I took a small makeshift boat, and decided to head for a spot in the wall of the cavern. I found a small cave where I landed and wandered around, lost, for a day or two, when I stumbled upon a bigger cave with a walkway. As I made my way down it, when I got to a certain point, a gate came crashing down and I have not been able to get it opened back up. This walkway led to the Atrium of Neolbah. Fortunately, there was a Nexus linking pedestal there with a book going to the Nexus and, by using it, I was able to have a link to this place included in my KI.
I wandered over to the door that I've not had time to get working yet. I thought I could hear something. I pressed my ear against the door. Was that a dripping noise I heard? Hard to tell with the water splashing in the fountain and the noise from the imager going on.
I was walking over to my table when Dot linked in. Scared me to death! All these years and I'm still not used to someone suddenly popping into existence in front of me like that! Gah!
The look on Dot's face was very clear to me: "I'm really ticked off right now and want to be alone!" However, the look changed quickly into a smile and a wave of hello when she saw me.
I could tell she wanted to be alone though, and I needed to get going anyways. I've got a new area that I've been looking into that's in the Great Shaft. So giving excuses, and waving goodbye, I quickly used my Relto book to leave. I knew I'd be back later.
Moe is from Down Under, in Cairns, Australia. I met him a ways back while playing an online game. We've become fast friends and I had told him all about the Cavern and the D'ni.
Moe was fascinated with what I had described to him. His wife Meg (short for Megumi) and he flew to the States to visit me and Tracey. Of course with him visiting, I just could not resist dragging him down here!
To make a long story short (and by the way, Moe stands at about 6 foot 8 inches... I forgot he'd need a hard hat. He spent a lot of time yelling "OW!" down here), I decided to take Moe down the Great Shaft.
The look of wonder on his face was worth every gripe from him about his sore feet, which he promptly forgot about when he looked down the shaft from the top! Heh.
We made our way down using the series of elevators and walking paths until we got about half way. I'd heard there was a Rest Room right about here (there are several, but this one took some getting to).
Once in the Rest Room, I pointed, while bent over breathing hard (I've GOT to lose some weight!). Moe looked over and said, "What? It's just another bloody room that... Look... the... that door back there is open!"
We moved in and to my astonishment, it looked like some sort of pub or bar! There was a place for people to sit, and even what looked like a small kitchen!
Further investigation revealed what looked like living quarters. That's when I found a book! That is also when Moe got another smack to his hand. I remember him looking at me confused saying "Look, mate, it's just a book! How is touching it going to--"
He broke off as I was waving my Relto book under his nose. "Just a book?" I looked at him with raised eyebrows. "So what happens if you open it up and touch it? Nothing? Or maybe a sudden lurching feeling, and existing... where? A tropical island? A dark pit? A place whose atmosphere is poison to us? Do you want to find out the hard way?"
I held up my finger and drew a pen out of my pocket, one that I had been using to take notes. I gently lifted the cover of the book over, and saw simply D'ni writing. No linking panel.
I left Moe in the good hands of Steve at the Ferry Terminal in Ae'gura. I wanted to get back to Neolbah and tell Dot what I had found. When I left them, they were busy discussing Australian beer, or "Aussie Beer" as Moe calls it.
Dot wasn't in Neolbah. Felt like I had just missed her. Sighing, I was about to link out when I thought I heard something. It was from the elevator shaft. The elevator itself was not present.
I stared at the two valves that are down there. I keep thinking they do more than just maybe shut off the fountain. That's when my eye caught the book lying on a crate!
I left and linked to Neolbah where I had left some of my tools. I don't remember what happened next. I remember being IN Neolbah, but... the next memory is me opening my eyes here. Wherever 'here' is.
You know, you'd think I'd have learned after all these years of exploring the Cavern here underground, and whole alternate worlds, to NOT touch something when I don't know what it is!
Quin was quite insistent about visiting some of these places (well, as "insistent" as Quin gets, which amounts to a single raised eyebrow and a "I would very much like to see this place, Mr. Legate.").
Serene seemed to draw a strange expression across Quin's face. I've seen wonder, awe and even surprise on people's faces when they visit Serene, but never an expression of... puzzlement. Something about Serene seemed to puzzle Quin. He spent a lot of time walking around, looking and exploring every inch of it.
Later, back at my Relto, Quin asked if he might take a look at my Descriptive Book for Serene. I handed it over to him, and caught the faintest look of delight on his face. If I had blinked, I would have missed it.
Several days ago, I decided to link to Serene. The snow and wind always put me in the holiday mood, and with Thanksgiving approaching, it felt like it was just the ticket.
To my shock and horror, my linking book was not working. The linking panel no longer showed Serene, but instead was a grey swirl and smoke. The link had been severed. How?
I immediately thought of Quin and the fact that I had given him the Descriptive Book to Serene for study. My thoughts turned to concern for his safety. Had something happened to him while he had the book?
I linked to Shell 415 in Ahra Pahts where I found D'Lanor and Ametist working hard. As I approached them, I guess they could tell how upset I was. D'Lanor's face went blank except for the quick blinking of his eyes. Ametist had started to smile at me, but the smile shattered and I don't think I've seen her go that pale before.
Ametist's eyes got even wider at the tone of my voice. "I'm not sure, Andy," she replied. She then pointed towards a hedge, "But he was here earlier. He left that linking book to Serene over there."
Turning towards D'Lanor and Ametist, my hand hovered over the linking panel. My eyes met theirs. D'Lanor's mouth hardened to a straight line, and his head gave a slight nod.
Finally I slowly turned around to the Nexus book stand. It was still there, and even looked the same. An Age Anchor? I'd never thought about it. But Anchor or not, the linking book to the Nexus was gone.
I went no further, but quickly linked back to my Relto. My feet went out from under me and I sat down hard on the ground. I began to shake with rage. The temper I'd gotten from my mother, that ugly beast that I always keep chained up and caged. It raged against the bars of its cage. Howling to get out. It would not stay locked up.
Some time later, I came to my senses, lying on my side, breathing hard and feeling exhausted. My vision was blurry from tears. I quickly sat up and wiped them from my eyes.
I dressed Quin down. Describing how irresponsible his actions had been. How he'd had no right to tamper with an Age that was not of his creation. That never again would I trust him with anything so precious.
Quin's eyes widened only briefly, but his expression quickly turned hard. Instead of regret, remorse, or guilt, he instead looked at me with his own anger, and what looked like disgust.
"Andy, I know how angry you must be. Please realize that Quin in many ways can be like a child. A child who has lost a whole world and saw a way to bring at least part of it back. Can you understand that?"
I looked over at Dot. "Yes, I can understand it. You are right in that he's like a child. And like a child, who wishes so hard to bring something back, he had no thought of the fact he was going to cause the exact same loss on me. Maybe you can explain that to him sometime. That while he may have brought something he lost back, he's inflicted the exact same loss that he suffered upon me."
