Chapter 8
Throughout the afternoon Margy told stories about her life. Galen covered his face with his jacket and slept through it while Thaddeus listened only enough to grunt or say “wow that sounds interesting.”
The road went down into the valley. The great cliffs loomed overhead. Evening approached and the sun disappeared early behind the cliffs. A small building came out of the fading light with a giant sign telling all who should see it that it was a restaurant.
Margy steered Chrissy behind the restaurant. A metal bowl was near the post where Margy tied Chrissy. She went inside a back door and came out with a jug of water and poured it into the bowl. She then led the way around front and inside.
A stern looking host seated them at a booth in the back corner. There was no one else in the restaurant. The host gave them menus and pointed out everything that was out of stock, which was almost everything.
They all ordered the beef and sat awkwardly around the table.
“So what’s the farthest you’ve ever had to take someone?” Galen asked.
“I once took a couple to the Foggy Shore.” Margy said, looking over the empty restaurant.
“That must have taken a week.” Galen said, clearly uninterested.
“Only a few days.” Margy responded, also sounding uninterested.
Thaddeus wanted to ask Galen questions about what he knew about the boundary but he decided against letting Margy know he was different.
The food came after only a couple minutes. It consisted of a large slab of cooked beef and a few sliced up carrots. They were all given water to drink.
It was actually pretty good beef. When they were finished Galen paid and they set out again.
It was dark out. Margy said something about a house that let in travelers not being too far away. Chrissy really did not like the night and kept stopping and snorting her displeasure at being forced out at such a late hour.
A light came out of the darkness up ahead. Margy went toward it, it was indeed the house. From what Thaddeus could see it was a very strange looking home. It was three stories tall and each floor looked oddly misshapen as if the upper floors were added at a much later time and were smashed down on the one below. The old couple who lived there greeted them sweetly and gave them two rooms on the third floor. Galen and Thaddeus shared one and Margy took the other. Chrissy was put in a stall out back.
The room had two small beds and several pictures hanging from the wall of places Thaddeus had never seen. The floor was slanted and one of the beds was anchored down while the other was against the wall. Thaddeus took that bed and was certain that his weight was going to force the bed through the wall. He wished he had more clothes to wear. The outfit he wore when he disappeared was starting to get dirty. He spent the night dreaming of falling off of cliffs.
Galen woke him up early. The old couple who owned the house brought up oatmeal. Thaddeus sat on the edge of his bed and ate, feeling groggy from having to get up so early.
Galen watched him mysteriously as he ate his own oatmeal. “Do you like it here?”
Thaddeus looked up, surprised to be asked that question. “I guess. I try not to think about it much. I just want to get home.”
“I get that. What’s it like there? How is it different?”
Thaddeus told him all about cars and the internet and everything he knew that was different.
Galen looked impressed. “I used to want to go.” He said softly. “That crazy scientist put all sorts of ideas in my head. But boy did I ever want to go once. I didn’t know a thing about it really. All I knew was that it was different.” He ate a big spoonful of oatmeal. “I wanted to be anywhere but here.”
“Maybe you can come with me. If there’s more than one amulet I’m sure you can wish to go with me.”
“Nah, I don’t think it’s worth it now. I’ve got a life, or at least I did.” He stared at the floor for a minute. “I guess I really don’t have anything to do anymore now that I can’t go home.”
“Just think about it.” Thaddeus said.
Galen nodded, still staring at the floor.
A little while later they were back on the road through the valley. Thaddeus stared absentmindedly out at all the things they passed by, which wasn’t much out there. Galen was equally as silent on the other side of the cart. Margy kept on going with the story of her life but this time Thaddeus couldn’t even pretend to be interested.
“So what business do you have in the Bell Forest?” Margy asked when she was tired of talking to herself.
“What to do you care?” Galen said.
“Well excuse me. Some kind of spy stuff.”
Galen laughed. “Sure, we’re spies. The kids the boss, can’t you tell.”
“Alright, you don’t have to be smart with me.” Margy said. “I get a lot of people going strange places and sometimes they don’t want to talk.”
The rest of the day passed without incident. Thaddeus took a nap and dreamed about finding amulets and then losing them.
He woke up late in the afternoon. They were no longer in the valley. Trees could be seen up ahead.
“And here is the Bell Forest.” Margy declared on approach. She took them all the way up to the trees. “That’ll be seven gold.”
Galen pulled the seven gold coins out of his pocket and handed them over.
“Thank you very much. Now get out.”
They got out and Margy turned Chrissy around and started away.
Galen turned to Thaddeus. “I’ve only been here once to follow a school of fish down a river. I’ve heard strange stories but we should be alright. Remember that this is a different country now. Our money doesn’t work here. We have to find a place to exchange it. Oh, and one more thing . . . actually never mind.”
“This isn’t another surprise like the scientist, is it?”
“You’ll see.”
They walked into the Bell Forest.
There were trees and trees and more trees. A very old sign on one of them said that a castle was up ahead. The letters were scratched into a piece of wood that was stuck to the trees.
“That’s for the pilgrims.” Galen said, looking at the sign. “Not too many come by anymore.”
The trees were very tall and the sun could barely get its light through the canopy. Thaddeus kept his eyes on the ground to look out for amulets that might be there. He also wanted to make sure he didn’t trip on roots.
They came to a little brick shack that had a window where a young man sat.
“Hey there.” Galen called out.
“Hey.” The young man responded without looking up. “Can I interest you in a personalized key chain or perhaps a hat to keep birds from messing up your hair?”
“No thanks. Do you exchange money?”
“Sure do. What you got, gold or pinks or greens?”
“I’ll exchange a few gold.”
“Cool.” The young man took a few gold coins and gave Galen several pieces of wood with markings on them. “Have a good day.”
Galen thanked the young man and they kept going. “We’ll be getting to the castle soon.” He told Thaddeus. “Remember to be friendly and gracious, they take their castle very seriously.”
Thaddeus nodded but wasn’t really listening. He looked over his shoulder as a very tall man went up to the little brick shack. He wore what looked like a wood body suit. It was very strange. His hair was short and spiky. Thaddeus almost tripped on a root and faced forward again.
“Where are the towns? Doesn’t anybody live here?” Thaddeus asked Galen.
“They don’t really have towns like we’re used to.” Galen looked back at the tall man. “You’ll get it before too long.”
“Get what?”
“What’s so strange about this little kingdom.”
“Can you give me a hint?”
“All I’ll say is that there is a reason nobody ever cuts these tre
es down.”