Those who opt for any of the trips with Abaddon Travels must not turn back along the way. First of all because you shouldn’t give up halfway through once you’ve started something. This is a fundamental rule both in business and in private life. Secondly, because if you give up, you definitely won’t survive the trip.

The breakdown

The length of the bus journey varies. According to Jufus, you might arrive at your destination in a few hours, or years might pass without reaching it. He claims that the roads are constantly changing, undulating. Here they stretch out, there they contract.

At times we stopped to stretch our limbs. Up to a certain height there is a good view of the sea, the bay, and the town. You can and should take photos, but there’s no signal, so it’s important to keep your cameras or at least your SD cards until the end of the trip. Bringing actual film stock isn’t recommended because the chances of getting the negatives down the mountain undamaged are extremely low. It’s also worth mentioning that while the town feels like a dozen streets crossing at right angles when you’re down there, from up on the mountain those same streets reveal themselves to be parts of an elaborate maze. Those interested in city architecture should pay extra attention to this detail.

During this part of the trip the traveler is still relatively safe. There was a single occasion when Jufus yelled at us to run back to the bus and we obeyed instantly. As soon as we boarded the bus the driver shot off, his face contorted with terror as he struggled to keep the speeding bus on the road. We looked out the windows but saw nothing. When we counted the travelers, only one of us was missing, but nobody remembered who it was.

This is another reason why utmost trust in the guide is crucial.

‘Why are you coming up the mountain?’ I asked Nora. ‘If you’re from the town, shouldn’t you be looking for your relatives down there?’

A sad smile appeared on Nora’s lips.

‘My grandmother was from the mountains. That’s where my dreams summon me. That’s where the high priest sent me too.’

‘The one who beat you up?’

‘She blessed me.’

The fog never disappears, but sometimes it disperses so that you can only see its grayness on the horizon. Sometimes it turns into dense rain, then into a milky mass that carries the scent of decay.

‘Why are you here?’ Nora asked. I guess there’s no reason­able answer, or maybe it’s too horrifying to admit the truth, so we prefer to lie to ourselves about it. I just shrugged and didn’t answer. I knew she understood what I meant.

The bus stopped without any warning, throwing many passengers off balance. We heard a loud bang from inside the vehicle, and the driver stepped on the brakes instantly. The old man behind me slammed into the back of my seat.