by Suzie Taylor
Emily gave a huge sneeze. “Bright lights,” she said. “Usually happens when I come out into the sun.”
“Firefly city…” Ben murmured.
A waterfall came down close to where they were standing and the churning water flowed down a wide rocky slope into the lake where the ripples expanded in ever-widening circles, interweaving with one another until they were lost in the calm stillness of the reflections.
Alf was shivering noticeably and Emily pulled out her towel for him.
“Came out there,” he said, pointing to the plunge-pool. “There’s a stream behind the waterfall, and the vertical tunnel I fell down must join with it. I was washed to the edge and managed to grab a hold.”
“Alfy was flushed down the toilet!” Emily teased, unable to help herself. “And look at the front of your shirt! All the buttons have torn off!”
“You can talk!” Alf retorted. “You look as though you’ve lost a mud fight with a kraken.”
“Your head ok?” asked Ben. Alf’s forehead was red and beginning to swell where he had bashed it against the rocks.
Alf touched the spot gently. “My brain is trying to escape but I think I can retain it.”
“What happened to your helmet?”
“Dunno. Strap snapped I guess.”
“Oh well, could have been worse.”
“My ankle still hurts,” said Emily.
Ben ignored her. They clambered across the rocks to the waterfall where they were met by a fine spray that misted up into the air catching the light and creating rainbows.
“Camera?” suggested Ben.
“Reckon mine’s stuffed,” sighed Alf, undoing the button on his shorts leg pocket. His phone was wet and the screen was cracked. He tried to turn it on. “Stuffed,” he nodded sadly.
“Mine’s ok,” said Nadia. She took a selfie in front of the waterfall then turned to Emily. “Hey Em, do one of your ballet things in front of the city there...”
“Ok. Can’t stand on this ankle though so I’ll have to do an arabesque with my bad leg...”
“These pictures are supposed to be for our project,” Ben objected. “Just do the scenery.”
Emily rolled her eyes and Nadia made a face when his back was turned.
They climbed down the slope, being careful not to slip on the smooth wet rock, until they reached the edge of the lake.
“Can’t swim,” Alf reminded them.
Ben felt the water. “Freezing!”
“You’re telling me.”
“Well I’m sure we all want to go over there don’t we?” said Ben “And there’s no bridge so we’re going to have to swim. Alf you might just have to wait this one out... I’m sorry. Em, do you want to wait with him?”
“No! I want to see more bug dragons!”
“What happened to Mouse and Scamp?”
“They flew off a while ago I think.”
“Sorry Alf. We’ll try not to be too long.”
Alf sat down, hugged his knees and watched moodily as they walked away. The lake was probably home to a giant squid with poisonous tentacles waiting to immobilise them and drag them down to its lair one by one. He would stay on the shore and mind the bags. He would be fine.
“Unless I spontaneously combust,” he called out after them. “That happened once when I was three. Mum had to buy me a whole new set of clothes.”
A variety of colourful plants grew in the shallows, some suspended on raised roots and others floating like lilies. Ben, Nadia and Emily removed their shoes, stepped down into the water and walked out a short way, watching the rings of light and shadow that expanded out from their feet, causing the plants to tremble. The water was indeed freezing – but they quickly realised that it wasn’t deep at all – barely enough to cover their feet; the mirror like reflections had disguised the depth perfectly. The good news was conveyed back to Alf who was quick to join them. They had not taken more than a couple of steps however before a swarm of bug dragons like a speckled multi-coloured cloud, could be seen heading out of the city towards them.
“Here comes the welcoming committee!” said Nadia.
The swarm was moving quickly. It was large and beginning to look menacing.
“Perhaps not so welcoming.” said Ben a little apprehensively.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” said Alf.
Hundreds of bug dragons quickly arrived to hover in front of them led by a small group that were wearing badly fitted armour and carrying weapons. A decidedly fierce looking individual perched on the pinnacle of a tall stalagmite nearby, apparently communicating with the others by means of a ball like apparatus that floated close to his head. Unlike the others, his armour was magnificent.
“Technology!” gasped Alf.
“Weapons,” said Ben rather more grimly.
“Only little ones,” snorted Nadia.
Mouse flew out from amongst the group. He was clearly unhappy with the hostility of their reception.
“He looks pretty cranky,” whispered Emily apprehensively.
Mouse was having words with the chief in the fancy armour and Ben watched the conversation closely.
“Is that Growler?” he asked.
“I think so,” said Alf.
Mouse was apparently someone important. Why else would anyone be listening to him? In the end Growler conceded to something, but then began barking orders to his soldiers who immediately split ranks so that the children were surrounded. Growler continued to talk, and sounded rather like he was making excuses to someone.
“He’s not talking to the soldiers anymore,” Alf noted. “He’s communicating with someone elsewhere.”
Nadia had got out her phone and aimed it at Growler for a photograph.
“No! Don’t do that!” exclaimed Ben, but it was too late. A group of bug dragons immediately descended on the phone and snatched it from Nadia’s hands. She reacted instantly, with a wild swipe and a yell, but they dodged her easily and she suddenly found herself face to face with Gypsy, hovering only inches away from her face and aiming a gun straight between her eyes. Nadia tried to back off but Gypsy stayed right on the mark.
“Give me my phone!” Nadia snapped.
Gypsy ignored the demand but she twitched her claw slightly and the end of the gun started to glow.
Nadia turned to the others. “What is this? I’m not going to be told what to do by some jumped up mosquito!”
“Me either!” Emily declared and aimed a high kick at Gypsy. Water sprayed up from her foot and her aim was impeccable, but Gypsy dodged and fired. Nadia ducked just in time and a bright dart of light hit Alf on the arm.
“Ow!” exclaimed Alf in genuine pain.
“Stop, stop, everybody stop!” Ben shouted.
Nadia and Emily were poised in a crouched position and Alf was staring at his arm. Every bug dragon had its weapon drawn, waiting for the command.
“Calm down,” said Ben. “Just do what they want... we don’t want injuries!”
“That hurt,” Alf whined. The spot where he had been hit glowed eerily in a vibrant shade of purple with a blue centre. He tried to put his hands up but found that his arm was semi-paralysed. ‘I’m allergic to bee stings,” he moaned. “My arm’s gonna fall off for sure.”
The girls stood up slowly and Emily raised her hands. Nadia held hers stiffly to her sides and glared at Gypsy.
“Hands up Nadia,” said Ben.
Nadia did so with extreme reluctance and Gypsy smirked.
There was nothing for it but to allow the bug dragons to herd them in a tight group towards the glowing city. After they had travelled a short distance across the lake, the light around them shimmered suddenly, causing them to blink.
“What was that?” asked Emily.
“Don’t know – but I wish we could take a sample of this light,” said Ben. “It’s weird.”
Nadia was too cross to comment and Alf was sulking.
“It’s almost like it’s alive,” He continued. “You can feel it – not
like normal light at all - and the water is strange.”
Emily dipped her finger and tasted it cautiously. “Ugh! Like the worst mineral water ever!”
The lake seemed bigger now that they were walking over it and the curious plants that rose up to either side of them also looked taller than they had before. Nadia tried picking a glowing fruit from one of the branches as they passed, only to have the entire plant collapse next to her.
“That probably took a thousand years to grow,” said Alf accusingly.
“Actually I don’t think so...” Nadia answered as a new plant began to emerge from the water.
Ben glanced back at the trail of destruction in the plant life they had left behind them. “I guess they’re just not used to much movement down here – like there’s no wind or anything. Just as well they grow quickly!”
“Is it just me, or does Mouse look bigger than he used to?” asked Emily suddenly.
“Yeah... I reckon he does,” Ben agreed. “That’s weird.”
“And the soldiers,” said Nadia. “Look – they’re almost the size of guinea pigs!”
But it wasn’t just the bug dragons. The water was gradually becoming deeper and the city looming ahead of them also appeared a great deal larger. It wasn’t long before Mouse had grown to the size of a rabbit! Something very peculiar was happening.
“This is freaking me out,” said Nadia.
“We’re in some kind of dimensional warp,” said Alf “Everything around us looks as though it is getting bigger, but I think it’s more likely we are shrinking. It’s an effective defence mechanism. If you fire a missile at the city from the shore they can shrink it down before it hits.”
“How much though?” Ben worried. “I mean will we shrink until we are smaller than them?”
Emily was looking apprehensively at the weapons which looked even scarier on a larger scale. One of the soldiers next to her yawned, displaying an impressive set of teeth, and was instantly barked at by Growler. He winked slyly at Emily before resuming the fierce expression he had before. Emily looked at him quizzically.
“I don’t know about this shrinking thing,” Nadia grumbled. “We better be able to change back again or it will be an awfully long trip home!” She paused to look back the way they had come and one of the soldiers poked her sharply in the leg. She turned on him in an instant and all weapons were lowered to aim directly at her. Ben’s patience was wearing thin.
“For heaven’s sake Nadia! We need to gain their trust!”
“He started it!”
“I don’t care! He’s got the gun!”
As they drew closer to the city they were able to admire the breath-taking detail of the structures that towered around them. The cave formations had been hollowed out and were covered with entrances and windows that followed the natural shapes of the stone. Most of the windows did not have glass – there would be little need for it in the cave – but some were curiously shaped and had curtains of coloured light. Many of the pillars and walls were intricately carved and inlaid with metals or jewels. The children peered through the openings that they passed, astounded by its complexity.
“Like a termites nest,” said Alf. “We definitely need string. I got lost in a shopping centre once but I found my way out by climbing up to the roof where I was rescued by a police helicopter.”
The bug dragon city was clearly designed for flying creatures. Most of the doors opened out high above them onto perching ledges, whilst the narrow street along which they walked was covered in shallow water. Eventually they were encouraged to climb into a corridor that sloped gently upwards between two buildings and found themselves facing a huge carved gate, the entrance of which shimmered with a translucent curtain of orange light. The problem was that it was about two stories off the ground.
They appeared to have stopped shrinking. Mouse was now the size of a miniature horse and the guards were considerably bigger. Their bags and helmets were taken from them and before they had a chance to wonder what they were going to do, they found themselves being picked up somewhat awkwardly under the armpits and flown up to the threshold of the gate. The curtain of light was semi-reflective, giving it a curiously solid appearance but Mouse went through as though nothing was there. They all followed, but Ben paused on the other side to ‘feel’ the light again, only to find to his surprise that it was solid!
“Hey, this light is one way!” he exclaimed.
“Stupendous!” murmured Alf. “Do you reckon it works with electricity?”
Ben shook his head. “I don’t think so. Everything here is so different. This is more like a force field; solid light... I don’t know...”
“It also means that we can’t get out,” said Nadia.
Now that they were inside the city and the same size as their captors, the soldiers decided the ill-fitting armour was no longer necessary, but they did however retain their weapons.
“Good to know we’re not seen as a threat,” said Nadia grumpily.
“You don’t want to be hit,” warned Alf.
“Not fussed about a paint-baller,” snorted Nadia.
“Just saying.”
“How is your arm?” asked Ben.
“Better,” Alf grunted, “I can feel it again now but the colour even shines through my shirt – Look! If that is what the guns do when they’re tiny, any resistance could result in complete paralysis... and being strung up as a party light!
“And they have big teeth and claws,” said Emily.
They were herded down a long narrow corridor lined with tall elegant limestone pillars that had somehow been manipulated to grow with a regularity of size and shape and numerous tunnel-like passages opened out onto it at different levels. A wide variety of unusual sounds echoed all around them but there seemed to be a peculiar lack of furnishings or decoration.
“What’s making all the noise?” wondered Ben “Where is everybody? Everything looks very plain for a city.”
“It’s day time,” shrugged Alf. “They’re all in bed.”
Emily squealed suddenly, saying that something feathery had touched her arm, but there was nothing to be seen. A short distance later, Ben tripped over an object that wasn’t there and fell heavily on the ground.
“Woah! You ok?” asked Emily as he tried to pick himself up.
“There’s something solid there!” Ben protested, nudging it with his foot. “Invisible!”
“Well that’s a bit unreasonable,” said Nadia. “Why have invisible stuff? Mouse?”
But Mouse seemed as puzzled as they were – not by the presence of the invisible object but by their inability to see it. He thumped on another ‘object’ and realising that they could not see that either, turned to Growler and made a suggestion. Growler nodded and Mouse zoomed away.
“What’s going on?” wondered Emily.
“Who knows,” Ben shrugged. “I’m still trying to work out what this thing could be. Hey, part of it moved!”
After a brief wait, Mouse reappeared with four pairs of bizarre looking goggles. The brows were festooned with a variety of flexible antennae and finger like projections, and the liquid mirror eyes were equipped with a choice of lenses and settings. Despite their complexity they had a peculiarly old fashioned look about them, quite different from the technology they had seen so far in the bug dragons’ cave, and they were clearly designed for human shaped heads.
“Do we really want these on?” Ben asked uncertainly.
“Looks like a brain scrambler,” said Alf ominously.
Mouse tightened the straps around Nadia’s head. “They’re fine,” she shrugged. “Don’t do anything though.”
Mouse reached up, flicked a switch, and adjusted one of the lenses. Nadia gasped and took a step backwards. “Far out! Woah! Guys you gotta see this!”
As the goggles were fitted to each of them in turn they reacted with similar astonishment at the overwhelming scene that now opened up before them. Objects and decor that they previously had no idea were there su
ddenly sprang into existence as they found themselves in a world of mysterious formations that looked like holograms. Artworks, sculptures, glowing flowers, plants and even other animals were everywhere.
“I don’t think this is just an eye thing...” murmured Alf touching his headset slightly dizzily. “It’s a brain probe. We’re being fed a virtual reality program.”
“No, it’s real,” said Ben looking down at the object he had fallen over. It was a drinking fountain to which was tied a small armadillo like animal that was now nosing around his feet. The bruise developing on his shin was no illusion, but other objects that actually looked solid you could put your whole hand through and experience a warm tingly sensation. The children began to experiment and discovered that some of the plants, whilst immaterial to a degree, did have slight texture and resistance. Ben also discovered that with certain objects he could zoom in with his eyes and see detail in and on the surface that would otherwise be invisible.
“Spectacular!” said Alf.
Enough time had been wasted however, and Growler ordered them forward once again. They stumbled along confusedly, still trying to make sense of the visions that surrounded them.
Ben ran his hands over the goggles. “These projections at the top here – I’m wondering if they are picking up the images and then transmitting the information through our own eyes somehow.”
“You’re right!” said Nadia “If you cover the big one in the middle with your hand, the animals disappear!”
“I’ve always wanted a third eyeball,” said Alf. “Now I have lots! I wonder if we can take these home? We might be surrounded by aliens and ghosts and stuff at home that we know nothing about!”
