The Strange Intruder

he sky above was cloudless, grey and filled with white radiant stars, although the moon seemed forlorn, casting shadows on the small village of Hywel. The Hywel castle appeared as a dark grey silhouette behind a big market. Silence surrounded the place as if it was not a busy city, for it was a well known city for selling grains, vegetables, fruits, animals, bits and pieces, or almost anything that has value including slaves. Hywel was at the far-east side in the land of Neriwonda, beside the ocean of Quariumora.
In those days, there lived a young slave by the name of Drinn. He was a fine young man in his early twenties. He was fair-skinned, his hair was slightly long, wavy and he had grey brilliant eyes. If you looked at him, he would not appear as a slave—for there was a countenance of strength in him—that is if you didn’t look at his old clothes or the red scarf tied at his right arm, which was a symbol for slaves during those times.
The wind blew gently at Drinn’s face; he and his friend, Bribble, were on the flat roof of Cleo’s house. Drinn was standing at the edge of the roof; his hands in his pockets, while beside him, Bribble munched an apple. It had been their habit to stay there at night every sixth day of the week, waiting for shooting stars, telling stories, and for some instances arguing. And it has been three weeks and a couple of days since Bribble had gone out of Hywel.
“So, how sho day Dinn?” Bribble said, meaning to say ‘How’s your day Drinn’ but that’s how he said it for his mouth was full, chewing the apple.
Drinn glanced at Bribble and slowly sat beside him. “How many times do I tell you not to speak with your mouth full?” he said, then chuckled, for he noticed how funny Bribble looked that night. He seemed fatter, and his curly blonde hair had grown a bit long and scruffy.
Bribble scratched his head and said “Sorry Drinn. I can’t help it, these apples are very sweet. I wonder how many times I can eat apples like these.”
“Well—I wonder how many apples you can eat tonight,” Drinn laughed and continued, “Is it your fourth?”
“It’s only my third!” Bribble retorted. “You should try some. I’m telling you, it’s very good!”
“No, thanks Brib, it will not be enough just for you,” Drinn replied, “It’s all yours.”
“How was the market this morning?” Bribble asked, as he continued eating apples “I heard there’s a bunch of new slaves from Plamaehan.”
“Yeah, Jobashnod’s slave business is more active this week,” Drinn responded, turning serious at the question. “And master Kirshma became cruel, just a few days since he and that Jobashnod became friends.”
“Jobashnod is just like selling donkeys,” Drinn continued.
Bribble then changed the topic “Have you heard about the strange intruder?” he asked.
“Strange what?” Drinn inquired.
“Strange intruder, have you heard about it?”
“No, I haven’t. What is it about the strange intruder?” Drinn asked curiously.
Bribble took the basket of apples and put it on his lap as he went on. “This morning, while I was at the well fetching water, I heard the soldiers talking. One said that he saw a huge bird flying last night near the village. It landed on a roof, and then he saw a figure of a winged-man.
“You didn’t hear the news on the market?” Bribble asked puzzled. “It has been a rumor all day. They say that it was a monster.” He then took another apple for a bite.
“No, I haven’t till now,” Drinn answered. “And you believe it Brib?”
“I guess so?” replied Bribble, he shrugged his shoulders.
“Drinn, I remember, what happened to your poem? The last time we met, you had only two paragraphs, have you finish it yet?”
“I just finish it two days ago,” replied Drinn, “Want to hear it Brib?”
“Of course I do! Go on, let me hear it!” said Bribble, and Drinn started to recite his poem.

“Red Scarf”

I fear the shadows of my past
How long will this torment last?
But what went before I do not know
Just this present life of grief and sorrow

I’ve been a slave for so long
That I can’t even bear in mind what’s right and what’s wrong
In my right arm tied a red scarf
And to anyone I couldn’t even stand up

A scarf which is a symbol of slavery
We are without freedom and without liberty
But deep inside me I know something is wrong
And I wish freedom would not be for so long

Who will rescue, who will show mercy?
To this soul of mine that is full of weary
I yearn for liberty and to freedom I crave
For I know deep in my heart that I’m not a slave

   “That’s very good Drinn! I wonder if I could write a poem myself?” said Bribble.
“I guess you could. You should try it Brib,” said Drinn. “I still want to add few paragraphs. I think it is too short. What do you think Brib?” Drinn was about to say another word when Bribble exclaimed, “Look a shooting star!” and almost dropped his fourth apple as he closed his eyes and wished.
“What did you wish for Drinn?”
“I’m tired of that wishing stuff, Brib,” Drinn wearily said and looked at the stars. “Nothing happens.”
“You know Brib, I feel that there’s something more, something beyond this. More than meets the eye. I don’t want to be like this forever, a slave,” Drinn added sadly.
Bribble replied, “Yeah, it’s well mentioned in your poem, but believe it or not, tomorrow, you and I will wake up still slaves.”
“If there’s something I want to wish for–” Drinn said, and then he paused and sighed, “that is to set all slaves free. But I guess a wish happens only in fairy tales, with magic lamps and fairy godmothers.”
“Wait do you hear it?” Bribble interrupted, who heard a noise coming from the street below. They looked down and found a group of soldiers who seemed to be searching the place. The soldiers were checking the houses and inquired with everyone who was still around the street that night.
Drinn looked down and asked “What’s this all about, masters?”
One soldier looked up; he looked intently at them and asked, “Have you seen a man wearing a brown cloak and a hood, maybe about seven feet tall?”
“No, sir, we haven’t. Why? Who is he?” inquired Drinn.
“It’s none of your business!” one of the soldiers, who appeared to be the one in charge, shouted. The search went on for a few minutes but the soldiers having found nothing, left.
“I assume it’s the strange intruder they’re looking for,” Bribble guessed.
“Well—whatever it is they’re looking for, I should go now Brib. It’s already very late. See you tomorrow then, Brib!”
“Alright Drinn, take care and good night!” said Bribble.
Drinn went down through the ladder at the back of the house. When his feet touched the ground he took a quick look at Bribble who was watching him and waved his hand.

   The street was gloomy and silent. There were just few passersby and the windows of the houses were lighted up by lamps. When Drinn reached the street curve, he felt that there were eyes observing him, causing him to stop and look behind. There was nothing but the swaying trees, the whispers of the gentle wind, and the lonely street of the village.
Drinn whispered “What is this I’m imagining?” for what got in his head was an image of the supposed strange intruder; he imagined a hideous creature with bat-like wings. He laughed to himself, the sort of nervous laugh and then continued down the road. It was about thirty houses or more from the curve to where Drinn lived. Upon arriving at the house, he took out his keys and was about to open the door when a whistling sound passed near his left ear. He was alarmed for an arrow hit the door, ducking, he quickly moved to hide behind a tree. He sat with his back against the trunk; he barely heard his heart beating faster. After a moment he cautiously peered at the road from where the arrow possibly came. He came out of the shadows, watching carefully for his assailant with vigilant eyes surveying the road. He was shocked when big wings flew a hundred meters away from him. He quickly hid by at the tree; he remembered what Bribble told him about, the strange intruder. He did not move for about a minute or two, and then he decided to move slowly, inch by inch till he was right in front of the door, he pulled the arrow, went inside quickly and locked the door.

   An old lamp illuminated inside Drinn’s small room. He sat beside his bed holding the arrow, an hour after he went inside the house. His heartbeat was still loud; he was confused at what has just happened and at what he just saw. He then noticed a piece of paper folded in the arrow; it was folded carefully so that he did not notice it at once. He tried to pull the paper and it rolled out like a scroll. It read:

“TO KNOW THE TRUTH IS TO BE FREE”
Meet me when the stars filled the sky, at the tenth call of the owl.

-Cuauhtémoc

   “Cuauhtémoc, is that his name?” he spoke softly to himself, puzzled. He lay down on his bed and blew out the lamp’s flame. The words from the paper echoed in his head, and he felt as if he would not be able to sleep all night. “What does he want from me?”  Drinn said to himself.
Time passed by and Drinn did not notice that it had been five hours since he entered the room (and he was still half awake) till he fell into a deep sleep and had a dream. In his dream, he was in the darkness, a pitch black place, but wide enough to move. He could hear water silently flowing from a stream and some birds chirping. Then he heard a word saying “To know the truth is to be free.” The voice did not sound frightening at all, it was meek and at the same time strong.
Drinn shouted, “Who are you? And what do you want from me?”
“You desire me, for my name is freedom, and I am truth,” the voice answered.
“I can’t understand you.”
“What is it that you want?” the voice asked.
“I want to know who you are.”
“Is that necessary to know my name?” the voice said, “I’m asking you of your heart’s desire. What do you want me to do for you?”
“But why?” he asked again.
“You are filled with questions, when all you need is just to say what you desire,” the voice replied. “What is it that you want, Drinn?”
   “Freedom…” Drinn whispered slowly. The place gradually turned bright; he was in a wonderful place that seemed to be a garden and he saw a man’s back, wearing a white battle suit walking away from him.
“Then know the truth,” said the man, “I am Quinlan.” And Drinn suddenly woke up; the arrow was on his chest, the sun was coming up, and a soft wind was blowing from the window. He quickly got up and started everything he needed to do.

   The market was crowded and busy like the usual day; the market stalls were lined up, many people carried bags of fruits, baskets of vegetables, and the slaves were chained in a space where they were sold. Drinn was in the market to sell potatoes and was waiting for Bribble, for every last day of the week Bribble bought potatoes for his master Cleo. Drinn stared hard at Jobashnod and the slaves when Bribble interrupted him.
“I’ll mind my own business if I were you!” Bribble said putting down a sack filled of fruits and vegetables.
“How long have you been there Brib?”
Bribble wiped his sweaty forehead and said, “Not so long.”
“You look as if you want to kill Jobashnod!” Bribble said jokingly.
“Look, Jobashnod has slave children this time,” Drinn said, glancing at the slaves.
“You can do nothing about it,” Bribble replied, and he started to choose potatoes. Then Drinn threw a piece of folded paper at the piled potatoes.
“What’s this?” Bribble inquired.
“I got it from an arrow, it was actually attached,” Drinn replied, “I already cut the paper from it.”
“From an arrow?” Bribble asked whose brows evidently showed his confusion as he opened the scroll and read it.
“Last night, when I was about to open the door, an arrow hit the door and that paper was on it. I don’t know what is it all about, but I’m very curious,” said Drinn “So would you come with me tonight, Brib?”
“Of course I will! I’m starting to wonder myself,” said Bribble who kept his stare at the paper. “Do you have any idea who is this Cuauhtémoc?”
“I have no idea, Brib.” Drinn answered, although he knew well that it might be the strange intruder they were referring to, he made it a secret for he didn’t want to scare Bribble off. He remembered the man wearing a white battle suit in his dream. His name was Quinlan but the name written on the paper was different. More questions started to puzzle Drinn’s mind when suddenly a trumpet blast added to the noise in the market.
“Bow down! For your majesty Princess Meyah has returned!” shouted a hoarse voice of a soldier. There at the market aisle were three horsemen who escorted a young lady on a beautiful white horse carriage. She was Princess Meyah. Lovely and gorgeous was she in her yellow dress, simple, yet attractive. The tiara on her head was of silver and dotted with gleaming diamonds. Her white arms and face were smooth and flawless, and her eyes were grey, as grey as the night. Dark and long was her hair, flowing down her back, and her deep pink lips like a fresh rose in the morning.
The market that was very busy and loud a few seconds ago now stood still and calm. None moved, and everyone bowed except Drinn for he was staring hard at the Princess as he saw her face through the carriage window.
“Drinn! Bow… bow… bow….” whispered Bribble on his knees, but before Drinn noticed Bribble’s call, a shout came.
“You! Young man! Why aren’t you on your knees?!” exclaimed one soldier and Drinn suddenly realized what he had done.
“I’m very sorry master,” Drinn apologized as he kneeled. He snatched another glimpse at the Princess who was about to pass in front of him, and saw her seemingly hiding a laugh behind her right hand.
“Are you crazy Drinn? You might have had your head cut off if that was the king!” retorted Bribble in a whisper.
“Is she really Princess Meyah? I’ve never seen her for many years.”
“Yeah, it’s her. I heard she was sent to her uncle to study,” Bribble respond.
“She grew up very beautiful didn’t she? You almost lost all your senses on seeing her!” and Bribble laughed softly.
“Shut up Brib!”
“Oh, we can stand now, they pass us already,” said Bribble. “And see you tonight!” he added as he went through the crowd returning to their works.

   Night came and they were already at the tombs by nine thirty. The grey clouds were moving slowly hiding the lower part of the full moon, for the wind was blowing a cold breeze that night. The tombs were creepy and there was an owl hooting, adding to the eeriness of the place.
Bribble kept on looking all over the place “It’s creepy in here Drinn;” he said. “Can we go back now?”
“Relax Brib! It’s alright. There are no such things as ghost or monsters,” Drinn assured Bribble. After a few minutes they saw a tall dark figure of a man step away from the shadows of the tombs. He was coming towards them.
“You’re earlier than I expected,” said the calm voice of the man. He stopped a few feet from them. He was wearing a long dark brown cloak and a hood covering his head that a shadow wrapped his face and made it concealed.
Drinn started to ask, “So are you Cuauhtémoc?” he said softly.
“Yes I am,” he answered at once.
“Can you tell me what those words meant? And why do you want to see me?” inquired Drinn.
“I was sent here to set you free,” replied Cuauhtémoc, he looked at Bribble and continued, “as well as your friend.”
Bribble pointed at his chest with his thumb and said hesitantly, “Including me?
“Are you the strange intruder, sir?” Bribble asked for he started to get suspicious of Cuauhtémoc.
“If that’s what they call me, I am he,” replied Cuauhtémoc, “but I prefer to be called by my name.”
“You are here to set us free?” Drinn interrupted.
“You heard it right,” Cuauhtémoc answered.   
“You mean we won’t be slaves anymore?”
“Yes and no,” said Cuauhtémoc. “Yes, you won’t be slaves anymore, and no, for both of you are not slaves.”
Cuauhtémoc paused as Drinn and Bribble glanced with each other, and then he continued , “You two are slaves to a lie.”
“I can’t understand,” said Drinn.
“As I said, I was sent here to set you free. To set you free from this lie. For everything you see here is not true. These tombs, that wall, this tree, your clothes and everything here is not true. This is just a dream,” replied Cuauhtémoc.
“A dream? Wait I’m confused,” said Bribble, but it was as if Cuauhtémoc’s words held much truth that it spoke right through their hearts.
“We’ve got no time. I’ll explain everything as soon as you both wake up,” Cuauhtémoc said. “I sense the soldiers coming. Here’s what you have to do. Go outside the city, find the cliff beside the waterfall, and jump. I’ve got to go!” said Cuauhtémoc.
“Wait, it’s still not clear!” said Drinn.
“Have faith my friends!” replied Cuauhtémoc and, turning, he ran away while throwing off his cloak, big wings emerging from his back, and then he flew.
“Well Drinn– I think this really is just a dream. That man has wings! He really is the strange intruder!” cried Bribble, scared as they heard hoofs coming from the road and knew that it was the soldiers coming.
“Dream or not, we should go now! Here come the soldiers, they might think we were with that man!” replied Drinn, and they ran.
The galloping hoofs sounded louder and louder to Bribble who was behind Drinn for he ran a bit slow.
“I don’t think we can run away from them Brib!” Drinn said and stopped.
“What are you doing Drinn?” cried Bribble. “Come on!” He motioned with his hand.
“You go ahead. I’m going to stop them,” Drinn replied. “Don’t mind me, if this is just a dream, as Cuauhtémoc said, they will just beat me in a dream.
“Now go as fast as you can, Brib!”
Drinn stood still as the horsemen appeared from a mist.
“Where is he? The strange intruder?” exclaimed a soldier when he approached Drinn.
“He flew away, master.” Drinn answered, suddenly falling to the ground as he was kicked by the horseman.
“There’s still one running!” a soldier shouted, spotting Bribble’s dark figure running. “I’ll go and get him!”
“He has nothing to do with this, master!” Drinn interrupted.
A soldier kicked him again and shouted, “You shut your mouth, slave!” for they had seen the scarf in his right arm. Drinn looked at the horseman who followed Bribble, as he felt the pain coming from his lips; he laid his hand on it and noticed blood on his fingers.

   The prison cell was dirty and dreary. Drinn was sitting with his back against the wall, and he had been inside the cell for about an hour or so. He still had no news about Bribble and could only hope that he got away.
“Come out slave,” a soldier said as he opened the gate.
Drinn stood up and said, “Where’s my friend?”
“Your friend was lucky,” he replied, “the strange intruder salvaged him. They flew and we cannot seize them anymore.
“Now stop asking!” he shouted and pulled Drinn out of the prison.
They went up from the dark dungeon until they reached a wide, elegant room. The room was painted white with a touch of elegant purple designs. The floor was carpeted reddish brown and dark green in the aisle. Drinn saw the King seated on his throne; on his right was the Queen, and the Princess stood on his left. Drinn was brought before them and forced to kneel.
“Do you know that beast, slave?” the King asked furiously, referring to Cuauhtémoc.
“His name is Cuauhtémoc, Your Majesty,” Drinn answered. “That’s all I know.”
“I assume you are with that beast, and you even know his name!” the King answered.
“No Your Majesty, I just found a letter saying that I’ve got to see him,” replied Drinn.
“You are lying! That beast was following my daughter from my brother’s castle all the way here. Are you are its spy?” said the King as he stood in his anger. Drinn tried to explain everything but before he said a word, he was taken by the guards again and brought back to the prison cell.
Five hours passed inside the prison. Drinn was almost asleep when suddenly somebody awakened him. To his wonder, it was Princess Meyah; her beautiful face was still evident behind the shadowy turban and a servant’s clothes.
“Sorry to wake you up, but we must hurry; we should go now,” Princess Meyah said as she unchained Drinn.
“Why are you helping me, My Lady?” asked Drinn.
“It’s a long story. Let’s just say that I know Cuauhtémoc,” she said. “He sent me that letter too. We need to get away. By the way, what is your name?”
“My name is Drinn, My Lady,” he said. “But how are we to escape the guards?”
“I’ll tell you everything later,” she answered. “Follow me.” They went outside the prison cell, Drinn saw the guards in a deep slumber, and they took a stairway going down to a cellar that was lighted by candles hanging on the brick walls. It seemed that everything had been planned, and Princess Meyah apparently knew the castle very well. At long last, they entered a long narrow tunnel, till, astonishingly, they were outside the castle. They were in fact at the back of the castle near the ocean that reflected the bright shinning moon of Neriwonda.
“I was only ten the last time I was here,” the Princess said as she looked at the ocean and seemed to remember something, “and this place doesn’t change at all.
“Don’t worry we’re safe here. No one can hear us,” she assured Drinn.
“What is this place, My Lady?”
“We are at the back of the castle,” she smiled and continued. “When I was a child I always came here if I want to escape from the dull gatherings of the castle.
“I guess you want to know why the guards are all sleeping. I arranged it earlier. I sent a few servants to give teas for the guards. Well, of course I put something in it,” she motioned her fingers like putting salt on a cup. “And that’s it! They’re all sleeping.”
“You’re better than what I expect, My Lady,” Drinn said and smiled.
“What do you mean?” Princess Meyah inquired.
“Sorry but…” he said hesitantly, “you know—I thought that you are…
“A serious princess, with whom you can’t talk normal things about life, a glum or a morose person?” she interrupted “Is that it?”
“Yeah, you just mentioned it all for me!” Drinn replied nodding and they both laughed.
“Well—can I ask another question, My Lady?” Drinn said.
“Of course you can,” she answered, “and please stop calling me My Lady. I’m sure Cuauhtémoc has told you everything about that, about this world—a dream world.”
“Yes I know it, but I guess you’re still a princess in the real world,” said he.
“Just don’t call me My Lady, will it be fine? And anyway what is it that you will ask?”
“Oh yeah, about that,” Drinn remembered. “Why did you help me and where did you meet Cuauhtémoc?”
Princess Meyah started to tell her story.
“I met him at my uncle’s castle. He’s the king in the city of Plamaehan. I’ve been there for about ten years to study. One day I was in my room and saw a dove on my window. I love birds. That’s why I took a closer look and found a letter on its foot. The letter said ‘To know the truth is to be free. Meet me tomorrow night, at your garden at the eight call of the owl.’
The night we met, I was sitting on a garden waiting for him and felt a strong wind behind me. I looked behind me and saw Cuauhtémoc. I was a little scared for he was wearing a bizarre costume. He told me all about those strange stories about this world being a dream and some things I couldn’t understand. I tried to end the conversation for I started to doubt, but he told me something that made me think. He said ‘I know you doubt. But please believe me if this happens. Two days from now your father will send you home. In your first night at the castle, you will meet a young man who’s been a prisoner for meeting a beast.’ After that I ran away from him as fast as I could to go back to my room. I was inside my room when I heard a commotion outside. The soldiers told me that they saw a huge bird fly away from my garden. They reported it to my father and that’s why he was so angry with you. The next day the same dove was on my window and another letter was on its foot.  It was a different letter though, and in it was written ‘Faith is the assurance of things hope for, proof of things not seen.’
The second day I received a letter from my father, he told me that I must go back to Hywel. I still didn’t believe Cuauhtémoc, I thought it was a coincidence, or he managed to know about it. So I went back to Hywel, I met you and started to believe.”
“I see now,” said Drinn.
“Wait, how are we to wake up? Cuauhtémoc did not tell me anything about it,” Princess Meyah asked.
“He said that we must go to the cliff beside the waterfall outside the city and jump. A little odd don’t you think?” replied Drinn with a small laugh.
“What?! Jump off a cliff?” the Princess said surprised.
“Yeah, I think my faith on Cuauhtémoc grew stronger after you told me your story,” Drinn said and paused. “I guess we should go now. I’m worried about my friend Bribble. He was with me when I met Cuauhtémoc. But when the soldiers found us, Cuauhtémoc rescued him. He might be waiting for us on the cliff by now.”
“But I don’t know how to get to the cliff,” Princess Meyah answered.
“Well, that’s my job now,” Drinn said as he took the red scarf in his right arm. “And I’m leaving this scarf right here.”

   They headed south till they were at the southern side of the market. It was a good thing about the sun already dawning at four in the morning and that there were just a few people in the market, and since Princess Meyah wore a turban, none recognized her. They continued and turned southeast for a few hours of walk until the houses were few and the road ended, until in front of them stood still the misty woods of Hywel.
“This is it Princess Meyah,” said Drinn. “To my knowledge, if we go straight from these woods we will find a dead end and that’s the cliff.”
“I’ve never been on this part of Hywel, particularly at this hour,” she said. “Have you been there before at the woods?”
“No, this is the farthest place I’ve ever been in Hywel,” Drinn answered looking at the woods. “But my instinct is telling me that I know the place. So I guess we can call this an adventure.”
The houses, the market, and the castle behind them vanished as they entered the woods, the sun’s little ray that started to gleam towards them made a small light on their way.  Looking ahead they could only see tree-trunks of innumerable sizes and shapes, some were bent, straight, smooth, indistinct, and most of them were uncanny. The leaves that covered the sky above them were of green and grey. The ground seemed to rise as they went towards the east and the trees became darker, taller, and bulky. There was no sound except for some instances of few broken branches they stepped into. The mist became thicker as they went deeper at the woods. After a quite tiring walk, the light grew closer and at last they heard the waterfall rushing down the river so they moved a little faster and after a minute or so, they were on a space outside the woods. The rim of the sun was already peering out from the ocean’s surface and gleaming a yellowish ray.
“We’re here at last Drinn!” said the merry voice of Princess Meyah. She ran near the cliff stretched out her arms and breathed in a fresh air.
“The sun is beautiful!” she said and looked back at Drinn.
Drinn sighed and whispered, “Freedom is near.”
“Is that your friend?” asked Princess Meyah spotting Bribble sleeping beside a trunk of a tree.
“Yeah, it’s him,” Drinn gladly answered, and he woke Bribble up.
“You’re here Drinn!” exclaimed Bribble when he woke up, and then he cheerfully hugged Drinn.
“Princess Meyah, this is my friend Bribble,” Drinn said.
The Princess gave Bribble a smile and said, “Nice to meet you, Bribble.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, My Lady,” Bribble replied and bowed his head.
“Where is Cuauhtémoc?” Drinn asked.
“Last night, after he rescued me, he brought me in here. He said that he couldn’t stay any longer and that I must wait for you, and he suddenly disappeared.”
Bribble asked many questions on how Drinn escaped and how he met the princess, so they had a few conversations as Drinn and Princess Meyah told Bribble of their story and then they went to the edge of the cliff.

   The waterfall beside them was roaring and rushing to the river that was filled with thick fog and mist. Looking below they faintly saw the river raging and winding eastward.
Bribble said, “Okay now we’re here. Are you guys sure we’re doing this?”
“I’m ready; how about you Drinn?” inquired the Princess.
“Faith is the assurance of things hope for, proof of things not seen,” replied Drinn.
“So at the count of three, we’ll all jump.”
“One… two… three!” They held hands together and jumped, screaming, and fell into the river.