Millions of In-Worlds

Chapter 18: Evil Escapes

"Gee!" I screamed inside my head. "I think something really horrible is happenin'."

Daddy, and Freck heard my telepathic shout. They came runnin' toward me like their tails was on fire.

Gee said, "Hold on Wishes. We see what is going on. We cannot tell yet if it is lairbeasts or something else. I am headed to the docks now. Some floaters have already left. I will catch the next one."

Daddy reached me first. My call must'a scarit him because his eyes looked ready to pop outta his head. He knelt down and hugged me, "What is it Wishes?"

I was shakin' like someone dumped a tub of ice down my back.

By now Freck was there too. Both of them were breathin' real hard. Freck had her hands on her hips and was bendin' over to catch her breath. I pointed to the freshly dug tunnels. "So what?" Freck choked out, "ain't those...(inhale)...made...(exhale)...by moles...(inhale)?"

I told them about my talk with Gee. That worried them a little. Then I said solemnly, "Them burrows warn't here ten minutes ago."

Shocked, my daddy said in a tremblin' voice, "There ain't a mole, gopher, or vole in the whole danged world that can dig that fast, or lift the ground so high."

For a couple minutes we all stood and just stared at them lines on the ground. I am sure we was all thinkin' the same, but no one wanted ta say it. Maybe if'n we didn't name it, we would be safe, like hidin' your head under covers pushed monsters back in the closet. I swear I could hear all of our hearts tappin' out Morse code SOS's.

Gee mind-spoke to all three of us, "I am here with your mother, Wishes. We see the burrows running away from the woods. I would tell you to go to a safe place, but there is nowhere you can hide from them."

Momma said, "Three floaters, flying dark, are following the tunnels from the air. So far they have not deviated from their course. Maybe they are just heading out of town, and down the coast to find another habitation. I pray to the Gardener that it is so."

I could see her in my mind's eye makin' that little salamander squiggle down her chest. It's a Keeper religious practice. Catholics make the sign of the cross. Keepers do the salamander squiggle.

"We are just about to land," Gee told us. "Let us meet at your house Wishes. It is safe  to enter?

Daddy mind-spoke, "Yes, the inspectors gave us the all clear. Most of the towns folk should still be at the park havin' supper. Elm street deserted. We can gath'a inside with no one bein' the wiser."

Momma added, "It is better that the townspeople are not yet tipped off. Fear is coming off all of you in waves. I can feel it from here. One look at your faces is all it would take to—how do you say it?—yes, spill the beans.

That made me chuckle to myself. Keepers don't quite have the hang of our slang. To them it's as awkward as a bee liqueured up on fermented grapes. I've seen 'em. They're attracted ta unpicked grapes at the end of the season. Daddy told me that it's 'cuz the fruit has more sugar. The sugar ferments and bam, all it takes is a sip, or two, and them bees is stumblin' 'round like a drunk wobblin' out of the bar after closin'.

"Are you making fun of me, son?"

Dang, Momma was readin' my thoughts. "Not really, I was just rememberin' drunk bees."