When Robert looked up, he noticed that the Podor soldiers were being chained to the last few wagons of the caravan. So they would be forced to walk when the caravan begin to move. Robert was chained to the last and farthest wagon, along with twenty other men.

The manacles they put on Robert. Looked unbelievably shiny and new. But they were very primitive. The key was a solid metal screwdriver thing, that screwed a bolt in between the two halves of the manacle.

“Hey.” A Podor prisoner leaned in and whispered in Robert's ear. “If they're treating you like this. You're not from Liba or Gudo and I know you're not from Podor. Did you really mean what you said, about waking up out here?”

“Yes every word,” Robert said, as he quietly strength tested his manacles. “Everything I said was true.”

“Oh, come now. It was a good story and all, but you were talking nonsense. “ replied the Podor Soldier, as he leaned again the wagon. "Half of the things you said were animal noises."

“What? You heard noises, not words?” Robert muttered.

Oh right. How did I miss this before? Even on earth, there's a language barrier between cultures. But this is another planet, so that barrier should be even bigger? So how could they even understand me?

“Hey what language are we speaking now?” Robert asked

“What are you talking about?” The soldier asked, looking a little confused. "What do you mean? We're just speaking aren't we?"

“No I mean have you ever met someone who you couldn't understand... Whoa,” Robert said. As the caravan started moving. Everyone started walking along with their wagon.

“Oh. You mean when you cut someone's tongue out. So they can't speak anymore? Is that what you mean?” the soldier said, so casually Robert almost missed it and nearly dry heaved, at the idea.

“Ah, no,” Robert muttered, turning away. “ That's not what I mean.”

“Silence! No more talking!” Commanded a passing guard.

After ten minutes Robert was having trouble walking. He glanced to his left, where two black towers came into view over the dunes. Against the blue sky and tan desert, the pic black towers look menacingly and manmade.

“Hey what's that?” Robert asked, pointing. The soldier glanced over. "Those towers, is that where we're going?”

"You're joking with me right. Ha, you got me with that one. ” The soldier laughed.

“Ok, then. If it's not where we're going?” Robert asked, mildly frustrated. “Then what are they? Some kind of strange rock formation?”

The soldier looked like he swallowed a bug.

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“Really? Have you been sheltered your whole life or something? How do you not know this? ” the soldier, asked gesturing at the towers. “ I thought... This is like a child's question."

"Well then, just call me childish and tell me."

"Ugh, you're crazy. I feel like. I'm getting dumber just by talking to you.” the soldier said, shaking his head. Then he snaps upright and stares at Robert in shock. “Hey, I understand now. You're trying to worm information out of me, by claiming complete stupidity. It starts with simple kid questions. Then I drop my guard and you start asking me the real questions. Well, I'm not going to fall for your tricks, I've been trained for this. I'm going to be over here from now on. Don't try to talk to me again or I'll hurt you.”

“Wait no! I'm not doing that.” Screamed Robert, as the soldier moved away. “I'm just a dumb actor! Who doesn't know anything or where I am! And he's ignoring me. Oh, why me?”

The earlier Liba Guard walks by and gives Robert a commanding, You better not try that again stare.

Four hours later the commander, liberation guy came looking for Robert. Who was now sitting on the back of his wagon? It was the only place to sit then the wagon was moving. The guards had allowed him, because after two hours of walking, Robert, collapsed and couldn't stand up again. The guards and the captured soldiers couldn't understand why.

What now? Robert thought, looking down at the commander.

“What?" Robert said."I got permission to sit here.”

“That doesn't matter, the general wants to see you personally,” the commander said, as he waited for Robert to get down. Robert didn't move. "Now."

“He wants to see me, does he? He can come here for that.” Robert said disrespectfully. The commander in annoyance pulled Robert off the wagon. “Hey, ow.”

“You will show respect then talking about general Paul!” the commander ordered. “Now move.”

“Nice tough guy act. You must be great at parties.” Robert said, leading the commander back up the caravan.

They passed some other groups of prisoners. They watched Robert as he passed. At the head of the caravan, the general stood waiting for them.

“I didn't want to do this. I was fine with letting the Gudo sort you out. But that seeing stone is another matter.” the general said, gesturing behind him. “Princess Samantha won't leave it alone. She wants you to help her use it.”

“What?” Robert said, coming to a full stop. “The Princess wants my help? No way I'm not going to help her. Take me back to my sit.”

“You will help her.” the general growled, as he grabbed Robert's outer suit. “Or I'll tie you up and leave you here to die.”

What the hell! This guy means it. Robert thought as he saw the fury in the old man's eyes. Then Robert acknowledged that this world was a lot worse than earth.

“Ok Sir, I'll do it,” Robert said. "Just no hitting."

“You got good enough manners. Remember that. She is waiting for you in here.” the general said, as he leads Robert to a smaller wagon. “If you do so much, as to give her a headache. You'll be hurting faster than a windy snake bite.”

“What's a windy snake?” Robert asked, casually. The general growled and pushed Robert in the doorway. “Oh alright, alright.”

The interior of the wagon was filled with pillows, blankets, and a set of curtains blocking the rest of the room. As the door closed behind him, Robert realized the ceiling was glowing. A hand moved the curtains aside. The princess was sitting on a large fluffy bed.

“So you're the owner of that strange seeing stone.” the princess said. “You know it's commonly seen as respectful, to introduce oneself first in the presence of royalty.”

She royalty. Robert thought. If this world has real kings, then this woman must be one of their daughters? If I can get on her good side, maybe they'll stop treating me like a prisoner.

“You're completely right your highness. I am Robert Price, and I'm very pleased to be blessed by your presence.” The princess quickly composed herself, barely managing to hide a smile.

“You have manners for one, so strange.” the princess said, pulling out Robert's cellphone from behind a bellow. “ I know for a fact that this isn't a Liba-made Seeing-stone. And I have handled many different kinds before, from all over the world. But none like this one. Where did you get it?”

“Where I got it?” Robert asked, suddenly getting an amazing idea. “Do you have a map?”

The Princess seemed to understand. So she leaned over and pulled a small box from beside her bed. She opened it and unfolded a map.