THE SLIDE Part 4

Chapter 56: Towards Tier 9

Fantasy: Where some went

Trek from Zone 3 to 6

Farha, Tem, Sophia, Ra, the two Obz shamans carrying Hrez on a stretch-sling, and Maria were the first group to leave the comfort of Zone 3 of the meadow of singing grasses and lavender orchards. Marie and Nikos left on their own with The Lead Eight far ahead. Mustafah gathered Sofie and the six Kotch metal-android warriors to take up the rear.

"Elijah? Elijah, are you aware? Aware that Zed is missing?" Mustafah said to the invisible.

The Lead Eight hiked the ascending trail through a thick layer of clouds across the rocky, frozen ground. When Nikos looked up, slightly winded, they were gone.

"Did you see where they went?" Nikos asked Marie.

"Into the clouds," Marie answered as she passed Nikos at a steady pace.

The Lead Eight emerged from a layer of white clouds and scrambled over a few hands and footholds of a huge boulder at a 30-degree angle. Snowflakes swirled around them. The slightly inclined frozen ground was white with snow. A purple cloud embraced them as if the cloud had a mind of its own and swallowed them.

Marie and Nikos were close behind. Mustafah waved them on as the six metal Kotch warriors faltered and halted. Their metal "bones" were splintering in the cold, and they fell apart. Seconds passed as the metal became dust and blew away. Mustafah sprinted to catch up with the remaining two as they disappeared into the white clouds. He climbed over the boulder and into a cabin. There was a stove and a long low wardrobe with nineteen hangers. Eight of the hangers were moving almost imperceptibly. One coat had fallen to the floor. Three coats remained, and six were shredded on the floor. A pot-bellied stove cracked and rumbled with a roar of heat.

"Do not drink the hot drink," Mustafah warned as Nikos poured what smelled like hot mulled apple cider into a mug. Marie slipped into a coat her size and walked to a corner of the cabin. Both Nikos and Mustafah stared at her. The corner opened up to a galaxy of stars and an awesome nebula. Ouroboros flew down, and she leaped and landed in her place between sheldrake's wings. They flew off. Nikos moved to join, and Mustafah blocked him with his arm and added,

"That is not our path." The cosmos, Marie, and Ouroboros were gone, and the cabin became a cabin again.

The interior cabin opened. It elongated into a marble corridor adorned with gold, alabaster, and turquoise stone ribbons along each side and within the arched ceiling.

"We go," Mustafah said.

Zone 6 — a Meal and Community

The purple cloud deposited The Lead Eight, minus the two Obz shamans and Hrez, in a circular low one-story building courtyard. A blizzard of purple snow was brewing, and they hurried inside.

There were three fires. Mustafah beckoned the five to gather around him.

"As many of you know, I am Mustafah, your storyteller. The Kotch warriors had lost their souls long ago, and, more recently, their bodies have returned to Source. Marie Bissett rides the shedrake dragon to the land and time of the Druids.

"The two Obz shamans have Hrez. Hrez is Obz by heritage, and they transported him in a beam of light to their home world in a far, far, distant galaxy. A version of Farha, Sofie, and Alexis live in an open marriage in Paris," he stopped and altered his breath to sync with theirs. When they had ingested the story, he spoke.

"Kuzma is somewhere. He will join you at some point."

"Where is Nikos?" Maria asked.

"Oh yes, Nikos is preparing a meal back in the kitchen. He will need help with serving," Mustafah smiled. Maria and Tem went straight to the kitchen, at which point the hacienda collapsed in on itself for a few moments. When the structure expanded, the bread, stew, and soy meats appeared on a serving table with white wine and a hot brewed drink. Maria and Tem appeared along with the meal, and Nikos walked out from the depths of the grand house to the group.

Farha approached him. "Yes, you have questions. Let us repair to that side room with some of this delicious vegetable stew," he said, retrieving a bowl and a wooden spoon.

He listened as he slurped the rich broth and chewed the dense root vegetables.

"I cannot answer those questions of identity in this, while we occupy this zone. I know you have an inkling of the upper zones. Patience."

Farha sighed. When Farha and Mustafah rejoined the group, Tem approached.

“Mustafah, what of Zed? How is he not with us?" Tem asked. The remaining five immediately ceased talking and became receptive ears — listening.

"I have asked Elijah, messenger of the Elohim, this self-same question in so many words. I have fragments of answers, but the short answer is that he is lost to us and for us."

"Meaning what?" Tem probed — on the edge of patience/impatience.

"While you all retain memories of Zed as a cruel and manipulative thug, he is a kind man."

All were shocked by the storyteller's pronouncement with a collective inhalation of breath and the sound of –

"Oh!"

Except for Tem, who was placid and calm. After recovering from the shock, Farha felt a love connection with the man who had viciously tortured her.

The previous chapter — 55: Squabbles, Roils & Troubles

An Index of Parts 1 and 2 (with a link to the Index of parts 3 & 4):

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!

If you do not wish to be tagged, please let me know, and I will take you off the list.

One more chapter — and a second novella.

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