Down the Shrinking Hole II

Down the Shrinking Hole ~Pure Gold ~ By Jamie Ott

Copyright Jamie Ott 2012. All rights reserved. o part o! this "ook may "e #sed or reprod#$ed witho#t written permission. %or more in!ormation& please $onta$t ladysonoma'ameri$amail.$om

IS( ) *+,-0.1//.0/*. 1#"li$ation Date) 232032012

Catch Your Breath Chapter 1 4he dark hole h#gged him so $lose that it made him !eel $la#stropho"i$. 5p& down& aro#nd and #pside down he went !or ho#rs. 4hen all o! a s#dden& his !all slowed& as did the $#rves o! the t#nnel #ntil he $ame to a $omplete stop.

%rom a"ove him $ame a tiny light. 6ittle ridges in the wall o! the hole wo#nd their way #pwards. 7iles #sed the ridges to p#ll himsel! #p. On and on he $lim"ed !or at least thirty min#tes #ntil (A78 Owww, he moaned. He9d rammed his head into something that sw#ng o#tward& and s#ddenly revealed a !lood o! light. :;ho9s there<= a tiny voi$e asked. Di>>y& he almost !ell "#t managed to p#ll himsel! #p thro#gh the ro#nd opening anyway. He $rawled onto a dirt !loor and lay still a moment. Someone approa$hed him. 7iles rolled over and sat #p. %a$ing him was a doll-si>ed "oy with orange tinged skin that glowed& and $ho$olate "rown hair and eyes. He looked ?#st as s#rprised as 7iles !elt.

4he room was dome shaped& and the roo! and walls were dirt. On one side o! the room was a large mo#nd o! grass. Atop the mo#nd lay a tiny pillow and a pat$hwork @#ilt. On the opposite side& a small !ire "la>ed. A desk and $hair was neAt to it. On it& a tiny ink pot and @#ill sat neAt to a small pi$t#re !rame. :I9ll ask on$e more) ;ho are yo#<= :I9m 7iles. ;here am I<= :Bo#9re in my room. 7y 1ag#a will "e #pset& i! he !inds yo# here.= :4en8= $alled a voi$e !rom the other side o! a little white door. :Coming8= the "oy yelled. :Co "a$k in the hole& now8= 7iles had every intention o! doing so& hoping to ret#rn home as soon as possi"le. Hope!#lly& Seven and his gang& who s#rprised atta$ked him in his room& were gone. (#t when he t#rned aro#nd& right as he was a"o#t to sti$k "oth !eet "a$k in& the hole disappeared. :Oh& "#goola8= said the "oy& gra""ing his $heeks. :Okay& ?#st stay hereD hide and "e @#iet8= He le!t the room. (#t there was no way to hide. His legs took #p over three @#arters o! the room.

7iles $are!#lly stood #p& "#t he had to $rane his ne$k so low that he ret#rned to his knees. On the desk& neAt to the !ire& he looked more $losely at the pi$t#re in the !rame. 4he "oy who9d ?#st le!t the room was in it. He held hands with a woman who m#st have "een his mother. She had the same orange skin& eA$ept with white hair. S#ddenly& the door opened again& making him ?#mp. 4he "oy walked in with a tray and set it on the gro#nd. :I didn9t know i! yo#9re h#ngry or not. Sit&= he said& gest#ring to the gro#nd. 7iles $rawled over and eAamined the $ontents o! the tiny platter. A !ish the si>e o! a sti$k o! g#m glowed "right pink. :I9m 4en&= he said& and po#red the little ?#g o! what appeared to "e water& and whi$h glowed "right white& into his glass. 7iles pi$ked #p the tiny !ish and held it $lose to his !a$e. 4he teAt#re was smooth and gel-like "etween his !ingers. He $o#ld see $lear thro#gh it& too. :S#rely& yo#9ve had !ookah "e!ore8 I9ve read all a"o#t yo#r kind.= :;hat<= :%ookah.= :Do I eat it<=

:6ook& i! yo# don9t want itE= (#t 7iles went ahead and popped the !ish into his mo#th. As he "it thro#gh& a light oil o! !ish-essen$e washed over his tong#e and evaporated. :Cood& h#h<= 7iles wasn9t s#re so he remained silent. :Drink<= the "oy o!!ered. He took the pen $ap-si>ed glass and tossed "a$k its $ontent. It was light and s#gary and evaporated on his tong#e& too. :Cot anymore<= : o& sorry. Bo#9re ?#st too "ig. 4hat was a lot o! !ood as it was.=

:;hy are yo# not s#rprised to see me<= :(e$a#se things have "een $oming o#t o! that hole !or a !ew weeks& nowD that9s why my dad installed the !loor door&= he said& pointing to two halves o! "#sted& !lat wood. :;e never eApe$ted that h#mans wo#ld $ome thro#gh& or else we9d have #sed something stronger. 1ag#a doesn9t like h#mans& "#t sin$e yo#9re a kid& I !ig#re yo#9re pro"a"ly harmless.= :;ho9s 1ag#a<=

:He9s !rom whom I originate.= :Bo# mean yo#r dad.= :;hy did yo# $ome thro#gh the hole<= 4en asked more serio#sly. :I was atta$ked.= :(y whom<= :7y neigh"ors.= :(#t how did yo# see the hole< ormally& h#mans $an9t see&= 4en said& wagging his !inger at him. Ignoring his @#estion& he instead asked& :;hen do yo# think the hole will reappear< I really wo#ld like to go home. 7y mom and dad will "e worried.= :It shows #p at s#nrise& s#nset& midday and midnight& "#t it goes to di!!erent pla$es. I9ll have to $he$k the s$hed#le. Bo# don9t want to end #p in the wrong world& or in a ho#se o! "rowniesD they will eat yo# and #se yo#r "ones to pi$k yo#r meat !rom their teeth.= 7iles shivered at his grotes@#e imagery. He9d already had a not-so-good r#n in with "rownies. :Bo#9re not a "rownie& are yo#<= :Do I look like one<= 7iles tho#ght they all looked kind o! similar& "#t then as he o"served) 4en was missing little horns !rom

his head. (rownies almost looked inter"red with pygmy goats. 4en looked more like Seven& who was a sylph and very h#man-looking& even in their small stat#re. I! it wasn9t !or 4en9s glow-in-the-dark skin $olor& 7iles wo#ld have tho#ght he were sylph. He wondered i! his skin glow had something to do with the !ood and drink they $ons#med. :Are yo# and yo#r people at war& too<= : o& that is "etween the "rownies and sylphs. ;e stay o#t o! others "#siness here& and they are not wel$ome here. I! one sho#ld show #p& o#r instr#$tions are to shoot on sight.= :Do yo# g#ys have g#ns<= 4en didn9t get to answer "e$a#se the so#nd o! a door opening and $losing was heard !rom the other room. :4en8= $alled a voi$e that was m#$h higher than the last time. 4he same woman !rom the photo on the desk opened the door. Her eyes "#gged o#t. She whipped a long white sliver o! glass !rom her hair. %rom it& a white spark shot a$ross the room at 7iles& "#t "e$a#se o! her si>e whi$h in$reased the distan$e "etween them& the spark was slow eno#gh that 7iles simply rolled o#t o! its way.

:Cet o#t8= she s$reamed in a pi$$olo voi$e. :Get out! : o& 7om& he9s ?#st a kid. He9s not a dangerD he ?#st wants to go home8= (#t she $ontin#ed to shoot little sparks at him. 5n!ort#nately& the room was too small to keep avoiding whatever it was she shot. So on his third roll& 7iles "lasted thro#gh the dirt wall and into a grass !ield. 7iles stood #p and wiped dirt !rom his shirt. 6ooking down& he saw many grassy mo#nds to his right and le!tD they looked almost like $ray!ish "#rrows. 4en and his mother poked their heads o#t o! the $ollapsed mo#nd that 7iles had rolled thro#gh. 4hey ha$ked and spit o#t mo#th!#ls o! grass and m#d. :I9m sorry&= said 7iles. :I9ll make yo# a new homeD it sho#ldn9t take too long.= 4en $rawled o#t o! the dirt and was& now& trying to heave his mother o#t. He t#gged& repeatedly& at her hand& "#t the so!tness o! the m#d had s#$tioned her in. :Here& let me help yo#&= 7iles said and rea$hed to gra" her "y her sho#lders. (#t she opened her mo#th& revealing two very long $anines& and s#nk them in his !inger. :Ow8= he said. 4hen he heard the so#nds o! many little taps& !ollowed "y voi$es. 4o his right& soldiers mar$hed

toward him& and they looked angry. He t#rned and saw that it wasn9t ?#st 4en9s home he9d destroyed& "#t "ehind him& he9d rolled over an entire neigh"orhood. ow& all along a dirt street that stret$hed to his le!t and right& sprites were sti$king their heads o#t o! mo#nds o! dirt& shrieking and pointing their little !ingers at him. 4he soldiers $ame to a stop and were& ea$h& pointing slivers o! glass at him. 7iles didn9t wait. He t#rned and ran down the road #ntil he lost sight o! the town.

Sometime later& he stopped in a shadowy !orest thro#gh whi$h the road ran. He leaned "a$k against one o! the trees that lined the dirt road. 4here& he noti$ed the di!!eren$es o! that world. 6ooking at the sky was like looking into sp#n glass. 4he shade was "l#e "#t shadow-like with little air po$kets. Bet as he rea$hed to to#$h the air po$kets& they evaporated. 4he trees were short $ompared to Farth9sD every single one had the "#shiest "#n$h o! leaves& like green pom-poms. He $o#ldn9t even see the sky thro#gh the top o! the tree against whi$h he leaned. 7iles tried to stay awake "#t he was ?#st so sleepy. His eyelids slowly $losed. ;hen he woke& it was to the r#m"le o! his stoma$h. ight had !allen and it was very $old.

;anting to take "etter $over& he walked !#rther into the trees. 4o stay "y the side o! the road might mean to "e sn#$k #p on "y someone. As he made his way& he "ent tree leaves and twigs so as not to lose his way "a$k to the road. His stoma$h growled pain!#lly. In a small "ald spot& he p#lled a $o#ple treetops !rom s#rro#nding trees. He shed o!! the leaves into a pile and stret$hed o#t on it. S#rprisingly& it wasn9t s$rat$hy and dry& "#t so!t and s@#ishy. On his "a$k& he noti$ed there were many more stars than on Farth. Almost like a rash& they littered the sky& twinkling and "right. A!ter a !ew moments& he rolled onto his side& $losed his eyes and tried to !all asleep& "#t a !aint s$ent kept him. He opened his eyes and sni!!ed the air. 4he aroma was o! some sort o! meat or gravy. 7iles !ollowed the s$ent to some !eet away. 6eaves $r#n$hed #nder his steps as he went& and the so#nd o! s$#rrying in "#shes was heard. ormally& this wo#ld make anyone #neasy& "#t his h#nger $ompelled him. %inally& a gro#ping o! lights was seen in the distan$e. 7iles strained to see more $learly "#t he needed to get $loser. And as he did& he reali>ed it was a miniat#re two-story $a"in with logs !or wall slats and a roo!. 6ights were str#ng in a winding motion all the way #p to the tip o! the aAis.

He stopped ?#st ten !eet !rom the ho#se. %rom inside& he heard voi$es and sma$king. ;hoever was inside was having dinner. Goi$es like !l#tes piped "a$k and !orth to one another. 7iles "ent over and p#t his ear to the wall& "#t then his stoma$h r#m"led again. 4hose inside !ell silent. :;hat was that<= asked one. :I haven9t heard the like sin$e the holes shi!ted&= said another. 4hen the so#nd o! a $hair s$raping $ame& !ollowed "y a !ew steps. 7iles retreated "ehind a tree and wat$hed. 4he $a"in door sw#ng open. A little man with white p#!!y hair like a $otton swa" walked o#t. :See anything<= : o&= said the man who walked "a$k in& letting the door swing sh#t. 4heir s#p res#med. On the gro#nd& 7iles noti$ed a small path o! ro$ks. He took a step le!t and saw they led to an or$hardD in whi$h waln#t-si>ed red apples h#ng !rom trees. He "ent over to gra" one& "#t a$$identally $r#shed it "etween his !ingertips. 7iles li$ked the ?#i$e

and smashed p#lp !rom his !inger and went !or a se$ond gra". He $#pped many o! the apples in his hand and $losed his !ingers aro#nd a good portion o! the leaves and "ran$hes. 6o#d $ra$king noises rent the air as he p#lled "a$k his hand. 7iles pi$ked o#t the twigs and "ran$hesD then he st#$k the apples in his po$ket. 4he so#nds !rom inside the ho#se stopped. 4hen one asked& :;hat was that<= :I don9t know&= the other replied& :"#t I !elt it thro#gh the gro#nd.= :Co $he$k it o#t8= : o& yo# go.= : o& you go8= :Oh& 1iley& yo#9re simply #seless. I got to do everything mysel!& don9t I< I o#ght to ship yo# o!!.= 4hen the door to the ho#se opened again. 4he man with white hair reappeared. :Oh my& 1iley8 Come here and look at this8 4he gro#nd is littered with leaves and "ran$hes8= 4he little man eA$laimed while p#lling at t#!ts o! his hair and ?#mping #p and down. eAt se$ond& a "oy with messy hair appeared. :;ow& #n$le8 It9s almost like a storm "lew thro#gh& "#t I didn9t hear wind& did yo#<=

7iles wat$hed the "oy $alled 1iley !ollow his #n$le aro#nd to the "a$k o! the ho#se. :Oh& my tree8= the #n$le $ried. :6ook at the damage8= 7iles !elt g#ilty and wanted to apologi>e "#t he was a!raid one o! them wo#ld atta$k him with magi$. :1iley& go get some "andages and tape.= :Bes& #n$le.= 1iley ran "a$k inside. A moment later he $ame o#t with a roll o! ga#>e and tape. 7iles waited !or him to reenter the or$hard "e!ore he $ame o#t !rom "ehind the tree. Care!#lly& he took several steps $loser to the $a"in. He opened the !ront door and looked inside. 4he dH$or was modest with a wood $o#$h and a single $hair "eside a "la>ing !ire in the living room. Otherwise there was none o! the things that one !inds in a modern home. At an arms length& was the kit$hen. A wood ta"le and two "en$hes sat in the middle. Atop the ta"le was a large wood "asin& !rom whi$h the meat aroma sang to him again. 7iles st#$k his arm in. He tried not to yell o#t as he $losed his hand aro#nd the rim. J#st then& the so#nd o! the gate to the or$hard opened again. H#rriedly& 7iles gra""ed the "asin and tipped the $ontents into his mo#th and $hewed. J#st as he !ig#red& it was some kind o! stew with a $o#ple $h#nks

o! what seemed like "ee!. 4he gravy was warm and salty& and made him h#ngrier. 4he so#nds o! !ootsteps drew near. 7iles hid in his spot "ehind the tree and wat$hed them walk "a$k inside. :;here9s the !ood<= the older one s$reamed. :Did yo# eat it all< ;hat9s wrong with yo#<= :It wasn9t me& #n$le8= 1iley $ried. :Bo# s$o#ndrel& pig& thievingE= :Ah& ah& ah&= $ried 1iley& as his #n$le slapped him. 7iles !elt g#ilty "#t he didn9t know how long he was going to "e there. He needed to eat& so as they arg#ed& 7iles "ent over and gra""ed more apples. (ran$hes and lim"s were destroyed as he p#lled his hand "a$k. On$e more& they $ame o#t and didn9t seem to noti$e him standing there. 4he #n$le t#rned violently red. :Cet my "ow& 1iley8 Something9s destroyed the or$hard& and we9re gonna !ind o#t what8= 7iles t#rned and ran "a$k to his spot o! leaves where he plopped down& sending a !l#rry o! leaves #p aro#nd him. He "reathed in and o#t and prayed they didn9t !ind him.

He !ished a hand!#l o! apples o#t o! his po$ket. He pi$ked away the "ran$hes and leaves. 4here was hardly eno#gh to satis!y him& "#t he was !inally a"le to sleep witho#t h#nger sawing at him. 4he neAt morning he woke to the so#nds o! !ootsteps $lose to his head. He swatted and kno$ked something over. :;hat did yo# do that !or<= He opened his eyes. :4en8 How did yo# get here<= :I !ollowed yo#r tra$ks. I9ve "ro#ght yo# something.= He handed him a s$roll that was t#$ked #nder his arm. 7iles #nrolled it& !inding two lists o! n#m"ers) one was times and neAt to them were dates. :;hat is this<= :A s$hed#le o! portal destinations.= :;hy $an9t I ?#st go "a$k to yo#r home and $at$h the portal there<= :;ell& yo# $o#ld do that& i! yo#9re okay with hanging o#t here !or the neAt two weeksD otherwise& yo# gotta go to the 7ar$hes.= :;hat9s that<= :4he "o#nd "etween here and the neAt spritely $ivili>ation.=

:How long will it take to get there<= :%or yo#< 7ay"e a day or so&= he said& #nraveling the map and tra$ing a small "rown line to a green point. :J#st go thro#gh along here& and yo# $an "e in the portal home within three days.=

:(#t what am I s#pposed to do< How will I stay hidden< ;hat am I s#pposed to eat<= He p#lled a $loth sa$k !rom #nder his $loak and opened it. :Here. 4his sho#ld last yo# a week.= Inside a do>en "alls& like mar"les& glowed in di!!erent $olors. :;hat are they<= :7#goola. 4hey grow plenty& here& and yo# will !ind more along the way to the 7ar$hes. (#t "e $are!#l o! the spotted ones& as they are poisono#s.= He p#lled a leather sa$k !rom his sho#lder. :7#goola.= 7iles repeated and took the sa$k. Cently& he shook it& and li@#id inside the "alls waved. :;hatever yo# do& don9t go too !ar o!! the path. Sin$e we9re at war& everything and everyone will "e ready to atta$k any portal ?#mper.= 4hen he s#ddenly t#rned and started to walk o!!.

:;ait&= $alled 7iles. :Bo#9re ?#st gonna leave me& then<= :7y mom is waiting !or me&= he $alled "a$k witho#t t#rning. On$e more& 7iles looked down at the map while meas#ring the terrain against the pi$t#res. And then& he started walking toward the 7ar$hes.