We all go down the ramp to the peer on the Night Planet. 

I must admit, even to myself it is unsettling standing, walking, handling myself in a completely new place where I can’t see anything, not even a sliver of light. 

Suzy holds my hand. “I don’t like this place,” she tells me. 

“Me neither.” 

I hear everyone getting further down the dock. We stay standing.

“Do you want to leave?” I ask her.

“Do you?” 

“I was asking you.” I realize I do want to leave and don’t want to admit it. That’s just silly. “I do want to leave.” 

“Me, too. I don’t think we should be adventurers. Just grandparents.” 

“I know.” I like going on excursions with Joy, but not this one. “Do you want to tell Justin?” 

“Just a couple more minutes. Let’s see what happens.” 

“Okay. I think it’s safe to go this way,” I gesture with the hand that holds hers in the direction of their voices. 

“--Told you, Dad, I’m not scared anymore! It’s just dark!” Joy is saying. 

“It’s not about being scared, Joy!” Justin is exasperated. “There’s no way out of that dream! You can’t find the suns! So you can’t ever leave!” 

“I can create an elevator!” Charlie says suddenly. 

“Ooh! I can make it stay!” Joy exclaims. 

“We can use a rope!” Charlie continues. 

“And tie the rope to my stomach and to the elevator!” Joy continues. 

“And we can leave--”

“Stop!” Justin yells. “It’s a dark dream! You can’t see anything in it! How can you protect yourself when you can’t see? Like now!”

I hear a ‘bump’ and someone fall on the wooden peer. “Ow!” I hear Joy say.

Another ‘bump’. Another fall. “My arm,” says Charlie. 

Oh, this is not good. Justin is sending out monsters against the kids. This is not good at all! 

(To be continued…)