by BP
Beth hurriedly packed her duffel bag. This time, at least, the Postmaster had given her notice before dropping her into a mission.
“MY APOLOGIES FOR SUCH SHORT NOTICE,” Beth said, mimicking the Postmaster’s clipped, synthetic-sounding voice. “BUT YOU AND NOU ARE NEEDED.”
“Never mind where we’re going,” She added, dropping the mimic. “Just get to the airport, he says. Pack for cold weather, he says. Nou will meet you there, he says.” She shook her head, adding the last item to her pack. “And just where to, this time, Postmaster?”
Soon after, her house was prepped for departure, her car loaded up, and she was on the road. “The Postmaster knows where I live, that much is obvious from his sending Nou to pick me up last time.” Beth began. “So why does he think it’ll be a piece of cake for me to just drive way out to the airport? Sheesh, last time I did that, I got shipped off to China on a wild carving chase. I mean, given, I was the one who decided to go. I could’ve bailed out any time before that. Well, I’m too far in now to think about what could have been.”
With that, her musings ended. She tuned in to a favorite radio station and let her mind wander. A terse beep from the Postmaster device snapped her back to attention. She pulled over before activating the device.
“Well, well, Postmaster, gonna tell me where I’m going once I get to the airport?”
“THAT WOULD HARDLY BE FAIR TO NOU.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “Of course. So, why’d you call me?”
“JUST CHECKING IN.” There was an almost stretched quality to his voice, as if he were nervous.
Beth frowned. “Hey, is something up?”
“NO, NOTHING YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT. BUT, JUST FOR SAFETY MEASURES, WHEN YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT, MAKE SURE YOU DROP OFF YOUR CAR AT THE STATION MARKED WITH THIS SYMBOL.”
An icon that looked like an envelope appeared in the center of the screen. It was sealed with circle of binary numbers.
“Okay…” Beth muttered nervously. “You know you can tell me if something is up, right? I’m not gonna freak out and turn tail.”
“YES, YES- BUT NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THAT. JUST HURRY TO THE AIRPORT.”
“All right. Oh, and one thing before you go. What the heck am I supposed to call this thing?” Beth asked, shaking the device emphatically.
“I SUPPOSE YOU COULD CALL IT A POST-LINK.”
“Works for me. All right, see you soon.”
She shut the device down and pulled back onto the road.
“Something has the Postmaster spooked…” Beth muttered thoughtfully. “And if he’s spooked, I better be on the alert.”
*****
“Beth!” Nou shouted excitedly.
Beth stuck her head out the car window, smiling as Nou trotted to the car.
“Beth take long time get here! Nou begin think Beth get eaten!”
Beth laughed. “No such luck, Nou.” She glanced around the tiny airport. “You already dropped off your Jeep?”
Nou nodded. “Beth go that way, to special station.” He pointed the way, and Beth drove over.
She returned with her bag, and the two headed toward a jet. Beth squinted at it.
“Nou, is it just me, or is that the same jet that took us to China?”
Nou nodded. “Nou think so. Maybe Postmaster own.”
“Possibly. Hey, did he call you on your way down?”
“Yes! Postmaster sound nervous. Make Nou nervous.”
“Me too. He said he’d fill us in when we got here, though.”
They were quiet as they boarded the jet and stowed their baggage. Once seated, they waited for an announcement from the Postmaster.
“HELLO, BETH AND NOU.”
“Hey, Postmaster.” Beth said, smiling. “Now, no more stalling. Where the heck are we going?”
“Yes! Postmaster tell!” Nou chirped.
“YOU ARE OFF TO REYKJAVIK, ICELAND.”
“Oh, yes!” Beth exclaimed jubilantly. “Cold weather, beautiful scenery, Vikings- mega gear! We gonna hunt down any yetis while we’re up there?” She added jokingly.
Nou frowned. “Cold? Nou not like cold!”
“He told us to pack warm, Nou.” Beth said, smiling dryly. “Where did you think we were going to, Fiji?”
Nou shrugged. “Nou not think about.”
Beth laughed. “Obviously!”
“ANYWAY,” The Postmaster interjected. “I HAVE DONE CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH SINCE YOUR LAST MISSION, AND I HAVE MUCH TO TELL YOU. THE NAME ‘FLYTE’ GAVE ME AMPLE MATERIAL, FROM CHARACTERS TO INNOCENTS WHO UNFORTUNATELY SHARE THE NAME. ONE LEAD, HOWEVER, PROVIDED MOST USEFUL: A MISTER TIMOTHY FLYTE. HE STARTED A FORWARD ABOUT HIS FICTIONAL ILLNESS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CHEAT PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR MONEY AND TO MANIPULATE THEM INTO FURTHER PERPETUATING HIS FALSEHOOD. I CAN ONLY ASSUME HIS ILLNESS MANIFESTED IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD, INFECTING HIM FOR REAL. I ONLY HAVE AN INKLING OF WHAT HE’S PLANNING…AND IF WHAT I SUSPECT IS TRUE, WE’RE IN FOR SOME SERIOUS STORMS.”
“And…?” Beth prodded. “What do you know?”
“THE VORTEX YOU DESCRIBED…FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, IT’S A DIMENSIONAL PORTAL. TIMOTHY FLYTE’S LAIR IS LIKELY INSIDE A DIMENSIONAL HOLE.”
“A what?” Beth asked, perplexed.
“A DIMENSIONAL HOLE- A GAP IN THE FABRIC OF REALITY. THESE GAPS ARE BLANK SLATES, FROM WHICH MIRROR WORLDS, SHADOW DIMENSIONS, CAN BE FORMED. IF FLYTE’S BASE IS INDEED INSIDE ONE, IT WILL BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TRACK HIM.”
“That’s just prime…” Beth muttered.
“STOP INTERRUPTING. I HAVEN’T GOT TO THE WORST PART YET.”
“There worse?” Nou exclaimed. “What worse than that?”
“MY, MY, YOU TWO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THIS! THERE IS FAR WORSE THAN A MERE DIMENSIONAL HOLE, NOU. DIMENSIONAL HOLES COULDN’T CREATE FLESH AND BLOOD CREATURES. THEY WOULD BE MERELY SHADOWS, BEINGS THAT WOULD FADE BACK INTO THE HOLE ONCE VANQUISHED.”
“But the vortex destroyed the Montauks and spiders!” Beth pointed out.
“TRUE. I ASSUME THAT IS BECAUSE CLYDE’S CONTROL DEVICE MALFUNCTIONED.”
“But then why didn’t it get us?” Beth continued. “If it were a simple malfunction, we should have been targets, too!”
“BLAST IT, I DON’T KNOW!” The Postmaster snapped. “I’M TELLING YOU ALL I CAN! I DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING!”
Beth frowned, taken aback by the Postmaster’s outburst. “Sorry…just curious…” She muttered.
The Postmaster was silent for a moment before speaking. “NO, NO, YOU DON’T NEED TO BE SORRY. I- LOST MY TEMPER. I’M SORRY FOR SNAPPING.”
Beth nodded. “It’s okay. We’re all under a lot of pressure right now.”
“YES, I SUPPOSE. AS I WAS SAYING,” The Postmaster continued briskly. “A DIMENSIONAL HOLE COULDN’T CREATE ACTUAL BEINGS. ONE WOULD NEED SOME SORT OF DEVICE, AND A MASSIVELY POWERFUL ONE AT THAT.”
“So, is that our mission? Find this device?” Beth asked.
“CERTAINLY NOT!” The Postmaster exclaimed. “IT’S FAR TOO DANGEROUS- AT LEAST UNTIL I KNOW FOR SURE WHAT THIS DEVICE IS.”
“Then what Beth and Nou’s mission?” Nou spoke up.
“AH, YES. IN MY RESEARCH, I CAME ACROSS SOMETHING INTERESTING. FLYTE HAS ANOTHER ACCOMPLICE, BESIDES THE BIGFEET: THE CARDIFF GIANT.”
“Giant?” Nou exclaimed.
“YES, A GIANT. AND FROM WHAT I CAN GLEAN, HE WILL BE IN REYKJAVIK, LOOKING FOR AN ANCIENT ARTIFACT: THE PENTALPHA.”
“Uh, Pentalpha?” Beth asked. “Man, this mission is all questions.”
“THE PENTALPHA IS AN ANCIENT RING, SAID TO HAVE BELONGED TO KING SOLOMON. IT IS SAID THAT IT GAVE HIM CONTROL OVER SPIRITS AND THE LIKE, AND PROTECTED HIM.” The Postmaster hesitated a cautious moment before continuing. "FLYTE IS DEVIOUS. I SOMEHOW DOUBT THAT THE PENTALPHA HE SEEKS IS ACTUALLY THE RING OF SOLOMON."
Beth frowned. "Then what?"
"PERHAPS THE TERM IS A CODE-WORD FOR HIS TRUE PRIZE: AN ITEM WITH VERY SPECIFIC PROPERTIES..."
“Such as?”
“SUCH AS PROTECTION. FLYTE KNOWS SOMEONE IS ONTO HIM. HE FEELS VULNERABLE. THAT IS LIKELY WHY HE SEND THE GIANT TO FIND THE 'PENTALPHA'.”
“A precaution.” Beth said, nodding.
“PRECISELY. AND, PERHAPS, IT COULD BE USEFUL IN CONTROLLING MORE CREATURES.”
“So Postmaster want Beth and Nou find ring?”
“IN A WAY. REGRETTABLY, I DON’T KNOW THE ACTUAL LOCATION OF FLYTE'S PENTALPHA. BUT THE GIANT DOES. I WANT YOU TO FOLLOW HIM. ONCE HE FINDS THE PENTALPHA, TAKE IT.”
“Uh, and just how are we supposed to subdue a giant?” Beth asked. “Monsters are one thing, but a giant?”
“I EXPECT CUNNING WILL BE USEFUL.”
“Right, just trick him into giving it up?”
“SOMETHING OF THE SORT.”
Beth sighed. “Well, this oughta be interesting.”
*****
Nou’s teeth chattered loudly in the sharp cold. “N-Nou n-not happy!” He said, frowning. “N-Nou go-going t-t-to f-fr-freeze!”
Beth laughed. “Ah, come on! It’s not that cold. Besides, you were supposed to dress warm for this.”
Nou nodded. “N-Nou did d-dress warm!”
“Well, come on. Moving around will get your blood going. Make you warmer.”
They headed deeper into the city, heading for the hotel the Postmaster had booked them rooms in.
“So, we get settled, and then we find this giant.” Beth began. “Postmaster will probably have a starting point or something so we can find him to begin with.” She frowned. “Hey, just a question. Do you know how to track anything? ‘cause I’m no good in that department.”
Nou frowned. “Nou th-thought B-Beth tr-track!”
“Well that’s just dandy.” Beth muttered as they entered the hotel.
It was wonderfully warm inside, and Nou let out a happy sigh as he warmed up.
“Nou not leave.” He declared. “Nou stay forever.”
“No can do, kemosabe.” Beth said. “We’ve got stuff to do.”
After checking in, they made their way to their rooms. An odd sight greeted Beth when she opened her door. A large box sat on her bed. It wiggled occasionally, and odd noises came from it. Upon closer inspection, she found a note tied to it.
“This will help you track your quarry. Best of luck.”
Beth looked at the box with interest, opening it carefully. A large furry creature leapt from it, its long tail swishing the air swiftly. It looked up at Beth curiously and meowed.
“You’re a cat?” Beth asked.
The creature did look rather cat-like. It was larger, about the size of a basset hound, and had floppy ears.
It meowed again, as if in affirmation to Beth’s question.
“Okay…so I have a hound-cat.” She said. “Interesting.” She bent over to look the cat in its eyes. “You need a name…well, since we’re in Iceland, how about Knud?”
The cat purred approvingly.
Beth smiled. “Ah, the kitty likes it!” She scratched Knud behind the ears. It purred happily. “Okay, Knud. I hope you’re ready for some serious crap. We gotta be ready for who knows how much tracking!”
*****
Beth and Knud waited for Nou in the lobby. To Beth’s surprise, no one seemed at all perplexed by her odd cat-hound. A few children had even come up to pet it.
“Nou’s late.” Beth mused, petting Knud.
As if on cue, Nou entered the lobby. His eyes went buggy at the sight of Knud.
“Is kitty or dog?” He asked.
“A cat, I think.” Beth said. “His name is Knud!”
Knud purred in a salutary manner at Nou.
“Good kitty.” Nou said, smiling. “Why Beth get kitty-dog?”
“The note said it would help us track the giant.”
“And Postmaster call Nou! Tell Nou where start tracking.”
“All right! We’re in business. Lead the way.”
Nou led them through the city and some ways into the surrounding countryside.
“Now Knud lead!” Nou said, petting the cat as it went to the head of the group.
It sniffed the ground several times before bounding off into the wilderness.
“Follow that cat!” Beth exclaimed, trotting after the cat.
*****
“Beth and Nou follow Knud for days. Beth and Nou not find giant.” Nou frowned. “Nou think Nou never be warm again.”
“You’ll be fine.” Beth said. “Just walk around. Try to keep warm.”
“Nou not walk around any more today! Nou cuddle kitty, stay warm.”
Nou sat down glumly on a rock and gathered Knud onto his lap. Beth chuckled at the sight. She had been attempting to start a fire for nearly half an hour now, and had nearly given up.
“Oh, whatever.” She said, abandoning the fire. “We’ll have to take turns with the cat.”
It seemed Knud had other ideas. It leapt off Nou’s lap abruptly and sniffed the air. Knud hissed angrily, the fur on its back standing up.
“Oh, great.” Beth muttered. “We’ve got company.”
They stood at the ready, waiting. No noise cut through the silence, no clue sounded out.
“Nou think Knud maybe little crazy.” Nou whispered. “Nothing out he-”
A massive figure stepped silently out of the forest, toting an armful of wood. He was wearing a furry brown coat that brushed the snow at his feet, and sported an impressive head of blond hair, with matching beard.
“Holy crap.” Beth breathed. “He really is giant! Must be eight feet tall, at least!”
The giant started and looked over at them. “What- what are you doing out here?” He managed. There was a distinctly Norse sounding accent to his voice.
“Well, um, we, uh…we’re on official business.” Beth flubbed.
This wasn’t at all the giant she had been expecting. There was no malice to him, no disdain. He couldn’t have been further from the Bigfeet.
He smiled, seeming to relax. “Oh. Sorry, I’ve forgotten my manners. You may call me Galdur.” He held out a massive hand for Beth to shake, and in doing so, dropped his pile of firewood.
“Nou help!” Nou chirped, struggling to get the firewood back into a pile.
“That’s very decent of you.” Galdur said with a smile.
“Okay, Galdur, I hate to sound rude, but- you’re not at all what I expected.” Beth said.
“Expected?” Galdur repeated, his countenance darkening. “What do you mean, expected?”
“Oh shoot.” Beth thought. “Now I’ve done it.”
“I just, eh, didn’t think anyone as big as you are would be out here.” She attempted, lamely.
Galdur shook his head. “You’re lying…! I can tell.” He glared down at her. “Why are you really out here? No- answer me this! Who sent you?”
“Who sent us?” Beth faltered.
“Yes! Tell me now!”
“Well, I, uh, can’t really-”
“You’re here to stop me!” He roared, snatching one of the large chunks of wood and hefting it menacingly. “Flyte told me there would be people out here, people trying to stop his work. I won’t allow it- I won’t let your evil be victorious!”
“Our evil?” Beth thought incredulously.
She had little time to puzzle on it, as Galdur lunged at her. She barely dodged in time when he swung at her again.
“Hey- look, we’re the good guys!” She snapped. “I don’t know what he told you, but- ack!”
Another near-miss threw her off balance. She tumbled down in the snow and looked up at the wrathful giant in terror.
“You’re done interfering, small one!” Galdur said. “You-”
A dull thunk cut him off. His eyes glazed over and he toppled to the side.
“Yes! Nou get very good shot!” Nou exclaimed jubilantly.
“You did that?” Beth asked.
“Nou see Beth is trouble. Nou try pick up log, but log too heavy. Nou try and try, and Nou pick up! Nou swing big log and throw, and hit Galdur! Now Beth and Nou and Knud escape, before Galdur wake up.”
Beth looked down at the giant, frowning. “We can’t just leave him in the snow.”
“Why not?”
“Well, for one, we still need him for our mission. Two…did you hear what he said? He said ‘your evil’. I don’t think he was acting with all the facts. If Flyte brainwashed him or something…well, we can’t just leave him to his fate.”
Nou sighed. “Nou suppose Beth right.”
Knud crept up to Galdur and pawed at him curiously.
“Hey, you quit that.” Beth said, poking Knud. “We gotta get a fire started or something.”
*****
Galdur awoke slowly. Night had fallen. He rubbed his aching head, trying to remember where he was or what he was supposed to be doing. He shook his head, trying to clear it. He looked around, hoping something would jog his memory. He was propped up against a rock, sitting by a roaring fire. Two others sat by the fire, and a large cat-like creature. The man had dozed off, and was curled up next to the cat. The woman stared into the fire, poking it occasionally.
“What happened?” Galdur asked.
The woman started. “You’re awake. Good.” She handed him a tin plate full of food. “It’s not much, but with that knock to your head, I figured you just needed something.”
Galdur took the plate and ate the food ravenously. He was hungrier than he remembered, and the meal was pleasantly tastier than he expected.
“Where I am? What happened?” He repeated, once finished.
The woman shifted uncomfortably.
“And who are you?”
She sighed. “Well, I’ll probably hate myself in the morning for telling you, but, here goes. I’m Beth, and the little sleeping guy is Nou. We were tracking you- you do remember who you are, right?”
Galdur nodded. “Most of it.”
Beth frowned thoughtfully. “Wow. Nou really must’ve thwacked you.”
Galdur frowned. “That little one knocked me out?”
Beth laughed. “Yeah! Go figure! Anyway…we were tracking you, because- you know where something very valuable to us is. The Pentalpha- do you remember that?”
Galdur shook his head.
Beth sighed. “Well, maybe you will later.”
“Why did Nou attack me?” Galdur prodded.
“Because you were attacking me.”
Galdur frowned. “I- what? Why?”
“Well, you, uh, figured out that we were tracking you. You weren’t too happy about it. Nou saved me by knocking you out.” She chuckled. “He’s been doing a lot of saving me, lately.”
Galdur shook his head. “I- can’t believe I would do something like that. And- you stayed? Why? I could have attacked you again.”
Beth shifted uncomfortably. “Well, I- right when we first met, you didn’t seem like a bad guy at all. I don’t think you have all the facts. It just didn’t seem right to leave you to freeze.”
Galdur nodded slowly. “I think I understand.”
Beth nodded. “All right. Well, I’m gonna try to get some sleep. See ya on the flip side.”
*****
Beth yawned and stretched. “Well, I’ve slept better.” She muttered. “Then again, I’ve slept worse, too.” She looked around, noticing Galdur was gone. “Nou! Nou, wake up!”
Nou snorted in surprise, stirring from sleep. “What Beth want?”
“Galdur’s gone.”
“Nou not surprised! Giant probably got Pentalpha already and give to Flyte!”
“I don’t think so. He doesn’t remember the Pentalpha…or much of anything really. You must’ve hit him pretty dang hard.”
“Good! Big giant try smash partner, Nou hope Nou hit giant hard!”
“Nou!”
“What? Nou not sorry!”
“Did I miss something?”
Beth and Nou turned to see Galdur entering the camp. He held an armload of firewood.
“Not much.” Beth said. “Nou and I were just talking.”
Galdur smiled and put the wood down. “What’s for breakfast?” He asked playfully.
Beth riffled through her pack. “Whatever this is.” She held out a package with a rather unappetizing picture on it.
“What giant want know for?” Nou asked tersely. “Giant not get eat it!”
“Nou!” Beth hissed. “Come on!”
“No! Nou not be nice to giant. Giant work for Flyte!”
“Flyte?” Galdur repeated. “I know that name…”
“Know because that giant’s boss!” Nou snapped.
Galdur shook his head. “No, I’m- remembering.”
Beth looked at Nou with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. “What do you remember?” She prodded.
“I remember…all of it.” Galdur looked at Beth and Nou in confusion. “I remember waking up, as though I had been asleep for such a long time- I didn’t even remember ever being awake. And he told me that I was to serve a great purpose, that I was to help him. He wouldn’t tell me what his mission was, only that there were agents of evil trying to stop him. He said he needed an artifact- the Pentalpha, to protect himself, because there would certainly be attempts on his life. He told me- to use lethal force on any who tried to stop me.”
He shuddered. “But seeing you two, I can’t believe you are agents of evil. Evil would have left me in the snow. Evil would not have defended its own. So…I would like to help you. If you’ll have me.”
“Glad to!” Beth said with a smile.
Nou gaped. “Beth not serious!”
“Nou, I believe him. You trust me- so trust him.”
Nou mumbled unhappily. “Nou give Galdur a chance.”
Galdur smiled gratefully. “Thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah…now, how can you help?” Beth asked.
“The Pentalpha- I’ll take you to it. I can make something for Flyte, to allay his suspicions.”
Beth frowned. “Wait- what do you mean?”
“I can help more if Flyte still thinks I’m on his side. Besides,” He added darkly. “I have questions that must be answered. Questions only Flyte can answer.”
“I get it.” Beth said.
“Come. We must be quick. Flyte is expecting the Pentalpha in a matter of hours.”
*****
After a hasty pack-up, Galdur led them to the mouth a cave. They plunged deep below the earth, deeper and deeper into the labyrinthine abyss. At length they came to a massive chamber.
“The Pentalpha.” Galdur said, pointing to a pedestal in the center. They trotted over to it.
“That it?” Nou asked. “Not look like worth so much trouble.”
“Oh, but it is.” Galdur said. “If Flyte wanted it so badly…you have to ensure he never gets it.”
Beth nodded. “Will do.”
Galdur nodded and smiled. “Time for me to go. With luck, we’ll meet again.”
He tapped his wrist, and a swirling vortex appeared. “I left markers, so you’ll be able to get out again.” Galdur added just before he stepped through the portal.
Beth chuckled as the vortex vanished. “Well, that was one heck of a mission. I do believe we have a new ally.”
“Nou guess so. But new ally so big…make Nou feel nervous.”
“You’ll get used to him. Now, let’s get out of here.”
*****
“And that’s what went down.” Beth said, finishing her report of the mission.
“INDEED.” The Postmaster said, interested. “AND THIS GALDUR CAN BE TRUSTED?”
“You bet.” Beth said. “I vouch for him.”
“AND NOU? DO YOU TRUST HIM?”
Nou shook his head. “Nou not trust just yet. But, Beth trust, and that good start.”
“Oh, and Postmaster.” Beth began. “Why did we have to take so many precautions before we started this mission? Dropping our cars off at special locations, and the like.”
“DON’T WORRY YOURSELF WITH THAT. YOU SHOULD GET HOME, BEFORE THE JETLAG KICKS IN. REST.”
"Yeah, yeah, blow me off again!" She said. "And by the way...I'm keeping Knud."
"HOW WILL BALROG REACT TO THAT?"
"He's a good kitty. Besides, he gets bored with me gone so much. Having a friend will be good for him."
"VERY WELL."
Knud purred happily and followed Beth.
"So...you sure you don't want to tell me why you were nervous?"
"BETH. GO HOME."
Beth sighed, grabbing her duffel bag and disembarking the jet. “Postmaster, someday, you’re gonna have to tell us things.” She mumbled.
Her thoughts turned to Galdur as she loaded her car and drove off. What was his story? How had he gotten sucked into this?
“Hang in there, Galdur.” She thought. “We got your back.”
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