Beyond the Garden

by S. Y. Thompson

  Her eyes widened and Dana almost spat out her regulator as the implications struck her. An animal could pass through, but not a person. Mankind was expelled from the garden, but nothing she’d ever read indicated the same was true for lower life forms. Then there was the fact that this gorge didn’t show up on any map yet she could see it clearly in front of her. Every scientific bone in her body howled in protest that she was wrong, but Dana was sure she’d found the entrance, or at least an entrance. This was the way in.

  Dana removed her glove and held her hand out again. This time she felt a small tingling sensation upon contact, but not the searing pain Lil had described. Dana wondered if the barrier had lost strength over the eons or if the water somehow interfered with the signal. Perhaps the intense shock was reserved especially for Lilith. With no answers forthcoming, Dana spent time exploring the area. She started with the riverbank to her left and moved back to where she estimated the center of the riverbed lay. Finally, Dana realized she had to leave. She was running out of air.

  Reluctantly, Dana surfaced. The current caught her as she approached the surface, but she had moved close enough to the bank that she climbed out without too much trouble. Dana couldn’t wait to tell Lil what she’d found. She quickly shucked her tank and fins and dropped her mask onto the pile so that she could run back to their camp.

  Dana spotted Lil standing beside the tent. She still wore her wet suit, but had been back on land long enough for her thick hair to have dried. She had her back turned and stood looking out past their campsite. Dana crashed toward her, feeling sticks under the thin soles of her booties. Suddenly Lil spun toward her and Dana saw the crossbow aimed in her directly.

  “It’s me!”

  Lil dropped the weapon and met Dana halfway across the small space. Though Dana was soaking wet, Lil didn’t hesitate to scoop her into her arms. Lil held her tightly and Dana felt her body trembling.

  “I was so frightened that something had happened to you. I tried to find you, but you know I can’t sense you. What the hell happened?”

  Dana pulled away, grinning in her excitement. “I’ll tell you all about it, but right now I really have to pee.”

  “Dana!”

  “Fine, I’ll pee in a minute. I think I’ve found it.”

  “You think you…?”

  Dana could hear Lil swallow. She nodded and smiled so wide it hurt. “I think I found the entrance.”

  “Where?”

  “We’re standing right on top of it.”

  ****

  Dana helped Lil gather her equipment as well as a fresh oxygen tank for herself. They rushed back to the spot on the bank where she’d shucked her gear. Frustration thrummed along her veins when they lost time by having to trek back upriver before entering the water. As before, the current would carry them toward their final destination.

  “Just stay as close to the bank and the bottom as you can. We’ll run into each other at the buoy. Here’s a locator so you can track the signal. I’ve got another one.”

  Dana didn’t realize she was babbling until she spotted the indulgent smile on Lil’s lips. “What?”

  “I think you’re even more excited than I am.” Lil passed Dana’s mask to her. “Thank you.”

  Dana chuckled, feeling a little self-conscious. “You’re welcome, although I have to confess that I’m not eager to help you find the dagger. I think I’m more thrilled with seeing the actual Garden of Eden. If it really exists, that is.”

  “Right.”

  Dana shot Lil a tolerant look before donning her equipment. She stepped into the water first, immediately resisting the pull of the strong current as she settled farther into the river. Dana sat on the bank to pull on her mask and fins and then eased into the flow just as the sun broke the horizon. They had some time before the sunlight through the water would present a serious issue and she planned to reach the barrier before then.

  Despite the sense of urgency she felt to breach the boundary, Dana willed herself to patience. The last thing she needed was to bash into a boulder or submerged tree stump. She clicked on the flashlight and concentrated on following the tracking signal. In no time, she reached the point where the sediment stopped and clean, clear water flowed past the barrier. Dana settled onto her knees to wait for Lil. She could see the wonder in Lil’s eyes behind the mask. A cloud of sediment swirled around them as Lil knelt beside her.

  Dana took off her glove and started to raise her hand. She wanted to illustrate where the shield began, but Lil caught her arm before Dana could make contact. She shook her head vehemently, but Dana patted Lil’s hand in an attempt to convey that it was all right. Lil didn’t seem reassured, but released her.

  When Dana made contact with the invisible wall, she felt the now-familiar tingle. Lil apparently took comfort when she wasn’t injured and removed her own glove. She reached out to touch the wall and Dana would have smiled if not for the regulator she held in her teeth. The urge to smile dissolved an instant later.

  White static-like fire shot from the barrier as Lil reached out. The current struck Lil in the palm of her hand and she recoiled in pain.

  “Lil!” Dana screamed silently.

  Lil had fallen to the side and her body floated in the current. Dana caught her in her arms, noting that Lil retained consciousness, but her expression was twisted in agony. Her body was bowstring taut and shivers traveled throughout her frame. Dana dropped her light and the tracker. She cared more about getting Lil to the surface than losing her equipment.

  The Euphrates fought her as Dana pulled Lil through the water. Before, the river had seemed benevolent and soothing. Now it more resembled a beast with ravening teeth. Dana’s heart pounded and she knew she was sucking up too much oxygen, but she couldn’t deny the panic she felt. Belatedly, Dana inflated Lil’s BCD and her own vest. The oxygen inside the buoyance control devices assisted in rushing them to the surface. Dana wrestled her way through the current and up toward the bank. At one point, she reached for the clasp on Lil’s weight belt and allowed it to drop away. Without the heavy weights, they almost shot to the top. Once they emerged, she pushed as hard as she could toward the side. Dana kept her regulator and mask in place so she wouldn’t accidentally suck in water as she tried to rescue Lil.

  By the time they crawled out of the river, Dana’s muscles felt like jelly. She spat out her regulator and pushed the mask up over her forehead as she rolled Lil onto her back.

  “Lil, can you hear me? Lil!”

  Lil’s regulator dropped away and she writhed in pain. The sound of her moans made tears spring forth in Dana’s eyes. Dana tried to focus on taking care of Lil rather than wallow in worry. She grabbed Lil’s hand and searched her palm for signs of injury, but found nothing. At her wits’ end, Dana couldn’t do anything but quickly remove her scuba gear and hold Lil in her arms until the agony abated.

  They sat together on the bank as the sun came up and dried their hair. Dana rocked Lil in her arms as though she was a small child. She planted kisses upon Lil’s forehead and cheek and eventually the tension in Lil’s body eased. Soon she lay quiescent, her breathing regular. Dana wondered if she’d fallen asleep.

  “It would seem that I still couldn’t return.” Lil’s voice sounded harsh, like a heavy smoker after their third pack of the day.

  “If I hadn’t seen it myself, I never would have believed it.”

  “Did you feel anything when you touched the barrier?”

  Dana nodded, her cheek still against Lil’s forehead. “Just a slight tingling sensation. Certainly nothing like what happened to you.”

  Lil struggled to rise and Dana assisted her. With an arm slung over her shoulder, Dana helped Lil back to their camp. She was disturbed by Lil’s weakness. Dana had seen Lil dead and returned to life, but never this unmitigated exhaustion. To date, Lil’s superhuman strength had never failed her and Dana worried that it wouldn’t subside. Immortality was one thing, but dealing with a supernatural electrocution was way beyond her p
urview. Hell, all of this was way past anything Dana had ever experienced. She was out of her depths and felt like she was holding on by her fingernails.

  Finally, they reached the camp. Dana assisted Lil into the tent and helped her lie down on the cot.

  “Wait, I need to get this off.”

  Dana hadn’t forgotten about the wetsuit and booties, but hadn’t wanted to push the issue. Since Lil brought it up, Dana thought she must be strong enough to remain upright for at least a few more minutes. She helped Lil peel off the scuba suit and boots and assisted her into some light britches and a button-down shirt. After that, Lil practically fell onto the cot. Her eyes were already closed and fatigue fairly oozed out of her pores. Since she was shivering, Dana pulled the light blanket up to Lil’s chin. Once her tasks were complete, Dana knelt in the sand beside the cot and rested her palm on Lil’s forehead.

  “Are you going to be okay?” She couldn’t disguise the concern in her tone and didn’t bother making the attempt.

  “Fine. I’m just tired. I think I’ll sleep for a while.”

  Dana thought that was a great idea. She placed a lingering kiss on Lil’s cheek, just to the side of her mouth. “I’ll be outside if you need me. Just get some rest.”

  “Dana.”

  “Yes?”

  “Maybe…maybe we should give this up. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.”

  Relieved at the possibility of giving up this foolish quest, Dana wasn’t quite sure what to say. Lil had wanted this for so long, but all Dana wanted was for her to choose life. Then again, Lil was currently injured and worn out. Chances were good that she would regain her resolve once she’d rested. She couldn’t afford to get her hopes up.

  “It’s okay. We’ll talk about it later. Sleep now.”

  Dana left the tent and squinted at the sunlight. Sweat beaded on her upper lip despite the slight breeze. It seemed like only moments ago that dawn had started to break. Lil’s comment about giving up her search weighed on her mind as Dana returned to the riverbank. She had to make a couple of trips to bring all of their equipment back to camp. After that, she changed clothes and spent time checking over straps and buckles to ensure everything remained in working order. Dana exchanged the empty air tanks for spares taken from the rear of the truck.

  When her stomach grumbled in protest, Dana finally broke down and heated up some dried beef stew over a quickly ignited campfire. She performed everything out of instinct and muscle memory, not really seeing anything. Instead Dana wrestled with her guilt. Nothing would make her happier than to spend her days getting to know Lil. Yet despite the attractiveness of her daydreams, Dana knew that immortality weighed on Lil like an anchor. In the end, only Lil could make the decision.

  Dana’s eyes stung from exhaustion. She stood and extinguished the campfire by dumping sand over the flames. When she was sure she wouldn’t set fire to the marsh, Dana went back into the tent. They’d spent the entire night diving and she was running on fumes. Lil’s breathing was deep and steady, reassuring Dana that she was no longer in pain. Unsure where they would go from here, Dana sighed and plopped down on the edge of her cot. After removing her shoes, she climbed under the small coverlet and closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure she could actually sleep.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Dana awakened a few hours later. From the heat inside the tent, the sun was almost directly overhead. Dana sat up and rubbed her temples, trying to ease a slight headache. She felt hung over from too little sleep. The first thing she thought about was Lil. A quick glance assured her that Lil still slept. Dana didn’t want to wake her so she left the tent and grabbed a canteen to quench her thirst.

  Although Dana’s desire to return home with Lil remained strong, she realized she’d made a decision while she slept. She couldn’t live with herself if she allowed Lil to walk away from here when they were so close.

  Dana ensured Lil’s crossbow was propped against her cot and gathered her equipment to head back to the riverbed. She trusted Lil would know if anything or anyone dangerous approached. As she walked toward the Euphrates, Dana had to admit that she deliberately hadn’t awakened Lil to let her know where she was headed. While it was true she wanted Lil to rest, Dana also didn’t want Lil to talk her out of her next move. She would find a way in. What Lil chose to do once they breached the Garden’s barrier was up to her.

  With the sun high overhead, Dana realized visibility would be even worse than usual. She didn’t worry about it as she dressed and donned her weight belt, BCD and tank. A replacement tracker for the one she’d lost before would keep her on course. Dana put on her flippers and mask before ever entering the water because her hands would be full with the flashlight and other gear. As long as she didn’t bash her head in on a concealed obstacle, she could follow the pulse back to the buoy.

  Dana was surprised by the river’s strength. Logically, she realized the current wasn’t any more forceful than before. Her body was just that much more exhausted. Dana’s muscles tightened as she resisted the current. She quickly dove toward the bottom to escape the pull of the flow. A few powerful strokes sent her toward the bottom.

  It took only minutes to reach the buoy. It floated serenely in the water, the red LED light standing out through the murk. Nothing appeared disturbed. Dana retrieved the tracker she’d previously dropped before she started at one side of the river and moved across the channel, checking for any breach no matter how miniscule. It took time, but she persevered, analyzing the invisible shield in a systematic manner. The line of shielding remained unbroken.

  Dana had no idea how much time had passed. Eventually she found herself back at the point near the center of the river where she’d seen the fish pass through. The time had come for a more scientific approach to her dilemma. Dana ignored the irony of approaching a supernatural situation with logic as she removed the knife from her calf sheath.

  Sediment swirled as Dana dug the tip of her blade into the riverbed near the edge of the drop-off. Regardless how deeply she excavated, the shield continued, appearing to sink into the abyss along with the uncharted gorge. When she couldn’t see anything owing to the amount of debris in the water, Dana sat back on her heels to think her way through the situation.

  Animals could pass through, but people couldn’t. The shield restricted sediment, keeping the water beyond the wall pure. Relatively speaking. The rules seemed arbitrary at best, but made her wonder if other inanimate objects could pass through. Dana squeezed her hand, feeling the wet cloth of her glove. Before, she had removed the glove to touch the force field. What would happen if she tried to push her hand through while wearing the glove?

  Dana suited her words to actions and tried to thrust her hand through the intangible boundary. All she got for her troubles was a bruised fist.

  Ow!

  So that wouldn’t work. This time, Dana utilized her knife again. She stuck the tip of the knife against the barrier. Dana expected the same resistance, but the blade continued through without any trouble. Her progress ceased when her hand once again encountered the shield. That would have been too easy, she thought.

  She needed a new theory and a different angle of approach. Starting over, Dana tried to push her way through the wall at various locations. Nothing worked and the only thing she accomplished was becoming more exhausted by the second. She’d been tired when she began this dive, but she was way past that now. The frustration she felt didn’t help.

  Somehow, Dana found herself at the spot where the fish had crossed earlier. Bubbles floated toward the surface as Dana exhaled and stared at that site. Dana felt lethargic and chose to rest for a moment, staring into space. Idly, she wondered how long she’d been down here. How much air did she have left and how could she go back and tell Lil she’d failed?

  A bright light caught her attention, forcing Dana to focus. It reminded her of the unexpected illumination she’d experienced the day before. As had previously happened, the light grew until it swamped the meager b
eam emitted by Dana’s flashlight. She squinted in the brilliant shine that rivaled that of the sun. Slowly, the illumination narrowed in until it centered on a point directly in front of her.

  Feeling a bit hypnotized and surreal, Dana reached out to touch the particle of light. She quickly realized that the source remained on the far side of the barrier and that she couldn’t reach it. Almost simultaneously, she gasped in surprise.

  The source of the light was alive. While the creature had a definite form, the illumination it emitted made its body appear fuzzy and unfocused. Dana couldn’t make out arms or legs. The first thing the child inside her thought of was a sprite or a fairy, but this thing didn’t even have wings. It was nothing more than a dancing ball of light.

  Dana swallowed hard and considered that she could be running out of air. Hypoxia could account for hallucinations. A quick look at her gauges told her oxygen deprivation wasn’t the answer. She was low on oxygen, but not dangerously so. Movement made her look up and Dana realized the…thing… seemed to be beckoning to her, urging her to cross over. She shook her head, trying to communicate the impossibility of accomplishing such a feat.

  The ball of light flickered faster and zipped a few inches from side to side, encouraging her to come through. Dana moved slowly, unsure what would happen as she reached out. This time, unbelievably, her hand passed easily through the shield. She felt no resistance of any kind and moving forward proved as effortless as swimming down the Euphrates. The barrier rippled and retracted as Dana eased ahead. Seconds later, the sediment was gone and she could see in all directions. The water was now as clear as any ocean.

  Dana started when the sprite encompassed her finger and pulled her forward. The little thing was much stronger than its size indicated. Dana gave a single look back over her shoulder, worried about continuing on, yet reluctant to stop now. In the end, there really wasn’t a choice. She had to see how this played out. As she swam forward, the light grew until it embraced her entire left hand and suddenly tugged her downward toward the steep gorge.