The Necropolis

by PJ Hoover

  Gary nodded. “Yes. I can see that. But I can also see them down there on the bottom.”

  “You can?” Iva asked. “Through the water?”

  “It’s not as deep as it looks,” Gary said.

  “So we found them.” Andy looked at Benjamin. “What now?”

  Benjamin shrugged. “I have no idea. Gary?”

  But Gary was already heading away from the side of the crater, moving over to a large, flat rock which had been smoothed like a patio.

  “Look at this.” Gary pointed to the rock.

  “More of those Bongo Rongo pictures,” Andy said.

  Even Gary laughed. “It’s Rongorongo.” He bent down to run his hand over the symbols carved into the rock.

  “Can you read it?” Heidi asked.

  She stood right next to Benjamin, and he felt her excitement through the Alliance bond. He shook his head; he had to stop thinking about her. Even with his mind block in place, something was bound to get out.

  Gary squinted his eyes. “Of course. Just give me a few minutes to translate it.”

  Nobody dared even cough while Gary translated—except for Jack who whistled and jumped and teleported around. Benjamin knew the Nogical was trying to get under Gary’s skin—just for fun. But Gary was in the zone, and even Jack’s ridiculous antics bounced right off him. And so Jack gave up after a few minutes, settling on Benjamin’s shoulder.

  Finally, Gary turned around to face them. “I’ve got it, though it doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Let’s hear it,” Benjamin said. “We can all figure it out.”

  “Okay,” Gary said. “Here goes:

  Join us here and hear our wrath.

  With it will you know your path.”

  He stopped talking.

  “That’s it?” Andy asked. “That’s all it says.” He shook his head in disgust. “What is up with all these short, cryptic riddles? Doesn’t Sherry the Scary have anything better to do with her time?”

  “Apparently not.” Gary sat down on the patio.

  “It’s not Sherry the Scary,” Benjamin put in, though he wasn’t sure why he bothered.

  “So what does it mean?” Heidi asked. “What do we do?”

  “Maybe we have to dive down to the bottom of the crater lake and ‘join’ the statues there,” Iva suggested.

  “That water’s freezing,” Andy said. “No way am I going for a swim.”

  “But if we’re supposed to go in the water, then why is the message way over here?” Benjamin shook his head. “I don’t think that’s right.”

  “Of course it’s not right,” Jack said. “Look around you.”

  They all looked around. Benjamin saw grass, and rock, and Moai—some standing and some fallen.

  “Yeah, so what about it?” Andy said.

  “What do you see around you?” Jack asked.

  “Not any trees,” Gary laughed. “The people wiped them out.”

  “I see rocks and Moai,” Heidi said.

  “Right,” Jack said. “And what are those Moai doing—or supposed to be doing?”

  Benjamin looked out at the Moai, standing like they were guarding the island. It reminded him vaguely of The Crags where the eagle lizards had been sculpted and placed to guard Lemuria. It was the same with the Moai.

  “The Moai are meant to stand and guard Easter Island,” Benjamin said.

  “Exactly,” Jack said. “I knew you’d get it out of your thick skull.”

  “So why are they at the bottom of the lake?” Heidi asked.

  “Because nobody’s stood them up yet,” Benjamin answered before Jack could speak. “We need to get them up here and stand them up on this patio. That’s what we need to do.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Jack said. “And with me doing the bulk of the work, all three will be up here in no time.” He turned. “Gary and Heidi can supervise.”

  Heidi scowled. “What? You don’t think I’m good enough to help lift the Moai?”

  Jack cocked his head. “That pretty much sums it up.”

  “I’ve been working hard at telekinesis,” Heidi said. Her red ringlets turned jet black. “In fact, just a month—”

  “Listen,” Benjamin said. He’d had enough. They needed to get on with solving the clue and get back to Lemuria. “Just save your energy in case we need some telepathy stuff done or something.”

  She clenched her teeth together and walked over to join Gary. Benjamin, Andy, Iva, and Jack headed to the side of the water.

  “We should all do this together,” Andy said. But then he must have realized what he said. “Not that I couldn’t lift them myself. It’s just that we need to save some energy to teleport after this.”

  “You don’t need to make excuses, Andy,” Iva said. “I’m sure you could lift all of them.”

  Was she trying not to smile?

  Even with four telegens (one of them genetically engineered) working, lifting the three Moai out of the water and settling them on the patio in just the right spots took two hours. Benjamin fell onto the grass in front of the patio when they finished.

  “How in the world did telegens move all the Moai to the edges of the island?” he asked.

  Iva sank to the ground beside him and looked around. “They were especially gifted in telekinesis,” she said. “I can feel it all around me. The residue of telegen minds is super strong—especially up here on top of the volcano. This may have been a holy place.”

  “So we’ve moved the statues,” Gary said, “but it hasn’t seemed to have made any difference.” Benjamin looked over to where Gary squatted at the base of the three giant Moai. He looked like an ant next to the things, easily squashed.

  Andy and Heidi walked over to join him. “And they’ve covered the original writing,” Heidi said.

  “Maybe there’s writing somewhere on the statues,” Andy suggested.

  Gary started walking around the Moai. “Nope. No writing,” he said, after making a complete circuit.

  Benjamin and Iva stood up and headed over. As tired as Benjamin was, he knew the sooner they figured out what the second clue meant, the sooner they’d be done here. And he had to be honest—teleporting back through the dome concerned him. He knew it made no sense, but it just seemed like the longer they were outside the protective shield, the harder it would be to get back in.

  Andy, Heidi, and Gary stood on the patio with Jack hovering overhead. But as soon as Benjamin and Iva entered the boundary of the patio and joined their friends, they fell to the ground. Benjamin covered his ears. The statues roared with rage. As they screamed, he realized they weren’t screaming at them, but at the long dead islanders. If they could have, the Moai would have shaken with the force of the anger they spewed out.

  “Who dared cast us into the depths of the water?”

  Benjamin could tell the voices were telepathic, but still kept his ears covered. He turned his head upward, looking at the largest of the Moai.

  It was Iva who answered. She’d stood up and moved closer to the Moai. Part of Benjamin wanted to reach out and drag her back, but he didn’t. He looked over and noticed Andy, already on his feet, moving closer. Benjamin motioned for Andy not to interrupt.

  “The message told us to bring you up from the bottom of the lake and set you here,” Iva said. She’d stopped covering her ears, and her voice sounded calm. That made at least one of them.

  “Look around, young telegen,” the Moai said. “It is too late. Our island is dead.”

  “That’s true,” Iva said. “But what difference does it make?”

  The Moai roared with rage. “What difference does it make?”

  Even Iva shrank back under the wrath.

  “If we had been placed earlier, we would have prevented this monstrosity,” the Moai bellowed. “Where are the trees? Where are the animals? Where are the people?”

  “Gone,” Iva said. “All gone. They didn’t realize their own power.”

  “Because you did not tell them of their power,” the Moai s
aid. “You stranded them on this island and erased their memories. What else were they to do? We were to be their only hope. And now it is too late.”

  Benjamin stood up and moved closer. “Look. We were led to this island and to the three of you, in fact, to find some kind of clue.”

  “A treasure hunt!” The Moai screamed with rage. “You brought us out to see this catastrophe for a treasure hunt?”

  Apparently, the Moai didn’t like that bit of information. But it didn’t matter. It was the reason they’d come, and they needed to find out what the second clue meant.

  “Right,” Benjamin said. “That’s pretty much why we raised you from the water. You’re supposed to have something for us.”

  All three Moai laughed. Benjamin covered his ears and tried to block his mind from the mocking sound.

  “It’s not funny,” he shouted. He had to stand up to them. He didn’t think they could kill him like the Crags ghost had almost done. Or then again, maybe they could. “Give me what I came for.”

  “You demand something of us, little telegen?” the large Moai said. And it roared with laughter before continuing. “I know what you speak of. Visit us again in two weeks time, and you’ll get what you deserve.”

  “Give it to me now,” Benjamin demanded. He’d had enough of this waiting. Enough riddles. Couldn’t anyone give him a straight answer? Even a stupid stone statue?

  “Two weeks,” the Moai said. “Visit us in two weeks.”

  Benjamin fell to the ground and felt the overwhelming presence of the beings that were the Moai depart. He looked up. The statues remained, but aside from their solid rock forms, there was only emptiness.

  Andy rushed over to Iva. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She stood up and brushed herself off.

  “Those guys were livid,” Heidi said, walking over to Benjamin.

  He got to his feet. “That’s putting it mildly. What were they?”

  “I couldn’t read their minds,” Heidi said. “I don’t think they were telegens or even ghosts for that matter.”

  “They were filled with pure energy—more powerful than I’ve ever seen on Earth.” Jack levitated over to Benjamin. “That degree of energy shouldn’t even be possible.”

  “Two weeks.” Benjamin punched his fist into his hand. “Did you hear him?”

  Heidi nodded. “That’s okay. We’ll just come back.” She looked up and glared at the Moai, but their gaze didn’t shift. Not that Benjamin thought they would. Even after what they’d just experienced, he still knew the Moai were made of stone.

  They moved down the volcano, away from the Moai, to teleport. Benjamin didn’t trust the Moai, and nobody argued with him. Iva teleported first. But no sooner had she disappeared that she reappeared in the same spot.

  “What happened?” Andy asked.

  She shook her head. “I couldn’t get through.”

  “I knew it.” Gary threw up his arms. “I knew we’d have trouble.”

  “Settle down, Gary,” Andy said. “Just because Iva had trouble doesn’t mean we’re all going to.”

  Iva glared at Andy, and Benjamin shook his head inwardly. Even after they’d been dating for over a year, Andy still made the stupidest comments.

  “I didn’t mean anything against your teleportation ability,” Andy said, trying to cover up his remark.

  “Whatever,” Iva said. “Let’s see you try.”

  “Fine,” Andy said. And he attempted to teleport himself and Gary. But just like Iva, Andy and Gary returned seconds later.

  “Somebody messed with the shield,” Andy said even as his face turned five shades of red.

  Iva crossed her arms. “That’s what I tried to tell you.”

  Benjamin tried next with Heidi, and Jack even tried, but nobody had any success.

  “So what now?” Gary asked. “I knew we shouldn’t have come here.”

  “Now’s not the time for ‘should haves’, Gary,” Benjamin said. “Besides, I think it’s pretty obvious that we had to come here.” He sighed. “And we have to come back in two weeks.”

  Gary shook his head. “No, you have to come back. If we ever get back through the shield, I’m not leaving again.”

  “Hey!”

  Benjamin heard Aurora’s voice in his head, but it was Gary who replied.

  “Aurora!” Gary said. “Where are you when we need you?”

  “Need me?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”

  “We’re stuck out here,” Gary said. “Just like I knew we’d be.”

  “Would you just stop already on that?” Andy said. “I’m sick of hearing how you knew everything.”

  “It’s true,” Gary said. “I was against this in the first place.”

  Benjamin had to grab Andy to keep him from going after Gary. Not that Benjamin thought Andy would’ve really punched Gary or anything. Actually, he wasn’t sure what Andy would’ve done. He just knew he didn’t want to find out.

  “Look,” Benjamin said to Aurora. “We all tried, but we can’t seem to get back through the dome.”

  Aurora laughed. “Oh, really?”

  “It’s not funny,” Gary said.

  But Aurora kept laughing. “It’s no problem to get back in,” she said. “If you know where to teleport.”

  “Where?” Benjamin asked.

  “Teleport to the lava tube leading to my house,” she said.

  Aurora was good for her word. Iva went first and didn’t return. Jack went next, followed by Andy and Gary, leaving just Benjamin and Heidi.

  Benjamin couldn’t help but stare at Heidi’s black ringlets. “Sure you don’t want to try yourself?”

  She took his hand. “Maybe next time.”

  Benjamin smiled though inside, his stomach had tied itself in knots. But now wasn’t the time to mess up teleportation. He’d better focus. Getting Heidi stranded would probably turn her mood around pretty fast. And so without another word, he pictured the lava tube in his mind and teleported them away.

  CHAPTER 12

  Benjamin Gets an Illegal Gift

  Two weeks. It may as well be two months. How could time go by so slowly? Benjamin had gotten so preoccupied checking the time on his heads-up display that he’d finally disabled the clock. And then he had trouble sleeping because all he did was wonder what time it was. And then, as if things weren’t weird enough, Magic Pan called him out of the blue and told him to meet him at The Silver Touch—alone. Magic had given zero information, but Benjamin was curious enough not to say no. If anything, maybe he could get the menus working.

  Benjamin walked down Mu Way shivering. It was freezing. Sure, he knew it was the simulated environment mimicking the weather above the dome, but seriously, why did they have to make it dip below sixty degrees? He made a mental note to talk to Helios about it the next time he saw him—whenever that might be.

  “I thought you said the door was locked,” Walker Pan said to Morpheus when Benjamin walked through the door to The Silver Touch.

  Benjamin stared at Morpheus Midas, Walker, and Magic Pan, all huddled around a counter near the back of the store.

  “I told him to meet us here, Dad,” Magic said. “Weren’t you listening?”

  “It must’ve slipped my mind,” Morpheus said. He waved his hand in front of a control pad, and Benjamin heard the door lock behind him. Great. He was locked inside an oddities shop with the store owner and two fugitives. Okay, not quite. Magic Pan technically was still a student, even if Benjamin did suspect him of sabotaging the entire continent’s teleporters.

  “Did you come alone like I asked?” Magic said.

  “Or did you bring that Gary Goodweather with you?” Walker said with a look that would have chilled liquid nitrogen.

  “Are you still upset about being a loser?” Benjamin asked, managing to come out of his frozen shock with just enough wit to deliver the jab. After all, Gary beating the snot out of Walker Pan in chess last summer should be worth something.

  “Upset?” Walker said.
“Hardly. If I hadn’t gone so light on him, I certainly would’ve won.”

  “With the Ammolite chess set at risk?” Benjamin laughed. “There was nothing light about your match. Except maybe your abilities.”

  “Can you talk about something besides chess, Dad?” Magic asked. “It gets so tedious.”

  “Yeah,” Benjamin said. “Like maybe what’s going on here.”

  Magic laughed, and Morpheus stared at him as though he’d lost his mind.

  “Like you don’t know,” Magic said. He turned to his dad. “He’s already figured it out.”

  “He did?” Walker asked.

  Could the doubt be any clearer in Walker’s mind? Was it really so hard to believe that Benjamin might be smart enough to realize Walker and Magic were not on the level?

  “Totally,” Magic said.

  “What exactly has Benjamin figured out?” Morpheus asked.

  “I’ve figured out that these two are responsible for bringing down all the teleporters on Lemuria and also for the teleporter re-entry problems,” Benjamin said.

  “You are?” Morpheus’ mouth fell open.

  Walker gestured with his head as if to say “of course we are”.

  “But how?” Morpheus asked. “I mean, how could the two of you cause all those problems?”

  Walker chuckled. “Child’s play, really. We used the teleportation scrambler we got here over the summer, and it worked like a charm.”

  Morpheus shook his head. “I never sold you a teleportation scrambler.”

  “No, you didn’t,” Walker said. “But your ancestor did one thousand years ago.”

  Before Morpheus could ask another question, Magic turned to Benjamin. “So the reason I called you. I need to give you something.” Magic put a small rectangle in Benjamin’s hand.

  “What is it?” It was only about the size of his thumb; he didn’t have the slightest idea what it might do.

  “It’s a teleportation surger,” Magic said. “It should let you get around the current teleportation problems.”

  Benjamin stared down at it. “Why are you giving this to me?”

  “Good question,” Morpheus said. “Didn’t you just buy that for yourself?”