Page Turners - Chapter 6 [Page 34] - Contracts
“You're joking, right? Doing the odd, funny guy act?” asked Charlize, disbelief strewn across her face.
“Sorry?” Od replied, accompanied by a shoulder shrug.
“You're going to make me snap. You are going to make me catastrophically lose my shit.”
She was flustered. Who the hell is this clown? she thought. Is he testing my patience on purpose, or is he really this careless? Maybe he's spent too long playing God in his little bag and lost perspective.
“Look, it's not a problem, right? We just turn the Page and I get a nice little top-up. We tear through the first few Pages and I'll have a few years stocked up in no time. You're the best, right? Should be easy.”
I get it now, she thought. He's already given up. A long time ago he decided it was his death or God's, whichever came first. His clock ticked away while he waited for the right person to fulfill his request. He must've accepted death centuries ago. This was an unexpected chance. He can't believe he can actually do it, he won't, not yet. Not until one more impossible hurdle is overcome. If he can cross the Page in 3 years, then it was meant to be. That has to be what he's thinking. Pathetic. His commitment to his mission, as well as his mind, must be hanging by a thread.
“How long have you been waiting here, Od?” she asked.
“It's been a long time, Charlize.” He spoke in a clear voice but couldn't help the tears as they streamed down his cheeks. “Must be a good 500 years, maybe 600. Got a bit lonely at times. You must get that, right? Crossing Pages all alone for how long?”
“I work better alone.”
“Yeah, of course,” Od answered, deflated by his sense of inferiority.
“We're going to have to go through the hollow-grass now.”
“What? Why? We have a straight shot to the end of the Page, clear blue the whole way. Dodge a couple of forests and bam, easy. We'll just pick up the pace.”
“You've been here for 500 years and you didn't bother to check the Page's end? Did you not even consider checking your exit route?” Charlize asked, barely containing her contempt.
“Why would I? It's an open border, isn't it?” Od suddenly had a look like he just got caught doing something he shouldn't. “Oh shit.”
“‘Oh shit’ is right, Od. The border is pinched; we can only enter along a certain stretch of the Page's edge. The plan was to go straight to the edge and then follow it until we got to the entrance. We can't move fast enough to make up the time now. Even if we use Stride to sky-walk, we don't have enough access to carry the girl as well. We need to cut straight through, make a beeline in that direction, through the hollow-grass.”
“Hold up, Charlize, that's a bad idea.”
“Yes, it is. Come here, little one! There's been a change of plans.”
The girl joined the other two and was greeted by Od holding his flat cap over his face. He quickly flipped the cap down, revealing a ridiculous expression. The girl burst into laughter but quickly stopped when she saw Charlize glaring at Od.
“Listen closely now, little one. If you're to keep up with us, I'll need to teach you a few things. Take this as your first lesson,” said Charlize.
The girl nodded wildly. She sat on the ground and crossed her legs, making a point of slapping her hands to her knees, then locked eyes on Charlize. Barely holding back a smile, Charlize continued.
“Lesson 1: Contracts. Whenever you turn to a new Page, the Author of that Page will present you a Contract. You must sign the Contract if you wish to stay on the Page. The terms and gifts are always the same, but the Author can add new ones if they desire. That's rare. The two gifts are always lifespan and access to the Seam. Both are appropriate to the Page. Meaning, you always have enough lifespan to cross the Page and enough access to defend yourself. Are you following me so far?”
“I think so. But what is the Seam and why do they always give you the same gifts?”
“We won't go into that right now. Focus. When you turn a Page for the first time, your lifespan is reset. Your Contracted lifespan becomes your new life. If you cross a Page with years remaining, you keep those years.”
“So, people who cross a lot of Pages are really old?” The girl rubbed her chin, mimicking a wise sage, “Or, they could live forever?”
“That's good. Simply put, yes. But to do that, you need to keep turning Pages forever. It seems our new friend has been stuck here for a long time and is now low on time.”
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“How long do you have left, mister?”
“3 years, kiddo,” replied Od.
The girl jolted at his reply, and then her head sank. A sadness overcame her, and tears welled in her eyes. Charlize and Od were both taken aback by her powerful empathy for someone she had just met. Their hearts sank at the thought of the hard struggles this kind-hearted girl would have to go through as she moved across the Book.
“Our original plan was to cross Page 34 in the most frictionless way. That involved taking a minor detour around the hollow-grass. Unfortunately, that route takes roughly 5 years. This means cutting through the hollow-grass is now our only option. The shortest route from here to the edge of the Page might lead us through the poachers’ territory. We need to be prepared to be stealthy, and if worse comes to worst, be prepared for conflict.”
“Might lead us through?” asked Od.
“I haven’t been here for millennia, things could have changed. For now, we assume the worst.”
“Maybe we should explain hollow-grass to the girl? Y’know, before we lead her through a field of the stuff.”
“Would you suggest I describe the flaws of a rickety bridge before I ask you to cross it?”
“You would if you wanted me to have all the information before I made a decision.”
“But not if I wanted you to cross.”
“Good point, I guess,” Od said, his expression not matching his words.
“There are plenty of things out there for her to fear. Let’s give her a chance to discover what scares her first before we start embedding our fears into her.”
“Why are you talking like I'm not here? Are we crossing a bridge?” the girl said.
“Oh, it's nothing. You know how she gets. What we gonna do with that grump, aye?” Od asked playfully.
“The only thing I don't get is, why was my Contract blank?” the girl asked as she scratched her head.
“What do you mean it was blank?” Charlize snapped.
“It was just black lines. Nothing about the stuff you said. The only words I saw were, ‘Do you accept the terms?’ You told me to accept. I had to, right? You said so?”
“The terms were redacted?” Od mumbled to himself.
What a foolish mistake, Charlize thought. How could I not ask about her terms? That's proof positive she's a distraction. The details matter. I should’ve asked. Dammit, I would’ve asked! If it were anyone else, I would’ve asked immediately. The mystery around her is clouding my thoughts. I can’t let it. Prioritize and execute.
“We can discuss this when we've turned the Page. A second Contract will give us more information anyway. No point wasting our energy thinking about it. We're on the clock. Let's move,” Charlize ordered.
For the next two months, they hurried across the Page. Charlize led the way, while Od made sure the girl kept up. He seemed to warm to her over the weeks, and she to him. Charlize appreciated some of the weight being lifted. She avoided the pockets of forest and guided the others through the quickest route. She kept sleep to a minimum, something the others deeply protested—until Charlize gave them that stern look of hers.
The distant horizon had begun to change as they closed in on their destination. What was once smooth blue with the occasional forest, which looked like a mushroom from that distance, was now becoming coarse. It was becoming jagged, like blades of all different lengths were sticking out of the ground. As they drew closer, the blades seemed to consume the entire landscape. No more blue grass or purple-orange forests, just glistening twisting blades of translucent jade.
They stepped before the jagged field of jade and paused under Charlize's command. A breeze swept through the field ahead, causing the sound of singing glass to dance between the twisting blades. It echoed out to them like a sweet, yet melancholy, chorus.
“OK, little one. Now I need you to be brave,” said Charlize.
“I'm not scared. It's soooo beautiful. Did you hear the singing?” answered the girl, bouncing with excitement.
“The grass may look sharp, but it's actually quite soft.”
“This is grass?!”
“Listen now. Do you see how the grass is twisted into these spiky tubes? Inside some of them are crystal caterpillars, which evolve into butterflies.”
“That's incredible! Why didn't you bring me here straight away?”
“Will you listen to me, girl?! Do not touch the butterflies, and do not let them touch you. If you see a caterpillar inside the grass, you tell me, and we'll move away. Do you understand?”
“No. That sounds like the worst idea. I want to see the butterflies!” the girl responded in a petulant tone.
“This is your fault, Od. I see you molly-coddle her when you think I'm not looking. Will you talk to her? We need to be together in this, and you know I—”
“Don't worry, I got you. I'll keep things nice and relaxed. No dramas today,” answered Od with a salute. “Charlize is right. This place is very beautiful but also very dangerous. I've never been through here either, so I need help too. She is incredibly wise. I think we both should trust her. You wanted to be with her, right? Hasn't she protected you so far?”
“You're right,” the girl conceded, “I won't touch any butterflies.”
“And?” asked Charlize.
“And I'll call out any caterpillars.”
“Good. You could make a fine Bookwyrm one day. Now stay close to me, little one. If we keep the same pace we have till now, we should be through to the other side in about 20 months. From there, it should take about 8 months to reach the edge. That gives us about a 6-month margin. How's my math, Od?”
He mumbled as his fingers flicked through an invisible abacus. Then he started counting on his fingers until Charlize flashed him a look that cut his theatrics short. “Spot on,” he answered.
“Then we're set. Six months isn't as much as it might sound. Keep up the pace. Let's go.”
The girl tugged on Charlize’s arm and asked, “If Od only has 3 years left, does that mean you do too?”
“Not at all, little one,” she answered with a chuckle.
“Then how long?”
“There are several zeroes between my lifespan and Od’s. Come now, focus up. We’re entering the hollow-grass. Don’t forget what I told you.”
As they took the final few steps before the jagged field, Od felt something gentle and warm tickle his neck. He felt the thing crawl up and around his ear, without the slightest hint of a threat—a String. As it crawled inside his ear, he heard a voice, Charlize's voice, “Don't let me lose sight of you in here, Od. I'll be watching you.”