Chapter 2

There is something beautiful about the view to the inside of a Keeper Regeneration Room. Through the reinforced plate glass one can see a multitude of colorful plumes of fog illuminated by the prescence of a series of lights winking their way in and out of existence. Never still. The will o’ the wisps of life and healing. I knew, on the purely objective side of things, that the little girl I had saved was going to live. I knew that it was just a matter of time. But I couldnt see through to where she lay. I could not touch her mind to mind, to comfort her and let her know that she was not alone. And that bothered me.

Admittedly, I have never been the most responsible of men. I have avoided it most assidiously, preferring not to be in charge of other people's lives and situations. I was more than content to just be beholden to myself.. But it is also true that even tho’ I have taken great pains to avoid, I have never run from it either when the chips were down and it called my bluff. The moment that I hopped on my hover disk and set out to save those children, I became responsible for their welfare and it was weighing heavily on me.

Someone put their hand on my shoulder. Startled, I turned fist clenched and raised. Seeing who it was I relaxed. “Sorry Imbert. Glad you could make it down here.”

Imbert shook his head and smiled in his sardonic gallic way, “ No problem Dalt, but dont you think you should be getting a shower and a nap. You look whipped.”

I chuckled tiredly, “ Yeah and I feel whipped. At least thirty lashes worth. But I can’t go just now."

Imbert raised his eyebrows at that and I turned around back to the regeneration room. "No my friend," said Imbert, grasping me by the elbow and steering me for the door. The doctors here have it under control. Besides if I don't get you home Cassandra will have my head on the nearest pole. She is there now. She gave me the strictest of instructions and I dare not disobey." Imbert winked at me.

After picking up a few essentials we headed to my place in Imbert’s skimmer, Imbert asking questions all the way. The main one being, “What have I let you get me into this time Dalton?” At which I could only laugh and think how fortunate I was to have such a good friend. Friendly acquaintances may surround you, but it’s true; good friends are hard to find.

Imbert was a short fiery little frenchman. He was no more than 5 foot, 5 inches tall and weighed only about one hundred and forty pounds. He had brown hair with a receding hairline and blue eyes and the nose that surmounted his smiling face can be called well and truly Gallic. It wasn’t quite of de Bergerac proportions but don’t tell Imbert I said that.

Just one thing. Never. Ever. Do Not with a capital N make the little fellow mad. He was a Bridgewalker of tremendous talent and a power in his own right with a gallic temper to match.

Cassandra was that good of a friend also. She had picked the baby up for me when I had arrived at the Keepers hospital, giving me hell over the baby's dirty condition and listening in horror as I told her what happened. I knew without a doubt that she would stand by my side through thick and thin as would Imbert.

As Imbert drove he finally got around to asking the one question that kept recurring to me. What in the world was I going to do with a couple of kids?

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“I’m not sure Imbert. It’s not exactly something I planned for.”

At that Imbert snickered in an evil way.

I gave him my mean look, “Dammit Imbert! It’s not funny. You want them?”

Imbert laughed out loud, shook his head and managed to gasp out, “I know the situations serious Dalton. But something you hadn’t prepared for? You? The boy scout?” Imbert almost hit a tree.

“Watch your driving. Take a right up there.” Imbert was always giving me grief about the axiom I tried to live by. Be prepared. I may not have ever been a boy scout. But if I had I would have been a good one. I think anyway.

“How could I be prepared Imbert? Do you see a woman anywhere around besides Cass? Kids? The thought never crossed my mind. I have never had time for them.”

Imbert grew serious, “And the little girl my friend? She is going to be alright?”

“Yes. Thank the good Lord and Keeper medical arts. She is going to be fine. I managed to get her there in time. She may even have been technically dead for a bit, but they revived her. Give her a week inside that regeneration room and she will be one hundred percent.”

“What are you going to do when she wakes up mon ami?”

“I am hoping I won’t have to be around. That I will have found someone else to take care of her.”

“And if you haven’t?”

“Somebody has to be there,” I gritted my teeth. “I will do what’s right Imbert. I’ll be damned if I let an orphanage get her.”

“You never have trusted public institutions.”

I smiled ruefully and nodded, “How true.”

As Imbert drove I settled back into the comfort of his passenger seat, nodding a little. Tired? I guess so. But I had so much to do. That portal had to be sealed. Why? The power behind the volcano had been as strong as any I have ever seen. Up to and including the Masters of the Bridgeworld themselves and they were like unto gods. Imbert and I were both strong in the Talents but were as leaves in the wind compared to the Masters of Bridgeworld. They were seemingly omnipotent beings and in their high and lofty towers had lost all contacts with their earlier selves. I had caught a sense of that strength from the entity I had fought and I knew I couldn’t go a second round with it. There would be no hope for me and no point. But the entity would not let it rest. I felt that. I knew that. I had taken something important from it. The portal had to be sealed.

I gave Imbert instructions and then let nature take it’s course as I started nodding.

Just a small nap...

Just a ...

I know it was a dream but it was a pleasant dream. I was out on a vast lake in an old john boat, sitting, drinking in the crisp morning sun and the bottle of Corona beer I had in my left hand. In my right hand I had an old beater of a brimbuster hanging over the side with a worm on the less than welcomed point of my hook. I had a stringer of fish over the side and my cork was starting to pop down in the water again. I played the fish before I brought him in. He was a great fighter and I had decided to let him go after I brought him in. All of a sudden there was a huge splash! and my pole broke from the weight of something huge and unforgiving. A giant white shark peeked its face out of the water at me and said, "You are under arrest for opening a forbidden portal Dalton."

Blearily I opened my eyes and looked around. I was in front of my house, still in Imbert's skimmer. Staring down at me with the aforementioned unforgiving, shark like gaze was an old acquantance of mine and not necessarily a friendly one. He was one of the top dogs of law enforcement, such as it was, on Bridgeworld.

"Hello Hewl" I sighed at him.

Imbert stood on the sidewalk with Cassandra who was holding the baby I had rescued. She looked like she was about to get mad and that's not something anyone in their right mind wants to see. I made a calming down gesture at her and she got madder. Imbert took her in the house.

"I don't really have much choice in the matter Dalton. There are higher ups calling for your head on a platter."

"Let's try not to give them satisfaction."

Hewl led me to his police skimmer and I got in thinking longlingly of beds and boats and beer.