Aldo's Fantastical Movie Palace (8 page)

C
HLOE WHIPPED AROUND
. There on the ground sat an elf, legs crossed, wearing the largest hat Chloe'd seen. She longed to touch that hat — brown and kinked and pointed — with a brim so wide it hid his entire face. The elf sat so still, blended in so well, he looked like part of the wall in his long coat of knotty brown. Chloe bent way over and frowned. No pointed ears.

“Leave us, Hael,” the seated elf said quietly. He turned to Chloe. “Mom and Salvador, yes. But there is someone else at the end of that sentence, someone you want to see most of all.”

Chloe said nothing and peeked at Nob, who groaned and threw up his arms.

“So this is not speaking?”

She turned back to the elf. “There's nobody else I miss.”

“Your scar is long. Are you certain you haven't simply forgotten?”

Nob stepped in front of her. “As I told your watchman, she is new to this world.”

“And yet both of you search for the same thing.”

“A young boy, yes.” Nob stepped forward.

“No.” The elf rose and grasped his hands behind his back. “Fathers.”

Being far from Crazy Ray is the only good thing about being here
.

“But enough for now. I apologize for Hael's rough treatment. As our outermost watch, he sees few wanderers. The excitement of three is a bit much.”

Chloe shook thoughts of Dad from her mind and started to speak, then squeezed tight her lips.

The elf smiled. “Yes, the trees caught the boy, but did not receive him in. He is not here now. I doubt you will see him again.” He strode toward the door and grasped one of the vines that hung outside the opening. “I'm not certain if he truly was a boy. Hael said he wore darkness about him.” The chieftain cleared his throat. “But now allow me to be your host. It's been many years since my last interested visitor, and this chief longs to show you Mystal in its fullness.”

Nob followed him to the doorway, and Chloe took a slow step. Nob raised his eyebrows. “We're about to see a place only imagined around campfires.”

Chloe grasped a vine. “But that elf knew your name. You haven't been here?”

“Names are worn like clothing,” interrupted the chief. “They aren't hidden.” He paused and winked at her. “But they are occasionally forgotten.”

I remember just fine, thank you
.

“Can we please go?” Chloe asked.

The chief gestured into the emptiness outside the doorway. “Yes. The question is, can you swing?”

Chloe spent the next hour swinging from tree to tree, house to house, storehouse to meeting hall. Elves dodged and ducked in front of her — it took a while to learn unmarked aerial paths. But after a few close calls, she mastered the art of midair vine changing, as well as the whistle that warned others of an approach. Her hair flew in the breeze, and it felt glorious.

“Your kingdom, the invisible one deep in the forest along the Wandering Road, where is it?” Chloe called. “I know it's here. It has to be.”

The chief swung up beside Chloe. “How do you know of that place?” He whistled, and two young elves parted before them. “It is no more. The road you
speak of is now just a remnant. Few elves remember.” The chief removed his hat and scratched his scraggly hair. “Perhaps tonight all our questions will be answered. I think you will meet Scout. You aren't the only one eager to find the boy. We'll hear your words in the Cleft and learn what we can from them. But for now, follow me.”

They swung into an empty room, and the chief inspected it thoroughly. “Your room for the afternoon, Chloe.”

“Is it really afternoon? It feels like midnight.”

The chief smiled, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a blue stone. “Mountain stone follows the rhythm of the outside. During the day, the blue burns bright. When it is all but gone, it is eve, and I will come for you.”

Chloe rolled the stone over in her hand. “Can I keep it?”

A grin worked the edge of the chieftain's mouth. “If you survive tonight's meeting, yes. Just know that outside the forest, these stones take on certain … other qualities.”

“If I survive?” Chloe asked.

The chief turned to Nob. “Now come. Tell me how you came to Retinya once again.”

Nob nodded and glanced over his shoulder.
“You're safe now, Chloe. Get rest. Tonight will be a night you'll need to remember.”

After fighting to put her mind to ease, Chloe woke to singing. Not light, fair singing like that in the movie
Elvenking
. This was deep and sorrowful. She rose and wandered to the window. Her blue stone glowed dimly.

Nob swung into the doorway. “They want us.”

“Where have you been this entire time?” she asked. “I thought you were supposed to stay with me.”

“I never claimed to be a good guide. For that you'd want another.”

Nob stepped backward and swung out into the darkness.

Stuck in an alternate world with an unreliable guide. Perfect
.

Chloe clutched a vine and followed. Together they crossed through the village, swooping toward the song. They passed the last dwelling, and as the blue light faded behind them, Chloe saw less and less until …

Her vine struck something firm above, and she flung forward. The temperature cooled dramatically, and her hands lost their firm grip in the dank air. Down she slid, toward the song rising up from below. Blanketed by cold, Chloe released her hold
completely and landed on a slab of rock. Slowly, she straightened, for the first time in a day on solid ground.

Chloe turned a slow circle. In place of trees, dimly glowing stones surrounded her. Hundreds, maybe thousands of elves sat on every rocky outcropping. She had clearly swung into a massive mountain cave. Outside its mouth, she saw the forest of vines and branches.

“Welcome to the Cleft, Nob, Chloe. It was here that we fought the Great Battle, here that we safeguard the only source of mountain stone.” The singing stopped at the sound of the chief's voice. “Young lady, you pose a dilemma. A problem.”

“What did I do wrong?”

“You came.”

Elves murmured in agreement.

“I did not — Well, I didn't
mean
to come. I was called, or sent, or told, sort of.” Chloe buried her face in her hands. “And I couldn't leave Nick. I need to find him. This is so confusing.”

The chief approached. “Yes, Nob has told me.” He turned, scaled the cave wall, and reclined in a chair, an azure throne carved entirely of mountain stone and covered with elf etchings. The chieftain's body shone.

“If we knew that you were sent by Secholit, we would certainly lend you aid. Unfortunately for you, that Nob fled Secholit in his hour of need is well known. I find it highly doubtful that Secholit would trust him to guide anyone of importance … would trust him to guide anyone at all.”

“Whoa. Stop right there.” Chloe raised her hand and turned to Nob. “You left Secholit? Nick wrote up a battle scene, and I put you in there. You were the hero.”

Nob lowered his gaze. “I've not been heroic for some time.”

“How do we know she's not a Senseri?” a voice from the darkness whispered, and the question repeated, gained strength.

“Look at the scar. She's a Lost One, for sure. Nobody else could have found us.”

Nob yelled, “Would Flit bring a Senseri to this place?”

“He brought the boy.” Hael stepped forward, gesturing to the entire assembly. “The boy acted every bit the Senseri.”

Nob stepped forward. “Flit did not know what the boy was.”

“Who knows if it was Flit?” Hael spoke to the chief. “None on the outer watch saw a dragon. You
know that Flit's siblings have turned. It's just a matter of time until he also —”

The chief held up his hand, and the great cave fell silent. “Let her own words affirm or condemn. Chloe, tell me who you are.”

Chloe gazed over at Nob, who nodded. “You know my name.” She raised both hands. “I'm Chloe Lundeen from Melmanie, Minnesota. I don't know how I got here. I was in Aldo's Movie Palace, which is the movie house my great-grandfather built. I was showing a film called
The Vapor
— terrible acting, by the way — and then suddenly I was in
The Vapor
, with Nick, and then the blue window appeared and —”

“Stop.” The chief held up a finger.

The air around Chloe was heavy with silence. Nobody breathed.

“A blue window,” the chief repeated.

“Yeah. Blue. Nick claims he wrote that, but Grandpa was into blue before we left and I was the one who — Oh, it doesn't matter. We climbed through it and we were on a lake, actually a sky, and then we met Nob.”

The chief stood. “So there is a window above. Tell me, does it look like this?” He looked out into the gathering. “Hael!”

Hael scampered up beside the chief. “With all respect, she's admitted to seeing Vaepor, to being in the palace. It already controls one window. If It were to find the second, what would stop It from seeing freely throughout Retinya and destroying —”

“Hael.” The chief laid a hand on Hael's head. “You have heard for yourself. There is nothing but truth behind her words.” He gestured upward. “Lift the veil.”

Hael hung his head, reached forward, grabbed a gray, rocky outcrop and twisted. The rock face spun like a revolving door, and next to the glowing throne appeared a window, blue and perfect.

“That's it!” she pointed.

“Come up, Chloe.” The chief gestured. “Nob, you as well.”

Together, they climbed up the rough wall and leaned on the sill. “I can't see through.” Chloe turned toward the chief. “I just see me.”

“Keep looking.”

Chloe's face faded, and in her place appeared Grandpa Salvador, stepping out of his trailer home for his morning walk.

“Grandpa. I'm right here! Oh, I'm right here! Can I go to him now?” she begged. “Please, let me go through.”

“Through this window, you can only see. I have heard of others, ones through which you can step. I knew It kept one in the palace. Now I know the other is in a much safer place.”

For the first time during the gathering, the elf chieftain smiled.

Chloe stroked the glass and Salvador disappeared, replaced by Dad in tears, his head bowed, sitting in the hay. Chloe dropped her gaze.

“Your father,” said the chief. “You choose not to look at him.”

Inside, she felt a burning. “He chooses not to look at me!” She pointed at her face. “Do you think I did this to myself? Believe me, I remember every instant, every insult, every …” Chloe swallowed hard and peeked over her shoulder at the hundreds of surprised faces.

“It's hard, is all,” she said quietly and turned her back toward the window. “I don't need to see him. If that is all this window does, it's worthless. Go ahead, Nob.”

“You're sure.” He moved over, breathed deeply, and stared.

Chloe peeked over his shoulder. As Dad and the farm disappeared, a dull ache sprung to life inside her and her throat thickened.

Strange. I never missed Dad before
.

A coastal town appeared in the window, the light from two moons reflecting off the water. A lone man whistled and walked the dark wharf.

“Who is he?” Chloe asked.

Nob said nothing. He didn't need to. The resemblance was clear and she stepped up to watch Nob's father.

The man froze, and his mouth stilled. He threw a cape over his head with a flourish, and when he emerged he was a little boy.

“No.” Nob shook. “When I left, he was not that far gone.”

“Where is Scout?” Hael cried. When he received no reply, he raised his arms. “Nob's the blood offspring of a Senseri, come to destroy!” Hael looked over the assembly with wild eyes. “And he's in the Cleft?”

The mass of elves pressed nearer, but the chief raised his hand. “I want to see.”

The boy sat down in the road. Approaching from the other direction was a little girl with bread in her hands. The boy spoke. The girl dropped the loaf and fled. Slowly, the lad rose and, with a smile, disappeared behind his cape.

Nob's father emerged, scooped up the bread, and went whistling on his way.

The mirror went black.

Nob stared straight ahead. “He's been in the pool more times than I can count, this is no secret, but I never thought he'd become …”

“Will someone tell me what's going on?” Chloe climbed down off the ledge.

“What more evidence do you need, Chieftain?” an old elf called. “Isn't it clear who they are?”

The chief stared down at Chloe. “It will be. Yes, Chloe, I will tell you what is going on. And I think after my story, your reaction will bring all things to light.” He motioned toward Nob. “Remove him, and find Scout.”

Nob shook his head and put up no fight. “My dad. He was a good man. He really was a good man.” Ten elves quickly led him out of the cave.

R
ETINYA WAS NOT ALWAYS LIKE THIS
.” The elf chieftain leaned back on his throne. “We elves did not always cower in the forest. The old among us remember. The invisible city, yes, it was glorious, providing shelter to all in need along the Wandering Road and protecting Retinya from —”

“The Calainians,” Chloe interrupted.

“Yes.” He frowned. “From the Calainians. There was a time before, before these trees stood, when the land was beautiful and Blind Secholit lived among us.

“I was a scalawag in those younger days, and more than once my father and I set out for the palace in the east. And not just my father. All Retinyans found justice there. More than justice, peace.”

Groups of elves murmured.

“Few here remember Wedion, one of the ancient elves. I, and my friends, mocked his age, his … speed. My father discovered this and took me to the palace, where I told Blind Secholit of my guilt. I waited for my punishment. But Blind Secholit reached forward, lifted a shadow of shame from me, and tossed it into the pool.”

“You lost me.” Chloe interrupted. “Why?”

“Because Secholit's pool was not for swimming. His pool was for forgetting. Any wrong tossed into the pool vanished from Retinya's memory forever. In this way, he prevented our anger and our bitterness from destroying us.

“But a boat appeared on the horizon of the Eastern Sea, from beyond the Lost Islands. The sailors, short on food but long on treachery, landed at Port's End and made their way down to the palace, where they mocked Blind Secholit. They dived into his pool and emerged, free from their worst memories. Secholit warned them that entering the pool led to death. And in a way they did die — through frequent trips into the pool, they forgot who they were. These men became It's first Senseri.”

“And who is It?” Chloe asked.

“Vaepor.”

Chloe gasped.

“You know It.”

“Maybe. I mean, the name is really close to … Like I told you, I saw the movie in my world, but it was Nick who wrote that into the screenplay. He called it the Darkness.”

“An appropriate name,” the chief continued. “Word spread that you could forget pain without enduring the humility of speaking with Blind Secholit, and foolish Retinyans abandoned the difficult and snuck into the pool. Finally, Secholit gave men their desire. He left his palace and his pool and wandered the land. Now he's far away.”

Chloe bit her lip. “Then who's in charge of the pool?”

“Vaepor. It blew in from the sea, bringing with It illusions from distant lands. These he layered upon Retinya so thickly that we no longer recognized our own country. Mountains seemed to vanish. Rivers suddenly appeared. But his most potent trickery had nothing to do with topography.”

The Cleft felt cooler, and Chloe felt another pang inside. “I don't know if I want to hear anymore —”

“You must!” The chief lowered his voice. “Once a year, on what's called the Day of Reckoning, Vaepor calls all the people of Retinya to a pilgrimage. He invites — forces — them to the palace, and to the pool where they will forget all they hold dear.”

Chloe raised her hand. “Lost you again. I mean, that is not how we wrote — What good does that do?”

The chief frowned. “A man who can't remember will follow anyone, will believe anything. If it wasn't for Vaepor's frightening form, It would long ago have seduced all men.”

“So whoever swims in that pool forgets everything? Have you gone in too?”

“No. This is why we are here. There are a few men who resist, mostly in the arid regions of the Safelands and in Shadowton, and I've heard that other creatures live in secret. But Old Retinya is no more, and when the old among us die, so will the taste of freedom.” He breathed deeply. “In three days' time, all known men begin the march on the Path of Pilgrimage. It ends at the pool, where all recent memories will be stolen — ripped from their minds, and I believe held prisoner in the palace. There is no way to know who has forgotten, who is lost, except the mark.” He pointed at Chloe's face. “When a pilgrim dips in the pool, a facial mark appears. After years of forgetting, scars form.”

Scarface
.

“So you thought I was in the pool,” Chloe whispered. “I admit it. There is a name I want to forget.
When I swim in the Snake, for those minutes I do feel free of it …”

The chief leaped off the throne and landed directly in front of Chloe. He raised his blue stone and peered at her. “Have you been in the pool?”

“No, I've never been anywhere near it! I don't know anything about what you just said.”

His lips tightened. “Your words lie.”

“She does.” An elf grabbed her arm.

“I feel it too!” said another.

“She's seen our window. She can't be allowed to live.”

The cave exploded with sounds of deep singing as more strong hands wrapped around her arms and legs.

“No!” Chloe shrieked. “I don't know anything. I've never even seen your pool or the palace or — Wait! I do know something!”

The song died. “I know about Blind Secholit. I think I saw him planting. Right before he sent me. And he sows seed, right?”

Elves drew back and Chloe fell to the ground.

“Think about what you say.” The chief reached down and helped her up.

“Well, you won't believe this, but I saw him planting worlds. He was growing worlds right out of the
dirt. And he was burying stuff. I saw him bury a shadow. That's the guy, right?”

Again, all was silent.

The chief's eyes widened. “What name would you use for him?”

“Nick and Nob told me his name was Secholit. He didn't name himself. I mean, there wasn't enough land to call him a farmer. Mom would call it too big for a garden. In Minnesota, we'd call him a sower.”

The chief folded his arms. “A sower. That's what stories say. Every elf in this Cleft knows this. Tell me about the shadow. What grew from that?”

“Uh, nothing. He just buried it. He said he didn't even know what it was.” Chloe thought for a moment. “Is he really blind?”

“At times.” The chief smiled and turned to the elves. “Perhaps we are quick to rush to judgment. That's Blind Secholit. Can any here deny it?” The chief turned to Chloe. “If he sent you” — he turned and stared at Hael — “then you, Chloe, will have
every
elves' assistance.”

Hael squeezed his forehead between thumb and forefinger, and stiffly bowed.

Chloe cleared her throat. “Well, I need Nob, and I need to find Nick. And there's something else the
guy told me to do that I don't think I'm supposed to talk about.”

The chief nodded. “Then that last task will remain yours. But regarding the boy, perhaps we can set you on course. Everyone, to the trees, and with speed. We make for the Remnant Road —” He paused. “And has anybody seen that blasted Scout?”

Chloe, Nob, and a small detachment of elves set out at once. They swung for hours, and the hours turned to days, if Chloe's mountain stone glowed true. They rarely stopped, and then only long enough for short naps and to grab a fistful of lingonberries. Nob took extra attention to Chloe's hands, raw and bleeding from the vines, bandaging them as best he could. She didn't complain — the elves' faces held a strange urgency, and she was hushed each time she spoke.

Finally, they stopped. Strong, oaken hands grasped them and Hael pointed down.

“We are above it. The Remnant Road. Before It covered the land with deception, when these trees where saplings, this road stretched into the heart of what is now the Unknown Forest. Now it is overgrown, never used. We have no reason to walk it.”

The chieftain interrupted. “This road stretches from the forest in the west to the Eastern Sea and will lead you to the palace, if that's where you wish to go. Although I wish on you another destination.” He glanced down, kicked at a branch with his toe. “Retinya is a more beautiful place with you in it.”

Chloe opened her mouth, but no sounds came out.

“I hope you will find your friend as well,” the chief added. “The trees placed him and his mouth in a boat and sent him down the Green River. It will intersect with this road in short order.”

“We get to walk?” Chloe's arms ached, and she slid partway down her vine.

“The ground is evil,” called the chieftain. “The land will warn It of your presence. But there are paths that have not sworn allegiance. Use your stone to light the way.”

Chloe dug her small mountain stone from her pocket, and two towering oaks lowered her and Nob halfway to the ground. “How will we know where to step?”

“Follow Scout,” Hael called. “He knows.”

“I don't know a Scout. I haven't met a Scout.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I've never seen a … Scout?”

A new figure hung, silently silhouetted against the forest deep. Chloe lifted the glowing stone and illuminated his face.

The young man did not squint. From the neck up, Scout looked regal, with a proud, noble air. He clearly did not live in the forest — his skin was tanned and weathered, as if he'd walked a thousand miles beneath a burning sun. But from the neck down, all royal appearances vanished. He dressed in a loose shirt, torn and dirty, with trousers that hung from four leather straps that crisscrossed his chest.

“You were never in the script,” Chloe said.

“You'd be surprised where I've been.” Scout hinted a smile. He then turned and frowned at Nob.

“What's going on?” Chloe asked. “You know each other?”

Scout bowed as well as a young man can while hanging on a vine. “I'm pleased to meet you. I will get you to the city of Medahon, this I promise, though I have no idea why you'd want to go. After that, our paths will likely separate. I have business of my own.” He leaned closer. “I only ask that you walk in my steps. Do not stray. Do not step to the left or right. As the chieftain said, the ground is evil — well, most of it.”

“Medahon? I love that city! Do you want to hear who designed it?”

Scout whisked down his vine. Chloe sighed and slid the rest of the way to the forest floor, where leaves and branches crackled beneath her feet.

She kicked at the brambles. “This is a road? Nob, what do you think?”

“I can't go,” Nob whispered from above.

Chloe stared up. “What? Secholit ordered you. He told you to help me. He —”

“And I have. I — This part is beyond my ability. It wasn't what I was asked to do, not really. I was asked to take you down —”

“And help me!”

Nob gazed at the ground, his words coming quietly. “You don't know what lies ahead, but I do. I lived here.”

“That's not true. I know this city and its beautiful walls and wild staircases and … I know where we are. I drew the map! I sketched you from nothing! In
Mary Poppins
Bert could do anything. You're just like him. You can do this.”

“Chloe?” Scout's hard stare never left Nob, and he gestured with his hand.

“Please, Nob,” she mouthed.

Nob took a deep breath. “Good-bye, lady.” He tapped the tree and his vine shot upward.

Good-bye back
. She buried her face in her hands.
What should I do?

“Stay in the forest if you wish.” Scout hobbled around and limped away.

Wonderful. Now I have a limping guide
.

“Wait for me!”

They weaved forward through the trees, although forward is not quite the correct word. They walked sideways, backward — every direction. But after some hours Chloe noticed the forest changing. There was firmness beneath her feet. Fewer branches crackled, and winks of light pierced the canopy and lit up the forest floor.

The tree line stopped abruptly and they stood, blinking in daylight. Scout glanced over his shoulder and stretched out his arms. “Welcome to Retinya.”

It was beautiful. Lakes dotted rolling hills. It looked like Minnesota, but with more valleys.

“It doesn't look right. It feels like Retinya — don't get me wrong — and it is really pretty —”

“Yes.” Scout forced a smile. “On the outside.” He turned and grabbed Chloe's shoulders. “If we meet anybody on the way, not one word.”

“I'm not very good at that.”

“Walk beside me. Most of the ground beneath us is on our side.”

Chloe soon had passed him. She glanced back at Scout, whose gaze never left the path. In the light, his limp was far more pronounced.

“Your leg …”

Scout caught up and they moved on the wide road together. Beneath them, dirt changed to gravel and then to fitted rock. “You aren't used to walking so slowly.”

“Actually, I am.” The thought of morning walks with Grandpa made her smile. She closed her eyes. She could see the tall grass, the cows in the distance.

Take my arm, Chloe. We will make a good show
.

“You will want to hide that.”

Chloe opened her eyes and stared at the stone in her hand, burning blue. She jammed it in her pocket, but the light fought its way out.

“Wait here. On the road.” Scout kept his eyes on her pocket. “I'll gather some lunch.”

Chloe watched Scout hobble off the cobblestones, work his way up a hill, and disappear. She sighed and plunked down on the lonely road. She traced her finger in the sand that filled the spaces between the paving stones.

“Why do I need a scout? I can follow a straight, abandoned road. I'll hit Medahon, then it's a lovely
journey to the City of Reckoning. Nick can't be that far ahead.”

She wished her brothers were here, making jokes. She wished Mom were here, stroking her hair. She missed them all.

“Chloe.”

Chloe jumped to her feet. A girl stood in the lovely meadow opposite the direction Scout had gone.