THE 33 KEYS: Key 2 - ANSWER THE CALL "Listen for that Perfect Beat"

CHAPTER 85: NOW WALK BACKWARDS

My foot changes the scenery as it touches the next step down. The engraved walls remain but now they show a canopy that towers above the stairs and feels real to the touch. It appears to stretch on for miles too. Like different countries in communal. Or maybe just one big country. Even so, can someone tell me what the hell a forest is doing in a stairway?

The only thing I figure is that I am walking backwards in my memories. That this is my beloved park. Good. Think of it like that, Mary. This way you'll get to the bottom with your mind still intact. And sure enough this new way of thinking helps me forget that I'm moving beneath the earth. Yet when I reach the landing I don't know what to think.

There's no throne there. Just a pale horse wearing copper shoes, standing in its place. So what now? Am I supposed to talk to a horse like some mad person? Maybe I should just slip past it and continue on my journey. Think, Mary. What would be the evidence that you mastered the throne? What throne? As usual, this whole thing makes no sense.

"If he likes you, he'll take you to other worlds," announces a voice behind me.

I spin around alarmed and almost fall. He grabs me by the waist. And now I'm standing in a tight space with a strange man. Feeling the way I did when Pete used to hold me this close.

"Er, I didn't see you there," I mumble, and pull away.

"No one ever does. That's the beauty of being here, there and everywhere at the same time."

"Sounds impossible to me."

"Why? Because you think they're different places?"

"And there's only the one you," I state with confidence.

"Just like there's always one Rubrum in any given part of the Karmic Islands at a time?"

"That's different and you know it."

"Really? Have you ever seen them all in one place to confirm that?"

"No, but you know what I mean."

"The trick is to see all the places as one place."

"Stop this foolish talk!" I scold. "All of the Karmic Islands can't possibly be in one place. Just like Florence Street Extension is not Lillian Street."

"What makes them any different?"

"For one thing, the bank. And most of Florence Street has no money."

"Travelling is easy. Just make the bank come to Florence Street."

"That's not how it works. You have to travel to a place."

"Travel simply means to move. Either you to a thing or a thing to you."

"Oh, you're talking virtual travel."

"You came to the horse, didn't you? It made you come hither."

"No." I laugh. "The horse was always here, waiting to block my way out."

"Aren't you the one who wished to visit other worlds, as many as it would take to keep you away from Leer Island and its deafening realities?"

"That? But how? This is just crazy. A horse can't read anyone's thoughts."

"Then why are we all standing here? It's simple. You made the call and we answered."

"But I thought you were the ones that made the call?" I say.

"There are two calls," he explains. "First you call us wishing for death; then we call you."

"How exactly?"

"We send a beacon out. Hoping you see its signal and come straight to us."

"Do people always find you?"

"Sometimes they stray a bit in search of other things. But the chosen ones always arrive."

"I never saw any beacon. So maybe I'm not chosen at all."

"Oh yes, you did. Or else you wouldn't be here wanting to learn our ways."

"Your ways? Who exactly are you?"

"That's no secret," he says simply. "I'm Bathin."

"Doesn't ring any bells for me."

"I'm friends with Andromalius."

"Oh, him. Is he down here too?"

"You'll have to wait and see."

"Okay, back to your ridiculous claim. Prove to me that all places are really one."

"Everything is a straight line. A pole to go back and forth on. But you never leave the pole."

"That proves nothing."

"Take the Karmic Islands, for instance. When you see them scattered about, what you really see is a crooked line."

"Please don't tell me they're not scattered about. I saw them myself from the sky."

"Straighten the line and you'll see the truth,' he explains. "That those thirty-three islands are in one place. So you're already where you want to be. But just ten percent there."

I laugh even louder this time.

"So ninety percent of me is here?"

"Sort of like a special time machine that holds on to your body but sets your spirit free."

"Still not buying it."

"Do you accept that the Bloody Sea makes you one? That no matter where you go, you'll never escape it."

"It does," I quickly agree. "And the moon too. But that sea has no lines though."

"The veil covers ninety percent of your eyes. How can you expect to see anything clearly?"

"Okay. So if there's really a line, how do I straighten it?"

"Kiss the horse's feet."

"Is that all?"

"Kiss his feet then climb up here and let's go."

I am about to obey but then pause before climbing.

"Wait! How do I know you're really this Bathin person?"

"Why would I lie?"

"People lie all the time; pretend to be who they're not."

"You mean like how you camouflage yourself to fit in?"

"At least you know I'm really Mary," I counter. "I know absolutely nothing about you."

"I'll tell you what, Mary," Bathin says. "The day you think people can stand to see the real you, that's the day I'll show you the real me."

Then he pulls me up on to the horse and they both disappear, leaving me donning the copper bracelets. Now the serpent appears in their place, encircling me, admiring the new addition to my wardrobe.

"Looks good," it says. "Now how would you like everything you touch to turn to gold?"

"Gold?" My eyes widen with interest. "I don't know. Is that kind of thing even possible?"

"Asks the girl who just learned to flip everything."

"Do you know what it would do for me if I could actually change things into gold?"

"You'd own a bank?"

"Forget the bank! I'd own the world."

"You'd be the most successful person? Everyone would want to be your friend?"

"But knowing you, we're not talking about actual gold, right?"

"Better."

"Diamonds?"

"Try again."

"Pearls?"

"Precious things worth diving for."

"And I bet we're not even talking about actual pearls either." I sigh. "Okay. Out with it."

"The next throne awaits." The serpent gestures me forward. "Perhaps when you return."