Two hours later, everyone was exhausted, and both Badger and Billy's tongues were hanging out.
Jo said, sobbing, “They both need water, but we're almost out.”
George was leaning on his sword and could barely talk. “I've half a bottle left. Here.”
Jo, not sure what to do, said, “No, you better take it.”
Abby said, “We need to find shade.”
Stevie said, “I haven't seen any since we started.”
Abby, sounding hopeful, said, “Maybe we'll see it just over that sand dune. Come on, let's go look.”
The desert had turned from flat and cracked to rolling hills of sand. With Billy and Badger struggling from behind the group made it to the top. The mountains they had left behind seemed small. Ahead lay a sea of sand.
George seemed defeated. “I don't think we've made it half way. It is too far back; I'll never make it.”
Cindy said, “This sucks.”
Jo continued to fuss over Billy and Badger and forced them to each take a drink.
Abby sat down in the sand then jumped up. “Ow, that is freaking hot.”
Stevie said, “Hey, Jo, can I have the sleeping bag to put down?”
Jo fished it out and Stevie spread it out on the downhill side of the dune next to Billy. Badger plopped down at the top of the dune with his nose almost touching Billy's. They both seemed very sad.
Abby and Cindy sat down on the sleeping bag. It slid a little, but they dug their heels into the sand. Abby, patting a spot next to her, said, “Here, you can sit next to me, Stevie.”
Stevie, standing, said, “Nah, I'm good. Hey, Jo, why don't you take a break?”
Jo, running her hands through her hair, replied, “We are about out of water, but I think if we share the rest of the fruit, we could give the water to Billy and Badger.”
Abby said, “Good idea.”
George was down on his knees by Badger and Billy. “Hang in there guys. I think the sun is past noon. It will start to get cooler.” He stood up and held his shield up so that a shadow covered the guinea pigs’ eyes. They looked at him and closed their eyes.
Jo divvied up the fruit and handed it out. When she gave Abby her pieces, she gasped. “Look at your arms! You are seriously sun burned.”
Abby looked down. “That is going to hurt.” She pressed her arm and winced. “Correction, it hurts now.”
Jo yanked all the backpacks from her pouch and found a pair of socks. “Here put these over your arms, so they don't get worse. How are you, Cindy?”
“Tanning nicely, thanks.”
George came over and picked up the backpacks and went back to Billy and Badger. Jo followed him. “What are you looking for?”
“My backpack had a hoodie in it.” He found it and whipped the hoodie from the backpack. Jo watched as he stuck his sword in the sand and next to it his shield, then he draped the hoodie between them. A shadow fell across their furry faces. Then George poured a little water on the tongues of both of them. Billy and Badger lapped up the water. Jo yelped, “That is a good idea!” She ran over to Cindy. “Can I borrow your staff?”
Cindy, lying down with her arm over her eyes, said, “Sure, knock yourself out.”
Jo reached for it and hesitated. “Will it shock me?”
Cindy said, “Maybe, no idea.”
Jo poked it with one finger. Nothing happened. She grabbed the staff then asked Stevie for his sword and Abby for her bow.
She handed the staff to George and said, “Put it near Billy’s back legs.”
George said, “Okay,” and stuck the staff in the sand.
Jo shook her head and took Stevie's sword out of the scabbard and stuck it into the ground near Badger's backside. She stood back and said, “It is too short. Everybody, move.”
Abby asked, “What?”
“Move down the sand a little ways.”
Too exhausted to argue, Abby and Cindy moved the sleeping bag down the dune.
Jo knelt down by Billy and said, “Okay, guys, can you move just a little bit over the edge of the top of the dune.”
Billy didn't move.
Jo pointed at one of the backpacks. “George, get my water.”
He handed it to her and she splashed some on Billy's face and poured a little in his mouth. His eyes opened. She said, “Can you move just a little bit?”
In a weary voice, he said, “I can try.” He pulled his feet under him and tried to stand but couldn't. Jo yelled, “Everyone, help. I need to move Billy and Badger.”
Stevie, who had been watching Jo work, said, “I see what you are doing. Good idea. Hey, girls, give us a hand.”
Abby and Cindy got up and climbed up the dune. Everyone gave a big push and slid Billy over the edge of the dune. Badger was next. He slid down next to his friend.
Jo waved her hands. “Now, move the staff to the edge and I'll get the sword.”
George did as he was told. Soon Jo was tearing off three meter strips of foil and carefully attaching them to the staff and sword. Then she put the bow in the sand next to the staff and the scabbard next to the long sword and did one more strip of foil, creating a small lip to the wall. The shadow stretched across the guinea pigs and she let out a sigh. “That should help.”
Abby smiled. “Great idea, Jo.”
Everyone but Jo plopped down on the dune below Billy and Badger. Jo continued to fuss and give little drinks to the piggies, but, after a short while, she was down to the last half a bottle and decided she should save it.
The day continued and the shadow grew. Jo sat down and pulled out her book. She flipped through a few pages and then drew some symbols in the sand. One of them glowed a dark green.
Abby said, “Anyone feeling better?”
Cindy said, “No.”
George said, “No.”
Stevie replied, “Maybe a little...well...no.”
Abby said, “Me, either. Where is Alouicious anyway?”
Cindy answered, “He's doing a crappy job of keeping an eye on us, but...”
“But what?”
“I don't think we're supposed to die out here. They'll probably rescue us.”
“You think?”
“Yep. Then when I tell my parents, they'll kill me.”
George gave a weak chuckle.
Abby said, “I hope so.”
Cindy said sarcastically, “Thanks.”
Abby replied, “Not the parents killing you part; the rescue part.”
“Oh, yeah. Me, too.”
Stevie said, “I bet it is snowing in Boston right now.”
George sat up. “You're from Boston?”
Stevie said, “Yep, where you from?”
George replied, “I'm from Boston, too.”
Abby said, “I used to live in Ann Arbor, before...”
Cindy said, “I'm from Ann Arbor, too.”
Stevie spoke up again. “Hey, Jo, where you from?”
Jo said, “Michigan. Why?”
Stevie said, “We're just chatting before we all die or spontaneously combust.”
George flopped back down.
Abby said, “I think I'll burst into flames first.” She touched her arm lightly and winced.
Jo walked over and said, “I think I can help your sunburn.”
Abby asked, “How?”
Jo laid the book in the sand next to Abby and drew three symbols into the sand. They glowed different shades of green. Jo held her hands over the glow and then ran them across Abby's right arm. “How does that feel?”
Abby said, “Wow, it feels cold! Thanks.”
Jo drew the symbols again and did the other arm then Abby's neck and cheeks.
“Thanks, Jo, it doesn't hurt anymore, and, look, the pink is gone.”
Cindy sat up. “I'm not really burned, but I'd love some of that cold.”
Jo did the same for Cindy.
“Wow, that was great! I bet it would make them feel better,” Cindy said, pointing at Billy and Badger.
Jo ran
up and drew the symbols by Billy. She ran her hands along his nose and stroked his fur. Billy's eyes opened. “What happened?”
Jo said, “We’re in the middle of the desert. I just did a healing spell from my book.”
Billy, looking at Badger, asked, “Is he?”
Jo replied, “I don't think so; you were in much worse shape.” She gave the treatment to Badger who let out a feeble “Wheek.”
Jo let out a heavy sigh and flopped down next to Badger. “Well, what now?”
Stevie said, “Maybe you should do that to yourself; you're not looking so good.”
Jo stretched out a tired hand and drew the symbols one more time and rubbed her arms. “Wow, that does feel good!”
Abby stood up. “You think we should try to make it a little further?”
Jo looked at Billy. “You think you can walk?”
Billy said, “I think I can, yes.”
Jo gave some healing to Stevie and George then everyone helped pack up their makeshift wall.
Five minutes later, they were back to hiking across the endless stretch of sand.
***
The group walked in a single file silently climbing dune after dune. When they grew tired, Jo used her spell to make them feel better, but, each time she did, the effect seemed less potent.
As they climbed an especially high sand dune, Abby said to Stevie who was walking behind her, “We may not make it across in time to see the obelisk, but I think we're going to survive.”
Badger, who was out in front, reached the top of the dune first and let out an excited, “Wheek!”
Billy, who was at the back, yelled, “He says he sees it.”
Everyone scrambled to the top of the dune, and they saw the obelisk, just two dunes over, the fading sun glinting off the shiny black top.
Abby gasped, “It's almost sundown; we need to hurry.”
Everyone sprinted down the dune as best they could. George fell half way and, as he rolled, yelled, “I'm fine. I'll catch up.”
Jo stopped to help George as the others ran ahead. They reached the top of the next dune, and the orange glow of the setting sun was no longer shining off the massive piece of granite. Abby said, trying to catch her breath, “The sun's gone down. Why is it still there?”
Billy said, “It doesn't vanish until the last rays of light have faded from the top of the Elder Tree. We still have some time.”
Stevie let out a war cry and bolted down the dune. Within a minute, he was trudging his way up the soft sands of the massive dune with the obelisk. Just as he was about to the top, the obelisk faded then vanished.
“Nooooo,” Stevie yelled, collapsing a few meters from the top.
Abby, Billy, and Badger were close behind and stopped when they reached Stevie. Abby patted him on the back. “It just wasn't meant to be. I guess we've failed the challenge.”
Stevie said, “But we were so close.”
“I know, but there is nothing we can do about it now.”
Jo and George caught up, and the group continued on. They reached the top as Abby said, “What's that?”
On the other side near the bottom of the dune was a giant tent surrounded by trees next to a small pond.
Stevie yelled as he started to run, “It's an oasis, and that's water.”
Stevie reached the pond first and slid on his belly right up to the edge. He dunked his head and started drinking. Billy and Badger were next and lapped up water until their entire faces were soaking wet. George, Jo, Cindy, and, Abby all arrived and dunked their heads in, too.
When Abby came up for a breath, she said, “I never knew water could taste so good.”
Badger made a gurgling noise that sounded very much like he was agreeing.
From across the pond a voice said, “I see you made it.”
Abby looked up. “Alouicious, you're here!”
Alouicious, sipping a drink with an umbrella in it, said, “Where else would I be?”
Abby ran around the pond, and soon everyone else was by her side. “What is this place?”
Alouicious said, “It's an oasis. I carry one around for when I'm in the desert.”
Stevie replied, “That's what I said, an oasis...wait...what? You carry one around?”
Alouicious said, “Yes, the desert can get terribly warm in case you hadn't noticed.”
Badger gave him an angry stare.
Cindy said, “Yes, we noticed...jerk.”
Alouicious, not at all bothered by Cindy's remark, said, “Fancy a bite? There's a lovely little spread in the tent...oh, and some fresh bales of hay for you two over there.” Alouicious pointed off to the side of the tent. Badger gave a little hop and scurried away. Billy said, “I knew you wouldn't forget your old friends. Now, I better hurry, or he will snarf it all down.”
Inside the tent a dozen tiki torches lit up a massive walnut table with a feast fit for a king. There were bowls of fruit, loaves of bread, turkey, chicken, ham, and even a huge bucket of ice with ice cream sandwiches. Everyone dug in. Food had never tasted quite so good.
***
As the meal, stories, and laughter died down, Jo excused herself to go check on Billy and Badger. Cindy got up and announced that she was going to try to wash the “Desert Death March” out of her hair.
George said, “I can't eat another bite and that's saying something for me.”
Stevie said, “I hear that.”
Abby said, “If I were home, I'd have had a microwave fish dinner to look forward to. It was worth it to nearly die in the desert just to avoid it.”
George and Stevie laughed.
Stevie stood. “I think I'll go out and see if Alouicious knows what we’re supposed to do next.”
George hopped up. “Can I come, too?”
“Heck, yes, dog, let's go get him,” Stevie said and offered a fist bump.
George gladly accepted.
Abby looked around and decided that one more ice cream sandwich wouldn't hurt anyone. She pulled the treat from the bucket with the ice and peeled the paper back. As she nibbled on it, she couldn't help but notice that the ice seemed strange. Abby took a piece out and looked more closely. It felt like ice; it was cold and seemed completely normal. She set the ice cube down on her plate and watched it. The ice cream sandwich was soon gone, but the ice cube hadn't melted at all. The sun was down, but it was still very hot. She picked up the bucket and looked more closely. None of the ice had melted even a little bit.
Abby looked at the table. There were still three giant loaves of French bread, lots of turkey, chicken, ham, and a fair amount of fruit. Jo came back and said, “Billy is doing just fine, and Badger fell asleep in a pile of hay. He still has one half-eaten piece in his mouth.”
“That sounds very cute.”
“It is.”
“Check out the ice. It doesn't melt.”
“Cool,” Jo said and picked up a piece. “It must be magic ice.”
“I was thinking we could pack up some of this food.”
Jo opened the leather pouch and pulled out all the backpacks. Soon they had three of them completely empty. Abby used the plastic sheets to line two of the packs and filled the bottoms with ice. Jo wrapped up the meat in tin foil and handed it to Abby who said, “Hey, look at the bucket!”
“What?”
“I used up all the ice, but it is full again.”
“A magic bucket for magic ice. It makes sense. You think Alouicious would mind if we took it with us?”
Abby shrugged. “We could ask.”
Jo looked down. “You ask him. I'll finish packing the food.”
Abby said, “Be right back,” and headed out to find Alouicious.
Alouicious was on one knee drawing something in the sand. Stevie and George were watching. Abby asked, “Hey, whatchya doing?”
“He's showing us how to find the Path of Sorrow,” Stevie said.
“I don't like the sound of that.”
Alouicous looked up. “Oh, Abby, it isn't that bad. The
path was built by a large family of gnomes named Sorrow.”
“I was wondering if it was okay for us to take your magic ice bucket with us?”
“Sure, I have plenty of them.”
Abby, more interested in packing up the leftovers than the path of sorrow, wheeled around and went back to help Jo.
When all the extra food was stored away and the backpacks were returned to Jo's magical pouch, they joined Stevie and George.
Stevie said, “Al, tell Abby about the Castle of Madness.”
Alouicious pointed to a spot in the sand. “It's here after the Thunder Creek, just past a stretch of forest that is quite lovely… if you don't run into any spiders.”
Cindy returned, wringing the water out of her hair. “What's up?”
Abby said, “Alouicious was just explaining what we needed to do next.”
Cindy asked, “Wasn't the desert of death enough?”
Alouicious ignored her and went over his map for the benefit of Abby and Jo. “As I was telling the lads, we are near the edge of the forest, so there is very little desert left to cross.”
Cindy said, “I hate the desert; the sooner we’re done with it the better.”
Though she had returned to her complaining ways, for once nobody could argue with her.
Alouicious continued, “Once you reach the forest, you will head due west along the edge until you see a path. That is the path of sorrow.”
Cindy asked, “The what?”
Abby answered, “It was built by some gnomes named Sorrow.”
“Oh.”
Alouicious spoke again. “The path winds through the woods and veers off a couple of times, but if you stay on the main path, you'll be fine. It will take you to Thunder Creek.”
“How do we get across the creek?” Abby asked.
“There is a boatman, er, goat.”
Stevie said, “There is a boat goat?”
“Yes, his name is Charon, but he prefers Charles though it is probably best not to try to get too friendly. He can be rather gruff.”
Stevie said, “Got it, don't try to make friends with Charlie the goat.”
“After you get across, the path will head mostly east and when it comes out of the woods...”
“The one with the spiders?” George asked, seeming concerned.
“...well, yes, there are spiders, a few, and you certainly don't want to offend them, but they rarely come out. Anyway, the Castle of Madness will be right in front of you. You can't miss it.”
Secret Doors: The Challenge Page 7