by Bryan Davis
A glass egg floated from behind Listener’s head and hovered near her ear. “What’s that?” Lauren asked, pointing.
Sir Barlow knelt with pen in hand while Tamara held the scroll open. “Second Eden natives have floating orbs they call companions,” he said. “They speak guidance into their minds.”
Lauren whispered to herself, “Companions. How strange.” Blinking away the trance, she continued working with Apollo. “Are you making progress?”
Sir Barlow wrote with quick, jerking strokes. “Indeed, Miss, but this surface is not suitable for neatness. The pen has perforated the paper multiple times.”
“Just do the best you can.” Lauren let her advice echo in her mind. She had to keep trying. Apollo couldn’t be expected to analyze something so variable, but maybe it would eventually recognize a pattern.
Listener rose and extended her hand. “We cannot wait. We have to go to higher ground before the lava and fumes arrive.”
“We can’t haul so many wounded people to higher ground, much less a wounded dragon.” Matt pointed at the hole. “This might be a way for everyone to get out safely. It’s a portal to another world.”
Listener squinted at the hole. Her companion joined her, glowing blue. “I have seen portals open and close in this garden before, so I trust your words, but unless it opens wider soon, we have no choice but to leave. Albatross will help us with Karrick.” She turned and walked toward the field. “Make your decision quickly. We need your help.”
“Finished.” Tamara rolled the paper tightly and pushed it through the hole.
When it dropped in front of Matt’s knees, he snatched it up. “Wait!”
Listener had crouched at the garden’s edge and appeared to be whispering to the woman wrapped in leather. “What is it?”
“They sent me a message.” He rolled out the note and read it loudly enough for Listener to hear. “I, Sir Barlow, along with Lauren and Tamara, are in the museum room in Hades.”
“Tamara?” Listener jumped up and hurried back. “She’s my biological mother.”
Matt unrolled the paper to its edges. “We stumbled into creating a portal by pruning the tree of life, but we have yet to figure out how to pass something through it that is greater in size than a pen or finger. We hope to create a bigger hole, but the devices by which we hope to do so will take some time to engage.”
He rolled up the note. “Lauren can hear me, but I can’t hear her. She has special hearing gifts.”
“So do I.” Listener scooted close on her knees. Her reddish-brown eyes shining brightly, she tilted her head. “Speak, Lauren. How much time will it take for you to open a way of escape for us?”
“I …” Lauren looked at Tamara and Barlow. Both stared back with clueless expressions. “I don’t know. We have two possibilities. I have a device called Apollo that reads spectral data and creates a portal-opening flash according to what it reads, but the light in here is fluctuating too much for it to work. We also have a burning tree. When we first pruned it, a hole opened to Second Eden, so later we pruned the rest of it, and that created viewports of Second Eden and three other worlds, but we can’t seem to enter any of them. The first hole is still here, and things can pass through it, but that’s the only spot like that. If I stick my hand through any other place, it just stays in our world.”
Listener relayed Lauren’s message to Matt. After nodding, he spoke slowly. “Lauren, were there any differences between the first pruning and the second one?”
“Well, Tamara did the first one, and she used the leaves to heal Sir Barlow. He was wounded and was lying outside the museum room. When we came back, he did the rest of the pruning, so the only difference is who did the cutting, but it’s too late for Tamara to cut it now. At least I think it is.”
Again Listener relayed the message. With each inflection, it seemed that her companion echoed the emotion with varying shades of blue or red blinking lights.
“That’s not the only difference. The new leaves haven’t healed anyone yet.” Matt set his eye close to the hole again. “I see glowing leaves all around the tree. I assume those are the cuttings.”
Lauren nodded. He could probably see her gesture.
Matt’s face and eye shifted as he scanned the museum room. When he finished, he drew back. “Push some of the leaves through to us, but be sure to send the ones that created this portal, not the other portals. We’ll use them to heal people here.”
Listener pulled the hem of her shirt and made a basket. “I will carry them.”
“Get the leaves.” Lauren pushed Apollo to the side and crawled toward the tree. “Just the ones on the Second Eden side.”
She scooped up two handfuls of glowing leaves, brought them to the portal, and began pushing them through the hole one by one. As with the pen and her finger, they passed through a membrane that offered some resistance but not enough to bend them.
Listener scooted close and caught them with her shirt. Sir Barlow swept more leaves toward the portal with his meaty hands, while Tamara gathered two handfuls at a time and deposited them at Lauren’s side.
“I think we have all of them, Miss. If I were to collect more, I think I would risk getting some that created the Earth portal.”
“Good job.” Lauren continued pushing leaves through, faster now. “I don’t want even a tiny hole for the gunmen to use.”
“Well, that possibility exists. I cannot be one hundred percent sure that my feet didn’t push leaves into another area while I was pruning.”
Lauren stopped with a leaf halfway through. “Sir Barlow, think. Did you always move in a circle around the tree without going back to prune an earlier section? If you did, then your feet wouldn’t have swept anything back.”
He shook his head. “I cannot be sure. In my day, I was a meticulous gardener, so it is in my nature to go back and prune if I notice a flaw, but I did work quickly, and I don’t remember retreating to an earlier section.”
“I hope that’s good enough.” Lauren pushed the leaf the rest of the way and called through the portal. “Listener, take what you have and rub them into people’s wounds. If they have internal injuries, force them to chew and swallow the leaves.”
“I will try them on Karrick as well.” Listener closed the edges of her shirt around the leaves, exposing muscular abs. She rose and ran like the wind into the field.
From the edge of the garden, the woman with the leather covering climbed to her feet, unsteady. The covering expanded into a pair of wings.
Lauren stared. “Mom?”
Mom turned and staggered toward Matt, her legs stiff. He leaped up and helped her settle in front of the portal. The song grew slightly louder, though still fragile.
“Matt,” Lauren said, “you didn’t tell me Mom is with you. She looks sick.”
Matt rubbed Mom’s back, but he didn’t answer. Lauren winced. Right. He couldn’t hear her, and now Listener was gone. No one could relay her messages to him.
While Matt whispered into Mom’s ear, Mount Elijah continued spewing glowing ash but no worse than before. The real dangers lay closer, though invisible for now. Soon, they would be overrun by lava and poisonous fumes. Everyone had to hurry. In the field, Listener ran among the lean-tos passing around leaves to the victims. Her bare feet pounding the debris, she was doing everything she could, apparently ignoring the pain from any sharp edges.
“Look, Mom,” Matt said as he pointed at the hole. “This is a portal to the museum room. Lauren’s in there. She can hear us, but we can’t hear her. We think we’ve figured out a way to make the hole bigger so the Second Edeners can go there for protection.”
Her skin pale and her features sagging, Mom blinked. “Lauren, I’m proud of you and Matt.” Her voice was little more than a whisper. “What is the mechanism for opening it?”
Matt showed her a leaf. “It’s from the tree of life. When a leaf heals someone, part of the portal opens. At least that’s my theory.”
He set the leaf in her hand. “Try eating one. Maybe it’ll help you.”
She pushed the leaf into her mouth and chewed for a moment before swallowing with a grimace. “If the portal opens, how will you close it after the people get in there?”
“Good question.” Matt spoke toward the portal again. “Lauren? I assume you heard Mom.”
Lauren blinked. Close it? The thought hadn’t come up. Of course they needed to close it. Otherwise, once the Second Edeners came inside, the lava and fumes would just follow them, making the museum room a trap instead of an escape.
Matt turned back to Mom. “I guess she’s got a way to close it. She’s smart. She’s probably thought it all through.”
Lauren’s cheeks flushed hot. The compliment came with a slap, though Matt didn’t intend it.
“What … wrong?” Tamara touched Lauren’s cheek. “You … glowing.”
Lauren laid a hand over her cheek. “Listener’s out there using the leaves to heal people, and that’ll probably open the portal, but we have to figure out how to close it again once they get in here.”
Barlow waved a hand in front of the tree, but it cast no shadow on the portal. “Hmmm. No effect.”
Lauren nodded. “I’ve already tried that.”
“Is it possible to extinguish the flames once they are burning?”
“Probably. Nearly all of it was extinguished a little while ago.”
“I will give it a try. With Listener running around like a healing rabbit, the portal might soon be wide open.”
“Try it close to the edge.” Lauren pointed toward the left side of the Second Eden portal. “We don’t want to snuff out a spot in the middle.”
“Agreed.” Wincing at the light, Sir Barlow walked up to the tree and pressed a fiery leaflet between his gloves. As he rubbed them together, smoke rose from in between, then fizzled. When he backed away, the fire at the end of the twig had vanished. At the portal, a tiny black dot appeared at the left edge.
Lauren breathed a sigh. “Good. At least we know we can close it.” She peered through the hole again.
Matt offered Mom another leaf. “You look like you still need a boost.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think the leaf helped much, if at all. My weakness is not the result of illness or injury.”
“I guess it was worth a try.”
“It didn’t do any harm.” She stroked his arm. “When you open this portal, I will have to stay behind with you and Listener.”
“What?” Matt drew his head back. “Why? You’re exhausted. You need to go to a safe place.”
“I had a dream.” As Mom replied, her song grew slowly louder. “You and I have to go somewhere else, and we can’t get there unless we stay in Second Eden.”
“A dream? You can’t stay here just because of a dream.” Matt’s volume also increased. “Dreams are usually senseless. I just had a dream about taking Darcy home in a convertible, but that’ll never happen. That would be crazy.”
“I heard Matt,” Barlow said, “but he shouldn’t be speaking to his mother that way.”
Tamara swatted Barlow’s arm. “He … upset. … Pro … protecting mother.”
“Matt!” Lauren shouted. “I think the portal’s opening! Can you hear me?”
He looked her way. “Yes. I see more of the tree, but it’s like a jigsaw puzzle with a lot of pieces missing.”
“I see a complete picture of you and Mom. Can you show me where the holes are?”
After helping Mom rise, Matt reached out. His fingers poked into the museum room, one above the original hole and another through a third hole just below the new one.
Lauren touched one of Matt’s fingertips. “I see the holes now, but only because your fingers are there.”
“Maybe I can stretch them.” Tensing his muscles, Matt pulled against the borders of the holes until his fingers slid away. “No good. The holes feel pliable, but they won’t budge.”
Flames shot up beyond the field. Smoke billowed, obscuring the volcano. “Look behind you!” Lauren called.
Matt swiveled his head. “The lava’s coming.”
Mom set a fist over her mouth and coughed. “The fumes … are getting thicker. We have to get the people over here.”
Matt set his hands on Mom’s shoulders. “Stay here. I’ll round them up.” He ran into the field, shouting, but the cries of the others washed out his words. In the distance, Listener grabbed his arm and pulled him out of view, both coughing.
“Masks!” Lauren pointed at the ladder. “Barlow! There’s a package of masks up there and a brown bottle. Bring them down.”
“On my way, Miss.” He ran to the ladder and began a lumbering climb.
“Lauren.” Mom pushed a hand through a larger hole. “Come closer.”
Lauren took her hand, cold and clammy. “Yes?”
After coughing twice more, Mom pulled her shirt collar up over her mouth and nose. “Remember how we dreamed about Joran and Selah?”
“Sure. I remember. And it was all true.”
“That’s because you and I are dream oracles. We see realities in our dreams. I learned from a recent dream that you will have to lead the people to Abaddon’s Lair. There you will meet Abaddon.” Mom aimed her eyes at his portal. “I see that he is already visible. He is a mysterious dragon and extremely odd, so you will have to keep your wits about you. He is sure to test you, and he likely won’t help you unless you pass the test. Avoid long conversations with him. He will play with your mind using riddles and alliteration, which might cause you to pay attention to the words instead of their meaning. Don’t let him get the best of you. Stay confident. Be assertive. If you wilt under pressure, all will be lost.”
“What kind of test will he give me?”
“I don’t know, but it will likely involve sacrifice. I realize that sounds scary. It was for me. I was your age at the time, and it cost me a lot of pain and suffering, but God got me through it.” Mom squeezed Lauren’s hand. “You have amazing strength and courage. You glow for a reason.”
“Thank you.” Lauren exhaled. “What do we do when we get to Abaddon’s Lair?”
“I know only that you must find a woman who is called The Maid, but I can’t see the future, only the past and the present, so I’m not sure what she will do to help you.”
Lauren tightened her grip on Mom’s hand. “Then how do you know I’m supposed to go there?”
“In my dream, I saw The Maid in Abaddon’s Lair. She is preparing a dining table with dozens of seats as well as many beds. She is waiting for you and the refugees of Second Eden to arrive.”
Lauren looked past the tree to the dragon still reading at the table. He stared at her once again with flashing blue eyes. “I think the dragon is also waiting for me.”
“Knowing Abaddon, he probably is.” Mom nodded toward the Earth scene. “You have to leave the other portals visible. You will need them eventually.”
“Leave them visible? You mean, keep the leaves burning?”
“Or at least make sure you can light them later. It’s just something I learned in the dream.”
Barlow jumped down from the ladder, carrying the package and the bottle. “I have them, Miss. I apologize for the delay. I banged my head against a rafter of some sort and nearly knocked myself out.” He showed her the package. “I counted six masks, hardly enough for everyone.”
“They’ll help.” Lauren touched the bottle. “Sprinkle the liquid over them.”
“Gladly.” Barlow knelt and began the procedure.
Mom stepped up to the portal and pushed her arms and head through, but her body and wings stayed in Second Eden, blocked by the incomplete sections. She wrapped her arms around Lauren and pulled her close. “I love you, Lauren. I love you with all my heart.”
Lauren returned the embrace. Mom’s tears moistened her shoulder. As warmth radiated between their bodies, Lauren shed tears of her own. After a few seconds, she took
a breath and drew back, wiping her wet cheeks with her sleeve. “Where are you and Matt going?”
“To Earth. Billy needs our help.”
“And Walter and Ashley and a few more.” Lauren nodded toward the ground in Second Eden. “Read the note on that rolled-up piece of paper. It’ll give you an update.” She pulled the phone from her pocket and slid it into Mom’s hand. “I think you’ll need this more than I will.”
Mom shook her head and pushed the phone back. “You keep it. When I find Walter and Ashley, I can use one of their phones. I’ll be fine.”
Lauren set a hand on Mom’s cheek. “You look so tired.”
“Yes, I know, but explaining why would take too long.” Mom looked at Sir Barlow. “Noble knight, will you protect my daughter?”
Barlow rose with the dripping masks and gave her a low bow. “With all my strength, Madam. You can count on me.”
“I … too.” Tamara hooked her arm around Barlow’s and pointed at her head. “I plan … He talk.”
Lauren smiled. They would make a good team. She took the masks and passed them through the portal. “For those staying behind.”
Mom took them and slipped one on. After taking a deep breath, she nodded. “I can tell the difference.”
A muscular man with a black bandana wrapped around his face ran into the garden, carrying six empty buckets by their handles, three in each hand. A companion zipped along at his shoulder, flashing rapidly. “Bonnie,” he called as he set the buckets down. “I know you are tired, but please help me place one of these at each plant. I must collect the babies along with some of the sacred soil.”
“Of course.” Mom put one of the treated masks over his face, took three of the buckets, and hurried away, beating her wings to boost her along.
Matt bustled into the scene, now wearing a dark cloak and leading a crowd into the garden, some carrying wounded people on litters. All wore makeshift masks that looked like torn clothing remnants.
Listener burst to the front of the line. “I ran out of leaves. I was able to heal Karrick. He’s just arrived with the remaining survivors from Peace Village.”
