Merlin's Hookah

Merlin's Hookah 2

CHAPTER 2

"Who did you say you got the map to this place from bro?" 

"Some old farts set up at the flea market Tank, said they get all their stuff at estate sales and storage sales. They had a lot of neat shit but I just looked at the books, comics and posters. I picked up this old book over exploring and these maps were pressed between the pages and back cover. Of course I put them back before buying the book, its still sitting on my desk back home. I never expected to find this place let alone all this." 

"Shit Wayne, lets smoke one then start looking this place over. Why don't you grab the rest of that wine and I roll one?" 

"Sounds like a plan Tank."

As Tank was twisting one up he glanced over to the book shelf and books on it. Titles like Herbal Remedies, Dragons of a different color, Elven Gardens, Dwarf Tales, and Magical uses of herbs, to name a few. They all appeared old and hand written not printed. 

Tank was just finishing his roll when Wayne appeared bottle in hand. Sitting the bottle down on the table he pulled out the other chair and sat down. 

"Have a drink and fire it up Tank, we need to figure out what to do with all this stuff." 

After a nice long swig from the bottle Tank fired it up and sucked in a nice long drag from the joint. As he handed it to Wayne he exhaled towards the table. When the smoke hit the table top he noticed one of the inlaid lines start to sparkle a little bit. 

"What the fuck, you see that shit Wayne?"  

"See what man? I just see a stoned mother fucker and a table dude. If you're seeing shit already it must be some wicked shit bro. Which bag was it from?" 

"White Widow man answers Tank", as he takes another hit.  

For shits and giggles he blows his smoke at the table again. Sure enuff the inlay sparkles again. 

"LOOK DUDE, THERE IT IS AGAIN!!!!!" 

This time Wayne sees it, he puts his finger on it to rub at it. Where he touched it the inlay starts to glow a pale blue. Without thinking he moves his finger along the inlay, as he does where his finger traced glows pale blue also. When he finishes it all the glowing orbs hanging begin to dim out. The dark one above the table begins to glow down apon it. All the sudden the table begins to vibrate and the circle in the middle of the inlay on the table begins to open up. The guys quickly slide back from the table as something rises out of the dark hole. 

"Is that what I think it is man?" asks Wayne as he stares at the tower of metal, glass and hose. 

"Sure enough man, its a fuckin Hookah!" 

Its a beautiful piece of work. Green crystal base full of clear water, shiny silver tower with gold leaf work, cloth covered hoses with hand carved dark wood stems, and a black stone bowl with a brass dome on top. BEAUTIFUL. 

"Somebody likes to rock the ganja in style Wayne." 

"Not quite man", said Wayne as he lifts the lid on a little box beside the Hookah's base. "This one here was used for tobacco." 

Wayne pinched up a little and sniffs it.  

"Smells like pretty good stuff as far as that goes, I know you don't smoke tobacco but I do so trust me on this." 

"I do Wayne, you know that. We should try some bud in this thing dude."  

"My thoughts exactly but in the morning, this weed and wine are kicking my ass. Is about dark so let's just crash here man." 

"Why not, got 2 nice looking beds we can use. In the morning we can go for your ATV and trailer." 

"All right dude sounds like a plan, now let's finish that wine."

"And Tank." 

"Yes Wayne?"

"I got dibbs on the empty room, ha ha ha."

In the morning Tank was the first awake and ready for a buzz. He headed up the stairs to the study room, to his surprise the hookah was gone. He sat down at the table trying to remember which pattern Wayne had traced with his finger. 

"Why don't you blow smoke at it again?" 

"Shit Wayne I didn't know you were behind me. You scared me so bad I almost doodled my shorts, don't sneak up on me man." 

"Ha ha ha, don't be such a little pussy Tank. Here, light this roach and see if it works again." 

"Ok man, here goes." 

As Tank blows the smoke at it the line sparkles again, smiling he says, "Cool beans man!"

After the pattern is traced and glows they both stare in wonder as the hookah rises.  

"I still can't believe this Tank, this is so cool. Which bud are you gonna load it with?"

"We're just gonna blend it Wayne, Tank said smiling as he pulled out the bags. Pop the dome, grab your lighter and a tube while I load this thing."

After filling it up they sit back in the padded wooden chairs and toke it up. 

"Damn Wayne, this shit is baking my tater. Even more so than usual." 

After sitting there around 15 minutes Wayne looks over.

"What, you say something?" 

"I don't know laughs Tank, I'm fried pie man."

Pretty soon the guys are passed the fuck out. What they didn't notice was what was happening to the hookah smoke. It was drifting up to the ceiling but once there it did not dissipate. It became all Sparkle and solid like cotton. Pretty soon it filled the empty space in the room all around the guys but not touching them. The orbs all started pulsing slowly then faster and faster. All the sudden everything is black. 

Some time later the come to sitting up in the chairs they passed out in, looking around at the sunlight coming in the windows. 

"What the fuck was in that shit Tank?"  

"Nothing man I swear, dude that was the same shit we been smoking. I wouldn't shit you, you're my favorite turd."  

"Fuck it man, lets get moving, we got a lot to do.'

"I hear ya bro, lets go."

As they go down the steps Tank gets the feeling something is different but can't place what it is. Right before they open the front door it hits Tank what was bugging him. 

"Dude do you realize we didn't need our flaslights to see like when we got here?"

Together they raced to the window to look out. No longer were they surrounded by the towering ancient trees. They are on s rocky mountain side with very few trees at all. Just scrubby little bushes and patches of weeds. Way down the hill side in the distance is what appears to be a town. Its to far to see many details with the naked eye but people can be seen moving in the streets.  

"Tank, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."