“There’s nothing here. Nothing at all…” Roami whispered as he stepped out onto the shiny black marble floor that seemed to go on forever. His voice echoed loudly around them.
“No. It’s not completely empty. Check this out...” Robin said as she walked towards the large glass windows which surrounded the huge room at all sides. She stood before a large telescope and began looking through it curiously. “What do you think these are for?” She asked in amazement.
Roami walked up behind Robin and bumped her hip playfully to get at the telescope. “Who knows? Let me see.” He pleaded. She moved aside and he placed his eye to the opening.. “All I see is the city. Nothing more.” He sighed dejectedly.
“It’s not the only one. Look around. There are a bunch of them situated near the windows. Probably about five in total. They are all overlooking the city. Maybe Thister is a guard or watchmen for the city of Fitz. Or just a really nosy dude!” Robin laughed at her own joke.
Roami just stared at her with a sad expression. Robin sobered a bit upon seeing her friends sorrow, “What’s wrong Roami?”
“What is wrong is that I feel, at this moment more than ever, that we will never return home.” He said as he listlessly walked back towards the waiting elevators.
Robin followed him, “And where is home for me exactly? I’ve never had one so I guess I am not taking this whole situation to heart as much as you are. I’m sorry if I seem like I don’t care Roami. Part of me is so used to getting the short end of the stick… I kind of don’t let anything really get to me. I’ve stopped trying to believe that things will turn our right, because they never seem to; at least not for me. But that was back when I was on my own…but now…I’m with you…” Clearing her throat she walked into the open elevator.
She turned to ensure Roami was making his way towards her. When he stood by her side she pressed the down button before saying, “Believe me, I think between the two of us we’ll get back to Source One… Eventually.” They slowly made their descent back to the ground floor.
“Believe me. In time everything will be fine.” Robin reiterated and squeezed Roami’s arm softly.
***
Robin and Roami found themselves walking on the outskirts of town. Here the red streets were not as polished and the trees not as well groomed.
While it was not as dilapidated as Harkin Village it was evident that the lower class dark green Fitzian’s lived here. They had decided this was a good place as any to find out more information about the Tower and try to uncover the riddle that was eluding them.
“We’ll pass through here and ask some of the locals questions. Then when we’re done we’ll make our way to the final mystery of Fitz; The Tower.” Roami said as he held Robin’s hand in a protective gesture. A group of rough looking Fitzian men stood on a corner in front of a grocery store looking like they were just itching for trouble. Robin knew full well she could handle herself but did not push away Roami’s hand. She liked the idea of Roami being her personal savior and protector.
“Excuse me? Can we ask you a few questions?” Robin asked a passing woman holding a child in her arms. The woman smiled politely since they were the Sky-Ones, but blithely ignored their request and kept walking.
“Sir, can we bother you for a moment of your time?” Roami asked a man walking quickly in their direction. The man turned completely around upon realizing he was about to be questioned. He stumbled twice as he raced away from them with a look of fear contorting his face.
“Is it just me or have the citizens become shyer since we started our question campaign? It’s like they all know what we’re after and are trying to keep something from us… Or am I just being paranoid?” Robin asked Roami. After just a few minutes of this she finally understood how those annoying activists and flyer handlers felt in Manhattan. She had outmaneuvered and ran from enough of them to know just how hard it was to get people to stop, connect and help. Perhaps if she ever made it back to earth and new york city she would stop for them. Well, not all of them… maybe she would talk to at least one of the poor nuisances now that she could see it from their perspective.
Focusing on the here and now, Robin awaited Roami’s verdict. “Am I or am I not paranoid? Survey says…” she snickered at her private joke.
“Nope. I feel the same way… But there has to be at least one person willing to answer us.” Roami said with a sigh while looking around him imploringly. They stood on a corner now and wondered which one of four possible paths they should take.
“Look over there; on the corner of that street. That man…he looks like he’s talking to himself.” Robin said while inching forward slightly to get a better look. Roami held fast to her hand to keep her from crossing the street and walking straight into harms’ way.
“You’re right. But he does not seem like he is right in his mind. He could be dangerous… See how everyone else is staying far away from him…” Roami said.
The man in question had very dark green skin however his face, arms and hands had been smeared with light green paint. His gray clothes were in the same style of the Mubbins people but were so dirty they were very near to being red in color. He had obviously spent some nights sleeping on the loose red sand on the outskirts of town. He smiled broadly at everyone who passed by and kept rambling on and on to himself.
Robin was instantly saddened by the sight as she had seen very similar people on the streets of New York City, time and time again. The homeless were sometimes riddled with serious psychological problems in addition to poverty.
“Yeah, you may be right about that... Can’t say I’ve never been attacked by a few crazed homeless people back in New York City… But still part of me can’t help but think that maybe…just maybe he may let loose something that the rest of the more ‘civilized’ city people wouldn’t…” Robin let this idea sink into Roami’s head.
“Hmm…” He looked thoughtful. “You may just be on to something there…” He said as he held her hand firmly.
With an indrawn breath, to prepare himself for what might transpire, Roami led the way across the street. They stopped just a few feet away from the man squatting in front of a beautiful florist shop. He looked up at them then smiled brightly before waving his hand excitedly in greeting. Robin and Roami did not wave back but slowed their gait and moved more cautiously towards him.
“Greeting sky-ones! I knew we would eventually meet. I know a lot of things, yes that I do! Being the towns Desposer makes me privy to many things others don’t know.” He chuckled and slapped his knees as if he had cracked an incredibly funny joke.
“Desposer? But isn’t that Thister’s job…” Robin could not help but blurt this out.
“Ah Thister! Poor fool… He has no idea what that job will do to his soul…what that job can do to anyone’s soul… Yes, dear brown one, he is the current Desposer… I was the past…” His happiness seemed to change in a blink of an eye. He looked reminiscent and deeply depressed by the memories flowing through his head.
It soon became apparent to Robin and Roami that he had forgotten all about their presence. The poor man began to speak his thoughts aloud.
“It was all so wrong…what we did to those poor people…for that’s exactly what they were… people… ah, what man will do to another when money and power corrupt. The worst gifts in the world are money and power! Like tainted food they poison all who consume them…I did not truly mean what I did… I was so blind…so blind… now they all laugh at me…poor Mantu…poor Mantu! they scream and throw rocks. If only they knew I am free! It is they who are poor, they who are caged, they who are slaves!” As his anger grew the man named Mantu stood up on his bare red soled feet and began to scream hysterically.
“You know what they hide… I have heard that you ask everyone about it. Yes, the tower has eyes and knows the sins of men. It has seen the rebirth of all those wrongfully killed... Haha! What you don’t know may kill you… Want to know the secret dear Sky-ones… well then here you go: To go up
you must first go down... To go up you must first go down!!!”
Roami had seen and heard enough. The man named Mantu, grew increasingly angry and within moments began to scream and wave his arms blindly. Roami grabbed hold of Robin and quickly led her away from before things became violent.
“Oh my god…” was all Robin could say as they quickly moved away from the crazed man and walked down the street at a near run.
“Did you hear what he said… What could he have done that was so horrible…what are they still doing?” Robin said as she tried to get her heart rate back to a normal rhythm.
They did not slow down until they were three blocks away and the man was no more than a small green blur.
“I told you he might be dangerous… but you were right… I think there is some truth to what he had to say… We’ll discuss it later at Thister’s. For now we need to check into the last mysterious place in Fitz.” Roami said while biting down on his blue lower lip nervously.
“The tower…” Robin said a bit breathlessly. It had been the subject of her dreams since the night they had first laid eyes on it. Who lived in the tower? Who had been spying down at them that night? Why were they in the tower, secluded from society?
There were still so many questions and little if any answers to be found.
“You heard what he kept repeating: To go up, you must first go down… Maybe there is something to that…” Robin said while still deep in thought.
“Yes, maybe.” Roami said as he led the way towards the tower and Flobbin Forest.
It took them a few minutes to make it to their destination. Both remained silent as their minds were overrun with thoughts and questions.
Robin was slowly realizing that it was one thing to read a good mystery thriller then return to the real world when the book was done. It was another thing entirely when your actual life was riddled with mysteries. She could not help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the challenge she and Roami had to tackle in order to return to Source One.
When they stood back at the base of the forest they were happy to see that they had come at just the right time. Whereas there were usually scores of Mubbin Laborers gathering Flob Nuggets from the grounds, the place was now deserted.
“It is midday so perhaps they are all on break.” Roami said aloud.
“Yes that’s great but we still don’t know how to get in…” Robin stated the obvious.
Roami did not respond immediately but studied the glossy green bricks of the tower wall. “Maybe there is some sort of secret door…” He kept walking along it while running his fingers over the smooth brick.
Robin was still lost in her thoughts about crazy Mantu. She whispered to herself, “The tower has eyes… To go up, you must go down…Down?” She looked down at her feet and saw only red sand and rock. Sighing she began to walk around the base of the tower while kicking at the ground with her foot.
“My god!” She whispered softly. “Roami, come here! I found something!” Robin knelt down and sifted the sand away from what looked like a silver handle.
“What is it?” He asked as he ran to her side.
“To go up you must go down… There is a door here in the ground. It was barely covered by sand today but the other day it must have been completely covered. Maybe this will take us down then up to the top of the tower?” She was excited to have potentially solved a major problem.
“I think you’re right, Robin!” Roami beamed at her then got to work brushing off the rest of the sand and opening the metal door slowly.
There were about eight emerald brick steps leading down into complete darkness.
Looking down into the black pit, Roami said, “Maybe I should go first…who knows what we will find in there…”
Robin shook her head forcefully. “No. We’re a team. Remember R&R, R squared, batman and robin, the dynamic duo…we go together.” She grabbed hold of his hand to ensure he could not leave her behind.
Smiling Roami began to step down when Robin stopped him. “Wait, we’ll need light. One sec!” She raced over towards a cluster of fallen, Flob nuggets and took two handfuls of the small glowing spheres.
Running back towards Roami she handed him the ones in her right hand. “Okay, let’s go!” She said while taking a steadying breath.
“Thanks Robin.” Roami said. He took a step down into the opening and pulled her behind him.
They moved slowly and with caution. Once at the bottom of all eight steps they saw that the passageway was a few inches higher than their heads but wide enough to ensure they did not feel closed in.
The ground was made of dusty decrepit emerald bricks while the walls and ceiling were constructed from red cement. They held their hands; filled with the glowing nuggets, out before them to light the way.
Roami surmised the length of the passageway was the exact length from the trapdoor and into the center of the tower. When they stood in what must have been the basement of the tower they found more brick stairs but these made their way upwards.
“So this is it. This is how we’ll enter the tower…Are you ready?” Roami whispered.
“Yes. Let’s just do it…” Robin whispered back. She squeezed his hand so tightly she was amazed he had not yet complained. Yet another reason why she was slowly falling under Roami’s spell.
Without waiting another moment, they made their way up the spiraling flight of stairs. Up and up they walked into the dark stairwell for what seemed like ages. Though they tried their best to be quiet and cautious they could not help but breath a bit loudly as they made their way up the final steps.
“We’re here. We’re at the top.” Roami whispered as they came to the last three steps and saw an alcove entryway leading into a large room.
Robin struggled to see past Roami in her excitement to know what was hidden in the tower.
“Step back! Who are you? What do you want?” A soft voice belted out from somewhere on the other side of the room. As they still stood in the entryway they could not be sure who had uttered these words. The two moved forward slowly to stand fully in the large studio.
Robin took a quick look at the room. There were two large windows on either side of the tower. Each had double windows made with green tinted grass. The floorboards were wooden but painted gray. There were a few basket weave gray rugs thrown across the floor as well. Each was bland and did not have any exotic patterns or decorations.
A single metal cot and a wooden chair were situated at the far left. The cot had a large red comforter lying on it. Just across from them was another entryway with a single metal door. It was shut and had a matching silver lock dangling from it. A little to the left of this the wall jutted forward again and held another entry way. It had a doorframe but no door attached to it. They could clearly see that it led to what looked like a tiny bathroom. Robin and Roami still searched to see who had spoken.
The speaker finally stepped out from their hiding place behind the wall in the bathroom. She nearly took Robin and Roami’s breathe away. They had seen all sorts of people during their stay in Fitz but none so beautiful as the woman who now stood before them.
She wore a gray skin-tight long-sleeved dress. It shimmered with silver dust and fell to the floor in graceful waves. Her body was similar to that of a super heroine; all sleek muscle tone and soft curves where necessary.
They noticed her skin was the palest green they had ever seen; she was almost as white as the inside of a cucumber. Her face was a beautiful oval with a pointed chin, faery like nose, green eyes beautifully large and slanted and arched eyebrows. Her vibrant fuchsia colored hair fell down to her navel in a sea of silky waves. She held a sharp metal pick in front of her and pointed it threateningly at Robin and Roami.
“I asked a question.” She reminded them while they stared at her with dumbfounded expressions.
“I…we… we are the sky-ones.” Roami said a bit stupidly.
Rolling her eyes and feeling slightly jealous at Roami’s reaction to the stranger, Robin s
tepped forward and spoke up, “We are visitors to the city of Fitz. We saw this tower and were curious to know what it was for and who lived here. Sorry if we barged in on you…” Robin said as she looked around and doubted there was much anyone could be busy doing in such a barren and lonely space.
“I see…” Was all the pale woman would say as she lowered her weapon. She apparently did not take them as a threat so put it away altogether in a small wooden jewelry box hidden under the cot.
“I actually have heard about you sky-ones… I just didn’t think I’d have the privilege to ever meet you face to face.” She replaced the red blanket over the bed then sat on it. With a sigh she turned to face them. “I’m sorry I don’t have much here. There is only one chair but you are welcome to it.” She motioned towards the chair besides the cot.
Roami led Robin towards the chair, pulled it back from the bed; a safe distance from the beautiful stranger then offered it to Robin. When Robin sat down, he stood right beside her, just in case things went awry.
Smiling softly at them the woman turned to stare out the window nearest to the cot. She had a sad and wistful air about her. Upon closer scrutiny they could tell she was not as young as they had initially thought.
“Who are you?” Robin asked without preamble.
“No one.” The woman answered while still staring off into the distance.
Robin scrunched up her face in question then stared up at Roami. Roami looked down at Robin, raised his brows then looked back at the woman.
“Do you have a name?” He asked softly.
“I am called Mirub… But there are not many who are here to call me anything so does it really matter?” She said with a sad smile.
Trying to pull her out of the doldrums enough to give them some concrete answers Robin spoke up this time, “So Mirub... Why are you in this tower? We have never seen you in the city… do you ever go there?”
Mirub chuckled softly. She moved forward slightly and it soon became apparent to Robin and Roami that Mirub could not go very far. A thick metal chain snaked out from beneath her dress and was clasped around her slim white ankle. It had bruised her where it rubbed against her soft skin. They had not noticed it dragging against the floor before but now everything seemed to come together in their heads.
Questmyre Page 15