"If you are sure about this," Ezekiel said giving me a firm look, which I returned. "Then we should leave now."
A heaviness suddenly descended over all of us as we realized it was time to take action. None of us knew for sure if this was the right course. The only certainty we had is if we didn't find a way to disarm that weapon by tomorrow evening, then none of us would survive to see another day.
"Wait," Jerome said penetrating the atmosphere and stopping us all in our tracks. "Even though Gershom is the only one entering the fulcrum, we will be standing close enough so the energy waves are going to be very intense. It may be impossible for us to endure them for long."
He was right. Bobbing my large Rzerth head up and down I gave the equivalent of a grim nod. Was it really necessary for all of us to be there? I would either conquer the fulcrum or die alone. I stated this thought out loud.
"We don't have a lot of time to do this, so I think we should all risk being there in case you don't make it," Ezekiel said in a way that certainly wasn't mean but logical. Although I appreciated his point, it still was hard to hear.
The group of us then continued to move towards the exit. Ezekiel leading us, Jerome and I were in the middle with Hannah taking up the rear.
Outside full darkness blanketed the red and yellow landscape. Disorienting since it had been light when Hannah and I returned to the burrow after visiting Earth. Swiftly we all transformed into our Little Dragon bodies but not before I couldn't escape the nagging thought that this might be my last time ever in this form.
The garden, which exists out of time and space can in theory be accessed anywhere. As a species, however, we tended to call it forth where we originally found it in the star-studded universe deep in the blackness of outer space. Upon arrival, the strands of the gigantic energy web emerged vibrating. They came seemingly into existence from nowhere. As a former physicist I knew it was lowering its frequency to give us access. As evolved as we were, the garden was still far superior to our race.
That knowledge filling me with dread as I anticipated my upcoming task.
"Gershom," Hannah's voice then spoke from behind interrupting my thoughts. We were moving past the web's entrance, when I turned to face her. Her large yellow eyes brimming with uncertainty and unhappiness. "Don't die." she said her voice suddenly so soft I almost couldn't hear her.
Her unexpected show of affection had me giving her a small smile. "I don't plan on doing that," I told her forcing a more confident tone of voice then I felt.
Hannah wasn't reassured. "What exactly is your plan, other than stumbling into the fulcrum and hoping you can figure it out!" she demanded.
I felt my own eyes narrowing at her in irritation, "Julie Salmon believed you had to be of one mind to harness the fulcrum's creative power. That is what I am going to do," I stated and then added. "If Felix can do it so can I."
Hannah turned away from me at my explanation, and I could feel her discontent with my answer. It fueled my own anger. What did she expect from me? I don't hear her volunteering a better idea. Annoyed I barely registered the now expansive web, which wasn't just white anymore but flickering with other vibrant colors. The melody also changed to include a song for each of us creating a brand-new symphony of sound.
Sighing deeply, I managed to regain my composure enough to glance around, more than a few other Little Dragons were resting contentedly on the strands.
"We need to go further inside," Ezekiel then said and no one argued. The deeper inside the garden we were away from all others the less they would feel the distortions once the fulcrum finally appeared. Fortunately, the garden was a massive entity so eventually we reached a space devoid of anything but the webs and us. As an extra precaution, Ezekiel had us fly in even further until we were miles from the others I estimated.
We then landed on the web, and I felt their eyes on me. Closing mine for a moment, I cleared my mind preparing to call forth the fulcrum.
That ends Social Conundrums, Part XXX. Next month is Social Conundrums, Part XXXI. Learn more about the Little Dragons by reading the earlier blog post series titled Humanity's Evolution.
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