Written By Ged Maybury 

Illustrations by Miso

"Gradually, suddenly, - I dunno how it happens- but boom, you're there, you're in the dream, flying over those goddamn bones……"

FOUR

of farmland and orchards. By the time we reached his cottage the sky was a deep dark blue. A thin band of wispy cloud had appeared, lit soft-bronze by the vanished sun. It was the first cloud I had seen since dawn.
At his door I set down the barrow and paused. It was getting cold and I didn't fancy a night out, but this dude seemed rather tricky.
Then he spoke. It was like he could read my mind. "I don't usually," he said, "but you're welcome to stay over. Night's are pretty dark hereabouts."
"And cold." I added, feeling the chill increasing.
"Yeah, and that's a pretty daft outfit you got on there." He reached for his door-latch, "You any good with an axe?" he added.
I'd never used an axe before in my life but I wasn't going to let him know.
"Yeah." I said.
He jerked his head sideways, "S'in the woodshed."
I went in that direction, around his house, and there was a woodshed. I found his axe and began spitting the short dry logs. It wasn't too hard, really. I'd seen guys doing it in the movies. And it gave me time to think. - It was obvious that this guy was out for all he could get. That stuff in the barrow, for example. People had been coming down the Path all day, like me, and this crafty old swine was fleecing them. What fools! Fancy giving away their Journey-Choice, just for a drink! What a set-up!
Well he wasn't going to get my stuff. No way!

#

He had the fire lit. I dumped the firewood by the hearth and squatted beside him, rearranging my scabbard so it didn't tip me up. I was beginning to get used to it at last.
The fire was good. I tossed in a hunk of wood and watched the flames get to work. He lit some more lamps, then went into the next room. Some sort of food-store, I guessed. I looked around the main room. The place was full of stuff, mainly books, puzzles, and hundreds of different boxed games; chess, backgammon, checkers, and ones I'd never seen before. He came back and hung a big black pot over the fire.
"So, you staying then?"
"I haven't got money," I replied cautiously. Sure as eggs he'd be wanting something from me for supper and a bed.
He just laughed lightly, "Ain't no use round here!" He stood up and went back to his food room. "Listen," he called out as he did something in there, "I don't want ya stuff, kid, just a bit of human company. Think ya can manage that?"
I was silent.
He came back with bread and cheese and laid it on his table. "Eat." he said.
I got up and approached the table. I had to say something.
"Thank you," I said, "Uh, do you like backgammon?"

#

After dinner we played backgammon. He didn't seem interested in betting, which I was glad of. I had only my sword and my clothes to lose, whereas he had vast amounts of stuff to throw into a wager. And he beat me lots.
I couldn't figure him. He seemed so laid back, and friendly and generous too. Yet he'd been out there all that day, screwing every thirst-crazed traveller who went by. Finally I said, real casual-like, "So, did you do well today?"
"Yep. Made some good trades."
My anger just burst out of me, "A cup of lemonade for a telescope?! Yeah! I'd call that a good trade!"
"No, no!" he answered, "Swapped it for a mountain bike."
"Huh?"
He was off laughing again. Once he'd dried up he told me this, "Y-see, son," (he'd taken to calling me 'son') "I don't go messing with the Rules like that. A trade is fair. I don't expect Travellers to go parting with their Choices just for a drink! No!" He chuckled, "Sometimes they do, though, sometimes they do. Had one guy come through lugging this whole computer thing, CD-ROM, speakers, the works. He was only too glad to leave it behind. Insisted on swapping it for a drink. Well I didn't say 'no', now did I? That's my profit, see? I trade that sort of stuff up the road aways. Keeps me in lemons for months. But it's gotta be voluntary."
He shook the dice and made a move. "See," he continued, "Most folks coming through like you, they wanna lighten up. Take something smaller. Pocket knives are popular, or just a few boxes of matches. Even rope. The simple things. I import extras of those. Always the best, mind, always the best…" he chuckled and went silent.
I made my play and sat back, watching him in the half-light. I was suddenly alert. It had been something he had said. I waited a moment, then asked as casually as I could, "What was that you said about the 'Rules'?"
"Ah well," he said at length, "Some folks they get real serious about that; real philosophical. There's whole religions about it. Folk go to meetings every day, beat their gums endlessly. Hollering and wailing and speaking in tongues. But take it from me, son, it's all a big con-job."
"What's this 'IT', man?!" I snapped, "What're you talking about?!" He was beginning to get on my wick, this guy.
He sat back, looking at me weird-like. Finally he says, "Ah, might as well tell ya. You gotta learn it soon or late. It's the Quest, of course."
"Ahhh." Now I was getting really interested.
"More tea?" he asked, getting up suddenly, "and I've got some more of that apple pie if you'd like?"
"No, no, tell me about the Quest."
"Ah, maybe I shouldn't," he replied evasively, "I'm not the right one to go into that. I'll get that pie, - before it goes cold…"
"No!" I stood up, kicking back my stool, "Tell me about the Quest!"
He tugged at he beard with a nervous hand and sucked his teeth with tight lips, but still did not answer.
"Tell me…" I said with all the menace I could muster, "Or else." And I began to slowly draw my sword.
He sat back on his stool with a sigh and pushed the backgammon aside.
"Okays, okays, but I warn ya: I'm not the best to tell."