Unspeakable, Part 20

They had several weeks of quiet. Everyone settled into their own corners of the cavern. Mander started swimming in the magma pools, scaring Sally half to death as he emerged one day.

With Boy’s help, Ivan built another chair. He wasn’t convinced it was suitable for the outside world, but Miles was impatient to be mobile and insisted it was fine.

Boy didn’t come down often, so the day he appeared during their lunch, they all tensed. Miles, he said, I think I’ve got something for you.

Shylock, sitting on the ground beside the chair, looked up at Miles, who said only, go on.

Lir went out on a journeyman mission, but it went south, Boy said. They’ve decided not to send help after him. They don’t want to risk anyone else, even though he’ll die.

He won’t die, Miles said briefly. Let’s talk details. The others quickly cleaned up their lunch, a ripple of excited anxiety running through them.

When he and Boy had finished, Miles sent the others to get ready, sharing a lingering look with Shylock before he went, and then he rolled over next to Connie.

So how are we doing this? Connie asked, her sling groaning as she shifted into a sitting position. Miles took a breath. We’re not, he said quietly. You need to stay here. Connie froze.

It’s too long a trek out there, Miles said, and right now there’s not a good way to transport you without getting noticed. You and Boy can start working on ideas for next time.

Connie’s face abruptly shuttered, like a mask, and she looked away. We’ll figure it out, Miles said, just not this time. Connie lay back, very slowly, in her sling. Fine, she said. Sure.

Miles looked at her for a moment, but she stared upward resolutely, her expression stony, and he knew if he pushed it, she might erupt. He respected her anger, and rolled away. Later, he saw Sally kneel by the sling and try to talk to her, and he hoped she’d have better luck.

It was a long, tense walk through the tunnels to the outside. They were all subdued, having left Connie still maintaining a stony silence in her sling, and they were itchy and uncomfortable in the coats and shoes from Boy’s stores.

At last, Boy gestured to Ivan, and he moved aside a portion of wall. The suddenness of the stiff breeze and the bright light took their breath away. Miles felt for Shylock’s hand.

Sally moved first, stepping into the doorway with quiet determination. She looked into Boy’s face clear-eyed. Remember, Boy said to her, the communicator won’t work once you’re out of range.

She nodded, and, trembling faintly, stepped out onto the rocky ground. Boy turned to look at the rest of them. Be careful. Find Lir, and don’t get noticed.

Sequoia was looking down at her feet. She hated having her hair lank and pulled back away from her face. She hated that she was the only one without shoes, or pants that fit. The pants she was wearing were huge, to make it all the way down to her ankles, and her feet still showed.

Ivan was looking out at the sky. It was his first time seeing it without glass or bars in the way.

Mander was pulling a large hood over his head, and shaking sleeves down over his hands. He was hearing the voices of classmates, teachers, janitors. Freak. Freak. Freak. Freak. Freak.

Shylock hadn’t heard what Boy was saying. In the dark, Shylock had forgotten what it was like. But with the return of the light came everything else. The world pulsed and seethed before his eyes, phantoms and fates and energies rushing past. And out there, It, the thing, his curse, was waiting. He felt dizzy, and knew he couldn’t keep It out forever.

Miles’ mouth was dry, but he looked Boy in the eye and said, we’ll bring him home. Look after Connie. Boy nodded, Shylock pushed the chair, and then they were out.

They’d come out some kind of natural crevice at the base of the Academy, into a tall, narrow pass. Rough, rocky walls twisted and turned out of sight, and they followed the thin path.

The Academy was concealed in rough volcanic country, an unforgiving landscape. They would have to walk a long ways to find a habited place, with other modes of transportation.

After walking an hour or so, Sally said suddenly, it’s lucky Lir didn’t go too far. We’d never reach him in time. Miles knew she was right. If we do this more, we’ll have to find faster ways, he said.

The light, the fresh air, the glimpses of sky high above, had an effect on all of them.

Ivan felt exposed, ignorant, huge and clumsy. Sequoia felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She was freakish and alone.

Like any lizard, Mander was wary. He wanted to move more slowly, keeping the option to scurry back in his hole in case of predators. But he pressed on.

Sally tasted salt in the air as they approached the coast, and felt something deep inside her straining forward, churning her insides like a boiling pot. Her hair whipped around her face at the slightest breeze, violently green against the sky.

Miles felt very fragile in his broken body, but fiercely protective of his odd little crew. He felt their various emotions and had compassion for them, and he resisted the urge to turn continually to make sure Shyock was still behind him, pushing the chair.

When they stopped to rest, Shylock sat with his back against the stone wall of the passage. Sequoia and Ivan stood at opposite ends of the group, watching for trouble. Sally and Mander huddled together for comfort.

Miles looked, and saw the exhaustion and the strain in Shylock’s face, and suddenly recognized it as battle. He felt a sudden surge of resolve. If they were going to do this, it was time to get to the root of the issue, once and for all. It was time for Shylock’s suffering to stop.

Shylock, he said, what do you see?

Shylock opened his big, brown eyes, and whispered, I see the elements of the world and all its spirits. I see the breath and blood and bone of reality itself. He shuddered.

It scares you? Miles asked, keeping his voice soft so the others wouldn’t hear, what you see? Shylock closed his eyes again and shook his head. Not what I see. He took a breath.

I’m scared because there’s a part of me that can reach out and touch reality, change it, he whispered hoarsely. And that part of me, I can’t get rid of it. I can’t keep it out.

Sooner or later, his voice broke, it will get in, and you’ll see me for the monster I am. And you’ll lock me up, like everyone else. A tear rolled down Shylock’s cheek.

Miles reached out and stopped it with his thumb. At his touch, Shylock’s eyes opened, and he looked at Miles as Miles slowly wiped his tear away.

Let it come, Miles said. Shylock inhaled sharply, but Miles went on firmly. The sooner you’re whole, he said quietly, the sooner we can talk about us.

You- you think you’ll still want me? Shylock said weakly. There was a glint in Miles’ eye. You wanted to know what I was like before, he said, right? Shylock nodded, eyes locked on him. Miles gave a small, somewhat chilling, smile. Let it come, he repeated.