The Dreamer Chronicles Trilogy Boxed Set Vol I - III: A Sci-Fi Parallel Universe Adventure (The Dreamer Chronicles - Science Fiction For Kids And Adults)

by Robert Scanlon

  Valkrog laughed. “Well may he struggle. But it is futile. Watch.” Looking at Nathan, he strolled to the Professor, and with one glancing blow, knocked him out. “Now he doesn’t need to struggle anymore.”

  Nathan winced and sucked in a deep breath. His plan had to work.

  His finger hovered over the keypad. He had to get the codes correct, but he was pretty sure he knew what they were. The dithering was from fear. Would this work?

  He punched in the code.

  The orange LED, already blinking fast, turned solid for a few seconds, then switched to green. Nathan relaxed a little. That part had worked. He looked at the creature. “I’ve booted up the collider. Now I need to increase its power so you can use it. You will probably have to hold an image of your ... master in your head.”

  The bird-man hissed. “I am no fool. I know how these curses work. Proceed!”

  Nathan nodded. It was now or never. The increased power and the program he was about to launch should knock them all out. He hoped. At least the Prof was already out for the count. He looked over, only to see the man was stirring awake and watching Nathan intently, so maybe not. He had to hope they would all stay unconscious until Agent Blanchard found them.

  His finger hesitated once; then he jabbed in the program’s sequence and waited. The collider clunked, then began humming. A low pitched growl that was increasing.

  Valkrog glared at Nathan. “Is it supposed to make that noise?”

  Nathan didn’t know—but he nodded anyway. “It’s the rem-collisions increasing in freq—”

  But he didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence.

  As he spoke the words, a pale-yellow horizontal square-outline of shimmering energy had sprung into life above the collider. The glowing square was the size of the crate underneath, as if someone had drawn an outline of the crate’s perimeter in glitter-dust and thrown it into the air. Inside, the air looked different. Like a portal, Nathan thought, while watching in a slow-motion, dream-like state.

  The square expanded rapidly until it hovered directly above Nathan and the collider.

  With one swift movement, the square fell to the floor and the air in the warehouse shifted with a compressive crack.

  The shimmering square of light was gone.

  And so was Nathan.

  ~ 10 ~

  Disturbance

  Makthryg had experienced no more evidence of any connection with Valkrog, and he was beginning to think it had all been a figment of harrowbrush-induced imagination, when he saw the flash in the distance.

  He stopped and strained to peer through the heat haze, but was unable to make anything out. He straightened and sniffed the air. A disturbance? He felt his pulse quicken. Was this a sign of his creature returning? Yet he did not have the sense of wholeness he usually felt when Valkrog was close.

  Nonetheless, the disturbance was power; a familiar one, from a faint and trampled memory. He brushed it away as usual.

  A disturbance of this magnitude was worth the minor detour he would have to make. As far as he could ascertain, the valley forest was potentially within reach of a two-day march, and to investigate the flash would add no more than an hour or two, at best.

  He moved on, taking the deliberate steps he had learned were the most efficient use of his energy. The harrowbrush was long consumed; his desire for survival had overridden his fear that his life was now shortened beyond measure.

  He mused as he marched. The powers of the Orange Witch had caused the last disturbance of that kind, and not him. Had she returned? He smiled to himself. If she had, fate was with him. He would force her to his will, one way or another.

  She would not best him again.

  ~~~

  Nathan woke in a daze to blinding sun. What on earth had happened? He shielded his eyes and tried to sit up. His head ached and he was groggy, but he managed to prop himself up to sitting and looked around the bright landscape. More like a desert, he thought, as he surveyed the rocky outcrops and brush.

  Most of what he saw was the same in every direction, save for one, where he noticed a faint suggestion of greenery on the horizon.

  He took a deep breath.

  Whatever had happened to the collider, it was not what he’d been expecting. Had the Prof and the creature been affected? Had they been knocked unconscious as he’d expected?

  No way to know right now. Right now was about survival.

  He thought about the survival websites he had researched for his parents when they were obsessed with the TV show, “Celebrity Lost”. He had to find shelter from the sun, and water. They would be his first priorities. After that, a way to stay warm at night. Food could wait a while longer.

  He stood up and patted himself down. Apart from the headache, the bruised shoulder courtesy of Valkrog, and the slight grogginess, which was now fading, he was okay.

  But hopelessly lost.

  He raised himself onto tiptoe and strained to make out the form of the remote greenery. Perhaps a forest? Some trees for shelter? Judging by the distance, and the height of the sun in the sky, he’d be lucky to make it even halfway there by nightfall.

  “The journey of a thousand steps begins with the first,” he muttered, and started walking, unsteadily at first. It wasn’t long before he put both hands on his head to try to protect himself from the sun. His lips were already dry. He would have to rely on his knowledge of science if he was to survive.

  ~~~

  Paolo chased Lucio around the playground’s wooden climbing frame. He caught up with his young brother and grabbed him. “Got you!”

  Lucio turned around and beamed. “But I still won!” He pointed to the line he had drawn in the sandpit they were running around. The one Paolo had just run past. “You had to catch me before the line! Now you give me a ride home.”

  Paolo laughed and turned around. He squatted down and let the five-year old boy clamber onto his back, then hoisted him up. He craned around. “Hold on tight, but not onto my neck. Otherwise you will strangle me and we will never make it home.”

  The boy didn’t answer, but smiled and squeezed Paolo’s waist with his knees. “Now we go!”

  Paolo grinned and trotted off.

  Along the stone-built pathways they passed groups of townsmen and women working and chatting. Seeing them smiling in the sunshine lightened his heart. It wasn’t so long ago that the valley had suffered badly, and a vicious tyrant had sent the women and children to work in mines. Paolo sighed. Those days were truly over, and now he had his mother and little brother back.

  His mind drifted to thinking about Sarina and Nathan and the crucial part they played in defeating Makthryg and Valkrog. Would he have taken such risks for a world not his own? He hoped he never had to make that decision, and more to the point, he hoped they too, were enjoying fun days like this.

  He trotted slowly over a rise, and felt the boy’s weight on his back slowing him. He stopped at the top for a breather.

  “Come on! Why did you stop, Paolo?” His brother was impatient. He was probably thinking about their mother’s delicious carrot muffins.

  “Patience, Lucio. Even I need to breathe—”

  They both witnessed the flash on the horizon, then not long after, the strange shudder in the air. He felt his brother’s hold on him tighten. “Did you feel that?” the boy whispered in Paolo’s ear.

  Paolo nodded. He had. And he knew exactly what the feeling meant. An abnormal intrusion into their world. He sighed. “Lucio, you’ll have to get down. We must run to Mother.” He slipped the boy off his back and together they ran through the streets, past the townsmen and women who were watching them in surprise. A few people they passed were staring off into the distance. Paolo thought they must have seen the flash too. But they wouldn’t have felt the shudder in the air the way he and Lucio had. He needed to talk to his mother—and to Andreas.

  They arrived back at the new cabin the townsmen had built for his mother, and caught their breath.

  Their mot
her was outside, working in the garden. She stopped and straightened. “What is it, Paolo? And Lucio! You look like you’ve both seen a ghost!”

  “That is not far from the truth, Mother,” Paolo said. He felt his heart rate slowing down from the run and took a deep breath. “Mother, did you see the flash in the sky?”

  The woman shook her head. “No. Is there a storm coming? But why is it scaring Lucio? He loves storms.”

  “Mother, the air shivered. Did you not feel it?” Lucio said.

  Their mother looked sharply at Paolo. “What is it, Paolo? Did you feel this too?”

  Paolo nodded. “It was the same as before. When Sarina and Nathan came and went through the portals”—he corrected himself—“and when I also went through the portals. It is the same disturbance. Though the flash is something new.” His expression darkened. “Mother. If someone ... or something, has entered our world, then we must investigate. What if it is Sarina coming here again? The flash came from over in the scrublands. She would never survive in such fierce dry land. We must send a search party.”

  His mother nodded. “Paolo, I trust your judgement. Let us hope others still do. Our current state of peace owes its very existence to you and your friends, but ...” she trailed off.

  “Now we have peace, the men won’t see any reason to think differently?” Paolo looked grim-faced. “I fear they have only their farms and ball-games in their minds sometimes.”

  His mother touched his arm. “Not all think that way, Paolo. Let us not panic the township. We will discuss this with Andreas and Tomas. They will decide on a course of action. Come.”

  The three of them walked past several of the wooden cabins until they arrived at Andreas and Tomas’s. Being Township Elders, and neither having families, they shared a cabin. Paolo had shared it with them for many years, up until the women and children were rescued. The two men were sitting on a roughly-hewn wooden bench outside, arguing.

  “Not in the least, Andreas. It would give the men focus.”

  Andreas shook his head. “I still don’t see why we need a fortress. I say leave it empty as a warning to those who are tempted by ego.”

  Tomas let out a noisy breath. “Bah, Andreas. You are as stubborn as they say!”

  “Who says—oh!” Andreas stood. “Eva, Paolo and lucky-Lucio! What a pleasant surprise. Let me make tea.” He moved to walk inside, but Eva held his elbow.

  “Not now, Andreas. Something has come up. May we talk ... in private?”

  Andreas’s smile faded and he nodded. He inclined his head to his friend. “Tomas too?”

  “Yes.” The voice was Paolo’s.

  Inside the cabin, they all sat. Lucio clutched his mother’s skirt.

  “So. Paolo, I gather this is at your behest? Tell me why you and Lucio both look so solemn.” Andreas raised his eyes and waited.

  “From your question, Andreas, I would guess you did not see the flash on the horizon, nor did either of you feel the disturbance in the air.” Paolo waited for confirmation.

  The two men shook their heads.

  “Both Lucio and I saw it and felt the air ... shudder. I venture some of the other townsmen and women saw the flash, from the way they were staring. But I also venture they will think it nothing.” He looked at Lucio. “Lucio and I both felt the same disturbance in the air. It was exactly the same feeling as when Sarina and Nathan used the portals.”

  He looked back up at Andreas and Tomas. “It is my belief someone, or something”—he emphasised ‘thing’—“has slipped into our world. The flash originated from the dry scrublands, and if it was Sarina she would have difficulty surviving. If it was not her ...”

  Andreas nodded. “But what would you have us do, Paolo? The township is settled. There are some here who would use this information against you, despite the debt they owe you. We do not want to panic anyone. Especially if it turns out to be a false alarm.”

  Tomas interjected. “Andreas. Some might doubt Paolo—and Lucio. But I don’t. We have to take it seriously. There are only two possibilities. Either Sarina is back in our world, and in trouble, or—”

  Andreas held up his hand to stop Tomas, and looked at Eva. “Eva, you are our voice of reason. What say you?”

  Eva’s face was calm, as it often was, and her eyes betrayed a depth of wisdom that many overlooked. But not Paolo. He watched closely for her reply.

  “I am convinced the boys know what they are talking about. As far as we know, they are the only ones sensitive to this type of force, so to invite responses from the townspeople will only mount a case against them, as you say. People too easily dismiss what they themselves cannot feel. As far as I am concerned, this is something we ignore at our peril. Besides. Sarina risked her own life to help us save our world when she had nothing at stake herself. What if she is in trouble? I would be ashamed at our lack of action. Along with Paolo, she helped restore peace. My counsel would be this: Assemble your most loyal search party and leave discreetly. On a hunting mission.”

  Lucio jumped up. “Yes! Yes! We are going on an expd”—his forehead wrinkled as he tried to pronounce the word and he looked up at his mother, who smiled—“Mother, what is that word again?”

  “Expedition, Lucio. And no, you will not be going. You will stay here, safe with me.” She pulled him in tight and looked at Paolo. “I know I cannot prevent you going, Paolo, and in any case, I am of the opinion that you are a critical member of the search party. Be safe, my son.” She reached over and took Paolo’s hand.

  Andreas and Tomas looked at each other with a grim expression.

  ~ 11 ~

  Translation

  “Explain!”

  The man shook his head.

  Valkrog lifted a fist in anger, then lowered it. The man was still gagged. How could he explain if he could not speak?

  He walked over and ripped the gag down. “Now explain!” He held up a razor-sharp talon in front of the Professor’s face.

  The man shook his head, but quickly opened his mouth. “I can’t explain because I don’t know what happened.”

  Valkrog saw from the concern written on the man’s face that he was in all likelihood telling the truth. He retracted his talon.

  Violence or not, he needed the man’s temporary cooperation. He was angry that the boy had vanished. But even angrier that his hope for contacting his Master had evaded him once more. He would contain his anger in order to persuade the man. For now.

  “Where did the boy go?”

  The man shook his head again. “I’m telling you, I have no idea. What I can tell you is that the machine is unstable and you should not risk its use—”

  “You will not tell me what I will risk!” Valkrog glared at the man. These humans would learn to respect real power. “What do you know about risk? Did you give a finger on your hand for your Master?”

  The man remained silent.

  “Very well.” Inside he was seething. Once more he was tempted to wreak his revenge. If it had not been for the Orange Witch, neither he nor his Master would be in this situation. One way or another, he would force her people to sacrifice her. Perhaps the man would be persuaded to cooperate once he saw the pain Valkrog was about to inflict on the Witch—then he heard his Master’s words again. ‘Valkrog, you mistake revenge for outcomes. Think about what you have to gain, or lose, by taking revenge. Revenge is all the more sweet once you have what you desire.’

  And what did he desire most now? To be reunited with his Master. Or at the very least, to open a channel of communication.

  He would have the man in front of him do this for him. Or he would carry out his previous threat and pull his fingers off. One-by-one.

  He stared at the man. “I am willing to risk my life to find a way back. The question is: Are you?”

  ~~~

  The Professor heard the creature’s threat and tried to restore his spinning thoughts to some semblance of order. The creature was thinking; and so was he.

  He had not lied to the bird-man.
He had no idea why the portal had consumed Nathan. Only the gestation of a theory. He’d assumed that Nathan had guessed—correctly, according to his own understanding—that the sudden spike in rem-particles, even on battery-power, would be sufficient to knock them all out, hopefully for long enough for Blanchard and his team to reach them.

  But what Nathan didn’t take into account—and how could he, since the Professor had not shared it with him—was that the data settings they had left on the collider were a model of those used by Malden the night of the accident. Which would have been fine if—

  If the collider was under lock and key.

  If the collider was shielded.

  If the collider was not unstable.

  Right now, watching the bird-creature with its baleful eye on him, he could only speculate at the ragged edge of scientific theory. But he had already made up his mind. If it meant bringing Nathan back, then yes, he would risk his own life. But first, he needed to extricate himself from this situation. Luckily, Nathan had given him a clue.

  “I will give my life if you agree not to harm my people.”

  The creature nodded, then sneered. “There is one I offer no guarantee for.”

  The Professor groaned inside. He’d forgotten how attached the creature was to finding Sarina. But that was not today’s battle. He would cross that bridge if he came to it. “I understand. To re-program the machine for your purpose, you will need to free me from these.” He nodded down to the ropes.

  The creature reached down, and with several sharp flicks of a talon, the ropes dropped away.

  The Professor stood—and the creature pressed the back of a talon against his chest. “You do not know what it means to cross me. Remember the lives of your people are in the balance. I will keep my end of the bargain. But should you not uphold yours ...”

  The Professor nodded. The moment had come—yet again, he realised wearily—where his own actions may save—or jeopardise—an entire world.