by Ashlyn Chase
“Tell me, is there day and night in this place?”
“Of course. I need to sleep.”
“So if it’s daytime now, it’s because we’re facing the sun. How does it become night if the planet isn’t round and rotating on its axis?”
Pan laughed. “It flips, dumbass. Fortunately, I’m able to add gravity to my little cave or poof to the other side right before the sudden shift. You, on the other hand, might prefer to be stuck to that tree. Otherwise, you’ll fall off.”
Aaron didn’t know if this god was just toying with him or what. He had to be. In that case, arguing logic with him was a waste of breath. Even if Pan believed what he was saying, Aaron was still wasting his breath. “So how long are you going to keep me here?”
“So many questions!” After a considerable pause, he finally said, “I don’t know. She’ll forget all about you eventually. Perhaps when she gives up and allows me to court her, I’ll let you go.”
That wasn’t very encouraging. Aaron was pretty sure he and Gaia had something real. A love that would never die. In other words, he’d perish here.
Suddenly, his hands began to shake. He was hoping Pan couldn’t see his tremors, but the satyr’s eyes widened, and he strolled around Aaron’s back.
“Ha! You’re shaking like a leaf. Try not to wet your pants, human.”
“The tremors are caused by a medical condition.”
“Oh really? You humans…so frail. You’re always falling prey to something or other. What was she thinking?” He leaned against the tree, studying his human hands and crossing his lower hooves. “I could have just waited a few minutes and you’d probably die on your own. Then I could have stepped in and comforted her, eventually taking your place.”
“Then why don’t you do that?”
“Because I don’t wanna. And I’m a god, so I don’t hafta.”
Aaron realized why Gaia was none too fond of the gods. She had inferred that they were selfish, spoiled brats. She clearly knew what she was talking about.
“So what is this medical condition, human? What is it called?”
“At first, I thought it might be Parkinson’s disease, but now it’s looking more like ET.”
“Extraterrestrial? Like ET phone home?” Pan cracked up as if that were the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “I guess you could be considered an extraterrestrial on this planet.”
Aaron blew out a breath. “It doesn’t stand for extraterrestrial. It stands for essential tremors. It’s a non-life-threatening condition that usually runs in families. It used to be called familial tremors.”
Pan stopped laughing and planted his fists on his hairy hips. “You mean you shake because your parents shook, and they shook because their parents shook?”
“Well, not all of them, but some of my ancestors must have had the condition.”
“So were they called Shakers? Is that what those museum villages are for? Did they corral you all in one place so you wouldn’t spill everything on unsuspecting people?” Pan burst out laughing again.
“What?” It took Aaron a second to realize he was talking about the Shaker villages in the Northeast and Midwest. Whether he was serious was hard to tell.
“I asked you a question…”
“Uh, no. They weren’t called Shakers. That was a religion that forbade men and women touching. The way they danced looked like shaking. They died out several years ago.”
Pan reared back and laughed some more. “Gee, I wonder why? Well, mortal, there is one advantage to having you around. You amuse me.”
Aaron just smiled. He really had no other recourse while tied to a tree.
“Aren’t you the least bit curious about me? You haven’t asked me one question about myself.”
Aaron fished his memory for anything he’d learned in his mythology classes. “Pan is a nature god. The god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, mountains, and rustic music and companion of the nymphs. You have the legs and horns of a goat, just like a faun or satyr.”
“Not bad. Actually, I’m the most famous of the satyrs and a son of the god Hermes, also known as the messenger of the gods, and the nymph Penelope.”
“And I suppose you’re sending a message to Gaia as we speak.”
“No. I won’t be giving her any information about your disappearance. She’ll probably assume you got scared and ran off when you realized how much more powerful she is than you.”
Aaron had been around powerful women all his life. His mother and wife were witches. His two daughters were witches, both with the power to heal and one with psychic power. Maybe Ruth could pick up on his psyche and make the connection. But if he was truly in another galaxy or wherever… He was a witch too, but his power was fairly useless. He could become invisible. Big whoop. How could that help him now? Even if he disappeared from view, the ropes wouldn’t let go. He’d have to look for another way to escape.
“Excuse me, but is there a stream nearby? A place I might be able to get something to drink?”
Pan tipped his head back and looked down his nose at Aaron. “Hmm… That’s right. You humans have to hydrate regularly. And relieve yourselves.” He heaved a deep sigh. “How inconvenient. Fine. I’ll untie you. There’s a stream right over that ridge. Don’t think about taking off though. Like I said…”
“I might fall off the edge. Yes. I get it.” Aaron mentally rolled his eyes as the cloven-hooved god stepped behind him and untied the ropes.
“You’re not shaking anymore.”
“It comes and goes.”
“Sure it does,” Pan mocked sarcastically. Then he cautioned him as he walked toward the river, “Don’t forget to come back. The forest flips in one half hour.”
Aaron just smirked and kept walking without turning around.
He found the river where Pan said it would be. He splashed some water on his face and then cupped his hands and drank heartily. It tasted fresh and clean. He hadn’t noticed any forest animals and hoped the stream was as clean as it looked. Large flat rocks lay in a path across the water. It was possible to cross, and even though running from a god seemed like a fruitless effort, he could say he was exploring.
Aaron couldn’t help being curious what was on the other side of the river. He tiptoed across the flat rocks and found a rise that would give him a good view. Striding toward it, he wondered if this god was for real. He was sure the creature was not human, but something seemed really off about him. He didn’t know much about gods. Could they create their own planets? He thought that was Gaia’s department.
If the world was supposedly going to flip in one half hour, why was the sun straight overhead? Perhaps it was simply a large disc, made to look like a planet. This place didn’t make any more sense than the person who’d brought him here.
Hopefully, Gaia could zero in on his energy. He climbed the steep ridge until he reached the top and was able to gaze farther. He was shocked to discover a cardboard cutout using perspective to make it look like mountains far off in the distance.
Aaron gasped. “I’ll be god damned.”
There beyond the artwork was what appeared to be the jagged edge of the world. It was easy to see that Pan was right. There was just dirt and then nothing. If indeed this place was going to flip in half an hour, he had about ten minutes to get back. He turned and rushed toward the forest, jumping from rock to rock as he crossed the river again, then charging up the hill. Just as he neared the trees, he felt his feet leaving the ground and the forest floor tipping. He reached for the nearest tree and managed to grab a branch before he floated off into nothingness.
Suddenly, it was night, and Aaron was hanging upside down from the tree branch.
Pan trotted over to him. “I suppose you’ll be wanting my help now.”
The god was able to clop over to him without falling off the surface. Apparently, he was able to control gravity
under his own hooves. “Being tied to a tree might be a real treat, don’t you think?”
Aaron just eyed the little sucker. What could he say? The god would make fun of his puny human status no matter what he said. “Look, Pan, you’re right. I didn’t believe you. But I saw for myself that what you said was true. There was an edge, and it looks like I was lucky to have made it back this far. But I would really prefer not to hang upside down all night. Is there anything you can do about that?”
“Certainly. Would you like to be tied to a tree or transported to the other side?”
“I’d like to be on solid ground with gravity aiding me.”
“A wise decision, my friend.”
Aaron didn’t correct him about the friend part. It was clear the god had the upper hand, and anything he might say to anger the god would be foolhardy. He had to play along. But how could he beg for his freedom? Escape was impossible. Pan seemed to want what he wanted and didn’t care what happened to anyone. Aaron simply had to stay alive and hope for some kind of rescue.
He knew not to lie…he wasn’t very good at it. And who knew if gods had built-in lie detectors? “Listen, I have to ask you something. If you let me go and I leave Gaia alone, will you allow me to live out my life in peace? I have a family.”
Pan’s expression turned to one of surprise. “You’re willing to break up with the goddess just to save your own neck?” Then he snickered. “Ah, but here you are hanging on for dear life. Things look a little different right now, don’t they? You must not really love her if you’re not willing to hang onto her.”
“I didn’t say that.”
Pan crossed his arms. “Oh, I think you did.”
“All right. You got me. I am begging for my own life, but I have other loved ones who need me. I have two daughters, one of whom is a new mother and depending on my help to support her until she gets on her feet.”
“Well, if what you say is true, perhaps you would be missed…”
“I most definitely would be.”
“So they would be looking for you, but they would never find you. That is, if I left you here.”
“Yes, exactly. You would be ruining a lot of lives, not just mine.” Dare he hope? Did the god have a conscience after all?
Pan shrugged. “I have no desire to ruin lives. I just want to enhance my own. Hmm, I’ll have to think about that.” He began to wander off.
“Wait! I’m still hanging onto your world by a tree branch. My arms will tire soon.”
Pan just gave a casual wave over his shoulder as he clopped away toward his upside-down cave.
* * *
Gaia wanted to sound the alarm, but how did she do that without upsetting everyone on this special occasion? Besides, humans couldn’t really do much except keep an eye out for him. Aaron… She hoped he knew that wherever he was, she wouldn’t stop looking for him. She could tell he was alive, but his energy was faint, that was all she knew for sure.
She didn’t know why this was happening, but she could guess who was behind it. She set down the plant, put her hands on her hips, and called her sisters. “Fate! Karma!”
The other goddesses appeared quickly. Karma was carrying a surfboard and wearing a bathing suit, while Fate was in a fluffy bathrobe and looked like she had been at a spa or had just awakened. Either way, two cucumber slices fell off her eyes.
“What’s the matter, Gaia? You look awful.”
“Thanks, Karma. I needed that like a hole in my head. Aaron’s missing.”
Fate and Karma glanced at each other in shock. “Missing?” they asked at once.
“Yes. I can tell he’s alive, but very, very far away. I can’t lock onto his energy. I don’t know where he is.” She dropped her gaze, and tears welled up.
“Oh, Sister.” Fate stepped into her personal space and enveloped her in a hug. Gaia didn’t usually hug, but the welcome gesture was exactly what she needed. She just held onto her sister for a moment while she thought of possible explanations.
When she stepped away, she looked over at Karma. “It’s got to be Pan’s work. Correct?”
Karma snapped her fingers, and the surfboard disappeared. “Yes, I’m sure of it. Unless there’s someone else you pissed off with the power to shield your lover from you…”
“Not as far as I know.” Gaia let out a long sigh.
“Well, how do we find him?” Fate asked.
Gaia said, “Take my hands, Sisters. And then take each other’s hands. We need to form a triad. Our energy combined is stronger. All of us need to reach out toward Aaron’s energy signature and concentrate on locating him.”
Karma and Fate did as she asked without comment for once. Gaia couldn’t help being grateful right now to have sisters who would help. Hopefully, they could. She wished her powers were enough, but since that didn’t seem to be the case, she dearly hoped the three of them together could find him. Aaron meant everything to her.
They let their minds meld and radiate out farther than they could have alone. Each one’s mental forces reached out like tendrils feeling their way through the atmosphere, circling the globe, looking for any tingle of recognition. They stood that way for several minutes, searching, probing, until finally, Gaia dropped their hands and leaned over. “It’s no use.”
She slumped onto the earth, and her sisters grabbed her arms before she fell backward.
“Gaia.” Karma shook her. “You can do this. We can do this. Don’t give up.”
Fate was rubbing her arm and looking concerned and sympathetic. Two very different approaches, but at this moment, she preferred Karma’s tough love. Gaia stood up straight and tall. Raising her chin, she announced, “Yes. We can do this. He is somewhere. We will find him. Even if you leave, I won’t stop.”
Fate squeezed her hand. “I’m not leaving. I’m here for you as long as it takes.”
Karma put her arm around Gaia’s shoulder. “As am I. The jerks of the world can wait until we deal with the biggest jerk of all. How do we find Pan?”
“Sisters, we were locking onto the wrong energy. Let’s lock on Pan. Wherever he is, I’m sure he knows where Aaron is.”
The women reformed their triangle, held hands, closed their eyes, and concentrated again, this time letting their energies reach for and locate the little horned god they were all familiar with. Gaia suspected he would probably be having an orgy with nymphs in the mountains, but she had to wipe out any preconceived notions and just open her mind and let the energy take her to where he was, not bring him to where she thought he should be.
It took a long time, but eventually, she locked onto Pan’s energy signature. “I’ve got him!”
Her sisters cried out, “Yes, he’s…”
“Here!” Pan said from down a tunnel-like walkway. He clopped toward the three powerful goddesses. “You’re looking for me.” He said it as a statement, not a question. “I assume you’ve come to your senses and realized a human is not worthy of your affection. Whereas I”—he swept his torso into an exaggerated bow, then straightened and looked her in the eye—“I am at your service. I would be delighted to show you the kind of relationship you deserve.”
Gaia laughed. “What did I do to deserve you? And how do I undo it?”
Pan folded his arms. “Insult me all you like. Soon, you’ll discover I’m the only one left who can tolerate you.”
“Where is he, Pan?”
“Where is who?” he asked, trying to look innocent.
“I’m out of patience with you!” Gaia shouted. “Tell me where Aaron is right now, because if he dies, you die!”
Pan snickered. “I’m immortal. I can’t die. Another point in my favor, if you ask me.”
“I didn’t ask you, and for your information, I can make your immortal life a living hell. I can trap you in the bowels of the earth. You’ll never see another sunrise or snowcapped mount
ain, never speak to another living soul—and you’ll never be found by gods or nymphs.”
“You wouldn’t. I’m one of your beloved creations, right? You wouldn’t hurt me. Besides, being with me would be so much more fun than being with your frail human.”
“If anything happens to him, I will hate you. You wouldn’t want to be with someone who hates you so much they’d rather destroy you than look at you.”
“Sister.” Fate leaned in close to her and whispered, “Aaron’s energy is fading rapidly.”
“Pan! You have thirty seconds to produce him, or you will be surrounded by rock and molten lava—forever!”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I would.” Her eyes narrowed to slits.
A staring contest between Pan and Gaia ensued, with Karma counting down the last ten seconds. “Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two…”
Pan half disappeared, but a moment before he could get away, Gaia latched onto his hairy leg with both hands and held on tight as he dragged her through the universe.
* * *
Aaron caught sight of something hurtling through space, coming right at him. Was it an asteroid? A meteor? No, it was…Gaia and Pan?
She clung to his leg and yelled furiously, “Where is he?”
“I’m taking you to him.” Then the satyr snickered. “But soon, you’ll have to make a choice. Him or me.” He pointed toward Aaron, whose hands slipped a little farther down the tree branch.
Gaia zeroed in on Aaron and called out, “I’m coming for you. Hang on!”
Pan laughed. “You’ll have to let go of me to catch him. He’s falling, you know. Any second, he’ll drop off the surface of my upside-down forest.”
She furiously hurled the goat into a tree and grabbed Aaron just as his hands slipped off the branch altogether. He grasped onto her in a hug, and she gently floated him back to the surface, creating a small patch of gravity where they needed it.
“Thank goodness I found you, darling!”