The Nibiru Effect

Memory 34

Arkania. King. Avalon," says Kara. "What does that mean?"

"We don't know," I admit.

"What we do know is that Avalon is responsible for the plague," says Jonn. It's the third time he's mentioned it.

A heavy silence settles upon us as Jonn and I wait for Kara to process everything we've just told her.

"Maybe Arkania is the king Arko told you about," offers Kara.

It makes sense. At least I think it does, but Korri disagrees.

"Arkania isn't a king," he says. "It's a city."

"Korri says it's—" I begin, but I stop when I realize something.

Korri just spoke.

We've spent the past two weeks together, yet this is the first time I hear him speak. Up until just now, I thought he was mute.

"Y-you can speak?" I finally blurt out.

Korri chuckles.

"Yes," he says in a voice that seems to belong to a man ten times his size. The words come out soft and soothing, like the low rumbling of a roaring fire.

"You can speak," I repeat, stunned.

Korri chuckles again in that soft, deep tone of his. I can't believe it. Given his small stature and shy personality, I assumed he was a child. I guess I was wrong. It seems as though there are many things I was wrong about, and Jonn isn't above pointing it out.

"What the drowned, Won't? Why didn't you tell us he can talk?"

"I didn't know," I shoot back. I consider asking him to stop calling me "Won't," but now doesn't seem like the right time.

I take a moment to process the implications of my recent discovery. Korri may have waited until now to speak, yet he heard every single word I uttered since my friends and I arrived. Given everything we discussed, there's no doubt in my mind Korri knows enough to crucify us. The only question is...

"Why didn't you tell anyone?"

Korri shrugs.

"I like you. I can tell you're trying to do the right thing." He gives me a big smile. "That's why I've decided to help you."

I think back to the first thing he said.

"You said Arkania is a city. Do you know where it is?"

"Of course. I've been there dozens of times."

My heart leaps. There may yet be hope for us to return to our respective times.

"Can you tell us how to reach it?"

"Of course."

I can't believe it. Moments before I was feeling hopeless, now I'm overflowing with optimism.

"What's wrong?" asks Jonn. "Do you need to use the bathroom?"

I roll my eyes. Only the grey-haired soldier would mistake excitement for an impending bowel movement. Still, I take a moment to tell him and Kara what I just learned.

"So, Arkania is a city?" says Kara.

I nod.

"Given what Arko told you," continues Kara, "it's safe to assume the king of the city is somehow involved in Avalon's plan for this time."

"What are we waiting for?" asks Jonn. "Let's go!"

Kara rolls her eyes.

"We can't leave now. There's still much we don't know."

"She's right," agrees Korri once I've translated Kara's words.

"What do you mean?"

"Arkania is much bigger than our village, and the journey there is dangerous. You'll need my help if you are to reach your destination in one piece."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

Korri nods.

"He's so brave," says Kara once I've brought her and her father up to speed.

"How long will the trip take?" asks Jonn.

"A week," reveals Korri once I've repeated Jonn's question.

"What?" I yelp. "How far is it?"

"It's not that far," admits the korrigan, "but many obstacles stand between us and Arkania."

"What kind of obstacles?"

"Let's just say death by dinosaurs is not the worst way to go."

"Is there a way to shorten the trip?" asks Kara once I translate Korri's foreboding warning.

"We could use the kaars," suggests the dark-skinned korrigan.

The name sounds familiar, but it takes a moment before I remember what the priest told me about the feathered dinosaurs before he fell ill. Thinking of him brings a tear to my eye. I didn't know him very well, but he was one of the few korrigans who tried to help us. And now he's dying.

"What's going on?" asks Jonn, tired of being left out of the conversation.

"Korri says there's a way for us to reach Arkania in just under three days," I explain once I've asked a few follow-up questions.

"Ah," says Jonn. "That's more like it. Now, we need a plan."

Coming up with a travel strategy we all agree with takes a while, but we finally reach a consensus. We'll spend the rest of the day gathering supplies and leave first thing in the morning.

"It's a good plan," admits Korri once I share the details of our strategy with him, "but it won't work."

"Why not?" I ask.

"I overheard the others talking. They blame your friends for what happened to our leader. They won't stop you from leaving because they believe you're their saviour, but they plan on sacrificing your friends to Korrigana."

"What? That's insa—" I begin, but the last few words die in my throat when a series of shouts reaches my ears.

"What's that?" asks Jonn.

Korri doesn't understand the grey-haired soldier's question, yet still answers it.

"It's the korrigans. They'recoming for your friends."