Story: 'Wordspace' Phase II, Part VIII

( Part I , VII , IX )

The sparkles spread for a few moments, and then scuttled away. Mystery had no idea what they were, and presumed they were from Sorpresa's home space. The distraction worked, and the three made their getaway, heading back towards their friends. Behind them, the Invader lumbered around awkwardly, even comedically, before turning back to the Zone of Meaningless Jargon and giving it some half-hearted thumps. Presumably, this 'Armageddon' type was getting a little bored with it all.

"Not even that thing will be able to get through the Zone," thought the ever contemplative Mystery. Then he corrected himself inwardly. "Not a thing, but a word. There are no 'things'."

Cloud fluttered through the air, undulating nicely into curves, and stretching out into sprints, bent on throwing off any chance the invader had of tracking their course. Sorpresa looked thoughtfully back, and said little. Mystery remained alone with his thoughts.

"I have no idea what we're doing." He wrinkled a syllable in introspection. "Are we going to war? Are we going to an execution? What's it all about? How could we even begin to deal with such a gigantic problem? It would be difficult at even half the size! If it weren't so big, we could somehow trap it inside the Zone." The idea or war worried him. "There has never been a war here, only War herself."

On the distant horizon, Moon was rolling along, in melancholy fashion. Somewhere on the opposite horizon, Sun was probably jumping and down and doing his aerobics. Ah, that crazy old Sun. It had been ages since Mystery had made the journey to have a chat with either of those distant hermit cousins. Some notions began to whisper at the back of Mystery's mind, but didn't permeate through to his consciousness. Not yet.

"There they are." Murmured the ever quiet Cloud in her succinct way. War and her troop were striding toward them out of the dusk. Light and Illumination were doing their best to make it easy for people while not giving away their position.

"Thank you, Cloud." She murmured in response, but didn't impose on his thoughts. "I keep thinking that I'm forgetting something."

Mystery was forgetting something, but we'll get to that in good time.

To be endlessly continued...