Shadow-World

By P.Z. Walker

What would you do, if someone in a library came up to you and asked, "Will you help to fight monsters?"

The small group of people, who got asked this question, step into an adventure they'd never dared dreaming about.

Monsters and other strange creatures, danger and kidnapping; the fight against the danger from the Shadow-World asks a lot of the group.

Would you be ready for this? Would you step into this adventure, danger and all?

Join Gerda, Neremli, Rob and the others in the Shadow-World and find out!

• Language: English
• Publisher: P.Z. Walker
• Release date: Apr 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215897171

P.Z. Walker

Naturist activist and author, luring people into naturism one story at a time, using many genres, from mystery through history to fantasy.

Book preview

Shadow-World

P.Z. Walker

Naked Crow Publications

Copyright © 2023 by P.Z. Walker

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by international copyright law.

Contents

1. The mill

2. Shadow beings.

3. A fight in the trees

4. Taking up arms.

5. Personal things

6. Expanding the armory

7. Dates and Elves

8. What happened?

9. All kinds of misery

10. Mischa and Lizette

11. An attack

12. A blocked waterway

13. Grouphof Alley

14. Revelations

15. Grey Elf building crew

16. Looking for John

17. The map

18. Panic down south

19. So what about that map?

20. Where is she?

21. Panic in Drenthe

22. Into the Shadow-World

23. Gerda

24. The search continues

25. Unexpected twists

26. Investigating

27. Where is Gerda

28. Rioters

29. Peter

30. On the road again

31. A silent meeting

32. Grion.

33. Back

34. The awakening

35. The plan

36. On the road to Grion

37. The siege of Grion

38. Reunited

39. Epilogue

About the author

1. The mill

The fog in the corner of the room dissipated after three people had emerged from it.

What's wrong with you? Gerda looked at Mischa, who found a small piece of cloth to wipe his face clean with. That won't do it. You need to be dry-cleaned. We warned you, but you didn't want to listen.

Yigit grinned. Mischa needs a bullhorn and flashing lights, otherwise he won't notice.

Mischa glared at the Turkish man who was part of the team. Would you please shut up? It was rough tonight. I'm completely beat. He sounded irritated. And where are Ashna and Rob?

Gerda shrugged. Maybe they were forced to take a detour. We agreed not to wait for each other so we're leaving now. She walked over to her bag and opened it. Quickly she pulled out her clothes and put them on. Get on with it, boys, I don't want to spend all day here waiting for you.

Once they all were dressed, Gerda touched the small panel next to the door. The lock clicked; she opened the door. Yigit. Do take care of that hand, will you?

The man nodded, holding his hand. He had a handkerchief wrapped around it. The fabric had been white but it was slowly coloring red and that wasn't good.

The group entered the tiny hallway. Mischa made sure the door was securely closed and then they climbed up the wooden stairs leading into the actual mill. It was quiet here. Perfect. Gerda looked up at the massive, wooden construction. Special. This is really so special.

Sure, Mischa muttered. He was seriously tired. Keep staring. Drool for all I care. I'm going to get a shower and some sleep.

They all were ready for that, so they walked to the mill's entrance door. Mischa took a key from his pocket and unlocked it, letting all of them out. Gerda blinked her eyes against the sunlight that greeted them.

Yigit raised a hand, keeping the bright light from his eyes. I really don't want to see you anymore today. Unless something happens. Then we'll be here again, which I don't hope. He grinned, and apologetically added, It's nothing personal, you understand?

Same here, said Mischa. I'm off to shower. I don't want to think about what ended up in my hair today.

Gerda and Yigit wished him well and watched the tall man quickly walk off.

I don't know what's wrong with him, Yigit said, shaking his head. He made some dumb mistakes today.

Gerda bit her lower lip and nodded. Mischa had really put the team in danger today. We'll have to talk about that with him soon, but not today. I'm heading home too. See you later, Yigit. And have the doctor look at that hand. Damn, the doctor sees you more often than your girlfriend does, these days. Mischa did stupid things but you need to become more careful, my friend.

Yigit nodded, aware of his faults. "I will. First thing tomorrow. Güle güle. See you later."

* * *

An hour later there was movement again in the room below the mill. In a corner there was the same fog as there had been before. Two naked people emerged from it; a Surinam woman and a Dutch man.

That was close, the man said, out of breath.

Very. The woman, Ashna, leaned her hands on her knees as she too needed time to catch her breath. I feel as if I have no physical stamina at all. Damn all that… She looked at Rob. Are you still in one piece?

I think so. Let's get dressed and get out of here. Judging from the suitcase, the others returned before us.

Ashna agreed. Let's go home and get some rest.

* * *

The next morning, Ashna woke up earlier than she had hoped, The previous day had been busy enough to warrant a few more hours of sleep. Rob was lying next to her, not moving at all in his sleep of the righteous.

Light seeped in through the curtains. Ashna sighed. How often had she already wanted to replace those curtains with thicker, more light-repellent versions? It just never happened. She rolled onto her side and checked her phone. The device didn’t look any different from the usual ones, but it was different, just like the devices that Rob and the other team members owned. The difference was just one app, but that was a serious difference. Half past seven. Should she get up, she wondered. The bed was nice and warm, and there was no reason for her to get up. To go to work for instance, like in the old days.

Rob mumbled something. For Ashna that was the signal to get up. Once he started mumbling, it wouldn’t take long before he’d start waving his arms. She was still closing her bathrobe when Rob started flailing. Once he’d gotten her a black eye and on another occasion it had ended in a split lip. Those had been good lessons not to ignore the signs. This was probably his way of dealing with the emotional things that their current activities dumped onto them.

She was already in the kitchen when her phone rang. She saw Gerda’s name on the display. Hey, you. Awake already?

Kind of. Still in bed but I’m curious what you're doing. You sound really awake.

I'm making coffee and toast. Rob was slapping again.

And did he hit you? Gerda was relieved to hear that Ashna was safe. Good. Did you stay away long?

Not too bad. I think we got back half an hour after you did. It was quite a mess again, wasn't it? Ashna grinned as she heard Gerda's comfortable moan as she turned around in bed.

Say that again. I had forgotten that those Grey Elves could be such bastards. One of them bit Yigit's hand. He promised he'd have it looked at today. Nothing like that with you two?

No, I'm glad to say. Ashna sighed. Do you know how long this is going to go on? I'm starting to miss regular sleeping.

I don't know, but let me assure you that you get used to it eventually.

Ashna snorted loudly but she knew that Gerda was the one who could know. She had a relationship with one of the Shadow-beings for almost a year. A year! That was only a little shorter than when Gerda had met this being. And when are you two going to get married? Isn't it about time? Ashna always teased Gerda with that question.

Neremli, Gerda's girlfriend, was impossible to wake during the day. It would be a hoot to be arrange a marriage in the middle of the night.

Huh. I don't know either, Gerda said. She'd stopped saying never. Ever since the little group had gotten together, they had decided that anything could be possible. I just hope things stay quiet today. And now I'm going to get some more sleep.

Sure. Sleep well. Ashna understood that Gerda had been up until very late, otherwise she'd never be able to talk with her girlfriend. She wondered how Gerda's and Neremli's relationship was able to survive under these conditions.

Not much later Rob was out of bed as well. Over breakfast they enjoyed the peace and quiet. Both phones were on the table and remained blissfully silent. That was how they liked their phones best.

Rob was shocked to hear that Yigit had been bitten. Again? He has to get that checked. What's-his-name in Dordrecht is good.

Yes. Dr Krysa. If anyone knows, it's Yigit…

* * *

By that time, Yigit was almost at the mill again. His hand hurt badly now, so he didn't want to waste time to find help.

The mill was deserted, as usual. It was only 'in use' in the weekends or when there was an open-house event. Yigit slipped inside and locked the door from the inside. Quickly he went down the stairs and touched the panel next to the door. Soon he was in the secret room. He took his phone and started the 'special' navigation app on which he located the mill in Dordrecht. With that on the screen he took off his clothes and stored them in the suitcase. Holding a handkerchief, he tapped the symbol for the mill three times.

Let's hope they're waiting for me, he mumbled as the fog appeared in the corner. Without hesitation he stepped into it.

In an instant, he arrived in a similar room, but now in the city of Dordrecht. He stepped out of the fog. The difference with his point of origin was that here a tall, pale man and a three foot tall rat were waiting for him. The rat stood on its hind legs.

Without any greetings or ceremony, the rat reached for Yigit's hand. Show me, the animal said. Grey Elves, right?

This was Dr Krysa, a specialist in treating afflictions that were left behind by Shadow-World creatures.

Yes. Grey Elves, near Groningen, Yigit confirmed.

Dr Krysa glanced up at the man. There? What are they doing there? Oh well. Felix. My bag.

The pale man, Felix, shoved a leather pouch towards the rat with a foot. Felix had been bitten by a vampire, long ago, but the transformation to becoming a proper vampire had never been completed, so now the man belonged to neither humans nor vampires. Dr Krysa looked after Felix and kept him alive. In exchange for that, Felix was always around to lend a helping hand. Or foot.

Ouch, hey, watch it! Yigit tried, in vain, to pull back his hand. The rat had just bitten in it, even harder than the Grey Elf had done. Did you need to do that?

Yes. That was necessary, was the calm answer. Now sit down. The patient sat down on the floor. The doctor took a bottle from his pouch, had Felix pull the cork out and then dripped some of the liquid onto the bleeding hand. Otherwise this will not help, the rat explained.

Yigit hissed as the pain hit. He'd never get used to this.

Felix took the bottle, corked it and stuffed it into the pouch. That happened at an insane vampire-speed so all Yigit saw was a blur.

Put a clean bandage on that, or a clean handkerchief when you get home. Leave it on today. Tonight you shower and burn all the stained fabric. Tomorrow you will be fine again. The doctor talked as if it was the first time Yigit had been treated.

Yigit had expected that information. Krysa always did that. Will do, doctor. My girlfriend will be happy with that. I'm going through handkerchiefs like crazy.

Dr Krysa ignored that remark and picked up his pouch. Do you think you could do something here before you go back? Apparently there's a Hell-hound going around in this area near the mill.

What? A Hell-hound in the middle of town? How did that mutt end up here? Hell-hounds didn't appear in crowded areas very often. Yigit walked to a closet in a corner. Each secret room had an emergency supply of weapons. "Damn, where is the katana?" he asked out loud to no one in particular. A big Japanese sword like that was the best option to deal with a Hell-hound.

I don't know things like that, Dr Krysa responded. I just hope you can rid the world of that mutt quickly. And do take care of that hand.

Not to worry. I'll take a Hell-hound over a Grey Elf any day. Yigit searched the closet again. The best options he found were an antique rapier and a big knife. Those would have to do. In the closet he found a strap that he used to tie his phone to his arm, and as he did so, he made sure his special Shadow App was active. With that running, no one outside would see him and he would be able to see the Shadow-World. Considering the fact that he wasn't wearing clothes, having the app going was very important. Then, armed with the rapier and the knife, he tapped the panel and left the room.

At the door to the outside world, Yigit checked the phone again. Better safe than accused of indecent exposure. All good, so he stepped outside. It was always a little unnerving to do this. The team had to be naked when dealing with the Shadow-World and they all were used to it, but stepping into a world that had issues with nude bodies always took a little extra courage.

Okay, stinky, where are you? Let's get this done. I have more important things to do. Yigit pushed his other thoughts away.

Because he didn't know his way around this city, he didn't want to get away from the mill too far. Actual real-world navigation apps wouldn't work on the phone with the Shadow app active. He didn't feel like switching it off and having to explain why he was walking around naked, carrying a knife and a rapier.

His first plan was to go around the mill. Krysa said that the Hell-hound was near here so this was a good start. With the knife in his good hand and the rapier in the wounded one, he started walking. He felt best prepared for this job this way, although the katana would have been better. Cutting a hound's head off with this knife would be quite a chore.

As he was walking around to get to the other side of the mill, he noticed again that the people around him unconsciously avoided him. No one from the team ever had to worry that someone would run into them while they were in this Shadow zone. It simply never happened.

For a moment he remembered how all this had started. The earthquakes in the north, some five years ago. Back then he'd only read about it in the paper and seen it in the news. True, back then there was nothing he could have done about it. Who would have thought how all those quakes wouldn't just be a lot of problems for the homes of the people living there? That they would also open portals for all kinds of weird creatures that had no business here? Creatures like the one he was hunting now. Back then, when he'd just met her, Gerda had tried to explain it to him and he was still trying to wrap his mind around it. But then, she was hit the hardest by this, and the first, because…

That was where his thoughts came to a halt. From the corner of an eye Yigit saw a movement. The Hell-hound. Each initial encounter with such a beast was a shock, no matter how short. The creature was as tall as he was and one bundle of aggressive muscle. The hound's head was massive. It sported a mouth with lots of sharp teeth, and the two black ram's horns on either side of its head ended in razor-sharp points. The strip of bright-yellow fur the animal had over its head and back was dangerous in its own way. It seemed to fade in and out of the brown-black skin beneath it. That made that you wanted to look at it, be mesmerized by it. And if you did that, you were doomed.

It was slightly uncanny to see the animal moving towards him in a straight line while it managed to avoid contact with the people who were around. Yigit did notice how people looked up in wonder when the Hell-hound passed them. Merely a year ago no one would have noticed; back then barely anyone picked up the strange energy of the Shadow creatures. It was a clear sign that the Shadows were getting stronger.

Yigit felt ready for the attacker. As it charged at him, he stabbed and hacked at it with rapier and knife at the same time while he fell on his back in the same move. Hell-hounds weren't the smartest bunch from the Shadows and usually it was quite easy to disable them, if you had the right material. Unfortunately, Yigit now had to make do with what he had on him. He rolled away and got up. The Hell-hound howled. The rapier had cost it an eye and the knife had left a deep cut in its belly. Come on, you son of a Shadow creep. I want to go home.

As if it understood, the Hell-hound charged again. Yigit dropped the rapier and grabbed the knife with both hands. At the last moment he made the knife sink into the skull, between the two big eyes of the beast. The Hell-hound slammed into the man, who got knocked over by the impact.

He needed a few moments to get his bearings. As he got up, he knew he had a few more bruised ribs, but the Hell-hound was finished. He walked to the creature and struggled with the knife for a while before it came free. Good thing it didn't break because he needed it for the dirtiest part of the job: cutting off its head. No one understood how it worked, but if a living Hell-hound came close to a dead one that still had its head attached, it wouldn't stay dead for long.

Yigit was glad there was no other Hell-hound around. Fighting that off while he was performing his surgery on the dead one wouldn't have been easy.

When he was done, he was covered in goo that had come from the veins of the creature. He picked up the head, holding it at the safe end of one of the horns. Now he had to get rid of it. He picked up the knife and the rapier with his wounded hand and started walking down the street, leaving a trail of smear and hound's blood behind him. No one would see it, but people might smell it. They would probably comment on that, but they should try being covered in it.

After a short walk he saw a kind of staircase in the next street, going down quite far. Great. He crossed the street and gave the head a good swing. It flew, bounced down the stairs and came to a halt far away. That should do it. No Hell-hound could fix that.

With that done, the Shadow carcass would fade soon enough, so Yigit made his way back to the mill and down to the secret room. Dr Krysa and Felix were still there.

That was fast, the big rat said as he checked Yigit's hand. I told you to be careful…

Yes, I know and I tried…

The doctor put a clean piece of cloth on the wound and then Yigit cleaned the knife and the rapier. When he was done with that, the doc and his vampire helper had left. They always do that… Instead of the rat, there was only a small pouch on the floor.

Yigit shook his head as he picked it up. He took his phone and punched the coordinates for his home-mill. The fog appeared and he stepped through. Once back home, he switched off the Shadow app. Wow, right on cue too, he noticed. The battery of his phone was close to dying. Best to get dressed, go home and charge the thing.

As he walked home, he opened the pouch and found a small note and a tiny bottle. The note had instructions. Drink this when you get home and go to bed. Yigit decided that Dr Krysa badly needed to work on his handwriting.

2. Shadow beings.

N o, Evelien. I don't have time and also I don't want to and…

And you don't have money? I'll loan you some. Mischa's sister, who was on the phone, had one of her persistent moods. And if you get married, you don't have to pay me back. That would make it the best investment.

Evelien's shrill laugh hurt in his ear. Listen, sis. That's not the point. Chantal is probably…

Chantal? Hey, pay attention. Chantal was from last week. This is Katrien and she's a very nice girl. I told her about you and she really wants to meet you. So remember, it's Katrien.

Mischa sighed and wondered how he could get out of this without becoming rude. Evelien kept trying to hook him up with someone, 'because that was how it had to be', and he really had no desire for that. He lived on his own and he was perfectly happy. How on earth do you find all these women? he asked. Are you running some kind of escort service on the side?

"Escort service? No way. I'm simply a socially engaged human being and I try to make you benefit, even though you don't deserve it. You need to cooperate and bite at some point, otherwise I will stop this, you know."

At least it's going to stop at some point, Mischa thought.

So tonight? Seven thirty? Evelien made it sound as if he had suggested it.

Nooo… I told you I have no time, didn't I? I arranged to go visit Gerda. That wasn't true but Gerda lived close by, and she and Neremli liked having visitors once in a while. He was intrigued by Neremli and he always tried to find out something new about her.

Gerda. Evelien snorted. What do you want with a lesbian chick? Are you planning on becoming gay as well? I never noticed that about you. Does a combination of a gay man and a gay woman even work?

Mischa sighed again, louder than usual. Maybe that way his sister would understand how he felt about this. Gerda is just a nice person. Not pushy. And you may know more about gay people than I do. So give my best to Chantal and have a nice evening, sis. He hung up and savored the way he had ended the conversation. Of course he'd used the wrong name at the end intentionally.

As he got up he still wondered how his sister got her hands on that extensive harem. He grabbed his coat. It was the coat. The one he always had with him as that contained some essentials for 'emergencies'. He slipped the phone in a pocket and walked out the door. Ready for the visit.

* * *

Gerda looked at the table. Neremli sat there too, drawing. Neremli loved to draw. Suddenly the Shadow-girl looked up. Someone's coming.

Gerda still wasn't used to that. And do you also know who?

Neremli smiled and shook her head, barely noticeable. Despite the near lack of movement, her white hair danced around her head as if she was head-banging. Ten seconds later there was a knock on the door. Neremli focused on the door for a moment, then relaxed. Safe, she said.

Gerda wouldn't have opened the door, had her girl not said that. Still she checked the peephole that was in the door. It's Mischa, she announced before opening the door. Neremli always reacted a lot better once she knew who would come in. Gerda waited for Neremli to turn over and cover her drawings. The Shadow woman was very picky about who could see her art. Only then Gerda opened the door. Hey, Mischa, nice to see you. Come in. She stepped aside and quickly closed the door behind him, as she and Neremli were naked, as usual. More than once a neighbor had accidentally spotted Gerda without clothes and he'd made annoying remarks about that.

I hope I'm not disturbing, the tall young man said as he tried to glance at Neremli inconspicuously. Gerda always had to laugh about those attempts. He failed gloriously, all the time. So different from his skills when they were out there. At least he'd gotten used to them being naked when they were at home. That had taken quite some time for Mischa.

Not at all. Take a seat. Gerda pointed at the couch where Mischa sat down, while she poured herbal tea for everyone. It was one of the few things Neremli could devour by the gallon. What brought you here, apart from those long legs? she asked as she sat down on the couch as well.

Mischa explained about his sister's attempt to make him go out with a girl. Gerda shook her head and wondered why that woman couldn't leave him alone.

Neremli got up from her chair and moved through the room, sitting down next to Gerda, from where she glanced at Mischa. She often did that. Gerda had once asked her why she did that, because there was nothing to be afraid with Mischa. He likes, was all she had said to that in her terse way of communicating, and Gerda had noticed that Mischa indeed liked it. She knew that Mischa had a certain soft spot for Neremli and he had protected her several times. He liked having her near.

Any news from Yigit? he asked. That hand didn't look good.

Grey Elf. Neremli made the words sound worse than any curse word could have done. Mischa beamed as he always did when Neremli responded directly to something he said.

He was going to see Krysa, Gerda said. Bandage around it, drink something nasty and sleep it off. Standard procedure.

Ha ha ha, if Krysa ever stops, you can take over from him. Mischa laughed at the mere idea.

Impossible. Totally impossible, Gerda said. After all that time I'm still half here and half there. There was the Shadow-World, Neremli's home. Gerda reached out to touch Neremli's pale skin as she thought back to that moment when all this had started. If I hadn't woken up that night because of that earthquake… She turned to look into Neremli's big, gray eyes.

Mischa had heard this story many times before but he never got tired of hearing it again.

I almost fell out of bed and went outside in my nightgown, Gerda continued. Pitch black out there in the fields behind my house. Good thing I had my flashlight with me. The ground shook once more, almost throwing me down, and then there was this big rift in the earth.

Neremli sat motionless, listening carefully as usual. Then she gently stroked Gerda's cheek with a fingertip and she smiled.

Gerda looked at her again. Yes, sweetie. There you were. Coming up from that rift, together with a bunch of others.

Not rift. Opening. Stairs, Neremli corrected her and attempted to look stern.

Gerda always called it a rift which had formed in the ground. That was how it had looked to her. And from that rift a large group of Shadow-beings had come up. Beings with a special aura around them. Neremli had been among the first to come out and in her hurry to make room for the others, she'd run into Gerda. Gerda, in turn, had reached out and grabbed Neremli so as to make sure they wouldn't fall over. The attempt failed, which prolonged contact inside the aura, and so Neremli had forged a special bond between the two.

I still don't know how that aura works, Gerda said, but from that moment on I did know that living without her would be impossible.

Mischa nodded. She had told him so a few times already. He leaned forward and looked at Neremli. Too bad you can't explain it either.

Neremli looked him in the eye. As Gerda had talked, Neremli had sat up straight, no longer hiding herself. "The… light circle… is not head. Carefully she put a hand on Gerda's chest. Is heart. Is feeling, Mischa."

Gerda smiled. "The most that I can make of this is that the aura, the light circle, creates an emotional bond between those who are inside it at that moment, if those people are emotionally open, or vulnerable. She kept her eyes on Neremli. If she were to say anything wrong, her shadow lover would let her know. I was in that… in her circle at the wrong moment, with my emotions wide open. I don't think I've ever been more scared in my life."

Neremli nodded very slowly. Not scared now, she said and leaned in to tenderly kiss Gerda's cheek. Then… scared. Much fear. Then she added, Right circle.

Fear's one hell of a strong emotion indeed, Mischa said. And a while ago you said you all were scared to come up here as well. That was directed at Neremli.

Neremli nodded again. Her expressive eyes were wide open as she said, Was so scary. She rested her head on Gerda's shoulder, closing her eyes. Now good. Together.

Gerda saw Mischa's expression as Neremli sat like that and it touched her. "I hope you find someone too, Mischa. Without the help of your sister." As she had expected, he shook his head.

No, thanks. Just let me be who I am. That's how I am; I want things simple.

Neremli giggled and got up, to Gerda's surprise. She moved towards Mischa and tapped his cheeks for a moment. Simple. Never simple, silly man. Then she hurried back to the couch and Gerda's safe presence.

Mischa was entirely flabbergasted.

Gerda understood why, because she was as well. Neremli had never touch Mischa except in an emergency, and now this had happened. You're a little rascal, she said to Neremli, whose face beamed as if this was the ultimate compliment. Gerda wasn't sure if she'd ever get over this. Neremli was not one to touch people from this world, apart from Gerda herself.

You know, I'd love to be there longer, he said. In the Shadow-World, I mean. He carefully touched his cheek where Neremli's fingers had been, as if he could feel her touch longer that way.

That's not a place to go and walk around in, Mischa, and you know that. I'm afraid you'll have to stick to your dreams and relish the few moments we were allowed to take you there.

Or I should go north and wait for another opening, and a staircase, he replied with a smile.

Gerda knew that he didn't even notice that. He was hoping for something to happen to him, like what had happened to Gerda. She hoped he'd never experience that, but he didn't want to hear about that.

You still won't tell me what it is to live there, do you? Again that hungry look in his eyes. He, like all the others of the team, had been to that strange Shadow-World for a few short trips. It was fascinating there, and spooky and scary at the same time.

That's right, Gerda confirmed. Most of the things I could tell you wouldn't make any sense, because you don't know that world. You'd have to immerse yourself in the totality of it. And trust me, it's not just nice and alluring. She grimaced as memories flooded her mind. Memories of experiences that had left large scars on her back.

At that moment both phones on the table started beeping, while the displays starting flashing.

Shit.

* * *

Robby! More coffee? Or are you ready for something big boys drink? Rob's brother Hank waved with a few cans of beer. Rob feared that opening those might create several fountains, seeing how forceful his brother was handling the containers.

I'll stick with coffee, bro, Rob said. That is probably stronger than what you have there.

Hank roared with laughter as his wife Cora headed for the kitchen to fetch some more coffee. By the time that everyone was supplied, Cora asked if Rob had found a proper job again. She'd been quiet about that for a long time already, but once in a while that topic popped up again. You've been without a job for while, boy, she said. You'll be on the back burner in your field. I'm sure a talented man like you should be able to find a decent job.

I'm sure there is, said Rob. He always felt uncomfortable when this bit came up. Everything the Shadow-World threw at them, and that was more and more lately, made that neither he nor Ashna even had time for a job.

At some point your savings are gone, little brother, Hank warned him, and then it's too late.

But we sold the boat, Ashna said, making a joke. That helps.

Boat? You have a boat? Cora and Hank looked at their guests wide-eyed.

Not anymore. She just said so, didn't she? Rob grinned. Ashna and her quick mind had done it again. And they had never owned a boat.

Cora wasn't impressed. Again she reminded him that this just wasn't right. You're still a young man, Rob. Not even in your forties.

Before he could come up with a response, something in Ashna's purse started making a lot of noise. She looked at him for a moment, then grabbed the bag and pulled out her phone. It was beeping and flashing as if it was auditioning for a police job.

We need to leave, Rob said as they got up. Sorry, it was really nice to be here, but this is urgent. Ashna and he didn't even wait for a response from their hosts. In record time they were in the small hall and grabbed their coats.

As they closed the door behind them, they heard Hank enter the hallway, asking what was going on. He wouldn't get an answer.

"Not even in your forties." Ashna tried to talk like Cora as they