Mythlands: THE HEIST

Part Two: Mad Science and Magic gone Wrong

From the Journal of H.G. Wells.

As astounding as I had previously thought my time in the Mythlands had been, it was as nothing compared with the events that took place in the apocalyptic future potential timeline which we wished to avert. Under the leadership of my feline friend, Schrodinger's Cat and that most perplexing of leporids belonging to the genus of Lepus, by whom of course I refer to the gentleman known as The Hare, even more startling events had transpired!

Having used the mad science and magic combinations of the lunatic genius of Professor Andrew Ketterley, late of the Aslanist State of Narnia and before that, my very own Victorian London, we had first removed ourselves from the aforementioned Mythlands and by use of rings coloured green and yellow, travelled to a place known as The Wood Between the Worlds.

This extraordinary location was in essence a nexus between realities. From there we could journey to any realm that existed in, what I am reliably informed, is called The Multiverse. I must confess that some of the advanced science was a tad beyond my understanding, although I myself have dabbled in ... shall we say, travels of an esoteric nature. To be blunt, my dear reader, Time Travel. I shall endeavour to explain such.

My rebirth in the Mythlands followed my mortal demise and although I was initially shocked and surprised at my new condition, reborn younger, in a vast land that is inhabited by men and talking beasts and other strange beings, who from my perspective existed only in fable, folklore and literature, I eventually adjusted to my new peculiar existence. Furthermore I learned that in the time following my earthly demise, the legendary state that I had achieved, was one that melded my mortal life with certain elements of my very own fiction!

To wit, the name and image of Herbert George Wells had somehow become entwined with that of his own creation - I was myself but I was also ... The Time Traveller! I recalled, clear as day when I had traversed countless centuries and MY meeting with the hideous Morlocks and alas, the heartbreak I felt at the loss of the Eloi girl named Weena.

In hindsight, I venture a belief I now hold, that this combination of the reality with the fiction enabled me, unlike many other poor souls, to resist the siren song of madness and to keep hold of my rationality. Thus fortified, I was able to make a new life for myself and dwell in the strange reality of The Mythlands.

Decades passed and I found myself unaging - a natural state for most of the so called Mythical Creatures - and adapting well, I lived as regular an existence as one can in a place of talking animals and the like. One such creature that I befriended was a mysterious black and white cat. I later realised that indeed, it was he who befriended me, having facilitated our meeting under a pretext. SC encouraged me to locate my 'time machine' although I've damned near little use for the device beyond a certain curiousity.

That curiousity was engaged when my dear friend revealed to me the nature of a coming threat to our very existence and thus embroiled, I was enlisted in his most audacious and somewhat convoluted plan, to prevent a terrible fate.

Even now I am not at liberty to give all the details, but suffice it to say, The Time Traveller once again plied his trade and we transversed the many branches of infinity, learning of probability and the quirks of random chance, in an effort to dam the waters of time against the oncoming deluge that threatened to burst the banks of reality! You will excuse my poetic turn of phrase, I am sure.

In time I was dispatched to a certain place at a certain time - a deuced uncomfortable one in fact - and there at the fated time, I met another cat by the name of Griffin and as a result of this 'chance' encounter, was rescued by the very gang of stalwarts that were at the heart of this affair. From there I found myself in the Wood Between Worlds and on to a future that may not ever exist, if our plans come to fruition.

For now I am stuck here, five years beyond the time and place I know and having lately fled what was once the city of Myth Vegas, now a bizarre future metropolis policed by violently anti social 'Judges' who fired upon us, we have avoided the loonies of Loonytown and once more come about into the desert wastelands.

That was some five hours ago and supplies of food and water run low. I fear we are in dire straits if we do not find an oasis of some segment of humanity soon. All thanks to Mad Science and ... hullo! Up ahead, there appears to be an abandoned camp and ... yes, water!!!

Someone does survive out here. Savages no doubt. I can only hope they are not Morlocks!