Gehn the Grey has reviewed again, and for that I thank him.
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Suddenly the turning inside me stopped and I felt my feet on solid ground again. My vision came back to me seconds later.
I looked around the area. I was standing beside a triangular rock just taller than me. It curved outwards on two of the sides, but inwards on the side I stood on. The rock rested on a small, flat outcropping of rock projecting from a giant, sheer-cliffed island in the middle of an ocean, like most Ages. Out to sea a fair ways was another island, with cliffs equally as sheer as this one's. I could see great forests on the far island, but could not make out the trees' shapes. The water was sapphire blue. It was certainly a stable Age. Atrus needed not inspect it.
Atrus! I just remembered: I had linked in such a hurry I had not taken with me a means of returning! I had no linking book back to Tomahna. And Atrus still would not risk coming to this Age – he did not know if it was safe. I was trapped there.
My entire purpose had been in vain. I had come to find the antidote for Agaeris, but even if I did find it I could not return it to him.
But wait...it might not have been. I remembered having taken two books when I linked. Did they come with me? Yes. I had been so taken with the new Age that I had forgotten I still had them in my hands. I examined the two books. One had a mottled green cover and when I opened it, a rotating picture of Atrus' sunroom was seen in the panel.
I groaned. This was a Prison book, disguised as a Tomahna Linking book. And the other book?
I rolled my eyes and sighed. This one was even worse! It was the Age Five book – the one that would lead me to the non-existent Age of Riven.
"A right blinding choice of supplies I've got," I muttered.
As long as I was here, I decided, I might as well try and find the intruder. So I packed the books into two pockets, and moved away from the rock. I turned over to the vertical cliff a yard behind it, and walked over to it. I did not see how I was to get up to the top. At the edge of the cliff there was a strange looking plant with five long, green leaves stretching out of the short, orange stem. Yellowish vines poked out of the ground near it and lay curled up in coils. There was a small green bulb at the end of the erect stem. It was segmented rather like a very small papaya. It looked as though it could open up.
I tried throwing a few round stones at it, but they did nothing. Well this was brilliant. I was stuck on this miserable little ledge with no way off.
I paced around the cliff's edge a little while, and then stopped and leaned my back on it. At least I could enjoy the scenery until I died.
Just then I heard a small crack from behind me, and then a large crumbling sound. I leaped up from the wall and turned around. A split had formed in the rock wall, and now an arch-shaped segment was crumbling down to the ground. It opened up into a large tunnel, big enough to walk down in single file. It was ten feet long, and then went into a small cavern. The rocks were a very blue grey colour, different than those outside (which were light orange in hue).
I walked into the cave. The ceiling was very high. A web of hard, rope-like roots came out of the middle of the wall the tunnel came from. They formed the shape of a turning tunnel, that burrowed into the floor.
In the shade on my right was a plant just like the one at the top of the outside cliff. The vines lay coiled beside it. The leaves on it drooped to the ground. I reached out to this one and pressed gently on the bulb at the top of the stem. It twisted ever so slightly and then split apart, the 'cloves' moving slowly outwards from each other and then stopped. Nothing further happened.
I looked to my left, where there was another of the plants, bathed in a beam of sunlight from a hole in the ceiling. The leaves on this one hung in the air like a healthy plant. Hang on...perhaps the sunlight was the difference. The other one I looked at was in darkness and looked unhealthy, but this one was in sunlight and looked fine.
I pressed the bulb on the top of this one, as well. It did the same thing as the other. However, when it was done, the vines that were curled on the ground twitched and extended themselves out, lying limply on the ground. The sunlight had poured into the open stem and caused the vines to roll out.
So I had to make sunlight go through the stem of the one up above. The problem was, I could not reach it. I left the cavern and looked up at the plant. No, there was no way I could reach it.
I returned to the cavern and examined the 'tunnel' of roots that led into the wall. It was hollow, and wide enough for a person to climb into. However, the roots did not make a wide enough gap for me to do so. I touched a segment of rather withered ones and they collapsed under my hand. There was an entrance into the roots large enough for me to clamber through. I grasped some of the other roots and tugged on them. They were as firm as though made of birch wood. I awkwardly climbed into the 'tunnel' and began to climb up. It was not difficult even at the start when it slanted very steeply, because it was like climbing a ladder. When the slope became more gentle, almost horizontal, it was as simple as counting. The only problem was that the roots did dig into my shins.
Eventually I climbed right up to the wall. Surprisingly, the roots did not just burrow in. They still formed a tunnel that I could climb through, but it was a little more cramped than before. It eventually became vertical, and I had to climb up the sides. This was difficult.
After a moment, I bumped my head on the roof. That was as far as the tunnel was going. I looked up. There was still a hole in the roof, but only big enough for my hand to fit through. I could see a very faint cross of light above the hole, with a very small amount of green shining through. I reached and touched it. It twisted very slightly and then slowly opened up. Golden sunlight flooded through. It was the plant I could not reach. Now I knew what had happened: the vines would have extended and fallen down the cliff. That meant I could get to the top.
I climbed down the root tunnel backwards with great difficulty. I finally reached the bottom, and squeezed out of the entrance to the root tunnel. It felt so good to be able to move my arms. I walked out the mouth of the cave and into sunlight again. I turned around to see that my suspicions were correct: three of the vines had climbed down the vertical cliff side and reached the bottom.
I grabbed one of the vines and gave it a good tug. It was very strong. I grasped it in both hands and put my feet on the rock wall. I slowly and carefully climbed up the top, put my hands on the edge and hoisted myself onto the plateau.
This island was very much the same as the other out to sea, except for the fact that it was far bigger. There were many groves and forests around it. Near the west edge there was a large crater. Between where I stood and the forests on the other side, there was a small, blue lake. The sides nearly touched the cliffs.
Beside me, I noted, there were footsteps leading away to the west, where I could just see the crater. I decided to follow the tracks.
I walked west through some natural rock trails which went upwards, downwards, sideways, and finally reached the crater. I could not have avoided the trails, as there was a forest of thin tree which stood tall, shading the area with long, oval-shaped leaves. The forest filled the area around the trails, and went all the way round. It seemed that they formed a sort of wall to contain a certain area.
I finally reached the crater, the jagged lips of which were half my height. I looked down into it. It was dark and foreboding. I did not see myself jumping into it. The footsteps, however, led to it, so there must be a way in.
Just then, something behind me made a rustling noise. I turned around quickly. A small animal poked its head out of an opening in the tightly packed trees. It was some sort of weasel, with white fur streaked with pale purple. It cocked its head to the side, and its ears (which were like a rabbit's) flicked about. It turned its attention to me.
I took a cautious step towards it. It slithered back a little, then returned. This time, its forelegs came out of the trees too. They only had two toes each, with short black claws. I took another step closer. The creature stood up on its hind legs and put its front feet on its chest, like a groundhog.
I took another few steps, and the creature maintained its inquisitive position, cocking its head side to side. When I was right up next to it, I reached out my hand and touched its nose.
The creature made a sudden, loud squeak and leaped out of the trees. It went tearing off to the trail between the trees and bashed into one of the trees on the side. It recuperated quickly, and stood in the middle of the path. The trees, oddly, began to move. They bent sideways as though to grab the creature. But they were too slow and the creature escaped. However, they continued to move down. When they stopped, they were completely blocking the path. I walked up to it, and tried to push one out of the way. No, it was staying put. I couldn't climb over, either. The trees were covered in small thorns.
I returned to the crater. I examined the inside edges carefully, running my hands across them. I could find no trace of a foot- or hand-hold. I did not understand how the man who had taken this route had gotten into the crater.
Suddenly, there was the sound of dirt crumbling. I looked up, mortified. I knew what was happening. The spot of the crater's lip that I was on had broken. I sat there for a moment, before it crumbled off and fell down into the crater, taking me with it.
I fell down a rather short tunnel, and landed on soft dirt. It was not painless, but it was better than what I had expected. I got up, and brushed the dirt off my clothes.
I was standing in a cave. I could see around it, but only just. It was quite small and dingy. There was a tunnel leading off out the far edge, but it was too dark for me to go through.
I walked across the cave, my feet pressing the soft ground in. But then, as I was approaching the far wall, I stepped on something else. It was hard, and did not compress under my shoe. I removed my foot from the object and picked it up.
It was a book. A Linking book. The title on the orange-brown cover read: Glolehnah.
Well, it was better than rotting here forever. So, I opened the cover, and pressed my hand to the panel that I could not see.
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Where will I end up when I link to...Glolehnah? What will the Age be like? Stay tuned!
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Suddenly the turning inside me stopped and I felt my feet on solid ground again. My vision came back to me seconds later.
I looked around the area. I was standing beside a triangular rock just taller than me. It curved outwards on two of the sides, but inwards on the side I stood on. The rock rested on a small, flat outcropping of rock projecting from a giant, sheer-cliffed island in the middle of an ocean, like most Ages. Out to sea a fair ways was another island, with cliffs equally as sheer as this one's. I could see great forests on the far island, but could not make out the trees' shapes. The water was sapphire blue. It was certainly a stable Age. Atrus needed not inspect it.
Atrus! I just remembered: I had linked in such a hurry I had not taken with me a means of returning! I had no linking book back to Tomahna. And Atrus still would not risk coming to this Age – he did not know if it was safe. I was trapped there.
My entire purpose had been in vain. I had come to find the antidote for Agaeris, but even if I did find it I could not return it to him.
But wait...it might not have been. I remembered having taken two books when I linked. Did they come with me? Yes. I had been so taken with the new Age that I had forgotten I still had them in my hands. I examined the two books. One had a mottled green cover and when I opened it, a rotating picture of Atrus' sunroom was seen in the panel.
I groaned. This was a Prison book, disguised as a Tomahna Linking book. And the other book?
I rolled my eyes and sighed. This one was even worse! It was the Age Five book – the one that would lead me to the non-existent Age of Riven.
"A right blinding choice of supplies I've got," I muttered.
As long as I was here, I decided, I might as well try and find the intruder. So I packed the books into two pockets, and moved away from the rock. I turned over to the vertical cliff a yard behind it, and walked over to it. I did not see how I was to get up to the top. At the edge of the cliff there was a strange looking plant with five long, green leaves stretching out of the short, orange stem. Yellowish vines poked out of the ground near it and lay curled up in coils. There was a small green bulb at the end of the erect stem. It was segmented rather like a very small papaya. It looked as though it could open up.
I tried throwing a few round stones at it, but they did nothing. Well this was brilliant. I was stuck on this miserable little ledge with no way off.
I paced around the cliff's edge a little while, and then stopped and leaned my back on it. At least I could enjoy the scenery until I died.
Just then I heard a small crack from behind me, and then a large crumbling sound. I leaped up from the wall and turned around. A split had formed in the rock wall, and now an arch-shaped segment was crumbling down to the ground. It opened up into a large tunnel, big enough to walk down in single file. It was ten feet long, and then went into a small cavern. The rocks were a very blue grey colour, different than those outside (which were light orange in hue).
I walked into the cave. The ceiling was very high. A web of hard, rope-like roots came out of the middle of the wall the tunnel came from. They formed the shape of a turning tunnel, that burrowed into the floor.
In the shade on my right was a plant just like the one at the top of the outside cliff. The vines lay coiled beside it. The leaves on it drooped to the ground. I reached out to this one and pressed gently on the bulb at the top of the stem. It twisted ever so slightly and then split apart, the 'cloves' moving slowly outwards from each other and then stopped. Nothing further happened.
I looked to my left, where there was another of the plants, bathed in a beam of sunlight from a hole in the ceiling. The leaves on this one hung in the air like a healthy plant. Hang on...perhaps the sunlight was the difference. The other one I looked at was in darkness and looked unhealthy, but this one was in sunlight and looked fine.
I pressed the bulb on the top of this one, as well. It did the same thing as the other. However, when it was done, the vines that were curled on the ground twitched and extended themselves out, lying limply on the ground. The sunlight had poured into the open stem and caused the vines to roll out.
So I had to make sunlight go through the stem of the one up above. The problem was, I could not reach it. I left the cavern and looked up at the plant. No, there was no way I could reach it.
I returned to the cavern and examined the 'tunnel' of roots that led into the wall. It was hollow, and wide enough for a person to climb into. However, the roots did not make a wide enough gap for me to do so. I touched a segment of rather withered ones and they collapsed under my hand. There was an entrance into the roots large enough for me to clamber through. I grasped some of the other roots and tugged on them. They were as firm as though made of birch wood. I awkwardly climbed into the 'tunnel' and began to climb up. It was not difficult even at the start when it slanted very steeply, because it was like climbing a ladder. When the slope became more gentle, almost horizontal, it was as simple as counting. The only problem was that the roots did dig into my shins.
Eventually I climbed right up to the wall. Surprisingly, the roots did not just burrow in. They still formed a tunnel that I could climb through, but it was a little more cramped than before. It eventually became vertical, and I had to climb up the sides. This was difficult.
After a moment, I bumped my head on the roof. That was as far as the tunnel was going. I looked up. There was still a hole in the roof, but only big enough for my hand to fit through. I could see a very faint cross of light above the hole, with a very small amount of green shining through. I reached and touched it. It twisted very slightly and then slowly opened up. Golden sunlight flooded through. It was the plant I could not reach. Now I knew what had happened: the vines would have extended and fallen down the cliff. That meant I could get to the top.
I climbed down the root tunnel backwards with great difficulty. I finally reached the bottom, and squeezed out of the entrance to the root tunnel. It felt so good to be able to move my arms. I walked out the mouth of the cave and into sunlight again. I turned around to see that my suspicions were correct: three of the vines had climbed down the vertical cliff side and reached the bottom.
I grabbed one of the vines and gave it a good tug. It was very strong. I grasped it in both hands and put my feet on the rock wall. I slowly and carefully climbed up the top, put my hands on the edge and hoisted myself onto the plateau.
This island was very much the same as the other out to sea, except for the fact that it was far bigger. There were many groves and forests around it. Near the west edge there was a large crater. Between where I stood and the forests on the other side, there was a small, blue lake. The sides nearly touched the cliffs.
Beside me, I noted, there were footsteps leading away to the west, where I could just see the crater. I decided to follow the tracks.
I walked west through some natural rock trails which went upwards, downwards, sideways, and finally reached the crater. I could not have avoided the trails, as there was a forest of thin tree which stood tall, shading the area with long, oval-shaped leaves. The forest filled the area around the trails, and went all the way round. It seemed that they formed a sort of wall to contain a certain area.
I finally reached the crater, the jagged lips of which were half my height. I looked down into it. It was dark and foreboding. I did not see myself jumping into it. The footsteps, however, led to it, so there must be a way in.
Just then, something behind me made a rustling noise. I turned around quickly. A small animal poked its head out of an opening in the tightly packed trees. It was some sort of weasel, with white fur streaked with pale purple. It cocked its head to the side, and its ears (which were like a rabbit's) flicked about. It turned its attention to me.
I took a cautious step towards it. It slithered back a little, then returned. This time, its forelegs came out of the trees too. They only had two toes each, with short black claws. I took another step closer. The creature stood up on its hind legs and put its front feet on its chest, like a groundhog.
I took another few steps, and the creature maintained its inquisitive position, cocking its head side to side. When I was right up next to it, I reached out my hand and touched its nose.
The creature made a sudden, loud squeak and leaped out of the trees. It went tearing off to the trail between the trees and bashed into one of the trees on the side. It recuperated quickly, and stood in the middle of the path. The trees, oddly, began to move. They bent sideways as though to grab the creature. But they were too slow and the creature escaped. However, they continued to move down. When they stopped, they were completely blocking the path. I walked up to it, and tried to push one out of the way. No, it was staying put. I couldn't climb over, either. The trees were covered in small thorns.
I returned to the crater. I examined the inside edges carefully, running my hands across them. I could find no trace of a foot- or hand-hold. I did not understand how the man who had taken this route had gotten into the crater.
Suddenly, there was the sound of dirt crumbling. I looked up, mortified. I knew what was happening. The spot of the crater's lip that I was on had broken. I sat there for a moment, before it crumbled off and fell down into the crater, taking me with it.
I fell down a rather short tunnel, and landed on soft dirt. It was not painless, but it was better than what I had expected. I got up, and brushed the dirt off my clothes.
I was standing in a cave. I could see around it, but only just. It was quite small and dingy. There was a tunnel leading off out the far edge, but it was too dark for me to go through.
I walked across the cave, my feet pressing the soft ground in. But then, as I was approaching the far wall, I stepped on something else. It was hard, and did not compress under my shoe. I removed my foot from the object and picked it up.
It was a book. A Linking book. The title on the orange-brown cover read: Glolehnah.
Well, it was better than rotting here forever. So, I opened the cover, and pressed my hand to the panel that I could not see.
---------
Where will I end up when I link to...Glolehnah? What will the Age be like? Stay tuned!