It’s been seven days since Charlie has begun to explore the dreams farther away than any we had searched before. He goes on by himself every day, then reports back to us the next day when he appears on Bonny’s Revenge.
Justin hasn’t had any more bad dreams, so we no longer keep Bonny’s Revenge close to the tunnel.
Today, a few hours into Justin’s dream. Madelyn with her flying super wheelchair is teaching Joy and Justin how to climb sheer rocks with your bare hands. Master Mind and I watch from Bonny’s Revenge, which docks in the air just a few meters from them. Far below, to make sure this is safe, are massive trampolines to catch Joy harmlessly if she falls.
So far she hasn’t fallen.
Charlie flies into the dream with a jetpack on his back and hovers next to Madelyn, looking at Joy and Justin.
“Guys, guys!” He's super excited. “I’ve found a dream! A dream with kids!”
“What!” Joy opens her mouth in surprise and seems unable to close it.
“There’s not just one kid - there are like ten kids. Boys and girls. They’re eating breakfast. It must be the Dreamer and his friends or her friends. And there are no demons anywhere! Just a camp!”.
Justin’s eyebrow furrows. “Are you sure, Charlie? No demons?”
“I’m sure. Double sure. Triple sure.”
“Dad, we gotta go! We gotta go!”
Justin thinks for a second then nods. “All right. Everyone’s super careful, just like always. No shortcuts. We’re going. Dad, are you joining us?”
My throat always catches when he asks me. It could always be dangerous. But, yes, I’ll be joining.
Joy and Justin arm themselves each with a sword, a laser pistol, and for Joy: a knife in her shoe. Charlie insists on not taking a weapon. He can create something if he ever needs it.
Once on the Shroom with permanent jetpacks for all except Madelyn, who has her super wheelchair, Master Mind holds me and we fly about thirty Shrooms in one direction, following Charlie.
He lands, and so do we: Madelyn, Justin, Charlie, Joy, Master Mind and I.
Justin says somberly. “Let’s meet the children of the Dream.” He bows his head and goes into the tunnel first.
(To be continued…)
—Told by Grampa Walt