|
Escape From Manitou Island: Part 190 |
|
(DISCLAIMER: This part, and all parts hereafter, are works in progress (WIPs) and have not been proofread or checked for plot inconsistencies. I've decided to present them "as is" for now, as there is a significant amount of unfinished material; yet this story has been on hiatus for a long while, I've forgotten certain details, and I have no plans to resume work on it any time soon. Please keep in mind while reading that details may change in the future. Should you spot an inconsistency, however, please feel free to point it out to me for possible correction.)
DIRTY TRICKS THE STRANGE LURCHING sensation suddenly struck again, and with a yelp Turtle found herself rolling across the cave floor. She bumped into the wall, yelled, "OW!" then tried to push herself up, only to find herself rolling in the opposite direction. This time she ended up at the pile of furs, and the sensation abruptly ceased. She blinked her eyes open and stared at the ceiling. The odd feeling, as if little spirits were hovering all over in the air, had vanished. She waited a moment to be sure, then tried getting up again. This time she could stand without falling over or getting nauseated. Something had certainly changed, though she had no idea what. The big man wasn't in the room with her at the moment. He'd gone some time ago, where, she had no idea and didn't really care since he was so mean all the time. Waiting another moment to make sure he wouldn't come sneaking in to surprise her--though he didn't really seem to be the sneaking type--she then crept over to the wall and gingerly placed her hand against it, willing any pictures to appear and let her know what was happening. Turtle had no real understanding of vision walls. Her father didn't have any, and this was her first real experience with one, so if she'd been asked, she'd have had no way to explain how they worked. Still, she knew to be nice to spirits if you wanted them to be nice in return, so saying things like "Please" and "Thank you" and "Excuse me" had become just about second nature by now. Seeing as spirits were behind everything that ever existed, spirits must make the wall work as well, so she didn't even have to remind herself, when she touched it, to ask as nicely as she could for it to show her something. It had worked before, and it worked again now. She did briefly wonder why the big man didn't try being nice more often if he wanted things done, but the vision she saw swept that thought away almost instantly. Turtle sucked in a breath to see the tall peaks of rock looming overhead. More mountains! Wasn't that where her father was supposed to be going, more mountains?* She tried to see more, but the wall couldn't show her anything else. Still, some part of her knew this must be the place they'd been seeking all along. "Grandpa Kabeyun's place!"* she breathed, pressing her nose to the rock. "I bet he lives there! Don't you, Wall? Though Papa says I shouldn't bet...still, I bet that's it!" She frowned and pulled back, glancing from side to side a little. "But where's the big mean man...?" The image in the wall shifted and showed her an exact duplicate of the entryway to the cave she was now within. Turtle turned to look at it, chewing on her lip; she remembered what he'd said the last time she tried to leave the room. She did value having her fingers*, all ten of them, since ten was such a nice number and all. Still... "Megwetch, wall," she whispered, and tiptoed across the room to peer out the entryway. She'd never gotten further than that, but nothing happened when she poked her head out and then quickly drew it back in. She did this a few times, just to make sure, then poked her foot out a few times, before finally exiting the cave. She stood now within a sort of large tunnel with other tunnels and caves branching off every which way. The wall hadn't told her anything else, so she dropped to the floor and started sniffing. "Papa always said rabbits have good smell!" she murmured to herself. "Maybe I can smell him out? He was so big and mean I bet he never even takes baths..." She gasped a little when a glow appeared at her side. Glancing up at the tunnel wall, she saw how part of the stone shimmered; when she drew close and tried to touch it, it moved further ahead. The more she followed it, the more it moved along the wall, untli she realized that it must be leading her. "Oh!" she breathed, hurrying to keep up as it picked up pace. It was like chasing a glint of sunshine across the water. "I didn't know you could leave the cave, too! So, you're gonna show me where he is...?" She followed the flicker of light to another entryway and slowed to a stop outside. It was dark within, so she couldn't tell if it was occupied or not. After pausing here, the flicker moved down the floor and across to the other wall, slipping into a crevice that Turtle entered herself; she crawled along and upward a little ways before emerging at a small opening where the flicker stopped again. When she peeked out carefully, she could see darkness again, with a small space of light to the far left. She recognized the shape of the entryway she'd just turned away from. "This is the same room!" she whispered to the flicker, which was very dim by now. "And he's in it...?" In response, the flicker descended down the wall into the cave below. Turtle watched it move across the floor until something was vaguely illuminated; she drew in a breath when she recognized the big man's shape. He was seated on the floor in the middle of the cave, motionless. She feared for the light at first, but realized that he must be asleep, if it had so brazenly gone down in there with him. She waited for it to return, and cupped her hand around it as if to shield it from his sight, though it was just a patch of light on or within the stone and there was nothing really to hold. "So he comes in here to sleep?" she asked it under her breath. The light flickered in such a way that she knew it was telling her no. This puzzled her. "So...if he's not sleeping, then what's he doing...?" she asked, and the light moved out from under her hand, back into the tunnel a bit, and grew along the wall. It showed her an image of the cave with Megissogwun in it, only much more easy to see, as if it were now well lit; Megissogwun sat upright but his eyes were closed. He looked like he was asleep. But when she looked harder she could see a faint blue line under both eyelids and knew that they were actually open just a crack. "If he sleeps with his eyes open all the time, no wonder he's so cranky," she said. The light flickered again--No--and showed such a fast succession of images that she could barely keep up. She did recognize one of them, however, and gasped, clapping her hands before reminding herself to keep quiet. "The little girl in red!" Something sparked in her mind--at least, the way that things tended to spark in Turtle's mind, which was more like a very slow, grudging connection of faraway thoughts--and she strained to figure out what it was. "When he came back and his arm was all tore up,"* she whispered, "he said somebody else did that too. Her!" She pressed her hands to the flickering images. "The little girl in red! He ran after her, and she hurt him! He said he was going to find her. So--he's looking for her?" When the images faded, Turtle pushed herself up and scrambled back to the tunnel opening. Without even thinking she crawled right out of it and ended up yelping as she tumbled some distance to the floor. She caught a brief glimpse of the flicker of light on the wall above her, flashing almost in a panic, before it vanished and she rolled over. She ignored the warning, hurrying over toward Megissogwun, looking up into his face when she reached him. The slivers of blue glowed under his eyes. "He's doing a vision-thingie!" she gasped. "Papa's done those...he's told me about them...jessakids* do them too, when they want to see far and find things! He said when he finds the red girl he'll destroy the Island, just like if he defeats Grandpa*!" Again without thinking, she leaned forward and yelled in his face as loudly as she could. "HEY! WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP!!" When that resulted in nothing, she commenced stamping up and down and waving her arms wildly. "WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP SNAP OUT OF IT!! If you want to hurt the little red girl then that means she's on OUR side! I can't do anything about Papa, but I can do something about her! WAKE UP!!" No reaction. Turtle had to stop hopping to catch her breath, and she despaired for just a moment, before another thought grudgingly made its way into her mind and, with a gasp, she realized how brilliant it was and promptly acted on it. Things had changed somewhat. The Lynxes were no longer threatening the Island, now that the Animiki hovered overhead in their clouds, and the mainlander had apparently been busy for so long that Chakenapok was back beneath Croghan Water with the Shadow Wolves, sitting and mulling. He'd been given a lot to think about, though it didn't all quite make sense to him; he didn't really care if it did or not, just as long as things were resolved soon. A visitor--in the shape of a strange glowing mist--had appeared some time ago, and Nathalit had given him some general information that she'd learned. He'd listened to it all--her tale of meeting with the Stone Canoe, and the Red Swan, and then with Geezhigo-Quae--his frown growing until he nodded curtly and the mist departed. Now, a bit more knowledgeable but no less perplexed, he peered at the Wolves meandering off to the side just within his range of vision. "Was I this troublesome when I was acting up...?" The Wolves' eyes shimmered when they looked at him, and he gave a gusty sigh and turned back to face ahead of himself, scowling a little. "If I'd known how much of a bother living here would turn out to be I would never have let that Malsum get hold of me...so now we have a stupid giant manitou, and a foolish sleeping woman to keep in mind..." He shut his eyes and sent out his thoughts. She was right there under the lake. He could reach her easily now--Nathalit had made it so, how, he didn't know, but there she was, sleeping in her cave. Only not quite sleeping. He couldn't explain it. They'd communicated before and she'd seemed awake, but he knew how deceptive dreams could be, and if she could send out her own dreams, then she could be very deceptive indeed. What puzzled him was why she wasn't communicating anymore. Ever since the Pearl Feather had encountered Charmian's group*, she'd remained silent, and he knew she wasn't just being obnoxious as usual. He knew a vision when he felt it. But why the Red Swan should be seeking one now was beyond him. Nathalit's mention of the Stone Canoe's story, of Megissogwun visiting the Red Swan in person--and being so easily defeated--unsettled him as well. She obviously had massive power, but, like the little girl, apparently wasn't so good at controlling it just yet. No wonder, if she was unconscious. He kept his thoughts close to hers; if she'd thrown the Pearl Feather out, then he'd surely try again. The last time Chakenapok had had to get rid of him it had used up almost everything he'd had. He would have to be on his guard from now on. At least the Wolves were quiet company. He'd no sooner thought this than he felt a twinge and stiffened, sitting upright; the Wolves ceased their wandering to look at him, ears quivering. It was the same feeling as before, only now Megissogwun wasn't using Chakenapok's connection* to seek her out. The only way he could think of to connect to someone else in such a deep vision state was to be in a deep vision state oneself. He scowled again as he focused. This was all getting too terribly complicated. "At least when I was making mischief, it was just Malsum and myself," he muttered, fixing on Megissogwun's vision and preparing himself to do whatever he could--attack, distraction, diffusion, whatever--to keep the two of them from meeting. If they connected, he didn't know if he'd be able to fend Megissogwun off again. Just as he felt their visions meeting--it was the startled feeling one gets running into a wall, only without the pain involved--something else cut in--he felt the Red Swan stir just briefly, as if in surprise, before Megissogwun's vision cut so short that Chakenapok gasped and jerked, eyes popping open. What the--? Megissogwun's eyes popped open and an instant later he let out a yell that rang off the ceiling and walls of the cave. Turtle's teeth pulled loose of his foot and she rolled like a ball toward the side of the cave, striking the wall and uncurling in a daze. The Pearl Feather was on his feet in a flash. "WHAT DID YOU JUST DO, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE BRAT?" he demanded, his voice making the cave shake. Turtle curled in on herself again, arms going over her head and whimpering noises escaping her. Megissogwun glared at her for a second, then looked down. She'd left little teethmark in the toe of his left moccasin. He'd felt himself just connecting to the strange woman in red--there was no way he would let her or that pathetic Flint push him back a third time*--so to find that a bite to the foot had stopped him was... His fingers curled into fists and he towered over the shaking little girl. "If I had not promised that brainless father of yours that I would leave you intact, you feral little nit..." "I just--I was just waking you up!" Turtle cried, still covering her head as his shadow fell over her. "I thought you'd wanna know the cave stopped moving, is all!" Megissogwun blinked and the malevolent glow in his eyes faded a bit. "What...?" He lifted his head to look ceilingward, testing the air, and was mildly surprised to find that she was telling the truth--at least, part of it. They were no longer moving. Fighting down a scowl, he turned to stomp from the room--grasping hold of the girl by the collar of her dress and carrying her along with him, ignoring her tiny protests--and reentered* the vision cave. He waved at the wall and was treated to a clear image of towering mountains. When he waved again, he spotted a huge gash in the side of one, boulders strewn down the slope, and knew. "Finally," he muttered, waving once more so the image vanished. He left the cave, still carrying the little girl by her collar; she made faces and pulled at the front of her dress, coughing a little before speaking. "Wh--where are we going now? Papa's found the mountains and stuff, so why don't you let me go?" "Your papa has fulfilled only HALF his duty," Megissogwun said. "He is to find your grandfather next--but seeing as that will likely not be happening, I am going to prepare for that moment of failure." He jerked his hand and Turtle let out an odd noise--the air changed again and she threatened to gag. Megissogwun looked upwards. "Their way out shall be considerably shorter than the way in," he said, "seeing as I will be waiting to welcome them." He put Turtle down, pointing very deliberately at the floor. "Sit." Turtle did so, though she scowled and stuck her tongue out at him when she thought he couldn't see her. He ignored it, sitting down himself and crossing his arms to await the inevitable. Charmian felt a chill course through her on looking at what Mishosha held in his hand. A single hair which he'd picked up from the floor of Kabeyun's cave--and she very well knew what trouble a single hair could cause in the wrong hands. She clenched her fists and took a step forward--then found herself standing behind Winter Born, who had just a second ago been behind her. Both of them blinked at each other, then Charmian clenched her fists again, letting out an awful noise which drew everyone else's attention. "STOP DOING THAT!" She stomped toward the wabano, shaking a fist. "What do you think you're doing? And why the HELL did I even bring you along with us--?" Mishosha rolled his eyes. "You want to find Kabeyun--yes? It's obvious he's not going to willingly show himself to us, isn't it?" He waved at the vision wall. "You already tried. And take a look, he's certainly not showing up on account of this fool." A wave at Manabozho. "What?" The glow around Manabozho abruptly died and he clenched his own fists. "HOW DARE YOU! What would a pitiful scab like YOU possibly know about my father--?" "I know that according to tales, he never stopped by to visit your mother aside to get her with yet another little brat to care for, and he also never once stopped by to visit you," Mishosha said, not even looking at him as he examined the hair. Charmian fought down a grimace, the pang she felt was so sharp. She couldn't even imagine how the comment must have stung Manabozho, so she hurled thought after reassuring thought at him, insisting that this wasn't true and expounding on what an ass Mishosha was, not sure which approach might help most. Manabozho's own expression was aghast; he blinked a few times, and she saw his eyes grow glassy, and so stepped forward again out of pure anger. "You mean you're actually going to coerce him into showing up? That's what you meant all along--when you showed us your power over Shawondassee!* What makes you think this is going to help us any?" Mishosha shrugged. "You have any other ideas?" The corner of his mouth twisted when she said nothing. "Want to ask that Lynx to sniff him out, or those Thunderbirds to drop rocks on his head, maybe?" There's GOT to be a better way, Charmian thought, gnawing on her lip. But no ideas came. She sensed movement and Manabozho appeared at her side. "You try your stupid method," he said with a scowl of his own, surprising her. "But only after I've done my part. And the only reason I'm letting you do even that is because she brought you along." He crossed his arms. "She doesn't always think these things through so it's best to just humor her sometimes so she doesn't throw a fit." The blood drained from Charmian's face. Mishosha raised an eyebrow and she felt everyone staring at her all of a sudden, their eyes wide. For some weird reason though, no words came to her throat, not even a scream or a growl; Manabozho's comment about trying first had startled any such protests out of her. He peered at her uncertainly, as if suspicious about her silence, but Mishosha shrugged again and tucked his hands, and the hair, into his sleeves. "Very well. I suppose a few more moments wasted won't matter much, though you--" here he nodded at Niskigwun "--might want to watch your back."* Niskigwun flushed and contributed a scowl of his own. Manabozho hesitated a second or two more before stalking across the open space and out one of the exits. The others slowly trailed after, though Charmian made a point of jostling Mishosha out of the way so she could be first; she didn't like the thought of him following too closely after anyone. He gave her a mild look which plainly indicated he thought she was an idiot, but she said nothing. Manabozho! You have something in mind? Not really, he thought back, casting her a grimace, but the thought that THIS speck of dirt might convince him to show himself while I can't--unthinkable! Charmian bit her lip but didn't reply. They walked along the tunnel for a while before Manabozho slowed his step and finally stopped, tilting his head back a bit. After a moment or two he looked left, then right. "You're sensing him out, right?" Charmian said. "Of course!" Manabozho said aloud; then, in her head, I can't sense him!! He's hiding himself even from me--? Charmian blinked. Keep sensing!! she urged, then turned and just about ran into Mishosha. "EXCUSE me, have to do something!" she snapped so that he stepped aside and she hastened back among the others. She had to nudge her way through them a bit before locating Little Wind and grabbing his arm so hard that he nearly jerked himself loose. "Fireball!" she hissed. Little Wind blinked this time, then pointed upward. There it was, nestled in a small crevice in the tunnel ceiling; it must have returned to him after the Thunderbirds had blasted their way into the mountain.* Charmian jerked her hand at it and it floated down and discreetly nestled into her backpack when she turned and headed toward the front of the group again. She reached Manabozho and exclaimed, "Jeez, I know you can find him, so stop dawdling and acting all dramatic about it already!" Manabozho bristled, then fell still when he saw the awful look she gave him. "Well you don't have to be so pushy!" he retorted. "These things take time, you know! It's not like I can just up and walk in on him. There's a process involved--" He cut off coughing when she elbowed him. "Now I know where you get it from," she growled, glaring back at Peepaukawiss. "You guys are more alike than you think!" "HEY!" Puka shouted, waving his arms. "I'll have you know that if it were me, I'd be throwing a huge DANCE right now--!" "This way," Manabozho said, starting to walk again; when Charmian turned she saw that he held one hand in a fist and a bit of light was peeking through his fingers. She patted at her pack, hoping that he hadn't filched anything else. "So my magnificent manitou senses tell me!" "Most pathetic trick ever," Mishosha whispered behind Charmian's back as they resumed walking. She gave him the finger, which just made him frown in puzzlement, so the joy of it was lost. "I'm sensing something great ahead," Manabozho said, his voice subdued now; she peered up to see the strange look in his eyes, and noticed how he hesitated, his pace slowing again. Well, I can't blame him. He's never even met his own father before. And based on every single thing he's said about him, he never had any desire to, though now I wonder about that... What would I say if it were me...? "Well, come on," she said, nudging him. "This is your big chance to tell him what a great manitou you are and how you did just fine without him and all." She saw his ears go red--but he didn't protest. He clenched his fists, then gasped and loosened the one that was glowing a little. "If it weren't for this whole flood thing," he groused, "I'd be perfectly fine just hitting him upside the head! But there are more important things at stake than my pride." And he stood up straight and strode onward where the tunnel seemed to broaden out just ahead. They entered a large crevasse in the mountain. It was as well lit as the earlier cave had been, but just as barren--even more so, without a fur lying upon the floor. Charmian frowned in disappointment, but Manabozho's reaction--and that of several of the others--was something else entirely. He took in a sharp breath and straightened again, feathers flicking like the ears of a rabbit. "Un...unbelievable!" "Oooooooooh goodness!!" Puka cried, clasping his hands and jamming them to his mouth. "Wow," Marten said, craning his neck to look all around. "And I thought Glooskap's place was neat!" "Most impressive indeed!" Kenu added. Charmian's brow furrowed. She peered back over her shoulder and was relieved that most of the faces that she saw were just as confused as her own. Lieutenant Barrington scratched at his head. "Have they all gone daft or is this yet another of those stupid things I should be seeing...?" "Well, I'm not seeing it either," Charmian admitted, hating to be in his company. She looked to Mani. "I take it you can see it, too?" Mani whistled. Obvious West Wind One* lives here. Red Land One can't see? She looked at Niskigwun next. He pointed at the ceiling. "It's entirely lit with flame," he described, "and the floor shines exactly the same--it looks as if it should be burning our feet, yet it isn't. There are all sorts of niches cut into the walls and they all contain various stones. I'm sensing some sort of medicine...similar to that in the Sky Tree. It makes me wonder if perhaps this is some sort of hub room." "So apparently only nonhumans can see it," Charmian said. Augwak coughed. "I BEG to differ! Whatever weird tobacco these idiots have been smoking, I haven't been smoking it myself!" "So...apparently only some nonhumans can see it," Charmian amended her statement, casting him a dirty look. "Manitous and their kin. GeeBees aren't manitous, so that explains it. You think maybe Kabeyun can travel to different places from here? Like the cabochon room in the Sky Tree?" "Perhaps. I suppose it makes sense, though why a Wind would need such a method, I haven't a clue. Even Grandmother Geezhigo-Quae rarely uses her doorways as she has little use of them herself." "Should we see where they lead to--?" Singing Cedars asked, and at that Winter Born and Remy hurried into the room, poking their hands blindly at the walls, hoping to find the invisible niches. Charmian hurried in after them and pulled them back. "Not unless it helps us out somehow," she said. "If we use one and it takes us somewhere else, we have no idea WHERE we might end up or how to get back! We find Kabeyun first. The stones'll have to wait." The two children aww'ed* in protest but let themselves be led back from the wall. Charmian glanced at Manabozho, who stared at her stupidly for a moment before coughing and squeezing his fist a little. There was a pause, then he got a very peeved look and squeezed again, then hissed and shook his hand so that the fireball flew loose and went zooming up toward the ceiling, flashing angrily. Charmian felt her face grow hot when Mishosha crossed his arms and gave a sigh as if he'd been wondering when this moment would come. "Hey, not like YOU'D never try some stupid tricks!" she muttered at him. "I have no need to try any stupid tricks," the wabano replied just as sourly. "So are you ever going to quit hemming and hawing, or should I make use of this hair now...?" "Manabozho--?" Charmian turned to look at him. Manabozho clenched his fists freely now and glared up at the fireball. "I asked it to tell me where he is! It told me he came this way--that it saw him! So why isn't he here, and how come it won't tell me where he is?" "Stop harassing him!" Little Wind pushed his way forward and held out his hands; the fireball floated down into them and he cupped it, glaring at Manabozho. "He told you where the West Wind went, and it was right here. If he won't tell you anything else, then either he doesn't know, or you're just being rude." Manabozho threw up his arms and opened his mouth wide to bellow. "Well--isn't it obvious?" Barrington interrupted, pointing at the wall. "That he must've just bailed out through one of those niche-thingies?" He rolled his eyes when they looked at him. "Not that I can see any, but after everything else I've been through invisible holes in the wall are the least of it all..." "But why would he use one of them if he's a manitou and doesn't need them?" Charmian asked, confused. "Easy," Mishosha said. "To get away from us. It's obvious that no matter who shows up and asks or demands an audience, he's not going to answer. Not even for this ignorant whelp." He shrugged at Manabozho, who glowered at him malevolently. "So reluctant that he'd rather slip out like a coward than face us. Frankly, I think this is a huge waste of time, if you think he's actually going to help you and that Island; it seems he's lost his spine since the last time." He gestured at the wall. "So what would you rather do--try out all those invisible niches to figure out where he went, and probably end up lost somewhere far away from here...or use the easy way?" He held up the hair and gave an ingratiating smile which just made Charmian want to shudder. If there's anything I've learned it's that the EASY way usually ends up being the HARDEST! the logical part of Charmian's mind protested, but then the more irrational part added, But we've already tried everything else...and we're running out of time...and if it really is the quickest way, then there's no other choice, is there...? The logical part of her mind had no answer, for there was logic in this too. Everyone was staring at her. She gnawed on her lip a little, glanced at Moon Wolf, but he offered her no suggestions. At last she made up her mind, though it was difficult, and she still hesitated when she spoke. "We have to balance things out...we've already asked kindly and everything. Megissogwun said he wanted Kabeyun. If he's not going to come out willingly..." She trailed off, then said, "It's for the Island," as if trying to justify it to herself. A long silence. She'd expected somebody to start protesting, but nobody did. After a moment or two Mishosha snorted. "About time, though by now, I doubt anything will be much to save that pathetic Island of yours." He dug in one of his pouches and pulled out a wooden figurine--the sight of it made Charmian shiver, remembering just how dangerous it could be--then wrapped the single hair around its neck. He put something in the little hollow in its chest--Charmian wasn't sure what--then blew on it, and waited. Everyone else waited as well, though nothing happened. Mishosha tilted his head as if listening for something, and Charmian followed suit, but she couldn't hear anything, either. She gave it another moment, then opened her mouth to speak. Then shut it. Something...did seem different, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She could tell the others felt it as well, though most of them just peered about uncertainly. The reactions of the nonhumans among them was something else. X'aaru bristled and edged back until he disappeared from sight in the tunnel; Mani bristled as well but remained, while Marten puffed up and then leapt into Peepaukawiss's arms. Puka, for his part, looked ceilingward with wide eyes, his mouth hanging open. What's going on? Charmian thought at Moon Wolf. There's some sort of power nearby, he replied, looking upward as well, though there was nothing to see but rock. Immense power. Surely you feel it? Or see it, even? Charmian blinked. That's right. She could still see the glows hovering around the others who had power, so she started looking around the cave. Nothing looked any different. "He's not in here," she said, then glared at Mishosha. "Some doll! I thought you had a way to bring him to us. Well, do it already." The wabano turned his head a little and gave her an odd look halfway between irritated and perplexed. "Sounds like you've been spending too much time in my lovely company, little girl, to be talking like that. In any case, he's coming. I can bring a manitou here, but I can't exactly make him pick up his pace." She tried to think of something insulting to say, but instead gasped and let out a little shriek, jumping back and colliding with the others. Manabozho whirled to gape at her, but she saw him only for an instant before she had to shut her eyes, rubbing at them furiously. "Holy cripes what did you just do?!" "What--?" She heard Manabozho's voice, sounding confused; then he spoke again, right next to her, making her gasp and jump again. "What is it? You see something?" "You don't?" Charmian blurted out. "After wowing at the weird glowing ceiling and holes in the walls and everything--you mean you can't see that--?" She opened one eye a sliver and gestured at the center of the cave. "I can barely look at it!!" "What?" Manabozho cried again in frustration, and with a start she realized that he couldn't see it. Shielding her eyes, she pushed herself to her feet, assisted by someone else, and squinted to the side so she didn't directly face it. Manabozho was casting about* from side to side futilely, and his eyes were wide open. A squint at the others showed her that it was the same with them. Winter Born furrowed her brow. "Charmian? You see something?" Her eyes grew and Charmian wondered that they didn't burn up and fall out as two little cinders. "Medicine! I remember when you saw my medicine and you said it looked like the northern lights*! Do you see the northern lights* now--?" "No--" Charmian had to shut her eyes and scrub at them again, sensing the others all staring at her. "More like a nuclear explosion!" "So, what does that mean--?" Barrington's voice asked; she was about to try to explain nuclear warfare to him, when Mishosha answered instead, and she realized that wasn't what he'd been asking about at all. "It means he's here." |