The Dreamer Chronicles Trilogy Boxed Set Vol I - III: A Sci-Fi Parallel Universe Adventure (The Dreamer Chronicles - Science Fiction For Kids And Adults)

by Robert Scanlon

  She forced her best smile. “Hey everyone. It looks like someone wants us all hidden together. But we’re going to get a message to the Professor, and get him and Agent Blanchard to rescue us.” They all started talking at once. She held her hand up again and waited for quiet.

  “This place is not great, I know. It’s okay to be a bit scared, but I need your help to try as hard as you can to stay happy. We have to try to be as calm as possible. Use the focusing skills Professor Harrison has taught you, to be positive and to help each other. Nathan, Rona and I are going to make a plan to get us out of here.”

  She gave them all as big a smile as she could manage. “Now, who wants to play a drawing game?” She saw Nathan roll his eyes, but she ignored him and continued. “Here’s what you have to do. Jimmy, Tim and Nancy will help you get into teams of three and come up with some ideas—things you want to draw. It can be anything. I’m going to ask for some paper and pencils in a moment, but you can also take a look around and see if there is anything here you can use. The best ideas get my help! Ready everyone?” She looked around. Most of them seemed to have recovered enough to smile and nod. “Great. Go and find your teams!”

  She let them get busy, then walked over to Nathan and Rona.

  “I hope you know what you’re doing!” Nathan whispered. “What’s all this about getting some paper and pencils?”

  She smiled sweetly at him. “That would be your job.”

  He looked incredulous. “But—”

  She held her finger to her lips. “Shhh. Don’t panic the kids. I have a plan.”

  “Where did this come from?” Rona said, raising her eyes. “A few minutes ago, all was lost. What changed?”

  Sarina swept her hand around to indicate the kids exploring the space around them. “This. I won’t let them get away with using kids as bargaining bits.”

  “Bargaining chips,” Nathan said. “So what’s the plan, and where will I be conjuring the paper and pencils from?”

  “You can start with these.” Rona held up a battered tin case.

  “Your pastels!” Sarina said. “I should have known. Are you sure you don’t have a key to this place hidden somewhere? You seem to have everything else.”

  Rona shook her head. “That’s my last surprise I’m afraid. But we’d better get busy with your plan.” She looked at Sarina and waited.

  “Okay. Here’s what we know so far. Someone wants the Prof’s collider. Badly. The Prof must be stalling as he doesn’t know where it is, nor does he want them to get their hands on it. True?”

  The other two nodded.

  She looked at Nathan. “When we blasted that machine with our supercharged rem from Paolo’s world, do you think it was destroyed?”

  He looked surprised. “Ah ... I haven’t really thought about that.”

  “Well start thinking now, Mr Science Wizard. It might affect our plans.”

  “Why?” Rona asked.

  “Because we’re going to tell them we know where it is.”

  Nathan groaned. “Apart from magicking paper and pencils out of thin air, that’s the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard.”

  “Thanks for your support.” Sarina glared at him.

  “How will that help us?” Rona said, creasing her brow.

  “It will take attention away from these kids and put us in control. We can do two things: we can lead them a merry dance and play for time while the Prof and Agent Blanchard find us, and we can learn as much as we can about the people who have captured us. Starting with the Russians.”

  “The Russians?” Nathan screwed up his face. “Where do they come into it?”

  “They’re who you’re going to ask for paper and drawing pencils.”

  ~ 15 ~

  Trading Information

  “Ready?”

  Nathan stood at the door at the top of the steel staircase Sarina had come through the day before. She stood next to him. The kids were busy with Rona back down on the floor, using some of Rona’s pastels to add graffiti to anything they could.

  He nodded. “Let me make sure I’ve got it right. We get their attention. We make a big fuss about helping the kids stay distracted, or they’ll have a full-scale panic on their hands and they can’t afford the attention drawn to the ship. I tell them my brilliant idea: that they get some paper and pencils”—he rolled his eyes—“then you ask to see the Captain. You’re prepared to trade your information to free the kids. Information valuable to his boss.”

  She nodded, and then shuddered. “You really think the collider wasn’t destroyed? That it was transported somewhere?”

  Nathan cocked his head. “My best guess—not even a hypothesis really—is that we opened up another wormhole and the collider was rammed through it with the massive energy blast. I think the Prof would have known if it was destroyed. He said it vanished, remember?”

  She grimaced. “Where would it have gone? I have to make something up quicksmart.”

  “That’s another thing you’re not going to like.”

  She stared at him. “Well?”

  “My bet would be it bounced to the world most likely to be attracting it.”

  “Not—”

  Nathan nodded.

  A shiver ran all the way down her spine. “I just hope it is nowhere near Paolo’s village. If that’s where it went. And if that monster ever got his hands on it ...”

  “No use thinking about that now.” Nathan held up his broken skateboard. “We’d better get on with attracting attention. Anyway, you saw what we did to those two. Makthryg had his power sucked out of him, I’m sure of it.”

  Sarina felt her skin. It was clammy. Fear. Better do something before she couldn’t move. “Okay. Bash away.”

  Nathan smashed his broken skateboard on the door again and again, while Sarina bashed both fists against it. They both yelled over and over. “Hey! Open up! We need something!”

  In the midst of all the crashing, banging and shouting, Sarina leaned close to Nathan. “ARE YOU SURE VALKROG HAS NO CHANCE OF ESCAPE?”

  Nathan shook his head and continued to bang on the door. “NAH. I SAW WHAT THEY BUILT TO IMPRISON MAKTHRYG AND VALKROG. NO CHANCE OF IT.”

  ~ 16 ~

  Parley

  “He wants to what?” Andreas said.

  “Makthryg wants to talk,” Tomas shouted over the pounding rain that had begun in the morning and continued past the lunching hour. “He is offering to help us build structures to resist the storms.”

  Andreas stopped hammering the waxed canvas sheets onto the cabin walls and straightened. Water cascaded down his cap and onto his shoulders. “Tell him I am not interested. His prison is secure from the weather. Why should he care about us? He is up to no good, there is no doubting that.”

  “He seems contrite, Andreas. What would it hurt to hear him out? Perhaps he can help us avoid more destruction.”

  Andreas stared at his friend. “Does he have you under his spell too, Tomas?”

  Tomas shook his head. “Do not be so stubborn, my friend. It is about time you took a break from the beating this rain is giving you. Besides, it is quiet in the prison. As for any spells ... you saw how Sarina drained both their powers. We have nothing to lose by hearing him out.”

  “And nothing to gain. But since you will not shut up, I will humour you—and him.” Andreas pulled his coat up around his neck. “Come. Let us find out what has managed to turn even Tomas.” He flashed Tomas a smile, and splashed past, slapping his friend on the shoulder.

  The prison was quiet, and a welcome relief from the insistent roar of the rain. Andreas pulled off his hat and shook the rain from his hair. “What does Paolo say about his measurements so far? Have you heard?”

  “It has only been three days since he began.” Tomas brushed himself down, leaving puddles on the hardened clay floor. “But only a fool would bet against him telling us it is worsening. Truthfully, I have not heard. But why not ask him yourself?—he is right behind you.”

  Paolo and his
younger brother, Lucio descended the steps to the outer part of the prison. “Tomas is correct: The storms are worse. But I heard tales that someone wishes to parlay,” the older boy said with a grim expression. “I am not convinced this is a clever plan. I thought perhaps Lucio and I could observe and help guard our minds.”

  Tomas grinned at them, and turned to Andreas. “Apparently we need children to protect us now.”

  Lucio kicked Tomas in the shin. “Ouch! Careful where you put that toe, Lucio!” Tomas bent down and picked up the five-year old with ease. The boy hugged his stocky friend. “So you think you can help us avoid that mad sorcerer’s spells, do you?”

  “You know I can. Mother says so,” Lucio said.

  “Not to me, she hasn’t.” Andreas said.

  “I have now.” Eva walked down the steps, and removed the waxed-sheet she had been holding over her head.

  Andreas looked at Tomas. “Did you send a message to the entire township?”

  Tomas shook his head. “You should know by now, Andreas. These three have a way with minds. I suspect we are safer with them here than not.”

  Andreas nodded. “Very well. But this is no light-hearted gathering. We must all be on our guard. We did not fight to save ourselves from this tyrant and his bird-man servant just to become stupid.” He led the way down the next set of steps, to a short flagstone corridor that ended in a T configuration. One cell was to their left, the other to their right. At the end of the corridor at the T, and blocking the entry to the corridor containing the cells, was a heavy iron-grilled door. Andreas pulled out his keys and unlocked it. “Eva, take my keys and lock us in. I would have you stay on that side of the gate, should anything happen. If you would permit it, Paolo and Lucio may accompany us. For protection.”

  Eva nodded. “You know my sons. I would not be able to prevent them. Besides, your caution is wise.”

  Andreas surveyed them all. “Ignore any movement or requests from the bird-man’s cell. We will focus only on Makthryg.”

  The two men and two boys slipped past the open gate and waited for Eva to lock it. They moved to the cell on the right, and Andreas banged on the bars. “Makthryg. If you would say something, put words to it now, though I caution you to be quick and employ no tricks. I am tired and wet and apt to impatience.”

  A shadowy figure shambled to the bars and squinted at them. Makthryg appeared smaller and thinner; his face gaunt and pale. “I am no threat to you. See me now: your witch incapacitated me. Nonetheless, I shall be concise, I do not have the energy for anything more.” He gripped the bars to steady himself, grimacing with discomfort at the hand with the missing finger. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, as if unsure where to begin.

  “Speak, sorcerer. We are not at your service.”

  The pale and grim face nodded. “I would have rid of this prison. I ... I would assist your construction teams with the design of storm protection ...” He trailed off and stared into space.

  “Pah!” Andreas turned to leave. “Tomas—is this drivel what you would have me hear? This weasel only wants to be freed from his well-deserved prison bed. I will not hear more.” He stomped back to the barrier, and left Tomas, Paolo and Lucio to look at each and shrug, and then follow Andreas.

  Eva was bending to the lock to twist the key, when Makthryg’s weak voice called. “Wait. I know things. A girl from the other world. She talks to me. I will help.”

  Andreas pushed past the others and strode back. He grabbed the frail sorcerer’s wrist through the bars, forcing a cry from the man. “Another trick. You pretend to be receiving communication from Sarina, knowing this will tug our hearts.”

  Makthryg shook his head vigorously. “Not the witch. This one is younger.” His eyes watered. “I tell the truth. I do not know this girl, nor why she comes to me in my dreams. Her name is”—he closed his eyes and moved his head around seeking something—

  “Lena,” Lucio said.

  Makthryg’s eyes flew open and he set his wild expression on Lucio. “Yes!”

  Andreas let go of the man’s wrist and turned to stare at Lucio. “How do you know this?”

  “Because she comes to me in my dreams too. He tells the truth.”

  Andreas slumped a moment, until some thought appeared to connect and he straightened. He turned to the sorcerer. “Truth or not, I will not allow you to re-enter our world. If you have these construction ideas as you put them, then I will provide you with paper and pen. Prove to us you know things and I may reconsider your request and put it to the Elders.” He spun around and strode back to the gate, and nodded to Eva, who unlocked it.

  Once they were up the top of the next steps, he held up his hand for them to stop. “I have too many thoughts spinning in my head, but I would have your counsel. All of you.” He looked at Lucio, pointedly. “Let us meet in the privacy of my cabin and make sense of this.”

  They ran through the torrential rain and fell inside Andreas and Tomas’s cabin. “This is unsettling,” Eva said, looking out the window while the rest of them brushed themselves down.

  “The weather, or Makthryg’s claims?” Andreas arched his eyebrows.

  “Both,” Eva said. “And he may be making claims, Andreas, but would you disbelieve Lucio?”

  Andreas sighed. “No. No, of course not. Lucio—tell us more about this girl.” He looked at the boy sitting on the edge of Tomas’s bed.

  “I have had the dreams three times now. She is looking for her father. I think she might be from Sarina and Nathan’s world.”

  “How do you know this?” Andreas narrowed his eyes.

  “Because we saw her once when Nathan was trying to get Sarina to make the new portal back to their world. Paolo and I. It is the same girl.”

  Andreas looked at Paolo, who held out his hands. “I did see this girl Lucio speaks of, that much is true. But I do not know her name, nor have I seen her in my dreams.”

  “Do you think they are in trouble? Do you think they are trying to contact us?” Tomas frowned.

  Lucio shook his head, as did Paolo. Paolo spoke first. “We would know if they were trying to contact us because they are in trouble. I would stake my harvest on it—they are safe and happy in their world. It is us that have the trouble.” He gestured to the rain lashing the window.

  Andreas nodded and pursed his lips. “Then we do as I said—we take Makthryg’s offer of help—”

  “Surely you will not let him free?” Paolo’s eyes blazed.

  Andreas placed his hand on Paolo’s shoulder. “Never. I merely dangled the carrot for him. He held us in fear for too long; I owe him no favours. But perhaps he has construction wisdom we do not have. He did build the castle. But in the meantime, just to be safe, Lucio, will you share your dreams with us, and report anything suspicious?”

  Lucio looked proud. “I will. If I see the girl again, I will ask her too—about Sarina and Nathan.”

  Tomas caught Eva’s expression. She was standing with her arms crossed, hugging herself. “What is it, Eva?”

  She eyed them all, a pained look on her face. “I am not sure. But something is not right.”

  “Makthryg?” Andreas said.

  Her face was pale. “Bigger. Something bigger.”

  ~ 17 ~

  Valkrog

  In the cell next door, Valkrog had listened. Why would his Master offer to help these fools? Now there was no doubting what he needed to do. He looked down at his talon-like hands—one talon missing thanks to his connection with his Master—and once again calculated his chances of survival. Slim, if his physical body continued to fade away as rapidly as it was now doing. He turned his hands over. He could now see the floor of the cell through them. Rising anger at the Orange Witch and her devilry made him lash out against the wall of the cell with one hand, and to his surprise, his hand sank into the brickwork.

  Stunned at the discovery, he pulled his hand out, and plunged it back into the brick. He felt nothing solid. No sensation of a physical blow, only a sense his hand
was passing through something thicker.

  He was dying, no doubt. His physical body was slipping out of this ether and becoming ghost-like.

  His beak-like mouth curled. One thing no one knew—not even Makthryg, his Master—was that he had sensed the presence of the machine in their world. He assumed he had acquired a connection with their so-called collider during the time he’d spent with it before the witch had tricked him. Now he alone was sensitive to it. His Master had not mentioned noticing the faint vibrations he himself had felt in his head.

  The machine was powerful: he knew that. Powerful enough to send living objects between worlds. He looked down at his semi-transparent body and out through the bars of the cell. If he could escape and find the machine, then would it be powerful enough to restore his body? Or better yet, give him power over the world—and the witch.

  But he would need Makthryg’s help.

  He tested his hand on the brick wall once more. Yet again it plunged through. He edged up to the wall dividing his and Makthryg’s cells and placed his forehead up to the brick—and pushed. His head sank into the brick with a light sucking sensation behind his eyes, and he withdrew with a jerk. He moved his head around, relieved to discover there were no permanent side-effects. But the discomfort would be worthwhile. This time he drew a deep breath and eased himself into the wall—and kept going. The odd sucking sensation was uncomfortable, and he feared his eyes would be torn from his head. He was about to pull back when his face burst into the open cell next door. He gasped. “Master! Are you there?”

  The shadowy figure seated in the corner jerked and looked around. “Valkrog?”

  “Master—my Lord. I am over here, protruding from the wall. I cannot venture further; the wall has too tight a grip on me.”

  Makthryg stood and came to where Valkrog’s ghostly head stuck out of the wall just above knee height. “Valkrog. You are discorporating.”

  Valkrog nodded. “Master, please listen to me, I fear I have very little time. I do not know why you offer to cooperate with our enemies, I can only assume you have a plan.”