Rana Kane:
Thank you for your review.
I guess they wished now they had asked Dungeon Master before setting off, even though it wasn't for sure that they will get there at all. It couldn't have been a straight answer of course since that would have been much too easy
ohh, interesting view. I haven't thought of that, to be honest. Actually it's time for Venger to show up again, right? ;)
But to clarify your suspicion: no, Venger won't show up (yet? gg) sorry for that.
Sheila's reaction rather refers to what the protector has said. Well, you'll see...
D.B. Cooper:
Thanks for your comment.
Well, me neither (if I wouldn't have written the story myself, so I do know it ;) ) but I would have thought about a so called 'mineral spring'. So, to drink it would have been my suggestion.
It surely would have been a great disappointment for the group to see that their assumption didn't work...
12.
"No." Sheila repeated.
"You just can't have meant that! Please tell me that you haven't meant that, please..." the Thief pleaded, angry and desperate at the same time.
The others looked from Sheila to the keepers and back to Sheila again uncomprehending.
The protector only nodded and heaved a sigh once again.
"No!" Sheila shouted again. "I'll never allow that. There simply must be another way. You're lying!"
"Sheila, please calm down. What's the matter?" Diana asked puzzled and walked up to the other girl, who fell into her friends arms immediately sobbing aloud.
"Oh my god..." Presto stammered now understanding.
And slowly the others realized as well: it won't help at all to drink the water or to have a wash with it.
No, you have to go further, much further.
You have to swallow a whole lot of water so that the water can get to the heart in the first place to help.
And this happened best at diving but Bobby's condition precluded that he would submerge by himself.
So, there has to be someone to help him in doing so.
And there was still the matter with the water cleaning the heart...
The following words of the female keeper confirmed this horrible assumption.
"The water has absolutely no healing effect if used externally.
The body has to assimilate it and only then it can spread everywhere.
And when the heart stops beating, the poisoning is really borne." she enlightened the Young Ones, gazing dreamily at the sea.
"When the heart stops beating? Does that mean we have to kill Bobby in the first place so that he'll be completely cured from the poisoning?" Eric finally spoke out quite clearly what they were talking about the whole time.
"You ain't serious, are you? That's just like the Hobson's Choice-thingy, you know!" he snorted.
When the protectors didn't contradict him, they knew the answer for sure.
Eric gave a bitter laugh, "Then the long journey was completely in vain in the end, anyway.
We can't save Bobby in any case, 'cause there ain't a cure at all.
He's gonna die despite our efforts!
And Dungeon Master hasn't breathed one single word about all this!"
"You think that Dungeon Master knew about that? Well, I can't imagine that.
Why should he have sent us here if it's useless after all?" Presto considered crestfallen.
"Of course he knew! Why should he not?
He knew about the sea after all and it also doesn't seem to be such a great secret that there isn't a remedy!
And by the way, may I remind you that it also wouldn't have been the first time he has sent us to completely good-for-nothing places!" Eric shot back furiously.
"Could you two perhaps rather think about what we're gonna do now than to argue?" the Acrobat snapped at Eric and Presto.
"However, we don't have so much time to ponder any more, 'cause Bobby's condition is already very critical. So, what are we supposed to do?" Hank asked distressed, looking at his friends.
"Well, we cannot and must not encourage you to make this decision or the other.
The affected people or the relatives have to do that by themselves.
But I can tell you one thing: if you take the way of the water, you will release the poor boy and spare him further suffering." the keeper said unconcerned.
"You really advise us to kill my brother, just because he then won't die of this damned disease?
Such heartless creatures you are! I loathe you!
How dare you?" Sheila shouted beside herself with rage and wanted to lunge at the protector.
Actually, this would have been quite pointless since the two weren't physical but it was all the same to Sheila in this moment.
"You haven't got the faintest idea what you are demanding from us!
What am I supposed to tell my parents, if we're able to get out of this accursed world at some point?
How am I supposed to explain them that my little brother can't come along, 'cause we have killed him?
How should I cope with this eternal guilt of his death?
How could I ever forgive myself that I haven't taken care of him good enough, just like an older sister should have done?" the Thief finally broke down in Diana's arms.
And as if on cue, Bobby started to whimper quietly - regardless of his usually demonstrative aversion for sentimentality.
"You have the option. We have done our duty here. It is your choice what you are going to do with it. Goodbye." the protectress declared, nodded towards the Young Ones, turned around and floated away with her companion with a last sigh.
"Wait! You can't leave us here behind like that! Please, come back!" Hank yelled after them but they disappeared nevertheless, without turning around once more.