by Eric Filler
weaktofreethemselves.
Valcalledforthemtostopatthemummifiedcorpse.Shemotionedtothe writingonthewall.“What’sthatsay?”sheaskedKari.
“Nothing.”
“Itsayssomething.”Valwaggedafingerather.“Ifyoutrytohide somethingfromme,I’llbeveryunhappy.Andyouknowwhatwillhappen then.”
Karididknowwhatwouldhappenthen;shewouldenduplikeJeriorback asMolegirlorsomethingevenworse.“Itdoeththaythomething,butit’thalot ofnonthenthe.Thethtonemuththavedrivenhimmad.Therealfindithdeeper inthecave.”
VallookedintoKari’seyesforamoment,asiftryingtogaugewhethershe werelyingornot.Thenshenodded.“Whereisit?”
“Icanthhowyou,butit’dbeeathierifIcouldwalk.”
ValnoddedtoSheri,whodroppedKarihardonherrear.Shecriedoutin painandrubbedherbottom.“Youdon’thavetobethomean,”shewhined.
“Showuswhereitis,”Valcommanded.
“Fine.”Karitookamomenttogetherbearingsandthensetoutinthe directionshehadgonebefore.WithVal’sflashlightKaricouldseemoreofthe cavethanbefore.Therewasn’tmuchtosee,though,justalotofrockandafew crystalformations.NoneofthesecrystalslookedsimilartotheStoneofChange atall;theyweretooraggedaswelltobetheotherhalfofthestonethedeadman hadmentioned.
TheywanderedthecaveforwhatseemedlikehoursasKaritriedto rememberwheretheyhadturned.Thesecondtimetheypassedaclusterof whitecrystals,therewasaflashofwhitelight.Karishrunkintoatoddlermaybe ayearolderthanJeri.HerdressbecamepinkoverallslikethoseJeriworewhile herlonghairbounditselfintoapairofpigtails.Karistompedapinksneaker andshouted,“I’mtwyingmybest!”
“TwyharderbeforeSherihastocarryyouagain.”
Withthisaddedmotivation,Karistudiedwheretheywere.Sheclosedher eyesandtriedtorememberhowshehadgottentothewallthefirsttimeandhow she’dgonefromtherebacktothecaveentrance.Itwasevenmoredifficultnow thatshewassmaller,butshefinallysetoutinonedirection.
Afterafewturns,theyfinallymadeit.Karipointedatthewallexcitedly.
“Thisisit!”
“It’sjustawall,”Valsaid.SheglaredatKari,readytousetheStoneof Changeagain.
“Nuh-uh.Therecwystalsonthewawthatmakeancientsymbows.They
say‘Home.’”
Valstudiedthewallcloser.Shetouchedoneofthesymbols.“Itlookslike you’reright.Sowhatdowedonow?”
“Yougottausethestone.Thatonwythingthatcanmakeitgoagain.”
“AndhowdoIdothat?”
Karishrugged.“Twytoputitagainstasymbow.”
ValtooktheStoneofChangefromthenecklacearoundherneck.She cuppeditinherhand.Karistaredatitandthenwithawhimperpressedherself againstSheri.JeriburiedherfaceagainstTeri’schest.“Ifthisdoesn’twork, youbratsaregoingtoendupinthatlava,”Valgrumbled.
Thensheputthestoneagainstoneofthesymbols.Whenthestonebegan toglow,Karibracedherselftoendupindiapersorsomethingworse.Theother symbolsonthewallbegantoglowaswell.Momentslater,theentiredoorshone withblindingwhitelight.
BeforeValcouldsayanything,shewassuckedintothelight.Karilatched ontoastalagmitetoavoidthesamefate.Partofherscreamedtoletgososhe couldfollowValandhopefullyfindtherestofthestone;therestofherwasa scaredlittlegirlthatdidn’twanttofacetheunknown.
ShewatchedasTeridroppedJeritograbontoanotherstalagmite.Kari triedtograbthebaby’shand,butshewastoofaraway.WithascreamJeriwas suckedintothevoid.Karifelthertinyfingersbeginningtolosetheirgrip.Her legswereliftedintotheairbythedoorway.Millimeterbymillimeterherfingers losttheirpurchaseontherockuntilatlastshewashurtledintothewhitelight.
Chapter8
KariawoketoJeri’svoicewhisperinginherear,“Youwerewrong,Kari.
Beingvainandselfishisevilenoughforthestone.”
AsJerigiggled,Kariopenedhereyes.Whenshedid,shesawJerilooked asshehadwhenKarihadfirstbeguntoworkinTai’sofficewithlongblondhair, flawlessskin,hugebreasts,andanhourglass-shapedfigure.Aroundherneck dangledtheStoneofChange.
AcamouflagedsleeveswattedatJeri’smidsection.“That’smine!Giveit back!”Valwhined.Shewasarotundtoddlernowcladinonlythecamouflaged jacketthathadbecomemanysizestoobigforher.
“Sorry,sweetie,butfinderskeepers,”Jerisaid.Asshedangledthestone outofVal’sreach,itwinkedather.Thecamouflagejacketbecameamintgreen dresslikeJeriandthenKarihadworn.Val’sshorthairgrewlongerandlonger, untilitreachedpastherwaist.Apairofthickglassesthesamecolorasherdress appearedonherface.
“Nofair!”Valshriekedandstampedonetinyfoot.“Owgetitback!”
“I’msureyou’lltwy,”Jeriteased.Sheshovedthetoddlerasideandthen tookKari’shand.“Isn’titwonderful?Icameoutofthatscarylightandfound herpassedoutontheground.AllIhadtodowastakethestoneandIbecame meagain.”
KariglancedoveratVal,whowasstillpoutingaboutlosingthestone,and thenupatJeri.“Whatareyougoingtodotome?”
“I’mnotgoingtopunishyou,Kari.You’remy littlesister.”
WhenJeriheldupamirror,Kariwasrelievedtoseeshehadbecomea teenageragain.Thickredhairwentdowntohershoulderswithbangsthat obscuredherforehead.Herglassesweregonenow,butfrecklesstilldottedher cheeks.Shelookeddowntoseeslightbreastsandaflatwaisthiddenbeneatha pinkT-shirtandbluejeans.Sheknewshewassupposedtobetheslightly tomboyishlittlesisterofhermuch-prettierbigsister.Itwasbetterthanbeinga toddlerlikeValatleast.
KaritookJeri’shandtogettoherfeet.Shewasabouttencentimeters shorterthanJeri;shewasprobablynotanyolderthanfourteen.“Thanks,”she said.“Butyoushouldn’tusethatstoneanymore.Youshouldputitaway somewhere,beforeyouenduplikeTaiorVal.”
“Ohdon’tbesuchaworrywart.I’mthesameasIalwayswas,”Jerisaid.
Kariknewbetterthantoarguethispoint.IntimeJeriwouldbecomejustas cruelandspitefulasTaiandVal.SheneededonlytolookoveratlittleValtosee
thebeginningsofthattransformation.ButmaybebeforeJeriwastoofargone, sheandKaricouldfindtheotherhalfofthestone.No,shecouldn’taskfor Jeri’shelp;shewouldneverriskgivingupthepowershehad.Shewouldhave todothisbyherself.
ItwasonlythenthatKarilookedaroundhertoseewheretheyhadlanded.
ItwasaplanetnotthatdissimilarfromPhera,exceptallthecolorsweremuted.
Thegrasswasagrayish-greenandtheskysolightblueitwaspracticallywhite.
Thesoilwasdarker,almostblack,fromwhichgrewtreeswithdrooping brancheslikewillows.Fromthehumidityintheair,shesurmisedtheywere probablynearaswamp.
Shegaspedwithsurpriseassomethingfelloutofawillow-liketree.Kari hurriedovertoseealittlegirlafewyearsyoungerthanher.Thegirlhadlong brownhairparteddownthemiddleandglassesalmostasthickasVal’s.Her scrawnybodywascladinayellowT-shirtandwhitejeansnowstainedwithdirt andgrass.
“Sheri?”
Tearswelledupinthegirl’sbrowneyes.Shenoddedslightly.“I’mSheri.”
“AndTeri,”sheaddedinaslightlydeepervoice.
“You’re bothofthem?”
“Yes,”SheriandTerisaidwithawhimper.
“It’ssosad,”Jerisaid.“Theyfusedtogetherwhentheywentthroughthe doorwayatthesametime.”
“Can’tyouchangethembackwiththestone?”
“I
couldtry,butwe’dprobablyendupwithtworetards.Ortwocorpses,”
Jerisaid.“TheirbrainsaresomuchalikethatifItriedtopullthemapartit woulddamagethemboth.”
“Sowehavetostaythisway?”
“Forever?”
Jerireacheddowntotouslethegirl’shair.“Don’tworry,I’msureoneof youwilltakeovereventually.Thentheotherwilldisappear.Fornowwhat shouldIcallyou?Sheri?Teri?Sheriteri?Orhowabout…Shteri!”
“That’snotfunny!”
“Changeusback!”
“Itoldyou,Shteri,Ican’t.Nowcomeon,wehavethingstodo.”
KarihelpedShteritoherfeet.Thegirl’sfirststepswerelikethoseofa newbornfour-leggedanimalashertwobrainsstruggledtocontrolhertwolegs.
KarireachedouttograbShteri’srightarmtosteadyher.Thegirlleanedagainst herastheyfollowedafterJeri.
“Waitup!”Valwhinedandthenrantocatchupwiththemastheysetoff
intoanewworld.
***
Foratleastanhourtheyploddedalongthroughgrassthatbecamedeeper andsoilthatbecamesoggier.AsJerihadonKif,Valstruggledtokeepupwith them.Karimighthaveofferedtohelp,butshestillhadtohelpShterialong,the girlstillnotseemingtohavehersenseofequilibriumyet.
AssheheardValhuffandpuffbehindher,Kariknewsheshouldbeglad.
Valhaddoneterriblethingstoher,Jeri,andthetwins.YetitstillpainedKarito seethewomanshehadoncelovedreducedtosuchapatheticstate.Atthesame time,sheknewValhadnosuchsympathyforher;shehaddelightedin tormentingKariaboardtheship.
Aheadofher,Jeristoppedandsighed.“Thisissuchanuglyplanet,”she said.“Whydidthegatewaybringushere?”
“Idon’tknow,”Karimumbled.
“Ourancestorscouldn’thavecomefromhere,couldthey?Theycouldn’t havelivedinallthisgrossmuckandgoneontomakebeautifulpeoplelikeme.”
“Maybetheylivedonanotherpartoftheplanet.Orconditionsmighthave changedsincethen.Itwasalongtimeago.”
“Idon’tcare.I’mnotwalkingforonemoreminutethroughthismess.It’s gettingmyshoesalldirty.”
TheStoneofChangeflashedbrightenoughtoblindKari.Whenhervision cleared,shesawlushgreenhillswithastonepaththroughthegrass.Thewillow treeshadbecometallerdeciduoustreeslikeoaksandelms.Eventhesky seemedbrighterbluethanbefore.
“Jeri,whatdidyoudo?Youcan’tjustchangethisplanet’senvironment—”
“Icantoo.Nowit’smuchmorecomfortable.”
“Foryou.Whataboutanyonewholiveshere?”
“They’llgetusedtoit.Don’tbesuchawhinybrat.”
“But—”Kari’ssentencecutoffaseverythingaroundhergrewlarger.Her T-shirtandpantsbecamelargeruntilthepantsfelldowntopoolatheroversized sneakers.BeforelongshewasshorterthanShteri,thoughnotquiteasshortas Val.Whenitwasover,thesleevesthatwentdowntoalmostherwristsretracted untiltheyonlyhunglooseatherelbows.Asshebentdowntopullupherjeans, herfeetbecameblurry.Sheflailedarounduntilatherfeetshediscoveredapair ofthickglasses.Theseputtheworldbackintofocus.Shepulledupherpants andcinchedherpinkbelttightersothepantswouldstayup.
JeriheldupamirrorsoKaricouldseeherselffully.Shehadtoresist smilingatwhatshesaw.Nowthatherhairwasstringierandlightbrown,she lookedlikeascrawnyversionofherselfatsevenyearsold.Forthefirsttimein
twoyears,shereallyfeltlikeKariChomar.“Whenyoustopbehavinglikeone thenyoucanbeprettieragain,”Jerisaid.
“Fine,”Karisaidwithahufftomaskhersecretpleasureatthischange.
BehindKari,Valsnickered.“Lookslikeshe’snotasmuchofafriendas youthought,”Valhissedinavoicethatsoundedolderthanhercurrent appearance.
“IsMolegirlstillhere?”Jerisnapped.
“IamnotMow-girw!”Valshouted,butwhentheStoneofChangewinked, Val’sbodybecamefatter,untilherdresslookedreadytotearattheseams.“Just youwaituntiwIgetthestoneback!Owmakeyoupayforthis!”
“Keepthatup,younglady,andyou’regoingtogetaspanking.”
Valhuffed,butdidn’tsayanything.Jeriturnedawayandbegantotrot downtheroadshehadcreated.KarifollowedbehindwithShterileaningagainst her,whichwasmoredifficultnowthatShteriwastallerthanher.Thegirlhadn’t saidmuchsofar.Forthemostpartshejustwincedwithpaineverynowand then.“Areyouallright?”Kariasked.
“Wehaveaheadache,”Shterisaid.
“It’sjustyourneuralpathwaysintegrating,”Karisaid.Sayingthismade herfeelmorelikeherselfagain.“You’llbefineinafewhours.”
“Butwhowillwebe?”
“Idon’tknow,”Karisaid,butshesuspectedSheriwouldbetheonewho cameoutontop.Sherihadbeenthestrongerpersonalityofthetwins,theone whousuallyspokefirst.PoorTerithenwouldsimplyfadeawayintonothing.If onlythereweresomewaytohelpher,butKaribelievedwhatJerihadsaid.
TryingtopullaparttwomindssosimilartothoseofSheriandTeriwould probablypermanentlydamageorkillbothofthem.“Justhanginthere.”
AndthenKarisawthefigureonthehilllookingdownatthem.
Part3:TheNewWorld
Chapter9
Sanalefthomebeforedawn.Fatherhadtaughtherthatinsummeritwas besttogogrubhuntingbeforethesunwasup.Oncethesunroseandthe swampsbegantowarm,thegrubswouldburrowdeepintothesoil,whichmade themmuchhardertolocateandtoextract.
Itseemedlatelyshehadtogofartherandfartherinordertofindagrubbed withenoughofthecreaturestomakeitworthwhile.Beforelongshewouldhave tosleepinthedaysoshecouldgetupearlyenoughtofindsomewheretohunt.
Butwhatwasthealternative?SinceFatherhaddied,theyhadlittleincome,not nearlyenoughtopurchasegrubsfromthemarket.Atleastnotforallofthem.
ThatwasthediscussionsheandMotherhadhadthepreviousevening,after thehatchlingshadgonetosleep.NowthatSanahadshedherjuvenileskin,she wasanadultfemale.Thismadeheravailableformarriage.Motherindicated therewereanumberofattractiveoffersfrommaleswhocouldprovideagood dowry,adowrythatcouldallowMotherandtheotherstoliveforyears.
Sanahadputhermotherofflastnight,butsoonthediscussionswould becomemoreserious.Shewouldhavetomarrysothefamilycouldsurvive.
YetsherememberedwhatFatherhadtoldherouthereintheswamp.“Youare notahatchlinganymore.Youshouldnotletothersdecideyourlifeforyou.”
ShehadwantedtotellMothershecouldn’tgetmarried.Shedidn’tlove anyoftheproposedsuitors.Mostofthemshehadneverseenbefore.Yet Motherexpectedhertomarryone,livewithhim,andlayeggsforhis hatchlings.Shewassupposedtoturnoverherentirelifetoastranger.Butifshe didn’t,herfamilywouldsoonlosetheirhomeandbeforcedtolivelikeanimals inthewilds.
Assheponderedthis,shestuckherclawedhandsintotheground.Hernose indicatedthereweregrubsdowninthemuck.Father’swisdomwasright;the grubshadnotyetburroweddeepintothesoil.Shedugupanentirecolony, enoughtofeedtheentirefamily.Shedroppedthegrubsandenoughsoilintoher buckettosustainthemforthetripback.
SheshouldgobackrightawaytogiveMotherthegrubs,butshedidn’t.
Insteadshelayintheswamp,thecoolwaterandmudsoothingthemusclesin herback.Therewasananimalisticpleasuretolyinginthemuckthewayher forefathershaddone,backwhenallofherpeoplehadbeenhuntersand foragers.Nowbathslikethesewerefortherichwhileonlythepoorhadtohunt orforageforfood.
Sanastaredupatthesky.Thesunhadalready
startedtorise.Soonthe
lightwouldchaseawaythedarkness.Sanaknewsheshouldgohome,butshe didn’twantto.Assoonasshedid,Motherwouldpressheronthemarriage topicagain.
Shedidn’tknowwhatsheshoulddo.Shehadalwaysputthefamilyfirst andyetthissituationwasdifferent.Thistimeshewasn’tgivingupsomething childishlikeplayingwithherfriends;thistimeshewastogiveupherfreedom.
Wasitthatselfishofhertowanttohaveachancetoliveherownlifebeforeshe settleddown?
Whatlife?shemused.Herliferightnowconsistedofgrubhunting,caring forthehatchlings,andmakingtheoccasionaltriptothemarket.Besidesher timeouthereinthewild,heronlyotherpleasurewaswhenshecouldgotothe templetoreadsomeoftheancientstories.Thosestorieswerefilledwith adventure,recountinghowthegreatheroesandarmiesofShadahaddriventhe smooth-skinsdeepunderground,wheretheypassedintolegend.
Asshelaythere,Sanaheardwhatshethoughtatfirstwasthescreechofa bird.Butsoonothercallsjoinedit.Thepatternofthesoundswastoorhythmic tobeabird’scry.Thesewerevoices!Sanaroseintoacrouchtolistenbetter.
Thevoicesweren’ttalkinginanytribaldialectsheknew.Thesemustbethe voicesofShadansfromadistantland.
Onrareoccasionsthevillagedidreceivevisitorsfromfaraway.Those travelerswereusuallymerchantsorroyaltaxcollectors.Othersweretribal outcastswhohadnochoicebuttoroamthecountrysideaftertheyhadbeen strippedoftheirtribalname.Theywerereferredtoas“thenameless.”The namelesswerealwaysshunned,forcedtoleavethevillagequicklylesttheir curseinfectthevillage.
Forthisreasonmanyofthenamelesshadbecomebandits,preyingon anyonetheycameacross.Sanaheardthevoicesbecominglouder.Sheflipped overontoherbellysoshewouldbeabletoseethemastheyapproached.With herhands,shechurnedupsomemudtocamouflagethewoodenbucket.Aslong astheydidn’tpassbytooclosely,theyshouldn’tbeabletoseeher.
