The Tcholla: Book 2 of the Houkura Series

By Sabrina deSouza

David, Mary and Jenny start to wonder about Danika, Finn and Robb, unaware that their friends disappeared near the burned remains of Marjory House.

After a single day on Houkura, Finn, Danika and Robb discover a world of magic and unheard of mystical creatures.Their confrontation with the dark mage Boltza made them realise that it was more important to bring Boltza to justice for Arcken and Gryff than to try to find a way back to Earth. But before they can seek help from the Ryder People, Gredat succumbs to the Catarbie illness, and the Lousham make a sudden appearance, at Finn's expense. Without prior experience dealing with evil magic wielders, the group realises that their only chance of defeating the dark mage lies with the help of the Tcholla.

Elsewhere on Houkura, Tarheen believes he killed his parents. Enduring various forms of torture from an unknown sadistic dark mage, he is unaware that Krysta and Zoltan have survived and are tracking him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Houkura
• Release date: Feb 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9780645378665

Sabrina deSouza

Sabrina deSouza was born in Dandenong, Victoria, Australia, grew up in Darwin, Northern Territory, and moved to Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory before relocating to Queensland. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree, as well as an Honours Degree in Science. deSouza spent nine years as an Australian Customs Officer, the last seven of which were spent as an intelligence analyst. After deciding to leave government and join private industry, she went to work as a consultant and the principal trainer with Visual Analysis in Canberra before leaving to start her own consultancy business, Q3i2 in Queensland.

Book preview

Progressive Map

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1. Wonders

Senior Constable Joanne Fitzgerald and Constable Marcus Johnston finished their shift with the speed trap near Dartona High School. Marcus had only worked with Joanne for seven months and found Dartona to be a relatively quiet town compared to the larger cities.

After they stowed away the speed trap equipment, both entered the police car. Joanne verified the time was eleven-thirty on her watch, before she reached out from the driver's seat and picked up the CB radio handset. Marcus picked up a clipboard stowed in a shelf below the glove compartment and began filling in some statistics in the passenger seat.

Delta-Tango-Alpha. This is 7-9-9. Over. Joanne’s voice was factual when she spoke into the CB handset.

7-9-9, this is Delta-Tango-Alpha. Go ahead. The sound of the female radio operator at the Dartona Police Station came through clearly through the CB speakers.

Delta-Tango-Alpha, 7-9-9. We’ve finished with the speed trap. Do you have anything in our area? Over.

There was no immediate reply. Marcus used the silence to finish scribbling in his clipboard before stowing it. A moment later the operator replied back. 7-9-9 this is Delta-Tango-Alpha. Can you please check on a strange car parked across from Marjory House since yesterday? Confirm.

Joanne stared at her partner with a raised eyebrow before continuing. Delta-Tango-Alpha, this is 7-9-9. Confirming investigate a strange car parked across from Marjory House. Over.

7-9-9 this is Delta-Tango-Alpha. Out.

7-9-9. Out. Joanne stowed away the handset, but couldn’t help but drawl sarcastically, Wow. A strange car.

Yeah. At least we didn’t get another loose animal, like we did with the Willcox bull last week.

Ha ha, that’s true. That was definitely messy. Joanne couldn't help but make a face in memory.

Yeah, I never knew that bulls could get diarrhoea, Marcus smirked at her.

Ha ha. Yeah, well I couldn’t believe how long it took to wash the stench out of my hair. Joanne’s face was screwed up with extreme distaste when she remembered the experience. The bull liked to try to escape from its paddock every other week, especially as it liked the fruits that were growing wild in a ditch a few kilometres away.

Yeah, it was all I could do to breathe while you were in the car, Marcus snorted out.

Oh har har. Joanne batted playfully at her partner. She started the car and indicated as she drove away from the high school. Good thing there isn’t any more fruit left on those trees after he ate them all.

Marcus smirked as he asked his partner, Hey, have you heard about Lachlan’s latest conspiracy theory?

Which one?

The one where he reckons the Sarge is in cahoots with Chris Willcox and that they deliberately let the bull out so that he can keep us on our toes.

Oh, that one. That’s old. He must be recycling them again. I think the latest, latest one is Sarge was buying a race horse and Willcox was going to train it up for next year’s Melbourne Cup.

Was that because Sarge won the sweeps?

Yeah. Of course, I really don't see how it’d work, seeing as how Willcox is allergic to horses.

But wasn’t Bart Cummings allergic to horses too? I remember him being interviewed about it at one of the Melbourne Cups.

Joanne paused as she remembered watching the same interview on TV, before answering, Well, okay, he was an exception to the rule. Joanne spotted a huge house ahead and said, There it is. Marjory House. Marjory House was just a few minutes from Dartona High School and was an iconic landmark before it was burnt five years ago.

It’s a shame about the Bodin’s who died in the fire, Marcus commented as they approached the burnt remains of the house. I heard they redesigned the glass atrium so they could have their own internal rain forest or something.

Sounds about right. They were greenies. Joanne slowed down the vehicle as she approached the house. A dark grey Subaru Impreza WRX sedan was parked opposite Marjory

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Marjory House

House with a personalised red New South Wales number plate. Joanne pulled up behind the ‘strange’ vehicle. One good thing about being in a small town was that you knew all the locals, including their vehicles.

She brought the vehicle to a standstill and put it in park. Leaning forward, she squinted at the number plate of the ‘strange car’. Impreza WRX. Could have been stolen for drag racing. Can you make out the plates, Marcus? It looks like there’s some mud on them. Does that say LONG-1 or LONG-I?

Marcus was leaning forward too, squinting at the plates. LONG-1.

Okay, let’s pull up the rego details.

Marcus turned the onboard computer towards him and pressed some buttons until he was logged into the online computer systems of the New South Wales Police Department. Most patrol cars had a camera system aimed in front of the vehicle. It was often used to capture vehicle licence plates while on the road and their licence plate recognition software would notify them if the vehicle was reported stolen. All without typing in anything on the computer. The computer screen flickered a moment as it took a snapshot of the parked car, identified the licence plate and returned the registration details.

Okay. LONG-1 is listed as a dark grey Subaru Impreza WRX sedan, which matches the description of our car, so it’s not a plate change. And it’s not been reported stolen.

Joanne admired the car while her partner checked the rego details. Impreza. Nice car. Haven’t seen many WRX’s around here since the rally three months ago. Who’s the owner?

Marcus pressed another button on the keyboard before he answered. Errr .... Registered to a Danika Long from Frenchs Forest. That’s quite a way from here.

Yeah. At least two hours.

Marcus continued to press a few more buttons before adding, No priors on her. Locking the computer screen, he looked over at his partner. Well, I guess we’d better check it out.

They both unbuckled and got out of the police car. Approaching from the back of the Subaru, they checked the boot, but it was locked. They examined the car as they walked forward to see if there was any indication why the vehicle was parked overnight outside a burnt-out and abandoned house.

Nothing was on the back seats. Can’t see anything from the back, Joanne commented from the driver’s side. The windows are heavily tinted.

I see something on the front seat, Marcus announced as he approached from the passenger side.

Joanne moved towards the front and tried to peer through the windscreen from the driver’s side. A single sheet of white paper bearing a letterhead and a business card paper clipped to the top sat on the front passenger seat. Marcus, can you make out any details about the letter or the card?

Marcus cupped his hands around his eyes and stared through the tinted windows. Err. The card says ‘David Winters from Fox & Winters Solicitors’. The letter is a Ray White real estate brochure. It’s about Marjory House.

Ray White? Aren’t they trying to sell the place? Joanne turned around to look behind her at Marjory House. A small billboard with a ‘For Sale’ sign bearing the Dartona Ray White logo was attached to some bars of the fence that were still upright.

Yeah, maybe this Danika person was checking the place out?

Maybe, but why is her car still here? Let’s call it in. Maybe the real estate agent or that Winters guy might have some more info.

Jeremy, how’s that story coming along on Rudolph Greenwood? Matthew Logan looked across his desk at the young journalist who sat opposite him and nervously adjusted his watch band.

Sometimes Matt dreaded working as the Chief Editor in a small newspaper like the Dartona Herald with wanna-be hotshot journalists like Jeremy. He had to walk a fine line between mentoring and meeting their deadline. If only Finn hadn’t been so hung up on Rudolph Greenwood. If Finn did the story, it would certainly be a best seller.

Err ... I’m still compiling some info about his work with the fire department. Jeremy was only twenty-three years old and felt his time spent learning journalism at uni was nothing like the real world. Especially in a small town like Dartona.

Matt paused a moment and then leant forward on his desk. You know, Jeremy. I had to put off Finn from doing this story. I realise you’ve only been doing this for a few months now and I hope I made the right decision ...

You did, Mr Logan, Jeremy interrupted. I won’t let you down.

...Well ... see that you don’t. If you need any help, go and see Mary. I’ve left her in charge while I’m away at the Editors Conference in Sydney. Oh and Jeremy, I need a draft in two days when I get back from the conference. It was one thing to be a mentor and give everyone a fair go, but he had a business to run and they were on a deadline. Even if it was a month away, there was always a tremendous amount of work in the printing business.

Sure thing, Mr Logan.

Excellent. That’s all.

Err ... Thanks, sir. Jeremy got up and left Matt's office and closed the glass door behind him. He paused for a moment and looked over at Mary Sanders. She sat at her desk with her back towards him, facing the front door. Mary was a Jill of all trades: receptionist, researcher, coordinator extraordinaire and Matt’s right-hand man. Err ... woman.

When he first joined the newspaper, he found that she was tranquil and professional, but not overly friendly. At least towards him. Right now, she seemed to be deeply engrossed in something on her screen. Jeremy walked quietly to her desk and tried to peer over her shoulder at what she was reading, but she must have heard him as she locked her screen and swivelled around and stared at him.

Hi. Anything I can help you with?

Whatcha reading there, Mary?

Background info on Rudolph Greenway.

Really? Any particular reason why?

Mr Logan asked me to obtain some background info on Rudolph Greenwood for you.

Jeremy’s expression changed and anticipating his next question, she said: Mr Logan always tries to anticipate the needs of his journalists. He thought you might need assistance.

Swivelling to her right, Mary looked at a pile of four envelopes. She picked up the top two yellow, bulky A4-sized envelopes and handed them to Jeremy. As she passed the envelopes, she added, Oh and I’ve included the information here electronically on the H-drive in the research folder, in case you don’t want to read the hard copies. It’ll be in the folder called Greenwood.

Faced with so much proficiency, Jeremy accepted the two envelopes and felt slightly deflated. And yet he still found her intriguing. Errr ... thanks, Mary. Um ... really appreciate that.

No problems. It was clear that Mary expected Jeremy to leave with the envelopes, so when he remained and kept gazing at her, she asked, Was there something else I could do for you?

Uhhh ... Are you doing anything for lunch? As soon as Mary’s eyebrows shoot up into her hairline, he knew he was going to be shot down in flames.

Thank you, but I am unavailable for lunch ... or any other meals ...

Ohhhkaaaayyy then. I guess I’ll be going. Err ... thanks again for the info. Jeremy backpedalled three steps, swivelled on his back foot and scurried to his cubicle in the back corner of the office.

Mary watched for a moment longer and shook her head. Why does it always look as if he’s got a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock? Shaking her head, she returned to her desk. The two bulky envelopes that remained at her desk reminded her of Finn. Knowing how interested he was in Rudolph, she had made a second copy of all the paperwork for him. Just in case she bumped into him again. She tapped the two envelopes and murmured quietly to herself, I wonder how Finn is doing with his fishing trip?

Hey Jim, how’s it going? Jenny Wells placed a small carry bag on the front desk of the Dartona Fire Department where her brother was sitting. There was no one else in the office as she scanned the area. Hey where is everyone? Is there a fire? Her long blonde hair whipped around her shoulders as she scanned the room, her bright green eyes darted around as if looking for someone in particular.

Huh? Oh, Nah. They’re all in a seminar at the back. Sooo ... what did you bring us today, sis? Jim Wells smacked his hands together and rubbed them in excitement, completely oblivious of his sister’s behaviour. It was always a pleasure when his little sister came along with some of her culinary experiments for him and the guys and he felt his stomach and salivary glands leap with joy.

Returning her gaze back to her older brother, she replied: Umm ... I was trying to make some Mediterranean style dips. You know, slightly healthy, but with a bit of spicy flavour. She opened her green recycling bag and pulled out two large containers. She opened the lid of one of them and revealed some vegetable sticks: carrots, celery and capsicum. The second container held three smaller containers with different coloured dips.

This one is made from baked eggplant with garlic and vinegar. The bowl had a deep aubergine colour and a distinct garlic smell when she opened the container for her brother’s inspection, who was both suspicious and intrigued by the dip. She smiled at her brother’s reaction and opened the next container. This one is a tomato salsa with olives and cashews. Knowing Jim had a soft spot for cashews, she figured it would interest him enough to taste it. She almost laughed out loud when she saw Jim's jaw drop and start drooling before he snapped it shut. The last one is pickled onions, creamed corn, asparagus and light cream cheese.

I see. Jim nodded his head and tried to act as if he wasn’t interested in the dips. You know, it’s lucky for you that the guys don’t mind being used as your guinea pigs. When are you opening the cafe again?

It should be ready next week. You’re coming, right?

Of course! How could I miss it? Oh and the guys all said they were going to be there, too.

Excellent. So ... ah, will the guys be out soon? I wanted to see what they thought. Very subtle, Jenny. Why don’t you just come out with it and ask him where Robb is? Mind you, Jim can be pretty dense sometimes. Bless him.

Err ... Laughter and voices erupted from the training room behind him as it opened and the remaining fire fighters emptied out. And here they come now. He waved to them to join him and said, Hey guys. Jenny’s brought some new things to try out.

Wow, that’s fantastic!

Thanks, Jen.

Yeah, thanks Jen.

Thank God, I’m starving.

As the guys peeled past the table, Jenny smiled at them, but kept scanning around. No probs, guys. You’re all helping me out. Her forehead creased slightly when she realised there were only ten people, instead of the usual twelve. So where’s everyone else?

Huh? Oh, Adam and Robb are on days off. God, Jenny! This eggplant dish is fantastic! Jim had already checked the salsa and cashew dip three times already (for verification purposes, of course) and felt daring enough to try the eggplant dip.

Thanks. Shame they weren't here to check it out. I need as many taste testers as possible. Jenny tried not to let her disappointment show Robb wasn’t there. I guess they’re off doing something fun.

Fun? Well, Adam will probably be out at Bondi catching a few waves. He’s such a surf nerd, which is hilarious considering the beach is hours away. But Robb said he was studying up about the Marjory House for his assignment. Damn waste of quality down-time if you ask me, staying home and studying for the next three days.

Studying, eh? Sounds pretty boring.

Yeah, tell me about it.

A world away, Robb was sitting on an Impex toilet. It resembled a hollowed-out grey tree stump, only it was still a living vine. Entwined around the grey toilet vine, was a second orange-coloured vine, bearing a multitude of small flowers of different colours. The grey vine was like a venus fly trap, but it was only closed when you put one of the flowers from the orange vine in the bowl.

God, I hope I’m not still constipated from the frase juice, he muttered as he rubbed his stomach. Kem did say that if the Impex People had drunk the frase undiluted, they’d get so corked up they started craving dirt and stones. And then they’d die ‘cause they’ve got a huge butt plug. Robb shuddered visibly at the idea of having a concrete butt plug. Good thing I’m not eating dirt or stones! Must have guts of steel. He smirked and checked his abs.

Maybe these Impex People react differently to us. Gotta remember not to eat – or drink – anything until after someone says so. Maybe I’ll wait for Finn or Danika to taste test everything from now on. Just to be on the safe side. At least none of us have eaten or drunk something that’s killed us yet! God, why didn’t any of those Star Trek movies ever talk about the dangers of drinking something lethal like frase fruit juice?

Robb glanced at the flowers that adorned the living timber wall of his toilet cubicle. And they never show you what the alien toilets are like, either. If Jenny could only see me now, I bet she wouldn’t believe half of what’s happened.

His mind wandered back to Jenny, the sister of one of his colleagues at the Dartona Fire Department where he worked. He pictured himself telling her: ‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you Houkura has three moons, although I’ve only seen two of them so far. And except for the glowing octopussy thingies at the beach, the carnivorous vines and trees, everything else is pretty much nothing like what the TV shows say alien worlds are like. I mean, we’ve been changed too! Danika can see auras now, Finn got pregnant by this insect thing (but don’t mention the ‘p’ word around him, ‘cause he’s still getting used to being a mum).’

Robb snorted quietly at Finn’s reaction to the astounding news. ‘And me ...’ He paused his imaginary conversation for a moment and looked at his hands. ‘My hands keep tingling so much it’s like they’re holding onto electricity or something. At least, that’s what it felt like when I held onto that magical bird that blinded Danika. God, I wish I could have helped her before she got hurt.’

The sound of distant raised voices outside broke him out of his reverie. He quickly finished his ablutions, got up from the toilet and plucked a few flowers from the orange vine that grew along one side of the tree wall. Throwing the petals in the grey vine toilet bowl, he watched amazed as the grey vine convulsed and closed. I don’t think I could ever get used to that. Turning around, Robb swept aside the dark grey hanging vines that served as a doorway for the toilet, and strode outside looking for Johnto.

A few metres away, Johnto stood in front of the pub where the rest of their group waited for their return.

Johnto, what’s going on?

Robb asked as hastened to Johnto's side. I heard some voices. Is it Danika or Finn?

The healer turned to Robb and answered, I do not know. I think it might have been Danika. I heard a woman’s voice calling out loudly just now and it did not sound like Gryff.

Danika? Well, I don’t think it would be trouble. She can handle anybody.

They quickly walked to the pub where the rest of the group had stayed. Perhaps. But that was when she could still see. I fear the damage that the magical bird Boltza had inflicted on her may be permanent.

What? You mean she’s going to stay blind forever?

I do not see anything wrong with her eyes, but she says she can only see the flames from the bird. This may be magical and not physical. I do not know any way to cure that.

God! Well, let’s see what’s happened.

Robb and Johnto arrived at an enormous hollowed-out tree mound. Like the toilet, the structure was still alive, as were all the tree mounds that dotted the area. Dark green leafy vines formed a doorway that covered the entrance of the place Finn and Robb had called the pub. They had only been on Houkura for a day and everything was still surreal. Even the trees were cultured and trained to grow hollowly in such a way that people could live in them. Talk about environmentally friendly, Robb thought to himself.

Sweeping aside the hanging vines doorway to the pub, Robb and Johnto entered to discover Danika facing Finn, Gryff and Arcken, who all stared back at Danika with huge grins. Not that you could tell, as Arcken's face was so disfigured by magic.

Some of the Houkuran locals were sitting in the outskirts of the room on some wooden benches that grew out of the wooden floor and watched the group of standing strangers with mild interest. A movement behind Johnto indicated that Kem and Gredat had also arrived.

Kem glanced at Johnto and asked quietly, We came away from the Viewer as you asked. What has happened?

Johnto must have told them telepathically, Robb thought to himself. God, that’s a handy thing to have.

As Robb and Johnto entered the pub behind her, Danika turned around to face them and her shoulder-length straight black hair swung around.

Danika no longer wore the white bandage that had covered her eyes five minutes ago. Her startling blue eyes shone through her slanted eyes with unrestrained joy.

That’s so weird looking at a Japanese person with blue eyes, even if she is only half Japanese, Robb reminded himself. Hang on a sec ... Danika, what happened to your bandage?

Danika smiled and waved the blue-stained white bandage at Robb.

But what about the marks? That fire-bird thingy Boltza threw at you scratched your face really badly. You don’t have any marks at all!

That’s what Finn said.

Wow, Johnto. Robb couldn’t help smacking Johnto on the shoulder in amazement, saying, That blue stuff you plastered on her face really works!

I do not think so, Robb. The unguent I used will only soothe some of the pain. It will certainly not heal the wounds that were on Danika’s face and it shouldn’t disappear from her skin for two more days. Johnto's eyes remained fixed on Danika's face, confusion was clearly evident on his face. And what of the flames? You said you could not open your eyes as they were filled with flames.

It turns out there wasn’t anything wrong with my eyes.

What? Robb was even more confused, the more Danika

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talked. Hang on a sec. The last time we saw you, which was only five minutes ago mind you, you had about seven deep cuts in your face around your eyes from those bird’s talons. Johnto had plastered a bright blue gunky stuff all over your eyes so that you looked like someone had given you two shiners the size of saucers and you said you couldn’t see anything except flames from that magical fire-bird thingy that Boltza threw at you to stop you from knowing what was really going on. Robb only paused long enough to take a quick breath before gasping, And Johnto says it wasn’t because of him. Robb finally stopped talking and shook his head, still bewildered. I just don’t understand.

The Impex Pub

Danika still beamed as she watched Robb’s expression go through various forms of confusion and amazement, before she replied, Okay, let’s sit down. Now that Kem and Gredat are back too, I’ll tell you all what I told the others.

One of Robb's eyebrows jerked upwards and he turned to Finn wordlessly for clarification.

We’re still surprised too, but it’s best if Danika tells it herself.

Ooookaaay, Robb slowly drawled as he sat next to Gryff on one of the benches.

Danika remained standing and waited for everyone to settle down before she began to explain. Finn stood near the doorway to the pub’s kitchen.

Right. Let’s see. I'll start from the beginning. Now. After we arrived here, Kem and Gredat went off to consult the local Viewer and Robb and Johnto went off to the toilets. So the rest of us were sitting down here. Danika paused and tried to recall the chain of events that led to her miraculous recovery.

Yeah, we know that, Robb prodded impatiently.

Well, Finn and Arcken were sitting at the end of your bench on the right, and then Gryff and I were sitting at the very end of the bench on the left. Errr. I reckon I was the closest to the ... uh ... Danika looked at the hanging vines that covered the entrance before continuing, the ... uh ... doorway. Anyway, I was still wearing the bandage over my eyes. Finn started talking about something with Arcken and Gryff – I wasn’t really paying any attention to them.

Danika looked down at her hands sheepishly as she admitted: Actually, I was feeling kind of sorry for myself. I ... I guess I felt helpless at not being able to see any more. She coughed away her discomfort. "Anyway, the next thing I knew was that I felt someone sitting on my right and then I felt them put their hands on mine.

I was startled at first, but then I heard this young boy asking me what was wrong and I said I was blind. But the strange thing was that the boy kept insisting that there wasn’t anything wrong with my eyes and I said I wished to God that I could see again, but I doubted he could hear me since we were on another world. He didn’t know what God was. So I told him that God created everything. And then he said that if God made everything, then He was everywhere as well, so that meant God would hear me and ... and ... Oh, God, this sounds so bizarre talking about it, but anyway, he asked me if I really believed in God. And you know what?

Danika shook her head in amazement before continuing. "I think that was the first time I ever really questioned myself about it. And ... and ... I really DO believe in God! I mean ... after all that’s happened, I still believe in God. The next thing I knew he was saying, ‘Then open your eyes, Danika.’

I don’t know what came over me, but I started pulling the bandages off my face and the next thing I knew ... I could see again! There weren’t any flames anywhere! But when I looked around to see the boy, he wasn’t there!

So where’d he go? Robb asked, amazed and dubious about her story.

That’s just it, Robb. Gryff said I was sitting at the end of the bench, so there wasn’t actually any place for the boy to sit down on my right and nobody else saw anyone near me. At all! And the weirdest part of it all was that he knew my name! No one mentioned my name when we came in, so how did he know? I mean unless Johnto, Kem or Gredat mind-spoke it to everybody here?

Johnto, Kem and Gredat first looked at each other and then shook their heads in denial.

We did not mind-speak your name to anyone here, friend Danika, Kem stated quietly.

Robb's mouth sagged as he slowly digested what Danika was saying. Are you trying to tell me that you were talking with God?

‘Uh ... I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe an angel or something. I don’t know. All I know is that ... It was a miracle. I mean, I can see now!"

Everyone remained silent as they tried to absorb what she said.

Don’t look at me like I’m a sandwich short of a picnic. The fact is that I can see now.

Do you think this has anything to do with your aura sight? Finn asked curiously.

I don’t know. Maybe?

Can you still see? I mean with your aura? Finn asked.

Um. I don’t know. Let me try. Finn, turn around and I’ll look at your back.

Err ... Maybe try it out on Robb. Finn evaded. He didn’t want anyone to know that the baby bugs had popped out from inside his back earlier.

What are you talking about? Robb doesn’t have anything in him.

How do you know until you have a look? Finn couldn’t explain why he wanted to keep the status of the bugs secret, but he felt overly protective of them.

Danika was suspicious now. Finn, why don’t you want me to look at your back?

What? No reason, I just thought you could check if Robb’s gotten over that frase butt plug problem.

Oh, har har, Robb protested.

Finn. Turn around. Danika commanded. She ignored Finn's rebuttal and stared at him, favouring her usual posture with both hands on her hips.

No.

Danika glared at him at first and then decided to take matters in her own hands. Striding towards Finn, she grabbed his shoulders and stared at him. There’s gotta be more than one way I can do this, she thought to herself. Narrowing her eyes, she threatened him, Don’t make me make you.

Try, Finn stared back. He mustered as much bravado as possible, but as soon as Finn answered back, he thought to himself: Oh crap! She’s gonna kick my butt like she did with those catarbians! And they were still unconscious an hour later! He tensed his muscles in anticipation of Danika’s karate fury.

Danika took a deep breath and gathered her feelings, thinking, Hmm ... Why is he goading me like this when he knows I can take him down? Hmm ... I wonder if I can scan his back without actually looking at his back? Worth a try, I guess. Okay, let’s go.

Danika took a deep breath and focused her thoughts. God, please show me what’s wrong with Finn. Perhaps because she was more concerned about Finn and not herself, that her aura sight kicked in with a vengeance and Danika found herself scanning Finn’s back as if she were standing behind him, and not in front of him.

With her aura sight, her vision swept past his clothes to the gauze mesh that covered his right shoulder blade, and then past the gauze to his skin. She was about to focus her thoughts on going into Finn’s flesh, when she noticed something strange about Finn’s wound. Hang on a sec. What’s that? She realised that the segmented ball of bugs was now lying outside Finn's skin, and not inside Finn's flesh.

Each of the bugs was the size of marbles, which formed a wriggling mass the size of a golf ball. Five strands extended from the mass into Finn’s back. Danika focused her thoughts and followed the strands through Finn's skin and flesh. Ignoring the red cells that comprised Finn’s muscles, Danika followed the strands until they ended with a barbed hook-like appendage anchored in Finn’s spine. As she zoomed back, Danika ended her aura vision and let go of Finn's arms. She put her hands back on her hips and confronted him. Finn, when did they pop out?

What? How did she ...der ...she’s got aura sight, you dope!

When did the bugs pop out?

Oh. Ah. Finn tried not to squirm, and then reminded himself that he had nothing to be ashamed of. Um. Just before the big fight with Boltza and the catarbians. They said they were going to get as big as that dead squirrel was by the time they finished growing. They didn’t have to stay inside me, as long as they were still connected to me. I guess this way was safer for both of us.

When were you going to tell us? Robb interjected.

'Look, it's nothing to get excited about. Besides, we had that fight straight after they popped out and I forgot all about it."

You could have said something afterwards.

Just drop it, Robb.

Wat a minute, Finn. You just said they told you. Does that mean you’re psychic now? Danika quizzed him.

Psychic? Finn paused before saying, I don’t think so. I mean, I have no idea what you guys are thinking.

Then what DO you mean? The last time we spoke about the bugs, you said you could hear a humming sound. Are you saying they’re actually talking to you now?

Err. Yeah. Kinda. Finn squirmed slightly under Danika’s concerned stare.

Finn! Why didn’t you SAY something? Danika was astounded and annoyed that Finn wanted to keep something like that to himself.

Do you mean to say you’ve been talking to yourself? Robb couldn’t help teasing Finn.

Oh, har, har.

But seriously, now. You talk with them?

Um ... yeah. They’re very naive about things and don’t know anything except what they’ve experienced with their host.

Host? Sounds kinda parasitic, if you ask me.

So Kem, what’s the news with the Viewer? Finn abruptly changed the subject, feeling that less focus on him was the better.

Although Danika and Robb were both annoyed with Finn for not telling them, they decided not to pursue it.

Kem sat quietly near the front door, on the other side of the pub, with his eleven-year-old son Gredat on his right and his friend Johnto on his left. When he heard his name, he answered, The local viewer is not here. They were called away to the Wister People. We have asked Kora to come.

Kora? Won’t that take a while? Robb asked.

Something tells me that she might be using one of those portal thingies that we used to get to the Impex Council chambers yesterday. Finn speculated. He looked at Johnto and asked, Am I right? He glanced at Danika and Robb and felt relieved they weren’t going to pursue the matter of the bugs in his back for the time being.

Johnto nodded, Yes. There is a portal here. She will be here in less than half a waning.

Finn made some quick conversions. Half a waning. That’s half an hour. Nodding in self-satisfaction at his cleverness, he suddenly remembered something he wanted to ask. Johnto, out of curiosity. Are these portals everywhere?

No. Only in some of the outlying Impex families. We cannot go to other peoples, like the Wister People or the Ryder People.

I guess that makes sense. I was beginning to wonder why we were walking to meet the Ryder People when we could have gone by portal.

The portals can only be opened by the Impex Peoples. The Ryder Peoples cannot use our portals and there is none there. Also, I cannot use the portal to bring my cart. It is too huge.

And you open them with your vine tattoos, right? How does that actually work? I mean, do you just need a vine tattoo to make it work?

No. We are born with the vines that cover our bodies,

Johnto raised his hands, his palms facing inwards, so Finn could clearly see the vines that appeared as if they were tattooed on the back of his hands. Finn crossed the room to where Johnto was sitting.

This was the first time Finn was close enough to examine Johnto’s ‘tattoos’. He leaned closer and noticed that Johnto’s tattoo marks were a pale brown-red colour. It seemed as if it was above the skin, rather than blended with the skin, the way tattoos normally appeared against human skin.

Johnto continued, They only become visible when we are of age. When our emotions are high, our markings are darker. If we place our markings against the wood of the portal, we make them blend with the pattern and move them.

As Johnto spoke, Finn watched the vines move on the back of Johnto’s hands, almost as if they were dancing. Finn clearly didn't expect the tattoo to move and took a step back in shock. Holy shit!

Danika jumped behind Finn, while Robb leaped up from his seat on the bench to get a closer look. Danika and Robb stood with their mouths hanging loose and their eyes wide as they watched fascinated, staring at Johnto's vine markings slowly writhing against his skin.

That’s no illusion! Robb breathed over Finn's right shoulder.

I didn’t know they could move!" Danika gasped from the left of Finn.

Johnto was bemused as he watched the three humans gawking as his vine markings danced along his skin.

So, it’s like a key, right? Finn shook off his surprise as he tried not to freak out. Stay Cool. Is it just me or am I just getting used to all this magic crap? Fortunately, his curiosity outweighed his shock as he persisted. You unlock the portal and then you can walk through the wall? Finn waited for Johnto’s nod before adding, But there’s gotta be more to it than that, otherwise you could just plaster those portal designs anywhere.

Yes, you are right. One of the ancient ones could make the portals using earth magics so that we could move from place to place.

Really? So, what is ...

Questions ask, no more. Understand, you will not, friend Finn. The female voice came from the entrance behind everyone and surprised the humans more than the Impex People. A woman stood with four long plaits of shocking white hair that reached beyond her waist. Her face was smooth and wrinkle-free, and yet she seemed young and ageless at the same time.

Kora!

2. Discoveries

Robb’s grin was infectious as everyone else in the room stood up to greet the new arrival. Even the locals who had been sitting quietly on the other side of the room, oblivious to the goings on of the strange group, stood up quickly and nodded their greetings with great respect to Kora.

The frase, I perceive, you have overcome, friend Robb.

How did y..? Does everyone know what happened?

No. My way, it is, Kora replied. Cobo did spake her concern to me this morn. And now my eyes, can see you with comfort and not distress.

That and the fact that he isn’t eating rocks. Finn added with a smirk.

True that is. Kora glanced past Finn and noticed Gryff and Arcken, who were both standing apart from the group and trying to be unnoticeable. But friends, new, you have made. Greetings of the Light to you from Kora of Impex.

Gryff nodded her head and replied formally, Welcome is the Light, wise Kora, from Gryff a’ Tien of the Forest Dwellers.

Pleased, am I to see you again a’ Tien leader. Regret is mine. Recognise your form, I did not.

It was needed.

Indeed. Kora turned her attention to the last member of the strange group and studied Arcken, who stood motionless and speechless. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in Arcken’s physical form.

Instead of seeing an aged man from the Impex Peoples in his fifties, he had been changed by magic so that the skin on his arms and face was like the bark of a tree. His right arm was more than twice its normal thickness and resembled a club more than an arm. The vine tattoos that normally adorned the arms of the Impex People, grew outwards as if it was an actual vine. His back was humped, as if a stump grew there. A living tree and yet still a man.

Instead of ignoring him or recoiling in pity or horror, Kora came closer, speaking softly. Impex, you are of, yet your voice? Kora paused. Silent it be! How this happened to you? I must know.

At first, no one said anything aloud. As the native Impex People could all speak telepathically, Finn, Danika and Robb did not know whether there was a colossal tell-all or whether they should just jump in with an explanation, so they remained silent and played eye ping pong with each other. Kora stood silently in front of Arcken, a picture of patient expectancy. It wasn’t until Kora turned to Finn and started intently at him that Finn decided to speak up.

Err ... I’m not sure if Johnto or Kem filled you in on what we found out or not ... His voice trailed off a moment and he rubbed his neck awkwardly.

Speak, they have not. Silent they be. Discomfort, they seem to have. Kora was clearly unimpressed with their silence.

Oh. Right. Well, um. We found out his name is Arcken and a while ago this, err ... dark magician of some kind, came by and tried to do some magic on him and changed him into ... err ... this ... err ... what he is now and ... um ... anyway, now he can’t speak physically ... or telepathically ... I mean, mentally ... you know ... like you guys do. Very eloquent, mate. Oh and we believe the guy who did this to him was the same guy who released the three catarbians we captured last night at Kem’s inn, only he acted differently. We came across the four of them a few hours ago. I mean a few wanings ago. That’s why we wanted you to come here. We needed to tell someone what we found out.

Kora was silent a moment as she gazed thoughtfully at Arcken. Before the past of your memories I view, help this man, I must. She didn’t wait for permission from anyone and no one was about to argue with her. As she examined Arcken's misshapen body in silence, she nodded her head once and said, Your hurts ... I cannot heal. Mayhap, your mind voice I might release. Will you, but let me, I might strive?

If there was any sign of a tear duct in Arcken’s eyes, it would have seemed as if he were about to cry at her offer. With no voice to accept or deny – be it physical or mental – all he could do was bow his head. He got up from his seat on the bench and knelt on one leg before her. His good left arm clutched in a fist against his breast, while the club that formed his right arm lay gently against his bent leg.

As a sign of acceptance, Kora began to hum a tune, deep but gentle. She clapped her hands once before