The Diary of Wartha Gormley - Day in the City

Day in the City

Diary. It’s been awhile again. I’m sorry. I feel a little better now. I had started on some other entries, but I tore them out. Sorry about the ripped pages. I threw them in the river. Maybe someone will find them some day and wonder. They were mostly bad poetry and me feeling sorry for myself.

I miss Drucilla something awful, Diary, but it’s ok. My journey is all that matters now. I’m going to kill The Sun. It’s what Dru would have wanted.

I don’t know how many days it’s been since I last wrote a serious update. I passed through some more hue-men villages. Their false caves are everywhere in this part of the land. I’ve been going on foot so it takes a lot longer to get anywhere. I climbed the tallest tree I could find and looked out to the edge of the world. It never seems to get any closer. Is the Upworld messing with me? Does it just grow bigger and bigger the more I march? Will I ever get to the place where The Sun makes its nest?

I’ve come too far to turn back now. I don’t think I could even make it back to the tunnels if I tried. This hue-men world is so big and wide. I don’t know the way back to the cave I entered it through. I should have made a dang map. What was I thinking.

Anyway, Diary, it’s late. I’m going to watch The Sun rise and then I’m going to sleep for the day.

-----

Diary. You won’t believe what I saw today. A whole dang city of hue-men. It’s massive! The caves- I don’t even think that’s the right word for them...more like towering spires of metal and stone- they reach toward the sky. I can’t believe Updwellers built all of this. I’m still in the woods near the city. I followed the river all the way here. It seems to go right through the heart of it.

I’m going to wait until nightfall then see if I can make my way through it. Gashwhisker alone knows if there’s any way to get around this thing.

-----

Diary, the hue-men never seem to sleep here. I have to be very careful here. I don’t know how they’ll react if one of them sees me. The Updwellers have some messed up ideas about goblinkind if the story that Miri told is any indication. I’m laying low, but it ain’t easy. The river cuts right through this city and the forest around it has thinned out to nothing. I’m sitting behind the last tree before a huge clearing. Around me are countless Updweller caves. They stand up straight and tall. Most of them are blocky and rectangular. Some have artistic flourishes and sculptures around them, but most are pretty plain. It’s a little unnerving, I tell you. Caves are supposed to go down, not up. Updwellers are so backwards.

Paths crisscross the city. Some of them are for walking on but most are dedicated to those big metal hue-men carts. Nonstop they dart around the place. I guess that’s just how Updwellers get about. Must be nice.

-----

It’s really dark out now and I don’t see too many carts about. I think the city is mostly asleep finally. I’m going to head out and see how far I can get into this place. Maybe I can make it to the other side and back into a forest or maybe even some proper caves (not hue-men caves) before The Sun comes around again. If I don’t make it then I’ll find a place to hunker down until it gets dark again.

-----

I’m deep in the heart of the hue-men city. It’s like a maze of towers built upon towers that seems to go on forever. I’ve never been to the goblin city, Witherburg, but I’ve read about it and even seen drawings. It’s not like this. Everything in Witherburg is carved out of the stone of the tunnels. It sits just beside the pit of the Downlow. Have I ever told you about the Downlow, Diary? It’s an infinite pit filled with all sorts of monsters and ancient civilizations. The only goblin who’s ever gone there and returned is Gashwhisker. That’s how he got to be the Dark Hob, watcher of us all. Gashwhisker was the only goblin brave enough to face the fearsome spirits and eldritch terrors of the Downlow. But even Gashwhisker has never been to the Upworld. There are no tales of him visiting a hue-men city.

Look at me. Comparing myself to the Dark Hob. If Ma read this she’d scold me. I don’t mean any disrespect, Gashwhisker (I know you can read on account of you see everything). I’m just writing the facts as I see them.

-----

Diary. I heard something. I found a place to hide- I think. It’s a hue-men carved stair that goes down to a door alongside one of the cave towers. The door is boarded up so I don’t think hue-men are likely to be coming down here. I just hope that they blocked it off to keep beings out and not to keep something terrible in.

I’m going to rest. The sky is turning purple. That means soon The Sun will be back and the Updwellers will start moving about. I’ll just hide out here a bit.

-----

The noise is unbearable, Diary. I can’t sleep. There must be hundreds or thousands of hue-men stomping and shouting up there in the canyons between their tower caves. I pulled my hood over my face but I can still hear it. And those carts make a load of noise too. They roar and hum and sometimes make a strange noise like a snorting honkerbeast.

-----

Diary. I think someone is coming. Down the steps. I’ll try to hide in the corner of this hole, but I don’t think there is any way to avoid getting caught. I got to put you away for now, ok? Don’t be scared, Diary.

Duskworld Chapter Fourteen - The Library.

The connection speed on her book was fantastic in Newbright. It wasn’t necessary to actually visit the library since Meiki could access everything it had to offer from any point in the city. Still, it had always been her dream to visit the place and she wasn’t going to pass it up.

  The ivory building sprouted out of the ground. Its central form was an organic bubble of glass and ceramics that twisted upward like the petals of a massive flower. Frond-like structures spread out from the bubble to give shade to the plaza before the main entrance. The arcade roof of the foyer opened as if to catch the sunlight. Even in the murky light of Naya this building glittered. Meiki had never realized how beautiful her world could be.

 The library of Newbright was more than a collection of reading materials. It was the seat of the local government and the hub of life in the city. This treasure trove of knowledge and beauty was the beating heart of Newbright and some would say all of Naya. This was part of what had been cut off from Meiki throughout her life in Gates.

  Lily shaped booths loaded the ingress. From them individuals could connect to the Zephyr network. Every library in every settlement on Naya connected here. This was one of the things Meiki had run away for. This is what she had run towards.

  “I told you I haven’t got an ID!”  came a familiar voice from behind one of the booths.

  “Look. I’m from...out of town...I don’t...”

  Meiki poked her head around the side of the booth to be certain. There stood Rashmi arguing with a librarian. She wore a light jacket and a pair of trousers over it but Meiki could see her zepto-scale foglet suit poking out of the collar.

  “Madam if you could please-”

  “Never mind...I don’t need your help," said Rashmi. She saw Meiki and winked.

  The librarian stood blankly before walking off.

  “My friend,” said Rashmi to Meiki, “I was afraid I had lost you.”

  “You...” said Meiki.

  “I know what you’re thinking...”

  “YOU!” Meiki said. Her eyes drilled a hole through the woman who had forsaken her in the woods.

  Rashmi stopped. “I’m sorry.” was all she mustered.

  “You left me in the forest when those...things...”

  “I told you not to go back. You chose not to listen.”

  “Junko...she...Phel...” Meiki stopped talking and began blubbering. All of the fear that she had pushed down, all of the worry she had ignored to get to where she was at this moment, it spilled out of her. A hurricane of tears punctuated with thundering sobs gushed out of her face. Rashmi patted her shoulder awkwardly.

  “What are you doing?” asked Meiki between sobs.

  “I’m...comforting you. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do when someone is crying?”

  “I guess,” Meiki said, “but...well, I reckon it’s just weird. I only just met you. I shouldn’t care that you ran off in the woods. I shouldn’t be this sad. I don’t need you. I never need anyone. Being alone. That’s my thing.”

  “Well,” said Rashmi, “I need you, even if you don’t need me. I’m sorry I ran off like that. I’m on a mission and I didn’t want to jeopardize it, but I should not have left you in danger. I’m sorry.”

 Meiki turned away from the woman and thought for a while. She no longer trusted Rashmi, but was still in a strange city with no other friends.

 “Fine” said Meiki.

 “Fine what?”

 “Fine, I forgive you. For now. But don’t think this means you’re totally off the hook. I know I can’t believe in you now. If I’m in danger there’s no way to be sure you won’t just leave me again. But I could use a friend right now.”

 “A friend with technology beyond your wildest dreams?” asked Rashmi.

 “Well, I guess that sweetens the deal a little.” said Meiki, smiling and crying at the same time.

After the tears dried they sat near the fountain where Meiki had eaten her sandwich. Meiki told Rashmi what happened with Junko and about the kind trucker who got her to Newbright.

  “So, “ said Rashmi after a short silence, “what do you plan to do now?”

  “Plan?  Gee. I really didn’t think it over, I guess. I need to figure out how I’m going to feed myself for starters. I didn’t bring more than a few days worth of sandwiches.”

  “Well, that would be a problem, I suppose, for someone who needs food.”

  “Don’t you ever get hungry?”

  “Nope. My suit generates all of the nutrients I need and feed them directly into my bloodstream. There are also drugs that keep me from feeling hunger pains. Like most of my tech I couldn’t tell you exactly how it works. Sorry.”

  “Wow. I know how almost everything I use works. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be so stupid.”

  Rashmi smiled at the insult.

  “How about you?” Meiki asked, “Now that you’ve made it to the greatest and only city on all of Naya what do you want to see?”

  “Well, I really wanted to see the library. Particularly the Nebcore.”  

  “What is it with you people and the Nebcore?  That Junko lady was after that thing too. I’m pretty sure there isn’t one.”

  “Oh. It’s real,” said Rashmi, “It’s been sending out a steady signal for some time now. That is what drew me here in the first place. I responded but it was not receiving...only transmitting.”

  “Transmitting what?  Is there a message?”

  “Just one word...’Hello’...over and over again.”

  Rashmi held out her arm as if looking at a watch. “I managed to load a map before that fascist librarian accosted me...take a look.”

  The lines on her forearm displayed a map of their general vicinity. Meiki could see the library. At its center a small red dot blinked. There were two blue dots outside the building.

  “What’s that?”  she said, pointing to the red dot, “Is that it?  Is that the access point between our world and the rest?”

  “Yes. I was surprised to find that no one here, not even the librarians knew about it. But there it is.”

  “Why do you want to get to it?” asked Meiki

  “It’s a mystery.” said Rashmi, “Why is it hidden?  Why does no one know about it?  It seems to be active so someone within the library is still using it. Someone is communicating with the Solar System.”

  “I guess those two blue dots are us, right?”  asked Meiki.

  “Yes, clever one. I placed a tracer on you last night. Sorry. I wanted to be able to find you again if I needed to.”

  “You could have told me.”

  “Yes. I could have. I’m sorry that I didn’t trust you.”

  “What’s that green dot?  It’s moving fast...toward us.”

  They both looked up in shock as the motorbike sped toward them through the plaza.

  “Junko!” shouted Meiki.

  Rashmi pushed her out of the way as the bike raced toward them. To Meiki’s amazement Rashmi leapt clean over it.

  Junko spun the bike one hundred eighty degrees to face them.

  She glanced at Meiki, “I knew the two of you were working together...should have apprehended you earlier. But she’s the real threat.” Junko pointed at Rashmi.

  Her bike began to hum as if powering up. Rashmi stood right in her line of sight. A small tube sprouted out of the fork of the bike. Meiki may have been a stranger to this technology, but that thing had ‘weapon’ written all over it.

  “Rashmi!  Look out!” Meiki shouted, but she had already leapt out of the way again as a blast of light shot out of the motorbike. Rashmi landed on top of Junko, knocking her off the bike.

  The agent landed gracefully and tripped Rashmi to her knees. The technology made Rashmi fast, but she was still just an anthropologist facing off against a trained fighter.

  Before Rashmi could get to her feet Junko released a spray of chemical foam from her suit. It enveloped Rashmi. On contact the stuff hardened and immobilized her.

  Junko produced the device she had used before to disable Rashmi’s suit. She began to work at Rashmi as before- poking it at her and clicking. The fugitive struggled for a moment but then fell, resigned to her fate or perhaps just sapped of all her strength.

  “Noooo!” shouted Meiki as she slammed Junko with her backpack, knocking the tool to the ground. She dropped Meiki to the street with a swift kick.

  “Keep out of this, child!” Junko growled and lunged for the device. Meiki brought her heavy work boot down on it, cracking it into pieces.

  Junko rose up and punched Meiki square in the chest, cracking her ribs. Meiki fell upon Rashmi.

  “Get back!  Leave her alone!  Don’t put her in chains!” Meiki gasped.

  With the device broken Rashmi’s suit seemed to start reactivating. Meiki noticed a barely audible hum and the anthropologist’s expression changed. Her eyes focused and her brow furrowed. Rashmi grunted. A crack appeared on the outside of her chemical prison. She strained some more and there was a loud snap as Rashmi escaped the shell of hardened foam as if it were meringue.

  Junko pounced on her again, screaming. This time instead of fighting Rashmi just ducked and dodged.

  A crowd had gathered to witness the spectacle. Meiki suspected that soon the local authorities would arrive as well.

  Meiki picked up the device Junko had dropped. It was not destroyed. She could see its inner workings. The technology was alien to her, but there were some familiar principles. It had a power source, some sort of media for it to travel along, an aperture through which energy was either taken in or given off.

  She could probably repair it, even improve it even though she didn’t know exactly how it worked. The opening was hindered by a sliding switch that seemed to control how much energy  the device could manipulate. It clearly could be opened to a much greater degree than the slider allowed. Most importantly, Meiki saw that the energy flow could be redirected outward.

  The two aliens continued to battle on. Rather one of them attacked while the other evaded. Meiki reassembled the disabler while they were occupied.

  Hiding it in her palm, Meiki put herself between Junko and Rashmi once more.

  “Please,” the girl said, “just leave her be. She’s no threat to you and the Catena!  She’s just an anthropologist!”

  Junko looked confused but charged at the two of them. When she came within five feet Meiki hit her with the disabler at full blast. It whistled and whined. A cone of hot white light burst out of the thing. The tube had become so hot that Meiki dropped it in shock. The agent careened into the child and the professor, knocking them over and fell to the ground. All of the lights on her suit shut down. She seemed to be unconscious.

  Meiki rose up with her arm held to her ribcage. Rashmi stood up too. The young girl looked at the device- nothing left but a melted clump of black plastic.

The Girl with a Bird for a Heart- Chapter VIII

 The light brushed against Enin’s fingertips. It had a physical presence. Waves of heat shot down his arm and into his chest. They engulfed his newfound heart  in a flame that did not consume. The light of indeterminate color flooded his eyes. The heat spread throughout his body like a fever.

“Stand.” came a voice from above him. The voice was indescribable, neither deep nor high and not loud nor soft.

Enin rose to his feet, expecting his head to meet the ceiling of the cave. It did not. He was a tall man even without his hat. As he stood he got the sense that the cave itself was much bigger than before, infinitely large.

The light in his eyes began to fade.

“Who are you?” Enin asked the voice.

“Close your eyes.” said the voice.

“Why?” asked Enin, but he did as told as if compelled. The light faded slowly to black.

“Who are you?” Enin asked once more.

“Open your eyes again.” was all the voice said.

Enin stood in a field of green. The bluest sky he’d ever seen floated above him. The meadow spanned about one hundred yards in every direction. Trees of a sort he’d not known since his boyhood lined the perimeter. The field teemed with life. Birds of many colors darted about and small creatures he took to be rabbits munched on the short grass by his feet.

Before him stood an elderly man. His back was bent and a profusion of deep lines covered his face. His eyes were watery and grey, but open and alert. He smiled a genuine smile.

“Welcome to my pasture.” said the man.

“Who are you?” Enin repeated.

“Who are YOU?” asked the man.

“I’m...I don’t know...I’m just me.” Enin knew who he was. He knew his own name, his own history, yet somehow could not speak it. He felt as if he stood beside a plate of glass and his entire life before now were on the other side. He could witness it as if from afar but couldn’t touch.

“That is correct.” laughed the man. “You are just YOU. I have seen you. Dancing about the stage. Playing the role of demon and angel. Living a life that you think has been long. I have watched you cry and laugh and love and hate. You have made quite a spectacle of yourself.”

Enin looked more deeply at the man. He recognized the face.

“Father?” he said, “It’s you!”

“Yes, but not in the way that you mean.” said the man.

Enin looked again and said, “I am mistaken. It has been so long since I have seen his face. But I recognize you now. You are my teacher. The first teacher. You taught me to read when I was so small. You sent me down the path of knowledge. That path I have walked ever since.”

 “I am that, but again not as you think.”

Again he regarded this wizened old man. Each time he glanced at him his face changed. He was the slavemaster of Kudra Kai then the Wizard of Hybourne. One moment he resembled the man with the apple cart- the first man Enin had ever killed. The next he wore the face of a Crystal Man who had aided Enin in his search for a potion that would extend his own life. Every teacher he’d ever known, every face of every person who had granted him knowledge was present here.

“This is simple trickery.” Enin said. “You are using basic magicks to fool me. I’ve lived among face changers in the Shadow City. I’ve slain skinwalkers in the forests of Grek. I’m not fooled by your pranks.”

“This is not a prank, young one.” said the man, “I am The Teacher. I am every teacher. When you look at me you see the face of every person from whom you have drawn inspiration. You see all teachers.”

Enin looked away.

“I am not young.” he said, staring into the blue.

“You are to me.” said The Teacher. “Your time on this world has been long by your standards, but I have watched you as well as countless seekers before you.”

“Seekers?”

“Yes. Seekers. Those for whom the world around them is not enough. Those who climb hills and dive into oceans. Those who climb the ladders of academies and dive into books.”

“I have done it all.” said Enin. “I have spent more than ten lifetimes walking this world and now I am weary. I come here seeking to end it.”

“I can aid you in that.” said The Teacher, “But what I set in motion cannot be undone.”

“I understand.”

“Do you?”

Enin sat on the grass and wrapped his head in his hands. “Teacher,” he said, “I am spread thin. My bones should long since have been dust. Yet still I walk this world. I have seen all the joy and all the pain that mankind has to offer. I have been the cause of much of both. I wish only now to end it.”

“End what?”

“The world. End it all.”

“Do you not care how this action will affect the rest of those living in this world?”

“No.” said Enin, “If there is one thing I have seen in this world it is the wickedness in the hearts of all men. The scroll of Aina- Keeper of Breath showed me how to put a stop to this. I have done so much to get to this place. I have killed, tortured, so many have I harmed. But if I follow the path that I have set myself to. I can erase it. My own sins. The suffering I have wrought. All the blood, all the pain. It will be like lines erased from a slate.”

The Teacher looked up at the sky. It had turned grey as Enin spoke.

“Seven days.” Enin said, “That is what the scroll says. Seven days from the time that I ask. That is the time to undo the world. Tell me it is true.”

“It is.” said The teacher. Clouds formed above them- dark, heavy, and pendulous.

“Then I ask you.” said Enin. “I beg you. Finish this. Finish me. Finish it all.”

“I shall.” said The Teacher.

The Diary of Wartha Gormley - Day of Goodbye

photo source- https://unsplash.com/photos/8jNATlZXhgk

Day of Goodbye

I sliced off part of my tunic and patched Dru up as best I could. Then I led her by the reigns along the river a ways. I figured it was best not to ride her until she was feeling better.

After only an hour of travel she and I were both pretty wrecked. I scouted around for a good spot to hole up and I found this old hue-men cave. Neither one of us felt like wandering the Upworld any more at that point.

Diary, I can tell you this. I’m worried. Drucilla just ain’t herself anymore. She tries to put on a good show for me, but I don’t think she knows how busted up she looks. She doesn’t seem to be losing any more fluid, but that leg is raw and nasty. I wonder what an infection looks like.

I caught us some food and she barely touched hers. The Sun will be up soon. I’m going to watch it rise through the square shaped cave holes in the higher levels of this place. Maybe I can spy its lair from up there. Then I’m going to snuggle up with Dru.

If anything happens to her it will be my fault. I don’t know what I’ll do without the old girl. I had just been learning how to live alone in this messed up world when she found me. I almost wish she hadn’t. It’s really terrible to fear losing her twice.

-----

It’s kind of beautiful, The Sun. I never stopped to watch it float up above the world like this. The ordinary blue black dome above me starts as a bright crack along the edge of the trees. Slowly it opens and the line becomes more and more brilliant. The light trickles out like blood from the wound made by a sharp blade. I can feel the heat from its fire as it illuminates the land around me. The split between the night dome and the land is growing as it emerges, pushing back the darkness. I was so wrong. This isn’t a creature emerging from its den. This is light itself being born. This happens every day here, doesn’t it, Diary? Brighter than ten thousand campfires this flaming beast crawls across the ceiling of the world. It’s floating past the clouds and changing their colors to purple, pink, and gold.

What does it eat, I wonder. Where is it going? I’m still unclear if it is the same Sun each day or if a new one is born. If I can find more kindly hue-men like Red and Miri maybe I can ask them. It’s so gorgeous I can’t believe that the Updwellers aren’t up worshipping it every time it rises (sorry Gashwhisker- no disrespect meant). Maybe they do. I’ll check and see.

What will happen when I kill it? Do the Updwellers fear it or love it? Will they curse me for killing their god? Or thank me for slaying their monster?

I’m going to sleep now. If Drucilla is feeling better I’ll head in that direction tomorrow. It can’t be more than a few days away. I’m going to make it. I just know it.

-----

Diary. The worst has happened! It’s been a few days. I haven’t eaten. I’ve barely slept. I’m sorry to burden you with this, but you’re the only one I can talk to.

Drucilla and I slept so deeply. We were both so hurt and tired. We didn’t hear them coming. I didn’t know until it was too late.

Hue-men wolves. Those creatures the pig-master had with him. Not the same ones. Different ones. A whole pack. They surrounded us while we were out cold. I didn’t know until they were upon us. One was tearing at my boot and I awoke startled.

I kicked at it only to realize there were a half dozen more all over us. I managed to unsheathe my knife, but there was so much light coming in through the cave holes that I could barely see. I slashed and kicked at two of them as they pounced on me.

They weren’t as strong as a shadewolf, but there were so many. Claws and teeth all around us.

I wasn’t able to stand before I was covered in fur and blood. I don’t recall exactly what I did, it was so fast. They yelped and whined as I cut at them. You might think they were just poor beasties out for a meal, but I didn’t want it to be me. When I struggled out from under their carcasses I saw two more still standing before me and realized that Dru was fighting off three more of the dang things.

I couldn’t get to her without getting past those two. I growled. They growled back. I cursed and spit at them. They leapt. The stupid Updweller cave floor was made of wood and it must have been weakened by the years. The creatures fell on me and the boards cracked beneath our weight. I landed on my feet, but it wasn’t graceful. Bleeding, nearly crippled and covered in splinters of wood I tried to fend off the animals. One of them bit my weakened ankle and knocked me to the ground. The other jumped on my chest and bit into my face.

I stabbed at it twice before I realized I must have dropped my knife.

I punched and kicked the critter as hard as I could. It released it’s jaws.

It yelped.

It died.

Drucilla had saved me once more.

In the blackness of the lower cavern I could see clearly again. She had slain the other two beasts and then jumped down to rescue me. The final attacker ran off once his fellows were dead.

Diary. Then came the worst moment in my life.

I was hurt but nothing permanent. Maybe a scar down my face, but that only makes me more of a goblin.

But Dru. Oh sweet Drucilla. One of her legs had been torn clean off by those things. Spiders can’t scream in pain. Spiders don’t cry. She just looked at me with all of her eyes.

I stroked her fur one last time. I kissed her bristled head and patted her thorax right where she likes it.

The light in her eyes faded slowly. I hugged her and squeezed.

She could not cry but I made up for it. I wept and wept for hours. Long after she was still I cradled Drucilla in my arms.

Eventually the Sun faded as it always does. I looked around the cave. It was littered with broken hue-men furniture. All of it was made of dry and ancient wood. I would give Dru a proper goblin funeral.

I gathered the planks and other bits into a pyre. I spoke a prayer to Gashwhisker. I spoke a promise to The Sun. I set the fire.

I climbed out of the lower cavern into the area that had probably been a school. I glanced behind me for one last goodbye.

I gathered my things and marched out of the cave and into the Upworld forest as the school burned behind me.