Something changes in Justin as soon as he is able to absorb that Joy can see into the dark dream while no one else can.
His back straightens. His voice becomes like that of a military commander, when he says, “Joy. Tell me what you see.”
She nods. “We’re at a beach. The woman is over there sitting on a beach chair.” Joy changes, as well. She isn’t the child asking her father for something she cadn’t have for the thousandth time. She is the adventurer I’d heard about. She’s giving a report of the hostile environment. “She has a beautiful dog sitting next to her. There are a few other people who came for the beach. And, I think, oh!”
“What?”
“A couple of penguins just came out of the water.”
“Monster penguins?” Justin asks automatically. He’s thinking about Colin’s dream. That had been awful.
“No. Penguin penguins.”
“Aw, man!” Charlie says. “Why can’t I see the penguins?!”
“Dangers?” Justin asks.
“Can’t see any.”
“Traps? Villains? Something that doesn’t belong?”
“No. No. No.”
“Is she wearing glasses?”
“No.”
“Okay. Joy, we’re going in just to say hello. Are you comfortable enough to do that? You’ll be our only eyes.”
Joy nods.
“Whoever’s comfortable going with us, goes with us. Everyone else stays here. Joy will be our eyes. We get out as soon as there is even a hint of trouble. We never get away from our escape plan. Got it?” We all nod. “Who’s coming?”
Joy raises her hand first. Master Mind raises his hand. Charlie does, although he’s clearly afraid. I hesitate, then raise my hand.
“Okay,” Justin says. “If there’s trouble, first priority is to save Joy and get her out of the dream. Second priority is Dad. No offense, Dad.”
“Completely understandable.” Not only am I ‘just’ a dream. If I had been me, back in the real world, that would have been my decision as well. First save my granddaughter, then me.
“Folks,” Justin continues. “Her name is Amahle. She speaks English, but she has an accent I couldn’t place. I’m not sure where she’s from.”
“Well, Justin,” I say. “If there are penguins, and it’s not freezing, chances are it’s South Africa.”
“Oh. Right. Hmm. Interesting you knew that and I didn’t.”
That is interesting, since he was the one who had created me from his mind and his memories.
“Last time I saw her, I killed her. Like, violently. So I shouldn’t speak. Joy will read my signals. Shall we go?”
“Yes!” Joy says.
“Let’s do it! Joy, I want to create an elevator that reaches right down to the beach and when I get out, all I have to do is take a few steps to talk to her. Give me directions.”
She does. We’re about to go into the dark dream!
(To be continued…)
—Told by Grampa Walt