A Love In Dark Times
Chapter 79

-We must try to defeat it, please Luisa, confront it with your riddles. -proposed Guio, admiring that mountain-beast.

-I will confront him, Mr. Gatekeeper, please let us cross, we will guess your riddles. -Luisa shouted loudly trying to get the mountainous being to heed her calls.

-No miss, I am not one of those ordinary things, you confuse me. -The guardian shined its nails against her fur. -Please let us through, we need to go rescue my mother in that place. -pleaded Angie.

-No, I'm sorry, I won't let you through without permission. -roared the mountain.

-Hey, the last time we passed, you didn't demand one, only the great master gave you something that I don't remember what it was. -Francisco had that image erased because of the nature of purgatory, the air makes you forget your life to facilitate your purification. -The only thing I would receive in return would be those two keys you have hanging on your chest, dear gentleman. -I try to crouch down, looking at the traitor.

-In that case it is better that we fight, if we defeat you, you will allow us to pass. -Luisa proposed, drawing her sword to instil fear in him.

-Go ahead, miss, I don't think you'll make it, not even because you have that eyesore as a weapon. -The mountain monster threw his huge fist with which he almost crushed them, they all jumped on him, running down his arm and reaching his head, attacking his eyes, ears and mouth, without causing him considerable damage if he hadn't tried to crush them with his other hand, hitting himself when they dodged him.

-It's very strong and big, we must plan something," Luis suggested. -I think we should make him fall as if we were tying his shoes.

Luisa called out to him, dancing away, shaking her hips, slapping her hands, the mountain was furious, running to crush her, asserting: "What a vulgar woman: -what a vulgar woman.

The other boys tied up their jackets and trousers, contriving a rope, tying the ends to some large rock, pulling it tight as the huge beast passed, as a result of which it went face first into the ground, making the ground tremble.

They all threw themselves on top of the mountain, burying their swords, cutting, tearing without even a drop of liquid gushing out, the monster shook himself, getting up without stopping laughing, he enunciated to them: -Stop tickling me.

The warriors gathered to discuss strategy.

-Francisco, please remember what they gave this guy, it could have been a permit, please you have to get your head out of your a*s. -Angie tapped him on the forehead.

Luisa called out to him, dancing, shaking her hips, clapping her hands, the mountain rushed to crush her as if it were a vulgar woman:

-what a vulgar mujar.

The ladies and boys tied their jackets and trousers, and tied a rope, tying their arms to some big rocks and pulling it tight as the huge bastia passed by, as a result of which it flew face-first into the sea, making the sea reel.

All of them threw themselves at the mountain, cutting their blades, cutting, tearing without even a drop of any liquid gushing out, the monster shook itself, washing itself without stopping the raging, announced: -enough is enough of tickling.

-I swear I don't remember, even as we pass here I feel like I'm forgetting things, if I keep this up I'm going to become one of those souls in those rows. -Francisco was being affected by the winds that blew his memory away like desert sand.

-Let's cut his neck, it seems to be his thinnest spot, let's cut it together, it could be the solution. -Luisa showed a capacity for resolution. They all tried to climb the neck in different ways, it was a real mountaineering challenge to climb that mountain that shook in the middle of laughter, they tried to stab him in the neck while dodging and because of the huge hands that tried to crush them, that task seemed impossible, their swords seemed to be only needles, the only damage he received was the one he inflicted on himself trying to defend himself from the tickling as he himself said

-It doesn't work, let's try something else. -Guio complained as he hit the ground as if he was going to till it.

-Even the eyes don't seem to be affected, I don't see any way to affect a mountain. -Angie kept cutting him while protesting.

-We have to find another solution, if only Francisco would remember. -Luis added to the conversation, trying to dig a ditch.

-Who is Francisco, he sounds familiar. -The traitor, whose memory was already going blank, answered.

-It is possible that this could also happen to us, we must look for a solution, please Guio, get Master Francisco to safety. -Angie ignited her sword to the maximum, lunging with all her might at one of the huge eyes of the mountain.

-I know, I will enter through its mouth and destroy it from the inside. -That idea occurred to Luis and he was about to do it if it wasn't for Guio stopping him, showing them that the door was uncovered, surely they could get through that cave before the beast got them.

They ran without looking back, only feeling the huge footsteps that caused tremors, they entered the dark cave closing their eyes to avoid being dazzled, when they opened them they saw the light ahead, the exit where it would throw them into the world of shadows to rescue their friends. They emerged from the cave only to find themselves face to face with the mountain guardian, who was clutching his belly laughing.

-It must be like in the lagoon, this monster is the door and we can't get in if he doesn't want us to. -said Luis, his inference.

-I can think of something, the only way I've ever seen a mountain fall is with erosion. -Luis created a whirlpool with his sword with which he hit it, tousling the being, who blew them harder, sending them back into the cave, where they came out again to find him facing them, who observed them:

-Oh, but what vulgar warriors, they took off their clothes to fight against me, that's a lack of manners and respect against an opponent.

-That's right, this monster considers himself high class, we can make him disgusted with bad manners. -Luis added a burp to test his theory, to which the monster got annoyed, saying:

-it sounds bad, but rest the animal.

They all immediately tried it, including Luisa, whose burp sounded like a goat's squeal, which really annoyed the mountain, who attacked them, throwing himself on top of them, wanting to crush them with his belly.

-That only seems to infuriate him, I can't conceive of him letting us pass like that. -Guio opined, throwing a gas on himself.

-Let's try to make him vulgar. -The idea occurred to Luisa, coughing without covering her mouth.

-How do we do it? -asked Angie picking her nose.

-Well, let's cut off all that weed he has for fur, that way he'll be naked," proposed Luisa scratching her armpits.

-Ready, let's do it. -Estrello stopped urinating on a wall and started pulling out the hairy weed with claws and teeth.

Everyone helped with the extensive depilation, except Francisco, who just clapped his hands and laughed like a baby. His efforts bore fruit, the wind was coloured with those fibres that spread over the horizon while the mountain cried out: -what a horror, I'm naked what a shame, don't look at me please, for all you care.

-Well, mountain, let us pass or we will stay to see your shame. -Luis threatened him, looking at his nakedness.

-1

I agree, go away, I hope I never see you again because I will surely destroy you, go away. -As he uttered this, his body lit up in a dark fire, turning into a rectangular door.

-Let's go. -Guio proposed, carrying Francisco on his shoulders and the others followed him, only Luis remained for a moment contemplating the gloomy place, with those rows of souls that were lost in the distance under a thick fog that did not let us see their destiny; he sighed declaring a prayer of blessing while he threw himself into the interior of that door.