Read Online Surviving the Improbable Quest by Anderson Atlas - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Anderson Atlas
Ads: Link
The balloon creatures weave in and out of formation like a coordinated dance.
Allan had seen a similar show last year during the opening ceremonies at the Olympics. Fifty thousand people held up lights in a meticulously coordinated show. Their lights created images: different flags and messages of hope, triumph and peace. It was so beautiful that his mom had made him watch it again.
Then, as a further distraction from the increasingly isolated feeling that sits heavily on his back, Allan notices a sliver of light poking up from the horizon like a nail being driven up through the clouds. It reveals itself as a sliver moon. The moon is large in the sky like a great majestic bird. It’s brighter than a sliver moon should be. Midway through its ascent, another sharp sliver peeks from the horizon. Another moon! It can’t be real. It has to be his imagination. Just like these balloon creatures. They can’t be real either, can they? As the two moons continue to rise in tandem, a third moon appears. Allan laughs out loud. If the balloon creature hadn’t been holding onto him, he’d have fallen to his death with the widest grin across his mud-splattered face.
The moons brighten the clouds below, illuminating their fluffy cotton surfaces. A lightning flash snakes through the cumulus behemoths and splits into a thousand, million branches leaving light trails in their wake. It’s such a dreamy space Allan is in and is similar to the comfort he feels when falling asleep. Allan wonders if time has stopped and whether or not he’ll hang from the balloon creature until the end of days.
Suddenly, the clouds break. The balloon creatures appear to be dropping or the land is rising. A wide river snakes through a dark forest lit aglow by the three moons and trillions of stars. Beyond the river, lights dot the land. They look like stars, but in a discernible pattern. It’s a city. Far away, but it’s huge. Then Allan sees a wall. It’s dark and glistening. It’s the largest wall Allan has ever seen. The balloon creatures all turn at the wall instead of flying over it. The wall extends as far as Allan can see and is made of large square bricks of varying shades of dark browns and grays. Moss grows over the stones and trees grow from the cracks. Vines as thick as bushes cling to the bricks. The river parallels the wall and in some places is diverted under it.
The balloon creature finally speaks, “Welcome to Lan Darr. This is as far as I’m allowed to take you.” He drops Allan without warning. Allan screams as he falls down until he splashes into the river. The cool fresh water washes the grime and red clay off Allan’s skin. He treads water with his hands, leans back and looks up. The balloon creatures keep going to wherever they are going, and the moons smile on everything. This is better than being captured by Asantia. “Thanks floating things,” Allan whispers.
Allan’s body rudely reminds him that he needs to pee, and with no other options, he drags himself out of the water and rolls toward the wall. He smashes small twigs, bushes and grasses. While lying on his side he pees on a strange looking plant. It has pointy leaves, pyramid-shaped flower buds and little purple pods on the branches. It squirms and moves like it’s alive. He studies it after he zips up his fly. Did it make a squeak? The leaves are jagged and dark green at the edges. One of the pyramid buds starts to open presenting glossy purple petals. In the center of the flower is a sharp piston. The flower shudders, startling Allan.
Pain rips through his body. His fingers fumble at his neck, and he finds the sharp piston sticking out of his skin. He pinches and pulls it, but it is stuck. Again, he yanks on the piston and it finally pulls free. As the piston releases its grip, Allan starts convulsing. He sees black and he can’t stop the spasms in his body. When the seizure ends his entire body is numb. He turns on his side crushing more grasses and plants.
Allan had seen a similar show last year during the opening ceremonies at the Olympics. Fifty thousand people held up lights in a meticulously coordinated show. Their lights created images: different flags and messages of hope, triumph and peace. It was so beautiful that his mom had made him watch it again.
Then, as a further distraction from the increasingly isolated feeling that sits heavily on his back, Allan notices a sliver of light poking up from the horizon like a nail being driven up through the clouds. It reveals itself as a sliver moon. The moon is large in the sky like a great majestic bird. It’s brighter than a sliver moon should be. Midway through its ascent, another sharp sliver peeks from the horizon. Another moon! It can’t be real. It has to be his imagination. Just like these balloon creatures. They can’t be real either, can they? As the two moons continue to rise in tandem, a third moon appears. Allan laughs out loud. If the balloon creature hadn’t been holding onto him, he’d have fallen to his death with the widest grin across his mud-splattered face.
The moons brighten the clouds below, illuminating their fluffy cotton surfaces. A lightning flash snakes through the cumulus behemoths and splits into a thousand, million branches leaving light trails in their wake. It’s such a dreamy space Allan is in and is similar to the comfort he feels when falling asleep. Allan wonders if time has stopped and whether or not he’ll hang from the balloon creature until the end of days.
Suddenly, the clouds break. The balloon creatures appear to be dropping or the land is rising. A wide river snakes through a dark forest lit aglow by the three moons and trillions of stars. Beyond the river, lights dot the land. They look like stars, but in a discernible pattern. It’s a city. Far away, but it’s huge. Then Allan sees a wall. It’s dark and glistening. It’s the largest wall Allan has ever seen. The balloon creatures all turn at the wall instead of flying over it. The wall extends as far as Allan can see and is made of large square bricks of varying shades of dark browns and grays. Moss grows over the stones and trees grow from the cracks. Vines as thick as bushes cling to the bricks. The river parallels the wall and in some places is diverted under it.
The balloon creature finally speaks, “Welcome to Lan Darr. This is as far as I’m allowed to take you.” He drops Allan without warning. Allan screams as he falls down until he splashes into the river. The cool fresh water washes the grime and red clay off Allan’s skin. He treads water with his hands, leans back and looks up. The balloon creatures keep going to wherever they are going, and the moons smile on everything. This is better than being captured by Asantia. “Thanks floating things,” Allan whispers.
Allan’s body rudely reminds him that he needs to pee, and with no other options, he drags himself out of the water and rolls toward the wall. He smashes small twigs, bushes and grasses. While lying on his side he pees on a strange looking plant. It has pointy leaves, pyramid-shaped flower buds and little purple pods on the branches. It squirms and moves like it’s alive. He studies it after he zips up his fly. Did it make a squeak? The leaves are jagged and dark green at the edges. One of the pyramid buds starts to open presenting glossy purple petals. In the center of the flower is a sharp piston. The flower shudders, startling Allan.
Pain rips through his body. His fingers fumble at his neck, and he finds the sharp piston sticking out of his skin. He pinches and pulls it, but it is stuck. Again, he yanks on the piston and it finally pulls free. As the piston releases its grip, Allan starts convulsing. He sees black and he can’t stop the spasms in his body. When the seizure ends his entire body is numb. He turns on his side crushing more grasses and plants.
Similar Books
