Robert Finch 

9/19/01 

Holtslander 

Hon-Eng. 9 Prd.#4 

John Williamson cursed as he made his way through the thick forest. "Those miserable, lying, knaves." They had abandoned him when he needed them the most. "Friends indeed!" Machete in hand, he slashed wildly at anything that was in his way. 

"Why did I ever come to this wretched place?" He had crossed over the bridge a few miles back. According to the natives, the cave was due north of it. He had asked them how far, but none of them would answer. 

''Needed to keep their gods happy, I suppose," he muttered to himself. "I'm standing on holy ground. Heh. If the gods blessed this place, they sure made a mistake." 

After what seemed like hours, John found the cave. It was nothing much as far as he could tell, but the locals made a big fuss over it. What was it they called it again? Mitrahnya. When he had asked what Mitrahnya meant, all they would tell him was that it was a sacred place. They had told him that anyone who crossed the threshold was never seen again. A guardian or something or other. “Don't set foot in the cave,” they had warned. Why should he listen to them? “They're just ignorant aboriginals.” 

Slipping and often losing his footing completely on the smooth surface of the cave's floor, John Williamson started to become frustrated. He was climbing upwards, no doubt there, but he was moving at a snail's pace. His lantern had been more of a hindrance than an aid to his progress, and so he had thrown it back down the passage from where he had come. 

The floor of the cave was finely polished, and the end had been nowhere in sight the last he had seen. John shook his head. He had thrown his lantern away. "Why did you go and do an idiotic thing like that? Maybe those aboriginals were right. Maybe this cave is cursed." This thought brought on many others which he soon subdued. "Get a hold of yourself, John." 

The polished floor of the cave soon became dirt and rock, and John could get some traction. He was happy about that but making it through the passage had exhausted him. He had nothing with him other than his machete and a little food. The lantern was gone, his food would last maybe two or three days at the most, and the machete was useless in this cave. He was all alone in the bleakness of Mitrahnya with little food and no light, but John mentally threw away all of his worries and drifted off into a deep sleep. 

*** 

When he awoke there was a man staring down at him, seemingly studying him as he slept. "Hello, it has been a long time since I have had the pleasure of having a guest. My name is Demitre Yaganov. I was once very famous but alas, my friends betrayed me, and my country destroyed itself in a civil war. I know who you are John Williamson. Come. We can talk in my Inner Sanctum," he said as he motioned for John to follow him. 

Before John took a step, he demanded to know two things. "Where are my things and how do you know who I am?" 

Demitre answered calmly, "Your things are hidden in my Inner Sanctum, and I know who you are because I looked at the identification papers that were in your wallet." 

"Oh, that's nice," replied John, not knowing what else to say. 

And the two started off down the cave’s passages, John following Demitre closely, making sure not to lose him. There were no lights in the cave, and John could hardly catch a glimpse of the constantly moving form of Demitre. Instead of using sight, John followed Demitre by the sound of his footfalls on the gravely surface of the floor of the cave. Demitre obviously knew his way through the cave and did not ever slacken in his quick pace nor seem to hurry. After a while, John thought he saw lights deeper in the cave. At first the light was only a small flicker, but it soon grew and lit the path ahead so that John could see what his surroundings were. 

Demitre had led John into an expansive chamber that was lit by many torches and candles. The 'ceiling' of the chamber was extremely lofty, and the topmost portion was completely invisible; hidden in the bleak, eerie shadows. At the back of the room there sat an altar that had been crudely constructed from mudbrick and some kind of wood, the likes of which John had never seen before. At each side of the chamber there was a single doorway, but John could not see where they led. "What do you think, John Williamson? What do you think of my Inner Sanctum?" 

John did not answer. He simply gazed and took in everything that met his eyes, in the place Demitre labeled the Inner Sanctum. "Ehm, Mr. Willamson. I asked you a question and I demand an answer!" screamed Demitre. 

Quite taken aback by this sudden outburst, John answered in a stern tone of voice, "Quite impressive. Yes, extremely impressive." 

John soon realized how famished he was, and after the thought crossed his mind, he could think of nothing else. "Hey, um... Demitre, do you have any food lying about, perhaps?" inquired John. 

"But of course, you are my guest of honor. It isn't very often that I have visitors in this place. Oh, and I'm terribly sorry about yelling at you like that. Can you ever accept my apologies?" he asked in an almost too polite manner. 

John was thinking only of his empty stomach, and he replied almost instantaneously after Demitre had finished speaking. "Of course I forgive you, Demitre, how could I do otherwise. Now, could you very kindly get me something to eat?" Demitre did not respond to the request verbally, but he quickly entered one of the side-chamber doors. It was some time before Demitre reentered the Inner Sanctum, and when he did it was only to tell John that his food had been prepared. 

*** 

It had been a fine meal and now John and Demitre were conversing. 

"My friends and I came here searching for something that might give eternal life, and we were told by the natives that the solution lies here, in the cave of Mitrahnya. The natives also told us many bad things about this place. My companions became frightened and ran away while I was sleeping. So, as you can see, I came alone. I came searching for something that would grant eternal life, but it looks like it doesn't exist," explained a disappointed John Williamson. 

Demitre was silent for a moment, and then he muttered, "But it does exist. Surely it exists, for I have discovered it myself. I am living proof that such a thing exists." At this statement John started. This old man had discovered eternal life?! 

"H-… how old are you, exactly?" stuttered John. 

Demitre replied, "I am around 300 years old. I lost count along the way. You can understand that time is difficult to measure when you live in a cave." John was amazed. He had found the discoverer of eternal life! 

"How exactly does one acquire eternal life?" asked John anxiously. 

"Well, most people would consider my methods for 'acquiring' eternal life somewhat vulgar. In fact, it is the very reason I was banished from my country, by the people I called my friends." 

A long-held hatred boiled in Demitre’s dark eyes as he told more of the story. "I had just discovered a way to give eternal life to anyone who wanted it. I became famous quickly. I was the most famous scientist ever. I was a hero to my people. But my 'friends' were, unbeknownst to me, secret police of the king. They thought my methods were an abomination and an embarrassment to my country. The king thought so too. He banished me and sent me here to live the remainder of my life.” 

“Hahaha, he was such a fool. I outlived the king and returned to my country as a prophet. I secretly began plotting and scheming. Silently, I incited rebellion and eventually sparked the flame of war. Soon that spark turned into a flame, which engulfed and destroyed my country. That was 173 years ago. Since then, I've been here and there, but I return here every 50 years or so to renew my eternal life. I am truly forgotten by the world." And with that, Demitre Yaganov ended his story. 

John was now extremely frightened and had to work up the courage to speak again. "What are your methods? I want no more talk of your past Demitre," uttered John. His voice faltered and he was trembling. 

Demitre saw the fear in John’s eyes and replied consolingly, "Don't worry John, I won't hurt you. Why don't you go to bed? My room is through that door." He pointed to the left-hand chamber door. "I won't wake you. I have some preparations to make." 

*** 

John couldn't sleep. All he could think of was how strange this old man was. "Wait a minute," he thought to himself. For the first time, the thought crossed his mind: This whole thing was strange. An old man in a cave, an altar, an Inner Sanctum. This wasn't exactly what John called a church. What exactly were Demitre Yaganov's 'methods' for obtaining eternal life, and what kind of 'preparations' was he making? 

"Good morning, Mr. Williamson," proclaimed Demitre. 

John was in no mood to talk. He wanted to know one thing. "What are your methods for acquiring eternal life Demitre?" questioned John in a demanding fashion. 

Demitre stared at him for a moment, and then he answered, "I see you have discovered, or have at least come close to understanding, my procedures. Have you not? If you have not, you will now be informed. If you know, then I will help you make sure you are rig-" 

Demitre was interrupted by an annoyed John Williamson. "Just tell me how you do it, OK?" ordered John. 

"I sacrifice humans and use their blood to sustain my life. And you, Mr. Williamson, are to be my seventh victim!" exclaimed Demitre. 

John answered angrily, "I don't think so. You couldn't kill me with or without a weapon." 

Demitre laughed, "Oh, but you are sorely mistaken. Your food was poisoned, and I am immune to the poison. So, you see, you will die, and I will live. Eternally. Also, I did not lie when I said I wouldn't hurt you. Rest assured, your death will be painless." 

John lunged at him like a prowling lion, "You'll pay for murdering those people, Demitre, I'll make sure of it." 

*** 

"I know it's wrong, but I'm sure glad he's dead," muttered John to himself. "I sure am getting tired. Must be the poison." Before he succumbed to the poison, John Williamson took a torch and set fire to all of Demitre Yaganov's cruel and barbaric instruments. Then, slowly, the man who was known as John Williamson died; alone, abandoned, and forgotten by the world. 

The Forgotten Hero

 John Williamson was a warrior of righteousness, who fought for his country during The War and destroyed the evil Demitre Yaganov. John Williamson…lost in obscurity.