by Obert Skye
“Follow him!” Clover ordered.
Edgar didn’t hesitate for a moment, leaping from the wall and away from the fire. Zale screamed, the Tangle howled, and Clover braced himself for the impact, hoping at the very least that they would not land on Geth and, more important, that they would live to see that they hadn’t.
Chapter Four
Run Carefully
Knowing who your true friends are is not always easy. Sure, you might think that the person you grew up with, learned to swim with, had sleepovers with, and took karate with is a true friend. But what happens when you discover that they were simply training to fight you in the middle of the night after swimming across a lake to sneak-attack you? I’ll tell you what happens: you feel like a sap, and not the kind of sap that comes from a tree, but the kind of sap that people point at and make fun of for being sticky and dense.
Geth was no sap. Of course, you could argue that when he spent time in Reality as a tree, he had sap flowing through his veins, but even though that was true, he was far from being a sap at the moment. He knew that fate would not fail him, but he had no idea that fate would also point out who his friends really were. Zendor had been one wild ride that he had not voluntarily stood in line to get onto. But, being the lithen and all-around good person he was, Geth was holding his arms up and screaming the whole way. He might not have asked for the ride, but he was going to enjoy taking it.
Geth flew through the air toward the ground. He held the glow stone in his right hand and tried to keep his feet down in front of him. Right before hitting the soil, he was caught by some sort of material, and he rolled against the ground without a scratch. The glow stone flew from his hand. Before he could even begin to figure out what had happened, Edgar crashed down directly beside him.
Clover managed to keep hold of his stone as Edgar stumbled and held onto Zale. The great beast stayed upright and kept running forward on his massive legs. Geth moved out of his way and grabbed the tail as he shot by.
“Keep running!” Geth yelled up to Clover.
They tore through fields of tall witt that grew like thick stalks of super corn. Edgar got his stride and continued to run with Zale in his arms and Geth in his tail. They moved deeper and deeper into the fields without slowing.
“Hide your stone!” Geth yelled to Clover. “Turn off the light but keep running.”
Clover pocketed the stone in his void, and everything went dark. Edgar ran for a couple hundred more yards and then began to slow.
“This—” Zale started to speak.
“Quiet,” Geth ordered.
Zale reluctantly held his tongue. In the far distance they could all see the long line of orange flames as the fire they had escaped rose up over the top edge of the great wall and shone through the iron gate.
“Are you okay?” Geth whispered, figuring that they were far enough away to talk.
“Fine,” Clover said. “The jump was no problem for Edgar. Did you see that machine Payt was driving?”
“I did,” Geth answered as Edgar continued to run. “He likes to build things.”
“I can’t believe we actually made it out,” Clover said proudly. “I’m going to smell like smoke for days.”
“Would you two stop talking?” Zale demanded as he held his hands up over his ears. “My mind is spinning.”
Clover stared at Zale from the top of Edgar’s head. He looked back at Geth.
“Your brother really is great,” Clover mocked. “It would have been a shame if he had hurt himself jumping. Hey, how come you didn’t get hurt?”
“Something broke my fall,” Geth answered.
“Something?”
“I think it might have been those girls I met earlier.”
“Girls?” Clover questioned.
“I met them yesterday,” Geth said. “They helped me get over that wall in the first place.”
“Is that what you’re going to tell Phoebe?” Clover asked condescendingly. “’Cause you might want to think up something more believable.”
“That’s what happened,” Geth replied.
“Still,” Clover whispered back. “I think long, complicated lies are much easier to swallow.”
“I think you’re annoying,” Zale insisted.
“See,” Clover said, “that’s too simple. Nobody’s going to believe that.”
“Let’s keep moving,” Geth said, hoping to distract everyone from the conversation. “And let’s move more cautiously. The trail we’ve left so far will be easy to follow if they find it.”
They jogged carefully through the tall stalks. It wasn’t easy for Edgar, but he was surprisingly nimble for such a big beast, especially since he still had to carry Zale. After a couple of miles and some creative turning and maneuvering, they stopped in a thick field and tramped down a spot to rest.
It was dark, but Geth could hear Edgar shiver and let out a soft bellow. The Tangle released Zale and lay down on the ground.
“I think he’s tired,” Clover informed Geth.
“We should be okay here,” Geth said.
“So we can sleep?” Clover asked hopefully.
“For a little while,” Geth replied. “At least until the light comes.”
“This realm is way too dark,” Clover complained. He then yawned and lay down next to Edgar.
“This realm will be the death of you both,” Zale said loudly and more to himself than anyone else. “I’m already wishing I had been born an only child.”
“I’m glad you’re alive too,” Geth said, shaking his head.
“Really?” Clover questioned.
“Could you just be quiet for a few minutes,” Zale complained. “This is way more noise than I’m accustomed to.”
Geth and Clover weren’t necessarily in the mood to be accommodating to Zale, but seeing how they were all tired, nobody replied, and sleep quietly overcame all of them.
Chapter Five
Children of the Torn
Sleep is such a miraculous thing. Who in their right mind doesn’t enjoy closing their eyes and getting forty winks? Of course, who in their right mind doesn’t enjoy receiving forty winks with their eyes open? A wink can mean a lot of things. I’ve personally seen a wink mean, Nice work, sailor, we’re proud of you. I’ve also seen it mean, I saw you take that last harpoon gun and I won’t tell a soul. I’ve even seen it mean, Wait ten seconds for the coast to be clear and then run as fast as you can before the guards begin shooting and you end up sleeping with the fishes. The point is, non-fishy sleeping is really dreamy sometimes. There’s nothing like letting your brain exhale and having dreams come rushing in to occupy your gray matter. Sleep and its first cousin Dreams are two of the best gifts that we as humans can enjoy. And, not to make you jealous, but sleep and dreams are even more rewarding and more intense in Zendor and Foo than here in Reality. Yep, there’s nothing like dreaming in a place where dreams can actually become whole.
Okay, that was something that needed to be said. Hopefully you didn’t fall asleep. If you did, let’s hope you’re dreaming.
The dreams Geth and Clover had as they lay there hidden in the fields of Zendor were beautiful. Geth dreamt about his family and Phoebe, while Clover dreamt of candy and Lilly. In fact, Clover was dreaming about being beautifully caught up in a web of Fairy Floss when he woke up and realized that sometimes dreaming can be a distraction that leaves you vulnerable and open for capture.
Clover was the first of the four to wake up. He tried to stir and stretch, but his arms and legs were strapped down to the ground by hundreds of strands of string. He was pinned to the soil between the tall stalks of purple vegetation. His head was also held to the ground by bands of string across his forehead. He couldn’t move anything besides his eyes and mouth.
“Um, Geth,” Clover whispered, unable to turn his head. “Are you there?”
“Right here,” Geth whispered back.
“Are you tied up?”
“Yes,” Geth answered.
“Did your brother do this?”
“If he did, he also tied up himself,” Geth replied. “I can see him to the side of me. Edgar’s also strapped down. Can you move at all?”
“Nope,” Clover answered.
“Neither can I,” Geth said calmly. “I can barely blink.”
Geth and Clover struggled with their bands for a few moments, but there was no budge or give in the least.
“It’s a dirty move tying someone up when they’re sleeping,” Clover criticized. “I’d like to see them tie me up to my face.”
“Hello, Geth,” a voice from above them called out.
Geth stared up and saw Anna’s face move into view as she looked straight down at him. Strands of her light red hair hung like springs, and she appeared more curious than upset.
“Anna,” Geth said.
Anna smiled, happy that Geth had remembered her name.
“Did you do this?” Geth asked. “Tie us up?”
“We did,” she replied.
“You did an amazing job,” Geth complimented. “I can’t move an inch.”
Anna blushed.
“Were you outside the wall last night?” Geth asked.
“We were,” Anna answered. “We saw the flames behind the wall, and while investigating, we saw you silhouetted up on the wall. When you came flying down, we did what we could to break your fall.”
“Thanks,” Geth said.
“You’re welcome,” she said dryly.
“So, do you think you could untie us?”
“Not without some answers,” she replied. “For starters, what is that thing?” Anna pointed in the direction of the Tangle.
“That’s Edgar,” Geth replied. “He’s a Tangle, and he’s with us now.”
“He’s very impressive,” Anna said, shivering. “But not impressive in the same way you are.”
“Hey, Geth,” Clover called out. “Tell her about Phoebe.”
“And what’s that thing?” Anna asked.
“That’s Clover,” Geth answered. “He came from Foo with me and Eve.”
“He looks like trouble,” Anna observed. “He has very suspicious features.”
“I can hear you,” Clover said.
“Clover’s the one who has tamed the Tangle,” Geth told her. “The big beast seems mesmerized by him.”
“So who’s the other bearded person?” Anna asked.
“My brother, Zale,” Geth answered.
Geth could hear the sound of anxious and excited whispering all around him. Anna’s eyes widened and her head shook in bewilderment.
“The lithen?” she asked.
Geth tried to nod but couldn’t. “Yes.”
“Eve was right,” Anna said reflectively.
“Yes,” Geth said with excitement. “And Eve is still alive. Payt has her.”
“Then she won’t be alive for long,” Anna said sadly. “We’ve been over this before, Geth. Nobody lives if Payt has promised they’ll die.”
“Look at us,” Geth reasoned. “We made it in and out of the castle when you said it was impossible.”
“It was,” Anna insisted.
“I find that hard to believe, seeing as how we’re alive,” Geth said, laughing. “We’ve even brought out Edgar.”
“The beast is magnificent,” Anna admitted. “And if you really can control him, that’s impressive.”
“Clover controls him,” Geth told her. “But we can now use him and all of you to capture the castle and put an end to Payt.”
“I want to believe you,” Anna said. “But Payt won’t lose. He has already begun to tear up the landscape looking for you. Boors are wandering deeper into fields this morning, and some are burning crops and tearing apart hills in hopes of finding you.”
“Then you have to untie us,” Geth insisted. “Payt has to be stopped.”
Anna pulled back, and Geth could no longer see her face above him. There was nothing but clear purple sky. Geth heard some whispering, and after a few minutes Anna’s and three other girls’ heads slid into view above him. One girl had blonde hair, one had brown, and the other had black.
“We’re not sure what to do with you,” Anna admitted. “The suggestions are rather varied.”
“I say we keep him tied up so that he doesn’t leave us,” the black-haired girl said.
“I’d be willing to watch him,” the blonde one offered.
“Oh, no,” the brown haired one argued. “I’m watching him.”
“Quiet,” Anna said, embarrassed. She looked at Geth’s blue eyes and tried not to sound weak. “We never should have helped you up over that wall.”
“I disagree,” Geth said.
“We were foolish to get involved.”
“That’s not true.”
“Now look at you,” Anna said as all four girls took a good look at him. “This is trouble. If we release you, you’ll beg us to help. I admit that it’s interesting you made it in and out of there alive. I also admit that I am intrigued by the beast you have conquered. And we are all most curious about your brother.”
“Leave me out of this,” Zale spoke up.
Anna glanced in Zale’s direction and then moved her eyes to look back down at Geth.
“Eve spoke of you and your brother changing things,” Anna said. “She said that we would be able to walk free. That’d we’d no longer be Those Who Hide.”
“That will happen,” Geth assured Anna.
“We didn’t believe her,” Anna said honestly. “We still don’t.”
The black-haired girl leaned down farther, as if to kiss Geth.
“What are you doing?” Anna said frantically.
“I thought maybe it would help if I kissed him,” the girl tried to explain.
“No,” the blonde one insisted. “I think maybe I should.”
Anna reprimanded them both as the brown-haired one leaned down and quickly kissed Geth on his bound nose. Anna pulled all of them away, and once again Geth could see only purple sky. After a long bout of harsh whispering, Anna’s face reappeared.
“Sorry about that,” she said coolly.
“Will you let us go?” Geth said, unfazed by what had happened.
“Payt’s been looking for you all morning,” Anna restated. “As soon as it was light, his servants worked their way out of the burnt gate, and they’ve been patrolling the main road in droves. You’ll be caught sooner or later. Your beast left a pretty good trail through the stalks. Lucky for you the boors who serve Payt are idiots.”
“Please,” Geth urged, “untie us. We have to put a stop to this.”
“You’ll fail,” Anna said.
“Thanks,” Geth replied. “You’ve made that perfectly clear a couple of times.”
“I’m just trying to manage expectations,” Anna said. “You think if we untie you, that means things are going as they should. Well, you’re wrong. Us untying you is just us helping you to your demise.”
“Geez,” Clover complained from his spot on the ground. “She’s as depressing as your brother.”
Anna pulled back so that, once more, all Geth could see was the purple sky. He could hear more whispering, followed by the sound of bands snapping loose. Geth felt his right arm come free from the soil. Seconds later his left arm and both his legs were unbound. The straps against his chest loosened, and his head was finally released. Geth breathed in as deeply as he could and then exhaled. Two of the girls helped him sit up and began to rub his shoulders and arms. All the women were a bit dusty, and their clothes were torn, a natural side effect of their living in the fields.
“Thanks,” Geth said. “I’m fine.”
Geth was tall and strong. He
had long, dusty-blond hair and blue eyes that were as deep and complex as any clear lake or open sky. In the past, optimism had been his entire personality, but now, with some of the changes that had been forced upon him, he was not only growing fiercer, he was also discovering the capacity to feel sorrow and all its depths. The new emotions were wreaking havoc on his once perfectly hopeful personality. Geth had also been without a shirt since Payt had captured him, and as he sat there with a host of ballerinas and female doctors staring at him, he felt a bit underdressed.
“Are you okay?” the dark-haired girl asked coyly.
“He looks really good,” a girl dressed as an athlete said dreamily.
“I could use a shirt,” Geth said.
“Here,” Anna said with little emotion. “I thought you might need this.”
The girls around Anna moaned in disapproval, preferring that Geth go shirtless. Geth took a white bit of cloth from Anna and unfolded it. It was a T-shirt that was at least three sizes too small. He slipped the tight shirt over his head and pulled it down. The girls who had disapproved were happy with the fit.
Geth glanced around. He could see Clover pinned to the ground. Zale was tied down and moaning, and Edgar was wrapped so tightly to the ground that the only part of him Geth could see was a bit of his dark nose and some of his right eye and horns. Geth watched the big beast’s bands tremble in vain as it tried to pull up and out of the cords. “Could you let me out?” Clover complained.
Geth moved to help Clover, but he was stopped by Anna.
“Not yet,” she instructed. “We’re still not sure that you’re not going to harm us.”
Geth stood up and pushed back his long hair—a number of the women ohhhed and ahhhed.
“Listen,” Geth said nicely, “the only person I want to harm is Payt. I plan to gather as many people who will fight with me.”
“You don’t understand,” Anna argued while flexing her feet and standing on her toes. “You’re too stubborn to realize that nobody here will fight. Payt’s voice will steal the soul of everyone and the little bit of freedom we have will be nothing but a memory. We’ve seen it happen hundreds of times. Like Lars has said, our best strategy is to wait.”