by KD Blakely
We immediately shot down most of them.
Olivia was all for a magic lamp, like Aladdin’s.
Brady told her we could already use magic in Chimera, at least some of the time. So we didn’t need an annoying blue genie messing with us.
Faith thought we might find another treasure chest, this time full of gold and jewels.
Doug told her Chimera was not a pirate island.
Brady wanted more pages to decode. The more he had to look at, the easier it would be to translate things we found.
Olivia told him he was boring.
Doug hoped for another map — one that would show us where to go next.
Brady said he was going to wish that would show up on the map we already had.
I told them I was hoping to find something from Ronny’s mom that would give us a clue what happened.
No one disagreed with that.
Doug said, “Buried treasure is cool, but I can’t wait to check out the lake.”
Olivia insisted, “First we need to finish checking out the cave. We promised.” Then she muttered, “And I totally want to climb that cave wall again.”
I wasn’t sure anyone else heard her, and then Faith said, “That was scary watching you climb without the rope. Don’t do that again.”
Olivia laughed at her. “I’m just glad Mom couldn’t see me. First, she’d totally have a cow, and then she’d order me to come back down. And going down would be lots harder.”
Ray and Andrew were part of why November seemed to take so long. The few times I got too close to them at school were scary. Because of cutbacks at school, there were fewer teachers in the halls. That seemed to make Ray feel bolder, and I was really tired of being pushed and teased and tripped.
And it wasn’t just Andrew and Ray anymore. Polly knocked Olivia down as we were leaving school. Olivia wanted to shove Polly on her butt, but Faith and I convinced her to leave it alone. I was starting to worry that the Rejects wouldn’t stop at giving one of us a bloody nose or a black eye.
When the end of the month brought the full moon, I was ready to go back, even if there were monstrous hairy trolls running around. We’d be okay if we just stayed on the road. I was practically dancing with excitement. Even Olivia seemed half-awake. And it was only 8:00 am.
We all kept a close watch for the Rejects as we made our way to the tree. Doug and Brady were already waiting for us. Doug was carrying a sack that clanked when it moved, and I eyed it suspiciously. Doug said quickly, “Let’s hurry up.”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes before stepping through the tree. It did feel better when I didn’t actually see the darkness inside. I held my breath while the cold clammy space surrounded me. My air-starved lungs were screaming when I felt the warmth of the Chimera sun on my face. I sucked in a quick breath of the sweet air and opened my eyes.
“Maybe it’s getting easier for you, but one of these days I really am going to be sick,” Faith complained as we stumbled out of the tree.
“It was only easier last month,” I said, still freaked out by the feeling of tumbling through space. “I’m back to normal. Well, normal as in totally yucky in there.”
“I wonder if the magic people fell in the dirt,” Olivia said, brushing at her pants where she’d fallen onto the road. “Maybe it doesn’t feel so creepy to them.”
Brady started to pull out the map, and then hesitated. “Birthdays,” he muttered.
“What?” Olivia asked him.
“I think it may be about birthdays. I’ll have to confirm that next year.”
She frowned at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing. Just forget it.” He pulled out the map, saying, “Show me the Rejects.” We all stared eagerly at the map, which stayed blank.
“We beat them!” I said, pleased. “We should hurry — who knows when they’ll get here.”
Our familiars ran up and I laughed when Rusty leapt straight into Doug’s arms. “Hey boy,” Doug said, twisting his head side to side to avoid the dog’s over-excited tongue. He set him down with a quick pat. “We’re back to the cave today.”
We all laughed when a swift whir of wings and patter of paws announced the exodus of our familiars. We followed quickly, excited about the chance to finally discover what kind of treasure might exist under those two blue marks.
Brady kept an eye on the map as we hurried toward the cave. We’d nearly reached the path up to the cave when the red dots showing the Rejects appeared on the map.
We quickened our pace, hoping to get to there well before Ray and the others. But when we stopped to check the map, we could see the four red dots were gaining on us.
Faith was biting her lip again. “Are they running?”
“The evidence suggests they’re trying to catch us,” Brady said. “Ray and Andrew made it clear they won’t stop until we explain about this place.”
We moved faster, but shortly before the mouth of the cave, they were already nearing the cabin.
“Will we have time to check both blue ‘X’ marks?” Olivia asked.
“We’re gonna try,” Doug said. And I didn’t think I’d ever seen him look so determined.
“Did anyone bring a lighter for the candles?” Faith asked. “Since we don’t have the lightberries anymore.”
“Yeah,” Doug said. “I bought one at the drug store. You should’ve seen the weird look Mr. Woodman gave me. Like he thought I’d turned into an arsonist or taken up smoking.”
“He won’t tell your mom, will he?” I asked nervously, thinking about the questions a comment like that could start.
“Nah, it’ll be okay,” Doug said, clearly unconcerned.
Brady cleared his throat. “So the two blue ‘X’ marks are in different parts of the cave. We should look in the cave down here first, then go to the upper cave. Once Ray and the others get here, we may not have the chance to come back down.”
“Good idea, but we’ll need to be quick,” Doug agreed.
We hurried into the back chamber and looked around for any possible treasure. By looking at our green dots on the map, Brady was able to tell us when we got to the area with the blue ‘X’. It was directly in front of the cave wall.
Brady said, “I don’t understand. I wish I knew what we were supposed to be looking for.”
We all jumped when a loud crack reverberated around the cave and parts of the wall broke off and slid to the floor. Brady gave an exclamation of pleasure and moved back to the wall. He ran his fingers gently over the symbols that were now exposed. “Olivia, help me write down these symbols. We need to hurry.”
The two of them started writing. Brady kept exclaiming with excitement. “I recognize some of these from the last time. I’m going to be able to decipher this.”
As they finished, he carefully folded the paper and put it in his pocket. “I don’t think the Rejects’ll be able to decipher this, but I wish there was some way to hide it from them.”
Olivia gasped and jumped back as the broken pieces of rock suddenly flew back up into place.
“You’re getting really good at that,” I told Brady in admiration. “I had no idea you could do that.”
“Neither did I,” Brady said blankly.
Doug started moving back towards the main cave. “Come on, guys. We need to move.”
Olivia grinned. She was practically vibrating with excitement. “Let’s climb.”
“Right,” Brady said, losing his preoccupied look.
We hurried into the small chamber. Olivia and Brady began to climb up the wall at the same time, and I got nervous as I realized it was becoming a race. “Be careful,” I called out.
I was answered by laughter from both of them as they disappeared into the small opening at the top of the wall. It took them only a moment to drop the rope down for the rest of us. Doug went first, then I followed. It didn’t take me nearly as long to climb up this time.
Only F
aith seemed to struggle, and for one long moment, I was sure things were going to end badly. Faith began to slip. She cried out as she slid several feet down the rope, banging her knees and feet against the rock wall. The force caused her to lose her hold on the rope with her left hand.
For a moment, I tried to imagine what we would do if Faith got hurt. Could we carry her back to Santa Ramona?
“You can do it,” I called in encouragement. I wondered if Brady could climb down and help her somehow, then remembered Olivia saying it was much harder to climb down. Faith was clinging desperately, only her right hand keeping her on the rope. She shook out the fingers of her left hand with a whimper, and then started to slide again.
It was a good thing I was sitting down. I was so relieved, I saw black spots in front of my eyes when she grabbed back on the rope with both hands. She slowly finished the climb, her face white and sweaty.
Brady quickly checked the map as Faith dropped onto the floor of the cave, leaning her head against her knees. “The Rejects are getting near the path to the cave.” He shifted the candle to shine down the narrow tunnel behind him.
This time, being able to see, the cave seemed interesting rather than frightening. Once we got into the second chamber, I caught my breath. It was beautiful. The light sparkled off small crystals in the walls, and I could see strange pillars hanging from the top of the cave.
“Are those stalagmites or stalactites?” I asked, pointing to the top of the cave.
Doug looked up and gave a whistle. “I didn’t notice those last time,” he said.
“Well, we were in a hurry and didn’t have any light last time,” Faith said, an awed sound in her voice.
Brady pointed to a strange ripple of rock hanging about six inches from the ceiling. It was so thin, the light from the candles showed straight through. “That’s cave bacon,” he said in delight. “Wow! I love caves.”
“I totally hate to break up this party,” Olivia said, “but we’re supposed to be in a hurry.”
Brady checked the map. “They’re almost to the cave. We do need to hurry.”
As we started to move deeper through the tunnel, “Brady asked, “Did you get the rope?”
“Olivia said, “Faith was last up.”
Faith told Brady, “Not my rope —I thought you got it.”
“I didn’t get it, I thought you did.”
“Did anyone get it?” I asked.
“Are you kidding? We have to go back.” Then I noticed Doug looking like the cat that ate the canary. I asked suspiciously, “What’s so funny?”
He chuckled, reached behind him, then held out the rope. “I thought someone should get it.”
After we made the sharp bend, in the tunnel, Brady thought the Rejects could no longer see our light if they entered the cave. My heart rate began to slow as we watched the progress of our green dots on the map. It was a lot easier going this time, with two candles lit.
“They won’t know where we are and won’t be able to see our light. Not unless they climb up here too.”
We’d carefully slid into the lower chamber and Brady told us to move forward slowly. It was a relief not to crawl any further. Although we’d been able to see this time, most of the cave was too low or too full of dangerously pointed stalactites to stand often.
Finally, our dots were directly on top of the blue ‘X’. Since we were in the middle of the cave, it was obvious we’d need to dig again.
I took the candle and blocked most of the light with my hand, just to be safe. Doug grabbed the bag that had been clanking irritatingly during the whole trip, and drew out four gardening trowels. He grinned at us and said, “What are you waiting for?”
We were all trying to be quiet now, because according to the map, the Rejects had entered the main cave. I was grateful we hadn’t left any backpacks to show we’d been here this time.
I watched as Brady, Doug, Olivia and Faith took turns, digging deeper into the soft dirt of the cave floor. Occasionally Olivia shot a longing look at the candle I was holding. Normally I’d really enjoy that. Now, I was too busy desperately wishing we’d find something we could tell Ronny. This would be the last time we’d be able to come to Chimera this year.
Some of us would be out of town for Christmas, during December’s full moon. We’d agreed once again that none of us would enter Chimera unless all of us could go. None of us, well most of us, had no desire to change that. There would be safety in numbers in case we were caught by the Rejects. And no one wanted to miss being there if something exciting was discovered.
“Could you hold that light still,” Doug whispered, sounding sarcastic and out of breath.
I started to snap back at him, then realized his face was red and sweaty with effort, even though the cave was fairly cold. All of them were breathing faster than normal. Maybe I should cut him some slack.
“Do you think there’s something to find here?” Olivia asked. Before anyone could answer her, there was a small clinking sound. Someone’s trowel hit something metallic.
“What do you think it is?” Faith asked, her voice an intense whisper, trembling with excitement.
“It’s metal. It could be your treasure chest, Olivia, or your lamp, Faith, or it could be…“
Brady reached into the hole and pulled out an old-fashioned brass key, more than three inches long. The shaft was as big around as a pencil, topped by a fancy Celtic design more than an inch wide.
“A key,” I said blankly. “Uh…I really wasn’t expecting that!”
Suddenly Faith stifled a scream and scooted back until she hit the wall of the cave. “What is that?” she choked out, pointing with a shaking finger.
Chapter 38
The Key
A very small humanoid shape appeared in the hole. It looked like it was swimming up through the earth. The strange creature crawled to its feet, standing about a foot tall. You couldn’t tell anything else about it — it was encrusted with grime. It shook itself all over, dirt flying like water off a dog.
It regarded us with small deep-set eyes that looked coal black. Its face resembled a gnarled old man, with round red cheeks and a long tangled beard. The beard was probably white, but was so full of dirt it looked gray-brown. A grimy pointed red hat was perched on its head.
“That’s a gnome,” Faith said in amazement.
“A gnome?” I asked. “Like the roaming gnome on TV?”
“Something like that. They live in caves or forests…well, supposedly. They’re an elemental. They represent the earth.”
Sounding like its throat had been scratched with sandpaper, a rough low voice growled, “A human who knows our history. Surprising, that.”
Faith opened her mouth to answer, but the strange creature interrupted. “At Ghalynn’s request did I learn these words. He bade me watch for those who for the key would come. I am to give you the following message. Listen carefully, for the words are difficult to my tongue and only once will I tell you.”
The small creature closed its eyes and recited carefully, stumbling over some of the words:
“In your hand you hold the key, yet
Three more objects must you find,
To have a chance to break the spells
Which greed and loathing left behind.
When evil covets things not theirs,
And signs cannot be left in view,
Mundane minds must ascertain
The hidden meaning in each clue.”
Its eyes popped open and it shook its head, showering another layer of dirt on the floor of the cave. Its gaze was piercing as it said, “I find I miss my encounters with the others who this place inhabit. Ghalynn has said only you can bring them back. Do not fail.”
Without another word, it turned its back and with that strange swimming motion disappeared back inside the earth.
“Did you understand any of that? I don’t get it. How are we supposed to use this key?” Doug’s voice sounded impatient and frustrated and angry — along with disco
uraged and disappointed — all at the same time.
“It may take awhile, but I will figure it out,” Brady said, sounding distracted. He was scribbling the words the gnome had said in his notebook. “Any guesses?”
“He said Mundane minds,” Faith said. “Ronny told us people outside Chimera, non-magic people, are called Mundane. And they can’t come in here. Well, except for us. You don’t think it’s about…us?”
We all shook our heads, but I think most of us weren’t really saying no, just that we didn’t have a clue.
Brady said, “I find it interesting the gnome spoke to us in English, not some Chimeran language. Did you hear what a hard time that thing had saying some of it? It sounded like it memorized the words with no idea what they meant.”
“Not a thing.” Faith told him. Brady turned to her, looking confused. I was confused too. She insisted, “It was a gnome, not a thing."
“Okay, that gnome didn’t sound like it… he…whatever…understood English.”
“I agree,” Doug told him. “I just hate not understanding what all this means.”
Brady pulled out the map and asked it if we’d missed anything in the cave. The two blue ‘X’ marks were gone. He said, “Looks like we’re done here. Let’s go.”
“We need to talk to Ronny.”
Doug gave me one of his really-how-stupid-do-you-think-I-am looks. “Uh, no duh, Kat.”
Just then, the bat swooped over Brady’s head and flew towards the back exit. That didn’t surprise me. But then Rusty whined and tugged at Doug’s sleeve, and Shadow gave a plaintive meow and butted her head against my knee. “Where did our animals come from?” I asked. “How’d they get here?”
“Magic,” Brady whispered distractedly, looking at the map again. He cupped his hand over his candle. “Quiet! They’re trying to climb into the upper cave.”
“What?” Doug’s voice sounded strangled. I wished I could see the expression on his face.
Just then, Rusty ran to Faith and pawed at the hem of her white pants. When we looked, we could all see the tear in her pants, down near her ankle. A strip of cloth was missing.