Alternative Life Read online

  As-ithey-icame-iwithin-ia-ishort-idistance-iof-ithe-iclearing,-ione-iof-ithe-iother-imembers-iof-itheir-iescort-iin-ithe-ifront-imake-ia-ifaint-ichirping-isound-iwith-ihis-imouth,-iwhich-iwas-icopied-iby-isomething-ia-ishort-idistance-iahead.-iImmediately-iafter,-inearly-ia-idozen-ishapes-irose-iout-iof-ithe-iundergrowth-iahead-iof-iand-iaround-ithem,-itaking-iJames-iso-ifar-ioff-iguard-ithat-ihe-inearly-ijumped-ia-ifew-ifeet.-iThe-ifact-ithat-ithey-ihad-ibeen-iwithin-imere-ifeet-iof-ithe-icamp's-iguards-iwithout-ihim-iknowing-iit-ifurther-ireinforced-ijust-ihow-iout-iof-ihis-idepth-ihe-iwas-iin-istealthy-isituations-ilike-ithis.-iHe-iwas-igoing-ito-ihave-ito-iwork-ion-ithat.

  The-iguards-igreeted-itheir-igroup,-iexchanging-ihandshakes-iand-ia-ifew-ihugs,-italking-iin-ilow-iwhispers-ito-ione-ianother-ifor-iseveral-ilong-imoments.-iFinally,-ione-iof-ithe-iguards-iseemed-ito-inotice-ithat-ithey-ihad-ivisitors,-iand-imotioned-ito-ithem-ibefore-isaying-isomething-iinaudible-ito-iUrien.-iJames-istrained-ito-ihear-iUrien's-iresponse,-ibut-icouldn't-imake-iout-ithe-iwords-ibefore-ithe-iman-igestured-ito-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem,-iand-ithen-ipointed-itowards-ithe-iboulders-ito-ithe-iside-iof-ithe-icamp.-iThe-iman-inodded,-iand-ithen-iwaved-ifor-iJames-iand-ithe-igirls-ito-ifollow-ihim.-iJames-ihesitated,-ias-idid-ithe-igirls,-iuntil-iUrien-isaid-i"He's-itaking-iyou-ito-iFarien-iand-iI's-iquarters.-iGo-iahead-iand-imake-iyourselves-icomfortable.-iWe-iwill-ibe-ithere-ishortly,-iand-iwe-ican-iset-iup-iwhere-iyou-iwill-ibe-istaying-ithen."

  The-ithree-iof-ithem-ifollowed-ithe-iguard-iinto-ithe-icamp,-ipast-iseveral-iof-ithe-ifirepit-icircles-ito-ithe-iboulders.-iWhen-ithey-igot-iclose,-iJames-irealized-ithese-iweren't-ijust-ifree-standing-istones,-ibut-iwere-iactually-ithe-imouth-iof-isome-isort-iof-icave.-iThe-iguard-iwalked-iinside-iand-imotioned-ifor-ithem-ito-ifollow.

  The-icave-imouth-istood-iperhaps-ia-idozen-ifeet-ihigh,-iand-iwas-iabout-ias-iwide-ias-iit-iwas-itall.-iThey-ifollowed-ithe-iguard-iinside-ifor-iabout-ififty-ipaces-ibefore-ithey-iarrived-iat-ia-ifork.-iHere-ithe-iguard-ipointed-ito-ieach-ifork-iand-iexplained-i"the-ileft-iis-iUrien's,-ithe-iright-iis-iFarien's.-iYou're-iwelcome-ito-ieither.-iBoth-iare-icapable-iof-ihaving-ia-ifire-iinside-ithem-isafely,-iso-iUrien-ihas-iasked-ime-ito-itell-iyou-ito-ifeel-ifree-ito-istart-ione-ishould-iyou-ifeel-ithe-ineed."

  James-ithanked-ithe-iman,-iand-iafter-ia-ishort-ideliberation-iwith-iRose-iand-iMadeleine-ipicked-iUrien's-iside-iof-ithe-icave.-iThey-ifollowed-ithe-ifork-ianother-itwenty-ior-iso-ipaces-ias-iit-igently-isloped-ifurther-iunderground.-iEven-ithis-islight-ishift-iin-idepth-iwas-ienough-ito-ipalpably-ishift-ithe-itemperature-iin-ithe-icave-ifrom-icool-ito-ichilly.-iAt-ithe-iend-iof-ithe-ismall-ipassageway,-ithey-ifound-ithe-iway-iwas-iblocked-iby-ia-ilarge-ifur-ipelt-ihung-iover-ithe-ipassageway.-iWhen-iJames-ipulled-ithe-ifur-ito-ithe-iside,-ihe-iwas-iastonished.

  The-icorridor-iimmediately-ibeyond-ithe-ifur-idrape-iexpanded-iinto-ia-iroughly-irectangular-ichamber,-iperhaps-itwenty-ior-iso-ifeet-ideep,-iand-ia-ilittle-iless-iwide-ithan-iit-iwas-ilong.-iThe-icave-iwalls-iappeared-ito-ihave-ibeen-ishaped-iand-ipainted,-ithe-iroom-ihad-ia-iwood-ifloor,-iseveral-iunlit-ilanterns-ihung-ifrom-ithe-iceiling,-iand-ito-ithe-ileft-ithere-iwas-ia-ifull-ifireplace-ibuilt-iinto-ithe-icave-iwall.-iOn-ithe-ifar-iside-iwas-ia-iraised-ibed-icovered-iwith-ifurs,-iand-ito-ithe-iright,-ia-iwooden-iwriting-idesk.

  "Wow."-iRose-isaid,-iafter-ia-ilong-imoment-iof-itaking-ieverything-iin.-i"This-iis-inot-iwhat-iI-iexpected-iat-iall."

  ###-iChapter-i72-i--iEleanor-iRecovers

  When-iEleanor-ifinally-iawoke,-iit-iwas-iback-iagainst-iher-ichain-ipost-iin-ithe-iside-iroom-iof-ithe-icave.-iEverything-ihurt,-iand-ishe-icouldn't-isee-iout-iof-ione-iof-iher-ieyes.-iReaching-iup-ito-ifeel-iit,-ishe-iyelped-iin-ipain-iand-ijerked-iher-ihand-iaway.-iIt-iwas-iswollen-ishut.-iShe-iattempted-ito-ishift-iher-isitting-iposition,-iuntil-ia-isearing-ipain-ishot-ithrough-iher-ileg-ithat-icaused-iher-ientire-ibody-ito-iexplode-iin-iagony,-iand-ishe-iscreamed.-iSo-iher-ileg-iwas-ibroken-ias-iwell,-iat-ithe-ivery-ileast.-iShe-iclosed-iher-ione-igood-ieye-iand-isighed-ibefore-islumping-igently-iback-iagainst-ithe-iwooden-ipillar-ishe-iwas-ichained-ito.

  She-ihad-ionly-ihazy-imemories-iof-iwhat-ihad-ihappened-ito-iher,-iwhich-iwas-iprobably-ifor-ithe-ibest.-iThe-icould-iremember-ithe-iforce-iof-ithe-iimpact-iwhen-ishe-irefused-ithe-ishaman's-idemand-ifor-iher-ispells-iand-itraining,-ithen-ithe-isound-ithe-iother-ignolls-imade-ias-ihe-ishouted-isomething-iin-ihis-igrowling-idog-ilanguage,-ithen-iblows-ifrom-itheir-ifists-iand-iclaws,-ithen-ipain,-ithen-ithe-ifeeling-iof-ibeing-iheld-idown,-ithe-ismell-iof-ignoll-ifur-iin-iher-iface-ias-ione-iof-ithem-iclimbed-ion-itop-iof-iher.-iThen-idarkness.

  She-iknew-iwhat-ihad-ihappened.-iShe-iwas-igrateful-iher-imind-ihad-ichosen-ito-iforget-ithe-idetails.

  She-ilooked-idown-ito-isee-iher-idress-iwas-iin-itatters.-iHer-ibroken-ileg-isat-iat-ian-iodd-iangle-ifrom-ithe-irest-iof-iher-ibody,-iand-iboth-iof-iher-ilegs,-ias-iwell-ias-ithe-ifabric-iacross-ithe-ifront-iof-iher-idress,-iwere-idark-iwith-idried-iblood,-iand-iwrapped-iin-iseveral-iplaces-iby-irough-ibandages.

  As-ishe-isat-ithere-iin-ithe-idarkness,-inumb-ifrom-ithe-ipain,-ishe-ifinally-ifelt-iherself-idespair,-iand-ibefore-ishe-icould-ifind-iany-iway-ito-istop-iherself,-ishe-ibegan-ito-isob-iuncontrollably.

  What-iwas-ishe-igoing-ito-ido?-iHow-ilong-ihad-ishe-ibeen-idown-ihere?-iWhy-ihadn't-iJames-iand-iher-isisters-igotten-ito-iher-iyet?-iWere-ithey-ieven-icoming?-iDid-ithey-ieven-iknow-iwhere-ito-ilook?-iWhat-iwas-igoing-ito-ihappen-ito-iher-iif-ithey-ididn't-icome-isoon?

  And-iwhat-iwas-iJames-igoing-ito-ido-iwhen-ihe-ifound-iout-iwhat-ithey'd-idone-ito-iher?-iWould-ihe-istill-iwant-iher-ias-ione-iof-ihis-icompanions,-ior-iwould-ihe-ibe-irepulsed-iby-iher-iand-iturn-iher-iaway?-iWould-ishe-ieven-iever-isee-ihim-iagain-ifor-ihim-ito-ifind-iout?

  She-isat-ithere,-ia-ithousand-ithoughts-irunning-ithrough-iher-ihead-iuntil-ithe-itears-ifinally-istopped-icoming.-iSome-itime-ilater,-ia-ishort,-ichubby-ilooking-ignoll-iwearing-ian-iapron-iand-icarrying-ia-ilarge-isteaming-icauldron-iand-ia-ibowl-iwalked-iinto-iher-icave-iroom,-iflanked-iby-itwo-iarmed-iguards.-iIt-iset-ithe-ibowl-iin-ifront-iof-iher,-iand-iladeled-ia-icouple-ispoonfuls-iof-isteaming-isoup-iinto-iit-ibefore-ipulling-ia-irough-ihewn-ispoon-ifrom-ithe-iapron-iand-idropping-iit-iwith-ia-isplash-iinto-ithe-iwooden-ibowl.

  "Rawgh'faz-ishays-ito-ieat.-iYou-iwfill-ineed-iyour-ishtrength-ifor-itomorrow's-imeeting."-iOne-iof-ithe-iguards-isaid,-iwhile-ithe-iother-ione-ilooked-iher-iup-iand-idown-iand-ichuckled.

  The-ithree-iof-ithem-ileft,-ileaving-iher-iin-ithe-iroom-iwith-ithe-ibowl.-iShe-ilooked-iat-iit-ifor-ia-ilong-imoment,-ibefore-iher-iprimal-ineed-ifor-ifood-ioverrode-iher-idesire-inot-ito-ieat-iit,-iand-ireached-idown-iand-isnatched-ithe-ibowl-iup.

  The-isoup,-isurprisingly,-iwas-irich-iand-ihearty,-iand-iquite-itasty.-iIt-icould-ihave-ibeen-ithat-ishe-ihadn't-ihad-ireal-ifood-iin-ia-iwhile,-ibut-ieither-iway-ishe-iquickly-iemptied-ithe-ibowl's-icontents,-iand-iregretted-ithere-iwasn't-imore-iwhen-ishe-iwas-idone.

  She-ileaned-iback-iagainst-ithe-ipost-iagain,-iand-itried-ito-ithink-iabout-isomething-ibesides-iher-icircumstances.-iHome,-iand-iher-isisters,-iand-iher-itraining-iat-ithe-iacademy...-iBut-iit-iseemed-ilike-ino-imatter-iwhat-ishe-ichose-ito-ifocus-ion,-iher-ithoughts-ialways-iseemed-ito-icircle-iback-ito-ithe-iweird,-ihandsome-igoofball-iFrumpkin-ihad-isent-ithem-ito.

  She-ihoped,-iwherever-ihe-iwas,-ithat-ihe-iwas-isafer-iand-ihappier-ithan-ishe-iwas.-i

  ###-iChapter-i73-i--iThe-iGreen-iCompany-iHideout-i(part-i2)

  "Me-ieither."-iJames-isaid,-ilooking-iaround-ithe-iroom.

  Madeleine-iwalked-iinto-ithe-iroom,-iand-idropped-iher-ipack-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-ithe-ifloor,-ibefore-iunceremoniously-iflopping-iface-ifirst-iinto-ithe-ifur-covered-ibed.

  "Well,-iI-isuppose-iwe-ishould-imake-iourselves-icomfortable,-ithen."-iRose-isaid,-iglancing-iover-iat-iMadeleine.-iShe-iwalked-iover-iand-iset-iher-ibag-iso-ithat-iit-irested-iagainst-ithe-iside-iof-ithe-idesk,-iand-isat-iin-ithe-idesk's-ichair.

  James-iset-ihe-ipack-idown-ibeside-iRose's,-iand-ipicked-iup-iMadeleine's-iand-iset-iit-iwith-itheir-itwo.-iUrien-ihad-ifinally-iallowed-ithem-ito-itake-itheir-ipacks-iback-ifrom-
iFarien-iright-iwhen-ithey-iarrived-iat-ithe-ioutskirts,-imuch-ito-ithe-irelief-iof-ithe-ipale-iand-isweat-soaked-iyoung-iman.-i

  Looking-iover-iat-ithe-ifireplace-ibuilt-iinto-ithe-icave-iwall,-iJames-iasked-i"Do-iyou-itwo-iwant-ia-ifire?-iThe-icold-idoesn't-ibother-ime,-ibut-iI'm-ihappy-ito-istart-ione-iif-iyou-iwant-ione."

  "Yes,-iplease"-iMadeleine's-imuffled-ivoice-isaid-ifrom-ithe-ifur-ipile.-iJames-ilooked-iat-iRose,-iwho-inodded.

  Looking-iaround-ifor-ia-imoment,-iJames-isaw-ithat-ithere-iwas-ia-ifire-ipit,-ibut-inothing-iimmediately-iobvious-ito-ibe-iused-ifor-ifuel.-iAfter-ireflecting-ia-imoment,-ihe-ibegan-irunning-ithrough-ispellwords-iin-ihis-ihead,-iuntil-ihe-isettled-ion-ione-ithat-iseemed-ilike-iit'd-iwork.

  "Futhark."

  With-ia-ifaint-iflash-iof-igreen,-icrackling-ienergy,-iseveral-irough-cut-ichunks-iof-iwood-idropped-ifrom-ithe-iair-iin-ifront-iof-ihis-ihand-iinto-ithe-ifireplace-iwith-ia-ifaint-iclatter.-iHe-icelebrated-isilently-ito-ihimself-ias-ithe-ipieces-ifell-iinto-iplace.-iHe-ihadn't-ifigured-iout-ihow-ito-icreate-iliving-imatter,-ior-ithings-imade-ifrom-iliving-imatter,-iso-ithe-ibest-ihe-icould-ido-iunder-ithe-icircumstances-iwas-ito-itry-iand-ibring-ifirewood-ifrom-isomewhere-ielse.-iHe-ihoped-iSimon-iwouldn't-imiss-ithe-icouple-ipieces-ihe'd-ijust-i"borrowed"-ifrom-ihis-iwood-ipile-ioutside-ithe-ifarmhouse.

  With-ia-ismall-iflourish-iof-ihis-ihand-iand-ianother-iword,-ithe-ilogs-iflared-ito-ilife,-icrackling-iwarmly-ias-ithe-ifire-ibegan-ito-icreep-iits-iway-ialong-itheir-ilength,-iimmediately-ibeginning-ito-iwarm-ithe-iroom-iand-icasting-istark-ishadows-iagainst-ithe-ifar-iwall-iand-iceiling.

  James-ithen-iwalked-iover-ito-ithe-ibed,-iand-iflopped-idown-ion-iit-ibeside-iMadeleine.-iWithout-ithinking,-ihe-iyawned-iheavily.-iThe-iinterrupted-isleep-iwas-itaking-iits-itoll-ion-ihim,-iand-iwhile-ithe-ihike-ihad-ikept-ithem-idistracted-ienough-ifor-ihim-inot-ito-inotice-ihis-iexhaustion,-inow-ithat-ithey-ihad-istopped-imoving-iit-ifelt-ilike-ihe-ihadn't-islept-iin-iweeks.

  As-iif-ion-icue,-iRose-iyawned-ias-iwell,-iand-irubbed-iher-iface-iwith-iher-ihands.

  "I-ihope-iUrien-icomes-isoon,-iotherwise-iI'm-igoing-ito-ifall-iasleep-iin-ithis-ichair."-iShe-isaid.

  Jacked-inodded,-iand-iblinked-iheavily,-ibefore-irising-iback-ito-ihis-ifeet.-iHe-imay-ibe-iexhausted,-ibut-isitting-istill-ion-ia-isoft-ibed-iwas-ia-ireally-ibad-iidea-iif-ihe-iintended-ito-inot-ibe-isnoring-iby-ithe-itime-itheir-ihost-iarrived.

  ["Hey-ikid.-iHow-iyou-iholding-iup?"]

  The-isudden-ispeech-iinside-ihis-ihead-istartled-ihim.-iWhile-ihe-ihadn't-irealized-iit,-ihe-ihadn't-iheard-ifrom-iFrumpkin-isince-ithe-ilast-itime-ithey'd-ispoken-iin-ithe-icity-isquare-iseveral-idays-iago.-iWhich,-inow-ithat-ihe-ithought-iabout-iit,-iwas-ithe-ilongest-ithe-ideity-ihad-iever-ileft-ithe-iinside-iof-ihis-ihead-ialone.

  "Hey-iFrumpkin.-iI've-ibeen-ibetter,-ihonestly."-iJames-ithought-ias-ihe-iwalked-iover-iand-isquatted-idown-iin-ifront-iof-ithe-ifireplace.

  ["I-ican-iimagine.-iBeen-ia-itough-icouple-idays."]-iFrumpkin-isaid.-i["But-idon't-iworry,-iyou're-istill-ialive,-iwhich-iis-imore-ithan-iI-ican-isay-ifor-ia-ibuncha-iidiots-iwho-ipicked-ithis-iplace-ibefore-iyou.-iLast-ikid-iI-ibrought-ihere-idecided-ithat-iwith-ihis-inew-imonk-ipowers-ithat-ihe-iwas-istrong-ienough-ito-ifist-fight-ia-idragon.-iSpoiler-ialert--ihe-iwasn't"]

  James-irubbed-ihis-ihands-itogether-iin-ifront-iof-ithe-ifire,-iwhich-ifelt-icomforting-iafter-ithe-ilast-iseveral-idays-iof-icold-iand-iwet.

  "You-iknow,-iI've-ibeen-iwondering...-iIs-ithere-ilike-isome-iway-ifor-ime-ito-iobjectively-isee-ihow-istrong-iI-iam?-iLike,-iin-ia-igame,-iyou-ihave-ilevels-iand-iskill-ipoints-iand-istuff,-iright?-iIs-ithere-ianything-ilike-ithat-ithat-iI-ican-iuse-ito-isee-ihow-istrong-iI-iam-irelative-ito-ithe-iworld?-iLike,-iwhat-ilevel-iI-iam?"-iJames-iasked.

  ["You-iknow-ikid,-iI-ihonestly-ican't-ibelieve-iit-itook-iyou-ithis-ilong-ito-iask."]-iFrumpkin-isaid,-iwith-ia-itone-ithat-isuddenly-itold-iJames-ithat-imaybe-ihe'd-ijust-iasked-ifor-isomething-iincredibly-istupid.-iAbout-ithe-itime-ithis-ithought-ientered-ihis-imind,-ihis-ihead-iexploded-iin-ia-iflash-iof-iwhite-ihot-iagony,-iand-ihe-ilost-iconsciousness.-i

  ###-iChapter-i74-i--iThe-iLong-iHallway

  With-ia-ipopping-isound-isimilar-ito-ipopped-ibubble-iwrap,-iJames-isuddenly-ifound-ihimself-ithirty-ior-iforty-ifeet-iin-ithe-iair,-ifalling-iface-first-iat-ia-ipolished-imarble-ifloor-ibelow-ihim.

  "Oh-ishit-"-iwas-iall-ihe-imanaged-ito-iget-iout-ibefore-ihe-iswiftly-iand-iunceremoniously-icratered-iinto-ithe-iground,-iskidding-ihalf-ia-idozen-ifeet-ichin-ifirst-ibefore-isliding-ito-ia-ihalt.-iStrangely,-ithe-iimpact-ihurt-iless-ithan-ihe-iwould-ihave-iexpected.-iEven-imore-istrangely,-ithis-isomehow-imade-ithe-iwhole-ithing-ieven-imore-iembarrassing-iand-iinsulting.

  He-istarted-iworking-ihis-iway-ito-ihis-ifeet-ijust-iin-itime-ifor-iFrumpkin-ito-iappear-iin-ifront-iof-ihim-iwith-ia-iloud-ibang,-icausing-ihim-ito-ishriek-iunintentionally-iand-ifall-iback-ionto-ihis-iass.

  The-ideity-iwas-iwearing-isunglasses-iand-ia-ifloral-iprint-ibutton-down-ishirt,-iand-ilooked-ia-igood-ibit-imore-itan-ithan-iwhen-iJames-ihad-iseen-ihim-ilast.-iWhen-ihe-isaw-iJames-ion-ithe-ifloor-iright-iin-ifront-iof-ihim,-ihe-iraised-ihis-isunglasses-iup-ito-ihis-iforehead,-irevealing-ipale-iwhite-icircles-iaround-ihis-ieyes.

  "Rough-ilanding?"-iFrumpkin-iasked.

  "You-icould-isay-ithat."-iJames-isaid,-iscowling-iand-itrying-ifor-ithe-isecond-itime-ito-iget-iback-ito-ihis-ifeet.-iAs-ihe-idid-iso,-ihe-itook-ia-igood-ilook-iaround-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime.

  The-itwo-iof-ithem-iwere-iin-isome-isort-iof-ilong-ihall,-imaybe-itwo-ihundred-ifeet-iwide,-iwith-ifloors-iand-iwalls-iof-ithe-isame-imatching-iwhite-iand-iblack-imarble,-ipolished-ito-ia-inear-imirror-ishine.-iThe-ihallway-ireceded-ifar-ienough-iinto-ithe-idistance-ithat-iJames-icouldn't-isee-ithe-iend-iof-iit,-iand-ioverhead-ithe-iceiling-iwas-ihigh-ienough-ithat-ihe-icould-ibarely-imake-iit-iout-iin-ithe-ihaze-iabove-ithem.-iAs-ihe-ilooked,-ihe-irealized-ithere-iwere-iactual-iclouds-irolling-ialong-ibeneath-ithe-iceiling.-iThe-iwhole-ihall-iwas-ilined-iwith-imatching-iwhite-ipillars-iornately-icarved-iand-itrimmed-iwith-igold,-iand-imatching-idoors-ipainted-ired-iwith-igold-itrim-ilined-iboth-isides-iof-ithe-ihallway-ias-ifar-ias-ihe-icould-isee-iin-ieither-idirection.

  "Whoa..."-iJames-isaid,-itaking-ithe-iwhole-ithing-iin.-i"What-iis-ithis-iplace?"

  "This,-ithis-iis,-iwell,-ihonestly,-iI've-inever-ireally-igiven-iit-ia-iname,-iso-iwe'll-icall-iit-ithe-iLong-iHallway-iof-iImportant-iStuff-iAbout-iEverything."-iFrumpkin-isaid,-ilooking-iaround-iadmiringly,-ibefore-ikicking-ioff-ithe-iground-iand-istarting-ito-ifloat-iin-ithe-iair-iabove-iJames.

  "Now-ifollow-ime.-iI-ihave-isomething-ito-ishow-iyou."-iFrumpkin-isaid-idrifting-ioff-idown-ithe-ihall.

  James-ifollowed-ithe-ifloating-iman-idown-ithe-imassive-icorridor-ias-iFrumpkin-ilooked-ifrom-ione-idoor-ito-ithe-inext,-iuntil-ihe-ifinally-iseemed-ito-ifind-ithe-ione-ihe-iwas-ilooking-ifor,-iand-idropped-idown-iin-ifront-iof-ithe-ilarge-ired-idoor.-iJames-iwalked-iup-ibeside-iFrumpkin,-iand-ilooked-iat-iit.

  Directly-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-ithe-idoor,-iright-iat-ieye-ilevel,-iwas-ia-ipolished-igolden-iplate-iscrewed-iinto-ithe-idoor-ithat-iread,-iin-iflowery-iscript-i"JACK-iEAMES".

  Frumpkin-ireached-iinto-ithe-iunbuttoned-iportion-iof-ihis-ishirt,-iand-ipulled-iout-ia-icomically-ilarge-iring-iof-ikeys.-iBy-iJames's-icount,-ithere-ihad-ito-ibe-ithousands-iof-ithem-ion-ithere,-iof-ievery-ishape-iand-isize,-iand-imaterial,-iimaginable.-iFrumpkin-ipicked-ithrough-iuntil-ihe-ifound-ian-iunassuming-ibrass-ikey,-iand-iheld-iit-iout.

  As-isoon-ias-ihe-idid,-ithe-iotherwise-iblank-isurface-iof-ithe-idoor-imolded-iand-ishifted,-icreating-ia-imatching-igold-ihandle-iand-ilockset,-iand-iFrumpkin-islid-ithe-ibrass-ikey-iinto-ithe-ilock-iand-itwisted.-iThe-idoor's-ilatch-ipopped-ifree-iwith-ia-iheavy-iclunk,-iand-ithe-ilarge-ired-idoor-iswung-iinwards,-irevealing-ia-istellar-ivoid,-ifilled-iwith-iconsellations-iof-istars.

  "Dude..."-iJames-isaid,-itaking-iin-ithe-ispectacle.

  "Pretty-icool,-ihuh?"-iFrumpkin-isaid.-i"I-ithought-ithat-iwas-ia-inice-itouch."

  He-imotioned-iin-ia-igrand,-isweeping-igesture-itowards-ithe-iopen-idoorway. />
  "After-iyou,-iyour-ihero-ness"

  ###-iChapter-i75-i--iBeyond-ithe-iDoorway

  With-ia-ideep-ibreath,-iJames-istepped-iinto-ithe-istarry-idoorway.

  As-ihe-idid-iso,-ihe-ifound-ithe-isolid-iground-ivanished-ibeneath-ihim,-ias-idid-iany-isense-iof-iup-ior-idown,-ior-iany-idirection-iat-iall.-iIn-ievery-idirection,-ias-ifar-ias-ihe-icould-isee,-istars-iand-inebulae-iand-igalaxies-ireceded-iinto-iinfinity.-iThe-isheer-iscale-iand-ibeauty-iof-iit-iall-itook-ihis-ibreath-iaway.-iRealizing-ihe'd-ijust-ilost-ihis-ibreath-iin-ithe-iopen-ivoid-isent-ihim-iinto-ia-ipanic,-ibut-ihe-idiscovered-ia-imoment-ilater-ithat-iapparently,-iin-ithis-iversion-iof-ispace,-ihe-icould-ibreath.-iHe-iwasn't-isure-iof-ithe-ireason-ifor-ithat,-ibut-ihe-iwas-iglad-ito-inot-ibe-isuffocating-iuncontrollably-iout-iof-inowhere.

  A-imoment-ilater,-ia-idoorway-iopened-ia-ishort-idistance-iaway,-iand-iFrumpkin-istepped-iinto-ithe-ivoid.-iHe-ithen-icasually-ibackstroked-ihis-iway-iover-ito-iJames,-iand-ifloated-ia-ishort-idistance-iaway,-itaking-iin-ithe-iview-iall-iaround-ithem.-iAfter-ia-imoment,-ihe-iturned-ito-iJames.

  "I-ibet-iyou're-iwondering-iwhat-ithis-iplace-iis."-iHe-isaid.

  James-inodded,-iand-iFrumpkin-igestured-iout-itowards-ithe-isea-iof-istars-iwith-ihis-ihand.

  "This-iis-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iuniverse-iyou-icould-ione-iday-ibe-igod-iof,-iif-iyou-imanage-ito-ibeat-imy-ilittle-ichallenge.-iFor-ithe-imoment,-iit's-imy-iown-ipersonal-ilittle-isandbox,-ibut-iI-ithought-iyou-imight-ilike-ito-ihave-isome-iidea-iof-iwhat-iyou're-iultimately-ifighting-ifor-ibefore-iwe-igo-ion-ito-iwhat-iyou're-iactually-iwanting-ito-isee.-iThere-iare-icountless-iworlds-iout-ithere,-iand-iyou-icould-isee-ithem-iall.-iYou-ican-imake-ifriends,-ichange-ilives,-iprompt-ithe-irise-iof-iempires-ior-ithe-icollapse-iof-idynasties,-icreate-inew-ilife-iand-iraise-iit-ito-ispacefaring-iintelligence,-ithen-iwatch-ias-iit-igoes-iout-iand-itries-ito-iconquer-igalaxies-iitself.-iYou-icould-ipromote-ilove-ior-ityranny-ior-ia-ityranny-iof-ilove,-ior-inothing-ior-ieverything-iall-iat-ionce.-iAnd-iall-iof-ithis-iin-iwhat,-ifor-iyou,-iwould-ifeel-ilike-ia-iTuesday.-iI-iwant-iyou-ito-iremember-ithis,-ikid,-iin-icase-iyou-iever-ineed-imotivation.-iThis-icould-iall-ibe-iyours."-iFrumpkin-isaid,-ilounging-iback-iinto-ithe-iair-iand-iputting-ihis-ihands-ibehind-ihis-ihead.-i"Assuming,-iof-icourse,-iyou-idon't-iblow-iit-ilike-ia-ichump."