"A Place Where The Suns Don't Shine"
The blackness slowly lifted. As it did, the only color perceived by our eyes was grey. Even our own skin tones and clothing were varying shades of grey. Everything was monochrome. It was like being in a black and white movie. All was silent with the exception of a small whirring sound coming from Rob’s insides.
Looking up at the sky, the first thing we noticed were the clouds. They were dark and ominous, blowing by as if they were in high speed motion. Through the clouds we noted three suns trying to peek through. They were of three different colors; one blue, one red and one yellow—though through the dense cloud cover, their colorful rays never touched the earth... or the ground...
Earth or ground, whatever it was, it was completely smooth and flat and barren (with the exception of the cart which a few yards off) for as far as the eye could see. It, too, was grey and there was something artificial about it. Banging on it with my hand, it made a hollow ringing sound, as if made of aluminum.
“Everyone OK?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“Yeh, fine,” said Melissa hesitantly. Her tone was one of frightened wonder.
“So this is another dimension,” ventured Cindy.
“Rob, where are we?” asked Lisa.
“Unknown. Directional sensors are not functioning.”
“Rob, initiate self-repair procedures,” I instructed.
“Diagnostic procedures initiated. Estimated time to repair,” he paused for a moment, “self-repair unwarranted. Not programmed for directional analysis in this dimension.”
“Meaning what?” asked Cindy.
“Meaning we’re on our own,” said Melissa.
“Rob, I thought you’re from this dimension,” reminded Lisa, “Why aren’t you programmed properly?”
“I was removed prior to initial activation, which is essential for directional discernment.”
“Meaning what?” repeated Cindy.
“Meaning we’re still on our own,” chuckled Melissa.
“Well, let’s get back to our normal heights,” I said.
“Unnecessary,” stated Rob, “sizes were restored during dimensional transport.”
“Then, which way do we go?” asked Lisa.
“Rob, lifeform readings?” I requested.
“Scanning,” said Rob, as the sensors in his dome flashed and rotated around. “One lifeform: 5.89-km,” he paused for a moment. Without directional guidance, he couldn’t distinguish one direction for another.
“Where?” asked Lisa. Rob rotated his head back and forth in what appeared to be ‘robotic confusion’ and finally pointed with his arm extended.
“That way,” he replied.
“Rob, give relative bearings,” I laughingly replied as this apparent robotic stupor.
“Affirmative, and thank you. Bearing 243.8.”
“Identify,” I stated.
“Unknown.”
“Then we head for the lifeform. One direction’s going to be just as good as another at this point. At least with a lifeform, we won’t be wandering around aimlessly,” I pointed out.
“If we get there and find it’s the Deadly Forest, we can turn back and head in another direction,” suggested Lisa.
“Agreed,” I said, “Let’s do it.”
Looking over the cart, we found it to be in one piece. We hooked Rob back up to it and climbed aboard.
The silence was unnervingly eerie. The only sounds now were those of the cart’s wheels and Rob’s tread rolling over the hollow-sounding ground... and our own heartbeats.
As we headed in the direction indicated by the lifeform reading, we saw nothing. Only grey. We felt nothing. The forces that were moving the clouds at such a rapid pace overhead, had no effect on us. We smelled nothing. Other than the lingering scent of hay from the cart—and (sigh!) Melissa’s perfume—there were no smells. Everything was very sterile and cold.
After about a half hour had passed, we noticed a small dot on the horizon. As we continued traveling toward it, it grew larger and larger; spreading out on both sides. When we reached it, Rob and the cart came to a halt.
In front of us was a thick, dark forest. A green forest. It was the first color, other than the suns, that our eyes had perceived since entering this dimension. Two ranges of mountains stretched out on either side from the dark green mass in front of us. The mountains themselves were grey. Only the forest held the promise of color. Everything was still silent.
“Let’s turn back,” shivered Cindy.
“I agree,” said Lisa, “if that is the Deadly Forest, then trying another direction will either take us to...?”
“...either Giant Land to the left, or one of the torn corners to the right,” added Melissa, glancing down at the map.
“Rob, sensor readings,” I said. Leaning over the front of the cart, I unstrapped “The Spell Book of Androganine.”
“One lifeform.”
“Why isn’t this forest registering as multiple lifeforms?” asked Melissa, “Besides the obvious trees and plants, are there no animals or birds?”
“Unknown.”
“Is this the Deadly Forest?” asked Lisa.
“Unknown.”
“Maybe I can put some sort of spell over the cart. Like a force field?” I suggested, thumbing through the great book.
“Rob, describe the lifeform,” continued Melissa.
“Lifeform is a quadruped, standing one meter tall at the torso, another .2-meter high at the head. Lifeform has a bi-cardio circulatory system and a vulcanized outer shell.”
“Vulcanized outer shell?” questioned Lisa, “You mean it’s made of rubber?”
“Affirmative.”
“A two hearted, rubber monster?” asked Melissa, honing in on the bi-cardio aspect of Rob’s description.
“Affirmative.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound too deadly,” commented Cindy.
“Found it,” I said, pointing toward the book, “Multi-Purpose Protection Field: Establishment of.”
“If this rubber monster is alive, this could be Living Land,” pointed out Lisa.
“Let’s give this force field a shot anyway,” said Cindy.
Standing up in the cart, I performed the required procedure: I waved my arms, from side to side, over my head, in a semi-circular pattern. This was to indicate the area of desired protection. I read the incantation aloud:
“Volnos, Ictos, Frrompton, Zalgart.”
We heard a small ascending hum that lasted for a split second and then silence.
“Rob?” I asked.
“Multi-Purpose Protection Field is in place.”
Reaching out with my hand, I felt a hard, invisible force, approximately five inches from the edge of the cart. The girls tried the same thing and found that it had indeed completely surrounded us.
“What about air?” asked Cindy, suddenly.
“All gas levels appear to be maintaining themselves automatically,” stated Rob.
“All right then,” I said, “into the woods we go.”
No comments:
Post a Comment