“I want to be on the pulling end this time,” Kiril said, causing everyone to laugh.
After a long, much needed rest listening to the babbling brook that flowed through the cave, Rojaire sent Kiril and Traevus up the side of the cave. They took one end of the rope with them to their connection with the lava tube that would eventually lead them out. With the agility of a mountain lion, Thayla followed them up to help pull. Ilene, Zaloka, and Kaylya looked questionably at the steeply terraced stone.
“It’s not as hard as it looks,” Rojaire said. “But if you would like the extra security of the rope, that’s fine. I don’t want anyone falling.”
“I say we go for it,” Zaloka said, challenging the other women. Ilene and Kaylya readily agreed and immediately they started up.
“Well, I can do it if they can,” Drak said with what he hoped sounded like confidence. Not letting the women get the best of them, Wessid and Drak climbed up behind them. Soon all five of them were safely in the lava tube. That left only Rojaire, Captain Setas, and Inventor Sulyan.
Rojaire turned to Captain Setas. “Once again you’re first,” he said when the others called down saying they were ready. Taking her pack, he picked up the rope securing it around her waist. “This will help you up; I’ll be going with you, showing you where to place your hands and feet, to help steady you.” Setas nodded her understanding.
“Alright, start to pull her up …slowly now,” Rojaire called to the others above them. He need not have worried. They made surprisingly easy progress; Captain Seta was stronger than she looked. “Good job,” Rojaire said to both Setas and the pulling crew, handing her to waiting, out-stretched hands and depositing her pack.
“I think I can make it up on my own,” Inventor Sulyan said when Rojaire came back down to tie him in.
“Good, let me take your pack then. You can grab the rope if you need to.” Not wanting to hurt Sulyan’s pride, Rojaire stayed back a ways on the ascent. Half way up he paused, watching with respectful admiration as Sulyan successfully made the climb to the top, the pulling crew giving him a hand up into the lava tube.
“Crystal shards!” Kiril exclaimed when Rojaire joined them after returning for his own pack. “We’re almost there.” He could hardly contain his excitement when they started on their way again. There was still quite a ways to go, but Kiril rushed ahead. His anticipation of returning to the secret valley surged so high, he could barely keep from running.
But he didn’t get very far before a cave-in of the lava tube blocked his way.
Caleeza and Tassyn carefully, but rapidly, removed debris partially covering Ollen’s body. A mass of dried blood caked one side of his head and face. His right leg lay askew, obviously broken and multiple contusions as well as superficial lacerations covered his body. “He’s still alive,” Tassyn assessed, detecting a pulse.
“Ollen, can you hear me? Wake up,” Caleeza begged, gently stroking the less damaged side of his face. “You hold on, Ollen. You hear me? Tassyn and I are going to take care of you. You are going to be all right.”
“Should we try to move him?” Tassyn asked cautiously.
“We can’t leave him here,” Caleeza cried. “If only I had a star stone, I could tell more.” She continued to search for injuries. “I can’t tell if he’s bleeding internally.”
“Let’s splint the leg and make a litter of sorts to move him,” Tassyn suggested, taking action. When they finally got Ollen’s leg splinted and Ollen moved to the shelter of the trees, darkness had fallen. Tassyn made quick work of building a fire and putting water to boil.
By the light of the campfire, Caleeza cleansed and bandaged his wounds with bits of clothing from their packs. The worse visible damage, besides a broken leg, was the side of his face and head. When she washed away the caked dried blood on his face, the cuts started bleeding again, but to her relief they were not very deep and she easily stopped the bleeding. The gash on his head was deeper and swollen. Hopefully his skull was not fractured.
“If only I still had the star stone,” Caleeza moaned again. “If he dies it will be my fault.”
“You need to stop blaming yourself,” Tassyn said handing her a hot cup of herbal tea.
“Thank you,” she said, taking the cup. The simple, Earth-born expression of gratitude had become commonplace in the colony. Tassyn and his associates had once been a threat to the expedition she and Sarus once led. A lot had changed. Now Tassyn was a corner stone of strength in their tiny community.
“It is no one’s fault. We found him and we’re with him. That’s what is important now. We need to accept what has happened and do what we can.” Caleeza’s logical mind said Tassyn was right, but her heart spoke differently.
She was a healer, but there was little she could do without healing herbs and the ability to draw energy from the elemental forces. The plants growing around them may have healing qualities, but they were unknown and untested. The foliage here resembled that growing in Chitter’s valley. It was unfortunate she hadn’t stayed with Chitter long enough to learn the formula for her healing tea.
After taking a few sips, she placed the cup on the ground and took Ollen’s hand in her own. His hand felt cold against hers, warmed by the teacup. She touched his cheek, even tried to open an eyelid. “Ollen,” she whispered. “Can you hear me?”
For the first time a low moan answered her. Tassyn rushed to join her by his side.
“Ollen, it’s me, Caleeza. Can you hear me? Give us a sign if you hear? A grunt will do.” There was another moan, louder this time with a hint of movement in his face …then a gentle squeeze of her hand.
“He squeezed my hand,” she told Tassyn jubilantly. “We need to get some liquid in him as soon as possible. First, some water. Then there’s some of the tea we give Theon in my pack.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Tassyn offered, anxious to do something to help.
“Listen to me, Ollen,” Caleeza continued. “Tassyn and I are here to take care of you.” Another gentle squeeze of her hand conveyed he understood.
“Caleeza.” The soft word coming from his lips was barely audible, but distinct.
“You are going to get well. You have to,” she whispered in near tears close to his ear.
“Why?” he breathed closely.
“Because you are the love of my heart,” she said so only he could hear. But he was sleeping again. She continued to hold his hand until Tassyn brought the water.
“I’ll cool the tea some and put it in a water container to make it easier for him to drink,” Tassyn said, handing her the canister of water.
“Good. Ollen, can you hear me? Do you think you can drink some water?” Caleeza coaxed, rousing him back awake. Ollen stirred.
“Should I hold him up to drink?” Tassyn asked. “I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Ollen, can you open your eyes?” Caleeza asked. Subtle movements of the eyelids indicated an effort to comply. Then slowly they opened. Tassyn and Caleeza glowed over his success.
“Ollen, Tassyn here. It’s good to have you back.” A hint of a smile twitched the muscles in Ollen’s face.
“Tassyn,” he acknowledged.
“Can you move your fingers and toes?” Caleeza asked. He did so, grimacing some in pain. “Good. We’re going to try and lift your head and shoulders a little to help you drink. If it hurts you too much, let us know and we will stop. Are you ready?”
“Yes,” he answered softly.
To their relief, the maneuver went well and Ollen drank some of the water and eventually most of the tea. Soon he was resting comfortably and Tassyn and Caleeza moved to the other side of the fire to talk.
“So what do you think?” Tassyn asked when they were seated.
“There are a lot of positives; he regained consciousness, he can move his extremities, he recognizes us, and he seems to understand what we say …he even spoke. How he does between now and the next sunrise will tell us more. Regardless, a broken leg will take some time to heal.”
“Once he is stable and recovering, we could try carrying him with a litter,” Tassyn ventured. “Progress would be slow, but eventually we would get him there.”
“Should we somehow get word to Theon and Edty letting them know we found Ollen?” Caleeza asked.
It was a long way back to the settlement. “I think it’s more important we stay together,” Tassyn said after some thought. “You and I need to carry Ollen. Edty wouldn’t be much help and Theon can’t be left alone. They will just have to wonder what happened to us for a while longer.”
Kiril gazed in stunned disbelief at the wall of rock between him and …everything. Theon, Ollen, Tassyn, Edty, Caleeza, his longed-for valley, his treasured map, and his lost first journal …all were on the other side. He was still staring at the jumbled mound of rock blocking the way when Rojaire and Kaylya caught up to him.
“Oh, no!” Kaylya cried in dismay.
Immediately Rojaire dropped his pack and started climbing up the rock pile. Some of the stones shifted under his feet causing Kaylya to gasp in fear of his safety as she watched him climb. From the top of the pile, he carefully dislodged stones, sending them tumbling down to the bottom of the heap.
“How does it look?” Traevus called up to him.
“Not good,” Rojaire called down, looking over his shoulder to see more of their team arriving to the bad news. “It’s blocked as far as I can see with the headlamp.”
“Do we have to go back?” Captain Setas crooned in despair.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.” Rojaire shifted position, climbing laterally across the rock mound to get another view. After a few moments he offered more encouraging news. “I might see an opening on this side. Kiril, bring up the star stone. I want to try something.”
Kiril quickly climbed up the rock pile with the star stone he, Traevus, and Rojaire shared. “Do you think we can make it to the other side?” he asked hopefully. “I tried to teleport to the opening to Kurper Valley, but it’s still too far away,” he admitted.
“You did, huh? Don’t you think you should say something before attempting a stunt like that?” Rojaire said turning to the task at hand. “From this angle I can’t see anything behind that large boulder but darkness,” Rojaire said, pointing it out to Kiril. The boulder in question touched the newly exposed ceiling. Was it the pillar holding up the ceiling against further collapse? It did look like there was only dark emptiness beyond it.
“I could crawl up to the opening and see?” Kiril offered.
Rojaire considered. “It could be dangerous. If the wrong rocks are disturbed, the ceiling could come down and crush you.”
“I’ll be careful,” he promised.
“Okay, but I want you to go easy,” Rojaire relented. Kiril was smaller and more limber than he was. “Try not to disturb anything you don’t have to. When you are certain you can see through to the other side, teleport yourself there. Then return for the rest of us,” he added just in case.
Kiril gave Rojaire an apologetic nod and started up.
“Be careful,” his mother begged. Rojaire was surprised Zaloka didn’t object outright.
All discussion ceased as the colonists anxiously watched with baited breath as Kiril climbed up and away while trying to avoid disturbing the rock base as little as possible. When he finally reached the perceived opening, he shouted back jubilantly. “I can see the lava tube on the other side.” Then what little they could still see of Kiril suddenly disappeared. Moments later he appeared again among them. “We can teleport across.”
Rojaire eased back down. “Okay, transport Ilene with you to the other side so she can see it, then the two of you can start relaying us over.
“I…I…I can’t teleport,” Ilene stammered.
“Loan me your star stone,” Traevus suggested. Ilene gladly complied and Kiril took Traevus to the other side. Soon they were back ready to transport two of the colonists beyond the barrier. They made quick work of it, barely pausing between trips. Only Rojaire and Wessid remained behind the cave-in when the mountain began to rumble.
CHAPTER 18
Earth
Rahlys rushed back to Elaine’s living quarters above the gift shop and pounded on the door. By now Elaine had closed shop and was home. Jack answered her anxiously demanding knock.
“Rahlys.”
She didn’t give him the opportunity to say more before turning toward the portrait of the Oracle of Light. The holographic image flew out the painting.
“Where is he?” Rahlys urgently demanded of the ghostly image as soon as she barged through the door.
“Where is who?” Elaine asked from the sofa, her tired feet propped up on a cushion on the coffee table where Jack had been massaging them.
“Leaf! He’s gone! Raven showed me where Leaf and Keiluk were along the river, but they were no longer there,” she explained to Elaine and Jack.
Both Jack and Elaine gasped in horror.
“Where’s Leaf?” Rahlys asked the hologram crystal twirling around her. The softly glowing projection zinged across the room sizzling out an answer, the words filling the air around them.
IN LOUISIANA.
“What?” Jack asked in astonishment. “How can that be?”
Rahlys ignored him. “Where’s Melinda?” she asked. The answer was the same.
IN LOUISIANA.
“Where in Louisiana?” Rahlys shouted, losing patience. The elusive crystalline image responded to her mood by rapidly blazing out an answer.
BY THE OLD OAK TREE.
The answer jolted Rahlys. “Oak tree…,” Rahlys whispered.
Only one oak tree loomed supreme in Rahlys’ mind. It stood majestically by an old dilapidated house in the Louisiana swamplands. A teen shooting, sensationalized by the media, had revealed a cache of stolen goods there, including a titanium laser-cutting machine that had mysteriously disappeared from a science institute in Baton Rouge. Months ago, Rahlys had stealthily visited what had to have been Brakalar’s hideout. Although Brakalar had been captured, the rune-covered chest containing the Rod of Destruction had not been recovered. Rahlys’ search of the property had failed to locate it. In her mind, Rahlys struggled to connect Melinda and Leaf to the site.
Droclum …Droclum’s touch had tainted Melinda’s essence. Rahlys had seen the key to the chest sinking into the stones of the ruins of the Temple of Tranquility on Aaia. For this reason, she had allowed herself to believe that the Rod of Destruction was safely enclosed in a locked chest with no key. Had she been duped by an interstellar ruse? Could Melinda somehow have the key …a key that has led her to the deadly weapon?
“I have to go,” Rahlys cried out before disappearing without further explanation. Elaine and Jack stared dumbfounded at the empty space Rahlys left behind.
“Do you have any idea what that was all about?” Elaine asked confused.
“Barely; the implications aren’t good.” Jack sensed his little buddy Leaf and Melinda were in a lot of danger and there was nothing he could do. He hated feeling so useless. Jack made a move for the kitchen. “You keep your feet up; I’ll see about fixing us a little something to eat.
It wasn’t long before there was another pounding at the door. This time Elaine got up to answer it and Vince and Grumpy George surged into the room. She didn’t really know Grumpy George but could guess who he was. Jack rushed from the kitchen. It was Vince who riveted their attention.
“Leaf…,” was all Vince managed, his face contorted in agonized desperation as he fell in Elaine’s uncertain embrace, nearly knocking her over, dwarfing her with his mass.
“Leaf is missing,” George filled in. “We have been searching the riverbank by boat, but we didn’t find him. We were hoping Rahlys had more information.”
“Well maybe,” Jack added cautiously. Was bad news better than no news at all, he wondered? “Here, come sit down and we can try to figure this out.” The three of them helped Vince to the sofa where he collapsed, trembling uncontrollably.
> “It’s my fault,” Vince confessed, struggling to pull himself together. “I should have helped him embrace his abilities instead of ignoring them. Maggie too. It’s no wonder he doesn’t trust us.”
In the dense Louisiana darkness eerily lit by Droclum’s fires, Leaf and Melinda clung tightly to one another. They had only taken a few steps forward, before Melinda halted. “You have to go home, Leaf. You can’t come with me.” Her voice was low and whispery, vibrating on vocal cords that had gone long unused. Melinda loved Leaf and couldn’t bear to put him in danger. She would have to face Droclum alone. “Go, now,” she added with strained force.” But Leaf was undeterred.
He reached out with heightened senses enhanced by a drawing of energy from the elemental forces. He could detect the powerful evil signature looming ahead, more like an essence than a presence that relentlessly drew Melinda to it. He could feel the pull of the strange object, the key, she carried in her pocket.
“I have to stay and protect you,” he answered fearlessly. “You are going to need my help.”
“You’re only five years old.”
“Five and a half.”
Melinda stared at him with incredulous wonder, his youthful face fixed with determination in the dying glow of the burning road. She stooped down to meet him at eye level, gently held his little bony shoulders in her hands and pleaded. “Leaf, I love you more than anything. You are so sweet, so perfect …so wonderful.” Sobbing tears broke up her words. “I can’t let anything happen to you. It would break your parents’ hearts. It would break my heart.” Before she could say more, another impatient bolt of lightning struck the board road ahead of them shattering the night.
“Follow!” the disembodied voice boomed in their heads like an explosion of thunder.
“Give me the key!” Leaf said. “I can get rid of it; take it far, far away.”
“What?” Of course Leaf would know about the key she realized. He could probably sense it. “No, Leaf, I can’t. It’s bad, evil …tainted with the essence of Droclum. It’s connected to me.” How could she make Leaf understand? “I have to find out what this key unlocks and face up to it, whatever it is. Please, go home,” Melinda cried desperately.
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