Chapter 26 Conquest of Chimera

Chapter 26

Conquest of Chimera

 Far beyond Chimera’s redwood forest, its’ orchards and its’ fields the mineral rich hills of East Chimera raised against the sky. However, ancient secrets as well as minerals lay buried deep beneath its wooded brow…   

   Decades earlier the were-moles and their powerful centaur helpers discovered a great metal chamber while extracting iron ore from its dark bowels. After repeatedly trying to dig it out and remove it, they tried to dig around it and found a surprisingly easy way in instead. A ten by ten foot steel panel slid up straight up and out of sight the moment they touched it, an obvious invitation to enter; so they did.      

  On entering the large metal chamber, they found a library. Of course not knowing anything of books and writing the long shelves of odd rectangular objects presented a mystery, they, until now, could not hope to solve. They did however find a ghost. Once inside their presence triggered a holographic projector. The translucent Spector of a tall man dressed in a dark suit and tie sent them running for their lives. Whatever ore they hoped to dig out of the mine was suddenly of no interest to them and they abandoned it. Forty years had passed since anyone had set foot or paw in it but that was about to change… 

  Winging their way through the towering redwoods Kian reminded himself that ‘they’ knew his every thought. This quest for knowledge like Wayferra’s new threat from the west was their will for Chimera not his. Whatever loss and suffering his new friends might have to endure was on their heads not his.

  He glanced over and gave a weak forced smile to Kia who was wearing Peter and Kress like living earrings as he remembered that ‘they’ controlled everything. He had only assumed Kia could read, that they had downloaded all his knowledge into her mind, included his twelve years of school. He had been wrong. What else had he been wrong about, the days would show it. And this writing hidden deep in some distant ancient vault; just a plant, something they were meant to eventually  find and show him. What lies they would tell, what clever knot of word and implication would they use to further their slick well-hidden agenda, he did not know but he would try to keep his cynicism from becoming just another cog in their masterplan of deceit and machination.       

   “Veer off to right!” Lucius yelled as his claws dug deep into Kian’s shoulders.

  “Ouch,” Kian yelped, “not so tight Lucius. You can’t fall.”

  “Sorry but I have never flown strapped to someone’s stomach before. I don’t like it; I hate not being in control. And you’re flying much too fast.”

  “We can’t afford to waste any time,” Kian said, “There is no telling how much damage Myra and the other Olders are doing in the west. We can’t even be sure some of them have not returned to Wayferra to do who knows what.”

  “My sentries will not blink until our return.” Lucius assured Kian.

  “They may not blink but can they fight. Will they fight? Will they kill?” Kian asked. “They should not have to, but they who brought me here and made this world this surely wants them to. They want to destroy paradise. They want destroy Wayferra. They want to destroy Chimera. We’ve got to find out why.”

  “You speak of ‘they’,” Lucius asked, “we should find them and reason with them. That is they if they actually exist.”

  “What!”

  “I believe you speak the truth, but believing is not the same as knowing. What I do know is that you and your mate came from some unknown place entered the Narrows turned the dying Olders into something new and potentially very dangerous to our world and defiled one of our Sprites. That is what I know.”

    Kian did not know how to respond to Lucius, except to fly a little faster. No one spoke another word as they sailed over orchards and fields. Under lighter circumstances, the flight over Chimera’s lush green landscape would have been a delight but Lucius’ last words practically sucked the sun right out of the sky.   

  It was not until the time worn hills of East Chimera came into view that they heard another word. “There, down there. “ Lucius declared, “To your right the empty foundries stand. The mine entrance lies just beyond them.

   Kian veered, Kia followed sailing past huge brick structures and deeply rutted wagon trails.

  “It all looks abandoned,” Kia said as they careened past sun- bleached wagons and large brick buildings that look like Earth people built a long time ago.   

   “It is. The mine,” Lucius hesitated, “the chamber, is occupied.”

  Kian swooped up, Kia followed. Now both of them were hovering above the hollow remains of the once vibrant work sight. “What,” Kian asked as they slowly descended until they were a mere stair step above the rut streaked dirt road that led to mine’s black maw.  

  “You should have told us,” Kian said as he and Kia stepped out of the air unto sun -baked dirt road.

   Lucius appeared to ignore Kian as he struggled to unstrap his body from Kian chest. “Most humiliating, I feel like a cub in birth pouch,” he said finally releasing his body from Kian’s abdomen and stumbling backward.

  “Told you what, that I was afraid, that I dread seeing what I know waits for us inside.”

  “Lucius you don’t have to go inside,” Kian said as he lay his hand on the trembling creature’s furry shoulder, “in fact I think it would be a good idea if I went in first, alone, just to make sure its still safe.”

  “That sounds reasonable,” Lucius replied, obviously delighted by Kian’s suggestion, “The shaft leads straight to, the box. You should find torches just inside the entrance. I am quite certain no one has disturbed anything. We dread this place more than we dread the Narrows.”

  “Then you still trust me?” Kian asked.

  Lucius looked as if were reading the deep wheel ruts, “Yes, yes I do. Do not betray that trust.”

    “Good to hear,” Kian answered, “Kia would you mind staying here with them. If something goes wrong I want know all of you are safe outside.”

   Kian nodded yes then wrapped her arms around him then let him go. “I love you, come back.”

  “Of course,” he said as he turned and walked away.