The tree screamed and Leven reached for the axe.
iii
Winter could barely breathe. Geth used his roots to pull at the roots of the oldest tree to keep creating small pockets of air. Winter could feel that the Dearth had now joined the fight. Blackness swept over her heart like a smothering plastic. She couldn’t breathe, but, more depressingly, she no longer hoped. She let go of the part of Geth she was holding onto and just let herself be tossed around in the wriggling roots. She knew she needed air, but she didn’t care. Her leg got caught between two fighting roots and snapped. The pain was horrible, but it didn’t compare to the misery in her chest.
Winter believed all was lost.
The Dearth began to bunch up into the roots, pulling himself from all over the soil to smother the one thing that could stop him now. He was so huge that he no longer had any personality or thought, just a mission statement to destroy everything. Like a massive underground aquifer the Dearth flooded the tree roots, pushing Geth and the oldest tree apart.
Winter froze the black mass, but it simply shook off the ice and continued to smother. She kept thinking about what Leven had said and wondering where she had gone wrong. She could get no more air and her lungs were collapsing.
The Dearth pushed up out of the soil in Reality. He was larger than a mountain and covered in dirt.
He screamed and the whole world heard it.
The Dearth then arched his back and threw his head down to the earth. He pushed his entire mass into the soil, wedging the long roots of the two trees apart and pushing Winter up against Geth’s roots. Her hair caught and she could feel her neck bending backwards. There was no clear thought in her head. All she could think about through the pain was stopping the Dearth from diving on them again.
Winter was ready to fade.
She pictured the surface of the earth being nothing but solid ice and then passed out.
iv
The Dearth screamed beneath the soil, fighting to keep Geth from pulling the oldest tree down. The ice Winter had placed over the soil of Reality scratched at him like a fatal sweat. His tarlike being bubbled and gasped for more air. The Dearth pried at the roots, wedging his mass between the two trees. He stretched downward and broke out into the air of Foo.
A horrific blast shook the ground.
The Dearth wrapped part of himself around the oldest tree, pushing the trunk away from Geth’s roots.
Leven could see the black ooze rising up from the soil. He watched it wrap tightly around the trunk of the tree. He stood up and ran toward the tree with the axe above his head.
The tree grabbed Leven around the waist with one of his longest branches. He then heaved Leven heavenward with all his power.
Leven ripped straight up through the air like a missile. His cheeks and face jiggled and blew back as the force of the throw worked him over. His body twitched like a jumping bean.
Clover materialized, holding onto his neck.
“Don’t let go of that axe!” Clover hollered, his own small body shaking from the force of the wind.
Leven tightened his grip on the axe but continued to shoot upward. The wind tore at his clothes, ripping his shirt. His brain rattled and his body went limp as he passed out again.
Clover grabbed the axe just as it was slipping away. He held onto Leven’s shirt collar with one hand and the axe with the other. Leven’s body slowed until it momentarily stopped. Then gravity took over and Leven began to race back down toward the ground.
“Wake up!” Clover screamed. “You’re going to die!”
Clover whacked Leven with the axe handle.
“You. Are. Going. To. Die!”
Leven’s eyes popped open and then shut.
“Please,” Clover begged.
Then, as if politeness were the key, Leven’s eyes popped open and stayed open. His eyeballs rolled back into his head and then jiggled back into place. There was blood on his mouth and he looked like a person who would have preferred death to what he was now doing.
“You’re falling!” Clover screamed, slapping the axe into Leven’s hand.
Leven was falling with his back toward the ground. He kicked, and his body whipped around so that he was facing the fast-approaching tree.
He wanted desperately to scream, but the effort seemed far too great. Leven saw the ground bubbling with roots. He could see some darkness climbing up the trunk of the tree. And he could see the tallest branches racing toward him.
His left shoulder hit the highest branch, and then his left leg snagged the next one and snapped at the knee. Leven reached out with his left hand, grasping to stop the fall, but his left arm got caught and twisted in a way that no left arm should ever be twisted.
Leven screamed as his back slammed into the low branches and he was spit out and deposited on the ground. Both the oldest tree and the Dearth seemed genuinely surprised to see him there. A loud hissing filled the air as Leven stood up on his right leg. Clover swiped at the tree branches as they tried to stop Leven, but they were too slow. Leven twisted his entire body and spun like a top, driving the axe through the Dearth and deep into the tree. Sparks flew, and the rich, oily darkness of the Dearth ignited and blew like a billion bombs.
Leven could see light and feel pain. The agony was so deep he moaned for death as he and the tree both fell forward to the ground.
Chapter Forty-Seven
The Perfection of Possibilities
The sun shone down on the fresh green tavel and spread across the landscape like a soft blanket. Tea birds swooped down like ribbons, crisscrossing the air in celebration. The rivers and streams sang as they cut across Sycophant Run.
A long wooden table had been set up on a grassy knoll overlooking the Veil Sea. The waves sliding back and forth on the beach added to the magical sound of laughter coming from every direction.
The table was too small for Geth and Phoebe, so they sat on a stump near it. Phoebe was talking about the weather as Geth played with the paper-clip ring on his left index finger. Leven was lying on a blanket under the sun with Winter by his side.
It had been many weeks since the tree had died and things had spun back into place. Clover had wisely planted the seed, and Leven had lain in bed unconscious for almost three weeks before he had awakened to find Winter near him and the glow of millions of dreams flowing into a new Foo.
“Attention!” Rast called. “If you will.”
Everyone stood up and gathered around the old sycophant. He smiled and raised a glass. Even the wind hushed up.
“It is a gift to be standing here,” Rast said, “surrounded by so many friends and looking out on the Veil Sea with awe and not horror. It is the sycophants’ sacred duty to assist Foo. It is a responsibility we do not take lightly. And while there are so many to honor, I feel that I must mention one. Clover . . .”
Rast looked around.
“Clover,” he called again.
Clover materialized near the table. He combed his hair, straightened out his robe, and wiped what looked like lipstick from his face. “I was . . . snorkeling.”
Lilly appeared on the other side of the table near Winter.
Rast cleared his throat and continued. “I think it only fair to point out what an exceptional job Clover has done.”
“Hear, hear,” everyone cheered as Clover smiled.
“When it was discussed that you would go to bring Leven from Reality, we never could have imagined how well you would do your part. Leven.”
Leven stepped forward and pulled out a little box. Lilly and Phoebe began to cry.
“I remember when I first saw you under my bed,” Leven said. “You told me you were there to help. And I’m certain the oldest tree would still be standing if it weren’t for you.”
Leven opened the box and pulled out a small leather strap with a clover on it. Clover took it and jumped up on Leven’s right shoulder. Leven turned to look at him, and Clover hugged the life out of his head.
A number of people were wiping their eyes.
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“Should we eat?” Rast finally said.
Everyone cheered and Rast clapped. Two rows of sycophants emerged from the bushes. They were being led by Amelia, and all of them were carrying platters of food. There were roasted potatoes and smoked meat covered in gravy. There were also buttered greens, creamy purples, and dry-as-a-bone pinks. Then came the cakes and drinks, so many they couldn’t fit on the long table. Clover was about to serve himself, but then he remembered Lilly, and she went first.
Leven stood on the edge of the gathering with Winter. Foo was so different. The colors were brighter, the darks were deeper, and the dreams coming in weren’t so singular—they seemed to mesh to make one frosty glow over the whole place.
“So you did it,” Winter said.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You know, it’s okay if you’re a little selfish,” Winter smiled. “I mean, just for today.”
The Want leaned in and kissed Winter as Clover helped himself to a third piece of cake.
Chapter Forty-Eight
The End
I have to be honest. I have not wanted to write this. I don’t like ends; I prefer middles. I’ve stayed up many nights pacing the attic worried about how to close it up. But the fact of the matter is, things are no more closed than before. They’re marvelously open. Every day I get up, I look around and notice things that Leven helped change—landscapes that used to be a bit different, dreams that weren’t quite so vivid, and people who were once committed only to themselves now thinking of others.
I have stronger reminders as well. I had dinner with Tim and his family the other night, and it turns out that Swig is still hanging around their place. I also recently discovered something that leads me to believe that Dennis might not have died when he fell out of the helicopter. Plus, while stumbling around a deserted courthouse, I found a copy of Leven’s birth certificate and was surprised to see his birth name listed as E. Leven Thumps. I assume the E stands for Elton, and I have no idea why they didn’t spell it out, but it’s interesting to think that it took exactly eleven whacks or thumps to down the oldest tree. I have also stood at Blue Hole Lake and wondered how it ever could have survived.
You know, I have traveled many places in my lifetime, and I’m happy that I have had the opportunity to see so many foreign lands and so many unusual and amazing peoples. I’ve spent time on all eight continents and have bought postcards to send to friends from more than a thousand varied and unique convenience stores around the world. I’ve taken a plane to see a famous cave, a train to view a famous mountain, a bike to touch a famous home, a taxi to witness a famous temple, a boat to traverse a famous river, and a Segway to roll out over a famous canyon. I’ve enjoyed almost everything I’ve ever seen or witnessed. I must admit, however, that the first time I saw Blue Hole I was more than a little disappointed. The tiny little body of water in the barren wasteland of New Mexico first struck me as dry and unspectacular. But the second day, when I woke up and watched the sunrise light up the water and heard the birds sing in the sparse trees and touched the liquid, so clear and clean, I felt completely different.
Google it.
Look it up in the dictionary.
Visit it.
You’ll be a bit different because of it. Of all the many things that I have seen and been a part of in dealing with Foo, I am most happy that Blue Hole still sits there looking just like it did before so many fantastical things happened to it. It is a reminder to me that small, unassuming things can be a part of true change.
I met a man the other day who insisted that Foo wasn’t real. He was obnoxious and loud and bothersome and wore an ugly shirt. Still, I didn’t have the heart to tell him that when things were really tough, when avalands were everywhere and the earth was spinning off its axis, he had actually curled up in a ball and cried like a baby waiting for it to end.
That isn’t the case for all of you. So many of you fought for Foo and don’t even remember. So many of you stood up and hosed down avalands or combated the sarus. You saw the importance of restoring good.
There will be days when you remember.
I don’t know why I was lucky enough to be able to tell the tale. Or why I was picked to know Leven and Winter and Geth and Clover. I can only hope that somewhere in the back of our minds, beneath our deepest dreams, we’ll remember.
So, the next time you see a toothpick, or witness clover growing in the field, or notice someone wearing wrinkle-free pants, or you experience winter, just shut your eyes and remember—Foo.
Glossary
Who’s Who in Foo
Leven Thumps
Leven is fourteen years old and is the grandson of Hector Thumps, the builder of the gateway. Lev originally knew nothing of Foo or of his heritage. He eventually discovered his true identity: He is an offing who can see and manipulate the future. Lev’s brown eyes burn gold whenever his gift kicks in.
Winter Frore
Winter is thirteen, with white-blonde hair and deep evergreen eyes. Her pale skin and willowy clothes give her the appearance of a shy spirit. Like Sabine, she is a nit and has the ability to freeze whatever she wishes. She was born in Foo, but her thoughts and memories of her previous life are gone. Winter struggles just to figure out what her purpose is.
Geth
Geth has existed for hundreds of years. In Foo he was one of the strongest and most respected beings, a powerful lithen. Geth is the head token of the Council of Wonder and the heir to the throne of Foo. Eternally optimistic, Geth is also the most outspoken against the wishes of Sabine. To silence Geth, Sabine trapped Geth’s soul in the seed of a fantrum tree and left him for the birds. Fate rescued Geth, and in the dying hands of his loyal friend Antsel he was taken through the gateway, out of Foo, and planted in Reality. He was brought back to Foo by Leven and Winter.
Sabine (suh-bine)
Sabine is the darkest and most selfish being in Foo. Snatched from Reality at the age of nine, he is now a nit with the ability to freeze whatever he wishes. Sabine thirsts to rebuild the gateway because he believes if he can move freely between Foo and Reality he can rule them both. So evil and selfish are his desires that the very shadows he casts seek to flee him, giving him the ability to send his dark castoffs down through the dreams of men so he can view and mess with Reality.
Antsel
Antsel was a member of the Council of Wonder. He was aged and fiercely devoted to the philosophy of Foo and to preserving the dreams of men. He was Geth’s greatest supporter and a nit. Snatched from Reality many years ago, he was deeply loyal to the council and had the ability to see perfectly underground. He was a true Foo-fighter who perished for the cause.
Clover Ernest
Clover is a sycophant from Foo assigned to look after Leven. He is about twelve inches tall and furry all over except for his face, knees, and elbows. He wears a shimmering robe that renders him completely invisible if the hood is up. He is incredibly curious and mischievous to a fault. His previous burn was Antsel.
Tim Tuttle
Tim is a garbage man and a kindly neighbor of Winter. In Reality, Tim and his wife, Wendy, looked after Winter after being instructed to do so by Amelia. When Winter goes missing, Tim sets out to find her.
Dennis O Wood
Dennis is a janitor whom fate has picked to carry out a great task. He leads a lonely life and has never dreamed.
Janet Frore
Janet is a woman who believes she is Winter’s mother but has no concern that Winter is missing. She has spent her life caring only for herself.
Terry and Addy Graph
Terry and Addy were Leven’s horrible-care givers in Reality.
Osck
Osck is the unofficial leader of a small band of echoes. He is deeply committed to the meshing of Foo with Reality. He has also taken a very strong liking to Janet Frore.
Azure
Azure is a lithen and a contemporary of Geth. He sat on the Council of Wonder and was a great friend of Geth’s brother Zale. He
turned to evil when he decided to stand still too long and let the influence of the Dearth overtake his mind and heart. A small bit of good still infects him, and it manifests itself by swelling and bleeding from his right ear. He is no longer his own man.
The Order of Things
Baadyn
The Baadyn are fickle creatures who live on the islands or shores of Foo. They seek mischief to a point, but when they begin to feel guilty or dirty, they can unhinge themselves at the waist and let their souls slide out and into the ocean to swim until clean. The clean souls of the Baadyn have been known to do numerous good deeds.
Black Skeletons
These great warriors rose from the Cinder Depression many years ago. They occupy the land nearest Fté, and are known for their ability to tame and ride avalands.
Cogs
Cogs are the ungifted offspring of nits. They possess no great single talent, yet they can manipulate and enhance dreams.
The Dearth
It is said that there is none more evil than the Dearth. His only desire is for the soil to have the last say as all mankind is annihilated. He has long been trapped beneath the soil of Foo, but has used his influence to poison Sabine and Azure and any who would stand still long enough to be fooled. In his present state, the Dearth works with the dark souls who have been buried to move the gloam and gain greater power on his quest to mesh Foo with Reality.
Echoes
Echoes are gloriously bright beings that are born as the suns reflect light through the mist in the Fissure Gorge. They love to stand and reflect the feelings and thoughts of others. They are useful in war because they can often reflect what the opponent is really thinking.
Eggmen
The Eggmen live beneath the Devil’s Spiral and are master candy makers. They are egg-shaped and fragile, but dedicated believers in Foo.
Fissure Gorge
Fissure Gorge is a terrific gorge that runs from the top of Foo to the Veil Sea. At its base is a burning, iridescent glow that creates a great mist when it meets with the sea. The heat also shifts and changes the hard, mazelike air that fills the gorge.