Dormia (52 page)

Alfonso let out a heavy sigh and then looked up. Above him, the stars of the Northern Hemisphere glittered and sparkled. They were a brilliant white and they seemed much brighter than normal. There was Orion, surrounded by other admiring constellations. Just below was the Big Dipper, low in the evening sky. The same stars hung over Somnos, and perhaps Uncle Hill and Resuza were looking at them too.

The
Success Story
churned through the cold waters. The wind was picking up and the growing waves made the icebreaker seem tiny. Alfonso shivered and wrapped the blanket tightly around himself. He closed his eyes, and replayed in his head the battle with Nartam, and of course, the parade, and the planting of the bloom. And now, after all that, he was returning home to World's End, Minnesota. Sure, it'd be great to see Pappy and his mom. But how could he really return to World's End and go back to school as if none of this had ever happened?

Alfonso thought back to the very first time he had met Uncle Hill. It was in the evening; he remembered that much. Hill had told them an amazing story about Dormia that seemed too crazy to be true. Alfonso smiled to himself. Back then, he hated his sleeping-self and his heart sank every time Pappy fussed at him about his tomfooleries or someone told him, "I can't believe what you just did in your sleep!" However, none of this seemed to bother him anymore. Truth be told, ever since leaving Somnos, Alfonso had been sleeping peacefully, without doing anything strange in his sleep.

The wind of the North Pacific blew harder across the deck. Alfonso shivered and felt his eyes grow heavy. He suddenly felt tired. Tomorrow, if all went well, they'd catch their first glimpse of North America and later that day, they'd drop anchor outside Fort Krasnik. Alfonso stared ahead and saw the moon being reflected in a small puddle of seawater that accumulated on the deck. He focused on the moon's reflection in the puddle and effortlessly entered into hypnogogia. The familiar rush swept over him. He heard Bilblox's heart beating as his trusty friend slept nearby. He heard Vice Admiral Purcheezie muttering to herself in her cabin. Underneath the icebreaker, he heard every ripple of underwater current, the swish of fins pushing through the water, and the sonar ping of two dolphins calling to each other from miles away. Alfonso shifted his focus outward, toward land hundreds of miles away. A late-night breeze swayed the pine trees along the shore. On the ground below, chipmunks rustled through piles of dead leaves. Alfonso sniffed the air and caught a hint of smoke from a small camp-fire somewhere near Fort Krasnik.

A few seconds later, he returned to his normal state and yawned again. Alfonso stood up and felt the deck roll beneath his legs. He thought again of Pappy and his mom, and hurried to the windmill. He'd see them soon enough, but first he had to sleep.

ALL WILL BE WELL

STUDY HARD

EEP EEP KEE (THE GREAT SLEEPER)

THE IRON PILLOW, EST.
2394

DIFFICULT ROAD AHEAD

DRIVE ONLY WHILE ASLEEP

We'd like to start by thanking our families, who believed in Dormia long before it ever existed in print. Our wives, Nancy and Kasia, indulged us and allowed us to be boys when—by all reasonable standards—we ought to have been spending our time doing something far less whimsical and far more grown up. Special thanks to Tamar Halpern, of Somnos Press, for her editing and endless moral support! You kindled the spark, and we'll never forget it. We also give thanks to those in the mighty Kujawinski clan—Frank Kujawinski, Jo Kujawinski, Arlene Weinsier, Adele Prince, Dan "Znimber Palace" Kujawinski, Mark Behn, Liza Kujawinski-Behn, and Alex the Boy Wonder. In the Tribe of Halpern, we first thank Stephen "Big Shanty" Halpern, for always picking up the phone, listening, and believing. Also thanks go to Greg Halpern, Elizabeth Stanton, Paul Zuydhoek, Barbara Lipska, Mirek Gorski, the original Alfonso (Jan Czerminski), and, of course, Sebastian Mistephold Halpern—the magic of Dormia twinkles in your eyes.

 

To our superhuman literary agent, Tina Bennett, we say thanks for going out on a limb for this one. To her assistant, Svetlana Katz: you must truly be part Dormian (and work in your sleep) to be as helpful and responsive as you always are. Kate Schafer gave us our first break and some wonderful insights that brought the book to another level. Finally, to Sally Willcox at CAA: thanks for your support and hard work on the movie front.

 

This book would not exist if it weren't for Julia Richardson, our editor extraordinaire and good friend. It's hard to imagine working with a smarter, warmer, more thoughtful editor. You're the best! Thanks also to Karen Walsh for her good work and creativity in publicity and Reem Abu-Libdeh for her meticulous copyediting.

 

We owe a quick word of appreciation to all those who read the book and gave us suggestions or simply offered crucial moral support, including Leon Gellert, Brian Zittel, Jenn Cohen, John Taylor, Sam Dolce, and Brian Groh.

 

Can you thank locations? Why not? To the wilds of the Sinai Peninsula, where the two unlikely coauthors met, and to the city of Paris for incubating our artistic collaboration, deepening our friendship, and providing expensive but first-rate cheese.

Finally, a wise Dormian once said, "Always thank your wife twice—once awake and again while sleeping." And so, as we nod off to sleep, let us say this:

 

To Nancy Celia Rose, my muse and love, you are the soundtrack of my life. —P.K.

 

To Kasia Lipska, my best friend, who first showed me the haunted and melancholy woods of Niedźwiedzi Róg, where the spirit of Dormia resides. —J.H.