Strago turned slowly, looking at the vast landscape around him, taking in every detail. He was sure that he was on the Veldt, but that was about all he knew. He thought that he should have been able to see water, a coastline not far from where he was, but there was none to be seen. In all directions around him, there was nothing; not a contorted tree, not a single animal, big or small. Just flat, desolate land that stretched silently as far as he could see.
He was alone, as well. He felt as though there should have been someone else with him, but he couldn't think of who. He thought that he was probably just lonely and afraid, out in the middle of nowhere.
How did I get here? He asked himself that question in his mind, but got no answer. Where is this?
The sun was in the sky, a huge ball of fire at its midday peak. But there was something wrong with it. It was dull, colourless, as if shining through some kind of screen. It offered no comforting heat; in fact, it made Strago shiver.
Strago stared at the stone in his hand, and it startled him; he didn't even remember reaching into his belt pouch to get it. The green-blue stone was the only colourful thing in the world, and its fiery red core blazed like the grey sun should have.
Suddenly, Strago reached back, then hurled the stone into the air as far as he could throw it.
It landed not twenty paces in front of him, a monstrous thing of brown iron. It had the shape of a man, if men were made of stoves and kettles and scrap metal. Its hands were enormous; it could probably throw Strago as effortlessly as he had thrown it not a minute before. Strago gaped in awe at the creature that towered over him like the oldest tree, as the memories of the night in the Thamasa Inn flooded back into his mind from somewhere. The huge monstrosity looked to be in better shape now than it had been then. There were no holes ripped in its sides, and rust no longer coated it. It glistened in the little light the sun produced, like a giant wearing its armour. Only, this giant was its armour. And it looked down at Strago.
"You should learn to be more careful."
Its voice exploded into the air, resounded as if the thing had yelled into a chasm. Yet, Strago knew that it was not yelling, just offering friendly advice.
The hulk continued: "You are on a long journey, and you will learn that not all people are as friendly as those in the hamlet you came from. If you trust everyone you meet, you will surely die." The voice seemed to become softer for a moment, as if it was full of concern. "You are doing this for the sake of my people, and none of us would want the death of another kind man on our conscience."
Strago was completely still. On the outside, at least. Inside, his stomach acids churned and his mind raced. He felt afraid, felt confused, felt intimidated, and felt very, very small. Goddess, what is happening? Goddess didn't respond to his thoughts, and he couldn't answer the question himself, so he decided that he would have to speak. If he could.
"I am on this journey because I have questions to be answered." Strago was pleased that his voice did not shake, and that he was able to keep from revealing how unnerved he was. If he could stand up to the thing, perhaps it would answer some of his many questions.
To Strago's surprise, the giant smiled, something he hadn't thought the metal lips were capable of. And it spoke again: "I know that you do. And they will be answered, in time." The smile disappeared. "But not now; not enough time."
Strago stared narrowly at the brown giant. After a second of thought, he decided to press his position. "But I have many. Who . . . What are you?"
The thing sighed, a burst of vapor erupting from the mouth. "Well, I can tell you that much. I am called Golem." It paused before going on. "I am—er, was—an Esper."
Strago's legs gave way as if the bones had been reduced to dust, and he fell to his knees. An Esper!! The thought almost made him fall to the ground completely, but he kept his balance, supporting himself with an arm.
Golem nodded. "All your life, you've been told that we were all sealed away in another world, yes?" He paused for Strago to nod. "Yes. If it's any consolation, you're already handling this better than most people do when we reveal ourselves. Most people don't believe we exist at all, and think they've lost their sanity when we reveal ourselves to them. Often, they do lose it. That's why we stay hidden, you see." Golem paused. "Part of the reason."
Strago just knelt there, staring with wide eyes.
After a time, Golem shook its head, muttering, "This will not do." It stepped toward Strago, covering the entire twenty-odd paces in two strides. Bending to one knee, it placed a mammoth finger atop Strago's head.
In an instant, Strago was on his feet. Somehow. He wasn't standing, but was being held up by some unseen force. His eyes became even wider than before, if that was possible. He opened his mouth and tried to scream, but only quick, sharp breaths escaped his throat. The bland world around him seemed to ripple as if the air was a disturbed liquid, and colour suddenly burst into everything.
Golem's eyes closed, and it glowed as brightly as it had when it was a shining gemstone. Light from nowhere rushed to converge in two bright beads of blinding white, like little stars. The stars moved around Golem, a quick and beautiful orbit, moving faster and faster and leaving a radiant trail behind. Then, after a few seconds, the two beads of light shot toward Strago. They stopped just above his head, spun around each other for a moment, and then shattered into countless tiny luminous points.
They rained down on Strago, moving over and around and through him. He convulsed, shook violently for a second, before becoming stiff. Stretched out as long as possible without being torn in two, arms extended out to either side, and head thrown back, he hovered a few inched from the ground for a second.
Golem lifted his hand and stood up. The glowing ceased, and the radiant rain was done. Strago's body relaxed and he dropped the two or three inches to the ground, landing on his feet. He blinked and looked around. The world was grey again.
Golem spoke up. "That should solve the problem of your broken jaw."
Strago's hands were on his face as soon as the words left Golem's mouth. He felt his chin, his mouth, his teeth, the sides of his face. My jaw wasn't broken. . . .
Golem stared at the sky for a moment, then looked back to Strago. "Not much time, now."
Strago was trying to make sense of everything. "My jaw wasn't broken. I think I'd have known if it was, right? I mean, having a broken bone . . . it hurts."
Golem sighed again, another loud burst of steam. "This is a sort of dream, Strago. Here, you only feel what I want you to feel." Strago's features took on a quizzical look, and Golem went on. "My power is not what it once was; we Espers tend to lose a lot in death, you understand. The only reason I am able to affect you at all is that my corpse is in your belt pouch."
Strago's attempts to make sense of the situation were not successful. ". . . Corpse?"
"Yes. You see, when we die, the -" Golem looked at the sky again, then shook his head. "Well, there is no time to explain that now. It's not important anyway." Strago made to complain, to demand an explanation, but Golem raised his hand and Strago was silent. Golem nodded and continued. "I understand that you have a need to know these things, and you will know them in time. As you say, that's why you're on this journey. That is what's important. I brought you here, that I might speak to you about your journey. It seems that you've run into a bit of trouble." Strago nodded, and Golem continued. "Well, it's too late to do anything about that, and it wasn't your fault anyway. But I am concerned. About several things, actually. While I was able to help you with your injuries, I cannot reach out to your friends. The younger one was beaten, yes? Yes, well I am afraid that I can't help him. That is unfortunate."
Strago's confusion was replaced with concern for a moment. Elam? Elam is hurt badly? Strago tried to yell out at Golem, to ask why it couldn't help Elam, but he still couldn't speak.
Golem kept talking, though. "But the main reason I brought you here, the main reason I helped you, was to make sure that you understand that you must get away from your captors as soon as possible. My people have a large stake in your journey, and that is my greatest concern. I need you to reach your destination, to warn my brother so that he might warn the others. Right now, you're not doing well to accomplish that goal."
Strago tried to yell again, but couldn't. He questioned with his eyes, or tried to. What does it mean? We just got slowed down a bit. As soon as I wake up, we'll keep moving.
Golem seemed to know Strago's thoughts. "You were making good time, but not now. How are you to reach Jidoor in time when you have moved almost a week in the wrong direction?"
Wrong direction? Strago was about to try another yell, but he didn't have a chance. The World rippled again, and Golem seemed to slide away, faster and faster until it was gone over the faraway horizon. Everything became darker, and darker, and darker.
The blackness rippled.
