Millions of In-Worlds

Chapter 14: The Great Crash

Me with my broken arm, and Freck with her leg snapped in three places was bound ta set tongues a waggin' in Burns. We went away on summer vacation with Mizzus Anderton and came back all busted up. I wondered how we were goin' ta 'splaine this without causing her a problem. Daddy fixed it. He said our injuries were 'cuz of a train accident. He tol' ever'bodythat it was a miracle Mizzus Anderton escaped intact. It was a right good thing too 'cuz she was a hero, helpin' other passengers ta safety after takin' care of us. Mr. Ashe, publisher of the Burns Gazette, interviewed her personally. The very next edition included her photo and a headline on the front page saying Our Hero Emma Anderton. Our unusual transparent casts were explained away as some new medical advances in Belgium.

The only other problem is that we haven't actually been ta any of the places like the United Kingdom, France, or Belgium. Gee helped us with that. He coached us just like he did for spelunkin'. In less than a week we had a passable knowledge, just in case we was asked uncomfortable questions 'bout our trip. We sure as heck couldn't say nothin' 'bout goin' down inta Mammoth Caves lookin' for Hollow Earth. They'd think were we were kooky, crazy, nuts, soft in the head, all rolled up in superglue and dunked in sassafras.

The parents decided that we wouldn't go back to the Kingdom this summer. Normally being laid up would be dull as a basket of dead caterpillars. Not this summer. We kept up our meditations. We practiced mind-readin' so hard our heads hurt. We didn't have to be together for meditation, but like Ren told us 'bout mind-readin' it's better if yer close. As distance increases there's interference by universal mental clutter.

We talked ta Gee ever'day. The trouble that caused him to mind-mesh with the council warn't as urgent now. But he said that it was still volatile and could flare up at any moment. There was a couple of small earth quakes accompanied by the mysterious purple/green streaks in the sky. The Keepers were astro-projectin' themselves inta other in-worlds for lookin' for answers.

It was decided that for the time bein', Gee should stay in mind-connection with us. Our trainin' was deemed the top priority. They keep tellin' we's special and that our yet to be released abilities was needed Topside, and also in the Kingdom. We accepted it, even though we didn't understand it. If both worlds needed our help we was goin' ta do what we could.

Freck asked Gee, "Wishes and I are tryin' real hard to get this mind readin' skill down and Ren said we was very close. What else do we need ta do?"

Gee's answer was, "Stop trying."

"Stop tryin'?"

"Yes. Stop. You cannot force it. You will only be able to achieve it with perfect harmony of body, mind, and soul. That is why you are doing two hours of daily meditation. When it comes it will not be in a dramatic way. It will be as gentle as a downy feather."

So we stopped tryin'. A week later I plainly heard Freck say, "I suppose I'll read somethin'. Maybe a good adventure story."

I mind-spoke to her, "Why did ya tell me that?"

"What?" She asked.

"Why did ya say you wanted ta read a book?"

"I didn't say that." She sounded a bit miffed.

"Did ya think it?"

"Yes I did! Wishes can ya tell what I'm thinkin' now?"