Rick nodded and continued.
“Well Lina. We have something we think you all should see. You can leave the cart behind if you want, we really have no use of it. And that goes for the rest of you to.”
Rick and the other mongooses freed several of Lina’s herd from the carts chains. Some ran off into the woods without a second thought, others stayed too scared to move. And some even refused getting there chains removed for fear that the snakes would return and punish them. Regardless they all traveled down the Black Road together, with the mongooses surroundings the horses ready to defend them at the first sign of trouble.
“What.... it. You wanted... show us?” Lina asked then started coughing. She thinks that’s the longest scentence she’s ever said.
Rick lead them down the long black road in the direction they were supposed to go, the horses that kept pulling the cart followed them. The female horse walked along side the male mongoose as they traveled down the black road. It heart Lina’s head to look down it. Seeing how long it was, it must have taken years to build. Lina averted her eyes and caught sight of a male rabbit bathing in a water fall, who noticed her then ran into the woods.
Rick noticed her averting her gaze from the road and smiled.
“Ahh.” He said “The Black Road. That’s a good start. We’ve spoken with flyers you know. It’s everywhere. All over the world. Connecting coast to coast, even on other continents and islands. It flows through mountains and also carves along side them. Like a solid river of rock.”
Lina looked out over the horizon, yet more of the Black Road was seen breaking off and continuing in a new direction that looked just as long as the one before them.
“But... Who... make?” Lina started coughing again and Rick offered her some water. Lina sipped it then passed back the snake skin canteen.
“You know the snakes control this land?” Rick asked.
Lina noded.
“Before them the crocodiles. Before them, the alligators. Do you know what was before them?” Rick asked. Lina shook her head, but was smart enough to see We’re this was going. “Ones who make... Black Road?”
Rick nodded and patted her head. Lina took another sip of the canteen.
“Long. Long ago. Before the crocodiles, before even the alligators. There were a race we call. The Builders!”
Lina gasped while drinking then started coughing up water. Lina had heard tales of The Builders from her grandfather, supposedly they were responsible for making the world how it was now, Lina never believed her grandpa, but after seeing The Black Road... Several of the cart pullers and horses not pulling the cart stoped in there hooves, others kept walking curious to hear more of Rick’s story.
“The Builders were one race that stood everywhere! They were many and created great wonders that would seam like magic to us now!” Several of the mongooses nodded there heads Rick became more animated when talking about The Builders, using elaborate hand jesters. “They stood everywhere. On every continent, every island can be found remnants of the Builders if you know were to look. They were united not by race like we are now, but by Ideas!” Lina got distracted when she saw a naked deer woman run across the road infront of them, but then focused back on Rick’s story, not wanting to miss a single word.
“They grouped together with people who thought like them. Talked like them. And had similar beliefs that lined up with there own. They fought, yes, but there was also piece among there differing tribes at times undreamed of in the world today. They built The Black Road everywhere to connect those too far away or to weak to make a treacherous journey. They made machines to pass along information without courier. And they made machines who only existed to bring there Builder masters along the Black Road at a faster pace then walking.”
“If Builder so great... What happen?” Lina asked some of the horses leaning in to hear his answer in batted breath. Rick’s smile finally faded. “Weeee... don’t know.” He said lamely. “But at some point on the two thousandth year on The Builder calendar there unified race stopped, and the many divided races of our world came to be.”
Rick finished his story and looked at Lina. Lina was stunned, then started laughing, then coughing she guzzled down more of Ricks water then handed him back the empty snake sack.
“You... expect me believe that?!” Lina started giggling again. “How I know you not lying to me?”
Rick’s smile grew. “Because unlike some. We. Have. Proof.”
The group of mongooses, mares, and stallions turned a corner and stopped.
“There.” Rick pointed at a structure.
Lina’s eyes bulged. She had never seen anything like it. None of her herd had. The mongooses guards smirked with a look of “told you so” written along there muzzles.
Lina stood her jaw on the floor for several seconds. Then turned to Rick. “What IS it?” She asked in wonder, now believing every word he said like some kind of profit.
Rick’s smile returned. He knew exactly what it was....