Lidija has agreed to watch the children. Zora sleeping in Maria’s car we are getting into mine.
P: I was so focused on staying offline to remain untraced that I stopped considering the ultimate purpose. But these vehicles offer opportunities not linked to any of us, really.
M: Show me!
This car now contains a webbrowser, radio and TV. It has taken me a little more than half an hour to get it to provide controls Maria can use, but now we have created the perfect media machine.
M: We need local news, world news and news about magic. Anything else?
P: No, that sums it up.
--
I find Zora talking to Lidija as I return from a walk around our camp after leaving the car.
L: I think I have not properly introduced myself.
P: Neither have I. Fate has affected us in a similar manner. I am glad Zora could help you.
Z: And I regret nothing. Including us leaving. This would not have ended well. Nevertheless we need a long term plan.
P: Yes.
Z: I have two children who need a home and a future.
P: Yes
Z: And we will not pass for ordinary humans. We cannot shop or rent a room unnoticed.
P: Yes
L: I think he already agrees.
P: Thank you.
P: The problem is that we have only one ordinary car and the transformed vehicles are likely to be extremely valuable. We also have no papers that would allow renting or buying a car.
Z: So you propose sneaking home and looking for papers there?
P: Do you have a good alternative?
Maria comes running out of the hut.
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M: Guys, there are new transformation zones in the area! We need to try to be transformed back!
Z: We need to sneak in!
P: What do you mean by transformed back?
L: Sneak in? We just sneaked out of one!
Z: Silence!
She does have a certain talent for authoritarian proclamations.
Z: These zones are on the internet. This is a tourist country. Most of us are sort of foreigners. They will hand out temporary IDs and suggest that we go home. They cannot be bothered if this can be turned into somebody else’s problem.
M: I don’t want to stay like this.
Z: And what do the zones help us in that regard?
M: Maybe if we can get in past the barriers …
Z: Barriers?
M: They are talking about cupolas.
L: I think I will help with searching the net.
--
Z: You do not believe that there is a way back.
P: No, I do not.
Z: Why?
P: Pessimistic attitude.
Z: There is more.
P: Well, it has made us more magic and you cannot undo essences.
She looks ahead.
P: Would you give up your wings?
Five seconds of silence
Z: No
--
L: Who is your ISP?
P: I don’t know and that worries me.
L: Strange. Anyway. If you know inofficial news sites there is a clear picture.
Z: Yes?
L: Four impregnable cupolas turned up almost exactly 24h after the under we were under lifted.
L: They have been surrounded by camps of mysterious forces the government does not dare challenge.
P: How close?
L: The closest is 11km from here.
M: What are those forces doing?
L: Apparently they are waiting for something.
P: Probably for the cupolas to disappear like ours did.
Z: But how do we get in?
P: The same way those forces get in. We wait.
L: So your plan is to sneak up there, hide and then sneak in?
P: Nope. My plan is to depart in half an hour and to take the highway.
Z: What?
P: The police is not challenging those forces. We use that.
Z: And those forces?
P: Depends. I tend to simply tell the truth. We wouldn’t be a competition to them.
--
The owner of the camping ground has been happy to take our money. We can see the cupola from here, though most of the other teams are much closer to it. It feels good to take a hot shower and to have a hot meal.
We are waiting.