Three to See the King

the camp, if you’re interested.’
    Thanks, but the trouble is I can’t get down.’
    ‘Have you tried?’
    ‘Er … no, I haven’t, actually.’
    ‘Well, why don’t you?’ he said. ‘Who knows? You might succeed.’
    I looked at this man and saw from the state of his clothes that he must have been working exceptionally hard. His hands were engrained with the red earth he’d had to shovel all day long, and he was probably keen to hasten home for a break. Yet despite all this he seemed most concerned that I should partake of the supper that was being cooked down below.
    ‘I’m not very keen on ladders,’ I explained.
    ‘Well, they’re all properly secured,’ he said. ‘I can assure you of that.’
    ‘Oh, are they?’
    ‘Yes, and the earth ramps are as safe as houses.’
    There was something about the way he spoke that made me trust him unreservedly, as if I’d known him my whole life. All at once I felt that I might just be able to negotiate the route into the canyon, if someone came with me.
    ‘I don’t mind accompanying you,’ said the man. ‘If you’d like to have a go.’
    ‘Alright,’ I replied. ‘I will.’
    The first part of the descent was a short, steep ramp of earth leading to a platform about twelve feet below. I got down this section quite easily, and then found myself at the top of a long ladder. The man hopped onto the upper rung and off again to demonstrate how secure it was.
    ‘Shall I go first, or you?’ he asked.
    ‘You lead and I’ll follow,’ I said.
    Halfway down the ladder my hands were sticky and I was holding on much tighter than I needed to. All the same, with his reassuring voice encouraging my every step, I made it to the next level and began to feel a little better. Another ladder came next, followed by a huge, wide ramp that gradually evened out onto a second platform. In this manner we worked steadily downwards, pausing from time to time so that I could get some perspective on our progress, then continuing unhurriedly to the next stage. As we did so I marvelled at how well it had all been worked out. The ladders were fixed firmly in position and the ramps of earth packed hard so that they felt very solid underfoot. Consequently, none of the links in this stairway was daunting enough to make me want to turn back. At one point there was even a wooden bench for resting on, and when we reached it my guide suggested we stopped for a few minutes. Another good idea. So far I’d managed to avoid looking into the canyon itself, but when I finally did I discovered I was able to remain calm and composed. This was actually quite enjoyable! As we sat gazing across the wide expanse, I noticed that several of the people below were staring up at us. Presumably, they must have seen many others coming down this route in the past, and I wondered what they found so interesting about my partner and me.
    Most of them, however, were concentrating fully on their task. All along the canyon, huge excavations were under way to make it broader, deeper and longer, the work being carried out by highly-organized groups of men and women. Everywhere there were ramps, ladders and hoists, as well as planks and footpaths connecting the various operations. The area around the encampment was apparently finished, because the earth here had been levelled completely flat. Even so, there was still plenty remaining to be done, and all of a sudden I felt a desire to take part in this tremendous undertaking.
    ‘Shall we go on?’ I said.
    My neighbour had been sitting in silence, as if contemplating the upturned faces below. Now he rose to his feet, saying, ‘Yes, of course’, and led the way to the next stage.
    Trudging up from the bottom was a straggler, a lone man on the first leg of his journey home. He was moving very slowly, carefully measuring his steps, as he negotiated a ramp, a ladder and then another ramp. He paused at the foot of the next ladder, seemingly unaware that we were waiting above him. My companion leaned over and called, ‘Do you want to come up first, John?’
    The question had a marked effect on the man below us. He glanced up, saw who’d addressed him, and gave a cry of recognition.
    ‘Michael!’ he exclaimed. ‘Oh yes, thank you, I will!’
    17
    So, had I met him at last? Was I being led down this obstacle course by Michael Hawkins himself ? The sudden realization that, yes, I most probably was, caused me to sway unsteadily and next moment I felt him seize me by