Dell's Journey

Chapter 37: Into The Circulatory System

"We haven't refused a challenge yet," declared

Monster, gathering his courage with this bold and, until

recently, altogether untrue statement.

"So it's settled," added Dell solemnly, "we will look

fate bravely in the face."

"Right!" cried Monster.

They crossed numerous platforms, making their way

across little round crops of tubers, bell-peppers, rose

bushes, marigolds, all at different heights on their

strange cylindrical stands. When they finally reached the

doorway, Dell showed Monster how he had opened it up.

"Like this, see," he said.

Both of them half expected the door to come crashing

shut behind them with a menacing finality, just like in the

movies. But it didn't, because doors don't usually operate

this way for practical reasons. Their eyes took a moment

to adjust to the eerie luminescence of the multi-colored

lights, some flashing, others shining continuously, all

signaling something from their various technological

bodies. The air inside was far calmer than the breeziness

of the outer room. They looked at each other and shrugged

and they walked on.

"This stupid steel floor cuts into my feet!"

complained Monster, who had substantially softer, scalier

feet than Dell.

"Sorry," said Dell sincerely, and wondered why

monsters could build musical instruments but couldn't

create shoes.

It was not long before the fact dawned on both of them

that this journey might lead them into a labyrinth. The

hallway full of machines and lights appeared to encircle

the entire outer dome-room, but on the outer wall were

endless openings which led to more and more hallways, all

of which looked identical to the one they were in.

Every six or seven minutes they passed what doors on

the inner wall that looked like the one they'd come in

through, which presumably lead back into the dome.

"Well should we take one of these turns?" questioned

the Monster, though it didn't seem like he wanted to very

much.

"I don't know if that's smart. We could get really,

really lost and run out of food and die. Of course, that's

worst case scenario."

"Well I think we can tell that this main hall is going

in a huge circle, and we don't need to walk around it for

the exercise."

"No, no, you're right," Dell admitted. "I guess I'm