CHAPTER 5 - ST. ELMO
Caedman trimmed a small lantern. The globe was shielded so it only allowed a thin sliver of light to penetrate the darkness. They walked in single file with Caedman leading, Toby next, and Marnie last. Behind them the sentinel followed, blending into the night and making no noise.
As his eyes adjusted to the dark, Toby found the light from the lantern was just bright enough so he could see where to put his feet. The moon was starting to peek out from behind the clouds. With this additional light he could make out the figure of the hermit in front of him. Behind him he could hear Marnie's soft breathing.
After they had walked for awhile the path began to twist and turn. Toby could see they were now walking between and around large boulders. Sometimes the rocks leaned over the path like hooded figures. He imagined he could almost make out faces in the shadows. Some of the rocks balanced precariously like gargoyles perched on a ledge waiting for their prey.
It seemed like they had been walking for hours. How far did Caedman say it was? Surely they should be there by now. His feet were heavy, and he stumbled on the loose rocks.
The night was getting damp. Pulling his jacket closer around him, he shivered. His hair was sticking to his forehead. Chill air clung to his feet making his ankles cold. They climbed to the top of a mound and passed through a narrow crevice in the rocks. Caedman finally stopped and turned to them.
"This is where I must wait," he said. He settled into a hollow in the rock, which made a natural chair. From this position he could look out over the valley, though it was too dark to see much. Pointing ahead he said, "Follow the path to your goal." It was straight for the next few feet. Then it descended sharply into a swirling mist. A breeze cleared the fog briefly. Then the mist flowed back, and the trail was swallowed up again. Sirius jumped down from a nearby rock startling Toby.
"There," Caedman pointed to a pinpoint of light. "That is the cabin. Your path will not lead there directly, but that is your destination. Marnie has traveled this way many times." He handed her the lantern. She started down the path and the light grew fainter as she descended into the fog.
"Believe and you will find your way," Caedman said.
Toby turned and plunged down the path. Fearing he would get lost in the fog and the maze of rocks, he hurried to catch up with Marnie. The cold damp fog closed in around him. Hearing a scuffling behind him, he turned quickly. He caught a shadowy glimpse of Sirius, but nothing more. The moon was now high in the sky. The clouds were clearing and the moonlight cast eerie shadows. The ground was covered with pools of fog that hid the path and clung to the rocks. He heard the scuffling noises again. Small pebbles rattled overhead. Several skidded down the side of a nearby boulder vanishing into the fog on the path. In spite of the cold air he was beginning to sweat. As his muscles tightened, a burning ache spread from his shoulders down his back.
If I can get through gym class, I can get through this, he thought. He relaxed a little. The wind blew the fog off the path. Something scampered across the trail in front of him. He stifled a cry. Ahead of him was a large figure. That couldn't be Marnie. The person was too tall and too thin. He heard a far off voice saying, "Come on Toe-bias. I'll get you through. We're all waiting for you." This was followed by distant hollow laughter. He put his hands over his ears and closed his eyes. "They can't be here!" he thought. "It must be my imagination."
When he opened his eyes, there was no sign of Marnie or the light from the lantern. The clouds had covered the moon again and he was alone in the dark. He began to run down the path, but stopped when he saw a glint of light moving at his feet. Figures, he thought, the tape is coming off my shoes.
He reached down to adjust the tape and saw that his hand was glowing with a bluegreen light. Panic started to well up inside him. Then he heard the calm reassuring voice of Caedman saying, "Believe and you will find your way."
The clouds parted slightly allowing a thin shaft of moonlight to shine down on the path like a spotlight. The rest of the words from the closing song of the first Lord of the Rings movie filled his head. Enya had sang it at her concert a couple months ago. The memory of being in the theatre was vivid. Fog machines filled the stage with mist. Toby could hear the music. The theatre was dark and packed with people. The plush seat pressed against his back. They were so close to the orchestra he could see the expressions on the faces of the musicians. Enya's clear Celtic voice flooded the room, and the audience was spellbound.
He began walking down the path again, humming with the music that was playing in his head. He joined his voice with hers on the second verse and they sang together.
"May it be you journey on, to light the day?." The bluegreen glow now traveled in waves up and down his body, and he had no difficulty in seeing the path. It's like St. Elmo's fire, he thought, except the only storm is the one inside me, and I'm the mast of the ship. The music grew louder in his head, and he sang louder with it. Enya started the second verse again, and he joined her.
Inside the cabin the two guards, Ran and Garan were talking.
"I tell you I don't like it. The Governor is late. He was supposed to be back two days ago. Then one of his assistants went and arrested this kid. I don't trust him. Ever since the Governor showed up with those strangers, they've been lording it over the rest of us, and throwing their weight around," Garan complained.
"I think they make up rules just to give them a sense of being in power. We all have real jobs to do," Ran agreed, "and here we are guarding a kid who's cooped up in the shed instead of out working in the field. If the Governor isn't put out about this, the rest of us should be."
"What's that noise?" Garan interrupted scraping his chair across the floor as he stood up.
Ran went to the window. "Seems to be a strange light coming from the Valley. 'Peers to be dancing in and out among the rocks. What do you make of that?"
Garan joined him at the window. "Kind of an eerie glow ain't it? I told you those rocks were haunted. We're too close to those standing stones. It ain't a healthy place."
"I don't know. I think that's singing, but can't make out the words. Could be just the wind."
"You're crazy. There's no wind out there! That's some ghost singing, probably about our demise. We've got to get out of here while there's still time."
"Yes?.I think you're right," Ran said slowly. He rubbed his hand across his face. "Grab the keys, and we'll take the kid with us."
Garan's hand shook as he fumbled to get the keys off the hook. Ran wrenched open the door. "Hurry up Garan. That ghost is almost here. He's singing loud enough to wake the dead."
They stepped outside, and froze in terror. The keys fell from Garan's limp hand, and clanked to the ground. Toby came into view as he stepped around an enormous boulder. The cabin loomed in front of him. Although he was singing with all his might, the music in his head was now so loud he could barely hear himself. The door to the cabin was standing open, and the light from inside silhouetted two figures. Their mouths were open, and they were pointing at him. Following the flow of the music, Toby raised his hand.
Bluegreen light extended from his outstretched fingers like a short sword. Another shaft of light circled around his left hand where he was clutching the meteorite. The light fanned out like a shield across his chest. As he sang the last lingering note with Enya, the music faded from his head and blended into the cry of terror coming from the guards. Toby called, "I've come for Berren." Garan and Ran turned and fled towards the village.
A small figure with a crude lantern dashed from around the corner of the cabin, and snatched up the key. Toby stood stunned as he watched the last of the light fading from between his fingers. As the glow dwindled away, Sirius brushed up against his leg. He reached down to stroke the sentinel's back, and sparks flew from his fur. He jerked his hand away. Sirius made a spitting noise, and then sat down and looked annoyed.
"Sorry," Toby said.
Berren's staff was leaning against the wall outside th
e cabin door. Thinking Berren would want it, Toby grasped the staff and started to walk towards the shed. He had no idea it would be so heavy. Instead of being able to lift it, all he did was knock it off balance. He barely caught it in time to keep it from crashing on his head.
Using both hands, he managed to pick it up and stagger to the shed where Marnie was talking through the closed door to Berren. She was struggling to unlock the door while holding the lantern, and was not making any progress.
He balanced the staff with one hand and took the lantern with the other. With both hands now free, she managed to turn the key. The door opened and Berren tumbled out.
"Let's get out of here," he said. He smiled broadly when he saw Toby. "Oh good! You found my staff." He reached out one hand and effortlessly picked it up. Toby stared in amazement at the older boy.
"Keep Toby between us," Marnie instructed firmly, and took the lantern back. The breeze had picked up, and most of the fog had cleared. They hurried back to where Caedman was waiting for them. It was midnight when they got to the hut.
Sirius took up his accustomed spot on the firewall ledge as they gathered around the fire. The warmth felt good after the cold damp air. Toby put his hand into his pocket and felt the napkin. While Caedman was pouring steaming mugs of strong bitter tea, he pulled out the small bundle. Placing it on the ledge, he opened it up. There were three cookies left. Marnie and Berren bent closer and looked at them curiously.
"What is it?" Berren asked.
"Nickerdoos," Marnie said smugly.
Toby grinned and handed one to Marnie and one to Berren. "Try it," he said.
Berren carefully bit into the cookie, then smiled and chewed slowly. Toby gave the last cookie to Caedman who very carefully broke it in two and gave him back half. They munched silently and sipped their tea. Toby was surprised that the tea wasn't nearly as bad as he remembered. Must be getting used to it, he thought. After they had recovered somewhat from the events of the evening, they all talked about the adventure.
Marnie said, "You should have seen Toby when he came into the clearing. He looked like a phantom warrior with a sword and shield made of fire. It's no wonder the guards ran."
"Fire?" Caedman asked surprised. "What do you mean fire?"
Marnie described the eerie bluegreen light that covered Toby's body.
"That was unexpected," Caedman said when she had finished. "I'm sorry Toby. I did not anticipate that development. Perhaps it is a result of the weather, and because you are not from here."
He glanced at the meteorite hanging from the thin chain. It still shown faintly like a plastic glow-in-the-dark toy that had almost faded out.
He looked closely at Toby. "Are you sure you have not taken any hurt from this?"
Toby shrugged. "I feel fine. It was a little unnerving at first. But then the music started, and I forgot all about the light."
"Music?" Caedman asked. He turned to Marnie. "Did you hear this music also?"
Marnie giggled. "No music, but Toby can really belt out a song. I never heard anyone sing so loud." Seeing Toby blush and look uncomfortable she hurried on, "He sings better than anyone in the village. It was a strange tune, but very effective."
"The song was from you," Toby said to Caedman. "I heard you in my mind saying believe and you will find your way. That's a line from the song, and that's when the music started."
Caedman looked surprised. "Well, I guess it all worked out. But now we must think about tomorrow. Berren will have to stay here until we decide what to do next. Marnie can sleep here tonight and return home early in the morning." He turned to Toby, "Where does the book take you when you return to your world?"
Toby said, "The library." Suddenly he realized what a problem that was going to be. He hadn't thought about how he was going to get back into his house when he returned. Walking the mile from the library to his home in the middle of the night was not a comforting thought. But he couldn't stay here all night. What if Janie went to his room in the night, or found him missing in the morning?
Caedman laid his hand on Toby's shoulder. "Do not fear. We will prepare a new portal for you."
He went over to an empty shelf. Toby watched as the hermit made a small table by pulling down the back of the shelf. A storage space full of a strange collection of items was revealed. Caedman took the shield off the globe of the lantern, and hung it on a nail. Pulling his stool up to the table, he sat down and began arranging things. He had his back to them, and they couldn't see much of what he was doing.
"You can gain entrance to your home once you are in your own yard?" he asked.
Toby stifled a yawn and nodded. "I have a key."
Sirius jumped up on Toby's lap and lay down. Toby cautiously touched him. When there were no sparks, he gently stroked the soft fur.
Caedman said, "Tell me about your house. What are the walls made of? What color are they? Are there windows?" He held up a crystal to the light and peered through it before leaning over the desk again.
Toby began to describe his house. He started with the big oak tree near the street, and told about the driveway that led past it to the back of the house. The details were sharp in his mind; the wrought-iron screen door, the kitchen window with the yellow curtains, the brass doorknob that was worn from use. Caedman kept asking questions, and Toby remembered more and more details. The only sounds were the occasional pop of the fire, the soft rumbling from Sirius, and a scratching noise as Caedman worked.
Finally the questions stopped. Toby closed his eyes almost falling asleep. He jerked awake as Caedman pushed his stool back and stood up. Sirius jumped to the floor.
The hermit said, "Come, the portal is prepared." Toby got up and dug in his pocket for his key ring.
"Wait!" Marnie cried. She hurried over to the shelf where earlier Toby had placed Worlds Within. She handed him the book. "Don't forget this or you won't be able to come back."
Toby realized what he had almost done. As he took the book, he said, "Thank you." Suddenly Marnie threw her arms around him in a quick hug and stepped back. On impulse Toby pulled the chain with the meteorite over his head. Placing it around Marnie's neck he said, "Something to remember me by. It's a star from the sky in my world."
She shyly closed her hand around the stone.
Berren shook hands with him. "Thanks for the help," he said. "You do sing with enthusiasm." He grinned. "Hurry back. There's still lots we need to do."
This thought startled him, and he decided he was ready to go home. He turned back to the hermit. "Is the picture in the book different?" he asked.
"No, I have prepared a new picture," Caedman answered. He stepped aside. There on the desk was a paper with what appeared to be a small smudge in the middle. "You'll need your eye piece," he said.
Toby pulled it out. "What will I see?" he asked.
"Your home," he said.
Toby glanced back at Marnie and Berren. "We'll be waiting for you," Marnie said. Berren nodded.
Toby turned back to the paper. Looking through the magnifying glass at the smudge, he was amazed as the picture came into focus. He was looking at the back of his house. It was perfect right down to the crack in the doorframe. A leaf blew across the back porch. Toby shivered and looked up. He was standing outside his back door. Tucking the book under his arm, he unlocked the door as quietly as possible and slipped inside. As he turned the lock, he heard Janie moving about upstairs.
"Toby?" she called out sleepily.
"Yes, Janie. Just getting a glass of milk," he said as he opened the refrigerator. I'll be right up."
"Okay dear. Hurry back to bed. It's very late."
Toby poured a glass of milk, grabbed a fist full of snickerdoodles, and hurried to his room.