Chapter 10:
Light City
On the shore of
Light City, Arnold and Lucidia reach an illuminated arch door frame in the
middle of a field. Above it reads: ‘Light City Entrance’. Just before they get
to it, a green glowing penguin burrows up from the sand. The penguin wears a
bowling shirt that says ‘Perry’ and he plucks a ukulele while waves of light
dance out with the music.
‘Hello!’ Arnold
says, like a friendly tourist.
The penguin bows
and then plucks his ukulele for a short surf-reggae piece, singing: ‘in the
library/ secrets of the world. You won’t remember me / you lose what you came
here for.’ Perry then plucks his ukulele, gives a bow, and spins back into the
sand.
‘That was
interesting,’ Lucidia giggles.
‘Let’s go see if
we can take a train out of here.’ Arnold looks back to see the boat
approaching.
They
walk to the entrance, but Lucidia is prevented from passing through by a
force-field made of light. It appears when Arnold tries as well. He bangs on
the force-field, and it sends a painful shock through him.
‘That
penguin never said anything about this,’ Lucidia stamps her foot. They take a
few steps back.
Arnold
picks up a rock from the ground. ‘That can’t be it!’ He looks back to see the
boat getting closer to shore. He throws the rock at the force-field, but it flies
through the doorway without hitting it. He suddenly remembers the medallion and
pulls it out of his satchel. ‘It’s worth
a shot,’ he thinks to himself.
‘What’s
that?’ Lucidia’s eyes widen with intrigue.
‘I
think this is what that man on the boat was after. Maybe it can help us.’ He
walks over to the door and puts his hand through. They both cheer.
‘Let’s
hold onto it and walk through together.’ He holds the medallion out for her and
they pass through the Light City entrance.
‘It’s about time
this medallion did me some good,’ Arnold says as he runs and laughs. They run
towards the next illuminated door that stands 100 yards ahead.
Chapter 11: Illumination
At the entrance
to the second door, a floating hat appears before them. A booming voice comes
from under it.
‘Hello.’ The voice is deep, but friendly.
‘Hello,’ they both say back.
‘Are you witches?’ The voice asks.
‘No’ Lucidia
says.
‘Oh! Are you
from around here?’
‘Nope,’ Arnold
says.
‘Hhmm. It’s a
rare circumstance to have people see and hear me,’ he says. ‘Since you’re not
from around these parts, may I offer you some advice?’ His voice becomes
serious all of a sudden.
‘Please do.’ Lucidia says.
The invisible man tips his hat and clears his
throat. ‘Light City used to be called Enlightened City, but it has been cursed
by an explosion. As a result of this, if you go into the third circle, you turn
into light! Be careful!’
‘What
do you mean?’ Lucidia asks, but the hat vanishes after his warning.
Arnold and
Lucidia shrug their shoulders. They hold onto the medallion and pass through
the second circle. A main street runs from the entrance of the second circle to
the entrance of the third, lined with a series of abandoned souvenir shops and
restaurants. Apartments and other illuminated buildings populate some connected
side-streets and alleyways.
The streets have
no cars on them, but people wander across them. Two people huddle around a
third illuminated door, chanting and throwing sparkled dust into the entrance.
‘Light
City can be a dangerous place if you’re not careful.’ A man appears from a
fire-exit above them. He wears shredded strips of clothing on his body and
platform shoes. He has kind eyes, and smiles at them after he climbs down to
meet them on the street.
‘Come
with me,’ he says, ‘I’ll take you to the library.’
Arnold
and Lucidia exchange glances and decide to go with him. They follow him through
two alley-ways and they arrive at what looks like an old school-house, but with
glowing windows. The man politely opens the door for them and then heads back
towards the main street.
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