Circles of Seven (26 page)

“Hold it. How do you spell ‘interdimensional’? It’s not in my spell checker.”

Ashley spelled it out in rapid-fire fashion: “I-N-T-E-R-D-I-M-E-N-S-I-O-N-A-L.”

“Got it! I’ll put it in the transfer box.”

The professor grasped Ashley’s arm. “We should also send the song to Miss Silver.”

“The song?”

“Yes, the one I believe Merlin implanted in my mind. Perhaps she’ll be able to give it to William.”

Ashley handed the computer to the professor. “Okay, sing it to Larry; he’ll transcribe it and attach it to Karen’s document, then he’ll print it all out.”

The professor raised the handheld computer to his lips, like a stage singer with a microphone. He cleared his throat and closed his eyes, his throat beginning to waver as he crooned.

A dragon chained in darkest pits

Will not behold pure freedom’s light,

For dragons claim a lofty perch,

Yet cannot reach the highest height.

For even now in pits of gloom

The dragon’s pride will never bow,

Until redemption’s sword sets free

The dragon’s heart to kneel and vow.

He cleared his throat again and handed the computer to Ashley.

Ashley swung it up to her ear. “Larry, did you get it?”

“Yes. Bravo! If I had legs I would give him a standing ovation.”

“Cut the comedy and print it out with Karen’s note. She’ll zap it over to Bonnie.”

“Will do. One fantastic, far-fetched fax coming up!”

Marilyn whispered into Ashley’s ear. “Can we get an update on Billy?”

Ashley lifted the computer again. “Barlow, do you have any Billy news for us?”

All five gathered around, waiting for Barlow’s reply.

“Yes. It’s good news and bad news, Miss. It seems that somehow young William survived a fall into a river of fire, but now he is standing in front of a stocky swordsman, who holds himself and his sword in excellent form. But even worse is what I see on the ground—a body . . . with wings.”

“Bonnie?” Walter asked.

“I cannot say for sure,” Barlow replied, “but I know of no other human with dragon wings such as these, and the swordsman is standing over her as though she is his vanquished foe.”

“He must be that guy we saw!” Shiloh shouted. “He was carrying a bucket, and Bonnie scared him away.”

“Is Billy moving toward him?” Marilyn asked.

“Not yet. He seems to be standing still.”

Walter pressed closer. “Does the swordsman look like anyone you’ve seen before, Barlow?”

“Now that you mention it, he does. Devin had a squire, an expert warrior who remained in his lowly position in spite of his talents, but I have forgotten his name.”

Walter clenched his fist. “I’ll bet it’s Palin!”

“Yes, yes. It
is
Palin. I’m sure of it.”

“I think Billy can take him,” Walter said, tightening his jaw. “He’s worked out so hard, I can’t imagine anyone beating him.”

The professor shook his head. “But he’s never faced the likes of Palin in his training.”

“Well . . . no. But I’m still betting on Billy. I just wish I could help him.”

Barlow’s voice returned through the computer speaker. “I fought him myself, Walter, in the king’s annual tournament. Even in my prime, he bested me in under a minute.”

Billy straightened his failing legs and shouted, “Get away from Bonnie!”

Palin laughed. “Bannister, you are the comic, aren’t you? You killed me, and now you expect me to just give this witch’s body over to you.”

Billy’s heart skipped a beat. “Her body?”

“Oh, yes. She’s quite dead. But she’s freshly dead, so my mistress will still be able to use her.”

Billy raised his fist to eye level. His rubellite stared back at him without a hint of a pulse, cold and lifeless. His legs shook again. Tears welled in his eyes. Was Bonnie really dead? He clenched his fist so tight, his nails dug into his hand. Palin couldn’t be trusted. He had to be lying. Billy tightened his grip on Excalibur’s hilt. “This is your last chance, Palin. Stand aside or else.”

Palin snorted. “Or else what? You’ll kill me? You’ve already done that.” He scowled, and his voice spat out like a hissing snake. “Why don’t you try a blast of your fiery breath? That worked before when my back was turned, you half-breed coward!”

Billy felt the fire boiling in his belly, but he knew Palin was baiting him. For some reason, he wanted the fire. Would it energize him? Billy drew back his sword, but no beam came out. It didn’t matter. He could beat this scoundrel without the light. His leg muscles strengthened, and his arms rippled with power. “Your back’s not turned now. Defend yourself!”

Palin stepped in front of Bonnie’s body and raised his sword. “You have no chance, pye-dog. You’re just a kid who believed an elaborate lie. Patrick’s been playing you like a violin. He wants you to set his minions free so he can take over the world. My mistress has been trying to stop him, and if you let me deliver Bonnie’s body to her, she will foil his plans.”

Billy shouted, angry sparks flying from his mouth. “You’re a liar!” He gritted his teeth and charged forward, swinging Excalibur with all his might. Palin met the blow, parrying with a powerful swing of his own. The blades flashed as they slammed together and locked in a stalemate, each warrior leaning in and grunting. The dark knight suddenly lowered his blade and ducked down, sending Billy rushing forward. He swiped at Billy’s legs, but Billy leaped over the deadly blade just in time. He slid on his heels and turned to face Palin again. Billy swung immediately, but Palin lifted his sword, knocking Excalibur upward just before it could slice his throat.

Striking empty air, Billy’s arms followed through, exposing his undefended right side. Palin thrust his blade toward Billy’s ribs. Billy collapsed his legs, bending his body backwards as the knight’s sword tip passed right over his eyes. He pulled his own sword back and sliced Palin’s wrist, but no blood came out, only a trickle of black slime.

Palin toppled over, and Billy rolled away to avoid his falling body. He jumped to his feet and leaped toward Palin, who had fallen flat on his face. He planted a foot on the knight’s back, digging in with the heel of his boot. “Drop the sword!” he commanded.

Palin’s hand opened, and his sword fell to the street. “Go ahead and run me through, you coward. Stabbing in the back is what you do best.”

Billy pushed all his weight on Palin’s back and kicked the sword with his other foot. “You’re already dead.” He stepped away from Palin, avoiding his opponent’s hands, and picked up the vanquished sword. “Stay put if you know what’s good for you.”

Billy hurried toward Bonnie, keeping a wary eye on Palin as he laid both swords on the street. He dropped to his knees and turned her body on its side, his fingers pressing her wrist.

No pulse!

He leaned over and laid his ear against her lips.

No breathing!

Billy’s heart raced. He coughed fiery spittle, choking on scalding liquid. He laid his cheek on her chest, his skin burning as his face tightened into a twisted mask. He gasped, crying through spasms of roaring pain. “She’s . . . she’s dead! Oh! . . . Oh, dear God! . . . Dear God, don’t let her be dead!”

Palin lifted his head and yelled, “I told you she was dead, Dragon Boy.”

Billy picked up a stone and flung it at Palin. “Shut up! Just shut up!”

The stone glanced off Palin’s leg. The dark knight rose to his knees, laughing scornfully.

Billy snatched up Excalibur and jumped to his feet. A new stream of sparks flared from his mouth as he roared, “I oughta cut your head off right here and now!”

“I didn’t kill your girlfriend, you fool! She killed herself.”

Billy screamed. “You’re a liar!” A stream of fire spewed out, barely missing Palin’s head.

The knight stood and dusted off his clothes. “Call me whatever you want, but I saw her do it.”

Billy held Excalibur back with both arms, ready to strike. “Talk fast. In ten seconds, your head will be looking up at your body.”

“Keep yapping, mongrel. Your mouth is bigger than your brain. You can slice me to pieces, and Bonnie will still be dead.” He pressed his thumb against his chest. “I know how to give her new life.”

Billy’s muscles wilted, but he forced himself to hold Excalibur up. “Why should I believe a single word you say?”

“Because we both want the same thing. We both want to revive Bonnie.”

Billy slowly lowered Excalibur and let its tip rest on the ground. He kept his voice firm. “What’s in it for you?”

Palin took a step closer. “I’ll have new life in the world of the living.”

Billy edged back. “How?”

Palin crossed his arms over his chest. “It would be impossible to explain. If you want her to live, you’ll just have to believe me. I know you don’t want me back in your world, but at least Bonnie will be alive again.”

Billy twisted the sword, drilling the tip into the dust. “I’m still listening. What needs to be done?”

Palin pointed toward an abandoned feed store. “Take her body through that door over there. It will lead you to the seventh circle. But make sure you put Excalibur into the doorway first, or the passage will do to you what it did to Bonnie.”

“Are you planning to go with me?”

Palin extended an open palm. “Not unless we both hold Excalibur while we pass through.”

Billy thrust Excalibur into his back scabbard. “I’d rather chew glass.”

“Then you’ll have to go alone.” Palin began walking in the opposite direction of the feed store. “When you get to the seventh circle,” he called, “you’ll meet someone who will tell you what to do.”

“How will I know him?” Billy yelled.

Palin turned, a crooked smile bending his lips. “Oh, you’ll know him, all right. He’s your father.”

Chapter 19

Breathless

Hot tears flowed down Billy’s cheeks as he knelt at Bonnie’s side. He snatched Palin’s sword from the ground and heaved it toward the feed store. It clanked against the wall and bounced back to the street. He slid his arms under Bonnie’s legs and back and cradled her body. With a low grunt, he lifted her and lumbered to the doorway. Out of the corner of his eye, he kept watch over Palin as he marched toward the opposite side of town.

Billy stopped a few feet in front of the door. A curtain of agitated light crossed its opening, and a strange object sat on the floor between his shoes and the threshold. The object’s wooden frame reminded him of an old-fashioned hourglass, except the inner enclosure was a tall rectangle rather than curved glass with a pinched middle.

He laid Bonnie down and grabbed the frame, gazing into the glass as he straightened his body.
What’s this? A piece of paper?
He found a hinged door on the glass, flipped it open, and pulled out the four-inch-square scrap. Through his tears he read out loud, “Bonnie, this device is called Apollo. Hold it in the spot you found it. When you’re ready to leave the circles, slide the metal flap on the base, and press the button. A door should appear, and you should be able to walk through the interdimensional passageway. That’s all for now. Too much information can make your brain choke.”

Billy recognized the author immediately. “Ashley!”

The rest of the note was printed in a smaller font. Billy pulled it closer to read.

A dragon chained in darkest pits

Will not behold pure freedom’s light,

For dragons claim a lofty perch,

Yet cannot reach the highest height.

For even now in pits of gloom

The dragon’s pride will never bow,

Until redemption’s sword sets free

The dragon’s heart to kneel and vow.

He folded the note and shoved it into his hip pocket.
Too many poems!

Billy tipped Apollo at an angle.
Ah! Here’s the flap.
He opened the door and put a quivering finger over the button. With his heart racing, he swallowed away a new lump.
But if I go back now, everything’s lost. There’ll be no hope for Bonnie. I have to get to the seventh circle. But what if Palin’s lying? Could things get any worse?

Miss!” Barlow called through the speakers, “the battle is over, and William is now approaching Bonnie.”

Walter, the professor, and Marilyn huddled around the handheld computer. “Is she all right?” Ashley asked. “Can you tell?”

Barlow’s voice lowered to a barely audible whisper. “No . . . No, Miss. She is not all right. I . . . I am quite certain that she is dead.”

Ashley’s voice squeaked. “How can you be so sure?”

“Miss, . . . I have seen many dead bodies, and . . .” A long sigh sounded through the speaker. “The young lass is no longer among the living.”

A surge of heat shot into Walter’s face. “And Billy didn’t whack Palin’s head off?!”

“No, Walter,” Barlow replied. “I saw Palin walking away a free man.”

Walter balled up his fists and kicked the turf. “I don’t believe it!” he shouted. “Billy wouldn’t let Palin go free if he killed Bonnie! He would have chopped the little rat to bits!” He punched the air. “There’s just no way it’s true!”

Marilyn put her arm around Walter, barely able to speak. “But . . . but Barlow saw her body, and . . . and you heard what he said. Nobody knows what’s really going on in there. We have to trust Billy.”

Walter jerked his cloak and hood out of Ashley’s backpack. “If Bonnie’s really dead, Billy can’t possibly be thinking straight.” He raised the hood in his shaking fist. “Send me in there. I’ll find out what’s going on.”

“How?” Ashley asked, wiping her tears, her voice still pitched high. “Apollo’s in the circles.”

“Circles, smircles. Where there’s a Larry, there’s a way!”

Ashley bit her thumb, then raised her eyebrows. “I guess it can’t hurt to ask.” She tilted her head upward. “Larry, based on the last readings of the electromagnetic flux here, what would it take to open a portal? Can you make Apollo do it from the other side?”

“Affirmative. Apollo is fully charged and functional, and since I know the precise positioning of the portal and Apollo, the transfer should be perfect this time. But my programming instructs me to inform you of a risk tolerance limit. If I open a portal now, Apollo will have to recharge again, rendering it inoperative for a time.”

“How long?”

“That depends on the power of the flash. If Walter intends to pass through, I suggest a flash that would delay the next one by an hour.”

“An hour?! But Billy might need it before an hour. What kind of flash would delay the next one by say . . . fifteen minutes?”

“A very small one. It would create a short-lived rift in the dimensional barrier. He might be able to squeeze through it, but the danger level is high.”

“How high is ‘high’?”

“Impossible to calculate. I have no units of measure with which to communicate a level of danger. My analysis merely suggests the crossing of a risk tolerance boundary.”

Walter pulled the cloak on and slid his head into the hood. “Get me in there. Billy’s my best friend, and he needs me. Don’t try to talk me out of it.”

“Why?” Marilyn asked. “Billy seems safe right now, and you can’t help Bonnie.”

Walter spread out his hands. “I can’t explain it. Something’s wrong, and I have to go in.”

Professor Hamilton peered through the holes in Walter’s hood and gazed into his eyes. “I understand completely, Walter. I support your passion, but the prophetic poem doesn’t allow for William to have any more helpers.”

Walter closed his eyes to hide his tears, but pain erupted in his voice. “His helper can’t help him anymore!” He grabbed the professor’s shoulders, his tears now breaking through. “What if she really
is
dead, Prof? I . . . I have to . . . to take her place!” Walter wrapped his arms around his teacher.

The professor pulled Walter close and patted his shoulder, holding one hand on the back of his head. He sniffed, and his hands trembled. “You’re right, Walter. The events have seemed a fantasy of sorts, but if Bonnie has really died, it’s . . . it’s a terrible tragedy.”

Walter pulled away. “Then I have to go
now.
” He lined up the hood’s eyeholes. “Tell Larry to fire up that puppy.” He ascended the slope to the place where Apollo had disappeared.

Ashley’s smile quivered. “Larry. Give us . . .” She swallowed and took in a deep breath. “Give us the small flash on my command!”

“Ready and waiting for your word.”

“Ready, Walter?”

Walter flashed an “OK” sign with his fingers.

A hand slapped over Ashley’s mouth. She let out a muffled shriek. A tall, hooded man in a black cloak held her from behind, one arm around her waist and the other angling her head back. His deep, malice-filled voice shouted, “So you’re the one who’s been interfering!”

The professor lunged, but the intruder pulled away. “Back off, old man, or I’ll snap her neck like a toothpick.”

Walter dropped to a crouch and began skulking toward Ashley, hoping his own black cloak would keep him hidden. He followed the flat terrace, staying as low as possible.

“Just stay quiet,” the man growled, “and no one else gets hurt.” He began walking slowly toward the portal area, half-dragging Ashley with him.

Walter made a bending course around the man and sneaked up from behind. He could tell that Shiloh had seen his maneuvers. She hopped into the man’s path, walking backwards, apparently trying to keep him distracted.

“Where are you taking her?” Shiloh demanded.

The man kept walking. “To a pleasant little village. Peaceful and quiet.”

“I think I know the place,” Shiloh continued. “Why don’t you take me instead?

“Shut up, wench!” When he arrived at the portal, he released Ashley’s mouth and yanked back a fistful of her hair. “I heard you yapping to that machine. Give the order! Open the portal!”

Walter saw Ashley’s eyes shift his way as he crawled up to the intruder’s side. He nodded and flashed another “OK” sign at her.

Ashley’s voice rattled, shaking almost beyond recognition. “La . . . Larry. Gi . . . give Apollo the . . . the signal.”

“Ashley, my AI programming suggests that you are suddenly distressed. I am switching to high security mode.”

“Karen!” Ashley screamed. “Switch Larry to manual! Now!”

“Sure thing, Boss.”

Holding his breath, Walter rose slowly behind Ashley’s captor.

“Whew!” Karen said. “Got it just in time. He’s now on vocal override.”

Walter lifted his hand toward the man’s head. His timing had to be perfect.

Ashley’s throat squeezed almost completely shut. “Larry,” she choked out, “Flash . . . Apollo.”

A splash of brilliance sprinkled across the grass, drawing a rectangle from just above the ground up to Ashley’s waist. The man unzipped his cloak in front and began to wrap it around her body as he edged toward the portal.

Walter snatched off the man’s hood and shoved him backwards toward the glowing rectangle. He wrenched Ashley away as the man toppled to the grass, his head striking the electromagnetic barrier. The intruder writhed on the ground, shrieking.

Walter pulled Ashley close and shut his eyes as a series of pops and sizzles overwhelmed the man’s dwindling screams.

The professor shouted, “Go Walter! Before the portal closes!”

Walter opened his eyes. The professor and Marilyn were dragging the intruder’s body away by the ankles, and the portal window had shrunk to half its original size. Walter squeezed Ashley’s hand and dropped down to all fours. As he crawled ahead, Ashley called out, her tears streaming, “You can tell me any jokes you want, Walter.” She began sobbing. “Any time you want.”

Walter gave her one last “OK” signal before covering his hands with his sleeves. He then lowered his head, and scurried through the portal in a splash of sparks.

Billy straightened his body, straddling Apollo on the feed store porch. Bonnie lay curled in a fetal position at his feet, one wing wedged under her side. The electrified door sizzled nearby, drawing chaotic ripples of light across Bonnie’s sweatshirt.

Billy lifted Excalibur and tried to summon the beam. It hadn’t worked against Palin, so who could tell if it would work now? But he had to know. Without the sword, Apollo was his only option.

After a brief electrical spurt, Excalibur burst with light, its laser shooting up and burning a hole through the porch ceiling. After a sigh of relief, he stooped, trying to figure out how to carry Bonnie without zapping her.

Apollo suddenly flashed at Billy’s feet, blinding his eyes. He dove over Bonnie’s body, keeping the sword’s light safely away. The scene around him shattered into shards of light, as if someone had broken a huge glass window with the old town’s image painted on the surface. The pieces crumbled, dropping out of sight, leaving behind a new scene, steep mountainsides that plunged into a narrow valley.

Billy lifted himself from Bonnie’s body and looked all around.
What happened? I didn’t push Apollo’s button!
He knelt on a gigantic flat rock at the low point of a mountain pass. White vapor clung to the mountainsides, like thin clouds struggling to scale the rocky crags. A rock-filled gully led into the heart of the pass where two mountains formed a
V,
leaving barely enough room for a man to walk, much less a man who had to carry a dead girl.

A cool breeze dried Billy’s cheeks. His chest heaved, cutting off his breath, leaving him only rhythmic spasms. The urge to just sit and cry was overwhelming, but he had to go on. Bonnie’s only hope lay in a liar’s dubious promise, but as fragile as it was, even a skeleton of hope was better than none at all.

He looked all around the flat rock for Apollo. The strange device had sparked new hope. It proved that Ashley was somehow tracking their progress. She had sent them a message from their own world, a ticket to a high-tech, interdimensional bus ride home, but now their link was broken. Apollo was gone.

Billy clenched his teeth. This was too much to take! Nobody said his mission would be impossible! Nobody said Bonnie would die!

He pushed his hand through his unnaturally long hair, now drenched with sweat. He placed his palms on his cheeks. Still warm and puffy. He reached across his chest and grabbed his rock hard biceps. Hauntingly strange!

He gasped for breath. With his chest heaving like a wild animal’s, he didn’t even feel like the same person anymore; he felt like his whole body had morphed into a hideous creature.

So where should he go? Was this the seventh circle?

A light glimmered through the narrow opening in the mountains and disappeared, like the sun striking the mirror of a speeding car. He scooped Bonnie up again and headed for the gap, trying to follow the light, glad at least that his abnormal strength was good for something. As he entered the mountain pass, the two slopes seemed like a pair of hands poised to slap together at any second and smash him like a pesky housefly.

Pebbles and grit tumbled down as he navigated the narrow path. He had to walk at an angle to keep Bonnie’s head from striking the side. Sure, she was dead, but he couldn’t bear to let a hair of her head scrape against the rocks.

After several minutes the path opened into a wide ledge that overlooked a deep canyon. The ledge wrapped around the mountain to his left, looking like a protruding bottom lip from a gigantic rocky face. With careful steps, he followed the lip, keeping his eyes wary for the glimmer. Something had to cause it, and maybe it, too, had gone this way. There really wasn’t any other way to go.

He rounded a curve, and a bridge came into view, an arching span of stone with waist-high parapets on either side, each wall notched with a series of square cogs that resembled a row of rocky molars. The bridge crossed the canyon, ending at another ledge protruding from the mouth of a massive cleft in the opposite mountainside.

He gazed down at the valley to the left of the bridge. Morning sunshine cast bright rays across the bridge and down into the depths, illuminating a dry gully filled with strangely shaped skeletons. With some of the skeletons partially intact, he recognized their form—long necks, spiny ridges riding on thick backbones, and remnants of leg bones, narrow skulls, rib cages, and wing structures.
Dragons!