Hilda - Lycadea

by Paul Kater

themselves safe with bubbles. In a few rooms they only found dead people, crushed by falling parts of wall or ceiling.

  "Crappedy crap, crappedy crap," Hilda kept saying.

  The further they pushed on into the pyramid, the worse the situation was. In the end William said they had to either take the top from the pyramid or go outside again, as the building would come down on them were it not for Rebel holding it together.

  "Blowing it apart is no option, Hilda, we'd hurt people outside."

  "We have to do more!" Hilda exclaimed, looking at Kerna.

  Kerna, also dusty and dirty, nodded. "Rebel, Hilda, we can do this. If we can-"

  A wall next to them crumbled, blowing a cloud of dust through the corridor where they stood. William magicked it away.

  "There are four layers of living quarters in this pyramid," Kerna quickly continued, "if we can take off the top and then slowly work our way down, that would save as many people as possible."

  "Right. We have to act quickly then. Rebel, can you handle this?" Hilda asked.

  Rebel nodded, she was clearly working at the top of her powers to keep the building together.

  "William, can you go outside and use the broom? We will peel off a layer, you get the people away and let me know when you're done."

  William nodded and ran off, warding off falling pieces of pyramid as he went. As he left the pyramid, people wanted to talk to him, but he ignored them, made his broom jump up and he dashed upwards. Obsidian Shadow stared, slightly annoyed, after the wizard.

  Hilda sensed that William was in position and told Kerna that they could lift the top part from the pyramid. As they did so, William used his magic to direct it away and made it crash in a safe spot.

  As the wizard flew over the dishevelled area of the pyramid, looking for people, Hilda, Kerna and Rebel proceeded to look for people on the lowest level, but their search was in vain. William signalled to his witch that he had found three people and he was taking them away from the pyramid.

  Then the next layer of pyramid was removed, and the procedure was repeated.

  "Hilda, you and the others should get out of there," William warned his witch. "This thing is unstable as I ever saw something."

  "If we leave, it crashes and kills whoever is still here! Move it, wizard!"

  It seemed to take forever, but finally the entire pyramid was empty of living people, except the magical ones inside it.

  "Hilda, get the hell out of that thing!" William yelled, using the bond as well as his throat. "Or I come in to get you!"

  "Don't you dare! We're coming!"

  As the three retreated from the danger zone, more and more of the pyramid collapsed. The debris was kept under control by all four of them.

  When they all were in safety, Rebel was near fainting. She had worn herself out quite extensively. She ended up lying on the ground, in the care of Kerna, two cats and Dwey. The fact that the pyramid fell apart right then was hardly an issue now.

  "She's going to be fine," William said to Gesmarion, who was also kneeling down with Rebel.

  Hilda tapped her wizard on the shoulder. "I think we chose well, William."

  "Why?" William asked as he got up and turned to where the witch was looking.

  From two pyramids a small flow of people came, led by a few people that had been 'elected' into the new provisionary council for the planet.

  "That's great. We chose well indeed, Hilda."

  "I could do with coffee," the witch then said. "Can you arrange some food when I arrange some furniture?"

  Grim rubbed against witchy legs and uttered a pitiful meow.

  "Ohhh, there's my little black girl," Hilda cooed as she picked up the cat. "What did you say?"

  With a frown she looked at William. "We need shelter, sweet wizard. It's going to rain again."

  40. Progress

  Hilda, or perhaps it had been Grimalkin, proved to be correct. The magicals had quickly created some improvised shelter and almost as if the clouds had waited for them, the rain came down as the last person had found a place under the roofs.

  "We were lucky that the rain waited," someone said.

  "That's how things work," Hilda stated. "Well, sometimes." She looked about and saw a few people from the old High Council. "Hey you, get over here!"

  The 'hey you' got over to where the witch was.

  Hilda explained what had been happening at the village they had found, and then told them about the new council. "We need to make sure everyone knows about this. Go and spread the word. Just what I told you, no funny additions of your own, do you hear me?"

  Only then she allowed herself to sit down on a chair and pick up the coffee and sandwiches that William had arranged for the small group.

  "Quite a mess we have here," she commented. "I wonder how long the other three pyramids will last with all that machinery dead and gone."

  "Not long," Kerna was certain. "It might be best if we break them down ourselves, at least take the high parts off and see if we can make the lower areas habitable. There are too many people here to make shelters for."

  "We can use the top parts to make some more temporary homes then," William added. "But not now."

  Everyone agreed. They had been on the go for a long time, and there were enough unharmed people to take care of the others, so there was time for a breather. The magicals knew, however, that they did not have time to waste, as darkness was coming in.

  -=-=-

  Late at night one of the pyramids had been dismantled. The lower floor was intact, most of the people from the pyramid city could at least spend the night there. For the others, there was space under the quickly made rain-roof, and several others found a place to sleep in the larger shuttles that were nearby.

  Hilda and William lay in a large room of the pyramid. They shared it with the new and the old council, Kerna and the two people from the black ship, the Mimosa.

  "Wasn't that a day?" William whispered.

  Hilda nodded. "It was. I hope we can get all this fixed, William. Adventures are fun, but going home is a good thing too. I need a bath, after all this."

  "We all do."

  "Yes," the witch agreed, "you start to smell funny."

  William knew better than to react to that.

  The next day everyone worked together to get more living space set up. In the afternoon a strange shuttle arrived, on board some Lycadeans from another city. They had noticed that there was a problem, while their systems were collapsing as well.

  "We may well have a chain reaction going," Rebel thought out loud, after hearing what the new people had to say. "Maybe, if you still have enough power in that thing, you can go and visit a few more cities to see if they have the same problems."

  The new arrivals, who had been brought up to speed on the latest changes in the situation of the planet, were somewhat reluctant at first, but they quickly were convinced after seeing the wounded people and the collapsed pyramids.

  They promised to check on other villages, but first they said they'd make sure their own people were safe.

  Kerna then ordered the pilots of the local shuttles to fly out to villages as well, to see that the situation there was under control.The pilots did not object. They went as they were told.

  Day after day pilots came in and flew out again, bringing people who had heard the news. Sometimes Hilda or William would accompany them. Kerna was always going along. Word had spread about the witch from Lycadea, and everyone wanted to see her, hear her. At times also people from the new council would go with a shuttle, to talk about the new things that were planned for the planet.

  Hilda, Rebel and William also often visited the distant village, making sure that the people there heard what was going on, and other villages.

  -=-=-

  After many weeks of continuous working, flying and talking, Hilda declared that their work on the planet was done.

  Kerna did not look very convinced, but Rebel and Maurizio, and also the wizard, said that Hilda was
right.

  The small group sat in one of the new cabin-like homes that was set up for The Witch, near the village where they had originally found the old ones.

  "Everything is moving now, Kerna. There are many people now who are supporting the ideas that are started, and slowly it is spreading over the entire planet. We can stay here, but there is nothing more we can do," William said.

  "I understand. It's just..." Kerna slowly patted Dwey. "It's just that I have come to like you so much, and I'm so used to having you around, that it is hard to accept you will not be here anymore."

  She looked around at the faces of the people who had done so much and who had helped to bring the change about. "I'm going to miss you terribly."

  "We'll miss you too, Kerna," said Hilda. "But maybe you will find a cute man here who will wipe you off your broom. Don't give up on that thought."

  "It is not that. Well, maybe it is. But I feel like I still have to learn so much."

  "You don't have to do everything alone, Kerna. Look at the number of people that will run for you," Maurizio reminded her.

  "I know. But they are... not you." Kerna frowned for a moment, then picked up Dwey and looked at the dark face. "We're going to be fine though, aren't we?"

  Dwey made a sound. Kerna grinned and put her pet on the floor. "Yes. You are right. You should be going home."

  This sudden change in her surprised the witch and the wizard, as it did Maurizio and Rebel.

  "When would you like to return to where you came from?"

  "Uhm... what?" Maurizio asked the only conceivable question.

  "You came from somewhere, didn't you? I can show you where to go, to go back there." Kerna rose to her feet.

  "And since when do you know that, Kerna?" Hilda was curious now, Kerna's difference in attitude was amazing.

  "I'm not sure. I think it's because of Dwey, but I am not sure of that either."

  William looked at their cats. "I think Dwey spent too much time with those two."

  Grim and Obsi looked at the wizard. Obsi yawned and pretended to be innocent. Dwey made another sound.

  "Are you certain you want to tell us?" Hilda asked as she rose also.

  "No, but if I don't do it now, I don't know when I will again," Kerna confessed. "If ever."

  The others got up also, understanding that suddenly the moment of saying goodbye had come.

  Everyone hugged everyone. Then Kerna draped Dwey over her shoulder and walked out of the cabin, leading the way. She summoned the brooms for everyone, making Hilda proud. It was not easy calling the broom for another witch.

  William flew Maurizio, Hilda flew Rebel. They took to the sky and followed Kerna to the mountains where they had lived in the cave for a while.

  Hilda started to understand what Kerna had in mind.

  The witch who had been no witch steered her broom directly to the entrance of the cave with its reddish glow.

  After landing the brooms there, Kerna turned to Hilda. "You know, don't you?"

  "I do. It's that strange passage."

  Kerna nodded. "You should go now before I change my mind and keep you here." She smiled a feeble, tired and forced smile.

  "Yes. We should. Say goodbye to everyone from us, will you? And good luck, kid. Maybe we'll come back someday."

  "That would be nice, Hilda. Really nice."

  Hilda nodded. "It would be good if you all hold on to each other," she then said to her followers. She took William's hand.

  When everyone had joined hands, Hilda walked towards the red glow, the others in tow.

  "Hilda?" Kerna said before the witch entered the cave.

  "Yes?"

  "I'm not a kid."

  Hilda laughed. "Whatever you say, kid. Good luck." Then she stepped into the red glow, dragging the others with her.

  The walk through the twisting tunnel was much shorter than the first time, because this time Hilda knew the trick. The four people and two cats ended up in the strange red cave. Hilda explained that this was where Kerna and she regained their magic.

  "This place sizzles with it," she continued, as now she could feel the real deal.

  She searched for the wall of magic that Kerna and she had crossed before while going after the cats, found it and ushered her friends along.

  "Now we have to wait until it gets warm," Hilda stated.

  They waited, but nothing of the warming kind happened.

  "Crappedy crap, am I doing something wrong here? There was heat everywhere, then we found this cold column in the middle, right about there, and then somehow we found this door through which we came into the cave."

  William looked at the witch. "Are you sure you are alright, Hilda?"

  "Never better, wizard. I'm serious. You saw us coming in through the door! I really would like to have a door like that again, so we can go home."

  There was a door.

  "Holy Bejeebus!" the wizard exclaimed. The door had appeared right in front of him.

  Rebel and Maurizio had to calm down their nerves a bit. Then Rebel asked: "Is that the door that leads into the cave again?"

  "I'm not sure. This looks like a different door. I wonder where it leads..." Hilda grabbed the handle and pulled.

  "I think you need to push this one, Hilda."

  "I know that! Just testing if it's solid." Hilda pushed. The door swung open without any resistance.

  Four, no, make that six faces peered through the open door and saw a black void.

  "Wrong door perhaps?" Maurizio wondered. Then he sniffed something. "No. Right door."

  Before anyone could stop him, the captain stepped through the door. His boots landed on a wooden floor. "This is the deck of the Mimosa." He walked a few steps, vanishing in the dark. "And I see a few stars."

  The remaining people near the door heard a crash, a thud and a curse.

  "And more stars," Rebel assumed.

  41. More stars

  Hilda popped up her wand and lit it up. William was right behind her with that. The light showed the pirate captain sprawled out over a roll of rope he had missed - well, actually not - in the dark. The man did not seem to mind his awkward position.

  "We're home!" he yelled out. "And where the hell are the guards on this thing?"

  "Huh? Wha'?" a sleepy voice said from behind an opening door. "Oh, damn, it's you!"

  Behind the man speaking, a decent sea of light spread out over the deck, enough to give the three waiting people the confidence that this was indeed the deck of the Mimosa. As they stepped onto it, the deck lights came on, illuminating the large ship as far as possible, with its black splendour.

  "What kind of a bloody mess is this?" Maurizio roared from his undignified position. "No watch on deck? No lights?"

  "According to the ship's clock it is daytime, captain, so we did not think we would need a watch." The sailor that had woken up rubbed his face. "You do have a point about the lights."

  The captain had worked himself up to his feet.

  "So how did you get back here, captain?" the sailor asked, as more crew members arrived on the deck.

  "Through that door," Maurizio pointed. Then a surprised expression took over his features. "Where's the door?"

  Hilda, William and Rebel turned. The door had vanished, they were standing near the wall of the high deck.

  "It's probably late where you came from," one of the sailors said, "people make mistakes then."

  "I'm not - uhm - yeah, we should get some sleep," Maurizio attempted to save face.

  "And some food," Hilda added. Her wizard agreed with that.

  "Yes, that too," Rebel said, as she looked around the ship. "At least this place looks still in order."

  They moved through the layers of sailors that had formed and made their way to the strange automatic kitchen. Nothing had changed there.

  When they sat at a table in the giant dining room, Hilda said she was relieved that the food on board was a lot better than the mistake for oatmeal the machine on Lycadea had spat o
ut. "At least we had a good wizard cook there to make it edible."

  Rebel and Maurizio laughed about that as they dug into their food.

  Then Maurizio called the sailors in, to hear how they had gotten through all that time. Big was the surprise when Xander told them that it had only been a few days.

  "At least we think it was a few days. Always hard to tell when there is no difference between day and night."

  The sailors were then treated to what the magicals, the captain and Rebel had seen and done. By the time all was said and all questions were answered, everyone was seriously tired, so beds were located and sighs of relief were uttered. In one bed the sighs came after a period of other sounds.

  -=-=-

  The next day they tried to think of ways to get Hilda and William back home.

  "Best thing we could have," Maurizio said, "is that we get hit by an asteroid or something."

  "That does not sound like the best thing," William objected. "That sounds like we're being destroyed, with the ship."

  "This is the Mimosa, remember? It is not just a ship. It plays with asteroids."

  "Just a nuisance that asteroids not often want to come and play," Rebel remarked.

  "So we have to make something happen," Hilda decided. "I wonder what this ship of yours can do when we give it a little nudge."

  "Nudge?" Maurizio's voice conveyed worry. He had seen this witch in action, and her casual use of the word 'nudge' gave him slight reason for distress. "You are not going to nudge the steam system of the Mimosa, Hilda. This is sensitive machinery, exquisite craftsmanship, and should be handled that way."

  "Yes, that is why the hammers and chains are there," Rebel chuckled, "and the big wrenches, the heavy protective clothing and the goggles."

  William demanded to see the engine room. Maurizio first considered objecting, but seeing how the wizard had saved them a few times, together with Rebel, he gave in and took them below deck.

  Close to the big doors they found the huge bulk of the metal man they had seen as they had first come aboard this remarkable ship.

  Maurizio looked pleased that the contraption was taken care of well. Then he showed them the engines of exquisite craftsmanship.

  Hilda and William were overwhelmed by the number of copper pipes, the gauges and valves. Huge copper barrels with all kinds of shiny metal bits, six in a row, were the propulsion system, according to the captain.

  "Those need most of the hammering," Rebel revealed. 'We just don't hit the thin parts, or the bits that look breakable."

  "So how does this ship jump?" William asked. "Does it have to do with these things?"

  "Maybe." Maurizio sounded very certain about that.

  "I don't know either," Rebel said in her defence, as the witch and wizard looked at her.

  "Is there some connection from these things to the crystal?" William asked. He was nearing the end of his technical knowledge. That had never been much and living with Hilda had deteriorated it rapidly.

  "Could be. We never took the trouble to look at that."

  "Aha."

  "I think we have to do something with that crystal," Hilda said. "From a distance. I don't want it to whack me a second time. Once was too often already."

  Her suggestion made sense, so the four went to the deck again and walked over to the crystal. Several sailors were scrubbing the boards, probably because there was nothing else to do.

  "Where did they get the water?" Hilda wondered.

  "The kitchen of course," Rebel enlightened the witch.

  Hilda grinned and stopped walking. "I