The Map Maker's Quest (9 page)

There was a rush of activity on the ship as Cain leaned over his control panel and began turning a big wheel on the side of the panel. Deep below him, in the depths of the mighty ship, a series of pipes opened and steam started hissing up into them. Those lines led from the engines all the way up to the gathering device built into the Sunderer.

Cain watched as his men pulled back the covering that hid the device from view. When the tarps were finally removed, the machine gleamed in the late-morning sun. A great disc of cold iron wrapped around until it formed a perfect circle. That was not the beauty of the Sunderer. The real power lay inside the cold iron sheathing.

That was his gift, Cain thought. Alchemy was his specialty, the changing of one element to another by the mixing of various elements and minerals. It had all happened quite by accident about four years ago. Working in his lab deep under the ground near his palace on Manitoulin Island, a bit of gold dust slipped into a boiling mixture of ground diamonds and a dozen other rare and costly items. There was a steam line feeding heat into the mixture and suddenly he noticed a slight glow. The glow was an indication that the mixture was pulling power from the magnetic lines around the earth.

How amazing
, he thought, that the humans on the other side of the Divide had never figured out that simple concept. Then he'd noticed a weakening of the Divide. It showed up on his map table as a circle of silver, barely visible but still there. There and then his grand idea struck him and Cain had chuckled. The idea had nearly bankrupted him, obtaining the amount of the mixture he needed had nearly destroyed the treasure he had taken from his domain.

“It's working, sir.”

Cain looked up and pulled his mind back from memory, “Get ready to move.” Cain signaled the captain of the
Goliath
. The cold iron sheath only covered the disc on the part facing back towards the ship, the outer section was open. From the open area a silvery light shot out a hundred yards before coming to a sudden halt against a wall of darkness that appeared from out of nowhere.

“There it is,” Cain shouted. The noise was building as the magic of the ancient Map Makers, Runners, and Architects fought against his device. The darkness surged once and then began to fade like a runner who had given all in a long race and found he was coming up short of the finish line.

“It's opening.” Someone on the deck shouted, and a rousing cheer swelled from the gathered Adherents. These were men handpicked from the ranks of his soldiers, those without families and no honor except to whoever offered them places to pillage. It was a mixed and motley collection, humans from the old world, a few dwarves and elves cast off from their societies for horrible crimes, a couple score goblins and orcs who refused to abide by Puck's rules. A good number of northmen, violent and ready to destroy anything that stood in their path and even a few non-humanoids mixed into the gathering. This was his hammer, the force he held in reserve to spread fear and terror to anyone who dared oppose him. They were loyal to him because of the things he gave them, and as long as the coin continued to flow, they would carry out his bidding without question.

“Full steam ahead,” Cain shouted over the bubble of voices. “And I want every cannon firing the moment we have targets. Let chaos reign, and we will let this side of the Divide tremble at our power!” There was a rousing shout. “And above all, you have my permission to loot the city. It's all yours, boys. Have fun!”

The gap in the Divide widened and shook for a moment as they started towards it. Then it stabilized. A great circle nearly five hundred feet around, a disc of darkness was held back by the silvery light. Closer and closer it grew as they picked up speed and finally the great ship pushed into the remains of the Divide and smashed through it.

 

Chapter Nine

Heart of the Lake

C
ain blinked as they emerged from the darkness of the Divide. Spread out before him was the modern city of Duluth. He had not seen it from this side before, and he suddenly realized his search might take longer than he thought it would. Unless his spies managed to get more information for him, he would need more time. He had checked his table map and managed to locate Jane and her sister. They were heading to Duluth from the north, so he would concentrate his search there. They held clues to the whereabouts of the book, and he would find them and then sit back and watch from afar. When they held the book, he would make his move.

“Sir, we are in range!”

“Open fire,” Cain said calmly. He scanned the shore until his eyes fell on the great steel ship that gleamed in the morning sun. It had the look of a vessel of war, and he pointed to it. “Concentrate your fire on the ships first. I want them helpless before us.” The
Goliath
steamed closer as the four cannon mounted on the front of the ship barked loudly. Three of the shots missed and impacted the docks around the target vessel. As the shots struck, they exploded and sent great fountains of debris and smashed wood planks into the air. The forth shot struck the rear of the ship and tore through the plating. A second later the charges inside the cannon ball went off ,and the ship shuddered violently. Smoke and fire erupted from the impact site.

“Nice shot,” Cain laughed.

Then the Goliath swung sideways, and all of the cannon mounted to the side railing began to fire in rapid succession. This was going to be a very bad day for the city of Duluth. All around the
Goliath
the smaller Ironships of Cain's fleet followed suit of their much bigger cousin. Round after round tore into the downtown. Somewhere from the city sirens began to wail.

 

* * * * *

 

“Sir, we have all of
the men on shore.”

Cain turned and looked at him, “Fine, go herd the people out of the city. Push them over the top of the hill and establish a perimeter on top of the hill while we search the city.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Adherent seemed unsure, so Cain looked at him and motioned for him to continue.

“We don't have enough men to cover the entire hilltop.”

“Watch the south more heavily,” Cain instructed. He needed Jane to get back into the city. “Once the group at Palisade Head is finished, we'll bring them across. At least, if it takes us that long.” The man nodded and jogged back to where the landing plank would take him back to the shore.

Once his men were gone and only a light watch remained, Cain turned back to his cabin. The chaos was starting, now he needed to gain a step on Jane in the search for the book. It would take time to find her map and careful listening to gleam what information he could. He also wanted to see what Tasker was doing. He knew the former master of the Temple was heading north but to what ends?

 

* * * * *

 

Tasker stopped the moment he
was out of sight and looked over into the brush, “You can come out, Flying Cloud.” In one ear he could hear the others walking off to the south and talking about something called a motorcycle, but he dismissed the conversation. He had an idea that he needed to pursue, and he could use the help of the hidden girl to accomplish it.

“How did you know I was here?” Flying Cloud asked. She stepped out of the underbrush and smoothed her dress. She was amazed the small dwarf had managed to detect her presence. She felt at home in the forests already.

“Your anchor was set to my map,” Tasker pointed out. “I knew it was an old anchor I had not used in a while and when it vanished I figured it would turn up again.”

“I'm sorry,” Flying Cloud apologized. She wondered if the dwarf would be mad but instead he smiled and motioned for her to sit down. “I just wanted to see Jacob again.” She sat down and folded her legs to the side. Her dress was freshly cleaned, and she had made an effort to brush her hair and fix the strings of beads woven into it. “Are you going to send me back?”

“No,” Tasker said thoughtfully. “I have need of your skills. Do you remember the legend of the Sleeping Giant?” The legend was older than those on this side of the Divide believed and it was based in reality. “Those trapped on this side have a legend that the sleeping giant guards a wealthy silver mine. This is true. I read a first-hand account of someone who visited the Ojibwa tribe and traded for their silver. It was perfectly pure, something almost unheard of in nature. Then several hundred years ago an earthquake struck the area, and the mine was flooded.” Tasker paused a moment. “The mine exists but even more importantly so does the giant.”

“But wouldn't the giant be trapped on our side?” Flying Cloud asked.

“I don't think so,” Tasker said. “He has been sleeping since before the great flood, since the days recorded in the earliest history. I believe those who placed the Divide thought he was a part of the landscape.”

“You mean to wake it?” Flying Cloud in disbelief. “Is such a thing even possible?”

“Yes,” Tasker replied. “With your help it is.”

“But why?” Flying Cloud pressed for an answer.

“We have to stop the
Iron
Goliath
,” Tasker said. “The sleeping giant is the only creature I know powerful enough to stop that ship.”

Tasker led her through the forest for almost an hour before they reached the nearest mushroom circle. When they arrived, he stopped and looked around. The forest was quiet. It always seemed the closer one came to magical places on this side of the divide the more even the animals avoided the places.

“They're shrinking, you know,” Tasker said. He pointed to the mushroom circle and shook his head. “The humans on this side never see them. They build on top of them or dig them up or plow them under without knowing, but that destroys the magic.”

“Sad,” Flying Cloud said. She looked at the circle for a moment and then shrugged. They did not have time to spare sorrowing about things they could not change. “We should keep moving, Tasker.”

“We will come out near the town of Beaver Bay,” Tasker said as he stepped up to the mushroom circle. “At least on this side the town still exists. On our side, Cain's burned the village to the ground. All that exists is a few ruined cottages and the remnant of the stone piers.”

The lights of the mushroom circle flared to life, and Tasker kept a firm grip on Flying Cloud until they arrived on the far side of the passage. It was a risky thing to travel the pathways beneath the earth without an experienced guide. Many people had lost their lives wandering the passages deeper in the earth that came out in dark places.

They emerged on the unnamed side of rough hill part of the Sawtooth mountains. Below them and in the distance the blue waters of Lake Superior filled the horizon and a line of storm clouds marched off into the distance. Below them lay the small village of Beaver Bay and a shop there that held what Tasker was seeking.

“How will we awaken him?” Flying Cloud asked.

“Have you heard of the Heart of the Lake?” Tasker asked her.

“No,” Flying Cloud replied.

“It's a stone,” Tasker explained. They found a road that led towards the highway. When they reached Highway 61, they started walking down the edge of the blacktop. Every so often a car would speed by them but Tasker ignored them. He wanted to avoid any contact with people. “Many years ago a stone collector walked the beaches, looking for what the people here call Lake Superior agates.” Another car sped by them. This time the person honked at them, and someone whistled at Flying Cloud from the window. Tasker pulled Flying Cloud off the road a little further, he didn't want any trouble with the locals, not right now. “He found one on the beach that day, a stone of tremendous beauty and size, nearly this size.” Tasker held up his hands to show her the size.

Flying Cloud whistled. The agates of Lake Superior were much sought after by her people, and they held powerful healing qualities. However, since leaving the forests and retreating to the deep caves, they had not found many.

“That same stone is now housed in the Beaver Bay Agate Shop, a small rock shop just down the road,” Tasker explained. They walked down the sloping hill towards the small collection of houses. After another half hour of walking they stood in front of the building looking up at the sign.

The place was a two-story building with a tan front and a brown roof. Purple awnings and green railing filled out the front, and Tasker motioned to Flying Cloud, “Let's keep moving.”

Tasker pushed through the front door and looked around. Stones of every size and description lined the walls. Small price tags were listed under them, and Tasker suddenly realized they had no way of paying for the stone. People on this side would expect some form of payment, and he thought furiously, trying to find a way around this wrinkle.

“There it is,” Flying Cloud said. She pointed behind the small wooden counter in their path to the stone and started towards it.

“Hold on girl,” Tasker said. The owner of the shop glanced up at them and smiled, but Tasker could see the man's eyes. He was watching them closely. Finally the man set his book aside. The title on it read
The Last Keeper of Split Rock Lighthouse
. He asked, “Can I help you find something?”

“Just looking right now,” Tasker replied. He had been on this side long enough to pick up some of the accepted behavior.

“Won't they just give it to us?” Flying Cloud whispered. “I mean it's to help in the fight against Cain.” She was confused. Why wouldn't they be able simply to take the stone. If it was truly as important as Tasker said it was and could make a difference in their fight, it should be given to them freely.

Not wanting to draw any more attention, he pulled her over to the side. “This side doesn't know anything about Cain or the Temple,” Tasker explained. “I wonder if he would be willing to barter?” He looked around, then reached into his pocket. While living on this side, he had found many gemstone deposits unknown to those here. He used them sometimes to buy food and other things he needed, and he knew that if he offered the shop keeper something of value he might be willing to part with the stone.

“What is that?” Flying Cloud asked.

“Red diamond,” Tasker replied. “Pretty rare on this side, but if you know where to look it can still be found.”

“Can I help you find something?” the shopkeeper asked again.

He was watching them now closely as they whispered to each other. Tasker finally turned and walked up to the counter.

“I wish to buy the Heart of Lake,” Tasker said simply. He pointed to the massive perfect agate behind the counter. It had a big piece of paper with the letters “Not For Sale” printed neatly on them. Tasker had been around long enough to know that this rule could sometimes change if he offered something of sufficient value.

“That stone?” the shopkeeper said. “I'm sorry but it's not for sale.” The shopkeeper turned an affectionate eye to the rock. “I found that years ago on the lake shore. I wouldn't trade it for . . .” Suddenly his voice faded off as he watched the short figure place a massive gemstone on the counter.

“I want to trade this for it,” Tasker responded. He knew humans and he figured this one was no exception. When confronted with a rare and valuable stone, he responded. Carefully he placed the thumb-sized diamond on the counter and looked at the man's eyes. He saw the amazement and shock as well as recognition of what he was seeing. The shop keeper knew this was a diamond and knew the rare color made it especially valuable.

“Where . . . ?

“Don't ask,” Tasker replied. “I know it is worth much more than your agate, but I really want the agate.”

“It's yours.”

Tasker noticed the man did not even take his eyes from the diamond as he agreed to the deal. A moment later they were walking down the street with the agate safely stowed in Flying Clouds bandoleer bag.

“Where did you get the stone?” Flying Cloud asked.

“An abandoned mine northwest of here,” Tasker said. “The people on this side mined iron from it for years. Now they visit the Soudan mine just to look at it as something historically interesting. It's full of those diamonds if you know where to look.”

Flying Cloud shook her head, she would never understand the people who lived on this side.

It took them a while to walk back to the mushroom circle, but soon they were overlooking the town of Thunder Bay. They walked to the water's edge and looked out at the series of plateaus that formed the image of the giant.

“See where his head lies?” Tasker said. He pointed out across the water, then started walking around the edge of the lake shore. It would take them much of the day to reach the place where he thought he would find what he needed.

“Yes,” Flying Cloud said. The rock formations were massive and reared up into the air, many of them covered in trees and even a few human structures.

“If I'm right, there'll be an opening on top of the formation of his head,” Tasker explained. “It leads down into the heart of the giant. We need to place that agate back into his heart. After we do that, he will begin to awaken. If it works, we'll emerge from the ground and finish waking him. Then we'll very politely show him what has been happening during his long slumber and ask him to accompany us.”

“What if he refuses?” Flying Cloud asked. It seemed fool hardy to place this much faith in the cooperation of someone who had been sleeping for several millennia.

“He won't,” Tasker said firmly. “I knew this particular giant many years ago. When he sees what's happening to our side he won't be happy.”

They picked up their pace and took a short trip through another mushroom circle. By late afternoon they were standing atop the giant's head, looking down at the sparkling waters of Lake Superior. Behind them lay a small cave that led down into the ground. Flying Cloud thought it looked suspiciously like his mouth. Trees and grass grew in abundance on the giant and it was impossible to see where the giant's body ended and the earth started.