THE SLIDE — Part 4

Chapter 46: Underneath The End of the World/Event Horizon

Fantasy/Science-Fiction: Multi-Dimensional Realities and Collapsing Worlds

Recap

They then bilocated en masse.

Moments later, they found themselves underground in a great wide oval tunnel.

“It looks ancient, made by humans,” Hrez remarked.

“How is it we are here?” Farha asked.

“Right,” Kuzma agreed.

“I get there was a block put on us, but as to why, or who, I don’t know,” Sophia stated seriously.

“Where is that light coming from?” Kuzma wondered.

“Probably from those translucent crystals,” Hrez pointed, then dropped to one knee and listened intently, following Farha’s lead.

“What do you hear?” Kuzma asked her.

“That,” Sophia, had turned around, pointed towards the growing sound behind them. They joined Sophia and stared at the wall of furiously rushing water. It was an on-coming wave that nearly filled the height and breath of the tunnel. At its crest was a bright light on top.

There was no place to go. No escape. If the impact from the wave didn’t kill them, they would surely drown.

Behind the crest of the wave, obscured by the glaring light, was something else.

“Run,” Farha yelled. As she turned and ran, the force of the wave slammed into the four of them and they were gone.

The two remaining scout aircraft and the drones landed at an airstrip well outside the chaos of the massive vortex overhead, growing in strength. Tem ran up to Zed and hugged him. Zed did not hug back. When Tem released him, Zed said:

“Never do that again, or I will beat you.”

Ra’s light inside a bubble pocket over Orca’s head led the way, followed by Ombolo, the novopus, and the iron balloon sphere circling in the water with a Gaussian rainbow wake. The three groups rode the crest of the wave through the tunnel. The wave slammed into the four newly arrived with a pulverizing deadly impact.

Sometime Earlier

After the four of them (Farha, Kuzma, Sophia and Hrez) departed with a pop of light from within the lens inside of the stone circle, Marie walked slowly back. The breaking light from the rising sun sparkled and bejeweled her hair. She followed the path down into the depression in the ground into the well of the cedar forest. The densely packed wood was completely immersed in mists and heavy ground fog. At the edge of the forest, the trees stood out from the fog, but as she descended, the trees were enveloped by the dense white mist. They were rich with moisture. The tiny droplets caressed the softness of her face and neck. The sensual coolness turned cold.

A light blinded her momentarily, and she felt a familiar warmth. It was Ra. The Druidic priest that had sent the others off appeared within Ra’s radiated sunlight. In silence, Ra and the priest led Marie to the far end of the cedar forest.

A beast bucked and jerked wildly until Ra and the priest extended their hands, and the beast calmed.

This beast, or drake as we call them, has come for you, Marie Bissett. This she-drake has come because you are in her future at the center of the south pole at that different time. The Druidic priest spoke directly into her mind. You will come to know the identity of this she-drake and she, you. Out of this, her name may arise for you. Ra will travel with you along parts of the route. This she-drake knows the way because she has seen your future together.

Marie knew that they would cover 69,000 leagues† over the course of three days. Dried food stuffs and fresh water had been stored in the armor niche along her neck between the two wings. Marie guessed that the she-drake was almost 90 feet long. As she climbed into the small depression between her wings and fitted her feet and legs into an interior saddle of sorts, both creature and human joined.

Ra, the priest, and the drake worked the magic for release, and it was done. The she-drake unfurled her wings and moved into the air and away.

The Balloon Bell and The Dragon’s Breath

Farha and Hrez were the first to awaken, shivering, and soaked in brackish water. Hrez heard a distance voice.

He looked at Farha. “Do you hear that?”

“Yes. It sounds like Ivanovich,” Farha said.

“You mean Nikos Papadopoulos.”

Her face lit up in awe and wonder. “Yes, that’s right.”

“We must hasten there.” Hrez said urgently.

Running with soaked clothing was difficult, but the vigorous movement helped them to shake the chill. Halfway to the center of the cedar forest along the main trail, ground fog rose. It was at ankle level. Kuzma had been roused by the damp bone chilling cold. His clothing was not as wet as Farha’s and Hrez’s garb. He ran with them.

When they reached Nikos, Sophia and Maria were there in a crowded together is a small circular space.

“Come here and sit. We have blankets and this space is warm and crisp,” Nikos spoke with his robust voice. Farha and Kuzma stepped within arm’s length of the Papadopoulos family.

“Where’s Hrez,” Kuzma asked, alarmed.

“I’ll go find him,” Farha said.

“You’ll do no such thing, young woman,” Nikos commanded. And he explained that parts of the transdimensional space were eroding and disappearing.

“Call him instead and see if he comes out of the degradations…”

Farha began calling: shouting out Hrez’s name in a booming voice.

He appeared.

Everyone exhaled simultaneously.

“I got lost in the dragon’s breath.”

Zed Space

Zed directed construction of machines and personnel in bunkers dug into the ground. He worked until he could not keep his eyes open, and fell into a sound sleep at his workstation.

And he entered dreamtime. X was awaiting him and he saw Ombolo too. He saw X merging with Ombolo and stealing her energy for himself. He recognized the light of Ra atop the dolphin Orca and Ombolo directly behind Orca. Every time X’s spirit self-merged with Ombolo — that he took from her and diminished the transdimensional space within Nikos’ The Greek’s balloon sphere. Zed laughed with fiendish delight.

Soon they will be gone, stripped out and drowned in the waters flooding the tunnel. He heard the thought of X and was satisfied.

† a league is equivalent to 1.4 miles.

Previous Chapter 45:

The Next Chapter:

I appreciate your continuing readership and applaud you that you take the time to read this longer work in an era of shrinking stories. Bravo!

Rebecca Romanelli | Blaine Coleman | Spyder | DL Nemeril | May More | David Price | Dr Mehmet Yildiz | Melanie J. | Joseph Lieungh | Camille Grady | madmess’s thoughts | Orla K. | Ravyne Hawke | Winston | Margie Willis | Noorain Ali | Lee David Tyrrell | Libby Shively McAvoy | Lady Dr. Gabriella Korosi | Ilis Trudie Palmer | Rip Parker | Dr. Preeti Singh