Interlude

Knock! Knock! Knock! I pounded and pounded and pounded on the door. Let me in! Let me in!

I sank to the cold stone floor. The heat from the sun couldn’t reach this far inside and my blistered feet rejoiced at the cool texture while goosebumps spread up my arms. The door I pounded on opened and a stream of water gurgled and meandered out and away. I knew this water, it was water from the portal, it was Fountain. A little toy ship, an old double hulled catamaran, was next to me and I held it above the current, wanting to see where the water would take it.

"Well?" A priest in a helmet stood just beyond the open door. "Are you coming in or not?"

The scene shifted and I lay with Maui on the hull of the toy ship looking up at the stars.

[Was it easy?] I asked him.

[Yes.]

[Was it fast?]

[Fast enough.]

[And now?]

[And now I miss you, Heeny.]

The scene shifted again and I was back in front of the door and the stream. I placed the toy boat on the water and watched it flow away. Behind me the door slammed shut.