When Dack was well enough to travel again, all three packed up their belongings and followed Omeran into the desert. The sun was just beginning to set, so the temperature, while still hot, was much more bearable now that the winds had ceased. They each carried a lantern and walked single file toward their destination. Omeran’s stride was not as big as the others’ were, so the pace was not too rapid.
For hours they walked in almost complete silence with only a few breaks to rest. Very little plant life existed and even fewer animals. Omeran paused occasionally when something larger would get close, but he would chase it away with a purposeful near miss of his weapon. It would fly out and come back close to where he stood. Dack and Alin were amazed every time he used it since their attempts always ended with it hitting the sand nearby because of its special curve.
As they approached another set of clear pillars, Dack thought they were glowing softly in the dark. “What are these things, Omeran?” he asked when they were close to one.
“They are a part of New Kwiglin. It is under us right now.”
“What do they do?” Alin spoke up.
“Gather heat to run the city below. You will have to see for yourself to fully understand.” Omeran stopped by one and looked up. “It really is impressive how it all works. The king does not bother us here, so we have been able to rebuild a lot of what was lost.”
“The king told us they attacked because you were polluting the waters. Is that true?”
“Sometimes, to have the things you want, you have to give up the things you need. In our case, those creatures weren’t getting any benefits, so they forced us to stop and chased the truly advanced of us underground. This desert literally stops them from attacking us and allows us to continue our work. One day soon we will be able to reclaim our land and send them back below.” Omeran continued as Dack looked at Alin, who shrugged, and then motioned for them to catch up.
After a few more hours of walking, they arrived at a place where the winds were quite strong, so they stopped behind a large boulder sticking out of the sand. Omeran motioned for them to get close so they could speak. “We are close to the entrance but have to wait until they stop the winds to let us in.” Dack looked confused. “I told you, the desert protects us, and this storm is being controlled by those inside. I have to let them know we are here, so stay here, okay?”
Alin and Dack nodded.
Omeran walked around the rock and then removed the curved weapon from his belt. He ran his hand over it slowly, and the metal edges liquefied and formed a small ball that floated in front of him. “Tell them Omeran has arrived with an Alkaskre and his friend,” he whispered. The ball flew away quickly into the dark, heading toward the center of the storm. Omeran replaced his weapon and walked around the rock.
Dack and Alin were waiting patiently, sipping some water. “Is everything all right?” Dack asked.
Omeran nodded. “We can go now. By the time we get there, the winds will have stopped.”
All three resumed the trek against the winds. As Omeran had promised, slowly the sand stopped pelting them until all was calm and still. Something lightly struck Dack on the back, and he turned around to Alin. “Did you want something?”
“No,” Alin said.
“I thought you just tapped me.” Dack shrugged and continued walking.
Omeran stopped and turned to the others. “We are here. Stay completely still until I tell you to move.”
Dack and Alin agreed. In a few seconds, the ground began to shake, and it was obvious that something was moving under the sand. A deep humming grew steadily louder as the desert itself seemed to rise up a short distance in front of them. Sand fell from an object that was being lifted up to reveal a circular platform beneath. Through small holes in it, hundreds of metal balls formed and sped toward them. They swarmed rapidly around the group and then returned as quickly. All was still when Omeran told them they could move again.
“I guess they protect the entrance.” Dack smirked. “Probably don’t get too many unwanted guests with that many.”
Omeran looked around nervously. “I thought I saw something moving in the sand that way.” He pointed, and all three held their lanterns in the direction. “I don’t see anything now, but I am sure something was there.”
“Wouldn’t those things have detected something?” Alin asked, still looking.
“I guess you are right. I don’t want to be the one who let something in that ruined it all,” Omeran said, removing his glasses. “We have a really good life here and have for hundreds of years.” He wiped his head with his sleeve and then replaced his glasses. “I don’t come out too often, so you’ll have to pardon me.” He swung his lantern around one last time. “Well, we might as well go inside now.”
Omeran moved onto the platform, and the others followed behind. “I would like to welcome you to New Kwiglin.” He was brimming with excitement. “The ride is fairly smooth, but you need to keep your hands away from the walls. Are you ready?”
“Definitely,” Dack said.
Omeran bent down and touched a few buttons on the platform, and it glowed softly. He stood up, and it began to descend slowly. The hum they heard earlier was louder inside as the object above them began to close. Some sand rained down on them, and they looked up. “Did you see that?” Omeran asked, holding his lantern up. “There is something up there!”
Dack and Alin looked up while Omeran bent down to press keys on the platform. They stopped abruptly and all held their lanterns high in hopes of seeing something. “I see something, but it’s too far away to tell. What do you think, Dack?”
“Put your lanterns down,” Dack said as he stared intently upward. There wasn’t much light, but with Dack’s keen senses, the longer he concentrated, the sharper an object became. As he stared, he could see a familiar shape insistently motioning for him to be quiet.
“Can you see anything?” Omeran asked, reaching for his weapon.
“I’m fairly certain it’s just the light playing tricks on our eyes,” Dack said, turning to Omeran. Omeran blinked and bent to activate the platform. “It’s him,” Dack mouthed to Alin as he pointed up.
Alin looked confused and looked up. “Who?” he mouthed.
Dack leaned close to Alin and whispered, “Fixx.”
When the platform reached the bottom, Omeran held a door open and gestured for them to continue. “We are almost there. Only one more checkpoint first.” Dack and Alin walked through the door and down a long hallway to another door.
“Go ahead,” a voice said.
A buzzing noise sounded, and Omeran pushed forward to open the door when the others did not move. “This is it. Go ahead,” Omeran said impatiently.
Dack and Alin entered a huge space that was well lit and filled with many individuals moving about in all directions. None of them paid any attention to the newcomers standing still in wide-eyed amazement.
“We are still underground?” Alin asked, squinting at the bright lights that lined the top of the enormous cavern. “It’s not hot in here either,” he said, removing his cloak. “It is—”
“Wonderful?” Omeran finished. “Is that what you were going to say?”
“That will do,” Dack said as he also removed his cloak. “How many live down here? How big is this place?”
“Thousands, and many miles,” Omeran answered. “We still have quite a distance to walk, unless you would like to get there faster.”
“Where are we going?” Dack asked, still looking around.
“I thought we could begin the search for your friend.” Omeran crossed his arms and tapped his foot when neither Dack nor Alin responded. “Are either of you listening?”
“Sorry,” Alin said, taking in the surroundings.
“Well?”
“What?” Dack asked.
Omeran grew mad and began walking away. “Follow me.”
Dack turned to Alin and said quietly, “What do you think Fixx is up to?”
“Are you sure that was him?”
“I am positive. He did not want me to say anything to Omeran. Should we play along?”
“We will have to unless you have a better idea.”
“Let’s go!” Omeran shouted to them.
That’s long enough, Fixx thought as he began to climb down the shaft. He whistled loudly a few times during the descent because he couldn’t stand the silence. When he was within a few feet of the bottom, he jumped and listened at the door. He cleared his throat, straightened his clothes, and opened the door.
Hundreds of small metal balls swarmed around him as he walked calmly to the end of the corridor and tried to open the other door. The balls gently bumped into him when he began looking through his pockets. “I’m not really here, am I?” he said, swatting at them.
“Who is there?” a voice echoed.
“It’s Omeran again,” Fixx said, while holding his nose in a poor attempt to disguise his voice. “Let me in again.”
“I can’t open the door with those things swarming around you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“My scanners show that they are all around you.”
“If they were, would I be talking calmly to you or screaming out in pain?” There was silence for a few seconds before a buzzing sound made Fixx grin. Too easy, he thought as he opened the door wide. He walked through and held the door until all of the metal orbs escaped into the crowds, causing everyone to panic and scatter. Whistling again, he strolled away as sirens sounded and guards began to show up at the door.
As he continued on, he pulled out a rolled piece of paper from his sleeve. He unrolled it, looked around a few times until he was sure he knew where he was and where he was going, and then he put it back in his sleeve. After a few minutes’ walk, he arrived at a large wooden door. He took a deep breath and pushed it open quickly. “I am here to pick it up,” he blurted out.
A man behind a desk looked up with a frown. “What do you want?” he demanded.
“I was told it would be ready. Now hand it over,” Fixx said, banging his fist down on the desk. “If you keep me waiting, someone will be spending a night in the desert, and I know it won’t be me.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about!”
“Do not take that tone with me, or I will return with the guards. I was sent to get the original. They need to make more because there is something wrong with the ones guarding the platform. Haven’t you heard the sirens?” Fixx shook his head slowly. “You are really testing my patience.”
The man stood up slowly and backed away, fumbling to get keys from his pocket. “I did not know. You’ll have to pardon me.” He turned and disappeared through another door.
Fixx rubbed the back of his head and laughed. “These are supposed to be the smart ones.” He chuckled as he looked around the room. Hurried footsteps could be heard returning, so he furrowed his brow, put his hands on his hips, and began pacing.
“Please be careful with this,” the man said, out of breath.
Fixx snatched the glass jar from the man’s hand and looked at its contents. Three tiny slivers of metal resembling needles rested on the bottom. “Since there has been a breach of security, we must keep this quiet so we don’t scare everyone. Do you understand?” The man nodded as he blotted sweat from his forehead with a folded handkerchief. “You look like you are getting sick. Maybe you should take the rest of the day off.”
“I think that might be a good idea,” the man said, still upset.
“Thank you for your help.” Fixx grinned and left hurriedly. He turned a corner and sat down on a bench outside of a small store. I have to catch up with Dack and Alin so we can do the next part together, he thought as he opened the jar. He emptied the needles into his hand and looked at them closely. “Simply amazing,” he said while securely threading them into the hem of his pants. Shaking his leg a few times gave him the confidence that they were safe, so he threw away the jar in someone’s trash barrel.
He removed the map from his sleeve and studied it once again. After deciding the most probable place that Omeran would take his friends, he rolled it up, replaced it, and started off in that direction.
What a shame this all has to go, he thought as he looked around. They did not learn their lesson.
“I’ve never heard of anyone by that name,” the woman replied after looking through a stack of paper. “Is there any other name he might have used?”
Dack looked at Alin and shrugged. “What do you think?”
“If he didn’t register under that name, then I have no idea. Sorry.”
“He was injured,” Omeran interjected. “We’ll check with the hospital. Thank you for your help.” He turned away and opened the door. Dack and Alin walked out and waited. Omeran closed the door and looked at a group of guards coming their way. “We are close to the hospital, but there is another place we can check that is closer.”
“Omeran?” a guard called.
Omeran turned and saw that the guards were addressing him. “Yes,” he answered, walking toward the guards.
“That’s close enough,” one said, holding out a long staff. “You need to come with us.”
“I do not understand,” Omeran said as he kept walking closer.
“I told you to stop,” the guard said as the staff began to hum.
Omeran stopped and put his hands out to his sides. “Okay.”
“Do you have any weapons?”
“I do,” Omeran said as he reached behind his back.
“He’s going for his weapon. Get him!” a voice called out from the crowd.
Omeran was unconscious before he hit the ground. Two guards stood over him while their staves recharged. “Shell him before he wakes up,” a third guard said as he tossed a ball that completely enveloped Omeran’s motionless body. “What should we do with those two?”
“They are with me!” Fixx called out as he moved through the crowd. “We were separated when those metal monsters flew in, and then those sirens went off. Thank you for protecting them from that traitor.” He moved in front of Dack and Alin. “Are you both all right?”
They nodded and smiled.
“That is so good to know.” He pushed them along and waved to the guards as they walked away.
“Get him,” Alin imitated Fixx and then laughed once they were far enough away from the guards to talk. “Omeran was trying to help us find you.”
“What do you think is going to happen to him?” Dack asked.
“Hopefully he won’t wake up quickly,” Fixx said seriously. “We have business to take care of before we leave.” They arrived at a well-kept garden surrounded by benches. “I think we should sit down and talk.” He found a secluded area and directed them to sit.
“What is going on, Fixx?” Alin asked.
Fixx looked around and sighed. “We need to destroy this place.”
“What? Why?” Dack asked, leaning forward.
“When Theterm sent me back, I was found by the king’s guards. They saw the seriousness of my wounds, so they patched me up and flew me to the mainland. I was given the best treatment and began healing nicely.” Fixx tapped his chest. “They used a metal orb to surround my damaged heart and give it time to heal the way it should.”
“You have one of those things inside of you?” Alin said, frowning.
“It felt really odd in the beginning, but everything feels fine now.”
“I’m glad that dagger didn’t completely stop your heart,” Dack said, sitting back.
“It did.” Fixx grinned. He leaned in close and whispered, “I was born with two.” He looked around and stood up. “My speed is a side effect. It took a while to get used to moving slowly until I healed enough. I’m not as fast, and I can’t run as far without getting tired, but I am still alive.”
“So, how does that lead to us…destroying this place?”
“Haven’t you noticed anything strange about it?” Fixx looked around. “You are sitting in a garden under a desert. A little unnecessary, don’t you think?”
“I thought Omeran was a little strange when we talked about giving up what we need to have something we wanted.” Alin shrugged.
“These people are destroying this world—”
“You sound like the king,” Dack interjected.
“Funny you should mention him,” Fixx tried to contain himself. “We are actually working together. I consider it payback for him healing me and then not killing me for past crimes.”
“The king acted like he knew nothing about your whereabouts,” Dack said angrily.
“You have real trust issues with those in authority,” Fixx said, putting his hand on Dack’s shoulder. “I hope you can move past that.” Fixx chuckled as Dack pushed him away. “I sent all those metal messengers. Didn’t you get them?”
“The king’s guard threw us in jail when we first arrived and kept destroying those things when they arrived. We ended up getting him to fly us to the desert so we could find you. Are you sure he is telling all of us the truth?”
Dack shook his head and said, “I don’t think so.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter now. I still believe this place is doing more harm than good. I used to live in Kwiglin above. Trust me; the spreading desert is something new. This is the same thing we were doing to the king’s waters,” Fixx said, sitting on a patch of grass in front of the bench.
“Omeran did say they wanted to get rid of the king and reclaim this world.” Alin thought of returning home. “What is your plan, Fixx?”
“We need to flood this place and send them all to the surface. The king has assured me that he will try to work with them, but they must stop what they are doing.”
“What exactly are they doing?” Dack demanded.
“You saw those pillars in the desert, right?”
They nodded.
“Do you know how they created them?”
“No,” both Dack and Alin answered.
“Skip to your point,” Dack added.
“In the end they dump the extra stuff into the water or pump it into the air outside. It is killing everything above and below them.” Fixx stared at the others intently.
“Why do you care?” Dack laughed. “We can leave now.”
“Come on, Fixx. Dack is right. This is not our problem. Let’s go.” Alin stood up.
“Are you going to just turn your back on this?” Fixx asked, standing to meet Alin’s gaze. “I will not go.”
“Can’t we do something other than flood this place?” Dack pleaded. “Won’t that make things worse?”
Fixx shrugged.
“How about we tell the king how to find this place, and he can send in his troops?” Dack asked.
“They can’t easily survive the desert conditions. Flooding it would give them a chance to stay longer and reduce the likelihood of a long conflict.”
“Then what?” Alin asked. “I am not sure I really like either side. It seems that the people here should be smart enough to find a way to do all this without killing everything, right?”
“They have had hundreds of years, and everything is still the same. Something has to change.” Fixx paced dramatically.
“I agree, but why should it be us?” Dack stood and put his arm around Fixx’s shoulder, stopping him in mid-stride. “We found you, and now I am ready to leave. Are you coming with us?”
“I can’t believe it.” Fixx kicked his feet in frustration. “Who is going to do this if not us?”
“I really don’t care,” Dack said, walking away. “Are you coming, Alin?”
“I am sorry, Fixx, but I think Dack is right. This is not our fight. Let’s go back to Storality,” he said, holding out his hand to Fixx.
“Go on without me,” Fixx said, ignoring Alin’s hand. “I guess this is good-bye then,” he said solemnly as he sped off so that the others couldn’t see his tears.
“How are we supposed to get out of here?” Alin asked as he caught up to Dack. “Should we go back the way we came?”
“I was thinking that would be best. Should we find Omeran?”
“We might need him to tell the others to let us out.” As they walked through the crowd, Dack locked eyes with another as she passed. He stopped and turned around. “Alin, does that one look familiar to you?”
“Who?” Alin asked, looking around.
“I know her.” Dack scratched his head. “Was she one of those that rescued us in the desert?”
“Who are you talking about?” Alin quickly became annoyed at Dack’s ambiguity. “We are in a crowd,” he said, waving his arms as they stood still. “Are you talking about her or her or her?” He began pointing.
Dack scanned the crowd hoping for another glimpse. “Follow me. I think she is one of us,” he said, moving quickly.
“Human?” Alin asked, trying to keep up.
“Whisperer!” he yelled as he broke into a run.
In the distance Dack spotted her dark hair and waved when she turned briefly. Her pace quickened until she reached a door, fumbled through some keys, opened it, and closed it again. By the time Alin and Dack arrived at the door, it was locked. Dack knocked, and they waited. “Hello?” he called as he knocked.
“This is a restricted area. You have to leave,” a faint voice replied after Dack banged hard.
“How do you know us?” Dack asked, leaning close to the door. “I recognized you, but I’m not sure how.”
“I told you before, this is a restricted area.”
“We just want to talk, that’s all,” Alin said calmly.
“Who sent you?”
“No one.” Dack looked confused. “We came here to find our friend, and now we are leaving.”
“I told them I was sorry and stopped. Isn’t that enough?”
“We have no idea what you are talking about.” Alin shrugged. “Can’t you come out to talk?”
“They all think I’m crazy because of you. Mad Aggie, Mad Aggie. I am not crazy!”
“We believe you, but we can’t keep talking through the door,” Dack whispered when he saw some of the people staring. “If you don’t open the door now, we are leaving. Okay?” When there was no response, Dack shook his head and decided to depart. “Let’s go,” he said to Alin as they started walking again.
“Wait,” a voice called from behind. “I want to talk too.” The dark-haired woman motioned for them to come back. She was watching them, the door propped open with her black-booted foot.
“Are you sure?” Dack called back.
She looked around and then nodded.
“She does look a touch mad,” Alin commented quietly as they approached.
“Only one of you then?” she asked, looking at Dack. “Is the other one okay?” She pointed at Alin. “I do not like surprises.”
“We are both fine, and there will be no surprises,” Dack assured her.
“The name is Aganady, but only my dad called me that. Whether I like it or not, I am known as Mad Aggie.” She faked a smile and curtsied. “Let’s get inside.” After Dack and Alin entered, she closed and locked the door. “We can talk once we are farther down.” She walked away quickly while the others stared at the pipes that filled the room. “Let’s go,” she grumbled, throwing her hands in the air and then continuing down the hallway.
“She’s like Fixx with an attitude and a wig,” Alin said, pushing Dack along.
They reached a platform, and she pushed some buttons to make it light up. “I am the only one who knows the code. They keep changing it, and I keep changing it to something else.” She snorted when she laughed. “When we get down there, you will see why everyone calls me mad, but it is only temporary.” She stepped onto the platform, and it started to descend. Dack and Alin had to jump down onto it while it was moving. “Keep up,” she demanded.
The walls became much rougher as they kept going farther down. Water seeped through in places, and the air smelled stale.
“How far down does this go?” Alin asked to break the silence.
“This one is twice as deep as the first one you came in on. There is only one place deeper, and that is where we are headed. You can take all of it back.”
“Take what?” Dack asked, looking around the confined space.
The platform slowed down and then stopped quickly. “Let’s go,” she said, moving down a dimly lit tunnel. “The entrance to my dad’s workshop is hidden nearby. Once inside, you have to help me through the confusion. Otherwise, you will not make it back up again.” She made sure they were paying attention and then slipped between some pipes. “Can you make it?”
Alin looked at Dack and frowned. “Do you have any idea what she is talking about, or what we are doing?”
Dack shook his head slowly.
“I can probably fit through there, but she is making no sense.”
“I’m just following along. She is definitely a Whisperer, but I don’t think she knows. Squeeze through, and I’ll be right behind you,” Dack said, looking at the pipes.
Alin bent down and crawled on his hands and knees as quickly as possible because the pipes were hot. Feeling faint and confined made him lose his temper when Dack jokingly pushed him along. “If you don’t cut it out,” he began and then stopped when he realized he could stand up again. “It opens up enough right here.” Alin was delighted as he looked at a spacious cave that sloped downward into the darkness.
“Can you please move?” Dack demanded, trying to crawl around Alin, who was blocking the way.
“Sorry,” Alin said, moving slowly. “Where did she go?”
Dack stood up and stretched. “Probably down there,” he said, walking to the edge of the light. “Hello?” he called but received only a faint echo in reply. “I can see well enough to go a little farther, but you should wait here.”
“No need,” came a reply as the cave lit up. “Come on in.” All around the cavern’s ceiling, small lights shone brightly with the aid of mirrors. “A little deeper is where it is all stored. Are you ready to see me go mad?” She moved close to Dack and whispered, “I’ve been told it is quite a show.”
“All right, that’s enough.” Dack moved back a step. “I am not going to call you what everyone else does, and it doesn’t sound like you go by your real name. How about Maggie instead?” he said seriously, kneeling to her level.
She moved forward and kissed him on the forehead. “Maggie, that is so nice.” She turned to Alin and winked. “I think I will demand that people call me that.” She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “We still have the problem of getting to your stuff and me needing your help. Hold my hands, and keep moving no matter what. Do you understand?”
Alin and Dack each grabbed one of her hands, and they started for the far end of the cave. “It will happen soon,” she said as her knees buckled.
Dack and Alin lifted her up and continued moving. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she started muttering words neither understood.
“Should we run?” Alin asked when she squeezed their hands tightly and thrashed violently. “What do you think?”
“Yes, let’s go,” Dack answered, and they picked her completely off the ground and ran the rest of the distance. When they reached the far wall, they eased her to the floor, but she continued to shake. “Now what?”
“Where are you?” she yelled.
“We are right next to you,” Alin said gently.
“What is the name of your Way?” she yelled.
“What is she talking about?” Alin asked Dack.
“Maggie, you have to fight this. Can you hear me?” Dack leaned close and held her tightly.
“Who is with you this time?”
“My name is Dack. What are you doing to our friend?”
“She is Alkaskre.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Dack began to hear a dull buzz and felt pain in his ears. He shook his head and screamed. “Get out of my head!”
“You are Alkaskre too. Who is your master?”
Dack was able to concentrate and stop the noise, reducing the pain. “Alin, something nearby has to be doing this. Look in the middle of the cave quickly.” Alin dashed off to look. “What do you want?”
“Control. Who do you serve?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Who taught you?”
Alin returned with a glowing glass rod. He handed it to Dack, who looked at it while trying to keep her still. “Do you think this is the problem? Have you ever seen anything like this in Theterm’s keep?” he whispered.
“Theterm? His Way is closed. Where are you?”
Dack smashed the rod on the rocks of the cavern, and Maggie became still. Her eyes fluttered, and then she coughed. “Is it over?” She blinked and tried to move. “I don’t know you too well, so I’d like you to let go now,” she said, trying to break the tension.
Dack helped her to stand and then picked up a piece of the rod from the ground. “What is this?”
She took it and looked closely. “I am not sure. Where did you find it?”
“It was lying on top of a box of books in the middle of the cave. Its glow drew my attention.” Alin shrugged. “Where did all of that stuff come from?”
“All of this was found by my father when the Alkaskre abandoned this place. You are one of them, right?” Maggie squinted at Dack.
“I can do what they do, but I’d rather not be associated with them. They were taking control of you with the help of this thing we smashed. It looks like a small version of the pillars in the desert,” Dack said when Maggie handed it back to him. “They built this place?”
“Well, they helped us,” Maggie said, rubbing her eyes. “They had some fantastic machines that did most of the digging, but it was our plans mostly.” She stood and walked around. “The voices are gone too.”
Dack walked over to the box that held the books and began looking at the one on top. “This one isn’t like the ones that Theterm has on Storality.” He flipped through the pages and stopped. “Alin, these are plans for building this place. Take a look,” he said, motioning for Alin to come closer.
Alin took the book, sat down, and opened the cover. “Can you read any of this writing?” He held the book up so Maggie could get a closer look.
“I can speak it, but that makes no sense to me,” she said, sitting next to Alin.
“So, everyone here speaks Alkaskre?” Dack wondered.
“Most of us do. We do it so the king’s guards won’t understand us as easily,” Maggie said, picking up another book from the box and examining it.
Dack sat down and took the last book from the box. “This one is like the kind I’ve seen before. I don’t see any names of Ways though,” he said, looking closely at the pages. “It is pretty useless to us,” he said, putting it down. “Maggie, did anyone tell you that you can open Ways like the others?”
“No,” she said, looking intently at something in the book. She tapped the page several times and handed the book to Dack. “I’ve seen this place. Maybe when I’ve gone—” she stopped herself and continued, “when I’ve been controlled. Is this where you are from?”
Dack shook his head and looked closely at the page. “This is not Storality, but there is a name of a Way written at the bottom. Maybe this is where they all come from.” He continued looking through the rest of the book and then put it down. “You really need to meet Theterm.”
“How is that supposed to happen?” Alin asked, looking crossly at Dack.
“She is one of us, not like the others, right?” Dack pointed at Maggie. “What would you like to do?”
“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “I like it here, but being able to go to other places sounds great too.”
“It’s not all about sightseeing, is it?” Alin was agitated. “You both need to figure out what you want to do. I’ve enjoyed the last few months, but I am ready to go home. I think we need to stop Fixx first, or at least get out of here before he does anything foolish.”
“Who is Fixx?” Maggie asked.
“He is a friend that came to our world from yours a long time ago. Now he is back here, so we are here to help him return,” Dack summarized.
“Does he want to leave?”
“I thought he did, but he has some idea stuck in his head. Let me ask you something, and I need you to be honest. Is this place destroying the outside around it?” Alin demanded.
Maggie looked down and didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “Yes,” she finally answered.
“That doesn’t matter, Alin. We need to go home before Lucan gets there,” Dack reminded Alin.
“I still think we need to give Fixx one more chance to come home with us, don’t you agree?”
“If we see him on the way out, sure. We both know he’s probably down here somewhere, sneaking around in the dark, banging on the pipes.” Dack pretended that he was hammering.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Maggie asked, staring at them menacingly. “What is going on?”
“I told you we were here to find Fixx and take him home, but he has in mind to destroy this place,” Dack said, throwing up his hands. “I just want to leave.”
“He believes it is for the best because they are destroying this world. Maggie even said so,” Alin raised his voice in frustration. “Don’t you get it?”
Dack stood up. “Maggie, do you want to come with us?”
“Do you think Fixx will do it?” she asked Alin.
“He is very capable and determined. If you wanted to flood this place, where would the best place be to do that?”
“In the room you crawled through, but there is no way to get down here,” she said confidently.
“He managed to get into New Kwiglin uninvited. I am sure he can climb down another shaft.” Alin smiled. “I think we should wait for him to show up here,” Alin said to Dack.
“What does he gain by doing it?” Maggie asked.
“That is what I don’t understand,” Dack said. “Something doesn’t feel right about it.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Fixx likes keeping things a little chaotic, but he seemed obsessed about this, like he had no choice.”
“You are right about that.” Alin scratched the back of his head. “Even when we were helping you on Storality, he never tried to do it alone. If we would have told him no, he wouldn’t have given up. Maybe the king is holding something over his head.”
“More like heart,” Fixx announced, coming into the cavern. “It is all just a matter of time,” he said, sitting down next to Maggie. “Hello, I am Fixx,” he said, holding out his hand. Maggie shook it and smiled. “So, you know me too well. I was sneaking around down here until I heard your voices.” He chuckled.
“What is going on, Fixx?” Dack asked, folding his arms.
“My health will continue as long as I do what I’ve been told.” Fixx tapped his chest. “I am carrying an orb that was designed to destroy these pipes. If I don’t let it out, it will destroy the other orb they used to heal my heart.”
“So we have to find a way to let it out and destroy it,” Alin said nonchalantly.
“We could acquire one of the guard’s staves. Even the one Way destroyed the guard’s shells.” Dack smirked. “Don’t you think that will work?”
“I can already feel my heart beating irregularly. There isn’t much time, so what is the plan?” Fixx grimaced.
“Do you have anything like the guard’s staves?” Alin asked Maggie.
She thought about it and shook her head. “There isn’t anything like that down here.”
“Well, can we get one above?”
“Not easily, but it is worth—” She stopped when Fixx passed out and fell over. “Is he dead?”
As Dack moved toward Fixx, he could see that an orb was pouring its way out of his chest. “We have to get out of here now!” Dack screamed as he scooped up Fixx’s body. “Alin, get those books and get out.”
“What about the other things?” Maggie panicked.
“Do you think any of it is important?” he yelled over his shoulder as he ran out of the cavern.
“I have no idea,” she called, following Alin, who managed to get the books.
Dack reached the pipes, crawled into the space backward, and dragged Fixx through by his feet. The orb shot out of Fixx and began flattening itself out on the pipes, spreading thinly over as many as it touched. “We don’t have much more time,” he said, picking Fixx up again once they were through. Alin slid the books through and then encouraged Maggie to go next.
“Hurry ahead and get that platform ready,” Alin said as he squeezed painfully through the hot pipes, which were beginning to leak steam. He made it through, picked up the books, and ran behind Dack, who was struggling with Fixx. “Are you okay?”
“He is in a lot of pain,” Dack said calmly, moving as quickly as possible.
“We can go up much quicker if we sit down,” Maggie said, sitting on the lit-up platform. “Are you ready?”
Dack gently placed Fixx on the platform and then sat down. Alin joined them, sat down, and looked at Fixx, who was looking around. “Are you going to make it?”
“It doesn’t hurt as much now, but I will need to rest for a minute. I think the pain was more from that other one coming out.” Fixx breathed deeply.
“We need to go now,” Maggie said, pointing at the water that was now flooding the hallway. She tapped a few buttons, and the platform started to rise slowly and then kept accelerating. Sirens above told them that the rest of the place was sure to know of the problem below. “What are we supposed to do when we get up there?”
“We need to get out of here so the king’s troops can move in,” Fixx said weakly.
“Do you really think he is going to let any of us live?” Maggie asked, leaning over Fixx. “We need to get out of here without getting caught by my people or the king’s guards.”
“Is there a way to stop the flooding?” Alin asked.
“We might be able to slow it down, but this place will still be flooded within a few hours.” Maggie punched Fixx’s arm. “I hope you are happy. I’ve lost everything.” She shook her fist at him.
“I am not too happy right now.” He pouted, rubbing his arm. “I will make it up to you somehow, I promise.”
“Save it. We are almost to the top,” she said as the platform slowed down. Within twenty feet of the top, everything stopped abruptly, and the lights flickered. Looking up she could see shadows moving around. “Can you hear me?” she called.
“Who is that?” someone called down.
“The only one who knows the code,” she replied. “Turn it back on so we can get out of here.”
“Who is with you?”
“Some guests. I was giving a tour. We have a problem below. I can help if you let us up.”
“As soon as the guards get here, they will start the platform again.”
“Now what?” she whispered.
“Anyone have any ideas?” Dack asked.
“Was there any other part of your plan, like how to get out of here?” Maggie asked.
“I didn’t expect it to happen this way, so we will have to wait it out,” Fixx answered. “I also took the original scrapings that were stolen from the king.” He smiled weakly.
“What did you do that for?” Maggie demanded.
“So this place can’t keep making more orbs.”
“He just needs them so he can make more shells for his troops—”
“I don’t get it,” Dack interjected. “What are you talking about?”
“When the Way was discovered in this world, the king managed to scrape four small slivers from a box that was buried in the ground. Those slivers are used to create most of the advanced things, like the orbs and shells. Over time, however, the things made from them no longer make more copies of themselves. So, the good folks of New Kwiglin recently stole three of them from the king. I was asked to retrieve them before destroying this place,” Fixx said, sitting up.
“Taking the originals would have been enough,” Maggie added. “Flooding this place is overkill.”
“What do we do now?” Alin interrupted.
Dack stood up and picked at the wall. “I might be able to get us out of here, maybe.”
“How?” Maggie asked.
“Do you have those things with you, Fixx?”
Fixx grinned and nodded.
“Give me one,” Dack said, holding out his hand.
“Everyone has to close their eyes.” Fixx chuckled.
“Give it to him now,” Maggie said, shaking Fixx.
“Okay, okay.” Fixx moaned, reaching for the hem of his pants. Carefully feeling for them, he slid one out and held it tightly. “Here,” he said, putting one in Dack’s palm.
“I am not promising anything, but this might let me do something; however, I’ve never done it before,” Dack said nervously. “I will try it first myself, and then we can all try it.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Escape,” Dack said as he closed his fist tightly and began concentrating on the field near the Way where he first arrived.
“How?” Maggie asked but did not receive an answer because Dack was no longer standing there. Seconds later, the platform began to move upward again. Looking up, she saw some guards staring down and heard the hum of waiting staves.
“No deal!” the king said weakly, trying to push Dack off him.
“Then you will lose everything. You know that, right?”
“We can storm the place and kill them all.”
“One thing I do believe about you is that you will do the right thing eventually,” Dack said, releasing his grip on the king’s shell as he moved away. “I came here, telling you the truth from the beginning. So what is your answer?”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because both of you are wrong. If you would have been honest with me, I would have helped. I can’t trust either side now. I have firsthand proof that you were telling me the truth about New Kwiglin. I also know you lied to me about Fixx.”
“We saved his life.”
“That is true, but you held that over his head. That thing inside him was never completely under his control. You saved him to kill him later.”
“He deserved it!”
“Then you should have let him die, not toyed with him.”
“Who are you to tell me what to do?”
“I did not want to get involved until you made it impossible otherwise. I wanted to walk away, but now that is not going to happen. Give me the fourth sliver, and we will all leave and never return.”
“And if I say no?” the king demanded.
“I will use the other three to flood this place with orbs until every last one of your kind is driven underwater.”
“You are bluffing!”
“Neither side will have an advantage. New Kwiglin is useless now. What is the harm?”
The king sat down and sighed. “I am sorry,” he said slowly. “I am tired, so tired.” He looked at Dack and nodded. “I was wrong to do what I did. You should take these things away so they can’t be used improperly again by any of us.”
“I hope this will be the first step in bringing both groups together,” Dack said hopefully.
The king made some deep, long sounds, and the guards opened the doors cautiously. “It is all right. We have come to an agreement. Give him the original.”
A guard approached with a glass jar and gave it to Dack. Dack opened the jar and poured the sliver into his hand. “If all goes well, you will never see me again,” he said, disappearing.
“It’s good to see you again,” Fixx said as Dack was brought into the room. A guard spun and banged his staff on the bars of the cell, narrowly missing Fixx’s fingers. “Not good to see him though,” he said, moving farther into the cell.
“Where have you been, Dack?” Maggie demanded.
“Now is not a good time,” Dack said as the guards pushed him into a cell across the room from the others.
“You all are going to stay in here while we evacuate,” another guard said, looking menacingly at the captives. “Is there anything I can get you before I leave?”
“I can save New Kwiglin,” Dack said, leaning on the cell bars.
“Good,” the guard said, gathering some things in preparation to leave.
“Omeran, who do I need to tell?” Dack yelled across to the other cell.
“He’s not talking to us,” Alin replied.
“Fixx, did you tell him you were sorry for getting him in trouble?” Dack asked.
“It was you?” Omeran said, getting to his feet, grabbing for his weapon. Maggie held him back while Alin forcefully removed the curved club from Omeran as he tried to hit Fixx. “Why?”
Fixx grinned and started to speak, but Dack interrupted. “No long stories, Fixx.”
“Fine.” Fixx stomped his foot. “I was working with the king to destroy this place because New Kwiglin is still destroying this world. Short enough?” he asked, frowning at Dack.
“I can end the flooding and get the king to work with you to make this place better. Who do we need to tell to start the process?” Dack eyed the guard, who was still there listening. “Well?”
“We could arrange for an emergency meeting of the Council,” Omeran said, composing himself and pushing his glasses more securely on his nose.
The guard laughed aloud. “They were gone moments after the first drop hit the ground. Only a few commoners are left, and most of them are more afraid of the heat than the wet.”
“What about you and Omeran? Do you want to speak for this place?” Dack asked.
“I’m just a guard,” he answered. “What king is going to listen to me?” He looked at the others. “Well, at least I can let you all out since you can’t do any more harm,” he said while unlocking the cells. “If you can make this better, go ahead.” He motioned for them to come out and then left quietly.
“Omeran, it will have to be up to you then,” Dack said as they all gathered closer.
“What about Mad Aggie?” Omeran asked.
“It’s Maggie, or…” she said, holding up her fist to Omeran. “Follow?” Omeran’s already magnified eyes seemed to grow even bigger until he slowly nodded, and Maggie stepped back. She winked to Alin and said, “I am going with them.”
“Okay, I am willing to work with the king to save New Kwiglin and make it better,” Omeran said decidedly.
“You better take this seriously,” Maggie added.
“I am serious,” Omeran said, raising his voice. “I don’t know how this is going to help.”
“When this is over, you will be in charge, not some group that really doesn’t care about more than itself,” Fixx said, looking at Omeran. “I am sorry for messing things up for you.”
“What’s next?” Alin asked.
“Omeran needs to talk to the king, and then the rest of us can leave. Fixx, please give me the other two slivers,” Dack said, holding out his hand. Fixx reached down, removed the slivers, and then handed them to Dack. “I see you moved them to your other leg.”
Fixx grinned and shrugged.
“Are these the real ones?”
Fixx feigned shock and then nodded.
Dack took all four slivers and held them tightly. “I am not going to lie to you. What we are going to do will hurt really bad.” Dack grimaced. “The first time I did it, I could not move for a few minutes because of the pain throughout my entire body. Pulling ourselves to the Way will feel like someone grabbed you by the belt, spun you around, and then let go. That’s the first part.”
“Wait, there’s more?” Fixx chuckled.
“You’re right,” Dack continued. “Pushing ourselves to the king isn’t as bad, but you will get a sharp pain at the base of your skull, as if you quickly whipped your head back and forth several times.”
“Can’t we go directly to the king instead of stopping at the Way?” Alin asked.
“Probably, but I haven’t tried it. I haven’t even tried doing this with anyone besides myself. Hopefully we will each arrive in one piece,” Dack said, looking at the worried expressions of the others. “Ready?”
The others slowly and reluctantly nodded.
“Good,” he said, closing his eyes and imagining they were all standing in the field by the Way.
Within a heartbeat they were all there, and then each doubled over in pain almost in unison. Dack recovered the quickest and then helped the others. When each of them appeared to be mostly recovered, Dack asked, “Can we go now?” They gathered close again, and Dack pushed them to the king’s chamber near the map.
“I thought you were never coming back,” the king said, standing next to Dack, who was rubbing the back of his neck. “What do you want?”
“I came here with an idea that will benefit both sides,” Dack said, moving quickly to a chair. The others slowly wandered to the chairs around the table once the effects lessened. “Help save New Kwiglin and work with them to make changes.”
“Do they want my help?” the king asked as he also sat at the table.
“I do,” Omeran spoke up. “I am sure others will feel the same. Too much has been wasted trying to achieve our independence, which turned out to be a cage under the sand.”
“Omeran can get you in, and your troops can stop the flooding,” Dack said to the king. “I am sure both of you can work on how to drain the water and make repairs.” Dack handed one sliver to the king and one to Omeran. “Both of you will need these to move forward.”
“What about the other two?” the king asked.
“I will keep the others safe, I promise,” Dack said. “Is this something both of you can finish so the rest of us can leave?”
“I am willing to try,” Omeran said, looking at the king.
“This is better than I had hoped. Maybe our kinds can finally do what is best for both of us,” the king said slowly.
“Good,” Dack said, standing up. “We really need to get back to our world now. Are you ready?” he asked the others, who were not looking forward to more pain. “One last time?”
Maggie hugged Omeran and then ruffled his hair. “Tell everyone I will miss them, but not too much.”
“Thank you for all of your help,” Alin said to Omeran.
“Thank you both,” Dack said to Omeran and the king.
“Fixx, you can come back anytime,” the king said, blowing air through his nose, “as long as you behave.”
“Maybe we could bring back the tea.” Fixx grinned. “It truly is not as special as I had hoped.”
They finished their good-byes, and those who were leaving gathered around Dack. He waved one last time, and they disappeared. “We have a lot to do,” the king said kindly to Omeran, who was anxious to begin.
“It still won’t open,” Dack said to Alin when everyone had recuperated from being pulled to the Way.
“What’s the problem?” Fixx asked.
“I tried to open the Way to Storality, and nothing happened. It’s been like that since shortly after we arrived. Should I test that other Way again?” Dack asked.
“It would let us know if things were working at least.” Alin shrugged. “Fixx should move back so it doesn’t interfere with the orb inside of him.”
“That’s a good idea,” Dack agreed. Fixx stepped back a fair distance, and then Dack whispered the Way’s name. He opened it a small bit and then closed it quickly. “It is definitely our Way that is the problem.”
“Maybe it is closed from this world only,” Alin thought aloud.
“We could go to the one from the book we found,” Maggie added. “What do you think?” she asked with her hands on her hips.
“There is no way to know if it will be safe,” Dack said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Open it so we can observe. Should be safe enough if you did that, right?” Alin said, looking through his pack for the right book. He gave the book to Maggie. “Find the page again so we can try.” She flipped through the pages while Fixx watched closely. When she found it, she handed the book to Dack.
“Are we all agreed that I should open it for a quick look?” Dack asked.
“Unless you want to live here like I did on Storality,” Fixx said, smiling at Maggie.
“Fine,” Dack said, holding out his hands and whispering the Way’s name from Maggie’s book. He opened it slowly, and they all gathered close to look.
Maggie was fascinated and slapped Dack on his back. “I can do this too?”
“Yes, but Theterm should talk to you first, I think,” Dack said, looking at what was on the other side of the Way. “It looks like some of those machines from the book.”
“They were used to dig out most of New Kwiglin. That was a long time ago. I can’t imagine they are the same ones,” Maggie said, getting a closer look. “Right?”
“It doesn’t matter, but time does flow differently between worlds. It is possible that they are the same, but we may never know,” Dack said, pushing Maggie back a little. “Don’t get too close.”
“Why?” she asked in a huff.
“If you fall through, then we would all have to go through to get you. I’m not sure it is safe yet,” Dack said calmly.
As he finished talking, they could see someone through the Way walking toward them, holding something in his hand. The man looked human and was wearing a white robe with a purple sash around the waist. He approached the Way and waved the device in his hand. He looked at the little box he was holding, smiled, waved it again toward the Way, and immediately the Way closed.
“We better step back,” Alin said, moving quickly. “That one knew we were watching.” The others retreated a few steps and looked at Dack. “Do you think they will come after us?”
Dack had an idea. “Fixx, want to have some fun?”
“Does the sun rise in the west?” Fixx danced gleefully.
“No.” Alin looked puzzled.
“It does here.” Maggie nudged Alin.
“I am going to open the Way again. If he is still there, you have to lead him away and get that thing he is holding, okay?”
“By any means?” Fixx twisted his face into a frightful expression.
“Don’t hurt him.” Dack shook his head slowly.
“Have I ever caused anyone bodily harm?” Fixx looked hurt. “Okay, I’ll do my best with just my wits.”
“Tell him a story,” Alin said, pushing Fixx toward the Way.
“All right,” Dack spoke up. “Let’s go.” He whispered the name of the Way and opened it so both sides could cross.
Fixx sped through, knocking the man down and out, causing him to drop what he was holding.
“Fixx, what did you do that for?”
“He was still standing in the exact spot. How was I supposed to know? He was still smiling and waving that thing,” Fixx said, mimicking the man’s movements and facial expression.
“That isn’t good,” Dack said.
“Why?” the group asked in unison.
“Almost no time passed in the other world, even though the Way was closed for some time here,” Dack answered.
“Maybe he was standing there the whole time waving that thing,” Alin replied.
“I hope so. If time flows too slowly there, we might come back and years will have passed.” Dack frowned.
“Didn’t Theterm say that keeping the Way open would keep both worlds running at the same pace?” Alin asked, hoping he remembered correctly.
“It all barely makes sense, so we might as well try,” Dack said, moving through the Way. “We need to stay together, I know that for sure.”
When all of them were through, Fixx picked up the object the man had dropped and gave it to Dack. “Not much to it,” Fixx said. He began looking around at the shiny machines. “So, these things made that big hole under the sand?” he said, wandering over to the closest one. “Did you ever use one?” he asked Maggie.
“No, but my father might have. I’m not sure.” Maggie stood next to Fixx, who was trying to climb up a ladder to the top of the machine. She grabbed his foot and tugged. “You need to focus a little.” She smiled when Fixx looked at her with an obvious scowl. “Let’s go,” she said over her shoulder, walking back to where the others were standing.
“Have fun trying to keep him in line,” Alin said quietly to Maggie.
“What should we do with this one?” Dack asked, pointing at the man still lying on the floor. “He’ll be awake soon.”
“Put him in here,” Fixx called from the top of the machine he had climbed. “We could tie his hands behind his back and shove him in.”
“It might be our only option,” Alin said to Dack.
“We can lift him up and put him in with Fixx’s help,” Dack said, grabbing the man’s feet. Alin lifted the man up under his arms, and they carried him to the back of the machine. “Fixx, make sure he doesn’t get hurt when we let go.” Both of them lifted up the body as far as they could, and Fixx pulled him into the machine.
After tying the sash tightly around the man’s wrists behind his back, Fixx propped the man in a sitting position. He patted him on the head and climbed out of the machine. “Anytime you want to say you are sorry, I’m listening,” he said to Maggie.
“What are you talking about?” Maggie demanded.
“I am focused,” Fixx said, opening his eyes wide with his fingers. “I didn’t hear you giving any ideas about where to hide the body.”
“Oh, I’m sorry if I’m not as quick at that sort of thing,” she said. “Now, can we go?”
“Sure,” Fixx said, staring at her but not moving.
“Fixx, stop trying to impress Maggie,” Alin said, pushing Fixx toward Dack.
“Is that what you call it?” Maggie chortled, following the others.
“I have a strange feeling about this place,” Dack said as he looked around. “I think there is more than one Way here. I can sense them opening and closing in all directions, but I thought there was only one per world. Maybe Theterm was wrong.”
“We should find another one and see if it can get us to Storality,” Alin said.
“I think the closest one is in that direction,” Dack said, pointing at a door.
They moved quickly but cautiously through the area with all the machines until they arrived at the door. There was something posted on it, but none of them could understand what it meant. Opening it revealed a long, wide hallway with more doors on both sides. Dack felt that the door at the far end of the hallway was the right way to go, so they did not check any of the others.
Fixx listened at the door before he opened it a tiny bit. Inside he could see that the other three walls were made of glass. “I could sneak in and look into the other rooms through the glass walls,” he said quietly. “What do you think?”
Dack nodded. “Go ahead.”
Fixx opened the door wide enough for him to fit through and then almost closed it. He moved silently to the far wall and could see a group sitting around a table. They were so involved in their conversation that they didn’t notice Fixx moving closer. While he couldn’t hear anything through the glass, he could tell that they were arguing.
Six creatures, all in white robes with purple sashes around their waists, sat in transparent chairs. Everything in the next room looked like it was made of glass or something similar. Floating in the air above the middle of the table was the image of a human man with white hair and beard. The others were talking, motioning, and looking at the apparition intently.
Fixx noticed that there seemed to be some sort of sliding window above where he was hiding. He slowly stood up and managed to move it enough so that he could hear what the others were saying as he crouched down again behind some boxes.
“It is only a temporary setback,” one of the creatures said.
“How long?” the image of the human asked.
“Less than a month.”
“Their time or ours?”
“Theirs.”
“Good. Are the others in place?”
“They will be by then.”
The image paced. “There are two with him. What do you plan for them?”
“It depends.”
“On what?”
“If they will take his place.”
The image laughed. “One has broken all bonds, and the other cannot be controlled. They are useless.”
“We must try,” one of the creatures demanded.
“I agree,” another added while others nodded.
The image balled his fists tightly and looked at the six creatures. “Control or death.”
“I will not be a part of this!”
“It is too late for that. All of you wanted this. See it through.”
Some of the creatures stood to leave.
“Sit!”
“You wouldn’t dare control us, and we know you can’t kill us all.”
“Theterm and Storality are failures!” the image screamed. Fixx stood up to get a better look and knocked over a box he was hiding behind. Everyone went silent and stared into the room where Fixx was standing. He waved, turned, and ran for the door.
“Shut down the Ways!” the image yelled before disappearing.
Ear-piercing sirens went off as Fixx made it to the door. The others saw the panic on his face and tried to keep up as he blurred past. He made it to the door leading to the machines.
“We need to get back before the Way closes!” he shouted to the others.
“What is going on, Fixx?” Dack asked as he closed the distance.
“We need to get out of here before they close the Way,” Fixx answered, running through the door.