“We—” Clover started to say. He stopped himself when he realized that the celebrating had come a bit too early.
Without a running start they hadn’t swung out far enough to make it to the other side. They swung back and forth a few times and finally stopped. The two of them were just dangling over the middle of the canyon, hanging from the red vine attached to a high tree branch. They looked back to the side they had just come from and could see the young onus walking away.
“What now?” Clover asked, looking down.
“Simple,” Geth said, sounding far too calm for the present situation. “I’ll just climb up the vine into the branches.”
Geth clamped his feet against the red vine and pushed himself up almost two full inches. He was attempting his second push when the vine began to unravel above him.
“Climb faster!” Clover yelled.
Geth reached with his right arm, pulling himself up the rope as quickly as he could.
“He’s coming back!” Clover screamed.
Geth looked over to where they had swung from and could see the galloping young onus barreling straight toward the canyon and directly in line with them.
“You don’t think it would—” Clover tried to say.
“I think it would!” Geth replied.
The onus leapt off the edge of the gorge and shot through the air. It reached out for Geth and Clover as they dangled. Its right paw hit Geth in the head as it tried to get ahold of the rest of Geth’s body. The force of the onus slamming into them caused the vine to snap completely, sending the whole wad of them tumbling down into the gorge.
“Toothpick!” Clover yelled as they dropped, referencing Geth’s condition in Reality.
Geth was too unconscious to yell back.
Chapter Three
Stop in the Name of Living
There are times when falling isn’t too bad. Say, for instance, you’re staying in a swanky hotel and while harmlessly jumping on the beds you are forced into a violent pillow fight with the hotel’s manager over the issue of how loud you are being and he knocks you off of the bed and you fall onto the plush shag carpet. Then you try to laugh it off but he insists you grow up. So you’re forced to agree to disagree—which is really just a weak way of saying you’re too lazy to fight anymore. But say that hotel bed was really a mile-high canyon and the manager was actually a gigantic beast that’s all tangled up with you. And say the plush shag carpet was the deadly rocks and mud down below. In that case, it would be foolish to simply agree to disagree with anyone. I suppose you could, but in the end you would still just end up a splotch at the bottom of the cliff.
Geth was on his way to becoming just that—a splotch. He would have gone straight from the top to the bottom of the canyon without stopping if it had not been for the vines. Stone Canyon was filled with vines that stretched across the gorge like the webbing of a spider that had gone green. The mother onus who had fallen first had torn out a number of vines, but there were still hundreds strewn across and hanging in their way. The young onus falling beside Geth got caught in a thick tangle of vines and was yanked violently to a stop.
Geth continued to drop.
Clover scrambled around Geth trying to find some way to help. The hood of Clover’s robe kept flying on and off, causing Clover to flash in and out of visibility. Geth’s body slammed against a taut vine and he was flung sideways while flipping over. He was now facing straight down at the approaching canyon floor.
“Wake up, Geth!” Clover pleaded. “You need to grab onto—”
Geth hit a knotted vine and spun around again. He was now falling bottom first with his legs, arms, and head pointed up.
“You’re gonna die!” Clover screamed, pulling on Geth’s neck as if it would actually help slow the fall. “I’ll live, and somehow everyone will find a way to blame me for this.”
Clover looked down.
The bottom of Stone Canyon was only a couple of hundred feet away and getting rapidly closer. Clover could see jagged rocks and wide ponds of dark mud. The mother onus that had fallen first was lying still in a stretch of mud.
Clover grabbed onto Geth’s hair with one hand and tried to get hold of a vine with the other. It was no use; they were falling too fast. Clover looked at the vine he was trying to grab. He pulled it toward him and moved his arms in and out like a sewing-machine needle, wrapping the vine around Geth’s right leg. The vine began to cinch up around the leg, and Geth’s speed decreased.
The top half of Geth’s body dropped, making it look like he was diving. Clover scrambled around the leg, pushing the foot back and forth so that the vine circled the leg like a ribbon. Clover moved the leg one last time, and that was just enough for the vine to finally catch.
Geth stopped falling less than ten feet from the ground.
The unconscious lithen was hanging by his right leg, his hair and arms and shirt dangling below his head like limp weeds. His body twirled slowly as it hung there. Right below him were two large rocks, and to his left about thirty feet was the mother onus, lying there still.
Clover climbed down Geth. He tried to pull up Geth’s shirt so that he could see his face, but it was way easier just to push it down and off. Clover then took hold of Geth’s stomach with his feet and hung down like a bat. His right foot slipped and he had to pinch another bit of Geth’s skin.
“You know, it would be way easier for my feet to hold on if you had some body fat,” Clover said, upside down and eye to eye with Geth.
His continued unconsciousness prevented Geth from replying.
“Nice idea you had,” Clover went on, enjoying the fact that Geth couldn’t talk back. “Do you feel better now that you got that out of your system?”
Geth just swayed.
“Yes,” Clover whispered from the side of his own mouth, trying to imitate Geth. “You are so smart, Clover. I should always listen to you.”
Clover jumped down off of Geth and onto the rocks below. He ran to a wet, muddy spot and put his hands down to collect some water in a mug he pulled from his void. He then climbed back up onto the rocks and jumped onto Geth.
“Are you awake yet?” Clover asked, clinging to Geth’s hanging right arm. Clover shrugged and then tossed the water into Geth’s face.
Geth’s blue eyes flashed open. He looked at his upside-down surroundings and then focused on Clover. “What happened?”
“I saved your life,” Clover informed him.
“I don’t feel saved,” Geth replied, wiggling his arms and trying to get a better look at where he was hanging. “What happened to my shirt?”
“It’s right below you.”
Geth looked up, which was Clover’s down. His green shirt was lying on one of the large rocks ten feet below him.
“I’m not sure what the best way to get you down is,” Clover said. “I’m leaning toward slicing the vine and letting you drop.”
Geth did a sit-up in the air and grabbed hold of the vine above where his leg was twisted. He pulled his body up and then shook and moved his leg until the vine was no longer around it. Then, without any hesitation, he dropped, landing on one of the large rocks below. It had all happened so fast that Clover was still hanging on Geth’s side, only now he was upside down.
Clover jumped off. “Or you could do it that way.”
“Thanks, Clover,” Geth said sincerely while picking up his shirt. “I’m not sure how I ended up hanging upside down without a shirt on, but thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Clover replied. “Now, how do we get out of here?”
Geth looked around. The bottom of the canyon was nothing but rocks, the huge, still onus, and foul-smelling mud.
“I guess now we have to hike out,” Geth said.
“I can’t see why that’s a guess.”
Geth motioned for Clover to
hop onto his shoulder. He jumped onto the large rock to the left and bounded over a trail of jagged rocks with just enough flat surface for him to hop on. He then ran along the edge of the canyon floor.
“How long’s this going to take?” Clover asked.
“It’s a long canyon,” Geth reminded him.
“I wish we could fall up,” Clover complained.
Geth murmured in agreement.
Chapter Four
Look What Fate Dragged In
Finding something unexpected can be a great confidence booster. Who doesn’t like a person who’s sporting a gold necklace she found in the sand, or a strange shirt she found in a dumpster, or a used retainer she found in the cafeteria? Yes, finding things can do wonders for the ego. I know that whenever I put on the watch I found while rummaging through a mysterious attic, I feel knowledgeable about the time.
Likewise, it can feel great to find yourself, or your strengths, or someone your life has been without but now needs. Geth had known that feeling when he had found Phoebe. He had also felt it when he had first found Leven. In some ways, it felt as if he had found all he needed to be happy. But, as fate makes clear all too often, some ways are not always right.
The warm day became a mild night and the strongest moon dipped in the dark sky, shining down over Geth and Clover. Small yellow stones on the ground shimmered and the high cliff walls of Stone Canyon looked orange and fuzzy.
Geth stopped. He and Clover had been hiking for hours and they were only just now at the end of the canyon.
“I say we stay here for the night,” Geth suggested.
“Your call,” Clover said. He was invisible, but his voice came from the direction of Geth’s right shoulder.
“Do you ever feel bad about getting a free ride wherever you go?” Geth asked.
“Nope,” Clover answered honestly. He materialized and jumped down to the ground. Clover stretched and looked at the moon. “Do you think Leven and Winter are looking at that moon?”
“I suppose,” Geth said.
“Lilly?”
“Sure.”
“My mother?”
“I guess,” Geth laughed.
“Actually, my mother goes to bed pretty early,” Clover informed Geth. “She’s probably already asleep.”
Geth ignored Clover and began to collect some wood. When he had obtained a good armful he constructed a small fire beneath a stone overhang. The thin flames sang to him and Clover as they ate a couple of pieces of sweet fruit Clover had picked from the hanging ivy and drank some water he had collected from the stream running nearby. Geth lay down in a soft, sandy pockmark near the flames, and before the fire could grow dim, he was out.
The strong moon lifted itself and withdrew, leaving the scene outside of the fire’s glow black and shapeless. The dark night quieted. Just as all sound and light had left completely, a low moaning started.
“Mmmmoooh.”
“Geth,” Clover whispered. “I think there’s something out there.”
Geth’s blue eyes sprang open. He lay still, listening. The fire was now dead and only darkness covered him. He held his breath, keeping perfectly motionless.
“Mmmmmmaaaa.”
“There it is again,” Clover whispered.
Geth lifted his right shoulder and quietly rolled up onto his left side. He squinted his eyes, trying to see in the dark. The sound of someone or something moving through the small stream nearby drifted up into his ears.
Geth sat up.
“Ahhhhhaaaahhh,” someone moaned.
Geth stood and crept slowly toward the noise. Again the water shifted and splashed as if something were moving clumsily through it. Geth’s eyesight adjusted and he could see a small dark shape hunched over on the edge of the stream. The shape raised its head and weakly moaned.
“Mmmmmoooh.”
Clover disappeared as Geth ran to the dark silhouette. The small shadow turned and cowered.
“Are you all right?” Geth asked, drawing near.
The silhouette whimpered, mumbling something about being cold. One of the smaller moons grew curious enough to drizzle a weak bit of light down. Geth stopped in shock. The dark blob was a person—well, kind of. It was difficult to tell for sure, thanks to the poor lighting and the torn-up condition the being was in. She was thin, but her sobs were heavy. The small bits of clothing she was wearing were torn and ragged, making her appear fuzzy. There were tiny scratches on her arms and legs and a long one on her right leg. Her red hair was long and messy, with bits of small flowers stuck in her bangs. She looked as if life had chewed on her for a while and then spit her out.
Geth reached out slowly and the woman drew back and whimpered. “I’m not going to hurt you,” Geth reassured.
“Where . . . am I?” she whimpered.
“I think we’re near the Hidden Border,” Geth answered cautiously.
“Which side of the border?”
Geth laughed, caught himself, and then spoke. “Really? In Foo, of course. There’s no access to the other side.”
The torn-up stranger began to weep happily.
“Here, let me help you,” Geth insisted, kneeling down.
The woman gazed up at Geth. She cocked her head sideways, and her wounded brown eyes widened. Slowly she lifted her right hand and reached out. Her fingers were delicate and shaking. “I’m in Foo?” she whispered.
Geth nodded and took her in his arms. He held her tightly as her weeping turned to loud, racking sobs. She tried to catch her breath and speak but her body was shaking so violently that she could barely control herself.
“You’re going to be fine,” Geth soothed softly.
“You don’t understand,” she finally choked out. “They’re here. They must be.”
“There’s nobody here but Clover and me,” Geth insisted.
Clover waved.
“Who are you?” Geth asked.
“Eve,” she whispered.
“Well, Eve, I’m Geth and this is . . .”
She began to tremble so violently that Geth was forced to stop talking and press her head to his shoulder.
“No,” she insisted, pulling back. “There isn’t time. I came for you.”
Geth’s blue eyes became slits as he stared. “For me? I don’t understand.”
“You are the lithen?”
“I am a lithen,” Geth replied.
Eve exhaled heavily, leaving her body limp and breathless in Geth’s arms.
“Is she dead?” Clover asked dramatically, staring down at her from the top of Geth’s head.
“No,” Geth replied. “Just exhausted.”
Geth patted Eve’s cheeks lightly and her brown eyes opened. She stared up at the moon and then at Geth.
“Geth?” she whimpered.
“It’s still me,” he smiled.
“You must help,” Eve begged.
“Don’t worry about that,” Clover said, bothered. “Geth loves to help people.”
“You don’t understand,” Eve said, ignoring Clover. “We need you.”
“Who needs me?” Geth asked.
“Those in . . . on the other side of the border,” she coughed.
Geth laughed lightly. The idea of something being on the outside of Foo was ridiculous.
“I don’t understand,” Geth admitted.
“You don’t . . .” Eve stopped herself and looked around quickly. “The moon—they might see us.”
“Who might?” Geth asked, turning his head.
“Don’t let the light come,” she insisted. “The boors are there.”
“Who are you talking about?” Geth asked compassionately. “It’s still just me.”
“And me,” Clover said, insulted about not being mentioned.
Eve shivered in Geth’s arms, and the moonlight lit her body up. What little she was wearing was pink and frilly and badly torn. There was also a leather strap around her wrist, and her feet were covered with pink leather. She was banged up but her beauty was obvious.
“I’ll build a fire,” Geth suggested.
“No,” she panicked. “They’ll see us.”
“You don’t need to worry,” Geth insisted. “You’re safe now. I’ll carry you to the camp.”
Geth stood up and lifted Eve in his arms. Her legs and head hung like soggy noodles. Geth shuffled slowly to where the fire had once been. Eve moaned and cried out, but in between her moans she would repeat Geth’s name.
“Yes,” Geth said. “It’s still me.”
“I can’t be here long,” she said.
“We’ll worry about that when you feel better,” Geth said calmly.
“I came for you,” Eve insisted.
“I still don’t know how you found me,” Geth said curiously.
“I didn’t,” Eve said, smiling. “You found me, remember?”
Geth smiled back as she closed her brown eyes.
“Hey,” Clover whispered from Geth’s left shoulder. “Remember Phoebe?”
“Of course,” Geth whispered back. “I’m not going to let her suffer just because she’s beautiful.”
“Who said she was beautiful?” Clover asked.
“You know what I mean,” Geth argued.
“I know what I see,” Clover replied.
“Me too,” Geth said. “And what I see is a sycophant that’s not acting like one.”
Geth helped Eve lie down in the sandy pocket he had been sleeping in earlier. Her eyes closed, and almost instantly she fell asleep. Geth’s mind was racing in directions it had not traveled before. The thought of something existing beyond any of the borders seemed more like a fable than a fact. But few thoughts he had heard in the last while had thrilled him with the possibility of its being true.
“Want me to build a fire?” Clover asked.
“No,” Geth replied. “Daylight’s coming.”
“Do you think she actually came from beyond the border?”