by Peter Ponzo
She awoke to a new day of whispering winds and golden sky and she cried once more, the tears of today flowing upon the tears of yesterday. Her legs were bruised from the descent of the mountain and her robe torn from its clutching rocks. She gazed across the plain and saw the mountain rising above the golden grasses. Now she lay huddled beneath a twisted tree, the sole feature in an otherwise featureless plain of grass.
Sandra Brickle crawled from under the tree, gathering her robe about her, and began again to follow the bubbling stream which now grew in size and urgency, rushing ahead, frothing, laughing, until it came to the Lip of Monash and leaped into space. She crept carefully to the edge of the great cliff and gasped at the sight of the vast river below.
"Good God," she whispered, "how can I follow my stream down that ... that ?"
"You can, my child," came the silken voice, and Sandra rolled to her side and stared up at the luminous figure hovering above her.
"Oh God!" Sandra sucked in her breath. "Oh God, who are you?"
"I am the Ghost of Chalma and you, Sandra Brickle, must descend to the River of Monash and follow the river to its source for then will you be saved."
"Saved? Saved from what? How did I get here? How do I -"
But the figure shimmered and slowly faded and Sandra looked down at the river once more and cried, and as she looked, huge shadows moved slowly across the great water and she looked up to see the giant birds wheeling, then descending.
"Oh God, they're coming this way!" she cried and turned to run when the ground shook and opened and a dark hollow formed and she fell into the crater and fainted.
*****
It was dark when she awoke and her back hurt and her head was filled with ache, but she heard the sound of rushing water. She pulled herself to her feet and squinted but could detect no thing, for the light was dim. Slowly she made her way toward the sound, groping and finding a wall of rock, stumbling and finding stones at her feet, yet the sound grew louder and she could feel a fine mist and she felt refreshed and sank to her knees.
"I can't go on," she muttered. "The cliff ... I may fall ... I must rest," and she pulled her robe tightly about herself and closed her eyes.
When she opened them once more, day had come and she was at the base of the cliff, and a column of laughing water fell by her side. "My stream," she whispered. "My wonderful stream." Sandra stretched and dropped her robe and stepped naked into the falling waters, raising her head to see the slender stream which leaped beyond the lip of the cliff above and plunged onto the stony beach and thence into the River of Monash. Her energy restored, she once more pulled her robe about her and started across the stony strand toward the river, mumbling to herself.
"And the beautiful and courageous Sandra Brickle followed the River of Monash to its source, and she was saved." She shook her head. "Now what does that mean?"
When she reached the river she stopped and sat on the shore and whispered: "Ghost? Are you there? What do I do now?" But there was no answer and she said, "You're on your own, Miss Brickle," and she looked about and saw a dark object on the still water and she stood and the object approached and she saw that it was a row of logs lashed to form a raft, and the raft came to her and slid upon the shore.
"Thank you, Ghost," she murmured, and stepped onto the raft and it slipped once more into the river and she lay on it and closed her eyes. "The beautiful Sandra floated peacefully on the smooth waters ..." then she fell silent. "I was just taking a bath," she whispered to herself, "then I went to add something to my diary, then I saw the amulet and it was glowing and ..."
She pushed herself to a sitting position and looked upon the great River. "This is surely a dream ... but when do I wake up? And why didn't I bring my purse, and why didn't I bring something to eat." Suddenly her eyes brightened and she reached into the pocket of her robe and removed a small plastic package of peanuts and she tore it open, eagerly, and poured the contents into an eager mouth. "If you're still around, Ghost, I do thank you for this - but, if you don't mind, I'd like to wake up now."
It was late on the second day - or perhaps the third day, she couldn't tell for sure - that she saw the lights and heard the noises, on the great River, then the frantic splashing and she grew afraid and slipped over the side of her raft, clinging to its side, shaking. A shadow appeared beyond her raft and rose to a great height and hovered above her and she closed her eyes and slithered beneath the raft so that only her head was visible. The shadow, silhouetted against a darkening sky, unfolded great wings and a monstrous head and flew cackling across the river and vanished and the lights flickered and other gigantic creatures arose from the dark waters and winged their way to the distant horizon.
"Oh God, Oh Ghost, please help me."
"Help you?" the voice murmured, and Sandra froze and a small and scaly head appeared beside her and the tiny beast clambered upon the raft and gazed down at her. "Can I help you?" it asked.
"Oh please, don't hurt me," Sandra cried. "I'm just dreaming and I'll wake up, soon." She looked closely at the creature with its horny head and flaring nostrils. "Who ... what are you?" she asked.
"I am a dragon of Monash, of course," it answered.
"And those ugly beasts that flew away? What are they?"
"Also dragons. Have you never seen a dragon?"
"Well ... yes, of course, in storybooks," she said. "In fact I remember distinctly the story about PeePod the Dragon, and his friends PeeWee and PeeWoo. Perhaps this dream is just ... uh, this is a dream, right?"
A second head appeared by Sandra's side and clambered upon the raft.
"Wouldn't you feel better up here?" it said, and extended a bony wing. Sandra hesitated for a moment then reached out for the wing and held tight as the small beast pulled her aboard. "Now, isn't that better?"
"Yes, but where am I and when do I wake up?"
The two baby dragons looked at each other, stared at the strange hulk wrapped in her robe, then spoke at once.
"This is Kloma, the City of Monash, and you really shouldn't be here because all the warriors are gathering to fly to Woller for a great battle ..." said one, and the other interrupted to say " - and they won't let us go because we're too small."
Sandra looked about and saw only lights rising from deep beneath the surface of the river, but no city. "What city? I don't see any city."
"Then we'll show you!" the creatures shouted and leapt from the raft and vanished into the dark waters, and she waited and soon they reappeared, their heads bobbing by the side of the raft.
"Aren't you coming?"
"Coming where?" she asked.
"To Kloma, of course."
"But ... but where is this city of Kloma?"
"Beneath the waters of the River of Monash. Where else would it be?"
Sandra Brickle laughed, a wavering, frightened giggle.
"If you don't mind I'll just float on by, thank you both very much." And she pulled her wet robe tightly about her and shook her head. "The beautiful and talented Sandra Brickle refused the invitation and continued on her journey to the source of the Monash River."
The dragons mimicked the shaking of the head and said at once: "Then we wish you a safe and happy journey," and they both vanished, leaving but a ring of bubbles to mark their passing.
"Ghost? Are you there?"
*****
The raft shook mightily as the river changed course, the roiling waters carrying the small craft to the far shore, to a rocky coast that received the jarring surf. Sandra opened her eyes and jumped to her feet. Behind her she could see the distant flock of dark-winged creatures rising from the waters, gathering in large number above the submarine city of Kloma, then heading in formal array down the river. The horde was staggering in its immensity and the amber sky grew black with their number. She crawled from her raft and lay shaking by its side. For an eternity the waters gave birth to this ascension of brutes and when the last dragon vanished from sight, she he
ld her head and cried.
"Please, let me wake up ... now."
When she opened her eyes she was lying before a glowing figure which shimmered in the morning light.
"Sandra Brickle," the Ghost said gently, "you are fortunate to have passed the city of Kloma without incident."
"Oh Ghost," Sandra cried, jumping to her feet. "Thank you for coming. Now, please, let me wake up. I really must get dressed and I think I should call the hospital to check on Mrs. Kronkite and I know that Mr. Kailey needs me and -"
"My child, you are not dreaming. You now stand on the shores of Filope, yet your journey has not ended, for you must continue to the mouth of the River. But beware the Beasts of Filope for they -"
"No! No! I must wake up now! I really must! My patients, they need me and I haven't brought my makeup and ... Ghost? Don't leave me!"
But it was too late. The Ghost dissolved to a glimmer then faded and Sandra fell to her knees and cried.
When she once more pushed her raft into the river it was quickly swept away and she held tightly to the coarse logs, but the flow had changed and craft headed unsteadily back to Kloma. When she reached mid-steam, the raft spun about and she was thrown from the heaving platform into the dark waters. With difficulty she climbed once more to the raft and watched as the river swirled about her. Ahead she could see the great bend in the river, then, with horror, she saw the whirlpool.
"Oh Ghost, please, I don't need this. Really, I don't."
Suddenly the raft leaped forward, then stopped and the sucking maw quieted and the river calmed and she stood to see the glassy surface stretch in either direction without a single ripple to break its surface.
"Thank you, again," she said, bowing in the direction of Filope and the last sighting of the Ghost. She drew her robe about her, standing defiantly, her hair whipped by a swelling breeze.
"And the beautiful and fearless Sandra Brickle wandered slowly down the river once more, to its mouth ... and to her salvation."
CHAPTER 10
Again into Sharlain
Peter Jacob was frightened. Gloria had vanished into some other world and he was to wait for a week then go after her, but she had taken the amulet with her. How could he follow her?
He read the words that Gloria had written on the slip of paper, for Tom.
"Borgo-nom achewan. No-nopawno agerwan," he chanted, but when he opened his eyes he was still on the sofa. He sat there for some time, shivering. A week? He was to wait a week then send help, to this World of Sharlain. Yet, he had no way to enter this other world. He closed his eyes and shook with anger and fright. Then, a noise, and he opened his eyes and saw her. Gloria stood before him, smiling, and he jumped to his feet but she vanished and he fell back onto the sofa again.
He hadn't waited for a week. Clayton had left the phone number of his number two man in Security and Peter had phoned Tony Shugart that same night. He had tried to explain the strange events which lead to the vanishing of Gordon and subsequently Clayton, Tom and his wife Gloria. Tony had listened patiently, then suggested that he come to Peter's house the following evening.
*****
Peter jumped when the door bell rang. He hadn't eaten, shaved or slept for over 24 hours and looked disheveled and tired when Tony walked through the front door.
"Hi. I'm Tony Shugart." Tony stood for a moment, staring at Peter. "You look a mess. Can I come in? Maybe you can tell me once again what happened."
Peter wandered to the living room and they both sat, Tony waiting for Peter to talk, a cigarette poised in one hand, a match in the other. After a time, Peter began.
"After Gordon vanished we all got together and -"
"Peter, can you start right from the beginning? Clay did mention some other world and seemed concerned that it had something to do with the assassination of the governor. I guess I didn't pay much attention." Tony lit his cigarette and leaned forward.
"But weren't you worried when Clayton didn't come in to work today?"
"He's taken a vacation. After the Memorial Day tragedy he deserves it. We don't expect him back for ten days. Now, can we start from the beginning?"
Peter Jacobs leaned back and closed his eyes, then took a deep breath and began:
"It started, I guess, when Gordon hypnotized Dan Woller during one of our poker nights. Dan's a prof at Corrigan College, head of the math department. While hypnotized, Dan said some strange words."
Peter pulled a slip of paper from his shirt pocket and repeated the words. "Borgo-nom achewan. No-nopawno agerwan "
"Dan denied having said the words. In fact he wouldn't even admit to being hypnotized. Later that week Gordon heard the same words on TV. Some old guy had been found in an alley, sick and dying, I think. The old guy preached the end of the world to passersby and these same words were written on the wall of the alley where he lived. Both Tom and Gord visited the old guy in the hospital. His name was Woller and he said he came from some other world, and that Dan Woller came from the same place. A few days later the old man died, poisoned. Then Dan Woller and his wife Kathy disappeared. Their house is now boarded up and they're just gone. Then Gordon read about somebody, a nurse, who also disappeared. God, looks like everybody is disappearing."
Peter put his head in his hands and Tony waited. Soon, Peter shook his head and continued.
"Gord and Clay went to the police to get some amulet which had belonged to the nurse, or at least was found in her apartment."
Tony leaned forward and coughed lightly and Peter stopped talking.
"Peter? Why did Gordon think this nurse was involved?"
"I'm not sure. I think she worked at the hospital where old man Woller was taken."
Tony nodded his head and Peter continued.
"This amulet had the same words inscribed on it; the borgo words. According to Clay, Gord spoke the words while holding the amulet and vanished, right out of the back seat of Clay's car. That's when we all got together, here, right where you're sitting, and they decided to follow Gord into this other world, and ... and I was to wait for a week then ... then, send in a posse. That's what Tom said: send in a posse."
Tony got up and walked to the window, puffed for a moment then walked back to the sofa. Peter watched him without speaking. Tony sat again and stared earnestly at Peter, the cigarette still dangling from his lips.
"The amulet, where is it now?" Tony said.
"Gloria took it with her." Peter raised his voice, partly in anger, partly in fear. "How did she expect me to follow her into this other world if she, she -"
"Take it easy Pete. We'll figure something out. What about the alley where the old man was found? Maybe there's a way into this other world from that alley."
"We tried that, before we had the amulet. No luck." Peter looked at the floor and mumbled. "How did she expect me to follow her? How could I, if she took the bloody amulet? She must have known I couldn't follow her. She must have -"
"Look Pete, there must be another way into ... what's the name of this other world?"
Peter mumbled, almost inaudibly: "Sharlain."
"We've got to find out how Dan Woller got back to Sharlain. Tomorrow night we'll visit his house. You say it's boarded up so we'll just let ourselves in and look around. We may find something. In the meantime you'd better get some sleep. I'll be around to pick you up at, say, 7 o'clock tomorrow evening. Okay?"
Tony got up and looked down at Peter Jacobs. Peter nodded and Tony walked alone to the front door. Before he left he looked back. Peter hadn't moved from his chair. Tony watched for a moment then let himself out. Before he left, Peter said something.
"What's that?" Tony asked.
"The World of Sharlain," Peter muttered. "You don't seem surprised. Do you believe it? I was skeptical at first. I thought it was pure Tolkien, imagination, fantasy. But you seem to accept it. Maybe you know something -"
"No, no, I don't know a thing about this World of Sharlain," Tony said. "I only know th
at Clayton couldn't get his mind off it. For days after the assassination, that's all he could talk about. Skeptical? Yes, I was. Maybe I still am, but if Clayton believed in it I can't dismiss it out of hand. Clay is a realist. He isn't easily taken in by stories of the supernatural. I gotta take this seriously." He paused and looked at Peter, sitting dejectedly on the sofa. "Get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."
Then, Tony left.
*****
The next evening at 7 o'clock sharp Tony rang the bell and waited on the front porch. It was a warm, bright evening and he could hear birds chirping from inside the small juniper bush beside the porch. After a few minutes he rang again and waited, but there was no answer. He tried the door, but it was locked so he walked around to the back and found that door locked as well. He peered into the windows then stood on the lawn with his hands on his hips, thinking. A neighbor was looking at him from behind a curtain.
Tony got into his car, drove away then stopped at the end of the block, frowned as though deep in thought, got out and walked back to Peter Jacob's house. He walked to the back of the house, kicked in a basement window and slid inside. He made his way up the stairs to the second floor and looked into each room. He found Peter sound asleep in the master bedroom. Tony smiled and sat on a wicker chair in the corner. He would give Peter a little more rest before he woke him.
The drapes had been drawn and the room was dark so Tony turned on a light and pulled a book from the night table. Principles of Architectural Design. He leafed through the pages then stopped when the doorbell rang. He leaned out of the chair then decided not to answer it and sat back again. In a few minutes he heard noises, then footsteps, coming up the stairs. He turned out the light, walked quietly to a closet and slipped inside.
A dark figure entered the room and walked to the bed, standing over Peter Jacobs. Tony could see the revolver. The figure leaned over the sleeping body and Tony leaped out of the closet, bringing his hand down on the neck of the dark figure. It collapsed, Peter awoke and Tony turned on the light. On the floor lay a police officer.