The Diary of Zartoon

ENTRY 50

ENTRY 50

26.04.63.15.35

The sun came up hours ago. It was so stunning because the two moons were still above the horizon and their silhouettes were on either side of the sun, but that didn't stop the waterfall at Warrego Valles from glowing like a stream of cascading diamonds as the sun hit the falling water. The water itself was falling down the face of a mountain; that had to have been taller than the biggest skyscraper they ever built on Earth.

"Pandorica wake up and take a look," I said as I took her hand. She was still tired and a little confused when she asked me what I wanted. "Look, there it is! There's Warrego Valles." The minute she heard that she jumped to her feet and her face was covered with the biggest smile I had ever seen. "We made it; we made it!" she exclaimed with joy.

We grabbed up Rhosly and started out across the plains to the base of the waterfall. It was dry and hot, but for some reason, it didn't matter. We were too happy to feel any discomfort. Even the baby was laughing and playing as we walked. Then we saw it. There was a line of poles going off in either direction and each pole had a warning that read, "Do not proceed. You cannot survive going any farther."

"What does that mean?" Pandorica asked. "This has always been a site of peace and renewal. I do not understand."

I went up to one of the poles. The warning posted there looked old, very old. Immediately I decided that Pandorica and Rhosly should stay behind and that I would proceed alone. Of course that started one hell of an argument between Pandorica and me, she was so concerned, but eventually, I put an end to it and it was agreed, for Rhosly's sake, I would investigate the area before they came with me. But, before I left, I made sure that the two of them were going to be safe. I set about building a small shelter on the edge of the river. I also filled some containers with water and even caught them some fish so they would not be hungry and then it was time to go, so I kissed them goodbye, grabbed the white sword and started out alone.

As I began to walk the air became heavier and heavier. It was full of sulfur. I mean it was so strong that I could hardly breathe so I slowed way down and took deep breaths as often as I could. That helped some, but not that much. It felt like I was walking through the inner rings of hell. The sword hung by my side. It was getting even hotter than the air was. It got so bad that I could feel the skin on the outside of my leg start to burn. It wasn't serious, but I could still feel it through my clothing.

The waterfall was still about a mile away, looking back, I could no longer see Pandorica, I was truly alone. If I die how long would it take Pandorica to realize it, I thought. I didn't want to have thoughts like that, but I couldn't help it. Back with my wife and daughter, the was normal for Zartoon, but so like the fires of hell here. I was in real fear of how I could make it back to them? But I kept on going, as this was yet another challenge I had to face, I had to place the white sword in the waterfall to restore it to its former glory.

That last mile was so hard I ended up crawling for the last quarter of a mile. My hands and knees were covered with blood when I finally reached the waterfall. My eyes were burning with what sweat, I had left, which wasn't much. I knew I was dying but then something happened. When I completed my mission and put the blade of the sword into the waterfall, the air around me cooled to where I could breathe once again, and regain my strength.

The blade was glowing with a very bright light, so our mission had been accomplished, yet though I wanted to be with Pandorica and Rhosly as fast as I could, I was just too exhausted to make the return trip at that moment. So, I decided that I would take a short nap before I started back, maybe just a couple of hours. That would allow my body to return to normal and allow me to find my way quickly back to the area where I had left them. But, before I did I, needed to rest.