Chapter 4

Alan woke with a start the next morning. He looked around in a panic and realized he was back in his cot in the attic. Maybe yesterday was a dream, but the aches in his hands and face reminded him otherwise. He had to think up some sort of explanation quickly, something his mother would believe….

"Alan, time to wake up!" called his mother from below.

"I'm awake!" he yelled.

He sighed and rolled over onto his back. It took him a moment to realize something on the ceiling was moving. The golden slime came unstuck from the ceiling beam and landed on his chest with a rubbery thump. It spread tentacles out, engulfing him. The whole room seemed to be underwater now. He tried to struggle but he was surrounded from all sides. 'I'm slime lunch!' was his last conscious thought.

He came to sometime later, how long he wasn't sure. Perhaps he was in the presence of the radiant Tyr. He frowned as he could make out the plain roof timbers of his room. How wonderful to be breathing air again! To his right and lay a naked young girl. He yelped with a start and hit his head on the ceiling.

"Alan, hurry up!" called his mother.

"I-I'm almost done!" he yelled.

He quickly pulled the blanket off his cot and draped it over the girl. He then back away into a far corner of the attic and began to shake all over. Once he had calmed down a bit he quickly changed into his clothes. Alan was about to climb down when he turned back and looked at the girl. He crawled over to her and turned her over. She looked about 11 years old, with honey blond hair that fell past her shoulders. He carefully picked her up in the blanket and set her on his cot. He then climbed downstairs.

His mother turned from the stove. "What have you been…."

She stopped in shock when she saw his face.

"Alan, what happened?" she asked in a panic.

"Sorry, I was running around yesterday and I tripped and fell," he said scratching his head sheepishly.

She came over and inspected his face and hands.

"What were you doing?" she asked.

"I was getting mushrooms for Doc," he replied.

"Where?" she demanded.

"The woods outside town," he said in a rush.

She frowned. "I'm going to give Doc a piece of my mind!"

He grabbed her hand. "Please don't Mom!"

"He has no business sending you out of town on your own!" she said angrily.

He fell silent. She gently pulled her hand free.

"Eat your porridge Alan. I'll be right back. I'm telling Doc you can't help him today."

He nodded and sat at the table and began to eat quietly. Once his mother was gone, he glanced up at the ladder into the attic. Back into the attic room he found the girl still asleep. He gently touched her shoulder. She opened her eyes, fixing him with a strange gaze. Her eyes were the color of gold, shiny and metallic. He tried to speak but no words came out.

She opened her mouth and made a harsh gurgling sound. "Hgggggggguhhhhhhhhh!"

She reached out her hands to his face. He blinked in surprise as her hands lightly touched the sides of his head. His head felt like it was on fire. As he gasped in pain he could see her grimace. The pain subsided and he fell to his knees. She sat up, holding the blanket around her.

"Halan?" she asked, her voice soft and tentative.

He looked up at her. "You can talk?" he asked.

She nodded solemnly. "Yes. Now."

"Were you that, you know, in the glass ball?" asked Alan hesitantly.

"I am alone," she said rubbing her arms with her hands.

"What are you?" he asked.

She shook her head.

He scratched his head. "Well, what's your name?"

She looked him with that peculiar gaze again. He suddenly knew what she would say.

"Cerl," they said together.

"How did you know?" he asked in amazement.

She smiled strangely.

"I always wanted a sister with that name," he mused.

"Thank you," she said.

"For what?" he asked.

"Freeing me," she said.

He nodded. "Well, why don't you put on some clothes? You can wear mine."

He opened his chest and laid some of his clothing on the foot of the cot.

"I'll be downstairs. Can you hide up here until I can think of what to tell my Mom?"

She nodded quietly.

"Thanks Cerl," he said smiling faintly as he descended the ladder.