Aldo's Fantastical Movie Palace (13 page)

“Did you just, uh, get really big?” Chloe asked.

If Secholit heard her, he gave no sign. “Vaepor's winds seek to return. Nob, you will know when Retinya needs you, but for now, remain with Chloe. There is an order in everything. I will stay and wake the others, but I will send two more with you.” Secholit hobbled toward the dragon that had collided with Nob. “Pindle, wake.” The tiny dragon opened one eye, then another, and offered a large yawn. Pindle was a perfect miniature of Flit, but in Chloe size.

“How cute.” Chloe took a step forward and stopped. “And old.” His leathery face wrinkled beyond deep.

“Good morning, Pindle,” Secholit said. “Your children need you. All but Flit have turned and now roam Retinya.”

“Which?” Pindle looked around. “Oh my.” He bowed to Scout and Nob and the woman, and lastly to Secholit. “How have I come here?”

“You came to the Last Gathering of Old Retinya. During the war council, Vaepor spun the winds and trapped you in the mountain. It was not to have
happened.” Secholit glanced down, and Zophira looked away quickly.

“Vaepor,” Pindle hissed. “How I hate that misty beast.”

“Then may I introduce you to Chloe.” Secholit smiled. “She now holds Retinya's future in her hands.”

Pindle hopped toward her and set his wings in her palms. “Then you will hold mine.”

Secholit turned toward a sleeping figure slumped against the wall. “Finally, Groundspeaker, the soil needs you.”

A slim man blinked and rose, and fell to his knees.

“The ground has become foul. Make it new.” Secholit faced the group. “All of you. Chloe must pass through the Safelands to the bay and then reach Shadowton. This was her plan, made without consultation.” Secholit sighed. “Though the consequences are great, it's the road she must now travel. From there she will rejoin the Pilgrimage and enter the City of Reckoning and finally reach the pool.” He paused. “To complete the task I have given her, this must happen.” He turned to Chloe. “From there, she alone knows what to do.”

“And now, farewell, friends.”

“Wait!” Chloe ran up to Secholit. “I don't want
you to get big on me, but I still think you could do this whole deal better than me. I mean, especially …” She scanned the cave and lowered her voice. “The last part of my job. I mean, I lose my temper and I lost Nick, and I usually mess up.”

Secholit folded his arms. “Perfect.”

A giant updraft swept them into the air, lifting them higher and higher toward the freedom of blue sky. They popped out the top of the mountain and landed with a thud in the cool snow of its peak.

For a minute, nobody spoke.

“That was where Old Retinya took our last stand.” Pindle shook his head. “Inside the Hollow Mount we met for one last council of war, but the ground spread word to Vaepor, and we've been trapped ever since.”

“But you're out now, right?” Chloe shivered.

“Yes, Chloe. We are out.”

Nob took a few steps and slipped to his knees. “I just wish I still had my raft.”

From behind, a blast of air whooshed out of the mountain. Chloe looked up and watched as a speck whistled down, growing larger and squarer, until
poof
!

The raft landed flat in the snow beside Scout.

“Well, now.” Nob grinned. “That's something you don't see every day.”

W
IND WHIPPED AROUND THE PEAK
, wrapping Chloe's shins and knees with layers of white. Her clothes — still damp from her river ride — plunged freezing needles into her legs. She knew she wouldn't last long.

“This is what he does.” Zophira drew herself up. “He rescues from one danger only to throw us into another. Give me the comfort of the mountain!”

“Comfort?” Pindle said. “Let it go. Think now. I could carry a few of you down, but would not have the strength to ascend again.”

“At least we have some firewood. There's not much use for a raft up here.” Scout dusted himself off.

A grin spread across Chloe's face. “But there is for a sled!” She jumped aboard.

Nob's face lit up. “If I had my pole I could steer — I knew I shouldn't have left that in the mountain. As it is we'd end up smashed —”

Shuff!

His pole stabbed the peak and quivered like an arrow. Nob puzzled at the sky a moment, then grabbed the wood and muscled it out of the snow. He shoved Chloe and the raft a few yards forward.

“Everyone on the mountain ferry.”

Scout and Groundspeaker joined them. They all turned toward Zophira.

“No,” she said. “There is no chance.”

Nob gazed downward. “We could use a little tail-wind, that's all.”

“Then you, my young general brother, will need to produce it yourself.”

“You know I can't.” Nob swallowed hard.

“Of course you can't. That gift wasn't given you. You were given a water rat's gift.”

“Stop.” Scout strode toward the woman. “Younger sister Zophira, stop. There's no need to beat down on Nob.”

“Oh, isn't there?” She stiffened. “Why weren't you two trapped at council? Wasn't it the cowardice of Nob? Did he not purposely keep you from reaching the meeting? Or did his knowledge of the rivers
suddenly vanish?” She pointed at Nob. “Nothing but a plot to steal my position.”

“That was long ago!” Scout's voice strengthened. “Would it have served Retinya well if all three of us had been trapped? You refused Blind Secholit's rescue. Would you have taken an offer from us?”

“Yes! But is this a rescue? Forced company with a coward, a know-it-all” — she stared at Chloe — “and a useless child who clearly has forgotten everything she once knew.”

Chloe's hand shot up and rubbed her scar.

“And by the way, how is that leg treating you? Has the limp remained?”

“Silence!” shouted the dragon.

Throughout the argument, Chloe'd been watching Pindle, who'd kept his head buried in his wings. But now he fluttered up and landed on Chloe's shoulders. “I rest on the only wise one among you. Stop it, children … noble children, but children nonetheless. We have only one pursuit, and whatever your family history may be, choose now to lay it aside.”

Nob peeked up, but nobody else moved.

“Zophira, are you not able to summon the winds? But you were too weak to escape the mountain.” She raised her hand to speak, but then let her mouth fall shut.

“Nob, a great seaman, but fearful when you should be brave. And Scout, a leader on land, but prone to self-importance. Remember whose you are. Remember the glory of Old Retinya when you walked a peaceful land. Decide to end this petty squabble.”

“And get on the raft, before Chloe freezes.”

The last words were so low, they rumbled the mountain.

“He speaks again.” Scout smiled.

“What was that?” Chloe asked.

“Groundspeaker.” The name thundered again. “For too long this ground has been subject to the enemy.” The thin man bent over, his lips inches from the snow. “It's time to reclaim THIS GROUND.”

The mountain shook and Zophira leaped onto Scout. The snow lurched beneath their feet and a crack formed around them.

“Avalanche!” Nob grabbed the pole. “We need wind, sister!”

Zophira raised her arm and a strong gust hurtled the raft forward, down the mountain. Chloe looked over her shoulder. The snowcap had broken loose and thundered down behind them.

“Can you go faster?” Chloe cried.

Nob dug in his pole and the sled banked sharply
to the left. To Chloe, it felt like surfing — they lifted and surged forward while showers of snow curled over their heads.

The sled popped out of the wave of snow, placing them clear of tumbling snow.

“Well done, Nob,” Chloe said. “You're a genius —”

He pointed at a range of jagged rocks jutting out in front of them. “Now the work begins.” Nob rolled up a sleeve.

Scout grabbed Chloe from behind, and the small group huddled together on the sled's middle while Nob stood braced on one side.

Zophira whispered, “I did not want to die.”

Scout leaned into her. “Watch your brother.”

“Yah!” Nob leaped from one edge of the raft to the other, correcting and micro-correcting their path. The sled zipped left and right. Rock formations blurred by with dizzying speed.

Chloe's fingers dug into Scout's arm, but he paid no attention. Ten minutes. Twenty minutes. An hour, and still the sled skipped.

Finally, they slowed. A wash of spray hit Chloe's face.

Melting snow!

As the sled struck a slushy patch, they all tumbled forward and crunched to a halt not one yard from
a rocky outcrop twenty feet tall and three times as wide. Nob lifted his pole and with it his gaze. There would have been no way around this boulder.

Chloe's hands released Scout. Nob turned, dropped his pole, and collapsed into the slush. Zophira was first to his side.

“Brave Nob. My brave brother.” She stroked his head. “Quickly, a covering; his body shakes.”

Groundspeaker offered his, and soon Scout located a dry nook in the rock.

“It will be a cold, wet night. But look!” He pointed down into the valley. “The Green River. There it is. And to the left, Chloe? That desert means we are nearer. The Safelands.”

“The Safelands,” Zophira whispered.

“The Safelands.” Pindle flapped his wings.

“The Safelands,” Groundspeaker rumbled, and the rock shook.

“But are they still safe?” Nob whispered and blinked.

Nobody answered, and Chloe fell into an uneasy sleep.

Chloe woke up shivering. There would be no falling back to sleep, she knew, and so she quickly rose.
Scout, Nob, and Zophira huddled in cloaks laid out on the raft, but Groundspeaker and Pindle had gone. She scrambled up to the top of the rock and peered into the valley, which had been pure darkness the night before.

“Beautiful.”

“Isn't it?”

Chloe startled and knelt down. “Qujan? You found me!” She hugged the Quint, and felt warmth fill her body.

“Moving between worlds provides no difficulty for a Quint. Convincing Quill that such a move is necessary — this is a challenge. Listen, Chloe, Nick's book is no longer black. It is gray. This is both good and concerning. It means some life yet remains, but for whatever reason — Quill cannot see — Vaepor suddenly has no need of Nick, no want of him. I do not expect he will survive unless you find him.”

“I'm doing my best, but everyone tells me different things! Secholit said I'd need him, but now it's all, ‘Get to the pool.' To Scout, Nick is always first. You told me to forget him, now I'm supposed to find him?”

“I know.” Qujan reached over and stroked Chloe's hair. “Life changes. Horrible things happen.” Qujan then cupped Chloe's chin. “And then plans change.
To be sure, you must reach the pool, but I feel you may find your friend on the way.” She hugged Chloe again. “You don't know how long I've desired to do this.”

Qujan breathed deeply as she broke the embrace and together she and Chloe stared at the landscape before them. The northern run of the Green River snaked on like a thin ribbon through a sea of brown. Along its banks, trees and bushes grew, creating twenty feet of life on either side. Directly below, in that thin stretch of green, a deer — no, two — bounded through the brush. To the left of the river, all was sand, unending sand.

There, nothing moved.

Well, almost nothing.

A lone figure walked the desert, tracking away from the base of the mountain on which Chloe stood. A giant vulture circled around its head.

“Why would anyone walk there?” Chloe asked.

“Because that is where he needs to walk.” Zophira climbed up beside her. “He goes where the ground is foul. He goes to speak against Vaepor, and to turn the ground back to our side.”

Chloe rose and faced Zophira. She didn't return the glance.

“That's Groundspeaker?”

She nodded.

“But doesn't he see the vulture?” Chloe pointed at the circling bird.

Zophira laughed. “Oh, I doubt Pindle will devour him. Unless, of course, Groundspeaker insults his family.”

“But I thought —”

“They would travel with us? They must prepare our path. Without Groundspeaker, the dirt beneath your feet would send word and give us away. Not even Scout could find us safe passage.”

Chloe slowly lowered herself onto the rock and whispered to Qujan, “Why isn't she talking to you?”

Qujan glanced at Zophira. “She cannot see me, or hear me — but she does sense me. I'm sure of this.”

“What did you say?” asked Zophira.

Chloe smiled quickly in Zophira's direction and ducked her head lower. “Then why can I?”

“That is a question for Salvador.” Qujan smiled. “I could reveal. I could become visible, but then I could not return to the hall. I would forever live above ground.”

Zophira frowned. “Who do you speak to?”

“Sorry,” Chloe said. “Active imagination.”

“Put well,” whispered Qujan.

“I do not understand what makes you valuable,
far more so than any girl I've met. Why would Blind Secholit gather three rulers of old to see
you
on your way?” Zophira stared down at her. “What are you to do?”

“Say nothing,” said Qujan.

“Well, he told me to keep what I heard to myself.”

“Who did?”

“Secholit … and Nob.”

“Nob.” Zophira laughed. “You still trust him. Don't you see his fear?”

Chloe stood up. “No.”

Qujan bumped Chloe. “Get out of this conversation, it will not end well. Quickly, ask her how her seven sisters are getting on. Especially Kyrie.”

“Zophira …” Chloe looked back at the Quint before she continued. “How's your family doing? Your sisters, all seven of them. I'd especially like to hear about Kyrie.”

Zophira's face whitened and she staggered backward.

“Nobody apart from Secholit himself knows her sisters' names.” Qujan's face was stern. “Zophira's not really Retinyan, though she plays the part. Your knowledge of Kyrie shows her you have power.”

“Good morning.” Scout popped up between them, and Zophira bristled. “I didn't know you two
were up.” He glanced at Chloe and frowned. “Is everything all right?”

“Fine, brother. As the … as the … only females in this strange grouping, we were getting better acquainted.” Zophira turned toward Chloe and slowly approached. She hugged her loosely, and Chloe felt her tremble. “I thank you for taking me into your confidence. You can be assured that your secrets are safe with me.” She released Chloe and climbed down the rock.

“Your siblings' secrets are safe with me as well,” Chloe called, freezing Zophira, who quickly sprung down off the rock.

Scout tongued the inside of his cheek. “I've not seen her shaken like that before. What did you tell her?”

“Nothing. I have no idea what —”

“There are … things I could tell you about my dear sister.” Scout turned away. “She's not the safest location to deposit hidden thoughts.”

“Hey.” Chloe tugged at his shirt, but he did not move. “Any teenager could see she just said that to get at you. I didn't tell her a thing, I promise. Are you angry at me?”

Scout slumped, glanced over his shoulder, and closed his eyes. “I don't know what I am. She and I —”

“Are like royalty. Hello! What's that about? There's a little secret you've kept from me, right?”

He nodded and stared down into the valley. “Another time. Did you see Groundspeaker's path? We'll want to follow it. Before the winds” — he peeked in the direction Zophira had gone — “from whatever source, blow away any trace.”

Scout followed his sister, leaving Chloe and Qujan alone.

“Please, Qujan, come with us. Just for a while. I won't talk to you in front of anybody.” Chloe grabbed onto her arm. “I'm stuck in a world I thought I would know, but it's all different.”

“I need to return before Quill wakes and finds me gone, but I need to make one thing clear. You feel you wrote this world. This is not true. The ideas and pictures you put down were given to you. You and Nick sorted through this glimpse. When you were working on your script, you each threw away the unpleasant and focused on what you felt were the most desirable parts of the land. So although you worked together, you wrote two very different worlds.”

“I don't get it.”

“You struggle here because your heart is still in the past, in a time before your scar, when your family held you near. It's where you live, where you long to be.

“Because you live looking back, the glimpse you wrote is also in the past — the Retinya of old, where there was joy, where there were happy endings — but your invisible elven kingdoms, the magnificent beautiful cities … The truth is that place only exists in our memories.

“Nick lives in the near future. He dreams of a time, very soon, when he might be able see in your world again. He dreams of being well. Nick wrote Retinya's near future, and so he moves through this land with ease.” Qujan forced a smile.