Chapter 15: Finally Getting Together
With strain, the train of Butlers and Lok labor their way out of the sucking mud stuck up to their shin tops. The sweating sloggers shortly find somewhat solid land several yards away. They swipe the sludge from boots with sticks and shake their capri pants (in one case) clean. In the night, Kim gives Katie a kind smile as though saying "so glad to see you". Likewise, John offers a sweet look and gives a seemingly sentimental sigh. Such cordial gestures surprise and unsettle Katie a crumb.
Aspirant leader Lok speaks, "That quicksand may have solved our turtle problem if that behemoth boa had not come along. Thank you for leading us, John."
"Sure, I am glad that a guy inadvertently thought of it," John gibes. Most geniuses know that they are often just jive. John just led loved ones toward quicksand.
The fantastic four—the big-brain, the unassuming woman, the firebrand, and the brute—fidget with filth further and fling it this way and that. Lok continues, "Well, thank you for many things, John. You are a good leader and great man, and I am always glad to 'see you in action', as you outsiders say."
"Awww". Katie is outwardly amused at the mushy moment while internally impressed with her tender-hearted Tarzan. In her mind, she will train him yet to be a self-actualized '70s man who is strong, stoic and sometimes silent, sensitive, successful, secure, sweet, psychologically and sartorially stable stud who suits her self's schema of what she would have in a man if she only objectified, instructed, evolved, altered, and "abused" him into the epitome of an idealized infatuation. No insult to him, of course, but Katie knows she can change her caveboy, coming from an advanced place.
"We are happy to see you again too," John replies to Lok.
Katie chortles, "Dad, you just saw the boy a few hours ago at the cave."
"No, a few years ago," answers Kim for her husband. Mrs. John Butler has a serious mien as though she means what she utters.
Confused, Katie counters, "No, you cooked salamander and sweet potato stew tonight. Afterward, everyone conversed and told stories. Gorak, Lok, and Dad discussed the odd lights and audio over the Black Lagoon. Then, you two old fogeys conked out on your cots."
"I'm afraid not," Mom simply states.
Dad explains, "We were in Porto de Moz, Brazil, this morning and in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, last night."
"Sweetie, we came back for you," calmly communicates Kim as though coaxing Katie from incorrect memory.
"Came back from where? Brooklyn?" Katie cannot quite comprehend, "Lok, does the Valley of the Dinosaurs have a Brooklyn?"
Lok is logical, "We have a land that has brooks, some of them long or lean, but no creek called Brook Lynn."
Papa parent patronizes his daughter, "Katie, how could we have been in Gorak's grotto this evening when we were still one hundred kilometers away? Guiding a glider. How can you say that you saw us?"
"Empirically," answers the offspring, "I saw you earlier with my own light brown eyes."
"Impossible," counters Kim, "Three years back, you accompanied us in an escape submarine constructed of a Stupendemys carapace. We were attempting to cruise through the underground cavern that flung us into this hostile world, the Valley of the Dinosaurs. Some uncanny force captured and crushed our vessel. It veritably vacuumed John, Greg, and me to the verdant Brazil beyond here. Verifiably, we searched for you a very long time. However, with heavy hearts, we ultimately had to voyage home to Court Street, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.
"We Butlers are not poor (like servants), so we had the resources to research the situation and return for you. Right away, your dad and I suspected that we had met some funky physics beneath the Black Lagoon. It was beyond our remarkable purview. And, we had visited the Stone Age and engineered an oil drill, a hot-air balloon, a glider, a sailboat, an elevator, a catapult, a barometer, wind-generated electricity, a fire engine complete with extinguisher foam, two self-sustaining water pumps, and miscellaneous major landscaping projects accomplished in record time. Still, John and I knew that there were some occult phenomena occurring in this valley. Just consider the creatures co-existing in this place. By contemporary tuition, they should be separated, in many cases, by millions of years. We knew that we needed outside help."
"Auspiciously, exceptional aid arrived," John interjects, "Although, oddly and eerily, it found us."
Kim elucidates, "Your father and I set-up a radio room in our townhouse attic. With good position and sufficient voltage, we figured that our communications could reach the world. With any luck, someone from South Carolina to the Soviet Union to the South Pole to the Solomon Islands would know something apt."
"It is a shame that the Space Age does not yet have an interconnected network that allows the swift sharing of everything from scientific research to silly stories," John interrupts his wife again.
"Someday. The world-wide web," Katie assures.
"Wait, how do I know about the internet? Also, what the heck is the internet?" Katie thinks to herself, "Oh well. In 1977, we have the telephone, printed mass media, airmail, and (sometimes) satellite TV, and we are damn grateful for them. We don't need the . . . whatever I was just thinking about."
Kim continues, "From somewhere out in the cosmos, whether Connecticut or the Cassiopeia constellation, someone contacted us about our quandary. Jace and Jan scrutinized our situation, postulated on the Valley's properties, coached us on the quintessence of the universe (of all things), and suggested our conundrum's solution. John and I constructed a craft theoretically capable of conveying us back to you, Katie."
"The space cadets' crazy science actually worked," John concludes, "We call Jace and Jan 'the space cadets' because their ideas were really out there."
"Plus, they kept claiming to be transmitting from outer space," Kim cracks a smile, "I'm sure that talk is simply psychedelic. They may be 'far out', as our students used to say, but they are not from the Ghost Planet, as they purport."
"I'm sorry, Mom and Dad, but I must correct you," Katie cannot, with good conscience, corroborate the caring couple, "We did escape in an episode about three years back. However, that diving bell, that turned turtle shell, was from when Mom and I went to the Three Giants and got trapped by an earthquake. Dad, Gorak, and Lok brought an improvised submarine to the rescue [E3]."
John snorts, "I assure you, little girl, your mother and I have not been taking a magic carpet ride. We rode in on a sailplane from the confluence of the Xingu and Iriri today."
Lok inquires, "Where is the glider now? Is it by the other giant turtle?"
"What other giant turtle?" John jolts, "We should look out for it!"
"The large beast lay, looming large, by your first location," relates Lok.
"Lord, it could be lumbering this way!" blurts Mr. Butler.
Kim contributes, "When we landed, the light was low, granted. However, we saw no large living lump like a leviathan, my love."
"You know, Kim," says John, "Jace and Jan did mention things being in flux. Perhaps, our memories and perceptions are. We are dealing with relativity while fetching our closest relative, after all."
The wife reflects, "While fleeing, I may have heard something crunch. It may have been the plane. Maybe, a leviathan lay on it."
"Listen, please," Katie pleads, "You folks have been here, stranded, the whole time. For the last three years. I am happy to say that your daughter has not been long abandoned as you describe. Rather, we Butlers have been with our buddies in the village, and you two have been supportive folks to Greg and me. Without you, I would have devolved into some kind of cave-Katie."
Cave-Katie's kin—from an alternate timeline—are not too cognizant that chronological time gets cockeyed in the Valley of the Dinosaurs, so they do not know what to say. As good scientific clinicians, they can only contemplate. At this moment (in time), everyone is confused. Although, Katie's subconscious passingly finds the parents' story familiar, but nothing categorically occurs to her.
Lok carries on the discussion, "Recently, strange lights and noises have come to the Black Lagoon. They are too big and bright to be the will 'o the wisp or popping bubbles from swamp rot. As you can smell, we have that. This night, I came to investigate the occurrences, for I am sure Lok. And, like Sherlock, who Katie sometimes mentions [E9], I must ask. Did you have anything to do with anything?"
"No," muses Mr. Butler, "I am unsure about your unexplained phenomena. I can only use the scientific method and gather more data before making a conclusion. Although, the Ghost Planet people did share some interesting theory. . . . ."
Suddenly, a raucous, reverberating roar rudely interrupts John as he often does his wife. Namely, Scarak of the Zundee (E7) vociferates in the vicinity. The voracious, vicious Megalosaurus, viscount of the Valley of Smoking Waters, vehemently pursues a pack of hyenas. The craved victuals collectively veer right and left, but the zippy Zundee stays locked. And, he is coming Lok and Butlers' way.
Before Scarak, the scared Butlers scamper aside, but their savage steward, Lok, stalwartly stays—staring down the barreling beast. Sly as foxes, the hyenas scatter around Lok standing there. Previously, in the grass, they schemed to assail the oblivious humans anyway—before the behemoth assailed them instead. Let the Megalosaurus have the man morsel, and the scavengers can circle back for any scraps.
The charging carnivore careens closer and closer to the Lok. The courageous caveman stolidly scopes the incoming killer critter, and he scoops up a boulder from the wetland crud. Squalling defiantly, the warrior slings the substantial stone—with superhuman strength. The six-hundred-pound slab slams hefty predatory snout, and the one-ton Tyrannosaurus cous stops somewhat stunned.
Kim Butler is likewise somewhat stunned looking on. She addresses John, "Did you see that? Lok lobbed a quarter-ton boulder sixty feet. That is one thing that I noticed once I got back to Brooklyn and reality. In the Valley of the Dinosaurs, everyone occasionally has muscle like 'mucking' Magilla Gorilla. In episode after episode—whenever someone must move a tor, swim a turbulent current, or manhandle a hefty beast—they somehow can. Sometimes, I swear that Katie shouldn't call Lok 'Tarzan'. She should dub him Doc Savage or Bamm Bamm instead."
John grants, "I grant that certain—or most—Valley events are unusual. However, remember, our 'space' associates theorized about anomalous gravity throughout this entire area.
"Gravity is constant anywhere in the universe," Kim proclaims, "Newton knew that in 1687, and we know that today."
John replies, "Since Einstein, the jury is out on that assumption. For example, our space associates' theses are out there. They are beyond me."
Across from her mom, Katie comprehends incoming danger. "Hey folks, horde of hyenas with heading 180 degrees. They're hurtling our way! Ma, help your husband!"
The Butler matriarch mugs at the flip heifer. However, she will deal with her later.
Kim and Katie skitter up a small tree on the floodplain. From on high, Kim offers a hand, "John, join us!"
John judges, "The juvenile tree may not hold my weight. You girls stay safe. I have widgets packed for repelling dinosaurs and anything else."
"Those were mostly in the glider that got apparently crushed," Kim counsels.
Like jackals, the hyenas hightail ever closer. They are no joke. In seconds, they will surround and sic their supper. And, John's ingenuities just may not eliminate all eight before they eat him. Thus, John gyres nimbly and jumps quick for safety. But, being no Abdul-Jabber, John Butler catches only a low, bendy bough. The hyenas laugh at his leaping ability. Like a jaguar, one lunges up and latches on. The Butler boot leather is tough as American Tourister luggage, and it allows no easy tear. An ape couldn't trash it. However, the burdened bough does bend lower, and Kim gets a closer look at salivating mouths and sharp teeth. Before Katie's greatly concerned gaze, both parents are in imminent peril.
However, like Ricochet Rabbit, Lok runs toward them—leading surly Scarak as he sprints. As he runs, the warrior launches his lance like a spear. It sails. It spooks several snapping dogs who split to the sides. Lok lets loose a loud war-cry, and it startles more cowardly canines. Almost upon them, the valiant lashes his rope and lassoes the lower half of a varmint. With a yank, he launches it overhead toward the pursuing dinosaur. Indeed, Lok can be incredibly strong. At the tree, the cavalry unlocks an alpha's jaws from John's footwear and unlooses fists upon it in a dusty cloud on the muddy plain (as in cartoons).
Lok instructs, "Run for the water!"
"Toward the super snake?" Katie skeptically questions.
"Yes. But also toward the superb stink," Lok acknowledges. The swamp's composting and curdling compares to nosehair-curling cora leaves from "After Shock".
"He means the methane," John explains, "Come on. Let's make for the marsh gas."
"Oh great," Katie kvetches, "We could wind up bog bodies, ophidian bowel movement, or burnt offerings."
"Exactly," Dad deems, "I believe that I know Lok's plan."
Katie casts a quizzical look as the Butler trio trots to the Black Lagoon.
John points, "Look, there are phosphorescent lights lurking over the lagoon. Those will 'o the wisps are there because methane and other gases are lighter than air and are volatile. Thus, they are aloft and oxidizing. Methane oxidizes. In fact, it is very flammable. Ignus fatuus is another name for the lanterns."
Mr. Butler can't stop giving science lessons. In 1977, children's programming must include x minutes of educational content.
Katie dips her toes into the water, "Yeah, everyone knows that. Natural gas rises, and it really explodes when lit. So, one would want to be below water when it went. But, what spark is going to ignite the nosehair-curling cloud this night? Wait. . . . ."
The game plan comes to Katie, and she surely does not care for it. "Oh boy," says she.
Her boy Lok carries a flint at all times (E2).
Kim hooks her eldest offspring's arm and proceeds into the pungent pool that will protect them. Around them, big bubbles pop precipitously as though Lagoon plants rot at a peculiarly accelerated pace. They could. Time is tetchy in these parts. An earnest protector, Kim plunges her protesting daughter under the muddy murk as though to baptize her so as not to soon bury her. The dame dips below herself and hopes not to drown while Lok does his thing. John joins them. He has three reeds that they might need.
Through the shimmering surface, under the lambent moon, the Butlers can almost behold brave Lok execute his "suicidal" scheme. The snarling pack circles at some distance, still doggedly determined to dine on dear flesh. Against the night sky, Scarak stands high with head readying attack. In seconds, he will strike downward and slurp up a sorry sapien.
But, Lok strikes first. He forcefully strikes his flint along a cairn fortuitously standing upon the lagoon's shore. The series of sparks spray in a sheet. So skillful is Lok with his tool. So unsafe are circumstances in this sector that the sparks actually set the air briefly ablaze. Explosion.
Ka-boom! An inferno engulfs Scarak and seemingly sears him like turkey. Like a sucker, he screams amidst the fireball folding around him. It enfolds his surroundings too, frightening him. Frazzled and literally fuming, the zapped Zundee flops about until uprighting itself. It flees along with eight awed furry friends. Ironically, Scarak will return to the Valley of Smoking Waters, his home, where he keeps the home fires burning.
Beneath the Black Lagoon, a dazed young buck bounces from the bottom muck. He needs to breathe. Like a daredevil, Lok deftly ducked and dove at exactly the right moment a minute ago. He-man hauls himself for the surface. He casually captures Katie's waist on the way up, for she kicks to the air too.
Crudely, Katie spits bilge. She inhales hard. She huffs heavily as her hero holds her. From shore, flames shimmer on her moist face, and her boyfriend admires her beauty, even under emergency light.
Either distressed or discombobulated, the damsel declares, "Lok, I looked high and low in the lagoon. I checked the depths for as long as my lungs would hold out. My parents are missing. We need to find them."
"What is that over there?" Lok points to something bobbing on the pond.
Ever resilient and ready, Lok swims for the unknown object even after just surviving an explosion. Always tough, Katie treads water capably whether aided by her man's touch or not. The swimmer retrieves something resembling a large rag.
"This is the red shirt that John was just wearing," Lok informs.
"That's odd. I don't remember Dad wearing a red shirt anytime recently. Around here, he does not own one," Katie answers. Apparently, she does not recall seeing the flannel this evening.
In her vicinity, Lok momentarily bobs lethargically as though in deep thought. Lunar light dances around him like Selene's spell. Some sensibility leaves his lax visage for a few tics. Then, the youth yawns and shakes the cobwebs from his head.
Lok looks at his hands, "Whose red tunic is this? It is not from the tribe."
"I don't know," Katie has come close, "It looks like it is from the outside world. That's gosh-darn exciting! There could be others in the Valley. Maybe, there is a rescue party!"
"They could be the reason for the strange lights and sounds that I am investigating," suggests Lok.
"Sure, like a helicopter," thinks Katie, "Greg occasionally suggests that one could come get us."
"Look!" Lok points left. Something floats laid-out on the rippling waves.
Reaching, Katie traps it and takes it up to her eyes. She is amazed, "It's a teal corduroy jacket! What the . . .?! How?"
"Corduroy is apparently also an off-color animal from your world," Lok intuits.
"The overcoat has an inside pocket!" Katie crows, "I can feel someone's wallet within! Who has come to the Valley?" The castaway excavates excitedly.
Suddenly, some shade passes the moon, and blackness covers the Black Lagoon. There is but the hypnotizing flicker of a grass fire, and even those flames are fading as dewy moisture fizzles them out. From four hands, two each, the night takes the traces of two recent visitors, and a dear duo's duds simply disappear into the void.
However, Katie and Lok do not recollect a thing about alternate-timeline Mom and Dad. Momentarily mum, they bob in oblivion—until Katie speaks. There are big snakes in the water; the two should get out. Loving Lok concurs that outside is often too dangerous for a girl, even an attractively adventurous one. He will escort her back to camp and a cozy cave. Come on, you. Katie follows her fellow back to safety. Her memory is free of certain recent memories. She fingers her holey clothes, progressively tattered over three years time, and she supposes that sometime soon she shall don furs to hide her person. But, that's okay. The tribe becomes her people more each day.
At Gorak's cave, a teenaged Greg stands guard. He is on watch, and he watches the hazy mountains in the distance. They are dreamy. The Lone Ranger reports that Dad and Mom slumber in the inside cavern. His sister steps lightly along the cool stone passage so as not to disturb any sleepers. She sees for herself. Sure enough, her parents lie together under a tiger skin. But, of course, they rest there on adjoining tatamis. Seemingly, Katie is the only creature to sneak out this night.
Katie lies down on her own tatami bed, and Lok tenderly tucks her in before padding to his pile of blankets like a total gentleman (who lives in a kids' cartoon). Closing her eyes, Katie starts to sort recent experience, as dreams sometime do.
In the quiet, Katie confidentially cogitates, "How could John and Kim be both here and on the floodplain tonight? Whatever would contemporary 1990s physics say? Ay caramba, where is Steven Spielberg and a DeLorean when you need them?"
Katie's lids curl back open. She ponders, "Wait. Who is Steven Spielberg? And, why would the noted engineer John DeLorean have anything to do with anything? Also, who the hell is Bart Simpson?"
Puzzled, the dear girl drifts back to dreaming in dreamland.
And, such disruptive thoughts do not disturb her again for days and longer. Until they do again. Eventually. In her next chapter.
