Revelation
The inside of the hut was dark and warm, Bailey smelt the vague smoky smell of the dying fire in the grate at one end of the little hut. She could also smell herbs burning, or the trace of herbs being burnt earlier and the damp smell of other herbs drying. Hanging from the ceiling were skulls of birds and fish and a couple of animals, and circles of feathers and hide that reminded Bailey of the Native American Indian dreamcatchers. In fact the whole atmosphere put Bailey in mind of a Native American medicine man or religious leader. Bailey was uncomfortably aware of all the stares of glass-eyed stuffed animals boring into her. This place, she decided, creeped her out.
Stranger on the other hand seemed completely relaxed, as if he belonged here. His own discomfort was Bailey’s unease. He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it.
“Well well, so you are finally here.” Said an old, cracked voice from the shadows of the fire. Bailey and Stranger’s attention snapped towards the voice. Bailey realised with shock that Stranger had been as unaware of this new presence as she had been. Her unease increase.
As if reading her mind, the old voice chuckled,
“When you have been in this life as long as I have child, you learn a few tricks that can even deceive a Steef.” There was a pause. “Come closer, both of you, my old eyes are not what they used to be I’m afraid.” This time Bailey was the first to move, she edged closer to the fire and saw, for the first time, a small armchair with a wizened Grubb male in it.
Bailey had the sudden urge to call him Yoda…
The old Grubb peered at her with rheumy eyes. Then he broke into a smile.
“Ah.” He sighed, sounding like a man who having been in the desert had been able to quench his thirst with cool, clear water, “So you have made it young one. And guided your Steef friend all the way here in one piece. Well done child.”
“It wasn’t easy.” Bailey found herself saying. “And it took us awhile…”
“Ah, but you were the one destined to do it and so you did. You truly are who we have been waiting for little human.” The old Grubb suddenly looked past Bailey and she had the impression of bright eyes being turned on Stranger. Maybe this old Grubb was not as feeble as he made out… “But why does your friend not come forward? He, who has a greater destiny then even you child. Come, come my Steef friend, I sense you have many questions.”
Stranger took an uncertain step forward until he was by Bailey.
“Sit, sit, make yourselves comfortable. You have had a long, treacherous journey, which I fear may not be over just yet.” Bailey sat on the soft rug covering the floor. Stranger copied her though more slowly, folding his Steef legs comfortably. “Now, time for your questions.” Beamed the old Grubb. Stranger and Bailey looked at each other. Now that they had permission to ask their questions, neither of them knew what to say first. Finally Stranger spoke.
“How d’yer know that Bailey was a human?” the Grubb cracked a smile.
“I saw her coming a long time ago.” He smiled at Bailey, who blinked at him, “You were destined to come here little one. And you have fulfilled that destiny up to now better then I ever could have hoped.” Bailey looked like she was about to disagree but the Grubb continued before she had the chance, “Even if you may see some of the things that have happened to you as mistakes, they are not. Every happening had a purpose and you have come through them wiser then before. You have done nothing wrong. Even the mistakes were supposed to happen.” The Grubb assured her.
Bailey felt a weight lift from her heart, one that she hadn’t even known she had been carrying. She had thought she had failed, she thought she had led Stranger into more danger then she had meant too, but now she knew that this wasn’t so. She hadn’t failed. She had brought Stranger here safely.
Stranger looked at Bailey for a moment. But it wasn’t the look Bailey was used too. There was something in his eyes that she hadn’t seen there before. And she could not even begin to guess what it was.
“Bailey has a destiny?” he finally asked quietly.
“Oh yes, a very important one. She was meant to come here, to Oddworld and she was meant to be apart of the Magog Cartel’s collapse. But this was only to prepare her for most important part of her fate.” Bailey’s mind spun with all this new information. She had known that she had been chosen to lead Stranger, but she hadn’t known what for and she hadn’t realised that it had been decided before she had even met Stranger.
Everything that had happened to her…was fate? It hurt Bailey’s mind to try and work that out. So even when she was a freedom fighter for the Mudokons against the Magog Cartel, she was destined to leave Abe and Slick and come here?
“Most important part?” she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes, the most important part of your destiny. Was to guide Stranger.” There was a silence, the Grubb paused a moment before elaborating; “You were chosen before you even came into the living world to be the one to cross over to Oddworld and bring Stranger to his own destiny, a destiny which is even greater then your own.”
Stranger’s mind too was whirling. Bailey had just been sent to guide him to his own destiny? Was that her only use? Stranger felt anger begin to simmer in him. He wouldn’t believe it, she was much more to him then a guide. He didn’t care what her ‘destiny’ was, Bailey was not just a means for his own end.
“So…Bailey was sent here, jist ter guide me?” he asked,
“To guide you, to help you, to be your friend. And, if I’m not mistaken she has played a part in protecting you too.” The Grubb answered,
“But I wasn’t even going to come here,” protested Bailey, “Not until-”
“Until the voices of those gone before spoke to you, and told you what you had to do… you know what he is going to do, don’t you…” it wasn’t a question. Bailey’s eyes widened as she understood. Bringing him here would lead to Stranger saving the Grubbs and finding more Steef. “Do not fight what you know child. They told you the truth.” Bailey let out a breath,
“So that was why they spoke to me? Because they knew I was the one that had to bring Stranger here?”
“Yes, I’m sure you’ve been told many times, but was have been waiting a long time for him, and you too.”
“But…why?” asked Stranger, “Who am I?”
“I think you know the answer to that question.” Said the Grubb, but his answer was not directed to Stranger, but Bailey.
“The Steef protected the Grubbs before Sekto came…” she looked at Stranger, “And now you’ve come, they think that the Steef are back to protect them.”
“But I didn’t come here ter protect Grubbs, I-”
“You came to find more Steef.” Finished the elder Grubb, “The old Steef protected the valley, that responsibility falls on you now. That is your destiny.” Stranger stood up abruptly.
“No.” he said, voice a low growl, “I make my own way.” He left the hut without looking back. The elder Grubb sighed and shook his head. He looked up, Bailey still sat before him, a look of understanding in her expression.
“He may not know it now. But it
is his destiny to protect this valley, just as his ancestors did before him.” The Grubb said,
“He had his heart set on finding more Steef, it’s why I brought him here, I dunno how, but I had the idea that bringing him here would help him in that.” Bailey admitted, the Grubb smiled.
“And so it will. I knew a Steef would come and protect us again, I knew they would be returning soon. But it was not until I saw Stranger being led by you – a special guide - in my visions did I realise the full extent of his – and your own – destiny.”
“You mean that just because he was led here by me that his destiny contains something more then a valley guardian? You talk as if he has something bigger to do then that.” Bailey said, the Grubb smiled and nodded.
“That is because he does.” Bailey frowned, “Simply because he was sent extra guidance – you child – I knew that he is destined to do more then protect the Grubb people.” The Grubb smiled and Bailey tilted her head to one side, “He, and he alone, will destroy Sekto and bring back the Steef…” Bailey blinked and gaped.
“But,” she said after a pause, “He won’t, if he doesn’t want to he won’t do it. I don’t think he believes in his fate being set…he didn’t seem to like it just now…” The Grubb shook his head ruefully.
“No my child.” He said, “I think what bothered the Steef was that he has just been told that his best friend, one he cares about more then any, is nothing more then someone to guide him on his own destiny. I believe the thought upsets him. He cares about you child, more then I think you know. But regardless of what he wants to do, one way or another he will fulfil his fate. And though I do not know what your own fate is other then his guide, you have yet another great part to play… And not just here, in this place…” Something in the old Grubb’s eye and the tone of his voice made this prediction very ominous.
Bailey suppressed a shudder, cold liquid fear pooling in her stomach…
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That was so short I could cry…
And just a side note, to avoid confusion (although this might just cause more…), I reckon the word ‘Steef’ is both single and plural, like for example sheep and fish…ok, you got that??? *shrugs* Ah-well, there it is…