The Winter Letter (24 page)

“I suppose so.” 

Gatnom stuck a leg over the edge. He took a deep breath and fell into the box of rot with a squish. When he emerged he had to dig lettuce out of his top hat. “Okay, your turn,” he said. “Jabber, keep an eye on us from above, okay?” 

Jabber hopped off Will’s shoulder and perched on the edge of a nearby roof, quite happy to not be getting into the trash. Butterbugs hate it inside, especially inside of smelly boxes. 

Will reluctantly straddled the side of the box and fell in. “Now what?” he asked once he was right side up.

“We wait.”

“Man, this is crazy. A few months ago I thought other worlds were only in books, but now I’m hiding in the trash of another world.”

Gatnom looked at Will. “My friend, thank you for coming with me. I know it has been hard, but in spite of all that has happened I’m glad you’re here.”

There was an awkward quiet moment, then the steady groans of a moto-cart approached. The next seconds were blurry as Will and Gatnom tumbled into the back box of the trash collector cart. At first Gatnom landed on his feet, but then he was knocked over by the trash raining down upon him. Will wound up face-first and upside down, gagging on a mouth full of red banana peel. It took two more stop and garbage showers before they found their bearings.

“Feel that Gat? We’re moving again,” said Will.

The moto-cart stopped again, and Will and Gatnom re-buried themselves in the trash. There was another shower of garbage, the top lid slammed, and the cart started moving again. 

“Gat, let’s go before someone hears us.”

“No, I don’t think we are in the inner city yet. I haven’t heard the gate slam. Remember how loud the outer gate was? We’d hear it if we had entered the inner city. We must wait until—” Gatnom shushed as he heard voices discussing the contents of the truck. 

“…would you like me to open it and let ya have a look?” called a chuckling muffled voice. 

“Ha. Very funny,” answered a different muffled voice, then there was the clanking of chains and the sound of another guillotine slamming into the ground.

“There. On the next stop let’s go,” Gatnom said.

The truck stopped; the top lid opened; the back door fell; and Will and Gatnom rolled out of the trash cart and scurried in between the first two houses they saw. After a short break, the garbage cart continued its work. Will and Gatnom watched for a moment. At each stop two metal arms hugged another trash dumpster and dumped its contents overhead into the back of the truck.

Here, in the heart of the city, the streets were not as crowded. It looked like a quiet neighborhood, with no vendors crowding the sidewalks in front of the homes, and there were very few pedestrians.

“Look,” said Gatnom.

“We’ve got those on Earth; called garbage-trucks.”

“Not that, t
hat
,” Gatnom said, pointing up. Will followed Gatnom’s finger to three towers the color of honey.  At the tip of each tower a sharp needle, like the blade of a fencing foil, stabbed the sky, and at the bottom was a ten story building that doubled as a wall and the foundation for the towers. Surrounding it all was a moat with one draw bridge that let up and down and doubled as a gate, the front entrance to the palace grounds.

“There’s the palace. That’s where Moa said the children were taken,” said Gatnom.

“It’s huge!” Will said.

“Yes, it is. I never would have imagined it like this.”

“So, how do we get inside?”

Gatnom looked at Jab, who had just appeared on Will’s shoulder, out of breath and out of nowhere. 

“Hey Jabber,” Gatnom said, “I’ve got an idea.” 

***

Back inside of the palace Wohie was now dressed as uncomfortably as anyone ever could be. She had been vice gripped into a corset and powdered more than any baby’s bottom. Her almond cheeks were now hinting of cherry, and her eyes were outlined in black. The shoes she was given were wooden and stubborn, and there were ruffles of white fluff floating beneath her skirt. 

She felt like an idiot.

It had taken Mei four hours to make Wohie into the perfect model of a high class sophisticated woman from her city, but it only took Wohie five minutes to undo it all. One look in the mirror and fluff was flying everywhere. She loosened and tossed the corset, rubbed her cheeks until the cherry blended with her skin, and kicked the wooden shoes off and out an open window. The uncomfortable things celebrated their freedom all the way into the moat surrounding the palace. Mei’s mouth hung open as she watched her hard work fly from behind the dressing board, as if a tornado was helping Wohie undress. But when Wohie walked out, Mei smiled. Not all had been undone. The dark makeup remained because it helped Wohie notice her own eyes for the first time, and she liked them. The skirt remained, minus the fluff underneath, because Wohie liked the way it hung straight down and the way the air caught underneath it when she spun and kicked. 

“Aren’t you beautiful,” said Mei.

Wohie lifted the train of her dress. Underneath, she wore her black boots. “There ain’t no use wearing ugly uncomfortable shoes, especially when they are gonna be hidden anyway,” she said. 

Mei smiled. The comment made perfect sense to her, and probably for the first time. “The King has requested you be brought into the courtyard,” said Mei.

“I don’t want to meet him! He’s a droft!”  

Mei gasped. Although she was from another country she knew calling someone a droft in Baru was a terrible insult. No one really knows what a droft is, but everyone is offended by the word nonetheless. “Why do you say such things? The King is good,” Mei replied.

“Good?! He’s a murderer!”

“No honey, it can not be. The King would never do such a thing.”

“Yes he would! He has! You’re blinded by all of this.” Wohie pointed to the nice clothes in the nice room. “I’m from beyond the peaks and to us he is a murderer. He murdered my parents!” 

Wohie turned, scowling, and looked out the window overlooking the moat and surrounding city. She felt Mei put one hand on her shoulder while reaching around and opening the window with the other. The fresh air breathed cool on her wet face. 

“I do not know what you have been through child, and I’m sorry for thinking I understand. I’m sure all this is confusing, but trust me, your questions will find their answers. Please turn to me. Ah, your make-up is running. Here, sit down, let me redo it.” 

Twenty minutes later Wohie was led into a hall, down some stairs, and to a bench in the middle of the courtyard, while Mei watched from a window a few stories up.

***

Jabber flew back after about twenty minutes. He had to catch his breath before telling Will and Gatnom what he had seen. “All the entrances are guarded—” Jabber took a deep breath. “—and there are big men with swords at every door. There was one window open, so I flew in, but there was no one there, just a bunch of clothes everywhere. I tried to go farther, but couldn’t open the door or squeeze underneath it. That moat—”

“How high was the window?” Gatnom interrupted. “How do we get there?”

“It’s this way,” Jabber said as he hopped on Will’s shoulder and pointed with three arms. Down an alley, between two houses, and around a corner they walked until the three came to the banks of the moat guarding the castle. 

“What in the world?! Why is it like that?!” Will asked. 

The water of the moat was insane, literally mad by magic. Rapids slammed into each other, tossing barrels of water in every direction, and whirlpools submerged and sank, making temporary black holes as it sucked all the water down to only God knows where. The moat was flowing like a mountain river, but without the mountain, and for no reason. One moment a white piece of foam was here, the next it was out of sight having been swept towards the distant southeastern corner of the moat.

“That’s what I was trying to tell you,” said Jabber. “The water is crazy, like the river that falls from Mt. Highness. I’ve never seen water move so fast on flat ground.”

Gatnom stared as if calculating. “Where is the window?” he asked Jabber. Jabber pointed.

“Whoa. That’s high,” said Will.

Gatnom nodded. “If we enter there may be no way out. Maybe I should go in and look. You and Jabber stay here and keep watch.”

“Not a chance,” said Will. "I didn’t come all this way for nothing. Besides, how are we gonna get across?”

Gatnom stepped to the edge of the raging waters. To the left and right the backs of houses were flush with the banks of the moat. No one would be able to see them if they crossed, except perhaps the guards walking back and forth across the bridge leading to the entrance of the palace. Still, they would have to move fast. To the north the moat turned and disappeared to the left while an outshoot at the Southeastern Corner ran beneath the giant silver wall and out into the Old Battlefield plain. Across, the river tightly hugged the windowed walls of the palace. At that moment another splash hit Will in the face. The moat was flexing its muscles, daring them to jump in and be swept away forever.

“I think I can walk it,” said Gatnom.

“You can
WHAT
?”

“I can walk the moat to the other side. I know I can. You ride on my back, then we’ll climb up to the window.”

“Wait, wait. You’re going to walk on water?”

“Yes. I’ve been trying for years. It’s never worked, but I think this journey has taught me how to use my powers. They must be fueled by thoughts of people I care about. Since you got here, I’ve done so many things I wasn’t able to do before.”

“Gatnom, if you sink it’s over; the water is too rough. There’s gotta be another way.”

“There is no other way. If we don’t get in there soon who knows what will happen to Wohie and the boys. They need us. I
know
I can do this.”

“This is crazy.”

“Yes, it is. Jabber, you wait here. If something happens you need to let Daveed and Master Jared both know.”

“Yes sir!” Jabber said. He flew up and perched on the limb of a nearby tree. He leaned back on a flower, crossed his legs, and watched closely.

“Okay, let’s go.” 

Will climbed on Gatnom’s back in piggy back fashion. He felt ridiculous. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.” 

Gatnom took a step forward. He whispered some magic words while pushing down with his hands (like he was lifting himself up on two hand rails). Slowly, he lowered his foot onto the rapids. Just before the sole of his boot made contact with the water he put all his faith into the magic, dropping his entire weight down. Will held his breath, but there was no splash. When he opened his eyes there was a smile on Gatnom’s face and they were standing firmly on the water. The water splashed and crashed all around, but wherever Gatnom’s foot set was instantly calmed. He was focused on the boys and Wohie, on the black sands of the bottomless lake, the whispering waves of the Eastern shores, the draping clouds adorning Mount Highness. One step after another he walked, knowing he was doing something he had never even read about. Will rode with a gaping mouth (although he
had
read about one other person walking on water). 

They arrived at the opposite bank and immediately began climbing the wall. Outset bricks were spaced arms length apart,  which made it easy to dodge the windows, just in case someone was watching from inside. Far to the left the guards of the palace gate walked to and fro, oblivious to the two specks hopping up the wall. When they reached the window, Gatnom peeked in. Jabber was right; clothes were thrown everywhere and the room was empty. They climbed in quickly.

“Look! Aren’t those Wohie’s boots, and her clothes?!” Will asked.

Gatnom looked at the neatly stacked pile. On the top was a folded up cloak, and on the bottom were the pants Wohie had wore since the journey began. “Yes, they are clean, but I’m sure they are hers. She must be close; let’s go.”

Gatnom peeked out the door. He turned quickly and put a finger to his lips, a sign to be quiet. “There’s a woman,” he mouthed silently. Slowly, he eased out on his tip toes, then he grabbed the woman from behind, covering her mouth with his right hand and lifting his left to her face as a threat. He pulled her down to the floor of the hallway. The woman jerked at first and made a muffled scream, but quieted when she saw Gatnom’s hand in her face. Instantly tears appeared.

“Where’s Wohie?” Gatnom asked, quietly but sternly. Mei looked terrified. She had momentarily forgotten who Wohie was. “Where is the young girl?” Gatnom repeated, once again reverting to his more threatening, deeper voice.

Mei made a muffled motion towards the window. Gatnom slowly lifted his hand from her mouth, realizing how hard it would be to answer while gagged.  “She’s out there,” Mei said, trembling.

“Out where?”

“In the courtyard. I’ll show you. Please don’t hurt me,” Mei whimpered. 

Gatnom loosed her and let her stand, but he stayed low enough not to be seen from the row of windows, just in case it was a trap. He kept a firm grip on one of Mei’s wrists. She lifted the other hand and pointed out of the window. Tears streamed down her face in black makeup lines. Gatnom and Will pulled themselves up just far enough to see over the window ledge. Seated on a stone bench was a strangely dressed Wohie. She was looking up towards the window, then she turned to face the approaching Lord Andrias, who was still dressed in black from head to toe.

***

Andrias, the black knight of King Mel, stood in front of Wohie, towering above her. His arms were unwrapped, revealing dark brown skin and little rippling muscles that twitched when he moved his fingers. From the slit of cloth in his mask two brown eyes stared down upon the beautiful young woman seated on the bench.

“Young Ascena, How do you like the palace?”

“I’d like it better if I weren’t a prisoner.”

The big man said nothing for a moment, turning and looking around the courtyard. He cocked his head slightly to the left like he was listening to something. Wohie couldn’t hear whatever it was.

“Why am I here? Why did you kidnap me?” she asked.

“I did not kidnap you. I saved your life.”