I lied.
The new chapter isn't going to be here tomorrow.
It's here today!
Chapter 11!
“♪So, Orion,♪” I said. “♪What will happen when I get through all the trails?♪”
Orion held out a hand. “♪Hold on there, junior,♪” he said. “♪I respect you for wanting to do this so you can save your friends, but no one here really expects you to survive. Hell, Sandy and Erek are placing bets over at the common.♪”
This was upsetting. I suppose that it would normally have made me want to give up in disgust, but this was way too important. “♪Well, let me tell you something, Orion. I have every intention of doing this, and doing it
right. I will go on this little trek and I will become a Big Kahonee, don’t you worry. I was just wondering what benefits there are to being a Big Shot Mudokon. What can I do with this fine title?♪”
Orion shrugged. “♪The only one around here that has ever been able to do it except Knick. I’ve seen him do some really crazy crap. Would you believe he can pull up a Shrykull on command? It’s impressive.♪”
I squinted. “♪Isn’t that the thing Abe used to kill the board members from Rupture Farms?♪”
“♪You know it. And then there’s possession. That is a sweet power, too. I can do it, but no one can throw around possession orbs like Abe and Knick. It’s always a fun time taking out sligs like that!♪”
“♪Yeah, yeah, I figured that Shrykull and possession were part of the package. But is there anything else? I mean, you and Abe both get those tricks when you went through the Paramite and Scrab temples. So I should get something really ultimately sweet for going through this, right?♪”
Orion gave me a dull look. “♪Well, duh. When you want to start, you’ll get the only thing you’ll need from the outside to get through.♪”
“♪What? Did that mean I would only need one thing to get through this whole trip? You made it sound wicked dangerous!♪”
Orion maintained a straight face. “♪It is. What I mean is that everything
else you’ll need to get through these places can be found as you go along. But I’m going to give you the most important thing you’ll need to complete your quest.♪”
He reached into the pocket of his loincloth and pulled out a small, clear stone. It might have been the size of a pea. He handed it to me, and I took a closer look. It was a perfect sphere, and completely transparent. A small needle stuck out from one end, and there was a clip attached to it. It suddenly struck me that it was an earring.
“♪What is this for?♪” I wondered aloud. “♪What’s it do?♪”
Orion told me to put it on. Of course, my ear wasn’t pierced, so I had to do it right there. It didn’t hurt too much, I guess. I instantly felt it tingle in my ear, and I felt some clumped up … I don’t know what it was. But it felt like some knot in my mind came undone.
“What was that?” I said. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks: I had
said it, not
whistled
Orion spoke. “This will teach you to speak the universal language of Inglish. All sentient creatures would benefit to know it, and so would you. The longer you leave it on, the more fluently you will speak.”
I grinned. “Cool,” was all I could think to say.
“But,” Orion continued, “that is not the most important thing that earring will do. As you go on, you’ll find beacons with messages inscribed upon them. The mudokons of old put them up for all adventurous mudokons. I myself am not sure what they are for, but I know that the earring is a very important part of the quest. Hang on to that earring. Guard it with your
life. Got it?”
My grin widened—at least as much as my stitches would allow. “No sweat. When do I leave?”
Abruptly, Orion pressed his palms together and started to make vertical circles with them. A strange, melodic sound issued out from his lips. Small flashing lights began to spiral around him, and after a few seconds they all rushed at me, and I felt myself being pushed backward.
And I could almost hear his voice, saying, “Right about now, Dante. Good luck.”
Don't worry, Constant Reader. I know what it does. You'll know in a while.
And I do think it will be rather convenient.
