10 – Divergence

Jane knew what to expect this time – or, at least, she thought she did. She could only assume that Dream would appear broadly the same as last time she had been there. She was right, but she soon found out that she could easily have been wrong.

You are a most unusual Traveller, my friend, mused the guide from within the darkness. The same pinpoint of light with the pained face inside slid into Jane's view, and the shifting grey strands around her lit up with soft light.

The vision you witnessed here last time served you well. And yet still, you see Dream as dark, and slightly dangerous. Why?

"I don't -"

I see the answer in your needs, interrupted the guide. This time, you are not just looking for visions. You seek the very memories themselves. Ambitious – for a Traveller.

Jane wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a compliment or a snide remark, so she stayed silent.

The one you know as Yeesha is still here. Her memories have been restricted from returning to her waking mind. You are here to help her.

"Yes."

Good. Come – I will take you to her.

The grey strands rushed around them again, for longer this time. Unlike on her last visit, she passed no other Travellers on the way – the Serenians were presumably aware of the developing crisis and were staying well clear of Dream in case the Memory Chamber shut down. As Jane thought this, her stomach (at least, what would have been her stomach if she had a conventional body) jolted – what would happen to any Travellers in Dream if the Chamber shut down? What would happen to her if the old Memory Chamber shut down while she was here?

You are concerned, murmured the guide, about the imminent death of the old fungus.

"Yes. What would happen to me if it died right now?"

I do not know, replied the guide. Nobody knows that – not even the Ancestors. That is why the Serenians are not taking the risk. You… you are very brave to come here at a time like this.

"I didn't really have a choice."

You are willing to risk your life for that of your friend. That is admirable. Nonetheless, it is my duty to protect you, and if I sense the fungus failing I will return you to Serenia without delay, as I have no wish to find out what will happen. Not that I do not enjoy your company. (Jane thought that she would probably be blushing if she had a body.)

A small dot appeared in the distance, growing quickly larger. Jane and the guide stopped well clear of the object as they approached – Jane quickly saw why. She saw the small white cloud that was Yeesha's memories, but that wasn't all. Hovering over the cloud, tethered to it by glowing white tendrils, was something… monstrous. Huge, glowing orange and pulsating, it looked somewhat like a brain – with hair. Jane flinched.

"What is that?"

That… is a Traveller. The guide sounded equally repulsed, and slightly angered.

"Why… why does he look like that?"

This Traveller has no guide. He is using Yeesha's memories to remain anchored in Dream. Without her, he would be lost, and quickly killed by the endlessly shifting strands of Dream. But… she is not aware of him. If she was, she could throw him off, and she would be free to return to Serenia.

"Why can't she see him?"

Let me see… The guide paused for a second. Ah, there… you see the memory anchors he's using? The white tendrils? Jane nodded. Those are very strong memories, that both Yeesha and the Traveller have in common. The Traveller has, somehow, scrambled the memories, and is using them to cloak himself.

"So… what can we do?"

I can do nothing. But if I send you inside the memories, you can play them back in the correct order. That should force the Traveller to reveal himself to her.

"What? How do I do that?"

I will not be able to instruct you once you are inside the memories, so remember this well. You will see a number of memory fragments when I send you in. All you need to do is arrange them in the right order and play them back.

"All right… that sounds simple enough."

Good. We have very little time. I will send you into the first memory now. Hurry, and good luck. And… advance apologies, but this may hurt.

Jane felt herself falling forward, and saw the grotesque apparition in front of her expand. She felt a feeling akin to being squeezed down a tight tunnel, and was dimly aware that she had shouted in pain. Blinding light filled her vision for a fragment of a second, and then she was drifting in the grey strands again. Now, however, was different. She was in an enclosed space, and the light was a dull reddish colour. Floating in front of her were a collection of glowing symbols. She reached out and touched one of them.

A very brief crackle echoed through the small space, and then a voice rang out – a familiar voice, that she recognised as Sirrus.

"They break so easily."

This, Jane realised quickly, must be one of the fragments of the memory. She reached out and touched another one. Another crackle, and another voice rang out, this one Yeesha's.

"You should play him."

Jane smiled. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all.


Anya didn't let it show as she transferred memories into backup globes, but she was terrified. The Memory Chamber was weakening, and noticeably, too. It could probably hold out for another day, maybe. The old Chamber was probably well and truly dead by now.

There was a knock on the door. It sounded frantic. Anya stood, cautious.

"Who is it? Identify yourself!"

"It's Maddy!" shouted back a voice from the other side of the door. Anya slid open the small peephole in the door.

"Oh! What's going on? Did you find her?"

"Yes, but Sirrus had removed her memories and replaced them with his, so now Achenar's desparately trying to keep the old Chamber alive long enough to get Yeesha back. Sirrus is doing… something… to keep her in Dream, so Jane had to go in to get her out."

Anya blinked. She was a little behind on current events, as they had decided that Dreaming while the Memory Chamber was fighting for its life was not a good idea.

"Sirrus? And Achenar?"

"Yes, yes, I know, they broke out, it's a long story, we'll tell you later. Point is, we really need you over at the old Chamber."

Anya looked over at her half-finished memory backup. "Look, I can't come right now… I need to finish backing up the memories in case something happens to the Chamber."

"All right… yeah, okay. Just… just come as soon as you can, okay?"

"Okay. I'll be there as soon as I can."


Atrus peeked out the window. The storm was easing… fairly soon he'd be ready to head off. It was incredibly boring being stuck in this room. At least he had pen and paper. He'd drafted the design for the moving eye attachment he wanted to make for the crystal viewer.

He heard the clatter of the elevator. He frowned. On one hand, that meant it was working again, and he could get back to Tomahna. On the other, that meant that someone else was here, and he wasn't sure he liked that.

He heard the elevator return, and then running footsteps. He stood and looked at the door, which slid open. Jordan entered the room at a jog, clutching what Atrus recognised as a Tomahna linking book in his hand.

"Atrus!"

"My friend, what on earth are you doing here? I was just getting ready to head back."

"It's…" Jordan paused to catch his breath. "There's… a bit of an emergency. We need you on Serenia, sort of right now."

Atrus opened his mouth to say something, then thought better of it. "Lead the way."


The last of the memory played back seamlessly. Jane grinned, and then there was the squeezing feeling and the bright light again. She was falling backwards this time, and before she knew it she was back looking at the convulsing monstrosity latched onto Yeesha's memories. As she watched, several of the glowing tendrils faded and vanished.

It's working, said the guide softly. There is one more memory. We must hurry. The Traveller is aware of us. He cannot harm us, but he will try to impede you.

"Impede… how?"

I don't know, but he may try to rescramble the memory, or intimidate you. Fortunately, he has only limited control over the memory. So long as you keep your focus, focus on the memory, you have control. Remember that. Now… hurry.

The squeezing, falling sensation returned, and Jane found herself in another enclosed space, with more memory fragments drifting in front of her. Hastily, she started to play them back and work out the appropriate order.

As she was piecing together the memory, everything suddenly shuddered violently, and Jane lost her focus. There was a deep hissing noise, which resolved itself into Sirrus' voice – not part of the memory, but Sirrus himself.

"What do you think you're doing, compadre?"

The fragments of memory that Jane had already pieced together scattered around the space suddenly. She cursed under her breath and started collecting them back up.

"I can't let you play that memory back, girl. You know what that'll do?"

"It'll stop you, and release Yeesha," said Jane. "That's all I need to know."

"You stupid girl," hissed Sirrus, "I'm not just going to give her back to you, you know. Not when releasing her would also kill me."

Jane hesitated, for a fraction of a second, and Sirrus pounced. The memory fragments went flying again.

"Could you do that, girl? Do you really have what it takes to kill a man?" sneered Sirrus.

"I won't kill you. Dream will do that. You know it's dangerous to come here unprotected."

"Ever heard of murder by omission? Can you live with my life on your conscience? Just let it go. Put the memory down, and leave."


Irvan hung up his coat and stretched his back. He'd spent the day out in the field, which was always nice. Big advantage to being a Surveyor, that.

There was a knock on the door. He opened it, and found Brittany standing outside, leaning on a walking stick and looking rather out of breath.

"Britt! I wasn't expecting you today. What's going on?"

"I can't explain now, Irv… Is Tamara here?"

"Yeah, she's upstairs."

"Awesome. I have a little situation unfolding that involves Atrus' kids, and we really, really need a Healer. Could she -"

"I'll get her. Come in."

Brittany took the chair that Irvan offered her gratefully and waited. Within a minute, Irvan and his sister, Tamara, came downstairs.

"Brittany – Irv says you need help? What's wrong?"

"It's not me, it's Atrus' children. I don't have time; come on, I'll explain on the way."

"Where are we going?"

"One of Catherine's ages, via Tomahna. It's a long story."

"Mind if I tag along?" asked Irvan.

"Feel free," replied Brittany, "but we've got to hurry."

Irvan grabbed his coat back off the hanger and the three of them made for the common library.