But perhaps the most perplexing aspect of the creature had been the scene of a town peopled with beast-like humanoids. The creature hadn’t been large enough to have an entire village within its body. Holk couldn’t rationalize the inconsistencies and so after a while, believed that he had imagined that part of the encounter.
He had plenty of time to contemplate the creature. Six sleep periods passed before a dark shape moved once more upon the horizon. Just as before, the large bulbous creature worked its way among the forest of cages, pausing at some while bypassing others.
Holk came to his feet and drew his sword. He watched as the creature drew ever closer. In every way save one, this creature was identical to the one that had come visiting earlier. The difference was in its hue, it was somewhat bluer than its predecessor. The reason for the color disparity became clear when the creature paused at a nearby cage.
Instead of a village scene with beast-like humanoids, this creature held a scene of radiant, blue water surrounded by beige sand. A strong breeze blew through tall, thin trees growing along what Holk took to be a desert oasis. When the creature moved in his direction, he could almost feel the heat radiating from the sand.
Again, the light sprang forth from the gem and forced the creature back. This visitor remained motionless nearly twice as long as the previous one had before moving off to wend its way through the cages before once again vanishing from whence it came.
Holk had much to contemplate during the time between his next three rest periods. First and foremost were the creatures and the way their skins appeared transparent to reveal a world apart. Or at least that was how he thought of it for there simply was no other explanation that made sense.
The other item was the sword with the gem that sprang to life whenever the creatures came close. Did it react to the creature, or perhaps it reacted to the threat posed to the one wielding it? Either way, it had definitely saved him twice now.
True, it had saved him. But to what end? There were plenty of men wielding similar weapons scattered throughout this silvery landscape. Each had a sword of similar design so it would follow that they, too, had been safe from those massive, shape-changing creatures. Yet they had died.
A way needed to be divined that would enable him to break free from the cage holding him. Though the sword may keep the creature at bay, it would not fill his stomach or quench the nagging thirst plaguing him. Without food and water, he would soon die.
Two mushrooms remained. He planned to consume half of one after his next sleep period in order to make them last. If he hadn’t figured a way out by the time the last one was gone… Shaking his head, he banished such thoughts; they would only sap what courage and strength was left to him.
A way must be found!
Another creature reappeared after his next sleep period. This one held a scene depicting a dead landscape. Holes of perfect circular symmetry dotted a land barren and lifeless. Most of the depressions ranged from small craters to ones that could consume an entire house. Others were so large that they themselves were dotted with collections of the smaller variety.
Again the sword kept the creature at bay and it eventually continued on. Holk leaned against the bars of his cage as the creature disappeared into the horizon. His strength was waning; eating half a mushroom was not nearly as affective as a whole one. The duration before fatigue set in was greatly diminished. Twice more he slept and twice more he ate half a mushroom.
“Looks like this is the end.”
Staring through the bars to his nearest neighbor, Holk chuckled sadly. “After all I’ve been through, I never thought the end would come in such a way.”
The skeletal visage of the warrior stared silently back.
Sighing, he looked down to where his last remaining mushroom-half rested in his palm. He contemplated eating it and be done with it, but instead slipped it back into his pouch.
His stomach cramped and his throat was parched to such an extent that his voice cracked when he spoke. Despite such discomfort, he would wait until after awakening one more time before eating it; if his will remained strong, perhaps he would wait until the one after that.
“You know, I’ve been through quite a bit these last few weeks.”
Attention again returning to the dead warrior, Holk paused and after a few moments of silence, realized he had been expecting a response. Laughter tinged with a touch of madness boiled forth. He raised his sword in a salute.
“At least we can keep the creature away until the end comes, right?” Again he laughed. When the laughter drew to a close, he lowered his sword.
“But what good does it do to keep it away if you are going to die anyway? Allow yourself to endure a few more days of starvation and thirst? Better to die quickly than to wither away like that.”
Empty sockets in a face withered and drawn failed to deliver a response.
“Did I tell you how I came to be here? You might not believe it, but I was in an area where magical mirrors would transport you from one place to another. Hard to swallow, I know. But it’s the gods’ own truth.”
He retrieved his mushroom half and showed it to his skeletal neighbor. “Got this from there; a whole subterranean cavern was full of these. What I would give to be there now.”
Again he contemplated eating it, but instead returned it to his pouch. “I think I’ll save this for tomorrow.”
Several moments passed while he rested quietly against the side of the cage.
“Any idea what those creatures are that come through here? You might think I’m crazy, but it looks like they have worlds within them.”
He looked questioningly at his neighbor.
“Wouldn’t it be funny if this silvery land was inside one of those creatures? Maybe someone else in another cage in another place will see us sitting here having this talk. Wonder what he would make of it? Probably think he’d lost his mind.
“I have to admit, I’ve considered the fact that my mind has been lost and that this is merely a madman’s delirium.” Patting the ground, Holk shook his head. “But I think not. It seems all too real.”
“So, where are you from? Some place around here? Judging by the number of your fellows that have been entrapped here, my guess would be that you are not, but do know how to get here.
“And that leads me to my next question. Why are you here? War? That would make sense seeing as how each and every one of you are armed and armored. Could it be that you are trying to kill those translucent, world-encasing creatures? They don’t appear to like the glow put out by the gem in your swords.”
Glancing to the sword lying next to him, he added, “It would be interesting to know how it does that.” He returned his attention to his neighbor. “I don’t suppose you could tell me?”
The skeletal gaze offered little explanation.
Holk sighed. “I didn’t think so, ‘twas but a thought.”
He sat talking to his neighbor, not an entirely sane activity, but it helped to while away the time. Beginning with the time just prior to the ill-fated attack that resulted in the annihilation of his fellow soldiers, Holk chronicled for his neighbor the series of events which culminated with his current predicament. By the time the full telling had been accomplished, his eyelids were heavy and he pardoned himself of his neighbor explaining that he must put aside the conversation in favor of sleep.
“We’ll continue our conversation when I wake.” If I do. In his present state, he felt that to be a very real possibility but was far too weary to care.
Dreams of home, silvery lands, and skeletal warriors came to an end and consciousness returned. Cracking open his eyelids, his tenuous state of consciousness solidified in a flash when he spied one of the massive, translucent creatures standing at the bars of his cage.
In the moment following recognition, Holk took in the pastoral scene of wild horses racing across a meadow beneath a blazing sun in a clear-blue sky unfolding within the central body of the creature.
Horror filled h
im upon realizing that a portion of the creature had oozed between the bars and was slowly engulfing his boots. An attempt to pull his feet free proved futile, they were stuck fast like a fly that had landed on a dollop of honey.
Casting about for his sword, he discovered it lying on the ground next to him. As soon as his hand gripped the hilt, the gem burst forth in an amber starburst.
A fleeting disorientation followed and he was outside the cage; his feet still entrapped within the creature. He scarcely had time for this new development to register before experiencing another bout of disorientation.
The glow continued unabated as he was hit with two more times of momentary disorientation. After the last, his feet were no longer mired within the creature. It had let him go and now stood twenty feet away. Holk felt as if the creature was watching him. But since the creature had no eyes or any other semblance to human sensory equipment, it was hard to tell for sure. Then it hit him:
He was out!
Being in contact with the creature when it translocated away from the red glow must have caused him to accompany it. Coming to his feet, Holk felt renewed hope of survival bolster his strength. He grinned at the creature.
“My thanks for freeing me.”
They faced off with the glowing red sword between them for a short time before the creature moved off. Holk lowered the sword and didn’t sheathe it until the creature moved off and the gem’s glow had vanished.
Turning to glance behind him revealed that the creature had brought him quite a ways from his former prison. He could see where it now sat empty. Now he knew how to escape the cages should he again be ensnared. Worried that another of the cages may appear, he searched the horizons but could not see the tell-tale shadows that had preceded the earlier one’s appearance.
He did, however, discover a brightening of the landscape off to his right. Figuring any sort of change to be a chance at freedom, he made toward it with all speed.
It hadn’t taken long before his newfound strength waned and he was forced to consume the last mushroom portion. The small remnant filled him with vigor and enabled him to quicken his pace even more.
The brightening soon clarified into what looked like a bubble rising from the landscape. It was reminiscent of the way bubbles formed on the surface of water during a downpour. Twice as bright as the land surrounding it, the bubble rose to a height greater than that of King Redstorm’s castle back home. At the base where the bubble met the land, periodic perturbations formed cave-like openings. Holk made for the largest one.
At the edge of the opening, he paused and peered carefully within. The interior was not hollow as one would expect of an actual bubble. Instead, it was solid and formed of the same silvery substance that made the landscape. A tunnel of sorts extended some distance deeper within the bubble until curving out of sight to the left.
Holk felt rather relieved upon leaving the exposed surface of the silvery land and entering an area where there were but two avenues from which an attack could be launched; ahead in the tunnel and behind.
Moving forward cautiously, he set out to see where this would lead.
Chapter 17
As bright as the bubble’s outer shell had been, the interior proved to be contrastingly dark. Not a complete dark to be sure; the walls did radiate a small amount of light allowing him to make out the contours of the tunnel.
Once he moved beyond where the passage curved to the left, the illumination dimmed even further as the light entering from the tunnel mouth no longer contributed its brilliance.
Holk stepped quickly as he followed the tunnel. It retained a uniform size as it progressed deeper within the bubble. At one point, he came to realize the tunnel slanted downward, and that he was gradually descending into the bowels of the silvery land.
Time seemed to pass slowly. The tunnel extended on and on, never changing and always continuing its downward slope. It didn’t take long before the effects of the mushroom wore off and the onset of fatigue once more became a real concern. When the burden of fatigue grew too great, he would pause and sit with back against the wall to recoup his strength. After a small measure had been recovered, he would return to his feet and continue.
Twice he rested, each time taking more willpower to resume his trek through this endless passageway. Not long after his second rest break, he saw motion in the dim light of the tunnel ahead. Holk came to a stop and pressed against the passage wall.
He was ready for a fight, but feared what may be encountered in this strange place. An adrenalin rush foreshadowing combat refreshed his weary body. From past experiences, he knew this state of vigor would not last. Once it faded, he would be worse off than before. Best to take advantage of his returned strength while he could. Moving ahead, he quick-timed it down the tunnel. Twelve paces brought him close enough to determine that the motion belonged to another of those large, translucent creatures that had visited him during his recent incarceration.
It moved deeper into the tunnel, and for the time being, appeared oblivious to Holk’s presence. He came to within twenty paces then slowed and paced the creature as it continued progressing down the tunnel. If it knew it was not alone in the tunnel, it gave no sign.
Holk’s hand repeatedly crept toward the hilt of his sword, but always stopped short from touching it. This close to the creature, the gem’s red glow would surely shine forth and announce his presence. Curious as to where it went, he maintained his distance and followed.
At this distance, he couldn’t quite see the scene playing out within its massive bulk. As he followed, his eyes were drawn to the shadows and intermittent pockets of light coursing through its bulk. When blue light appeared on the far left side of the scene, curiosity inadvertently caused him to quicken his pace.
In the blink of an eye, the creature went from twenty paces away to less than a foot. Putting it into full reverse, he leapt backward in shocked surprise. As he did so, a trio of bulges exuded outward from the creature; one at eye level, another bulged toward his chest, and the third approached his knees.
Fearing to be entrapped within it as had his boots during an earlier encounter, Holk clasped the hilt of his sword and drew it forth. Immediately, the gem’s glow flared with blinding brilliance and the creature vanished only to reappear farther down the tunnel.
“Not this time!” Waving the sword, he gave chase.
As he closed the distance, it blinked out of sight only to reappear farther down the tunnel. Holk raced after.
Maybe it was the thrill of the chase, or perhaps some inherent property within the ruby glow of the gem, but instead of waning, his strength waxed. Laughing with giddy euphoria as his fatigue melted away, he pursued the fleeing creature.
Popping in and out, each time farther down the tunnel, the creature sought to escape the ruby glow. Holk didn’t understand his need to catch the creature. After all, it was three times his size and had indicated a desire to consume him. But, he had a sword in his hand, his enemy was in flight, and this was something he could understand. The need to catch and vanquish this creature drove him onward.
A junction appeared in the tunnel ahead. The creature appeared down the right-hand fork. Holk followed.
Other openings came into view, some on the left, others on the right. The first seven the creature ignored. When it appeared near the eighth, it vanished again and failed to re-materialize once more within the main body of the passageway. Holk raced past the opening before realizing the creature had gone inside. Backing up, he peered within, saw the creature and the chase resumed.
This new passage was narrower and barely had the height to accommodate its massive bulk. For Holk it mattered not. Anywhere his prey could go, he would follow.
The chase led to a short, wider expanse of the narrow passageway. Upon entering, Holk felt an immediate dampening of his enthusiasm, and lethargy filled his limbs. Once past and back into the narrow tunnel, his vigor returned.
Passing into a second widening, this one much larger th
an the first, nearly took his breath away. Dread washed over him. Stumbling from the unexpected onslaught, Holk kept from falling and continued the chase. Before exiting this widened area of the passage, he noticed veins of a dark, reddish substance marring the tunnel’s silvery perfection. Once past, his vigor again returned as the feeling of dread melted away.
Little time was given to ponder what had happened before another widening appeared in the gem’s glow. This one was twice the size of the previous and reddish veins created a patchwork consisting of scores; some were as thick as his arm.
The previous two areas where the passageway had widened came with a sense of dread, the previous one nearly overpowering. Trepidation about continuing brought him to a halt just before where the veins of red began.
In the first area, there had been a sense of dread. The second such area had been larger and the dread had been much more potent; having nearly overwhelmed him. Did he dare continue into this larger area? And just what was the source of this dread? His eyes turned to where the veins began not two feet away and were forced to turn away when the dread intensified. Has to be.
Twenty paces into the widening of the passage, the translucent creature stood as if waiting for him to continue. Daring him?
“Fear is a soldier’s true enemy.”
Words of Sergeant Wilkers, his squad commander during his time as a green recruit, returned to him.
“It will rob you of your will and take the heart right out of you.”
“What can we do?” another of Wilkers’ men had asked.
“Focus on the task at hand. If in battle, think of nothing but your opponent and how to overcome him. If not, concentrate on the feel and heft of your sword, the ground beneath your feet, your comrades, anything but the fear that would seek to overthrow your will. Once it has a foothold, fear will destroy you.”
Portals Page 19