Prisoner of the Molepeople

Chapter 57 - Home

The next morning, Grandma did have a big surprise. We took limousine to the edge of the city and up to one the highest points in Molemania, where we could touch the walls of the cavern. All around us were the familiar sights and sounds of a protesting crowd, held back by policemen and barricades. The crowd was waving signs that had phrases such as:

Don’t Blow Up Molemania! Say No to Geothermal!

And …

Netherworldians waste more power than we do!

As the protesters booed at us, policemen escorted us through several layers of heavily-secured gates, and finally to a section of the cavern wall where a huge cord protruded from a giant electrical outlet.

Grandma, sitting beside me in her wheelchair, said, “Just one tug, and your parents will never pay another high electricity bill.”

“But how will you survive?” I asked.

“Duthbert had a lot of bad ideas, but self reliance wasn't one of them. We'll get there some day. In the mean time, we'll just have to read books.”

The boos grew louder in the background.

As I was obviously supposed to do the honors, I wrapped my arms around the cord and gave it a good tug. It didn’t budge. But with the help of Lenny, Bobbert, and Gunhilda (Brunhilda was busy protesting), the cord finally popped out, and all of Molemania went black.

To make a long story short, as flashlights kicked on, none of us cared to stay for the after party. Tomatoes and soda cans hit the limousine, and Barry floored the pedal, supposedlytaking Lenny and I home. Before we entered a dark tunnel, I looked back to see the city, which was beginning to flicker with candlelight. Even after all I'd been through, even though I knew exactly what was out there, gazing at the city lights stirred a longing within me. I’d spent one week in Molemania. One crazy week.

We passed an immigration booth, where an officer gave us a wave and raised the metal arm that blocked the road.

The next thing I knew, I was standing in an elevator with Lenny and Bobbert. (In the end, even after all my speeches, Gunhilda and Brunhilda still needed more time.)

* * *

After a blast of dynamite and a shower of dirt, we climbed from one world to the next, a breeze of cool air coming over our bodies. Now I had definitely transcended. Henry David Thoreau had nothing on me.

Stars.

I’d never seen anything more beautiful. They were like sparkling stalactites, hanging from the ceiling of all ceilings. The largeness of it all was more than my cave-dwelling mind could fathom. Each dazzling light was another world … a world of worlds. There were so many more adventures to be had.

Though one thing didn't make sense. When we'd passed the immigration office, the time had been just past noon. How could the stars have been out?

“Well,” said Bobbert, looking at his watch, “it’s nearly thirteen o’clock, and I'm well past due for lunch.”

“Thirteen o'clock?”

“How you netherworldians manage a day in only twenty-four hours is beyond me. If I only got eight hours of sleep, I'd probably look as pale and scrawny as you.”

“Thanks.”

Bobbert was hugging himself as he stared at the glittering sky. “You really want to stay up here?”

“Why not?”

“It's so … open.”

“Isn't it great? There's freedom for wherever we want to go, space for whatever we want to do.” (He made no reply. Apparently I'd given him something to think about.) I myself was feeling sentimental. “Well, Bobbert, here’s where it all began … just you and I.”