Secret Of the Sighing Mountains (The Quest Trilogy) (13 page)

“We are wasting precious time with trivialities. You should be getting along if you hope to bring her hand back.” said Master Shengdu.

“Where is her hand exactly, do you know?”

“Do you remember the spot you chose on the globe?”

“Yes. Stephanie touched Alaska.” said Diego, looking at Stephanie for affirmation. She nodded.

“Well, whatever event was taking place somewhere in Alaska the last time the planets were in this alignment … her hand will be there.”

Master Shengdu grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and began making a series of quick calculations using symbols and elaborate lines that looked nothing like the numbers either of them knew.

“You have exactly one hour from now to find and retrieve her hand.  Go quickly and hurry back. Once this specific alignment changes beyond a point, you will be unable to return here. Plus, since you are not actually a part of the past events, if that happens, you will simply combust and cease to be.”

Stephanie grew even paler at this piece of news.

“Great. Things just keep getting easier.” muttered Diego. “Will you be coming with us, Master?” he asked, hating to admit the fact that he needed help. But need it he did, desperately.

Master Shengdu shook his head, making Diego feel worse for having asked. He spoke with remorse in his eyes.

“I cannot risk it. I have almost a hundred disciples here and many more faculty members, all of whom are dependant on my survival and my guidance. Plus, this is your mistake. You must rectify it on your own or not at all.”

“What happens if we don’t bring my hand back?” Stephanie asked.

She had managed to collect herself somewhat.

“You’ll live.” said Master Shengdu.

Diego and Stephanie exchanged a glance.

“Don’t even think about it.” warned Diego.

“No, look, what I’m saying is … you stay, Diego. It’s my hand. I’ll go alone. Besides, I was the one who suggested we come here. The whole bad idea was mine so I should take responsibility for the consequences…” Stephanie trailed off as her voice became too quivery. She was trying to be brave and failing miserably.

“Over my dead body.” growled Diego. “I’m going with you, and we’re leaving now because time is running out on us.”

Stephanie didn’t make anymore half-hearted attempts to argue. She was terrified of going alone and she needed his help, no two ways about it. Diego took her good hand in his and turned to Master Shengdu.

“Do we just jump in?”

“Yes. But remember, just find her hand and retrieve it safely. Do not try to change any of the events taking place before you or you will be trapped in time forever.” warned Master Shengdu.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” said Diego. To Stephanie, he said, “Ready?”

She nodded, and they both jumped headlong into the liquid mirror.

They tumbled out onto the snow, almost burying themselves in it. Diego was on his feet first, brushing the snow off his body. Then he lent Stephanie a helping hand. Together they scanned the landscape around them for some sign of her missing hand.

“There’s nothing here. Just snow covered mountains and pine trees.” said Stephanie, wrapping her arms around herself as the cold was beginning to get to her already. Diego, though bare bodied, seemed unaffected by it.

“Let’s keep moving. It’s got to be somewhere close-by. Can you jog?” asked Diego.

Stephanie nodded. She didn’t remind him that she was without any shoes. Complaining about her freezing toes seemed like a bad idea right now. They two of them took off, taking care to avoid open landscapes and staying close to the shelter of trees and huge snowdrifts. They rounded the corner of an enormous snowdrift and there it was – suspended in the air, surrounded by a halo of crackling energy. And standing just below it, fascinated by the glowing object, was a Yeti.

Stephanie let out a gasp and ducked behind the snowdrift with Diego, breathing hard. The freezing air seared through her lungs, making breathing more painful than relieving.

“What do we do now?” she wailed, close to panicking once more.

“I’ll distract. You go for the hand.” said Diego.

“But how?”

They poked their heads around the corner to assess the situation again. The Yeti was taking swipes at the floating appendage, but its hand kept passing right through it. Instinctually, Stephanie balled up her fists and watched in amazement as the fingers on the floating hand responded.

“It’s still connected to me!” she breathed.

“Yeah … I’m gonna go now, so be ready. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Stephanie nodded and Diego steeped out from behind the snowdrift into plain view.

“Hey!” he called to the animal, supplementing his call with a snowball. The Yeti turned, distracted for a second, and then turned back around. The object it had found was obviously more fun because the Yeti resumed swiping at it, ignoring Diego completely. Diego exchanged a worried glance with Stephanie.

“Hey you, retard! I said over here!” Diego bellowed, but the wind was blowing against him, effectively nullifying his effort. The Yeti continued to ignore him. Frustrated, Diego bent and lifted a large, frozen rock from the ground and hurled it at the beast.

That got its attention.

With a furious roar the Yeti whirled and came charging towards Diego. Diego turned and shot into the forest like a bullet.

“Go, Steph, GO!” he yelled, as he all but flew over the ground.

Stephanie did not hesitate. As soon as they had passed her, she sped forwards, towards the floating hand. With every step that she got nearer, the pull exerted by the disjointed appendage became stronger and sparks of electricity began shooting up her arm. With a roar she took a leap, reaching out for the floating hand with the stump of her sliced arm. The two halves touched and connected with a sizzle, hand fusing with the arm seamlessly. Stephanie fell to the ground and rolled to the side while checking her hand for functionality and thanking her stars she had decided to wear her lenses today. She did not need the problem of a pair of broken glasses right now.

It worked! Her hand was saved! Somewhat relieved, she looked up to see how Diego was faring with the Yeti but they were nowhere to be seen. Fear gripped her heart anew as she stood there all alone, freezing and terrified. Where had Diego gone? Was he all right or was he lying injured and almost dead somewhere? What should she do? Wait for him, search for him, or leave?

Her teeth began to chatter and Stephanie found she could not decide upon a suitable course of action. She looked above her to see that a shimmering blue portal had opened up exactly where her hand had been only moments ago. She settled on pacing back and forth close to the portal, trying to keep herself from freezing to death while looking every few seconds towards the pine trees for some sign of Diego. Nervously, she checked her watch. Twenty minutes had gone by. They still had time. Stephanie decided to wait for Diego until time almost ran out. If her toes didn’t catch frostbite until then, that is. With her teeth chattering away noisily, Stephanie paced the area, losing courage with every passing second. Again and again she glanced towards the forest. She spotted some movement far away and stopped, watching the spot keenly while jogging in place to keep blood flowing to her legs. Again, she saw a flash of movement, closer this time. Seconds later, Diego’s tall form burst into view, running like his life depended on it. Well, it did. He was bleeding from numerous scratches to his bare chest and the Yeti was close on his heels, roaring and trying to take swipes at his back with its enormous arms. Stephanie froze in her spot, unable to rip her eyes off the fierce look on Diego’s face. He was running like a maniac, straight towards her.

Instinct for survival commanded that she move unless she wanted to be mowed into pulp, but the eyes locked fiercely onto hers were telling her to stay put, and she couldn’t disobey. Diego’s long legs ate up the ground as he closed the distance between them, grabbed Stephanie roughly by the waist and hauled her over his shoulder, never stopping for a moment. She was jolted roughly for about five seconds, and then they were soaring through the air. Stephanie knew a moment of thick silence as they passed through the portal and then they crashed out onto the floor of Master Shengdu’s secret lab. Diego finally let go of her and tumbled to a stop below Master Shengdu’s chair.

“Ugh!” Diego groaned, clutching the back of his head where he had taken a hard knock against Master Shengdu’s chair. Stephanie lay quietly on the floor of the room, trying to calm the chattering of her teeth and stop the shivers racking her body. It took a few moments for Diego’s eyes to adjust to the dim lighting of the room. Once he did, he noticed that Master Shengdu had made arrangements for their impending arrival, having shifted tables and shelves to make space for them when they would come tumbling out of the portal. He, however, was making no move to get up from his seat and help the two of them now, which was strange. On closer inspection, Diego noticed that one of Master Shengdu’s right eye was rapidly swelling and bruising.

“Sierra was here.” Master Shengdu spoke in a toneless voice, in answer to Diego’s unspoken question.

Diego inhaled deeply at that bit of information, fighting down the irritation that it brought.

“Sierra? What was he doing here?” said Diego, rolling to his feet with a wince.

“I called him to help me shift the tables and shelves for when the two of you would return. The less people that know what happened here the better. I figured that since you would probably tell Sierra what had transpired here on your return anyway, it would be best to call him. After we were done rearranging, I made the mistake of telling him what had happened and where you were …” Master Shengdu trailed off.

A feeling of dread began to descend in Diego’s stomach.

“And?” said Diego, not really wanting to know the answer.

Master Shengdu sighed deeply.

“He jumped into the portal to save you.”

*****

CHAPTER 12

“What the
hell
do you mean?!” yelled Diego, and then bit his tongue. “I’m sorry. That was … I was …”

Master Shengdu nodded for him to go on.

“It’s just … why didn’t you stop him?”

Master Shengdu gave him a pointed look. “How do you suppose I got the shiner, as you would call it?”

Diego gasped. “
Sierra
did that to you? He
hit
you?”

“Yes. It seems he is quite the warrior when it comes to saving the life of his brother.”

“My life didn’t need saving.”

“Try telling that to him, will you? He was putting up too much of a fight and would not listen to reason. The only option I had to stop him, was to kill him. I couldn’t do that, so I let him go.”

“He’s an idiot!”

“If you see him again, you may tell him that.”

Diego paused, scrutinizing Master Shengdu’s face.

“What do you mean, ‘if’?”

“Sierra jumped in before I could explain how much time he had, or what should and shouldn’t be done once he goes in. he could be doing anything at this moment. And you know where that might lead, if he somehow changes events happening in the past…”

If Diego was feeling worried earlier, it was nothing compared to the alarm coursing through him now.

“I have to save him! How much time do I have?”

Master Shengdu glanced at his watch. “Half an hour. And I would advise against what you plan to do, but I do not want any of my bones broken in addition to the bruised eye. Therefore, you may do what you feel is best.”

“I have to go. He’s stupid and an idiot, but he
is
my brother!” Diego exclaimed, looking mad enough o break something.

“Please … save the idiot. You have my blessings. Go now.” said Master Shengdu blandly. “One more thing. Remember, you cannot change the present by going into the past, either.”

“What do you mean?”

“Neither of you must get fatally injured, killed or eaten.”

Diego would have laughed at the ridiculousness of that list but the inclusion of the word ‘eaten’ sent a shiver running through him. It was possible, he knew now. Master Shengdu continued;

“If either of you gets killed inside, the other will trapped, too. Forever. Am I clear?”

With a nod, Diego sprang forward and jumped back into the silvery-blue portal.

He came out at the exact same spot that he and Stephanie had just exited from. Getting to his feet, he was wondering where to begin looking for Sierra when not far ahead, a sight made him stop. Sierra shot out of a cave, pursued hotly by the bellowing Yeti. Trust Sierra to get into trouble this quick, thought Diego with an exasperated shake of his head. He was about to bolt after Sierra when a second figure came into view, trying to sneak into the cave the Yeti and Sierra had just come running out of, making Diego gasp. It was Stal. He was young, with just a hint of a beard, and blonde hair the same as Sierra had, only now it was unmarred by any grey.

What was his father doing here? And where was his mother? Had they met yet? Who was Stal looking for in the Yeti’s hideout? Did he need help? Questions blazed through Diego’s mind in the fraction of a second he stood there, until a cry drew his attention. He turned just in time to see Sierra trip over a fallen log. The Yeti pounced on his prone figure in an instant. Snow and debris flew and victim and assailant struggled furiously in the snow. Snow that was rapidly staining a bright red. Diego’s mind formed two thoughts. Blood. Death. Shit! No!

He broke into a dead run towards the two fighting figures. With all the force and momentum he could gather, Diego crashed his body into the monster’s. The beast went flying through the air, hitting a tree some distance off. As the beast rolled over with a keening cry, Diego pulled Sierra out from underneath the snow he was half buried in, noting with relief that his injuries were not very severe.

“D!” Sierra gasped, looking at him wild-eyed. “I thought you were dead!”

Diego shook his head, glancing behind to take stock of the beast who was lumbering to his feet, and mouthed only one word.