to let the cool air and the dying light inside.
Spotting the sleeping bag, she crawled on top of it and lay down. “There you go,” she cooed as she removed her scarf, releasing her snakelets. They let out a collective grateful sigh as they stretched out.
“Ohhh.” She, too, let out a sigh as she removed her glasses and massaged the space between her eyebrows.
Was this what jet lag was like? Her head felt lighter than air and her lungs squeezed tight.
Thankfully, she only had toast on the plane because the twisty ride made her nauseous.
She didn’t dare ask Gaurav to slow down or even stop, as she didn’t want Perseus to think she was weak.
Maybe I’ll just rest a bit.
Medusa swore she only closed her eyes for a few seconds, but when she woke up, it was completely dark in the tent. Her body, too, was as heavy as lead, as if she’d been in a deep, long slumber.
Blinking, she hoisted herself to sit up and tied her scarf before crawling out of the tent. “Perseus? Gaurav?” She shivered as the cold air hit her body, seeping into her clothes.
The only light came from a lantern on one of the tables, where a lone figure sat.
“Madame,” Gaurav called. “Mr. Perseus went to bed. He didn’t want to wake you up, but I said I would wait in case you wanted to eat.”
“H-how long—oh!” She lost her footing as she got up, but managed to regain her balance. “Was I asleep for long?”
“Just an hour. Come.” He waved her over. “The bread is still hot.”
Medusa trotted over, drawn in by the yeasty smell of the bread and spices from the pot over the camping stove on the table. She gratefully accepted the tray Gaurav offered and finished it quickly.
“I think I’ll turn in. Thank you for the food, it was delicious.” She felt bad that she didn’t make any small talk with the guide while she ate, but then again, she didn’t know how much he knew about who she and Perseus were or their mission here.
“No worries, madame, I will take care of everything. Just get some rest. I’ll wake you up when it’s almost time to leave. Someone will come and take care of the camp, so just be ready with your gear.”
“Thank you,” she mumbled, then stumbled back into her tent to get ready for bed.
It took her a while to get all the thick layers on and zip herself up in the sleeping bag, and by the time she snuggled in, she was exhausted, but at least she was warm.
Her snakelets, for once, were glad to be wrapped up tight under layers as the temperature dropped.
When she heard Gaurav calling her name hours later, she immediately woke up.
Oh gods!
Her headache has somehow intensified during her sleep. Since she didn’t plan for this trip, she didn’t pack anything except essentials. Maybe Gaurav will have some medicine.
Forcing herself to get up, she managed to refresh herself as best she could with some wipes, picked up her backpack, and headed out of the tent.
“There’s some tea at the table and leftover bread,” Gaurav said. “But you’ll have to be quick. Sir wants to leave as soon as possible.”
She followed the guide’s gaze toward Perseus, who was standing by his tent, dressed in his complete gear and checking on his backpack. “I won’t be long,” she assured the guide.
A quick gulp of tea and bite of bread made her feel a little better, so she scarfed down the rest in record time. “Okay,” she announced. “I’m ready.”
Perseus gave her a quick nod. “Alright then, let’s go, Gaurav.”
“Right away.” He motioned for them to take their flashlights and turn them on. “Follow me, please.”
The guide led the way ahead, as they walked up a dark, rugged path surrounded by dense shrubbery. With hardly any light except the ones from their torches, Medusa could barely see anything except the dirt and rocks on the trail.
“Please be careful,” Gaurav warned them some time later. “We’re about to head up the side of the mountain. Stay close to the side of the wall. We’ll take it slow.”
“One moment, Gaurav.” Perseus paused. “Medusa? Are you alright?”
Her lungs felt like they were on fire, and they had only left the campsite twenty minutes ago. “I’m fine.” She refused to let him see her struggle. Besides, Gaurav said they were taking it slow at this point. “Keep going.”
“Medusa—”
“I said I’m fine.” As if to prove her point, she gripped the straps of her backpack tighter then marched past him. “We have a whole day of hiking ahead of us. Let’s go.” She heard him let out a snort, but ignored it. Instead, she focused her energy on the climb.
By the time the sun began to paint the skies with the blues and pinks of dawn, Medusa wanted to throw up.
Her muscles screamed in pain and her feet were sore; the beginnings of a blister on her left toe pressed against her boot.
She nearly wept when Gaurav said they could stop for breakfast. Dropping her backpack on the ground, she walked up ahead to find a private spot to do her business.
What is wrong with me?
Medusa had done much longer hikes than this without this much of a struggle. Even her snakelets were moaning from exhaustion.
You poor things.
She untied her scarf and let them breathe in some fresh mountain air, while taking a few gasps herself. Once she was refreshed, she walked back to where Gaurav and Perseus sat against the side of the trail, looking at maps as they sipped tea.
“Whoa,” she gasped when she looked over the side of the path. “I didn’t realize we’d gotten so far up.” Heights had never bothered her before, but looking down into the vast ravine below made her even more lightheaded.
“And it’s only going to get higher,” Perseus remarked. “The good news is that our map and research is old.”
“ That’s the good news?”
“Yes. The villagers from Sirbhajun apparently built more trails and rope bridges in the last couple of years, so we’ll actually cut our trip by a few hours. If we can get to the inn by midday, we could skip the overnight stop altogether and reach our destination by evening.”
“Oh, thank the gods.” She didn’t care what it took, she just wanted to get to Sirbhajun and collapse on a real bed.
Perseus’s mouth turned into a grim line. “Or thank the hardworking villagers. They did all the work.” He put the map away. “Let’s not waste any more time.”
The combination of rest, breakfast, and more tea gave Medusa more energy to continue on, plus the beauty of the nature around them proved to be a good distraction from her headache and nausea.
She wished she’d read more about Nepal before they arrived here, or downloaded videos and articles before they lost cell reception.
Upperworld geography wasn’t exactly part of the schooling curriculum back in Serpentara.
After a long stop for lunch, they continued on, with Gaurav and Perseus consulting both the old and new maps for which way to go.
The terrain was remarkably diverse, if perilous.
There were some areas where the trails were carved into the rocks and they had to squeeze against the cliffside, as well as a few rope bridges that swung across deep canyons.
But, these new trails cut hours off their travel, which was great news for Medusa as she nearly threw up her lunch a couple of times.
Still, she managed to forge on, refusing to show Perseus any sign of weakness.
“I think this next bridge was washed away by a major rockslide a few months ago,” Gaurav said, pointing to the map.
“Will it be a problem if it did?” Perseus asked.
“Probably. We will have to double back. But we are still ahead of schedule, maybe we’ll make it to the village by midnight if we do not stop.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Perhaps it will be better if I go ahead and check. It shouldn’t take me too long, maybe thirty minutes if I’m by myself. And you and madame can stay here.”
Perseus paused for a moment. “I understand. We would just slow you down. Still, why don’t we follow behind you? If it’s down, then come back and meet us wherever we are on the trail, and we’ll go from there. If the bridge is still up, just stay there and wait for us.”
“Alright, good plan, sir. I’ll go on ahead. Please stay safe.” With a wave, Gaurav continued up the trail.
“I don’t understand how he can keep going,” Medusa said, her jaw nearly dropping to the ground as she watched the guide hurry up the path. “And—wow—he’s so fast! Was he slowing down just for us?”
“Yes. He’s a sherpa, of course he’s fast.”
“A what ?”
“A sherpa. That’s what they call the local people who live in this area. They’re acclimated to the altitude up here. You’ve never heard of them?”
“No, never.”
“Sherpas are—hey, you’re looking awfully pale.” Perseus stretched a hand toward her. “Do you want to rest? I should have asked you?—”
“No, no.” She waved his hand away. “You’re right. We should keep going in case that bridge is still passable.”
Before he could protest further, she brushed past him. She still couldn’t believe how fast Gaurav went, and they’d already been hiking for a whole day. Perhaps these ‘sherpas’ were also a type of supernatural human?
“Medusa, you’re breathing hard,” Perseus said as he caught up to her. With the trail narrowing, he was mere inches away, “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I said I’m—oh!” she cried out as her boots slipped on some wet rocks and she landed on her butt. “Ow!”
“Goddammit!” Perseus cursed. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” she groaned, even though her tailbone was on fire. After a quick breath, she attempted to push herself off the ground, but failed. “Could you help me up?”
“Here, take off your backpack.”
Perseus lifted the bag away as she undid the straps. She hadn’t even realized how heavy it was until she no longer had it strapped to her. Maybe it was all that weight that was making her tired. When she hiked with her sisters, they usually didn’t take that much stuff.
Perseus bent down and wrapped his arms under her. “Let’s get you up.”
“One sec?—”
Before she could stop him, he hoisted her upright. The blood must have rushed to her brain so fast because a wave of dizziness hit her—hard this time.
“Let me go,” she slurred and disentangled herself away from him. However, as she took a step forward, her limbs went limp. The ground seemed to have disappeared under her as she felt herself falling, and spots of white blurred her vision.
“Medusa!”