He looked away, back at Maria. “Go on,” he said. “The both of you.”
Sherlock padded up to him and sat on his haunches. He put his paw up. This stunned Ignatius. He had never done this before. The shaking trick was exclusive to Maria.
“He wants me to tell you he loves you,” Maria said.
A tear welled up in Ignatius’s eye. “I love you, too, Sherlock. You’re a good boy.”
Sherlock’s tail wagged, fanning the long grass in every direction.
“And I love you, Maria, my dear. I will see you soon.”
She nodded, a sad smile on her face.
With that, she and Sherlock disappeared through the portal. It closed moments after, as the song playing inside of Ignatius’s head stilled. He looked out to the distant mountains and prayed to any Gods that would listen to keep Maria and Sherlock safe, and to help guide him on this journey.
Maria looked back over her shoulder, at her grandfather standing there in that alien field.
Then the portal closed, and he was gone; she hoped not forever.
Oh, thank God, home sweet, home. Let me out, I need to use the bathroom.
“Again?” Maria snapped, and then she sighed. “Fine.”
They went out the back door and onto the porch. Sherlock took off into the tall grass. An odd feeling came over Maria, and she turned around.
She could see the marks from Malakai, when he’d tried to break in and get the music box only days ago; it had felt so much longer than that.
I guess that’s what traveling across worlds does to you.
Sherlock started barking, and Maria’s heart dropped into her stomach. The image of Malakai was too fresh in her mind, but as she looked out at her frolicking dog—a word she’d learned from Gramps—she realized he was only barking at a moth flapping its wings through their backyard.
She shook her head and laughed.
It was early in the morning. She still had tons of time to get ready for her date with Joe. As much as she wanted to use that time to help Gramps, she couldn’t deny how sleepy she was. She didn’t just want it; her body craved it.
“C’mon, dummy!” she yelled out to Sherlock, who stopped snapping at thin air as the moth floated high above him, and looked sheepishly back to her.
Five more minutes! C’mon!
“No, you did your business. Can’t trust you not to go around and pee on anyone. You’re on pee-probation.”
Sherlock slinked back toward the porch, his head down and his ears drooping over his eyes.
“That sad puppy dog face doesn’t work when you’re ancient, buddy.”
If I had a middle finger, I’d use it, he replied.
“You know what? Last time I was at Pet’s Mart, I saw adult doggy diapers. The dog on the picture looked particularly miserable. I happen to have some extra money. Why don’t I take a trip down there and pick up a few so you don’t go all fire hose on anymore Gnomes?”
NO! You wouldn’t.
“I would.” Maria crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
Fine, you win again. No fun.
“Oh, cool it. It’s normal not to pee on Gnomes, you know?”
Says who?
“Society.”
Screw society. I’m a dog. I’ll pee on whatever the hell I want to pee on.
“Then you’ll wear diapers and only pee on yourself.”
Sherlock rolled his eyes and went into the house. Maria closed the door behind him.
“But I will give you a treat because I’m not that much of a bitch.” She pulled a Milkbone out of the box and tossed it to him. He snatched it like he was a puppy, young and spry. “Remind me to never put another one of those in my pocket again.”
You had one in there? Oh, man, I thought I smelled it! Figured I was just hallucinating from the Oriceran berries I ate.
Maria’s hand came up and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re telling me you were eating berries in a strange world? You must be kidding.”
Sherlock stifled a burp. Nope, he said, baring his teeth in what looked like a snarling grin. I eat everything, you know that.
All she could do was shake her head. “Okay, I’m taking a nap.”
Right, I could use one, too. We gotta get our beauty rest for our date with Joe.
“Our date?” Maria snorted. “I think you’re gonna have to sit this one out, Sherlock.”
What? I thought we were going to Applebee’s…you know, three for twenty bucks.
“It’s two for twenty bucks, and hell no. I won’t have you farting, and Joe thinking it was me.”
I’ll plug it up. Come on! Don’t let me miss out on Applebee’s.
“I’ll bring something home for you, I promise.”
Grumbling, Sherlock said, Fine.
Upstairs they went, but not before Maria grabbed her cell phone off the kitchen counter. She dialed Tabby’s number. She didn’t answer. So she called Claire instead. Like usual, Claire was playing on her phone, and answered on the first ring.
“Hello? Maria? W-T-F, are you calling me from Oriceran? Whatever cell service you have, I want!” Claire said.
“No, no, I’m back.”
“Did you save that village already? Damn, girl, you’re killing it.”
“Also no,” Maria answered glumly. “Gramps wanted me to come back because he had to track down a rogue Gnome at some hardcore bar or something like that. I didn’t want to come back, but he was dead serious, and rather than piss him off, I figured I’d come back to appease him.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on,” Claire said. “Did you just say a rogue Gnome?”
“Yep.”
“What is life? Geez, just yesterday I was worried about missing the new season of the Kardashians, and here I am talking to one of my best friends about Gnomes and magical music boxes. Do you think I need to get my passport stamped now that I’ve been to Oriceran? Or that I need to get vaccinations or something…you
