Chapter 192

Loved One

Barnacle-eyes

Chance of Mutiny: 0%

I’d never been on this plane before! Hawkin had so many. I stared at colors I’d never seen before, even if I counted the labels he forged. I recognized the plants, however. There was so much honeysuckle, it felt like a fence that bordered the path of gravel. Big oaks were dark, and they looked mean and old and grumpy. The clouds of the atmosphere were shimmery. Crunch went the pebbles under my boots.

My ears perked at soft sounds. I heard faint murmurs. A lot of people were crying. Someone sobbed somewhere. I heard a lot of joy too! Oh, I couldn’t wait for all those feelings! I wanted the joy one the most, because it reminded me of Slime-tooth and I when we used to spend time together.

“So what do I do?” I said to Evon.

“Right this way, young lady,” he said.

“C’mon, Smith. C’mon, Gabby.”

“Of course, my lady,” said Smith.

“Of course, my Admiral,” said Gabby.

Evon was a really slow walker. I had to stop to wait for him when I went too fast. Gabby kept bumping into me, which kept interrupting my thoughts.

What was I gonna say? Oh, Peg-tooth! I was so nervous. Our time was gonna be limited, so I had to choose my words carefully; or I could not choose my words carefully and just talk really fast. It really was an either or thing, especially with Slime-tooth who was a really good listener. Maybe I should switch things up and try my best to be the listener this time. His time was going to be as limited with me as mine with his!

So that’s what I started doing. I practiced listening. The problem was that there was nothing to listen to except for the sounds that came out of the alcoves of nature where people had been paired up with their lost ones in a private place surrounded by nature. I was able to peek in a few of them as we went. There were lots of mirage-benches, and people were talking with people or pets.

It was strange to see a blue person and a blue cat! I could see right through them, and it was like only their outline was blue. The rest was a hazy blue, like when it was a good twilight out.

Gabby bumped into me once more, and I took the chance to whisper, “Is Slime-tooth gonna be blue too?”

“I’ve never seen a blue goblin before,” she said.

We passed by alcove after alcove of honeysuckles bushes until Evon turned into an empty one. I bet it was mine! There was a hole in the honeysuckle, and in the hole was a beautiful view of the shimmery atmosphere that seemed endless.

“The bench is for your comfort,” said Evon. “There is a path through the columns if you’d like to go for a walk. The path belongs to this alcove, and it will be private.”

“I just drink the beer?” I said.

“You must pour a libation. In the blink of an eye, Slime-tooth will appear.”

“When do I start?”

“At your leisure,” he said. “If you have any trouble at all, Gabby or Smith may come fetch me.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Evon bowed, and he left.

“Would you care for some privacy?” said Smith.

“No, no, Slime-tooth loves company. Well, sometimes he doesn’t like humans, so if he gets grumpy, I’ll have to shoo you.”

I popped the cork of my very own special mausoleum beer. I turned the bottle upside down for one glug, and beer splashed on the pebbles.

I smiled really big, and I waited. Gabby and I spun around, and I waited. I looked at Smith, and I waited.

Pebbles crunched under Smith’s boots. “I’ll fetch Evon,” he said, and he ran off.

“Where’s Slime-tooth?” said Gabby.

“Didn’t I pour the beer?” I said.

Gabby and I circled the bench, and I waited. We sat on the bench and swung our feet, and I waited. I heard footsteps crunching pebbles, and Gabby ran up to look down the path between the columns. Evon and Smith entered the alcove, and it was clear the footsteps came from them.

“Has Slime-tooth not appeared?” said Evon.

“He has trouble walking,” I said. “Maybe he’s on his way.”

Smith gave Evon a long look, until Evon said, “I have no idea what the problem could be. You poured the beer right on the ground?”

“Yeah, right there.”

“May I try?”

But he did the same thing I did. Beer foamed between the pebbles with a hush. The gravel and pebbles were darker where they were wet. We waited, and the pebbles dried up.

“Sometimes, the deceased will appear at a distance,” said Evon. “Smith, will you walk the path and look for Slime-tooth? The path makes a complete loop. I’ll check the nearby alcoves.”

They left, and I returned to the bench, just to give my legs a break from all the standing and pacing and checking the paths.

“What if he’s not coming?” said Gabby.

I smiled, but my lip quivered. It was suddenly harder to breathe, and my chest was hurting. But I was sure it wouldn’t hurt for much longer; afterall, Hawkin promised I would have one more day with Slime-tooth. He was just a little late.

He was so late that he wasn’t yet here when Evon and Smith returned.

“I am so terribly sorry,” said Evon. “This has never happened before.”

“Could Master Ballow have made a mistake with the beer?” said Smith.

“It’s possible, but this would be the first.”

“I saw him use Slime-tooth’s hair,” I said.

“I’ll go see if I can find Hiccup,” said Evon.

“Shall I continue looking?” said Smith.

“That would be best.”

Once more, Gabby and I were left alone to keep a lookout and an ear out. We sat on the bench, we laid on the bench, we sat on the pebbles, we laid on the pebbles, we walked around the alcove, we peered down the path between the columns, we searched the sky, we peeked between the honeysuckle bushes, and we even checked nearby alcoves. If I went too far, I sprinted back to the bench just in case Slime-tooth came while I was gone for two seconds. I swung my feet and tried my best to smile. Gabby wasn’t smiling.

She was asleep when Smith returned.

“Lady Barnacle-eyes, there’s no sign of another goblin,” he said.

I jumped up and kicked the pebbles. What was going on? Hawkin promised! He said Slime-tooth would come! All the other people on the plane had their Slime-tooths! How come not me? I was so upset that my stomach started grumbling with me.

“Are you hungry?” said Smith. “Shall I fetch something for you?”

“Slime-tooth loved onions,” I said.

“I’ll return as soon as I can.”

Smith left…again. I stared through the floor while I listened to Gabby snore. Several times I almost went exploring the entire area, but I was terrified Slime-tooth would appear the moment I went looking for him. All I could do was look both ways down the main path and peer as far as I could down the path between the columns.

Smith returned with a platter of delicious goblin treats. I looked at the food, but I felt nothing. My heart didn’t care for the idea of eating. All it wanted to do was share some with Slime-tooth. Even though I was told that I wouldn’t be able to touch him, and he wouldn’t be able to drink and eat, maybe Slime-tooth was special. I wanted to save the platter just in case.

“I’ll see if I can fetch Master Evon,” said Smith. “He’s been absent for some time now. Will you excuse me?”

“I’ll be right here.”

As soon as Smith exited the alcove, Gabby snored harshly enough to wake herself up.

“Please thank you!” she spouted. She gazed around the alcove, and then shot off the bench. “By Surf-gurgler, did I miss him?”

“No Slime-tooth yet,” I said.

“Why not?” she said.

My vision went blurry. “Do you think Slime-tooth doesn’t want to see me? Is he mad at me?”