Okay I lied, it's back to Tomahna and THEN on to Haven :D
It was still dark in Tomahna when they returned. Melody realized they hadn't actually been gone that long, just over three hours. A headache began to pound behind her eyes, from lack of sleep no doubt.
Seeing that Atrus was not standing there freaking out, it was safe to assume that he still hadn't returned. Hopefully they would find her quickly before he found out his seven year old daughter was in the hands of a jealous psychopath.
While Trace opened the linking chamber, Melody looked up through the large crack in the wall. Thanks to Sirrus, she had a perfect view across the way to Yeesha's room.
A movement in Yeesha's room caught her eye. A shadow moved across the door and a large figure came into view. Too large to be Atrus or Catherine.
"Achenar!"
She hadn't meant to scream but couldn't help it. Trace whirled around the moment Achenar's head shot up and caught sight of her. Looking panicked, he opened a book he had in his hands and linked out.
"What is it?" Trace demanded.
"Achenar! He was in Yeesha's room!" Melody shouted as she raced toward the elevator. Trace barely managed to reach it before she shut the door and rode up to Atrus and Catherine's bedroom.
"Melody!" Trace called as she ran along the walkways and bridges to Yeesha's room. The book had fallen down onto the dock below Yeesha's room. Melody was about to jump down when Trace grabbed her.
"Don't! You'll break your leg, or your neck!"
"I have to get down there! Don't you see?! Achenar is out too! He and Sirrus must be working together!"
"Melody calm down…"
"You don't understand!" she cried, tears in her eyes. "You didn't see what he did to the Ages in Myst. You don't know what Achenar is capable of. If he hasn't changed…"
"He might have," Trace told her.
"Sirrus didn't!"
Trace remained silent and didn't lesson his grip until Melody's breathing returned to normal and her eyes cleared. "We won't get anywhere by rushing into things," he said calmly. "You told me that exploring was what worked for you. Fine then, let's explore. There must be a way down there in Yeesha's room."
Melody nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry. It's different this time around. I can't think straight. I'm just keep thinking about how scared she must be."
"Instead, think of how happy she will be to see you," Trace suggested. "And how unhappy Sirrus will be to meet me face to face."
That did it. Melody smiled a little.
Trace nodded. "Better, but I'm sure you can improve."
Yeesha's door was open. Melody stepped inside and had to take several deep breaths.
The whole room had been ransacked. Pillows had been pulled off the bed and tossed across the room, a lamp lay broken on the floor, several books had been pulled out of the bookcase and thrown on the floor, the rolling marble game was broken like it had been stepped on. Since it was laid upright against the wall, she assumed that had been an accident. The glass doors on the bookcase had been broken.
Achenar must have done all of this. What had he been looking for? That book that he had linked in to?
"A book is missing from the bookcase," Melody confirmed. "One that had been behind the glass doors."
"Do you know where that book linked to?" Trace asked.
Melody shook her head. "I never snooped through Yeesha's things. I had no idea she even had a linking book in her room."
When she bent to examine the broken glass, the necklace glowed.
Achenar's voice.
"I knew you'd have one!"
The sound of breaking glass and a growl. He must have cut his hand on the broken glass.
"Achenar took the book from here."
"How did he sound?" Trace asked.
"Like I remember," Melody answered. "Very deep and gravely, like how you'd imagine a bear would sound."
"Did he sound angry?"
Melody thought it over, then shook her head. "I couldn't tell."
They kept searching the room, hoping for an opening down to the dock. On the bed, hidden partially by a pillow, was a small leather book. Yeesha's journal. Melody picked it up, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over her. She had given Yeesha the journal so the little girl could practice her writing.
After a brief inner struggle, Melody decided to read the journal. She felt guilty about invading a child's privacy, they had to little after all, but maybe Yeesha had noticed something important and had written it down. Maybe it told how to get to the dock.
Monday
I got this book. Melody gave it to me. I'm going to write in it every night.
Tuesday
In the morning, we worked on math. After dinner, I made a puzzle. Mom and me started the Fun Club and looked at stars.
Thursday
I didn't do much.
Sunday
We visited my brother today. He had a present for me, but Dad made me go home before I could see it. I felt bad. Dad talked to me later and said it was just bones. He didn't want me to be scared. I wasn't cause I don't think Achenar meant it to be bad. He looked so sad when I left.
Melody paused for a moment. She felt a twinge of something and wanted to smack herself. Why was she feeling sorry for Achenar? He probably thought it would be funny to freak out his little sister. But then why had he looked sad? She tried to imagine Achenar sad, but she just couldn't.
Monday
It was hot. I went swimming with Melody. I wish she lived here.
Saturday
Dad took me to a really cool place today. It's called Serenia and the people there are so nice. They never forget stuff cause if they do, the Memory chamber remembers it for them. I went inside and saw all the memory globes hanging from the ceiling, just like Sirrus said I would.
Melody narrowed her eyes. Sirrus had told her? What did he know about Serenia?
Monday
Mom said it's too soon to go visit Melody in Tay. I want to tell her about Serenia. I've been thinking and I don't know if I want my memories put inside a globe when I'm dead. What if I need them?
Melody wanted to chuckle but was too sad. Poor Yeesha. Children always had a difficult time understanding death.
Tuesday
I told both Sirrus and Achenar about the Fun Club. They want to join.
Wednesday
Dad finally said we could go to see Anya tomorrow. She takes care of the Memory Chamber. She's one of its protectors. Only women can be Protectors. Men stay in the village and do other hard stuff, like fixing roofs.
Thursday
I saw the coolest creature on Serenia today. It was like a slug, a snake and a dragonfly all in one. I can't wait to tell Melody. I'm going to draw one for her.
Friday
Anya told me her people put their memories in globes to their families can see the things they have seen. She says I can see memories too, but I have to learn how. There are necklaces the Protectors use to see everyone's memories, but Anya says I can't have one right now.
Sunday
I got the best gift of all time. Sirrus carved me the symbol for water out of a pretty blue crystal. He always knows what to ask and he listens better than anyone.
Melody snorted. I bet he does, she thought sarcastically.
Friday
Before dinner Dad and me changed the lock on my bookshelf again. I said since I'm learning D'ni I could change the covers and use everyone's names instead. I won't forget who's older than who. He said it really really had to be the REALLY last time, but he was glad.
Melody laughed at the crudely drawn picture of Atrus with a hammer next to the bookshelf. If Yeesha had wanted to change her entire room a hundred times, Atrus would have agreed. She was his little girl, hence he had trouble saying no.
Thursday
We didn't do much. I wanted to go see my brother, but Mom said no. Melody is here and she doesn't know about Sirrus and Achenar. Mom and Dad don't want her to know. They say she will be sad. I don't want Melody to be sad, so I promised I wouldn't tell. It's hard. I want to ask her the questions Sirrus asks me. I tried to talk about Trace, but Sirrus doesn't want to hear about Trace.
Sunday
I've been studying the rules of the Protectors and Anya says soon I will get my own necklace. I hope it is like her's because it's really pretty. She says some crystals are better at picking up memories than others and that only the most powerful memories get recorded.
I can't wait to show my brothers and Melody.
The journal ended there.
"What are you thinking?" Trace asked when he saw the look on her face.
"I'm thinking I should have made more time for her," Melody answered quietly before moving to the bookcase. "I think I know how to get to the dock."
Understanding that she wanted to drop the subject, Trace turned his attention to the bookcase. "You think Atrus built something into the bookcase?"
"No, I KNOW he built something into the bookcase. I think it has something to do with these books with the titles in D'ni." She pointed. "This one says Achenar, this one says Catherine. Sirrus, Atrus and several other names in their family tree." She pushed in several of the books. She got to five before all of them they slid back into place. "I knew it. Atrus and his obscure locks."
Trace looked back at the journal. "Yeesha wrote something about an order from oldest to youngest. Since you read D'ni and know everything there is to know about this crazy family, I'll let you handle this."
"You're too kind," Melody said sarcastically. "I wonder how I'll handle the excitement. It's not that hard. Atrus is oldest," she explained, pushing in the book with his name on it. "Then Catherine, Achenar, Sirrus and finally Yeesha."
As she pushed the last book the bookcase slid away, revealing a ladder leading down into a hole. Down the ladder led outside onto the dock. It must have been a new addition, because Melody didn't remember it being there before. The moonlight shone through the clear water onto the smooth rocks that lined the bottom of the shallow lake that made up the bottom of the box canyon. A mask and flippers lay near the water. Melody recognized them as belonging to Yeesha, but she was not allowed to use them without someone with her.
On the far side of the dock, an easel had been set up. Several containers of paint lay nearby along with a brush that was soaking in water. Melody recognized the crude painting of herself.
She heard chuckling and turned to glare at Trace. "Yeesha's drawings and paintings are less about talent and more about feelings."
"Was she feeling sick?"
"Shut up!" Melody said, reaching over to splash water on him. When he came at her to retaliate, she quickly changed to subject. "Look! The linking book its over there!"
A book with an ornate cover lay close to the water. A little closer and it would have fallen in. The words 'Serenia' were on the cover in curving writing.
When they opened the book, they saw an Age of tall rocks, sparse grass and several pieces of land divided by bodies of water, some large like lakes, others the size of small streams.
"Are you ready?" Trace asked her seriously. "They might both be there. This might be where they're holding Yeesha."
Melody nodded. "You can take 'em."
His laughter echoed as she touched the panel.
Okay... I lied again...
*ahem*
On to Serenia!
But I swear, we will be going to Haven after Serenia! I swear!