The Missing Link

by David Tysdale

  Amanda looked at the mark and gasped. "Professor, is there some sort of mistake?"

  He wheeled around. Carole saw that his face was sunburnt scarlet. This must have been a record. The class had barely begun and the man was already threatening to blow.

  "Rubbish!" he sputtered. "A thought virus? I never heard of anything so preposterous."

  "What's preposterous about it?" Amanda said. "It fits with the effects of the Great Conundrum, the Monobrain Effect and with how the Devilles and others are immune to it all."

  "Monobrains are the problem, Miss Cleroux, and have always been the problem. Not some fictitious illness."

  "But--"

  "Do you wish a detention in addition to a failing grade?"

  "I wish you to reconsider my mark," she said with quiet persistence.

  "Fine!" The man picked up her assignment and tore it in two. "Consider it reconsidered." He handed the paper back and scuttled away.

  Amanda stared at the remnants of her work, her mouth hanging open.

  Carole smiled sympathetically. "Welcome to my world."

  Amanda followed Carole out of the classroom, walking as if she were in a daze. "I just can't believe it. Making me write another paper. It's just not fair."

  "If you want my opinion," Carole said, "you've got two choices. Write or fight."

  "Huh?"

  "Take it up with principal Villers. I'm sure he'd help, but it'll only make it worse for you next time."

  Amanda seemed genuinely perplexed. "Why would it make things worse?"

  "Because Rizzo will want to get even."

  "But that'd be like...like... What's that monobrain word you use?"

  "Revenge?"

  "Yes, it'd be like Professor Rizzo wanting to get revenge, and that's so not like a multitasker."

  "But it is so like Professor Rizzo."

  "It is, isn't it?" Amanda stopped abruptly, causing the students behind to bump into one another. "Carole, are we... Is the Hub really more evolved than the Monobrain world?"

  "It depends on the multitasker. If you're talking about most of the leapers I've met, than I'd say yes. If you're talking about your average non-leaping multitasker, I'd say they're no different from most monobrains."

  "But most of us can't leap, which means..." Amanda appeared stunned. "What can we do?"

  Carole shrugged. "You can either write another paper, or fight for the mark you deserve."

  "Then it's fight."

  "Get ready for a bumpy ride."

  They parted at the stairwell, with Amanda continuing down the hall to her next class and Carole climbing to the tower. As before, Professor Melodious Philamount was sitting on the old chest in the middle of the room.

  He sniffed. "Decided to join me today?"

  "Yes."

  Professor Philamount remained seated, staring mutely at her.

  "I went to see Hal, okay? I waited months because of you, put up with my parents because of you, and finally couldn't take it anymore. Because of you. And I'm glad I went. No one saw me. No one knew."

  A tiny smile played upon his lips. "No one?"

  "Besides the Devilles."

  "Your actions were reckless and ill-conceived. I was forced to create a fictitious story in order to convince others that you had taken ill."

  "You've turned my whole life into a fictitious story and you keep secrets from me, but I'm expected to be an open book? How very...monobrain of you."

  The professor bristled. "And what secrets would you be referring to?"

  "Let's start with the Battle of Ages."

  Professor Philamount's eyes grew very large.

  "The fact that it's being fought right here, right now. That I'm somehow part of it. That the Conundrum was no accident. That I'm being watched all the time, and not just by you. How about those secrets?"

  "I see." He scratched one bony knee that was poking through a rip in his pants.

  Carole began to pace. "Look, I'm sorry I upset you yesterday, but you really left me no choice."

  "And was your visit profitable?"

  "Very."

  "Was your free-falling accurate?"

  "My first landing was off a bit, probably because I was too angry to focus. Coming back was no problem."

  "And are you prepared to resume your lessons?"

  "After you tell me what else you've been holding back."

  Professor Philamount breathed out one long slow breath, deflating his body like a punctured beach ball, and then slowly reinflated himself again. "There is nothing else. You know as much as I on this particular matter."

  "Whose side are you on?"

  Melodious raised his eyebrows.

  "In the war."

  "I am on no one's side Miss Sylphwood, and I am as much in the dark about this war as you are. I take it, that you and your witchling friend heard the entire reading?"

  Carole coughed. "It wasn't on purpose. Cleopatra led me to the brew hut and I was trying to get Mariat back to bed. But we didn't have time before you two--"

  Melodious waved a hand. "The details are not important. Perhaps it is for the best. I find all this subterfuge quite distasteful."

  "But if you know nothing of the war, why are you following me?"

  "I know little, but I suspect much. As I've explained, the Conundrum's effects have not ended with the re-attachment of the Monobrain realm. Discord remains. There has to be a reason. There must be a cause."

  "Oh my gosh! I almost forgot. I was doing Soft-Walk exercises with the preschoolers today and it got kind of boring. I drifted off my own, and I sensed something. It was only for a moment, but I felt like I was being stabbed with a shard of ice, like before, when I was in that Dark realm."

  "Where did this occur?"

  "I'm not sure."

  "Could you locate it again?"

  "I suppose, if it ever comes back."

  "Could you try to sense it now?"

  Carole sat cross-legged on the floor and focused her mind's eye. She reached out, and there it was. An icy column of air. She came back to herself with a shudder. "Gross!"

  "You know its location?"

  "No, but it's definitely back."

  "Perhaps a reconnoiter. Could you travel close enough to gain a useful landmark?"

  "Free Fall in broad daylight?"

  "An attempt after dark would defeat the purpose. We need to know where it is located. Practice first. Be certain of your control. You must not be seen."

  Carole did a few trial jumps in the room, reversing before landing and checking with the professor each time to make certain he didn't see her.

  "Good," he said. "Your technique is satisfactory. Proceed."

  She focused and leaped. Strangely, as she neared the column it seemed to pull away. She gave chase before realizing her mistake, for the iciness suddenly swept back and enveloped her in a suffocating darkness.

  Carole found herself floating, not awake yet not quite asleep. Something was preventing her from drifting off.

  "Aieeeee..."

  Someone was screaming in the distance. She concentrated on the sound and realized it was actually quite close and quite loud. It was coming from...her. She snapped alert, and that familiar and disgusting Thing, was pawing at her body, groping for her mind, freezing her skin.

  "Not this time!" She slammed her mind shut, abandoned every connection to that place, and leapt back to Professor Philamount.

  Carole hit the floor hard. She retched again and again, until her insides felt like they were tearing loose from her ribs. Finally, by willpower alone, she forced what bile was left back down her throat and croaked, "Water?"

  Looking extremely alarmed, Professor Philamount lifted her onto a dusty crate. "I shall be back," he said, and rushed for the stairs.

  "No! My pack." She pointed out her knapsack, sitting next to the doorway.

  The professor retrieved the pack. Carole reached inside for her canteen and poured water over her face and into her mouth. "It was him!" she finally managed.<
br />
  "Him?"

  "That thing from the Dark realm. That thing that tried to crush me last spring."

  "That entity is here?"

  "No, not exactly." Carole hugged herself to control her violent shaking. "I think that cold spot is a type of vortex."

  "A transdimensional tunnel?"

  She nodded. "It led to the Dark realm. I realized too late. It grabbed me, but I got away as soon as I could."

  "It was a trap?"

  "I don't know."

  "But how is that possible. A tunnel without a connector?" Professor Philamount pulled on his pointy white beard, allowing it to snap against his chin.

  Carole hesitated. "I've seen something like that before."

  "What do you mean?"

  "A type of natural vortex. No connectors--they go one-way and only last a short time."

  "But--"

  "That's how we escaped some of the realms last spring, how I knew I could take Martin home. Besides, it makes sense if you think about it. The idea for transdimensional tunnels had to come from somewhere."

  "But a tunnel that attacks?"

  "It certainly tricked me. But why?" Carole grimaced as she massaged the spasms out of her ribcage. "If the Hub's already connected to that place, what's the point?"

  "It is an easy enough matter to investigate. A look through the connector registry should suffice." Professor Philamount cast an appraising eye at Carole. "Are you well enough to ambulate on your own, or should I escort you to the infirmary?"

  "I'll be fine." She looked at her vomit covering the floor. "Just give me a minute and I'll clean this up."

  "Leave it be," the professor said. "You are to go home and rest, Miss Sylphwood."

  "But you don't even know what to look for?"

  "A realm devoid of light, populated by pale, horned, bipedal creatures and ruled by an unpleasant non-corporeal entity. I will visit later to inform you of the results of my search, as well as to check upon the condition of your health."

  Carole left the tower feeling the onset of what threatened to become a raging headache. Luckily classes were still in session and the halls were quiet. She was thankful that the Deville's cottage was just across the playing field. She stumbled through the front door, eased herself up the ladder to the loft, and collapsed onto the bed.

  --27--

  Carole's restless sleep was broken by Lilly's scold.

  "Don't kid yourself, Zack."

  "Listen, the only choice I had was whether or not to throw the first punch, and I'm glad I did. Those jerks needed be knocked down a peg or two, and at least people are talking about what I did for a change, instead of what I can't do."

  "Hotspot's bound to do something, too."

  "What's the difference? He won't stop until he gets rid of us once and for all."

  Carole rolled onto her side, sneezed and sat up.

  "Carole?" Lilly called. "Is that you?"

  "Yeah." She pressed her ribs. They were a little tender, but at least the headache was gone.

  "How long have you been home? We thought Professor Philamount was keeping you late."

  Instead of replying, she made her way down to the kitchen and slouched into the chair next to Zack.

  "You don't look so good," he said. "Really pale."

  "Remember our friends from that Dark realm?"

  "No way! You went back there?"

  "Not on purpose. I found a vortex."

  "From here?"

  "Apparently. I'm waiting to see what Professor Philamount digs up. He's coming over in a bit to fill me in."

  "What about Seafeather's social?" Lilly asked.

  Carole screwed up her face. "I totally forgot. Guess I'll have to meet you there later."

  "Well, we'd better get going. Have to fill him in on Zack's latest blunder."

  Zack sighed. "Why bother. He probably already knows. Everybody else seems to."

  "Could one of you tell Runt that I won't be going back to the ruins, tonight?" Carole said as the twins prepared to leave. "I don't want him to worry."

  "I'll do it," Zack quickly volunteered.

  "That'll only take you an extra ten minutes," Lilly said.

  "Which means ten minutes less with Seafeather."

  * * * *

  Zack walked with Lilly as far as Middle Road, before continuing on to the park ringing the Celestial Nexus. He spied the pig lounging next to the foundation stones. "Hey Runt. Carole sends her regrets. Seems she had a run in with our friends from the Demon world. Remember those guys?"

  "Rit?" Runt's expression was horrified as he jumped to his feet.

  "Don't worry, she's okay. Just too tired to go exploring."

  "Reet?" The pig looked to the east.

  "Uh, yeah. She's at our place, if that's what you're asking."

  Runt sprinted off.

  "Hey, there's no rush. Tell me about your day or something..." But the pig was already a pink blob, racing through the grass. Sighing with resignation, Zack turned for Seafeather's institute, but a flurry of activity caught his attention. The rainbow tails were leaving for their evening flight. He watched as the birds poured into the sky.

  Wait a minute. He squinted at the cliff face. How can there be so many? As he stood puzzling, a solitary bird popped into view from below the nesting nooks and launched itself into the air. Where did he come from?

  Zack looked from the nesting nooks, down to where that last bird had appeared, and back again. Understanding dawned.

  * * * *

  Melodious Philamount turned up at the Deville cottage shortly behind Runt.

  "So?" Carole said, before he could even sit down.

  "There are no records of such a dimension on file. No dimension devoid of light. No realm with horned, tailed, bipedal humanoids. No realm ruled by a single malevolent entity."

  Carole looked between Professor Philamount and Runt. "What does that mean?"

  "Either the records have been removed from the official registry, or that realm has never been connected to the Hub."

  "Is there a way to find out?"

  "We could cross-reference the number of connector posts with the number of dimensions currently on record. If there is a discrepancy, then we know the records have been altered. If the numbers match up, we'll know your Dark realm has never been attached to the Hub."

  Carole thought a moment. "But you've spent ten years reattaching broken connectors. Wouldn't someone have noticed a mismatch by now?"

  "Not necessarily. At the time we began reconnecting, our energies were focused solely on those dimensions that had broken free of the Hub. Though all connectors were inspected for damage, doing so didn't require knowledge of the realm to which they were linked. It was routine maintenance."

  "So how do we do it?"

  Professor Philamount's mouth stretched into a face-spanning grimace. "By counting them...one at a time"

  "But there must be thousands."

  "I'm open to suggestions."

  "We could get Lil and Zack to help."

  "They would attract too many eyes. In fact your presence in the connector field will do likewise. I'm afraid this affair must be left to me."

  "Not necessarily." Carole looked at Runt. "Most of the herd can count, can't they?"

  The pig nodded.

  "Think you can gather a bunch to do a tally for us?"

  Runt nodded again.

  "There you go. Now all we need to do is find out how many connectors are on record."

  "I already have that number." Professor Philamount produced a slip of paper.

  * * * *

  Zack stood in the shadows across from the Center for Transdimensional Studies, watching people come and go. Each time the door popped open, a raucous clamor disturbed the quiet of the street. By the sounds of it, Professor Seafeather had hired his favorite group, Dissonance Clash, to be the evening's entertainment. The band usually set up in the front annex, where there was plenty of space for people to mingle and dance.

  Unexpectedly F
erdinand Dalimar walked up to the door. Zack backed deeper into the night shadows. What's he doing here?

  Zack gave the senior a few seconds head start, before hurrying across the street. As he popped the door open with the pressure of his palm, his ears were assaulted by what sounded like a mix of squawking geese, grinding gears and opera. He studied the crowd. If not for the smiles on their faces, he would have thought the dancers were all having seizures.

  Dalimar wasn't among them.

  He ran along the wall to a corridor opposite the dance floor, but found the way blocked by a curtain of water pouring out of the ceiling. This was new. He had to admit the water was an improvement over the previous barrier, a revolving door made out of flat cactus pads. Professor Seafeather must've received too many complaints about the three-inch spines.

  When he looked around for a way through, he saw a huge umbrella stand to one side. He pulled out a gray, nondescript umbrella and carefully examined the device. It looked safe enough. He thumbed the spring mechanism and the umbrella popped open, flashing hot pink with lime-green polka dots. "Cute."

  Stepping under the falls, he found that the water was much lighter than expected and stuck his hand into the spray. It wasn't water at all, but some type of silky fluid. He had to flick his wrist to get the stuff off.

  It was much quieter on the other side of the fluid barrier, though the floor was wet and slippery. Cubbyholes had been cut into the nearby walls, presumably so people could sit and watch. The sound was relaxing, but it was totally unlike anything Seafeather usually did.

  Zack began to get an uneasy feeling. He turned in time to duck a fist sized fluid ball that splattered against the wall. Something was swimming inside the falls. He backed quickly away.

  Beyond the wet, was a wickerwork rack with a few umbrellas dangling from it, and many more lying on the floor beneath. He tried to hang up his own umbrella, but as soon as he touched the wood, it began writhing like a mass of snakes. With a startled yelp, he dropped the umbrella and hurried off.

  He came to where the hallway ended in a T. The left branch angled steeply up towards the second floor; the right continued straight towards the main theatre. Zack choose left.

  As he climbed, the passage narrowed into a prismatic tube lined with hundreds of glowing neon lights. Wincing at the combined effect of the lights, he ran as fast as he could. The tube opened into a room that had, until recently, been filled with sand and cacti. Now it was an arboretum with hanging shrubs and a large central pond full of floating plants and trickling fountains.