out, despite the strong wind. The alien landscape grew clearer. A dark mountain range towered over the red desert. Some of the cliff faces looked carved. She studied them closer, and was suddenly dizzy. Like some otherworldly Mount Rushmore, one of the mountainsides had been turned into statues. But instead of four famous presidents, these figures represented something monstrous and obscene. Tearing her gaze away from the creatures, Maria saw a metallic flash on the horizon, just at the foot of the mountains.
“What’s that?” she screamed again, pointing at the silver object.
Gritting his teeth, Levi lashed out with his foot and knocked the copper bowl over.
He shouted, “
The flames vanished, along with everything else. Levi leaned back on his elbows, breathing heavily.
“What the hell was that metallic thing?” Maria asked again.
“That,” Levi gasped, “was your tax dollars at work—one of the robotic rovers that NASA abandoned on Mars. Judging from its position and the surrounding landscape, I’d guess it was the Mars Pathfinder.”
“Mars? But there were statues! There aren’t any statues on Mars.”
“Well, that’s what it was.” Levi nodded toward Adam. “And this is the man that almost got us killed.”
Adam shrugged. “Like I said—lucid dreaming.”
“Mr. Senft.” Levi slowly got to his feet and extinguished the candles. “What you just did—the damage you caused…Well, let’s just say I’ll be paying for that sooner or later. Hopefully later, at the end of my days.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Consider yourself lucky for that small blessing. Let me assure you that this is no dream. We’re playing with lives here. Yours, hers and mine. That was a Sumerian spell and—”
“I know,” Adam interrupted. “I know. The green fire and the portal—I recognize them from one of LeHorn’s books.”
“So you did have all of his books, then?” Levi asked.
“Not all of them. Just his copy of
He hung his head and shuffled toward them.
“I know this isn’t a dream,” he said, bursting into tears. “And I know I’m not crazy. What I am is fucking scared! I miss my wife and I just want some fucking peace, and I don’t want to go through this shit again. Can you help me? Please?”
“Yes,” Levi whispered. “We can help you. And more importantly, you can help us.”
“How?”
“All in good time.”
“Don’t play that Phantom Stranger bullshit on me, man.”
“First, let’s get you away from here. I’m sure they check on patients throughout the night?”
Adam nodded. “Yeah, they do. Fucking Schmidt—he’s one of the orderlies—peeks in through the door windows all night long. Shines his flashlight in and wakes us up. He thinks it’s funny.”
“Is he on duty now?”
“Yeah. He’s one of the overnighters. A real jackass. Messes with us all the time.”
“Well, let’s get you out of here before he notices you’re missing.” Levi studied Adam’s cotton drawstring pants and short-sleeved, pullover shirt. Both were a bland shade of green. They looked like pajamas, and the institution’s name was stenciled across the back in big, black letters. “And I suppose we’ll need to find you some clothes.”
“Are we taking my car?” Maria asked. It was the first time she’d spoken since the fire had gone out. She’d been unable to find her voice—afraid that if she opened her mouth, she might start screaming, or worse yet, crying. She’d never been more terrified in her life. This was real. No more doubts. No more questions. Levi had ripped a hole in the fucking air. A hole made of fire. And Adam Senft had stepped through it. It was magic, plain and simple. The proof was standing directly in front of her. She felt dizzy and nauseous and her arms and legs tingled as if asleep. She’d just been confronted by something she didn’t believe in, and her convictions had been found wanting. She was afraid to breathe, afraid to blink, worried that if she did, something else might happen.
“Yes,” Levi said, retrieving the rest of his items and putting them back in the basket. “Can we reach it without attracting attention, or do you think you should go get it while I hide Mr. Senft here?”
“Wait a second.” Adam held up his hands. “Look, don’t think I’m not grateful. You got me out of there, and I appreciate it. You’ve got no idea just how much. But I’m not going anywhere with you until I know exactly who you both are. You said you were Amos Stoltzfus’s son?”
Levi picked up the wicker basket. “That’s right. You may call me Levi.”
“And you do powwow, just like your old man and Nelson LeHorn did.”
Levi nodded. “Yes, among other disciplines.”
“No fucking kidding. I’m pretty sure what you just did wasn’t powwow.” Adam turned to Maria. “And who are you?”
“Maria Nasr.” She held out her hand. “I’m a freelance writer, currently putting together a book proposal on the hollow and the LeHorn murders.”
Adam frowned. “You said murders. Plural. But Nelson LeHorn only killed his wife.”
