"Anyone seen Mazatl?" Danziger asked.
"I saw him climbing up the cliff earlier but not since. Anything wrong?"
"No." Danziger searched the surrounding heights but could see no sign of the Native American. He wondered why he had gone off when he should have been helping the others. 'Maybe he just needs time to cool off,' Danziger thought, remembering how he jumped all over the guy. Besides, he didn't have the energy to climb a mountain to look for him. Maybe later.
The hours flew by as the work dragged on. Lunch came and went and the sun was close to setting by the time the way had been cleared for the TransRover's passage. This would be their last night here. Everyone focused on taking advantage of the ample water supply. Containers had to be topped off and people and clothing got one last rinse.
Danziger went in search of Devon. He found her feeding the kids and Yale, who was finally up and about. "Good to see you on your feet." Danziger told the tutor.
"It's good to be mobile again. I was beginning to feel useless." The older man smiled back.
"Remember, Julia doesn't want you overdoing it, so no lifting." Devon reminded him.
The mechanic caught Devon's eye and after a few minutes she moved off to join him out of earshot of the others. "Any word from Julia about Alonzo?"
"She says there are traces of a powerful hallucinatory agent but she can't determine the effect on Alonzo without knowing more about the substance. Yale downloaded whatever information he had on the subject but she says she needs to do a more comprehensive study on the molecular level. Did you talk with Mazatl?"
"I haven't seen him all day. You?"
"No. Do you think he's all right? Should we look for him? "
"Let's wait and see if he shows up for dinner. If not, then we'll have to. "
xxx
Alonzo woke up unable to move. When he pushed against the belts that restrained him Julia appeared at his side, hypospray in hand. Eyeing her with suspicion, he asked, "What's going on Julia? Why am I tied down like this?"
"I thought it best."
"Why? Give me one good reason."
"Self-protection."
He was stunned. "You think I'd hurt you?"
"Alonzo, you already have." She said sadly.
"No!"
She showed him the bruises. "Am I making this up? You did this to me."
"Don't you remember what happened. You were the one who attacked me. I was trying to stop you. I thought you were having a seizure or something."
"That a new one."
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" He said angrily.
"Forget it." She turned away.
"No, I'm not going to forget it until we get this straightened out. You're accusing me of something I didn't do. You're confused about what really happened."
"SHUT UP!"
He reacted as if she had physically struck him. Julia began trembling, shaken by the force of her outburst. It was the forerunner of something more powerful, a flash of lightening or the ominous rumble of thunder before a storm.
"What's wrong with you?" Alonzo asked.
"I'm tired. I'm frightened. I need to find answers to questions I'm not sure of." Julia was overwhelmed and close to tears.
She looked so lost and vulnerable he didn't have the heart to push the issue and had no idea what to do to make things right between them. He thought about telling her the truth about everything that had happened but he was afraid it might push her over the edge. At this point, there was nothing he could to do but watch and wait.
xxx
Mazatl showed up just as Danziger was about to organize a search party.
Exhausted from lack of sleep and all the physical exertion of digging, the big mechanic was short tempered and in a bad mood. "Where the hell have you been? Did you ever stop to think people might be worried that something might have happened to you?"
"I thought your anger with me would have passed by now. Do you want me to stay away from you for awhile yet?"
"No. I want to know where you were and what you've been up to. Dr. Heller needs to know more about whatever drug you were using. Do you have any left?"
"Yes."
"If you give it to me, I'll be sure she gets it. Also, what was it supposed to do?"
Mazatl offered the pouch. "You can have this but my beliefs are sacred and cannot be discussed openly. I would be glad to talk to Dr. Heller in private if she wished to learn more."
"I don't know about that." Danziger didn't like the idea of Julia alone with this guy.
Mazatl shrugged. "Let me know whenever you decide."
"Hold on. I'll let her make the call." Danziger activated his gear and told Julia Mazatl was with him. "He's turned over the substance but he's hesitant to explain why he used it. Says it's sacred and has some religious meaning. He might talk to you if you agree to keep it confidential."
"All right. Bring him over. We'll talk about it."
Both men appeared a few moments later at the tent.
Julia met them outside. "I understand you're willing to tell me about this." She indicated the pouch Danziger had handed to her.
"If you respect my request. What I tell you must be kept secret."
"I'm not sure if I could agree to that. What if it puts someone in danger?"
"I give you my word. What I will tell you can harm no one but if you think it will I will not hold you to our bargain."
"All right. That's fair enough. Where do you want to go to discuss this?"
He gestured toward the tent. "But, Danziger must move away so he cannot overhear."
"Alonzo's inside... "
"I have no secrets from Alonzo."
Danziger and Julia exchanged looks, surprised by this new bit of information. Then the doctor pulled back the flap to allow Mazatl to pass.
Before she followed him, Danziger took her arm. "I'll only be a short distance away. Yell, if you need me," Danziger told her softly.
With a nod, she ducked inside and found the man standing, looking at Alonzo. She felt and ignored the urge to explain why the pilot was bound. "I'm ready whenever you are."
"What do you wish to know?"
"Why you were burning this substance?"
"Alonzo has great power. I wanted to open my mind to see what he was seeing. I thought of it as way for me to help him."
As the man talked, Julia began an analyze the material. Mazatl saw her frown.
"This appears to be different from what you burned earlier."
"You need this." He held a powder in his hand which he extended to her..
"What is it?"
"Peyote."
As Julia reached to accept it, he jumped her. He pushed the powder into her face, using his hand to cover her nose and mouth, cutting off her chance to scream. His other arm locked her in a tight embrace as she tried to struggle away from him. His hand barely left her room to breath and Julia wound up inhaling some of the powder.
Within seconds, she slumped in his arms.
Alonzo couldn't believe his eyes. Everything had happened so swiftly.
"What did you do to her? Are you crazy?" The pilot began to struggle against his bonds.
"Trust me. I've come to set you free. I knew Dr. Heller would not believe me or come with us willingly so I gave her some sleeping powder. It won't hurt her.."
Alonzo watched as the man bound and gagged the doctor. "Where are we going?"
"To confront and destroy the one who haunts us." Once the doctor was secured, Mazatl released Alonzo. "Can you walk?"
"I'll manage. "
"We must climb the cliffs and be at the top before dawn. The going will be hard for you. I'll help you as much as I can but carrying her will prevent me from aiding you."
"We're taking Julia with us?"
"Both of you must be there for the truth to set you free."
Mazatl lifted Julia across his shoulder. Alonzo pulled on his boots which Danziger had cleaned and returned. He had to remove most of the dressing to get his foot inside. He tested a step and was hit with stabbing pain, like he was walking on a piece of glass. He tried to tried to cover his expression.
"Danziger is outside. We have to go out the back." Mazatl whispered. He took out a knife.
Razor sharp, it made short work of the worn canvas.
Mazatl went first, testing the way and signaling Alonzo to follow. Together they made their way silently from camp without anyone seeing them.
xxx
As Danziger waited, he found himself nodding off from time to time. The toll of the past few days had drained him and he desperately needed sleep. 'What was taking them so long?' He wondered.
The light inside the tent was set low. He could see no movement. Despite his promise, he moved closer and listened for voices. Nothing.
"Hey, in there. How much longer?"
Silence.
Danziger had a bad feeling. "I'm coming in."
No one was there to protest his sudden intrusion.
"Shit!" He took in the signs of struggle and the ripped wall of the tent before pulling his gear from his belt to sound the alarm.
xxx
Alonzo and Mazatl were busy climbing as the word was passed below. Darkness would aid their escape for a while but they would have to hurry. They couldn't afford to be caught in the lights that would soon be sweeping the walls.
Alonzo was in agony. He tried to favor his injury and wound up slipping on the smooth rock face. He hung by his fingertips a hundred feet above the ground until Mazatl, alerted by falling stones, could make his way over to pull him to safety. They both were breathing heavily and covered with sweat as they leaned against a narrow ledge.
"I don't suppose you have any water?" The pilot asked.
The other man looked around. He moved to the left and came back with a piece of cactus. "Open your mouth and hold your head back."
The pilot did as instructed and felt a dribble of liquid. It wasn't water but it did the trick relieving his thirst. He watched while Mazatl drained the rest and marveled at the man's strength. His senior by a good twenty years if you took away cold sleep time, the man climbed effortlessly and carried Julia as if she was no more a burden then a sleeping child.
"It's not much further. Can you go on?"
"Lead the way. I'll try to more careful."
Below them, they could see the sweep of lights and Alonzo felt a pang of guilt for the worry he was causing his crew mates.
xxx
"Tell me again. Exactly what happened?" Devon asked.
"Why? So you can tell me I screwed up. I know that. I never should have trusted Mazatl. How much do you know about this guy anyway?"
"Mazatl? Like everyone picked for the Advance Team, he's multitalented, holding degrees in .."
"I'm not interested in degrees, I want to know what kind of man he is."
"According to his biostats, he's a 43 year old, pure blooded Ojibwe. He's never been married and was living with his mother when we first approached him with a job offer. He turned us down saying his mother was sick and he wouldn't leave her."
Devon paused, recalling the first time she met Mazatl.
"My impression at the time was that he was a quiet man, proud of his heritage, deeply spiritual and very intelligent. He had to be to reach such a level of expertise in so many fields. A few months before we were scheduled to depart, I got a message from him telling me his mother had passed away."
Devon glanced at Danziger.
"Before she died, she urged him to reconsider our offer and he was wondering if the job was still open. I offered my condolences for his mother and told him the offer still stood and we would be happy to have him on board. Everyone was subjected to a through background check before they were even considered for Eden Project so I didn't think twice about hiring him."
"Through background check, huh? If Julia slipped through the cracks maybe this guy did, too. "
Devon was annoyed by that crack and decided to ignore it.
"Look, I'm not blaming you for trusting him. I'm just trying to figure out what they hope to accomplish. They can't go far."
"The grid is activated? "
"Just across the entrance. We were saving power. Full activation happens at dark."
"So they have to be in the enclosure somewhere."
"Walman said he saw Mazatl climbing the eastern cliff earlier."
"But could Alonzo climb with his injury?"
"If he has a death wish."
Devon considered this. "We have to find them. We'll divide into teams and spread in all directions."
"Fine. I'm taking the Eastern side." Danziger told her.
"Wait for me, I'm going with you."
Danziger could tell by the set of her chin it was a waste of time to argue.
xxx
Blood soaked through Alonzo's boot. His legs were shaking and he was light headed. He wondered how much longer could he go on. He leaned against the rough stone surface and tried to control his breathing. The throbbing pulse in his ears seemed to be counting the remaining seconds of his life.
"Alonzo?"
Mazatl was somewhere above him but the pilot of afraid to look up. The slightest move might send him into oblivion. He felt helpless, too tired and weak to save himself.
"Hold on."
'As if there was another choice.' He thought.
He heard Mazatl coming, the sound of cloth brushing against the rough texture of rock then an iron grip caught him by the arm.
"I have you. Shuffle your feet toward me. The ledge widens and will give you more support."
"I don't think I can."
"Do I have to carry you, too?"
Anger gave him a spark of strength and he crabbed sideways, waiting for each step to be his last.
"Keep coming. Don't think."
The ledge did widen, Mazatl hadn't lied. The other man let go of him.
"The top is just above us . Stay were you are, I'll be back for you."
He heard a scrape and risked a glance. Mazatl went up the wall like a fly and disappeared from sight. At least, he and Julia were safe. Within minutes, the Indian was back as promised, this time without Julia to hamper him.
"It's okay. I can do this." Alonzo was determined to make the summit on his own. If he fell, he didn't want to take this man with him.
Mazatl didn't argue but, in the end, the tension proved too great. He grabbed the pilot and pulled him the last foot or so, letting his weight carry them both. They sprawled, backs pressed flat against the summit, totally spent. Alonzo felt the agony of a body pushed past its limit too many times.
Surprisingly, his breathing returned to normal faster then Mazatl's. The pilot rolled on to his elbow and looked over the other man. "Are you okay?"
"I must get getting old."
"Yea, right. What happens now?"
"We go there."
Alonzo's eyes followed the direction Mazatl pointed in. In the distance was a shape but he couldn't make it out clearly.
"What is that?"
"Salvation."
xxx
"No sign of them to the South." Magus reported in.
"Nothing to the West, except a lot of rocks I keep tripping over." Morgan complained.
"Walman, Baines? Anything?" Devon asked.
"Baines here. We thought we saw a set of multiple prints but its hard to tell if they're recent. Besides, with everyone walking all over, how can we tell who they belong to?"
"Tell him to use the Thermal read on the jumpers." Danziger suggested.
Devon relayed the message before cutting her audio. "I feel like we're hunting them like animals."
"We are." Danziger told her. "Let me remind you, Alonzo and Mazatl left of their own free will. I wonder if Julia had that option."
"Any ideas as to why they took her?"
"Alonzo might have been afraid to leave her." Danziger speculated as he played his light over the eastern rock wall.
"Or? You sound like you have another theory."
"Or, maybe he's so sure this guy exists, they'll use her to draw him out. "
Devon shook her head. "I find it hard to believe they would do such a thing."
"Yea, there's a lot of things I find it hard to believe but I'm learning."
xxx
A few hundred feet above Devon and Danziger, Alonzo was suffering a similar crisis of fate as he examined Mazatl's work. "It's huge." He repressed a shudder. "I thought I was done with these things."
"Let us hope in the future, you will be. For now, you need to know it works on something of the same principle but there is a difference."
The pilot forced himself to look away. "I hope so, I almost didn't survive the last time." Alonzo glanced over to Julia.
Mazatl saw the concern in the pilot's eyes. "Time is growing short and there is much to explain. "
"Go ahead, I'm listening."
"I came here just after first light. It was necessary to find a spot that is fully exposed to Giizis's power."
Alonzo glanced back to Mazatl's creation. The man had fashioned a large hoop from a tree limb. This he placed before a recessed area in the the cliff.. A thick piece of rope held it in place. Inside the circle, completely filling the center, was the web of a spider three times the size of any Alonzo had seen back in the spider caves.
"How did you get it to build its web there?"
Mazatl smiled for the first time. "First, I had to find Spider Woman's secret place. Then, I carried her to the tree and placed her on it so she could inspect my offering. I prayed very hard and Asibikaashi listened. She alone would judge if my plea was a worthy one. When she began to build her lodge, I knew her answer. If she had denied me, there would have been nothing could do. "
"You said this has a name?"
"My people call it Bwaajige Ngwaagan. In your language, it would be known as a 'dream snare' or 'dream catcher.' Bwaajige Ngwaagan catches all bad bawedjigewin and allows only good to enter through the small hole Asibikaashi leaves in the center."
"I'm sorry, Mazatl, but I don't see how this can help. We're not dealing with a dream. Besides, I don't have normal dreams, remember?"
Mazatl finished his explanation, hoping to ease the pilot's doubts. "At dawn, Spider Woman's web will catch the first rays of sunlight. All that has been trapped will perish, vanishing forever. Only then, when the evil is gone, can life begin to heal itself."
Alonzo shook his head but Mazatl continued. "Think about your trip through the space-time fold in the spider caves. How the webs and spiders worked with the force that is created by strong opposition fields. These are mystical principles of the dualistic nature of the universe - attraction and repulsion, positive and negative, matter and anti-matter, good and evil, life and death."
Alonzo interrupted. "I'm not sure I'm following you."
"What I'm saying is this man or his spirit is being drawn here. Dr. Heller isn't the only reason. He is here because you want him to be. There is a saying, 'the devil cannot enter without an invitation.' You want him here so you can destroy him. "
When Alonzo remained silent, Mazatl went on. "The only way to destroy him is to give up that desire, release your anger."
"If it's that easy, why do we need this?" Alonzo indicated the web.
"I didn't say it would be easy. I believe his malevolence is so strong it has already beginning to effect Dr. Heller on a subconscious level. When he does come, he will focus on her first. It will be up to you to draw him into the dream snare."
"How?
"You and Dr. Heller will stand behind the snare. I left enough space for you.."
"You're going to seal us in with the web?" Remembering the pain of a much smaller bite, Alonzo indicated the spider which was the size of a dinner plate. "What if she objects?"
Mazatl came forward and tied a string around Alonzo's neck. In the center was a large feather which hung down on his chest
"The feather of an eagle is worn for courage. It is a man's feather, just as the feather of an owl is a woman's and is worn for wisdom. Asibikaashi will recognize your courage and wisdom and welcome you in her lodge."
Alonzo wondered how a spider could recognize the virtues of such an action when he couldn't. He watched as Mazatl tied an owl feather around Julia's neck.
"Julia's not going to be happy about this. I'm not too thrilled, either."
"You will be restricted from moving. This is necessary so you do not accidentally tear the web. If that happens, the dream snare will not work. "
Mazatl moved the snare, allowing Alonzo access behind it. Mazatl handed over Julia, instructing the pilot to hold her upright, facing the web as he replaced it. Julia's head rolled backward against him and she seemed to be close to coming around. Alonzo watched nervously as the spider began to roam, looking for the source of a new vibration.
Alonzo leaned back against the solid wall of stone, trying to relieve the strain of holding Julia upright. Mazatl secured the web, effectively sealing them behind it. With Julia's weight pressed against him, Alonzo found he could only move his eyes and he watched as the spider climbed through the hole in the center of its home and put a tentative hairy leg out, touching Julia's chest.
'Don't wake up now.' He thought.
Mazatl stood back and watched.
Alonzo began to sweat as the huge spider transferred itself onto Julia's body, one leg at a time. Once there, it explored upward, following a path that would lead it up her neck onto the pilot's face. He didn't dare move, but he was aware of slight movement against him as Julia began to react to the prick of eight hairy legs on the skin of her neck.
The pilot's eyes widened as the arachnid move directly into his line of vision. Its fangs were huge, each as big as an earth cat's fully extended claw. Two large black circled eyes flanked by two smaller ones studied him closely before a segmented leg reached out and touched the feather on his chest. The pilot closed his eyes and prayed to whatever Gods Mazatl believed in.
Satisfied that her world was safe, the spider continued its climb, passing quickly across Alonzo's face until she sat perched atop his head. Finding this a good spot to start from, the spider dropped to his shoulder on a silken thread. A fine trail of line marked her passage as she swung from one to the other, crisscrossing their bodies. A gummy shroud soon encased both Julia and Alonzo.
Unfortunately, Julia woke up as the tarantula was putting the finishing touches on her face. Alonzo felt her go ridged with terror.
"Don't move." He whispered.
Her response was muffled by the gag that filled her mouth but he felt her tense in his arms and begin to hyperventilate. The spider arched as its world began to shake, its palps twitching nervously. The pilot's eyes rolled, searching for Mazatl but he was limited in his view.
"Julia, please, stay still!" Alonzo risked calling out as the doctor continued to ignore him. "Mazatl, where are you? Do something!"
Total silence told him Mazatl was gone.
A cold whisper of wind ruffled the feather on Julia's neck. The outer web bent inward under an unknown pressure. The spider hurried back to the center, sensing something strange in the vibration. Alonzo was instantly alert, his eyes searched the darkness. An unnatural stillness hung in the air. The sound of the night creatures had ceased.
'Had someone from Eden Advance stumbled across them?'
Any hope of rescue was dashed as a vague outline began forming in the shadows. Alonzo blinked and strained his eyes against the silken veil that was distorting his vision. Julia moaned and began to sob as the form broke into two.
xxx
"Do you see anything?"
Danziger didn't answer until he had finished scanning the surrounding cliffs with the jumpers. The glasses were equipped with a thermal detector. So far, the only heat registering was that of a small animal.
"Nothing. Either they didn't come this way or I nodded off longer than I thought and they had time to climb up there." Danziger secured the jumpers and began looking for footholds.
"You're going up?"
"Don't feel like you have to follow me, Adair. This is nothing more than a hunch."
Devon's answer came from close behind as she followed his lead. "More than a hunch, this cliff is higher than the rest. Once we get up there, we can look down on the others."
"You noticed that, huh? " Danziger had to smile.
She didn't miss much.
xxx
Mazatl stationed himself directly in the path of any would-be rescuers. The silence was overwhelming. He took a deep breath, hoping to relieve the tension that held his heart in a vice like grip. He had taken on a huge responsibility and if things went wrong the blame would fall on him. As the minutes passed, and the sky grew lighter, he thought his plan had a chance of succeeding until he heard voices and the scraping of footsteps against rock on the trail he, Alonzo and Julia had ascended earlier. He would have to delay whoever was coming.
Alonzo was weak and tired. The effort of holding Julia caused a throbbing in his temples and a weakness to his legs. He suppressed a powerful impulse to break free of the web and confront whatever was coming their way. Against the horizon's soft glow, he could make out shadows moving toward them. It seemed all natural life had vanished, leaving them alone on a dead world. No night bird sounded, no rustle of insects or wind.
The pilot repeated Mazatl's instructions in his mind, trying to focus on something other than the oncoming threat. He whispered to Julia not to move, to trust him, but wondered about the state of her mind. How could she trust him when they had kidnapped her from camp and thrust her into a cave with a huge spider that seemed to have wrapped them for dinner?
Julia awoke, wondering what was happening. Her vision was cloudy and she couldn't move. She felt a cold upwelling of fear and closed her eyes, trying to quiet racing thoughts. The sudden return of memory was so horrifying and powerful that it threatened to overwhelm. The breath tightened in her lungs and it took all her strength to fight the panic. It was almost as if she was drowning again. She heard Alonzo behind her asking for her trust. Part of her felt a huge relief that he was close, part of her felt an anger and distrust that seemed alien. Where had these feelings come from? She tried to turn but stopped as he warned her not to move.
Mazatl watched Devon and Danziger approach. They were unaware of his presence and he waited until they were on safe ground to announce himself so neither would fall. As expected, his sudden appearance startled them.
Danziger covered his alarm and his voice showed only agitation. "What are you up to? Are Alonzo and Julia with you?"
"They're close."
"Take us to them now."
"I will. In a little while."
Danziger rose to his full height and poked his finger in the Indian's chest. His voice and demeanor that of a threatening volcano. "Right now!"
Devon grew alarmed. If the men came to blows, one or both might fall. She had a brief flashback to her VR fight with Julia. In reality, she would have fallen to her death and had no desire to relive the experience. "Wait, both of you. I'm sure we can work this out. Mazatl, we just want everyone to return to camp. I'm sure you thought you had a good reason for running away but we can work this out without anyone getting hurt."
The dark skinned man looked at her calmly. "We can, but you must have patience. Let me judge when the time is right."
John was not known for his patience. He tried to push past the other man who pushed back.
Devon intervened again. "Stop! Stop both of you. Mazatl, will you take us to Julia and Alonzo or at least to a place where we can see they are safe? "
"Adair…" Danziger grumbled.
"John, we have to trust each other." Devon looked into the older man's eyes.
The observer became the observed. Apparently, she passed some test in his mind.
He turned to lead. "Only you can come, Devon. John must wait here."
"No way," Danziger protested, grabbing her arm. "Devon, you're not going with him alone. He'll have three hostages."
Mazatl scanned the sky. It wouldn't be long now. The stillness was unnatural. He waited as they argued; any delay helped his cause.
Alonzo and Julia felt their position shift. A sudden force pulled them forward like metal to a magnet. The pilot steeled his mind and body to resist and felt Julia move against him. He remembered Mazatl telling him he had to draw their enemy into the web, but he had no idea how. The muscles in his legs and feet flexed as he wedged them against the solid ground. Where was Mazatl? How could this fine transparent web protect them? The convict wanted nothing more than to take Julia and destroy him. The shadows grew larger as they closed in. The pilot's anger grew. Why should he cower? It would be so easy to disregard his friend's advice, to break free and release the inferno of pent up rage.
Devon and Danziger had finally came to an agreement. They would follow Mazatl until they could see that Alonzo and Julia were safe. He had convinced them their friends' safety would depend on their promise. At the top of the mesa, the Indian slowed. John and Devon's eyes met and locked, passing unspoken questions and fears.
As their eyes adjusted in the growing light, Danziger mumbled under his breath, "What the hell?" He started forward but the Indian gripped him so hard it almost took him down.
Devon and Danziger were stunned to see their crew mates wrapped in a huge cocoon that was guarded by an arachnid who's dimensions defied reason.
Julia felt the hardening of muscle tension in the man behind her. An unknown terror stood before her. She felt as if she was caught between two wild animals that wanted nothing more than to tear each other apart. She arched her neck, stretching the spider's shroud.
"Alonzo. No!"
Her plea tore at his heart. It ripped the festering scab off a poisonous wound. Suddenly it became clear to him. The web was not meant to be a shield. It represented a razor thin boundary that stood between what he was and what he could become.
The moment of understanding dawned with the sun of G889. Blades of light swept the horizon and caught the gossamer strands of the Dream Snare, firing it with a blinding brilliance. Devon and Danziger instinctively ducked but Mazatl simply closed his eyes against the sacred and mystical transformation that took place before him.
It was over in a instant. Looking around at seemingly normal surroundings, the cowering couple were amazed and horrified to see their crewmates and the web were gone. They rushed to the spot where they were last seen. John caught the movement of the huge spider scurrying under a boulder dragging something dark. A cold shiver began at his neck and continued down his spine.
Devon was ahead of him. "John!"
He followed her lead and found their friends just behind the boulders. Alonzo was removing Julia's gag. The doctor gazed into the pilot's eyes. Unconsciously, an understanding beyond words arose between them. It was strong enough to hold feelings in place and maintain some sense of normality. Perhaps it was better that way, even necessary, if the long, hard journey ahead could continue. There would still be numerous trials and obstacles to overcome. Right now all that mattered was that they were safe after surviving a gauntlet of pain and terror.
John knelt down and helped Julia and then Alonzo to their feet, brushing silk and dirt from their clothing. "You all right?"
"Yes." they both answered at the same time and then glanced at each other with the glimmer of a smile at the agreement.
"Thank you, Mazatl." the pilot's words were heartfelt. He was sorry for even doubting the older man for a moment.
Danziger looked suspiciously from one to the other. "You both have a lot of explaining to do."
"I don't think I'd be able to explain half of what happened," the pilot replied.
Julia nodded as she wrapped her arm around Alonzo's waist to help support and take the weight off his injured foot. "I agree. Right now, I have a patient who needs my attention. We've all been though a lot. I recommend we take care of our immediate problems. We can talk about the rest later."
John looked at Devon and shrugged. He wrapped Alonzo's arm around his neck. "Let's get you back so Julia can heal this foot. We're not going to carry you all the way to New Pacifica."
They began the arduous climb down, Mazatl, who was last in line, turned one final time to pay a thankful homage to spider woman. There was a explanation for what had happened. They only needed to look closely at the simple patterns of nature.
Just as the spider linked each strand of her web to make it strong, an invisible bond linked them to each other. Also, this day and the coming night was linked to the sunrise and set of the following day and all it contained and would continue until their journey circled to it's completed end.
In the greater picture, to those who believed, the Dream Snare caught the ills, misfortunes, disappointments and sorrows of life and allowed good to escape through the small hole left in the center by Asibikaashi.