Lemuria: The City of Mysts

Chapter 44: V-X2103

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Chapter 44: V-X2103

The tuneless whistling and scrape of boots against the hard-packed earth began seconds after the spy slung the doctor on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The ruckus Gerry made had let Fred know that he was semi-conscious. In his current state, all he could do was listen and think.

How far did the tunnel carry the sound Gerry created? The doctor couldn't bear think what the consequences of their passage would bring – like animal sentries who helped the guardians. Were the creatures even notified by the guardians that he and the spy would use the tunnels? So far, they were alone – for now.

What Fred really wanted to do was punch Gerry. Unfortunately, the doctor was stuck in a body he couldn't control. The spy ruined the plan; injecting drugs had never been part of it. Fred changed his mind. He wanted to do more than take a swing at Gerry's smug face.

The whistling stopped after a while. How deep had they gone? Fred heard Gerry mutter a sentence in a lilting language.

"Sorry to drug you, Doc", the spy switched to the common tongue. "These parts can get pretty cramped. I know all about your anxiety attacks and can't have you in one of your episodes.

"Feels good to be home, though. All that travelling on the surface and interacting with you Serrans – surface dwellers, I mean, can be wearisome. You know, deception and manipulation. A lot of that goes on", Gerry said in a conversational tone. "I know you doubt my allegiance, but Electra – or Cheska – whatever you prefer to call that child, is important to us, especially me.

"I'll tell you a secret only a handful of people know." Gerry whispered: "I'm the Guardian of all guardians. See, I'm the last of the weavers who created these portals you call tunnels." He cleared his throat and continued, "Celestraena – Cheska's mum was the brainchild of that program. She planned and supervised everything up to the point of leading that explorer by the nose to discover the Mysts. The last phase of the program went down the drain when she met Alfred Roucan. She threw her life away for a young ambitious entrepreneur like him. A union between Serran and an Uruimethian of her lineage, tragedy was bound to happen. Pity the fall had to be on Cheska's pretty little head. Poor child. Such a powerful gift to awaken in one so young." Gerry grunted and shifted his hold on the doctor's body. "Too bad you got sucked in this accursed business. Cheska seemed to like you more than that worthless French fellow."

The spy quietened as he trudged on. Fred, on the other, was bursting to ask more about Cheska's parents. Her mother was immortal and Uruimethian? How human were the Uruimethians? What was the last stage of the program? Then there was the tragedy. It must be about Mrs. Roucan's murder, but how was it connected to Cheska's gift? She could breathe life into a person in the brink of death or recently died depending on the person's will to live. The story uploaded online matched the real events of her traumatic childhood. Cheska hid with Louis while their parents confronted their crazed neighbour. Fred's recent interactions with the Roucans taught him that they spoke by necessity and in half-truths where their personal affairs were concerned.

Their mother's death. It was the only subject in the family where it suggested that a Mrs. Roucan once existed. No pictures of the woman were displayed in the mansion's gallery or in the other rooms he'd entered.

If only he could open his eyes and ask Gerry. Fred focused inward and concentrated on his right hand. Move, he commanded. Come on. Move.

His index finger twitched.

The spy stopped in his tracks. Fred felt the man's head move at his side. Did Gerry sense the movement? The doctor waited for the spy to say something. After a minute, Gerry continued walking.