LEANING AGAINST THE rocks, the way the Cowboy taught me how to do, we look up at the dark green night sky. A rarity has happened; some of the poison has moved, and we can see the reddish moon; it is big and full like a demonic eye looking down at us.
Along the surface, we can see lights. I never knew anyone made it up there. It is all a great surprise. I guess, back in the day, I was focused on simple things like trying not to die.
The steps of the Demon approaching, grabs us both, but not for long; even she felt that call to look up in wonder. The Cowboy takes off his hat and holds onto it, tilting his head back for a better view.
“Ya know, they say if ya look real close, you can see the lines of the islands of the earth burnt into the surface of the moon.”
I search the surface, but I don’t see any lines reflecting the land.
“I don’t see it.” I say.
My big goofy smile.
The Cowboy lowers his head and faces me.
“Me neither.”
We share a laugh.
The Demon, lowers her head and stares at us.
“I see only the moon and her people's homes. There are no lines.”
I begin to walk away, but the Demon’s hand stops me.
“I have become accustomed to your stupid smiling face, and if the Monster tries to hurt you…”
She spins me around to face her; I watch her head grow in size, her teeth spin around like a chainsaw.
“I’m gOiNg tO gRoW mY hEaD bIg LiKe ThIs, BiTe HiS hEaD oFf AnD sPiT iT iN hIs FaCe.”
“Spit it in his…”
Yeah, I heard it too. Her heart is in the right place, though. I smile quite big at her and say:
“Aw, you’re so teethy…”
She pushes me away and we share a laugh.
The Cowboy steps forward.
“We're ready. What's the plan?”
I nod my head. He has the right idea. It is time to move forward with everything. The time is nigh.
I hope I said that right. It sounded neat.
“We have to learn how to teleport. Then we are going to go to the town you built and see if some want to help us bait Monster. We will do it near your special cave, Cowboy.”
The Cowboy’s eyes light up with glee. I think he’s getting the picture.
“There is no getting around it. I am going to have to fight Monster. I’m the one he wants; that makes me the bait.”
They look at me like I have two heads. I check; I still don’t have two heads. I wish I did; then I could BITE Monster twice.
WHAT WE KNOW
A portal has three parts: Where you are; where you want to go; what is the third part?
“Desire.” Says the Demon.
Can it be something so simple? More of this wish-it, be-it, self-help crap?
So, I clear my mind. Close my eyes. I can feel the Ghouls watching me. I let the light crack in my left eye as I take a peek. The Cowboy, and the Demon stand nearby; their eyes are closed; they are doing it with me.
“This is making me sleepy.” The Cowboy says.
“You don’t sleep.” The Demon replies.
“Oh, yeah.” He replies.
“Where do we want to go?” I ask.
“Jus outside the fortress city. Before the path.” The Cowboy states.
“Let’s focus.” I say.
“What are you trying to do?” I ask myself.
“I’m trying to teleport.” I answer.
I see them. I’m here again, the three of us. Me, myself, and I. My other sides are standing with me. Light and dark, eyes closed, focused.
“All sides of you have to be single-minded. Your balance. VISUALIZE.” I say out loud.
“The concrete earth.” The Cowboy says.
“The maze of debris.” The Demon says.
“The people,” I say.
I could start to see the Gabion walls…
There is a vibration. Ripples begin to form in the air. The nothing before us folds into itself, forming a circle made of dark matter. In the centre, a swirl of green light streams into infinity. Soon, on the other side, we can see the Cowboy’s sanctuary.
My eyes are open. We are standing before the very stable and calm gate to our desire; it works.
It is time to go. I didn’t have to say anything. They know the plan.
We are almost back at the hidden city behind the Gabion walls. It’s kind of weird not driving up.
We can’t fly because we figured out it is how Monster finds us, and I’m not quite ready for him just yet. There are a few more pieces of the plan that have to be moved into place first.
I can see the snow in the far-off hills drifting over the white tundra. Still no hounds to be seen. One day, I’m going to come back here and forcefully pet one of those things. I miss people’s dogs coming up to me during my morning run.
DEAR MAMA
The sun, mostly hidden behind the poisoned clouds, is unforgiving. The road must be hot because the bottom of my boots has melted some. There is no time to mourn over my melting boots; I have to do what my mom used to say:
“Get your ass in gear, or you’re going to be late for school!” Her voice would echo down the hall to my room. Never figured out how she could do that. Mom powers, I guess. Her voice always carried.
I would say stuff to drive her nuts. “I wanna stay home and bake cookies with you!”
“I’m going to work; I’m not baking cookies.” She would claim.
“How do you know? It’s still early yet. There is always time for cookies!”
Then I knew I got her when I could hear her marching down the hall, ready to drag my monkey ass out the door. She would always be grinning when she came.
I would be sitting there dressed and waiting to go. (Probably why she would be smiling.) She knew I was messing with her. I know she enjoyed it.
I miss you, Mom.
The two-headed crow cawed above us, we trekked on, our much larger army of Ghouls shuffling behind us. The rubble left at the mouth of the road to the settlement is within sight.
I hope Warrior’s arms are spread because soon she’s going to have them wrapped around the Cowboy. This is probably the most they have seen each other in years.
What we are about to ask of them may be too much, and I would understand if they say no. They should probably not even answer our calls at the gate. They are going to join us because they have the one thing that is all humankind’s redeeming quality: ‘HEART.’