by Tom Hoffman
“Look at those weird panels on the wall with all the controls. Most of it’s covered with barnacles and algae and seaweed. Those look like pictures, but it’s hard to tell.” Orville stepped over to the wall, a broad beam of orange light flashing out from his paw. The slimy green algae and seaweed vanished beneath the orange light, revealing a colorful image beneath.
“Rabbits! Tall rabbits carrying luggage. You were right, this must have been built by the Elders.”
Sophia called out, “We need to keep moving. This is interesting, but I don’t want to be here when the tide comes in.”
“Through that exit into the big corridor.”
The three adventurers hurried down the long hallway, coming to a halt in front of a pair of tall narrow yellow doors. Orville pushed them open. “Another room filled with chairs. This room is in better shape than the first one.”
Twenty minutes later they stepped into an enormous circular rotunda. The walls were covered with images of smiling rabbits carrying suitcases and backpacks, pointing at a variety of spectacular scenic attractions.
“It’s just like the train station in Muridaan Falls with all the travel posters.”
Sophia pointed to the center of the room. “I think we found our gateway to Tectar.”
Orville studied the thirty foot tall wavering translucent disk, stepping around the periphery of the room until he faced it directly. “It looks like a big flat circle of water, like the spectral doorway in Mount Ianua, except this one is green instead of orange. This has to be what Haukesworth Mouse was talking about, he just didn’t know they were called spectral doorways. This one must lead to Tectar.”
“Look above the door.”
Orville turned, eyeing a beautifully rendered mural portraying four smiling rabbits. The adult rabbits were carrying suitcases, the two bunnies pointing at a structure in the distance. Orville gulped. The bunnies were pointing at the silhouette of a dark castle. “It looks almost like Castle Caligari. This has to be it, if we step through this gateway we’ll be on Tectar.” He didn’t mention he had no idea how they would get home again.
Sophia insides turned to ice when she heard the dull roaring sound. “Water! Seawater coming down the corridor! It’s too soon!”
Orville let out a wild shriek. “Through the spectral door! Hurry!”
The three adventurers dashed toward the tall shimmering green disc. “Everyone hold paws!” Orville turned to see tons of foaming seawater pounding into the room just as they leapt through the shimmering disc into Tectar.
Chapter 15
The Farmhouse
Orville had never experienced a world of such beauty and clarity. The skies were a brilliant azure blue, dotted with soft puffy clouds, the trees tall, green, and majestic, the ground carpeted with soft verdant grass flowing like water in a warm luxurious breeze. Great swaths of vibrant orange, gold, pink, and violet wildflowers painted the landscape.
“Creekers, this is like a dream, how could anything be so beautiful?”
Sophia nodded, soaking in the magnificent vista. “The fragrance from the wildflowers is heavenly.”
Proto surveyed their surroundings. “There’s a small yellow house poking up from behind a stone wall on the other side of the woods. Perhaps we should investigate, I’m curious to discover what the local inhabitants look like.”
“They live in houses, that much we know.”
“We should probably find out exactly what’s living there before we go barging in. Haukesworth never actually described the inhabitants of Tectar. I hope it’s not those weird blue creatures with the four arms you saw on the sailing ship.”
The adventurers kept low, creeping silently through the trees and tall grass toward the stone wall.
Orville whispered, “Whoa, the wall is a lot taller than I thought. I’m going to climb up and take a peek.”
Paw over paw, Orville silently scaled the wall, peering over the top. “It’s a farm, probably about twenty acres.” The wall itself was an imposing bit of architecture, fifteen feet tall and four feet thick, completely encircling the farm. “This wall must be a mile long. I wonder why it’s so big?” He eyed the rustic yellow farmhouse, watching for any sign of movement. His patience was rewarded several minutes later.
“Rabbits! Rabbits live here. Their fur is green though, and their ears are really short.” Orville had spotted two giggling young bunnies running around the side of the house chasing a fat waddling bird. The taller of the two bunnies caught the bird, picked it up and gave it a hug, then set it down, watching as it scurried off into the fields. What happened next was not what Orville was expecting. The rabbits turned slowly until they were looking directly at him.
“They saw me! How could they spot me from so far away?” Orville ducked down behind the wall.
A thought popped into his head. “We saw your thought clouds. Don’t worry, you and your two friends will be safe inside the wall.”
Orville poked his head back up. One of the bunnies waved at him. They could read thought clouds? They’d be safe inside the wall? Safe from what? The taller bunny pointed toward the main gate, motioning for Orville to head in that direction. He climbed back down the wall, running over to Sophia and Proto.
“You’re not going to believe this. Green rabbits live here, and they read thought clouds. They said we should go to the front gate, that we’d be safe inside the wall.”
“Safe from what?”
“I don’t know, but they seem friendly. I have a feeling we should do what they say.”
“Maybe they can point us toward Castle Caligari. I’m certain we can handle whatever creatures they’re afraid of. This appears to be a simple world, with very limited technology. It’s also incredibly beautiful.” Sophia gazed across the glorious rolling forests and hills. “Sometimes I think we’d be better off without all our technology.”
Orville was also studying the landscape, looking for whatever it was they would be safe from inside the huge stone wall. “We should go, we don’t want to keep them waiting.”
“Is Orville Wellington Mouse getting nervous?”
Orville frowned. “I’m not scared, I’m just being cautious. Whatever they’re afraid of must be huge if they need a fifteen foot wall to keep it out. I know everything looks lovely, but something monstrous could pop out of nowhere.”
Proto’s ears perked up at the word ‘monstrous’. “I certainly hope it will be scarier than that big clunky crab on the Isle of the Serpent.”
Orville couldn’t think of an appropriate response. He headed down the narrow path, soon standing beneath a massive spreading shade tree next to the stout iron gate. He noticed the tree had inch long thorns on the branches. Maybe this was the kind of tree found in the Forest of Thorns. He shrugged. Not so scary after all. Orville eyed the gate’s two inch thick metal bars. “Creekers, this could stop a herd of charging Nadwokks.”
The two young rabbits darted out from behind a small shed and ran to the gate. Together they lifted the heavy latch and the great iron door squealed open.
Sophia smiled brightly at them. “Aren’t you two just the cutest little bunnies ever! You probably have no idea what I’m saying, do you?”
A thought cloud flashed out from the taller bunny. Sophia drew the thought cloud to her, hearing the rabbit’s voice in her mind. “Your mind will convert our thoughts to whatever language you speak. Just use thought clouds, there’s no need to talk.”
Sophia nodded, turning to Orville. “You’re right, they communicate with thought clouds. I’m not even sure they have a spoken language.”
Orville smiled at the two young rabbits, watching as they pushed the great iron gate closed, fastening it securely with the heavy latch. Orville sent out a cloud. “You said we would be safe here. Safe from what?”
The two bunnies looked at each other, a flurry of thought clouds flashing back and forth between them. The taller one sent a cloud to Orville. “Please come and meet our parents. They have invited you to share a meal wi
th us. We don’t often have guests and they welcome your company.” The two bunnies ran off toward the farmhouse.
Orville turned to Proto and Sophia. “We just received a dinner invitation, their parents would like to meet us. They seem nice enough, but wouldn’t tell me what the wall is for.”
The bunnies held open the front door as the adventurers stepped inside. Orville scanned the interior of the home. It was clean and simple, sparsely furnished with handcrafted wooden chairs and tables. He noted a number of cute little paintings on the wall, clearly the work of the young bunnies. A lovely dark green rabbit wearing a white apron stepped out from the next room. She smiled at each of them, giving them warm hugs. Their gracious host showed no apprehension toward Proto.
Thought clouds flashed out to Orville and Sophia. “You are welcome guests in our home. Dinner is almost ready. I know your Rabbiton friend does not eat food or read clouds, but he is more than welcome to join us at the dinner table if he wishes. I am Gemma, wife of Aelric, our two bunnies are Edric and Elgar. Aelric will be in shortly. He has been working in the fields. We grow all our own food inside the wall. All the plants we grow are quite gentle.”
Orville and Sophia both had the same thought. Gentle plants? Orville remembered Master Marloh telling him it could take years to understand the thought processes and culture of otherworldly inhabitants, given the infinite variety of beliefs they held. Whatever Gemma meant, dinner smelled delicious and Orville was starving. He sent a cloud to Gemma. “How do you know about Rabbitons? Have you seen one before?”
“Only in a book. Aelric bartered with a traveling merchant years ago for a book titled The Dark Anarkkian Night, a historical record of the great Anarkkian wars. There are many photographs of Rabbitons to be found within its pages.”
Proto was pleased to join them at the dinner table. Soon after they were seated a weary Aelric Rabbit stepped through the back door. He sent out a thought cloud. “Gemma said we had guests. Our closest neighbors live a good distance away, so guests are a welcome respite. I am Aelric, and you may stay with us as long as you wish.”
Sophia smiled. “Thank you for your kind offer, Aelric. As you may have guessed, we have traveled far and are quite unfamiliar with this area. You have the most darling little bunnies. You must be very proud of them.”
Gemma laughed. “They are a pawful, I will say that, but they are the love of my life. Along with my dear Aelric, of course.”
Orville sent out a thought cloud. “This soup is delicious. Gemma mentioned you grow all your own vegetables. She said the plants are quite gentle?” Orville was still curious about Gemma’s odd description of their crops.
Aelric nodded. “Quite gentle indeed. They are serene, content with their lot in life, much as we are.”
“The plants are content?”
“Quite so. There is no need for worry.”
Orville smiled pleasantly, glancing over at Sophia, her expression unreadable. Orville knew she couldn’t send him a thought cloud without the others seeing it. He wondered what Aelric meant by ‘no need for worry’.
A thought cloud floated out from Sophia. “Perhaps you might be able to help us. It was our good fortune to find your lovely farm, but our true destination is called Castle Caligari. I’m afraid we have no idea where it is.”
Gemma’s thought cloud was gray. “Why would you wish to visit such a place as that?”
Orville sensed Gemma’s unease. “We are searching for a lost member of our village, and that was the last place he was seen. We don’t really know anything at all about the castle.”
Aelric took Gemma’s paw. “Most admirable, but you should not travel to the far side of the mountains, to Castle Caligari. It is a dark abomination filled with malevolent creatures who worship the Beast of Castle Caligari.” He leaned toward Orville and Sophia, sending a small blood red thought cloud to them. “Its name is Mendacium and it wields the darkest of magic. The Beast is the source of a thousand grisly and gruesome tales.”
A thought cloud popped out from Elgar, the younger of the two bunnies. His eyes were wide. “What kind of gruesome tales, Papa? Are there ghosts there? Do they eat rabbits?”
“Such tales are not meant for young ears.”
Orville’s heart was pounding. The Beast? Dark magic? This was far worse than he’d imagined.
Sophia said, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up such a dreadful topic. We’re simply trying to locate a missing friend. It’s very important that we find him.”
Aelric sighed. “Your thoughts tell me you will not be swayed, despite my efforts to warn you away from that dark place. I have never traveled to the other side of the mountains, but I do know the way. It is an arduous, perilous journey, I cannot stress that enough. You must head east for three days until you reach the Forest of Thorns. There are tales told of rabbits passing through the forest, but I have never met one who did. You could circumvent the forest, but such a detour would add many long months to your journey. If you find your way through the Forest of Thorns, you will have reached the Obex Range, its jagged peaks rising over seven thousand feet. You will need heavy winter clothing and sturdy climbing gear to traverse the range, the weather being brutally cold, the terrain harsh and demanding. I have heard tales of full grown rabbits being swept away by the monstrous winds at the upper altitudes. When you reach the far side of the range, follow the great winding river for three days and you will come upon Castle Caligari. Take great care, trust no one, trade clouds with no one, keep hidden at all times. The creatures there are not like us.”
Orville clamped his knees together, trying to keep them from shaking.
Sophia knew they could shape warm clothing and climbing gear, but said nothing. She had no idea if Aelric or Gemma knew what shaping was, and she didn’t want to frighten them, saying instead, “Thank you so much for your kindness. You have helped us more than you can know. Do you have any advice which might help us pass safely through the Forest of Thorns?”
Aelric glanced at the two mouselings. He thought for a moment, then sent a cloud. “There is a deep and simmering anger within the forest. It is not a safe place to be. Some have said you must sleep during the day and travel with all haste during the night, though none I know have passed through the forest.”
Proto noticed the slight frown on Sophia’s face. He whispered, “What is it? Is he talking about some kind of dreadful creature?” He did not sound the least bit worried.
Dinner conversation turned to more pleasant topics, including a number of humorous stories about the two young bunnies, Edric and Elgar. After helping to clear the table and wash the dishes, the adventurers retired for the night, Aelric and Gemma providing them with pillows and blankets. Orville had also decided it would be best to keep their shaping skills hidden. Not all mice were comfortable with such things, and he had no wish to frighten their gentle hosts.
Orville fell asleep in minutes, exhausted from the long journey, but was abruptly awakened in the middle of the night, his slumber disturbed by a curious sound floating across the night air. It was a peculiar noise, like something being dragged along the dirt road outside the wall, something very large. He peered out his window into the darkness, his gaze finding only formless shadows.
Orville’s nerves were tingling. Whatever was making the sound could be what the two bunnies had warned them about, the reason for the great wall surrounding the farm.
“I should look. Whatever it is, we should be aware of it so we can protect ourselves. I’ll just take a quick peek over the wall.” Orville pulled his clothes on and slipped out the open window, creeping silently across the yard toward the stone wall. The dragging, scuffling sound was louder now, directly outside the wall.
“So creepy, I can’t imagine what it is.” He silently scaled the stone barricade, gingerly feeling for footholds in the dark. When he peered over the top of the wall it was too dark to identify the source of the sound. He decided to send out an orb of light. It was risky, but hopefully everyone
in the farmhouse was sound asleep, as it would be hard to explain to Gemma and Aelric where the bright light had come from. With a flick of his wrist a brilliant light sphere shot out from his paw.
The scuffling sound stopped the instant he shaped the light. He looked up and down the dirt path running along the wall, searching for a great lumbering creature, but saw nothing. There was no movement, no sound, no creature. “It’s not possible. I couldn’t have been mistaken, there was something moving out here.” A powerful wave of dread rolled through him. There was only one logical explanation, Tectar was inhabited by gigantic invisible beasts.
Chapter 16
Proto’s Discovery
Sophia gave Gemma a warm hug. “Thank you so much for sharing your home and your food with us. You have been more than kind.”
Aelric shook Orville’s paw. “I wish you well on your journey. Take great care in the Forest of Thorns. I’m sure your Rabbiton will be of invaluable assistance to you. I have some feeling for these things.” Aelric studied the trio of adventurers. “I know there is much you have not revealed about your true purpose here, but I sense your motives are true, your intentions good, and that is all I need to know.”
Orville smiled. “You are a perceptive rabbit, and one who has made three new friends by your kindness and generosity. I hope we shall meet again. I do have one last question. I was awakened last night by a strange sound coming from outside the wall. Do you know what that might have been?”
“Just the wilderness, I suspect.”
Orville nodded, but still did not have the answer to his question.
Sophia hugged Edric and Elgar, secretly shaping small boxes of chocolate creams in their coat pockets. “It was lovely to meet you, you’re both so sweet.” She grinned at her little play on words.
Aelric wrestled open the ponderous iron gate and the three adventurers stepped through, leaving behind the comfort and security of the walled farm. Orville turned to give one final wave, but realized something was wrong, he felt off balance, just as he had when he noticed the errant shadows from Haukesworth’s hat.
