Chapter 2: Seeing Things
Perry
Penelope guided us to a valley that reminded me a lot of the valley I had landed in when on my last trip to Africa. When we got down further, I saw my suspicions were confirmed. We made our way around and soon found a tunnel leading to an open plain. There were a few trees here and there as well as a river. In the distance appeared to be a great lake.
"Great. This has all the elements of a trap," said Penelope. She turned to us and asked, "Have you ever heard of any lost paradises like Atlantis, Shangri-La, or Valhalla?"
"We actually re-discovered Atlantis two summers ago," said Phineas.
"Not in Danville you didn't. You have no idea where Atlantis actually is and, if I have anything to say about it, you never shall," said Penelope.
"But-" said Phineas. Penelope put up a hand.
"That wasn't Atlantis. Many creatures have sought to re-build the city and I even investigated the Danville Atlantis, but that is far from it."
"All right, so what's your point?"
"My point is this: they're not paradise places. The horrors contained within the real Atlantis would be enough to make a grown man wet the bed at night. I scarcely escaped Valhalla with my life and Shangri-La... the monsters there are enough to freeze your blood."
"Oh, come on, you're just messing with us so that we won't try to find those places," said Doofenshmirtz.
"You want proof?" We all nodded. "Well, I won't give it to you. Perhaps on another day when I feel like getting into danger, but this is probably going to be more than enough to last me a few months. This, like all other 'paradise' places, is not a paradise at all. Those who don't know this place call it Roho Ardhi or 'Spirit Land.' They take it from the legends of spirits disappearing into this place to rest, but that's not the entirety of the tale. This place is actually called bonde kifo or 'Death Valley.' This isn't like the one in the western United States either. This one earns its name daily," said Penelope. We heard the wind move through the valley and, had there been a thought to turn back, we were unable to. The entrance to the valley was closed over by a giant rock that hadn't been there before. "Stay close to me, don't go near the trees, don't go near the water, and for goodness sake, don't antagonize them."
"Antagonize who, exactly?" asked Isabella. The valley shook as a great roaring echoed off the walls. There was no telling what it was.
"Do you really wanna know?" asked Penelope. We formed a chain with our arms, holding each other close, and made a break for the center of the valley. There were a few mud huts and I assumed one of them was where Penelope's friend was. We rushed toward one, but it was good we didn't head too close to the door. A lion bounded out of it with a body in its jaws. It appeared to be a cheetah cub, bloodied and unmoving. We stood close to the wall of the hut, watching the lion dig a hole and bury the body. It looked in the direction of the setting sun thoughtfully.
"I don't appreciate humans coming here, Rose," said the lion. He didn't look at us, but it was obvious he smelled us. It took me a second to register he was talking to Penelope since I had forgotten that her middle name was Rose.
"Siwatu, it is a most urgent matter that brings us here," said Penelope.
"Urgent enough to risk your life for humans?" asked the lion, Siwatu.
"We need shelter for the night, then, we are going to look for the first marker for the old legend."
"And what legend is that?"
"The Treasure of Tau." The lion stiffened and turned to us.
"Inside. Quickly." We didn't argue.
Once inside, the lion went into a corner and lay down. His tail swished back and forth. I didn't know if he was thinking about pouncing or if he was just thinking. He nodded his head over to a table and we sat down at it. The floor was surprisingly cool, despite the temperature of the day and the room.
"I cannot trust humans. You know that more than anyone," said Siwatu.
"True, but these humans are my friends... some of them are even family. Surely you can see it in your heart to trust them," said Penelope.
"Your word means much to me, Rose, but I'm not sure it means that much."
"What do they have to do to prove to you they are trustworthy?"
"They can stay out of my way." Siwatu growled deeply. "This is a dangerous land in which you have entered and, unless you do as Rose and I ask of you, you won't survive."
"Yeah, yeah," said Doofenshmirtz.
Siwatu growled again and Penelope said, "This is completely serious, Doctor. Creatures lurk in this valley, some of the worst in existence. All caution is needed... and caution cannot be had without complete sobriety."
"Okay," said Doofenshmirtz. He had a hard time keeping his voice even when he said that, possibly because of the look Penelope was giving him. It made me wonder all the more what was going on.
"Very well. I will choose to trust you humans, but if our trust is compromised, your safety cannot be assured," said Siwatu.
Penelope nudged me with her elbow and I said, "To hear is to understand, Siwatu." It was the typical agreement from our culture that was also used in farewells. Siwatu looked at us a moment before setting his head down to rest, then it got strange. His back opened up in panels and air hissed out of the body. It was... a robot? Out of the lion shell came a platypus.
The platypus had the same fur and appendage colors as me, but that was as far as physical comparisons went. He was four inches taller than me, making him five inches over Penelope. He had a much bigger chest than I did at any normal rate, but that did not make the rest of him look strange at all. He just looked like a fit platypus. Another key difference between us was that his eyes were so black that I could hardly tell pupil from iris, giving a spooky effect to his appearance. He wore typical tribal clothing and a small hat on his head. Around his neck was a necklace with a strange shape. The shape reminded me of the upper jaw of a lion.
"Rose, I am surprised you walk around unclothed," said Siwatu.
"I wear a body suit," said Penelope, pulling at the fabric. "My husband wears the same thing." She pointed at me.
"Your husband? Max, isn't it?" he asked me.
"That was my birth name. Most people call me Perry," I said.
"Hmm... if memory serves, it means wanderer. That makes sense for a man far from his home," said Siwatu.
"I could say the same for you," I said.
"You couldn't really. I've been here longer than you've been alive." He turned back to Penelope and said, "So, the Treasure of Tau you seek?" Penelope nodded. "How exciting."
"Perry says he recognizes the first clue," said Penelope.
"Really? Do tell," said Siwatu.
"Well, I was sure I saw it the last time I was in Africa," I said.
"Where?" asked Siwatu, sounding nonchalant.
"Haijulikani Wadi, the uncharted gorge," I replied. I just barely saw Siwatu stiffen, but it was temporary.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yeah..." Did he know anything about the treasure?
"Well, it isn't far from here. I will take you there in the morning. Early." He went back into the lion robot and the panels closed, leaving him in a cocoon.
"Come on, we better get to sleep. Siwatu never jokes when he says early," said Penelope. We all picked corners of the room to curl up and sleep in. Four humans, four platypuses, and one strange platypus in a lion suit went to sleep that night. I felt as if there were things out there, lurking. It was almost mute with my family in my arms though. If I had been alone, the unknown screeching might be some tree monster or those unknown animal sounds might be predators searching for their prey or that screaming... screaming? I had been half-asleep and half-awake, so I wasn't sure what I heard. I sat up straight and saw that it was Penelope. She was shaking and screaming the most frightful screams.
As Penelope thrashed about, Siwatu emerged from his suit and said tensely, "Silence her."
"If I try to interfere, it might get worse," I said.
"How worse?" Siwatu folded his arms a moment before he lunged for Penelope, but I grabbed her and made a shield out of myself. I was right. It got worse.
Penelope's eyes were glowing white and her eyelids were nowhere to be seen. Her voice made the most unnatural sounds as her mouth foamed and she stood up. My face went cold with fear. The kids were in the corner, huddled together and scared. "Doofenshmirtz, take the kids and get out of here!" I said.
"I wouldn't! The outdoors at night are far more formidable than this could possibly be," said Siwatu.
I looked at him with an expression of intensity. "You wanna bet?" I asked. "I'm not allowing my kids to see this."
"Perry..." said Penelope weakly. The white light in her eyes flickered a little before going bright again. I thought the light would leave, but it didn't. She stood still a moment before lunging at me with a battle cry and her fists raised. I ducked and tried to avoid her blows. She was fast. I had to keep her away from the kids. I grabbed her and pinned her to the floor. She writhed there a moment before turning to face me. "I have seen the future," her voice sounded far away. "One is a traitor, one shall become greater. One shall meet their destiny, one shall have clarity. One will reject silence, one will wish to be silenced. One shall cry and one shall die." Her eyes faded back to their normal color and closed. The attack was over... and it was also just beginning.
Siwatu means "born during a time of conflict." Any ideas on that? Siwatu seems to have something up his sleeve. What could it be? And the vision! Whoa! Who has what? Hmm... I'll let you guys theorize in the reviews ;) Adventure's just getting started, so please keep reading and reviewing, thanks :)
