Exploring A New Dimension Without A Guidebook

 

“Maybe if I walk backwards.”   Carp says turning around to face the road already traveled.

“What are you doing?”  Tinkletoes asks.

“The cat and the lioness came from behind.  What if there's more and it's on its way?”

“Okay.”  Tinkletoes says continuing his hike.   The self-proclaimed mercenary sees something ahead, processes what he sees and smiles.   “The interesting stuff is in front of you.”

Carp turns around, there is a sharp intake of breath.  The assassin in training stops and stares.  “It's an antelope, blocking the road.”  Carp says looking at Tinkletoes.   “And he's meditating.”

Spots Wash watches the space recently abandoned by their target's unknown ally.   The sound of their footsteps grow fainter and disappear into the darkened trees.

“Should we split up?”   He asks.

“No.”  Smudge Mal says. “We follow Monitor Man.”

“What about the other guy?”

“We stick to the mission.”

“What if the other guy comes along and saves Monitor Man?”

“He can't.”

“What if he can?”

“He won't.”

“What if...?”

“We are Browncoats.”  Smudge Mal says looking at his brother.  “We took the job.  We finish the job.  That's it.”

Spots Wash walks around Smudge Mal in a circle, thumping his tail behind him as he walks.

“I'm older and what I say goes.”   Smudge Mal says.  “So don't challenge me on this.   You won't win.”

“If we don't do something about the other one you won't win either.”

“Don't worry lil' brother.  I have already made adjustments to the plan.  I have already made adjustments.”

“Psst.  Psst.  Psst!”   Writer Lady whispers from a few feet behind Monitor Man.

“What?”   Monitor Man whispers.

“Do you see anything?”

“No.  I don't think that it worked.  What are you doing back?  You've only been gone for a few minutes.”

Writer Lady continues closing the distance between them.   “You said, 'Walk over there.' ”   She says gesturing with a nod of her head.

“Was I a little bit short with the instructions?”  Monitor Man asks.

“Ye-ah.”

Monitor Man attempts to explain his instructions.

“Shhh...”

Monitor Man looks at Writer Lady.

“I heard something.”

“You heard something?”

“Didn't you?”  She asks.

He listens more closely then shakes his head.   “I hear nothing.”

“You can't hear that?”

He shakes his head.

Writer Lady looks at Monitor Man, “When you get back home you might want to get your ears checked.”  Writer Lady turns her head and listens again.  “It's getting closer.”  She whispers and slips off towards the phantom sound.

“I'm getting a dog whistle.  How about that for a hearing test?”

Writer Lady turns around, “What? Why?”

“It's a gift?   My friend just bought his first dog.”  He answers weakly.

“Oh.  Why are you thinking about that now?”   She asks with a puzzled look.

“I don't know.”  Monitor Man says.   “It just popped in there.”  He elaborates gesturing to his head.

Writer Lady looks at him for minute and continues her pursuit.

“I'm getting a dog whistle and she might want to get her head examined.”

“I heard that!”

“You have a useful, yet dangerous talent.”  Monitor Man says quietly as he watches Writer Lady make her way deeper into the jungle.

“Hi.” Carp says as he stops in front of the antelope.

“Shhhh...”

“What are you doing?”  Carp asks the antelope who is sitting cross legged in the middle of the road.

“Relaxing.”  The antelope says without opening its eyes, “I find that traveling these roads keeps me on edge.”

Carp looks at Tinkletoes.  Tinkletoes looks at the antelope.  “Why?” He asks. “Is it dangerous?  It doesn't look dangerous.”

The antelope opens one eye and studies Tinkletoes for a moment.   “No.”  He says.  “I find them to be very...busy.”

Both men look at the empty road, the open meadow, all of the wildflowers.

“Where?”  Tinkletoes asks.

“Just wait.”  The antelope says.   “You'll see.”

After several awkward moments Tinkletoes takes over.

“So, you been here long?”   Tinkletoes asks.

The antelope opens one eye, then both.  “I just arrived, although I have lived here forever.”

Tinkletoes leans in and whispers to Carp without taking his eyes off of the antelope,  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“I think it means that we are in another dimension.”

“This is Faerie.   Time does not exist here the way that it does in our world.”   The antelope looks at Tinkletoes and Carp with amusement.  “Don't tell me that you traveled to another dimension without knowing the most basic details.”   He smiles.  “That would be like going from a city to a tiny jungle village without knowing that the occupants are cannibals.   Neither of you know about Faerie? Isn't this going to be interesting.”  The antelope rises from his seated position to stand on his hind legs.  “And to think...I almost decided to stay in today.”   He leans in closer, gently sniffing at the two newcomers.  “Visitors to On-Ramp. From America.  The central region?  No.  I know that smell.”   He sniffs again. “The Midwest.”   The antelope announces looking at the two men expectantly.

Tinkletoes looks at Carp.   Carp looks at the antelope and nods.

“My name is Buck.  Black Buck.  It's nice to meet you.”   He says offering a hoof.