Page 23 of Simon Says

They watched the pilot walk back across the field to the whister and waited until he’d lifted off and flown out of sight.

“If it doesn’t lead to the passes…”

“It’s a portal.”

“So if it opens directly into another dimension…”

“He’s alive and, more important, probably easy to find.”

“That would be what I’d call catching a break.” She looked around the ring. “So who built this and why?”

He shrugged. “Heard stories. Nothing to…”

“Write home about?” He shook his head. “Take to the bank?” He shook his head. “Get excited about?”

He grinned. “Yeah. That.”

“Like what?”

“The stories?” She nodded. “Well, we,” referring to elementals like himself and Rosie, “can open a door and step into the passes anywhere. We can travel wherever we want. We don’t need a designated gateway to a particular dimension to get there.”

“But others do.”

He nodded. “There are places where there are little tears in the fabric that separate realities that occur naturally. Not stationary. They move around. Pop up here or there for a minute, then they’re gone. Then there are places like this, where somebody wanted a portal with a permanent two-way hinge. Those not like us could come and go when they wanted.”

Rosie was fascinated. “Wow. It’s a good thing humans don’t know what it is or how to use it.”

Deliverance ran a hand over his chest like he enjoyed the pleasure of his own touch and agreed. “Chaos calling.”

“So whoever built these… well, why?”

“The usual,” Deliverance said.

“What’s the usual?”

“Sex.”

“Grand. Everything in the universe isn’t about sex.”

“Yes, it is,” he said with absolute certainty.

“I know I’m going to be sorry for asking this, but how do you figure the reason for this portal was about sex?”

“You know what happened with the Elk Mountain tribe?”

“In what sense?”

“They stopped making girls. When they stopped making girls, they got desperate. Same thing happens if there’s a shortage of boys. Love makes the world go round, you know.”

“Because the strongest instinct is mating.”

“Well, it is if you’re the mating kind.”

She rolled her eyes. “So grabbing potential brides, or grooms, is the reason these were constructed?”

“Told you. I heard stories. Can’t say for sure, but it’s as good a working theory as any.”

Rosie nodded thoughtfully. “Doesn’t tell us who figured out how to do it.” Deliverance shrugged again. “So. You want to see what’s on the other side?”

“Do they have willing women and margaritas?”

“Won’t know until we look.”

“Okay. I’m juiced up and good for a while. I’m in.”

Rosie started walking toward the north stone. “Oh, hold on a sec.” She pulled her phone out and called Glen. “Hey. I’m on a job for Simon.” Pause. “Tell you about it later. Thing is I may be out of touch for a bit. Don’t worry. I’m in good hands.” Pause. Her eyes came to rest on Deliverance. “Grand.” Pause. “Geez, Glen. No more coffee today. Right? Okay. Gotta go. I love you. More than anything.” She hung up before he could ask more questions.

“Let’s go.”

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