Lucid Waking

The Center (2)

            “Who is the long, swift daughter of the forest and borne along with an innumerable throng of companions equally encompassed, who speeds over many paths, leaving not a trace behind?”
            Cathy thought for a moment, but her mind was going blank. Andrew came out and put a hand on her shoulder. She smiled at him and whispered for help.
            “A ship,” he said.
            The statue cocked its head. “There are two of you? Only the hero may answer the question.”
            “Then it’s a ship,” Cathy answered.
            The statue remained silent.
            “What is the right question?” she asked. She hadn’t expected an answer, but she hadn’t expected the dryad took a step forward off of her pedestal and put a ball of thread in Cathy’s hand before walking back and becoming still again, either.
            “This would have been more useful before we went in,” Andrew said looking at it.
            The scraping noise returned again and the entrance opened up. But the walls were white marble and not stone this time. There was just enough room for Cathy and Andrew to walk in a line. Taking no chances, Cathy went first with the ball of yarn and they were able to pass unharmed out of the maze.

“Not much between despair and ecstasy”

The Center (2)