“Tee’ka,” yelled Egg. “We’re in here.”
The girl came in. “Serenity why are you up?”
“Tee, I’m almost fully recovered. How’s Jynx?”
The other girl looked down at her feet. “They can’t help her. No blood.”
Serenity began to sob, and everyone else teared up (including Ezra).
“Tee, what did K’ssss say?” asked Egg.
“Uh . . . something about a glass coffin. Sorry, I just couldn’t listen to it and I left.”
Before Serenity could respond to what sounded like a death sentence, Sylvia clapped her hands. “She is so darned smart.”
“What are you talking about?” demanded the girl in the wheelchair. “They’re making a coffin for her.”
“No they’re not. The glass coffin is actually a stasis chamber. It’s what kept Dazzle’s body intact for a thousand years. K’ssss is going to put Jynx in it. The chamber will keep her in her current state until they find a way to get more blood.”
“Or get Spirit to work her magic,” added Egg.
Serenity wanted to believe . . . but it sounded too good to be true. “Sylvia, are you just making this up?”
“Egg, get your diary and show her.”
*****
Knowing that Jynx was safe made the mood much brighter at dinner. Since the dragon and serpent couldn’t fit in the house, the others went to the hangar for the meal.
Except for a chair for Grammy, everyone else sat wherever they could – rugs on the floor, wooden boxes turned upside down, even a spare pilot’s seat that Ezra had lying around.
“Bl’azzz, dear, I’m told you fixed your burp and burn problem.”
“I did, Grammy. I have these pills called ‘burp-be gone.”
“No, no . . . you foolish, feathered flip-gibbet. They’re antacids,” corrected her friend.
“Oh yeah.” Everyone smiled at the comfortable tomfoolery.
“Hey, Egg. Why did you sing that verse to Bl’azzz? That seemed strange . . . even for you,” asked Tee’ka.
“It was our old friend the Myst Tree. He came to me in a dream and gave me one of his riddles. When necessity demands it, that which sings true will tend to your needs. Naturally, I had no idea what he meant until I heard Bl’azzz sing – and I use the word ‘sing’ loosely – that Fandango Sally song. So I sang the verse . . . without really thinking about it. It just kind of seemed right.”
“Hey, earthling, what did you mean by ‘loosely’? I’ve got a great singing voice,” teased the dragon.
It was Soo who answered. “Good grief. I didn’t want to tell you this but . . . when we were on Zynn-Zaz’zia, I had a chance to talk to Bl’udd. I had to know how he and Mobius handled our songs. He said they were awful beyond imagining. However . . . and these are his words, not mine . . . ‘tell that dragon she was the worst. I was actually embarrassed for her.”
“He did not, you liar.”
“From his lips to my ears, I swear.”
Serenity wanted to participate in the silly camaraderie . . . but her mind was still on Jynx. “Sorry to change the subject, but can someone tell me about this Area 51? Will it be a problem to rescue our sister?”
“Ezra, you’re the military guy. Have you ever been there?” asked Egg.
“As a matter of fact, I have. About fifteen years ago. Understand that I am sworn to secrecy . . . but I’m going to break that vow. I don’t do it lightly so I expect everyone here to respect the sensitive nature of the information I’m about to share. Understood?”
They did. Well, kind of. Actually, not really.
Ezra proceeded to tell them what he knew of the secret base. Only a few points seemed important . . . it was under constant surveillance against intruders, there were many soldiers all heavily armed and prepared to shoot and, assuming they actually had the escape pod, it was probably being housed in a place called Hangar Deep 6.
“Is there some significance to that name?” asked Serenity.
“It refers to the standard depth of a grave – six feet. To Deep 6 something is to bury it so it can’t be discovered by others. In this case, the building is like a fortress – impossible to get into and equally as impossible to get anything in there, out.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” observed Tee’ka.
“Ezra, did you ever go in?” asked Egg.
“No. Why?”
“If you had been, then I could give you my ring and you could teleport us inside.”
“Ohhh”. The man had never considered such a thing . . . and it intrigued him.
“What about the last pod?” asked Soo. “Any idea where that is?”
“Based on the other landing sites, I would have projected it to have come down somewhere around Australia or New Zealand. Those are two land masses in the southern hemisphere. But, I checked some weather maps and the jet stream was particularly strong that day.”
“What does that mean?” asked Bl’azzz.
“Not important . . . it’s just a weather phenomenon. But, if the pod entered this fast moving stream of air, it probably carried it a lot further west. My best calculation is Mt. Everest.”
“Which is what?” asked Tee’ka.
“The tallest mountain on Earth. The trouble for any pod is that it could easily have fallen down any number of cliff faces. And there are deep ice fissures that could trap it. This one could be a problem . . . for us and for whoever is inside.”
Everyone went silent as they considered Ezra’s words.
Sylvia finally spoke up. “Why don’t we divide up into two teams? I’ll take Bl’azzz and Tee’ka to find the second pod. Egg, you take Serenity and Soo to Area 51.”
“Good idea . . . almost. Soo, you ain’t going anywhere. Both these locations would be worse than terrible for you. And, oh by the way, you’re pregnant.”
“Hey, I want to help.”
“You saved Serenity and Jynx. I think you did enough.”
She wanted to argue . . . but she knew Egg was right. But she did say, “This mountain sounds like a cold place. Don’t forget F’yre Dragons don’t do well in extreme cold.”
“Ah, thank you,” replied her friend.
“It won’t be as cold as Antarctica,” explained Ezra. “She’ll be fine.”
Egg nodded her approval. “Great. Then it’s settled. Now all we need is a plan.” She looked from face to face but received only blank stares. “Anybody?”
*****
Area 51
They transported the pod into the building called Deep 6 without any difficulty. Apparently, they had more than a little experience in moving objects into this virtual prison. She was taken to a large, windowless room with concrete walls and ceilings. It looked more like an empty warehouse than anything else.
Once the pod was in its final location, the workers left . . . leaving only Colonel Korn. He walked up to the craft and knocked.
“Are you okay?”
“I am fine, Korn.”
“We would like you to leave your vehicle. We have prepared living quarters for you that will be much more comfortable.”
“Not going to happen.”
“I will personally guarantee your safety.”
“This from a man who threatened to fire at my pod if I did anything that displeased him.”
“That’s not quite what I said.”
“I am well aware of what you said.”
“Will you at least answer some questions?”
“Probably not . . . but ask.”
“Thank you. What is your name and where are you from?”
“My name is Spirit and I am from a planet we call Paradox.”
“Is it one of the worlds in this solar system?” There would be no reason for Martians, for example, to call their world Mars . . . which was an old earth deity.
“It’s on the other side of the galaxy.”
“Why did you come all the way to Earth?”
“Just sightseeing.”
The Colonel laug
hed despite himself. “Let’s come back to that question later. May I ask . . . is everyone on your world like you?”
“I don’t understand the question.”
“Are they all telepaths? Are their physical characteristics similar to you?”
“No. I am a mutant.”
“Really? Does your visit to earth have anything to do with . . . with your mutation?”
“Actually, yes.”
“In what way?”
“Without my mutations I would never have been asked by the Myst Tree at Sighing Whorl to go to Zynn-Zaz’zia to help the Hameggattic Sisterhood fight Mobius.”
“I’m sorry but I didn’t understand any of that.”
“That’s why I told you. Goodnight Korn . . . I’m going to get some rest.”
“Of course. I’ll be back later.”
“No need. I’m finished talking.”
*****
Kathmandu, Nepal
They entered the monastery grounds and the old man proceeded to take BreeZee on a quick tour. “As you can see, we feel a very close affinity to all of God’s creations.”
“I’m not familiar with the creatures of Earth. Is there some significance to that particular animal?”
“That is a tiger. Normally they and man do not get along. This particular one weighs well over five hundred pounds . . . more than the weight of three grown men.”
“It seems very friendly.”
“To us, yes. To a stranger . . . no.”
“Would he harm me?”
“That I cannot say with certainty. However, in my heart I feel that he would not.”
“May I try?”
“You are very brave . . . but perhaps another time. Come, I wish to show you our temple . . . it is both a shrine to He that created all and a sanctuary for anyone so wishing it,” and he led her to a building of unusual shape.
BreeZee clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, I love it.”
The old man laughed . . . actually more of a quiet cackle. “Why such enthusiasm?”
“The design – it would work perfectly for my people. Did I tell you that on my world we live in very tall trees call Sun-Seekers?”
The monk’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “I don’t believe that you did. How very interesting. Do you make nests?”
“No. We build homes into the trunks of the trees.”
“I see. And do you share these trees with other families?”
“Just one family per tree. But this structure would allow dozens and dozens of families to live together. It would also give us the freedom to live anywhere . . . not just in a Sun-Seeker forest.”
“Are there not many structures that would serve such purpose?”
“Perhaps on your world. On Zynn-Zaz’zia, all we have are the trees. Each home is built with a balcony, which gives a family a way of leaving their apartment . . . to sail away. This design is wonderful for that.”
“Twice you have mentioned that you do not fly but sail. Could you explain that to this old man whose simple mind has become even simpler with age?”
“Sure. Wind’dancers can’t flap their wings like birds. All we can do is catch the currents and float on waves of air. Would you like to see?”
“Most assuredly.”
“Take my hand.”
The old man looked startled. “Are you offering to take me with you? I believe I am too frail for such excitement.”
Instead of answering, she just smiled and repeated, “Please, take my hand.”
“As you wish”.
BreeZee unfurled her wings and a moment later, she and her passenger were airborne. She looked down and was surprised to see the whole monastery looking up at her. “Your friends are worried for you.”
“Of course. But it will do them good.”
“Are you enjoying this?”
“More than I can say. It is wondrous.”
“Would you like to go back down?”
“I most certainly would not. Would it be possible to go higher?”
*****
Grammy’s
“Come on people,” encouraged (or berated) Egg.
“Listen, I once did a report on Kathmandu in Nepal. I had so many pictures and Google earth views that I can easily picture it in my mind. So, I’ll take Bl’azzz and Tee’ka and we’ll start there. If need be, I’ll teleport to the top of the world (she meant Mt. Everest) and try to contact our sister with the communications crystal. From that height, we should have no problem making contact.”
“Syl, that’s as good as plan as any. Only thing . . . you take my flying jacket, hat and goggles. If you’re going to the top of Everest – even for a minute – you’ll need it.”
“It’s too late now. You three will need to leave around nine o’clock tonight. It’s almost exactly twelve hours later in Nepal.”
“Gram, how the heck do you know that?” asked Egg with a proud smile.
“I just googled it on my smart phone,” and she held it up.
“Cheater.”
“What about us?” asked Serenity.
“Well, when I don’t have a plan, I fall back on that tried and true method.”
“Which is?”
“Just wing it. We’ll make it up as we go.”
“Brilliant.”
“You’re being sarcastic, right?”
Instead of answering, she asked Grammy, “May I have some more coffee?”
Chapter 9 – Earth, You’re Not Alone
Kathmandu, Nepal
“As Soo would say – ‘Good Grief.”
“Now what?”
“Bl’azzz, Tee and I are getting on your back. Then you need to fly us out of here.”
“Me can do,” replied the dragon in a poor attempt at humor.
The problem was they had materialized in the middle of a large, public garden and not the wooded area that Sylvia was expecting. Apparently, since she wrote her report, the good people of Kathmandu had knocked down the trees to build this beautiful new monument to nature.
Unfortunately, even at nine o’clock in the morning, there were dozens of people walking and enjoying the park. When two young women and a dragon materialized out of thin air, the reaction was pretty much what you might expect . . . stunned, wide-eyed shock and awe.
Fortunately, two of the visitors were monks from the same monastery that was playing host to BreeZee. The night before, they had attended a banquet in the Wind ‘dancer’s honor.
Perhaps it was the fermented fruit juice that had loosened her tongue, but Bree talked in some detail about herself, her world and the Sisterhood. It may have been the polite thing to do – but it wasn’t the right thing.
Luckily, her audience were recluses – and they almost never left the monastery except for an occasional trip into Kathmandu for supplies (and maybe a little ‘away time’). Upon seeing the dragon, the two monks knew it was the friend of their mysterious and exotic guest. They hurried over to welcome the beast to their city.
“Syl, we’ve got company,” said Tee’ka.
“They’re monks . . . religious people. Let’s talk to them.”
“How are you going to explain me?” asked the F’yre Dragon.
“No idea.”
The monks reached their destination and stopped perhaps twenty feet away (just in case the monster was hungry or mean). They dropped to their knees, bowed their heads and one of them spoke. “A thousand pardons, we do not mean to impose our humble selves on those such as you.”
He stopped waiting for a reply.
“No problem,” said Sylvia. She wasn’t sure what else to say given the fact she and the others had materialized out of thin air.
From their behavior, Tee reached a not-so-obvious conclusion and asked, “You have seen our friend, haven’t you?” They still didn’t know whether it was Spirit or BreeZee.
“She is our honored guest.”
“Is she okay?”
“We know little of her kind. However, I believe she is in perfect health. May
I add that her wings are breathtaking.”
Just the response Sylvia was looking for . . . it was Bree and she was well. “Can you take us to her?”
“Of course.”
“Is it far?”
“Perhaps two leagues.”
The two monks almost fell over backwards when Bl’azzz asked, “How far is that?”
“About six miles. Bl’azzz, can you carry me, Tee and these two guys?”
“No, not both of them. I could take one.”
To the monks, Sylvia asked, “Will one of you join us on the back of my friend and show us the way?”
“You wish for one of us to mount the beast?”
“She is a dragon – and my sister – but most definitely not a beast. And, yes.”
“My sincerest apologies. I meant no offense.” He turned to his companion and whispered something they could not hear. The monk stood, bowed and trotted off. “I would be grateful for the opportunity,” said the remaining monk. He may have been grateful but his voice quavered with an understandable trace of fear.
*****
Grammy’s
The only plan they had was the one offered by Egg . . . which was both painfully obvious and realistically unachievable. “So, if I could get into Deep 6 and find Serenity, I can just teleport us out of there.”
The three others looked at the girl . . . Grammy with concern, Ezra with pride and Serenity with cynicism.
“Wouldn’t that be a tad dangerous, dear? After all, they might shoot you,” asked Grammy as calmly as she could.
Serenity shook her head in frustration. “That’s a moot point, Grammy. How is she even going to get in there? She can’t teleport to a place she can’t visualize. And flying in through the walls would just bring the whole army base down on her . . . not to mention the building.”
“I have an idea. It’s a bit audacious, not lacking in danger and otherwise as dumb as a sack of rocks.”
“I’m not going to like it, am I?” Grammy asked Ezra.
“Um . . . you might be a tad skeptical.”
“Ezra, just tell us please,” insisted Egg who was anxious to start the rescue . . . with or without a plan.
“Okay. Walk up to the front door, ring the bell and tell them you’re friends with the alien.”
Box Set #4: Sisterhood's End: [The 3 book 4th adventure of Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood] Page 30
