Millions of In-Worlds

Chapter 20: Auras and Astro Projection

I was almost as scared of what the townspeople would do, as I was of the cave bear in Mammoth. 'Cept this time my pants stayed clean.

Freck and I exchanged frightened glances. Her mouth fell open. Goin' up against lairbeasts without understandin' 'em is like tryin' ta stop a bullet with a fly swatt'a. I could imagine them all armed up with shotguns, pitchforks, and rifles preparin' to hunt 'em down. Instead of game they what if sumpin' from their worst nightmares attacks outta nowheres. Would they keep it tagether or be too frightened ta move. It wouldn't take many death screams before whoever was left, went hightailin' it back to town with the ghouls in hot pursuit. Burns, like Freck predicted, would be sittin' ducks.

I was sick ta my stomach. My head was woozy, and b'fore I knew it, I was lyin' on the trampled grass in the middle of the crowd. Someone yelled, "He fainted!" Everythin' was spinnin' like I'd been on the Tilt-A-Whirl ride at the carnival.

Freck mind-spoke to me, "Are ya okay?"

"Where are you?" I answered back. "Everythin's dark."

"That's 'cuz yer eyes are closed."

Oh yeah. I opened my eyes a slit and saw her kneelin' on the grass b'side me. She was wavin' a piece of paper ov'ah my face. Folks'd moved back in a circle ta give me room. Daddy broke through the crowd, and knelt on one knee. He asked the same question, "Wishes are ya okay?"

I could feel my face burnin' hot. All those people lookin' at me lyin' on the ground like a wimp. I felt like Popeye b'fore eatin' spinach. They musta been thinkin', "What a twerp." Maybe they warn't, but I felt they might as well've.

"Daddy, I'm okay. I must'a slipped on sumpin' and fell down."  I tried to get up. The world was still spinnin'. Ta my increased shame I fell right back down on my hinder.

"Oops!" I said. "Must still be slippery, " I kind of laughed it off. Did I really think anyone was goin' ta buy that trumped up story? I hoped they would. Daddy reached down and helped me ta stand. I leaned 'gainst him until the worst of the dizzy feelin' passed.

"Are you okay to walk?" Daddy asked.

"Sho nuff." The sympathetic crowd opened a pathway to the dinnin' tables. Freck left ta get a glass of water, as me and Daddy took seats at a picnic table.

He mind-spoke ta me, "What really happened?"

"I got scared and fainted." It is easier to speak the truth mind-to-mind than to say it out loud, 'specially since no one else can overhear.

"Was it what the mayor said about goin' aft'ah lairbeasts?"

"Yes. Daddy they don't know what they are doin'! They's goin' ta get everyone kil't!"

Freck was back with water in a paper cup for me. I gulped it down. "Would ya like another?" She asked. She looked pretty concerned, even though I know she was feelin' the same way about what the mayor said.

"Thanks Freck, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" She asked mind-to-mind. "Ya look kinda out of it."

Daddy telepathed, "I think he just got a shock he couldn't handle. He's right though, a bunch of cocksure, foolhardy guys, goin' inta the woods with shotguns and rifles is extremely stupid. Since it was the mayor who put it out there, ya can be darned sure that some will take it as a call to arms. Even those without experience will hop in the bandwagon."