Aldo's Fantastical Movie Palace (7 page)

Chloe quieted and peeked into Secholit's face. “But the place is beautiful. If you could see the trees, the land. Everything's already right.”

“This world stretches far beyond this glade, Chloe. Don't believe your task is simply to eat fruit.”

“What's he saying, Chloe? Whatever it is, ignore it. He's not the strongest one in Retinya. We can get help somewhere else. We don't have to listen to a blind man. We can see!”

Chloe thought a moment. “Actually, that makes sense. Nick's right. My task is
not
to stay, but get home.” She slumped. “Listen, you seem really nice. But you just made a world. Whatever needs doing, I'm sure you can handle it. If you can start me on my way, we'll both be happy.”

Secholit rose slowly, leaned hard on his walking stick, and strode to the far side of the garden. There he felt around for his shovel, found it, and dug a deep hole. He winced himself straight and leaned on the handle, face to the sky. Chloe followed his empty gaze.

A tiny black speck whizzed across the clear blue. It grew, took shape, until it resembled a raven or crow, but soon it was too large for that. It was a man. A man's dark shadow screaming nearer.

“Down,” Secholit called, and the shadow plunged
into the hole. Dirt exploded on impact and hung in the air. Chloe could barely make out the gardener's shape as he buried the thing.

“What was that?” Chloe asked.

“I'm not sure,” he called, and set down the shovel. “So you won't help us.”

“I didn't say that. I'm just suffering from a tremendous lack of information. That and I think that you could do whatever it is better than I.”

He walked back toward her. “I could. But if you do it, it won't be undone. Besides, who would do my sowing?”

Chloe winced. “You mean the world-making thingy and the shadow planting deal? Yeah. That might be beyond me.” She paced. “For the sake of argument, and I'm not arguing or anything, what's the job?”

Secholit stopped an arm's length away. He reached up and touched the scar on Chloe's chin. She wanted to pull away, but found she couldn't move until he lowered his hand.

“Help this world remember. Help Retinya remember.”

He spun and walked back into his garden, reached into his pocket, and removed a seed.

“That's it?” Chloe raised both hands. “That's all I
get? Help? Help
how
? And where exactly is Retinya? And maybe tell me what you've forgotten. Details are really helpful ‘cause I only wrote a part of the script.”

Secholit mounded dirt and sat down to wait. “For now, that's enough. And Chloe, for now that message is just for you and Nick.”

“What message? The remembering thing? You haven't told me —”

“You will need Nick, and you will need help. So I'm sending my ferryman, Nob, to start you on your way. He won't take kindly to the idea, but he will take you down.”

“Down? You realize I haven't agreed yet, right?” She double fisted her hair and pulled. “Ah! Is this really that important?”

“You're here.” He pointed at the woods. “Which makes me believe it is. Chloe, I gave you a glimpse of this world before you came. You wrote down what was in your mind. You drew what you saw. This was a gift. In a way, you've been here for some time already. Remember what you've seen; remember what you know.” He pointed toward the grove. “Now, go back the way you came, and remember, Chloe Lundeen, you are very beautiful.”

Fine
. She stomped away from the garden, rubbing her scar and rolling her eyes.

Wait. Very beautiful?

Her jaw tightened, and then sprung loose. “You have no idea what I look like. You're a blind liar, trying to make the ugly girl feel better so she does you a favor. And you've got it backward. How could you give us anything? We made you!” Chloe spun back toward the garden. “So maybe keep your mouth … shut.”

The man was gone. His tools were gone. And in the middle of the garden, his walking stick poked out of the ground.

She rubbed her forehead. “Calm down, Chloe. If this is a dream, just go with it. If it's not … Nick?” She couldn't see him anywhere. She suddenly felt very weak, and very alone.

I didn't even thank the guy for the fruit
.

C
HLOE FOUND
N
ICK SITTING
on the ground near a snoring Nob. She bumped Nick with her foot. “Why do you keep leaving me?”

“He was supposed to be strong. In control. Secholit was supposed to be the coolest blind guy ever. But there's nothing cool about being blind.” Nick shook his head. “Did you see him grope around that garden? What a loser.”

“When you were blind, you were never a loser. Remember that.” Nick refused to meet her eye. “Oh!” Chloe exhaled. “He gave us a task. Both of us. We need to help Retinya remember. That's what he said. Did you write anything about that?”

“No.” Nick rolled his eyes, stood, and looked down at Nob. “Should we wake our transportation?”

Chloe shook Nob's shoulder. He smiled, muttered, and rolled over.

“Nob!”

He slowly opened his eyes, and then yawned and stretched. “Did you have a good visit?”

“A good visit,” Chloe repeated. “Couldn't have been better. We ate fruit, watched a world hatch, saw a shadow buried … You know, the typical. You could have filled me in a bit more before you sent us off to meet that guy.”

“I told you what you needed.”

“Well, you'll have plenty more chances to do that. You're supposed to take us down, whatever that means.”

His face whitened. “Secholit said that?”

“Yeah.” Chloe glanced toward the woods. “The blind guy in the garden.”

Nob scratched his head. “I'm not the right one for that. I really ought to stay up here. A ferryman. That's my job, that's what I'm good at. I, uh …”

“He said you'd say that too.” Chloe's shoulders slumped. “Listen, I need your help. I don't want to go any more than you do, but Nick and I need to get home, and there's some job he thinks we should do first and … Oh, it's all miserable.”

Nob stepped out of the boat and began to pace. “Do you know what's below?”

Chloe pointed to her face. “Do I look like I know what's below?”

Nob rubbed his chin, hard. “You're sure he said me? By name?”

Chloe stepped toward Nob and pressed her finger into his chest, and then gestured toward the garden. “I don't know many Nobs. Why not just go ask him if you don't believe me?”

“The thing is, I haven't spoken to him in years. Certainly never asked him anything. I don't like to get too close, if you know my meaning.”

“Yeah,” Nick said. “I do.”

“No!” Chloe said, “I don't. You sent me to see — Forget it. Forget it!” Chloe held up her hand. “You're taking us down.”

“Oh, lady. This is the worst of days.”

Chloe sat quietly as they poled back toward the lake, while Nick cleaned his fingernail with a piece of wood he'd found inside the boat. The entire time Nob muttered and stammered, “Bad choice. Really bad choice.” Finally, the ferry struck the water.

Nob rocked back and forth, thumbed his suspenders. “I never thought I'd see this day.” His gaze fell and for a moment, he teetered.

“What's wrong?” Nick kept working that fingernail.

Nob forced a smile and shook his head. “I haven't been below for years. It's easier not having to be near the man now that he's changed.”

“What man?” Chloe waited and shrugged. “Doesn't sound like you've seen much of anybody.”

Nob straightened and looked across the lake. “I'm not going to be good at this. Flit!”

From below the surface of the water exploded a gigantic eagle, at least it looked like one from beneath — though the head, wings, and top appeared more dragon than bird. Its back was gray and scarred, its wings wrinkled and worn, but underneath feathers ruffled thick and white and inviting. Even though the creature was enormous, Chloe longed to press her hand into the down.

The dragonbird spread its leathery wings and landed softly.

“What news, Flit?”

“News,” it croaked. “You don't hear this news and feel joy. All is confusion. Be glad you live above —”

“Secholit sends me down,” Nob interrupted. “We need transport.”

Flit's head twitched and cocked. “Down? What did you do, Nob? And of all the times — the cursed Pilgrimage begins.”

Nob shook his head, and Flit's great eyes danced from Nick to Chloe. “Three passengers. We will be breaking through, so it will involve two trips.”

“I'll go first.” Nick stepped forward. “Anything to get away from this nothing place. Besides, once I reach Retinya, I'll be fine. I'd like a little time there alone.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Chloe, I'll wait for you.”

“You're not leaving me again.” Chloe walked toward Nick.

“And you are not leaving my sight, lady.” Nob caught up quickly.

Flit closed his eyelids. “Humans.” He reached out with one talon and pulled Nick into his under feathers. “What do you seek alone that you cannot find with a guide?”

“None of your business, you freaky lizard. Can we go?”

Chloe turned to Nob and whispered, “Don't let Nick go by himself. Something's happening to him. He's always been harsh, but he's changing, and I don't quite understand how, but I feel it and —”

Crack!

Chloe spun. “Where are they?” She ran onto the lake and circled around. “Nob!”

“They've gone. Lady, I will say this one time, and
then hold my tongue as he is your friend. There is an evil about Nick.”

“Evil? Mean, maybe. Cruel, I'll give you that one. Arrogant, proud, self-absorbed — but not evil.”

“Did he go toward Secholit when called?”

“No.” Chloe's voice lowered. “He hid in the woods. But I get that. I mean, I hide sometimes too.”

“And where do you think he goes now?” Nob's voice was monotone. “What, or who, does he look for?”

“No idea. He knows a lot about Retinya, much more than I do.”

“He will go somewhere familiar, to something he knows.” Nob stared at Chloe. “Let me ask you. Is he used to darkness?”

“Well, yeah. He lived in it back home.”

“Darkness isn't confined to your world, lady.”

Flit screeched from behind and Chloe leaped. “I've not met a more disagreeable human.”

Chloe ran forward and Flit rose to full height. He was as big as her barn. “Where did you leave him?” Flit glanced at Nob. Chloe did too. Nob's face tightened.

“What?” Chloe stomped toward her guide. “What aren't you telling me?”

“In time, lady.” Nob turned to Flit. “I suppose we're ready.”

Flit's wings churned the air, and Chloe fought to stand against the wind. Slowly, he rose, lifted each traveler with his talons, and pulled them into his feathery underside.

“Prepare,” he thundered. Higher and higher he circled until the lake was no more than a patch of blue. Flit dipped a wing, and for a moment they were weightless. Then he turned downward. Faster, faster, he hurtled toward the water, the solid water. Chloe braced herself, burying her head into Flit's soft underbelly.

Crack
. They burst through the lake and thundered downward. Chloe stretched her neck around and looked up.

Sky. She really had been walking on the sky. Aldo's moving transport billowed against a field of blue. Below them was the ground, and it looked not unlike it does from inside an airplane, except it approached with frightening speed.

“Nob!”

The wind swallowed Chloe's scream, and they veered and plummeted toward a forest so thick she could not see to its floor. They did not slow; in fact, if anything Flit gained speed. She braced again, but Flit swooped and Chloe shrieked, her feet dangling inches from the canopy. Ahead, the forest stretched unbroken to the horizon.

Flit flashed his wings and came to an abrupt stop, hovering over the trees.

“Good-bye, friends.” His talons opened and Chloe dropped into the upper leaves.

Normally, Chloe's tree climbing adventures were scratchy experiences. But this was altogether different. Her landing was soft, much like the jump into a pile of fall leaves. She sank deep into the tree, all light vanishing as branches filled in above her.

In the black nothingness, fingers rounded her waist. “Nob? What are you — Oh!”

Chloe grasped at the hand and recoiled; it was rough like bark.

“Are you even here, Nob?”

“Lady!” Nob's voice sounded distant.

“Let me go!” Chloe beat on the wooden fist, which hoisted her forward. She yelled and struck it again, loosening the grip. She was free, but only for a moment. Another hand clasped around her.

The trees! I've been handed off like a human baton
.

She zipped through the forest, passed from one tree to another.

Then, light.

A dull beacon shone far ahead. But in pitch darkness, even a dull glow has effect. It grew stronger, but
not sharper. The soft, blue beam enveloped her, and she could see the hands that held her.

Sure enough, strong, knotty fingers held her from the ends of moveable branches. And the light ahead revealed a village of shadow. Silhouetted against a deep, leafy background perched the most impressive tree houses she'd ever seen. Set at different heights, the dwellings ranged from simple, square constructions to multilevel masterpieces. The blue light shone out every window, and in that glow Chloe caught sight of the inhabitants.

They swung on vines like howler monkeys at the zoo. Their stocky bodies zipped silently from house to house and branch to branch, barely avoiding collision in the chaotic dance. Children clapped as they whisked by each other. Others swung in pairs and trios.

Incredible
.

“Nob!” Chloe hissed.

“Elves.” Nob leaned into her shoulder. “Great. My good luck continues.”

Chloe's jaw fell open. “Elves? I love this part. They're the kindest, most trusting, most generous creatures in this whole world, and I should know.”

“Uh. Perhaps you should let me do the speakin', lady. They hear what lies beneath your words.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means we hear more than you say.” An elf swung onto the branch in front of her. “And you say much more than you know.”

Chloe rubbed her eyes and stared. They didn't look like any elves she'd seen in the movies. They weren't pudgy, Santa types, nor tall and fair, dressed in green or white with a bow at the back and a quiver at the side.

These elves were all eyes. Big, searching eyes that had lived too long blanketed by darkness.

“You're supposed to be tall. You're supposed to live in an elf kingdom on the forest floor.” Chloe frowned.

“You describe what we were and what was. But you're a thousand years too late to see any such sight.” The elf raised a stone to Chloe's face. It glowed pale and blue, and in that light she felt his searching gaze come to rest on her scar.

“Lost One.” He reached toward Chloe's chin and she jerked away. “What a shame.”

“No. She's never been to the pool.” Nob laid a hand on the elf's shoulder. “She's new to this place.” To Chloe he murmured, “And she is supposed to stay quiet.”

The elf shifted the stone to Chloe's guide,
chuckled, and pulled away. “Seems to be a familiar story these days. Children just popping into the world.” He squinted. “Well, if it isn't Brave Nob! Does Scout know you're here?”

Nob remained silent.

“It has been some time. Are there not more to ferry above … or did you return for personal reasons?”

Nob swallowed hard. “Hael, you mentioned another child. Did it happen to be a boy —”

“His name's Nick! He came right before we did.” Chloe slapped her hand over her mouth.

The elf gazed into her with those eyes. “Why do you look for a boy you hate?”

“I don't … I mean, I don't think I hate —”

It was Nob's turn to cover Chloe's mouth. “We just want safe passage out of the forest, and any word you have of the boy. He can't be too far in front of us.” He rolled his eyes, and his jaws tightened. “Apparently he's important,” he muttered. “Fool Flit. Why he dropped us here …”

“Much has changed since you've last walked in the lower world. But come. I've now heard what you want. Let's find out what you need.” Hael rapped three times on the tree that held Chloe fast. “Ease, friend.” The wooden hand released, and she and Nob scrambled after the elf.

Chloe always thought herself an excellent climber. But in the hazy blue light, she lost her balance several times, staying aloft due only to Nob's quick hands. With him, she felt safe. She could not say this about the elf.

Hael led them at a horrific pace. Up, down, around, more squirrel than upright creature. Several bumps and bruises later, Chloe scampered after Hael into a full-sized cottage, situated among the gnarly oaks.

“Stay.” Hael's eyes twinkled in the blue light.

“For how long?” Chloe stomped the sturdy floor. “I don't know where I am and Nick probably doesn't either, and I just want to do what I have to do and find Nick and get home to Mom and Grandpa Salvador and …”

A voice boomed from behind. “And who?”