The Rivening

By the Boyne

Connie drove to the location of the GPS coordinates as the sun was coming up. She left the car in the parking lot of a roadside inn. It was still a bit of a hike to where she had felt the trance, but close enough. She didn't want to park too conspicuously.

Near the base of the forest covered promontory overlooking the Boyne River, she pulled out her phone to queue up the coordinates, then put it back. She wanted to see how close she could come to identifying the spot on her own. That turned out to be easily done, as when she came near the place where she remembered the trances happening, Connie immediately felt the familiar pull.

"It's still open," she gasped.

Connie let the sensation wash over her, opened her palms, and began walking slowly toward the place in the bluff that was pulling her. A pathway had been hacked into the thick undergrowth. Whoever was using the passage was clearly not overly concerned about keeping it hidden. Connie pulled down her arms and stepped aside to lessen the sensation. As she did so, she heard voices and quickly tucked into the woods.

A man spoke, "How some of these people live! Soon that will be us, Gristig."

Then a woman chortled, "You like to keep speaking their English, Fanik. Yes, that will be us some day. If we're careful. And make sure that they always need us, more than we need them. Now, where is that annoying man?"

"Hey!" A shout came from the direction of the road.

"Pretend to be nice, Gristig."

The woman laughed and called out, "Hey Jimmy. You brought us a new toy?"

A whiny voice replied, "You know only my obnoxious sister is allowed to call me that. Yes, I have a new version. You two have a wonderful time at Hastings' place?"

Connie knew that voice. James.

The man, Fanik, spoke sharply, "Of course. More wonderful once we see the full plan. Still loose ends. Everything needs to be in place before Gallin Council comes."

"I know. You're so good at reminding me. Fanik. The equipment is coming. Just a few more adjustments on my passage expander, then things can move more rapidly. No more signaler nonsense. It'll all happen, don't worry. We'll control the passage and the wealth that Dahria leaves lying in the ground. And you, Fanik, will create your monuments. And all of us will live happily ever after."

Gristig said, "Right now, you do need signaler nonsense. There're very few of us left. Don't forget, you're lucky you have me."

"Oh, I never forget."

Gristig groused, "Okay, hand that thing to me. I want to get going."

Connie could hear clicking noises and a low, pulsating hum start up like a power drill chewing through a thick piece of wood.

James said, "I'll come looking for you starting two days from now. If this works like I think it will, you should be okay with that turnaround."

Connie listened as they walked past her hiding place. In a minute she heard a faint, echo-y wind and a soft moan. And then nothing.

"Arrogant idiots," James muttered. The underbrush crunching as he walked away.

Connie stayed hidden and waited a long time before standing and peering around. She couldn't spot James but worried he might be lurking someplace and forced herself to wait another 15 minutes. Walking back to the car and on the drive back to the B & B, she saw no signs of him.

She didn't know what to do. Except she did know.

And it terrified her. Connie lay on the bed in her room, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm herself and work out how she could accomplish the impossible - find Arden and the others and warn them what was happening. The passage was still open and people on Earthside knew about it.

Close to lunch, Peter tapped on Connie's door. "Are you there? You all right?"

Connie slowly got up. She opened the door and asked him to sit in the only chair. She sat on the bed and took a deep breath.