The Diary of Zartoon

ENTRY 43

ENTRY 43

20.04.63.13.53

We traveled about five hours already today. Amazingly the air was still cool despite the fact that we were in the desert. Suddenly, there was a valley before us. It was deep and had vertical walls that must have dropped more than fifty feet, and I saw that it reached for miles in either direction. Somehow we had to get down there, way down, I could see water. It was dark and totally smooth, but it waswater just the same.

"Pandorica," I said. "We are going to have to jump, so when we do jump spread your arms and legs as far apart as they will go. It will slow our fall, and I am sure that we will be alright when we land at the bottom." She looked at me as if I was nuts or worse but she trusted me and, besides that, we had no other way to go. "Three... two... one," I counted as I grabbed her hand and we both went over the edge of the cliff. I was right, we fell even slower than I expected, so when we hit the water we both went under about ten feet. Thankfully we came right back up, and when we did we just started drifting.

I don't know how far we went or how long it was but when we rounded one of the corners, of which there were many, we saw a village carved into the side of the cliff. We could see Zartoon all through the rock's openings. Males, females, and children, all living their idyllic lives. There were several Zartoon out on the river fishing and some boats tied to the side of the cliff. I grabbed Pandorica, and we swam over to a dock by the river shore.

As soon as we lifted ourselves out of the water we were surrounded by at least a dozen of the males from the village. Immediately, they took Pandorica by the arm and led her into the village. They must not get many visitors, I thought, but then I noticed that they had left me, dripping wet, standing on the dock. However, one male walked down to meet me. "What is your name," he asked.

"I am Williams from Phoenix," I replied just as I did when I was asked by the Zartoon, which seemed such a long time ago.e.

"Williams From Phoenix," he said. "Welcome to the land of the Tergina."

I stuck my hand out to shake his, but all he did was back away as if I had the plague or something like that. "That is a sign of friendship where I come from," I said as he reluctantly shook my hand.

"Where is it that you are from Williams from Phoenix," he asked.

You know, I didn't know if that was better than Fa' Nex or not, but at least it was partially right. That made me smile a little. "I am from a world called Yartook," I replied.

"I have heard of that world," he said as he started walking me into the village. "I always thought that it was just a myth that grandmothers told to little ones." I assured him that it was no myth. It was dying, but it was not a myth by any means. As we stepped into the village, he put his hands to his mouth and yelled, "Yesathuejhythe Yartook kterf Williams From Phoenix!" As he yelled all this out, a roar came from all of the people around. They then began chanting "Williams From Phoenix" over and over again.

I just stood there for a minute thinking again how this place obviously didn't get many visitors to be this excited to see a poor boy from Phoenix, Arizona. I didn't mind, though, it was certainly fun. After all of the commotion calmed down I asked to go and look for Pandorica. But I didn't have long to look.

They brought her out, and my Pandorica was dressed in the finest gown made of gold and covered with thousands of gemstones, and the minute she stepped onto a small platform everyone turned to face her, and they all dropped to their knees. One of the males came running over to me and knocked my knees out from beneath me. "You have to bow to her," he commanded.

I just laid on the ground confused. I had no idea what was going on. Why was she dressed like that and why did everyone bow to her?

As quickly as she came out, she was taken away again. Before she disappeared, she looked directly at me, but she didn't say a word, except to smile. My Pandorica was taken one way, and I was taken another. I had no idea what they had done to her or where she was going?. No one told me anything. It is all very strange, but I guess I will just have to sit and wait. My mind kept on thinking about my pregnant Pandorica in that gown and jewels, she looked so beautiful. But I also I found it hard to understand why they had dressed her in such adornment, and why she had not spoken to me.